Can totally be read as a stand alone, but works brilliantly as a companion novel with Bound By Your Touch that I read and reviewed in June of 2009. I love Meredith's writing. So intelligent, poetic, and incredibly creative with her characters and their stories. Phin and Mina were so unique and somewhat quirky in their natures. They were both strong, independent, and stubborn, but also very sensitive. Phin is the perfect man for Mina. Their happily ever after came as a surprise to both of them, I think, as neither of them were looking for or expecting to fall in love. It held that much more meaningful to them both... and to me.
2. Surrender Of A Siren by Tessa Dare.
The second novel in a historical romance trilogy by debut author Tessa Dare, this story follows the journey of Sophia Hathaway after she has jilted Toby Aldridge a few short days before their marriage and runs away on a ship bound for the West Indian island Tortola. Toby was not necessarily a poor candidate for marriage, but Sophia is a sensual, emotional woman who is determined to marry only for love. She has spent her life putting on the front of the proper, dutiful young woman, but in truth it has been a life of lies. She so desperately wants to see the world and experience life on a primal level. She wants to see it, hear it, smell it, taste it, touch it . . . and capture it on canvas. She finds a ship bound for Tortola and tricks the owner of a ship--Gray Grayson and then the captain of the ship--Captain Joss Grayson, that she is the new governess for an English family living on the island and sets out on this voyage across the sea as a paid passenger. On the long voyage across the sea, Sophia and Gray fall in love, but their story is a journey with many ups and downs that mirror the ship's wake over the swells of the ocean. It is a sensual and romantic story of first true loves for both characters that is fun, sweet, sexy and just melts your heart by the time they get their happily ever after. The story is beautifully written and very romantic.
3. A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare.
The third and final novel in the historical romance trilogy by debut author Tessa Dare, this is the love story of Toby Aldridge and Isabel or 'Bel' Grayson, the half sister of Gray Grayson and Joss Grayson from Surrender Of A Siren. In order to exact revenge on Gray Grayson for 'stealing' his betrothed in Surrender Of A Siren, Toby is determined to marry Bel in order to steal Gray's little sister from him. Bel finds her happiness and life goals in serving the charitable needs of children and the oppressed poor and decides she will marry a man of societal prominence in order to get her voice heard and her mission served. On a bed of lies and empty promises, Toby convinces Bel he is that person for her and they promptly wed, much to the annoyance of both of Bel's half brothers, Gray and Joss.
Neither Toby nor Bel expected to be swept away by their shared passion for love between the sheets, and most of all they didn't expect or plan to fall deeply in love with each other. Eventually Toby's lies catch up to him and their happily ever after becomes just a dream of what could have been. Unless both open their eyes and hearts to what is really important in life.
I love Tessa Dare's writing. So beautiful, poetic and epic, yet also feels so natural, simple and very real. There is humor, action and most of all richly drawn characters in a perfectly articulated world that sweeps you away in the most romantic of tales with the sweetest happily ever afters.
4. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo.
Children's Literature
This is a children's chapter book for readers ages 9-12. Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite authors of children's literature, and this novel is written in a similar style and tone as her previous two novels, The Tale of Despereaux and my all time favorite, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. It is a bit of a sad tale, but also full of hope. About a young boy named Peter who lost all that was important to him on one ill fated day and how he came to have hope to get back at least a small part of what was important. With the help of some very unlikely acquaintances, he learns what it feels like to love and be loved, to be safe, to offer safety to someone and the power of hope and promises.
5. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
The Spellman Files series, Book 1
6. Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz.
The Spellman Files series, Book 2
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