The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Title: The Lost Apothecary

Author: Sarah Penner

Publisher: Park Row 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 298

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Seasonal TBR

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

Spoilers in my review (I can’t not rant about the spoilers)

My immediate review after finishing this book was boring. But then I started to think about it more and I moved to “I disliked that book immensely.” It employs a lot of the strategies and techniques that I hate about historical fiction and women’s fiction and does them very poorly. More specifically, here are my problems with the book:

I thought it was magical realism or a murder mystery or at least suspense, but nope just straight historical fiction.
Dual timelime - I almost never enjoy these as one of the stories is much more interesting than the other. In this case, they are both boring.
Modern woman is supposed to be the reader’s anchor, but I instantly disliked her. I didn’t find her relatable at all, but instead a sad sack woman who falls back into bad communication.
Gaslighting men - Seriously, I know how terrible men can be. Kind of sick of reading books where they are so villainous. So many in a row!
No distinction between “voices” - We are given three first person narrators who all sound the same. If you picked a randomly passage, I would be hard pressed to guess which of the three women it was without some historical marker clue.
All women are obsessed with having/not having children - Big theme I’m noticing in books lately and I’m so over it. Even Eliza at 12 is obsessed with the state of womb, she just doesn’t quite know it yet.
So many not plausible twists and coincidences. Seriously James ingested the poison to attempt get Caroline back? And her notebook with notes about poisons falls out of her bag and opens to that page so that the police immediately see it when they come in. No fucking way. Too much.
Why does every modern woman in these kind of books have to be running away from something? In this case a cheating husband (who conveniently follows her and shows just how terrible he can be). Why can’t a woman just stumble upon a mystery and have a group of friends or dare I say a good partner that they share it with.
Caroline’s stupidity throughout annoyed me so much. Why are we keeping things from Gaynor? Other than you breaking and entering the apothecary shop, nothing is scandalous or illegal. So why the secrecy?
Warming tincture saved Eliza’s life in the river? WTF?
(The characters were so forgettable that I almost wrote the main modern character’s name as Claire multiple times.)

So incredibly disappointed in this read. I guess it will be a good one to rip to shreds during book club.

star-rating-remains-the-most-important-part-of-a-review-cad0047.cad0047.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

Alice by Christina Henry

Title: Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1)

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Ace 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 304

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood...

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

CW: Sexual assault, rape

I finally got to read this gritty adult version of Alice in Wonderland. Whoever had checked it out from the library kept it for a year during the pandemic. Terrible! But I got it and tore through this book. I love dark retellings of classic stories and this one delivers on that promise. We get Alice and Hatcher (Mad Hatter) traveling through the Old City to attempt to defeat the Jabberwock. We get encounters with the Walrus, the Carpenter, the Caterpillar, the Rabbit, and (my absolute favorite) Cheshire. I adored Cheshire in this book. You definitely shouldn’t trust him, but he is incredibly entertaining. I loved the inclusion of the rose garden. This book wrapped up the Jabberwock storyline but leaves the overall storyline open further adventures in the world. I can’t wait to read the next in the series. But be forewarned, this is a very gritty adult take on Alice in Wonderland, not for children or even teens.

The Chronicles of Alice

#1 Alice
#2 Red Queen
#3 Looking Glass

Next up on the TBR pile:

A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman

Title: A House at the Bottom of a Lake

Author: Josh Malerman

Publisher: 2016

Genre: Horror

Pages: 114

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

The story begins: young lovers, anxious to connect, agree to a first date, thinking outside of the box.
At seventeen years old, James and Amelia can feel the rest of their lives beginning. They have got this summer and this summer alone to experience the extraordinary.
But they didn’t expect to find it in a house at the bottom of a lake.
The house is cold and dark, but it’s also their own.
Caution be damned, until being carefree becomes dangerous. For the teens must decide: swim deeper into the house—all the while falling deeper in love?
Whatever they do, they will never be able to turn their backs on what they discovered together. And what they learned:
Just because a house is empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.

I randomly picked this on up after seeing a review on another book blog. I was intrigued by the premise and had a hankering for a horror story. I absolutely adored this one for the atmosphere and descent into an almost dream state over the course of just a few pages. The lake becomes this otherworldly setting that morphs into a creepy horror show once we start exploring the house. I loved how the characters were adamant about not asking “how.” The premise is fascinating and i was very unsettled by the end of the story. Loved it!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov

Title: Robots and Empire

Author: Isaac Asimov

Publisher:

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 512

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Scifi

Isaac Asmiov's classic novel about the decline and fall of Solaria. Gladia Delmarre's homeworld, the Spacer planet Solaria, has been abandoned - by its human population. Countless robots remain there. And when traders from Settler worlds attempt to salvage them, the robots of Solaria turn to killing...in defiance of the Three Laws of Robotics. Pax Robotica Long ago, Gladia's robots Daneel and Giskard played a vital role in opening the worlds beyond the Solar system to Settlers from Earth. Now the conscience-stricken robots are faced with an even greater challenge. Either the sacred Three Laws of Robotics are in ruins - or a new, superior Law must be established to bring peace to the galaxy. With Madam Gladia and D.G. Baley - the captain of the Settler traders and a descendant of the robots' friend Elijah Baley - Daneel and Giskard travel to the robot stronghold of Solaria...where they uncover a sinister Spacer plot to destroy Earth itself.

Oh goodness! This just became my favorite Asimov book so far. I absolutely loved this one. Where the previous books were focused a lot on the plot (the murder mysteries), the mystery in this one is a bit more background. The philosophical conversations between characters (especially Daneel and Giskard) were center stage in this volume. I loved seeing the connection between the time of Elijah Baley and the founding of the empire. We get to see a new side with the settlers lead by DG Baley and his interactions with Gladia. So now we get to see what has happened to Earth, the Settlers, and the Spacers. I thought the mystery of the plot to destroy Earth was interesting, but again, it was the conversations that kept me reading. I loved the examination of the Laws of Robotics. This book renewed my motivation to read the rest of the Asimov’s books.

Next up on the TBR Pile:

Outlawed by Anna North

Title: Outlawed

Author: Anna North

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2021

Genre: Fiction - Alternate History; Western

Pages: 261

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf Project; Seasonal RC

In the year of our Lord 1894, I became an outlaw.

The day of her wedding, 17 year old Ada’s life looks good; she loves her husband, and she loves working as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife. But after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, in a town where barren women are routinely hanged as witches, her survival depends on leaving behind everything she knows.

She joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws led by a preacher-turned-robber known to all as the Kid. Charismatic, grandiose, and mercurial, the Kid is determined to create a safe haven for outcast women. But to make this dream a reality, the Gang hatches a treacherous plan that may get them all killed. And Ada must decide whether she’s willing to risk her life for the possibility of a new kind of future for them all.

I was so excited to grab this on from Book of the Month back in January. It was a very enjoyable story, but missed the mark just a bit for me. The book was slightly slow to start, but once Ada arrived at the Hole in the Wall Gang, everything started to pick up. From there, I was reading at a decent clip to get to the end of the adventure. Ada is at times, a very sympathetic character and a very annoying character. I enjoyed many of the other characters, and wished we had learned a bit more about some of them (e.g. Lo and Newsy). The book misses the mark just a bit by getting bogged down in Ada’s obsession with having a child/getting married. In this sections, I was less likely to keep reading the book. Upon reflection, I think this is a really good feminist alternate history western. But for my 5 star read, I would turn to Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. I love their take on a feminist western.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Title: The Midnight Library

Author: Matt Haig

Publisher: Viking 2020

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 299

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Someone Wants Me to Read

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

Such buzz about this book! I have heard so many people talk about how deeply affecting it was and how they were tears by the end of the book. And I did not have that reaction. Overall, I think this is a very decent It’s a Wonderful Life-esque book. I was interested to see how different choices would shape the different lives of Nora. I was hoping that at least one would result in her being together with Ash. And I felt that the ending was very fitting. it was an enjoyable book. But it did nothing for me emotionally. It might be because I have read so many of these types of books or it could be that the writing just didn’t speak to me. Either way, I didn’t shed a single tear while reading this one, but I did come away feeling that it was a worthwhile read.

Next up on the TBR pile:

It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgerton #7)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Romance

Pages: 407

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance; UnRead Shelf

Meet Our Hero . . .

Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth’s sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past . . . and the key to his future. The problem is—it’s written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

Meet Our Heroine . . .

All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She’s fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there’s something about her—something charming and vexing—that grabs him and won’t quite let go . . .

Meet Poor Mr. Mozart . . .

Or don’t. But rest assured, he’s spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual—and annually discordant—Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth’s every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other . . . and that there is nothing as simple—or as complicated—as a single, perfect kiss.

Another enjoyable historical romance. I was hoping that Hyacinth would get a glorious love story and thankfully she gets Gareth. He is who really makes this book so enjoyable. I loved the banter between him and Hyacinth and the banter between him and Lady Danbury. So lovely! I do love a book with witty dialogue. The Romance is good, but those scenes became less important than the connection between the two main characters. The mystery was a nice addition to liven up the book. I’m hoping that the series finishes off strong with Gregory’s story.

Bridgerton

#1 The Duke and I
#2 The Viscount Who Loved Me
#3 An Offer from a Gentleman
#4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
#5 To Sir Philip, With Love
#6 When He was Wicked
#7 It’s in His Kiss
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

Once Upon a Maiden Lane by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Once Upon a Maiden Lane (Maiden Lane #12.5)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Grand Central 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 130

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

Miss Mary Whitsun is far too intelligent to fall for the rakish charms of a handsome aristocrat. But when the gentleman in question approaches her in a bookshop, mistaking her for his fiancée, Lady Johanna Albright, the flirtatious encounter only raises more questions. Could Mary, a servant raised in a St Giles orphanage, actually be Lady Joanna's long-lost twin sister? If so, Mary has been betrothed since birth---to the rakishly handsome artistocrat himself . . .
Henry Collins, Viscount Blackwell, is far too intrigued by Mary to let her go so easily. He's drawn to her sharp mind, indomitable spirit, and the fiery way in which she dismisses him---ladies simply don't dismiss Lord Blackwell. But as Mary makes her first hesitant steps into society, she can't help but wonder if she truly has a place in Henry's world---or in his heart.

Decent little story featuring Mary Whitsun, but I wasn’t super excited. We didn’t get to know Mary as much as I wanted. Plus, the sex scenes were a bit strange. I think because I was still thinking of Mary as a young teenagers. Kind of strange.

Maiden Lane

Next up on the TBR pile:

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown

Title: Recipe for a Perfect Wife

Author: Karma Brown

Publisher: Dutton 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 336

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

When Alice Hale leaves a career in publicity to become a writer and follows her husband to the New York suburbs, she is unaccustomed to filling her days alone in a big, empty house. But when she finds a vintage cookbook buried in a box in the old home's basement, she becomes captivated by the cookbook’s previous owner—1950s housewife Nellie Murdoch. As Alice cooks her way through the past, she realizes that within the cookbook’s pages Nellie left clues about her life—including a mysterious series of unsent letters penned to her mother.

Soon Alice learns that while baked Alaska and meatloaf five ways may seem harmless, Nellie's secrets may have been anything but. When Alice uncovers a more sinister—even dangerous—side to Nellie’s marriage, and has become increasingly dissatisfied with the mounting pressures in her own relationship, she begins to take control of her life and protect herself with a few secrets of her own.

I finished this novel and absolutely groaned in disgust. I couldn’t believe that I wasted all that time reading the book. But let’s back up. I was concerned in just the first two chapters. I was making predictions as to where the story would go. I was right about Nellie’s story. But I actually liked reading Nellie’s story. I thought it was an interesting look at an abusive relationship in the 1950s. We get to see how she attempts to navigate her world. And I fairly satisfied about the ending of her story. Unfortunately, I absolutely detested Alice’s story. I kept thinking that we were supposed to find parallels between Nellie and Alice and their relationships. However, the two women went about life very differently. While Nellie found herself in an impossible situation, Alice’s bad behavior just escalated over the course of the novel. I really liked Nate and kept rooting for him to see how terrible Alice was and leave her. She was a terrible partner to him but kept stringing him along. By the end, I was completely confused as to the message of the book. Should we show sympathy to Alice as a women “stuck” in a bad marriage (she wasn’t and I didn’t)? Should we see a turning of the tables in terms of gender roles and who was initiated the abuse? If so, that’s a terrible thing to aspire to and obviously this book is a warning. Either way, it wasn’t clear what the author was actually getting at and I ended up really disliking the book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Once Upon a Moonlit Night (Maiden Lane #10.5)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Grand Central 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 87

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

Hippolyta Royle is running for her life. Pursued by hounds on a cold rainy night, the heiress flags down a passing carriage and throws herself at the mercy of the coach's occupant. Whoever this handsome traveler may be, he is her only hope to escape a terrible fate. But should he agree to escort her to safety, he's in for much more than he bargained for . . .

At first Matthew Mortimer doesn't believe Hippolyta's story, that she's a fabulously wealthy heiress who's been kidnapped. He assumes she's a beggar, an actress, or worse. But once his new travel companion washes the mud from her surprisingly lovely face, and they share a breathtaking kiss, there is no turning back . . .

A fun little interlude story in the series that follows-up with what happened during Duke of Sin. I wish we would have been able to get more of Hippolyta’s story, but I guess this will have to do. At least we get a bit of a conclusion to the mystery blackmail from the Duke of Montgomery. To be honest, I loved Matthew much more than Hippolyta. Entertaining novella to add to the collection.

Maiden Lane

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams

Title: Dangerous Women

Author: Hope Adams

Publisher: Berkley 2021

Genre: Historical Thriller

Pages: 334

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

London, 1841. One hundred eighty Englishwomen file aboard the Rajah, embarking on a three-month voyage to the other side of the world.
They're daughters, sisters, mothers—and convicts.
Transported for petty crimes.
Except one of them has a deadly secret, and will do anything to flee justice.
As the Rajah sails farther from land, the women forge a tenuous kinship. Until, in the middle of the cold and unforgiving sea, a young mother is mortally wounded, and the hunt is on for the assailant before he or she strikes again.
Each woman called in for question has something to fear: Will she be attacked next? Will she be believed? Because far from land, there is nowhere to flee, and how can you prove innocence when you’ve already been found guilty?

What a meh book… Seriously, I was just so incredibly bored. There’s a spark of a great story here in the actual history. After reading the author’s note, I was interested in learning more the real story of the women aboard the Rajah. It’s definitely a part of history that I know very little about. Unfortunately, the actual novel just doesn’t do the history justice. Out of the 200 women on the ship, we only get to know three of them and I didn’t really connect to any of those three women. I was just bored with this book. Definitely not for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Once Upon a Christmas Eve (Maiden Lane #10.7)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Grand Central 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 85

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

Adam Rutledge, Viscount d'Arque, really rather loathes Christmas. The banal cheerfulness. The asinine party games. And, worst of all, the obligatory trip to the countryside. His grandmother, however, loves the holiday---and Adam loves his grandmother, so he'll brave the fiercest snowstorm to please her. But when their carriage wheel snaps, they're forced to seek shelter at the home of the most maddening, infuriating, and utterly beguiling woman he's ever met . . .
Sarah St. John really rather loathes rakes. The self-satisfied smirks. The sly predatory gazes. Oh, and the constant witty banter rife with double meaning. But in the spirit of the season, she'll welcome this admittedly handsome viscount into her home. But as the snowstorm rages, the Yule log crackles, and the tension rises, Sarah and Adam find themselves locked in a fiery, passionate kiss. If love is the true meaning of Christmas, it's the one gift this mismatched pair can't wait to unwrap.

Maiden Lane

#1 Wicked Intentions
#2 Notorious Pleasures
#3 Scandalous Desires
#4 Thief of Shadows
#5 Lord of Darkness
#6 Duke of Midnight
#7 Darling Beast
#8 Dearest Rogue
#9 Sweetest Scoundrel
#10 Duke of Sin
#10.5 Once Upon a Moonlit Night
#10.7 Once Upon a Christmas Eve
#11 Duke of Pleasure
#12 Duke of Desire
#12.5 Once Upon a Maiden Lane

Next up on the TBR pile:

Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane #12)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Grand Central 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 308

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

A Lady of the Light Refined, kind, and intelligent, Lady Iris Jordan finds herself the unlikely target of a diabolical kidnapping. Her captors are the notoriously evil Lords of Chaos. When one of the masked---and nude!---Lords spirits her away to his carriage, she shoots him . . . only to find she may have been a trifle hasty. A Duke in Deepest Darkness Cynical, scarred, and brooding, Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, has made it his personal mission to infiltrate the Lords of Chaos and destroy them. Rescuing Lady Jordan was never in his plans. But now with the Lords out to kill them both, he has but one choice: marry the lady in order to keep her safe. Caught in a Web of Danger . . . And Desire Much to Raphael's irritation, Iris insists on being the sort of duchess who involves herself in his life---and bed. Soon he's drawn both to her quick wit and her fiery passion. But when Iris discovers that Raphael's past may be even more dangerous than the present, she falters. Is their love strong enough to withstand not only the Lords of Chaos but also Raphael's own demons?

CW: Rape, sexual assault, child abuse

A strong showing for the Maiden Lane with Raphael and Iris’s love story. I fell for Raphael after his appearance in the previous book. I desperately wanted to hear his story and find a conclusion to the Lords of Chaos storyline. We get both in this book, but with many many depressing and troubling scenes and stories. It was a bit hard to get through, especially when Raphael tells his story. The book was very dark. I have enjoyed the mysteries and adventures throughout the series, but this one really took it to a new level. Beyond those portions, I did enjoy watching Raphael and Iris fall in love. Their scenes were very steamy. Not my absolute favorite, but I really did enjoy this volume.

Maiden Lane

#1 Wicked Intentions
#2 Notorious Pleasures
#3 Scandalous Desires
#4 Thief of Shadows
#5 Lord of Darkness
#6 Duke of Midnight
#7 Darling Beast
#8 Dearest Rogue
#9 Sweetest Scoundrel
#10 Duke of Sin
#10.5 Once Upon a Moonlit Night
#10.7 Once Upon a Christmas Eve
#11 Duke of Pleasure
#12 Duke of Desire
#12.5 Once Upon a Maiden Lane

Next up on the TBR pile:

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Duke of Pleasure (Maiden Lane #11)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Grand Central 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 337

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

IN THE ARMS OF DANGER
Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king's secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley-and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.

IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE
Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she's the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation . . .

ONE KISS WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER
When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be-before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Maiden Lane series, but I just didn’t love this one. I did enjoy the larger mystery of the Lords of Chaos and the intrigues there. But I just didn’t connect to the romance between Alf and Hugh. There was too many questionable interactions involving consent. And then we get the whole High thinking Alf was a boy and then very quickly realizing that she wasn’t and engaging in a sexual relationship. I just couldn’t get behind their relationship Disappointing to me. And this was extra disappointing as it came after Valentine’s story that I absolutely adored. Things are looking up for the next book focused on the Duke of Dyemore.

Maiden Lane

#1 Wicked Intentions
#2 Notorious Pleasures
#3 Scandalous Desires
#4 Thief of Shadows
#5 Lord of Darkness
#6 Duke of Midnight
#7 Darling Beast
#8 Dearest Rogue
#9 Sweetest Scoundrel
#10 Duke of Sin
#10.5 Once Upon a Moonlit Night
#10.7 Once Upon a Christmas Eve
#11 Duke of Pleasure
#12 Duke of Desire
#12.5 Once Upon a Maiden Lane

Next up on the TBR pile:

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: Duke of Sin (Maiden Lane #10)

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Grand Central 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 369

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance

A MAN OF SIN
Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

A WOMAN OF HONOR
Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery's household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH
Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can't resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .

And the series has returned to the unbelievably steamy fun romp! I was intrigued by Valentine in the previous books and was so glad that he gets his own book! I absolutely fell for Val from the first chapter of this one (really from the last chapters of the previous book). I needed to see where Val’s journey led him and all the secrets of Bridget’s past. I’m so glad that Hoyt didn’t make Valentine a White Knight, but made his growth much more realistic to his original appearance. And Val definitely brought the steam factor. Oh goodness! He was so wicked! I loved very single minute of this book. I’m not sure any of the rest of the book will be able to top this one.

Maiden Lane

#1 Wicked Intentions
#2 Notorious Pleasures
#3 Scandalous Desires
#4 Thief of Shadows
#5 Lord of Darkness
#6 Duke of Midnight
#7 Darling Beast
#8 Dearest Rogue
#9 Sweetest Scoundrel
#10 Duke of Sin
#10.5 Once Upon a Moonlit Night
#10.7 Once Upon a Christmas Eve
#11 Duke of Pleasure
#12 Duke of Desire
#12.5 Once Upon a Maiden Lane

Next up on the TBR pile:

Librarian Tales by William Ottens

Title: Librarian Tales: Funny, Strange, and Inspiring Dispatches from the Stacks

Author: William Ottens

Publisher: Skyhorse 2020

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 240

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly of librarian William Ottens’s experience working behind service desks and in the stacks of public libraries, most recently at the Lawrence Public Library in Kansas. In Librarian Tales, published in cooperation with the American Library Association, readers will learn about strange things librarians have found in book drops, weird and obscure reference questions, the stress of tax season, phrases your local librarians never want to hear, stories unique to children’s librarians, and more.

Ottens uncovers common pet peeves among his colleagues, addresses misguided assumptions and stereotypes, and shares several hilarious stories along the way. This book is must reading for any librarian, or anyone who loves books and libraries, though non-library folks will also laugh and cry (from laughing) while reading this lighthearted analysis of your local community pillar, the library.

I have followed Librarian Problems for years and was really looking forward to a fun look at libraries. I was here for all the fun stories and quirky situations. I was ready for the behind-the-scenes tour. Instead, I got a fairly boring look at how Ottens became a librarian and the various positions he held. It was more of a dry look at the organization structure of libraries than celebrating the weird. I was bored.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

Title: Across the Green Grass Fields (Wayward Children #6)

Author: Seanan McGuire

Publisher: Tor 2021

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

“Welcome to the Hooflands. We’re happy to have you, even if you being here means something’s coming.”

Regan loves, and is loved, though her school-friend situation has become complicated, of late.

When she suddenly finds herself thrust through a doorway that asks her to "Be Sure" before swallowing her whole, Regan must learn to live in a world filled with centaurs, kelpies, and other magical equines―a world that expects its human visitors to step up and be heroes.

But after embracing her time with the herd, Regan discovers that not all forms of heroism are equal, and not all quests are as they seem…

I have absolutely loved the Wayward Children series, but this volume felt very disconnected and flat to me. I have loved the horror elements to previous volumes, but this one was a little too twee for me. I kept expecting Regan to encounter more creatures and adventures. Unfortunately it felt like the story went nowhere for 70% of the book. It didn’t really get interesting until she encountered the kelpie. I just would have liked more from this story. Here’s hoping the next volume brings back all the elements that I have loved.

Wayward Children

Next up on the TBR pile:

When He was Wicked by Julia Quinn

Title: When He was Wicked (Bridgerton #6)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Romance

Pages: 426

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Romance; UnRead Shelf

In every life there is a turning point . . .

A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then . . . Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love . . . until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets . ..

Another very enjoyable volume of the Bridgerton saga. I had been wondering about Francesca’s story since the first book. She always seemed to be the lost Bridgerton sibling. We finally get to understand her a little bit better and learn why she was in Scotland during most of the first few books. I loved Francesca and Michael’s relationship, but wished to have spent a bit more time with them after they got together. Plus, no epilogue! That was a bit disappointing. I always want just a little bit more. Only two more siblings to go and I’m hoping that their stories are interesting and romantic.

Bridgerton

#1 The Duke and I
#2 The Viscount Who Loved Me
#3 An Offer from a Gentleman
#4 Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
#5 To Sir Philip, With Love
#6 When He was Wicked
#7 It’s in His Kiss
#8 On the Way to the Wedding
Happily Ever After (2nd Epilogues and Violet’s Story)

Next up on the TBR pile:

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Title: Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe #2)

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pages: 512

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Humans learn from their mistakes. I cannot. I make no mistakes.

The Thunderhead is the perfect ruler of a perfect world, but it has no control over the scythedom. A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.

As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.

Old foes and new enemies converge, and as corruption within the Scythedom spreads, Rowan and Citra begin to lose hope. Will the Thunderhead intervene?

Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?

Finally got the second volume in the trilogy after purposefully giving it some time, and I sped through it. Multiple times I audibly gasped out loud. I am so glad that Citra and Rowan didn’t completely change their entire personalities, but did show growth and change. But my favorite parts of this volume were all the entries from the Thunderhead. I loved seeing inside the all-knowing being. Its thoughts on life, death, the scythedom, and the future of life on Earth. The action kept up throughout the book forcing me to turn the pages as fast I could. So good! And that twist at the end was a killer! I can’t wait to see how this story ends.

Arc of a Scythe:

#1 Scythe
#2 Thunderhead
#3 The Toll

Next up on the TBR pile:

Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

Title: Confessions on the 7:45

Author: Lisa Unger

Publisher: Park Row 2020

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 315

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Currently Reading - Everyone Loves on Bookstagram

Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha and soon confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.

Then the nanny disappears.

As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover…

This has really cemented the idea that I do not like thrillers. I’m just always so incredibly disappointed and the twists and turns seem so predictable. This particular book had too many coincidences for my taste. I just couldn’t get behind all the silly things characters, especially Selena, did throughout the story. I got to the end of the book and felt like I had wasted my time.

Next up on the TBR pile: