A few new books made it into my home this week courtesy of an end of the week visit to the bookstore, as well as a little shopping in the Kindle store :-)
Bookstore purchases (synopses courtesy of Chapters.indigo.ca):
Mary, Queen of France by Jean Plaidy
Henry VIII, locked in a political showdown
with France, offers up his beautiful sister, Princess Mary Rose, to
secure peace between the two mighty kingdoms. Teenage Mary becomes the
wife of the elderly King Louis, but remains secretlyin love with
Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk. When King Louis dies two years
later, Mary must act quickly to be with theman she loves. Mary and
Charles devise a scheme to outwit theking, not knowing if it will lead
to marital bliss or certain death.State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Once found, Dr. Swenson, now in her seventies, is as ruthless and uncompromising as she ever was back in the days of Grand Rounds at Johns Hopkins. With a combination of science and subterfuge, she dominates her research team and the natives she is studying with the force of an imperial ruler. But while she is as threatening as anything the jungle has to offer, the greatest sacrifices to be made are the ones Dr. Swenson asks of herself, and will ultimately ask of Marina, who finds she may still be unable to live up to her teacher's expectations.
In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, and a neighboring tribe of cannibals, State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss. It is a tale that leads the reader into the very heart of darkness, and then shows us what lies on the other side.
Kindle Purchases (synopses courtesy of Amazon.com):
Trade Winds by Christina Courtenay
Marriage of convenience – or a love for life?It’s 1732 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and strong-willed Jess van Sandt knows only too well that it’s a man’s world. She believes she’s being swindled out of her inheritance by her stepfather – and she’s determined to stop it.
When help appears in the unlikely form of handsome Scotsman Killian Kinross, himself disinherited by his grandfather, Jess finds herself both intrigued and infuriated by him. In an attempt to recover her fortune, she proposes a marriage of convenience. Then Killian is offered the chance of a lifetime with the Swedish East India Company’s Expedition and he’s determined that nothing will stand in his way, not even his new bride.
He sets sail on a daring voyage to the Far East, believing he’s put his feelings and past behind him. But the journey doesn’t quite work out as he expects….
The Girl's Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky
Jane Madison has a problem. Or two. Or three. She’s working as a
librarian, trapped in absurd period costumes and serving up expensive
lattes, all in an effort to keep her employer’s budget in the black. She
has a desperate crush on her Imaginary Boyfriend, a professor who
regularly uses her library. Her doting grandmother is determined to
reunite her with her long-absent mother. And now she’s been told that
the library can’t pay her a well-deserved raise – instead, she can live
for free in an ancient, dusty cottage on the library grounds.When Jane settles into her new, allergen-infested home, she discovers a hidden chamber lined with ancient books – a world-class collection on witchcraft. She begins to read a spellbook, never suspecting that she has the power to work actual magic. Her first spell awakens a smart-mouthed feline familiar. Her second makes her irresistible to men, starting with her geeky, shy co-worker. Those magical workings attract the attention of the local coven, specifically the warder David Montrose. Jane resents David’s interference even as she watches her powers spiral out of control. Before long, Jane doesn’t know who she should listen to: her well-meaning grandmother, her down-to-earth best friend, her bitchy familiar, her besotted co-worker, her coming-around Imaginary Boyfriend, or her overbearing astral enforcer.
That's it for me. What books showed up in your home this week?
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