The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo

This Wild West adventure just might be the life she was meant to live.

The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.

As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

Review: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

I picked up A Great and Terrible Beauty when it first came out. I read the first chapter, didn't like Gemma much, and put the book down. But the title kept I really liked these stories, so I finally gave in. And after the bratty!Gemma first chapter, I was pulled into the setting immediately, fell in love with certain characters, related well with others, and was very frightened at times.

Wonderful YA Gothic fantasy!

Rebel Angels was by far my favorite. The Sweet Far Thing could have -- and probably should have -- been a lot tighter, as far as the plot goes. I wasn't happy with the resolutions of many of the storylines, either, but that won't stop me from

A) seeing the films
B) reading the series again
or
C) really enjoying the story.

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

This it the just kind of book my mother didn’t let me read when in her home. I felt naughty, just as the Spence girls did when reading Mary Dowd’s diary.

I first picked this up a year or so ago, and really disliked Gemma, the main character. But I’ve wanted to read as much YA Victorian and Edwardian as possible, and how could I resist it any longer? Beautiful title, beautful cover…

And wow. This one chilled me more than once, and I take pleasure in knowing that there’s another book waiting and one after that being written. Great prose, too. The thing that frightened me the most is that Mary and Sarah really reminded me of Pauline and Juliette from Heavenly Creatures. Which is a damn freaky movie. I’ll nix all the comments about historical fiction writers and fantasy realms.
Come to think of it, Peter Jackson would do a great job with the film version. Alas, Charles Sturridge is in charge of the screenplay and direction, seems like.