Dreaming of You
Gamblers #2
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: Gifted
ISBN: 9780380773527

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

She stood at danger’s threshold—then love beckoned her in.


In the shelter of her country cottage, Sara Fielding puts pen to paper to create dreams. But curiosity has enticed the prim, well-bred gentlewoman out of her safe haven—and into Derek Craven’s dangerous world.


A handsome, tough and tenacious Cockney, he rose from poverty to become lord of London’s most exclusive gambling house—a struggle that has left Derek Craven fabulously wealthy, but hardened and suspicious. And now duty demands he allow Sara Fielding into his world—with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But here, in a perilous shadow-realm of ever-shifting fortunes, even a proper “mouse” can be transformed into a breathtaking enchantress—and a world-weary gambler can be shaken to his cynical core by the power of passion… and the promise of love.

If you have been a regular reader of my blog, you should know by now that I am a very picky reader when it comes to Historical Romance.  They have to be written very well and have a believable romance or I will pass on it in a heartbeat.  I have heard so many wonderful things about this book and when a friend of mine sent it to me, I was excited to start reading about Derek and Sara.

At first, I thought I was going to loathe Derek Craven.  He was pushy, arrogant, bossy and had a mean streak as well.  I didn’t think I would be able to fall for him as a hero and that I would be disappointed.  Sara was the complete opposite in having patience, a firm hand, and curiosity that could kill a cat in no time flat.  To make Sara even better in my mind, the author gave her a backbone to stand up to Derek Craven when needed.  The women in Historical Romance usually have a spongy backbone at best and are always bending to do the bidding of the hero.  This was not the case in Dreaming of You.

I loved the slow build of the romance between Derek and Sara.  You could feel it blossoming with each chapter no matter how much Derek denied it.  He could be cruel at times to others, but with Sara he let his emotions surface when he didn’t think they were visible.  I really loved watching him turn from someone without an ounce of care for the women he pursues to a man who would cherish his woman with the upmost respect and adoration they deserve.

The ‘evil’  character of the book named Joyce, had my skin crawling in hatred.  I could not stand her and wanted her to get the punishment she deserved.  I literally wanted to reach into the book and pull that woman’s hair out by the roots.  To me she deserved so much more in the punishment department than what she did get.

Historical Romance writers need to take notes on this authors writing.  This is how you write one.  When a reader who is very picky with this genre takes note of a book in a good way, you know that author is doing something right.  This book is easily the best Historical Romance I have read this year and I can’t wait to read more by author Lisa Kleypas.

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Angelfall
Penryn & the End of Days #1
Author: Susan Ee
Source: Gifted
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal/Dystopia
ISBN: 9780761463276

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.


Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.


Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.


Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Holy crap!  Why have I not heard of this book before now?  I must have been asleep under some rock! When I first received this book, I put it in my review pile and forgot about it until it was at the top of the stack.  I thought to myself that it was just going to be another book about angels saving the day and it would probably end up being a slow read for me.  I was so very wrong!

The action in this book practically starts from the first chapter.  It doesn’t let up hardly at all and the world is not what we thought it would be when Angels arrive.  When we think of Angels, we think of Heavenly beings coming to rescue the innocent and being all around good guys.  What the author creates in Angelfall is so much more than that but different as well.  It is so hard to describe the world and the Angels without giving away key points in the story.

I will give you a quote from the book involving Raffe the Angel:

“My friends call me Wrath,” says Raffe.  “My enemies call me Please Have Mercy.”
page 100

Yep that basically sums up Raffe in a nutshell with the power he has.  But — and this is a big but — don’t let that quote make you think he isn’t compassionate or without emotions of love.

The slow build of friendship and possibly love is written wonderfully between Raffe and Penryn.  You can just feel the tension between the two on every page.

My only complaint for this book would be — WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG FOR THE NEXT BOOK?

This book was a roller coaster ride of emotions, action, and at times frustration!  When I finished the last page I seriously wanted to start the whole book again just because I needed my Raffe fix again.  If author, Susan Ee happens to read this review — Bring me more Raffe soon!!!

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Handbook For Hot Witches
Author: Dame Darcy
Source: Publisher
Genre Young Adult NonFiction
ISBN: 9780805093797

Combine a graphic novel with a dash of crafts, a sprinkle of feminist fairy tales, and a whole cauldron of spells—voilà!—Handbook for Hot Witches. Ever wondered what your dreams mean? You can look them up here. Want to learn to knit? This book can get you started. With sections on witch holidays, love, crystal ball gazing, meditating, and much more, this fully illustrated guide is the handbook that will send girls on their way to independence, creativity, and magic.

I don’t consider myself a witch, but I do love to read about anything within this realm of reading.  I love thinking that there could be special gifts that some people have and what could be done with them if it were possible.  When I was offered this book for review, I jumped on the chance to read it and offer my thoughts on it.

While I found the illustrations to be rich in fantasy — even without coloring — they were about the only thing I really enjoyed.  There are many things in the book that readers of the paranormal would already know and understand.  It does provide a sort of quiz in the beginning to help you get a feel of what type of witch you could possibly be.  According to the quiz, I would be considered a Mystic Witch.  I am not sure if it is spot on, but I read it with an open mind.

The section of the book that interested me the most was the palm reading section.  It goes in depth with the correct way to read palms and try to understand what the lines could mean.  It just worried me a little though because my life line isn’t as long as it should be. Uh-oh!

If you just want a fun book to read and you don’t believe too much of what you read in it, then this could be a fun book to have for teenage girls when they have slumber parties.  It does include some games that could be done at the parties and some stories to read out loud.

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!