Review: Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Publication Date: March 13, 2012

Image and summary courtesy of Goodreads.com:

Venice, 1585.

When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

I was extremely excited when this book arrived in my inbox. I absolutely adore historical fiction, and anything with a mysterious and romantic twist is sure to pique my interest. Though this book wasn't terrible, I just felt underwhelmed. A fun read for sure, but not one that I will feel compelled to re-read.

I will say that I absolutely adored the protagonist, Laura. Her voice was sweet and inexperienced, but she didn't seem irritatingly naive (despite having spent the majority of her teen years in a convent). When she was agonizing over her impending marriage to Vincenzo, I felt her pain and repulsion. However, I felt that her character, and perhaps those of her father and nurse Faustina, were really the only ones who were truly developed. So, when we are supposed to believe she has fallen in with the Segreta and trusts them with her life, it was a little tough to swallow. Or when she falls in love with the mysterious Venetian painter - very bad case of the Titanics (throwing it all away on a very brief romance) there. These characters didn't feel very real to me, so I guess I wasn't as invested in Laura's interactions with them.

The plot, rather than the characterization, was what drove the novel. Again, though, I felt that it was a little underdeveloped. It was a great story arc, with lots of exciting moments, but those moments were far too short and over too quickly. The mysteries of the painter's identity, her sister's murder, and the true motives of the Segreta are such intriguing topics, yet didn't seem to get the proper time. I would have loved to see the story go on longer, just to develop it more. Plus, the setting had such potential to be breathtaking; the narration lacked a lot of description, though, so the potential wasn't reached.

A strong positive of this narrative was the writing style. I liked that even though it was historical fiction, and the setting is something with which many of us aren't necessarily familiar, the easy voice made it very approachable. Moreover, the covers on these books (all of them - I couldn't figure out which will be the final...) are gorgeous! It was certainly the reason I selected it to read, and I feel that it could intrigue potential readers in the same way. That and the high-interest synopsis could be enough to excite readers.

So, overall, I would recommend this to some of my fans of historical fiction. I don't think the story was strong enough to sell the genre to those who claim to not enjoy it, but for those who want a fast read in a familiar genre, this might just be the thing.

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

New Girl by Paige Harbison

Publication date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Image and Summary courtesy of Amazon.com:

Welcome to Manderley Academy

I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley—the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced bynot perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips—Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much as I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, watching me take her place.
Waiting to take it back.

When I first saw that this book was going to be a modern twist on Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca, I got extremely excited. Without a doubt, it's one of my favorite novels. So, I think I went into this particular book with extremely high expectations - perhaps too high. Sadly, this novel was not what I expected it to be.
One of my biggest issues with this book was the antagonist, Becca Normandy. Though I understand the author's aim to make her seem an extreme version of the insecure teen, one driven to desperation by her own desire to be envied, Becca was just a few steps too far to the left. I felt that her promiscuity was a bit gratuitous; her need to be "wanted" by the hottest guys in school surely could have been conveyed without having her sleep with multiple partners - within the same night! Likewise, very few meaningful conversations took place between characters, at least while they were sober. Similar to the sex, I felt that the underage drinking was unnecessary. A bit of teen partying while away at boarding school? Sure. All major plot points taking place only after several shots have been consumed? A bit too far.
Furthermore, the plot itself lacked the subtlety of DuMaurier's work (though admittedly, that is an extremely high mark to meet!). Rather than much of the conflict being the narrator's internal issues, the stereotypical "mean girls" and rumor mill drove much of the action. Certainly a boarding school is a hotbed for these sorts of problems (at least, I'd imagine - I've never been to one), but I felt that the narrator (whose name isn't revealed until the end) suffered a bit from a lack of depth. This lack, I felt, came largely from the fact that her insecurities were externally motivated, not internally like the original. Also, I felt that the conflicts that arose, largely out of the narrator's romantic interest in Becca's "off limits" ex, were repetitive. Some variety in the routine "He likes me! We hooked up! Wait... why is he ignoring me?!" formula would have been appreciated.
All of that being said, there were certainly some positives about this novel as well. I really enjoyed the translation of Manderley the estate into a boarding school. It was a great way to make a classic setting into something more modern and high-interest to current audiences. Also, the narrator had one really redeeming trait, and that was her desire (though tempered with hesitation) to break free of everyone's expectations and push herself to experience new adventures. She debates whether it would be better to stay with her high school friends at the hometown college, or "spread her wings" by going far out of state. I think this particular struggle is one that resonates with many teen readers - and adults! Her journey of self-discovery, albeit perhaps too driven by others' opinions, was something with which I could identify. The ending of the book was also satisfying. I won't spoil it, but there was an excellent allusion to the end ofRebecca that made me smile. The cover art of this book is an additional strength. It certainly caught my eye, and I know it would do so for teenagers too!Overall, this is a book that I wouldn't personally recommend for a classroom library, or even a conservative school library. The partying and sex, though not graphically described, just played too big a role in the plot, and I wouldn't feel right recommending that as a role model. They became the focus, instead of the intriguing mystery that had so much potential. However, for a light and enjoyable independent read, perhaps this book would have been more appreciated.


Has anyone else had a similar disappointing experience with a modernized old favorite? I had to admit - I was seriously bummed!