At seven years old, Jude’s parents were murdered by her older sister’s biological father, Madoc, and stolen away to live in the High Court of Faeries. Raised as one of Madoc’s daughters, Jude and her twin sister had to learn to survive in the cruel world. Ten years later, Jude is desperate to be accepted, but as a human, she is tormented by the mischievous games of the Fae and their ability to glamour. To prove herself and escape her powerlessness, Jude matches the Fae’s penchant for wickedness, especially against the youngest prince, Cardan Greenbriar. When Cardan’s older brother, Dain, recruits Jude to be his spy, she finally believes she can start to make a difference for herself and her family. As she gets deeper entangled in court machinations, a civil war threatens her position or it could end up being her greatest opportunity.
Full of drama, action, and intrigue, Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince is a dark fairy tale that is mesmerizing and addictive. Jude is a strong, intelligent heroine that you will root for, and her chemistry with Cardan is electric. It’s the first in the Folk of Air series, but with the third and final book’s release in November 2019, there’s no need to wait to finish this bestselling series.
City of Girls is about Vivian
Morris, told in firsthand account by Vivian herself. The story starts with
Vivian addressing a woman who has written her to find out what she had meant to
her father. After a long but entertaining and intriguing life story, her moving
to New York twice, her sexual escapades, her girl crush on Celia, the death of
her brother, and finally finding love with a man whom she never touched, we
find out the relationship between this woman’s father and Vivian.
This was a charming story: endearing, insightful, and very
well told. I listened to this in audio and the narrator, Blair Brown, did an
absolute fantastic job telling this tale! It didn't disappoint.
Edmond Dantes, a sailor in 19th century France, is set to marry the woman he loves when he is falsely accused of plotting to return Napoleon to power. Edmond is thrown in prison, where he meets an Italian abbe who, following years of friendship and escape attempts, bequeaths a hidden fortune to Dantes. Dantes finally manages to escape, acquires the abbe’s vast treasure, and vows revenge against those who put him in prison, plotting to destroy their lives as absolutely as he can.
While most think of The Count of Monte Cristo as being a story of revenge, and it foremost is, it also has a central focus on drama. Those who conspired against Dantes become rich and powerful, and a large portion of the story focuses on the drama that unfolds around their families in Paris, decades after Dantes is imprisoned. Daughters are married off against their will, sons duel to preserve their family honor, and estranged wives plot the financial ruin of their husbands. There are a number of chapters where Dantes is relegated to the backseat, so the focus can instead be entirely on these other characters, at times causing the plot for revenge to be forgotten.
This would be the only warning to give anyone interested in this book. If one seeks a tale of swashbuckling action, grab Treasure Island instead. But if you’re looking for a literary classic with incredibly well thought-out drama, I recommend this book.
In this timely
retelling of the classic Little Women, we see Meg and Jo as modern women
navigating their relationships in a 21st century world. Meg is dealing
with her need to live up to her mother's reputation of being able to "do
it all," thus creating small rifts in her marriage. Jo is trying to
figure out her life after being let go from her newspaper employer and figure out how to juggle her foodie blog and the new relationship with her
Chef boss. While we see the two eldest March sisters struggle with their personal
lives, we see them tend to their mother, who needs back surgery and
therefore is not able to work the farm. And to the dismay of the girls, their
father, Asher, is absent while he delivers ministry to his not-for-profit helping
war veterans instead of helping at home or with their mother.
This is a fantastic retelling, really bringing
the magic of the March women to current times. It was enjoyable to see them as
young feminists, all the while keeping their obligations to family close to
their heart and at the top of their priorities. Kantra's take on Asher
March was surprising to me, but very much in keeping with the modern
feel of the retelling. I wouldn't have had it any other way. This story
was cute and perfect for readers with a fondness and love for Alcott's Little Women. And it's just in time for the new movie!
Idun’s Orchard has been in the Lund family for five generations, and cider-maker Sanna Lund can’t imagine living anywhere else. She’s perfectly content spending her days tending the orchard with her father and experimenting with new blends of cider made from their heirloom apple trees. But Sanna’s cider isn’t selling like they’d hoped and business isn’t exactly booming at the orchard. With only the two of them, and Sanna’s father getting on in years, can they really keep going the way they always have?
Enter Isaac and his son Bass (full name Sebastian, but he answers to any fish). Originally from California but spending their summer driving across the U.S. (and away from heartbreak at home), the pair end up as hired hands at Idun’s. Sanna is less than thrilled at the prospect of having a ten-year-old boy underfoot and tries to ignore how distracted she is by Isaac’s presence. But as her life gets more and more complicated, Sanna relies on the relationships she’s forming with Bass and Isaac, especially when the orchard seems to be slipping further and further out of her control.
The Simplicity of Cider is a heartwarming story of love, family, cider, and a little bit of magic. Set in Door County, Wisconsin, the author perfectly captures the feel of a small Midwestern town, where your neighbors might be nosy but they’ll be there for you at the first sign of trouble. The characters are authentic and real, and so are their struggles. There is an overall theme of healing in this book, from Sanna's father after a fall, to the heirloom trees after an accident, to the relationships both Sanna and Bass have with their parents, particularly their mothers. Recommended for fans of Jenny Colgan and Sarah Addison Allen.
'Tis the season to be reading a Debbie Macomber holiday story! In Dashing Through the Snow, Ashley is desperately trying, last minute, to get a flight to Seattle to spend the holiday with her mom. At the same time, Dash is trying to get a flight to Seattle for a very important job interview. Neither is successful. The next option is by car, and of course, there is only one car left available. Grudgingly, the two decide to share the ride. At the same time, unbeknownst to Ashley, her name has come up on the Do-Not-Fly list. Her attempt to get a flight to Seattle has prompted the FBI to come to the airport to find her, but at that point, she and Dash had already gotten their car and were on the road. Thus begins the secondary story of an FBI hunt for them.
Will Dash and Ashley make it to Seattle in time? During the trip, will the sparks fly between the two? Will the FBI catch up to them? There is a lot going on in this slim novel. Debbie Macomber has written a sweet, mildly suspenseful romance that is perfect for a quick holiday read!
When Vivian Forest is given the opportunity to join her daughter to the country "cottage" of the British Royal family,
she reluctantly agrees to go. Upon arriving at the this cottage, however, she meets Malcolm Hudson, the ultra-handsome private secretary to the Queen herself! And sparks fly instantly for both as Malcolm introduces Vivian to many new experiences, and Vivian brings out a fun playfulness in Malcolm that he hasn't felt in years.
The playful yet mature banter between Malcolm and Vivian was so enjoyable and it made me giggle out loud many times throughout the story. Guillory has a great way of portraying relationships perfectly as they should be, but also keeping them realistic by creating practical obstacles for the couple to hash through and overcome. Vivian and Malcolm are two
extremely likable characters whom you root for from the very beginning. This is just the book to kick off a fun and flirty holiday season!
