In My TBR Pile - The Prom

 

This book has been in my TBR since September 2019. Anyone read it and can tell me if I need to move it up on my stack?

The Prom

by Saundra Mitchell

Emma knows better than anyone that Edgewater, Indiana, is not a great place to be gay. But she's had enough of high school homophobia and really wants to take her girlfriend - the popular, closeted It Girl Alyssa- to prom. How big a deal could that really be?

But when their classmates find out, the backlash exceeds Emma's worst nightmares.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, Barry and Dee Dee are Broadway stars of yesteryear. When their new show bombs, they need some good publicity - fast. So when they happen to hear about Emma's plight, they decide to step in and create a prom for everyone.

Suddenly, Edgewater is the centre of a national news story. As the drama queens of New York take over the sleepy town, chaos ensues and the glare of the spotlight is brighter than anyone could have guessed.

But all Emma and Alyssa want is to dance together. Is that too much to ask?

Masquerade - Book Review

 

Masquerade (Blue Bloods #2)

by Melissa de la Cruz

What is it about:

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

The thrilling sequel in Melissa de la Cruz's vampire mythology has all the glamour, attitude, and vampire lore that made the first book a hit.

What did I think of it:

This second book in the Blue Bloods series is just as entertaining as the first. There are things happening that don't make sense when looking at information given in the previous book, but that didn't diminish the fun.

The love triangly stuff gets more triangly, there's more teenage angsting and drama, and we learn more about the past of our vampiric teens and the history of their species.

I was thoroughly entertained and will pick up book three soon.

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable and entertaining YA Vampire read   

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Teaser Tuesdays - We Are Satellites

 

"That's a lot of lying," David said. "Do you think it's true?"

Val raised her palms. "I think there's probably some lying going on somewhere in there. You know me: I wasn't a fan of the idea to begin with."

(page 189, We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon - Book Review

 

The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon is now available on its own!

The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon (Heirs of Magic #0.5)

 by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:

Shapeshifter Prince Rhyian doesn’t especially want to spend the Feast of Moranu at Castle Ordnung. Among other things, his childhood playmate and current nemesis, Lena, will be there... 

Princess Salena Nakoa KauPo nearly wriggled out of traveling to Ordnung, but her mother put her foot down declaring that Lena can suffer through a feast and a ball for one night. Even if that Rhyian, insufferable Prince of the Tala, will also attend. 

But this year, Moranu’s sacred feast falls on the long night of the crystalline moon—and Rhy and Lena discover there’s more than a bit of magic in the air.

What did I think of it:

This novella is the prequel to the Heirs of Magic series and next to it being a wonderful wintery romance with a Happy For Now ending it introduces you to the characters of the series.

Those familiar with the Twelve Kingdoms and the Uncharted Realms series will recognize the parents of our heroes and heroines and can delight in seeing how people have fared through the years.

I loved getting to know Lena, Ryian and the others. There are some really fun moments as well as more serious ones as we discover why Lena and Ryian are at odds with each other.

Although the book ends with a HFN for Lena and Ryian you know there are things they need to address, and there's a cliffhanger ending hinting at trouble to come as well, so you better get your hands on The Golden Gryphon and the Bear Prince as well, because you'll want more!

Why should you read it:

It's a wonderful Fantasy Romance read.

Buy Links

(previously released in Under a Winter Sky)

Blue Bloods - Book Review

 

Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1)

by Melissa de la Cruz

What is it about:

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.

The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

What did I think of it:

This is a very entertaining read.

I really liked the worldbuilding: there are vampires, but they have a whole different set of rules then classic vampires. It was fun to discover how they started and how their society works.

There are more than one viewpoints in this book, and as always I liked some more than others, but even the viewpoint of the 'mean girl' was more entertaining than annoying.

This being a YA written during the heights of the dreaded love triangle, there is of course a lot of teen angsting, multiple love triangles and more going on, but the story was enjoyable enough I didn't mind.

I could borrow the series from a friend, so I started the second book after finishing this one for more YA entertainment.

Why should you read it:

It's an entertaining YA Vampire read.

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On McPig's Wishlist - The Second Mrs. Astor

 

My Titanic loving heart needs this book!

The Second Mrs. Astor

by Shana Abe

Inspired by the real-life Titanic love story between America's richest man and teenaged beauty Madeleine Force.

He was American royalty, the richest man in the country and Fifth Avenue scion of the Gilded Age. She was a vivacious teenage socialite suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into fame simply for falling in love with a famous man nearly three decades her senior. Brought to life in this sweeping work of historical fiction by New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Shana Abé, the love story between Jack Astor and Madeline Force, from scandalous courtship to tragic honeymoon aboard the Titanic, which made them the most famous couple of their time...

A mesmerizing novel of historical fiction from New York Times bestselling author Shana Abé, The Second Mrs. Astor tells the sweeping real-life Titanic love story of Madeleine Force, who became the teenaged bride of one of the world's richest men, and triumphed over tragedy and heartache.

"I won't begin with our ending, which everyone in the world knows anyway. Our beginning, however, belonged only to us..."

Madeleine Talmage Force is just seventeen when she attracts the attention of John Jacob "Jack" Astor. Madeleine is beautiful, intelligent, and solidly upper-class, but the Astors are in a league apart. Jack's mother was the Mrs. Astor, American royalty and New York's most formidable socialite. Jack is dashing and industrious--a hero of the Spanish-American war, an inventor, and a canny businessman. Despite their twenty-nine-year age difference, and the scandal of Jack's recent divorce, Madeleine falls headlong into love--and becomes the press's favorite target.

On their extended honeymoon in Egypt, the newlyweds finally find a measure of peace from photographers and journalists. Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time--and is happily pregnant. The couple plans to return home in the spring of 1912, aboard an opulent new ocean liner. When the ship hits an iceberg close to midnight on April 14th, there is no immediate panic. The swift, state-of-the-art RMS Titanic seems unsinkable. As Jack helps Madeleine into a lifeboat, he assures her that he'll see her soon in New York...

Four months later, at the Astors' Fifth Avenue mansion, a widowed Madeleine gives birth to their son. In the wake of the disaster, the press has elevated her to the status of virtuous, tragic heroine. But Madeleine's most important decision still lies ahead: whether to accept the role assigned to her, or carve out her own remarkable path.

Expected publication: August 31st 2021

preorder here

Two Truths and a Lie - Book Review

 

Two Truths and a Lie

by Sarah Pinsker 

What is it about:

Stella thought she’d made up a lie on the spot, asking her childhood friend if he remembered the strange public broadcast TV show with the unsettling host she and all the neighborhood kids appeared on years ago. But he does remember. And so does her mom. So why doesn’t Stella? The more she investigates the show and the grip it has on her hometown, the eerier the mystery grows.

What did I think of it:

This story won in the Best Novelette category in the Nebula Awards this year, so I decided to give it a try.

This is a strange little story I can tell you. It starts out normal enough, Stella is visiting the town where she grew up for a funeral and volunteers to help the brother of the deceased clean up the home of his late brother. She is used to tell lies and while they work she makes up a story about a local television show, only for her friend to remember that show that she thought she just made up.   

From there on out the story gets stranger and stranger, with a hint of creepiness. I had to read on to find out where things would lead. I was very intrigued by the show and the host of the show, and wouldn't have minded if the story was a bit longer so we could have learned even more about it.

All in all a quick and cool read. I will investigate what else Sarah Pinsker has written.

Why should you read it:

It's a weird and fascinating little story

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