ARC MINI REVIEW: The War Outside by Monica Hese

The War Outside by Monica Hesse (September 25, 2018)
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This did NOT affect my honest review. Thank you Little Brown Books!
Purchase: Amazon | Banes & Noble
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: It's 1944, and World War II is raging across Europe and the Pacific. The war seemed far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado--until they were uprooted to dusty Texas, all because of the places their parents once called home: Germany and Japan. Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for those accused of colluding with the enemy. The teens discover that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all the others: the camp is changing them, day by day and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by fear for her soldier brother and distrust of her father, who she knows is keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family whole as her mother's health deteriorates and her rational, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis. With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their growing, secret friendship. But in a prison the government has deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone--even each other?

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My Review

During World War II, after being convicted of treason, Haruko’s Japanese father and Margot’s German father are forced into a family internment camp in Crystal City, Texas, where a 10-foot fence topped with barbed wire and armed guards surrounds their new home. Months later, Margot’s and Haruko’s families are reunited at the camp. Haruko spends her days trying not to worry about her brother fighting in the war while Margot focuses her efforts on studying and taking care of her mom. Neither of them expects to find happiness while living in a camp full of secrets and unrest, but when they meet, an unlikely friendship starts to form. Haruko is brave and naïve while Margot is studious and strong-willed, adding even more tension and intrigue to their friendship. Although the plot was slow-moving at first, its slowly unraveling mystery and unexpected ending make for a thought-provoking discussion. Hesse not only shines light on a dark part of America’s history that some may not know about, but her unique storytelling inspires further research on this tragic history. Hesse provides a brief note on historical accuracy at the back of the book which is also filled with further resources and helpful information. This powerful story will make a good addition to any young adult historical fiction collection.

Review: Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey

Love, Lies & Spies by Cindy Anstey (April 2016)
368 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction/Spies/Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish their research.

Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.

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My Review

Love, Lies and Spies was such a lovely book. The story was just as cute as the cover makes it seem. 

Juliana is a rather interesting main character. She is accident prone, cute, a little stubborn, and loyal to her cousin. The other main character and who also gets a point-of-view in the novel is Spencer, the love interest who just so happens to be a spy. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Every time these two had an interaction I smiled. They were adorable and awkward. I loved them.

As for the story, it was not as action filled a I was hoping it would be. Whenever I read "spies" I think there is going to be a few more action scenes then there actually were in this book, but the few that did happen were pretty good. I was also a little sad there wasn't more kissing as well, but I guess that may be because of the time period the book takes place in, which is understandable. I did also sometimes have a few issues following along while reading because of the time period and the language, but I got used to it after a bit.

Overall, Love, Lies and Spies was a fun book with a pretty adorable couple at the heart of its pages. I look forward to reading the next book by this author. 

Review: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Walk on Earth a Stranger (#1) by Rae Carson (Sept. 2015)
432 pages
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

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My Review

It's time for a goodreads reading update style review! I only do these types of reviews when I start reading a book and just know sharing my reading updates with you will be the best review I can give you. Walk on Earth a Stranger turned out to be a pretty darn good book. Here are my reading updates from goodreads and my final thoughts on this book.

My Final Thoughts: I really did enjoy reading Walk on Earth a Stranger. I liked that it had some good surprises even when the action slowed down for a little bit in the middle. I loved Lee and all of the interesting and sometimes crazy characters she met on her journey. I do want to warn you that this story doesn't have a lot of romance just in case that is what you were looking for. Side Note: Reading this book really did bring back vivid memories of me playing Oregon Trail on the computer when I was younger, which I also love. There was really only one thing that really disappointed me, the lack of the fantasy elements the synopsis promises. I was thinking there would be a lot more times when Lee would be using her gold sensing abilities, but it just didn't happen all that often. However, I do think that will come more into play in the next book, which I do plan to read. Should you read Walk on Earth a Stranger? I think giving this book a whirl would be worth your time. 

TTT #57: Books To Read If You Are In The Mood to Travel Back in Time

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I loved having a little bit of wiggle room with this week's topic, but it also made it hard for me to decide which genre to write about. I debated between focusing on magic or swoons, but I decided to go with something completely different, books that take you back in time.

Historical Fiction I have Read and Loved

1. A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

2. A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

3. These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

4. The Diviners by Libba Bray

5. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Historical Fiction I Can't Wait to Read

1. The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

2. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

3. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

4. Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein

5. Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon

Series Review: His Fair Assassin by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers (2012)
549 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Review: When I first started reading Grave Mercy I was slightly reminded of the movie Wanted. Anyway, It took me a while to get used to Ismae and her world, but I'm glad I stuck with the book even though it took me about 100 pages before I really felt like the story was going somewhere good. Grave Mercy focuses more on politics than romance, but that didn't bother me. I really started to care for Birttany and feel what these characters were feeling. I was getting frustrated right along with Ismae, the Duchess, and everyone else, I wanted peace for Brittany as well. I'm glad I finally gave Grave Mercy a chance. It was a very good read.

Dark Triumph (#2) by Robin LaFevers (2013)
385 pages
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

My Review: I thought Dark Triumph was the best of all three books in this series. It was darker, gritty, sad, happy, and hopeful. I felt more for Sybella than I did the other two girls the books focus on. She is one strong woman who fights for herself, her sisters, and for good. I was cheering Sybella on from the very beginning. The other best part of this book is Beast, hands down. I loved Beast in Grave Mercy and I grew to love him even more in Dark Triumph. Not only did I like the characters in Dark Triumph more (it was a more character driven story than the first book) but I also thought it was more exciting than the first book. Dark Triumph is a very good book. Even if you were not a big fan of Grave Mercy, I think you will really love Dark Triumph. I felt so many emotions while reading about Sybella and no matter how hard it got at times I loved every single page.

Mortal Heart (#3) by: Robin LaFevers (2014)
444 pages
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...

My Review: I was nervous I wasn't going to like Annith. I was worried that after reading the previous epic book in the series this one would fall flat. I didn't need to worry. I ended up loving Annith. Also, I loved all the secrets that were revealed surrounding the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain and the other characters in Mortal Heart. I might even admit that I love Annith's love interest more than Beast. Actually, I loved all the new characters that were introduced in this wonderful conclusion to the series. Mortal Heart started off good and ended great. It had some good shocking moments. Basically, it was really good all around. It really made me 100% happy that I gave the His Fair Assassin series a chance. I was so happy that the series ended so well.

Review: A Mad, Wicked Folly by: Sharon Biggs Waller

A Mad, Wicked Folly by: Sharon Biggs Waller (Jan. 2014)

448 Pages

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction

Source: The Library

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.

After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

My Review

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction. I just tend to dabble when the mood hits me and I am certainly glad that when the mood hit this time I grabbed a copy of A Mad, Wicked Folly.

A Mad, Wicked Folly is filled with great characters, art, love, living, dreaming, fighting, and a perfectly described setting. This book should not be overlooked, although the cover itself has probably caught a few eyes on its own already.

Victoria Darling is a fantastic female protagonist. She wants to be an artist. It is her dream and she will do anything to go to art school, and I mean anything. Besides laughing at her oh so cheesy name, Vicky is a character I won’t soon forget. She may be naïve but she is also strong willed and cunning. I loved getting to watch Vicky really discover herself as a woman, and I love how much spunk she has. Every single one of the characters in A Mad, Wicked Folly that the author created were exquisite. I loved Vicky’s interactions with her closed minded parents, semi-open minded brother, a fiancé who is weak, a constable she won’t soon forget, and the women protesters.

I loved seeing all the woman power happening in this novel. I enjoyed the time period the story took place during, when the Women's Social and Political Union  was formed and its fight for women’s rights. The author did a wonderful job at describing the scenes with the women protesters and everything else. I wanted to join the union and help fight with all the other women in A Mad, Wicked Folly. The plot did seem a little slow here and there, but I enjoyed it never the less. The biggest thing that I wish was included in the novel was the drawings Vicky created or the special paintings she talked about. That would have been awesome, especially the hilarious political cartoons.

A Mad, Wicked Folly should be devoured by fans of historical young adult fiction and those of you who are fans of art or are an artist. If you don’t fit into either of those characters you should still read this book. The best part of this well written novel about women’s rights is that it actually strongly focuses on woman's rights and not just romance.

Review: The Dressmaker by: Kate Alcott

The Dressmaker by: Kate Alcott (2012)

Publisher: Anchor Books, Random House

365 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary: Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be her personal maid on the Titanic. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men—a kind sailor and an enigmatic Chicago businessman—who offer differing views of what lies ahead for her in America. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes, and amidst the chaos, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat.

The survivors are rescued and taken to New York, but when rumors begin to circulate about the choices they made, Tess is forced to confront a serious question.  Did Lady Duff Gordon save herself at the expense of others? Torn between loyalty to Lucile and her growing suspicion that the media’s charges might be true, Tess must decide whether to stay quiet and keep her fiery mentor’s good will or face what might be true and forever change her future.

My Review

I’m going to be upfront and honest with you. I had mixed feelings while reading this book. A lot of the aspects I loved about it I also didn't like about it, if that makes any sense, thus making it hard to review The Dressmaker. So hold on to your life jackets, I’m going to do my best.

I have been a huge fan of anything to do with the Titanic since that wonderful Leonardo DiCaprio movie came out forever ago. So when I saw this book on goodreads I had to read it. Although it wasn't what I was expecting, it turned out to be a pretty good enjoyable read.

The whole novel seemed to move at lightning speed. Although this kept me on my toes and kept me very interested, it was also slightly a letdown. The amount of time spent describing the sinking of the Titanic and the overall time surrounding this epic event was in no way long enough. The plot of this Titanic story mostly revolves around the hearings after the tragedy, and the need to answer the question “Why did only one boat go back to rescue the people in the water?” Therefore, I can understand why not a lot of time was spent on the actual sinking of the ship, but I wanted more. I enjoyed reading about the hearings and I enjoyed getting to see how some people were coping after the tragedy, it gave it a slightly different spin on the event than the books I normally get a hold of that surround the story of the Titanic do. But I still wanted more time with the actual sinking. I don't know why but I just did. That's all I can say about that.

The characters were very likable to me which is a big plus. The main character, Tess, was great, a young woman trying to find her place in the world, to get out of being a maid to become something more. The Lady Duff Gordon was also a pretty good character, complex and selfish, yet somehow likable  The Unsinkable Molly Brown makes a fun appearance and I felt like Alcott did a good job at portraying her. Also, Pinky, a female journalist covering the tragedy, was frustrating but awesome and strong. Her character also brought up some interesting and important women's rights issues/movements. It was fun to get the view point of a journalist dealing with the Titanic tragedy. It made the story more unique.

The romance part of the story was somewhat annoying. Although I love a good romance added to any story, this one was slightly lacking. I felt like not enough time was spent focusing on it so it was almost pointless. I would have liked to see a little more done with the love triangle between Tess, the sailor, and the rich gentleman.

I will say that this book kept me intrigued from beginning to end. It became more and more interesting with each page. There was a good amount of mystery, and this aspect of The Dressmaker was my favorite. I too wanted to know why there were so few people in a certain lifeboat when it could have held a lot more.

The ending was perfect, and I don’t say that a lot. It just seemed to be just right in every way. That right there brought my rating of The Dressmaker up a notch. It brought just the right amount of closure and hope.

I could probably keep writing this review for ages, but I think you get the drift. It's already starting to get long. So here are my ending/overall  thoughts...

Although I had my issues with this book it was still a really good read. I say take a chance on it if you have the time. It doesn't take long to read and although the fast pace of the novel is a little disappointing, it will keep you pulled in along with the air of mystery this book holds.

** I received The Dressmaker from goodreads' first reads program. Thank you goodreads and Random House. This in no way hindered my honest review.

RATING 3.5/5