eyes.2c Reviews

A Gentleman's Game ( Romance of the Turf #1)  by Theresa Romain I had such high hopes for the romance between Nathaniel Chandler and his father's secretary,  Rosalind Agate. The beginning started well with Nathaniel and Rosalie working together, helping to cure the sickness developed by some of the thoroughbreds trained by the stables of Nathaniel's father. Nathaniel  knows that his father doesn't trust him. It's obvious. It takes us some time and a heap of hints for us to discover the cause.  And it takes a long time for the story of Rosalie to come to the fore. Rosalie is trapped in a web of deceit not of her own making, but to which she is beholden. Nathaniel is a rather wonderful man, who has grown beyond his childish actions yet is hampered by his father's outdated view of him. Hence the rather inane reference to 'milkmaids', Nathaniel's code for problems he comes across as he travels England and beyond on missives for his father. I gr...

Hardcastle's Collector: A police procedural set during World War One (A Hardcastle and Marriott Historical Mystery)   by Graham Ison. I enjoyed watching  Detective Inspector  Hardcastle make his way through this murder case, with the long suffering  Detective Sergeant Charles Marriott. Hardcastle's prejudices still abound, his intuitive understandings are still a puzzle given the man's inability to empathize. This time Hardcastle and his sidekick are off to the country to investigate the murder of a young woman, Daisy Salter. The list of suspects could be long--or not! There is an army camp not too far away and Daisy has caused a ruckus already with soldiers from there.  It's 1917, London is being bombed, death is falling from the skies. Surprising insights, cameo parts really, into Hardcastle's relationship with his wife and daughter emerge. The war is changing woman's roles and Hardcastle seems to be accepting this with regard to his daughter....

  Silence of Stones, The: A Crispin Guest medieval noir (A Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mystery)   by Jeri Westerson  Tracker Crispin Guest's dilemma in this new and dangerous situation paces alongside the coming-of-age of Jack Tucker, Crispin's apprentice. We have seen Jack's development as the novels have progressed. Now it is even more to the fore. A fact I like. It's 1338, the Stone of Scone has been stolen, an explosion has occurred in the Cathedral right as King Richard and Queen Anne are there to attend the Feast of the Holy Virgin's Nativity. Crispin is there (amongst the 'rabble') at Jack's  bidding (pleading rather), ' his apprentice, a rangy boy and now [Crispin's] match in height, though the lad was only fifteen.' When the explosion occurs of course they both rush towards the action, only to come under the King's gaze and then be subjected to his ire. Years previously Crispin had been stripped of his knighth...

How to Capture a Duke (Matchmaking for Wallflowers #1) by Bianca Blythe First have yourself mistaken for a highway woman holding up a coach. Secondly decide to kidnap the handsome occupant to serve as your pretend husband to be. Thirdly 'let the games begin', or rather runaway from you with excruciating speed. I loved the premise of the story. Indeed the opening misunderstanding of the Duke's coachman believing that they'd been held up by highway persons was excellent. The situation that developed and the lengths Fiona Amberly (our intrepid Blue Stocking amateur archaeologist)  kept being forced to go to, as one improbable situation piled up on to of another, was farcically humorous. But then something happened and the story fell into blandness. The hero, one Percival Carmichael, new Duke of Alfriston, become a tad dull. Ok, so his leg was plaguing him, but Golly Gosh Batman, couldn't he have been a tad more decisive.  I found his brother Arthur an...

Jilting the Duke (The Muses' Salon Series Book 1)   by  Rachael Miles Returning to England after her husband's death Sophia Gardiner found her first love, Aidan Somerville, the Duke of Forster cool, remote and ready to judge. Before their first meeting all Adian could think of was Sophia's betrayal and a just retribution for her actions. After Aiden had seen her all he could think of was her. Yet his duty to country and loyalty to his friend Tom counted for something. It was up to him to determine what had happened. Yet he'd not taken notice of Sophia and her wants. Sophia, a brilliant botanists and garden designer, painter and once the love of Aiden's life now faces danger, and her true love, with courage and trepidation, not in equal measures. I enjoyed this immensely, the character and the plot captivated me. If this is the first in the series, then I have high hopes for the subsequent volumes. The tension and mystery is highlighted as the s...

Death of an Alchemist (Bianca Goddard Mystery Book 2)   by  Mary Lawrence A brilliant depiction of life and death in Henry's London Ferris Stannum  has discovered the elixir of life. A secret many would kill for. And perhaps this is happening because alchemists are dying.  A mysterious illness is affecting others and at the heart is Bianca Goddard who is searching for a way to distill her herbals using alchemists methods, in order to make her concoctions stronger and possibly more effective. In Bianca's search she is privy to suspect happenings in the death of several denizens of places near low lying areas around the dank and dampness of the Thames River.  But all is conjecture until the murderer is exposed. The atmosphere is heightened by the dark look at the underside of areas of London during the medieval period, of the squalor and fetidness of certain parts, of the danger of the sweating disease. I love the introduction to where Ferris l...

Brooklyn on Fire: A Mary Handley Mystery by Lawrence H. Levy Welcome to the New York and Brooklyn of the 1890's. Mary Handley is back and as erudite as ever. This time her investigation leads to a series of murders, corruption at the highest level, arson, disturbance of the rich and powerful and heartbreaking personal anguish. Emily Worsham hires Mary to investigate her Uncle John's death--a death Emily's convinced is the result murder. And that's when things become 'curiouser and curiouser'. Mary finds herself embroiled in an investigative trail that cuts a swathe through the upper echelons of New York society (the Vanderbilts, Andrew Cargnegie and the Rockerfellas), dives into the stews of Brooklyn and travels as far as Richmond, Virginia. I was a little put off by the opening scenes. It took me a while to interpret whose eyes I was seeing the action through but, after that opening gambit, I was thoroughly engaged and well and truly hooked with Ma...

Sutherland’s Secret (Highland Pride #1)   by Sharon Cullen. Thrilling, with just the right amount of tension, peril and romance! Brice Sutherland, the Earl of Dornach, might not have taken part in Culloden but he organizes an escape route to Canada for those who did.  Eleanor, Lady Glendale has suffered at the hands of a depraved officer who has orchestrated her husband's charge of treason. Brice happens upon a bundle of rags on the road and discovers the dying Eleanor. Taking Eleanor to safety, he sees to her healing, and he finds his heart unwillingly claimed. A love story that defies politics and sensibility ensues, as Brice fights this interruption to his plans. A NetGalley ARC *****

Falcone Strike (Angel in the Whirlwind #2)   by  Christopher Nutall Captain Kat Falcone, reluctant war hero, has rubbed too many in power the wrong way. Her truthful disparaging outburst plays into the hands of those who want to be rid of her. Not  everyone's favourite, she is charged with a 'do or die' assignment well behind enemy lines. She is to gain information and wreak havoc on the Theocracy--at the same time ridding her foes of her troublesome self. Ordered by King Hadrian himself to the task, Kat is faced with a sympathetic king who understand the magnitude of the task, the slender chance of survival, the gains the task might give, the politics involved, and who does all he can to ease Kat's way, including having Captain Davison reassigned to her command. The king is obviously a player to watch--maybe in the next in the series. He understands the politics, the thin path he treads holding the Commonwealth together and that more is needed, not less. His and...

The Bargain   (The Duke's Sons prequel) by Jane Ashford A pleasure to read, this prequel to the Duke's Sons series begins with the Duke's youngest son of the Duke of Langford,  Lo rd Alan Gresham, a reputed scientist, being called by the Prince Regent to Carlton House to put an end to the embarrassing appearances of the ghost of a leading actress, Tess Harding, and the Prince's past mistress. Gresham responds to the Prince's demand, but is nevertheless annoyed to be pulled away from his precious experiments. Ariel Harding has her own reasons for wanting to learn the truth of the hauntings. What she does discover is the very attractiveness of the reticent Lord. Between the hauntings and watching Ariel dispense advice to his brothers, Gresham is not sure whether to be amused, annoyed or beguiled by the vivacious Ariel.  A pleasing Regency Romance and a  fun read! A NetGalley ARC ****

The Protector (Highland Brides #1) by Allison Butler Mairi's struggle is what strikes me. She struggles to make amends, to holds at bay her emotional burdens. She struggles to be the pleasing daughter who will obey her father. She holds herself together--too tightly. The one who sees this about her is a lowlander, Duffy who has taken a year off from the Elliot clan trying to discover his true name and heritage.  The silences about this are more telling than explanations.  He is one of three from that clan who is on a quest. They were all to meet up at a certain time.  Duff saves Laird Alistair Gordon from ambush and the laird's daughter Mairi from a spooked horse. Mairi it seems has been given the chance by her father to choose her own husband--from three likely candidates. An unusual occurrence. Most daughters are married off for political reasons with no choice. Laird Gordon asks Duff to stay on to be Marie's protector. She is spending a day with each poten...

The Rock (The Highland Guard #11)   by Monica McCarty The fairytale was not going to come true. No matter how hard he tries, even when he climbs up into the princess's tower, Thomas MacGowan learns early on that Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of Lord Douglas can never be for him. Childhood friends, Thom the son of the castle blacksmith is smitten by Elizabeth right from when she was just a wee young thing who trailed around behind him and her brother Jamie. Rejected, Thom joins Bruce's army still dreaming that he might one day be in a position to offer for Elizabeth. Meantime, Elizabeth has outgrown childhood fancies and is determined to marry for position and power. When her younger brother is imprisoned by the English, Elizabeth asks Thom, who has the uncanny ability to climb sheer rock faces, to attempt his rescue. Thom's talent brings him to the attention of Bruce's secret army--The Highland Guards, but will this bring him to Elizabeth's attentio...

The Lady's Command (The Adventurers Quartet)   by Stephanie Laurens Reading Lauren's works over the years, the notion of marriage and what factors contribute to bring two people together in a strong relationship that grows over time has surely been a central theme. With  The Lady's Command that theme is given voice. It is overt. We are taken from a different beginning into uncharted territory. I must admit that it took me a moment to be drawn into this more explicit direction. We are not starting from the across a crowded room beginning. We are starting from the happily ever after, riding off into the sunset with your prince/princess beside you, place. Unusual, invigorating even! When  Captain Declan Frobisher is called upon to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a crown spy in the West African port of Freetown shortly after his marriage to Lady Edwina Delbraith, he envisages that his wife would stay at home guarding home and hearth. Annoying as it ...

Where Lemons Bloom   by Blair McDowell.   The more I moved into this story the more Involved I became . At first I went, really? A short time later I was exclaiming... Really!!! Wow! Waste no time! All right extenuating circumstances--maybe? Eve is a strong and determined woman who finds herself through love with a handsome stranger, sunshine and a picture postcard habitat on the Italian Amalfi coast. I swear I felt the sun's rays kiss my face and the sea view calm my soul as I sipped coffee with Adamo and Eve's on their pensione balcony The meeting of Eve Adomo de Leone is dramatic. They part, never to meet again, but fate throws a curve ball and they find themselves on the same boat bound for Italy. Instead of going their own ways Eve accompanies Adamo to the Almafi coast and to the beginnings of a new life--dogged by the mystery of eighty million missing dollars Adamo has supposedly embezzled, and now attempted murder. As the story spun out I found myself ...

Heir to the Duke (The Duke's Sons #1)   by Jane Ashford All her life Lady Violet Devere has been kept in line by her family. Indeed her grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Morely, is a tyrant controlling them all. Lady Violet in particular is a target. The Dowager designates what Violet should wear, what activities are the most ladylike for her to undertake and how she must behave. Coupled with the fact that Violet's maid Renshaw is the Dowager's creature, it is no wonder that Violet flings herself into rebel mode (in a most satisfactory way) after she is married. The Duke of Langford, Nathaniel Gresham views his upcoming marriage to the Lady Violet as his expected duty. He is prepared for a comfortable time. He is taken by surprise when Violet decrees that they need to be adventurous and enjoy themselves. Of course, the Dowager and the recalcitrant maid are dead set against this. To the point where both Nathaniel and I take umbrage. Violet's relationship wi...