{Review/Giveaway} MIDNIGHT SISTERS by Sarah E. Boucher

Love fairy tales and mythology?
Fans of mermaids, dragons, unicorns, and other mythical creatures?
Enjoy when a beloved classic tale is retold?
A Twist in the Tail Thursdays features all this and more!

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FOLLOW THE TOUR!

Jan 9: Rebekah R.K. Grow (Jonas Selkirk feature)

Jan 10: Meagan Blooming with Books (Ariela Spencer feature)

Jan 11: Allison Eclectic Alli (Passionate Geek feature)

Jan 11: Melanie Mel's Shelves (Brisella Spencer feature)

Jan 12: Adrienne Adrienne Quintana (Canela “Cinnamon” Spencer feature)

Jan 12: Bonnie A Backwards Story (Daniela Spencer feature)

Jan 13: Lisa Bookworm Lisa (Estella/Frizella Spencer feature)

Jan 13: Bethany Perfect Beginnings (Estella/Frizella Spencer feature)

Jan 14: Cindy Cindy C. Bennett (Gisella, Hayla, Isella Spencer feature)

Jan 15: Amanda Inkings and Notions (Gisella, Hayla, Isella Spencer feature)

Jan 16: Tressa Wishful Endings (Janela Spencer feature)

Jan 16: Corinne Corinne's Garden (Krisela Spencer feature)

Jan 17: Katie Katie's Clean Book Collection (Larela Spencer feature)

Jan 18: Tarah Literary Timeout (Braden feature)

Jan 19: Paula The Phantom Paragrapher (Lord Bromhurt feature)

Jan 20: Raylynn Let It Be & Celebrate (Special author feature)

Last week, I introduced you guys to Daniela, the brilliant scientist of the bunch! 

Today, I'll share my review of THE MIDNIGHT SISTERS!

Sarah previously wrote BECOMING BEAUTY, aka Beauty and the Beast with a twist. 

 AND if you missed out on the book the first time around? 

Check out my review, 
and then grab the e-book on sale RIGHT NOW for only 99¢! 

WHAT A GREAT DEAL!!!
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O P E N I N G   L I N E:

    "JONAS." THE MANICURED grounds and the fifty servants faded into the background as Higgins fixed his eagle eye on me.
    Automatically, I inspected my groundskeeper's apron. Spotless and hanging in place, for once. My shirtsleeves were rolled to the elbows, and the brown trousers had been laundered yesterday. How could he criticize anything?

(pg. 6, US e-book edition)

Having previously read and enjoyed Sarah E. Boucher's debut novel BECOMING BEAUTY, a retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales, Beauty and the Beast, I was excited to find out that she was publishing another book--another  fairy tale--and that she was once again using one of my favorite tales. This time around, the novel is centered around The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Unlike many other versions of the tale that I've read, this one is based in reality. There is no magic at play. It makes for a unique twist on this story!

The novel is told from the POV of Jonas, a groundskeeper who has been working on the estate for over a decade, since he was a teen himself. Over the years, he has fallen in love with Ariela, even though one of the cardinal rules is to never talk to one of Lord Bromhurst's twelve daughters. In the last six months, however, something has changed. The girls start disappearing at night, and nobody knows why. Ranging from mid-teens to late-twenties, none of the girls ever married, and suitors dried up, but they've started circling the estate once again--and this time, Ariela will definitely find a husband. Jonas can't bear the heartbreak of losing her, but he also can't bear to bring her down to his level when she's used to a better life. But what he CAN do is solve the mystery of where the girls go every night...

I'll admit it: The age thing was a little weird to me. Mid-twenties and your dad is only now insisting you get married? I felt that for the time period, this didn't feel quite right, but I just ignored that part after awhile and let the story take me where it wanted. I thought it was really interesting to see such a "realistic" rendition of this story, one that didn't rely on magic. I don't think I've seen one set in our world before, so that was really intriguing. It was also interesting to have two enamored groundskeepers work together in order to spend time with their lady loves and figure out what they were up to, which kept things interesting!

At the moment, MIDNIGHT SISTERS is a stand-alone, however, there's something that happens at the end that isn't completely tied up. It makes me wonder if there will be a sequel focused on one of the younger sisters--perhaps twisted into a brand new fairy tale (reminiscent of the way Jessica Day George has three novels centered around the twelve sisters). I definitely wouldn't be adverse to this, especially because, with so many sisters, it's hard to get to know any of them very well! Plus, I've got to tell you, I'm especially curious to know more about the scientist daughter, Daniela, since I posted a character sketch of her on the tour last week. Boucher gave us a scene from the sisters' childhood to introduce us to the girls, and I wished Daniela and Janela had been in the book more, though it made me smile when someone commented on the close relationship between the two at one point!

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C O N T E N T R A T I N G S

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details

Romance: PG ( Kissing )

Language: --
Violence: PG ( Kidnapping, and the fight in order to be free )

Other:  --

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C O V E R   D E S I G N:

It's dark and a little hard to see, but the book takes place at night, so that darkness works at intriguing readers. It gives it a bit of mystery!

It does make me want to take a closer look at a print copy, however, to see what details I'm missing as my computer merges the dark colors together!

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O F F I C I A L   I N F O:

Title:  MIDNIGHT SISTERS
Author: Sarah E. Boucher

Release Date: Dec. 30, 2016

Publisher: Sarah E. Boucher

SUMMARY:

Do not meddle with the master’s daughters. 

 The words rattle around Jonas’s head. What is the punishment again? Death? Dismemberment? Jonas, the newest addition to the gardening staff, can’t recall the exact penalty for breaking the rule. What does it matter anyway? He would never dream of meddling with the Earl of Bromhurst’s haughty daughters. 

 Until he comes face to face with Lady Ariela, the eldest of the Master’s daughters. 

Her elusive smile and open manner cause him to question his convictions. In no time, he’s drawn into Lady Ariela’s world of mystery and intrigue, a world where she and her sisters will do anything—including leaving twelve empty beds at midnight—to escape their father’s strict rules. 

 Only Jonas can uncover the truth and save them from their father’s wrath and their own folly, if he is willing to risk everything he’s ever worked for.  

Also by Sarah E Boucher:

BECOMING BEAUTY, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, books & things, iTunes, and Goodreads. 

For the duration of the blog tour (January 9-20) Becoming Beauty eBook will be 99 cents!

If you don't already have a copy, download Becoming Beauty for 99 cents on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, etc. 

Clink on the links listed above!

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****Giveaway*****

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