Book Review | WHO SPEAKS FOR THE DAMNED by C.S. Harris

   
Who Speaks for the Damned by C.S. Harris
Series:  Sebastian St. Cyr #15
Publication Date:  April 7, 2020
Publisher:  Berkley
Genre:  Historical Mystery
Rating:  ★★★★★

It's June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regent's invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead.

Eighteen years before, Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaford, was accused of killing a beautiful young French émigré and transported to Botany Bay for life. Even before his conviction, Hayes had been disowned by his father. Few in London were surprised when they heard the ne'er-do-well had died in New South Wales in 1799. But those reports were obviously wrong. Recently Hayes returned to London with a mysterious young boy in tow--a child who vanishes shortly after Nicholas's body is discovered.

I look forward to this series every year as an annual event. I am so invested with the characters that I want to keep tabs on how their lives are moving on. This is the fifteenth book in the series, but Ms. Harris still manages to keep each mystery fresh and new every issue. Her research skill is so exceptional that the historical details in Regency England are weaved seamlessly.

A convicted murder, believed to have died in Botany Bay, was recently found… well… dead with a sickle on his back at Pennington Tea Garden. Knowing Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a person’s death is not necessarily the end of the story. He was pulled into this investigation because of a young boy who went missing after Hayes’s death, and also because Devlin saw a mirror of himself in the victim. Nicholas Hayes’s murder stirred far too many old memories and quite several nobilities. And there’s nothing more intolerable for Devlin than a cold mix of nobles and their lies.

To decry injustice is merely scratching the surface. The issues that this sequel has in its arsenal can be overwhelming. And despite the setting, we can still spot these issues in these present times, if we look hard enough. Devlin and his wife Hero represent something far deeper than just “a power couple”. They stand for people who cannot stand or speak for themselves. Their views and hopes for the disadvantaged and neglected are something we, everyone, should aspire to.

These events took place in London, England, in 1814. The continent is celebrating Napoleon’s defeat and England is hosting events for the Allied Sovereigns. A time where opium smuggling was rampant and Lascars made England their new home.

Very rich in history, well-plotted, and deliciously peppered with red herrings, WHO SPEAKS FOR THE DAMNED will keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to the end.

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About the Author:
Candice Proctor, aka C.S. Harris and C.S. Graham, is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than two dozen novels including the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series written under the name C.S. Harris, the C.S. Graham thriller series co-written with Steven Harris, and seven historical romances. She is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of women in the French Revolution. Her books are available worldwide and have been translated into over twenty languages.

A former academic with a Ph.D. in European history, Candice also worked as an archaeologist on a variety of sites including a Hudson's Bay Company Fort in San Juan Island, a Cherokee village in Tennessee, a prehistoric kill site in Victoria, Australia, and a Roman cemetery and medieval manor house in Winchester, England. She loves to travel and has spent much of her life abroad, living in Spain, Greece, England, France, Jordan, and Australia. She now makes her home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, retired Army officer Steve Harris, and an ever-expanding number of cats.

*Thanks to Berkley for the advance review copy in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

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Book Review | BELLS OF PROSPER STATION by Gloria Pearson-Vasey

   

Bells Of Prosper Station by Gloria Pearson-Vasey
Publication Date: June 14, 2019
Publisher: Victoria Hall Press
Genre: Historical fantasy
Rating: ★★★½

With Hallowmas approaching, time travelers, Azur Moonstorey and companions, exit Creekside's station library to board the midnight ghost train bound for nineteenth-century Prosper Station. Their mission: to rescue Azur's sister from the eerie dimension, Vapourlea.

This is one of those books that slipped-under-the-radar. Well, almost. BELLS OF PROSPER STATION is unexpectedly enjoyable and imaginative. I like the author’s take on Hallowmas, how the infamous train from hell could be a time-traveling machine, and oil-digging caused the mutation, not only on humans but with the supernatural as well. I enjoyed looking at the scenes from Victorian-era Canada –the community, their lifestyles, and the changes carried by the oil industry to the country- as much as I enjoyed all the local folklore incorporated into the premise.

And there’s, in fact, a good amount of sensible romance to fill the belly. I am glad that it never overshadowed the plot lines and the focus remained on the adventure at hand. I am not a fan of small talks on adventure books, honestly, those slowed things a bit for me. Although, there are very few tangent stories here and all loose ends were tied nicely together in the end.

The characters were suitably shaped, there is very little development, but they are charming. And after one of my recent read, I promised not to read another book where pets are featured, but Bleu is so interesting and fierce, I kept rooting for her. One of these days I’m going to see how things went for these characters, maybe they’ll be on the next book of Curious Tales from Creekside too.

I recommend this for readers who enjoy historical fiction, folklore, and adventure.

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About the Author:

Gloria Pearson-Vasey is a storyteller, an author of suspense veiled in mystery and enigma. She weaves contemporary issues into her novels, writing stories that have authenticity along with hopeful endings.

A member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, Pearson-Vasey’s background includes nursing, psychology, music, journalism, and theology. Inspired by her autistic son’s unique sensory experiences, her writing reflects the hidden depths of things.

She lives in a picturesque Ontario town with her husband and one of four sons and enjoys reading, nature, country drives, and time spent with family.

*Thanks to Miss Gloria for sending the digital copy in exchange for this unbiased review.

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Book Spotlight | JAIRUS'S GIRL by L.R. Hay

About the Book:

March 17, 2020
Salted Lightly

Funny, accessible, and moving kids'-eye view of the Jesus story - aimed at pre-teens, though some adults have sneakily read and enjoyed it too.

Tammie's life in a quiet fishing town would never be the same. Her future wasn't looking good (*understatement!*) but things quickly went from bad to WICKED with the arrival of a strange grown-up with nice eyes.

And as for the business with Daniel's lunch or Dibs's roof...

JAIRUS'S GIRL will be part of The Young Testament, a series on the life of Jesus, but with the children and young people as the main characters.

Next up, a prequel: JOSEPH'S BOY - a kids'-eye view of the first Christmas!






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About the Author:

Lynn Robertson Hay's writing covers a number of episodes for BBC TV, film, radio, and theatre - winning an award from the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. As an actor, she's played parts ranging from Lady Macbeth to Mole, and was last seen wielding a rolling pin as Andy Capp's wife Flo. Her one-woman show has played in a variety of venues, including the only part of Glastonbury Abbey still standing (not her fault). Lynn's claim to fame is that she once won an episode of quiz show Fifteen to One.

*Content sent by the author for this blog's publication. This is a free ad.

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Book Review | OF LITERATURE AND LATTES by Katherine Reay

Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay
Publication Date:  May 12, 2020
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating:  ★★★★★

Amidst literature and lattes, two people discover the confusing, complex, and beautiful nature of friendship.

After fleeing home three years earlier, Alyssa Harrison never wanted to return. But after the Silicon Valley start-up where she works collapses and turns her world upside down, she finds herself broke, in trouble, and without a place to go. Having exhausted every option, she returns to Winsome, Illinois, to regroup and then move on. Yet as friends and family welcome her back, she begins to envision a future in this small Midwestern community.

Jeremy Mitchell moves from Seattle to Winsome to be near his daughter and to open the coffee shop he’s been dreaming of for years. Problem is, the business is bleeding money—and he’s not quite sure why. When he meets Alyssa, he senses an immediate connection, but what he needs most is someone to help him save his floundering business. When he asks for Alyssa’s help, he wonders if something might grow between them—but forces beyond their control soon complicate their already complicated lives and the future both envision is not at all what they anticipated.

Return to the cozy and delightful town of Winsome as two new friends discover the grace of letting go and the joy found in unexpected change.

Winsome Illinois is home to The Printed Letter Bookshop characters and it is lovely coming back to this community for OF LITERATURE AND LATTES’.

I think Katherine Reay is starting to be a favorite. I am totally captivated by her deep understanding of the community. For an immigrant like me, the need for kinship and inclusion is very acute. Everyone deserves a place to call home and a family to lean on, especially when things go sideways. Reay did her best to bring in real-life issues and avenues to address them, enveloped with acts of kindness and a good amount of grace, without being theatrical or desperately pious.

The characters are all relatable -you can be a father, a mother, a daughter, or a good friend- there’s a good chance you’ve been there too. I am drawn to their struggles and how they overcame them, to their mistakes, and how they amenably acknowledged each. I am drawn to their transitions from a very rocky start to optimistic individuals.

I highly recommend this book that celebrates second chances and the birthing of a book club.

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About the Author:

Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels and one full-length non-fiction work.

Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and is a wife, mother, rehabbing runner, former marketer, and avid chocolate consumer. She lives outside Chicago, IL.

*Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the digital galley in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

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Book Review | MISS ICELAND by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

   

Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Publication Date:  16 June 2020
Publisher:  Grove Atlantic, Black Cat
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Rating:  ★★★★★

Named after one of Iceland's most magnificent volcanoes, Hekla always knew she wanted to be a writer. In a nation of poets, where each household proudly displays leatherbound volumes of the Sagas, and there are more writers per capita than anywhere else in the world, there is only one problem: she is a woman.

She decides to try her luck in Reykjavik, and moves in with her friend Jon, a gay man who longs to work in the theatre, but can only find dangerous, backbreaking work on fishing trawlers. Hekla's opportunities are equally limited: marriage and babies, or a job as a waitress, in which harassment from customers is part of the daily grind. They both feel completely out of place in a small and conservative world.

And yet that world is changing: JFK is shot, hemlines are rising, and in Iceland another volcano erupts, and Hekla knows she must escape to find freedom abroad, whatever must be left behind. -Goodreads

The New York Times got it right, Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir upends expectations. This is my first experience reading her and the book blurb is not enough to describe this work. Winner of the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Icelandic Literary Prize for her novel Silence Hotel, Ólafsdóttir is a force to reckon with. Her manipulation of the fragmented narrative is reminiscent of favorite laureates. Unlike most fragmented narration though, there is no blurring of the timeline in MISS ICELAND, but rather the perceptions and images are fogged. Side stories, historical information, and metaphors are provided to highlight an uncommon thought or to indicate what is broken. That rich approach hooked me from the very beginning.

Set 1960s, the story follows Hekla, an emerging novelist, who has moved from remote Dalir to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, to be published as a writer. In the beginning, Hekla shares her childhood friend Jon’s tiny rented room. She became witness to her friend’s struggle with being gay and victimized for it, “I don’t belong to any group Hekla. I’m a mistake who shouldn’t have been born.” Meanwhile, Hekla herself battles with being a woman and a poet in a male-dominated society. Their other friend Ísey, on the other hand, exclaims being happy as a mother and a wife, while lamenting her being a mother and a wife and not pursuing her writer’s dream. Another would-be poet is Hekla’s boyfriend, Starkadur, who bemoans that he’ll never be bound in leather. Hekla describes him as: “He uses alliteration, but no end rhymes.”

“Men are born poets. By the time of confirmation, they’ve taken on the inescapable role of being geniuses. It doesn’t matter whether they write books or not. Women, on the other hand, grapple with puberty and have babies, which prevents them from being able to write.”

I am fascinated by Ólafsdóttir’s array of diverse characters sharing their hardships. I love how they lift each other up and not exactly looking at themselves from each other’s perspective, but by feeding their own madness, crossing their boundaries, and defining their own happiness. I like the chapter headings. They are like haikus, giving the reader a warning where the story is heading. I also like how the story ended -an opportunity to put the imagination to work.

Also, praise to Brian FitzGibbon for the exceptional translation.

In a nutshell, this is a profound read for thought. It is no wonder that it won the 2019 Prix Médicis étranger. I recommend it for either personal reading pleasure or book club discussion.

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About the Author:

Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir was born in Iceland in 1958, studied art history in Paris, and has lectured in History of Art at the University of Iceland. Her earlier novel, The Greenhouse (2007), won the DV Culture Award for literature and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Award. She currently lives and works in Reykjavik.

*My thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the DRM in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

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Book Review | WARREN THE 13TH AND THE 13-YEAR CURSE by Tania del Rio, Will Staehle

   

   Warren the 13th and the 13-Year Curse by Tania del Rio
Illustrator: Will Staehle
Series: Warren the 13th, Book #3
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Quirk Books
Genre: Middle-Grade Adventure
Rating: ★★★★★

An illustrated middle-grade fiction series with Gothic and Victorian overtones featuring the misadventures of a cursed 12-year-old bellhop trying to save his family's hotel from the clutches of evil.

At the conclusion of the second book in the Warren the 13th series, The Warren Hotel had transformed into a giant ship and set sail for the open seas! When Warren 3 opens, Warren is adjusting to the demands of running a floating hotel and is planning his 13th birthday party when disaster strikes--the hotel is shipwrecked on a strange island. To make things worse, his octopus-like friend Sketchy is kidnapped by a traveling circus! Warren and his friends must solve a series of riddles to find the next location of the circus and rescue their friend before it's too late. Along the way, they meet a new cast of characters, including some elderly pirates, a sea witch, a talking clam, and a giant sea monster. As Warren pursues Sketchy's kidnappers, he will learn the truth of his friend's mysterious origins--as well as one final secret of the Warren Hotel.-Goodreads

...

This is the 3rd book in the series, but it works perfectly as a standalone story. After reading the first two books, I’ve been very curious about what happens next for Warren. The story launched from where book #2 left off and the Warren Hotel was having a grand time sailing away. But now at 13, there’s a curse hovering above Warren’s head.

These books are placed as Middle-Grade Fiction. Nevertheless, Tania del Rio made these books relatively easy and perfect for a read-aloud that even younger Middle-Graders can enjoy them. Or even if your kids aren’t proficient readers yet, Will Staehle’s two-toned illustrations can boost their imagination effortlessly. The gothic feel they imbue is rather perfect for the story.

WARREN THE 13TH AND THE 13-YEAR CURSE is a great adventure filled with diverse characters (even nasty pirates) that have rare surprises up their sleeves and an impressive rescue mission. Despite his probable curse, Warren remains resolute, optimistic, and completely kind. His character brings out the good in people and that’s what I love most about these books. People never thought twice helping Warren or doing kindness for him in return.

Warren the 13th series is filled with adventures and with people you very much want your kids to meet. If you haven’t started on them yet, please get your copies soon. I heartily recommend these books.

>*Thank you for sharing this amazing ride, Will and Tania. I'll miss Warren, but I also know that he's off to new adventures. Instead, I'll bid him and both of you farewell.

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About the Author and Illustrator:

Tania Del Rio is a professional comic book writer and artist who has spent the past 10 years writing and illustrating, primarily for a young audience. Her clients include Archie Comics, Dark Horse, and Marvel; she is best known for her work writing and drawing the 42-issue run of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She is also the author of the WARREN THE 13TH series published by Quirk Books. She lives in Los Angeles.

Will Staehle grew up reading comics and working summers at his parent’s design firm in Wisconsin. He was Art Director for HarperCollins Publishers in NY, the VP of Design at JibJab in LA, and has been labeled by Print Magazine as one of the Top Twenty Under Thirty New Visual Artists, an Art Director’s Club Young Gun, and has also exhibited a solo show of work at the Type Director’s Club. Will’s work has appeared in various design annuals and he’s also contributed to the AIGA’s 50 books / 50 covers exhibit.

Currently, Will resides in Seattle, WA — where he runs Unusual Co. He uses his design and illustration background to create bold covers, stylized posters, quirky websites, and mini-comics to ensure that he gets as little sleep as possible.

*Thanks to Quirk Books and Netgalley for the digital copy
in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks!
You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

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WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS by Andrew David MacDonald

  

  When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★

Sometimes life isn’t as simple as heroes and villains.

For Zelda, a twenty-one-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother, Gert, life is best lived with some basic rules:

1. A smile means “thank you for doing something small that I liked.”
2. Fist bumps and dabs = respect.
3. Strange people are not appreciated in her home.
4. Tomatoes must go in the middle of the sandwich and not get the bread wet.
5. Sometimes the most important things don’t fit on lists.

But when Zelda finds out that Gert has resorted to some questionable—and dangerous—methods to make enough money to keep them afloat, Zelda decides to launch her own quest. Her mission: to be legendary. It isn’t long before Zelda finds herself in a battle that tests the reach of her heroism, her love for her brother, and the depth of her Viking strength.

When We Were Vikings is an uplifting debut about an unlikely heroine whose journey will leave you wanting to embark on a quest of your own, because after all...      We are all legends of our own making. - Goodreads

WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS is a gem!

I listed this as one of my Most Anticipated Books for 2020, but I never anticipated just how much I’d be blown away by how good this is. For one, Zelda, a young-adult born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, is really engaging. I was most fascinated by her lists and her quest for a better version of herself. Zelda’s honesty, naivety, and spunk for life are refreshing. Meanwhile, her devotion to her brother Gert is deep but may also be a sign of her vulnerability.

Andrew David MacDonald created characters that literally emanate oomph from the pages –from Zelda herself down to her last villain. I like how he portrayed them with a specific purpose, eliminating gray areas for the development of the story. And although I’m almost always afraid for Zelda, as the story progresses, I am cheering her on and totally invested in her triumphs. She is a Viking hero! MacDonald brilliantly captured the essence that there are no big or small accomplishments, they are all the same and worth celebrating every time.

Inside those 336 pages, MacDonald managed to squeeze in huge topics –alcoholism, poverty, healthcare, abuse, and equal opportunity for everyone. He employed a witty and affecting narrative that engages the reader straightforwardly. Specifically, as he creates this safe environment and supportive people for Zelda, he emphasizes the essentials for security, as well as human growth and development.

I have to add that Pheobe Strole did a marvelous job narrating the audiobook, go check it out.

I am also glad to know that Andrew David MacDonald was a recipient from the Canada Council for the Arts and I do hope they continue supporting emerging authors.

Skál!

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About the Author:

Andrew David MacDonald grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He won a Western Magazine Award for Fiction, was shortlisted for the Canadian National Magazine Award for Fiction, and his work has been anthologized in four volumes of The Journey Prize Stories, collecting the year’s best Canadian stories from emerging writers. He has an MFA from the Program for Poets and Writers at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

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