Princess Alexandrina, also known as Mink, daughter to the deceased Maharaja of Prindur, is used to the lavish lifestyle of a princess. After her father’s death, however, she discovers that her father’s spending habits, and a little of her own, have landed her in a pile of debt and the government is demanding she turn over her home to help pay the debts.
When Queen Victoria offers Mink and her maid, Pooki, a grace-and-favor home at Hampton Court Palace, Mink accepts. Pooki is very superstitious and the rumors that the palace is haunted frighten her, but she is determined to stay with Mink. At first things aren’t all that bad, Mink and Pooki both manage to make some friends among the other grace-and-favor residents. When they are invited to an annual picnic, Pooki makes pigeon pie for the occasion. After the Major-general, an odious man who no one seems to like, dies of arsenic poisoning, all evidence points to Pooki and her pigeon pies. Can Mink solve the mystery behind the Major-general’s murder in time to save Pooki from the gallows? This book was a delightful surprise. The first half of the book is very informative of the life of Mink, her maid, Pooki, and the general habits and ways of life in the Victorian era. I also had never heard of the grace-and-favor apartments before reading this novel, which I found very interesting. I had no idea that such a place existed. The characters come across as unique, if nothing else. Mink’s family history compounded two separate ways of life very nicely and her maid, Pooki, was a very entertaining character with all of her many superstitions and her abnormally large feet. Her background story is unlike any I have found before and helps make her such a unique character. Personally, my favorite character was Pooki. This book is a kind of historical cozy mystery. Mink is our primary investigator as she rushes to find the truth in order to save Pooki’s life. Her investigative skills are interesting, and for me, slightly boring. The majority of this novel does not focus on the solution of who murdered the Major-general and seems to focus much more on the everyday life of Mink and her neighbors. This was a little annoying, not that the new information was not interesting or helpful but because there was supposed to be a mystery and for half of the book there wasn’t one. All in all, I enjoyed this novel and found it interesting. I would give it three out of five stars. As far as I am aware, it is a standalone novel and not part of a series. Though this book was a standalone, I may attempt to read more Julia Stuart novels in the future. I would recommend this novel to fans of historical cozy mysteries. I bought my copy of this novel at my local Habitat for Humanity and have received permission from the publishers at Doubleday to use an image of the cover artwork above.
In the summer of 1963, Tree Taylor has two goals she wished to achieve; 1) write an article that will grant her the freshman journalist position at the school newspaper, Blue and Gold, and 2) experience her first real kiss, the kind worth writing about. At thirteen-years-old, Tree already knows that she wants to be a writer, she only needs a story to write about.
One morning while Tree is sitting on her porch trying to come up with an idea for her article, the sound of a gunshot echoes through the early morning air. Tree instantly knows what her article is going to be about. The more she digs into the Kinney incident, however, the more she wonders whether the secrets she is uncovering are the ones that she should write about. This was an interesting novel, though I neither liked nor disliked it. The characters in this novel are very well written, constructed and thought out; their personalities are highly realistic and, despite the differences in the times, easy to connect to. The small town setting is cute and quaint. It reminds me, in some ways, of the small town that I grew up in. It is the kind of town where everyone knows everyone and a secret is never really a secret. Of course, when you are a child, things are not always as clear or apparent to you as they are when you are an adult. I think that is why Mrs. Kinney’s secret was such a big thing for Tree. Of course, since Tree is thirteen and I am not, I was able to discern Mrs. Kinney’s secret almost from the beginning, as well as Penny’s secret. Despite the title of the book, Tree didn’t have a lot of secrets of her own. I really did not like the ending of this novel. For me, it was as though it never ended, especially with regard to her friend Jack. The mysteries behind Mrs. Kinney’s secret and Penny’s fear were cleared up rather nicely, there was both an answer and a resolution. But with regard to Jack, and a select few other characters, there wasn’t any resolution, no way for the reader to walk away satisfied. I would recommend this novel to young readers who enjoy historical coming-of-age novels. I bought my copy of this novel from my local Dollar Tree. I have been denied permission to use an image of the cover artwork above because my review is less than positive. Em Flores finally has what she wanted. She rescued her sister and the Ruined finally respect her, despite her lack of Ruined power. But Olivia is not the same person Em remembers from before the king of Lera kidnapped her. Ruina is nothing like Lera was and Em finds herself missing Cas and the time that she spent in Lera, but as one of the queens of Ruina, she must think of her people before herself. When soldiers from Lera attack, Em and Olivia know they must do what is necessary to protect the people of Ruina. Cas finds himself in an interesting position. After both of his parents are killed during the attack on Lera, Cas is the new king. With a completely different outlook on the Ruined than that of his father, many of the aristocrats believe that his is unfit to rule. When his cousin manages to convince the people that he is mentally unstable following the murder of his mother, she usurps the throne and Cas finds himself in grave danger. Can Em and Cas bring peace between their peoples or will their families manage to make it worse? I loved this second installment in the Ruined series. Amy Tintera has created a very dynamic world with intricate settings and marvelous characters. When I read the first novel in this series, “Ruined”, I was surprised by the amount of person to person violence. Not that other young adult novels are not violent, but Tintera went into such detail. The same occurred in book two. Tintera has created an ‘ultimate villain’ in her character Olivia Flores. I have yet to be able to find another character who can kill with such lack of remorse. And, the jury is still out as to whether Olivia’s actions are a result of her raising or her year of torture while a prisoner of the Lera kingdom. A killer who is so vicious may be a deterrent for many readers, and usually would be for myself, however, I find the other characters are what draw me to this series. Their level for compassion and their desire to do what is best for the people they are responsible for, ultimately makes them the ones that balance out the character of Olivia. Amy Tintera has managed to portray characters on both sides on the spectrum from good to evil and has presented the readers with numerous questions regarding the acts of individuals and the condition of their hearts. I found myself traveling a wide range of emotions while reading this novel. I was sympathetic, heartbroken, overjoyed, confused, angered, and even hopeful. I believe this is a good read that makes the reader question things about themselves and the world around them, mostly in a good way. I would recommend this novel to fans of fantasy. I borrowed a copy of this novel from my local library and have permission from the publishers at HarperTeen to use an image of the cover artwork featured above. When Sherlock Holmes and Watson receive a request to meet a stranger for lunch at the Great Western Hotel at Paddington Station, they find themselves with another mystery. Someone has been spying on Farringdon Blake, a distinguished journalist, but Mr. Blake has no idea why or whom. Sherlock agrees to take the case, starting with the man following Blake around London during his weekly trip to town. But when the lead in London grows cold, Sherlock and Watson pay a visit to Foxwood Grange, Blake’s home, for further investigating. Foxwood Grange is a 300 year old Elizabethan mansion with an interesting and mysterious background all its own. I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan since I was about twelve years old, when I first read “A Study in Scarlet” and “The Speckled Band.” Since then I have read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but until now I have never read one written by another author. This novel, like Doyle’s, is recounted by Holmes’ friend and roommate, Dr. Watson. The tone in which Watson recounts this tale is very similar in style and voice as the Doyle tales. Obviously being written by a different author, it is not a perfect match, but I was able to believe that these two were the same Sherlock and Watson from the originals. This story starts with Sherlock and Watson together. Since the story is told by Watson, when they are separated you only end up with Watson’s side of the story. Because of this, this story had Watson doing most of the investigating, as though he was the primary detective. I’m not sure how this made me feel. I also was unsure about how Sherlock came off as more secretive than he was in the Doyle novels, to me. The mystery itself doesn’t become apparent until the very end. Well, the four mysteries are not revealed until the very end when Sherlock explains everything. I must admit though that I was not surprised by the outcome, except for one little part. I would recommend this novel to fans of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as I feel that author did a good job. I won my copy of this novel on Goodreads Firstreads and have received permission from the publishers at MX Publishing to use an image of the cover artwork above.
The Aern were created by the Eldrennai, their main purpose was to battle the Zaur, a race of lizard-like beings who are resistant to Eldrennai magic. The Aern, warrior-slaves nearly impossible to kill, cannot break an oath without losing their connection to each other and becoming Forsworn. For thousands of years they fought for the Eldrennai, until the Sundering, when the Aern were freed. Now the three races - the Eldrennai, the Vael, and the Aern - must come together once every hundred years to reestablish a truce, which if broken would mean the death of the Eldrennai.
Nearly six hundred years after the Aern went into exile, a foolish, young Eldrennai prince breaks the truce by removing some of the Aern armor. Kholster, leader of the Aern, bound by his oaths, must find a way to uphold them and protect his people. He travels with his daughter Rae’en to the hundred year conjunction while his troops prepare for battle against the Eldrennai. However, a new threat has arose and Kholster and Rae’en must find a way to overcome the past, battle the creatures they were created to destroy, and uphold the oaths they have made. This was a very interesting read, and nothing like I expected it to be. Full of multiple races, unique characters, intriguing settings, and a riveting storyline, this novel was captivating and mysterious. The characters in this novel are completely unique and unlike anything I have read before. The storyline focuses on a couple of characters from multiple races - the Aern, the Eldrennai, the Vael, the Zaur, the Dwarves, and the humans - and the conflicts between the races. Their past issues continue to emerge due to differences of opinion and the grudges they hold against one another. I found this novel to be more violent than I originally thought it would be. However, considering the hatred and the war looming before them, I probably should have expected it. I enjoyed this novel, and I was so shocked by the ending that I know I will be trying to read book two sooner rather than later. I would recommend this novel to fans of David Gemmell or George R. R. Martin. I won my copy of this novel from Goodreads Firstreads and have permission from the publishers at Pyr to use an image of the cover artwork featured above.
When the library board in Crossing Trails decides that it is time for a new Santa Claus, Mary Anne McCray finds herself stuck with the job. Instead of a visit from Santa Claus, the kids of Crossing Trails are going to receive a visit from Santa’s other half, Anna Claus. Mary Anne must now discover Anna Claus’ purpose and offer some new insights into this Christmas tradition.
Meanwhile, in the quaint little town of Crossing Trails, not everything is merry. The McCray’s friends are facing a difficult divorce and it is particularly hard for their two young children, Keenan and Emily. Todd McCray has moved back to Crossing Trails to help run the new no-kill animal shelter and be closer to his girlfriend of three years. He also brought the little dog he helped nurse back to health and has been trying to train as a service dog, Elle. However, Elle is not the easiest dog to train and Todd usually can be heard yelling “No, Elle!” Not only is Todd dealing with the stubborn Elle, but he is worried that his parents may be disappointed in some of his recent choices. Will a Christmas miracle descend upon the residents of Crossing Trails to bring about a Merry Christmas after all? This is the fourth installment in the “A Dog Named Christmas” series by Greg Kincaid. Thankfully, it can also be read as a stand-alone. I grew up in the country outside of a small town, so this story was very easy for me to imagine. The detailed settings and characters reminded me of that small town. Many of the characters reminded me of people with whom I grew up. The story itself was very unique. The idea behind Anna Claus and her message to children being different from Santa’s was an inspired idea. Though most Christmas novels I have read have messages of family and love, I have never read one that challenged the Santa tradition in the way that this one did. The characters were well constructed beings, very realistic, entertaining, and dynamic. The writing was fluid and engaging and the plot line is unique. I enjoyed this novel very much and am very thankful that it could be read as a stand-alone as I have not had the opportunity to read the first three novels. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy heartwarming Christmas tales. I received my copy of this novel from bloggingforbooks.com and have permission from the publishers at Penguin Random House to use an image of the cover artwork above.
Many years ago, the world was ripped asunder by the Great Wars. Those who survived were changed, left to build new societies from the rubble. Then came the Wars of the Races in which people of the Four Lands fought each other for dominance.
Now, living a quiet and peaceful life in the Vale, Shea Ohmsford enjoys the solidarity and the simplicity of his life. When a mysterious giant of a man arrives at Shea’s father’s inn one night, Shea learns that the Warlock Lord, an evil tyrant believed to have been dead for hundreds of years, has returned and Shea’s half-human, half-elfin heritage has put his life in danger. Shea is the last living descendant of Jerle Shannara and now the Warlock Lord wants him dead. There is one weapon with the power to defeat the Warlock Lord, the Sword of Shannara, and Shea is the last man alive who can wield it against the Warlock Lord. Now Shea and a group of friends must set off on a quest to retrieve the Sword of Shannara before the Warlock Lord discovers Shea’s identity, and before his army attacks the Southland in his attempt to conquer the Four Lands. Can they find the Sword of Shannara and avoid the Skull Bearers long enough to prevent the enslavement of all of the citizens of the Four Lands? Many people have been made aware of this series since the launch of the television series. I managed to see the pilot episode but that was about it. I enjoyed this novel, though it was not what I was expecting. The writing is well constructed with appropriate, though not difficult, vocabulary. The settings are detailed and easy to visualize and the characters are dynamic. Shea Ohmsford is your typical “unexpected” hero. While his mixed race heritage makes him stand out from the other characters, his personality marks him as the unremarkable character who grows into the hero throughout his journey. Though the changes to his personality and growth of character occur out of necessity, he remains a normal person whom the readers are able to connect to. As for the plotline, I found that this novel reminded me in many ways of “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien. A band of characters including a wise and mysterious leader with magical talents, two young warriors, two elves and a dwarf accompany Shea and his brother Flick across the Four Lands to stop the evil Warlock Lord from destroying the world as they know it. Along the way they encounter gnomes, trolls, and Skull Bearers who are working for the Warlock Lord. Shea is the only one who can stop him. All in all, I did enjoy this novel, though the extreme closeness to “The Lord of the Rings” was highly unexpected. I would recommend this novel to fans of “The Lord of the Rings” series. I received my copy of this book from my uncle who originally recommended the series to me. I do plan to read the rest of the trilogy. I have requested permission to use an image of the cover artwork from the publishers at Orbit and am still awaiting a reply.
The Great Library has controlled the flow of knowledge to all of the lands for centuries. Now, however, the library faces its greatest threat, one that may bring their tyranny to an end.
Jess Brightwell and his friends survived Rome and London to wind up in Philadelphia, a city held by Burners, people who would rather burn books than be controlled by the library. For 100 years the entire city of Philadelphia has been controlled by the burners. When Jess and his friends arrive they are taken prisoner, their only bargaining chip being the books that they brought with them and a promise to build Thomas’ machine, a tool that would bring the library to its knees. Once the machine is finished their usefulness to the burners will be over. Now Jess and the others will have to come up with a plan to make it out of Philadelphia alive. They will also have to decide how far they are willing to go to stop the library and return it to its original purpose. Will they choose to continue fighting, risking their lives and the lives of those they love, or will they spend the rest of their lives running and hiding? The main idea behind these novels has persisted and is what originally drew me to them. Knowledge is power. The more knowledge you have the more powerful you are. When a library hoards the knowledge and controls what a person can read and learn, then the library controls the people. That is their power. Censorship at its heart. The writing is complex, but not overtly so, as well as well structured. It followed the previous novels and I have no doubt will continue into the next installment. The action starts from page one. I had to remind myself how the second book ended in order to understand what they were doing in Philadelphia and how they got there. The settings are rich with detail and descriptive narrative that helps the reader to form the images in the mind’s eye. I found Jess to be more devious and cunning than I remember him being. Where some may feel that this detracts something from the other characters, or even Jess himself, I found it to be realistic due to the kind of upbringing that Jess had. I also feel that it helps us to better understand his character. The ending of this novel surprised me completely. I thought that this was the last novel in the series and I am so thankful that it isn’t because the ending upset me so much. I enjoyed the ending, however, I did not see it coming and am anxious to see where it leads. I have to find out what happens next. I really enjoyed this novel and would encourage anyone who read the first two novels to read this installment as well. I borrowed a copy of this novel from my local library and have permission from the publishers and Penguin Random House to use an image of the cover artwork above.
Since graduating college, Susannah Simon and her long time, previously deceased, boyfriend Jesse de Silva have become engaged and are planning their lives together. Suze has landed a job as a guidance counselor at her old high school. While there she discovers the ghost of a little girl haunting one of her students. If that weren’t enough, Paul Slater decides to intrude upon her happily ever after.
But what Paul has to tell her will send her down a rocky path that could tear apart everything she holds dear, including her relationship with Dr. Jesse de Silva. In the meantime, can she help the ghost of a child by solving her murder and helping her move on? I read the Mediator series by Meg Cabot when I was in middle school. At the time, one of my closest friends and I were having a very nasty fight, the kind that lasts months rather than minutes. I fell in love with the series back then and it has become one of the few series that I have re-read over the years. When I heard that Meg Cabot was writing another book in the series, I was elated, and a little worried. What if the author completely reinvented the characters after all of these years? It had been twelve years after all. The writing is very similar to the original six novel series, though perhaps a little older. Since the character is older, this makes sense. The vocabulary is ideal, though there is more Spanish in this novel than the others. Thankfully, they were, more or less, translated inside the book, since I was never very good at Spanish. Suze Simon was the same character whom I grew to enjoy in the first books, just a little bit older. Her character and personality have grown and matured but there was no denying she was the same Suze Simon. As for Jesse, he seemed to change much more. Though I expected this because of his situation and all of the changes he had to go through between books six and seven. Paul Slater was also changed. He came across much more evil and manipulative than I remember him being in the sixth novel. I had hoped that he might change for the better over time, though I did not expect him to become an entirely different person. As for the plotline, there were some areas that surprised me, for instance the details of the murdered child’s death, and the tactics that Suze utilized in order to get justice for the young girl. The story moves along at a decent pace and the action and mystery are similar to the other novels in the series. The ending made it possible for the author to either continue the series or leave off with this newest installment. I for one hope to see more Mediator novels in the future. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoyed the original six novels. I bought my copy of this novel from bookoutlet.com and have permission from the publishers to use the cover artwork image above. SIDE NOTE: I am very thankful that the publishers went with a cover artwork similar to that of the original series, especially since that cover artwork has since been updated.
Josh Shine loves blues music, watching old movies with the guys, and taking his weekly yoga class with his good friend Ramona. He’s not like most of the guys in his high school. He prefers chess to contact sports, he’s a vegetarian, and he is rather short for his age.
None of the girls in his high school have ever really interested Josh. He would much rather spend his time raising awareness for multiple notable causes. That is until the day he sees Jenna Capistrano in his class. Josh quickly falls for the new girl, but he knows that they could never be an item, because she is out of his league. Surprisingly, they become friends and the closer they become the more Josh wants to be a couple. Will Josh be brave enough to put his heart on the line and tell Jenna how he feels? Not many teenage love stories have a male main character. In fact, this is the first one that I believe I have ever read. Josh is a very unique, interesting character. He is very involved in educating his peers even when they don’t want to hear it. He’s also into older forms of entertainment like old movies and music. His best friends are a lot like him. Sal is passionate about films, especially older ones with deep meaning, while Carter is into environmental sciences. Then there is Ramona. She’s a stand-out kind of girl who doesn’t care what most people think of her. She’s eccentric and loves fashion. Despite the character’s obvious level of intelligence, I found myself frustrated by these characters. Especially by Josh and Jenna. The plot line is one of those ones where you can guess where everyone will end up in the end. Mainly it is just the journey between that is different and unpredictable. I’m unsure how I feel about this novel. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys unique coming-of-age love stories. I received my copy of this novel from LibraryThing.com and the publishers, for the sole purpose of providing an honest review. I have requested permission to use an image of the cover artwork above and am still awaiting a reply. |
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