Book Review: The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

The Bone Garden
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Publication: Ballantine Books (September 18, 2007)

Description: Unknown bones, untold secrets, and unsolved crimes from the distant past cast ominous shadows on the present in the dazzling new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Present day: Julia Hamill has made a horrifying discovery on the grounds of her new home in rural Massachusetts: a skull buried in the rocky soil–human, female, and, according to the trained eye of Boston medical examiner Maura Isles, scarred with the unmistakable marks of murder. But whoever this nameless woman was, and whatever befell her, is knowledge lost to another time.

Boston, 1830: In order to pay for his education, Norris Marshall, a talented but penniless student at Boston Medical College, has joined the ranks of local “resurrectionists”–those who plunder graveyards and harvest the dead for sale on the black market. Yet even this ghoulish commerce pales beside the shocking murder of a nurse found mutilated on the university hospital grounds. And when a distinguished doctor meets the same grisly fate, Norris finds that trafficking in the illicit cadaver trade has made him a prime suspect.

To prove his innocence, Norris must track down the only witness to have glimpsed the killer: Rose Connolly, a beautiful seamstress from the Boston slums who fears she may be the next victim. Joined by a sardonic, keenly intelligent young man named Oliver Wendell Holmes, Norris and Rose comb the city–from its grim cemeteries and autopsy suites to its glittering mansions and centers of Brahmin power–on the trail of a maniacal fiend who lurks where least expected . . . and who waits for his next lethal opportunity.

With unflagging suspense and pitch-perfect period detail, The Bone Garden deftly interweaves the thrilling narratives of its nineteenth- and twenty-first century protagonists, tracing the dark mystery at its heart across time and place to a finale as ingeniously conceived as it is shocking. Bold, bloody, and brilliant, this is Tess Gerritsen’s finest achievement to date.

My Thoughts: This was an excellent thriller that combined the present day with events in 1830. Julia Hamill is recently divorced and has purchased a fixer-upper from 1880 despite objections from her sister. When digging in the yard to restore some gardens, Julia discovers a skull. Both the police and forensic anthropologists are called when it is determined that the body dates from the sometime around the 1830s. 

Julia wants to learn about this forgotten woman and is pleased when a relative of the former owner offers to let her dig through the many, many boxes of stuff he removed from the house when the former owner died at age 92.

Among the stuff in the boxes are some letters from Oliver Wendell Holmes which tell the story of those long ago events of 1830.

The second part of the book tells the story of a poor Irish girl, a poor farmer lad who yearns to be a doctor, and the West End Ripper. Rose watches her sister Aurnia die in the charity ward of a Boston hospital after giving birth to a daughter. Norris Marshall is a medical student who was there when his supervisor examined the sister. Rose is determined to care for the child despite the fact the Aurnia's abusive husband has tried to give her away. 

Then the deaths start, and rumors start of an unseen but frightening killer haunting the hospital. Rose and her infant niece seem to be targets of this killer. 

I really enjoyed the historical detail in this story. I also liked Julia who gains courage to take her own chance for love after learning Rose's story. 

I bought this one as a $1,99 BookBub deal. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

The Friday 56 was hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. This meme is currently on hiatus but many of us are still including a sentence from page 56 or from 56% of the ebook. Anne @ Head Full of Books is picking up the slack until Freda is ready to return. I think this link will get you to the correct place. 

Beginning:

March 20, 1888

Dearest Margaret,

I thank you for your kind condolences, so sincerely offered, for the loss of my darling Amelia.

Friday 56:

"A fractured skull and a quick burial? That sounds an awful lot like murder to me."

She looked at him. "I think so, too."

This week I am spotlighting a new arrival on my TBR mountain. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen. It was a BookBub deal. I chose it because I have read a few of her books and enjoyed them. Here is the description from Amazon:

Unknown bones, untold secrets, and unsolved crimes from the distant past cast ominous shadows on the present in the dazzling new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Present day: Julia Hamill has made a horrifying discovery on the grounds of her new home in rural Massachusetts: a skull buried in the rocky soil–human, female, and, according to the trained eye of Boston medical examiner Maura Isles, scarred with the unmistakable marks of murder. But whoever this nameless woman was, and whatever befell her, is knowledge lost to another time.

Boston, 1830: In order to pay for his education, Norris Marshall, a talented but penniless student at Boston Medical College, has joined the ranks of local “resurrectionists”–those who plunder graveyards and harvest the dead for sale on the black market. Yet even this ghoulish commerce pales beside the shocking murder of a nurse found mutilated on the university hospital grounds. And when a distinguished doctor meets the same grisly fate, Norris finds that trafficking in the illicit cadaver trade has made him a prime suspect.

To prove his innocence, Norris must track down the only witness to have glimpsed the killer: Rose Connolly, a beautiful seamstress from the Boston slums who fears she may be the next victim. Joined by a sardonic, keenly intelligent young man named Oliver Wendell Holmes, Norris and Rose comb the city–from its grim cemeteries and autopsy suites to its glittering mansions and centers of Brahmin power–on the trail of a maniacal fiend who lurks where least expected . . . and who waits for his next lethal opportunity.

With unflagging suspense and pitch-perfect period detail, The Bone Garden deftly interweaves the thrilling narratives of its nineteenth- and twenty-first century protagonists, tracing the dark mystery at its heart across time and place to a finale as ingeniously conceived as it is shocking. Bold, bloody, and brilliant, this is Tess Gerritsen’s finest achievement to date.

Audiobook Review: Hounded by David Rosenfelt

Hounded
Author: David Rosenfelt

Narrator: Grover Gardner
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 12)
Publication: Minotaur Books; First edition (July 22, 2014); Listen & Live Audio (July 30, 2014)

Length: 6 hours and 52 minutes

Description: Andy Carpenter isn't sure what to think when he gets a mysterious phone call from a good friend, policeman Pete Stanton, asking him to drop everything, drive to an unfamiliar address, and bring his girlfriend, Laurie Collins. He certainly isn't expecting to show up at a crime scene. But that's exactly where he arrives—at the house where Pete has just discovered the body of ex-convict Danny Diza. Upstairs are Danny's now orphaned eight-year-old son and basset hound. And that, Andy discovers, is why he and Laurie were called to the scene—Pete wants them to take care of the boy and the dog so they won't get thrown into the "system." This is already asking a lot, but soon Pete needs another big favor from Andy. Pete himself has come under suspicion for Danny's murder, and he needs defense attorney Andy to represent him…and to find out what really happened in Danny's house that day.

David Rosenfelt has done it again. Told with his characteristic humor and wit, Hounded is at once a heartfelt story about family and a page-turning legal thriller.

My Thoughts: Andy Carpenter isn't looking for more work. He's enjoying his retirement and spending time with his dog Tara and at the dog rescue he founded with his friend Willie. But when Pete Stanton calls, Andy and Laurie are right there to help him.

One of Pete's former informants has been murdered leaving an eight-year-old son named Ricky and a basset hound named Sebastian in need of care. Andy's fine with the dog but has major reservations about the boy. However, Laurie is all in and what Laurie wants is what Andy wants too.

Things get more complicated when Pete is arrested for the murder. He finds himself in the middle of a well-planned and executed frame job. Andy knows that but unraveling the conspiracy and uncovering the criminals is going to be hard. 

It all starts when a researcher at a veterinary medicine company discovers a formula which in pill form provides a painless euthanasia for gravely ill pets. This leads to a murder for hire conspiracy and a string of deaths. When Pete gets too close, he has to be eliminated.

I have been reading this series out of order. I'm glad to finally come to the story that tells about Ricky joining the family. I like Andy's hesitation to take on the responsibility for a child and the way the relationship gradually developed. 

I bought the Kindle copy December 5, 2022, and the audiobook October 29. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Perfect Storm by Paige Shelton

Perfect Storm
Author: Paige Shelton
Series: Alaska Wild (Book 6)
Publication: Minotaur Books (December 3, 2024)

Description: The next installment in Paige Shelton's Alaska Wild series, a gripping, atmospheric, traditional mystery series with a great wilderness hook.

Beth Rivers needs to disappear. Her one-time kidnapper, Travis, is on his way to her town in Alaska, and she's losing time to get out quickly.

The perfect spot for Beth and her boyfriend, Tex, to hide, presents itself in a camp in the woods, away from Benedict. But when their trip takes them by Blue Mine, a small community that has seen tragedy over the last couple months, plans get diverted. Beth and Tex bring the widow of a recently murdered man back to Benedict, for Police Chief Gril to investigate, only to find that nothing is quite what it seems. When the woman vanishes, Beth must be on the alert for further danger. Who knows what further unwelcome disappearances--or appearances--might be lurking in the unforgiving Alaska storms.

My Thoughts: Beth Rivers has made a new home for herself in Benedict, Alaska. But when news that Travis who kidnapped her and kept her hostage has escaped from prison, her friends in town surround her to offer protection.

Among those eager to protect her are her estranged parents who have also found themselves in Benedict. Beth feels she has finally established an adult-to-adult relationship with them though they don't seem to have the same relationship to each other. 

She and Tex decide to get out of town and do some camping. They head for an isolated cabin that he knows about. However, when they come across Jin who is carrying a body to town to report to the police, they get involved in trying to solve a murder at Blue Mine. This isolated gold mining community is filled with secrets and the body Jin carries isn't the first to die. 

Then there are the Bigfoot spottings...

Beth quickly gets tired of so much protection and decides that she is ready to face her kidnapper. She's much stronger and more capable than she was when he kidnapped her although the anxiety attacks aren't completely in the past. Now all she has to do is convince her well-armed and concerned friends.

I enjoyed this story which is the sixth in the Alaska Wild series. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong

The Secret of the Three Fates
Author: Jess Armstrong
Series: Ruby Vaughn Mysteries (Book 2)
Publication: Minotaur Books (December 3, 2024)

Description: Following the atmospheric and award-winning gothic historical mystery debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall, USA Today bestselling author Jess Armstrong's heroine, Ruby Vaughn, returns in The Secret of the Three Fates, where the Scottish Hills hold ghosts of the past that threaten Ruby’s present.

American heiress Ruby Vaughn still hasn't entirely forgiven her octogenarian employer and housemate Mr. Owen for bringing the occult into their lives during her recent trip to Cornwall. He claims their journey to Manhurst Castle in the Scottish Borders is simply to appraise and acquire illuminated manuscripts for their rare books shop, however when Ruby discovers there are no manuscripts and receives news of a séance to be held that very night, she begins to grow suspicious about the true reason why they have come.

The Great War left grieving families willing to sacrifice anything for the chance to say goodbye to a lost loved one. Mr. Owen is no exception. He is desperate to speak to his son, but he doesn’t want to face the spirits alone. When the séance―hosted by a trio of mediums billing themselves as The Three Fates―goes awry, Mr. Owen’s secrets begin to unravel, threatening to reveal a history that he has been running from for half his life. Something Ruby knows all too well how to do.

When Ruby finds one of the Three Fates murdered the night of the seance, she and Mr. Owen quickly become the prime suspects. To clear their names, Ruby enlists the help of Ruan Kivell, the folk healer Pellar who helped her weeks before in Cornwall. As their investigation progresses Ruby and Ruan realize someone is determined to prevent them from uncovering the truth about what happened to the dead medium.

My Thoughts: The second Ruby Vaughn historical mystery moves her to the hills of Scotland. She is traveling with her octogenarian boss Mr. Owen in search of rare illuminated manuscripts. However, when she arrives at Manhurst Castle and finds no manuscripts but rather a seance in the offing, she is angry at her boss. 

While Ruby wishes to put the past and the war behind her, she knows that many are willing to do anything for a last message from those they lost. Mr. Owen is no exception. He is desperately eager for a message from his son Ben. But the seance conducted by three women who call themselves the Three Fates goes awry when the oldest of the fates and the one who wrote to Mr. Owen to encourage his attendance dies. 

Gradually family secrets come out including some of Ruby's since the owner of the castle was once an acquaintance of hers from the time she caused a scandal in New York that forced her from her home at sixteen. 

But it is Mr. Owen's secrets that are the most devastating to Ruby since she had had no idea that he was keeping so much from her. However, once her love and loyalty are given, she'll do anything for the person who inspired those emotions. 

Ruby isn't alone in trying to figure out the mysteries of the past. Ruan Kivell has also been called to the castle. Ruby and Ruan have a complicated relationship which began in the first book. They are falling in love, but Ruby is terrified at the thought of loving someone again. She's rather face ghosts and murderers than her feelings. 

This was an engaging story. I like the 1922 time period where people are still dealing with the losses of World War I. I really enjoyed Ruby's complex relationship with both Mr. Owen and Ruan. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose

Murder at Kensington Palace
Author: Andrea Penrose
Narrator: James Cameron Stewart
Series: Wrexford & Sloane Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Tantor Audio (February 11, 2020)
Length: 12 hours and 40 minutes

Description: Wrexford and Sloane must unravel secrets within secrets—including a few that entangle their own hearts—when they reunite to solve a string of shocking murders that have horrified Regency London . . .

Though Charlotte Sloane’s secret identity as the controversial cartoonist A.J. Quill is safe with the Earl of Wrexford, she’s ill prepared for the rippling effects sharing the truth about her background has cast over their relationship. She thought a bit of space might improve the situation. But when her cousin is murdered and his twin brother is accused of the gruesome crime, Charlotte immediately turns to Wrexford for help in proving the young man’s innocence. Though she finds the brooding scientist just as enigmatic and intense as ever, their partnership is now marked by an unfamiliar tension that seems to complicate every encounter.

Despite this newfound complexity, Wrexford and Charlotte are determined to track down the real killer. Their investigation leads them on a dangerous chase through Mayfair’s glittering ballrooms and opulent drawing rooms, where gossip and rumors swirl to confuse the facts. The more Charlotte and Wrexford try to unknot the truth, the more tangled it becomes. But they must solve the case soon, before the killer’s madness seizes another victim . . .

My Thoughts: The third Wrexford and Sloane Victorian mystery cuts close to home when Charlotte's cousin is murdered, and his twin is arrested for the crime. Charlotte knows her cousin is innocent and asks Wrexford for his help in clearing her cousin's name. 

Ther investigation may force Charlotte to throw off part of her anonymity and regain her place in society if she is to have the entree needed to investigate a couple of women who might have answers about the crime. 

Meanwhile, Wrexford is trying to learn more about the victim who was somehow involved in the scientific investigations of the date. Electricity and the possible reanimation of the dead are subjects of scientific investigation and Charlotte's cousin was involved. 

I love the historical detail in this series. I also love the growing relationship between Wrexford and Charlotte. 

I bought this one at Chirp April 11, 2022. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Into the Fire by Elizabeth Moon

Into the Fire
Author: Elizabeth Moon
Series: Vatta's Peace (Book 2)
Publication: Del Rey (February 6, 2018)

Description: In this new military sci-fi thriller from the Nebula Award–winning author of Cold Welcome, Admiral Kylara Vatta is back—with a vengeance.

Ky beats sabotage, betrayal, and the unforgiving elements to lead a ragtag group of crash survivors to safety on a remote arctic island. And she cheats death after uncovering secrets someone is hell-bent on protecting. But the worst is far from over when Ky discovers the headquarters of a vast conspiracy against her family and the heart of the planet’s government itself.

With their base of operations breached, the plotters have no choice but to gamble everything on an audacious throw of the dice. Even so, the odds are stacked against Ky. When her official report on the crash and its aftermath goes missing—along with the men and women she rescued—Ky realizes that her mysterious enemies are more powerful and dangerous than she imagined.

Now, targeted by faceless assassins, Ky and her family—along with her fiancé, Rafe—must battle to reclaim the upper hand and unmask the lethal cabal closing in on them with murderous intent.

My Thoughts: Rescued from Miksland, Ky Vatta's problems are far from over. With Cascadia seizing her assets until the death of her aide is resolved, and Stella not having the funds to buy Ky's shares also because of Cascadia's actions, she finds herself financially distressed. Then there is the threat against her citizenship because she's out of compliance with some new laws no one told her about. Rafe and Teague are also threatened with deportation because the renewals of their visas mysteriously disappeared. 

Last, she learns that all of the evidence she gathered about the "accident" that landed her on Miksland has disappeared as have her fellow survivors. She is determined to rescue her fellow survivors which will be difficult because she doesn't have a cadre of colleagues on Slotters Key. But she does have Stella and Vatta Transport and a few loyal Army officers along with Rafe and Teague. 

She can't get much help from Aunt Grace who is dealing with an attempted poisoning which almost kills her and the damning revelations of her mysterious past from the Unification War which threaten her, the government, and the Vatta family.

This was an exciting adventure story. I liked the way Stella grew throughout this story. I liked the way Ky built her team. 

I bought this one February 15, 2018. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 25, 2024)

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.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

We had an interesting weather week. Tuesday it rained all day giving us 1.2 inches by the time it was finished. We had snow flurries most of the day on Wednesday resulting in just a dusting on the ground. The snow had melted away by Thursday leaving bright, sunny skies. The clouds rolled in again on Friday and Saturday but there was no precipitation. It is also cloudy today and snow is expected. This time it looks like it is here to stay. 

My brother has an appointment to have the snow tires put on his winter car tomorrow. I filled up my car's gas tank yesterday thinking that I would not be driving any more this fall since I don't drive when there is snow on the roads. 

I had a very distracted week. I did finish six books including my first 2025 review copy. But I kept finding myself scrolling through Reels and Short Videos on Facebook. I started with watching kittens then segued into baby monkeys then into apartment tours in New York City then just random stuff. Note: Cats make my eyes itch. Also, I have never wondered why people put diapers and clothes on monkeys before. And I have never been to New York City and can't image paying $3500 a month for rent or multi-millions to own property there. Nor is moving to New York City on my bucket list. All in all, I wasted hours and hours.

I received a number of invitations to review books this week. I accepted four of them and turned down at least that many. I also went mad buying books at Amazon when they had a couple of double reward points days. Mostly of my purchases were Kindle copies. Only two were audiobooks and they were add-ons to Kindle copies. I have gotten more books in November than I got in September and October combined.

I have been reading the Meg Langslow series since I discovered it when I got a review copy at NetGalley in 2021. That was Murder Most Fowl. Book 29 in the series. Then Chirp had a number of the earlier books for sale at various times. I completed the series by getting the seven books I didn't already own. Most of them are set around Christmas time which means I'll be reading Christmas books outside of the holiday season. Luckily, this is a series that can be read out of order. I hope to get caught up on the series in 2025.

I had reviewed books 13 and 17 in the Bibliophile mysteries by Kate Carlisle. This week I read the first, decided I wanted to read the rest of the series, and bought books 2 through 7. I also read the first book in the Red Cape Society gaslight fantasy series by Melanie Karsak, enjoyed it, and bought the rest of the series which is up to six books now.

The rest of my purchases were books I had put on my Books I'm Waiting For collection at Amazon. I also bought my first nonfiction book of the year based on a recommendation I read this week. I think I'll be reading it as a slow and steady read since I think I'll need to think about it as I read. 

This coming week includes Thanksgiving. The turkey breast will be coming out of the freezer tomorrow to thaw in the refrigerator. It's just my brother and I for dinner so there isn't a lot of pressure. I think we have everything we need already. Other than that, it should be a quiet week. 

Read Last Week

• Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha (Audiobook/Kindle combination; mine since December 24, 2023) -- This romantacy was packed with romance, adventure, and great worldbuilding. My review will be posted on December 26.
• Wolves and Daggers by Melanie Karsak (Mine since April 23, 2024) -- First in a gaslight fantasy series which is also a fairy tale retelling. My review will be posted on December 26.
• A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Chirp Audiobook; mine since January 4, 2024) -- I bought and read this contemporary mystery some years ago and enjoyed it again as an audiobook. My review will be posted on December 31.

• Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell (Audiobook) -- This is the fourth book in the St. Kilda romantic suspense series. It was another excellent story. My review will be posted on December 28.
• Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle (Mine since February 22, 2024) -- This is the first mystery in the Bibliophile series. I liked the characters, the romance, and they mystery. My review will be posted on December 31.
• Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz (Review; January 7) -- First 2025 review book. Conclusion to the Night Files paranormal romantic suspense series. My review will be posted on January 1.

Currently

• Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert (Review; January 7)
• Lavender's Blue by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (Audiobook; Mine since January 19, 2024)

Next Week

• The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato (Mine since May 2, 2024)
• The Good, the Bad, and the Emus (Meg Langslow Book 17) by Donna Andrews (Chirp Audiobook; Mine since March 22, 2023)
• Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh (Review; January 14)

• The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany (Review; January 14)
• Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens by Andrew Penrose (Audiobook; Mine since January 10, 2024)
• This Gulf of Time and Stars by Julie E. Czerneda (Mine since March 7, 2024)

Reviews Posted

• Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney (Review Copy)
• Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna (Audiobook)
• Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey (Audiobook)

• Feuds edited by Mercedes Lackey (Review copy)
• Cold Welcome by Elizabeth Moon 
• Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell

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

Review:

• Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (Review; March 18)
• A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (Review; March 18)

• A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Review; April 1)
• Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (Review; April 8)

Bought:

• The Twelve Jays of Christmas (Meg Langslow Book 30) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• The Falcon Always Wings Twice (Meg Langslow Book 27) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• The Gift of the Magpie (Meg Langslow Book 28) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)

• Owl Be Home for Christmas (Meg Langslow Book 26) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• Terns of Endearment (Meg Langslow Book 25) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• Toucan Keep a Secret (Meg Langslow Book 23) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)

• Die Like an Eagle (Meg Langslow Book 20) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (Kindle for $1.99)
• Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Kindle)

• If Books Could Kill (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 2) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• The Lies that Bind (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 3) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• Murder Under Cover (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 4) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)

• One Book in the Grave (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 5) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• Peril in Paperback (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 6) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• A Cookbook Conspiracy (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 7) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)

• Do I Know You? by Sadie Dingfelder (Kindle)
• Lycans and Legends (Red Cape Society Book 6) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)
• Howls and Hallows (Red Cape Society Book 5) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)

• Bitches and Brawlers (Red Cape Society Book 4) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)
• Peppermint and Pentacles (Red Cape Society Book 3) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)
• Alphas and Airships (Red Cape Society Book 2) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)

• Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell (Audiobook; Add-on for $7.49)
• Outcaste by Christie Meierz (Kindle)
• Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha (Kindle and Audiobook)

What was your week like?

Book Review: Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell

Innocent as Sin
Author: Elizabeth Lowell
Series: St Kilda (Book 3)
Publication: Avon; Reprint edition (October 13, 2009)

Description: The New York Times bestelling queen of of romantic suspense—an author hailed as “a cut above”* returns with an exceptional thriller packed with her trademark combination of passion, danger, and intrigue

Throwing himself into his painting, Rand McCee wishes the swirls of light and color can erase the memory of his beloved brother’s murder. On a scouting assignment for St. Kilda Consulting, a Manhattan-based, global business that concentrates on the shadow world where governments can’t go, Rand’s twin was shot in cold blood before Rand’s eyes.

Finally coming to terms with the fact that he will never be able to find the man responsible—a mysterious figure known as “The Siberian”—Rand just wants to forget. But as he soon learns, the past won’t let him. . . .

Helping a rich socialite finance an art exhibition, Arizona banker Kayla Shawn has unwittingly become entangled in a deadly web of lies and deceit involving money laundering. When her employer tries to buy her silence, Kayla knows she’s in way over her head, with only one way out: Rand.

Though their attraction is instant and intense, it’s not enough to overcome their mutual suspicion. Somehow Kayla and Rand must learn to work together to unmask a terrifying enemy before they land in jail—or the grave.

My Thoughts: This was another excellent romantic suspense title in the St. Kilda series by Elizabeth Lowell. It begins in Africa when two twin brothers are spying on an arms sale in order to find evidence against a man they know as the Siberian. When discovered, one of the twins is killed and the surviving twin vows revenge.

Five years later and in Arizona, personal banker Kayla Shaw finds herself involved with a very rich man and his wife. She soon discovers that he might be laundering money and that, since her boss gave her the account, she is probably liable for assisting in the money laundering. 

Unknown to her, but not to St Kilda, is that the man she works for is the Siberian now with a cleaned up image and an international passport. He is also planning another attempt to overthrow an African country so that he can capture their oil reserves. St Kilda is determined to stop him. They recruit Rand McCree who has become an artist but has never stopped wanting to find the Siberian and exact his revenge. 

Kayla and Rand meet at an art contest arranged by the Siberian's wife. He is immediately attracted to her and determined to protect her. She shares his attraction and definitely needs her help if she is going to stay out of prison for money laundering. 

The story was packed with danger for both main characters since the Siberian has lots of evil henchmen in his employ. But St Kilda isn't without its own resources. 

I really enjoyed this story which was originally published in 2007. It didn't feel at all dated though some references to Watergate and the 9/11 attack were woven into the plot. 

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

Friday Memes: Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

The Friday 56 was hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. This meme is currently on hiatus but many of us are still including a sentence from page 56 or from 56% of the ebook. Anne @ Head Full of Books is picking up the slack until Freda is ready to return. I think this link will get you to the correct place. 

Beginning:

Wearing dirty camouflage gear, boots, and insect repellent, Rand McCree crouched behind the tattered grass blind.

Friday 56:

For the space of a long, savoring draw on the cigar, Bertone was silent. Then he said, "Wouldn't such a mistake get the young entrepreneur fired?"

"It might," Kayla agreed, "or she might get a raise for bagging millions in new deposits. Banks love big new deposits, so long as they come with plausible explanations."

This week I am spotlighting Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell. This book is the third in the St. Kilda series of Romantic Suspense stories. It was published in 2009, but only recently added to my TBR Pile. Here's the description from Amazon:

The New York Times bestelling queen of of romantic suspense—an author hailed as “a cut above”* returns with an exceptional thriller packed with her trademark combination of passion, danger, and intrigue

Throwing himself into his painting, Rand McCee wishes the swirls of light and color can erase the memory of his beloved brother’s murder. On a scouting assignment for St. Kilda Consulting, a Manhattan-based, global business that concentrates on the shadow world where governments can’t go, Rand’s twin was shot in cold blood before Rand’s eyes.

Finally coming to terms with the fact that he will never be able to find the man responsible—a mysterious figure known as “The Siberian”—Rand just wants to forget. But as he soon learns, the past won’t let him. . . .

Helping a rich socialite finance an art exhibition, Arizona banker Kayla Shawn has unwittingly become entangled in a deadly web of lies and deceit involving money laundering. When her employer tries to buy her silence, Kayla knows she’s in way over her head, with only one way out: Rand.

Though their attraction is instant and intense, it’s not enough to overcome their mutual suspicion. Somehow Kayla and Rand must learn to work together to unmask a terrifying enemy before they land in jail—or the grave.

Audiobook Review: Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey

Jinx High
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Narrator: Traci Odom 
Series: Diana Tregarde Investigation (Book 3)
Publication: Tantor Audio (October 8, 2019)
Length: 11 hours and 21 minutes

Description: Fay Harper looks like any other teenage girl - any other Queen Bee, that is. She's blond, and beautiful, and very, very popular - the kind of popular that attracts boys like honey. Fay and her gang take a lot of risks, but so far, they've managed to get away with everything. It's as if they are magically protected.

Summoned to Tulsa by an old friend whose son has fallen in with Fay's crowd, Diana Tregarde, practicing witch and successful romance novelist, quickly finds herself in hot water. The new girl at school, Monica Carlin, has come under sorcerous attack, but Diana cannot identify, or stop, the power-wielder. To make matters worse, there is an ancient being sleeping under Tulsa, a being who might be woken by the magic battles taking place in the city. What will happen then, even Diana cannot predict.

My Thoughts: Diane Tregarde is called by old friend Larry Kestrel now living in Oklahoma when he believes that his son Derek has brushed against something evil. Diana's excuse for coming is to offer a seminar to advanced English students at Jenks High about being a working author. Derek is in that class as is another young woman named Monica Carlin who aspires to be an author. 

Derek has recently begun dating Fay Harper who is the Queen Bee of the high school and who seems to have cast a spell on Derek. Actually, she has. Fay is a sorcerer who has jumped from body to body of her descendants for more than two hundred years. Fay has picked Derek to be her next husband despite the fact that she is currently a high school senior and Deke a high school junior. 

Deke has psychic gifts as do his parents. His parents have had shields on him since he was a small child and haven't told him about his magic abilities nor their own. Both have been content to put their magic past and previous work with Diana behind them. 

Diana has trouble finding out who the sorcerer is and can't believe that a young woman would have the ability that the sorcerer is displaying. She doesn't know about the body switching. But she needs to and stop the sorcerer soon before he/she manages to wake up a god sleeping below Tulsa,

This was an entertaining urban fantasy/mystery. I like Diana who is a Guardian of the Earth and who has to provide help when asked. I liked the multiple viewpoints in this story as we hear from not only Diana but also from Deke, Monica and Fay as well. 

I got this one from Audible Plus. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Cold Welcome by Elizabeth Moon

Cold Welcome
Author: Elizabeth Moon
Series: Vatta's Peace (Book 1)
Publication: Del Rey (April 11, 2017)

Description: Nebula Award–winning author Elizabeth Moon makes a triumphant return to science fiction with a thrilling series featuring Kylara Vatta, the daring hero of her acclaimed Vatta’s War sequence.

After nearly a decade away, Nebula Award–winning author Elizabeth Moon makes a triumphant return to science fiction with this installment in a thrilling new series featuring the daring hero of her acclaimed Vatta’s War sequence.

Summoned to the home planet of her family’s business empire, space-fleet commander Kylara Vatta is told to expect a hero’s welcome. But instead she is thrown into danger unlike any other she has faced and finds herself isolated, unable to communicate with the outside world, commanding a motley group of unfamiliar troops, and struggling day by day to survive in a deadly environment with sabotaged gear. Only her undeniable talent for command can give her ragtag band a fighting chance.

Yet even as Ky leads her team from one crisis to another, her family and friends refuse to give up hope, endeavoring to mount a rescue from halfway around the planet—a task that is complicated as Ky and her supporters find secrets others will kill to protect: a conspiracy infecting both government and military that threatens not only her own group’s survival but her entire home planet.

My Thoughts: Ky Vatta's homecoming to Slotters Key isn't something that she anticipated with pleasure. The planet is filled with bad memories for her since it was the site of most of her immediate family's death. However, business relating to Vatta Enterprises calls her home to deal with the transition in power to her cousin Stella and to deal with her substantial share in the corporation.

She is being ferried down to the planet in a Space Forces shuttle when things start to go wrong. She finds herself needing to abandon ship and survive an ocean crash into the icy seas around the unterraformed continent of Miksland. She takes command of the survivors and relies on remembered instructions from her father about ocean survival. 

She manages to get the survivors to Miksland but something about the continent is blocking any communication. Also, it soon becomes apparent that the crash was not an accident but a well-planned attempt to kill all of them. The Commandant of the Academy is one of the first victims killed by poison darts in his survival suit. All of the officers except Ky and her aide who wore their own survival suits perished even before the craft hit the ocean. 

Ky manages to get the survivors to Miksland and gets them to an unknown base there. However, figuring out who is using the base and for what purpose leads to a large and long-running conspiracy. While Ky is trying to survive, her aunt Grace and lover Rafe are trying to find her and uncovering the conspiracy from the other end. 

This was an exciting adventure filled with all sorts of information about cold weather survival. I love the way Ky wins the hearts of her fellow survivors except for the undercover conspirators in her company. She does uncover them and wins in a fight against them. I also liked that the base gave clear evidence of aliens having once inhabited Slotters Key.

I bought this one April 10, 2017. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Feuds edited by Mercedes Lackey

Feuds
Author: Mercedes Lackey (Editor)
Series: Valdemar Anthologies (Book 18)
Publication: DAW (November 26, 2024)

Description: This 18th anthology of short stories set in the beloved Valdemar high fantasy universe features tales by debut and established authors and a brand-new novella from Mercedes Lackey.

The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdom's ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all ages—and all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talents—combined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and more—make them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.

Now, twenty-two authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to the beloved land of Valdemar, where feuds—large and small, devastating and comic, longstanding and fresh—are brewing. Familiar faces await: in her brand-new novella Mercedes Lackey brings fan-favorite Vanyel back to the page, along with his aunt, the indomitable Herald Savil. So come explore Valdemar in these fantastical tales where:

Vanyel is enlisted in a clandestine mission, but when his investigation into two squabbling noble families reveals a pair of lifebonded lovers, he and Savil find themselves scrambling to prevent an all-out war—and the King himself is watching…

A duel between two small town bards abruptly crosses a line, and their battle of wits explodes beyond verbal showmanship…

A student of the Bardic college is increasingly frustrated by a peer’s insistence that she’s seeing ghosts, but as her visions escalate she begins to wonder and to worry…

My Thoughts: The eighteenth Valdemar anthology is centered around the theme of feuds. There are twenty-two stories including a new novella by Mercedes Lackey. Many of the other authors are frequent contributors to the Valdemar anthologies. 

The stories take place in a wide variety of places and have a wide variety of main characters. From heralds to bards and even one story starring a kyree, glimpses are seen from all over Lackey's fantasy world. 

All of the stories were enjoyable. Some made me feel that I was entering an established set of characters and situations which I found to be accurate as I was reading the author's brief biographies at the end of the book. 

I have not read all of the previous anthologies though I own most of them. I'm not a huge fan of short stories since I find that I want to know more than a short story can fit in. I felt that way about a number of the stories in this anthology. I wanted more information and more adventures for the main characters.  I did enjoy Lackey's new novella starring Vanyel and Savil. That one felt long enough to satisfy me. 

After the first few stories, I felt that the theme of feuds was too repetitive but later stories expanded the idea of feuds to one-sided ones and other varieties. Fans of the previous anthologies and those just hungry for another look into Lackey's Valdemar will enjoy these stories. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna

Murder at Keyhaven Castle
Author: Clara McKenna
Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman
Series: A Stella and Lyndy Mystery (Book 3)
Publication: Highbridge (June 29, 2021)
Length: 8 hours and 43 minutes

Description: Between ornate bridal gown fittings and meetings with Lyndy's distant relatives, Stella finally feels less like an out-of-place American and more like a respected aristocrat. Everything changes as the arrival of an anonymous gift and return of her overbearing father cast a dark shadow over the festivities, conjuring difficult memories and new fears....

Tensions intensify when a daytrip to Southampton ends with a suspicious stranger getting trampled by a horse-drawn cab. Before anyone can explain why the victim possessed a newspaper clipping about the upcoming ceremony at Morrington Hall, tragedy strikes again, this time resulting in a murder that turns Stella's world completely upside down while implicating one of Lyndy's well-regarded family members....

Facing loss, postponed nuptials, and uncertain threats, Stella and Lyndy rush to connect two very different crimes and identify the guilty culprit hiding among elite wedding guests. But as the couple blows the lid off of scandalous secrets, they realize that catching this killer - and living to tell the tale - may prove as impossible as closing the class divide.

My Thoughts: With just days to go before their wedding, Stella is busy with last minute dress fittings and other details. She goes with her father to Southampton to pick up some wedding guests he invited and witnesses a runaway carriage and the death of a man who happens to have a copy of her wedding announcement in his pocket.

Along with her father's guests, Stella has invited some guests of her own including her Aunt Ivy. Her father had thrown Aunt Ivy out of his and Stella's life some time ago. There is also an uninvited guest too. Stella's uncle and his two young children have arrived. He's her father's brother and to say that they don't get along is vastly understating the case. 

When a visit to Keyhaven Castle brings with it a murder, Stella and Lyndy are forced to postpone their wedding again which suits neither of them. Together and separately, they investigate both deaths and find connections between them. They are determined to find the murderer who happens to be among their wedding guests and get married as soon as possible. 

This was another excellent episode in the Stella and Lyndy series. I really enjoyed the historical details. I like both main characters and want them to have their happily ever after. 

I bought this one from Chirp July 25, 2023. It is also available through Audible Plus. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney

Madrigals and Mayhem
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Series: The Cambridge Bookshop Series (Book 4)
Publication: Minotaur Books (November 26, 2024)

Description: In Madrigals and Mayhem, the fourth in Elizabeth Penney's charming Cambridge Bookshop series, Molly Kimball finds that even the holidays can come with a healthy dose of mystery.

Molly is eager to experience her first English Christmas with family and friends now that she's adjusted to her move to Cambridge and her restoration of her family’s ancestral bookshop, Thomas Marlowe―Manuscripts and Folios. When local toyshop Pemberly’s Emporium reopens, Molly is excited to meet the new owner, Charlotte Pemberly, who is determined to make the toy store a success after unexpectedly becoming her grandfather Arthur’s sole heir.

Arthur's new wife Althea Winters and her unpleasant family loathe Charlotte for inheriting what they believe was theirs and have set their sights on a valuable Madame Alexander doll that's gone missing. When Althea's grandson is poisoned by cakes from Tea & Crumpets, Charlotte becomes the top suspect. Molly believes Charlotte was the intended victim and investigates the Pemberly’s home, only to discover that Arthur had been murdered.

To get closer to this treacherous family, Molly and her boyfriend Kieran go undercover by volunteering to act and sing for a madrigal dinner directed by Althea and her daughter at St. Hildegard’s College. Molly must help her new friend clear her name while searching for the missing doll and wrangling her own family during the chaotic holiday festivities at the bookshop.

My Thoughts: When the local toyshop reopens after the death of the owner, Molly is pleased to make a new friend in the owner's granddaughter Charlotte who has taken over the store. However, neither of them expects to find a gravely ill intruder when Charlotte gives Molly a tour. 

Molly soon gets involved in solving a mystery as Christmas nears. Charlotte's relatives were angry that her grandfather left everything to her including the clues to the location of a very valuable doll. But no one thought they were angry enough to try to kill her. 

As Molly investigates, she finds herself stumbling onto clues and additional crimes. Meanwhile, she is busy finding books about dollhouses for a display that echoes the historical dollhouse in the toy store's window. The book within a book in this episode deals with a grief-stricken child and the dollhouse figures who try to ease her sorrow.

I enjoy this series which is set in Cambridge. I like that Molly and her mother are making a new life for themselves in England working in a bookstore that has been in the family since the 1600s. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.