Hello everyone! Happy Monday!
Sometimes Mondays are cool days, trust me, they really are when you have the day off after working the weekend! After all the cupcaking and celebrating and photo editing for my friend's wedding, I'm a bit behind on reads and reviews, so this week I'm gonna stick to just one book & review per day, so this is the one and only entry for Mark This Book Monday!
As this is an ARC review it counts as part of my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge! Thank you so much Bloomsbury Spark and Jen McConnel for sending me the ARC of this book!
Her Secret Inheritance by Jen McConnel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
After reading The Secret of Isobel Key, I joined the author street team on Facebook, so I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this novella sequel for review!
Her Secret Inheritance starts 5 years after the end of Isobel, and before I talk any more about the book, be warned, it's likely that there will be spoilers for the previous book. Lou is once again on her way to Scotland, and this time her reason to go there is not as happy an occasion as it was the previous time.
It seems that despite the sort of closure we got by the end of the last book about the ghosts of the past, not everything was set to rest, and so Lou finds herself involved in unexpected paranormal happenings. Not only that, she has to face her choices in the past when she meets Brian again, the boy she left behind when she chose to find herself and get to know her biological family.
That was actually one of my favourite parts of the last book, how finding a guy she liked and could love and that could be in love with her was not all the answers that she needed. Of course that means that meeting Brian again is tough to face for her, and not at all easy for him either.
Once again we switch perspectives from the present to the past, and from Lou to Brian, and that helps presenting a fuller picture of the whole story, not just for this book but also for Isobel Key. I'm thinking I really want to read a purely historical fiction book from Jen badly, because she writes about the past so wonderfully!
Brian was not as charming in this one as he was on the first book, and to a point I can understand him being wounded and unhappy about being left behind without much of an explanation, but he acting a bit too much like an ass on a couple of occasions. Lou has grown up, she's found herself and what she loves and she's grown, but she hasn't lost her tendency to not stand up for herself when the going gets rough. She should have called Brian on his bullshit a lil earlier for my taste, and maybe simply talk about things first to clear the air, no matter how hard it'd seemed.
I was glad to read how everything was wrapped up, how Lou decided on her path once again on her own reasons, and not just for a swoony guy, no matter how swoony he might be, but at the same time I liked how the possibility of a second chance is presented.
All in all, a quick read that reminded me of my love for Scotland and that was quite a satisfying sequel. Well deserved 3 to 3.5 stars.
View all my reviews
Sometimes Mondays are cool days, trust me, they really are when you have the day off after working the weekend! After all the cupcaking and celebrating and photo editing for my friend's wedding, I'm a bit behind on reads and reviews, so this week I'm gonna stick to just one book & review per day, so this is the one and only entry for Mark This Book Monday!
As this is an ARC review it counts as part of my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge! Thank you so much Bloomsbury Spark and Jen McConnel for sending me the ARC of this book!
Her Secret Inheritance by Jen McConnelMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
After reading The Secret of Isobel Key, I joined the author street team on Facebook, so I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this novella sequel for review!
Her Secret Inheritance starts 5 years after the end of Isobel, and before I talk any more about the book, be warned, it's likely that there will be spoilers for the previous book. Lou is once again on her way to Scotland, and this time her reason to go there is not as happy an occasion as it was the previous time.
It seems that despite the sort of closure we got by the end of the last book about the ghosts of the past, not everything was set to rest, and so Lou finds herself involved in unexpected paranormal happenings. Not only that, she has to face her choices in the past when she meets Brian again, the boy she left behind when she chose to find herself and get to know her biological family.
That was actually one of my favourite parts of the last book, how finding a guy she liked and could love and that could be in love with her was not all the answers that she needed. Of course that means that meeting Brian again is tough to face for her, and not at all easy for him either.
Once again we switch perspectives from the present to the past, and from Lou to Brian, and that helps presenting a fuller picture of the whole story, not just for this book but also for Isobel Key. I'm thinking I really want to read a purely historical fiction book from Jen badly, because she writes about the past so wonderfully!
Brian was not as charming in this one as he was on the first book, and to a point I can understand him being wounded and unhappy about being left behind without much of an explanation, but he acting a bit too much like an ass on a couple of occasions. Lou has grown up, she's found herself and what she loves and she's grown, but she hasn't lost her tendency to not stand up for herself when the going gets rough. She should have called Brian on his bullshit a lil earlier for my taste, and maybe simply talk about things first to clear the air, no matter how hard it'd seemed.
I was glad to read how everything was wrapped up, how Lou decided on her path once again on her own reasons, and not just for a swoony guy, no matter how swoony he might be, but at the same time I liked how the possibility of a second chance is presented.
All in all, a quick read that reminded me of my love for Scotland and that was quite a satisfying sequel. Well deserved 3 to 3.5 stars.
View all my reviews
I skimmed your review Pili since you mentioned spoilers for book 1, but I did see the word Scotland and that has me wanting to read this book immediately! Anything set in Scotland is a winner for me, I'm in love with that country. This is the same author as Daughter of Chaos correct? I'm really excited for that one and didn't know she had another series out there, I'll have to check this out!
ReplyDeleteYep, the very same, Jenny! If you love anything set in Scotland and with witches and wicca, you'll have to check out The Secret of Isobel Key and this one! Both have dual narrative between past and present and have a lot of Scotland in them! ;)
DeleteYAY for street team books! I've never heard of this book, but I am familiar with the author. I don't think I'll check put this book or series - Scotland sounds fabulous, but I'm ehh on the paranormal aspect. I'm glad you're enjoying the series! Fabulous review, lady!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Thank you, Alyssa!!
DeleteSigh. Don't sound like a book for me, lol :D But I'm glad you managed to enjoy it a little. <3 Amazing review sweetie :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked this sequel, Pili. Same as the first one I'm fascinated by the past/present perspectives and I think I've only ever read 1 book - though I can't remember the title now lol - told in that way but I remember I loved it. Too bad that Brian wasn't as likeable in this one. At least lou has grown some even if not in all angles - I wish more girls in YA and NA were feistier >.< Great review, Pili darling!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Giselle! I completely agree with you on wishing for feistier girls!
DeleteIt's the first time I've come across this series and I couldn't quite following the characters in the review hehe!! I'm very curious about street team books though, will be looking up more on that =)
ReplyDeleteAlicia @ Summer Next Top Story
Sorry about that Alicia! Thanks for dropping by the blog!
DeleteI've never heard of this series before, but you make quite the case for it, Pili! I think that Brian would bother me, if only because his persona was a bit grating. I love the sound of the setting though! Great review :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, Brian DID bother me but things got better for them both in the end! Thank you, Melissa!
DeleteHmmmm, I'm not sure this one is going to be for me. It is good to hear you were able to enjoy some of it. Thanks for the review. It's good to be able to rule out certain books.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear my review was helpful, Vivien!
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