Review: A White Room by Stephanie Carroll

Goodreads Description:

 At the close of the Victorian Era, society still expected middle-class women to be “the angels of the house,” even as a select few strived to become something more. In this time of change, Emeline Evans dreamed of becoming a nurse. But when her father dies unexpectedly, Emeline sacrifices her ambitions and rescues her family from destitution by marrying John Dorr, a reserved lawyer who can provide for her family.

John moves Emeline to the remote Missouri town of Labellum and into an unusual house where her sorrow and uneasiness edge toward madness. Furniture twists and turns before her eyes, people stare out at her from empty rooms, and the house itself conspires against her. The doctor diagnoses hysteria, but the treatment merely reinforces the house’s grip on her mind. 

Emeline only finds solace after pursuing an opportunity to serve the poor as an unlicensed nurse. Yet in order to bring comfort to the needy she must secretly defy her husband, whose employer viciously hunts down and prosecutes unlicensed practitioners. Although women are no longer burned at the stake in 1900, disobedience is a symptom of psychological defect, and hysterical women must be controlled. 

A novel of madness and secrets, A White Room presents a fantastical glimpse into the forgotten cult of domesticity, where one’s own home could become a prison and a woman has to be willing to risk everything to be free.

I am going to find this book very difficult to rate.  The problem is that the novel is really well-written, and there's not really anything I can pinpoint as being wrong, but at the same time, I had an extremely hard time getting through it.  I used to read historical fiction all the time, especially in high school, but maybe I'm just not feeling the love for this genre anymore.  I'm more into the "wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am" type of books these days - short, and with not a lot of brain power or commitment involved!  

But, enough about all that.  Let's talk characters.  Emeline, the narrator, is a young woman whose father dies a very painful death.  On top of all this, Emeline's father has left the family heavily indebted, so Emeline decides to plead with her father's colleague in hopes that he and his wife will allow her to marry their son.  Sooooo not the way things were done in those days, but Emeline must swallow her pride and do what's best for her family.  By marrying John Dorr, she relieves the financial strain on everyone else, and that is only the first of the sacrifices Emeline must make.  So, you can see that Emeline is a brave young woman.  She is also very intelligent, and learned, having gone to college for a short while.  We come to see some drastic changes and growth in Emeline throughout the course of the book.  She starts off quite naive and prejudiced, but comes to see that class and social status do not necessarily determine a person's worth.  She is eventually able to make friends and help people in her new town, although not easily and not without a lot of deception.  There is also some question as to Emeline's sanity.  I am going to diagnose her myself with paranoid schizophrenia, but all the reader really gets to know is that Emeline sees and hears things that aren't really happening.  Very creepy, but also really cool!  I love it when a character goes a little bit psycho!

The rest of the cast of characters is very much secondary to Emeline.  There's the law partner and his wife, the town doctor and his wife, and the sheriff and his wife, along with the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker and their wives - okay, just kidding about those last three!  My point is that the other characters are not all that memorable.  Some are snooty, some are kind, and some are misunderstood. The only really memorable character is Lottie, Emeline's hired servant, who Emeline eventually comes to befriend and rely on. But Emeline is definitely the star of the show in A White Room.

Why is this book called A White Room?  Good question, and after reading the whole entire book, I still don't really know the answer.  Like I said before, maybe this just isn't my genre, but I really didn't get the symbolism.  Ooops!  

What else can I tell ya?  There's a great conflict in the last 50 pages or so that kept me reading today, and it shows a lot what society was like in the early 1900's.  Think Anne of Green Gables, but with more scandalous scandals! 

My Rating:   

Review: Buried Secrets by Emme Rollins

Goodreads description:

Should some secrets remain buried? Dusty has always been a hothead, far more impulsive than her twin, Nick, the calm, cool and collected one of the pair. But Nick is dead, found murdered in their local cemetery, and Dusty simply can’t rest until she finds out who–or what–has killed her brother. Sure the local authorities aren’t being straight with her–or anyone else–about what’s been going on in their little upper Michigan town, Dusty delays going off to college for a semester, defying her father and stepmother and taking a job in the local bar to start doing some digging. Her focus soon fixes on Shane, her brother’s best friend and the town bad boy. The tension and rivalry between Dusty and Shane has always been palpable and sparks fly as the two collide. Dusty finds herself sinking in deeper with Shane and the mystery of what happened to her brother–and a lengthening list of victims–grows even stranger. When everything comes to a head, Dusty focuses on one thing: What happened the night her brother was killed in the cemetery? She’s sure Shane is keeping a secret and she’s determined to find out what it is, one way or another.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book!

Well, there were quite a few things I liked about Buried Secrets, and a few things I didn't like or thought could have been done a bit better, so maybe I'll break it down like that.

Things I liked:

First of all, I really liked how Emme Rollins was able to write about Dusty's grief - it seemed very real and believable to me.  I also really enjoyed the development of Dusty's relationship with Shane.  Some people like the friends-before-lovers set-up, but this is more like enemies-before-lovers!  Again, it's written in a way that the reader can believe is true, when so often in New Adult books, characters will just jump in the sack with no real build-up or reason behind the attraction.  Trust me when I say that this aspect of the book is well done.

Shane is a great character, being both funny and cute, but also smarter than Dusty had ever given him credit for.  Dusty's a bit of a tomboy, and I like that about her, but I think she would be hard to get to know or be around for any length of time.  In other words, I probably wouldn't choose her for a bestie!  But hey, to each his own.

The secrets alluded to in the title, when revealed, were surprising to me!  Maybe I'm just not great at guessing these "buried secrets", maybe other readers won't be surprised at all, but I was totally caught off guard!  Throughout, the book had a real sense of creepiness to it, where I didn't know who was to be trusted.  Who, or what, killed Nick?  I was kept wondering all the way through.

Things that were kind of...meh:

Okay, not really sure how to write any of this without giving away big spoilers, but I'll do my best.

Do you ever watch a horror or suspense movie and find yourself yelling at the characters, saying things like, "You idiot, don't do that!!!  You're so stupid!  Run, scream, etc, etc."  Well, I do, and I felt that way a few times during this book.  Not enough to throw it at a wall or anything, but still.  Those moments, definitely not highlights.

There's a part where Shane takes Dusty to his hideaway, a place only he and Nick have ever been to.  And it's just too amazing, to the point where I was thinking, "Nope, totally unbelievable, there's no way he could have that kind of a set up, not at 18 years of age."  Actually, a bit of background on how Shane's family obtained all this land would have been nice, especially since I got the impression that Shane's family were a bunch of deadbeats!

And then there's the sex.  I don't know how things are done these days, but in the '80's, when I was in junior high, we learned all about what would happen if you had sex without protection.  There was even an episode of Degrassi Junior High that we all had to watch, where Spike gets pregnant.  Maybe Shane and Dusty didn't have "Family Life" as part of their curriculum, but even so, I just don't believe that two modern characters would take a major step like that without even discussing protection or possible consequences.

As for the killer?  Well, I'm not really sure what I think about that.  I'll just say that the whole wrap-up was a bit weird for my taste.

My Rating:

Review: Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith

From Goodreads:

For Charli Blake, being seventeen is a tough gig.

She's been branded a troublemaker, her reputation is in tatters and she's stuck in Pipers Cove, a speck of a town on the coast of Tasmania.

Thankfully, it's temporary. Her lifelong dream of travelling the world is just months away from becoming reality. All she has to do is ride out the last few months of high school, which is easier said than done thanks to a trio of mean girls known as The Beautifuls.

When Adam Décarie arrives in town, all the way from New York, life takes an unexpected turn. His arrival sets off a chain of events that alters her life forever, convincing her of one thing. Fate brought him to her.

Saving Wishes is the story of a girl who doesn't quite fit the life she's living, and the boy who helps her realise why.

I.  Loved.  This.  Book.  I read it quite a while ago, but for some reason didn't finish a review.  I always find it harder to review a book I love than a book I hate.  Weird, eh?  Anyhoo, I thought I'd better come back and finish this review for NetGalley before they stop giving me free books (gasp!), and also because it is the best NetGalley book I've read so far.  It kind of deserves some love!

So, first of all, great setting.  No, I take that back.  Frickin' awesome location!!!  I'm so jealous that my husband has traveled to Tasmania, and I haven't.  And who's the displaced Aussie, here?  Yeah, me!  So now I really HAVE to go there after reading this book - I've totally moved it to the top of my bucket list!  If you're looking to escape the mundane locales of most books of this genre, then pick up Saving Wishes ASAP.

Next, characters.  Charli is truly lovable, in spite of her flaws, and she has many.  Maybe it's because of these flaws that I loved her so much.  Even though she's got a roof over her head, a caring brother as her guardian, and a great best friend, you can't help but feel she's been dealt the short end of the stick.  She's an orphan - well, dad is not in the picture, but he may as well be dead, as far as she's concerned - she's never even met the guy!  Mother's been dead since she was three.  She's a lousy student.  And the whole town treats her like crap for something that she really should not be made to feel ashamed of.  Her self-esteem is pretty much at rock bottom.  All she wants is to turn 18 so she can get the heck out of Dodge and never look back!

But, she believes in magic, and fate, and that's why when Adam Decarie arrives in Piper's Cove to visit his cousin, Charli freaks out just a bit.  He's beautiful, and nice, and smart, and wealthy...perfect, really.  Even though it seems as if fate has brought Adam to her, Charli pushes him away hard!  After a while, though, Charli realizes that they are meant to be together, and she holds on for dear life.  

I can't really say much more about the plot without spoiling everything, but I will say that if you're thinking this sounds like a typical YA novel, you'd be totally, completely wrong.  There are twists and turns you would never expect!  And the ending...well, some people may not like it, but I thought it was completely realistic.  I've been in a similar situation, and my relationship could have easily gone the same way.  'Nuff said on that!

My one criticism is that the two male characters had such similar names, Adam and Alex.  I kept having to reread sections here and there because they didn't make sense:  "What?  Oh wait, that was Adam that said that, not Alex!" or vice versa.  But other than that, this book was as close to perfection as a contemporary YA novel can be!

My rating:

  

This book is free over at Kobo and Amazon!!!  Yee-haw!

Review: Broken Beauty by Chloe Adams

From Goodreads:

**Contains graphic content and the sensitive topic of rape and its aftermath. Not intended for teens under the age of 18.**

Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people.

When socialite party girl Mia Abbott-Renou wakes up in a garden she has little recall of the previous night -- except that she is naked...hurt...terrified. Not only has she been raped, but she knows one of her assailants: the son of a wealthy politician who happens to be her own father’s political ally.

Mia wants and needs justice. Except this privileged boy has an alibi and her father forbids her from going to the police. It’s a critical election year, one that his party might lose if his image as a doting father is soured due to Mia being labeled a lush or worse, promiscuous.

Devastated at not having the support of her family, Mia finds herself in a tug-of-war with her conscience over what to do, especially since she can’t remember exactly what happened that night. Worse, the men who attacked her have hurt several other girls, and Mia may be the key to stopping them.

Mia tries to forget, until the unthinkable happens, and she’s left reeling once again, faced with a new challenge that will force her to take more control of her life.

Originally published in October 2012 as "No Way Back" by Chloe Adams

Thank you to NetGalley  for allowing me to read this novella in exchange for an honest review.

This novella is a quick read, and focuses on Mia's point of view. Mia attended a party she wasn't supposed to be at, drank a bit much, accepted a drugged drink from a family acquaintance, and ended up getting brutally raped. The reader is drawn in immediately by Mia's circumstances, and from the party, we accompany her to the ER and experience her fear and panic at being examined. The only people she feels she can trust are the two police officers who came to her rescue, and her best friend, Ari.

Things continue to get more complicated. Her father, being a political figure with an image to uphold and an election in the near future to win, is completely absent from Mia's hospital room. Her mother is in rehab, and also unavailable to comfort Mia. Instead, Mia is stuck with a lawyer and a publicist, both of whom wish to keep this tragic event as quiet as possible. Mia believes she knows who raped her, but because she was drugged and can't remember everything clearly, her lawyer convinces her that she should not name the rapist. We follow Mia as she hides in her closet and speaks at a press conference, among other struggles to regain her life. The appeal of this book is really in how the author is able to make the reader feel that we are living Mia's life and struggles right along with her. I think that just about any reader will be able to sympathize with Mia, and upon reaching the end of this first installment of the Broken Beauty series, be eager to see what happens next. I know I am!

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Review: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Great start to a promising new series by Laura Howard!

Allison O'Malley is a painfully shy young woman, living with her grandparents and her mentally ill mother in a small town. She avoids most social situations, only able to come out of her shell around her cousin, Nicole. She has an all-consuming crush on Ethan, the boy she's been in love with all her life, but she is so awkward around him that she avoids him like the plague. And if that wasn't enough, her mother is practically comatose, and Allison carries the guilt of putting her mother in that state - it is well known around town that Elizabeth O'Malley was once a vibrant, social butterfly, at least, until Allison was born. So, yeah, Allison has a lot against her and I don't envy her one bit. 

The story really kicks into gear when Allison's father comes to town. Nobody knows, except Allison, that Liam has any previous involvement in her mother's life, but it doesn't take long for Allison to become embroiled in all the drama of winning back her mother's sanity. Liam introduces her to the Tuatha de Danaan, a race more commonly known as faeries. Although some of the fae can help Allison and Liam, they are also all self-absorbed, and it seems like even the "good ones" are only partially good. Allison quickly learns that none of them are to be trusted.

I've read a few books and series about fae, and this is probably my favourite, although I think a few things could be improved upon. The names of the fae are impossible to pronounce (like I'm one to talk, with a daughter named Ailis!), so the pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book would be extremely helpful. Even though I can relate to Allison and empathize with her situation, I didn't feel like she was a very dynamic or memorable character. She did show some growth throughout the novel, but as a quiet and subdued person, she was also a tad boring. I would have liked to see more humour injected throughout, even if it was just in Allison's thoughts. 

A couple of things I did notice and really liked were the cover (gorgeous!) and formatting - really liked the Celtic symbols throughout!

New Review: Where My Heart Breaks by Ivy Sinclair

Still trying to work out a design I'm happy with here, but there probably won't be all that many people reading this, so it'll be okay for the moment.

  

From Goodreads:

If there were a course in screwing up your life, Kate Spivey would get an A+.

Trust is in short supply for Kate at the start of the summer before her senior year of college. Her parents sentenced her to spend it under the watchful eye of her aunt at the famous Willoughby Inn. It was further proof that she was a prisoner in, and not the decision maker of, her life. Nothing she does is good enough to prove that she learned from the mistakes of her past.

Almost immediately, Kate finds that her new summer home holds another person who understands the unfairness of her situation better than most. Reed Black has had his own share of tragedy and regrets, but instead of trying to fight his reputation, he embraced it.

Sparks fly between Kate and Reed, but his mixed signals remind Kate that she needs to watch her step. He is one temptation she can't afford to indulge in, no matter how strong her attraction to him. If she isn't careful, she'll lose more than her heart.

And my review:

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Where My Heart Breaks before its release.

I finished quite a while ago, but here's a quick synopsis: it's your typical NA set-up, with damaged girl meeting damaged guy, falling quickly into lust, but it's never going to work out because they're both so damaged, blah blah, and blah. But, here's the twist: it's not so typical after all, because the characters are so beautifully drawn and the plot is perfectly paced. What more could a reader want? Oh yeah, a great setting! 

Well, let's start there, then. Kate Spivey has been exiled to work the summer at her aunt's hotel, the Willoughby Inn. There is a bit of mystery surrounding this spot, as the author of a famous novel stayed there while writing it. In this novel, there is mention of certain buildings and outdoor venues that can still be viewed and enjoyed today. Kate, at first, is a little bit intrigued about all this, but because she hasn't read the book, she really doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

Enter Reed Black. When he first meets Kate on the side of the road, sparks fly, but there's more to this picture perfect man than meets the eye. Not only is he buff and handy, he's smart, too. But... he's got a reputation. And everybody, from Kate's aunt to the bartender of the only watering hole in town, makes sure Kate knows that Reed is off limits. When Reed offers to show Kate around the town, as "just friends", Kate figures she's safe - although maybe she doesn't want to be!

Kate is a multi-dimensional character, too. She has messed up big-time, and she needs to work her butt off at the Willoughby or else her parents will not fund her last year of college. Dang! And her aunt does not make it easy - picture Cinderella's stepmother, but with trousers! But Kate's feisty, and a little bit sassy, and she's determined to make the best out of a crappy situation. 

That's just the two main players in a nutshell. I could go on for a while about the supporting characters, but how 'bout you just read this book for yourself? If you're looking for something in the New Adult genre, but are sick of reading the same ol' recycled characters and plot, try 
Where My Heart Breaks. I think you'll like it as much as I did!