Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, 2008 Little, Brown & Company

     After their wedding, Bella and Edward Cullen spend their honeymoon on the Brazillian island Carlisle bought Esme. Two weeks in Bella realizes she's carrying her husband's half-vampire child, and the pregnancy is definitely not normal.
     The pregnancy is progressing unnaturally quickly, Bella's life. Jacob Black returns thinking Bella was turned vampire. He begs Bella to save herself and abort the fetus. Bella refuses and when the wolves come calling to prevent the child's birth Jacob breaks from the pack and becomes alpha of his own splinter.
     The half-vampire baby demands that Bella drink blood and she slowly gets better while Jacob's small pack guards the Cullens. The family has no idea when the baby is due, and Carlisle is out when Bella falls inducing labor. Bella nearly dies in labor and Edward changes her into a vampire.
     Jacob fears Bella has died and, blaming the baby, tries to kill Renesmee. Jacob discovers the quickly growing infant is his soulmate when he imprints on her. The Volturi return when Renesmee is thought to be an Immortal Child. The bond between Jacob and Renesmee creates a truce much stronger than the original pact and the werewolves stand by the Cullens against the Volturi.
     In a dramatic conclusion to the series, Bella and Edward have concluded their dancing around each other. The family grows and is challenged as their influence grows. The story is easily accessible to readers of all ages, though New Moon has content inappropriate for younger readers.

Fate Is Remarkable

Fate is Remarkable by Betty Neels, 1970 Harlequin

     Sara Dunn is Sister in a London hospital. She works well with consulting Doctor Hugo van Elven in Outpatients. The doctor is a handsome man, rumored to be mourning an old flame and Sara is focused on her career and the young surgical registrar she's been seeing. When one of their respiratory patients and her cat need caring for after surgery and in her few remaining weeks the doctor uses the opportunity to orchestrate time with the pretty young nurse.
     Sarah is seeing the surgical registrar, Steven, who has a big announcement, however, it isn't what Sarah expects. When Steven announces his engagement to the daughter of a surgical consultant, Doctor van Elven attempts to distract Sarah from the breakup. She is more than happy to help their patient redecorate for her remaining time.
     The doctor continues to woo Sister Sarah as he continues to fall in love with her. When he proposes he cites mutual liking but Sarah challenges a marriage without love. She agrees to the pairing but questions whether the doctor is still caught on his former flame crowd in on her happiness.
     Hugo and Sarah develop a life together without the traditional romance. The more she learns about her new husband the more Sarah years for the spark. When his former girlfriend shows up, Sarah realizes just her deep her feelings run, and how far she is willing to go to make him happy.
     Sarah and Hugo get their happy ending in true Betty Neels form. Some bumps along the way make the journey worth the wait. Though Sarah and Hugo deal with loss and some tense situations, Fate is Remarkable is a good read for younger readers and an enjoyable romance for any age.

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine, 2017 Harper

     The Lakti people fled their homeland in Old Lakti when monsters like dragons, gryphons, spectres, and ogres invaded and began to destroy the kingdom. They fled North into Bamarre where the people accepted them and sheltered them. The fairies prevented the monsters from following the fleeing Lakti people and they were safe. In New Lakti the warrior people took advantage of the kindness provided by their Bamarre hosts and conquered the land, making the Bamarre people into second-class citizens and servants.
    Peregrine is taken from her Bamarre family as a small infant and raised among the Lakti as a lady. She learns their war-like ways and how to withstand discomfort. She grows her entire life believing she is Lakti, but on the eve of joining her adopted father in battle, Perry learns from the fairy Halina that she isn't who she thought. She is Bamarre.
   Halina gives Perry a mission as she is uniquely situated: free the Bamarre. Perry is afraid for her future if she reveals to anyone the secret of her past. Her fears are well-founded when her adoptive father locks away his child upon uncovering her heritage. Perry's maid Anette and her only friend Willem accept this new facet of her story, and Anette reveals Perry has a Bamarre family who she never dreamed existed; Anette's family. Even her Lady Mother is more accepting of Perry's past.
     When she escapes from Lord Tove's prison, Perry flees in magic seven league boots. Unsure where to go, the fleeing lady searches for her Bamarre family. When she finds them Perry is pleased to find Anette has returned to the family and she meets her young brother, Drualt. Halina returns and the family agrees to protect Perry, in the guise of an old aunt. As Aunt Nadira Perry learns what it is to be Bamarre.
     As the Lakti rule becomes more strict and new laws are implemented against the Bamarre people tension grows. Bamarre youth are taken from their homes to serve the Lakti war efforts and Drualt is taken to Lord Tove at the front. It is their last straw and the Bamarre revolt in small ways, gradually growing as Perry and Anette spread news of the effort.
     When Perry discovers how the Bamarre youth are being used as fodder for the Lakti war machine she sets in motion a challenge which will change the future of New Lakti and the Bamarre people.
     As a prequel set in the distant history of Levine's The Two Princesses of Bamarre Perry's story is of epic proportions. Readers who enjoyed Addie's quest will likewise enjoy Perry's challenges. The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre is aimed at middle grades.

The Friday Society

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress, 2012 Dial Books

     In London, 1900 three young women are assistants to three powerful men.
     Cora is lab assistant to Lord White who invents in secret. Not only does she help him with his work and explore inventing on her own, but she manages the social and political life of her mentor. Lord White is in government and may one day be Prime Minister and Cora Bell was a clever urchin he rescued off the street and gave purpose.
     Nellie is a magician's assistant to the Great Raheem. She was discovered in a burlesque house where the modest young woman was known as a tease. When the Great Raheem offered her a position she took the chance and Nellie Harrison has become a star in her own right.
     Michiko is assistant to a fighting instructor. Michiko Takeda became a samurai's assistant in her homeland, Japan, and when she realized she would never be granted her sword left Japan with Sir Callum Feilding-Shaw and became his assistant showing off her combat skill.
     The three young women meet when a prominent scientist is murdered and they individually stumble across his beheaded body in the middle of the street. The scientist isn't the only body piling up and the young women are concerned: the murders of flower-selling girls and high-ranking men appear to be linked, but what is the connection?
     The three young women explore and investigate the strange goings-on and discover not everything is as it seems in the elevated halls of government and science. The girls become friends, using their talents to stand up for themselves and solve the mystery they've uncovered. They face unwanted male attention, opposition from potential love interests, and the loss of people close to them.
     Readers who enjoyed Y.S. Lee's Agency novels will find a new, more mature take on turn-of-the-century London. Kress's debut novel brings sass and steampunk to teen readers.