Throw Back Thursday

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Today’s book: Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: February 14, 2012

Date read: August 23, 2015

Goodreads Synopsis:

I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED.

My Thoughts:

Alex Flinn does it again. She has a knack for taking classic fairy tales and putting them in a modern, entertaining setting. The nice thing about this book is that she chose some more obscure fairy tales that might not be familiar to the reader. My only criticism is that she tries to mix so many stories together that the plot doesn’t always flow. But, overall, it gives everything I want in a YA fantasy: humor, a valuable life lesson and a happy ending.

September 28, 2023

Throw Back Thursday: 9/20/23

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

This week’s book: The Luxe by Anna Godberson

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: November 20, 2007

Date Read: February 28, 2010

Goodreads Synopsis:

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone–from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud–threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear… In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

My Thoughts:

The Luxe series is filled with drama, romance, glamour, and scandal set at the turn of the 20th century. I was immediately drawn into the story. I love the contrast between all the characters’ beautiful facades that hide their secrets. If I were to pick up this book for the first time now, I would assume that it was inspired by Downton Abbey, but it was written before the show. This is a YA novel, but I would recommend it to any Downton Abbey lover.

September 21, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 9/10/23

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

This week’s book: Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange

Publisher: Berkely

Publication Date: August 31, 2006

Goodreads Synopsis:

Relive Jane Austen’s Emma – from Mr. Knightley’s point of view.

Between managing his estate and visiting his brother in London, Mr. Knightley is both exasperated and amused by his irresistibly beautiful, outrageously mischievous neighbor, Emma Woodhouse, whose misguided attempts at matchmaking are wreaking havoc in the village of Highbury.

But when a handsome newcomer arrives and catches Emma’s attention, Mr. Knightley is shocked by his reaction. Amusement gives way to another emotion entirely-for his unreasonable dislike of the handsome newcomer seems suspiciously like jealousy.

My Thoughts:

Usually I give my date read but this one is so far back, that I hadn’t started tracking my reading on goodreads yet. As the title implies, this one retells the story of Emma from Mr. Knightley’s perspective. I enjoy this entire series by Amanda Grange. But, this is my favorite. I just love how it’s so obvious to the reader that Mr. Knightly is in love with Emma (and not because of the original story), yet he is oblivious to his own feelings. I enjoyed seeing that side of Mr. Knightley.

September 14, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 8/24/23

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Publication Date: May 1, 2013

Date Read: February 21, 2017

Goodreads Synopsis:

“Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It’s my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy.”

Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain.

With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale.

My Thoughts:

I love books that tell familiar stories from a different perspective. In this case, we see a misunderstood, tortured Captain Hook, who is forced by Peter Pan to play the villain for life. This is a fascinating character study that turns the story of Peter Pan upside down. This is a great, lesser-known story for people who love retellings.

August 24, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 7/27/23 Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication Date: February 6, 2007

Date Read: August 10, 2010

Goodreads Synopsis:

Dana Clarke has always longed for the stability of home and family—her own childhood was not an easy one. Now she has married a man she adores who is from a prominent New England family, and she is about to give birth to their first child. But what should be the happiest day of her life becomes the day her world falls apart. Her daughter is born beautiful and healthy, but no one can help noticing the African American traits in her appearance. Dana’s husband, to her great shock and dismay, begins to worry that people will think Dana has had an affair.
The only way to repair the damage done is for Dana to track down the father she never knew and to explore the possibility of African American lineage in his family history. Dana’s determination to discover the truth becomes a poignant journey back through her past and her husband’s heritage that unearths secrets rooted in prejudice and fear.
Barbara Delinsky’s Family Tree is an utterly unforgettable novel that asks penetrating questions about race, family, and the choices people make in times of crisis—choices that have profound consequences that can last for generations.

My Thoughts:

This book is a unique look at racism and family.

July 27, 2023

Throw Back Thursday Book Review: 7/19/23 Alphabet Weekends by Elizabeth Noble

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

Date Read: November 22, 2008

Goodreads Synopsis:

Natalie and Tom have been best friends forever, but Tom wants them to be much more. When Natalie’s longtime boyfriend walks out on her just when she thinks he’s going to propose, Tom offers her a different and wildly romantic proposition. He suggests that they spend twenty-six weekends together, indulging in twenty-six different activities from A to Z, and at the end of that time Tom’s convinced they’ll be madly in love. Natalie, however, is not so sure. As Natalie’s touring the alphabet with Tom, her mother’s going through her own romantic crisis—while Tom’s unhappily married sister-in-law, Lucy, struggles with temptation. And over the course of six amazing months, three generations of passionate dreamers are going to discover that, no matter how clever they are, love—and life—is never as easy as A, B, C . . .

My Thoughts:

This as a fun friends to lovers story. Tom and Natalie alternate picking ideas for each weekend which coordinate with the letters of the alphabet. This was a fun concept and the different activities chosen helped to develop the characters in a unique way.

July 20, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 7/6/23 The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publisher: Kensington

Publication Date: July 31, 2012

Dead Read: February 28, 2016

Goodreads Synopsis:

Paris

Breathtakingly beautiful, the City of Light seduces the senses, its cobbled streets thrumming with possibility. For American Cade Corey, it’s a dream come true, if only she can get one infuriating French chocolatier to sign on the dotted line…

Chocolate

Melting, yielding yet firm, exotic, its secrets are intimately known to Sylvain Marquis. But turn them over to a brash American waving a fistful of dollars? Jamais! Not unless there’s something much more delectable on the table…

Stolen Pleasure

Whether confections taken from a locked shop or kisses in the dark, is there anything sweeter?

My Thoughts

Cade is an heiress to a chocolate company which appears to be a thinly disguised version of Hershey. While they have some of the best selling chocolate in the world, it does not have the quality of French chocolate. She is determined to discover the recipe, even if it means breaking and entering. Sylvain is apalled by the plebian American chocolate and refuses to share his secrets. But, when the natural enemies meet, sparks fly.

This is a fun hate-to-love romance which is the first book in the Amour et chocolat series. While the characters are connected, they can be read as a stand alone. Warning: you will crave chocolate while reading this book

July 6, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 6/28/23 The Boyfriend of the Month Club by Maria Geraci

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publisher: Berkley Books

Publication Date: December 7, 2010

Date Read: December 11, 2010

Synopsis:

This sexy, funny new novel asks: Can a woman find a modern-day Mr. Darcy in Daytona Beach?

At thirty, Grace O’Bryan has dated every loser in Daytona Beach. After the ultimate date-from-hell, Grace decides to turn her dwindling book club into a Boyfriend of the Month Club, where women can discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real life twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?

Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents’ failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who’s great with a smile but not so great at commitment? Unfortunately, like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers…

My Thoughts:

This is a fun contemporary romance for anyone who loves classic love stories. Grace and her book club categorize the men in their lives as Austen and Bronte characters. But real people are more complex. This results in some misteps on the road to true love. These modern characters made me look at their classic versions with new eyes.

June 29, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 6/22/23: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publishers: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: June 1, 2012

Date Read: December 8, 2013

Favorite Quote: “The act of reading is a partnership. The author builds a house, but the reader makes it a home.”
― Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer, Between the Lines

Goodreads Synopsis:

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book–one book in particular. Between the Lines” may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

My Thoughts:

Who hasn’t dreamed of a favorite book character coming to life? This is a fun diversion from Picoult’s usual issue driven fiction. While is aimed at YA readers, book lovers of any age will enjoy it.

June 22, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review 6/15/23: Austenland by Shannon Hale

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Publication Date: May 29, 2007

Date Read: September 14, 2012

Favorite Quote: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a thirty-something woman in possession of a satisfying career and fabulous hairdo must be in want of very little”
― Shannon Hale, Austenland

Goodreads Synopsis:

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man-perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of “Pride and Predjudice.” When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

My Thoughts

This is my favorite Jane Austen fan fiction that isn’t a retelling. While it pays homage to Austen, it’s really more of a tribute to Janeites. Which of us hasn’t dreamed of living in Austen’s world for just a moment? While this is a dream come true, it also brings in the reality of what it would’ve really been like to live at that time. Part of the reason there are so many busybodies running around is that gossip is the main form of entertainment. Since most of the characters in the book are actors catering to women’s Austen fantasies, the line between fantasy and reality is blurry, and keeps you on your toes throughout the book.

If you’ve seen the movie, it strays from the book, and I didn’t like it nearly as much.

June 15, 2023