Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder

About the book:

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh Manor, he pleads for the truth of his past from the only man he can trust–until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William’s world is tipped into destitution, leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant friendship and love of Isabella Gresham. If he does not have their nonsense at the seashore, their laughter, their reckless adventures, has he anything at all?

He should have known that would be ripped from him too. When a hidden foe arises from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella’s life, William may be the only one willing to risk his life to rescue her. But even if he frees Isabella from her captors, will he still have to forsake her heart?

Some sacrifice everything for love. Others sacrifice love for everything else. In this haunting tale of rigid social prejudices and heart-aching regrets, the greatest decision of their lives will be determined in the garden of the midnights.

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My review:

What a lovely story! Filled with both charm and suspense, Hannah Linder’s Garden of the Midnights is a Regency tale you don’t want to put down. I was caught up in the first pages and held captive by William’s and Isabella’s stories (and my captivity was much more pleasant than Isabella’s 😉).

I’ve said it before: I’m not a fan of tear-jerkers or stories that manipulate your emotions unnecessarily. This is not one of those stories. The range of emotions the author managed to bring out with her words was beautiful. (I didn’t even mind tearing up, because it was justified!) I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Garden of the Midnights, make yourself a nice cup of tea, and snuggle in for a charming read. You will not regret it. An easy 4 out of 5 stars.

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Many thanks to Barbour Publishing for the copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz

About the book:

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, Beecham will allow her to continue her medical career. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books—she’ll need corpses to study.

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets, and the dreaded Roman Fever, which wiped out thousands a few years ago, is back with a vengeance. Nobody important cares—until Hazel.

Now, Hazel and Jack must work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

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My review:

Now this was a very interesting story! I love that it’s set in Edinburgh at the height of the surge of medical/surgical knowledge in that city. I’ve read about the resurrection men before and have always been intrigued by what they did to make just enough money to live. And it fascinates me that people were so desperate to learn that they were willing to pay someone to dig up fresh bodies!

The love story was both sweet and heartbreaking, how Hazel was torn between doing what her family considered to be the right thing and following her heart (both in life and in love). It was a beautiful love story between a girl and a boy, but also between a girl and knowledge. Well worth the read! I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend you pick up a copy for yourself. 🙂

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

About the book:

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days. Only I know the truth of her disappearance.

I’m no Hercule Poirot.

I’m her husband’s mistress.

Agatha Christie’s world is one of glamorous society parties, country house weekends, and growing literary fame.

Nan O’Dea’s world is something very different. Her attempts to escape a tough London upbringing during the Great War led to a life in Ireland marred by a hidden tragedy.

After fighting her way back to England, she’s set her sights on Agatha. Because Agatha Christie has something Nan wants. And it’s not just her husband.

Despite their differences, the two women will become the most unlikely of allies. And during the mysterious eleven days that Agatha goes missing, they will unravel a dark secret that only Nan holds the key to . . .

The Christie Affair is a stunning novel that reimagines the unexplained eleven-day disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926, which captivated the world.

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My review:

I have to admit…I really could not get into this book. It literally took me six months to read it. I kept putting it down in favor of other books then picking it up again, only to give up and read something else. There were moments in the story that were intriguing to me, but so often the construction was awkward, causing me to have to re-read to figure out what the author was actually saying.

I even made a note of the first time I felt like the book was finally making a bit of sense…almost a quarter of the way through it. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long. One of the problems for me was that it was written in first-person omniscient, so Nan O’Dea told the story, but that character described what everyone else was doing and thinking and feeling, and it was confusing at times and kind of annoying to me.

It was an interesting idea for why Agatha Christie disappeared and then never spoke about what went on during those missing days, but I honestly can’t effusively recommend it. I’m going to give it 2.5 out of 5 stars. If you really want to read it, I’d recommend borrowing it from the library.

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Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me a digital copy for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep

About the book:

Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does. . .in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

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My review:

I always look forward to reading a book by Michelle Griep. She has such a knack for drawing the reader into her world and holding you there with great characters, fascinating plots, and beautiful historical tidbits.

Lost in Darkness is another fabulous example of Griep’s work. I was entranced by how she wove Mary Godwin into the story, using a moment in Godwin’s life that has been lost to history and extrapolating what could have happened, making it seem so very possible. And her characters, as always, have so much depth, are so richly layered, that you feel you know them and want to hug them (or smack some sense into them).

Rigorously researched, carefully crafted, and wonderfully written, you will want to get Lost in Darkness (pun absolutely intended). Many thanks to Barbour Publishing for the advanced copy of this novel. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

The Fey of Castle Garden by Naomi P. Cohen

About the book:

New York City, 1859: On Samhain night, a mage pledged to the Wild Hunt is violently murdered. Tensions between the Hunt and Triona, Fey Queen of Central Park, heat up and threaten to boil over into a full-scale conflict.

Sofia De Benedetti, mage and musician in Triona’s court, has her hands full making enough money to support herself and help women who are down on their luck in the rough corners of the city.

Now a fey war looms and a mage killer is on the prowl. Everything Sofia has built since immigrating, and her life itself, is at risk. With the help of a cait sidhe and a tempestuous storm fey, Sofia must find the murderer before the streets of the city erupt into a magical battleground.

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My review:

So, you saw the cover reveal a few weeks ago, but now it’s time for the review. This story was chock full of feels: I giggled, I fumed, and I even teared up. The author created a fascinating world within our world and populated it with a collection of characters that I couldn’t help but love (even Enda). She did a marvelous job of building tension and keeping the story moving, while still folding rich detail into every scene.

I want to get lost in Castle Garden, be a member of Triona’s court, and have my own cait sidhe (although, my Gracie kitty may already be one that I’ve just never seen morph into her human form…). And I look forward to following Sofia, Ciaran, and the rest of the fey on their next adventure. 4 out of 5 stars. Happy Samhain! 🙂

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Many thanks to the author for the advanced copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Reviving the Commander by Nadine C. Keels

About the book:

She isn’t a beautiful young maiden hoping to erase the Commander’s memory.

Opal Whilstead knows she has a reputation: a reputation as a bright, giving, upright woman—smiling and laughing her way through hopeless spinsterhood. It’s been so long since she’s had serious feelings for a man, but now she finds herself taken with the Commander Exemplar of Diachona’s army.

And she regrets it.

Not only is the Exemplar a widower still longing for his wife, but he’s the father of the reigning king. Even if a man of such prestige could find love again, he’d be unlikely to search for it among the kingdom’s old maids. Besides, Opal dreads being found, due to a grievous secret she carries…

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My review:

I really did enjoy this sweet, heartfelt romance. It was different from your typical romance novel: the heroine wasn’t a young, gorgeous girl trying to decide which of the multiple handsome, eligible young men she should choose to dance with at the next ball (not that those are horrible stories, but…). Opal is a woman of middle years who has pretty much given up on finding love and instead spends her time serving others. She is more inspiring than I imagined she would be. And more complex.

We all know that there will be a happy ending for Opal and Staid, but there was enough of a twist in the story to give the reader a desire to know just how obstacles will be overcome to reach that joyful conclusion. I can easily give Reviving the Commander 3.5 out of 5 stars. It was a light read with heavy moments that I would recommend to fans of historical romance.

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane by Michelle Griep

About the book:

There’s Often a Fine Line Between a Criminal and a Saint
 
Constable Jackson Forge intends to make the world safer, or at least the streets of Victorian London. But that’s Kit Turner’s domain, a swindler who runs a crew that acquires money the old-fashioned way—conning the rich to give to the poor. When a local cab driver goes missing, Jackson is tasked with finding the man, and the only way to do that is by enlisting Kit’s help. If Jackson doesn’t find the cabby, he’ll be fired. If Kit doesn’t help Jackson, he’ll arrest her for thievery. Yet neither of them realize those are the least of their problems.

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My review:

With her latest, The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane, Michelle Griep has shown me once again why she’s one of my favorite historical fiction authors. She always manages to create a story that is easy to get lost in.

Griep’s descriptions of Victorian London, and some of the intricacies of life in the City during that time, made London almost a character unto itself, which was wonderful. But I really did enjoy her characters, and I was quickly swept up in Kit’s plight and Jackson’s determination, cheering them on through all the mishaps, mystery, mayhem, and magnetism.

Filled with twists, giggles, and a dash of romance, The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane is a great read. It’s a historical fiction I highly recommend. 4.5 out of 5 stars! 🙂

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

About the book:

Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?⠀
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Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she’s a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It’s a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.⠀
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Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But after the king meets a suspicious end, things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis are forced to navigate a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary’s secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.

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My review:

What a fun read! I so enjoyed reading the Lady Janies series, where we first learned of the alternate history of the Verities and the Eðians. So, when I saw that the authors were beginning a series set in the same alternate historical world with Marys on center stage, I couldn’t wait.

And the authors made the tragic story of Mary, Queen of Scots, so much more fun than what really happened to her. (Although they did seem to rely on the TV show Reign for a good deal of their inspiration — so they already had quite a bit of alternate history to start with!) If only that was how it actually had turned out for Mary and Francis. *Sigh*

My favorite part of the story would definitely have to be Ari’s visions. She’s the daughter of the famed seer, Nostradamus, but doesn’t quite live up to his reputation. I outright laughed at what she “saw.” (I promise not to spoil them — they are great!) I also love the snarky asides from the narrators and all the allusions threaded throughout the narrative.

Overall, I would give My Contrary Mary a solid 4 out of 5 stars for a fun read that makes me want to get lost in this alternate historical world again. 🙂 My Contrary Mary releases in June, so put it on your Goodreads shelf!

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Many thanks to Harper Audio/HarperTeen and NetGalley for the audio ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

The Last Tiara by M.J. Rose

About the book:

From New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller M.J. Rose comes a provocative and moving story of a young female architect in post-World War II Manhattan, who stumbles upon a hidden treasure and begins a journey to discovering her mother’s life during the fall of the Romanovs.

Sophia Moon had always been reticent about her life in Russia and when she dies, suspiciously, on a wintry New York evening, Isobelle despairs that her mother’s secrets have died with her. But while renovating the apartment they shared, Isobelle discovers something among her mother’s effects—a stunning silver tiara, stripped of its jewels.

Isobelle’s research into the tiara’s provenance draws her closer to her mother’s past—including the story of what became of her father back in Russia, a man she has never known. The facts elude her until she meets a young jeweler, who wants to help her but is conflicted by his loyalty to the Midas Society, a covert international organization whose mission is to return lost and stolen antiques, jewels, and artwork to their original owners.

Told in alternating points of view, the stories of the two young women unfurl as each struggles to find their way during two separate wars. In 1915, young Sofiya Petrovitch, favorite of the royal household and best friend of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, tends to wounded soldiers in a makeshift hospital within the grounds of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and finds the love of her life. In 1948 New York, Isobelle Moon works to break through the rampant sexism of the age as one of very few women working in a male-dominated profession and discovers far more about love and family than she ever hoped for.

In M.J. Rose’s deftly constructed narrative, the secrets of Sofiya’s early life are revealed incrementally, even as Isobelle herself works to solve the mystery of the historic Romanov tiara (which is based on an actual Romanov artifact that is, to this day, still missing)—and how it is that her mother came to possess it.

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My review:

I was first entranced by the cover of this book and decided that I had to know more about it. Then the backmatter absolutely hooked me, and I couldn’t wait to read it!

Rose did a fabulous job of weaving history and fiction to bring both her characters and the real historical figures to life. Usually when a story is told of the Grand Duchesses of the Romanov family, it centers around Anastasia. She is never actually mentioned in this book, which was kind of refreshing. I enjoyed learning a bit about the eldest of the Grand Duchesses, Olga and Tatiana, and their work as nurses during WWI, even though that was only a small bit of the breadth of the story.

It was easy to see how much research the author put into this story, incorporating everything from troikas and Fabergé to Agatha Christie and Gregory Peck to Bolsheviks and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. To be able to take all these seemingly disparate bits and meld them into one cohesive and interesting tale is impressive, and I really did enjoy both the grand scope and the intricate details.

I do have to admit that it took me a while to really get into the story. It begins with Isobelle’s voice, and for some reason, I found it difficult to connect with at first. I picked the book up and put it down five or six times in that first chapter, reading other books in between, before I finally found myself getting sucked into the story. Once I did get lost in the narrative, however, it was fascinating. Now, I need to check out M.J. Rose’s other work!

I would definitely recommend you grab this book when it comes out in February 2021. And if you find yourself, like me, not quite sure of the story at first, don’t give up. It is seriously worth the read. An easy 4 out of 5 stars.

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Many thanks to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver

About the book:

A Deception at Thornecrest is the stylish, charming next novel in Ashley Weaver’s Edgar-nominated Amory Ames mystery series, set in 1930s England.

Amory Ames is alone at her country house Thornecrest, enjoying her last few weeks of peace and quiet as she prepares for the imminent arrival of her baby. Her husband, Milo, is in London on business, and Amory is content to catch up on her correspondence, organize the nursery, and avoid the well-meaning but rather overbearing company of the ladies in the village as they prepare for the Springtide Festival. But then a woman appears on her doorstep, also claiming to be Mrs. Ames, Milo’s wife.

Amory’s marriage has had its ups and downs in the past, but her faith in her husband has been restored, and Milo has been nothing but thrilled about becoming a father. Though the supposed second Mrs. Ames seems earnest, Amory is convinced she must be mistaken, a belief that Milo confirms upon his homecoming. However, when a second unexpected visitor arrives at Thornecrest, secret identities and whirlwind romances appear to be becoming par for the course.

It’s not until the day of the festival, when a body is discovered, that the strange characters appearing in town begin to seem more sinister, and Amory is determined to uncover the killer in the crowd.

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My review:

If you’re looking for a charming whodunnit with plenty of red herrings, you’ll find it in A Deception at Thornecrest, the seventh book in Ashley Weaver’s Amory Ames Mystery series.

It is easy to see that the author is comfortable with her main characters: they are fully-fleshed, well-drawn, and easy to like. Amory reminds me of Phryne Fisher in some ways, so she was fun to follow on her investigation. And it was quite the twisted tale. I was sure I’d figured it out, several times, only to have another clue throw a wrench in the works, making for a story that kept my attention and kept me wanting to read more.

Until now, I’d never read an Amory Ames story, but I certainly want to go back to the beginning of the series now. While this was a completely self-contained mystery, and a wonderfully written one at that, there were plenty of references to past investigations that sound fascinating, as well as what sounds like a rather interesting relationship history between Amory and Milo.

A Deception at Thornecrest releases September 8, 2020. Be sure to check it out! Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive view. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’d give this one 4 out of 5 stars!