In My Mailbox - 7/30/11

Credit goes to The Story Siren for creating and hosting the In My Mailbox feature.

Here are the new books I got this week:

For review:

Beautiful Days: A Bright Young Things Novel by Anna Godbersen

For the bright young things of 1929, the beautiful days seem endless, filled with romance and heartbreak, adventure and intrigue, friendship and rivalry.
After a month in New York, Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur are small-town girls no longer. They spend their afternoons with Astrid Donal at the Greys’ lush Long Island estate and their nights in Manhattan’s bustling metropolis. But Letty’s not content to be a mere socialite. She is ready at last to chase her Broadway dreams—no matter the cost.
Cordelia is still reeling from the death of her father at the hands of Thom Hale, the man she thought she loved. Now she is set to honor Darius Grey’s legacy . . . and take her revenge.
Promised to Cordelia’s half brother, Astrid is caught up in a world of dazzling jewels and glittering nights—and the sparkle is blinding. Charlie Grey is a gangster playing a dangerous game; and for Astrid, Cordelia, and Letty, the stakes could be deadly.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes the second book in an epic series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.


Bought:

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

In 1779, when genteel Virginia spinster Roxanna Rowan arrives at the Kentucky fort commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn, she finds that her officer father has died. Penniless and destitute, Roxanna is forced to take her father's place as scrivener. Before long, it's clear that the colonel himself is attracted to her. But she soon realizes the colonel has grave secrets of his own—some of which have to do with her father's sudden death. Can she ever truly love him?

Waiting on Wednesday: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Published by Putnam, February 7, 2012)

Cate Cahill and her sisters are considered eccentric bluestockings—a little odd, a little unfashionable, and far too educated for their own good. The truth is more complicated; they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it could mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave. Before their mother died, she entrusted Cate with keeping them safe and keeping everyone, including their father, in the dark about their powers. When her father employs a governess and Cate begins to receive notes from her missing, presumed-mad godmother, her task becomes much more difficult. As Cate searches for answers in banned books and rebellious new friends, she must juggle unwanted proposals, tea parties, and an illicit attraction to the new gardener. Cate will do anything to protect her sisters, but at what cost to herself?


This book sounds like a great new historical fantasy and I love the cover!

Interview with Alyxandra Harvey, author of Haunting Violet

This interview was originally supposed to be part of the blog tour for this book, unfortunately I received the answers after the tour was already over.

Here is a summary of this book if you haven't heard of it before, and you can also read my review.

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

What inspired you to write a historical fantasy after writing only contemporary set books before?

I love historical fiction and historical fantasy so it was a real pleasure to write Haunting Violet. I actually wrote it before Drake Chronicles. I’ve always felt more comfortable writing historical fantasy than modern-day...but now my favourite is definitely a combination of the two! (Like in Blood Feud)

If you could have a supernatural ability, what would it be? Would you like to have Violet's abilities, or something else?

I would like to be a time traveler. I’m not sure if that counts as a supernatural creature but I’d just really like to visit different periods in history (Regency, Victorian, Ancient Egypt, Iron Age Celts, Middle Ages...) but still come home for my hot shower and ice cream.

What kind of research did you do for the historical aspects of the book?

Proper historical research was mostly done through books. I used recent forays into Victorian society and séances and also the irreplaceable “Mrs. Beetons”.

We also invited a medium to have a sitting for us, which was fascinating. And a friend let me play with her set of Victorian camisoles, corset, gloves and parasol. I was able to admire tiny stitches and the thin white cotton and ribbon details. And having never been to Highgate Cemetery myself, I found YouTube videos surprisingly helpful!

Can you tell us anything about your next book?

I have an urban Faery YA novel coming out in May 2012 called “Stolen Away” which I’m very excited about! I think it has my yummiest and most angsty couple to date.

And, of course, “Bleeding Hearts”, #4 in the Drake Chronicles (US/NA Jan 2012, UK Oct2011)

What are some of your own favorite books and authors?

I love Jane Austen, Mary Oliver, Susanna Kearsley, Holly Black, Terri Windling, Charles de Lint, Patricia McKillip...

When you are not writing, how do you enjoy spending your time?

Walking with my dogs, watching movies with my husband, going to cafes and bookstores, making jewelry...

In My Mailbox - 7/23/11

Credit goes to The Story Siren for creating and hosting the In My Mailbox feature.

I just got one new book this week, which I bought:

Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.
There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them. This stunning conclusion to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy will make saying good-bye bittersweet for readers.

Book review: Our Australian Girl: Letty on the Land by Alison Lloyd

Our Australian Girl: Letty on the Land by Alison Lloyd (Published by Puffin Books Australia, June 27, 2011)

The year is 1841, and Letty is living in Sydney, Australia, after arriving there with her older sister, Lavinia. Letty was not supposed to be on the ship, but got stuck on it while saying goodbye to her sister. Now she worries that she is too much of a burden for Lavinia, even though she has found a job helping a woman named Mary care for her baby girl. So when Mary, having recovered from the birth, decides to rejoin her husband and son on their sheep farm and asks Letty to come along, she agrees.

The journey from Sydney is long and the farm is very isolated, with the nearest neighbors living miles away. And Letty feels like she is failure. Baby Victoria loves her, but Mary's older child, a little boy named Harry, wants nothing to do with her and she can't even cook without ruining the food. Letty is miserable and even considers returning to Sydney.

This is the third of four books about Letty from the Our Australian Girl series, which is similar to the American Girls series. I wouldn't suggest reading these out of order, they are one story and meant to be read in order. I enjoyed this book and it was nice to see Letty grow up a bit, she was rather passive and guillible in the first book but has gotten braver and smarter since then.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink (Published by Dial Books, March 20, 2012)

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world’s past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.
Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.


I really enjoyed Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters series, so I can't wait to read her next book!

In My Mailbox - 7/16/11

Credit goes to The Story Siren for creating and hosting the In My Mailbox feature.

Here are the new books I got this week:

Bought:

The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards

1586 – London, England. Sixteen-year-old Mercy Hart is the daughter of one of London’s richest – and strictest – cloth merchants. Kit Turner is an actor and the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Dorset. A chance encounter finds Kit falling for the beautiful Mercy’s charms, but their love is forbidden. A merchant’s daughter and a vagabond – it simply cannot be. If Mercy chooses Kit she must renounce her family name and leave her home. Will she favour duty over true love, or will she give Kit his heart’s desire?


Before They Were Famous: Julius Caesar by Caroline Corby

In Ancient Rome, the young Gaius Julius Caesar sets out to decipher a vestal’s prophecy and restore his family’s name. As Rome descends into civil war, Gaius seeks refuge outside the city walls, and is forced to fend for himself as his family is torn apart. The time will come to face his enemies – and embark on his rise to Rome’s most famous emperor.


For review:

The Champion by Carla Capshaw

A Warrior without Equal, a Woman without Options
Triumphs in the Coliseum—and society bedchambers— made gladiator Alexius of Iolcos famous for his brutal skill and womanizing ways. Yet the only woman who intrigues him is Tiberia the Younger, who now needs his help. Protecting Tiberia places Alexius in the greatest danger he has ever known—from her vengeful father and his own heart…
Becoming a temple priestess may be an honor, but Tibi can't bear to surrender her freedom or her newfound faith. Alexius's solution stuns her. Marriage…to a gladiator! Scorned by her noble family, Tibi always felt unworthy. But with her champion by her side, can she accept—and give—a love strong enough to vanquish their enemies?

Waiting on Wednesday: Dear America: The Boldest Mask by Susan Patron

Dear America: The Boldest Mask by Susan Patron (Published by Scholastic, January 1, 2012)

Newbery Award-winning author Susan Patron brings her talents to the beloved Dear America series in this exciting story of a girl growing up in the Wild West, in a California gold mining town.
Growing up in the wild gold-mining town of Bodie, California, in the 1880s, Angeline Reddy has seen it all -- saloons, brawls, and a whole lot of desperation. When her father, Bodie's greatest lawyer, is declared murdered, Angie knows deep in her heart that he isn't dead and decides it is up to her to solve the mystery of what happened to him. But when her mother takes ill, her uncle Ned is arrested for the murder, and a mysterious ghost appears, putting together the puzzle pieces seems impossible. Not to mention, a gang of vigilantes, the 601s, is raging out of control, running folks out of town, and nobody seems safe.
Will Angie, with the help of her friends Ellie and Ling Loi, and the mysterious and tragically handsome Antoine, be able to uncover the secret of her father's disappearance?


I love the Dear America series and I've always liked historical fiction set in the Old West so I'm really looking forward to reading this book.

In My Mailbox - 7/9/11

Credit goes to The Story Siren for creating and hosting the In My Mailbox feature.

Here are the new books I got this week:

Bought:

Act of Faith by Kelly Gardiner

England, 1640. Sixteen-year-old Isabella is forced to flee her home when her father’s radical ideas lead him into a suicidal stand against Oliver Cromwell’s army.Taking refuge in Amsterdam and desperate to find a means to survive, Isabella finds work with an elderly printer, Master de Aquila,and his enigmatic young assistant, Willem.
When Master de Aquila travels to Venice to find a publisher brave enough to print his daring new book, Isabella accompanies him and discovers a world of possibility -where women work alongside men as equal partners, and where books and beliefs are treasured.
But in a continent torn apart by religious intolerance, constant danger lurks for those who don’t watch their words. And when the agents of the Spanish Inquisition kidnap de Aquila to stop him printing his book, Isabella and Willem become reluctant allies in a daring chase across Europe to rescue him from certain death.


Our Australian Girl: Grace and Glory by Sofie Laguna

Grace's journey continues in this, the third of four books about a brave convict girl who is given a second chance.
Grace's life as a servant gets off to a shaky start. Her master, Tom, is strict, and even though Grace means to be helpful and hardworking, she is soon in trouble. But there are good things in her new life, too - her kind mistress, Beth, the mysterious Indigenous people nearby, and Glory, the most beautiful horse that Grace has ever seen... When Tom goes away and leaves Grace in charge, there's an emergency. Can Grace save the day?


Our Australian Girl: Letty on the Land by Alison Lloyd

Letty's journey continues in this, the third of exciting four books about a free-settler girl in a new land.
Letty is finally making a life for herself in New South Wales when her world is thrown into turmoil again. The family she is working for are going back to their home in the country, and they want Letty to go with them to the Blue Mountains! Living in the harsh Australian bush is beyond what Letty could have imagined, and she soon starts to wonder if she's made the right choice. But just when she is at her lowest point, someone appears from Letty's past - someone marvellous...


Our Australian Girl: Poppy and the Thief by Gabrielle Wang

Poppy's journey continues in this, the third of four books about a Gold Rush girl who dreams of a better life.
Poppy is on the road again, desperately trying to catch up with her brother. When she meets a mysterious Chinese boy, she thinks she might finally be getting closer to finding Gus and solving the mystery of the Chinese letter with the very special dragon seal. In Wahgunyah, she makes contact with the Chinese community who have come to Victoria to find gold. She's so close to finding out about her father and her Chinese heritage, but then Poppy is framed as a thief and captured! Will anyone believe that she's innocent?


Our Australian Girl: Rose's Challenge by Sherryl Clark

Rose's journey continues in this, the third of four books about a Federation girl who's determined to do things her way!
Rose is finally allowed to go to school - the magnificent St Swithin's! But Rose has never been to school before - will she be able to keep up? Will she fit in? And will she be allowed to join the cricket team?! In the meantime, change is afoot in Melbourne: Federation is imminent, and the suffragette movement is gathering force. When Mother gets ill and Aunt Alice takes a position in a poor state-run school, Rose realises that she has taken a lot for granted - but the changes taking place around her will change Rose's life forever...


Horses for King Arthur by L.S. Lawrence

Britain, the year 475. The world is darkening. In the darkness, there are some who dream. Artorius dreams of victory over the barbarians who raid in the night. And Alexa, half-Roman, dreams of breeding the horses that will carry him to that victory. Soon she will take her chances and follow her dream, wherever it takes her.

Book review: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber (Published by Sourcebooks Fire, November 1, 2011)

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart has been unable to speak since her mother died when she was a little girl, and so she has lived a rather isolated life. After graduating from a school for the deaf and mute and returning home to New York City, she begins writing a diary to pass the time. Her father works for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which in 1880, when the story is set, had only been open for a few years. Natalie becomes interested in a painting of Lord Denbury, a young English nobleman who was recently presumed dead.

From the start, Natalie is fascinated by the lifelike portrait, and she soon learns why. Lord Denbury is not dead, but has been trapped in the painting by an evil demon who has possessed his body. Only Natalie can visit him in the painting, and in her dreams, which have always been dark and disturbing. Natalie and Lord Denbury soon begin to fall in love, but can Natalie save him by defeating the demon and breaking the curse that traps him in the painting?

Darker Still is a book that really stands out from the sea of young adult paranormal romances out there. Both the setting (New York City in 1880) and the story (a demon who trapped someone in a painting) are very unique, as is the format, since the story is told through Natalie's diary. If you are like me and love young adult paranormal romance but are sick and tired of the endless modern vampire and werewolf books, I highly recommend this book, and I think fans of historical fiction would enjoy it as well.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.

Book review: Our Australian Girl: Grace and Glory by Sofie Laguna

Our Australian Girl: Grace and Glory by Sofie Laguna (Published by Puffin Books Australia, June 27, 2011)

It's 1808, and after a long sea voyage from England on a convict ship, Grace has arrived in Australia, where she must work seven years as a servant before she will be freed. Grace is chosen by a young married couple, Tom and Beth, who are expecting a baby and need a servant to help on their farm in the Australian bush. Grace is happy to have found a home, and the fresh air of Australia is wonderful compared to the slums of London. However, she has never worked as a servant before and is worried about whether she will do a good job.

Beth is very kind to Grace and teaches her how to cook, clean, and care for the garden. However, Tom is suspicious of her, and nothing she does ever seems good enough for her. He also forbids her to stay away from his beautiful horse, Glory, which makes Grace sad because she has always loved horses. When Tom goes away to work, he leaves Grace to look after Beth, but will she be able to find help in time when Beth goes into labor?

Grace and Glory is the third of four books about Grace from the Our Australian Girl series. This series is part of a larger series called Our Australian Girl, which is a bit like the American Girls series, but set in Australia. Of the four girls from the series, Grace is my favorite. She is a very sympathetic charcater, since she had such a hard life in England, where she was an orphan and her uncle mostly left her to fend for herself in the streets, providing only a place for her to sleep at night. I can't wait to read the final book about Grace, A Home for Grace, which will be published in October 2011, so I can find out how her story concludes.

Book review: Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould (Published by Puffin Books UK, April 7, 2011)

When Laura della Scalla was twelve years old, her father sent her to a convent to train as a nun, preferring to spend all the available money on a dowry for her older sister, Beatrice. Life in the convent was miserable and dull, but now, six years later, Laura is shocked to be told she will be leaving the convent and returning home. But nothing is as she hoped it would be. Beatrice has drowned under mysterious circumstances, and Laura must take her place and marry the man their father had arranged for Beatrice to marry. But when Laura meets her future husband, Vincenzo, she is desperate to escape and wishes she could return to the convent rather than marry a cruel, repulsive man who is old enough to be her grandfather.

Willing to do anything to escape her arranged marriage, Laura turns to the Segreta, a secret society of women. They are willing to help her for a price - she must share with them a secret about a rich and powerful member of Venetian society. Willing to do anything, Laura tells them a secret she had sworn never to share - and shortly after, Vincenzo is exiled from Venice after it is revealed that he is a spy, saving Laura from having to marry him. Laura is happy to be saved from a terrible marriage, but she begins to fear the power of the Segreta. And then Laura learns that her sister's death was not an accident, but murder. Laura is determined to solve her sister's murder, but at the same time she is falling in love with a young man who is far below her social class.

I really liked the premise of this book since I love romantic historical fiction with unusual settings. And overall, I did enjoy it for the most part, I loved the setting of Venice and the mystery and romance. But I did have a couple of small complaints. I guessed who the villain would turn out to be rather early on (not sure if it was really predictable or just a lucky guess) and just when everything seemed to be wrapping up nicely for this to be a standalone novel, the ending comes along and seems to leave it very open for a sequel. I've been disappointed lately by the lack of standalone novels and how almost all young adult books are part of a series. Hopefully if there is another book it will be about a different character since I really liked how this story ended for Laura and I'd hate to see it dragged out.

Book review: Dear America: With the Might of Angels by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Dear America: With the Might of Angels by Andrea Davis Pinkney (Published by Scholastic, September 1, 2011)

Dawnie Rae Johnston begins her diary on her twelth birthday in 1954, the day after the Supreme Court decision ending segregation in schools. Dawnie is one of the top students in her grade at her segregated school, but she wishes she could go to the white school in town, which is a much nicer building, with new books and supplies and even a baseball field. When Dawnie's parents decide to enroll her at the white school for the following school year, she is excited to be attending such a nice school. But many people in Hadley are racist, and her family suffers as a result. Her father loses his job, and many of the teachers and students are cruel to her.

This was a difficult book for me to review, because it was well-written and well-researched, but not to my personal tastes. I always feel bad trying to decide how to review a book when it's well-written but I just didn't enjoy it. And since the Dear America series is one of my favorite series, I had really hoped to enjoy this book, but it's a bad sign when it takes me over two weeks to finish a Dear America book.

I think there were two main reasons why I didn't enjoy it very much. The first reason was that I couldn't relate to the main character at all. She was a tomboy who was obsessed with sports and loved baseball. I am the least athletic person on the planet, gym class was torture for me, and I just got bored and annoyed whenever she would write about sports or use some kind of sport-y metaphor (Which was really often). And the second reason is that, after reading this book and a few others, I've come to the conclusion that for the most part, I just don't like historical fiction set after World War II. It just seems too modern to me. If you are interested in the Civil Rights Movement or 1950s history in general, and this book sounds like something you would enjoy, don't let my review put you off reading it. I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, and like I said it's well-written, it just didn't interest me.

Book review: Our Australian Girl: Letty and the Stranger's Lace by Alison Lloyd

Our Australian Girl: Letty and the Stranger's Lace by Alison Lloyd (Published by Puffin Books Australia, May 2, 2011)

It's 1841, and Letty and her older sister Lavinia have just arrived in Sydney, Australia after a long sea voyage from England. Nothing has gone as planned - Letty was not supposed to be on the ship in the first place, and Lavinia's job in Sydney has fallen through. Now they must stay in a boardinghouse for single female immigrants while they try to find jobs.

Lavinia finds a job working as a servant in a grand house, but nobody seems to want Letty, because she is young and not as pretty as her older sister. Her only friend besides her sister was Abner, a young sailor on the ship, and now that the ship is leaving Letty will probably never see him again. Letty feels alone and rejected. Can Letty adjust to life in Sydney and find a job and a home?

This is the second of four books about Letty from the Our Australian Girl series, which is similar to the American Girls series. I wouldn't suggest reading these out of order, they are one story and meant to be read in order. I enjoyed this book and it was nice to see Letty being less passive and gullible compared to the first book. And as an American, I have really enjoyed learning about Australian history from the books in this series.

Book review: Tomorrow Girls: Run for Cover by Eva Gray

Tomorrow Girls: Run for Cover by Eva Gray (Published by Scholastic, July 1, 2011)

Rosie, Evelyn, Louisa, and Maddie are four young teenage girls who were sent to a remote boarding school to keep them safe from the war. But the girls discovered a terrible secret - their boarding school was run by the enemy, the Alliance, who tricked parents into sending their children there to be used as hostages - and decided to escape.

This book picks up right where book one, Behind the Gates, left off, as the girls decide to try and find their way to Chicago to reunite with their parents and expose the truth about the school. Shortly after, they run into three boys from the nearby boys' boarding school, who are away from the school on a camping trip and who decide to join them after learning the truth about their schools. This time the narrator is Rosie, who has a secret - she knows all about being on the run, because her wealthy parents arranged for their illegal immigration to the United States after their home in Mexico was destroyed. She takes on the job of leading the group, but can she bring them to safety, especially when they find themselves trapped in Alliance-occupied Canada?

While I enjoyed the continuing story of the four girls, and will definitely read the final two books to find out how the story concludes, I had the same problem with this book as I did with book one. There's no information at all about who the Alliance is and what caused the war, just that it happened after life had already changed in the United States due to climate change and natural disasters. I'm still hoping the other books in the series will have an explanation, despite this being a middle grade book I think there should be something more than just "There's a war with bad people on the other side." I think this series would still be a good choice for younger readers who are interested in the popular dystopian genre but not ready for young adult books, and even for older readers who want a quick read. I just wish the background of the story had been a bit more detailed.

In My Mailbox - 7/3/11

Credit goes to The Story Siren for creating and hosting the In My Mailbox feature.

Here are the new books I got this week:

Bought:

Traitor's Kiss by Pauline Francis

This is the captivating true story of the young Elizabeth I, as she struggles to survive the treacherous world of Tudor England. After the death of her father, Henry VIII, a young Elizabeth journeys to London to live with her father's widow, Katherine Parr, and her new husband, Thomas Seymour, brother-in-law to King Edward. Surrounded by malicious whisperings of her late mother's witchcraft, Elizabeth is desperate to escape suspicion and discover the truth about her mother. A young stranger asserting Anne's Boleyn's innocence sends her on search a that takes her on a dangerous midnight journey to Bedlam, the hospital for the insane, to meet her mother's former lady-in-waiting. This encounter changes the way she views her mother - and herself. Meanwhile, at home, Elizabeth's reputation is increasingly under threat, as her stepfather, Thomas Seymour makes unwanted advances toward her. Her stepmother witnesses a kiss and Elizabeth is sent back to Hertfordshire in disgrace. Here she falls seriously ill and rumours abound that she is hiding a pregnancy. When Thomas Seymour is arrested for treason in a plot to overthrow King Edward, Elizabeth is implicated by association. Now it is up to her to defend her integrity - and her life...From the author of the best-selling Raven Queen comes a new masterpiece of historical fiction.


Wolf Blood by N.M. Browne

A Celtic warrior girl is held captive and enslaved by a rival tribe. When fever takes her only friend she knows she must escape, but she runs straight into the path of two Roman foot soldiers. Thinking they will kill a warrior instantly, the girl disguises herself as a beggar and asks to share their fire. Using her gift as a seer she discovers that one of the soldiers is not what he seems. Celtic blood courses through his veins too, but there is something else. He is a shapeshifter - a Versipellum. He shares his soul with that of the wolf. The girl needs to reach the leader of her dead friend's tribe, and the boy must escape the Romans before they discover his true nature. Their only chance of survival is to help each other. But what will happen when their powers are combined?


Tomorrow Girls: Run for Cover by Eva Gray

In a terrifying future world, four girls must depend on each other if they want to survive.
Now that best friends Louisa, Rosie, Evelyn, and Maddie know the truth -- or at least the danger they're in -- the girls have run away from their "safe" country retreat. But life is riskier than ever, and Rosie still doesn't know who she can trust.
Rosie's survival skills are top-notch. But how well can she keep her own secrets?


For review:

The Flappers: Ingenue by Jillian Larkin

Bobbed hair. Short skirts. Cool jazz. Dark speakeasy. Anything goes. Meet the flappers, Gloria, Clara, Lorraine . . . and the rich young boys who love and loathe them.