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If you like adventure books (I love them) you might also like to know that WH Smith are selling the new Max Gordon - Danger Zone book by David Gilman for one month before the official release - it is available elsewhere from July 3. I really enjoyed the first book 'The Devil's Breath' so I had to have this one - and it's huge. Here's the Ice Claw blurb: "A thundering rumble echoes round the mountain peaks of the Pyrenees as a deadly avalanche speeds towards the oblivious competitors in an X-treme sports challenge. Max Gordon's race to win has just become a race to survive. But Max has been betrayed. Sayid, Max's best friend, is injured and missing. Max is accused of murder and the evidence seems conclusive - the hunt for Max Gordon is on. "In a life-or-death struggle, a mysterious monk passes on a vital clue, which plunges Max into the heart of an ancient secret, foretelling of a cataclysmic event that will kill thousands and destroy the entire ecological balance of Europe." David has a fantastic blog and does a lot of hands on research around the world for his books. He is also about to go on tour for 'Ice Claw' beginning Monday 29 June. His blog says; "We start in Preston, then Lancaster, Manchester, London, Devizes and Plymouth. If you see a man carrying a tree trunk it's me - and the tree trunk is the tube I'm using to carry my picture of a massive bear." So far I haven't been able to find out which bookshops he's visiting - I'll update on this post if I hear anything. Check out www.davidgilman.blogspot.com or www.thedangerzone.co.uk for Max Gordon updates. BOOK SIGNINGS * Henry Winkler AKA The Fonz will be signing copies of his new childrens book HANK ZIPZER NIAGARA FALLS OR DOES IT? at WHSmith, Arndale Centre, Manchester on July 6 between 1 and 2pm. * Children's author Patricia Jones who will be signing copies of her latest (fifth) book, at Waterstone's Preston on Saturday July 19 between 2 and 3pm. 'Circles of Blood' is a teenage crime story set in France. Children of all ages are very welcome and there's no need to book. Find out more at www.patriciajones.co.uk

The Scarlet Stockings: The Enchanted Riddle by Charlotte Kandel

Rating:
When I was younger I loved two things, reading and dancing. I haven't danced since college, but I still love reading about it. Most of the time when I read dancing books, I'm a little disappointed. Authors usually use the correct more complex terms for describing the dancing in detail. Which is good if you know what they are talking about. But, they usually do it in such a way that unless you have experience dancing the books are a little hard to read. This book was the complete opposite. All the terms and explanations were correct, but it was done in such a way that even people without any dance experience could enjoy this book. The author even incorporated the history of ballet into the book without making it feel like history. It was just another part of the mystery. The characters were real and believable, and the story was fun and enchanting. This is a great book for younger girls.

Description:
Daphne has always had two lifelong dreams. One is to become a prima ballerina, and the other is to find her real parents. So when a mysterious package arrives at the orphanage addressed to Daphne, she hopes that one of her dreams is about to being fulfilled. When Daphne opens the package, she finds a beautiful pair of scarlet stockings and a book on teaching yourself ballet. On closer inspection of the book, she discovers a riddle written on the inside cover. Her desire to solve the riddle sends her on a quest of self discovery and puts her dreams within reach. But in the end, she must choose what she really wants from life, and then do what it takes to deserve it.

Snakehead (Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz

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This is a great book for people who love action stories. This is the most intense Alex Rider book yet, and as such it also contains the most violence (not graphic, but frequent). There are also some scenes (one in which Alex is covered in rats and another where he is going to be farmed for body organs) which readers may find disturbing. Alex is offered alcohol a few times, but he always declines. There is also one reference to topless women in a Thai bar.

Description:
Alex is recruited by the Australian government to help an undercover agent penetrate the Snakehead. The Snakehead is an Asian gang that is connected to Scorpia and known for smuggling, weapons, drugs, and even people. Alex is done being used by the government and is completely prepared to turn the assignment down, until he learns that the agent he will be working with is actually his godfather. Alex sees the mission as his only chance to learn more about his parents. But instead of helping Alex learn about his past, the mission only leaves Alex with an uncertain future. Can Alex escape from Scorpia for a second time, or will his luck finally run out?

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

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My husband and I both read this book and neither of us could decide if it was a two or three angel book. Since I have to decide right now I would say it's probably a lower three. It's close to the top of my favorite books list, it's just not the very top. The story was based on the fairy tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." It was enchanting, captivating, and beautifully written. The story could have been longer with more detail at the end of the book because I wanted to know more. I cared about the characters and the story and really wanted to understand everything. I hope Jessica writes a prequel to the book, telling about the Lass's brother's journey.

Description:
The Lass's mother refuses to name her at birth, putting the Lass in jepoardy of being taken by the evil things of the world. At home the Lass is ignored and given the chores nobody wants. But when the Lass rescues a mythical white reindeer, the reindeer gives her a gift - a secret name and the ability to speak with animals. When an enchanted isbjorn breaks into the Lass's home and finds he can communicate with the Lass, he asks her to live at his castle for a year and a day. The Lass accepts and returns with the isbjorn to an enchanted ice castle in the far north. On her second night in the castle, something or someone begins to share her bed. Her curiosity grows to much for her, and she devises a plan to uncover the mysterious man. Her actions force her to take a grueling journey on the back of the four winds. The Lass must find the troll queen's palace before she loses the man she didn't know she loved.