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Finished Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast and starting Three Act Tragedy

I just finished reading The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn and have started Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan.

Tammy wrote: "Is 1974 considered historical? Currently reading The Deep End by Julie Mulhern"

Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Malibu Rising' won the ŷ������ Choice Best Historical Fiction award a couple of years ago. It was set in 1982! ;)

I completed The Captain from Connecticut . A brief tale of the War of 1812 from the American side. Four stars. C. S. Forester is adept at tales of the sea in the days of sail.

I chose this book because I felt in need of romance.
Not bad, but a little bit disappointing in the middle part of the book.
Very slow-burn romance. Well developed the historical part, even if not always so engaging.

The Marigold Chain by Stella Riley

Here is my review ( 3.5 stars rounded to 4 ):
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I finished The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones. 4 star novel of Stephen de Blois and Maud, daughter of Henry I, efforts to capture the throne of England. The fight between the two r/t who was the rightful successor to Henry I led to a civil war.

I wish I liked Tom Lake more than I did but it just didn’t do it for me. ��> /review/show...

I finished Three Act Tragedy and started Closer to the Heart

Just starting The Adored One by Susanne Dunlap.

I recently enjoyed the very popular Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. People who have preconceived notions about each other are bound to say the wrong thing.
My review of Such a Fun Age

River of Painted Birds by Uruguayan author Tessa Bridal is a historical fiction set in 18th Century Uruguay about a runaway Irish girl, a half French and half Charrúa Indian smuggler, and a Jesuit priest, and their struggles against the colonial powers surrounding them. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

I read The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald It is historical literary fiction about the Scopes trial in 1925 Dayton, Tennessee. I enjoyed the way brought out opposing viewpoints and rated it 4 stars. My review /review/show...

The Sixteen Trees of the Somme by Norwegian author Lars Mytting is a historical mystery that shifts between the 1990s, the 1970s and WWI and II. It begins in Norway and moves to the Shetland Islands and France. It is an intriguing story of love, mystery and betrayal that centres on a mysterious grove of walnut trees on a tragic battlefield. ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� here is my review

I'd have been saying a lot more than Hail, Mary, if I'd been on board that spaceship in Andrew Weir's amazing sci-fi adventure, Project Hail Mary! A wild, fascinating ride into the unknown, full of warmth and affection in spite of the terror.
My review of Project Hail Mary

I just readThe Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
A wonderful historical fiction with a mystery. It is based on the real diary of Martha Ballard in Maine 18th century.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My review /book/show/5...

I read The Hangman by Louise Penny It is a short story and can be read in a sitting. My 4 star review /review/show...

Started rereading Seize The Dawn byShannon Drake

Finished The Hippopotamus Pool #8 Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters. Rated 4 stars. Historical mystery series set in 1900 Egypt. Read on Libby Kindle while listening to Hoopla Audio. Excellent narration by Barbara Rosenblat. Love this series!

Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished The Hippopotamus Pool #8 Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters. Rated 4 stars. Historical mystery series set in 1900 Egypt. Read on Libby Kindle while listening t..."

Sounds wonderful - and a new author to me. Would you recommend reading the series in order? Thanks!

Diane wrote: Sounds wonderful - and a new author to me. Would you recommend reading the series in order? Thanks!

I have read a number in this cozy mystery series and would recommend reading in order just to know who is who and how Amelia met them.

Diane wrote: "Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Finished The Hippopotamus Pool #8 Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters. Rated 4 stars. Historical mystery series set in 1900 Egypt. Read on Libb..."

Diane; Yes, as Chris posted I also think you'd enjoy the series more if read in order. Enjoy!

Finished Come, Bitter Poison #2 Stratford Upon Avondale cozy, contemporary mystery by Monica Knightley. Rated 3 stars.
Link to my spoiler free review:
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I just finished Iwo, 26 Charlie by P.T. Deutermann. An excellent read. He has become one of my favorite authors. Highly recommended if you like novels of World War Two.

I finished Clark and Division by Naomi Hirihara. Set in 1941-1944. Japanese family is sent of Manzanar to Chicago. A lot of polital and social issues of the time. Very dark novel Just okay for me.

Field Lane offers an interesting riff on Oliver Twist—the novel, not the character, although the character does make appearances. As the novel opens we see Charley Bates, son of a Thames riverman, meeting the Artful Dodger, following Dodger, and gradually spending less time on the river with his father and more time with Fagin's gang. The story twists and turns from this beginning introducing readers to a wide range of characters—and an interesting side journey into the world of highly addictive quack remedies.

My review: /review/show...

I have moved on to Comfort & Joy: A Fable by Kristin Hannah.

I read Death of a Master Chef: A Brittany Mystery by Jean-Luc Bannalec
It is a cerebral police procedural with vivid descriptions of delicious food and breathtaking scenery. My 4 star review /review/show...

I am reading Hard Eight

My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor

Based on an inspiring true story, but the writing style just wasn't my cup of tea. But most of my friends have enjoyed this book, so maybe you would like to check this out.
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To all the clean romance lovers :
I finished a lovely and light regency novel
Vienna Waltz by Mary Lancaster

An easy read that I rated 5 stars, here is my review :
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This children's picture book about a puzzled pirate, The Hoys by Kes Gray, has some great illustrations by Mark Chambers which I shared in my review.
My review of The Hoys

On a completely different note, in The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly, LA Detective Harry Bosch is up against it following the 1994 record-breaking earthquake that wrecked his house. Mind you, that's the least of his problems.

My review of The Last Coyote

One More Mountain by Deborah Ellis

The fifth book of the acclaimed Breadwinner series, a set of MG books talking of a little girl in Afghanistan. An eye-opening story, but best read in series order.
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A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

An entertaining historical romance-adventure. Faith-oriented, especially in the final section, so except if you have a problem with that, I see now reason why you shouldn't read this amazing debut. :)

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Rosh (is busy; will catch up soon!) wrote: "One More Mountain by Deborah Ellis

The fifth book of the acclaimed Breadwinner series, a set of MG books talking of a little gi..."

I read the first book in the series and rated it four stars, but hadn't gotten around to reading any of the others. Thank you for reminding me of these books, Rosh.

Shomeret wrote: "I read the first book in the series and rated it four stars, but hadn't gotten around to reading any of the others. Thank you for reminding me of these books, Rosh."

My pleasure! It is a series worth reading, especially now that the fifth book is also out. I had thought the fourth book would be the final one, but sadly for Afghanistan, its tryst with despair is still not over.

Catherine Ryan Hyde is an automatic go-to author for many readers, but I wonder what they will make of A Different Kind of Gone. I think it's one that book clubs wll enjoy discussing.
My review of A Different Kind of Gone

Finished Anne Boleyn: A Novel by Evelyn Anthony. Rated 3 stars. Didn't enjoy as much as her novels of Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria.

I'm enjoying Robert McCammon's Speaks the Nightbird set in 1699 South Carolina colony. Very atmospheric and transportive both in setting and mind-set of the characters.
Speaks the Nightbird

For those who enjoy historical mysteries,

Murder by Lamplight by Patrice McDonough is the first in a historical murder series set in Victorian London featuring a woman doctor. Might have benefitted from more atmosphere and less historical info disrupting the flow (much of it would have been better placed in prologue or afterword), but I enjoyed it enough to check out the next one.

review: /review/show...

Just finished the second novel in the Letters of Enchantment series. I actually Ruthless Vows better than Divine Rivals. Here’s my review for Ruthless Vows ��> /review/show...

The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

A slightly flawed MG book on a very important and oft ignored topic of history.
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Finished yesterday a wonderful clean historical romance with a hint of mystery and espionage :

Vienna Woods by Mary Lancaster

Here is my 5 stars review:
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Rosh (is busy; will catch up soon!) wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Is 1974 considered historical? Currently reading The Deep End by Julie Mulhern"

Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Malibu Rising..."
thank you, I guess I prefer historical to be older than me so I won't feel so old which is silly.

Currently reading Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory

I am reading Before We Were Yours

I enjoyed Detective Zoe Mayer's latest murder investigation with her service dog, Harry, aka The Good Dog. I'm sure he is one of Simon Rowell's most popular characters. What's not to love?
My review of The Good Dog

I like short stories, especially those that have a connection, so I enjoyed Winter Lights by Deborah Jenkins. These take place in Sussex, UK, at Christmastime, with characters ranging from old-money posh to an Indian migrant running a restaurant.
My review of Winter Lights

I'm reading The Iceman by P.T. Deutermann a superb novel of a WWII submarine in the Pacific.

I finished Leaden Skies . This book is set in 1880 Leadville, Colorado. Very good historical mystery captures the time period. You get a feel for walking around in muddy streets, going to a saloon. Characters are mulit dimentional. This is book 3 of the series. Starting at the beginning is good idea but I have not read this series in many years and was not confused.