Dressmaker Review

Disclaimer: I checked this book out from the library to read to give it an honest opinion!




The Dressmaker

Author: Kate Alcott
Hardcover
306 Pages
February 21, 2012
Publisher: Doubleday

Overview
Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic.

My Take
Sorry but this book is not a young adult book! It is geared more towards regular fiction! I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. Every time I'm out shopping I see this book and was so tempted to buy it. I ended up checking it out from my library instead. I'm also a sucker for Titanic stories.

Anyways I liked the book and story quite a bit. The characters in this book are strong. All of them have their strong and weak points. For instance the main character Tess is set off for her own dreams and tries to go after them no matter what. She does not want to clean floors and be a personal servant. She wants to create her own clothes and be successful in that. I admired her for taking this path. She's the type of gal that has her head on her shoulders at time but it takes her a while to see that not everyone is good. Tess is also a believable character in this book compared to some others!

Tess ends up with Lady Duff Gordon on the ship of Titanic as it goes okay. Tess really is not really maid material and wishes to be a dressmaker. She goes on an adventure with Lady Duff through the good and bad. She gets to see how the ship with the different classes. While on Titanic, she meets two different men which are interesting to see. She goes through quite a bit and at the end I think she made the right choice.

The sinking of the ship happens and emotions are thrown everywhere. I can only imagine the state of mind of everyone. Everyone is trying to survive and do what you have to do to make it. Some sacrifice and others do not. It's part of nature to be that way I think. To those who survived would have to live with what they saw and did. Some may cope differently than others.

Once everyone arrives to New York you get a feel of what the time period was like. For women and lower class, it was not easy but there was hope. Fashion was also shown in this book and how things were done back then. I think it was grew tho see all these things so you can get a better feel of what it was like.

A few other characters are strong in this book is Pinky, who's a writer. To be a writer in during the times of Titanic is challenging. She keep plugging away at each story she can get with determination! She then covers the trials of the Titanic as she meets Tess and a few others. She eventually becomes friends with Tess. Both of them bump heads at times but in the long run they know they meant well. I love the relationship Pinky has with Tess.

There is a love triangle that sprouts out in this book with Tess and two gentlemen. It's rather interesting to see. Who does Tess choose? I was rooting for the one that she picked! You'll have to read to find out who it was.

If you like historical fiction books, then go grab this one today. You won't regret reading it. I know I don't!

Story: B
Cover: A

Good Reads

Flamethroat Review

Disclaimer: I given this book by the author read in an exchange for an honest opinion and review!

Flamethroat: Fire Mage Book 2


Author: Kate Bloomfield
Publisher: Amazon
Published Date: July 28, 2012
Edition: Kindle Ebook
Pages: 300


Overview: Avalon Redding has returned to Mortlock to find her home destroyed, and her family missing. They have been taken by 'The Realm' for harboring an illegal human, Avalon's sister.

Desperate to find her family, Avalon travels across the country to the Headquarters of the Realm, with Healer Jack Greenwood, and animal companion Hawthorne.

Their friendship is tested when Jack is reunited with his estranged father, and falls under a strange beauty's spell.

Will Jack abandon Avalon during her quest? And is Hawthorne really one-of-a-kind?


My Take: The sequel! I have been waiting for this! As I read the first book a while back, it captured my attention of the adventures that Avalon goes on. The story left me wanting to know more about what happens to Avalon. Behold..Flamethroat has arrived.

As the journey continues, Avalon heads home with Jack and Hawthorne to see her parents as she finds her home destroyed. Worry, sadness and anger fuels inside of Avalon seeing her home and family gone. She wondered what to do next. Eventually she and Jack are determined to start a mission to find her family and save her sister. Another venture begins for them.

While on their journey to the Realm, Jack and Avalon run into many more energetic situations and obstacles. There is always one thing after that keeps Jack and Avalon on their toes. Some will leave you gasping and some will leave you screaming no!

The one question I had while reading this sequel was whether or not Jack and Avalon will remain as friends or become something more in the romantic department? I love how Jack and Avalon interaction is amazing. They would not leave one another unless it was something serious. Their relationship does get tested when another beauty comes into the picture. Does Jack fall for the beauty or does he remain with Avalon? You need to read this book to find out.

Of course there are some heart breaking moments in this book! One of them is when Jack meets up with his father. Emotions poured out of Jack towards his father. At first Jack was not sure to give his father a second chance but Avalon tells Jack he should just listen and gave a hint that family is important. Jack slowly takes her advice. Eventually Jack and his father reconcile.

Another part is when Avalon meets up with her parents as it was awesome that she found them but then there's the whole adventure of getting her sister back. The action in this process was amazing as her father was still protective of Avalon even though she knows how to take care of herself. I loved how her family, Jack, herself, Hawthorne and a few others band together to fight to get their loved ones back even though there was 50/50 chance that their loved ones would not be normal again. It had me on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen! Were they going to get their loved ones back? Was Avalon sister going to be normal or not? Who was doing this to humans?

I was also glad to see Raevyn making an appearance in this book. She's a wonderful friend to Jack and Avalon! She is such a great character.

This book had me reading on and on which was fantastic. I could not put it down. When I did put it down, I was thinking about this story and what would happen to Jack and Avalon in their journey. There were at times in the story that I was surprised and happy with the way things went down. The book left me wanting more. So go get this book today on Amazon. Be sure to read the first book first! You won't regret this adventurous fun filled journey with Avalon!

By the way, I personally think the cover is stunning just like the first book was!

Rating:
Story: A
Cover: A

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