The Black Sun (Tom Kirk #2)

The Black Sun by James Twining is the second book in his Tom Kirk series. Kirk is an ex-art thief who used to help the CIA on occasion, but has retired and now helps people recover stolen art.

When a synagogue in Prague is broken into, it looks to Kirk like the thieves were using the racist graffiti to cover their actual target - a painting by Bellak, a Jew who was killed during the holocaust.

In Maryland, the National Cryptology Museum was broken into and a German Enigma machine was stolen. The Enigma is what created the coded messages the Germans used to communicate during WWII.

In a hospice care, two men break in, kill a holocaust survivor and cut off the arm with his numbered tattoo.

Using these seemingly random acts of violence/crime, the FBI, the CIA and Tom Kirk will follow a trail of clues that will lead to the discovery of an elite troop of SS who were in charge of stolen art during the war.

Twining has a gift for weaving a love of art, our history and a suspenseful plot that will keep readers coming back for more. Fans of mystery, espionage, historical fiction, and suspense will love this series.

Twining, James. (2006). The Black Sun. New York: HarperCollins.

Breaking Point (Crashers #2)

Breaking Point by Dana Haynes is the second book in his Crashers series about a group of National Transportation Safety Board - people who investigate airplane crashes.

Tommy Tomzak, Kiki Duval and Isaiah Grey are about to board a flight to Seattle. But that flight will crash in Colorado.

Another team of Crasher will be sent to Twin Pines, Colorado to investigate before they even realize that their coworkers were on the flight. What they do not know is that a man - who is responsible for the downing of the aircraft - walked among the survivors to ask if they knew why the plane crashed. And anyone who had even a clue that all of the power went out, was killed by that man. A man who will do anything to make sure no one finds out what brought down Flight 78.

Haynes is a brilliant writer who knows the ins and outs of the NTSB. His books are thrilling from beginning to end. And this book has ever thing that can go wrong happen to the main characters. This is a great read.

Haynes, Dana. (2011). Breaking Point. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Back Sun (Danielle Laidlaw #2)

Black Sun by Graham Brown is the second book in his Danielle Laidlaw series. Laidlaw works for a branch of the US government, the NRI, that is like the science and technology CIA. They find, steal, or create new technology before other countries can use it against us.

Two years after Laidlaw risked her life in the Amazon and recovered a stone that seems to create energy, she is pulled back into the agency from retirement. Professor McCarter, who was with her in the Amazon, is going after other parts of the Mayan prophecy that tells of a major change (not destruction) in the world in December 2012.

While Danielle and McCarter are in Mexico at a Mayan sculpture deep in the wilderness, they are attacked by a group of Chinese men. Danielle is captured and taken to Hong Kong to a "business" man who sent the team.

With a stone in US custody that seems to be counting down to December 21, 2012 at 5:32 pm, and Danielle - the only one who may be able to figure out what the count down is leading to, the head of the NRI begs ex-CIA agent Hawker to break Danielle out of Hong Kong and find McCarter in Mexico - all in the next week before the potential end of the world.

Brown has taken ancient Mayan legend and created a contemporary thriller that will keep readers on edge until the last page.

Brown, Graham. (2010). Black Sun. New York: Bantam Books.

Black Rain (Danielle Laidlaw #1)

Black Rain by Graham Brown is the first book in his series featuring Danielle Laidlaw. Laidlaw works for a shadowy government branch whose job it is to come up with the latest technology through development, theft, espionage or other means.

Laidlaw is being sent to the Amazon to look for an ancient Mayan city. In spite of the theory of the Maya in the Amazon being likely laughed out of any academic setting, Laidlaw is tasked with setting up a team of researchers, mercenaries for protection, and one ex-CIA pilot to trek up a branch of the river to a place the natives avoid like the plague.

In this James Rollins style adventure thriller, the scientists have to fight against the jungle, the native tribes, and some strange quirks of evolution to find the site they are seeking and come out alive - if, in fact, they do live.

Laidlaw is a great character who will catch the attention of readers and be followed through many adventures. Hopefully, others from this book will make appearances in the future as well. Can't wait to see where she goes next!

Brown, Graham. (2010). Black Rain. New York: Dell Books.

Able One

Able One by Ben Bova is a thrill ride from page one to the last word - not surprising considering how many of his books have won awards.

ABL-1 is a Boeing 747 outfitted with a high powered laser that - in theory - can shoot missiles out of the sky before they can land on their targets. It is still in the test phase. And after an explosion in an earlier prototype, they have been exiled to an airbase in Alaska for tests far from civilians.

When the North Koreans launch a satellite into orbit, analysts in the United States are surprised at their technology - North Korea is not known for its accuracy with missile launches. Then, when all civilian and non-hardened satellites lose power it appears that the launch was not of a satellite of their own, but a weapon that disabled most the world's GPS, Internet, TV and Cellphone networks.

With two more missiles sitting on a launch pad in North Korea, ABL-1, or Able One, just went from a training flight to an understaffed mission to save the US from a potential nuclear missile strike. With the President on his way to San Francisco to give a speech, he is counting on both the inability of North Korea to have the technology to reach him and of Able One to stop any incoming threats.

Bova has created a tense situation for both the technicians and Air Force on the plane and the government team in conference. As launch begins to look eminent, analysts hope that they can prevent a potential world-wide nuclear war. Techs on the plane fight to get their laser up to speed and get into position to - hopefully - be able to help out. Great technological thriller.

Bova, Ben. (2010). Able One. New York: Tor.

The Inexplicables (Clockwork Century #5)

The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest is the fifth book in her Clockwork Century series - an alternate history of the US Civil War period.

Rector Sherman grew up in an orphanage. He was a child of the Blight - a poisonous gas that was released when a tunnel machine broke through an underground cavern - but now he is turning 18 and will have to make it on his own.

Rector uses Sap - a drug form of the gas - to escape his ugly life. But when he is high, he is haunted by the ghost of a young man he led into the ruined city of Seattle. As he has to begin a new life anyway, he decides to make his way into Seattle and find the body of his friend so he can be at rest.

Zeke, however, is not dead. He is living underground in the sealed off parts of the city. When people go above ground they must wear gas masks to prevent the gas from effecting them - and turning them into Rotters.

Fans of Priest will enjoy catching up with characters of previous books in the Clockwork Century series in this ode to the city of Seattle. Her steampunk is great - she is considered one of the best steampunk writers of today. If you have not read any steampunk and would like to begin, start with her book Boneshaker.

Priest, Cherie. (2012). The Inexplicables. New York: Tor.

When She Woke

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan is a masterpiece of a dystopian novel that is soon to be considered a classic.

Hannah Elizabeth Payne has been convicted of murder. She will spend 30 days in a mirrored room while all of America watches. These 30 days will be her chance to try to get used to the fact that her skin has been died bright red - like a stop sign. She is sentenced to 16 years as a red for the crime of abortion.

In a future where the separation of church and state has blurred, using a virus to color people's skin according to their crime (yellow for misdemeanors, blue for child molester, and red for murder) and allowing them to live in society is seen as a deterrent. Only the most violent of criminals are locked up. But a life as a Chrome makes you a target for the righteous who feel a need to take action based on their interpretation of what God would want.

When She Woke has been called a dystopian Scarlet Letter. Jordan has created a thought-provoking thriller that will keep readers thinking about the many political, social and religious topics she weaves into the story. Amazing book!

Jordan, Hillary. (2011). When She Woke. New York: Workman Books.

Almost Home

Almost Home by Joan Bauer is the story of finding family.

Sugar Mae Cole uses the wisdom she learned from her grandfather to get through any difficult situations in her life. And she needs the advice from the autobiography he wrote when they lose their house and her mother decides to move them to Chicago for a job interview. When things don't work out, her mother gives up and is taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Sugar and her dog Shush enter the foster care system. She knows no one and doesn't know what to do. Luckily, after a false start, Sugar is placed with a wonderful couple to help to remind her of the hope there is in life.

Bauer has the skill to write children's books with difficult subjects without overwhelming young readers. Her stories are realistic, difficult, and ultimately hopeful and are an important addition to the cannon of young readers.

Bauer, Joan. (2012). Almost Home. NY: Viking.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery is still a masterpiece. The latest English translation is by Richard Howard and contains the original drawings.

In one of the most wonderful stories of all time, The Little Prince tells the story of a pilot who crashed into the desert. As he is trying to fix his airplane before he runs out of food or water, the pilot is interupted by a small prince who asks him to draw him a picture of a sheep.

What follows is a fable about what is important in life - something that kids have naturally and most people lose by the time they become adults. It is good to be reminded to use our imaginations.

De Saint-Exupery, Antoine. (1943). The Little Prince. New York: Harcourt.

Run the Risk (Love Undercover #1)

Run the Risk by Lori Foster is the first book in her new series - Love Undercover.

Logan Riske is undercover as Logan Stark. He is tracking the sister of a witness to the murder of a police commissioner. If he can find the brother he can finally take down a dirty club owner who has a knack for getting away with crime after crime.

Sue Meeks is really Pepper Yates. She is in hiding. The only person she has contact with is her brother - but he only calls her and at random times. She knows that he is trying to keep her safe but she is going a bit stir crazy. And her neighbor, Logan, won't leave her alone. Her instincts say he is a good guy, but she cannot take the chance that she is wrong.

Foster's new series features good guys who will stop at nothing to bring criminals to justice. Fans will not be disappointed in this new series.

Foster, Lori. (2012). Run the Risk. New York: HQN.

Hope Was Here

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer is a story of family, politics, corruption, friendship and finding one's self.

Hope Yancy lives with her aunt Addie in Brooklyn, but they are about to leave the city she loves for a small town in Wisconsin. The diner where Addie was a cook went under when the owner ran away with all of the money. Now they are on to a new adventure.

Like most sixteen year-olds, Hope does not want to move. She felt comfortable in Brooklyn with her friends. They have moved before and she is almost sure it will work out, but it is not an easy move. When they arrive in Mulhoney, WI at the Welcome Stairs diner - named after the Quaker idea of welcoming people from where ever they come - she is not hopeful. But when she meets the owner, G.T. Stoop, she begins to change her mind.

G.T. is a fixture in Mulhoney. He serves great food, always listens, and helps out when anyone in town needs a hand. He is also fighting Leukemia. So everyone in town is surprised when he announces that he will be running for mayor - using what is left in his life to fight the corruption in town.

With a platform of honesty, G.T. is joined by Hope and many of the other teens in town who begin to realize why it is important to participate in the community of which you are a part. Hope Was Here is a story of coming of age that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt hopeless in the face of government. Bauer has the ability to fit many topics into a book while not overwhelming readers - her stories will stay in your memory for a long time.

Bauer, Joan. (2000). Hope Was Here. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons.

Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer is a road trip novel with a message.

Jenna Boller works at Gladstone Shoe store in Chicago. She is sixteen and though she does not always feel like she fits in at school, she is a great shoe salesperson. She knows the products and can read people to make sure she finds them the right shoes.

When Madeline Gladstone, President of the company, asks her to drive her to work. When she does so successfully, Mrs. Gladstone hires Jenna to drive her from Chicago to Dallas, stopping at her stores along the way.

Mrs. Gladstone is headed to Texas to retire and hand the company to her son. But her son has different ideas about business that did she and her husband. They set out to provide a quality product at a fair price. Her son is focused on making money in spite of what quality shortcuts are necessary along the way.

Filled with wisdom, human and philosophy, Bauer's novel looks at our changing world. She highlights what may be wrong with our current society and points out that we can choose to retain quality if we wish. Great book.

Bauer, Joan. (1998). Rules of the Road. New York: Speak.

Seraphina

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman is a brilliant fantasy about a world where dragons and humans live together.

Humans and dragons have lived in peace for almost 40 years - since the treaty between the Queen and the Ardmagar. And with the anniversary approaching, the royal city is getting ready for the Ardmagar's visit. While dragons (in human form) are always within the city, his visit is something special.

Seraphina, as Music Assistant to the court, has her work cut out for her organizing the musical entertainment while maintaining a low profile. She has a secret that could threaten her position at court and her blooming friendships with Princess Glisselda and Prince Lucian. Seraphina is half dragon. Her father fell in love with a woman who never told him she was a dragon - he found out when Seraphina was born.

Hartman has created a beautiful story that is both classic fantasy and something new. Her characters are unique and compelling. Her plot familiar and yet intriguing. This is dragon fantasy equal to Anne McCaffrey or Tamora Pierce. Amazing book - and hopefully only the first in a series that features Seraphina.

Hartman, Rachel. (2012). Seraphina. New York: Random House.

Rogue (Robin Monarch #1)

Rogue by Mark Sullivan is the first book in his Robin Monarch series. Monarch is a CIA thief who walked away in the middle of a mission.

Monarch was raised by unorthodox parents and spent some time of the streets of Bueno Aires after they died. That childhood and time in the US Special Forces trained him to be the ultimate thief.

Now he is spending time with the wealthy - and occasionally liberating some of their expensive jewelry. But then he saves someone's life he is brought back to the job he walked away from.

Monarch, with the help of his team, will go after technology that could change the state of warfare - technology that, in the wrong hands, could change the balance of power forever. 

Sullivan has created a super-soldier, spy, thief with a conscience - a hero for readers of Jack Reacher books and the like. Check it out today.

Sullivan, Mark. (2012). Rogue. New York: St. Martin's Minotaur.

Path of Beasts (Museum Keepers #3)

Path of Beasts by Lian Tanner is the third book in her Museum Keepers series. This dystopian series is set around the city of Jewel that contains a museum that changes with the mood of the city and how safe or threatened it feels.

Goldie, Toadspit and Bonnie are back from the city of Spoke. When they arrive back in Jewel and begin to sneak their way to the museum the see a sight that makes them think that all that was gained for the citizens of Jewel has been lost. There are mercenaries on the streets maintaining a curfew. And the Guardians who were disbanded with the end of the Fugleman's reign seem to have returned.

Now the people of the museum will begin a strategy of pranks and trickery to try to weaken the Fugleman's position. But if he finds out the museum is behind the campaign he will use his new cannon on the building - something that the creatures who live in the exhibits would not sit idly by and let happen.

Tanner has created a great series that will be loved by readers from age 10 and up. The Museum Keepers should be on any list of recommended fiction!

Tanner, Lian. (2012). Path of Beasts. New York: Delacourte Press.

The Double Eagle (Tom Kirk #1)

The Double Eagle by James Twining is the first book in his series featuring master thief Tom Kirk.

After a long career as a thief Tom is ready to retire. He plans on moving his father's shop to London and living a life within the law. His last job was to be two parts but he has no desire to complete it.

FBI Agent Jennifer Browne has been doing very little on the job since a shooting she was cleared of two years ago. Now is her chance to prove she is a good agent... A 1933 Double Eagle coin was found in Europe. The Double Eagle was last issued in 1933 and then recalled by FDR. It was thought that there were only three left in existence. Now one is tied to the murder of a priest.

Twining's plot, characters and amazing historical facts will have readers' attention until the last page. This is a great read for fans of history, espionage, heist stories, and thrillers. Read it!

Twining, James. (2005). The Double Eagle. New York: Harper Torch.

Once (Eve #2)

Once by Anna Carey is the second book in her Eve trilogy - a dystopian future that takes elements of The Handmaid's Tale and The Road an adds them to a thrilling and compelling story.

Eve was raised in the School with the other orphaned girls. When she was about to graduate she heard a rumor that they would not be trained for a career in the building across the lake, they would be used to breed more humans to repopulate the US from a plague that had wiped out most of the population. When she confirmed for herself what was going on, she escaped.

Now Eve is living in Calfia - a camp that takes in women who need a safe place to live. But the whole time she has been away from the school she has been hunted by the King's soldiers. As valedictorian she was selected to go to the King of The New America - presumably to give him an heir. When she overhears one of the head women comment that she could be used as a bargaining chip if Califia is invaded, she decides to move on.

Before she even makes it out of San Francisco, Eve is caught by the King's soldier and taken to the City of Sand - the new capital, built where Las Vegas once stood. But Eve is not to be the King's concubine, she is his daughter.

Carey has created a fabulous series in which readers will lose themselves and pace ceaselessly until the next book is published. Read this series!

Carey, Anna. (2012). Once. New York: Harper.

Adaptation

Adaptation by Malinda Lo is new science fiction book. Lo is an awesome writer whose previous YA books have been lesbian fantasy stories while this novel takes place in the near future when something goes wrong with the birds...

Reese Holloway and David Li are in Arizona with their debate teacher. They made it to the national debates but lost last night. Now the three of them are waiting at the airport for their delayed flight. As Reese looks out the window onto the tarmac she sees two birds plummet to the ground. Then, on the news playing in the background, there is word of a plane crash - apparently caused by a bird strike. Soon all air travel is grounded as birds strike other planes.

It looks like Reese, David and their teacher will have to drive home to San Francisco. That night, Reese is driving when they crash due to a bird flying right at the car. When she awakes she is in some kind of hospital and things in the US have changed from what she was used to from before.

Reese and David are driven back to San Francisco, but they don't feel like themselves. And there is now a curfew for the city. Reese's best friend is convinced there is a conspiracy behind the birds and curfew - but he is also convinced that since Reese crashed in Arizona, she must have been in Area 51 - where the government keeps the aliens.

Lo has written an edge-of-your-seat science fiction thriller with great characters who are trying to figure out their changing world. Previous fans will not be disappointed in this new direction - there is still a lesbian love story. There is a rumor that this is the first book in a series...

Lo, Malinda. (2012). Adaptation. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Black List (Scot Harvath #11)

Black List by Brad Thor is the eleventh book in his Scot Harvath series about a highly trained special forces soldier who has served in many capacities for the United States and is now working with the private military/security company The Carlton Group.

When Scot Harvath arrived at the Paris safe house he was surprised to see a member of the all-female Delta force group The Athena Project - but not nearly as surprised as when someone start shooting at them in the doorway.

Now Scot is on the run. He knows that protocol is to find a way out of France and to a safe location where he can contact Reed Carlton. After contacting Carlton through Skype his hiding place is attacked.

The superhacker known as "The Troll" is on his way to Texas. He has been contacted by one of his few true friends Caroline Romero who works for ATS - basically the computer securities division of the NSA (although technically ATS is a private corporation).

Thor has written a great thriller that will grab readers from page one and not let go until the very last word. Black List is what a military, espionage thriller should be.

Thor, Brad. (2012). Black List. New York: Atria Books.

A Wanted Man (Jack Reacher #17)

A Wanted Man by Lee Child is the seventeenth book in his Jack Reacher series about an ex-military cop who is wandering the United States and keeps stumbling upon scenes where his training and detective skills can be of use.

In Nebraska a man is murdered by two men in black suits. Roadblocks are set up looking for them in a red car. FBI Agent Julia Sorenson is sent to the town where the murder occurred to begin an investigation.

Also in Nebraska, Jack Reacher is dropped off by a driver whose direction is going the opposite of where Reacher is headed. After some time in the cold on the side of a highway, he is picked up by two men and a woman who are headed East. While Reacher is glad of the ride, he thinks that all three of the people in the car are lying about something.

Child has written another exciting thrill ride in this series featuring a great character who makes his own rules to bring people to his sense of justice.

Child, Lee. (2012). A Wanted Man. New York: Delacourte Press.

Eve (Eve trilogy #1)

Eve by Anna Carey is the first book in her dystopian series in a post-plague America in the year 2032. A plague wiped out a huge part of the population of the United States and the New America is ruled by a King.

Eve and other girl orphans are in a school somewhere in the west of the US. They are surrounded by a wall that protects the girls from wild dogs, rebels, and other unnamed dangers. Eve has been at the school since she was five years old and her mother had the plague. Now her class is about to graduate. When they graduate they will be moved across the small lake to join the other graduates.

But the night before graduation, Eve sees a classmate Arden about to try to escape. Arden is convinced that the promised post-graduation life is not what they said it would be. Later that night Eve sneaks around the lake and looks in the window of the graduate center.

What she sees proves that she is not going to be able to study painting like she was promised. Now she must escape and make her way to a fabled place called Califia where they take in strays. But in order to get there she will have to travel hundreds of miles through plague deadened lands filled with rebels, gangs and wild animals.

Carey has written a novel that is a cross between Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Margaret Atwater's Handmaid's Tale. It captures the fear and desperation a post-plague world. Readers will race to the library to find the second book as soon as they finish Eve.

Carey, Anna. (2011). Eve. New York: Harper.

The Key (Magnificent 12 #3)

The Key by Michael Grant is the third book in his Magnificent 12 series about twelve twelve year-olds who will have to save the world from an ancient evil that is about to resurface.

Mack MacAvoy has been traveling the world over to find the other eleven kids who are required to save the world. There are now five of them together and they are on their way to Scotland to find a key that will help them with the ancient magical language of Vargran.

If Mack and friends can get the Key they will travel to France to find more of the Magnificent 12. However, they will have to fight Risky, the evil's daughter, and her henchmen along the way.

Grant has created an adventure series with laugh-out-loud humor that will appeal to a wide audience. People of all ages should read this series.

Grant, Michael. (2012). The Key. New York: Tegan Books.

The Queen's Lady (Lacey Chronicles #2)

The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards is the second book in the Lacey Chronicles which takes place in the 1580s in London among higher society.

Lady Jane has been married for six months and is now Marchioness Rievaulx. Her father had practically locked her away when she broke her engagement to Will Lacey, but she could not marry the man that her best friend loved. Now she is married to a lovely older man who is like the father figure she never had, but he is dying.

Once her husband dies, Jane will go into service for the queen. It is one of the only safe ways to keep the fortune her husband plans on leaving her without his sons stealing it from her. And at court there is always a chance she will see James Lacey, Will's younger brother. Plus it will give her a chance to see her other best friend, Milly Porter, who is a seamstress in London.

When Jane left Lacey hall six months ago, James decided to join the war effort against the spread of Catholicism. He became a spy in the Low Countries. But as someone who was to be invisible he could do nothing to stop the slaughter he witnessed. Now he is home but haunted by images from the war and his brother has decided to send him to court to join the expedition to the new world.

Jane and James will meet at court, but will the affection they feel for each other be able to overcome their individual and shared pasts? Edwards has created a series that captures 1580s London high society with great characters. This is a fun read that will stick with readers.

Edwards, Eve. (2011). The Queen's Lady. New York: Delacourt.

VIva Jacquelina! (Bloody Jack #10)

Viva Jacquelina! Being the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Over the Hill and Far Away by LA Meyer is the tenth book in the Bloody Jack series - an historical adventure series featuring a spunky young woman who refused to follow society's rules about her place.

After escaping from a life sentence to the Australia colony, Jacky and her friends are on their way back to the northern hemisphere. Jacky is ready for a quiet life of sailing. However, British Intelligence has other ideas for her. She is being sent to Spain where the British are helping the Spanish rebels fight the occupying French.

Being that Jacky had already served with Napoleon, she should have some insight into the expected French attack plans. But when her general is relieved of duty and sent back to London, he tells Jacky to make her way to Madrid and spy on the French there.

Now Jacky will find herself in the home of Francisco Goya, the painter, trying to earn back some of the money stolen from her by posing as a model. But as nothing with Jacky is that straight forward, she will have adventures that range from running with the bulls to learning the flamenco to living with a gypsy caravan.

Meyer has created the most delightful character in Jacky and fans will continue to wait impatiently for the next book while occasionally rereading the whole series just to laugh out loud again at her outrageous adventures.

Meyer, LA. (2012). Viva Jacquelina! New York: Harcourt.

Dry Ice

Dry Ice by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson is a scary thrill ride through environmental terrorism via weather manipulation.

Tess Beauchamp is a weather scientist. She is an expert on the idea of weather manipulation for economic and military gain - a concept that is just a theory, she thinks. Then she is offered a job at the TESLA (Terrestrial Energy Southern Land Array) base in Antarctica - a private instillation owned by Flint Agrobusiness.

TESLA was designed by a fellow weather scientist, Greg Simpson, based on the ideas that Nikola Tesla came up with over a century ago. Now Flint has the technology to make sure their crops around the world are successful. They have also done some work for the US military. But Flint wants to replace Simpson - so badly that they are sending a plane into the Antarctic winter - weeks after the no fly cut off.

But Simpson is not leaving willingly and has build a Trojan horse into TESLA that will set off raging storms the world over. Beauchamp and the crew will have to pull out all of the stops to prevent the weather apocalypse.

Evans and Jameson have created a scary scenario that readers will hope is not scientifically possible. Great, scary thriller.

Evan, Bill. (2011). Dry Ice. New York: Forge.

Close Enough to Touch (Jackson Hole #1)

Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl is yet another great book by a master storyteller.

Grace Barrett can fit everything she owns into one old duffel bag. And she and the bag have just arrived in Jackson, Wyoming. She has a job lined up in Vancouver in a few weeks, but she could not stay in L.A. for one more day. Luckily, a great aunt she has never met has an empty apartment she can use in the mean time.

Jackson is a far cry from Los Angeles and Grace has some adjusting to do. She is used to having her guard up and needing to protect herself from the people around her. But in Jackson, the people are mostly friendly with no ulterior motives.

Cole Rawlins is Grace's new neighbor. He had lived on the ranch he plans to buy someday but lost his place in the manager's house when he shattered his leg and could not ride. Now he is doing physical therapy and praying that he will ride again one day.

Dahl has written a great romance about two people trying to find their places in the world. The characters are great, the setting beautiful, and the story steamy. Victoria Dahl is one of, if not the best, romance writer today. But I have no idea who the people on the cover might be - they are not the characters in the book...

Dahl, Victoria. (2012). Close Enough to Touch. New York: HQN.

The Other Countess (Lacey Chronicles #1)

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards is the first book in her series of historical romance. The books take place in England in the 1580s.

Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime is the daughter of an alchemist. Her father is convinced that with just a bit more experimentation he can turn lead into gold. However, from Ellie's point of view, her father is not only obsessed, he is ruining their lives. At the age of 12, they were kicked out of the Earl of Dorset's house when the Earl died and all his son saw was the money spent on experiments.

Since then Ellie has not had a life that anyone with the title Countess is used to - but then again her title is Spanish and England and Spain are not on the best of terms. After almost four years of living by selling everything they own, including everything her mother left her, Ellie's father has found another noble who is willing to sponsor his alchemy.

When the family they are living with go to court, Ellie finds herself at Windsor preparing for the arrival of the Queen. Nobles from all over England are arriving to pay their respects and compete in the joust. And one of them is the new Earl of Windsor, William Lacey, the man who kicked her and her father out of his house four years ago.

Will is at court to find a bride. His family is slowly recovering from his father's reign, but it takes most of the remaining fortune to appear at court in the latest fashions. He must marry a woman with a large dowry to be able to take care of his family and the people who live on his lands.

Edwards captures the magic and the rigidness of the time period in this historical novel. The characters are well developed and compelling. Readers will run to the library to get the second book in the series as soon as they finish this one.

Edwards, Eve. (2010). The Other Countess. New York: Delacourte Press.

Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentlemen Bastards #2)

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch is the second book in his Gentlemen Bastards series about uniquely trained thieves.

Locke Lamora is plotting a new scheme. After fleeing the land of Camorr he has settled, for a time, on the island of Tal Verrar. He has spent the last two years working his way from level to level in the most exclusive casino on the planet - where you must be invited by the owner to move to the next floor.

But now that Locke is getting close to being in position to make his move, he and his friend are kidnapped and taken to the fortress of the Archon. The Archon, who derives his power from the threat of war and is not as popular as he was when the Priori of the city developed his temporary position to fight off pirates, has a job for Locke - and an interesting way to make sure it is carried out.

But can a man who has never been on a ship other than one seasick voyage convince a group of pirates that he is one of them or has Locke met his match in this challenge?

Lynch has created a series that combines fantasy, pirates, thieves, political intrigue, espionage, and more. It is a swashbuckling tale that will have readers tying to guess an outcome that has too many twists to accurately predict. A great read.

Lynch, Scott. (2007). Red Seas Under Red Skies. New York: Bantam.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Shiver Me Timbers! Pirate Poems and Paintings is the latest book of poetry by Douglas Florian, illustrated by Robert Neubecker.

This is a fun and hilarious collection of poems about pirates and the scurvy, rotten ways of pirates. It is definately worth a read.

Florian, Douglas. (2012). Shiver Me Timbers! NY: Simon and Schuster.

The Traitor Queen (Traitor Spy Trilogy #3)

The Traitor Queen by Trudi Canavan is the third book in her Traitor Spy Trilogy.

Relations between the neighboring nations of Kyralia and Sachaka have become strained since the ambassador's assistant from Kyralia to Sachaka was taken in by the Traitors - those who have left Sachakan society due to the rigid class and gender rules. When the assistant, Magician Lorkin, returns to the capital city of Sachaka, the king wants to question him. When he refuses, Lorkin is imprisoned - an act that strains diplomatic relationships.Black Magician Sonea is going to be sent to Sachaka to negotiate Lorkins release - and as his mother she would not feel comfortable leaving the task to someone else.

In the city of Imardin, Thief Cery is in hiding with his bodyguard Gol and his daughter Anyi. When they run out of places to hide from the Rogue who is trying to kill them, they go to a magician's novice for help - Anyi's girlfriend Lilia. She will help hide them while the search for the Rogue continues.

Canavan's exciting conclusion to this series is a great read. I recommend all of her Kyralia books - they are really good. Fans will be waiting impatiently for the next story - and keep fingers crossed that it continues the stories of our favorite characters.

Canavan, Trudi. (2012). The Traitor Queen. New York: Orbit Books.

The Far West (Frontier Magic #3)

The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede is the third book in her Frontier Magic series - an alternative history of the United States where westward expansion was slowed down by the magical creatures already living there.

Mill City is the farthest West city, located on the banks of the Mammoth River. Eighty years ago a group of magicians created the Great Barrier Spell to keep the magic beasts from crossing to the East side of the river from the Great Plains. Though there are now a few settlements past the river, most people would never dream of going beyond the barrier that protects the United States of Columbia.

Eff lives in Mill City with her family. She works for the magic college, mostly with the animals. She has been past the Barrier twice - and due to the discovery of a new type of magical creature on her last trip, the government is going to organize an expedition to map all the way to the Rocky Mountains.The journey will give Eff the chance to continue to use the different types of magic she has learned - possibly in a whole new way.

Wrede has written a series that combines fantasy and magic within the genre of a western. The characters are great, the world is totally believable, and readers will relish finding new creatures with the expedition. This is a unique and enjoyable series that I highly recommend.

Wrede, Patricia C. (2012). The Far West. New York: Scholastic Press.

The Risk Agent (Rutherford Risk #1)

The Risk Agent by Ridley Pearson is the first book in an exciting new series.

Lu Hao has disappeared  -  along with his records of the incentives he has been paying to officials to get a building in Shanghai build by the American company for which he works. Along with him, an American who was following him was taken. Now Rutherford Risk - a company that deals with kidnappings all over the world - has been called. However, private investigation is illegal in China. Even the US Consulate is forbidden from asking questions.

In order to conduct a secret investigation, Rutherford Risk must use people who are not associated with the company. They hire Grace Chu, a forensic accountant and Chinese citizen to look over the books of the construction company to see if any of the people receiving the incentives may have been involved. And John Knox - a importer/exporter who travels to Shanghai often enough as to not raise suspicions - and has special training that will come in handy.

Together Grace and John will have their work cut out for them as they race to find the kidnap victims before they can be disposed of - a risk that became much more likely once the kidnappers took an American. Ridley Pearson's writing and storytelling will keep readers on their toes as he leads them through a high adrenaline race through China - while also showing a glimpse of Chinese culture. Pearson is one of the best writers in the mystery/suspense genre today and fans will love this beginning to a new series.

Pearson, Ridley. (2012). The Risk Agent. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Against the Sun (Raines of Wind Canyon #6)

Against the Sun by Kat Martin is the sixth book in her Raines of Wind Canyon series which started out about brothers who grew up on a ranch in Wind Canyon, Wyoming but has spread to friends of the brothers as the popularity of the series has begged more stories.

Jake Cantrell is ex-special forces now working in personal security. His latest assignment is at Marine Drilling International - an oil company - where he is to meet with a S.E. Dumont about being a body guard while the company negotiates with a Saudi family to make a deal on some drilling equipment.

Sage Dumont is Vice President of Acquisitions and could be promoted if she can secure a deal with the Saudis for a used drilling platform and save the company millions of dollars. Though her grandfather owns the company she has worked her way up from an entry-level position and is not guaranteed the promotion even with the deal.

If Jake had known S.E. was a woman he may have turned down the job. Now he is in charge of security for a woman who is not used to following orders and who does not believe she even needs a bodyguard. While Jake is a professional and will do anything in his power to protect his client this will be the most difficult job he has ever had - protecting Sage, being around her 24 hours a day and keeping his hands to himself.

Martin is a romance writer who creates compelling stories around great characters. If she listens to fans - she will keep turning out book in this series until everyone the Raines brothers ever met has their own book.

Martin, Kat. (2012). Against the Sun. New York: Mira.

The Fallen Angel (Gabriel Allon #12)

The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva is book twelve in the Gabriel Allon series. Gabriel is an artist whose career was interrupted when his country needed him, and he spent most of his life in the service of Israel's Mossad. Now he is retired and just wants to restore paintings.

He is currently working on a Caravaggio for the Vatican. But when a woman is found dead in St. Peter's Basilica, Monsignor Luigi Donati asks Gabriel to investigate. Donati had asked the woman to catalog the art and artifacts in the Vatican in order to make sure they each had a provenance and there would be no surprises. Just after she called to tell him she found something, she ended up dead.Now Gabriel is pulled back from his retirement and into the center of an international ring of looted antiquities, murder, and terrorism that spans the globe.

Daniel Silva writes espionage thrillers better than anyone else. He is a master of sucking in readers before the first paragraph has been completed. Gabriel Allon is an amazing character that readers would follow anywhere.

Silva, Daniel. (2012). The Fallen Angel. New York: Harper.

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentlemen Bastards #1)

The Lies of Locke Lamora is the first book in the Gentleman Bastards series by Scott Lynch.

Locke Lamora became an orphan at the age of eight when his parents were victim to a plague that killed all of the adults in their district. When the plague came the city of Camorr imposed a quarantine around the neighborhood - blocking all of the surrounding canals to prevent any escape.

When the quarantine lifted, the Thief Maker went in and rounded up the orphans. His role in the city is to train young orphans in the art of thievery and then sell them to the gangs when they are ready. Soon, due to his plotting nature, Locke is sold to the Gentlemen Bastards.

What follows is a great education not only in how to steal, but how to become other people and fit into any situation. Locke and his friends will be trained to target the upper classes of Camorr - in spite of the Secret Peace that prevents that exact thing.

Lynch has created a dynamic fantasy world filled with rich characters. The Lies of Locke Lamora is like a great heist novel within a great fantasy novel.  

Lynch, Scott. (2006). The Lies of Locke Lamora. New York: Bantam Spectra.

Against the Night (Raines of Wind Canyon #5)

Against the Night by Kat Martin is the fifth book in her Raines of Wind Canyon series.

Amy is looking for her sister who has been missing for a while. She moved from the midWest to California and got a job at the place her sister worked to start searching for her. She now goes by Angel and is an exotic dancer - a far cry from her regular job as a kindergarten teacher.

Johnnie Riggs is an ex-Army Ranger who is looking for a drug dealer. He is at the club looking for the scumbag's girlfriend. But his eyes keep drifting to Angel. Then he finds out the girlfriend is her sister and that she is missing.

Amy and Johnnie will have to work together to solve the disappearance of Amy's sister and capture the guy who may be responsible - while fighting an attraction between them.

Martin, Kat. (2012). Against the Night. New York: Mira.

Vortex (Cutter Cay #3)

Vortex by Cherry Adair is the third book in her Cutter Cay series about three brothers who search for sunken ships and their treasures.

Logan Cutter is on the trail of a ship that was carrying millions of dollars' worth of emeralds. He has done his research and is sure he is close to finding it off of the coast of Peru. If he is successful, it will be the largest prize any of the brothers have found.

But what Logan pulls out of the water is a woman. Not a mermaid, but a woman who was thrown overboard by pirates - who happen to be her cousins. Dani Rosado's family has known about the ship since it sunk. Their great, great, great ancestor created a map of where the treasure wrecked - carved out of an emerald bowl. But Cutter is going after the wrong ship - the main ship was a decoy and the treasure was on the smaller ship, the Daniela.

Now Dani must get Logan to move 500 miles to the South of where he is searching, keep her cousins from stealing the treasure from him when he finds it, and keep herself from falling for him.

Adair's Cutter Cay series is a must read for fans of romantic suspense, or fans of sea stories. Romance or no, I totally want to live on a boat where I can just swim around all day and have a chef prepare my meals!

Adair, Cherry. (2012). Vortex. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks.

Wild

Wild by Cheryl Strayed is the story on one woman's trek up the Pacific Crest Trail from Mohave, California to just outside of Portland, Oregon.

Strayed tells her story of a life that has fallen apart due to her mother's death and then spiraled out of control until she had to do something to change it. That something came from a book she saw while in line at an outdoor store - a book on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, part 1: California.

Though Strayed had never been backpacking, the idea slowly grew in her head. And four years after her mother's death, she flew to Mohave, California with a giant backpack she named Monster, two bags of gear she somehow needed to fit inside Monster, and the book that had set her on this path.

What follows is a touching, raw, and sometimes laugh-out-loud journey of learning to walk in the woods while being striped down to the essence of her self and becoming the person she is today.

While the book is full of pain - from too small boots that steal toenails, to recovering from a devastating loss - reader's will consider a backpacking trip of their own before completing the book - I am thinking the 10-day hike across Ireland (from Dublin to Dingle) for myself.

Strayed, Cheryl. (2012). Wild. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Triple Cross

Triple Cross by Mark T. Sullivan is a thriller that combines a beautiful mountain setting, some of the wealthiest people on Earth, a terrorist group and the economy and will keep readers on the edge of their seats with every page.

Mickey Hennessy, a former US Special Agent, is now the head of security for the Jefferson Club - the most exclusive club on the planet. Members pay millions of dollars for a lifetime membership and get the luxury and security that goes with the price tag. The Jefferson Club land in Montana offers Olympic quality skiing and Michelin quality dining along with the company of others of the upper echelon.


Hennessy has his work cut out for him on a normal day due to the people who are club members, but this New Years Eve gathering has more of the world's elite than any other event so far at the Jefferson Club. Luckily, the Club has the best security technology money can buy - including a laser fence at the edges of the property that can distinguish between moose, horse and human trespassers.

In spite of the security measures, just before midnight a military force dressed in snow camouflage and wearing masks bursts into the lodge and takes everyone hostage. Since Hennessy was outside during the breach, he sees what is going on before they spot him. If he can get to the road and get help the people inside might have a chance - including Hennessy's fourteen-year-old triples Hailey, Connor, and Bridger.

Sullivan is a master of the thriller and Triple Cross is no exception. Weaving a complex plot with military action, heroic characters, and more, Sullivan has written a great read.

Sullivan, Mark T. (2009). Triple Cross. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks.

A Perfect Storm (Edge of Honor #4)

A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster is the fourth book in her Edge of Honor series about a group of mercenaries who life goal is to stop human trafficking.

Dare McIntire, Trace Rivers and Jackson Savor work together to try and stop the flow of human kidnap victims from their part of the country. Each of them has a reason be so focused on the topic. And Arizona Storm, who was rescued by Savor, wants to help but knows the guys would not let her. So she doesn't tell them.

Arizona repeatedly puts herself in danger to stop the bad guys - but is she a match for the ring of kidnappers she is now baiting? She may need help on this one and she knows one guy who might help her without treating her like a kid.

Spencer Lark is a bounty hunter. He met Arizona when he was tracking a human trafficker who skipped bail. They had a bit of a clash as they could not both get the bad guy - but although Spencer hates that Arizona puts herself in danger, he would do anything to protect her - including letting her be the bait.

Foster's Edge of Honor series is great romantic suspense with an eye opening amount of information on the real human trafficking that is taking place in the United States. At times the information can be overwhelming and detract from the story - but only momentarily because her characters are compelling and likable and her plots are steamy.

Foster, Lori. (2012). A Perfect Storm. New York: HQN.

It's Our Prom

It's Our Prom (So Deal With It) is the latest queer YA novel by Julie Anne Peters. It is about the relationships between three people who have been best friends for years - Azure, Luke, and Radhika. Told from alternating points of view betwenn Azure and Luke, It's Our Prom is the story of two people who are both in love with their best friend (Radhika) and have dreams of taking her to the new, alternative, prom.

When the school principal asks Azure to be on the prom committee, based on a letter written the previous year about how proms are not inclusive, Azure begs Luke and Radhika to join her in the planning. There are differences of opinion about what the prom should be - from the traditional model that tends to exclude both by economic factors and a heteronormative expectations - to a prom that is almost free to attend and has a drag show and no king and queen.

As the committee works out the details, and the budget, readers learn about the lives of Azure and Luke. Radhika is more of a mystery as there is obviously something going on with her, but she is not telling either of them.

Peters is known for her young adult novels that help young queer readers see themselves in the stories. This book is of the caliber you would expect from her. However, I found it odd that there were two times when the characters mention company that is anti-gay. Once when pizza was ordered from Domino's - whose owner is vehimitly against the GLBT community- and once the characters were watching Fox News. Why, out of all of the possible companies, would you promote two anti-gay comanies unless it was to point out their policies? It seems strange.

Peters, Julie Anne. (2012). It's Our Prom. New York: Little, Brown and Co.

Glimmer

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis is the story of two people who wake up together with no memory of how they got there, where they are, or who they might be.

Elyse (though she does not know that is her name) finds herself in bed with a stranger - a boy who looks about 17. Though he is very cute, she has no idea who he it. But when she thinks about it, she does not know who she is either.

When Marshall wakes up, he does not recognize the girl in his bed or even the room they are in. Though the girl says it is him in the pictures on the dresser, he has no recollection of any of it.

After a few starts, they decide they should stick together until they find out what is going on. But how do you integrate yourself into a town where everyone thinks they know you and you don't even recognize yourself in the mirror?

As Elyse and Marshall piece together what they can about the town on Summer Falls, Colorado, it seems they are not the only ones with memory problems. Everyone seems to get "heat naps" that come upon them, drop them to the ground for a few minutes, and when they wake up they don't remember the last few minutes.

Kitanidis has created a Stepford-like town that will have readers craving answers. Elyse and Marshall are characters that develop for the reader as they figure out who they are themselves. It is a fun way to approach a novel. Great summer read.

Kitanidis, Phoebe. (2012). Glimmer. New York: Balzer and Bray.

Bloodline (Sigma Force #8)

Bloodline by James Rollins is the eighth book in his Sigma Force series that began with Sandstorm. Sigma Force is a group with in DARPA made up of elite soldiers with advanced science or technology degrees - the idea being that a small team can go into any situation with knowledge than any other. One of Sigma's main goals is to stop a shadow organization that seems to be behind most major power grabs around the world, known only as the Guild.

The latest mission for Grey Pierce and his team involves the daughter of the President of the United States. Amanda and her husband were sent a letter warning them that their unborn child was in danger. They reacted by traveling halfway around the world on false papers and renting a yacht in the Seychelles. Unfortunately, they are found by Somali pirates.

Sigma must track Amanda into Somalia - a country almost entirely run by bands of pirates - and find her in the jungle. For this special mission, they need to recruit two new team members. Retired Captain Tucker Wayne and his war dog, Kane, are the perfect team to track anything with a scent.

Rollins is a master of the genre that Dan Brown got famous for with the DaVinci Code - but James Rollins is the best in the genre. His books will keep readers on their toes, staying up late due to adrenalin and a need to know what happens next!

Rollins, James. (2012). Bloodline. New York: William Morrow.

Chasing the Night (Catherine Ling #1)

Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen is the eleventh book in her Eve Duncan series and the first book introducing Catherine Ling.

Eve Duncan is a sculptor who recreates faces from skulls. Catherine Ling has bribed her CIA boss into talking Eve into helping her find her son. Though Catherine is looking for an age progression which is not Eve's specialty, Catherine knows that Eve will understand her need to keep looking.

Plus, Catherine knows who has her son. Ten years ago Catherine was part of a small CIA team tasked with removing a Russian mafia don. In retaliation, Rakovac kidnapped Catherine's two-year-old son. He has been taunting her with treats since. The CIA has a relationship with Rakovac, as the lesser evil, and will not move against him. Plus he has promised to kill Luke if he even thinks Catherine is coming after him.

Now, if she can arm herself with Luke's current likeness, provided by Eve Duncan, Catherine is going after her son. And after years of being in the way, the CIA might be willing to help because Rakovac has something planned that will make 9/11 seem tame.


Johansen, Iris. (2010). Chasing the Night. New York: St. Martin's Press.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2)

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross is the second book in her Steampunk Chronicles.

The characters fans loved in the first book - Findley, Emily, Sam and Griffin - are on their way to America to find out what happened to their friend Jasper Renn.

Jasper was arrested in London and transported to New York. But when Griffin asks after him at the jail, it appears that the men who collected him were not the law. They work for a criminal, Reno Dalton, who is holding Renn's ex-girlfriend hostage.

Years ago Renn stole something for Dalton and instead of turning over a potentially dangerous machine to a dangerous criminal, Renn took it apart and hid the pieces around New York City. If Renn does not retrieve them, Mei Xing will be killed by the clockwork necklace locked around her throat.

Cross has written a story that takes readers through the seedy streets of 1897 New York. Fans of steampunk will love this series.

Cross, Kady. (2012). The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. New York: Harlequin Teen.

Kiss the Morning Star

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole is a road trip novel about two young women reconnecting after a tough year. They have just graduated from high school and each have their own reasons for the trip.

Kat wanted to take a road trip across the US like Jack Kerouac in her favorite book, Dharma Bums. Anna agrees to go because since her mother died in a fire, she and her father have been sort of numb and she needs to snap of it. Kat is also hoping that the change of scene will bring her friend back to her.

Hoole's novel is not simply about two friends driving and camping. It is about dealing with loss, regaining a friendship that has suffered, and exploring feelings that have been hidden under the surface. This is a great summer read.

Hoole, Elissa. (2012). Kiss the Morning Star. New York: Marshall Cavendish Publishing.

Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1)

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is an amazing book. It is the story of two young women during World War II -  one captured spy and one pilot.

This is the type of novel you want to tell everyone to read, but you can't really explain too much of what it is about without giving too much away.

Read it, you will be sucked in and captured until long after you have reread it. If there was a list of mandatory titles all humans should read, I would nominate this book - both as a look at the destruction of war on humanity and as a beautiful example of friendship.

The woman whose code name is Verity has been captured by the Gestapo in occupied France in October of 1943. She makes a deal to tell them everything she knows of the British plans and defense if she can only have her clothes back. But to understand how and why she came to France, she starts her narrative with her best friend Maddie in 1938 - when Maddie decided she had to learn to fly airplanes.

What follows is the story of two very different young women and how they are entangled in the war effort, how their paths intersected and what to lengths they will go in order to try and protect each other. Really, just read it! Buy it and read it. Or go to the library and check it out and read it. But if the library doesn't have it available at this moment, buy it.

Wein, Elizabeth. (2012). Code Name Verity. New York: Hyperion.

The Innocent (Will Robie #1)

The Innocent by David Baldacci is high energy thrill ride about a US sanctioned assassin.

Will Robie undertakes the missions that the US needs to carry out but cannot be seen as executing. If caught, it will look like he was working on his own and no US agency will claim him.

Though he does not always know the reason people are picked to be eliminated, but is sure that the people pose a treat to the US. Then he gets an assignment that is unusual - the target is a US citizen. And when he gets there, she is the mother of two children who are sleeping in her room.

When Robie does not pull the trigger, a chain of events is set in motion. Plus, on during his escape route he encounters a fourteen year old girl who looks to need his help. Now Robie must keep her safe while trying to find out who is after them both.

Baldacci has created another thriller that will keep readers on edge. The action is heart-stopping and the characters will make you hope there is a sequel. Great read!

Baldacci, David. (2012). The Innocent. New York: Grand Central Publishing.

The Rope (Anna Pigeon #17)

The Rope by Nevada Barr is the 17th book in the Anna Pigeon series, but a great place to start as it is the story of Anna's first summer as a National Park Service employee. Loyal fans will finally hear the story of how Anna ended up on her way to becoming a park ranger who solves mysteries all over the country.

Anna took a job with the Park Service to get away from memories that were haunting her in New York. She ended up in Dangling Rope, part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at Lake Powell. It was about as far as she could get from her job as stage manager in an off-Broadway theater.

Then she finds herself in the bottom of a solution hole - a place carved out of the stone by water - shaped like a jar. She does not remember how she got there or who may have done it. Unfortunately, that someone also packed up her clothes and cleaned out her room, so the other Park employees think she quit and went back to New York.

Barr has created a thrilling back story to a character already well loved and given us the example that Anna copied to become a resilient, unstoppable Park Ranger. This first adventure is a great place to pick up the series if you have not read Barr. You will become addicted to the beauty of the various National Parks, the tenacity of a small spitfire of a Ranger, and the adrenaline that fills the pages.

Barr, Nevada. (2012). The Rope. New York: Minotar Books.

Remarkable

Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley is the story of a remarkable town full of remarkable people. Everyone in town is remarkable in some way...except Jane.

Jane is the daughter of Angelina Mona Linda Doe, the famous architect, and Anderson Brigby Bright Doe III, the famous novelist. Her parents had a grand name picked out for her but when she was born she was ordinary and they named her Jane. Jane is the only student who goes to public school in Remarkable. The other kids all have some remarkable skill or talent that got them into the School for Remarkable Children.

Jane's school year will be anything but ordinary. The Grimlet twins are plotting to get kicked out of Remarkable school so that they can join her in public school. A famous pirate captain, Captain Rojo Herring, has just come to town and appears to be hiding from the three filthy pirates who are looking for him. And having so many pirates in town leads Jane's teacher to throw out the regular curriculum for fifth grade and teach her three students to be good pirates.

Foley has written a humorous story of a quirky town filled with quite an array of characters. This is a must read for anyone looking for a light book - or fifth graders who need to do a book report.

Foley, Lizzie K. (2012). Remarkable. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.