Confederates Don't Wear Couture-Stephanie Kate Strohm

Book Title: Confederates Don't Wear Couture
Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Version: Paperback ARC
ISBN: 9780547972589
Publication Date: June 2013
Number of Pages: 208
Genre: Young Adult Fiction

SYNOPSIS: Libby Kelting is back and this time she is going to war. Well a Civil War reenactment starting in Alabama anyway. When Libby's best friend Dev first comes to her with the idea Libby is hesitant because she has the chance to spend the summer in Boston with Garrett. And how can she pass that up? Even if it means not getting to live in the 1860's and wear gorgeous hoop skirts and relive epic battles from the Civil War. But the more Dev talks about his brilliant money making scheme "Confederate Couture" bringing the best fashion of the 1860's to the ladies of the south, and what it's going to be like to travel around wearing Dev's best Libby finds herself unable to resist. 

Traveling to Alabama with Dev and their mountains of luggage Libby finds herself getting more and more excited about the summer ahead. Landing in Alabama they are hit by the immense summer heat, which prompts Libby to ask 'why Alabama?' Dev responds "...Because no other southern state boasts their very own Reese Witherspoon rom-com. Obvi." (Pg. 26) Ah yes the all important rom-com logic. Their liaison Tammy Anderson picks them up from the airport and takes them to her B&B to change and freshen up before driving them to meet her handsome, southern-manners-having son Beau. Dressed in her first Couture best Libby meets Beau and there is an instant spark, but it's just because he's friendly and likes history right?

The day of the first battle Dev's idea seems to have been nothing short of genius, minus the fact that he is severely caffeine deprived. His designs start selling like hotcakes and with the amount of money Dev makes in that first day he believes that his dreams of starting college with a full brand name wardrobe is possible. While fighting through the boredom of a battle, learning to 'breathe' in a corset and dealing with an inappropriately attached 13-year-old boy scout Libby finds that this summer may be more than just a good old trip down history lane. Not to mention she has to deal with Beau crushing on her, and maybe she's crushing on him a little too, a ghost that has the camp scared silly, a real estate developer trying to buy up Civil War battlegrounds and Garrett showing up unexpectedly. 

What's a young lady to do when the summer of her dreams suddenly turns into a waking nightmare? Now Libby has to concentrate on solving the mystery of the ghost, find a way to stop Dixie Acres from taking away important historical land, keeping Garrett and Beau away from each other and making sure she is always dressed in the finest Confederate Couture. Whew, and here Libby thought Summer was going to be a breeze. 

REVIEW: When I first read 'Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink' I automatically fell in love with Libby Kelting, Garrett, and Dev. Going into this second book I was so excited to see what Ms. Strohm had in store for them this time. As soon as I started the very first page I knew this adventure was going to be even better than the last. I mean this puts Libby and Dev in the Civil War and everything Dev knows about the Civil War comes from "Gone With the Wind" and he and Lobby together are definitely Scarlett O'Hara. Also "Gone with the Wind" happens to be one of my all time favorite book/movie. So what's not to love?

I knew right away that Stephanie Kate Strohm had a unique and talented voice. In her second novel her skill as a writer has become more defined and obvious. I found myself totally sucked into the lives and dramas of her richly sketched out characters. Although this is still a young adult novel there is a maturity to it that will make it accessible to an older crowd, and I think that this is a testament to Ms. Strohm's growth as an author. Well done Ms. Strohm, I can't wait to see where your writing goes next.

The characters are just as wonderful this time around. Libby is a more defined and solid character here which is so wonderful because how can you not love Libby? And seeing her grow like this is really awesome. Garrett is just as rumpled and nerdy as ever and how can you not like an adorable nerd? And then we have Dev, who is much more prominent in this book, who I have fallen in love with. He is the gay best friend of my dreams and I want to thank Stephanie Kate Strohm for bringing him into my life. He is everything a girl could ask for in a gay best friend. He has the most exquisite taste in clothes, a heart of gold and enough sass to set a Kardashian on edge. Dev is maybe my favorite character now, I mean I love, love, love Libby but I have always wanted a friend like Dev and there he was in black and white. He is just so fantastic that it's hard not to love him. 

The story is so much fun! You learn about history in a fun interesting way, get creeped out by a ghost, meet attractive southern gentlemen and hear Dev quote Scarlett O'Hara and search for the Tarleton twins. What could be better than that? Well throw in a love triangle, couture clothing and the fight to save historic landmarks and you have a cocktail of awesome. 

All in all this is a fantastic book inside and out. Stephanie Kate Strohm has done it again with her second Libby book and I can't wait for everyone to read it. Every Broadway star has to be a triple threat, they have to sing, dance and know how to act. Well a truly great book can be seen as a triple threat as well, good writing, characters you love and a story to die for. Stephanie Kate Strohm has delivered a second triple threat book to the world. And I can't wait to see what she brings us next!

"Confederates Don't Wear Couture" by Stephanie Kate Strohm comes out in June and I highly suggest that all of you loyal readers go out and pre-order yourself a copy. This second Libby book is so worth the wait and the money and I have a feeling that the next will be even better. I am really looking forward to seeing this book fly off the shelves. I will be able to recommend this book as well as "Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink" with nothing but sincerity and praise. Go forth my dear readers and dive into a world that might be lost but never forgotten, Libby and Stephanie Kate Strohm make this world come back to life!


MORE LIBBY:

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink

The Shadow of the Wind-Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Book Title: The Shadow of the Wind (Cemetery of Forgotten Books #1)
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780753821206
Published: 2005
First Published: 2001
Number of Pages: 512
Genre: Fiction, Mystery

REVIEW: This is a book about the love of books and so even before I read it I knew that I would love it. I had been told repeatedly that I should read this book and because my list of books to read was so long I kept putting it off. And then someone kind of forced it on me and I am so very glad that he did. This book literally blew me away, it was a truly magical journey that I quickly fell in love with.

The writing soared off the pages in leaps and bounds. It flowed and had beauty to it, every word, every phrase chosen perfectly to make this a truly magical story. Although it was translated from the original Spanish text the power and love behind the words of Mr. Zafron came through loud and clear. His writing is something that is rather unusual in this day and age where it's all about quantity (how many books you can sell) over quality (how well the book is written) Mr. Zafron has it all. His writing is an inspiration and that is a beautiful thing to find. I felt as if I melted into his writing; it was an incredible thing because it was less like I was reading a book and more like I was experiencing it.

His characters are rich with life, especially his young protagonist Daniel Sempere, and yet they are flawed. I loved this about Mr. Zafron's characters. They were so well put together that they seemed as if they could be real people. Not all characters are like this I have found. Sure they are likable, some even lovable, but not all are this real. I really enjoyed the fact that not only were all of these characters in love with books (all characters that feel this love are ok by me) but they each had their very human flaws and I truly loved that. It helped that the characters were flawed. This was a kind of down in the dirt type of mystery and it needed the down in the dirt types to help solve it.

The story is amazing! A young boy that loves books becomes obsessed with one and decides he has to have the rest of the author's work. However this quest seems impossible when he discovers that someone has been traveling the world looking for those books and burning them. And so Daniel embarks on a journey that takes him into the deepest secrets that Barcelona holds. Into brothels and churches, running from the law and begging help from a beggar. Every twist, every new thing that is revealed makes the book totally amazing all over again. Stack them all up and you get one of the best books that I have ever read.

I really loved this book and I highly, highly recommend "The Shadow of the Wind" to everyone! It's that good of a book. I think that it has a little bit of everything in it. So naturally it appeals to everyone. This is just an all around great read and I hope that you go out as soon as possible and find yourself a copy. This is a journey that is worth diving into.

Darkness Take My Hand (Kenzie & Genaro #2)-Dennis Lehane

Book Title: Darkness Take My Hand (Kenzie & Genaro #2)
Author: Dennis Lehane
Version: Nook book
ISBN: 9780061807992
Published: October 13th, 2009
First Published: 1996
Number of Nook Book Pages: 239
Genre: Mystery

SYNOPSIS: It starts at the end, Patrick is scarred and Angie is away. Patrick is visited by friends and they discuss everything except what had happened. But it's all Patrick can think about and night after night he gets sucked into the memories. 

At first Patrick and Angie's newest case seems like a simple case of stalking. They take on the case of a prominent psychiatrist who feels that she is being threatened by the Irish mob. She received a picture of her son in the mail with no note, no address and no indication of what it could mean. Patrick and Angie decide that they will take on the case, they make a rather gutsy trip into the Irish mob and basically tell them to back off. After many assurances that they have nothing to do with it and with a few threats thrown in, the mob sends Patrick and Angie on their way. 

Playing it safe Patrick and Angie start following the son around, taking turns watching him in his daily life. When he's not watching with Angie, Patrick spends time with his new girlfriend and her daughter. Patrick is hit hard and finds himself falling madly in love. After weeks of nothing everyone decides that it is a waste of time and money and Patrick and Angie decide to drop the case. Little do they know that this might just be one of the worst decisions of their career.

Shortly after their decision the young man ends up dead. A death that is similar not only to a recent murder but murders that date back years in the past. And these aren't just any murders but murders of the most grisly and disturbing nature. When Patrick and Angie take on the case and end up in the sights of the killer their lives become one big cat and mouse game.

REVIEW: Although I really enjoyed this book I didn't like it quite as much as the first. I felt that the mystery aspect was a little lacking. It was still a really good story with characters I have already fallen in love with and the same great writing. 

The story was good but I felt that it lacked that same edge of your seat feeling as the first one had. I still wanted to know who done it and all that but for me there was something off about the whole thing. Maybe it was because Patrick and Angie were targets right off the bat and so much of the book was them in hiding. I don't know what it is but I know that it was a little off for me.

The writing was just as great as before. At times humorous and always well put together Mr. Lehane's writing is some of the best that I have come across. He has such a way with words, he knows how to phrase things and he always knows when to add in some much needed humor. I always look forward to reading what he has to say even if I find the story a little lacking.

This was an all around really good read. I loved diving once more into the world of Patrick and Angie and I can't wait to get back to their world once more. I suggest this series for anyone who wants a really good mystery series that has a little bit of humor and a lot of really great characters. Dennis Lehane knows how to write and I promise that this is a series that proves that again and again. 


MORE LIKE THIS: 

A Drink Before the War

"Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore"-Robin Sloan

Book Title: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Author: Robin Sloan
Version: Hardback
ISBN: 9780374214913
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published: October 2nd, 2012
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Number of Pages: 288

REVIEW: This book was a really awesome mix of fiction and mystery. I was interested in it from the moment we first got it into the store based solely on the title. I mean I have said before how much I love books about books so the idea of a book about a whole bookstore was pretty exciting. When I read the description, explaining that the book was about a mysterious clientele that usually came in after midnight always searching for some of the strangest books and what happens when the hero of the story starts looking at the books himself, I found that I couldn't wait to get started. 

From the very beginning I knew that I was going to like the book. The writing was fresh and upbeat infused with humor and great suspense. I love writing that surprises me and makes me think about the author's motivation. With "Mr. Penumbra's..." I felt that each sentence was carefully crafted by Mr. Sloan. He has a very unique voice and a wonderful way of expressing it. The way the writing flows is fantastic and it becomes a character all on it's own. 

The story is so much fun. It's all about this man, Clay Jannon, who happens upon a rather strange job after being let go of his fancy web designing job. He finds work as the late night clerk at Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore. Although at first things seem to be pretty normal, sure Clay finds it a bit strange that he has to write down detailed descriptions of the people that come in and ask for certain books. But pretty soon he gets to be too curious and starts to look into the books that this strange late night customers are checking out. It starts out as a fiction story but it quickly becomes a story full of mystery and intrigue. What's not to love about that?

The characters are really weird but that is what I love most about them. They aren't your normal heroic types, it's a couple of tech nerds and an old bookstore owner. They don't scream hero to you and yet they make the book so rich and beautiful. As a reader I quickly fell in love with these unlikely characters. They are just awesome and I don't know if I can say much more about them. They are just so fun and strange and wonderful all rolled into one. It's really fun to root for them and see the journey they take.

This is a great book all around. It has all the elements of a true classic in the making. It's fun and thrilling and full of twits and turns. It's greatly written and full of lovable characters and the story is a true winner. A triple threat book! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who likes books about books or fiction books that have an air of mystery to them. I give "Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore" five stars with all my heart. I hope that you dear reader go out and get a copy of it and fall in love with it jut like me. 

"Mystic River"-Dennis Lehane

Book Title: Mystic River
Author: Dennis Lehane
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780060584757
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: July 22, 2003
First Published: 2001
Genre: Mystery
Number of Pages: 416

SYNOPSIS: Three young friends, Sean Devine, Jimmy Marcus and Dave Boyle, are playing together when a car pulls up next to them. At first the two old men in the car look like cops. But when they take Dave away to have a chat with his mother the other two boys get scared. When they tell their dads what happened their fear only grows when the real cops show and everyone starts running around scared. When Dave finally shows up four days later everything is different, Dave is broken, and Sean and Jimmy feel to guilty too go on as before. From then on they are no longer friends and as the years go by they all go their own ways. 

Twenty-Five years later Sean is a homicide detective with a wife who's run away but calls him to say nothing, Jimmy is an ex-con who has a family and owns a small store and Dave is a father who struggles everyday with the memories of the "wolves" from his past. And though they all live in the same city they never see each other until one fateful day when their lives collide once more. One morning the car of Jimmy's daughter Katie is found by some kids, found abandoned and with blood in it. Sean and his partner are assigned to the case and as the search takes them further into the park hope begins to dwindle. When her body is found beaten and mangled their three separate worlds become one terrifying nightmare. 

As the investigation gets under way it comes to light that Dave was one of the last people to see Katie alive. The same night she disappeared Dave came home to his wife covered in blood and this makes his wife start to doubt his story about a mugger. Sean has to start digging into Dave's life to see if he had something to do with Katie's death. Jimmy an ex-con finds that when it comes to his daughter's life being taken he can't seem to stay on the straight and narrow. He begins his own investigation into the matter. As certain things begin to emerge through the haze of mystery everyone's life begins to crumble around them and they have to figure out where their loyalties lie.

REVIEW: I really and truly loved this book. I read it years and years ago, way before the movie was announced, and I couldn't put it down. I loved every page, every part, every little thing about this book. It was a truly great 'edge of your seat' thriller and I highly recommend it. 

Dennis Lehane is an incredible writer I have been blown away by his writing twice now and I have a feeling that I will be again and again. He has a way of getting into his characters's heads and making them so three dimensional it's hard to believe that they aren't walking around real somewhere. His writing is sharp and intelligent, full of wit and pain in equal measure. Mr. Lehane's writing is beautiful and raw and all around brilliant.

The story is dark and real and I love that about it. It doesn't shy away from the pain and darkness of abuse and murder, of all the darkness that is out there and in people. You won't get it completely unless you read the book, which you should do, but the story is amazing. There is just something about it that really reaches in and attaches itself to you. That is the mark of a great story.

The characters are awesome and strange and very real. The characters have kindness and love within them but they also have darkness and none of them have fairy tale lives. All of them are so real and raw and incredible that even if the story was no good these characters would be worth reading the book for. However we are in luck because they story, the writing, and the characters are all out of this world and worth reading. I highly, highly recommend "Mystic River" by Dennis Lehane this is a book that I don't think could disappoint.  

More Mystery:

"A Drink Before the War"               "And Then There Were None"
                                      
 

"And Then There Were None"-Agatha Christie

Book Title: And There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie

Version: Paperback

ISBN: 9780062073471

Publisher: Harper

Published: January 18th, 2011

First Published: 1939

SUMMARY: 

"Ten little soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there where Nine.

Nine little soldier boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were Eight.

Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there where Seven.

Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.

Six little soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.

Five little soldier boys going in for law;
One got into Chancery and then there were Four.

Four little soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.

Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.

Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was One

One little soldier boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself

And then there were None."

Ten strangers are all invited to Solider Island by a mysterious person named U.N. Owen. When the guests arrive and find that their host is not yet there they begin to question what the weekend is about. And when they are all accused of getting away with murder of some kind or another their suspicion grows and they begin to fear the motive behind their invitations. 

As the guests begin to die one by one the weekend becomes not just one of survival but also one of detection. The guests are dying in the manner of the rhyme that has been posted in their rooms and so the survivors try to figure out which of them is the killer. Nerves are shot and accusations are thrown, everyone pointing their finger at everyone else. 

REVIEW: This was my second Agatha Christie mystery and I loved it. I read it in a few hours and I loved every minute of it. Ms. Christie's way with mystery is a magical and beautiful thing. I find that she never does what I expect and I am always surprised by the turns she takes and I love that. 

Her writing is simplistic but in the best way possible. She doesn't put on airs or try to make things fancy when they didn't need to be. She just writes the story and I think that it helps enhance the mystery. And with Agatha Christie it really is a great mystery. 

The story is again simple but the way she puts it together is where her genius shines. I really don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away but trust me when I say the book is one sharp twist after another. And when it comes to mystery what more can you ask for than something that literally keeps you on the edge of your seat? 

ANOTHER MYSTERY:

"A Drink Before the War"

To My Readers: A Letter

To My Unwaveringly Faithful Readers and Newcomers Alike,


  First I would like to apologize for how long it has been since my last post. As most of you know I work in retail and when the holiday season fell upon us, and in retail this means 'Black Friday,' I found myself swept up in the madness and with no energy to spare. This seems a weak excuse I know but it is the truth, and as we all know I strive for the truth here. I will say no more about that except for this last, it has been a crazy hectic last couple of months for me and they left me dry and exhausted and I apologize that I wasn't able to keep you well reviewed.

On a different note, shortly (hopefully anyway) there will be some changes to the blog. I will still be the blunt, ever truthful, mostly witty reviewer that you have all grown to know and love. However I have decided to make things more focused, set more of a theme so to speak. Yes folks I have decided to become a one genre girl. With this, rather large, decision I hope not to drive people away but rather to entice more people to start reading my reviews. Okay, okay I know what you are thinking and the answer is no I don't do these reviews simply for page views or followers, although those are a nice perk (so tell everyone you know about my site), but in order to share the gift of reading with people.

That is the very reason I started off reviewing a little bit of everything. And while that was fun and may even have introduced somebody to a genre or title that they may never have thought to look into, or warned someone away from something they were thinking about picking up, I feel that the time has come to focus more. I am hoping that this focus will help me be great at one thing rather than relatively  okay at many. So stayed tuned because I have a feeling that with this new direction things could be getting very interesting.

Before I sign off I want to say that to those authors out there that I have reviewed and interviewed, especially one Miss Stephanie Kate Strohm who has a new Libby Kelting adventure coming out this year, I will always make an exception for you and your new books. However other than that my plan is to stick to one genre and one genre only. I'm sure you are all wondering what that genre is going to be but I think I'll keep you all in the dark until my first new review comes out. A girl has to keep a certain air of mystery about her after all.

With All My Sincerest Reading Wishes,

The Girl in the Tiny Hat