Just What the Doctor Ordered

With Anatomy of Death Young proved that she could compose a well-researched and utterly absorbing historical suspense novel that holds the promise of a series worth reading. This, her second in the Dr. Dody McCleland series, has affirmed that the promise of this author's first success is more than capable of carrying itself through. Antidote to Murder continues with the realistic tone of its predecessor and draws us into the social mores of Edwardian London once more. Again, a serious aspect of the time period is brought forth for examination: the difficult - and sometimes impossible - choice of women who faced an unwanted pregnancy, families that became too expensively large, and the life-threatening options available to the desperate.

Dody's career and life are both at stake as a botched illegal abortion outrages society and anonymous letters point the incriminating finger at her. An easy and vulnerable target, Dody refuses to throw in the towel and allow a murderer to get away with this bloody business ... especially as more unwanted pregnancies lead young women to unwittingly seek his assistance. As the body count rises so does the tension as our leading lady struggles to prove her innocence to the unforgiving and unbelieving masculine superiors to whom she has been working to prove her capability in the "beastly science." Simultaneously, the dashing Chief Inspector Pike works to uncover a German spy operating under the cover of a risque theater troupe. (We all get to appreciate the cameo appearance of none other than the infamous historical figure of Mata Hari ... though the makings of her fame do not actually take place in this book, but later on in history) While Dody and Pike begin the story fighting their separate battles the clues eventually lead them together once more, finding a common foe in the one leaving the bodies of reluctant mothers-to-be behind.

Once again, Young has delved into the murkier waters of this particular period of English history and spun us a fascinating tale. The main characters continue to be presented as strong and realistic individuals living in a time of great change, and the supporting cast (particularly the wonderful Florence!) are a treat. The blossoming relationship between Dody and Pike is well crafted and sweet. I can't wait to see what Young pulls out of the hat next. Bravo!

The Doctor is In

What is better than a work of historical fiction in which the history is well-researched and powerfully presented? .... Nothing, I tell you! Young's first mystery novel about Dr. Dorothy McCleland and Chief Inspector Matthew Pike is a gem.

Dody is not an entirely original leading lady as far as personality and moral fiber goes, but Young has managed to present her as a heroine we can both enjoy hearing from and admire. Her quick mind and capable demeanor give us the strength we like to see from female sleuths in historical mysteries during time periods of male supremacy. She offers a surprise, though, in that while she stands for women's rights, she is not subject to the fervor of her fellow suffragettes (her sister for example). While the story revolves around an incident involving women's suffrage, it is not driven by any sort of personal vendetta on Dody's part. Her concern is establishing herself as a doctor and keeping her more demonstratively-minded sister out of prison. It is only because of an accident of circumstance that she becomes involved in the case of a suspiciously dead suffragette at all. Dody's an interesting woman in a time when history generally cataloged women as either radical protestors or "properly-minded" housewives. Her intelligence and levelheadedness makes her an ideal partner for the emotionally scarred, traditionalist Chief Inspector Pike. Each works to open the others eyes on issues important to them and they eventually develop a rapport which serves to allow them to put their heads together and work out the tangle of clues.

The history behind this story is a volatile topic and leads to some tense moments. I would warn those considering picking this book up for reading that there are a few scenes which may be considered disturbing. Due to Dody's career as a doctor of forensic science it shouldn't be much of a surprise that she performs autopsies, however, some of the description might be considered mildly to moderately graphic by some. In addition, there is a scene in which forced feeding is described - a political response to incarcerated suffragettes who went on hunger strike. Nothing in this book really crosses any lines as far as I'm concerned, but it is not for the faint-hearted. The inclusion of these activities and historical details add both accuracy and power.

Although it has the occasional editorial mishap as far as word order or grammar goes, the writing is fluid - eloquent when needed and at all times coherent. Young has successfully drawn me into Dody and Pike's story and I look forward to continuing the series. Bravo!

~~~

 

BE SURE TO CATCH THE SCENT OF MURDER, BOOK THREE IN THE DR. DODY MCCLELAND MYSTERY SERIES NOW AVAILABLE!

Cover Art Revealed: The Last Queen of India

I just love the BIG REVEAL moment when a book you are anxiously awaiting the publication date for gets it's cover art presented to the public! It's like the sneak preview that you catch in between commercials and makes you sit up and go all tingly. Well, I had one of those moments this morning when I spotted the newly released cover art for Michelle Moran's latest historical novel, The Last Queen of India. We still have to wait until July for the story itself, but the cover art is a lovely morsel to feed this book addict's soul...

Honestly, it's not what I expected, and it's a little bit of a disappointment. When I think of a title like The Last Queen of India I expect something a little more exciting and profound than a blue shawl and some heavy eye shadow. It doesn't really say "Sovereign of the East - Defender of an Empire" to me. Just what are we setting this character and her story up for here with a cover that doesn't seem to say what the title and catch phrase are trying to prepare us for?

Regardless, I am delighted to have a cover for this book now, and am happily counting down until July!

LOOK FOR THE LAST QUEEN OF INDIA, AVAILABLE JULY 3rd, 2014!

A Woman of Strength in a Time of Change

This was an intriguing take on Mary Stewart's reign, focusing not on the high drama of her last years, but on the very beginning of her rule. Scotland was a tempestuous nation, with political maneuvering and clan feuds upsetting the court Mary of Guise left behind amidst a growing fear that the queen who would step into her place was unprepared to face the traitorous humors of the warring factions. Through a fictional minor noblewoman we bear witness to the infamous monarch's first unbalanced steps along the unreliable path of royal dominance in a country torn not only by the political and cultural rivalries, but by the fiery religious debate between Catholics and Protestantism. While the book isn't directly about Mary, Queen of Scots, this catalytic period of her life and rule serves as a tense backdrop for Rinette Leslie's story. The details and niceties described serve to immerse us into the developing plot, creating an atmosphere that allows us to more effectively understand the choices and trials our leading lady is subjected to.

Rinette is not your typical Tudor Period hic-fic heroine! She's prickly and opinionated, her roots are firmly set away from the glamor of court life, and while romance plays a major role in her story she remains doggedly focused on the driving passion born of a tragic act of greed by one who would do anything to see the Queen's downfall: revenge. She is made to suffer time and again by her "betters" and endures humiliation and abasement. Rinette is one of the most resilient characters I've ever read about (she would probably prove a powerful force if she were ever to find herself in Westeros ... but I digress). It is the love for her children and determination to see justice done which endlessly inspires her to pick herself up and carry on each time her enemies -- and even those who should be her allies -- cast her down. It is easy to admire her, and I found myself rooting for Rinette throughout the book.

The one failing of this book is that the writing fell prey to melodrama towards the end, but it rallied and concluded with a sweet elegance. After reading "The Second Duchess," I was eager to see what Loupas could come up with next and while this is not quite as good as its predecessor I genuinely enjoyed Rinette's story. Bravo!

Wise Words

 

"Sometimes, making the wrong choice is better than making no choice.

You have the courage to move forward, that is rare.

A person who stands at the fork, unable to pick, will never get anywhere."

 

WIZARD'S FIRST RULE

by

Terry Goodkind

The "Finally!" Book

This series just gets better and better! What Angels Fear was a masterful introduction to the best sleuth of contemporary fiction. While something always felt odd about Sebastian's relationship with Kat, the way they worked together was engrossing, and those first few books were the perfect blend of dark malevolence, twisty intrigue and high-flying action. What followed were those in-between books where Kat steps out of center stage and Hero wanders part-way into the picture. They developed his character and demonstrated the depth and strength of personality required to endure the revelations and machinations thrown into a life nowhere near as simple as was once believed. Finally, we have the current phase of Sebastian's career as a noble sleuth, where he has finally convinced Hero to marry him and they are beginning to hesitantly form a formidable partnership. Why Kings Confess is the end of a tensely drawn-out plot line from which new developments and characters weave themselves into the growing saga.

The Mystery...
Not original, but entirely Harris! The rumors surrounding the little Dauphin and his possible escape from captivity create a fertile source of inspiration for authors to mine. I'm not very surprised to see it crop up in a Sebastian St. Cyr mystery, but to me it meant there was just that much more at stake. Whereas many other authors take historical curiosities and blow them all out of proportion, creating tall tales and taking all the bite out of the historical in their fiction, Harris has proven time and again that she does not go in for cheap tricks and easy melodrama to progress her stories. She tries to allow what facts there are to speak for themselves and create the background to her stories for her, rather than molding the history to fit the story. As before, she has paid a respectfully eloquent tribute to the historical record in this case. It's easy to take the bygone gossips at their word and say the Lost Dauphin escaped and survived, but not so easy to create a credible epilogue to his tale. I think Harris made a wise choice by presenting a believable scenario, but ultimately left it up to her audience to judge for ourselves.

The Characters...
If there is one aspect of this addition to the series that falls somewhat short it is in the characterization. There aren't really any major development points with anybody ... unless you count the sudden need of Gibson's to experience a woman's love. That seemed a little contrived to me, honestly. It could have used some subtle roots in previous books, culminating in this new relationship with his French counterpart. Until now, his internal wound has been his pain and a weakness for opium, but all of a sudden he has this desperate need to be seen as a man by the fairer sex? A little shaky there, Harris! 
There is one out-standing psychological breakthrough for Sebastian dealing with a traumatic altercation during his service, thus leading him to sell his commission and shoulder a moral burden that haunts him to this day. Through Hero the oppression on his spirit is dealt with to a certain extent, though Sebastian isn't the sort of man who would ever release his own conscience from perceived responsibility. That's who he is, though, and his personal demons are one of the reasons he is such an engaging personality. Still no news on his mother, his true paternity, the rough and tough Mr. Knox, or any of the other long-ranging story arcs, but this was something that had been an outstanding hole in Sebastian's story, and it was satisfying to have it filled in.

The Shifting Balance...
As stated, the series has undergone a major evolution as Sebastian's character, relationships, and role have altered and grown. With that and the change in his personal responsibilities to his wife and the family they oh-so-accidentally started, the overall balance of brain-bending crime-solving and thriller-style action has shifted. Where the earlier books had Sebastian running down back alleys and into abandoned warehouses chasing after gun- or dagger-wielding crooks every few chapters, the emphasis now is more on the intellectual puzzle of the crimes. Oh, don't get me wrong! There is still plenty of derring-do on our dashing hero's part, but it doesn't dominate the pages anymore. Whether this was a deliberate choice on Harris' part or entirely incidental, I think it reflects the re-balancing of his life that has come with marriage to Hero and approaching fatherhood.

Hero, Love & A Baby...
FINALLY!!! Finally, in so many ways! First and foremost, Sebastian finally manages to bring himself to say the words he has kept inside, but have been so plain until now. Does that count as a spoiler? Deal with it! And, of course, we have the other FINALLY moment: Hero finally gets to have the baby she has been pregnant with for five books. It may be nine months either way, but that's a high page-count pregnancy! I was really starting to feel bad when we got through What Darkness Brings and she still hadn't popped. And, in true Harris fashion, there was nothing easy about it for either Sebastian or Hero. The threat of the loss of the wife he had only recently come to love and their child colored the entire book. The ending was pitch-perfect and so emotionally-charged, ending this chapter of their relationship and opening the way for the next part of the unlikeliest of romances.

It was hard to wait a year for it, but Harris always makes it well worth our patience. Understandably, Hero couldn't play much of a role in the mystery itself in this one -- she was a little preoccupied -- but here's hoping that she'll become the well-matched partner she has shown the promise of being previously. An excellent addition to a an additively wonderful series. Bravo!

Shortie but a Cutie

This is a very short trip into the life of Georgie, our beloved royal, at the very beginning of the Depression and before the events of the Her Royal Spyness series. She's living in London with Binky and the venomous Fig, and her unsuccessful debutante season has come to a close. In typical manipulative fashion, HM attempts to set Georgie up with a Prussian prince by sending her off to a Halloween masked ball where she not only confronts a house-full of guests expecting her to do the done thing, but meets the sharp Mrs. Simpson for the first time. Desperate for a way to escape being conned into marriage with a European royal whispered to be mad, Georgie finds herself dancing in the strong arms of a rather dashing man in a devil's costume. A smoldering lip-lock, a bomb, and a tantalizing letter of farewell later, and we have Georgie's first encounter with the Honourable Mr. Darcy O'Mara. It's obvious from the get-go who he is to the reader, but it answers the lingering question of why Georgie never remembered having Darcy as a dancing partner in Book #1. Really, that's all this short story was meant to achieve.

Quick and cute ... Bravo!

A Little Something Fun

This was a shortie, but a goody! We got to spend some time with India and French on one of their missions for the crown, matching wits with the dastardly Russians and filling the Parisian night air with the barking of their respective Bulldog and Boxer (if you are lost by why that would be at all relevant or, indeed, interesting, I refer you to the full "Madam of Espionage" series). Sadly, Vincent did not make an appearance, and he is sure to burst a blood vessel over being left behind when the unlikely partnership returns to London!

A fun ride with India's cynical repartee and the dashing Major French. Nothing deep, no real tension or development of the chemistry between them, and a simple plot quickly wrapped up with their usual flair. Perfect for a lazy afternoon. Bravo!

What's Your Guilty Pleasure?

We've all read it. That book we just absolutely adore, but would die of embarrassment if anyone found out we were reading it. A trashy romance, a sappy YA novel, a nerdy space opera -- bend back that cover and angle it so that no one can possibly read the title over your shoulder! Ah, the mortification of it all. But we wouldn't give it up for the world, would we?

My all-time favorite "guilty pleasure" book would have to be Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas. I first read it in high school, and have happily -- and stealthily -- revisited the romance of Logan and Madeline every now and then since. It's sweet, it's hot stuff, and it just gives you that delightfully warm-fuzzy feeling. I was never actually caught reading it, but I had a few close calls!

So, what are your guilty pleasure reads? Did anyone ever discover your secret addiction?

A Belated Announcement

My apologies, my dear friends! I realize that I should have posted this announcement yesterday, but better late then never, yes?

NIGHT BROKEN

by

Patricia Briggs

NOW AVAILABLE!

A Fascinating Time for Murder

This was a quick, interesting read that centered around a young chambermaid in service to a London magistrate during the chaos of the Restoration period. The mystery was enjoyably twisty, but was occasionally overshadowed by either Lucy's personal storyline or the background events of the time period which Calkins highlighted. It was a bit like reading two distinct stories developing side by side - a murder mystery and a work of historical fiction with romantic elements. While I was interested in both, they were not blended as well as they could have been. I find that authors tend to learn from what awkwardness might appear in their first works and improve in successive efforts, so I have high hopes for the further exploits of Lucy Campion.

The historical detail that Calkins wove throughout the story was immaculate - barring the inconsistencies she herself pointed out as deliberate in the Historical Note at the end - and served to create an easily visualized London caught up in the social and political change which the return of Charles II ignited. It was a really fascinating era during which to set a murder mystery! Lucy, our main character, is ideally placed in English society for this particular time period because the blurring of social lines will be all the more apparently illustrated by her ascension from lowly chambermaid to whatever role she is able to rise to. It took me a moment to digest the seemingly cheesy fairytale ending of the story and realize that although it seems fanciful that a girl born into the servant class could come to be something of an equal in her master's household and go so far as to entertain thoughts of marriage to a magistrate's son and employment amongst educated men, it was not entirely impossible that such a case could have occurred. I wouldn't go so far as to say Lucy could have had all of this, but the personal barriers that were all but erased when servants tended their masters during the ravages of the plague did in fact lead to certain societal barriers collapsing as well. Such occurred to a lesser extent during the outbreak of the Black Death in the Middle Ages. So, could a girl like Lucy Campion have lived and experienced these self-same new opportunities? Yes ... but again, I think Calkins was a little overenthusiastic in making it seem as though every single obstacle had been obliterated.

This story had difficulty with the duality of its genre, but all in all it was a great read. I look forward to reading more books starring Lucy and following her rising star. Bravo!

~~~

 WATCH OUT FOR FROM THE CHARRED REMAINS, BOOK #2 IN THE LUCY CAMPION MYSTERY SERIES

Available April 22nd!

A Whole New Beat

Bronze Gods is the first steampunk novel that I have read and it blew me away! The husband-wife author team did a fantastic job of weaving fantasy, mild historical flavor, suspense and romantic tension together to create this excellent first installment in their new series. Their individual writing strengths of world-building and characterization really shone through and combined to produce a real treat.

The setting of Hy Breasil is both recognizable and alien, presenting a hypothetical world in which humanity invaded the fey (Ferisher) territory and interbred. The technologies work like those of an industrialized human world, but function because of more supernatural energies: elementals fuel lighting and transportation, and "mirror stations" stand in place of the telephone system. It all creates a surreal but utterly believable atmosphere that the reader can become immersed in without difficulty.

The dynamic cast of characters allows for a wide range of emotions, biases, and motives to collide head-on and create the chaos our crime-solving duo rise to the challenge of sorting out. Celeste Ritsuko and Janus Mikani are a delicious case of opposites complimenting one another to form a formidable cohort of justice. Their personal lives - which become ever more entangled as the story goes on - play out along side the unfolding horror of a vicious agenda and ever rising stakes. While the majority of the book is told from the alternating perspectives of Ritsuko and Mikani, the voice of Aurelia Wright breaks in from time to time in order to provide another illuminating account of what is happening and why. Together the three POVs allow the reader to get a broad view of the progress of events, providing telling incidental clues, though not overtly revealing everything until the climax.

A richly enjoyable read, I highly reccomend Bronze Gods to both veteran readers of the genre and newcomers. Bravo!

~~~

LOOK FOR SILVER MIRRORS, BOOK #2 OF THE APPARATUS INFERNUM

AVAILABLE APRIL 29th!

Fantasy: George's Take

When I was a junior in high school I wrote my final paper on fantasy. We had been asked to pick a handful of books within a genre and explore the heights and depths that can be reached within it. I had been thinking, "Hey now, fantasy is pretty much perfect for that!" and gathered together the Swords of Truth & Shannara, and called on Belgarath & Polgara to dig into this paper. My teacher was not amused. Fantasy isn't a real literary genre, she scoffed. Say WHAT?! So, I duly ignored her disappointing attitude and did it anyway. Was she happy with me? No, not really. Did I get an A? Yes, yes I did.

Setting aside the fact that there are apparently some individuals in this world who just don't get fantasy, the question is asked again and again just what fantasy is. What does it bring to the table? How does it take the mores and subtle nuances of human nature, culture, and belief and weave them through the loom of its own intrinsic system of devices? Does it really connect with the heart and soul of the human condition? My answer to that last, as you might have guessed, is ABSOLUTELY! George R. R. Martin puts it a little more eloquently, though, and I wanted to share this quote which I ran across this morning. I found it remarkably apt in explaining the genre of books that I love, and so delightfully simple...

“The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams. It is alive as dreams are alive, more real than real ... for a moment at least ... that long magic moment before we wake.

Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?

We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.

They can keep their heaven. When I die, I'd sooner go to middle Earth.” 

(Quote Source: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=The+Last+Summer&commit=Search)

I adore A Song of Ice & Fire, and I'm fully supportive of authors taking their time to produce their books in order to make sure what they deliver to their fans is as accurate, delightful & perfect as possible. Do I wish The Winds of Winter would be released tomorrow? With all my heart! But he is welcome to take his time to make it as wonderful as the rest of the series. In all good fun, though, here's the joke at George's expense which has become a fan classic:

Break My Heart

Wow, what an unexpected disappointment! I love Deanna Raybourn, and her book A Spear of Summer Grass has become one of my all-time favorites, so I had very high hopes for this new romantic adventure. Especially after reading Whisper of Jasmine, which introduces these characters, I had expected to fall in love with this story. Nope.

Damascus is the fabled "city of jasmine," and that is an on-going theme throughout the book, true, but with Evie's arrival it would have been more appropriately nicknamed the city of ranting. She didn't shut up! I'm all for a good let-loose where the leading lady gives her man what for, establishing herself and validating her position. Shout at the top of your lungs, Evie. Give him a piece of your mind and vent your heart out all over his miserable two-timing head ... but then stop. One good rant is sufficient, but she was stuck on repeat through the majority of the book. They'd meet clandestinely to discuss the artifact and she'd let loose at him. They'd trod about in the desert for awhile, and then Evie would bite his head off again. Capture by Bedouins, followed up by a hissy fit. Escape, and another round. Come on, Evie, we're sick of it now! Yes, you have a valid position, and yes, Gabriel deserves the rough edge of your tongue (until he gets the truth out), but the whole song and dance got very old very quickly. That part of the plot really could have been constructed better, in my opinion.

The Evie and Gabriel we first met in Whisper of Jasmine and the Evie and Gabriel who take over in City of Jasmine: Two. Different. Sets. Of people. They were completely unrecognizable! Yes, I understand that Evie "grew-up" -- pfft! -- and changed her outlook on life after Shanghai, and Gabriel is being all cloak-and-dagger here, but I really could not relate the people I had met in the prequel to the ones I was following through the desert. I was rather heartbroken about that.

As for Aunt Dove? Ehh... I felt she was the strongest and most dynamic character here, but she didn't really seem to fit. Like that one puzzle piece that just won't slip into the space you know it's meant to fill, she had the right feel for the story, but felt out of place somehow. Yet again, a let down for me after reading the prequel.

*Sigh* I'm sorry, ladies and gents! I just couldn't wrap my heart around this one. I gave it an honest effort, but it came up desperately short for me. I still love Deanna Raybourn, but this one will not be on my Read Again list.

A Doozy

Hello there! Happy Day-Before-Friday, and all that. :-) So, today I pulled a review for the fourth book in Kristen Britain's Green Rider fantasy series, which I have a long-time love affair with. I'm talking full-blown, passionate romance here! I read the first book while in middle school and have kept pace with the series through high school, between exams in college, and this year the fifth book in the series is due to be released. Wait!, you say? If you do the little math exercise there you may notice that I've been reading a grand total of four books for more than 15 years ... how long does it take this author to write books, exactly? The answer: a long time. In the agonizing tradition of George R. R. Martin, Kristen Britain tends to not release a new book very often. For her devoted fans (ahem!) this is a devastatingly confounding habit of hers that she just won't break. While some -- well, many -- members of the Green Rider fandom spend their time shaking their fists and screaming for the next release, I've decided it's just not worth the frustration. The books are good, and if it takes five years for Kristen to write one, then so be it. I wouldn't want her to spiff things up if it would mean her quality level would tank. Now that we're getting close to Release Day, though, I'm working up a hype! Here's a little something to get your excitement meter revved:

~~~

Okay, so Kristen Britain is getting a lot of grief over a certain scene in "Blackveil" that has the K/Z Fandom outraged (no spoilers, I promise!). Let's admit it, it's a doozy whether or not you're rooting for Karigan! Some are enraged, some disgusted, some pleased, some confused ... that's the point! A good author will throw curve balls at her readers in order to generate a reaction - any reaction. Whether it's positive or negative, it tends to have the effect of baiting the audience into sticking around for the next book. It also gives us a romance that isn't just sugar and sunshine (a strong literary relationship needs some speed bumps to shake things up and keep things interesting). P.S. I'm a K/Z Fan too, so stick with me here.

As for the length of time we have to wait in between books: yes, I agree that it is AGONIZING!! It won't stop me from continuing to buy the books or suggesting them to friends, though. So long as Kristen comes up with another great read, I think it's worth the wait.

Finally, the CLIFFHANGER. Yes, like that certain scene I mentioned already its a doozy (it deserves to be referred to in capital letters). In proper die-hard, can't-put-it-down fan fashion I promptly screeched at the top of my lungs when I found that there were no more pages after that last sentence. It killed me. I wanted to rip the book to shreds and track down Kristen so that I could kick her. I cried ... but what an ending, ladies and gentlemen! Let's face it, "Blackveil" is a middle-of-the-series book. It isn't going to let us off the hook or feel satisfied. Someday (hopefully) Kristen will publish the last book in the Green Rider series and all those fascinating, irritating, nail-biting plot lines will converge and we will be able to let out a collective (and long-held) sigh of relief.

Stick with it, everyone! If the future books are comparable in quality to what we've gotten out of her so far, Kristen will make it worth it.

~~~

  KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MIRROR SIGHT, BOOK #5 IN THE GREEN RIDER SERIES,

AVAILABLE MAY 6th, 2014!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

HUZZAH! HURRAH! HUZZAH! HURRAH! HUZZAH! HURRAH! HUZZAH! HURRAH!

Why Kings Confess

by

C. S. Harris

If you've been keeping up with me you know that I am a slave to certain author's release dates. I live to hit that "DOWNLOAD" button on my tablet when the book I preordered finally comes out. Is there anything more satisfying in the world? .......there probably is, but I refuse to think of it now, today, on release day for the newest addition to Sebastian and Hero's story (dare I say, legend?). 

Grab a copy -- or hit that download button on your own preorder -- and then let me know what you think!

Cheers!

A Romance Unbound by Time

We all have our favorite love stories... Romeo & Juliet, Mr. Darcy & Lizzie Bennett, Westley & Buttercup. The warmth and reinforcement of the power and strength of love is at the heart of many of our greatest stories. This one, brought to us through the creative mind of Michelle Moran, is a romance directly out of the annals of history. Like Cleopatra VII had her Antony, Ramesses the Great had his Nefertari.

Nefertari is the daughter born to the tragic queen, Mutnodjmet. Reviled as the niece of the heretic Nefertiti, the infant princess was accepted at the Egyptian court only grudgingly. She was raised alongside the new royal family's crown prince and together they played, learned, and shared their childhood hopes and secrets. Now Ramesses is a man and entrusted with the reigns of power, but Nefertari is balancing on the dangerous line between a chance to remain by his side and being banished from all she has ever known. Her only hope lies in persuading Ramesses to make her his Chief Wife, but her rival is the woman already married to the young pharaoh -- the woman who is in league with the powers of the court intent on destroying the last vestige of the former royal line: Nefertari herself.

As with the preceding book, Nefertiti, there are weaknesses in the writing. Events and ideas which would have deepened the story weren't capitalized on, and some things seemed rushed. As much as I love Moran's storytelling, there is a sense of disappointment in this area.

If ever there was a story of empowerment it is this tale of how a young woman hated by the very people she wished to become queen of fights for the love of the one man who can raise her above the tainted waters of her family's history. The love they shared is immortalized in countless monuments, reliefs, and temples throughout Egypt. Although there is sex in it, this book is not trashy and the characters infuse it with a richness that leaves a lasting impression. Bravo!

Just Not Georgie

 **THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

I had mixed feelings as I read this addition to the irresistibly cute Her Royal Spyness mystery series. The story was interesting and the resolution had a twist that was at once disturbing and yet ballsy of Bowen at the same time. Not many authors are willing to go there, especially with a cozy. Not that children never cause someone's death, but most people like to believe in the "incorruptible innocence" of the child. In a way the children here are innocent, but it was still their little experiment gone wrong which led to their uncle's death. I say good for Bowen that she was willing to take that step. On the other hand, though, it just didn't feel like a Georgie book.

Things started going wrong when Georgie went out with Belinda her last night in London. The setting was classic for our leading lady: dinner and dancing, high society men, and evening shoes. Fans have come to recognize this mixture as a disaster in the making, but the whole thing resolved itself in a quick sentence or two in which we learned that Georgie went out, danced with a rich American, had a wonderful time ... AND DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE CLUTZY MOMENT!!! What?! That's not Georgie! Sure she'd already disgraced herself earlier by squirting eclair cream down her front during tea with HM, but that was tame compared to what generally befalls her when she's attempting to be graceful while dancing with a rich man. And this seemed to set the theme for the remainder of the book. Georgie didn't crash into any priceless vases, get lost and walk in on an embarrassing encounter, drop her earrings in the soup tureen, etc etc etc ... she just wasn't her usual "not-again-Georgie!" self. It's what makes her character really sparkle and not having her on her game was a disappointment.

Another sadness I had with this book was Darcy. HE WASN'T HELPFUL AT ALL!!! He showed up in typical, out-of-the-blue, oh-my-girlish-heart fashion and set himself up in a position to provide us with humor, insightful comments, and blushes. He wasn't as smart with his wit as he usually is and he really didn't contribute anything at all to the investigation. Okay, he helped Georgie discover the secret passage in the folly, but that was it. Usually he's all tail up, nose down, sniffing out the culprit, but this time around he seemed to spend his time telling Georgie to stay out of it (SAY WHAT?!?!) in between their lip-locks. He didn't have any heroic scenes of nabbing the murderer, chasing someone in a Bently, or catching Georgie before she plummets off the edge of some high place. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

Okay, I've stopped my ranting, promise. Setting all that aside, Heirs and Graces really is a good little cozy fueled by one of the best brain-benders Bowen has come up with yet. True, our leading lady and her still-my-heart Irish beau were off their game characterization-wise, but the plot carries you along effortlessly. Bravo!