Lost Love Found by Bertrice Small, 484 pages

 Despite her breathtaking appearance at Queen Elizabeth's court, Valentina's innocence was shattered when she discovered that her true father may have been the lusty Sultan Murad of Istanbul. Needing to learn more, she set sail for the East in a dangerous erotic journey toward the truth....

As Old As Time by Liz Braswell, 484 pages

What if Belle’s mother cursed the Beast?

Belle is a lot of things: smart, resourceful, restless. She longs to escape her poor provincial town for good. She wants to explore the world, despite her father’s reluctance to leave their little cottage in case Belle’s mother returns—a mother she barely remembers. Belle also happens to be the captive of a terrifying, angry beast. And that is her primary concern.

But Belle touches the Beast’s enchanted rose, intriguing images flood her mind—images of the mother she believed she would never see again. Stranger still, she sees that her mother is none other than the beautiful Enchantress who cursed the Beast, his castle, and all its inhabitants. Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast must work together to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is twenty-one years in the making.

Salt, A World History by Mark Kurlansky, 484 pages

This was a very informative and interesting read about salt. It's been used as money, a reason for war attacks, killed its collectors and brought one nation to its knee. I found myself telling tidbits from the book to family members and various acquaintances while reading it. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good nonfiction read.