Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich

Visions of Sugarplums is a "between the numbers" edition of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.  This story takes place between books 8 and 9.  I was actually surprised that it advanced the series as I thought it was going to be more of a stand alone book. 

Stephanie wakes up one morning to find a strange man in her living room.  Fortunately, this is not an unusual situation for her.  She tends to have that problem regularly.  Diesel is something not quite human and that puts Stephanie more on guard than normal.  Stephanie's current case is to find a man named Sandy Claws (appropriate at Christmastime) and Diesel is trying to find him as well.

The story moves right along as the paperback is only around 160 pages.  There are a few developments regarding Stephanie's family but nothing much changes in her very mixed up love life. 

These books are all on the light and fun side which is a nice thing to read when life gets a little heavy. 

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

I still haven't seen the new movie version of Voyage of the Dawn Treader, so this review is strictly on the book, which is a good one.  I've been trying to journey through Narnia for several years now.  I think I received the set of books when I was around twelve or thirteen.  That means I've had them for well over twenty years.  I kept reading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe over and over and over again.  I am now making progress.  I'm at least keeping up with the movies!

Voyage of the Dawn Treader is quite a fun adventure book.  We are introduced to Eustace, a spoiled cousin of the Pevensies.  Lucy and Edmond go to stay with Eustace and his family one summer and are whisked back into Narnia, with Eustace along for the ride.  They are hauled aboard a ship called the Dawn Treader where they find their old friends Caspian, Reepicheep, and others.  The ship is sailing to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia.

Through their search, they encounter strange islands and odd creatures.  This is where the story really gets going.  In my opinion this is one of the lighter and more fun books in the series.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and I regret that I didn't read it twenty years ago.  It could almost be read as a stand-alone book if someone was not familiar with the rest of the series.  Voyage of the Dawn Treader is recommended for all ages but there are a few places that might be a little intense.  If your kids aren't reading independently at this level, I recommend you read it with them.  You'll all enjoy it.

Vision in White by Nora Roberts

If any of you have been following my blog, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Ms. Roberts. She's one of the few writers that hasn't let me down. She's consistently good. At least in my opinion.

Vision in White is a good old fashioned love story. I say that in a good way. It's charming, romantic and very sweet. And it's the first in a series of four! Even better. Mackensie, Emma, Laurel, and Parker are four best friends who own and run a wedding business. Mac is the photographer, Emma the florist, Laurel the baker, and Parker is the planner/coordinator/everything else.

When clumsy, nerdy schoolteacher, Carter falls back into Mac's life, she is immediately charmed. I was too. I just love those nerdy boys. Carter admits to a high school crush on Mac and they begin a relationship. Mac struggles with allowing herself to have a real relationship as she compares herself to her three-times divorced, flighty, user of a mother.

It was really nice to jump right into a story that made me smile. I am a romantic at heart and I loved every minute of this book. I hate that I have to wait until December to read the next in the series. I look forward to re-visiting Mac, Carter, and the other characters again.