Review: Day of the Duchess

* Book 3 in the Scandal and Scoundrel series *

Seraphina returns to London to obtain a divorce. She's spent the last three years in Boston without her husband. Now she's opening a tavern in London and needs to be free in order to properly own it. She's determined to become a free woman; she's liked answering to no one.

For the last three years the Duke of Haven has chased down every lead of his wife's whereabouts. But he has yet to find her. Until she walks into his life and demands a divorce. Luckily, he has the summer to woo her, under the pretense of needing her help to find him another wife.

They can't talk about their past without yelling at each other, but is it possible for them to move forward?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved Seraphina and her strength. I'm sorry for all the heart ache she endured. I loved her independent streak and how she wasn't taking no for an answer. I loved her times with her sisters, they added humor to the story. I loved her cameo in book one and how this book changed my opinion of that scene (and of the Hero). This one is an emotional reader given the character's backstory. I'm happy how it all turned out, but it was heart wrenching to read. I can't wait for the next book and to read more about the American! Sarah MacLean writes another amazing story that I didn't want to put down. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it! She's obviously in charge.
Source: BEA 17 book

Library Recommendation: A must have for public library romance sections

Where I Read this Book: I saved this book to read while hiking in the Grand Canyon. And it was the perfect book to bring.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fantasy Recommendations

This week is another freebie and I've picked 10 books to read if you like Throne of Glass (which I love). Hopefully you'll like these other high fantasy novels. 

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Here we go!

Tween Review: Classy Crooks Club

AJ's stuck spending the summer with her strict grandmother while her parents travel to the Amazon for a research trip. Her grandmother wants to turn her into a proper young lady. She must answer to Annemarie, she must not skateboard or run in the house, her friends may not come over, and she must learn how to sew. AJ is sure this is going to be the worst summer ever - until she accidentally goes into the forbidden part of the house.

There she uncovers birds - lots of birds. Just to make sure, she didn't dream everything, she breaks into the room again to discover her grandmother and her friends where she learns the truth. These ladies steal things and they want her to help.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. In the beginning, I felt terrible for AJ as her summer looked dismal outside of her soccer practices. But as the book went on, her summer improved. I like how her relationship changed with the grandmother. I love how she learned new skills. I like how the ladies formed the club and how they rotated through their members. I liked the friendship drama between AJ and her best friend - how she couldn't tell her about her real summer and the misunderstandings. A fun book with a brave character who wasn't afraid to stand up for what's right. 

Cover Thoughts: Amazingly Good
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for tween sections

Mysterious Saturday Review: Friday Barnes Girl Detective

 * First in a new series *

Friday Barnes goes through life unnoticed by most people - and she's quite good at it. When she helps her uncle solve a bank robbery regarding a diamond theft, she uses the reward money for tuition at a private boarding school.

Once there, she discovers that her detectives skills could keep her in pocket money. Her skills help her solve the mysterious Yeti in the swamp, missing homework, and how to win in a fight. But are her skills enough to allow her a comfortable semester or will her nemesis play enough pranks on her to make her want to leave the school?

My Thoughts: I really liked the start of this series. Friday is wicked smart, determined, and doesn't hold back. I love that she became friends with her roommate, who is also entertaining. Friday reminds me greatly of Sherlock Holmes - intelligence and deduces using observation and logic. The mysteries were fun. That cliffhanger ending will leave readers NEEDING the next book.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Art Inside: Cute
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: Recommended for libraries in need of more mysteries with smart female characters.

Review: Bitterblue

*3rd book in the Graceling series*

Eight years after Katsa and Po rescued Bitterblue, she's now ruling her kingdom. However, she begins to think her advisers aren't always telling her the truth. She's so lost, she begins wandering her city at night in an attempt to escape her troubled mind.

Bitterblue meets two boys who challenge her knowledge of her own city. Teddy and Saf share their knowledge with her, without knowing her true identity. In time the three become fast friends. Bitterblue uses their information to try to combat her advisers into making the city a better place.

She's fighting a losing battle most days, still trying to recover from her father's reign. Still, Bitterblue isn't giving up the fight. She wants her kingdom to heal and with the help of her friends, she's going to make sure it happens. To heal the kingdom, she'll have to fight the horrors from the past. Not everyone wants those secrets to resurface, especially the people trying to silence those who ask questions, even Bitterblue.

My Thoughts: I've been waiting for this book ever since I finished Graceling. It took me a little while to get into the book and I think that's because I didn't re-read Graceling and Fire. I wish I had because there were pieces that I know I didn't fully appreciated without that extra knowledge.  


There were several illustrations in the back of the book, which were great. However, it would have been nice to see those either at the front of the book or interspersed within the chapters themselves. Most of the illustrations were maps of complicated rooms/areas, which were hard to picture while reading.


I loved Bitterblue's midnight walks. I liked how she saw the real city and not the city everyone tried to make her see. I loved her relationships with Teddy and Saf. I liked the game of truths she shared with Saf. They had a great way of bantering back and forth. I enjoyed seeing Katsa and Po again. 


While this book dealt with a lot of pain, most of the pain came from the past. It's still hard to relive it, but it made it easier as a reader to not read about the horrific things as they were happening. 


Bitterblue is a massive book filled with adventure, friendship, political issues, and a touch of romance. Cashore write amazingly detailed descriptions with intertwining characters from the previous books.  I really hope this isn't the end of this series.


Cover Thoughts: Interesting, but not my favorite cover.


Source: My Library