Fair Game (2010) Josh Lanyon Elliot Mills loved being in the FBI–until a shootout left him unfit for anything but a desk job. The pain after his knee replacement had been excruciating, beyond anything he’d imagined or previously experienced, barring the original experience of getting kneecapped. Yes, I did shudder when I read that. Now […]
So This is Christmas (2016) Josh Lanyon Adrien and Jake have returned early from Christmas in London with Adrien’s mother and her husband. Adrien goes to work, only to discover the store not open, and his (step) sister in bed with his Angus, his employee. “Anyway, you think Angus is going to sue me for […]
The Hell You Say (2011) Josh Lanyon Adrien’s assistant is in trouble. He’s been getting threatening phone call of an occult nature–bad enough that Adrien gives him some money and tells him to leave town. Meanwhile, Jake is involved in a case that might involve the occult, and is irritated that Adrien sent Angus away […]
A Dangerous Thing (2002/2012) Josh Lanyon Adrien English is tired of Jake Riordan canceling their dates–not that Jake would admit they were dates, since he’s deep in the closet. Swell. He preferred humiliating strange men in costume to kissing a man he knew. And presumably liked. So Adrien heads to the ranch he inherited from […]
Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (2016) Angel Martinez Kyle Monroe has been a cop at the 77th precinct for several months, when he is assigned a new partner: the extremely stoic and handsome Vikash Soren. He wants to dislike Vikash, but instead falls for him–which is a terrible idea, since they’re partners. This is a […]
The Boy with the Painful Tattoo (2014/2018) Josh Lanyon Christopher Holmes has decided to take the next bog step–he and JX are moving in together. JX found a house and Christopher has moved up to San Francisco. Unfortunately, JX has to immediately head off to a convention, and when Christopher starts to unpack he finds […]
Murder Takes the High Road (2018) Josh Lanyon Two years ago, Librarian Carter Matheson bought tickets for himself and his boyfriend for the Tour to Die For, a bus trip through Scotland visiting many of the places that appeared in Dame Vanessa Rayburn’s books. But now Carter and Trevor are split, and Carter refused to […]
The Overnight Kidnapper (2015/2019) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli The 23rd Inspector Montalbano book. The joy of these stories isn’t the mysteries, although they are never bad, but the time spent with Montalbano and all those around him. Like Catarella. “Fazio in?” “Nah, Chief, ’e’s atta scene o’ the kidnappin’ insomuch as the guy’s […]
The Confession of Brother Haluin (1988) Ellis Peters Set in England in 1143 Stephen and Maud are still battling over the English throne. It seemed that as often as either of them got within touch of the crown, fortune took fright at the prospect of being in the service of either, and hurriedly snatched the […]
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (2013) Sarah MacLean Set in London in 1831. William Harrow, Marquess of Chapin and heir to the dukedom of Lamont, known to the world now as Temple, the killer duke, is a partner in the Fallen Angel. Although there was no proof, it was believed that he killed his father’s […]
A Rogue by Any Other Name (2012) Sarah MacLean Set in England in 1831. Lord Michael Bourne lost everything on a single card. After his complete downfall, he and three others rose from the ashes of their past to run one of the most successful gaming hells in London, the Fallen Angel. But what Bourne […]
McAlistair’s Fortune (2009) Alissa Johnson Set in England in 1814. Evie Cole may have a reputation as a wall-flower, but she is strong-willed and independent, using what power she has to help others. She also believes that the scars of her past make her unacceptable on the marriage mart. The trouble with having a limp […]
Devil in Winter (2006) Lisa Kleypas Set in London in 1843 Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent is an unrepentant rake whose only interest is pleasure. But he’s also broke, and needs a rich wife immediately. “Do you ever think of anyone other than yourself?” The question seemed to pull him out of his absorption, and his […]
The Hermit of Eyton Forest (1987) Ellis Peters Set in England in 1142 The 14th Brother Cadfael mystery. “There’s no end to the follies any man can commit.” (A) big, burly, thrusting man, his face abruptly lit as he swung past the torch fixed at the gate, and then as abruptly darkened. A massive face, […]
The Governess Game (2018) Tessa Dare Set in England in the early 1800s Alexandra Mountbatten has been struggling to make a living tending clocks, but a mishap sees her taking a position as governess to the wards of Chase Reynaud, one of the most notorious rakes in London. Her friends have opinions. “It doesn’t matter […]
Wicked and the Wallflower (2018) Sarah MacLean Set in London in 1837. Felicity Faircloth is on the shelf. She’s been abandoned by those she thought were her friends, and despite a minor scandal, her family is pushing her towards marriage. Devil spent the first ten years of his life in an orphanage, then from the […]
The Rose Rent (1986) Ellis Peters Set in England in 1142. The thirteenth Brother Cadfael mystery. The young widow Perle gave her house to the abbey after the death of her husband and unborn child with the caveat that every year on St Winnifred’s day she receive a single rose from the bush in the […]
Etched in Bone (2017) Anne Bishop The fifth Others book, and the completion of the story arc started in the first book. The Others have struck back at the humans and the world is once again irrevocably changed. Human communication is no longer instantaneous OR private. Humans are no longer safe to travel the at […]
Marked in Flesh (2016) Anne Bishop The fourth Others book. The HFL (Humans First and Last) group has been striking against the Others, but now they want to start to take over the lands they believe rightfully belong to humans. As far as the Others were concerned, not listening was a big reason why humans, […]
Vision In Silver (2015) Anne Bishop Somehow I managed to skip the second book. I realized it about a third of the way through, but decided it didn’t particularly matter. Meg is still in the Lakeside Courtyard, and the others have rescued the other blood prophets from those who sold their visions for a price. […]
Written In Red (2013) Anne Bishop I read this soon after it first came out (a gift, I think, from Natalie (Thanks!). But life got complicated, so I never read any more of the series. I decided to start again, and go further in the series. It’s fantasy but with a world that would in […]
The Hollow of Fear (2018) Sherry Thomas The third Lady Sherlock Mystery. Society is still searching for Charlotte Holmes–and treating her sister Livia with the suspicion of one closely related to a scandal. So Livia is glad to escape to the country home of Mrs Newell–who happens to be a near neighbor of Lord Ingram. […]
Grave Concerns (2004) Gwen Hunter The fourth (and last) Dr Rhea Lynch mystery. A lot happened in this book, including Rhea finally deciding if she truly loved Mark or not. Several things here. One, I don’t particularly like Mark. Two, ELI! He’s not precisely the Eli of the Jane books, but he is very very […]
Deadly Remedy (2003) Gwen Hunter The third Dr. Rhea Lynch mystery. A faith healer has come to down, and that means work for Dr. Rhea, when people get heat stroke or do stupid things like stopping their medicines. But it’s the case of a quadriplegic that is most interesting–a teen who broke her spine in […]
Prescribed Danger (2002) Gwen Hunter The second Dr. Rhea Lynch mystery. A couple is rushed to the ER after having escaped from captivity. The woman is in labor and her health makes everyone involved concerned. When it is discovered the couple were forcibly tattooed with racist images, things go from bad to worse. This is […]
Delayed Diagnosis (2001) Gwen Hunter Dr. Rhea Lynch fled to Dawkins county South Carolina after her engagement fell apart. Returning home after a camping trip she discovers that her best friend is lying at home, seriously ill, and no one seems to know what happened, and her husband (also a doctor) is keeping her at […]
A Blunt Instrument (1938) Georgette Heyer The 4th Inspector Hannasyde mystery. Ernest Fletcher seems to have been a likable man, so his death–bludgeoned to death in his story–came as a surprise to everyone. The obvious suspect is his nephew Neville, his heir who seems to owe money to everyone, and who was heard to have […]
Behold, Here’s Poison (1936) Georgette Heyer The second Inspector Hannasyde mystery. Gregory Matthews is found dead in his bed one morning, with a terrible look up on his face. Everyone assumes it’s a natural death, except for his sister who insists upon an autopsy. The list of possible culprits is quite large, especially since two […]
Death in the Stocks (1935) Georgette Heyer This is, as best I can tell, set around the time it was published, the mid 1930s. What I found fascinating was that I was totally unable to pin down the time. I was pretty sure it was post WWI, but wasn’t quite certain. I think the police […]
The Raven in the Foregate (1986) Ellis Peters Set in England in 1141 The 12th Brother Cadfael mystery finds the war between Maud and Stephen again shifted, this time in favor of Stephen, and the political machinations have reached to Shrewsbury when a new priest is sent for the town. “From here where I stand […]
Very Important Corpses (2017) Simon R. Green This is the third Ishmael Jones mystery. The Organization is sending Ishmael and Penny to Scotland (to that very famous Loch in fact) to provide security for a gathering where one agent has already been murdered, and it’s probable the House has been infiltrated by one or more […]
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (2018) Cat Sebastian (Seducing the Sedgwicks) Set in London in 1817 Sam Fox is an ex-boxer and a Free Black–a pillar of his community who tries to help others as he was helped by this before him. Some black families, like Sam’s mother’s people, had been in England for centuries. […]
Diamond Fire (2018) Ilona Andrews This is a Hidden Legacy novella, and covers the wedding of Nevada and Rogan. We also meet Rogan’s mother. “If fortune smiles on us, this will be your only wedding. This will be a formal affair. Your bride will be wearing a breathtaking gown, you will be wearing a tuxedo, […]
The Duke’s Gambit (2018) Tracy Grant Set in Scotland and London in 1818-1819 The end of the previous novella is start of this book. Malcolm’s sister Gisèle has disappeared with a member of the Elsinore League and so Malcom and Gisèle’s husband Andrew head to London to look for her. Unfortunately, events in Scotland become […]
Paths Not Taken, Audio Edition (2005/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor The fifth Nightside book finds John looking to go back in time for a way to stop his mother–the Being Lilith–from destroying the Nightside and possibly the world. John takes with him Suzie Shooter and Tommy Oblivion in the hopes that their […]
His at Night (2010) Sherry Thomas Lord Vere has been acting the idiot in public for years now–as his cover as a secret agent for HRM. Even his brother (and only surviving family) believes that a head injury caused permanent damage to Vere’s brain. But pretending has grown exhausting, and the game is far less […]
Wicked Intentions (2010) Elizabeth Hoyt Set in England in 1737. Lazarus, Lord Caire, has a reputation such that only his title keeps him from becoming a disgrace. Temperance Dews is a widow, and with her brother Winter, runs the foundling home started by their father. But after the death of their patron, the two are […]
A Gentleman’s Position (2016) KJ Charles (Society of Gentlemen) Set in London in 1820 I am, apparently, reading this series backwards. I’d picked up the previous two books and read a few pages but wasn’t in the mood for them at the time. Richard is a younger son, an honorable man, and the one who […]
The Duchess Deal: Girl Meets Duke (2017) Tessa Dare Set in England in the early 1800s The Duke of Ashbury is in need of an heir. “If I died tomorrow, everything would go to my cousin. He is an irredeemable prat. I didn’t go to the Continent, fight to preserve England from tyranny, and survive […]
Dark Angel (1994) Tracy Grant Set in 1813 Adam Durward is the son of a English father and an Indian mother, and as such has never felt comfortable anywhere, but does have the ability to blend in throughout Europe as needed, which serves him well as a spy. Caroline is a spoiled and irritating woman […]