WWW Wednesdays - March 12, 2014

In order to get me writing on this blog more regularly, I am going to be trying to keep up with a couple of simple weekly link-ups. This one is hosted at Should Be Reading and is simply an update on what we're reading, what we recently finished reading, and what's next.

• What are you currently reading? I'm working on a couple of books right now - I'm about halfway through The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis. I'm finding it rather slow going, truthfully, and although I intend to finish the book, it only holds my interest for a chapter or so at a time. I had started Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin (on my Kindle) and City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn shortly before the Kalogridis book, and I'm still reading those, but trying to focus on the (not very likable) contessa's story a bit more. 

    

• What did you recently finish reading?  The most recent book that I finished was The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd, and that was over a week ago! (Read my thoughts on this book.)

• What do you think you'll read next? I've got The People of Forever Are Not Afraid by Shani Boianjiu ready to go. I will probably wait to start that until I'm closer to the end of one of my other novels. I also have the newest Stephen R Lawhead book sitting on my to-read pile. Since I own that one, I probably won't start it until I've finished my Raybourn book.

   

What are you reading? Anyone can join in this link-up by answering these three questions. Visit Should Be Reading to find out more.

©2008-2014 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {The Headmistress of Rosemere}

The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd - Having finished the first book in this Whispers on the Moors series, I was eager to dive into the second. This story centers around William Sterling, the brother of the male lead in The Heiress of Winterwood, and Patience Creighton, the acting headmistress of a girls' boarding school located on Sterling's estate. 

William has spent the last several years living irresponsibly, drinking and gambling, and the opening chapter finds him beginning to pay the price, as thugs set upon him to give him a 'reminder' to pay his considerable gambling debt. Injured and disoriented, William finds his way to the closest building, Rosemere, and Patience tends to his wounds. Patience has had the running of the girls' school since her father's death. Her mother has shut herself off in her grief, and her older brother has gone to London and hasn't been heard from since. Patience realizes that love and romance have likely passed her by and she throws herself into the running of the school. She does an excellent job too, even when faced with crises such as the Rosemere stable burning down. 

Throughout the book, William is trying to face his responsibilities and make his past mistakes right. The added motivation of his interest in Patience moves the story along even as it complicates William's efforts. The development and maturing of both characters was very well done, although I was a little surprised at how completely calm Patience was at hearing a major revelation of William's past. I can't say much more without it being a spoiler, but it seemed to me that such news would have occasioned rather more shock and dismay than she displayed. Although this is the second in the series, and featuring the brother of a character in the first book, this stands completely on its own, with only a passing reference near the beginning of Graham and Amelia (the romantic pair from the first book). However, those who have read the first book may find it odd, as I did, that even as dire as William's situation becomes, he does not even consider the possibility of going to his brother and sister-in-law for a loan. 

Overall, this was a quick and satisfying read, well-paced and with strong characters. Shades of Jane Eyre, but with a much lighter tone throughout. I look forward to the third in the series later this year.

By the same author: The Heiress of Winterwood

(Book #9 in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge)

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Recent Reads {Her Royal Spyness}

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen - (Audible version) - Normally I don't have much use for audiobooks, but this title was the one I chose for a preview of the Audible membership for Kindle. And it was delightful, I must say! The narrator, Katherine Kellgren, does a lovely job with the different voices and accents, and really added to my enjoyment of the book. This is the first book by Rhys Bowen that I've 'read' but I think I will follow up on the further adventures of the heroine of this series, Lady Georgiana aka Georgie. The only thing I found difficult about the Audible version was that I couldn't see the text at all, which I would have liked especially when it came to the names of the different characters.

Georgie is a very distant relation of the royal family of Great Britain, and when she finds that there are plans to marry her off to some objectionable foreign prince, she decides she would rather live as an "ordinary person" in London. Never mind that her brother has cut off her allowance so she is practically penniless, and that she has no idea how to fend for herself. It takes all her ingenuity to figure out how to light a fire and make a simple meal for herself. Finding a job proves a challenge because of her title and status, and her lack of any kind of experience. She has quite the adventures during her first days in London - acquiring and losing her first job, learning how to manage without servants, and crashing parties and weddings. The first signs of the cozy mystery come when her older brother comes to London and reveals that their father had apparently lost the deed to the family estate through gambling and that an unsavory Frenchman has come to collect his winnings. Things get much worse when Georgie arrives back at the London townhouse one afternoon and discovers the Frenchman drowned in the bath! Her brother Binky is the chief suspect and Georgie takes it upon herself to discover who the murderer really is. 

Although the mystery itself doesn't appear until at least halfway through the book, the entire story is full of the scrapes that Georgie gets herself into (she tends to be rather clumsy), and her droll and often self-deprecating observations of her own situation and those of her friends and family. (The story is told in first person, with Georgie as narrator)  I find it harder to assess the mystery itself when only listening, and unable to flip back pages myself, but I picked up on several little clues along the way and it certainly seemed to be well-crafted. The characters are delightfully eccentric and Georgie herself is so likable that I am hoping to be able to read more in this series.

(Book #8 in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge)

©2008-2014 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {The Anatomist's Wife}

The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber - This debut novel seemed to have everything I would personally be looking for in a good read. It's set in the 1800s,  in Scotland. There is a mystery to solve. The lead character is a woman who doesn't quite fit the norms of her society. For the most part, the story delivered on its promises. The story is told by its title character, Lady Kiera Darby, who is the widow of an anatomist. Her background is given a bit at a time - at the outset, all we know is that she is in attendance at a house party when the murder is discovered. Along the way, we find out about her widowed state, and that hers had been a loveless marriage. Further, we find that she was an eccentric artist, and that had been the reason for her marriage - her late husband had been an anatomist and had been working on producing an illustrated book of human anatomy, using the drawings he had her make as he performed dissections.

The author doesn't waste any time getting started with the plot, as the murder victim is discovered in the very first paragraph. Without any clear indication of who the murderer is, all the guests are confined to the estate until the procurator fiscal can arrive, and while a guest with some background in investigation tries to find answers. Sebastian Gage is the investigator, and Kiera is called upon to assist because of her familiarity with anatomy and autopsies. She is also subjected to the spite and suspicion of many of her fellow guests because of her unusual past. As she and Mr Gage hunt for clues to solve the murder, there are hints that there may be a romance between them in the offing, and Kiera's narration refers to her own conflicting emotions and impressions of Mr Gage. I found that Mr Gage's character was not very well-developed, and I suppose that is partially because of the first person narrative that sees him only through Kiera's eyes.

Overall, the mystery and investigation was skillfully told, and the sense of suspense kept me turning pages and trying to guess the next development. The final solution and climax was perhaps over-dramatic and a bit far-fetched, but after all, the murderer is a madman. Despite the few places where I felt that the story was missing a bit of background or character development, I really enjoyed the reading and look forward to the next book in this series.

(Book #7 in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge)

©2008-2014 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {The Heiress of Winterwood}

The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd - I recently read reviews of the second book in this series, and thought that I had better read the first. I was not disappointed in this well-crafted Regency era novel. Amelia Barrett is the heiress to a large estate, and is planning to marry Edward Littleton. She is also the guardian of a nine-month old baby, the daughter of her dear friend who passed away shortly after the birth. Amelia had given her promise to care for the infant, and she is determined that nothing will part the two of them. As the announcement of her engagement looms, Edward is insistent that he will not allow the child to live at Winterwood following their marriage. So when the child's father, Captain Graham Sterling, has returned from sea, she makes a daring move - she proposes to him! 

Amelia and Graham are both delightful characters, very likable and admirable, but both have flaws and weaknesses to overcome. Amelia is headstrong and sometimes thoughtless of all else but her own purpose, but she is fiercely loyal and determined to keep her promise. The plot took several twists and turns that I wouldn't have anticipated, and combined intrigue and suspense with a charming and clean romantic story.

(Book #6 in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge)

©2008-2014 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Whisper of Jasmine}

Whisper of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn - Despite this being a novella rather than a full length novel, I am counting it as one of my 52 Books in 52 Weeks, because I was working on a longer-than-average book at the same time. I figure it all evens out.

I simply adore Deanna Raybourn's writing, especially the Lady Julia series, but also thoroughly enjoyed her more recent novel set in 1920s British Kenya. Whisper of Jasmine backtracks with the main character of A Spear of Summer Grass, the brash socialite Delilah Drummond, and introduces the characters that will be at the center of the upcoming release, City of Jasmine. (And yes, I have already pre-ordered it!) The setting is London in 1914, and Delilah (still married to her first husband, Johnny) throws a New Years Eve party intending to do a little matchmaking. Evie longs for adventure, and her eccentric Aunt Dove dresses her to turn heads at Delilah's party. Adventurer Gabriel Stark takes notice of Evie and it appears to be love at first sight, despite the fact that Delilah had meant to match each of them with someone else!

This fast-paced prequel to City of Jasmine really was over too quickly, and I am really looking forward to getting to know these new characters better as soon as the book arrives in my mailbox!

By the same author: Midsummer Night; A Spear of Summer Grass, Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Dark Road to Darjeeling, The Dark Enquiry, Silent Night, The Dead Travel Fast

(Book #5 in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge)

©2008-2014 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Dragonfly in Amber}

I will have to read "double time" to catch up on the 52 Books challenge. The Outlander series books are long, so reading this one took me longer than I would have expected. 

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - I worried when I started this book that I would have trouble finishing it in a timely manner. I had a lot going on, so a book this long was a challenge. It took me a couple of chapters to really get into this second one in the series too, because it starts out switching back and forth between Claire's first person narrative and a third person narrative that focuses on a "new" character, Roger. About 20 years has past since the end of Outlander, and Claire is back in the twentieth century. She and her adult daughter Brianna return to the Inverness area following the death of Frank, Claire's first husband. Claire seeks Roger's help in finding information about what happened to the men of Lallybroch at the Battle of Culloden, and he begins to put the pieces together. Finally Claire reveals to Brianna that her father was actually the highlander Jamie Fraser, and he was Claire's husband about two hundred years earlier. The narrative then switches back to the familiar first person account given by Claire and describes the events picking up at the end of Outlander up until Claire's return through the stones in the twentieth century while pregnant with Brianna. At the very end of the book, there is another section that alternates first person and third person narratives, as Brianna and Roger absorb the story that Claire has just told them. There was a particular reason that Claire sought out Roger - it turns out that his mother was the 'witch' Geillies Duncan that befriended Claire and had herself traveled through time using the standing stones. Spoiler alert: the cliffhanger ending sets up the next book of the series as in the last line, Roger reveals that it is possible that Jamie Fraser did not die at Culloden Moor as Claire and everyone had thought!

I won't be tackling the third book in the series immediately, but I will be reading it! It's easy to become invested in these characters and want to know what happens next. I have a few other books I want to finish up before following the continuing adventure.

By the same author: Outlander

(#4 in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge)

©2008-2014 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/