Welcome!!

Welcome to Book Belle! I am the Book Belle, Maria! I am a born and raised Southern Belle from North Carolina, and a lover of all things books! Please feel free to say hello, comment on my posts,and PLEASE check out the books I refer to! I love to read, and I love recommending books! So check em' out!!! You won't be sorry!

Friday, August 26, 2011

School and Hurricanes

Sorry it's been a week since I posted! This week has been busy with schoolwork! BIO 161 is very time consuming, and I had to make sure I had a lot of my work done online a head of time for this Hurricane, in case the power goes out! (Praying that it doesn't!) I started a new book, which you can download and read along as well for ::free:: from Amazon through Kindle...

A Lust for Lead: A Supernatural Fantasy (The Legend of the Devil's Guns) [Kindle Edition]

I am not very far into it, but so far I find it very intriguing! Certainly a change of pace for my "normal" books. I also purchased Julia Quinn's Ten Things I Love About You. Super excited. Walmart had it half off for 3.50$! Score!!!

Hopefully I can get some reading done this weekend, considering if the power goes out, that's all I will be able to do. Hmmm... better charge the Kindle! :)

Everyone on the East Coast stay safe!!!!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Finally! Review for Cherished!

I finished Cherished this morning, and I have to say - I truly enjoyed this book. First of all it is a Christian-based novel. I am a Christian, and a firm believer of Jesus Christ. This book rang true with me. It touched my heart deeply. Even if you are not a Christian or have lost your Faith this book will touch you some way or another.

This book is about a young woman who you could say is down on her luck with a job, her faith, and finds some encouragement from her brothers to move from Texas back to St. Louis, her home town. When she returns, many things are drudged back up- especially pain. Kelli, the main character, had an abortion seven years ago when her boyfriend, Brian, decided he didn't want anything to do with the baby or her, because he was going to college and that was that. Brian, on the other hand, found Faith and God, and became a Christian rapper. He also is seeking out Kelli to reconcile and apologize. Although in Kelli's mind a apology can never bring back the child they lost. Throughout the story there are many examples of Faith, believing you are worthy of God, and that you can do anything if you follow God's plan for you. There are other examples of God's forgiveness throughout the novel besides Brian and Kelli's. This book made me remember that God Forgives, and no matter how hard it is, we all should too.

If you are interested in this book - please check it out on Amazon! (Link on the last blog!)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

First Week Back & Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

So this was the first week back for my college classes. Yes, I did take summer classes, had two weeks off, then went back for my Fall classes. They aren't too bad. My classes on campus are both in computer labs and seemingly easy so far. My online classes on the other hand might kick my hiney or I just need to work really hard at them. Anyways, so far I am not too stressed. :)

I am more than over half way done with Cherished by Kim Cash Tate. It is a great book so far. I am enjoying it! Hopefully I can get my complete review up by this weekend. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the end!

If you want to check it out on amazon... here is the link...

I have several other books in line to read for review due to the wonderful www.netgalley.com! It is really a awesome website to request books from publishers. If interested check it out, sign up, and see what books you get from the publishers! :)

Monday, August 15, 2011

Book Review: Ladies In Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan

Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan

Ladies in Waiting is about three teenage girls - Zabby, Eliza, and Beth- three Elizabeth's who are Ladies in Waiting for Queen Catherine, during the reign of Charles II. Zabby saves the King's life and has a love/obsession with him. Eliza longs for her plays to be famous, and to be free - meaning not treated like a woman but equally like a man. Beth dreams love and of her sweetheart from younger days, and to be free of her Syphilitic/ Man-hating mother.

I believe this novel to be Historical Fiction, it has no dates or true events that exactly happened - yes the characters (the Elizabeths as far as I can tell are not real from research) such as Charles, Catherine, some of his Mistresses, etc were real people. He did have one mistress- Elizabeth Killigrew - maybe the Elizabeths were derived from her, but only the Author knows. :)

It was a lengthy, but entertaining novel, the only vice I found was the ending. The ending was slightly abrupt, and I would have liked to have known what  happened to the girls after they had all parted their separate ways, perhaps a epilogue or another chapter would have fine. It kind of left you wondering at the end. Otherwise this novel is a great read, a good historical fiction, and I look forward to seeing this Author with other books as well!! :)

Note: This book is due to be May 2012

Reviewed for : www.netgalley.com

Friday, August 12, 2011

Perusing through my book collection...

So as I was perusing through my book collection which isn't small by no means, but not super extensive that I cannot find anything, I noticed that I really read a large variety of books- Historical, Romance, Paranormal, YA Lit, Classics, and even Myths & Legends. Here is just a random list of books I can name off that I have on my bookshelves..

1. Weird Ohio
2. The Historian
3. Briar Rose
4. I Was A Teenage Fairy
5. Sons of the Prophets
6. Complete Collection of Charles Dicken
7. Memoirs of A Geisha
8. The Three Fates
9. Interview With A Vampire
10. North Carolina Myths & Legends

This is just a small taste of my collection, and don't get me started on my Kindle... :)

"Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink"

 I am a member of www.netgalley.com (you can request books from publishers, and review them) and reviewed recently (like literally last night read the whole book) Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink. Here is my review.. the book won't be out for almost a year but still, I will sing some praises, the Author, Stephanie Kate Strohm, this is her first novel and I think she did a wonderful job!
::Review Time::

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink, written by Stephanie Kate Strohm, is very charming, funny, a great young adult novel celebrating the summer and teenage love. There is a little bit of everything in this book, history, love, even a "ghost". It's witty, a great read to sit on the beach and enjoy. Unfortunately I only got to read it in my living room but that didn't stop me from putting it down. It's rated for 12 plus years, and 7th grade plus. I only had a few quips about the novel, nothing major, but still thought it needed addressing.

Libby, the main character is very likeable, but she is not well fleshed out, the only thing I restrospectively know about her from the entire book is that she is from Minnesota, she is blond, has blue eyes, short stature, and is a History nerd who loves Jane Austen. That was from the entire book. Maybe a little more description for Libby would be lovely. Also perhaps a little more for her bestfriend, Dev, too. He is Indian, what kind of Indian? American Indian, or India - Indian

I also felt the ending was slighted. It ended so fast, and perhaps a bit too suddenly. Maybe a rewrite for the ending might be in order. Otherwise than that I look forward to seeing this book out for sale! Great YA Novel!
(This book will be out sometime in May 2012)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

"Hello Kitty Must Die"

In my previous post I mentioned I had started reading Hello Kitty Must Die by Angela Choi. Well. I finished it. Yes, in one day. Honestly It was one of those books you have to keep reading. It was funny, dark, crude, and very blatant but also shows a side of what Chinese American culture is like. ALSO, it has a serial killer in it. That is all I am saying about the serial killer.

The main character, Fiona is a 28 year Chinese American lawyer, and a virgin. She is funny, witty, and very crude. She compares Chinese women to Hello Kitty. It's a wonderful novel. Well written, very descriptive, and not at all long-winded. I enjoyed reading it. I shall look into her other and future novels.

Check it out!!! :)

Started a new book...

So upon taking ENG 111 this summer in college, my wonderful teacher, Ms. Harkins had us read a excerpt called "Fish Cheeks" written by Amy Tan.. well lo and behold on Amazon for Kindle I came across a few days (August 1st to be exact) ago a novel written by Angela Choi called Hello Kitty Must Die. Reading the excerpt about the novel I see this...

"A demonic stir-fry of influences, including Amy Tan, Chuck Palahniuk, Clive Barker, and Candace Bushnell, infuses Choi's prose with passionate ferocity."( (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Viola! I had to check it out! ::downloading to kindle:: 

So this morning I was perusing my collection on my Kindle this morning so I decided to start reading it. I am not so very far into the novel, but so far I am enjoying it immensely. Here is more info on her, and a link to the book on Amazon...

Hello Kitty Must Die - Angela S Choi

http://angelaschoi.com/

Will update more once I get further into the novel!!!! :)

Some of my favorite authors

So it's early in the morning and I am enjoying my cup of coffee and I decided I would leave a list of Authors that are near and dear to my heart. I have already praised Julia Quinn and Kara Louise on their wonderful novels but I will list some others that I read frequently...

So I will start with....

Susan Carroll

Susan Carroll has written several books but I have only read her Bride Finder series which was terrific if I say so myself. Great British author that she is, her books are full of magic and legends. Good stuff!

Jane Feather

I found Jane Feather before I found Julia Quinn, but her Victorian Era in England is typically the same as Julia Quinn in most of her books, sometimes earlier... but besides that she is a terrific author as well. I fell in love with her books, which are well written, and I can easily slurp up like an Ice Coffee. One of my faves!

Nora Roberts

She is a oldie but a goodie!(Meant to be a good thing!) She was the first author I ever started reading that was above Young Adult Literature. The Three Fates was and is one of my favorite books that she has ever written. It's a long novel but it is such a wonderful book. If you have never read it, I suggest you do!

I have several other Authors that I have read or want to read, so I will just list a few more but feel free to ask me about any!!!

Eloisa James
Lisa Kleypas
Stefanie Sloane

(Please note: Most of these links are to Amazon! I typically buy my books from them or have them sent to my Kindle.)



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

So I finished!

So I finished Just Like Heaven... LOVED IT! Marcus and Honoria are a wonderful Victorian couple, but my thing is... who is the next book going to be about?? Sarah?? Iris?? Or even Daniel?? I won't say anymore to spoil the book, but I am very curious.. Oh! And I am so very glad Lady Danbury and the Bridgerton's are in the sidelines! Yay! That put the icing on the cake! Speaking of sweet tooth.. nevermind... read the book! It's terrific! Check it out!!!

Now I must finish reading Pride & Prejudice.. and also find another tantalizing book to read.... :)

Just a quick post...

"There was nothing that might indicate that a life had been saved, a kiss had occurred, a treacle tart had been stolen...." -- Julia Quinn, Just Like Heaven

Just a tiny excerpt from Just Like Heaven... which for some reason I found this sentence profoundly funny. I am on page 275, and so far I have loved every minute of this book, which does not shock me because I enjoyed every bit of all her other books. I am not bragging or exaggerating, just exclaiming the wonderful prose of Julia Quinn!

Now back to the book!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

My Vacation and Books...

So I went on a wonderful four day weekend with my boyfriend to Wilmington, North Carolina. Beach, Battleships, and Ghosts. Oh and Books! First a bit about my trip...

We went and saw the USS North Carolina.. very cool. it was a battleship used during World War II. Check it out if ya ever go there! Our biggest thing was going to the beach. We went to Carolina Beach, drove around and went to the pier, but we sunned ourselves on Wrightsville most of the time.Our hotel was only five miles. It was beautiful! I also mentioned ghosts, well not exactly ghosts but we went on the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington. Very interesting, very cool and historical. I got some crazy photos with orbs in them.. I will post some pictures later!

Lastly, I broke down and bought Julia Quinn's Just Like Heaven. I read over half of it sitting on the beach in my chair. I have not quite finished it but I LOVE it! I love every book she writes. I have read almost all of her books. It was funny, sweet, entertaining! If you have ever read her previous novels and know of the notorious Smythe-Smith Quartets then you will love this book because it is about one of the girls!!! :) Check it out!
Just Like Heaven - Julia Quinn


Friday, August 5, 2011

The first post...

It is the first post, and I never really can come up with anything fantastic to first say when I start any piece of writing, it usually comes later... yes I am silly!

First a little about myself.. I am 24. I am young. I have a little girl that will be 2 in April 2012. I have gone back to school. My goal is to graduate as a Medical Assistant but that all could change. My prior field of work was working as a Veterinary Assistant. I have not worked since I had my daughter. I stay at home with her when I am not in school. I read in my spare time, and I spend a lot of time on the computer. I will admit, I am a junkie of the computer. I love techie things and love tooling on the internet. 

  Like I said I love to read. LOVE IT! I am reading Pride and Prejudice currently right just after reading a retelling of the story, written prettily by Kara Lousie. If you like Jane Austen and her books, check this novel out.
Darcy's Voyage by Kara Louise

I came across it on Amazon, and I downloaded it onto my Kindle. I love my Kindle, it was a Christmas gift, and one of the best ones too. I read all sorts of books on that contraption! So I recently read this lovely novel, then lead to read the original. I have never read Pride and Prejudice before. I read Sense and Sensibility but that is only because I love the movie so much. So unto myself I decided to watch Pride and Prejudice the movie before I finished the book. I enjoyed the movie. I knew the basic plot line of the story since I read Louise's retelling. I am a sucker for the Historical Romances. I will add more later about all three of these fantastic novels. I must getting ready for my 4 day weekend getaway! :)