Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

May 24, 2024

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Wallace Price is having a really bad day. When he dies suddenly and pops into his own funeral, he starts to realize what others really thought of him. Worse yet, there is a Reaper waiting to herd him to the afterlife. Wallace realizes that he was so focused on growing his law firm and being ruthless, that he never really lived life.

This title was one of my choices for Pride Month. I love TJ Klune's previous novel The House in the Cerulean Sea, and while this one isn't quite that good, it's still pretty damned good. Considering the subject is death, it balances the ultimate heavy topic with humor, kindness, and wonderful characters, including a charming dog named Apollo. In the acknowledgments, the author notes that this was a very personal book for him to write (yes, I do read the acknowledgments at the end of every book, and you should, too). Take a good look at the fantastic cover, also keep some tissues handy. Recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy with a whimsical slant.

The Last White Rose by Alison Weir

May 23, 2024

The Last White Rose by Alison Weir

Elizabeth of York was the oldest daughter of Edward IV, and the wife of Henry VII at the end of the War of the Roses. Elizabeth was a sweet, beautiful girl, beloved by her family, who became the heir to the throne when her two brothers (aka the Princes in the Tower) disappeared. Henry VII became king by right of conquest when he overthrew Richard III, but he needed to marry Elizabeth to solidify his claim to the throne. Surprisingly, it was a successful marriage and Henry was devoted to Elizabeth. When she died at age 37 after the birth of their last child, he mourned her deeply for the rest of his life.

Most books about the Tudors focus on Henry VIII and his six wives (which is really the only thing he is remembered for - he was actually a very mediocre king), but this novel is about his mother, Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth had a large and complicated family: she herself had nine siblings, while her mother Elizabeth Woodville had over a dozen siblings, and her father Edward IV had at least seven siblings. There is a certain amount of confusion at some points regarding which Edward, Richard, Elizabeth, Katherine or Margaret we are talking about. There is also a lot of crying. Alison Weir has written extensively about the Tudors and the Plantagenets, and she brings her nonfiction research to this novel. Recommended for readers of historical fiction and about the Tudors in particular.

Elizabeth of York

I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

May 21, 2024

I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

Robert the dragon exterminator hates his job - his dream is to become valet to a prince. When he is called to the castle in Bellemontagne, he quickly discovers that they are infested with dragons. And the dragon vermin must go immediately, before Princess Cerise's prospective groom, Prince Reginald, becomes aware of them. But Reginald has his own problems: his father has sent him on a quest to slay a dragon, a BIG dragon (as one of those "it'll make a man of you" ideas) and he enlists Robert to help him.

It's the Princess Bride meets Terry Pratchett in this fairy tale, with a beautiful princess, a clueless prince, a long-winded evil wizard, and a brave but humble and practical hero who doesn't want to go on a dragon quest, but grits his teeth and gets the job done. It's Peter S. Beagle - what more do you want? Beautiful cover, too. Recommended for readers who enjoy high fantasy or fairy tales.

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

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris

May 17, 2024

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris

When Charles II came to the throne of England, one of his first acts was to hunt down and punish the 59 men who had signed the order of execution for his father, Charles I.  Two of the men, Edward Whalley and his son-in-law, William Goffe, escaped to America, setting off the greatest manhunt of the 17th century.

Well-researched historical fiction about a turbulent period in English history: the restoration of the monarchy, the hunt for the regicides, the Black Death, the London fire. (But really, when hasn't English history been turbulent?) POV changes from the fugitives Whalley and Goffe, to Richard Nayler who was charged with hunting them down, and Goffe's wife Frances. The audiobook was outstanding - I listened to it while I was planting my garden and baking. FYI, Nayler is a fictional character synthesized from a group of regicide hunters, but the other characters were real people. Whalley and Goffe were never captured, and their final resting places are unknown. This is historical fiction at its best. Recommended for fans of accurate and well-researched historical fiction.

William Goffe

Edward Whalley

Middletide by Sarah Crouch

May 15, 2024

Middletide by Sarah Crouch

Early one morning, two fishermen find the body of Dr. Erin Landry hanging from a tree near their favorite fishing spot, an apparent suicide. But the sheriff isn't so sure - something about the scene isn't right. As he investigates the death, someone points in the direction of Elijah Leith, a town resident who wrote a mystery novel over a decade earlier, describing the exact scene of the doctor's death.

This is a debut novel, with multiple timelines that switch frequently. The plot is very slow-moving, crawling for about 75% of the book, with a lot of narrative about eating, nature, and homesteading/living off the land, as well as Elijah's sorry love life. For some reason, the author decided to make up a fictional Native American tribe, which added to the confusion. The characters are all blah, except for the victim. Not recommended unless you enjoy a little bit of mystery mixed with what is mostly high school style romance. Hopefully the author will do better on her next outing.

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

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

May 14, 2024

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

Lawyer Any Carpenter and his ex-cop wife Laurie Collins return with a new case. This time, Andy is defending a man wrongly accused of a mass shooting at a law firm. The more they dig, the more irregularities they uncover.

The latest entry in a very enjoyable mystery series does not disappoint. The mystery here involves the Dark Web, a complex conspiracy, and a mass shooting, all of which could be taken from a daily newscast. I love Andy's snarky sense of humor, the quirky supporting characters, and there are dogs - what more do you need?

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

Paterson, New Jersey

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

May 11, 2024

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

Biographical fiction about Joan of Arc. Very well written. Joan was an independent, autonomous young woman who went against the prevailing beliefs and expectations about how women should act - reminded me of Anne Boleyn whose only crimes were being smart, educated, and not taking crap from men. Will appeal to readers of well-researched historical fiction about strong women.

Miniature of Joan of Arc, which may or may not be accurate

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

May 2, 2024

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

Cinnamon Hotpepper, a spice trader, stumbles home drunk from a village festival, only to find a demon hiding in her family's cinnamon grove. After she sobers up, the demon tells her that he needs her help, and if she doesn't help him, it could go badly for her family. So she agrees to go with him to achieve his quest, with the stipulation that he return her home safely when the quest is completed. Except of course, it's not that simple.

Fun, steamy fantasy. Reminded me somewhat of Legends and Lattes, but with a lot of sex tossed in, some of it quite explicit. Be warned.

Two dragons (yes, there be dragons here)

The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray

April 29, 2024

The Girl from the Grand Hotel by Camille Aubray

When her grandmother refuses to pay for her final year of college, Annabel Falcone travels from America to the French Riviera to work at her uncle's hotel. It's August 1939, and the first ever Cannes Film Festival is about to get underway, with celebrities, athletes, and actors from all over the world in attendance. When a German tennis star is found dead in his hotel room, Annabel begins to suspect that there is more going on than just a big celebrity party.

Inspired by real events and the first failed Cannes Film Festival. Slow moving Anna plot that takes a long time to get anywhere. Also, Annabel is kind of bland. There are almost too many famous names dropped into the story. If you read everything about the golden age of Hollywood, you will probably enjoy this one. If not, maybe skip it.

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

French Riviera