Video Book Review: Scarlet

Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Pages: 292
Read it in: 3 days

Summary: Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

My Video Review:

Hey guys! So over the past couple months I've been getting quite a few requests from followers to post more videos on my blog, aaand... I was trying to figure out how to do that and decided that it might be kind of cool to create some video reviews to go along with the books I've read. This way, I can talk to you more in-person about my likes and dislikes and just my general impressions about books reviewed here on LC's Adventures. So here is the first one! Feel free to watch if you want, it basically says what I have in the review below, but let me know what you think! 

LC's Take:

This was one of those books that I just had to read. Like, the minute I saw that cover and then read the summary, I was just dying to get my hands on this book. Why? 3 main reasons:

Reason #1.) The cover rocks
Reason #2.) The heroine disguises herself as a boy to fight for what she believes in (TOTAL WIN)
Reason #3.) The story is about ROBIN freaking HOOD!!

Now as far as I'm concerned, those are all very good reasons to go out and get a book ASAP. And guess what? I absolutely LOVED it!! Scarlet was everything I thought it would be, and I had so much fun reading it.

Scarlet as the main character had everything that I love in a heroine-- she was brave and tough, but she had a sweet, vulnerable side to her as well. I loved Scarlet because the author really made me care about her-- I knew her strengths, weaknesses, her past, and her present struggles. To me these are the things that make a character in a book seem real and make me feel connected to them. The story is told from Scarlet's endearing point of view, in a rough-English narrative that had me faking an English accent in my head while I read, I couldn't even help it!

The other characters in the book were just as multi-dimensional-- Robin Hood and Little John both had background stories and came across as real people brought to life, not just fictional characters, so this made it very easy for me to stay interested in their stories and what happened to them.

Of course I LOVED the setting of Sherwood Forest and the surrounding areas of Nottinghamshire, Winsop and all the other Medieval English towns and countryside-- I just love reading about this time period, and England in the Middle Ages was brought to life perfectly.

The story itself was full of action-adventure, sword fights, plots, rescues, romance, and all the awesome things you would expect in a tale about Robin Hood. Be warned however, there are some gory scenes in the story! The Middle Ages wasn't exactly a pretty time in history, so be prepared for some blood and guts as Will Scarlet and Robin Hood slash their way to bring justice to the English people. I for one loved the action and intrigue in this book, and was totally sucked into the dangerous yet alluring world of 12th century England. The romance in the book was really well-done too, and it has a pretty interesting twist, as Scarlet finds herself falling for the dashing Robin Hood, even though she's supposed to be "one of the guys" in his band of merry men...

Scarlet was an amazing retelling of Robin Hood, and it managed to have a really fresh and unique take on the Robin Hood legend, even after the dozens of retellings that we've all seen and heard. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, historical settings, or is interested in the Robin Hood legend. This is A.C. Gaughen's first novel and I am definitely looking forward to seeing more books by her in the future!

~Cover Talk~

I really can't even say how much I LOVE this cover, it is so gorgeous! Where to begin? The face of Scarlet is mesmerizing with those piercing, haunting blue-gray eyes-- her expression is tough and stoic, yet she looks beautiful and vulnerable at the same time. The detail of leaves/foliage around her face are made even more noticeable because they are shiny against the matte cover, giving the book an almost 3-D effect. This is definitely a unique cover in the YA genre, and it captured my attention the very first time I saw it.

LC's Rating:

Intriguing adventure and an action-packed plot-line will make it impossible to put this book down! Here is a fresh, new take on the Robin Hood legend that you will not want to miss-- I just loved reading this story!

Book Review: Fateful

Author: Claudia Gray
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Pages: 356
Read it in: 4 days
Source: The library

Summary: In Fateful, eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, overbearing family she works for. Once the ship they’re sailing on reaches the United States, she’ll strike out on her own. Then she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets....

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves are real and they’re stalking him—and now Tess, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

Featuring the opulent backdrop of the Titanic, Fateful’s publication is poised to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the ship’s doomed maiden voyage. It is sure to be a hit among Titanic buffs and fans of paranormal romance alike.

LC's Take:

 

Hands down, this book was absolutely incredible! I loved, loved, LOVED it!

Fateful was a retelling of Titanic's story combined with a unique paranormal twist-- it had my heart racing and left me speechless by the end. I burst into tears at multiple parts of the story, because it was that good at drawing me in and making me feel emotionally invested in the characters-- even the minor ones. The writing was both beautiful and powerful, and the story, despite being paranormal, was very true-to-life and accurately followed historic accounts of Titanic's fate. Altogether, Fateful was one amazing book!

The romance between Tess and Alec was done so well. Their love was genuine and not superficial, and I loved reading along to see their relationship develop, despite the fact that there were so many barriers between them. Not only is Tess a third-class servant and Alec a first-class heir to a major fortune, but Alec also happens to be a werewolf who has no control over changing into a monster every night. These two things work against Tess and Alec being together, but Claudia Gray had me totally convinced that their love was strong enough to overcome all odds. By the end, like I said, I was crying so hard I could barely read, I kid you not! It was just a very touching and beautiful story.

The historical account of the doomed voyage of the Titanic was done perfectly-- you really felt like you were actually there on board. The whole time I was reading,  I knew that the inevitable was going to happen eventually, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, wondering when it was coming. Just like when watching the movie Titanic, (which, by the way, I LOVE, so this review *might* be a little biased!) every character and every relationship became that much more important and special, because you know in the back of your head what they're all about to go through...

Claudia Gray notes at the end of the story that all of her characters, except a few famous ones who make "cameo appearances," were fictional, because she didn't want to be disrespectful towards those who went through the unforgettable disaster. I loved that she did this. Even though it is an alternate history with a paranormal twist, I thought that nothing was ridiculous or took lightly the actual story. And the account she tells of how the Titanic sunk, and what those people went through? Once again, I was bawling.

Finally, the ending was spectacular. Crying aside, I actually gasped out loud at one point, I was so freaked out-- I won't give it away and tell you, but I will just say, the ending was totally unexpected and I could not put the book down for the last 100 pages or so. I stayed up until almost 2am to finish!

***Because I am a big history nerd, I DO have to state however, that if Tess had been on board Titanic as a servant to a first-class family in real life, she would have had a cabin close to the first class rooms, and not have stayed in Third Class-- Titanic was simply too big for servants to be stowed in Third Class, since it was too far away from First, so rooms were reserved for them near the families they served for convenience sake. But I can understand why Claudia changed this factual detail, since it gives us a look at all parts of the ship and all aspects of life on board for the different classes!

I will just end this review by saying that this is one book I highly recommend to all my fellow book-lovers. If you love paranormal romance but want something different than vampires or fairies, or if you love historical fiction that is done really well-- get Fateful and make it your next read! It definitely was one of the best books I have read in a long time, and I'm so happy I discovered it!

~Cover Talk~

I might be one of the few, but I actually like the original, hardcover edition of Fateful a lot more than the newer paperback with the girl in the red dress. In my opinion, the original is much more eerie and mysterious, and I think it does a much better job at subtly capturing the idea of fate and inevitable doom-- to me, the newer cover is too obvious and forced. I sort of find the "red dress" cover to be cheesy and too literal, but that's just me! I know that a lot of readers prefer it.

Besides this, I just love the artwork of the original-- if you have seen it on the actual book, you know that there is a beautiful iridescent sheen to the entire cover, and the title is raised in beautiful lettering. So which do you like more?

LC's Rating:

An absolutely stunning paranormal romance, set within a fantastic historical retelling of the Titanic. You must read this book, it was just incredible!!

Book Review: Wrapped

Author: Jennifer Bradbury
Publisher: Atheneum
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Pages: 320
Read it in: 7 days

Summary: Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history. Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her. Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback... Maybe she would like to think that too.

Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperons fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.

This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny— unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.

Get wrapped up in the adventure... but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes.

LC's Take: 

Overall, Wrapped had a very good story. The main character is Agnes Wilkins, a young debutante about to enter into the marriage market of upper-class English society. The story opens at Agnes' debut party at the home of her wealthy admirer, Lord Showalter. At the party, a fashionable "unwrapping" is going on-- a mummy imported from Egypt is on display for the guests' amusement, to pick apart and find souvenirs. Through a series of events, Agnes becomes wrapped up in her own adventure-- centering around an ancient Egyptian curse and the Napoleonic Wars going on between France and England.

I definitely liked Agnes' character. Even though society and Agnes's parents expect her to marry the wealthy Lord Showalter and live a comfortable, boring life, she longs for excitement and adventure. Granted, this kind of character is a bit predictable-- we've all read of the typical upper-class girl who longs to be free and have adventures-- but she was still likable. I guess I would have liked her even more if we got to see more of her thoughts and emotions. Agnes was portrayed as being a highly intelligent, clever, strong, and spirited heroine-- she loved Jane Austen, could speak TEN different languages, and had a feisty edge to her.  I just would have liked to see more of her character shine through!

Caedmon, the young man who cleans at the museum and takes Agnes' fancy, was also very likable, but slightly forgettable as far as a character goes. Kind, brown-eyed, and passionate about the study of Egyptology, Caedmon is clearly Agnes' match. Together, they are both drawn into an international mystery, full of spies, danger and ancient myth. But once again, I wish that JB had fleshed out Caedmon's character a little more so that I could have connected with him better.

Wrapped also had a unique plot setting, which combined Regency Era English society with a fascination in ancient Egypt. The story even had an Indiana Jones kind of flare to it, with international intrigue, spies, and ancient artifacts that hold the key to world domination. (I LOVE Indiana Jones by the way-- except Temple of Doom-- that one stinks.) In this case, it's 1815 and Napoleon is trying to find the "standard" (a kind of staff) that once belonged to the ancient pharaoh Ptolemy, because of a myth that the owner of said staff could wield an army of the "undead" and become invincible.

All that said, I feel like I should have liked this book more than I did. However, there was something about it-- some reason that I can't pin down exactly-- that made it fall flat for me. It took me forever to get through, and I became very easily distracted with something else almost every time I opened it. Maybe it was because the world-building was somewhat lacking, making it difficult to picture the characters or backdrop of the story. Or maybe it was the dialogue which was a bit confusing and hard to follow at times. In any case, I wasn't able to get fully "wrapped up" in the adventure and intrigue-- or to fully connect with the characters-- which brought my rating down a couple stars. Overall, this was still an enjoyable book with an interesting premise, but it needed something a little more to be a truly amazing read.

LC's Rating:

Generally, I liked the characters and setting of this book, but the world-building of 18th century England was somewhat lacking. This, along with slightly choppy and confusing dialogue, made it difficult for me to follow even though the story was definitely unique!

Book Review: Splendor

Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: The Luxe #4
Release Date: October 27, 2009
Pages: 400
Read it in: 2 days

***NOTE!! This summary/review does contain spoilers, so if you have not read the series yet-- and want to-- you might want to skip this one!!***

Summary: New beginnings. Shocking revelations. Unexpected endings.

As spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.

Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty-- but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends far beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.

In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

LC's Take: 

In the fourth and last installment of The Luxe series, you can't expect anything to turn out the way you think it will. It has been a roller-coaster ride, following the drama-filled lives of Diana, Elizabeth, Penelope and Lina-- and true to her writing style, AG delivers an ending that will shock her readers and leave them sighing over the fates of her characters!

Diana and Elizabeth Holland-- two sisters born into a world of wealth and privilege in 19th century New York City-- have anything but "charmed" lives. Elizabeth bet everything to be with her one true love, and watched as her whole world crumbled to pieces. Now she is picking up those pieces, only to be caught as a victim in a plot for her family's money. Diana, outwardly the opposite of her quiet and conservative older sister, is still struggling with her passionate love for Henry Schoonmaker, one of the wealthiest young men in the city. Henry meanwhile loves Diana just as passionately, but was blackmailed into marrying Penelope, the Holland sisters' worst enemy. 

Oh, Penelope... here is an amazing character because of her complexity-- throughout the entire series, she is the one person that you love to hate, because she is just so devious and scheming. But by the end of this book, you really come to pity her when you find out that she is her own worst enemy, and that she is just as much a victim to the society she lives in as the rest of the girls.

And Lina-- AKA Carolina-- is a similar character. Throughout this series she has done some truly horrendous things-- backstabbing her way to greatness, abandoning her only family, lying through her teeth at every turn--only to discover in the end that all the money in the world can't buy her the one thing she actually wants-- someone to love her for who she really is. 

Splendor ends The Luxe series like the grande finale of an amazing play. All of the characters have grown up and have come to realize that what they wanted in the beginning is completely different from what they know will make them happy now. I won't give away what happens or who ends up with who, but the ending was very well-done-- although like I said, completely unexpected! I know that this is one of those series that I plan on buying and re-reading one day. It was an incredible story made up of unforgettable characters, gorgeous world-building, and a totally addicting plot. I am so happy I discovered these books, and hope if you end up reading them that you get caught up and enjoy them as much as I did!

LC's Rating:

**Swoon!** This series is to die for! And Splendor was a great end to a great series-- I highly recommend these books to anyone who loves historical fiction, drama, and unexpected endings!

Book Review: Envy

Author: Anna Godbersen
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Pages: 432
Read it in: 2 days

***NOTE!! This summary/review does contain spoilers, so if you have not read the series yet-- and want to-- you might want to skip this one!!***

Summary: Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune-- and her fame-- are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets...

LC's Take:  

***NOTE: Some spoilers below-- sorry,  it's hard to review this series without a few!!***

Once again, Anna Godbersen delivers an amazing continuation of The Luxe story, where not everything that glitters is gold, and not everyone you call your friend can be counted out as an enemy.

It's the beginning of a new century-- 2 months have gone by since Penelope black-mailed Henry into marrying her, and she is quickly learning that she has hardly won over his heart, even if she is now his wife. Henry is still obsessively in love with the youngest Holland sister, Diana (the cover girl of Envy). Young but not totally innocent, Diana is a free-spirit who continues to hope that Henry still secretly loves her, despite his having married her worst enemy. 

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is still recovering from what happened at the end of Rumors (I can't spoil it for you if you haven't read it yet!!). And Lina, now known as "Carolina," has finally made a way for herself in high society, attaching herself to an old but wealthy bachelor who gives her the life she's always dreamed of-- unfortunately, she soon learns just how precarious her position really is...

In this third installment of The Luxe series, all 4 girls take a luxurious trip to Florida. But behind the elegant dinners, seaside resorts, and ladylike manners is a dangerous, backstabbing world of scandal, gossip and betrayal. The stakes are high and the losses mean complete destruction for a girl of high society. This book was such a roller coaster! One minute, a character is on top of the world, and the next they're on the streets. One chapter things are going as planned, and then a couple pages later everything falls apart.

AG keeps her readers on their toes and makes sure that they never know what to expect next. The writing flows perfectly and her descriptions are just as rich and vivid as ever before, while the characters by this point are so well-known to me that I  feel for them at every turn. I love Penelope and Lina-- even at their cattiest points, they are so wonderfully flawed and endearingly human. The Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana, are also amazing characters, and I can't help but feel sorry for Henry and the mess he's gotten himself into-- Oh, the drama! I can't wait to read the last of these books and see how everything turns out, but I will be really sad to leave behind this series...

LC's Rating:

The description and characterization are what make this series so addicting-- that and the fact that AG keeps her readers guessing at every turn of the plot! I don't have any idea what will happen to Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope and Lina in the last installment of The Luxe books, but I am dying to find out!

Book Review: Rumors

Author: Anna Godbersen
Release Date: June 3, 2008
Pages: 432
Read it in: 3 days
The Hook: True love. False friends. Scandalous gossip. Welcome back to Manhattan, 1899.

Summary: After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.

All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoonmaker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind— including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency.

As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal . . . or more precious than a secret.

LC's Take: 

So, if you read my last review for The Luxe, you know that it pretty much left me swimming in a puddle of my own drool, it was that freaking amazing. I LOVED it! Well, true to form, Anna Godbersen has come back again and she definitely does not disappoint-- Rumors was everything that I was hoping it would be-- with all the scandalous intrigues, rich descriptions that make you feel like you've been transported back in time to another world, and characters that are so completely realistic that you wonder if they were actually once alive.

It is December, 1899 in New York City, two months after news of the tragic death of Elizabeth Holland, one of high society's most respected and famous young starlets. However, her story is more than it seems, and Diana Holland-- Elizabeth's younger sister-- knows all about it. So does Penelope Hayes, Elizabeth's former best friend (Note: she's the one on the cover of this book). Ruthless and scheming, Penelope longs to be married to NYC's most eligible bachelor, Henry Schoonmaker. However-- as luck would have it-- Henry had been engaged to the unfortunate Elizabeth just before her death, and he's now desperately in love with Diana...

And finally, there is Lina Broud-- Elizabeth's former housemaid. Lina is in love with Will Keller, the Hollands' former coachman. Will was once hopelessly in love with Elizabeth, but now that Lina knows she's dead and out of the way, she will stop at nothing to become a member of high society and win Will's heart over. That is, until she is completely seduced by the new life she's worked her way into.

Elizabeth, Diana, Penelope and Lina-- 4 very different young women, all connected within the same world of wealth and privilege, and all victim to the dictates of 19th century society. Reading like an Italian operetta, Rumors picks up with these 4 different lives where The Luxe left of. The plot probably sounds super confusing, but the story is so well-done that it is surprisingly easy to follow all of the interwoven plot lines and get to know all of the different characters.

AG's writing, in my opinion, is incredible. It flows like music, it's descriptive down to the last detail, and it's just a lot of fun to read. Rumors once again completely brings to life the characters and the world that they live in-- it was almost more like watching a movie in my head than reading black and white words on a page... I could see every detail of every room, the facial expressions on the characters' faces, and the interactions they had with each other. I don't know how she does it, but this story is not only well-researched for historical accuracy, but it is written in such a way that you can cruise through 200 pages without even realizing it.

This series has completely gotten my attention, and I am now moving into Envy, the third book. I really can't seem to praise this author and these books enough! I can only hope that the next two installments are as good as the first two, with all the delicious drama and intrigue I've come to expect from The Luxe series!

LC's Rating:

Another masterpiece by Anna Godbersen! I am totally IN LOVE with this series. The writing is superb, the characters are vivid and alive, and the world-building of 19th century New York City is painted down to the very last detail. I am completely consumed by this story and was not able to put Rumors down. Can you tell that I'm obsessed with these books? :)

Book Review: Bright Young Things

Author: Anna Godbersen
Release Date: October 12, 2010
Pages: 400
Read it in: 1 week

The Hook: The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Summary: Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is ­Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ­illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.

LC's Take: 

So unfortunately I have been MIA for most of this week due to some things that came up this past weekend, but I am now getting back into the swing of things!

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen was another great historical fiction novel that draws you back in time to the sparkling, rowdy life of the Roaring Twenties. The author once again delivers an energetic cast of characters whose lives are all interwoven into a story that has you completely engaged from beginning to end. This book was really fun and keeps you guessing about what will happen to the three main characters until the last few pages (well, actually it keeps you guessing even after that, because this is a series, so I am still wondering!)

The main gist of the plot centers around two girls, Letty and Cordelia, who run away from their boring, ho-hum country town in Ohio to make it big in New York City. Letty is convinced she will become a singing sensation as soon as she is discovered and Cordelia is secretly in search of her long-lost father, who just happens to be one of the richest liquor-smugglers on the East Coast. The story follows the ups and downs of living precariously in an age of danger and decadence. The third main character is Astrid, a girl born into wealth and privilege, but who finds out that even her position is not secure. Intrigue and scandal abound as one by one, each girl becomes entangled in the sins and wrecklessness of life in the fast lane.

Once again, I love Anna Godbersen's ability to create historic worlds that are both vivid and believable. If you've read The Luxe, you know how desciptive Godbersen's writing is and how the details are key to re-creating long-lost times and places. As I read this book I could actually picture what New York City would have been like in the 1920's-- where people lived, what they ate, how they dressed-- no element is left out and this made it possible to step into their world. You can see the differences in how girls would have lived back then, but you also realize that not much has changed and people then probably weren't much different from people now...

The only major thing that bothered me about this book was that some of the characters' actions didn't always make sense to me. For example, Cordelia's whole reason for leaving home and everything she has ever known is to find her father and never have to return to the small-town life she feels trapped in. But then, when she gets everything that she has dreamed of, she meets some guy and basically throws it all away. Maybe if she had been born into wealth and luxery and if she hadn't been dreaming about meeting her father her whole life, I could see her gambling everything on a guy she's only known for a couple weeks, but her position is so precarious that it didn't make sense for her to be so wreckless. She knew exactly what she had to lose and I felt like she just treated things way too lightly. Letty also makes some bad decisions, but in her case she really couldn't have known just how bad they were.

Bright Young Things was a great historical fiction-- if you like this genre you will probably love Anna Godbersen's writing. There was drama, intrigue and mystery as well, with many characters involved. If you like a plot told through multiple perspectives with uncertain outcomes that keep you guessing, I would recommend this book to you too! I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

LC's Rating: 

Another fun, colorful, and intriguing look at the lives of women living in another time period-- Anna Godbersen will have you completely caught up in the short-lived world of glamour, danger, and decadence of the Roaring Twenties!

Book Review: The Luxe

Author: Anna Godberson
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: The Luxe #1
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Pages: 448
Read it in: 2 days

The Hook: Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899.

Summary: Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

LC's Take: 

Reading this book was like devouring a giant, heavily-frosted piece of dark-chocolate cake with a big glass of golden, bubbly champagne—it was just a wonderfully decadent and guilty pleasure from beginning to end.

The year is 1899, and sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland are caught up in all the opulent wealth and scandalous intrigue of New York City’s Gilded Age. Anna Godberson does an incredible job of bringing this world to life in all its vibrant color—I absolutely loved it! From the witty dialogue to the luxurious descriptions of upper-class life, to the dynamics that unfold between the characters, this book had me hooked within the first couple pages.

The cast of characters really stood out for me. From Elizabeth Holland, the elder sister who is pulled along by her sense of duty to her family and outwardly conforms to all the etiquette of her class (while secretly harboring a love affair with the family’s coachman), to Diana Holland, the younger sister who is calculating, unconventional and rebellious towards everything having to do with “high society.”

And the side characters are just as engaging: Penelope Hayes is Elizabeth’s “best friend” who ruthlessly tries to bring her down at all costs as revenge for taking the eligible but hopeless playboy Henry Schoonmaker away from her. Henry Schoonmaker is pompous and vain, chasing after as many skirts as he can. Mrs. Holland is consumed by the fortunes of her family and the need to maintain their wealth and luxury at all costs after the death of her husband. Lina the maid is jealous and spiteful of her old friend Elizabeth, who has not only stolen Will, the man she’s secretly in-love with, but who was once her best friend and now uses her as her servant. If this all sounds like some crazy Italian-operetta with a bunch of different POVs and intrigues, well you wouldn’t be far off! The entire cast of characters work together so well and are all woven perfectly into this story of playing high-stake games in late 19th-century New York City.

The Luxe has totally turned my opinion and restored all my faith in the brilliance of historical fiction (which I have said I’m not a fan of). I absolutely adored this book and thought that its portrayal was not only accurate but vividly real in its descriptions of high society at the end of the 19th century. (The only thing I might point out is that, if you don’t like lots of descriptive language that takes the time to paint every little thing in a room or setting, you might get slightly annoyed with The Luxe, because there is a lot of description!) I for one love these little details so for me they were almost as fun to read as all the tantalizing secrets and scandals, but that’s just my own preference…

If, on the other hand, you like the idea of getting pulled into a 19th century soap opera where everyone is beautiful and no one can be trusted with their dirty secrets and two-faced games, then The Luxe is for you. Honestly, I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long time and could NOT put it down. LOVED it and can’t wait to read the sequels!!

LC’s Rating:

The Luxe is one big indulgent treat that you can’t help but find absolutely delicious!