Review of The Devil of Clan Sinclair by Karen Ranney

Title/Author: The Devil of Clan Sinclair (Clan Sinclair #1) by Karen Ranney
Publisher/Date published: Avon, July 30th 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: For Virginia Traylor, Countess of Barrett, marriage was merely the vehicle to buy her father a title. Widowhood, however, brings a host of problems. For her husband deliberately spent the money intended for Virginia and her in-laws, leaving them penniless — unless she produces an heir. Desperate and confused, Virginia embarks on a fateful journey that brings her to the doorstep of the only man she's ever loved...

He's known as The Devil, but Macrath Sinclair doesn't care. He moved to a tiny Scottish village in hopes of continuing his work as an inventor and starting a family of his own. He bought the house; he chose the woman. Unfortunately, Virginia didn't choose him. Macrath knows he should turn her away now, but she needs him, and he wants her more than ever. Whatever game Virginia's playing, Macrath intends to win — one wickedly seductive deed at a time...

Ok, so I have to admit that I was a bit sceptical of this particular plot, but as Sophie Jordan made it work in Once Upon a Wedding Night, I was willing to give it a shot. There's something that has been drawing me to Scottish men lately. Might be the kilts...

Anyway.

Virginia is in a desperate situation, her husband died, and before the sneaky little bastard died, he spent all the money Virginia had brought with her into the marriage on lands and houses that would be entailed right along with everything else, leaving Virginia, his mother and sisters penniless. So Virginia's mother in law devices a plan that has Virginia sleeping with a man out of wedlock to try and produce and heir. Right now, cause otherwise the world might not believe it was her late husband's offspring. So what's a girl to do but get on with it, ride to Scotland and seduce the man she actually wanted to marry to begin with? YES EXACTLY.

I could see where Virginia was coming from. She's never really gotten any parental love and this new family has embraced her so wholly that she feels responsible for them. And she's pining for Macrath anyway, so why not go with it? I felt that she was a bit too naive, because really, how do you not see coming that this proud scottish man will have a problem with this when he finds out?? I mean SERIOUSLY? Let me say it again: SERIOUSLY??? She says she loves him and then she just USES him without telling him what she's doing and UGH! That is not love. I couldn't understand that after he's trying to get her to stay with him in Scotland, she doesn't admit to her problems and try to see what his feelings would be towards taking in her new family as well. I mean, he has a big enough house for it.

And Macrath. While I did like him and his big heart, I felt like yelling at him 'Dude, you can do better'. I mean, she's hurt him AGAIN, secretly born his son and is trying to pass him off as the heir of another man and is basically just being a huge pain in the ass. I'd say cut her loose and try your luck with someone else. I couldn't see how they could get past this. Especially without really communicating about it. It all just went POOF and they were happy together again. I mean, really, show some backbone. It's ok to not be ok with something like that.

So I feel like I'm sounding very negative about The Devil of Clan Sinclair. And it wasn't that bad really, but there were some things about the characters and the storyline that rubbed me the wrong way. I very much liked the flashbacks to the time Virginia and Macrath were courting the first time around, these moments were so sweet! I could actually see where the love had come from between them and their characters were pretty similar. I also liked the quiet moments with their son and how Virginia broke convention by caring for and nursing her son herself and not leaving it to a wet nurse.

I did enjoy myself while reading this book, but I also found myself rolling my eyes quite a bit and was at one point actually rooting for the relationship NOT to work out simply because it felt wrong and there was no communication whatsoever and that always annoys me. But I'm glad they did end up together, because they had sweet moments. I'm sad there weren't any kilts though.

My rating: 2,5 stars

Made me crave: rucola soup

Review of The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Title/Author: The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2) by Julia Quinn
Publisher/Date published: Avon, June 2006
How I got this book: bought it, as recommended by my Broke and Brookish friend Julia
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: 1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.
And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
- Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry - he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield - the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands - and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister - but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...

I don't think I can even count the number of times Julia from The Broke and the Bookish has recommended this book to me, and stickler for order as I am, I decided to first read The Duke and I and from there on slowly make my way through Julia Quinn's backlist and OMG GUYS, BEST DECISION EVER!!!

And also: worst decision that it took me so long to get to this one after reading The Duke and I!

To give you fair warning: i don't think I'll be able to stop gushing about this book for a while.

I completely fell in love with both Kate and Anthony. I thought he might make for an interesting hero as he did amuse me in The Duke and I as the very protective brother of Daphne. I love that both Kate and Anthony are so devoted to their families! They truly do care about their siblings and it shows and they are just good people. I loved that they go head to head and that Kate isn't afraid to tell him exactly what she thinks of him and how much she disapproves of him as a potential match for her sister. These two sparkled off the page and their interactions were just amazing to watch!

And seriously, within moments of starting the book, Julia Quinn had me smiling like a madwoman, because I was enjoying myself so much and she brings the wit as well as the swoons! I'm REALLY glad I was alone for one part of the book, where Anthony and Kate chase Kate's dog Newton all over Hyde Park, because I could not stop giggling and even laughing out loud! It was awesome! I loved the sibling rivalry between the Bridgertons and the comedy this brings in the form of a pink ball for Pall Mall and just *sigh* I love this family.

Kate and Anthony had amazing chemistry and OMG THE SEXYTIMES WERE SEXY! YES! All the swooning over Anthony in all of his sensitive man moments and just TEARS! I totally cried over parts and I'm not ashamed to admit it. My little romantic heart is still thanking me for picking up this book, because it was just SO GOOD and Anthony and Kate are so right for each other and there was tension and heartbreak and SPARKS and just ALL OF THE GOODNESS.

I really liked The Duke and I, but I LOVED The Viscount Who Loved Me! It's everything I want in a historical romance and I love how Julia Quinn brings the funny! I'll makes sure not to wait this long again before reading the next novel in the series! The Viscount Who Loved Me goes straight to my favourites shelf, highly recommended!

My rating: 5+ stars

Made me crave: crispy M&M's

Review of The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Title/Author: The Bitter Kingdom (Girl of Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson
Publisher/Date published: Greenwillow Books, August 27th 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy it at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion - a champion to those who have hated her most. Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy.

***WARNING: SPOILERS POSSIBLE FOR BOOK 1 AND 2 IN THE SERIES***

YOU GUYS! THIS BOOK! THIS BOOK! It broke my heart because the series has now come to an end, but it was just pretty much everything I could have wanted from it and then some!

I squealed and did happy dances and just had this big ol' grin on my face after I saw the egalley appear on Edelweiss and did some more of this when I downloaded it to my e-reader and kinda told my boyfriend I couldn't pay attention to him for a while now because I had to read this book. I've never been so happy to have time off from work as when I received this egalley and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to read it early.

But enough about my giddiness.

It cannot be a secret that I love this series and have lost my heart to Elisa and Hector and Mara and Belén and even Storm! And Rae Carson sure knows how to play with my emotions, because in The Girl of Fire and Thorns she made me fall in love with Umberto only to have him killed and rip my heart to pieces and then at the end of The Crown of Embers Hector was taken! HECTOR! The man who made me (er, Elisa) believe in love again and who is just so *sigh*. Seriously, my love for Hector rivals my love for Mr. Darcy and that is saying something.

So in The Bitter Kingdom we are right back in the action. Of course Elisa isn't just someone who will idly sit back while the Inviernos threaten both her, her kingdom and the man she loves. And I love her for that! Elisa isn't just the girl from the prophecy with the godstone, she's far more, she's intelligent, she's strong and I'm still amazed by how far she's come from the girl we met at the beginning of The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I loved that in The Bitter Kingdom she learns more about what she can do with her godstone and uses this power of hers.

I also loved that we get chapters from Hector's point of view because I simply can't get enough from this man and it was just such a treat to see things from his side and get to know him better.

I loved reconnecting with the characters I'd already met in the previous two books and there were some new characters introduced for me to either love or stare in horror at. I especially loved Mula/Red, who is just such an awesome little girl and doesn't know the meaning of discretion.

The stakes are high, the battles epic and I was constantly on the edge of my seat while reading The Bitter Kingdom. I didn't want to put it down and Rae Carson once again had me feeling ALL THE THINGS. And I love it. I love her writing style and the way I keep rooting for Elisa and the others and wanting them to be happy and healthy and I loved that I didn't see all the twists and turns coming and GAH, there are just not enough words to describe how much I love this book!

Without wanting to spoil anything I have to say that while I'm beyond sad the series has ended, The Bitter Kingdom was such a good ending to it and I am fully satisfied, though I would love it if Rae Carson wrote more books about this world just so I'll have a chance to go on more adventures with these characters!
The Bitter Kingdom was amazing and completely blew me away and I just loved it so much (in case you haven't noticed) and I will pick up whatever Rae Carson decides to write next!

My rating: 5+ stars

Review of Invisible by Marni Bates

Title/Author: Invisible (Awkward #2) by Marni Bates
Publisher/Date published: K-Teen, August 1st 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: Jane Smith has survived three years of high school without making a single enemy, all by keeping a low profile. Not even her three best friends, Kenzie, Corey and Isobel, can say the same. But with Corey dating the lead singer from ReadySet and Kenzie in a relationship too, being invisible tends to be lonely. But now she's written an article for her school newspaper that has accidentally snagged the attention of some celebrities. Turns out, people get really upset when their innermost secrets are splashed all over the front page. And new her well-ordered life is being blasted to hell, with results that are wildly unexpected.

Guys, why have I never picked up Awkward?? I mean, seriously, Invisible is totally my kind of book!!

I loved Marni Bates' writing style! It's funny and quirky and totally engaging and I loved it from the minute I turned my eyes to the first page of Invisible! I love it when a cute contemporary deals with actual teen issues aside from the maybe less plausible plot of having her two friends get famous overnight, and Marni Bates totally made it work!

Jane sees herself as Invisible. And so does half of the school. She's embraced her nerdiness and as long as she has her best friends, she doesn't really care that she's not part of the popular crowd. And I like that. You create your own happiness and all that. But this turns into a problem when her friends actually do start having more of a social life and not really having time for Jane anymore. So now Jane has to decide if she's ok with her friends seeing her as an Invisible as well.

Guys, I could recognize so much of myself in Jane! I'm that girl who tries to avoid confrontation and who knows she's not sticking up for herself enough. And I loved seeing Jane grow as a person and overcome some of her fears and just branching out and meeting new people! She's challenging herself and I like that! And really, while her best friend Kenzie bored me at times (maybe this would have been different if I'd read Awkward?), I really enjoyed reading about her new crowd, including the school newspaper photographer and a Notable girl. Mostly because these people push her to be honest with herself and are maybe truer friends throughout the happenings in Invisible than her 'best friends'.

So Jane lands herself into some funny situations and falls in love and does all of it with a certain flair that I found totally endearing! I love that in the end she stands up to her friends and I was totally reminded of Dumbledore with the 'it takes greater courage to stand up to your friends than to your enemies' speech. And I loved that!

I breezed through Invisible and while I wasn't entirely sure about the romance going on, in the end it worked for me, though at times it felt like they were barely friends, let alone in love with each other. Invisible was such a lovely read that I'll be sure to pick up Notable (the next book in the series) when it comes out!

My rating: 4,5 stars

Made me crave: french fries

Review of The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

Title/Author: The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark #1) by Shana Abe
Publisher/Date published: Bantam, April 2nd 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher as an egalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: “With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper — a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

I wanted to love this book so badly, especially because it has DRAGONS in it and I love dragons! But sadly, we never hit it off.

I really struggled with Lora as a main character, I couldn't connect to her and I actually didn't think she was a very nice person. I get that growing up the way she did, she had to be tough, but I don't know, something in her attitude just rubbed me the wrong way. I think this goes along way to my disconnect from the story in general, because I couldn't find myself rooting for her.

And seriously, I'm a bit tired of the love triangle always popping up. Lora, who never really had anything, now all of a sudden has two attractive boys running after her and there's insta-love going on with one of them and I don't know, it just did not work for me at all. Maybe also partly because I was rooting for the boy she didn't have the insta-love with, he seemed a far more interesting character than either Lora or Jesse. Though seriously, please stop having his pet name be Mandy, because UGH THAT IS JUST NOT MANLY OK?!

Ahem.

I did like the dragon- and starlore and thought these abilities that Lora has could have been expanded on aside from her turning to smoke and turning up somewhere else naked (a lot). I was fascinated by her ability to command people using her powers and then it just vanished. I would have loved to see her grow a bit more into all of it and just play around for a while.

I do have to say that the writing was beautiful, Shana Abe really knows how to turn a sentence. But it wasn't engaging and her characters weren't relatable and it all just fell a bit flat for me. I really ahd to push myself to finish The Sweetest Dark and wasn't even all that devastated at something that happens towards the end, which if I had been truly invested in this story, I surely would have been.

My rating: 2 stars

Made me crave: nacho cheese tortillas

Review of The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick

Title/Author: The Lady and the Laird (Scottish Brides #1) by Nicola Cornick
Publisher/Date published: Harlequin HQN, July 30th 2013
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley
Buy this book at: The Book Depository

Goodreads summary: An Indecent Proposal!

Lady Lucy MacMorlan may have forsworn men and marriage, but that doesn't mean she won't agree to profit from writing love letters for her brother's friends - letters that become increasingly racy as her fame grows. That is, until she deliberately ruins the betrothal of a notorious laird, Robert, Marquis of Methven.

Past centuries of bloodshed have left the Methven and MacMorlan families bitter enemies and Robert is furious that Lady Lucy's letters have cost him the bride he needs so urgently to save his ancestral clan lands. Now he makes Lucy a shocking proposal; in return for his silence she must become his wife and provide him with the heir he needs. It is an inconvenient marriage of convenience but can the rugged laird and the bluestocking beauty fight against the power of love?

So I've read some books by Nicola Cornick before and while the last one didn't work so well for me, the other two were wonderful and heartwarming and just all of the good things I want in a historical romance novel. So I was really looking forward to exploring the world of Scotland and lairds and KILTS with her. Sadly, there were no kilts. But it did have so many of the other things that I love that I'm willing to overlook this.

I really liked our heroine, Lucy. She's been through a really traumatic experience and I like that it hasn't left her unaffected. I mean seriously, you can't face something like that and just be ok. I also loved that at first we meet her and Robert before they both go through these traumatic experiences and are still young and hopeful and just really sweet. I loved the moment between them and was actually kinda sad it doesn't get referenced all that often.

So Lucy is a bluestocking and it's known in society that she writes legal letters. However, it's not known that she also writes erotic letters and I really had to laugh at this! I mean, really, it's funny that this perfect little virginal lady is writing letters that would probably make your ears burn (though we never really get to see any of the letters, sadly) based on what she's read in some of the naughty books in her library.

And here's the bottom line: I believed the romance between Lucy and Robert. They made a wonderful couple and once they started opening up to each other, it was SO GOOD! I did think that Lucy's issues got resolved a bit too easily and don't think that Robert's prowess in the bedchamber is the answer to this. I mean, hello, communication? I get that she loves him, but is that really the key to unlocking her fears? I'd say that she has a solid reason to be afraid and it got swept aside pretty quickly after being such a big issue for a long time.

I liked that Robert had to work to get Lucy to say yes to him, even when he'd compromised her and that she shows that although it's handy to have a man protect her, she can do a little protecting herself as well. There was some nice evil intrigue going on in the background and all in all it was a lovely story!
Though I wish there'd been a kilt somewhere in there.

My rating: 4,5 stars

Made me crave: mushroom pasta

Amsterdam Book Blogger Meet!!

HIIII!!!

I'm really excited to announce that on Saturday August 24th we'll be having a Book Blogger Picnic! I'm meeting up with four fabulous ladies for the weekend and we got inspired by the BEA Blogger Picnic and decided to host our own, only in Amsterdam!

Basically, we'll be meeting at the Vondelpark in Amsterdam at 't Blauwe Theehuis at noon:

And we'd love it if you came too!! We'll basically be eating, talking, laughing and all of that good stuff and the more, the merrier! Wouldn't it be fun to take over Amsterdam and conquer one of the bookstores together? :)

If you're worried about not being able to find us, either @ me on Twitter (@DBetweenpages) or DM me and I'll give you my phone number just in case. I'm actually from Holland, so I'll have both internet and network access :)
Oh, and you can see my face in motion in this post. I am actually this awkward in person, so it's accurate ;)


I'm so, SO excited for the whole weekend! I'm finally gonna be meeting these lovely ladies that I only 'know' throught Twitter and it's mindboggling and just YAYYYYY! :D

Here are my partners in crime:

Celine from Nyx Book Reviews

Karin from My Life...

Kat from The Aussie Zombie

Vicky from Books, Biscuits and Tea