Friday, November 30, 2012

Novemberisms Day 30: Final

Day 30: Final
 

**The last day! Sometime in the next week, I'll post with my favorites from this challenge. Until then...see y'all!


Litfuse Blog Tour: No Safe Harbor



 
Author: Elizabeth Ludwig

Genre: Life, adventure

Series: Edge of Freedom

Number in series: 1st
 
My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5 (a high 8.5)

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 330

Time period: 1800’s (late 1800’s)

Goodreads blurb: Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she'd thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh.
Despite her brother's warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara's desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke's true intentions come to light.

My overall opinion: A good book, well-written and full of amazing suspense! I usually associate suspense with books set in the present, but this one had a full dose…and was set in the late 1800’s. It was exciting and full of action! And I love the cover. Little side note there. Beautiful, and just right for the book. No Safe Harbor included (as mentioned) a bunch of suspense and just a little romance. One of the ending scenes was a little over-dramatic, I thought…something that reads very well, but almost certainly wouldn’t happen in real life. Other than that, it was realistic and kept me turning the pages until late at night! I enjoyed it and will read more by Elizabeth Ludwig. 

**I was sent a free copy of this book by Litfuse in return for a review. I was not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.** 

Giveaway coming soon! :) If you can't wait, just go ahead and buy it -- it'll be worth it, I promise. :)
 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Novemberisms Day 29: Advice

Day 29: Advice
 

**I haven't undertaken to give y'all advice too often...but this piece is good. :)**

Birthdays Today

There are a couple of notable birthdays today...and yes, you need to know about them. They are...

Louisa May Alcott
November 29, 1832 - March 6, 1888 -- today she is 180

You know her because she wrote Little Women and Eight Cousins among many others. 

C. S. Lewis (or Clive Staples Lewis)


November 29, 1898 - November 22, 1963 -- today he is 115.

You know him because he wrote the splendid Chronicles of Narnia (seven books) and others, like Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce. 

Madeleine L'Engle 




November 29, 1918 - September 6, 2007 -- today she is 95. 

You know her because she wrote A Wrinkle in Time and Meet the Austins and others.

Tuesdays at the Castle



Author: Jessica Day George

Genre: Fairy tale

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 225

Time period: Fantasy

My overall opinion: Great fun fairy tale! I love fairy tales, and this one is no exception. All the perfect elements combined here…magic, knights, adventure, bravery, and a highly imaginative yet almost believable story! And trust me – the latter is NOT easy to achieve. Great personages within the story, I enjoyed them all immensely. A wonderful book for any pre-teen, teen, or adult. Highly pleasurable!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Novemberisms Day 28: Musical

Day 28: Musical
 
 
 
**People! We're almost done with Novemberisms! What a day to remember...**
 
**Do you listen to any of these CD's? If so, which ones? What are your favorite Christmas CD's? And that's Katherine Jenkins' CD with the white cover, not her newer (awesome) one, which I was so silly as to loan out to my friends. And that stack..well, it's not all my favorites. It's missing Scotty McCreery. And some others. And I'm rambling now, so I'll just stop. :)**
 


My Father’s Daughter



Author: E. L. Konigsburg

Genre: Life, family

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 118

My overall opinion: It was an okay read, but a little confusing at the end.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Novemberisms Day 27: AaMera

Day 27: AaMera


**My camera, my eye, and the book...mostly. Interesting, yes?**

Lady in Waiting



Author: Susan Meissner

Genre: Life (I feel like I way over-use this tag, but I don’t know what other one to use!)

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Historical fiction, fiction (contemporary)

Number of pages: 336

Time period: Present, 1500s

My overall opinion: Enjoyable! It’s two stories, neatly entwined, one contemporary, one historical fiction about Lady Jane Grey (a fascinating character). The stories were not every other chapter (thankfully) but more like every five or ten it would switch, in an obvious manner. I liked the Lady Jane parts most. It seemed historically accurate as far as everything else I’ve read about that goes, and the note at the end explained. I will keep this book! :)

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Smile



Author: Donna Jo Napoli


Genre: Life

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 257

Time period: 1400s

My overall opinion: Tolerably interesting. First person, present tense, but not annoying like some books like that are. It was an interesting peek into life in Leonardo da Vinci’s time. There was a little too much detail a few times, but I’d say it’s okay for about 16+. And I enjoyed the author’s note about what was fiction and what was not! Overall, an okay book, but not one that I loved.

Novemberisms Day 26: Lampish

Day 26: Lampish
 
 
**A book on top of a lamp. A novel thought, I suppose.**

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Novemberisms Day 25: Book

Day 25: Book
 
 
**Basic title. Very basic. I'm in a hurry. :) But there you go!**

Cinder



Author: Marissa Meyer
 
Genre: Fairy tale, fantasy

Series: The Lunar Chronicles

Number in series: 1st
 
My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 391

Time period: Fantasy

My overall opinion: Intriguing. I couldn’t have stopped reading it if I’d wanted to… But it was strange. And weird. Yeah. Almost enjoyable…I don’t quite know what to think of it. It’s not for everyone – my sister started it and wasn’t interested in finishing. I think I enjoyed it…mostly at least.