The Trouble with Honor - Review

The Trouble with Honor by Julia London

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Honor Cabot knows that she and her sister will be in a tricky situation when her stepfather dies and her stepbrother takes over as Earl and marries Honor's former childhood friend turned enemy.

Genre: Romance

My Impression: When I started reading romance novels about 100 years ago (okay 15 but it's still been awhile) Julia London was one of the authors I read.  Her books were so different from the some of the light funny romp style books that I was mostly reading.  These were darker, heavier and more complex.  They involved characters who weren't always wealthy and beautiful and they frequently experienced real tragedy.  Somewhere along the way I stopped reading London but I was thrilled when I saw this new historical from her on netgalley. London stays true to creating unusual characters.  Honor is a completely unique character - she is flawed, strong willed, yet aware of the importance of her reputation.  She is impulsive but admits it.  George Easton is the unclaimed illegitimate son of a Duke.  He is neither a perfect gentleman nor a rake to be redeemed.  He is a survivor who has seen parts of the world aristocrats have never seen.  I really liked the first half of the book and then it started to slip a bit.  Honor becomes so set on a ridiculous plan that it becomes annoying.  She's an intelligent quick thinking woman but she seems unable to recognize that her plan to stall her stepbrother's wedding isn't working and unwilling to try a new solution.  It's hard not to be sympathetic to her situation but her attitude makes me want to shake her. I do like George.  He comes off as a decent guy who takes risks.  He came up from a hard upbringing and has a lot of frustration mixed with embarrassment with how society treats him.  He is attracted to and intrigued by Honor but also has quite a bit of disdain for her that I don't really enjoy in a romance despite that the disdain may be a misunderstanding.  I like that London stays away from a typical  one note villain with Monica and Augustus.  They're not evil, they're not even really mean spirited.  Monica is insecure around Honor and isn't always the nicest to her but Honor isn't entirely innocent and gives as good as she gets.

Rating Explanation: The Trouble with Honor earned 3 stars for being a well written enjoyable read with interesting and unique characters.   I didn't give it 2 additional stars due to the main character's focus and inability to change plans for far too long as well as the fact that I didn't care for George's opinion of Honor for much of the book.  I thought his opinion was justified but it just was't what I look for in a romance.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  Yes definitely.  Honor's 3 sisters are introduced here and I'm very interested to read about Grace, the next oldest sister who seems far more level headed and reasonable than Honor.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  I'm not sure I'd recommend this particular book but I'd definitely recommend the author.

The Death of a Policeman - Review

Death of a Policeman: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery by M.C. Beaton

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  When DCI Blair sends a spy to see if he can shut down Sergeant Hamish Macbeth's station things go horribly wrong.  For starters everyone in Lochdubh spots Cyril Sessions for exactly what he is and refuse to give him the information he and Blair want.  Things get worse when Sessions is found dead from a shotgun blast to the chest.  Things begin to lead away from Macbeth when a strange phone number is found in one of the last places Sessions was and the new Scottish police forces finds themselves embroiled in a very sinister mystery where it becomes hard to tell who the enemy really is.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  While I have read several of Beaton's Agatha Raisin books this is my first Macbeth.  There is a lot of back story for this character.  There are 2 past fiances and an ex kind of stalker as well as a rocky history with DCI Blair and who knows what else.  While I was able to still read and enjoy this book I think I would've enjoyed it more if I had started earlier in the series. That being said the mystery was very interesting and not to coincidence based which is one of my pet peeves.  Each link in the story is added due to something uncovered either in an interview or other form of investigation.  The story did meander a bit and the end seemed unnecessary to the core story though it was pretty funny in a very dark kind of way.  There are some very serious subjects presented but they are handled with a very light hand and would be fine for mystery readers who tend to stick to cozies.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes, I think any cozy mystery reader would enjoy it.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes though I would recommend starting with an earlier book.

Growing Up Duggar - Review

Growing Up Duggar: It's All About Relationships by Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger Duggar

Rating: 2 Stars

Description:  Ranging from 24 to 20 the 4 oldest Duggar girls of the TLC show 20 and Counting share their feelings about life and their beliefs.

Genre: Self-Help

My Impression:  When the Tornado was a baby we spent a lot of time being awake at 5am and the Duggar's kept me company.  While our religious beliefs don't line up I was impressed by their ability to run such a large family efficiently and the discipline it took to stay out of debt and make so much yourself.  I was interested in a more in depth look at how the family worked from the perspectives of the now adult children.  That wasn't what I got which is completely my fault for not reading the summary close enough!  This is a book for girls from I'd say around ages 8 to 14 who are trying to navigate through that difficult time in life and figure out how their religious beliefs can relate to what they see around them. I think it would be wonderful for that - especially for girls growing up in a religious homeschool environment.  The writing style is a bit clunky and it's obvious these girls aren't professional writers but the fact that they're trying to genuinely connect with girls does come through.  So while I'm clearly not the target market in age and religious beliefs I think it would be a beneficial to those that it is actually designed to help.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: No

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Only if you're looking for a book for your Christian homeschool group to read.

The Outcast Dead - Review

The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Forensic archaelogist, Ruth Galloway, finds herself submerged in a Victorian mystery when the remains of a murderess known as Mother Hook are discovered.  Much to her dislike she now finds herself on a popular crime show involving the case.  At the same time DCI Harry Nelson finds himself dealing what he believes is a simple but tragic case of a mother killing her own children.  However, when someone who calls himself the Childminder takes credit and another child is killed things begin to take on a more sinister look.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression: I love archaeological mysteries and this one didn't disappoint.  I thought Galloway was tough but still likable and Nelson was sympathetic.  The top of the mystery was horrible but it was handled well without too much extra angst.  The historical element was great.  The main thing that kept this from being a 4 star book for me was Griffiths' use of present tense.  Instead of saying "Ruth walked to her car" it would be "Ruth walks to her car".  It made the pacing feel very rushed and took me awhile to get used to.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes!  Now that I've gotten used to the tense she uses I've added all her previous books to my TBR

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes!  If you like Deborah Crombie I think you'd like this one.

Don't Even Think About It - Review

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  When homeroom 10B at Bloomberg High School gets flu shots they get an unexpected side effect.  They can read minds.  Chaos ensues for this group of high school sophomores as they deal with the benefits and consequences of knowing what everyone is thinking.

Genre: YA

My Impression: I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book and kind of expected it to go to more of a science fiction angle.  Instead it was really about this group of 15 and 16 year old teenagers figuring out who they are with the added complication of knowing what everyone is thinking and knowing that a select group of people can read their thoughts.  For some, like nervous hypochondriac Olivia, it's a good thing when she discovers that people don't judge her nearly as much as she thought they did.  For some, like popular pretty Mackenzie, it causes her world to tumble as it's revealed that she's not nearly as perfect as she'd like everyone to think she is.  I have kids who are in this age range and I thought Mlynowski did a good job with making these teenagers act like actual teenagers.  They're not stupid, they're worried about the future and thinking about sex.  In some ways they're terribly mature and in other ways they're woefully immature.  There's a lot of angst regarding boy/girl issues that can come off as overly dramatic or silly to adult readers but I thought was appropriate and accurate.  It did drag a little in the middle once they had figured out what was going on and were trying to live with it but the story was well wrapped up.  This feels like a fun lightweight read but the issues about dealing with the world around you are thought-provoking.

*An added note - Emma (almost 17) was so intrigued by my description of this book so she borrowed my Kindle and got through it in about a day.  She really enjoyed the story and the characters as well.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes definitely!  I've already ordered a copy for Emma (almost 17 years old)

Blackberry Pie Murder - Review

Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Hannah Swenson is used to finding dead bodies but has yet to be the reason they're deceased.  Until now that it is, when a tragic yet unavoidable leaves a man dead on the side of a back road during a terrible storm Hannah has no choice but to find out who he was and what really happened.  Between feeling guilty and wanting to clear her name the town of Lake Eden is once again involved in another murder investigation.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression: Joanne Fluke is one of those names that you see around if you read cozies for any length of time but this is the first one of hers that I've picked up.  All the titles involve food and I was a little worried the mystery itself would be to cutesy because of the titles.  What I found instead was a well done mystery filled with likable characters.  The mystery itself did take a turn into some darker elements in life and those were handled well despite a somewhat artificial feel.  Hannah's mother, Deloris's wedding is an entertaining side plot.  The love triangle doesn't feel very love triangle-y and it was a mystery to me why Hannah hadn't made up her mind as it seemed kind of obvious.  There were 2 elements that kept it from being a 4 star book.  One was the exercise machine. It just felt so random and unnecessary and yet so much time seemed to be spent talking about it.  Also, the ending had a cliffhanger aspect which didn't seemed very abrupt.  I actually went back and reread the last pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything.  Hannah actually does work at her bakery which is a nice change from many cozy amateur sleuths who never actually seem to do their jobs.  The recipes look amazing which isn't normally something I think when reading a book with recipes.  Fluke has a cookbook I've seen bouncing around the library that I'm going to have to track down.  All in all, this is a fun, light, well done mystery and while it isn't the perfect the pros far outweigh the cons.  The good thing for me is she has a tremendous back list I get to read now!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, to any cozy mystery lover.

Agatha Christie Challenge - 1920s Stand Alones

After reading the Tommy and Tuppence I've started reading the Agatha's stand alone books - or books that aren't actually part of a series.  This is my review for the 3 books that were published in the 1920s that aren't part of a series though they do introduce 2 reoccurring characters.  These are 3 of my absolute favorites so it was a pleasure to reread them especially after the murky Postern of Fate.

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924)
This Agatha's first stand alone book and probably one of her least known books.  It's too bad because this book is really classic Christie.  There's a smart pretty girl who wants adventure, is quick on her feet and has little to lose.  There a touch of romance and a dash of international intrigue.  There's an ocean voyage and an expedition into the wilds of Africa.  There is even a hint of one of her most famous plot twists.  Colonel Race, who according to my handy Christie reference book (of course I have a handy Christie reference book) goes on to appear in Cards on the Table, Death on the Nile and Sparkling Cyanide.  I gave this 4 Stars.

The Secret of Chimneys (1925)
This book introduces Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent and Bill Eversleigh though they are side characters to Anthony Cade and Virginia Revel.  We are also introduced to Superintendent Battle who will appear in 4 other books.  This is another book that features international espionage and takes place during a weekend party at the famous Chimneys.  Anthony and Virginia are both thoroughly entertaining and this is just a fun book to read.  4 Stars

The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
The Seven Dials brings us back to Chimneys and with a number of the same characters as the last book.  Bundle and Bill move front and center after a friend of Bill's is found dead in his bed after a house party at Chimneys.  The plot leans towards secret organizations and spying but this time doesn't involve much of an international element.  Bundle is great fun and has a good head on her shoulders.  This has one of Agatha's best plot twists. 4 Stars



If you've never read an Christie before any of these 3 would be great books to start with.  They're good mysteries with lots of adventure and likable characters.

Luckily for me, the BBC production of The Secret of Chimneys came on PBS right after I finished the book.  There is pretty much nothing in the movie that resembles the book except for some of the character names.  The good thing is while the story was completely different they didn't completely screw up a character like they did in By the Pricking of My Thumbs when Tuppence was turned into  a drunk that no one listened too.

Dear Abigail - Review

Dear Abigail: The Intimate Lives and Revoloutionary Ideas of Abigail Adams and Her Two Remarkable Sisters by Diane Jacobs

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  This is the story of Abigail Adams and her relationship with her 2 sisters.  Their relationship is explored in historical context through letters, narrative and documents of the time period.  It is also wonderfully illustrated with photographs or paintings of everything from the houses and people that factor in the girls' lives to the carriage they would've used.

Genre: Non-Fiction

My Impression: Abigail is definitely not an unknown wife of history.  Her role as John Adams' wife, friend and confidant has been clearly shown in a number of books and the mini-series HBO did a few years ago (LOVE - find it and watch it.  The casting alone is amazing).  I knew she was strong, intelligent and well-read but that was about it but really even that is shown not as Abigail herself but as Mrs. John Adams.  I know very little about Abigail herself, her family or her upbringing.  That is until I read this book.  Jacobs does a fantastic job presenting the information in a clear and informative manner without getting too bogged down in irrelevant detail.  It's really a fascinating look at not only the life of an early influential American woman but also just how women were brought up in America during the 18th century.  The relationships of Abigail's sisters and their families were explored which not only allowed me to get to know 2 women who I had never even really known existed but also helped flesh Abigail out a little more.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Definitely - I already know a few people who may be seeing this book as a birthday or Christmas gift!

The Birds and Other Stories - Review

The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

Rating: 5 Stars

Description:  This is the collection of 6 short stories by Daphne du Maurier.  The Birds is the story that Hitchcock based one of his most famous movies after.  Monte Verita is the story of 2 men and a woman, a love of mountains and the search for peace.  The Apple Tree tells the tale of a man dealing with the death of a not so beloved wife.  In the Little Photographer we meet a bored married aristocrat looking for a little excitement away from her husband.  Kiss Me Again Stranger shows us that things are not always what they seem when a young man meets an usherette at a theater.  The Old Man tells the tale of a family when someone refuses to leave.

Genre: Fiction

My Impression:  I've read Rebecca probably 10 times but I've never searched out any of du Maurier's other works until now.  There are definitely creepy aspects of Rebecca (Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca's old room anyone?) but in these stories du Maurier takes creepy to a whole new level.  I've been scared by a book but I don't think I've ever felt the slow deliberate build up of dread that she manages to achieve in each story.  The atmosphere is beautifully if drearily drawn and the sense of foreboding increases to almost claustrophobic levels.  My favorite story was probably "The Birds" with "The Apple Tree" a close second.  I've seen bits and pieces of the Hitchcock movie and always thought the concept seemed a little silly.  I mean, how can birds be scary?  Never again.  In fact I'm thinking about getting rid of all the bird feeders around my house just in case!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, in fact I've already recommended to just about anyone who will listen.

Home to Seaview Key - Review

Home to Seaview Key by Sherryl Woods

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  After her divorce Abby Miller just wants to go home to Seaview Key and stay under the radar for a little bit before trying to become part of her hometown community again.  When handsome paramedic Seth Landry rescues her from a near drowning the staying under the radar idea quickly disappears.  Soon Abby is trying to rebuild her relationship with former best friend Hannah which is made a little trickier because Hannah is married to Abby's ex-boyfriend as well as become part of Seaview Key again.  On top of everything she has to figure out what this growing attraction to Seth means.

Genre: Fiction

My Impression:  For some reason I was really prepared not to like this book but the best thing about something like that is the fantastic surprise when you find a book you really enjoy.  I loved this book.  I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the plot and just found it a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters weren't always perfect and frequently Hannah, Jenny or Kelsey did something that annoyed me but their actions were always understandable.  I always understood why they would've acted the way they did even if I didn't agree with it.  I loved Abby.  I love how practical and smart she is, I love how honest she is and I love how she handles adversity.  This is a good book in a beautiful setting with fantastic characters that seemed like real people and people you'd actually want to get coffee with.  I'm classifying this as fiction rather than a romance because I felt that while Seth and Abby's relationship was very important the book really revolved around Abby finding her home again.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes

Secrets Underground - Review

Secrets Underground by Elizabeth MacLeod

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  This is a detailed look at North American history through what's left buried underground.  From shipwrecks in San Francisco to Prohibition era tunnels in Saskatchewan this book covers both the well known and unknown stories as to what lies beneath our feet.  There is an in-depth look at the history that surrounds each item and discusses similar stories all through North America.

Genre: Children's Non-Fiction

My Impression:  Wow, this book is detailed!  There are sidebars and captions and sidebars to the sidebar.  Everything is well photographed and the author does a fantastic job of putting history in context.  This is not a book you pick up and breeze through.  This is one you study and discuss, look through again and then do extra research on something you read about.  The would be wonderful for a child in middle to late elementary school as well as anyone else who is interested in history.  I definitely look forward to reading it again in an actual hard copy as my main flaw with it was I didn't think it translated well to e-book format.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes.  I'm actually planning on buying a paper copy.  I think it will be a lot of fun for any of us to page through.

Disengaged - Review

Disengaged by Beth Orsoff

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Allie Zent is newly engaged to her ambitious, good looking and good in bed boyfriend Brad.  There are only a few hiccups in her happiness - her friends can't stand him, his mother is taking over and she's met a new very intriguing guy named Jax.

Genre: Romance

My Impression:  This book got 3 stars because it was an entertaining lightweight read.  I read it in basically 1 sitting without getting bored with it but other than that I'm pretty apathetic about it.  Allie is likable even though she's almost painfully naive and the most indecisive character I've come across in awhile.  Brad is a jerk and a total momma's boy.  Sylvia is awful.  Michael is to be honest kind of annoying.  Jax is interesting and romantic.  That's about all the character development there is with the exception of Allie's mother, Barbara, who changes a little bit from her basic stock character of hippy activist.  There's nothing particularly memorable about this book.  I finished it last night and am already struggling to remember parts of it.  I read it after watching HBO's True Detective so Jax kind of looks like Matthew McConaughey and I watched The Bachelor (no judging!) yesterday morning so Allie looks like Kat and Brad looks like Juan Pab whatever.  That's my most immediate thought about the book if that gives you any idea of the substance or lack there of.  The ending was cute.  I wish everyone well but do I really care?  Not really.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: No not without glowing recommendations from a reader I trust.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  If this is in one of those take a book bookshelves in a hotel or condo than sure.  If it's free or really cheap right before a car trip or plane ride than it's not a bad way to spend a few hours.  Otherwise, no not worth searching out.

Cider Brook - Review

Cider Brook by Carla Neggers

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  Samantha Bennett is a treasure hunter in a family of adventurers.  When she discovers a painting and a manuscript among her late grandfather's things that tie the pirate she is researching to the little town of Knights Bridge, Massachusetts.  Her plan is to find the cider mill in the painting, try and locate the pirate's treasure and put some of her past demons behind her.

Justin Sloan was somewhat annoyed when he discovered a woman passed out in his burning cider mill and suspicious when he discovered the woman's name.  Is Samantha here for the reasons she says she is or is she hiding something.

Genre: Romance

My Impression:  This is my first book by Carla Neggers and the 3rd in the series.  I was a little worried starting a series in the middle but I think this book was strong enough that the series doesn't need to be read in order.  Characters from previous books were a part of the story but weren't instrumental to the development.  I thought the historical element was very interesting and wound nicely through the story.  The setting was well drawn and filled with likable if not perfect people.  I loved that many of the characters weren't perfect.  They made decisions or reacted sometimes based on emotion and later regretted it.  There was the potential to be a big secret which is one of my least favorite plot devices but it was handled well.  My opinion of Samantha and another female character named Loretta changed through out the book as they grew emotionally and I was very impressed by that.  Very rarely do I find characters that are flawed but still likable and understandable.  The story wrapped up a little too quickly and there were some coincidences on top of coincidences.  Justin was definitely the strong silent type ant that could read as cold but I think there was enough depth of character shown that it countered that.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series and Neggers' other books.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes

Mayim's Vegan Table - Cookbook Review

Mayim's Vegan Table by Mayim Bialik and Jay Gordon

Let me start with the facts that I'm not vegan or even vegetarian.  Nor do I have any desire to become either.  What I am interested in is new and interesting ways to prepare and serve vegetables so that my family will actually eat them and dishes that will allow us to have more meatless meals without feeling like we're being deprived.  I've been interested in looking at Vegan cookbooks but have always been somewhat intimidated by them.  When I saw Mayim's Vegan Table I couldn't pass it up.  It's impossible to be intimidated by Blossom or Amy.  I had also read a few articles in the past and really liked how she presented her point of view.  She keeps to a "This is what works for us" versus a "This is what you need to do and if you don't you're wrong" that seems to show up so often.  So with all that in mind I couldn't wait to see what I would find!

The first 4 chapters discuss the ins and outs of a vegan lifestyle.  The health benefits are explored as well as things like What do you eat?  There is a chapter for substitutions and tips for removing animal based foods from the diet.  There is also a look into what the authors keep on hand as well as the usual dirty dozen list.

Now for the recipes.

There are tons of recipes for regular life which I love.  They're broken up by type of food and most have a little paragraph discussing how the recipe came to be.  There's a variety of dishes from standards like Potato Hash or Creamy Enchilada Casseroles to more exotic dishes like Tzimmes or Vietnamese Banh Mi with Do Cha and Sweet Sauce.  The Butternut Squash soup and Hot Pretzel Challah bread stood out just because they look absolutely amazing..  I loved that a number of recipes are vegan just because they happen to be vegan not because they have to be altered to fit into a vegan diet.  Also the majority of ingredients would be easy to find in a standard grocery store so this wouldn't require multiple trips to hunt down some special ingredients.  The recipes are easy to follow and wouldn't take hours of prep.  This would be a great book for vegetarians too because with a few little tweaks (regular mayo vs. vegan for example) you've got some great options that don't contain meat.

Verdict: Interesting cookbook with a wide selection of recipes.  Would be a great book for a new vegan, vegetarian or someone (me!) looking to add more interesting vegetable dishes to the regular rotation.

Delicious - Review

Delicious by Adrianne Lee

Rating: 2 Stars

Description:  Pastry Chef Jane Wilson is less than thrilled when she finds out her mother is going to remarry her 2nd husband.  This is the husband who Jane blames for breaking up her parents' marriage and sending her mother the road to the next 5 marriages and divorces.  She is also less than thrilled that her ex-stepbrother Nick Taziano will be back in her life.  As children they hated each other and did their best to make each other miserable.  Except now there's a whole new level of tension in their relationship.

Genre: Romance

My Impression:  The words Pastry Chef are irresistible to me right now.  If it has a pastry chef in it I'm reading it.  However, this one made me regret that a little.  It's a fast paced book with a few twists at the end so I didn't dislike it but it had some flaws I couldn't overlook.  Jane's immaturity made it hard to really like her.  Her reactions to her mother's remarriage are understandable but her refusal to believe Nick is anything but the boy he was at 13 seems ridiculous.  Her reactions to anything difficult generally include tears and sulking.  Her stepmother makes a fairly reasonable suggestion and she becomes extremely insulted.  Her grandmother who is supposed to be warm and loving and grandmother-y actually comes off as pretty hateful.  About halfway through a plot development came up that is definitely on my top 5 list for least favorite plot lines.  It was handled in an interesting (if somewhat unrealistic) way but not enough to make me love the book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  No, probably not without a strong recommendation from a reader I trust.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  No.  It's not bad but there's enough books that are better.

The Mangle Street Murders - Review

The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  After the death of her father, 19 year old March Middleton, goes to live with her unknown godfather and new legal guardian, the famous detective, Sidney Grice.  March is intelligent, compassionate and quick on her feet. Grice is surly, arrogant and believes that women should be seen and not heard.  When a woman arrives at their home to beg Grice to investigate the murder of her daughter and prove her son-in-law innocent Grice and March quickly find themselves at odds.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I was expecting a clean British procedural type mystery like Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers.  What I got was a Sherlock Holmes type character with a glass eye with an interest only in justice and a young woman who truly wants to help. Grice is Holmes-like in the fact that he is perfectly aware of his brilliant and doesn't care about making others feel better.  There is no hidden heart of gold here or sudden burst of kindness.  He cares for his reputation as a detective but doesn't care if people like him.  March is easy to relate too.  She's a mix of tough and compassion and is anxious to not just find justice but to make things right.  She dislikes her guardian but admires his brain.  He dislikes her but she earns a tiny bit of respect when she is able to deal with dead bodies without flinching.  The mystery isn't really a who-dunnit and is much more of a did he do it?  All this happens against the dark, dank, crime filled backdrop of turn of the century London.  There were a few things that jarred me while reading this book.  I didn't particularly care for the letters or journal entries that ended a few chapters.  While it provided a deeper look into March's past there wasn't really enough to serve a purpose.  Also, an earlier murder becomes important to the conclusion.  I had to flip back to find the details because it had only been mentioned at the beginning.  The conclusion was wrapped up nicely and had kept me guessing through the book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:   Yes, I think these characters have a lot of potential to make a fascinating series.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, but I think I would be very clear that this is not a cozy.

At the River's Edge - Review

At the River's Edge by Mariah Stewart

Rating: 3 Stars

Description:  After Sophie Enright catches her long time boyfriend in a compromising situation with a coworker she heads home to St. Dennis to take a look at her life.  She realizes she misses her family and is becoming dissatisfied with her career as a prosecutor.  She decides a move is in order to be closer to her family and to pursue her dream of owning a cafe.
She meets landscaper Jason Bowers and sparks begin to fly.  However, when it seems like their dreams may contradict each other can they make it work?

Genre: Romance/Fiction

My Impression:  Mariah Stewart has long been one of my go-to author with her more suspenseful books but I've really enjoyed the softer change of pace with the Chesapeake Diaries.  I read the first of the series in December (review) and enjoyed it.  Normally I don't mind reading books out of  order but I think this is a series that would be better if read in order.  There is so much of the town's history and family relationships that are explored little by little in each book that it's a much deeper, more developed read if read in order. I loved Jason, he's intense with his own baggage but still is able to develop healthy positive relationships with people.  I like that he does what he feels is the right thing in regards to Curtis and Logan. I found Sophie a little less likable and all the secret keeping from her family got a little annoying.  However, I love that Stewart makes very different characters for each of her books and it's not the same type over and over just in different situations.  I also love her ability to draw a warm and friendly town environment without being overly cutesy or over the top drama.  The characters aren't perfect but are all the more realistic for that.  This is warm comfortable reading - perfect for a rainy day with a cozy blankets and hot chocolate.  I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, but I think it's better if you read them in order.

Agatha Christie Challenge Review - Tommy and Tuppence

I finished the last book of Christie's Tommy and Tuppence series with a sigh of relief last night.  This series is her shortest spanning over her entire writing career.  It's probably also her least known.  Sometimes I discover little known books or authors and wonder why they're not better known.  Not the case with this one.  Two are good and the rest are just okay.  I'd probably only recommend these to the serious Christie fan and they'd already know about them.

The Secret Adversary (1922)
This is Christie's second book and the book where we meet Tommy and Tuppence for the first time.  It begins as the childhood friends run into each other on the street in London.  Both are looking for work after World War 1.  He is a decommissioned solider and she a former nurse/driver.  They're bored, they're broke and they decide to go into business together.  Soon they're swept up in espionage,  criminal masterminds, and American millionaires.  It's definitely not her best but it's a fun adventure story and would be a great one to introduce Christie to younger readers.  It's also free on Kindle right now.  4 Stars

Partners in Crime (1929)
It's been 6 years since we last saw Tommy and Tuppence.  They're now happily married.  Tommy has an office job and Tuppence is trying her hand at being the perfect housewife.  They are given the opportunity to run a private investigator's office while looking for spies.  This sets into motion a series of connected short stories.  They try to reenact the methods of a classic detective in each chapter.  I'd heard of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot and that's about it.  This book didn't age particularly well and is probably best left to Christie fans.  3 Stars

N or M? (1941)
Tommy and Tuppence are now middle aged and frustrated with their inability to find a way to help at the start of World War 2.  Luckily their espionage past comes back to help them out and they are sent to a boarding house on the coast to sniff out a spy.  This is a solid mystery set in wartime England.  The struggle Tommy and Tuppence have to find their place in this war after being so involved in the last one is interesting and not something I've ever really thought about.  There are some classic red herrings and misdirections.  This one's good but a little slow.  3 Stars.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968)
This book mostly features Tuppence with Tommy coming in towards the end.  The main problem with this one is that it is coincidence piled onto coincidence.  Tommy and Tuppence visit Tommy's elderly aunt who happens to send Tuppence out of the room who happens to sit next to another elderly woman who happens to say something disturbing who happens to give Tommy's aunt a picture and disappear which happens to be of a house that Tuppence has seen which happens to lead to a mystery which happens to connect back to the disturbing comment.  The mystery itself is interesting with a good Christie twist and is entertaining if you can get past all of the coincidences.  Under no circumstances should anyone watch the movie which is on AmazonPrime.  It has Miss Marple in it which I thought would could be a good thing but it was very very bad.  I'm okay with some changes of plot if the story stays true to the character but this one made Tuppence a drunk and their marriage strained.  It also made the mystery even weaker.  3 Stars.

Postern of Fate (1973)
This is the last novel Christie wrote so I try to cut it some slack but unfortunately I lost count of the number of times I said "Wait, What??" and gave up trying to go back and figure something out.  If I had to describe this book in one word that word would be Confused.  The mystery, the plot, the characters, the time line and myself as the reader were all confused.  I've read this three times and each time I keep hoping it will make sense but it never does.  Tommy and Tuppence move into a home when the retire and find evidence of a murder that occurred sometime in the house's past.  Sometimes it seems like the murder took place around World War 1 and sometimes they're talking about it taking place in someone's Grandmother's time which would be around 1840.  I still haven't figured out why Tuppence riding a toy horse and cart down a hill makes sense or who exactly was trying to kill them in present day.  If I wasn't trying to read all the Christie's in 1 year I wouldn't have finished this one.  1 Star.

After the confusion of Postern of Fate and the astounding number of coincidences in By the Pricking of My Thumbs I'm looking forward to starting a new series.  Next up will be her Stand Alone books starting with the 1920s.

Cocaine Blues - Review

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  This is the first book in the Phryne Fisher series.  Hard nosed and logical Phryne solves a mystery at a dinner party and is quickly begged to go to Australia to check on a wealthy and influential couple's married daughter who has been ill under mysterious circumstances.  There she is embroiled in a hunt to catch a brutal and illegal abortionist and the primary cocaine distributor.  Along the way interesting side characters are introduced with Dr. Elizabeth MacDonald, Dot the maid looking for revenge, and 2 cabdrivers - Bert and Cec.

Genre: Mystery

My Impression:  I love the 1920s time period but have never been able to find a series that I really enjoyed.  I read some of Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series and while I enjoyed the first one I got tired of everything linking back to World War 1 and the emotional turmoil.  Greenwood's Fisher is much lighter without being silly.  Phyrne is very independent and quick thinking but with just enough commonsense and kindness to keep her from being too prickly.  The mystery was well done if a bit vague.  There is a lot of talking about clothes and fashion which I enjoyed and thought fit with Phryne's character and into the story line but some might find that tedious.  All in all I thought Greenwood presented an interesting character and setting and managed to not make the time period overwrought and silly.  I don't know why it took me so long to discover this one but it definitely won't take me as long to continue with the series!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes - the Kindle edition is only $.99 right now!

When the Rogue Returns - Review

When the Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries

Rating: 4 Stars

Description:  This is the second book in the Duke's Men series by Sabrina Jeffries.  Victor Cale knew his wife was a talented jeweler with the ability to create beautiful faux gems.  He never imagined she would use that skill to steal royal jewels and disappear.

Isa thought her husband was kind and honest but begins to believe his reserve is hiding a more twisted and greedy side than she has seen in their brief marriage.  When her husband uses her work to steal royal jewels and then abandon her she is forced to fend for herself.  Until they meet again and realize all is not quite what it seemed.

Genre: Romance

My Impression:  I have read a few Sabrina Jeffries before but it has been several years.  It was a fun surprise to rediscover how much I love her books.  Once of my least favorite plot devices in romance is the misunderstanding so I was a little nervous going into this one.  I needn't have worried.  Despite the fact that the whole plot of the book rests on a giant misunderstanding it was well done.  Victor and Isa's reasons for keeping secrets from each other made sense as did their struggle to trust each other again.   I found it hard not to like Victor and Isa.  They come off as good people who came out of bad families and landed in an even worse situation.  There is a heavy vein of suspense and they figure out how to deal with the past without losing their future.  I've read several romances where the suspense feels like it was stuck in at random but it's woven beautifully into the story.  If anything I thought the romance scenes didn't quite fit.   Without giving away anything I do need to say that I absolutely loved the ending.  I had no idea how Jeffries was going to wrap this story up but she did a wonderful job.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Yes, I need to go hunt up book #1 very soon and am looking forward to the next entry in the series.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Yes, I think most fans of historical romances would enjoy this.