Review: The Golden Braid

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
Grade: C-
Release date: November 17, 2015
An e-galley was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
Summary: The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read.

After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted.

After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige.

But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Tangled is one of my favorite Disney movies ever, so I'm always interested in Rapunzel retellings. I've also enjoyed Melanie Dickerson's past books, so it was a given that I would read The Golden Braid. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as The Healer's Apprentice or The Merchant's Daughter.
The writing was not nearly as smooth as it could've been. It felt fairly basic for a YA/NA story. There was a lot of telling and not showing. Also, everything seemed too easy for Rapunzel and Gerek. I knew they were going to emerge unscathed. There was also a plot twist that I predicted only a third of the way into the book that turned out to be right. 
The Golden Braid is set at the same time as The Princess Spy, and a lot of the events overlap so Ms. Dickerson did a lot of summarizing in this novel. I found that boring and awkward. Honestly, I think the story would've been better had it been set later than the events of The Princess Spy.
And if I'm being honest, I didn't really ship the relationship. Like, in Melanie's first three books, I really wanted the couple to end up together. But I honestly didn't care if Rapunzel and Gerek were endgame (which, I knew they would be).

The Verdict: I feel pretty meh about this one.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: Possibly.

Random Friday: Crafting

Want to participate in Random Fridays? Just do the following: 

• Include the above image in your post and link back to my post.
• Blog about this week's topic.
• Add the link to your Random Friday at the bottom of this post.

When I say crafting, what do you think of? Are you a crafter? Crafting takes many different forms, and my personal preference is cross-stitching (which is a form of embroidery). What I lack, though, is the patience and ability to do counted cross-stitch which means I'm severely limited in what I can make, since I'm stuck with the slim selection of stamped cross-stitch kits.

But, I've found some nice options! I did a "Home is Where the Heart Is" one for my Secret Sister from last session, and I've completed two others since. The ones I have to work on now are huge so they'll take me quite a while to do. I've looked at some other options, though, for once I finish these. I found some on Amazon; they're mostly Disney-themed, which is fine by me.

The one thing I love most about cross-stitching is that it keeps my hands busy while I'm watching TV or a movie. Unless I'm in a theater, I'm usually unable to sit still and stare at a screen for the duration of a show or movie. But cross-stitching gives my hands something to focus on, and it's not terribly hard so I can watch something at the same time. Last spring, when I was bingeing Veronica Mars, I finished, like, two whole cross-stitching projects. It was great.

So, if you're a crafter, what do you make? Or, if you're not, is there a craft you're interested in picking up?

Top Ten Tuesday: Adaptations I'm Looking Forward To

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So there are a lot of YA books currently on their way to becoming a movie - whether they've cast the leads or they're only optioned. But, surprisingly, I could only come up with eight I'm looking forward to. So here they are.

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

It's been optioned and last I heard, they were working on the screeplay. *crosses fingers* This movie, if cast right and made well, could be AMAZING.

2. My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

I love Jasmine so much, and I adored her book, and omgsh, it might be a movie.

3. Heist Society by Ally Carter

Elizabeth Banks has optioned this one, y'all. And Ally recently met Elizabeth so I think this one might be moving right along in production? *crosses fingers*

4. Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter

It's been a little while since we heard news about this one, but I hope it's still happening...

5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

It's been three years since this one was optioned, but a girl can hope, right?

6. The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection has been optioned again, and even though half the people in the blogging community probably groaned at this news, I was pretty excited! As long as it's made well, I'd love to see this book as a movie.

7. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Of course I'm excited about this potential adaptation.

8. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Guys, they've cast Hadley and Oliver and this one has a potential release date in 2016! *tries not to scream* Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please.


Okay, so what books that have been optioned for the big screen are you dying to see?

Review: Everything But the Truth

Everything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard
Grade: B
Release date: November 17, 2015
An e-galley was provided by Bloomsbury USA Childrens via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
Summary: Holly Mathews' mom is the new manager of a ritzy retirement home, and they just moved in. But having super-rich retirees as her only neighbors isn't a total bust, because the gorgeous, notorious Malik Buchannan is the grandson of a resident. Just one problem: when they meet, Malik assumes Holly is there to visit her own rich relative. She doesn't correct him, and it probably doesn't matter, because their flirtation could never turn into more than a superficial fling . . . right? But the longer she lives in his privileged world, the deeper Holly falls for Malik, and the harder it is to tell the truth . . . because coming clean might mean losing him. 

For anyone who has dreamed of their own Cinderella story, this romance shows that when it comes to true love, the best person to be is yourself!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: So after feeling let down by the last few If Only... titles, Everything But the Truth was a pleasant surprise. It's a short book with a simple plot - mainly focused on the romance - but I liked it. Holly's mother is a single parent, but they have a fairly good relationship and there's little tension there. The sub-plot definitely revolved around Holly and her best friend, Alex. Holly feels her best friend is slowly dumping her for another girl, Rena, and she often feels left out and hurt - a feeling a lot of us know all too well. That sub-plot took a wonderful twist and while at the end, I was still questioning some of the actions a bit, I really liked it. 
As for the romance, I liked how we slowly got to know Holly and Malik a little better. They're both fully-formed characters. Holly is a bit girly but not overtly so. She likes antiques and interior decorating, and she has plans to attend Washington State University in the fall. Malik is set to run his grandfather's business - but he doesn't really want to. I was worried that part would be totally cliche, but it's not. He loves to read, and after a party boy past, he's actually realized the good he can do in this world and he's working toward ways he can do that and still take over his grandfather's company like expected.
The main conflict is that Malik thinks Holly is the granddaughter of one of the rich residents of the retirement home. She perpetuates this lie because she's worried at first that Malik is shallow and won't like her if she isn't rich. Then, when she realizes that isn't true, she's afraid to tell him because he doesn't like it when people use him for his wealth and fame - which she isn't at all. But she knows he'll break up with her for telling a lie. Their relationship isn't really built on a lie; he knows a lot about Holly's true self. I think this plot resolved pretty nicely.

The Verdict: The book, overall, was fairly fluffy and I never fully shipped the romance, which would be required for this to become a 5-star read for me. But I'm happy to give it 4 stars.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: Yes.

Rewind & Review #49

Hosted by Shae Has Left the Room.

The last two weeks have been pretty uneventful, especially compared to the last Rewind & Review post. At least, uneventful in a good way. I had a cold last week, which was the worst. It just kept hanging on, no matter how hard I fought it. Then this week, I registered for spring classes, which was a nightmare. Half the classes I wanted were full. Most of the rest were all at the same times as each other. It was a stressful ordeal that occupied most of my week.
But look what's at the bottom of the post!

Books I Received for Review

In Real Life by Jessica Love (from St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley)

Books I Won/Traded for/was Gifted

The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters (from @bookishbrian)
Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray (won a preorder from @celeste_pewter)

Books I Bought

All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Books I Read

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord (reread)
Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed (reread)
The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi (3 stars)
The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford (1 star)
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (4 stars)
Diamonds & Deceit by Leila Rasheed (reread)
The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith (reread)
How to Be Brave by E. Katherine Kottaras (2 stars)
All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (4.5 stars)
Emeralds & Ashes by Leila Rasheed (reread)
Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl (2 stars)
You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith (reread)
The Trouble with Destiny by Lauren Morrill
Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray (5 stars)

Blog Posts You Might've Missed

   (From 10/26-10/31)

• Dear Taylor: Thanks for the Memories
• Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween
• Interview with a Blogger: Nori of ReadWriteLove28
• Random Friday: Book Character Costumes
• So You Like... #20

   (From 11/1-11/7)

• Professor Emma Teaches YA Heroines in History
• Top Ten Tuesday: Debut Authors Whose Sophomore Novels I Need
• Review: Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins (2.5 stars)
• How to Be Brave Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway
• It's Time

Upcoming Posts in the Next Few Weeks (subject to change)

• Review: Everything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard
• Top Ten Tuesday: Movie Adaptations I'm Looking Forward To
• Random Friday: Crafting
• Review: The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
• SST: The Anatomical Shape of a Heart Review
• Interview with Dahlia Adler, Author of Just Visiting
• More of the Inclusive
• Review: Promises I Made by Michelle Zink
• Songs for When I Need to Write

It's Time

When I started college, I figured I'd have problems keeping up with my blog. But last year was a breeze, so I expected this year to be the same. I was wrong. So I've come to a conclusion. I told myself I'd never take on a co-blogger, but it's time. I've decided I need to bring a co-blogger on board just so I don't feel pressured to post at least five days a week. Sure, I could cut back, but I don't feel right doing that. At least, not yet. If I don't find a co-blogger, I'll cut back. But I'd rather try this first. So, if you're interested in blogging here at Awkwordly Emma, please fill out the form below. I hope to find a co-blogger through this post and form, but be forewarned that I may not choose anyone. I have very high standards of what I'm looking for, so it won't be because there aren't great candidates. I just want to make sure whoever comes on board is up for this and we'll actually be a great blogging team. So...if you're still interested, fill out the form below. I'll probably close the application time in about a week, give or take.

How to Be Brave Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

There have been some great books from St. Martin's Press this year, and this post is all about the last one I'm excited for.

THE AUTHOR

Credit: Emily Mae Marie

E. Katherine's website
E. Katherine's Twitter
E. Katherine's Tumblr
E. Katherine's Instagram

E. Katherine Kottaras is originally from Chicago, but now she writes and teaches in the Los Angeles area. She holds an M.A. in English from the University of California, Irvine and teaches writing and literature at Pasadena City College.  She is at her happiest when she is either 1) at the playground with her husband and daughter and their wonderful community of friends, 2) breathing deeply in a full handstand, or 3) writing. She now lives in Los Angeles where she's hard at work on her next book.

THE BOOK

Goodreads

Read Between the Lynes

Barnes & Noble

An emotional contemporary YA novel about love, loss, and having the courage to chase the life you truly want.

Reeling from her mother's death, Georgia has a choice: become lost in her own pain, or enjoy life right now, while she still can. She decides to start really living for the first time and makes a list of fifteen ways to be brave - all the things she's wanted to do but never had the courage to try. As she begins doing the things she's always been afraid to do - including pursuing her secret crush, she discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes friendships fall apart and love breaks your heart. But once in a while, the right person shows up just when you need them most - and you learn that you're stronger and braver than you ever imagined.

THE EXCERPT

HOW TO BE BRAVE by E. Katherine Kottaras.  Copyright © 2015 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Griffin.

This is what it was like:

I didn’t want you to come. I didn’t want you there.

The day before school, the very first year,

we waited in line for my schedule.

They stared. Those in line around us—

the other girls and their moms,

the ones who were my year,

who were never my friends—

They saw how you were big, planetary, next to them.

Next to me.

The girl in pigtails, someone’s sister,

asked:  Is there a baby inside?

Her mother, red now, whispered in her ear.

But the girl didn’t mind:

Oh, so she’s fat.

The other girls, the ones who were my year

who were never my friends—they laughed at you, quietly.

At me.

Her mother said she was sorry, so sorry,

And you said: It’s fine. It’s fine.

But it wasn’t.

You squeezed my hand, and then to the girl in pigtails,

you said: I am big, yes. But I am beautiful, too.

And so are you.

Her mother pulled her child away.

She left the line and let us go first.

I didn’t say: You shouldn’t have come.

I didn’t say: I don’t want you here.

But I also didn’t say: I love you.

Or: Thank you for being brave.

Later that night, I cried:

I don’t want to go. I don’t want to face them.

And every year after.

You’d look at me like I was that girl,

and you’d say, as though it were true:

You are possibility and change and beauty.

One day, you will have a life, a beautiful life.

You will shine.

I didn’t see it. I couldn’t see it,

not in myself,

not in you.

Now, it’s not like that anymore.

This is what it’s like:

It’s quiet in our house. Too quiet. Especially tonight. The day before my first day of senior year.

The A/C hums, the fridge hums, the traffic hums.

I’m standing at my closet door, those old knots churning inside my stomach again.

I don’t want to go tomorrow. I need to talk to her.

Instead, I’ve done what she always did for me the night before the first day of the school year. I’ve picked out three complete outfits, hung them on my closet door.

It’s a good start, I guess.

Outfit #1: Dark indigo skinny jeans (are they still considered skinny if they’re a size 16?), drapey black shirt, long gold chain necklace that Liss gave me, and cheap ballet flats that hurt my feet because they’re way too flat and I hate wearing shoes with no socks.

Outfit #2: Black leggings, dark blue drapey knee- length dress (draping is my thing), gold hoop earrings that belonged to my mom, and open-toed black sandals, but that would mean a last-minute half-assed pedicure tonight. A spedicure, if you will.

Outfit #3: A dress my mom bought for me two years ago. The Orange Dress. Well, really more like coral. With embroidered ribbons etched in angular lines that camouflage my flab. Knee-length (not too short/not too long). Three-quarter-length sleeves (to hide the sagging). It’s perfectly retro. And just so beautiful.  Especially with this utterly uncomfortable pair of canary-colored peep-toe pumps that belonged to my mom.

I begged her for the dress. I made her pay the $125 for it. I knew my parents didn’t have the money, but I couldn’t help crying when I saw myself in the mirror. It fit (it’s a size 14), and I think she saw how pretty I felt because I did feel pretty for the first time, so she charged it.

But I’ve never worn it.

The day after, she went into the ER, her heart acting up again. She needed another emergency stent, which meant more dye through her kidneys, which meant dialysis a few weeks later, which meant the beginning of the end of everything.

I never put it on after that.

It’s just so bright. So unlike everything else I wear.

I could wear it tomorrow.

I could. And if she were here, she would tell me to.

I really need to talk to her.

It’s just so quiet in this house.

THE GIVEAWAY

Things you should know:

~St. Martin's Press is providing the prize, so I will be passing your address onto the publicist.

~The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

~You must respond to my email within 48 hours; otherwise, I will pick another winner.

~I will be checking for cheating.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Until We Meet Again

Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins
Grade: D+
An e-galley was provided by Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
Summary: Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence's life—into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I'm a sucker for time travel and gorgeous covers. Unfortunately, the latter can be rather misleading, and that's what happened in the case of Until We Meet Again.
A lot of this novel felt cliche, between Cassandra's parents and Cassandra thinking her love could save Lawrence. The two teen leads were also fairly flat. There was no character development for them, and they both proclaimed they were in love pretty fast. Also, both of them were pretty naive. Lawrence was convinced one character had no idea about another character's true identity, when it was clear that the first character did. There's also a plot involving the beach and (I'm trying to be spoiler-free here), there's a pretty logical solution but neither Lawrence of Cassandra considers it.
Since I felt pretty meh, about this book, there's not much more I can say. Romance-wise, there was kissing and making out and definitely lots of references that Fay slept around a lot. There's some violence.

The Verdict: Not really worth your time. If you're looking for a good star-crossed romance novel that messes with time, try Time Between Us or Parallel.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: No.

Top Ten Tuesday: Debut Authors Whose Sophomore Novels I Need

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I love when I find debut authors whose books I adore. So here are the ten authors (plus a few bonus picks) whose second books I cannot wait for. Some have books coming next year...others, I'll have to wait a bit longer for.

1. Jasmine Warga

I loved, loved, loved My Heart and Other Black Holes, and I'm so excited for whatever Jasmine will write next!

2. Kristin Rae

Wish You Were Italian was fun and cute and a great summer read. Thankfully, Kristin has another book, What You've Always Wanted, coming in March!

3. Emma Mills

First & Then just released a month ago, but I'm already excited to see what she'll write next.

4. Aisha Saeed

So Aisha has sold her sophomore novel, but it isn't coming until 2017, and I kind of really need it now.

5. Katie M. Stout

Hello, I Love You was so cute, and I really hope Katie plans to write more.

6. Jenn Marie Thorne

The ultimate goal would be for Jenn to keep writing contemporary YA revolving around politics (and she apparently has a companion to The Wrong Side of Right coming soon), but I'll read anything else she plans to write. (Apart from a horror novel.)

7. Maggie Hall

I love the adventure that was The Conspiracy of Us. Cannot wait for the sequel!

8. Rachel M. Wilson

Don't Touch is one of the best books I've ever read. I really hope Rachel will write more in the future.

9. Amy Zhang

I would read Amy's grocery lists because Falling into Place was creative and thought-provoking. I'm sure her grocery lists aren't the same, but I'd read them anyways. So excited her sophomore novel will release in just a few months!

10. Stacey Lee

*prays that Stacey will continue to write historical fiction* I'm pumped for Outrun the Moon (previously titled The Unsinkable Mercy Wong), but I will read anything she writes after that.

Honorable mentions: Heather W. Petty (yay for Lock & Mori #2!) and Moriah McStay (I really enjoyed Everything That Makes You)

So which debut authors do you want to read more from?

Professor Emma Teaches YA Heroines in History

I had so much fun putting together the reading list and syllabus for Saving the World 101 (see this post) that I decided I wanted to do it for more classes. So that's what this post is all about. Except I didn't make a syllabus because I am a sophomore in college whose life is insane right now, and who has time for making syllabi? (Except for professors, whose jobs include writing syllabi.)

*puts on professor glasses* 

This is a description of the class:

This course provides you with an understanding of how young women have shaped history—both in reality and in fiction. All of the books we will read this semester focus on strong, realistic female characters. In addition, we will study real heroines in conjunction with the fictional ones. My goal is for you to leave this class with a better understanding of how women have shaped history and how history has treated them.

And here are the required texts:

• Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
• Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan
• Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
• A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
• Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

And the recommended reading:

• Deception's Princess by Esther Friesner
• Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
• Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
• Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
• Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson
• Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
• Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman
• Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Now get thee to the registrar's office at the Bibliophile University, and sign up for my class!

(Also, psst, what other classes would you like to see me teach at our made-up university? Conversely, what classes would you want to teach?)