eyes.2c Reviews

Bright Blaze of Magic (Black Blade)   by  Jennifer Estep Lila Merriweather, ex thief and seeker of secrets, is in for the fight of her life.  Lila had been on the streets of Cloudburst Falls until becoming part of the Sinclair Family with more than a proprietal interest in Devon Sinclair. Now it seems  Victor Draconi, diabolical pathological head of the Draconi Family, has decided that it's time for him to submerge the other Families of Cloudburst Falls into his organization. A little death, or many deaths is not going to bother him. He has been storing up black blades, magical swords made from blood iron, that will rip the magic out of whomever or whatever they impale. That will get the job done and make Victor's takeover so much sweeter--for him. The story opens with Lila, Felix and Devon sneaking into the Draconi family compound to take those weapons and substitute them for something a little less lethal.  The opening line grabbed m...

Promised to the Crown (Daughters of New France)   by  Aimie Runyan   I was fortunate to be in Quebec City just after reading 'Promised to the Crown.' A look at the Ursuline museum and other places that depict the French arrival in this part of the world certainly added gravitas and depth to Runyan's fictional account of those early days of the colony. The  filles du roi , or “King’s Daughters”, were young women who in 1667 answered the King's call to leave France for the new world of the northern american continent in Quebec. They were to become brides of the colonists, helping to populate the land and turn an outpost into a thriving colony. The king provided a dowry for the brides. The brides were housed with the Ursuline order until their marriage. (I found the courting afternoon teas under the eyes of the nuns interesting. It is a picture of controlled getting to know you. And how were the young women able to verify the conditions they might be goin...

Oh What A (Wedding) Night (Brazen Brides #3)   By Cheryl Bolen. Lady Sophia Beresford knew she shouldn't have given into Lord Finkel's blackmailing tactics and married him even if it is to save the reputation of her sister. Fleeing her bridegroom prior to consummation of her wedding vows Sophia falls in with William Birmingham. Sophia mistakes him for a criminal. Birmingham, one of England's wealthiest men mistakes Sophia for a mysterious courier Isadora. That's fine with Sophia as she needs somewhere to hide out from the disgusting Finkel until she can sort her situation out. It seems that Birmingham is not adverse to helping her in the sorting out part. How is Sophia to become unmarried, help Birmingham with his quest to take possession of a gold shipment, rid herself of Finkel and not betray her feelings for Birmingham to him? An Interesting storyline with just the right amount of humour and tension. A NetGalley ARC ****

Her Every Wish (The Worth Saga)   by  Courtney Milan Daisy Whitlaw knows that to support herself and her mother she must do more than be a flower shop girl. She has a vision. A vision hampered by lack of funds and crowded out by the prejudices of her community. When she enters a competition to gain funds to start a trade she runs smack bang into those prejudices. Trade is for men!  With the help of her once friend and once beloved, Crash, a young man who has been brought up to stand tall and not let his circumstances of birth hamper his dreams, Daisy learns to see her worth and to fight for what she wants. Of course she and Crash do have some problems to confront and the path of true love is not at all guaranteed. But with a more focused attitude Daisy is learning to stand up for herself, and even more importantly to look at how her own attitudes might need to change. A very different and touching story. A NetGalley ARC ****

Soldier (The Talon Saga #3)   by  Julie Kagaw Kagawa just doesn't let up the pressure! Once more I was on the edge of my seat consumed by events that befall Garret, Ember and Riley. Privy to a new set of factors that sets the the cat among the pigeons, or perhaps the dragons amongst the St Georgians, a new truth of betrayal leaves all reeling. Garret, Riley and Ember must look for answers in the depths of Talon's ultimate hoard of treasure and then confront the very heirachy of the order of St George.  Add to this an older and wiser Eastern dragon, Jade, and the revelation of shocking task that Dante has been set by Talon, and this is once again a whirlwind ride. And yes a few tears flowed. Ember becomes more in tune and more confused as her dragon side and human side intersect. Her feelings for both Garret and Riley or rather Cobalt are in a state of tension. A NetGalley ARC *****

Shadow Magic   by  Joshua Khan.  Illustrated by  Ben Hibon. A macabre fantasy that has it all. A peasant enslaved becomes a hero, a Princess becomes a queen before her time, along with murder, ghosts, and zombies. But then the action takes place at Castle Gloom in the Kingdom of Gehenna. A dark secret entity is gathering together an army of the undead to conquer all. This is really enjoyable. Thorn is the pigheaded forester's son who has his own special abilities, a peasant's common sense (sometimes) and who ends up on a fantastical journey--after having been bought from the slavers by Ghenna's executioner, Tyburn. Lilth Shadow became the ruler of Gehenna when her  family ( parents and brother) was attacked and killed in the forest when returning from a state visit to a neighbouring kingdom--Lumina.  Then there is K'leef, a captured Prince, held hostage by Duke Raphael Solar, the enemies of the Gehenna for eons. Lily's parents' royal vi...

The Perfect Fiancé (Matchmaking for Wallflowers Book 0.5)   by  Bianca Blythe   Rosamund Amberly has discovered her gift--matchmaker extraordinaire. So when Marcus Worthing, Earl of Somerville presents himself she knows that this stunning man will be just the right match for her sister  Fiona . Never mind that her sister is just not interested in marriage, never mind that Rosamund feels a tad unsettled around Marcus. She knows best, she has a track record.  Fiona  and Marcus are fated to marry, old childhood friends that they are. This is perfect. How Rosamund tries to resolve the situation and push two people together who are just not interested in each other, and how Rosamund has to re-examine her own feelings is rather a hoot. Great quick read. A NetGalley ARC *****

Good Dukes Wear Black: A Lords of Anarchy Novel (The Lords of Anarchy #3)   by  Manda Collins What I found most fascinating about this story was the practice of psychiatrists of the time committing to asylums those whose family's wanted them out of the way. Great research by Manda Collins, and pulling this in as the raison d'être gives an excellent  hook for the plot. For me the actual execution just didn't live up to that premise. I liked Ophelia, I liked Trent and yet for some reason their story didn't come together with the verve it should have. I wasn't grabbed by it. I truly wanted to be.  There just didn't seem to be the electricity between Ophelia and Trent that I expected. There were disconnections. And yet as I rerun the plot in my mind it had it all. Super plot, feisty heroine, hunky Duke, wonderful friends, villains, annoying mother and loving father  à la  Jane Austen. The dots just weren't joined with enough oomph. However ...

The Murder of Mary Russell: A novel of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes  (Mary Russell #14) by  Laurie R. King Well, well, well! What an interesting method to look more closely at Holmes than via Mrs Hudson. A Mrs Hudson we don't know but who in this portrait opens up to be more than the shadow puppet we know whose occasionally exasperated by Sherlocke and yet looks after him so thoroughly. Wonderfully executed and so exciting. Oh my, the further I read the more fascinating the 'who' of Mrs Hudson becomes.  Mrs Hudson and her relationship with Holmes is so deftly woven into the current moment ... or maybe it's Holmes relationship with Mrs Hudson. And Mary manages to get caught in between in the old history to do with Mrs Hudson--her past that comes a-callin'. That past is taken up, explained and re-examined. We see Mrs Hudson as a child and her relationship with her sister--who's a nasty piece of work, spoilt, self-centred and vi...

Luck Is No Lady (Fallen Ladies #1)   by  Amy Sandas Emma Chadwick dealt with most things calmly. So when she is kissed by a stranger at a ball in a small side room she's taken refuge in, she takes that in her stride too--well almost! Emma has taken all of the family assets to give her sisters a chance at a season and an opportunity to enter into a good marriage. Unfortunately, the venture is more expensive than she thought and then there's the added worry of her father's mysterious gambling debts having caught up with them. Emma has to take a job. When she applies for a position as a bookkeeper, she little realizes that she is walking into one of London's most notorious gambling establishments and that the owner is one Roderick Bentley, the stranger she kissed. Emma's mathematical skills ensures her the job, her attraction for the club's owner just might secure her heart. But then there's the problem of being pursued by the man who is owed money, ...

Counted With the Stars (Out From Egypt Book #1)   by  Connilyn Cossette A beautiful story that takes the Book of Exodus and gives it a human face. Not just that, but we see the experience from the viewpoint of the Egyptian young woman Kiya. Kiya's life has changed when her father's business fails and she is sold into slavery to allow her mother and much beloved brother to go free. Her life goes literally from great riches to the depths of agony and despair. As a slave she comes into contact with a young Hebrew woman, Shira. This is at a time just before the Exodus out of Egypt begins.  The failing of Kiya's gods in the face of Yahweh and then the flight from Egypt and the challenges of journey in the wilderness is fascinating.  The picture painted of the plagues that beset Egypt are vividly painted and entirely believable.  As Kiya's  whole belief system is being destroyed, the story argues for the 'stranger within the gate' concept when S...

Of Treasons Born (Treasons Cycle)   by  J. L. Doty  I said that I awaited the next of the Treasons cycle with bated breath. And every breath was worth it. Wow! The saga continues. This time we have the back story to York Ballin's journey into where how he came to be in the Navy and a lifer in 'Choice of Treasons'.    This is a gripping story that had me flipping through the pages. I love Doty's writing. It's all here, the underdog with a mysterious background who works his way up through the ranks. Always there's a catch! He's the badly treated hero who still comes through, fighting a mindless war, controlled by the higher echelons of society, with lives being thrown away without regard to the fact that they are more than numbers on a tally sheet. An unusual ploy, having as the second book as virtually the prequel for the first in the series, relating how York Ballin arrives at the point of being in the navy in 'A Choice of Treasons...

Visitor: A Foreigner Novel  (#17)   by  C. J. Cherryh   The depth of the Foreigner series continues to amaze.  Bren's life just becomes more difficult as its realized that a ship of the Kyo is heading towards the atevi world. Meanwhile the human station occupants--the Mospheirans and The Reunioners are in conflict with each other. Turmoil is rife at a very dangerous time with the Kyo drawing near. The Mosheirans have taken over the human side of the station. They want to react to the Kyo's presence one way. Bren and the atevi, another. Once more Bren, the Dowager,  Tabini's young son, Cajeiri,  and his on station friends, and of course Jase, are in the thick of things--to save their planet. One good thing is that Dr. Virginia Kroger has been sent by the Mospheirans to take charge of the human side of the station. The ongoing and overarching theme of communication with others like you and unlike you holds sway--as it has down throu...

Foxing the Geese: A Regency Romance by Janet Wood Spinster, Vivienne Fox had no expectations, until a cousin died and left her his fortune. Impoverished Earl, Alex LeSayres needed to marry money to save the family's lands. 'Vivienne Fox had decided not to marry.' She hated being trotted out by her Aunt Edwina, coiffured within an inch of her life to impress a motley group of local swains and hopefuls, all because she now had money. Vivienne definitely did not want 'to gain the attention of a pack of brainless, chinless ... braying fools!' A challenge for both Vivienne and Alex. Of course there's confusion as Vivienne hides the fact she's wealthy. She wants to marry for love. Meanwhile Alex knows he must save his family by seeking out a wealthy wife. The relations between the two become more tortured and confused as the two run in counterpoint to each other Then there's Vivienne's fairy godfather who interferes in all sorts of subtle ...

Talon (The Astor Chronicles #1)     by  Amanda Greenslade It always amazes me how authors can create other worlds, complete with their own occupants, gods and animals, plants, landscapes that seem familiar and that are different and occupants who have abilities we can only guess at.  Such a place is Chryne, created by Australian author, Amanda Greenslade.  A place where magic abounds, where there exists the Kriites, a people who have animal bond-mates, the Rada-kin. Such a man Is Talon, who comes into his bond at later than normal and unexpectedly, with an icetiger. This happens just as his community is attacked by an opposing force, the Zeikas sorcerers and worshippers of the fire god Ziedarb. The Zieka want to bring the Kriites and their bond mates under their control. Sent on a mission to ask neighbouring kingdoms for help, Talon and his companion Sarlice and their bond mates are tracked by Zeikas.  They rescue a young woman, Lira, who joins...