Thursday, January 28, 2010

Royal Blood


In the Tudor Court of 1518, your friends and enemies can be one and the same…During the annual celebration of the Order of the Garter, Sir Michael Devereaux arrives in King Henry VIII’s court on a mission for his benefactor. The celebration’s endless feats and sumptuous women delight the charismatic newcomer, who becomes captivated by the enigmatic Princess Renee of France. But evil, it seems, has followed Michael to the court. Shortly after his arrival, an unknown killer claims several victims, including the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, and the powerful Cardinal Wolsey asks Michael to help with the investigation. As he searches for the killer, Michael is haunted by disturbing images of the victims – flashes of violence that lead him to doubt his own sanity. Michael soon realizes that the key to solving the crime is connected to both the Pope’s Imperial vault in Rome and a mystery from Michael’s own past – revealing a secret that is so damning, it could forever alter the future of mankind.


Basically this is probably one of the best books i have ever read. period. Usually when i read a book about old England, i prepare myself for dull boring historical re-enactments with a over creative love story with many sex scenes, and a lot of random killings...but this one definitely shocked me, it had random killings, and sex scenes especially, but it was a more down to earth believable tale. When i first started to read it, i fell in love with reading the womans side "Renee", she is the best example of French beauty that the author could have created, you will love her personality, and "Michael" would be the perfect example of a charming bad boy, that secretly just wants to be loved. The book is not cliche at all which was very surprising for its genre, and the last 3rd of the book was a complete surprise, the ending perfect and unexpected too.

-Gerry-

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Finding the Forger


Bianca Balducci, every body's favorite teenage amateur sleuth, i back on the case, and this time the resourceful Baltimorean has her hands more than full.
On top of school, her two bickering friends, and boy trouble, Bianca is brought in to prove the innocence of Hector, Sarah's latest heart throb, who's considered the prime suspect in a clever switcheroo at the local art museum-several paintings have gone missing,l and forgeries hung in their place.
But things get awfully complicated when Connie, Bianca's PI older sister, is hired by the museum to formally investigate the crime.
And that's just the half of it. Doug, Bianca's fabulous new boyfriend, isn't paying much attention to her as she'd like, while a charming a rich Brit named Neville seems more than willing to take Doug's place. Can Bianca manage to keep Doug's affections while gently fending off Neville?
In this story of miss-assumptions, Bianca learns that things are not always as they seem, that all cases are not so open-and-shut, and that connected with every valuable painting is the possibility of forgery.

This wasn't one of my favorite books ever. I did however like how she added bigger words into the text and then wrote what they meant for the character's point of view. I surprisingly learned a few things. At the end though, I was done. I really didn't want to read anymore and I found myself finally just skipping to the end. I sorta knew who the bad guy was from almost the start though as well. So if you have a younger child who loves a good mystery, this would be perfect! But maybe not so much for older people.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen Headley


As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my check and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked- and I repeat- Why not fix your face?
It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.
She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her small , stifling town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disturbed, will Terra be able to find her true path?
All I have to say is, wow. This was the first book I've ever read, that had almost no dialog (in my oppinion) and yet I was still able to piture everything in my head. I've always read others people's reviews were they said how a book has changed their life, and I always wondered how it did, but this book truely did change they way I looked at things. It's hard to explain the lesson in this book without giving away the ending, so you'll have to read it yourself to find out! This is the first book that's ever made me cry tears of joy.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

(Re) Cycler


Jill McTeague is not your average high school graduate. Not because she doesn't want to be, but because she is a scientific anomaly. Every month, for four days, she turns into Jack, a guy-complete with all the respective parts. Jill got through high school claiming she had blood transfusions every month, but now everyone in her home town knows that something very weird is up with her. So what's a girl ( and a guy) to do? Get the heck out of town, that's what.
With Ramie, her loyal and kooky best friend, Jill sets out to make it on her own in a place where no one knows her name or her secret: New York City. There both she and Jack will have to figure out everything, from the usual (relationships) to the not so usual(career options for a "cycler" anyone?"

I was so excited when the wonderful Staci, ( That can just be her name now. It fits her so well;), I was practically jumping up and down when I received it from the mail....Aright I was jumping up and down. Like none of you have ever done that? Any who, once again Lauren McLaughlin did an awesome job! There really wasn't any dry spots, boring, e.c.t at all, and that's what I really look for in a book. I picked it up and I didn't up it down until it was done. Lauren McLaughlin has a fabulous way of having it be a happy ending, while at the same time you want to scream for more! I find Jill's problems to, I'm sure, be very similar to those of older teens. How do you know if it's really love you feel, or just desire? This question haunts Jill through most of the book, where she mad wonderful, and not so wonderful choices, along with Jack too. Jack happens to be one of my favorite male characters ever! The way he thinks, you can actually understand why he ( and Jill) feel the way they feel! Sound interesting? Give it a try! Thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments! Happy reading!