October Books

*sigh*

That about sums up this month of reading.

Working gets in the way of my reading goals.

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am a sucker for all things Tudor. Philippa Gregory tells another great tale in English history. I particularly enjoyed, though, that the main character in this novel was Henry VIII's sister, Margaret, Queen of Scotland.

It was a great story that intertwined with the insanity that was the Tudor court, of which I am very familiar. I enjoyed piecing together my previous knowledge with how Margaret was experiencing it across the border in Scotland.

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So That Happened: My Unexpected Life in Hollywood by Jon Cryer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoy celebrity memoirs. I would not say that I am a Jon Cryer fan, but I've watched "Two and a Half Men" from time to time, and I enjoy that he is hosting the Undisclosed Addendum podcast this season. So I decided to listen to his book on Audible. It was definitely an enjoyable listen with a lot of humor.

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I actually started, did not finish, and returned an audio book this month.  *insert gasp*

If you've been around here for awhile, you know that it is an extreme rarity for me to not see a book through to its end and then give it an honest rating.  But I've been feeling guilty since I don't have a lot of time to read an actual book lately.  Therefore, audio books are my only source of literary entertainment.  I also have a TON of podcasts that are backing up, and I can't listen to them while I'm also listening to an audio book.

Actually, the book I returned came as a recommendation from the "Stuff You Missed in History" podcast.

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Started listening to this on Audible. Didn't even finish it.  Maybe it would've gotten better when I actually got to the part about the author and his brother traveling the Oregon Trail.  But I just couldn't get that far.  I gave up during a chapter in which he was rambling on about horses.... I have better things to "read."

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Shaken Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was selected to receive an advance copy of this book to read and review.

This book wasn't what I expected. I expected it to be autobiographical, and that's not what it is.

While I'm not a fan of Tim Tebow's in regards to sports, I do very much admire that he is a man of great faith and is not afraid to share that faith. That was an aspect of this book that I really enjoyed. Tim shares his heart and his faith. He has great words of wisdom that even when things are tough, God is there. He knows what he's doing, and He has a plan. I really liked reading about Tim's background in his faith and how he continues to grow in his relationship with Christ.

I wish that I we more excited to read the book, though. I had to push myself to pick it up and read because it was part of my commitment to do so. I didn't like that the book seemed to jump around and wasn't very organized. I almost think I might have liked this more as an audio book since it read like someone might speak at a public event. (If that makes sense.) I also didn't like how Tim would state that he would talk about something more in another chapter. For example, he would make a statement about something and follow it up (usually in parentheses) by saying that he would talk about that more in another chapter. As an avid reader, I don't need a warning about what's to come. Foreshadowing is one thing, but I'm going to keep reading your book. So I'll read about it when I get there.

Overall, though, I did appreciate Tim's words of faith. I think this book would be great for people who are fans of his, people looking to strengthen their faith, sports fans, Christians, or someone who is going through a struggle.

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The good news is that, despite what I saw as a lack of reading this month, I'm actually 1 book ahead for my goal of reading 40 books this year.  (And NO, I didn't count the Oregon Trail book.)  Technically, I finished Three Sisters, Three Queens on October 1st.  I was very busy on September 30th, or I would've been able to sneak it into September's books.  But, alas, it makes my October look better. :)

May Books

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I was in college, the professor of my Children's Lit class read Love that Dog to us. I really thought it was a cute book. My first year of teaching 6th grade, I actually read that book to my class as part of our poetry unit.

When I saw this in a recent Scholastic book order, I had to nab it for my classroom library, and of course I had to read it! Love that Cat is just as charming as the original! Jack is an adorable, likable character! I definitely enjoyed this book as much as the first!

The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As always, Philippa Gregory sucks me into the drama that was the court of Henry VIII. I really loved reading (well, listening since I purchased this on Audible) more about Katherine Parr, since, as King Henry's last wife, I feel I've read the least about her!

Katherine was different from Henry's other wives in so many ways, but I really admire her bravery in entering into a marriage with a many who was essentially a wife killer!

If you enjoy Historical Fiction and especially books about the Tudor court, I definitely recommend this one!


I am currently one book behind schedule for this year's Goodreads challenge.  I'm bummed because last year I was always ahead!  Alas, summer is coming, and I will make up for it then!!

August Books

I really enjoy writing these monthly book reviews.  It helps motivate me to keep reading, and it's WAY better than writing a post for each book I read.  I've been reading as much as I can this summer, and I'm sure everyone I would get annoyed with a separate post for each book.  Now that school has started up again, I'll probably be reading less, but my Audible subscription is back again (I suspended my account for the summer), so at least I'll get to listen to books on my commute!

Spelled by Betsy Schow

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book! It's one of the books that I read very quickly this summer!

While I did find myself trying to fit the story to the original Wizard of Oz tale, I found that it doesn't work! It's just a completely new story. There are Wizard of Oz elements thrown in with many other fairy tale references, characters, and creatures. I enjoyed following Dorthea through the story and how she changed and grew. Definitely a fun read!  I actually decided to put this one in my classroom library.  It's still pretty new, so it's not listed as an AR (Accelerated Reader) book yet, but I'm hoping that my students who just love to read will enjoy it as much as I did.  Plus, I did use my Barnes & Noble Educator's card to get a discount when I bought it, so I felt like I should at least put one of the books I bought in my classroom......

These next three books came in a set that I purchased with my bonus points from Scholastic!  It almost feels like cheating to call them three separate books....THEY ARE three separate books....but they were short, quick, and easy reads.  I read them all easily in a couple of hours.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The version I have of this book contains additional notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore and J.K. Rowling which takes it to a whole new level. I love that Rowling took time to create actual books that were mentioned in the Harry Potter series. It just takes everything to another level! The tales themselves were much like Muggle fairy tales, but for me, what put this over the top is reading Dumbledore's thoughts about them.  Albus Dumbledore's "notes" were included after each story in the book.

Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While I am admittedly fascinated that J.K. Rowling wrote these books discussed in the Harry Potter series, this one was definitely not my favorite. It was interesting to read a little bit about the history of Quidditch. But it just didn't strike me the way that "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" or "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" did.

No matter, this is definitely a must-read for Harry Potter fans!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was actually surprised that I liked this one so much! Obviously, a replicated text book from Hogwarts, it didn't sound truly thrilling. BUT it was fun to read about the many different magical creatures, their locations, and their danger classifications. What put this book over the top for me are the handwritten comments and drawings by Harry & Ron.

Definitely a fun and easy read!

Avenue of Spies: A True Story of Terror, Espionage, and One American Family's Heroic Resistance in Nazi-Occupied Paris by Alex Kershaw

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was my most recent Blogging for Books pick.  So I did write a separate post for that one.  You can see my full review here.


Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction by Candace Cameron Bure

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love Candace Cameron Bure! I really do! I listened to this book via Audible, and I didn't want to stop.

Though I've never seen Dancing with the Stars (I want to watch a season now!), I loved hearing about Candace's journey as a contestant on the show. It was inspiring how she shares her journey and how she managed to be a shining example of the Christian Faith as she performed. Throughout the process, Candace maintained her integrity and convictions as a Christian woman, and she was not afraid to share the times where she was falling short! She gives great reminders and ideas (backed up with scripture) for ways to stand your ground when the world is against you.

So glad I chose this book for my monthly credit. It was wonderful that she narrated the book as well. Who better to tell your own story than yourself!?

If you're a fan on Candace's, Full House, Dancing with the Stars, or are a woman of faith, this book is for you!


The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Philippa Gregory does it again! Her stories always draw me in. I very much respect that her books come from in-depth research and attention to detail, while creatively filling in the blanks of what is unknown about her heroines.

This is the 6th book in The Cousins' War series, and is told from Margaret Pole's point-of-view. It was especially interesting because this book begins during the reign of Henry VII, with Margaret, cousin to Henry's wife, Elizabeth being at the heart of court. The book spans through to Henry VIII taking Kitty Howard as a wife. I've read about all of the other exploits of Henry VIII in Gregory's other novels. I always enjoy hearing the stories again from another character's perspective.

It was fascinating to read more about Margaret Pole, her life, her family, and her role in English history.

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And there you have the month of August!  I set a goal to read 30 books this year on Goodreads.com.  I am only 3 books away from reaching my goal, as I have read 27 books so far this year!  I am 8 books ahead of schedule, and I am pretty sure that I will surpass my goal for 2015!

Have you read any good books lately?

How are you doing with your reading goals??

Book Review: The White Princess

Have I mentioned how much I love Philippa Gregory??

Seriously, I started devouring her historical fiction on the Tudor Court in England a few years ago, and I just can't get enough.  After finishing those books, I was glad that she had written books about the Cousins' War (aka The War of the Roses) that preceded (and led to) the Tudor's rise to power.

ANYWAY

There are currently 5 books in The Cousins' War series:
1. The White Queen
2. The Red Queen
3. The Lady of the Rivers
4. The Kingmaker's Daughter
5. The White Princess

(According to Goodreads.com, there is a 6th book called The Last Rose due to release in August of this year.)

Over my Christmas break, I finally had time to read The White Princess, which I got for my birthday in September.

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According to Goodreads.com:
Caught between loyalties, the mother of the Tudors must choose between the red rose and the white.

Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times best­selling author and “the queen of royal fiction” (USA Today), presents the latest Cousins’ War novel, the remarkable story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen.

When Henry Tudor picks up the crown of England from the mud of Bosworth field, he knows he must marry the princess of the enemy house—Elizabeth of York—to unify a country divided by war for nearly two decades.

But his bride is still in love with his slain enemy, Richard III—and her mother and half of England dream of a missing heir, sent into the unknown by the White Queen. While the new monarchy can win power, it cannot win hearts in an England that plots for the triumphant return of the House of York.

Henry’s greatest fear is that somewhere a prince is waiting to invade and reclaim the throne. When a young man who would be king leads his army and invades England, Elizabeth has to choose between the new husband she is coming to love and the boy who claims to be her beloved lost brother: the rose of York come home at last.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this edition in Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series. Having read the previous books and the books based on the Tudors that follow, it really pieces the stories together. The uniting of the York and Lancaster families through the marriage of Elizabeth and Henry Tudor isn't as simple of a solution as they had hoped. Gregory does a wonderful job of weaving historical fact with fiction to speculate on what might have actually taken place at this tumultuous time in England!

View all my reviews

As always, I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction, anything about England, or Philippa Gregory!

Book Review: The King Maker's Daughter

The 4th book I've read this year was The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory.

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Here is the book synopsis from Amazon.com:

SPIES, POISON, AND CURSES SURROUND HER. . . . IS THERE ANYONE SHE CAN TRUST?
The Kingmaker’s Daughter—Philippa Gregory’s first sister story since The Other Boleyn Girl—is the gripping tale of the daughters of the man known as the Kingmaker, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick: the most powerful magnate in fifteenth-century England. Without a son and heir, he uses his daughters, Anne and Isabel, as pawns in his political games, and they grow up to be influential players in their own right. At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Married at age fourteen, she is soon left widowed and fatherless, her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Anne manages her own escape by marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but her choice will set her on a collision course with the overwhelming power of the royal family.

Philippa Gregory can do no wrong in my eyes.  Every single book that I have read, I have loved.  To me, few things are as fascinating as these historical tales of England.  Her books are based on historical research, but she weaves in amazing story lines to fill in details that cannot be found.  This book is part of The Cousins' War (also known as the War of the Roses) series.  These novels focus on the time period in which the House of Lancaster and the House of York were fighting for the rights to the throne of England.  The first book in the series is The White Queen.  The Red Queen is next, followed by The Lady of the Rivers, which is actually a prequel to The White Queen because it tells about Elizabeth Woodville's mother, Jacquetta.  The Kingmaker's Daughter is fourth in the series.

I found this particularly interesting since I've read the other three books in the series.  Though it has been awhile since I've read The White Queen, I was able to recall some of the events told now through Anne Neville's eyes.

What I truly love about Philippa Gregory is that you are always rooting for the protagonist of her novels...even when you found yourself rooting against that same character in a previous novel.  In The White Queen, I desperately wanted things to work out for Elizabeth Woodville.  In The Kingmaker's Daughter, I was rooting for Anne and feeling, like her, that Elizabeth Woodville was the enemy.

Maybe I'm just fickle.

OR maybe that's the beauty of these books.  Unlike real life, you actually get a chance to experience events from another person's perspective.  It really makes you see both sides of the story.

If you like historical fiction, English history, Philippa Gregory, Kings, Queens, love, drama, triumph, etc., I say, grab this book and read it!