|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1629734160
| 9781629734163
| B0182T9IBW
| 4.26
| 9,391
| Nov 17, 2015
| Nov 17, 2015
|
it was amazing
|
OMG major fan-girling alert! Swooning! Self-fanning! Twirling! Giggling! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! [image] How on earth does Ms. Donaldson contrive to make Phi OMG major fan-girling alert! Swooning! Self-fanning! Twirling! Giggling! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! [image] How on earth does Ms. Donaldson contrive to make Philip that perfect?? I mean, HOW??? He such a perfect embodiment of a Regency-era dream that it is impossible to settle for anything else. I am ready to marry him any day. That's all I have to say. That, and also the fact that I think it grossly unfair of Ms. Donaldson to tease us with such a perfect, much too short prequel. Even I, a reputed slow reader, was able to finish in one sitting (I was able to make it last over two hours without even trying, but still). Seriously, this author knows that anyone reading this will be begging for the whole of Edenbrooke to be written through Philip's point of view. Let's all admit it: Philip is the reason Edenbrooke is that good. Marianne could be annoying as hell, the secondary characters were meh, the writing was simple, there wasn't much Regency-feel to it, and the plot was pretty basic, but Philip, HE TOTALLY MADE THE BOOK!! And now we only get a tiny little sliver of a portion of what he thinks while being with Marianne??! Cruel, cruel! I wish Edenbrooke had been written through Philip's eyes in the first place! Fans of Edenbrooke, definitely do read this novella. It's short, but totally worth your time and money. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Nov 18, 2015
|
Nov 18, 2015
|
Oct 09, 2015
|
Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
0800734165
| 9780800734169
| 0800734165
| 4.30
| 2,047
| Sep 01, 2011
| Sep 01, 2011
|
it was amazing
|
Scratch what I wrote in my review of A Hope Undaunted; I can and I will pick a favourite O’Connor book, and it’s this one. Sweet mother of pearl, it w
Scratch what I wrote in my review of A Hope Undaunted; I can and I will pick a favourite O’Connor book, and it’s this one. Sweet mother of pearl, it was just wonderful. I was completely swept away from page one, and thoroughly enjoyed myself until the end. All previous little nitpicky things from the other books magically had no appearance here (except for the earlobe nipping - there seems to be no doing without that). No passionate kissing between the H/h at random/innoportune/inapropriate moments, no fantasizing endlessly about the other, no oh-god-dear-lord-I-have-to-stay-pure-until-marriage-but-it’s-too-hard-I-can’t-do-this, no blatant manipulation to get the hero’s attention, no becoming engaged to another man to try to forget the hero, no hero blinded by stubborn pride, no events or characters left hanging (unless it was major issues that you know will come back in the last book), and no skipping ahead months or years. A Heart Revealed is definitely Lessman’s masterpiece. It’s her finest book yet, her most rich, complete, and detail-oriented. The romantic leads were older, more mature, and their romance was overall much better developed and presented than all the previous ones. Where all the other romances had been thunderous, madcap and dizzying with myriads of conflicting thoughts and emotions never before felt by the characters, here we have a gentle, slow, honest and delicate love story. It’s akin to reading Persuasion or something equally mature after a streak of YA novels (not that I really read those, but yeah). Sean O’Connor is probably my favourite hero of the series (although John Brady and Mitch Dennehy come extremely close). Reminiscent of Parker Riley, Luke McGee’s best friend in A Hope Undaunted whom I had admired so much, Sean is remarkable for his quiet humour, his ready laugh, his kindness, and his gentle ways. He’s forever the nice guy, a confirmed bachelor at 34 with no intentions of ever marrying, much to the regret of many ladies. Handsome, athletic and hard-working, Sean is happy just spending his days at work and his evenings playing sports or coaching them. Of all the men in the O’Connor saga, Sean is the only one (save Parker) who could exercise self-control when it came to women. It’s not that he’s not attracted to them, it’s just that, y’know, he’s honourable enough not to assault every female mentioned in the book, unlike his predecessors (ahem CollinMitchBradyLuke). So, when he realizes he’s had feelings all along for his long-standing friend, Emma Malloy, he freaking respects her wishes for distance and keeps his mouth to himself .Major round of applause for Sean please, he was THE ONLY ONE who was able to do that. Granted, the ring on Emma’s finger probably had a lot to do with it, but still. I can’t even begin to express how refreshing and wonderful it was not to be stumbling upon make-out sessions every 25 pages. I loved all previous books, but seriously, all the smoochiness was really getting on my nerves. So when I started this book, I was fully expecting an accidental kiss to happen at least before page 50, but when I had passed page 300 and they still hadn’t kissed, I knew their story was the best. Because it was finally focused on something other than the physical aspect of the relationship. Taking her time to develop a beautiful story between the two leads, Lessman incorporates layer upon layer of interesting details, building her 1931 atmosphere, telling us about the other characters, including domestic scenes with some of the previously married couples, and creating an interesting plot to make Emma and Sean realize they’ve been madly in love all along. If you’ve read the previous books, you know that Sean and Emma have known each other for over ten years, and have been good friends ever since. They both have tons in common, and they are Lessman’s best-matched couple, hands-down. Emma really came alive in this novel. Previously, she had been a kind, faithful secondary character whom we pitied for having been beaten by her scum of a husband. Now, we come to know her so well, she became the most resplendent and complete of all the heroines. Maybe it’s because she was older (31 as opposed to the others who’d all been under 20) and more mature, or because she had been through much more than the others and had more understanding, or maybe it was just her personality, or probably a combination of all I just mentioned, but Emma was definitely something grander. Elegant, graceful and incredibly selfless, Emma possessed a quiet strength of character which drew everyone to her one way or the other, whether it be family members for advice, co-workers for help, or friends for favours. Always ready to help and give her time to serve others, Emma is as generous as she is forgiving. And yet, she isn’t perfect, she doesn’t come across as cliché or caricatured; she is perfectly human, real and relatable. Deeply scarred by her past, Emma has nonetheless come to terms with her life and is at peace with herself, able to live normally and be happy and fulfilled in what she does. Lessman successfully shows us the caliber of woman that she is through her interactions with others at work, but it’s the little details told about her that make her truly endearing. The way she likes to paint the birds that come on her windowsill, or how she likes to wear lacy nightgowns to feel pretty and feminine, or how her apartment is furnished antique-style and abundantly embellished with flowered accents – carpet, wallpaper, bedspread. Everything about her exudes loveliness, peace, and femininity. She’s a treasure any man would be proud and lucky to call his own, and none knows it better than Sean. Unfortunately, the one man who does have her is ironically the one who couldn’t care less about her – Rory Malloy, her no-good husband whom she left 11 years ago when she moved to Boston with Charity. She’s forgiven him, but when she realizes that Sean O’Connor is the man of her dreams she never thought existed, her carefully built world slowly starts to unravel before her as she tries to keep it together, knowing she can never deserve him, nor have him. The most heart-warming, beautiful and uplifting romance I’d read in a long time, A Heart Revealed is definitely a top-favourite romance novel of mine, one I will be sure to recommend and re-read over and over again. It was so rich, true, and elevating. It perfectly illustrated what true love is all about; self-renunciation, respect, forgiveness, trust and so much more. The author highlighted all the important points of a relationship and brought them all together to create the kind of romance every girl has always dreamed about. And as always, it was wonderful seeing all the other family members again: joining Luke and Katie on their wedding day, sympathizing with Marcy who wants to adopt Gabe, laughing at Charity’s dry humour, oooh-ing at all the babies and young cousins, praying with Faith, and wondering who would win at chess. I love the family atmosphere Lessman always creates, it’s definitely one of her best traits. I love how she always has the women baking cookies, sewing hems and necklines, matchmaking and gossiping in the kitchen while the men are outside playing horseshoes or barbecuing. I also love the fact that all the men play sports and try to best each other (it’s totally hilarious), and are all consequently taller, handsomer and more muscular than the other (totally swoon-worthy). It’s just so much fun reading all those family scenes!! Ah, I don’t know what I’ll do when I finish this series! *Stand-alone novel, although it will make much more sense if you’ve read the previous books of the saga, especially A Passion Redeemed, in which Emma decides to leave Rory. Also, if you’ve read the other books the family scenes in this book will make a lot more sense. Nevertheless, I assume it’s perfectly enjoyable all on its own as well. Either way, READ IT!! ;) ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 24, 2015
|
Sep 03, 2015
|
Aug 24, 2015
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
B0091JZXXK
| 4.34
| 1,006
| Nov 01, 2012
| Nov 09, 2012
|
really liked it
|
So, apparently I completely forgot to review this book, and it annoys me because I remember greatly enjoying it despite the fact that I read most of i
So, apparently I completely forgot to review this book, and it annoys me because I remember greatly enjoying it despite the fact that I read most of it laying down on the couch with vinegar treatments in my ear to cure an earache that lasted for weeks. But the book was so good that I often forgot about my ear and had an awesome time reading. Last summer I had the immense pleasure of binge-reading Julie Lessman's O'Connor saga (the Daughters of Boston series followed by the Winds of Change series), and read all six books consecutively, because I couldn't get enough of the wonderful O'Connor family and all their complicated romances. The last book, A Love Surrendered, disappointed me a little and tampered down my JL binge so that I was able to wait and save this book for Christmastime. I was super excited to get to it when the time came, and although it was different than I what I had been expecting, it was really good and I sighed a deep sigh of contentment once it was done. Going back a few years in late 19th century, A Light in the Window tells the story of the incredible parents of the O'Connor children, whom we came to know and love so much in all 6 previous novels. The heroine, naturally, is the beautiful Marceline Murphy (Marcy), and if you've read any other book about that family you know who she ends up marrying, but for the sake of readers who might decide to read this one before the rest (which I would have done had I known about its existence sooner), I won't spoil it. Let me just say, I already knew he'd be wonderful judging from his appearances in the rest of the saga, but oh my goodness, as the hero of his own story he was completely swoon-worthy. If you've read Julie Lessman before, you know her style; intense drama, passionate kissing, and lots and lots of whirlwinds of emotions. Her books are usually quite dizzying, but this one, I assure you, is very different. It's slow. It takes its time. Not too much so that it becomes really boring, but enough to let characters and plot points develop smoothly instead of having everything rushed and couples kissing madly every five pages. None of that here. It not only is much slower, but there isn't endless smooching and fondling every time a man and a woman are alone together in a room. The hero of this book, finally, shows self-control, and respects the heroine's wishes for chastity. *round of applause* It was refreshing, and made the book so much more enjoyable! If you're not much into love triangles, the story might become quite irritating, as it centers around Marcy and her two rakish suitors. Patrick and Samuel have been BFFs their entire life, and are more brothers to each other than simple friends, but unfortunately their strong bond doesn't prove enough to resist the pull Marcy has on each of them. Both renowned womanizers and accomplished rakes, Patrick and Samuel are on every respectable woman's blacklist, and none wishes to avoid them more than Marcy. Patrick because she genuinely mistrusts him and doesn't believe him capable of any proper feeling, and Samuel because she has had a secret crush on him for years and is wary of the way he makes her feel. Her biggest dream is to have children of her own someday, but she knows that in order to have the wonderful, united family she craves, she must seek a good, Christian man whose virtues would be similar to her own. As neither Patrick nor Samuel fit the bill, she resolves to avoid them as much as she can, and to daydream about Samuel no more. Since I'd already read the rest of the series I knew who Marcy was eventually going to choose, it sort of "spoiled" the romance a bit, but it was still very exciting to see how it would turn out and how and when Marcy would realize which man God had intended for her. There were a few twists and situations that really held me on the edge of my The romance was beautiful (I even cried a tiny bit here and there!) and the main characters were amazing. I'm sitting here thinking about them now and recalling as much as I can about the story, and the first thing that comes to mind is that I really miss those people, and would pick up this book again in a heartbeat! And it isn't even really a Christmas book, some of the final chapters were around Christmas, but there was no Christmas-y feels, and it can easily be read any time of the year (for those who like their books to "match" the season in which they read them -- I like to do that!). Loved it! Strongly recommended, along with the rest of the series!! :D ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Dec 16, 2015
|
Dec 24, 2015
|
Aug 22, 2015
|
Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||||
0800720814
| 9780800720810
| 0800720814
| 4.13
| 5,412
| Sep 01, 2012
| Sep 2012
|
it was amazing
|
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to go about reviewing a book like this one... What can I say besides the fact that I absolutely LOVED it? This book was a I'm not sure how I'm supposed to go about reviewing a book like this one... What can I say besides the fact that I absolutely LOVED it? This book was amazing. The historical setting was interesting. The romance was heart-melting. The Christian elements uplifting. The epistolary exchanges were just...wonderful. Everything blended together so well in this book, and it was so compelling that I had the hardest time putting it down. With Every Letter is one of those amazing books that you can't wait to reach the end of because you can't wait to see how it will all come together, even though you know it will be over all too soon and this-book-was-so-good-what-do-I-do-now depression phase will be about to begin once you're done. If you're anything like me, you will not be able to resist buying On Distant Shores and In Perfect Time, the next two books in the series, as soon as you finish this one. The characters are so attaching and the historical details so fascinating, that you will not be able to resist wanting to read more. I learned so much about different aspects of World War II. Thus far, the books about World War II that I've read revolved around the Jews and the Nazis. Those are usually the first things that pop into my head when I think about the second World War. I've read about concentration camps, gas chambers, destruction, torture, inhuman conditions and treatments, and complete loss of hope. It was very refreshing to read a book set in World War II that centered on a different aspect: the entry of the US Army at the heart of battles in North Africa. The hero was an engineer, and the heroine a flight nurse. With Every Letter was so detailed and well written that I learned a lot about those two professions. Silly me had not realized all the work required of engineers to make airfields functional, and the importance of air evacuation. I loved how both protagonists were in the military and in action. It made things really exciting, and was a change from the usual wife-at-home-waiting-for-her-man-abroad type of plot. I believe that, of all the books about any war I have ever read, With Every Letter is the only one that cannot be considered a "sad" book. There is no moaning and groaning about the war, no heart-wrenching descriptions of bloody battles, and no terrible losses. Never once did the characters say or even think "When will this terrible war be over so we can all go home?" type of lamentation. Not once. I kept waiting for it, waiting for them to lose hope, or get angry at God for allowing the war to happen, but it never came. They were there, and they were determined to help and to their best to succeed in their jobs. No complaints. Never. Wow. This book made the favourite list just because of that. And...the romance. The beautiful, wonderful, soulful and incredibly touching romance. Both H/h were such incredible persons on their own that together they were breathtaking. I loved seeing the other through their eyes. The point of view kept shifting between them, and it added a lot of depth and understanding to their characters. Mellie and Tom were so well-matched, and each brought to the other so much to complement their personality, that it was truly amazing to witness. I couldn't get enough of them. Where can I get an anonymous male pen friend as wonderful as Tom, please?! I need him in my life. ;) I cannot wait to get to the two other books in this series, and to all the other books Sarah Sundin has written. She has undeniable talent, and I cannot wait to lose myself again in the World War II atmosphere. I never thought I would say that quite like this! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 2015
|
May 07, 2015
|
Jan 21, 2015
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0800720822
| 9780800720827
| 0800720822
| 4.34
| 2,301
| Aug 01, 2013
| Aug 01, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
I officially just love Sarah Sundin. This book left me breathless. I loved how it didn't pick up where the previous ended, but started further back so I officially just love Sarah Sundin. This book left me breathless. I loved how it didn't pick up where the previous ended, but started further back so we could really get in context and know what had happened to the secondary characters of With Every Letter before the end. It was so easy to loose myself again completely in Sarah Sundin's World War II atmosphere, and seeing all the characters again was so much fun! I looooved Georgie from book 1 and was SO excited to read her story!! It was definitely sadder and more heart-wrenching than I'd bargained for, but overall it was so good, I couldn't put it down. One of the things I love the most about Sundin's characters is how they have to go through personal struggles to help them grow and correct a certain character flaw about themselves. I found On Distant Shores to be particularly inspiring in that area. The heroine's inner conflicts were incredibly well drawn out, and the way she tried so hard to overcome her fears and be a better person added a whole new dimension to the story. It wasn't just a love story of two people engaged to another (respectively), it was a also a journey of self-discovery. Christian principles were artfully woven throughout and it created a credible, inspiring story. I loved, loved seeing the characters from book 1 again and having them just keep going with the story. Some moments were definitely harder to bear though, and although this novel was not just "sad", it was undoubtedly the sadder of the three, and had a few scenes where I nearly cried. But overall it was just beautiful, so entrancing, and I dove into book 3 immediately after finishing. The setting is so exciting, so adventurous, so enriching, and just so pleasant to learn about. I believe that of the three books in this series, On Distant Shores is equal parts the saddest and sweetest, given the tragedies that occur and the gentle love story that developed between the main characters. Every moment spent reading this novel gave me some kind of strong emotion, and it was impossible to put down (and since I was on the road for hours on end, I thankfully didn't really have to). I strongly, strongly recommend it, whether you loved With Every Letter or are just looking for a great WWII book to read. It was full of interesting information about the role of pharmacists in the war, and the setting is so well depicted, you can actually see the set-up tents full of crates and medicine and prescriptions. Stand-alone novel, as the author replays the last quarter of book 1 from the perspective of different characters in order to let the reader know what happened off stage. I would still recommend reading With Every Letter first though, as it was an amazing read and establishes an even deeper connection with the characters. My review so doesn't do justice to this amazing book, and I'm really kicking myself for not reviewing it sooner, but regardless, add this book to your shelf now, you surely won't regret it!! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 10, 2015
|
Jul 12, 2015
|
Jan 21, 2015
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0800720830
| 9780800720834
| 0800720830
| 4.40
| 2,153
| Aug 05, 2014
| Aug 05, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
Where to even begin? In Perfect Time was just that, perfect. A pure delight from start to finish with abundant descriptions, an exciting setting, a po
Where to even begin? In Perfect Time was just that, perfect. A pure delight from start to finish with abundant descriptions, an exciting setting, a powerful romance, and enough adventure to last a lifetime. Complete with a sassy, independent and courageous heroine, and the most heroic of heroes (and one of the swooniest). I knew from the moment I met him in With Every Letter (book 1) that I'd fall madly in love with Roger Cooper, but I remember being a little disappointed that Kay would be the heroine. In the first book, we are only privy to her outrageous side and we meet a woman in dire need of male attention who dresses and acts provocatively at every turn, who has no morals, and who seems to care only about having a good time with her boyfriends. Then she comes back in On Distant Shores (book 2) and we start to see what really lies underneath her bad ways and shocking actions. I, for one, was fascinated by what I saw, and suddenly I was excited to read her story and learn more about her. And she became my favourite heroine. In this novel, her soul was laid completely bare, allowing us to glimpse all the hurt and pain she'd been carrying with her from years of being mistreated and misled as a child, and suddenly she wasn't only just fascinating, but she became an object of understanding and sympathy. Once everything was explained, it was so easy to see why she acted the way she did, and it made me expectant to see how her romance would turn out all the more. Where Mellie had been the shy, demure heroine bent on helping others and loving with all she had, and Georgie the bubbly Southern belle with the charming personality, Kay is first seen as "the bad girl" who needs to be reformed, but it soon becomes evident that she's something more, something even grander. She was fierce, tenacious, a born leader, and she possessed excellent stronger qualities lacking in the two other heroines. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved Mellie and Georgie and they were perfect for their books, but Kay here, she was even more exciting to follow because she was so different, and grew so much along the way. Her hero was just charmingly perfect, a super good-looking C-47 pilot with a secret passion for teaching, and a strong, attaching personality that proved the perfect foil for Kay's. Although his extreme stubbornness caused many problems along the way between him and Kay, their story was the most intense and my favourite of the three. I love the bad-girl-needs-to-be-redeemed trope, with the hero who seems immune to her charms but in reality is doing his best to avoid her because of the high attraction he feels. So many sparks! So much tension! There was so much passion, so much love, so much selflessness, and so many strong bonds forged in this story, it was simply amazing. In Perfect Time was so intricate, so good, so fabulous, and just such a perfect way to end the series that now I absolutely cannot wait to pick up another book by Sarah Sundin and lose myself completely in it. Her novels are just too good. I read this one nearly two months ago and still can't be believe how awesome it was. Just wow. This is one of the best Christian fiction series I've read in a long time, please give it a try, it's worth every minute of your time, and every penny you can spare. Review of book 1 [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Review of book 2 [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 13, 2015
|
Jul 17, 2015
|
Sep 02, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
193600920X
| 9781936009206
| 193600920X
| 4.05
| 1,822
| Apr 25, 2012
| May 01, 2012
|
it was amazing
|
I think it is time for me to make a confession. A very shocking confession. I am not exactly a Mr. Darcy fan. I don't dislike him, but I'm certainly n I think it is time for me to make a confession. A very shocking confession. I am not exactly a Mr. Darcy fan. I don't dislike him, but I'm certainly not in love with him. He doesn't make me swoon, not even when personified by Colin Firth jumping in a lake. Although I like him paired with Elizabeth, he's not my hero, and every time I watch Pride and Prejudice, it strikes me again that I'm glad he wins Lizzy, but disappointed that he doesn't win me. I find that Mr. Darcy lacks personality. He's too starchy, too conventional, too severe, too Master of Pemberley. He's so strict with himself, and so reserved, that I feel like I never get to know him. Elizabeth somehow breaks down his carefully built wall, and although I usually delight in the downfall of the hero by the heroine, whether it be the rake being redeemed or the starchy master being un-starched, it seems that Darcy and Lizzy's story somehow doesn't satisfy me. It's missing something. I know Darcy is like, one of the ultimate romantic swoony heroes, but he just doesn't cut the mark for me. And now that all my ardent Janeites-I-love-Mr.Darcy-to-death friends are all O.o O_O o_O, !!!,"I never - ", "Anne, how could you-", "I thought we were friends!", properly shocked and ready to murder me, I will admit that Mr. Darcy did make me swoon in this particular book, Falling For Mr. Darcy. That's right, he did. Because the author brilliantly brought forth all those handsome qualities he possesses but rarely shows in P&P, and concocted a delightful, sweet and moving love story between Darcy & Lizzy that is similar to the original, but with more spark, more romance, more warmth. Mr. Darcy is simply charming in this novel. He smiles, he laughs, he's witty and he's fun. Yet somehow he's still the same. I don't know how KaraLynne Mackrory does it, but in every book by her Darcy is always a better version of himself. She always creates situations in which his true self comes out, and what a darling he is! He doesn't just stare at Elizabeth, he talks to her, saves her, comforts her. And of course he falls desperately in love with her. And to keep things real, he's still obsessed with his so-called "duties of obligation to marry well" and bla, bla, bla, and so refuses to acknowledge his feelings for the longest time, and flees to London where he plans to forget Elizabeth. As if that will work. We all know better. His stubbornness would have become intolerable and would have made me retract my statement of his swoon-worthiness, had not the author rectified the situation by having Lizzy go to London. She brings her protagonists back together in an interesting and fun way, and the ending left me sighing in contentment. The secondary characters are all there as well, and all true to themselves. Georgiana is a darling, Lady Catherine an old tyrannical dragon, Wickham truly wicked, Mrs. Bennet crazy, Lydia irritating, and so on. Jane and Mr. Bingley are there too, of course, having their own sweet little love story and walking on cloud nine most of the time. And since I am about making shocking confessions, here is another one: I love Mr. Bingley more than Mr. Darcy, and the Jane & Bing couple more than Lizzy & Darcy. And now that I am practically a dead woman, I will conclude by simply saying that this novel was truly delightful and lovely and I hope all the JAFF fans out there will read it. :) Mr. Darcy was swoony, finally. ;) ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 27, 2015
|
Feb 04, 2015
|
Mar 17, 2014
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
140168968X
| 9781401689681
| 140168968X
| 3.93
| 18,666
| Nov 05, 2013
| Nov 12, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
Well, I always knew Mr. Knightley was the best Austen hero! This novel was absolutely fabulous, and completely un-put-downable. Once I'd started, I cou Well, I always knew Mr. Knightley was the best Austen hero! This novel was absolutely fabulous, and completely un-put-downable. Once I'd started, I couldn't function normally until I finished, and once I finished I couldn't function normally because it became all I thought about. The story was incredibly endearing, well-written, and just plain good. More of a Daddy-Long-Legs spinoff than Jane Austen fan-fiction, it is written in one-sided epistolary form and tells the poignant journey of Samantha Moore. Orphaned, Sam receives a grant from a mysterious benefactor enabling her to attend Medill's School of Journalism, and the only thing she has to do for her benefactor in return is to write him letters telling him how she is doing at the school. "Mr. Knightley" never (or rarely) writes back, and Sam uses the correspondence as a means of escape, as the only way she can really say and think what she truly feels. If you've read Daddy-Long-Legs, the ending is predictable, but Dear Mr. Knightley is still so full or surprises that you most definitely won't be bored. At first, I found Sam's character to be extremely difficult to like. She was so complex that it was hard to get her, but the more I read, the more I came to understand her, and the easier she became to like. By the end I totally loved her, and her evolution was so remarkable that she felt like a whole new person compared to who she was in the beginning. She starts off quoting classic literature left and right, at the most random and inopportune moments, hiding behind well-known characters because she is so scared to be her own self. So she builds layers and layers of barriers around herself, hiding behind books and borrowing identities from characters because she thinks she will fail if she is herself. And frankly, I think she even forgot how to be herself. She's been so hurt and has led such a hard life that she doesn't know anymore. Once I was able to understand all that, I really warmed up to her and cheered her on for the rest of her journey. The novel is more of a journey to self-discovery than a romance, and it was refreshing to read mostly just about Sam's daily life, and how school was going, etc. rather than a romance which probably would have prevented us from fully seeing the growth of Sam's character. I don't read much contemporary, but this one is definitely a keeper, and I loved every minute of it! I don't want to give anything away, but I just have to mention that the hero is incredibly dreamy, and completely worthy of his title. Their romance/relationship was THE BEST (if you don't count a certain situation - you know what I mean if you've read it) and I want one just like that someday. :) Strongly, strongly recommend this one; it's a powerful, life-changing kind of book, full of twists and valuable lessons, the most important of which, I believe, is to always remember not to be your favourite literary heroine, tempting though it is. Be your own heroine. Buddy read with Maria! **Labeled as Christian romance, but it wasn't really "Christian". No preaching, only a few mentions of God/faith here and there, that didn't feel forced at all. Don't be afraid to try it because it's "Inspirational", it wasn't really. Trust me, I've read tons of CF ;) ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Oct 14, 2015
|
Oct 19, 2015
|
Nov 15, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
076421019X
| 9780764210198
| 076421019X
| 4.15
| 3,218
| Jun 01, 2013
| Jun 01, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
I thought that nothing could beat the wonderful feel of reading A Change of Fortune, but it seems I was mistaken, because A Most Peculiar Circumstance
I thought that nothing could beat the wonderful feel of reading A Change of Fortune, but it seems I was mistaken, because A Most Peculiar Circumstance was even better. The characters were even more engaging, the banter even funnier, the adventures even more unbelievable, and the whole even more loveable. I loved every minute I spent reading that book, and reaching the end made me ache to start book 3, A Talent for Trouble because I cannot get enough of these characters. Theodore Wilder, the private investigator introduced in the previous book, is the hero of this novel, and oh my goodness, is he ever wonderful! Tall, muscular and jaw-dropping handsome, he has all the ladies swooning over him wherever he goes. Remember the ladies' reaction to him in A Change of Fortune? Eliza:"...her eyes widened and stayed firmly directed at Mr. Wilder." Agatha:"'Oh...he is divine,'" Gloria:"'Good heavens, 'Gloria exclaimed as she fanned her cheeks with a napkin, 'he is divine, isn't he?'". He has all the women making figures of themselves gazing moonstruck at him...until he opens his mouth. "He'd always been of the belief that ladies should appreciate their delicate status and the fact that they were not required to provide a living or train for a profession. No, all they were truly required to do was produce children and ease a gentleman's life." Woops. Mistake. Big one. Eliza:"[She] has apparently discontinued admiring the gentleman and now appeared as if she wanted to box his ears." Agatha:"'You are not divine in the least.'" Gloria:"'To think I was actually musing on an interesting idea just now to put you into direct contact with my darling Arabella,' Gloria said." And when Arabella meets him... It was fortunate for him that there were bars separating them." [image] Are. You. For. Real?!?! "He was the most obnoxious, chauvinistic, old-fashioned gentleman she'd ever had the misfortune to meet." Miss Arabella Beckett, a big supporter and influencer amongst the suffragettes, is tough, bold, determined and has no intention of letting anyone -least of all the proud, pompous investigator send after her by her family to bring her back home- tell her what to or how to live her life. [image] Arabella is as beautiful as Theodore is handsome, and attracts just as much attention as him. Both stubborn and set in their ways, their constant bickering is extremely diverting, and add to that their obvious chemistry and their respective families' commentary and not-so-subtle hints that they should get together, and their relationship is simply hilarious. "'You look like a deranged actress,' Theodore said. 'I'm certain you attracted more attention than any of the ladies you were trying to emulate.' 'Not one single gentleman even approached me.' 'Is that a note of disappointment I hear in your voice?' Theodore asked. Her patience was now at and end. 'You are a horrible man, and I don't care to speak with you any longer.'" [image] When it becomes known that ladies of the night are disappearing near the docks at night, Arabella's good heart leads to lend them her help, and with the help of her good friend Agatha, and Theodore's sister Katherine, they dress up as opera singers and try to mingle with the prostitutes to try to discover something. [image] Naturally, they all end up in jail, and naturally, Theodore has to bail them out...again. When he learns what's going on, he almost literally explodes. "'ALL OF YOU NEED A GOOD SPANKING!'" But Arabella has also had enough. [image] Enough is enough. There seems to be a crazy madman pursuing her, she is beginning to realize that she is a little too bossy and judgemental, she has landed in jail again, AND she is starting to feel REALLY attracted to Theodore? Nuh-huh! No way! [image] "'Let me guess, because I support women's rights, I'm not supposed to cry?' 'It seems a little odd, especially since you obviously long to be treated exactly like a gentleman. I've rarely witnessed a gentleman dissolving into tears.'" [image] Sometimes, even the strongest, most controlled woman just needs a good cry. On a man's shoulder. ;) And a little help from good-intentioned matchmaking mamas. "'Someone had to get your life in order for you, dear. Who better to do that than your own mother?'" [image] I can't even express how funny, wonderful and just plain good fun this book is. It will grab you from the beginning and won't let go, leaving you wanting more at the end and sad that the romp is already over. Fluffy, silly, unpredictable and implausible, A Most Peculiar Circumstance is a treat not to miss. If you're feeling down, or you simply need a sweet, light and pleasant book, this is perfect. You won't regret it. I mean, come on. "'Why you felt it was imperative for me to leave my house in a traveling trunk is still beyond me. You did see Zayne and Hamilton drop it, didn't you?' Violet grinned. 'They told me to tell you that they were very sorry about that.' 'Yes, I could tell they were dreadfully sorry, especially with all the laughter I heard through the one air hole someone considerately remembered to provide.'" 'I THINK GENTLEMEN IN GENERAL ARE DERANGED!!!" ^^such a perfect, accurate statement! ;) :) But seriously, who can resist Theodore?!?! "He was tall, certainly, well over six feet from what she could tell, but his overcoat was tailored at the waist, lending the impression of trimness, while his shoulders...a frisson of something unexpected raced down her spine." As much as she "hates" him, she definitely could not resist him. (Not that I blame her!) [image] This is one of the best books ever. Where has Jen Turano been all my life?! I cannot wait to read another book by her. SEQUEL, PLEASE!!! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 13, 2015
|
May 17, 2015
|
Oct 11, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0764210181
| 9780764210181
| 0764210181
| 4.04
| 6,118
| Nov 01, 2012
| Nov 01, 2012
|
it was amazing
|
"'She has high expectations of life. I could not fill those expectations. I've never been presented to the Queen,' Hamilton said. 'Because we live in "'She has high expectations of life. I could not fill those expectations. I've never been presented to the Queen,' Hamilton said. 'Because we live in America and don't have a queen.'" Set in 1880 New York high society, A Change of Fortune is the most over-the-top, far-fetched, implausible, funny and loveable book I have ever read. [image] Recently, I had the joy of reading Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, in which I discovered the compelling world of late 19th century New York, and accordingly, I was expecting this book to be similar in setting and atmosphere. I was expecting drawing-room gossip, multiple course dinners, drives up 5th Avenue, picnics in Central Park, and characters who "dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes", except those who gave rise to them." You know, the rich white people who "lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs." ? Not the case at all here. There was enough scandal in a day to last a lifetime, and the characters were blunt to a fault and had absolutely no filter. The book was silly, ridiculous, historically implausible and completely nonsensical. There were no descriptions of the time period, little to no regard for proprieties and conventions, and the characters felt incredibly modernized. Proper society ladies end up in jail, break through a neighbour's house, and rush off after kidnappers. They sometimes walk around in pants, jump off windows, run through ballrooms and throw spiders. Perfect recipe for Anne to thoroughly dislike this novel. But...no. I completely loved it. The characters are just so loveable and fun, the writing so good (except for the excessive amount of "mumbling", "muttering", "sputtering" and "grouching") and the whole just so darn hilarious that I couldn't help but loving it. It is not often that I am able to just sit back and so completely enjoy the ride of a book containing so many flaws, but I think it speaks really well for the author if she was able to have her book make my "grab-during-fire" list even though it contained so many ingredients I usually detest. I can't remember the last time I read a book that was this funny. I laughed the whole time! I fell in love with all the characters and started reading the second book immediately after finishing this one. Often, when I read a book I love, I think: "Wouldn't it be awesome if this was made into a movie!", and while a movie of A Change of Fortune would certainly be fabulous, I kept imagining a staged version of it, or better yet, a comedic TV series of all four books (I haven't read the last two yet, but I'm sure they're wonderful as well!). The Ladies of Distinction Season 1, Episode 1: A Change of Fortune Lady Eliza Sumner, trying to appear inconspicuous by posing as governess "Miss Eliza Sumner", is on a mission to retrieve her fortune, who has been stolen by her late father's man of affairs. She has come all the way from England to get her hands on the vile man, and is currently working as a governess for the Watson family, while secretly looking about a way to regain her fortune. One unfortunate evening, she is forced to appear as a guest at a dinner-party given by the Watsons. "'Is this...a dinner gown?' 'It is.' [..] 'Why, it's the most revolting shade of...' she paused and looked up at Eliza. 'What color would you call that?' 'I believe the proper term would be puce,' Eliza supplied. 'I think the proper term should be ugly,'" [image] Add to that a generous amount of pins to the front of the gown to keep it from gaping open, a severe chignon and a pair of glasses with a prescription too strong, and Miss Sumner is all ready for the evening! [image] Inconspicuous, here we go! "'Please allow me to help you from the floor, Miss Sumner. I fear, given the fact that there are numerous guests milling around, you're in danger of being trampled.' [...] 'Do you think she's been...drinking?' Zayne asked. 'You're not helping matters,' Hamilton said, even though he was rapidly coming to the same conclusion. He'd never dealt with an inebriated woman at a dinner party before and, quite honestly, he had no idea how to proceed. 'Let's get you to your feet.' 'I prefer to remain here.'" [image] Thus it is that Eliza meets the handsome Mr. Hamilton Beckett, railroad contractor, and his even more appealing brother (in my most humble opinion), Mr. Zayne Beckett. So much for remaining inconspicuous! "'I do not care for lemonade,' Miss Sumner proclaimed as she pulled her hand out of the butter and promptly dropped it to her lap. [...] 'I prefer wine,' Miss Sumner stated. 'Apparently, but I'm not certain it prefers you,' he muttered." [image] As events spiral out of control, Zayne has the brilliant idea to contact a private investigator to help Eliza with her quest. "Mr. Theodore Wilder stood well over six feet tall and was possessed of a face that could only be described as too handsome for his own good. " [image] "'You must call me Theodore.' Over his dead body, Hamilton thought, moving slightly to the left to force Theodore to take a step away from Eliza. He looked up to find his brother grinning back at him. He had the oddest desire to smack his brother over the head with any object close at hand." [image] Add to the cast the lively, spirited Miss Agatha Watson, journalist-to-be... "'I am not a 'charge' of Miss Sumner, ' Agatha growled. ' I have not had a governess in years, and as for us breaking the law, well, the pot really shouldn't call the kettle black.' Zayne struck another match and stepped closer to Agatha. 'Didn't you just make your debut?' 'Three years ago,' Agatha snapped." [image] ...who has an unreciprocated crush on Zayne; Eliza's greedy and foolish ex-fiancé Lawrence... "'So, in order to maintain your high style of living, you abandoned Eliza when she was no longer able to bring added wealth to your family?' 'Exactly,' Lawrence agreed, obviously pleased that Hamilton was finally catching on. [...] 'I could hardly offer to leave England,' he scoffed, 'It was the height of the social season.'" [image] ...and a charming, scheming mother intent on seeing everyone well-married... "'Don't you look pretty as a picture in lavender? Hamilton will be completely delighted.' Obviously, that had been a glint in Gloria's eyes, and apparently the woman was already scheming." [image] ...and you've got yourself a fabulous romp in 19th century New York, full of adventures, prickly situations, tender moments and sweet romance. As funny as the whole book was, I must admit that I really appreciated the fact that the sad moments were sad, the romantic moments romantic, and the serious moments serious. It all blended together so well, and it was such a treat to read. "'... That's why you're going directly back to the house. The last thing we need is for you to end up in jail again, and I'm quite certain disassembling another lady's hair falls under the category of assault.'" [image] Everyone is, of course, entitled to read what they best see fit to suit their personal reading styles, but if I were you, I'd drop everything now and start reading this series. ;) Just a little bit of friendly advice. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
May 08, 2015
|
May 12, 2015
|
Oct 11, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1616265981
| 9781616265984
| 1616265981
| 4.17
| 430
| Jan 01, 2014
| Jul 01, 2014
|
it was amazing
|
The third and last installment of the brilliant Escape to Paradise series, and then *sigh*, it is already over before you know it. All three books wer
The third and last installment of the brilliant Escape to Paradise series, and then *sigh*, it is already over before you know it. All three books were wonderful. Forsaken Dreams was the most adventurous, Elusive Hope the most romantic, and Abandoned Memories was definitely the most intense. Picking up where Elusive Hope left off, the colonists of New Hope are faced with the tragic possibility of evil spiritual forces fighting against them. As a new invisible being is released, the damage, destruction and chaos in New Hope increases, and the preacher of the colony feels the responsibility to set everything to rights rests on his shoulders. After a rather wild youth and painful experiences on the battlefield as a doctor, James Callaway struggles to find himself and his purpose, not feeling adequate for doctoring nor preaching. But as he is the only one who can decipher the old Hebrew book from the temple, he feels responsible for uncovering its secrets, which may be the only way to rid the colony of the evil raging against them. Having also sworn off unsavory women after his history of raking and debauching, James finds himself falling for sweet, reserved Angeline Moore, a beautiful and respectable young woman who harbors deep secrets of her own. Fascinated by her reluctance to talk about her past and her cold attitude towards him, James is desperate to get closer to her, learn more about her, and protect. I lost count of how many times he saves her life during the course of the novel, but he was a real knight in shining armor! Unbeknownst to him however, he is falling in love with an ex-prostitute (not a spoiler, we know this from the first book). Orphaned at a tender age, Angeline got caught in the web of prostitution as a way of surviving, and Blake's expedition to Brazil was her only way out. She wants nothing to do with men, and "needs to one's protection" (cue hero, lol!), and she especially doesn't need to be noticed by handsome, muscular and oh-so-manly Mr. Callaway, who is clearly a godly and respectable gentleman who would be appalled to learn of her former profession. Desiring only her cat, Stowy, for company, Angeline tries to stay out of James's way, but her task is made hard when he keeps rescuing her and giving her butterflies in the stomach every time he touches her. Between James and Angeline's budding romance, the brewing spiritual battle ahead, pirates roaming about, villains obsessed with gold, and misadventure upon misadventure, Abandoned Memories is a book that keeps you on edge the whole time, fearing, feeling and sympathizing with the characters. Since they are all the same people from books 1 & 2, it's really easy to connect with and like them all over again as we keep following their adventures deep in the jungles of Brazil. I loved seeing Blake & Eliza as a couple again, and newlyweds Hayden & Magnolia, who can't keep their hands (or faces) off each other. It's not often that we get to see the couples actually living heir married life, and I really enjoyed that aspect. Sadly, the adventure ends in this book, and pretty much everything is resolved, but I am left wondering one thing in particular: what happens to Magnolia's reflection? In Elusive Hope, every reflecting surface showed the state of her soul instead of her outward appearance. As she struggles to reform her ways and become better to be beautiful on the inside, her reflection slowly becomes prettier, but although Magnolia becomes really remarkable by the end of this novel, she never looks in her mirror at the end to see if her reflection has finally become beautiful. I wish the author had resolved that issue and given her a beautiful reflection, because she really deserved it by the end! This is not a series that I will soon forget. It was so entrancing, intense and amazing, that I very much want to read then all over again! It's very depressing to reach the end of a wonderful series. :( Good thing there are still tons of book by MaryLu Tyndall that I have never yet read! **This is not a standalone novel. I strongly recommend to read Forsaken Dreams and Elusive Hope first (in that order). ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
not set
|
Jan 16, 2015
|
Oct 10, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1616265965
| 9781616265960
| 1616265965
| 4.01
| 1,656
| Mar 01, 2013
| Mar 01, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
What did I think? I think that I have almost gone crazy over this series, because I have now finished all three books and am incapable of getting out
What did I think? I think that I have almost gone crazy over this series, because I have now finished all three books and am incapable of getting out of that world and moving on with other things. I mean, I've been reading another book for what, three days now, and I haven't even made it to page 100, because I simply cannot focus and still think about the wonderful characters I met in Escape to Paradise. Yes, it was that good. I couldn't put it down, and I wanted to shush everyone and everything around me so that I could just focus on this book (hard to do when you're on a plane, squeezed between strangers, but yeah). And do you know, I almost, almost DNFed this? I know, what the heck, right?! I hate it when a book starts with a situation where the reader doesn't know what is going on, then it flashbacks to a few years ago, then forwards to a month before the story, then back again, and then finally re-jumps to time of the story and it's like WHAAA-!!! So, yes, I got impatient with the beginning and the writing was throwing me off, but as soon as it settled to one time frame and everything started to unravel, I got really into it, and two major things made me believe that I would really enjoy the book after all. The first was that the story takes place on a boat. I love everything sea, voyage, boats and storms, and I wasn't wrong in thinking that the novel would be a very adventurous, suspenseful and intense story. The second thing was...the character of Hayden. Those of you who know me are aware that I always fall for the rakes & rogues, so, surprise, surprise, Hayden stole my heart from the moment he was introduced trying to swindle a man in a tavern, and the second he got on the ship as a stowaway, I knew I was in for some good sport. And I was right, boy, what a journey it all was! Colonel Blake Wallace has organized an expedition to Brazil, composed of Southerners who are either trying to escape their past, or who simply wish to start anew in a better place than war-torn America. I LOVED the fact that we met many of those travelers, and that the story didn't just focus on the H/h. The narration switches points of view many times, and we are privy to many people's points of view. Normally, that would be confusing, but in this case it worked superbly and it was SO interesting! The main character is Mrs. Eliza Crawford, a widowed war nurse who married a General on the wrong side of the Civil War. Rejected by his northern relatives and disowned by her own Southern connections, Eliza has nowhere to go but on Colonel Wallace's ship and she hopes to start a new life in Brazil, where her past wouldn't matter to anyone. But try as she might, her past keeps resurfacing and threatens to destroy her budding romance with Colonel Wallace. Scarred by the war and suffering from severe PTSD, Blake is incapable or forgiving anyone who ever had anything to do with Yankees...so brace yourselves, because unbeknownst to him, he is falling madly in love with the widow of a Yankee General, one whose violence on the battlefield was well-known. The problems and misunderstandings between Blake and Eliza were predictable, but there were still suspenseful twists and turns, and scenes that make you want to tear your hair out in frustration, because argh, just get together already. It was a good romance though, and I loved the whole forgiveness aspect of it. Eliza was extraordinarily remarkable; selfless, generous, courageous, forgiving, charitable and always at the service of others. I really loved her and my heart honestly ached for her many times during the story. Blake was a good hero, although a little too commanding, imposing and awe-inspiring for my tastes. But Eliza loved him, so I liked him, and his ability to keep the colony together and getting everyone to work together to get to Brazil was truly remarkable. Their long journey from Charleston to Rio de Janeiro was anything but tranquil, and as they are faced with misfortune upon misfortune, the colonists start thinking that their trip is cursed, and it really does look as though someone or something were trying to prevent them from starting their colony in Brazil. Some of the adventures they went through on the ship were a bit far-fetched and wtf-is-going-on type of thing, but others were really good and kept me riveted to the pages, frantically anticipating what was going to happen next(it's a miracle that I didn't peek). All the characters were interesting, and as I've said before, I loved that we got a lot of different points of view. We meet Angeline Moore, the colonist's seamstress, a beautiful young woman who harbors a painful secret and Sarah Jordan, the teacher, who is a widow and soon to give birth. Those two become Eliza's close friends and I loved seeing the strong bond of friendship develop between them. Then we have the Scotts, wealthy plantation owners who think they are King and Queen of the expedition, and their spoiled, irritating and selfish daughter Magnolia, who is as beautiful as she is annoying. There is also the handsome preacher-doctor James Callaway, who has a fear of blood and a dirty past of his own, Mr. Graves, the creepy politician who is always rubbing an amulet and watching everyone from a corner, Mr. Dodd, an ex-lawman obsessed with gold and women, and finally, my favourite, the good-looking stowaway Hayden Gale, a confidence man trying to find his father to make him pay for abandoning him when he was a young boy. All the characters were interesting, and most of them all linked through a series of past bewildering events, although they all believe themselves to be strangers. The novel, Forsaken Dreams, tells the story of the colonist's journey to Brazil and ends just as they reach their final destination. My advice to you if you are considering reading it, MAKE SURE that you have the second and third book nearby, because once you start, believe me, you won't be able to stop. It's so engrossing and exciting that nothing else matters but this book when you read it. Review of [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Review of [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
not set
|
Jan 2015
|
Oct 10, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1616265973
| 9781616265977
| 1616265973
| 4.19
| 694
| Nov 01, 2013
| Nov 01, 2013
|
it was amazing
|
I knew I was going to love this book before I even started it. I had a feeling it would be my favourite of the three in the Escape to Paradise series.
I knew I was going to love this book before I even started it. I had a feeling it would be my favourite of the three in the Escape to Paradise series. Perhaps because we already know the characters and it was easy to get back into their lives, perhaps because they've finally made it to Brazil and their adventures there are really exciting, or maybe it's because the romance here is really well developed, believable and heart-warming? If I'm being honest, it's probably because Hayden is the hero, but all the other elements of this novel were so engaging and well crafted together that the result was astounding. As engrossing and entertaining as the first book, Forsaken Dreams, Elusive Hope continues the story of the colonists and their quest to start a new town in Brazil. Fraught with danger, pirates, wild animals and the oppressive heat of the jungle, this book is exciting, suspenseful, and extremely romantic. Who would have thought that pampered, rich, spoiled and selfish Magnolia would make such a good heroine?! At first I was disappointed when I read from the blurb that she was going to be the heroine, but as the story developed she became really interesting, and the more I learned about her, the more I liked her and the easiest it became to understand why she acted the way she did. Raised by a father who taught her that her external beauty was her only quality and of the utmost importance, and a mother too weak to contradict her husband, the beautiful Magnolia is used to having her every whim obeyed, her hair beautifully arranged, and her wardrobe filled with the prettiest dresses. Yet try as she might, her external appearance is never good enough for her father, and his constant reprimands have given Magnolia a very low self-esteem. She finds herself extremely miserable in Brazil and would give anything to go back to her former life in southern US. Thus, when Hayden announces his intention to leave the colony on a personal quest of his own, Magnolia seizes the opportunity and runs away, following him in the jungle. We already know from Forsaken Dreams that the gorgeous Hayden is desperately looking for his father, and wants to make him pay for his crimes. He has absolutely no need for a beautiful young woman to accompany him on his journey (she would be a nuisance, of course), but Magnolia isn't a woman to be easily deterred. Having to travel with Hayden repulses her as much as having to face snakes, spiders and other bugs, but he is her only chance and she is determined to take it. So, she nicknames him "toad" and he calls her Princess in a very condescending, sarcastic way, and sparks fly all the way to Rio de Janeiro. It was obvious from their constant bickering and mutual attraction already established in Forsaken Dreams, that Magnolia & Hayden had excellent chemistry and that a romance between them would be nothing short of highly entertaining. Watching Magnolia swindle such a great swindler as Hayden, and unwillingly making him fall as hard for her as she was falling for him, was oddly satisfying and heart-warming. Their romance was simply excellent, and although they had numerous difficulties to overcome, their problems and misunderstandings were not as frustrating as Blake & Eliza's and those of the other couple in Abandoned Memories. Hayden was really, really heart-melting and sexy, and his roguishness and complicated, sad past only added to his charm. Him and Magnolia form such an adorable couple!! Following up the hints of fantasy introduced in the first book, Tyndall further develops that theme here by suggesting supernatural spiritual forces at work through the discovery of an old creepy temple, visions from the past, and a mirror that reflects the state of Magnolia's soul. The good vs. evil conflict is not at all resolved in this book, so again I suggest that you have the next book, Abandoned Memories, ready when you are done with this one. I really enjoyed the fantasy aspect and thought it blended really well with the rest of the plot. Since it was already a very adventurous, suspenseful kind of book, I thought that adding a fantastical spiritual battle only brought the story to a higher and more entertaining level. We keep learning about the colonists previously introduced in Forsaken Dreams, and again the narration shifts points of view so that we get to know the characters even better. Eliza & Blake are there, of course, enjoying a sweet state of marital bliss despite all their difficulties, and it was lovely to see them again. Since this book closely follows the first one and is really a continuation of the adventure, I wouldn't exactly call Elusive Hope a stand-alone, and would strongly recommend reading Forsaken Dreams first. You won't regret it, as all books of the series are super good and leave you wanting more! ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jan 02, 2015
|
Jan 07, 2015
|
Sep 07, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0800732138
| 9780800732134
| 0800732138
| 4.25
| 2,375
| May 01, 2009
| May 01, 2009
|
it was amazing
|
Signs I'm totally obsessed with this series
: *I've devoured all three books in less than a month. *I feel like I personally know the characters, and Signs I'm totally obsessed with this series : *I've devoured all three books in less than a month. *I feel like I personally know the characters, and think I already met the whole family somewhere. *Their faith inspires me so much, I have seriously started praying more and reading the Bible more. *I'm reading all the time. Like, all the time. *I am considering bobbing my hair, like all the ladies in this book did. *I became psychic. Seriously. Sometimes, when I love a book so much, I find myself taking the characters on journeys of my own, making them do things and say things that aren't in the book. For some reason, I imagined Brady and Lizzie going fishing and bringing back a lot of fish. What happened a few pages after, in the book? They went fishing and brought back a lot of fish!!! It was so coincidental, I couldn't believe it. *At some point, the family was eating coconut pie for dessert, and I had a sudden urge to eat coconut pie myself. I got up form my chair and told my mom I wanted to go bake a coconut pie. To which she replied: "Are the characters in your book eating coconut pie or something?". *One Sunday at church, the Psalm reading was so applicable to Brady that I made a mental note to tell him about it later...then the blood surged to my cheeks in embarrassment as I suddenly remembered that Brady is a fictional character. *And finally, I have now returned the books to the library, and feel like a piece of me is missing. Clearly, I am a little crazy, and clearly I need to re-think my life, but what can I say? These books have a way of entrancing me so completely and the characters are so real and loveable, they'd gotten under my skin way before I could prevent it. I remember reading A Passion Most Pure and trying to fight the attraction I had toward the characters, and the enjoyment I felt reading about them. The story was so flawed, there was so much unnecessary smoochiness, and so many scenes were so maddening, that I couldn't understand why despite it all, I loved it so much. When I reached the end, I just couldn't wait to "meet up" with the characters again, so I plunged immediately in A Passion Redeemed, knowing I'd probably enjoy it a lot. It was still highly frustrating at times, but overall it won my heart just like book 1, and when it ended I was desperate for book 3. A Passion Denied reads pretty much like its two predecessors: it's romance-focused, there aren't many details as to the setting/era, there's a lot of passionate kisses (most of which totally unnecessary), a lot of heartache, a lot of tears, a lot of love, a lot of prayer, a lot of maddening situations, but overall, every minute was worth it. I'm done trying to "not like" these books or trying to take down a few stars, because no matter how many flaws they contain, the good points more than make up for the bad ones. I still find it strange how the characters never think back upon World War I - this book taking place in 1922, and having more than one male character who'd fought in it, or how all three heroines have always had recourse to engagement to another man in the hopes of forgetting the one they really love, or even why so many things are often left hanging, such as the family members, friends and coworkers still in Ireland, and situations with other family members or friends. I also found it really surprising that there was never once talk of the Virgin Mary, given the Catholic faith of the characters, and how important Mary is to Catholics. It didn't really bother me, I just found it odd. But all that aside, A Passion Denied is undoubtedly one of my favourite books of this year. I had a wonderful time reading it! I loved Beth and Brady from the previous books, and loved to see how their story unfolded. It was definitely twistier and more complicated than the other two, and I was shocked many times, and literally had to put the book down to assimilate what had just happened. It was so much fun seeing the characters from the other books and reading scenes about them! The author even incorporated a few little conflicts between the other couples, which really gave the feel of reading a series about a family, and not just a hero and heroine. That's the thing I love the most about the Daughters of Boston series; it's not just about the daughters, it's about the entire O'Connor family, and they are so fun to follow that I almost cried when this book was over, because I wasn't ready to say goodbye, wasn't ready for it to end...and then I discovered that Julie Lessman's Winds of Change series is the continuation of this one!!! I was so happy I almost cried again. Katie and Cluny were THE BEST, my favourite kids in books EVER, and reading their story now in A Hope Undaunted is entertaining at best, and nothing short of wonderful. Each of these books just keeps getting better and better! I don't know how it's even possible! And please, the man on the cover? So ridiculously good-looking, my main reason for wanting to buy this book is so I can stare at him whenever I want. **Sort of a standalone, but sort of not. The story is perfectly understandable if you haven't read books 1 & 2 (and no don't worry, you didn't miss the scoop on Brady's past...you've got to be patient on that one because Lessman lets the suspense build and build, AND BUILD until you're nearly crazy with wondering what happened - eh, it's one of the joys of this book :P), but I strongly recommend reading the series in order, because it's just better. It's so much more fun when you already know who Charity and Faith and Mitch and Collin & the whole gang are, because then you can have inside jokes with them and wink at them while they're having a family dinner, reminiscing over sweet times from previous books. :) Review of book 1 [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Review of book 2 [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Aug 08, 2015
|
Aug 14, 2015
|
Aug 20, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0800732111
| 9780800732110
| 0800732111
| 3.99
| 6,553
| Jan 01, 2008
| Jan 01, 2008
|
it was amazing
|
I can't remember the last time I felt that conflicted towards a book. I mean, really. This novel is like a Taylor Swift song. Seriously. You know all t I can't remember the last time I felt that conflicted towards a book. I mean, really. This novel is like a Taylor Swift song. Seriously. You know all those relationship ups and downs Taylor always nails in her songs? One minute she's daydreaming about her superstar, and the next she's seeing everything red? How she gives everything she has to the man of her dreams, then breaks down crying when he betrays her? You know what I'm talking about. No matter if you're a Taylor Swift fan or not, there's no denying her songs are dramatic and passionate. Just like this book. She probably got her inspiration for the song How You Get the Girl by reading it. Stand there like a ghost shaking from the rain. She'll open up the door and say "Are you insane?" Say it's been a long 6 months And you were too afraid to tell her what you want. Right? Everyone who's read this book, I'm sure y'all agree. There were so many emotions, so many conflicts, so much drama in A Passion Most Pure, that I really felt as though I were reading the lyrics to one of Taylor Swift's albums. And, just like Taylor's latests, I'm never sure whether I love it or hate it at first. I love Taylor Swift, but sometimes her songs are a little too over-the-top for me, too passionate, too dramatic. Yet, I love them and can't stop listening to them. It's the same with A Passion Most Pure. I loved it and it infuriated me so much at the same time. First of all, the setting. We’re in 1916 Boston, smack in the middle of World War I, yet i never felt the war atmosphere, or the Boston atmosphere, or even the Irish atmosphere (later on in the story). I read historical fiction primarily because I like escaping from our contemporary world, and secondly because I want to learn. I love World War I and World War II novels, but I like them rich with historical details and bits and pieces of information that make you learn about the era without clogging the plot. So, in that respect, the book lost a few points (later redeemed, though, as you might have guessed from the 5 star rating). Secondly, for a Christian book, it was pretty steamy. There was never a scene with a man and a woman alone in a room that didn't turn into a full make-out session. That was annoying. Really annoying. There is a way to convey passion and sexual tension without going so much into details. If you tell me that the heroine's parents have one of the best marriages ever, and a super romantic relationship, it goes without saying they're probably very active in the bedroom. Although there were no explicit intimate scenes, I found it unnecessary to describe passionate kisses and fondling so often. And that went for all the couples in this book. The main reason why the passionate scenes were annoying, though, was because it seemed to portray men as never being able to restrain themselves. Yes, men and women think differently, and not being a man, I will never understand exactly what it feels like to think like a man, but, I know there are honourable men out there who would never kiss a woman while being engaged to someone else. That happens not one, not twice, but multiple times during the course of the novel. It was absolutely horrifying. I couldn't believe they weren't capable of keeping their mouths to themselves. I mean, once as an accident, I can understand, but several times? (view spoiler)[ For goodness's sake, even after Collin supposedly becomes a changed man, he kisses Faith fully knowing she's engaged!!! And Faith?!?! SHE WAS IN SUCH A BLOODY RAGE WHEN MITCH KISSED CHARITY WHILE BEING ENGAGED TO HER, AND NOW SHE DOES THE EXACT SAME THING?!?!? Seriously, what the heck?! (hide spoiler)] I really did not like the character of Collin. He was so young, so immature, such an impossible rake. He talked about his past as though he had been womanizing and drinking and raking for over fifteen years, but he was only twenty-one, and had started in the path of perdition only shortly after graduating high school. That did not give him that much experience. Even after his conversion, I still didn't truly like him. I never felt like he was part of the O'Connor family, that he belonged with them. It seemed to me he caused so much mayhem between the two O'Connor sisters, I didn't understand why Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor were so adamant he becomes part of the family. Speaking of which, why were the parents so darn present in Charity and Faith's love lives?! If I were in love with my sister's fiancé, I would rather move to Nepal then tell them the truth! Why did they have to know every single detail? And knowing all that Collin did and how much pain he caused, why did they so want he married one of the sisters? And especially, WHY CHARITY?! Patrick knew that Collin was falling for Faith, yet he keeps asking when he's going to marry Charity. NOBODY CARES ABOUT CHARITY!!! Marcy was the same; "When are you going to marry Charity?", "Please work things out with Charity!". Like, hello you guys, he preferred going to war rather than marry Charity, CAN'T YOU SEE HE DOESN'T LOVE HER??? And Charity in love with Collin, pish-tosh! She was never in love in her life! Marcy knows that she has a score of admirers and suitors after Collin leaves for war, it should be obvious to her that she no longer wants him! But no, she keeps repeating that Charity loves Collin. So many of the characters actions and thoughts did not make sense. I think the part that maddened me the most was when Mitch agreed to take Charity out to dinner a month after Faith had broken up with him. She broke up with him, because of freaking Charity. Mitch was completely heartbroken when she left him. He should be hating Charity for what she did, not be able to stomach the sight of her. But what does he do? Yeah, he takes her out and feels attracted to her. The heck!?!??! And Faith?! Her reaction at some point when Mitch hurts her is SO completely out of character. She goes into a white rage, storming and crying and shutting everyone out, including God. She refuses to talk to anyone, doesn't let Mitch explain anything, and is flat out unrecognizable. I couldn't believe the turn she was taking. I mean, Faith's faith (haha!) is the main reason why this book gets five stars. Because save that one part where she completely loses it, she was such a wonderful model of piety and godly love, that I felt really inspired and completely loved her. Rarely have I seen a character's faith so well drawn out and so believable in a Christian fiction novel. Often you have the good, perfect heroines who never do anything wrong and who accept God's will in everything or the ones who are struggling with their faith for some reason or another. But Faith...Faith she's something more. She's understandable. She's completely human, completely real, with plenty of flaws and plenty of qualities. But it's the way she lives, the way she believes that is wonderful. She loves God. Loves him wholeheartedly and unconditionally, the way all good Christians should. I found her so inspiring, so wonderful that I found myself wanting to copy her in many ways (not kissing another woman's fiancé, mind you). She made me want to be closer to God, pick up my Bible and find comfort in the Holy Scriptures, pray about everything, and turn my sorrows into joys. Her values and principles were not only excellent and commendable, they were accessible. They are everyday things that anybody can do, that anybody can successfully accomplish. I loved that aspect. I love reading an Inspirational book and thinking how I can apply the beliefs and faith to my own life, and seeing that it's possible. And that, my dear friends, is what a Christian book should be all about, in my opinion. A good Christian novel should make you want to grow, make you want to be better, make you want to know God better, and make you want to do some changes in your life. And for that, because it succeeded so well, I'm giving A Passion Most Pure a deserving and unshameful five stars. Oh, yes, there were many things that infuriated me. I threw my Kindle on the bed many times, swearing under my breath, vowing never to touch another Julie Lessman book in my life. The love triangle was the most frustrating thing I’d ever read about, the characters were often irrational and sometimes hard to follow, Charity was downright detestable, there were so many annoying smoochy kisses that shouldn’t have happened, so many emotions, so many tears, and yet…I couldn’t put it down. I just had to know what would happen next. And truthfully, when a book makes me feel such strong emotions, it’s a sign that it’s a pretty good book. When we all thought (view spoiler)[Patrick had died in the war (hide spoiler)]…good grief. I walked in the kitchen one morning after having read long into the night, and explained what had happened to my mom, and told her it affected me almost as much as if I’d known the man personally. She gave me a long look and said “I can see that!”. I’m probably crazy to let fictional characters affect me so much, but I can’t help it, they just do, and when I can’t shake them off, I know I loved the book. I debated with myself as to whether or not I should continue with the series, seeing as how the next book with feature the amazing Charity as the heroine, and not sure if I’m feeling up to another roller-coaster swirl of strong emotions, but at last I decided that, hang it all, I can’t just leave these characters hanging, and I simply have to continue! I apologize for the unseemly length of this review, but guys, I really needed to vent. ;) Now, excuse me while I go listen to some Taylor Swift!! ”'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate’” Review of book 2 [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Review of book 3 [image] : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Jul 17, 2015
|
Jul 25, 2015
|
Aug 20, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0764207075
| 9780764207075
| 0764207075
| 4.00
| 15,822
| Jan 01, 2010
| Feb 01, 2010
|
it was amazing
|
My word, what a novel! I have no idea what to say...I loved it!! It was SO engrossing right from the start, and the excitement didn't drop once. From t My word, what a novel! I have no idea what to say...I loved it!! It was SO engrossing right from the start, and the excitement didn't drop once. From the prologue was are swept in a web of intrigue, mystery, secrets and adventure. This book is like, impossible to put down. Olivia Keene, the heroine, was absolutely amazing. She was courageous, loyal, clever and fierce and I loved the way she stayed true to herself and stood up to Lord Bradley from time to time. Her relationship with the children was really touching, and I loved all the scenes they had together. Who said children were annoying in Regencies? ;) I used to think they were, but lately I've hit upon a few books that featured really attaching ones. The plot in The Silent Governess is really intricate and twisty, and although I guessed a few things right early on enough, it still kept me really interested and I couldn't wait to turn the next page to see what would happen. I have amazed myself for once and DID NOT SPOIL ANYTHING FOR MYSELF BY PEEKING (cue round of applause) and the experience was so enjoyable that I am determined not to peek in the next novel I'll read. This book was definitely more focused on the plot than the romance, which was a little too bad because the hero, while not exactly swoon-worthy, was really fascinating and of the reserved-judgemental-haughty- type, with a resting bitchface on his gorgeous blond-haired, blue-eyed face. Aaaannnd he's tall, broad-shouldered and very muscular, facts confirmed by Olivia herself, when she *accidentally* sees him in his bath. ;) We learn his secret, or part of it, right from the beginning because the heroine overhears it, and that is why he forces to stay on his estate, first as an under-nurse, and eventually as a governess (all the while never taking his eyes off her - both for security and personal reasons, hehehe!). Their relationship is a bit peculiar, although interesting. Lord Bradley is clearly attracted to her early on, but it isn't until almost the end that we are made to understand that Olivia sees him in a romantic light too. All along, they have a few delicious scenes, but also some very conflicting ones where it felt unclear why they were acting the way they were. Edward had a few strange mood swings throughout, and Olivia's decisions near the end were rather too sudden and precipitous. But nevertheless the romantic aspect was very enjoyable to follow, and the ending is delectable. My favourite character is probably Lord Brightwell, though, and I *wish* he'd gotten a HEA too, because he was the most deserving and the most awesome. Generous, philanthropic and super kind, he reminded me a lot of Mr. Jarndyce from Bleak House, and every scene with him was really good. I wish there was a sequel to this book so he could get his own story. The setting of this novel was really great, and I enjoyed learning more about the lives of servants back in the Regency era (and prior to this I had no idea what the heck an undernurse was!), and it also made me realize just how awkward the position of governess was, since they were only supposed to interact with the children and no one else, being too good for the servants, but not good enough for the family of the house. Awkward indeed. No wonder Olivia got tired of it and wanted to teach in a school of her own! I loved how we can so tell that Julie Klassen loves all things Jane. :) The Silent Governess was reminiscent of Jane Eyre in so many ways, but what would have been really awesome is if the author had started the epilogue with "Reader, I married him.". :) I can't wait to read another Klassen novel. Her books are SO good. And she has TWO new ones coming out this year!!! Weeee!! :D ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Feb 05, 2015
|
Feb 09, 2015
|
May 10, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
2253004014
| 9782253004011
| 2253004014
| 4.05
| 58,864
| 1782
| Sep 1975
|
it was amazing
|
I love this book to distraction. Quite literally. It has almost exclusively occupied my every thought ever since I started it, and undoubtedly wins th
I love this book to distraction. Quite literally. It has almost exclusively occupied my every thought ever since I started it, and undoubtedly wins the Book That Has Affected Me The Most in 2015. Simply put, it is wonderfully twisty, delightfully witty and shockingly scandalous. It will make you laugh, sigh, wonder, exclaim, and, if you're anything like me, hold you under its spell for a long time. Set in 18th century France before the Revolution and written in epistolary form, Les Liaisons dangereuses is an epic tale of seduction, deceit, love and revenge, as well as an excellent portrait of the moral corruption of the time. Although written over 200 years ago and aimed at mirroring the society's ugly reflection, it was fascinating to see all the parallels that can be made with our society today. We live our lives so differently that it almost seems as though we were not of the same planet, yet the basic principles and fatal human tendencies portrayed in the story are as much true and applicable today as they were in the 18th century. The novel centers around two very bored, very jaded, very wicked French aristocrats, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, former lovers, but forever accomplices, best friends and confidantes, who have nothing better to do with their time and intelligence than scheme and manipulate others for their own amusement. Masterminds of the first order, they read, decipher and interpret human ways to such a degree that, for all their outrageous depravity, one can't help but admire them. Any villainous project they have in mind is sure not only to succeed at the complete detriment of others and in the utter ruination of their victim for their own benefit, but to be undertaken in such a way as to make them look like veritable heroes and the sole friends and saviours of their innocent victims. Seriously, the way they work is so mind-bogglingly amazing that I had to put my book down several times to assimilate all the glory of what had just happened. Vicious and evil to the core, the Marquise and the Vicomte are truly dangerous, and the best villains I have encountered so far in any book. "En vérité, plus je vais et plus je suis tenté de croire qu'il n'y a que vous et moi dans le monde, qui valions quelque chose." Personally, I have found that of the two, Merteuil has more worth than Valmont, if for the sole fact that she is female and he is male, and therefore must work twice as hard to hide her game and maintain a spotless image. While the Vicomte is publicly recognized as a dissolute and nefarious rake yet still accepted and received in society, Mme la Marquise cannot and does not have that luxury, and although she is as reprobate as he is, she has successfully maintained a wise and righteous façade and reigns as the Toast of all Paris. Completely ahead of her time, she refuses to mould herself to the social norms, and becomes her own creation. Seriously, that woman is incredible, and I find her endlessly fascinating. I could expand about her all day long, but instead I will simply direct you to Marquise's review, where she explains everything perfectly. When Merteuil learns that Mlle Cécile de Volanges is to be married to a former lover who'd cheated on her, she decides to revenge herself on him by deciding to pervert Cécile before her marriage. She enlists the help of the Vicomte, but that one has decided that first and foremost, he must seduce the virtuous Présidente de Tourvel... Here is an inkling of what the book is like, in classic Anne style*: Letter 1 La Marquise de Merteuil au Vicomte de Valmont My dearest Vicomte!! At last, I have found something to alleviate my boredom! LET'S PERVERT A PERFECTLY INNOCENT GIRL! It'll be soooo much fun for us both; you get to enjoy her, and I get to laugh incessantly as I think about her husband finding out that she's unchaste. What do you say??! Isn't it brilliant!? It'll be way better than being shut up in the country with nothing whatsoever to do! Letter 2 Le Vicomte de Valmont à la Marquise de Merteuil Hello my lovely, you are mistaken dearest, I am having the time of my life in the country, because I have found a project that's EVEN MORE brilliant than yours! I am going to seduce l'Austère Dévote Mme de Tourvel. It's going to be awesome!! I will have the unequalled pleasure of seeing her betray everything she believes FOR ME. SHE WILL FALL MADLY IN LOVE WITH ME, AND BEG FOR ME, AND I WILL POSSESS HER!! Letter 3 La Marquise de Merteuil au Vicomte de Valmont You cannot be serious, Vicomte! My project is way more awesome! But fine, if it amuses you, go for it, and bring me back the proof that she gave herself up completely to you. Then, you and me can get some action going ;) Letter 4 Mme de Volanges à la Présidente de Tourvel Dearest!!! What is this I hear! You are staying at Mme de Rosemonde's with le Vicomte de Valmont??! BEWARE, OH BEWARE MY POOR DEAR! Valmont it a MONSTER OF THE WORST KIND! Don't say I didn't warn you! Letter 5 Le Vicomte de Valmont à la Marquise de Merteuil Hey! Some b*tch has been talking shit about me to Mme de Tourvel, and now she doesn't want to speak to me! Darn it, I didn't need that. But I shall find a way, hahahaha!!! Letter 6 Le Chevalier Danceny à Cécile Volanges CÉCILE!! OH MA TRÈS JOLIE CÉCILE!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I CAN'T BEAR IT ANYMORE!! WRITE TO ME! CONSOLE ME! COMFORT ME! Letter 7 Cécile Volanges à la Marquise de Merteuil Dearest friend who loves me so much and who only wants my best, do you think it's okay if I do write to Danceny? I don't want to do anything wrong, but I do so want to write to him and not see him being miserable because of me! Letter 8 La Marquise de Merteuil à Cécile Volanges Mais bien sûr chérie, write to him and tell him you love him :) You have my blessing!! Letter 9 La Marquise de Merteuil à Mme Volanges You better watch your daughter my dear, she and Danceny are engaged in a liaison dangereuse!!!! Thought you should know they've been writing letters to each other! Letter 10 Le Vicomte de Valmont à la Présidente de Tourvel I CANNOT KEEP IT IN ANY LONGER, ooooh I love you SO much madame! I beg of you, alleviate my suffering! Tell me you love me too! Don't make me unhappy! Letter 11 La Marquise de Merteuil au Vicomte de Valmont Soooo...any success yet? When are you coming back? Are you dead? Why don't you reply? That Présidente must be something indeed, but make a move already, and get back here!! Letter 12 Le Vicomte de Valmont à la Marquise de Merteuil J'aime les lenteurs, ok? Let me work, and don't worry. The Devoted Prude cannot resist me much longer. Who could? I am so irresistible. Hey don't forget you have promised to sleep with me when I get back ;) ;) Letter 13 La Présidente de Tourvel au Vicomte de Valmont Just WHAT on earth ARE you talking about??! LOVE ME??? I cannot love you back, and you know that! Don't even try! Don't torment me! I can be your friend though :) Letter 14 La Présidente de Tourvel à Madame de Volanges Oh my God, I am being harassed by Valmont! You were right, he truly is horrible! He won't leave me alone!! Letter 15 Madame de Volanges à la Présidente de Tourvel Que vous avais-je dis??! IGNORE THE STALKERS!!! I told you he was top-of-the-top dangerous! Tell him to go away already! Don't stay there with him, everybody will think you are being compromised. Letter 16 Le Vicomte de Valmont à la Marquise de Merteuil WOOO! I am getting me some Présidente, FOR SURE THIS TIME!! Tomorrow I am SURE she will consent!! Wee, weeeeee!! Don't forget that you promised to sleep with me when I get back ;) DON'T FORGET! Letter 17 Le Vicomte de Valmont à la Marquise de Merteuil OH MY GOD, SHE IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!! SHE LEFT, SHE HAS DESERTED ME!! Letter 18 La Marquise de Merteuil au Vicomte de Valmont Hahahaha!! Ohhhh Vicomte, je vous aime à la folie! You are so cute! :P What fools men are! Honestly, I have to manage everything if I want it to be done right. When you bungle folly after folly, you come running back to me each time, and I'm always the one who has to take you out of scrapes. En vérité, c'est bien trop drôle! I was definitely born to dominate your sex and avenge my own. *** At first, I found myself incredibly amused by the wickedly witty letters exchanged between the Vicomte and the Marquise. In truth, the only times they were completely honest and true to themselves were by writing to each other. They are heinous, to be sure, and their behaviour is despicable, but it was so engrossing to follow their progress and to be surprised by all the twists and turns that ensued. Valmont made me laugh out loud several times with the tactics he employed with Mme de Tourvel, and Merteuil was simply glorious in her expert manipulation and toying of everyone's confidences and affections. And for all their evilness, those two really and truly comprehended human nature and, when taken out of context, wrote some truly beautiful passages on love, character and relationships. It really showed how well they understood everything, and only rendered it more afflicting that they should use their talents to torment others. As the story progresses and the plot thickens, I became more and more shocked at their audacity, and in the end, one cannot but feel that they well and truly deserved the terrible endings they suffered. Typically, I try to avoid books with unhappy and tragic endings. I'm a rainbows-and-sunshine type of girl who delights in happily-ever-afters and evil villains redeemed, but as Les Liaisons dangereuses is not a fluffy historical romance where all's well that ends well, the ending, I must admit, greatly affected me and left me more than a little distressed. Somehow having the two leads unmasked and their perfidy revealed made me doubly realize just how vile and rotten they were, and their antics, previously captivating and delectable in all their perverted glory, now seen through the eyes of the victims have lost much of their charm, and are seen in their rightful disgust and contempt. Such is the power of this book, that you love the villains but agree they deserve the ending they get, and their true nature revealed and all the consequences it encompasses leaves you torn between your previous admiration of their wicked minds, and your newly-found realization of the disgust of their behaviour. This is a book that messes with you, I warn you! Or maybe it's just me being overly sensitive and dramatic, that's a huge possibility too ;) Now, I am in awesome-book-is-over-I-can't-stop-thinking-about-it mode, where I go about my daily functions like a robot, not seeing, hearing, or understanding anything save what has to do with Les Liaisons. Such a wonderful state, yet one you can't wait to get over, right? Definitely one of my top favourite books of all time! *To be taken incredibly lightly, and with a heavy dose of salt, but I assure you that in this case, I haven't exaggerated the melodrama and woeful expressions. In fact, it's even worse in the book! ;) ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Nov 27, 2015
|
Dec 07, 2015
|
May 06, 2013
|
Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0307291685
| 9780307291684
| 0307291685
| 3.97
| 195,499
| Oct 25, 1920
| Oct 25, 2009
|
it was amazing
|
"He simply felt that if he could carry away the vision of the spot of earth she walked on, and the way the sky and sea enclosed it, the rest of the wo
"He simply felt that if he could carry away the vision of the spot of earth she walked on, and the way the sky and sea enclosed it, the rest of the world might seem less empty." [image] I believe that the best kind of books are those which one does not expect to fall in love with, but undeniably do. You know, the ones that have been sitting on the shelf for ages and that you just finally pick up on a whim, having no idea what to expect but thinking you might enjoy it? Then you start it and all of a sudden everything draws you in: the setting, the prose, the characters, the plot...And you think why the hell have I never read this author before now? Before the first five chapters are over, it's already on the top favourites list. I enjoyed myself hugely with The Age of Innocence. It was so beautiful, enchanting and clever. And I loved everything about it. At the heart of the story is the complicated love triangle between three wealthy members of old New York society's elite. The tangle could have in fact been easy to solve had the characters not been living in 1870's New York. "It was the old New York way...the way people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes", except those who gave rise to them." Although considered a romance, The Age of Innocence is first and foremost a satire. The way Wharton poked fun at New York society was entertaining, but at the same time her descriptions and the atmosphere she created were delightful. I loved reading about soirées at the opera, multiple-course dinners, archery tournaments and glittering balls. It was a fascinating and scintillating world of which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning about. But what made this book even better was Wharton's cleverness and her manner of showing us society's real deal beneath all that glitz and glamorous façade. [image] "In reality they all lived in a kind of hieroglyphic world, where the real thing was never said or done or even thought, but only represented by a set of arbitrary signs." In one word, this society is hypocritical. Hypocrisy and fake manners are the order of their days, and most know it, are used to it, but would never dare change it. Newland Archer proposes to May Welland "because it is the right thing" and May accepts "because it is the right thing". Real feelings and true opinions are of no consequence, and are in fact out of place. Blending in is what is important. Thus it is that May and Newland are engaged. May is considered the perfect model of womanhood; young, beautiful, soft, obedient, pliant, conventional and with no opinions on anything of importance. In short, she is pretty boring. Newland starts out pretty much the same; he's a young lawyer, used to the first style of living and strict rules of his society, who doesn't seem to be able to think outside the box and do anything original. Both are good persons with many amiable qualities, but they don't stand out. [image] It was very interesting that the story was told entirely from Newland's point of view. Typically, classic novels written by females usually only give - for the most part - the heroine's point of view. But in this case we are only privy to the hero's thoughts. A hero who is, moreover, a very ordinary everyday guy, with nothing special to recommend him. This is probably the first novel ever that I have loved so much without falling for the hero! He lacked a certain spark that failed to entice the reader in that way. The love story is nevertheless magnificent, because it is the changes and character growth of both lovers that make it endearing and wonderful. "His whole future seemed suddenly to be unrolled before him; and passing down its endless emptiness he saw the dwindling figure of a man to whom nothing was ever to happen." But Newland's careful and predictable world is flipped completely upside down when he meets the intriguing and intrepid Countess Olenska. Fleeing her despicable Polish husband, Madame Olenska seeks refuge amongst her friends and family, and lands right in the middle of the guarded world of New York high society. Ellen is older than most marriageable women, has seen more of the world, and she creates quite a stir among the elite. Wilful, strong, independent and friendly, the countess's ways are different than anyone else's, and she is the only one who dares to live by her own rules. [image] "You gave me my first glimpse of a real life, and at the same moment you asked me to go on with a sham one. It’s beyond human enduring—that’s all." As she slowly becomes aware of her differences, she seeks to mould herself into the polite world, while Archer finally sees in her a way out of the predictability of the pattern of his life. Boom, mutual attraction. That was what I loved the most about their love story. The way they each learned and brought something valuable to the other. Ellen learns trust, fidelity and stability. In return, she brings some zest to spice up Newland's life, makes him re-evaluate his priorities and forces him to see the realities of his world. I loved the way they challenged each other's views and principles. [image] To be apart means a return into their old respective life patterns, but to be together would mean going against what they both love the most in the other. "I can't love you unless I give you up." [image] I believe I could go on and on and still I wouldn't be able to convey half of this book's greatness or how much I love it. My review feels like only a sliver of what it's all about. I cannot recommend it enough, please do yourself a huge favour and read it, it is definitely not to be missed. The 1993 movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Archer, Winona Ryder as May and Michelle Pfeiffer as Ellen is also wonderful, although a little short and not so deeply developed as the book is, but if you've read the book it offers a really nice visual and is worth it just for the beautiful music, the gorgeous costumes and lavish decors. "His mind, as always when they first met, was wholly absorbed in the delicious details that made her herself and no other." [image] ...more |
Notes are private!
|
2
|
Feb 21, 2015
Jul 29, 2022
|
Mar 05, 2015
not set
|
Apr 28, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
0307291057
| 9780307291059
| 0307291057
| 3.97
| 166,169
| 1874
| Nov 01, 2006
|
it was amazing
|
This was just so good. "Sheep are such unfortunate animals! - there's always something happening to them! I never knew a flock pass a year without gett This was just so good. "Sheep are such unfortunate animals! - there's always something happening to them! I never knew a flock pass a year without getting into some scrape or other." Sheep! [image] Sheeeeeep!! [image] More sheep!!! [image] I love sheep :) They are so cute! But sheep are actually not the reason why I love this book so much. That would be silly. But I do love the fact that Gabriel Oak was a shepherd, and not say, a pig farmer. Anyways! Even though this story takes place in rural Wessex and is filled with sheep and fields and moonlit nights and beautiful descriptions, there is a lot more to it than just animals and landscapes. Far From the Madding Crowd is the poignant, moving and brilliant story of Bathsheba Everdene and her three suitors. "Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness." Bathsheba Everdene; strong, wilful, independent and, above all, beautiful, Bathsheba is a woman ahead of her time. She doesn't shy away from work, she is courageous, intrepid and cannot be tamed. I read a lot of romances in which the heroines do nothing more than sip afternoon tea while entertaining callers, and attend balls and soirees and drink the waters in Bath. But here, we have a heroine who can do it, who is a farmer and takes on a lot of duties. She starts out as her own bailiff, superintends and manages everything, and boldly enters the world of market, a world of men. Bathsheba is unique and attractive, and she turned every man's head. "She was of the stuff of which great men's mothers are made. She was indispensable to high generation, hated at tea parties, feared in shops, and loved at crises." Enter Suitor #1! Gabriel Oak. What a man. I'm completely head over heels in love with him! "I shall do one thing in this life - one thing certain - that is, love you, and long for you, and keep wanting you till I die." Gabriel is the kind of man you feel completely safe and secure around. He's the type who cherishes and protects those he loves (sheep or otherwise :P)and he's always there to save the day (I lost count of how many times he did it during the course of the novel), counsel, or simply to lend a should to cry on. He is so reliable, honest and trustful that one can tell him anything, and confide any secret to him; he's sure to keep it and give you good advice. Oak has moreover incredible self-control. He's not a man you need to fear. If you tell him you don't want to marry him, he sucks it up and humbly accepts it even though he may be hopelessly in love with you, and will never bother you with advances and declarations again, unless you hint that you are ready to welcome them. Gabriel is also the kind of employee that every employer wants. He is serious, hard-working, always alert, and extremely helpful. He's constantly going the extra length to make sure that everything is running smoothly on the farm, and that all is well and working. He falls in love with Bathsheba early on, so early in fact that it is difficult to figure out what he sees in her to make him love her so. Being poor, he has nothing to offer her save his love and all his wonderful qualities, but unfortunately that is not enough for Miss-Stubborn-Bathsheba-Everdene. So, enter Suitor #2! William Boldwood. Possesses most of the qualities listed above, plus money and property! Should be good enough for you this time, Bathsheba, eh? "'My life is a burden without you', he exclaimed, in a low voice. 'I want you - I want you to let me say I love you again and again!'" Mr. Boldwood starts out as the epitome of thriving bachelorhood. He presents the picture of a hard-working, serious and brooding man who is quite happy living and working alone, and who hasn't wasted a thought on women and marriage in years. No woman, no troubles, no drama. Everything is going really well for him, and he did sound like a very good man; poised, composed, upright principles, good ways of living, etc...In short, he's quite a catch, and any woman who married him would be assured protection, security, and a good position...and undying passion? With Boldwood, it's all or nothing. Either he doesn't give any woman a thought, or he will give one woman all his thoughts. And the lucky girl is...Bathsheba Everdene! Wee! Brace yourselves, because Boldwood is as stubborn as Bathsheba and about to make a complete cake of himself by not being able to take no for an answer. He probably proposes over fifty times during the course of the novel. Not a good sign. "It was a fatal omission of Boldwood's that he had never once told her she was beautiful." Cue Suitor #3! Sergeant Francis Troy. No good qualities (okay, maybe a few), no money, no position, no house, BUT...GOOD LOOKS AND SENSUALITY! HELL YES!!! "'I've seen a good many women in my time, [..] but I've never seen a woman so beautiful as you.'" Sergeant Troy is the handsome, seductive rake who has no morals and no apparent life purpose. The past and the future mean nothing to him. He is careless, impulsive, rash and a complete asshole. But he is charming and tantalizing to a fault, and knows only too well how to infiltrate himself into women's lives. When the lovely Bathsheba catches his eye, he becomes caught in the moment and would give anything to win her...but does he love her? And, more importantly, does she love him? Alas, her vanity has at last been flattered! "When a strong woman recklessly throws away her strength she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away." Who doesn't love a good Victorian love-triangle?! ;) Caught in the web of their own self-inflicted actions and the resulting consequences, these characters will have to go through a series of trials and events, happy and sad, trying and uplifting, before we come to a satisfactory conclusion. The story is written in an incredibly beautiful, flowing and passionate way, full of quotable parts (as we can observe since I can't seem to stop quoting!) and extraordinary descriptions. I enjoyed every single minute I spent reading this novel. And I also learned a lot of things, too. Lessons to Remember From Far From the Madding Crowd: *When you live in a hut and make a fire, always keep one window open unless you want to suffocate to death. *Sheep, although very cute, are pretty dumb animals. *Cover your ricks when it rains!!!! *Sending a random Valentine to your elder bachelor neighbour is not exactly a good idea. *Especially if said Valentine says "Marry Me" on the seal (why the heck did she have a seal that said 'marry me' in the first place anyways?), and you have absolutely no intention of ever marrying that man for real. *Sheep can die from eating clover (and only a certain capable, skillful, heart-melting shepherd can save them). *Watch out when planting flowers around graves... *Don't keep anything in your hands or close by when you go to a fair and are sitting next to the canvas (stealers, ya know!). *Don't freaking trust bailiffs! Those guys are overrated. Be your own bailiff! Unless you can have Gabriel Oak. Always choose Gabriel if you can! *DON'T LEAD MEN ON WHEN YOU HAVE NO INTENTION OF GETTING INTIMATE WITH THEM!!! *Don't make promises/proposals or any other kind of rash demands on Christmas Eve/Christmas day, so as to not ruin your enjoyment of the holiday if it goes awry. *Don't buy things for your future significant other in preparation for your hypothetical wedding (effin' weird, seriously!). *Don't creep up during the night to ride your own horse if you weren't expected at home (stealers , ya know, again!). *When you feel overwhelmed and completely distressed, spend the night in a marsh! The dense, stifling air will help clear your head. *Don't keep your husband's ex-girlfriend's coffin inside your house. May cause serious breakdowns. *And, last but not least, ALWAYS ASK ABOUT THEIR EXES!!! Honestly though, on a scale of 1 to Mr. Boldwood, I have definitely reached his level of obsession with this book, and have spent the whole day repeatedly stating that I finished it, and it was so good, and I can't wait to see the movie, and ahhh!!!!! I loved this. Every bit is delicious, from Gabriel's tender devotion to Boldwood's mad obsession and Troy's promising passion, along with Bathsheba's evolutions and strengths and weaknesses. Hardy was certainly one love expert. Wow. And Wessex! I want to go there! [image] So beautiful :) "What a way Oak had, she thought, of enduring things. Boldwood, who seemed so much deeper and higher and stronger in feeling than Gabriel, had not yet learnt, any more than she herself, the simple lesson which Oak showed a mastery of by every turn and look he gave - that among the multitude of interests by which he was surrounded, those which affected his personal well-being were not the most absorbing and important in his eyes." *Sigh* That too, is beautiful. And it perfectly sums up the whole book (minus Troy's shenanigans). And it is why I love Gabriel so much. Buddy read with Becca!! :D ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Apr 2015
|
Apr 13, 2015
|
Apr 23, 2013
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
1402210752
| 9781402210754
| 1402210752
| 3.95
| 8,541
| 1963
| Mar 01, 2008
|
it was amazing
|
Love, love, love!! This novel was so cute! Ah, I just want to give it and everyone in it a big hug! <3 False Colours seems to be one of those less popul Love, love, love!! This novel was so cute! Ah, I just want to give it and everyone in it a big hug! <3 False Colours seems to be one of those less popular Heyers, because I had rarely heard of it, knew nothing of what was going to happen, and generally did not know what to expect beyond twins switching places and family shenanigans. But it was all so much fun!! What a wonderful ride! I just loved the feels of this book: so sweet, soothing, heart-warming and gentle, all interlaced with Heyer's signature wit and humour. The family bonds were so strong and so touching, too! The Fancots were such a united family, wanting the best for each other and trying to out-kind the others, it was so sweet!! Every scene was basically: Lady Denville : Oh my goodness my sons are the best!! I feel SO sorry for all the other parents out there, who can't possibly have sons as awesome as mine! Ah, I am SO lucky! (No joke though, she really says that at some point) Kit : Aww, I missed you, Mama! *hugs* Let me help you with anything I can, even though I hate this masquerade of taking Evelyn's place! Evelyn : Mama!! *more hugs* Let me settle your debts! Let me help you! And Kester, thank you so much for helping me! Lady Denville : Oh, my sons!! I love you both EQUALLY! Let's have some QUAILS to celebrate the return of Evelyn! Kit : Eve, it's okay bro, I can handle Mama's debts! Evelyn : No, no! It's my responsibility! Kit : No, seriously, I got this! Lady Denville : Wait! I have a better idea, but let's not have quails after all. Evelyn : Oh, oh, Mama is wearing her mischievous face again! Kit : Oh by the way, Eve, sorry for falling in love with your fiancée. I know she's technically yours, so... Evelyn : Oh noooo! It's okay! You can have her :) Lady Denville : Ah, I LOVE MY SONS! GROUP HUUUUUG! *** Seriously, it's like that the whole time. They loved each other so much, and they were all so kind! Lady Denville seriously stole my heart though, she was the sweetest, most adorable Mama ever and she was such a crack-up! Still relatively young (she's 43), the widowed Lady Denville is incredibly beautiful, has an incredible amount of suitors dangling after her, spends an incredible amount of money, and has an incredible amount of debts. True, she is also incredibly silly, and she's not terribly bright, but also has an incredibly big heart, and incredibly engaging manners. She's the perfect definition of a lovely pea-goose. Super cute, and impossible to hate. And her notions of economy, oh my gosh, please, we must take a moment to appreciate them. Spending Your Money Wisely by Amabel Fancot, Lady Denville 1- The first rule to remember is that, if you can pay your interest, YOU ARE OKAY! Interest paid = life is GOOD. =) 2- Economy is so super overrated. Did you know that the less you try to spend, the more you will actually end up spending? Think about it. If you buy a cheap, ugly dress to save money, you'll find yourself totally incapable of actually wearing it, so you'll end up buying that expensive gown anyways, and thus have paid wayyyy more than you would have in the first place if you'd only stuck to the expensive gown. Cheap gown + expensive gown = more expensive than just expensive gown. 3- Let's also not forget the element of luck here. For all you card-players and gamesters out there, THE LUCK WILL TURN ONE DAY. I mean, it just has to, right? It can't stay bad forever! 4- Okay, so if you do actually find yourself indebted at some point and you have nothing more to stake, be sure to have some copies of all those ugly heirloom brooches and family jewels that you never wear. Life savers those, I tell you. 5- And finally, well, remember some principles of kindness. When you already owe a ton of money to your milliner and she's trying to sell you another hat that you really can't afford? You buy the hat. Because it's only nice to spend more at those places where you already owe a ton. Like, oh yeah, sorry I owe you hundreds and hundreds of pounds, let me compensate for now by adding another one of your charming creations to my collection. #ladydenvillelogic The book is FILLED with her hilarious little comments and notions on spending money, and you're just there like "oh my goodness, she can't be serious!" but it makes you laugh at the same time, because she's just so adorable!! And her devotion to her sons! She would literally die for them if she had to. And the best part? Her sons so totally feel the same way, heck they are at their wits' very end trying to find a way out of the enormous mountain of debts without creating a scandal. False Colours is a lot more "comedy of manners" and family-oriented than "romance", but I loved Kit and Cressy a lot nonetheless, and thought they made a charming couple, definitely perfect for each other. The story is almost entirely told through Kit's point of view, and Cressy only plays a secondary role in the book, but she was definitely admirable, and everything I saw from her, I liked. She was bright, intelligent, wasn't afraid to stand up to people and speak her mind, but remained lady-like and proper the entire time and never crossed the line of becoming a hoyden. I also loved her sense of humour, she was always ready to laugh and thought everything a good joke rather than becoming offended at every turn (a good thing, since the family she got tangled with most definitely loved a good laugh!). I wish the romance had been a bit more developed, for it wasn't much beyond "we took a few walks in the rose-garden and fell in love" type of thing, but as it wasn't exactly the point of the story and since Cressy wasn't exactly a main character, it made sense that it was a simpler, less all-consuming romance. Some parts were a little slow, and the overall pace of the book isn't very fast, but it made for a charming, sunny and appeasing little story, and Lady Denville's romance with Sir Bonamy was just icing on the cake. Seriously, it was the cutest and most hilarious thing ever. "'Will you think me very saucy if I say that never did a knight more thoroughly deserve to win his lady than you, dear sir?' 'No, no!' protested Sir Bonamy, much discomposed. 'Nonsense! Very obliging of you to say so, but no such thing! As a matter of fact, I'm a baronet.'" Such a fun, lovely Regency romp set in the country, one I whole-heartedly recommend to fans of the genre. It's completely delightful and loveable! Group read with the Georgette Heyer Fans group for September 2015. ...more |
Notes are private!
|
1
|
Sep 12, 2015
|
Sep 25, 2015
|
Apr 21, 2013
|
Paperback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
my rating |
|
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.26
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 18, 2015
|
Oct 09, 2015
|
||||||
4.30
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 03, 2015
|
Aug 24, 2015
|
||||||
4.34
|
really liked it
|
Dec 24, 2015
|
Aug 22, 2015
|
||||||
4.13
|
it was amazing
|
May 07, 2015
|
Jan 21, 2015
|
||||||
4.34
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 12, 2015
|
Jan 21, 2015
|
||||||
4.40
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 17, 2015
|
Sep 02, 2014
|
||||||
4.05
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 04, 2015
|
Mar 17, 2014
|
||||||
3.93
|
it was amazing
|
Oct 19, 2015
|
Nov 15, 2013
|
||||||
4.15
|
it was amazing
|
May 17, 2015
|
Oct 11, 2013
|
||||||
4.04
|
it was amazing
|
May 12, 2015
|
Oct 11, 2013
|
||||||
4.17
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 16, 2015
|
Oct 10, 2013
|
||||||
4.01
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 2015
|
Oct 10, 2013
|
||||||
4.19
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 07, 2015
|
Sep 07, 2013
|
||||||
4.25
|
it was amazing
|
Aug 14, 2015
|
Aug 20, 2013
|
||||||
3.99
|
it was amazing
|
Jul 25, 2015
|
Aug 20, 2013
|
||||||
4.00
|
it was amazing
|
Feb 09, 2015
|
May 10, 2013
|
||||||
4.05
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 07, 2015
|
May 06, 2013
|
||||||
3.97
|
it was amazing
|
Mar 05, 2015
not set
|
Apr 28, 2013
|
||||||
3.97
|
it was amazing
|
Apr 13, 2015
|
Apr 23, 2013
|
||||||
3.95
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 25, 2015
|
Apr 21, 2013
|