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Rereading
Once in a while, I decide to reread favorite books from the past. Mostly these have been books I’ve read in the past few years. I’ve found audiobooks are a good way to revisit the favorites and sometimes they bring out even more from the books. Then there are books I read when a teenager, and sometimes even younger. I have such good memories of those books and yet I was a very different person at the time. I wonder if those books will stand up after so many years. I must admit to not revisiting many of those books. Today I was scanning a list of books of a…
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A Dreadful Splendour
By B.R. Myers. Harper Collins. Back when I was a teenager, we didn’t have the lovely young adult books available today. Once you were beyond what I called chapter books that were common for young readers, there were only adult books to read. I quickly took to reading books my mom read, many of them gothic romances. Think Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, etc. I loved the combination of mystery, darkness and romance these combined. This genre seems to have fallen off my radar upon adulthood. While this book isn’t quite the same, it is a gothic murder mystery and there is a romance that evolves. And it definitely evokes some…
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The problem with book series
While browsing ebooks online recently I ran across the latest book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It’s a book I will never read, not to mention a few others in the series. I read the first book years ago and while they were on sale, I got ebook versions of three or four more books. I regret that now because I haven’t even finished reading book two. I do pick it up once in a while and make progress. But anyone who knows the lengthiness of the books realises it takes a long time to finish one. I will finish the second book but who knows if I…
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A Lark’s Tale
By Lynn Messina. The Book Whisperer Verity Lark’s alter ego, Mr. Twaddle Thum the gossip columnist, is being impersonated around town and that’s a problem. Much of Verity’s time is spent in various disguises to find out what’s really going on among the ton. But it seems this imposter is in danger and it’s her duty to keep that person safe, even if they have stolen her name. And so Verity embarks on a mystery-solving adventure in the same universe as the Beatrice Hyde Clare mysteries. In fact, Beatrice Hyde-Clare is one of Mr. Twaddle Thum’s favourite targets, not to mention Verity’s connection with the duke that Beatrice is married…
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Convergence of Desire
By Felicity Niven. Bletherskite Books. Harriet (Harry) Lovelock has important concerns with regard to Fermat’s Theorem. She is sure she can solve it if only she could rid herself of the balls and social occasions required of her as an unmarried young lady in English society. Meanwhile, Thomas Drake is trying to enjoy life without allowing his heart to begin feeling for others, particularly women. After a chance encounter, Harry decides on a plan that she believes will benefit both of them: a marriage of convenience that will allow her to continue her work undisturbed and for him to carry on life with no feelings attached. What follows is a…
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The Liar’s Crown
By Abigail Owen. Entangled Teen. Twin princesses run in the family. The older twin eventually becomes queen while the younger one is the spare, the one who keeps the older one safe. Meren is a younger twin and lives away from the palace while her sister trains to be queen. When their grandmother, the queen dies, older sister Tabra is to be crowned. Meren will continue to be the backup to her sister. That’s the plan until fate intervenes and she is kidnapped by the Shadowraith. He has his reasons, believing her to be Tabra for much of the book. Meanwhile back at home, the evil Eidolon is “courting” Tabra…
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The Venice Train
by Georges Simenon. Penguin Classics. Due to work commitments, Justin Calmar leaves his family’s holiday in Vence to return to Paris. On the train journey, a stranger asks a favour of him, to deliver a briefcase during his layover in Lausanne. From this point, his life turns into a series of lies, deceit and guilt, each creating further pressure in his life. This was an amazing psychological thriller that centred upon the mind of our protagonist. It starts with some uncomfortable observations about his daughter growing into a woman while waiting to depart from Venice. Then there are his observations about this stranger who is the sole companion in the…
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Death at the Manor
By Katharine Schellman. Crooked Lane Books Lily Adler is back with a third mystery in the series and it’s another great story. Lily is visiting her aunt along with her friends, Ned and Ophelia. Captain Jack, who appeared in the first two books, is absent for this book but he does show up as a correspondent a couple of times. Instead, we have Matthew Spencer, who appeared in the previous story, to provide some assistance and male companionship for Lily. Matthew takes the visitors to see Belleford manor along with its famous ghost. Unfortunately, they don’t get to see much due to the sudden and suspicious death of the owner,…
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Gallant
Olivia Prior has lived almost all her life at the Merlance School for Girls. She apparently was left there by her mother when she was quite young and all she has from her mother is an old journal. Olivia’s life has been a lonely one, much of it due to the fact she has no voice. One day a letter arrives from her uncle, inviting her to live with him at Gallant and soon Olivia is taking a long car ride to what is actually an estate. Once there it’s clear something is amiss. Her uncle died a year or more ago and it’s only a cousin and two servants…
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Servant Mage
Servant Mage by Kate Elliott. MacMillan-Tor/Forge Due to the takeover by the Liberationists, Fellion has become an indentured servant mage with little prospect of another life until she is freed by a group of Monarchists. They need her fire skills and there's a possibility of a real future. Along the way, their priority shifts so they are saving a very special baby from being killed before moving on to the original mission. I must point out this is a novella rather than a full-length novel. I found this to be a super-easy and engaging read, finishing it in under three hours. The world-building is quite good and there are some…