Victoria has always known what the future would hold: she will become Queen of England upon her Uncle’s death. As a future ruler, one would assume that Victoria would have some control over her life. That is not the case. Her mother is very controlling restricting her daughter’s access to court and forcing Sir John’s strict guidelines upon her. Her mother and Sir John will stop at nothing to gain power including finding Victoria a husband. Will Victoria be able to choose her own husband and rule England as she sees fit? Discover how Victoria became one of England’s greatest rulers.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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Memoir of the Sunday Brunch is part restaurant memoir and part tribute to the author’s parents. Julia Pandl grew up as the youngest of nine children. All of her siblings were required to work the Sunday brunch at their father’s restaurant starting at age twelve. Julia’s first time working the Sunday brunch she compared her father to Linda Blair in The Exorcist. The craziness of growing up in a house with nine children will make you laugh out loud, but the love the family shows during each parent’s illness might make you tear up a little. This is a heartfelt memoir of food, family, and love.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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London and Zach were as close as siblings can get having spent most of their childhood in third world countries with their missionary parents. What happens when the family is torn apart by tragedy? London’s family faces such a situation when her brother Zach commits suicide. London, her mom, and her dad each deal with their grief in very different ways. London drifts away from the friends she once had and withdraws from society. A chance meeting with the new boy leads London to question her feelings and forces her to confront some hard truths. Can London make peace with her brother’s death and perhaps discover some happiness?

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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Maz Harwood, fresh off a broken heart, agrees to temporarily take over her best friend’s vet practice so that Emma can have a much needed extended vacation. Maz prefers the excitement of London, so she’s not thrilled about spending several months in the country, and matters quickly disintegrate. It seems that Emma’s practice is on the verge of brankruptcy and the patriarch in charge of the rival practice is determined to drive her (and now Maz) out of town. Unfortunately for Maz, there’s something appealing about old Fox-Gifford’s son, Alex, but does he really like her, or is it just part of the game? The author surrounds Maz with a cast of colorful characters (including the animals) to bring this humorous romance to life.

Reviewed by Christine B., South County Regional

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The former head of MI6 has been murdered. To discover the truth, young detective John Trave must defy his Scotland Yard superior and match wits with a master spy, a double agent high in the ranks of Britain’s secret service. Set against the backdrop of London during the Blitz, this page turner is a detective story and a spy novel, but above all a psychological thriller with a search not for the killer’s identity but motivation, forcing Trave back to the horrific legacy of the First World War. Simon Tolkien is the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, but this fast paced and expertly detailed novel calls to mind a line from another literary giant, William Faulkner: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

Reviewed by Rita L., Independence Regional

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Jason calls himself Freak. He’s an alphabet (an alphabet meaning that he is a schizophrenic – SCZI) and his best friend, Drip, has ADHD. Life is hard for them because of bullies, but soon it is much, much worse. Sunshine, their best friend who is extremely shy (diagnosed as SM), has gone missing and everyone is blaming the Freak—Jason. Can he convince his friends, parents, and the authorities that he is innocent? Can he convince himself? The reader will battle along with Jason as the demons in his mind keep his memories clouded and negative. This book is riveting, and gives you a hero like no other. Will Jason ever be able to beat his mental illness?

Reviewed by Maeve C., University City Regional

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Anthony Ciaglia was a typical teenager at camp near Dallas, Texas. He was swimming with friends and then he woke up in the hospital. He had been run over by a waverunner. The resulting brain injury caused uncontrolled fits of rage. Anthony finally found a group of people he could relate to, serial killers. He started writing to them and became their friend. They opened up to him sharing their horrible tales. His parents helped him manage his medications and also helped him see he wasn`t going to become a serial killer. The information he received from those letters became the `Serial Killer 101` for law enforcement and this book. This book is very graphic as the subject matter would indicate.

Reviewed by Thea J., South County Regional

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