The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

* * * * *

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Source: advance galley provided by Delacorte Press/Random House


Oh boy. Where do I even begin? This book lit me up, giving me so much to smile about and to be thankful for. It's an intense story that plays upon your emotions and curiosities. In between the frenzy there are thoughtful pauses where you learn something new. Okay, I'm rambling so let me do this better ...

Most of the story takes place in one day where one tiny act sets everything in motion. First thing in the morning, Natasha heads over to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to plead her family's case against deportation. By some stroke of luck, fluke or divine intervention, whatever you call it, she ends up meeting with a different agent who gives her the name of a lawyer who may be able to help. At the same time, Daniel is making his way across town to a college interview. They cross paths which ends up redirecting their day.

While Natasha and Daniel carry the bulk of the narrative, there are chapters interspersed throughout providing brief glimpses into the lives of various characters. Some of them figure prominently in Natasha and Daniel's worlds while others are simply fleeting encounters. There are also chapters devoted to cultural concepts or social history. Remember those thoughtful pauses I mentioned earlier? These chapters are unexpectedly fascinating, giving you an entirely new perspective on what you don't usually notice. I just ate it up. The overarching plot is that every one of the players in this story is somehow connected and that every event or incident has a purpose. This one day when the pragmatic and self-sufficient Natasha, meets the dreamer and idealistic Daniel, it's meant to happen. The bond they develop throughout this one day changes them irrevocably. 

TSIAAS is one of the most beautiful books I've read this year. I was just ready to fall in love with it and it's partly to do with Nicola Yoon. She taps into something so intrinsic and visceral about her characters. There are details about them that become so tangible, for example, how Natasha finds bliss when she's listening to her beloved 90's alternative music. Or how Daniel derives order through poetry. Even the ones who have only a chapter or two devoted to them come alive because she has this magic that enables you to feel what's at their core. Yoon also draws from the characters' Jamaican and Korean heritages. Natasha being a transplant from Jamaica and Daniel being a first generation American, bring their unique perspectives to their surroundings and experiences. 

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Nicola Yoon at a YA luncheon last year and was I ever the fangirl! She is pure delight and warmth - I swear she naturally radiates joy. See the picture? Isn't she just so adorable? I think all that joy infuses her work and that's why her writing means so much to me. You know how you wish you could wind back the clock and read something for the first time again? TSIAAS is that kind of a book. If you read Everything, Everything and fell under its spell then you'll be as equally enchanted by this one. If you're new to Nicola Yoon then you're in for a treat! 

~ Bel

The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

* * 1/2

England, 1584.



When beautiful Lady Jane Rievaulx begins her service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled to see the court's newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey.



No matter that Jane was previously courted by the eldest Lacey brother-James is the one who has won her heart. For his part, James cannot deny his fascination with Jane; his plans, however, do not allow for love. He is about to set sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, only one man can save her. Will Master James return to his lady before it's too late?



In the Other Countess we learned that Master James and Lady Jane have feelings for each other but neither act on those feelings due to the circumstances in which they met and part ways. In The Queen’s Lady, Lady Jane has become a widow after only a few months of marriage. Her late husband kindly arranged for her to be one of Queen Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting after his death. Master James has been serving as a scout/spy in the war with Spain. He has returned home sad and disillusioned with life and himself. Hoping that time away will heal his mental state, James’ brother and brother-in-law urge him to take part in a expedition to America. During the planning of the expedition (which is run by the Queen’s favorite, Raleigh) James spends some time at Court where he again meets the Lady Jane. After a few misunderstandings, their feelings for each other are revealed. But regardless of how he feels, James does not want to pursue a relationship while in his current mental state and Jane is left to deal with two bitter and conniving families that are each after the dowry her husband so generously willed to her after his death.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Lacey Chronicles, The Other Countess. After finishing it, I was really looking forward to reading The Queen’s Lady. Both Lady Jane and Master James Lacey were such likable and intriguing characters that I couldn’t wait to read their story. Unfortunately, their story did not meet the expectations that had been set with The Other Countess. The historical descriptions were wonderful but the story itself was slow. The action and intrigue did not really begin until about the half-way point of the book. Also, all characters in this book fell surprisingly flat. Including the Lady (now Dowager Marchioness Rievaulx) Jane and Master James. The new Marquess Rievaulx and his brothers were overly stereotypical antagonists. I found their involvement in the plot annoying rather than frightening.

And do you remember Lady Jane’s maid, Nell, from The Other Countess? In my review, I mentioned my confusion over the purpose of her character. I thought maybe there would be more to her character in The Queen’s Lady but she appears for maybe two pages and only in the role as servant in the Earl of Dorset’s household. I guess it’s possible she will have a significant role in The Rogue’s Princess, the third and last installment of the Lacey Chronicles, but I am not going to hold my breath.

On a good note, Lady Jane’s brother and father were wonderfully horrendous and evil. They truly made me nervous. They became great antagonists once the story started moving. Also, Diego, the servant that Master James acquired in The Other Countess, was a lovely diversion. He wasn’t as funny as he was before but he still had some wonderful scenes as well as a love interest of his own. Then, of course, there was the Earl of Dorset and his Countess. Their appearances were short but with the little time they were given they do make an impact on the story and the reader; particularly if you have read their story.

Unfortunately, since I didn’t start to enjoy this story until I was already half-way through, I have to put my rating between Meh and Enjoy.



~Nat

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell

* * *

Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, isolated and vulnerable. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge against her teacher.

Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at the Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds a kindred spirit in her coworker, Bradley, a boy struggling with his own secrets.

Even as Sandinista is losing heart, confronted repeatedly by the failures of those in authority, she is offered a chance to believe in the redemptive power of friendship.  Now she must choose faith – and forgiveness – or despair and vengeance.

Readers will cheer Sandinista on as she navigates an often brutal but unexpectedly beautiful world.

I’m not quite sure what exactly drew my attention to The Sharpe Time but I thought the premise was intriguing enough to delve into it.

Sandinista was raised by her very progressive single mother who taught her to be self-reliant and open to new ideas. They had one of those envious mother-daughter relationships that provided her with plenty enough. Her life fell apart though when her mother was killed in a car accident.  Now living on her own, she has become introverted. A controversial incident at school has left her disgruntled and jaded. As a result, she decides to quit school and go to work at the Pale Circus where she quickly becomes friends with Bradley who has odd habits but is very personable.

Sandinista easily throws herself into her job, finding comfort and purpose in her new routine. However, she keeps reliving the events of her last day at school and becomes fixated on the teacher with whom she had a falling out. She starts scheming of ways to confront this teacher and have her voice be heard.

The entire story takes place in one week with the author moving backward slowly threading pieces together to reveal what happened at school that made her walk away. It becomes obvious that Sandinista is hovering in limbo and in a fragile state – sort of moving forward but not really going anywhere because she's held back by that incident at school. And while she has that on constant loop in her mind she grows closer to Bradley and learns more of his darker side.

The Sharpe Time is a good book but it’s an uneasy read. As Sandinista starts making some pretty bizarre decisions, you realize just how vulnerable she is and worry that she’s going to snap at any moment. And while she’s pretty self-reliant, she’s also desperately in need of someone – particularly any authority figure at school – to care about her. In fact, it’s become an obsession that someone at school validate her worth. It’s truly a miracle that as messed up as Bradley is that he’s the one to pull her out of the fog.

Mary O’Connell has done an impeccable job of relaying these two peoples’ pain. Being inside Sandinista’s head was unsettling at times. I even held my breath not knowing which direction she was headed in, dreading the worst and hoping for the best. But there’s also great empathy for her because she is so bogged down by her grief. Bradley’s pain has evolved into resentment yet he keeps returning to that which caused it in the first place. When she realizes that pain is not an exclusive club to her, she wakes up. When that happens, there's a small sigh of relief and the pause button that has held her life in place can finally be released.

~ Bel

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

****

Duty.  Passion.  Which one will rule their hearts?

Ellie – Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime – possesses a worthless title, but her feisty spirit captivates the elite of Queen Elizabeth’s court – especially the dashing new Earl of Dorset.

William Lacey, Earl of Dorset, has inherited his father’s title – and his financial ruin.  Now Will must seek a wealthy bride and restore his family’s fortune.  If only he hadn’t fallen for the beautiful but penniless Ellie…

Sparks fly whenever Ellie and Will are together; however, circumstances – and the conniving interference of others – threaten to keep them apart.

Every twenty-first century book love will fall in love with The Other Countess, the first novel in Eve Edward’s sumptuous historical romance series set in intrigue-filled Elizabethan England.

As you may have read in previous posts, I love historical romance.  So it was no surprise that I chose to review this book.  But after I started to read this, I felt like I was stealing away a book and review that was maybe also meant for Bibliojunkie Bel since she enjoys historical fiction so much.  The Other Countess ended up being a perfect blend of historical romance AND historical fiction.  Eve Edward’s has very obviously done the research to make this historical romance historically accurate in every way she possibly could.  She includes everything in this book that we associate with the Elizabethan time period – the Queen’s court, jousts, banquets, ridiculously uncomfortable clothing, loveless marriages, etc. 

This ended up being much more than just the Lord and Lady falling in love.  There was plenty of intrigue and a number of bad guys all with different agendas.  Ellie was a wonderfully strong and saucy female character that even with her strength became a victim of her era on more than one occasion.  I appreciated that the author did not make it all rainbows for her.  And Will….well Will is great too.  Your typical Lord that struggles with making life decisions based on his family needs or his personal desires.  And of course Will is hot and says beautiful flowery words that a boy would never say this day and age; at least not believably.  And I also have to admit that Will jousting made me think of this…minus the MTV soundtrack, of course.

To the point that I just started seeing Heath Ledger as Will throughout the entire story. So really?  What’s not to love there?

The secondary characters in this book are also strong and surprisingly multi-dimensional.  The only thing I found strange was the attention put on Lady Jane’s maid, Nell.  Her story seemed to have nothing to do with the others.  I can only conclude that she will play a bigger role in The Queen’s Lady which will be released in 2012.

All in all, this was a great read.  If you enjoy historical romance and/or historical fiction, I can’t recommend it enough.

~Nat