Alias Hook {by Lisa Jensen}

Title: Alias Hook

Author: Lisa Jensen

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: NetGalley

"Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It's my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy."
Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain.
With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale.

I loved the first 50% of this story. The second half, I had mixed feelings about, although I still very much enjoyed it. This was such an interesting take on Peter Pan. This isn't retelling, necessarily, just a continuation of what happens after the story we know. There is so much more to Neverland than the fun and games that we are taught, and we get to know the story from Hook's perspective.

"He has youth and innocence on his side, and the heartlessness that comes with them. I have only heartlessness, and it is never, ever enough." (page 6)

The writing of this story is beautiful. It's the thing that will draw you in. It's so lyrical, and flowy, and gorgeous. I was seriously enthralled by it. Jensen has such a way with words and prose, and that lent itself to the fantasy nature of this book. For me, the writing was the best part of the book.

Captain Hook was a 17th century privateer, until he is cursed to the Neverland, where he has spent almost 200 years fighting Pan in a war that never ends. Then one day, a grown woman appears in the Neverland, something that is impossible. Hook takes her under her wing to keep her from Pan, and along the way, they realize that maybe there is a way out for Hook after all.

I love that we got Hook's backstory mixed in the story. It was an interesting perspective to see where he came from and how he got to the Neverland. The next interesting thing is that Pan isn't the nice little boy we know. He's cold, heartless, cruel, cunning. He keeps Hook trapped in this never ending game, where Hook can't die. I also loved how we got to see other parts of the Neverland in depth, such as the mermaids and their lair, the fairies, and the First Tribes. They were magical, again described in such a gorgeous way that really made them come alive.

I mentioned that the second half wasn't as good as the first. The romance went from 0 to 100 real quick, and was not very realistic. Hook has this obsession with finding a way out, and while that is definitely understandable, it didn't fit well with what had happened before. I wasn't ever sure how to feel about Stella. I didn't feel a connection with her. I'm can't completely put my finger  on it,but something in the second half was just not on par with the first.

However, this was still an amazing story, and I was hooked (no pun intended) the whole way through. I loved seeing the Neverland from this different perspective, in much more detail. And I loved the end, how it worked for the story but also left things a bit open. All in all, this was an amazing story, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who loves their fairytales.

"The world needs magic, now more than ever. If there is no safe place for children to dream, how will they ever dream themselves a better world?" (page 216)

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Lisa Jensen:

Website

Chasing Sunsets {by Karen Kingsbury}

Title: Chasing Sunsets
Author: Karen Kingsbury

Series: Angels Walking #2

Genre: Christian Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: publisher

 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the second novel in a brand-new series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life; the dramatic story of a woman desperate to find deeper meaning in her life.
Growing up in a comfortable home, Mary Catherine wanted for nothing. Though she loves her wealthy parents, their lifestyle never appealed to her. Instead, Mary Catherine pursues meaning through charity work, giving away a part of herself but never giving away her heart.
Mary Catherine lives in Los Angeles with her roommate, Sami, and volunteers at a local youth center with coach Tyler Ames and LA Dodger Marcus Dillinger. Despite Mary Catherine's intention to stay single, she finds herself drawing close to Marcus, and their budding romance offers an exciting life she never dreamed of. That is, until she receives devastating news from her doctor. News that alters her future and forces her to make a rash decision.
Inspirational and moving, Chasing Sunsets is the story of one woman's deep longings of the soul, and the sacrifices she's willing to make in search of healing. 

 

I loved this one even more than the first book. Although the main characters from Angels Walking, Tyler and Sami, appear in this one, this book focuses more on Sami's roommate Mary Catherine, and Tyler's best friend, Marcus.

We also get a different set of angels this time, Jag and Aspyn. I liked how this story explored some different aspects of the angels, such as how human emotions could affect them, and how they overcame that. I mentioned before that the angels were my favorite part, and that was true for this book too. I think we got to see more of them, and I loved that.

I also loved these characters. Something about Mary Catherine just stuck with me, and I loved her. Not going to lie, she insured me. She believes in living life to the fullest, and is adventurous in a way that I am not. But her full life philosophy doesn't just extend to jumping out of planes. She also believes living life includes making connections with people, and does a lot of charity work and churn
work. Although I did also like Marcus, there were some things that still held me back (like the whole Shelly thing). But still, I liked the two as a pair (or, the pair they could become).

Again, this book wasn't wholly focused on the romance as it was on the other things going on. The gang wars, Marcus's community center, and Mary Catherine's secret of her health. There were many different aspects of this story that kept it interesting, fast-paced, and moving.

This definitely has Kingsbury's signature inspiration and faith-based style, in a new and unique way. I would definitely recommend this series, and will be continuing. I need the next book, like, now.

This review can also be found on   

 

 

Karen Kingsbury:

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An Uncertain Choice {by Jody Hedlund}

Title: An Uncertain Choice

Author: Jody Hedlund
Genre: YA Historical
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: eARC via NetGalley

 

Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice. If Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.
Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights the one who appears the most guilty had not already captured her heart.

 

Guys, I loved this book so much. It was cute, sweet, and romantic. I love my medieval stories, and knights. I've heard this being called a "medieval Bachelorette" story, which kind of sounds terrible (since I hate the show) but it was actually a lot of fun.



Rosemarie has been promised to the convent on her 18th birthday. Since her parents' deaths, she has been focused on ruling her people kindly and fairly, and not on suitors, since she is not allowed to marry. It's taken her years to come to peace with this decision, but she has. Until that is thrown in disarray by the discovery of a loophole: if she marries before her 18th birthday, she is saved from the vow. So, her father's friend the duke brings three of his noblest knights, and asks her to at least give them a shot. If, by the end of the month, she hasn't fallen in love with any of them, she can enter the convent as planned. And so, Rosemarie agrees.

I loved Rosemarie. Although there was some question of whether historically, a underage girl would have been allowed to keep her lands and rule them, I did appreciate that the author tried to keep this historically accurate. She didn't have full power, and she had those that advised her, and we also saw those that did not believe she could rule, and would try to undermine her. But Rosemarie has a kind heart. She does whatever she can for the poor, even giving her own money. She wants to make life better for them. If anything, she is too trusting, and does let people walk all over her.

I did enjoy the knights, although of course we all know who was my favorite (the same one that has her heart). While some would say it is unrealistic to expect to fall in love in a month, these are people in times where most people wouldn't get the chance, since marriages were arranged among nobility. And I loved that their feelings for each other weren't instant, they developed over the month, and weren't based on shallow things. He pushed her to be a better ruler. He was also kind, concerned for the poor, and selfless. While I did like the other two knights, it was mostly for the comic relief they provided. I did love the dynamic between the three, and how they were there for each other, even while competing.

But everything isn't all roses and sunshine. While the guilty party was kind of predictable and easy to guess, it was still suspenseful and exciting. I managed to fly through the book, because it was well-written and kept my interest, but also had me needing to know what would happen next for Rosemarie. I actually have no idea how I missed that this was series, but I am definitely glad to be getting more.

This review can also be found on   
 

Jody Hedlund:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Blogaversary the Second {+GIVEAWAY}

Hey guys! Yep, it's my second blogaversary!! Sometimes, I look back and can't believe it's already been TWO YEARS since I started this. I never really thought this would take off (as I had started blogs before and abandoned them) or that it would become such a huge and crucial part of my everyday life. I am so thankful for all the friends and connections I've met through blogging, and of course all the BOOKS I've discovered.

I know I set the bar pretty high with my huge event last year, but that just isn't happening this year. You may have seen me mention it before, but I've just been so tired this year. I definitely do not have the energy or time to do a big thing, as much as I want to. I've been dealing with a lot of things personally (especially health-wise, which is what's making me feel so tired and drained), and its shown in how quiet the blog has been these past few weeks. (I will be back soon! I just don't know how soon.) Anyway, I still want to celebrate, so I'm keeping the blind date with a book giveaway from last year! I'm also having Twitter and Instagram giveaways, so make sure to check those out!

So here's how this works. I give you clues as to what the book is about, how I felt, etc. You then have to decide if you would read the book based on the description I gave. If the answer is yes, then enter the giveaway! Each book has its own giveaway so you can enter just the ones you want, or all three! (For the tweet, you can tweet once and use that for all three rafflecopters for that day. I won't make you tweet the same thing three times a day.) 1 is US only, but the other two are INT. Once the winners have been notified, I will come back and reveal what each book is. Feel free to guess or discuss in the comments, I just won't tell you if you're right or wrong :)

Aaand the books have been revealed below! Did you guess correctly?

Book 1: This is a SIGNED paperback, an older release, US only

YA Contemporary. Costumes. Inventions. San Francisco.

 

 

Book 2: This is a preorder, INTL

 

YA Fantasy. Beauty and the Beast. Faeries. Magic.

 

Book 3: This is a newer release, INTL

 

YA Contemporary. Greyhound. Road Trip. War Paint.

 

Thanks for entering, and good luck!