Lady Grace Mysteries: Loot

If you are a sophisicated teenager (which is what I really should be), then, don't read on. This book is aimed for 9+, however, I continue to still read them and actually enjoy them. It's one of those where you don't have to think about what that word means and with it only being 192 pages, it took me a couple of days in between exams and homework.

First Sentence: Here I am squashed into a corner of my bedchamber, far from the fire, while Mary Shelton and Lady Sarah Bartelmy fuss about new gowns that the Maids have all been gifted.

Lady Grace is a Maid of Honor at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Though she is also a secret spy for Her Majesty and helps (and always seems to) solve mysteries at court along with her two best friends, Ellie (her tiring woman) and Masou (a tumbler at court). In Loot, it is nearly 12 years since Queen Elizabeth I was crowned and as the foreigners arrive from Europe, the Crown Jewels goes missing. But with only a day left till Her Majesty appears in public in them, can Grace find them in time?

It's a good mystery book and easy to read. I quite enjoyed it actually. There is a whole series of Lady Grace Mysteries starting at A and working downwards so this is the....12th book (just had to count with my fingers) I personally enjoy them just to be different and a relax from reading thick novels with long, complicated words that I just sort of read without even knowing what it mean. I know you all do it. So yeah, read it if you don't mind reading the sort of basic English writing type.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

The Luxe Series: Splendor - Anna Godbersen

THERE MIGHT BE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS ONE ABOUT OTHER ONES IN THE SERIES.


First Sentence: Fifty years ago, every American girl wanted to be a European princess.

For those who have never heard of the Luxe Series, here is what it's about. It is a series of four (The Luxe, Rumours, Envy, Splendor) novels based about four debutante's in 1900 New York and what happens to them and who they fall in love with. That sort of thing. We have Elizabeth Holland (now married to Snowden Cairns). She got on my nerves in Book 2 & 3 but now in this one, I quite like her. Then, there is Diana Holland, Elizabeth's younger sister who is in love with Henry Schoonmaker. He is married to the bitchy, you-love-to-hate character Penelope Hayes. I've loved her the whole way through but she is written differently in this one and is a very minor character compared to her involvment in some of the other novels. Finally, there is Caroline Broad, an ex-servant of the Hollands that has made her fortune through a friend that died at the end of Envy. She is the focus in Splendor. I didn't like her in the other novels but I don't know why but I didn't mind her as much in this one. I think it's because she's settled down and not as much out of place. Diana has always been my favourite character and in this one, she still is and written incredibly well.

In this book, the beginning was...well, confusing and bad but the middle and ending were good as usual and there is a surprising twist of events at the end. Penelope was in it too little. We only caught snippets of her and loads of Caroline and Diana. I liked how Anna Godbersen added sections for Henry as well to make it more different. Elizabeth's sections were good but I think she should have been in it more as well. Overall, it's a good book but I think, and I don't say this that often, it should have been longer and more in depth. It felt a little rushed as points as if Anna Godbersen was trying to rush to the end.
It is a good book but it has much more flaws that the rest of the series ever had in my opinion. It wasn't the ending I was hoping for but it was still good.  Read the rest of the series before this one though.

I give it 4 out of 5

Author's Website: www.theluxebooks.com/

Just Listen - Sarah Dessen

First Sentence: I taped it back in April, before anything had happened, and promptly forgot about it. A few weeks ago, it had started running again and, suddenly, I was everywhere.

Just Listen is another book by the 'amazing' Sarah Dessen (SD). Annabel Greene is one of these girls that have it all - model looks, confidence, a social life (I'm sure we've all come across one). Or so it seems. After the night at a party where everything changes, Annabel can't bear to remember or tell about the night and the things that happened before like her sister's eating disorder and her grandmother's death. Until he meets Owen - a guy who always tells the truth, has Anger Managerment and who is also obsessed with music. Soon, a close bond forms. But can he help her forget her past and help her face her fears - telling the truth.

This isn't one of SD's best novels for me but still it is good and definately worth a read. Yes, it's quite girly in the sense that there's love and that sort of stuff but not as much as in some of her other novels. This is about music and telling the truth. I must admit a couple of times, I did feel a little bit guilty for some of the white lies I've told. Apart from that, it is well written including some descriptions of the type of people you see in every school (the bitchy popular girl, the girl who seems to have it all) which made me relate to it much more. Like all SD novels, you will 'Read her once and fall in love.'

I give her 5 out of 5
Author's Website: www.sarahdessen.com/

Along For The Ride - Sarah Dessen

I have been a fan of Sarah Dessen for many years now since I first picked up 'The Truth About Forever' and actually fell in love with her writing. If you're the type of person who hates romance and relationships in a book, then, you might not want to be reading this at all.

First Sentence: The e-mail always began the same way: Hi Auden!! It was the extra exclamation point that got me. 

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. And is now one of my favourite Sarah Dessen (SD) novels. The story follows Auden who suffers from insomnia (can't sleep at night). Since her parent's divorce, she's hid away behind books with no social life. She goes to Colby for the summer to get away from her demanding, educated mother and stay with her father, new step mother, Heidi and their newborn, Thisbe. Suddenly, she is opened up to a new world full of beach parties, foodfights and having fun with her new girl-friends, Maggie, Leah and Esther. She meets Eli, a mysterious, secretive boy who is getting over a car crash that killed his friend and creates a friendship with him only at night as he also suffers from insomnia.

If you know the normal SD stuff, you can sort of guess what happens in the end but even though, I guessed, I still found it surprising and well....brillant with lots of twists and turns.

One thing I love about SD is the references she puts in the novel that link to other novels of hers. Like:
- Morgan and Isabel (From Last Chance or Keeping the Moon) are good friends with Heidi
- Jason Tablot, who was Auden's old crush, was also Macy's old boyfriend in 'The Truth About Forever'. Nate Cross from 'Lock and Key' is another one of her crushes.
- The waitress who serves Auden at the Last Chance, on her first day in Colby, is described as Colie from 'Last Chance (Keeping the Moon)' and Auden also sees Norman.
- Maggie, Leah and Esther mention going to a club where the band were singing off a shopping list. This is probably the Truth Squad in 'This Lullaby'
- Heidi wears a red, key necklace like the ones that Harriet sells in the mall in 'Lock and Key'

I think that is so clever. So...I would recommend this book to anyone in their teens that likes romance and comedy. The writing and structure is good and you will, as it says on the cover, 'Read her once and fall in love' - guaranteed. :)

I give it 5 out of 5
Author's Website: www.sarahdessen.com/