Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
from Goodreads:
What really happened to Anastasia Romanov?
Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.
In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…
When I was 17 a Great Aunt told me the story of Anastasia and I was as hooked on the Romanovs then as I am by the Tudors now. I thought it was cool that there was a YA book out about them with a touch of paranormal attached to it. I just couldn't get into it. I thought the premise was neat, but the story was predictable.
Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance,
From GoodReads:
He is magnificently strong — and dangerously seductive. One of the fiercest of his clan, Lucan MacLeod is a legend among warriors, inspiring fear in man and woman alike. For three hundred years, he has locked himself away from the world, hiding the vengeful god imprisoned in his soul. But then, a young lass caught in a raging storm awakens his deepest impulses…and darkest desires. Cara doesn’t believe the rumors about MacLeod castle—until the majestic Highland warrior appears like a fiery vision in the storm, pulling her into his powerful arms, and into his world of magic and Druids. An epic war between good and evil is brewing. And Lucan must battle his all-consuming attraction for Cara—or surrender to the flames of a reckless, impossible love that threatens to destroy them both…
I really wanted to like this one, but as soon as I read that the brothers lived in the castle for 200 years and had plenty to eat and drink-my antenna went up. How did they get the food and drink? After 100 pages, that question wasn't answered...and the two were still fighting their passion for each other. After a string of reading so-so books, I decided that I just wasn't up for another book that was just an ok read. (I might've been taken in by the cover. Isn't it gorgeous?)
Girls Night In-an anthology
Genre: A collection of Chick lit stories
From Goodreads:
In this must-have short-story anthology, Jennifer Weiner revisits one of her Good in Bed characters (and tells the story from, ahem, his point of view), Jill A. Davis (Girls' Poker Night) offers a darkly humorous take on starting over in New York and working with "the Elizabeths," Sarah Miynowski (Milkrun) tempts fate (and an on-again-off-again boyfriend) and Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (The Dirty Girls Social Club) considers how different the words lady and woman are when paired with cat. Girls' Night In features stories about growing up, growing out of, moving out, moving on, falling apart and getting it all together.
I read about half the stories in this book before giving up. The hard thing about having 20 or so authors in a 300 page book is that the stories are super short. Super short means it's hard to have a connection with the characters in the book. You know it's bad when you're skimming a story that is only 10 pages in length. The one story I did enjoy was Carole Matthews. I've found that her books are either hit or miss. I read this book for the Take Another Chance challenge.
