If you are just tuning in, then you will need to know that I have been on quite a historical mystery kick recently. I became completely immersed with If you are just tuning in, then you will need to know that I have been on quite a historical mystery kick recently. I became completely immersed with Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby Mystery Series and Sherry Thomas’ Lady Sherlock Series. Well, I flew through those books and I have been desperate for more, and that is when it was suggested that I pick Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series. The first book is A Curious Beginning and I am sorry to say there is nothing curious about it. Veronica Speedwell has traveled the world taking pleasure in everything it has to offer. She is also a lepidopterist, a person who studies butterflies. She was raised by her two spinster aunts and she finally comes home when the last one dies. However, someone waits for her in the cottage and she is saved by an eccentric German baron. He tells her she is in danger and brings her to stay with his friend, Stoker, who is a naturalist. Veronica decides to go with the baron because he claims to have known her mother, but then GASP, he is murdered. Stoker and Veronica, an unlikely pair, are now stuck together to solve this mystery.
So I want to start out by saying that this review can get a little ranty. I enjoyed the wit and writing of the author but overall it was the plot and characters that did not work for me. So I will start with my biggest issue, Veronica Speedwell. Good god, she was annoying. I think the point was to make her a woman ahead of her time, but it didn’t work out so well. She never stops talking. Never. She leaves her aunts to travel, explore, and have romantic dalliances (BUT NOT WITH AN ENGLISHMAN!!) However, we find out that her aunts were not her aunts at all and the reason they were moving around so much when she was a child was to keep her safe. But then they just cut her loose to travel when she is 18? Then there is a good portion of the novel where Veronica denies that she is in danger, despite ALL OF THE EVIDENCE. But she is known for her investigative mind?
Then we come to the obvious romance part of the story. Veronica Speedwell–is a talkative, modern woman and Stoker–a gloomy, grumpy, naturalist. There is obviously chemistry there but Veronica refuses to sleep with a fellow countryman, which she states over and over. –Like you do you boo, but you don’t need to keep repeating yourself.
So overall, it just did not work for me. We kick off with this mystery, but because the characters are on the run, they get distracted along the way and the ending was just so…meh? However, I love the descriptions of the traveling circus, and the author excels at writing action scenes. And the only character I really appreciated was the baron and look how that turned out....more
“I hated having to rest my hopes on another white man. But it was not up to me. In this world, the men called Master held all the power.”
YELLOW WIFE Ye“I hated having to rest my hopes on another white man. But it was not up to me. In this world, the men called Master held all the power.”
YELLOW WIFE Yellow Wife is written by Sadeqa Johnson. Before I get into the review, there are a few trigger warnings: slavery, racism, physical abuse, sexual abuse, torture, racial slurs, miscarriage, child loss, pregnancy loss, death, trafficking, and that isn’t all of it.
It is 1850 and Pheby is being raised on the Bell Plantation. She is the daughter of an enslaved woman and the plantation master. She is considered a slave but has been taught to read, write, and play the piano. But most of all, she is told by her mother that she must never convince herself in her mind that she is a slave and that she will one day be free. But instead of being freed at 18, the Master’s wife has other plans for her. She sells Pheby and she is forced to be the mistress of the jailer in charge of what is called The Devil’s Half Acre where slaves are beaten and tortured. Every decision she will make is to ensure the survival of her children and loved ones but all of the decisions will come with a sacrifice.
The main thing I want to talk about when it comes to this book is the author’s note. While this book is fiction, it is inspired by real people and a real place. Sadeqa Johnson and her family took the Richmond Slave Trail Walk and she stumbled upon a story that she knew she had to tell. The story of Pheby is inspired by Mary Lumpkin. Johnson then immersed herself in the research behind this woman and it shows. This book is powerful, tragic, heartbreaking, and important. Because of Johnson, Mary’s name is not lost, like so many others who were victims of enslavement in the United States.
In this story, Pheby has a book that holds her mother’s healing recipes but when she is forced to work for the jailor, she meets several enslaved women and is determined to write their stories down before they are beaten and sold to the next white man. There is so much emotion written into Pheby and this story, it is clear that the author intended to honor her ancestors. This is a part of our history. A part of history that many want to ignore. We need to face these atrocities to acknowledge the generational trauma inflicted on Black people and to make sure that history never repeats itself. We can never atone for the brutality and heartlessness that occurred, but we can learn from it and make it so there is true justice and equality from here on out. This is an incredible read from beginning to end....more
“You think because he doesn’t love you that you are worthless. You think because he doesn’t want you anymore that he is right- that his judgement and “You think because he doesn’t love you that you are worthless. You think because he doesn’t want you anymore that he is right- that his judgement and opinion of you are correct. If he throws you out, then you are garbage. You think he belongs to you because you want to belong to him. Hagar, don’t. It’s a bad word, ‘belong.’ Especially when you put it with somebody you love. Love shouldn’t be like that.”
SONG OF SOLOMON Song of Solomon is the fourth Toni Morrison that I have read. Every single book has a unique complexity to the characters. This book focuses on Milkman and his journey to discover himself and his roots. The first part goes into the birth of Macon (Milkman), his childhood, and how he ended up estranged from his entire family. He is close with his aunt, Pilate, and his best friend Guitar Bails. Milkman is told about some gold that is supposedly his inheritance. He soon finds that this is more than a journey to find gold.
Toni Morrison’s books can’t be read lightly. This is phenomenal storytelling. This book isn’t as dark as Sula or Beloved but it still touches the soul. One of the best things about Toni Morrison is she gives us flawed characters. They aren’t perfect. They are learning. They are surviving. But there is still so much humanity and growth.
Toni Morrison writes with her unique prose, so if you have not read Toni Morrison before, take it slow. Just because these books are short doesn’t mean one can finish them quickly. There are layers and depth within her writing. I listened to the audiobook. It is narrated by Toni Morrison. At first, the protection threw me off. It felt like it was an at-home recording with small mistakes here and there. But in the end…I loved it. It felt so raw and personal as if she was right there telling me a story.
“That creates yet more work for the next woman up. That’s what can happen when we mentor and empower. That’s what happens when we realize that any joy“That creates yet more work for the next woman up. That’s what can happen when we mentor and empower. That’s what happens when we realize that any joy we find in the next woman’s pain or struggle is just a reflection of our own pain: “See how hard this is? Do you appreciate how difficult this is?” Instead, I want to heal her and me.”
WE’RE GOING TO NEED MORE WINE I have been wanting to read We’re Going To Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union for ages now. I grew up watching her on Sister, Sister, 7th Heaven, and of course, 10 Things I Hate About You. This is a collection of personal stories that discuss Gabrielle Union’s childhood, teenage years, discovering herself as a woman, love, marriage, being a stepmother, and how the industry treated her because she is a Black Woman.
Gabrielle Union tells it exactly how it is and she warns her readers from the get-go. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Her childhood stories ranged from relatable to WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! Of course, I loved the stories of her work–from the beginner mistakes she made to meeting Heath Ledger, all of them had me awe-ing or laughing. Of course, you can’t talk about Gabrielle Union without discussing her important work as a rape victims advocate. I think this story hit me the hardest. She worked for Payless Shoesource before she started acting. I also worked for Payless Shoesource while going through college. I was sitting there listening to her talk about the job and how it was easy but also how retail is the WORST. But that is when our similarities ended. A man robbed the store one night and raped her at gunpoint. My heart plummeted. Payless was not the greatest when it came to employee safety. I remember closing up at night and having no security, sometimes even the Target next door was closed, so we often worked in a very dark and secluded corner late at night. There would be only two employees working at closing. I am not going to lie, and my former coworkers will tell you, we all felt that moment of dread when someone would come in before closing acting shady. But what Gabrielle Union went through, is a woman’s worst nightmare. And she faced it head-on. She does write about the care she received during the trial process, but it does not take the horror, pain, and trauma away. She took that trauma and spoke on behalf of the victims, to be there for them. I ended this segment… in tears because as a survivor of sexual assault, it is so hard to be able to come forward.
Another powerful part of this memoir is the stories that go into detail about her owning her Blackness. This is a part where one just listens and learns. As a white woman, I cannot fathom and I listened to her self-consciousness, her battle with assimilation, and ultimately pride. These stories really focus on her growth and it is impossible to not be excited about her development and success.
I loved this audiobook and I can’t wait to read You Got Anything Stronger?!...more
I have no idea what I am going to do with myself after this series is over. It has completely captivated me. A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber is tI have no idea what I am going to do with myself after this series is over. It has completely captivated me. A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber is the 8th book in the Lady Darby mystery series. As of right now, there are only 10 books in the series. I do hope it continues even further, I will even be ok with a spinoff with some other characters. – The more I think about it, I would love an Anderly and Bree spinoff. Just a thought!
Kiera is now very pregnant with her first child! Kiera and Sebastion are finally back in Scotland for a little while to visit with family. They attend a 12th Night Party and of course, the home is riddled with ghost stories. So the Duke’s son takes some of the guests on an impromptu tour of the crypt. However, there is a body in the crypt! Now, you may think, of course, there is a body in the crypt! –This body is new and due to the damage, the identification of the body is proving to be an issue. Their only clue leads them to believe that it could be the Duchess’ Son-in-Law, the Earl of Helmsdale. Despite being promised to be given full cooperation by the family, the family holds tight to their secrets and infidelities. Kiera and Gage are having a difficult time getting the answers they need to bring the killer to justice.
Oh, Marsdale. He can never stay out of trouble. He is notorious in society and can be quite a pain for Gage and Kiera, but I am glad we get to see more of his thoughtful side. I love getting to know more of the other characters surrounding Gage and Kiera. Especially Anderly and Bree. While I see where the setup is going, I still can’t wait for it to happen! They are wonderful investigators in their own right and once Kiera and Gage start a family, maybe they will assume more investigative roles.
I did love seeing Kiera stand up for herself in this book. She has always leaned on her family with her past. However, sometimes her family can be a bit bossy and overstep. I completely sided with her when she finally stood up for herself! Hopefully, they all come around to approve that she can be both a mother, painter and investigator!...more
“When you gone to get married? You need to have some babies. It’ll settle you.’
‘I don’t want to make somebody else. I want to make myself.”
SULA I am ne“When you gone to get married? You need to have some babies. It’ll settle you.’
‘I don’t want to make somebody else. I want to make myself.”
SULA I am never ok after reading Toni Morrison. I have read The Bluest Eye, Beloved, and now Sula, and my heart is in shatters each time. There is quite the cast of characters but the book ultimately begins in 1919 in a town in Ohio called Bottom. The first character introduced is Shadrack who fought in WWI and struggles with severe PTSD. Due to this PTSD and his struggle to come to terms with what he endured in the war, he invents National Suicide Day. We then meet our two main characters in 1920, Nel Wright and Sula Peace. They grow up together and despite their families, they form a close bond until one event changes everything. One day, Sula and Nel are playing by the river with some other kids and one dies from drowning. More events occur and while Nel chooses a life of marriage and children, Sula is independent but the town soon views her as evil, and the only person to see her is Shadrack.
This book is heavy. It is a short story but Toni Morrison seems to fully grasp life in its entirety. She conveys the depth of loneliness, despair, love, and grief. Motherhood is the main theme in this book, as well as mother-daughter relationships. Sula is unapologetically herself and wants to focus on herself rather than make her life belong to someone else and it is unbelievably powerful. Considering the time, society thinks there is something wrong with her. But as I think about it, even if someone said that today, there would still be those who would be scornful of that person.
As I said above, Toni Morrison seems to fully grasp life but also the words in which to convey all the emotions. She has such a beautiful way of writing and each word is placed with such care.
“There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had no meaning. For loneliness assumed the absence of other people, and the solitude she found in that desperate terrain had never admitted the possibility of other people. She wept then. Tears for the deaths of the littlest things: the castaway shoes of children; broken stems of marsh grass battered and drowned by the sea; prom photographs of dead women she never knew; wedding rings in pawnshop windows; the tiny bodies of Cornish hens in a nest of rice.”
SULA I highly recommend the audiobook as it is narrated by Toni Morrison. I feel like she is the only person who could narrate her books. She brings all the emotions narrating it as she does with her words. I recently heard that Sula is going to be adapted into a mini-series. If they do it justice, it will impact many around the world....more
“Kill a man who needs killing, and sometimes others pay for it. The question is, was it worth doing it anyway? There’s always a balance, you know. Goo“Kill a man who needs killing, and sometimes others pay for it. The question is, was it worth doing it anyway? There’s always a balance, you know. Good and evil. Light and Shadow. We would not be human if there wasn’t a balance.”
THE DRAGON REBORN The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan is the third book in the Wheel of Time series. Rand al’Thor has been proclaimed the Dragon Reborn and is on the run. He hears the whispers of the power inside him. While on the run he is being followed by Darkfriends and is also the cause of strange events. Hot on his trail but unable to catch up are Perrin, Loial, Moiraine, and Lan. They are able to follow his trail based on these strange events. But there is something Perrin is keeping hidden from his group. He has strange dreams and the wolves speak to him. Will they take over his soul? Egwene and Nyneave arrive at Tar Valon and find themselves being put through the test of the Accepted. Mat also finds himself at Tar Valon to be healed but manages to escape. Everything seems to lead to chaos in this installment.
The truth of it is, that characters can ruin a story. When it comes to The Wheel of Time, the world-building is some of the best there is, however, in my opinion, everything else that makes a story is fading. the plot gets lost and there are only a handful of characters that I appreciate. Let’s start with the characters that I CAN’T STAND, Nyneave and Rand. I stopped counting how many times Nyneave tugged Egwene’s braid after 20 times. I wish I were exaggerating. It also doesn’t help that I can’t stand her character. Everyone says she gets better, but honestly, she is a lost cause at this point for me. Don’t get me started on Rand’s constant whining. How does the fate of the world fall to him? Just let the world get destroyed and start over.
I do love Egwene, Loial, and Lan. Perrin is also growing on me, but I love wolves so I am biased. While Moiraine is in this book, she feels like a ghost. She was there but not really present. Egwene’s Accepted test was one of the best scenes in the book. I hope her power and strength grow in the following books. I think it is impossible not to enjoy Loial and Lan. They save the book when it comes to the characters. Overall, it is a cool world but I need more in order to care about it....more
“I settled for soothing as many of his hurts as I could with my love. Perhaps if I kissed every square inch of him, if I whispered enough words of lov“I settled for soothing as many of his hurts as I could with my love. Perhaps if I kissed every square inch of him, if I whispered enough words of love into his skin as I held him as close as humanly possible, it would be a start.”
A BRUSH WITH SHADOWS Kiera and Sebastian Gage are going back to Sebastian’s ancestral home in A Brush With Shadows by Anne Lee Huber, the 6th book in the Lady Darby series. This home has many agonizing memories for Gage. His family is not exactly welcoming, but they must be there out of duty to the family. His cousin, the heir, has gone missing. He is not exactly loved by the community and many would see him harmed. But could this situation be even more sinister than that? There are many secrets to uncover at Langstone Manor.
We have finally gotten to the reasons why Sebastian Gage built up walls around himself and why his past was so difficult to uncover. Kiera has worked hard to get him to open up to her and while they have made progress, she is now more understanding of why he never brought up that part of his life. This is a normal survival tactic we all use when dealing with trauma and many will relate to how both Kiera and Gage react to that trauma.
In this installment, we have the current mystery of the missing heir but there is also mention of the family curse which feeds into the gothic setting. Gage suspects that the heir may have been poisoned and that was also the same device used to kill his mother years before. Is it just a coincidence that both instances are poison or are the mysteries linked?
As always, Anna Lee Huber creates an exciting, tense, and unpredictable mystery, and this time I am absolutely shocked by the outcome. There are so many diversion tactics that lead to some spectacular plot twists! I love how I am always on my toes in this mystery series. There is always danger present for Kiera and Gage. I do not worry about them usually, but I am afraid to let my guard down from here on out. —Only the next book will tell! 5 out of 5 stars!...more
“I am a queen upon this board, Charlotte had once told Lord Ingram, and I do not play to lose.”
Miss Moriarty, I Presume?
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by S“I am a queen upon this board, Charlotte had once told Lord Ingram, and I do not play to lose.”
Miss Moriarty, I Presume?
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas is the sixth book in the Lady Sherlock series. This book starts with a bang! Charlotte’s next client is none other than her arch-nemesis, Moriarty himself. His visit means danger, he knows who Charlotte is, and he knows her loved ones, so she has no choice but to help him. He has asked Charlotte to locate his daughter who was last known to be in an occult community. She must ensure his daughter’s welfare, but does his daughter want to be found?
YESSSSSSS! This is the story I have been waiting for!! It is filled with intrigue, mystery, and the occult. Charlotte meets her match with Miss Moriarty. While Miss Moriarty doesn’t want to be like her father, she has no qualms doing whatever it takes to get out of his grip.
Everything that has bugged me in previous books is nonexistent in this book–AKA the constant reference to Maximum Tolerable Chins and I can’t tell you what a relief this is! It felt like I was reading an entirely different series just with the same characters with more depth and development. There is one comment about how Charlotte needs to cut back on eating baked goods and she has the wittiest comeback that I actually appreciated!
But the best part…is that ending. Sweet Baby Jesus that ending is everything. It is clever and so entertaining. This book can’t be read as a standalone. There are details to this mystery that are linked to other books. So I highly recommend going through the whole series, even if some of the books are not up to the same standard as this book. It is all worth it!
And Kate Reading—she is just a master of her craft and I can’t imagine anyone else narrating this book. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars!...more
“We women have been taught since birth that virtue is our greatest asset. I have nothing against virtues—I’d like to think that there are many virtues“We women have been taught since birth that virtue is our greatest asset. I have nothing against virtues—I’d like to think that there are many virtues I practice assiduously. But power does not yield to virtue. Power yields only to power.”
MURDER ON COLD STREET This series has me all over the place with my thoughts. Book four, The Art of Theft was not my favorite but that ending convinced me to keep going. Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas is book five in the Lady Sherlock Series and Inspector Treadles has been arrested!! He was found in a locked room with two murder victims. Both of these men worked for his wife’s company that she inherited. The speculations are endless but unless Charlotte can come up with a solution, then Inspector Treadles will be tried for murder, a crime she is sure he did not commit…
Well, at least the amount of weight and Charlotte’s number of chins discussions has gone down. But the food…if we took out half of the food description the audiobook would have been thirty minutes shorter. It adds absolutely nothing to the story. And trust me, I LOVE cake. But I like cake with positivity, not negativity.
However, we get to know more about Inspector Treadles and his wife. There are a few plotlines with them in previous books but I have always wanted to know more! Treadles have always been conflicted about Mrs. Treadles inheriting a business, but she has been treated horribly because she is a woman in a man’s role. It was wonderful to see Treadles grow and see how women can also have a more vital role in society.
Then there is Lord Ingram and Charlotte. They have a unique relationship to be sure. The chemistry is just off. It often feels one-sided and has little depth. Currently, the emotions feel very surface level. Unfortunately, the pacing is rather slow in this book and everyone is lying. It gets to the point where even Charlotte is oblivious to the obvious. I will keep going to the next book, but I do hope it is not as predictable as this one. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars....more
“Sometimes it was difficult to accept the terrible lengths people would go to for their beliefs, particularly when they fooled themselves into thinkin“Sometimes it was difficult to accept the terrible lengths people would go to for their beliefs, particularly when they fooled themselves into thinking they were acting in the Lord’s name or for the public’s good when they were truly reacting out of hatred and fear.”
AS DEATH DRAWS NEAR As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber is the 5th book in the Lady Darby series. Sebastian Gage and Kiera Darby have finally wed and are enjoying their honeymoon. However, the honeymoon is put on pause when they get a notice from Sebastian’s father, Lord Gage. On the orders of Wellington himself, they are to head to Ireland to investigate the death of a nun. The country is still being torn apart by religious animosity. Could the death of this nun be religiously motivated and also politically motivated? One thing is for sure—this case is wrought with danger from all angles.
I guess it is a relief that Kiera and Gage are finally wed but I do miss that tension that plagued them in the first books. They have amazing chemistry! However, their relationship is growing on a whole new level-now it is marriage and the possibility of starting a family. But they know they must continue with their investigative partnership. I love that Kiera and Gage are getting better at being more open and honest with each other especially as Kiera struggles with wanting to continue her portraits and investigate murders. But she worries that she is not going to be a good mother. This aspect can be so relatable to those who are becoming mothers.
I did enjoy the religious and political backdrop. The author did a terrific job at showing the political gains to be had by those in charge but also how that affects the people.
I LOVE this series! I hope it just keeps continuing on! Nothing is as it seems and keeps the readers guessing every single time! 5 out of 5 stars!...more
“There’s a scarlet thread of murder running through the colorless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch “There’s a scarlet thread of murder running through the colorless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.”
A STUDY IN DEATH A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber is the fourth book in the Lady Darby Mystery Series. Finally! Gage and Kiera are engaged! The wedding is being planned and Kiera just wants to skip all the plans and celebrations and go straight to being Gage’s wife. But her sister is nearing her confinement and needs something to occupy her in the last weeks until the birth of her child. Kiera is staying busy with her painting commissions and one of her commissions is painting a portrait for the kind Lady Drummond. One day, Kiera arrives for her appointment and finds Lady Drummond convulsing on the floor. Kiera does everything she can to revive her but Lady Drummond dies. Her death is ruled by natural causes, but Kiera is suspicious. She will not stop until she gets justice for Lady Drummond.
It’s always the husband…or is it? One thing that I love about Anna Lee Huber is that there is always complexity to the mysteries. There are times when all of the evidence points to one person but from time to time, that person is innocent. I love watching Kiera learn to trust her gut and also the evidence. Gage always takes Kiera’s insight and gives her the support she needs to voice her opinion in a male-dominated world.
The chemistry is still between Kiera and Gage although now it is more developed. They are both finding ways to open up to each other about the past. They are breaking down the walls that the trauma from their past had built. Overall, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
“He sighed. The sounds conveyed no impatience, only a deep wistfulness. “You are telling e that before you can be sure of your affections, you must be“He sighed. The sounds conveyed no impatience, only a deep wistfulness. “You are telling e that before you can be sure of your affections, you must be sure of yourself…”
ART OF THEFT The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas is book four in the Lady Sherlock series. In this installment, Mrs. Watson is visited by a former lover who has secrets kept on the back of a piece of art. These secrets are not only a matter of life and death but also an entire country may be at stake. While this team has only solved murders, stealing a piece of art in high security may be their most challenging and dangerous case yet. Charlotte Holmes, her sister Livia, Mr. Marbleton, Lord Ingram, and Mrs. Watson are on the mission of a lifetime.
My hopes were so high after the last book! It kept me guessing and the things I didn’t appreciate about the first two books seemed to dissipate. Well…it is back. There is a constant discussion about Charlotte’s number of chins and how much she eats. In this book, she is now becoming more self-critical–probably from Mrs. Watson constantly reminding her of her eating habits. So in this book, we get so many descriptions of the food that she tries to resist. There are descriptions of how much butter she is putting on her toast and I love food, so this wouldn’t normally bother me but the descriptions are dripping with negative connations. She even begins to start exercising to punish her body for over-eating. I am a runner and have a daily yoga practice. There is a difference to better yourself for health reasons and punishing your body. This can be uncomfortable for those who have eating disorders. It isn’t just mentioned, it is brought up constantly and to be quite honest it ruins the story.
I did love learning more about Mrs. Watson’s history. It gave her more depth and it called the other characters to learn acceptance and that love is love.
I will be honest, I do prefer murder mysteries to art theft. This one is a lot slower in pace. But I will continue on, especially with that mouth-dropping ending! I have to know what happens with the characters. I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars....more
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