Teaser Tuesday: The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

It was something in the voice itself, a hollow ring where the kernel of truth ought to have been. Geoff could hear it the way an accomplished singer could pick out the difference between an A flat and a B sharp.

Every instinct he possessed screamed that Letty Alsworthy was lying.

This week I grabbed a book from TBR mountain. The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig is the third book in the Pink Carnation series and was purchased Dec. 21, 2010. Here is the description from Amazon:

Eloise Kelly has gotten into quite a bit of trouble since she started spying on the Pink Carnation and the Black Tulip-two of the deadliest spies to saunter the streets of nineteenth-century England and France.

Not only has she unearthed secrets that will rearrange history, she's dallied with Colin Selwick and sought out a romantic adventure all her own. Little does she know that she's about to uncover another fierce heroine running headlong into history.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 13, 2016)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading... 

My first week of vacation has been nicely relaxing. I've mostly been hanging around my house reading, playing computer games, and catching up on missing sleep. I will be heading to my summer home early next week after Monday's doctor's appointments.

Read Last Week

Last week I read three books from my review stack. All somewhere in the mystery genre.

A Most Curious Murder by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli was a cozy with lots of references to ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The story was whimsical and the characters quirky. My review will be posted on July 6 for this July 12 release.

Dark Road Home by Anna Carlisle explores twisted relationships when Gin comes home after the discovery of her sister's body sixteen years after she disappeared. My review will be posted on July 7 for this July 12 release.

The Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakely is half a mystery. This romantic suspense title introduces the crime and the characters and focuses on the spicy relationship between the hero and heroine who are both looking for answers about the crime. Neither the relationship or the crime are resolved in this book. My review will be posted on July 9 for this July 12 release.

Currently

Next up is thriller/romantic suspense book Forgotten Secrets by Robin Perini. This is also from my review stack and is scheduled to be released on July 19.

Next Week

The rest of my reading plans for next week encompass books from my TBR mountain,

• Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead (Added June 8, 2013)
• The Wild Ways by Tanya Huff (Added Nov. 1, 2011)
• The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig (Added Jan. 3, 2011)

Reviews Posted

• Written Off by E. J. Copperman
• The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
• Death on the Sapphire by R. J. Koreto

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Besides the two new review books from Montlake Romance mentioned above. I added Nightshift by Charlaine Harris to my Kindle this week.

To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Book Review: The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

The Masque of the Black Tulip
Author: Lauren Willig
Series: Pink Carnation (Book 2)
Publication: NAL; Reprint edition (October 31, 2006)

Description: ...But now she has a million questions about the Pink Carnation's deadly French nemesis, the Black Tulip. And she's pretty sure that her handsome onagain, off-again crush, Colin Selwick, has the answers somewhere in his archives. But what she discovers in an old codebook is something juicier than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts: It has been quite some time since I read the first book in this series but I immediately fell into the story again. I love the juxtaposition of a modern day historian's discovery of the papers of Regency heroes and heroines with the story of the heroes and heroines as they were living their story.

I found many parts of the story to be laugh-out-loud funny. In fact, I was laughing so hard that I had to put down the book to wipe my eyes. The situations as two rank amateurs get involved in uncovering a dastardly French agent were both thrilling and amusing. I especially liked the friends-to-lovers plot as Henrietta and Miles each realize that their long-standing friendship was growing into something more but who don't realize or believe that the other has come to the same realization.

I like the modern parts of the story too which has Eloise wondering very much about Colin Selwick who is definitely a man of mystery. I am eager to carry on with this series to find out what happens next in 1803 and also what happens next for Eloise and Colin.

Favorite Quote:

Embrace and Miles were not concepts that went together; Henrietta found the thought distinctly unsettling.

So she did what any mature, poised young lady would do in such a situation. She poked him in the chest. "Do stop looming."

"Ouch!" Miles jumped back. "Don't I loom well?"

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

London, England, 2003

I bit my lip on an "Are we there yet?"

Friday 56:

"Ah, the sister of our gallant adventurer." On Lord Vaughn's lips the word "gallant" sounded more insult than praise. 

I am spotlighting The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig. This one has been on my TBR mountain forever. I bought it after reading The Secret of the Pink Carnation. Here is the description from Amazon:

...But now she has a million questions about the Pink Carnation's deadly French nemesis, the Black Tulip. And she's pretty sure that her handsome onagain, off-again crush, Colin Selwick, has the answers somewhere in his archives. But what she discovers in an old codebook is something juicier than she ever imagined.

ARC Review: Death on the Sapphire by R. J. Koreto

Death on the Sapphire
Author: R. J. Koreto
Series: A Lady Frances Ffolkes Mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (June 14, 2016)

Description: An extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times, Lady Frances Ffolkes is an Edwardian-era suffragette who has an uncanny ability to attract danger and romance.

When Major Colcombe, a family friend and war veteran, dies under mysterious circumstances, the good Lady discovers that he was working on a manuscript about South Africa’s bloody Boer War, which reportedly revealed a scandalous mistake that cost many innocent lives. Now, it’s up to Frances and her loyal lady's maid, June Mallow, to track down the missing manuscript and bring the killer to justice. Despite kerfuffles with Scotland Yard and the British Secret Service, Frances never backs down and finds herself in several very unfortunate positions--and one very fortunate love triangle.

Death on the Sapphire is R. J. Koreto's witty and winsome debut of a series that is sure to be fan favorite for years to come.

My Thoughts: This mystery was an excellent introduction to an intrepid heroine and life in 1906 England. Lady Frances Ffolkes is the daughter and sister of a Marquess. However, she doesn't fit very well into the society lady mold. She was sent to America to attend Vassar. Now back home in London, she is living in an exclusive lady's hotel being served by her loyal mail June Mallow. She fills her days with committee meetings and charitable activities. She is a suffragette.

When the sister of a family friend - Major Daniel Colcombe - comes to beg assistance in locating her late brother's manuscript, Franny finds herself in an investigation that has many implications. She learns more about Danny's role in the Boer War and the contents of his missing manuscript.

She also encounters others who want the manuscript for various reasons. Both the Special Branch and the Secret Service are interested in locating it. So are others with different political agendas. Franny's investigations wind their way through the upper classes of Britain.

Franny also is being courted by two very different men. Lord Gareth Blaine is exciting and runs with the fast crowd. Henry Wheaton is the family solicitor and a very successful lawyer. Franny isn't interested in marriage yet which she views as putting an end to her work as a suffragette.

I liked the setting of this mystery. England in 1906 was going through many social changes. Lady Frances is a intriguing combination of the old views of class and privilege and the new more modern equality. She expects that her name and family connections will give her priority with the police who should be delighted to serve her. At the same time, she sees what it is like for the poor when she spends her evenings working in a soup kitchen. Her relationship with her maid also reflects this conflict. June is proud to serve in an upper class family. She delights in her position. She is quick to defend her mistress from those who are too familiar. But Lady Frances and June are also forming a friendship and a partnership in the mystery.

Fans of female amateur detectives and fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this one. I look forward to further adventures for Lady Frances.

Favorite Quote:

Charles told his sister to be good as she took her leave, and she found herself lost in thought about tight-lipped police officers, secret service agents operating in the dark, and soldiers killing and dying in the African heat.

I got this eARC from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Written Off by E. J. Copperman

Written Off
Author: E. J. Copperman
Series: A Mysterious Detective Mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (June 14, 2016)

Description: Rachel Goldman writes mysteries in which Duffy Madison, consultant to the county prosecutor’s office, helps find missing persons. Rachel is busy working on her next book, when a man calls out of the blue asking for help in a missing persons case. The caller's name? Duffy Madison.

Is this real or has she lost her mind? She doesn't have much time to find out because a serial killer is on the loose, kidnapping and murdering mystery authors. And Rachel may just be the next target.

Full of uncanny intrigue and witty humor, E.J. Copperman's imaginative series debut Written Off is sure to be a new fan favorite for readers of Donna Andrews.

My Thoughts: This was a really fun cozy mystery. Rachel Goldman is a mid-list author who writes mysteries starring Duffy Madison who is a consultant with the police specializing in missing persons. Imagine her surprise when a man who introduces himself as Duffy Madison shows up at one of her books signings asking for her help in solving a missing person's case.

It seems that mystery authors are disappearing and later being found murdered. An author Rachel has met is the latest to disappear. Rachel writes mysteries; she doesn't solve them. But somehow she is roped into helping Duffy find the missing author. All the while, she and her very competent assistant are trying to discover who this Duffy Madison really is.

I liked all the inside info about the lives of authors. Rachel gets involved in solving this mystery in part because she doesn't want to tackle the revisions on her latest book. We also see a book signing from the author's point of view. Rachel has a lot of problems I think are common to authors: nobody has heard of her or read her books and people confuse her with authors who have similar names.

Fans of mysteries and fans of authors will enjoy this great mystery that begins a series.

Favorite Quote:

"I . . . created you?" I echoed back at him. I usually prided myself on being a good conversationalist, but now I was  impressed that I could come up with something above the level of "gaaaaaaahh."

I got this one for review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Death on the Sapphire by R. J. Koreto

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

"I understand you are here about a crime. I hope your ladyship has not been a victim."

"Not at all, but thank you for your concern." She smiled. "I am here about a family friend, Major Daniel Colcombe, who died in an accident about two months back. It seems an important manuscript of his was stolen from his house shortly after his death."

This week my teaser comes from Death on the Sapphire by R. J. Koreto. I got this debut mystery from NetGalley. Here is the description from Amazon:

An extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times, Lady Frances Ffolkes is an Edwardian-era suffragette who has an uncanny ability to attract danger and romance.

When Major Colcombe, a family friend and war veteran, dies under mysterious circumstances, the good Lady discovers that he was working on a manuscript about South Africa’s bloody Boer War, which reportedly revealed a scandalous mistake that cost many innocent lives. Now, it’s up to Frances and her loyal lady's maid, June Mallow, to track down the missing manuscript and bring the killer to justice. Despite kerfuffles with Scotland Yard and the British Secret Service, Frances never backs down and finds herself in several very unfortunate positions--and one very fortunate love triangle.

Death on the Sapphire is R. J. Koreto's witty and winsome debut of a series that is sure to be fan favorite for years to come.