Dangerous Alliance

 

Lady Victoria Aston wants to live in a Jane Austen book. But not one of the ones with damsels in distress, the ones where the heroines take things in their own hands. When her sister's marriage falls apart, it is up to her to marry into some money- and if she can fall in love as well- that would be a bonus. Tom Sherborne is the boy next door, he was once Vicky's best friend until circumstances caused him to leave his adjoining estate. When he returns to his familial home, Vicky can only hope that they rekindle their friendship. Vicky sets out to court all the eligible men in her social circle at the same time someone is out to hurt her family. Tom seems to be on hand to rescue her even though she is trying to take care of herself. This is a delightful book. If you love the 1800s and all their societal pressures, you will love the way Vicky tries to overcome them. The characters are likable and fun and most can't be trusted. But the ones who can are charming and worthy of Vicky's attention. I read this one a while ago and am just catching up, but I am still enchanted by the plot. Happy reading my friends!

The Empire of Dreams

 Yet another happy bookshelf find! I threw this in my beach bag without much investigation. And come to find a companion book to one of my favorite series. Girl of Fire and Thorns was a great trilogy. This is the story of Red, the slave that Elisa bought and freed. It tells her story of how she came to be in Elisa’s family. The story starts with her adoption ceremony which doesn’t turn out the way they want it to. Red winds up in training to be a member of the Royal Guard, a place no girls have been. As she makes new friends, she uncovers a plot to overthrow the empress while she is away. Red can’t let anything happen to her adopted brother Rosario, the prince, so she begins to train the other boys in the guard. They are all sworn to protect the prince and they had also noticed some strange goings on. But are they all on the Prince’s side? This is a great book whether you have read the main series or not. Red is a tough, smart, loyal girls who takes on every challenge sent her way. She never makes excuses and always fights for her family. There are also a bevy of other characters that are deep and and interesting. I always love a story that will appeal to both boys and girls and this is definitely one of those. Back to the beach my friends-off to Belle and Beast and Paris for a fairy tale retelling! Happy reading my friends!

Bone Crier’s Moon

 Have you ever looked on your bookshelf and found you have two copies of a book? This is one of those.  books. And after reading it I understand why two  book boxes have sent it to me. The Bone Criers are meant to ferry the dead to the afterlife. They train their whole lives. They must collect the bones of three animals and take on those animal’s graces. Then as a final ritual, they must lure their soul mate to a bridge and kill them or they will both die. Ailesse is fearless and cannot wait to take her place next to her mother on the bridge of souls. Her best friend Sabine is not as eager. She doesn’t have the heart to kill an animal let alone a human. On the night of Ailesse’s ritual, Sabine is there to witness and support her friend. What they don’t know is that Bastien and his friends are waiting for them. His father was killed by a Bone Crier and he has been waiting to get his revenge. Ailesse thinks he is her amoure and when he kidnaps her, all hell breaks loose. Is he her true love? Will she be able to kill him when the time comes? Will he be able to exact his revenge? And what is her mother really up to? I really liked this book. It is filled with mythology, romance, misunderstanding and the dilemma- is killing ever right even if it means saving the world? I will absolutely be on the lookout for the final book, and keep wondering if there is one soulmate for each of us or do we create our own luck... happy reading my friends!

Blood and Honey

 Reid and Lou are on the run. Lou’s mother Morgane is out to kill her. Reid is fighting his own demons. He has found his mother and she is not what he expected or wanted. He has found out he is a witch. The very thing he has been fighting against his whole career. But he is also dealing with the fact that his wife is a powerful witch coming into a dreadful power that could consume her. As they try and devise a plan to stop Morgane’s reign of terror, Reid and Lou and their band of supernatural friends face deadly challenges and threats from all corners-some even from within their own trusted circle. This sequel to Serpent and Bone leaves more questions than answers for sure, as all good bridge books will do. There is tragic loss and big reveals. There is misunderstanding and forgiveness. There is adventure and romance. I enjoy this series and recommend it to lovers of this genre. It’s been a while since I posted- I let things get away fro me while trying to figure out distance teaching, but a week off and a sunny beach has remedied this. Happy reading my friends!

Incendiary

I am a subscriber to two young adult book box subscriptions. So every month I receive a box in the mail with a new book and some fun bookish things. That being said, I can't keep up with all the books. First world problem, I know! This month's book was Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova. It is about a time when those with magical abilities are being rounded up and used for their powers. Renata was kidnapped from her parents home as a child and brought to the palace. Her power is to be able to take the memories from people. The palace would then use the information for their gain. She can also turn them into Hollows- when there are no memories left in a person, they become a shell. A group called the Whispers kidnap her back and she finds that she does not have anyone who trusts her anywhere except Dez. When the Whispers find out about a weapon that can strip them of their power and free will, they must figure out a way to get it and destroy it. But they don't trust Renata and she doesn't trust them. When Dez is captured, Renata goes rogue and leads her own rescue mission. This does not help the trust issue. But the more she is at the palace- where she is determined to kill the Prince, for reasons I won't spoil, the more her memories start to play tricks on her, making it even harder for her to figure out who is on her side. And it won't be who she thinks. I really liked this story. It kept me interested and entertained and I hope the plot twist I think is coming comes. I've read a lot of books with the same themes and I'm a sucker for the fantasy genre. I don't think this was my favorite of these types, but I'm not mad at it. My summer is at an end and I'm about to embark on this distance learning thing, so send up a prayer for me and happy reading my friends.

Dear Martin

Next up on my quest is Dear Martin. This is also another one that probably won't work for my needs but what a great, timely story. It is the story of Justyce, an honor roll, college bound kid who is unjustly handcuffed and mistreated by the police. As he ponders what has happened to him, he writes letters to Martin Luther King Jr. asking for advice. Justyce must figure out if his "friends" and their attitudes, jokes and actions are really okay with him. He also must decide if he wants to go against his mother's wishes and date his white debate partner. While he questions all that is going on, a tragedy happens changing everything. This is the perfect book for what I am looking for, but the language and some sexual situations just won't play in my school. I will be handing this book to every kid who wants to read it- that is, if I get to hand any kid anything this year. So, loved the book, hate that the story is a reflection of what our society is going through right now. The letters to Martin are a highlight and ask some very deep, thought provoking questions. It is a must read. Happy reading my friends.

Harbor Me

I'm on a quest to diversify our reading list. This one sounded like it might be perfect. And it would have been if the characters had been a little bit older. That being said, for a younger group of kids this is a lovely book. It is about six kids in a special class who meet once a week to talk. They are each going through their own tough times. One has a father who is detained and deported, one is African American, one has ADD and one has a father in prison. Haley is telling the story of their time together, which she records so she can remember what everyone sounds like when they are no longer together. Each character tells their story and is safe in knowing that the six of them have created a safe harbor for each other. It is a poetic and poignant story that really hits home in our troubled times. It asks the question- Will you be a harbor for others? And while this won't work for my needs, I'm better for having read it. Happy reading my friends.