Review: The Seventh Miss Hatfield

THE SEVENTH MISS HATFIELD

by Anna Caltabiano

Pages: 270

Publisher: Gollancz

Publication Date: July 31st 2014 (paper) 

ISBN: 1473200393 
Received From:  Gollancz 

Summary 

Rebecca, a 15-year-old American, isn't entirely happy with her life, comfortable though it is. Still, even she knows that she shouldn't talk to strangers. So when her mysterious neighbour Miss Hatfield asked her in for a chat and a drink, Rebecca wasn't entirely sure why she said yes. It was a decision that was to change everything.
For Miss Hatfield is immortal. And now, thanks to a drop of water from the Fountain of Youth, Rebecca is as well. But this gift might be more of a curse, and it comes with a price. Rebecca is beginning to lose her personality, to take on the aspects of her neighbour. She is becoming the next Miss Hatfield.
But before the process goes too far, Rebecca must travel back in time to turn-of-the-century New York and steal a painting, a picture which might provide a clue to the whereabouts of the source of immortality. A clue which must remain hidden from the world. In order to retrieve the painting, Rebecca must infiltrate a wealthy household, learn more about the head of the family, and find an opportunity to escape. Before her journey is through, she will also have - rather reluctantly - fallen in love. But how can she stay with the boy she cares for, when she must return to her own time before her time-travelling has a fatal effect on her body? And would she rather stay and die in love, or leave and live alone?
And who is the mysterious stranger who shadows her from place to place? A hunter for the secret of immortality - or someone who has already found it?

Review

The Seventh Miss Hatfield is a romantic and bewitching tale that will break your heart, spark your imagination and have you dreaming of turn of the century America. It is wonderfully written by an incredible author that I can't wait to read more from. Taking the myth of The Fountain of Youth Anna creates a story that is exciting with so many twists and turns that it will have you turning the page well into the early hours of the morning.

The book itself is about destiny and impossible loves. It follows the newest Miss Hatfield as she comes to terms with her newfound immortality and the conditions that come with it. Endless life isn't all it's cracked up to be and finding somewhere to belong is next to impossible when you no longer fit into any one time. Cynthia has to be able to let go of who she was and embrace her new identity. But can she keep to the constrictions of her new life without it suffocating her? Can she be the seventh Miss Hatfield without loosing who she once was?

At the heart of this book is a love story to rival some of the greats. There wasn't a part of me that didn't want these two to find a way to make it work. Henley and Rebecca were unbelievably perfect for one another and they have this old school magic between them that is endearing and heart breaking all at the same time. On the back of the book it says "A spellbinding story of time-travel and unrequited love." But what it doesn't tell you is that the 'unrequited' love will turn you into an emotional wreck. I spent the whole last third of the book holding my breath with a knot in my stomach willing the two of them to find a way to be together.

The only issue I had with this book was at the very beginning. Everything happened so fast and as well written as it was I needed Cynthia to question what was going on around her more. She seemed to simply take everything in her stride and with the severity of her situation it didn't seem realistic. Honestly if it was me I would have thrown one hell of a tantrum!

Overall this is a great book. It had one or two moments towards the beginning where I wasn't so sure. However, it didn’t take long for this book to win me over with its rich characters and beautiful writing. I'm practically busting to get my hands on the second book in the series and will be waiting - rather impatiently - for the day I get to read more of Rebecca's story.

So go lovelies and add The Seventh Miss Hatfield to your TBR lists. It's not out until the 17th of July but I highly recommend this one. I couldn't but it down and I know if you've enjoyed my other recommendations you'll adore this story.

@TheYANightstand Promise you won't be missing Henley for long!
— Anna Caltabiano (@caltabiano_anna) June 30, 2014

**I received this book as an ARC from Gollancz to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

Book Blitz: Chrysoprase

Last month we took part in the cover reveal for CHRYSOPRASE and today we've back with everything you need to know about this new addition to your book shelves. 

CHRYSOPRASE

by B. Kristen McMichael

Publication date: June 25th 2014
Publisher: Lexia Press
Genres: Time-Travel, Young Adult

Mari had her time in the past and is finally home. Unfortunately, she didn’t understand the goddess’ warning that traveling to the past would have consequences. She could never have imagined what they would be, but she quickly finds out that not everything is the way she left it. Now Mari must learn how to time travel if she wants to put her life back into the order it was before she went into the past to be with Seth. Mari soon discovers that time traveling isn’t as easy as she thought it, and the goddess refuses to help her learn. Mari must turn to an old friend, someone she never planned to see again, and get his help if she wants to right what she has changed. But even that might come with a price. 

Mari travels into the past again to find loved ones. Her journey brings more questions, and a few answers, to the puzzle that is her life. Mari can quickly see why her mother went to the future, and Mari needs to do the same as soon as she can to bring her loved ones back. The past is far more complicated, and dangerous than she ever imagined—particularly for Mari. She might just be the piece everyone is seeking in their own puzzles to control not only the past but the future, too.

BUY LINK

AMAZON

**EXCERPT**

I looked up. It felt like someone was watching me. I glanced around the room. The door was still closed, and no one was around. I hadn’t heard anyone enter. Their maids were silent, but not that silent. I looked back around the room. The feeling was still there, but I was alone.

My focus went back to the documents scattered around the room in glass cases. One toward the far window caught my attention. The carnelian lines around my hand pulsated as if to tell me I was going in the right direction. The tingles in my arm felt much like they did when I was around Seth. I missed him so much, and I was nowhere near knowing how to get him back. It was like Seth was sending me a sign even though we were far apart. I moved slowly down the line of books. Something was calling to the stone that was now imprinted into my arm. I stopped at each book as I passed. Why was one calling to me and all the others not? As I got close to the one I really wanted to see, I paused again. I still felt like someone was watching me. I looked down at the words on the page in the box in front of me. They weren’t the ones calling to me, yet were pretty all the same.

“Figured this would be where you ran off to,” Logan said quietly from somewhere in the room.

I was sure I didn’t hear him enter, and I had no clue how long he had been there. He stepped out of the shadow he was hidden in and slowly slunk across the room. Logan had always puzzled me. Around 

everyone else, you would think he was just another very friendly jock, but alone, he was completely 

different. His movements were always perfect and graceful, but he kept that hidden from everyone else. 

I remember the first time I was alone with him. Logan was exciting, and he made me feel like I was the one he had spent his life hunting. I still felt that vibe from him, but now it was just confusing. I didn’t have feelings for him anymore, beyond the annoyance I still felt about our last date. That would probably last forever. The reason I didn’t trust guys in general, and rightfully so, was standing in front of me now. 

Having him slowly analyzing me was strange. I still got butterflies in my stomach—anyone would get that when someone as hot as him was looking at you. But I didn’t have the loving feelings that once went with those butterflies. 

About Author

Originally from Wisconsin, B. Kristin currently resides in Ohio with her husband, two small children, and three cats. When not doing the mom thing of chasing kids, baking cookies, and playing outside, she is using her PhD in Biology working as a scientist. In her free time she is hard at work on multiple novels; as each day passes, she has more ideas for both current and future novels.

Connect with B. Kristin McMichael and join the mailing list for exclusive fan updates.
e-Mail: http://www.bkristinmcmichael.com/list
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Blog Tour Review: Forever Layla

Hello you lovely lot! Today I'm taking part in Itching For Books blog tour for FOREVER LAYLA by Melissa Turner Lee. It's a really quick and unique read so I hope you enjoy my review and as always, you know the drill - leave me a comment and tell me what you think! I love hearing from you :)

FOREVER LAYLA

by Melissa Turner Lee

Release Date: May 27th 2014

Publisher: AltWit Press

ISBN: 0615984452

Summary

What if the woman you envied most is the person you are destined to become?
In 1994, high school senior David Foster was the lackey and soundboard geek for his best friend's grunge band. During spring break, the band lands a dream gig playing at a motel in Myrtle Beach, SC. David expected all the girls to ogle the guys on stage, but when a beautiful blond "Bond Girl" approaches him and calls him by name, he's shocked to find out she knows more about him than a stranger should.
She even knows about his notebooks and his visions of time travel.
What she thought was a quick time-travel-sightseeing trip takes a surprising turn when she meets the young adult version of the man she'd heard stories about as a child. His fairy-tale romance with the woman he'd loved, Layla, inspired her to accept nothing less than a love just as strong...but hopefully not as tragic. When she won't tell the younger version of him her name, he calls her Layla--and the world as she knows it changes forever.

Review

Forever Layla is a sweet, unique and fast paced read that is like nothing I've ever come across before. It's complex in it's plot lines and every little detail cleverly knits together as the book progresses. It is a story that will have you holding you breath as you wait for the last piece of the puzzle to slot into place.

Now this is where I would usually try and go into the plot a little bit but for a short book it has a rather complicated story, so I'll try my best, although I think only Doctor Who himself could explain it without giving too much away!
It's the story of Layla and David. It's the story of how they fell in love and how knowing what's around the corner can affect the way you see things. Layla is from the future, it wasn't her choice to come back but now she's here - here being 1994 - she's got to figure out how to live in a time she doesn't belong. Although, as time passes and David becomes an important part of her life, Layla starts to question whether she was always meant to be living in the past. What time does she really belong in? And can she be in the past without screwing up the future?

Yeah, a lot of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff!
I did worn you!

Okay, so there were only two things I struggled with when reading Forever Layla. One being the words 'time travel' and two being Layla. So the time travel thing isn't that big a deal and a completely personal issue! I just found that whenever those words were used it felt kind of corny. Although at the same time you can't write a time travel book without them so...
Then there was the Layla thing, which was a little more of a issue. It's not that I didn't like her, in fact I really kind of felt for her. I just found her a little annoying at times. Especially in the beginning. She's very stubborn and isn't used to having to rely on people, which did - at times - come across as a little snobby.

Forever Layla is another dual narrative that at the beginning seemed a little one sided but the Layla chapters started to become more frequent and you were able to really submerge yourself into the story. Their story. Both character's also had very distinct voices, making it easy to tell who's point of view you were reading.

As I've said this book is unique and compelling and very well written. I actually would have liked another 50 pages or so as I felt there was more to Layla and David's story that could have been told. Some of the in between moments. Which yes, would have slowed the pace down but also I think it could have given the reader more time to feel for the characters. 

The last 20% of the book had me holding my breath. I had a feeling I knew where it was going but no idea how it was going to get there. It's the kind of book that has you wishing for that all important happily ever after. Overall the way the whole story twists back on itself is ridiculously cleaver and I think Melissa Turner Lee deserves a medal for keeping it all straight in her head as she wrote it! 

Forever Layla didn't disappoint. It's quirky and fresh and I think you're going to really enjoy it! 

**I received this book as an ARC from Itching For Books as part of a tour to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

**EXCERPT**

“David?” a soft feminine voice spoke my name.I glanced up to see the biggest brownest eyes framed by the longest blackest lashed I’d ever seen. I glanced down to focus on the rest of her. The form fitting black dress she wore hugged every curve down to her toned and tanned legs. My gaze trailed on down
to her fancy black heels and then back up at her face. She was hot...like model hot. I couldn’t blink or think as I stared at her beautiful face framed by large amounts of blonde hair and a pair of large hoop earrings. She didn’t look like the other girls with her eye makeup, glossy pink lips and the way her hair was puffed up and styled. She looked like she had just stepped out of one of the JamesBond movies Dad and I liked to watch on TV.I glanced around the crowd of girls in cutoffs, t-shirts, Keds and stringy hair. Her look wasn’t in style at the moment. Most girlswere doing the grunge and hippie thing, but Bond girls never went out of style with guys. I tried to say something, but I think I just stared and possibly stuttered before a wheeze came out. She reached for the inhaler in my shirt pocket and handed it to me. I took a puff as she shook her head smiling.“It is you.” A look of pure wonder and amazement lit her face.She blinked, making her thick and extremely long lashes flutter like butterfly wings. “I can’t believe it. You wear glasses now.”I pushed them back on my nose self-consciously as I put away my inhaler. “Yeah, like since the third grade.” I eyed her up and down once more and worked hard to remember to breathe.
“Do I know you?”“Kind of...Well not really. I’m...” she shifted her eyes to the side without moving her head and bit her lips like she needed to remember something and stopped for a moment before she continued.
“Ugh! I suck at this. You’ll never let me do this again if I mess this up.” She shook her head and then turned her attention back to me.“No, you don’t know me, but I know all about you. Let’s just put it that way.”

About Melissa

Melissa Turner Lee holds a BA in Communications with a concentration in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She has studied fiction writing since 2008, attending various writing conferences and workshops, along with guidance from professional writing coaches. She resides in Spartanburg, SC with her husband and 3 sons.

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