A Gilded Lady (Hope and Glory #2)

Happy Book Release Day!

Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she’s hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason. 
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president’s Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

My Review: 

I loved this brand new historical novel by Elizabeth Camden. The entire story was beautifully crafted and well written. With history and a little bit of romance, I was intrigued the entire way through the book.

Set during in the early 1900s, Caroline Delacroix enters the story as the first lady’s secretary. I absolutely loved how Camden mixed her fictitious characters into history as if they really are in the history books. Though this is book two in Camden’s Hope and Glory series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. Caroline’s goal is to find a way to rescue her younger brother from being tried as a traitor of the United States. Her only way of doing that is to get the president to pardon her brother. With her brother in jail for treason this makes her a prime suspect for Nathaniel Trask, the newly appointed secret service agent hired to make the president and his family safe. Camden always does a great job with her main couples and these two were no exception. Let the sparks fly!

The descriptions and the details in this story were incredible. With only a couple of words into the story I could imagine the setting and characters. Oh, and all the costumes too! ( :

So overall, very enjoyable historical fiction. Highly recommend! Definitely looking forward to book three!

 

I received this book from the Bethany House Publishing of the Baker Publishing Group through Netgalley for this review. All words are my own. 

Keep Calm and Read Jane Austen’s Emma

Today is Jane Austen’s birthday, she was born on December 16, 1775. It is so weird to think that she was born just one year before the United States declared her independence. She is my all time favorite author and I still do not get tired of pulling my well-read copies of Pride and Prejudice and Emma off my book shelf.

Are you ready? Pull up a chair and talk about her book Emma with me. Oh, I am also going to talk about the graphic novel and TV mini series. This is going to be so much fun, so get ready!

If you have any thing to add you can comment below.

Beautiful, clever, rich – and single – Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protegee Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected. With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen’s most flawless work.

This book is my second favorite Austen story. Pride and Prejudice is the first but this one follows close by. It is a cleverly written story about matchmaking and the consequences of doing so. Emma is a perfect example of a leading heroine. She, like Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice), is the perfect example of a leading female character that keeps you interested in the story, even though she does a few things that leave you rolling your eyes. Now that I have talked about Emma, let’s talk about Mr. Knightly. He isn’t your Mr. Darcy but he is still a great character. To be perfectly honest, I blame Jane Austen for my high expectations of men. Oh, if there was a Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightly in my life, right now. (:

This book is well worth reading especially if you like any other books by Austen or like the movies (there are many but I will talk about my favorite in a few).

I highly recommend the this book!

Title: Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Now, I am going talk about the graphic novel Emma.

 

Manga Classics brings Jane Austen’s classic tale of youthful folly and romantic exuberance to a modern audience with this beautiful new manga adaptation of Emma.

 

I am not usually a graphic novel kind of girl but when I saw that the library bought this book, I had to read this book.

It was fun to see Emma change into a black and white graphic novel. Seeing all the characters change, into graphic novel characters, with big eyes was fun to see as well.

I thought at first this book would be a book that made fun of the real story but it did not. So, if you cannot tell, I liked this book and I recommend this book.

Title: Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Author: Stacy King

And now to the last part of my review. The BBC mini series, which is my all time favorite version of Emma.

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This version of Emma is my favorite. I have seen other versions of Emma but this is the best. This one is produced by: BBC: Masterpiece Classic. Everything about this version is good. The two main characters, Romola Garai (plays Emma) and Jonny Lee Miller (plays Mr. Knightly) are so good together. Unlike some versions of Emma, Mr. Knightly does not look like he could be Emma’s dad. Romola Garia played the perfect Emma. Just her facial expressions make her play her role so well. Now whenever I read the book, I see those two as Emma and Mr. Knightly. All the rest of the actors and actresses did a splendid job as well. That is the whole big reason why I like this version best–because each character played there parts perfectly.

I just had finals and I am now on Christmas break from classes. So, my sisters and I are watching it again. And it is still super fun to watch. It is one of those movies I could watch over and over!

I recommend this mini series.

Title: Emma

Authors: Jane Austen

 

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this extra special Jane Austen post. I am going to have to do one on Pride and Prejudice very shortly.

Reading Resolution 49: Read a book with a one-word title.

All of these reviews are written in my own words and is my honest opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

The Gift of the Magi

Today this book is having its 112 birthday. It was originally published on December 10, 1905. Isn’t that so so cool, well, I think so.

This is a short Christmas story by O.Henry. It, in the version I read, is only three pages long, so, it is a very quick read. I remember listening to a dramatized version of this a long time ago but this is my first time reading the story. Since it is Christmas time, it is the perfect time for me to read it.

If you need a short story about what true gift giving is all about, then this is the story you should read. It is about a young couple, who learn the meaning of giving.

Title: The Gift of the Magi

Author: O Henry

Reading Resolution 40: Read a book that was published before you were born.

Happy 4th of July

Two hundred and forty one years ago, the USA declared her independence from England. Today, I am celebrating my country’s birthday. There will be an American flag proudly flying at my house today because I am proud to be an American. Happy Independence Day, America!

This weekend I went to see the Air Force’s Thunderbirds perform. Going to an air show has been a tradition for my siblings and I for a few years now. Next year we will be watching the Navy’s Blue Angels. My dad was in the Navy so I am a little bias when it comes to the Blue Angels vs. the Thunderbirds. But the Thunderbirds did some cool stunts this year, so I am happy.

So, back to the 4th of July.

Have a Happy Independence Day! God Bless you and God Bless America!

 

Just a Few more Hours

Hey everyone,

Just a few more hours to enter into my giveaway for Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon. It ends tonight at midnight (eastern time). Spend the news and tell everyone you know. This is the last call.

Click here for the link to the giveaway: My Blog’s First Birthday

The winner will be chosen at random tomorrow.

GOOD LUCK!

Also, Haley over at Cover To Cover and Everything in Between announced yesterday that this is the last day to enter to win The Silent Songbird. Here is the link: Haley’s Giveaway

My Blog’s First Birthday

               

I have been writing and posting reviews for one whole year now and I am excited to say I will keep reviewing books for all of you. I hope you enjoy reading my post and reviews. If you have suggestions for me feel free to comment.

I am holding a giveaway for Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon to celebrate my blog’s first birthday! Click here to enter the giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway.

And the winner is…Julie J. Congratulations, Julie! I will email you immediately.

Thank you to everyone else who entered to win this giveaway!!!

Also, my friend, Haley, over at Cover to Cover and Everything In Between started today as well. She is hosting a giveaway for a hard cover copy of The Silent Songbird. So, pop over to her page to enter that fun giveaway here.

Thank You for reading my blog!