Series: Once Upon A Time

Item: The Rose Bride
Rating: 4
Author: Amanda Marie

Review: The Rose Bride – A Fairy Tale Retelling and a Greek Goddess

Posted August 17, 2015 in Reading, Review / 2 Comments

The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2007)
Paperback (245 pages)
Rating:
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, Sunlight and Shadow
Reading Challenges: 2015 Birthday Month, 2015 Color Coded, 2015 Fairytale Retelling, 2015 Mythology, 2015 Re-Reading, Read 2015

Synopsis

When Rose’s mother dies, her only comfort is the exquisite rose garden her mother left behind. The purple blossoms serve as an assurance of her mother’s love. But Rose is dealt a second blow when her father dies and his greedy widow, Ombrine, and her daughter, Desirée, move in and take over the manor in true Cinderella fashion.
Fate has been cruel to Ombrine and Desirée, too. So despite their harsh ways, Rose has compassion. But these feelings are bitterly tested when, in a rage, Ombrine tears out the garden. Rose nearly gives up all hope—until a chance meeting with the king. Happiness might be within her reach, but first she must prevail over Ombrine. And then she must determine if she has the courage to love.

Find the book: Goodreads

Tagged as 4 star, Birthday Month Reading Challenge, Color Coded Challenge, Fairy Tales, Fairytale Retelling Challenge, Mythology Reading Challenge, Read 2015, Rereading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge

Review: The Night Dance – Fairy Tale Set in Arthurian England

Posted August 13, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn
Series: Once Upon A Time
Publisher: Simon Pulse (2005)
Paperback (193 pages)
Rating:
Also by this author: Water Song
Also in this series: Snow, Water Song, Sunlight and Shadow
Reading Challenges: 2015 Birthday Month, 2015 Fairytale Retelling, 2015 Re-Reading, Read 2015

Synopsis

Under the stars, in a secret world…
Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters’ slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they’ve been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses.
Meanwhile a handsome young knight named Bedivere is involved in a challenge of his own: to return the powerful sword, Excalibur, to a mysterious lake. While looking for the lake, Bedivere meets the beautiful Rowena and falls for her. Bedivere knows that accepting Sir Ethan’s challenge is the only opportunity for him to be with Rowena forever. But this puts both Bedivere and Rowena in a dangerous situation…one in which they risk their lives for a chance at love.

Find the book: Goodreads

Tagged as 4 star, Birthday Month Reading Challenge, Fairy Tales, Fairytale Retelling Challenge, Read 2015, Rereading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge

June and July 2015 in Review

Posted August 10, 2015 in Faith, Reading / 4 Comments

It has been a crazy month and a half! I will share some of my summer camp experience here but most will wait until it’s own post with pictures!

Things that Happened in June & July

As you may recall from a previous post, I spent the summer working at a great Catholic summer camp. I really want to talk a lot about that but I promise I will post more with pictures later.
I survived 6 weeks without much cell phone service or internet. It was really great for me.
I also read things that I wanted to read rather than what I needed to read based on review copies and such.

Books I Read in June

Tagged as Consecrated Virginity, Fairy Tales, Monthly Wrap-Up, Pope Francis, Saints, School, Summer, Vocation

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Authors I’d Love to Meet

Posted May 12, 2015 in Reading / 8 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s list is the Top Ten Authors I’d Love to Meet.

1. Kristen Britain

Kristen Britain is the author of one of my favorite books of all time, Green Rider. I would absolutely love to meet her.

2. Marissa Meyer

I love the Lunar Chronicles so much. They are utterly amazing and Marissa Meyer must be awesome to write them.

3. Cassandra Clare

So I’ve only ever read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare but I loved it and I will be reading the rest of the series soon.

4. Emily Wibberley

I could take this time to say how much I adore Sacrificed and it would be completely true. Everyone should go read this awesome debut by this awesome author.
Read More

Tagged as Fairy Tales, Top Ten Tuesday

April 2015 in Review

Posted April 30, 2015 in Faith, Reading / 2 Comments

This year is flying by. I can hardly believe that April is over already!

Things that Happened in April

My birthday!! I even got books for my birthday which greatly surprised me. Thanks so much, little sister!
Easter! I was able to attend one of my most favorite Masses of the entire Church year, the Easter Vigil! (Who doesn’t like candles and a three hour Mass?)
Field trips with the school kids! The bus rides are a bit longer than the ones where I grew up but we are in the-middle-of-nowhere, Montana.
Yesterday evening one of the sixth grade teachers passed away. It will be a terribly rough day today with the students. Any prayers would be greatly appreciated.