Darlene's Digest

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was such a fun book that I had to give it five stars. Fun, but also very meaningful as it explores the pains and growth of a marriage and the complications that arise when communication goes south. As it says in the blurbs, "The first rule of Book Club is...you don't talk about Book Club." After all, when a bunch of testosterone laden athletes and bros get together, they don't want anyone to know they're reading historical romance to Get A Clue About What Women Want. The H&H seemed very real, as were their problems. I liked how the author dealt with the hero's speech impediment, and what that meant to him in and out of relationships. We got a hint at where Lyssa Kay Adams 's going to go next with the Bromance Book Club and I can't wait! View all my reviews

His mother’s favorite of his pieces was the elaborate Chanukah menorah with the rampant Lion of Judah he’d made when he first started crafting his own designs. The holder for the shammes that lit the oil in the eight other lamps leaned in slightly, but she swore she would have it no other way. “It’s eager to perform its task,” she’d say every year with a smile as his father lit the first light. --[WIP] Untitled Chanukah historical novella Happy Hanukkah! Chanukah Sameach! No matter how you say it (or spell it) the Festival of Lights is a special time around the world. In the Northern Hemisphere the Jews gather at the darkest time of the year to kindle small flames in the cold night, while in the Southern Hemisphere they wait...and wait...and wait for sundown to light the chanukah menorah (and have a cookout at the beach). Regardless of how it's celebrated, the festival commemorates the victory of the weak over the strong, the small against the mighty, and faith i...

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh My rating: 4 of 5 stars An excellent mystery which kept me guessing "whodunnit" up until the end. At one point I thought I knew who the guilty party was, but I was mistaken. I love it when that happens. The setting of Nalini Singh 's New Zealand was also a treat, where the landscape itself becomes part of the story. The heroine was bright and capable, and didn't make TSTL mistakes, the hero was enigmatic and wounded, and his passion for justice helped push the story forward. I'd definitely read more with these characters, or any future mystery/suspense novels from Ms. Singh. I'm already a fan of her paranormal romances, this adds another level of enjoyment. View all my reviews

Just Watch Me by Jeff Lindsay My rating: 2 of 5 stars I wanted to like this more. When Darkly Dreaming Dexter was released I loved it, and told all my friends to read it. After all, not only was it an excellent suspense story, but Dexter had a moral compass. He'd promised his stepfather that when he got the urge to torture and kill, he'd use it to take out the trash--evil people who prey on the weak, and damage society. Riley Wolfe is missing that moral compass. While I enjoyed the caper aspect of the book, I couldn't feel much for the amoral protagonist who is perfectly willing to murder and harm people who stand in his way. people who would interfere with his heist. Not just bad people, not just the ones who prey on the weak. To his credit, Jeff Lindsay points out this flaw in Wolfe's character, many times. And yet just as one character at the end rejects Wolfe for his sociopathic tendencies, I'm not sure I would want to read ...

My car broke down yesterday, and after the first moments of confusion and panic I thought, "I am so fortunate." This is why I felt that way: It happened in the parking lot of a grocery store less than two miles from my home, meaning I could have walked home if I needed to. I didn't have a trunk full of melting ice cream since I hadn't gone grocery shopping. I'd finished all my appointments for the day. The dog had been walked within the past two hours and could wait a little longer at home. I didn't have a dog or kids in the car. It was a stunningly beautiful day, perfect for hanging around for the tow truck. I had a book with me and I was next to a used book store.  I have a AAA app on my phone to call a tow truck. I can afford a yearly membership to AAA. I had a bottle of water with me.  Most importantly, I knew if my car needed a new starter (the most likely scenario based on the sounds it wasn't making) I could pay for it. I wasn't one car re...

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller My rating: 4 of 5 stars A solid debut with a small "woo woo" element (in fact, that was what I liked least about the book, how the ghostly presence contributed to the resolution, but your mileage may vary) that sets up future books with a fascinating family of scientists during the Gilded Age. There's a hunky hero who gives new meaning to "absent minded professor", heroine who discovers her true self, and entertaining secondary characters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Biller. View all my reviews

When she turned back to him, Dr. Murray had a chest of instruments open and was examining them. “Is that what you will take with you?” He held up a lancet, wiped it on his coat sleeve, then examined its edge in the light. “My chest is the most valuable item I own. If there is time to take any one thing with me, this is what I will take.” He put the blade down and looked at her. “Again, abandoning ship is a last resort and I do not expect that to happen. It is always best to be prepared for the worst situation, though. If it happens, you are ready; if it does not happen, you can count yourself pleasantly surprised.” --CASTAWAY DREAMS I wanted to post some more pictures from the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum  in Savannah because it had so much cool stuff, or at least cool to someone who writes about scurvy and scabies and surgery below decks. This chest on the right is a surgeon's chest of the kind that would have been used by Alexander Murray in Castaway Dreams or Charley Alc...

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Jennifer Gunter My rating: 5 of 5 stars To paraphrase the cover blurb, this book is a must-read for anyone who has a vagina or is close to someone who has one. There is so much misinformation about female anatomy (I see all kinds of weird hymen stuff in novels, even in the 21st c.) that it's helpful to have a good reference guide at hand no matter what your age, the status of your sex life, or what you think you know about what's going on down there. If I had a daughter or a sister I'd want them to have and read this book by a well-respected OB/GYN who has a vagina, and knows how much facts matter. View all my reviews

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow My rating: 5 of 5 stars I'm going through book withdrawal. I was so caught up in January Scaller's story and her world(s) that I stayed up long past my bedtime and hated to see the book end. An astoundly good debut novel about a young woman who find magic in books, writing, and storytelling, and what reader and author can't relate to that? It's a special delight when a debut novel stuns the reader with the sheer joy of the storytelling, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January is such a novel. While it can be classified as YA because of the protagonist and her journey, it shouldn't be overlooked by any lover of literary fantasy. View all my reviews

Seduction on a Snowy Night by Madeline Hunter My rating: 3 of 5 stars None of these stories were kind of tear-duct cleansing, ugly crying reads I sometimes find in Christmas collections (and perversely enjoy the most--Mary Balogh and Carla Kelly are especially good at yanking the heartstrings) but these three tales of winter love were enjoyable, and will especially entertain readers familiar with the authors' other books. Characters from previous works make an appearance and it's a pleasant holiday reading break. View all my reviews

She excused herself from the heat of the cane fires and walked to the tables where the women were laying out an array of pumpkin and pecan pies, shortbread oozing with sweet jam, all of it covered with light cloths to keep the insects off. Crocks of preserves and pickled tomatoes, cucumbers, and relishes shone in the sun. Her persimmon cakes were added to the pile. While once Julia might have wondered who could consume so much food at one sitting, she’d seen the Crackers sit down to their victuals and knew the food would be little more than a memory by the time the day was done...The uncooked cane juice in the barrels was pale green, and as it cooked and was stirred it thickened and ripened to a deep amber, becoming the syrup prized for sweetening everything from coffee to pecan pie to biscuits. “It’s a lot of work to get a little sweetness in your life.” Julia looked over her shoulder and favored her husband with an arch smile. “But worth the effort, don’t you think?” She looked bac...

An Unorthodox Match by Naomi Ragen My rating: 5 of 5 stars At a time when Romancelandia is demanding diverse stories we get An Unorthodox Match , a gentle tale of love lost and found in the insular and demanding world of haredi Orthodox Jewish life in enclaves such as Boro Park, NY. Leah (Lola) Howard was born Jewish but always searched for connection to a more spiritual existence. Over her mother's strenuous objections her steps have led her to embrace Orthodox Judaism, but now she struggles to be part of a community known for constantly observing and judging its inhabitants, especially the ones who are not "FFB", not born and raised in its strict confines. (There is a helpful glossary in the book for translating "Yinglish" syntax and phrases.) Yaakov Lehman is a widower struggling with his grief, with raising his five children, with the demands of providing for a family and neglecting his studies. He's finally forced to...

“Judith has told us of your plans, Mrs. Stephenson,”Jacob Kahn said. “As a local businessman myself, I am pleased to see any venture that brings fresh products and dollars into the economy.” He shook his head. “Savannah has suffered greatly in recent years. The fire and the yellow fever epidemic left us reeling, but we are putting ourselves back on course.” “As a businessman, do you think I will have problems with local merchants? My being a woman on her own?” “There will always be those who have prejudices,” he said slowly as he stirred his tea. Pale blue eyes much like his daughter’s studied Amanda from behind his own spectacles. “I encounter it myself, even though I was born in this city. But Savannah is proud of its ‘merchant princes,’ as we call them, and also prides itself on promoting growth and industry. It was only a few years ago we cheered the launch of the Savannah , the first steam-powered vessel to cross the Atlantic all the way to Russia. Your money is good, Mrs. St...

The Awakening of Miss Henley by Julia Justiss My rating: 4 of 5 stars Another delightful Regency from Julia Justiss about independent misses and the men who value them. What I enjoyed about this book was seeing how Theo's rakish life has its own constraints, expectations that color what his future will bring. We read so much about the barriers to women being independent and forget that men too were expected by their families to go into--or avoid--certain professions or lifestyles. Well written and engaging, and I look forward to reading more about the Cinderella Spinsters. View all my reviews

Someone to Remember by Mary Balogh My rating: 4 of 5 stars It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Mary Balogh , both for her stories and for her craft. One of the things I love about her work is how she'll take a stock character like "fussy, aging spinster aunt" and subtly bring her forward until you realize that's a person, someone with dreams and hopes of her own. Enter Matilda Westcott. She was introduced to us in the earlier Westcott stories as, yes, the fussy, aging, spinster aunt, but we had glimpses of her personhood all along. Then in Someone to Honor she emerged as not only a person, but a key character, and I loved it. Now we have her own "second chance at love" story, and it's adorable and sweet and yummy. There's no high drama, no pirates, but the question of "Can a woman approaching 60 find love?" is answered in the best way possible. We're reminded that while we see the package--the n...

Indeed, when Captain Doyle returned there was a full report. A peace treaty had been negotiated restoring Great Britain and the United States to their antebellum status. “But what of the prisoners?” Charley asked Captain Doyle. “A Yankee trader from France bound for Charleston put into port a few days back. That is how we got the news. The governor is not interested in having a gang of Americans roaming through Kingston, and asked if we would ‘host’ them for a while longer until they can ship out with their countrymen.” It was that simple. Men who two days earlier would have run each other through or blown each other to pieces, now were up on deck toasting each other’s countries with carefully rationed grog. Captain Doyle wisely put a limit on the amount of alcohol served, knowing that it wouldn’t take much to re-ignite the conflict on a smaller scale. “Captain Fletcher told me I do not understand men, Mr. Bryant,” Charley said in bemusement later that night. “I have to agree...

The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas My rating: 4 of 5 stars I continue to enjoy this series, and the mystery in this one had me flipping my Kindle pages to find out where it was going. The author manages to keep a lot of balls in the air as she juggles characters and relationships, and I especially enjoyed seeing the secondary characters play a larger role. The slow-burning romance between Charlotte and Lord Ingram is still smokin' hot, and I look forward to more Lady Sherlock stories in the future. View all my reviews

Fathers of Conscience: Mixed-Race Inheritance in the Antebellum South by Bernie D. Jones My rating: 4 of 5 stars It's hard to tag a book "really liked it" when the subject matter is so accurately and depressingly focused not on the rights of enslaved people to inherit (not the issue, essentially they had no rights), but on the rights of white men with guilty consciences to leave money and property to blood relatives who were black. This work is geared towards attorneys and researchers, and I found it interesting because even though I am not a lawyer, my husband does estates, wills and trusts in Florida. Land inheritance in the rural south to this day can be quite convoluted, but this book deals in particular with men who wanted to provide for their offspring or their children's mothers. Not surprisingly, white relatives who were not direct descendants fought these distributions and the courts had to deal with cases that could vary f...

The Hound of Justice by Claire O'Dell My rating: 5 of 5 stars Part of what determines whether I give a book four or five stars on Goodreads is if I find myself at odd times of the day wanting to go back to reading it, or when it keeps me up late to finish. The Hound of Justice is one such novel, an excellent follow-up to the first of the Janet Watson Chronicles. Because we are already familiar with the near-future dystopian America from A Study in Honor we can get right into the story, and I especially enjoyed seeing Dr. Watson try to re-establish herself as a successful surgeon. We also learn more about Sara's family, Janet's dating life, Janet's family, and why the Confederacy continues to wreak havoc on society in a divided country. I liked the focus on the characters in this book (even more than the mystery) and it bodes well for further Holmes/Watson stories going forward. View all my reviews

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love stories about strong women who know what they want and go after it, no matter what era they live in. Hattie may be an earl's daughter but she grew up near the docks (her father's title was a late-in-life reward) and will never be part of the ton . She's too big, too loud, too assertive...too much. So at age 29 she's ready to live life in The Year of Hattie, where she goes after what she wants, starting with a night with a paid companion. Beast and his brother Devil didn't fight their way to the top of their massive smuggling business by playing nice, and when he awakens tied up in Hattie's carriage, his first thought is to get even with whomever put him in this position. Clearly, these two are made for each other and they figure that part out pretty quickly. The drama that's thrown into the mix comes from Hattie's family's involvement with Beast...

Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik My rating: 4 of 5 stars Excellent, page turning read. It satisfied my love of both science fiction and romance, and gave us a kick-ass princess who's good at keeping her special skill set hidden until it's needed. She's also good at weaponizing fashion, not just in the sense of how jewelry can do double duty, but knowing how the right dress, the right look, can slay when one enters a room. The hero was the kind of buttoned-down-we're-just-waiting-for-him-to-explode person any princess would want at her back, and after some rough starts he comes to fully appreciate her in all her guises. Jessie Mihalik is a capable author who delivers the goods, and that's exactly what a reader wants when diving deep into strange worlds, cyberhumans and high stakes politics. View all my reviews

"Possum hangin’ in the tree,  Raccoon on the ground;  Raccoon say, you stingy rat, Shake them ’simmons down!” Julia paused in her singing and frowned down at the spoon stirring through the cake batter. “Possum hanging in the tree?”  Where had that come from?  “Goodness, I’m becoming countrified!” She chuckled, looking out the kitchen window at the activity in the yard. Rand was doing the morning chores in preparation for their trip to the Iveys’ farm. For a moment she watched him as she stirred, indulging herself in a fantasy that theirs was a normal marriage, two people on the Florida frontier, making a new life together. But it was as much a fantasy as singing raccoons. --SMUGGLER'S BRIDE If it's autumn in North Central Florida, it's persimmon time! They're starting to come into our farmers market, a little late this year because of our extra hot summer, but I snagged a few. These are still at the ripe but firm stage and may not make it to the c...

Once a Spy by Mary Jo Putney My rating: 4 of 5 stars Putney writes wonderful characters, people who choose to do the right thing. In this story, Simon Duval has resigned his commission and returned to England, where he tracks down his cousin's widow, only to find her living in poverty among her fellow French emigres. He offers Suzanne marriage to help her out of her desperate situation, building on the friendship they enjoyed when she was a newlywed. However, Suzanne has been badly hurt, physically and emotionally, by her years as a captive in a harem and doesn't believe she can ever have a sexual relationship again. But Simon convinces her they can work it out, so she takes a chance. This is a sweet story of heroic people--Simon's heroic for potentially sacrificing his future happiness to help his cousin, and Suzanne is heroic for being willing to take a chance. Of course, both find that the other is exactly who they needed, but followin...

Archangel's War by Nalini Singh My rating: 4 of 5 stars It's action packed, with fascinating world-building and characters you'd want to know, along with plenty of relationships, some established, some new. What more can you ask from a paranormal romance? This latest Guild Hunter entry wraps up a number of storylines, climaxing in an apocalyptic battle for the future of the world. I would not recommend it to anyone who hasn't read at least the first few books in the series, but it's a must-read for fans of Singh's Archangels, Hunters, and Vampires. View all my reviews

Unconditionally by Erin Lyon My rating: 4 of 5 stars A very satisfying ending to the alternate universe tale of short-term marriages ("signings") begun in I Love You Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions . The legal hijinks were entertaining, the conflict in the relationships rang true and the heroine (and her friends) were all well drawn. My minor quibble is still over too many names beginning with "D" (Daniel, Drew, David) but that's easily overcome in future works by Erin Lyon and I hope there will be future works by Ms. Lyon. She has a lot to offer the romance reading community. View all my reviews

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss My rating: 5 of 5 stars This entire league of extraordinary gentlewomen series has been a delight from start to finish and this latest entry was fun and satisfying. Characters from classic 19th c. horror, science fiction and mystery re-imagined with a focus on the women behind the scenes, and running off to have their own adventures--Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Catherine Moreau, Justine Frankenstein, Lucy Van Helsing and more, crossing paths with Sherlock Holmes, Count Dracula and assorted others. It's great fun, all presented with asides from the various players as Catherine Moreau tries to monetize their tales in the form of penny dreadfuls. As the author (Catherine, not Ms. Goss) says more than once, "Start with the first book!" You won't be disappointed. View all my reviews

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore My rating: 4 of 5 stars It is a special pleasure to read a delightful debut novel because the reader gets to anticipate more quality reading going forward. Access to higher education for women is one of my favorite plot lines in historicals, and the Oxford setting of Bringing Down the Duke practically becomes a character itself. There is no place quite like it and the history lends itself to this tale of a young woman, a commoner, who earns a spot in the first programs for women. The tension in the romance was realistic, the slow build to hot sex was handled well, and the resolution left the reader satisfied. I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Ms. Dunmore's work and her adventures of Extraordinary Women. View all my reviews

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides My rating: 4 of 5 stars I'll start by saying I read none of the reviews and saw none of the hype on this book--I only got it from the library because it kept showing up in my ads. So where some people were "meh" over the psychological twists-and-turns because of the buzz, I was riveted and kept turning pages. It's a solid psychological thriller with enough confusion and leads to keep the reader guessing, right up to the last page. I'd rate this a solid debut and a solid whodunnit. View all my reviews

I Love You Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions by Erin Lyon My rating: 3 of 5 stars This was a fun, alternate universe story that may turn out to be a romance, but be forewarned: this book is a cliff-hanger. In a world slightly skewed from our own, marriage is a contractual seven year commitment, which makes a lot of sense. "The Seven Year Itch" is a real thing, according to some marriage counselors, and in a world where people may live into their 100's, maybe it makes sense to have to re-up to keep it together. But even so, there are problems. Some people cheat and violate their contracts before they're up. Some don't follow through with promised support at the end, and so on. It's a field day for attorneys who specialize in this kind of litigation, but newly minted attorney Kate doesn't want to be one of them. Then her personal life goes awry and suddenly it's contracts or nothing. I enjoyed this, but fel...

The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan by Sherry Thomas My rating: 5 of 5 stars I picked this up at lunch and came up for air hours later. What a delightful reading experience! Friendship, honor, courage, martial arts, intrigue, Chinese history and romance all combined into one wonderful volume. Yuan Kai and Mulan Hua have spent their lives knowing they'd have to fight a duel for their families' honor and to reclaim a pair of matched swords, now divided between their two families. But war interferes and when the emperor demands a male from each household, Mulan goes in place of her crippled father. It's an old tale but Thomas buts a new spin on it with fresh characters, fast action, martial arts sequences that would look right at home in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon . It's a great story and in the hands of a master storyteller it comes alive. I loved it from start to finish! View all my reviews

A Jewel Bright Sea by Claire O'Dell My rating: 5 of 5 stars I was invited to blurb this novel* and I enjoyed it immensely. Claire O'Dell gives me everything I want in an adventure: Magic! Swashbuckling! Treasure! Romance! And, of course, pirates! I highly recommend A Jewel Bright Sea and I'm looking forward to the next Mage and Empire novel. *I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest blurb. View all my reviews

A Dangerous Man by Robert Crais My rating: 4 of 5 stars I always love me some Pike and Cole, and this latest entry delivered the goods. It's been entertaining to see the series grow from the days of Elvis popping into a phone booth to his being able to track down information with the best of them, only fitting for a man who bills himself as The World's Greatest Detective. Joe Pike is still Joe Pike, and we're all happy about that. The heroine of this book almost crossed the line into TSTL, but she was definitely in a situation that put her out of her depth, so I could cut her some slack. There was an interesting Federal Marshal and I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in a future tale. For longtime fans of the series this is a must-read. For newbies I still recommend starting with The Monkey's Raincoat , even though it's now a delightfully nostalgic tale rather than a cutting edge thriller. However, any book that brings us Elvis...

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have been out of the dating life for so long that I feel like the Duke of Avon (The Devil's Cub): "I feel an almost overwhelming interest in the methods...employed by the modern youth." The Right Swipe is not only a delightful look at the modern dating scene of apps and swipes and ghosting, but it was one of the best and sweetest (and steamiest) romances I've enjoyed in quite a while. It was about family and trust, and how we protect ourselves from vulnerability. The protagonists were dealing with real world issues while navigating the difficulties of finding your perfect match, and their story kept me entertained and enthralled. I can't wait for the next volume in the Modern Love series! View all my reviews

St. Armand looked at Turnbull. “‘Bring him along,’ you said. ‘It’ll be good for him to get out and about.’” “I meant Woodruff, not the pa—not Roscoe.” She snickered. “Well, Woodruff, are you enjoying being out and about?” He took another sip of the ale, worried that if he tried to respond he’d break out into a huge grin. He was sitting in a disreputable tavern in the Caribbean, with two dangerous pirates, and a parrot on his shoulder. Being here today brought home to him how gray, structured, and boring his life was in Manchester. --What the Parrot Saw Today's the day, mateys, when you get to channel your inner pirate and celebrate #TalkLikeAPirateDay. The parrot accessories are optional. 

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a fun read. An assertive heroine who knows what she wants, a hero who's climbed up out of the gutter but isn't ashamed to show his non-toff roots, and a delightful book-within-a-book tale featuring two "penny dreadfuls"...which happen to have been written by the H&H. Add a secret society of action hero authors(!) and you've got the makings of a snappy and fun romance novel with excitement, intrigue, and a delightful ending. In addition, it was a traditional historical in the sense that there was no overt sexual activity, making it accessible to all readers who love a HEA. There's nothing wrong with adding a touch of sweetness to one's spicy reading list! View all my reviews

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal My rating: 4 of 5 stars While being a sister is forever, it's not always easy.. The Shergill Sisters have had their share of fighting and drama, but now they're in India to follow their mother's dying wish of a pilgrimage to Sikh shrines and an opportunity for the women to bond again. This is a bittersweet tale of tradition at war with individual needs, and a desire to move beyond the restrictions of one's upbringing and life events. The adventures of the sisters will resonate with anyone who's had to navigate difficult family issues and move into full adulthood, while dealing with the traumas and expectations of one's past. At the end of the day though it's truly about the mighty bonds of sisterhood and the healing power of that love. View all my reviews

Pride and Prometheus by John Kessel My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a weirdly engrossing mashup of two nearly contemporary novels, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus (1818) and characters, specifically, Mary Bennet, from Pride and Prejudice (1797) . It especially makes sense when you have Mary as a grown-up in her 30's, one who recognizes her winceworthy missteps as a stuffy, moralistic adolescent. Mary has matured into a thoughtful woman, still with a strong moral core, but also with a keen eye for the human condition. She also reads widely and has a special interest in natural philosophy, so when her path crosses that of Victor Frankenstein...well, let's just say I was very pleased I'd re-read the original Frankenstein in 2018 in celebration of its publication anniversary. View all my reviews

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Dozier School For Boys is the site of a shameful period in Florida's history, and the abuses and horror stories are still being uncovered with each gravesite that's revealed, each survivor's tale. Colson Whitehead , author of the fabulous and Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Underground Railroad gives us a fictionalized Dozier in the Nickel School, and a tale that's deeply tragic and also life-affirming. I couldn't turn away from this engrossing book despite its bleak reflection of Jim Crow Florida and the abuses of a penal system rife with corruption, crime and cronyism. It's a searing story beautifully told. View all my reviews

The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell My rating: 5 of 5 stars It is fitting and appropriate to read this moving novel on Labor Day weekend, a time when we celebrate the contributions of the American worker. The Women of the Copper Country is set in Michigan at the beginning of the 20th c., in the copper mines near Lake Superior. This book deals with the struggle between the bosses and the laborers, the struggle for a living wage and dignity vs. profits and greed epitomized by automation and reduction of the workforce. But the true focus of the novel, as the title says, is on the women, the unsung heroines who wanted "bread and roses". They marched and sang, but they also worked from before dawn until after dusk. Even when the men and the mines were idle, the women still had to care for children and cook supper and do the laundry and try to organize against injustice. They are the true leaders and the ones who bring change. ...

Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris My rating: 4 of 5 stars I stayed up past my bedtime to find out whodunnit. There wasn't a lack of suspects--everyone wanted this man dead and plenty had means and opportunity, as well as motive. We also learned a little more about Sebastian's family, Hero's investigative work revealed some new information, and evolving events on the world stage offer more opportunities in the future for this excellent Regency mystery series. I highly recommend it, starting with the first book to fully enjoy the characters. View all my reviews

Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep My rating: 4 of 5 stars This second Crown of Shards novel has Evie (Queen Everleigh) adjusting to life on the throne and learning about her own powers, including the mystery of why she's a Winter Queen. A trip to the neighboring kingdom of Andvari does not start well, not surprising since a slew of Andvarian royals were slaughtered in Evie's land of Bellona. It's also complicated by her love for Lucas Sullivan, the (acknowledged) bastard son of the King of Andarvi. She needs to make a politically advantageous marriage and Lucas brings nothing to the table except his love for Evie. I'm enjoying this series and Estep's writing style and I'm looking forward to the next adventure for Evie, the gladiator queen. View all my reviews

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder by Dianne Freeman My rating: 4 of 5 stars A fun, cozy romance, the second in the Countess of Harleigh Victorian-era mysteries. Frances is a widowed countess whose American money led to a loveless marriage with her late, unlamented husband. Now living on her own (more or less--her modest London residence always seems to be full of people) she finds she has a talent for sleuthing out information and solving crimes. Her hunky next door neighbor, a barrister and "fixer" for the powerful aids her, and it's obvious to everyone that he also has a thing for her. I was intrigued by the mystery and didn't figure out whodunnit until the end, my favorite kind of cozy. I hope there will be more Countess of Harleigh mysteries! View all my reviews

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was so wonderfully entertaining I read it through in one afternoon. Khai Diep doesn't feel things like other people do and he's all too aware that he's viewed as strange and different, including by members of his own family. His mother travels to Viet Nam to try and find a wife for her son and comes back with "Esme" Tran, a young woman who's willing to do almost anything to build a better life for herself and her young daughter. The characters click in the most interesting ways and the sexual tension between them is steamy. How Esme pulls Khai out of his isolation and how Khai responds to her is a delight. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Hoang, a true rising star in contemporary romance. View all my reviews

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin My rating: 4 of 5 stars Non-European/Non-Anglo romances are having a moment and I love this trend. I want to mix my reading of Regency and traditional romance historicals with new material and new characters. We're seeing a surge in popularity of TV shows like Shtisel and You'll Always be My Maybe on Netflix, films and books like Crazy Rich Asians, and now, Ayesha At Last. Ayesha at Last is a lovely addition to my booklist. The characters had the sort of problems modern readers can relate to--paying the bills, meeting personal and professional goals, dealing with family, and finding a partner. At the same time, they're navigating being Muslim in the Western and largely non-Muslim community of Toronto and dealing with the choices involved as immigrants and first generation Canadians. I don't believe the book benefited from comparisons to Pride and Prejudice. I would rather have judged it solely on its...

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston My rating: 5 of 5 stars First of all, one thing really bothered me: Henry is referred to as "The Prince of Wales" but since his brother Philip is first in line to inherit, Henry's the spare, not the heir. He can be addressed as Prince Henry or HRH (His Royal Highness) but he's not the prince of anything. Having gotten that off my chest, I really enjoyed this M/M romance. Henry and Alex are wonderfully suited for each other, despite what Alex initially thinks, and watching them navigate the minefields of protocol and politics was a delight for any political junkie. The secondary characters are also superb and the entire story would make a delightful romcom. View all my reviews