Amethyst by Lauren Royal

I love my iPad and have been using the Kindle app a lot. The world of free books is so alluring! That's how I found Amethyst. It had good reviews so I decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. Amethyst was a great historical romance.

Amethyst lives in London and the book opens with the return of Charles II. Amy (Amethyst) meets a dashing green eyed stranger. Years go by and the green eyed man still lingers in Amy's mind even though she's betrothed to her father's apprentice. One day the green eyed man comes in her father's jewelry shop and Amy still feels an intense attraction to him. The green eyed man, Colin, is intrigued by Amy. But since he's a lord and she's a commoner, he tries to put her from his mind. During the London Fire, Colin rescues her from the fire and takes her home. Once Colin's family mets her, Colin and Amy find it hard to resist each other.

I liked both Amy and Colin. Amy is stubborn and devoted to doing things her own. Colin's family had been exiled with the King. Colin is determined to keep his family safe and is looking to marry a titled woman. Despite their attraction, both believe there is no future for them. I liked the fact that Colin and Amy care for each other deeply. Neither of them wants the other to be hurt. I also really liked Colin's family especially his sister, Kendra. They were a fun, lively bunch.  

I'll be continuing the series. I've already downloaded the next in the series, Emerald. I was unable to find others who shared their thoughts on Amethyst on a blog :( If you read Amethyst, let me know!
This is my fourteenth read for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

I added The Orchardist after seeing it on someone's blog. Since it was set in Washington State, I was intrigued. While The Orchardist was not like most books I normally read, it was a great read.

Talmadge lives alone in a cabin in his orchard. He's lived most of his life in this cabin. He's outlived his mother and perhaps his sister. It's a lonely life. One day while selling apples in town, he meets two young pregnant sisters, Jane and Della. Jane and Della steal apples from Talmadge. Since he does not chase them or send the law after, the girls decide to follow Talmadge to his home. The girls distrust Talmadge at first but slowly grow to see him as a friend. The book follows Talmadge, Jane, and Della for several years.

The Orchardist was one of those slow books. Very little happened quickly. But that's what made it so enjoyable to me. Coplin was very deliberate in her actions and pacing. The writing was so beautiful. Even though it moved slowly, The Orchardist kept me engaged. 

I'd recommend The Orchardist. It was a beautiful story. I look forward to Coplin's other books. Thoughts from others who read The Orchardist: Caribousmom, Between The Covers, That's What She Read, The Betty and Boo Chronicles, and Write Meg!.
This was my thirteenth read for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

Forever A Lord by Delilah Marvelle

Forever A Lord is the third in the Rumor trilogy. I'm so glad I gave this trilogy a chance. I didn't think I would enjoy it this much. And I think Forever A Lord was the best of the series.
The whole trilogy revolves around 3 people: Georgia, Matthew, and Coleman. We've heard how Georgia and Matthew's stories wind up, it's time to learn about Coleman. The book starts back in New York in 1800. Coleman is a boxer and fights for money. Money to keep living. Coleman hears about 2 gentleman who are looking for man who was kidnapped as boy. Coleman is intrigued and, desperate for money, heads off to meet these men. It turns out they are seeking Coleman who is actually an English lord. The men (Coleman's uncle and nephew) implore him to return to England and be reunited with family.
Meanwhile in London, Lady Imogene is preparing to debut. Imogene doesn't want to debut as she has no intention of marrying. But since it is expected of her, she'll play along. Imogene has been ill since she was seven years old. Imogene feels that no man would want to be saddled with such an unhealthy wife so she's content to be a spinster. But Imogene does want to help her brother who is married to a woman who cheats on him. So Imogene and her brother decide to invest Imogene's inheritance in a boxer who might win the English Championship.
I immediately liked Imogene and Coleman. Coleman was such a shady character in the other books but I knew there had to be more to his story. Imogene is wonderful. Shy and reserved, she blossoms as her relationship with Coleman grows. I loved her transformation from lonely caterpillar to magnificent butterfly. In this relationship, both parties are changed for the better.
Marvelle also brought back Georgia, Yardley, Matthew, and Bernadette.  It was nice to see them again and learn more about how their lives wound up after their stories were told. I'm sad for this trilogy to be over. I will certainly miss all the characters. Others who shared their thoughts on Forever A Lord: The Reading Cafe, Love Saves The World, Rookie Romance, and The Book Reading Gals.
This was my twelfth read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

I picked up A Great And Terrible Beauty based on the name alone. And that cover didn't hurt. I didn't know too much what it was about. But when I found it was set in 1800's London and had magical elements, I assumed I would like it. Well sort of. I'm really torn on A Great and Terrible Beauty.
Gemma and her family live in India. But Gemma wants to move back to London. She longs to attend balls and meet other young men. Gemma does get to move to London but under unhappy circumstances. Off to Spence, where Gemma is going to receive instruction on how to be a proper lady.
I liked Gemma and her friends. After a while they really settle into themselves and feel very real. They are petty, mean, scared, and lonely. They truly feel trapped. Each of them long to make their own destinies but they need to fill the roles that society and their families place them in. Most of the book is these young ladies trying to twist their fate into something else. That's where the magic comes in. Without it, each lady would be resigned to her fate. There's this beautiful struggle between each of the young ladies and the world. In that way I look forward to the next book. The other stuff especially the story arc about the Order that wants Gemma didn't interest me as much.
Overall a good read. The story was interesting and it didn't take me long to read. I'll read the next in the series but I'm not in a hurry. Others who shared their thoughts on A Great And Terrible Beauty: Inhaling Books, InkBitten, Reading In Winter, and Confessions of  A Book Addict.
This was my eleventh book for the Historical Reading Challenge.

Mid Year Challenge Review (A Little Late)

Ok, so we're a little past mid year. But I wanted to review where I stand for the challenges I signed up for at the beginning of the year.

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge:

I signed up for the Victorian level which was 5 books. So far I've read 10 Historical fiction novels. So killing it on the Historical Fiction Reading challenge.

The Mammoth Book Challenge:

I signed up for the White Rhinoceros level (9 books) and I've read 9 so far this year. I'll probably read a couple more mammoth books this year. I had been worried about completing this challenge so I'm pretty happy to be done so early.

2013 Let Me Count The Ways Challenge:

I signed up to read 10,000 pages. According to Goodreads, I've read 22,107 pages (not including the book I am currently reading). But I want to read 40,000 pages this year. I'd like to be closer to 30,000 at this point. I'm just going to have keep reading and hope I can make my goal. 

How are you doing on your challenges this year?

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

I requested The Tea Rose from the library after Shoshanah recommended it. I was looking for longer reads and Shoshanah gave a great series to read.
The Tea Rose starts in 1890's London with Fiona, a young woman, longing to start her life. She's in love with her neighbor, Joe. Joe and Fiona have a plan. They are going to work hard and save money to open their own shop. Both are working hard, adding a little bit to their future shop fund when things fall apart for both Fiona and Joe.
I immediately liked Fiona. Stubborn and determined, she works hard to make her dreams come true. Her Pa told her once "If you don't have dreams, you may as well head to the undertaker cause you are as good as dead." I loved that line which gets repeated many times in different ways throughout the book. The Tea Rose follows Fiona and Joe from late teens to mid-30's. It was interesting to see how the characters grew and changed over time.
I did feel transported to late 1800's London and early 1900's New York. Donnelly does a great job of staying true to the time period and creating a believable atmosphere.
The Tea Rose has it all: adventure, romance, and friendship. If you like historical fiction set in London or New York in the late 1800's and early 1900's, I would recommend The Tea Rose. I'll be continuing this trilogy and read The Winter Rose soon. Others who shared their thoughts on The Tea Rose: From L.A. To LA, Rhapsody In Books, Devourer of Books, Tell Me A Story, and Fyrefly's Book Blog.
This is my ninth read for the Mammoth Reading Challenge.

This is my tenth read for The Historical Reading Challenge.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

I'd always wanted to read The Historian because it deals with Dracula, the ultimate vampire. I love vampire stories so I was eager to read The Historian. I put it off since it's 642 pages. But since this year, I'm reading longer books, I decided it was time to pick up The Historian.
A young girl lives with her father (Paul) in Amsterdam in the 70's. Her mother died when she was a small child. The girl's father was an academic but now runs a worldwide organization helping spread peace. The girl has few friends and spends hours reading in her father's library. One day, she comes across a stack of letters, addressed to My Dear and Unfortunate Sucessor. The girl is intrigued and begins to study the letters. After a while, she asks her father about the letters. Flashback to 1950's (?), Paul is in college, finishing his graduate degree. One night, at the library, a strange book appears in Paul's carrel. Paul shows it to his advisor, Professor Rossi, who has his own story to relate. Both Professor Rossi's story and Paul's story are about Vlad the Impaler or Dracula.
I was unprepared for the amount of history that laid out for the reader. I know nothing about 1400's/1500's Eastern Europe. Much of the book is about the policial, religious, and economic times of that era. It was interesting but it was a lot. Even with all of that, I still was able to connect to the young girl, Paul, and Professor Rossi. It takes a while for the story to get going but once it does, it's well paced. You'll want to know what's going to happen next. My only gripe was that once the story got going, it stayed with Paul in the past, rather than focusing on the girl in the current time. I enjoyed her journey slightly more than Paul's original journey but understood why Kostova stayed with Paul's story more than the girl's.
I have a confession. I do not like big books. They are hard to read on the bus. I liked The Historian but I hated lugging that huge book around. Made a real case for ereaders. Or audiobooks.
I enjoyed The Historian. It was suspenseful and creepy. Others who shared their thoughts on The Historian: Bookish Comforts, Scrambled Books, Book Rhapsody, and The 3 R's Blog.
This is my ninth read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

And this was my fifth read for the Mammoth Reading Challenge.

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

After reading Violets of March and Blackberry Winter, I'll read anything Sarah Jio writes. I was not disappointed with The Bungalow. You do have suspend reality a little but the story was so moving that I didn't notice too much.
The Bungalow reminded me a lot of Rosie Thomas' books which I also enjoy. The Bungalow starts with an elderly Anne, napping while waiting for her granddaughter to arrive for a visit. Quickly, Anne starts to tell her granddaughter the story of her life in the 1940's. We're are transported to Seattle, at the start of World War 2. Anne has just graduated from nursing school and is ready to marry a good, stable man. Anne's life is all planned out. Anne's best friend, Kitty decides to volunteer as a nurse and persuades Anne to come along. Anne postpones her wedding and flies to the South Pacific with Kitty.
Jio writes richly detailed characters and beautiful settings. I could feel like I was there with Anne on Bora Bora. I enjoyed Anne's story. I wish that Kitty and some of Anne's other nurse friends were more fleshed out. The Bungalow is only 290 pages so Jio focused the story on Anne.
Overall I found The Bungalow to be a great quick read. Others who shared their thoughts on The Bungalow: Seize The Latte, The Literary Life of A Well Read Wife, Write Meg!, Jenn's Bookshelves, Devourer of Books, and Life In The Thumb.
This is my eighth read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

Forever A Lady by Delilah Marvelle

After reading Forever and A Day, I immediately put Forever A Lady on hold. I'm really enjoying this series.
Lady Bernadette is a widow who has decided to enjoy life. She has decided not to get attached to any man. Matthew is a thief and criminal. Matthew longs to find a woman to settle down with. Despite the fact that they travel in different circles, Matthew and Bernadette find themselves drawn to each other. Their romance isn't easy which I enjoyed. They didn't even have insta-love. It was insta-lust. Love came later. I liked how their romance progressed and both characters grew. I really liked Matthew and Bernadette.
Overall, I enjoyed Forever A Lady. I can't wait to read the third in the series, Forever A Lord. Others who shared their thoughts on Forever A Lady: The Rookie Romance, My Book Addiction Reviews, Books and Kisses, and What I'm Reading.
This was my seventh read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

Outlander by Diana Gibaldon

I decided to read Outlander and start the Outlander series because they are freaking long books and I need longer books to get to my goal of 40,000 pages read this year. At 627 pages it certainly qualifies as mammoth book. Anyway Outlander is like everyone's favorite book and for good reason. It's awesome.
Ok, Claire and her husband, Frank, are enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland. Frank is enjoying the historical sites of Scotland and finding out of the way and unknown attractions. Claire enjoys finding interesting herbs and plants. On one expedition to a cluster of rocks, Claire touches one of the rocks and is transported to 1743. I enjoyed the fish out of water experience Claire has at first. She thinks the fight she stumbles upon is a movie set. It isn't until she's attacked that she realizes this isn't a movie. It takes a while for Claire to realize that she's gone back in time. Fortunately, Frank's historical studies rubbed off on Claire so she's able to know a little bit about the world she's in. But nothing prepares her to live in 1743 or to meet Jamie.
Jamie has to be my new favorite character. I kept reading Jamie's dialogue to Tai.  He even thought Jamie sounded pretty cool. I liked Claire too. Gabaldon writes a rich and interesting story. I was immediately drawn in. I read Outlander for most of the readathon and was entertained.
Overall, I enjoyed Outlander. I can't say it was my favorite book ever. Jamie is my new favorite male character though. I plan to keep reading the series. Others who shared their thoughts on Outlander: Once Upon A Chapter, Cannonball Reads 5, Chapter Break, and It's A Book Life.
This was my sixth read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

This was my fourth read for the Mammoth Reading Challenge.

The Proposal by Mary Balogh

I heard about The Proposal from Shelf Talk. I figured I would enjoy The Proposal since it was set in England and it featured an opposites attract story line. The Proposal wasn't bad but nothing to remember.
Gwen's been widowed these past seven years. She's perfectly content on her own. She travels to see a friend, a recent widow. While visiting said friend, Gwen stumbles, twisting her ankle. Hugo happens to be near by and assists Gwen to the home of his friends. Gwen is a Lady. Hugo is an ex-military officer who has been given a title. Hugo feels it's his duty to marry and assist his younger half-sister in finding a place in society. Despite the fact that both Hugo and Gwen know that a relationship between them would never last, they find themselves drawn to each other.
Both Gwen and Hugo have baggage. Like whole luggage carts of baggage. And they both think this baggage should keep them from ever being with someone. Slowly they put down and examine their baggage and determine that not all of it is worth keeping. I liked that they both became safe places for each other and that Hugo's friends helped both of see that they could find a future together.
The story was engaging. I did enjoy The Proposal but there was nothing new. It's been a few days since I finished it and I'm having trouble remembering some of the details.  It would be a great vacation read. A lovely romance. Others who shared their thoughts on The Proposal: Book City Girl, A Girl, Books, and Other Stuff, and Smexy Books.
This was my sixth read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

Forever And A Day by Delilah Marvelle

Let me just say Forever And A Day is not typical of the books I read. This was straight up romance. Historical romance but romance nonetheless. But I enjoyed it. It was a great read, kept me entertained. I'll be reading this series.
While walking home one day, Georgia catches the eye of a handsome stranger. It's obvious this man is wealthy, not like Georgia who works hard at doing other people's laundry to pay her rent. Georgia is flattered when this man pursues her but she knows nothing more than a tumble in bed will come of it. She turns this handsome man down. But then her purse is stolen, he attempts to retrieve it and get hit by a trolley. If there was one thing I didn't like about this book, it was the insta-love. She saw him, he saw her, bam. After he gets hit by the trolley, Georgia stays with him, making sure he gets medical attention.  It's 1830. Georgia clearly works for a living, just scraping by, and she has time and money to trek to the hospital everyday? I had to suspend a lot of reality. But it was worth it IMHO.
Ok, Roderick, the guy who got hit with the trolley. Hello, hot! I can't say a whole lot about him without giving tons of spoilers. But I can see why folks read romance. Hot guy who's caring and helpful. He kept me turing the pages. Plus the sexy sexy times didn't hurt.
While it was historical fiction, the history really didn't grab me. It didn't diminish my enjoyment but I had to remind myself over and over again this was taking place in the 1800's.
Overall I really enjoyed Forever And A Day. It was fun and engaging. I'll be continuing this series! Others who shared their thoughts on Forever and A Day: The Rookie Romance Blog, Book Savvy Babes, and Fall In Love With Books.
This is my fifth read for the Historical Reading Challenge.

The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston

I added The Winter Witch to my library after seeing the beautiful cover. Witchcraft, a small Welsh town, and a mute young woman sounded like an interesting combination. I was surprised how much I enjoyed The Winter Witch.
Morgana hasn't spoken since she was a child. Her father left and her voice went with him. Morgana has lived happily with her mother until her mother marries her a man from another town. Morgana must move to a new town and live in a strange home with a stranger. Cai is a drover, he drive cattle from their Welsh town to London for sale. As a head drover, Cai must be married. Cai's first wife passed away and he must marry Morgana in order to do his job. This isn't a love match for either Cai or Morgana but both hope to find respect and companionship out of their match.
Brackston does a excellent job of slowly fleshing out Morgana and Cai. Morgana is a strange one and has been ridiculed for not only her muteness but for the magic that she weaves. Morgana has also been able to weave magic although it mostly happens as a defense mechanism. Cai is still wounded from the loss of his first wife. I loved how Cai and Morgana's relationship grew and evolved throughout the book. I really enjoyed the romance of the story.
I really enjoyed The Winter Witch. It had some mystery (another witch makes life difficult for Morgana) and plenty of romance. Others who shared their thoughts on The Winter Witch: Girl Lost In A Book, Charming Chelsey's, and The Big Nerd.
This was my fourth read for The 2013 Historical Reading Challenge.

The Buddha In The Attic by Julie Otsuka

 I added The Buddha In The Attic to my library queue because I was looking for Asian historical fiction. Additionally, The Buddha In The Attic also talks about the immigrant experience which I'm starting to actively seek out. This slim novel doesn't disappoint.
I knew going into The Buddha In The Attic that it was the story of young women immigrating from Japan to America to become wives to Japanese-American men after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. But this isn't the story of one woman or even two. Otsuka describes the women as a group and uses the pronoun "we" to describe the women's experiences. By using "we" it made it seem like they all experienced childbirth in the back of their husband's store, or they all were given an old ratty sweater by their employer. When one experienced joy, they all experienced joy. When it was pain, they all felt it.
The story starts with the women on the boat crossing the Pacific to meet their husbands. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of their life: work, children, marriage. The the war comes and the Japanese are targeted, enemies. The women experience fear, waiting for their husbands to be taken, being labeled traitors. Then the internment camps come and the women describe gathering their belongings, selling their businesses, preparing to leave, hoping to come back. The last chapter was written presumably by the Caucasians still living in the areas the Japanese had been removed from. This chapter talks about life without the Japanese. I found that chapter to be heartbreaking.
Overall, I was impressed with The Buddha In The Attic. Highly recommended. Others who shared their thoughts on The Buddha In The Attic: Devourer of Books, Life Wordsmith, Book By Book, and For The Love of Bookshops.
This was my third read for the 2013 Historical Reading Challenge.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I put Code Name Verity on my library queue cause everyone said it was amazing. They weren't lying. Code Name Verity was straight up amazing.
The first part of Code Name Verity is about Queenie. Queenie has been captured and is being held by the Nazis. The first part is her confession and details about England's war plan. I was amazed about the detail that Wein put in there. I admit that it took me some time to get into Code Name Verity. I didn't fully understand what was going on. The second part really helped me understand the first part. This is definitely a book I want to read again.
I didn't cry. I did gasp once.  The writing, the characters were amazing. Code Name Verity will be on my top 10 list for this year. Others who shared their thoughts on Code Name Verity: The Perpetual Page-Turner, Good Books and Good Wine, You've GOTTA Read This, Library Queue, Becky's Book Reviews, Fluttering Butterflies, and My Friend Amy.
This is my second read for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

This is my second read for the Mammoth Reading Challenge.

The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

I picked up The American Heiress because I heard good things about it. It was exactly the type of historical fiction I like: interesting characters, richly detailed historical setting, and sweeping romance. I enjoyed The American Heiress.
Cora is the toast of Newport in 1893. She is the heiress to the Cash flour fortune. Cora's mother is looking to find a suitable match for Cora. Cora is looking for love. On a trip to England, Cora accidentally meets Ivo, the Duke of Wareham. Cora is thrust into English society and must learn how to navigate being a Duchess.
I liked the almost fish of water tale that became Cora's life. Cora was a big fish in America but in England, she needed to learn everything all over again. I did like Cora. She's strong and smart and loves with her whole heart. There was something almost endearing about Cora. I also enjoyed the side story about Bertha, Cora's maid. Bertha enjoys her job but misses her home in South Carolina. In England, Bertha doesn't feel her race matters to people as much. Bertha meets a man in England and starts a relationship with another servant. In the United States, their relationship, a white man with a black woman, would be illegal in some states but condemned by society. I did find it interesting that servants were not permitted to marry. Anyone know any historical fiction written from the servants point of view besides The Remains of The Day?
Overall I enjoyed The American Heiress. I thought the end wrapped everything up too quickly but I think I just didn't want to leave Cora's world. Others who shared their thoughts about The American Heiress: Devourer of Books, Wandeca Reads, BookNAround, and Life From A Lefty.
This is my first read for the 2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

This is my first read for the 2013 Mammoth Book Challenge.

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Each time I read a historical fiction book, I think I should read more books like this. In an effort to make me read more historical fiction, I'm joining the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I'm shooting for the Victorian reader level (5 books). I think that's doable.
Any favorite historical fiction I should add to my list?