At first it was just a tad difficult for me to follow the adventures of each of the four girls in this cool book, hence the four stars instead of five. The point of view shifts a little too quickly in the beginning, but you'll more than likely get used to it. If you are looking for one of those novels that digs deep into the heart and soul of its main character(s), then "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" isn't for you.

But if you are looking for a fun read that celebrates friendship and the things females go through as teenage girls, then you've picked up the right book!

It was quite exciting to follow the girls on their separate adventures. It was like having four distinct stories all rolled into this one quick read. It makes me look forward to reading Part Two already. :)

You will have to read this lovely third installment in The Princess Diaries for you to know what I mean about it being just like a fairy tale. There aren't any ogres and witches (just Grandmere, as usual!), but our dear princess, Mia, is on hand for another chapter in her not-so-ordinary life.

The only hint I'll give you about what makes this volume different from the previous two is this: one of Mia's biggest wishes finally comes true. Suckers for good endings will not be displeased!

Lovers of historical/Biblical fiction may very well adore this different version of the King David story. All most readers have to do to appreciate it is to keep an open mind, as the well-loved monarch is portrayed in a less-than-flattering light here. New twists on the story are also liberally sprinkled in along the way, to the possible dismay of those who want to read about the heroic David of the Bible. Significant events as we know them from the traditional tale remain the same. What gives this novel such a spin are the goings-on behind the scenes, where King Saul's daughter Michal appears to have the upper hand.

Readers who hold more conservative views might prefer to skip this one, unless they remember it is but a fictionalized account, but more radical thinkers open to anything have nothing to lose by giving QUEENMAKER a try.

Fran Drescher's fans will surely love this book about her battle with cancer. Those of us used to seeing her as the funny and almost always upbeat Nanny, Fran Fine, on her hit TV show see real-life Fran in a different light. Just like all of us she's very human, with ups as well as downs, but she doesn't try to take our sympathy for herself. She's a very real person (albeit a pretty one who's always looked young for her age), and this second outing of hers as an author is also rather educational about cancer.

Fran doesn't go into all the technical details of what battling the disease is like, but she does warn and give advice to women experiencing similar symptoms. They just might save your life. Take it from Fran--she'd been misdiagnosed (or undiagnosed, as the case may be) several times before she could finally be treated.

Other events during this time of Fran's life are also shared with readers. Especially touching (particularly for animal or pet lovers) is the section about Chester, Fran's dog who starred in The Nanny. Although this book is good overall, women will probably generally appreciate it more than men, as it is about a form of cancer that attacks parts of female anatomy.

All I can say is, if you enjoyed reading THE PRINCESS DIARIES, then this one's bound to be a hoot for you too. In PRINCESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Mia's adventures continue, but we have more of the same snideness and wittiness typical of America's Royal (as Mia is known). She's really funny, and not your typical princess that it's quite a bit of fun to stay tuned to the unfolding story of her life.

I didn't quite like the turn of events at the end, but hey, that's what Book Number Three is for.

I'd be giving away the story of the third volume in The Mediator series if I went so far as to explain what our cool ghostbuster-of-sorts Suze Simon is doing spending tons of time with a guy she normally wouldn't be seen with.

Suffice it to say she's just doing her job of getting to the bottom of ghostly business as the mediator. Especially now that there are four angry freshly-dead teens whose ghosts want revenge over their untimely deaths. But how'd those ghosts get to be dead in the first place?

If you enjoyed the first two mediator books, you'll probably love this one too. It kinda reads like a teen mystery. It's not all that difficult for older readers to figure everything out, but this is still a nice, fun read.

I love Jenny Carroll (aka Meg Cabot), and this second book in her Mediator series was just as entertaining for me as the first one. Our tough but beloved lead character Suze Simon continues her paranormal adventures, but winds up kicking human, rather than ghost, butt in this installment. Oh, there are still ghosts in NINTH KEY all right (they're what this series is all about after all), but some twists end up pitting Suze against a particularly mean real LIVE human this time around.

There was just something I noticed in this little volume that made me wonder about inconsistencies in series such as this. If we take a close look at the name of one of the characters in SHADOWLAND, we see that it's spelled Bryce M-A-R-T-I-N-S-O-N. In NINTH KEY that same character's name is spelled M-A-R-T-I-N-S-E-N, almost as if someone else wrote it. It's just a minor detail, and we shouldn't let it detract our attention from the enjoyable tale in this book's pages. I just couldn't help but wonder about it, especially since there are other inconsistencies in books three and four.

Still, this second Mediator book is definitely a fun read. Check it out if you enjoyed the first one.

I love it when young adult books are written in such a way that older readers can appreciate them too. SHADOWLAND, for me, is definitely one of those books. Protagonist Sussanah Simon is young, at sixteen, but smart and tough so it's fun seeing things from her point of view.

Especially since her experiences are different from those of a regular, average teen. The ghosts and paranormal events are a cool touch for readers who are either going through the same things in their own lives or just looking for a fun read.

I recommend this book to the fun-loving, young (and young at heart) folks who enjoy reading about psychic phenomena and things usually considered out of this world.

When I call DIVINE SECRETS... a personal read, what I mean is it gets to the core of issues that touch the heart. Not everybody is fated to lead a colorful life like the one mother and daughter Vivi and Sidda share. But their story perfectly illustrates how time can heal all wounds if we let it, and how love truly prevails over even the most painful of obstacles.

Although author Rebecca Wells' book LITTLE ALTARS EVERYWHERE (with the same cast of characters) can stand alone, it somehow seems incomplete or unfinished once you read this one. DIVINE SECRETS... completes the picture. I recommend that if you read one, read the other as well.

For those who've consciously been searching for themselves for some time now, the message of this book is oft-heard and come across. Oh, don't get me wrong; it's all good advice, but rather more like a set of reminders that we've already heard before.

But for those who are only now beginning to go within for answers, I strongly recommend this book. It's very easy to follow--so easy in fact that you're likely to think, "Yeah, I've known that all along, but never tried it. It's about time I did!" This little volume is a gem of a handbook about life.