The Optimized Woman: Using Your Menstrual Cycle to Achieve Success and Fulfillment by Miranda Gray
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book gave me some great ideas about how to deal with my cycle, allowing myself the rest I need sometimes, and taking advantage of the energy I feel at other times. I loved how there are many specific things to look for, and specific ideas to try. Continue reading
The Prisoner of Zenda / Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When Rudolf goes on vacation to Ruritania, he discovers that he is the King’s doppelganger. When the King is kidnapped by his evil half-brother, Duke Michael, Rudolf is persuaded to masquerade on the throne until the real King can be rescued. While Rudolf’s quick wit and steady nerves will help him to act as King, he is unprepared for the vagaries of the heart when he meets Princess Flavia.
I enjoyed both the books in this duology so much! The adventure, the espionage, the dashing heroes, the battles for honor and love, and of course, the beautiful Princess Flavia who inspires others to daring deeds of courage and loyalty. Continue reading
The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reuben is a city explorer, poking his nose into deserted alleys, climbing rooftops, and discovered hidden places. He finds a mysterious hidden clockwatch that leads him into adventure and danger. Reuben is hunted by the criminal mastermind, The Smoke, who is searching for the clock. Reuben must find out the secrets of the clockwatch and its origins before The Smoke and his henchmen, The Directions, find him and steal the clock.
Such a wonderful plot! I was interested to see how the mystery of the clockwatch played out, and I loved all the twists and turns. Continue reading
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book is charming and cute, but I am not a “dog” person, so most of it was bleh for me. If you love dogs, then you would love this story!
The story is wholesome and sweet, but there are many grammatical errors that had me cringing. When you say “He waked up” instead of “He woke up”, I’m definitely judging you.
The plot itself is interesting and fun, full of little adventures, but it’s also very predictable and obvious.
Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a cute little story about a kitten named Pinky who is abandoned on Fire Island, and adopted by the Pye family while they are on vacation there. Pinky and the other family cat, Gracie, are the only ones who know the secret hiding in the attic of the Pye’s vacation cottage. Pinky astonishes everyone on the island with her feline prowess and intelligence. The little family adventures keep the story interesting and fun!
The plot is fairly obvious, and the writing is nothing special; but the wholesome charm of this story kept me reading and enjoying it!
Hawksmaid: The Untold Story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian by Kathryn Lasky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Any story about Robin Hood is bound to be delightful, full of fun and adventure, but the addition of a Maid Marian who is obsessed with falconry, can talk to her hawks, and enlist their help in the fight against the evil Prince John… well, that is simply genius!
I adore Marian’s character, or Matty as she is known in her youth. She’s plucky and independent, brave and smart. She just wants to be one of the guys, hanging out with the Merry Men, doing the whole outlaw thing in Sherwood; and eventually, through her resourcefulness, she wins their respect and admiration. Continue reading
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh my goodness, I love this book so much! Based on the cover, I thought it was going to be this sweety cutesy teen romance, but it was so much more and had so many levels to the story. Blew me away! Plus, I always love fairytale retellings, and this one is the ‘Twelve Dancing Princesses’.
Azalea is the eldest of the princesses, who have just lost their mother. Since their grieving father is so distant and cold, the girls turn to dancing to remind them of their mother and comfort them in their grief. But the strict rules of Mourning won’t allow dancing, and the girls have to search the castle for a secret place to dance. Continue reading
Pericles by William Shakespeare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
King Antiochus declares that any suitor for his daughter’s hand in marriage must first answer a riddle, and if the suitor answers incorrectly, he forfeits his life. Everyone has failed to answer the riddle, until Prince Pericles comes along, and figures out that the riddle means that Antiochus is committing incest with his daughter.
Enraged at being found out, Antiochus tries to have Pericles assassinated, and Pericles flees to the sea. A storm wrecks his ship and he is cast ashore with only his armor at Pentapolis, where King Simonedes is holding a tournament for his daughter’s birthday. Pericles wins the tournament and weds Thaisa. Continue reading
Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mark Robarts, the vicar at Framley Parsonage, has a seemingly perfect life. He has the patronage of the great Lady Lufton, and the friendship of her son, Lord Lufton. He has a darling wife, Fanny, and lovely children, and everything a man could want on a moderate income.
But Mark becomes involved with the “wrong” sort of people, gamblers, debtors, and disreputable gentlemen of society. Mark’s kindness is taken advantage of, and his generosity lands him in a difficult money situation, which will be his ruin unless his high moral standards can eventually be his salvation. Continue reading
The Secrets of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Lucinda and Tyler are back for the summer at their mysterious Uncle’s farm. Lucinda is determined to become closer to the dragons, but with all the adventure and wild mystery going on, she barely has time to visit the dragons, until one of them reaches out to her in a surprising way.
Tyler continues his feud with the crusty Colin Needle, and both of them are snooping around the farm, spying on each other, desperate to find the secrets of the farm before the other. Continue reading
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