A Night Like This by Julia QuinnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars I have always appreciated the classic works that are set during the Regency period (i.e. Jane Austen) and have therefore sort of stayed away from “fan fiction” style romance novels that attempt to recreate life during that period with the addition of addressing topics that used to be taboo. I was afraid that these types of stories would be very cliched and more erotica than romance, specially after I saw what other books Goodreads recommended for me based on this book.But I was completely wrong about this story. Yes, it did address topics that were seen too vulgar…

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane SetterfieldMy rating: 5 of 5 stars I finished this book yesterday, but was too much in a daze to form one coherent sentence until now. From the very first page I was mesmerized, spellbound and led into a different world. The narration was so personal, it felt like the main character was speaking to you and only you; like this story was written only for the reader currently holding the book. The descriptions of the settings contained enough detail to provide a clear picture and invite the reader into the world of the story without being overwhelming.The characters were richly created and showed depth, but…

Writing Jane Austen by Elizabeth AstonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars I was quite on the fence about this book. I liked the main plot. It was cute, it was different and very easy to read. However, the main character was not very likable. At the beginning all I could think of was “how can a PhD recipient be so dumb?”, but then I realized that she was mostly shy and insecure. Throughout the story I found a few contradictions in her character that caused confusion and didn’t mesh with the overall main plot. These contradictions were also present in the subplots and supporting characters that broke the flow of…

The Shining by Stephen KingMy rating: 2 of 5 stars The back book cover of the edition that I bought includes a quote by The New York Times that says: “Scary…serves up horrors at a brisk, unflagging pace”… While I was reading the book I was wondering if they were reading the same story I was. I was asked to read this book in an exchange for an honest review and I will try my best to remain as unbiased as possible. Considering this story was written in the 1970’s and I have been exposed to many horror-type stories (in movies and books) without making the acquaintance of King’s storytelling…

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNeesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars I needed a bit of time after finishing the book before I could write a review. I have always been fascinated by Louisa May Alcott, although I could never get myself to read Little Women except for a few excerpts for my American literature class during which we all discovered that it contains a very strong didactic undertone. Reading a story about Louisa that weaves fact and fiction so beautifully together and presenting her as a character with both faults and virtues that brings her alive as she would have lived back then is…

Me Before You by Jojo MoyesMy rating: 2 of 5 stars About half way through the book I thought I had quite a few things to say about it. Even after I was 80% done, I still thought of some points to mention. Now, after having finished the book, all I can say is “Really?” This plot had so many different possibilities and the author decided to go “there”, taking it from something that could have had a lot of substance, addressing sensitive issues and topics in a slightly less melancholic way as it was told through the eyes of the lively main character. Yet at the end the reader…

The Solitary House by Lynn ShepherdMy rating: 5 of 5 stars I finished this book less than half an hour ago and I am still suspended in its world, not quite sure what is reality and what is just fiction.I started reading it almost a month ago, picking it up here and there, only reading a few pages each time and then not touching it for over week. I can’t explain why I was so reluctant to fully commit to this story at first, but it has become utterly clear to me now. Once you give it your full attention, it will not let you go until long after you…

Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. WatsonMy rating: 1 of 5 stars After work last night I decided to stay up until 1:30 am to finish the last bit of the book so that I could start my weekend without having to think about it. Once I closed the book for the final time, I had to ask myself what exactly I have been reading. To be honest, I picked up this book at a bookstore closing sale for 50% off and decided to give it a go just to see what all the hype was about.Generally speaking, I felt I was reading the story line of a Lifetime…

Happily Ever After by Harriet EvansMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Unsure what to expect, I started two books at the same time just in case I would get bored or frustrated with this story. However, I couldn’t put it down. It was a very easy read, the story flowed nicely, although sometimes the jumps in months or even years required me to orientate myself anew (this didn’t not take long, though). I found the main character was more fleshed out and life-like throughout the first part of the book as compared to the second part where the plot focuses more on the conflicts within and involving the character. There…

The Night Circus by Erin MorgensternMy rating: 2 of 5 stars It started out so promising. The small chapters that provided tiny glimpses into the various characters and their situations kept them far away from the reader to induce intrigue, but close enough to maintain interest. However, halfway through the book I grew very frustrated and annoyed by the turn of events this story had taken. All of a sudden the intrigue of the characters was gone and the actual plot seemed forgotten, plus I could detect a very annoying hint of the Romeo and Juliet concept being added for extra drama that was not really needed. I understand that…