Midnight is a Lonely Place by Barbara Erskine

Copyright: 1994

Pages: 432

It almost causes me physical pain to write this about a woman whose work I so publicly worship but...I found this book to be a major disappointment. This is an older one of hers but if you're working your way through her back catalogue like me, you can probably skip this one.

There are a few reasons I think it didn't quite measure up.

Firstly and most obviously, the story was missing the rich tapestry of historical information I have come to expect from her novels. She did create a minor story and there is some reflection on Roman times but it really failed to capture the heartbeat of history. Instead, it flailed around some jealous love triangle and left me completely detatched to the plight of these people from the past.

Secondly, I really don't understand the deal with the poet boyfriend. Maybe women in 1994 didn't expect quite so much from their life partners but I didn't really buy it all. Kate seemed so weak. I still don't understand why she didn't just tell both her love interests to bugger off. Neither of them were exactly prince charming.

Thirdly, the whole ghost thing was really overdone. I mean, if I wanted to read that stuff, I would've read an out and out horror novel. It didn't even really scare me (and I'm a big fraidy cat!). Can 2000 year old ghosts transport cars into the middle of lakes? I don't think so...

I would really only recommend this book to die hard fans of Erskine who read her novels for their spooky side rather than the historical fiction. It had excellent potential but it just fell flat for me.

Royal Rating:

Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Copyright: 2005
Pages: 295

Book Blurb: When Sookie's brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population-and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks, unless the killer decides to find her first.

Review: In my opinion Sookie is a character that you either like or you don't! If you like her as I do, then you won't be able to stop reading the books, even though you've said you'll have a break. If you don't, then you probably won't read past the first book.

For me, one of the outstanding things about this Series is the way in which the author has stayed true to the character of Sookie, right down to her country girl ways, including some things that we might consider out of date or old fashion.

I love being inside Sookie's head as it amuses me constantly. One of my favourite lines from this book was "You can come back in now, said a young Were in three-inch-high fuck-me shoes..." Sookie so often says, in her mind, things that I myself have thought or heard a girlfriend say. This is what makes her such a down to earth woman that you can relate to on some level or just makes you laugh out loud.

This book was a little different to the others, there was still the 'who done it' element to the story and Sookie was still getting beat up and attacked but she was alone. She had a couple of minor encounters with various hunky men, but she remained alone throughout the book. Now when I say minor, I mean just kissing. I’ve read a lot of criticism about the fact that Sookie kisses lots of men in these books, she does. But she is a young single girl, she doesn’t sleep around, but she does enjoy being kissed. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

So if you’re up to the fifth book in the series I imagine you are enjoying them as much as I am. This one will not disappoint. I’m not even going to pretend to have a break now, I’m just going to keep going until I’ve finished them all!

Royal Rating:

Magic Study by Maria V. Synder

Published: 2006
Pages: 400

Book Blurb: Yelena is a survivor. Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner as a teen, then released to act as a poison taster, she is now a student of magic. But these magic skills place her in imminent danger, and with an execution order on her head, she has no choice but to escape to Sitia, the land of her birth. But nothing in Sitia is familiar. As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her powers, a rogue magician emerges and Yelena catches his eye. Suddenly she is embroiled in a situation not of her making. And once again her magical abilities will either save her life or be her downfall.

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways and her new-found friends and relatives don't think it's for the better.

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies.Yelena is a survivor. Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner as a teen, then released to act as a poison taster, she is now a student of magic. But these magic skills place her in imminent danger, and with an execution order on her head, she has no choice but to escape to Sitia, the land of her birth.But nothing in Sitia is familiar. As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her powers, a rogue magician emerges and Yelena catches his eye. Suddenly she is embroiled in a situation not of her making. And once again her magical abilities will either save her life or be her downfall.With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways and her new-found friends and relatives don't think it's for the better.

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies.

Review: Magic, romance, adventure, empowered women, mystery, suspense...there is a little of everything I enjoy all wrapped up in one great book. This is the second book in a series of three. The first book, Poison Study, I liked but I think the author really picked up the pace in this book. It only took about 25 pages to get into this story and after that, I was totally hooked.

During this story Yelena's powers develop and she discovers her magical abilities. The suspense is cleverly woven right throughout the entire book and it doesn't let up, in fact, it is left hanging for the next book.

One of the greatest additions to Yelena’s story is Kiki, her horse. Yelena discovers that part of her magical ability is speaking to animals, and she makes better friends with horses in Sitia than most of the people. Kiki has a strange kind of wisdom, which comes through as both amusing and ultimately correct. Horses have a simple view of life, strong senses, and an excellent ability to judge character. When she can trust no one else, Yelena can trust Kiki, who will do just about anything for her Lavender Lady who brings her apples.

I highly recommend this second instalment of Yelena’s story and I can't wait to read the third!

Royal Rating:

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2005
Pages: 320

Book Blurb: One of the best-known and best writers of the new American mythology is Charlaine Harris. Dead to the World is the fourth novel in her Anthony Award-winning Southern Vampire series. It continues the story of psychic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who has fallen out with her undead lover, Bill. Bill has no sooner departed for Peru, than Sookie finds the head vampire, Eric, running naked and terrified through the rural night. She helps Eric, and discovers his memory has been destroyed by a coven of unscrupulous, astonishingly powerful witches, newly arrived in her small Louisiana town, and offering a huge reward for Eric. Sookie tries to hide Eric, but her brother sees him--and immediately disappears. And Sookie finds herself caught in a war among witches, vampires, and werewolves.

Review: This is another fast paced action-packed novel from Charlaine Harris. I honestly don’t know how she does it. I have read four in a row of the Southern Vampire series, and I’m neither sick of them nor have they slowed down even though the same plot format has been used in each book. Charlaine Harris is a master story-teller.

Further layers of Sookie and other characters are revelled in the course of this novel and yet another mythical creature. This book centres around Witches and adds another level of depth to the ‘other’ world.

I must warn you that there are a few scenes in this book where you might want to stand in front of a fan while you read them as your body temperature may rise considerably. Mine certainly did! I’m not going to tell you who Sookie was with, but I will say it was every bit as good as I expected it to be. Very hot Vamp!

Royal Rating:

White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz

Published: 2007
Pages: 371

There were a number of things I really enjoyed about this book. This story had a strong suspenseful plot & being uncertain of the killer until 3/4 of the way through the novel was quite refreshing. I also thoroughly enjoyed the steamy romantic sub-plot.

Clare Lancaster is a level 10 parasensitive who's psychic ability is to read lies. Jake Salter is a level 10 hunter, freelancing for Jones & Jones an investigative agency in the Arcane Society, who's purpose is to protect the formula that can create a super psychic. I loved the chemistry between Clare & Jake, both strong personalities with a mutual understanding & appreciation of each others abilities.

Claire's ability to tell truth from deception is all that saved her half sister from death at the hands of her husband eight months prior. Now Claire is back in Arizona at the request of her father Archer Glazebrook and she's become the target of someone bent on revenge. Jake, masquerading as a business consultant for Glazebrook is determined to protect Clare after a barrage of coincidental threats. Together they "unravel a web of conspiracy & murder."

I really wanted to know more about the characters unique & fascinating abilities. Jake's powerful talent allows him to pick up the psychic spoor left by anyone in the grip of intense, violent emotion & Clare's abilities as a human lie detector affected her on a paranormal & physical level. I really enjoyed her take on lies; from white lies to ultraviolet (Clare's codeword for evil)

"the ability to lie...I consider it to be value-neutral, sort of like fire." "You can cook a meal with fire or burn down a house. In the hands of a person with evil intent, lying can be used to cause enormous damage."

The descriptions of the Arcane Society are a little vague & unusual, maybe they were expanded upon in book 1? All parasensitives are registered with the Arcane Society & rated according to their gift & psychic strength. Not so unusual ... the weird factor increases when the reader discovers that not only can sensitives check out each others psychic statistics online, they can register at Arcanematch.com to find their perfect psychic mate... Ughh please!

That aside this was still a very enjoyable read.

*Arcane Society book 1 Second Sight was written under the pen name Amanda Quick and yes it's set in Victorian England. I realise authors write under different names, especially across genres but across a particular series? Is that unusual? In addition to Jayne Castle (futuristic romantic suspense) and Amanda Quick (historical romantic-suspense), Krentz has also written under the names Jayne Bentley, Amanda Glass, Stephanie James and Jayne Taylor. Does anyone know... what's with all the pseudonyms???

Royal Rating:

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Published: May 2001

Pages: 292

I waited with bated breath for the True Blood series to come to Showcase in Australia & bought the boxed set of Sookie Stackhouse novels in preparation. Thank goodness both the book & the series lived up to the hype in my opinion.

Take one kooky waitress, one hot vampire, one cute shapeshifter, one endearing grandma, throw in some murder, mayhem, blood sucking, tears & laughter and what do you get... a damn good story.

Sookie Stackhouse is anything but sooky, she's a strong, straight talking, kick-butt telepath with her innocence intact thanks to her mind reading 'disability' (who would want to pursue a relationship when you can hear your date's thoughts... a running commentary on the pros and cons of your butt & boobs would be a little off-putting!)

Things heat up for Sookie when Bill Compton comes to Bon Temps, Louisianna. Vampires have recently "come out of the coffin" & Bill is one such vampire attempting to mainstream in 'normal' society with the benefits of synthetic blood. I love Bill's sexy, dark, bad-boy image & Sookie loves the fact that she can't hear his thoughts, (I'm sure she loves Bill's sexy bad-boy image too.) I love Sooky's mind chatter, her somewhat left-field take on life, her profound insights and her moments of vulnerability.

Charlaine Harris tells a wickedly good story and there wasn't much I didn't like. I enjoyed the vampire politics & heirarchy, the corny humour tickled my fancy but there was a phrase Bill used in an intimate encounter with Sookie that had me cringing & shuddering...I know Bill is kind of old fashioned but "I want to enter you again" was just Ewww! A complete & utter turn-off! Oh & Sookie should definitely ditch the banana clips.

So how does the series "True Blood" stack up? Well I've watched the first three episodes and I'm hooked. It's a lot bloodier, gorier & raunchier than the book, which I for one don't have a problem with. Jason, Sookie's brother who I didn't particular like in this book was even more slimy & detestable in the first few episodes of the TV series. Tara & Lafayette who have a more prominent role in True Blood are missing from Dead Until Dark but I guess I'll have to keep reading to see whether they play a part in the book series at all. True Blood seems to follow the book closely, one isn't better than the other & neither detracts from the other.

Great entertainment, I recommend both.

Royal Rating:

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2006
Pages: 288

This novel marks a turning point in the relationship between Sookie and her adored boyfriend Bill, the vampire. Bill is getting in deeper and going higher in the ranks of the vampire community and when he disappears, the vampires call Sookie to find him. Eric makes a much larger appearance in this third book, which I think really adds to the story. You can’t deny that there is some great chemistry between Eric and Sookie. This book has solidified my enjoyment of Eric and the possibility of a relationship between him and Sookie. Sure, he comes on strong and hard, often times a bit cold, but he’s actually quite charming and funny.

Club Dead has a fast paced plot, filled with humour, suspense, vampire lore and politics, new characters and excitement - not to mention Sookie's depression at being betrayed by Bill. I must say, that for a dumpee, she certainly gets plenty of male attention, although the men aren't human. Author Charlaine Harris also gives more depth to Sookie, Bill and Eric. I really like Alcide as a character, he is a nice guy who happens to turn into a Werewolf and I hope to see more of him in future novels. I also enjoy Sookie's country girl attitude. She is proud but not pretentious, feminine but no shrinking violet. She has got great instincts and her sense of humour is downright wicked! This is light, escapist reading at its best.

Royal Rating:

The Paranormal Explosion

Wow wow wow. I swear someone has set off a paranormal sex bomb in the Australian literary market! Either that or Aussie book buyers have swapped their tweed suits for leather pants and thigh-high boots. Never in my life have I seen so many vampire-shape shifter-faerie-psychic-kick-ass novels in my local bookstores and it has made me a very happy girl. Thanks to a fetish that began with Twilight, it seems the undead are breathing a little life back into our local bookstores.

A couple of years ago, the Paranormal section was a tiny bottom-shelf that contained a few of the more popular Anne Rice novels; today it is large and unashamed, encroaching further and further into the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section. Today, I see middle aged male executives walking down the street with a dog-eared copies of Breaking Dawn. There's been a vampire revival and our local QBD and Angus & Robertson bookstores are desperate to cash-in on the trend. I feel so liberated I could skip down the street yelling 'Yippee!'. I can finally go to a bookstore and buy books I want to read! I don't have to order online.

I just have to wonder what took bookstores so long. How many years has the supernatural thing been going on in the US? Probably since the Buffy days and yet it has been steadily ignored in favour of more Literary works here. Aussies like intelligent fiction but thank God we've finally decided to have a little fun. I'm glad we're recognising novels for their entertainment value because reading shouldn't be just a 'smart' person's hobby.

So now, we have J.R. Ward, Laurell K. Hamilton, Christine Feehan, Charlaine Harris, Kerri Arthur, Sherilyn Kenyon and Mary Janice Davidson to choose from. So you may have to forgive me if I submerge myself in this genre for a little while. I have been so deprived and I have some catching up to do!

I think maybe next is the Anita Blake vampire hunter novels. Can anyone recommend them?

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2004
Pages: 288

Charlaine Harris did it again! Being fairly new to this sub genre of fantasy I am really enjoying it. This book is action packed with some more 'species' introduced. The vampires are fairly typical and in this book we learn a lot more about them. This book is probably not quite as funny as the first but it is still extremely entertaining. In this book we also find out more about Bill's family.

The author still has a lot of scope to develop the characters further in the following books, which I personally find intriguing and think that's what will help keep the stories fresh. So although you are reading a series, each book develops the characters and setting further and you don’t feel like you are reading the same story over and over again.

This was a fantastic second book for the series.

Royal Rating:

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Published: 2007
Pages: 424

What I found to be fascinating about this book is that compared to other periods in history i.e. Tudor England, very little is known about it. Michelle Moran has woven an interesting and credible tale. What an amazing imagination she has!

This story is told in first person by Mutny, Nefertiti's younger sister. As a character Nefertiti has been portrayed as a beautiful and passionate woman, who will go to any lengths to get what she wants. There are many characters in this novel and I must confess I had trouble keeping up with who was who at times. Mutny's character is amazing and she certainly suffers at the hands of her family. While she is loyal to Nefertiti she also exhibits a strong will of her own that ultimately ensures her survival.

I studied Ancient Egypt in depth when I was younger and have read several novels set in this time period. Although none could compare with the details and complexity of the characters in this book. I think Michelle did a wonderful job of bringing this time to life with an incredibly well researched story. There is an afterword in the back of the book that tells you exactly what is understood to be fact and what liberties the author has taken. To me this is always a sign of a great historical author. I like to know the fact from the fiction and often read this before I start the book.

I gave this book 4 stars because I thought the first half of the novel dragged a little. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Egyptian history.

Royal Rating:

Pleasuring the Pirate by Emily Bryan

Published: August 2008

Pages: 302

Mistress Jacqueline Wren, illegitimate daughter of an infamous courtesan & chatelaine of Dragon Caern has been kept busy running the Drake estate and raising the five precocious daughters left by Lord Drake’s deceased brother. Pirate Captain Gabriel Drake, returns to his home after purportedly being lost at sea, to find nothing is as when he left. His father & brother have passed on and Dragon Caern is in a woeful state despite Jacqueline's administrations.
"Jack" is determined that Lord Gabriel will do what's right by his family & tenants, and sets about finding a suitable heiress for Gabriel to marry thereby assuring the salvation of Dragon Caern and saving all from an uncertain fate.

Pleasuring the Pirate was a lively, fun read; a romance with more than a splash of adventure & just the right amount of steamy love scenes between the hero and heroine. The dialogue between Gabriel and Jacqueline is saucy, heated and often amusing.

I was a just a little disappointed that the ending was so obvious early on in the novel and I was hoping that more of Gabriel's pirating days would evolve as the story unfolded. I know it's a little thing but I felt like I was missing something, which lead me to thinking perhaps this was a sequel (when I knew darn well that it wasn't.)

Emily Bryan does a wonderful job with characterisation in this novel, the minor characters are an intricate part of the story & certainly not overlooked. I fell in love with Gabriel's nieces; very mischievious and completely adorable little monkeys and I thought Meri a lovable old salt, his description of a smugglers hole left me giggling and gagging "When the tide is out, a crew brings its cargo in through the sea cave. When the tide comes in...Slick as snot, the door is closed."

Definitely looking forward to reading Distracting the Duchess (Emily Bryan's 1st novel) & Vexing the Viscount. She also writes Dark Ages historical romance under her real name Diana Groe.

Royal Rating:

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Published: 2001
Pages: 260

First in a the Southern Vampire Series

This book is one of the most entertaining books I've ever read. It has comedy, suspense, romance and fantasy! What more could you possibly want? Clearly the author has a very twisted sense of humour which I loved! There was one 'incident/character' that had me laughing so hard I nearly fell of my chair!

At this point I should say that I'm not a huge Vampire fan and I've only recently come to the Paranormal Romance sub genre. I've read and loved the Twilight series but when characters of Twilight could be annoying, characters who have the same potential to be as annoying in this book are just hilarious instead. Charlaine Harris has created some of the most entertaining characters I've read in recent times. As the book is written in first person, being inside Sookie’s head is an experience.

Sookie Stackhouse is just a ‘waitress’, Bill is a ‘Vampire’, her dear sweet Grandma encourages her to go out with him. Sookie has the ‘disability’ of being telepathic, which she hates and makes it impossible for her to live a normal life. Now I’m not one for blood and gore, in fact, I hate it and usually avoid those types of books. But whilst this book had a fair amount of violence in it, it wasn’t bad enough to bother me. I remember saying ‘yuck’ out loud at one point but don’t remember why.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal, vampires or just plain comedy. This is a fantastic read!

Royal Rating:

The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick

Re-Published: December 2008
Pages: 341

The Wild Hunt is Elizabeth Chadwick's first published work, winner of the 1990 Betty Trask Award and the version I've just read is the 'reworked' version. The Wild Hunt is the 1st novel in the Ravenstow trilogy, it was out of print for many years then re-published by Sphere Publishing with a 'spring clean' & new cover as will be "The Running Vixen" (re-publish date Dec 2009) and "The Leopard Unleashed" (re-publish date unknown.)

A marriage of political expediency, at the order of King William Rufus unites Lady Judith of Ravenstow and Guyon FitzMiles, lord of Ledworth. Judith has been traumatised by an abusive father and is naturally fearful of her new husband. While skilled in healing & the running of a household, 16 year old Judith is an innocent when it comes to matters of husband & wife, fortunately Guyon has no wish to terrify his child bride and waits patiently to consummate their marriage.

Set in the turn of the 12th Century in the untamed Welsh border area, Guyon and Judith's story is woven beautifully into the historic tapestry of the time - the scheming and treachery endemic in the royal court during the reign of King William Rufus and subsequently King Henry I, political intrigue, Welsh raids, border skirmishes, secrets, and the evil & cruelty of true historical characters, Robert de Belleme (Earl of Shrewsbury), and Walter de Lacey. Chadwick's descriptions of the cruelty and desecration perpetrated actually brought tears to my eyes.

I loved Ms Chadwick's development of the fictional characters Guyon and Judith. While Guyon has all the traits required of a much loved hero, he is saved from the "too good to be true" portrayal by a few realistic flaws. Judith is a beguiling blend of innocence and passion, poise and wildness, her strong will & temper are a force to be reckoned with. Judith and Guyons' love slowly blossoms as trust, maturity and attraction grows.

I gave The Wild Hunt four stars, as for me it didn't have the same heartfelt appeal of The Love Knot or The Greatest Knight however I did thoroughly enjoy it. Having not read the first published version of The Wild Hunt my opinion is based solely on this version and obviously with the benefit of years of writing experience and increased historical knowledge Elizabeth Chadwick has fine-tuned The Wild Hunt to give the reader a compelling, well researched historical tale & endearing love story.

Royal Rating:

Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser

Published: 2008
Pages: 414

What struck me about this book was that Martha Washington was an incredibly hard worker. She was courageous and even in the face of adversity she didn’t give up. She was completely devoted to her children and her husband and making them happy was what drove her. You cannot read this book without developing a strong admiration for George and Martha Washington. The book gives you an insight into what life was like for the people and especially women of those times.

Not being from America so therefore having limited knowledge of American history, I found this book to be very informative. I learned much about America’s fight for freedom and the tyrannical way in which the British behaved, but on the other hand so many wonderful countries have become developed nations as a result of Britain’s expansion of the colonies.

Whilst this was an interesting book I found it to really drag in places and at times seemed almost repetitive. Still a good read if you have an interest in American history.

Royal Rating:

Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

Published: 2006

Pages: 213

Pack Challenge is a wicked, hilarious, sarcastic, raunchy romp of a read. It's the first book in a trilogy & the first Shelly Laurenston that I've read & believe me, I will definitely be reading more.

Sara works at a chopper shop, chills with her outrageous & slightly psychotic pals Angie & Miki & is completely unaware of her unusual heritage. She is a slightly damaged, very aggressive, antagonistic girl who has no idea how attractive she is to just the right male.

Zach is a hot shapeshifting wolf, soon to be Alpha of his pack, the pack that Sara's parents used to belong to. Zach arrives in Texas with his pack to protect Sara from the pride of shapeshifting mountain lions that killed her parents.

The plot is simple but well drawn & effectively developed for such a short read. The pace is just right, the dialogue is wicked, especially between the three friends, sarcastic, humouress & bitchy & the banter between Sara & Zach also had me laughing out loud. At one point Zach informs Sara that "theres' an array of shifters" so Sara enquires about bunny shifters.
The conversation then goes like this -

Zach - "It is not possible!"
Sara - "How do you know? Just because there's no proof to prove it, there's no proof to disprove it either."
Zach - You're trying to make me crazy aren't you?"
Sara - "Not at all. I'm just saying there could be bunny shifters."
Zach - THERE ARE NO BUNNY SHIFTERS!
Sara - "You're a bunny bigot"

The sex is incredibly hot and steamy and the language while realistic for the characters, is rude & crude so delicate readers consider yourself warned.

* This novel is considered erotica, it does contain sexual explicit material.

Royal Rating:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Published: 2006
Pages: 368

This is a remarkable story! At first I wasn’t sure if I’d really like it, one part even turned me off my breakfast. But as you read on what unfolds is an amazing story about a man thrust into the most unusual circumstances. The majority of the story is about unrequited love.

Jacob Jankowski is a 93 year old man who is in an assisted living facility. He is put there by his five children after breaking his hip. His wife died of cancer at the age of 61 and he has been waiting to greet his death because he has hated his existence without her.

The story is narrated by Jacob both as a 93 year old man and as a young man he takes us through the journey of his life. Life was not easy in the 1930’s and the Great Depression. He is studying at an Ivy League school to be a Vet so that he can work side by side with his father in the family practice. Just as he is finishing the school year and preparing to take his final exams he is told that his parents have both been killed in a car accident. He later discovers that his parents had huge debts and he is left with nothing. He returns to school to finish the last 6 days but ends up walking out on his final exam. Wandering around aimlessly he finds himself at a circus. Then a strange and wondrous life begins.

This book covers so many topics including animal cruelty, the struggle of life during the depression and gives you a glimpse into the circus life that you could never imagine. I have to say there were a few sexually explicit things in this book that made me feel uncomfortable. It also made me feel a little scared of getting old. The author’s insight into the psyche of an old man was extraordinary.

This was an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed but it was difficult to read as there seemed to be so much sadness. For this reason I gave it a 4 because it is not a book I would read again.

Royal Rating:

Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

First Published: 1999
Pages: 288

This was my first Jennifer Crusie novel and it was a fun easy read. It is easy to get into and Nina is a character who is easy to love. I think the thing I liked most about this novel was the realness of Nina, she is like your average woman with all the same insecurities about herself and her body.

Alex is an interesting character and doesn't seem to be your typical 30 year old hero. They are a perfect couple it just takes them a while to figure it out. Fred, of course, regularly steals the show. He is the under-active dog that Nina got from the dog shelter. There are a couple of fun secondary characters who just add to the fun.

If you are looking for a fun quick read with a great happy ending then this is a book for you. It helps if you love dogs! I gave this book Four Crowns because whilst I enjoyed it, I found Alex to be a little over-bearing and unrealistic at times.

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