Tag: regency

Mini-Reviews: Love, None, Hedges

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Sheila Simonson, Love and Folly

Twins Jean and Maggie Conway are about to start their first London Season, but the death of King George III and the subsequent political unrest delay their come-out. However, the girls don’t need a Season to find romance: Jean is smitten with Owen Davies, a radical poet, while Maggie falls for Johnny Dyott, her cousin’s private secretary. But when Owen’s poetry runs afoul of the sedition laws, the whole Conway family must band together to protect both him and themselves. This book is a sequel to Lady Elizabeth’s Comet, which I loved, but it also features characters from The Bar Sinister, which I haven’t read. And while Simonson gives enough background that readers won’t be totally confused, I don’t think they will care much about these characters unless they’ve read the previous two books. Also, if you’re expecting a romance, you’ll be disappointed; the love story between Maggie and Johnny is brief and barely developed. This novel is well written and well researched, but for me it was disappointing, especially compared with Lady Elizabeth’s Comet.

Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None

Ten people of different ages, genders, and walks of life are summoned to an island off the coast of Devon. They’ve been invited under various pretexts, but the real reason becomes clear after dinner on their first night, when a recorded voice accuses them all of murder. Then the guests start dying one by one, in ways that echo a sinister nursery rhyme displayed in each of their bedrooms. Who is behind these deaths, and will anyone make it off the island alive? This is one of Christie’s most famous mysteries, and also in my opinion one of her creepiest! The setup—a mysterious murderer on the rampage in an isolated location—is straight out of a horror novel, and the tension builds wonderfully as the guests each face their inevitable fate. To be honest, it’s so dark that it isn’t one of my favorites by Christie, but it’s masterfully done and I admire the way she pulled it off!

Side note: Newer versions of this book have understandably used this title rather than the far more problematic Ten Little Indians (and, before that, Ten Little N—–s). I don’t fault the publisher for that, but I do wish this edition had acknowledged that changes were made, not only to the title but to the rhyme itself and several lines of dialogue. If I’m reading something different from the originally published version, I want to know about it!

Lish McBride, Rough around the Hedges

Will and Vanessa have been best friends for years, and he’s been in love with her the entire time. Van has only ever seen him as a friend—until their mutual friend group unintentionally spills the beans. Now she’s seeing him in a whole new light, but because of her cold, manipulative father and horrible upbringing, she’s scared to take a chance on love. Meanwhile, Van wants to enroll in courses to become a hedge witch, but her father, an esteemed professor, may throw a wrench in her plans. This book is a sequel to A Little Too Familiar, which I remember liking, but this one didn’t work as well for me. The world is so black and white—the good characters are all perfectly understanding and emotionally fluent, while the bad characters are irredeemably awful. Will in particular is flawless (unless you count the fact that he’s been lying to his supposed best friend for their entire relationship) and just doesn’t feel believable as a person to me. Overall, a very “meh” read.

Mini-Reviews: Howling, Charity, Rider

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Maryrose Wood, The Mysterious Howling

Miss Penelope Lumley has just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and is about to take up her first position as a governess. When she arrives at the vast estate of Ashton Place, she soon learns that the three children under her care aren’t the biological children of Lord and Lady Ashton. Rather, they were found in the forest surrounding the estate, apparently having been raised by wolves. As Penelope teaches Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia how to speak and behave like human children, she notices several sinister aspects of her new life, such as Lord Frederick’s obsession with hunting and an apparently deliberate plot to make the children regress into wolflike behavior. This is a fun, cheeky read with more than a few nods to Victorian gothic novels. I liked Penelope and the children and enjoyed reading about their shenanigans. My only complaint is that the larger questions about the children’s identity and background are unanswered; I may just have to continue with the series to find out more!

Georgette Heyer, Charity Girl

The young, rich, and handsome Viscount Desford gets into a scrape when he meets Charity “Cherry” Steane, the poor relation of a family he happens to be visiting. The day after their meeting, he discovers her running away from her family’s cruel treatment, and he feels honor-bound to help her reach her grandfather in London. But of course, when they reach London, her grandfather is nowhere to be found; so Desford leaves Cherry with his old friend, Lady Henrietta, and sets off to discover the grandfather’s whereabouts. In the midst of these events, romance blooms in an unexpected place. Much as I adore Heyer, this novel isn’t one I frequently revisit, and now I remember why. Too much of the book is spent on Desford’s solo adventures and on introducing characters who appear in just one or two scenes. As a result, the romance gets short shrift and almost feels like an afterthought. The book is still a pleasant read with a lot of funny moments, but it’s not one of Heyer’s best, in my opinion.

Kristen Britain, Green Rider

Karigan G’ladheon is a university student who’s on her way home after being unfairly suspended. She unexpectedly crosses paths with a Green Rider, one of the king’s messengers, who is dying with two black arrows in his back. He urges her to complete his mission and take the message he’s carrying to the king. Karigan somewhat reluctantly agrees and is immediately plunged into a series of dangerous adventures. Meanwhile, King Zachary faces many threats, including the ambition of his disgruntled brother and the dark powers of a supernatural being known only as the Gray One. I first read this book back in 2010 and liked it enough to pick up the next two in the series. Rereading it now, I still enjoyed it, though it’s pretty standard sword and sorcery. Karigan definitely seems to be some kind of “chosen one,” though I liked that she wasn’t amazing at everything and often needed help to complete her mission. All in all, I’m interested in continuing with the series to see what’s next for Karigan and her new friends and allies.

Mini-Reviews: Apprentice, Flowers, Moon

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Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Apprentice to the Villain

This book picks up shortly after Assistant to the Villain left off: Trystan has been captured by the nefarious King Benedict, and Evie & co. must find a way to rescue him. They then learn that the magic in their kingdom is fading, and it seems the solution is to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, an ancient piece of lore that most people view as a myth. As Trystan and Evie seek the elements they need to fulfill the prophecy – and avoid capture by Benedict’s army – they continue to fight their mutual attraction. I’m not entirely sure why I decided to read this book, since I thought the previous one was just okay. The main characters still feel like they belong in teen fanfiction, and their waffling over whether they can give into their feelings gave me constant emotional whiplash. I still found myself entertained enough that I will probably read the third book when it comes out…but I’m really hoping that will be the end of the series!

Laura Kinsale, Flowers from the Storm

Christian Langland, the duke of Jervaulks, is a well-known rake and libertine—and also a mathematical prodigy writing a paper on non-Euclidean geometry with Quaker mathematician John Timms. John’s daughter, Maddy, despises Christian’s worldly ways; but when he suffers a brain injury and is confined to a lunatic asylum, she’s aghast at his treatment and becomes convinced of his sanity, despite his near inability to communicate. Maddy feels called to help Christian and is forced to take drastic measures when his family tries to have him declared legally incompetent. I read this book years ago but didn’t remember much about it, so I’m very happy to say I loved it this time around! Both Christian and Maddy are flawed yet appealing characters: He’s often stubborn and autocratic but slowly learning to be more patient, and she’s judgmental but also principled and courageous. The angst quotient is pretty high, which isn’t usually my preference in a romance novel, but in this case it genuinely worked for me. I definitely need to seek out more of Kinsale’s backlist!

Elizabeth C. Bunce, Liar’s Moon

This sequel to StarCrossed sees Digger back in her hometown of Gerse, where tensions are high due to civil war: King Bardolph and his anti-magic Inquisition on the one side, Prince Wierolf and a group of refugee magicians on the other. But Digger is concerned with a more personal problem: Her friend Durrell Decath has been arrested for the murder of his wife, but Digger knows he’s innocent. As she investigates to learn who really killed the woman, Digger also finds evidence of organized crime and human trafficking. This is an odd sequel in that book #1 was largely about the buildup to the civil war, but in this book the war is really just a backdrop for the murder mystery. I did enjoy the plot and the writing style, but I wanted more continuity between the books. Frustratingly, the author clearly intended to write more in the series – this book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger – but more than 10 years later, she hasn’t come out with book #3, so I think this is all we get. Overall, the series had a lot of potential but never really fulfilled it, for me.

Mini-Reviews: Like, Gentleman, Aristocrat

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Hannah Orenstein, Love at First Like

Jewelry store owner Eliza is dismayed when she sees on social media that her ex-boyfriend has just gotten engaged. To console herself, she tries on the store’s most extravagant ring and takes a photo – then accidentally posts it to Instagram. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers thousands of new social media followers, as well as several big online orders from the store. Since her fake engagement is good for business, she decides to keep up the charade. But as her little white lie spirals out of control, she risks losing both her business and a chance at love. I thought this book sounded cute, but Eliza’s behavior made me so mad! Basically, she starts dating a guy in the hope that he’ll actually become her fiancé (and thus make the lie true)…but she 100% leads him on and manipulates him into falling in love with her, not telling him the truth until after he proposes. I thought it was irredeemably awful of her, and her subsequent happy ending felt undeserved. Not recommended.

Mimi Matthews, Gentleman Jim

Ten years ago, stableboy Nicholas Seaton and young lady Margaret Honeywell fell in love, but the cruel interference of a rival suitor forced Nicholas to run away, and Maggie hasn’t heard from him since. Now, visiting a friend in London, she encounters Lord St. Clare, an enigmatic viscount who has recently come to England after years spent abroad. Maggie is convinced that St. Clare is Nicholas, but he staunchly denies it, while at the same time determinedly pursuing a relationship with her. Who is St. Clare, and what’s his purpose in coming to London? I haven’t hit a bad Matthews book yet, and this one is just as well written and entertaining as her others. It’s explicitly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so if you know that story, the plot is pretty predictable. I also found the central romance a bit farfetched, given that Maggie and Nicholas were so young when they initially fell in love. But then, second-chance romance really just isn’t my trope. I did like the book and plan to continue with the series, though this installment can 100% stand alone.

Mignon G. Eberhart, Murder by an Aristocrat

Nurse Sarah Keate is called to the home of the wealthy and prominent Thatcher family when one of its members, Bayard, is shot in the arm. The family claims the shot was an accident that occurred while Bayard was cleaning his gun, but Bayard tells Nurse Keate that someone in the household tried to kill him. His claim seems to be proved true when he’s later found dead in the library. The family then coerces Nurse Keate into staying at the house, where more sinister things occur, including another death. This was my first book by Mignon G. Eberhart, and I quite liked it! The sensible Nurse Keate is a great narrator, and I appreciated the way the mystery unfolded; new evidence came to light at a good pace and so forth. The suspense aspects of the plot (lots of “had I but known” moments) aren’t really my thing, but they’re not too intrusive here. I’ll certainly read more by Eberhart, especially if I can get my hands on some other Nurse Keate books.

Mini-Reviews: Heiress, Sailor, Uprooted

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Eva Ibbotson, The Reluctant Heiress

Guy Farne is a foundling who has overcome his lowly origins and is now a multimillionaire. He’s just purchased Pfaffenstein, Austria’s most famous castle, and is determined to present it to his beloved, Nerine, as a wedding gift. But complications ensue when Guy meets Tessa, a lowly assistant at an opera company who turns out also to be the princess of Pfaffenstein. They are drawn to each other right away, but Guy’s engagement and Tessa’s quasi-betrothal to a German prince hinder their romance. I adore Eva Ibbotson’s books, which are the literary equivalent of a hug. This one has gorgeous descriptions of the Austrian countryside, vivid secondary characters with endearing quirks, loving depictions of the pleasures of music, and a heartwarming romance at its center. It’s very sweet and sentimental, perhaps too much so for some readers, but for me Ibbotson’s novels are the ultimate comfort reads.

Lillian Marek, Home Is the Sailor

Captain Will Dormer’s naval career came to an abrupt end when he lost a leg and an eye in battle. Fortunately, he’s just inherited an estate and a title – but he has no idea what he’s supposed to do in this new role. What he needs is a wife, someone practical to help him manage his household and smooth his way socially. So when he encounters Maria Garland, the daughter of his former captain who has fallen on hard times, he proposes a marriage of convenience. As Will and Maria slowly grow accustomed to their new lives and fall in love, they are also threatened by someone who apparently wants them dead. I liked this closed-door historical romance, although it’s not particularly focused on Will and Maria’s relationship. Rather, most of the plot involves them learning what it takes to run a large estate (interesting), as well as pursuing justice against the villains (a bit boring, as the villains’ identities and motives are never in doubt). Overall, an enjoyable read, and I wouldn’t mind reading more by this author.

Naomi Novik, Uprooted

Agnieszka lives in a poor village that’s overshadowed by the Wood, which is full of evil, dangerous magic. The villagers therefore rely on a mysterious wizard called the Dragon for protection, though they pay a terrible price for it: Every ten years, the Dragon takes a village girl and keeps her in his tower as a servant. Now it’s time for the next girl to be chosen, and everyone expects it to be Agnieszka’s beautiful and accomplished best friend, Kasia. But shockingly, the Dragon chooses Agnieszka instead. As she adapts to her new life in the Dragon’s tower, she slowly discovers her own magical gifts and realizes she can help defeat the Wood. I fell in love with this book the first time I read it and loved it again this time around! It’s an immersive fantasy with superb world-building and a wonderful heroine, reminiscent of Robin McKinley at her best. Honestly, I can’t be objective about this book; it feels like it was written especially for me. Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy and fairy tales!

Mini-Reviews: Frederica, Crusade, Perils

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Georgette Heyer, Frederica

The Marquis of Alverstoke is rich, influential, and sought-after in London society, but he’s also jaded and quickly grows bored with most people. That changes, however, when he meets the Merrivilles, distant family connections who have just moved to London. Frederica, the eldest, wants her beautiful younger sister to have a Season so that she can make an advantageous marriage, and she asks Alverstoke for help. Somewhat to his own surprise, he agrees – and soon finds himself invested in the welfare of all the Merrivilles, but perhaps Frederica most of all. This is such an enjoyable Heyer novel, with schoolboys Jessamy and (especially) Felix Merriville stealing every scene they’re in! I also love how the romance between Frederica and Alverstoke develops; they become good friends first, and they often find common ground as the only two rational adults in the room. I’m glad I revisited this one – it’s always a treat to immerse myself in Heyer’s Regency world!

Poul Anderson, The High Crusade

This is a “first contact” story with an unexpected twist: The aliens come to Earth, expecting to conquer it with minimal trouble, as they’ve done with many other planets. But it’s the Year of Our Lord 1345, and when the spaceship opens, it’s immediately stormed and overrun by Sir Roger de Tourneville and his band of merry Englishmen. They plan to use the ship to invade France, and then perhaps take it on crusade to the Holy Land. But a treacherous alien survivor takes them into outer space instead, where they encounter strange planets, hostile aliens, and baffling new technologies. I really enjoyed this book, which is written in the style of a medieval chronicle. The narrator, Brother Parvus, is earnest, religious, and sincere in his belief that despite the aliens’ superior knowledge and technology, they’re no match for true God-fearing Englishmen. The book is full of adventure and humor, with creative battle sequences and even a love story. I’d definitely recommend this one if the premise appeals to you!

Claudia Gray, The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh

Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney—now known in their social circles as talented amateur investigators—receive a summons to Rosings, where Lady Catherine de Bourgh has recently endured several attempts on her life. She orders them to find the person responsible, but the only possible suspects seem to be family and close friends—Lady Catherine’s daughter, Anne; her son-in-law, Colonel Fitzwilliam; her neighbors, the Collinses; or the servants, who have been with the family for many years. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Juliet have developed strong feelings for one another, but each is convinced the other doesn’t reciprocate. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, which does a good job of imagining the continuing lives of Austen’s characters. I liked the decision to pair Anne with Colonel Fitzwilliam and was interested in their relationship. I also really enjoyed the side plot of the antagonism between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Henry Tilney—both great guys, but I can see how they’d rub each other the wrong way at first! Recommended for fans of Austen-inspired mysteries, but start with book 1, The Murder of Mr. Wickham.

Mini-Reviews: Rom-Commers, Art, Undermining

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Katherine Center, The Rom-Commers

Aspiring screenwriter Emma has put her career on hold to care for her disabled father and younger sister. So when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work with her screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, she can’t believe her good luck – that is, until she reads his script. Charlie has won fame and fortune for his gritty, dramatic screenplays, but this latest project is a rom-com, and it’s terrible. Charlie is terrible too, at first, but as he and Emma work on rewriting the script, they also grow closer to one another. This book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief – Charlie seems implausibly famous, he’s an abysmal romance writer but somehow genius in every other genre, and the reason for him writing the rom-com doesn’t really make sense. But the relationship between Emma and Charlie is charming, and I liked their back-and-forth, which is indeed reminiscent of classic rom-com banter. I also loved that, contrary to many characters in this genre, Emma is actually great at communicating her needs and feelings. So despite a few quibbles, I really liked this one and would recommend it if you’re interested in the premise.

Mimi Matthews, The Work of Art

Phyllida Satterthwaite isn’t a conventional beauty, but in her first London Season, her unique appearance attracts the attention of a duke known for his relentless pursuit of one-of-a-kind possessions. Now he’s determined to possess Philly as well, but she fears and dislikes him. In desperation she appeals to her new friend, Captain Arthur Heywood, for help. Arthur proposes a marriage of convenience, which will give her the protection of his name, but it’s not long before he and Philly develop real feelings for each other. But when Philly is the victim of some suspicious “accidents,” Arthur worries that the duke is out for revenge. I’m a fan of Matthews’s historical romances, and this one is no exception. The romance is sweet and develops naturally, and the steam is minimal (mostly fade-to-black). I also liked the resolution to the suspense plot, which nicely subverts reader expectations. I’m definitely planning to continue with the series this year!

Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

Twyla Banneker enjoys her job as a Tanrian Marshal, especially working with her longtime neighbor and friend, Frank Ellis. The job has been a little boring lately, but things pick up when one of their fellow marshals is found dead and covered in a thick, glittery mucus. Shockingly, the glitter seems to have originated from a dragon, though dragons are supposed to be extinct. Twyla and Frank investigate, with the help of a renowned dracologist who soon shows an interest in Twyla—which Frank doesn’t like one bit. I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and snapped up this sequel as soon as I could. Maybe my expectations were a little too high, because this book was a slight letdown for me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s still a good read, with charming characters and adorable dragons. But the love story, which is by far the biggest part of the plot, wasn’t compelling for me. We don’t get Frank’s point of view, and Twyla sees him as a platonic friend for most of the book, so the pacing feels slow. That said, I still liked this one overall and am definitely on board for book #3 when it comes out next year!

Mini-Reviews: Summer, Tryst, Prince

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Lizzy Dent, The Summer Job

Birdy’s best friend, Heather, is a master sommelier who’s accepted a position at a hotel restaurant in Scotland for the summer. But when Heather bails on the job without notifying the hotel, Birdy, who’s between jobs, decides to take her place – despite knowing nothing about wine. Of course, she soon realizes she’s in way over her head, but she becomes genuinely interested in the work – and in the restaurant’s chef, James. But what will happen when the truth comes out? This book, while entertaining on a micro level, actually stressed me out because Birdy made so many terrible, thoughtless decisions! Not only was she horrifically incompetent while (initially) making no effort to improve, but she also lied to her employer and her best friend and didn’t ’fess up even when she realized how badly she could damage said friend’s professional reputation. The book does its best to make Birdy likable despite this awful start, but I never quite came around. The Scottish setting is lovely, and James is a dreamy romantic interest, but honestly, he deserves better!

Alyssa Everett, A Tryst with Trouble

Lord Beningbrough, “Ben” to his friends, prides himself on being emotionally detached and is in no hurry to marry. Strong-minded Lady Barbara Jeffords has a low opinion of men in general and, after their first meeting, of Ben in particular. But they’re forced to work together when Ben’s cousin and Barbara’s sister, who are recently engaged, are both implicated in the murder of a footman. Ben and Barbara know neither of their relatives can be the killer, but as they team up to find the true culprit, their mutual annoyance/attraction evolves into something quite different. I’ve enjoyed a couple of this author’s other Regency romances and am happy to say I liked this one as well! Ben and Barbara are an enjoyable pair, whether they’re trading insults or slowly letting their guard down with one another. And they take turns narrating the book, so it’s fun to get a peek inside their heads and see how they view the same events differently. The mystery itself is slight and utterly predictable; it’s really just a device to get these two crazy kids together. But I’d still recommend this book (and author) to fans of lively, well-written historical romance.

Priscilla Pearce, My Enemy, My Prince

This “romantasy” centers around Ro, a farm girl plucked from obscurity because of her psychic abilities to become the wife of Prince Corrado. Ro and Corrado don’t get along at first, and they’re awkward and shy with one another, but mutual feelings soon develop. Meanwhile, Corrado’s kingdom is under threat by his odious cousin, who will inherit the throne unless he and Ro can produce an heir. And as Ro adjusts to being a princess, she begins to consider how to use her power for good in the world. If you’re expecting a fantasy novel with strong worldbuilding and a well-thought-out magical system, this book is not for you. It’s 100% a romance, and probably the first half of the book is just Ro and Corrado enthusiastically, ahem, “getting to know” one another. There’s not much plot to go along with the sex scenes, and the book’s editing leaves a lot to be desired. I did like the main characters, especially their early awkwardness, and I feel like there’s the kernel of a good book here. But it’s not one that I’d enthusiastically recommend, unfortunately.

Mini-Reviews: Impossible, Tea, Rectory

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Connie Willis, Impossible Things

I’m not a huge fan of short stories, but I do love Connie Willis, so I decided to revisit this collection of her early stories and novellas, which were all originally published in the ’80s and early ’90s. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are really no duds in the collection, though of course some stories resonated with me more than others. I particularly enjoyed “Spice Pogrom,” an homage to the screwball comedy; “Chance,” a heartbreaker about a woman who’s consumed with regret over a bad choice she made years ago; and “Winter’s Tale,” a compelling, contemplative take on a Shakespeare conspiracy theory. The collection contains both tragic and comic stories, but even the tragic ones generally have a hint of hope or humor, and even the comic ones have surprisingly sharp edges. I still prefer Willis’s full-length novels, but if you like the author (or sci-fi stories in general), these stories are well worth reading also.

India Holton, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

This final book in the Dangerous Damsels trilogy focuses on Alice Dearlove and Daniel Bixby, both of whom appeared in the previous book as a lady’s maid and butler, respectively. In fact, they’re two of the best spies in England’s shadow government, and now they’re tasked with working on a mission together. The Wisteria Society is allegedly plotting to assassinate Queen Victoria using a mysterious new weapon. Alice and Daniel must pose as a married couple, infiltrate the Society, and steal the weapon; naturally, complications ensue when the ruse starts feeling all too real. This book shares with its predecessors a light tone, copious literary references, silly piratical hijinks, and a central romance. But I think this is my favorite of the trilogy because I loved Alice and (especially) Daniel. Both are dealing with childhood trauma and neurodivergent brains that make them feel like outsiders, and it’s lovely to watch them slowly realize that they understand each other. That said, this series is a fun read, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel the need to reread it.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Rectory

Lucy and Robert Kurland are excited for the christening of their baby daughter, Elizabeth. But as they welcome their family and friends for the event, they’re also surprised by some unwanted guests: Harriet and Basil Northam, the daughter and son-in-law of Robert’s Aunt Rose, who recently married Lucy’s father. The obnoxious Northams have long sponged off of Aunt Rose and aren’t pleased that her remarriage may now disinherit them. When Basil Northam is found stabbed to death in the rectory study, Lucy’s father becomes the chief suspect, which causes tension between Robert and Lucy as they investigate the crime. This book is the last of the Kurland St. Mary mysteries, and while it doesn’t really feel like a series finale, it fits right in with the rest of the series: pleasant but bland, and not particularly remarkable as a mystery. I did like the brief observations on inequities in the justice system, but they’re not treated with much depth. Overall, these books are quick, undemanding reads, but I wouldn’t enthusiastically recommend the series. It’s fine, but I feel pretty tepid about it.

Mini-Reviews: Time, Comet, Overture

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Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time

In the near future, a secret branch of the UK government called the Ministry of Time has discovered time travel, but they’re still figuring out its rules and limits. As an experiment, they’ve extracted five “expats,” people from earlier periods of history who would have died in their own eras, and brought them into the present. The book’s narrator works for the ministry; her job is to live with one of the expats—Commander Graham Gore, a naval officer lost in an Arctic expedition in the 1840s—and help him acclimate to the 21st century. As the narrator gets closer to Gore and learns more about the ministry’s project, she discovers some sinister secrets and must decide where her loyalties truly lie. I’m still processing this book, to be honest, but I think I might love it. Bradley writes beautifully, and her characters are complex and interesting (especially Gore, whom I adored!). The only thing I didn’t like was the denouement, which felt a bit rushed and obvious. But the novel manages to be thought-provoking about power, narratives, and identity, while still being an excellent story. I’ll definitely be reading this again at some point!

Sheila Simonson, Lady Elizabeth’s Comet

The titular Lady Elizabeth is a would-be astronomer tracking a comet across the night sky. At age 28, she’s also been the de facto head of her family since her father’s death more than a year ago. So when the heir to her father’s earldom, distant cousin Thomas Conway, finally takes possession of the family home, Elizabeth is wary and defensive toward the newcomer. But when she helps nurse him after a battlefield injury catches up with him, she finds her feelings changing. Complicating matters is her quasi-engagement to Tom’s friend Lord Bevis and her need to care for her twin 15-year-old sisters. While I don’t mind the occasional “wallpaper historical,” it is refreshing to read a Regency romance that actually feels authentic to the period! While Elizabeth has a unique-for-her-time interest, she’s not a 21st-century heroine in costume. I also enjoyed her witty first-person narration, which is unusual for this genre. The romance is quite lovely with some funny moments (and steamless, which is a bonus for me). I’d definitely recommend this one to fans of historical romance and will be seeking out more by the author!

Ngaio Marsh, Overture to Death

This Golden Age mystery, book #8 in the Roderick Alleyn series, has a classic setup: Seven people in a small English village decide to put on a play. One of the actors, a universally disliked spinster, is murdered in a shocking fashion on opening night – shot via a booby trap hidden in a piano. Complicating matters is that Miss Eleanor Prentice, the victim’s equally unpopular friend/rival, may have been the intended target. Suspects include the local squire, a pair of young lovers, the vicar, the village doctor, and a femme fatale. Fortunately, Inspector Alleyn is on hand to uncover adultery, blackmail, and murder. I generally enjoy Marsh’s mysteries, although I think her books get less interesting after the murder occurs. This one is true to form: The setup and character introductions are great, but once Alleyn arrives on the scene, the “plot” is basically just a bunch of suspect interviews. That said, I still enjoyed the book, and I’m pleased that I managed to solve the mystery before the culprit was revealed.