Belle Epoque

Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross
Hardcover: 336 pages
Published: June 11, 2013 (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

Description:
When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.

Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil.

But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.

 This is a really good stand alone book.  No sequels here.  It's a unique story and concept about the hiring of unattractive women to make socialites look more desirable.  I wonder if this was true?  It certainly seems like it could be, but I'm not sure.  Anyway, this book is good.  Thumbs up.

Invisibility

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer
Hardcover: 358 pages
Published: May 7, 2013 (Philomel)

Description:
Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

 This book was surprisingly good.  I think there's going to be a sequel (or two).  Bummer.  Wish they all didn't have to be that way.  By the time the sequels come out, I've forgotten the first one already!  This is worth a read if you don't mind being left hanging at the end.

Books to movies in 2013

Some of my favorite books are being made into movies!  Here is a list that I came across yesterday of some great young adult novels that are coming out as movies sometime in 2013 or 2014!  Woo hoo!

Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters (August 16, 2013)

Firelight (2013)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (2013)

Maze Runner (2013)

House of Night (project with unknown title 2013)

I don't know about you guys, but I'm thrilled for these to come out!  I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series (I haven't read any) but, I liked the first movie.  I will also have to read Maze Runner since I haven't had the chance, yet.  The rest will be awesome, if they get the right actors and script...can't wait!

It's about time...

Hello followers and readers of my blog!
I haven't had the chance to do much updating lately, and for that I apologize.  I have been reading tons of great books since my last post, but too many to update (plus, I forgot many of the titles).  I think I may want to change up how and what I post, as I was getting bored just posting about books.  Any thoughts?

Seraphina

"Seraphina" (#1) by Rachel Hartman
Hardcover: 467 pages
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers (July 10, 2012)

Description:
Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

This book took me a little while to get into.  The language was somewhat difficult to get used to, but once I got past that it was pretty good.  I like dragon books for some reason.  This is a different kind of dragon book, actually half-dragons as well.  The story was good and it's going to be a trilogy (surprise, surprise).  However, it's worth reading and very enjoyable.

 

When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits

"When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits" by Mary Ann Winkowski
Hardcover: 238 pages
Published: Grand Central Publishing (October 22, 2007)

Description:
Lights flicker on and off for no good reason. You feel drained and inexplicably irritable. Your four-year-old is scared to enter her bedroom.
Tell these things to Mary Ann Winkowski, and she'll tell you that you have a ghost.
A happily married, devout Catholic, suburban mother and full-time paranormal investigator, Mary Ann Winkowski has been able to see earthbound spirits, spirits that are trapped on earth and haven't "crossed over," since she was a little girl. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here - whether it be people they can't let go of or homes they love.
In WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK, Mary Ann will tell the amazing story of growing up with this gift, and will share tips on how to recognize when you're not alone, and what to do if you are in the presence of a ghost.

If you like to read about stuff like this, then this book is a good one for you.  I really enjoyed it, and will probably read her other books.  She is a medium, and the basis of the show "Ghost Whisperer".  I liked the insight I gained about spirits when reading this book.  Particularly earthbound spirits.  I didn't realize there was a difference between spirits.  This was a good book.  There were some actual photos of spirits in the book that were interesting to study, too.

 

Drums of Autumn

"Drums of Autumn" by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #4)
Hardcover: 896 pages
Published: Delta (August 7, 2001)

Description:
In this breathtaking novel—rich in history and adventure—The New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon continues the story of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser that began with the now-classic novel Outlander and continued in Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager. Once again spanning continents and centuries, Diana Gabaldon has created a work of sheer passion and brilliance....

It began at an ancient Scottish stone circle. There, a doorway, open to a select few, leads into the past—or the grave. Dr. Claire Randall survived the extraordinary passage, not once but twice.

Her first trip swept her into the arms of Jamie Fraser, an eighteenth-century Scot whose love for her became a legend—a tale of tragic passion that ended with her return to the present to bear his child. Her second journey, two decades later, brought them together again in the American colonies. But Claire had left someone behind in the twentieth century—their daughter, Brianna....

Now Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the circle of stones and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history ... and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past ... or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong....

I LOVED THIS BOOK!  This is the next best one in this series after the first one!  I actually cried in this one...They are now in America right before the start of the Revolutionary War.  I can't wait to read the last one, "The Fiery Cross".  It's in my stack of books to read, but I have to finish another one first.  If any of you are up to reading this whole series, you won't be disappointed.