Review: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

My thoughts: It’s been a rough spring for tornadoes in the Midwest this year already, so when my hold came in for this I had an internal struggle on if I really wanted to read it. However, I’m glad I did – the tornado aspects weren’t as connected as I anticipated and the story was creepy and intense.

The first 100 pages were slow going for me and I can’t put my finger on why. The characters were interesting and I wanted to see what happened next, but I wasn’t flying through the pages like I normally do. That all changed as a romance blossomed – I’m a such a sap! Audra and Vane have a complex relationship full of lies, half-truths, and a long history together. And chemistry – they definitely have chemistry!

The world that Shannon Messenger created is mysterious and mythical and beautiful. Even though I can’t see the wind outside my window, she paints such a powerful picture with her words that I could imagine Audra and Vane harnessing the winds with their powers. I had begun to speculate on one piece of the ending, but that didn’t diminish the speed of my page flipping the slightest.

And, can we just talk about this cover – gorgeous!

I can’t wait for the next book in this series…as in, I would like it in my hands now. Today, not tomorrow and certainly not 2014!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

Oh man, I’m loving this topic! I have been feeling a major summer reading kick coming on so this is perfect. I’ve been watching for a sale on a hammock because I want one SO bad! I’ve also been researching how to make our deck into a screened in porch…but it seems the hammock is a cheaper option. :)

My Top Ten Beach Reads:

The Bronze Horseman trilogy

While this isn’t a light read, it is a story of epic love and survival. Perfect to get lost in on a hot summer day!

Lola and the Boy Next Door

From the boy, to the quirky Lola, this book is fun and flirty and perfect!

The Jessica Darling series

Hilarious, awkward, and fun!

The Bride Quartet

Is there anything more summery than weddings?

The Distant Hours

Kate Morton writes such sweeping prose, it’s like a beautiful melody in your mind.

The Sultry Springs trilogy

The Texas heat, plus hunky guys, plus drama = summer thunderstorm!

Such a Rush

I just finished this one and haven’t written my review yet, but airplanes and boy drama!

Just Listen

Sarah Dessen is a must read for summer YA stories. This is one my favorites.

Roses

If you’re looking for an epic, multi-generational story to get lost in – pick up this door stop!

Sookie Stackhouse series

Romance, drama, and vampires – what more could you want?

Review: Lily Bard Series by Charlaine Harris

Publisher: Berkley
Format: MMP
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads for Book 1: Disguising herself with short hair and baggy clothes, Lily Bard has started a new life; she’s becoming a cleaning lady in the sleepy town of Shakespeare, where she can sweep away the secrets of her dark and violent past.

However her plan to live a quiet, unobserved life begins to crumble when she discovers the dead body of her nosy landlord. Lily doesn’t care who did it, but when the suspicion of the police and local community falls on her she realizes if she doesn’t unmask the murderer, her life might not just crumble; it might also end.

My thoughts: I am a self-proclaimed Sookie Stackhouse / True Blood obsessed person. I’ve read Charlaine Harris’ Harper Connelly series and really enjoyed it too. So, I decided to try another – the Lily Bard series or the Aurora Teagarden. Well, the Lily Bard series is only 5 books and the other is 11+ so I went for the shorter series.

I wish I’d tried the other series. For me, this series was a 3 stars overall. Book 4 in particular was frustrating and annoying. Lily as a character was interesting, and it was nice to see her grow throughout the books, but this is certainly a library read, not a purchase.

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May 2013 Reading Wrap Up

We’re a few days into June already, so this is a tad late, but oh well. :)

Here’s what I read in May:

Title Author Genre Pages Rating
Shakespeare’s Landlord Charlaine Harris Mystery 214 3
Shakespeare’s Champion Charlaine Harris Mystery 214 4
Dead Ever After Charlaine Harris Paranormal 338 4
Shakespeare’s Christmas Charlaine Harris Mystery 209 3
Shakespeare’s Trollop Charlaine Harris Mystery 194 3
Shakespeare’s Counselor Charlaine Harris Mystery 243 3
Surrender to Sultry Macy Beckett Romance 318 5

Total pages for the month: 1,730

Total pages for the year: 8,932

My favorite for the month – Surrender to Sultry (see my review here) and my least favorite Shakespeare’s Trollop (see my review of the series next week).

June is shaping up to be a YA focused month. A ton of my library holds came in recently!

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Review: Grant by Jean Edward Smith

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback

From Goodreads: Ulysses S. Grant was the first four-star general in the history of the United States Army and the only president between Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson to serve eight consecutive years in the White House. As general in chief, Grant revolutionized modern warfare. As president, he brought stability to the country after years of war and upheaval. Yet today Grant is remembered as a brilliant general but a failed president. In this comprehensive biography, Jean Edward Smith reconciles these conflicting assessments of Grant’s life. He argues convincingly that Grant is greatly underrated as a president. Following the turmoil of Andrew Johnson’s administration, Grant guided the nation through the post-Civil War era, overseeing Reconstruction in the South and enforcing the freedoms of new African-American citizens. His presidential accomplishments were as considerable as his military victories, says Smith, for the same strength of character that made him successful on the battlefield also characterized his years in the White House.

My thoughts: What was I thinking picking a HUGE biography for the President I’d be reading the month after having a baby?? This book was good, but it took me over 3 months to read. That’s just depressing and a bit ridiculous but I just couldn’t focus on non-fiction like I wanted while running on little sleep.

The first couple hundred pages was long and drawn out – full of detailed battle scenes, most of which I’d read in previous biographies on the last few Presidents. Once I hit the part where he started working in Washington in his military capacity, I was hooked.

I was fascinated by Grant himself – how strong and certain he was in battle, but also how he learned from his mistakes. His determination was admirable, especially faced with the importance of winning the war.

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Can you spot the error?

On page 267, it’s noted that Grant was within view Confederate soldiers but were never fired upon. I reread that sentence a few times, letting is really sink in. I tried to imagine if he had been shot and killed at that point. Would the Civil War have turned out different? Would Lincoln have won re-election? How would our country look today?

This was one very long biography, but I’m glad I read it even with the poor timing. Grant was such a fascinating person that a shorter book just wouldn’t have done him justice.

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I thought it only fitting that Emmett should have a photo with Grant, since I’ve been reading it most of his life.

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Review: Surrender to Sultry (Sultry Springs #3)

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: E-Book

From Goodreads: Leah McMahon is back in Sultry Springs, Texas to help her dad recover from surgery. But there’s a new sheriff in town and he’s none other than Colton Bea, the wild-as-weeds boy who stole her heart a decade earlier. Colt’s a changed man now, and the feelings between these high school sweethearts are stronger than ever. But Leah’s got a secret so devastating that he may never forgive her. Can she find a way to earn absolution and build a future with the sultry man she’s loved half her life?

My thoughts: Disclaimer – I know the author, but I promise that hasn’t impacted my review.

I love romance trilogies like the Sultry Springs series, but the last book always makes me sad. I’m such a sucker for series stories and characters. So, when I started reading this one, I started with sadness, but damn, Colt just moved me out of sadness and into hotness speedy fast.

Being married to a firefighter, it’s no surprise that I’m a big fan of a man in uniform so Colt in his sheriff’s uniform started me off on the right foot and his tormented heart made me swoon. And high school sweethearts are some of my favorite stories, so the moment Leah drove back into Sultry I was hooked!

This isn’t a spoilery review so I’ll just say – Leah’s secret??? WHOA. BAM.

If you’re a fan of romance books, love stories, or an engrossing group of characters – give the Sultry Springs books a shot! You won’t be disappointed!

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