Witch's Pyre

Witch's Pyre by Josephine Angelini, 2016 Feiwel & Friends

     Immediately after she and her coven have been taken by the Hive's Warrior Sisters, Lily and the crew find themselves welcomed to a strange city in what would be California's wine country. Lily is reeling from the loss of so many of her claimed, especially Tristan from her homeworld and Rowan's disappearance then betrayal.
     Touring the city on their way to the governor's palace the coven is assaulted by how perfect everything seems. Weary and worried at the seeming peacefulness of the city the group begins to recuperate. Rowan is thrust back into the group at a welcoming dinner - triggering an outburst from Lily and a demonstration of the Hive's response to any violence. They discover the small, normal-looking workers monitor the populace and when a citizen becomes aggressive the Warrior Sisters respond and the person is whisked away never seen again.
     The enforced perfection of their new surroundings doesn't allow the coven to mourn their lost, nor to repair the bonds with those they've been reunited with. Lily becomes a threat as she struggles to maintain her composure and the Hive will not forgive her outbursts. Rowan is returned to the group and questions the absolute control of the city. Lily befriends one of the governor's advisors and is shown the seedier part of town where the technological advancements are kept from non-citizens.
     The more she learns, the more Lily questions whether what they're doing--staying with the Hive--is right. After a confrontation with Grace, the governor, Lily and her coven decide they prefer to take their chances outside the city. Their escape is dangerous and enlightens the people to the truth of their governing body.
     Lily and her coven flee as Lillian and her army advance, but they don't only flee the city but the world. Lily, Rowan, and their coven make a plan to get answers and road-trip from the Hive's stronghold back to Salem where they must decide in which world their futures lie. Lily discovers a strength within herself she didn't believe possible while trying to survive childhood illness. She becomes a leader and achieves her dream to change the world in a monumental way.
     Witch's Pyre ends the Worldwalker Trilogy in an earth-shattering conflict. Teen and young adult readers will enjoy the spunk Lily brings to her story, understand her insecurities, and follow along in her romance.

Doomed Queen Anne

Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer, 2002 HMH for Young Readers

     Anne Boleyn changed the course of history when Henry Tudor VIII broke with the Catholic church to be able to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Based on true events Anne joins her sister Mary at the court of Queen Catherine when Mary is rumored to be the mistress of the king. 

     Henry has tired of his wife and when he tires of his mistress her sister engages a campaign to become the king's second wife. Anne has always been antagonized by her older sister and largely ignored by her parents--she is not a beauty and even has two signs of a witch: a sixth finger and mole on her neck. Still, the king is infatuated. 

     Anne convinces Henry to request an annulment from the Pope, but he is denied. Henry then breaks with the church and declares his first marriage invalid clearing the way for a second wife: Anne Boleyn. The court hates her for her ambition and calls her a witch, Henry defends his wife until the child she bears him turns out to be a girl. 

    Three years of marriage and no son try Henry's patience and he begins to lose interest in his queen. When the Seymours place Jane in the king's sights Anne senses her position becoming more precarious. Her earlier ambitions come back to knock Anne from her throne: Jane Seymour refuses to be simply the king's paramour and even Anne's sister accuses her of adultery. 

     Anne lives out her days awaiting execution for treason in the Tower of London. History remembers her as the second of Henry VIII's six wives and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. Written for young adult readers, some material in Doomed Queen Anne may be inappropriate for middle-grade readers. The story does have several inaccuracies but is an entertaining story. 

One for the Money

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich, 1994 Charles Scribner's Sons

     Living in Trenton, New Jersey, isn't all flowers and sunshine for Stephanie Plum. She's lost her job as a buyer of a lingerie house and has been searching for work nearly six months when she hits a dead end. Admitting to her over-involved family that she's unemployed drives Stephanie to blackmail her cousin into a job as fugitive retrieval specialist: Stephanie becomes a bounty hunter - and her first assignment is Joe Morelli.
    Joe was every girl's dream back in high school, and after he took advantage of seventeen-year-old Stephanie Plum he hasn't been one of her favorite people. In fact, Stephanie is looking forward to catching the cop-turned-fugitive. Despite the consensus she won't catch him, Stephanie is confident she'll find the charmer, especially for the $10,000 that'll keep her off the streets, and more importantly, out of her mother's house.
    As she searches for Morelli, Stephanie discovers just how green she is. With help from Ranger, another bounty hunter and Vinnie's best, Stephanie makes a couple collars to keep her going. Some luck and downright brazen bravado lead to several encounters with her new target, and Joe is not happy. But something doesn't add up in what happens and the mob seems to be after Morelli too.
     The two team up to find out who is trying to frame Morelli and Stephanie picks up a stalker in local boxer Benito Ramirez. At first, it looks like the abusive and misogynistic boxer's antics are unrelated to Morelli's problems, but the beating of Lula, a prostitute who gave Stephanie information on Morelli's case, points to an unknown connection.
     Stephanie's naivete and bumbling belie her tenacity and grit as she is nearly killed more than once and faces a man who refuses to acknowledge her agency in the face of his wants. Though she may not appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, Stephanie Plum gets to the bone and learns she's got the moxie to make it in this new career. The first in the series One for the Money is an adult novel with violence, mature humor, and intense situations.

Here to Stay

Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg, 2014 Bethany House Publishers

     After meeting how-to darling Miranda "Randi" Woodruff and posing as her husband Blake Hunziker, known as Blaze, as decided to return home. He left shortly after his brother's death and rather than looking back has traveled the globe. 

     Blaze's decision to help Randi has become something of a scandal in his hometown. Returning, though, is the only way he can think to find closure. Blaze's family runs the premier hotel in Whisper Shore, Michigan. After his brother's death Blaze is expected to take over his family business, but he's been running from the expectation. 

     The Hunziker family doesn't have much competition but a young lady living at the edge of town has inherited a struggling bed and breakfast. Autumn Kingsley is swamped by the major overhaul the family inn needs. She finally has an investor who will allow Autumn to leave town if she can get the repairs done in two weeks. 

     Blaze and Autumn must work together as Blaze tries to prove his responsibility by hosting and planning the local Christmas festival. Autumn uses her experience with the festival to help Blaze. He returns the favor with the newfound skills Randi Woodruff taught him -- even calling in a favor from Autumn's favorite television personality. 

     The Kingsleys and Hunzikers have rarely gotten along over the years. The more time they spend together the better Autumn and Blake bet along. When push comes to shove will the dream of travel pull Autumn from her hometown or will her newfound connection with the prodigal son make the small town her forever home? 

     Blaze rediscovers Blake and the expected cold shoulder is instead a warm welcome. He aims to prove himself to his family and town. Blake and Autumn manage to work together toward their separate goals and build something more than friendship. Readers who enjoyed Made to Last will enjoy this deeper look at Blake and his past as he puts the lessons learned from Randi into action. 

Password to Larkspur Lane

Password to Larkspur Lane by Carolyn Keene, 1966 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy Drew is outside tending the garden when a carrier pigeon arrives in the yard. Hannah Gruen, the Drews' housekeeper, falls and her doctor suggests to Nancy and her lawyer father of a woman who he treats under mysterious circumstances. The doctor believes the woman is being held prisoner and Nancy begins to investigate.
     A clue from the doctor leads to the prestigious Eldridge family. Nancy follows the clues and, with the added intrigue of the pigeon's registry, finds there truly is something criminal afoot.
     Mrs. Eldridge is missing, according to a young relative, and--when Nancy, Bess, George, and their friend Helen speak with her--Mrs. Eldridge has not chosen to be treated at the estate holding her prisoner. She is not the only elderly patient at the estate, and Mrs. Eldrige explains the people running the place have some shady practices.
     Some quick thinking and subterfuge from the girls bring justice to the plotters. Nancy and her friends face danger, but they come out better able to fight for what they believe right.
     Nancy Drew is an independent young woman who uses her quick mind to investigate and solve problems. She faces danger and uses her resources in a story meant for middle-grade readers, but enjoyable at any age. Password to Larkspur Lane was revised from its original 1933 novel to be more feminist, to consolidate the plot, and to bring the familiar characters back to the main screen.