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Never Fall for Your Fiancée (The Merriwell Sisters #1) by Virginia Heath

This is a cute, entertaining Historical Fiction Romance set in 1825 England. Earl Hugh Standish has so far avoided his mother’s matchmaking schemes. For the last two years he invented a fiancée to keep his mother at bay – and in America. With his mother due back in England in the next few weeks to meet his bride-to-be, Hugh is about to be found out. Hugh doesn’t want to disappoint his mother, but more importantly, he doesn’t want to get caught in a lie. He just needs to get someone to impersonate his intended to satisfy his mother, and then she will sail back to America happy and Hugh will still be free. Maybe. If it works. Which is doubtful.

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November 9, 2021 0

1979 (Allie Burns #1) by Val McDermid

This is a good historical fiction mystery thriller set in 1979 Scotland. Allie Burns is an investigative journalist at a newspaper in Glasgow, Scotland. She’s living in a “man’s world” and struggles to make her way and write the kind of stories she wants to write. Allie teams up with a co-worker to follow the trail of an illegal tax evasion scheme. From there the story escalates to much bigger issues that could cost Allie her life.

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November 1, 2021 0

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

This is a good historical fiction mystery set in Harlem in the early 1960s. Ray Carney came from nothing and with his drive and ambition he’s opened his own furniture store selling reasonably priced furniture. Money is always tight, so if his cousin Freddie drops off the occasional piece of jewelry, he doesn’t ask questions, and neither does the jeweler he takes it to.

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October 31, 2021 0

The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar

This was a good historical fiction about a librarian in a small coastal French town during WWII and her determination to protect the town’s library and all of the books within.

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August 4, 2021 0

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

This is one of the best WWII books I’ve read and devoured it in 2 days. It’s a unique story, inspired from true life events of survival against horrible odds.

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July 18, 2021 0

Curse of the Specter Queen (Samantha Knox #1) by Jenny Elder Moke

This was a pretty good YA Fantasy book. There is also a mix of Historical Fiction and Mystery/Thriller in the book, so it’s a bit hard to categorize. There is plenty of action, elements of mythology and magic, with a touch of romance thrown in. It’s quite a mish mash.

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June 18, 2021 0

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This is a really good contemporary fiction that follows one fictional famous family that lives in Malibu in August 1983. The book focuses on the children of legendary singer Mick Riva, who have earned fame in their own right. Through flashbacks that explain the love story, and heartbreak, of their parent’s relationship, the readers get a glimpse into the chaotic, secretive life of Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit.

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June 6, 2021 0

Death with a Double Edge (Daniel Pitt #4) by Anne Perry

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I really enjoy this author’s work and this book series, but this is my least favorite book in the series so far. I didn’t find the mystery as compelling as in past books, and there seemed to be a lot of filler and repetitiveness to the story.

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May 22, 2021 0

The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1) by John Gwynne

4.5 stars

Wow. What a fantastic first book in a new, exciting epic fantasy series. It’s got everything you want in an epic fantasy; Norse mythology, gods, monsters, dragons, swords, battles, mercenaries, stupid and/or evil rulers, skilled fighters, cowards, plucky former slaves out for vengeance, quests, and much more. The book ends on a great cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what the author will bring us next.

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May 19, 2021 0