Wildwood Dancing

Wildwood Dancing

By Juliet Marillier; Knopf 2006

Summary: High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.

But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he's there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena's sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom--an impossible union it's up to Jena to stop.

When Cezar's grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can't imagine--tests of trust, strength, and true love.

My Review:  This is basically a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  I thought it was an interesting take on the fantasy world. The Other Kingdom sounds like a magical place, but at times I thought it was a scary place. I was constantly worried for Jenna and her sisters.  Jenna is a smart girl and she really step ups to the plate and runs the household. She really takes care of her sisters which I thought was admirable.

The thing I found difficult about this book is the names of places and characters. But there is a glossary at the back to help those who struggle to be able to pronounce the words.  Overall I think it is a good book, not the greatest, but a good book.

Watch Out for: Enchanted creatures, magic, love, some kissing, and mild violence. 

The Lucky One

The Lucky One

Nicholas Sparks; Grand Central Publishing 2008

Summary: When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm. 

Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

My Review:  Good Heavens! I was so nervous during this whole book. For some odd reason this novel kept me on my toes. I could not put it down because I couldn’t stand the suspense. I kept wondering if Logan’s secret was going to get out or what Clayton was going to do next. I was panicking till the very last page. Can you imagine walking all the way from Colorado to North Caroline just to find a woman whose picture you’ve been carrying with you for five years? Well I certainly can’t. Rumor has it that there is going to be a movie about this and it comes out in 2012. I can’t wait! It’s going to be a great movie.  I just love Nicholas Sparks’ books even though I know his writing quite well and his typical storylines. Even though his books are pretty predictable I still love them! If you are a fan of romance and suspense then this is a book for you!

Watch Out for: Sexual content, mild violence, stalking, drinking, injuries, death, breaking into a house, and brief descriptions about war.