A Sickness in the Soul by William Savage

January 21, 2020 By 12 Comments


A Sickness in the Soul by William Savage
An Ashmole Foxe Georgian Mystery
Publisher: Ridge & Bourne
Genre: Historical, Mystery
Length: Full Length (282 pgs)
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

“Many people wear masks. Some to hide their feelings; some to conceal their identity; and some to hide that most hideous plague of mankind: a sickness in the soul.”

Ashmole Foxe, Norwich bookseller, man-about-town and solver of mysteries will encounter all of these in this tangled drama of hatred, obsession and redemption.

This is a story set in the England of the 1760s, a time of rigid class distinctions, where the rich idle their days away in magnificent mansions, while hungry children beg, steal and prostitute themselves on the streets. An era on the cusp of revolution in America and France; a land where outward wealth and display hide simmering political and social tensions; a country which had faced intermittent war for the past fifty years and would need to survive a series of world-wide conflicts in the fifty years ahead.

Faced with no less than three murders, occurring from the aristocracy to the seeming senseless professional assassination of a homeless vagrant, Ashmole Foxe must call on all his skill and intelligence to uncover the sickness which appears to be infecting his city’s very soul.

Can Foxe uncover the truth which lies behind a series of baffling deaths, from an aristocrat attending a ball to a vagrant murdered where he slept in a filthy back-alley?

Given that I am a not-so-closeted Anglophile and history lover, I’m always on the lookout for Bristish historical mysteries. And, I’m glad I found this one, even if I am coming late to the party, being this is the sixth book in the series. Have not fear, though, it can easily be read as a standalone, though I do have to admit I have already bought the earlier five books just so I can see more of Ashmole.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mysteries involved were top-notch, the characters — ditto. I did not want to put this book down once I started it. I’ve not read a lot of books set in Norfolk, so I was very glad to get a glimpse of another English city.

Foxe seems like the kind of man it would be a lot of fun to have as a friend, as long as you realize he is what he is. He’s just thirty (which leads me to my only complaint…if the man on the front cover is supposed to be Ashmole, he’s sorely miscast….perhaps he’s one of the murder victims instead) and has a distinct joie de vivre which I imagine would be irresistible. And, it sounds like it is… especially for the ladies. He’s the type of man that has to be taken how he is (and not very seriously). I especially enjoyed the dilemma the author left him in at the end of the book, and it will be interesting to see how he gets out of it (this is not by any means a cliff-hanger; the mysteries are solved.)

I’m hoping I will soon have time to sit down and Ashmore again and catch up on what he’s done before this volume. Highly recommended!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Her Vanquished Land by Diane Scott Lewis

January 20, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Her Vanquished Land by Diane Scott Lewis
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (272 pages)
Heat: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

In 1780, Loyalist Rowena Marsh insists on spying for the British during the American Revolution. As a girl, she must dress as a boy, plus endure devastation and murder as she decodes messages for a mysterious Welshman.

The tide has turned in the rebels’ favor. General George Washington appears to be winning. The loyalists are bombarded by threats and lost battles. Rowena stays determined to aid the British cause and preserve her family as they’re chased from their Pennsylvania home.

She struggles with possible defeat and permanent exile, plus her growing love for the Welshman who may have little need for affection. Will the war destroy both their lives?

This book starts out with a bang, and from a point of view readers are not often graced with. American loyalists are attacked by patriots during the American Revolution. Rowena, at seventeen, is a strong young woman, and quite the tomboy. Her brothers are fighting in the king’s army.

The story is peppered with period details, immersing us in this world. Rowena wants adventure and to be actively involve with the war effort, which would put her in danger. Seeing things through the eyes of a Loyalist family puts a new perspective on things. This is not a bad family. American readers can even sympathize with them if not agree with them. This is a good sign of good writing, giving us a fascinating view that is rarely seen.

There’s a mystery early on: Is Rowena’s cousin James a spy for the Loyalists, or is he possibly a Patriot?

And what about those just trying to survive this? Danger escalates. An underlying message of women’s importance, their contribution in the war weaves itself around the exciting plot.

It is a well-written story, produced by an author who knows the era. It comes across as very realistic. Rowena is constantly worried that the Royalists will not be victorious and what will become of her and her family if the “Rebels” win the war. We readers, knowing the outcome of the war, can’t help but to worry for this lovable character, whatever side we sympathize with. The author has done a good job of showing that people on both sides were complicated and not all good or bad.

Occasionally Rowena has a thought of understanding for the rebel side, making readers wonder how far this will go in the end. Details of espionage and intrigue keep those pages turning. This is an exciting historical novel well worth the read.

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Dislocation Space by Garth Nix

January 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Dislocation Space by Garth Nix
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (43 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A Soviet political prisoner is ordered to use her unique talents to explore a strange scientific phenomenon. It could be a trap…or a way out.

Nothing is more important than staying calm and paying attention to your surroundings.

The Soviet political prisoner who was the protagonist of this story was a fascinating person. She was only ever known as KH-112 in the prison camp, and that is how I will refer to her in my review. KH-112 had quietly suffered for years by the time the audience met her, so it came as a surprise to see how she responded to the hard labor, freezing climate, and chronic lack of food that had already killed so many before her. While she’d certainly been harmed by these experiences, I loved seeing the glimmers of resiliency in her beginning with the opening scene. They were beautiful harbingers of what was to come and made me determined to get to know this character better.

There was a plot hole involving how KH-112 was treated by her captors. In the opening scene, the narrator took great care to show all of the precautions that had been taken to keep her from killing any more of the soldiers who were running the prison camp. She was such an intelligent and resourceful person that the smallest slip-up by her enemies could give her the opportunity to fight back against them. It came as a surprise for me, then, to see how she was treated after the Soviet Union found another use for her. Her talents were obviously quite valuable to her captors, but that didn’t quite explain the shift in how they treated her given what they knew about her past.

The ending couldn’t have been written better. I’d grown attached to KH-112 and was incredibly curious to see what her government expected her to do and if her abilities would actually be of use to them. My questions were not only answered in full, they also sparked many more questions about what happened to her after the final scene. I loved finding out what her fate was and thought the author did a wonderful job of tying everything together neatly while still leaving room for the audience to imagine certain things for ourselves.

Dislocation Space was a thrilling tale that should be read by anyone who has ever felt trapped by their current circumstances.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Anybody Want to Play War? by Tommy B. Smith

January 9, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Anybody Want to Play War? by Tommy B. Smith
Publisher: Seventh StarShadow
Genre: Young Adult, Suspense/Mystery, Historical
Length: Short Story (141 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Brutal injuries can leave scars.

As the teenage survivor of a savage dog’s rampage, it’s a lesson Bryce Gallo will never forget.

Struggling to cope with his damaged appearance, along with a newfound fear of dogs and mounting anxieties at home and school, he flees his suburban home into the moonlit streets of St. Charles.

Along the roads of suburbia and through the shadowed heart of the city, he encounters Wheels, a maintenance worker for a series of apartment buildings; Paloma, known to some by the moniker of Lady Luck; and a woman in a dark house who is, as far as Bryce can fathom, like no one else he has met before.

His new life is not without obstacles or enemies, he learns. The future is a battlefield. Fire and smoke loom on the horizon, and his dangerous course may see the lives of his family and friends forever changed.

Some days are impossible to forget.

Bryce’s character development was incredibly well done. He’d been through a terrible experience that caused both emotional and physical trauma. His recovery was a slow and difficult one, especially when it came to how he responded to his memories of that awful day and the reactions of other people to his many scars. I had so much compassion for this character even when he was acting out. Many teens would behave the same way in his shoes, especially if they lived in the early 1980s when fewer people understood how trauma works and when medical treatments for this sort of injury weren’t as advanced as they would be today.

The mystery subplot could have used more development. I had some trouble following its developments, especially in the beginning when Bryce knew nothing about what was going on. There simply weren’t enough hints to show what was happening or why it was happening. A few more of them would have been very helpful.

One of the most interesting parts of this book for me was Bryce’s troubled relationship with his mom and stepdad. Their conflicts were incredibly complex and rooted in disagreements that had been going on for a very long time. Not only was this where the main character found a lot of opportunities for personal growth, it was also where some of the best plot developments came from. While I was satisfied with the ending, I sure would like to see a sequel that explores what their relationships were like hen Bryce was a few decades older. There was so much more room here for future storylines.

I’d recommend Anybody Want to Play War? to anyone who is interested in the 1980s or realistic depictions of mental illness after a traumatic event.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh

January 7, 2020 By Leave a Comment


My Fake Rake: The Union of the Rakes by Eva Leigh
Publisher: Avon Books from Harper Collins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (366 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by Honeysuckle

Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the complications of society matches. But when a handsome, celebrated naturalist returns from abroad, Grace wishes, for once, to be noticed. Her solution: to “build” the perfect man, who will court her publicly and help her catch his eye. Grace’s colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway, is just the blank slate she requires.

To further his own research on English society, Sebastian agrees to let Grace transform him from a bespectacled, bookish academic into a dashing—albeit fake—rake. Between secret lessons on how to be a rogue and exaggerated public flirtations, Grace’s feelings for Sebastian grow from friendship into undeniable, inconvenient, real attraction. If only she hadn’t asked him to help her marry someone else…

Sebastian is in love with brilliant, beautiful Grace, but their bargain is complete, and she desires another. Yet when he’s faced with losing her forever, Sebastian will do whatever it takes to tell her the truth, even if it means risking his own future—and his heart.

There’s only one thing a self-sufficient and book smart lady of the ton can do when she simply must marry a fellow naturalist but he only sees her as a colleague. She sets out to make him notice her by way of a fake romance. Nobody is better suited for a fake romance than your best guy friend, right?

This was one of those books that, when finished, was honestly satisfying. The character development was there. I truly liked both Grace and Sebastian as well as the side characters introduced throughout the story. Especially the Duke of Rotherby. He’s an interesting player in this game Grace and Sebastian play out before all of London society. I was tickled to note that his story will come out next year and I’ll be sure to watch for it. Some lovely miss is going to tie him in knots and it will fun to watch.

Also, I realized I need to go back and look at some of Ms. Leigh’s prior books to see if some of the other happily married couples I met had their happily ever afters already told. That’s how I often find some of my new future favorite story tellers. By reading their series completely out of order.

I particularly liked this story because, while the premise wasn’t new (I’ve ready plenty of the ‘fake romance to win the hero’ tropes in historical romance) the personalities and family dynamics of these characters stood out to me. Grace is allowed to venture into what most people of the time period would have considered “a man’s world”. She’s smart and interested in learning all she can in the field of zoology. Sebastian is also a man of science but he’s more in the habit of studying people and cultures. I think the author made that distinction an important part of this book. Sebastian sees Grace in way others don’t. It was a sweet courtship to watch even when they didn’t realize it was a courtship.

There’s some pretty funny scenes involving some scandalous dirty words and dancing in the rain. Historical romance lovers will enjoy the dialogue as well the story itself. Well developed and an unexpected yet delightful ending.

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Dasher by Matt Tavares

January 6, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares
Publisher: Candlewick
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life — one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It’s not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh — a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same.

Hope can be found in even the darkest night.

This story handled the sad parts of its plot beautifully. In the opening scene, Dasher and family were owned by a man who did not always treat them kindly. The details of their lives were kept to an age-appropriate level while still allowing older readers to pick up on subtle clues about why that traveling circus was not a nice place for a reindeer to live.

I was thrilled to have a female protagonist in a Christmas story! Most people assume that all of Santa’s reindeer were male, so it was refreshing to have a female reindeer running the show. Dasher was a wonderful role model no matter what was happening around her. I also appreciated the fact that her gender wasn’t made a point of conflict in the plot. She simply existed and went about doing all sorts of heroic things without giving a second thought to the reader’s assumptions about the creatures who pull Santa’s sled.

Speaking of Santa, I adored the scene that showed how he and Dasher first met. Not only was it wholesome, it added so much joy to a storyline that hadn’t included a great of joy up until that point. Seeing how his mere presence made Dasher’s life better brought a smile to my face. I already loved Dasher by that scene, but all of the characters became unforgettable after it.

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever was a heartwarming tale that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Ruby’s Christmas Gifts by Nancy Oswald

December 20, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Ruby’s Christmas Gifts by Nancy Oswald
Publisher: Filter Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Holiday, Childrens
Length: Short story (30 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

It’s Christmas time in 1896 Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Ruby May Oliver and her donkey, Maude, roam the streets in search of Maude’s missing foal. Along the way, Ruby comes upon four people in need of gifts—gifts she discovers she can give. This gentle tale, enhanced by the evocative illustrations of Nathaniel Jensen, is a great read-aloud or independent read for grades 2 thru 4. Readers who have enjoyed the antics and adventures of Ruby May Oliver and her donkey, Maude, through the award-winning Ruby and Maude Adventure series, are in for a treat with this heartwarming story as Ruby enters more and more deeply into the true spirit of Christmas.

Ruby is getting ready for Christmas. Her father has gone to town to get a surprise so she bundles up and goes out to look at the stars in the sky. She’s having fun naming the star constellations and then their mule gets upset and interrupts her. When she checks Maude out, she finds Willie is missing. She takes Maude and her cat on the hunt for the baby mule.

Nathaniel Jensen is the illustrator for this picture book and he does a beautiful job. The historical settings remind me of when I was a girl. The story and the graphics meld together faultlessly.

She finds Willie has headed into town. She leaves her father a note and heads out. When they reach the town, she and Maude help an old lady take her luggage to the hotel. The woman gives her a pin shaped like a Christmas star. She meets a young girl who is sad because they have no money for presents. Ruby makes a present of her hat.

A young boy is picking up trash but his hands are cold. She gives him a present of her gloves. And a disabled miner gets her silver dollar.

You’ll never guess where she finds Willie and her cat. She’s even more pleased about her surprise.

This is a well told tale with a common theme of kindness. Just what we all need at Christmas as well as all year long. Ruby would make a good friend.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

To Weave a Highland Tapestry by Mary Morgan

December 20, 2019 By 1 Comment


To Weave a Highland Tapestry by Mary Morgan
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal (time travel)
Length: Full Length (266 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Snapdragon

Patrick MacFhearguis, hardened by battles won and lost, desires what he can never have—peace within his heart and soul. Yet, the ever-meddling Fae weave a new journey for him to conquer—a task this highlander is determined to resist.

When skilled weaver, Gwen Hywel, is commissioned to create a tapestry for the MacFhearguis clan, she embraces the assignment. While seeking out ideas, she finds herself clutching the one thread that can alter the tapestry of her life and heart.

A man conflicted by past deeds. A woman with no family of her own. Is it possible for love to unravel an ancient past, in order to claim two badly scarred hearts? Or will the light of hope be doused forever?

Readers who enjoy romance blended with a the combination of history and the mystical will be utterly enchanted by this clever ‘weaving’ of a tale. In To Weave a Highland Tapestry Mary Morgan offers us a wander through the past thanks to a bit of time-travel; which works in her quite contemporary main character surprisingly well.

Gwen, whose sense of history is apparent in her study and use of ancient weaving techniques, was attracted the the task of stitching the tapestry at the MacFhearguis’ castle. An act of kindness gives us a bit of insight into just who she is and, as the story goes forward, we cannot help but admire her curiosity, her strength and her determination. This one main character brings together many ‘threads’ of story, fom the curse knotted by the slighted Fae, so long ago, the struggles of clan MacFhearguis and, the one we are waiting for, Patrick. But how can a romance evolve from almost different worlds, at utterly different times?

From the outset, we readers wait for the moment that we do see coming; when Gwen must go back…but then, we are swept along into and unpredictable story that is more than romance. There was that ancient wrong–the Fae were indeed slighted–but can the two change what has been written into the lineage? Can they, together, weave a different future for what should be a magnificent castle, sitting now on utterly barren lands? Their challenges and their quest move this story right along.

More, the backdrop and sense of place is wonderful. Readers will feel as if they have traveled the highlands. This is however, very much a time travel paranormal story and I would only recommend it to readers who are already firmly fans of the genre.  Looking forward to the next by Mary Morgan. Do read!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

It’s Raining Bats & Frogs by Rebecca Colby

December 16, 2019 By Leave a Comment


It’s Raining Bats & Frogs by Rebecca Colby
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A little witch named Delia has been looking forward all year to flying in the annual Witch Parade. When the rumors of rain come true and the other witches start complaining, Delia takes action. Using her best magic, Delia changes the rain to cats and dogs. At first this goes over quite well, but she quickly realizes the animals cause a few issues. She must change the rain again! This time to hats and clogs. And finally, she tries bats and frogs. But each new type of rain brings its own set of problems. How will Delia save the day?

Life doesn’t always go as planned, but who says that has to be a negative thing?

The spells in this story were absolutely adorable. Delia had the best of intentions when she first changed the rainstorm into cats and dogs, but she couldn’t have predicted how her interference would make things worse. Her attempts to fix things only grew funnier over time, and I looked forward to every new spell she came up with to solve the problems that the last one caused. She had such a creative way of weaving words together every single time she cast a new one.

One of the most delightful things about this story was how all of the witches interacted with each other while they were having their parade. They really seemed to care about each other, and this was shown in all sorts of little ways as the main character kept trying new ways to change the weather. I had such a good time reading their comments as they adjusted to the various animals and items that were falling from the sky. There was a lot of room for humor here, and they took advantage of that fully.

The twist at the end made me giggle. It was the perfect way to wrap up a memorable Witch Day parade, and it left me wanting more while also making me feel like I knew exactly enough about what happened on this particular day. Although I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this if the author ever decides to write one!

It’s Raining Bats & Frogs was a heartwarming tale that I’d recommend to Halloween lovers of all ages.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean

December 12, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean
Scandal and Scoundrel Series #3
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (400 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

The one woman he will never forget…

Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived the last three years in self-imposed solitude, paying the price for a mistake he can never reverse and a love he lost forever. The dukedom does not wait, however, and Haven requires an heir, which means he must find himself a wife by summer’s end. There is only one problem–he already has one.

The one man she will never forgive…
After years in exile, Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to London with a single goal–to reclaim the life she left and find happiness, unencumbered by the man who broke her heart. Haven offers her a deal; Sera can have her freedom, just as soon as she finds her replacement…which requires her to spend the summer in close quarters with the husband she does not want, but somehow cannot resist.

A love neither can deny…
The duke has a single summer to woo his wife and convince her that, despite their broken past, he can give her forever, making every day… THE DAY OF THE DUCHESS

When love it not enough, where do you go? Or do you settle for less?

Neither questions’ answer will bring happiness for the hero or heroine. Running helps you find only a part of yourself. Settling is not being true to yourself, nor does it lead you to complete happiness. Yet, Mal and Sera have to find their way if they truly want to be happy. This novel is about all the mistakes the hero has made, and he’s made some doozies. Sera’s initial mistake was loving him so quickly and completely, it led to some actions that were misconstrued. This story is about their coming back together.

The heroine steps onto the stage with dramatic flair, requesting something important to her and she gets the ball rolling. The hero has actually never forgotten her so he’s quite taken aback by her appearance, her request, and his feelings. I am so glad this is told through third person point of view. I felt the book is well served by seeing things from both sides.

I enjoyed the chance to see how each felt and I liked watching them fall in love again. It was like pulling teeth getting them to admit the full truth. The author did a wonderful job of keeping my interest. I liked meeting Caleb and Ms. MacLean used his character to perfection. True, it was a tad formulaic, but I didn’t care. He was so fascinating, I am pretty sure he deserves his own happy ever after some day.

I adored the final chapter and the epilogue because they made me feel absolutely happy and satisfied and glad I read The Day of the Duchess. This is a wonderful read for a lazy afternoon and is an easy recommend.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,
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