Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover (2014) Sarah MacLean Set in London in 1833. Lady Georgiana is returning to society, then years after she was ruined. She doesn’t hide her daughter, but she cannot stand the censure society heaps upon her child. Fathers’ sins never seemed to stick. It was the mother who bore […]
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 […]
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (2013) Sarah MacLean Set in London in 1831. Jasper Arlesey, the second son of Earl Harlow, was a notorious rake and libertine, but the death of his older brother sent him on a downward spiral, until only Chase and the Fallen Angel could save him. Jasper spun to face […]
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 […]
Destined To Last (2010) Alissa Johnson Set in England in ~1814 Lady Kate Cole is a stunning beauty. She also, unfortunately, has a reputation. She was also, by all accounts, a woman so remarkably prone to accidents that it was generally considered wise to back away if she happened to be standing next to a […]
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 […]
Tempting Fate (2009) Alissa Johnson Set in England in 1813. Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston has spent years trying to recover his family name and fortunes. He’s spent almost as long bickering with Miss Mirabelle Browning who has aggravated him almost since he first laid eyes upon her. Miss Mirabelle Browning spends most of her […]
Inspector Hobbes and the Curse (2013) Wilkie Martin This is the second Inspector Hobbes book. Weirdly, I still can’t decided how I feel about this series. It’s very silly, but it sometimes feels like it’s trying too hard to achieve that silliness. Wolfifesting is the process whereby a werewolf transforms into wolf form; it’s the […]
As Luck Would Have It (2008) Alissa Johnson Set in England in 1811. Miss Sophie Everton is returning to England after more than a decade away. She is to have a season, hopefully find out what her cousin has done with her family estate, and then she’ll head back to India. The Duke of Rockeforte […]
A Christmas Dance (2014) Alissa Johnson Set in London in an indeterminate historical time. William Renwick, Earl of Casslebury has decided it’s time for him to find a wife. It was his sense of responsibility that had necessitated his most recently constructed plan. He would marry a young lady of good blood, excellent reputation, pleasant […]
Married By Morning (2010) Lisa Kleypas Set in England in 1852. This is the fourth book in the series. And I really enjoyed this one. Leo Hathaway, Lord Ramsay, spent several self-destructive years after the death of his fiancee. It took him several years to forgive Merripen for saving his life, and it was only […]
Counting on a Countess (2018) Eva Leigh Set in England in 1817 Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth was made an Earl for his service during the war. But since returning his done little but attempt to drown his memories in alcohol and women. Until he receives an inheritance–with strings attached. “I’ll have money, won’t I?” Kit demanded […]
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 […]
Tempt Me at Twilight (2009) Lisa Kleypas Set in England in 1852 The third Hathaway sister, Poppy, is at the end of her third season, and is hoping for a match from the son of a viscount. But an unexpected meeting with the owner of the Rutledge hotel changes everything, when Harry decides that he […]
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, […]
Seduce Me at Sunrise (2008) Lisa Kleypas Set in England in 1848 Kev Merripen was found beaten and ailing by the Hathaway family, who took him in and treated him as one of their own, despite his obviously being a Rom. He’s stayed only because since the day he laid eyes on her he has […]
Think of England (2014) K.J. Charles Set in England in 1904 Archie Curtis lost three of the fingers on his right hand as well as much of his company when a delivery of guns proved tragically defective. “It was a damned business. My company lost as many men in two minutes’ practice firing than in […]
Mine Till Midnight (2007) Lisa Kleypas Set in England in 1848. Amelia Hathaway has been holding her family together since her parents died, but after scarlet fever leaves her family in even worse shape, holding things together becomes almost too much for her. Especially when her brother, the head of the family, seems interested only […]
Hello Stranger (2018) Lisa Kleypas Set in England in 1876 Dr. Garrett Gibson is the only female doctor in England, and has spent so much time proving she’s good enough, she’s spared nothing for herself. Ethan Ransom is a Ravanel bastard, former detective for Scotland Yard, and secret agent for the government. He’s also extremely […]
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 […]
Devil in Spring (2017) Lisa Kleypas Set in London in 1876 Lady Pandora Ravenel doesn’t want to marry. She wants to make board games and live on her own, because women lose all their right as soon as they marry. But when she’s found in a compromising position with Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent, he is […]
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 […]
Lies Sleeping (2018) Ben Aaronovitch This is the seventh Rivers of London novel. And it’s set in 2014, because the story moved slower than real publishing time. You can read this if you haven’t read the novella or comics, but if you haven’t read the previous books? Forget it. The story opens with the following […]
The Hanging Tree, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Now I’m all caught up on Peter Grant and ready to read the newest book. One of Lady Ty’s daughters has gotten into trouble, and she has called Peter to ask for his help in solving a problem. “Peter,” said Lady Ty, “Nightingale […]
The Furthest Station, Audio Edition (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith This actually comes after The Hanging Tree, but I ended up reading it prior, and it didn’t matter. This is a novella that features Abigail as much as it does Peter, which I really enjoyed, since I love little bits, like this conversation […]
Inspector Hobbes and the Blood (2013) Wilkie Martin I actually had a great deal off trouble with this book. At the start of the story, the narrator is an idiot AND rather unlikable. Unlikable enough that about a third of the way through I was thinking, “if this guy remains this much of an asshole […]
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 […]
Rivers of London Vol. 6: Water Weed (2018) Ben Aaranovitch Andrew Cartmel These are getting more and more frustrating, because they’re become less good with each comic story-line. The problem is that the stories aren’t forwarding the story or the characters at all–they’re just what the characters happen to be working on while he’s writing […]
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. […]
Foxglove Summer, Audio Edition (2014) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith The fifth Rivers of London book. Lesley is gone. Peter is a mess, but doesn’t realize it. So Nightingale sends him out to the country. If I’d been about four ranks higher up the hierarchy I’d have regarded it as an opportunity to realize […]
Broken Homes, Audio Version (2013) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith First, we meet Varvara Sidorovna. “Nochnye Koldunyi,” said Nightingale. “A Night Witch.” “Is that like a person or another thing?” asked Lesley. “Like Peter’s Pale Lady?” “A type of Russian practitioner,” said Nightingale. “Recruited during the war, the training had a very narrow scope. […]
Whispers Under Ground, Audio Edition (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith The third book finds Lesley May moved into the Folly, having become the newest apprentice (it’s understood this is allows only because of the damage done to her in the first book). A body is found in the Underground, and as much as […]
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 […]
Moon Over Soho, Audio Edition (2011/2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith This is a story about jazz vampires. “You can’t die of jazz,” said Dr. Walid. “Can you?” I thought of Fats Navarro, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker who, when he died, was mistaken by a coroner for a man twice his real age. […]
They Found Him Dead (1937) Georgette Heyer The third Inspector Hannasyde mystery. This one I was pretty sure who the murderer, even if I couldn’t figure out why. Or quite how the second murder was managed. Silas Kane is found dead the day after his 60th birthday celebration. He’s survived by his mother, and a […]
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 […]
Midnight Riot, Audio Edition (2011/2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith I finished all the Nightside books that I own, and instead of buying the next book (none of them are available at my library) I decided to re-listen to the Rivers of London series, since there is a new book. I do love this […]
Wanted, a Gentleman (2018) K.J. Charles Set in England in 1805. Theodore Swann runs the Matrimonial Advertiser, a paper for helping men and women find spouses. He also writes gothic novels under a pen name. Martin St. Vincent is a freed slave who has done well for himself after being granted his release at age […]
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. […]
Not Quite a Husband (2009) Sherry Thomas Bryony Asquith was was married to Leo Marsden, but their marriage fell about almost on their wedding day, and an annulment was eventually procured. Bryony, a surgeon who had long expected to be a spinster left England to pursue her career. Leo, a math prodigy, also wandered the […]
Band Sinister (2018) K.J. Charles Set in England in the 1800s. This is probably the sweetest KC Charles book I’ve read. It’s a M/M romance, and there is boinking, but there is less boinking than I’ve come to expect, and I absolutely adore the main characters. Guy Frisby and his sister Amanda live in seclusion. […]
Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth, Audio Edition (2006/2008) Simon R. Green narrated by Marc Vietor This is the 6th book of the Nightside series, and closes a major story arc–John Taylor knows who his mother is, and the battle between them has come to Nightside. Now all John has to do is defeat his mother […]
Treacherous Is the Night (2018) Anna Lee Huber Set in Europe in 1919. The second Verity Kent story finds Verity and her husband trying to come to terms with each other–and decide if their marriage will survive his letting her think he was dead for more than a year. I was still coming to grips […]
Dead Men’s Boots, Audio Edition (2007/2009) Mike Carey narrated by Michael Kramer The third Felix Castor book finds Fix attending the funeral of a fellow exorcist–one whose calls Felix ignored. The widow asks Felix for help, which draws him into a mystery that John had been trying to solve–and may have gotten him killed. I’m […]
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (2018) Mackenzi Lee Set in Europe and other locales in the 1700s. Oh this was FUN! The sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue follows Felicity Montague, a young woman who does not want to be a proper lady but instead wants more than anything to […]
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 […]
Midwinter Intrigue (2017) Tracy Grant Set in Scotland in 1818 The 14th Malcolm and Melanie Rannoch book is a short story. It’s really an interlude between the previous book and the one that follows, that gets them from Italy back to Britain (in this case, Scotland). It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, […]