Undercover Princess( The Rosewood Chronicles,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

Undercover princess.

Rosewood Chronicles, #1
 connie glynn.

Publisher  Harper Collins.

Publication Date: September 4,2018.

Genre: YA Fantasy.
 Format|Pages: Hardcover|448.

 Source:  Goodreads|Library

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Lottie Pumpkin is an ordinary girl who has spent her life longing for the extraordinary.



Ellie Wolf is the crown princess of Maradova, who wants nothing more than a chance at an ordinary life.



When fate puts Lottie and Ellie in the same dorm room at the prestigious Rosewood Hall, there’s only one solution: for the girls to swap identities, and live the lives they’ve always dreamed of.



But at Rosewood, a secret never stays secret for long. Someone in the school is on to them—and if the truth is revealed, the results may be more treacherous than they ever expected. 

 ☂

Princess. Friendship. Adventure. Mystery.



Have you ever picked up a book while at library, either because title interested you or cover caught you attention? That was the case for me for UNDERCOVER PRINCESS , I was at library looking for books to read when I came across it. Both the cover and the tile caught my attention and once I read the description, I knew that I had check it out. From as long as I remember, ever since I was little, I loved fairy tales and books that featured royalty of some sort. I never read any books by CONNIE GLYNN so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was hooked within couple pages of starting the book. The more I read, the more I got sucked into Lottie and Ellie’s story. Every page, every chapter there was something going on. Just when you assumed that you could stop, something happened that had you reading for few more hours. I did not want to put it down. I read royal books before, and none of them were like UNDERCOVER PRINCESS , there were twists that even I didn’t see coming. I loved the mystery in it, which will grab reader’s attention and have on the edge of the seat. I couldn’t seem to get enough of Ellie and Lottie’s story.




Ellie and Lottie had a special bond. In beginning, mostly of how Ellie treated Lottie, I had feeling that it might be a long year for Lottie at the Rosewood Hall, if that’s how Ellie was going treat Lottie. I am glad that not how it ended. I liked how Lottie seemed to want to protect her even before she found out that she was princess. I think that Lottie did a pretty good job at protecting Ellie, even letting the others believe that she was the princess. It clear that Ellie cared about Lottie a lot too, the way she came to her rescue. I do wonder if there a possibility that either Lottie or Ellie could be bisexual. It a feeling that I got, the way that they acted with one another sometimes, that hinted that there could be possibility of more than friendship there, but I am not positive about it though. I do believe that there is some attraction between Jamie and Lottie, the way the two of them acted with each other, especially towards the end. Of course I can’t help and be curious to see what happens next.




UNDERCOVER PRINCESS was the type of books that I love. I enjoyed the fact that it had some mystery, along with action in the book. Once you reach the end, you will find yourself craving for the next book in series. I know that I am. Do you love fairy tales? Stories with princess with a twist? Then you should pick this one up, it’s unique, adventurous and thrilling.

Dumplin'(Dumplin',,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

dumplin'.

Dumplin', #1
 julie murphy.

Publisher  Balzer+Bray.

Publication Date: September15,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance.
 Format|Pages: EBook|371.

 Source:  Goodreads|Owned.

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.



Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all. 

 ☂

Why haven’t I read this earlier? It’s one of those stories that is inspiring. I already know that DUMPLIN’ is going be a story that will stay with me. Plus, I know that it’s not the ending, not with an ending like that. Once I reached the end, I was wondering, What’s next? and how can you not wonder? While I was reading DUMPLIN’ it all came to life to me, as if I became part of Willowdean’s world. I was hooked. I shouldn’t be surprised since this isn’t the first book I read by JULIE MURPHY , I read two books prior to reading this one. I heard people talking about it, especially since Netflix movie came out. I didn’t want to see the movie until I read the book. Now that I have, I am excited to see the movie. If I were in Will’s situation, I don’t think that I would have the courage to do what she done, I would not been able to go through it. I know that her mother might assume that she is doing it for another reason, but to me, what she did. It’s brave and it’s inspiring. I don’t think that the other girls would even considered going through, if Will didn’t enter it first.



I’m not sure what to think about Bo, I am in between liking him. There are times that I like him, and there are other times that I am not sure about him. Where I am not sure if her likes Will the way that he claims he does. Though by the end, it was clear how much he liked her. I did not like how they hooked up, it felt as if he was hiding her, as he was ashamed her. I do know, it’s because of Bo that Will never gave Mitch a real chance. With Mitch, it was clear right away how much he liked her. He even tried to help her, when she decided to do magic act for her talent for the pageant. I wish that he didn’t get hurt in this. Of course that ending, I can’t help but wonder what will happen with Bo and Will, will they finally get together. It’s clear that they both want to. Will is being a bit stubborn about it, but I do understand her reasons behind it. I am curious to see what will happen with them.



I never knew much about pageants, and by reading this book, I felt as I know more than before I read it. I know that Will enter it, to show everyone that everyone deserves to have a chance, I feel that she knew that she wouldn’t win. I do wish that her mom would been more supportive in her decision though. I had on and off feelings about Will’s mother as well, and that was mostly due to how she treated her. I loved Ellen, I loved how supportive she was when Will told her that she was going enter the pageant. I did not like how Will treated Ellen once she found that she entered too, I can’t blame for Ellen for being angry at her. I did hope that two of them would make up. It was clear how much two of them missed one another, even if Ellen tried not show it. I was hoping for them to make up.



A beautifully written book.

All We Have Left.

☆☆☆☆☆

all we have left.

   wendy mills.

Publisher  Bloomsbury

Publication Date:August 9,2016.

Genre: YA Contemporary| Historical Fiction.

Format|Pages: Hardcover|368.

 Source:  Goodreads|Library.

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Now:

Sixteen-year-old Jesse is used to living with the echoes of the past. Her older brother died in the September 11th attacks, and her dad has filled their home with anger and grief. When Jesse gets caught up with the wrong crowd, one momentary hate-fueled decision turns her life upside down. The only way to make amends is to face the past, starting Jesse on a journey that will reveal the truth about how her brother died.

Then:

In 2001, sixteen-year-old Alia is proud to be Muslim... it's being a teenager that she finds difficult. After being grounded for a stupid mistake, Alia is determined to show her parents that that they must respect her choices. She'll start by confronting her father at his office in downtown Manhattan, putting Alia in danger she never could have imagined. When the planes collide into the Twin Towers Alia is trapped inside one of the buildings. In the final hours she meets a boy who will change everything for her as the flames rage around them... 

 ☂

This story is…powerful, heart aching, realistic.



I can’t imagine being in situation that Alia found herself in. Or not knowing what happened to your brother, why he was there like Jesse. Two different girls, but both dealing with the same tragedy, even if it’s in different way. There were a lot of emotions that went through me when I was reading ALL WE HAVE LEFT . The title of the book, fits the story perfectly and that was actually wanted me to pick up the book. I knew that it would be a hard subject to read about and emotional one. I did not realize how hard it would be to read. I teared up multiple times while I read the book, feeling all the emotions the characters were feeling. I was surprised that Travis was one who got stuck in elevator with Alia during 9/11. Since Jesse mentioned that her brother died in 9/11, like her I was wondering how it happened. Also, like Jesse once she found out about Alia, I wondered if she made out. I hoped that at least one of them made it out alive. It didn’t take me long to get attached to all those characters. Expect for Nick, I had a feeling that he was bad news from start. I am not sure why, I just had a bad feeling about him from start.



I could tell there were connection between Adam and Jesse, when two ended up climbing partners. They had a connection that Jesse and Nick didn’t. I wished that the two of them met before Jesse met Nick. I know that what Jesse did was terrible, and yet I found myself hoping that Adam would forgive her. I wish she realized what she was doing was wrong, before she did it. I am glad that she realized it and admitted it that it was wrong. I did have that feeling that Adam wouldn’t be able to stay away from Jesse even if he wanted to. Another person I was not fond of, Jesse’s father. I understand that he was hurting because of what happened to Travis, but that doesn’t give him a right to treat everyone else that way. It’s no wonder Jesse’s mother had enough of him. If I were her, I would left a long time ago. I hoped that Jesse would find out about Travis, find Alia and maybe she could finally find some peace.



I was terrified for Travis and Alia. I knew that Travis wouldn’t make it, but I didn’t know when it would happen. Travis was a great guy, he helped Julia and he did everything he could, to make sure that they got out of there. It’s sad that he didn’t. While there were stuck there, when the towers started falling, that was when I was the most afraid for both again. I wondered, Is this the end for both of them? And I wondered if Jesse would actually find her. ALL WE HAVE LEFT is the first book that I read by WENDY MILLS and now that I have, I am going to be checking out the rest of her books. I felt as I learned a lot more about 9/11 after reading the book, especially when I read Alia’s point of view. I felt as I was there. It was real.



ALL WE HAVE LEFT is a story about love, loss, survival and hope. A story that will stay with you, forever.

Alex & Eliza(Alex&Eliza,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

alex & eliza.

Alex & Eliza, #1
 melissa de la cruz.

Publisher  G.P Putnam's Sons Books.

Publication Date: April 11,2017.

Genre:YA Romance|Historical Fiction.
 Format|Pages: Hardcover|368.

 Source:  Goodreads|Owned.

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Their romance shaped a nation. The rest was history.

1777. Albany, New York.



As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society’s biggest events: the Schuylers’ grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country’s founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters—Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with her dazzling looks; and Eliza, whose beauty and charm rival that of both her sisters, though she’d rather be aiding the colonists’ cause than dressing up for some silly ball.



Still, she can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious, rakish young colonel and General George Washington’s right-hand man. Though Alex has arrived as the bearer of bad news for the Schuylers, he can’t believe his luck—as an orphan, and a bastard one at that—to be in such esteemed company. And when Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history. 

☂

A Love story that will stay with you. It was…Splendid.



Before reading ALEX & ELIZA I knew nothing about Alex Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler, and nor did I see the musical Hamilton . One of reasons I picked it up was because of the cover, it was one of things that captured my attention. The second reason was because I love the author, I read few books by MELISSA DE LA CRUZ before coming across ALEX & ELIZA and when I found out about the book, I knew that I had to check out. I love historical fiction books as well and I knew that this would be the book for me. This is the 2nd time that I have read the book. I first read it back in 2017. I remember loving it back then, and re-reading it, I found myself falling in love with the story more. Have you ever read a love story that hit you and stayed with you long after you finished it? It’s what happened to me, both times that I read ALEX & ELIZA . I even got the book sighed and met the author at the National Book Festival, who was a complete sweetheart and it made my day, being able to meet her.



I loved both Eliza and Alex from the start. Out of all sisters, Eliza was my favorite and I loved how close all the sisters seemed to be. I had a feeling that there was something between Alex and Eliza from moment that the two of them met. Even if Eliza wouldn’t admit it, but I knew that she felt some sort of attraction towards Alex. I do wonder if Eliza didn’t write that note for Alex, then who did? Could it been one of her sisters? I have feeling that they noticed that there was something between the two of them, before Eliza did. After then, I did wonder when the two of them would meet again. I loved the fact that Alex never gave up, even when he heard that she was going to be married. I do wonder what would happened if he told her, about how he felt about her earlier. If the outcome would be different. All through the book, I was rooting for both. Alex was the one that Eliza should be with.



I loved the ending. I was glad that they were able to get their happily after. With everything that the two of them went through, the war and how everything seemed get in their way, to keep them from being together. I thought that it was romantic what he did for her, even if it ended in him getting hurt. I know that is most likely changed Eliza’s mother mind about Alex. I was happy that she did. I think that even she saw how much Alex loved Eliza. I am curious and eager to find out what will happen with them, now that they are married. When I found out that there are other books, I was excited and one of the reasons I decided to re-read ALEX AND ELIZA and now that I did, I am still thinking about it. Once I read it, I even researched more about it because I was fascinated by the story.



If you love historical fiction, mixed with love. Pick it up today. You will fall in love, like Alex and Eliza.

The Angel Island(Dark World: The Angel Trials,#5)

☆☆☆☆☆

the angel Island.

Dark World : The Angel Trials, #5
 michelle madow.

Publisher  Dreamscape.

Publication Date: December 31.2018.

Genre:YA Fantasy| Romance.

 Format|Pages: EBook|270..

 Source:  Goodreads|Owned.

CONTAINS SPOILERS

The journey to Avalon is full of trials, and not everyone who ventures there is welcome.

After escaping the bunker where she was held captive by demons, Raven’s finally safe with Noah, the wolf shifter she imprinted upon. And they saved all the other prisoners in the process.



Their next destination? The mythical island of Avalon. There, Raven will enter the Angel Trials so she can become a Nephilim and help fight in the war against the demons.



But it turns out the trials don’t start on the island. They start before it. Because only the worthy are allowed entrance to Avalon.



Many challenges await. Challenges that will separate every person in their group, push them harder than they imagined possible, and force them to make insanely difficult decisions.



Who will be worthy enough to enter Avalon? Who will be turned away? 

 ☂

Just when you don’t think that it can’t get more addictive, and that’s when it sucks you back in. By now, you most likely guessed that it became one of my favorite series. It’s not because of the story but everything, the characters, the twists. Once you start this series, you will keep on reading it. I recently finished THE ANGEL ISLAND and have myself wishing that the next book in the series was out already, and considering how it ended, how can you not wonder what’s going to happen next? If someone were to ask me which book from series is my favorite one so far, I wouldn’t be able to pick one because I loved them all. To me it feels as if every book in series has me falling in love with the series more. The Angel Trials is one of the series that I am glad I came across.



You can tell how much Raven changed since the first book, but then she had deal with a lot. Despite what happened, what challenges she had to face, and being separated from Noah, she didn’t let that stop her, she did not give up. That was one of the things that I loved about her, about how determined she was to get to Avalon, to get through the angel trials. All of them faced a lot of challenges, in attempt to try and get to Avalon, to save her mother. There were times where I wondered if they would actually make it to Avalon at all. It seemed as something always seemed to get in their way. That was one of interesting things in book, as a reader you couldn’t but wonder, What’s next? What will they have to face? and it’s what I wondered multiple times through reading the series. I wondered how many more challenges they might have to face again until facing the trials? In a way, it has you thinking.



When they finally made it and the trials started, I wondered which one of them would make it through the trials. I didn’t know what to expect of the trials, I knew that they would be challenging but did not realize how challenging. Considering what they had to go through, Raven seemed to make all the right choices. I was happy when Jacen appeared, I loved him when I read The Vampire Wish . I hope to come across Annika soon and I am curious how Raven will react when she meets her, but I have a feeling that it might not be a warm meeting. There were a lot of going on in THE ANGEL ISLAND in every single chapter and every page, and once I reached the end, I was disappointed that the next book wasn’t out already.



Out of all the books in series, the cover for THE ANGEL ISLAND was my favorite one so far. If you haven’t read Dark World series, it’s one that you should pick up now. You will fall in love. You will be craving for more once you reach the last page.




Beautifully written. Be ready, for magical roller coaster ride!

The Beekeeper's Promise.

☆☆☆☆☆

the beekeeper's promise.

   fiona valpy. 

Publisher  Lake Union Publishing.

Publication Date:May 16,2018.

Genre: Historical Fiction. 

Format|Pages: EBook|306.

 Source:  Goodreads|Owned.

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Heartbroken and hoping for a new start, Abi Howes takes a summer job in rural France at the Château Bellevue. The old château echoes with voices from the past, and soon Abi finds herself drawn to one remarkable woman’s story, a story that could change the course of her summer—and her life.



In 1938, Eliane Martin tends beehives in the garden of the beautiful Château Bellevue. In its shadow she meets Mathieu Dubosq and falls in love for the first time, daring to hope that a happy future awaits. But France’s eastern border is darkening under the clouds of war, and history has other plans for Eliane…



When she is separated from Mathieu in the chaos of German occupation, Eliane makes the dangerous decision to join the Resistance and fight for France’s liberty. But with no end to the war in sight, her loyalty to Mathieu is severely tested. 

 ☂

Heart aching, inspirational story about war, love, loss hope and starting over.



Have you come across a story that broke your heart, and yet you couldn’t put it down? THE BEEKEEPER’S PROMISE was that book for me. I got admit that the cover was first that caught my attention, look at it. The cover is both powerful and mysterious and you will find yourself drawn to the book by it. I feel as if both cover and the title will drawn you to the story, and have you picking up the book. I am so glad I did, despite the subject and how hard it was to read it at times, I fell in love with it. I got attached to both Abi and Eliane and wanted to see how it would end for the two of them, especially Eliane. I loved Abi, but I was even more fascinated with reading Eliane’s story. I am a big history, historical fiction fan. I love any books that has anything due with history, war. THE BEEKEEPER’S PROMISE wasn’t any different, one of best historical fiction books I read this year, so far. I felt as if I learned quite bit, just by reading this book.



I loved reading from both of girl’s point of view, and fact that Abi’s was present time and Eliane from years before but taking place at the same location. You can see how much things changed since then. Eliane went through so much, and reading along with her, I felt her fear, anger, sadness, everything. I loved her family and how they were trying help the others. They were putting themselves at danger by helping others escape from Germans, helping hide them. I was afraid that somehow, they would get caught, or someone would see them and report it. I can’t even begin to imagine how it must been, to be living in that constant fear, and being separated from the people that you love. Like Eliane was from Mathieu, I can’t imagine not hearing from person you love, as long as Eliane did. I hoped that two of them would get reunited one day. I think I was as surprised as Abi was to find out that Eliane and her sister were alive, and at the same time happy they made it through it, and Blanche. I am not sure if I can even put it in right words, of how much THE BEEKEEPER’S PROMISE touched me.



THE BEEKEEPER’S PROMISE was the first book that I read by FIONA VALPY which I came across while surfing Amazon and I am glad that I did. Her writing, it’s breathtaking and written with so much emotion which you will find yourself feeling as well. I can’t wait to discover the other books that she wrote. This story, it deserves more than five stars and I wish I could give it ten, if not more. THE BEEKEEPER’S PROMISE is a story that will stay with you, long after you reach last page, a book you will find yourself thinking about, and eventually going back to. I know that I will. I finished it a day ago and it still on my mind. If you love historical fiction, this is the book that you should check out. Worth it, every single page.