The Courtier's Secret

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age Range: Adult


This is another book from the same author that wrote "The Secret Of The Glass". Actually, this one is her first book, I read them out of order. This one is set at the Palace of Versailles during the reign of King Louis XIV. The main character, Jeanne, sees how pointless life at court is and longs to do something more with her life. She is given this opportunity when she is fencing with her uncle (in secret, of course) and finds herself in the middle of a fight between some Musketeers and men who are trying to murder the Queen. Seeing her incredible skills with a sword, the Musketeers befriend her, thinking she is a he. So, she finds herself a disguise and joins them to protect the Queen and find meaning in her life.

Of course, one of the Musketeers just happens to be incredibly handsome and not only becomes a close friend of her male self, but of her female self as well. She is then left with the task of reconciling the two sides of her life, hopefully bringing them together in a happy ending.

Again, the historical aspects of the book were fascinating. I learned quite a few things I didn't know about The Sun King. I knew a little of his reputation for lavishness and caring only for his own entertainment while his people were starving, but I had no idea just how bad it was. It was fascinating and a little disturbing to read about life at court in this time. It was a hundred years before the French Revolution and I could already see it coming!

Recommendation: This is definitely well worth reading!

The Beekeeper's Apprentice

Genre: Mystery

Age Group; Adult

Sherlock Holmes lovers, this book is for you! It follows a girl named Mary Russell, who literally stumbles across Holmes and ends up as his apprentice. Her mind is every bit a match for his and she eventually becomes his assistant, helping him to solve cases. The main case in the book is quite perplexing, confounding even Holmes. He and Mary cannot figure out who is after them or why. There have been clumsy attempts on both of their lives as well as Watson's, but yet their opponent appears to be quite brilliant, leaving no useful evidence behind. They must figure out who their opponent is and stop them before they get killed trying.

I was extremely impressed at how the author portrayed Holmes. He was the same Holmes that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle knew, and yet he was different. Mary explains several times that Watson tends to romanticize Holmes and that his accounts were often inaccurate, as he didn't really understand what Holmes was up to. It really was like seeing an old friend though new eyes. The book was very much in the spirit of Doyle's great work, without feeling like a copycat.

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone!

The Secret Of The Glass

Age Range: Definitely adult

This book is set in Venice in the early 1600's. The main character is Sophia Fiolario, the daughter of a Murano glassmaker. As glass making is not my expertise, I had never even heard of Murano Glass. The book was fascinating from a historical point of view, as I learned so much about Italy! In this time, the making of beautiful glass was a closely guarded secret. So closely guarded that several glassmakers are killed at the beginning of the book for trying to leave Venice. By law, all glassmakers live on the island of Murano, are sworn to secrecy and cannot ever leave Venice. Sophia has already broken the law by learning to make glass from her father.

Burden on top of burden is added as she tries to hide her father's failing health, is betrothed to a man who doesn't actually want her and begins to fall in love with a man she can't have.

Not only do you get to learn the history of the glassmakers, but I learned a ton about one of the other characters, Galileo Galilei, who commissions Sophia's father to make glass pieces for his blasphemous experiment (the telescope). It was incredible to get a sense of how dangerous it was for Galileo to do the things he did and the courage it took!

It did take me a little while to get into the book, but once I did I was so glad I read it! It was incredible to learn about all the history and a good story to go along with it!

I should mention that there are a few parts that are a tad...ahem...descriptive. Just be forewarned.

Recommendation: Read it!

The Importance of Being Earnest

Family Appropriate: Most Definitely

Basic Outline: Based on a play by Oscar Wilde set in 1890's England, this movie tells the story of John Worthing and his 'brother' Earnest. Really, Earnest is a brother that he has made up, as an excuse to go into the city and live a little more care-free. It works quite well until he proposes to his love Gwendolyn, and her cousin Algy figures out what's going on. Algy then becomes Earnest, in order to go to John's house and meet his lovely ward, Cecily. Now, he just has to tell Gwendolyn that he's been lying to her, convince her aunt that he is worthy of her and try to keep Algy away from Cecily. Of course, much hilarious confusion ensues.

I recently re-watched this movie and remembered how much I love it. The cast is absolutely fantastic with Colin Firth as John Wirthing and Reese Whitherspoon as Cecily Cardew and, my personal favorite, Judi Dench as the charming Aunt Augusta. Judi Dench just makes me happy. She has some fantastic lines in the movie and her delivery just makes them that much better.

Recommendation: Please, please see this movie! (And then leave me a comment about your favorite part.)

Letters To Juliet

Family Appropriate; Yep!

Really? Do I need to say anything about this one? It's a classic, heart warming love story! It was as good as it looked in the previews...possibly better. Really, I'm just putting this on here so that you know, if you haven't seen it, you better do so!

Recommendation: Hm, that's pretty much all this post was. See it!

Iron Man 2

Family Appropriate: I would stick with the rating on this one, 13 and up. It's a little violent.

Basic Outline: Iron Man is busy saving the world, while still acting in typical Tony Stark fashion. However, he has a few enemies that he didn't know about. One being a competitor who knows nothing, but wants to get ahead and the more dangerous enemy being a Russian, whose father helped develop the technology that went into the Iron Man suit. These villans, of course, team up to try to take Tony Stark down. You also get some nice plot development with Pepper Pots and learn more about the Avenger Initiative, that is briefly introduced in the first movie.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I thought the first one was decent. I'm not into the huge influx of superhero movies, but the first Iron Man is one that I will sit down and watch with my husband when he turns it on. I had heard that the second movie didn't have a great plot, but I must disagree. I thought it had more plot than the first one did!

Recommendation: I enjoyed it! If you liked the first Iron Man, see this one too!

Date Night

One Word Description: Awkward/Scarring

Family Appropriate: Most definitely not! We sent the 15 year old out of the room and we probably should have sent the 23 year old (me) out as well!

Basic Outline: This movie is about a typical married couple. Their lives are hectic and they are feeling stuck in a rut. They decide to do something special for date night and go to a fancy restaurant. They didn't, however, make reservations. So, when they hear a name being called and no one coming forward, they claim to be the Triplehorns and take their reservation. Unfortunately, they are then taken outside by two men who think they are the Triplehorns and want a flash drive that they have stolen. They get away and set out to find the real Triplehorns so that they can return the flash drive and not have to worry about these guys coming after them. Of course, they have to do all kinds of ridiculous things before all is settled.

My opinion...the first 5 minutes were dirty and it only went downhill from there. I'm pretty sure I am scarred for life.

Recommendation: Do NOT watch this one!