Casting Spells

Title: Casting Spells
Author: Barbara Bretton
Series: Sugar Maple (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary Romance



Chloe lives in Sugar Maple, a town modeled after Salem. The only difference is that in Sugar Maple the different are embraced. Vampires, Witches, Selkie, Fae and many other creatures all live together. There is only one human - Chloe. She is the daughter of a deceased witch and human and appears to have inherited none of her mother's powers.

Chloe's maternal line is an important part of Sugar Maple. The women in the line keep the town safe from non-paranormal folks. The spell keeps the town looking normal and flying below everyone's radar. Unfortunately since Chloe has no supernatural powers, the spell is wearing off and things are going a bit south in Sugar Maple. A passing by tourist is murdered.

Which brings Luke into town. Luke is a Boston police officer who is in Sugar Maple to figure out what happened with the murder. Between he and Chloe sparks fly (literally).

I thought this was a fun book. It reminded me slightly of the Charmed series combined with Eastwick. I did find it to be a little anti-climatic where the Book of Spells was concerned. Chloe spends a large amount of time looking for it, and when it's found it's almost glossed over.

Overall I can't wait to read the next one.

The Leopard Prince

Title: The Leopard Prince

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Series: The Princes Trilogy

Genre: Historical Romance

Lady Georgina, known as George, has been left an incredible amount of money and now at the age of 28 is living on her own on her land. She has a very competent land steward, Harry Pye. The only problem is someone is killing off the sheep in the neighboring estate. Everyone thinks that it is Harry Pye.

Something about Harry draws George to him. The two cannot ignore the draw between them and finally get together. Of course the difference in their stations and money is a problem. Harry is worried that George is going to treat him as a lap dog and that he will not longer be able to be his own man. George of course has no intentions of doing such a thing.

I thought this was a wonderful story of the two of them overcoming their stations to be together. For some reason I did have a little bit of a problem imagining Harry. I pictured him as an older man. This made me have a hard time seeing him with George. I still loved the story, but couldn't help imaging Harry as an older gentleman.

Pretty Little Liars

Title: Pretty Little Liars
Author: Sara Shepard
Series: Pretty Little Liars (Book 1)
Genre: Young Adult



While looking for new challenges to start in the new year I came across one for the Pretty Little Liars series. I had never read the series before, so I went to the library and picked it up.

Four girls follow a fifth who is the Queen Bee. Then said Bee disappears. Years down the road the girls are no longer friends. They encounter all sorts of growing up challenges: underage drinking, driving drunk, shop lifting, relationships with a teacher, sexual confusion and stealing a sister's boyfriend.

Sounds like a drama filled book. I only have an issue with the way the book ended. The girls start getting text messages from the Queen Bee early on in the book. You think it's resolved at the end, but surprise...it's not. I felt like that left the book without an ending. I know it's part of a long series, but usually books even within a series have their own little mini story. I didn't feel that way about this one and I don't want to have to read all 7+ books to get the full story if I'm left hanging every time.

I may or may not follow up on this series, it just wasn' t that special.

The Raven Prince

Title: The Raven Prince
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Series: The Princes Trilogy
Genre: Historical Romance



Anna Wren has been a widow for around 6 years. Her late husband cheated on her, died and left her with little money to live on. Anna lives with her Mother-in-law, and loves her dearly. Unfortunately, their funds have started to be more and more meager, so Anna sets off trying to find a job. Finally, she lands the job of secretary to the Earl of Swartingham, Edward.

Edward is all that's left of his family. He was the only one to survive the pox when he was younger and therefore is the end of his line. Edward has decided that it is time to return to his ancestral home and start a family.

Sparks fly between the two the entire time they are together. Finally Edward needs some release and decides he's going to visit a brothel in London. Anna figures out where he's going, but can't bear to think of someone else being with him. Besides, she's a widow and she has needs too (no matter how inappropriate at the time). She goes and meets him with a butterfly mask and their time together is earth shattering.

Eventually they both return to London, Edward still not knowing it was Anna, and the two continue to lust over each other. Of course, eventually Edward figures it out and demands Anna marry him. Anna, however, refuses and needs more persuasion.

I don't believe that I've read Elizabeth Hoyt before, but I enjoyed her immensely. I cannot wait to continue on with the series and read her second series as well. I thought that this story line was something new to me and something about it was better then some of the books that I've read lately.

Next up in the series is The Leopard Prince

The Magic Knot

Title: The Magic Knot
Author: Helen Scott Taylor
Series: The Magic Knot (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Rosenwyn Tremain is an accountant who has been sent to a business to try and figure things out. They've defaulted on their loan and it's up to her to fix it. Too bad it's in the one place her mother warned her never to go before she died.

Rose arrives at the business and meets a couple of hot brothers, Micheal and Niall. They're twins and something about them is not right. Eventually Rose learns their secret, and hers as well. Micheal and Niall are half leprechaun and half some other fake creature. Rose is half human, half pisky fairy. Not only is she pisky, but she's the pisky queen. When she finds out that she's one of two piskys who are still around she decides she must save the rest of her troupe, which is trapped in a painting.

I love the idea of the magic knot. Each person wears somewhere on them (or keeps in a box in Naill's case) three connected stones. A stone for Body, Mind and Spirit. One should never touch another's Magic Knot unless asked and when in love two people exchange their Knots almost like engagement/wedding rings/hand fasting.

The story overall was mediocre I thought. There were parts that dragged and others were too long. I also felt like it took me a while to get the world and ideas straight and then the book seemed to be over. Fortunately I learned their is a second book in the series, The Phoenix Charm and it is Micheal's story. I do enjoy the world and ideals that I learned about and am more than willing to give it another chance in hopes that it's a bit more interesting then the first.

Calypso Magic

Title: Calyso Magic
Author: Catherine Coulter
Series: Magic Series (Book 2)
Genre: Historical Romance


Diana has lived in the West Indies her whole life until her father sends her to a distant Aunt in London to find her a husband. Diana is high spirited and tan. Most of all she doesn't want a husband. Her Aunt has her sights set on Lyonel for her, another distant relative.

Lyonel was engaged to be married at one time. He found his fiance in the stables with another man and called it off. Being the gentleman he didn't tell the whole world why, just let them think what they wanted.

The two are constantly butting heads around London and eventually the two are somehow convinced into going to the West Indies so that Lyon can take Diana home. When they arrive at Diana's home there is a murder mystery.

I had such a hard time with this book. I couldn't get into it and it took me forever to read. In addition to other issues with the book, a "thrasing" followed by fondling (against the heroine's will) and later attempted rape (she says no, but he wants it anyway) and a brutal coupling that leaves the heroine bleeding, the storyline just didn't do it for me.

I'm tempted to not finish the series, but there is only one more book (I think) and it has gotten stellar reviews on Amazon. Perhaps Ms. Coulter can redeem herself.

Midsummer Magic

Title: Midsummer Magic
Author: Catherine Coulter
Series: Magic Series (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance



Hawk's father has a debt to pay to a Scottish man who saved his life. He promised him that one of his son's would marry one of his daughters. Hawk sets off for Scottland to meet the Scottish daughters and choose his bride.

There are 3 daughters, two of which are excited to meet the Lord and try to look their best and be exactly what he wants (so they think) in a wife. The third, Frances, does not want to marry and move away so she dresses horribly, hiding her beauty with glasses and dowdy clothing. It backfires on her when Hawk chooses her anyway. He figures he can marry her and leave her in the country while he goes back to London and his mistress.

Eventually Frances comes out of her shell, to her husbands surprise and they find themselves in the middle of a mystery full of murder and attempted harm due to a racing horse farm that they own.

This is the first time I've ever read anything by Catherine Coulter. I picked her up simply because she had a lot of books at the library. Too many times I come across an author who I love and they've only come out with a limited amount of books that I go through too fast. I was hoping to find another love that had many books out.

That being said, the story line was overall acceptable but there was something missing. The two main characters never really in my opinion feel in love. In most romance novels there is this point when the characters take the plunge and profess their undying love for each other and their relationship changes dramatically. I never found that to happen in this book. The two never professed their love, and Hawk continued to boss Frances around in a overbearing way without that, "I'm just doing it because I love you so much" mentality. Not to mention that he essentially rapes her the first few times in their marriage.

I've read that this is not totally common in her books so I'm going to finish off the series and perhaps read another set by her.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Title: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Highland Pleasures (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance

Beth is about to marry a horrible man and Ian can't stand it. It doesn't matter that he's never met her before or that he doesn't know her. He writes her a letter telling her about what a bad man her fiance is and gives it to her upon their first meeting.

Beth is instantly intrigued by Ian. There is something that is a bit off (or mad) about him. He's not like all of the other men she's met. She looks into his claims and finds that what he says is true. She breaks it off with her fiance and becomes the object of Ian's interest.

Ian and Beth find themselves in an interesting position. Ian could possibly be arrested for "abducting" her. He decides the best thing for them is to be married. It helps that he wants her desperately and that they have a sizzling attraction to each other.

The two then need to learn how to live together and to solve the mystery behind a courtesan's death from many years ago.

It took me until the second chapter to realize there really was something with Ian. I thought perhaps like some books he was a bit eccentric and they had labeled him as mad. Ian has aspergers. It made for a romance novel unlike any I had read before. I highly enjoyed it, although did have some issues with him seeming so childlike. I know that is sometimes how they appear due to the aspbergers, but it was hard for me to see someone like that in a romantic role. He still does make for a fantastic male lead.

Goddess of the Hunt

Title: Goddess of the Hunt
Author: Tessa Dare
Series: Unnamed, I'll call it Dare Trilogy 1 (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance



Lucy is a young woman is besotted with one of her brother's best friends. The main problem is that he is about to get married. In order to better seduce him, Lucy turns to another of her brother's best friends, Jeremy and practices her feminine wiles on him.

Jeremy has had a tough life. He is viewed to be ice cold and has troubles letting any see the true him and letting any one in. Somehow, with her first inexperienced kiss Lucy draws him in in a way no one has before.

Sometimes I come across books that I think I need to own. This is one of them. If all of Tessa Dare's books are like this one then I think I have another favorite author. She currently has only written this trilogy and one other stand alone book (in addition to a smattering of non-book items). I cannot wait to go on with this trilogy it was amazing.

When I read the scenes between Lucy and Jeremy my heart would pound. They were just beautifully written. I loved the story line and the depth of the characters was phenomenal. Overall just fantastic!

The Rivers of Zadaa

Title: The Rivers of Zadaa
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 6)
Genre: Young Adult



Even though I think that Black Water is a turning point for the Pendragon series, I feel like The Rivers of Zadaa take it a bit farther. We learn new things about just about every main character, and even some of the more minor ones.

The territory of Zadaa is Loor's territory. There are two different "races." The Batu who live above ground and the Rokador, who live below ground and control the water. There is a drought and the two groups are brewing for a war. Sounds like Saint Dane to me!

Fever 1793

Title: Fever 1793
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Series: None
Genre: Historical Fiction/Young Adult



Mattie is a young girl who lives in Pennsylvania with her Mother and Grandfather. They own and operate a coffeehouse in 1793. It seems almost overnight people have contracted Yellow Fever and are dying. Mattie's own Mother is dumped at their doorstep after having fainted from contracting the fever. It is decided that Mattie will go to the country with her Grandfather to escape the fever outbreak.

Mattie's Grandfather has a cough and therefore they are denied entrance to a small town they need to pass through to get to their country destination, the two become deserted in the middle of nowhere and of course Mattie falls ill with Yellow Fever.

The story continues with Mattie's almost coming of age story. She survives the fever and has to learn how to survive in a new city. Food is scarce and crime is high.

I was recommended this book by a fellow teacher. She wasn't mistaken, I think this was a phenomenal book. There is an appendix that tells what is true from the book. I found it very interesting to know that all along mosquitoes were carrying the fever. I'm usually not one for much in the way of history, but this book was simply fantastic.

Bed of Roses

Title: Bed of Roses
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Bride Quartet (Book 2)
Genre: Romance



Emma is the florist for Vows. She is a hopeless romantic and wants it all. Her big dream is to have a moonlight dance in a garden with the man she loves.

Jack has been around the family for years. As one Parker's brother's best friend he knows all the girls and is almost like a brother, except to Emma. Jack is an architect and has a few issues with people invading his space. He goes through girlfriends quickly, but still seems like a nice guy.

During a wedding at Vows, Jack takes a leap and kisses Emma. The two have been yearning for each other all of these years and a romance breaks out between the two of them. It's an interesting pairing when Emma wants it all and Jack wants to keep her at a distance. Eventually this comes to a head and the two have a major fight and "breakup."

The book couldn't end this way, so eventually after everyone has calmed down they reunite and Emma gets her Happily Ever After

This book definitely brought out the hopeless romantic in me. It had me dreaming these amazing dreams where I was being whisked away to far away places (Stowe, Vermont) and having incredibly romantic vacations (Here). I've never been there before, but always have wanted to go and those pictures stayed in my mind and came to life.

Aside from that, the book was decent enough. I don't remember enough about the previous book to remember if it was better or the same. Sometime there would be paragraph long descriptions of the flowers, which makes sense that's what she does. But I cannot picture many of the flowers that were used. I also felt like maybe Emma was to simple of a Character. I noticed this when talking about her above, I really didn't know what to say about her.

Still a good book, and Nora Roberts remains a favorite.

I am very excited about the next book. It revolves around Laurel, who is the Pastry Chef for Vows. I love cake and would love to make wonderful cakes. I really would like to go to Culinary School. This makes me wait for those paragraph long descriptions of cakes :) Unfortunately, it looks to be released May 2010. This may be a long 6 months.

Dragon Kiss

Title: Dragon Kiss
Author: E.D. Baker
Series: The Tales of the Frog Princess (Book 7)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



In Dragon Princess Millie met Audun, an Ice Dragon. After she rescued him and went with her family back to Greater Greenwald, Audun cannot stop thinking about her. He knows that to truly be happy together, he needs to also know how to turn into a human, so he goes and sees the Ice Dragon King.

The Ice Dragon King sends him on several dangerous missions so Audun can prove himself before he is taught how to turn into a human. Eventually he learns how and returns to Millie, who is also in love with him. The two help Millie's family in a battle for their kingdom.

Books for younger children are often repetitive. From the highly repetitive books for the youngest of babies to apparently this book. Each mission was similar and he was given a different object to take with him on each mission. I suppose the book was merely okay.

The Dragon Princess

Title: The Dragon Princess
Author: E.D. Baker
Series: The Tales of the Frog Princess (Book 6)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



Before I ever started this blog I read the first 5 books from the Tales of the Frog Princess. In those we followed a frog princess on her quest for her prince. Later in the books we followed the Frog Princess's aunt and saw her find her man as well. Now things have gone along some and we meet Millie, the Frog Princess's daughter.

Millie has a bit of a problem whenever she gets angry she turns into a Dragon. She then needs to calm down before she can return back to human. Everyone in her kingdom knows about this, but outside of her kingdom less people know. One set of her grandparents who live to the north invite the family to their kingdom for Millie's Birthday. They don't know about Millie turning into a dragon until she gets angry at her grandmother and does so right in front of her.

This upsets Millie and makes her think harder about learning to control it then ever before. She asks advice of another witch that is at her party and is given the name of the Blue Witch who lives in the way North. So starts Millie's journey with her friends to meet the Blue Witch and learn to control her strange power.

I don't remember if I thought this about all of the books, but I did find them to drag a little. There seemed to be many small things happening, but the plot didn't really catch me until the last few chapters when they had almost found the Blue Witch. Could be because it's Juvenile Fiction and just written at a different level then I anticipated and expect from all books even juvenile fiction.

That said, I have every intention of reading the next book, Dragon's Kiss.

Frostbitten

Title: Frostbitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 10)
Genre: Paranormal



We again are following Clay and Elena, this time out into the Alaskan Wilderness where they are dealing with some new Mutt problems. Surprisingly, there seems to be more to it then they imagined.

We meet a new type of shifter, that for some reason has me imagining the Wild Things from the new Where the Wild Things Are move. Not that I've seen anything more than the commercials, but they still were what I imagined.

We learn more about Elena and her past. She was raped as a foster child and that played a fairly big part in the story, which I wasn't too much of a fan of.

Overall, another good addition to the Women of the Otherworld Series. In my opinion, however, this one had the least amount of other supernaturals in it and could probably be read as a stand alone book.

Tempt Me At Twilight

Title: Tempt Me At Twilight
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Hathaway Series (Book 3)
Genre: Romance



I was mistaken. I thought that the third book of the series was going to be about Leo and Catherine Marks. However, it was about Poppy one of the younger sisters.

Poppy has set her sights on Michael and Michael also appears to love Poppy. The two are having somewhat of a secret courtship because Michael's father would not approve. Michael's father does indeed find out and Michael drops Poppy as fast as he possibly can. While she is sad other prospects quickly come about.

Harry is a wealthy hotel owner who wants Poppy no matter the cost. They get married quickly without the two even feeling much affection for each other. Harry must learn to love.

The Girl Who Owned a City

Title: The Girl Who Owned a City
Author: O.T. Nelson
Series: None
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



A plague has hit the earth and killed everyone over the age of 12. This leaves all the children of the world to fend for themselves. With the extinction of adults, comes the loss of power and just about every convenience we take for granted. This includes knowledge. The knowledge of how to make things work, how to fly an airplane, how to be a doctor and so much more. Gangs have formed and many children are going hungry.

Lisa decides that she's not going to let that happen to her and her younger brother. She thinks of new places to get food that others haven't, and eventually has her big idea. She wants to gather all the children from her street and move into a high school. One they can turn into their castle, their fortress.

As expected all of the other gangs want to defeat them and take the things that they have. A lot of thought has to go into keeping them away from them and they don't always win.

I thought this was a fun scientific read, although I was slightly disappointed with the ending. I don't know what I expected, all of the adults died and it's not like they're going to magically come alive at the end of the book. I did feel, however, that I could have used a little more closure.

I had originally found this book in a middle school classroom and the title jumped out at me. Although it's a tad bit violent with five year olds both driving cars and wielding guns, I think that kids who are 12 and under would enjoy the story and thinking about putting themselves temporarily into that situation.

Black Water

Title: Black Water
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 5)
Series: Young Adult



I think of this book as the beginning of something different for the Pendragon Series. I feel like all the books leading up to this one are fun and pretty self contained. This book change the series and what comes next.

Eelong is a different sort of territory. For one, the quigs are humans and the Traveler is basically a Panther. All humans, gars, are repressed and basically treated worse then animals. Bobby has a hard time fitting in with this of course. There is the ever popular turning point that can throw the territory into chaos. I think this book was the most filled with surprises.

As Saint Dane says, "The rules have changed."

The Reality Bug

Title: The Reality Bug
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 4)
Genre: Young Adult



Veelox!

Veelox reminds me of a thought I use to have when I was younger. I use to wish that you could have a contraption at the end of your bed where you could both program what you would dream about and record what you dream. Sometime I have such wonderful dreams that I wish to go back relive them or check for more detail. This is almost what Veelox is like.

On Veelox there LifeLight. This is an area where people get hooked up to machines and can actually "live" what they are thinking about. The problem with this is no one wants to live real life anymore. Bobby meets Aja the Traveler from Veelox and her acolyte. Bobby gets to learn first hand what LifeLight is like. Aja thinks she has the perfect solution - a bug/virus that will make everyone's jump (dream) less perfect and more realistic. Her hope is that people will start to come out of LifeLight when the perfection is gone.

Unfortunately, Saint Dane has his hands in things and not everything goes to plan...

The Never War

Title: The Never War
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 3)
Genre: Young Adult



The third installment of the Pendragon series has us taking the flume to First Earth. First Earth is Earth in the 1930s. We meet Gunny, the First Earth traveler while Bobby and Spader get acquainted with First Earth. Gunny works at the Manhattan Tower Hotel - so Bobby and Spader are staying there and pretending to be Bell Boys while checking out Max Rose - the Top Gangster.

The three Travelers are toying with the time right before WWII breaks out. There are Nazis and many other historically relevant items/people/happenings. The three need to quickly determine what the turning point is (as usual) and stop Saint Dane!

The Lost City of Faar

Title: The Lost City of Faar
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 2)
Genre: Young Adult



At the end of The Merchant of Death Saint Dane took the flume off to Cloral. Uncle Press and Bobby had no choice but to follow him, while Loor went off to her own territory.

Cloral is my personal favorite territory and with it one of my favorite Travelers, Spader. I think that this may also be D.J. MacHale's favorite territory because when I met him and he signed my book, he signed it Hobey Ho! Which is a phrase that is used often by Spader and in Cloral. It's also Uncle Press's favorite territory.

Cloral is a world that has no dry land. It is all water and the different cities and whatnot are created on floating barges. They have the most advanced and awesome technologies that revolve around water. I just love this place :)

Of course Saint Dane is trying to tip Cloral during it's time of chaos. He is helping to poison the underwater crops that the world depends on for food. To stop him Uncle Press, Bobby and Spader follow clues left by Spader's Dad to find an ancient city that is thought to only be a myth.

The Merchant of Death

Title: The Merchant of Death
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 1)
Genre: Young Adult



The Pendragon series is another of my ultimate favorite book series. If you haven't read it - you should. It's a fantasy series that in my mind surpasses even Harry Potter...by a lot.

Bobby Pendragon is going about his normal 14 year old business, getting ready to win the championship at his basketball team, having a first kiss with a girl he's had a crush on forever and then his Uncle Press shows up.

Uncle Press convinces Bobby that he needs his help, for what he doesn't say. The two take off and jump into a flume because they are Travelers. They take off to a Territory with scary Bear like quigs. Bobby needs help to save the Milago from the Bedoowan. Sound confusing?

A whole world (well several) come alive in D.J. MacHales writing. Each of the 10 books visits a different Territory where Bobby had to save it at it's critical turning point. I waited and waited for the 10th book to come out and bought it the morning it did. Of course at that point I was reading so many different series that I had gotten from the library that I didn't have time to read it properly. Now that I do, I'm starting with Book 1 and reading through to the end. I read the books several years ago and I want to be fresh when I read 10. It's always interesting to go back and read books that are early on in a series. I keep picking up new information or innuendos that I never did the first time around.

Next up, one of my favorite territories, Cloral!

The Darkest Whisper

Title: The Darkest Whisper
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld (Book 4)
Genre: Paranormal Romance




I read the first 3 books in the series about a year ago, and they blew me away. There are very few books that as soon as I finish reading at the library I feel the need to drive to the bookstore and buy. This series was one of them, possibly the only one I've ever felt that way towards.

Darkest Whisper was the first book that we got the chance to follow one of the Lords of the Underworld who was part of the second group of them. They had split at one time into two groups because of a difference in beliefs, they are now back together.

Sabin is the keeper of Doubt. His demon, obviously, plants doubt into people's minds until they just can't handle it anymore. This leads him to having a hard time holding onto a girlfriend. They eventually all kill themselves because they're so full of doubt. But Sabin has met his match!

Gwendolyn the Timid, whose is part Harpy. The two make an interesting match as they learn each other's quirks and following on the path to finding the relics to lead them to Pandora's box.

Usually when I read a series I feel super connected to the first book's characters and the rest are okay, but not as wonderful. I cannot stress enough how much I've enjoyed every book in this series. I'm anxious to read book 5 - Aeron, the Keeper of Wrath.

Twenties Girl

Title: Twenties Girl
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Series: None
Genre: Chick Lit



Lara is being forced to go to her great aunt Sadie's funeral. Problem is, no one knew her or ever went to visit her. The funeral is poorly attended by only Lara's family. Then Lara starts seeing and hearing a ghost. It turns out to be Sadie, in the ghost body of a 23 year old woman. She is upset because her favorite necklace is missing and she can't rest without it. She enlists Lara to help her.

Another great story from Sophie Kinsella. The story turned into somewhat of a treasure hunt as Lara looks all over for the necklace and learns things about both herself and her family. There were parts that made me laugh and some that were incredibly touching. I kind of feel like the writing of this book was the best yet by this author. I whizzed through it, which is getting harder and harder with all of the time I am working.

Revelations

Title: Revelations
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Blue Blood (Book 3)
Genre: Young Adult



When we meet back up with Schuyler, she is living at the Force household, where Jack is ignoring her, Mimi is making her life hell, and Oliver is forbidden to see her. Things are starting to go sour in Rio and her grandfather is sent down there to investigate.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this installment. You think you know something and then the world is turned upside down and you don't.

I am anxiously awaiting book 4, The Van Alen Legacy, which is released the first week of October. Looks like a promising continuation to a series that keeps you guessing.

The Palace of Laughter

Title: The Palace of Laughter
Author: Jon Berkeley
Series: The Wednesday Tales No. 1
Genre: Juvenile Fiction


Miles Wednesday is an orphan. He ran away from the orphanage and now lives in a barrel under a tree. On day a circus comes into town, and he speaks with a tiger. The next day he sneaks into the circus and learns there is no tiger at this circus. He does, however, meet Little. Little is a Song Angel who is being forced to work for the circus. Miles helps her escape and the two take off on an adventure to find the Palace of Laughter where Little's friend is.

The Palace of Laughter is part of the Julie Andrews Collection. Yes, the Julie Andrews we all know and love and not just someone with the same name :). The Julie Andrews Collection encompasses books for young readers of all ages taht nurture the imagination and celebrate a sense of wonder.

I am sad to say that I did not finish (DNF) this book. I tried, but even now when I'm 300 pages in, I don't want to invest the time and effort to read the last 100 pages to find out what happens to Miles and Little.

When I first started reading it I thought it seemed a little Harry Potteresque. Example: He's an orphan who lives in the barrel under the tree. It to me was very reminiscent of the cupboard under the stairs. Unfortunately, it's not good in the way that Harry Potter is. I think if I can't get through it and I can read most anything, then I wonder how any child is expected to read this book? I just felt it slow moving to the point where I didn't feel that the plot was moving along at all.

It has gotten 12 reviews and an average of 5 stars on Amazon, what am I missing? One reviewer remarked, "By the time I reached the gangs of children that reminded me of nothing so much as "The Warriors" meets "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", I was skeptical" This is where I've pretty much ended, perhaps I needed to read farther into it.

There are 2 more books currently in the series, The Tiger's Egg and The Lightening Key (both of which are on my bookshelf waiting). For me I think I'll stop here.

The Twilight Prisoner

Title: The Twilight Prisoner
Author: Katherine Marsh
Series: Sequel to The Night Tourist
Genre: Young Adult


Since getting out of the underworld, Jack has been trying to move on with his life. He still sees ghosts, but doesn't ever see Euri. He's made some friends at his new NY school and is part of a Latin Club. The Latin Club is where he meets Cora - the girl he likes. He tries to ask her out on a date, "Do you want to hang out tomorrow?"

On the way to hang out with Cora, Jack stops and picks her up a bunch of daffodils. Unfortunately when he gets to their meeting spot Austin, the boy Cora likes, is also there. Cora suggests they go to Austin's house, but Jack doesn't want that. His Dad had told him about a secret room under Columbia earlier that day so he decides to try and find it.

Interestingly enough they arrive back at the entrance to the underworld, and the daffodils contain three golden boughs to buy their way into the underworld. They get it, find Euri and Austin runs off a different way.

Again it's a story about a race against time and a hunt to find the right way to leave the underworld.

Once again I loved seeing the parts of NY, although I did find Cora to be kind of annoying with her bitching and moaning. We get to see more into Euri and her life before death. She's changed since Jack left and now has some interesting hobbies.

Since this book was just released in April, there isn't any word of a third book yet. I feel like this could be the ending, but who knows?

The Night Tourist

Title: The Night Tourist
Author: Katherine Marsh
Series: Has a Sequel: The Twilight Prisoner
Genre: Young Adult



Jack Perdu is a brainy kid. He speaks several different dead languages and translates them for professors at a college. Then one day he gets hit by a car. He realizes he can now see ghosts.

His father knows something is up and sends him to a doctor in NYC. On the way home Jack stops in Grand Central to look around before boarding his train and he meets Euri. She promises to show him all of the secrets found below Grand Central. He's intrigued and follows only to be admitted to the underworld and learn that Euri is dead.

He then spends the next 3 nights searching for his dead mother and enjoying the city in the way only a ghost at night can.

I picked this up simply because it had a picture of the Angel of the Waters/Betheseda Fountain on the cover and it's my favorite fountain in Central Park. I wasn't disappointed though, I loved being able to experience the city from their perspective. The story line was simple, but the book was never boring.

The Night Tourist is set to be a movie, and according to IMDB, released next year.

Next up - the sequel The Twilight Prisoner. The cover being the Chrysler Building.

Living With the Dead

Title: Living With the Dead
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 9)
Genre: Paranormal



Robyn, a friend of Hopes, is in a low place. Her husband has recently been murdered. He saw a woman who had a flat tire on the side of the road and got out to help her. When she saw a large black man carrying a tire iron (to change said tire) she freaked out and shot him. Now Robyn is living in LA and working as PR rep for a celebutante, Portia Kane. Portia is also shot and murdered, Robyn being the #1 suspect.

She didn't do it, but it leads her to be immersed in the world of the supernatural, which she had no idea existed. Her goal being to clear her name with the help of Hope and Karl.

Now early on in the book I had a really hard time. Where Personal Demon was told from 2 points of view Living with the Dead was told from at least 5, 4 of them being new characters. This made it extremely difficult. I also had issues with so many new characters being thrown at me that were all main players in combination with the multiple points of view.

Since the book is about clairvoyants, it is almost paralleled in the story telling from multiple views, but initially when I was trying to learn everyone, I was having a difficult time of it. I believe that's what took me so long to finish it.

Up next - Frostbitten, book 10. Back to Elena and hopefully less points of view.

Dreamfever

Title: Dreamfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever (Book 4)
Genre: Paranormal


I think the book gods are frowning on me. Lately I haven't been getting a whole lot of hours at any of my jobs, but the week that Dreamfever came out all of a sudden I didn't have a spare minute to read. But I FINALLY finished!

What to say about the book - I was fantastic. Just as good as the others in the series. Of course the battle between Fae and Human continues. Mac learns a little more about the prophecy. She worries about who to trust, and we meet some new characters. Aside from this, I feel like saying too much more would give it away.

I read on another blog that the cliffhanger at the end was crazy. I figured it couldn't be any worse then the cliffhanger at the end of Faefever. I was right - I don't think the cliffhanger was as crazy, however it is a good one. I cannot help but wonder who it is.

Wherever I read that Dreamfever would have some parts from Barrons POV, they were sorely mistaken. Sometimes the book is told from Dani's point of view, but never Barrons.

Personal Demon

Title: Personal Demon
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 8)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Well, things haven't worked out in regards to Dreamfever the way I wanted, so I had some extra time to read another book first.

Personal Demon immerses the reader back into the world of the paranormal that we've been getting to know. This book was told by both Hope (a Chaos Half-Demon) and Lucas (Paiges Husband, a Cabal, a sorcerer).

Lucas' father wants Hope to infiltrate a gang that is plotting something against the Cabal. She goes undercover as a rich half demon named Faith. She gets to know the gang, and even starts to have somewhat of a relationship with Jaz (who for most of the book I just loved). She thinks that she is learning about them when a wrench is thrown into her plans.

Her "ex-boyfriend" if you want to call him that, Karl. Karl is a werewolf and has just joined the Pack. They've always had some sort of a relationship, although usually more friendly with sexual vibes. The two took it too far one night and have been slightly on the outs since. Of course Karl is just dealing with inner issues that he seems to have.

The two are investigating the gang when things start to go severely downhill. Jaz and another gang member are kidnapped, Lucas' brothers are being murdered and no one seems to know who's doing it.

I've enjoyed this series so much throughout it. You would think that by changing the narrator, that the series wouldn't be as spectacular - but it is fantastic. The only thing I didn't enjoy was that this story was told by both Hope and Lucas. While reading I really had to make sure that I paid attention to what the name of the chapter was, otherwise I was confused on who was speaking. I understand why it had to be from both sides, but one person would have been much better.

Overall, a positive addition to the series - next up Book 9, and as far as is currently written in the series. Although Book 10 - Frostbitten is released October 2009.

Faefever

Title: Faefever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal



Mac gets darker as the series continues, but needs to in order to stay alive. In Faefever she realizes that she has been putting her eggs all in one basket (so to speak). She starts trying to branch out and enlist the help of as many people as she can to keep alive. She doesn't trust them all, but works with them.

The walls between Fae and Humans are crumbling and all hell breaks loose. The ending of this book to me was a real cliff hanger.

I accomplished my goal and finished this book tonight to be ready for Dreamfever tomorrow. While rereading these books the past week I kept thinking about how I've heard that Dreamfever is told from Barron's point of view. I tried to make guesses about how that's going to go and I really hope that we learn a little more about him because his character is so mysterious.

Bloodfever

Title: Bloodfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal (Romance?)



Mac's story continues. She looks for more OOP, she pisses off more bad guys and things get bad. She now has an inspector that is following her every move and dragging her off to the police station for questioning. She almost dies. She has some searing kisses with Barrons. She continues the hunt for the dark book.

Another reread for me in preparation of Dreamfever's release tomorrow. I have 1 day to get through Faefever (and go to work) before the release tomorrow. My goal is to finish Faefever tonight, go to bed and pick up Dreamfever tomorrow morning (hopefully before work).

I felt that the story between the two books is seamless, although sometimes I feel as if I can't exactly tell you what has happened, because it seems as if nothing really has. Or it has, but is somewhat of a spoiler. So I'll leave my poor explaination of the story as is and instead think ahead to Faefever, where I remember the ending is insane. What perfect timing for the end of a book.

No Humans Involved

Title: No Humans Involved
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 7)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



For this installment of the Women of the Otherworld, we follow Jaime the necromancer. This time she is chosen to be part of a reality TV show where she and two others will talk to the ghost of Marilyn Monroe and figure out who killed her. It seems like an easy enough job until Jaime notices odd things.

Whenever she goes in the garden she can feel spirits who will touch her and poke her. She cannot see them and cannot talk to the, which for her is odd. She figures out that these 6 spirits are children. She becomes determined to help them cross over. This seems to be a problem, however, because she doesn't know why they are the way they are. This sets the scene for the mystery in the book.

Another large portion of this story is devoted to Jeremy and Jaime. The two have always liked each other and in this book finally hook up. To me it seemed a little odd for Jeremy to be getting down and dirty when he is portrayed as such a gentleman and well controlled man. It seemed like he was the type who would never have sex.

I find that as the series continues and I get to know more and more about the characters Kelley Armstrong has created, I want to read more. This seems to be a bit out of the ordinary. It truly is a good series if it can keep me wanting more 7 books later. Only two more books that are currently released. Book # 10: Frostbitten comes out October 2009. This seems like it's going to be released at the perfect time.

Darkfever

Title: Darkfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever Series (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal/Romance



This for me was a reread. I read this October last year. The fourth book of the series is coming out a week from tomorrow, and I wanted to be refreshed before I read it. My original review of the first there is here. I like these books enough that I own the entire series, for me sometimes that is saying a lot.

This book is the start of Mac's story (obviously). She learns of her sisters death and heads out to Dublin to figure out who killed her. The police haven't gotten any leads and closed the case, but that's not enough for Mac.

When she gets to Ireland she starts seeing odd things. Creatures that shouldn't exist, double vision and other oddities that she can't explain. Eventually this leads her to Barron's Books and Baubles (perhaps where I came up with the blog name...) where she meets the Barron himself. There is something odd about him but she just can't put her finger on it. The two of them then go on a hunt for Fae objects and the deadly book, pissing off way to many people in that world.

Reading this book for the second time was interesting. I started adding to my collection of "What Makes Barron Odd...What IS He?!" Mac tells the story as though she is looking back on time and since I feel like I know "future Mac" this was an interesting way for me to read it this second time around. Since I know enough about the Fae world from reading the books already I also feel like I was able to pull some more information together because initially I wasn't so confused.

Not all books are as good the second time around, but this one was well worth my second read. Next up is Book 2 - Bloodfever.

Broken

Title: Broken
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld (Book 6)
Genre: Paranormal



I had a hell of a time finding this book. My library said they use to have it, but someone lost it so they no longer had it. I thought about just skipping this one and going on to the next, but I really love the story of Clay and Elena. So I found it at another library after borrowing a friends library card.

After not following Clay and Elena's story for the past 3 books I was excited to get back to them and see how things were going. Elena was pregnant! Now of course because she's a werewolf (wolf's gestational period is 9 weeks) she was always a little ahead of schedule. Jeremy, Clay and the rest of the Pack don't want outsiders to know that Elena's pregnant. Much like she gets a lot of attention for being the only werewolf, they are worried about problems surrounding the only "full-blood" werewolf baby.

Elena gets a call from a friend who wants to exchange favors. He'll tell them where a mutt they've been hunting is and they steal an artifact for him. Seems easy enough and they agree. Stealing the paper goes well, until they decide to look at it and accidentally open a portal to the time of Jack the Ripper and unleash a killer, plague and zombies onto Toronto. From there they must clean up the mess.

The book ends (of course) with Elena giving birth. Fantastic - I can't wait to hear about the family in the next book about them, although that looks like it's not happening until October. I have 3 more to read before then.

Men of the Otherworld

Title: Men of the Otherworld
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld Accompaniment
Genre: Paranormal



Remember the Women of the Otherworld? Specifically Elena? This book tells the story of Jeremy and Clay. We learn about the circumstances surrounding Jeremy's birth and why he's a little bit different then anyone else. How Clay came to be, and how Jeremy found him and gained his trust. Lastly we hear the story of Jeremy's rise to Alpha.

Fantastic. I thought that this book was better than any of the books in the Women of the Otherworld Series. It was just exceptional. If you're not interested in reading that series, this could be a stand alone book. Wow....just wow.

Lost in Your Arms

Title: Lost in Your Arms
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: Governess Brides (Book 5)
Genre: Romance



I was a bit worried about continuing the Governess Brides series because the three original ladies have all been married off. I thought it seemed like it was suppose to be a trilogy and Dodd hit a roadblock so continued with the series when it should have ended. I discovered book 4, In My Wildest Dreams doesn't exist at my library, and I didn't want to buy a book without buying the entire series (a bit of an issue with me) so I just skipped it and moved onto book 5. I do think that it did feel like a different series though. The only importance of the Distinguished Academy of Governesses is that it's name is mentioned a few times, that's it. She doesn't even come from there.

Our heroine is Enid MacLean. She was married almost 9 years ago to a husband who left her after a few months, and in major debt. She is a companion to an elderly woman who she adores when she gets the news. Her husband has been found and he's on the brink of death. They want her to come and nurse him back to health.

As much as she doesn't want to leave her current charge, she is persuaded to go, but she doesn't go happily. The memories that she has from her husband are nothing like the man who is lying in the bed before her. But he has the exact same green eyes.

In addition to it all, someone wants to kill them both and they begin a crazy journey across Scottland to get home.

A bit predictable - but a highly enjoyable story after all. Sometimes I think Christina Dodd can't go wrong. I eat up each one of her books with delight.

Never Dare a Duke

Title: Never Dare a Duke
Author: Gayle Callen
Series: None
Genre: Romance



I always check out the new books section at the library. I saw Never Dare a Duke and after reading the excerpt, thought it sounded decent enough to go home.

Abigail is the daughter of a newspaper owner, and the best friend of a woman higher in society. Abigail decides that the only way to save her father's failing newspaper is to write a sensational story revolving around a scandal. She sets her eyes on Christopher Cabot, a Duke.

It just so happens that Abigail's friend has received an invitation to the Duke's sisters house party. Of course Abigail decides to come along and see what she can discover about the Duke.

The Duke is not what she has expected, nor is she easy for him to read. The two strike up a mutual bargain. They will pretend to be enamored with each other so that he can have a break from the ladies who want him only to be a duchess and she....she really just wants to gain information about him for her column. But he thinks that she wants to learn about men and is doing it out of the goodness of her heart, although he has his doubts.

Everyone believes their pretend romance, and for good reason. The two don't have to pretend much since they are drawn to each other. There is also a minor story following a ghost hunt.

There were a few moments in this story that I just had to stop smile and sigh. It was well written and I loved the interaction between the two main characters. This was the first story I'd written of Gayle Callen's, but I am more then willing to look for more.

The Prince Kidnaps a Bride

Title: The Prince Kidnaps a Bride
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: The Lost Princesses (Book 3)
Genre: Romance



Final book in Christina Dodd's Lost Princesses series is The Prince Kidnaps a Bride.

Sorcha, the last of the lost princesses has been living in a hidden convent for the past several years. A young man shows up on the island, which isn't too big of a deal as fishermen wash up every once in a while. He says he indeed is a fisherman, and starts to help around the Abbey.

Odd things also start happening, Sorcha's room is set on fire, there is gunpowder outside her window, and other scary things. It is decided that Sorcha must leave to go back to her own country, but mustn't tell the newly washed up fisherman because he doesn't seem totally trustworthy.

She flees, and when he finds out he follows. They finally meet up and finish the trip alone. Eventually Sorcha finds out who he really is - Prince Rainger and she is livid.

I think this may have been my favorite of the series. I loved both Sorcha and Prince Rainger. There are times when each of them just made me crack up with their inventiveness/sassiness or something different. An excellent end to the series.

The Barefoot Princess

Title: The Barefoot Princess
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: The Lost Princesses (Book 2)
Genre: Romance



I am amazed at how many books I read and usually I am pretty good at remembering what I've read so I don't tend to read too many books twice (unless on purpose). I was maybe a chapter into the Barefoot Princess when I realized I've read it before. I didn't even realize then that it was part of a series. Although looking at the flashbacks and references in the book I wonder how I didn't know.

We meet Amy, the headstrong princess who definitely does NOT want to be a princess. She is merely 19, and decides to kidnap the marquess due to his inattentiveness on his lands that she is living. She gets away with it and keeps him chained into the basement of the home she shares with an older woman.

Amy ransoms the marquess's uncle for money to return him unharmed, but the uncle refuses to pay. He's been wanting to kill is nephew all along and thinks this must be the perfect way to get it done. Unfortunately for him, the two ladies have no intention of actually killing the marquess.

I enjoyed the story, although I had already read it before. I reread it in hopes of catching any clues I may have missed before, and indeed I did. I loved when he carried her through the Wedding arch in a pagan wedding. I knew that it was in this book and looked forward to it the whole book.

Looking ahead we have Sorcha's story, The Prince Kidnaps a Bride.

Some Enchanted Evening

Title: Some Enchanted Evening
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: The Lost Princesses (Book 1)
Genre: Romance


I've been on a Christina Dodd kick lately and while waiting for the other books in the Governess Brides series, I started another of her series: The Lost Princesses.

The Lost Princesses is a Trilogy. It tells the story of three young princesses who had to flee their country because the revolutionaries were trying to take over and had killed their father. Their beloved Grandmama is running the country again, but the girls are along and spread across Europe without knowing. They believe assassins are after them (could be true) and are awaiting a sign to return to their country.

In Some Enchanted Evening we meet the two youngest sisters Clarice (the middle child) and Amy. The two girls do a bit where Amy goes to a town first, gets a job and pretends to be ugly. Clarice then comes through about a week later and pretends to work miracles and sells her royal creams.

At this particular town that they stop in Clarice is invited to stay at Robert, the earl's home. Robert is a war veteran who has many emotional scars left over. Clarice slowly is able to peel them away and make him a new man, while transforming all the ladies as well.

The two fall in love and confess as much to each other. Clarice, however, feels that she cannot stay with Robert because she must do her duty and return to her country to marry for the benefit of the country.

This book was fantastic. I finished the book in 1 day, which doesn't happen to often. Usually it is at least 2. I loved both of the characters as well as the story between the two. It was full of beauty and disguise.

Book 2, The Barefoot Princess follows Amy and is next in line. At the end of Some Enchanted Evening we learn that Amy has run away because, as she tells Clarice in a note, she doesn't want to return to her country and most definitely doesn't want to be a princess any longer.

Rules of Attraction

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: The Governess Brides (Book 3)
Genre: Romance



The third book in Christina Dodd's Governess Series is Rules of Attraction. We meet the third woman, Hannah, who started the Governess School. In Rules of Attraction, Hannah decides to sell the school and take a job as a companion to a Lord's Aunt.

She has ulterior motives for taking this job, she doesn't know much about her past and thinks that the answers are going to be wherever it is that this job is. When she gets to the job she finds out something quite interesting. The man who has hired her happens to be her husband, the one she married 9 years ago and ran from after only 6 months of marriage.

The rumors say that Dougald (Lord/Husband) murdered his previous wife, so no one suspects Hannah. That is except the person who is trying to kill the both of them.

As far as the series goes, I felt that this story fell short of the first two. It didn't have the passion between the main characters (in my opinion) and the plot was merely mediocre. The two seemingly have little interaction until the end of the story when they are reconciled. I would probably still read it because it's part of a series and I like to read things in order without missing any books. But I did feel it was lacking.

Book 4 in the series is In My Wildest Dreams. I'm not sure how it ties into the series because the 3 who started to school are the first 3 books and the school has also been sold. I know the woman from the fourth book goes to the school, but I almost feel as if it should have been part of a different series. We shall see.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Series: None
Genre: Science Fiction



At some point when poking around the internet I came across this trailer:

The Time Traveler's Wife

Rachel McAdams is one of my favorite actresses. I knew I had to see this movie, and then I learned it was a book. I was worried about reading it because I had read someone's comment in regards to the movie. The commenter was wondering what happened to all the Scientific information from the book (based on the trailer) . This made me wonder if I wanted to read the book or just watch the movie and love that.

Well I gave in and picked up Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife.

Wow - what an amazing book. I loved it. I'm so happy that I read it before the movie came out and now I am that much more excited. I didn't think that there was really that much of scientific information the way the poster had mentioned. I just thought it was a beautiful love story, and that's what the movie (hopefully) will be too.

I know that I need to bring tissue to the movie because the end of the book made me cry. This is a whole lot of not explaining what the book was about, but I think the trailer gives the needed information. All I can say is...Go read the book!

Midnight Sins

Title: Midnight Sins
Author: Cynthia Eden
Series: Midnight (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Midnight Sins is the second book in Cynthia Eden's Midnight Series. The first was Hotter After Midnight. Midnight Sins follows the story of Cara, a succubus who is looking for a meaningful relationship and has given up sex and Todd, and cop and Colin's (from Book 1) partner.

There are deaths happening again in the city and it looks like it's another Other serial killer. They are all men found bound with no reason for being dead. When the Medical Examiner takes a look the men look like they are in fantastic health with no reason for death, until they find an outline on the chest of one of the bodies.

It looks like it's the work of a succubus, and when Todd and Colin go to bring in who the evidence points to, Cara, the sparks fly.

I really love the stories about succubi. I think what an awesome type of demon - a sex demon! I think that this book was better than the first. There was less lull...perhaps because of all of the steamy scenes between Todd and Cara.

I am eagerly awaiting book 3, which came out a July 1st, Midnight Masters. My library, however, doesn't have it (yet). Looks like this series is getting put on hold for a bit.

Masquerade: a Blue Bloods Novel

Title: Masquerade
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Blue Bloods (Book 2)
Genre: Young Adult



In Masquerade, the search for the Silver Bloods continue! It opens with Oliver and Schuyler being in Venice looking for her grandfather. They do find him, but he isn't any help and they come back to New York disappointed.

I felt like there is little to say about this installment without giving much of the story away. I think that Masquerade was better than the first book, with more information let out (especially at the end), and a bit more action.

Next up is Book 3: Revelations.

Rules of Surrender

Title: Rules of Surrender
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: The Governess Brides (Book 1)
Genre: Romance



Got Book 1, Rules of Surrender of Christina Dodd's Governess Brides Series. Usually I find that when I read series I love one book of the series and the rest are simple okay. So far I've really loved both of the books in this series that I have read.

Rules of Surrender follows Pamela, another of the ladies who has started the Governess Academy. She is hired, although she doesn't know it initially to teach not only 2 children who have come from some far away desert, but to also acclimate their father back into English society with all of it's rules.

She falls in love with the children and they are excellent learners. It is their Father, Wynter who proves the problem. He only preforms when he wants to (sounds like my niece :)) and otherwise likes people to think he is barbaric and unintelligent. He purposefully puts the two of them in a compromising situation so that they have to marry. He of course plays stupid about the whole thing.

Wynter has some crazy ideas about marriage and love. Women should love men as they are the sun who provides for them and lights up their life, where real men do not love. This of course doesn't jive with Pamela and the two have to work out their differences.

Septimus Heap Book 1: Magyk

Title: Magyk
Author: Angie Sage
Series: Septimus Heap (Book 1)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction


While walking through the library I saw this book and it screamed, "PICK ME UP!" to me, so I had no choice but to obey.

Magyk is the first book in Angie Sage's Septimus Heap (a person's name) series. Currently there are four other books with a fifth one on the way.

Magyk takes place in a different land where people who are wizards eye's turn color to green, magyk does exist, as do princesses, queens and of course the ultimate bad guy.

We follow the Heap family throughout the story. It begins with Silas Heap, the father of 7 children finding an abandoned baby girl in the snow. He brings her back to his wife who has jsut birthed their seventh son. Unfortunately the son has died (so we think, but really how can you have a series named after a dead baby?). They decide to pretend that she gave birth to the little girl due to some prompting from another woman.

Eventually thier secret is out and they start on a long journey of running from the ultimate bad guy who wants their daughter, who is the Princess.

There are lots of fun next creatures and words in this book. It is considered juvenile fiction, but I found that it was hard at times when you are thrown into a world where you don't understand anything. I'm intrigued to see where the rest of the series is going, because unlike most series I don't have a clue.

Rules of Engagement

Title: Rules of Engagement
Author: Christina Dodd
Series: The Governess Brides (Book 2)
Genre: Romance



Christina Dodd is another of my favorite authors. I picked up Rules of Engagement at the library because it was a book by her that I hadn't read before. I usually look really close at books I pick up off a shelf randomly to make sure they aren't part of a series. If they happen to part of a series I make sure to start with the first book because I hate reading out of order, and I love series. I thought I had given this book my scrutiny, but apparently not, because this is Book 2 in the Governess Bride series, and I haven't read the first one. I intend to remedy this quickly, and then continue to the other 7 or so books in the series.

The series overall is about 3 ladies who are trying to start a successful Governess placement agency/school. In this book we meet Pamela, Miss Lockheart. She is one of the three founders of the school.

Devon, the Earl of Kerrich, is being blackmailed by Queen Victoria. She expects him to become respectable so he hatches a plan to acquire an orphan (for as long as needed for her to think he's respectable, then back the orphanage they go), and a Governess to teach the child and keep it out of his hair. He has hopes of doing this instead of getting a wife.

He comes to the Distinguished Academy of Governesses and tells them exactly what he needs, an unattractive, old governess who has no fancy notions of making him fall in love with them or trying to get him to marry them. Pamela overhears his demands and decides to do it herself because they desperately need the money. She wears ill fitting old dowager clothing, paints her face with rice powder, wears heavy rouge, and colored glasses. She fools the Earl easily.

She brings him home a girl from the orphanage when he asked for a boy, but they seem to get along alright. Then one rainy day, her disguise washes away and he sees her true beauty. There is arguing, misunderstanding and most important - Love.

Rules of Surrender is next for me (Book 1) and Rules of Attraction after that (Book 3)

Sucks to Be Me: The All-true Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe)

Title: Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe)
Author: Kimberly Pauley
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult


Kimberly Pauley has put together a different sort of Vampire book in Sucks to Be Me. Mina is 16 and both of her parents are Vampires. Mina's uncle accidentally changed her father, and once Mina's mother had her, she choose to change as well. Now some overall Vampire Committee is making Mina take biweekly courses about being a Vampire and making her choose after the classes are over.

Being a typical Young Adult book Mina struggles with boys and has a best friend who adds an interesting bit to the story.

Vampires in this story also change in a different way, instead of the normal biting, or venom the vampire wannabe just has to drink some of the already vampire's blood. Yuck!

A cute story and I enjoyed the slight difference and humor that has been placed upon the vampire following.