My Momentous Month #2

Books I Read in January 2013 (out of order)
1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
2. When We Collide by A. L. Jackson
3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
4. Veer by Alyssa Rose Ivy
5. The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan
6. Beautiful Redemption by Margaret Stohl and Kamie Garcia
7. Water Harvests by Eric Diehl
8. Beyond by Willow Rose
9. Guardian of Fate by L.J. Kentowski
10. Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
11. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
12. Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi
13. Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
14. Invisible Lines by Mary Amato
15. Oxford Whispers by Marion Croslydon

Books I reviewed in January 2013
1. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
3. Veer by Alyssa Rose Ivy
4. The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan
5. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
6. Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
7. Destroy Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi
8. Guardian of Fate by L.J. Kentowski
9. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Blog Tours I participated in January 2013
1. Someone to Love
2. When We Collide
3. Persistence of Vision
4. Unmaking Hunter Kennedy
5. The Exception to the Rule (PROMO)

Favorite Book of the Month
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Waiting for Wednesday #10

Waiting on Wednesday #10!

Waiting for Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spines. 

It spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

This week's awesome, to-read book is:

Oxford Shadows 

(The Oxford Trilogy #2)

by Marion Croslydon

Expected Publication: May 6th, 2013

Goodreads Summary: 

When death is a new beginning and love an old curse.

Still recovering from her last tango with the afterlife, Louisiana-born Madison LeBon struggles not only with her life as an Oxford postgrad but also with her budding love for Rupert Vance, aristocrat extraordinaire. One thing is certain, though: she won’t run away from her powers anymore. From now on she’ll face the music …

… literally!

When a sixteenth-century ghost makes an appearance during a classical concert Madison attends and threatens her boyfriend’s family, she sets out to explore the dark mysteries of the Tudors, even if that means confronting their most royal and homicidal character.

Her plans take an unexpected turn when her voodoo heritage catches up with her. With horror, she understands what her fate was always meant to be.

The question now is: Can Rupert be part of it?

Cindy's Reason:

After reading Marion Croslydon's first book of The Oxford Trilogy, Oxford Whispers, which was a tragic love story between two people in the 18th century and the present-day. How could I not continue to read this awesome series? 

You can find my review of Oxford Whispers HERE

Book Review: Oxford Whispers by Marion Croslydon

Oxford Whispers (The Oxford Trilogy #1)
by Marion Croslydon
Release Date: October 8th, 2012
Publisher: Carlux Publishing
Format: Paperback, 357 pages
Source: Author 
ISBN: 978-0-9572824-0-7
Get a Copy:
      Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Madison LeBon is dead set against the dead. 

Her fresh start at Oxford University is a brand new beginning. She finally has a chance to turn the page on her psychic powers and cumbersome voodoo heritage. Snakes, dolls, ghosts, and spirits: Farewell…

Not quite.

When the tragic lovers in a painting—the subject of her first history class—begin to haunt her, she must accept her gift before life imitates art. The lovers warn her against their own nemesis, a Puritan from the English Civil War. Unfortunately, said nemesis is now going all homicidal on Madison. 

College becomes more complicated when she falls hard for Rupert Vance, a troubled aristocrat and descendant of one of the characters in the painting. With the spirit of a murderer after her, Madison realizes that her own first love may also be doomed…

Cindy's Review: First, I want to thank Marion Croslydon very, very much for providing this book for me to read, because guess what? I love this book! I love all the history facts and how this whole creative, love story was created from just a painting!! ;) <333

The Characters/Plot: 

So basically, there are 2 main characters, but 3 more important characters in this book. The teaser on the back talked about all 5 of them, but it was so confusing, I just went like 'huh?' until I started reading the book. 

Madison LeBon - Madison is from the present-day United States. She goes to Oxford University in England and there she meets the future Earl of Huxbury, Rupert Vance. Madison's family has a voodoo pass where the female line gets visions and ends up going crazy. Visions are starting up for Madison. 

Sarah - Sarah is the girl who Madison is in Madison's visions. Sarah is from all the way back to the 18th century who is pretty high classed. Sarah is also the girl in the painting of The Wounded Cavalier painted by William Shakespeare Burton who is holding the cavalier. (At first I got really confused between William Shakespeare Burton and William Shakespeare. LOL. ) Sarah is also Madison's great-great-grandmother. 

Rupert Vance - Rupert Vance, as you know, is the future Earl of Huxbury. His dad, who is now the current lord, controls Rupert alot. Rupert's mother died when Rupert was a young age. Rupert's father, being all rich and stuff, got himself another wife, and Rupert listens to every wish his father wishes him to do. That is, until Rupert's father was forcing Rupert to leave Madison, who isn't his class-level. 

The Wounded Cavalier

by William Shakespeare Burton

Robert - The cavalier in the painting was called Robert. Robert is also Rupert's ancestor. Sarah and Robert fell in love, but they had to hide their romance, for Sarah's mother would not allow Sarah to marry such man. Sarah ended up dying at a really young age, betrayed by her sister, Anne. Robert died one month after her.

Peter - Peter was Sarah's jealous husband. She was almost forced to marry Peter, even if her heart didn't belong to him. Peter is now in present-day England, hunting Madison and trying to kill her. 

This love story is similar to Romeo and Juliet, but somewhat different. Madison and Rupert is experiencing the same tragic love story Robert and Sarah's ancestors are cursed to have. But maybe, just maybe Madison and Rupert can change that. 

The Extras:

This astonishing love story made me wanna cry. And I was reading it during school during first period which was IWE at the office. I had some free time and then I had tears in my eyes. It was embarrassing LOL. But no one saw me. 

This book somehow reminds me of the abc show, Once Upon a Time. The show features present-day life and then the fairy-taled version. So in a way, Oxford Whispers also does that. It features present-day life and then the 18th century version. 

One cool thing about this story is that the author made up a whole story just from the picture drawn by William Shakespeare Burton above. That's amazing! That's like telling a story from just a picture!! It's true that a picture tells a 1000 words but a 1000 words can paint a more magnificent and detailed picture.

Well guys, if you love historical fiction/romance thing. You gotta read this book!! 

Rate: (1-10): 9.5! 

Happy Reading~