The Lady of the Lakes by Josi Kilpack

Lady of the Lakes, The (c) 2017 by Josi Kilpack

The Lady of the Lakes by Josi Kilpack is a fictionalized account of events in the life of Sir Walter Scott, the famous author of Ivanhoe, and many other poems and stories.

Walter Scott, a young man, finds himself instantly smitten with Mina, a girl five years younger than himself, and courts her for five years, certain that she will one day be his wife despite their different social stations. Mina Stuart likes Walter Scott very much, maybe even loves him, but her heart doubts whether they will be able to make each other truly happy. Charlotte Carpenter is a young woman working toward independence who would like to have a family someday, but doesn't think it will ever happen because she is a foreinger, and her family had been damaged by scandal not of her making. And so far, the only men interested in her weren't interested in her for the right reasons, something that Charlotte, a faithful Christian girl, will not tolerate.

What happens to the three of them as they move forward toward their goals?

I really enjoyed listening to the CD version of this book. Josi Kilpack is a skilful author and while she takes us on a ride that is far from smooth, the ending was very satisfying. I recommend this book to people who love Sir Walter Scott, and/or clean romance.

The Rules in Rome by A L Sowards

Rules in Rome, The (c) 2015 by A L Sowards

The Rules in Rome by A L Sowards  is an exciting WWII novel about a pair of spies working together in Rome during the Nazi occupation.

I really enjoyed this story, and I loved getting to know the characters. Bastian and Gracie are both brave, heroic protagonists who help me appreciate what real life people went through in WWII to bring the war to an end. I really liked that minor characters, including the Antagonists, the Nazis and the SS were portrayed as real people, not just mindlessly evil psychopaths. I liked Heinrich especially, though his nickname was a little distracting.

There were some things the main characters did that didn’t make sense to me, that from my perspective were, well, blindingly stupid that I don’t think they did for any other reason than that the author wanted them to do it to create conflict, kill off someone, and/or move the story forward.

These bits however, were mostly overshadowed by the powerful writing of the rest of the story, the characterizations, and the rich history. I liked the slow way the two grew into their feelings for each other, and the very satisfying twist at the end. I especially liked the epilogue!

The Phantom of the Opera performed by Layton High Drama

The Phantom of the Opera (c) 1986
by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Last night, I had the exciting opportunity to go with my son to one of my favorite musicals, The Phantom of the Opera performed by Layton High School Drama!        
The Phantom of the Opera was published in 1986 by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. It was based on a book by the same name by Gaston Leroux.

Christine Daaé, a talented soprano who sings in the Paris Opera House is reunited with her childhood friend Raoul, and realizes she has romantic feelings for him, but fears offending the Angel of Music who has been secretly tutoring her in her singing.

On investigating who this mysterious character really is, Christine and Raoul discover that he is a physically deformed genius who lives beneath the Opera House. This Opera Ghost has an unhealthy obsession with Christine, and is displeased that she is developing a relationship with Raoul. What happens when the Opera Ghost tries to interfere with the two sweethearts? Watch the play to find out!

Sadly, tonight was the last performance of The Phantom of the Opera by Layton High School Drama, but I highly recommend the Play itself, and after watching Layton High’s performance, I was very impressed! If all their productions are even a fraction as good as this one, then they’ve got some great performances coming in the 2019-2020 school year!

Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites by Chris Heimerdinger

Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites
(c) 1989 by Chris Heimerdinger

Recently, I listened to the book on tape of one of my old favorites from my teens, Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites by Chris Heimerdinger.

Jim Hawkins, no relation to the character of the same name from Treasure Island, his friend Garth Plimpton, and Jim's younger sister Jenny are exploring a cave when they fall into an underground river and find themselves wisked away to the past. They wake up in a strange place, and find that they've traveled back in time to pre-Colombian MesoAmerica, and are smack dab in the middle of a conflict between Nephites and Lamanites! How the three kids are going to get out of this fix, none of them know. But as they team up with the likes of Teancum, Moroni, Pahoran and others, their hopes start to rise.

This is a good book for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints who enjoy a good adventure, and in fact anyone who enjoys a good adventure story might like it. It was as fun to read this time, as it was the first time I read it!

The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun

The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun is a cozy story about Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Yum Yum and Ko Ko. 

Cat Who Smelled a Rat, The (c) 2002
by Lilian Jackson Braun

Quil and his cats are living comfortably in Pickax City which is in Moose Country which is “400 miles north of everywhere” waiting for the “Big One” the major winter storm that always hits this time of the year, when mysterious things start to happen. Fires are starting near the historic mine shafts, and Qwil and his cats suspect arson. Then, when two people die under mysterious circumstances, a volunteer firefighter is murdered, and the local bookstore goes up in flames, Qwil and his cats know that something sinister is afoot! How do Quil and his feline companions track down the bad guy? Read the book and find out!

I recommend this book to people who love clean, cozy mysteries. And cats!

Holes by Louis Sachar

Holes (c) 1998 by Louis Sacher

Holes by Louis Sachar follows the story of Stanley Yelnats,who after a string of misfortunes in his family finds himself falsely accused of a crime and sentenced to labor in Camp Greenlake digging holes.
While Stanley digs holes, the reader is also given the stories of characters from the past, Sam and Katherine, whose tragedy intertwines with the story of Stanley’s no good dirty rotten pig stealing great great grandfather as well as his descendants, stemming from his accidentally broken promise to Madam Zeroni. The story is fun and well written with great twists and likable characters. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure stories with satisfying endings.

Fablehaven Book 1 by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven (c) 2009 by Brandon Mull

The first book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull introduces the reader to Kendra and Seth, a brother and sister who go to stay with their Grandpa and Grandma Sorensen for a time while their parents go off on a cruise.  Thinking that they're going to be bored, the kids come with some amount of trepidation.

But what they find when they get to their grandparents' property gives them no time to be bored! Discovering that mythical creatures really exist and have taken refuge in the preserve their grandparents watch over, is just one part of their grandparents' secrets. That some of these creatures have evil intent is another. From demons who want to take over the preserve to naiads who want nothing more than to pull them underwater and drown them, Kendra and Seth have to be careful where they go and what they do. But when all the adults (except grandma and I won't explain why) are kidnapped on midsummer's eve, the kids have no choice but to brave the dangers of Fablehaven in order to try to rescue them.

I enjoyed this book, and recommend it to readers young and old who enjoy fantasy for young readers.