Summer Reads

If you haven't been following my blog's Instagram account (@simple_sentiments) you haven't seen what all I have been reading/rereading this summer! Sadly, it's not as many books as I would have liked. It's been so busy that it has been hard to find time to read. *sigh* The crazy part of summer for me has always been June, so now that it's over I'm hoping to get more reading done. ;) Here are the books that I have read this summer!

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan.

My high expectation for this book were met! Haha! My favorite character in this book had to be Apollo. Uncle Rick did a fabulous job creating him! (I won't give anything away). 

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

I was so glad I reread this book. Anytime I reread a book it's like looking through a photo album. You're looking back on such good memories or bad ones..... I guess it depends on the book! Haha! 

The Healers Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson 

It was so much fun taking this picture! Rose and Lord Hamlin loved music and whenever the got together he was usually playing his lute for her because she didn't get to listen to music very often. So sweet! <3 

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

I absolutely love the cover of this book! Many of the famous quotes are engraved on the front which I think is so cool! 

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson.

Don't you just love my little Katniss Funko Pop??? I thought it was perfect for this Robin Hood retelling!

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson 

This is one of my favorite covers! The colors are so vibrant and it fits the book perfectly! 

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen 

Click here to check out my book review! 

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carol

So, it may surprise many of you, but I had never read this classic until a week ago. When I first started reading it I thought it was the cutest little story, but the farther I got into I started hating it. It was just so random! I might have enjoyed this if I was younger because it was so silly.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 

Ah, the book that started all of my madness! Haha! xD 

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson 

This was Dickerson's newest book and I just finished it yesterday. Thoughts on it? IT WAS AMAZING!!!! I loved it!!! It was just a bit slow in the beginning, but it kept my on the edge of my seat! SO GOOD!!!! 

Now that I'm done with this post I think I shall go read. Ta-ta! 

Book Review: Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

"No one really knows 'bout me. I'm Rob's secret, his informant, I'm his shadow in the dark places. No one takes me for more than a knockabout lad, a whip of a boy. The never really see me....."

So sorry for the lack of posts. Our computer charger died.... again and the new one just came in the mail. Yay!

Today, I wanted to do a book review on one of my favorite Robin Hood retelling, Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen. I've read a lot of reviews on this book to see what other people thought about it. The feed back I got was quite surprising. Half the people gave it 1 star the other half gave it a 4 or 5 stars.  I give it a 4 out of 5.

Goodreads Synopses:

Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that she is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.

The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in a put innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.

My Review:

First thing I want to talk about it is the backstory. You must know that I have read a lot of books in my life time, but not many authors can seem to write a good backstory. What makes a good backstory you may ask? To me you need to give snippets of your protagonist's past throughout the story and later on explain the big picture without it being lengthy. Gaughen, did just that. 

I also about the protagonist, Scarlet. She wasn't just some thief, she was a girl who, like anyone else, craved love. Many people thought that the love triangle in this book was unnecessary, but I believe it showed how Scarlet is a real girl with real feelings. 

Gaughen, did a great job with this story. It was a bit slow, but she still kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I was so pleased with the story I ended up getting the second book, The Lady Thief. I hope it is just as good as the first book!