Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

Until There Was You

Author: Kristan Higgins
ISBN-13: 978-0373776115
Publication Date: October, 2011
Publisher: HQN Books
Book Length:  384 pages
Acquired by Me:  NetGalley

Description Courtesy of Goodreads:

“Posey Osterhagen can't complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she's surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something's missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking…something like Liam Murphy.

When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he's back, sending Posey's traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas….”

 

My Thoughts:

Until There Was You is a classic Kristan Higgins book. So, it cannot come as a surprise that I am in love with it. You see, Kristan Higgins is one of my most favorite, favorite Romance authors, and certainly my MOST favorite in Contemporary Romance.

I’ve given it a lot of thought as to why I love Higgins so much. The best that I can come up with is that she has the ability to take ordinary life and skew it with precision that results in a fairy tale that I can buy in to. Her heroines live charmed lives, even when they are faced with challenges – but nothing that isn’t surmountable. They feel normal and comfortable, the kind of women you’d like to be friends with because you know they’d make your life a little more interesting. 

Sounds a little like a Mayberry lifestyle? Well, it sort of is…with a touch more drama than Barney Fife ever saw. But, oh, how we love the drama because it brings us to the resolution and fulfillment of the story. I love that I can count on a happily-ever-after when I read romances and I always know Ms. Higgins will never let me down.

Now that I’ve got that bit of adoration out of my system, on to the book….

Posey and Liam are such great characters. I enjoyed waiting for them to come together at long last. Posey deserved him from the very beginning. Unbeknownst to Liam, he broke her heart as a teenager. But, sometimes girls get passed over, eh? To see him back in town again, sans wife, rocks Posey’s world a little.

Liam is the quintessential bad boy…wait…turned good. His past dealt him some rough cards, but he’s come out of the deal as a father completely obsessed (no pun intended) with his teenage daughter. She is his world. She is also of the age where Liam is painfully aware of what the world can offer her (boys like he once was).

Posey gets her second chance with Liam, but not without some stumbles along the way. There are personal hurdles to overcome for both of them, let alone what they need to overcome together. Having a relationship with someone who has a teenager isn’t always the easiest…especially if they don’t even know you exist.

Also, true to form, Higgins adds several incredible supporting characters to Until There Was You. I love this side stories, watching Posey and Liam interact with others and getting a glimpse into how they are seen by more than just themselves. It only adds to the love of Posey and the sympathy for Liam (I saw more sadness present in his past). A special note of love specifically goes out to Posey’s brother and his partner. They are a delightful and unexpected addition to the story.

It is no surprise that I am going to recommend this book on a seriously high note. It swept me away as a fun, yet thoughtful read. But, that’s what all of Kristan Higgins’ books do for me. There is enough to tackle relevant problems in life, but in a way that creates a warm and fuzzy feeling inside while you are reading it. Life isn’t always going to be positive, but at the end of the day it is what you decide to make of it. Higgins gives her heroines and heroes fortitude to turn wrongs into rights - while at the same time keeping a sense of humor and a lot of compassion.

The thoughts expressed in this post are solely based on my personal opinion and have not been influenced by any other entity or being. Use of my statements may not be reproduced without permission from me, the author of Fall In Love With Books.

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Jane Austen Made Me Do It by Laurel Ann Nattress

Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature’s Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart

Editor:  Laurel Ann Nattress

Authors: An Assortment of Outstanding Women
ISBN-13: 978-0345524966
Publication Date: October, 2011
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Book Length:  448 pages
Acquired by Me:  NetGalley
 

Description Courtesy of Goodreads:

“’My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” If you just heaved a contented sigh at Mr. Darcy’s heartfelt words, then you, dear reader, are in good company. Here is a delightful collection of never-before-published stories inspired by Jane Austen—her novels, her life, her wit, her world.

In Lauren Willig’s “A Night at Northanger,” a young woman who doesn’t believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter at the infamous abbey; Jane Odiwe’s “Waiting” captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion’s Wentworth and Anne as they await her family’s approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani’s “Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane” imagines a modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall’s “Jane Austen’s Cat,” our beloved Jane tells her nieces “cat tales” based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler’s “Intolerable Stupidity” finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Pride and Prejudice sequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany’s “Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; and in Jo Beverley’s “Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss,” a widow doesn’t believe she’ll have a second chance at love . . . until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise.

Regency or contemporary, romantic or fantastical, each of these marvelous stories reaffirms the incomparable influence of one of history’s most cherished authors.”

My Thoughts:

A WARNING to all fans of Jane Austen: This book is a must to add to your collection! Where else are you going to find so many incredible authors contributing to a single piece of literature? There is a short story for everyone to fall in love with. Are you traditional? It’s there. Are you a fan of contemporary? You can find that too. Scary, whimsical, funny – yeah, it’s all in there.

Laurel Ann Nattress is to be commended for her editing on this read. She did an outstanding job and gathered together some seriously strong talent. I believe her love for Austen really shines through her work. I have followed Nattress’ blog for several years now (www.austenprose.com). When I first learned that Jane Austen Made Me Do It was in the works, I instinctively knew that Laurel Ann’s book would reflect the level of quality that she has earned a reputation for on Austenprose. She understands Jane Austen on a level that few others can achieve. It is more than merely enjoying her writings; it is her intelligence that allows her to comprehend even the subtlest of suggestions and opinions.

Let Jane Austen Made Me Do It be your guilty pleasure purchase or pick it up for a friend as inspiration for a cozy day spent reading at home. It feels just right with a cup of tea and a blanket thrown across your legs. And for those who live a busier lifestyle – savor smaller moments when you can delve into a single short story for a quick escape, set the book down and come back later when you have the time to jump into the next one. However, I really do prefer the cozy method much more.

The thoughts expressed in this post are solely based on my personal opinion and have not been influenced by any other entity or being. Use of my statements may not be reproduced without permission from me, the author of Fall In Love With Books.

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Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4)
Author:  Julie Kagawa

ISBN-13: 978-0373210367

Publication Date: October, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Book Length:  386 pages

Acquired by Me:  NetGalley

 

Description Courtesy of Goodreads:

“Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

My Thoughts:

Julie Kagawa’s Iron Knight rounds off a book series that has been a pleasure for me to read over the past year. Without a doubt, it ranks as one my favorite collections in both Adult Fiction and Fantasy. Kagawa wove a thought provoking tale that subtly touches on modern issues, yet still maintains a whimsical hold on the tried and true love triangle of one girl choosing between two boys – at throughout the first three books. In Iron Knight, the story diverges from the heroine’s perspective and instead focuses more on Ash, the one she ultimately chose, but also let go for a whole host of reasons I won’t divulge.

Ash’s story is a journey of self-discovery. He faces his demons, both literally and figuratively, in order to find a soul. His soul is what he needs in order to be reunited with Meghan, who is separated from him by a world of iron, a land he cannot exist in. Friend and rival, Puck, accompanies Ash on his journey and the two set out to do what has never before been accomplished.

I was pleased with the dynamic between both heroes. I thought Kagawa played them off of one another very well and tied up some loose ends regarding their turbulent relationship. She also threw in a surprise that I should have seen coming, but didn’t, that added more intrigue to Ash’s progress in the book. Hard decisions to be made at a few stages in his journey. Great ideas and creativity on the author’s part.

One thing that struck me immediately when reading Iron Knight is that this is not a book about Meghan. She rarely present in the book, although she is eluded to constantly. You can imagine that she figures more prominently towards the end and its resolution. This read is much more masculine than the previous installments – something I really enjoyed. I love seeing events through the eyes of the hero rather than listening to the heroine analyze what his thoughts must be.

One part of this particular story that I was not enamored with was the pseudo-ending that takes place. It is hard to explain without throwing spoilers left and right, but suffice it to say that there is a part that takes place that feels extremely surreal and quite awkward. I am sure some readers loved it, but I wasn’t overly taken with the scene. I do think the ending made up for it though and was very satisfied with the outcome of the plot.

I don’t mind saying that I am sad to see the series end, but happy to have had the chance to follow its tale. I think it is an exceptional read for teens. I’ve passed the word around to all that will listen that they have to pick these books up. I highly recommend them!

The thoughts expressed in this post are solely based on my personal opinion and have not been influenced by any other entity or being. Use of my statements may not be reproduced without permission from me, the author of Fall In Love With Books.

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Long Overdue

Well, I've been on a very long hiatus and now it is time to get back into the swing of things. Posts will be forthcoming shortly. I've got a ton of reviews that I need to share with everyone. Although I spent the past year going to school, somehow I still found time to read. Who would have thunk it?

I'm also excited to announce that my sister, an avid fantasy romance fan, is going to be contributing to Fall In Love With Books. Her introduction and posts will be coming soon.

Finally, I had a miserable experience trying to switch my blog over to Wordpress last year - which is part of the reason why I took so long to get back to blogging. I didn't want to expend the energy to untangle the mess I found myself in. I recently spent some time unraveling the problems that came along with the transition and, luckily, have found myself back up an running again on Blogger. Lessons learned is all I can say!

That's all I can add for the moment, but I'm very keen on getting started up again! Until next time!!

Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

Don’t Breathe a Word
Author:  Jennifer McMahon
ISBN-13: 978-0061689376
Publication Date: May, 2011
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Book Length:  447 pages
Acquired by Me:  Sent from Publisher 

 

Description Courtesy of Goodreads:

 

“On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.

Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn’t fear the dark and doesn’t have bad dreams—who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam’s hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed—a promise that could destroy them all.”

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

How deceptive this description is! Well, sort of. What I mean is that the description is correct, but when you read the story – it is something entirely else. But, oh my goodness, it really is a good book. Spooky and strange, completely mystifying at times – never a book I would have selected for myself, yet one that I became completely caught up in.

The chapters in Don’t Breathe a Word alternate between the past and present. We follow Lisa’s story as a young girl who follows her heart to become one of the fairies she is convinced lives in her backyard. She spends a summer being courted by the King of the Fairies and falls under his charm, ultimately disappearing – never to be seen again. 

We also follow Phoebe (and Sam) in the present. Phoebe is mildly obsessed with Lisa’s story. She floated through town during the time Lisa disappeared – and years later found herself involved with Lisa’s young brother (since grown up), Sam. Strange things start happening to Phoebe and Sam when Phoebe starts to push for information about Lisa. Very strange things.

To say more would be to open up the story for speculation – but it is best saved for when you read the book itself. As confusing and perplexing some of the text is – there is a resolution at the end, as light is shed on some terrifyingly deep dark secrets.

There are other characters in Don’t Breathe a Word that feel insignificant at times, but pay attention to them, because each has a distinctive purpose for having been written. It all draws you closer to the ending. Personally, I like to have a heads up when I’m trying to tackle a tangled story – part of my enjoyment stems from ‘watching’ the evolution of the plot over the course of the book. (I’m also a –gasp- last page reader for this reason as well; surprisingly, I did not read the end of this book first).

I would classify Don’t Breathe a Word as a mature story, due to its dark material. There is mystery, suspense, self-examination, and a twist of the fantastical between its covers. I do recommend it for those who are self-professed Jennifer McMahon fans, as well as those who are looking for something a little bit unusual.

 

 

The thoughts expressed in this post are solely based on my personal opinion and have not been influenced by any other entity or being. Use of my statements may not be reproduced without permission from me, the author of Fall In Love With Books.

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Book Blogger Hop 9-2-11

 

I haven’t participated in the Book Blogger Hop for a while, so I thought I’d make a point this week to reach out to everyone that is either old or new to my little blog.

Welcome! Feel free to follow me if you like what I write about. Otherwise, I’ll extend a simple thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit.

 

This week’s question:

 

“What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season – A particular book release?  Halloween?  The leaves changing color?  Cooler temperatures?  A vacation? (If your next season is other than fall/autumn, tell us about it and what you are most looking forward to in your part of the world!)”

There is so much to look forward to this fall. The holidays are always a wonderful time of the year for me. We have a small extended family, but without fail, we take the time to gather together for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. As the children in our families are fast approaching adulthood, I cherish these times more and more. The eldest niece starts college this fall - travelling a whole 3 hours away from home!! -Sigh- I remember when I first started college, I had so many ideas of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Here I am over twenty years later -- still going to college.

Speaking of college, this brings me to something else that I am looking foward to this fall (or winter perhaps). I will finally complete my master's degree!!  This has been a long and arduous process, but well worth the effort. I am an academic at heart, so I thrive on homework and professors - be it in a classroom or an online setting.

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Wordless Wednesday 08/31/11

Personal Photo: Roman Bath in Bath, England