RoseBlood by A.G. Howard

432 p.
Publisher: Amulet Books
Published: 1/10/17
Source: NetGalley and Publisher for review

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.

My thoughts:

A retelling of Phantom of the Opera? A.G. Howard? Um... yes to all please. :) I enjoyed her other retelling of Wonderland so I was pretty sure I would enjoy my time here. I was not wrong.

I really liked how the story of the phantom unfolded and gave me a few twists and turns I did not expect. I did like Rune and Thorn and the idea of twin flames, but the romance felt weak until the end. I think all the secrecy just interfered with me getting to know them as a couple especially when they really spent so little time actually together. What stole the show was a cat and a swan. Both a familiar of sorts to the ones they have chosen to help. Both have a mind of their own and feel they know what is best for their people. If nothing else read it for those characters. I just wish they had more time in the book.

I do think that the paranormal twist in this book may not appeal to some. I didn't mind it and even appreciated it when I read the author's notes. It doesn't quite flow with the characters naturally as you first read it, but upon reflection you can see why the author took that direction.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. If you like retellings, if you like twists (I really did not see one of them coming) then you need to pick up this book. It was a fun time and I really enjoyed her author notes at the end which tells how she got the idea and some of the history involved. I also understand that the book has some of Christine's (the Phantom's bride) journal entries in it. I wish the ARC had it so I guess there is a book I need to buy. Twist my arm. LOL

Oh and that cover! 💓

Holiday Entertainment: Part 2

Part 2

Okay, good suggestions: Christmas Vacation is one I forgot which falls under my odd category. Also forgot to mention A Christmas Story and Elf which is a fairly recent one. I cannot yet see Krampus since it is horror and despite my oddity, I'm still a wimp. LOL

How about classics? 

Thanks to Rummanah for a reminder.

It's A Wonderful Life

My mom's fave version of A Christmas Carol:

Can't forget:

Miracle on 34th Street

And although this one is still fairly new, I consider it a classic.

Jack and Sally! 

The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Oh yea, so many classics.

Music?

How about:

Best song of the season... 

ROFL!

Classic Rock?

I haven't found any new ones that I really like. Maybe it is because I'm still not quite there in the spirit of things...

Anyway...

A bit more traditional...

Trans-Siberian Orchestra:

Manheim Steamroller:

💝

And for those that don't celebrate, just mention what you like to listen or watch at this time of the year. Usually we have our own traditions. I have family who is Christian, who don't celebrate at all, and who are different religions. I know several religious holidays are observed at this time. Not excluding anyone, but just making a typical US list of what usually goes on during this time of the  year (many of my non-Christian family enjoys some of those classic holiday films and I have gotten suggestions from them as well). Again, please share if you want of your own traditions both religious and secular! I love to either be reminded of things I may have forgotten or learn something new!

💝

I'm still trying to get into the spirit and you can help... Tell me what kindness you have done and enter for a fun prize. I know it isn't much, but something I thought would be fun to get. I think we all need to see a good dose of kindness right now.

Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis

Standalone
300 p.
Publisher: Pyr
Published: 4/12/16
Source: From publisher for review

The year is 1779, and Carlo Morelli, the most renowned castrato singer in Europe, has been invited as an honored guest to Eszterháza Palace. With Carlo in Prince Nikolaus Esterházy's carriage, ride a Prussian spy and one of the most notorious alchemists in the Habsburg Empire. Already at Eszterháza is Charlotte von Steinbeck, the very proper sister of Prince Nikolaus's mistress. Charlotte has retreated to the countryside to mourn her husband's death. Now, she must overcome the ingrained rules of her society in order to uncover the dangerous secrets lurking within the palace's golden walls. Music, magic, and blackmail mingle in a plot to assassinate the Habsburg Emperor and Empress--a plot that can only be stopped if Carlo and Charlotte can see through the masks worn by everyone they meet.

My thoughts:

Oh the cover intrigued me and so did the blurb and yet I really didn't know what to expect in this book. I just knew it was about a historical setting, opera, and lots of music... and a bit of the paranormal thrown in. Yea, I knew this one would be for me.

The book goes through several POVs but what was confusing at first was just remembering who was who and that would have been a problem for me if it was only one POV. Quickly, it did settle in my head enough that the book took off and then shortly after that I had all the players securely in my head.

A mystery flows through the book and we know that the Prince is a big part of it. However, what is being planned and how much damage will be wrought? There is an undercurrent of secret society with a demon at it's center but those things tended to stay at the periphery until the end. The end culminates with the mystery surrounding the story, music and a whole lot of explosive magic. It was a complete ending.

I enjoyed that aspect of the story but what really captured me was the romance between Carlo a castrato and Charlotte who was newly widowed. Both have let society dictate their lives and both have suffered for it. They also need to learn to trust and it is hard trusting one another. However, I really was impressed with Charlotte shunning the drama for truth and that helped the romance move forward. I didn't quite see why Carlo loved Charlotte as much as I was able to see the reverse, but it didn't matter as I was still swept up in their romance. This part of the story really moved the rest of the mystery along more than the other POVs in the story.

I give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed the historical setting, the feel of Hyden's music, and the mystery behind it all. I recommend it to those that love historical mystery fiction with a bit of paranormal at the fringes.

RIP, Music, Crafts, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day

What is with the end of last year and the beginning of this one? I've noticed that a lot of people have lost family members (so much ((HUGS)) if you need it even if you haven't lost someone, I'm sure you know someone who has so you might need one anyway) and we have lost some great talent. Natalie Cole, Lemmy from Motorhead, David Bowie and Alan Rickman. The ones that were male and seemed to be 69 (Lemmy JUST turned 70). So surreal. We need more creativity and love in this world right now, not less. So, grim reaper... knock it off!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Music:
I think this was the best tribute to David Bowie. It was done 2 years ago, but Chris Hadfield dedicated it to him recently. Yes, if you didn't know... that is space and Chris is a real astronaut aboard the International Space Station for the vid.


...and one done by that babe with power all grown up:

This was shot while filming his own show: "Lessons Learned"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crafts:

Braine of TalkSupe is getting crafty book bloggers together. If you would like to join (the deets are still being worked out) then contact her. Just goto her blog, TalkSupe for contact information. :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With what has been going on in politics these days I think it is a good thing to take time to honor someone who was trying to do good for everyone. 

I hope you have a great day filled with love and a lot less loss. ♥︎

Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

Standalone
288 p.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 10/27/15
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review

A beautiful violinist is haunted by a very old piece of music she finds in a strange antique shop in Rome. 

The first time Julia Ansdell picks up The Incendio Waltz, she knows it’s a strikingly unusual composition. But while playing the piece, Julia blacks out and awakens to find her young daughter implicated in acts of surprising violence. And when she travels to Venice to find the previous owner of the music, she uncovers a dark secret that involves dangerously powerful people—a family who would stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light.

My thoughts:

Another book I almost DNF'd because of one incident at the beginning. *spoiler (highlight to read)* She finds her cat stabbed and the likely culprit is her 3 yr old child. Two things I hate. Killing the animal and involving a kid. UGH. *end spoiler* I decided to push on because I had to know what happened to her child and I'm glad I did. Note to authors... stop it. Don't do what I said in the spoiler. I hate it and you could have done at least some of the same thing differently. Okay, off my soapbox. ;)

The rest of the story was engaging and I found myself captivated with the mystery Julia seems bound within the music. This part of the story feels haunting and paranormal and we aren't quite sure what is real. I love feeling off set in that manner. The story also shares a POV with Lorenzo who is an Italian Jew in WWII and how his story enter-twines with the music Julia found. The author ends up telling the story of Lorenzo and the others without dwelling on what happened but makes it no less horrific. The mystery is about how the music came about, and the players within the story both past and present.

I give this book 4 stars. I loved the authors prose and it was perfect to convey both the beauty of a piece of music as well as the tragic circumstances that surround it's inception and it's discovery. We find out all the parts of the story in the end and it is a satisfying ending to a short but powerful book. I do recommend it and if you find yourself in the same position as I did in the beginning, push through it, you will be happy you did.

Wisp of a Thing: A Novel of the Tufa (Tufa #2) by Alex Bledsoe

Series: Tufa #2
352p.
Publisher: Tor
Available Now
Source: From Tor for review

Alex Bledsoe’s The Hum and the Shiver was named one of the Best Fiction Books of 2011 by Kirkus Reviews. Now with Wisp of a Thing Bledsoe returns to the isolated ridges and hollows of the Smoky Mountains to spin an equally enchanting tale of music and magic older than the hills… 

Touched by a very public tragedy, musician Rob Quillen comes to Cloud County, Tennessee, in search of a song that might ease his aching heart. All he knows of the mysterious and reclusive Tufa is what he has read on the internet: they are an enigmatic clan of swarthy, black-haired mountain people whose historical roots are lost in myth and controversy. Some people say that when the first white settlers came to the Appalachians centuries ago, they found the Tufa already there. Others hint that Tufa blood brings special gifts. 

Rob finds both music and mystery in the mountains. Close-lipped locals guard their secrets, even as Rob gets caught up in a subtle power struggle he can’t begin to comprehend. A vacationing wife goes missing, raising suspicions of foul play, and a strange feral girl runs wild in the woods, howling in the night like a lost spirit.
Change is coming to Cloud County, and only the night wind knows what part Rob will play when the last leaf falls from the Widow’s Tree…and a timeless curse must be broken at last.

My thoughts:
I had read the first book, The Hum and the Shiver, which surprised me. I really enjoyed that book and it was a different kind of paranormal story. While you could probably get into the story without reading the first book, I do not suggest it. There are some subtle background to this world you understand better if you read it in order. It makes this book flow better.

In this book we are thrown back into the Tufa world though the eyes of Rob Quillen who looks like a Tufa, but isn't connected to them by blood. Having been sent to the area in search of a song to heal a broken heart he finds much more than he bargained. He also finds that helping others helps the pain to be less severe. He also stumbles on a age old mystery that has held a community captive. We also find out that there are even more mysteries than we first thought and through the story it shows us where the mysteries lie and how to solve them. The only question left is if they will be brave enough to use the solution.

I give this book 4 stars. It is a good second book and I really enjoyed the dark ethereal world. Those that like unusual and inventive stories of the fae and music will really like this series.

The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it's over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano -- on her own terms. But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside the exclusive world of privileged San Francisco families, top junior music competitions, and intense mentorships. The Lucy Variations is a story of one girl's struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself. It's about finding joy again, even when things don't go according to plan. Because life isn't a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way.

In the book we have Lucy who is a child prodigy for the piano. She was molded in her grandfathers image of what a successful musician should be, even though she was a small child. She loved the music, but when that became the only world she saw, she became tired of the whole competition scene. She missed so much and after a family betrayal, she walked away. However, can you put that much pressure on a child and expect them to decide what they will or won't do for the rest of their life at the age of 15/16? It's this theme as well as growing into adulthood is what the book is all about.

There were some parts that people may not like. There was some very close to inappropriate behavior from the older adult crushes she had. It never went too far, however, and they also became springboards for her growth. It also made sense that she would have these crushes on older adults since her childhood was filled with adults and looking for that approval from them. She had to grow and relearn much of what may have otherwise come naturally.

I do admit I didn't like Will, an older prodigy who helps her get back to what she loved who does skate closer to the inappropriate behavior than any other character. His manipulations were angering, but I loved the way Lucy handled it in the end. So, I thought her behavior in the end was more adult than then adults that surrounded her. Lucy had great character growth. She does adress his behavior in a very adult manner. Much more adult than Will showed. Without that growth, I'd have to say I would have not liked this book at all.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. It is a good character growth book and a good music book. It's about finding out who you are and what you love in life.

I received this eARC from Little Brown and no compensation for my review was given.

Review and Giveaway: Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

They say first love never dies... 

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there? 

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.

Notes From Ghost Town Review:
The book starts out as a sweet YA. Two friends who have known each other since they were very little start noticing each other in a new way. Both are embarking on their own adventure, just starting out in life. The sweetness of this beginning only enhances the horror to come. Lucas, aka Stern, is dead a week later and her mother is accused of his murder. In the midst of it all Kate loses all color. Everything is grey and it's not just her circumstances of what is happening around her. It's something as an artist she can't seem to fathom and is afraid she is becoming like her mother, schizophrenic.

This is just the start of the book. Not only do we have the mystery of Kate's illness, but we also suddenly get the appearance of Stark back in her life. Stark's ghost who claims that Kate's mother had nothing to do with his murder. Kate starts looking for clues trying to not only save her mother, but in doing so, she is also saving herself.

As far as how the mystery plays out, I'd have to say I was captivated. I enjoyed the way it unfolded and even how Kate seemed to find pieces of herself at the same time. I would have to say that there was only one loose end involving a lawyer, but even though I noticed, it did not take away the fun of wrapping up the rest of the mystery.

As a side note, I did have one thing that went through my mind about Kate's inability to see color. I thought that it would actually end up making her a stronger painter in the end. She would be able to concentrate on contrasts without the distraction of color. However, I understand why she may not have seen it the same way especially when she was really worried about becoming sick like her mother. Oh and yea.. I'm probably the only one who thought of that while reading the book. What can I say, I'm strange like that. :)

I give this book 4 stars. It's a good mystery that doesn't start out with one but builds as you go on Kate's adventure.

I received this ARC from Media Masters and no compensation for my review was given.

Check out the author's blog! You have a link to some of her artwork which is worth checking out!

• Kate's Blog
• Kate's Etsy Store: ScandalMonger

Where to purchase a copy of Notes from Ghost Town:

• Barnes and Noble
• Amazon
• Indiebound

Winner gets both books! Notes from Ghost Town will be a HC and The Butterfly Clues will be a paperback! Both published by Egmont. Open to US/Can snail addys only.

Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter:

The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor

From Goodreads:
She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah!

When Regina Bloomsbury’s band, the Caverns, breaks up, she thinks it’s all over. And then she makes a wish—

 “I wish I could be as famous as the Beatles.”

 The Beatles are her music idols. The next day, she gets up to find that the Caverns are not just as famous as the Beatles, they have replaced them in history! Regina is living like a rock star, and loving it. There are talk shows, music videos, and live concerts with thousands of screaming fans. And Regina is the star of it all.

 But fame is getting the better of Regina, and she has a decision to make. Does she want to replace the Beatles forever?

 Here is a rocking novel about the good and the bad of Hollywood, fame, and rock ’n roll.

Regina is a musician just trying to keep her band together and find at least one paying gig. As the band breaks up with two of the musicians off to play for another band, Regina makes a wish to be as famous as her favorite band, the Beatles. That would solve everything, right? The next morning she finds that her wish came true by a mysterious fairy godmother. She has 3 days to make a decision. Does she want to spend the rest of her life in this alternate reality or go back to her life as she knew it? As she starts this journey she is certain of what she wants and what she will chose... or does she?

I have to admit that while I loved the premise (hey, it's the Beatles, so I had to read!) I wasn't sure how this was going to play out. I mean, can you really replace such an iconic band? I think Mr. Taylor writes this well and it is a fast paced novel. It is also written simply so that MG readers will get a lot out of this novel as well. In fact, I thought it was MG when I started reading it. However, some of the trials Regina goes through are typical for a YA novel, so I do believe that was the writer's intent.

I must say that I loved the idea of this book to deal with "fame". I felt it was the type of fame we see so often lately. The kind that comes without any real talent or creativity. In other words, fame for the sake of fame. Because what else could that be if you are claiming someone else's talent as one's own? The question becomes, in the end of this book, if you (Regina in this case) are brave enough to rely on yourself? Can you trust in your own talent? I love that philosophy that was incorporated into this book.

All in all I give this book 4 stars. I think the philosophy is perfect for the YA and MG crowd. I also think it is perfect in the days of Snooki (sorry, guys... don't watch the show and don't mean to dis but I don't get that whole reality tv thing. Yes, you can hate on me for hating on that. lol). Oh, and one word to those that go "Beatles who?" PLEASE! Music is music. If it's good... it's timeless. :D

I received this book from the publisher and no compensation was given for my review. I thought it was published (Jan. 4 is the date on the book) but it looks like it was pushed back to Feb. 15th.



...and since this dealt with Beatles songs not sung by Beatles.. I present my favorite rendition of Let it Be from Across the Universe