The White Princess by Philippa Gregory, 544 pages

Nobody does English history like Philippa Gregory. Princess Elizabeth of York has lost her father, her brothers have died or disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and she is waiting to see who her husband will be. The candidates are Richard III or Henry Tudor. When Richard falls at Bosworth, Elizabeth is slated to marry Henry to help legitimatize his rule. But their marriage promises to be no love match, especially with Henry's ambitious mother calling the shots. Henry struggles to hold onto England, a country that remembers and loves the York rule with fondness. Henry's overwhelming fear is that there is still a York claimant (or pretender) waiting to take his throne. Elizabeth must decide whether her loyalty is to her husband and children, or to what may be a possibly long-lost brother.

Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times by Lucy Lethbridge, 400 pages

This was a really intriguing look at servants in Britain from the 1800s up to modern times, including their relationships with each other and the families they served. It was amazing how fast the system collapsed after WWII, though it was on it's last legs after WWI. Servants were considered indispensable, yet required to be invisible. The different types of servants, the attitudes toward them, and how long it took for society to accept women's changing roles are all discussed in this fascinating book. This is a must read for fans of all things Britain and Downton Abbey.

Undead and Unsure by Mary Janice Davidson, 301 pages

I've been reading this vampire series since the very first book, and it has definitely taken a much darker turn, but I'm glad to see that this book lightened up a little. Though I almost hate reading the last chapter anymore in these books, there always seems to be some dark, depressing twist.

Big Nate Flips Out by Lincoln Peirce, 216 pages

I'm just as hooked on the Big Nate series as my kids are. So I was excited to see that I could get the newest Big Nate book as a review book through Night Owl Reviews. It was funny as always, it was nice to have the comic fleshed out with more of a storyline than they can do in the newspaper.

Ella of All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, 133 pages

This was the final book in a really sweet children's series. While I enjoyed all the books, I felt like this one just didn't measure up to the previous books.

All-of-a-Kind Family Uptown by Sydney Taylor, 160 pages

The series continues on through World War I. It's amazing to see how everyone pulls together for the war effort. I love the fact that I can find these books courtesy of the inter-library loan system.

All-of-a-Kind Family Downtown by Sydney Taylor, 187 pages

I have to say that this series is just a nice, happy children's series set in the years just preceding WWI in New York City. Featuring the 5 daughters of Jewish immigrants, it follows them through their everyday adventures, and ups and downs. Every book is just a fun, good read.