Darlene's Digest

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

A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay My rating: 5 of 5 stars GGKay writes lyrical, evocative fantasy, the kind that immerses the reader in another time and place. His extensive knowledge of world history gives his work an air of authenticity, so that when one's reading about Sarantium or Tigana or El-Rassan, the reader is transported to lands very similar to our own historical sites--Byzantium, and Spain, and now in A Brightness Long Ago , Renaissance Italy. For lovers of history and good fantasy, Kay is an author who always delivers a moving, thoughtful book full of the kind of detail that helps you know you're spending time with the best there is. View all my reviews

Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh My rating: 4 of 5 stars Part of what I love about Mary Balogh is how she weaves character development across a series. Abigail Westcott started as a young lady from a good family but with nothing notable about her, until her world was upended when she learned she and her siblings were illegitimate. She's grown now, but still very much in her own way a stock character--Regency lady. Not a pirate, or a spy, or a smuggler, but a nice lady who enjoys knitting and embroidery. Gil Bennington is a hero struggling with his own sense of self because he too is not only illegitimate, but also not a gentleman. He became a Lt. Col. in the British Army mostly rising through the ranks (his early commissions were purchased and that's a plot point) but he's never forgotten he doesn't belong in society. How these two come together makes for a gentle story about people being good and doing the right thing, one of my favo...