Stacking the Shelves: 10/19-10/25

For review (on Bookloons):

Polly and the One and Only World by Don Bredes

Find Me I'm Yours by Hillary Carlip

First Reads from Goodreads:

A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison

Bought on Amazon:

Judgement by Carey Baldwin

The Unwanted Earl

The Unwanted Earl

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

2014

ISBN 9781940695139

Why read? Review

Challenges: Ebook, Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

In this fast and fun sequel to Love Birds of Regent’s Park, Ruth J. Hartman brings us Lord Conrad Lofton’s story in The Unwanted Earl.  With stunning skill, she manages to turn the villain – and comic relief – from the first book into a charming hero, who still manages some hilarious mishaps.

Amelia Talbot is in a bind.  Her father wants her to marry a disgusting octogenarian, which is not what she wants at all.  The problem is, being the type of woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, she has no other suitors.  Her problem is solved one day when she discovers that Lord Conrad Lofton is really a bastard (and not in the way her drawing partner, Lucy Shipley, thinks).  Using this information, she blackmails Conrad into becoming her betrothed.  Conrad, recently having a rotted tooth pulled and partnering with Oliver Shipley on a way to end his financial woes, finds himself in much better spirits, even if Amelia insists on dragging him to one outdoor adventure after another.  In time, the two find themselves truly falling for each other, but a secret about Conrad’s past soon threatens to tear the two apart.

While Conrad is still Conrad, Hartman has managed to turn him from truly despicable into completely loveable, which is an amazing feat in and of itself.  On top of that, Hartman has crafted an enjoyable Regency with plenty of humor and good clean fun.  The Unwanted Earl might be my favorite Ruth J. Hartman book yet, but I do hope this series continues with Cecilia getting a chance at a happy ending.

Rating 5/5

Let Me Stand Alone

Title: Let Me Stand Alone: The Journals of Rachel Corrie
Author: Rachel Corrie

Publisher: Blackstone Audio
ISBN: 9781482909326

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Books, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Rachel Corrie was a very gifted writer, even at a young age,  but this book just was not for me.  I have a feeling, she and I could never have been friends if we met, and the parts about Collin made me feel the same way I do whenever I watch the movie version of Caberet (which is not a good thing).

Rating: 3 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 10/12-10/18

For possible review (on Bookloons)

The Graveyard Book Vol. 2 by Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell

The Heart Does Not Grow Back by Fred Venturini

Sold

Title: Sold
Author: Patricia McCormick

Publisher: Tantor Audio
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Audio Books, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Even though this is a fictionalized account, it is very disheartening to know that a story like this can happen today.  While it is a short listen, it is a very heavy story, and very well-done.

Rating: 5 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 10/5-10/11

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen

Rogerson's Book of Numbers by Barnaby Rogerson

LibraryThing Early Review:

Sorrow by John Lawson

Bought at Archon:

Traitor's Knot by Janny Wurts

Burning Darkness by Jennifer Sights

The Labyrinth of Time by T. W. Fendley

Stacking the Shelves: 9/28-10/4

For possible review (here or on Bookloons):

Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince with Elaine DePrince

Random Acts by Mia Kerick

True Fire by Gary Meehan

Fatherland by Nina Bunjevac

Won:

Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam

Requested from Paperback Swap:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green