A Conspiracy in Belgravia - Historical Mystery Review

A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2) by Sherry Thomas (Amazon)

Rating:  Very Good
Source: NetGalley

Description:  Being shunned by Society gives Charlotte Holmes the time and freedom to put her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. As “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, she’s had great success helping with all manner of inquiries, but she’s not prepared for the new client who arrives at her Upper Baker Street office.
Lady Ingram, wife of Charlotte’s dear friend and benefactor, wants Sherlock Holmes to find her first love, who failed to show up at their annual rendezvous. Matters of loyalty and discretion aside, the case becomes even more personal for Charlotte as the missing man is none other than Myron Finch, her illegitimate half brother.

In the meanwhile, Charlotte wrestles with a surprising proposal of marriage, a mysterious stranger woos her sister Livia, and an unidentified body that surfaces where least expected. Charlotte’s investigative prowess is challenged as never before: Can she find her brother in time—or will he, too, end up as a nameless corpse somewhere in the belly of London?

Genre: Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book: I really enjoyed the first in the series and was excited to see what adventures Charlotte gets into in this book.

My Impression:  I had some issues with the first book.  It took awhile to get things setup and Charlotte isn't the easiest character to connect to.  I had hoped that these would not be problems with the second book and I was right!  This book hits the ground running and while Charlotte is still Charlotte I was thrilled to see her again.  As well, the end of the first book had raised an issue that could become a problem for Charlotte and Mrs. Watson's relationship and that had me very concerned.  However, I loved the way it was handled.  It seemed fitting to both characters and I was very relieved.

If you like your mysteries to focus on the main mystery this is probably not the book for you.  There is a LOT going on in this mystery.  There are several different cases, some connected and some not, as well as personal issues for several characters.  However, the story never felt cluttered and I was caught up in wanting to see how all the different issues worked out.  While a few threads are left open ended most are resolved by the end of the book and I was thoroughly satisfied at the end.

This is a complex and enjoyable historical mystery.  Things are not easy for Charlotte despite being able to have the career that she wants to have.  She feels an obligation to her sisters and to a lesser degree her parents to make their lives better.  As well not everyone in Charlotte's life is able to get past her scandalous past and it colors their opinion of her and her supporters.    I thought that added a more realistic element to the book and really enjoyed it.  Conspiracy in Belgravia lived up to all my expectations and hopes from the previous book and my only real complaint is that I have to wait a year for the next book!  This is a fascinating historical mystery with interesting characters and all kinds of juicy problems!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Yes!  I can't wait for the next book and I'd really like to go try some of Thomas' historical romances.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Absolutely!  If you enjoy historical mysteries like Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series I think you'd love this series.

Cherry Cake and a Cadaver - Cozy Mystery Review

Cherry Cake and a Cadaver (A Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery #2) by Susan Boles

Rating: Good
Source: Author

Description:  Lily Gayle and the gang set out to find a killer after local baker Luxen Natolovich is found dead hours before the grand opening weekend at the new Bed and Breakfast in town, Midnight Dragonfly.
As Lily Gayle deciphers the clues around Luxen's death she uncovers a conspiracy of lies and half truths that could very well be tied to a refugee camp in Mississippi during World War II.

The deeper Lily Gayle digs the deeper the consipiracy runs and the closer she comes to being the killers next victim.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  The first book in the series had interested me so when I got the chance to review this one I couldn't pass it up.  Plus, I've been spending quite a lot of time in small town Mississippi (though my small town is much farther south) so I thought this sounded like fun.

My Impression:  For starters Susan Boles is my hero for mentioning the massive variety of Southern accents.  On television almost everyone from the south sounds like they're from Texas and it drives me CRAZY.  Someone from Georgia will not sound like someone from Mississippi and neither of them will sound like someone who lives on the coast.  But that really doesn't have much to do with the mystery or the book.

Luckily, the book made me just as happy as the comments about the accent.  This is just such a cute read with all kinds of quirky characters.  The murder happens a little later in the book so I had plenty of time to get to know Lily Gayle and her friends as well as getting a bit of an idea about the town.  I really loved getting to know more about the mysterious victim and it was fun to see Lily Gayle realize how little she knew about him even though he's been around all her life.

This is a super quick read and a thoroughly entertaining one.  It's on the light side and drifts over into cutesy territory a time or two but I still enjoyed the read.  It's perfect for when you're wanting a mystery but aren't looking for anything dark or grim.  This is a fun and light hearted read and not even a dead body can dim Lily Gayle's spirits or cure her nosiness!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Definitely!  This was really cute and I'd like to spend some more time with Lily Gayle and the rest of the characters.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you love a quirky cozy this is a fun read!  While this is the 2nd book in the series I think you could jump in here with no problems.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Struggled With But Ended up Loving

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic from The Broke and the Bookish is Books I Struggled with But Ended Up Loving.  This doesn't happen all that often but just enough to make DNFing a book a hard decision!  What if I give up on a book I would have loved too soon?

1.  A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas - The beginning of this one felt dry and disjointed.  There's a lot of series setup and at times it was just so slow.  I'm not sure how well I would have gotten through the book if I wasn't listening to it on audio.  Once the story gets going though I really began to enjoy it and I'm loving the 2nd book in the series.

2.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - This is another book that I'm not sure I would have stuck with if not for the audio.  I loved Wil Wheaton's narration!  I loved the parts about the quest but when I got too real world (at least for the first half) I found myself wanting to put it down for awhile.

3.  Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty -  I actually think the audio on this one made me like this one less.  I usually love Cassandra Campbell's narration but something about her voice didn't mesh well with the story for me.  I didn't think I liked the book at all until about 2/3 of the way through but the more I've thought about it the more the book has stuck with me and I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book.

4.  Before the Fall by Noah Hawley - I really enjoyed this book which was a little strange because I typically don't enjoy disaster books.  However, about halfway through there came a point where I was just done with all the speculation and my heart was breaking for the little boy and it was all I could do not to put this one down.  I'm glad I didn't because I really enjoyed it!

5.  The Blood of an Englishman by M.C. Beaton - Agatha Raisin is a hard character to like.  She's a horrible flirt and a schemer and there is at least one point in every book where I just can't take another minute of her.  And then something weird happens and I realize I actually like her.  She still exasperates me but in a fond way.

6.  Attachements by Rainbow Rowell - This book is told through emails for the bulk of the book and for the first third or so I was completely lost.  I couldn't keep track of who was who and I just didn't get it.  And then it clicked and I loved it!

7.  The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin - I think my problem with this book was my expectations going in.  I think I was expecting a light memoir when instead this book is far more like a self help book.  Once I got past that I ended up really enjoying this book and really got a lot out of it.

8.  Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - I like Susan Elizabeth Phillips' romances for the most part but in the first part of this one everyone was just so mean to the heroine that I was seriously annoyed with it!  It got better and I ended up really enjoying the romance but I still didn't like most of the side characters.

9.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - This was really the first dystopian type book I ever read (It's still not really my genre) and while I really enjoyed the writing style I struggled with the aspects of the book but ended up really liking it.

10. The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah - This was the first Hercule Poirot book that Hannah wrote and I really struggled with the first half of it because it was close this was not Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and I got really caught up in the comparison.  Once I was able to let that go I did enjoy it and I really liked the 2nd book.  And I've just reminded myself I need to go check and see if there's a 3rd book!

What books did you struggle with but end up loving?

Reviews from the Children's Section - The Saturdays and The Four Story Mistake

One of my favorite genres and one that is the easiest for me to push aside is middle grade fiction. This year to make sure I get a little more children's and young adult fiction I thought I would designate the first Monday of every month Middle Grade Monday.  While a lot of my picks this year are classics I am trying to branch out a little bit and read new or at least recent releases.  This month's books are kind of a mix.  I discovered The Four Story Mistake as a child and adored it but didn't know there were more books about the Melendy family until a few years ago.

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright - And so we meet the Melendy family.  There's Mona, age 13, Rush age 12, 10 year old Randy, and 6 year old Oliver.  They all live in New York City in 1939 and at the opening of the book are bored.  This prompts a brilliant idea by Randy to pool their allowances so that they can each do what they really want to do instead of having to make due with just what each child gets a week.  The only rule is they must do something fun with the money and so adventures ensue.  And the adventures are a delight.  Each child gets their turn and it was fun to see what they each wanted to do.  My favorite story was Randy's meeting with Mrs. Oliphant whom the children had deemed boring but turned out to be wonderful with a fascinating back story. There's talk of art and music and theater and there's a little bit of danger but only in the safest of ways.  That being said the rest of the book is pure joy and just so much fun.  I loved getting to know the children and going on their adventure with them.   Rating: Loved It!

The Four Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright - The Melendys have moved to the country to live in a funny house with a cupola at the top.  I read and reread this book as a child until my copy literally fell apart.  My dream is to have a house with a cupola that I can spend the night in and read books while it's storming.  But anyway - back to the book!  While The Saturdays was essentially four short stories with some connecting bits this book is much more of an ensemble cast.  The children have their own adventures but are also frequently together.  While they do get along better than real siblings do all is not perfect which is pretty fun to see.  I particularly love the relationship between Mona and Rush - those two can drive each other crazy!  They have all kinds of fun adventures - including one that involves an alligator and one that involves a long ago mystery (needless to say - this was my favorite part).  We see more of Cuffy, housekeeper extraordinaire, and I enjoyed watching her interact with the children - especially Oliver.  While I love The Saturdays, I'm glad I was introduced to the family with this book.  It's still my favorite and has a timeless quality that I think most readers will appreciate.  Rating: Loved It!

Both of these books were published in the 1940s so there are a few terms that would get an eyebrow raise today but not so many that it takes over the book.  As a parent I do appreciate that there is some parental guidance and they do ask permission.  However, Father and Cuffy are very much background characters so the children get up to the adventures on their own which appeals to children.

I think children who enjoy adventure stories would enjoy this series - especially around the age 7 to 9.  The writing is well done and the stories are delightful but since I fell in love with the children as a child I can't really say how it translates for readers finding these books as adults (though I suspect they'd enjoy them too!).

This Week in Reading - September 3

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

The Chesapeake Bride by Mariah Stewart - I love Mariah Stewart and I'm excited to go back to the Chesapeake Bay series!  The early books were a little inconsistent but the more recent books have been really great!  (Publisher)

A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert - There's a librarian, a historic mountain town in Virginia AND a murder.  How could I resist.  This is a new series and a new-to-me author so I'm really looking forward to it.  (NetGalley)

Rugged Texas Cowboy by Lora Leigh - It's been awhile since I've read a cowboy romance and this book with 2 novellas sounded too good to pass up!  (Publisher)

To Be Where You Are by Jan Karon - I've heard of the Mitford series forever but have never read any of them.  I'm really looking forward to this one and am hoping it's not to confusing to jump in this late in the season.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  Something Like Happy by Eva Woods and Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent

Listening:  Splintered by A.G. Howard.  

Watching:  I watched a few classics last weekend with my Grandfather.  We watched Rear Window, Vertigo, and White Heat with James Cagney.  All 3 were really good though I think Rear Window is my favorite.  With football season starting I'm thinking I'm not going to be watching much of anything else.

Off the Blog:

I've been dragging this week.  Between all of last week's traveling and all the rain we've had the last couple of days I just want to curl up and take a nap!  J and the Tornado have both been sick in the past week so I'm trying to listen to my body and get plenty of sleep so I'm not the next victim! I was heading north Monday on I-59 and passed dozens of ambulances heading south towards Houston.  It was both a heartbreaking and heartwarming sight.

J's birthday was this week and instead of presents we've decided to focus on trips so the eclipse trip was his main present and we headed down to Birmingham Saturday for a few fun things.  Other than that this weekend will be pretty quiet.  The Tornado has Monday and Tuesday off from school and I'm hoping we can all get caught up on our rest and get back to feeling 100%

We are in the final stages of Disney World planning!  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!  The Tornado has never been and it's been years since J or I was there.  We are in countdown mode now as we leave at the end of the month!  Tickets are bought, reservations are made and now we wait!

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday:  Murder Go Round/ Grave Errors - Cozy Mystery Reviews
Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Hidden Gems in the Middle Grade Genre
Wednesday:  Need You Now - Contemporary Romance Review
Thursday:  Agatha Christie Project - Poirot Part 6
Friday:  Friday Linkups - Dinner with Edward
Saturday:  The Viscount Who Loved Me - Historical Romance Review

What's Coming Up:

Monday:  Reviews from the Children's Section - The Saturdays and The Four Story Mistake

Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Struggled with but Ended Up Loving

Wednesday:  Cherry Cake and a Cadaver - Cozy Mystery Review

Thursday:  Conspiracy in Belgravia - Historical Mystery Review

Friday:  Something Like Happy - Fiction Review

Saturday:  TBD

Have a great week and happy reading!

The Viscount Who Loved Me - Historical Romance Review

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (Amazon)

Rating:  Loved It!
Source:  Purchased

Description:  1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry.And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
—Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time, the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry—he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best husbands—and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister—but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...

Genre: Romance - Historical

Why I Picked This Book: This is one of my all time favorite historical romances and sometimes a reread is in order!

My Impression: I have a stack of books I call my Desert Island books - as in if I were stranded on a desert island these are the books I would take. Every once in awhile I do a reread of the books in that stack to see if they really still belong there and I'm super critical. I mean, I'm already taking all 85 Agatha Christie's with me to this island so I don't have a huge amount of space left. After this reread The Viscount Who Loved Me is still firmly a part of this stack!

I love everything about this book. I love Kate and Anthony separately and I love them even more together. I love seeing more of the Bridgertons and watching them torment Anthony is just too fun! I love that Kate has her own strong family bonds. Her relationship with her sister Edwina is funny and feels very natural and her relationship with her step-mother Mary was just lovely. As a stepmother myself I especially enjoyed the interaction between Kate and Mary. I liked that they were truly close and while Mary was very much a maternal figure she wasn't actively trying to replace Kate's mother.

Watching the relationship develop between Kate and Anthony was incredibly entertaining and while, like Edwina, the reader knows that they're meant for each other long before they admit it to themselves it doesn't drag out to long. While Anthony does harp on his particular issue I didn't feel it was unrealistic for someone in his position.. If you enjoy historical romance that's on the comedic side but does have a little bit of heart you really should read this. If you've already read it reread it! It just keeps getting better!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  Quinn is an auto-buy for me and several of her books are on my reread shelf.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Without question!  If you enjoy historical romances and haven't read this one than you need to get a copy ASAP!

Friday Linkups - Dinner with Edward

It's Friday linkup time!  I'm linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice

This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question:
Do you participate in The Bloggiesta?

My Answer:
I mean to - really I do!  I think this is such a fantastic idea and I could really use it but the timing never quite works out.

This week's book is one I'm really excited about - Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent.  It's a beautiful little book about a friendship that develops between a woman that is going through a divorce and a man who has just lost his wife.  There's lots of food and just wonderful conversations and so far I'm completely pulled in!

The Beginning:
I heard about the promise Edward made to his dying wife long before I met him.

My Thoughts:
This makes the book sound sad and melancholy but it really isn't!  It's more on the poignant thought provoking side.

The 56:
The french fries, or pommes souffles, comprised one of his more complicated culinary tricks that I have yet to master.

My Thoughts:
A really good homemade french fry is harder than it appears.  I have a feeling I would love Edward's.  There's a description of soft potato and crispy outside along with a touch of salt on a later page that has my mouth watering!

So what do you think?  Keep reading?