Jenna Anderson (Author of Healing Touch)

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

The Baron's Governess Bride
by Deborah Hale (Goodreads Author)

read in June, 2012

My rating:

Cinderella with a touch of Jane Eyre - Loved It!

First of all I need to admit that this was my first Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title. I was expecting something different, something heavier, preachier… What a pleasant surprise.

I’d like to tha...more Cinderella with a touch of Jane Eyre - Loved It!

First of all I need to admit that this was my first Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title. I was expecting something different, something heavier, preachier… What a pleasant surprise.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin for the review copy of this title.

My spoiler free plot summery -

Grace Ellerby is a beautiful woman. What most plain girls would give anything for has been Grace’s curse. Older girls at school teased her, teachers distrusted her abilities, and dishonorable men chased her.

Poor Grace. She’s at the end of her luck when she accepts a job with Lord Steadwell. She is to look after his three children. His main objective is to find a plain, dowdy governess to care for his girls. He wants a simple lady because his last hire ran off and got married. It was too soon after his wife’s death and the young girls were devastated over another loss. So this time, his choice will be a somewhat homely female.

A wonderful love story! This book was very well written. It has rich scenery and detailed characters. I mention that it seemed to have a touch of Jane Eyre to it. I’ve read that title at least five times. It’s one of my favorites. Of course The Barons Governess Bride doesn’t have a female locked away in the attic. What it does have is a character who has wandered most of her life looking for a home. She wants to feel truly loved for who she is and not outward appearances. Ms. Hale captured this theme so well. I loved it.

We also visit the fairy tale, Cinderella. Again, the author gave me a fun and beautiful interpretation of this storyline.

My favorite part to this book were the three daughters. Each had a distinct personality and I enjoyed reading their actions and dialog. So well done. If I had one complaint it is that all Harlequin books need more side characters. This title is a shining example of why they need to be there.

I highly recommend this title to readers who want to read a heartfelt, beautiful love story.(less)

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

The Canterville Ghost
by Oscar Wilde

read in May, 2012

My rating:

I downloaded the free Kindle version of this story. I knew it was a short read and I found it to be a great example of how a short can be done well. I'll admit (then run and hide) that I was not a fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Sorry. I found the...more

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

The Prisoner of Zenda
by Anthony Hope

read in May, 2012

My rating:

How much fun was this book?! I'm so glad I decided to give it a try.

I downloaded the free Kindle version after trying another one of Anthony Hope's titles. (The Secret of the Tower - not good, skip it.)

If you enjoy schemes, plots, subplots - then pic...more

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

The Sartorialist
by Cecilia Ryan (Goodreads Author)

read in May, 2012

My rating:

“I tell the prince what to wear”

Three Stars

When I first looked up this book, I had no idea what a sartorialist was. Now I do - someone who is interested in tailoring or fashion. A fashionista! How fun.

I’d like to thank NetGally and Dreamspinner Press...more

Jenna Anderson is currently reading:

Ketchup is a Vegetable by Robin O'Bryant

Ketchup is a Vegetable: And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves
by Robin O'Bryant (Goodreads Author)

My rating:

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

His Vienna Christmas Bride by Jan Colley

His Vienna Christmas Bride (Silhouette Desire, #1974)
by Jan Colley

read in April, 2012

My rating:

I've been on a Harlequin kick lately and picked up this title at my library. It was a quick read of only 186 pages and the storyline was a standard Harlequin offering - two sexy people don't want to fall in love and yet they end up doing so in the en...more

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

The Secret of the Tower
by Anthony Hope

read in April, 2012

My rating:

Not Quite a Mystery or a Romance

Anthony Hope is best known for two other titles, The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. The Secret of the Tower was published in 1919 and takes place in a little village just outside of London.

Something odd is go...more Not Quite a Mystery or a Romance

Anthony Hope is best known for two other titles, The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. The Secret of the Tower was published in 1919 and takes place in a little village just outside of London.

Something odd is going on in Cottage Tower and the townsfolk of Inkston are trying to figure it out. The main characters of this book are Dr. Mary, Cynthia, Captain Naylor, Mr. Saffron, Beaumaroy, Dr. Irechester, and a handful of others.

Old Mr. Saffron is the owner of Cottage Tower and he's taken on two companions. Once a week the elderly man and one of his new guests, Beaumaroy, take a trip into London. The pair return the same day lugging a heavy brown bag.

The story started out with promise and I was clicking quickly to see what would happen next. Unfortunately things seemed to fizzle about 60% in. It was an interesting story even though there wasn't a clear murder or crime. I was enjoying myself, but sadly toward the end it lost its intrigue.

I found Hope's writing style a bit odd. He has a habit of backing into things. He will go on for a few pages offering detail and then tell you what he's specifically talking about. This happened on many occasions. The book opens with two females talking. One is crying and very upset about something. After five or six pages of this we are finally told who they are, what they're doing, and why one of them is upset. This backwards writing became bothersome after a while.

The free Kindle edition is well edited and there aren't many transfer issues. I did see a handful of places that appeared _like_ this. I assume it was _supposed_ to be italicized.

This book also has a sexist tone or treatment of women. Dr. Mary Arkroyd is a female doctor and the author uses sarcasm and jabs to point out his feelings on the subject. Come to think of it, I didn't like the way he portrayed any of the females in this book. I realize this was written nearly 100 years ago and times were different then, BUT I've read many classics and haven't encountered one with these same attitudes. They were subtle, but definitely present. It appears Hope thought all women were silly, gossipy, or inferior nincompoops.

I will pick up The Prisoner of Zenda and see if Anthony Hope continues this viewpoint of women in that story as well.(less)

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde

read in April, 2012

My rating:

Unbalanced and Vague

Unfortunately I didn't like this classic story for many reasons. I downloaded the Free Kindle version and read about half of it. I finished the story by listening to the Librivox audiobook recording using the free smartphone app.

I...more Unbalanced and Vague

Unfortunately I didn't like this classic story for many reasons. I downloaded the Free Kindle version and read about half of it. I finished the story by listening to the Librivox audiobook recording using the free smartphone app.

I found Lord Henry to be quite unlikeable. His statements were absurd, contradictory, and got old quickly. Here are some loose quotes... "The only things that are necessary are those that are truly unnecessary." He had MANY of those and I saw them coming when only three words of a sentence were out of his mouth. "I find people infinitely fascinating." Which he quickly followed up with something like, "I pay no attention to people at all." I believe Wilde was trying to paint a pompous, egotistical fool and he did a great job. It made me dislike the character greatly.

The story was not balanced well. We started out by meeting Dorian and quickly jumped ahead through years and years of his life. There was very little build up of tension. Chapter nine was completely painful to go through. Did we need to read, in long, boring detail, about textiles and gems?

My biggest complaint - various evil deeds and adventures are eluded to, but not shown to us. Dorian's actions are key to the concept of this story, but they are told to us at a distance and with very little feeling. Authors hear often that they are to show, not tell the reader what is happening. Chapter after chapter told us, in only vague hints, what kinds of things Dorian was up to. We skip over incidents very quickly. Some are just a word or two in a sentence. I realize that The Picture of Dorian Gray was written in an era when prostitution, drug use, and vile acts couldn't be written about in detail, but it could have been done so much better.

This story reminds me of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They both have themes of - Be careful what you wish for. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was also written at a time when sadistic endeavors and deviant sexual practices couldn't be written in detail. Stevenson succeeded where Wilde failed. I felt Mr. Hyde's strength and power. I could see the lust and greed. Wilde didn't bring any believability to this story.(less)

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

Not Just Friends
by Kate Hoffmann

read in May, 2012

My rating:

Adam and Julia have known each other for years, almost decades. They were campmates in their childhood and later counselors at the same camp. Julia has always harbored a secret crush for Adam. He was a player and out of her reach. Years later Julia a...more

Jenna Anderson gave

to:

Ghost Detective
by Diana Shaw

read in April, 2012

My rating:

The full title of this book it - Watchman William Ghost Detective.

Watchman William is a fun illustrated children’s book. William, a guard or policeman of sorts, who used to be on duty 400 hundred years ago. He’s now a ghost living in Hardleigh Manor....more

The full title of this book it - Watchman William Ghost Detective.

Watchman William is a fun illustrated children’s book. William, a guard or policeman of sorts, who used to be on duty 400 hundred years ago. He’s now a ghost living in Hardleigh Manor. This large estate has been turned into a hotel and William is once again called into action to solve mysteries.

What an entertaining read. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Inside Pocket Publishing for the review copy of this title.

Each chapter takes us on a new adventure. We meet Thomas, a friend of William’s, and many guests, workers, and townsfolk of the village.

The illustrations are ample and top notch. Kids will love seeing what the artist decided to draw for a particular scene. The mysteries are light and fun - appropriate for all ages. In fact, I feel this would make an excellent title for advanced young readers. Parents looking for good clean fun for their little readers, stop here. The storylines will keep them interested.

As an American, I found myself smiling at all the British lingo: mum, tyre tracks, lift, wellingtons, etc. I don’t think the author or publisher should change them at all. It added to the experience. I think this title would make a perfect addition to a US classroom when teaching students about reading the context of a story in order to decipher the meaning of a word. For example - What’s a skittle? Nope, it’s not a piece of candy.

At times I felt I needed a bit more scene set up or description. Sometimes I wasn’t quite sure who was talking. Additional conversation tags would have helped. People were mentioned and I had to stop and think, who is that? A reminder would have helped. The story was never so vague that I was completely confused. I just feel I needed a little more in places. This was a small drawback in a really fun children’s book.

Teachers and parents looking for a cute, interesting story for their child or classroom should look to Watchman William. A well done story.(less)

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	Healing Touch 3.42 avg rating — 66 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Jason and Me 3.20 avg rating — 45 ratings — published 2009 — 3 editions	My rating:
	Off Leash 4.00 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	My rating:

Jenna Anderson gave to: The Baron's Governess Bride by Deborah Hale (Goodreads Author) read in June, 2012	My rating:
Cinderella with a touch of Jane Eyre - Loved It! First of all I need to admit that this was my first Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title. I was expecting something different, something heavier, preachier… What a pleasant surprise. I’d like to tha...more
18 hours, 52 min ago · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde read in May, 2012	My rating:
I downloaded the free Kindle version of this story. I knew it was a short read and I found it to be a great example of how a short can be done well. I'll admit (then run and hide) that I was not a fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Sorry. I found the...more
May 18, 2012 01:08pm · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope read in May, 2012	My rating:
How much fun was this book?! I'm so glad I decided to give it a try. I downloaded the free Kindle version after trying another one of Anthony Hope's titles. (The Secret of the Tower - not good, skip it.) If you enjoy schemes, plots, subplots - then pic...more
May 18, 2012 12:53pm · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: The Sartorialist by Cecilia Ryan (Goodreads Author) read in May, 2012	My rating:
“I tell the prince what to wear” Three Stars When I first looked up this book, I had no idea what a sartorialist was. Now I do - someone who is interested in tailoring or fashion. A fashionista! How fun. I’d like to thank NetGally and Dreamspinner Press...more
May 18, 2012 12:20pm · see review
Jenna Anderson is currently reading: Ketchup is a Vegetable: And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves by Robin O'Bryant (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
May 06, 2012 11:27am
Jenna Anderson gave to: His Vienna Christmas Bride (Silhouette Desire, #1974) by Jan Colley read in April, 2012	My rating:
I've been on a Harlequin kick lately and picked up this title at my library. It was a quick read of only 186 pages and the storyline was a standard Harlequin offering - two sexy people don't want to fall in love and yet they end up doing so in the en...more
May 06, 2012 11:26am · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: The Secret of the Tower by Anthony Hope read in April, 2012	My rating:
Not Quite a Mystery or a Romance Anthony Hope is best known for two other titles, The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. The Secret of the Tower was published in 1919 and takes place in a little village just outside of London. Something odd is go...more
May 06, 2012 11:23am · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde read in April, 2012	My rating:
Unbalanced and Vague Unfortunately I didn't like this classic story for many reasons. I downloaded the Free Kindle version and read about half of it. I finished the story by listening to the Librivox audiobook recording using the free smartphone app. I...more
May 06, 2012 11:21am · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: Not Just Friends by Kate Hoffmann read in May, 2012	My rating:
Adam and Julia have known each other for years, almost decades. They were campmates in their childhood and later counselors at the same camp. Julia has always harbored a secret crush for Adam. He was a player and out of her reach. Years later Julia a...more
May 06, 2012 11:19am · see review
Jenna Anderson gave to: Ghost Detective by Diana Shaw read in April, 2012	My rating:
The full title of this book it - Watchman William Ghost Detective. Watchman William is a fun illustrated children’s book. William, a guard or policeman of sorts, who used to be on duty 400 hundred years ago. He’s now a ghost living in Hardleigh Manor....more
Apr 28, 2012 11:52am · see review

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