Tag: mystery

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.

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: Mistress, Princess, Death

Leave a comment

Mary Balogh, The Secret Mistress

Lady Angeline Dudley has no interest in marrying a rake like her brothers; she just wants a steady, responsible man who will nevertheless love her passionately. So when Edward Ailsbury, the earl of Heyward, chivalrously rescues her from the improper attentions of a rake, she falls in love with him at once. Meanwhile, Edward knows he needs to marry, and Angeline is certainly eligible, but her outspoken, slightly wild behavior horrifies him. He’s also drawn to her despite himself, but he has trouble reconciling his feelings with his long-held image of the perfect wife. This is the final book of Balogh’s “Mistress” trilogy and, in my opinion, the most enjoyable. Angeline is a somewhat unconventional heroine in that she’s not particularly deep or intelligent; rather, she’s a flighty chatterbox with terrible fashion sense but a very warm heart. Edward isn’t a typical hero, either — he’s very responsible and practical and not rakish at all. I loved them both and was rooting for them to get together, although the last few chapters got a bit too flowery and sentimental for my taste. Still, overall I quite liked this one, which is a bit lighter than Balogh’s usual fare!

Philip Pullman, The Tin Princess

This final book in the Sally Lockhart series doesn’t actually have much Sally in it. Rather, the plot centers around Adelaide, who vanished at the end of The Ruby in the Smoke but has now resurfaced as the wife of the crown prince of a tiny Central European country. Accompanied by intrepid detective Jim Taylor and German tutor Becky Winter, she must travel to Razkavia and learn how to be a princess. But court intrigues, foreign interference, and assassination plots threaten both their own safety and that of Razkavia as a whole. As with the other books in this series, this is an entertaining adventure novel that’s chock-full of plot. The characterization is a bit less convincing; I didn’t believe Adelaide would become an expert politician so quickly, and the romance between her and Jim is barely sketched in. So while this is a fun series and I’m glad I read it, I won’t be keeping it on my shelves.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Kurland Hall

Lucy Harrington is back in Kurland St. Mary to help her best friend, Sophia, with Sophia’s upcoming wedding. One of the wedding guests, Mrs. Chingford, is a conniving widow who delights in spreading malicious gossip and antagonizes several of the other guests. On the wedding day, Mrs. Chingford falls down a flight of stairs and dies, and Lucy is convinced it’s no accident. She and Major Robert Kurland must once again work together to discover the killer — and sort out their complicated feelings for each other. This is another enjoyable installment of the Kurland St. Mary series, though it’s not a particularly memorable one in terms of the mystery. But I do like the way the world is being built out and how some of the recurring series characters are being developed. Lucy and Robert’s romance also takes a step forward in this one, though I wish the book had focused on it more…there was so much buildup, but the resolution fell flat. Regardless, though, I’ll certainly continue with the series.

Mini-Reviews: Curse, Moonflower, Pearls

Leave a comment

Elizabeth C. Bunce, A Curse Dark as Gold

Charlotte Miller has been struggling to run Stirwaters, the mill she’s inherited from her father. Stirwaters is plagued by bad luck; the local townsfolk say it’s cursed. Charlotte is far too practical to believe in curses, but as mishap after mishap befalls Stirwaters, she’s determined to do whatever it takes to save the mill — even accept the help of the mysterious Jack Spinner, who claims he can spin straw into gold. But his help comes with a price, and eventually he’ll ask for something Charlotte is unwilling to pay. I really liked this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin when I first read it; this time around, I still think it’s very well done, but it might be a bit too slow for me. Most of the book is just Charlotte becoming more and more miserable as Stirwaters is threatened, and she pushes all her loved ones away to deal with the problem alone, which I found frustrating. But Charlotte’s community is well portrayed, there’s a sweet romance with realistic ups and downs, and I liked the resolution to the curse. I’d recommend this for fans of atmospheric fairytale retellings who don’t mind a slower pace.

Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower

The final book in the Pink Carnation series focuses on the Carnation herself, Miss Jane Wooliston, who is on a mission to locate the missing Portuguese queen before the French do. But since she doesn’t know the country or the language, she’ll need the help of Jack Reid, a British agent (and former French agent) known as the Moonflower. But will she be able to trust him with the mission — and her heart? The plot of this book is even less substantial than usual; even the climactic scene doesn’t have particularly high stakes, and the matter of the missing queen feels like an afterthought. The meat of the book, though, is Jane and Jack’s relationship, which I think is quite well done. Since Jane’s been a pivotal series character since book #1, it was important that she have a love interest worthy of her, and Jack definitely fits the bill. The book also gives us one last look at several of the other series couples, which was fun but a little overkill. I also appreciated Willig’s “where are they now” note at the end of the book, which did a pretty good job of wrapping things up. Overall, I think this is one of the better books in the series and definitely a fitting end to the Pink Carnation’s adventures.

Darcie Wilde, The Secret of the Lost Pearls

In this installment of the Rosalind Thorne series, an old school friend requests Rosalind’s help to discover who stole her valuable pearl necklace. The woman fears that the thief is her youngest sister, Nora, who’s recently returned to the family after a scandalous and ill-fated elopement. But when Rosalind goes to stay with the family, she senses many secrets and soon identifies several other plausible suspects. This book has the same strengths and weaknesses as the previous books in the series: a likable main character and an interesting look at the fringes of Regency high society, but an overly complicated plot that made the book feel like a slog. I think the next book in the series just came out, or will shortly; but while the series has its good points, I’m no longer interested enough to continue. Thankfully, Rosalind and her friends end up in a reasonably good place here, so I won’t feel like I’m abandoning their stories unfinished.

Mini-Reviews: Chocolate, Red, Mistress

2 Comments

Charlotte Armstrong, The Chocolate Cobweb

When Amanda Garth, an aspiring artist, learns that she was almost switched at birth with a painter’s son, she impulsively seeks out her “almost” family and befriends them. But when she’s invited to stay at their home, she soon discovers a sinister plot that threatens the life of one of its members. Amanda warns the intended victim, but he doesn’t believe her, so she devises an outrageous — and dangerous — plan to trap the evildoer in the act. I was surprised that the evildoer’s identity and basic plan are revealed quite early in the novel, but the book still manages to be suspenseful and exciting as Amanda and the villain play their cat-and-mouse game. The climactic scene, in which Amanda sets her plan in motion, is particularly thrilling. This the second book I’ve read by Charlotte Armstrong, the first being The Unsuspected, and so far she’s two for two! I’m definitely interested in reading more of her work.

Antoine Laurain, The Red Notebook (trans. Emily Boyce and Jane Aitken)

This short novel, set in contemporary Paris, begins when bookstore owner Laurent Letellier finds a woman’s handbag. It’s obviously been stolen — the wallet, ID, and phone are gone — so Laurent goes through the rest of the bag’s contents, hoping he’ll be able to discover the identity of its owner. Among the items is a red notebook filled with the owner’s thoughts, lists, dreams, and so on; as Laurent reads these miscellaneous entries, he becomes more and more fascinated by the woman who wrote them. But will he ever find her, and what will happen when he does? This is a charming book full of literary allusions, Parisian atmosphere, and understated romance. The fact that the main characters are in their 40s lends a nostalgic air to the story; even though the setting is modern-day, it feels timeless and a bit idealized. I enjoyed it and will likely read more by this author.

Mary Balogh, More Than a Mistress / No Man’s Mistress

In More Than a Mistress, Jocelyn Dudley, the duke of Tresham, is injured in a duel and hires the sharp-tongued Jane Ingleby as his nurse. Their constant bickering masks a mutual attraction, and when Tresham no longer needs a nurse, he offers Jane employment as his mistress. In No Man’s Mistress, Tresham’s brother, Ferdinand, wins a country estate in a card game. When he goes to inspect his new property, he’s shocked to find Viola Thornhill already living there; moreover, she claims the house is hers and refuses to move out. In both books, the women are hiding their true identities, and when the secrets come out, they unleash a lot of angst and conflict. I didn’t love either of these novels, mostly because I felt they went on too long after the secrets were revealed. I also found all four protagonists frustrating at times, as none of them were good at communicating their true feelings and opinions. My favorite character in both books was Tresham and Ferdinand’s sister, who fortunately has her own book! But these two novels are not among Balogh’s stronger offerings.

Mini-Reviews: Tiger, London, Coffee

Leave a comment

Philip Pullman, The Tiger in the Well

Two years after the events of The Shadow in the North, Sally Lockhart is doing well; her business is thriving, and she’s built a happy life with her daughter, Harriet, and their household. So she’s shocked when she receives divorce papers from Arthur Parrish — a man she’s never met — and he demands custody of “his” daughter. As Sally tries to fight back, she is overwhelmed by the evidence against her, including a forged marriage certificate. Her troubles turn out to have roots in the distant past, and they’re also connected to a larger plot against the Jews in London. Like the other books in this series, this one is a page-turner, but I found Sally’s plight almost too stressful to read about! The depictions of the seamier side of London life are vivid and fascinating. I missed some of my old favorite characters, particularly Jim Taylor, but I liked the new cast as well. That said, I don’t think this series will be a keeper for me, but I’m certainly looking forward to reading the final book next month!

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to London

This second book in the Kurland St. Mary series finds Lucy Harrington traveling to London with her sister for the Season in hopes of finding a potential husband. Meanwhile, Major Robert Kurland is also in London at the Prince Regent’s command; he’s to be made a baronet for his heroism at Waterloo. There he reconnects with an old army acquaintance, Lieutenant Broughton. When Broughton’s grandmother suddenly dies in the middle of a ball at Almack’s, both Lucy and Robert suspect foul play, so they once again team up to solve the mystery. Like the first book, this is a pleasant historical mystery with likable main characters and a world I enjoy spending time in. The mystery itself is a bit thin — I guessed the culprit fairly early — but it’s well presented and the solution makes sense. As a romance reader, I also enjoyed the development of Lucy and Robert’s relationship and am eager to see what happens next! I’ll definitely be seeking out book #3 soon.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Before the Coffee Gets Cold (trans. Geoffrey Trousselot)

Somewhere in Tokyo there is an old basement cafe with an unusual quality: If you sit in a particular seat, you’re able to travel back in time. But nothing you do in the past can change the present, and you must return before your cup of coffee gets cold. Because of these rules, the cafe isn’t overrun with would-be time travelers, but occasionally someone arrives who wants to sit in that seat. And despite not being able to change the present, those who visit the past usually come back with a new perspective and a lighter heart. This is a quiet, contemplative read that’s short on plot but full of relatable, poignant moments that emphasize our common humanity. Some of the time travelers’ stories are heartbreaking, but the book is ultimately hopeful. It’s not my usual type of read, but I’m definitely glad I tried it!

Mini-Reviews: Midnight, Counterfeit, Blonde

3 Comments

Lauren Willig, The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla

It’s 1806, and the successful publication of Miss Gwen’s gothic novel has sparked a vampire craze in London society. Rumor has it that Lucien, the reclusive duke of Belliston, is one such creature of the night. Sally Fitzhugh thinks that’s nonsense and seeks out an acquaintance with the duke to prove it. Meanwhile, Lucien is determined to discover the truth behind his parents’ tragic deaths several years ago. When a young woman is found dead with red “fang marks” on her neck, it seems clear that someone wants to frame Lucien for murder, so he and Sally team up to investigate. I find myself with nothing much to say about this book. It’s a cute, fun read, like the other Pink Carnation books, but nothing about it stands out to me. The villain is pretty easy to spot, and Sally and Lucien, while likable, feel a bit generic. I did enjoy seeing Turnip and Arabella again, though!

Darcie Wilde, A Counterfeit Suitor

In this fifth book in the series, Rosalind Thorne continues her work as a a “useful woman” helping society matrons. A rich widow with social aspirations has asked Rosalind to investigate her daughter’s suitor, fearing the man may be a fortune hunter. But Rosalind is distracted by the news that her forger father has fallen into the clutches of Russell Fullerton, a blackmailer with a grudge against Rosalind. Family drama and murder ensue, with a side helping of possible Bonapartist intrigues. I’m conflicted about this series; I like the main characters, particularly Rosalind and Adam Harkness (her Bow Street Runner beau), but the mystery plots are always too long and overly convoluted. There’s currently one more book in the series, and I’ll read it in December, but I doubt I’ll continue with the series after that.

Ally Carter, The Blonde Identity

A woman wakes up on the snowy streets of Paris with no memories. Then a bunch of people start shooting at her, but fortunately one man comes to her rescue. He calls her Alex and thinks she’s a spy — which is how she learns that she has an identical twin who’s managed to piss off a bunch of intelligence agencies, not to mention some very dangerous criminals. Now the woman and her rescuer must team up to outrun the bad guys and find Alex, all while navigating their strong mutual attraction. I read this book with the most enormous grin on my face! I love the blend of spy adventure plus romantic comedy, and the novel gleefully embraces all the tropes of those genres: only one bed, amnesia, kissing “to maintain our cover,” etc. It’s funny, breezy, and just a delightful romp. I think the first half is better than the second, which becomes a little too bogged down in relationship angst. But if you’re in a reading slump or just looking for something fun, I highly recommend this one!

Mini-Reviews: Fight, Familiar, Village

2 Comments

Maureen Lee Lenker, It Happened One Fight

Joan Davis has worked hard to become a famous and beloved movie star, and her goal is nearly in sight. Her only problem is her costar, Dash Howard. Audiences love “Davis and Dash” films, but she can’t stand him, and he’s constantly pranking her on set. When one of his pranks goes spectacularly awry, leaving Dash and Joan legally married, the answer is simple: move production of their current film to Reno, where they can divorce after residing there for six weeks. But as Joan and Dash get to know each other better, they reconsider their plan to separate. This book is obviously inspired by the screwball comedies of the 1930s, and I enjoyed the setting and the movie allusions very much. However, the romance itself fell a bit flat. Mostly, I thought the book dragged on too long — there were several points when Joan and Dash overcame a big conflict and the book could have ended, but instead they had to confront yet another obstacle. I just got a bit tired of it. I’d love to read more historical romance set in this time period, but this one wasn’t as enthralling as I hoped it would be.

Lish McBride, A Little Too Familiar

This cozy paranormal romance centers around Declan, a werewolf, and Lou, an animal mage who specializes in bonding humans to animal familiars. When Declan moves in with Lou and her housemates, the two are immediately attracted to each other, but Declan has a traumatic past that’s left him distrustful of animal mages. When that past comes back to haunt him, he and Lou (and their other housemates and friends) must team up to stop Declan’s enemies. I don’t read a lot of paranormal romance, but I liked this book a lot. All the main characters are kind, well-intentioned people, and the “found family” vibe is strong. The romance worked for me (though it’s definitely racier than I’d prefer), and the suspense plot provided some stakes for the novel, but it’s pretty low-conflict overall. Some of my favorite scenes were when Declan, Lou, and their friends were just hanging out and bantering. There’s at least one sequel to this book, and I definitely plan on picking it up at some point!

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Village

After being seriously injured at Waterloo, Major Robert Kurland is back at his estate near the village of Kurland St. Mary to recover. One night, looking out his bedroom window, he sees an unidentified figure carrying a heavy load. Meanwhile, Lucy Harrington, the vicar’s oldest daughter, is disturbed when one of the young female servants disappears without even collecting the wages she’s owed. When Lucy visits Robert (an errand of mercy on her father’s behalf), they compare notes and team up to discover what’s going on, soon uncovering evidence of theft and murder. I really enjoyed this cozy historical mystery! While Lucy seems to have a bit more freedom than is period-appropriate (conversing with the major in his bedroom, gasp!), she’s not just a progressive 21st-century heroine in period garb. The mystery is solid, though not brilliant, and I appreciated that the plot wasn’t overly convoluted. I’m definitely interested in continuing with the series; it looks like there are seven more books, and luckily my library seems to have them all!

Mini-Reviews: Widow, Conspiracy, Rake

1 Comment

John Dickson Carr, The Red Widow Murders

“Do you believe that a room can kill?” The people gathered at Lord Mantling’s London home are about to answer that question. One particular room in the house, dubbed the Widow’s Room, has been the site of four previous violent deaths. All the victims were alone in the room and apparently poisoned, though no one could discover how the poison was administered. Now Lord Mantling and his guests draw lots to see who will spend two hours locked inside the Widow’s Room — and when the unlucky loser dies like his predecessors, detective Sir Henry Merrivale must figure out how, and by whose hand, the death occurred. I have mixed feelings about this book. The solution to the locked-room puzzle is ingenious, but the book really plods. Also, none of the characters feel or behave like real human beings, and the murderer’s plan is incredibly farfetched. This is my second encounter with Carr’s work, and so far I’m not really clicking with him, but I hope that future reads will work better for me.

Michelle Diener, The Emperor’s Conspiracy

Charlotte Raven started life on the streets, but she was rescued from poverty by a warmhearted noblewoman. Now she lives among the upper classes, but she still maintains ties to her roots. When she warns a society friend about a vicious gentleman she encountered in her old life, she’s plunged into danger, along with the friend’s brother, Lord Edward Durnham. Charlotte and Edward team up to figure out who’s trying to do them harm, falling in love in the process. But Charlotte’s oldest friend, who is now a London crime boss, isn’t ready to let her go. So many things annoyed me about this book, from the utter implausibility of Charlotte’s situation to the anachronistic prose to the insta-love between Charlotte and Edward. What kept me reading was the fast-paced plot, and I’ll admit I was mildly entertained. But I definitely wouldn’t recommend this one and won’t be keeping my copy.

Mary Balogh, The Notorious Rake

Mary, Lady Mornington, has been terrified of thunderstorms ever since a traumatic event in her past. So when she’s caught in one with only Lord Edmond Waite for company, she clings to him in terror, even though she despises him because of his terrible reputation. Desperate to block out the storm, she sleeps with him — but when the intrigued Edmond wants to pursue a relationship with her, she wants nothing more to do with him. As he persistently seeks her out, however, she slowly discovers there’s more to him than meets the eye. This book definitely has its flaws: The thunderstorm thing is a bit ridiculous (although Balogh does a pretty good job of selling it), and Edmond is a problematic hero in that he keeps bothering Mary even after she repeatedly tells him to back off. And yet, I can forgive a lot in a romance novel if I find the central relationship believable, and I definitely bought the connection between Edmond and Mary. Plus, Edmond grows a lot throughout the book and reveals surprising depths, which for me redeems him as a hero. Balogh’s books can be hit or miss, but this one is a winner!