Book Beginnings on Friday (12)

Book Beginnings on Friday is a new meme hosted by Becky at Page Turners. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. If you'd like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

I started reading one book yesterday and then this morning I realized I have another that I have to read and mail out on Tuesday. So once again I am going to share two sentences.

The Queen's Governess by Karen Harper

I could not fathom they were going to kill the queen.

The queen in question is Anne Boleyn. I love Tudor history and the next best thing is a well written historical fiction novel set in the Tudor period. I am really enjoying this book so I was sad to have to put it aside.

Katherine Ashley, the daughter of a poor country squire, comes to the royal court as a spy for Henry VIII's man Thomas Cromwell. She befriends Anne Boleyn and, as a dying favor to the doomed queen, agrees to become governess to the young Princess Elizabeth. Together they suffer bitter exile, assassination attempts, and imprisonment, barely escaping with their lives. But when Elizabeth is crowned, Kat continues to serve her, faithfully guarding all the queen's secrets, even the ones that could bring down her monarchy.

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

I opened my eyes. My legs were bound and my head ached.

Not as exciting as you'd think! She realizes her legs are wrapped up in her comforter and her head hurts because she has a hangover. I'm on chapter three and so far the book is good but there are only hints about the mystery and a serial killer called the Eyeslasher.

At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline. Then everything changes: In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting. Karen Healey introduces a savvy and spirited heroine with a strong, fresh voice. Full of deliciously creepy details, this adventure is a deftly crafted story of Māori mythology, romance, betrayal, and war.