H.N. Hirsch - Shade

A modern murder mystery. 

Assistant Professor Marcus George, a young, gay Harvard faculty member striving to find his footing in the Ivy League, is drawn into investigating the murder of one of his former students, the son of an elite Massachusetts family. Centered on the tense, competitive world of academic politics, the narrative vividly captures the publish-or-perish standards of academia, the strictures of life in exclusive enclaves in Boston and Kennebunkport, and the gay subculture along the New England coast. As he investigates the murder, Marcus stumbles across academic and financial corruption that could ruin several lives -- even as he falls into a tender and heartwarming love affair that will change his own. 

Hirsch's first novel is a beautifully realized, gripping tale in the classic style of the murder mystery genre.

Comment: This book was in the pile because I saw it being recommended somewhere and the premise seemed interesting enough.

Marcus is a young professor at Harvard, although not with tenure yet, and he does like what he does, especially if he works with students who work diligently, such as Trip, who presented a great thesis. One day Trip tells him he has something to share but soon after he is murdered and his family, knowing how much he respected Marcus, ask him to look into what might have caused this. Marcus knows this is a strange request but tries his best and that is how he gets to meet Bob, who ends up being someone he cares about and the feeling seems mutual. However, in 1985, things are complicated for the gay community and now Marcus even has to deal with the things he learns as he investigates Trip's last days...

This book didn't dazzle me as much as I hoped but one thing is true: it reads like a cozy mystery and has a vibe that is mellow and easy and actually made me feel relaxed while reading. Thus, in spite of the elements I think could have been stronger, I still think of it in a positive tone.

The story is quite simple although based on a weird premise, after all why would a teacher be able to investigate anything at all and people would answer? In fact, one characters makes this specific comment at some point and the only explanation, even knowing it'«s still ridiculous, is that the setting is in 1985 and I suppose that a murder investigation by someone with credentials - yes, even inadequate ones - would have some weight with some people. This doesn't make sense, of course, but it's what I hold on to.

Marcus is a likable character, a young teacher in his early 30s if I got it right, who happens to be gay during a period of time that was complicated, especially due to the AIDS threat among the community. The author mentions this enough that it is a visible element even though I don't think it was used as he might intended in terms of it having an impact on the story. He liked how his student Trip did a good job with his thesis and when he learns he had died, of course he feels the unfairness of how it happened and from this to the investigation, things happened very quickly.

I've read that this is the author's first book and, perhaps, it is obvious, because there is a lot of telling instead of showing. I mean, i did like the author's "voice" but the plot and the characterization were very superficial and didn't really delve into any meaningful detail that would give this story depth. I liked in general and it was easy enough that I wanted to see what would happen but, yes, this wan't a very insightful narration.

Marcus goes on with his days and we do get a lot detail on what he does every day and so on, and he meets Bob very quickly and as easily they become an item. The romance was cute but even for 1985 too unlikely. I think the author didn't want to get into details, fine, but then the process of their falling in love was very unrealistic. I was still glad they hit it off, and that Bob's family accepted their relationship and all that, but surely the author could have done better if this element was that important for the overall plot.

At the same time Marcus investigates  what he can, he makes a connection to an academic situation he feels he had to report. This leads into some drama and a secondary issue that felt a bit distracting but which actually has a link to the murder. This was interesting and brought some much needed new interactions between Marcus and other characters and I think the evolution was captivating. When we get to the end, though, once again things happen too quickly and are presented as established facts instead of us seeing them happen somehow, so... good enough but could be so much better.

There are three more books in this series... I might try the next one one day.... who knows... but right now I think this was enough to give me an idea of the author's style.

Grade: 6/10

Ellie MacDonald - Sara

Sweet Sara Collins is one of the founding members of the Governess Club. But she has a secret: She doesn't love teaching. She'd much prefer to be a vicar's wife and help the local community. But this quiet mouse doesn't want to upset her friends, and she resolves to help in whatever ways she can.
Nathan Grant is the embodiment of everything that frightens Sara. Which is why she can't understand why the handsome but reclusive and gruff man is so fascinating to her. When Sara decides it's time to take a chance and experience all that life has to offer, Nathan is the first person she thinks of.
Will Sara's walk on the wild side ruin her chances at a simple, happy life? Or has she just opened the door to a once-in-a-lifetime chance at passion?

Comment: This is the third novella in the Governess Club series by Ellie MacDonald. It follows the friendship of four young women who worked as governesses and who have opened a school together.

Sara is the quietest of the friends and a sweet soul. She had a demanding childhood as a vicar's daughter and her mother was terribly domineering and always accusing her of being close to sin. This shaped up Sara's personality and she prefers to not call attention to herself, which is why she has never really confessed to her friends that teaching isn't a vocation for her. She is hopeful the young vicar might propose, though, because she believes she would be a good vicar's wife, after all she already helps the community as best as she can. What she wasn't prepared for was the arrival of Nathan Grant, the new neighbor, and how much tempted she would feel to be adventurous if he is with her...

The books in this series are more novella sized than full length and in a way this can be seen negatively because more pages might help the subjects to be developed better, which is often the issue with this. The vast majority of novellas I have read seem to be quite limited in what they achieve, unless they are part of lengthier series, from which we can already have enough information to sustain what we see happening in the new/next one.

In regards to this installment, having read the others, the sequence of how things are developed isn't hard to follow, but I think a new reader would not find things to be that hard, for the author does include the necessary to make sense to certain information shared. The thing is, the stories on themselves are simply too quick and some situations are unrealistic for the type of setting we are given. Meaning that there are historical romances that are incredibly anachronistic or just too focused on improbable things that feel great to read. In these stories, i just don't think the author achieved that perfect balance.

Sara is a likable and sweet person, no doubt on it and I can understand why she has such a reserved nature and personality and why she doesn't like confrontation. I can also see why she would not be daring and why she would prefer things she is happy to do instead of pushing for something else, as her friends advise her to try sometimes. But, of course, there is also a part of anyone who would love to try different things too, everyone has dreams, and Sara's aren't that high all things compared.

Therefore, my biggest issue, apart from the lack of pages to properly develop the subjects, is how unrealistic Sara's behavior is once knowing Nathan challenges her perspective of life. I mean, I can accept that she would be tempted to think about her dreams differently, but the whole "teach me about being a woman" idea is just too out of place in such an historical setting, considering her personality, her timidity and the social pressures on how wrong her "adventure" with Nathan would be, even more so when we know she and her friends had a reputation to uphold.

I suppose something like did happen for real people in the 19th century but it just doesn't seem realistic for this her character. This means that, to me, the romance wasn't really believable, even after they say the right things in a scene one could label as romantic... plus, Nathan's character was not developed well either, and while his attitude in regards to Sara might make sense (why she would be special to me) I just didn't buy his change of mind. 

The story isn't big but there were times I wasn't impressed with the character's choices. Some times things seemed a little dull too and after a while I was thinking more about how many pages were left to finish than if those pages would be enriching or not. Perhaps I should say that this book met the minimum to be interesting but it wasn't amazing. I hope the last one, featuring the last unmarried friend, is more rewarding.

Grade: 6/10

Jenn McKinlay - Love at First Book

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.
Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.
Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she’s built – and for the man who seems to soften toward her with every quip she throws at him. But when she discovers the reason for Kieran's initial resistance, Em finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her now undeniable feelings for Kier. As Siobhan's novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

Comment: I got interested in this book because it had a plot that would feature people who work with books. That easy.

Emily left her routines in Martha's Vineyard to stay fro an year in Ireland, as part of a job that entailed being the assistant to her favorite author. Emily had a tough childhood with her parents always fighting and then her father left them, which means her mother became bitter and narcissistic, targeting Emily for her anger and dismissal... after a lot of therapy, Emily was able to set up some boundaries and this year in Ireland is one more way to do so, and if she has the chance to spend time with an author she admires, even better.

She is also going to do a part time at the shop where this author is in residence, and she hopes her librarian knowledge will help but the owner, Kieran Murphy doesn't warm up to her right away...

At first, I was quite enthusiastic over the book, and I liked the idea of an adventurous Emily leaving a heavy weight behind to try something different and that would help her with her self esteem too. The whole bookshop and author's assistant idea was quite captivating and I rooted for Emily to have a great experience.

The plot isn't complicated and it is quite focused on Emily's days and how the interacts with those around her. The author she admires wrote a children's series that was and is loved by many, but the last book was released ten years ago and no one really understood what caused such a hiatus. Emily spontaneously wrote a letter to this author and ended up invited to help, something that left Emily on the moon. But, of course, learning what happened and why is the author in a rush now to finish the last book of the series can be rather bittersweet.

I don't think it is necessary to be a genius to guess why now and why Emily's letter might cause a sudden decision, thus it is to expect some sadness to come... I mean, I didn't really think too much about this because the other elements were enough catnip for me and at first I thought the author was just quirky, but someone paying more attention might catch on sooner. Of course, certain things then have to happen in a predictable way...

There is romance too, between Emily and Kieran, and at first they don't seem to get along much, which means I was all aboard with this opposites attract idea. Plus, they kept quoting book passages to one another and I found this to be cute. I liked the fact Emily was a lover of books and that this was also something that drew them together. However, even supposing the point was never to focus on this, I also think the romance development was too predictable and lacked more chemistry for me to really believe in how intense their feelings really were supposed to be.

For me, the most interesting element in this book was how Emily dealt with her mother's issues and personality. Their relationship was always based on some toxicity from her mother, someone who could not value and care for Emily as most mothers do. We have plenty of scenes in which Emily mentions the amount of messages and voice mails and calls her mother makes and how much stress this causes and when they talk, how careful Emily has to maintain the boundary. Too bad that this element didn't seem to have any obvious closure....

As a whole, this was a cute story, even with the issues I wasn't as fond of, but I kind of expected more, in general. I think this story was almost there, whatever random meaning this there might have for me and which I can't explain properly. It was w what if thing, what if this had happened, what if this scene had turned out differently...

This is also the second book in a duo, related to a first one featuring Emily's best friend. I have not read that one, though, but I assume it might have similar subjects, considering some scenes here.

Grade: 6/10

CS Harris - When Gods Die

The young wife of an aging marquis is found murdered in the arms of the Prince Regent. Around her neck lies a necklace said to have been worn by Druid priestesses-that is, until it was lost at sea with its last owner, Sebastian St. Cyr's mother. Now Sebastian is lured into a dangerous investigation of the marchioness's death-and his mother's uncertain fate.
As he edges closer to the truth-and one murder follows another-he confronts a conspiracy that imperils those nearest him and threatens to bring down the monarchy.

Comment: This is the second installment in the Sebastian St Cyr series and it takes place just a little bit after the events in book #1. It continues to follow the investigations of aristocrat Sebastian, who succeeded in the peninsular war and who is embarking on this career for personal reasons too...

In this second story Sebastian needs to discover who would want to compromise the prince Regent by leaving a dead woman in his chambers. The woman is a marchioness and she had a dagger on her back, although that wasn't what killed her, but the whole thing is enough to cause worry among those who need to maintain the regent's public image. Sebastian wasn't really interested in getting into this, but a detail convinces him, which is the fact the dead woman had a necklace which once belonged to Sebastian's mother. The question is that his mother had that necklace when she went missing, years ago...

Finished the first book, I had some doubts regarding the vibe of this series, for two reasons: first, the story had been slightly more sad/depressing as I imagined and, second, I had been reading similar books in the genre with my buddy read friend and, by comparison, that first book felt sadder. Going into this second one, I hoped things would be more bearable, and more captivating.

I think that there was definite improvement in the general sense of the story, mostly because I kind of told myself to ignore certain details, such as the fact Sebastian is being manipulated by one or two characters (it would depend on one's interpretation of that word, but it is the one I think of) and that the investigations are slowly revealing a side of Sebastian I like, for instance, how he tries to help and care for Tom, the little boy he "rescued" and who works for him as his tiger.

The elements I still feel a little suspicious of are related to Sebastian's personal life. His relationship with his family (mainly father and older sister) are complex but mostly negative. I feel sad that he can't seem to have a good enough relationship with them, although with his father it is a little more than cordiality. Now, with so many books yet to come, I hope this is due to his mother's disappearance and that some things are just decoys, which means something might change in the future. I hope so, because while Sebastian still feels rather aloof, I hope he can get some happiness

I'm not a fan of his love interest either but regarding this I know something will change at some point... unfortunately, I already saw something I shouldn't and I know his love interest will change.... I'm here for the journey, though, and hope this will mean a more rewarding emotional experience for him too. Thinking about the love interest now, though, it can only have a sad end, I suppose...

The case Sebastian investigated was as interesting as I assumed it would be and it actually had more details and secondary characters playing a key role than what i thought. I have to wonder at how the author will keep up the investigations fresh for more than twenty books... Still, regarding the identity of the killer, I never suspected that person and I think the web and the red herrings were quite engaging and offered an interesting perspective on other things. Clearly, the author want to do social commentary as well, as the series goes on....

I consider this to be a good reading experience. Slightly better than the first book but not yet that much to upgrade. I hope the next one convinces me fully.

Grade: 7/10

Mini - Comments

The following two books don't motivate me enough to write much about them, but I like the idea of having a coordinated diary....

Os Dias Contados by João Tordo could be literally translated as "days measured" or more freely as "deadline looming". It's another book featuring known characters from a thriller series, whose books I have read before featuring a problematic police inspector. The thing is, this one is a sort of prequel about the inspector's early days in this job. 

I admit that I wasn't too keen on it because it felt like it highlighted all the elements I liked the least about her character and behavior. The plot is interesting and, as always, the philosophical descriptions and musings were my favorite part, but the details of the story not really. 

Inspector Pilar investigates how the eastern Europe gangs and human trafficking business are related to a musician who has an accident while failing to sky in Sierra Nevada and his 11 year old son. I'm not a fan of the human traffic subject in books, no matter what it is too depressing and makes me angry, which stops me from enjoying the stories, and here the same happened. I will admit to say that I probably won't think much about this one in the future.

Grade: 5/10

Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz ended up being a DNF. I had planned to read it for the TBR Challenge post in this month of September but I only read 63 pages (out of 260 more less in my ebook edition) before I realized I was not able to connect and that would probably lead into a very negative rating. Thus, I chose to DNF and try something else.

The story is the second in a trilogy (I have not read the first book) about characters who work at a cruise ship and the heroine Nina is back for another tour, but this time another crew member is her ex Ollie. I mean, from what is hared I inferred they weren't really a couple, only friends with benefits but whose feelings run deeper than Nina admitted.

In these 63 pages, I read a few about how Ollie and Nina met years ago when she applied for the job, a few other pages were about the present day in which she is resentful of her best friend leaving the cruise work and annoyed that Ollie is back, and a few other pages of when she and Ollie started working together, as well as her best friend, and how interactions were. 

Having the narrative jumping around and having a frustrated Nina made me annoyed too and I didn't want to continue. On one hand, this was perhaps unfair and since we had enough hints at what a complicated youth Nina had (she was a gymnastic who hurt herself and her father stole her money?) I think maybe I would like to see where she would go, but the lovers reunited part of the romance failed to entice me. Therefore, on to other things.

Grade: DNF

Balli kaur Jaswal - Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

Nikki lives in cosmopolitan West London, where she tends bar at the local pub. The daughter of Indian immigrants, she’s spent most of her twenty-odd years distancing herself from the traditional Sikh community of her childhood, preferring a more independent (that is, Western) life. When her father’s death leaves the family financially strapped, Nikki, a law school dropout, impulsively takes a job teaching a "creative writing" course at the community center in the beating heart of London’s close-knit Punjabi community.
Because of a miscommunication, the proper Sikh widows who show up are expecting to learn basic English literacy, not the art of short-story writing. When one of the widows finds a book of sexy stories in English and shares it with the class, Nikki realizes that beneath their white dupattas, her students have a wealth of fantasies and memories. Eager to liberate these modest women, she teaches them how to express their untold stories, unleashing creativity of the most unexpected—and exciting—kind.
As more women are drawn to the class, Nikki warns her students to keep their work secret from the Brotherhood, a group of highly conservative young men who have appointed themselves the community’s "moral police." But when the widows’ gossip offers shocking insights into the death of a young wife—a modern woman like Nikki—and some of the class erotica is shared among friends, it sparks a scandal that threatens them all.

Comment: I saw this book being praised at a site I sometimes check for recommendations. I cannot remember now what exactly made me interested but it was convenient to read it this month for one of the challenges I'm doing.

Nikki has dropped out of law school because it wasn't a passion for her but she still hasn't been able to find something which is why she thinks it can be a good idea to help other women in her Punjabi community to write creatively. However, the classes don't go exactly as she intended or imagined for most women are older and are widowed and some don't know how to write at all. Still, things slowly progress and quicker than she imagined the ladies are sharing erotic stories instead of learning and while Nikki feels this is a great way to empower them, it might also bring some controversy if others hear about it, especially the so-called brotherhood who occupies their time making certain all laws are being met...

I didn't have any expectation about this book, honestly and even the notion the ladies would be sharing erotic tales made me imagine something less graphic, somehow I've pictured the stories would be more alluded to than described, which isn't the case. I mean, great, but the conjunction of all elements made this book feel a little disconcerting to me.

First, I didn't really connect with Nikki, the main character. Of course that many people are adrift and don't have a perfect plan for their lives, but I felt that Nikki was hard to empathize with with her lack of goals. It made it seem, to me, that comparing her personality and choices as a western type of young woman to those other women who are older and used to their conservative life was a bit too obvious and didn't convince me fully.

Nikki is, even putting aside the Punjabi/Indian roots and culture, someone I didn't find sympathetic and that did affect my appreciation of her life choices. However, I was quite glad when she decided to help the other women, although if everyone was so aware of the danger, I think it is impossible to ignore the fact something would go wrong at some point, which isn't that much of a surprise. In a way, this was a bit too predictable and along with the other elements I was inattentive to, it made for a slightly boring story in some moments.

I also imagined, as soon as the ladies join the class and start sharing the erotic stories, that this somehow would be like a metaphor/allegory or whatever, to their personal lives but apart from a few things, we don't really get to know these women that well. We don't see their actual lives, their actual thoughts, the way the stories impact them psychologically... I thought the story would have gained more from this and not from the conservative/modern dichotomy it highlights. I mean, this is obviously important too and great that women feel they can share erotic stories, but...

I confess to also have felt a little annoyed the the thought women need to hide these things, that they need to bow to religious/cultural/social rules and demands in such a diminishing way. Yes, it is how the community works and all that, but it does annoy my modern, feminist perception. This book has a happy ending, in a way, regarding this but at the same time I feel the issues mentioned are too complex for the (quick) way we got to see them being developed here.

There is also a sub plot regarding honor, a concept that is huge among certain cultures and religions. I won't write about it because it's such a distant concept for me that while i understand what it means and how many perpetuate it somehow, it makes me sad and angry. But it was one more element to add questions and stress out the danger vibe in some parts of the book and it was all too clashing. too many elements, not enough time developing them in a way that would be rewarding for the end of the book. Also, the very last page has a scene that I didn't understand the importance of it, so... many doubts in my head regarding many details.

It was interesting to learn new things, to have a different impression of a culture I really don't know much about, apart from books and articles found online, but as a fictional narrative with elements and characters I didn't connect with, this didn't end up being that great to me.

Grade: 5/10

Lauren Gilley - Edge of the Wild

“Your lordship.”
It’s a title Oliver will have to get used to: in just a few short months, he’s gone from the bastard son of a dead duke’s equally-dead brother, plain Oliver Meacham, to Lord Oliver, the royal consort of King Erik of Aeretoll. Still uncertain of his place amongst the Northerners, but cautiously hopeful that what he’s found with Erik is real and lasting, his new relationship is put to the ultimate test on the journey to the annual Midwinter Festival: a meeting of all the lords and clan chiefs of the North, across the treacherous Northern Wastes. It doesn’t help that he keeps having these visions…of blue light, and antlered shamans…and dragons.
Lady Tessa Drake traveled North with her cousin Oliver as escort with the intention of wedding King Erik. But it was Oliver who captured Erik’s heart, and Tessa was instead offered the hand of Erik’s elder nephew, the handsome and kind-hearted Prince Leif. But with Leif away at the festival, and Tessa left behind at Aeres, she finds herself growing closer and closer to Leif’s younger brother, Rune, who’s recovering from a grave injury, and putting butterflies in her stomach.
In the South, in the duchy of Drakewell, Tessa’s older sister, Amelia, spends her days scouting for outlaws with her men-at-arms – and her nights in the arms of her oldest and best friend, Malcolm, a guardsman she loves, but can’t marry if she hopes to secure an army to defend her homeland from the invading Sels. Her mother wants her to marry one of Tessa’s foppish former suitors, but Amelia has bigger things to worry about: namely, the strange happenings in the Inglewood, and the claims of “beasts” roaming there.

Comment: This is the second installment in the Drake Chronicles series by Lauren Gilley, featuring a fantasy world where a selected few can rediscover dragons thought to have been extinct.

Now that Erick and Oliver have decided to give their relationship ago, everyone is aware of it and starts calling Oliver as "lord", something he definitely needs to adapt to, considering his status in his own home has always been one of dismissal. At the same time, he needs to prove his ability to be a consort to Erick, especially now that a clan assembly is about to take place. The problem is that not everyone seems happy with the course things are taking with this alliance with the southerners...still, something unexpected is certainly happening soon, but will everyone be ready to deal with it?

I can see that these books are meant to be a sort of saga, for there are five books and the stories are going to clearly be sequential and continuous. In other words, it isn't a story/romance per book, all the several characters will be active in all books, perhaps with some having a bit more focus on one book than another. I kind of like this tactic, especially if the plot is engaging and the romances captivating.

In terms of romance, we have Erick and Oliver as center stage and a good part of the plot is still focused on them and in the tasks they will be part of while the clan assembly takes place. I figured this would be a sort of test for them, mostly if Oliver can prove to be a good partner for Erick, especially at a bureaucratic level. It also helps that Oliver is a heir of the drakes, people whose lineage has had a connection with dragons in the past. This does prove to be handy when the clans face some dangers the more to the north they go.

While this is happening, there are two other key spots where interesting events develop. One of them is in the south, where Oliver's other niece Amelia is holding the fort and the royal decisions. I confess this part sometimes confused me a little because some secondary characters in this area were easily mixed up with others and I've lost myself in who was friend, who was not. What I can say is that there is a plot ongoing and Amelia is apparently taken into a trap but, incredible, dragons are there and she can communicate with one and I am assuming this will become even more important int he following books, as things tense up further.

Another key spot is back on king Erick's castle, where his sister Revna and nephew Rune stayed with Tessa, the other niece of Oliver. It is obvious that Tessa and Rune like each other and she would prefer to marry him instead of heir Lief, who traveled with Erick up north, but there are social norms to stick to and protocols to follow... These two, honestly, read like young teenagers (they are older than that) and their romance seems to embark on a more sweeter tone, but I do think they are suitable.

While all these things are happening, a new threat is about to happen in the north and I don't think it is that difficult to imagine Erick and the others were going to be led into a trap. I didn't imagine the details of it, though, and something really terrible took place, which is why Oliver's ability to connect with a cold-dragon comes in handy. I liked this aspect but it means some unpleasant situations need to be developed too... 

I am quite curious to see what is going to happen next to the different groups and I will try to read the next book as soon as I can.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Caro Carver - Bad Tourists

Best friends Darcy, Camilla, and Kate escape for a post-divorce retreat in the Maldives, the perfect place to relax, reset, and embrace a fresh start in life. Darcy is learning how to be a free woman at forty-two. Camilla has found the perfect calling as a fitness and wellness influencer with a devoted following. And Kate is finally working on the book she was meant to write after years of telling other people’s stories.
Their dream getaway? The exclusive and isolated Sapphire Island Resort. With luxurious private villas, crystal-clear waters, and sun-drenched white sand beaches, relaxation is guaranteed. But this is no ordinary friendship, and they’re not the only guests on the island with secrets. Who left the body on the beach—and who’s next?

Comment: September is already half way and it's time for the TBR Challenge post. The theme for this month is "lush life" which I interpreted as having something to do with an extravagant way of living. For that reason I had picked a certain book but, sadly, DNF'd, which made me quickly look through the pile and finally picked this one instead. Three friends are having some holiday in the Maldives. Fancy!

Kate, Darcy and Camilla are spending some time together in a luxurious resort to celebrate Darcy's divorce. The setting should be the perfect place to also step over the anniversary of the date that united them. Twenty years ago, a massacre happened in Egland, where they are from, and Kate was the only survivor. Darcy's boyfriend at the time and Camilla's twin were killed but the women have always had each others's support and this is the moment in their lives in which such a thing became possible. However, at the same resort there is a couple in his honeymoon, and he seems to be abusive, and then there's a man who seems very friendly but who ends up dead. What is going on and what secrets do these women hide?

I think I've added this book to the pile because the exotic setting and the idea of such a vacation seemed great. Plus, I love the cover of this book, it's likely edited but who cares, it's gorgeous.

The story is told by the three friends and we also get the POV of Jade, the wife of the apparently abusive husband. This is an obvious choice since the book is a sort of thriller but I must say I was often distracted by the different "voices" which seemed to be a little forced, in the sense that the author certainly tried to give them all different personalities and, to a point, sometimes this felt exaggerated. I think third person, even with a focus on each of their POV would have been better.

In fact, perhaps that option would have helped with the suspense part. There is a big twist happening closer to the end but the author had to include red herrings which, once things become obvious, seem quite weakly done in comparison. The first person narrator wasn't always that smooth here and I often thought that no one thinks like that or speaks like that if it's a personal thought. I get it, we need to keep up with the mystery vibe, but there were times where this wasn't solid.

I liked the three main characters and Jade too, in a way, and I was certainly invested in peeling off their layers and learning what made them be and act the way they did. I think Kate was made to be slightly more special because she is the survival of the massacre. Still, in spite of this becoming a focus and of us having their POVs, I confess I never really felt I was deeply rooting for these women. I don't think the author conveyed that properly how these different people connected as friends. As fellow mourners yes, but a friendship to the point in which rich Darcy pays such a vacation to them, perhaps not that obvious.

The massacre as a common ground for them was an interesting choice. The author also used the date September 10th in 2001 to easily explain why the whole thing didn't have a huge coverage as it probably would. If so, certain details we learn later on would have made the final twist a little more complicated to accept. There also a few elements, related to how this mattered more than we can understand at first, that felt a bit too convenient. For instance, the connection between this and the couple honeymooning - this isn't a spoiler, I mean, it has to be obvious that there would be a connection - didn't feel as well planned as it was made to seem. In terms of character behavior I mean.

The identity of the villain was surprising, but not for who it was - the clues point at that person even if one suspects it might be a red herring - but for the motif. Again, not impossible, and psychologically speaking, it did make sense, but the explanation of why seemed flimsy. How that person went on to be this villain, and killer...anyway, I can understand why other readers found this to be a weak story.

Nevertheless, this was more or less OK for me. I liked several things while others weren't as great, and sadly I didn't feel much empathy towards the characters in general, but it is a fact I was able to feel interest in reading and the short chapters made for a quick read.

Grade: 7/10

Sharon Shinn - Archangel

And so it came to pass...
Through science, faith and force of will, the Harmonics carved out for themselves a society that they conceived of as perfect. Diverse peoples held together by respect for each other and the prospect of swift punishment if they disobeyed their laws. Fertile land that embraced a variety of climates and seasons. Angels to guard the mortals and mystics to guard the forbidden knowledge. Jehovah to watch over them all...
But an age of corruption has come to the land, threatening their peace and placing the Samarians in grave danger. Their only hope lies in the crowning of a new Archangel. The oracles have chosen for this honor the angel named Gabriel, and further decreed that he must first wed a mortal woman named Rachel.
It is his destiny and hers. And Gabriel is certain that she will greet the news of her betrothal with enthusiasm, and a devotion to duty equal to his own.
Rachel, however, has other ideas...

Comment: I had this book in the pile since 2010. One of those situation in which some books are left behind because I felt I might like it so much, that anticipation alone was half the journey. But now that more than 15 years have gone by, I want to get to books that have been in the pile too long and, voilá.

In Samaria, humans and angels co exist in relative harmony, all under the watchful eye of the God Jovah. Gabriel has been chosen years ago to be the next Archangel, something that will happen in a few months, but Raphael, the current Archangel, doesn't seem inclined to let go of power... still, Gabriel needs to fin his Angelica, the woman destined to help him, but when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, in the sense that she doesn't cower, doesn't settle and is even determined to free all children from slavery. How can they work together when a marriage between was designed by God and didn't take into consideration their feelings? Or is it that God really knows all His children?

This was an interesting fantasy, clearly based or inspired by the Bible. But the goal is not to preach about its contents in disguise, in case someone thinks this is an adaptation meant to help readers see the light. The characters here might be based on known names and the plot might have several similar and familiar elements, but the author really used her imagination to come up with an interesting society and a lot could be seen everywhere today, fantasy aspects apart.

The base of the plot is one we can see in plenty of other fantasy books: a certain divinity sees all, and determines pairings that "are meant to complement" each other, which is how angel Gabriel and human Rachel become predestined even though they don't seem to be in the same page. Still, both gain something from their pairing and I anticipated that their individual wishes would really match up at the same time their romance certainly would.

Obviously, this wasn't as easy due to their personalities and visions of what was to be done. Life in Samaria isn't fair to everyone and there is a certain group that is marginalized and enslaved and this will be a subject that will affect everything else for it is the starting point that leads to other issues. I thought the political and social issues present in this book weren't too heavy and exaggerated in regards to how the characters behaved. With this I mean to say I'm glad we didn't have the "bad guys" POV nor pointless violent/humiliating scenes. I think the pictured presented was balanced enough for me.

In a way, the plot and the main subjects kind of developed in a predictable way and the more philosophical issues such as the belief in God being necessary to sustain oneself and what kind of limits are there really if we think He is not there... I think these things were interesting food for thought subjects and made the story feel more than a disguised romance of convenience.

However, if there is one detail that I felt wasn't done as well as I wanted was precisely the romance. I liked both Gabriel and Rachel as individuals and how they really stood for the things they thought were important, but as a couple, their relationship was too subtle and under developed. I don't mean they should have been intimate right away or anything like that. It's really the romance part. Or, better, the lack of it! The fact they were a couple and married so soon was not the issue, but the author certainly didn't seem that it would matter for us to see their relationship improving and developing.

I guess this might be related to the author's style (although I haven't read anything else by her) and to the moment in which this was written, which was the late 90s, and perhaps fantasy then didn't have to include the type of content one expects from it in general? Just wondering aloud.... Still, I think if we could have seen Gabriel and Rachel become closer would have helped and for me, personally, would have made the book even better.

I liked reading this book, it was unique, that is a fact, but I can see how it might seem "dated" to some readers nowadays. I can't say I feel that eager to read the others in the series, some are continuations, others are prequels... I think I prefer to maintain my good impression of this one.

Grade: 7/10

Grace Burrowes - A Gentleman of Unreliable Honor

Lord Julian Caldicott is summoned by his estranged mother to search for old love letters she has misplaced. Julian soon realizes the letters along with other items of sentimental value have been stolen. The thief is preying on wealthy women, purloining mementos both dear and scandalous. If the missing items become public, many reputations will be ruined, including the duchess's.
Julian embarks on the investigation despite having no clues, too many suspects, and his distant and difficult mama at the center of the whole intrigue. In the midst of these frustrations, Julian's ducal brother takes ship for France, adding more duties to his lordship's already full plate. Before Julian can bring the culprit behind the thefts to justice, he must first come to terms with old betrayals that could yield new and deadly fruit.

Comment: This is the 6th installment in the Lord Julian series by Grace Burrowes, following the investigations of Lord Julian, war survival and heir to a dukedom.

In this story Julian is invited by his mother to look for a few letters of hers which have disappeared. It just happens that she is attending a house party and her host, and friend, has also lost something. And, not surprising anymore, another guest also misplaced something, which means a thief is around or someone has a specific agenda in targeting these ladies. The question is, why, and why now considering the fact that if it as a blackmailing plan, nothing has been demanded. At the same time, Julian needs to deal with the fact his impression of his mother might not be as black and white as he sometimes remembers...

It is always rewarding to read these books, mainly because the main characters are likable and I want to see what happens next in their lives. The little investigation Lord Julian does is also an interesting mental exercise.

This story might not seem the most necessary in the big scheme of things because, honestly, not much really happens in terms of plot advancing. The books until now have all kind of added something else to the overall arc and this one seems to be a little less demanding, but I think the real gem here is in how this story helps us to peel off one more layer in Julian's personality. His relationship with his mother has been presented, until now, in a certain way, but perhaps not all is as it seemed.

I really like these psychological little things in these books, small details that might matter much from a certain POV, but if one sees from a different angle it can be very different. We have been given the impression that Julian didn't have a good relationship with his mother and the whole illegitimacy issue didn't help either, but it turns out that Julian's perspective might not be as impartial as it seemed when he gave opinion on my other things. I kind of liked where this went...

The investigation he embarks on seems very simple at first. Of course, it isn't so, but more than the mystery of who stole things, it is the way the need to do was constructed. It is true this series is not meant to be a complex crime master-plan but I would not guess, ever, the reason the thief stole things was the one we learn. I think the author might not be really taken into the right consideration when it comes to the mysteries planned and how they need to be developed. 

The stories aren't big, in terms of the number of pages, and that might make it seem as if not much is going on, but I think the author has a very direct and concise manner in her writing. Of course, on the other side of things, it does feel as if certain things didn't have to be as subtle as they are; I wouldn't mind if a few details were to made more clear and, along with it, certain situations were to be highlighted more too. For instance, the romance... although I suppose that if the book is to have so many more books, as it does, some things simply need to drag.

I had a good time reading this book and I am eager to get to the next and see what new adventure Julian will face now that his brother finally left for his European tour.

Grade: 8/10

Ilona Andrews - Sweep of the Blade

Maud Demille was a daughter of Innkeepers. She knew that a simple life wasn't in the cards, but she never anticipated what Fate would throw at her.
Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her daughter, Helen, had been exiled for the sins of her husband to the desolate planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud had spent a year and a half avenging his debts. But now all the debts are paid. Rescued by her sister Dina, Maud had swore off all things vampire. Except she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined.
Try as she might, she can't just walk away from Arland. It doesn't help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.
To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is a powerful vampire House, and Maud knows that a woman who turned down the proposal from its most beloved son wouldn't get a warm reception. But Maud Demille never shied from a fight and House Krahr may soon discover that there is more to this human woman than they ever thought possible.

Comment: This is the 4th installment in the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews and it is focused on Maud, Dina's sister, as she travels with her daughter Helen to Arland's planet, to see if she can have a new life there with him.

Maud has had the experience of following her heart and becoming the wife of a vampire. Not everything was bad and she got her daughter, but the truth is that her life with her previous husband wasn't the partnership she imagined and things went on to become very bad. She is aware that Arland isn't the same type of person, but will she and her daughter be well received in his planet, by his family? She is willing to try, but she knows that if nothing goes according to plan, she has her sister to help, especially since it does seem as if the welcome she imagined to be polite if not warm, is actually stressful and complicated due to the fact Arland's family is hosting a wedding... but something isn't quite right...

As always, it was a great fun to read this story. These authors are consistent in their style and talent and whether one likes one book more than another, there is no doubt that the ability is there and easy to notice. I should say that this can be read as a standalone, but it is incredibly rewarding to read the whole series, and some references do make more sense that way.

This story also departs from the previous three one for it doesn't take place at Dina's Inn. This time, Maud travels to Arland's planet to see if she can adapt to his family and vampire life, as well as her daughter. In the previous book, Maud and Arland started noticing one another and circumstances brought them closer, but Maud had a previous marriage to a vampire and it didn't end well, even before her husband was killed. She is wary and this is to be expected, after all. Nevertheless, it is obvious these two would be a couple that would match, and the fun was in anticipating how well Maud would actually adapt.

As soon as they arrive, Maud has to face adversity, but nothing she can't handle. It turns out that all the experience she gained before, all the things she studied and improved on for her first vampire marriage, would end up being useful here too. I did like the fact Maud was a great heroine, vulnerable but also fearless and her behavior was conscious and considerate in her new environment. As an adventure, this story worked out pretty well, even if one thinks about how Helen had do adapt too.

I liked the cultural aspects too, because Maud was also afraid other vampires would not welcome Helen or that Maud would be seen as inferior somehow, but all the situations that led to her feeling worthy were not only due to others's words/actions, but through her own personal awareness. I suppose that being with the right people certainly helps, and it was certainly hopeful and exciting to see Maud gaining the trust and the gratitude of other members of Arland's family.

The romance is very subtle, it's all in actions, little things, small key scenes/moments. I think a bit more demonstration would be better, but the way things are developed, it is clear they have feelings for each other, and we can even say they aren't demonstrative people anyway, in terms of personality. It was also fun to know more about the vampires in this series, but in this regard, i do think the authors could have gone further in establishing or describing more by having interactions being more central.

All in all, another great story and I can't wait for the next!

Grade: 8/10