Feeling Emotional with Of Mice and Men

This is one classic that I have never read.  So, I was very excited to start this adventure.  Also, I had never heard the synopsis or anything to do with this book other than references to it in movies.  I must say that it did not prepare me for what I read.  

The setting was wonderful and I learned so much from it about the lives of men who worked on ranches.  I love seeing settings that are filled with different types of people and allows me to discover a different time and place.  This setting did that.  

The characters are very vibrant.  Most of the characters were men but each were different in their own way.  They each had their own hardships and worries and that made them each real.  Because of that, I was able to see the world through their eyes and experience their lives.  My heart ached for most of these men and in most cases, I truly liked them.  There were a few characters that I disliked but they were written to be disliked.  So, Mr. Steinbeck did well when he developed these characters.  The story itself was heart-wrenching.  It was a story about dreams and broken dreams and how life intertwines with death.  It really involves all of your emotions which is what a good book does.  The characters and their stories will live with me long after reading this book.  Now, the only thing that I did have a problem with was the language.  I had to remind myself frequently that the book was written in a different time.  After jumping over that hurdle, I was able to enjoy the story.  

Finally, I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good classic.  It really is a good story that is well-written and is able to make you become emotionally involved.  

My Rating: 4

Book Cover Rating: 4

Taking Some Liberties: My review of Liberty for Paul by Rose Gordon

I have literally just finished Liberty for Paul so it is still very fresh in my mind...Which is a good thing because you'll know that this review is from someone who is still living in the story.  

First, I would like to say that I did read the first book in The Scandalous Sisters Series by the name of Intentions of the Earl.  It was a wonderful story and if you want to read my review on it, you'll find it in the older posts.  That said, I was greatly excited to read this book especially since Liberty and Paul were introduced in the first book and they were very interesting characters.  So, I had great optimism while beginning their story.  

I suppose I'll review the setting first.  England is always an interesting place especially at a time when balls were thrown and marriages were negotiated in very interesting ways.  Thankfully, Mrs. Gordon does give us a very detailed view into English society.  Also, she doesn't just show us the pretty parts of society but also the ugly parts of society too.  So, her setting was beautifully written and diverse.  

The characters are vibrant and interesting.  I was so glad to see that Liberty evolved from being plain to beautiful.  I loved that Paul even before he loved her could see that beauty.  The rest of the characters are vibrant and they have personalities that you can find yourself becoming engaged with.  I was also happy to find that Rose Gordon showed characters who may be dressed well but had horrible personalities or vice versa.  They could wear rags and be the most wonderful people.  It was very refreshing.  

The story itself was well plotted.  I loved it.  The way they misunderstood each other reminds me of the atmosphere of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  They truly do get to know each other and you get to see them fall in love.  By the way, I loved the arguments they had.  It made me laugh out loud quite a bit.    So, there is quite a bit of humor in this book.  

So, I guess I'm saying that this is one of those books that I will reread over and over again.  I love it.  I can't think of one thing wrong with the story, the setting or the characters.  I am looking forward to reading the third book.  I would like to say thank you to Rose Gordon for entertaining me.  It's such a beautiful story.  I recommend Liberty for Paul for anyone who loves a really good romance.  

 

Book Rating: 5 (I would give it more if I could)

Book Cover Rating: 5

Searching for Werewolves with Lori Handeland in Blue Moon

I love werewolf books especially werewolf romances. So, whenever I can get my hands on a werewolf book I do devour them.  Unfortunately, I am often left disappointed.  I am happy to say that this one did not leave me feeling that way at all.  So, this will be an enjoyable review.  

I'll start with the setting.  Miniwa is the perfect setting for werewolves.  It's a small town.  It's a bit of a tourist attraction but it is surrounded by forests and Native American legends.  In other words, there are plenty of dark, shadowy areas to hide in at night and it's a normal little town during the day (Except for the werewolves).  Miniwa is perfect and becomes a character in the book which is what you always look for in a good setting.  

The characters are beautifully written and absolutely believable.  I was very happy that the main character, Jessie isn't the most beautiful girl in the room.  As a matter of fact, she often describes herself as plain and so do other characters.  William Codote is beautiful inside and out but he has a vulnerability that is endearing.  I absolutely adored Edward Mandenauer's character.  Again, Mrs. Handeland is original in that he is an elderly man who fights werewolves.  Other characters such as Zelda, Clyde, Cherry and the rest of the characters in this book are very much characters that you can fall in love with.  

The story took me a minute to get into.  The very beginning dragged just a little but not enough to really bore me.  Once the action began, it kept going and I was able to be a bit more engaged.  The only part, I wish she had slowed down on is the love story.  They went from meeting to involved so quickly that you had to ask how it happened.  Still, it wasn't enough for me to focus on for too long.  The background of these characters is very interesting.  I love History and Legends and I was glad to see those intertwined in the story.  

So, the rating...I will give this book a 4.8 rating just because of the little bit of drag and then, the rush of the romance but I have high hopes that the next book will be more balanced in those areas.  I love the cover.  It's beautiful.  So, the cover gets a 5.  I do recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal romance, werewolf romance or a story steeped in History and legend.  I would like to take the time to thank Lori Handeland for writing such a stellar book.  It's beautifully written.  

Book rating: 4.8

Cover rating: 5