M.C. Frank's Blog, page 463

What are you reading this weekend?I'm reading Wink Poppy ...

What are you reading this weekend?
I'm reading Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke
Every story needs a hero. Every story needs a villain. Every story needs a secret. Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them.
 Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. 
Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous. What really happened? Someone knows. Someone is lying.

So far it's really gripping!
What are you reading this weekend? Do you have any recommendations for next weekend?

Happy pub day to my New Adult novel, Lose Me + A GIV...

[image error]
Happy pub day to my New Adult novel, Lose Me + A GIVEAWAY (INTERNATIONAL)! 
Jane Austen meets K-drama in this compulsively readable romance.

"Today is not the day I die."
Ari Demos starts every day with this thought. Fresh out of high school, she's landed a coveted role as a stunt double in a new Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring the Hollywood phenomenon Weston Spencer. But this job isn't going to be easy: Ari will be performing complicated water stunts and driving fast cars along the narrow cliffs of Corfu. One false step and she could lose not only her job, but her life.

And then Wes Spencer, Mr Darcy himself, arrives in Greece. He's got dirty blonde hair, a mile-long yacht and a bored look on that gorgeous face. Ari wants nothing to do with the rich actor boy, but on the day she meets him, she has an accident. One that almost claims her life. And now she can't hide from the truth any longer:
She might be much closer to losing everything than she thought. She might be dying. And the British actor is the last person she'd expect to save her life.


She's a hard-working island girl. He's adored by millions. Falling in love was never supposed to be a part of the job. Staying alive was never supposed to be a part of growing up.


Was this story ever meant for a happily ever after?



Readers say: "On the feels!" 
"Like candy for Jane Austen fans." "Unputdownable." "I'm in love!" 
AmazonGoodreadsRead it for free


Lose Me. is perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Nicola Yoon, John Green and Gayle Forman. There's also a lot of yumminess inspired from K-drama, if you're a fan (read all about it here).

A huge blog tour to celebrate the much-anticipated release of Lose Me. starts today! I'll be posting the links to the blogs here as they go live, so be sure to check them all out, so that you don't miss a chance to win a finished paperback copy of Lose Me by visiting every one of them and entering the giveaway multiple times! Get started here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Up for more fun? Here's a quiz for those of you who want to find your perfect Mr. Darcy. Swoon!



Meet Wes Spencer, the yummy protagonist of Lose Me:



[image error]

 What is their biggest motivator?
He wants to prove himself.
How do they deal with/react to pain?
Emotional pain? He drinks. A lot. Physical pain? He’s tough. 
 What do they like to wear?
Well, he’s a movie star who owns a boat. He dresses pretty posh


  (Wes' aesthetic)
 Which of their relationships have impacted them most positively?
Ollie and Ari. 
 What is their favorite food/kind of food?
As of this autumn, Greek food. 
He almost had an orgasm while eating.
 What do they feel most insecure about?
His worth. 
 How do they react to feelings of guilt?
They make him want to change.
 How do they react to/deal with betrayal?
Moves on, stays brokenhearted.




What is their greatest achievement?
Yep, there’s spoilers in this answer. Sorry.
 What are they like when they’re drunk?
Super hyped. Irresponsible. Reckless
Fears?
Not being good enough. Not being worthy.

 Do they collect anything?
Oh, he’s a bookworm (swooooooon)




 Pet peeves?
Reporters and online/magazine articles about him.
 Do they own any objects of significant personal importance?
A heirloom copy of Pride and Prejudice
 When was the last time they cried?
Never. Until now. As a kid, maybe. Lots of issues.




 Tell us about one of the times they got injured?
Car accident. Stunt.



Do they have any bad habits?
Drinking
 Why might someone dislike them?
Drinking, arrogant, full of himself, acts superior. Also, he wears college sweaters which look hot on him, but a bit preppy. 
 Why might someone love them?
He is trying to change. After some point.
 Are they romantically interested in anyone?
Oh, now, I’m not gonna tell you. 
You'll have to read the book. 



 What Hogwarts House would they be in?
Ravenclaw
What are their views on death?
He’s pretty much had to think very hard and deeply on the subject, during the course of LOSE ME. 
What is something that they’re sure to laugh at?
Laurel and Hardy old black-and-white films. Also, his own youtube videos. But then again, everyone laughs at those. With those. You know what I mean.




 When bored, how do they pass time?
He doesn’t have time to get bored.
Do they have an accent?
A swoony, British one :)
If they knew they were going to die, what would they do/say?
“Forgiven”.
 Do they become squeamish at the sight of blood?


 Is there anything that they find really gross?
Fans.
Do they enjoy helping people?
Well, he adopted a one-eared dog, 
but that’s not exactly people. Or is it?
Are they quick to anger? What are they like when they loose their temper?
Hides it with caustic humor. Also, his eyes get really hooded and dark. Then he acts cold and aloof. Ugh. 
Are they good at cooking?
Oh yes, my friend.
 Favorite insult? Do they insult people often?
“Twit”. And, boy, does he. 
How do they act when they’re particularly happy?
Silent. Smiling.

 Do they exercise regularly?
Oh yes. He does weights, he surfs, he’s a movie star, so yeah. Also, he does most of his stunts on his own, 
so he’s in pretty good shape.
Are they comfortable with the way they look?
A little bit too much.
What kind of personalities do they find attractive?
Brave, fighter, different from anyone else.
 What is their age?
22
Are they tall or short or somewhere in between?
Tall. Way tall.
What is their sense of humor like?
British.
Something that they regret?
Oh, lots of stuff. You’ll see.





Let me know if you'd like to read a Q&A with Ari! 

Are you the type of person who loves to read to music? Cause I sure am!


Here is the official soundtrack of   LOSE ME.

In the playlist below, you will find songs that are well-known classics, as well as newly-discovered indie gems. You'll hear songs that will make you sing along, dream of summer, or tear up.To me, this playlist is the essence of my book and, even though you haven't read it yet, I hope that you will get to experience a glimpse of the love, heartbreak and growth my characters go through in it.
Please let me know of any songs that you love in the comments. Who knows, maybe they'll fit and I'll add them too! Soon enough, you'll be able to hold LOSE ME. in your hands, and see for yourselves why I chose these particular songs. I hope you'll agree with my choices.


So, have you read the book yet? (You know you want to! Click that link.) 










[image error]





Care to spread some encouragement? I'd love to read a comment from you.

Happy reading!


M.C. Frank's books

Happy pub day to my New Adult novel, Lose Me!Jane Austen ...

[image error]
Happy pub day to my New Adult novel, Lose Me!
Jane Austen meets K-drama in this compulsively readable romance.

"Today is not the day I die."
Ari Demos starts every day with this thought. Fresh out of high school, she's landed a coveted role as a stunt double in a new Pride and Prejudice adaptation starring the Hollywood phenomenon Weston Spencer. But this job isn't going to be easy: Ari will be performing complicated water stunts and driving fast cars along the narrow cliffs of Corfu. One false step and she could lose not only her job, but her life.

And then Wes Spencer, Mr Darcy himself, arrives in Greece. He's got dirty blonde hair, a mile-long yacht and a bored look on that gorgeous face. Ari wants nothing to do with the rich actor boy, but on the day she meets him, she has an accident. One that almost claims her life. And now she can't hide from the truth any longer:
She might be much closer to losing everything than she thought. She might be dying. And the British actor is the last person she'd expect to save her life.


She's a hard-working island girl. He's adored by millions. Falling in love was never supposed to be a part of the job. Staying alive was never supposed to be a part of growing up.

Was this story ever meant for a happily ever after?

Readers say: "On the feels!" 
"Like candy for Jane Austen fans." "Unputdownable." "I'm in love!" 
AmazonGoodreadsRead it for free


Lose Me. is perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Nicola Yoon, John Green and Gayle Forman. There's also a lot of yumminess inspired from K-drama, if you're a fan (read all about it here).

A huge blog tour to celebrate the much-anticipated release of Lose Me. starts today! I'll be posting the links to the blogs here as they go live, so be sure to check them all out, so that you don't miss a chance to win a finished paperback copy of Lose Me by visiting every one of them and entering the giveaway multiple times! Get started here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Up for more fun? Here's a quiz for those of you who want to find your perfect Mr. Darcy. Swoon!



Meet Wes Spencer, the yummy protagonist of Lose Me:



[image error]

 What is their biggest motivator?
He wants to prove himself.
How do they deal with/react to pain?
Emotional pain? He drinks. A lot. Physical pain? He’s tough. 
 What do they like to wear?
Well, he’s a movie star who owns a boat. He dresses pretty posh


  (Wes' aesthetic)
 Which of their relationships have impacted them most positively?
Ollie and Ari. 
 What is their favorite food/kind of food?
As of this autumn, Greek food. 
He almost had an orgasm while eating.
 What do they feel most insecure about?
His worth. 
 How do they react to feelings of guilt?
They make him want to change.
 How do they react to/deal with betrayal?
Moves on, stays brokenhearted.



What is their greatest achievement?
Yep, there’s spoilers in this answer. Sorry.
 What are they like when they’re drunk?
Super hyped. Irresponsible. Reckless
Fears?
Not being good enough. Not being worthy.

 Do they collect anything?
Oh, he’s a bookworm (swooooooon)



 Pet peeves?
Reporters and online/magazine articles about him.
 Do they own any objects of significant personal importance?
A heirloom copy of Pride and Prejudice
 When was the last time they cried?
Never. Until now. As a kid, maybe. Lots of issues.




 Tell us about one of the times they got injured?
Car accident. Stunt.



Do they have any bad habits?
Drinking
 Why might someone dislike them?
Drinking, arrogant, full of himself, acts superior. Also, he wears college sweaters which look hot on him, but a bit preppy. 
 Why might someone love them?
He is trying to change. After some point.
 Are they romantically interested in anyone?
Oh, now, I’m not gonna tell you. 
You'll have to read the book. 



 What Hogwarts House would they be in?
Ravenclaw
What are their views on death?
He’s pretty much had to think very hard and deeply on the subject, during the course of LOSE ME. 
What is something that they’re sure to laugh at?
Laurel and Hardy old black-and-white films. Also, his own youtube videos. But then again, everyone laughs at those. With those. You know what I mean.




 When bored, how do they pass time?
He doesn’t have time to get bored.
Do they have an accent?
A swoony, British one :)
If they knew they were going to die, what would they do/say?
“Forgiven”.
 Do they become squeamish at the sight of blood?


 Is there anything that they find really gross?
Fans.
Do they enjoy helping people?
Well, he adopted a one-eared dog, 
but that’s not exactly people. Or is it?
Are they quick to anger? What are they like when they loose their temper?
Hides it with caustic humor. Also, his eyes get really hooded and dark. Then he acts cold and aloof. Ugh. 
Are they good at cooking?
Oh yes, my friend.
 Favorite insult? Do they insult people often?
“Twit”. And, boy, does he. 
How do they act when they’re particularly happy?
Silent. Smiling.

 Do they exercise regularly?
Oh yes. He does weights, he surfs, he’s a movie star, so yeah. Also, he does most of his stunts on his own, 
so he’s in pretty good shape.
Are they comfortable with the way they look?
A little bit too much.
What kind of personalities do they find attractive?
Brave, fighter, different from anyone else.
 What is their age?
22
Are they tall or short or somewhere in between?
Tall. Way tall.
What is their sense of humor like?
British.
Something that they regret?
Oh, lots of stuff. You’ll see.





Let me know if you'd like to read a Q&A with Ari! 

Are you the type of person who loves to read to music? Cause I sure am!


Here is the official soundtrack of   LOSE ME.

In the playlist below, you will find songs that are well-known classics, as well as newly-discovered indie gems. You'll hear songs that will make you sing along, dream of summer, or tear up.To me, this playlist is the essence of my book and, even though you haven't read it yet, I hope that you will get to experience a glimpse of the love, heartbreak and growth my characters go through in it.
Please let me know of any songs that you love in the comments. Who knows, maybe they'll fit and I'll add them too! Soon enough, you'll be able to hold LOSE ME. in your hands, and see for yourselves why I chose these particular songs. I hope you'll agree with my choices.


So, have you read the book yet? (You know you want to! Click that link.) 







 

[image error]





Care to spread some encouragement? I'd love to read a comment from you.

Happy reading!


M.C. Frank's books

Welcome to Story Friday,where I share a favorite vid...

Welcome to Story Friday,
where I share a favorite video, short film or trailer related to our favorite books! This week, you will squeal when you...
So that's what these videos are. Short, rich, visual stories.

I hope you enjoy the wonderful videos I'm be bringing you as much as I enjoy watching them (over and over again - that's no joke). Please feel free to ask for videos on your favorite characters and/or books, as there will be everything in here: romance, drama, violence(?), book trailers, classic films, K-drama, action, dystopian, period, aesthetics. The works.

With that being said, let's get into the yummy world of Jane Austen's Regency with these two Jane Eyre and Persuasion inspired fanmade videos.
I can't stop watching them... Can you?

"I am half agony half hope..." And how perfectly matched are Anne Eliot and Captain Wentworth in this version? Be still, my heart.

"No other woman has affected me this way..." FEELS. Learn more about this reader-favorite, romantic retelling of Jane Eyre here.
Did you enjoy these? I hope you did. They took so much work to create, but I enjoyed every single moment of it. I hope they brought you some happiness.

P.S. About the header image: I'm really excited to read Rebel of the Sands! Has anyone read it? Is it yummy?

You won't believe your eyes...Instagram @mcfrankauthorIns...

You won't believe your eyes...






Instagram @mcfrankauthor

Instagram @marleyreads

Instagram @velutluna_tic

Instagram @tightrope.to.the.sun

Instagram @booklirious

Instagram @readingtolive

Instagram @thepagesfullofstars

Instagram @ink_and_oxygen

Instagram @shoshireads

Instagram @msbooknook
A huge thank you to my wonderful instagram family. You make my every day a bookush haven. 
Want your picture featured too? Comment below or dm me on instagram!

Top 10 most anticipated reads of the year! Caraval ...

Top 10 most anticipated reads of the year!



[image error]
Caraval by Stephanie Garber 

Remember, it’s only a game… Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.


[image error]
[image error] RoseBlood 
by A.G. Howard  

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera. At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.



[image error]
[image error] Strange the Dreamer 
by Laini Taylor  

Strange the Dreamer is the story of: the aftermath of a war between gods and men a mysterious city stripped of its name a mythic hero with blood on his hands a young librarian with a singular dream a girl every bit as perilous as she is imperiled alchemy and blood candy, nightmares and godspawn, moths and monsters, friendship and treachery, love and carnage. Welcome to Weep.


[image error]
[image error] Lord of Shadows 
by Cassandra Clare  
Sunny Los Angeles can be a dark place indeed in Cassandra Clare’s Lord of Shadows, the sequel to the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Lady Midnight. Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again? And the faerie courts are not silent. The Unseelie King is tired of the Cold Peace, and will no longer concede to the Shadowhunters’ demands. Caught between the demands of faerie and the laws of the Clave, Emma, Julian, and Mark must find a way to come together to defend everything they hold dear—before it’s too late.


[image error] [image error]
A Court of Wings and Ruin 
by Sarah J. Maas  
Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords -and hunt for allies in unexpected places. In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.


[image error]
[image error] Twist by Kylie Scott  

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her. Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they're emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets... apart from the one that really matters. And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.


[image error] [image error]
Wink Poppy Midnight 
by April Genevieve Tucholke  
Every story needs a hero. Every story needs a villain. Every story needs a secret. Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous. What really happened? Someone knows. Someone is lying.


[image error]
[image error] Their Fractured Light 
by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner  
 A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze. Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch. Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost. When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.


[image error]
[image error] Wait for Me 
by Caroline Leech 
The perfect blend of sweet romance and historical flavor, Wait for Me, from debut author Caroline Leech, brings a fresh new voice to a much-loved genre. It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country? But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.



And let's not forget about (how could we? *wink)

[image error] [image error]

Lose Me by M.C. Frank
(also known as my baby)

I won't paste the description again (you can find it everywhere on the site), but I will say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has already read it, for this:
#goodreads-widget { font-family: georgia, serif; padding: 18px 0; width:575px; } #goodreads-widget h1 { font-weight:normal; font-size: 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #BBB596; margin-bottom: 0; } #goodreads-widget a { text-decoration: none; color:#660; } iframe{ background-color: #ffffff; } #goodreads-widget a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } #goodreads-widget a:active { color:#660; } #gr_footer { width: 100%; border-top: 1px solid #BBB596; text-align: right; } #goodreads-widget .gr_branding{ color: #382110; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; }
Goodreads reviews for Lose Me.

Which of these books have you read and which are you most excited about reading? I bet everyone is itching to get their hands on acowar. I know I am! Am I alone?

My most closely-kept secret...My new notebooks! What...

My most closely-kept secret...



My new notebooks! 
What are they? (click the link to find out)

So many people have unboxed their giveaway winnings or ARCs on camera or taken pictures of them on instagram, the secret's out! I have been keeping this one for a long time, and I'm so excited and relieved for them to be out into the world. Hope they bring you joy.

Please please let me know your reaction in the comments, I'm dying to know what you think! 

Are you excited about the new Beauty and the Beast movie?...

Are you excited about the new Beauty and the Beast movie? I am! To celebrate this iconic story that marked all of our childhoods *stares nostalgically into space* I have compiled a list of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings.
And there's a special quiz waiting for you at the end! Excited? Read on!


And now for the good stuff. I don't know about you, but for me, no movie can ever compare with the images a good book can conjure up inside my head. Here are a few of the best book retellings of Beauty and the Beast. Most of them are Young Adult, but a few towards the end are adult romance, and there's even some classic literature. Have you read any of them? I've chosen only the ones that I have both read and loved.
1.
[image error] [image error]

Our beloved A Court of Thorns and Roses  fae series needs no introduction, but if you haven't started this swoony, action-driven high fantasy already, do it now! And if you have, let's weep together while we wait for ACOWAR.

2.

[image error]
And speaking of swoony, I just love this retelling by Robin McKinley. It's written in a beautiful prose, and it's very true to the original fairytale. I just love a retelling that takes place in historical times. Beauty is a pretty strong heroine in this one, too, which I absolutely adore.
3.
[image error] [image error]
I think Beastly is the smartest retelling I've ever read, by far. (With the possible exception of A Kiss In Time , also by Alex Flynn). It's set in contemporary times, but it includes a curse that makes a gorgeous boy hideous until he can learn some manners. The heroine in this one is just goals. She's a reader, kind, and kickass. Yay.
4.
[image error] [image error]
Cruel Beauty is my favorite retelling of Beauty and the Beast and one of my favorite books period. It's pretty dark, however, toying between the line of fairytale retelling versus Greek mythology retelling. The 'Beast' is also a Hades figure, keeping a girl prisoner for a certain period of time until she can go back. It sounds familiar, I know. But what follows just blew my mind. Not to mention the romance, which was just... a-mazing.
5.
[image error] [image error]
The Princess Curse is another favorite book. It looks middle grade, but it is a Young Adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast, including elements from The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It also features a very yummy and very tortured hero (we all love those, right?) and a plucky, hardworking and smart heroine. Just writing these lines makes me want to reread it. Now.
6. 
[image error] [image error]
Uprooted took me some time to get into, but once I did, I just loved it. The world-building of this fantasy slash adventure Young Adult book is just amazing and so is the imagery. 
image creditAccording to a good reader friend, this is supposed to be a retelling of a Polish myth (how exciting!), but it does have some very strong elements of Beauty and the Beast. From one point on, I just couldn't put it down.
7.
[image error] [image error]
The Merchant's Daughter is a historical romance fiction novel, and not at all magical. But the story and the romance are amazing, and I absolutely adored this book for the character development. It's just the story of a rich, hurt man, and of the beauty who comes into his life and helps him be healed and open up to love. And look at that cover! The inside is even better. (Side note: Be careful of this book, it gave me book hangover for DAYS.)
8.
[image error] [image error]
Look away, young 'uns, this is an adult romance. Again, When The Beauty Tamed The Beast by Eloisa James is a historical fiction novel, and there's no magic in it, except that is, for the magical writing of Eloisa James. Man, that lady can write. The characters, the story, the romance, the humor... This book has it all. The "beast" is a doctor, and the witty banter between him and the heroine is just... unputdownable. And then she is in danger and he has to take care of her and... sigh. Also, he's disabled. How much cooler can you get? Not much. Suffice it to say, this is on my all-favorites list, and if you read in the genre, I'm sure you've heard of it or read it. Isn't it just the best thing that could have happened to us readers?
9.
[image error] [image error]
Of course Jane Eyre had to make it into this list of Beauty and the Beast books, right? I mean, Mr. Rochester is the definitive beast, ugly, hurt by life, imprisoned in his "castle". And Jane... Well, Jane is and will always be the one Beauty of the literature world, inside and out, and no one can convince me otherwise.
10.
Here's where it gets tricky. Why?Because the tenth book is up to you!Wanna discover what book you would pick up from the Beast's endless library? (You know you've fantasized over that scene in the Disney movie way more than you've ever fantasized over any other scene in a movie -the wet-shirted Darcy possibly excepted. But possibly not. Wink.)
Anyway, here is your chance to find out what book you'd add to this list! Care to play? 
[image error]

What result did you get? Please write a comment below!Did you watch the movie? I can't wait! Was it everything you'd dreamed of?

Conversations with an Empty Chair (8) - First DaysIt wasn...

Conversations with an Empty Chair (8) - First Days
It wasn't even an option, back then, that a day would pass by and I wouldn't cry. 
When I only cried twice in a day, it was a huge deal. It was a victory.
When I cried only once, I thought, ok, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can continue living.
And then a day came when I didn't cry at all.
And then, even crazier: there came a day when I laughed. I actually laughed. Something funny or stupid happened, I can't remember what... Maybe we were playing Monopoly, or maybe someone said something incredibly silly, and it happened. Out of nowhere, I was laughing, really laughing, that loud, clear laughter that rings around the room, unstoppable, clear.
I remember those first days, whenever any one of us laughed (or even smiled) it used to feel like the most incredible victory ever.
And then it didn't.
I started feeling as if every day that I didn't cry for you, I was betraying you. Not missing you enough. Moving on. Gosh, what a dirty word. We both know, people don't move on from their fathers. At least I don't. I won't. I don't want to, but also, I can't.
The thing is, it took me a few months to figure it out: it's ok to not cry for a few hours, days, even weeks. It's ok to live.
It doesn't mean I'm forgetting you. It means I'm honoring you by living a full life. A real life. And at those times when it feels like it will never stop hurting, at those times when I'm sure I won't be able to stop crying... if right then there's someone to hold me and tell me I'm not alone...
Then that makes you happy too. 

On reverse retellings and gender swap I love it when auth...

On reverse retellings and gender swap

I love it when authors and readers, from the safety of their blogs, are comfortably throwing around (and taking in) ideas that stretch the mind and attempt to cross the boundaries of society confines and stereotypes. Which is cool, but sometimes it can get a bit…

So, basically, internet-land can be miles away from the whole rest of the land. It’s important to remember that this is a place of ideas, but not of the realization of these ideas. That happens in the outside world, the real world, known also as
Yeah.
Immediately you’re going: “Oh no, don’t ruin it. Don’t expose our ideas to THEM. THEY don’t get it.”
But they must. Just whining to each other on here, although fun, won’t change anything. Going out and doing stuff will.
So, let’s do an experiment, shall we?

We shall.
(Trust me, I’m a physicist.)Let’s take this (amazing, if I say so myself) idea: A reverse retelling of Jane Eyre. (yum)Points:She is the one with the sercret, mad spouse hidden somewhere, thirsting for her flesh.She is the one who wanted to grasp that little glimpse of happiness with another man, even though she knew if was forbidden.She is the one who has to be set on fire (both metaphorically and literally) before she can be free of her demons.
She is the one who needs to be rescued from the horrors of her own life, and they both have equal flaws and good things to bring to the relationship. (In the book, Rochester needs to be freed of his wife, but other than that he’s supposed to bring more to the marriage, not morally, but materially.) In this reverse story, they are equals morally. Although she’s still kind of poorer, so that stays the same, as do a lot of other things, (because Charlotte is a genius and that story is already waaaay ahead of its time, and people would probably hate SO much on it because of feminism and stuff, but they can’t cause it’s a classic and you go, girl.)
What if he, in reverse, has had a sad, emotionally abusive childhood, and has lived a dry, melancholy life? While drownig in riches (nice contrast there). What if he is the unspoilt one, has never given his heart to any woman, nor has be promised marriage to one, although he’s had women salivate after him for years?What if he is the one who has to come back to her in the end, and find her ruined, and promise to her that she is more worthy of him now than she ever was?What if he has to rescue her morally and emotionally as much as she? (That’s the only thing that doesn’t happen in the book, Jane is the moral anchor throughout, and he’s trying not to drown in the sea of his sins. But what if she is a sinner too?)What if, in short, the roles are reversed? What if the woman is the one with the guilty secret? Is she then worthy of love? Do we even dare to consider it? What if the man is left bewildered and wondering if she likes him AT ALL, and asking her to trust him with her secrets, and left at the altar (or near it)? What if he is the second man in her life (the non-virgin antitrope -is that even a word? Now it is) but she the first woman in his?
What if the man, for once, is not the one in need of emotional rescuing, but does the rescuing himself, even though he isn’t qualified to do it? But he becomes someone who can lead them both to a stronger moral standard. He isn’t the rescuer, but he BECOMES the rescuer. Because there’s nobody that will save him, if he won’t do it himself. That’s what I’m talking about. What if he is their only hope of ever working things through?
What if she is good and kind and faithful, but maimed? Ruined? Is it good/romantic/relatable that he should want her at all? And is she in a place to even be attracted to him, after what has been done to her?What if they are both ruined, the girl as well as the guy?
Well, I’ll tell you what happens then.People don’t GET IT. Most people. Some do. And yay. But most don’t get it. (Or if they get it, they don’t like it.) Ewwwww why isn’t she pure? Ewww she’s married, I don’t read books about girls like THAT. Ewwwww that’s not a heroine, that’s a *** Ewww why would he want her? Ewww Eww EwwwwwYeah.In case you don’t realize what I’m talking about yet, it’s not ok for a woman to have a dark secret, to need rescuing, to not hold herself to a higher moral standard. All the things that make us go “my poor baby” for Rochester, would make us go “ewwwww” for Jane. That’s gender swap in the real world, my friends. How do I know that? Because of this. I did it, you see. I did the experiment. And I am thankful every day for people who GOT the story from the first second, like @tea-books-lover@velutluna @pagesfullofstars @celebangel @bassguitarwitch and soooo many others who beta-read, reviewed, or just plain encouraged me with this outlandish idea. Because, let me tell you.I’ve gotten hate. (The ewwwws we were talking about, see above. So many EWWWS)ewe? close enough. I’ve even seen people read the synopsis and go, why would I read a book about a heroine like that? I don’t read books about ruined heroines.People message me (most of them don’t dare post reviews) telling me they loved the writing but WTH? I reply, it’s reverse. They say ewww the heroine isn’t pure. I say she’s like Rochester, he isn’t pure. They say well, yeah, but he’s a guy. It’s ok for the man. That’s not a Jane Eyre retelling (A LOT of them don’t even get that. They don’t even recognize the Jane Eyre plotline or the characters once I swapped the genders. I mean it when I say it’s a different world out there, you guys. People have no idea. No. Idea.) I say -I usually say nothing, or just bye, but if it’s a nice person who wants answers, I reply- it’s the same story, governess goes to work for rich dude, mad spouse, fire, impossible love, morals, wedding stopped, the works. But it’s reverse.There’s even lines in the book that are a direct nod to the masterpiece.“You are my bright angel.”“You can be mended, if once you were ruined.”“Take off your mask, little ghost.”“You tranfix me quite.” (Ok, that’s a lie, I didn’t put that last one in, just love it.)Aaaaand feels.Anyway, I am really happy with how this story turned out (and a lot of other people are happy too, it seems -yay- special thanks to the person who left this in lieu of a review, you’re my favorite thing in the world, person). And if I can do a TINY BIT to bring about some change in this world, then:1. Books are the way to do it (or one of the best ways, subtle but powerful), I really believe this, and history backs it up.2. I am proud and happy and blessed.3. I don’t mind the occasional thick head trying to push itself into my inbox. Maybe it’s the sign of someone trying to wake up. Or refusing to wake up. But you know what? Something made them almost wake up. And if that something was me… then that’s all I can ask for.Anyway, I jsut wanted to share a bit of my experience on “the other side”, which something actually went out and did in real life. It changed me in so many ways, and I really hope it might have changed someone else too. Even the littlest bit.I always reblog reverse story ideas, and now you know why they’re so close to my heart, but I wanted to share my story of actually going out and DOING THE THING. You should always do the thing, even if you’re scared. Also, if you’re scared, I’m here. Talk to me. I know about scared.Which brings us to:Write.Read read readThen write write write.Then repeat.Learn the rules, and break them. Like Charlotte did. Like a boss.Let’s keep writing new things, let’s break the rules, let’s be respectful and educated, and then let’s think outside the box. Let’s RUIN the box (see what I did there? Pun, anyone? No? Ok.) Who’s with me?(Also, if you happen to be with me not only on the swap gender ranting thing, but on the feels, here you go:)

This was originally posted here. Thank you so much for your amazing response.
Header image: Ruined aesthetic. Learn more here.

So, what do you think about fairytale or classics retellings? Do you have a favorite? And do you think gender swap raises some interesting questions? I'd love to hear what you think!