This document contains reviews and discussion of two books: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. One reviewer enjoyed the beautiful imagery and characters in Water for Elephants. Another reviewer found Mistress of the Art of Death to be a fast-paced mystery that kept them reading late into the night, with well-written characters set in historical fiction. The second reviewer expressed hope for a sequel to Mistress of the Art of Death.

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3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Quilting Nonny : Every now and then I find a book that is so wonderful. It's like finding the lone needle in a haystack. This book is a treat. Imagery is beautiful, characters are fabulous, and I loved that the animals had personalities (as they do in real life). I recommend this for someone who loves to read for pleasure . Can't believe I almost didn't read this because it was about a circus ; that would have been my loss.

4. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin J. Avellanet: This is a wicked book - in no time at all you'll find yourself looking up to see the clock at 3:00am . And, as I later realized, that won't even get you half way through the book when the really fast-paced action and suspense grows . The writing is well done and perfect after a long day...though admittedly, the use of some of the more modern English ("ain't", etc.) throws one off first, it does serve to help flesh out characters who are educated versus those who aren't. And yes, if you are a fan of CSI, you'll love this book . If you like mysteries, you'll enjoy it. And if you crave a good historical fiction, this is just the thing . And, if you're like me, and have all three of those characteristics together, then don't waste time reading any more reviews -- get this book . Note to the author, Ms. Franklin: I do so hope we get a sequel. Very much enjoyed the protagonist and the world in which she lives.