A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills

TITLE: A Wedding Blunder in the Black Hills

AUTHOR: Kim O'Brien

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: David is a widowed dentist with a son who is being aggressively pursued by a patient. Millie is the single owner of the local cafe who is being set up on blind dates by her mother at every opportunity. When Millie becomes a reluctant patient of David's due to a lost
filling they come up with a plan to stop her mother's interference and his overly aggressive patient. They will pretend to be dating. This seems the perfect solution until they begin to really care for each other. What happens now?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I really enjoyed the plot as it was outlined and though I
would enjoy it.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I got caught up with the characters and could really relate to
Millie and had to see if it worked out.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who loves happily ever after stories.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: I can't think of any content warnings. This book is due for release in September 2011.

Will they discover "The Art of Romance"?

TITLE: The Art of Romance

AUTHOR: Kaye Dacus

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: In the second book in "The Matchmaker" series Ms. Dacus once again tells the perfect romance story. Dylan Bradley is an artist who is trying to forget his past as a cover artist for "racy" romance novels. His work has led him to do things he is not proud of including moving in with and dating his boss at the college he works for. Caylor Evans is a writer of Christian romance novels, but has a secret of her own. When their grandmothers try to play matchmaker with them will their pasts keep them apart or will the discover "The Art of Romance?"

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I had read the first book in this series (Love Remains) and
could not wait for this one. The synopsis on the back just made it sound so interesting.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I started reading it and could not put it down. I got so
caught up in the story I just had to see how it ended.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Any one who loves romance novels.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There is some reference to pre-marital sex and the inference to what is in those "other" types of romance novels.

Will she fumble through love or will this be "Her Best Catch"?

TITLE: Her Best Catch

AUTHOR: Lindi Peterson

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: Allison Doll leads a dull life. She is a single woman who has moved back in with her mom after her father's death to help out her mom. She has friends, church and work to fill her life. However, her life changes drastically when her two oldest friends begin dating and she decides to go on a mission trip. Can things get any more confusing? Yes! Ex-baseball pitcher Ashton Boyd joins her Sunday School class and decides to join the mission trip. Allison's life is getting more exciting.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: The cover looked interesting and the description seemed fun.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Once I started it I could not stop. This is a new author to me and her writing style just kind of grabs you and holds on. I could really relate to the characters and began to care about what happened to them.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who loves romance novels, even if they have never read a "Christian" romance.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There is nothing bad in this book. There are a few scenes dealing with death, however.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

TITLE: City of Bones

AUTHOR: Cassandra Clare

REVIEWED BY: Princess LadyBug

BRIEF SUMMARY: Fifteen-year-old Clary Fray & her best friend, Simon, are hanging out at the Pandemonium Club when Clary discovers strange people that Simon can't see. After her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster, she is suddenly drawn into their bizzare world of demons and the Shadowhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I'm always on the lookout for something new to read. When a friend said he'd heard good things about it, I rushed right down to the library to check it out.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Lots of action moves the plot along nicely as Clary learns to deal with the new world she's found herself in. Each character she meets is more interesting than the last one on her quest to find and rescue her mother.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My niece or anyone who likes books that turn our universe upside down.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: Contains some violence. They are fighting demons after all. :)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS are not always right

TITLE: First Impressions

AUTHOR: Debra White Smith

REVIEWED BY: Lizzie

BRIEF SUMMARY: Edie Bostwick and Dave Davidson take on the iconic roles of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy in this updated version of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice set in present day East Texas. When they meet during a local production of Pride and Prejudice life begins to imitate art. They argue, fight and fuss.... in the end will true love conquer all?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I love Jane Austen books and had read some of Debra's other books.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I loved the story and the way it was written.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Any Jane Austen fan or anyone who likes to read romance novels.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There are references to premarital sex and drug use.

A tangled web of "Mist"-ery...

The Prince of Mist was actually Carlos Ruiz Zafón's first book, originally published in Spain in 1993. Now, seventeen years later, it is finally available in an English translation by Lucia Graves, and it was well worth the wait. I've loved all of his adult fiction books, and this book has the same haunting quality that they did, possibly due to the fact that Graves translated those as well. Or perhaps it's just because Carlos is such a good writer.

Now, don't let the fact that was originally published in another language put you off. So were the Inkheart books. The Prince of Mist is a wonderful, riveting tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

In 1943, with Spain in the midst of World War II, watchmaker Maximilian Carver moves his family from the capital to a seaside village where he has recently bought a home. From the minute they arrive, strange and otherwordly things begin occurring. Soon, the Carvers -- especially 13-year-old Max and his 15-year-old sister Alicia -- find themselves caught up in a dangerous battle with the Prince of Mist, a supernatural entity who has been bargaining for souls for decades, and who just might be the Devil himself.

As the story unfolds, Max and Alicia must uncover the secret of the former inhabitants of their home, the truth about their new friend Roland and his grandfather, and find out just what happened to the Orpheus, a ship that sank in the harbor during a terrible storm a quarter-century ago -- and how it all ties together and ultimately leads back to the mysterious Prince.

Part mystery, part romance, part fantasy, and part gothic horror tale, I cannot recommend The Prince of Mist highly enough. Ruiz Zafón is a masterful storyteller, putting you right into the action, and creating characters that you will come to love and care about. Although the book contains mild language and mature themes, it is certainly suitable for anyone age 12 and up.


NOTE: This is book one in the "Mist" trilogy.  Book two, The Midnight Palace, was just released on May 31, 2011.  A review is forthcoming as soon as I finish it.