Book #85 - Tempting Fate by Nora Roberts

This is the sequel to the book I read several weeks ago called "Playing the Odds." I really think this was a better overall story than the other one. The main characters, Caine and Diane, are siblings to the lovers from the other book, and its is their story of falling in love and finding each other. It was an easy read and an enjoyable story. As usual, Nora didn't let me down. Can't think of one of her books that was terrible...amazing since she's written so many. The only other author I can think of that has written so many books is Patterson, and he's had several duds in the last few years.

Book #84 - Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

I actually finished this book two days ago, but it has taken me this amount of time to collect my thoughts. First, I should say that this was another outstanding historical novel from Michelle Moran. This is the story of the twin children of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony who are taken to Rome as "prisoners" of Octavian (Augustus Caesar). This book was an eye opener as to the day to day life in Rome. In history class, you only hear how great the Roman Empire was and that Rome was the city of that time. The description is of a dirty, unlawful, corrupt, and heartbreaking city where the wealthy rule and everyone else is left to beg for scraps of food. The incredible journey of the princess of Egypt and her fight to save herself, remain valuable to Caesar, avoid an arranged marriage, cope with the loss of both parents and all of her siblings, and somehow escape Rome. The ending of this book was so intense and my hopes for Selena (main character) were so high that all would end well...which it did. The great thing about it is that it is based on true events in time, so Selena and the man she married, Juba, returned and ruled Egypt for decades. This author is fantastic and really illuminates strong and resilient women of ancient times. I have to say she is the best author in this genre that I have read. Her books are packed with culture and adventure...incredible combination.

Book #83 - Anything Goes by Jill Churchill

When I was in middle school, I read a book called "The Westing Game". It was an interesting mystery where you were introduced to a whole bunch of characters and the main character had to figure out who committed the murder. This book reminded me of that one very much. It is a short, who-done-it set in 1931. The main character and her brother were formerly living large off their father's extravagant wealth are left penniless and skill-less after the stock marked crash. These two find out their long lost uncle has died and has left his home and vast fortune to them, if they can survive 10 years living in his house. As they arrive to this small town outside of NYC, they find out that the uncle may have been murdered, and they set out to find out who did it. I suspected who had done it, but didn't put it all together until the author finally clued us in. Good little short one that is quite entertaining but doesn't require much brain power...just what I need right now.