The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

A delightful fairytale by a lyrical new voice.   When Lucinda  Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and  never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual  servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a  mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter  the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will  forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with  delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under  the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just  maybe—capture the heart of a prince.

My Thoughts...

I thought this was a cute story.Lucinda parents vanished and she became a the ward of her Aunt and Uncle who treated her more like a servant than a nice.

They make Lucinda work in there bookstore were she encountered a stranger  and on that same day a piece of magical jewelry appears.Lucinda later does a good deed for a young boy Peter and gives him shelter where he in turns picks her pocket and steals the jewel. She later encounters the Amaranth witch on her quest for learning about the mystical jewel and  possible solving the mystery surrounding her parents disappearance she then learns that the which  is seeking it and gives her the gold to buy the jewel back. Lucinda then has to track down the young boy Peter to get back what she stole from him on learning that he has already pawn the jewel to the Prince. She hires him to teach her to become a pickpocket in order to steal the jewel back. To unlikely people join forces to get the jewel back and avenge her parents death. Peter and Lucinda encounter quite a few twist and turns along the way that lead to a good mystery to solve.After the mystery is solved Lucinda may after all be free of that wicked Aunt of hers, solve the death of her parents and avenge them and  may perhaps fall in love with a Prince and have a Happily Ever After ....Book was fast paced and and easy and interesting read and worth adding to your to Read pile. This is a first time read for me from this author and she did not disappoint.

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599904497
• ISBN-13: 978-1599904498
• Also available in Hardcover, Kindle, and Audio 

The Exile by Diana Gabaldon

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Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.
 
After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.


And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his  compassion . . . and arouse his desire. 
 
But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere. 
   
Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.

Review:

Enjoyed this book. I was surprised to learn that Diana was a cartoonist working for Disney before turning to full time writing. This book was based on a story she wrote the Outlander that started the great love story between Jamie Fraser and Claire. Diana turned her Outlander story into a cartoon strip story and I have to say the it came very close to the book that she had written.Diana worked with a wonderful Artist to create the characters. The characters we very close to what come to your imagination.

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

A delightful fairytale by a lyrical new voice. When Lucinda Chapdelaine was a small child, her parents left for the royal ball and never returned. Ever since, Lucinda has been stuck in perpetual servitude at her evil aunt’s jewelry store. Then, on the very same day, a mysterious visitor and an even more bizarre piece of jewelry both enter the shop, setting in motion a string of twists and turns that will forever alter Lucinda’s path. In this magical story filled with delightful surprises, Lucinda will dance at the royal ball, fall under the Amaranth Witch’s spell, avenge her parents’ death, and maybe—just maybe—capture the heart of a prince.

My Thoughts...

I thought this was a cute story.Lucinda parents vanished and she became a the ward of her Aunt and Uncle who treated her more like a servant than a nice.

They make Lucinda work in there bookstore were she encountered a stranger  and on that same day a piece of magical jewelry appears.Lucinda later does a good deed for a young boy Peter and gives him shelter where he in turns picks her pocket and steals the jewel. She later encounters the Amaranth witch on her quest for learning about the mystical jewel and  possible solving the mystery surrounding her parents disappearance she then learns that the which  is seeking it and gives her the gold to buy the jewel back. Lucinda then has to track down the young boy Peter to get back what she stole from him on learning that he has already pawn the jewel to the Prince. She hires him to teach her to become a pickpocket in order to steal the jewel back. To unlikely people join forces to get the jewel back and avenge her parents death. Peter and Lucinda encounter quite a few twist and turns along the way that lead to a good mystery to solve.After the mystery is solved Lucinda may after all be free of that wicked Aunt of hers, solve the death of her parents and avenge them and  may perhaps fall in love with a Prince and have a Happily Ever After ....Book was fast paced and and easy and interesting read and worth adding to your to Read pile. This is a first time read for me from this author and she did not disappoint.

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599904497
• ISBN-13: 978-1599904498
• Also available in Hardcover, Kindle, and Audio 

A Great read by Cynthia Eden

Cynthia Eden delves into the dark realms of the Others, where desires and dangerous games await the unsuspecting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Assistant DA Erin Jerome has a secret. Make that two. One: She's not entirely human-she's Other, desperately trying to keep her supernatural strength under wraps. Two: she's got a killer stalking her-an Other rogue set on gifting her bloody corpses, not to mention nights lying awake in terror. Small wonder she's been having bad luck with men.

But the bounty hunter on her new case isn't worried about any of that. Jude Donovan is a shapeshifter himself, and the new DA's midnight hair and addictive scent tell him all he thinks he needs to know: She's gorgeous, she's definitely not human, and she's bringing out the animal in him in a really good way. He might have to track a psychotic Other stalker through half of Louisiana. But he might also get the chance to watch Erin's wild side come out and play.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Brava; Original edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758234287
• ISBN-13: 978-0758234285
• Available at Amazon.com

 My Thoughts...........

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first time read for me of Cynthia Edens books and won't be the last. Like her style of writing. This book was very fast paced that kept you interested. Erin hired a Bounty Hunter Jude who is a notorious bounty hunter who is a shapeshifter who turns into a deadly tiger who is hired to track and killer and who is also stalking Erin. The attraction between Erin and Jude is forming almost from the get go and is very intense.Erin although hesitant tries to fight her attraction from Jude as she is hiding a secret that she does not want uncover.But who can fight the attraction not her.Once Erin's home as invade and she terrorized she flees to Jude arms where the start the quest together to solve this puzzle and crime. A lot of twists and turns and the ending had me guessing but I didn't really have a clue the book after all ended it was a surprise ending which made the book more exciting ! A must read for your To Read Pile...