THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE By Cynthia Hand

June 15, 2022 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE By Cynthia HandThe Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Published by HarperTeen on 2/10/15
Genres: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

Since her brother, Tyler, committed suicide, Lex has been trying to keep her grief locked away, and to forget about what happened that night. But as she starts putting her life, her family, and her friendships back together, Lex is haunted by a secret she hasn't told anyone—a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Short and Sweet Review

The Last Time We Say Goodbye follows Lex as she navigates life after her brother’s suicide. Lex used to be happy with her family and friends but now everything is different. One thing that people don’t know is that Tyler texted Lex before he died, now Lex is trying to pick up the pieces and trying to block out what happened the night Tyler died.

This was a good book, it covers hard subjects like suicide and mental illness. Lex is struggling and she sees a therapist who suggests that she should start journaling to process her feelings. I liked reading Lex’s journal entries it’s basically a flashback and every journal entry leads up to what happened that night so everything is basically pieced together. Other chapters show how Lex is currently going through her days, we see her distance herself from her friends, make some new friends, and try to forgive her dad, and figure out what she’s going to do in the future.

This book was focused on Lex’s grief after losing her brother. I liked seeing her process her grief and this book was beautifully written. I’m sure people would find this book emotional but I was okay, but it didn’t take away from the great writing. If you’re looking for a book that focuses on grief and is well written this book is for you.

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MY CONTRARY MARY By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

July 6, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

MY CONTRARY MARY By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi MeadowsMy Contrary Mary by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows
Series: Mary #1
Published by HarperTeen on 6/22/21
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 512
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?

Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she’s a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It’s a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.

Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn after the king meets a suspicious end. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis face a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary’s secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.

Short and Sweet Review

We’re in the time of the Renaissance France and Mary Queen of Scots has lived in France since she was a young girl. Mary has always known she was going to marry the Dauphin Francis, but Mary has a secret she’s an Eðian. This gives Mary the ability to change into her spirit animal which is a mouse and she uses this ability to learn things about the other royals living in the castle. Unfortunately there’s a lot of scheming going on and soon Mary and Francis are going to be thrust on the throne and even sooner someone is going to try to get them off.

There’s a lot of characters in this book we have Mary and Francis and we have Mary’s four ladies in waiting also all named Mary so they all go by nick names and we have Ari Nostradamus and Catherine De Medici and King Henry, oh and Mary’s uncles.

Anyway the book started off a little slow which I suppose was to build everything up and things did pick up halfway through the book after King Henry met his end. Catherine De Medici is up to no good and so are Mary’s uncles but they’re not working together so at some point Mary and Francis do end up splitting up and Mary goes to Scotland and Francis is in France dealing with his mother. Ari Nostradamus was an okay character she was hired by Catherine to spy on Mary and I feel like she started the ball rolling with the trouble that came to Mary after her and Francis’s marriage. I guess Ari was useful because she could make potions but some of the things she did were annoying. Mary was an a good character she didn’t want to believe that her uncles would plot against her and Francis felt the same about Catherine.

Overall this was a good book. It definitely got better during the second half when things started to pick up and more of the plots against Mary and Francis were revealed. I’m excited to see what the next installments in the Mary series will bring!

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WITH YOU ALL THE WAY By Cynthia Hand

March 26, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

WITH YOU ALL THE WAY By Cynthia HandWith You All the Way by Cynthia Hand
Published by HarperTeen on 3/30/21
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 329
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

Ada’s life is a mess. She just caught her boyfriend cheating on her after a humiliating attempt at losing her virginity, and she’s had it up to here with her gorgeous older sister’s unsolicited advice.

But things really hit the fan during a family vacation in Hawaii, where Ada discovers her own mother is having an affair. Apparently, everyone is falling into bed with people they shouldn’t. Everyone except Ada. But when Ada decides she’s going to stop trying and start doing—sex, that is—her best laid plan overlooks an inconvenient truth:

Feelings, romantic or not, always get in the way.

Short and Sweet Review

Ada’s a sixteen year old and in her mind her life is a mess. She was about to go all the way with her boyfriend but changed her mind and then regretted changing her mind so she decides to surprise him. While going to surprise him Ada finds him with another girl. On the bright side her family is going to Hawaii for her mother’s work conference. But what should be a fun time turns into a nightmare when Ada finds her mom having an affair. Now Ada thinks that she should just forget her plans and go with the flow.

So the book starts off with Ada and her boyfriend Leo about to have sex, but Ada realizes that she’s not ready and Leo was understanding. After getting some advice from her older sister, Afton, Ada decides she’s ready to try again but she ends up finding Leo inviting another girl to his house. Ada doesn’t have too much time to dwell on it because she finds out her family is going to Hawaii, actually it’s just her mom, and her sisters Afton and Abby while her stepdad stays behind. Afton and Ada had a fight so they have some awful tension throughout the whole trip (but we’ll get into that later). The rest of the book consists of fun activities that Ada does while on the trip, dinners with her moms colleagues, Ada finding a rebound, and Ada trying to figure out how her mother could be having an affair.

I felt for Ada because she loves her family so finding out her mother is having an affair was like a shot to the heart. But that’s the only time I felt for Ada because over the course of the book I realized that Ada is not a likable character she lashed out, she’s dramatic, and she was always doing the most. Afton and Ada fighting throughout the whole book didn’t make things any better, at one point they would forgive each other and then the next they were fighting again. I honestly found it ridiculous and would roll my eyes every time they would have an interaction.

As for the romance aspect I don’t think there was much. During the trip Ada hangs out with Nick and decides that he’s the one she wants to have sex with, it was out of nowhere and I don’t think she knew what she actually wanted. Nick and Ada were better off being friends.

When I read the synopsis I thought, “Wow this is going to be a good book, and it’ll be deep and heartwarming.” I felt none of that while reading this book. It was just too much fighting between everyone, a main character I couldn’t relate to or stand, and a main character who was obsessed with trying to lose her virginity that she decides she’s going to bang a cute guy that she sees at the conference. I liked Abby and Pops but other than that there is nothing that is special about this book.

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MY LADY JANE By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

July 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

MY LADY JANE By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi MeadowsMy Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows
Series: The Lady Janies #1
Published by HarperTeen on 6/7/16
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 512
Format: Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.

Short and Sweet Review

King Edward is dying of the affliction and he needs someone to take the throne after he dies, and he picks his cousin Jane. The only problem is Jane needs to get married and produce a male heir who will eventually take the throne.

Jane would much rather spend her days reading books than to be bothered with the thoughts of marriage much less running a country.

Gifford or G, spends his day as a horse and his nights as a man and would prefer to be free and not get married.

When Edward, Jane, and G learn that the kingdom and the throne are in danger they realize that only they can put a stop to it.

We get Edward, Jane, and G’s POVs and I don’t think there was one I preferred more than the other. So Edward is dying of the affliction and his time is running out rapidly. Although Jane doesn’t want to get married she’ll do anything to help her cousin. Jane and G don’t have a lot in common, and they argue with each other often. Over time their bond and relationship gets better and realize that they do have feelings for each other and are willing to risk their lives for the other. There were some things that I wasn’t expecting especially after Jane loses the throne. I liked seeing how the characters were separated and eventually found each other and had to come up with a plan to win the throne back. I loved Edward’s sister Bess she knew what she was doing and was kind and knew how to command a room. I enjoyed this book but I still thought it was a little weird when the humans would talk to the animals.

I’ve already read the second book in this series and I’m excited to read the third book!

Filed Under: Reviews

THE HOW & THE WHY By Cynthia Hand

November 4, 2019 by 1 Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE HOW & THE WHY By Cynthia HandThe How & the Why by Cynthia Hand
Published by HarperTeen on 11/5/19
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for; they’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—but she has questions, too. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.


Short and Sweet

Cassandra loves her parents, but lately she’s been thinking more about where she came from and what her birth mother was like, and some of these questions can’t be answered by her adoptive parents. Cassandra learns that 18 years ago her birth mother wrote her letters and those letters may be the key for Cassandra to find the answers she’s been looking for.

Characters

Cass: Cass is 18, a senior, and preparing for life after high school. Cass is like a regular teenager she goes to school she loves the theater and she has great friends, but she feels like something is missing. Cass deals with things most teens deal with like preparing to go to college and thinking about her options, but her mother is also sick and needs a new heart which also takes a toll on Cass and it affects how she feels about doing certain things. I liked Cass she was relatable and she truly cared about the feelings of those around her.

S: S is the teenager who made the decision to give her baby up for adoption 18 years ago. S never gives out her actual name as she writes the letters because she feels that it’ll be better that way. S lives at Booth which is a school and home for young expecting mothers. Her point of view comes is written in letters and I enjoyed reading her letters at first she wasn’t into writing them but the further we get into the book the more she feels like she needs to write the letters so that her baby will have a better understanding of her. S is bold, funny, sarcastic, and caring. I felt that I got a better understanding of S she was 16 and felt that she was making the best decision for her baby.

Nyla: Nyla is Cass’s best friend and she’s very supportive and exactly what everyone wants in a best friend. Nyla usually gives Cass pep talks and she also help Cass with her search for her birth mother. I liked Nyla she was very realistic and made sure that Cass would think things through all they way before jumping into a situation.

Bastian: Bastian is new in school and he joins the theater where he meets Cass and Nyla. Bastian is looked at as a potential romance interest for Cass, but these two were better off as friends and I’m glad that they did remain friends.

My Thoughts

~ We get two POVs Cass and S. Cass takes place during the present while S’s takes place 18 years ago and hers is written in letters. I enjoyed both POV’s I liked reading about how life was for S and I liked reading about Cass and her modern day problems.

~ Cass has very loving and understanding parents although her dad isn’t initially on board with Cass looking for her birth mother he ends up coming around because he understands that this is what she needs.

~ Cass’s family in general is amazing they are supportive and they end up coming through for her in a big way towards the end of the book.

~ I loved the search for Cass’s birth mother and how everyone tries to help her with certain aspects like going to get the letters, and looking for clues in the letters that might lead to S.

~ I think everything went together so seamlessly. We learned about S and Cass and the things that both of them are dealing with.

~ The ending was good and I would love a novella to see what happened after the epilogue.

Overall

The How & the Why was beautifully written and it took me on an emotional ride. I loved the characters and every aspect of this book. There’s family, friendship, it also delivers the highs and lows that people experience while going through life. I truly loved how everything occurred and it kept me immersed until the very end. This is a must read and one of my favorites of 2019!

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MY PLAIN JANE By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

February 11, 2019 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

MY PLAIN JANE By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi MeadowsMy Plain Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows
Series: The Lady Janies #2
Published by HarperTeen on 6/26/18
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

You may think you know the story. Penniless orphan Jane Eyre begins a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester—and, Reader, she marries him. Or does she?

Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Bronte, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.


Short and Sweet

My Plain Jane follows Jane Eyre as she leaves he teaching job to become a governess at Thornfield Hall. While there Jane meets the master of the house Mr. Rochester, and falls in love, but strange things are happening at Thornfield Hall. In this adventure Jane has her best friend Charlotte Bronte an aspiring author, and they both meet Alexander Blackwood a supernatural investigator.

Characters

Jane: Jane is often described as being plain and I guess to most people who come across her she is. Jane is able to see ghost and is in fact a beacon but she wants nothing to do with becoming a ghost hunter which is why she takes the job as a governess. Jane is an interesting character I liked her but she did let the shady things that Rochester did slide, I felt like she should have inquired more about the weird things going on at Thornfield.

Charlotte: Charlotte is an aspiring author and one of Janes best friends. Charlotte is not a seer but is intrigued by the work the society does to hunt down ghost so she sticks around and tries to help Alex. Even though Charlotte can’t see ghost, her great observational skills and ability to make plans does end up becoming useful enough to keep her around as an assistant.

Alex: Alex is one of the best ghost hunters and takes his job very seriously. Alex comes across Jane and realizes that she would be a great ghost hunter but she doesn’t want to accept his offer so he decides to do whatever it takes to convince her to join the society.

Helen: Helen died when she was at Lowood so she’s obviously a ghost. Helen sticks around because she believes Jane needs her to and they are best friends. I love Helen she sticks up for Jane even though most people can’t hear or see her, and when Jane is at Thornfield she acts as a voice of reason.

Mr. Rochester: Edward Rochester is the master of Thornfield Hall and something is very off with the man. Honestly he just acts so strange and acts like certain things haven’t happened, for example if there was someone banging on the wall he would pretend he didn’t hear it.

Romance

Jane and Mr. Rochester: Um Rochester is really old and acts very strange and he tells Jane nice things and I guess this is why she loves him? Honestly its just all so strange especially his odd behavior.

Charlotte and Alex: In the beginning Alex looks at Charlotte as a pest but as time goes by and they spend more time together he starts to fall for her and vice versa. I liked this relationship it wasn’t instant it took a little while to develop.

My Thoughts

~ I thought this book was funny and I wasn’t expecting that but there was a good amount of humor.

~ I liked the mystery aspect of this book, because what in the world is going on at Thornfield and why does Rochester act so strange? I also liked the ghost hunting and it was fun seeing Alex do his job.

~ So in this book Charlotte and Jane are best friends instead of Charlotte being the author of a book Jane is a character in.

~ I loved Alex and Charlotte’s attempt at trying to recruit Jane to join the society it was interesting seeing Charlotte’s plan play out.

~ Charlotte’s brother Bran is also a character and he’s supposed to be a recruit for the society but he isn’t living up to the expectations. Bran is sweet but he does make a mess of things.

Overall

I genuinely liked this book going into it I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it but I fell in love with the premise and the characters. I haven’t read a lot of books about ghost hunters but I thought it was great and I enjoyed the twist on Jane Eyre. So the books in the series don’t have to be read in order but I definitely plan on reading the first one and I can’t wait until the third book is released!

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The Afterlife of Holly Chase

October 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Afterlife of Holly ChaseThe Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Published by HarperTeen on 10/24/17
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

On Christmas Eve five years ago, seventeen-year-old Holly Chase was visited by three Ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways. She didn’t. And then she died.

Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge—as their latest Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable. But this year’s Scrooge is different. This year’s Scrooge might change everything…


Short and Sweet

Every year Project Scrooge picks a new Scrooge to help reform. Holly Chase our main character learned the hard way that not changing her scrooge ways would result in an afterlife she wasn’t expecting. Now as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Holly is tasked with helping other scrooges change their ways, but this years scrooge is different from the ones before.

Characters

Holly: Holly is an interesting character, I didn’t think she was the best main character she came across as if she thought she was better than everyone else and I just couldn’t relate to her. I thought she was an interesting character because she was a failed scrooge and is now working at project scrooge to help other scrooges change their ways before its too late, but even though you would think that because she got the job of Ghost of Christmas Past maybe she would be nicer or something… shes not. I think that’s what disappointed me the most about her character was the lack of character development throughout the story.

Ethan: This years scrooge and Holly’s love interest. Ethan is wealthy and like Holly thinks he’s better than other people he was also just mean. There’s not much else to say about Ethan he was shown in a good light probably because the book was in Holly’s POV and she thought that they were a match made in heaven.

Stephanie: Stephanie is an intern at project scrooge for the year and becomes Holly’s assistant. I loved Stephanie she was optimistic and happy, but I felt bad because Holly did not treat her well.

Boz: Holly’s boss and the man who runs project scrooge.

Romance

Holly and Ethan: This relationship was built upon lies. So people that work for project scrooge aren’t supposed to meet the scrooges until Christmas morning when the project takes place. Holly decides to break the rules and meet with Ethan even though she knows she shouldn’t, so she takes it upon herself to enlist her Stephanie’s help and find Ethan’s daily schedule and find out when he’s being watched and where he goes during the day. When Holly finally meets Ethan she goes by Victoria. Let me just say Holly isn’t the only one telling lies in this relationship, Ethan lies about his family and its just so hard to read because you’re basically just reading about two people who “really like” each other but are lying to each others faces. This relationship was meant to crumble from the very beginning.

Quotes

~ “He came from a good family, and by good I mean rich.” Is this quote not ridiculous to anyone else? Literally! Like he came from a good family because they’re rich?! At the very moment I read this from the book I had to put it down. This is how I knew Holly Chase did not change ONE BIT.

My Thoughts

~ Let me just say that I love the idea of this book, to have a project scrooge and to help scrooges find the good in themselves. I just don’t understand why they would hire Holly when she herself hasn’t changed (I mean I find out in the end).

~ I didn’t like the romance, like I said earlier the two may have liked each other but it was all lies, well maybe not for Holly because she actually liked him but still she was lying about who she was.

~ I did like the other characters that we meet in the book like Grant and Marty from Holly’s team.

~ It was interesting to see how things progressed in the book and how the members of project scrooge found out information about the scrooges life.

~ I will say I did like the ending it surprised me and I wasn’t expecting it.

Overall

I think this would be a good book for the holiday season for some, but unfortunately I wasn’t a big fan. I really wanted to like this book but some of the things that happened just put me off. What I would have liked was more character development from Holly, because she honestly didn’t change and I felt like I was seeing her be a during most of the book. Overall it was an okay book, it’s not one I would read again though.

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Filed Under: Reviews