Newly-Weds Discover Decadence in 1950s Off-Season Cape May

Henry and Effie, newly-weds from Georgia, are thrilled to be spending their honeymoon on Cape May. Effie remembers her childhood summers and all the fun she had, but they arrive off-season, and it’s a different, deserted place.

Henry and Effie are inexperienced lovers. They hope the honeymoon will be a fulfilling sensual experience, but they’re shy and the town is boring. They’re ready to leave when they meet Clara, a socialite, her partner, Max, and Alma, his sister. Effie’s not eager to meet up with Clara who bullied where when they were children. However, the only excitement in town is the parties thrown by Clara and Max. The parties turn into gin soaked sex escapades. Not only do they drink, but they break into empty houses and generally behave as if in an erotic dream.

Effie and, particularly Henry, become caught up in the wild parties and casual sex. It changes them and shows what can happen when innocents are thrown into a decadent scene. There is a great deal of sex in the book, and I found the parties rather repetitious. However, the ending pulls the story together and gives it focus.

Henry’s experience and how he changes form the major thrust of the story. Unfortunately, I found Henry a rather uninteresting character. Effie is much in the background. That leaves the wild parties as the main element of the book. It’s an interesting look at 1950s society.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder and Milk Wars

Shortly after Christmas in 1899, Frank and Sarah Malloy attend a dinner party at the home of Mrs. Ellsworth, their neighbor. The occasion is to introduce Mrs. Ellsworth’s daughter-in-law,Theda’s family. Theda is a lovely girl, married to Norman Ellsworth, but her family, particularly her father are difficult.

Mr. Prichard, Theda’s father owns a dairy. At the dinner party he monopolizes the conversation talking about the merits of his milk as opposed to that delivered by his less scrupulous competitors. Frank and Sarah are delighted when the dinner is over, but they’re not finished with Mr. Pritchard.

When the Molloy’s attend New Year Services at Trinity Church, they encounter Pritchard acting strangely. They try to help him, but he disappears into the crowd. The next morning he’s found dead on Trinity Place near the church. The police are uninterested in investigating, so Frank is pressed by the family into finding out what happened.

This is the latest book in the Gaslight Series. This is a long series taking Frank and Sarah from their courtship to a married couple. I enjoy the series. Sarah and Frank are good characters and the author continues to bring in their relatives, friends and neighbors. I have to admit I preferred the earlier books where Sarah had a bigger role in the investigations. Gino, Frank’s partner, is a fine

addition, but doesn’t make up for Sarah’s ability to see through people and solve the crime.

I do like the way the author adds historical details. I had never heard of the Milk Wars, but they were an actual occurrence in the late 1800s. Although this is a series, the book can be read as a standalone. The author does a good job of filling in information from previous books.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Secrets, Love, and Betrayal in WWII

In 1989 Ava receives her mother’s ashes and a packet of unsent letters. She has always had a fraught relationship with Ilse. Her mother seemed hard and distant. Ava can’t get close to her and then there’s the question of who Ava’s father was and why Ilse left her in a German orphanage for almost two years at the end of WWII.

The story is told from the point of view of Ava in 1989 and Ilse in 1933. Ilse’s part of the story deals with her close friendship with Renata, who turns out to have Jewish blood, and her increasing involvement in the Hitler youth movement. Although the characters are separated by over 50 years and reside in different countries, the story line is easy to follow.

The book starts slowly. At first the relationship between the main characters is unclear, but as Ilse and Renata face the terrors of life in Hitler’s Germany, the story heats up. Although I didn’t care for Ilse I could understand the pressures of her life in Germany. Ava grows through the novel. As she understands her mother better, she finds that she can in some measure forgive.

If you enjoy novels with at WWII background, this is a very good one. At times it’s hard to read because of the inhumanity in Germany at the time. However, it’s worth the effort. I came to understand the era better, as did Ava.

I received this book from First to Read for this review.

College is Not High School

For many students, including academically gifted students, college is a shock. They may have reached the goal of being admitted to the college of their choice, but they’re no longer living at home, unless they opt for a local college. This presents challenges in how to care for themselves. Even good students are suddenly faced with a level of competition they didn’t experience in high school. They have to learn to navigate new rules of dealing with professors, and the level of work required may be much more challenging.

The authors have done a good job of trying to cover all the bases for freshmen from managing money to living with a roommate and dealing with professors. I’m not sure all students need this level of tutorial. Parents who have been to college can fill students in on their experiences. However, sometimes it’s easier to get information from a book than your parents.

The book is easy to read. The authors use a light touch that should be easy for students to relate to. The book can also be a guide for finding answers when actually in college. I recommend it for anyone with children preparing for college. Give them a copy. They may take the advice from the book more easily than from you.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A Regency Romance with Mystery and Murder

With horror, Lord James Ellerby watches his younger brother, Walter, careen his curricle into an on coming coach. Walter and his friend Henry are unhurt, but the coach has nearly overturned and one of the passengers, a young woman, has bee thrown out. The other occupants of the coach and the coachman are unhurt. James assumes the coach is the regular coach from London. While the coachmen are righting the coach, James, over their protests, has the young woman carried to his home, nearby Hardwick Manor.

When she regains consciousness, the young woman can’t remember who she is. The amnesia is persistent. Although she calls herself Beth, she has no idea if that is her real name. The Ellerby family decide to take care of her until her memory returns, or her family arrives to claim her.

With the young woman ensconced in Hardwick Manor, strange things begin to happen: an attempted break-in, the death of a young servant girl, and mysterious visitors in the village. It all appears to be related to the young woman for whom James feels increasingly protective.

If you enjoy Regency novels, you will enjoy the accurate background in the novel. I also liked the characters particularly Walter because he was so much the teenage boy trying to be older and more sophisticated than he is and failing clumsily in his attempts to help. James and Beth are quite typical lovers. James is gallant and Beth, plucky.

The plot is rather slow. There’s lots of mystery, but mostly people sit around talking about what the strange incidents mean. The action doesn’t heat up until very near the end. Even though it’s slow, it’s an enjoyable read if you’re a Regency enthusiast.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Regency Romance in Cornwall with Smugglers, Family Secrets, and Love

Cordelia Greythorne is a young widow, estranged from her husband's family in Cornwall, who blame her for his death. She has taken a position in Yorkshire, as a governess to five children who have lost their mother. Cordelia loves the children. When their father dies giving his brother, Jac Tewethewey, guardianship of the children, she promises to go with them to Penwythe Hall in Cornwall even though it is near her dead husband’s family estate.

Jac is surprised by the arrival of five children and their governess. He and his brother were estranged over Jac’s inheritance of Penwythe Hall, so he didn’t expect to inherit guardianship of the children. He’s busy trying to make the estate profitable again, but he vows to do his best for the children. He is also drawn to the attractive governess. He senses a mystery around her and wants to protect her. She is also very aware of Jac, and through she feels an attraction doesn’t think she can risk love again.

The is a delightful Regency novel. I loved the descriptions of Cornwall. You could almost see Jac’s apple trees and smell the salt air. The characters, the governess and the lord of the manor, are quite typical for this type of novel. However, they draw you in as Jac tries to handle his feelings for his nieces and nephews as well as the pretty governess.

The book starts slowly as we become acquainted with the children and their new home. However, when Cordelia’s brother-in-law shows up at the Frost Ball, the action intensifies. If you enjoy Regency novels, this is a good one.

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for this review.

A Love Affair Leads to Death Row

Rafael Zhettah thought he had it made. He was the owner and head chef of a Houston Restaurant that was getting good reviews, and he was married to the woman of his dreams. Although older, Tieresse was his soul mate.

Then the unbelievable happens. Tieresse is murdered in their home and Rafael’s prints are on the murder weapon. He protests his innocence, but the jury doesn’t believe him, and he ends up on death row. This is the story of that experience and Rafael’s revenge.

This is a gripping thriller with plenty of action. It also tells the story of how death row inmates are treated. It’s not a pretty story. The characters from guards to inmates are well drawn, but it’s hard to read about what happened to Rafael, an innocent man.

David Dow, the author, has been an activist in the fight against capital punishment. He uses this book to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in Texas. Besides being a thriller, the book encourages you to think about the issues of punishment and the extent to which the legal system itself perpetuates injustice.

I recommend this book. It’s worth reading for the plot, but it will also make you think.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

Three Strong Women Experience the Horrors of WWI in Russia and the US

The world is teetering on the edge of WWI in 1914, but in the US and Russia life goes on as usual. Eliza Ferriday, from a prominent New York family, travels with her friend Sofya Streshnayva to Russia. It’s a thrilling experience for Eliza who loves to travel. When she reaches St Petersburg it is as exotic as she imagined, but under the surface bitter hatred and danger rage.

While Eliza is enjoying the sights of St. Petersburg, Austria declares war on Serbia. Russia, too, is about to explode. Eliza escapes to America while Sofya and her family retreat to their country estate in the hope they will be safe, but the countryside is filled with angry peasants waiting for a chance to take down the aristocracy. Servants are hard to come by. Sofya hires Varinka, a peasant girl, to care for her son, Max. Varinka is devoted to Max, but she has a link to the revolutionary forces that will lead to danger for the family.

This is the story of three women caught up in an international struggle. The author has done excellent research. Her descriptions of South Hampton, NY, Paris, and St Petersburg bring the places and the era to life. The book starts slowly, but I found it enjoyable giving me time to absorb the people and places that would populate the story.

This is Eliza’s story, but her daughter Caroline is a prominent character. Caroline was featured in Lilac Girls. I loved that book, but I think Lost Roses has become my favorite. Eliza, Sofya and Varinka are strong well defined characters. Although much of the action takes place in the wealthy settings where Eliza and Sofya live, Varinka gives the story a picture of how the peasants lived and how their lives were equally disrupted by the revolution.

I highly recommend this book. It features many of the characters in Lilac Girls, but can be read as a standalone. However, once you meet Eliza, Caroline, and Eliza’s mother, you’ll want more of their story.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Death of a Dissolute Nobleman in 1814 London

Sebastian, Lord Devlin, has no love for Lord Ashworth. Seven months ago, Sebastian suspected Ashworth of being involved in a ring that captured and tortured street children, but Ashworth escaped. Hard on the heels of the scandal and much to Sebastian’s displeasure, Ashworth married Stephanie, Sebastian’s niece.

At the time of the marriage, Stephanie was pregnant. Now she’s the mother of twins, and Ashworth has virtually abandoned her to live apart and continue his dissolute life style. With Ashworth dead in a most compromising position, Stephanie is a potential suspect. The clues found at the scene of the crime, a small bloody hand-print and a woman’s silk stocking, point to a woman as the killer. These clues put pressure on Sebastian to quickly identify the murderer to save his niece.

The picture of 1814 London painted by the author lends an authentic atmosphere to the world inhabited by Lord Devlin and his wife Hero. I love reading these books because the author makes their life so vivid. From the highest aristocracy to the lowly beggars, London comes alive.

Lord Devlin and Hero are characters that I have grown to love and want to keep reading about. They have more advanced views than many in their set, but they don’t flaunt them. They quietly try to see that justice is done. I particularly like the scenes of their domestic life with their adorable son.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy well researched historical mysteries with strong characters.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Body Snatchers Threaten London and Lady Darby’s Reputation

Lady Darby, Kiera, and her husband Sebastian Gage are back in London. Kiera fled London in the aftermath of the scandal concerning her first husband, Sir Anthony and the body snatchers. Now, she is happily pregnant and beginning to believe her nightmare is over when it seems the body snatchers are back at work and an ex-colleague of her late husband threatens to publish his anatomy journals and implicate her.

When a dissolute young lord is found murdered, the family asks Sebastian and Kiera to investigate. The murder has been staged to make it appear the work of the body snatchers, but Kiera and Gage are not convinced.

While this is a mystery, the author manages to create a realistic historical picture of the era. The body snatchers killing people on the streets and selling their bodies for medical research was a serious problem and rightfully had the citizens of London terrified.

I enjoy the Lady Darby novels because in addition to the mystery, the author paints a delightful picture of Kiera and Sebastian as loving newly weds and their support each other in the trials of a judgmental ton and the disapproval of Sebastian's father.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with a background of romance, this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

New Murders May Have Their Roots in an Old Crime

Frankie Sheehan’s sister-in-law runs a charity for victims of justice. She has a new client, Sean Hennessey. He has been in jail for 17 years for killing his father and mother and attempting to murder his sister. He says he’s innocent, but Frankie’s not so sure. Pressured by her sister-in-law to review Sean’s case, Frankie agrees, but when two more bodies are found in the local church, she has her hands full.

As the investigation progresses, more bodies turn up. The juxtaposition of Sean’s release and the new murders makes Frankie suspicious, but she has to be careful about drawing conclusions, particularly when a documentary is being made about him.

This is a very dark story. The victims are not likable people. It’s difficult to want to solve the case because of them. However, Frankie and her friends are people you can relate to. The author has done a good job bringing out their individual traits. Frankie does an admirable job connecting the clues and providing a satisfactory ending. Her problem is being a bit over zealous in profiling the killer.

If you enjoy mysteries where the detective follows the clues to a successful resolution, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

Interviews that Solved a Cold Case Murder

Mark Bowden was a reporter on a local Washington DC paper when two sisters, ages 10 and 12, vanished from a suburban mall. The girls were never found, but thirty-five years later a cold case detective discovered a clue, missed at the time, that pointed to Lloyd Welch. Welch was incarcerated for sexual abuse of a girlfriend’s daughter when the case was reopened.

Now that they had a viable suspect, a team was put together to investigate. Bowden joined the team. This is the story of that cold case investigation.

The early chapters tell the story of the disappearance of the sisters and the first investigation. It’s well written, but reads like most true crime books. The majority of the book is taken up with interviews with Lloyd Welch. While the interviewing technique is interesting, it becomes repetitive after awhile. There are additional facts that fill out the crime and investigation, but the focus is on Lloyd and the clever interview techniques used by the investigators.

If you’re a fan of true crime, or even police procedurals, this is an enjoyable book. However, be prepared for a slow slog in the middle.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.