Review: Ana of California

Ana's running out of options; at fifteen she's been in foster care for years. She doesn't last at any of the houses or the group homes. Her case worker has one option left - she can travel north to a farm that needs help.

Ana agrees, although she knows nothing about farming. She lives on the farm with a brother and sister. Abbie's happy to have her, but Emmett doesn't believe she'll be of any help.

She makes several costly mistakes, but she works hard. She begins to enjoy the work and learn to love the farm. Just when she allows herself to hope, trouble finds her once again.

My Thoughts: I really loved this Anne of Green Gables inspired story. I loved being on the farm with Ana and the crew. I enjoyed their chatter and their banter. I loved Abbie and my mouth watered at all her baking. Emmett grew on me too. I love how Ana found herself a friend. I liked the forbidden romance. I liked learning about Ana's past and her time in the foster care system. Reading this one made me want to revisit Green Gables.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Gifted from my #OTSPsecretsister
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for school and public libraries - not because of the Green Gables inspiration (although adult readers will grab it because of that) but because of the foster family aspect.

Graphic Novel Review: Jane

An adaptation of Jane Eyre

Jane escapes her family and moves to New York City. She lives in a tiny apartment and begins to dream. She needs a job to stay in art school. Luckily, she finds a nanny position. At first her charge isn't thrilled with another nanny, but Jane makes a connection with Adele.

Adele's father is rarely home, making it easy for Jane and Adele to bond. When Jane finally meets him, she's torn between outrage at his neglect of his daughter and his charm. He's mysterious and cold at times, but wonderful and open at other times. Before long, she's under his spell. But she knows he's hiding something - she just never imagined what it would be.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this adaptation (mostly because the ending is different). I liked the modern twist. I love the way Jane and Adele bonded. The graphics are amazing. I tore through this book. It's perfect for those who like Charlotte Bronte's writing (But maybe not the entire story).

Cover Thoughts: Great
 Source: Sent for Review
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public library

Review: Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood

 *Comes out April 9th*

Hallie and Grace have just had their world turned upside down - again. Their father died, after he left them for another woman. When he remarried and had a new baby, he tore up his old will and didn't get around to making a new one.

Now, everything his current wife inherits everything. There are no funds for college and their house now belongs to their stepmother. She's giving them two weeks to vacate the premises.

Hallie, the eldest, is devastated. Grace, the practical one, attempts to fit the pieces of their lives back together. When a distant relative offers up a guest cottage, the sisters find themselves moving to Beverly Hills.

Hallie can't believe her good fortune. She falls in love with a musician, finds a set of friends, and hopes to break into the acting world. Grace meets a friend in high school while secretly pining away for Theo. Even though he's connected to her stepmother, she thought they might have had a moment - before she ruined it.  Can the two sisters make the most of their new home?

My Thoughts: It it's truth universally known that I'm addicted to Jane Austen inspired novels. As a result, I couldn't wait to read this adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Luckily, a copy found it's way to me, thanks to the author and the publisher and to twitter.

While McDonald as updated and modernized the story, it's the same fantastic story of two sisters learning to live after the death of their father. There are differences, for example the sisters are been switched in ages. They still have a stormy relationship. I love their exchanges as they're pure sisters. They fight but their loyal to each other. I love the new touches to the story. I love the Hollywood setting. I love the moment when Hallie stands up for herself in a bar. 

I think this book might do for Jane Austen books as Clueless did for me - give new readers an introduction to her world. For those who aren't looking for a Jane Austen read, I think the cover and then the story will draw them in - it's a fun, romantic, drama filled read!

Cover Thoughts: Love it! I'm guessing this is Grace and Parker (The sisters' mother is black and their father was white)
Source: ARC from the Publisher