Review: Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #3
Publication Date: September 18th, 2018
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Genera: YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis: Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea.

It's up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer's horrifying finale?

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

The Stalking Jack the Ripper series has been amazing thus far, but Escaping from Houdini was definitely the weakest book.

Audrey Rose and Thomas are travelling to New York via the RMS Etruria, a luxurious passenger boat with lots of activities planned to keep the passengers happy. The Moonlight Carnival is on the ship to perform for the guests, but when a passenger is murdered during the first show, everyone puts blame onto the Carnival. It is up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to solve the mystery of who is truly behind the murders and clear the carnival's name, but the closer they get to New York, the less time they have to solve the case.

One of the main things I have loved about this series was that there was no love triangle, it was just Audrey Rose and Thomas on their adventures. Unfortunately in this book, Audrey Rose begins to have feelings for someone other than Thomas and the readers must suffer through another love triangle. I honestly found this to be unnecessary and I know I'm not the only one who groaned when Audrey Rose was falling for someone else, especially this late in the series.

While I didn't enjoy the character development whatsoever, I did like the other aspects of the book like the setting (even though its on a boat there is still lots going on) and the pace of the story. The mystery aspect was also very well written, as I was constantly guessing who the murderer could be.

Overall, I will be definitely continuing with this series, with strong hopes that there are no more love triangles in the future of these books.

Huge thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Publication Date: September 25th, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genera: YA, Historical Fiction
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend.

Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.

But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

Review: My Plain Jane

Series: My Lady Janies #2
Publication Date: June 26th, 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genera: YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: You may think you know the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she marries him. (!!!)

Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

Is it a Retelling? Is it fantasy? Is it a comedy? My Plain Jane is all of those combined. It is the perfect combination of an old story, mixed with humour and a bit of paranormal activity to make it into a wonderful story, perfect for all readers.

Jane Eyre can see ghosts, in fact her best friend is a ghost. When Jane runs into Mr. Alexander Blackwood, a member of the Society for the Relocation of Wayward Spirits, Blackwood can tell that Jane can see ghosts, and will do whatever it takes to recruit Jane. Jane wants nothing more than leave her school, but her love for ghosts and her friendship with them prevents her from joining the society, so when an opportunity presents itself for Jane to be a governess at Thornfield Hall, Jane jumps at the opportunity and leaves. But the ghostly world is stirring, and members of the society have been disappearing, Jane Eyre might just be the only hope for the relocation of spirits.

Just like the first book, I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. The comedic writing, the retelling of a classic story, and making it even more entertaining by adding the supernatural. There was honestly nothing I didn't like about the story.

By far, my favourite character was Miss Charlotte Bronte, a young aspiring writer who jumps at the opportunity for adventure. I loved reading from her point of view just because she was so smart and caring, and her character development was absolutely fantastic throughout the novel. I loved watching her grow and develop feelings for Mr. Blackwood, as well as continue working on her novel and reach her achievements. 

Jane was also a fantastic character, although I didn't enjoy her point of view as much as I did Charlotte's. Jane is a very kind and reserved woman, and while I loved reading about how she steps out of her comfort zone and grows into a strong woman, there were also some parts of her story that were a lot slower than the stories of other characters. Her character development was really good at the end, but it took her a long time to get there.

I absolutely loved the setting and the plot of the story. I'm a huge fan of victorian era London, plus all the descriptions the authors provided created a beautiful scene that I absolutely adored. The plot and pace of the story were perfect as well. The story had just enough action to keep the reader interested, but not too much action as to provide enough character development. Everything built up very nicely for the ending, and the few chapters after the climax of the story explained all my questions regarding what happens to the beloved characters.

Even though this is the second book in a series, you do not have to read My Lady Jane before you read this book, they are two separate books. You also don't have to read Jane Eyre before reading this story, as the authors explain everything to you very clearly. 

Overall, I adore this series and this book was just as good as the first one in the series. I loved everything about it. I cannot wait to continue this series in the future.

Happy Reading,

Aneta 

Review: The Unbinding of Mary Reade by Miriam McNamara

Publication Date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: A clever, romantic novel based on the true story of a girl who disguised herself as a boy to sail with the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Calico Jack—and fell in love with Anne Bonny.

There’s no place for a girl in Mary’s world. Not in the home of her mum, desperately drunk and poor. Not in the household of her wealthy granny, where no girl can be named an heir. And certainly not in the arms of Nat, her childhood love who never knew her for who she was. As a sailor aboard a Caribbean merchant ship, Mary’s livelihood—and her safety—depends on her ability to disguise her gender.

At least, that’s what she thinks is true. But then pirates attack the ship, and in the midst of the gang of cutthroats, Mary spots something she never could have imagined: a girl pirate.

The sight of a girl standing unafraid upon the deck, gun and sword in hand, changes everything. In a split-second decision, Mary turns her gun on her own captain, earning herself the chance to join the account and become a pirate alongside Calico Jack and Anne Bonny.

For the first time, Mary has a shot at freedom. But imagining living as her true self is easier, it seems, than actually doing it. And when Mary finds herself falling for the captain’s mistress, she risks everything—her childhood love, her place among the crew, and even her life.

Breathlessly romantic and brilliantly subversive, The Unbinding of Mary Reade is sure to sweep readers off their feet and make their hearts soar. 

My Rating

3/5 stars

My Review

The Unbinding of Mary Reade is the perfect YA novel for all history fans.

After Mary's brother dies, her mother tries to pass her off as her deceased brother in order to get some money from Mary's grandmother. But when a maid in her grandmother's manor discovers her secret, Mary decides that she would rather prefer a life at sea. When a pirate ship attacks, Mary spots a woman among the other pirates, Anne doesn't have to hide the fact that she's a woman, unlike Mary. Intrigued, Mary decides to shoot her captain and join the life or piracy.

This novel is definitely focused on the history accuracy of the true story of Mary Reade with a little fictional twist, as well as the budding romance in Mary's life. The only thing thats missing is adventure. If you're like me and you need some good action, then this might not be the book for you.

Mary is a great main character. She is a very complex main character and its absolutely wonderful to watch her grow into herself and go throughout her life with her. I really loved the fact that she is based on a real character, it made her that much more interesting to read about.

Overall, I loved the storyline, I loved the history aspect and I loved Mary's character. The only thing I wish was different was increasing the amount of action just to keep the speed of the story going.

Review: Zombie Abbey by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publication Date: April 2018
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: YA, Horror, Historical Fiction
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: 1920, England

And the three teenage Clarke sisters thought what they’d wear to dinner was their biggest problem…

Lady Kate, the entitled eldest.
Lady Grace, lost in the middle and wishing she were braver.
Lady Lizzy, so endlessly sunny, it’s easy to underestimate her.

Then there’s Will Harvey, the proud, to-die-for—and possibly die with!—stable boy; Daniel Murray, the resourceful second footman with a secret; Raymond Allen, the unfortunate-looking young duke; and Fanny Rogers, the unsinkable kitchen maid.

Upstairs! Downstairs! Toss in some farmers and villagers!

None of them ever expected to work together for any reason.

But none of them had ever seen anything like this.

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

Zombie Abbey is a short and hilarious read, perfect for fans of zombies and 1920's England.

When Will Harvey's aunt shoots her husband, no one believes her when she tells people that he was most definitely dead, before rising back to life and trying to kill her. When the zombies reach the Clarke estate, everyone must set aside their differences and work together, or they just might end up dead.

After reading the synopsis of this book I knew that I had to read it. I love the time period that this is set in, and who doesn't love a good zombie story. Although this book is placed in the horror genera, I didn't really think it was that scary. I actually found it to be more funny than scary.

This book is told in the perspectives of many people at the Clarke estate, including the sisters, Will Harvey and the maid. While there was lots of characters I loved, like the youngest sister Lizzy, there was also a lot of characters that I didn't particularly care about. So when I was reading from the point of view from the characters I liked I really enjoyed the story, but when I was reading in the point of view of the characters I didn't care about, the story sometimes seemed to just drag on. I really would have enjoyed the story if it was told in one or two points of view rather than this many.

The plot of the story was good. This book definitely has a slow start, but eventually picks up around half way into the book. But once the action started the book definitely got a lot better and I found myself wanting to continue reading.

While I really enjoyed the story, I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. I think there were a little too many open ended questions about the characters and what happens next to the characters, for me to enjoy the ending. It almost seems like there should be a sequel to this novel, but I don't think there is one.

Overall, I enjoyed most of the characters and the action in this story made me want to keep reading, and not put the book down. I definitely recommend this book if you love Zombies or Jane Austen novels, although if you want action from beginning to end or a sold ending, this might not be the book for you.

Happy Reading,
Aneta 

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Viking's Chosen by Quinn Loftis

The Viking’s Chosen
Quinn Loftis
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: February 12th 2018
Genres: Historical, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis: His orders are clear: launch a raid against England and bring home the spoils of war. But the prophecy is also clear: General Torben will take a foreign bride—one who is a seer and healer just like his mother. The eldest princess of England is said to be just that…a beautiful, charming, and headstrong woman. But he’s a Viking army general and she’s an English princess—and one who is already promised to the king of Tara.
Two worlds collide in this epic historical fiction centered on an undeniable chemistry that smolders against the odds. Richly written and injected with moments of humor, this action-packed romantic tale will leave you breathless.
Quinn Loftis is the author of twenty novels, including the USA Today Bestseller Fate and Fury.

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Request a review copy here!

—

EXCERPT:

“At least he does not resemble the back end of a boar,” Dayna whispered.
I shot my sister a quick nod of agreement and then covertly turned back to peer at my future husband who was currently conversing with my father. After our morning ride, my sister and I had found a hiding spot behind some large drapes just to the left of the room occupied by our guests. It afforded us the surreptitious ability to listen and watch with the two kings interact. Thomas had taken his leave, but not before he informed me of what he thought about our childish behavior. I did not care if I was being childish. I was not ready to meet King Cathal just yet, at least not without a little advance warning of what I would be dealing with.
“You are correct,” I murmured back. “He is not ugly, but his handsomeness is marred by that tight lipped frown. He looks cruel.”
I had been surprised to find that my future husband was not nearly as old as I had thought he would be. If I had to guess, I would put him at eight and thirty, or, at the very oldest, two and forty. His hair was dark, cut close to his head. He had deep green eyes, a hawkish nose, and thin lips that seemed to hold a perpetual scowl. Standing at a little over six feet, King Cathal was lean but obviously muscular. Yes, he was handsome, but the cold, detached look in his eyes ruined any favor I might have found in him.
“Do you think it hurts to hold his face like that?” Dayna asked.
I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. “Perhaps he was just born that way.”
“Tis a shame to be so handsome and yet such a pompous ass.”
“Shh,” I chastised. “That pompous ass could have your head if he felt your offense warranted it.”
“Father would not allow me to be beheaded, Allete” Dayna assured me. “I am his favorite.”
I made a motion with my hand to quiet her so we could hear what it was our father was saying to the king of Tara.
“She has to know by now that I have arrived,” King Cathal was saying. His words came out clipped and low.
“Allete tends to have her own mind about things. I am sure she will join us when she is ready,” King Albric said, attempting to placate his irritated guest.
“And who allows such independent thinking?” Cathal challenged. “A woman should know her place.” His pointed look was aimed at the queen who stood quietly next to King Albric.
Allete was sure her mother was going to smack the rude man, but a subtle hand placed on her mother’s wrist held her in place.
“I understand your frustration, Cathal, but please be considerate of Allete’s situation. She is being courted by a man she has never met. She will be expected to leave with that man in a month’s time and travel to a place that is not her home, where she has no friends, no family. She deserves time to adjust.” King Albric, ever the diplomat, attempted to ease his counterpart’s temper. Based on Cathal’s pinched lips, however, his efforts were wasted.
“Could you at least send for her?” The other king asked in a more civil tone. And then added, “Please,” all be it a bit begrudgingly.
I snatched Dayna’s sleeve and gave it a gentle tug, indicating it was time for us to go. Like mice being hunted by a cat, we scurried from our hiding place and snuck to my bedchamber. We had barely made it inside when there was a knock at the door.
“Enter,” I said, attempting to keep my voice from sounding breathless.
Lidia entered. The look on her face was one of trepidation.
“The king requests your presence,” my handmaiden said in a soft voice.
I smiled at the girl. “Chin up, Lidia. All will be well.”
Lidia let out a huff, her manners momentarily forgotten. “You have not met the man. He is positively awful.” Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened. “Forgive my frankness.”
Dayna laughed. “Allete would never punish you, especially not for telling the truth.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “We already saw him. We spied on them.” Dayna winked, looking completely unrepentant.
Lidia lowered her hand and made an ‘O’ shape with her mouth.
I straightened my dress and pulled my shoulders back. “Might as well face the music. I doubt he is going to turn around and sail back home without me.”

Author Bio:
Quinn is an award winning author who lives in beautiful Western Arkansas with her husband, two sons, Nora the Doberman, and Chewy the Cat who thinks he's a dog. She is the author of 17 novels, and 2 novellas, including the USA Today bestseller, Fate and Fury. Quinn is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Publication Date: April 17th 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Genre: YA, Romance, Historical Fiction 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: Two young people must hide their true feelings for each other while figuring out who means them harm in this cheeky Regency romance from the author of Love, Lies and Spies and Duels & Deception. 

Shy aspiring artist Imogene Chively has just had a successful Season in London, complete with a suitor of her father's approval. Imogene is ambivalent about the young gentleman until he comes to visit her at the Chively estate with his younger brother in tow. When her interest is piqued, however, it is for the wrong brother. 

Charming Ben Steeple has a secret: despite being an architectural apprentice, he has no drawing aptitude. When Imogene offers to teach him, Ben is soon smitten by the young lady he considers his brother's intended. 

But hiding their true feelings becomes the least of their problems when, after a series of "accidents," it becomes apparent that someone means Ben harm. And as their affection for each other grows—despite their efforts to remain just friends—so does the danger. . .

In Suitors and Sabotage, author Cindy Anstey delivers another witty young adult historical fiction novel that is the perfect mix of sweetly romantic and action-packed.

Review: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #2
Publication Date: September 19th 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

Hunting Prince Dracula was absolutely stunning. I loved this book so much, it was just as good as the first one, if not better. I’m already dying to read the next book.

After the death of her brother and the haunting past of the Jack the Ripper case, Audrey Rose cant shake the feeling that she’s being watched. It doesn’t help that now shes living in Dracula’s castle where she has to battle for a spot to attend one of the best medical schools. When a new murderer starts killing students and villagers, and draining them of blood, everyone believes that Dracula has come back to life and is taking his revenge. Could Prince Dracula be immortal, or is someone murdering people in his name.

I forgot how much I adore Audrey Rose. I love her strong personality, she’s not afraid to be a feminist in a time where it was quite scandalous for a woman to act this way, but that doesn’t stop her. She tells people exactly how it is, she won’t let a man undermine her and she is not afraid to outsmart anyone in her class. Honestly I wish that Audrey Rose was a real person, because I would love to be best friends with her.

Her romance with Thomas is as wonderful as ever. This book definitely didn’t have second book syndrome, and their romance was basically the same as from the first book, but slowly moving forward.

The thing I love most about this series is the fact that it always manages to surprise me. I have so many guesses to who the killer really is, but the author always manages to lead me away form the true killer and think “No way it could be this person,” I love it. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how the mystery turns out. 

Overall, I love this series so much. I highly recommend it to everyone, whether you love contemporary, fantasy, or mystery this will be a series you love. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

Review: My Lady Jane

Series: My Lady Janies #1
Publication Date: June 7th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane is about to become the Queen of England.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

A beautifully written novel by some of the best authors. This book will not let you down.

My Lady Jane features the story of three main characters, a dying King Edward, Lady Jane who is set to become the next Queen and Guildford Dudley, the man Jane has been forced to marry. With a fantastic addition of magic to classic history, this book easily became one of my favourites. 

I fell in love with Jane right from the beginning, she is so intelligent and determined, any book lover will fall in love with her immediately. Throughout the book, we see her open up to people, go out of her comfort zone and become a truly amazing character. I also really liked Guildford, her was entertaining and hilarious right from the beginning. I wasn't a huge fan of Edward in the beginning. He was whiny and kind of annoying. He was really clueless not only about his safety but also the relationships he has and what is truly going on around him. After about third of the book, his story really picks up and I really started to enjoy his point of view. His character development was really wonderful.

The world that the authors created was fantastic. The world building was great and every setting was very different yet you could picture it clearly.

These three authors created such an amazing book, not only do you get some valuable history lessons, but it also contains breathtaking fantasy ensuring that the reader never gets bored. Their jokes were absolutely hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud every few chapters.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all YA fans, whether you like fantasy, historical fiction or contemporary. I'm sure you'll fall in love with this one.

Waiting on Wednesday: Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Publication Date: September 19th 2017
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre: YA, Retellings, Historical
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: Six teenagers’ lives intertwine during one thrilling summer full of romantic misunderstandings and dangerous deals in this sparkling retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

After she gets kicked out of boarding school, seventeen-year-old Beatrice goes to her uncle’s estate on Long Island. But Hey Nonny Nonny is more than just a rundown old mansion. Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, runs a struggling speakeasy out of the basement—one that might not survive the summer. Along with Prince, a poor young man determined to prove his worth; his brother John, a dark and dangerous agent of the local mob; Benedick, a handsome trust-fund kid trying to become a writer; and Maggie, a beautiful and talented singer; Beatrice and Hero throw all their efforts into planning a massive party to save the speakeasy. Despite all their worries, the summer is beautiful, love is in the air, and Beatrice and Benedick are caught up in a romantic battle of wits that their friends might be quietly orchestrating in the background.

Hilariously clever and utterly charming, McKelle George’s debut novel is full of intrigue and 1920s charm. For fans of Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, and Anna Godbersen.

Waiting on Wednesday: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #2
Publication Date: September 19th, 2017
Publisher: Little Brown & Company 
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

Waiting on Wednesday: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Series: The Conqueror's Saga #2
Publication Date: June 27th 2017
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Breaker & the Sun by Lauren Nicolle Taylor

Breaker & the Sun
Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Series: Paper Stars #2
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: Clean Teen Publishing
Genres: Historical, Young Adult

Synopsis: Times means nothing. It’s just the sun and moon changing places.
New from Lauren Nicolle Taylor, the best-selling author of Nora and Kettle, comes a fresh take on a classic tale.
Breaker Van Winkle is a recently returned Vietnam vet, struggling with PTSD and the difficulties of readjusting to civilian life with his mother. Sunny is a high-achieving eighteen-year-old Chinese-French immigrant who fled Vietnam during the war. Sunny is usually as cheerful as her name implies, but she has her struggles too. Haunted by violent memories of the bombing that killed her parents, and chafing under the rule of her eccentric grandmother, she finds solace deep in the Catskills, at a place she calls the Ugly Tree.
When Breaker stumbles upon Sunny and the Ugly Tree, things start to change. They are drawn to each other, and feel called to the tree. As they spend more time together and their relationship deepens, they notice that their time at the tree is becoming twisted somehow. Sunny’s mind yawns and her ambitions begin to slip away. Breaker feels safe and carefree, his memories finally burying themselves in the distant past. They are being lulled toward a tempting, peaceful sleep—but there is a cost to this magical serenity, and it may be more than either of them can bear…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

ONE GOOD MEMORY

BREAKER

An older man in full uniform approaches us, looking stern and judgmental. He frowns at Tien, and I feel like I want to stand and defend him. Tien stands and salutes the older man, whose crinkly face cracks into a smile. “No need to stand on ceremony here, Tien,” he says gruffly, ruffling his spiky black hair. Then he looks at me. “Don’t let his looks fool you! Tien will take care of you. He’s one of the good guys.”

I frown then. Not sure how to take that. Tien doesn’t seem to mind though.
When the old guy is gone, I nudge Tien. “Are you cool with that? I mean, shit, this must be a little awkward for you sometimes,” I mutter, watching all the white men strolling between groups, their uniforms in varying states of spit and polish.
He shrugs. “It was at first. And yeah, looking like I do, I have to work harder at getting some people to accept me, trust me, but once you know me, well…” He gulps down the rest of his coffee and crushes the cup in his hand. “You can’t help but love me!”
It doesn’t seem fair that he has to work harder. “Doesn’t seem right, man,” I say, shaking my head.
Tien knocks my leg with his knee. “Nope, it isn’t. But what you just said. That right there is enough of a reason to keep trying. Things will change. Name by name. Face by face. I like you already, Breaker!” He’s intoxicatingly hopeful.
I run a hand through my hair. Who would have thought I’d be on this side of the argument?
Tien knocks my knee again. His laugh is full of light. Not sunshine exactly. More like the light from a cluster of stars. It sparkles with magic.
Heart steady. A smile, tinted green, but a smile just the same.
The sun hits the sand, and it sparkles. Palm trees bristle in the warm breeze. If I squint, if I look past the stacks of wooden crates piled on the beach, the dirty men draped over them, it looks like a postcard.
I snap that image for later.
Booze is poured into tin cups, and we sip. We wipe our brows of sweat and tell stories, swap the most mundane details of our lives with each other, building something. This foundation we have to rely on.
Kicking my shoes off, I bury my toes in the sand, watching it cascade over my white, shriveled skin. My feet look like they’ve been in a bath for hours.
I’m staring at them when a disk with colored feathers sprouting from it lands at my feet.
I look up into the expectant grin of a kid, about the same age as Red. He beckons me with his hand, asking me to join the game he’s playing with his friends.
Sarge nods an okay.
Towering over these little Vietnamese kids, I jog to where they’re playing. Quickly, I realize the aim of the game is to keep the feathered disk in the air using whatever I can.
The kids are amazing, back-flipping, twisting, slapping at it with their hands and feet. I try to keep up, and they laugh but encourage me to keep trying.
We’re just kids, playing a game.
Our shouting rattles across the waves. We kick and slap at the ball, we laugh when someone falls over, but offer a hand to help them back up.
My smile cracks open my chest as some fear spills out onto the sand to be collected by the sea.
Some of the other guys join us, and we play until it’s too dark to see.
The sun sprays red and orange over the water, and the kid who invited me slaps my back and winks. He hands me the feathered disk and runs away, laughing and shouting at his friends.
Tien taps my back gently. “Breaker. Where’d you go?”
My mouth feels strange, turned up into a smile.
I’d forgotten about that kid. That good memory.
“Sorry. I was just remembering something,” I mutter.
“Must’ve been a good something,” Tien says, pointing at my mouth.
I chuckle. “Yeah, it was.”

Author Bio:
Lauren Nicolle Taylor lives in the lush Adelaide Hills. The daughter of a Malaysian nuclear physicist and an Australian scientist, she was expected to follow a science career path, attending Adelaide University and completing a Health Science degree with Honours in obstetrics and gynaecology.
She then worked in health research for a short time before having her first child. Due to their extensive health issues, Lauren spent her twenties as a full-time mother/carer to her three children. When her family life settled down, she turned to writing.
She is a 2014 Kindle Book Awards Semi-finalist and a USA Best Book Awards Finalist.

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Review: Maid of the King's Court by Lucy Worsley

Publication Date: March 14th 2017
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction 
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Synopsis: In the vibrant, volatile court of Henry VIII, can even the most willful young woman direct her own fate and follow her heart in a world ruled by powerful men?

Clever, headstrong Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne knows her duty. As the sole heiress to an old but impoverished noble family, Eliza must marry a man of wealth and title — it’s the only fate for a girl of her standing. But when a surprising turn of events lands her in the royal court as a maid of honor to Anne of Cleves, Eliza is drawn into the dizzying, dangerous orbit of Henry the Eighth and struggles to distinguish friend from foe. Is her glamorous flirt of a cousin, Katherine Howard, an ally in this deceptive place, or is she Eliza’s worst enemy? And then there’s Ned Barsby, the king’s handsome page, who is entirely unsuitable for Eliza but impossible to ignore. British historian Lucy Worsley provides a vivid, romantic glimpse of the treachery, tragedy, and thrills of life in the Tudor court. 

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

Maid of the King's Court is a very well written book.

It is the story of Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne (fictional character) during the time of King Henry the VIII. While this is a fictional story, many of the events happened in real life and the author, who is a historian, did an amazing job mixing fantasy with history.

As a child who grew up in Europe, I've heard stories about the mad king who could not bear children and beheaded his wives (don't ask me why they tell children this story). What I didn't know, was the story of the wives that he had.

We live in such an empowering world right now for women, it is easy to forget that before women were treated like little dolls, that were only worth something if they were nice to look at. What the author did in this book was show us the intelligent and cunning side to King Henry the VIII's fifth wife Catherine (Katherine in the book) Howard. Katherine found out that the King is incapable of having any more children, and uses a man with the same genetic background as the King in order to fool him into believing the child is his. Unfortunately Katherine is caught before a chid could be born. I really loved that while playing dumb and slutty, Katherine had an intelligent side to her that she would hide, if she was born during a different time period, she could have been very brilliant.

While this book had an amazing plot and lots of historical details that made the story interesting, I found the beginning of the book to be quite boring. It doesn't pick up until about 40% into the book, which is when Eliza finally reaches the castle of King Henry the VIII, but after she arrives the book is absolutely fantastic, and I could not put it down.

Overall, if you love history and aren't afraid of a slow beginning, definitely give this book a try. It is an informational and fast read, I'm sure you will love it.

Happy Reading,
Aneta