Mini Review: Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Emerald Green
Author: Kerstin Gier
Release Date: Oct. 7, 2014
Publisher: Square fish
Source: Library
Review by: Nahomi

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is.
     She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars

       I was so anxious to start Emerald Green after the ending in Sapphire Blue; so much so that if it weren't for my book buying band I would have bought it on the spot just to find out how the story continued. Emerald Green continued in the same manner as the previous stories; full of adventure and mystery. Although in this installment I finally got some of the answers I was looking for.

      There were some very funny scenes in this story; particularly one with Charlotte at a party (jejeje). I enjoyed imagining the dresses Gwyn would wear on her time traveling adventures. My heart raced as the book was coming to an end and everything was unraveling and I couldn’t figure out how everything would turn out.

      The ending was a little anticlimactic. Everything was wrapped up a little too nicely and open ended for my taste. Otherwise I really enjoyed Emerald Green.

Mini Review: Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Sapphire Blue (The Ruby Red #2)
Author: Kerstin Gier
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Source: Library
Review by: Nahomi

Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars

It was great getting back into this world again! Sapphire Blue picks up right where Ruby Red leaves off. Sapphire Blue is literally the middle section of the trilogy there isn’t a solid beginning, middle or ending. Gwynn learns a lot of information about what is going on but there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

There are a lot of wonderful character additions this time around. Xemurius is hilarious, his comment are sarcastic and made me laugh. I also felt like someone was actually on Gwynn’s side; although it still not clear who she can trust. Gideon’s brother is also an interesting addition to the story.

Gwynn’s relationship with Gideon is hot for a millisecond then cold like a blizzard for the rest of the time. Her relationships with the other characters are all suspect. I still don’t like Charlotte any better. The mysteries continue and keeping track of the different meetings in the past certainly kept me entertained. I’m dying to get my hands on Emerald Green to see how this story ends!

Mini Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Ruby Red 
(The Ruby Red #1)
Author: Kerstin Gier
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Square Fish
Source: Library
Review by: Nahomi

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.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars 

Kerstin Gier creates a world that is easy to get lost in. Ruby Red is so entertaining that I felt like I couldn’t get enough of this story. There is so much going on throughout the story that at times it is difficult to keep all of the details straight. The historical and time travel aspects of this novel keep the story really interesting. I kept trying to wrap my brain around the different outcomes of past and present and the time continuum. This was really one of my favorite aspects of the story.

I will say though that the plot is predictable in respect to certain aspects of the story. I had a love hate relationship with Gwyneth, because she can be so dense sometimes. On occasion she was really self-deprecating which is really annoying. I felt bad for her because she was thrust into this strange situation with no preparation or warning what so ever.

Overall the Ruby Red is really interesting and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment.

Mini Review: Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Sekret (Sekret #1)
Author: Lindsay Smith
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed by: Jenn

Synopsis:  An empty mind is a safe mind. Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

3 stars out of 5 stars

I like the concept of Sekret. Espionage and psychic mixed together make for a really good book. However, I have to say that at times it was a little hard to get into the book because of all the Russian names and some of the descriptions. If I was interrupted or stumbled on a word, I had hard time getting myself to focus all over again.

While it took some time for me to finish the book, I'm curious to see what will happen to Yulia in the next book. Lindsay Smith managed to create such a vivid setting and it definitely felt very authentic. The way that the psychic teenagers are being used was sad and hard to read at times. After a shocking secret is reveal almost at the end of Sekret, I'm curious to see what Lindsay Smith will do next. And I sincerely hope that Rostov, the villain gets a slow and painful death.

Cover Reveal - Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore

Morning lovelies, today I have the cover for Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore. Awesome cover, right? This is Moore's second novel and it is slated to be release in late November. Her first novel, The Truth About Faking was release in September. Be sure to check out my review, which is right underneath this post.
Link:  Goodreads

Book Synopsis:Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.

Denying her fears, Hale is posed to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.
(Mature YA/light historical/theater romance)

About the author: Wife and mom by day, writer by day, editor by day, reader when time permits, chocoholic, lover of contemporary romance, lover of YA, lover of great books, beach bum, occasionally I sleep.

THE TRUTH ABOUT FAKING is my debut young adult romance. It's just a light, happy book with a hot and little message tucked inside.
ROUGE, my next mature-YA/New Adult romance, will be out mid-Nov 2012. It's neither light nor happy, but it does have a hot guy. And a cabaret...
Contact: Website / Twitter

Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this right after the 2012 Academy Awards, after Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were nominated for their roles in the movie by the same title, "The Help". I had the novel on my to-be-read list for while and I admit, what pushed me to finally read the book was because of the awards nominations. And I have to say, I really did enjoyed the book.
Many were probably turned off by the dialect, but it was something I really liked about it. It definitely helped me get into the mindset for Aibileen and Minny, even Skeeter, Hilly and Elizabeth.
I truly enjoyed getting to know a little about each of the characters and found myself rooting for Minny and her crazy employer, Miss Celia. Playing devil's advocate with Skeeter's refusal to print Hilly's case in the newsletter. And tearing up in the background during Aibileen and Mae Mobley's moments together. "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." will forever be one of my favorites lines thanks to Aibileen and Mae Mobley.
Although I'm sad it ended where it did, it ended in a good place for the characters to start over.

View all my reviews