The last painting of Sara de Vos - Dominic Smith

In 1631, Sara de Vos is admitted as a master painter to the Guild of St. Luke in Holland, the first woman to be so honoured. Three hundred years later, only one work attributed to de Vos is known to remain-a haunting winter scene, At the Edge of a Wood, which hangs over the Manhattan bed of a wealthy descendant of the original owner. An Australian grad student, Ellie Shipley, struggling to stay afloat in New York, agrees to paint a forgery of the landscape, a decision that will haunt her. Because now, half a century later, she's curating an exhibit of female Dutch painters, and both versions threaten to arrive.

As the three threads intersect with increasing and exquisite suspense, The Last Painting of Sara de Vos mesmerises while it grapples with the demands of the artistic life, showing how the deceits of the past can forge the present. 

My thoughts:

This is a story about two women. And yes I liked the historical better, I always seems to do that, and since I like historical it makes sense.

In the 1600s Sara de Vos became the first female painter in the Guild. And slowly we learn her story and what made her paint her one single surviving piece of artwork. Her story wasn't exactly the happiest one, she sure had bad luck.

In the 50s, Marten de Groos sets out to find who stole his painting. And meets Ellie. A student who paints fakes in her spare time, oh and yes art restoration. 

40 years later Ellie wonders if the past will catch up to her, and she is still fascinated by the Sara's painting. And these 3 periods in time are slowly brought to life one step at a time.

Ellie was, it was another age, she was rather naive, but she loved art! Marten was sad in a way, he really was stuck in a rut. And then there was Sara, who slowly just lived on.

I would not call it melancholic, but in a way it felt like that. Everyone wanted and needed something more. But they all just continued like before. It's a hard book to describe, you would have to read it.

Conclusion:

An interesting tale. 

Cover

Nice painting

Paperback, 304 pages
Published May 1st 2016 by Allen & Unwin (first published April 5th 2016)
Fiction / historical fiction
For review

Camp Alien - Gini Koch

The Mastermind may be outed, but Kitty & Company don't get any downtime. In addition to having to recover from Operation Epidemic quickly, the sudden reappearance of a minor adversary long-forgotten turns out to only be the tip of a deadly iceberg that could end up causing or World war 3...

My thoughts:

I do still love Kitty but....the first 300 pages were mostly talk, people saying whatevs and totes. Jeff saying Baby in every sentence (it creeps me out) and I was glad when he was not around much cos no, not sexy.

The next 300 pages started to pick up some action when Kitty goes to find her missing people. Of course the biggest thing I thought would happen was like 50 pages, the whole Camp David thing. That actually could have been longer.

When you love something so much, then well you can complain. And for me this book could have been shorter. Half of it was a filler where Kitty showed how her brain works. Also I wanted more of the others, these are getting really Kitty oriented. Also way too many people around these days. Also, I want a big ass war now. Give me a showdown with the Zporrah...fine, it's coming but I want it now.

When you are a book 13 the danger of fillers do come around, and I get that soooo much has to be talked about. Jeff is after all the president now.

Conclusion:

I still enjoyed it and read it really fast, but I do think that if there are too many fillers in the future, then...

Cover 
Sure it looks good, but I miss Dos Santos

Paperback, 544 pages
Expected publication: May 3rd 2016 by DAW
Katherine "Kitty" Katt #13
Urban fantasy
For review

Shifting Shadows - Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson’s world just got a whole lot bigger…

A collection of all-new and previously published short stories featuring Mercy Thompson, and the characters she calls friends…

Includes the new stories…

“Silver”

“Roses in Winter”

“Redemption”

“Hollow”

My thoughts:

Some good, some meh, like all anthologies then ;)

“Silver”

I always loved Sam, I did want Sam and Mercy to be together. I know I know, he was desperate and she and Adam was so meant to be.

Back to the story....this is about Sam way way back when he was trapped by his evil grandmother and met Ariana for the first time.

“Roses in Winter”

A story about Asil and Kara. This was a good one. And we got Bran! Any story with Bran is a good one ;)

“Redemption”

I really like Ben. He is funny in his scary weird way.

“Hollow”

Mercy hunts a ghost.

“Fairy Gifts”

Since I did just read the last book I had Thomas and Margaret in mind. But the best part was the FInnish mythology

“Gray”

Some vamp and a ghost. Meh

“Alpha and Omega”

I re-read it. I remember not liking it the first time, and it did take me until book 3 to like this couple But suddenly this time around the story of how Charles and Anna met was so good.

“Seeing Eye”

I had totally forgotten this one even though I just read it...not a good sign

“The Star of David”

A wolf helps his daughter.

“In Red, with Pearls”

Warren does some investigating. Good but still eh

Conclusion:

Made me want to re-read the series

Hardcover, 450 pages
Published September 2nd 2014 by Ace
Mercy Thompson 0.1/0.6/0.8/1.5/4.5/5.5/7.4, Mercy Thompson World - Complete, Alpha & Omega 0.1, 0.5 .....
Urban fantasy
Own

Carole's Sunday Review: The Immortal highlander

Author: Karen Marie Moning

Titles: The Immortal Highlander (Highlander #6)

Genre: Paranormal Romance & Fantasy

Pages: 348

First Published: January 1st 2004

Where I Got It: On my shelf (Purchased at B&N)

With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. Now Adam's only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.

Enter law student Gabrielle O'Callaghan. For Gabrielle, cursed with the ability to see both worlds, Mortal and Faery, it is the beginning of a long, dangerous seduction. But as Adam's quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both Mortal and Faery realms...and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love... 

Now, this is the 6th installment in the series. I do recommend reading book 4 and book 5 before diving into this book. There is some history in those two books that are needed to truly understand Adam Black and how we got to this point. 

This has been the story I've been waiting for since book 1! The faery rogue named Adam Black has met his match with Gabby during his punishment by the faery Queen. I have a love-hate relationship with him since book 1. He is a selfish jerk sometimes, but other times he has a heart of gold. Having him be invisible and stripping 99% of his powers was indeed the best punishment for him. However...he was punished for doing a non-selfish thing. I felt bad, but it was karma for all the bad things he had done in the past. Damn lovable rogue. 

I felt bad for Gabby. All she wanted was a normal life, but she and her family have been cursed with being able to see faeries, but having to conceal it and hide their powers or the faeries will kill them. She is also forced to hide it from the humans because they will call her a nut. Tough life. 

The story was fun. It was fun seeing a woman not fall head-over-heels with Adam Black. He had to actually earn her and her love. Good. It humbled him a bit. 

My only issue with the book was the lulls in between the action. There was lots and lots of talking. Yes, some bits were boring which I am not accustomed to with this author!! I had to do some skimming. There was a potential for lots of action, but I was denied it. Especially at the climax. The major action was skipped over and I felt denied. I'm really bummed. 

Also, I have mixed feelings about the ending. I liked it, but then I didn't. I'm really on the fence. 

In the end, this was okay. It was nice to finally see Adam Black find his HEA and also be humbled at the same time. I liked Gabby and they were a good fit. The story was rather slow for my liking in this series. Sadly, this wasn't my favorite like I was thinking it might be. Still good, not my favorite. Hopefully this isn't a foreshadow to the demise of the series. There are still two books left that I need to read. *fingers crossed* I do recommend this series to those that like a mixture of fantasy, romance, time travel, history, and paranormal! Its a good series. I can't wait to read the next one. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3.