eyes.2c Reviews

Falling from His Grace (Gentlemen of Temptation #1) by Kristin Vayden      What do you do when your father autocratically demands that you marry your best friend. Despite the fact that he is desperately in love with your friend. Liliah Durary, daughter the Duke of Chatterwood, is determined not to go quietly into the night. She makes the decision to kick up her heels, to maybe live life somewhat before being forced into a platonic marriage. Liliah, Meyer and Rebecca have determined  that if all else fails, the marriage will be just that.  The news of a secret club, where all wear a masquerade mask, identities hidden, appeals. Lilia worries at her male acquaintances until they let slip the club's location. And this is the part that I find hard to imagine, a fairly well sheltered maiden slipping off alone into the less salubrious parts of town in the dark of night to engage in what? All I can think is Danger, Danger, Danger! And in disguise, and alone, b...

London's Wicked Affair (Midnight Secrets #1) by Anabelle Bryant       Angst, disillusionment and a lady's desire to choose her own path bring to bear on this charming story. Lunden Beckford, Duke of Scarsdale, is all one can hope for as the embittered, yet honorable, man who will return to the London and all he loathes to respect the promise he made his friend years ago to have his little sister settled when the time came. Amelia Strathmore, that little sister is no longer a duckling but has blossomed into the proverbial swan. And this swan is determined to see something of life before being married off. So our disenchanted, glowering specimen of masculinity, finds himself in charge of an outspoken and determined, attractive young woman, who sets conditions upon her doing her duty to marry. And all the responsibility falls squarely on Lunden's shoulders. Are those shoulders strong enough to fight the beckoning call of attraction and rapport that the two experienc...

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris     Against the background of 1931 Philadelphia, during the Prohibition and the depths of the Great Depression, hardship is but a moment away. That moment is captured by newspaper man Ellis Reed. Accidentally really. Ellis had taken the photograph of two young children huddled under a sign "2 children" for sale whilst covering a a quilting exhibition. Newspaper secretary, Lily Palmer, had seen the photo and shown it to her boss. Ellis' career was launched. The accidental destruction of the photo just prior to publication called for a hurried intervention. The picture was reconstructed using a different family, and from this comes a story that spans counties and opens the door on medical misdiagnosis, the separation of families, the "selling" of children, the complicity of children's homes and related social issues that persist even today. The question of what lengths parents are willing to go to in the hope of en...

The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo (Victorian Rebels #6) by Kerrigan Byrne                              Oh my! I love this group of brothers-in-arms, and their stunning women! The Rook's  story is no exception. A naked corpse beneath an ancient ash tree is just the beginning of a saga filled with betrayal, treachery and brokenness. Apart from his damaged body, the only identifying feature about the stranger is an arresting dragon tattoo festooning his  forearm. Lorelai Weatherstoke, daughter of Sir Robert Weatherstoke, the Earl of Southbourne, who spotted him from the family coach assists with his healing. She's drawn to the stranger, and in turn her presence calls to some place deep inside him, to his very soul. Lorelai names the stranger Ash. Thus death is denied.  Ash had "lived only because she bade him to." And then the young man Ash leaves ... with a promise to return. That returning...

The Elusive Earl (Saints & Scoundrels #2) by Maddison Michaels                                 High adventure with a spitfire and a controlled Englishman who's an accomplished spy despite his appearance of never having gone beyond the ballroom. Villains abound, some more wicked than others. Legends out from history, a blighted past, murder and treasure hunting all played out in Cosenza, Italy. Daniel Wolcott, the Earl of Thornton, has spent a lifetime rescuing his mentor's niece Brianna Penderley. Her latest escapade leaves him scrambling for Naples where Brianna has apparently managed to get herself engaged to not one, but two Italians, whilst looking for the lost treasure of King Aleric. (Michaels' author's discussion is a fascinating footnote to the action). However, the danger ramps up when her cousin Travis is kidnapped. Daniel finds himself thrust into the maelstrom that is Brianna, as he b...

Lord of Secrets (Rogues to Rices #5) by  Erica Ridley                                When Miss Eleanora (Norah) Winfield 's brother sends one of her 'ton' caricatures off to a publisher, a star is born. Albeit an anonymous reluctant star. Norah is horrified when she sees her drawing as a 'lead' in the scandal sheets.  Employed as the paid companion to Lady Rowntree, a distant cousin, Norah realizes that each caricature raises more than her companion income does, and that that extra money will save her beloved grandparents' farm. What Norah doesn't count on is that Heath Grenville, the ton problem solver, the Lord of Secrets, is determined to find out who the traitor amongst the ton is. Heath finds himself attracted to Lady Rowntree's companion, but as she is only a lass from a pig farm, what can he do? After all he has standards. His latest task is to track down the wicked caricaturist an...

Brave New Earl (The Way to a Lord's Heart #1) by Jane Ashford     There were many things about this story that plain annoyed me. Mostly that a young woman Miss Jean Saunders who storms into an Earl's country estate, claiming to be his wife's cousin, a woman he's never met, and demands he hands over his son. Why the Earl didn't just throw her out on her ear is quite beyond me. Prior to this scene we have met the kindly yet duplicitous uncle, the fallen-to-pieces grieving widower, and now enter stage right the overbearing do-gooder surrounded by hints of something about her upbringing. Yes, Benjamin Romilly, Earl of Furness was not paying attention to his son due to his melancholia after his wife's death. Well in fact he'd handed him over to his staff and the child had run wild. But really, as if a Lord of the realm is going to hand over his son and heir to a woman he doesn't know, despite her claiming relationship to his wife and her parents, jus...

The Vixen (Wicked Wallflowers #2 ) by Christi Caldwell                                 I loved, loved, loved, Ophelia's story! I must admit to some teary moments during this reading. Oh, the courage of Ophelia Killoran! As her story evolves you are faced with the horrors and darkness of places like St. Giles, the depravities that lurk around every corner. Ophelia makes it her mission to find and protect the street orphans as she can. To have them work in her brother's club. And it's during one such foray that she comes face to face with a figure from the past--Connor Steele! Beyond this however, Ophelia's brother Broderick, in his quest for powerful alliances in the right places decrees that Ophelia will attend The Season. Of course everything begins to go pear shaped. Harsh truths are brought to light and Ophelia and Connor must confront some devestating facts, including a harsh wake up call ...

City of Ink (Li Du Novels #3) by Elsa Hart  First up I am a huge fan of historical mysteries set in earlier times in China and other parts of Asia. I have not read Hart's previous novels featuring Li Du, but I am now hooked and will remedy that mishap very soon. The title 'City of Ink' is so fitting as one becomes aware of the novel's setting, with the frenzied hoards of scholars that have descended on the city of Beijing. It's the early 1700's and Li Du, a scholar of some note, previously exiled from Beijing, returns to investigate his mentor's demise. His mentor was executed for conspiracy. Working as a humble clerk, the assistant to the Chief Inspector Sun of the North Borough Office, Li Du becomes involved with the murder inquiries into the death of a local factory owner's wife. As the investigation continues Li Du feels there is more to the death than it appears on the surface. However the city officials want things solved quickly. The husb...

Foundryside (Founders #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett                                  Enter the tough, tempered world of Tevanne where machines are run by plates scribed by sigils that convince objects of a different reality, which in turn sets them in motion according to the demands inscribed. Scriven humans though are illegal, harmful and an anathema to the original ideas of the inhabitants of this world. A world where the ruling merchant classes live in order and wealth, where morality is doubtful and integrity a troubling word. Those unfortunates out in Foundryside live in disgusting conditions, reminiscent of industrial English slums à la Oliver Twist, crossed with Jabba the Hutt's abode, where the strong prey on the weak and where all sorts of despicable activities are the norm. Where the price of life is cheap and virtue is a non existent entity. Sancia Grado is a young woman with a pain...

The Duke of Seduction  (The Untouchables #10) by Darcy Burke     I really liked both lead characters in this addition to the Untouchables. But then I adore those women who are somewhat different to the empty headed Marriage Mart parade. Lady Lavinia Gillingham is a foreword thinking, intelligent woman who apart from being enamoured by the geological, wants to govern her own life. So far she has been able to eschew the Marriage Mart. William Beckett (Beck), Marquess of Northam, rake at large, hides the pain of a sister scorned by society, by taking up the cause of such wallflowers and derided young woman.  He anonymously writes poems about them, catapulting them into the eyes of society. And the fickle ton, being the rapacious and untrustworthy construct it is, rushes towards the light shining on these young woman. They instantly become marriageable. Grr! So when this attention is turned on Lavinia she is NOT HAPPY! As she espouses to a rather shocked and ch...

The Prisoner in the Castle (Maggie Hope Mystery #8) by Susan Elia MacNeal                             Maggie Hope finds herself in a dire situation in friendly territory. Sequested on the remote Scottish island of Scara (aka 'the cooler' and the 'Forbidden Island') by the Special Operations Executive for nebulous reasons, along with other rogue agents, things take a sinister turn. Meanwhile  Maggie's friends think she's on another mission. No one is aware of Maggie's incarceration. No one is looking for her, until Maggie's needed as a witness for a court case, and even then information is not forthcoming from SOE. Her friends have to take other routes to suss out what's become of her. Meanwhile, the inhabitants (a rather motley crew, incarcerated for good and not good reasons) of the island begin to meet with foul play. The island becomes a death trap, and there is no way to leave. Reminiscent of Aga...

The Duke Who Lied (The 1797 Club #8) by Jess Michaels   Initially, I was not so sure that Hugh Margolis, Duke of Brighthollow lied enough to earn him the moniker the 'Duke Who Lied.' After all he was only trying to protect his sister from the vicious tongues of the ton. In protecting his sister Hugh, 'lived the last year regretting that [he] did not thwart [the blackguard] as he deserved.” “And fearing he would do exactly what it appears he’s done...find another victim.”' So the problem for Hugh comes when the man who seduced his sister renters society and turns his eyes to another innocent, Miss Amelia Quinton. Unfortunately for Amelia, her father welcomes the scoundrel's suit seeing it as a step up the ladder of society. Hugh is thrown into a quandary, only relieved when Amelia's father calls Hugh's bluff and Hugh finds himself engaged to Amelia. After all, a wealthy Duke trumps a mere gentleman. Amelia is horrified as she has set her heart on...

Deepest Grave, The (Crispin Guest Medieval Noir #11)   by Jeri Westerson London ,1392. The opening scenes depicting Crispin Guest, the faithful Jack Tucker and his pregnant wife Isobel, had me recalling Crispin's journey thus far. His descent pre 1384 from Lord and Knight to traitor and now a private investigator--The Tracker, hiring himself out to solve mysteries, many of them associated with relics. My reflections turned to Crispin's aloneness, prompted by the lovely scenes of Jack and Isobel's happiness. Despite the three of them living comfortably together under the one roof, there's a poignant reminder when Crispin goes off to his solitary room as 'the soft sounds of Jack helping [Isobel] to bed gave Crispin that pang again; the pang of a thousand regrets.' I remembered the women Crispin had met and those he let go and I must admit I found myself grieving for his missed opportunities for a committed relationship, sometimes through pride and other ti...

She Be Damned: A Heloise Chancey Victorian Mystery (Heloise Chancey #1) by M.J. Tjia                              A grim Victorian murder mystery with a rather different woman sleuth--the courtesan Heloise Chancey It seems a serial killer is hiding in plain sight in the Waterloo area. The targets--pregnant prostitutes who are being horribly mutilated. Concurrently Heloise is asked to help locate a respectable young woman, who has become pregnant and is being forced into a convent by her father. En route she escaped from that life of tedium into the merciless Waterloo area. But what might the poor girl have exchanged the tedium for? Unfortunately Heloise's Chinese maid, Amah Li Leen becomes embroiled in the case and things take a grim turn. Secrets of Heloise's past are revealed along the way, unraveled like some exotic Oriental dancer's costume. Interspersed between the diabolical happenings that are e...