"Virgin's Daughters" by Jeane Westin wasn't quite what I was expecting. I was hoping, by the title, that it was some juicy scandalous fiction about Queen Elizabeth having illegitimate twins with Dudley, but alas, it was referring to her pet name for her ladies in waiting. And Elizabeth was not in her finest hour when dealing with many of her ladies, including her poor cousin Catherine Grey, who only wanted to marry Edward Seymour and live out her life in quiet solitude. Elizabeth was cruel and Catherine's story of imprisonment and exile without ever seeing her husband and sons again always makes me sad.
"Size 14 Is Not Fat, Either" by Meg Cabot is the second Heather Wells mystery, and it was light and fun. A cheerleader's head is found in the cafeteria, and Heather goes on the hunt to find the killer, since it seems like the detectives are looking in all the wrong places. Her crush on Cooper intensifies but goes nowhere, even after she manages to discover the killers are a couple of drug dealing frat boys.
"Triangles" by Ellen Hopkins was very, very good. It made me cry. I love her YA stuff, and this adult novel by her did not disappoint. Three women, mothers, wives, approaching middle age all deal with it in different ways. Holly has the seemingly perfect life: loving husband who has a good job and supports her, three great kids. Holly is bored, and starts writing erotica. Then she decides she needs some hands on research for it, and starts a torrid affair with one of the men in her writing group. Andrea, divorced, single mom, is having no luck finding a decent man until she starts comforting Holly's cuckolded husband, Jace. And Marissa, just trying to hold things together, dealing with a dying daughter, a gay son, and a cheating husband. I love how Hopkins doesn't wrap up everything neatly in a bow at the end because real life doesn't do that, either.
Some Maud Hart Lovelace books I hadn't read before: "Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill" and "Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown". They were sweet and fun. I like their adventures. I wish I would have read them when I was a kid, but oh well. You're never too old to enjoy children's fiction :)
And finally, "Big Boned" by Meg Cabot. The third Heather Wells mystery was very short, so I read it fast. Heather is dating her math professor, Tad, who is outdoorsy and vegan, so you can just about imagine how well that bodes for any long term plans for them. Still, Heather is happy to have someone--she just wishes it were Cooper. Her boss is shot in his office one morning, and Heather sets out to prove the student who was arrested wasn't responsible for the crime. Happy ending: Cooper finally admits he feels the same way about Heather, and they plan on eloping. Well. How nice for her. If only real life worked out the same for everyone. No, I'm not bitter at all. Why do you ask?
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