Romance Review: The Earl That Got Away

* Book 2 in the Sirens in Silk books *

Naila has regretted calling off her engagement. She never imaged that she would see him again. But he turns up at her sister's wedding. Her sister is marrying a member of the English peers, as an American. In the time apart, Basil has changed.

He's inherited an Earlship. He's still White, which was a problem with her family. He's still a bachelor, and one of the most eligible bachelors. He's still bitter about Naila's rejection.

They are pushed together more and more during the wedding celebrations. Could there be lingering feelings on both sides?

My Thoughts: I mistakenly read this one first. The first one is an enemies to lovers trope. This one is a Persuasion retelling - a second chance romance. I really loved this book; I tore through it. I'm a sucker for Jane Austen retellings. I love how these were connected (with sisters as the main characters). I love that Naila was interested in architecture and wanted to save the English ancestorial homes and how she worked to accomplish her mission. I need to go back and read the first book and I hope there are more books coming soon.

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your public romance collection

Picture Book Review: Garden Books

Just a few garden books, also great for the garden theme for Summer Reading

A dandelion isn't sure what she could be.

This book goes through the growth of the flower and how to changes over time. There is also an end page that shares information about dandelions. The illustrations are cheerful.

This book follows the life of a seed what it needs to grow and flourish. 

I love how this book shows the steps of flowers and acknowledges that it's hard to wait. I love the message that every seed is beautiful and different. 

Not technically a gardening book, but this one is about the sun. The squirrel is pretty certain that someone is stealing the sun, but bird explains that the sun goes to bed and gets up at different times during the year. 

This is part of a series of picture books. Squirrel and Bird are a great pair, I love them. There are end pages that share information about light and dark and seasons. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books from Favorite Authors

 This week's topic is Favorite Books from Favorite Authors. And I have a lot of favorite authors. This is a hard week. How to choose? Also how does one choose a favorite book from these amazing writers?

Meg Cabot

This is the book that changed my life

Sarah J Maas

I loved this entire series, but this ending destroyed me.

Jessica Burkhart

I'm picking the first one of the series, but honestly, I loved them all

Sarah Dessen

Despite the terrible library scene, this is my favorite. I love the chaos. 

Morgan Matson

Ok, I love Morgan's YA books, but this one really got me.

Barbara Dee

All the stars for this one. 

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I've been a fan since Perfect Cover. I'm a little behind on the Grandest Game books. But this is the series I recommend the most.

Ally Carter

I still want MORE of these books. I loved them so much.

Judy Blume

I read this book until it fell apart and then read it some more as a kid.

LM Mongomery

I Love the Anne movies, but this is the trilogy that I re-read over and over again. I think I only read the Anne books once all the way through.

Any similar favorite authors or favorite books?

Middle Grade Review: Magnitude

Cora leaves the apartment early one morning, heading for the docks. On her way there, she meets a Chinese girl on a bike. She's being harassed by the boys who bully her. Cora helps Zhi escape the bullies, but they can't escape what's coming next.

A large earthquake hits. Buildings fall. Both Cora and Zhi are stuck underground. They're running out of time. But they're rescued by Cora's old friend. When Cora and Zhi realize the damage to the city, they're dumbfounded. They have to get back to their families.

The water pipes burst. The city is on fire. Thieves are on the loose. Can the three of them of find their families and make it somewhere safe?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this historical fiction disaster book. I loved walking/running the city with the three main characters. I didn't know much about this disaster, but from the book it's clear that it was terrifying event. I felt badly for Cora and Oliver and their family feud breaking up their friendship prior to the book, but I'm glad they were able to reconnect. I love how the book ended. Reading this book makes me want to read a nonfiction account of this disaster and the aftermath. Come for the historical fiction but stay for the action and danger. Readers won't want to but this one down. 

Cover Thoughts: Great

 Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have historical fiction novel for your school and public library. 

Picture Book Review: Books for Memorial Day

Just a few new to the library books:

It's not just the soldier that serves; it's the whole family. This book showcases different soldiers and their family - what they do when they serve and what happens on the homefront while the soldiers are gone. 

The message here is that everyone is strong and everyone has a mission. Everyone serves. The illustrations are lovely. There's so much here to share and talk about. 

One Veteran takes a trip to Washington D.C. as part of a special tour from the Honor Flight Network.

 This book showcases several war monuments and shares that not all Veterans were welcomed home. There's a lovely surprise at the end of the flight. I won't lie, this book made me ugly cry. It's emotional and heartfelt. 

If you or your family served, thank you for your service. 

Visiting Orchard House

 Last Weekend, we visited the Orchard House as a day trip and it was lovely. I had been previously when I was 17, so a very long time ago.

Orchard House was the home of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote Little Women. You're not allowed to take pictures inside, which makes sense but also is a shame. Louisa May Aclott's sister May was a talented artist. She drew all through the family home - on windowsills, doors, and fireplace covers. It's really neat to see the drawings.

You can also see the desk in Louisa May Alcott's room where the wrote Little Women, part one. Once that was published, readers begged for a second book to see if the sisters got married. She was forced to make them marry, but she knew that Jo couldn't end up with Laurie. Louisa May Alcott made up a man, similar to her father, for Jo. During the time of publication of the first book, her address was printed. Many fans showed up at the house, forcing her to find a place in Boston where she could write. 

The sign outside

The House

Me in front of the house

Her father's school. Mr. Alcott was a Transcendentalist. He believed that Everyone should have an education, just not white men. 

 

The back side of the house. The house was made up of several buildings on the property cobbled together.

A recreation of a photo from the first time I was there.

The sisters' garden

Making a wish

A lovely tree

Me on the steps 

Other facts about the house:

Beth never lived in it. She died before it was ready

Louisa paid for May to travel to Europe to study art

May had a picture in the Salon, you can see that picture in the house

Besides the portraits in the house, most of the artwork is May's work

Anna (Meg in the books) was married in the house

The floors in the house slope something fierce. And the doorways are very crooked. It's a charming old house.

So many items in the house belonged to the Alcott's. It's very impressive.

There is a shocking lack of books except for in Mr. Alcott's study and Louisa May Alcott's room.

The Alcotts are buried in the local cemetery. 

Because we were in Concord, we stopped by the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. It's the place where 'American' soldiers were ordered to fire upon the Redcoats. 

Here's the bridge

 

Views from the bridge.

The bridge is NOT the original bridge. It's the seventh bridge since it was built. 

The Minuteman Statue is by Daniel Chester French who had ties to the Alcott's and who created the Lincoln memorial statue.

All in all, it was a gorgeous day, just perfect for an adventure. 

Booklist: Books set in Paris

 

Earlier this week, I talked about a book set in Paris and realized it would be a great time to make a booklist.

There are so many more books set in Paris. It's a wonderful place to read about. Here are a few that I chose:

Two I'm excited to read and the others I have enjoyed

I had more fun creating some bookmarks:

 

 

All this makes me want to wander the streets of Paris.