Light reading for those who like romantic medieval romps and who enjoy or easily tolerate Christian prayers and references.
Lady Margaretha proves her mettle and her worth to the lord of her dreams in this romance set in Western Europe in 1413.
Despite a title and cover art screaming, “Read me, girls!” the prologue seems determined to lure in some male readers, as Colin witnesses the death of his friend John and reflects that he pressed John into a shared journey of vengeance against “the man who had murdered Philippa. But the heinous deed had filled Colin with outraged justice. Philippa had been his sister’s closest friend and had not deserved such a fate.” After Colin is beaten severely and left for dead, the story moves on to 18-year-old Margaretha, whose sole fault is being too talkative. She is currently being wooed by the foppish Lord Claybrook. Is he merely boring, or do his ridiculous garments hide the heart of a blackguard? The story is not intentionally tongue-in-cheek, but readers need make no effort in order to distinguish “good” characters from “bad” or noble-born physical appearances from lower-born. There is one chance for reflection, in a passage about the difference between vengeance and justice. Otherwise, there are pages of action scenes, wild plot twists and juicy almost-kissing moments, increasingly interjected with oddly post-Reformation prayers from Colin and Margaretha. Intentional humor does appear when Margaretha shows surprising fighting skill with ordinary household objects.
Light reading for those who like romantic medieval romps and who enjoy or easily tolerate Christian prayers and references. (Historical fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-310-73098-9
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Zondervan
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2014
Despite all the wealth, Vogue photo shoots and designer clothing, mostly a down-to-earth slice of life; more Kody Keplinger...
Enjoyable, straightforward high school drama despite the Mafia princess framework.
Gia wants to be a normal middle-class 17-year-old girl, with normal high school drama and normal friends and normal relationship woes. But her father is the capo di tutti capi, “the Boss of all Bosses.” So she’s driven to her extremely ritzy private school every day by Frankie with the Glock, and when she’s pulled over for speeding by the most gorgeous cop ever, her dad’s million-dollar lawyer bails her out. Still, for the most part, she manages “normal”: She works hard to get straight A’s, resents her parent-mandated after-school job and runs for student-council president. Sure, Gia’s family drama involves cops coming after her dad, but everything’s going to be fine, right? When everything isn’t fine, Gia will still survive, as she has fantastic friends who will always be there for her. An unsettling, discordant romance with a police officer—where the age and power differential are never addressed—only weakens Gia’s otherwise strong characterization and development.
Despite all the wealth, Vogue photo shoots and designer clothing, mostly a down-to-earth slice of life; more Kody Keplinger than Gossip Girl . (Fiction. 13-16)Pub Date: March 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8075-4911-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
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Both hopeful and careful—like Francesca herself.
Four years after her younger brother, Simon, drowned in the ocean, Francesca Schnell meets a child she thinks might be his reincarnation.
Maybe everything happens for a reason. Following the woman with whom she suspects her father is having an affair leads Francesca to a country club where she meets—and rescues from an ill-advised dive into a pool—4-year-old Frankie Schyler. As she gets to know “Frankie Sky” and his kind but inattentive mother, Francesca begins to see connections between Frankie and her own brother and to wonder if there is a spiritual explanation for the similarities between the two. Unfortunately—or is it fortunately after all?—the only person Francesca can talk to about reincarnation is her best friend Lisette’s very charming, very taken boyfriend, Bradley. And there’s nobody, really, with whom Francesca can share her deepest secret: Simon’s death was Francesca’s fault. This is a quiet story about miracles and relationships, and Francesca has something to learn from each person whose life touches hers—even the neighbor her father keeps visiting on the sly. The prose is gentle but evocative, and Frankie Sky’s childlike exuberance and occasional misconceptions add heart and humor. Some long-standing family conflicts are resolved very quickly, but the story never comes off as saccharine or simplistic.
Both hopeful and careful—like Francesca herself. (Fiction. 12-16)Pub Date: March 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-61620-256-9
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Algonquin
Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2014
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