High Heel Series by Gemma Halliday

L.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. And things only get worse when her boyfriend disappears - along with $20 million in embezzled funds - and her every move is suddenly under scrutiny by the LAPD's sexiest cop. With the help of her post-menopausal bridezilla of a mother, a 300 pound psychic and one seriously oversexed best friend, Maddie finds herself stepping out of her stilettos and onto the trail of a murderer. But can she catch a killer before the killer catches up to her...

These books are along the same lines as the Janet Evonovich books. Fun, quick, and silly. I got the first one free on my Kindle and read the rest in the same weekend. There is a little bit of language and some not to detailed love scenes.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs entered domestic service in 1910 at thirteen, working for Lady Rowan Compton. When her remarkable intelligence is discovered by her employer, Maisie becomes the pupil of Maurice Blanche, a learned friend of the Comptons. In 1929, following an apprenticeship with Blanche, Maisie hangs out her shingle: M. DOBBS, TRADE AND PERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS. She soon becomes enmeshed in a mystery surrounding The Retreat, a reclusive community of wounded WWI veterans. At first, Maisie only suspects foul play, but she must act quickly when Lady Rowan's son decides to sign away his fortune and take refuge there. Maisie hurriedly investigates, uncovering a disturbing mystery, which, in an astonishing denouement, gives Maisie the courage to confront a ghost that has haunted her for years.

I loved this book. I thought it was a fun and interesting read. It did however break my heart to think of all those poor men who fought in WWI. If they came home, none of them came home the same!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Socity By Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I LOVED this book. It is written all in letters and is the story of an woman writer and friends she makes from the Island of Guernsey and there amazing stories of the occupation of their small island.

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophi Kinsella

With the same wicked humor, buoyant charm, and optimism that have made her Shopaholic novels beloved international bestsellers, Sophie Kinsella delivers a hilarious new novel and an unforgettable new character. Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:

Secrets from her mother:
I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur.
Sammy the goldfish in my parents’ kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.

Secrets from her boyfriend:
I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks.
I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

From her colleagues:
When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.

Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world:
My G-string is hurting me.
I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.

Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.

But come Monday morning, Emma’s office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from
the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn’t possibly get worse—Until they do. (from Here)

LOVED this one VERY funny! Again I read it in a day, again adult language and themes.

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed.

Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all.

Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? (from Here )

I really like this book and finished it in a day. I thought it was pretty funny and a fun story. There is some language and some adult themes.

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Valancy lives a drab life with her overbearing mother and prying aunt. Then a shocking diagnosis from Dr.Trent prompts her to make a fresh start. For the first time, she does and says exactly what she feels. As she expands her limited horizons, Valancy undergoes a transformation, discovering a new world of love and happiness. One of Lucy Maud Montgomery's only novels intended for an adult audience, The Blue Castle is filled with humour and romance. (From http://books.google.com/books?id=yGoxgtO0HNoC ) I love this book. It is typical overly romanticised Lucy Maud Montgomery , but, I love that!

The Darcy Connection by Elizabeth Aston

I preferred this story to Mr Darcy's Daughters. It is about Mr and Mrs Collins Daughters and their first London season.
These books all seem to follow the same formula, but, I find them to be fun quick reads.

Mr Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston

This book follows Elizabeth and Mr Darcy's daughters through their first London season. Lizzy and Mr Darcy are abroad and their daughters are staying in London with Mr. Fitzwilliam and his wife.
This is a fun easy read. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice you will probably like it. It is not the best writing, but, a fun story.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall begins from and eventually returns to the point of view of gentle Gilbert Markham as he endures what he thinks is an unrequited love of the mysterious and independent Helen Graham. But as the story progresses, a far more interesting tale emerges from the pages of Helen's own journal. In this novel within a novel, we learn of Helen's painful past as the devoted, devout, and often tortured wife of the handsome, alcoholic scoundrel she unwisely chose to marry. ( from http://muruch.blogspot.com/2008/10/anne-bronte-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.html )

It has been a long time since I read this, but, I was thinking about it again and thought it needed a post. I love this book. I thought it was an interesting and well told story! I also love the movie if you get a chance to see it, do!

Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The book starts three months after the end of Peter and the Starcatchers.^[3] Slank returns to the island with more of the Others, including a certain Lord Ombra, to reclaim the trunk of starstuff lost in the previous book. When they learn that the Starcatchers have taken the trunk back to England, they set sail for London. Peter follows, fearing for Molly's safety, and with Tinker Bell's help conceals himself on their ship.

Once in London, Peter does not know where to find Molly. After unpleasant encounters with beggars, traders and the police, Peter finally gets directions from J. M. Barrie to Lord Aster's house, and rescues Molly from Lord Ombra in the nick of time. However, Louise Aster -Molly's mother- has been kidnapped by the Others, and the children must find Lord Aster who is guarding the starstuff.

Meanwhile, back on the island, the pirates are hunting the Lost Boys. They capture the boys to use as bait for Peter, not knowing he is not on the island. (from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_the_Shadow_Thieves)

I Liked the first book more, but, I really did enjoy this story also. I will be reading the third book in the series soon!

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.
from http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/thehost.html

I read this in about two days. It is not the best book ever written, but, I like it. I thought it was entertaining. It is not too sci-fi and I think it is better writing then Twilight. It is a fun read if you don't expect too much.

Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors

In 1632, the Emperor of Hindustan, Shah Jahan, consumed by grief over the death of his empress, Mumtaz Mahal, ordered the building of a grand mausoleum to symbolize the greatness of their love. Against scenes of unimaginable wealth and power, murderous sibling rivalries, and cruel despotism, Princess Jahanara tells the extraordinary story of how the Taj Mahal came to be, describing her own life as an agent in its creation and as a witness to the fateful events surrounding its completion.

To escape a brutal arranged marriage, Jahanara must become the court liaison to Isa, architect of the Taj Mahal. She is soon caught between her duty to her mother's memory, the rigid strictures imposed upon women, and a new, though forbidden, love. With exceptional courage, Jahanara dares to challenge the bigotry and blindness at court in an effort to spare the empire from civil war, and to save her father from his bellicose son, Aurangzeb, a man whose hatred would extinguish the Islamic enlightenment from the Mughal Empire. To do so she must enlist her Hindu friend, Ladli, and her guardian, Nizam, as spies, and urge her brother, Dara, the designated heir to the throne, down from the ivory tower of his philosophical inquiries. The stakes become ever greater when Jahanara must deceive her husband as to the true father of her child, and must protect those closest to her from her enemies' retaliation.

As a princess and a mother, as a sister and a daughter, Jahanara will find herself faced time and again with impossible choices, and will discover the real meaning of her regal birthright. In Beneath a Marble Sky John Shors recreates an historical Hindustan brimming with breathtaking intrigue and containing the secret truth of the Taj Mahal for a world still in awe of its enduring majesty. (from http://www.beneathamarblesky.com/thestory.html)

I bought this book because I thought it was this one. I was however very glad I read it I liked it very much.

Devil in the White City By Erik Larson

Their fates were linked by the magical Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, nicknamed the “White City” for its majestic beauty. Architect Daniel Burnham built it; serial killer Dr. H. H. Holmes used it to lure victims to his World’s Fair Hotel, designed for murder. Both men left behind them a powerful legacy, one of brilliance and energy, the other of sorrow and darkness.

Here, then, is your ticket to the greatest fair in history—a place where incredible dreams came to life alongside darkest nightmares.

Bringing Chicago circa 1893 to vivid life, Erik Larson's spellbinding bestseller intertwines the true tale of two men--the brilliant architect behind the legendary 1893 World's Fair, striving to secure America's place in the world; and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction. ( Excerpts from the Devil in the White city website)

I loved this book. Two story's play out every other chapter and I found both fascinating.

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

In this ambitious debut novel, fact and fiction blend together brilliantly. While scholars have largely relegated Mamah to a footnote in the life of America’s greatest architect, author Nancy Horan gives full weight to their dramatic love story and illuminates Cheney’s profound influence on Wright. 



Drawing on years of research, Horan weaves little-known facts into a compelling narrative, vividly portraying the conflicts and struggles of a woman forced to choose between the roles of mother, wife, lover, and intellectual. Horan’s Mamah is a woman seeking to find her own place, her own creative calling in the world. Mamah’s is an unforgettable journey marked by choices that reshape her notions of love and responsibility, leading inexorably ultimately lead to this novel’s stunning conclusion. 


"Well, I must agree that Loving Frank is an excellent choice for a book club. I could talk about this book for a couple of weeks! I disliked the main characters from the start of the book. Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah were two very selfish people! Having said that...I couldn't put the book down. The writing is wonderful and the ending hit me right between the eyes. My husband is a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's work and I caught him scanning the book several times. :o) I am researching non-fiction books on Wright's personal life. Thank you for sending the book. I know my book club will be reading this one!"
—Glenda Spivey, Prima Divas, Tupelo, MS

Robert Twombly, author, description of Mamah: "She was a noble woman who valued her freedom more than motherhood, wifehood, or chastity, and who had the courage to live by her convictions." Frank Lloyd Wright: An Interpretive Biography, page 136.
(Excerpts from the Loving Frank website)
I loved this book even though the main character was selfish in my opinion. It is an interesting story that lots of people do not know.

Peter and the Starcatchers By Dave Barry and Riddly Pearson

Peter was the leader of the orphan boys because he was the oldest – or so he claimed. And because he could spit the farthest. Not that it did him much good, shipped off aboard a leaky old bilge bucket to be the servant of a tyrant king.But Peter and his mates aren't the only ones on the Never Land...Why is a trunk holding "the greatest treasure on earth" aboard the stinking, worm-ridden ship? Does it contain gold, jewels – or something far more mysterious and dangerous? And what is Molly, the beautiful daughter of a rich diplomat, hiding from Peter? (this is a summery from someone else but I forgot who and can't find it again. I will keep trying)

I really liked this book it was a fun quick read and is the first in a series of three. It is the story of how Peter becomes Peter Pan and Neverland becomes what it is. I have not read the others yet so if someone who has wants to post about them that would be great!

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

If you want to immerse yourself in a complex and mysterious culture, read Arthur Golden's first novel, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Steven Speilberg just bought the rights to this novel, a wise move since the story is full of vivid images and brisk action.
The story follows the life of a young Japanese girl, Chiyo, as she is sold into slavery during the Great Depression. It begins in a small fishing village as the 9-year-old's father sells her and her sister, Satsu, to a local businessman. Because of her unusual grey eyes, Chiyo is then sold to an okiya, a geisha house, while Satsu is sold into prostitution.
It is amazing that Golden, an American male, has so eloquently portrayed the life of a Japanese geisha. He captures the emotions of his characters perfectly while describing Japanese life.
Chiyo initially rebels. But when she learns that her sister has escaped without her and her parents have died she accepts her fate. She struggles to find independence within the strict world of the geisha and climbs to the top of geisha society, only to crash during World War II. She then starts over and finds independence through her patrons.
Golden fills the book with vivid images and subtle descriptions of the nuances of Japanese culture, and is absolutely brilliant in his description of the customs and rituals of the geisha. Through the meticulous detail the reader can fully understand the politics, rivalries, and traditions of the Japan geisha society.
But while Golden captures your attention with information, this is also the book's minor downside. With so much detail you almost get bogged down by the numerous definitions of Japanese terms. But if you hang in, the action picks up and you will start to cheer for Chiyo as she continues her struggle. Golden explores the concept of freedom within a slavelike society as Chiyo uses her brains more than her beauty to make an independent life for herself.

Review by Ann Hastings

I Loved this book. I thought it was an interesting and well told story.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century—1951—in the middle of the United States—Des Moines, Iowa—in the middle of the largest generation in American history—the baby boomers. As one of the best and funniest writers alive, he is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24-carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero. In his case, he ran around his house and neighborhood with an old football jersey with a thunderbolt on it and a towel about his neck that served as his cape, leaping tall buildings in a single bound and vanquishing awful evildoers (and morons)—in his head—as "The Thunderbolt Kid." Using this persona as a springboard, Bill Bryson re-creates the life of his family and his native city in the 1950s in all its transcendent normality—a life at once completely familiar to us all and as far away and unreachable as another galaxy. It was, he reminds us, a happy time, when automobiles and televisions and appliances (not to mention nuclear weapons) grew larger and more numerous with each passing year, and DDT, cigarettes, and the fallout from atmospheric testing were considered harmless or even good for you. He brings us into the life of his loving but eccentric family, including affectionate portraits of his father, a gifted sportswriter for the local paper and dedicated practitioner of isometric exercises, and OF his mother, whose job as the home furnishing editor for the same paper left her little time for practicing the domestic arts at home. The many readers of Bill Bryson’s earlier classic, A Walk in the Woods, will greet the reappearance in these pages of the immortal Stephen Katz, seen hijacking literally boxcar loads of beer. He is joined in the Bryson gallery of immortal characters by the demonically clever Willoughby brothers, who apply their scientific skills and can-do attitude to gleefully destructive ends. (from Random House website)

I thought this book was so good I was laughing through most of it. I was also amazed at how different life is now it really has not been that long!

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is Probably my Favorite. I love this story so much. I don't know why but I think I like it more the Pride and Prejudice.

Atonement

I liked this book for the most part. It was very...wordy, if that makes sense. It is a good story but there is not a lot of conversation. There are a lot of sections where we are reading what the charecters are thinking. Overall it was a good but slow read for me.