eyes.2c Reviews

Believe in Me (The Worthington's #6) by Ella Quinn           Warm historical romance that has us looking for the HEA and wondering (from our 21st century perspective) why they can't see the solution as we do. Lady Augusta Vivers wants to pursue her studies at Padua University and is moving heaven and earth to do so. Augusta's mother wants her married! And men keep being attracted to Augusta even though she gives them not one iota of encouragement. What is the problem? The answer is ironically superb. I loved it, even though it didn't help Augusta at all, rather just confused her even more. Lord Phineas Carter-Wood wants to continue his travels investigating architecture of other ancient cultures and especially European masterworks. He has however promised his brother, the Marquis of Dorchester, to marry and produce a son and heir for the future of the family estates as Dorchester seems to only produce girls. Now these two meet and Phineas is sure Augu...

The Wayward Bride (Besotted Scots #1) by Anna Bradley           I rather felt like I was plucking daisies and reciting "he loves me he loves me not", from all sides of the gender spectrum. There was certainly plenty of confusion, a tidy sum of mayhem particularly if the dog Brute was involved, and a lot of not quite answered questions. A plethora of persons betrothed, all to the wrong people, and that's where things became a tad confusing. We have Isla Ramsey who was in love with Hugh Courtney, the Marquess Pierce who let her down. Isla's now betrothed to Henry Northrup, the sixth Earl of Sydney to avoid a scandal. Sydney, who's not in love with Isla, who (in modern terms) is gay and a wonderful character in love with no one thus far. Pierce whose actually. it seems, in love with Isla (against his better judgement) but engaged to Julianna for some very good reasons. We have Lucas who rescues Sydney after a bad carriage accident, and that's where thing...

Lady Notorious (Royal Rewards #4) by Theresa Romain           An historical romance with a difference. Cassandra Benton is an unlikely and rather marvelous lead. Feisty, caring and a realist, she works for Bow Street with her brother.  Someone is trying to kill Lord Northbrook's father, the Duke of Ardmore. Lord George employs Cass and her twin brother Charles to find the culprit. That chase is well and truly a twisted warren that whelms up from his father's past and a tontine that has been growing steadily over the years. The novel explains to some degree what this particular tontine is,  "Part an investment scheme, part a wager, it had been organized forty years before when ten younger sons of the aristocracy had each contributed an equal amount to a certain fund. The interest and principal were left to grow together over the years, untouched, as time reaped the lives of the contributors. When only one survivor of the investment group remaine...

The Duke of Distraction (The Untouchables #12) by Darcy Burke           I must admit to finding the Duke of Distraction sort of distracting. How can such a seemingly strong storyline become less? I applauded Sarah Colton's desire to setup her own millenary establishment as a safeguard for her future if she remained a spinster. I was appalled by her willingness to give up not only her dream, but the promises she'd made to a milliner's assistant. Sadly lacking sense of loyalty here. (Oh wait, I don't really need a job not like the assistant milliner I was about to poach!) But the games Sarah played with Felix Havers, Earl of Ware, who has "vowed never to love", her seduction of him, was just a bit too over the top for me. Mind you she is fighting the curse for all young women of the period (a least in many romance novels) of having her parents decide whom she would marry within a set timeline. So what's a girl to do? Felix, with all his deeply hidd...

It's Getting Scot in Here (Wild Wicked Highlanders #1) by Suzanne Enoch            I must say, I enjoyed this immensely. Nothing like the brawny alpha males being dragged into doing something against their will. Backstory--the Sassenach mother of three young sons, Coll, Aden, and Niall fled to London from the wilds of the Highlands  for her own good reasons, taking their young sister Eloise. Now comes the tricky part. Upon her marriage Francesca controlled the purse strings (highly unusual). But then her father, the Viscount of Hornford "had more money than Midas and a bevy of very fine solicitors." Part of the agreement when Francesca fled Aldriss Park was that come marriageable age, the boys must marry English women before their sister married else the funds supporting Aldriss Park and Clan Ross would be forfeited. Francesca has selected a bride for the eldest,  Coll MacTaggert, Viscount Glendarril, the epitome of barbarian Scotsman who wo...

The Beast's Heart by Leife Shallcross        My first impression was of the rich descriptive language that peppered this magical story. The opening few paragraphs set up the tone and Shallcross's word smithing is riveting. I loved it! Beast's description of the curse brings his nightmare alive for us, where the "real is indistinguishable from the phantasm...Living under such an enchantment is akin to being trapped in the grip of a restless slumber, fighting toward wakefulness and finding only dreams locked within dreams." Magical with a capital "M" this story indeed is. Told mostly from the Beast's point of view this reimagining of Beauty and the Beast set in seventeenth century France is both a nightmare, a romantic gothic fairy tale, and a tale of love conquering all. But it's the "telling" that makes this fantasy a winner. It's a novel that starts off with thorns and blooms in the most unexpected of ways. The raw pain of...

The Governess (Wicked Wallflowers #3) by Christi Caldwell           The Killoran's charge towards respectability continues in this latest Wicked Wallflowers entry. Or rather Broderick Killoran's plans for protection for his sisters by marrying them off to the ton is first and foremost on his to do list. This time it's Gertrude turn and it seems another member of the family is to take part as Gertrude companion. Except the companion wants no part of the scheme and Broderick won't take no for an answer. The once easy friendship between Broderick and Reggie (Regina Spark), Broderick's trusted lieutenant in all Devil Den's dealings, and keeper of Broderick's secrets, becomes all out war. Secrets are exposed and feelings deeply hidden. Just as Broderick is convinced he's right, he realizes he's wronged Reggie deeply and now there be no way back. The score is nil all. Reading and enjoyment level score is high fives all the way! 👋 A Montlake ...

Captivating the Scoundrel (Legendary Rogues #4) by Darcy Burke        A dramatic conclusion to the the search for the search for the Thirteen Treasures of the Knights of the Round Table. "items gathered by Arthur and his knights for one of their own—Gareth—so that he could win his bride.” Gideon Kersey is a direct descendant of Gareth and he has a plan to regain the dagger, one of the treasures, from Timothy Foliot the power behind the shadowy Camelot group, all descendants from Arthur's Knights, who are pursuing the treasures for their own ends. Gideon and his friends want to reunite all the treasures and take them to safety. Unfortunately Gideon is drawn into Foliot's plan to marry his daughter to Gideon thus securing the sacred bloodline to Foliot's descendants. His daughter, Daphne is unaware of her father's obsession and has been pursuing her own studies of Morgan Le Fay and the cloak of invisibility. This is the part that really won me over as Morga...

Mr. Hunt, I Presume (Playful Brides #11.5) by Valerie Bowman          Loving each other since childhood, Colin Hunt reluctantly broke with Erienne Stone after a request to that effect from her parents.  As they put it he had nothing to offer Erienne and she was all but spoken for by someone far superior.  Now a decade later Erienne is a governess and Colin a General and spy working for the home office. When Colin is ordered to take a holiday he heads for his brother Derek's, (the Duke of Claringdon) estate, little knowing that he'd run into the woman he'd loved and left all those years ago. (Ah! Those meddling Regency mothers have a lot to answer for!) Lucy Hunt, the Duchess of Claringdon, is up to her usual match making tricks. This time they might just harm more than help. A pleasing second chance romance. A NetGalley ARC ***

Fate (The Lost Decades of Uncle Chow Tung #1) by Ian Hamilton          How could I resist another series by the creator of Ava Lee, the forensic accountant, and one of my favorite, contemporary mystery characters? What I didn't realize was that I'd be so fascinated by Uncle Chow Tung's story. We first meet him in the Ava Lee novels and always there's been something different about him.  And this series explains it. How the young man from communist China becomes a leading triad figure.  Set in the 1970's in Hong Kong, Chow Tung is the accountant (the White Fan) for the Fanling Triad. The tension builds when the Dragon Head of the Fanling Triad is killed in a hit and run accident. A new Mountain Master is to be appointed. Chow calls for an election as per the triad's rules. He sees the next in line as weak and ineffectual and is concerned. So we have an internal power struggle, with other triad's poised for action and the mystery of who is behin...

Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #1)   by Robin LaFevers    As usual I was grasped by the power of LaFevers writing. I found myself totally keyed up fully there with these young woman assassins thrust into a life that can unravel in an instance, a life where their choices are really few except to keep going, keep protecting; and when they're deeply undercover, to await a sign! But what if that sign never comes and you have no way of ascertaining what might be or not be? A deeply addidictive  medieval historical fantasy set loosely at the time of the court of Queen Anne in fifteenth century medieval Brittany in the latter part of the French Breton war.  Right in the thick of things are the assassin novices who serve St. Mortrain (the god of Death). Underlying all is the old age story of women being used in the struggle of intrigue and politics, where noble daughters are bartered to ensure the continuation of the rule of the powerful. Three na...

Fog Season (Tales of Port Saint Frey #2) by Patrice Sarath What's not too love! The adventures of the two sisters of the House Mederos, recently fallen from grace and the regard of the very fickle high society of Port Saint Fey continues with an unexpected turn of events, or two! We have  a host of biting new characters and those who have become more three dimensional. Sisters Tesara and Yvienne are continuing with their brilliantly bad habits. They are both in danger of being questioned by Abel Fresnel who has powers unlooked for. Their secrets are in grave danger. The emergence of Vivi being in charge of the house is a master stroke. Tesara is being pursued by the former nemesis--The Guildmaster, and a new more frightening entity, the Doc emerges. BTW, I made sure to read the first in the series before reading this sequel and feel that that was crucial for my understandings. I was captivated from beginning to end can't wait for the next in this very robust historic...

The Warrior Maiden (Hagenheim #9) by Melanie Dickerson   Usually I love Melanie Dickerson's work. This ninth book in the Hagenheim series, a reimagination of fifteenth century Lithuania and Poland just didn't stir me. I found the lead characters Mulan and Wolfgang to be wooden in their interactions and their reflections. I know that Christianity is a central tenet for Dickerson's work and I applaud her for that. In this novel she seems to have lost the ability to infuse her characters' faith so that it comes naturally to them, to be an organic extension of their being. Maybe there was too many references when less would have been more. Mulan is the illegitimate daughter of a soldier brought back to his small Lithuanian village to live as a family with his barren wife who longed for a child. A prophecy for Mulan by a visiting friar when she was six, that she "would conquer an oppressor in a foreign land and a nation would call [her] blessed,” together with he...

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff Gripping story of the Women's Branch of SOE, Special Operation Executive, "charged [by Churchill] to “set Europe ablaze” through sabotage and subversion " during World War II. It's 1946. A young widow, Grace Healey, finds a suitcase in Grand Central, New York. Puzzled she opens it and takes out a bunch of photos of a young women. Why? Even as I was taken aback at that action, it's from here the story springs. Struck by the inanity of her action, Grace tries  to return the photos to the suitcase. It's missing! Her determination to find the suitcase and its owner and return the photos leads her on an extraordinary journey. A journey that casts us back to 1943. Things "had started to go wrong, [SOE]  agents [were] arrested in increasing numbers. And so the Women's Branch was created. Eleanor Trigg was charged with selecting and training the women, and that's where the story take an intriguing leap for...

Tempt Me with Diamonds (London Jewels #1) by Jane Feather     This had all ingredients for a captivating read. There's the feisty young woman (Diana Sommerville) used to getting her own way. (Ok so she's spoilt, and then some). The handsome ex fiancé Colonel Rupert Lacey who was Diana's brother best friend. Rupert and Jeremy were fighting in the Boer War in South Africa, when Jem was killed in battle. It's Diana's deceased brother's will and the two protagonists having been left a joint inheritance that sparks trouble. Rupert has inherited half the estate and other interests, including a racing horse Jem and Diana had been raising and nursing along since a colt. Diana comes to blows with Rupert over the town house. In the end they share it (and pretend to all that they'd married in South Africa as had been planned.) Now thats a situation waiting to be blown sky high! The atmosphere inside the house is decidedly cool and how the staff manage is to b...

Endgames (Imager Portfolio #12) by L. E. Modesitt, Jr             The culminating volume in The Imager Portfolio, and the final story of a sub series of three, when Solidar was under Charyn's rule. An historical note if you like on the life of the last Rex. Charyn continues to struggle with the personal, social and political threads that threaten the well being of Soldar. I love the thought and soul searching he displays as he brings his considerable intellect to the problem of ruling and how to change things politically for the better. His is a visionary's view for what Solidar has the potential to become if he can only break the stranglehold of the High Holders.  As he looks towards a more democratic way of being, that vision puts him at odds with many. For the traditionalists the idea of power is a seductive notion. For Charyn's it's a burden. Charyn has survived one assassination attempt, and how to move forward and stay alive in orde...

The Dream Gatherer (Green Rider #6.5) by Kristen Britain  Has it really been 20 years since I first read Green Rider? From that moment on Kristen Britain went to the top of my "must read" author following list. Ah! The excitement when a new novel about Green Rider Karigan G’ladheon and the world of Sacoridia appeared! And now this anthology consisting  of two short stories and a novella purportedly part of a history of the Green Riders written by Lady Estral Andovian Fiori, the Golden Guardian of Selium.  Wonderful! I was not disappointed! Apart from the stories, I particularly enjoyed the introduction by Julie Czerneda 'Step into a Dream' where Czerneda urges the reader to dare to dream. Her words just rang so true, summing up how I feel about the world Britain created that I just had to share them. "For these are Kristen Britain’s words—her world, her dream. She will take you, show you, carve you with profound imagery and key events. You’ll laugh and...

Barbarous (The Outcasts #2) by Minerva Spencer         A reread because I'd lost my review notes confirmed that Minerva Spencer is a fantastic historical romance writer. The opening is brilliant and I just read it through again for the sheer joy of the moment. This time the focus of the novel is Captain Hugh Redvers first met in Dangerous. A privateer, Barbary coast pirate, ex slave and a man not to be taken lightly meets his match when he makes the acquaintance of his aunt by marriage. Hugh had reportedly died. He'd eschewed his heritage for the high seas and making his own way. Lady Daphne Davenport is torn. How to tell her story to this man who takes her breath away. How to do justice for the real Baron Ramsay, not her young son (the older of twins BTW--and what a lively pair they are!) Of course there's a few villains along the way including the disgusting Cousin Malcolm. But all that is put to one side when it seems she might be in danger. And Hugh ...

Rupture: An Ari Thór Thriller (Dark Iceland #4)   by Ragnar Jonasson           All seems tangential and disconnected but as the threads are teased out in Rupture small strands lead to larger surmises. Isolated incidents seem just that: A long dead woman, presumably a suicide, living by a remote fjord of Hedinsfjorour. A photo surfacing showing an unknown youth with the dead woman and the others living there A hit and run accident A kidnapped child What might they or might they not have in common? Ari Thór has time on his hands when Siglufjorour is quarantined due to a deadly virus outbreak. A request to look into a 1955 suicide gives Ari something to do, an investigation that catches his interest and his imagination. Reporter Ísrún from Reykjavik is juggling the thought of a serious illness, her parents separation and now three newsworthy items drop into her Investigative journalist's lap. When Ari and Ísrún connect to pursue their threads, t...

Nobody's Duke (League of Dukes #1) by Scarlett Scott            Betrayed lovers eons ago, Araminta (Ara), Duchess of Burghl the daughter of the Earl of Wickham and Clayton Ludlow, the bastard son of the Duke of Carlisle, are forced into each others company after an eight year rift. Of course each has a viewpoint about what happened to cause their parting, but they only have half the truth. Ara's husband has been assassinated and Clayton, a British agent is to be her bodyguard. Neither are happy about this turn of events. Danger and past mysteries collide as these two battle their feelings for each other. A good premise for this Victorian romantic intrigue. A Weapenry Co-Op. ARC via NetGalley  ***