Follow My Book Blog Friday (101)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Bookshelf Tour. Give us a tour of your bookshelf. 

Answer: Well, I'm at school. And it would be impossible to have all of the books I have at home here, so I only bring books that I want to read between now and the next time I go home (which is about three weeks at a time). I still want a good selection to choose from for when I need a new book, but it's not nearly as much as I have at home. But, I'm not at home so you'll have a nice, small tour of my nice, small bookshelf in my apartment!

Book Review: The Proposal by Mary Balogh

The Proposal 

By Mary Balogh

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Source: Librarything

Summary: Gwendoline, Lady Muir, has seen her share of tragedy, especially since a freak accident took her husband much too soon. Content in a quiet life with friends and family, the young widow has no desire to marry again. But when Hugo, Lord Trentham, scoops her up in his arms after a fall, she feels a sensation that both shocks and emboldens her.
 
Hugo never intends to kiss Lady Muir, and frankly, he judges her to be a spoiled, frivolous—if beautiful—aristocrat. He is a gentleman in name only: a soldier whose bravery earned him a title; a merchant’s son who inherited his wealth. He is happiest when working the land, but duty and title now demand that he finds a wife. He doesn’t wish to court Lady Muir, nor have any role in the society games her kind thrives upon. Yet Hugo has never craved a woman more; Gwen’s guileless manner, infectious laugh, and lovely face have ruined him for any other woman. He wants her, but will she have him?
 
The hard, dour ex-military officer who so gently carried Gwen to safety is a man who needs a lesson in winning a woman’s heart. Despite her cautious nature, Gwen cannot ignore the attraction. As their two vastly different worlds come together, both will be challenged in unforeseen ways. But through courtship and seduction, Gwen soon finds that with each kiss, and with every caress, she cannot resist Hugo’s devotion, his desire, his love, and the promise of forever.

Review: Oh historical romances, how I've missed you! It's been too long since I've read a historical romance, so I was one happy girl when I cracked open this one and entered the prim and proper world of the lords and ladies of London. 

Hugo is used to his quiet, middle class life. Even when he's given the title of a Lord and all the money that comes with it after leading a suicide mission during the war that helped his side win, Hugo can't stand that lavish lifestyle. However, with his new title comes a duty and he knows he must find a wife soon. And Gwendoline is the last person who wants that role. After her husband died, Gwen is perfectly content to live her widowed life in society with her friends and family. But when Hugo rescues her from a nasty fall, nurses her back to health, and shows up at her home to ask for her help with his sister, there's no denying this Lord is captivating. Is Gwen ready to settle down again, and could Hugo really have found the woman he's always wanted? 

From the very beginning, you know Hugo and Gwen's relationship is going to be entertaining. As soon as they meet, Hugo is hard-headed and Gwen isn't going to let a man throw her around. As they butt heads, their banter is so fun and I love how they can let their true selves show with each other instead of always being proper and perfect. 

Hugo and Gwen's relationship doesn't start off too well, so I loved watching their relationship grow and how they fall for each other as the story progresses. Two people as stubborn as Gwen and Hugo couldn't be more perfect for each other. Though this book lacked any extreme "wow" moments, it was still a sweet read. The addition of the side stories and romances of the other characters was cute and let us get to know everyone in the main characters' lives. 

While this one wasn't the best historical romance I've read, it was a sweet, easy read that I still enjoyed. The way the characters interacted was fun and the historical London society was perfect. For an enjoyable historical romance, go ahead and pick up Mary Balogh's latest release. Now, all I can do is wait for the second book in the series to come out in August. I can't wait to read Vincent's story next!

Waiting On Wednesday (107)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

A Mad, Wicked Folly

By Sharon Biggs Waller

Release Date: January 23, 2014

Summary: Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.
            
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

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First off, can I just point out how gorgeous the cover of this one is? I didn't even know it was about before I added it to my to-read shelf on Goodreads. Reading the summary, this books sounds even better! I love historical fiction, but I don't really read that much historical YA. After reading the summary, how can I resist the fabulously wealthy world of 1909 London? The premise sounds so good and I can't wait to read about Vicky and the wild life she lives in this intriguing time period. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish Were Taught In Schools

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books I Wish Were Taught In Schools

I did a post similar to this topic for my Follow Friday meme a couple of weeks ago, so for this one I'll make sure to include the books that I wish were taught in schools that I didn't get to read in high school. There were quite a few classics I had to miss out on in high school and read myself. So here's the list!

Classics

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

2. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

4. Persuasion by Jane Austen

5. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair 

Fiction

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

3. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

4. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

5. Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Book Review: Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Gated

By Amy Christine Parker

Release Date: August 6, 2013

Source: Publisher

Summary: Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.
Review: One look at this cover, and I knew this book was going to be a good one. I hadn't even read the synopsis before opening up this one, and boy was I in for a surprise!

For the past 10 years, Lyla's been living safely in Mandrodage Meadows under Pioneer's protection. After 9/11 Lyla and her family moved to the Meadows to escape the evils of the world and seek protection for the end of the world. Lyla has followed Pioneer's rules ever since her family moved, but with the end of the world quickly approaching, Lyla finds life in the meadows harder and harder to happily accept. 

I normally don't read books about the end of the world, but there was something about this one. As soon as I started to read it, I just couldn't put it down. Lyla's lifestyle sounds like a cult, and I was so intrigued to find out if things were real or not. Were they crazy or was the world really going to end? And when Cody shows up, things start getting even more questionable. 

From the first page, you know Lyla is different. She has problems with flat out killing a person, even if it's an order from the beloved Pioneer. Is she that weak? Or does she have an inkling that something is wrong? I love how she has to deal with all of the questions and doubts in her head, especially considering the Meadows is everything she's ever known. Her family is there and her intended, Will, who's been her best friend since she moved there. 

The beginning was a bit slow for my taste, and things didn't really start to pick up until more than halfway into the story, but once they started to pick up, things didn't stop until the end. They sped up so much, though, that I don't think everything was fully explained as much as I would have liked it in the end. But there were definitely heart pumping moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. 

I haven't read anything like Gated before, and I'm happy to say it was a pretty great read! Once you get through the slower parts, you won't want to put this book down. With so much doubt and questions that pop up along the way, Gated is an intriguing book you have to check out.

Weekly Roundup [8/27-9/2]

This week has been one of the longest weeks I've had in awhile. You know why? Classes have started up! I'm taking 20 credit hours this semester, so there's barely any time to think, let alone do my homework. Add on top of that Quidditch practice and running my two other clubs (knitting and my book club) and it seems like there's no break. But I love staying busy, so hopefully things will start settling down and time will start moving at its normal pace again. As long as I get to read my books, I'll be a happy girl :)

Book Reviews

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Revealing Us by Lisa Renee Jones

Memes

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Memorable Secondary Characters

Waiting On Wednesday (106)

Follow My Book Blog Friday (100)

Stacking the Shelves (64)

Book Review: Revealing Us by Lisa Renee Jones

Revealing Us

By Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: September 10, 2013

Summary: The third installment in the sexy Inside Out erotic romance series—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

You've discovered Rebecca's secrets. You've discovered Sara's secrets. Now Sara will discover "his" deepest, darkest secrets...but will those secrets bind them together--or tear them apart?

Review: I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, so when the third book showed up on my door, I did a little happy dance, then went straight to my room to crack into it. 

Now that the secret about what really happened to Rebecca, Sara thought there couldn't possibly be any more trouble. But life is never that easy, and Chris has some dark secrets of his own that Sara isn't sure if she's ready to face yet, or even at all. 

Normally, I love Sara's story about finding herself in a world that is unlike anything she's ever been in before. She's working in the art world and dating an incredibly sexy painter. But, of course, that painter has some damaging secrets that he just can't seem to open up about. But to me, that's what makes Chris so amazing. He's such a caring, talented guy, but he really does have some dangerous secrets. 

While I still loved the characters, I felt like this story was a lot slower and not as exciting as the first two books. Sara and Chris are incredibly happy, get into a fight, make up, then things get awkward, then they make up...I feel like that's all that happened. Sara is still super insecure and she sort of got annoying by the end with how she was acting. Really? I know you're trying to be a good person, but try to be smart for once please. It was nice, though, to meet some new characters that befriend Sara and some characters from Chris's secret past. 

Sadly, Revealing Us was not as great as I was expecting. I wanted more romance, suspense, and intrigue, but instead the story was too slow and more talk than action. The end, though, is what made this story exciting. Now, even though I wasn't that into the story, I can't wait for the next book to come out to see what happens next.