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82nd out of 97 books
—
392 voters
Filter (The Von Strassenberg Saga #1)
by
Gwenn Wright (Goodreads Author)
Not all romances are fairytales.
The von Strassenbergs' saga begins in 1877, when Katherine Demure, brimming over with discontentment, is swept into the arms of the mysterious Viktor von Strassenberg who is newly arrived from Europe with dark rumors preceding him. Hoping to find love and adventure, she instead becomes the centerpiece of a mystery that will take generations...more
The von Strassenbergs' saga begins in 1877, when Katherine Demure, brimming over with discontentment, is swept into the arms of the mysterious Viktor von Strassenberg who is newly arrived from Europe with dark rumors preceding him. Hoping to find love and adventure, she instead becomes the centerpiece of a mystery that will take generations...more
Paperback, 392 pages
Published
March 14th 2012
by Createspace
(first published August 4th 2010)
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Oh my goodness. Run, do not walk, to your nearest computer/Nook/Kindle/smartphone (once it is live again) and order this book. Filter is an absolute must-read. I am going to try very hard not to include any spoilers in this review because I can't stand having a book possibly ruined for a future reader!
The story is so riveting that you can't stop thinking about it as you go about the rest of your daily life. There are authors who know how to end a chapter and then there is Gwenn Wright who pract...more
The story is so riveting that you can't stop thinking about it as you go about the rest of your daily life. There are authors who know how to end a chapter and then there is Gwenn Wright who pract...more
Wow, wow. I loved this book and I need the second book IMMEDIATELY. I'm always on the lookout for great indie reads, and I just can't believe I haven't found this book before now! How have I not heard of Gwenn Wright before I stumbled across Filter a few days ago? She is an incredibly gifted storyteller.
Filter follows two storylines, that of Rocky Evans, a 17 yr. old girl from present day, and Katherine, a 16 yr. old girl from 1877. Rocky is an orphan from Nashville who lives under the guardians...more
Filter follows two storylines, that of Rocky Evans, a 17 yr. old girl from present day, and Katherine, a 16 yr. old girl from 1877. Rocky is an orphan from Nashville who lives under the guardians...more
6 likes
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This was one of the very best books I have ever read. You may think I'm exaggerating, but you would be wrong. I believe I drew many puzzled stares when I finished this up at the airport last week and was visibly outraged that I had reached the end. This was an incredibly well-planned novel, and I am eagerly (but not patiently) awaiting Book 2 of The Von Strassenberg Saga. You will not be able to anticipate the next turn the story may take. You become emotionally invested in the protagonists. I r...more
4 likes
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Thank you, Gwenn, for the free copy through first reads!
Mature Content: Sensuality
Lexile: Not found
I have to admit...at one point in time I almost put this book down. The situation: Raquel, the heroine, is torn between the skinny, pasty boy and the buff, tanned boy who can't seem to keep his shirt on. Sound familiar? Thank goodness I am a bit of a stubborn reader and it takes a lot for me to abandon a book, or else I really would have missed out on a compelling story.
Told as two stories that are...more
Mature Content: Sensuality
Lexile: Not found
I have to admit...at one point in time I almost put this book down. The situation: Raquel, the heroine, is torn between the skinny, pasty boy and the buff, tanned boy who can't seem to keep his shirt on. Sound familiar? Thank goodness I am a bit of a stubborn reader and it takes a lot for me to abandon a book, or else I really would have missed out on a compelling story.
Told as two stories that are...more
1 like
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Fantastic read! I was all in with Katherine & Viktor from the beginning. I was annoyed at how often Katherine's physical frailty was referenced, especially by pain-in-the-tush sister, Henrietta because it was so clear that her spirit far exceeded any limitations her physical being held her to. I worried when Katherine worried that she'd never see Viktor again & I worried when it was evident that Viktor's father was a terrible sort & not good to his son at all. I have to admit that al...more
![ShawnaLeAnn [Dreaming In The Pages]](http://d.gr-assets.com/users/1357080880p2/5320190.jpg)
Jul 29, 2011
ShawnaLeAnn [Dreaming In The Pages]
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
borrowed-nook-books,
favorites
Holy wow. Like seriously. I loved this book. No doubt about it. It was perfection. Perfectly combining two stories into one with romance, mystery, and enough suspense to kill me. This is definitely one of my favorites now, and I can barley contain my eagerness waiting for the second book, because I MUST know what happens next.
I have never read a book that switches between two different people that was pulled off flawlessly before. It was always choppy and never meshed well and I ended up not eve...more
I have never read a book that switches between two different people that was pulled off flawlessly before. It was always choppy and never meshed well and I ended up not eve...more
Oh my.
You know when you're looking for a book to read (or going through the ever-growing list) and nothing is satisfying that very particular literary craving you have at the moment?
Filter satisfied my craving, then left me ravenous for more. Good thing reading doesn't make one gain weight...
The perfect blend of historical fiction/gothic/romance/suspense, Filter had me from the first chapter and kept me hanging on (tightly) the entire ride. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED.
I will say...it needs some MAJOR c...more
You know when you're looking for a book to read (or going through the ever-growing list) and nothing is satisfying that very particular literary craving you have at the moment?
Filter satisfied my craving, then left me ravenous for more. Good thing reading doesn't make one gain weight...
The perfect blend of historical fiction/gothic/romance/suspense, Filter had me from the first chapter and kept me hanging on (tightly) the entire ride. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED.
I will say...it needs some MAJOR c...more
Jul 08, 2011
Bunny
added it
Recommended to Bunny by:
Gwenn Wright
Shelves:
in_my_library,
review-copy-arc
**originally posted on www.bunnycates.com **
Loved. It.
How’s that for a professional review? haha. Seriously! OMGosh you guys. When I finished reading this book, it was like 3am. I ran upstairs where my Mr. was in his office and tossed the book in his lap, then I just started telling him about it. When I get excited I talk REALLY fast and I forget to breath. So, when I was finished, I leaned against the door and fake smoked a fake cigarette with a HUGE intake of air. He just looked up at me and s...more
Loved. It.
How’s that for a professional review? haha. Seriously! OMGosh you guys. When I finished reading this book, it was like 3am. I ran upstairs where my Mr. was in his office and tossed the book in his lap, then I just started telling him about it. When I get excited I talk REALLY fast and I forget to breath. So, when I was finished, I leaned against the door and fake smoked a fake cigarette with a HUGE intake of air. He just looked up at me and s...more
This is a book that is set both in the present and the past. It takes awhile for the story of the past to connect fully with the present, which intrieged me as a reader. I wanted to know the rest of the story. Some people have rated this as the subgenre "horror". I don't know if I would go that far, but some bad things do happen. This is a greatly written story, but not a happily ever after. The horrific parts could have been graphic, but they were handled quite tastefully. The reason I did like...more
Took me a while to get into, mainly because the chapters are so short. But once I started to get accustomed to them the book got actually pretty good.
Admittedly, I saw through the mystery, that is, what happened to Katherine, and could guess what happened, but that didn't bother me.
And I liked one of the MCs. Rocky/Raquel (how do you say that name?) was a heroine of my liking, whereas Katherine was spoiled and felt superior to everyone, something I despise in a heroine.
But Rocky is cool enough f...more
Admittedly, I saw through the mystery, that is, what happened to Katherine, and could guess what happened, but that didn't bother me.
And I liked one of the MCs. Rocky/Raquel (how do you say that name?) was a heroine of my liking, whereas Katherine was spoiled and felt superior to everyone, something I despise in a heroine.
But Rocky is cool enough f...more
BRILLIANT. It's been a while since I've read a book that was so compelling that even when I wasn't reading it (and trust me, every moment I could steal away and read, I was), it was still consuming my thoughts. There are so many young adult books out there that, while they're still entertaining, you know exactly what's going to happen from the first chapter or two in. This is certainly not true about Filter! It's not only unpredictable but it's very unlike anything else out right now.
I still hav...more
I still hav...more
Amazing! This is the best book I have read in a long time. It is one of those books that I want so badly for my friends to read, just so I can discuss the plots, twists and potential theories with someone! It is so compelling and had my heart racing the whole time! There were times that I would stop to catch my breath after an incredible plot twist! This is a remarkably brilliant debut novel that is so uniquely written that it becomes nearly impossible to put it down. I am generally one of those...more
This book is way more than the description even hints at. A storyline depicting two very different and yet the same teenager and living in two different centuries. While, I had an idea how they were connected, how the story played out was a pleasant surprise.
Our present day heroine is Rocky Evans. Her mother died during childbirth living her with the only man she knows as a father, even if he's the furthest thing from it. When a young lawyer finds her on the streets of Nashville claiming she's...more
Our present day heroine is Rocky Evans. Her mother died during childbirth living her with the only man she knows as a father, even if he's the furthest thing from it. When a young lawyer finds her on the streets of Nashville claiming she's...more
I am so glad I found out about the Goodreads site. Since I have finished Filter, I have recommended it to everyone! This book kept me on my toes the whole time. I love how it switches back from past to present and the ending isn't predictable. I was born and raised in Saint Louis. The descriptions and details made me feel like I was there! Congratulations Gwenn on this amazing book! I cannot wait for the next book to come out!
Oh my, I loved this book!!!! Thank you Gwenn for writing such an amazing story!(I hope it's more than three books!;)) There was not one dull moment, not one moment to take a breath, I am so invested in each and every one of these characters lives. Look at all the 5-star reviews, this book is absolutely deserving of them. So many other people reviewed it more thoroughly, maybe someday I will...but right now I have to go buy the next book!!
An absolutely wonderful book. I enjoyed every moment of reading this novel. The characters are will crafted and story line flows, even with switching back and forth between 1870's and 2010. This was a goodreads first reads win and I could not be any happier that I won this book to read. Hope this is the first of many books by Ms. Wright. I have definitely found another wonderful author to follow.
1 like
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I found the first half a bit slow. Well written, and i was happy to keep reading, but nothing overly exciting happened. This could just be because i have a small baby and only got to read for 5 minutes here and there - maybe if id been able to just sit down for a few hours i would have gotten into it more. The last 30% of the book had me hooked tho. I stayed up til midnight to finish it (and that says something as sleep is very precious to me right now!). I had no idea the book would end up the...more
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads giveaway.
Buy. This. Book.
It's a great read and a fascinating story. This was my first brush with this author but it certainly won't be my last.
Buy. This. Book.
It's a great read and a fascinating story. This was my first brush with this author but it certainly won't be my last.
2 likes
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like
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The writing seemed clunky and some of the conversations felt forced and awkward. I liked the story concept and the fact that I could read it in one sitting though.
Oh. My. God. I didn't really know who Gwenn Wright was before reading this, but wow. This book was fantastic! When it first started out, based on the back I was thinking this must be some new vampire-crazed author, and slighty regretted the choice to read it. But NO. This book was great! I couldn't put it down, and even stayed up WAY past my bedtime last night finishing it.
This was one of the very best books I have ever read. You may think I'm exaggerating, but you would be wrong. I believe I drew many puzzled stares when I finished this up at the airport last week and was visibly outraged that I had reached the end. This was an incredibly well-planned novel, and I am eagerly (but not patiently) awaiting Book 2 of The Von Strassenberg Saga. You will not be able to anticipate the next turn the story may take. You become emotionally invested in the protagonists. I r...more
Good book! I totally recommend this....its SO not your typical teenage-paranormal-romance book, its much more! Well written!!
Loved it! Well written, fast paced, and great storyline. I loved how it went back and forth between the timelines. I can't wait for the next book to come out so that I can see what happens next.
this book is beast!!!!! i love it so much. and so will you! its AWESOME!!!
Oh, I loved this, and I can even overlook the grammar errors. This book was riveting from beginning to end. Cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!
Great read!
It was very good, I'll be sure to link my review to my blog once I post a review there!
http://teensreads.blogspot.com/2011/0...
http://teensreads.blogspot.com/2011/0...
I really like how this book weaved the past and the present together. The story flowed nicely and was interesting. I'm sure I'll for sure read the 2nd book in the saga.
May 18, 2013
Elly
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
lanalang
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Indie Carnival : In Defense of a Character | 1 | 7 | Feb 15, 2012 07:55am | |
| YA Indie Carnival : William the Third | 1 | 4 | Dec 21, 2011 08:08am | |
| Also Available at Smashwords | 1 | 4 | Sep 29, 2011 06:54am | |
| Available for Kindle | 1 | 1 | Sep 28, 2011 08:24am | |
| Now Available in Paperback! | 4 | 6 | May 03, 2011 07:32am |
As a reader, I rate books based solely on entertainment value. It doesn't matter if they're cheesy or cliche or predictable, if they keep me entranced I love them. It takes a lot of skill as a writer to be cheesy, cliche, predictable and STILL manage to be entertaining and entrancing.
As a writer, I studied history, criminal justice, English, business and personal coaching before deciding journali...more
More about Gwenn Wright...
As a writer, I studied history, criminal justice, English, business and personal coaching before deciding journali...more
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“Maybe love, unfathomable love, was too much for people, so they had traded it for something easier.”
—
22 people liked it
“They had pulled me from the hemorrhaging, dying body of my mother and turned me over to the care of the man who was not my father. He had taken me home to their tiny apartment above the old hardware store and done what little he knew to take care of me.
It took less than six weeks for him to realize his mistake. Maybe even less than six hours, but he never abandoned me. He clung to me as though I was the last remnant of some great and powerful love.
And that gave me hope that maybe my mother was really something else and not just some girl who got knocked up by a guy whose name she didn’t even know. She was something special, someone worthy of a man’s loyalty and devotion.
--Rocky Evans”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
It took less than six weeks for him to realize his mistake. Maybe even less than six hours, but he never abandoned me. He clung to me as though I was the last remnant of some great and powerful love.
And that gave me hope that maybe my mother was really something else and not just some girl who got knocked up by a guy whose name she didn’t even know. She was something special, someone worthy of a man’s loyalty and devotion.
--Rocky Evans”
Jun 21, 2011 12:57pm
Jun 21, 2011 01:11pm