The Books We Read » clean romance

The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Clarissa — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:03:49 +0000

This is an urban fantasy novel set in New York City in the present day. Clary works through finding out the truth about her past after her mother mysteriously goes missing. She meets a group of half angel humans called Nephilihim otherwise known as Shadowhunters. These half angels are mortal and hunt the demons that regular “mundane” humans can’t see. I know it sounds a bit hokey and it is. But also a bit fun.

What I liked about the book? This is a hard question for me to answer. I think I liked that there was a love story and that that love story didn’t drown the rest of the book like so often happens in YA fiction. I liked Clary’s complex relationship with Simon (her best friend). I liked Clary, especially since my name is Clarissa. It’s not often I get to read a book with my name in it, much less as the main character (my nickname is Lissy though, didn’t love the name Clary). I totally fell for Jace too, so much so that I went on wikipedia and read all the spoilers.

What I didn’t like? Cassandra Clare, was obviously borrowing from Star Wars and other authors, and I really didn’t like the love story angle she chose. I think she might have been able to leave that part out. Creepy. Unnecessary. I should clarify, this is a CLEAN romance, just read the book. At times it also felt as though, just as Eric’s (a character in the book) poetry, she swallowed a dictionary and spewed up words at random.

I am having a hard time figuring that out why I liked it so much. I read it twice. I flew through it both times. I am baffled. But still super excited for the next installment and even the companion novel coming out in August.

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments)

Cassandra Clare. McElderry 2008, Paperback, 512 pages, $4.00

The White Queen a novel by Philippa Gregory

Clarissa — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:29:14 +0000

Philippa Gregory can write a mean historical fiction. This one features the famous War of the Roses, also called the cousins war. As usual, Gregory has highly fictionalized the characters in the novel. There is a suggestion that Elizabeth Woodville may have believed in a water goddess. Gregory latched onto this and created a whole new mythology around her. The way this was done was definitely interesting. If you have read and liked Gregory’s books before, this one will not disappoint.

The White Queen

Philippa Gregory. Touchstone 2010, Paperback, 464 pages, $6.99

Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Clarissa — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:14:26 +0000

I was thinking of my favorite love stories and I remembered this one. So I picked it up and read it again. And I still love it. It is still so good. This is the last book in the Anne of Green Gables series. The whole series is worth reading, but I just love this one. Rilla of Ingleside is set during World War I. It was published in 1921. I kept thinking that the author must have gone through her war journals to write it. The war is like another main character in this novel, it’s more than a setting or a back drop. I learned a lot. She was able to keep the story interesting and personal as well. This is a novel about the women who “kept the faith” at home, for their men on the front. This is a beautiful coming of age story featuring Rilla, a young, naive beauty. Rilla’s parents are Anne and Gilbert. Anne is still a part of the story, but really, this one is about Rilla. Honestly, you could easily read this one without reading the others, but they are all worth reading.

Rilla of Ingleside

Lucy M. Montgomery. 1st World Publishing 2008, Paperback, 372 pages, $12.40

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Clarissa — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:51:58 +0000

This is the second installment of the Hunger Games trilogy. It continues the story of Katniss Everdeen after she wins the Hunger Games (sorry if that’s too much information for those who wanted to read the Hunger Games). This fast paced novel is full of twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down. And now I have to wait for the third one to come out to find out what happens. This will be a problem for me. Wikipedia says the next unnamed book won’t be released until August of 2010! I can handle eight months of waiting right? This is why I start trilogies after all the books are out.

The one problem I have with this novel and the first is the voice used. It’s told in the first person but more like she’s telling a story. We don’t have access to all of her thoughts. She uses phrases like “and then I’m going after him..” but why Katniss? Why are you going after him? It wasn’t easy for me to lose myself reading it. But after I got used to that, I really enjoyed the story.

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)

Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press 2009, Hardcover, 400 pages, $9.33

The Cinderella Pact a novel by Sarah Strohmeyer

Clarissa — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:35:26 +0000

The main character of this novel (written in first person) is overweight and living a double life. The double life thing has been done and done, but I have honestly never read a book with a chubby main character. I liked that part. I’m really sick of reading books with skinny perfect women taking the lead. I think this book is a bit of Bridgette Jones Shopaholic hybrid. Not totally original.

I must admit that I have never really struggled with my weight, so I found it interesting and insightful to see through her eyes. This is making me feel ill equipped to review this book. I have never really been on a diet. I’ve heard of most of the diets she mentions but have never tried them. It makes me wonder if women who have and do struggle with weight issues have felt like she has felt. I don’t know but it was believable.

As for the romance part, of course its a romance, it was a bit weak on that end. She needed to spend maybe another chapter doing a bit of housecleaning. There were a few things left unsaid by the end. That really bugs me. I hate loose ends. Overall I’d give it 3 1/2 stars (out of 5).

The Cinderella Pact

Sarah Strohmeyer. NAL Trade 2007, Paperback, 352 pages, $3.99

A Ring and a Promise a Christian Romance by Lois Richer

Clarissa — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:38:18 +0000

Why oh Why do I read these things? I started reading Christian romances at work when I was bored and there was nothing else to read. But then I started reading them for fun, at home. Most of them are terribly written. Yet I keep going back, like a bad boyfriend. Admittedly, the only “bad” thing about these novels is the writing. There is no language, love scenes, even kissing is really rare, and often “chaste”. Maybe that’s why they call to me. I’m not sure. But the last one of these I read really takes the cake.

There were more holes in A Ring and a Promise than a connect 4 board. (Stewart came up with that one, I just didn’t want to say Swiss cheese). But I won’t bore you with them. I thought I had read some of her (Lois Richer’s) books before, so I googled her. I found her website where she asked for feed back, so I sent her an email. I made a few references to the plot gaps, or gaping holes if you like. I wonder if I’ll get an email back. So If you’re wondering, A Ring and a Promise, isn’t worth the time it takes to read it.

A Ring And A Promise (Steeple Hill Love Inspired (Large Print))

Lois Richer. Steeple Hill 2009, Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages, $0.49

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Cindi — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:41:34 +0000

I enjoyed this book. The Hunger Games is a very quick read and a real page turner. Set in a near future dystopia after the fall of the United States of America, a young girl and boy from the 12th district in the nation of Panem must compete in a death match type game where the last one standing wins.

Is the concept original? Um, no. Was the romance good? Yes, in a young adult sort of way. The writing is great, the characters are fine, and the pacing is crisp. There is plenty of action and enough soul searching and moral dilemmas to keep it interesting past the surface. My main problem with the book is the author’s view of the future, especially surrounding the politics and government in the book’s post apocalyptic time and place. I know it is a work of imaginative science fiction, I just felt it lacked substance and credibility. (As a pet peeve there was one part right near the beginning where Katniss puts on her boots, and then pulls on her pants. ??? How often do you put your shoes on before getting dressed? Sorry to point this out; I don’t know why I noticed this.) Also, you don’t have to give everyone funky names because your book is set in the future. Most names in circulation today predate the bible. Now that I’m done complaining, feel free to check it out. I found it very entertaining and the end will leave you wanting more.

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press 2008, Hardcover, 384 pages, $9.54

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

Cindi — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:51:27 +0000

I would call this book slightly better than average but mostly forgettable. Sorry Cecelia Ahern, I really tried to like it. Read it if you are in the mood for a light hearted romantic comedy with well written, colloquial irish humor. Don’t read it if you want something more than skin deep, a premise that is unique, or a climax/character struggle that makes any sense. I read the back cover while waiting in line at Wal-Mart, and was intrigued. A woman has memories she can’t explain, a connection to a man that is a mystery. Then the first chapter starts all about blood donation. Oh. Wow. Thanks for building the suspense. From there it was pretty much a predictable series of near misses and coincidences on the road to falling in love.

The Gift by Richard Paul Evans

Suzi — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:42:58 +0000

I really love this author. Yes I am a sap, I don’t care. I love a good romantic story and I’m not talking trash. Thats the beauty of Richard P. Evans books. Most have a good romance theme but always a clean read. He is an LDS author from Utah, so I suppose thats why. This particular book called “The Gift” was a unique read compared to his others. The reader is first introduced to Nathan Hurst. Nathan suffers from turrets sydrome. He also suffers from a tragic childhood and a mother with dementia. Nathan soon meets a young divorced mother with a very special son named Collin. Collin had recently died on the operating table for 6 minutes but was rescusitated. He lives and tells about his unique experiences on the other side. He also obtained a gift to heal. But every time he heals someone he ends up becoming more sick. The book then explores the blossoming relationship between Nathan and the young mother and the complicated matters involving raising a dying son with miraculous powers. The author keeps the reader on their toes the entire book. The story twists and spirals and with the very strange phenomenons the reader still keeps a realistic view. Oh, Richard P. Evans is brilliant. I would recommend every one of his books to any person. What I like about him is his ability to weave his own personal experiences into his stories. Evans also suffers from Turrets and much of the symptoms described in the book are his own. Suzi’s stamp of guaranteed to please on this one.

The Gift

Richard Paul Evans. Simon & Schuster 2007, Hardcover, 352 pages, $2.19