Into The Wilderness by Sara Donati

Into the Wilderness is a 4 book epic about an English well to do woman who joins her father and brother in the wilderness in Upper New York in the 1790's.  She falls in love with the wild lands and while it is a very different world from the upper crust of London she fits in perfectly.  Of course it helps that she falls head over heels in love with a rough neck white man raised by Indians who also happens to feel the same way about her.  It is not all sunshine and roses for the couple (obviously) but they do have a very sweet honest love that makes you wish you would travel to that time and find your own rough neck backwoodsman.   Who needs indoor plumbing when you have true love?  
The novels have enough historical relevance to be intriguing and not a straight forward romance novel.

I have read the first two and will probably finish the series, for some reason I lost interest part way through the second novel and am not sure if I want to take up the third.  It takes place 15 years after the first ends, which is the only reason I am giving it a chance.

A drink before the war by Dennis Lehane

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I love Dennis Lehane.  LOVE HIM.  If you have not read one of his books please do.  I promise you will not be disappointed.  A drink before the war was Mr. Lehane's first novel, but it doesn't show.  Once again you are thrust into the Boston world that is ugly, gritty and hard not to love.  The characters are real and flawed, the line between bad guy and good guy is always gray in his novels and this is no exception.

Excellent read.

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Rebel Angels is the second book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy.  I enjoyed the first book but wasn't sure if I wanted to continue on with the series, I must say though that the second book was 10 times better than the first.  I liked the maturity the girls are showing, this book dove deeper into the reasons the girls behave the way they do  Which reveals a few secrets along the way and makes the characters more likeable.  The setting of this book is London while the girls are away from Spence on Christmas Holiday, I think that is the main reason I enjoyed this novel more, instead of boring day to day trials of prep school instead the girls were thrown into London society.  I found that much more interesting. 

The novel follows the same group of girls which I enjoy and also ads more into Gemma's home life.  I am still uncertain if her family will play a larger role or not but they did make a much more significant appearance in this novel. 

I like the history, mixed with fantasy with just a hint of romance that Bray creates in these novels.  I especially like that Gemma, Ann and Felicity are human, they are spoiled bratty girls and act like it, which is a breath of fresh air.  I like a heroine that is flawed, makes her much more realistic for me.  These girls act like 16 year old girls. 

I have the third book on hold at the Library and I hope that I enjoy it as much as I did this second book.  It is so rare to find a second novel that is as appealing (if not more so) than the first. 

The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury

I truly enjoy this author.  I loved the The Last Templar and saw this novel on the shelf and figured why not - so glad that I did.  The book is fast paced, a tad on the predictable side (happy ending included) but it is one fun roller coaster ride to get to the happy ending.  The characters are a tad on the transparent side, but the book reads like an action movie, so background and deep analytical probing of characters is not necessary, getting to the action is though.  Excellent book, highly recommend for any adrenaline junkies out there.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard book read like a children's book.  I know it was in YA but honestly it should be in the juvenile department.  I liked the writing but it didn't really grab my attention and hold onto it - not sure why.  I did finish the entire book mostly because it took a few hours to read it but I wasn't that thrilled with it.  I probably would have loved this book when I was 12, however at 30 it left me wanting more.

Excellent book for 9 to 13 years, just not my cup of tea.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Wicked Appetite is novel by Janet Evanovich but it is not in the popular Stephanie Plum series, although it does feature a familiar character Diesel (who appears in the between the numbers books).  The novel does follow the usual pattern though, young single woman finds herself in the middle of a hot mess and all of a sudden people start getting killed.  It is a funny, silly book with lots of dialogue, a hodgepodge of characters and lots of steamy lusty scenes.  Basically everything you would expect from Evanovich.   I still prefer the Stephanie Plum series but this did wet my appetite until she releases a new book in the series. 

Number 17 I cannot wait.