Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Rating: 4/5 Hoots

Release Date: Jan 1, 2011

GoodReads.Com Summary:
After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.
Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?
Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

My Review: 
Prom & Prejudice was a delicious little treat! It was a darling book that I devoured in one sitting. It is a great read for those who already know and love Pride & Prejudice, but I think it would also be a perfect start for teens who are interested in Jane Austen but might be hesitant to tackle the original. I loved seeing how all of my favorite P&P characters were portrayed in this updated version- Wickham & Lydia are especially hilarious, and Darcy is swoon-worthy as always. Caroline Bingham is a perfect example of the girl you love to hate.

The private school setting functioned well to tell the story, and I loved the focus on prom dates versus marriages. Eulberg did an excellent job of making the story accessible to teens while preserving the lightness and spirit of Austen's work.

Overall, it followed the original P&P storyline very closely, although there were a few surprises that I enjoyed discovering.

Prom & Prejudice is a great book for romantics and Austen fans and will introduce many new young readers to a beloved story.

In My Mailbox (#5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I had an epic book week- got lots of new titles from the library, found some great YA paperbacks for $1 apiece at BooksAMillion, had an online order come in and more! As you've also probably noticed, I also got an amazing new blog design by my friend Becca at Jumping Jax Designs.

From the Library:
Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler (GoodReads)
Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman (GoodReads)
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (GoodReads)
Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg (GoodReads)
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt (GoodReads)
Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) by Charlaine Harris (GoodReads)
River Marked (Mercy Thompson #5) by Patricia Briggs (GoodReads)

 Purchased:
Hex Education by Emily Gould and Zareen Jaffery (GoodReads)
Abandon by Meg Cabot (Bookperk) (GoodReads)
Roses & Bones by Francesca Lia Block (Bookperk) (GoodReads)
Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan ($1 @ BAM) (GoodReads)
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman ($1 @ BAM) (GoodReads)
I was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott ($1 @ BAM) (GoodReads)
Brunettes Strike Back by Kieran Scott ($1 @ BAM) (GoodReads)
Devilish by Maureen Johnson ($1 @ BAM) (GoodReads)
Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles, Book 2) by Rick Riordan (GoodReads)

 The funny thing is, for all those books I purchased this week, I only spent about $20! It felt like Christmas morning getting all those YA paperbacks for a buck each at BooksAMillion. Plus, a while ago I had ordered Roses & Bones and Abandon in a BOGO deal from BookPerk, but their computer system had a glitch which told everyone their order had been cancelled. Everyone received the books, and BookPerk credited the accounts back to make up for the confusion, so those 2 books were FREE! Yay! I also bought Throne of Fire, which wasn't too bad for a hardcover- $14. I think I did pretty good to get 9 books for $20!

In other good news, my husband and I are on vacation this week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina! It is beautiful although chillier than expected! I have a lot of reading and relaxing on the agenda this week- here's a snapshot of my view from earlier today....Bliss!

Have a great week!

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Rating: 5/5 Hoots


Release Date: March 29, 2011


GoodReads.com Summary:
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

My Review:
Entwined is a gorgeous book!  Heather Dixon presents a new take on the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." Azalea and her sisters are charming, spunky heroines. Their personalities were differentiated well (at least the 3 oldest princesses), and they felt believable to me- Azalea is a good leader and a typical first-born, Bramble lives up to her name with a sharp wit and fiery demeanor, and Clover is tenderhearted and sweet. I loved how the sisters cared for one another and related to each other so well. Their passion for dancing and the joy and freedom it brings them is evident throughout the book- I always appreciate when a character's interests are integrated into their personalities, and this was definitely the case with Entwined.

The princesses' relationship with their father, the King, develops wonderfully over the course of the story. He is both gruff and tender, with a dry sense of humor that pops up from time to time to surprise you.

Keeper is an extremely creepy villain, but he is also strangely enticing. The reader is drawn into his web just as the princesses are, and once he begins to show his true nature it is horrifying! The duality of his beautiful appearance and dancing ability with his cruelty is chilling!

My absolute favorite aspect of the book was by far the romances! Of the many gentleman who come to the palace in an attempt to solve the riddle of where the princesses dance at night, 3 suitors stand out. Each is as different, well-rounded, and enjoyable as the sister he pursues. I loved the Austen-esque mix-ups that ensued and the sweet, romantic gestures each suitor performed. Dixon is skilled at writing lovely kissing scenes with just the right amount of build-up!

Like the dance for which it is named, Entwined will quickly have you entangled in this beautiful book!

**Thanks so much to the lovely and talented Becca at Jumping Jax Designs, who created this AMAZING blog design for me!**

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Rating: 4/5 Hoots


Release Date: April 26, 2011


Summary from GoodReads.com:
Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.
Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

My Review:

I adored Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, so I was thrilled to be able to get The Last Little Blue Envelope from NetGalley. This book was a lovely follow-up to the original. We pick up with Ginny, more mature and willing to take risks after her first European adventure, but struggling to capture that experience in a meaningful way in her college application essays. The adventure with the final envelope from her Aunt Peg gives her an opportunity to figure out a few more things about herself, her aunt,  and her future. In this book Ginny doesn't experience as much personal growth and change as she did in the first one, but she is able to use her new strengths to cope with the ups and downs she experiences as she follows the last letter's instructions.

Readers who loved the European travel in Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes will be pleased that the spirit of adventure and spontanaeity is prevalent in this book too. It is so much fun to read about Ginny's travels!

My favorite aspect of the book is the cast of characters. Each of them are unique and well-developed. My absolute favorite character is Ginny's uncle Richard, he is so sweet and funny and he is always there for Ginny. It is also fun (but bittersweet) to get to know Ginny's Aunt Peg through her letters and through the memories her friends share about her. I could totally relate to Ginny's experience with Ellis, her maybe-boyfriend's maybe-girlfriend...she is too sweet and bubbly to dislike, no matter how much you want to! The only character I was disappointed in was Keith...I felt that he was a little over the top with bullying Oliver and it was hard to see what Ginny found attractive about him.

The romance in the story was enjoyable...it was a little bit predictable but still satisfying, with a wonderful kiss too!

Overall, The Last Little Blue Envelope was a great read, with elements of romance, adventure and self-discovery that readers will love.

In My Mailbox (#4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Purchased:
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin (GoodReads)


From the Library:
Strings Attached by Judy Blundell (GoodReads)
Confessions of a Not It Girl by Melissa Kantor (GoodReads)
Little Princes by Conor Grennan (GoodReads)
The Hidden Gallery (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, #2) by Maryrose Wood (GoodReads)

From NetGalley:
Wherever You Go by Heather Davis (GoodReads)
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (GoodReads)
68 Knots by Michael Roberts Evans (GoodReads)
Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban (GoodReads)

Sorry for the lack of posting this week...I have been doing a lot of reading though! I have reviews in the works for: 


Sharks & Boys by Kristen Tracy (GoodReads)
The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch (GoodReads)
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (GoodReads)
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (GoodReads)


Please check back this week to see reviews of these great books and more!


Thanks and Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (#3)

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. This week I received lots of great books from the library- a lot of books I had been waiting for finally came in! I also got some amazing ARCs from NetGalley, and one ARC in the mail that looks awesome too!

From Library:

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge (GoodReads)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (GoodReads)

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins (My Review|GoodReads)

Jenna & Johnah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin (GoodReads)

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent (GoodReads)

Desires of the Dead (Body Finder #2) by Kimberly Derting (My Review | GoodReads)

From NetGalley:

Bumped by Megan McCafferty (GoodReads)

Hereafter by Tara Hudson (GoodReads)

Putting Makeup on Dead People by Jen Violi (GoodReads)
Queen of the Dead (Ghost & the Goth #2) by Stacey Kade (GoodReads)
Sharks & Boys by Kristin Tracy (GoodReads)
Shine by Lauren Myracle (GoodReads)
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (GoodReads)
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (GoodReads)

ARC for review:

Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray (GoodReads)

I am reading My Soul to Take  and Sharks & Boys right now, so look for those reviews coming soon!

Have a great week of reading, everyone!

Demonglass by Rachel Hawking

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Rating: 5/5 Hoots


Release Date: March 1, 2011


GoodReads.com Summary:
Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My Review:
I absolutely loved Demonglass! I read Hex Hall last year, and while I enjoyed it I wasn't overly impressed. Maybe I was just in a funk when I read the first book, because I adored this one! Sophie is such a fun, compelling character. I love her sarcastic sense of humor- something she and I definitely have in common! Many of her one-liners had me laughing out loud. In Demonglass, one of the things she struggles a bit with is learning who she should trust- she has been betrayed before, or so it seems, and many of the people in her world are not who they seem.

Sophie's friends and family are great as well- Jenna is a supportive, loyal BFF, plus she is an uber-girly, pink-loving vampire- what a combo! Nick and Daisy are creepy, but so interesting! And who could forget the TWO swoon-worthy guys- Archer, the heartbreaker she fell for in book 1, and  Cal, the cute, quiet boy with a talent for healing and growing things. You can't go wrong with those two! Sophie gets to know her father better in this book as well, and there is a lot more to him than we saw in the first book!

Another issue that Sophie is working through in this book is learning to embrace her demon side. It is hard for her to decide whether to risk eventually hurting someone and keeping her powers or to attempt going through the Removal to ensure she never does. Although the demon aspect of the story is truly unique, I think teens will relate to Sophie's struggle to reconcile all the different parts of her self.


The story was fast-paced and quickly drew me in.  Hawkins deftly weaves together elements of friendship, romance, politics and self discovery to create a story I did not want to leave. I was reading it on my lunch break and I hated to put it down and go back to work! I had to finish it as soon as I got home. 


I hope the next book is coming out soon, because I cannot wait to find out what happens to Sophie and her friends!