What I've Read This Week Part II

What I've Read This Week Part II . . .

The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot -- Mystery/Women's Fiction

Heather Wells is getting ready for a new school year and for her big wedding to Cooper Cartwright. Finally her luck will change and she'll get a happily ever after. Not so fast, Heather! First, a hard-partying, Middle Eastern prince moves in (thanks to his father's half-million dollar donation) and everyone suddenly wants to be in Fisher Hall! Heather's boss Lisa is sick with the stomach flu, leaving Heather to deal with eager students and unhappy parents. Then, an RA turns up dead in her bed seemingly of natural causes. Heather has a bad feeling about this and it's up to her to protect her students from a killer. To add to her stress, her mother suddenly reappears in her life with no good excuse or even a sincere apology. Heather so does not need more stress in her life and thankfully Cooper is supportive. Will she live to walk down the aisle at the Plaza and finally get her happily ever after? (What do you think?) This is the best mystery of them all. It's less gruesome than the first two and more interesting than the middle two. It kept me reading way way too late at night. There are several huge shockers that I did not see coming at all, including the wedding. The motive seems really bizarre but the criminal is clearly unbalanced and has issues. I also love the relationship between Cooper and Heather. Do guys like Cooper actually exist outside the pages of a novel? They're so sweet and fun together. There aren't any real love scenes between them in this book just some suggestive talk. Cooper's sisters make a guest appearance to provide some comic relief and we get to meet some of his unusual friends. Heather's mom also makes her first official appearance rounding out the new characters. I like the way the personal plot was woven into the story and not left for the very end. It relieved some of the tension of the mystery. My big gripe with this book, as with many of Meg's books, is that it gets preachy. There's discussions about having children and not having children and Heather's views don't really jive with her character. This part of the plot pretty much comes randomly out of nowhere. There's also a lot of talk about relationship issues, Mommy issues and therapy that gets a bit overdone but does fit the plot of the novel. I really enjoyed the book other than those few quibbles and I'm sad to leave Heather behind. 

United We Spy (Gallagher Girls) by Ally Carter -- Young adult fiction

This final installment in the Gallagher series picks up at the start of Cammie's final semester at Gallagher Academy. The seniors are busy planning for their future but all Cammie wants is to be alive. She's left with a lot of questions after her ordeal and finally realizes why The Circle of Cavan is after her. Her mom wants Cammie safe and sound at school but Cammie knows it's up to her to end this thing. Cammie and her friends are children no longer and not knowing who to trust, they must rely on each other. With only a few clues to go on and backup from some loyal friends, they're off hunting down killers and trying to prevent the most deadly and dangerous thing to happen to her country in years. Cammie knows she may die in the process but she won't die without taking down a few bad guys in the process. Many of the plot elements in this book resemble Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but what happens is original. This book is non-stop, heart-pounding action. I had enough sense to read the book during the DAY so I didn't stay up all night. I couldn't put it down. Just when it seems like it's done, there's more and the story isn't over until the very last page. The story does get violent at times and is rather scary. Yet, it's also very predictable. I had a pretty good guess who they could trust and who they couldn't and I wasn't wrong. I liked this final entry in the series a lot, more than some of the previous books, but I am not sorry to leave the series behind. 

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Masked Ball at Broxley Manner (Her Royal Spyness) by Rhys Bowen -- Historical Mystery

This special e-book story is a prequel to the popular series. Georgie has just finished her first Season and realized that Fig doesn't want her around. She's delighted to accept an invitation to visit her royal relatives at "Buck House," but dismayed to discover the real reason for the invitation is so she can meet her distant Prussian cousin, Prince Otto. Prince Otto is AWOL so Georgie successfully dodges that bullet. She is also invited to a Halloween masked ball at Broxley Manner, hosted by the American born Lady Merriman. It's to be a grand to-do with full costumes and guests from America. (Can you guess who Lady Merriman's good friend is?) Georgie realizes that once again, she's invited to meet Prince Otto. Georgie refuses to marry for less than true love. Mysterious happenings interrupt what could be the beginning of a romance. This book is not worth the price. Nothing much happens that we don't already know. It would serve as a good introduction for someone who is new to the series but for readers who have read them all, it's not worth it. Spoiler alert (Highlight the following text): In this story Georgie and Darcy meet and fall in love for the first time but since he is in costume, standing in for the prince, she doesn't know who he is. She thinks he's the prince at first until she meets the real prince. Darcy may or may not be there on Whitehall business so Georgie gets her first taste of intrigue. Since Darcy has nothing to offer Georgie, he lets her go. 

Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society) by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Contemporary

Kat Bishop and her gang are fresh off their triumph at the Henley and it seems that Hale is finally ready to become her boyfriend. During a seemingly routine heist, Hale dashes off and when Kat seems him again, he seems to have been sucked into the soulless world of his parents. Hale's grandmother, Hazel, died and left their family business to Hale in trust. The business will be overseen by a trustee, Garrett, the family lawyer. Kat's heart aches for the boy she loves and she feels him slipping away from her. Should she steal him back? If so, how? When Marcus comes to her for help, Kat gets involved in something beyond her scope of experience.  Kat, being a good thief, has to at least try, but she could lose Hale possibly forever. The first few chapters are really slow. The story is very different from the usual Heist Society plot that I had a hard time getting into it. Then the story picks up when Kat reunites with the rest of the gang.  Even so, I still found the plot a bit awkward. Having Kat so involved in a case involving one of her own is tricky and causes a lot of problems. This story is more character driven than the previous novels and deals a lot with Kat's insecurities, Hale's loneliness and their feelings for each other. The last few chapters really kicked it up and left me on the edge of my bed reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next. Just when I thought it was over, it wasn't. That was a bit of a problem. The plot twists left me a little confused. I had to go back and reread it to see if I had missed something. I guess I was conned! Some plot points from the previous books seem to have been dropped. The villain in the story is very cartoonish and even someone who is not a trained thief or spy could figure it out. I always enjoy the secondary characters in Kat's gang and though they all play very minor roles here, they provide a lot of comic relief. There's too much relationship drama and I hope there are more books in the series about Vasily Romani. If you liked the first two in the series, you might like this one. For me, it just wasn't as good as the previous two. I still long for more though.

What I've Read Recently

What I've Read Recently  . . .

Double Crossed by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Contemporary Fiction (e-novella)

This story is a merger of Ally Carter's two worlds. It's available for free as a Kindle book or e-book. Macey McHenry (from Gallagher Girls) is bored at a society function at a high rise in New York until she meets the mysterious young man who calls himself Hale. Hale (from Heist Society) is likewise bored at the party and is amused by Macey's attempts to figure him out. Then the teens notice that something is about to go terribly wrong and only they know it. When masked men take hostages and rob priceless jewels, Macey and Hall have to trust each other enough and use their skills to save the day without blowing Macey's cover or Hale's secret identity. This is a fun novella for those who love the Ally Carter's books. I love that both sets of characters finally get a chance to meet and team up. The story is full of action and witty dialogue. I love the meeting between Macey and Hale - both so aware of each other and unsure what to make of the other. I also loved seeing Macey take action and use her skills from the Gallagher Academy. It was realistic (or as realistic given the secret spy school storyline) for her to put her skills to use in a dangerous situation and the situation made sense in the real world, unlike Cammie's super secret terrorist organization plot. Macey is a more interesting and multi-dimensional character than Cammie and breathes fresh life into the story. Hale is as handsome and mysterious as ever. He clarifies his relationship with Kat, finally, which is nice. Kat even makes an appearance as a key player in the drama and even gets a surprising offer at the end. The one thing I didn't like about the story was the whodunnit. It was obvious that a certain person would be motivated to steal something but the elaborate scheme seemed a bit over the top and that the teens figured it out seemed a bit much. Even so, I am dying for the next Heist Society novel and this was a good filler. I can't wait to see what the teen thieves get up to this time. The e-book is a bit disappointing because it tells you the book is 166 pages when in actuality, the story is only about 94 pages and the rest is just chapters from previous books I've already read, but for free, I guess I can not complain.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Death at Bishop's Keep : A Victorian Mystery by Robin Paige (Susan Witting Albert and Bill Albert)

Miss Kathryn Ardleigh of New York is a writer of "penny-dreadfuls." She loves the thrilling gothic tales of adventure but she may run out of material soon if she doesn't actually have any adventures. When she discovers that a long-lost aunt in England wants Kate to be her secretary, Kate jumps at the chance to have a bit of an adventure of her own. When she arrives in England she makes the acquaintance of her aunt's aristocratic neighbors, The Honorable Bradford and Miss Eleanor Marsden and their friend, Sir Charles Sheridan. Sir Charles is a scholarly man with an interest in photography and the newly emerging field of forensics. When a body is discovered at an archeological dig, Sir Charles thinks his camera may provide some clues as to the man's identity. Sir Charles' astute observations uncover the fact that the man had more than a passing interest in Ancient Egypt. When Kate arrives at her new home, Bishop's Keep, she learns that her father had not one but two estranged sisters. Aunt Sabrina, who has hired Kate, is kind and caring. Her sister, Mrs. Jaggers, is the exact opposite. She is a strict and dour lady who has charge of the running of the household. Kate refuses to answer to her aunt's cruel rules and stands up to the lady ensuring that Kate is not welcome by at least one person at Bishop's Keep. The servants seem to be a sullen lot and they are keeping secrets from Kate. Kate delights in her work for Aunt Sabrina who is a member of a secret society called the Order of the Golden Dawn. Kate believes this is just the thing for her novels and wants to join. First though, she has to attend meetings and learn their secret ways. She also is charged with investigating the dead body found at the archeological site. Even after Aunt Sabrina backs off the investigation, Kate can't help but be curious. Her investigations intersect with Sir Charles' investigations. He is puzzled by the unusual young lady. He finds her shocking yet appealing at the same time. Charles and Kate are both independently on the same trail but shocking events occur that change Kate's life forever and may make her the next victim. This mystery kept me reading far too late into the night and then I figured out the clues just before Kate did even without evidence. It was pretty obvious by that point who the murderer was and why. Despite the fact that I couldn't put the book down, I really didn't like it all that much. Kate is very naive and thinks life is like one of her novels. She finds adventure and excitement where she should not. Sir Charles is too cool and analytical to be an appealing hero. He has some Victorian ideas about what ladies should be like but his opinions are less annoying than the typical Victorian make ideas some other characters spout. Even so, his ideas make him less appealing. The plot was far too dark for me and there were way too many things going on. Some of the chapters don't advance the storyline at all and serve as character development but they are unnecessary and awkward. I probably will not read the rest of the series.

Death at Dartmoor : A Victorian Mystery by Robin Paige (Susan Witting Albert and Bill Albert)

Lord Charles and Lady Kate are now married and vacationing on the moors. Charles wants to try out his new fingerprinting program at the prison and Beryl Bardwell (Kate's alter ego) wants to attend a seance with Lady Duncan, a local Society lady. Also interested in the moors and seances are Dr. Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, and his new writing partner Mr. Robinson. Patsy Marsden, an independent spinster and friend of Kate and Charles is there too. Charles finds the prison just as horrific as he was told it was but something about one of the prisoners makes him think the man may not be guilty of murder. If only Charles could convince the authorities to take more stock in forensic science. Dr. Spencer doesn't wish to have his sentence overturned. He has his reasons and he's keeping them to himself. When three prisoners escape, including Dr. Spencer, the locals are terrified. Their fear increases after a man is found dead and mutilated and everyone assumes it was a certain prisoner who committed the crime. Charles is not so sure and neither is Kate, for one of her new friends had a shocking communication from a spirit before anyone knew the person was dead. Charles and Conan Doyle begin an investigation to find the true murderer while Kate and Patsy make the acquaintance of another unconventional lady who may know a thing or two about the murder. This story is less dark and gothic than Death at Bishop's Keep. It contains elements of the supernatural but the characters debate whether the event was supernatural or natural and the conclusion is left to the reader to decide. I liked this book better than Bishop's Keep because it wasn't so dark. I was a bit disappointed in this novel though because I expected Charles and Kate to investigate together like Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man series. The married couple don't spend a lot of time together. Much of the book is given over to Doyle and his problems. As with the Beatrix Potter mysteries, the author(s) step out of the story to provide the history behind the story. This time it works slightly better because some of the history is shared by characters in the novel. This book would be appropriate for young adults and adults but not suitable for children.

Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls 6) by Ally Carter - Young Adult Contemporary Fiction

Cammie Morgan wakes up in a convent in Switzerland with no idea how she got there. Worse, she learns it's October when she thought it was June which means she can't remember her summer at all. No memory is a dangerous thing for a spy-in-training. Back at the Gallagher School, Cammie's friends seem angry with her and she can't figure out why. She also believes that her best friend and her "sorta" boyfriend Zach have gotten closer together. Cammie's mom tells her not to try to remember too much because some things are worth forgetting. Cammie isn't about to take her mother's advice. She seeks the help of Zach's faculty adviser Dr. Steve, to help her regain her memory. Soon she discovers that whatever happened last summer, The Circle no longer needs her alive. Cammie must use all her wits and training to stay alive and find out exactly what happened over the summer. If you've read the Harry Potter series most of this book won't come as a huge surprise. I learned not to trust anyone in this sort of novel and Cammie has not yet learned that lesson because otherwise of course, the plot wouldn't work out. Cammie's friends are a lot like Harry Potter's friends, especially Liz, who is a carbon copy of Hermione. There are some odd plot holes and time line issues in this novel. My biggest question is: why did Cammie's friends let her go? Harry's friends anticipated what he was up to and went with him and Cammie's friends, being super intelligent spies-in-training, should have too.  Despite my suspicions, the plot took me on a non-stop ride with one dangerous adventure after another. It doesn't follow the common plot structure of a novel but it's exciting and I couldn't put it down. This book answers a lot of the questions from the previous novels but there are still many questions left unanswered. It's best just to read it and go with the adrenaline and not question things too closely. I think this is a fun series for young teenage girls.

What I Read This Weekend

What I Read This Weekend . . .

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter -- Young Adult 

Sequel to Heist Society

Since pulling off the heist at the Henley last year, Kat has been traveling the world stealing back priceless treasures that were stolen by Nazis or otherwise illegal means, all in the name of Visili Romani. Now Kat is being approached by an older woman whose life mission has been to get back the Cleopatra Emerald her parents discovered in Egypt. It was stolen by their business partner and ruined their lives and all Margaret wants is the emerald back and the recognition her parents were robbed of. It just so happens that the rare emerald is being exhibited for the first time. Should be easy for a pro like Kat right? Not quite. First, the emerald is said to be cursed, second Uncle Eddie doesn't approve. With the family away in Paraguay (or is is Uruguay? Kat gets confused) Kat is on her own. She likes it that way. That no way no one can get close enough to her to get hurt. However, Kat's friends won't take no for an answer. Their wits are tested when nothing is at it seems and they are in more danger of than ever before. Plus, there's the whole issue of her feelings for the handsome Hale. For a smart thief, Kat is a stupid girl. She needs to trust herself and her friends like never before if she's going to pull off this heist. This is another great face-paced novel from Ally Carter. It didn't quite leave me breathless the way Heist Society did and I was able to put it down in spots. At first it reads like a short story but then some plot twists had me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next. It concludes nicely without leaving many loose ends hanging but I'd still love more books in the series. This is a great fun read for young and old!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Only the Good Spy Young : Gallagher Girls 4 by Ally Carter

Cammie spends junior year winter break in London with Bex and her super cool spy parents but the trip is anything but a vacation. Cammie is hiding from the mysterious Circle of Cavan who are trying to kidnap her. A surprising encounter with one of her trusted teachers changes everything. Now Cammie doesn't know who to trust or to believe but she's certain she can count on her friends. They decide to take matters into their own hands to solve the secrets of the Circle. With a little help from Zack, Cammie faces a life or death situation, learns a few things about the history of her allies and the Circle and finds that the answers aren't always easy to find or understand. The basic plot outline resembles Harry Potter which gives away some of the surprises, but not all. The adventure is still edge-of-your-seat breathtaking and I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. At least one of the plot twists came as a bit of a surprise and shock to me though I suspected something similar. This book is rather scarier than the previous ones as Cammie is now seriously in danger. There is a little bit of cutesy boy/girl stuff to provide relief from the tension and I like that. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion that doesn't leave me wanting more yet provides more questions to be answered in future books. This is another great adventure for the Gallagher Girls and a good, quick summer read.

The Incomparable Cassandra by Laura Paquet -- Regency Romance

Lady Cassandra Blythe is an Incomparable but she's also intelligent and a playwright, which is why she remains unwed at the advanced age of 24. She enjoys the social activities of London and her witty friends and isn't too concerned with finding a mate for herself. In contrast, her older brother has been happily wed for ten years to the lovely Elinor. Sadly, Elinor has been estranged from her only brother Benjamin Rowland, Earl of Winchfield, since her elopement with Cassandra's brother. Elinor has extended an olive branch to her brother and he has finally decided to come to London in search of a wife. Recently recovered from a broken heart, Benjamin Rowland, Earl of Winchfield is in search of a wife. The Earl's duties were thrust on him at a young age and he would like nothing better than to stay in the country and study ants, however, he is an Earl and knows his duty. He is in search of a quiet, biddable wife, certainly not an Incomparable like Lady Cassandra. At first Cassandra and Ben don't get along; he thinks she's sharp-tongued and she finds him boring and stuffy. As they come to know each other better, Cassandra and Ben learn that each has hidden qualities and deeper emotions than what is present on the surface. This is a quiet, sweet romance that is quite different from the typical Regency plot. It could be described as a reverse Pride and Prejudice with a dash of Emma. It's a refreshing change to read about a hero who is not a rake. At first, like Cassandra, I found Ben boring and too mild but the character development in this novel is so good that I learned to appreciate his good qualities just as Cassandra does. The plot develops nicely at a good pace to make the story realistic and a very good read. I enjoyed this one quite a lot.

The Rebellious Twin by Shirley Kennedy -- Regency Romance

Clarinda and Clarissa Capelle are identical twins. No one, not even their parents, can tell them apart, a fact which always surprises Clarinda because she and her sister are complete opposites in personality. Clarinda loves riding her horse astride at breakneck speed and caring for the horses on a neighboring estate with her best friend Sara Sophia, a girl of unknown heritage. Clarissa, on the other hand, is content to be identical to her sister and eager for them to marry a set of identical twins and live together for the rest of their lives. When Clarinda's parents discover her secret horse-related activities, they furiously threaten to sell her horse and send her to her grandfather's estate in north Wales if she doesn't behave and marry Lord Sufton, a bland, unintelligent man Clarinda despises. Clarinda would rather die than do any of those things but is willing to consider her options before making a decision. Meanwhile, Robert, Lord Stormont, Earl of Marsett wins Hollyridge Manor, the estate next to that of Lord Capelle's, in a lucky card game. As the elderly former owner returns home, he suffers a fatal heart attack, but not before blurting out to Clarissa (whom he thinks is Clarinda) that Sara Sophia has a secret past which will bring her untold riches and happiness. Providing Clarissa with a clue and a set of old keys, the old man dies without realizing he was speaking to the wrong twin. Selfish Clarissa decides to keep the secret to herself and solve the mystery and perhaps use it to her advantage. Clarinda, upset with her parents' decree, gallops out on her horse just as Robert and his dog are inspecting the estate. Robert's dog causes an accident which brings Clarinda and Robert together and the confirmed bachelor is instantly smitten and wants to help Clarinda. The lady is not so willing at first but can not ignore the strong chemistry between them. Her twin also can not ignore her sister's new feelings and sets out on a plot to destroy her sister and win the handsome Lord for herself. The plot is fairly predictable and almost Cinderellaesque. I found this book utterly painful to read because of the incredibly obvious foreshadowing. I stuck with it and still didn't like it. I find it hard to believe that parents would not be able to tell their twins apart and would treat their children in such a way. The Capelle family is utterly horrid and I wanted to rip Rissa's hair out. Clarinda isn't all together likable either. She meekly accepts her sister's torments without telling anyone, yet her sister routinely tattles on her. I like that Clarinda at least can hold her own with the odious overbearing Robert. Their romance is unbelievable and I do not believe he really loves her because if he did, he would not have reacted the way he did while Rissa was interfering. Sara Sophia's love story is more charming and interesting though she's too self-sacrificing for me to really be fond of her. This book has some subtle sensuality thrown in which makes the characters behave improperly and is entirely unnecessary and unbelievable at the moments the scenes occur. I would recommend skipping this one unless you have a desire to read EVERY book in the genre.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls 2) by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Fiction

A departure from my usual genres, I picked up this book recommended by my friend Irish at Ticket to Anywhere.

Last semester Cammie Morgan just wanted to be normal. This semester, she wants to be a good spy. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Cammie resumes life at her top-secret boarding school for spies will go back to whatever passes for normal, but she accidentally overhears a secret - Blackthorne or Black Thorn or something like that. Cammie and her friends are determined to find out what it means and utilize their spy training to find out. As if Cammie didn't already have enough to worry about, on a Cove Ops mission she's seen AGAIN but another boy! This time she's content to get rid of him and never see him again because she's determined not to make the same mistake she did with Josh. Cammie is unprepared for what happens next. The one thing they don't teach at Gallagher Academy is how to understand boys! Cammie must learn to trust a boy who is also a spy in order to save her school. I don't want to give too much away but this book is a real page-turner! The basic plot premise bears a strong resemblance to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which happens to be one of my favorite books. The boy/girl stuff is cute and so so true and the spy adventures are fun and dazzling. I couldn't put this one down and now I can't wait to find out what happens next!


Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls 3) by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Fiction

Cammie Morgan joins her friend Macey in Boston where Macey's dad is campaigning for Vice President. Macey's cover as a spoiled little rich girl is nearly blown when she's pestered by the annoying son of the Presidential candidate but boy concerns seem minor when someone tries to kidnap Preston and Macey and it takes all of Cammie's spy training and instincts to get out alive. Their fall semester at Gallagher Academy is marked by major changes when a Secret Service agent joins the school to protect Macey. Cammie worries about her friend's health and safety as well as her usual course work. She also wonders about the boy she met last semester, Zach, and why he's so mysterious. If only someone would invent a way to decode boy-speak! By the end of the semester, one of the Gallagher girls is in grave danger and Cammie has more mysteries to solve. This is a hard book to describe without giving anything away. It's more action packed than the first two and more about the life of spies than normal teenage stuff. I prefer the boy/girl parts to the action but the action sequences kept me turning the pages, trying to figure out clues and wondering what was going to happen next. Even though I'd make a terrible Gallagher girl, I can't wait to find out what happens next!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Heist Society by Ally Carter, read by Angela Dawe -- Young Adult

A departure from my usual genres, I picked up this book recommended by my friend Irish at Ticket to Anywhere.

Katarina Bishop comes from a family of con men and thieves, but she just wants to be normal. After pulling off what she thinks is her greatest con of all, a free ride to boarding school, Kat is expelled for a prank involving the headmaster's car and a fountain. Kat is furious because this con isn't one of hers! She's soon drawn back into the family business by her best friend (and crush) Hale. Kat's dad has been accused of stealing priceless paintings from an Italian mafioso who wants his paintings back OR ELSE. Kat reluctantly reenters the family business in order to save her dad and she and her friends form their own heist society to steal back the paintings and save Kat's dad. The story takes a major turn when the history of the stolen paintings is discovered and a Robin Hood type thief is out to right the wrongs of the past. Along the way, Kat has to figure out the most mysterious of mysteries - boys! I enjoyed the heist plot and couldn't put the book down. The secondary characters provide comic relief and I liked them all, even Gabrielle, who exemplifies traits I typically abhor. She's a good foil for Kat. I especially liked Hale and the romantic tension between Hale and Kat is well developed and realistic. I wasn't crazy about the introduction of the history of the paintings and the Robin Hood character. The story was fun and light and then quickly turned into a question of ethics. Even so, I really liked this book and can't wait for the next one. Dawe is an average reader. She does voices and accents but they're hard to understand. The audio version of the book doesn't add to the enjoyment of the book. This is a fun and entertaining story for anyone ages 12+.

Mandesky Square by Eva Ibbotson -- Historical Fiction/Romance

This book is rather different from her other adult romances, it's written as a first person journal by Susanna Weber who owns a dress shop in 1911 Vienna. Susanna is older (36) and she's worked hard to build up a successful clientele. She won't take help from anyone, not even the man she loves. Susanna loves her shop and can easily manage the difficult clients as well as her anarchist shop assistant, Nini. She also loves the square and all the people who live around it. Their daily lives and intertwined as they go about their business. When a young piano prodigy moves to the square, Susanna sees he is neglected and abused and makes it her duty to befriend the boy and help his career. Susanna remains cheerful and optimistic most of the time, but sometimes she can't help but fall into a depression because she has a secret sorrow and a secret heartache. Spoilers: highlight the next two lines:

She had a child out of wedlock she gave up for adoption years ago and she's the mistress of a married man.

Susanna records her daily events and secret hopes and sorrows into her journal. Then the day comes when her peaceful world is shattered and life as she knows it may change forever. She tries to remain positive and hope things will turn out all right. Help comes from an unexpected quarter and Susanna ends her year with a surprise. I wasn't crazy about this book. It's not as sad as the other adult novels but it's not as satisfying either. It's more realistic, I suppose, than the typical fairy tale plot, but I quite enjoy fairy tale romances and was disappointed in this one. I wanted to like Susanna but I felt like slapping her and telling her to grow up and move on. The secondary characters are much more appealing. They're fully fleshed people you'd expect to meet in real life and lots of fun to read about. I would recommend this book to those who like realistic stories but not to those who prefer neat and tidy happy endings.

Love's Masquerade by Cynthia Richey -- Regency Romance

Sarah Fairchild's father had the misfortune to die when a stray dueling bullet hit him, thus leaving Sarah with all of his debts. Sarah wishes to save her family home by opening a school for girls where she'll teach them all the ladylike accomplishments they need to know to find good husbands. When Sarah's godmother invites her to London, it seems like her prayers will be answered, but what her godmother wants Sarah to gain from her trip is not quite what Sarah had in mind. She's not opposed to finding a husband, but she refuses to marry without love. Without money of her own, Sarah feels she has no choice but to offer her beloved home for sale while she's in London. When a gentleman shows up on the day of her departure, she thinks he's come to view the house and dutifully shows him the finer points. When she enters the curricle, however, she finds she is mistaken. The gentleman is her godmother's son, Sarah's childhood playmate and tormentor, Edward, Duke of Pemberton. Along the way to London, Sarah and Edward are compromised and he offers marriage, however, she refuses because she doesn't trust him and he doesn't believe in her school. Though Sarah believes she doesn't love Edward, she is willing to accept his friendship but not his help. The dashing Charles offers his help and Sarah feels she must at least consider it, though Edward doesn't approve. Though her time in London doesn't go as planned, Sarah never gives up on her dreams and her convictions until she gets what she wants. This is a light, fluffy Cinderella story which had me smiling almost the whole way through. I liked that Sarah stuck to her beliefs but her anger at Edward was a little too harsh and uncalled for. I nearly fell in love with him from his introduction, so I could be biased. This is what they call a sweet Regency or clean Regency and I really enjoyed it.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls) by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Fiction

A departure from my usual genres, I picked up this book recommended by my friend Irish at Ticket to Anywhere.

Sixteen year-old Cammie Morgan attends a super select prep school for girls but this isn't your typical high school novel for Cammie's school is a school for spies! The Gallagher Girls are taught multiple languages, covert operations, culture and assimilation, and advanced encryption. During a Covert Ops training class, the Gallagher girls head off to town to mingle with the townies and spy on their teacher. Cammie does her best to blend in to her surroundings and remain unseen, but someone does see her and he happens to be a cute teenage boy and it seems like he's kinda into her. Cammie turns to her new classmate to explain the language of boys, something they definitely DON'T teach at her school. Her friends worry that Josh is also a spy and set out to discover his true identity, but Cammie just wants to be a normal teenage girl and date the boy she likes. She has to figure out whether she can be normal and how to have a relationship, because, in her world the rule is "I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you." This is a cute adventure novel for teens. It combines elements of Harry Potter, The Princess Diaries and adds a whole new dimension with a spy plot. Cammie is a really interesting character for a girl who is learning to be a spy. She's shy and a bit awkward and isn't sure where she fits in. She relies on her more outgoing friends to help her get along in the world outside the school. I could really identify with Cammie and I liked that she wasn't a super smart, smooth spy-in-training who had all the answers. She's a normal teenage girl, aside from being a spy. Josh was a little bit too good to be true but he had his moments of acting like a normal teen too. I liked the contrast between Cammie's world and Josh's world and how they connect even though they come from different backgrounds. This is a fun adventure story for teens. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read the next!

Lady Emma's Dilemma by Rhonda Woodward -- Regency Romance
This book is a companion to The Wagered Heart but can easily be read as a stand-alone. Lady Emmaline Fallon, the older sister of the Duke of Kelbourne, is a young widow grown tired of life in the country and come to Town for some adventure. Emma becomes the new reigning beauty, much to the dismay of an actress named Mrs. Willoughby alias Queen Willow, the former beauty. Emma is looking for love but not to remarry. She vows never again to allow a man to have complete control over her. Several candidates present themselves to Emma, none quite as dashing or alarming as handsome, rakish Baron, Jack Devruex who broke Emma's heart thirteen years ago. Bitter over events that happened in the past, Emma remains angry with Jack while he tries to make amends. Thirteen years ago Jack was a penniless boy trying to restore his family name and fortune and now he's a self-made man. He's told himself he's over Emma, but his heart tells him otherwise. Emma is conflicted and has to learn to let go of the past. I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to. I thought both Emma and Jack were rather selfish and annoying. Neither tried to understand what the other was feeling. Emma was really angry at herself but that never came up in the plot and instead she continued to blame Jack for everything that happened to her. The romantic development is good, though and there's just the right amount of romantic tension between Emma and Jack to make the story believable. This is a decent Regency novel and worth checking out from the library.