Murder on Waverly Place by: Victoria Thompson

Here is another series we have been reading for a long time and have never tired of it. Since, 1999, as a matter of fact.
Sarah Brandt, mid-wife and confirmed sleuth along with her neighbor, Mrs. Ellsworth, and Maeve, one of the girls she has rescued from the Mission where she helps out from time to time, tend to drive Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy crazy with their meddling in one case after another. However, over the years he and Sarah have forged a friendship of sorts, so he is becoming more resigned to their help.
This is another good read in this series and another book where you need to get comfortable because you'll be reading to the very end to get the full solution.
Ms. Thompson always leaves us wanting the next book because we are still anticipating a deeper relationship between Sarah and Frank.
If you enjoy reading about the Victorian Gaslight era, this would be a series to immerse yourself in.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden by: Rhys Bowen

We've been reading Molly Murphy Mysteries since 2002 when the series began.  There are two more books after this one.
Molly has been through thick and thin throughout this series and in this installment it is no different. She is a woman and as most of us women she is still having to prove that she has an intelligent mind.
She meets up with the famous Nellie Bly who happens to be friends with her neighbors across the way, which she finds exciting and decides she can get herself in and out of just as many scrapes as Nellie.
Ms. Bowen's got you on the edge of your seat until the very end in this one, so snuggle in and be prepared to read to the very last page.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Black Widow Agency by: Felicia Donovan

Four ladies with some not everyday things in common. It's fun to see how their personalities impact each other and the Agency they have formed to catch men who cause havoc in women's lives.
This turned out to be a fast paced read with a happy conclusion.
I liked it well enough to search out the second one:  Spun Tales.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Beverly G (Rebels & Traitors--742 pgs)

Rebels & Traitors     by: Lindsey Davis


Lindsey Davis has given us a good view of the English Civil War. She takes us from 1634 all the way to 1657. We follow basically 4 main sets of characters and the people who revolve around them including their interactions with famous people of the time. Remembering this is a work of fiction and these are events that could have happened.
Wars are always horrible, but they have seemed to fuel the world since the beginning of time. Families are torn apart for reasons of differing ideologies and  having to scratch out a living with all the carnage going on around them.
Ms. Davis has addressed all these issues with an interesting mix of how real people of the time might have handled these events surrounding their lives.
I happened to know some about the reign of Charles I and the ascension of  Oliver Cromwell so I was able to follow the events very easily. If you're looking to read a book about this time period without a dry history lesson this would be a good read for you. This book is filled with lots of intrigue, adventure, sad , and happy times, with my favorite characters still alive at the end.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Harper's Quine by: Pat McIntosh

This is a tale of love, deceit, greed, and murder most foul. It's hard to believe as you read this book that human nature and the things that drive humans to be good or bad haven't changed since the beginning of time. I guess that's part of what keeps the universe in balance.
It looks like there are seven more books in this series. I will be reading through the series as the year progresses. I enjoyed the characters and the time frame of this book. Ms. McIntosh gives just enough description to go along with the action to keep the story moving along at a good pace.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Last Dickens by: Matthew Pearl

The Last Dickens is a fictionalized account of what might have happened before, during, and after Charles Dickens died suddenly after writing 6 serialized chapters of his last book, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
This book contains some interesting facts concerning the publishing business in the 1800's that I wasn't aware of. We modern people of the 21st century are lucky to have so much access to books of all kinds from all over the world. Back in those days there were people called Bookeneers who hung around the docks waiting for versions of books from their authors to come across from Europe on their way to publishers here.
Of course, I have to say I don't know that much about how publishing works today, but I'm sure there is just as much fierce competition as there was back in those days.
Charles Dickens was wildly popular, just like our movie stars of today. People flocked to see him when he came over for his American tour of readings of books he had already published.
No ending was ever found to The Mystery of Edwin Drood and as you can see by this book, people are still speculating on how it might have ended.
This is the third book in this series, each one a stand alone. The first is The Dante Club. I confess I tried to read it a couple of times, but it was a little dry for me. The second, The Poe Shadow, I have not attempted yet.
The Last Dickens has enough twists and turns to hold your attention and keep you wondering how it will end.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Miss Julia Throws a Wedding by: Ann B. Ross

Miss Julia is a typical, sweet, Southern Lady, who likes to have her finger in all her friends pies. She has a little bit of an unusual living arrangement with the woman who was her late husband's mistress and the mistresses son by the late husband. They have become best friends and of course, she loves the little boy.
For some reason when I started this book I thought it was another cozy mystery. Where I got that idea I don't know, but that's o.k., it's a novel.
Even though there is no murder, there is an escaped prisoner, whom the police can't seem to recover, an unexpected miracle happens, and Miss Julia plans and pulls off a wedding in just under a week.
The wedding is for the chief deputy, who also is a boarder in her home and his girlfriend a local attorney. They met and fell in love at first sight at Miss Julia's house, so who more appropriate to handle their wedding especially since their busy schedules barely allow them time to get married and have a quickie honeymoon.
If you like sweet love stories, filled with nice people with good intentions, you'll like this story, and it has a happy ending.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥