eyes.2c Reviews

Treecat Wars, Honorverse: Stephanie Harrington series #3 by David Weber &  Jane M. Lindskold Third in the series about Stephanie Harrington (Death Fang's Bane--first human to be adopted by treecats) and Lionheart,  (treecat Climbs Quickly of the Bright Water Clan) Continuing the story of the struggles, prejudices, greed and political intrigue surrounding the treecats becoming part of the wider universe. Tree cats on Sphinx are still being looked at to determine whether or not they should be  declared sentinent.  The battles continues with the major foe being unscrupulous land dealers and powerful lobbyists desirous of making good on their land portfolios at the expense of this vunerable group of beings. The battle takes Stephanie off planet to Manticore and back, members of the group, wanting to disrupt the process of treecat status, having pulled strings to have her removed from Sphinx. Attention to the treecats on Sphinx lands in the laps of Stephanie'...

Roots of Betrayal (Clarenceux Trilogy #2 ) by James Forrester ...poignant words between Clarenceux and raw Carew, pirate extraordinaire, at their last moment together.  Just prior to this Clarenceux declares the family motto he might adopt if so inclined,'In all our struggles, the last word is hope.' 1564, Southampton Waters: the calm before the storm. Captain Gray is in his cabin with a young girl, his men are dicing on deck, all quickly broken by the cry of 'Boarders--Boarders on deck!' The only warning before all hell breaks loose and the ship is captured. The opening scenes of a pirate raid propel you quickly into scenes of violence overlaid by a distinct impression of honour or a code that Crew, the pirate Captain adheres to. Carew is seeking the Catholic treasure and Gray has information he wants. And in London, William Harvey,  Clarenceux King of Arms, is reflecting on papers he holds for safekeeping. Dangerous, treasonous papers that would likely kill ...

Never Desire a Duke (One Scandalous Season #1) by Lily Dalton 'Could a man not be snowbound with his wife without half of England arriving to interfere?' And as I read along I certainly seconded the Duke of Claxton's sentiment. The plot is thick with characters. their interplay is endearing, frustrating, humorous at times, sensual and sensitive at others.  I quite like the major players, indeed I had moments of sympathy for both leads,  The basic story line is couple marry, couple separate through misunderstanding and tragedy, couple have a chance to reconcile, more misunderstanding, progress is made hearts repaired, more misunderstanding, reconciliation. We see these things happening through the voices of both the Duke of Claxton, Vane Barwick, and that of his Duchess, Sophia.          Certainly, the descriptive prose brings alive the winter scenes, the dashing around on sledges, the crunch of ice underfoot. The charming scene in ...

Daughter of Camelot (Empire of Shadows #1) by Glynis Cooney Wales at the waning of Camelot. The High King's star is failing. Guinevere has been unfaithful, Lancelot has killed Gareth, Merlin has disappeared from court and the land is on the edge of breaking up into smaller kingdoms Arthur had bound together. Darkness is about to descend.  The tide is turning against the High King. The threat of  minor kingdoms devouring each looms.  The opening scene of Deirdre  practicing sword play with her brother Rhys gave evidence that here was a somewhat unusual sort of girl for the times. Indeed she is. Deirdre has ambitions beyond being a wife and mother and yearns to go to Camelot. However dreams are not always answered in the way we would wish. When Deirdre is sent to the court at Degannwy with her sister Nia she is the  butt of unkind comments. Reviled by the superstitious for being a twin, and all but accused of being a witch she is spurned by the devout...

Battle Magic (Circle Reforged #3) by Tamora Pierce Once again a foray into the magical world of  Emelan leaves you breathless and wanting more. The richness and texture of Pierce's novels drags you right in from the start and holds you there captive as you walk the walk and feel the emotions of her characters. Living Circle adherents and  plant mages Dedicate Rosethorn and Briar, along with apprentice rock mage Evvy (Evumeimei), have been travelling for two years and we find them in the Kingdom of Gyongxe, the home of many faiths. Actually a sanctuary for faiths we discover as the story continues. The first temple of the Living Circle is here. This is a  place where the mountains meet, ruled by the eleven year old God-King, where painted gods move on walls and statues come to life. The Three journey into the Kingdom of Yanjing and there find disturbing evidence that the  emperor, a man of of exceeding ambition and cruelty has turned his face towar...

Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait   (The Duke's Daughters, #5) (Windham, #8)  by Grace Burrowes Oh My!  Burrowes does it again with those tantalizing, exploratory love scenes as the mostly innocent heroine spreads her wings and partakes at the cup of passion. But there is so much more in this Christmas tale. (As I remember, wasn't another Windham daughter involved in Christmas romance and adventuring, the fair Lady Sophie? Oh, and let's not forget Lady Louisa's Christmas fare! ) Christmas is obviously a time for more than stolen mistletoe kisses for those Windham lasses. In fact it's become quite a tradition! For Guinevere (Jenny) Christmas has become a time of remembrance of the brothers she's lost, the talent she is unable to use, and the children she seems doomed to never have. I really liked Elijah and his care for not only Guinevere's emotional being but her artistic soul.  That he was willing to set her free, to let her seek her artisti...

A Study in Silks (The Baskerville Affair #1) by Emma Jane Holloway So first we had all things Austen, both on and off stage and in alternate universes. Now, it seems we have the off stage world surrounding Sherlock with a hitherto unknown member of his family, his niece Evelina. We've been bombarded by film and television recently, why not an alternate Victorian era populated by loved figures from yesteryear amidst steampunk paraphernalia and intrigue. As Evelina says towards the end, 'this is a time when steam barons dominate the Empire.' Corporate monopolies and bullying,  political clout, bribery and corruption, the pursuit of alternative fuels, the determination of those who have, to hold at all cost.  Obviously nothing has changed in this alternate world. Even the great Sherlock is threatened. We enter into Evelina's world via her stealthy sojourn in the attics of Lord Bancroft's house where stored belongings, 'made elephantine humps in the dark...

Sworn to Transfer: Courtlight #2 by Terah Edun What indeed? The story of a young woman, out of her depth, finding her way despite the odds, and despite the opinion of others. Having received an ARC for this, I decided to read Sworn to Raise: Courtlight #1 , first. And Yes! I was captivated from beginning to end. Edun's writing style does remind me somewhat of Tamora Pierce and Sara J. Maas. Ciardis Vane is the archetypal abandoned/orphaned heroine raised to believe she is a gypsy but is in reality is a Mage, a Weathervane, the last of a line of mages whose major talent is increasing the powers of others. Her gifts come to light when she is taken to be trained as Companion. She goes from drudgery to a position of prestige--albeit dangerous. Of course there are evil mages and careless, selfish mages, friendly trainees and courtly intrigue involved. Now, after the Patron Hunt, having helped save the Prince Sebastian, the heir to the Algardis...

Bella Wallis: A  Victorian Mystery Quartet by Brian Thompson A quartet of novels (including the final novel of the series, The Whole Story) set in Victorian England featuring Bella Wallis, mysterious lady and author writing under a male 'nom de plume,'  Henry Ellis Margam. I am repeatably fascinated,  confused and puzzled by Bella. She is a lady who as Bella reflects, lives in deception just like 'the sprawling fig' outside her drawing room window that 'suggested secret gardens beyond.  But in truth the foliage hid a blank wall.' It seems however that via her slightly erotic mystery novels she portrays those in society who have done some evil act, albeit disguised, but with just enough reality about them for recognition by others. Her novels are based upon some chance occurrence that Bella intuitively realizes as having that factor, that hook that her writing might build upon. Her writings in turn lead her towards murder investigations. Investi...

Laura Joh Rowland's series about the rise to prominence of  San Ichiro as a samurai detective are fabulous. I am loving this view into medieval Japanese life and into the world San Ichiro inhabits. Times-Picayune referred to the world Rowland has created as, 'fascinating, detailed, colourful, and addictive.' I whole heatedly and enthusiastically concur. I have taken to reading it with my trusty Dorling Kingsley guide to Japan by my side so I can look up all of the places mentioned and say indulgently and satisfyingly to myself, 'I was there,' or ' I need to go there.' Then I am transported into the life and times of  San Ichiro. Reading good mysteries set in previous times is exciting especially if as in Rowland's world one can definitely envisage the times. read more on Rowland's website    http://www.laurajohrowland.com/ San Ichiro series: Shinju #1                              ...

Max Ginsburg: a Retrospective Social realist painter, Max Ginsburg's works are a wonderful commentary on the everyday life of inhabitants of New York. Full of  life and vigour, executed powerfully they expose the viewer to the full range of emotions of his subjects, the slump of the worker"s shoulder in Reading Break (1974), the delicacy of the face of Emily (2004) , to the reality of his nudes. His paintings are a celebration of the ordinary, of the everyday. I loved his painting of his first wife Sonia peeling apples.  Ginsburg brings that Degas ballet dancer pastel quality to this work. In his indoor family works the play of light and lightness are gently telling. I particularly liked the light in Early Morning (1977) where Ginburg's daughter is holding her doll. Ginsburg's still life paintings just by their content are a commentary on everyday life of our times.  His 'workers' folio capture the moments between, revealing the simplicity of thos...

Darius: Lord of Pleasures (Lonely Lords #1) by Grace Burrowes I found the idea, the description of Darius as an object, quite painful. The way he closed himself off from his associations with bored wealthy women, who are a means to an end was distasteful.  The premise of Darius Lindsey's relationship with Lady Vivian Longstreet is at once believable and yet thoroughly unbelievable. As I read I became more understanding of the demons that drove Darius and thus more accepting. This in turn increased my enjoyment of the novel.  Perhaps Burrowes' dedication says it all, 'This book is dedicated to anyone whoever made a poor choice and felt overwhelmed by the consequences. Maybe you can't overcome all those consequences today, but never give up hope.' And there you have it hope and redemption are available and fortunately for Darius this becomes his reality. In the end I was intrigued by Darius the person, but despite this, I am still somewhat ambivale...

The  Outlaw Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick Richard, Coeur de Lion, an enigma. A man who was king and yet left his kingdom to corrupt and power hungry lords, beggaring his country for the sake of the crusades. Why is not the question. It does however provide the background for this story. It places Prince John, his foibles and his policies, his governing of England whilst Richard is away, and when he later becomes king, firmly in the limelight. A teenage altercation with Prince John, shown as an arrogant, womanizing, drunken, spoilt whelp who held grudges long and deeply sets the path that Fulke FitzWarin will tread. Growing into a man of the same elk, John further fans this antipathy between them when as king he denies Fulke justice in the matter of his birthright holding, Whittington. Fulke refuses to pay homage to John and is declared an outlaw.  By now an accomplished commander and knight, Fulke proceeds to harass John at every chance. Fulke becomes the th...

The Love List (Half Moon House Series  #1) by Deb Marlow Despite my initial inclinations that this might be mediocre I was drawn into the drama of The List. The secretive, withdrawn Duke of Aldmere and the forthright beautiful lady Brynne Wilmot are drawn into the dastardly intrigue perpetuated by the corrupt Marquis of Marstoke. Wickedness, political intrigue and one young woman's courage to carve out a different fate for herself despite being shunned by the ton are all bundled together in this deceptivey simple story.  Distraught when she realizes that her father is determined to marry her to an evil man to further his political aims Brynne flees to Hestia Wright, a notorious courtesan to kings and powerful men who now offered solace and sanctuary to other women, mostly  prostitutes and desperate women struggling to find an alternative life. No woman was turned away. Underneath are several key ideas. Being true to yourself despite the odds, having the ...

BurialRites by Hannah Kent Anything set in the Northern areas close to the Arctic circle grabs my attention. I am a sucker for Scandinavian mysteries. All that bleakness and those repressed inward looking  emotions. Reading an interview with Hannah Kent piqued my  interest. Burial Rites is not so much an historical mystery as a saga. Set in 1829 Iceland, this is the fictional story behind condemned murderess Agnes Magnúsdóttir. Wow! I think I reread the prologue to Butial Rites at least four times. The poetry inherent in the  language grabs you instantly. The second sentence took my breath away with its childlike pathos. I was  hooked! Kent's turn of phrase is rather wonderful such as when the District Commissioner, Bjorne Blondal, admonishes the Assistant Reverend Thorvardur Jonsson (Toti)  that he might be ,'too pale in experience' for the task he is being given, that of spiritually counselling the murderess Agnes Magnúsdóttir. I lo...

Bride of the Wind by Heather Graham OK first let me 'fess up. I really am not too much of a fan of Pirate type romances. Well, an exception is Beauvalet by Georgette Heyer. But then Heyer is always and forever an exception. The last pirate romance I read just didn't do anything for me. So with those those riders let me go forward. Set during the Restoration period, 'Bride...' was off a rollickingly start complete with a pirate attack by the dreaded pirate Dragonslayer. Our heroine was predictably feisty and demanding, afraid but not cowered. The dreaded Dragonslayer/ravisher's entry into the cabin was again pretty predictable. Shades of avast there etc. I thought uh oh! pirates again! Thankfully, all those preconceived ideas were to change. We were given the backstory. The cast: The Betrayed and Misguided Hero: Lord Pierce DeForte, Duke of Werthington, turned infamous pirate Dragonslayer and hot for revenge against the woman who betrayed him mos...

Dirty Harriet Rides Again by Miriam Auerbach The opening scene is of Harriet having ditched her... black leggings, black tank top and leathers...for a rented Vera Wang...with four-inch sandals. Little did our leather wearing, hog riding, gun toting, gorgeous  investigative babe know that she would be caught in the middle of a murder case at her gay friends' wedding. Harriet fortunately is on hand to use her investigative skills at this crucial moment. Harriet Horowitz is a recent ex Boca Babe Searching for a new reality. She  is a domestic abuse survivor, turned Private Investigator, a smart, yet self deprecating character, whose internal dialogue catches us up with her story. This running commentary is delightful--savvy and humorous. Add to that, her relationship with her bike and her martial arts skills, oh, and her relationship with said skills instructor. Harriet is a warrior woman, larger than life. Watching her tangled steps as she works t...