My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris Review

Name: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Author: Rachel Harris
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: September 11th, 2012
Format: ARC Copy
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304 pages

Thank you Entangled Publishing and Heather for sending me an ARC of this book for review!!

Summary:
On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Goodreads

My Review:
So blown away by this awesome book..it simply was so enchanting! I've always been interested in ya time travel books..especially ones that go back to the past. When I heard that this book takes place in one of my favorite cities I have visited (the lovely Firenze!!), I knew that this would be a book I would so enjoy...and it definitely didn't disappoint!

One of my favorite parts about this book was the plot! Once I started this book it was physically impossible to put it down..I was reading it on my iphone, my kindle, my computer, and any other device that I could read this book on! Rachel Harris uses such fantastic details, that I really felt I was in Florence with Cat, and I could so picture the gowns she was wearing, and the gorgeous places she was seeing! What I really liked the most about the plot was that it was so original and unique..very different than other books I have read before! I also loved how Rachel was able to incorporate different pieces of art into this book! Cat is a HUGE fan of paintings, sculptures, etc. (just like me!) so it was really great to see her seeing some of her favorite pieces (especially ones in the sixteenth century!). It was also fun to see how Cat adjusted to her new life in the sixteenth century. Not only is she adjusting to being without her family and technology, but she also is pretending to be someone else! 

Now onto the romance...oh man! I can so see why Cat fell for Lorenzo..he's soso swoon worthy! He is so gorgeous (and I can really picture him in my head because of Rachel's amazing details!), sweet, and he's an artist! He's such a gentleman too! At first, Cat thinks Lorenzo is such a player but as she gets to know him better (and he soon learns her secret!) they start to fall in love. Rachel Harris definitely keeps the plot exciting by adding in a few twists that keep the reader hanging (which includes an arranged marriage!). What I liked the most is that when Cat goes back to her time, she realizes how much she cherishes her father and her soon-to be stepmother, even though they can sometimes get on her nerve. Going to the past helped Cat find out more about herself and open up to others instead of shutting them out. 

Now the ending...SUCH A CLIFFHANGER!! I seriously can't wait for the next book and I am hoping we will see more of Lorenzo! I highly recommend that you read this book when it comes out next month. My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century captivated me from page one, and it definitely is one of my favorite books that I have read in awhile!

My Rating:

Transcendence by C.J. Omololu Review

Name: Transcendence
Author: C.J. Omololu
Publisher: Walker & Company
Release Date: June 5th, 2012
Format: E-Book ARC
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Thank you Netgalley and Walker & Company for giving me a copy of this book for review!

Love isn’t the only emotion to survive death . . . When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider. As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both. Full of danger, romance, and intrigue, Transcendence breathes new life into a perpetually fascinating question: What would you do with another life to live?-Goodreads

My Review:
When I first heard about this book, I was really intrigued! I haven't really read any books about reincarnation so I was interested to see how that would play out in this book. Overall, I enjoyed Transcendence! There were some moments that were dragged out really long and some moments were confusing.

One of the best parts about this book has to be the plot! It was really refreshing to read a totally different paranormal book then I had read before! I really needed a break from the mermaid/vampire/witches books that I have been reading and this was the perfect fix! It was interesting to see the different mythology that C.J. Omololu uses in this book and how she makes it work with the story. The beginning starts out a little slow..but as the novel progresses the story really picks up and I couldn't put this book down! I also enjoyed the flashback scenes to Cole's other lives and seeing her learn more about how she lived in her different lives! I was a little bit confused at certain moments..but my confusion was clarified later on in the story! So if you are confused at first don't worry :)

I also really liked the main character Cole! She is a really strong character, and I really liked learning more about her throughout the story! I wish we got the chance to learn more about her past lives, but I'm sure that in the next book in the series we will learn more!

In the end, I really enjoyed Transcendence! It was a really great book and once I got into it, I couldn't put this one down! Definitely check this book out this summer if your looking for a new paranormal book to read!!

My Rating: Four out of Five Stars

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont Review

Name: A Breath of Eyre (Unbound #1)
Author: Eve Marie Mont
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Release Date: March 27th, 2012
Format: Purchased
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Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…


Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…-Goodreads

My Review:
I definitely didn't know what to expect with this book when I started it..I was very intrigued by the main character being transported back into a book she is reading..who wouldn't want to be transported into their favorite book??

One of my favorite parts about this book was the plot..I really liked how Emma was transported back into Jane Eyre and having to deal with the consequences of being in Jane's place. I though Eve Marie Mont did a fabulous job of portraying Emma and making her grow throughout the book. At first, I wasn't sure how much I would like Emma, but as the book progressed she really grew as a character and found her way!

I will say that at first I was nervous about reading this because I haven't read Jane Eyre, but you definitely don't need to read it before reading this book! The author does a fantastic job of adding in a basic summary of Jane Eyre so that the reader isn't totally confused by not knowing anything about Jane Eyre. I also liked the romantic aspect to the book..while it doesn't overshadow the plot as a whole at all, it was still a nice addition to the book!

Once I started this book I could not put it down and as I continued through the book I was so engrossed in the story that I finished this one almost in a day! This is the perfect book for book lovers out there and people who want a great contemporary read with a literary twist!!

My Rating: Four out of Five Stars

Dark Passage by M.J. Putney Review

Name: Dark Passage (Dark Mirror # 2)
Author: M.J. Putney
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: September 13, 2011
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The Irregulars return home to 1803 England safely, but their worldview has changed. Not only have their heroic efforts at Dunkirk given them pride and confidence but their dangerous mission has increased their magical powers.
Tory delights in the ever deepening bond she shares with Allarde until she discovers how powerfully he is connected to his ancient family estate—the lands he will not inherit unless he denies his magical powers and chooses a nonmagical mate. If Tory really loves him, she must walk away—but does she have the strength to leave the love of her life?
Cynthia’s heroic efforts at Dunkirk have won her the respect of the Irregulars, but her sharp tongue keeps everyone at a distance. Isolated and very alone at Lackland Abbey over the Christmas holidays, she reluctantly agrees to join Jack Rainford and his family for their celebration even though they’re commoners, far below her own noble rank. The warm welcome of the Rainfords makes her feel happier and more accepted than she has ever been. But she can’t possibly be falling in love with flirtatious Jack! Can she?
Then the Irregulars are drawn into a dangerous attempt to rescue a vitally important French scientist from Nazi-occupied France. Tory and Allarde must work together because countless lives are at stake. Disaster strikes and not only is their mission threatened, but their very lives. Can magic and their loyalty to each other help them survive to return home?-Goodreads

My Review:
Wow what a great sequel to a really fun series! Who wouldn't want to read about time travel, magic, and people from England in the 1800s? This book has all of my favorite things combined: paranormal, historical, and time travel (and British accents which is always a bonus!!).

One of my favorite parts about Dark Passage was the plot! It was definitely really really exciting/fast paced/mysterious all packed into one! I really liked seeing Tory and her friends go on a completely different adventure than the last book and also learn more about their powers and skills! It was also really fun to see how these teenagers from the 1800s reacted to what was going on in the 1940s. I really liked how M.J. Putney was able to portray this so well!!

I also really enjoyed reading more about the main character, Tory! It was interesting to see her progression from the first book into the second book and see her grow as a such a strong willed character! Of course (spoiler alert from the first book!) I also liked seeing her relationship with Allarde in this one!!

Overall, this definitely was a great sequel to a really great series!! I can't wait to read the next book, Dark Destiny, when it comes out soon!!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Tempest by Julie Cross Review

Name: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: January 17th, 2012
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The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.-Goodreads

My Review:

When I first heard about Tempest, I was really really excited! It sounded original and unique..and definitely a little bit different than what I normally read. I am really glad that I picked up Tempest instead of shrugging it off as a book I wouldn't like.

One of my favorite parts about Tempest was how easy it was to get sucked into the story. Once I picked up this book, it was so hard to put it down! The plot was really fast paced and pretty easy to follow along with. At certain points it was a little bit confusing to keep track of all the time travel and what year Jackson was in..but overall it wasn't too hard to follow.

One my favorite characters in Tempest was of course Jackson. At first, I wasn't sure if I would like Jackson that much..but once I read more into this book and I really got to see his character develop, I really enjoyed reading about him!
It was also really fun to see a book be in the POV of a male character!! I actually haven't read many books with male main characters so it was super fun to read this book from a totally different perspective!

Overall, I really enjoyed Tempest and I can't wait to read the next book in the series! I really recommend that everyone gives this book a shot :)

My Rating: Four out of Five Stars

Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie #1) by Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell Review

Name: Ruby Red
Author: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Release Date: May 10th, 2011
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Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!


Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust. -Goodreads

My Review:
What a really fun read!! At first, I wasn't sure what to expect with Ruby Red, but when I saw the plot summary on goodreads I was very intrigued! I haven't read that many books about time travel..but whenever I do I am always really interested in seeing where the characters travel to and this book was no exception! It was really fun to see Gwyneth go back in time and interact with people from different eras.
One of my favorite characters in this book was Gwyneth. She is so fun and she is not afraid to stand up for herself which is one of the main reasons why I like her so much!

I really enjoyed the romantic aspect of Ruby Red as well..while there wasn't so much of it in the book the hints of romance were nice to read about and makes me wanting to see what happens in the next book.
One of the best parts about this book was the time travel! Kerstin Gier made me as a reader feel like I actually was back in time with Gwyneth and I really enjoyed that. It was also fun reading about how people acted/dressed in different time periods.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series!!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Remembrance by Michelle Madow Review

Name: Remembrance
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Release Date: July 25th, 2011
314 pages


New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy.-Goodreads

My Review:
What a fun read! I really enjoyed reading this book especially since I haven't read many about reincarnation! I now want to read more!!! One of my favorite parts of this book definitely was the whole reincarnation aspect! Drew and Lizzie reminded me so much of famous romance characters such as Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth (when you read the book you will see where I am coming from!)
I also liked seeing the romance part of this book, it takes awhile for the Lizzy to figure out what she wants but when she does, it's amazing! I was cheering for her all the way till the end!

I am happy to report that this book is the first in a series so I can't wait for more! I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a great, fun read!


My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney Review

Name: Dark Mirror
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
304 pages

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic.

When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth. - Goodreads

My Review:

I absolutely adored this book! When I first heard about this book I fell in love with the cover! I loved the colors and the girl looking in the mirror!

One of my favorite parts about this book was the main character Tory. She is so strong willed and I love her personality!
I also loved that this book took place in the 1800s. It was really cool to imagine what people wore and dressed like at the time!

Overall, if you are looking for a fun paranormal book to read this summer, check this book out!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

P.S. I am back from my trip! Sorry for the lack of updates and I promise more will be coming soon!