The Murder of Mr. Wickham, by Claudia Gray

If you are a fan of Jane Austen's writings and like the "fan fiction" that has emerged surrounding her stories then you will find this an intriguing murder mystery. What makes it fun also, in my opinion, gives it a flaw which makes me lower it from a five star to a four star rating.

What's fun about the novel is that all of Jane Austen's major characters from all her major novels come together in this one story. The Darcy's, the Wentworth's, the Knightly's, the Bertram's, even Frank Churchill. While this is fun it also makes the book a bit tedious. So many backstories must be told that you start to get swamped with details. But it is also fun to see how the characters all relate to each other in a most trying time.

The story is set two decades after the wedding of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. This allows for bringing together all of the various characters (time line wise). It also allows for three new characters to come together, Jonathan Darcy, Juliet Tilney and Grace Churchill, all three teenagers, children of our major story characters.

The Knightly's are hosting a house party to which all of our characters (except the Churchhills) have been invited. After they are all together another guest spoils the party. Mr. Wickham shows up, uninvited. But due to severe weather he is offered a room for one night.

As the title of the book suggests, Mr. Wickham is eventually murdered. He has been forced to stay more than a night because of the weather. He starts to grate on everyone's nerves, and is a most un welcomed guest.

The question of the book is, "Who murdered Mr. Wickham?" But I think a better question might be, "Who didn't want Mr. Wickham murdered?" That question is what really drives the story.

The bulk of the time is spent developing why each character had a good reason to murder Wickham. The only issue is to determine who had the temerity to actually commit the murder?

The fact that we all want to see Wickham dead is what drives us to continue reading the story. We can't wait to see "Who did it!" 

I think this was a good blend of Jane Austen's books as well as being a good Who Done It.

Get a pad of paper and a pencil so that you can take notes while reading, that will help you keep track of all the characters and their various motives.

Enjoy! 

Accusation by Paul Batista

First of all let me say that the publisher provided me an advance copy of the book for no cost in exchange for a fair review.

If you are one of my regular review readers let me give a disclaimer about the book as I start.

The book has some graphic language and scenes that would make me not recommend the book to young readers, nor to those who are turned off by such language. It is not overwhelming, it is true to today’s culture, so it will be nothing shocking.

The story is set when a world famous actor is accused by two women of sexual misconduct. The accusations are set, a lawsuit is filed and a prosecutor sinks her teeth into the claims to see if there is actionable material to indict Aaron Julian for a major sex crime.

Needless to say the fact that he is world famous is what drives this story to the top of the fold on newspapers throughout the country. The #metoo movement is going to be front and center in the drama to follow.

The actor claims innocence. His wife, a famous singer, also claims his innocence. 

A third woman comes forward and gives an explosive interview on network television giving graphic details to what she slams was a sexual attack.

The problems mount for our star. But he maintains his innocence. He hires a high price lawyer and she and her investigators jump into action. They find evidence that the actor is being set up.

Now, let’s add a murder of an attorney to the mix and more accusations will fly.

The story is well written for the drama and intensity of emotions that the characters will work through.

The ego’s of lawyers, judges, detectives and even the FBI come into question.

Let me just remind people that human nature is sinful. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, is Aaron without sin? Nope, but has he been targeted for accusations that are false? Well, that is the crux of the story.

I hope you can enjoy the read and that you will find things in it that make you ponder your trust is our judicial system as well as in human nature. 

Forever My Duke, By Olivia Drake

Natalie Fanshawe has a small problem, his name is Leo. Natalie is an American whose best friend was an English Noblewoman. They met on the wild frontier of America. Lady Audrey had given up her title and her family connections to marry a preacher. They then moved to America as Missionaries. But when tragedy struck and both Lady Audrey and her husband were killed little Leo was left without any family in America. Audrey's dying request of Natalie was to take Leo back home to his grandfather so that he could have a secure lifestyle.

The Duke of Clayton also has a small problem. He needs to marry and produce an heir to carry on the family name and legacy. He is on his way to seek the hand of a "very young" lady whom he has known since she was just a child. But he isn't sure this is the best match.

When the Duke of Clayton meets Natalie Fanshawe he is completely enthralled, smitten, captivated, whatever term you want to use, they all fit. He has never met a woman who has a mind of her own, abhors the British Aristocracy, and is capable of taking care of herself and others.

The rest of the story is amazingly written. The love between the two will grow, but neither wants to admit it. The Duke because he doesn't know how to love and Miss Fanshawe because she doesn't want to fall in love with a British Aristocrat. Little Leo almost becomes just a small part of the story, but in fact he is really the central character. He is born into the British Aristocracy but his grandfather doesn't want anything to do with his wayward daughter and especially her orphaned son.

What will happen? Will there be a marriage? Will the boy be adopted? Will grandfather come around and love his grandson? Will Natalie and Leo have to return to America and make a living on their own?

Enjoy the read!

The Shape of Night, by Tess Gerritsen

A young woman is drawn to Maine to "get away" from her past, her sister, her life and the tragedy that has happened to her family. She is hiding. BUT, she is also suppose to be writing. She is a food writer, she pens books about foods and recipes and culture. She is overdo with her current book and she goes to Maine to settle in at a "rental" property so that she can finish writing about Maine Cuisine and specifically the fishing industry and what families in Maine have eaten for centuries.

One problem. She moves into a haunted house. If you are a fan of paranormal novels, you will love this one. If you are a scientist you view things as paranormal. If you are a Religious person you look at these things as demon possession or influence. Either way, there is a spiritual/fourth dimension abnormal circumstance surrounding this house.

Ava, our writer, has rented Brodie's Watch for the next several months. She is lucky to get it because the woman rented it for the summer just packed up and left in a real hurry. She broke her lease and the realty agent is happy to have someone else come along and pick up the rental.

Ava moves in and that is when things start to happen. Captain Jeremiah Brodie built this home with the money he earned as a sea captain. He never married. He didn't even get to enjoy the house for very long at all because he was lost at sea along with his ship and her crew. In other words, Captain Brodie is dead. Or is he?

Ava believes that Captain Brodie's spirit still walks the halls of Brodie's Watch. Is she nuts? Maybe.

The story is wonderfully written and drew me in. I finished it in three days of off and on reading. I couldn't stop until I found out what was going to happen. Oh, and the bottom line, I was surprised by the ending. But no spoilers here, just a word that you will love this story.

Enjoy!

The Borgia Confessions, by Alyssa Palombo

What an intriguing historical novel. The Borgia family is fully committed to the Roman Catholic Church. So much so that Cardinal Borgia wants to be the Pope and he wants his eldest son to be in the church and eventually take the role of The Pope when the time comes.

Now that may sound strange to most of us, how can The Pope have a son? Aren't the Catholic Priests Celibate? If so, then there can not be a "family" succession from father to son. But that is where things become tangled. It is apparent that many priests had mistresses and thus had families, although not children that they necessarily publicly acknowledge.

Pope Borgia has a son, Cesare, whom he wants to have succeed him as Pope. Thus he makes him a Cardinal in the church after become The Pope.

The story revolves around Cesare and his life within and outside of The Church. It documents the political connections that are made. The deals made through marriage to draw families and countries together for the good of the Church.

The story is very intriguing, it is filled with surprises, it is filled with love and passion, but not typically for the church but for human companionship.

If you are going to read this novel please have an open mind. It is not meant to give you a reason to hate the Catholic Church, it is meant to tell the story of human companionship, human passion, human need and all the good and evil that comes from that.

Prepare to be entertained, informed and astonished.

Thin Ice, by Paige Shelton

Beth Rivers is an author and she is highly successful. So successful that she has acquired a Stalker. She also was kidnapped by said stalker and injured to the point of needing surgery on her head because of a sub-dermal hematoma.

The stalker has not been caught, so Beth Rivers is running away. She has come to Benedict, Alaska to get away from society and from crowds. She is hopeful that Levi Brooks, her stalker, won't be able to find her in the village of Benedict near Glacier Bay. Its population of 500 people and its non technical lifestyle (little cell phone reception or internet) should serve to allow Beth to hide.

The story works around the issue of Beth learning what it is like to live in a small town and one that is in the unforgiving Alaskan Wilderness. If she isn't eaten by a grizzly bear she might just freeze to death if stuck in a winter storm without proper apparel.

The story is very captivating. The situations are stimulating and somewhat frightening at times. The true nature of people comes out and our author describes them perfectly. Beth is plunged into a mystery as well as the rest of the town while she tries to hide her identity and hide from her stalker.

Being the first book of a series is always interesting. Will the book capture your attention enough that you will want to buy future books in the series? Will the characters be intriguing enough to hold your attention through multiple books? Is there enough tension, both romantic, relationally and circumstantially to keep you coming back for more?

The answer to those questions is "YES." You will fall in love with Beth Rivers and the cast of characters of the town of Benedict, Alaska, to keep you returning for more and more of the adventure. I have started following Paige Shelton so that I can be alerted to when the next book comes out on the market.

Enjoy!

Diamond in the Rough, by Jen Turano

Where do you go when you want to find a bride who can become part of the Aristocratic British Society? Well, if you are Charles, the Earl of Lonsdale, you take your best friend, and cousin, Reginald and go to America. You come at the time of year when the High Society Families are having, "The Season," when young ladies are being presented into society. This is a prime time to find a woman with a fortune.

Now, there is Poppy Garrison the granddaughter of the Van Rensselar family who are a part of this upper society crowd. Unfortunately Poppy grew up on a horse farm and not in New York as part of society. Her grandmother, Viola, has invited her to come to the city and be introduced into the Society arena.

What happens when a Farm Girl meets British Aristocracy? Well, nothing really good. That's because Poppy is "clumsy" to say the least and not attuned to high society. But while her grandmother thinks she might be able to marry her off to Lord Lonsdale it is his cousin, Reginald that strikes up the friendship.

The book is delightful and follows the misfit Poppy as she struggles to fit in, yet not give in to changing to meet society's formal normal.

Following the tangled story line of "Pride and Prejudice" you can see how this situation is going to pan out.

The story is interesting and joyful. It makes just enough fun of the Aristocrat's to make you smile and yet feel the need for them to come down a notch and become part of normal humanity.

You'll enjoy the ride as Horse Farmer and Aristocrat become enthralled with each other.