THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean Book Review
Publication Date: March 1st 2009 by Orchard Books
Rating: 
– Acceptable | 
Book Summary: Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued ? in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.
When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex’s heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year’s season begins!
The Season by Sarah MacLean Book Review Overview:
- Fantastic mix of romance and mystery.
- Great cast of characters – I’d be interested in a sequel or two!
- While this was interesting, I still prefer MacLean’s adult romances; I definitely recommend it to those who love YA historical romances though.
I have such a high expectation when it comes to Sarah MacLean novels just because I am so in love with her adult romances. Of course, I had to tell myself that THE SEASON is young adult and that I cannot give it such high expectations.
THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean still turned out to be a fun read despite the fact that it is not quite as sexy as I expect MacLean novels to be. I love the mix of romance and mystery in THE SEASON. It’s not the most well-crafted mystery – I uncovered the culprit way before the characters – but the mixing of genres made it a more engaging read.
Alex is a fun character to read about. Like any other protagonist during this era, she’s the kind of girl who doesn’t want to live by the ton‘s standards. Alex doesn’t want to get married for the sake of duty and she secretly wants a love match. When she sees her childhood friend Gavin for the first time in months, readers immediately notice the spark between them.
I would not mind it at all if MacLean decides to write a sequel or two (romance genre style, of course) about Vivi and Ella. They made great supporting characters, and I have to admit – I’m really curious as to how they will get their happily ever afters.
At the end of the day, I still prefer MacLean’s adult romances – just because they are a lot steamier. I would still recommend The Season to teens who love historical romances that is more age appropriate. If I had discovered THE SEASON a lot earlier, this probably would have been the book to make me seek out adult romance.
About the Author
She grew up in Rhode Island, where she spent much of her free time bemoaning the fact that she was more than a century too late for own Season. Her unabashed addiction to historical fiction helped to earn her a degree in European History from Smith College before she moved to New York City to pursue a career in publishing. After receiving a Masters in Education from Harvard University, Sarah returned to New York, where she lives with her husband, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. |
Find the Author
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Sarah MacLean is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of YA and adult romance.
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930 words
I read more than I anticipated in February. I couldn’t believe it! I think it’s the combination of audiobooks and ebooks as well as the pressure that my review pile is putting on me. I’m determined to keep up with my reading this month!
The Pile
February will be dedicated to reading all the egalleys that I’ve accumulated on my nook in the last month. And just to add a book for fun, I checked out an ebook from my library!
- Thumped by Megan McCafferty – I wanted this book ever since I finished reading Bumped!
- A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean – Oh my gosh, one of my favorite romance authors came out with a book. Gotta read it ASAP.
- This is Not A Test by Courtney Summers – This one was on my February TBR pile but I unfortunately was not able to get to it last month.
- Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
- The Academie by Susanne Dunlap
- I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’ll Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
- Scary School by Derek the Ghost
- The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
GoodReads Challenge
2012 Reading Challenge
Cialina (Muggle-Born) has read 29 books toward a goal of 137 books.The Vlog
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Uncategorized | 706 words
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.
Expected Publication Date: January 10th 2012 by Dutton Juvenile
I know I’ve only read one John Green book ever, and I’m really not the biggest nerdfighter out there, but there has just been so much excitement building up for this book. I’ve already got this one pre-ordered so I’m to receive it ANY DAY NOW.
A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets . . .
A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.
A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.
Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them . . . even her heart
Expected Publication Date: February 28th 2012 by Avon
Sarah MacLean easily won me over with her Love by Numbers series. I’m excited to read more of her stuff! I hope I enjoy this series just as much.
Thumped by Megan McCafferty
It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!
Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.
To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.
The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:
Tell the truth.
Expected Publication Date: April 24th 2012 by Balzer + Bray
I was a bit hesitant about reading something new by Megan McCafferty but I was anxious for no reason. I love Bumped and now I eagerly await for its sequel.
The Traitor in the Tunnel by YS Lee
I Queen Victoria has a little problem: there’s a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Charged with discretion, the Agency puts quickwitted Mary Quinn on the case, where she must pose as a domestic while fending off the attentions of a feckless Prince of Wales. But when the prince witnesses the murder of one of his friends in an opium den, the potential for scandal looms large. And Mary faces an even more unsettling possibility: the accused killer, a Chinese sailor imprisoned in the Tower of London, shares a name with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Easton, Mary’s onetime paramour, is at work shoring up the sewers beneath the palace, where an unexpected tunnel seems to be very much in use. Can Mary and James trust each other (and put their simmering feelings aside) long enough to solve the mystery and protect the Royal Family? Hoist on your waders for Mary’s most personal case yet, where the stakes couldn’t be higher – and she has everything to lose.
Expected Publication Date: February 28th 2012 by Candlewick Press
I’ve already read this one but it’s one of those books that I need to have a final copy of!
Other Notable Titles
These are some that I am extremely looking forward to, but it is still early for them to have covers and/or descriptions:
- Written with My Own Heart’s Blood (Outlander, #8) by Diana Gabaldon – You know this means that I have to do an epic reread of the entire series in 2012 but it will be SO WORTH IT. Oh my god, I am so excited just writing about it.
- Shadows (Ashes, #2) by Ilsa J. Bick – Ashes left off with me wanting more. It was probably one of my favorite books this year and I can’t wait to get back into the world Bick has created!
- Untitled (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) by Laini Taylor – Again, another series that I started and loved.
- Rebel Heart (Dustlands, #2) by Moira Young – Yet another sequel that I’m on the look out for in 2012. I started so many series in 2011, and this is one of the few that I plan on continuing. More Saba and Jack please!
- The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt – Huge Barnholdt fan so I’m excited for anything that she puts out. This one has a cover, but no description yet. Whatever it’s about, I’ll probably read it regardless.
- Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins – Do I really need to explain this one?
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Uncategorized | 1489 words
- Action Packed
- Hahaha Funny
- Keeps You Guessing
- Heartwarmer
- Makes You Think
- Masterful World-Building
- Must Buy
- Page-Turner
- Poetic Prose
- Romantic Read
- Tear-Jerker
