Happy book birthday to SWORD CATCHER by Cassandra Clare
There are those who live in Castellane and serve the royal family and there are those who wield magic forbidden to live within Castellane's walls but serve the royals none the less. Two orphans find themselves on opposite sides of the wall but each are connected to the royal family whether they choose to be or not. Kel has grown up by Prince Conor's side as his Sword Catcher - his body double that will take a sword should need be but his love and loyalty to Conor are unquestionable. Lin and her brother have grown up without family as their grandfather pledged his alligence and magic as advisor to the king. Lin is a skilled physician using magic to heal but she is unable to save her best friend from the disease that is killing her without forbidden knowledge out of her reach. From the power hungry palace to battling underworld kings finding allies is much more difficult than finding danger. A war is coming. This brilliant fantasy takes its start from Medieval European history and adds layers of ancient magic, rich world cultures and a broad look at love. All the deceit , violence and power plays of GAME OF THRONES with the dry wit and multilayered characters that Cassandra Clare has given us in her young adult series. This is the fantasy series we have been waiting for and I want book two now. 4 1/2 stars
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Andy has gone from the Navy to being a cop and is currently known as the gay P.I. whose office is above a gay bar. It is the 50's and while it might be getting a bit easier in San Francisco being gay is still a secretive and somewhat dangerous way to live. When his old boyfriend shows up as a client Andy wants to toss him out but his heart of gold won't turn away anyone who needs help. James is being blackmailed and he needs Andy to find who it is or kiss his big Navy promotion goodbye. The case will reunite him with his two closest friends but will also churn the shark infested waters around his heart. Hopefully it will also gain him some new clients and trust in the community. Violent but heartfelt and soul tugging this story speaks to anyone who feels lonely in a crowd, hungers to be understood and left alone to be who they really are. This is book two in what is a new kind of crime noir with a Mickey Spillane style featuring what has been up till now an untold and hidden group of people and stories. Readers of Stephen Spotwood's SECRETS TYPED IN BLOOD will enjoy this immensely. 4 stars
Jasmine flees China desperate to find the daughter who was taken from her at birth. Working as a nanny for the adopted parents Jasmine must keep her identity a secret as well as her other job in a shady bar and stay far away from the man she ran from. This is a complicated tug of war that pulls on the heartstrings as well as raises your heart rate trying to fit all the pieces together. Proving that there are no good guys or bad guys when it comes to the welfare of a child this is an interesting look at multicultural adoptions, birth parents vs. adoptive parents rights and the shady behind the scenes foreign adoption practices. The author does a great job of putting the reader in the middle of it without casting judgement and it is obvious that both women love this little girl. Readers of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE will find much to love. 4 stars
Happy book birthday to SHOOT THE MOON by Isa Arsen
Annie Fisk was born to travel to the stars or at least help others at NASA find their way. An exceptionally bright mathematician who was not content to sit back if the numbers didn't look right her tenacious attitude helped her meet her husband and get the attention of the powers at NASA. This is a look at the struggles for women at NASA, the race for space, a woman who loved a man and a woman deeply and a special anomaly that unlocks a path to travel in time. Chapters leap back and forth from Annie's youth to her time in Houston and after in Marfa Texas. It is a bit HIDDEN FIGURES as much as it is THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE and readers who enjoy learning about the struggle of smart women in traditionally men's jobs will enjoy this as much as the romance. 3 1/2 stars Cam is grieving the loss of his lover Kai and dealing with it in a haze of drugs, booze and random hook ups with strangers back home in Houston. When he is reunited with his childhood best friend and the family who took him into their home and bakery growing up he wonders if it will be enough to extinguish Kai's ghost. Returning home is hard when the leaving was painful and it will take love and considerable patience to get back to the closeness they shared. Bryan Washington's writing is beautiful and while painful to read there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. It is an intimate look at connections - family, friends and lovers. Who we bare our soul to, make food for, trust and keep secrets for. 4 stars
Happy book birthday to STARLING HOUSE by Alix E. Harrow
Opal and her brother are just scraping by with Opal doing her best taking whatever jobs are available and whatever loose items happen to be within reach. She needs to make some fast money so she can send her teen brother to a good school and out of their crummy little town. As she passes the creepy house that she has always been attracted to its recluse owner offers her a job as housekeeper. The house is happy to have her and even Arthur warms up to this caustic but lovable young woman. But Arthur is the last in line of a history of wardens that guard against nightmare beasts getting out. Dark forces are gathering at the gate both the monsters of Underland and the wealthy monsters in town. A showdown is coming and with it Opal's chance at dreams instead of nightmares and redemption for Arthur. Alix E. Harrow has created wonderful characters similar to Don Quixote's fierce but ill equipped underdog heroes that will pierce your heart. 4 1/2 stars With grant money in hand Holly gets the break she has been looking for. The only thing missing is a rental where she and the actors can develop the play and she thinks she finds it in the Hill House. Personalities aside it will take some doing for all of them to feel comfortable in the spooky remote mansion. Soon all of them feel the pull of the house and they begin confronting personal demons. This is the only authorized continuation of Shirley Jackson's classic. All the elements are there - the gothic house with a myriad of secrets, the skeptical housekeepers who won't stay after dark, the townspeople who want them gone, a storm brewing and a group of people whose emotions are running wild. You will slowly sink into the madness with them and you will never look at a rabbit the same way again. 4 stars
Historical fiction that crosses two continents, two lifetimes and two cultures. Destined at birth for a hard life the young African princess saw her family slaughtered and was taken prisoner to be killed until a British sea captain saved her by gifting her to Queen Victoria. As the Queen's ward she is renamed Sarah and begins to learn what it means to be a proper English lady. Sarah is determined to never return to the land where death awaits only to be sent back there whenever the Queen decides. Sarah is never truly one of the royal family but remained dependent on the whims of Queen Victoria. It is a fascinating story of a young girl and then woman caught between two countries and identities. 4 stars Happy book birthday to NIGHT OF THE WITCH by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
A excellent tale of old witchcraft both green and dark and the age old persecution of witches. In a small village a young girl hides while her mother is dragged off and burned for being a witch. Fritzi is now doing her best to protect the others in the coven while trying to keep ahead of the relentless Hexenjager (witch hunters). Otto is one of those Hexenjager but he has a secret agenda. When Fritzi is captured she must trust Otto or burn along with a hundred of the villagers. A clever mix of hunter and hunted with an enemy to lover angle that will delight both YA and adult readers. The author pair write well together and I look forward to the second book. 4 stars Happy book birthday to THE LIST by Yomi Adegoke
How do we gauge the truth of what we see on social media? What would you do if you saw someone you loved on a list of wrongdoers? This is what Ola must decide and the timing couldn't be worse. She is a journalist at a feminist magazine and used to being a champion of women's rights but now it is personal. Just weeks before she is getting married her fiancé's name comes up on a list of men accused of sexual misconduct on social media. The accusers are not named but the accused are publicly vilified. Now her job, friendships, her social event of the season wedding and her relationship with Michael all come under public scrutiny. Is it true or is someone playing a vindictive and destructive game? Twists and turns will have you moving players from hero to villain back and forth. The scary part of the story is how easily this could happen in a world where social media dominates our lives. Justice needs to be served, victims need to speak out but we should all being careful of being both judge, jury and executioner. 4 stars |
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