Who Speaks for the Damned (2020) C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr) Set in London in 1814 I have loved this series since the start, and generally adore her writing. However. Third Person Omniscient POV does NOT WORK if you are hiding a person’s gender. It just DOESN’T. It is stilted and kludgy and what you’re […]
A Kiss for Midwinter (2012) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister) Set in England in 1863 I re-read the previous book in this series because I was wanting to re-read this story. Dr Jonas Grantham wanted more than anything to become a doctor. Right before he left for medical school, he followed the town doctor around to […]
The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1863 Minnie has spent her adolescence learning how to be quiet. Unnoticed. Unexceptional. When she was taken in by her great aunts, she agreed with them this would be the best path for her, but now she has reached the point where she needs to […]
Dead in the Shop (2018) Dahlia Donovan (Grasmere Cottage Mystery) Valor and Bishan are struggling after the events of the last book. Someone is trying to kill them–has killed people around them–and they don’t understand why. And that’s one of the interesting things about this story–that there isn’t really a good why. Don’t get me […]
Dead in the Garden (2018) Dahlia Donovan (Grasmere Cottage Mystery) This is a cozy mystery, set in England, and is both adorable and has an amazingly diverse cast of characters. Valor and Bishan are shocked and distressed to discover a dead body in their yard. But it becomes even more distressing when Bishan is arrested […]
Lady Mechanika, Vol. 4: Clockwork Assassin (2018) Joe Benitez, Peter Steigerwald, Mike Garcia The longer this series goes on the better I like it. Although I think some of the outfits she wears are ridiculous, I have accepted the, because she does use the more ridiculous outfits to fight and generally kick ass. A man […]
The Guilt of Innocents (2006) Candace Robb (Owen Archer) Set in England in 1372 Although this story is about the murder of a dockworker, beneath and beside that the story is about children. It’s about Jasper, Lucie & Owen’s adopted son, who is finally coming to accept Lucie and Owen as his parents, even while […]
A Stroke of Malice (2020) Anna Lee Huber (A Lady Darby Mystery) Set in Scotland in 1832 Kiera and her husband Sebastian Gage are spending the holidays at Duchess of Bowmont’s Twelfth Night party, when a group stumbles upon a dead body. Although it’s suspected that the decayed body is the husband of the Duchess’s […]
Rivers of London: The Fey and the Furious (2020) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Lee Sullivan I find the comics for this series frustrating. I found the story interesting, but the execution wasn’t all I wanted it to be, I mean, why precisely, were the fey doing all this? It didn’t make a lot of sense […]
The Lost Letter (2017) Mimi Matthews Set in England in 1860. Sylvia Stafford now works as a governess. The suicide of her father left her destitute, abandoned by society and her friends. So she is shocked when a young lady appears, asking her to come to the country. Sebastian Conrad, once a colonel in India, […]
Band Sinister (2018) KJ Charles Set in England in the early 1800s A lot of us are struggling right now, so this is a good time for comfort reads. If you’ve read Georgette Heyer’s Venetia, you’ll be familiar with this story: younger sibling is hurt and has to stay at manor of notorious (and wealthy) […]
Death in Kew Gardens (2019) Jennifer Ashley (Kat Holloway) Set in London in 1881 Kat Holloway and the rest of the staff have been working hard, since Lady Cynthia’s aunt keeps refusing to hire a new housekeeper. Unfortunately, the woman she finally hires is a complete nightmare. When the gentleman next door is murdered, everything […]
The Cross-Legged Knight (2003) Candace Robb (Owen Archer) Set in York, England in 1371. The Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham, failed to bring home Sir Ranulf Pagnell from France, so how he has to bring home the knight’s heart–and deal with the family accusing him of stealing part of the ransom and other improprieties. […]
A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener (Regency London) Set in London in 1812 Miss Phoebe Hillier has been prepared to follow her father’s dying wish and marry Sheldrake, but when he tells her he is ending their betrothal and leaving the country she is as much relieved as she is horrified. “No. I’m . . […]
Scandal Above Stairs (2018) Jennifer Ashley (Kat Holloway Mysteries) Set in London in 1881 Kat Holloway is still cook at Lord Rankin’s house, even though he has retired to the country, Lady Cynthia remains, and to give her countenance, her aunt and uncle are living with her. Kat and the rest of the staff may […]
The Emperor’s Conspiracy (2012) Michelle Diener (Regency London) Set in London in 1811. Charlotte Raven was rescued as a child, and although she leads a somewhat unorthodox life, she tries very hard to be the perfect lady for Lady Howe, who saved he from the stews. This always surprised her, Catherine’s willful habit of seeing […]
Banquet of Lies (2013) Michelle Diener (Regency London) Set in England in 1812. After reading Death Below Stairs I wanted to re-read a favorite of mine that also features a woman working as a cook in historical Britain. Every time I read this I love it a little bit more–there is just so very much […]
Death Below Stairs (2018) Jennifer Ashley (Kat Holloway) Set in London in 1881. I read the novella A Soupçon of Poison awhile ago, and when I didn’t find a novel immediately, forgot about it. Kat Halloway has just taken a position as cook for Lord Rankin. She is relatively young for her position, but sought […]
Work for It (2019) Talia Hibbert (Just for Him) The world is making me feel out-of-sorts, so I decided to re-read a book I very much enjoyed. The first time around I read this book before the rest of the series (this is essentially the last book) so re-reading it after having read about the […]
A Spy for the Redeemer (2002) Candace Robb (Owen Archer) Set in Wales and York in 1371 Owen is still in Wales seeing over the tomb of his father-in-law. But when the sculptor is killed, Archdeacon Rokelyn all but demands that Owen look into the death, which leads Owen to further wonder where his loyalties […]
Mating the Huntress (2018) Talia Hibbert Luke Anthony is a werewolf. Chastity Adofo comes from a family of Huntresses, although she herself is forbidden to hunt. twenty-five years ago, on the day of Chastity’s birth, some batty old oracle had rocked up to the delivery room and told her parents— in typically dramatic fashion— that […]
False Value (2020) Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London) The 8th Rivers of London book. It’s been two years since the last book about Peter (although there have been comics) and although I was impatient, I didn’t mind, because my assumption was it was taking a long time so he could get it right (rather than […]
A Gift of Sanctuary (1998) Candace Robb (Owen Archer) Set in Wales in 1371 Owen, Geoffery Chaucer, and Michaelo are accompanying Sir Robert, Owen’s father-in-law, in pilgrimage to St. David’s in Wales. Owen and Chaucer are to also going to Wales for the Duke of Lancaster to determine if the steward at Cydweli Castle is […]
The Winter Companion (2020) Mimi Matthews Set in England in 1860 This is the 4th book of The Parish Orphans of Devon series, and about the most complicated of the four men. Neville Cross has spent as much time as possible with animals, rather than people, after the accident that almost killed him, and permanently […]
The Riddle of St. Leonard’s (1997) Candace Robb Setin England in 1369 The plague has come again to York, and people are taking whatever measures they can to protect themselves. Aromatic fires burned everywhere to ward off the pestilence, creating a fog in some of the passageways. Continuous Masses were said for the people, and […]
The Gentleman’s Guide to Getting Lucky (2019) Mackenzi Lee This is not a boinking book, although it is a book about boinking. Henry “Monty” Montague and Percy Newton are mostly over the events of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, and are beginning their lives together, except that they haven’t yet done it yet, […]
The Art of Theft (2019) Sherry Thomas Charlotte Holmes has been taking a break from consulting after her last case. But when Mrs. Watson’s old friend asks for help, Charlotte, Livia, and everyone else is drawn into a heist. I’ve had a request for this from the library since it came out, so when it […]
Get a Life, Chloe Brown (2019) Talia Hibbert Chloe Brown has been all but a recluse because of her chronic illness. But a near-death experience convinces her she needs to change things up: so she makes a list. “Excuse me, universe,” she whispered to the kitchen floor. “When you almost murdered me today— which was […]
The King’s Bishop (1996) Candace Robb Set in England in 1367. We see that Owen still struggles with his allegiance to Thoresby. “Why did you accept the posts if you meant to go into a rage whenever he called upon you?” Owen met Lucie’s eye and said simply, “It seemed an honour at the time.” […]
The Night Raven (2018) Sarah Painter (Crow Investigations) Lydia Crow has returned to London for a bit, after a case she was investigating turned uglier than expected. But she liked being on her own, and doesn’t want drawn back into the family, yet she turns to Uncle Charlie for a place to stay, which draws […]
Merry Inkmas (2017) Talia Hibbert Bailey Cooper is working her way through school as a barrista, and the highlight of recent weeks has been the hot guy who comes in to order coffee and flirt with her. Cash Evans has been watching Bailey for months–wanting what he can’t have and doesn’t deserve. And now she […]
The Nun’s Tale (1995) Candace Robb Set in England in 1365. Joanna Calverley, a young nun, disappeared from her convent–taking part of an ancient relic with her. Archbishop Thorsby isn’t pleased to discover that Dame Isobel had neglected to tell him this–until the nun returns, claiming to have been resurrected. Owen was sent out to […]
Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1946. I’ll be honest, although the premises of most of her books are my thing, I just haven’t loved most of Cat Sebastian’s books. They generally have a lot of sex, and the plot aren’t always enough of my thing to get past […]
The Lady Chapel (1994) Candace Robb Set in England in 1365. Owen Archer and Lucie Wilton are married. She has become master apothecary in her own right–inheriting the business from her previous husband–and Owen remains her apprentice, although he still owes favors to Archbishop Thoresby. “Mistress Archer is of noble stock, at least on her […]
The Apothecary Rose (1993) Candace Robb Set in England in ~1363. Owen Archer was Captain of the Archers for Henry, Duke of Lancaster, until an attack takes his eye. Unwilling to continue as a solider, Owen becomes a spy for Henry until the Duke’s death, at which point he performs a service for John Thoresby, […]
A Holiday By Gaslight (2018) Mimi Matthews Set in England in 1861. Sophie Appersett has decided that although Mr Edward Sharpe is handsome as well as wealthy, they do not suit. After months, she still knows nothing about him, other than that he and his best friend made their money in an investment that paid […]
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (2005) Lauren Willig Set in England and France in 1803. I knew I’d read this before, but after checking, it was 2010, so I can be forgiving for remembering next to nothing about the story. Amy’s father was killed during the Revolution, and her English mother died of […]
Gilded Cage (2019) K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) Set in London in 1865. This is the second Lilywhite Boys book, and finds Templeton Lane in a great deal of trouble, as he ends up suspected of murder while trying to steal an opal necklace. Unfortunately, the only person it seems he can turn to is his […]
Brazen and the Beast (2019) Sarah MacLean Set in London in 1837 Lady Henrietta Sedley is turning 29 and is done with waiting for things to come to her. She is going to go out and seize what she wants–including the business she should be the one to inherit, instead of her wastrel younger brother. […]
Penny for Your Secrets (2019) Anna Lee Huber Set in England in 1919. Verity and Sidney are on more solid ground, but still trying to work through both Sidney’s issues from the war, and her issues of having spent more than a year thinking he was dead. What I enjoy most about this series is […]
The Wallflower Wager (2019) Tessa Dare Lady Penelope Campion is all but a recluse, hiding in her family home and collecting abandoned animals. As a person who wanted to like everyone, it hurt to know that not everyone liked her in return. Her new neighbor is Gabriel Duke, the so-called Duke of Ruin, who has […]
A Convenient Fiction (2019) Mimi Matthews Set in England in 1860 Laura Hayes father died three years earlier of the same fever that crippled her brother and left her weakened but also in charge of her family–but with few resources to do so, since their properties were left to be managed by a lawyer–one who […]
A Duke in Disguise (2019) Cat Sebastian (Regency Imposters) Set in England in 1817 Ash (John Ashby) spent years as a child being bounced from home to home until he was apprenticed to an engraver who all but saved his life. All Ash knew was what Roger had told him: at some point in his […]
At Your Service (2018) Sandra Antonelli Mae Valentine has been the butler for Major Kitt for three years, acting as butler, housekeeper, and cook when he’s not away on assignment as a Risk Assessment Specialist. She has always kept a clear demarcation between herself and Major Kitt–after all, she is an older woman, and a […]
The Work of Art (2019) Mimi Matthews Set in England in 1814 Phyllida Satterthwaite lived with her grandparents until their death, at which point she was taken to London to live with her uncle, who Had Plans For Her. both of her cousins immediately perked up, as if they expected Philly to receive the harshest […]
Lord John and the Private Matter (2003) Diana Gabaldon Set in London in 1757 I didn’t know what I was in the mood to read, so I fell back to Lord John. He was inclined toward the simplicity of a Solomonic decree that would award half of Tim O’Connell to each woman, and rejected this […]
The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter (2019) K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) Set in London in 1893. Miss Christiana is in trouble. She’s all but owned by Kammy Gizzard, and she failed in the task he set out for her, that might have allowed her to buy her way out of debt, so now Kammy is coming to make […]
Sweet on the Greek (2018) Talia Hibbert Aria has spend several months working with Keynes to make their best friends’ wedding absolutely perfect. After all, Aria’s boyfriend tried to kill Jennifer. Nikolas Christou’s knee injury means he has to quit one of the only things he’s ever been good at–football. He wants to do something […]
Undone by the Ex-Con (2018) Talia Hibbert Isaac Montgomery went to jail for murder, and when he got out wrote a book that made him a millionaire. But something is hinky with his publisher, and he needs to know what it is. Well. Isaac’s soul could never be washed clean. But he was filthy fucking […]
Bad for the Boss (2017) Talia Hibbert Jennifer Johnson was orphaned at 11, when both her parents were murdered. She the lived with her grandmother who spent years trying to put Jen back together. Now it’s Jen’s turn and she needs the job at Brown Cow advertising agency to give her grandmother the care she […]