Cinderella and the Beast, (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper), The Princess Swap #1 by Kim Bussing

 

What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast's castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother's home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don't miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)! ~ Goodreads

Source: Book provided by the publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers, in exchange for an honest review

Review: This is the first book I've accepted for review in over a year and I'm so glad I did! It was the lighthearted, adventure filled tale with heart that I needed. 

The plot is right there in the series title, The Princess Swap, so I won't go too much into that - but think Freaky Friday meets Disney princesses. I'm also assuming that most of you know the basics of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. 

This is more of a "riff" on the originals rather than a direct retelling - even with the swap - the princesses don't have the exact experience of the original.

The core of each princess is the same but several details are changed. Without getting into too many spoilers - (Cinder)Ella already knows, and is friends with, the prince and the ball is now an event for the whole village to compete in for a royal favor - rather than snagging a prince. And another ball - closer to the original Cinderella ball is to take place with the beast - for reasons. There is (hinted - sapphic) LGBQT rep and Ella has a glass leg that causes her some pain. 

Cinderella and the Beast, (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) plays liberally with the origin stories and the Disney retellings with it's own modern spin. The blending and blurring might annoy some purists but I found it to be a lot of fun and was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists the story took. 

I've always preferred Belle over Cinderella but in this one, it was Ella (& the beast) who had the more complex (& surprising) story that really pulled me in and tugged at my heartstrings. But Belle still has her whip-smart, resourceful thinking in tact and has quite an adventure as well. 

The way the two girls stories overlap and resolve was great. This book ages the princess down to 12 years old, so this is meant for younger readers. The romance is minimal, if at all. This tale is more about resourceful thinking, being brave, and forgiveness than the sole quest to get a kiss or be married.

So much fun! Books #2 - Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs) and #3 Rapunzel and the Sea Witch (or, The Little Mermaid and the Tower)  sound fun too.

 

Review: The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore

 

Two young lovers. Sixty long years. One bookish mystery worth solving.

Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s at the local flea market. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her—only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, the curmudgeon next door.

When she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door—who only now has begun to open his home and heart to Chloe and her siblings?

In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her grouchy old neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places. ~goodreads

Review: I've been a huge fan of this author for a long time (going back to her small pub/Tamara Morgan years) but this series has really struck a chord with me. Pure comfort reading! I'm so sad when I get to the end.

Although not officially a named series, they (2 books so far, another on the way in 26') are loosely called the "book club books" and center on a grumpy old man, a young girl at a crossroads, found family and a touch of romance, all connected through literature in some way. 

I adored The Lonely Hearts Book Club and looked forward to the this one but was a little apprehensive because it sounded so similar to Lonely Hearts. While the bones of the story are similar (there's even a literary shoutout to Lonely Hearts curmudgeonly hero Arthur McLachlan) The Library of Borrowed Hearts stands entirely on it's own.

Librarian Chloe Sampson is barely holding things down after abandoning her own dreams to raise her 3 siblings after their mother left them. Her sister is angry, one brother likes to blow things up with his science experiments, and the youngest, Noodle, worries her with his sweet but unique personality that keeps him a target of bullies. Then there's her crotchety old neighbor, Jasper, who yells at the kids and keeps any toys that may land in his yard. Which happens often with Noodle when he plays outside with the dog.

At work, Chloe is charged with clearing out the old books at her job which leads her to find a rare edition of Tropic of Cancer. Finding the book is an unexpected potential windfall if she can sell it at a good price. 

Chloe finds writing in the margins of the book. The notes, from the 60's, are between two star-crossed lovers. She's so intrigued by the back and forth between the pair and invested in their ending that she follows the clues to the next books in something of a book-ish scavenger hunt to solve the mystery of who the couple was and how it all ended. 

Then Jasper shows a surprising interest in the book - even offering her a blank check in exchange for it, setting in motion a possible (grudging) friendship, new love and the healing of old wounds. 

The story follows dual timelines and POV's - the couple from the 60's throughout their tumultuous affair and the present day where Chloe's struggle to let people into her life and see a future of new possibilities and happiness.

As always Gilmore weaves together an eclectic cast of characters. I felt this book was a bit darker than The Lonely Hearts Book Club, in some ways. With Chloe's mothers abandonment - how it hurt each of the kids in different ways and how they reached closure with that. The 60's timeline romance where certain things just weren't accepted - choices were made - resulting in painful consequences that reverberated for decades. 

Ultimately though, the found family, connections, forgiveness and healing through books makes this one another heartwarming, must read by Gilmore. I highly recommend the audiobook Leanne Woodward, Aven Shore, Joe Jameson, Bob Ball. 

These books get the rare 5 star rating. It's not that they are perfect but that they leave me with such happy feelings and I could stay in that world, with these people long after the story ends. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday: {Genre} Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. 

It is co-hosted by (Linda from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life  and me) 

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Question: What is your genre of choice? Has it changed recently?

Answer: I am ALL over the place these days!

Honestly, I was never a big reader until I started this blog. I made a resolution to read one book a month and it was mostly travelogue/food memoire type stuff - like Anthony Bourdain, Under the Tuscan Sun. I had read some horror - mostly Stephen King in HS.

When I started the blog I was in my PNR Era -  vampires/weres etc. Then I flipped to all YA, then romance/romcom's. I burned out on all of them at a certain point (all reading really) and now my reading is so eclectic and random, I have no idea what I'll pick up at any given moment.

I guess I'm more into literary fiction atm, mostly because that's what's offered on libro.fm - where I get my audiobook arc's. I've read a few romances lately, a mid-grade, I just finished a very dark memoir, and I'm currently reading a light YA. Just whatever hits me at any given moment. 

I think my days of binge reading a specific genre to death are over but I'm kind of happy to be reading outside my comfort zone and reading at all!!

What is your genre of choice and has it changed over time?