Splendor

Hi!
It is 10/10/10! How exciting is that! It is the perfect day to review Splendor and I think that is what I will do! I tried hard to write a summary for this book but I failed! This will contain spoilers! Though I will try to keep it pretty mild!

Title: Splendor

Author: Anna Godbersen

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

New beginnings.
Shocking revelations.
Unexpected endings.

A spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.

Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.

In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

This is a great book but I hated how the book ended!

The characters were great in this book and I feel that since you already know how I feel about the characters I won't go into to much detail on them. They were nicely developed and such.

I loved the twist with Elizabeth and her husband Snowden! It was good to know that bad characters get put into the grave. What do I mean by this? Read the book! In my opinion Elizabeth was the only one that had a happy ending. I loved it!

Diana had an alright ending but I didn't like how she never came back home after traveling to Paris and carried on various affairs in her life.

Henry and Penelope made me so angry! WHY didn't Henry go after Diana! All he could do it seems is send her letters and eventually those stopped too! And why did Henry and Penelope even stay together! They hate each other!

Carolina had a so so ending but I would have liked to seen her happily married instead of heartbroken!

Overall this was an OK ending to the series but I loved it anyway!

Luxe Week is over! Oh no, well make sure you check out Anna Godbersen's new book and series, Bright Young Things!

Envy

Hi!
It's Saturday and Guess what!? I have a wonderful cold and I feel terrible! But of course I just couldn't ignore by blog while we have luxe reviews to do! I, sadl coluld not seem to write a summary for this book so I got one from goodreads!

Title: Envy

Author: Anna Godbersen

Rating: 5 stars

Review: Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune—and her fame—are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets. . . .

I loved Envy! There was mystery, intrigue, and romance! The book had a huge surprise at the end!

In this book we find out more about what is happening too Elizabeth, which I will not say but I did have my suspicions on her. Penelope is still disgusting and is still the total mean girl. I was sorta glad that her and Henry's marriage isn't going well, but I don't necessarily think he should be out with Diana, even though they are "madly" in love. And Lina is still having a hard time figuring out who she is... is she the maid or the gossip seller or the rich girl, climbing the social ladders? She kind of annoys me!

The plot was good and had some amazing twists and turns!

Tomorrow: Splendor, final day of Luxe Days!

Rumors!

Hi!
It is Friday! And it is the 2nd day of The Luxe Days! Aren't you excited!? I am! If you haven't read The Luxe Series than I might suggest not read

Title: Rumors

Author: Anna Godbersn

Rating: 4 stars

Review: With everyone questioning what happened to Elizabeth and how she died, Diana is left to fend off all the rumors and take care of her terribly poor family. Meanwhile Penelope is scheming to get Henry Schoonmaker to marry her and blackmail Diana at the same time. Just liked she blackmailed Elizabeth. To add to all the drama Diana is starting to fall in love with Henry even though she knows it is not proper. Even Elizabeth's old maid, Lina Broud, is starting to learn that she can sell gossip and blackmail. And we know one thing now. . .we are back in Manhattan,1899.

I sorta stole that last line from the book well at least the Manhattan,1899 thing but it fit so I used it. I had a hard time figuring out what to say in the summary but I think it turned out so-so.

I didn't like this book as much as I liked the first one, The Luxe. This book took me about 1 month to finish and yes I was reading other books too. I just couldn't get into the book. I personally though the beginning was dry and boring but towards the middle it got better and towards the end it got sadder! I swear I almost cried at the end, it was so sad. And if you read this book you will know what I am talking about!

Diana seemed to really grow up in the book, she was doing new things and trying new things. Elizabeth was back and a lot happier I have to say now that she is living out in the wilderness. Penelope is  totally ick! What kind of sane person blackmails and threatens and forces a man to marry!? Apparently that crazy person is Penelope Hayes! I do have to admit she adds drama to the story. Lina Broud, the maid who quit was a selfish little brat if you don't mind me saying so! Stealing left and right! Ok so she wasn't stealing but she was being bad!

The characters were great, even if I didn't love them! And so was the story after a little while!

Tomorrow: Envy!

The Luxe

Hi
It is Thursday! Almost Friday! There is only 6 hours left of Thursday! That math took me a little long to do! LOL, just kidding, just kidding, I am like a whiz at Math and Algebra, no joke!
But anyway, this week well actually from today to Sunday, I am reviewing all The Luxe book by Anna Godbersen in honor of the release of her new series, Bright Young Things releasing October 12! I also did the same thing with Linda Gerber's Death by Series!

Title: The Luxe

Author: Anna Godbersen

Rating: 5 stars

Review: Elizabeth and Diana Holland live in 1899 in New York City and are the talk of the town. Elizabeth is a demure girl, who is considered the best "mate" to catch, while Diana is entirely rambunctious and does not follow the rules. So when The Holland's find that they are in loads of debt, Elizabeth and even Diana are willing to do almost anything to save their family's precious reputation. Even if it means marrying someone who they despise, leaving behind your true love, or facing off with one of the meanest socialites. And it could even mean death.

From the moment I saw the beautiful cover on the front of The Luxe, I knew I was in love.

First of all, isn't the dress on the cover to die for!? So huge and so pink! Now let's get onto the content.

I love historical fiction, mystery and romance so that was probably one of the reasons I picked it up in the first place, other than the cover of course. I was thoroughly surprised that the content behind the beautiful cover was actually worth reading! It is sort of a Gossip Girly type story, even though I have never read those, but with much more meaning. It talks about the struggles of being high up on the social ladder, which can relate to today, as many of the themes can. It also talked about true love and lengths people would go to save their families and not ruin a reputation. And trust me the characters in this novel go along way!

The characters were, in my opinion, spectacular! I didn't seem to have a favorite one though. My favorite girl was Elizabeth though and my favorite male character was, of course, Will, the stable boy. All the characters were nicely fleshed out and all had plenty of room of development in later novels in the series. Diana was incredibly spunky and she is, apparently not afraid of anything.  Elizabeth was gentle and sweet and I felt sorry for her, but sometimes she could be a snob. Henry was just a player, and Penelope was disgusting and terribly mean. I don't feel sorry for her at all!

I really like the ending, it was good for a debut novel and I liked the way everything played out at the end!

Tomorrow: Rumors!