Screams All Sound the Same

Expected Publication:  May 26th, 2015

The Tenderness of Thieves

By: Donna Freitas

Philomel

ISBN-13:  9780399171369

Jane is ready for a fantastic summer.  In fact, she's pretty sure the universe owes her one.

This past winter, Jane was held at knifepoint during an armed robbery and the specter of that night still haunts her.  A summer romance with one of the town bad boys -- sexy Handel Davies, who takes her breath away and makes her feel like a bolder version of herself -- seems like the universe's way of paying her back.

But bad boys always have secrets, and Handel's secret just might shatter Jane completely.

Review

       I just seem to be striking out with books lately, and this one was no exception to that rule.  I requested this from the tour site that I belong to, because almost four years later I still remember her book The Survival Kit fondly.  I remembered comparing her to Sarah Dessen and really enjoying myself while reading her books, namely her characters.  I read the synopsis to this one and the comparison to Gone Girl (a book that, despite the hype, I still haven't read yet) did give me a moment's hesitation.  But I decided to request it anyways, even though the synopsis doesn't exactly cover up what the big "secret" Handel's keeping is regarding.  I have a soft spot for bad boys.  Well, me and this book did not get along.

       It started with a phrase the author, narrating as Jane in first person, uses in her thoughts - "me and my girls."  That phrase sounds like some sort of animal pack, or something out of a Brooklyn-ized Mean Girls revival.  This phrase happens at least four times within the first chapter.  I flipped through and it happens way more than just that, with "the girls and I" heading chapter thirteen, for example.  I am a freak and I know this, fully admitting it right now.  But something about that phrase SCREAMS ghetto trash, Maury-show contestant -- or rich, spoiled, partying Daddy's girl.  Either way, I cannot STAND that phrase.  I have come to the collective realization that I am now officially old in a way that I never was before.  Plus, the whole first chapter is a "meeting" between Handel and Jane, where he says her name twice, she says his once and he walks away.  Then she goes and rehashes the whole thing to her friends as an "interesting" story.  Overall, I think the current generations might like it, but I'm an old lady.  I kept thinking to myself, who talks like that?  And in what universe are this girl and her friends interesting?  Not for me.

VERDICT:  DNF, No Star Rating

**I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is May 26th, 2015.**

Sweet, Sweet Scarlet

Published: February 14th, 2012
Scarlet
By: A.C. Gaughen
Walker Children's
ISBN-13: 9780802723468


Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Review

   Will Scarlet is a companion of Robin Hood, the notorious thief who helps the poor and takes from the rich/corrupt.  Only the rest of the Hood's band of thieves know the truth - Scarlet is really a girl.  She has been working with Robin for two years and none of the others know her real name or were she's from.  All they know is that Scarlet had a rough life and that Gisbourne, a cold-blooded thief taker, is after her.  When Gisbourne makes his way to Nottinghamshire to try his hand at catching the Hood and his accomplices, Scarlet is in true danger of being discovered.  When all of the secrets finally explode, everyone will be changed but will it be for the better?  Scarlet's narration was so true to the era that it took me a little bit to get into the book.  That said, I appreciate Gaughen much more because of this than I would if Scarlet and the other characters would have spoken like I do.  The novel's charm is in the rough-hewn edges and complications of its character's lives.  All their deeds are not perfect or heroic.  I adored the way Scarlet refused to pidgeoholed just because of her gender, insisting on being a useful member of the band.  Oftentimes, Scarlet was the one who mananged to most out of everyone.  I was unimpressed, however, with the love triangle between John Littl, Robin Hood and Scarlet.  I felt that it was an insult to my intelligence as a reader because it was really obvious which guy Scarlet was going to choose.  It also made them all act like idiots who couldn't keep it in their britches at times, and ratcheted up unnecessary angst.  The only other really present female character was Ravenna and the novel only showcased through her plight how little of a choice women had during that time.  The only character besides Scarlet that I truly loved was one-handed, somewhat simple Much.  He was always trying to help out and his character was sterling in comparison to many of the others.  Recommended highly for the adventure and suspense of Scarlet's past, if you're able to overlook the love triangle. 

VERDICT:  4/5  Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money was exchanged for this review. The book was published February 14th, 2012.*