Sunday, November 29, 2015

November Book Haul

Here's a quick book haul before Christmas!! All these books came from our favorite Flea Market. :) It has some of the best book finds. 

Let's get to those new books we added to our bookshelves this month!!

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New Flea Market Purchases:

City of Fallen Angels by: Cassandra Clare
Insurgent by: Veronica Roth
Cryer's Cross by: Lisa McMann
As Dead As It Gets by: Katie Alender

And The Complete Kingdom Keepers Series:
By: Ridley Pearson

The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark
The Kingdom Keepers: Disney at Dawn
The Kingdom Keepers: Disney in Shadow
The Kingdom Keepers: Power Play
The Kingdom Keepers: Shell Game


Published by: K&C


Friday, November 27, 2015

Black Friday Finds!!

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased). This is hosted by ShouldBeReading!

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Okay so it has been way too long since we have done a Friday Finds and since we have the day off from work and school we figured why not. This Friday Finds is going to have a bit of a twist since of course it is Black Friday! So today's finds are going to be books we found today while scouring the net for book sales, plus books we added to my Goodreads list this past week!! 

So let's get started!! :D
Click on cover to be redirected to sale site or Goodreads page!! 






How was ya'll Black Friday shopping? What books did ya'll ask for this Christmas?


Published by: K&C






Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Review: Fairest of All (A Tale of the Wicked Queen) by Serena Valentino

Fairest of All (A Tale of the Wicked Queen)
By: Serena Valentino



Genre: Fairytale Retelling 
Length: 250  pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

The tale of the young princess and her evil stepmother, the Wicked Queen, is widely known. Despite a few variations from telling to telling, the story remains the same--the Queen was jealous of the girl's beauty, and this jealousy culminated in the Queen's attempt on the sweet, naive girl's life. 

Another tale far less often spoken of is the one that explains what caused the Queen to become so contemptuously vile. Still, some have attempted to guess at the reason. Perhaps the Queen's true nature was that of a wicked hag and her beautiful, regal appearance a disguise used to fool the King. Others claim that the Queen might have hated the girl for her resemblance to the King's first wife. Mostly, the Queen is painted as a morally abhorrent woman who never loved another being during the course of her miserable life.

In fact, the theories about exactly what cause the Queen's obsessive vanity and jealous rage are too numerous to catalog. This book recounts a version of the story that has remained untold until now. It is a tragic tale of love and loss, and it contains a bit of magic. It is a tale of the Wicked Queen...


My Review:

Rating:

Okay so I have to start by saying I am a huge fan of all things Disney!! What girl isn't? My college roommates and I would have Disney movie marathons almost every weekend! :D A great way to wind down after a long week of classes and exams. Sure do miss those days!!

So when I saw this book in the store I couldn't past up the opportunity to purchase it. This isn't the first book I have read by Serena Valentino. The first book I read of hers was The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince! That was also an excellent read. Especially being that Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favorite Disney Princess Movie!! :)

Now Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was never one of my favorite movies as a kid, honestly the Evil Queen always gave me the creeps. She was one scary witch, but this book took the story of the Evil Queen we all once new and turned her into a person one could come to love.


I never thought I would come to like the Evil Queen, but this book really turned me around. This story provided a new outlook on the Evil Queen's background. She didn't marry the King out of greed or hate. She loved the King more than anything. It was great seeing the Queen as a loving mother and wife. She didn't resent Snow White, not until the very end. 

The Queen was never truly evil until after she lost her true love. She became lost and broken-hearted after the loss of her dear husband. Shortly after his death she turned to the Magic Mirror for approval and comfort. 

Now the Magic Mirror had a a remarkable origin. I never thought of the man in the mirror being the Queen's hateful father. That was an amazing twist to the story I did not see coming. Having a father who constantly told you that you were ugly, a hag and that no one would love you would be heart-breaking to anyone. I can see why the Queen hated her father. However, when she needed comfort instead of turning towards her friends and family within the castle she turned to the Magic Mirror. Only to hear that she was the "fairest of all" from the one man that told her was tedious for years.

Then those three sister, they certainly did not help with the Queen's madness. Only to provide her with the spells and potions to practice her new skills. The three sisters reminded me a lot of the Fates from Greek mythology. I really enjoyed having them thrown into the story. It was almost as if Serena Valentino took parts of Hercules and added it to a classic Disney story.

I liked seeing the Queen in a new light, she wasn't hateful at the start she became the Evil Queen only after giving into her envy. She was told so often she was not beautiful and without her husband there to remind her she came to believe it was true. 

I loved the moral of this story that envy and hate can be the death of you. It's better to act graciously and not give into envious feelings. For someone, who loves Disney this was a remarkable read and I am really hoping for another book, shedding light on Disney villains pasts. If you are a fan of Disney this is definitely a must read.


Published by: K                            




Monday, November 16, 2015

Review: Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole

Dead of Winter 
By: Kresley Cole


Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult Romance
Length: 336 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.

Heartbreaking decisions 
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

Uncertain victory 
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned 
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...?


My Review:

Rating:


With work and family outings I was finally able to finish Book 3 in The Arcana Chronicles. When reading Poison Princess I fell in love with the world Kresley Cole developed. A post-apocalyptic world where teens have to fight one another to survive, then throw in special powers. Plus the tarot card spin! Genius!! Who wouldn't be drawn to a storyline like that?!? Kresley Cole really brought this world to life. 

Dead of Winter picks up with Evie leaving Aric (Death) to find Jack and save his life from the Lovers. I was so excited for more Jack and Evie scenes. For them to be reunited once again, and they were for a short period until Death stormed Jack's  "castle." Why did he have to follow her? I'm always rooting for Jack and Evie!! I like their chemistry. Even though Aric is a sweetheart towards Evie I can't bring myself to be okay with their romantic feelings. 

Throughout this book Evie is plagued with the knowledge that she must decided between Jack and Aric. Thankfully that decision was made at the end of this book. I would have hated to wait until Book 4 to know who she had chosen. I can't stand when books draw a decision like that out until the end of the series. But of course we are left with a cliff-hanger, wondering what happen to Jack and could he possibly be the unactivated tarot. That boys too lucky in life and death situations not to be...in my opinion. :D

Most of this book focused on the twins (The Lovers). Those were two very creepy kids. We learn of Evie's betrayal in a past life that leaves the Lovers anger and vengeful. But not only are we learning more of Evie's past we get to learn more about Jack and Aric. I liked reading those snippets of their past. 

Even though I love this series. This book had to be the hardest out of the 3 for me to read. I felt the story had very little action. Every action scene went by way too quickly leaving me wanting more. I also felt parts of the story were predictable. Thankfully the last two pages made up for that leaving me screaming at the book begging for more. I just had to know what happen. 

Even though this book seemed to drag on and never really end up anywhere new. I was waiting for a big revelation or a twist in the storyline. I cannot wait for Book 4. I can only hope that the next book makes up for the flaws I found in this book. Keep me guessing, like with Book 1. I never wanted to put Poison Princess down.

Published by: K



Sunday, November 8, 2015

Flea Market Book Haul!! :D

Yes...more books to add to our bookshelves!! :D We LOVE our books and cannot resist buying them when we have the opportunity. 

What new books have ya'll added to your bookshelves?

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Garage Sale Buys:

My Name is Memory by: Ann Brashares

Flea Market Purchases:

The Back Door of Midnight by: Elizabeth Chandler
Anna and the French Kiss by: Stephanie Perkins
Looking For Alaska by: John Green
Hereafter by: Tara Hudson
Ruined by: Paula Morris
Low Red Moon by: Ivy Devlin


Published by: K & C