Week of 4/24

This week's book is Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. I've only read the first chapter, but so far the book jumps right into the story. I think this book is going to be a guilty pleasure of mine, and I'm hoping I love it, although it will have to wait until after Easter.

Entwined by: Heather Dixon

Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
If You Like: Romance, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Similar to: Jane Austen, Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Ages: 13-60, but anyone might enjoy this novel.

The book Entwined by Heather Dixon has a little bit of everything. It's a fairy tale with the feel of a Jane Austen Novel that reads like a modern day young adult book. Add in some magic and dancing, and you have got one great book.

I really couldn't put this book down. It is about a princess on the verge of 18 with great loss and responsibility. It is a book about family and finding true love. It is a book about the spirit and magic that we all have within us.

This story is based off the children's book "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" that I loved as a child. I remember reading it because I loved the pretty pink cover, and the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. That's what drew me in, and ever since I laid eyes on "Entwined", I've been hooked.

As for the story...

Azelea is the oldest of 12 sisters who live in a palace, but don't have much money. When their mother dies, the girls are forced to mourn for a year which means the curtains will be closed, they will not be able to go outside, they will be forced to wear black, and they will not be able to dance. The girls use dancing as an escape from the troubles of their lives, but it is forbidden. When the girls discover a hidden room in the fireplace that leads them to a magic pavilion, they meet a man named Keeper. He seems perfect, but sometimes people are not who they seem to be. The girls are allowed to dance in the Pavilion every night, but not without a cost.

With Azelea's hunt for a husband who will soon become King, dancing against her father's wishes, dealing with Keeper, and taking care of her 11 younger sisters, a girl on the verge of 18 has a lot to handle. Will Azelea meet the man of her dreams? What does the Keeper want from the girls in return for letting them dance in his Pavilion? Read Entwined to see a beautiful fairy tale unravel before your eyes.

There's No Place Like Here by: Cecelia Ahern

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
If you like: Missing Person Investigations, Fairy Tales, Secret Wonderlands, Life Lessons
Similar to: If You Could See Me Now
Ages: 16-100

This book is really hard to get into, but if you do make it through the whole book, the ending is good. I finished this book with a good feeling, and the last 75-100 pages were actually really great. Although this is my least favorite Cecelia Ahern book, she has a knack for writing. I love her style of writing, and her ability to make magic and fairy tales come to life for adults.

This book is about a place called Here, where all missing things and people end up. Sandy Shortt is a 34 year old woman who has had an obsession searching for missing things since she was 10 and a girl in her class dissappeared. Sandy now runs a missing persons agency, and agrees to help a man named Jack find his brother who has been missing for over a year.

When Sandy wanders off into the woods right before she is about to meet with Jack, she ends up in a place called Here. She meets some great people there, and finds a lot of people she had been searching for for years. No one can get out of Here even though they all have tried. Will Sandy find Jenny-May Butler, the girl who started her searching obsession? Will she find Jack's brother Donal? Will she get out of Here? Read this book and find out.

I've decided I'm going to read at least one book a week. It won't be hard because I probably do that now, but I'm just going to make sure I committ to it. I am also going to pay off my library fine to do this because I can't imagine buying all of the books I want to read. There are just so many!

I preordered the book Abandon by Meg Cabot a few weeks ago, and can't wait to get it on April 26th. I'm going to begin reading it the day I get it, I think. I'm always off work on Tuesdays, so I can go outside, and lay in the sun with my new book (or stay inside listening to the rain on our tin roof if it's a rainy day).

Reading tip: Try taking a bath and reading your book. I did that tonight for about an hour, and it's been over a year since I've done it. It was so relaxing, and it makes me wonder why I don't take bubble baths more often. I think I'm going to have to start.

I hope you enjoy that book you're reading, as I am trying to decide my feelings about Cecelia Ahern's "If You Could See Me Now". I'll review it when I've finished it.

Good night.

Insatiable by: Meg Cabot

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
If you like: Romance, Vampires, Love Triangles
Similar books: Queen of Babble Series, Twilight Saga

Insatiable is a great adult romance novel about a soap opera script writer who shares an apartment with her brother. She has the ability to see when people are going to die, until she meets vampire, Lucien. She quickly falls in love with Lucien, but before she gets her happily ever after, vampire slayer, Alaric shows up and rocks everyone's world.

I really liked this book, and find myself really looking forward to reading the next book in the series, which isn't out until Summer 2011. It had the feel of the Queen of Babble series, and although it is considered Adult Fiction, it could easily be considered Teen Fiction.

You should read this book if you like romance, suspense, and a fight scene. There is a great love triangle that develops in this dark romance, which all together makes it a great read for anyone ages 15-100.