Books of the Week Jan. 18 – 22
Title: “The Duke and I”
Author: Julia Quinn
Reviewer: Sarah Laughmiller
Set in the 19th century, regency–era London, a Miss Daphne Bridgerton is coming out to society. Deemed the diamond of the year, Daphne is not only determined to find a respectable suitor but a real love match.
Simon Basset, the new Duke of Hastings, has returned from abroad and loathes the idea of dancing and promenading around with this year’s debutantes, having to make polite conversation with their persistent mamas.
Even though the duke and Daphne do not get along, they do need each other’s help to get what they want. They agree to pretend to be in a courtship to make Daphne more desirable and make suitors come running to her doorstep, doting on her with flowers and extravagant gifts. As for Simon, he gets left alone by the other young ladies.
It’s a stressful and exhausting game they’re playing, but it must be done to fool everyone, including the notorious Lady Whistledown and her scandalous society paper.
While keeping up their ruse, Daphne and Simon become fast friends. They truly enjoy one another’s company. It takes quite some time for each of them to realize they have fallen in love with each other.
Daphne seems afraid and worried Simon does not feel the same. Hurt from his childhood, with serious daddy issues, causes Simon to resist the growing feelings he has for Daphne. When a situation occurs that forces Simon to make the decision to marry Daphne or let her reputation ruin, it takes a solid punch in the face from an unlikely opponent for him to realize that what he really wants and what is the best decision are one and the same.
The first of eight books by Julia Quinn will take you to a different time and place. We get a glimpse of another world, the rules that must be followed and those that might be broken – and it’s all for love.
Title: “The Ravens”
Authors: Danielle Paige and Kass Morgan
Reading Level: Young adult
This book focuses on Scarlett and Vivi.
Vivi is an incoming freshman at Westerly College. She has never lived in one place for more than three years. Westerly is her dream because she sees it as the place where she will finally have a normal life.
Opposite of her, Scarlett is a returning junior at Westerly. She is one of the members of the Ravens – the top Greek house, Kappa Rho Nu, on campus.
The Ravens are also secretly witches.
Scarlett dreams of being the next president of her house.
A wrench is thrown in both girls’ plans because of trouble brewing, and it will take both of them working together to survive the school year.
This book is a mix of enemies–to–friends, supernatural, college life and sisterhood themes. The supernatural aspect of this book makes the real–life college issues and social issues more exciting. Any reader who loves a mix of reality and fiction will love this book.
