Review: It's in His Kiss

It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gareth St. Clair just received a diary from his deceased grandmother that could revealed everything from his past, however, it is in Italian! Now he has to rely on the help of Hyacinth Bridgerton to translate the pages. They just might find more secrets and surprises than they both expect.

I love how Hyacinth is compared to Lady Danbury! This book was making me laugh throughout most of it. The banter and relationship between Gareth and Hyacinth was amusing and entertaining.

The epilogue was hilarious, I was cringing.

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Review: Art of Coloring Disney Frozen: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity and Relaxation

Art of Coloring Disney Frozen: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity and Relaxation by Catherine Saunier-Talec
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have greatly enjoyed coloring this book. I would definitely recommend using pens for most of the pictures, crayons are just not going to work with this one. There are lots of extremely small details on the wallpapers (mostly snowflakes) that require a fine point.

I do have to say that I was disappointed by the fact that there was so many "wallpaper" pictures rather than actual character drawings which is what I would have liked to see more of.

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Review: When He Was Wicked

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michael has been in love with Francesca since the moment he saw her. Unfortunately for him it was right before she was going to be married to his cousin. Francesca did not realize how much married life suited her until tragedy struck now years after being widowed she feels it is time to finally try and start a family again. Little did she know the family she dreamed of would have been right beside her all along.

I have to say upon second reading of this book I did not find it quite as enjoyable as the first time around. I still loved Francesca and Michael but I didn't feel that overwhelming urge to find out what happened next.

I didn't want to know John at all. It was on my part my own selfishness. To get to know him, even for such a brief time, made the reader experience slightly more of the pain and understanding of sorrow that Francesca was going through. John was a wonderful man and husband but someone else can be just as right for you. Tragedy comes in all forms and stages of life but one thing I got out of this book is that people endure. Francesca was able to move on with her life and be happy which is exactly what John would have wanted.

Also Read In:
2004

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Review: The Razorland Trilogy

The Razorland Trilogy by Ann Aguirre
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

OVERALL: 3.5 stars

Enclave (Razorland #1) - 4 stars
Deuce had only ever wanted to be a huntress fighting the freaks. In her enclave of college where people didn't live past their 20s being a huntress was the only way to protect them. On her naming day she is paired up with fade, a boy that didn't grow up in the enclave but came from somewhere else. As she is exiled along with fade from the only home she has ever known her world is turned upside down by the discoveries she finds on the surface.

I think the author did an exceptional world building job. All of the complexities of the society in which deuce grew up we're plausible and helped show the gravity and mistrust of the world. Deuce was an interesting character, her nativity of the new world around her was reasonable while at the same time not ridiculous in character. I loved the character of fade, he was strong and a little overbearing but likable overall.

I would recommend this book for people that like An adventure. There wasn't that much romance in the whole thing but there were undertones which I liked. I'm excited to get started on the second book and find out more answers on what exactly happened to the world.

Outpost (Razorland #2) - 3.5 stars
At last the group has finally found safety, or so they think. Salvation is set in its ways and thinks that the walls around the city will keep the, safe. It takes the strength and courage of deuce to rally the town and make them realize just how much the freaks are changing and adapting. This is the dawn of a completely different world and the battle for it is on the horizon.

I started out really loving the start of this book but it completely went down hill for me at the end. It took a turn in the characterization especially of fade that I thought was weak and not consistent with everything he saw and how he was raised. I am interested to see what the last book brings, maybe the story will pick up and the characters will take a better turn.

Horde (Razorland #3) - 3 stars
The final battle to save what is left of the Earth is upon them. Deuce has to find a way to gain the respect not only of the Freaks with her ferocious fighting abilities but also that of the very men she fights besides. There is a war raging on all sides and with unexpected allies Deuce and her followers might just win the fight of their lives.

There are two types of series I have found lately, one kind that the last book was the most amazing book I have ever read and the second slowly tapers off in my liking as the series progresses. Unfortunately this book came in the latter category for me, not that the ending of this was bad but it just wasn’t as exciting to me as when I picked up the first book.

Fade did redeem his character in my eyes in this one. In the last he seemed too weak for the experiences he had already faced and not worthy of a strong character like Deuce who was trying to be a leader so she couldn’t show her weakness.

Overall I am quite happy with the author’s writing style and storytelling. I am excited to see what kind of works she has in store next.

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Review: To Sir Phillip, With Love

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eloise had made a mistake, well it was not entirely a mistake it just was not a necessarily well thought out plan. Absconding in the middle of the night she travels to meet Sir Philip with whom she has been corresponding with for the last year and has recently proposed the idea to see if they would fit for marriage. It would have been a brilliant plan if she had given any forewarning of her arrival.

I was waiting for Eloise's story and I think I built it up a little too much in my head because I liked her character so much. It was not a bad story by any means but some parts felt a little rushed and I would have liked more development with the kids. Sir Philip was standoffish but then again he was meant to be so the reader shouldn't really hold that against him. I enjoyed their interactions together and I absolutely loved the ending.

Side Note: Oddly I liked how Quinn referred to the Bridgerton woman as 'not beautiful'. It seemed to make them more personable to the reader (well, I guess for me at least)

Also Read In:
2004

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Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love Penelope!! It started off being such a sad ugly duckling story but at the same time I admired her quiet courage and resolve to be herself.

I simply loved the opposites attract motif. This book really states anything can happen and not to discount who you are.

This is truly one of my favorite books for the positive message it gives to everyone out there. You can truly be who you want to be and love who you want to love.

Also Read In:
2004

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Review: Kingdom Series Chronicles: Part 2

Kingdom Series Chronicles: Part 2 by Marie Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

OVERALL: 3 stars

Jinni's Wish (Kingdom #4) - 3 stars
Paz has a chance to find her one true love and she thinks it's all over when she has an accident and ends up in a coma. Little did she know the man of her dreams would end up being her one true love.

Jinni's tale was incredibly sad to hear. The development of jinni and Paz' relationship did not ring true for me. I didn't feel the connection between them that I wanted.

Hook's Pan (Kingdom #5) - 3 stars
A wonderful retelling of the classics Peter Pan story with a lovely bad boy twist. Just as in the last fairytale installments of the Kingdom series Marie Hall does a fantastic job bringing in the characters unique and individual personalities. The twists on the classic Disney interpreted bad boys is thrilling. Hook was my favorite character in this book even though I felt bad for him I didn’t pity him and was drawn in by his oh so alluring charm. The only thing I got caught on was that some parts flew by while others tended to linger on; the flow of the story was a bit choppy for me. This was overall another whimsical read in the series.

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Review: Kingdom Series Collection: Books 1-3

Kingdom Series Collection: Books 1-3 by Marie Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

OVERALL: ~3.3 stars

Her Mad Hatter (Kingdom #1) - 4 stars
A modern retelling of the classic Alice and Wonderland story. Danika, a fairy godmother who helps the more seedy fairy tale world characters, attempts to find Hatter's one true love. Lo and behold it has to be an Alice.

I was hoping that it would last longer and I was sad when it was over. I loved the characters and especially Hatter's witty ways. I am excited to see what the next book holds. While reading it did have a Shrek quality.

Gerard's Beauty (Kingdom #2) - 3 stars
The concept and spin on this story was great. I did not get the sympathetic reformed playboy vibe from Gerard. He continued to be a little too much of a jerk for me to handle. Also Betty's behavior did not seem entirely believable either.

Red and Her Wolf (Kingdom #3) - 3 stars
As memories return Violet’s life is not what she thought. Born a child of the dark she is thrown back into a fairy tale world right into the arms of her supposed enemy. Ewan found her at last and she is everything he had ever wanted, the only problem now is to make her not hate him.

Continuing on with this fairy tale series Maria Hall once again did not disappoint in the construction of the characters. I loved the interactions with Hatter and Alice in them; Hall did a wonderful job bringing them back into the story. Violet and Ewan had a great deal of chemistry.

I did however not like the parts between Danika and Miriam. Even though those parts did end up explaining a lot I wanted to skip over those parts and get back to Violet and Ewan. The only think about Ewan that bugged me was his accent, I found it to be kind of annoying, but then again I don't think accents translate very well onto paper.

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Review: An Offer From a Gentleman

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Cinderella fairy tale aspect certainly came through in the plot of this book.

Benedict did not really strike me as a great character in the previous books and I have to admit I did not think much of him even in his own book, not that he was a bad character or dis likable but more on the lines of forgettable (I would have been the one calling him Bridgerton Number Two). I do think Sophie made up for his boring character though, I found her to be much more appealing to read about.

I love Violet's character. She is such a perceptive mother and very good to her children. Even with her overbearing ways in the marriage mart it is more endearing than off putting.

(view spoiler)[On no!, is lady whistled own at an end??? (hide spoiler)]

Also Read In:
2004

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Review: The Viscount Who Loved Me

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. the relationship between Anthony and Katharine is fantastic! There is so much tension going on between them it practically leaps off the page and makes this book very enjoyable to read.

I found the second book in this series to be very fast paced. The story line and witty commentary went well with the first book.

It was really interesting what Quinn said about the fear for men of death when their fathers die young. With a father whose dad did happen to die at a young age we just went through this conversation. It was with relief that he made it past the birthday his father did and I did not really take the gravity into account until I read that it happens to be quite a common occurrence

Even after liking Anthony's character so much in the first book I found him initially hard to handle in this one. His rakish ways rubbed me the wrong way, just, I guess, as it did for Kate. He backs me agreeable but that would hardly excuse his behavior. I love how Kate was extremely forward and to the point. Nothing got past her.

The pall mall scene was delightfully entertaining. I do love a bloodthirsty Bridgerton. For being quite an awkward sex scene it still ended up being quite steamy.

Also Read In:
2004

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Review: The Duke and I

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Quinn's writing style is humorous and witty. Daphne makes a wonderful heroine and Simon is not the typical 'hero' but a more realistic character that makes him all that much more appealing to me as a reader.

The scene with Daphne and Nigel where she first meets Simon was hilarious. I loved Daphne's spunk and willfulness. Also, the part where Violet has a "sex" talk with Daphne was quite amusing.

I was so glad to see that Lady Whistledown is still writing her silly quips four years later!(view spoiler)[I know Daphne wanted to have a huge family but I personally don't think I would want to have four kids in four years, that's TOO much of being pregnant (hide spoiler)]

Read in:
2004

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