eyes.2c Reviews

Six White Horses  by James Robert Daniels          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Battle hardened, weary and cynical ex Southern army Captain becomes a Texas Ranger after the civil war. He’s chasing a renowned train and stagecoach robber after the driver was killed. Cole Twist! A ruthless, yet charismatic bad’n who has people either scared of him or admirers. Lieutenant James Quinn captures Cole Twist, kills his brother Charlie, and brings Cole to stand trial in the town of Corpus. A town divided. This is where things get interesting. Quinn meets a Quaker widow, China Smallwood, who’s teaching black kids and their folks at the government supported reconstruction school. The last teacher had been tarred and feathered and run out of town. Quinn undergoes an interesting journey as he fights his personal battle demons, seeks justice for the victims of the crimes, and learns the benefit of forgiveness. A Cutting Edge ARC via NetGalley.             ...

Murder at the Stone Circle (Harlowe & Fitch Historical Mystery #8) by Elizabeth Rose         ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just as life is becoming settled for Lady Vivienne Harlowe and Sheriff Zachariah Fitch, trouble strikes. Vivienne and Zachariah decide to marry outside in nature because the season of Advent had started and marriage inside the church isn’t  allowed during this time. Vivienne had always thought to be married in the stone circle feeling this would bring her closer to her dead mother. Unfortunately, during the ceremony, just as she bends over to pick up her dropped bouquet, an arrow flies by, grazing her before imbedding itself in the priest, Father Deocarus. Pandemonium erupts, the wedding is cancelled, and what the future holds is unknown. Vivian and Zac will have to face opposition from all sides, although they have some support. The pair are desperate to uncover the truth of Father Deocarus’ death, particularly as the prospect of ex communication for t...

Proof of Violence (Spencer& Read Mysteries #7) by Cara Devlin  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Detective Inspector Jasper Reid and Leonore Spencer find themselves drawn deeply into a maze of puzzles that might or might not tenuously connect. Hmmm! Fact! Mrs Zhao is missing and Jasper’s search for her doesn’t go unnoticed! Fact! Something is going on at a boys club that has led to the death of at least one boy.  Other boys are unwilling to speak out Fact! Jasper has been all but demoted in practice by Superintendent Munroe after Jasper ‘s refusal to entertain the thought of securing Munroe’s daughter’s hand in marriage. Fact! Leo keeps searching for her family’s killers. Slowly she’s discovering more. Finding answers to all these Facts is fraught with half truths and obstructions. A fascinating Fact is that Leo and Jasper’s relationship is blossoming! Another all consuming read from Devlin. An ARC via Booksirens.                       ...

The Camino :A Novel  by Anya Niewierra                 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A tale set along the pilgrimage trail that’s always been on my bucket list. The gradual unveiling by  a wife of who her husband really is. Lotte Bonnet  retraces her husband’s journey along the Camino. Her husband, Emile, killed himself near the end of his trek. Lotte decides to follow in his footsteps and perhaps glimpse why. Her husband was a refugee from Bosnia. Set out as a journal recording Lotte’s thoughts, the story grabs your attention from the start. Puzzling is the fact that fellow pilgrims keep having accidents around her for no discernible reason. What is going on? Lotte uncovers the grim truth about her husband, father of her children. Other discoveries flow and Lotte’s feelings are released as she walks this ancient pilgrim’s path. A Simon & Schuster ARC via NetGalley.                       ...

A Shroud of Snow  (Bradecote & Catchpoll Mystery #14)   by Sararh Hawkswood                   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Worcester’s finest, Serjeant Catchpoll, Underserjeant Walkelin and Undersheriff lord Bradecote, face the puzzling murder of a merchant, Hamelin Isenmongere from Gloucester. As well as that the woman who kept house for Hamelin was raped and killed. Catchpoll boards the riverboat that’d  brought Hamelin to Worcester  to interview the  Captain and crew, and finds himself sailing away on the river, back to Gloucester before he’s aware of it. Back in Worcester Walkelin and lord Bradecote take up the search and begin to uncover what looks like treason in the midst of all the HooHaa! Various citizens come forward to help including a young woman forced into prostitution rather than starve. I love the way Walkelin has developed, how he’s beginning to think outside the box à la Catchpoll. A fairly convoluted plot that ha...

Pride Comes Before a Fall  (Miss Prentice’s Protégés #3) by Virginia Heath            ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A delicious story featuring a dyed in wool reformist influenced by the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft and a swoony much put upon Duke (with dimples). Portia Kendall is a governess from the well respected Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies. Her secret passion is writing incendiary political pamphlets. Portia has been offered the position of assistant editor with the newsletter Equitas in Bath.  Unfortunately it turns out to be voluntary. Portia must find another source of income in this very expensive city. Leopold Sloane, the Duke of Debden, has had enough of his mother’s lax chaperoning of his two sisters.  He’s determined to cut their wings somewhat. Cue stage right! Portia lands a job in Leo’s household and is immediately plunged into a whirlwind  of misunderstandings—and attraction. A delightful regency romantic comedy that invigor...