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I read Holy Enemies of Freedom: How Martin Luther Unleashed the Beast of Anti-Semitism by A.J. Deus It describes much more than Martin Luther's antisemitism. It is a history of organized religious violence. My 3.5 star review, rounded down /review/show...

Finished Bacon's Dozen: Thirteen Historical Fiction Short Stories by Anna Castle. Rated 3 stars. Entertaining collection of short stories; some connected to author's Francis Bacon historical mystery series.

Operation: Happy by Jenni L. Walsh

A middle grade historical fiction based on a memoir. Contains some traumatic incidents that might be too much for sensitive children. A good option, otherwise.
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A very gripping mystery set in regency era

What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris

Here is my 4 stars review:
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Recently read and loved:

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

I read Ladykiller by Katherine Wood It is a romantic mystery set on a Greek island. My 4 star review /review/show...

Today is the first day of the summer TBR challenge, so I am starting The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly for my first read.

I, too, have jumped on the Summer TBR challenge. I've got three going right now - The Cape Doctor for my IRL HF Book Club, meeting Thursday, Riviera Gold on audio for traveling around town (Austin's traffic SUCKS!!) and a little historical cozy mystery, The Dangerous Ladies Affair. I often have two going at one time - contemporary and historical - so let's see if I can keep three historicals at one time straight!

Chris wrote: "Today is the first day of the summer TBR challenge, so I am starting The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly for my first read."

I really loved that book! I hope you enjoy it.

When you're hunting for a new book, this is a great resource.

Buzz Books 2024: Fall/Winter is another huge collection of chapters and excerpts from upcoming books. Great resource - I selected a few that interested me.
My notes with quotes on Buzz Books 2024 Fall/Winter and a link where you can get this free

L'Air du Temps (1985) by Diane Greco Josefowicz opens with a murder and becomes a thoughtful insight into a 13-year-old who starts to question what's going on with her parents. A good read.

My review of L'Air du Temps (1985)

I have just finished Hitler : The 1963 Interview
Loved it. It is really thought provoking. There is a section in the book that suggests the CIA considered using him in the cold war. It sounds ridiculous but when you see it in context, you think to yourself, "Yes, they would have done that."
It is marketed as fiction but it reads as non-fiction. I haven't been able to get it off my mind.
I have written a review elsewhere on the site.

Just finished The Dangerous Ladies Affair and realized why it had been languishing on my TBR pile for so long. I remember the first couple of titles being enjoyable, with interesting interactions (and backstories) between the two MC's and nice tidbits of San Francisco history at the end of the 1890's. Now, it just felt stale. On the plus side, I removed all the other titles I had marked TBR - there was just no spark of joy. (And there are many, many more books in the sea :)

The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor

A poorly crafted ode to the classic 'Rebecca'. You are better off reading the original.
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I finished Diva by Daisy Goodwin. I am torn about this book. The writing and pacing were good. The book is about Maria Callas, the great Opera singer and also about Aristotle Onassis. I don't really like either one much. I can appreciate the voice Ms. Callas had but definitely played the Diva role. Mr. Onassis didn't much care for him. I have never read a book about either person so that was interesting.

The Coast Road: A Novel by Alan Murrin

Loved this poignant literary fiction focussed on women who couldn't get out of their marriages in the 1990s thanks to Ireland not allowing divorce.
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Finished Bastion and reading Bite Club

Finished Lilac Girls. Martha Hall Kelly's 2016 debut, a WWII story told through 3 voices and focuses on the only women's concentration camp, Ravensbruck. Great read, disturbing content at times.

I read that book and liked it.

I am currently readingThe Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna

By C.W. Gortner

I read Sharpe's Command by Bernard Cornwell It is historical fiction based on an actual battle in the war between Britain an Napoleon's France. See my 4 star review /review/show...

I finished The Comfort of Ghosts .

It was excellent!! Very good ending to the series. Ms. Winspear tied up all the loose ends. I don't want to say too much and give things away but this was a very well planned out to the conclusion of the series.

Just finished Dan Jones Wolves or Winter. Excellent. Dan is a superb writer and novelist. Highly recommended.

Finished Bite Club and starting Ruff Justice

Thomas wrote: "I read Sharpe's Command by Bernard Cornwell It is historical fiction based on an actual battle in the war between Britain an Napoleon's France. See my 4 star review h..."
I read the 8 or so original Sharpe books years ago and love them. I have read all the latest ones and, while I enjoy them, I don't love them like I do the original ones.
The history in the first ones is superb but I felt the later ones were a bit contrived. I always think his publishers had pushed for more as they are so successful.

Just finished The Crimson Cavalier by Mary Andrea Clarke.

It's a cozy mystery set in late 18th century London.
Here is my 4 stars review :
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Age 16 by Rosena Fung

A good choice for those who enjoy OwnVoices coming-of-age graphic novels.
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I read Black Betty by Walter Mosley
I liked this book about Easy Rawlins, an unofficial PI in 1961 LA. There is violence and racism in the book. My 4 star review /review/show...

Mostly for reasons of doom, death and destruction-okay, maybe some exaggeration here-I haven't posted for awhile. However Christina Dodd's latest, delightful A Daughter of Fair Verona has put me back into reviewer mode. At least for awhile.
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Starting to read Rebellious Desire by Julie Garwood

Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise: A Novel by Lin Yi-Han

This was so, so difficult to read, and I am still not sure if I am advocating it for the content or the author. But if you can handle the traumatising topic and like literary fiction, do try.
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I finished yesterday Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Adult romance set in 1843 London.
It's funny and sweet at the same time, with a hint of adventure and action scenes.

Here is my 5 stars review:
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Finished my 2nd book for the summer TBR challenge. Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon. Better than the first entry of the Lord John series. Could have done without the sex scenes, otherwise pretty interesting storyline. One small detail that struck me as amusing. So, officers shave before going into battle in the 18th century?

Rereading Queen of BedlambyLaura Purcell

Death in a Scottish Castle by Lydia Travers

I enjoyed this fourth and final historical cosy mystery in the Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency series where the lady detectives travel to Mull to find a missing statue but end up investigating a locked room murder.

review: /review/show...

Finished Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly. Rated 4 stars. First half is set in 1840's Ireland during the tragic Potato Famine. The second half is set in Chicago, USA during the American Civil War through the Chicago World Fair set in 1880's. Heartbreaking although filled with the humor and warmth of the Irish culture this novel is based on the author's ancestors.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

I'd have liked it even better had I know it was a literary fiction and not a thriller as promised. Still, could be a great read for fans of the author. (I am not one yet as I have read only this one book.)
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Right now I’m reading Lord of the Flies, A Rebel in Auschwitz, and All the Children are Home.

Finished Ruff Justice and started Here Comes Santa Paws

Finished Fools and Mortals
by Bernard Cornwell

Historical fiction set in London of Elizabethan era. Richard Shakespeare, the younger brother of the well known William, is the main character. William and his and his company of actors also are the protagonists of the story.
This could have been a good fiction, but in my review I'll explain why I didn't like it.

Here is my review :
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Just finishing In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner - Historical fiction about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia in the mid 1970s. It’s based on the author’s childhood experience.

I read Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow It is not a mystery, but an account of Nazi propaganda in the US from 1933-41. I rated it 4.5 stars rounded up. My review /review/show...

Finished The Case of the Left-Handed Lady #2 Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer. Rated 4 stars. Delightful Young Adult historical mystery. Fantastic audio narration by Katherine Kellgren.

Finished Here Comes Santa Paws and starting Game of Dog Bones

Started Bethlehem Road by Anne Perry. Victorian mystery, Thomas & Charlotte Pitt #10.

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan

If you know Ruth Hogan's writing, you know what to expect from this. A nice, soothing found-family story.
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I read The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor It is a mystery set in an English village with 2 timelines: 1986 and 2016. My 4 star review /review/show...

I read Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber by Andy Borowitz It is nonfiction, detailing how American politicians have grown increasingly dumber, starting with Reagan and ending with Trump. My 4 star review /review/show...

Cozy mystery set in 1790 Edinburgh:
The Convenient Murder by Clare Jayne


HERE IS MY REVIEW :
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Set in Victorian London, this is turning out to be a good dark and gritty historical mystery series. (Just the way I like them!)

Murder at Traitors' Gate by Irina Shapiro

review: /review/show...