In the Eye of the Beholder by Sharon E Cathcart

Title: In the Eye of the Beholder :

A Novel of the Phantom of the Opera

Author: Sharon E Cathcart

Series: Phantom Series, #1

Genre: Fiction/Historical

Publisher: Scribd

Format: PDF e-book, 121 pages

List Price: $5.00US

Reviewed: July 24, 2009

Rating: 4 stars (4.3)

Warnings: Explicit sexual content

Synopsis: Erik, the physically deformed hero finds a home, a place to belong and be accepted, in the heroine, Claire. She has a fondness for animals, for seeming lost causes. In Erik, she finds the love she thought she'd lost. Together, they escape the personal hells in which they'd been mired.

My two cents: This is a very well-written book. It is also fast-paced. I felt a little swept away and once I started reading, it was hard to stop. (Life, however, would insist otherwise.)

Claire is different than your average romance heroine. She is over thirty, never married, and under the control of a man who does not have her best interests at heart. She rebels against the “proper” behavior expected of her.

Erik is a man who has few friends and lives most of his life in solitude. His fascination with Claire helps heal the wounds caused by the fickle Christine. He is not the nicest man, however, and at times downright nasty.

These two characters could not be any more right for each other and while their coming together felt a little rushed to me, it still seemed right.

I liked Ms Cathcart's take on the classic Phantom story. It was a little more graphic (read: erotic) than I personally care for, but there was story and emotion enough that I enjoyed it even while skipping those scenes. The historical detail is excellent without being “textbook-y” and allows the reader to feel a part of the time period. Do not expect this to be your typical run-of-the-mill romance, however. The end is not expected but somehow, it's still acceptable.

Overall: 4.3 stars. Quick and deep with believable characters who have believable issues.

Note: This book is also available in many digital formats from smashwords.com and in paperback from Amazon and Turner Maxwell Books.

The Wind Whispers War by kgcummings

Title: The Wind Whispers War
Author: kgcummings
Website: www.kgcummings.com
Series: Vietnam Love Story, #1

Genre: Romance/Historical/Vietnam
Publisher: Authorhouse
ISBN: 142596026X
Format: Trade Paperback, 248 pages
List Price: $14.49US
Reviewed: July 9, 2009
Rating: 4 stars (4.3)

Characters: Jeffrey “Mad Dog” Madison, Beth Madison, née Campbell
Warnings: Graphic sexual content; some language

Synopsis: Jeffrey “Mad Dog” Madison is a playboy, finding a certain satisfaction in his romantic pursuits. Until he meets Beth Campbell, a farm girl whose innocence is polar opposite. While unrest is rampant in the world, these two young people fall deeply in love, always aware that war may rip them apart forever.

My two cents: Oh, this book was so hard to put down! This surprised me, as the Vietnam war was not a subject that ever really interested me. But I was immediately intrigued with these two characters and wanted to know what was going to happen next. The emotion was believably written and very easy to get drawn into. I cried more than once, felt like I was living through history that my parents actually did experience and I finally understood some of the stories my mom told me. Not only was this hard to put down, I found myself thinking about these characters later. Kgcummings successfully created characters that the reader could care for. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I want to know what happens to these characters as the story goes on.

And I just have to mention, this series has some of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen. :o)

Passing Fancies by Elizabeth Mansfield

Title: Passing Fancies

Author: Elizabeth Mansfield

Genre: Romance/Historical/Regency

Publisher: Berkley

ISBN: 0425063356

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 217 pages

List Price: Out-of-print

Reviewed: July 19, 2009

Rating: 4 stars (4.4)

Warnings: None

Synopsis: Lovely Lady Philippa Wyckfield gets drawn into any number of unfortunate situations due to her generous nature. Staying with friends she'd known since childhood, she manages to catch the eye of two of the brothers. One wrestles with his disgust of her supposed madcap nature while the other wrestles with his invisibility.

What I liked: I loved the characters with their varied idiosyncrasies. There is Lady Philippa (Pippa), whose generous nature lands her in more trouble than any normal human can handle; William, the stiffly proper head of the Sturtevant household and oldest child of Lady Georgina; Lady Georgina, air-headed, well-meaning mother and lady of the house; Simon, a scientist whose head is more often cloudy with his work than not; Sybil, only daughter and incorrigible madcap; and Dolly, the youngest son whose madness for horseflesh leads to at least one of the unfortunate situations I mentioned earlier. These characters are fleshed-out rather well despite the shortness of this book. Even the Oxbroughs, the lady and her son who are more or less the antagonists of the tale, have their quirks, making them more believable.

There was something I noticed with this book that struck me as interesting. It is written in third person omniscient. Perhaps this POV was more acceptable in 1983 when this book was written. From the research I've done in regard to publishing houses, this POV is not acceptable now. However, I feel Elizabeth Mansfield pulled it off rather well. While reading, I knew what was happening in each character's head, the POV switches were graceful and hardly noticeable. Considering this book is not a mystery in any way, I see no reason why we should not know what everyone is thinking.

The story was entertaining, light and fun. Love scenes were limited to kissing and even those were few and far between. I laughed more than once and at one point I thought I might cry. All that aside, this book is a good choice if you want a delightful, light read.

The Desirable Duchess by Marion Chesney

Title: The Desirable Duchess

Author: Marion Chesney

Genre: Romance/Historical/Regency

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449221563

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 172 pages

List Price: Out-of-print

Reviewed: December 2, 2008

Rating: 4 stars (4.1)

Warnings: None

Synopsis: Alice is in love with Sir Gerald. Her parents orchestrate a break-up and marry her off to the new peer in town, the Duke of Farrant. A talking bird starts off the controversy. Misunderstandings and general nuttiness ensue.

My opinion: Quite an amusing read...the first time. It's still funny, even six reads later, but if it is re-read too soon, it's just annoying. The talking bird isn't even the funny part. The silliness of the main characters and several supporting characters is what induces chuckling.

The heroine is 18 or so when the story starts and seems in keeping with her age, i.e., naive and trusting. The duke is around 30, a veteran of the Peninsular Campaign, and so a little hardened--something that is not really evidenced in the story except for a very few instances when the duke says/thinks something to that effect. Meanwhile, he has some serious problems with jealousy.

Overall: 4.1 stars because I do really like this very succinct story. I like Marion Chesney's ability to stuff an entertaining story into a very small book... :o)

Tilly by Jennie Tremaine (Marion Chesney)

Title: Tilly

Author: Jennie Tremaine

Genre: Romance/Historical/Edwardian

Publisher: Dell

ISBN: 0440186374

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 254 pages

List Price: Out-of-print

Reviewed: December 16, 2008

Rating: 4 stars (3.8)

Warnings: None

Synopsis: Gauche and chubby Lady Tilly is left destitute when her father dies and ends up working for a neighbor, Lady Aileen, as her companion. Lady Aileen treats her abominably, and the Marquess of Heppleford steps in to rescue her, offering a marriage of convenience. He abandons her on their wedding day and she makes herself over with the help of her maid, Francine, determined to make him fall in love with her.

My opinion: Typical Marion Chesney except Edwardian instead of Regency. Little facts are dropped here and there but nothing too in depth or off topic. The storyline is fairly common but Ms Chesney manages a level of humor that causes the reader to suddenly bust out laughing. I believe Ms Chesney takes great delight in mocking the eccentricities of the upper classes of the time periods she portrays.

I found Tilly's metamorphosis quite believable. Considering she was chubby and made up like a clown before Francine got a hold of her, it makes sense that a simple makeover and diet could transform her into a physical beauty. As for her hoydenish behavior, she has a few relapses, showing that she was still the same underneath despite all the studying of etiquette she was made to do.

Honestly, I don't have much of an opinion of the hero. He was typical, I think, of his upbringing, feeling he had certain rights just because he was born male and wealthy. For all that, he was not too bad. Other than the cheating thing. That was reprehensible.

Overall, it was a light, enjoyable read. Despite the fact that the cover declares this to be a Regency romance, it takes place in Britain, early 1900s, nearly 100 years after the Regency. Just FYI.

Kitty by Jennie Tremaine (Marion Chesney)

Title: Kitty

Author: Jennie Tremaine

Genre: Romance/Historical/Edwardian

Publisher: Dell

ISBN: 0440149819

Format: Mass Market Paperback,

List Price: Out-of-print

Reviewed: December 25, 2008

Rating: 4 stars (3.6)

Warnings: None

Synopsis: Shy, Kitty Harrison's miserly father dies, revealing her to be an heiress. Lord Peter Chesworth needs money to restore his beloved estate and asks for Kitty's hand, professing a love he didn't feel. He believes her to be as pushing as her mother and treats her quite callously after the vows are said. Kitty retreats further into herself, shocked and dismayed by the unlovely turn her life has taken. Then, someone decides she's better off dead.

My Opinion: Typical Marion Chesney, witty and darkly amusing at times, with tidbits of history and mockery of the upper class eccentricities. I didn't find it all that romantic; Peter was a cad at first and it was hard to believe he would fall in love with Kitty. The attempts on Kitty's life were more interesting than anything, really. It took me a little longer than usual to solve the mystery.

Overall, 3.6 stars for wit, historical fact-dropping, and because I like Marion Chesney's often mocking look at the upper classes.

The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry

Title: The Face of a Stranger

Author: Anne Perry

Series: William Monk Novels, #1

Genre: Historical Fiction; Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0804108587 (978-0804108584)

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

List Price: $7.99

Reviewed: February 15, 2009

Rating: 4 stars (4.3)

Warnings: Mild violence

Synopsis: This is the first in Anne Perry's "William Monk" mysteries. William Monk, detective, lost his memory in a carriage accident. He tries to recover bits and pieces of his life while trying to solve the murder of Jocelin Grey, a member of the nobility. To help him in this is his partner, Evan, and Hester Latterly, formerly one of Florence Nightingale's nurses.

My opinion: I like the characters in this, but I prefer Perry's other Victorian series, featuring Charlotte & Thomas Pitt. That aside, I thought the characters were rather well developed but this story focused primarily on Monk, due to his loss of memory. That was ok with me since I didn't really care all that much for Hester anyway. She was a little too harsh for me to like her, but I thought she was well-written.

Meanwhile, I ruined this book for myself by inadvertently reading the second book first. Hence, I already knew who the killer was since he stands trial in the second book, A Dangerous Mourning. I do believe, if I hadn't already known, I would have been very surprised by the outcome, something to be desired in a mystery novel. On a historical note: I am not an "expert" on Victorian England, since I tend to focus a little more on the Regency, but what I read seemed quite accurate.

I apologize if my thoughts here seem a little haphazard. Truthfully, I started this book over a year ago and had trouble getting into it. I completely blame my mistake for this (see above), not the author.

Sons of Avalon: Merlin's Prophecy by Dee Marie

Title: Merlin's Prophecy

Author: Dee Marie

Series: Sons of Avalon, #1

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Conceptual Images Publishing

ISBN: 0615150527 (9780615150529)

Format: Trade Paperback, 304 pages

List Price: $16.95

Reviewed: July 6, 2009

Rating: 5 stars (4.7)

Warnings: Mild violence

Synopsis: In an unusual twist on Arthurian-type legends, Merlin's Prophecy takes the reader on an adventurous journey, following a young Merlin on his quest to bring about the events that would shape ancient Britain and provide salvation for that war-torn land.

What I liked: Ooo, the historical detail was so breathtaking. I could visualize everything as it happened: Merlin's discovery as an infant, his ever-present hawk, bloody battles, drenching downpours, druidic practices, and the child prophet forced to grow into a man before his time, enduring heartache and strife no child should ever experience. Merlin's story was told in such a way that I was eager to learn more, learn about this "historical" figure as a child and discover just how pivotal a role he played in the eventual arrival of King Arthur. WARNING: This book made me cry more than once. Just FYI. I also loved the inclusion of a glossary of sorts, listing the people and places encountered in this adventurous tale. I'm thrilled this book is the first and we get to experience this world all over again just as soon as Ms Marie gets the sequel finished...hint, hint. :o)

What I didn't like: I hate this part of the review. I loved the book, the storyline, the characters. I already mentioned my anticipation for the sequel. However, there were times when I felt a little disappointed when learning about one character only to find myself suddenly following a different character when my curiosity with the first was not yet satisfied. This probably says more about my impatience as a reader than Ms Marie's abilities as an author...

Overall: 4.7 stars, definitely a keeper to be re-read and enjoyed. I recommend this book to fans of Arthurian legends and anyone who enjoys a good historical novel.

The Devil's Delilah by Loretta Chase

Title: The Devil's Delilah

Author: Loretta Chase

Series: Regency Noblemen, #2

Genre: Regency Romance (traditional)

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449218945

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 282 pages

List Price: Out-of-Print

Reviewed: March 20, 2009

Rating: 4 stars (4.4)

Warnings: None

Synopsis: The daughter of a notorious member of Society is determined to stop her father from publishing his scandalous memoirs. To help her in this goal is a bookworm who seems far too muddled to be a proper hero.

My opinion: Not your typical run-of-the-mill romance hero, Jack Langdon is neither dashing nor scandalously improper. Not until he meets Delilah Desmond, that is. She seems to bring out his wild side in a delightfully amusing way. She is the daughter of a man known as Devil Desmond, a man who was scorned by Society for marrying an actress. Having been given the example of two very unconventional parents, she is predictably unconventional herself. And yet, I did not find her to be annoyingly belligerent, or "know-it-all" as so often happens with heroines of her nature. These were two characters I quite liked and found myself rooting for. Delilah's father is one of the best “dark” characters I've ever read.

Overall: 4.4 stars. It is very well-written, with plenty of little historical details. This story is connected to Viscount Vagabond, the heroes being friends, and I found that, while I really enjoyed Jack's story, comparatively it lacked something that I can't quite put my finger on...

Viscount Vagabond by Loretta Chase

Title: Viscount Vagabond

Author: Loretta Chase

Series: Regency Noblemen, #1

Genre: Regency Romance (traditional)

Publisher: Avon

ISBN: 0380708361

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 228 pages

List Price: Out-of-Print

Reviewed: February 22, 2009

Rating: 5 stars (4.8)

Warnings: None

Synopsis: Miss Catherine Pelliston runs away from an unpalatable betrothal and finds herself in a brothel begging a half-naked man for help. He, although being quite drunk and not believing her story, extracts her from the sticky situation she'd managed to land herself in and takes her to his lodgings, later learning of her parentage and offering her marriage to save her reputation.

Characters: Sheesh, Lord Rand made me laugh repeatedly. He was just coming off a 6-month dissipation binge when he met Catherine. For anyone familiar with Chase's Lord of Scoundrels, think Lord Dain but toned-down for a traditionally "sweet" Regency. (Please note, it has been a while since I read LOS, but I remember finding Dain's off-the-wall attitude amusing at times.)

Catherine Pelliston was polar opposite. Cursed with an overactive conscience, she was quite preachy at times. A believable personality, I think.

Together, these two were hilarious. When Catherine preached, Rand always had some odd, quirky response that made me laugh more than once. I have to wonder if two such characters could actually find happiness together, but it is a nice fantasy. :o)

Storyline: The storyline was rather typical, ie, hero proposes to save heroine's reputation, heroine refuses, hero gets to know her better and tries to not fall in love, Happily-Ever-After. The difference is Chase's ability to take this run-of-the-mill storyline and throw in several endearing--and not so endearing--characters with an excellent dose of comedy. A very enjoyable, lighthearted read.

Overall: 4.8 stars

Note: I borrowed the image from Goodreads.com until I get my copy scanned in again...

The Poisoned Apple by Madison Paine

Title: The Poisoned Apple

Author: Madison Paine

Genre: Fiction

Sub-Genre: Allegory

Publisher: Wasteland Press

ISBN: 1600473148

Format: Paperback, 68 pages

List Price: $6.95US

Reviewed: June 24, 2009

Rating: 5 stars (4.8)

Warnings: None

Synopsis (from Amazon): Written in the classic tradition of an allegory, the story chronicles the career of an apple cultivator who discovers her purpose through the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of working for a world famous apple orchard. Readers are challenged to look deeper into the story to discover subtle truths about the United States educational system.

My opinion: This is a very well-written story. It is easy to follow as events unfold and easy to see the correlation between the orchard and its workers and the US educational system. This is definitely something teachers and students need to read.

Overall: 4.8 stars

Her Grace's Passion by Marion Chesney

Title: Her Grace's Passion

Author: Marion Chesney

Series: Three Friends, #3 (unofficially named)

Genre: Regency Romance (traditional)

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449217647

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 170 pages

List Price: Out-of-Print

Characters: Duchess of Hadshire, Earl of Torridon

Reviewed: December 9, 2008

Synopsis: Matilda, Duchess of Hadshire is finally free of her abusive husband when he is murdered by his own mistress. She falls in love with the Earl of Torridon, trapped in an unhappy marriage himself. When circumstances lend him his freedom, Matilda's guilty conscience will not allow her to be with him.

My opinion: Ok. This is probably my least favorite of this series but I still really liked it. This heroine was more interesting as a friend of the previous two heroines in this series (The Scandalous Lady Wright & His Lordship's Pleasure) than as the "star" of this tale. The hero was a little of a nonentity although I was sorry for him in his choice of first wife. But, a little over halfway through the book, a new character is introduced. Letitia is over six feet tall and quite clumsy. She is incredibly sweet, however, and incredibly loyal. Her pleasant attitude and amusing antics make the somewhat irritating main characters far more palatable. She was my favorite character. As usual, this is very much like other Marion Chesney books. She succinctly tells a story while dropping tiny little factual tidbits about the selected time period. A light, quick read.

Overall: 3.7 stars

His Lordship's Pleasure by Marion Chesney

Title: His Lordship's Pleasure

Author: Marion Chesney

Series: Three Friends, #2 (unofficially named)

Genre: Regency Romance (traditional)

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449217639

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 172 pages

List Price: Out-of-Print

Characters: Annabelle Carruthers, Earl of Darkwood

Reviewed: December 5, 2008

Synopsis: After enduring marriage to a profligate gambler, Annabelle Carruthers finds herself frightened and alone when her husband dies. Desperate, she offers herself as mistress to the Earl of Darkwood. He allows her to think he accepts her offer while secretly just wanting to help her, knowing she will not take charity.

My opinion: I do like this story--it's part of my favorite Chesney series. However, there is an inconsistency in the story regarding her husband's will. Otherwise, it is a typical Marion Chesney Regency with some kooky supporting characters bringing some comedy relief to another fairly serious plotline.

Overall: 3.8 stars

The Scandalous Lady Wright by Marion Chesney

Title: The Scandalous Lady Wright

Author: Marion Chesney

Series: Three Friends, #1 (unofficially named)

Genre: Regency Romance (traditional)

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449217620

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 184 pages

List Price: Out-of-Print

Characters: Lady Emma Wright, Comte Saint-Juste

Reviewed: December 3, 2008

Synopsis: Lady Emma Wright is trapped in an abusive marriage to a well-respected member of Parliament. When he is mysteriously murdered, she stands accused until the handsome dilettante, Comte Saint-Juste decides to clear her name. Falling in love with him scares her silly due to the barbarous nature of her late husband.

My opinion: This one, due to the nature of Emma's previous marriage, is not nearly as funny as many of Ms Chesney's other stories. The comte, however, adds a lighter element with his insouciant charm and his best friend, Jolly, is a bit of comic relief. The main focus is on Emma, so we do not get a very good look into the comte's mind. She is a little flighty at times but I suppose that is understandable due to the abuse she's suffered.

Overall: 3.9 stars because I am a Chesney fan and this is probably my favorite series by her because of the element of seriousness that is not often present in her older regencies.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me

Author: Julia Quinn

Series: Bridgertons #2

Genre: Regency Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

ISBN: 0380815575

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

List Price: $7.99US

Reviewed: December 20, 2008

Rating: 5 stars (4.8)

Warnings: Graphic love scenes

Synopsis: Viscount Bridgerton is convinced he will die at a young age. To that end, he is determined to marry a young woman with whom he could not possibly fall in love. He settles his matrimonial sights on Edwina Sheffield, a young woman of great beauty, manners, and disposition. The only problem is her sister, Kate.

Kate does not believe that rakes make the best husbands. She is determined to prevent her sister from making the horrible mistake of marrying one, namely Anthony Bridgerton. Due to an odd announcement of her sister's at a party, however, Kate is forced into company with the man and finds him annoying at first but gradually learns to like him.

My opinion: This is the 2nd time I've read this and I enjoyed it almost as much as I did the first time--you do lose something when you already know what will happen. The characters are very believable and likable, amusing and even unpredictable at times. Their interaction is genuine and the emotion is strong enough to draw the reader in. (I cried after reading the prologue. And then again, later, after certain secrets are revealed.) This whole family is delightful and I will re-read some of the other books in this series at a later time as well as the ones I haven't had the good fortune to acquire yet.

Overall: 4.8 stars.

Sensitive readers beware: This book contains graphic love scenes.

Note: I borrowed the pic from goodreads since Amazon's pic was crap. The currently available edition of this book has a different cover.

Untameable, A Regency Anthology

Title: Untameable

Author(s): Catherine Blair, Kate Huntington, Donna Simpson

Genre: Regency Romance (traditional)

Publisher: Zebra

ISBN: 0821774158

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 256 pages

List Price: Out-of-Print

Reviewed: December 5, 2004

Rating: 4 stars (3.8)

Warnings: None

Since each story is quite unique, I'll comment on each novella separately...

The Rogue's Wife by Catherine Blair: I give this story 2.1 stars. Something about it gave me an icky chill. These two characters, according to a totally unbelievable storyline, fall in love but they are so blind they don't "see" each other. Lady Charlotte thinks the best thing she can do for her husband is push him into all the icky things he supposedly loves to do, namely, drink, gamble, and womanize. John, of course, thinks he should be able to keep his former life—until his wife actually pushes him into it. Both these characters seemed lifeless, abstract, completely one-sided. (July 15, 2009 - I read this and can't believe how harsh I sound. I will re-read this story and reassess my opinion.)

A Breath of Scandal by Kate Huntington: 4.3 stars for this story. In the beginning, I found Miss Abigail Pennington more annoying than anything. The fact that she raised her niece and loved her like a daughter for some reason made it imperative that she obsess over the girl's engagement to a very deserving young man. Enter handsome, charming, wonderfully strong Gabriel Bourbonnais, who may or may not be royalty. Abby's niece takes one look at the enigmatic foreigner and thinks he's perfect, much to her fiance's chagrin. Somehow, according to Abby, this is all Gabriel's fault—which I found rather annoying. Once Abby loosened up a bit, she was an interesting person. Gabriel was mysterious enough to be completely fascinating. The budding romance was more believable in this story than the previous and a certain scene near the end almost had me in tears.

A Rogue's Rescue by Donna Simpson: A whopping 5 stars for Ms. Simpson's touching tale of love and revenge—with an amusing bit of comedy thrown in for good measure. Lord Ingram is one of my all-time favorite Regency heroes. There is just something about a darkly handsome, brooding lord with a reputation based mostly on gossip. The heroine was quite likable, too. Ariadne Lambert is a spinster over 30 and plain as can be. Her self-esteem, however, is wonderful. I was truly impressed. After being told that a certain unscrupulous man is blackmailing a friend of a friend, Ari is determined to teach him a lesson. Her plan is going swimmingly until Ingram decides to rescue her. Not realizing she is trying to set the other man up for a fall, Ingram lets her know the man preys on silly, plain, rich spinsters for their money. It takes him a while to see through Ari's "brainless" act to the intelligent woman beneath. Their falling in love is gradual, believable, and very lovely. Of course, with all these misunderstandings, a mild element of humor is inevitable.

Overall, this book rates only 3.8 stars. Due to my love for the second and third stories, however, Untameable is one of my "keepers."

The Girlfriend by RL Stine

Title: The Girlfriend

Author: RL Stine

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Sub-Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Scholastic

Original Publication Year: 1991

ISBN: 059044333X

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 165 pages

List Price: $3.99US

Character(s): Scotty Singleton

Synopsis: Scotty Singleton finds his hands full fending off a psycho girl who won't take no for an answer.

What I liked: The 'cozy memory' feeling this book gave me. I read this when I was a teenager. I loved RL Stine's books and read them constantly. Things have changed a lot since then but I still got a chill at certain points in this story.

What I didn't like: Honestly, I found the characters to be a little flat, even Scotty. It wasn't so bad that I was bored or even disinterested. It was just very, very different from what I'm used to or how I remember this book. Of course, if I'm totally honest, I have to admit that I always did enjoy the Fear Street books far more than the “stand-alones” that Mr Stine wrote.

Overall: 3.8 stars. This will be added to the books I'm saving for my daughter. (She's 5 now.)

Note: The book I read is an older printing. The one currently available has a different cover, is 176 pages with a list price of $6.99US.

The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy by Gina Collia-Suzuki

Title: The Wonderful Demise of Benjamin Arnold Guppy

Author: Gina Collia-Suzuki

Website: www.ginacolliasuzuki.com

Genre: Satire

Publisher: Nezu Press

ISBN: 0955979617 (ISBN13: 9780955979613)

Format: Trade Paperback, 228 pages

List Price: $14.00US

Rating: 4 stars (4.4)

Warnings: Some language

Synopsis: A tale of nasty neighbors, dark comedy and, ultimately, the perfect murder.

What I liked: Well, it was hilarious. The story offers a glimpse into the mind of an otherwise normal young housewife, driven to murder by circumstances out of her control. I can't begin to imagine the horror described in this book, the lunacy of neighbors trying to extort money and resorting to attacks when none is forthcoming. I found the Guppy's attempts to drive their new neighbors away more funny than anything but that's probably because it wasn't happening to me.

What I disliked: Honestly, for me, it was a little slow-going at first. It picked up pace, however, and was a delightfully dark read after that.

Overall: 4.4 stars. My husband is looking forward to reading this. I may re-read it at a later date. :o)

The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry

Title: The Cater Street Hangman

Author: Anne Perry

Series: Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, Book 1

Genre: Historical Mystery

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449208672

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 287 pages

List Price: $6.99US

Characters: Thomas Pitt, Charlotte Ellison

Someone is killing young women in Cater Street. Thomas Pitt is called in to investigate and he meets Charlotte Ellison. More or less together, they try to uncover the identity of a killer dubbed the hangman.

What I liked: The characters. Ms Perry actually gave the reader a glimpse into each and every mind that she felt was important to the story. I was surprised by the POV switches even though they were separated by scenes and sometimes chapters, but it added well to the mystery. I didn't guess the murderer's identity until the second to last chapter. I also like the historical detail Ms Perry provides in her Victorian mysteries, giving the reader an accurate glimpse into the period with all its foibles and restrictions.

What I disliked: The romance. I know that sounds weird coming from a romance author but the romance felt contrived to me. This could be because Charlotte fought it and we never got to see inside Pitt's head to watch the gradual development of his regard. Which leads me to my other annoyance: We never got to see inside Pitt's head. Maybe this wasn't important to the story but I like him and would have liked to see how his mind works.

Overall: 4.2 stars. This was borrowed from my mom but I might borrow it again at a much later date. :o)

Note: The copy I read has a different cover and 287 pages instead of 288. The list price of the current edition available is $7.99US instead of $6.99US.

Marrying the Captain by Carla Kelly

Title: Marrying the Captain

Author: Carla Kelly

Series: ?

Genre: Regency Historical Romance

Publisher: Harlequin

ISBN: 0373295286 (978-0373295289)

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages

List Price: $5.99US

Rating: 4 stars (4.4)

Warning: Graphic love scenes

Synopsis: Eleanor "Nana" Massie's father, Lord Ratliffe, recruits Captain Oliver Worthy to spy on Nana at the small inn she runs with her grandmother. As soon as he meets Nana, he realizes Ratliffe is up to no good.

What I liked: I am a fan of Carla Kelly. I have read several of her older traditional Regencies and I LOVED them. I liked this one but not quite as much. The characters are likable, the plot is believable and the historical detail is just enough to put you in the time period without making you wonder if you'd purchased a history text by mistake. :o)

What I disliked: So there was one love scene in this book I skipped that contained a little more detail than I personally care for. I was disappointed that this scene was even in the book. Carla Kelly writes a wonderful, moving tale without detailed love scenes. I don't know if this was something she was told to do to get this story published or if she honestly felt it was necessary to the plot. (Traditional Regencies do not seem to have quite the following they once had.) The other thing that annoyed me was—and yes, I know this will sound nitpicky—the nickname “Nana” for the heroine. I'm sorry. When I hear Nana, I think grandma. It was distracting at times. My opinion.

Overall: 4.4 stars. This is probably a book I'll read again.

Sensitive readers beware: This book contains graphic love scenes.

View all my reviews on goodreads.