Fred Giet Giet itibaren Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet, France itibaren Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet, France

This was an "okay" novel although I didn't particularly enjoy this author's writing, nor did I like the "English/Irish" usage of language for things of a different name here in North America. From back cover: "Grace Tynan's life is terrifyingly planned: her career in property, the school car pool, her marriage to a man whose head is like a sieve. So when a college dropout called Adam knocks the side mirror off her BMW with his anti-nuclear placard, the last thing Grace expects is to fall in love. Anxious friends soon notice an alarming change-Grace gives up work, she shuns dinner parties and, most disturbing of all, she stops shaving her underarm hair. Has the Grace they know and love turned into a Rainbow Warrior, or has she simply decided that her grey life needs a bit of colouring in?"

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince begins with a bit of shock: Severus Snape finally gets the job he has coveted for years…the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. Additionally, a new professor is introduced to the readers: the new (and former) Potions master, Horace Slughorn. And Professor Dumbledore has a very good reason for wanting Professor Slughorn at Hogwarts. In the meantime, something has blackened Dumbledore’s hand and he is keeping mum for the moment, although he promises to eventually tell Harry what happened. Speaking of Harry, he begins to get extra “lessons” with Dumbledore to learn more about Tom Riddle’s past in order to figure out his weaknesses. This sixth book in the series is magnificent and heart-breaking. Things with Voldemort are escalating and everyone knows it is only a matter of time before something big happens. But what could be bigger than infiltrating Hogwarts and killing Dumbledore? I remember reading this when it came out and I was so shocked and for awhile I was convinced that he would come back. Read the full review here.