That Summer

That Summer by Lauren Willig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julia Conley, recently New York unemployed, has found that she has inherited her great-aunt’s home in England. Her memories of her childhood there have perished along with her mother’s death in the accident. With nothing else on her plate, Julie flies over to London, preparing to sort, clean, and sell the house for desperately needed income. While there her snooty cousin calls, wanting to look for “treasure” amidst the mess. Is there really a treasure or could it be hanging on the wall right in front of their noses?

I love how the story switches from 2009 back and forth to 1849 within the same home. A story within a story is always more exciting and mysterious! Lauren Willig is such a great writer and I could barely put the book down for fear I’d miss something!!


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The Hunters

The Hunters by John Flanagan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Third and final book in the exciting, adventure series, Brotherband Chronicles, for juveniles, teens, and adults alike is The Hunters. Hal is back with Thorn and his Heron brotherhood and hot on the trail of the bloodthirsty pirate Zavac and the stolen Skandian treasure, the Andomal. Zavac and his crew of cutthroats somehow seem to stay ahead of the Herons, resorting to bribing and murder. Hal is determined to track Zavac and return the Andomal to his homeland, earning back honor and respect for him and his young friends.


Both series, Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband Chronicles, exemplify the strengths of working together, friendship and loyalty, patience, thinking outside the box, and you can see as both series progress a maturing of all the characters. I've always looked forward to the release of Flanagan's novels and am wondering what he's working on now.

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