Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris

June 27, 2023

Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, returns to solve another crime involving the aristocracy. A mutilated body is pulled from the Thames, and when he is identified, Sebastian realizes that he knows the man as a former army colleague. But then it is learned that his friend Paul Gibson and Paul's lover Alexi Sauvage have a connection to the man as well, and Sebastian races to discover the murderer.  The murdered man was a notorious rake who seduced the wives and daughters of a number of noblemen and at first the crime appears to be connected to his nighttime activities. But then other mutilated bodies are found floating in the river that seem to have no connection to the first man. Meanwhile, on the continent, Napoleon's date with Wellington and the British forces draws ever closer.

Another stellar entry into the series, well-researched, historically accurate. The picture of life in Regency England is one of the best things about this series. Sebastian's relationship with his father the earl continues to evolve, as does Paul's relationship with Alexi. The bad part is having to wait another year for the next installment.

Cabrera Island off the coast of Spain, which plays an unexpectedly large part in the story

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg

June 18, 2023

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg

Sequel to Keeper of Enchanted Rooms. At the end of the previous book, Merritt Fernsby is just realizing that he has some magical abilities and that he's in love with Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms. He sets out to explore his heritage while Hulda tries to find her friend Myra and hold onto her place with BIKER.

Very enjoyable follow-up to Merritt and Hulda's story, if not quite as good as the first book. It was good to revisit the other characters like Owein, Beth and Baptiste as well. It sounds like the next book will focus on Owein (ominous chord) since we find out that he has much more magical power than any of the other characters.  Looking forward to it. If you like urban fantasy, try this series.

It's Owein!

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

June 14, 2023

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

A Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, a girl and her father escaping El Salvador, and a child separated from her family at the U.S./Mexico border. These are all characters in Allende's latest book.

I love Isabel Allende's writing so was happy to receive an eARC of her latest novel. This one was all over the place, so it was hard to tell what the story was at first or how the various characters would come together. It almost read like a collection of short stories strung together by the threads of being a refugee and losing one's family. An important story, but my least favorite Allende book so far.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

Refugee children at the U.S./Mexico border

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

June 9, 2023

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

Hazel and her sister Flora Lea are among the children evacuated from London to the English countryside near Oxford during the London Blitz. One day, Flora goes missing, never to be found. The local police believe she drowned in the river near their temporary home. Years later, Hazel is working for a rare book dealer and is about to start her dream job at Sotheby's. Processing new arrivals for the shop, Hazel finds a book filled with modern fairy stories set in a world called Whisperwood. But they are the stories that Hazel used to make up for Flora Lea, and she has never shared them with anyone else. Did Flora write the stories down, and does this mean she is still alive? Does someone else know what happened to the little girl?

A mystery, a missing person, a book about books and stories. This novel appeared to tick all the boxes for me, and I have enjoyed the author's previous books. I like the story at the beginning but then it got long with too many unnecessary side characters and repetitious scenes. I did a lot of skimming, and the solution was okay even if the ending was a little too tidy, and it took a really long time to get there. Maybe I didn't connect with the characters. Maybe I've had enough of World War II fiction for a while. I really wish I had liked it more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Another Place, Another Time by Jodi Taylor

June 7, 2023

Another Place, Another Time by Jodi Taylor

Just when things seem to be settling down at St. Mary's, things go balls up again, this time in a big way. There's a marriage, a birth and a death (maybe). Markham and his family (nurse Diana Hunter and baby daughter Flora) are off on "family leave," Leon has take St. Mary's young people (his son Matthew, and Adrian and Mikey) off to scout a new location for a safe haven for St. Mary's people and the archives should the need ever arise (again), and Max and the others take the new head of security on her first jump to investigate the death of Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, Elizabeth I's favorite favorite. Was it accidental or homicide? With the new security staff, the historian visit Babylon in 565BC with disastrous results when two of the team are left behind. But the new security chief is just the beginning of the changes, leaving Max and Markham to wonder if the place will survive.

Although I love the Chronicles of St. Mary's series, I wasn't sure I wanted to read this one based on the description and reviews left by other readers. But I started it and immediately got sucked in. There are a lot of changes and St. Mary's isn't the same place we've come to know. And what's up with Max and Peterson? Already ordered the next one from the library to find out what happens next.

Ishtar Gate, ancient Babylon

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

June 5, 2023

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

In 15th century China, Tan Yunxian grows up in a wealthy prestigious family. Raised largely by her grandparents, Yunxian studies to be a doctor from childhood, following in her grandmother's footsteps. Since male doctors are forbidden to touch or examine female patients, after her marriage, Yunxian focuses on illnesses that trouble women, particularly in their reproductive systems. Working in conjunction with a midwife, she treats not only the women in her household but also working women who come to her for help. But her work is not without controversy and she is criticized by the predominant male culture that she lives in. 

Based on an actual woman healer who wrote a book of her cases and remedies that are still used today, this is a fascinating look at life in the extended family of an upper class medieval Chinese household during the Ming dynasty, also of medieval medical practices and beliefs. Warning: the descriptions of foot binding are horrible, especially Yunxian's mother dying of blook poisoning after her feet become infected. I love See's books: wonderful descriptions, well-resesearched, highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Drawing of Tan Yunxian

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

June 2, 2023

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

Four couples in a suburban neighborhood. From the outside, their marriages appear solid. But then a child, a difficult child, falls from a window, causing a waterfall of secrets to come out.

I'm not a fan of domestic fiction, especially mommy fiction, and this one isn't even very suspenseful. First we had girl fiction; then we had woman fiction; now they have morphed into mommy fiction. Suburban housewives whose lives revolve around being mommies, while their husbands are having affairs, frequently with other mommies. The mommies look down on women who don't have children (kind of sick of this one - some of us didn't get a choice about having children). Way, WAY too many descriptions of miscarriage. Disappointing overall.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K. J. Charles

June 2, 2023

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K. J. Charles

Rufus d'Aumesty is the new Earl of Oxney, much to the consternation of his uncle Conrad who, unaware of his older brother's son, thought the earldom was his. But there is another possible claimant, Luke Doomsday, scion of the local smuggler family, whose mother may or may not have been married to Rufus' father first. Either way, Conrad won't be the next earl. The estate papers are a mess, the tenants have been neglected for years, and Rufus is trying to hide the fact that he is dyslexic. He needs help getting the estate back on track, and Luke is a professional secretary. As Rufus and Luke begin to turn the estate around, it becomes nearly impossible for them to ignore their mutual attraction.

Fun historical LGBTQ romance, set 13 years after the author's previous book about Sir Gareth Inglis and Joss Doomsday. Luke appears as a child in that book and it's nice to see him all grown up and revisit Sir Gareth and Joss. This is ideal as a vacation book or to read on a beach somewhere.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Marsh

The Maltese Iguana by Tim Dorsey

May 30, 2023

The Maltese Iguana by Tim Dorsey

Serge A. Storms, serial killer and Florida-phile extreme, and his stoner pal Coleman are back for another adventure, this time weathering the Covid-19 pandemic at Pelican Bay Condos, their retiree condo complex in the Florida Keys. Serge on lockdown is a different type of adventure. Once they are fully vaccinated, Serge and Coleman arrange a bus tour (known as Underbelly Tours) around Florida attractions for their fellow condo dwellers. Meanwhile, the CIA is planning a clandestine operation in South America with some questionable outside contractors. 

This could have been called Spies Like Us, with everyone spying on everyone else and trying to figure out what they're doing. While there are amusing interludes, there's not as much action or adventure as previous Serge novels. Coleman does give a lecture on beginner's marijuana use that is worthy of a college instructor. The Serge novels are definitely Florida Weird, with computer hackers, big box store shopping, a showdown of Siri vs. Alexa, viral videos, pandemic hoarding, mistaken identity, and pop culture reference galore. One of the weaker entries in the series.

BTW, the Maltese iguana is a bong that one of Serge's neighbors bought at the local medial marijuana dispensary, which Serge comes to believe is cursed.

A Florida green iguana - I understand they're considered to be pests