Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. This weeks question is:


Q. What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

What a fun question! I have two books in mind for this one: Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn and The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

The Luxe

Oh, how I wish this series would be turned into a movie! The vivid imagery Godbersen uses caused me to see a movie every time I read it--its such an awesome book. It would also be really cool to see all the glitz of Manhattan in 1899 and the gorgeous ball room gowns come to life. I'd also love to see what mansions looked like in those days. My guess is that they would have a similar feel to the Waldorf or the Plaza. My favorite character is Diana and I think Lucy Hale is perfect for the part. 

Dragon Prince

This is one of the best. series. ever. I really wish more people had read it so that I could talk about it with others. I'm currently brewing ideas in the back of my head to make this happen. Anyway, this book pretty much has it all--adventure, epic romance, betrayal, magic. It felt very, very real to me and I still think about the characters today even though I devoured the series about 10 years ago (fun fact: Dragon Prince is the only book I've ever re-read). Rohan is one of my favorite characters in the series, and I think Duff Mckagen looks exactly like him. Duff isn't an actor, he was the bassist for for Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, but since he looks exactly like Rohan I'm sure he could pull it off regardless of his acting abilities.

Wolfsbane

Author: Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Source: Borrowed
Format: Hardcover
Goodreads Description:

"When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive."

***

I first read Nightshade last year and I really loved it. I was so excited to sit down and read the sequel, Wolfsbane, and I wasn’t disappointed. It wasn’t a perfect story, but it was exciting and we got to learn a lot more about the world that Andrea Cremer has created.

There was a whole new cast of characters that I think readers will get really attached to. I can’t imagine anyone sympathizing with the Keepers, but this is such a complex storyline that I think we need more information about the history between the Searchers and the Keepers. Since the plot is so complicated, if you haven’t already read Nightshade, you might want to hold off until after Bloodrose is released. I say this primarily because the world building is so intricate that you don’t want to forget any details before you get to the last novel, Bloodrose.

Having said that, Andrea Cremer did a good job of reminding me of what happened in Nightshade without repeating the original story. Even though I was able to eventually recollect the details from Nightshade, I think I would have enjoyed Wolfsbane more if everything from Nightshade was still fresh in mind.

The other reason I think that this is a series that is best read all at once is that there is not a concrete ending to the books in this series—they both end with quite a bit of action going on in the story. It almost feels like the book isn’t over to me, but I’m on the last page and even though the story clearly isn’t over there is nothing left for me to read until the next book comes out.

Overall, Wolfsbane is a wonderful story. There were some interesting developments in the love triangle between Calla, Ren, and Shay and we learned a lot about the mysterious Searchers. Cremer’s writing is captivating and action-packed and will leave you wanting much, much more. This is definitely a series that should not be missed.

Winter's Passage

Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Source: Purchased
Format: e-book
Goodreads Description:
"Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. "

***

This story wasn’t long enough to really get a sense of whether or not I am going to end up loving the series later on. This is a short story that takes place after Iron King and before Iron Daughter. We see Ash and Meghan’s journey to the winter court, and while I liked Ash better in this story, the series still bothers me.

Ash makes it clear to Meghan that he will kill her if his queen asks him to, but Meghan does not care. Ash then proceeds to ask Meghan how he is supposed to protect her when she has no self-preservation instincts, and that is when it hit me. I don’t like it when a heroine has no sense of self-preservation because I think it is unnatural. If I met a vampire, I would be terrified. If my boyfriend told me he wouldn’t bat an eye if someone asked him to kill me, we wouldn’t be dating anymore and I would want him to stay far, far away from me. I certainly wouldn’t be thinking—yea ok, so do you want to do something later?

I really hope this aspect of the plot changes in the story because I do think it has a lot of potential (particularly of Puck comes back). Aside from issue with Meghan’s attitude, there really wasn’t enough in Winter’s Passage for me to decide if this is a series that I will ultimately end up loving. 

Love Triangles: Tris & Izzie

Love Triangles is a feature I created to discuss how I feel about love triangles in the novels I read. I am assuming that those reading the love triangles posts have already read the books. Please be aware that these posts may contain spoilers.

 Izzie-Mark-Branna

This was by far the most irritating love triangle I have ever seen in my life. Even though Branna & Izzie are best friends, Branna has a crush on Izzie’s boyfriend Mark—and Izzie has no clue. Branna handles this by being really mean to Izzie. One day Branna decides she can’t take it anymore and reveals her feelings to Mark by having both her & Izzie take a truth potion in front of him. Izzie admits she has a crush on Tristan and Branna admits that she is in love with Mark. There should be some serious turmoil in this aftermath, right? But what happens? 5 minutes later, Mark loves Branna, Izzie & Branna are still best friends, and Izzie is happy to watch her best friend with her very recent ex-boyfriend. Are you kidding me? It would take much, much longer to resolve this than 5 minutes!

Tristan-Izzie-Mark

There’s really not much to say here. It was clear from the second that Izzie saw Tristan that they would be a much better couple than her and Mark. Izzie was never open with Mark about her family, and she was clearly drawn to Tristan from the second she saw him.

Have an Opinion on This Love Triangle? Link Up Below!
*Please link back to abouttoread.com in your post

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen
Remembrance by Michelle Madow

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. This weeks question is:

Q. Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?

I love this question because I get to talk about a book that I think is highly under-rated: Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn. It is such a wonderful story, and I keep reading it because I am extremely attached to the characters--they're like real people to me. 

Rawn weaves a masterful plot, but she understands that people aren't perfect. In fact, I think she is the master of the imperfect hero. Rawn's characters go through some unspeakable tragedies, and the way they deal with them makes the story more realistic to me.

In addition to mastering imperfect heroes, Rawn has also perfected epic romance. Sioned and Rohan, the main couple in this series, are simply perfect for each other. They love each other completely, but they still make mistakes. What I think proves that they are soul mates is the way they are able to overcome obstacles together and forgive each other when someone makes a terrible mistake. In addition to Sioned and Rohan, there are several other couples in this novel that are just perfect together.

Dragon Price will make you laugh and cry. It will leave you wanting more of all of the characters, and wondering what happens next. If you are looking for epic romance, magic, action, adventure, and fantasy look no further--just go pick up a copy of Dragon Prince right now.

The Faerie Ring

Author: Kiki Hamilton
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: September 27, 2010
Source: BEA
Format: ARC
Goodreads Description:
"Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger. 

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…"

***

The Faerie Ring was beautifully written and filled with adventure from the first page. Kiki Hamilton combines a thrilling story with a mysterious other world, rich historical detail, complicated characters, and just enough romance to tug at your heart without overwhelming the story.

I was first sucked into the story by Tiki’s personality. Even though she is a theif, she is driven by maternal instinct to protect the other struggling orphans around her. Since she was so well-educated, it was easy to tell that she wasn’t raised on the streets. I also loved her fierce attitude—she really was fearless. Tiki would do anything to protect those she loved or to prove that she could do something others thought she was incapable of achieving.

The romance in The Faerie Ring was done very well. It was a story where you could watch two people fall in love in a really sweet, endearing way. Tiki and Rieker both have complicated pasts, but this allows them to have a better understanding of one another. At times the story reminded me of Cinderella (one of my favorite stories), particularly when Tiki danced with Leopold at the masked ball—what a charming scene!

Overall, The Faerie Ring pretty much has it all: a wonderful cast of characters, a charming love story, an action-packed adventure, and of course magic. 

Love Triangles: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Love Triangles is a feature I created to discuss how I feel about love triangles in the novels I read. I am assuming that those reading the love triangles posts have already read the books. Please be aware that these posts may contain spoilers. 

Will - Jacinda - Cassian

While I understand Cassian’s appeal, I just don’t think he is right for Jacinda. The two have things in common that she and Will never will, such as their love of flying, but Cassian just doesn’t reach Jacinda’s soul the way that Will does.

I do believe that Cassian’s feelings for Jacinda are real, and that he isn’t just interested in her because of her talents as a fire-breather. However, at the end of the day the passion just isn’t there. I think that they could potentially have a very sweet romance, but it wouldn’t be the same all-consuming love she has for Will.

At the same time, I think that if Jacinda were to be with Cassian it would cause irreparable damage to her relationship with Tamra. Tamra has been obsessed with Cassian since childhood, and seeing him with her sister would crush her. Regardless of how strong Jacinda’s feelings for Cassian may or may not be, no one should do something that would hurt their family so deeply.

Jacinda – Cassian - Tamra

Even though Cassian has feelings for Jacinda, he decides to pursue Tamra after it is revealed that she is a powerful draki. Cassian soon realizes that he does not have feelings for Tamra, and would rather be with Jacinda. Personally, I think it is just wrong that he would try to replace one twin with another. Even more troublesome is his attitude that Tamra wasn’t worth his time before he knew that she had a coveted talent. Even though they were childhood friends, he completely ignored Tamra when it appeared that she would never manifest. If he couldn’t even offer her friendship when it appeared that Tamra was a defunct draki, he has no right to expect anything more of her (even though she would gladly accept him as a mate).

Have an Opinion on This Love Triangle? Link Up Below!
*Please link back to abouttoread.com in your post

Author Interview: Anna Godbersen

Today is by far the best day of the Bright, Young, & Luxe event because Anna Godbersen is stopping by for an interview! Lea and I are both so thrilled to share this with all of you!

Don’t forget that Beautiful Days comes out tomorrow—I know I’ll be waking up extra early to get my copy!

1)    Your writing is absolutely beautiful, how do you come up with the vivid imagery to transport readers to a specific era?

 Thank you so much! One of the wonderful things about writing historical fiction is that every book is an opportunity to do more research, to learn more about another time. And I find novels from other eras, not to mention all the ephemera of the past, really interesting. So much ofwhat I do with my day is let my imagination take that evidence of what it was like to live then and run with it. I want to look at an old black and whitephotograph and obsess over it until I can see it in color, I want to make that real for myself in my mind and then for my readers in language.

2)    Of all your characters, who was the most fun to write and why?

 Either Astrid or Penelope. Astrid’s whole m.o. is to be light and breezy, so that’s a total pleasure to write. But then it was fun to go, with Penelope, into a kind of pure and stylish villainy.

3)    The book covers for both The Luxe and BYT series are gorgeous! What goes into the process of making an amazing book cover? Did you have any say in how they would look, or get to see the models’ photo shoots?

 Aren’t they just perfect? I don’t have much to do with them, but I’ve gone to the shoots for both series, and they are pretty full on productions! A whole team of very busy and glamorous people put together a set and call in dresses and get the models all done up in hair and makeup. Really fun stuff. And with the LUXE books in particular, I think the covers are seductive and eye-catching, but then they are also a perfect metaphor for what the books are about—how these tender young girls are almost overwhelmed by their luxurious world with it’s lavish interiors and over-the-top dresses, which are both seductive and a trap. 

4)    I've heard that you're thinking about writing a book/series that takes place in modern-day times. Is there anything in the works yet? Any ideas for other YA books?

 I would love to write something set in our time someday—I think that’s such an important thing to do for a writer, to use language to describe what you see with your own eyes—but I don’t have anything in the works yet. I’m only half way through the BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS series!

5)    What do you think would be the best and worst part about living in the 1920s?

 The 1920s were a fun era in so many ways—the clothes, the music, the whole tone of the culture. And so much was being turned on its head—conventions in social behavior, conventions in art. But I think there was also tremendous amount of instability in everyday life, inequalities of income and health care and all these things that could be really devastating to those in a vulnerable position.

6)    I really, really wish The Luxe would be made into a movie or TV series!! Is there any chance of this **maybe** happening some day?

 Me too! Yes, some folks have done some talking about making a movie out of THE LUXE, and though it’s always hard to know with Hollywood, I think it would be wonderful if it happened! Let’s both keep our fingers crossed.

Fun Facts

1)    Salty or sweet: Which is your fave food craving?

 Salty all the way.

2)    What is your favorite historical fiction movie? 

 Probably McCabe and Mrs. Miller, which is so sad and beautiful, but also turns the conventional Old West movie on its head. Plus, it is not afraid of a littleanachronism (which I always applaud), with the great Leonard Cohen music. And it’s Beatty at his most yummy.

Giveaway: The Radleys

Thanks to Simon & Schuster, today I have a copy of The Radleys by Matt Haig to giveaway. It is an ARC and the cover are is not the same as pictured below (just so you are aware).

Goodreads Description:
"Meet the Radleys

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret

From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites."


Contest Rules:

• Open US Only
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Everyone may enter, even if you are not a follower
• Winners will be notified via email
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours
• Contest ends September 30, 2011

Things I Wanted to do After Reading Bright Young Things

Bright, Young, & Luxe is almost over, but it has been so much fun to write these posts and check out everyone’s giveaways! Tomorrow we have an interview with Anna Godbersen to share with you all, and Beautiful Days will finally be released!

Things I wanted to do after reading Bright Young Things:

1) Try a Mint Julep

I was dying to have a mint julep after I read Bright Young Things! It sounded so yummy and cool, but I had a bit of trouble finding a place that would make me one. I finally got to have one in October as part of my birthday celebration, and I was really disappointed because I did not like it at all. I’ve since tried mint juleps and I think they are much, much better. I do planning on trying a mint julep again eventually though, just in case I has a bad bartender the first time.

2) Go to a 1920s themed bar

Apparently there is a 1920s themed bar in the bottom of the empire state building and another one somewhere in LA. I’ve been trying to go to the one in the bottom of the empire state building for about a year, but it just never works out! Now that I’m in LA, I’m going to do my best to go to the on ehere. It sounds awesome, and I’ve heard wonderful things about it.

3) Be a flapper for Halloween

I even found the perfect costume for this one, but they didn’t have my size! Maybe this year J…or Christine from Phantom of the Opera...we shall see.

4) Watch Romeo & Juliet (the Leonardo DiCaprio version)

Cordelia and Thom remind me so much of Rome & Juliet…the forbidden love, the family feud, the feeling of betrayal and confusion…I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

5) Read Beautiful Days

After the events at the end of Bright Young Things I just need to know what happens next. It’s coming out so soon though, and I can’t wait to read it. The wait has been killing me, but I’m sure it will be well worth it.

Who is your favorite Luxe character and why?

Today on Bright, Young, & Luxe we're delving deeper into the characters.

Who is your favorite Luxe character and why?

Diana, of course! She always has her head in the clouds, she’s an introvert, she wants to find adventure, and I just related to her more than any of the other character. This definitely started to change for me when Diana pulls a Britney Spears (if you read the series, you’ll exactly what I am referring to).

Even though I stopped relating to Diana half-way through the series, I still admired her strong-will, sense of self, and ambition. She found a way to help support her struggling family without losing her place in society, which took a lot of courage as well as ambition. She also understood herself in a way that many people don’t. Diana knew exactly what it would take to make her happy, as well as what circumstances she would be able to live with. She isn’t afraid to make tough choices and to strike out on her own, and I really respect that. 

Dead, Famous, and Married: the Fates of Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid

Today, I have another fabulous post about BRIGHT, YOUNG, THINGS. Get excited!

Dead, Famous, and Married: the Fates of Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid

I’ve seen many people across the blogosphere agree with me that the prologue for Bright, Young, Things is absolutely captivating. From the very beginning, Godbersen tells us that one of the characters will be dead, one will be married, and one will be famous. For the entire series, we will have to guess at which fate belongs to each girl.

Married

In the beginning chapters of Bright, Young, Things Cordelia gets married. Therefore, it’s possible that this mystery is already solved, but I don’t think that’s all there is to it. Cordelia leaves her husband right after the wedding, so I’m not even sure it counts as a marriage. Astrid is proposed to at the end of the novel, so I think she will be the one that gets married.

Famous

Letty is the character chasing after stardom, and she has a beautiful voice and a pretty face, but I think Cordelia is going to be famous. Cordelia was featured in a newspaper her first week in New York for being the long-lost daughter of a bootlegger. I think Cordelia has the kind of attitude and personality that will attract media coverage and make her famous.

Dead

In my opinion, Letty is the character most likely to end up dead. She doesn’t have any street smarts, she gets taken advantage of a lot, and she has so no concept of how to get by on her own. I don’t think Letty will ever be famous because I don’t think she has enough inner-strength—it will be fun to see how she grows as the novel progresses, however.

Who do you think will wind up dead, married, or famous?

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. This weeks question is:

Q. It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

Hmm...this is a really, really hard choice. My top picks would be the worlds from Harry Potter, Glimmerglass, and Spells. I honestly don't think I can pick just one.

Harry Potter by JK Rowling
I don't think this one really needs an explanation. Hogwarts--enough said.

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

I want to go Avalon so, so badly. In Jenna Black's series, Avalon is the one place where the mortal and faerie realms intersect. When I interviewed Jenna Black, she said that Avalon was inspired by Mont St. Michel--so at least I can visit there.




Spells by Aprilynne Pike
I would love to visit Avalon from Aprilynne Pike's Spells. In Pike's version, Avalon is the faerieworld and it just sounds absolutely incredible--I really wish I could visit!

Did Thom Do It?

Since the BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS is not completed yet, there are still a lot of mysteries that need to be solved. One of which is:

Did Thom Do It?

Those of you have read Bright Young Things know that the prologue and the ending were the best part of the book. However, it is the ending that will make you run to the bookstore immediately for Beautiful Days so that you can see what happens next! We know that Cordelia blames Thom for the tragedy that occurred at the end, but there is no confirmation given that he was in fact the mastermind behind it all. So, let’s review the evidence.

1.       Thom did not meet Cordelia at the side of the road as promised

2.       Thom was one of the only people who knew about the tunnel

3.       There is a long history of bad blood between Thom and Cordelia’s families

4.       Thom protested his innocence at the end of the book

The evidence certainly is not in Thom’s favor. I’m a little torn, though. Thom certainly acted like he loved Cordelia, so maybe there is another explanation. Maybe Thom’s father had someone follow him, leading him to discover the tunnel and arrange for everything to happen. Maybe it was an inside job and Thom’s absence was just a coincidence (I don’t believe in coincidences when it comes to books so I doubt this one is true).

So the question remains, Did Thom do it?

Frost

Author: Marianna Baer
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Source: BEA
Format: ARC
Goodreads Description:
Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena’s anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste’s brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological . . . well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

***

I was really excited for Frost by Marianna Baer because I love trying to figure out what is really going on in a story. In this case, we had to figure out if either Celeste or Leena was psychotic or if something paranormal was going occurring. I really enjoyed reading the story, and I liked the secondary cast of characters. I also feel that Baer did a good job of creating confusion as to whether or not the characters were certifiable.

Even though I enjoyed reading the story, I really did not like how it ended. I felt it was anti-climatic to the say the least. I spent so much time deciding if I thought Leena or Cleleste was crazy and I can’t help but feel disappointed at the ending.

That said, I enjoyed the romantic and familial aspects of the book, and Baer did a brilliant job of making me question Leena’s sanity. Throughout the first half of the book, I thought Celeste might be out of her mind, but Leena was certainly sane. As the story progressed, however, I started to believe that Celeste was quite normal and that Leena desperately needed a strait jacket. I’m looking forward to reading more books like this in the future.

Lina: Love or Hate Her?

It's day 5 of Bright, Young, & Luxe and that means we're discussing another controversial character: Lina Broud!

Lina: Love or Hate Her?

Most people don’t like Lina, and I don’t blame them. I flat-out hated Lina for 75% of the series—she was jealous, spiteful, and manipulative. She lied to countless people, she essentially ruined Diana’s life through her alliance with Penelope, and she treated her sister terribly. For the first three books, I think I even got angry every time I had to read from Lina’s perspective.

However in Splendor, the last book in the Luxe series, something changed. I suddenly felt sympathy for Lina despite the fact that I didn’t even like her. I mean—she forced her sister to watch her wedding as a spectating servant. Who does that? So why in the world did I feel bad for someone who did so many blatantly crappy things?

I felt bad for her because she wanted more out of life, and unfortunately given the time period the only way she could achieve her goals was to lie her way to the top. I really admire ambition, so I can respect Lina’s desire for more—even though I completely disagree with how she went about it. I also cried my eyes out when her fiancée called off the wedding (although who could blame him). Lina’s lies finally caught up with her, and he couldn’t be expected to marry someone who had lied to him for the entirety of their relationship. Lina finally got everything she ever wanted, and then her world came crashing down.

Given all the heartache Lina experienced in Splendor and how sympathetic her character has become, I was very happy when I read that Lina and her sister finally had a joyous ending with each other. Lina was able to be truer to herself than she had in a long time and enjoy the lifestyle she coveted with her sister.

Where do you fall on the Lina love/hate scale?

LC's Take: Ugh. I really couldn't stand Lina haha! I mean, yes, there were certain points throughout the series where I did feel sorry for her, just because she managed to get in way over her head. She was just so incredibly ruthless and back-stabbing, and I mean, really, how bad was her life as a maid in the Holland household? It's not like they beat her or starved her or anything, and her sister worked there too!

And that's the other thing-- of all the horrible things Lina did to scrape her way to the top, abandoning her sister and making her sister be her maid was the worst. Did the girl have no conscience? That really bothered me. I did feel bad for her when the guy she honestly did like a lot had to let her go after finding out who she really was. But then I guess things turned out for her pretty well in the end. Did she deserve it? Meh, not really, but I'm glad she got to finally share in her happiness with her sister, someone who knew her for who she truly was. Maybe she wasn't all that bad in the end, but she definitely angered me throughout most of the series!

Elizabeth: Teddy or Will?

Welcome back for another fabulous day of Bright, Young, & Luxe! What are we talking about today? Love triangles, of course!

Elizabeth: Teddy or Will?

Whether or not Elizabeth should be with Teddy or Will is one triangle I’ve never really been able to sort out in my mind. Both men have a lot to offer Elizabeth, but which one is better for her?

Will

Elizabeth and Will grew up together and they started out as friends. They understand each other in a way that many people don’t since they have grown up together and shared everything since they were children. Society would never accept their romance because Elizabeth is a high societal lady and Will is a stable boy, so she would have to leave her friends and family forever. There is a lot Elizabeth needs to give up in order to be with Will, but she does love him. I think that Will is smart enough to take care of her, so it really comes down to whether or not Elizabeth could handle not seeing her family.

Teddy

Teddy and Elizabeth have known each other for quite a while, as well. Unlike many of the high society men Elizabeth knows, Teddy is truly a gentleman. He has had feelings for Elizabeth for quite some time and would probably do just about anything for her. He is also a genuinely good person and would never be mean to anyone with significant cause. Unlike Will, society would consider him a suitable match for Elizabeth and she wouldn’t have to give up her family. I don’t think they would have the same mutual understanding of one another that Elizabeth and Will have, but I do think Teddy would make her happy.

All in all, I still don’t have a good answer to this one. What do you think, Will or Teddy?

LC's Take: This is definitely a tough one. I liked Will, but the relationship between him and Elizabeth just seemed too far-fetched for me-- it was never going to actually last in real life (well, in a book portraying real life anyways!) And I really like Teddy because he is clearly committed to Elizabeth-- I mean, he proposed to her like 4 times! I think Elizabeth was pretty lucky to have two amazing guys running after her, but I personally-- I think-- would have chosen Teddy. Plus, I wouldn't have wanted to move all the way to California to be a pioneer or gold miner anyways. Maybe I'm just too practical haha...