I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Attenbury Emeraldsin Hardcover edition on January 4, 2011 and has 338 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon Third (& last?) in the Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane historical mystery series carried on from Dorothy L. Sayers by Jill Paton Walsh. My Take It is a recollection of Lord Peter’s rising as a detective to his “death” as a detective now that he has something of more immediacy to occupy his thoughts, using the stories and intrigue surrounding the Attenbury emeralds through the years. This was a sad tale, partly because it doesn’t even feel like a Dorothy Sayers and partly because there is so much loss. We do learn what happened when Peter came home from the war, a broken man. How Bunter came to enter his service and save him. There are bits of fun along the way; I did enjoy reading of Peter’s first case and his fledgling efforts — that linen closet was rather funny. Sugg was an idiot. One of those policemen who give all cops a bad […]

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzanin Hardcover edition on September 18, 2012 and has 320 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon With the Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate blessing, Maxwell provides us with Jane’s perspective on the Ape-Man who rescued her from certain death. My Take This really is good. If you enjoy the Tarzan stories (or movies!), you will enjoy this perspective of an “emancipated” woman of 1905, whose dream of exploring Africa at her father’s side is fulfilled. Maxwell uses language beautifully: creating a setting for 1905; using the words [of the time] a woman of good family, champing at the restrictive bits of being a woman, would use to express her frustration; and, digging into Jane’s thoughts as she discovers the freedom of being wild in an unEnglish jungle, freedom from the restrictions of her mother and her society, and the freedom of learning what is important to her as a person. It’s an adventurous blend of H. Rider Haggard, Robinson Crusoe, Burroughs, history, and a scientific journal as we settle […]

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Never Romance a Rakein Paperback edition on July 22, 2008 and has 436 pages.Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon Third in the Neville Family post-Regency historical romance. The couple focus is on Camille Marchand and Kieran Neville, Lord Rothewell. My Take This was not one of my favorites in this series, and I suspect it’s due to Rothewell’s illness as well as the aimless feel to Carlyle’s writing. I do hate an unhappy ending, and Carlyle is modern enough in her approach that this was a definite possibility. I did enjoy the contradictions Carlyle posed in this with Rothewell not caring about her bastardy and yet wanting to protect her against gossip. I am a little surprised that Carlyle didn’t bring Lord Ender and the others along in attempting to make trouble. It was simply there, done, and we’re outta here. It is an interesting contradiction with Rothewell’s family trying to talk Camille out of the marriage. And, no, not for the expected reasons. I do wish Carlyle hadn’t left Christine Ambrose dangling […]