Tag: ireland

Mini-Reviews: School, Remember, Secret

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Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil

Every year, two children are kidnapped from the village of Gavaldon. One, beautiful and kind-hearted, is sent to the School for Good, and the other, ugly and malicious, goes to the School for Evil. This year, Sophie is determined to be the one selected for the School for Good, where she’ll become the heroine of her very own fairy tale, complete with Prince Charming. But when she and her friend, the plain and all-black-wearing Agatha, are chosen, she’s shocked to end up in Evil, while Agatha is sent to Good. Can the two girls figure out how to fix this mistake – and what happens if they want to go home? I loved the first sentence of this book (“Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped”), but unfortunately it was mostly downhill from there. The plot lurches along unsteadily and is surprisingly hard to follow, and I found Sophie so awful that I wondered why Agatha (or anyone) would want to be friends with her! There are some interesting ideas in the book, but they never quite gel into anything substantial. Not recommended, and I won’t be continuing with the series.

Mary Balogh, Remember That Day

Winifred Cunningham is close friends with Owen Ware and has been invited, with her family, to his family’s estate of Ravenswood for a few weeks. Winifred wonders whether Owen will propose to her; they share a passion for helping others and might do a lot of good together. But she’s not in love with him, and as the visit proceeds, she finds herself unexpectedly attracted to his brother, Colonel Nicholas Ware. Meanwhile, Nicholas is about to make a pragmatic proposal to his commanding officer’s daughter, but meeting Winifred throws a wrench in his plans. This is another mildly pleasant installment of the Ravenswood series. I liked the central love story but felt it lacked depth; too much time was spent on the myriad supporting characters in both Nicholas’s and Winifred’s families, and I just don’t find them interesting! I really hope the next book is Stephanie’s story, which still intrigues me, but after that I’ll probably stick with Balogh’s earlier titles.

Tana French, The Secret Place

This fifth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series is set at St. Kilda’s, a posh girls’ boarding school where a student from the neighboring boys’ school was found dead a year ago. The case was never solved, but now Detective Stephen Moran has received an anonymous note saying, “I know who killed him.” Hoping for a permanent spot on the Murder Squad, Moran teams up with Antoinette Conway, the abrasive detective who worked the case the first time around. As they delve deeper into St. Kilda’s mysteries, they’re shocked to discover just how much these teenage girls are hiding. I liked this book a lot more than Broken Harbor, though a few things still bugged me: The narrative switches between the present-day investigation and the months leading up to the boy’s murder, and I found the present-day story much more interesting. The teen speak felt inauthentic, and I didn’t like the supernatural element. But I did really love the insights into teen friendship and psychology, as well as the development of Moran and Conway’s partnership. I’m interested to see how that dynamic continues and changes in the next (and final) book.

Mini-Reviews: Practical, Listeners, Broken

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Fiona Hill, The Practical Heart

Gillian Spencer has just taken a job as companion to the two daughters of a viscount. Because the viscount is deeply in debt, Gillian must get the daughters married as soon as possible—preferably to rich men. But even with the help of the viscount’s handsome nephew, Miles Lawrence, she finds that her task is harder than she thought. After really enjoying The Country Gentleman, I was excited to try more by Fiona Hill, but I must say this book was a bit disappointing. It’s so short (only 139 pages in my e-book copy) that there’s really no time for character development. The romance between Gillian and Miles is barely sketched in, and the other characters are just there for hijinks and comic relief. I did still enjoy the writing style, particularly the viscount’s ornate way of speaking, but otherwise this one is just okay. I bought a whole Hill anthology for $2.99, though, so I will certainly try more of her work.

Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners

June Hudson is the general manager of the luxurious Avallon Hotel in the mountains of West Virginia, where the mysterious sweetwater has kept the hotel prosperous. The U.S. has just entered World War II, and the government calls upon the Avallon to host a large group of Axis diplomats, both to keep them out of mischief and to show the enemy how prisoners should be treated. June is deeply conflicted about this assignment but resolves to treat the Nazis like any other guests. Eventually, however, both June and the Avallon reach a breaking point that will change the course of June’s life. I’m a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s writing, so I was incredibly excited for her adult debut, and overall I was not disappointed. The story is based on true WWII events, and it’s a great backdrop for June’s character arc, as every decision becomes a compromise among competing priorities. The fantasy elements felt a bit unnecessary to me, but they also didn’t detract from the story. There’s a wonderful romance as well, so overall, I’d definitely recommend this one to fans of WWII-era historical fiction.

Tana French, Broken Harbor

Detective Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy has the top solve rate on the Dublin Murder Squad, which he attributes to his hard work and emotional detachment. But when he’s assigned to a high-profile case—an entire family murdered in their home—he finds himself becoming more and more personally invested as he and his rookie partner investigate. I think Tana French is a really good writer, and even though I wasn’t particularly interested in Scorcher’s story when I started this book, she soon made me empathize with him. The book’s central question also resonates: How much control do we really have over our own lives? But it’s so slow, diving deep into the minutiae of police procedure, and ultimately it took me a long time to read because I found it very put-downable. I do still want to continue with the series, but it’ll probably be a while before I pick up the next book.

Mini-Reviews: Moon, Snowed, Secret

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Stella Riley, Under a Dark Moon

Book #2 of the Brandon Brothers trilogy focuses on expert swordsman Adam Brandon, who at the start of the book is recruited to M Section, a shadowy intelligence-esque organization affiliated with the British government. His first mission is to escort the boss’s niece, Camilla Edgerton-Foxe, from London to her home on the Kentish coast—and, while there, investigate a smuggling ring that’s engaging in espionage. Adam’s mission is highly dangerous, but as he and Camilla get to know one another, the greatest peril may be to his own heart. A Stella Riley book is always enjoyable, and I liked the secret agent/smuggling plot, though I felt it dragged on a bit too long. The romance is sweet and satisfying, and I loved that Adam doesn’t “protect” Camilla by excluding her from the investigation; rather, he acknowledges her talents and puts them to good use. Overall, another winner from Riley, though I’m not loving this trilogy quite as much as her Rockliffe series.

Catherine Walsh, Snowed In

Five years ago, Megan was a runaway bride, and because her would-be groom was the town’s golden boy, she hasn’t gone home since—but her mother is pressuring her to come back for Christmas this year. Meanwhile, Christian (who’s from the same small town) is feeling lonely and isn’t looking forward to another holiday as the “black sheep” single son. When he and Megan bump into each other, he proposes a fake-dating scheme: He’ll be able to forestall his family’s pity, and she can use him as a buffer when she encounters her ex. I love a Christmas rom-com and a fake-dating plot, so I was predisposed to like this book, and I did! Megan and Christian are both relatable characters with great banter, and I also liked the nuanced portrayal of their family relationships, which are generally functional and loving but still have areas of conflict. I’d definitely recommend this book and author to fans of contemporary romance.

Anne Gracie, Marry in Secret

Lady Rose Rutherford has always been unconventional and uninterested in being a social success or making an advantageous marriage. She agrees to wed a wealthy duke for purely pragmatic reasons, but on the day of the wedding, a bedraggled man shows up at the church, claiming to be Rose’s husband. Rose is shocked to recognize Thomas Beresford, the man she impetuously (and secretly) married at age 16, who she thought had died in a shipwreck. Now Rose and Thomas must decide whether, after four years apart, they can make their marriage work. I’ve generally enjoyed Anne Gracie’s books, and this one was another solid historical romance, but I must admit it didn’t do anything special for me. After the first few chapters, Rose and Thomas’s relationship is pretty smooth sailing, and the bit of mystery isn’t compelling enough to sustain the rest of the book. However, I am looking forward to the next book in the series, in which Rose’s jilted duke is the hero!

Mini-Reviews: Holiday, Crime, Cold

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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: Daughter, Marry, Devil

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Juliet Marillier, Daughter of the Forest

Sorcha has lived an idyllic life with her father and six older brothers at Sevenwaters, a small Irish estate in the heart of a magical forest. But things change when her father marries Lady Oonagh, whose malicious sorcery soon tears Sorcha’s family apart. When Oonagh ensnares her brothers in a dreadful curse, Sorcha must perform an impossible task to save them — and she must remain silent till the task is complete. As she struggles with her task, she suffers many trials, including abduction by Britons and life among a hostile people. This was a reread for me, yet the book still completely sucked me in. The pace is incredibly slow, but I think the languorous plot adds to the dreamy, immersive nature of the world Marillier creates. It also lets readers get to know Sorcha well enough to find her extraordinary endurance believable. I love the book’s romance and its hopeful, yet not entirely happy, ending. I’ve enjoyed a few other books by Marillier, and I’m now inspired to dig deeper into her backlist!

Anne Gracie, Marry in Haste

Major Calbourne Rutherford has just returned to England after the Napoleonic wars, only to find that his brother has died and he’s inherited an earldom. Cal intends to discharge his necessary duties quickly and then leave the country, but his plans change when he learns that his teenage half-sisters are getting into mischief. Unable to curb their behavior himself, he seeks out their former teacher, Emmaline Westwood, for help. She refuses his offer of employment, so in desperation he offers her a marriage of convenience instead. This Regency romance isn’t reinventing the wheel; it’s just a solid, fun, formulaic example of the genre, and that’s not a bad thing! Part of the joy of reading romance — and genre fiction in general — is that you know what you’re getting, and there’s comfort in that familiarity. I’m also a fan of the marriage-of-convenience trope, so I am definitely interested in continuing with the series. Recommended for historical romance fans!

Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die

The Thursday Murder Club is back in business when Kuldesh Sharma, an antiques dealer who helped them on their previous case, is shot in what appears to be a drug deal gone wrong. Kuldesh was temporarily in possession of a box of heroin worth £100,000, but now it’s gone missing. Who has the heroin, and did that person also murder Kuldesh? As always, the characters and humor make this series a delight; at one point, Joyce describes the bracelet her daughter’s boyfriend gave her as “a nice thought.” One of my favorite aspects of the series is that every character is portrayed as a real, complex human being — even the drug dealers and other bad guys. This book is a bit heavier than usual because it deals more with Elizabeth’s husband Stephen’s struggles with dementia. But it’s still a very good read, and I’m eagerly awaiting the net book — though the author has announced he’s taking a break and writing about new characters right now, alas!

Mini-Reviews: Emerald, Everyone, Temporary

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Lauren Willig, The Deception of the Emerald Ring

Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe, a spy working with the Pink Carnation, has been in love with the beautiful Mary Alsworthy for years. But when he accidentally compromises her younger sister, Letty, the two are forced into a hasty marriage, after which Geoff immediately leaves for Dublin on Carnation business. An upset Letty pursues him, hoping to convince him that she didn’t intend to trap him into marriage, but she soon gets pulled into the Pink Carnation’s mission as well. Now Geoff and Letty have to deal with an Irish rebellion and continued threats from the Black Tulip — not to mention their own growing feelings for each other. I don’t remember this being one of my favorite installments of the series, but this time around I felt there was a noticeable improvement in both Willig’s writing style and the plausibility of the plot. Geoff is more believable as a spy than either Richard or Miles, and the story—while still light and fun—feels a bit more grounded in reality than the previous books. Looking forward to book four even more now!

Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Ernie Cunningham is approaching his family reunion at an Australian ski resort with some trepidation. The reunion is meant to welcome back his brother Michael, who’s about to be released from prison — but it’s Ernie’s testimony that put him there. At the resort, things go from bad to worse when a murdered body is found on the slopes, and Michael is the prime suspect. Ernie feels compelled to investigate, partly to clear Michael’s name and partly because, as the book’s title indicates, everyone in his family has killed someone. This novel lets you know right away that it’s going to play with the conventions of Golden Age mysteries: Ronald Knox’s “commandments” are reproduced at the beginning of the book, and Ernie promises he’s going to be a reliable narrator. So this is a bit of a meta mystery, and part of the game is also figuring out whom all the Cunninghams have killed and why. Stripped of these gimmicks, the central mystery isn’t all that unique (and actually quite reminiscent of a certain Agatha Christie novel), but it’s still a good read that I’d recommend if the premise interests you.

Mary Balogh, The Temporary Wife and A Promise of Spring

In The Temporary Wife, Anthony Earheart marries the prim and plain-seeming Charity Duncan solely to anger the father he despises. After a few weeks of visiting his family to rub his marriage in his father’s face, he plans to set up a separate establishment for Charity, which she needs to support her impoverished siblings. Visiting his family reopens old wounds, but it also may bring healing and even love. In A Promise of Spring, Grace Howard is left destitute when her brother dies. She is rescued by a gallant proposal from the lively, charming, 10-years-younger Peregrine Lampman, but secrets from her past threaten their marriage. I’m a Balogh fan and enjoyed both of these novels, though The Temporary Wife is the standout. I loved Anthony’s slow transformation from anger and emotional repression to vulnerability. I’m glad I picked up this volume and will definitely be keeping it on my shelves!

Mini-Reviews: Copy, Vintage, Earl

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Derville Murphy, A Perfect Copy

Daisy is hoping to auction off an old family portrait painted by a famous artist. But then Ben shows up with an identical painting, claiming the subject is one of his ancestors. Is one of the paintings a fake? Daisy and Ben team up to find out, and their research uncovers the surprising history of two Jewish sisters, Rosa and Lena, who leave their impoverished Eastern European village in the 1860s to seek better opportunities in Vienna, Paris, and London. The book alternates between the historical and present-day timelines, which worked fine for me, as I was equally interested in both. The plot is exciting and full of drama, though the characterization is a bit weak and the writing style is clunky at times. Overall, I liked this book fine, and it was certainly a quick read, but I’m not tempted to try more by the author.

Ngaio Marsh, Vintage Murder

Inspector Alleyn is on vacation in New Zealand and falls in with a touring theater company. The actors invite him to their performance and an afterparty, where tragedy strikes and the company’s owner (and husband of the leading lady) is killed, seemingly by accident. But Alleyn immediately suspects murder and cooperates with the local police to solve the crime. This is a solid but unremarkable Golden Age mystery, where the solution hinges on disproving an alibi — with information the reader doesn’t obtain until quite late in the novel. So there’s not a lot of forward motion to the plot; it’s mostly just Alleyn and his colleagues interviewing all the suspects. But I liked the New Zealand setting and the positive (for its time) representation of a Maori character. Overall, a decent read but not one I’d strongly recommend.

Susanna Craig, Who’s That Earl

Thomas Sutherland has spent the past seven years as an intelligence officer in the Caribbean. But now he’s been ordered home to Scotland, where he has unexpectedly inherited an earldom. When he arrives at his crumbling estate, he’s shocked to find that the tenant in residence is none other than his former sweetheart, Jane Quayle. Thomas and Jane are immediately attracted to one another, but they are both keeping secrets and are unsure whether they can trust each other. This was a reasonably fun and well-written romance, but the series is called “Love and Let Spy,” and there is a sad lack of spying! I also didn’t quite buy Thomas and Jane’s romance; they seem to rekindle it awfully quickly after a seven-year separation. But I tend not to like second-chance romances in general, so fans of the trope may enjoy it more. Overall I liked this one but didn’t love it, and I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.

Mini-Reviews: Tongues, No-Show, Viscount

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Naomi Novik, Tongues of Serpents

This installment of the series finds Laurence and Temeraire exiled to Australia, where they are tasked with delivering dragon eggs to support the fledgling colony of New South Wales. They also get roped into exploring the interior of the continent while simultaneously pursuing a group of smugglers. Along the way, one of the precious eggs is stolen, and they experience the harsh realities of the Australian wilderness. While it’s always nice to spend time with Laurence and Temeraire, this is my least favorite installment in the series so far. Nothing happens to advance the overall plot; the characters mostly just wander around being hungry, tired, and/or lost. The middle stretch of the book, where the group is slogging through the uninhabited portion of the continent, is especially yawn-inducing. Hopefully things will pick up in the next book!

Beth O’Leary, The No-Show

This novel centers around three women who all get stood up on Valentine’s Day by the same man, Joseph Carter. Siobhan, a tough but overwhelmed life coach, sees him once a month for no-strings-attached sex, but she’s starting to want more. Miranda, a pragmatic tree surgeon, is excited about her new boyfriend. Jane, a shy, book-loving volunteer at a charity shop, is at first happy to be “just friends” with him, but she eventually develops deeper feelings. As all three women move forward in their relationships with Joseph, many secrets are revealed and past traumas resurface. A plot twist near the end explains Joseph’s behavior, but whether this book will work for you largely depends on whether you can deal with hating him for most of the novel. I personally did feel he was redeemed in the end, but I can see how others wouldn’t. And I still found much of the book frustrating, believing he was a terrible cad and thinking all three women deserved better! Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane are all wonderful characters, though, and I enjoyed getting to know them throughout the novel. So overall I did like this one — it’s probably my second-favorite O’Leary novel after The Flatshare — but I feel cautious about recommending it.

Julia Quinn, The Viscount Who Loved Me

Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, is convinced he will die young, just like his beloved father. He knows it’s his duty to marry and sire an heir, but he has no interest in falling in love, which would make him want to fight his (perceived) fate. So he decides to court Edwina Sheffield, society’s reigning beauty; but to win her favor, he must also charm Kate, Edwina’s older sister. Kate refuses to be charmed — she knows Anthony is a rake and can’t approve of him as a suitor for her beloved sister. But ironically, the more Kate and Anthony butt heads, the more they are drawn to each other, until Anthony wonders whether he may have chosen the wrong sister. This book is pure Regency fluff, but I must say I really enjoyed it! Anthony and Kate are wonderful, separately and together, and I loved their chemistry and banter. I’m very curious to see how Bridgerton season 2 compares! (I watched the first season and had mixed feelings…it was oddly joyless for a romance adaptation, no?)

Mini-Reviews: Shell, Fiancée, Time

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Nicholas Blake, Thou Shell of Death

When legendary airman Fergus O’Brien receives a series of threatening letters, he asks private detective Nigel Strangeways to come to his Christmas house party, where he’s invited all the people he suspects of being the letter writer. He hopes Nigel will discover the author’s identity and prevent any violence from occurring, but unfortunately O’Brien is indeed shot the day after Christmas. Now Nigel and the police must work together to discover the killer — a task that is complicated by a few more bodies, not to mention Nigel’s growing attachment to one of the suspects. I enjoyed this book very much. It’s well written with a touch of sly humor, and while the mystery’s solution is wildly dramatic and implausible, I do think it’s fairly clued. I’m definitely interested in reading more of the Nigel Strangeways books.

Virginia Heath, Never Fall for Your Fiancée

Hugh’s mother is determined to see him wed, but he doesn’t want to get married because he’s afraid he’ll be like his philandering father. His solution? Invent a fake fiancée. It actually seems to work, until his mother announces she’s planning a visit from America to meet his dear Minerva. Desperate, Hugh offers to pay the beautiful but penniless Minerva Merriwell to pose as his fiancée, but complications ensue when he really falls in love with her. I love a good fake-relationship plot, but this one does strain credulity, particularly Hugh’s motivations for creating and persisting in the lie. The book is a breezy, enjoyable read (though not as funny as it wants to be), but I can’t get past the utter ridiculousness of the plot. I may look for the sequel when it comes out, but I’ll borrow it from the library instead of buying.

I also need to complain about the cover for a second. I don’t mind illustrated covers, but I do want the people to look the way they’re described in the book!  Minerva’s hair is described as very dark, “almost black,” and Hugh is supposed to be blond! Not sure what happened there — maybe dark-haired heroes sell better?

Sophie Cousens, This Time Next Year

Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton were both born on January 1, 1990 — but since Quinn came just moments earlier, he became the first ‘90s baby born in the UK. He won notoriety and a large cash prize, while Minnie got nothing. And the same bad luck has dogged her ever since, especially on her birthday. When Minnie and Quinn meet again as adults, she’s strangely drawn to the man she’s resented all her life, but several obstacles threaten their romance. I liked this book a lot; both Minnie and Quinn are sympathetic, and they have real problems that aren’t magically solved by love. The romance is sweet and satisfying, but the characters’ individual growth is equally (if not more) important. I’m excited to try more by this author, and I would definitely recommend this book to chick lit fans.

Review: Faithful Place

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Faithful PlaceTana French, Faithful Place

Frank Mackey, last seen as Cassie’s irascible handler in The Likeness, is an experienced undercover cop. He’s tough as nails and an expert in detachment: getting emotionally involved in an operation is the surest way to screw it up. But Frank’s detachment is really rooted in his childhood, growing up in a poor neighborhood in 1980s Dublin. When he was 19 years old, he was madly in love with Rosie Daly, the girl next door. Despite their families’ disapproval, they were planning to run away to England together. But Rosie never showed up, and Frank always assumed that she changed her mind and left the neighborhood on her own. Now, however, one of Frank’s sisters reaches out to him with disturbing news: no one has heard from Rosie since she supposedly left town, and her suitcase has just been found. To find out what really happened all those years ago, Frank must return to his estranged family and face the ghosts of his past; but the truth may be even more horrible than living with the uncertainty.

The word I keep using to describe this book is intense, but that doesn’t seem to encompass the emotional wringer I went through while reading this book. Something about Tana French’s writing pulls me in and grabs me, and I think this novel might be my favorite of hers so far. Frank is not a particularly likable character—he’s manipulative, callous, and occasionally violent—but I never doubted the truth of his thoughts, feelings, and actions. His interactions with his family also felt real to me; French excels in her depiction of dysfunctional families, and the Mackeys are a quintessential example. The plot isn’t particularly complex as far as mysteries go; Rosie’s fate is never really in doubt, and the villain of the piece isn’t that hard to spot either. But the point of this type of mystery isn’t solving the puzzle of whodunnit or why; the point is what happens, or what ought to happen, once the puzzle is solved. And the consequences of Frank’s discovering the truth provide the gut punch of this novel. Bottom line, I can’t wait to continue with the Dublin Murder Squad series!

N.B. This is technically book 3 of the Dublin Murder Squad series, but you absolutely won’t be missing anything if you haven’t read books 1 and 2.