Month: January 2024

Mini-Reviews: Secret, Lily, Always

1 Comment

Sharon Shinn, The Safe-Keeper’s Secret

I actually read this book in 2023 but for some reason didn’t post my review here at the time. Oh well, better late than never!

Damiana is a safe-keeper, which means she’s bound to listen to anyone who wants to confide a secret to her, and she’s not allowed to reveal these secrets to anyone. One night a mysterious stranger arrives at her door with a newborn baby, charging her to keep the infant safe and his parentage a secret. Damiana raises this baby alongside her own child, so Fiona and Reed grow up together as brother and sister. But as they mature into adulthood, they begin to question their identities in various ways. I like Sharon Shinn’s writing style and the gentle fantasy world she’s created in this book, but I was underwhelmed by the actual story. There’s really no plot to speak of until the last couple chapters, when some long-standing secrets are revealed. I was also a bit disturbed by the hint of romance between Fiona and Reed (they’re not related by blood but were raised as siblings). Overall, this isn’t one of Shinn’s stronger works, but I have the sequel on my shelves so will undoubtedly read it at some point.

Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill

Six and a half years ago, Felix Hartford and Lady Anne Deveril were in love, but they parted after a bitter argument. Hart never stopped loving Anne, though, and now he’s determined to win her back, although he’ll have an uphill battle convincing her to trust him again. Meanwhile, ever since her father’s death, Anne has been consumed with supporting her grieving mother and hasn’t been able to live her own life. Hart attracts her as much as ever, but can she learn to let go of the past? I’m a big fan of Matthews’s intelligent (and steamless!) historical romances, and this book is no exception. I liked both Hart and Anne and bought the connection between them, as well as the obstacles keeping them apart. It’s frustrating that they’ve both martyred themselves to selfish family members and can’t seem to break free, and their hesitation to commit fully to each other goes on too long. Nevertheless, I really liked this one overall and am excited for the next (and final?) installment of the series!

Mary Balogh, Always Remember

Ben Ellis, a widower with a young daughter, wants to remarry. He’s not looking for passionate love, just someone with whom he can be comfortable. He certainly shouldn’t be thinking about Lady Jennifer Arden, who’s extremely wealthy and the sister of a duke, whereas he is illegitimate. Meanwhile, Jennifer is convinced she’s unlovable due to a malformed leg that prevents her from walking. A fixer by nature, Ben helps her find various ways to become more mobile. As they grow closer, however, their families express concern about their different social stations. This third book in the Ravenswood series continues to frustrate me with its inclusion of not only Ben’s and Jennifer’s various relatives, but a bunch of random villagers as well. Most of these characters have no relevance to the plot, so why keep mentioning them? I don’t care! That said, I did like both Ben and Jennifer, who aren’t extraordinarily gorgeous or gifted; they’re just two kind people who genuinely like each other. Their relationship is pretty low-conflict; the dramatic tension comes mostly from the individual problems they’re working through. Overall, I do think this is an improvement over the previous two books in the series, but it’s still not one of Balogh’s stronger offerings.

Mini-Reviews: Fair, Wizard, Truth

2 Comments

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Fair

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

Lucy Harrington and Major Sir Robert Kurland have finally acknowledged their feelings and decided to marry. But before they can walk down the aisle, they encounter another violent death: Ezekiel Thurrock, a longtime village resident, is found in the church with his head bashed in. He’d been unpopular in the village ever since winning “too many” prizes for his vegetables at the local fair, but could someone have been angry enough to kill him? As Lucy and Robert investigate, they uncover secrets from centuries past that are still influencing the present. I’m continuing to enjoy this series; like its predecessors, this book is a pleasant historical mystery with a hint of romance. I wish the romance were a little more prominent, actually — we don’t get much of Lucy’s or Robert’s emotional state or much external evidence of their love for each other. Still, I plan to continue with the series and will be interested to see how the protagonists cope with married life!

Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters

Tremaine Valiarde is a young woman whose world is literally on fire: Her homeland of Ile-Rien is being bombed by a mysterious but implacable enemy known as the Gardier. Ile-Rien’s only hope is a magical sphere in Tremaine’s possession, which is thought to be a weapon. In fact, it’s a teleportation device — when Tremaine and some compatriots test it, they’re taken to another world where they stumble upon a hidden Gardier base. They also team up with Ilias and Giliead, natives of this other world with their own score to settle against the Gardier. This book is well-written, with a creative world and engaging characters, but I also found it pretty slow going. The extensive action scenes, such as those in the caves, are overlong and a bit boring. That said, I did enjoy the book while I was reading it! I just found it put-down-able; I have less patience for these big, beefy fantasy novels than I used to. Still, I’m on board for the sequels — this book doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, but there’s definitely more story to tell — and I hope that Tremaine and her allies will eventually prevail.

Sharon Shinn, The Truth-Teller’s Tale

This YA fantasy novel is narrated by Truth-Teller Eleda, who is honest to the point of rudeness and incapable of telling a lie. Her twin sister, Adele, is the opposite: As a Safe-Keeper, she’s entrusted with people’s secrets and valued for her discretion. The sisters are close, even though they often irritate each other, and as they grow up they come to see the value in each other’s skills. I really enjoyed the cozy and charming world of this book, which is centered around everyday life in the girls’ village. I also liked the depiction of Eleda and Adele’s complex but ultimately loving relationship. There isn’t much to the plot—a gentle coming-of-age story with a bit of romance thrown in—but it’s a pleasant read overall. I won’t be keeping it on my shelves, though; I think Sharon Shinn has written much better books!

Mini-Reviews: Faro’s, Night, Swordheart

1 Comment

Georgette Heyer, Faro’s Daughter

When Max Ravenscar learns that his young cousin, Adrian, has fallen in love with Deborah Grantham, who works in her aunt’s gaming-house, Max immediately intervenes to prevent the match. He won’t allow Adrian to fall prey to a fortune hunter, no matter how attractive she may be. In fact, Deb has no intention of marrying Adrian, but Max’s interference angers her, and she decides to teach him a lesson. The ensuing battle of wits paradoxically draws them closer and ignites an unlikely romance. A Heyer reread is always a pleasure, and this book has a particularly fun plot, as Max and Deb’s prank war escalates to ridiculous heights. Max is a fictional hero after my own heart, cold and aloof and Darcy-esque until love inspires him to unbend a little. And of course, the intelligent and lively Deb is his perfect match. This isn’t one of my very top favorite Heyers, but it’s definitely near the top, and I’d still highly recommend it!

Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You

Vivvy Bouchet doesn’t call herself a psychic, but she does have certain unusual abilities. When she was 10, she had a vision that saved the life of a neighbor boy, Mike. Now, 18 years later, Mike is a cop who occasionally asks Vivvy to use her “gifts” to assist his investigations. The latest case involves a girl who’s been missing, presumed dead, for several years — but Vivvy senses she’s still alive. To work the case, Vivvy is paired with another cop, Jesse Sharp, who doesn’t trust her or believe in her paranormal abilities. As they investigate, Vivvy is forced to deal with the ghosts of her own past. This is not the type of book I usually read, and I wouldn’t necessarily say I liked it, but I did find it a compelling read! The mystery of the missing girl is a bit slight, but the plot isn’t really the point. Rather, the book is an exploration of science and faith, of truth and conspiracy, of why we sometimes choose to believe lies. I liked the philosophizing, although I can see why others might not, and I would consider reading more by Heaberlin.

T. Kingfisher, Swordheart

Halla has just inherited a small fortune and is at the mercy of her odious in-laws, who want to steal her inheritance by forcing her into an unwanted marriage. Luckily, said inheritance includes an enchanted sword: When she draws it, a warrior named Sarkis appears and declares that he is bound to her service. Together, they escape from Halla’s family and seek to reclaim her inheritance, having various adventures — and falling in love — along the way. I absolutely adored this book! It’s so funny and lighthearted and full of kind people being kind to each other (though of course there are bad guys too, but they’re suitably dealt with). Pragmatic Halla and stoic Sarkis are characters after my own heart, and the supporting cast is lovely as well. My love affair with T. Kingfisher continues, and I’m definitely planning to read her Clocktaur War duology, which is set in the same world, sooner rather than later!

Mini-Reviews: Bird, Clockwork, Murder

2 Comments

Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

When Lydia Bird’s fiancé, Freddie, dies in a car accident, she’s absolutely devastated. Even mundane daily tasks like bathing and eating feel unbearably difficult, and sleep is out of the question. But when she takes an experimental sleeping pill her doctor prescribes, she has a vividly lucid dream — or perhaps enters a parallel universe — in which Freddie is still alive. Soon her waking life becomes a chore as she waits desperately for the next time she can sleep and be with Freddie. But as time passes, she must decide where she truly belongs. This was an interesting book to start the new year with, since it’s all about exploring what-if scenarios, remembering the past, and making choices about the future. The novel is very slow-paced, but that makes sense, as more than anything else it’s a story about grief and navigating life after a big loss. There’s a slight element of romance that I didn’t find totally satisfying, but otherwise I liked the book and would recommend it if the premise appeals to you.

Nancy Campbell Allen, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

In this steampunk twist on the gothic novel, Lucy Pickett travels to Blackwell Manor to care for her beloved cousin, Kate, who is suffering from a mysterious illness after her recent marriage to the earl of Blackwell’s younger brother. At the manor, Lucy experiences many terrors, from ghostly apparitions to the earl himself, whose surly and intimidating demeanor hides dangerous secrets. She and the earl, Miles, eventually team up to discover what’s causing Kate’s illness, who’s behind a spate of vampire attacks in the area, and who murdered Miles’s recently deceased wife and sister. So yes, there’s a lot going on in this book (and I didn’t even mention the werewolf!), but it’s easy enough to follow the narrative. I liked plucky Lucy and brooding Miles, and though the book is steamless, their mutual attraction is clear. I wasn’t as impressed with the book as I remember being when I first read it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and look forward to continuing with the series.

Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder

Jane Hamish, a clerk in a London law office, is writing a mystery novel in which her coworkers and legal clients are the main characters. Her boyfriend, Dagobert Brown, instigated the project and insists that Mrs. Robjohn, an elderly client who’s convinced mysterious men are out to get her, should be the murder victim. But when Mrs. Robjohn really does die — apparently due to an accidental gas leak in her home — Dagobert is convinced she was actually murdered and decides to investigate. This is my first encounter with Golden Age mystery writer Delano Ames, but it won’t be my last because I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Jane narrates the story and has a delightfully witty voice, and I’m intrigued by her relationship with Dagobert (this is book #1 in the series, but there’s clearly some interesting backstory that will hopefully be explored in later installments). The mystery itself is fine but not remarkable; the book’s strengths are its characterizations and style. I’ll be looking out for more in this series.

2023 Vintage Scavenger Hunt Wrap-Up

Leave a comment

Now that 2023 has come to a close, it’s time to take stock of my 2023 vintage mystery challenge! The goal was to read at least eight Golden Age mysteries, and they each had to have a specific item on the cover. I ended up reading 11 books that qualified:

  1. W. Bolingbroke Johnson, The Widening Stain (1942) — library/books
  2. Ngaio Marsh, Artists in Crime (1938) — just one person
  3. J. Jefferson Farjeon, Seven Dead (1939) — boat
  4. Patricia Wentworth, The Case Is Closed (1937) — shadowy figure
  5. Ngaio Marsh, Death in a White Tie (1938) — timepiece (hourglass)
  6. Baynard Kendrick, The Odor of Violets (1941) — dog
  7. E.C.R. Lorac, Murder by Matchlight (1945) — flowers or plant
  8. Mary Roberts Rinehart, The Red Lamp (1925) — red object
  9. Agatha Christie, Death Comes as the End (1944) — brunette
  10. John Dickson Carr, The Red Widow Murders (1935) — playing cards
  11. Charlotte Armstrong, The Chocolate Cobweb (1948) — spiderweb

Of these, The Chocolate Cobweb was my definite favorite; it’s “domestic suspense” at its best, with characters who behave intelligently and edge-of-your-seat suspense. I also loved Death Comes as the End, a reread for me, and The Case Is Closed. I wasn’t as enamored of The Red Lamp or The Red Widow Murders, but I definitely want to read more by both Rinehart and Carr. Stay tuned for my sign-up post for the 2024 vintage mystery scavenger hunt!

Mini-Reviews: Once, Ex, Temptation

Leave a comment

Diane Farr, Once upon a Christmas

When Celia Delacourt is left homeless and penniless after the tragic deaths of her parents and siblings, she is unexpectedly offered a home by her distant cousin, the duchess of Arnsford. The duchess is rigidly proper and seeks to mold Celia in her image so that she can become a suitable wife for the duchess’s son, Jack. Meanwhile, Jack has no intention of marrying right now, especially not a girl of his mother’s choosing. So when he comes home for Christmas, he decides to act obnoxious to Celia in hopes of putting her off. The trouble is, he’s immediately attracted to her, and his ruse works a little too well — she becomes convinced he’s insane! This is a sweet little Regency romance, and while it’s not particularly substantial, the complexity of the duchess’s character adds a bit of weight to the narrative. The romance is cute (and steamless, which is a plus for me), and I also liked the secondary romance, which features Jack’s sister, a minor character from Farr’s The Nobody. This isn’t Farr’s best work, but I’m continuing to enjoy my journey through her backlist.

Lauren Layne, An Ex for Christmas

Third-grade teacher Kelly is single and lonely, so when a psychic tells her she’s already met her true love, she decides to track down her ex-boyfriends over the Christmas break and see if one of them might be Mr. Right. Her neighbor and longtime best friend, Mark, disapproves of Kelly’s plan, but he somehow always manages to be there for her when her meetups with her exes don’t go as planned. Eventually Kelly begins to see Mark in a different light and wonders if she should ditch her “reconnect with an ex” plan and instead explore a possible romance with Mark. This friends-to-lovers story didn’t particularly work for me. I can see the appeal of Mark, a strong silent type who’s pined for Kelly for years, but I also wonder why it took him so long to make a move! Further, their entire friendship is suspect because Mark never really wanted to be friends with Kelly; he was just biding his time until they could be together romantically. If you like this particular flavor of friends-to-lovers, this is a perfectly fine book, but the premise was not for me.

Erica Ridley, The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation

In this Regency romance novella, Lady Amelia Pembroke is a managing female who has decided it’s time to get married. She’ll seek a suitable groom at the 75th annual Christmas Eve ball hosted by Lord Benedict Sheffield. The only problem is that Benedict isn’t planning to host the ball this year, his ballroom having been destroyed by a rogue lightning strike (!). Undaunted, Amelia decides to help Benedict plan the ball in a new location — with or without his consent. Luckily, Benedict is intrigued by the beautiful and brainy Amelia, and he’s happy to go along with her plans while making a few of his own. This was…fine. The short length made any real character development or investment in the romance impossible, but I’m open to trying a full-length novel by Erica Ridley at some point. I’m not particularly eager to seek one out, though.

Mini-Reviews: Holiday, Crime, Cold

Leave a comment

Catherine Walsh, Holiday Romance

Molly and Andrew are both Irish expats living in Chicago, and they’ve become friends over the years as they’ve taken the same flight home to Dublin every Christmas. This year, though, a winter storm grounds their flight, so they must desperately search for another way to get home for the holidays. What begins as the road trip from hell slowly evolves into something else as Molly starts feeling more-than-friendly toward Andrew, and it seems as though he might feel the same. This sweet romance, which I picked up as a cheap e-book, was a pleasant surprise! Molly and Andrew are likable characters, and I believed in both their friendship and their love story. It made sense to me why they hadn’t gotten together sooner, which is often my main gripe with a friends-to-lovers romance. I also liked that of the two of them, Andrew is the one who adores Christmas, while Molly (though not really a Scrooge) is more indifferent. I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of the genre and will be trying more by Catherine Walsh.

Martin Edwards, ed., The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories

This anthology of short mystery stories set at Christmastime didn’t do much for me, unfortunately. I don’t tend to enjoy mysteries in short-story form, as they usually aren’t long enough to let the sleuth do any actual detecting, or to leave enough clues for the reader to play along. Instead, most of the stories here rely on a chilling atmosphere or a clever last-minute plot twist. Some of them do this quite well — I enjoyed “By the Sword” by Selwyn Jepson, for example, in which an overconfident man thinks he can get away with murder but soon discovers otherwise. Similarly, Cyril Hare’s “Sister Bessie or Your Old Leech” is a fine piece of dramatic irony centering around a man who wants to murder his blackmailer. I can’t think of any stories I particularly disliked, but most of the others were pretty forgettable. Ultimately, what I enjoy about reading mysteries is the chance to try and solve them along with the detective, and these stories don’t provide that experience.

Alicia Thompson, With Love, from Cold World

Lauren Fox and Asa Hutchinson both work at Cold World, a kitschy Florida amusement park that aims to create a winter wonderland all year round. However, they butt heads constantly; Lauren is a serious-minded, type A accountant (Asa calls her robotic), while Asa is fun-loving and carefree (Lauren calls him a slacker). When they’re forced to work together to come up with ideas for improving Cold World, they’re drawn to each other and tentatively embark on a relationship. But they each have baggage that prevents them from being open with each other. I enjoyed this cute contemporary romance; I like a good rivals-to-lovers plot, and I found Lauren particularly relatable in her insecurity and occasional social cluelessness. I also really liked Cold World and kind of wish it were a real place! So overall, I liked this one and would consider reading more by Thompson. Her previous book, Love in the Time of Serial Killers, looks fun!

Mini-Reviews: Betting, Gambit, Midwinter

Leave a comment

Lynn Painter, Betting on You

Charlie and Bailey first meet on a 10-hour flight, where his careless cynicism clashes with her uptight, rule-following personality. But they really get to know each other three years later, when they end up working at the same amusement park. Charlie is adamant that guys and girls can’t really be friends, but Bailey is determined to prove him wrong. As they grow closer, however, the lines between friendship and romance get confusingly blurry. The book’s cover copy emphasizes fake dating and multiple bets among the main characters, but these are both pretty minor plot points. In reality, the novel is a cute friends-to-lovers YA romance, though it also gets into some heavier issues, as both Bailey and Charlie struggle with being children of divorced parents. I enjoy Lynn Painter’s writing style; she does good banter and makes her characters feel like believable people. I also liked getting some of Charlie’s POV, though Bailey is the primary narrator. The book perhaps owes a little too much to When Harry Met Sally, but I liked it nonetheless and now want to rewatch the movie!

Evie Dunmore, The Gentleman’s Gambit

Between writing a book on female political leaders, managing her absentminded father’s household, and working for the suffragist cause with her three best friends, Catriona MacPherson is burned out. When she meets her father’s handsome new colleague, Elias Khoury, she’s immediately attracted to him but doesn’t think he (or anyone) could be interested in her. Meanwhile, Elias is on a mission to repatriate historical artifacts — legally or otherwise — to his homeland of Mount Lebanon. He doesn’t have time for romance, but Catriona intrigues him. As with the previous books in this series, Evie Dunmore tries to balance a love story with a lot of historical detail, to mixed effect. In this case, information about the women’s suffrage movement and the ethics of removing antiquities from their lands of origin overwhelmed the romance. Also, between Catriona’s negative internal narrative (she seems to struggle with some form of depression) and the Serious Political Stuff, there’s just no joy in this book. Since I want joy in my romance novels, this one didn’t work for me, and I doubt I’ll read any future books from this author.

Stella Riley, Midwinter Magic

This novella caps off the Rockliffe series and gives readers one last look at most of the main series couples. Adrian and Caroline, the earl and countess of Sarre, are hosting a Christmas party at their country estate, but complications ensue when Caroline’s vulgar mother and sisters show up uninvited. Two romances develop, one involving Adrian’s French friend, Bertrand Didier, and there’s even a Christmas miracle. This is undoubtedly the weakest installment of the Rockliffe series — perhaps unsurprisingly, since it’s a novella with few new characters and (mostly) low stakes — but I still enjoyed it overall. I wish Ralph and Elizabeth from Cadenza had made an appearance, as I would have loved to get a peek at their marriage, and part of me wanted to roll my eyes at the aforementioned miracle. But I guess that sort of thing is to be expected in a Christmas story! I definitely would not recommend this novella if you haven’t read and enjoyed the rest of the Rockliffe books, but it’s a sweet holiday treat for fans of the series.