Jean_Sexton and Her 2021 Books

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Jean_Sexton and Her 2021 Books

1Jean_Sexton
Feb 13, 2021, 6:20 pm

This year promises to be a bit crazy. I'm adapting to my semi-retirement and trying to find time to game as well as read.

But stick around! This year should be the usual mix of mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and any other book that crosses my path sort of year.

2Jean_Sexton
Feb 21, 2021, 2:10 pm

1. Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster. Heart of Iron is the second book in the London Steampunk series. This entry feels more like dystopian steampunk than its predecessor. That is partly because Lena, the female lead, tinkers with Devices to amuse London's blue bloods. That the blue bloods are vampires is the driving force in the story. Instead of marriage, young women seek a thrall contract. The vampire will then take care of her unless he is abusive.

Our hero is a werewolf who doesn't quite fit into the underworld of the poor and definitely doesn't belong in the world of the upper echelon. When it becomes necessary for him to achieve the latter, he and Lena are tossed together.

The romance is fairly steamy, so do be aware of that. But the driving story for me is the mystery presented in the book. And that is why I'll be getting the next book in the series.

While the book can stand alone, it is a much richer read after completing the first book. I would suggest the series for folks who like steampunk and steamy romances.

3Jean_Sexton
Feb 21, 2021, 2:30 pm

2. The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. The Silver Kiss is Most Excellent! To me, this is almost the perfect vampire romance/non-romance. More importantly, it is about facing death, facing life, facing evil. It is about choosing life.

Zoe is perhaps too wise for her years, but I think that comes when loving with a family member who is suffering and facing death. Perhaps that is what made it resonate with me in a year when the news is filled with illness, suffering, and death.

Simon is a vampire who is over 300-years old. Simon wants revenge on a vampire who killed his mother and continues to delight in killing others. When he was turned, he was probably an appropriate age to court Zoe.

I liked this book because Simon knows that his life is too dark to ask anyone, even Zoe, to share it. And Zoe learns and grows throughout the book. And the ending ... well, I leave it to you to discover.

While it was written for young adults, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a touch of horror in their vampire novel.

4Jean_Sexton
Mar 1, 2021, 10:48 am

3. Fun with Kirk and Spock: Star Trek, A Parody by Robb Pearlman.

Go, go, go, Reader!
Read the book.
Laugh boldly!

Written in the "Dick and Jane" style, Fun with Kirk and Spock claims it will help cadets of all ages master the art of reading. However, it is obviously written for adults with words that no young cadet would understand and situations that are clearly for adults. Although Spock in his rubber ducky inner tube float cannot be unseen once seen, there's nothing naughty.

My wonderful husband gave me this book, knowing I am a huge Star Trek Original Series fan. I whooped out loud. To me, that is all you can ask from a book that isn't even 70 pages long.

It is highly recommended as a funny, quick read.

5Jean_Sexton
Mar 9, 2021, 6:20 pm

4. Beginnings: Worlds of Honor 6 by David Weber, Charles E. Gannon, Timothy Zahn, and Joelle Presby.

This anthology has five very different short stories:
By the Book by Charles E. Gannon
A Call to Arms by Timothy Zahn
Beauty and the Beast by David Weber
Best Laid Plans by David Weber and
Obligated Service by Joelle Presby

Some of these I wasn't as fond of, and others I loved.

Gannon's By the Book I would have enjoyed in a collection of SF mysteries. It didn't really have the feel of the Honor Harrington universe. I felt as though it had a Honorverse envelope wrapped around a mystery set in Earth's not-distant future.

Zahn's A Call to Arms was much better. Set in Manticore's more distant past when Manticore didn't have the end-all and be-all of technology, this military science fiction story had me on my toes throughout.

Weber's Beauty and the Beast was perhaps my favorite. In the story of how Honor's parents came to know each other, I could see the hints of the people they would become. And yes, there are truly villainous bad guys.

Weber's second story Best Laid Plans made me smile. A young Honor Harrington has an adventure.

Presby's Obligated Service, for me, was an absorbing story. It wasn't always comfortable to read, but it made me think. In so many of the books, we see the more upper-crust Grayson citizens. This is more of a look at the underside of that life as a young woman tries to make her way in the Grayson navy.

This is absolutely written for fans of the series. If it weren't for the story By the Book, the collection would be a solid 4.5 stars, rounded up to five. That first story drags it down to a four-star book for me.

6Jean_Sexton
Mar 10, 2021, 3:01 pm

5. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. I'd meant to read The Duke and I for a while; the Netflix series just gave me a push. Spoiler alert: If you want to read the series and haven't watched the series, don't watch the series. It has a HUGE spoiler for the other books. Also, I include a spoiler below since it is impossible to tell you what disturbed me without it.

This is a semi-typical Regency -- we know who is going to marry whom from the opening pages. I liked that the heroine was pretty competent, although appalling ignorant about human biology. The hero was different than most since he had a stutter. Also, his father was a nasty piece of work.

Some things happened in the book that I didn't much like. Those are below in the spoiler. The bottom line is that if you like Regencies, you'll probably like this one. The bad spot lowered the rating by a star to only four stars.

SPOILER:

You really should stop reading now if you don't want the spoiler.

There's a good amount of sex scenes in the book, which I didn't mind since the plot twist depends on sex. I didn't like the rape scene, nevermind it was a wife raping her husband.

7Jean_Sexton
Mar 10, 2021, 3:37 pm

6. "B" is for Burglar by Sue Grafton. This book is still early in the series, but I am enjoying it. "B" is for Burglar is certainly a product of the 1980s. Kinsey Millhone jogs, eats out at prices that I vaguely remember, and has no cell phone. She is her own woman, though, and I love it.

This is a standard mystery, with the author playing fair with the reader. I had thoughts about what was going on, but then I have a suspicious mind when reading mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed the "reveal" when Kinsey figured it out.

Most of all, reading this during the Covid-19 pandemic, I envied the freedom to travel and interact with people. In this much simpler time, before 9/11, it was easy to hop on a plane and fly across the country. People had no masks, no real worries about various diseases. Of course, having no cell phones or portable computers certainly made it more necessary to travel and have "boots on the ground."

This book will stand alone but gains from being read in series order. Highly recommended for fans of PI mysteries.

8Jean_Sexton
Editado: Mar 27, 2021, 2:57 pm

7. A Study in Treason: A Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Leonard Goldberg. A Holmesian mystery and a locked room mystery, what could be more intriguing? I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery with Joanna Watson (daughter of Sherlock Holmes), her husband John Watson, Jr., and the elder Dr. Watson. The author played fair with the reader without many "pull a hare out of the hat" moments. I had a gut feeling about what was happening and was pleased to find it was true.

While part of a series, this volume can be read as a standalone book. I would suggest it for fans of Sherlock Holmes or anyone who likes mysteries.

9Jean_Sexton
Mar 27, 2021, 5:22 pm

8. Snake Bite by Andrew Lane. Snake Bite is the fifth book in the Young Sherlock Holmes series. Don't start here; go back and read Death Cloud. You will need the background in the rest of the series to make sense of this one. That said, Dnake Bite takes up after Fire Storm. If you haven't read that book, stop here and go read it. Spoilers abound below.

Sherlock's adventures start aboard the Gloria Scott (no, not *that* one), sailing to China. Kidnapped and hidden aboard, the young not-willingly-a-stowaway Sherlock has much to learn as he works off his passage. More of the story give a hint as to the development of Conan Doyle's adult Holmes. Along those lines is one of Sherlock's thoughts, "Maybe the best thing to do was to make friends with a doctor—that way you would always have treatment close at hand."

I loved the mystery. The author played fair with the readers, but the exact details of how the events transpired did escape me.

While written for young adults, I suggest Snake Bite is good reading for anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes or mysteries. The proof is in the pudding -- I have already bought the next book in the series.

10Jean_Sexton
Abr 12, 2021, 3:07 pm

9. Cauldron of Ghosts by David Weber and Eric Flint. Cauldron of Ghosts is the third book in the Wages of Sin series and, I suspect, the end of the series. The side path the series has taken is most likely wound back into the main Honor Harrington series. My favorite spies, Anton Zilwicki and Victor Cachat, are back on Mesa, doing what they do best: ferreting out information on the Mesan Alignment. I love seeing all the angles in this book and being in the know while the spies try to figure it out. The downside is that unless you've read the other books in the series, you are being dumped in the deep end of the pool without a life jacket. Don't jump in the deep end; start at the beginning and read through. You will be rewarded with a well-developed universe that grows more complex.

Highly recommended for fans of the series.

11Jean_Sexton
Editado: Abr 12, 2021, 3:42 pm

10. A Chain Across the Dawn by Drew Williams. A Chain across the Dawn is the middle book of The Universe After trilogy. I loved The Stars Now Unclaimed, except for what I thought was a high amount of profanity. I hoped for the best in this book, knowing that the middle book is usually not as strong as the first. After all, it must bridge the first and last book and really cannot wind up too many plot lines. I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

First, it keeps its space opera background going strong. It also has a strong leaning toward science fantasy, with "The Pulse" being the huge backdrop for the story. What it also has is strong characters and a driving storyline. The level of profanity is toned back a tad, which strengthens the book, in my opinion. I wasn't distracted by the language as I read avidly to find out what came next.

The series is highly recommended for fans of science fiction/science fantasy. However, don't start with this book -- start with the first book. This is one of the cases that I would suggest checking for the omnibus volume with the sequel, The Firmament of Flame. I wish I had done that from the start since I immediately bought the sequel.

12Jean_Sexton
Abr 12, 2021, 4:13 pm

11. Belinda Goes To Bath: A Novel of Regency England - Being the Second Volume of The Traveling Matchmaker by M. C. Beaton (published originally as by Marion Chesney). I was in search of a fluffy book, and Regencies are my "go-to" for that purpose. Marion Chesney is one of my favorites; I think her Miss Pym may be my favorite returning character in a series of Regencies. I can remember feeling as she does, that I was destined to live alone. I also love watching people whilst I traveled by bus.

In Belinda Goes to Bath, I liked both the main love interests and actively rooted against the oh-so-proper miss that the Marquess thought he ought to marry. I loved Hannah's machinations to throw the proper couple together.

While you don't have to have read the first book in the series, it does add some depth to Hannah Pym's character. This book is highly recommended for people who like their Regencies light, witty, and clean.

13Jean_Sexton
Abr 12, 2021, 5:25 pm

12. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is one of those "oh, my gosh" books. Written for middle school and older readers, I found the book to be rich in folklore and good reading for adults. The author's world is fascinating and her characters complex. And the story ... I kept finding myself surprised because it didn't wander into standard fantasy tropes. Just when I would think, "I know where this is going," the characters would go and do something else, but that something was totally what that person would do. An added bonus is I think I learned a little more about West African mythology.

Before I suggest that everyone who likes fantasy should read this book, I should quote the author's warning. "Please note this book depicts issues of mild self-harm ideation, fantasy violence, emotional and physical abuse, anxiety and panic attacks, parent death, and animal death. I have done my best to approach these topics with sensitivity, but if you feel this kind of content may be triggering, please be aware."

The sequel to this book is A Psalm of Storms and Silence, due out in the fall of 2021. I rarely preorder a book, but I did this one. It isn't that A Song of Wraiths and Ruin ended in a cliffhanger because it didn't. It is because I enjoyed the author's writing and storytelling, and I want to read more from her.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or mythology. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

14Jean_Sexton
Abr 13, 2021, 3:46 pm

13. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn. Like so many others, I recently found my interest rekindled in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton saga. The Viscount Who Loved Me is the story of Anthony, the eldest of the Bridgertons. We met him in the first book as his sister Daphne was courted by his best friend (and fellow rake). Now, Anthony has decided that it is time to marry a young lady to carry on the family line. Enter the Sheffields.

As is true in so many Regencies, it is clear to the reader which of the sisters Anthony will marry. What is different from most Regencies is about an equal amount of time is spent with the couple after their wedding. As is usual in this series, at least so far, there are problems that must be overcome as the couple grows in the marriage. I suspect I was not the only one of this book's readers to cry out: "COMMUNICATION! You need to talk to each other." I did like the wittiness and sparkle between the main characters. And I loved Newton, the pudgy corgi. And Lady Whistledown's introductions to the chapters were priceless. I confess I heard them in Julie Andrew's voice.

The current Kindle version of the book includes a short story at the end. Be aware that it contains spoilers for the later books. While the book stands alone, it is best read in order. That way, there are fewer spoilers for the earlier books.

I would suggest this for readers of Regencies. Fans of the TV series should only read it if they don't mind knowing the outcome of season 2. I liked it enough to buy the sequel.

15Jean_Sexton
Abr 25, 2021, 11:35 am

14. Exodus by Leon Uris. This book is so massive that somehow it should count as two! I read Uris's Exodus long ago before I went to college. I wanted to see if it would hold up to my memories. It succeeded in that. It is a powerful book, especially when it focuses on the past injustices to the Jews. It made me sick at heart to read of the brutality and atrocities they suffered. The power of what they endured to create a nation sang to me.

The difference this time is that back in college, I took a course titled "History as Seen through the Eyes of the Novelist." Taught by a journalist/historian, the main thought came from the final exam question. Paraphrasing it, the question was, "Every novelist has a reason for writing his book. What was the reason for the books you read? Did the novelist achieve his goal?"

It is evident that Uris is pro-Israeli. It comes through in all of his noble characters that I fell in love with. Ari Ben Caanan, his father Barak, his sister Jordana, Jordana's love David Ben Ami, Karen Hansen Clement, and Dov Landau are richly drawn. Kitty Fremont is the American nurse through whom we see so many of the events and people.

However, Uris definitely paints with a broad negative brush when it comes to the Arabs in the stories. "Dirty" and "stinking" are used too frequently to describe the people, and their homes are almost uniformly "squalid." From what I have read about the history, it does seem accurate. However, I feel the loaded words weren't necessary to clarify what happened was wrong. I felt that I was being shoved down a path I would have taken anyway.

My final verdict is this is a 4.5 star book, losing a half star for the reasons above. It certainly accomplishes the author's objectives. It is an important novel in many ways because it clarifies how the roots of what happened during the Holocaust were already in too many countries. The Jewish ghettos, the pogroms, and the existing discriminatory laws made it too easy to ignore what was happening to a people who were already marginalized.

If you haven't read this massive historical novel, it is well worth the time, with the caveat above.

16Jean_Sexton
mayo 24, 2021, 3:22 pm

15. "C" Is for Corpse by Sue Grafton For me, Sue Grafton's books are a "palate cleanser." I know I will get an excellently written PI investigation with a challenging case. This third book doesn't disappoint! It had an interesting twist in that her client had amnesia and then died during the case, so Kinsey Millhone had an uphill run. Again, the author played fair with her readers, so I was happy I had a chance to solve the case, too. (I didn't actually solve it, but I could see how it happened.) I could see why this book won the Anthony Award for best novel.

The book is certainly a product of its time, the mid-1980s, so there is plenty of jogging and no cell phones. There's certainly no "googling" for answers!

If you like classic PI mysteries, you should like this book.

17Jean_Sexton
mayo 24, 2021, 4:11 pm

16. Penelope Goes To Portsmouth by M. C. Beaton. Originally published under Beaton's Marion Chesney pseudonym, Penelope Goes to Portsmouth is the third entry in the Travelling Matchmaker series. Miss Hannah Pym is one of my favorite characters in the genre of Regency series. She sees everything so clearly except for her own life. Now she has acquired a devoted footman.

Of course, there is no question about the outcome of the featured romance; the story is in how the two end up together. This book sets up some rough water for Miss Pym to have to sail through in the future as her kind actions don't sit well with more villainous characters.

While this can be read out of order, I think you lose some of the nuances if you do so. And if you like Regencies, you will like all the books, so best to start at the beginning and follow Miss Pym in her travels.

18Jean_Sexton
mayo 24, 2021, 5:43 pm

17. Knife Edge by Andrew Lane. If you like good mysteries and Sherlock Holmes, but haven't read Death Cloud, the start of Andrew Lane's Young Sherlock Holmes series, stop here! Go read that book and come back to this one once you have read it and the next four. Without having read the previous five books, you will be lost at sea.

So, you are all caught up on the series, yes? You'll be delighted to find that Sherlock has managed to return to the United Kingdom, but in Ireland, rather than England. His brother, Moriarity, has need of him, and so does England. Will Sherlock be able to save the day?

What I really appreciated was the tie-in to the Victorian interest in spiritualism. It made for a fascinating read as Sherlock had to learn for himself if it were real. Also of interest was Sherlock's reunion with old friends. I think this passage is sometimes true of people as well as places. He has things in his past that must be resolved to become the Sherlock we know and love.

Highly recommended for people who have read the first five books. If you like some of the more modern interpretations of Sherlock Holmes, this series would probably be one you would enjoy.

19Jean_Sexton
Editado: mayo 30, 2021, 3:56 pm

18. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Like so many others, I watched the Netflix version of this book. Like so many others, I fell in love with the series. I had to read the book. I think I was lucky to be able to carry so many of the images over to the book. That made the world of Shadow and Bone much richer than I think the writing created on its own merits.

On the surface, this is much like many other young adult fantasy novels. A young heroine is going to save her world/nation. She's an outsider who finds magic late. There is the love triangle. On the other hand, there is an interesting world and magical system that I found fascinating to explore. Fortunately, with the series in mind, I didn't feel overwhelmed with a bunch of words that had no definition in the beginning.

Do keep in mind the series isn't the same as the book. The characters are a bit different, and some from the series aren't in the book at all.

Without having seen the series, I would probably have given the book four stars. With the imagery, I fell in love with the book, so I would give it five stars. That would average out at 4.5 stars which I'm going to round to 5 because I do want to read the sequel.

I'd suggest this for people who love fantasy and don't stress if the themes are far from unique.

20Jean_Sexton
Editado: Jun 2, 2021, 11:28 am

19. Plague Ship by Frank G. Slaughter. I've always enjoyed medical fiction by Frank G. Slaughter. I feel like I have learned something, albeit a bit dated, but the theory applies. And Slaughter grew up in North Carolina, graduating from Duke, so I'm reading a North Carolinian writer. So at the tail end of a pandemic, how could I resist reading a novel that follows a fictional pandemic. This being a Slaughter novel, I knew it wouldn't end with the last person turning out the light.

With this book, it was fascinating to trace the path of the newly rereleased disease as it spread across the world. At each chokepoint, I thought, "With quick action now, they can catch it." Each time, the disease escaped. It wasn't hard to see the parallels today. The biggest difference is that the new plague had a 50% mortality rate. Like the hero, epidemiologist Dr. Grant Reed, I was frustrated by the superstition and ignorance of some of the characters. I, too, was frustrated by governments that put economics over the health of their citizens.

The main thing to remember is this book is set in 1961, so there are no cell phones, no handheld computers, and no miracle drugs. There is hard work and dedication. That makes the book worth reading. I'd suggest it for folks who enjoy medical suspense and don't mind that the medical part is far from current.

21Jean_Sexton
Jun 11, 2021, 9:38 am

20. The Ravens of Solemano or The Order of the Mysterious Men in Black by Eden Unger Bowditch. The Ravens of Solemano is the second book in The Young Inventors Guild series. As such, I expected it to be weaker than the first one, The Atomic Weight of Secrets, which earned four stars from me. But, on the other hand, I didn't expect it to be this hot mess.

The plot doesn't advance that much. However, we learn a bit more about the mysterious men in black. The evil Komar Romak is just as evil, but we learn a little more about him. Miss Brett, the children's teacher, is just as sweet. We learn a bit more about the children. We learn their special things have some sort of power. This advancement took well over 400 pages that I forced myself to read.

Forced, you ask? Yes, forced. I proofread for a living; I don't like having to do so when reading for enjoyment. The Kindle version had numerous typos. The beginning word of some sentences wasn't capitalized. Too many ending sentences of paragraphs ended with a comma, leaving me to wonder if something got left out. Finally, I decided that since a period would have ended the sentence, it was just a typo. But those errors happened so frequently that I was annoyed. The book wasn't fun to read. The highlight was the appearance of Tesla, but even he was mysterious and a bit annoying.

I cannot recommend this book to anyone who cares about writing. At best, the story was okay, earning the story three stars. Unfortunately, the numerous punctuation and capitalization errors knock that down to 2.5 stars. I won't be buying the third book, so I am rounding it down to two stars. And that makes me sad because the first book had such promise.

22Jean_Sexton
Jun 16, 2021, 3:00 pm

21. Beatrice Goes To Brighton by M. C. Beaton (originally released as being by Marion Chesney). This was an interesting book, not just for the romance, but for the development of Miss Pym's character. I love Benjamin for his loyalty and because he takes care of Miss Pym far beyond what she realizes.

Up until this book, Miss Pym has been a bit bossy but almost too perfect. Here, she has fears that the gentleman she is interested in will be far too interested in a beautiful widow. I totally understand those fears. I also enjoyed the author's portrayal of Prinny.

While this book can be read out of order, I always like to read them in order. I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes traditional Regencies.

23Jean_Sexton
Jun 26, 2021, 9:21 pm

22. In a Dark Garden by Frank G. Slaughter. In a Dark Garden was written in 1946 and is one of Slaughter's earlier books. The author's North Carolina roots show as Dr. Julian Chisholm's ancestral plantation is on the Cape Fear, near Wilmington. For the time, it was fairly enlightened and didn't really romanticize The South. Julian really doesn't want the plantation or the slaves. He knows the South is on the wrong side of the war. Still, he chooses to fight for what he considers his home. During the story, he does have even more of an attitude change as he encounters Union sympathizers. I think that is what keeps the book readable now.

Of course, our hero performs new surgeries and brings a lot of more modern ideas into action. His reasoning is sound and made it believable. The romance is more of a twist. Our hero is torn between two women, and the reader gets to see how that plays out. The description of war, as seen through the eyes of a compassionate doctor, must have rung even more true just after World War II when the book was released.

I enjoyed the book. It was well-written and had an interesting story to tell. Some of the language and themes were typical of the time but fit in the story.

I need to hunt up the sequel, The Stubborn Heart.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction or medical fiction. If you enjoy both, this should be on your reading list.

24Jean_Sexton
Jun 26, 2021, 9:47 pm

23. A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. Oh my goodness, what a joy to read! While the book is written for middle-grade readers, the 14-year-old heroine has much to say for readers of all ages. What makes a hero? Who is responsible when something wrong happens? What is each person's responsibility when that wrong must be righted? All of these questions are explored in the book.

I fell in love with Mona, Spindle, and Knackering Molly. Mona was everything a heroine should be, although she is quite right that she shouldn't have had to be the hero. Spindle's insights were spot on. Knackering Molly ... well, her story is her own.

The concept is unique: Mona is a wizard whose ability lies with bread. She can convince it to rise, not burn, and be soft for a start. Her gingerbread men can dance, drawing people to her aunt's bakery. However, things quickly spiral out of her control when she finds a dead girl in said bakery. Plots abound! I will warn you that at one point you will need a tissue handy.

If you read one fantasy this year, choose this book. You won't regret it.

25Jean_Sexton
Jul 17, 2021, 4:21 pm

24. Ask Me No Questions by Shelley Noble. I spotted this at the library and was intrigued. The year is 1907, we have Lady Philomena Dunbridge leaving England to perhaps move to Manhattan, and there is murder and horse racing. What could go wrong?

There wasn't much in the way of sparkling conversation, and the mystery was a bit mundane with a hint the size of a 2'" x 4'" beam dropped early on. I really disliked Bev, Lady Dunbridge's best friend, who was whiney and close to useless. I thought that Lily, Lady Dunbridge's lady's maid, was perhaps the most interesting character.

This is the first book in a series, so I will forgive this less-than-stellar opening in the hopes it will improve with the next book.

26Jean_Sexton
Ago 1, 2021, 4:27 pm

25. The Art of Anne Stokes: Mystical, Gothic & Fantasy by Anne Stokes and John Woodward. This is a case of a cover selling the book. When I saw the gorgeous cover with a mage and dragon, I knew I had to have the book to add to my collection of fantasy artwork. It turns out I have seen artwork by Anne Stokes; she has done some art for figurines and shirts. But The Art of Anne Stokes is an excellent introduction to her art.

I think her best art features dragons, although she seems to paint a lot of fairies. Her unicorns are also quite nice. The book includes some of the backstories for her art. Her partner John Woodward also contributed the opening text for the nine sections. The fascinating chapter to read was "Designing for Different Formats." That one explains the collaboration between Anne Stokes and the figuring designer.

I am glad that I have this book. I would suggest it for fans of fantasy art.

27Jean_Sexton
Ago 1, 2021, 5:47 pm

26. Shadow of Victory by David Weber. Shadow of Victory is the fourth book in the Saganami Island series. That means the focus isn't on Honor Harrington but rather on the people stationed in the Talbott Cluster.

This novel's timeline overlaps with Storm from the Shadows, Mission of Honor, A Rising Thunder, Shadow of Freedom, and Cauldron of Ghosts. If you are looking for a book to advance the timeline, this book really isn't that. However, if you want all the whys and wherefores behind the scenes, this is that story.

Here we find out more about "Firebrand," one of the nomes de guerre of agent provocateur Damien Harahap. Once part of the Solarian League, now he is neck-deep in Mesa's activities to discredit Manticore. His attempts are spread out over several planets. We also see more about the Mesan Alignment's plans and plots.

Here is where the book bogs down some. There are too many plots on too many planets to have the reader really care about the people involved. On the planet Chotěboř, for me, it was complicated by the Czech terms used. There is a glossary in the back of the ebook, but that is less than easy to use in an ebook. There were too many hopeless situations where the rebels were waiting for Manticore to come.

Still, the novel lets us catch up with some old friends, and that is good. I really enjoyed it, but there is no way that I would categorize this as military science fiction. I would also suggest it only for fans of the Honor Harrington series that want to know *everything* about that universe.

I would give this book 4.5 stars because it did bog down some. I am rounding it up to five because I would read another book in the sub-series.

28Jean_Sexton
Ago 1, 2021, 6:14 pm

27. Deborah Goes to Dover by M. C. Beaton (originally released as being by Marion Chesney). Deborah Goes to Dover is a return to a more light-hearted comedic Regency. Miss Pym does her matchmaking, her footman Ben comes more into his own, and the usual romances commence. The twist this time is that the main heroine is a tomboy.

While Hannah's major nemesis gets her comeuppance, it happens in such a funny way that I found myself laughing.

While the story of Hannah Pym is best read in order of the books' publication, this can be read as a standalone novel.

I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy traditional Regencies.

29Jean_Sexton
Sep 4, 2021, 5:39 pm

28. My Contrary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. My Contrary Mary is set in the same world as My Lady Jane. It recaptures all the fun in that book as it explores a fantasy world with a similar history (but not the same) as our own. As the authors put it, "And for France: we’re sorry for what we’re about to do to your history, but it was your turn."

The authors deftly set up the world. "In those days (think 1560), the world was sharply divided between two groups of people: E∂ians and Verities. The E∂ians believed that inside every person was an animal—a creature you could become whenever you wished...The other faction—the Verities—was not amused by these shape-shifting shenanigans. They believed that people should be people, period."

We meet Mary, Queen of Scots, just before her marriage to the future Francis II. There are her four ladies in waiting, the plotting Catherine de' Medici, the daughter of Nostradamus, and Francis. All have important roles to play in the political machinations of the time. Of course, there is romance. What kept me laughing were the observations of the authors and the pop culture references.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. If you liked My Lady Jane, then I feel certain you will like this book. If you liked CW's Reign, you might give this book a whirl.

30Jean_Sexton
Sep 4, 2021, 7:33 pm

29. Yvonne Goes to York by M. C. Beaton (originally released as being by Marion Chesney). Have you read the first five books in The Travelling Matchmaker series? If you haven't, stop right here, find Emily Goes to Exeter, and read it first. Then read the rest. That way you'll be able to root for Miss Pym, keep fingers crossed for Benjamin, and see a new romance blossom.

This is a traditional Regency, with all that entails. You know the destination; how you get there is the fun. This book is most satisfactory and the perfect end to the series.

I'd suggest this series for anyone who enjoys traditional Regencies.

31Jean_Sexton
Editado: Sep 6, 2021, 4:44 pm

30. "D" is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. This was another good mystery in the series. I've been reading these mysteries as a break from other series. One of the things I like about them is they are a product of their time. The 1980s -- research required legwork, cell phones weren't connecting us to the world, and desktop computers were expensive and rare. So it made sense to hire a private investigator to do the research and legwork.

There's one thing to remember about this series -- they aren't "cozy mysteries." There aren't a lot of warm, fuzzy characters. There are a good number of scumbags. The scumbags and unpleasant people abound in this book. Another thing to keep in mind is the author usually plays fair with the reader for the denouement. The bad guy isn't Sally's third cousin twice removed who happened to be in town that night and neither Kinsey nor the readers had prior knowledge of the person's existence.

So the upshot is that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, was surprised by the reveal, and am ordering the next book in the series. What more do you want? If you like PI mysteries, you can dive right in at any point, although these do mention past events. I think you'll like the books if you like series mysteries that aren't "cozy."

32Jean_Sexton
Sep 6, 2021, 4:34 pm

31. My Lady Quicksilver by Bec McMaster. Well, it is back to the London Steampunk world of Bec McMaster. This series is dark, steamy, and dangerous. The Echelon, which is England's nobility and ruling class, is comprised of vampires. Humans have it rough, providing for the bluebloods. And some humans have machine parts that replace or enhance their flesh bodies. Some humans are getting tired of supporting the Echelon with their blood, sweat, and tears (the former is literal). It has the feeling of the buildup of the French Revolution.

Enter one of the leaders of the Humanist faction. Opposing her is the head of the Nighthawks, a police force that enforces Echelon policy. Let the sparks begin!

I'd advise starting this series with the first book if you want to read sexy steampunk. And yes, I have the next book in the series to read in the future.

33Jean_Sexton
Sep 6, 2021, 5:13 pm

32. Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron. When I heard that Margaret Maron had passed away, I knew I needed to reread (in some cases read) her books again. I decided to start with Bootlegger's Daughter. I remembered it fondly, and how could I go wrong with a book that won the 1992 Agatha Award and the 1993 Anthony, Edgar, and Macavity awards for best novel.

Back in the 1990s, I loved the book because Deborah Knott, the main character, was about the same age as I was. I related to her problems, her thoughts, her career choices. Now I love the book because of the insights about the land and the people in the fictional Colleton County. I *know* those people, have lived in that area, and understand the ebb and flow of life. The mystery is a bonus.

The author does play fair with the reader in this book. You can put together clues and perhaps figure out the person who murdered in the past. You might figure out who is murdering people now -- the clues are there. But in some ways, this is a novel that happens to be a mystery.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys well-crafted books. If you like mysteries, this should be on your "to read" list. So stop reading this review and start reading the book!

34Jean_Sexton
Oct 2, 2021, 4:57 pm

33. The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth by Leonard Goldberg. This is the third book in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries series. As such, it cannot be read as a standalone book. Most of the character development took place in the earlier two books.

However, with that caveat, this book is eminently readable. The writer plays fair with the mystery; there's no "the butler of the thrice-removed cousin did it," with no knowledge of the butler or cousin. The history was of interest, set just before the end of World War I.

I'd recommend this series for open-minded fans of Sherlock Holmes or anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

35Jean_Sexton
Oct 2, 2021, 5:20 pm

34. An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn. The third book in the Bridgerton series focuses on Benedict, the second son. As the "spare" to the heir, he has a bit more latitude in choosing whom to marry.

Enter Sophia. Here is where the book loses half a star. The heroine's story is a tad heavy-handed in the Cinderella theme. Treated terribly by the Evil Stepmother, she is granted one fantastic night at a ball before returning to the traditional horrible life as a servant.

Benedict is the reason for the loss of another half star. While his actions are "sort of" acceptable behavior for the time, they played poorly with me. I won't go further into spoiler territory, but at least the ending was (as in all Regencies) perfect.

Now on to read the next book in the series. If you like slightly steamy Regencies, this might well be your cup of tea.

36Jean_Sexton
Oct 2, 2021, 6:09 pm

35. A Light in the Window by Jan Karon. Mitford is one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone else. If you grew up in a small town, you probably know people just like these. The book is set in a peaceful past; I suspect the snows of 1960 might have influenced the snows in this book.

The 60-year-old Father Tim has much to learn from his parishioners and friends in this installment. His neighbor, Cynthia, also has much to teach. And Cousin Meg from Ireland ... let's just say she has much to teach as well.

This book really had me empathizing with Father Tim and Cynthia. I understand how hard it is to finally fall in love when you are older. So I read to see the thoughts of two kind people who care for each other but are perhaps set in their ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the people portrayed. In trying times, this book was a balm to my spirit. As the book focuses on Father Tim, it isn't surprising Christianity is interwoven in the story.

I strongly suggest that a reader starts at the beginning of the series (At Home in Mitford) so that the reader experiences the whole story and enjoys the book as the story grows with the characters.

37Jean_Sexton
Oct 24, 2021, 4:21 pm

36. Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart. This romantic suspense novel was written in 1956 and is undoubtedly a product of its time. It is set in 1953 as Edmund Hillary is climbing Mount Everest, and preparations are being made for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. It is the latter event that drives our heroine out of London to the Isle of Skye. Once there, she finds her idyllic vacation has a couple of flaws: her ex-husband is booked in the same hotel, and there has been a murder of a young woman. Now the novel adds in elements of the "locked room" mystery as someone on Skye must have been responsible for the death.

As long as the reader is willing to accept the mores of the time (husbands can cheat on their wives, and the latter may need to accept it if they think it is a one-time thing was the hardest one for me to swallow), the book is quite compelling. The descriptions of Skye made me see the island; I wasn't surprised to find that Stewart had visited the location.

Some folks don't like that the independent-minded heroine has sort of a "damsel in distress" moment. I can understand that. When the emergency is ongoing, I can handle it; afterward, I collapse. So that wasn't an issue for me.

I think if you like romantic suspense with a healthy scoop of mystery, that you would like this book.

38Jean_Sexton
Editado: Oct 31, 2021, 4:29 pm

37. Amarillo, Texas Two: The First Hundred Years, A Picture Postcard History by Ray Franks and Jay Ketelle. I love postcards as a glimpse into the history and social life of places. My problem with this book is it was far more focused on the people and less on the historic buildings. People used to get postcards made of themselves, and this book has a plentitude of those. There are also a good number of advertising postcards. Those I found most interesting.

If you like postcards and are interested in Amarillo, you would probably like this book.

39Jean_Sexton
Oct 31, 2021, 4:49 pm

38. In the Vanishers' Palace by Aliette de Bodard. This year I wanted to stretch my wings a bit and try some fantasies that weren't by familiar-to-me authors. I have generally been pleased with the books I chose; this one is no exception.

Start with a well-written fantasy. Combine Vietnamese characters and traditions with Beauty and the Beast. Add a dash of science fiction. Shake it up and add a dollop of philosophical and ethical musing. You end up with the book In the Vanishers' Palace. Oh, and a dragon!

This book made me think about questions such as "How do we define usefulness?" and "How do we grow into the 'best' us?" and "How do we love someone who isn't like 'us'?". All those lead to the deeper questions of how we define "we" and "us."

I fell in love with this book because it told a good story and challenged me to expand my horizons. I like that magic was comprised of words, that words held power in so many ways. I loved the idea that Beauty was a tutor to the wards of the Beast -- that made so much sense to me. And did I mention a dragon?

This book is not your traditional fantasy. If that is what you are looking for, perhaps a different book is for you. Nor is it a conventional "Beauty and the Beast." If you want to spread your wings and try a unique fantasy, then this book might well suit you.

40Jean_Sexton
Editado: Nov 20, 2021, 4:38 pm

39. The Somerville Farce by Kasey Michaels. By this point, you probably realize that Kasey Michaels wrote light Regencies under the pseudonym "Michelle Kasey." This book is one of those. I used it to "cleanse my palate" after reading In the Vanishers' Palace.

I snorted. I giggled. I laughed out loud. This book and its characters tickled my funny bone. For a traditional Regency, it was perfect.

If you enjoy Regencies that don't take things too seriously, this is the read for you.

41Jean_Sexton
Dic 25, 2021, 5:39 pm

40. E Is for Evidence by Sue Grafton. I do like the Kinsey Millhone series. The character is far from perfect, which makes her more human in my eyes. I like that the answers to her mysteries don't just fall in her lap. Kinsey has to work for them. And I love the time frame; I lived then and remember a world of cigarettes, no ubiquitous smartphones, and information residing solely on paper.

I liked the mystery in this book. Both the reader and Kinsey know she is being framed, but by whom and for what reason? Again, Sue Grafton plays fair with the reader, but I didn't figure the answer out ahead of Kinsey.

If you like PI mysteries with a hint of cozy, then this series should be up your alley.

42Jean_Sexton
Dic 25, 2021, 5:58 pm

41. The Firmament of Flame by Drew Williams. I hope there is going to be another book in The Universe After series. This one was really good, and it does provide a stopping point for the series, but there is more story to be told, I think.

This is space opera at its best, with the feel of military SF with the battles fought. The reader has some questions answered, but there are mysteries provoked by those answers.

The language is still a bit rough, but I think it suits the characters and isn't as frequent as in the first book.

The series is highly recommended for fans of science fiction/science fantasy. However, don't start with this book -- start with the first book. This is one of the cases that I would suggest checking for the omnibus volume with all three volumes published to date.

43Jean_Sexton
Dic 26, 2021, 3:08 pm

42. Southern Discomfort by Margaret Maron. Reading Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott novels is like stepping back into where I lived and worked for so long. I have known these people, or at least their twins, for all of my life. And I remember when women had to prove themselves better than men doing the same job to have the same level of approbation.

The mysteries were challenging, although one plays into stereotypes true when it was written back in 1993. It is easy to see why it was nominated for both the Agatha and Edgar awards. The bonus is the social interactions in this very North Carolina family.

So take a trip back to the early 1990s in rural North Carolina. If you like mysteries or good Southern writing, this book might well suit you.

44Jean_Sexton
Editado: Dic 26, 2021, 6:20 pm

43. Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose. Murder on Black Swan Lane is a mystery set in Regency London. I thought I would love it. I liked it a lot, and I will read at least one of the sequels, but I am not racing off to binge-read the books.

The Earl of Wrexford is the brilliant scientist who teams up with artist and keen observer Charlotte Sloane. She is publishing satirical art under her husband's pseudonym A. J. Quill. Since she is a widow, it is how she earns her bread and butter, as well as sometimes helping two Cockney urchins.

The mystery was decent, although it got bogged down with the alchemical background. What moved it down to four stars is the language failings. Sometimes anachronisms crept in and were too jarring. And sometimes it felt as though the action were taking place in Victorian London rather than during the Regency period. Combined, the problems threw me out of the novel quite thoroughly.

Recommended for those who enjoy historical mysteries.

45Jean_Sexton
Dic 26, 2021, 3:57 pm

44. Warlock Holmes: The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles by G.S. Denning. I needed something that would be amusing, so I chose Warlock Holmes, The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles. It was humorous, as you can no doubt tell from the titles of the stories.

The Adventure of the Blackened Beryls
Silver Blaze: Murder Horse
The Reigateway to Another World
The Adventure of the Solitary Tricyclist
The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles

Sherlock Holmes meets magic with a heavy dose of Cthulhu. That is a nearly perfect mashup for me. And it did make me laugh during a time when I needed that mirth.

So I recommend it for those who have read the first book in the series: Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone. If the mashup idea amuses you, start with the first book and continue.

46Jean_Sexton
Dic 26, 2021, 4:15 pm

45. Faded Love by John R. Erickson. Hank the Cowdog tickles my funnybone. His proclamations about what life is are so funny! I have to admit I felt a little sad about his love life, and I could see the train wreck in that love life coming, but I still laughed (albeit with a hint of guilt).

And yes, I need to read the next book in the series. Note that this book is simple enough for a child to understand, but obviously amuses adults as well.

47Jean_Sexton
Dic 26, 2021, 4:36 pm

46. Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart. Romantic suspense, thy author is Mary Stewart. One of the best parts of any Mary Stewart book is the description of the area; I feel you get a hint of why you should visit the location someday.

This book is lowkey on the suspense and romance departments, but it was the level I needed at the time. There are hints of it being one of her later books: there are subplots involving drugs and an overly aggressive land developer who didn't understand the draw of the Hebridean island of the Scottish Highlands.

What I liked most was the heroine was a writer. As Hugh Templer, she wrote lucrative science fiction while she was a struggling poet under her real name. I enjoyed her observations on writing.

In short, I would strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy a gentle romantic suspense novel.

48Jean_Sexton
Dic 26, 2021, 5:04 pm

47. Uncle Wiggily's Travels by Howard Roger Garis. Originally, the stories were serialized in newspapers so parents could read them to children. The stories were popular enough that they were gathered into books and preserved. Each story still ends with "If this improbable situation doesn't happen, I'll tell you the story of" with the title of the next story. Once upon a time, when I was young, my grandmother read these stories (she had them in books) to my brother and me. My mother also shared her books with me when I was old enough to read them on my own.

This collection focuses on Uncle Wiggily and his search to find his fortune. Uncle Wiggily happens to be a rabbit who had served in the Great War (back when there was only one) and now has rheumatism and gets along with a walking stick. Uncle Wiggily makes many friends as he travels and helps those who need them. And those good deeds done unselfishly often result in help when he needs it: not a bad lesson to learn.

Suggested as stories read to children or as a trip down nostalgia lane.

Personal note: I am sure that my grandmother read these to my mother and uncle, just as she read them to me and my brother. As my mother lay dying, I read them to her again. I hope she liked them.

49Jean_Sexton
Dic 26, 2021, 5:31 pm

48. The Murfreesboro Railroad Company by E. Frank Stephenson. A little-known part of the history of Murfreesboro, North Carolina, is that from December 1891 to May 7, 1897, it had a railroad. It burned coal, and the town's women didn't hang their wash out to dry when the train was coming. They feared their newly washed clothes would get soot on them.

The train terminal was on Broad Street, behind the church I grew up in. It was on the edge of town and near enough to Chowan College that their young ladies could get to the train to visit their parents. Unfortunately, the train was in direct competition with the steamships, and that conflict didn't end well.

The book covers all of this information and is chock-full of photos. The old railbed can be seen west of the town, although it is now overgrown.

This slender book is highly recommended for train buffs, historians, and readers interested in the area. No other book that I am aware of covers this topic in any depth.

50Jean_Sexton
Mar 19, 2022, 1:36 pm

49. What with Real Life happening, I never finished writing about the books in 2021. It is time to rectify that.

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron. I like mysteries, I love the Regency era, and I enjoy Jane Austen. There was much for me to enjoy in this book. While it falls squarely into the cozy mystery genre, the book's footnote's just tickled me and sold the whole notion to me. Like so many novels of the period, this story is slow-moving, setting the stage, introducing characters, exploring life as it was, and moving the villains into place.

The author did play fair with the reader; the clues were there for who did the dastardly deed. Did I guess it before the great reveal? I had suspicions but wasn't at all sure.

So yes, I would suggest this for cozy mystery fans who enjoy the Regency, but who aren't too stuffy about "This Would Never Happen!" The next book in the series is in my "to read" pile.

51Jean_Sexton
Mar 19, 2022, 3:36 pm

50. Dead Eye by Alyssa Day. This was a good way to close out the year. I needed something light-hearted and this was the ticket.

Dead Eye describes itself as a paranormal mystery. To me, it is more of paranormal fiction with a hefty dose of romance combined with a cozy mystery. The main characters are interesting to me and likable. The author played fair with the characters finding out important facts at the same time as the reader. My favorite quotation (at least for today) is "I can’t help it. Generations of southern women are dancing around in my DNA." I so get that!

Of course, I have bought the next book in the series. I'd suggest this for those who enjoy their paranormal fiction with a dose of romance and mystery.

52Jean_Sexton
Mar 20, 2022, 2:40 pm

It is always hard to pick out the five books that I enjoyed the most in a year. I've done the winnowing down and here are the five I enjoyed the most. In order by when I read them ...

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. The Silver Kiss is Most Excellent! To me, this is almost the perfect vampire romance/non-romance. More importantly, it is about facing death, facing life, facing evil. It is about choosing life. While it was written for young adults, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a touch of horror in their vampire novel.

+++

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is one of those "oh, my gosh" books. Written for middle school and older readers, I found the book to be rich in folklore and good reading for adults. The author's world is fascinating and her characters complex. And the story ... I kept finding myself surprised because it didn't wander into standard fantasy tropes. Just when I would think, "I know where this is going," the characters would go and do something else, but that something was totally what that person would do. An added bonus is I think I learned a little more about West African mythology. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or mythology. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

+++

A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. Oh my goodness, what a joy to read! While the book is written for middle-grade readers, the 14-year-old heroine has much to say for readers of all ages. What makes a hero? Who is responsible when something wrong happens? What is each person's responsibility when that wrong must be righted? All of these questions are explored in the book. If you read one fantasy this year, choose this book. You won't regret it.

+++

Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron. When I heard that Margaret Maron had passed away, I knew I needed to reread (in some cases read) her books again. I decided to start with Bootlegger's Daughter. I remembered it fondly, and how could I go wrong with a book that won the 1992 Agatha Award and the 1993 Anthony, Edgar, and Macavity awards for best novel. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys well-crafted books. If you like mysteries, this should be on your "to read" list.

++

In the Vanishers' Palace by Aliette de Bodard. This year I wanted to stretch my wings a bit and try some fantasies that weren't by familiar-to-me authors. I have generally been pleased with the books I chose; this one is no exception.

Start with a well-written fantasy. Combine Vietnamese characters and traditions with Beauty and the Beast. Add a dash of science fiction. Shake it up and add a dollop of philosophical and ethical musing. You end up with the book In the Vanishers' Palace. Oh, and a dragon! This book is not your traditional fantasy. If that is what you are looking for, perhaps a different book is for you. Nor is it a conventional "Beauty and the Beast." If you want to spread your wings and try a unique fantasy, then this book might well suit you.