eyes.2c Reviews

A Shadowed Fate (Claire Clairmont Mystery #2)   by Marty Ambrose         I must admit to being more and more taken with Ambrose's tribute to the seemingly infamous Claire Clairmont, stepsister to Mary Shelley, and the propositional mystery surrounding Allegra Byron, Claire and Lord Byron's daughter, said to have died from typhus in the convent Byron had placed her in. The question becomes for Claire, did Allegra die or was this all a ruse to protect her from Byron's enemies? Ambrose gives a genuine voice to Claire's life, presenting Claire in a more gracious light than others have. The story is loaded with unknown threats for Claire and her traveling companions as she searches for the truth about Allegra. Made more so by the restrained yet menacing undercurrents. I was much struck by the thoughtful reflections from the eighty year old Claire, particularly after having visited the convent at Ravenna. "There are so many unknowns when it comes to how fate ...

Trace Elements (Commissario Brunetti #29) by Donna Leon         Two seemingly simple cases that had no connection. A couple of Roma girls have pick pocketed the wife of a powerful person who wants them out of Venice in case further enquiries open up something they don't want exposed. A dying woman who has something to confess to the police. As investigations unfold, both cases are a minefield of complexities for Commissari Guido Brunetti and Claudia Griffoni. As always they are ably assisted  by the highly efficient Signorina Elettra, whose computer skills allow them into places that  they normally couldn't access. One case involves a question of the health of the planet. Both cases speak to what the powerful are able to get away with. Brunetti is faced with conflicting choices. As Brunetti summarizes his reflections and the questions the situation demands we are reminded of his love of mythologies of the past, "His thoughts turned to the Eumenid...

A Duke is Never Enough (The Spitfire Society #2) by Darcy Burke          Phoebe Lennox deserted her betrothed at the altar and set the society gossips and London's ton on its collective ear. Gossips had a hey day and Phoebe thanked her lucky stars that she'd had enough gumption to not take that final step that would've left her shackled to a husband who delighted in inflicting pain. Society was even more shocked when she set up house by herself. Marcus Raleigh, Marquess of Ripley, draws a different sort of attention. A rake and a womanizer, although to be fair, he drew the line at some actions. So when Marcus discovered his cousin had been actively swindling gullible ton members with dubious investments, he confronts Drobbit in the park, resulting in fisticuffs. Enter Phoebe who helps Marcus clean some blood of his face. That's their beginnings. Drobbit later turns up dead. No-one is surprised. Except Marcus and Phoebe, as Marcus is now a suspect in a mu...

A Counterfeit Courtesan (The Shelly Sisters #3) by Jess Michaels        Oh my, the this third Shelley sister, Juliana (the quiet fixer of the family) might just end up being the most scandalous of the lot. As they say "watch out for the quiet ones!" And the Shelley cohort and Ellis 'Hansome" Maitland had reason to beware because when Juliana fixed her sights on something nothing would get in her way--all accomplished in a quietly determined manner. Comprehending that she would never marry now that she was disfigured (a scar on her face), and with the realization that her father had decided to selfishly retain her into spinsterhood, as his secretary and hostess, at his beck and call for as long as he lived. Feeling berefit, seperated from the closeness she and her triplet sisters once shared, lost even, Juliana decides to take the opportunity to experience life at an exclusive club renowned for being a meeting place for illicit relations. Needless to say, wh...

The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz     A story of traditions, of precious things passed down. In this instance a wedding dress modeled on Grace Kelly's. As the story weaves between the woman who designed the dress, the French  grandmere, the current mother of the bride, and the bride, strands of what it is to love, loss, standing your ground, knowing when to say no, familia relations, the fifties, the seventies and the now are braided to get her with loving care. There's Rose, the seamstress in the Parisian xx, Joanie her daughter and Rocky her granddaughter. As each face their particular fears and demons, the indecisions and strengths, the writing becomes more focused and telling. I was unsure at first as to whether I would engage sufficiently but as the story progressed, as I became used to it's rhythms, I was well and truly beguiled. But then, how could anything associated with Grace Kelly and her fabulous wedding dress not fail to please. I loved the...

Frida in America: The Creative Awakening of a Great Artist   by Celia Stahr         Frida Kahlo. I love her work, her ideas, and the colorfulness of her personality. And yes, when I've visited Mexico I've picked up some wonderful pieces of fun jewelry that represent her, kitsch or not. I enjoy wearing something that harkens to the talented and revolutionary soul Frida was in oh so many ways. This book covers the years Frida spent in the United States and how that influenced her aesthetically and politically. Celia Stahr has captured the person of Frida.  One idea that struck me was that, 'the duality of life for the Aztecs, as for Frida, was a bringing together of opposites. “Everything is all and one."' Added to this was that that "notion of duality remained rooted in the land, and it shaped Frida’s psyche," and is reflected in her work. In its unpacking, a foundational concept about Frida and her creative spirit. Adding relevant art works or ph...

Sparrow: A Novel by Mary Cecilia Jackson        Domestic violence and children. Violence and boyfriends. A harrowing read! The story of Sparrow, a young woman, a gifted ballerina, and a victim of violence is a story of anguish, of darkness, and ultimately of hope and taking charge, after a long, long road to the start. More a goat track than a road really. I must admit to not really liking the subject matter. I cannot deny though that I found Jackson's treatment of the topic empathetic, tight, tense and really well written. Told in the voice of Sparrow, alternated with that of one of her best friend's, Marcus her dancing partner in Swan Lake, the read was a roller coaster of emotions and imaginings! There is a side story about Marcus which was really well integrated. I loved his Irish grandmother (wise woman in the hills analogy), her acceptance and her wisdom, and Marcus' maturing. I felt that their friend Delaney was a marvellous character who needs her ...