eyes.2c Reviews

To Woo and to Wed  (Regency Vows #5) by Martha Waters   ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Second chance romance that has a history of endless possibilities, tragic circumstances and being blackmailed by a Duke. Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell had given up the man she’d loved to protect her sisters. Drunk and despairing her almost fiancé, West, the Marquess of Weston, had been involved in a curricula race that had ended in tragedy. Now seven years later, a widow, and it seems Sophie is still trying to give her remaining widowed sister an HEA at the cost of her own happiness. When West walks back into her life, Sophie decides to embroil him in a mad scheme, only to face the wrath of West’s father the Duke once again. Will history repeat itself? A pleasant Regency Romance, if not a tad absurd at times. An Atria Books ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

The Diabolical  (Bruno Johnson Thriller #11) by David Putnam    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All Bruno Johnson, former cop and convict (Yeah! Interesting combination and obviously part of backstory) wanted was to provide a safe haven for his wife Marie and their fourteen children—those of their own and those they’d rescued from at risk homes in South Central Los Angeles. All had a huge hold on his heart In Tamarindo, Costa Rico he felt out of sight. He’s working at a resort as the beach bartender “Juan Gaylord.”  That was  until a night club massacre of six people placed Tamarindo squarely in the public eye.   Bruno finds himself in the middle of a Russian mafia and the Mob’s war over stolen loot, the local Justice department breathing down his neck, the police chief threatening extradition, the FBI, he’s mistaken for a jewel thief, and then there’s the Ice Princess! (his boss) Fast paced, a tad Quentin Tarantino, this is somewhat different thriller with bodies littering the pages.  Oh, and more than a f

The Tainted Cup  (Shadow of the Leviathan #1 ) by Robert Jackson Bennett   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow! A mysterious fantasy that just became more complex and intriguing the further I read. Anna Dolabra, an eccentric imperial investigator is assigned to uncover the truth behind the death of an imperial engineer by contagion of a tree. (Truly horrible and bizarre, as are many things in this fantastical, almost mythological world). We see most of the action through Anna’s newly genetically altered assistant, Dinios Kol. Kol is unsure of his actions, and only slightly bewildered by his superior’s ways such as seeing the crime scene through Kol’s reports, whilst constantly wearing a blindfold. All this in an Empire sporting improbably altered beings, holding at bay leviathans whose blood infects, and contagions that have had whole regions and their peoples destroyed, the country side razed and closed off. Off course there’s plots within plots but who is behind the contagions that are so selective? Most

The Diamond of London  by Andrea Penrose   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I began this title whilst in the middle of another genre. Caught up in that read, I put this away for a time, wondering if I’d make it back. I’m glad I did! The more I read about Lady Hester Stanhope, the more intrigued I became.  The volatile, intelligent Lady Hester, a superb rider, an extraordinary “amazon” of a woman, of “fierce intellect and ambition”. A woman who stepped into the world of men, navigating her way through a closely strewn minefield of political, social and familial relationships that changed frequently, except for the latter. “Witty and often cynically pragmatic” we are told in Penrose’s excellent Author’s Note. Her time as her beloved uncle, William Pitt’s hostess at Walker Castle and later, when Pitt formed government, as Pitt’s ‘Private Secretary’ gave her the chance to blossom, as she served as his sounding board and confidant for various political actions. She was a close acquaintance of Brummell. She and h

The Beacon   by P.A. Thomas           ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jack Harris, son to Media Magnate Malcolm (ring any bells? Can’t help but see a sly reference to a real Australian Media Magnate) has been sent back to the town he grew up in to work on his father’s first newspaper, The Beacon. His father’s decided Jack needs to learn to be a journalist from the ground up, with one of the best, Patrick O’Shaughnessy. Up until now Jack’s been in Melbourne helping his father run his business conglomerate. Jack had been running the Harris Media portfolio. He’d also tentatively voiced opinions about ethical journalism. Now here he’s back in Byron Bay about to work in a regional newspaper as the lowest ranking hack. (Byron Bay is the easternmost point on the Australian coastline. Another interesting fact, the lighthouse is the most powerful in Australia!) What Jack doesn’t count on is Patrick being found dead, mauled by a great white shark. Except there’s something off about Patrick’s surfboard that Jack can’

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard  by Natasha Lester    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hate Couture and three generations of women who are designers. Mizza Bricard, Astrid Bricard and Blythe Bricard. Then there’s those Names rolling off the tongue—Dior, Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta … and Hawk Jones. Mizza is in Paris in 1917, working as a designer. Her story is tragic, occasionally joyful, and hard. Dismissed by the magazines and journalists of the day as Dior’s muse, she fights not only the political times of the day, the Nazis, but the gender issues. Then we come to the swinging 69’s  and  all that entails.  Astrid, Mizza’s abandoned daughter, is fighting for the right to be heard in the New York fashion scene. Unfortunately she’s dogged by her mother’s history. She meets Hawk, a talented designer inspired by fabrics, rather than being able to draw designs. Theirs is a tragic love story. Astrid like her mother is dismissed as Hawk’s muse. She’s not! Time and time again the media deliberately tells the

From the Forest  (Saga of Recluce #23) by L. E. Modesitt, Jr   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ There are times when I wish I were not such a quick reader. Why? Because I truly think Modesitt’s works are to be savoured and reflected upon. Weaving the lines of connecting characters both major and minor are to be well explored. But alas, I become totally engrossed and couldn’t slow down. I needed to continue, to see what was around the corner. After reading the  chat forum on Modesitt’s home page my understanding deepened. Thank you! ( https://www.lemodesittjr.com/2022/03/15/20022/  ) One member, Bill M. pointed out where Modesitt has cross referenced his new book  “From the Forest” with Magi’i of Cyador where the Emperor Alyiakal is a footnote in the history books of Cyad.   “Despite his many successes in establishing the current borders of modern Cyador, and his formalization of the balanced power structure that has come to govern Cyador, he has become the “One Never to be Mentioned” among the Magi’i and M

Never Blow a Kiss  (Secret Soviet of Governess Spies #1) by Lindsay Lovise      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ How to fall in love with a feisty down to earth heroine, hiding earth shattering or maybe soul destroying secrets. Emily Laverton has come up the hard way. From the school of hard knocks in Bethnal Green where thievery helped her survive. Now she’s a governess. Not your true blue governess but a young woman determined to lift herself out of the gutter. Zachariah Denholm is a wealthy man, an ex Colonel in and honed under battle. He is an unpaid Detective Constable with the Metropolitan Police. When he meets Emily he’s knocked for six. Who was that creature who blew a kiss to him before departing the Ball given by the Commissioner’s sister. Zac works tirelessly. He’s currently after The Evangelist, a man who’s been murdering prostitutes. He’s escalating. Zac thinks he knows who it is but … Meanwhile he’s distracted by the altogether attractive Emily whom his soul calls to. Can they work this puzzl

Accidentally His  (Designing Debutantes #3) by Sabrina Jeffries   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ No ordinary spy,  Colonel Raphael Wolfford (the Chameleon), is  a very secretive English spy and heir to the  Viscount Wolfford. Rafe is  trying to find out who’s behind information about British troop movements being passed to Napoleon  Lady Verity Harper is no ordinary debutante. She’s the daughter of a divorced woman whose scandal became Verity’s when her fiancé, the toad Lord Minton, called off their engagement and let society think that Verity was not a decent young woman.  “The gossips said [Minton] had surely refused to align himself with [Verity] because [she] was a licentious jade like [her] mother.” Minton had made sure her character was assassinated.  Verity’s also smart as a whip and has noticed a figure whom she dubs the phantom a  who appears at various of their Elegant Occasions functions over the last eighteen months. Nothing specific just the jawline, angle of head, despite different hair colou

The Broken Vow  (Fitznortons #2) by Luisa A. Jones    ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Foolish, naive debutant finds inner dragon, her strength and determination, her calling if you will, and some harsh home truths. When Charlotte Fitznorton discovers her fiancé Eustace Chadwyke has been injured and is suffering from shell shock after fighting on the Western Front she decides to open up the family country home as a convalescent home for officers. Despite the odds, a much maligned step mother, a new baby half sister, and harassment from the locals who see the shell shocked men as malingers, rather than casualties, Charlotte rises to the occasion, much to the admiration of Doctor Kit Harvard. A story set during World War I. A Storm ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

The Spice Maker's Secret  by Renita D'Silva     ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A mesmerising tale that transports us between two women and two different times. Between Bindu in Suryanagar, India and Eva in London, from 1924 to 1980. Mother and daughter, lost to each other. Loss and love in both lives. Going between Bindu’s story, her fight for the well being of her villagers, her husband, the traditions she doesn’t want to adhere to, her temperament and that of her husband’s, leading to tragedy. And Eva, dealing with alienation and incredible loss. When Eva finally takes the step of going to India, healing can begin. The daffodils can bloom. Read and weep! A Bookouture ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many thanks to the author and publisher.

The Teacher  (DS Cross Thriller #6) by Tim Sullivan    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ No wonder Stephen Fry calls DS Cross the “perfect detective.” When I wasn’t feeling sorry for the school boys in the murder victim’s past, I was laughing out loud. DC Cross has Autism Spectrum Condition which makes him an interesting partner for DC Josey Ottey. Josey is on leave until her living arrangements drive her back to work. But it’s DC Cross who stands out, oblivious to those around him. His focus is always the case.  Detective  inspector Warner has been assigned to this particular case from outside. His sarcasm slides off Cross, with Warner frequently left wondering what just happened. A seriously humorous Occassion has Cross leading Warner a merry chase between two interview rooms.   “  ‘Where did he go?’ [Warner] asked Ottey. She indicated the interview room. He disappeared into it. Moments later Cross appeared and went back into the other room. Warner appeared and followed him next door. Seconds later Cross