Book Review: Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas

Introduction

I received this book via goodreads.com as a "first read" in order to give this book an honest review. If you would like to send me a book to review feel free to contact me through this email, linked to my blog.

I haven't read to many Historical Romances before, for no reason really it's just I never got around to "exploring" this sub-genre.

My first impression, was well I wasn't sure I was going to like it but as I began reading this book I was completely draw into the world that Sherry Thomas created as well as the character too.

Summary

This story takes between the years 1888 to 1896 (I believe those are the correct dates).

The main character's name is Millie she is the daughter of wealthy man who's family made their money in canned goods. Millie had been trained her whole life to be a "proper wife" her family hoped that she would be able to marry someone who had a "title" meaning from aristocratic blood. Millie is depicted as a very agreeable, not particularly "attractive" and a bit plain. She doesn't really have a "rebellious" bone in her body and is the type of women who has always done what she is told.

Millie marries, Fitz whom she falls for instantly when she first meets him. Fitz all though comes from an aristocratic background, his family is no longer wealthy so he must marry into "money" in order to maintain his estate which he inherited from his distant relative. Alas, Fitz is already in love with any other women named Isabelle whom he cannot marry because her family is not incredibly wealthy.

The story flashes back in between the "present" time of the story and different moments in the marriage of Millie and Fitz.

In the beginning of their marriage Millie makes a pact with Fitz that they would have a "contract" marriage and all though they would be "technically" married either one of them would sleep together.

* spoiler*

They grow close and become "friends" within their marriage and Fitz begins to grow love and respect for her throughout the years. He doesn't think of her as so "bland".

Years after they are "comfortably" married Isabelle comes back into the picture. So Fitz decides to meet up with Isabelle and have an affair with her while still married to Millie. As promised he plans to give Millie an "heir" they will try for six months for her to get pregnant and then pretty much plans to leave her.

*End Spoiler*

In the book there is also brief mention of Fitz two sisters: Helena who is unmarried and is conducting an affair with her married first cousin I believe (Fitz best friend Hastings is in love with her "secretly") and  Venetia whom is already married (I believe her story was told in the previous book which I did not read).

I won't get really into their "story lines" in this review.

Review

 I would say the overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book.

I have to hand it to Sherry Thomas, I actually while reading this book I found that English is in fact not her first language and I never would I have guessed that!

She created such fluent imagery with her words, I felt as though I was actually there! To be at least it takes talent to write "historical" novels because you want to be true the dialect of the time but still make in understandable to the "average reader" and I feel like she did just that.

Reading some other reviews about this book, I saw certain people "complain" that Millie was "boring and anti-feminist" that she teaches women to "do exactly what you are told and everything will work out". I can't say that I necessarily agree with that statement. I think that Sherry Thomas, made Millie historically accurate, to the time she lived in. I think it would be silly to have a women who has a "20th century attitude" in that time period. Wealthy women back then were taught to be "timid" and very rule "abiding". I don't think Millie was at all a "push over" instead she was intelligent and found different ways than simply being "forward" about everything, she worked around the fact she was a woman and still managed to do the things she wanted.

I really don't have to many complaints about this book, Fitz obviously annoyed me at times because he was stupidly obsessed with Isabelle for most of the book and didn't always treat Millie very nicely. Still, she managed to treat him kindly and even he was surprised about the fact that she always almost always "composed" and took care of him even when he didn't deserve it.

I think any reader ( myself included) probably felt awful for Millie. I mean come on, she just wanted him to notice her the entire time!

I didn't always "enjoy" the flashbacks in the story sometimes I just felt to me that they were "stalling" the story and not getting to the good part!

There was no sex until page 226! I guess they just wanted to build up the story line more? I don't know it was a bit frustrating at times.

Over all, I thought this book was an excellent read and I enjoyed it very much. If you are into historical romance, I would recommend that you check out Sherry Thomas's books, she is a very good writer.

Thanks for guys for checking out my blog,

Kylia aka Alaska Book Girl!

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3451295-kylia

Netflix Movie Review: Crazy Kind of Love

Besides being a total book "nerd", I admit I am a fan of movies and tv shows! I mean who isn't really? Anything entertainment wise any way. ;)



So I thought I would do a short review, about the movie "Crazy kind of love". I was browsing netflix as I seldomly do and happened to come across the movie "crazy kind of love".


Sam Tramell (the true blood actor) looks a bit silly in the picture in the photo so I was a bit hesitant; just because I love me some True Blood but I decided to try it anyway.

" A broken family finds their relationships to one another changed by a new arrival in the household."

Pretty much the over all plot, of the movie is that there entire family, is messed up due to Virginia Madsen's character Augusta whose husband walks out on here. She has two young adult sons, who are seemingly both messed up. Henry played by Graham Rogers who is a recent high school graduate, typical party guy who doesn't have much self direction in his life. Her other older son is Matthew played by Zach Gilford, is a socially awkward and very smart.


There mother falls into a deep depression and while doing so her nerdy son Zach comes back for the summer. Henry meets and ultimately falls in love with Bette played by Amanda Crew.



Bette and Henry's relationship is endearing and Bette is quirky girl of sorts and decides to move into the family home and attempts to really help the entire family out.

Augusta ends up slowly but surely (while still in her depression and refusing to leave her room) make a connection with pot dealing and local business owner Jeff played by Sam Trammel.



Henry still dealing with his own personal issues (mostly the fact that his Father is with another woman and his Father forced him to lie about the relationship to his mother), ends up pushing Bette away.



Oddly enough, Bette comes the conclusion that the way to help "awkward" Zach by making him "comfortable with women" by sleeping with him. She still confirms that she is still in love with Henry. Eventually, Henry finds out and after punching his brother runs off to live with another "local girl" played by Aly Michalka. Of course Bette moves out as well.

As most movies do everything ends up working out; Zach dates a girl that Bette set him up with, Augusta recovers from her depression and ends up forming a relationship with Jeff. Henry moves back in and so does Bette and it turns out she's pregant; with Henry's baby not Zach's.

Over all, the movie was a cute and quirky watch. I would recommend it if you like "light hearted" and little "out of the box" kinds of movies.

Thanks guys, for reading and feel free to contact me if you wish. I plan on posting book reviews, soon!

Alaskan Book Girl aka Kylia

All images were found on google and I don't own any of them! If any image used is yours feel free to contact me and I will take it down.