Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson

by Carol10 Comments
Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a "medieval noir," but I do have a fondness for historical mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Now I know little to nothing about London in 1384, so I'm not going to comment on the historical accuracy. I will say that the setting felt real to me, was an integral part of the story. London is a dark, grimy, dangerous place, if you're not one of the upper class. And Crispin Guest is no longer one of the privileged few. He used to be a knight, but accused of treason he was stripped up everything and only saved from being killed by an old friend. Now, Crispin known as The Tracker, down on his luck and making whatever money he can by finding things for those willing to pay for his services. He is hired by a wealthy merchant for a job that should be quick and...
Read More

BBAW – Third Treasure

by Carol9 Comments
What book or genre have I tried due to the influence of another blogger?  What made me cave in to try something new and what was the experience like? I'm sure there are a bunch of books that I would never have heard of it weren't for being involved in the blogging community, like Last Night in Montreal and The Ace of Spades, two books that are very different from each other but that I truly enjoyed. I think blogging has just made me more aware of the variety that's out there, of new releases, of oldies but goodies that I've missed along the way. One of those classics that I never would have heard of had it not been for other bloggers was The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. To be honest, I'm not sure how I could never have run across it before, but when I finally read it last year I loved it. What's a book or genre...
Read More

Where the Steps Were by Andrea Cheng

by Carol2 Comments
Where the Steps Were by Andrea Cheng (The suggested age range this is marketed to is grades 2-4, but I'm not sure if they would really get it or connect with the format. I read it by myself, so this review is from my point of view as an adult with a child in elementary school.) I found this book of free verse poems through the eyes of five third-graders touching, revealing, beautiful. Cheng truly captures the thoughts, dreams, fears and worries of a group of third graders spending their last year at Pleasant Hill Elementary. The five students, Dawn, Kayla, Jonathan, Anthony, and Carmen, are all in Miss D.'s class and they adore here. She teaches lessons about the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Harriet Tubman, and the kids relate, witnessing racism and oppression in their own lives. Each of the children are individuals dealing with issues common to all third graders, like friendships, family relationships and the...
Read More

Scarlet Rubies

by Carol6 Comments
They were his signature, those pale, stark virgins with their scarlet rubies. It gave him a little shiver to think of them. They brought him millions he didn't need and the adoration he deserved. And no one but him knew their true worth. Soon there would be another. (pg. 135, Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon) I haven't gotten to this point yet, but I'm pretty sure there's a deadly secret connected to these paintings. Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. The rules are easy and I only cheated a little. Grab your current read, open to a random page, and give us two teaser sentences. Remember, no spoilers. I received my copy from the publisher for review and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate....
Read More

BBAW- First Treasure

by Carol7 Comments
Today is the first day of Book Blogger Appreciation week and we are being asked to highlight a book blog we've come to treasure over the last year. One of the blogs that I've recently discovered is vvB32 reads. I absolutely love the events that Velvet puts together. I think I first ran across her blog during her SteamPink week back in June and was in awe. Then there was the Mansfield Park Murder Mystery and Fairy Tales in Bruges, and now I'm a definite admirer. Her creativity and organization astound me. Right now she's in the middle of a horde of September Zombies , apparently an annual invasion that I find a little scary. What are some of the new-to-you blogs that you cherish? Join in the discussion at BBAW's site....
Read More