"The Red necklace" by Sally Gardner [5]

Paris 1789

While the aristocracy dine, dance, gossip, and

gamble their way to disaster, the poor and starving

dream of revolution.

Enter the boy Yann Margoza, destined to be a hero;

Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor;

Sido, unloved daughter of the foolish Marquis de Villeduval;

and the sinister Count Kalliovski, who holds

half the aristocracy in thrall to him.

The drama moves from Paris to London and back,

as the Revolution gathers momentum, and the hope of liberty

and the dream of equality are crushed

beneath the wheel of terror.

This is a story that has everything, murder, mystery, passion and even a little magic.

Beautifully written... you will breeze through this novel before you even realize that you have finished.

From the very start to the finish you are transported into the terrifying world of the French Revolution...

Her characters are people that you identify with straight away...

You eagerly encourage Yann to fulfill his destiny...

Your heart breaks for Sido, all she wants is to be loved by her cruel father...

You cringe when the evil Count Kalliovski comes calling at Sido's home to make her father an offer...

Laugh at the antics of Tetu and his friends...

This book leaves you wanting more...literally...

Her story continues with "The Sliver Blade"

For me it is a must read, totally captivating.

I rate this book 5 stars.

"Blackthorn's Betrayal' by Elizabeth Pulford [4]

Blackthorn's greatest desire -

to become a Trahern warrior -

is dangling within her reach.

Blackthorn must embark on a treacherous mission,

travelling deep into enemy territory, to infiltrate the Doane camp.

But the stakes are higher than she could ever imagine.

As the mission takes a sinister twist, her instincts are put to the ultimate test.

Second book in this young teen series.

It has been a few years since Blackthorn has gone to live in the forest

and she has learnt a great deal. Still her one wish, to be recognized as a Trahern warrior

is still not fulfilled. When a man named Esil comes with a certain mission for her, she feels it is the only way she can show that she is worthy of being a Trahern warrior.

Blackthorn still has much to learn and this mission will teach her that.

Another fast-paced adventure that the younger readers will enjoy.

Elizabeth Pulford writes with poetic flare... the story comes to life as you emerge yourself into it.

Plenty of action as well as lessons to be learn.

Great read.

I rated this book 4 stars.

In this series

1. Blackthorn

2. Blackthorn's Betrayal

"Blackthorn" by Elizabeth Pulford [4]

Following the death of her father,

a great Trahern warrior, Alyana is determined

to stay true to her heart and follow in his footsteps.

She flees the confines of her Uncle's

family to make a life for herself in

her beloved forest.

There, she becomes Blackthorn,

the warrior.

But life in the forest is tough

- it's a struggle just to survive.

What a great adventure novel for the young teens. This is a series of novels by this author.

With just over 200 pages I got through this book in a couple of hours, so it isn't too taxing for the kids to read.

As a young girl Alyana has always dreamed of being a warrior just like her father.

With his death she makes the decision to finally achieve this dream.

What she doesn't seem to count on is all the pitfall's that this brings.

For every young boy or girl who has dreamed of being a warrior this series is for them.

It is full of adventure ...

You have to believe in yourself...

and dare to dream...

I rate this book 4 stars.

"The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon [4]

In an abandoned Barcelona mansion David Martin is working himself to ill health

churning out steamy melodramas under a pseudonym, while yearning for the unattainable Cristina. When his own novel is published, to scathing reviews, David is close to despair.

Then he receives an extraordinary proposal from a reclusive French editor

named Andreas Corelli - a proposal that could bring hi great wealth and fame.

But David has discovered photographs and letters hidden in his house that hint at a sinister

mystery. And, like a slow poison, the history of the place seeps into his bones.

Fifth book read in the romance reading challenge.

What an interesting book this has turned out to be. I initially picked this book up because the cover intrigued me and when I read the back I thought I'd read it for this challenge. It hasn't turned out to be a romance in the true sense of romance novels, but nevertheless it does still come under that title....it has a lot of mystery woven into it too!

David Martin is a struggling author who writes short story's for the newspaper he is working for.

He is befriended by a well known author and taken under his wings. He meets and falls in love with Christina who's father is the driver for the novelist. Over the next 10 years or so of his life changes occur and decisions are made that don't bring him any closer to his beloved Christina.

Then one day he gets involved with a French author and his life takes a dramatic turn and it's a race to save all he loves.

This is a bewitching novel that will keep you guessing until the end and even then you'll

Intrigue, passion, humour and suspense it has it all. Thoroughly enjoyable novel that has twists and plots enough to keep anyone guessing and in between is this romance that is seemingly unattainable.

Well worth the read.

I rated this book 4 stars.

"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman [4]

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.

He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts.

There are dangers and adventures for Bod in the graveyard. But it is in the land of the living, that real danger lurks for it is there that the man Jack lives and he has already killed Bod's family.

"A truly captivating read."

I absolutely loved the movie "Stardust" and when Irish told me that it was the same author I had to read this book, for the read your name challenge.

What a wonderful sense of humour the author has...

All kids from the age of 10 and up would really enjoy reading this novel...

especially the boys!

Who would think that a child could be raised in a graveyard by ghosts and come out normal...

or does he?

Lots of adventure, secrets to uncover, and friendships to make.

Well worth reading.

I rate this book 4 stars.

[Hope he writes one to continue the story.]

Hey I've finished my first challenge...

The Season by Sarah MacLean (5)

Seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford doesn’t fit into the world of Regency London – she’s strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and she absolutely loathes dress fittings. Unfortunately, her mother has been waiting for years for Alex to be old enough to take part in the social whirlwind of a London Season so she can be married off to someone safe, respectable, wealthy, and almost certainly boring. But Alex is much more interested in adventure than romance.

Between sumptuous balls, lavish dinner parties and country weekends, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get entangled in her biggest scrape yet. When the Earl of Blackmoor is killed in a puzzling accident, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. It’s a mystery brimming with espionage, murder, and suspicion. As she and Gavin grow closer, will Alex’s heart be stolen in the process?

Well I blame Legs for the bags under my eyes today ....... lol ........ I stayed up until the wee hours reading this novel ....... And for a debut novel it is excellent ........

I love all the characters ....... Especially Blackmoor and Freddy ......... If you just want to be whisked away where Manners are everything ........ Men where either Gentlemen or scoundrels ....... Woman dancing all night and in between all that you have a murder mystery to solve as well .......

This is a gorgeous book to read ........ Nice and clean ........ But with a hint of cheekiness ...... A story of friendship between 3 girls .... And their parents search to find them a husband ....

Ok ...... AS you can see I loved it ........ If you haven't picked a copy up yet ........ Please do ....... And the hardbook cover is lovely ........ This book is definitely one for the book shelf ......

I rate this book 5*****

Books in order of Series

The Season

Hurray yes she is going to be doing 2 more to this Series .... Hopefully coming out 2010 !!

The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries) by L J Smith (4)

In book two of the first Vampire Diaries omnibus, The Struggle, Elena quickly realizes that the only thing more dangerous that being in love with a vampire is being desired by two. As Stefan struggles to suppress his instinctive thirst, Damon persists in his quest for Elena's heart. A dark turn of events forces Elena to risk her mortality to save one of her immortal suitors.

The second book in the series .... 'The Vampire Diaries' .... namely 'The Struggle' and as the title suggests it is a struggle for Elena to choose the right brother !!!

Really fast paced and I read it in a couple of hours ...... Loved it ...... And now have to go out and scout around for the next few books .........

Damon just doesn't seem to want to leave ....... He has his eyes set on Elena and no one else will do ........ Can Stefan protect her? ......... And will the towns people start to get suspicious?

Again really well written that you really don't want to put it down ....... I love the characters and you cannot help but love the bad boy Damon !!!

Another great fantasy read !!!

I rate this book 4****

Warning: There is some blood-drinking in this book !!

The Awakening (The Vampire Diaries) by L J Smith (4)

In book one of the first Vampire Diaries omnibus, The Awakening, Elena is a high school golden girl, the one boys want and girls want to be. And Elena is used to getting what she wants. When she meets handsome, haunted Stefan, he struggles to resist her because of his dark secret. Stefan is torn by guilt over his past, and mindful of the threat that his vengeful brother, Damon, poses to anyone Stefan gets close to. Soon Elena finds herself torn between two brothers—and in terrible danger.

This is another series that you have bound to have heard of because of the new series that just started based on the books. The Vampire Diaries Books have been out a while well before Twilight so it was interesting to see if there was any similarities with the two of them .....

The characters in the series are a little bit different than the book but I suppose it had to be fluffed out abit of TV ....... But don't get me wrong I am lovin the Tv series at the moment ...

Anyway back to the book ...... Elena is blond, feisty, and the queen bee of the school ... Everyone adorns her or wants to be her ...... Her parents died 3 years prior and her and her baby sister are now living with her Aunt .... Things start to change when a new mysterious boy starts to turn heads ...... But for some reason he is avoiding Elena ...... She is going to have to use all her womanly charms on in order to catch him ...

But then strange things start to happen around town ..... And the eerie feeling that someone is watching her ........ Enter handsome but bad Damon ...

I took me abit to get the character of Elena in my head because she is different than the character in the TV series ....... But she is one Strong lady :) ........

I really enjoyed the book and it flowed really well ... Interested on how the relationship between the two brothers develop as the books go on ....

So if you love your fantasy and Vampire Books this is a must series for you to own and read ....

I rate this book 4 ****

Books in the series in order:
The Awakening
The Struggle
The Fury
Dark Reunion
Nightfall

And just to wet your appetite here's a pic of the cast of 'The Vampire Diaries' check it out if you haven't already ....

"No Going Back" by Jonathon Langford [4]

The book club was offered to review a book that is about to be published in the states entitled

"No Going Back"

The story basically is about a young Latter-Day-Saint boy who discovers that he likes boys and how he deals with the beliefs he has and the feelings that come with this problem. He wants to be a good Mormon boy and he believes that being gay is wrong in God's eyes and his, but he has these overwhelming feelings that are hard to control.

The book goes into how his family feel about him coming out and also his best friend and how he deals with it as well as his family.

Having three boys of my own this story touched my heart. While I personally feel being gay is wrong, I don't feel it is right to persecute others who wish to explore this way of life.

I thought the author did a good job of writing from a boys point of view and as a mum it helped me a little to see where they are coming from.

I was a little disappointed with the way that the author chose to use bad language in it. I don't think he dealt fairly with the reaction from the members in the ward or the bishop. I think that some people will have a hard time understanding some of the terminology, unless they have had some experience with the Mormon church.

Overall it was well written. To me though I think it is a young adult read, not for kids.

Well done for a first novel.

I'd rated this book 4 stars.

Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by Elizabeth Boyle [3 ]

What if all you have are the memories of a rake...

and the scandalous red dress that nearly brought you to ruin?

Reminders of the kisses he stole? Or his seductive, rakish smile as he charmed his way into your bed, stole your innocence and your heart? To proper and respectable Philippa, Lady Gossett,

such memories are best locked away. At least, so she thinks, until a stranger arrives

on her doorstep and offers her a chance to tempt fate once again...

to tempt Dash back into her life and quite possibly into her bed...

This is the third book in this series.

I actually struggled a little with this one for some reason...

It is written in the present which is 1837 and then goes back into the past of 1814.

While the flow between present and past isn't a problem, the story just doesn't quite grab you.

Pippin is the main character, she is the cousin to Tally who we meet in the book 'Confessions of a Little Black Gown'.

Her hero is the dashing pirate, Captain Thomas Dashwell.

The story and writing flow well, but I just couldn't relate to either character for some reason.

I found it dragged on a little with explaining the history of this couple and finding their way

back to each other. There is romance between them and they fall in love with each other. But due to circumstances they are separated for about 20 years.

In this period each has moved on with their lives...

but they still remember the passion they felt.

The question is... can they forgive each other and rekindle that passion?

Not a favourite in the series.

I rate this book 3 stars.

Australian Borders 100 Favourite Books of All Time

Click Here to see if your favourite made it on to the list.

That time of year again :)

Well it is that time of the year again when we pick our choices for next years reads ..... So here is what we have got so far .........

Irish

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

Kristie

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Legs

The Shack by William P Young

In the Woods by Tana French

Samantha

Loving Frank: A Novel by Nancy Horan

Sharon

Austenland - A Novel by Shannon Hale

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George



Native

Have a Little Faith - A true Story by Mitch Albom

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet

"The Book of Tomorrow" by Cecelia Ahern [4]

Tamara Goodwin has always lived in the here and now,

never giving a second thought to tomorrow.

Until a travelling library arrives in her tiny village,

bringing with it a mysterious, large leather-bound book

locked with a gold clasp and padlock.

What she discovers within the pages takes

her breath away and shakes her world to its core.

Tamara Goodwin is your typical spoilt rich kid, who thinks that the world owes her everything,

and when she doesn't get it, she takes it out on her father and who ever else is around.

Her world is shattered when she finds her father has committed suicide and left her and her mother in financial ruin.

They move to the country and live with Tamara's aunt and uncle.

They live in what was called a gatehouse next to the castle ruins of Kilsaney Castle.

Tamara is bored and lonely and wanting her life back in Dublin, but things change when a travelling library passes through.
Tamara uncovers deep secrets from the past that will affect her world forever...through a mysterious leather bound book.

A really wonderful story of how tomorrow can effect today.

How stepping out of your comfort zone can make you a better person.

A wonderful book that all young adults should read.

A quick warning...there is a little bad language.

I rate this book 4 stars.