Audio: Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

By: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Narrated by: Em Eldridge

Series: Assistant to the Villain, Book 3

Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins

Release date: 08-05-25

Publisher: Tantor Media

Category: Fantasy

The craziness continues. The villain, who is not really the villain the country believes him to be. And his trusted assistant turned accomplice. Who is now known as the wicked woman with a price on her head. Like hello, what has Evi ever done?!

Magic is disappearing. King Benedict is a despot, hello! Can´t everyone see he is the real villain? I mean sure Tristan pushes some guys overboard here, but hey they deserved it.

There is a lot going on. There is a traitor among them. The valiant guard keeps finding them, and getting closer. There is a dragon, monsters, magic, family you would rather be without, family you make. Danger, prophecies, and a frog who used to be a prince. Lots to take in.

And here they finally get closer too! Tristan and Evi are meant to be, but he keeps fighting it.

That ending though, wow, intense. I did not expect that.

Great narrating. I like all her voices for people, and she has a new flow to it all. It works really well in audio

REWARD Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to "Evie" or "Stop that."

Evie Sage didn't mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom's most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised "light paperwork and occasional beheadings," and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.

Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire―or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.

Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again . . . neither was falling for The Villain.

More than a best friend by Emma Alban

Series: Mischief & Matchmaking (#1)

Format: 370 pages, Paperback

Published: January 11, 2024 by Penguin Books

Historical romance/library

I liked this one, it was fun, it had some drama, and at the same time it just had this vibe.

Beth has her first season and she needs to find a husband, or her mother and her will be destitute.

Gwen has had many seasons, and finding a man, eh, she would rather have fun with her friends. Her dad is fun too, a widower with an eye for the ladies, and drinks.

Gwen and Beth becomes friends, and well after a while they will also realise that they like each other more than friends. What I liked here is that the author kept it real. Sure we wish we could change the past, but there still places in the world were it was illegal. So yes they can not be publicly with each other, it is forbidden. But maybe they could find a way to still be together?

So the question is, should Beth marry to save her and her mother (or should they find a husband for her still young mother?). Or should she just forget it all and find a way to get true love?

This is a romance, there is a HEA. Love always finds a way. I enjoyed this a lot. Light and fun.

Love is more than just a game for two. It’s 1857, and anxious debutante Beth has just one season to snag a wealthy husband, or she and her mother will be out on the street.

Gwen, on the other hand, is on her fourth season and counting, with absolutely no intention of finding a husband, possibly ever. She has plenty of security as the only daughter of a rakish earl, from whom she’s inherited her penchant for drinking too much and dancing ‘til dawn.

Beth and Gwen are enchanted with each other on sight. And it doesn’t take long for Gwen to hatch her latest scheme: rather than join the husband hunt, they should set up Gwen’s father and Beth’s newly-widowed mother.

They had a fling years ago, after all…

Carole' s Monday. Once removed

 

Author: Margaret Watson

Title: Once Removed

Series: Blackhawk Security #2

Genre: Romantic suspense, Western

Format: ebook

Pages: 271 

Published: January 15, 2021

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

When Lainey becomes trapped in a burning building with her almost-divorced husband’s body, Brody rescues her just in time. And when she realizes the killer is now after her, she takes refuge at Brody’s Montana ranch.

Lainey and Brody have been fighting their attraction for years. But as the barriers between them fall, Lainey rescues Phoebe, a runaway teen, from the compound where her husband died. Now they’re forced to focus on Phoebe and an invisible threat.

Whoever murdered her husband has eyes on Lainey. Will their fragile new family survive a desperate predator? Can they protect Phoebe, identify the killer and find their happily ever after?

Review:

Picked this up as a freebie since it fit for a couple of reading challenges. I didn't realize it was part of a series, but it was fine without reading the first one. 

Here we follow Lainey and Brody. Lainey is trapped in a burning building with her almost-divorced husband's body. Brody rescues her just in time. They realize that there is a killer after her so Brody lets Lainey take refuge at his ranch until they can find the killer. They have been friends for a very long time. There has been an attraction over the years, but they never acted on them. But as the barriers start falling between them, they rescue a runaway teen that came from the same compund her husband died. Now they have more at stake to find the threat. 

This started out SO strong. I was enjoying the chemistry and the mystery. So suspensful all around. How will they cross that line into love AND who is this killer? It was so good. 

However....things fell apart about halfway. 

It just lost all steam for me. I literally felt myself trying to skim. I was over it. I can't even fully point at what made me start feeling meh about everything. Lainey and Brody were fine enough. Phoebe was okay. The romance sizzled out for me. I didn't feel their chemistry anymore. I just wanted the killer to be caught so I could be done. 

Eh.

Great start. Meh finish. 

2 stars from me. 

Favorite Character(s): No one

Least Favorite Character(s): The killer I guess?

 Challenge(s):

- Cloak & Dagger #21

- Romance Reading #20 (Romantic suspense)

Night Angel Nemesis by Brent Weeks

Series: The Kylar Chronicles (#1), Night Angel (#4)

Format: 838 pages, Hardcover

Published: April 25, 2023 by Orbit

Fantasy/own

Well this was disappointing.

It was too long, it was too boring. Like too much on that ship. And why did it happen so close to the end of the previous series? Like let 10 years pass or something.

If everyone died I would not have cared one bit. I am really disappointed. The previous series was so good

After the war that cost him so much, Kylar Stern is broken and alone. He’s determined not to kill again, but an impending amnesty will pardon the one murderer he can’t let walk free. He promises himself this is the last time. One last hit to tie up the loose ends of his old, lost life.

But Kylar’s best–and maybe only–friend, the High King Logan Gyre, needs him. To protect a fragile peace, Logan’s new kingdom, and the king’s twin sons, he needs Kylar to secure a powerful magical artifact that was unearthed during the war.

With rumors that a ka’kari may be found, adversaries both old and new are on the hunt. And if Kylar has learned anything, it’s that ancient magics are better left in the hands of those he can trust.

If he does the job right, he won’t need to kill at all. This isn’t an assassination—it’s a heist.

But some jobs are too hard for an easy conscience, and some enemies are so powerful the only answer lies in the shadows.

The Maid by Nita Prose

Series: Molly the Maid (#1)

Format: 352 pages, Paperback

Published: January 20, 2022 by HarperCollin

Thriller mystery/own

Molly loves being a maid. She grew up with her grandmother who recently died. People find her weird, and yes she is different. Direct, talks like old movies, and if she is not on the spectrum I am surprised.

Then she finds a dead body at the hotel and a murder mystery begins. Poor Molly, she is so naive and trusting. And then they think she did it! Like why would she? There are more things going on and more fingers are pointing at her.

I even got sad at one time, poor Molly! Take it easy with her and can´t you all see she is innocent!

A good mystery, with some twists.

Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter--she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black--but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late?

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Book 9 in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series

Author Nalini Singh

Narrated by Angela Dawe

Publication date Jul 15, 2025 by Tantor

Running time 14 hrs

Paranormal romance

Eleri and Adam met 10 years before at a trial. He knew she was his mate. But then a killer walked free and they never saw each other again. Eleri is J-Psy and is hunting a serial killer. Adam is a falcon shifter who will do everything to keep his people safe.

But Eleri has had her brain wiped many times, her brain is also failing and she knows she does not have a lot of time left. While Adam, even if angry at first, really wants his mate. Drama.

There is the hunt for the serial killer, and the attempts to save Eleri´s mind. The world outside rests for a while in this book, but yes the Psy net is failing and I would really want to know what will happen there.

An enjoyable book that felt a bit like a sidestory, but something is found in this book that will probably help later on. I also must say, bird shifters, eh, I prefer my wolves and cats. But I guess a bird has its charm.

Angela Dawe is fantastic as always, it would not be a Singh book if it did not have Dawe. She has it all.

Justice-Psy Eleri Dias knows the end is near for her, her mind one step away from fatal psychic exposure. In the short time that remains, she is determined to atone for an act of omission that has haunted her for a long, cruel decade. But that decision not only means facing a powerful changeling wing leader, but also putting herself in the path of a serial killer.

Falcon wing leader Adam Garrett is fiercely protective of his family and his clan. After losing his parents as a teenager in a shocking act of malice, Adam has no forgiveness in him for the J-Psy who betrayed him, betrayed them, at the most painful moment of his life. But the evil that stalks his territory will allow him no respite, forcing him once more into contact with the J he has never been able to forget.

Everything that could've been between Eleri and Adam was lost years ago, a shimmering promise crushed. As they work to uncover a monster, the moment of reckoning looms ever closer. Soon, there may be no more time left for either atonement . . . or love . . .

Caroles Monday Movie

 

Title: All Quiet on the Western Front

Length: 2h 28m

Released: 2022

Genre: Drama, Historical, War
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:

A young German soldier's eagerness to serve his country quickly fades when he witnesses the horrors of combat on the Western Front during World War I.

Trailer

REVIEW:

So I read the book a few years ago and I think I seen the 1930s version of the film when I was super young (or at least clips of it) so I was eager to watch this eventually. 

The story follows Paul and his friends. It is midway through WWI and they are eager to fight. However, they quickly realize war isn't pretty. Especially this war. While Paul and his friends struggle to stay alive and sane, the political world is on fire. Germany is losing the war and running out of bodies to send to the front. They will have to decide what to do.

I couldn't remember much of what happened in the book. There were a couple of things I remembered so I was prepared for some parts. 

You can't help but feel for Paul and his friends. War is hell....especially WWI. It was the dawn of a new age of fighting and they were being led by old folk used to the old style of war so the casualties were staggering. New technologies, new styles of fighting....no rules. This was war was a bloodbath. The film did a great job showing this. This was visually gorgeous. The music filled in the gaps and made this so intense. 

Now they did take away a few scenes of Paul going home at one point. I'm kind of bummed they did that because it shows how Paul is transforming. The beginning...he is a young dumb boy. The middle...he is losing his old self. The ending...he is the hardened soldier. Honestly, they could've compromised and just had him interact with civilians in some way just to show his realization he is not the old Paul anymore. 

However, they did add some political scenes which I did appreciate overall. It showed the bloated elite making decisions and being unsure if they should stop the war and sign the deal. The scene when they are all signing made me cry. That Armistice of Compiègne would seal the fate of Germany. Yes, the war is over which is awesome, but signing the armistice would begin a treaty that would be so harsh on Germany that it will lead to another and even more deadly war. The way they filmed that scene was so haunting and perfect.

This film was hauntingly beautiful. It was really good and I highly recommend it even if you haven't seen the past renditions or read the book.

I'll give this 5 stars. Yes, I was bummed they altered some scenes and removed Paul going home for a few, but the added behind-the-scenes political parts made up for it. Especially that signing scene. Oof. 100% recommend this film.  

The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding

Series: The Darkwater Legacy (#1)

Format: 824 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published: May 2, 2019 by Gollancz

Fantasy/own

This was a good old school fantasy.

Aren lives in a country taken over by invaders. He follows their laws, he tries to be like them. Then his dad is killed and he is sent to a prison camp together with his best friend Cade.

Maybe the invaders are not so good after all? Oh it takes a long time for him to get that and we see what a tight grip they have and how they oppress women and others.

There is a talk of an ancient sword to unite the land. They will meet more people and is is a journey to be taken.

Yes I enjoyed it. I will def want more. I need these people to win.

A land under occupation. A legendary sword. A young man’s journey to find his destiny.

Aren has lived by the rules all his life. He’s never questioned it; that’s just the way things are. But then his father is executed for treason, and he and his best friend Cade are thrown into a prison mine, doomed to work until they drop. Unless they can somehow break free . . .

But what lies beyond the prison walls is more terrifying still. Rescued by a man who hates him yet is oath-bound to protect him, pursued by inhuman forces, Aren slowly accepts that everything he knew about his world was a lie. The rules are not there to protect him, or his people, but to enslave them. A revolution is brewing, and Aren is being drawn into it, whether he likes it or not.

The key to the revolution is the Ember Blade. The sword of kings, the Excalibur of his people. Only with the Ember Blade in hand can their people be inspired to rise up . . . but it’s locked in an impenetrable vault in the most heavily guarded fortress in the land. All they have to do now is steal it. . .

Audio. Seatmate by Cara Bastone

By: Cara Bastone

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber, Josh Hurley, Carol Monda, Corey Allen, Allyson Johnson, Eric Yves Garcia, Tanya Eby, Dina Pearlman

Series: Love Lines 3

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Release date: 03-24-22 by Audible

Contemporary romance

I have listened to the two previous ones so I wanted to try this one too.

Sam and Gwen are seatmates on a bus. Over 5 hours before the reach their destination. They can ignore each other, or well talk and that they do. They joke, they get to know each other. Then there is bus drama and the clock is ticking.

Sam is going on a blinddate that his mother set up. Gwen is going to a interview and it is an opportunity of a lifetime.

Obviously in the end they will realize that they want to give each other a chance.

It was fun and it works so well when all they do is talk. Perfect for audio. The narrators were great too, she doing her parts, him doing his and then there were some narrators were a few side characters that jumped in quick too.

I have exactly 5 hours and 10 minutes to get from Boston to New York City or the professional opportunity of a lifetime disappears. My only travel option? The second to last seat on a discount bus. Across from the bathroom. Wearing last night’s clothes (don’t ask). All worth it if I can make it in time.

My nerves almost get the best of me, but then there he is, sitting down in the seat next to me. Tall. Friendly smile. Bright indigo streak in his brown hair. The perfect distraction. Turns out he’s on his way to reconnect with an old flame. The one who got away. We can both make it on time - just barely - if the traffic keeps flowing.

Playing road-trip games, avoiding calls from his mother, and effortless conversation keeps us from clockwatching...until the bus breaks down. And my seatmate turns into my copilot as we wrangle a ride in a car three decades old. And hit all the traffic. And oh, Lord, the detours. And somehow I end up careening cross-town on the handlebars of a Citi Bike carrying a box of kittens. (Yeah, don’t ask.)

He’s my hero every step of the way...and I might be falling for him. But what happens when we reach our final destination? Could my seatmate really be my soul mate?

Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig

Series: The Shepherd King (#2)

Format: 437 pages, Paperback

Published: October 19, 2023 by Orbit

Fantasy /own

Honestly, it is so refreshing to read a duology. The end. YES.

There was hardly any Elspeth in this book, sad. But yes she was stuck in herself as the Nightmare had taken over her body and mind. And she was also in a prison cell.

Ravyn was trying to hard to save her.

Lots of pagetime for her cousin Ione who is trying to save herself from a prison cell, and gets help from a handsome prince.

And then there is the hunt for the Alder cards.

So I guess this is romantasy, I just saw it under something, and it said the romance drives the plot...eh, no it does not. Elspeth has been taken over by a guy who died 500 years ago, there is no romance there. Her cousin has some romance bit, but she is under a spell and actually feels nothing. So no, the romance does not drive the plot. The romance is there, but the plot drives the plot. Trying to save a kingdom. This is not romantasy.

I liked it, and I liked it more that it was two books and the end! So satisfying finishing something. An interesting fantasy world, great characters and fascinating magic. Great series.

Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders.

If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they will need to journey beyond the dangerous mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom.

And the only one who can lead them there is the monster that shares Elspeth's head. The Nightmare. And he's not eager to share any longer.

Carole´s Monday: Binding 13

Author: Chloe Walsh

Title: Binding 13

Series: Boys of Tommen #1

Genre: YA Romance, Contemporary, Sports

Format: ebook

Pages: 626

Published: July 18, 2018

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

He wants to save her. She wants to hide. She's damaged. He's determined. Fate brought them together. Love binds them. Johnny Kavanagh has everything going for him. On the rugby pitch, he's a force to be reckoned with, even plagued with a hidden injury. Everyone knows he's heading straight for the top—but that means there's no room for mistakes or distractions. Not even the shy new girl at Tommen College, the one with the sad eyes and hidden bruises. He needs to stay focused, keep his cool, and not let anything get in the way of the bigger picture.  Except before he knows it, this lonely girl has become his only picture. Life has never been easy for Shannon Lynch. Bullied and tortured, she arrives at Tommen College mid-way through the school year praying for a fresh start and desperate to shake off the demons that plague her. But when she meets the notorious Johnny Kavanagh on her first day, her plans to keep a low profile are at serious risk. As they fall into a complicated friendship and grapple with their undeniable chemistry, hidden pain and complicated secrets threaten to be their undoing—but Johnny won't give up on Shannon. No matter what it might cost them both.

Review:

This was a picked by a member of my community over on my Twitch account (Carole_Rae). 

Here we follow Shannon and Johnny. Shannon has not had the best go of it. She was relentlessly bullied at her school, her dad is terrible, and her mom is working so much. She finally convinces her mom to let her go to the private school just to have a fresh start and reconnect with old friends. Her plan is to keep a low profile and just get through school. However, when she meets Johnny all her plans are destroyed. They fall into a complicated friendship and deny any sort of chemistry. Johnny wants more but he'll take what he can get...for now. 

This was really, really, really long. I enjoyed the story for what it was but man....it needed some trimming. Some scenes felt like they were NEVER going to end. Some scenes didn't seem to help the plot move forward at all. Honestly, just shaving 50-100 pages would've helped the story immensely.

Nooooow don't get it twisted...I love a good slow burn. I love watching people deny their feelings and then finally overcome themselves and just be together. It's great! But man the slow burn here sometimes felt like watching paint dry. However, I will say that when I felt like giving up some scenes would happen and I would be hooked again. The author did a good job keeping you reading even with the slowness. 

The characters also helped keep my attention. They were sweet kids who deserved happiness. I just wanted them to be in love though. Shannon especially needs solid love man. I can't believe the bullying she witnessed. It was ASSAULT in many cases. Yes, I was bullied in school but MAN. 

Nice side characters too. I loved Shannon's one brother. He was an angel. 

All-in-all, I did like the story and characters. But the length was too much. It really killed some of the story for me. I think a nice edit was needed. Maybe 50 or 100 pages could've been shaved off. The flow would get so slowed down that I felt like we were wadding in a puddle. I'll give this 3 stars overall. The characters and some scenes really did help me stay attached to the story. 

Favorite Character(s): Shannon and Johnny

Least Favorite Character(s): Too many people to count. So many mean people

 Challenge(s):

- Library Love #21

Sleep no more by Seanan McGuire

Series: October Daye (#17), October Daye Chronological Order (#17)

Format: 419 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published: August 6, 2024 by DAW

Urban fantasy/own

I binged it in a day.

Titania remade Faerie into what she think should have happened. And now Toby is a content little changeling living with her mum and dad and sister that she is bound to serve. Nooooo.

And changelings have it shitty, and Titania obviously has plans because she hates Toby. And she does not have Tybalt either. The worst thing is that Toby is happy in this world because it has been drilled into her to obey.

But you can not hold Toby down and things are starting to unravel.

Great book. It brought something new

October is very happy with her life as the second daughter of her pureblood parents, Amandine and Simon Torquill. Born to be the changeling handmaid to her beloved sister August, she spends her days working in her family’s tower, serving as August’s companion, and waiting for the day when her sister sets up a household of her own. Everything is right in October’s Faerie. Everything is perfect.

Everything is a lie.

October has been pulled from her own reality and thrown into a twisted reinterpretation of Faerie where nothing is as it should be and everything has been distorted to support Titania’s ideals. Bound by the Summer Queen’s magic and thrust into a world turned upside down, October has no way of knowing who she can trust, where she can turn, or even who she really is. As strangers who claim to know her begin to appear and the edges of Titania’s paradise begin to unravel, Toby will have to decide whether she can risk everything she knows based on only their stories of another world.

But first she’ll have to survive this one, as Titania demonstrates why she needed to be banished in the first place—and this time, much more than Toby’s own life is at stake.

Best of July

 

Here are the best of the bests for July. 

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

"Also best book of the month!"

Carole - Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

"I am in love with book!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole -  The First American (2016)

"This was informative and a nice watch for history lovers."

Blodeuedd - KPop Demon Hunters (2025)

"I watched Kpop demon hunters with my kid, and omg these rongs rocked."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Patience & The Marlow Murder Club

"Summer means British murder mysteries and I watched Patience and the Marlow Murder Club."

Carole - The Daily Show & Superstore (s1-6)

"The Daily Show keeps going strong even after all these years! And we re-watched Superstore...so funny."

Best Cover of the Month:

C's pick

B's pick

Honorable mention(s):

Blodeuedd's - "And a shoutout to these. I had an incredible month and there are more I could mention."

Carole's - "I would be remiss if I didn't give a special nod to this one. Honestly to the whole series so far. All of them have been great."

Audio: What happens in the Highlands by Anna Bradley

Narrated by: Jessica BrightSeries

Book 1, Cairncross Castle

Release date: 06-24-25

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher: Tantor Media

Historical romance

This was the first time the Highlands were a bit scary, ok not that scary, it is just all the townsfolk are scared of the three sisters. I was expecting pitchforks. It is set in the 1700s and Cat does mention an grandaunt who was burned at the stake. See, scary.

There are three sisters, all redheads. And the village claims they are witches. But the truth is one is good with animals, one loves science, and one loves plants.

To make things worse, there is talk about a hidden treasure and they live alone. People have already tried taking said treasure.

In comes Hamish who feels that treasure is his. And he acts like such a arse, it took a long time for me to like him. I just wanted to kick him. They do eventually fall in love.

So to save everyone Cat goes on a treasure hunt with him, and yes they will fall in love, but, even though this book has a HEA I felt it was more a HFN because the book ends with a cliffie!

Good narration, I got the feel of the highlands.

In the months since their father, Rory, died, the MacLeod sisters have had to contend with bands of smugglers convinced he left a treasure buried within the walls of their home at Castle Cairncross. Only the most mystifying occurrences have foiled the thieves—stirring whispers that the sisters are sorceresses. Yet, they have no treasure, nor are they witches. However, each inexplicably possesses a unique ability. The eldest, Catriona, is a brilliant healer and alchemist—a skill she is about to put to unforeseen use . . .

Hamish Muir, the charismatic Marquess of Ballantyne and son of Rory’s business partner, has come to claim his share of the treasure. When he spies fiery-haired Cat in the village, he follows her. But the tables turn, and Hamish finds himself at Castle Cairncross—emerging from a daze . . .

Persuaded the castle harbors no treasure, Hamish remains certain Rory hid it somewhere. Cat offers a proposal: She will help Hamish decipher her father’s notes if he takes her on the treasure hunt with him—and her sisters are not left alone. Reluctantly, Hamish summons two Lairds to the castle. But as he and Cat set off to navigate a maze of maps and danger, a mutual respect—and attraction—ignites between them. Perhaps the real treasure isn’t gold after all . . .

The King´s Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick

Format: 464 pages, Paperback

Published: October 8, 2024 by Mobius

Historical fiction/own

I have heard of Nesta, so a whole book about her was interesting. She was born a Welsh princess, but then the Normans killed her father. Her brother fled to Ireland and she ended up a hostage. Later she became a unwilling mistress to Henry I. Women had no say at all. After giving Henry a son he saw fit to give her away in marriage to a Norman Lord residing in her old home.

So yes she was used and discarded, and she did the best she could. She knew she was only a chess piece and at least here she grew to care for her husband. But her story did not end there, instead she was later called the Helen of Wales. Because there is this handsome Welsh prince....

Fascinating and Chadwick tells it so well. History in the eyes of a woman. Also Nesta´s bloodlines lives on. She was not erased from history.

Wales, 1093.

The warm, comfortable family life of young Nesta, daughter of Prince Rhys of Deheubarth is destroyed when her father is killed and she is taken hostage. Her honor is further tarnished when she is taken as an unwilling concubine by King William's ruthless younger brother Henry, who later ascends the throne under suspicious circumstances.

Gerald FitzWalter, an ambitious young knight is rewarded for his unwavering loyalty to his new King with Nesta's hand in marriage. He is delighted, having always admired her from afar, but Nesta's only comfort is her return to her beloved Wales where cannot help but be tempted by the handsome, charismatic and dangerous son of the Welsh prince, Owain. When he offers her the chance to join him in his plan to overthrow Norman rule she must choose between her duty and her desire . . .

Audio A Kiss for Lady Mary by Ella Quinn

By: Ella Quinn

Narrated by: Sasha Higgins

Series: The Marriage Game, Book 6

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Release date: 06-24-25 by Tantor Media

Historical romance

Mary is being pursued by her cousin and he is trying everything to force her to marry him. So her grandmother comes up with a crazy idea and sends her to an estate where she pretends to be the wife of the owner. Yes I said it was crazy. But it all makes sense in the end.

She stays there with her aunt and she even makes the place better...until the owner shows up and is appalled that someone is faking being his wife.

But Kit and Mary realise that they are in a bad position and tries to find a way out. And while they do that, they of course fall madly in love.

The aunt gets a sidestory too, which worked. But then a third couple got a sidestory and this threw me because it made no sense. Maybe they have been in previous books? Because it was out of the blue and they really deserved a book of their own.

Happily ever after wins in the end.

The narrator did a good job with everything from voices to accents. It was a pleasant narration

Handsome, charming, and heir to a powerful Viscount, Christopher “Kit” Featherton is everything a woman could want—except interested in marriage. So when he hears that someone on his estate near the Scottish border is claiming to be his wife, Kit sets off to investigate.

Since her parents’ death, Lady Mary Tolliver has been hounded by her cousin, a fortune-hunting fool after her inheritance. Refusing to settle for anything less than love, Mary escapes to the isolated estate of rakish bachelor, Kit Featherton. Knowing he prefers Court to the country, she believes she will be safe. But when Kit unexpectedly returns, her pretend marriage begins to feel seductively real…

Carole´s Monday: The Murder of Mr Wickham

 

Author: Claudia Gray

Title: The Murder of Mr. Wickham

Series: Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #1

Genre: Mystery, Retelling, Historical Fiction, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 387

Published: May 3, 2022

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

A summer house party turns into a whodunit when Mr. Wickham, one of literature’s most notorious villains, meets a sudden and suspicious end in this mystery featuring Jane Austen’s leading literary characters.

The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a house party, bringing together distant relatives and new acquaintances—characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got his comeuppance. Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered—except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst.

Nearly everyone at the house party is a suspect, so it falls to the party’s two youngest guests to solve the mystery: Juliet Tilney, the smart and resourceful daughter of Catherine and Henry, eager for adventure beyond Northanger Abbey; and Jonathan Darcy, the Darcys’ eldest son, whose adherence to propriety makes his father seem almost relaxed. The unlikely pair must put aside their own poor first impressions and uncover the guilty party—before an innocent person is sentenced to hang.

Review:

Who doesn't love a good Jane Austen retelling mixed with a murder of Mr. Wickham???

Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a party and bringing together distant relatives, old friends, and new acquaintances. We see faces from all over Jane Austen books. Everyone is having a good time until Wickham shows up and crashes the party. He is desperate and his latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. No one is happy to see him and obviously someone is mad enough for murder. Everyone is a suspect and it will be up to Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy to team up and figure out the truth before the constable takes away an innocent person. 

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I liked meeting our old characters and new characters. I loved seeing them interact. However, there were SOOO many characters I had to really concentrate to keep who was who. I've read the books but I still struggled sometimes and had to stop and re-read. 

Jonathan and Juliet are for sure opposites and it was fun watching them work together. Jonathan is so rigged he makes Mr Darcy look like a carefree hippie. Juliet is clever and sweet. 

The mystery was nicely done. I had zero idea who did it, because EVERYONE wanted the swine dead. *spits* 

All-in-all, this is a wonderful book for those that like Jane Austen and mysteries! It was lovely seeing so many faces. It was a little much sometimes and I had issues here and there remembering who was who and how everyone was connected, but I was able to stay with the story and find my footing eventually. I am curious about book 2, but we shall see. Maybe if my library has it. Now a rating??? Mhmmmmm........4 stars. It would be 3, but I feel that the ending twists and turns gave it a little bit of a boost. 

Favorite Character(s): Juliet

Least Favorite Character(s): Wickham of course.  

 Challenge(s):

- Cloak & Dagger #18

- Library Love #19