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Disclaimer: I bought this book to read for myself and to give it an honest opinion.
Roaring Midnight
(Macey #1: The Gardella Vampire Chronicles)
Author: Colleen Gleason
Paperback
240 Pages
June 7, 2013
Avid Press
Overview
Macey Gardella is a typical young woman of the Roaring Twenties: she works a job, has her own flat, and loves to dance the Charleston. But when a mysterious man named Sebastian Vioget informs her she belongs to a family of vampire hunters, Macey is stunned and disbelieving.
Yet, strange and frightening things begin to happen, and when Macey comes face-to-face with one of the fanged creatures, she has no choice but to believe Sebastian. And when she learns his own soul depends on her willingness to carry forth the family legacy and hunt the undead, Macey capitulates and joins the fight.
As she begins to learn about her new life, Macey meets the handsome newspaper reporter known as Grady--who seems to know more about vampires than he should. When he begins to ask too many questions, she has to juggle her strong attraction to him with the need for secrecy.
Slipping into speakeasies and sampling bootlegged whiskeys, dodging gangster gunfire and trying to keep her nosy landlady from finding the stakes in her flat, Macey Gardella must navigate through a world of stunning violence, passionate romance, and dark betrayal.
My Take
Oh my gosh! I read this amazing line that I found in the book ~
"I'm not making any promises," she said blithely, trying to regain her senses. She'd kissed boys before, but Grady was definitely not a boy and this was definitely not the same. page 81
Does that catch your attention? When Colleen Gleason announced she was writing another series of the Vampire Gardella, I had to get it, no matter what. I'm a huge fan of hers. I have read the first five books of the Vampire Gardella series which I absolutely adore! You do not need to read the first five to be knowledgeable for Roaring Midnight. It gives you a feel for a spin off from the first five books by Colleen Gleason. It's almost like a mini series. For some reason, the entire Vampire Gardella series fascinate me due to the fact I'm a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So I get a image of a woman who can kick butt and still be beautiful in her own right. Onwards to the review...
Macey is the main character who has had some knowledge of who her parents were. Although she did not know everything! She knew they died but how remained a question for her. When she finds out how they died, she was shocked! It took her time to realize her true heritage of being a vampire slayer. I felt Macey had the right reaction of shock in learning everything but at the same time I somewhat had a hunch she knew a little bit about this. After all she was having dreams of being a vampire hunter! She takes her time on deciding whether or not to accept her fate as a vampire hunter. Macey is a strong female character in this book with a stubborn mind. I loved, loved, loved that Macey works in a library. (I love libraries!!!) Her goal is to become a head librarian which I hope she succeeds down the road.
Colleen hits the spot with the terminology and feel for the 1920s in Roaring Midnight. You will not be able to put it down. It also takes place in Chicago which is a favorite city of mine. Al Capone is mentioned in the book which was quite interesting and caught my attention. I wonder what made Colleen to include Al Capone. I look forward to the next book on him and Macey's adventure!
Sebastian is mentioned! He is a character from the previous Gardella books which I enjoyed. It was nice to see him pop up in this series. I always thought Sebastian was mysterious and still is to me. Other than Sebasation, we also have a character named Chas. Chas seems to have his own baggage which makes me wonder of him. Hopefully I will find out more about him! All the characters have a role to play in this story and you will see Macey trying to figure out who to trust.
The cover is awesome! I have always loved Colleen Gleason's covers of her books. This cover fits right in with the Vampire Gardella series of 1920s! I want more soon. I look forward from seeing more from Colleen Gleason in these series. If you have read her previous Gardella series, then you need to add these to your collection! If you like vampires, then you need to read this as well. So go find your copy today.
Cover: A
Story: B
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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
Recalled (Death Escorts #1)
by Cambria Hebert
Expected publication: February 15th 2013
Overview
Love or Death? A simple question really. The choice seems obvious. But. What if you never knew love, what if your life was spent just trying to survive? What if you knew your fate before you were fully grown?
And then you died.
And you were given another chance. A better chance.
This new life depended upon one thing: your job. And so you agreed. You thought it would be simple. You thought it would be cut and dry.
It never is.
And now you are left holding the fate of someone else in the palm of your hand and you have to make the ultimate choice.
Love or Death?
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