The Ashleys: Lipgloss Jungle by Melissa de la Cruz

The Blurb On The Back:

Lauren Page’s plan was simple: get a fabulous makeover, secure herself a place in the Ashleys and then bring them down from the inside. The only problem is, now she’s actually made it into the inner circle, she’s having some serious second thoughts ...

But things are about to be taken out of Lauren’s hands. Sadie, Lauren’s former best friend, has started a rival group and plans to destroy the Ashleys and herself. Can Lauren stop Sadie or is their clique finally over?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

I’m not the target age group for this book, which is why I completely and utterly loathed it. I find it depressing that girls are subjected to this type of tosh where the only worthwhile things in life are apparently designer labels and lead shallow and self-obsessed lives. It’s even more depressing that 13 year old girls should be made to believe that having a boyfriend is the be-all-and-end-all of their existence.

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom

The Blurb On The Back:

Autumn, 1541. King Henry VIII has set out on a spectacular Progress to the North to attend an extravagant submission by his rebellious subjects in York.

Already in the city are lawyers Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak. As well as legal work processing local petitions to the King, SHardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission for Archbishop Cranmer – to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator who is to be returned to London for interrogation.

But the murder of a York glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. And when Shardlake and Barak stumble upon a cache of secret documents which could threaten the Tudor throne, a chain of events unfolds that will lead to Shardlake facing the most terrifying fate of the age ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Overall this is an excellent story that immerses you in the Tudor period. Shardlake remains a compelling and all-too-human hero. I can’t recommend this too highly.