Carol's Notebook

Steam and Sorcery was a perfect summer read, a fun romance with bits of steampunk, fantasy and mystery. For me, in a romance, the two main characters are the most important pieces, and I have to say that I enjoyed this couple. Sir Merrick Hadrian is a Knight of the order of the Round Table, dedicated to protecting Victorian London from monsters, both human and supernatural. He's a skillful fighter and magick user, physically strong and sexy, but a good guy, not chauvinistic or cruel in any way. Miss Caroline Bristol is a governess, hired to manage Merrick's five gifted ward, formerly street children. She's bright, beautiful, and adores the children. The sparks of course fly between the two, and I liked how their relationship progressed. You've got the usual but "he's out of my league" from Caroline, but Merrick is not one to bow to social conventions. They're perfect together, a good team. The mystery involves vampires, nasty ones. They are...

Happy Fourth of July! We have the day off today, but we already went to a fireworks show, so we'll probably just stay home tonight. A quick reminder, I've got two giveaways going on right now. Breaking up with God by Sarah Sentilles- US and Canada. Today is the last day to enter. A book of your choice - International. You have until the 14th to enter. I got a few books in the mail this week. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (Won through the Agatha Christie Read-Along) The murder of Colonel Protheroe -- shot through the head -- is a shock to everyone in St Mary Mead, though hardly an unpleasant one. Now even the vicar, who had declared that killing the detested Protheroe would be 'doing the world at large a favour,' is a suspect -- the Colonel has been dispatched in the clergyman's study, no less. But the picturesque English village of St Mary Mead is overpopulated with suspects. There is of...