eyes.2c Reviews

Keeping a Nature Journal, 3rd Edition by Clare Walker Leslie  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Twenty minutes a day of mindfulness and well being focused on your environment through using various artistic media. A wonderful encouragement to continue or start to take note of the natural world you encounter. In the past I've kept a similar journal but the presentation of ideas and interesting ways to proceed in Leslie’s very accessible guide take things to another level. No wonder this work is in its third edition. Succinctly arranged, with colorful presentations makes this work a great companion for those already on a similar journey, or a beginning place for anyone interested. From a chapter on ‘Getting Started’ and what nature journaling is, looking at what observing is, to developing ideas and so much more. A great layout that calls you to follow. I love the sketches included. All filled with a lovely vitality. It’s like yoga with pencils and paper, calling us to take time to be very much present...

Duchess If You Dare (Maidens of Mayhem #1) by Anabelle Bryant    ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unusual subject matter here. A group of women calling themselves the Maidens of Mayhem fighting to uplift the plight of women in London including prostitutes. They “had banded together with a vow to right wrongs in London and fight for women who had no voice against male harassment or otherwise unjust travesties thrust upon their gender.“ worthy indeed but to me the women seemed somewhat distant, they’re waiting stage right as it were. I was a tad nonplussed by how flimsy their support for each other appeared. I know this is the first in the series but that part was somewhat lacklustre. Wycombe House owned by Julia Wycombe is apparently for them a place where in a “society disinclined to allow females to conduct business, own property or invest finances without the consent or participation of a male, the ... building [has] became their fortress of secrets.” Again I loved the concept ... but! Scarlett Wynn...

Cuckoo's Flight (Minoan Wings #3 ) by Wendy Orr     ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thought provoking coming-of-age (in a different way) tale set in the Bronze Age exploring relationships, abuse, perceived disabilities, traditions, moving beyond the group’s beliefs and mores, and change.  Orr’s prose evoked the senses, whether it be the pottery works and processes, the honouring of slaves, the grief Clio experiences at her grandmother’s death, Clio and Mika’s race to the temple, the threat of the raiders—all so real. That reality captured me.  I loved the ideas behind the story although I must admit that at first I found it hard to really identify with Clio. Clio was injured when her pony, her soul mate, Gray Girl, shied at a snake, unseating Clio. Clio was left with a permanent injury to her leg necessitating the use of a crutch to walk. Her horse riding days are over. Mika is from a fishing village nearby. When she shows an affinity with horses she and Clio begin a friendship that will ...

The Sister Surprise by Abigail Mann       ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It took me some time to get into this tale, but when I did I didn’t look back! Abigail Mann has a wicked sense of humor with some wonderful 'in girl' jokes that kept me chortling. Our central character Ava Is the  sub-editor of Snooper, an online media program. She's  been brought up by a hippie type, Eco warrior mother who never mentions who Ava's father is—so when the opportunity comes Ava takes it . Imagine her shock when she not only finds out  where he's from, a small coastal village out of Inverness but during the  live streamed media program, Ava discovers she has a halt-sister! Very Bridget Jones! Now the program wants her to write a blog type expose on meeting her sister. Nothing simpler! Right? No problems here--a quick whip in, reconnoiter, say Hi to the lost "blood blister" and return to London! What follows is deception, hilarity, village characters worthy of a Vicar of Dibley...

Transient Desires ( Commissario Guido Brunetti #30)   by Donna Leon        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In this thirtieth volume looking at police procedurals and crime in Venice fewer tourists are in evidence given the pandemic. However in this latest work from Leon t wo young American women are injured in a boating incident on the Laguna, one dreadfully. They are deposited on the quay outside the Emergency Room of the Ospedale Civile, d ropped by two young men in the  launch. This all requires investigation. A number of problems have arisen.  The enquiry becomes complicated. One of the men in the boat is the nephew of  Pietro Borgato, owner of a large International  transport company, who whilst he's never been caught, is suspected of being involved in various smuggling operations.  Commissario  Guido Brunetti is as ever erudite and thoughtful.  Napoletana  Claudia Griffons,  Brunetti’s colleague is a shrewd successful woma...

Artistic Places (Inspired Traveller's Guides) by Susie Hodge. Illustrated by Amy Grimes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A stunning collection of paintings in various locations around the world. Artists include Kahlo (Coyoacan), Katsushika Hokusai (Mount Fuji) Canaletto (Venice) Matisse (Tangier)—a veritable smorgasbord of wonderfully creative and visionary practitioners and some of their fav places. I loved the places depicted, the stunning colors (for some I felt like pinks permeated the collection. Ok others shades of colors shine as well but my brain seemed to fixate on this) I wasn’t that sold on the layout. I wonder how it really works in hard copy due to the size 6” x 8.6”. This is about the size of my iPad which doesn't do the chosen works full justice. I want them to 'sing' on the pages. Still if you were carrying this around as a guide (when travel is an option) the size makes sense. The combinations of artists and places depicted--a winner makes! A Quarto Publishing Group – White Li...

Off the Wild Coast of Brittany by Juliet Blackwell   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Natalie Morgen and Alex are sisters who share a weird childhood. Their parents were survivalists and bought their children up to be able to carry on after Armageddon. The two are very different, as seen by the differing nature and abilities during their extreme childhood days. Natalie becomes a successful blogger and writer of a runaway bestseller, “Pourquoi Pas? A Memoir of Life, Love, and Food.” She and her love François-Xavier, pronounced Fran-swah Ex-ah-vee-ay (I loved that touch), a gorgeous looking French chef, move to Île de Feme off Brittany’s Côte Sauvage. They plan to renovate his family’s historic guest house and run a gourmet restaurant When François-Xavier leaves to attend to business in Paris it’s supposed to be only for a short visit— it seems the swine has other ideas! Nat’s reluctant to let his family know about François-Xavier’s desertion in case they renege on the guest...

The Windsor Knot (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #1)   by S.J. Bennett          ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had my doubts. I was sceptical. I wondered if the concept could ever get off the ground—HRH as a detective. Doubt no more, this idea was brilliantly orchestrated by Bennett. Along the way one glimpses the intelligent compassion and understanding, the earthiness that has made Queen Elizabeth shine throughout her reign. Bennett has judged things to a nicety.  When a young Russian piano player is found dead in a guest room at Windsor, the head of the Queen’s Intelligence Service hares off in the wrong direction. It’s up to HRH to nudge him in the right direction after she’s co-opted the help of her private secretary’s (Sir Simon Holcroft) new assistant, Rozie Oshodi. Humor, thoughtfulness, compassion and reality bump along together together to bring the mystery around to its conclusion with only a select few people knowing who’s putting two and two together an...

The Dark Heart of Florence (Lady Emily #15) by Tasha Alexander   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves head to Florence to investigate robberies at his daughter’s palazzo in Florence. Just after they arrive a man falls to his death from the roof. It’s 1903 and tensions are rising between Germany and England, Colin as an agent of the Crown has government affairs to distill particularly given the death. He’s assisted by his associate Darius Benton-Stone. Emily can’t be involved in affairs of state. (Have to love the relationship between Colin and Emily!) Emily is decidedly put out, however her friend Cécile (who’s amazing!!) joins her in rather interesting methods of investigating the matter. What they run into is the widely held belief that there’s treasure hidden in the palazzo and that all treasure seekers will die. (Hence the obviousness of the death that’s just happened). Rather than deterring these two very clever women it spurs them on to not only get to the bottom of th...

The Devil in Her Bed (Devil You Know #3) by Kerrigan Byrne    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The last unattached member of the Red Rogue Society, Lady Francesca Cavendish, Countess of Mont Claire, is continuing the battle with the Crimson Council. Using her attractions to sway men attached to the group to reveal their secrets. The story of this strong dangerous woman that is Francesca, how she arrived here is riveting. Past and present intersect with her story to give us a violent, daring epistle laced with hope. I loved Francesca’s comittment, her fearlessness to avenge those she loved and lost. I admired the almost ninja / Mata Hari type she’s become in that endeavour, her singleminded focus—a warrior queen. Her ability to remain cool and focused in dangerous situations is part of who she is. The way she takes charge and makes decisions even in the most passionate of moments is telling. I was drawn to the ferocity and fire that’s Declan Chandler aka the Devil of Dorset, and the past that has s...

Wedding Station (John Russell WW11 Spy Thriller #7/#0) by David Downing       ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   1933 Berlin on the eve of Hitler’s rise to power. Englishman John Russell is a crime reporter with the Morgenspiegel, a daily newspaper. He’s also a disenchanted communist and is separated from his German wife. The opening event catching one’s attention is the burning down of the Reichstag parliament building, ostensibly by the Communists, in all probability started by SA (Sturmführer / Brown shirts) arsonists, setting the scene. So much is happening, the rise of the Brown Shirts, death of those who stand against Hitler, including communist sympathizers, persecution of Jews, violence against others like male prostitutes, and all who walked on the wild side, who didn’t adhere to the ideals of the right. Russell as a registered Resident Foreign National is determined to remain in Berlin for his son Paul’s sake. How to manage that and still stay true to reporting without running ...