Here is what I picked up:
Title: The Shadow of the Wind
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Summary: Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles. To this library, a man brings his ten year old son, Daniel, one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book and from the dusty shelves pulls The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. But as Daniel grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind.
Title: Late Night Shopping
Author: Carmen Reid (she's a Scot!)
Summary: Uber-busy Annie Valentine - mum to two demanding children and personal shopper in a swanky London fashion store - is now intent on setting up a shoe and handbag empire of her own, and she'll do anything to get there. But what about her adorable new man? As someone who wants nothing more than a quiet life, Ed is shocked to discover Annie staking their home on her success, and now their relationship is on the line. Is Annie's surprise remedy - an extravagant friends and family holiday to Italy - really what they all need? Especially when a dashing Italian businessman promises to fulfill Annie's every dream.
Title: Jewel and Thorn
Author: Richard Poole
Summary: On his sixteenth birthday, Thorn Jack steals a curious crystal from the Treasury of a neighboring settlement in his coming of age rite-of-passage. Returning home, he finds that his younger sister has been kidnapped. He sets out to find her with Racky Jagger, an enigmatic but worldly-wise individual. Their way leads through Judy Wood, a place of mystery and ill-repute. When fifteen-years-old Jewel Ranson's father, a traveling draper, is murdered at a fair, she sets out to avenge him. Accompanied by Rainy Gill, a juggler, she journeys to Harry park where she becomes involved in a bloodthirsty wager. As she travels, Jewel discovers that she has been gifted with unusual powers. After many colorful adventures and encounters, their separate quests lead Thorn and Jewel to a momentous meeting - and the discovery of a common enemy...
Title: The Brass Key: 2nd Book of LowMoor
Author: Richard Poole
Summary: In a world shaped by the scattered remains of a giant civilisation live communities of six-inch tall human beings. Blackmailed by the sinister Spetch twins, Jewel and Thorn must journey across land and water to retrieve the mysterious brass key. Until they find it and return it to the Spetches, Thorn's sister Haw is at the cruel mercy of the twins. Thorn finds uses for the strange objects given to him by the Norgreen Syb and Jewel's strength as a Magian grows when she comes across a crystal similar to the one stolen and hidden away by Thorn. It has a strange, dark power - but is there danger in its strength? Encountering unexpected, malevolent forces along the way, but also making new friends, Jewel and Thorn discover a new and even more dangerous opponent lurking in the shadows behind those they already know.
Title: The Shadow of the Wind
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Summary: Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the 'Cemetery of Forgotten Books', a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles. To this library, a man brings his ten year old son, Daniel, one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book and from the dusty shelves pulls The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. But as Daniel grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find. What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind.
Title: Late Night Shopping
Author: Carmen Reid (she's a Scot!)
Summary: Uber-busy Annie Valentine - mum to two demanding children and personal shopper in a swanky London fashion store - is now intent on setting up a shoe and handbag empire of her own, and she'll do anything to get there. But what about her adorable new man? As someone who wants nothing more than a quiet life, Ed is shocked to discover Annie staking their home on her success, and now their relationship is on the line. Is Annie's surprise remedy - an extravagant friends and family holiday to Italy - really what they all need? Especially when a dashing Italian businessman promises to fulfill Annie's every dream.
Title: Jewel and Thorn
Author: Richard Poole
Summary: On his sixteenth birthday, Thorn Jack steals a curious crystal from the Treasury of a neighboring settlement in his coming of age rite-of-passage. Returning home, he finds that his younger sister has been kidnapped. He sets out to find her with Racky Jagger, an enigmatic but worldly-wise individual. Their way leads through Judy Wood, a place of mystery and ill-repute. When fifteen-years-old Jewel Ranson's father, a traveling draper, is murdered at a fair, she sets out to avenge him. Accompanied by Rainy Gill, a juggler, she journeys to Harry park where she becomes involved in a bloodthirsty wager. As she travels, Jewel discovers that she has been gifted with unusual powers. After many colorful adventures and encounters, their separate quests lead Thorn and Jewel to a momentous meeting - and the discovery of a common enemy...
Title: The Brass Key: 2nd Book of LowMoor
Author: Richard Poole
Summary: In a world shaped by the scattered remains of a giant civilisation live communities of six-inch tall human beings. Blackmailed by the sinister Spetch twins, Jewel and Thorn must journey across land and water to retrieve the mysterious brass key. Until they find it and return it to the Spetches, Thorn's sister Haw is at the cruel mercy of the twins. Thorn finds uses for the strange objects given to him by the Norgreen Syb and Jewel's strength as a Magian grows when she comes across a crystal similar to the one stolen and hidden away by Thorn. It has a strange, dark power - but is there danger in its strength? Encountering unexpected, malevolent forces along the way, but also making new friends, Jewel and Thorn discover a new and even more dangerous opponent lurking in the shadows behind those they already know.
Jewel and Thorn looks like it will be a good fantasy adventure. I love Shadow of the Wind's cover.
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