eyes.2c Reviews

The Case of the Reincarnated Client (Vish Puri #5) by Tarquin Hall          Vish Puri is the owner of a successful Detective Agency. A cold case from his father has been brought to his notice by his mother. Mummy-ji wants his assistance, and of course she wants in on the action. This was very much a feel good Bollywood style mystery that edges onto farcical but remains within the circle of fascinating intrigue, being both humorous and mysterious. Mummy-ji is somewhat the bane of Puri's existence. She calls him Chubby, and is desperate to help her son solve cases. Of course Puri doesn't want his mother muddying the waters, but somehow Mummy-ji inserts herself into the investigation and et voilà, finds out something new. And then there's the added positive, Mummy-ji  is able to ask questions and go places that Puri can't. Not that Puri is even aware of these places half the time. That is until his mother alerts him. I loved that Mummy-ji's old phone ...

A Reckless Runaway (The Shelly Sisters #2) by Jess Michaels           The Shelly Sisters. Triplets, so unusual an event that the sisters Thomasina, Juliana and Anne are seen more as sideshow entrants than young women in their own right. Now we find the truth of Anne's leaving. Anne the wild child. She's been beguiled to run away from Jasper, the Earl of Harcourt, by a handsome stranger Ellis Maitland. But closer to the truth is that Anne feels unseen by Harcourt, "somehow she’d always dreamed that the man she’d married would see her just for…for herself." And she sees Ellis as a viable alternative to the coldness of Harcourt. Imagine her shock when Ellis hands her off to a brooding stranger, and she finds herself sequested on an island off the coast of Scotland with a man who is Ellis's cousin, Rook Maitland, or more formally Constatine. Of course nothing is simple. Anne spends days waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then begins to find enchantmen...

Dark Queen Waiting (Margaret Beaufort Mystery #2)   by Paul Doherty          Doherty continues his brilliant fictional treatise centered around Margaret of Beaufort, Henry Tudor's mother, and her deceptively focused fight to keep her son safe and bring him to the English throne. Standing with her are her redoubtable and loyal clerks Christopher Urswicke and Reginald Bray The House of York is divided against itself, Edward is king. His Recorder, Sir Thomas Urswicke, Christopher's father, is cunning and vicious in his plans to bring Margaret and the Tudors to heel. Needless to say father and son are estranged, although it appears Thomas still hopes for Christopher's loyalty. Trusted welshmen, part of the Red Dragon Battle Group are being hounded to death. Even claiming the church's sanctuary sees them mysteriously slain. Margaret and her loyal supporters must come up with a plan to thwart the Recorder's  intentions. And as plans take root, they ...

A Scot Under the Covers( Wild Wicked Highlanders #2)   by Suzanne Enoch      I have to say I SO enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with this series featuring the wild wicked highlanders--the MacTaggert Brothers. Continuing the story about three brawny alpha males being dragged to London by their Sassenach mother to marry English women before their sister Eloise is married, else forfeit continued financial support for Aldriss Park and the people of Clan Ross. Something the three men couldn't bear to let happen. Francesca Oswell-MacTaggert ended up with three very disgruntled sons. As their mother, Francesca controlled the purse strings for their Highland home, the three men obeyed the injunction, not without setting about to cause as much angst and disruption as possible. Aden MacTaggert has delighted in showing how uncouth he is but when Miranda Harris, the sister of Eloise's fiancé Matthew, asked for his help, he gave it. Mathew it seems had been fleeced badly ...

The Bard's Blade (The Sorcerer's Song #1) by Brian D. Anderson     A slow start had me wondering. Two lands sealed off from each other, Vylari and Lamoria. Common knowledge was that "once you passed beyond the border of Vylari, you could never find your way home—that was what protected the people from the threat of Lamoria, and prevented any who might wish to leave from divulging Vylari’s location." Yet, a mysterious stranger brings a warning to Vylari for Lem's mother Illorial. That's when the fatherless Lem finds out more about his mother and entertains thoughts about where his father might have come from. Lem was "the only one whose mother crossed into Lamoria.” Injured by crossing the barrier, the stranger possesses a letter addressed to Illorial predicting danger for Lamoria.  A seer has told that the "only hope rests with one who dwells [in Vylaru]—a child enormous of talent, with special gifts that have the power to hold back the darkne...

The Forgotten Duke (Diamonds In The Rough #5)   by Sophie Barnes  The trope is familiar. A powerful man having come from nothing is now a force to be reckoned with in the infamous St Giles. Carlton Guthrie holds many secrets and he's sworn to take his revenge for a dardastardly deed that destroyed his childhood. Lady Regina Berkly, the daughter of the Earl of Hedgewick, flees from an unwanted marriage foisted on her by her usually doting father. Of course there's something havey cavey about the whole affair. Her future bridegroom is the Marquess of Stokes. He is fourteen and suffers from a continuing illness. I liked this young person whose life has been one of constant pain, who's just as much a pawn of his father's desperation for the family line to continue, as Regina is of her father's scheming. I was touched by Stoke's forthright words to Regina, "as I deteriorate with time, you will regret being my wife, just as much as I will regret ruining yo...

Highfire: A Novel by Eoin Colfer      Eoin Colfer once again pulls literary magic out of the box! His wicked sense of humor permeates this most unlikely story. Put together one badass Dragon, last of his kind, formerly Wyvern, Lord Highfire, of the Highfire Eyrie, now just called Vern, and a bayou tatty, wise-ass Cajun kid with the handle Squib and you have one hugely amusing story of life in the bayou swamps around Louisiana. As Vern our former dragon Lord puts it, now he's "king of jack shit in Mudsville, Louisiana." Vern's living conditions are not the only thing that's changed. Now "Vern was mostly ketogenic, high fat, low carbs, apart from his beloved breakfast cereals...Unfortunately, it meant the beer had to go, but he got by on vodka. Absolut was his preferred brand. A little high on alcohol but easiest on the system." He also practices mindfulness as a way to cope with his down moods. After a series of setbacks Vern takes on Squib as hi...

Cast in Wisdom (Chronicles of Elantra #15) by Michelle Sagara      Once again Kaylin Neya is tasked by the Hawklord to investigate problems occurring in and around the fiefs, along with Bellusdeo and Severn. Shadow is the fear. This time it's the Borderlands, those spaces on the edge of and between the fiefs. These areas exist "around a central Tower, and the Towers were created to stand sentinel against the fief of Ravellon—the only fief that had neither Tower nor lord... Ravellon was the home of the most dangerous of the Shadows." Reality doesn't hold in the same way in the Borderlands and shifts of time and location can occur.  “The border zone wasn’t solid." The threat of Shadow to the whole of Elantra is real and the Borderlands might be harboring it. The Dragon Bellusdeo wants to investigate, as does the Dragon Emperor. Magic follows different rules in these areas. People have disappeared and as the group's  search unfolds this becomes a domin...

The Arrangement by Sylvia Day, Minerva Spencer, Kristin Vayden        Three stories joined together by the 'marriage of convenience' trope. Each story is very different from the normal take in most instances. Of course some racey scenes present, as do those of friendship, acceptance and understanding. After all when passion takes a hand a viewpoint can skew. I really enjoyed how each author tackled the joining thread. Well written novellas that come together to produce a heartily appreciated read! Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day “Who knew such mischief could hide beneath the exterior of an angel?” Justin, the Marquess of Fontaine, and Lady Sophie Milton-Riley are subjected to attempts by their mothers to reunite them. Misunderstandings and a checkered past are amongst the things these two must overcome if they so choose. Humor plays a part, as does re-examining the past to move forward into the future. The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer Well...

The Sinful Scot (Saints & Scoundrels #3) by Maddison Michaels   My sympathies certainly were with the abused duchess Constance Campbell, the Duchess of Kilmaine. Married to a vile Duke who used her as a punching bag, his arousel dependent upon inflicting pain. When Constance awakes to find herself covered blood next to her husband who's been stabbed to death, she wonders if she's been the perpetrator. So begins the journey for Connie to prove her innocence dogged by the law, her brother-in-law, and other mysterious forces. Her flight is engineered by her childhood friend Dr. Alec McGuiness. Alec, betrayed in love (and that's a whole 'nother story) is a doctor. His sister has asked him to see how her friend is faring as they've lost touch. He attends the Duke's Ball and is not happy by what he intuits, and what he glimpses. The path to proving Connie's innocence uncovers further dark dealings and evidence of depraved appetites having turned to m...

A Reluctant Bride (Shelly Sisters #1) by Jess Michaels       An interesting start to a new series, The Shelly Sisters. Triplets, so unusual an event that the sisters Thomasina, Juliana and Anne are seen more as sideshow entrants than young women in their own right. They possess a truly awful father who never recognizes one from ethe other and is bent on marrying them off to increase his well being, never considering the well being of his daughters. Anne is to be married to Jasper Kincaid, the Earl of Harcourt, a man she feels nothing for. Jasper suffers his own problems trying to restore a ruined earldom whilst shaking off the indignity of his "father’s and brother’s bad behavior [that] had become painfully and pointedly clear to him." It fell to him as the new Earl to "fix what damage his father and his brother had done to their standing." The night of her engagement ball Anne begs her sister Thomasina to give her a reprieve and take her place. And that...

Resurgence (Foreigner #20) by C. J. Cherryh      Like Bren Cameron, the paidhi-aiji (the translator who connects the governments of the Mospherians, human occupants of the Atevi planet whom Atevi allowed to inhabit that island enclave) I quailed when the communique came from his home at Najida that the Aiji-Dowager Ilisidi, grandmother of Tabini (the Aiji, ruler of the Atevi) had come calling. Let's not equivocate! This is not a good portend for Bren leisurely sailing home from Mospheira across the straits using some well deserved down time after all that's happened. (How I love the Dowager. Always the wild card! Although her great grandson Cajeiri, and heir to Tabini has been running a close second!). The Resurgence focuses on the Midlands and the Ajuri clan. A troubled place where holdouts from the Shadow Guild are still operating. The dowager's nose is somewhat out of joint as Tabini's consort Damiri (of the Ajuri clan) having family connections to this area,...

Find Your Flow: The Simple and Life-Changing Practice for a Happier You   by Sarah Gregg     This all seemed slightly familiar to me. I used to start my morning in somewhat similar undertakings of Gratitude, writing things down, journaling and focusing on the day ahead. I haven't done that for eons, and this short, succinct work is positive, easy to follow and useful. The four step program includes-- Morning Grateful flow: Wake up Happy Forward Focus:Living with Intention Total Flow: Train Your Brain Nighttime Reflections: Become Aware, Grow and Flow Journal pages incorporating these steps has been included to help make a start.  "Find your flow" is a timely reminder to me of past forgotten habits and a chance to move in a old but new direction. A Rock Point ARC via NetGalley  ****

In the Shadow of Vesuvius (Lady Emily mysteries #14)   by Tasha Alexander    The past casts many a shadow in the lee of Vesuvius. Colin is confronted by his past and Emily's confidence is frayed as murder spreads it's wings on a dig at Pompei. Emily's friend Ivy asked Emily to accompany her to Pompeii. Ivy's husband, concerned about the two women traveling alone, with a clever sleight of hand, was able to inveigle King Edward VII to release Colin from his protection duties in order to join them. In a reconstructed dining room at the Pompei dig, archaeologists have formed plaster casts of a group of the long perished inhabitants giving tourists a window into the terrors of those moments. When Ivy comments on the unusualness of one of the group of ancient figures having sideburns, it's but a moment before Colin pokes at the plaster with his penknife to discover that the body displayed is very much recent . Alternating with the mystery Emily becomes involved in...

House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon   I must admit that I was not as hooked on this book as I thought I would be from the publishers blurb. Whether it was the pace of the story or just Yoel Blum himself I am unsure. A successful Israeli author, Yoel's publisher wants him to go to Amsterdam for the launch of his latest book which has been translated into Dutch. Conflicted, Yoel does, despite having promised his mother to never return to the place of his birth, Amsterdam. Of course the first question is why did Yoel's mother demand such a commitment. An unplanned visit to Jewish Historical Museum has Yoel and his wife chancing upon a grainy movie of a wedding. To Yoel's amazment and concern in the frames he sees his mother as part of a family, holding an unknown baby boy. Such a discovery haunts Yoel. Some few days after, he returns once again from Israel to Amsterdan determined to find answers. Make no mistake this is complex novel on various levels. Elon's...

The Hocus Girl (A Simon Westow Mystery #2) by Chris Nickson 1822, Simon Westow is a thief taker in Leeds.  What is a thief taker? They, "Find what had been stolen and return it for a fee." Things have been going well for Simon and his family, including the mysterious Jane. However his friend Davey has been arrested for sedition. Now Simon, his wife Rosie and Jane the disturbed young woman who lives with them are investigating why Davy. The puzzle will lead back to high places. Fearful of more political unrest its rumored that the government has a spy operating in the area. It would seem these shadowy figures have had truck with Thomas Curzon, a wealthy mill owner and the magistrate. Curzon wants to make a name for himself. He has aspirations lean towards a lordship. That effort threatens Simon and his friends, and ultimately will turn back to bite Curzon, but not before more deaths ensue. Operating within Simon's group is a code of help, about helping those who...

The Woman in the Veil (Victorian Mystery #4)   by Laura Joh Rowland   Rowland has that special gift of placing the reader steadfastly not only in the times and location of the story but firmly in the mind of the major character. Sarah Bain, daughter of a wanted child killer and a gifted photographer is now herself a photographer, who along with her friends, street urchin Mick O'Reilly and Lord Hugh Staunton, is working for the Daily World newspaper. Always there's a delicate balance between finding the story that will satisfy Sir Gerald Mariner and his paper's readers, and having to scrape a living. It's 1890 and Sarah is called to the scene of a dead naked woman sprawled on the banks of the Thames River, surrounded by raucous witnesses. "The river laps at her, covering her legs up to her knees with foam. She looks like a mermaid that has washed ashore—a wounded mermaid." Startlingly, Sarah discovers she is barely alive! The injured victim remains in a...

Give the Devil His Due (Rowland Sinclair #7) by Sulari Gentill       Sydney, Australia 1934. Rowland Sinclair, the accidental gentleman sleuth is continuing to be the bane of his powerful brother Wilfrid's life, and hopelessly in love with his sometime life model and free spirited sculptress Edna Higgins. I'm hopelessly enamored with Rowly and the gang! Rowly's returned to the family's Sydney home Woodlands House in the salubrious suburb of Woollahra, with his artistic bohemian friends, poet Milton (Elias Isaacs), a card carrying communist, who quotes others works as though they were his own, landscape painter Clyde Watson Jones, and the beautiful inside and out, Ed (Edna). Rowly's mother Elizabeth, suffering from dementia, is in residence and still calls him by his deceased brother's name, Aubrey. She's a wonderful addition to the menagerie. Rowley is to race his yellow Mercedes roadster in a charity event for the Australian Red Cross at the jinxed ...