H.L. Day - The Stubborn Accomplice

A missing artifact. A kingdom of secrets. Two men versus a multitude of magical beasts.
Jack and Sebastian are on the move once more. This time, to the frozen mountains of Askophai in search of a kingdom’s missing artifact. The journey alone would be perilous enough, but how are they supposed to find something that no one can describe? And what does the mysterious man who can make himself invisible have to do with any of it?
Jack has enough of Sebastian’s secrets to deal with, without taking on a whole kingdom’s. He and Sebastian might be together, but Jack still has his doubts about their long-term future. Assuming they have one that is, given Sebastian’s penchant for walking them headlong into danger at every opportunity.
One thing’s for certain, they’re going to need an awful lot of luck to succeed in this mission and return home safely.

Comment: This is the second installment in the 13 Kingdoms trilogy by author HL Day. Last year I've read the first book and found it average, but the opportunity to read the other books happened and now I've read the second, which ended up giving me the same sensations as the first. Clearly, this is a matter of style and while this author's is competent enough, it doesn't dazzle me.

In this second adventure, protagonists Sebastian and Jack are officially a couple and have been lazing around at Jack's farm when the request to help search for an artifact reaches them. Thinking of the financial compensation and the possibilityof discovering clues about Jack's sister convince them to accept. As before, they see themselves in all kinds of trouble but their wit and experience certainly makes for the most challenging tasks. Will they find the artifact on time? 

Right before starting writing this text, I've quickly took a look at the last paragraph of the comment I wrote on the first book and I'll have to say, my thoughts remain precisely the same: this was fun and quirky but I still felt the author could have added more balance to the main characters' relationship. This second story is, of course, a bridge, between the presentation of the characters and their personalities in the first book and the rather obvious path it leads to, which will be concluded in the third.

This is to say that while this second story has all the elements one would expect, the character development didn't seem to be that obvious. Certainly, there are situations which kind of help settling the characters' feelings but it is a given from the start that Sebastian is hiding something - to me that is obvious too - and this means he is not being fully honest with Jack. Considering how this book ends and what the blurb of the next one includes, that will likely be the main subject of the last book.

To me, this means that while the characterization is consistent and we do get to know a little more about them by their intereactions and inner thoughts (the narrative is in first person, alternated by each of them), it still feels a bit forced. I also hoped that in this second book the balance between the dramatic situations and the overall quirky and light tone of the story would have been improved, but no. The author's style remains the same and while this can be seen as a good thing, it also means that to me it's as if something is missing, and there was potential for the story to be stronger, emotionally speaking.

The plot is really simple and, to be honest, I don't feel is necessary to say much about it because nothing really was gained nor elevated by what happened. Sebastian and Jack have another adventure and while trying to reach their goal, they face several situations, often amusing or silly. There is only one episode which was a bit more serious and even that one was dealt with a lot less intensity than I anticipated... again, it's not that is a bad thing, nor that it would have to be different, but the way I see things, if certain elements are there, such as the difference in their personalities and the difficulty to really trust each other's feelings, a bit more seriousness would have been valuable.

The romance is what it is, Jack often thinking about the trouble and the possible consequences of their actions, Sebastian trying to live life to the best of his means, and it is easy to understand why, it has to do with their pasts as well, but these two kind of complement each other.

I can't really pinpoint why I keep reading anyway, when I'd change some elements to better suit my preference, but in general, there's this sense of companionship that is hard to dislike. I do like them together and it's cute to see them rile one another but I wanted more substance to them.

I think this story - thus, the world created by the author - is fascinating and has so many incredible things that a few situations almost feel less by comparison. There are two or three scenes which I also think revealed a few issues that are rather unfair and not executed the best way. Despite this and the flaws in the protagonists' relationship, I will likely read the last installment, at least to find out what kind of closure the author is planning for the characters.

Grade: 6/10

Edith Layton - To Wed a Stranger

Is it possible? The breathtaking Lady Annabelle has actually agreed to marry, sight unseen, a gentleman of her father's choosing -- the self-proclaimed "exceptionally average" Miles Croft. The ton is aghast! After scandalously toying with so many hearts, why is the exquisite Annabelle chaining herself to the new Viscount Pelham, a complete -- albeit most attractive -- stranger? Could it be that her own heart has been irreparably shattered, and she wants nothing more to do with romance?
Yet there is certainly nothing "average" about their wedding night! There is magic in Miles's touch, and the smoldering ecstasy it ignites threatens to consume them both. Dare Annabelle dream this is the one passionate and enduring love she ached for in secret, but never dreamed she'd be worthy of? Might this tender, mysterious lover truly be the scarlet lady's redemption -- and could she be Miles's as well?

Comment: This book was recommended to me years ago, I can't remember why. Now that I've read it, I can assume it was because it has a couple who marries by convenience and then falls in love.

Lady Annabelle is a beautiful woman and everyone knows it, including herself. Still, despite her beauty, she wasn't proposed by any of the men she considered would be the ideal husband. Reaching 27 makes her aware she is the source of gossip and when a very suitable offer comes from Miles, the new Viscount Pelham, she accepts, hoping for the best. 

Miles made something of himself at sea and he is now able to properly take care of his responsabilities. What isn't as easy is to recover his family name and help his mother, sister and brother to be welcomed by the ton and for that he decides to marry someone who could help him socially and who better than Lady Annabelle. Their marrige starts as planned but before they have the chance to get to know each other, Annabelle becomes sick. It turns out that this vulnerable situation does make them closer and provides Annabelle the oportunity to decide what her marriage would be like...

When I added this book to the TBR I didn't realize it was part of a long series. I've checked the blurbs of those other books and I did recognize the names of some secondary characters which means they all know each other in some way. While reading this one (apparently installment #6) I didn't have the feeling I would have had to read the others and the references were mostly to Annabelle's past as a sought after lady.

The story begins with Annabelle and Miles marrying for convenience. She wanted a husband at last, while still feeling rather subdued since other men she was interested in chose other women, and Miles wanted someone to help him with his family's standing. Certainly a marriage of convenience isn't a novelty in romance and I've read many by now, but the real "fun" in this trope is to see how the couple gets to know one another and falls in love. In this case, the tactic was to have Annabelle becoming ill, Miles helping her and how the physical vulnerability allowed them both to see the other one through a different prism.

Annabelle is a heroine that doesn't seem likable right away. Of course this is so because she is hiding her softer side and her fears under the guise of aloofness and we know she is a lot more sensitive than what seems obvious. I'd say that, as the story went on, there were moments I think she did act a little condescending, but the fact she goes through a trial with being ill and how her looks are affected for a while, and how others react to her loss of beauty, gave her a very important view on what matters. I think the author used this theme in a thoughtful way, but then there were just too many issues at hand that this wasn't explored as deeply as it could.

Miles is a man who wants things to run well, he wants to help his family and now that financially things are in control, he feels it's his duty to find a way for his mother and siblings to be better considered by others. Marrying Annbelle might be a strategy but he realizes very quickly that perhaps it was a mistake to not marry someone he was in love with but taking care of her while she was ill did give him a clue on how their life could be if they are closer, if they talk, if they spend time together... I did like the evolution of their feelings and overall romance. Too bad there were somany secondary issues.

Miles' mother is a complicated woman who married an undesirable man after his father died and both husbands doted on her in a way that seemed to reinforce her idea of depending on a man. This made her a rather complex character but she isn't likable at all and I feel her relationship with Annabelle was just too obviously antagonist. We don't have much about his younger brother but his sister is someone who is genuine and nice and will be the heroine of the next book. I know it seems these things might not matter but they do fill up a lot of the story and while we always learn something about the protagonists by having them interact with others, it felt the romance wasn't always as richly developed as the author made it seem.

There are also other plot situations, especially closer to the end, used to highlight certain things, such as the fact Miles and Annabelle realize trusting one another and telling each other things is the safest way for them to be happy, or plot situations that add drama and/or intensity to problems at hand...some things seemed to be necessary while others not so much, but it's element after element that helps divide the readers's attention. Another interesting point of contrast to consider is what Annabelle finds about her parents' marriage and how this affects her perspective of her own situation. I think this element wasn't developed as well as it should but it did offer food for thought.

All in all, an interesting experience with this late author, the first time I've tried something by her, and it's one more story where I liked the overall ideas and plot, but whose romance could have been way more romantically addressed than what it is.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Kate Thompson - The Little Wartime Library

London, 1944.
Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While the world remains at war, in East London Clara has created the country's only underground library, built over the tracks in the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Down here a secret community thrives: with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café and a theatre offering shelter, solace and escape from the bombs that fall above.
Along with her glamorous best friend and library assistant Ruby Munroe, Clara ensures the library is the beating heart of life underground. But as the war drags on, the women's determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is tested to the limits when it seems it may come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive.
Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is a gripping and heart-wrenching page-turner that remembers one of the greatest resistance stories of the war.

Comment: It seems incredible but it's already mid January! I've signed up for another TBR Challenge, hosted by Wendy the SuperLibrarian, and that means it's time for the first post. The theme for this month is "New Year, whos dis?" and I've followed one of Wendy's suggestions of possible ways to go and picked a new author to me.

In this WWII related story, we meet Clare Button and Ruby Monroe, two librarians in London, who are keeping up with the Bethnal Green library, now in the tube station, since so many buildings were affected by the blitz. Clare has thought of this idea because in time of crises, people deserve to have something to look for and something to distract them from issues they cannot solve. Things seem to go smoothly and there are plenty of patrons who cherish the library as much as they do but, of course, there are always some who think differently. At a time where war and civilian rights are as much a concern as is if people will survive another day, can the librarians be a beacon of hope as they intended?

This story is my first attempt at the author's work, after another of her titles caught my attention. While investigating, this one also intrigued me and since it was more easily available to me, this is the one I've started with. It's a story set in London, between 1944 and 1945, with two more chapters - the first and the last - in contemporary times, specifically during the pandemic, told from a certain character's POV to contextualize.

The meaty part of the book, let's say, is set during the war and is focused on two characters, whose POV we alternate between, Clara and Ruby. They are both in their early 20s if I got that right, and they live in London during a time no one was really safe. Their story is mainly focused on their work as librarians and all that was necessary for them to do their work while dealing with a new boss, who aimed for tradition and rigidity in how things had to be done, while they both dealt with personal issues.

I would not say this was the most emotional story set during WWII I've read, but in part this might have happened because of the author's style. The story is fictional but based on real events - the author included fascinating notes at the end, which were, in reality, more interesting than the actual fictional story (I didn't even felt like I had to google anything) - and the author's energy and dedication to do her research justice does shine. Perhaps, in a way, a bit too much, because there were moments it felt the goal was more about the end result and not the real evolution of the characters...

I say this because while having the protagonists' POV makes many things more personal, it also means their views are limited and partial to what is happening. There were scenes or moments I wish we had a third person narrative instead. I did like that a lot of the story is closely linked to where they were, what was happening, and their librarian job. There is a lot on woman's rights (and the lack of) and what should be considered a "good library", what it should symbolize and the actual role a librarian had and still has to patrons and to those who need the library for more than just checking out books. I love libraries and I still visit my local one, despite being able to now afford more books than when I was a child of course, and several passages/situations were heartfelt.

Clara is a slightly more central character than Ruby, it felt and I liked her and what she symbolized for librarians and women. She is a sweet woman who feels her library is more than her duty and I was rooting for her while she faced the man who could jeopardize all her efforts. In terms of personal life, she is a young widow and her mother and mother in law seem to be antagonists to her, both in behavior and in views of the world. Clare finds someone she can love again, and a hint at romance was great, but... perhaps because it was not the goal, the romance felt a little...under done.

Ruby is an extrovert who loves her job and the apparent freedom given to women with the men away and the loosening up of the society "rules" when other issues are more urgent. Her family life is complicated and her mother is in an abusive relationship. Ruby also finds a man who will be there for her, thus another romance to consider. As I've said, the author put so much (good) use to the historical context that this element was really secondary execution wise. I mean, the romance of both Ruby and Clare matters to them, and is heavily linked with other important elements in the story but it's not quite there... some might argue that yes, it's not the main one, but if it's there anyway...

With a story set during WWII it's not a surprise there are some negative, sad, unfair, tragic situations included and of course the feelings associated with those scenes make for an emotional read. Still, to me, some things didn't really impact me the way I assume they are meant to because some passages seemed a bit too predictable for this type of story. I also didn't like some transitions between scenes, for instance when we are told about a certain characters' death, I think that in the attempt to match it as faithfully as possible to the real life event it was based on, made the writing detached. It might be only my impression, of course.

This is a story to appreciate, yes, but more mostly to allow the reader to think and to imagine scenarios in which real people had to have a role in those real situations and how, perhaps, it might have been. I'd say that the issue why this wasn't a better grade for me is the fictionalized parts. Sometimes, historical fiction is a little less thrilling because the writing is almost too close to something academic and I think in these books, the perfect balance between good research and the use of facts with a fictional and/or romantic side is very hard to achieve. Therefore, I've liked this book but it was't perfect to me. I will still read the other one I wanted, though, to compare at least.

Grade: 7/10

Scott Alexander Howard - The Other Valley

Sixteen-year-old Odile is an awkward, quiet girl vying for a coveted seat on the Conseil. If she earns the position, she’ll decide who may cross her town’s heavily guarded borders. On the other side, it’s the same valley, the same town--except to the east, the town is twenty years ahead in time. To the west, it’s twenty years behind. The towns repeat in an endless sequence across the wilderness.
When Odile recognizes two visitors she wasn’t supposed to see, she realizes that the parents of her friend Edme have been escorted across the border from the future, on a mourning tour, to view their son while he’s still alive in Odile’s present. Edme––who is brilliant, funny, and the only person to truly see Odile––is about to die. Sworn to secrecy in order to preserve the timeline, Odile now becomes the Conseil’s top candidate, yet she finds herself drawing closer to the doomed boy, imperiling her entire future.

Comment: I was browsing a site sometimes I check for book recommendations and this title caught my eye. Just reading the blurb made it seem quite intriguing and I thankfully had the chance to get it, thus why I'm reading it so soon after adding it.

In this story we meet Odile, a 16 year old girl who lives in a Valley. The community is small and particular: they all knowingly accept they live in a valley with rules and limitations and that to the west of their valley there is another, in which reality is set 20 years ago, and that to the east there is another valley which takes place 20 years in the future. This situation is ongoing, never ceases and probably is divided into infinite realities.

Odile finds herself trying to find an apprenticeship position, as all 16 year olds must do, and she is trying for the Conseil, the body of people who determine who can be accepted to travel to one of the other valleys, and only for a very compelling reason. Things aren't easy but Odile will try, especially since her mother strongly wants her to have the position. Everything changes one day, when Odile can't help noticing a couple she knows and who must come from another valley, which means something will happen to their son, a friend of hers. She knows she cannot interfere, but... will she be able to let events go as they should?

My first impression while reading is that this was a very compelling take on "what if". Who doesn't think about the past or what the future will entail, and if this or that is wrong or right... Who doesn't wish to go back and redo something or not do something, or anything at all in regards to one's course of life? I tell myself that those who say "I have no regrets" are surely lying somehow, if only to themselves, because there is always something, even if inconsequential. But would it be inconsequential?

Science apart, it seems to be common knowledge that going back or going to the future would be imcompatible to several laws of nature, and changing something would have dire consequences. Still, there are countless science fiction and fantasy stories out there with time travel and some even offer interesting ways for it to be possible to happen. I tend to not think too hard on those things, unless they are glaringly bad, but in this case, I did like the premise of a continuum that allows realities to co exist. I don't have the knowledge to go into space-time theories, but the explanations used in this novel make a certain sense, to the context in which things are presented.

The obvious flaw is that all these realities must advance at the same pace and if so many valleys might exist, then this balance is not really that possible if one single things could be changed... anyway, the focus is on Odile, and at first this annoyed me a little, for I thought it was more a YA distopia in disguise. It's true the author focuses the plot around her and her friends, and their small sphere of connections, but not with romance of other teenager worries stealing the attention. Odile's friendship with Edme starts to become more serious after she sees his parents, in an obvious travel from the future, and what it might mean. The story is heavily centered on what should be the correct thing to do, while Odile "learns" through her attempt to join the Conseil, on why there are rules.

The rules seem simple, if people could come and go at ease, reality could not exist. The premise is that a single change could erase that person and a new, different reality would exist instead. Therefore, there are also police officers, let's say, who control the borders of each valley and the Conseil (like a government) would decree who can or cannot travel. Everyone adheres to this knowledge but, of course, it seemed as if we were being taught this so that it would have a reason to be used later on.

The story is divided into two parts. The first is when Odile is 16 - we only have her POV - and the second one is set 20 years later, when she is at a new stage of her life and dealing with the effects of her choices. The option for this narrative sequence is obvious and the author adds plenty of situations in which we can think about the process of living and why Odile might be doing this or that. 

We deal with things and we accept them or not because we know we cannot go back. But Odile could, if she managed to find a way to outmaneuver all the rules in place. If she does or not I will not say, but I can say this story was good for thinking on both sides - should one go back and change something or not/should one interefere with the future after knowing what will happen -, it was a lot more thrilling than what I'd imagine and had an end I liked.

One last word, though. Some readers have commented on the lack of quotation marks and how it was hard to understand sometimes when people were talking or if it was a dialogue or inner musings. It could be a little annoying at times, yes, but did not ruin my overall experience, even with the elements I think couldbe improved.

Grade: 8/10

Jennifer Ashley - Iron Master

Stuart Reid is an Iron Master—a Dark Fae with a rare ability to make iron do his bidding. Exiled by the High Fae who fear him, he now lives in a simple house in Shiftertown outside Las Vegas, watching over Peigi, a bear Shifter woman, and the cubs she cares for.
Peigi, rescued from an evil Shifter and welcomed into the Vegas Shiftertown, knows Reid and the cubs have helped her survive and heal.
She also knows Reid is alone and lonely, a strong man coping with his exile. The bond she feels pulling her to him scares the crud out of her—she’s been down this road before.
When Reid’s people send him a desperate call for help, Peigi senses danger to him—too much of it. She finds she’ll do anything, even sacrifice herself and her happiness, to keep him safe.

Comment: This is the 12th installment in the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley. The last book in the series I had read was in 2023 and while the series is ongoing, I confess I had forgotten some details already...

In this installment we finally have the story of Stuart Reid, one Fae that most shifters are fond of because he had been a friend and since living in exile, he is now part of their group. Stuart cannot deny he still feels the pull to return to his world in Faerie but he has made friends and there's Peigi, the bear shifter who won him over...

Peigi has had a traumatic experience with a shifter she believed could have been her mate, while they lived on the run. When this turned out to be a disappointment, she was already committed to care for the cubs that their group had, and when the chance to be rescued was made possible, she decided to take care of them all. She also knows Stuart helped and she is fascinated, but will he want to return to his world instead of trying for a relationship with her?

I have been following this series for years now, and the overall plot always centers around the idea of one day shifters being free and being able to help a normal life like humans, instead of being confined to certain areas and jobs. Of course, with so many books, sometimes the specific plots might have some changes, but there is always this hope things will happen for them. In this book the story actually focuses on a different matter, mostly related to Stuart, and I must say I did struggle a little to focus.

Stuart is a captivating character because he is Fae and in this world, shifters exist on the whim of Fae, a long time ago, and now part of the human world, of course being different targets shifters in an unfair way. This also means there's no love lost between the shifters and the Fae and Stuart should not be someone shifters would respect, but for several reasons, they do. Stuart is aware of the difference but he feels part of the shifter culture and society now. He knows he won't go back to Faerie, but what if he could? In the story he has the chance and I can imagine the idea was to present him with a choice, which isn't really one if this is a romance series, but I don't think the execution of this dilemma was well done.

For some books now, the hint Stuart and Peigi would become a couple was clued several times, and their romance was not really the surprise it could have been. I can suppose that after some books with the hint and the tension such a possibility might arise, their book would be strong in longing and fulfillment, but to me it wasn't so. It's not as if their romance was badly done, but to me it wasn't very exciting to follow. Perhaps this happened with the way the author wrote things, but I also would say that the overall plot just didn't win me over, and the romance didn't seem to "compensate" for the rest well enough.

Somehow, this main couple didn't seem to be very complex. Perhaps it was simply my reading experience, which wasn't always fluid as I'd hoped, but they didn't win me over. I mean, I liked them as individuals, as part of a group, but I wasn't emotionally invested in them as I was with other characters. Their romance was only fine, not amazing. Nothing wrong with that, but it certainly diminished my overall interest in reading the novel too.

The plot is related to Stuart helping out another Fae, in Faerie, with something I can't explain properly. Several shifters are included in this task, and they come and go to Faerie by magical means and I confess this started to confuse me and I kind of lost track of what was going on and where. Besides, Stuart's decision was an obvious one and I felt things were just being put on the paper to validate some details about the main couple's past and why they would work out now as a couple anyway...

In previous installments it was also made to seem as if Stuart was a little more mysterious and his powers as well, and while this does have importance in this book, it was only up to a certain point, and I got the feeling perhaps more on it could have been shared. Perhaps the author didn't want to develop things further, perhaps it never was a big deal, but it did feel as if Stuart didn't fully live up to his possibilities, as a character.

All things considered, this was a predictable type of plot for the series. It must be difficult, as it happens with other authors in regards to their very long series, if the world rules remain the same, to offer fully fresh intake on things, namely the romance. But it can be done. I would not say this is a bad story, it does fit expectations if one is a fan already, but it wasn't the vibrant or special read the previous installment was for me, for instance. I'm hoping the next is more interesting.

Grade: 6/10

Ariel Lawhon - The Frozen River

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Comment: My buddy reading pal suggested that we would add a third read this month, besides the usual two a month we already do. I had seen this being well praised in several places, but somehow got the idea it would not have a positive ratio in relation to sad/darker content and I didn't feel like trying it. Due to her suggestion, I did and it ended up being a lot more appealing than what I had anticipated.

In the late 18th century, in Maine, Martha Ballard is a midwife in her small town and she takes her role very seriously. She also had the luck of marrying a good and supportive husband, and they had several children. Her life is what one would expect but everything changes when Rebecca Foster, the pastor's wife, is raped by two men, which she later identifies when presenting an official complaint. One of them is the local judge and the other a man who shows up dead, as soon as the story begins. As the events progress, Martha tries her best to help her friend Rebecca, to keep helping mothers giving birth, to help her children find happiness and to prove a woman can be as worthy of defending as a man...

This is the first book I try by this author. I really didn't pay much attention to blurbs and such before starting the book, I wasn't even fully aware this would be an historical, but it turned out that it was quite a pleasure to read the book. My favorite aspect about it is that it wasn't as depressing or filled with dark/hopeless situations as I feared. Of course bad and unfair situations happen, but the story is told by Martha and her personality (along with the author's choices) helped the story feel lighter.

I'll have to admit I became a fan of Martha throughout the novel. She is a woman living at a time where women had no real rights, and if the men around them weren't fair or decent, they would have very little ways to have a voice. Martha was lucky to marry a good man and another element I absolutely loved was how much in love they were after decades of marriage, of challenges and struggles - some of which we learn about as the narrative moves along - but everything was done with trust and they respected each other's opinion in regards to the most mundane things. I was very happy to see scenes with them, because then the story wasn't only about the terrible main plot issue.

The story happens mostly during the winter season, and that is also a key element for why the plot works out the way it did. A few little elements wouldn't have been possible if things had been set in summer, mostly due to the consequences of the weather and how that impacted people's lives. This also gave the stoty a slightly darker feel, as often we feel about winter and smaller days, and darker days and more difficulty to perform certain tasks. The atmosphere was very well achieved, I'd say.

The main plot is centered on the investigation of the rapist's death. He is found frozen on the river and Martha, as midwife, checks out the body and realizes he had been hanged before he was thrown into the river. For plot reasons, a new and young doctor had arrived at the town and his opinion was obviously different. I thought perhaps the story would be about this, man vs woman and who would people believe, but thankfully the story was a lot richer in elements and not this limited. Of course, we still have plenty of comments here and there, mostly thought by Martha, on the injustice of a woman's role and so on...

The book is quite long, my ebook edition had a little over 400 pages, and I do think some sections could have been edited a bit more. That aside, it was still a great pleasure, as I've said, to read the novel and keep turning the pages. As one can imagine, the real mystery isn't exactly who killed the frozen man or why - everyone suspects he was killed because he had raped Rebecca - but why that way, why in that sequence of events and what kind of connection did he have with the judge who was also accused. The real mystery lies there, why did this important judge allegeddly raped Rebecca too...

There would be a lot more elements I could comment on and I'd still leave fascinating ones behind, and other readers have more constructive opinions I'm sure, but let it be said that this book was as riveting as promised. I was even more delighted when I realized that this had been inspired by a real Martha Ballard, who did live in that period and whose diary was the base for the story. Based on this book, I'll certainly try other things by the author one day...

Grade: 8/10

Jenya Keefe - Relationship Material

Registered nurse Evan Doyle doesn’t consider himself fit for more than occasional hookups. He has a good life, but the emotional aftermath of a horrific crime makes him feel too damaged to date. So when his sister’s hot bestie, Malcolm Umbertini, comes on to him, he turns him down flat. Mal is Relationship the kind who thinks in the long term. What would Evan do with a man like that?
As a prosecuting attorney, Mal’s learned how to read people, and he knows there’s more to Evan than meets the eye. Mal has faced his own hardships since his family kicked him out as a teen, and he respects Evan’s courage and emotional resilience. More than that, he wants Evan—in his bed and in his life. But can he weather another rejection?
Both wary, they agree to a no-strings fling. Mal knows that Evan wants things to stay casual, but he’s falling in love a little more with each encounter. With health, happiness, and bruised hearts on the line, Mal and Evan must risk everything for love.

Comment: Last year I've read a book by this author and it had enough elements that made me like it. I've decided to try something else by the author, but instead of fantasy this time I've tried a contemporary.

Evan Doyle is a nurse at a posh nursing home and he has a pretty solid life now, but he almost has a panic attack when he randomly and suddenly sees his twin sister in front of him. Caroline had not been in his life since they were both teenagers, and why they separated is still a traumatic event in his life, but now that they are older, perhaps they can reconnect. They agree to meet the next day but Caroline shows up with her best friend Mal, who immediately feels too arrogant for Evan, despite the clear attraction between them. Mal is known to go after what he wants but will he win over a reluctant Evan? Will Mal still want Evan once he discovers what he did in his past?

As a whole, this was an interesting and captivating story. Thinking about it with more eye for detail, I could probably compare it with the other one I had read and not many differences would exist in the author's style, despite them being different genres. On one hand, this means the author has a consistent style, on the other it means perhaps all the books will have a similar "flavor".

The plot is actually a bit complex, in the sense that Evan and Caroline had a traumatic situation happening to them when they were teenagers, their mother died and they were placed in different homes. Evan realized that his mother and her boyfriend were doing undesirable things, drug related, in a certain area of their house, and sometimes had other men there. He decided to help protect his sister doing something but he lacked maturity (I would say clarity too) to understand the price he would pay for that. I cannot imagine where this scenario, the way the author presented things, would not have been solved by going to the police or any other authority, but... anyway....

Apparently, this had to happen so that Evan could learn his lesson and would want to be a better person, but this means he still lives with the trauma of what he did and he is now almost an introvert. Reconnecting with Caroline again, after she moved to the city Evan now lives (and randomly seeing each other on the street, what are the odds), is a blessing and a worry, for he fears the events of the past might mean the bad people he interacted with might still want revenge if they find them. I could accept this thinking and why Evan would be worried, but it does feel as if some things were just too dramatic. For me, this means other elements - such as the romance -  then seem too superficially done.

Evan is a likable character and, thankfully, there are no scenes nor memories where he revisits what he did as a teenager. What he was part of was certainly terrible and I'm glad we didn't have to see that through his eyes, but it did make him a reserved person, who believes he isn't worth of things others have easily, like a steady relationship. I tend to like stories where one character doesn't have a lot of self esteem and then, of course, learns they can trust the other person, be liked by who they are and so on, and I fully expected Mal to be that for Evan.

In a way, this is exactly what happens, but Mal wasn't the alpha type I thought he would be just by the description and the first chapters. He is actually a lot more vulnerable, emotionally, and it was an even more gratifying experience to see him being revealed as an attentive and caring person, not only towards Evan, but also in his inner self, especially since he had had a terrible experience with his parents when he came out. He is a lawyer now and gained confidence but the best part was precisely how he was patient with Evan, which made their romance a sweet one, for the most part.

As a matter of fact, the romance isn't spectacular, and having in consideration the doubts they have regarding their own feelings, Evan's in particular, I'd say the romance is a little slow or, perhaps in a better way, the romance almost feels a little one sided, but I'm happy Evan was able to acknowledge he had found in Mal someone who could be by his side. The sequence of situations close to the end was a little too quick, when comparing to the rest of the novel, but that didn't ruin the overall effect to me.

All in all, this was a good enough read too, will not be a favorite one due to some pacing and some unnecessary elements, but did meet all the necessary details to make it something I was happy enough to read.

Grade: 7/10

Carsten Henn - The Door-to-Door Bookstore

There's a book written for every one of us...
Carl may be 72 years old, but he's young at heart. Every night he goes door-to-door delivering books by hand to his loyal customers. He knows their every desire and preference, carefully selecting the perfect story for each person.
One evening as he makes his rounds, nine-year-old Schascha appears. Loud and precocious, she insists on accompanying him - and even tries to teach him a thing or two about books.
When Carl's job at the bookstore is threatened, will the old man and the girl in the yellow raincoat be able to restore Carl's way of life, and return the joy of reading to his little European town?
THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BOOKSTORE is a heart-warming tale of the value of friendship, the magic of reading, and the power of books to unite us all.

Comment: I've received this book as a Christmas gift and it just happened that it would suit one of the topics of a challnege I'm doing in one of my GR groups, thus why it hasn't been waiting long.

In this story we meet Carl, an elderly man who works for the City Hate Bookshop and his job is to deliver books requested by those who do not wish to travel to the bookstore. In all the years he has been doing this, Carl has developed a quirky relationship with all of them and he loves what he does. Things haven't been that great lately, though, because his friend Gustav, the previous owner of the bookshop has given the command to his daughter Sophie, and she and Carl seem to clash. Carl knows his situation might change soon but in the meantime, he carries on with his job, although he is caught by surprise when a 9 year old decides to follow him in his rounds. At first he is annoyed but with time they become friends, the problem is that not everything is as simple as it seems...

Being a reader who likes books about bookshops or libraries or book related elements, of course I've found the idea of this novel to be a great one. I had not heard of it before but I do recognize it has elements which have been popular recently (books about bookshops and with a cat included somehow) and I did appreciate the gift for what it was. This is a translated book from original German, and there were times I could suppose some notion of it comes through, but overall, it was as easy to read as any original in English.

The book isn't long but it does offer a lot of content. Basically, Carl is at a point where his life work is beign challenged by the daughter of his best friend, who is in a home. Their different generations might be the main reason why, but Sophie still sees in Carl someone who reminds her of her father and how much she didn't fit in with his personality and his dedication to the bookshop. she now want it to be modernized and her own, and Carl is always there to prove some things cannot be dismissed easily. This wasn't expressed as directly as I imply and was one element that made the story feel angsty but it did offer food for thought in regards to what we, perhaps, expect of a bookstore and tradition.

The plot is apparently simple, it follows Carl in his rounds and through him we can see the clients who get the books he delivers, and each one is special somehow. I liked the variety of personalities and personal situations, as I did the book talk that kept being part of the plot. The author certainly likes books too and it's always fun to read about books in a way that reminds me of why I like them as well. With the introduction of Schasha, the girl that starts following Carl, we have another element which allows Carl to interact with someone new, and with it, new challaneges to his perception.

I was fond of the girl and how she was there to show Carl that things don't have to be the same or stay in the past, but at first she was a little annoying indeed. I can't tell if the behaviors of everyone were a real demonstration of what real people in a culture like the German would seem like, or if it was only author's artistic licence, but there were times where some things felt a little hard to accept as real or as likely. What wasn't a surprise is how Schasha's father reacts to her walking around with Carl...

This story does offer a few predictable situations but I think the author was skilled enough in placing them in a way that we could understand the subtletly of his choices and the development of each scene. As expected as well, as Carl becomes more and more invested in the lives of those he distributes books to, his situation at the bookshop becomes more complicated. When things finally reach a peak, I must say some scenes were quite emotional, but others were a little... over the top, perhaps, or not in par with what had been Carl's attitude so far. This wasn't a damaging issue to my appreciation of the story, but...

I think this was a cozy read for sure. It's probably a bit more dramatic in someparts than a cozy read should be, but I liked it overall. However, the end was a little disappointing. I say this because some issues whoch had been presented throughout the book were solved or we had the hint at how they would be so, but there were two or three little things which I think the author could have written better. It's nothing damaging, I repeat, but I think different choices would have enhanced the story.

All in all, a book that does meet the goal it aims for, but some things could have certainly been done a lot better in my opinion. Still, an entertaining read.

Grade: 7/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Perilous Perspective

Argyll, Scotland. July 1832. 

After a trying few months in Edinburgh, Kiera and her husband and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, are eager to escape to the Highlands with their three-month-old child. Kiera is overjoyed for her cousin Rye and her detractor-turned-friend Charlotte who are being wed in a private ceremony at the estate of Rye’s great-uncle, the Marquess of Barbreck, in what seems to be the perfect wedding party.
But when Kiera is invited to peruse Barbreck’s extensive art collection, she is disturbed to discover that one of his most priceless paintings seems to be a forgery. The marquess’s furious reaction when she dares to mention it leaves her shaken and the entire house shocked. For it turns out that this is not the first time the word forgery has been uttered in connection with the Barbreck household.
Matters turn more ominous when a maid from a neighboring estate is found murdered where the forged painting hangs. Is her death connected to the forgeries, perhaps a grisly warning of what awaits those who dare to probe deeper? With unknown entities aligned against them, Kiera and Gage are forced to confront the fact that they may have underestimated their opponent. For they are swiftly made to realize that Charlotte’s and Rye’s future happiness is not the only issue at stake, and this stealthy game of cat and mouse could prove to have deadly consequences.

Comment: This is the 10th installment in the lady Darby series and my first book of 2025.

In this story Kiera and Sebastian are enjoying their new role as parents while also celebrating the upcoming nuptials of Kiera's cousin Rye with their friend Charlotte, whom they helped in the first book. While at her cousin's family estate, owned by the marquess of Barbreck, Kiera is able to appreciate the art collection Rye's great uncle owns but she is both worried and shocked when she realizes several paintings are forged. Things don't go well when she and Sebastian tell the marquess this, for a similar rumor had happened years ago and even caused the marquess' engagement to be called off, but Kiera cannot ignore it. They decide to investigate, including the Campbell neighbor estate, where miss Campbell, the marquess ex fiancé still resides, but what they discover might uncover a lot more than they imagined...

Once again, I was captivated by this novel and felt entertained for the duration of reading it. I feel very lucky that, along with a friend, we've managed to find a few stories and/or series that remain enthralling and interesting, even after several installments, and even more so when the main characters are the same from book to book. Mystery series with a (good) dose of domesticity and romance seem to be the way to go for us!

After ten books, there isn't much I can say without spoilering previous installments, thus this should be taken into consideration.

I've felt this story was clearly oriented to focus on Kiera and her artistic abilities. It was even obvious how the author seemed to focus the most important tasks of investigation on her side of things and not on Sebastian's, as is the norm in most of the books. I can't tell if this is a way to highlight the feminine role and all that, but it was a very intentional decision.

The mystery investigated is interesting enough, but I must say a few details were a bit too hard to accept. For instance, the amazing coincidence of a slow poison killing the victim at the exact moment that person was in the key spot to raise suspicions... not easy to accept, but in the big scheme of things perhaps this wasn't too bad. I also felt that the paintings' forgery went on for too long and it's also hard to imagine no one would suspect the culprits when all evidence pointed that direction, even before Kiera and Sebastian investigate for real.

Still, all this would have passed me by as of little consequence if the mastermind killer were to be a true surprise. It wasn't. In fact, very soon that character seemed to me as being too insignificant and sometimes, that is all the clue we would need. I wanted to be proven wrong but no, and even motivations started to be obvious after a few things were shared. Still, despite knowing this, I was was entertained as I've said because the other elements I like in these books compensated.

Kiera and Sebastian are a couple in love and loving their newborn daughter and all the little scenes with them all or with the couple alone were very sweet. It's also quite interesting how Kiera as a character keeps evolving which should not be a novelty in this type of narrative - the POV is always hers - but she does and she was both thrilled and scared of becoming a mother and now that is is, she has actions and reactions which feel realistic enough to make me think her relationships with others and her thoughts about her worth are an important part of the story.

We also got to see some scenes where Bree and Anderly, their personal servants, had a role and this also makes the story feel richer, with a lot going on besides a mystery to investigate. In this story we also had a small new development in the relationship between Sebastian and another character and, considering how the story ended, this will certainly be a huge part of the next installment too.

Anyway, this was a very satisfying story, even with the elements I'd prefer to be different, and I'll certainly finish it and keep reading if the series is to continue.

Grade: 8/10

My Life in Books from 2024

One more reading year begins!

Before going back the usual posting routines, here is my post with some questions answered by titles of books I've read in 2024. I've been doing this funny Q&A for some years now, an original idea by Christine, who I believe might not be blogging anymore...

🌝My life in books - 2024 🌝

Describe yourself:

Born to be BAD, Sherrilyn Kenyon

How do you feel:

Locked in Silence, Sloane Kennedy

Describe where you currently live:

Mercy Street, Mariah Stewart

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

A Passage to India, EM Forster

Your favorite form of transportation:

Green Rider, Kristen Britain

Your best friend is:

Mystery Magnet, Gregory Ashe

You and your friends are:

Circle of Friends, Maeve Binchy

What's the weather like:

Natural Disaster, Erin Mclellan

What is life to you:

Better than the Movies, Lynn Painter

Favorite time of day:

The Violet Hour, Katherine Hill

Your biggest fear:

Losing Control, Jen Friedrich

How would you like to die:

Ready, Lucy Monroe

What is the best advice you have to give:

Never Lie, Freida McFadden

Thought for the day

Only and Forever, Chloe Liese

Your soul's current condition:

Safe and Sound, Phillipa East

📚 Happy reading!📚

2025 TBR Challenge Signing-Up

Hello everyone...

The new year is here, one more year for the adventure of reading!

As I've done in previous years, I'm signing-up again for the TBR Challenge, hosted by Wendy, the Super Librarian!

Here is the page on Wendy's blog with all the information:

https://wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com/p/tbrchallenge-2025.html

Nevertheless, from Wendy's blog, to summarize:

What is the #TBRChallenge?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: once a month pull a dormant book out of your TBR pile and read it. On the 3rd Wednesday of the month, talk about that book.

Participation is as easy as being on social media!
If you're on social media all you need to do is use the #TBRChallenge hashtag - there's no need to sign-up and your participation can vary throughout the year.You can use this hashtag on any day, at any time - but we're still going to concentrate on the 3rd Wednesday of every month to kick our commentary into high gear. The idea is to have at least one day a month where we can always count on there being book chatter.


Sound good? Of course it does! So what are the themes for 2025? So glad you asked!

January 15 - New Year, Who Dis? (suggestions: a debut, a new-to-you author, character looking for fresh start)
February 19 - Previously, In Romance... (suggestions: part of a series, author you haven't read in a while, Old School)
March 19 - Rizz (If you're old like me, this is slang the kids are using for "charisma" - I'm thinking playboys, rakes, heroes that have charm for days....)
April 16 - Location, Location, Location (interesting settings, unusual historicals etc.)
May 21 - Older Couple (self-explanatory)
June 18 - Road Trip (suggestions: couple traveling together, character who recently moved/relocated)
July 16 - Back in My Day... (suggestions: historical, Old School, I might go with a book that was published when I was in high school or college 😭)
August 20 - Do the Hustle (suggestions: single moms trying to make ends meet, work-related struggles, shady characters with ulterior motives / agenda).
September 17 - Friend Squad (self-explanatory)
October 15 - Here There Be Monsters (suggestions: monsters, Gothic, paranormal, fantasy, romantic suspense - humans being the biggest monsters of all quite frankly....)
November 19 - Change of Plans (suggestions: the character who has a wrench thrown in the works - sudden custody of kid(s), time travel, death in the family, accident, dystopia, left at the altar etc.)
December 17 - Celebration! (suggestions: weddings, parties, masquerade balls, holiday stories)

Happy reading to everyone!