Blog Tour + Review/Giveaway: The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

The Secret of Pembrooke Park 

By Julie Klassen

Release Date: December 2, 2014

Source: Blog Tour

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Summary: Abigail Foster fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry to improve her charms and the one man she thought might marry her--a longtime friend--has fallen for her younger, prettier sister. 
When financial problems force her family to sell their London home, a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play . . . 

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem to know something about the manor's past, the only information they offer Abigail is a warning: Beware trespassers who may be drawn by rumors that Pembrooke contains a secret room filled with treasure. 

Hoping to improve her family's financial situation, Abigail surreptitiously searches for the hidden room, but the arrival of anonymous letters addressed to her, with clues about the room and the past, bring discoveries even more startling. As secrets come to light, will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks...or very real danger?

Review: As a huge fan of Jane Austen and Jane Eyre, I was definitely intrigued by this book. With the promise of a gothic mystery in an extravagant old home, I couldn't wait to discover the secrets that Pembrooke Park had to offer. 

When her father loses their family fortune in an investment gone wrong, Abigail Foster has taken it upon herself to help set up their new home at Pembrooke Park. Still hurting from how her childhood best friend brushed her aside for her beautiful younger sister, Abigail is certain she will become a spinster. As her stay at Pembrooke Park begins, though, she is quickly enamored with the local curate as things around Pembrooke Park become stranger and scarier. With strange sounds around the home and surprise visitors around every corner, Abigail puts it upon herself to uncover the secrets that may lead to the notorious treasure of Pembrooke Park. 

While this book was pretty long, there sure was a lot of suspense, mystery, secrecy, and danger put into the story. From the beginning, Pembrooke Park is described as a very strange place. Everything was simply abandoned and not touched for years, that is until Abigail moves in with her family. I definitely got the nods to Jane Austen and Jane Eyre from this book, especially with romance and the creepiness of the house as a whole. Strange noises would come from the house and there were definitely more than one shady character running around keeping secrets of their own. While I was kind of annoyed with how much the characters would hint at a secret but wouldn't just tell us what it was already, I enjoyed the suspense and hunt to uncover the secret hidden treasure of Pembrooke Park. 

When Abigail wasn't snooping around the house or around town to uncover secrets of the past, she was spending some quality time with William, the local curate. I thought that their relationship was adorable and liked how the time period didn't make it okay for them to just give into their feelings. Abigail had to think about her future, her family, and her other potential suitors and couldn't just go ahead and kiss William just because she wanted to. William, though, was determined to show her how much he cared for her and it was adorable how nice and sweet he was. The other characters were great too, especially since you didn't know who you could trust or who was hiding what. The not knowing made for a suspenseful read, but by the end I just wanted to know the secrets already! 

Overall, The Secret of Pembrooke Park was an intriguing read that was something I just wanted to cozy up with and get lost in the world of secrets. It was a pretty fast read and I enjoyed the time period, full of courtship, balls, and inheritances that could very well be the death of you…

About the Author

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn more about Julie and her books at http://julieklassen.com/.

Giveaway

Win One of Four Fabulous Prizes

In celebration of the release of The Secret of Pembrooke Park, four chances to win copies of Julie’s books and other Jane Austen-inspired items are being offered.

Three lucky winners will receive one trade paperback or eBook copy of The Secret of Pembrooke Park, and one grand prize winner will receive one copy of all eight of Julie’s novels: Lady of Milkweed Manor, The Apothecary's Daughter, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Tutor’s Daughter, The Dancing Master, and The Secret of Pembrooke Park, one DVD of Northanger Abbey (2007) and a Jane Austen Action Figure.

To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment on any or all of the blog stops on The Secret of Pembrooke Park Blog Tour starting February 16, 2015 through 11:59 pm PT, March 9, 2015. Winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments and announced on Julie Klassen’s website on March 16, 2015. Winners have until March 22, 2015 to claim their prize. The giveaway contest is open to residents of the US, UK, and Canada. Digital books will be sent through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Good luck to all!

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOK PARK BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

February 16              My Jane Austen Book Club (Guest Blog)

February 16              vvb32 Reads (Excerpt)                               

February 17              Psychotic State Book Reviews (Review)

February 17              My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice (Spotlight)      

February 18              Addicted to Jane Austen (Review)                                 

February 18              Peeking Between the Pages (Review)                                      

February 19              Jane Austen in Vermont (Interview)                                           

February 19              Living Read Girl (Review)                                      

February 20              My Love for Jane Austen (Excerpt)                                             

February 20              Truth, Beauty, Freedom & Books (Review)                              

February 20              Laura's Reviews (Guest Blog)                                         

February 21              A Bookish Way of Life (Review)                                      

February 21              Romantic Historical Reviews (Excerpt)                         

February 22              Reflections of a Book Addict (Review)                                      

February 23              Austenesque Reviews (Guest Blog)                                          

February 23              Peace, Love, Books (Review)                                          

February 24              vvb32 Reads (Review)                                           

February 24              Poof Books (Excerpt)

February 25              Babblings of a Bookworm (Review)                                           

February 25              Austenesque Reviews (Review)                                     

February 25              Luxury Reading (Review)

February 26              So Little Time…So Much to Read (Review)

February 26              More Agreeably Engaged (Excerpt)

February 27              Psychotic State Book Reviews (Interview)                               

February 27              Booktalk & More (Review)

February 28              Laughing with Lizzie (Spotlight)

February 28              The Calico Critic (Review)

March 01                   Leatherbound Reviews (Excerpt)                                                

March 01                   Delighted Reader (Review)

March 02                   CozyNookBks (Review)                                         

March 02                   Laura's Reviews (Review)                                                

Weekly Roundup [2/17-2/23]

WHAT IS UP WITH THIS WEATHER. We had Monday off for President's Day and then had a snow day Tuesday and Wednesday, and then a "cold day" on Thursday and Friday because temperatures were as low as -15 here. So I had the entire week off from school! While it was great being able to read all day, I couldn't really go anywhere and had to brave the cold/snow just to get to the rec to workout. I haven't been able to run outside in over a week and I miss it so much. Treadmills just aren't the same. But since I haven't had school, I've read a book a day this past week and I read some pretty darn good books! Now, though, it's back to reality and finally back to school…

Book Reviews

The Raven Boys by maggie Stiefvater

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by LB Simmons

Hero by Samantha Young

Memes

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Related Problems I Have

Waiting On Wednesday (182)

Stacking the Shelves (136)

Miscellaneous

Release Day Launch: Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead

Release Day Launch + Giveaway: Lure by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Book Review: Hero by Samantha Young

Hero

By Samantha Young

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Source: Publisher

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Summary: Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that her mother and she weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again…. 

Review: HOW IS SAMANTHA YOUNG SO PERFECT. Okay, so I don't know anything about her as a person, but her writing is pure perfection. Her On Dublin Street series is one of my favorite series of all time, so I was definitely excited to read her new standalone that promised an unforgettable romance. 

Alexa Holland's family came tumbling down when she discovered her father's horrible secret. Alexa has tried had to build a life to avoid his reputation, but when she's confronted with the man who was affected by her father's mistakes, Alexa is determined to help him. Caine Carraway wants absolutely nothing to do with a Holland, but Alexa is too stubborn and determined, so he hires her as his personal assistant to teach her a lesson. Instead of pushing her away, though, Alexa and Caine discover an immense attraction for one another and have a very hard time resisting…until they don't. But Caine knows he could never be enough for Alexa, no matter how hard Alexa tries to show him otherwise. 

Oh. Em. Gee. This book. THIS BOOK. I mean, I knew it was going to be good, but I ended up devouring this book in one day because I just could not get enough of Alexa and Caine. The first thing I loved about this book was how honestly funny it was. I loved Alexa's snarky attitude towards Caine and how they constantly bantered with one another. I laughed out loud multiple times and think that the dialogue between those two was just spectacular. They drove each other crazy yet they couldn't ignore the super intense chemistry going on. And boy, did they have chemistry. Those two were on fire, but, of course, there were emotions that got in the way…

Normally I'm not a huge fan of books where one or both characters constantly push each other away, but Samantha Young did such a good job at making their relationship believable. Caine threw up his walls, but Alexa always knew when and why he was being distant and did everything in her power to try to bring him back to her again. Wow, though. That secret Caine was holding in was so sad and definitely not what I was expecting, which made this book an even more emotional ride than it already was. Alexa was dealing with very tough family issues and Caine was just dealing with his guilt and feeling of not being good enough for anyone…oh Caine! Even though he acted all stubborn, dangerous, and demanding, he definitely had his sweet side that just swept me off my feet. If anything, you MUST read this book to have Caine Carraway in you life. 

Samantha Young is an author who not only understands romance, but knows how to create a romance that is utterly addicting, emotional, and just so freaking good! Caine was the perfect balance between dominating and sweet, and Alexa was the perfect woman to bring him to his knees. Not only did Alexa and Caine have to worry about themselves in their relationship, but they also had the real world to deal with as well. And there's even some suspense thrown in just case you weren't addicted enough to the story. Everyone HAS to read Hero and, if you haven't yet, go pick up every other story Samantha Young has ever written. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

Stacking the Shelves (136)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week!

From Barnes & Noble

For some reason, I had no idea that Samantha Young had released a free e-novella on Valentine's Day. I must have been living under a rock because I love Samantha Young's writing and always know when she has a new book coming out. I finished her newest book Hero on Thursday and freaking LOVED IT. I was gushing all about it to my friend Sarah from Words With Sarah and she told me about the novella. Of course, I immediately had to download it! Now I have this beauty waiting on my Nook to be devoured and I can't wait! 

That's it for me! Can you believe it, I spent no money on books this week! Yay for me! Haha, progress people. What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Book Review: The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by LB Simmons

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller

By LB Simmons

Release Date: April 24, 2014

Source: Blog Tour

Amazon | Goodreads

Summary: Death.

For some, it's simply one of life's certainties, nothing more. For others, it's merely a fleeting thought, one often overshadowed by the reckless delusion that they have been blessed with the gift of immortality.

For Aubrey Miller, death is the definition of her very existence. Overcome with the guilt resulting from the loss of her beloved family, she alters her appearance from the once beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl to that of one shrouded in complete darkness, enveloping herself in her own unbreakable fortress of solitude as a form of protection for others.

As she enters her first year of college, her goal is simple: Earn a degree with the least amount of social interaction as possible. What she never anticipates is the formation of very unlikely relationships with two people who will change her life in ways she never believed possible: Quinn Matthews, the boisterous former pageant queen, and Kaeleb McMadden, a childhood friend from her past who never really let her go.

Over the years, as their connections intertwine and grow, a seemingly indestructible bond is formed between the three...

But when death painfully reemerges, Aubrey is lost once again, burying herself deeper than ever before inside the familiar fortification of her fears.

Will the refuge of friendship, the solidarity of life-long bonds, and the power of unconditional love be enough to do the impossible?

Will they be enough to finally bring about...

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller?

Review: One of my friends recommended this book to me about a month ago, so I added it to my to-read list and left it at that. To my surprise, I was offered the chance to review this book about a week later and didn't even hesitate to accept. I was excited to see if this one really was as emotional and amazing as I had been hearing…

Aubrey Miller has spent her whole life causing death. It seems like anyone and everyone she gets close to dies. Her solution? Closing herself off from everyone so that she can never hurt them. Aubrey takes on the identity of Raven, a gothic, pierced, cat-eyed girl who doesn't give a darn about anyone around her. But throughout her first year of college, Aubrey finds herself forming some unlikely friendships with her boisterous college roommate Quinn and Kaeleb, a friend from the past she's tried so hard to run away from. Aubrey finds herself opening up to the real Aubrey, but when death starts taunting her again, Aubrey thinks the only way to save herself and the ones she loves is to bury herself even deeper than before. This time, though, she may not be able to get back out. 

Wow. I was warned that this book would be emotional. But, boy, this book was EMOTIONAL. First, I have to say that I thought LB Simmons did an amazing job pacing this book out. Normally I hate books that take place over multiple years, but she created Aubrey's life in a way that made sense and really showed her growth over her four years of college. The months that were passed over within a couple of pages were sometimes the most powerful, especially those parts when Aubrey became Raven again. JEEZ. I didn't cry in this one (I rarely cry in books), but I was definitely feeling emotionally attached to Aubrey as if she really was one of my friends. My heart ached for her when she made some bad decisions and when she revealed to us and her best friends what had happened in her past that was so hard for her to deal with. The revelations of her past were very well done and not at all overwhelming like they could have been. One tragedy was dealt with at a time, which made the reader feel that much more connected to Aubrey as she slowly dealt with the pain of her past. 

Back in the present, though, involves two of the best characters ever. Quinn and Kaeleb. Secondary characters are so important in a story and I loved how Aubrey had two such unique, supporting, and troubled friends. Quinn and Kaeleb had their own issues, but they were also there to help Aubrey try to heal from her past. Mmmmm, did I mention Kaeleb? Because he is so freaking sweet and adorable and just... *sigh*. I really really loved Kaeleb. I loved how he started off slow and didn't even try to make a move on Aubrey until he was absolutely positive she trusted him, which really did take awhile. Then, when they finally got together, it was just so adorable and I loved how Aubrey felt and acted around him. Even when things started slipping downhill for Aubrey again, he was just…yeah. Amazing. 

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is definitely an emotional ride that slowly creeps up on your heart and, once it latches on, will never let go. All of the characters are amazing and create a story that is so emotional and heartbreaking that it's impossible not to love. I definitely would say that fans of Colleen Hoover would love this book. If you haven't yet, you have to pick up The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller. Just be prepared for some serious feels and a story you won't forget anytime soon.

Book Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) 

By Rick Yancey

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Source: Library
Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Summary: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.

Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. 

Review: ASKDFALSKDJFLASKDNF. Those are literally my feelings about this book right now. In other words? I. Am. Obsessed. And I couldn't even form a coherent thought after finishing this book. I devoured The 5th Wave on a snow day and still can't stop thinking about it. Thank goodness the second book is already out because I have to know what the heck is going to happen next!

4 waves have washed over Earth and destroyed a majority of the population. They've taken out technology, created gigantic tsunamis, created a deadly virus, and now made it impossible for humans to even trust each other. With the 5th wave preparing to unleash, Cassie is determined to save her little brother who was taken by Them. Cassie has learned to trust no one, but when she's save and nurtured back to health by Evan Walker, Cassie ignores every warning within herself and allows herself to believe that she can trust him. When it comes time to try to get her little brother back, Cassie soon realizes that Evan may be her only hope at saving her last remaining family member. 

What. A. Book. To begin this book, we get a look into Cassie's life after the 4th wave and a little explanation of what her life was like before the aliens arrived. From the start, I loved Cassie's character and how relatable she was. She used to be a normal high school girl with a best friend and a crush on the most popular guy in school who she's never really spoken to. Now, after They came, she has to just try to survive. She's not the fastest or the strongest, which you normally get in post-apocalytpic stories, but she has the will to live and I was rooting for her on every single page. When the story first changed from her point of view to following around other characters, I wasn't happy. At all. But as soon as I got into that other character's story, whether it was Sammy or Ben, I was quickly absorbed into their world at that moment and completely forgot about how much I wanted to continue Cassie's story. Every character has something going on that you just HAVE to know more about. What's going to happen to them next? How are they going to get out of THAT situation?? My heart was racing for pretty much this entire book and I could not put it down, even if I wanted to. 

Rick Yancey is a phenomenal writer. Seriously, phenomenal. He gives you just enough information to understand this world the characters are living in, but not enough information to really let you know what's going on. I had NO IDEA who was good, who was bad, who was lying, who was telling the truth. I thought I had it all figured out and then quickly realized I was totally and completely wrong. This made the book so much more interesting and interactive as a reader because I was trying to figure out this complex world and what the aliens were really doing right alongside all of the characters who were actually living in it. Oh my gosh, and the romance. *SWOON* At first, I wasn't to sure about Evan and Cassie's relationship and how it developed, but by the end of the book I was so in love with their romance. Oh, Evan. He's definitely a new book crush for me. And how could the book just end off like that, especially in regards to his storyline?! What happens to Evan!?!?!?! 

If you can't tell, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I don't care who you are, you have to read The 5th Wave. There's sci-fi, action, romance, amazing characters, and mysteries that will force you to keep reading until the very last page. This is definitely one of the best YA books I have ever read and you can bet that I am going to find The Infinite Sea ASAP. If I don't figure out what happens to these characters, I am going to go crazy! So go out and get yourself The 5th Wave so that you can become attached to these characters and this story as much as I did.

Waiting On Wednesday (182)

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

The 27 Club

By Kim Karr

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Summary: You don’t know when…
You don’t get to choose if…
When it’s time to join…you’ll know.

You might think you want to be a member—but trust me this is one club you don’t want to join. It’s not a place where people go to live out their deepest, darkest sexual desires—there are no handcuffs or blindfolds.

The 27 Club only admits those who die young and tragically. My brother was recently bestowed membership and joined many of our ancestors before him. I know I’m next. This is my destiny, and I was ready to yield.

But then I met Nate. He awakened a sensuality in me that had never been explored, never satisfied. I knew then I could no longer accept my destiny. Nate’s presence controls me. I’m overwhelmed by his touch, his words; my every thought is consumed by desire. I believe he was brought into my life for a reason.

Nate doesn’t believe in destiny.

But I do. 

And if there’s a way to cheat it—I must.

--------------------------------

The only thing I've read from Kim Karr is her Connected series and I definitely loved those books. Needless to say, I am beyond excited that she has written a new book to see what else she can come up with. The 27 Club sounds intriguing and I can't wait to see what it has in store for the main characters, especially since the main girl doesn't want to join the club after meeting a guy. It's always the guy that throws things for a loop….