25 Days, 26 Ways to Make This Your Best Christmas Ever by Ace Collins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I know, I know, it’s after Christmas but I didn’t have a chance to post the review before now. OK, so it’s a mini review. Here’s my thoughts:

There were a lot of good things about this book. I enjoyed the fact that the book was set up almost like an advent calendar, but I didn’t enjoy the fact that there weren’t really any “new” or “unique” ideas. I did like the fact that all of the ideas, both Christian & not, are all put together in one place. I think I’d get more out of the book, if I didn’t work in retail & be bombarded with the worst of humanity all month long.



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The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The plot:

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia knows her role in life. But everything changes when she learns, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess–a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city, her best friend, Kiernan, and the only life she’s ever known.

While struggling with her new peasant life, Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins–long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control. Returning to the city to seek answers, she instead uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor’s history forever.

I actually give this book 4.5 stars, for just one reason. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this fast paced book.

Princess Nalia’s whole life changes in an instant when she learns she isn’t really the princess, but a stand in. Her life quickly – sometimes very abrumptly (hence the 4.5 stars, as the abrumpt changes drove me nuts) kept changing, and she always adapted well to her new circumstances (which also drove me nuts – as she was a little *too* perfect, if you know what I mean. Especially a perfect 16 year old). She starts life living in the palace, then with her aunt, then tries to go to magic school, and ends up an apprentice to a crazy witch, all in a very short time without each location really coming to life in my mind.

The book however, settles in nicely about halfway through. I admit, I wasn’t sure who the bad guy was until the end, though I had my guesses.

There’s a smidge of romance, but nothing inappropriate for a tween or teen to read. I’m not a fan of straight romance books, but I enjoyed reading how the false princess eventually realized her best friend was the man of her dreams.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed the book & read it in just one afternoon, and I would be interested in reading what else O’Neal may write.

I received this book to review as part of a book tour (Star Book Tours). My opinions are entirely my own.

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The French Mistress: A Novel of the Duchess of Porthsmouth and King Charles II by Susan Holloway Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book to read following the only other Scott book I’ve ever read, Royal Harlot, and in preparation for the Royal Mistress challenge that I am doing next year (library copy). I greatly enjoyed the first book, finding it well written, paced well, though I couldn’t attest to how historically accurate it was, not knowing much about the time period.

This book is written about much the same time as Royal Harlot, being about another of King Charles II’s mistresses, Louise de Keroualle. Some historical events actually take place during both books (most significantly the meeting between Charles & his beloved sister, who lived in France), but are told from two very different point of views. The book starts with Louise’s life long before she ever meets the King of England; in fact, she doesn’t officially become his mistress until page 278. I think for this reason, the book really drags. Louise does seem to really love the King, so she does have that going for her. I couldn’t get into Louise’s character at all, even at the end of the book I just couldn’t like her.


So this is another one of those books that I will only give 4 stars, because though I greatly *liked* the book, I didn’t love it.



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Outside My Window
Ebook By Amy Richie
Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Nov. 29, 2010
Category: Fiction » Literature » Christian – short stories
Words: 546 (approximate)
Language: English

Ebook Description
In a hospital, in a small room in the western corridor, is a smal window with bars covering the glass. Outside the window grows a large brown tree. Inside the room is a girl. She is terrified.

Rating: 3 stars

Version read: pdf

Time spent reading: less than a few minutes

Thoughts: starts a little jarringly, but you get sucked into the story right away. I enjoyed the author’s style, and think it’s written very well. But the story ends so quickly, I d/l other formats of the book to make sure I wasn’t really missing the ending. I don’t understand the ending at all – it really feels like the author just forgot to finish the story. I don’t get the point. I give the book 3 stars because I enjoyed what I read, but felt it was severely lacking overall.

Clowns in my closet
Ebook By Brandon Woodhead
Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Nov. 29, 2010
Category: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Mystery & Detective
Category: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Horror
Words: 431 (approximate)
Language: English

Rating: 2 stars

Ebook Description
Horror, terror and fear. This is just a fraction of emotions shared by one girl. Night by Night she has to endure this show. One midnight is different…

Time spent reading: less than a few minutes

Version read: pdf on my laptop

Thoughts: well written, but overall lacking. This is supposed to be a mystery & a horror story, and it wasn’t scary at all. I didn’t understand what was going on, other than the main character was afraid. And once again, another story story that ends so abrumptly, you don’t even realize the story ended so you keep looking for the rest of it.

Dorothy Gale is fifteen years removed from Oz and the last of her friends to get married. But Dorothy’s long time boyfriend Peter is dragging his feet proposing. After a visit with Peter’s wacky divorced parents, Dorothy sees behind the curtain to a failed proposal in Peter’s past, making her worry he’ll never pop the question. Enter John Timmins, an old friend with a perfect family who’s ready to propose now, yet doesn’t get Dorothy’s heart racing. At a yellow brick crossroad, Dorothy is visited by the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion to help her decide: wait it out with the man she loves, or settle with a man she’ll have to learn to love?

“The New Wizard Of Oz” is a humorous and romantic novel that combines L. Frank Baum and W.W. Denslow’s classic characters with elements of “Bridget Jones” and “Meet The Parents.”

You can buy a copy of this book from amazon or smashwords for 99 cents!

My review: The New Wizard Of Oz by Lacy Maran

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The New Wizard of Oz is a light, cute, romp. Where would Dorothy be after she grows up? How would Dorothy act if she was in the 21st century, instead of the 20th century? This book looks at that. It’s a very light, fast read. It’s well written & edited, with only a couple of things that were worded funny (and maybe that’s just me, I’m not exactly an English teacher or a professional editor). The plot moves along at a good pace, and you are introduced to a set of characters that are each crazier than the next.

Overall, I enjoyed the book & it’s well worth the 99 cent price tag. My only real negative is I never fell in love with any of the characters, and I didn’t really feel a lot of chemistry between Dorothy and her love interest.

I received a review copy of this book for my kindle, from the author.



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