Review: Keeper of the King's Secrets - Michelle Diener

A priceless jewel. A royal court rife with intrigue. A secret deal, where the price of truth could come too high .  The personal artist to King Henry Tudor, Susanna Horenbout is sought by the queen and ladies of the court for her delicate, skilled portraits. But now someone from her past is pulling her into a duplicitous game where the consequence of failure is war. Soon, Susanna and her betrothed, the King’s most dangerous courtier, are unraveling a plot that would shatter Europe. And at the heart of it is a magnificent missing diamond. With John Parker at her side, Susanna searches for the diamond and those responsible for its theft, their every step dogged by a lethal assassin. Finding the truth means plunging into the heart of the court’s most bitter infighting, surviving the harrowing labyrinth of Fleet Prison—and then coming face-to-face with the most dangerous enemy of all.

Series: Susanna Horenbout and John Parker #2, Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery, Pages: 304, Publisher: Gallery Books, Published: April 3, 2012, Source: For review

My thoughts:

This book is a mix of things, first we have historical fiction, and it feels to be on the lighter side, then we got a bit of romance. But most of the book is suspense/mystery. And it certainly works well, set in Tudor England as it is and filled with court intrigues. The book is part 2 of a series and sure it could work on its own, but still it would be better to read book 1 and see how they met. But yes I guess it could be read on its own too, they way its made up should make that possible.

In this book Susanna and Parker is resting after their ordeal in book 1. They are in love and hope to marry. Susanna still paints and Parker is snooping around keeping the king safe as always. I like how Susanna does not back down, she stands her ground, she is still very much a woman of her time, but just as some dared to do more so does she. And Parked does his best to keep his lady from harm as she made a few enemies (and so did he). So him I like.

The Duke of Norfolk is still a baddie but more in the background because this book belongs to Woolsey. A good fitting bad guy who is plotting for his own agenda. Just like they all are. And behind things we see more plots, The French, Norfolk, those irritating Boleyns. They will sure become a problem in later books as in this one Henry is still married to Katherine. And Susanna has already had her run-ins with them.

The suspense is high as an assassin is running around, as people try to hide what they are doing and there is danger and action plenty. The plot is well done and keeps the suspense high, along with the mystery.

I do think I liked this one even more than book 1, I can't say what made it so, it just was. I liked how things never slowed down, how light the book still was and how I practically read it in one sitting. 

Conclusion:

This one is for fans of historical fiction and for those who want mystery and suspense. The best of two worlds all in one. It's light and good. So easy to read and a book you can finish in one day. The plot will have you coming back for more.

Cover:

Gorgeous!

Review: The Wolf who loved me - Lydia Dare

A new sexy Regency paranormal trilogy by bestselling author Lydia Dare features hunky werewolves who need to learn how to behave in polite society. Can this pack of 'gentlemen' be trained in the ways of the ton, or is it too late to teach an old Lycan new tricks? 

Lady Madeline Hayburn is called upon to lend her respectability and introduce the Hadley brothers to society. Mr. Weston Hadley admires her from afar, yet his very presence draws her in...

Series: Westfield Wolves #5, Genre: Historical paranormal romance, Pages: 420, Published: April 3, 2012, Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca, Source: For review

My thoughts:

Yes this is part of a series, but it can be just as well be read as a standalone since it is also starting a new trilogy. To make a long story short, first there were the 3 Westfield Brothers, then we had Dash who stood a bit alone, then we got 3 vampire books with the remaining witches and now we have 3 more brothers (related to Dash)and they will find love. I made it sound complicated didn't it? Anyway, it works on its on in the end.

We met the brothers in previous books and they are just rakes and bad ton, not to mention they are broke. But Weston has been in love with Madeleine for years but she is the daughter of a Duke and he is a nobody. A bad boy, and I do love to see them change. While Maddie is a little princess, but at least she knows that she does not want to marry the idiots her father wants her to marry. Yes he makes rash decisions, but he is honorable and she is falling for him. And I do like the ones were they do fall fast, but at the same time they (well one of them) do not like each other. He can't just snap a finger and make her love him.

In this one I also saw who is brother Archer will fall for and that only leaves one brother, and I do wonder who his lady will be. But that is for later books and this is now, and once again I like Dare's easy style, the passion between the couple and sprinkle of paranormal. He might be a werewolf but it does not take over. It's a historical romance with paranormal elements. Elements that fits so easily that I could easily think there are werewolves hidden there.

Conclusion:

I am happy with this latest installment and I am looking forward to more. Dare's werewolf are just too sexy!

Cover:

Yay, this one I like, look look! Heads :D

Review: The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan

The Wheel of Time turns and ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave it birth returns again. For centuries, gleemen have told the tales of The Great Hunt of the Horn. So many tales about each of the Hunters, and so many Hunters to tell of... 

Now the Horn itself is found: the Horn of Valere long thought only legend, the Horn which will raise the dead heroes of the ages. And it is stolen.

Genre: Fantasy, Series: The Wheel of Time #2, Pages: 707, Published: 2006 (1990), Publisher: Orbit, Source: My own

My thoughts this time around:

Re-reading it for the..well I have read it a lot 

Rand knows he is the Dragon and does not yet believe it. I like the beginning in Shienar and how they hunt the horn later. Because here the threads are coming together and we are starting to believe. 

As always my fav parts are the Rand ones, he is a bookboyfriend for a reason. The Mat and Perrin parts are good too. But the women parts, eh, boring as always. But that is just cos I keep favorites. I never did care to read about Egwene and her buddies in the White Tower. I just want to get to the good parts. Who cares about women.

Honestly what can I say about a book I have re-read lots of times? I still hate the Seanchan! The Children of the Light must die! Fain is annoying and, well I really hate the Seanchan ;) 

I re-read this over the course of 1,5 months. I could just stop in the middle of a page and pick it up days later. I know this story, and I love it. 

Conclusion:

Recommended. 

Review: Mr. Darcy Forever - Victoria Connelly

Estranged sisters Sarah and Mia Castle have spent a lifetime fighting over the men in their lives. They finally begin to make amends at the annual Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England. During the festival, the sisters realize that they can't bear to be apart. They discover that their sisterhood forms a bond stronger than their mutual connection as Jane Austen addicts. And in true Jane Austen fashion, they each begin to lose their hearts to dashing gentlemen.

Series: Austen Addicts #3, Genre: Jane Austen inspired fiction,  Pages: 320, Published: April 3, 2012, Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark, Source: For review

My thoughts:

The fact that I love Jane Austen inspired books is no secret. Little things that made me smile in this one was the mentioning about Austen Authors and 3 variations I do know well. It felt so real that way. The other thing is that I would sure love to visit the Jane Austen festival in Bath.

It's a part of the Austen Addicts series, but it's also a stand alone since it's all about new people and they have nothing do do with previous one. So no need to worry there.

And now to the story, here we have more the Sense and Sensibility theme. Two sisters, Sarah who has OCD and worries about her younger sister. Mia the younger one who is full of life and passion. Best of friends until something happens. Most of this book is therefore about the two of them, but they are not together. Both come to Bath for an Jane Austen Event and since there is romance, both might meet a dashing gentleman. A perfect Colonel Brandon and well I am not sure who the other one is, I guess Ferrars then.

We do not know drove them apart at first, it's a mystery that we learn more and more about. And it's so sad since they used to be so close. I also felt so sorry for Sarah because her sister at least understood her OCD and now she does not have anyone. While Mia seemed cheerful and so sad at the same time. So as I kept hoping they would find their way back I also wondered if that would be possible.

The romance is a bit fast, but in the spirit of JA and true love I am find with that. There should be HEAs and love at first sight (or second).

Conclusion:

I do not think I will ever get tired of books like this one. They are in my blood and they just make me happy.

Cover:

Eh