Sophie Reads YA: August 2019

August Summary

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What I've read this month:

Storm
Series: Elemental #1
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published April 17th 2014 by Much-in-Little
Read: August 5-6 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge

From Twinkle, With Love
Series: None
Author: Sandhya Menon
Published May 22nd 2018 by Hodder & Stoughton (eARC)
Read: August 9-11 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2019 ARC August Challenge

Red, White & Royal Blue
Series: None
Author: Casey McQuiston
Published May 14th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin
Read: August 12 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Stuck with You
Series: The First Kiss Hypothesis #3
Author: Christina Mandelski
Published September 2nd 2019 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush) (eARC)
Read: August 15 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2019 ARC August Challenge

T-Minus
Series: None
Author: Shannon Greenland
Published August 6th 2019 by Entangled: Teen (eARC)
Read: August 20 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge, 2019 ARC August Challenge

Have a Little Faith in Me
Series: None
Author: Sonia Hartl
Published September 3rd 2019 by Page Street Kids (eARC)
Read: August 23 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2019 ARC August Challenge

Empire of Sand
Series: The Books of Ambha #1
Author: Tasha Suri
Published November 13th 2018 by Orbit
Read: August 26-29 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Call It What You Want
Series: None
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published July 1st 2019 by Bloomsbury YA (ARC)
Read: August 29-30 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2019 ARC August Challenge

Tweet Cute
Series: None
Author: Emma Lord
Published January 21st 2020 by Wednesday Books (eARC)
Read: August 31 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2019 ARC August Challenge

Challenges Update:
2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge: 5 (26 total)
2019 New Release Challenge: 5 (29 total)
2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 3 (14 total)
2019 ARC August Challenge: 6 (6 total)

Summary:

I've spent most of August either away on my first cruise - which was fantastic - or clearing more of my review backlog, but still had time to read some very good books. Next week I start work again, and with a full timetable, I'm expecting I won't have as much time to read again, but you never know.

How have you done this month? Let me know below.

August

Stacking the Shelves: August 31st 2019

10:00

#RockMyTBR 2017 Challenge

Review: Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco

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Hunting Prince Dracula
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #2
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Published September 19th 2017 by Little, Brown & Company

Goodreads Synopsis
In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco's haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.
Goodreads

Review
Stalking Jack the Ripper was one of my favourite books of 2016, so understandably, I was excited - and slightly apprehensive - when my copy of Hunting Prince Dracula landed on my door mat. However, there was nothing for me to worry about, as this was as good, if not better, than it's predecessor. In this sequel, we follow Audrey Rose and Thomas as they go to Romania in order to train at one of the world's best institutes for forensic science. While there, they find themselves involved in a murder mystery (with the rumour that Dracula has risen and is on the prowl again) and once more, at risk themselves. Audrey Rose is having to deal with her demons after the revelation of her brother's crimes, and her role in society and as a female medical examiner, and it takes all of her wits to remain composed, and alive, throughout the entire book.

The plot in this story was so well written, and plotted that I found myself unwilling to put the book down for anything, but, alas, work and sleep butted in. Everything in this book was necessary, and I still can't believe how gifted an author Kerri is. Her characterisations of all the cast, and not just Audrey Rose and Thomas as the main characters, were so well rounded, that each was their own individual, and didn't just meld into one in the background. I'll get onto Audrey Rose and Thomas in a minute, but I loved how we met Dacia and Ileana, and their whole history too. I really hope these two reappear again in future books, because they were so funny and resourceful, and improved the book, though it didn't need much improving to beginning with.

Now, onto our heroes. Both of them are fantastic, and in this book they proved that my love of them, and their relationship, in SJTR was completely warranted. Audrey Rose has a form of PTSD in this book, because of Nathaniel's heinous crimes in London, and this was shown in such a caring and dignified way. Rather than have a character - no matter the gender - being strong and show no emotion all the time, acting as if trauma has no impact on them, Kerri wrote Audrey Rose in such a way that it was natural, and we saw how she dealt with her trauma in a way that suited her. Thomas was a sassy and fabulous as every, and we really saw his softer side in this book too. He allows himself to be vulnerable with Audrey Rose, and it's palpable how much her cares for her, and vice versa. This book cemented their place on my ultimate OTP list, and I hope we see them progress in their relationship more, in the next book! I can't wait to read Escaping from Houdini.

Dates Read:

September 18-19, 2017

Rating
5 Stars

Have a Little Faith in Me

Waiting On Wednesday: Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl

10:00

2019 New Release challenge

ARC Review: American Royals (American Royals #1) by Katharine McGee

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American Royals
Series: American Royals #1
Author: Katharine McGee
Published September 3rd 2019 by Penguin

Goodreads Synopsis
What if America had a royal family? If you can't get enough of Harry and Meghan or Kate and William, meet American princesses Beatrice and Samantha.

Two princesses vying for the ultimate crown.
Two girls vying for the prince's heart.
This is the story of the American royals.

When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American. And their country was born of rebellion.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.

The duty. The intrigue. The Crown. New York Times bestselling author Katharine McGee imagines an alternate version of the modern world, one where the glittering age of monarchies has not yet faded--and where love is still powerful enough to change the course of history.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

This book was one that I knew as soon as I heard about it that I needed. A modern American monarchy, with two sisters dealing with all that entails, and their friends and love interests playing integral roles in their lives? Definitely a book for Sophie! After the American War of Independence, rather than becoming President, George Washington became the first King, and his descendants still occupy the throne. The current Washington king has three children, Crown Princess Beatrice, Princess Samantha, and Prince Jefferson. Each of the royal three have their own issues caused by their lofty position, and this book explores how they navigate the turbulent times in their life. Beatrice is being groomed to one day become Queen, and it's time for her to settle down, or at least decide on who she wants to marry. However, the only person she could love is her secret service bodyguard, Connor, who isn't suitable to the role of Prince Consort. When she thinks she finds someone who could fit the bill, it just happens to be the person that her sister, Samantha, is falling for. Samantha finds it difficult being second billing to her sister, and to most of the country, she is the party animal princess, who people think they know, but she's actually completely different. When she meets someone at one of the balls she's forced to attend, who just seems to understand everything she's going through, she thinks she's sorted, but like I've already said, she really isn't.

The other Washington, Prince Jefferson - Jeff to his friends - would've been heir apparent a few generations ago, but now third-in-line, he has a bit more freedom. His ex, Daphne, has been groomed and pampered her whole life to marry a prince, and will not accept that they are through. However, Jeff has moved on, and is falling for Sam's best friend Nina, who isn't from their circle, but instead the daughter of Minister of the Treasury, and basically a commoner. Her relationship with Jeff is so good, but if anyone finds out, it could ruin her, if Jeff won't stand by her. She's also plainly made an enemy of Daphne, which is not somewhere anyone would want to be.

I just adored that this book was written in multiple PoV, with each of the four leading ladies having their own arc, and chapters. I've seen some reviews that say the number of PoV's made it a bit confusing to get your head around what was happening, but, for me, I found it improved the reading experience, as you got a lot more of the backstory and foreshadowing, as you would've done with only one or two. The plot was surprising at times, too, not all predictable, but I will admit I found some of the cliches a tad annoying. However, that's something I just expect with contemporaries these days. The ending was out of the blue, though, and so fantastic that I am desperate for book 2 - I wish I hadn't read this book so far before the official release, and I hope I'll be lucky enough to be approved for a proof of book 2!

Dates Read:

April 18-21, 2019

Rating
5 Stars