Pearl Lover- A Peek at the Cover

Author: Kea Noli

A Comment on The Cover

    Recently I received a request to review Pearl Lover by Kea Noli, I have to confess I haven't started it just yet but with a cover like this I can hardly wait! I always find it so refreshing when I self-published book has a good cover. There are just too many good, self-published books out there with horrendous covers that don't get nearly enough attention because the cover isn't enticing. Just looking at this cover and her mysterious eyes, I feel like I want to know more about her, who is she? what is she thinking?

    I know your not supposed to judge a book by its cover but for some reason everybody does anyways. So I'm curious, what do you think makes a good cover?

If this cover makes you want to read the book as much as me click on the link below; Pearl Lover is going to be free this weekend on Amazon!

Amazon

Clockwork Angel

 Rating: 4/5 

Author: Cassandra Clare

Official Goodreads Synopsis:

    When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

     Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own....

My Thoughts:

    The best way to describe reading Clockwork Angel is, like having a scoop of your favourite icecream. Clockwork Angel is full of delicious romances and chalk full of heart racing, page-turning action scenes. I simply couldn't put it down and found myself rushing back to it the moment I walked away. I wasn't sure that Clare could manage to replicate the magic she created in the Mortal Instruments series but after reading Clockwork Angel I can say that not only has Clare replicated the magic of her previous series but in my opinion with the setting in this, the Infernal Devices series, she manages to top it! Now my main problem is that I can't wait to read Clockwork Prince to see how the unpredictable romance between Tessa and Will continues!!!!

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Clockwork Angel (Amazon Print)

Clockwork Angel (Amazon Kindle)

Clockwork Prince; the next book in this thrilling series:

Clockwork Prince (Amazon Print)

Clockwork Prince (Amazon Kindle)

The End of...The Old Curiosity Shop

Author: Charles Dickens

Rating: Who are we kidding of course its 5/5!!!

     So I know I was going to write a post for every 100 pages of The Old Curioisity Shop that I finished but then I decided (about two weeks ago) that seeing as I was nearly finished (though I really wasn't, I only finished reading it yesterday) I would just write a post when I was actually finished. Which of course leads me to this post. There is only one word to express the wonder that is The Old Curiosity Shop; amazing.

     From page 1 to 555 I was riveted. Every twist to the story was entirely unpredictable and masterfully implemented. Every single character was woven so beautifully that I feel as if I have personally met all of them. Even the most seemingly shallow character (cough Richard Swiveller) was given a depth that I really wouldn't have dreamt possible. The complexity of each character was truly astounding, Dickens has truly made me appreciate character development in a way that much of today's literature never could have. Don't get me wrong I love reading books written today but I have always felt there is a certain something about classics that goes above and beyond all other literature; a feeling that reading Dickens solidified.

     Another thing I loved about Dickens writing style was how he told the story. Throughout the novel Dickens switched from the viewpoint of one character to the next, only to return back to the character he had originally started with when I was full to the brim with suspense. By switching viewpoints, Dickens ensured that the "big picture" of the story was told and that no character was percieved through one bias. And then, to complete the perfection of his novel, everything was neatly wrapped up. Though the story had to of course end from a single viewpoint, Dickens ensured in the epilogue that no character's fate was left out.

    I thoroughly encourage anyone who is too afraid to try reading a classic to cast aside their fear and plunge head first into The Old Curiosity Shop. It doesn't matter if it takes you a day, a week, a month (or several months like me) to finish the novel, it is most definitley worth it! To all those lovers of classics out there who have read The Old Curiosity Shop or another Charles Dickens novel I'd love to hear what you think of Dickens Classics!

Faelorehn

Rating: 5/5 Quills

Author: Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Official Smashwords Plot Description:

     Meghan Elam has been strange her entire life: her eyes have this odd habit of changing color and she sees and hears things no one else does. When the visions and voices in her head start to get worse, she is convinced that her parents will want to drag her off to another psychiatrist. That is, until the mysterious Cade MacRoich shows up out of nowhere with an explanation of his own.

Review

     I can honestly say that I am very glad Faelorehn was my first ebook. Yes, you read that right my first ebook. At first I was a bit apprehensive about the whole ebook craze, I was a bit of a traditionalist in the sense that you should be able to hold a book in your hands and flip the pages; Faelorehn proved me wrong. Perhaps it was the handsome and mysterious Cade or the quirky Meghan Elam with her shifting eyecolour and strange 'visions' that hooked me on Faelorehn. But there is certainly no doubt about how much I loved this book. A good book should give you chills and goosebumps, while immersing you so deeply in the story that you can't help but turn another page. If this is the definition of a good book then Faelorehn is the epitome of a great book. I got chills following Meghan on her journey to discover who she actualy was and couldn't help but turn the page. Johnson effortlessly wove in Celtic mythology, giving the story a touch of reality in fiction. Yes, I know mythology isn't exactly reality but it certainly has a basis in reality and its role in Faelorehn certainly added to this richly woven story. I would definitley recommend reading Faelorehn and experiencing the magic Johnson weaves yourself!

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Amazon (Kindle)
Amazon (paperback)

Smashwords

Barnes and Noble

The Old Curiosity Shop 2/5th's There!

       As you may have noticed, classics take me quite a bit longer to get through, though I am getting there, really I am!

      It honestly astounds me just how much happens over the course of 100 pages in The Old Curiosity Shop. It amazes me just how well Dickens develops his characters and the plot.

~~~Spoilers Warning~~~

The Pilgrimage Begins

      I need to start off by saying thank goodness, Grandfather and Nell are finally out of that horrid house and Daniel Quilp's grasp...for now anyways... But the way Quilp is now plotting with Nell's wretched brother and Mr. Swiveller I'm sorry to say that I have a feeling that Nell has not quite seen the last of them. While we're on the topic of Nell's brother, and Quilp, in the past 100 pages I found out that Quilp's wife had some sort of romantic relationship with Nell's Brother. WHAT!!?? I mean where did that come from I'm not even sure I can fully comprehend that, that poor woman being stuck with Quip was unimaginable enough but Nell's brother as well! Its all just too horrid!

At the School Master's Porch



    Going back to Nell and Grandfather, I have to say I am more than a little concerned for that child. Grandfather is totally dotty! He is completely unable to make any decisions and is always looking to Nell for help and guidance; so much for him trying to protect Nell! He was so entirely useless, getting Nell sucked into that theatre troup of vagabonds and then leaving her with the responsibility of planning an escape. My sympathy is seriosuly running out when it comes to grandfather, I already had issues with his character but now that he's pretty much become Nell's dependant I am fed up with him. Nell should not have to be concerned with any of  this, she's only a child for crying out loud! At lest Nell is smart enough to manage and get them to rest at the schoolhouse; if she wasn't as mentally equipped as she was her situation would simply be to depressing of a travesty.

Grinder's Lot (The theatre troup)

    If anyone else out there has read The Old Curiosity Shop, I would love to know what you're thoughts are about this story. Did anyone else find themselves losing their patience with Grandfather?!

     

Dark and Light: A Small Collection of Poetry

       Though I do love my classics I am also a hugh fan of poetry, being a part-time poet myself. So, I decided to embark upon the journey of reviewing a poetry collection for the first time.

       Dark and Light is a short collection of poetry (there are 5 poems in the collection) that was published in 2011 by, K. W. McCabe.True to its title, the collection moves from darkness to light
taking you from the depths of despair to the edge of the tunnel where you are just beginning to see the light again. I enjoyed McCabe's writing style and how the despair of the poems at the collection's beginning was interwoven with hope at the end in what was my favourite poem of the collection; Butterfly. To me Butterfly stood out from the rest of the collection as the strongest poem, the imagery of a butterfly in its cocoon solidified the dark theme of the collection and the diction brought to life the sense of hope and light that the title suggests should accompany the darkness. I would have appreciated a few more poems being included in the collection mainly because I believe it would have enhanced the emotionally journey of the collection. Overall I thought Dark and Light was an interesting, if short, collection of poetry.

The Old Curiosity Shop 1/5 of the way there...

      The version of The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens which I am currently reading has about 500 or so pages. Since my last post I've gotten to page 95, considering this is my first time reading Dickens I'm pretty happy with the 95 pages that I've read since last week. However, since I do take longer to read classics I've decided to post everytime I read another 100 pages.

Little Nell is Anxious

     Only 95 pages in and Dickens has me completely hooked! At this point in the novel I can already appreciate why Dickens is one of the most famous authors in the world. The characters simply come to life with his words, they are so vivid I feel like I am right there with them the entire time!

Spoilers Warning!

Little Nell as Comforter

    So, I've figured out what the whole secret is with the grandfather. And I can't say I condone his ideas for saving for Nell's future at all. His excuses are so typical of a gambling addict; I didn't do it for the pleasure, I did it just to make money. I mean come on! I get that he really cares for Nell and wants to look after her best intentions but it annoys me that he seems to be viewed entirely as this tragic person who was just a victim of his circumstances. Though he likely didn't have many other options, a little planning could have changed all that, had he maybe considered that they would need money to save for  the future maybe he would have spared a couple of dimes for the future! That being said, I really do hope that he does ok for himself and Nell as the book progresses.

The Legal Gentleman named Brass

    Nell is such a darling herself, she pines for her grandfather in the loneliness of her rooms all day. I think I like her so much because she is so relatable as a character, she has something that everyone can relate to; the struggle between staying hopeful and giving in to sorrow. I really hope that she and Kit (who might I add has been treated very unfairly) do get the chance to reconcile in future.

A Cool Proposal

     As for her brother, what can I say, I hate him! He is such a fiend trying to get her married off to some snobbish friend so they can steal the money the believe she has! Lets just say he and Daniel Quilp that nast little man that abuses his wife and steals from those who are already down; make my skin crawl!




   
    

Chase the Lightening

      This post was originally meant to be published about a week ago; when I actually finished reading Chase the Lightening but, due to a nasty computer virus my computer would crash every ten minutes... such a drag! Anyways... my computer is up and running so I can actually publish this post now!

    Chase the Lightening; I'm not even sure I know where to start! This book written by Madeline Baker, is a marriage between, science fiction, westerns and romance. It can definetley not be confined to a single genre, so if you do not like a book to stray from one genre to another then this is probably not a good choice for you. That being said, I loved it! I'm a big fan of the power of imagination and the way Baker wove these three genres together made my imagination tingle with excitement.

     The timeless romance between Amanda and Trey captured my heart as they travelled between Amanda's modern day country house and Trey's Wild West. It didn't hurt of course that the story was set (in part) in the Wild West and filled with page turning horse races that made it near impossible to put the book down. The magic of this Wester, Sci-Fi, Time Travelling, Romance gave me chills down to my toes; proving itself to be a heart-racing read!

 

Final Thoughts on Paradise House

     I can't believe that its been a whole week since I've written a post; how quicky time flies! I finished reading Paradise House during my absence from Lace and Lavender and can honestly say that it completeley ensnared me.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

    Though I did have doubts once or twice about the plot line, by the time I was 10 or so chapters in I could not put it down! The story is told from the point of view of Genevieve, the elder of three sisters, who is left in the commanding role of her family. I personally loved following Genevieve's story, from the flashbacks to her youth when she fell in love with Chrisitian and fell into a deep depression following their break up, to the fairytale ending when she and Christian meet up once again. Perhaps, I enjoyed Genevieve so much because she was entirely relatable, she felt the pain of losing Christian to that witch of a friend Rachel, and yet despite all he put her through she still felt a shy love deep inside her heart for him. In addition to being a bit of a bookworm, I am a hopeless romantic so I get how Genevieve would let herself still hold on to her feelings for Christian despite her heartbreak. I also get how she could eventually consent to let him back in her life even after he crushed her heart.

   In my opinion people don't let their hearts guide them often enough as Genevieve let her heart govern her. I think that the world would honestly be a better place if people just allowed themselves to think with their hearts as opposed to their heads. Don't get me wrong, I entirely value the usefullness of thinking with one's head, but some decisions ought to be made with your heart; especially when it comes to your romance life!

     To be honest, I didn't realize that the story was set in Britain until midway through the book when America was referred to as a vacation destination; up until that point I though that it was a small American coastal town. Either way it was a beautiful backdrop!

     Overall, I really enjoyed reading Paradise House and falling in love with all of the characters. There is definetly a sense of mystery as I hinted in my first post Reading a Small Piece of Paradise, not mystery in the sense of murder but psychological mystery as you being to unravel Genevieve's past; I would definetly recommend Paradise House, it has all suspense and action of a good read without being overwhelming.

Reading a Small Piece of Paradise

    There is nothing quite like a good book. Without books I doubt I'd be able to fall asleep seeing as I've recently incorporated a minimum of 10 minutes (usually more like 20 or 30 minutes) of reading before bed. Reading is something I have enjoyed forever and, I'm really excited about sharing my reading experiences on this blog.

    So without further ado, the book I am currently reading is called, Paradise House by Erica James. The plot (so far as I can tell) follows the tale of a young woman Genevieve Baxter who is trying to cope with her capricious mother's recent decision to "go find herself", which in lieu of her mother's absence, has made her the temporary manager of an old-fashioned seaside inn in picturesque Angel Sands. On top of all of this there seems to be hints that Genevieve's past was not always filled with sunshine. The whimsical and carefree attitudes of her other two sisters and the introverted nature of her father add the feeling that not all is well at Paradise House.

Genevieve and her sisters
Image retrieved from: Paradise Lost on James' website

       So far, I'm finding that Paradise House is an easy read; which offers a nice breath of fresh air in between reading classics which tend to have more challenging prose. If you're looking for an easy read, with a hint of mystery, wry family relationships and a dreamy landscape then check out Paradise House!

Moving Day and A Look at "Lady Chatterley's Lover"

    I originally started blogging nearly a fortnight ago but filled with aristic whimsy, I decided to pack up and move homes to this, my latest location where I can assure you that for the forseeable future I will be curled up snug as a bug in a rug! So, grab a blanket and a hot cup of tea because I just finished reading a story that I can't wait to tell you about!

My Beagle all Curled up and Cosy; Ready for his Bedtime Story!

   For the past two weeks I have been completely enwrapped by D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. It was originally published in 1928 but was immediatley banned because it was deemed too provocative, and wasn't publicly released in full until the 1960's. But, living in a day and age where the many televised shows, go above and beyond obscene, I can honestly say that this novel is modest by today's standards. If you're not familiar with the plot, (don't worry there won't be any spoilers, I can't think of anything worse than spoiling the ending of a story) the story follows the life of young Constance (Lady Chatterley) who gets married to Clifford Chatterley. Clifford goes off to war and returns diabled form the waist down. Due to his disability, and cold nature Clifford retreats into his mind, which causes Connie great distress as Clifford becomes emotionally vampiric, sucking a figurative life force from Connie's body. Seeking the need to feel alive again, Connie begins an affair with Mellors, Lord Chatterley's game keeper, beginning the main romance of the novel.

The First Full Copies of Lady Chatterley's Lover published in 1960 by Penguin books
 Photographed by: J. Wilds/Getty Images
Image Retrieved from: The Guardian

   Essentially Lady Chatterley's Lover is a romance but to classify it solely as a romance would not do the work justice because, as the plot follows the 'love story' of Mellors and Connie, it provides a powerful commentary about human nature: about the conxsequences of negelecting each other's basic need to feel wanted and understood in favour of achieveing successs, about the consequences of the great focus society puts on achieveing success and acting successful, about the bitterness that arises from living in a relationship or marriage where there is no love and about how above all we need to feel loved as human beings to find purpose in our lives.

The Copy of the Book which I read

   In my opinion D.H. Lawrence did an exquisite job of translating the very nature of what it means to be human in Lady Chatterley's Lover while still weaving the best sort of romance into the story. This is definetly a must read novel! I'd be really interested to hear some of your thoughts about "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and if you'd like to share them, or have any questions before/while reading comment below :)