The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda’s Voice.
Rules
- Grab a book, any book.
- Turn to page 56 (or 56% on ebook).
- Find any sentence that grabs you.
- Post it.
- Link it at Freda’s Voice.
Month: February 2015
Review: The Kiss That Saved Her
The Kiss That Saved Her by E M McCarthy (2015)
eARC (280 pages)
Via: Author
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2015 Alphabet Soup, 2015 Fairytale Retelling, Read 2015
Synopsis
Princess Joanna is expected to marry to protect her kingdom from the threat of war but she loves David, a common man. She will only marry if she loves her husband. Her dearest friend, Prince Samuel, has loved her since he met her. Rumors swirl about Prince Samuel’s relationship with a princess whose country has had a major discovery of gold. Will there be a change of heart? Is there really such a thing as love at first sight?
Find the book: Goodreads
Review: The Winner’s Curse
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (2014)
Hardcover (355 pages)
Rating:
Also by this author: The Winner's Crime, The Winner's Kiss
Also in this series: The Winner's Crime, The Winner's Kiss
Reading Challenges: Read 2015
Synopsis
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.
Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.
Find the book: Goodreads
Top Ten Tuesday: Things I Like/Dislike in Book Romances
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s list is the Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike in Book Romances.
1. Dislike: Insta-Love
First, it’s not even remotely likely. Second, just… no.
2. Dislike: Shallow Love Interest
Especially when it is a love triangle and one of the characters is so one-dimensional.
3. Dislike: Lack of Communication
The entire plot of some books would disappear if the characters actually talked. Communication is kind of a key in a relationship.
4. Dislike: Cheesy-ness
You know those books where you just have to cringe at some parts because they are sooo cheesy. Yeah, I don’t like that so much.
5. Dislike: Romance Being the Entire Plot
I don’t typically read romances. Ever. I prefer books that have a bit more of a plot.
6. Dislike: Stalkers
I hate it when one character is “so in love” that they are basically stalking the other. Not cool.
7. Dislike: Fated Relationship
“We’re just meant to be together. Everyone says so.” Please, no.
8. Like: Developed Romance (and Characters)
Where the characters aren’t just defined by their relationships but at the same time the relationship influences just about everything. This one is kind of hard to explain.
9. Like: When the Girl Can Survive Without the Guy
Sometimes it seems as if the entirety of the girl’s universe revolves around one guy and she doesn’t know what to do when he’s not there. I would much rather read about a girl who can function just fine without the guy (or with the guy for that matter).
10. Like: Friendship First
Relationships typically start as friends first in the real world. Why shouldn’t they in books?
These are the Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike in Book Romances. Feel free to share yours as well and check out the rest of them at The Broke and the Bookish.
And if this doesn’t make the most sense,
I wrote it really late as I was trying not to fall asleep.
Hence, I sometimes ramble… a lot.
Review: Poison Study
Poison Study by Maria V Snyder Series: Study #1
Publisher: Mira (2005)
Audiobook
{10 hours and 26 minutes} (416 pages)
Rating:
Also by this author: Magic Study, Fire Study
Also in this series: Magic Study, Fire Study
Reading Challenges: 2015 Alphabet Soup, Read 2015
Synopsis
About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.
And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.
As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear…
Find the book: Goodreads