Tag: series

Mini-Reviews: Moon, Snowed, Secret

1 Comment

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: Nursery, Disappearing, Spy

1 Comment

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Nursery

Robert and Lucy Kurland are finally parents to a two-year-old son, Ned, and they’re thrilled that Lucy is now pregnant with their second child. Lucy decides to hire additional help in the nursery, but the new maid, Polly, soon causes disruption in both the manor and the village. Her beauty attracts many suitors, some of them employed by Robert, and conflict is the inevitable result. When Polly is murdered, Robert and Lucy investigate and make some surprising discoveries about the girl’s past. This book is, like the rest of the series, a pleasant but not groundbreaking historical mystery. I found the mystery component a bit weak; I was able to guess the culprit in advance, so it was frustrating to wait for the characters to catch up – especially when one suspect insists that he knows the truth but won’t tell Robert and Lucy anything! I’ll definitely continue with the next (and so far final) book in the series, but I think I’m running out of steam.

Kate Clayborn, The Other Side of Disappearing

Jess Greene has dedicated her life to protecting her young half-sister, Tegan, after their mother ran off with famous con man Lynton Baltimore. Baltimore was the subject of a popular podcast several years ago, and now the podcast creators want to interview Jess and Tegan to see if they can track him down. Jess hates the idea but reluctantly agrees because Tegan is eager to participate in hopes of seeing her mother again. As they follow Baltimore’s trail across the country, Jess is attracted to the podcast’s producer, Adam Hawkins, but their mutual baggage hinders their romance. Clayborn is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and I really enjoyed this book, even though I’m not into podcasts or true crime. There’s not much lightness or humor in the book – the emotions are intense – but I loved both the romance and Jess’s development as a character. I do wish we’d learned more about Baltimore, but he remains an enigma throughout. Overall, though, I’d definitely recommend this book if the premise interests you!

Tatsuya Endo, Spy x Family, vol. 1

Twilight is a master spy, but his latest mission brings unique challenges: He has to infiltrate an elite private school, which means he needs a wife and child. But he gets much more than he bargained for when it turns out that his hastily adopted daughter, Anya, is a telepath and his brand-new wife, Yor, is an assassin. Will they be able to foil a dastardly seditious plot and, more importantly, come together as a family? I’m not much of a manga reader, but this one caught my eye with its spy-thriller-plus-found-family vibes, and I found it a very cute read! There’s a nice mixture of action and comedy with a bit of heart, and I like the art as well. This being volume 1, it only tells the beginning of the story – the installment ends with the entrance interview to the school – so I’ll have to read more if I want to know what happens next! Fortunately, my library seems to have several installments, so I probably will continue with the series at some point.

Mini-Reviews: Corpse, Brass, Grumpy

3 Comments

Ellis Peters, One Corpse Too Many

This second installment of the Cadfael series is based on a real event: King Stephen’s siege of Shrewsbury Castle in A.D. 1138 and his subsequent killing of all the castle’s defenders. In the novel, 94 men are supposed to be hanged, but Brother Cadfael finds a 95th body. The extra man wasn’t hanged but strangled, and Cadfael is determined to see his murderer brought to justice. As Cadfael investigates, he navigates treacherous politics, discovers a hidden treasure, and helps two pairs of young lovers. I love the Cadfael series, and this book in particular has always been a favorite. It’s a wonderful slice of medieval life that feels cozy despite the murder plot and wartime setting. I love the mixture of political intrigue, mystery, and romance, and the book introduces one of my favorite characters in the entire series (and one of my first fictional crushes, honestly!). I thoroughly enjoyed this reread and would highly recommend both the book and the series.

Nancy Campbell Allen, Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts

Emmeline O’Shea is an outspoken activist for shapeshifters’ rights, and she’s been asked to give the closing speech at an international summit that could produce a decisive victory in the struggle. But when Emme receives a nasty death threat, she’s forced to accept the protection of Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed of Scotland Yard. Emme and Oliver have clashed frequently in the past, but now that they’re spending more time together, their hostility is turning into something else. I love a good antagonists-to-lovers romance, and Emme and Oliver are both appealing characters (and yes, I especially loved buttoned-up, rule-abiding Oliver). That said, I think the first half of the book is more interesting than the second. They’re obviously in love with each other by that point, and the rest is just the plot playing itself out rather abruptly; I wanted more resolution with some of the secondary characters. Overall, this series is not a keeper for me, but I did enjoy the books and would recommend them if you like the idea of steamless historical romance with paranormal/steampunk elements.

Charlotte Stein, When Grumpy Met Sunshine

Retired footballer Alfie Harding needs a ghostwriter for his new memoir, but he’s notoriously gruff, taciturn, and hard to work with. Said ghostwriter, Mabel Willicker, is the opposite, cheerful and chatty to a fault. Their first few meetings are disastrous—pepper spray is involved—but as they work together, Mabel learns there’s much more to Alfie than meets the eye. When a paparazzi photo forces them into a fake-dating scenario, Mabel realizes she’s developed genuine feelings for Alfie, but she’s convinced he could never be interested in a plus-sized non-celebrity like her. I was a little worried this book was going to be cringey Roy Kent fanfic, but Alfie is very much his own person, and he’s an utter delight! He’s so weird and kind and awkward and vulnerable, and it’s obvious that he and Mabel are perfectly matched. I also loved Mabel and related to her insecurities as a plus-sized woman, but Alfie is definitely the star of the book. My one quibble, apart from the off-putting title, is the author’s irritating overuse of one-sentence paragraphs, which I found distracting. But I was frankly charmed by this book and would highly recommend it to contemporary romance fans!

Mini-Reviews: Rose, Scandal, Lukov

Leave a comment

Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter

Robin McKinley’s Beauty is one of my favorite retellings of Beauty and the Beast; when I last read it in 2020, I called it the quintessential retelling, praising its thoughtful heroine and gorgeous prose. Rose Daughter is McKinley’s other Beauty and the Beast retelling, and until now I’d never reread it, thinking that if I wanted a Robin McKinley take on this story, I’d just read Beauty again. Now, while I still prefer Beauty, I think Rose Daughter is enchanting in its own way. In this version, Beauty is an avid gardener and lover of roses. When she comes to the Beast’s palace, she takes on the task of bringing back to life his overgrown and dying rose garden. Like most of McKinley’s books, this one is quite slow, and I wish we got more of a sense of the Beast’s personality. But Beauty and her two sisters are wonderful characters, and I liked the book’s emphasis on their close sibling relationship. If you like fairy tale retellings, I’d definitely recommend both this book and Beauty; I think they each bring something unique and worthwhile to the story.

Anne Gracie, Marry in Scandal

Lady Lily Rutherford longs to marry for love, but she believes that, between her plump figure and her inability to read, she’ll have a hard time finding a husband. Her large fortune, however, makes her a target for unscrupulous men, one of whom abducts her with the intention of forcing her into marriage. Fortunately, she’s rescued by her brother’s friend, Edward Galbraith — but when she and Ned take multiple days to travel back to London, they soon learn they must wed to avoid a scandal. Lily falls for Ned immediately, but he is reluctant to love anyone, even his beguiling wife. This is a pretty standard marriage-of-convenience setup, and Anne Gracie doesn’t really bring anything new to the table in terms of plot or characterization. I did find the main characters, particularly Ned, appealing and could see why they fell for each other. Overall, this is a solid, engaging historical romance, and I certainly plan to continue with the series, but it’s not doing anything particularly special or exciting.

Mariana Zapata, From Lukov with Love

Jasmine Santos is a pairs figure skater with no partner, and at age 26, she’s running out of time to win the gold medal she wants more than anything. A surprising solution presents itself when superstar Ivan Lukov — whom Jasmine has known for years and always hated — suggests partnering up. Jasmine reluctantly agrees, but as she and Ivan train together, her feelings toward him slowly begin to change. Whether you like this book or not will probably depend on how you feel about Jasmine. She’s foulmouthed, angry, impatient, defensive, and not particularly kind — but also hardworking, determined, strong, and loyal. I didn’t always like her, but what sold me on the romance is that Ivan admires her toughness and appreciates her for who she is. It’s the slowest of slow burns, which I liked but other people might not, and I do think the book is bloated and repetitive in spots. But overall, I’m glad I read this one and would recommend it to fans of sports romances and the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Mini-Reviews: Fate, Bigger, Don’t

2 Comments

Stella Riley, A Trick of Fate

Max Brandon has a problem: Someone has been purchasing expensive goods and running up bills in his name, which he’s now being asked to pay. This minor nuisance becomes a major problem when the thief’s actions harm Frances Pendleton, Max’s first love. Now Max and Frances must team up to find the thief, and their quest leads them on a wild-goose chase throughout England and Scotland. After loving Stella Riley’s Rockliffe series, I had to continue with the spinoff Brandon Brothers trilogy (Max is Arabella’s brother from Cadenza). I don’t think you have to read any of the Rockliffe books to follow this one, but the two series are definitely set in the same universe. The love story in this book is a bit lightweight; while the obstacles originally dividing Max and Frances made sense, there was no reason for them not to be together in the present. But I love Riley’s writing and enjoyed the book anyway — especially since it also provides a peek at Elizabeth and Sherbourne, a couple from Cadenza whose story I’d wanted more of. I’d definitely recommend this book and author to historical romance fans and am eager to continue with the series.

Erle Stanley Gardner, The Bigger They Come

Most people know Erle Stanley Gardner as the author of the Perry Mason books, but he also wrote another series, featuring private detectives Bertha Cool and Donald Lam, under the pseudonym A.A. Fair. Narrated by Lam, this first book in the series describes how he got the job with Bertha Cool’s detective agency. It also details Lam’s first assignment: He’s tasked with serving divorce papers to an unfaithful husband, but no one seems to know where the man is. As Lam searches, he uncovers various secrets and even a murder — and demonstrates how, using a legal loophole, a person can commit murder and get away with it. This book is an enjoyable noir novel with plenty of fights, femmes fatales, and damsels in distress. The mystery itself isn’t terribly innovative, but Lam’s humorous narration keeps things light, and the book moves at a quick pace. I didn’t love the constant negative commentary on people’s sizes — part of the book’s “humor” comes from the fact that Bertha is a large woman, while Lam is a shrimpy guy — but I suppose that’s of its time. Overall, I liked the book and am interested in trying more by Gardner at some point.

Chloe Angyal, Pas de Don’t

Heather Hays’s dance career is finally taking off when she learns that her fiancé, a world-famous dancer in the same NYC ballet company, has been cheating on her. Desperate to get as far away as possible, she accepts a guest position with the Australian National Ballet. There she meets Marcus Campbell, a dancer recovering from an injury and grieving the recent death of his father. The two are immediately attracted to one another, but the ballet company has a firm no-dating policy. Will Heather and Marcus risk their jobs to follow their hearts? I have absolutely zero dance ability, but I’ve always enjoyed movies and TV shows about dancing, so the premise of this book intrigued me. I might have liked all the ballet background more than the actual romance, which is fine but a bit pedestrian. I did like the third-act conflict between Heather and Marcus, which felt realistic given the setup, and I enjoyed the resolution as well. A sequel is coming out in May, featuring Heather’s best friend, and I plan to get it from my library when it’s available.

Mini-Reviews: Tower, Bath, Gate

Leave a comment

Nancy Campbell Allen, The Lady in the Coppergate Tower

Hazel Hughes has dreamed of a girl who looks exactly like her for years. So when her long-lost uncle reveals that she has a twin sister in Romania — a sister who appears to be slowly going mad — Hazel isn’t unduly shocked. She agrees to accompany her uncle to Romania in hopes that her skills as a Healer will help her sister. Dr. Sam MacInnes, Hazel’s employer, decides to come along for protection; as the two slowly fall in love, they also realize Hazel’s uncle is hiding something and try to uncover his sinister secrets. I’m continuing to enjoy this series of steampunk fairy tales. This installment is a riff on Rapunzel, but it also contains some clever allusions to Dracula — for example, in this book Hazel and Sam consider and reject the possibility that her uncle could be a vampire. The romance itself is a bit bland, as no real obstacles stand in the couple’s way. While I did like the book overall, I’m pretty sure I won’t be keeping the series on my selves once I read the fourth and final installment.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Bath

In this installment of the Kurland St. Mary series, Robert’s injured leg is paining him more than usual, so he and Lucy head for Bath in hopes that the spa town’s mineral-rich waters will provide relief and healing. There Robert befriends Sir William Benson, who’s also “taking the waters” for his health, and the two families soon become acquainted. But when Sir William dies, apparently drowned in the baths, Robert suspects foul play. And between Sir William’s much younger wife, three disappointing sons, and two odious stepsons, there’s no shortage of possible murderers. This is another strong entry in the series, benefiting from a new location and a close focus on the small circle of suspects. I liked Robert and Lucy’s dynamic as well; though they still butt heads occasionally, they work together and recognize each other’s strengths. I’m happy that the series is still so entertaining six books in, and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Martha Wells, The Gate of Gods

Following the events of The Ships of Air, Tremaine and her allies are in the country of Capidara, Ile-Rien’s ally and the current seat of its government-in-exile. They’re hoping to use their hard-won knowledge of the etheric gates to liberate the Rienish sorcerers trapped inside the besieged city of Lodun. But their plans go awry when half the group — including Tremaine, Ilias, and Giliead — travels to an unexplored world using a new type of etheric gate and can’t get back again. This conclusion to the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy is a fitting end to the series; it answers the big questions of who the Gardier are and what they want, and it sees Tremaine finally deciding what she wants from her life. That said, I did find the ending anticlimactic — some of the answers the book provides don’t feel terribly satisfying. I also wanted more development for the secondary characters such as Florian, Gerard, and Niles, who were a constant presence throughout the trilogy but never really got their own stories. Overall, I’m glad I finally read this series but won’t be keeping it on my shelves.

Mini-Reviews: Con, Tangle, Austen

Leave a comment

Devon Daniels, The Rom Con

Cassidy, a reporter for the feminist website Siren, has just ended yet another disappointing relationship. Her grandmother suggests she try a different approach to dating, based on a 1950s list of rules for catching a husband. Cassidy is horrified, but when she meets Jack Bradford — co-founder of Siren’s rival website, Brawler, which Cassidy views as a bastion of toxic masculinity — she decides to use the antiquated rules on him. Once Jack falls for the Stepford Wives version of her, she’ll write an article exposing him as a sexist jerk. But as she begins dating him, she learns he might not be such a jerk after all. I’m of two minds about this book. On the plus side, it’s a fun, quick read with enjoyable banter between the two leads. But Jack is simultaneously too perfect and problematic — it’s never clear why, if he’s such a good guy, he’d continue to be involved with Brawler. There are also a few too many Big Misunderstandings near the end that seem to exist only to drag out the happy ending. Overall, I did enjoy the book while I was reading it, but looking back, I don’t think it totally works.

Theresa Romain, It Takes Two to Tangle

Soldier Henry Middlebrook has just returned to England after Napoleon’s defeat, wounded and unable to move his right arm. Frustrated by his perceived “uselessness” and the pity of his relatives, he decides to court Lady Caroline Stratton, a popular society beauty who he thinks will help reintegrate him into his old life. He enlists the help of Caroline’s companion, Frances Whittier, but complications ensue when he and Frances grow closer. I was intrigued by the setup of this book — Henry’s disability plus a Cyrano-esque plot point in which Frances writes him letters that he assumes are from Caroline. But unfortunately, I wasn’t as enamored of the book itself. Henry is far too slow to see what’s right under his nose, and the obstacles keeping him and Frances apart aren’t important enough to justify the length of the novel. There’s also more steam than I’d prefer, so overall, this just wasn’t the book for me. I was also underwhelmed by Romain’s Season for Temptation, so I think she’s not the author for me either.

Paula Byrne, The Genius of Jane Austen: Her Love of Theatre and Why She Works in Hollywood

In Mansfield Park, Fanny Price disapproves of the amateur theatricals staged by her cousins and their friends. Some critics have inferred from this that Jane Austen herself disapproved of theater, but Byrne argues pretty convincingly that the opposite is true. Austen acted in private theatricals with her family and friends, she frequently attended plays while living in Bath and London, and her letters reveal that she was familiar with the famous actors and theater gossip of her day. The book explains how Austen’s life interacted with the theater; how she used theatrical plots, character types, and conventions in her novels; and why her books adapt so well to the screen. Byrne is obviously an Austen fan, and a very knowledgable one. The book is briskly written and appears well researched. I liked it a lot and would certainly recommend it to Austen lovers!

Mini-Reviews: Folly, Ships, School

3 Comments

Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly

When Folie Hamilton begins corresponding with Robert Cambourne, a relative of her husband’s who is stationed in India, they soon discover they’re kindred spirits. They fall in love through their letters, but their correspondence ends abruptly just after Folie’s husband dies. More than four years later, Robert is back in England and has summoned Folie and her stepdaughter, who is now Robert’s ward, to his remote country estate. But the cold, troubled, possibly insane man Folie meets is nothing like the man she remembers from the letters. I saw an old review online that said Kinsale writes “extreme romance,” and I definitely agree with that assessment — the drama and all the emotions are dialed up to 11. I don’t normally love high-angst romances, but this book really worked for me. The heavy drama is tempered by Folie’s lighthearted pragmatism, and while Robert is truly awful at times, we get enough insight into his state of mind at least to understand his actions. Despite the uneven and slightly bananas plot, I loved the central romance and will definitely be keeping this book on my shelves!

Martha Wells, The Ships of Air

This book picks up shortly after The Wizard Hunters left off: Tremaine has commandeered a large luxury ship, the Queen Ravenna, to transport evacuees out of Ile-Rien and try to reach the Rienish government-in-exile. She also hopes to forge a Rienish-Syprian alliance to unite against the Gardier — but she’s surprised when a political marriage becomes part of the bargain. Meanwhile, she and her allies face not only the Gardier threat but also a menacing presence aboard the ship itself. I’m continuing to enjoy this fantasy saga, though the pacing in this book is uneven; things really pick up about 2/3 of the way through, when a few of the characters get separated from the rest. Main characters Tremaine, Ilias, and Giliead get some good development, though most of the other characters remain pretty flat, and we finally learn a little bit about what makes the Gardier tick. Overall, a solid read, and I’m looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the School

Robert and Lucy Kurland have now been married for three years, but two miscarriages and the ensuing grief have strained their relationship. Lucy tries to distract herself with village activities and soon butts heads with the unpopular new schoolteacher, Miss Broomfield. When Miss Broomfield is subsequently stabbed to death with a hatpin, Lucy and Robert once again investigate. Could her murder be related to a spate of nasty anonymous letters circulating through the village? I’m still enjoying this series and think this book is one of the stronger installments. The conflict between Lucy and Robert feels realistic, and they’re both a bit to blame despite both having good intentions: He’s concerned for her welfare but expresses it in all the wrong ways, while she bottles up her emotions and won’t let him (or anyone else) support her. The mystery is a little lackluster and not really fair play, though I correctly guessed the culprit fairly early on. But the series’ strengths are the central characters and the immersive portrayal of village life. Looking forward to the next one!

Mini-Review: Murder, Pairing, Spindle

Leave a comment

Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder

This book is a sprawling account of the lives of the authors of detective fiction in the 1920s and ’30s, particularly the earliest members of the Detection Club. Martin Edwards is the current Detection Club president, and his enthusiasm for his predecessors — and for Golden Age mysteries in general — is both obvious and contagious. He gives biographical information about authors such as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Anthony Berkeley. He also speculates a fair bit about their personal lives and sexual proclivities, with varying amounts of supporting evidence. He discusses several Golden Age novels, though never in very much depth, and is pretty good about avoiding spoilers. I found the book a bit scattered and hard to follow at times; the content doesn’t necessarily correspond to the various chapter headings, and Edwards often bounces among several ideas in the course of a single paragraph. The book also has invisible endnotes, which I found a bit irritating, though that’s just a personal preference. Overall, though, I think this is a good read for fans of Golden Age detective fiction, and it’s certainly put several new-to-me novels and authors on my radar!

Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off

American pairs figure skater Carrie Parker is facing career death after her partner gets caught in a cheating scandal. So when a Russian coach invites her to Moscow for a tryout, Carrie seizes the opportunity — but is appalled to discover that her new partner is Anton Belikov, a top Russian skater with whom Carrie had a one-night stand seven years ago. Anton doesn’t seem to remember her, and his gruff demeanor intimidates her. But as they train for the upcoming competition season, they grow closer, until secrets from Carrie’s past threaten their budding relationship. This book appealed to the same part of my brain that enjoys sports movies (even though I don’t follow any sports). I got the impression that Harmon actually has some figure skating knowledge; her descriptions of the routines and workouts feel like more than window dressing. I liked the Moscow setting as well. The romance between Carrie and Anton is fine, though a bit angsty/“it’s destiny!” for my taste. Overall, a decent read that I’d recommend if you like figure skating and/or the ’90s movie The Cutting Edge.

Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle

Isla Cooper is cursed: Every night, she falls into a deathlike sleep from which she can’t be awakened. To find the witch who cursed her and obtain the cure, she blackmails her way onto Daniel Pickett’s airship, which is headed for the city where the witch is rumored to be. Meanwhile, Daniel is illegally transporting shapeshifters out of England, where they’re facing political persecution. He doesn’t have time to help Isla, especially when another last-minute passenger who wants to exterminate all shapeshifters forces his way on board. Eventually, though, Daniel and Isla decide to work together — and fall in love in the process. This is a fun steampunk romance with nods to Sleeping Beauty, and though there’s nothing extraordinary about it, I really enjoyed it! I liked Daniel and Isla’s progression from grudging toleration to mutual attraction, and I also found more than one secondary character intriguing…I kind of hope they get their own books at some point! In the meantime, I’m happy to be reading this series and looking forward to the next installment!

Mini-Reviews: Secret, Lily, Always

1 Comment

Sharon Shinn, The Safe-Keeper’s Secret

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

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

Mimi Matthews, The Lily of Ludgate Hill

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

Mary Balogh, Always Remember

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