The Paige Turner

A blog for young adult book lovers

The Royals of Cordina: Bennett & Camilla (The Playboy Prince & Cordina's Crown Jewel) by Nora Roberts

$Bennett & Camilla: The Playboy Prince\Cordina's Crown Jewel$

Synopsis from Goodreads: #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Nora Roberts presents two timeless stories of happily-ever-afters in these classic tales about Cordina's Royal FamilyThe Playboy Prince
When it comes to women, Prince Bennett has always enjoyed a challenge. So after meeting the quiet and beautiful Lady Hannah Rothchild, the dashing playboy cannot rest until he breaks through her careful reserve. Love had always been a game to Bennett, but with this elusive, mysterious woman he discovers his heart is on the line, and he's playing for keeps.…
Cordina's Crown Jewel
For a few precious weeks, Her Royal Highness Camilla de Cordina could be just plain Camilla MacGee. Working in rural Vermont for the devastatingly handsome and utterly cantankerous archaeologist Delaney Caine is the perfect refuge. But Camilla's irritation with the man soon turns into fascination, then desire, and the royal runaway knows she'll have to confess. Would Del see her as a woman to be loved, or dismiss her as a royal pain?

Number of pages: 475
My review: This was another Nora Roberts book that had two romance stories in one. So I’ll review them separately and then compare the two.

The first one “Bennett,” or, “The Playboy Prince” was not as good as “Camilla”, or, “Cordina’s Crown Jewel.” Both stories take place within a fictional country named Cordina and Bennet is a royal prince and Camilla is a royal princess. Bennett is Camilla’s uncle.

The Playboy Prince really confused me. The two love interests, Bennett and Hannah, didn’t suck me in as much as Camilla’s story, or even any other Nora Roberts romance. I was confused as to what Hannah’s purpose was within the Cordina palace. I wasn’t sure if she was on their side or not (Hannah is sort of an undercover agent who works for her country and also works as a double agent for the enemy, Deboque). However, it wasn’t until halfway through the story that I really realized she was not working solely for the enemy. However, that could have been my own incompetence. Harhar.

Overall, I liked Bennett’s story though. There was more action and adventure than I was used to in a Nora Roberts novel. It was sweet and not totally overdone. It didn’t feel like she was trying too hard.

Camilla’s story on the other hand simply blew me away. I LOVED it. Basically Camilla takes a break from here palatial life and goes off on her own to try to tough out her own life. Moving from town to town until she gets into a car accident and the grouchy, yet sexy, Dr. Delaney Caine picks her up and gives her a place to stay until her car gets fixed. He also gives her a job and slowly they get to know each other even though Del stays grouchy and, at times, unresponsive. Obviously, they begin to develop feelings for one and other, but Del still doesn’t know that she is a princess. And the rest? Well read it to find out. I just loved their confrontations with each other and enjoyed reading about the two of them. There was never a dull moment.

If you love romance and royal prince and princesses than you should totally pick this up. These are actually the third and fourth books in the Royals of Cordina stories. I can’t wait to read the first two!

See you soon!

Bout of Books Read-A-Thon Goals & Updates

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Eeep! I'm so excited! This will be the first Bout of Books Read-A-Thon I'm participating in, and since the last Read-A-Thon I did went to so well, I decided to take a shot at another one.

Anyways, I plan on trying to read at least 5 books and of course participate in tons of Twitter and commenting shenanigans. Not sure if it counts for the challenge but I will be trying to finish up one book too. The books I'll most likely read are:

(This is the book I will be finishing)

$Bennett & Camilla: The Playboy Prince\Cordina's Crown Jewel$ The MacGregor Grooms

Throughout the week I'll also be posting updates and thoughts throughout the week. Are you participating in this read-a-thon? Leave a link to what you'll be reading below and I'll come check it out!

Monday
Books finished: The 100 by Kass Morgan
Pages read (total): 277
Comments: I definitely need to cut down on distractions and really focus on my reading!

Tuesday
Books finished: The 100 by Kass Morgan
Pages read (total): 377 (from the Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough)
Comments: Didn't have much time to read today, I need to FOCUS!

Wednesday
Books finished: The 100 by Kass Morgan
Pages read (total): 505
Comments: Almost done with The Thorn Birds. Will probably finish that one and one other book tomorrow.

Thursday
Books finished: The 100 by Kass Morgan and The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Pages read (total): 861
Comments: Finished The Thorn Birds today yay! Also decided to switch out reading The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa, for The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts (I have to read this one for a feminist class I'm taking in college).

Friday
Books finished:The 100 by Kass Morgan, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, and The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts
Pages read (total): 1,139
Comments: Yay finished another book today! Can't wait to start another tomorrow!

Saturday
Books finished: The 100 by Kass Morgan, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, and The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts
Pages read (total): 1,189
Comments: I have decided to replace the Victoria Foyt book with the Nora Roberts book. Only managed 50 pages today but hopefully I'll finish another tomorrow!

Sunday
Books finished: The 100 by Kass Morgan, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, and The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts
Pages read (total): 1, 239
Comments: Well it looks like I only managed to finish 3 books but I read more than a thousand pages which is super cool! Only managed to squeeze in 50 pages from the other Nora Roberts book. Can't wait to do this again though!

See you soon!

Author Interview with Rachel Amphlett

Hey everyone! This is my first author interview! Huge thanks to Rachel Amphlett for answering my questions and agreeing to be apart of this. Also, big thanks to @FeedMyReads on Twitter for setting this up. Let's get started:

For people who don't know you can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m originally from the UK and moved to Brisbane, Australia eight years ago. In the past I’ve played guitar in bands, worked as a broadcast assistant with BBC Radio, been a TV/film extra, worked in publishing and helped run a pub in the English countryside. Not all at the same time.

What inspired you to first start writing?

I’ve always had a very good imagination so I guess it was a natural progression from that – I enjoy telling stories. I have a thirst for learning so I’m always reading newspaper articles and a lot of those inspire new ideas for stories too.

What is the name of your most recent book? Can you give us a short description?

Under Fire follows explosives expert Dan Taylor as he tries to prevent a terrorist attack on the UK’s gas supplies during the worst winter on record before innocent lives are lost

What is your all-time favorite book?

I always say Jack Higgins’ The Eagle Has Landed because I first read my Grandad’s copy when I was about 12 or 13 and that got me hooked on the thriller genre. I read it again earlier this year knowing that I’d probably get asked this question and it’s still a great read.

Do you prefer ebooks or physical copies?

Both – eBooks are great to try out new authors, or read books where the author hasn’t published in paperback, but I love physical copies – I have hundreds!

Do you ever write in your PJ's?

No – I don’t own PJs.

Anything else you would like to share?

PAPERBACK:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Under-Fire-Rachel-Amphlett/dp/0992268508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375729690&sr=1-1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Fire-Rachel-Amphlett/dp/0992268508/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375729740&sr=1-2

Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Under-Fire-Rachel-Amphlett/9780992268503

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-fire-rachel-amphlett/1116277394?ean=9780992268503

EBOOK

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Under-Fire-ebook/dp/B00EC7341Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375729789&sr=1-3

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Fire-ebook/dp/B00EC7341Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375729740&sr=1-4

Diesel: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000344166/Amphlett-Rachel-Under-Fire/1.html

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/under-fire/id685768597?mt=11

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-fire-rachel-amphlett/1116277394?ean=2940045199704

You can get in touch with me via

Website: www.rachelamphlett.com

Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

Facebook: Rachel Amphlett - author

Hope you enjoyed!
See you soon!

Stacking the Shelves #20

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is a way to show off what books you have received throughout the week (whether they be for review, from the library, etc.)

August 18th-August 25th, 2013

Received from Paperbackswap:

The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts

Fruits Basket Vol. 4 by Natsuki Takaya

Received through the ARCycling program:

The Marriage Merger by Jennifer Probst

That's all! What did you guys get this week? Leave a comment below and I'll come check it out!

See you soon!

The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts

Synopsis from Goodreads: The Matchmaking MacGregorIt worked with his granddaughters. Now Daniel MacGregor, powerful patriarch of the MacGregor clan, wants to see his three handsome and eligible—but stubbornly single—grandsons married. So he's found just the women to tempt, tease and torture D.C., Duncan and Ian all the way to the altar!
And you can be sure that if Daniel MacGregor wants something, he will stop at nothing to get it!

Number of pages: 368
My review: Gosh you know I just love a good Nora Roberts book. I flew through this in a day. The first series I read by her was the Bride Quartet series and I absolutely loved it. The MacGregors also rank really high up there for me.
It's just such easy and quick reading, and the romance! Oh my! Can I just live in a Nora Roberts novel and have all these handsome men running around and being ready to sweep me off my feet?
This specific edition had three mini-stories in one. So the different stories delved into the romances of D.C., Duncan, and Ian. I loved all of them, but Ian was by far my favorite. He was that smart, handsome, bookish guy who really knows how to respect a girl and treat her the right way. D.C. and Duncan were both more...aggressive and forward with their actions. Fun to read about but I could never picture myself with them.
At first I didn't think I would like the idea of the matchmaking grandfather, but it actually wasn't as overpowering of a plot line as expected. He would just pop up every once and awhile and gradually guide a couple towards each other. Speaking of the MacGregor family members, I totally wish I could be apart of their family because it just sounds so fun, welcoming, and charming. Yay for Scottish men!
Sometimes I was confused by how everyone was related, but I think that was because I hadn't started the series off with book one. I definitely want to go back and read the other books that are apart of this series. I just had to read this one for a feminist class I'll be taking in college.
So, if you love romance, Nora Roberts, and extremely attractive and sexy men, then definitely pick this up! Also, I just love this cover. I think it's so beautiful with the combination of colors.
See you soon!

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Synopsis from Goodreads: Powered by the dreams and struggles of three generations, THE THORN BIRDS is the epic saga of a family rooted in the Australian sheep country. At the story's heart is the love of Meggie Cleary, who can never possess the man she desperately adores, and Ralph de Bricassart, who rises from parish priest to the inner circles of the Vatican...but whose passion for Meggie will follow him all the days of his life.

Number of pages: 692
My review: Wow. What a novel. I can't even begin to explain the feels I have for this book. It's like I love it, but also hate it...but in a good way. There was just so much death and heartbreak! Just when I thought everything was okay, things would completely do a 180 and become not okay at all!
At times I wanted to scream at the characters for doing what I wanted, but in the end some of them triumphed. I guess what I really liked about The Thorn Birds was not only the forbidden romance, but also the struggles of the characters. It just really conveyed that in life things don't always go perfectly and as planned. We must perservere and battle not only our inner demons, but also fight against social norms.
I read in a review somewhere that this was like a Gone with the Wind, but Australian, and I'm not sure if I agree with that 100%. I would compare this more to Roses by Leila Meacham, which is another long epic that also delves into forbidden romance, family ties and obligations, and injustice.
This is one of those books where you'll cry for the characters and scream at the author like "IT'S JUST NOT FAIR. WHYYYYY."
Or maybe that was just me.
It may be a little slow getting into, but once you have progressed through the first 20 to 30 pages, you'll be sucked into the stories that this fictional family has to tell and show.
See you soon!

The 100 by Kass Morgan

Synopsis from Goodreads: In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

Publication Date: September 3rd, 2013
Number of pages: 277
My review: Hmmm. Lot's of conflicting emotions over this book. For the first 100 (no pun intended) pages I was bored with the story. But after that things really started to get rolling.
I also had some problems with a few other things, namely; too many switching viewpoints between characters. I was so confused as to who was who, and only started to really grasp it towards the middle/end of the book. But maybe that's my own incompetence.
Also, the names of the characters were all weird so this sort of aided in the not knowing who is who debacle.
Another thing I wasn't a fan of was the fact that there was constantly the switching between present day and then events from the past. I felt it just made everything more confusing. However, I understand and appreciate why it was written that way. There adds more mystery and more for the reader to keep guessing over until the end of the book. Which brings me to my next point...
The ending! What the heck! Such a cliffhanger! I want to know what happens next right now and the book hasn't even been published yet! So unfair.
There were some things I did like though! These include:
Clarke. She is such a badass and is definitely one of my all-time favorite characters. She's so smart! You don't find that very often in YA fiction, and she does what she wants. When her man treats her like crap she has no problem saying "see ya" and doing her own thing for awhile.
Also, I love the premise of the story. Just awesome. And the romance? Hello, love that!
After the staring at the cover for awhile though I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I like it, but then again I don't. Maybe it's the white background.
Anyways, if you're a fan of Across the Universe by Beth Revis then I would definitely recommend this. And give the book a chance it gets so much better towards the middle/end.
See you soon!

Stacking the Shelves #19

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is a way to show off what books you have received throughout the week (whether they be for review, from the library, etc.)

I am a little behind so here's what I got so far in August.

Received for review:

Game On: A Varsity Novel by Melanie Spring

The 100 by Kass Morgan

Won from a giveaway on Goodreads:

Summer Melody by Toddie Downs

Received from PaperBackSwap.com:

Dangerous Men Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance by New Cultural Studies Series (I had to get this book for a college feminism class I will be taking in the fall)

Purchased from a local used bookstore:

Bennett and Camilla: The Playboy Prince/Cordina's Crown Jewel by Nora Roberts