Book Review - "Juliet"

Juliet by Anne Fortier

First time novelist Fortier takes us on a journey to Siena, Italy, in this gem of a novel featuring reluctant heroine Julie Jacobs.

The story begins with the death of Julie’s beloved Aunt Rose, who raised Julie and her snobby twin sister Janice, after the early death of their parents in Italy. Janice is left with the house and estate while Julie is bequeathed with next to nothing – just a passport, plane ticket, key, and a secret – her real name is Guilietta Tolomei.

Arriving in Siena, Julie discovers that she is a descendant of the Tolomei and Salimbenis families of Siena, Shakespeare’s inspiration for the feuding families of Romeo and Juliet. The feud is still going strong, some 600 years later, as Julie soon finds herself immersed in discovering the truth of her family and her famous ancestor, the original Giulietta Tolomei.

The story bobs and weaves between Julie’s present and Guilietta’s 14^th century past with great detail. Fortier has created a fast-paced and romantic novel that reads like the DaVinci Code, complete with historic relics such as a painting, journal, knife, and ring that are clues to solving the mystery. Check it out today!

Romance titles for Valentine's Day!

Love is in the air! And make sure you come to the library to get your fix on romance! May I suggest:

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
Mark Nolan's happy-go-lucky bachelorhood is interrupted by the death of his sister and his subsequent guardianship of her six-year-old daughter, Holly, who is traumatized into muteness and desperately seeking a maternal figure. Enter Maggie Collins, a toy shop owner who lost her own husband to cancer.


When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer
Handsome wastrel Lord Harry Traemore is drafted into a wager in which one unlucky bachelor must marry, unless his mistress wins the title of "The Most Delectable Companion." When Harry's mistress abandons him, he's forced to bring his childhood foe, Lady Molly Fairbanks, to the wager.



Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer
A new schoolteacher has a small 1880s Nebraska town up in arms over her newfangled teaching methods in this charming prairie romance.




Ransom my Heart by Meg Cabot
Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast. Hugo Fitzstephen, returning home to England from the Crusades with saddlebags of jewels, has money, and lots of it. What could be simpler than to kidnap him and hold him for ransom? Well, for starters, Finnula could make the terrible mistake of falling in love with her hostage.

Book Review - Never Less than a Lady

Never Less than a Lady by Mary Jo Putney

Regency romance novels have been published for decades, and I for one never tire of them. They may be considered "fluff", but when I'm finished with the stresses of the day, there is nothing more I like to do than curl up with a tale of Edwardian-era chivalry, manners, and of course, romance.

Never Less than a Lady is the second in a series titled "Lost Lords." This book begins with Major Alexander Randall coming to the rescue of Mrs. Julia Bancroft, whose wicked former father-in-law wants to see her dead. In order to keep Julia safe, Randall propses marriage, which Julia has no choice to accept. Of course, this is not the ending by any means. Julia is actually the disowned daughter of a duke, and that leads to some new problems.

The book is light and fun and of course leads to a happy ending. Check it out today!

Review - Stephanie Plum series

Janet Evanovich's newest Stephanie Plum novel, "Sizzling Sixteen" will be out in June and it's sure to be a bestseller, just like the other nineteen or so books of the series. So why not find out what everyone is talking (and laughing) about?

It's never too late to become a Stephanie Plum fan, and I became just that a few months ago when I picked up Evanovich's "One for the Money" and began reading. The series centers around New Jersey-born Stephanie Plum, an unemployed lingerie buyer who decides to go to work for her cousin Vinnie as a bounty hunter in order to make a quick buck. Unfortunately for Stephanie, and all who are around her, she is a bit of a walking disaster when it comes to nabbing her man (or woman) and she finds herself in scrapes more often than not. You will love Evanovich's plethora of irresistible characters and storylines that are laugh-out-loud funny.

Here's the first few in the series to get you started:
1. One for the Money
2. Two for the Dough
3. Three to Get Deadly
4. Four to Score
5. High Five

Book Review - "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella

"Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella

Lara is a sweet yet slightly naive Londoner who has been given the unfortunate task of tracking down her recently deceased great-aunt's necklace.  Of course, it wouldn't be so unfortunate if the one demanding the necklace was none other than Great-Aunt Sadie herself, appearing to Lara in the prime of her life as a 1920s flapper!  Although the relationship is rocky at first (why wouldn't it be with a brash and nagging ghost?), Lara and Sadie discover love and respect for one another by the end.

If you've enjoyed Kinsella's other books (notably the Shopaholic series), I really think you'll like this book.  It has a little bit for everyone (chick lit, paranormal, mystery, and romance), so I urge you to pick this one up today!