{Blog Hop} Book Blogger Hop

 

Welcome to the September 18th - 24th Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This week's post prompt, submitted by Elizabeth at Silver's Reviews, is:

"What draws you in more: the book's title, the book's cover, or the summary on the back cover?"

I'm not going to lie. I'm a total cover whore. I'm very quick to pick up a book and read its summary if the cover catches my eye. It's very rare that I'll give a book with a boring cover a chance ... not saying it NEVER happens, but it is rare.

What about you? Are you a cover whore like me or are you more of a title and/or summary person?

{Book Review} The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

 

This is the second novel in the Montague Siblings series. This novel focuses on Felicity Montague and her aspirations in becoming a doctor. The problem is, a lady becoming a doctor in England in those days was unheard of. Those positions were for men only and women were expected to be at home cooking, cleaning, having children, etc. Women weren't meant to be employed in a "man's" world. Felicity, however, is bound and determined to change all of that ... at least for her, if not for all women.

When the novel begins, Felicity is in Edinburgh, which is where she was headed after her tour with Monty and Percy in the first novel. Edinburgh has the most elite university for those wishing to study in the medical field. Felicity has written letter after letter requesting to be tutored, enrolled in the university, or taken on as an apprentice ... SOMETHING that'll get her on her path to be a doctor. While in Edinburgh, Felicity works at a bakery to earn a wage while writing her letters and waiting for acceptance. The owner of the bakery is smitten with Felicity and proposes marriage. The proposal both scares and infuriates Felicity at the same time. She leaves Edinburgh and heads to London where Monty and Percy live.

Felicity arriving in London starts a chain of events that takes Felicity on another, unexpected, grand adventure. Will she finally become accepted into a university to learn medicine or is she destined to live the life of a simpering housewife she so despises?

Here's what I liked about the novel: The adventures Felicity are involved in are entertaining and they keep the story moving. I also enjoyed the fact that it made me feel angry about the injustices of women in English society during that time ... which also made me think of the social injustices that women still go through today.

Here's what I didn't like about the novel: I thought the ending was lackluster. It just fell flat and didn't round out the novel like it could have.

The first book in the series, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, was exciting and sexy and thrilling. Since then the series has steadily declined. I really hate that, too, because I was so looking forward to an excellent series that I could add to my favorites list. Oh, well. C'est la vie.

{Novella Review} The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee

 

This is a short novella between The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.

At the end of Vice and Virtue, Percy and Monty FINALLY reveal their feelings for each other. They make the decision to be mutually exclusive (not a stretch for Percy, but definitely for Monty) as well as to not return to their homes. They decide to run away to London together to start their new life, even though it'll be destitute and lacking their usual comforts.

The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky is about what you think it's about. Sex. However, it's more about Monty and Percy trying to get to their first time and how obstacle after obstacle keeps them from having sex, making love, whatever you want to call it. The main issue standing in their way, surprisingly, is Monty. His issue is equating love and sex with the same person. He's used to using sex as a release with people he's not interested in keeping around. So, he is stressing the hell out that having sex with Percy will cause everything to go pear-shaped. Percy, sweet and perceptive Percy, understands something's going on in Monty's head and has a heart-to-heart with him about their relationship.

Overall, this was a quick, funny romp into Percy and Monty as a couple and gave the reader a little more depth into their relationship. I'd give it 4 stars.

{Book Review} The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

 

I put this on my TBR list when Margot with Epic Reads spouted her love of this novel in one of her videos (check out said video by clicking here - side note: she mentions that the book is narrated by Percy, but it's actually narrated by Monty). I'm not really sure what I was expecting but ... OH ... MY .... GOODNESS.

Monty is an absolute rake, but an adorable one, and he knows it. He's a bisexual nobleman in a time when being bisexual is VERY much frowned upon and could possibly get you hung. He has a younger sister, Felicity, a baby brother that he calls the Goblin, and a best friend, Percy. When he gets kicked out of Eton, his father beats him black and blue. The only way Monty knows how to deal with it is to continue doing what he's always done: drink, steal, and being promiscuous.

Felicity is sick and tired of being treated like a simpering female. She's interested in medicine and wants to go to university, not finishing school, but the times being what they are doesn't offer her much of a choice as far as career paths go.

Percy lives with his aunt and uncle. They love him but treat him differently when company's around. Why? Well, they're white English residents and Percy is a brown English resident. People of color are treated horridly in England during this time. They're not allowed in many hotels, they're not given very many jobs, and they're automatically distrusted because of the beautiful color of their skin. Add his epilepsy on top of that and the poor guy can't catch a break socially. This era of the English looks at epilepsy as demonic possession and enter those affected into insane asylums if exorcisms and other extreme measures don't work.

Enter one last hurrah for Monty, Percy, and Felicity under the guidance of Mr. Lockwood. The three are to go on a Tour before heading off in different directions: Monty to learn how to take over the estate, Felicity off to finishing school, and Percy off to learn a profession ... or so they all think.

Not long after the tour starts, the three go to a ball. They try to have a good time but Monty gets bored and starts his usual mess. Off he goes to the bedroom of some lady, which turns out to be in the apartments of the Duke of Bourbon ... someone that Monty does not really care for. So, while in the Duke's apartment, Monty looks around and finds something he wants to steal. Enter the Duke, exit Monty through an open window with the stolen artifact, and the chase begins.

Monty, Percy, and Felicity have an adventure beyond their wildest imaginations. Through it all, they learn more about themselves and each other. Felicity admits she wants to be a doctor ... and is actually offered an opportunity in a most unusual way. Monty realizes his drinking and promiscuity is something that he has GOT to get under control. Percy finally confesses what really awaits him at the end of the Tour and what it is he really wants.

This book was heartbreaking and exciting and sweet and a jolly good read. I've seen where there are two more books in this series so I'll be continuing them to see what else these three rapscallions have in store. I can't wait!

{Read-a-thon & Read-a-long} #FrightFall

The #FrightFall Read-a-thon is hosted by Michelle over at Seasons of Reading and is officially part of her Something Wicked Fall event every September and October on her horror blog, Castle Macabre. The genres being focused on for the read-a-thon are gothic stories for September and horror stories for October. If you want to participate, you can sign up here.

As you can see in the image above, Michelle is also hosting a read-a-long on her Castle Macabre blog for The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Discussion posts will be put up every Sunday. The reading schedule begins tomorrow, September 1st. You can click here to view the reading schedule and additional information about the read-a-long.

If you're planning on joining the fun, let me know!