The Night Circus

 The Night Circus
 Erin Morgenstern












Amazon Blurb -

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
*****

Truly, I don't really know how to describe this book. It wasn't action packed or filled with romance. I didn't find myself on the edge of my seat or filled with real joy or sorrow. Their is A LOT of detail in it and not just what he or she was wearing or how the room was decorated, but very vivid descriptive detailing of the circus itself. Surprisingly I didn't find this tedious which so often can happen with over descriptions.

Five year old Claire Bowen gets dropped off to her father with her mother's suicide note pinned to her coat. Her father Harold Bowen-aka the Great Prospero quickly finds out his daughter has the "gift". He wastes no time introducing her to his magical nemesis Mr. Alexander, referred to as the man in gray throughout the book.

And so begins another challenge between the two men. Mr. Alexander goes to an orphanage to "adopt" a young boy to begin training, while Prospero rigorously trains Claire with no mercy for the fact that she is his daughter what so ever. The chosen venue when they are deemed ready to have their competition is the circus.

Le Cirque des Reves is a magical place with tents filled with all sorts of different attractions for you to enjoy.  No ordinary circus is this.  Delicious popcorn, caramel covered apples, you can smell it yourself her description is so vivid.  There are several players in this book and you delve into each story and find yourself wanting to see how this all comes to a head.  I liked it, I wasn't that happy with the ending. While it wasn't a heart pounder, there was scheming going on and some mystery to it.

A quote that stood out for me -

Lainie Bariss to Celia Bowen -
"If you need anything from me, I would like you to ask.  I am tired of everyone keeping their secrets so well that they get other people killed.  We are all involved in your game and it seems we are not so easily repaired as teacups."

31/2 cannolis

The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club

 The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club
 by Gil Mcneil












Amazon Blurb -

For every woman who has ever dreamed of starting over, or being a better mother, or just knitting a really nice scarf . . .


Jo Mackenzie needs a fresh start. Newly widowed with two young sons and a perilous bank balance, she leaves the bustle of London to take over her beloved Gran's wool shop in her sleepy seaside hometown. There, she finds unexpected comfort in a "Stitch and Bitch" knitting group that meets every week to trade gossip and, occasionally, a new stitch. When a new man enters Jo's life, the knitting club has even more trouble confining the conversation to knit one, purl two. The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club is an uplifting, winning tale about the healing power of friendship and new beginnings.
*****

This is chick-lit at its finest. Jo is the mother of two young boys and recently widowed under the most unfortunate of circumstances, not that becoming a widow is ever a good thing, but what triggered this was ironic, truly. She is packing up her home in London to move back to where she grew up and take over her grandmother's yarn shop.

The home of her youth is right off the beach a charming little town that I would love to live in : ) Her gran's shop is wonderful, and Jo gives it a bit of a boost and starts a stitch and bitch club. Elsie is a long time employee and family friend who is stodgy and doesn't like change. We watch as Jo jumps these various hurdles to make the place her own, while making a new life for her and her boys.

Her best friend Ellen is a popular and beautiful nightly news anchor with a sense of humor and witty tongue, Connie is a new friend married to the local pub owner with two children as well. Trevor the giant dog who's owner Mr. Pellfry can't control at all, and befriends the boys much to Jo's chagrin, the dog that is ; )

The story takes place in England so you have all these English quips that I find so cute. A really nice story on the whole and I enjoyed it. I didn't give a higher rating because it was way on the gentle side for me. I like it a bit more spicier, rougher, a bit more fast and furious if you will. For one example, there was a love scene and I didn't even know it. Maybe I should have assumed it since she spent so many hours in the hotel room with the gentleman but it flew right over my dense head ; )

A couple funny quotes -

Jo about Elsie

Christ, beam me up somebody; she's driving me crazy this morning and if she carries on like this I may have to staple her to something to keep her out of my way.

Jo and her Gran

"Was she nice? Oh those pepporonis are awful."  "I think you mean papparazzi Gran."

I read this for my February book club choice, on my kindle which I borrowed from Amazon since I am a Prime member. Comes in quite handy : )

3 1/2 cannolis

January's Wrap-Up

January has just flown by!!  Can you believe it?!  Soon it'll be summer again.  My hubby teases when I say this and says, "Well Christmas is just around the corner, better start shopping."

I read some good books this past month. I took another foray into YA, hey that rhymes ;) which is VERY unusual for me. Read a good thriller for my challenge, a very moving book club choice and some PNR to tie it all together.

Bitter Frost
Kailin Gow

I read the Kindle edition.  It was an ok, quick read for me.  There was some buzz about it on booklending.com so I borrowed it.  I'm really not a YA lover so this isn't gonna happen often on this blog, but if you are and like them with a bit of a PNR twist, then go for it, you'll probably enjoy it.  The protaganist finds out she's part fae and winds up in the middle of a war between the winter fae and the summer fae, which her father is the king of.  I also used my kindle's text to speech feature for the first time.  Took it with me in the car and played it while I drove.  Sounded kinda weird, but not too bad.

 The Bodies Left Behind
 Jeffrey Deaver

This was the first time I read Deaver.  I've had this book for almost 3 years now and figured it would be perfect for the challenge I'm in hosted by Marce at Tea Time For Marce.  Just click on her blog title to check it out.  I liked this book, it kept me guessing, and at the edge of my seat.  My review is *HERE* and I recommend it, and will definitely read him again.

    Sarah's Key
    Tatiana de Rosnay

 I really liked this book.  This was our book-club's choice for January.  It  was very sad and moving.  Based in Paris France, it volleys back and forth between two stories, Sarah, a young Jewish girl who was taken by the French police along with her family during World War Two and sixty years later, Julia, an American who now lives in Paris with her French husband and teen daughter.  Julia is a reporter, and as the story unfolds she finds out just how involved her in-laws were with young Sarah.  I highly recommend this book.

Passion Unleashed
Larissa Ione

Yes yes, one must always temper such seriousness with a good PNR ;)  This was book 4 of the Demonica series, Wraith's story, part vamp, what else.  Enjoyed it, I  think I liked this one the best so far.  I'll read the next, Lore's and then I think that'll work for me.

What's in store for next month?  Well, right now I just started Hearts In Darkness by Laura Kaye.  Book club's choice is The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club.  This sounds like chic lit if there ever was.  I read the Friday night Knitting Club and enjoyed that so I should like this.  What else?  Well my son got me Kill Alex Cross for Christmas so I will probably read that, and I think The Night Circus.   I'm not sure what else, it really all just depends on my mood.








Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday Black Dagger Bro's

Haven't done this baby in a year and a day!!!!


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


Here's mine -

Lover Reborn
J.R. Ward
March 27,2012














 Amazon Blurb -

Tohrment, the Brother who had it all, but lost everything to the enemy, is destined for a second chance at love and life. But will the past and his bitterness hold him back?
**********

Yup Ms. Ward is at it again with Lover Reborn, Tohrment's book. Poor Tohr, lost for months to the Brothers as well as poor John Matthew after his beautiful Wells was killed, now his rebirth here.

Be honest girls, we love them, we can't help it, its like our dirty little secret. Well, not for me I make no bones that this is one of my favorite series. J.R. just knows how to hook you and not let go. Ya feelin me ; ) *tosses back Frédéric Fekkai styled hair, adjusts the strap on her Manolo Blahnik slingbacks and climbs into her Maybach 57 S* Hows that for branding? Lol!