eyes.2c Reviews

The Herald of Hell: A Brother Athelstan Novel of Medieval London (The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan #15) by Paul Doherty. In the midst of the violence and unrest of May 1381 London, just prior to the Peasant's Revolt, Brother Athelstan and Sir John Cranston, the Lord High Coroner of London must once again step carefully and solve a murder that has ties to plots of highly placed persons and the scrutiny of the Upright Men. A man of subterfuge, Amaury Whitfield, chancery clerk to Tribuault, Master of Secrets for John of Gaunt has seemingly committed suicide in a locked room in a Southwark brothel. The Golden Oliphant is a place where cravings can be satisfied--for a price. His erstwhile scrivener and comrade in nefarious dealings, Oliver Lebarge has almost simultaneously thrust himself into Athelstan's life by taking sanctuary in St Erconwald's.  Althestan's upcoming investigation and inquest will lead back to Lebarge and beyond as he and Cranston unc

An Egyptian Affair (The Regent Mysteries Book 4)  by Cheryl Bolen Captain Jack Dryden and his wife Lady Daphne Dryden are off on a dangerous mission for the Prince Regent. The place Cairo, the goal,  investigating the fate of a missing antiques dealer--friend to the Prince and the artifact that was being sought on behalf of the Prince.  Jack would like to keep his wife safely at home. Daphne is already picturing the romance and manifest mysteries of the alluring Egypt. The Prince Regent includes soldiers to protect the party and one Stanton Maxwell, a foremost Egyptology scholar. Daphne is persuaded to bring her younger sister Rosemary, an Egyptian enthusiast. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the hot sands of Egypt encasing the reader as events race alongside opposing reports by British inhabitants, murder, kidnapping and romance. One can picture the bustling humanity of the bazaars and the dark threat of alleyways. I enjoyed Jack and Daphne as a couple, their interplay and  mo

Once Upon a Marquess (Worth Saga book 1) by Courtney Milan Lists and cats, opium wars, treason and disruption. This novel has it all, tension permeates every situation along with lightning dashes of humour. In eight years Lady Judith Worth has gone from sunny lady assured of her place in the world to a woman who struggles to survive, ensuring her brother and sister have a roof over their heads, china that  if not matching,  is at least not cracked--and plans for her siblings future. Judith is a gem of a character, unusual in her mechanical interests and quirky substitute words for swearing. She is fierce in her protection of her family--younger sister, the intelligent Theresa and her cats is full of promise and I look forward to her story; youngest sibling Benedict, bullied at Eton and determined not to return, opens up for us as the story progresses; and then there's sister Camilla who chose to live away from the family and has had no contact for all this time. The

Reason to Wed (The Distinguished Rogues  #7) by Heather Boyd Richard Hill,  the Earl of Windermere, needs to marry and beget an heir, entailing a curious ritual that had been part of the family myth for generations. This he refuses to do. A ll Richard's  affairs have led him to believe that he may be unable to have children--but, nary a by blow in sight.  Esme, Lady Heathcote, a not so discreet widow lady knew she was barren. She thoroughly enjoys her independence. Lovers and no involvement are part of that.    Although never involved, Richard and Esme had crossed paths more than once. Indeed Esme did him a favor not so long ago, one that initially infuriated Richard--publicly! To make amends, Richard invites Esme to a select house party, aiming to show the world they were not at logger heads. When Esme's lover announces his engagement to another, Esme is furious. Her code of behaviour has always included the strict rule of no engaged or married men for a dalliance. 

The Relic Master: A Novel by Christopher Buckley Set at the time of the Reformation and Luther's famous Ninety-Five Theses, Buckley has treated us to a walk through history (in this case, religious) that equals '1066 and All That'. Witty, humorous and telling. We are privy to the vagaries and voracities of the powerful--archbishops and electors, their purchases of artifacts that will increase the big business of indulgences and line their coffers. Buckley's portrayal of Frederick the Wise seems slightly more sympathetic. His collecting of relics appears more that of a genuine interest in the relics themselves, and a concern for their authenticity--he has the soul of a true collector. For Albert of Mainz indulgences are his way forward, they are about competition and power, the road to the Vatican and the supreme position. And now that Rome has issued a 'bull' decreeing that all indulgences sold by Albert have a special dispensation, indulgences in other

His Right Hand  (A  Linda Wallheim Mystery #2) by Mette Ivie Harrison ... A Mormon enclave in Draper, Utah is the setting for murder unexpected. A crime committed that uncovers a shocking truth and that throws the Mormon hierarchy into disarray.   Carl Ashby, a respected member, has been killed and during the investigation, it is revealed that he had transgendered from female. Linda Wallheim, wife of the ward's bishop is determined to help uncover the truth of the murder as suspicion casts a festering pall  over the community.   In the course of looking into the murder, the main character Linda, gives the reader a fascinating insight into Mormon mores. Many of which are dissected in terms of individual responsibility, interpretation and grace. Referenced is the churches adherence to strict lines of communication, order and within that a person's place according to gender and hierarchy. And here shockingly, a crime has exposed that those gender lines having been crossed

The Pirates Tempting Stowaway (Dukes of War #6) by Erica Ridley This starts with quite a ruckus! Captain Blackheart, Gregory Steele, ex privateer and lately of a more dubious high seas occupation--namely pirating, has been employed by Oliver York, the Earl of Carlisle, to locate and bring back to England from Philadelphia, his wife's mother, Clara Halton. Steele arrives to find Clara abandoned by the small community she lives in, left to die of consumption. Despite her protestations, Steele bundles Clara up and takes her with him. On the return voyage, Clara discovers that Blackheart is more Goldenheart. The journey back to England is filled with delightful and sometimes hilarious occasions. Clara worms her way not only into the captain's affections, but those of the entire crew. Clara and Steele find themselves strongly attracted to each other and the enforced intimacy of the Captain's cabin becomes the stage for their tempestuous and passionate encounters. Bl

In Search of Scandal (London Explorers #1) by Susanne Lord . A roller coaster read that pulls at the heart strings. The raw emotions, the dark secrets that Will Repton fights tug at you as you realize his life has been put on hold, arrested by the dreadful things he has scene. Witness to the slaughter of all his companions in Tibet, Will Repton cannot rid his mind of the events, nor his determination to search for a possible sole survivor. Harbinger of secrets, he reveals to no one his troubled quest. He quietly goes about making plans to return to the area to investigate possibilities wrapped up in the excuse to hunt for more exotic species. Charlotte Baker is enamoured of Will before she meets him. She has closely followed his work over many years and is delighted to at last meet her hero. A dazzling beauty, she cares little for her appearance. Charlotte's convinced that meeting Will will be a marvelous adventure. Little does she guess that though her expectations are

How to seduce a Seduce a Scot (Broadswords and Ballrooms #1) by Christy English Alexander Waters has been sent by his mother to escort his wild, free spirited sister through a season in London, and to make sure she is married off to a 'decent' Englishman. There are strong hints that Mary Elizabeth has tried her mother's patience mightily and this is the result. There are definite references throughout that make it obvious that none of the siblings want to be on the short end of their mother's ire. Mary Elizabeth is a fun-filled young lady who is nothing like the English misses Alex so decries. Climbing hemp ropes and sword fights are the least of her past times. On the other hand, Catherine Middlebrook is one of those gently bred English misses (at least on the outside) so decried. We know that the real Catherine is a strong young woman, supportive and willing to sacrifice everything for one season to secure her family's fortune. Her plan is to marry respec

The Striker (Highland Guard, #10) by Monica McCarty Eoin MacLean's decision to become one of Robert the Bruce's strike force team, The Highland Guards, plays havoc with his personal life. But then Eoin wasn't expecting to be captivated by a wild, red headed, bewitching young woman, Margaret MacDowell, whose father's enmity is legend. Happiness is replaced by anger. Eoin's promise to not reveal the secret of the Highland Guards is ripe ground for mistrust between himself and Margaret to erode to the point of no return.  Margaret is all that is admirable in the way she seeks to support and understand him, but perceived rejection and frequent snubs worms away at her self confidence.  Convinced he has been betrayed by Margaret, Eoin turns his back on their marriage and takes up the mantle of his reported death. Some years later, when he learns that Margaret is about to remarry, Eoin has second thoughts, particularly as his Lazarus reappearance behind the En

Cast in Honor (The Chronicles of Elantra #11)   by Michelle Sagara Wow! Complex, occasionally confusing and yet marvellous. What is it about Private Kaylin Neya that makes her at once vulnerable, impulsive, rash, yet able to see to the heart of things despite her imperfections. Maybe it's her big heart that encompasses all, her need to love, her compulsion to heal and to extend herself to others and on behalf of others.  She doesn't back down from what has to be done even when she wants too. She numbers dragons, Barranis and caste lords amongst her acquaintances. Children of all races are her especial joy.    Elantra  is recovering from a destructive battle between light and dark. A routine murder investigation has Kaylin and her friends being confronted by an even bigger anomaly. Elantra is in peril, parts are disappearing and time is involved. A mysterious being Gilbert appears from a future Ravellon with a child, Kattea, looking for healing that only the Chosen, Kay

Highland Heat  ( Highland Knights  #2) by Jennifer Haymore Lady Grace Carrington had no idea when she strode the battle lines after Waterloo looking for survivors, that the injured soldier (with the startling, blue-green aquamarine eyes) she finds will become more important to her than breathing. Duncan Mackenzie, enlisted soldier, little knows as he gazes upon Grace, that his heart is about to be lost to this determined, titled lady.       Grace's sister Claire has come to Waterloo on the eve of the battle to try to mend the rift with her husband, Major Sir Robert Campbell, and Duncan's superior. A love affair that stretches from Waterloo to Scotland is born. Along the way these two have to cope with Grace's testy father, the Earl of Norsey, a member of the older aristocracy. (That line says it all) A commoner is not the match for the daughter of such an Earl. After the battle Duncan returns to London having been reassigned to a newly formed, internal elite for

The Lost Soul of Lord Badewyn (Order of the M.U.S.E.) by Mia Marlowe! The central story weaves around Meg Antony, now ward of the Duke of Camden and leader of the M.U.S.E.  Meg is a 'finder', her gift being that she can find people and objects psychically. When reality takes on biblical proportions, time and the heavens stand still. Meg is sent by Edward St James, the Duke of Camden, and mastermind behind the group, to Wales for protection from her cruelly recalcitrant family. Down on their luck since Meg has gone, they are looking to grab her back in order to continue the life of crime they had subjected her to. Little does Meg understand that she is fleeing from the devils she knows to the dark angel she doesn't. Samuel Templeton, Lord Badewyn is an unusual man--a watcher. But that is the most normal thing about him. Samuel's family history is shrouded in a mystery of biblical proportions enacted from the beginnings of time. Actually I was rendered spe

The Golden Braid (Medieval Fairy Tale Romance #2)  by  Melanie Dickerson Featuring some intriguing twists to the Rapunzel story. I wondered how 'the tower' was going to fit into plot. Dickerson has very cleverly made the tower segment seem absolutely normal and believable, complementing all that leads to that moment. On the road to the town of Hagenheim with her mother Rapunzel meets a knight, Sir Gerek, who dismisses her as a poor peasant girl. Rather annoying really, as she ended up rescuing him from bandits after he'd just rescued her from the same bandits. Now he owes her, maybe! What Rapunzel wants more than anything is to learn to read. Gerek is placed in a position to help--which he does, reluctantly. The refrain we all know, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair," is not used in the way and place we envisage but nevertheless is referenced in many ways and for a variety of reasons to do with a young woman's place and reputation, of being

The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen   I knew this was going to be a five star read right from the opening pages. Mystery, murder and mayhem, my three favourite 'm's. Indeed I mostly smiled all the way through. Lady Sara Emerson has come to London to ask the help of her dead cousin’s fiancé, Gabriel Ferguson, Duke of Rossmoyne.  Her cousin Meredith had been fiendishly murdered two years ago and now someone was sending Sara scary letters that could be from the murderer. Recently returned from a two year stint in India, Rossqmoyne agrees to help her on condition that she stay in his home with his mother as chaperone. Of course that also opens up its own set of  problems.  Sara is totally different from Meredith--a fact Ross comes to appreciate the more he sees her. With him she is refreshing and challenging. At social events she fades into the background. Puzzling behaviour indeed! The pace is fast, one scenario tumbles after another gathering momentum. Sara

Miss Featherton's Christmas Prince (The Marriage Game #9) by Ella Quinn  This latest in the Marriage Game series, where titled bachelors meet their matches, and then some, has all the complexity and humour of an Oscar Wilde novel. Meg Featherton has been disappointed by two suitors and as a consequence has determined to settle for safety and comfort, not the unsteadiness of love. Her sights are set on Charles, Viscount Throughgood. Unbeknownst to Meg, Charles otherwise known as "Chuffy", has his eyes set on her best friend Amanda.  The man who has been struck by Meg from the beginning, is Damon, Marquis of Hawksworth, handsome and pleasing to all but Meg. Hawksworth's boredom on return from the wars finds some release by leading the dandy set a merry race. Viewing his efforts, Meg dismisses him as a mere fribble. So we are launched on a tale thick with missed opportunities, misunderstandings, interferences, and mistimed happenings; all underpinned by the meddl

A Christmas Escape: A Novel by Anne Perry   I It took me a while to realize that this story is about Hester Monk's brother, Charles Latterly. Charles has decided to escape the harshness of a Victorian London Christmas and has journeyed to a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of three active volcanoes in Italy. His hostelry is perched against the upper reaches of the volcano. Here Charles hopes to attain a measure of inner healing, a different perspective. What he finds is a strange mixture of guests and a volcano that appears anything but benign. The dark grumbling of that entity are viewed differently by the guests. Some are drawn to it, others repelled. Languid days, the mystery of the volcano, the sense of something almost mystical beyond the grasp of mere mortals colours the background and enhances the electricity amongst the various guests, all calmed by the host, Stefano whose culinary abilities seem to act at times as

Lady of Intrigue Kindle by Sabrina Darby There are moments when the simplest of actions can be life changing crossroads. For  Lady Jane Langley, on her way to the Vienna of 1814, to join her father, it was just  an exchange of places into a another carriage. Who knew that this action would see her involved in an accident, be badly injured, witness a murder, and then...most startling  who  finds herself alone in a mountain cabin being cared for by the assassin. The visceral attraction between Lady Jane and her captor is astounding, best displayed in the holding back, the teetering on the edge of an undeniable passion, not the giving in, clearly described by each in their own reflective moments. Gerard Badeau, illegitimate grandson to Lord Lansdowne, spy and assassin is struck by the singular intelligence and determination of Jane. He captures the wonder he sees in Jane in this one restrained comment, 'Jane--such a name for this woman'. As time progresses we delve f

The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4 ) by Valerie Bowman   Playful Brides continues, this time with a Swift sibling in the major role. Daphne had grown up in a household dedicated to the service of their country, and even played a part. She married Captain Rafferty Cavendish as part of an assignment. Daphne is on the verge of becoming engaged to someone else, when Rafe returns and she discovers that the marriage she had supposed had been annulled has not! She is both furious and relieved. It has taken her sometime to go on with her life after Rafe, and now here he is upsetting her well laid plans! What's to do! The Prince Regent was to take care of this! Rafe however has need of Daphne for one last assignment.  Rafe is on the trail of the French handler who imprisoned him and took the life of Daphne's elder brother Donald, the former  Earl. He needs Daphne's help. The go-betweens speak Russian, as does Daphne. There is a deeper game afoot though--a game of the he

Bella and the Beast (Cinderella Sisterhood #4) by Olivia Drake From the opening I felt like I'd stumbled into a scene worthy of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Only set back a couple of hundred years to Regency England. Here it's the Cinderella Sisterhood and the magic artifact is not denim jeans but Garnett beaded slippers,  (to me) reminiscent of those Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz.   Bella Jones has returned from Persia with her younger brother and sister to a small cottage in Oxford, England. On his deathbed her father, a noted ancient civilizations scholar instructs her to find the other half of an Egyptian treasure map from Alwyin. Who this is remains a mystery until her 'fairy godmother' the Countess of Milford, sends her off to secure a position as a curator with the taciturn, withdrawn Miles Grayson, the Duke of Aylwin, an avid collector of ancient artifacts. Suspicious of all, Miles wants nothing to do with Bella. Despite his best intenti

Daniel's True Desire (True Gentlemen #2) by Grace Burrowes   *Ten stars* for this latest True Gentleman episode. What a pleasure this latest of Grace Burrowes' novel is--fascinating, intelligent and complex.  'True Desire' is a gem! Daniel Banks  is all that one could wish for. A gorgeous man, inside and out--good, true and desirable. He's been well and truly deceived by his wife who has taken herself out of his life. She is a murky, vain, grasping, self-centred woman, whose actions reflect this. Being separated is not the best recommendation for a country vicar, hence his move to Haddondale and a living under the aegis of the Earl of Bellefonte.  Daniel is empathetic and honourable. He is a far cry from many of the vicars we come across in novels. This is a man who understands people out of the depths of his own humanness. Lady Kirsten Haddondale recognizes this about him. Kirsten has been protected by her family. They understand some of her challenges, no

So I Married a Highlander (What Happens In Scotland #2) by Kate McKinley   Lady Evelyn Alexander seems to have found herself in an interesting situation in her flight to Gretna Green to marry her fiancé, Stephen Crawford. The relationship is such that they should be able to should be able to rub along well enough together. Evelyn is determined to set up her own household, out from under the feet of her managing ducal brother, Lucas.  Lady Evelyn chivvies the bridegroom along rather than the other way around. She is very a 'take charge' managing young woman. And when her plans look like being thwarted Evelyn hies off looking for a solution. Unfortunately: 1. Lady Evelyn is somewhat of a prima donna and feels the world is there for her to order around and assist her in pursuit of desires and she wants to be married before her brother can find them. 2. Lady Evelyn really shouldn't down strong drink when she's cross and trying to prove a point. 3. Lady Evelyn mana

His Housekeeper's Christmas Wish (Lords of Disgrace) by Louise Allen     A timely Christmas story with just the right touch of sentimentality and humour. Our hero, Alexander Tempest, Viscount Weybourn has locked off his emotions and been estranged from his family for many years. Our heroine, Tess Ellery, is a delightful mix of gamine type wisdom with an innocence that sees through to the heart of things. Tess keeps rescuing the down trodden and uncared for--from humans to animals. And the human she wants to rescue is the one who effectively knocked her off her feet and then continued to make assumptions...dratted man, that were entirely off the mark and that led to Tess being Weybourn's temporary housekeeper.  Of course his staff love her and Tess' guilessness worms it's way underneath Alexander's indifferent mask and into his heart.  Ah! But things are never so simple as to immediately lead to a HEA. The route is twisted and captures attention in this se

What Happens Under the Mistletoe by Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, Candace Camp and Meredith Duran Christmas time brings forth those traditions that can be employed to advantage for many a tardy or fledgling romance. This mix of seasonal stories sparkle with wit, humour, and romantically subdued longing. An enjoyable selection of Happy Ever After (HEA) works. I do like to have short, sweet stories from time to time, able to be read in bite sized chunks. The Heiress and the Hothead by Sabrina Jeffries Answering a friend's call to help stir a would be suitor into action, Lord Stephen Cory found himself kissing a different young woman under the mistletoe by mistake. Oh my! Twelve Kisses by Karen Hawkins Once more the delightfully autocratic Grand Duchess Natasha Nikolaevna plays a role in uniting two lovers who find it hard to make a start. Any Other Name by Candace Camp Rylla is intent on finding her brother Daniel and persuading him to come home for Christmas. Her sea

Bearing It All: A Highlander's Beloved Novel by Vonnie Davis  Those handsome brawny Matheson men are back with their loveable wives and their precious niece Collen. Not to forget the pink encased hippie witch, Effie!   This time it's Ronan who is front and centre. Taking a couple of days off, Ronan has headed to his lonely cabin in the highlands for a time of release and repair. Let the bear run free! Instead he's catapulted into the midst of a CIA internal investigation that includes the gorgeous French intelligence agent Anisa Brosseau, accused of treason, and who's being pursued by deadly agents. Crashing her drone in the highlands and meeting a luscious highlander is not what Anisa set out to do. And when a delectable female pursued by dangerous thugs turns up on your doorstep what's a red blooded man whose bear is equally enthralled supposed to do? I do like it that Ronan's bear, like a naughty child, sneaks away from time to time, and takes contr

Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante: A Maggie Hope Myster y by Susan Elia Macneal  Special agent Maggie Hope accompanies Churchill to meet with Roosevelt as the war effort tide takes a hopeful turning. The bombing of Pearl Harbour has become a catalyst for American troop support against Hitler and Churchill is anxious to gain an alliance between the two nations. This could make the difference between defeat and victory! England and her allies are exhausted, pushed on all fronts. However Mrs Roosevelt's aide is found dead--murdered, and Maggie is to give the enquiry all the help she can muster. The trail leads to highly placed groups that seek to impair the Anglo-American nexus. Maggie was hoping her journey would help her to make headway in her damaged relationship with John Sterling, her almost fiancé. This event puts that on the back burner. Maggie's skills have never been more important to the world political stage and when duty calls romance looks like it must take a bac

A Choice of Treasons (Treasons Cycle) by J. L. Doty   Lieutenant York Ballin, a naval combat lifer, with more experience and determination in his little finger than the whole Imperial Fleet commanders put together is caught in a cat and mouse game of pursuit spanning deep space--and the pursuers are mounting. The Federal Directorate of the Republic of Syndon and his own Imperial forces want to blast his ship, the cruiser Cinesstar, into nothingness, and for what? True on board is the Empress and the Princess. Who wants them dead? A let's not forget the silent hunter who's tracked him from the beginning. Then there's the mysterious references to Ballin's antecedents that he himself has only just gotten a fix on. Oh, and let's not forget Ballin's arch enemy on the deck, Sierka. Political and economic power and greed are accompanying contributors behind this situation those on the Cinesstar are subjected to. This war has dragged on for over two years. Milli

Conqueror's Kiss by Hannah Howell   Jennet Graeme is a delightful character, spunky and abrasive, not at all subdued by her violent history. When Sir Hacon Gillard drags her from a convent and claims her as plunder during the sack of Berwick she rises to the challenge and Havon finds himself with a delightful armful of spitting kitten that continues to give him more grief than he had even conceived.  Trapped in the Scottish wars, Jennet is just one more causality in the battle of kings and conquests in the Scotland of1318. This re-release of Howell's novel is a treat for those of us who never met her early novels. I enjoyed Jennet's feistiness, Hacon's inherent understanding and goodness, the battles between the two of them, and the loyalty of the various secondary characters, including Jennet's father.  Of course there's a decided dastardly foe. One whom Jennet has good cause to remember, and one who Hacon knows is a treacherous enemy. A story told thr