Book Review: The True Confessions of Charolette Doyle by Avi


A vicious captain, a mutinous crew —
and a young girl caught in the middle

Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.

Newbery Honor Book

For fun and giggles I decided to read this book again. I read it a long time ago when it was more age appropriate for me. This is a nice period piece that covers a young woman’s journey through things. If you liked Pirates of the Caribbean you are very likely to enjoy True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. It is age appropriate, but it is also enjoyable and amusing for the older crowd if they wish to watch that.

Book Review: The Pickpocket Countess by Bronwyn Scott


TO BED A THIEF!

It’s Brandon Wycroft’s duty as the Earl of Stockport to catch the “Cat.” a notorious thief who is stealing from rich local homes to feed the poor. Discovering that the Cat is a woman, he changes his plan of action — to a game of seduction!

Mysterious and tempting, she teases him. And, as the net closes around the Cat, Brandon realizes he wants to protect her as well as bed her. But the only way to catch her is to spring the parson’s mousetrap — and make her his countess!

Okay, this book was a fast read and it was pretty fun overall. Really it does have some good solid characters that are enjoyable. But overall it was also predictable. You knew what was going to happen before it happened. And while that doesn’t matter sometimes and is a small issue, with this book for me it was a slightly big issue.

But, over all it was not a horrible book. And if someone doesn’t mind something slightly predicable I would recommend it. “The Cat” is a fun character a bold heroine who has fun being the Robin Hood of her area. She steals from the greedy rich men and feeds poor families with her bounty. The Earl of Stockport takes a little bit to warm up to. He’s cocky, to full of himself and won’t even admit when he’s been robbed. Or at least that the woman broke into his house while he was in it.

But eventually you warm up to him. You learn to see his point of view and have to respect how he feels about things. He’s torn between caring for the thief and wanting to see justice done. By the end of this book he did get my respect. And over the entire book was an okay read.

Book Review: The Naked Marquis by Sally Mackenzie


The Man is Practical

As marriage proposals go, Charles Draysmith’s suit is as romantic as the moors in December. Emma Peterson might be only a vicar’s daughter, and the new Marquis of Knightsdale, and perhaps he would rather marry her than endure the marriage mart. But when he suggests how much he’ll enjoy securing an heir, well, a lady can only endure so much.

But the Lady is Passionate

There’s something about a woman throwing pottery at a man that piques his interest. Perhaps his proposal lacks grace, Charles thinks. But it does seem a perfect solution. He acquires a wife; his young charges have the mother they so desperately need, and Emma gains security and position. You see? Simple. Practical. Sensible– oh no, not the ceramic dog…

He will have to confess the truth to calm her down. And the truth is, he’s madly in love…

The Naked Marquis is the second book in Sally Mackenzie’s “Naked” series. And I have to say I enjoyed it. While it was not as outgoing and stomp on you as hard as The Naked Duke it was still very good. Mackenzie so far is showing her tune in taking older “on the shelf” ladies or picks maybe not as usual as heroines for her men. And I like it. Miss Emma Peterson is the daughter of the town Vicar, and Charles Draysmith Marquis of Kensdale is a second son who comes reluctantly into the title when his brother dies suddenly in an accident. Or was it?

Not only do we meet a new cast of loveable characters, we also meet again with our Duke of Alvord James and his wife who is now expecting their first child, and Robbie the Earl of Westbroke. It is positively wonderful to see them again and even more so to follow the Marquis as he tries to win his ladies hand.

While Emma followed Charles around when he was a kid (along with Robbie and James) she is determined not to do so now. It was so bad when she was a child that the other boys nicknamed her Shadow. The story is fun, and also there are some hidden twists and turns. While the villain is again obvious exactly what he is up to is not obvious until much later in the story.

Laughable and just a wonderful bit of fun I guarantee you will find yourself laughing out loud. When the Marquis first asks for Emma’s hand in marriage she throws a ceramic dog at his head. It’s nice to see a lady who fights with her feelings, and really wants nothing more than love. She doesn’t want a title; she doesn’t want to just be any mans broodmare. So come and follow the granddaughter of an Earl the daughter of a Vicar as she is chased by the handsome Naked Marquis I promise you will enjoy it.

Book Review: Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James


Eloisa James concludes her romance series about orphaned sisters in Regency England with the most wild-hearted of the lot, Josephine Essex.

Only a month into her season debut, and Josie’s already a social pariah—thanks to the nasty gossip of a neighbor. With her chances of making a match growing slimmer by the minute, help comes in the form of a family friend eager to teach Josie the art of flirtation. But Garret Langham, the infamous Earl of Mayne, may not be the most suitable teacher….

First off, to convince Josie of her allure, Garret delivers a simple kiss that turns decidedly passionate. His lesson works all too well, and soon Josie is swamped with admirers—which is too bad since Garret has decided that no man will ever have her heart…but him. Explicit sex.

The final chapter in the Essex sister story is a grand one. It has a little bit of everything you would expect to see in it. And I have to say that few books ever make me laugh out loud, and yet this book at several points made me laugh so hard I thought I was going to cry.

The beginning starts out a bit sad, poor Josie the youngest of the sisters hates her body, and has been dubbed the Scottish sausage which is a horrible nickname. And of course there for the Ton all avoid her, no young men her age will ask her to dance and only the older men her sisters or chaperone can rustle up will dance with her. The biggest crime is that she sees herself as fat. And Josie is anything but. She’s not fat; she is beautiful like a real woman.

It’s a horrid corset she wears that makes her appear stuffed. Well, enter Garrett the Earl of Mayne. I loved him in the other books when he popped up. He is a rakehell who isn’t feeling like much of a rakehell anymore. He is engaged but none the less he kisses Josie, and shows her what its like to be a real woman. She taking his teaching well gets rid of the corset and indeed becomes a woman who leaves young men slavering after her. She has the body of a Madonna, and she has just a fun personality.

Follow this story is a true romp of fun, and finding love where you would least expect it. Mayne has had a little dabble in with all of the Essex’s sisters in one form or another. Who would have guessed that he would have one with Josie as well? There is a particularly funny scene in which Mayne believing Josie has been ravished picks her up while she is asleep. Josie wakes and proceeds to slug him, giving him a black eye. What a fine way to say hello to a gentleman.

But Mayne can have a good laugh too as Josie’s expense including a time in which he dumps a glass of water over his head and startles Josie into thinking he is a ghost. The romance is there as well, and there is love to be found for everyone. Even Griselda whom who have followed as a widow through it all does indeed find her own happy ending. If you have enjoyed the other books in this series, you must read this one. And if you haven’t read the others, I recommend you do so you can read this one as well. You will not be sorry in the least. You will laugh, cry and enjoy it.

Book Review: The Naked Duke by Sally Mackenzie


Sophisticated. Scandalous. In fact, Miss Sarah Hamilton, a proper Philadelphian, finds London society altogether shocking. How can it be that she has awakened from her innocent slumber to find herself in bed next to a handsome — exceedingly naked — man? The laughing onlookers standing in the doorway are no help whatsoever and surely this amorous lunatic cannot be a duke, as he claims. She is compromised — though she certainly will not marry him!

James, the Duke of Alvord, is enchanted by his unexpected bedmate — and not at all afraid of her pink-cheeked fury. True, the circumstances and place of their meeting are most unusual, but the spirited American who’s pummeling him with a pillow is an incomparable beauty. If Sarah will only listen to his perfectly rreasonable explanation, James is sure that he can capture her heart … forever.

The first thing anyone can say about The Naked Duke is the fact that this is not your mother’s bodice ripper. There is a fair amount of violence in this novel, from rape and murder to attempted rape, and assault and more murder. But that being said the novel itself is very well written and these added elements while making it a little harsher also make it more exciting.

Sarah Hamilton is not your typical heroine of a romance book. She is from America and goes to England when her father dies to see her uncle the Earl. Sarah finds out when she arrives that her uncle has died, and all she’s left with for family is her drunkard rake of a cousin. But don’t count Robbie as a complete sot yet he does come through in the end. Sarah is also older and very naive raised relatively sheltered life with some spinsters. But in the end that doesn’t stop her traitorous body from reacting to what she feels.

The Duke of Alvord is an even more of an unlikely person to find in real life let alone in a romance novel. As a 30 year old male, his nickname spread by his vicious cousin Richard is Monk, and shockingly well deserved. But I find these facts to be refreshing in a romance novel. These two people who are relatively innocent in the ways of the bed sheets find themselves unexplainably drawn to one another. It’s nice to see them fight and struggle with it, like a normal person would. Struggling to keep a claim on their morals when wanting to give into the desire that flames between them.

The Naked Duke is an excellent read and if you’re looking for something a little fresh in your historical romance genre this book will do it for you. It is a part of the “Naked” series, and I think it’s a great start to the series. Based on this book I plan without a doubt to continue on and see what the other naked fellows are up to.

Book Review: Conversations with a Fat Girl by Liza Palmer


Everyone seems to be getting on with their lives–except Maggie. At 27, she’s still working at the local coffee house, while her friends are getting married, having babies, and building careers. Even Olivia, Maggie’s best friend from childhood, is getting married to her doctor boyfriend. Maggie, on the other hand, lives with her dog Solo, and has no romantic prospects, save for the torch she carries for Domenic, the busboy. Though Maggie and Olivia have been best friends since their “fattie” grade school years, Olivia’s since gone the gastric-bypass surgery route, in hopes of obtaining the elusive size two, the holy grail for fat girls everywhere. So now Olivia’s thin, blonde, and betrothed, and Maggie’s the fat bridesmaid. Ain’t life grand? In this inspiring debut novel, Maggie speaks to women everywhere who wish for just once that they could forget about their weight.


Liz Palmer has written a book that a lot of people can identify with. And not just the chubbier set either; I feel that we all have body issues. We all have things that make us self conscious and we see in a harder light than others and we have that internal monologue about. I know I do! Maggie is an inspirational character; she admits her flaws and admits that her plans to fix he flaws are also often flawed.

While I enjoyed the story of Maggie, and how she goes through her own self discovery. The painful finding out of just what her friendship with her now very skinny friend Olivia has come down to. The book does have some problems. I will state again that over all I did truly enjoy the story, it as heartfelt and funny at times and sad in other points.

That said some things can not be overlooked. The fact that Maggie really should have realized much earlier that her friend Olivia was not what she seemed is one of them. The other huge issue I have with this book is that the ending really is a non ending. You feel like your left hanging and going, “Now what?” when you finish it. I don’t think all books wrap up in a nice little package with a bow but they should wrap up. Even if you’re not getting a happy ending you need a proper ending.

There is some romance in the book but it is mostly light. And I personally feel even in that you are left hanging. There is a good solid set of characters, and the development of them is very good. So over all if you like chic lit and like something witty check this book out. Just be warned that it doesn’t have a true ending.

Book Review: Kiss Me, Annabel by Eloisa James


The RULES OF MARRIAGE…according to Miss Annabel Essex
A husband must be:
RICH.
Make that very rich. She’s had enough of leaky roofs and thread-worn clothing.
ENGLISH
London is the center of the civilized world, and Annabel has a passion for silk and hot water.
AMIABLE.
Good-looking would be nice, but not necessary. Same for intelligent.

Isn’t she lucky? She’s found just the man! And her chosen spouse is nothing like the impoverished Scottish Earl of Ardmore, who has nothing but his gorgeous eyes, his brain — and his kisses — to recommend him.
So what cruel twist of fate put her in a carriage on her way to Scotland with just that impoverished earl and all the world thinking they’re man and wife? Sleeping in the same bed? Not to mention the game of words started by the earl — in which the prize is a kiss. And the forfeit…

Well. They are almost married, after all!


Kiss me; Annabel is the second book in Eloisa James’s hot Essex sister’s series. In addition, I can say without a doubt that it does not disappoint. I came upon this series accidentally and read the third book before I knew it was a series. However, finding out that it was I happily picked up the others. In addition, have yet to be disappointed.

Annabel is by far the most greedy of the Essex sisters, seeking to trade her good looks much like a courtesan does for a mans favor. Nevertheless, she is not content to be improper about it she will give her beauty only to a rich Englishman who will marry her. But she gets a shock when a handsome Scotsmen not only gets in her path but there is a scandal and she must marry him.

This book was so fun and so touching, I really enjoyed it and had a fun time reading it. The author even states that it is loosely based on Shakespeare taming of the shrew and I do not have a bit of trouble believing that. When you read it, you will know what I mean. However, in all honestly it is a very easy to follow read, in the historical romance genre Eloisa James stands out.

The writing has a fun flare to it, and you find some mysteries wrapped in. Nothing to deep but still a little something to make it fun. Moreover, the secondary characters of this story are just as fun to follow around as the main characters. If you are a fan of historical romance, and England and Scotland, you really do need to read this book. You follow the women around from country to country, and see just what Annabel ends up marrying for. Love? Money? Or both.


Book Review: All the numbers by Judy Merrill Larsen

“How much do you love me?” Daniel asked his mother.

“I love you all the numbers.”

What begins as a sunny August afternoon on a bucolic lake turns into a tragedy when a Jet Ski swerves fatally close to shore. It’s a day Ellen Banks could never have prepared for … a day no mother should ever have to live through.

The moment her son James is killed, Ellen must face the unimaginable while trying to remain strong for her older son, Daniel, who witnessed the fateful accident and blames himself. Ellen’s shock and grief soon give way to defiance as lawyers and policemen who once vowed to support Ellen’s desire for justice succumb to political pressure and back away. Still, Ellen is determined to see the reckless young man pay for his crime and to heal her family’s deep wounds. But first, she must heal herself.

An unforgettable journey of power and emotion, All the Numbers poignantly depicts a woman’s reckoning with her own vulnerability and finding in the wisdom of motherhood the redemptive grace to begin again.


All the numbers is a masterfully written book. Judy Merrill Larsen takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of a family’s grief of losing an 11 year old boy named James. We first come upon Ellen when the event has already happened; right away the book pulls you into its emotional current and prepares you to hang on.

From that emotional beginning we move backwards and start where the evens would begin. We follow Ellen as she does the regular things we all do, she goes to the DMV and has a scuffle with the clerk about coffee. She goes shopping; she picks up her kids and listens to their demands. Don’t all of us do these same things everyday? And most of all she is looking forward to the yearly trip to the cabin. How she to know this was would be the summer all of it would change? How would any of us know?

You will cry when you read this book. You will cry as you watch Ellen make choices none of us would want to have to make about her youngest son and his death. You will cry when you see how she tries, and sometimes fails to be strong for her older son Daniel. Judy Merrill Larsen writes this book in such a way you can not help but picture it all. You can not help yourself but to feel the true raw emotion behind it.

Ellen also learns a lesson in that family is not always just blood. Her friends that’s she has known for many years stand by her through all of it. Anna and Sam are like rocks to her, and a friend she didn’t know could be made in a nurse named Laurie from the hospital. As the story continues the grief of fighting for a criminal trial introduces her to a wonderful lawyer named Bob. She feels guilty for her feelings towards him. Guilty that her sons death should bring her close to someone who might bring her happiness.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something good to read. The content is heavy, but it does have its bright points. There are happy moments, in memories and in learning how to live again after tragedy. This book teaches you that although life will not be the same, you can still live it.

Book Review: Fashionista’s Lynn Messina

At Fashionista, all is fair in fashion and war. Life at Fashionista magazine can be a real bitch. Especially when you work for one. Vig Morgan finally worked her way out of the assistant-for-the-bitch-from-hell trenches only to get stuck in a sea of editors. But Vig isn’t like the other associate editors at the aggressively hip and overwhelmingly current Fashionista magazine. For one thing, she couldn’t care less which star wore which designer to which party. Sure, she’s clever and witty — and just as ambitious as the next over qualified underpaid underling, but she would never get drawn into a plot to depose the evil editor-in-chief. Or would she? Jump with Vig into the choppy waters of scheming, backstabbing, free speech, flirtation and fashion, as the lackeys at the bottom of the masthead band together to take down the queen at the top, with some unexpected — but not necessarily unpleasant — results.

Lynna Messina has to be one of the funniest authors I have ever read. I picked up this book not sure what to think as I had not read any of the authors work yet. Well that is going to change, and it’s going to change soon. Fashionistas is a hilariously funny romp through the vapid world of glossy magazines.

Vig Morgan is a low totem pole employee at Fashionista who gets brought into a plan that in the beginning she wants not mart of. The plan is to get rid of the mean tyrannical boss Jane. And replace her with the seemingly nice people friendly Marguerite. You will join Vig as she travels through dealing with the plot and keeping the rest of her life on track.

If you are a chic lit fan you can not possibly miss this book. Vig is funny and witty and gets herself into some interesting scrapes. Her love life reminds me a little bit of Bridget Jones, she is always complaining that the only men she is attracted to are the emotionally unavailable kind. Enter Alex Keller the mean ogre from that office that no one sees who turns out to be devastatingly handsome.

I honestly had trouble putting this book down because it was so good. I was literally laughing out loud at several points thanks to the witty dry way that Vig sees everything. She seems to be a polar opposites of her best friend Maya who makes several appearances to the reader and is just as funny. If you’re looking for a fun and fast read that will bring a smile to your face I recommend Fashionistas. I guarantee you will have a sore face from smiling so much when you read this book.

Book Review: True Stories of Law and Order by Kevin Dwyer & Jure Fiorillo

True Stories of Law and Order

The crimes,the suspects,the trials,-as they really went down.

I used to read true crime all the time. In recent years I have taken a break from that genre and branched out. That being said I am still a huge Law and Order watcher, and having had this book in my TBR for a while I decided to read it.

And I picked the right book to read. True Stories of Law & Order picks 25 of the better known stories to tell you. It gives you the “ripped from the headlines” look at how Law & Order played it, than tells you the real story. This book spares no details I the telling of each of these stories. While some of them are more exciting than others, I know I was riveted to the page every time I flipped it.

If you have a weak stomach I do not recommend reading this book. Many of the stories give the very grizzly details, and several involve young children. But if you can handle such details and are a fan of the True Crime genre this is a book for you. To me it was very interesting to get the true facts behind some of the Law & Order episodes I liked best. I also found it interesting to see just how much they changed things, or didn’t.

One nice thing that the book also has is the occasional sidebar of extra information. It takes the time to explain some of the cop and lawyer lingo and tells you just how much it is actually used in real work. Or as in the case of some actions is not legal to use at all. If you enjoy this kind of book and are looking for a riveting read go out and pick up this book.


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