REVIEW: Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

Strands of Bronze and Gold 

by

Jane Nickerson 

Published by:  Random House Children's Books

Released:  March 12, 2013

Source:  Publisher via Netgalley

Goodreads Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.

Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.

My thoughts:

This book was wonderfully written.  Kudos to Jane Nickerson on her debut!

Strands of Bronze and Gold was both creepy and intriguing. Bernard scared the crap out of me and gave me the heebie jeebies.  He was a very strong character.  Probably the strongest I've ever read.  But I felt like he had nothing but hate inside him.  Sophia, on the other hand, was full of emotion, maybe to a fault?  She was very weak and there were times I just wanted to smack some sense into her.  I know the slavery bit is somewhat controversial, but that's the way it was.  That's not to say that it wasn't hard reading about it.

The ending of this book was great.  I don't know how else it should have ended.  Like I said before, the whole book was beautifully written.

REVIEW: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered

by

A.G. Howard

Publisher:  Amulet Books

Released:  January 1, 2013

Source:  Netgalley

Goodreads Summary:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

My thoughts:

I read Splintered almost 2 months ago, and in that time, most of you have already read it.  So I think I'll just tell you my feelings about Splintered.

This book totally blew my mind.  As a debut author, A.G. Howard has a very bright future if she keeps this up. Splintered sucked me in and wouldn't let go.  It creeped me out but I kept going back for more.  The world building was phenomenal.  I felt like I was right there with the characters.  Speaking of the characters, I had a love/hate relationship with Alyssa and Morpheus.  But I adored Jeb.  Alyssa got on my nerves sometimes when she wouldn't open up about things.  I really hated Morpheus until the very, very end.  But his character was like none I've ever read about.  He was amazing.  The way everything worked out in the end gave me chills.  I completely recommend this book to everyone.  There are a couple of mature themes though.

A very deserving 4 stars!!

I would have given it 5 stars but Morpheus really pissed me off most of the time. lol

REVIEW: Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll

By:  Lee Carroll

Publisher:  Random House

Format:  Ebook

Pages:  400

Source:  Netgalley

Published:  2010

Goodreads Summary:

When New York City jewelry designer Garet James stumbles into a strange antiques shop in her neighborhood, her life is about to be turned upside down. John Dee, the enigmatic shopkeeper, commissions her to open a vintage silver box for a generous sum of money. Oddly, the symbol of a swan on the box exactly matches the ring given to her by her deceased mother. Garet can’t believe her luck and this eerie coincidence until she opens the box and otherworldly things start happening. . . .

That evening, the precious silver box is stolen. When Garet begins to investigate, she learns that she has been pulled into a prophecy that is hundreds of years old, and opening the box has unleashed an evil force onto the streets of Manhattan and the world at large. Gradually, Garet pieces together her true identity—one that her deceased mother desperately tried to protect her from. Generations of women in Garet’s family, including her beloved mother, suffered and died at the hands of this prevailing evil. Does Garet possess the power to reclaim the box and defeat this devastating force?

On her journey, she will meet the fey folk who walk unnoticed among humans and a sexy vampire who also happens to be a hedge fund manager that she can’t stop thinking about. But the fairies reveal a desire to overpower mere humans and the seductive vampire has the power to steal the life from her body. Whom can Garet trust to guide her? Using her newfound powers and sharp wit, Garet will muster everything she’s got to shut down the evil taking over her friends, family, New York City, and the world. 

My Thoughts:

This book had so much in it that I liked, I really can't name them all.  I'm going to keep this review simple because I'm on a lot of medication and don't remember a lot of details. LOL  Only really how I felt throughout the book.  I read this while part in the hospital and part when I came home.

I really don't remember any slow parts in this book.  There was always something going on, even if it was behind the scenes.  There were times when it felt like I was so anxious that I was holding my breath.  Then there were times where I was angry at the heroine, Garet.  There is a vampire, fey, demons, and elementals.  I thought it was so interesting how Garet learns about her powers.  I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who likes any type of supernatural.

A BIG 4 STARS!!!

REVIEW: The Green-Eyed Monster

Green-Eyed Monster

by Mike Robinson

Published by:  Curiosity Quills Press

Source:  Netgalley

Goodreads Summary:

Martin Smith and John Becker: bestselling authors with ordinary names and extraordinary minds. Rivals since childhood, they live in the same town and are famous for their uncanny similarity in physical manner and literary voice. When one of them ends up dead at the other's home, an investigation is launched into their dark past, revealing a series of troubling stories from their childhood, adolescence and careers, throughout which lurks the presence of an authorial entity with roots beyond our time or dimension – a sinister entity with far-reaching designs.

My thoughts:

I'm really not sure what to say about this book.  The genre was totally out of my comfort zone and I didn't "get" a lot of it.  But I do have to say that the premise was amazing.  These 2 boys are born and alike in so many way, yet they detest each other and hardly talk.  They act and talk beyond their years.  Strange things also happen when they are around.

It's not that I didn't like the book.  I think it was wonderfully written.  It just wasn't my type.  I think my husband would have really enjoyed it though.  I give it a strong 3 stars!