eyes.2c Reviews

The Devil Takes a Bride (The Cabot Sisters Book 2) by Julia London  ...and now it's Grace's turn. Grace and Honor Cabot are determined to establish a sanctuary for their mother who appears to be sinking into dementia, and for their two sister who are yet to come out. When Prudence and Mercy's turn comes there needs to be no hint of scandal about madness in the family. Honour attempted her grand plan in The Trouble with Honor. Grace?  Well trapping a man into marriage might not be the done thing but, desperate times  call for desperate measures! Grace sets her sights on the diverting Lord Amherst brother to the brooding Earl of Meryton. So, Grace sets up the perfect, 'what could go wrong' scenario, attempting to lure Lord Amherst into a revealing position from which he would not be able to retreat. Et voila, mission accomplished!  What can we say! Oh dear! The best laid plans of mice and men etc. etc! Grace ends up in a situation, entirely of her own making...

Wolf Winter  by Cecilia Ekbäck From previous reviews I mentally girded my loins for the read saying to myself,  'really do I have the staying power this?' Wow! Ekbäck's word smithing builds a wonderful pictography of Sweden's forests and marshes of 1717, alive with all sorts of smells and sounds and colours, from the starkness of winter to the full light of the sun. The people are real and palpable, with just that touch of distance, that aloneness, that reflects the hugeness of their physical surroundings. Yet intimacy comes from their stories, Those of Maija , Frederika, the priest, all of them as various revelations are made. Maija and her family, the last to come to Blackåsen Mountain are the catalysts, pivotal to the action that follows. Murder, death, the priest, the fear of the Laplanders, the harsh winter, all escalate towards a culminating spiral of intrigue. Part mystery, part mystique encompassing political turmoil and the demands of the King. The s...

If the Viscount Falls (The Duke's Men Book 4) by Sabrina Jeffries  Dictate not you think is best, rather ask what she might want ... this is Dominick Manton's and Jane Vernon's story. Love denied and love reclaimed for a mountain of questionable reasons, with a lot of muttering [by me] 'will she, won't she, ... 'and he's just shot himself in the foot with that one,' accompanied this episode of the Duke's men. This is the story behind the lost love, lost opportunities and enduring love of Dominick Manton, founder of Manton's Investigative Agency and current Viscount of Rathmoor. His manoeuvrings to have his fiancé repudiate him when he lost all due to the perfidy of his brother George, the new Viscount,  and how that affected both him and Jane Vernon, whose fortune was so tied up in conditions that if he'd married her they would have been on the streets, or starving in a garret somewhere--a condition he was never going to allow happen to ...

Never Surrender to a Scoundrel (One Scandalous Season) by Lily Dalton  A theme of loneliness and the mystery of 'the protector'. Who is Kincraig? What is his past? When Lady Clarissa Bevington, in a moment of desperation intimates that the mysterious Mr. Kincraig is her lover the die is cast. Foolish Clarissa doesn't quite realize in her moment of panic that she is sealing her fate and that of Kincraig's in ways that she can't envisage. At that moment Kincraig's eyes smoulder with anger and chagrin at being cast into a role that will cost him all he has been seeking. Those eyes may turn to desire later but will it be too late for both him and Clarissa. What can come of a union started with a lie? Lord Donovan Blackmer, a disgraced crown agent has spent the last two years on a more lowly assignment secretly guarding Clarissa's grandfather. Now was to be his triumphant return to the fold. In a blink of an eye his dreams are in tatters. Yet he cannot rel...

What Happens in Tuscany... by T A Williams Sustained storyline of poor little rich girl being rescued by interesting young woman escaping a broken relationship. The fact that most of the action happens in Tuscany and that 'money's no object' supports the fantasy. Add to that sublime vintage vehicles, top end Italian sports cars and rugby this seems to have all the ingredients I could enjoy. Victoria (25) has been brought up in an Edwardian time warp if not a plastic bubble and is so over protected that she really doesn't know how to go about fitting into normal everyday life, (let alone television, tablets and tweets) now that her rich, eccentric and over protective father is no longer around to prohibit her interaction with the world. Katie, after seven long years dumps her dubious rugby playing partner, quits her teaching job and sets out to be the paid companion of Miss Victoria Chalker-Pyne. Helping Victoria to come out of seclusion into today's world ...

Fool's Paradise: A Lady Priscilla Flanders Mystery by Jo Ann Ferguson  Talk about a volatile beginning. Quite country walks denied, a muddy, rollicking puppy being controlled by an equally minded energetic young son, a stubborn daughter in the throws of wedding plans, demanding guests arriving a day earlier than planned and then a plea for help to locate and 'save [his missing] daughter's soul' from a less than pleasant neighbouring baron. And it doesn't stop there for Lady Priscilla Hathaway Flanders. Requests from a highly placed source, possibly close to the throne, had Pris and her husband, the newly minted baron, Lord Neville Flanders, looking for a reason to travel to the northern parts of the Lake District where Lord Beamish's daughter was last seen. The missing daughter is the very excuse needed. Neville's recent elevation came with an estate in that area. So there are now two excuses to repair to that area. Neville has been tasked with uncove...

The Midnight Rake   by Anabelle Bryant  Charming story about a young woman who sets about to right a wrong, find the cad who'd stolen her inheritance. Along the way she is captivated by, and captures the attention of, a charming young viscount. Phineas Betcham, Viscount Fenhurst, is determined not to marry. His maman has determined otherwise.  Penelope Rosebery has no interest in marriage. She's on a quest. I am still puzzling over how two young women rescued from the highway by a delightfully generous dowager end up in said rescuer's home having an entire wardrobe provided for them, and even dancing lessons for younger lady, Miss Aubry. Bit of a stretch, even through Phineas ' maman is a tad eccentric, or maybe she plays a deeper game than at first glance. The continual by play between maman's parrot and the butler. Is amusing. Certainly the novel has a couple of endearing idiosyncrasies despite my quandary. A NetGalley ARC

The Other Duke (The Notorious Flynns Book 1) by Jess Michaels  I find myself torn between my liking of the characters and wanting more meat on the bones of the plot. I have a great deal of sympathy for both Rafe, the Duke of Hartholm, and Serafina McPhee. The hook, that of both protagonists being forced into something neither wants, works well. For Serafina this is just the continuation of the story of her life. Certainly her plight brings home the historical assumption that women (particularly of this strata of society) were merely objects to barter for land, inheritance and funds, with little or no say in the direction of their life and their future partner. Serafina's treatment by her father and dead fiancé is despicable and highlights the powerlessness that women had and that they truly were at the mercy of husbands, fathers and brothers. The power to choose ones own path was difficult. The plight of these two, forced into marriage due to the way a contract was worded sh...

The Baron's Betrayal (Entangled Scandalous) (Marriage Mart Mayhem #4) by Callie Hutton  Deciding that he is no longer valid husband material, Lord Tristan Tunstall did not inform his wife Lady Marion Tunstall that he was actually alive.    And when Marion faints dead away upon sighting him at a local dance Tristan realizes that he has been tricked by his companion into residing at a place near to where his wife lives and thus he is exposed. You see, due the injuries received during a sea battle, Tristan had decided to be dead to his past life, including his beloved wife. Really not the cleverest move for a variety of reasons as his solicitor points out. Now however Tristan is caught out. He 's back from the dead. High heroics had Tristan determining that he would never become a burden to the woman he loves and who loves him back so intensely. Of course the next move is clear. Tristan resolves to seek a divorce. So the wretched man keeps punishing himself and his lo...

A Plague of Bogles (How to Catch a Bogle) by Catherine Jinks  Boggles are back! Sarah Pickles, Jem Barbary's nemesis is maybe near or faraway, dead or alive. Children are going missing near Newgate Prison. I must admit to being a longtime Catherine Jinks fan. Her Bogle world draws us in on a different plane. Bogles are the stuff of terrifying nightmares. No need to look under the bed for these child-eating monsters because they are dwelling in those dreadful places that none of us would wish to be. Set in Victorian London when children were still used as chimney sweeps or sent into dark dank cellars to fetch and carry it seems many are disappearing at an alarming rate.  Boggles seem to be clustering, not the solitary hunters that they were. A plague is lurking in the sewers of London and all are unaware. A missing child here or there. Plenty of reasons they say...and yet! Jem, our former pick pocket is in the thick of things.  He's more or less talked himself i...

How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy (Renegade Royal Book 3 ) by Vanessa Kelly  The royal renegades are back once again worming their ways into our hearts and with this particular Royal into the heart of Miss Evelyn Whitney.   Not that Will (Captain William Endicott, son of the Duke of York) hadn't always had a place in Evie's heart but the last time they saw each other he had dismissed her CHeck  Unfortunately Will has been thrown back into Evie's company on orders of his royal father the Duke of York. Just back from the harrowing battlefields of Waterloo Will had been looking for a much needed respite from his intellence gathering (spying) days. Alas no! Apparently Evie had been assisting the poor at an Irish Catholic Church and the latest out of Ireland was that there was a momentous plot afoot centring around St Margaret's, a hotbed of Irish radicals, the place where Evie is involved. Possibly an assassination, a Royal assassination! Evie has an understanding...

Carousel Seas (Carousel Tides #3) by Sharon Lee (Author) Archers Beach, Maine. Events for Kate Archer, the Guardian take on a new twist. The disruption caused between worlds when Kate frees those imprisoned by the Wise in the Carousel brings new upheavals. A stranger, a newly come goddess enters the sea, and Brogan is threatened. Kate takes the oath of a bound subject, Cael from the House of Aerynomous. The Amusement Park is being closed down, a beautiful and mysterious cat enters Kate's life. All is not well with the Changing World. And the Wise have started to investigate! Vassily still looks after the carousel with his angel intact. Kate needs all the friends, courage, luck and skill she can hold to face the coming storm! Once again Sharon Lee has come through with a winning combination of action, fantasy and romance. A NetGalley ARC

Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress (Matchmaker Trilogy #3) by Theresa Romain Heiress Augusta Meredith has taken to Bath with her friend Emily, the Countess of Tallant. Emily is distressed by her miscarriage late in her pregnancy and is seeking solace. Augusta is escaping the confines of the doting trustees she feels hedged in by. Determining a new path Augusta masquerades as Mrs Flowers, the carefree widow. Augusta has in her mind to take a discreet lover.  The handsome Josiah Everett recognizes her charade and the die is cast. Waiting for Augusta to realize she is worthwhile and for Joss to realize he is worth so much more are quite painful moments, all part of this engrossing story. When Joss tells Augusta that she is worthy, that is a precious moment! It is a reality that cuts both ways. Lord Sutcliffe, Joss's cousin and employer is a buffoon, a thoughtless creature who operates in selfish vacuum of indulgence and self gratification. Joss seems trapped in the cycle of rescu...

Viscount of Vice: A Novella (Covent Garden Cubs Book 0) by Shana Galen  I must admit the opening scenes of Viscount Flynn's risqué if not down right jaunty semi-naked exit from a ball sets the scene for an entertaining read. Flynn is about to have a past family tragedy come to light. The Duke of Ravenswood is once more periphably in attendance. This time it is his sister Lady Emma Talbot who is the focal point. She and Flynn have known each other for years. The pull of attraction has always been present. They are connected. That connection pulls Emma into dangerous places as the past confronts Flynn, forcing him into unsavoury situations, which Emma insists on accompanying him on. When early on, Ravenswood warns Flynn away from his sister, neither realize quite how appropriate that warning would become. A new scourge emerges from the depths of the London stews around Covent Garden. Satin! A dangerous and despicable character whom I fear we have not seen the last of. A fast...

The Book of Fires: A novel of Medieval London featuring Brother Athelstan (A Brother Athelstan Medieval Mystery) by Paul Doherty  A young woman, Lady Isolda Beaumont is condemned for the murder of her powerful merchant husband and burned alive at the stake. Walter 'Black' Beaumont, an expert in canons, was known to hold the secret to creating explosive fires, and was rumoured to have Mark the Greek's 'Book of Fires' stolen from the Greek emperor in Constantinople. The Book contained the secret of Greek Fire, a highly volatile substance that will ignite even when thrown on water. Isolda's  judges are being attacked, doused by a mysterious liquid, set alight and burnt alive by a mysterious harbinger of destruction . Are those with old and malignant grudges and discord seeking retribution? Brother Athelston with his old friend and sleuth Sir a John Cranston are caught up in the mystery behind the murder of the merchant and the attacks on the judges. Brother...