Laura Freeman's Blog, page 19

The House on Persimmon Road

The House on Persimmon Road by Jackie Weger, 2019

Justine’ s life is a mess. Her husband ran off to become a monk, and she has moved to an old house on Persimmon Road to put her life back together. Along for the ride is her recently widowed mother, Pauline, her mother-in-law Agnes, and two children, Pip and Judy Ann.

They arrive at the house and meet neighbor Tucker Highsmith who takes care of his father on the weekends and has several jobs, one he’s embarrassed about and won’t reveal until later in the story. He has an instant attraction to Justine, but she has so much on her plate, he is low on her list of priorities.

It could be a story about finding yourself after everything has been overturned, but Weger adds Lottie, a ghost who lives in the house and is trying to gain a body. Her descendent, Milo, is digging holes in the yard looking for hidden treasure.

Each character grows and changes throughout the story, and the sex is behind closed doors. She ties everything up neatly in the end with a little bit of ghostly magic.

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The Devil Earl

The Devil Earl by Deborah Simmons 1996 Harlequin Historical

This is not your usual Regency romance which makes it one of my favorite stories.

Prudence Lancaster, 24, lives with her sister, Phoebe, in the coastal town of Cornwall next to the Wolfinger Abbey, home of the Earl of Ravenscar, better known as the Devil Earl. The first earl locked his wife in a tower and drove her mad until one night they murdered each other. Pru is awed by the place and is writing her second gothic novel, “Bastian of Bloodmoor” but needs inspiration and wants to see inside Wolfinger.

When the earl’s younger brother and dandy James Penhurst is smitten by Phoebe, it provides Pru with an excuse to go to Wofinger Abbey, hoping to gain entrance, but a storm begins, and the Earl Sebastian arrives. He’s everything Pru imagined for her villain in her novel. He dismisses the sisters and fights with his brother, who has left school, fallen into a bad crowd, and is now in debt from gambling. When James disappears, everyone says Sebastian killed him except Pru who looks at things logically in the same way she plots her stories. Sebastian calls on them to find news of James and is attracted to fearless Pru but leaves when emotional Phoebe accuses him of killing James.

Five months later James is still missing, and Pru receives a large amount of money for “Bastian of Bloodmoor.” She decides to give Phoebe a season in London to find a husband. She sees Sebastian in a bookstore. Everyone is comparing him to the villain in Bastian and mentally, he wants to kill the author. She asks him if she wants him to sign a copy, revealing she is the author and the target of his hatred. When a dandy mocks Sebastian about the story, Pru defends Sebastian as nothing like her fictional villain and becomes his champion. Sebastian is a fan of her writing and sees passion in her words. He pursues her since he sees himself as a man without morals or conscience.

Prudence wears glasses and considers herself a spinster, but Sebastian calls her beautiful, and his POV reveals that he is in love with her, but his rakish past makes him think he’s unworthy of her. He wars between his soiled past, that his uncle encouraged with trips to brothels and gambling halls, with a memory of a better man, one he wants to be. Pru sees that in him and loves him.

A kiss in a library and in a coach heats up the attraction between them but you don’t know if Sebastian will take advantage of Pru. He enjoys playing games with her and loves her interest in mysteries and intrigues. This couple actually has something in common besides lust.

He take her to the Abbey for a tryst and they end up locked in the tower where they make love for the first time. Pru accepts it without tears or regrets even though her reputation may be ruined. They explore the Abbey and discover a secret cave used for smuggling and a ring belonging to James. Then word reaches her that Phoebe ran off with a Mr. Darling.

Having a writer or detective in a story allows the character to investigate a mystery and can heighten the romance when both hero and heroine join forces. Instead of an alpha male saving her from her life of “work,” they become a team.

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The Raider’s Bride

The Raider’s Bride by Kimberly Cates Historical Romance

The story takes place in 1772 and focuses on the romance more than history, but has Pendragon and his raiders helping the Rebel cause and on the list of traitors for the British. Emily d’Autrecourt has newly arrived from England to open a dress shop and to aid the British by passing on secrets hidden in dress dolls.

Pendragon is really Ian Blackheath, who is a notorious rake and cannot love. His deceased sister leaves him with her child, Lucy, a hellion who terrorizes humans and horses with her scissors. After destroying Emily’s shop and stealing the doll with the secret message, Emily goes to Blackheath and takes on the role of governess for Lucy.

Emily is drawn to the child who has suffered abuse and hides her feelings behind outlandish antics. She shares her own loss of a marriage that had no passion and the death of her daughter five years ago. Ian saw love destroy his mother with numerous pregnancies and vows not to hurt a woman with love.

The three broken spirits help to heal each other but are nearly destroyed when the doll is returned to the British and a trap is planned for Pendragon that could destroy all of them.

Cates takes a simple premise of a man and woman on the opposite sides of an impending war and steadily builds their romance before springing the secret on each of them at the worst possible time, just after they’ve fallen in love. The betrayal threatens to tear them apart, and Cates skillfully wrings the emotions of her characters and the readers.

Lucy, thankfully, will return in the sequel “The Raider’s Daughter” and keep her amazing spirit alive in an adventure just for her and the readers.

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Skeletons in the Closet

Skeletons in the Closet by Bill Pomidor 1997 Signet Book Medical Mystery *

This is a local author, and I’m adding him to my list of books to read. His wife is a doctor, and he did his medical residency before turning to writing, so the book is filled with medical information that is doled out in small doses and in easy-to-understand terms. It give the characters, who are both doctors, authenticity and who doesn’t want to know what is really going on in a doctor’s mind?

Plato Marley treats the elderly even though he has a difficult time accepting death. This is shown through his dog Foley, who is dying of old age, and the character of Agnes Leighton, who was the first woman detective in Cleveland, and is also ready to die. He’s also squeamish, an odd quality in a doctor.

His wife Cally or Cal Marley is the deputy coroner for Cuyahoga County and teaches classes at the Siegel Medical College. A skeleton is found at a construction site next to the hospital, and at first it is thought to be a victim of the torso killer back in the Elliot Ness era in Cleveland.

Anyone who enjoys local history and sites will enjoy all the references to the area including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where a murder occurs beneath a dinosaur skeleton. Plato has patients at the Wyndhaven Colony nursing home, including Albert Windgartner, who owns half of the place and whose daughter Plata dated. She’s now dating her father’s business partner Steven Prescott.

Cal has befriended Erica and they sit together at the dinner in the museum where Cal is receiving an award. Cal also partners up with an old boyfriend, Neville Archer, and Plato sees green but is conveniently interrupted by pagers or other people before he can confront her about the affair. The characters are realistic with money problems, real problems, and demanding jobs.

Cal came across as more successful and mature than Plato, but that gives him opportunities to mature through the series of books.

Pomidor builds the mystery slowly with the initial skeleton, then he adds four more skeletons that were delivered to the museum without any paperwork. Some of the clues come from Agnes and others are exposed during the awards’ dinner as secret relationships are unveiled. He does it in layers, building more evidence toward the climax which puts Plato in harm’s way.

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The Wicked Wyckerly

The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice 2010 Regency 1807

Rice brings a unique twist to a Regency romance. John Fitzhugh Wickerly has inherited the Earl of Danecroft title and all its debts. He escapes the manor and heads to London but checks on his five-year-old illegitimate daughter, Penelope. Finding her governess lacking, he takes her with him only to be put off the coach at the modest home of Abigail Merryweather, 24, who lost custody of her four young siblings because she is a woman. She helps quiet hellion Penelope and allows Fitz to sleep in the cottage not realizing he is an earl.

Fitz has skill with numbers and wagers three young men from the village to do his chores. He is about to leave to claim a horse he won and use it to help get out of debt when Abigail’s relative’s widow, Isabell Hoyt, Dowager Marchiness of Belden, arrives to give her an inheritance. Isabell has made a wager with Fitz’s friend Lord Quentin about marriage, and they will help and interfere with Fitz and Abigail’s lives.

Most Regency novels have a rake, and Fitz fits the bill, but his love for his daughter, and his admiration and love for Abigail and her four siblings redeem him over and over again. Think of the many “baby” stories where a cowboy is a single father looking for a wife and mother to his child. Abigail also must decide if her inheritance should be spent on gowns to trap a husband who can help her gain custody of her siblings or pay a solicitor.

Normally the hero is rich, titled, and handsome, but Fitz is penniless and must use his wits to keep ahead of the creditors outside his door. He also has to find his heir, who is acting peculiar as well as deal with someone throwing rocks at his head and leaving strange notes.

Rice combines humor and witty dialogue to make her characters come alive. Her characters are charming, intelligent, and discover something about themselves from their better halves. The action keeps increasing as the reader moves toward the end of the story, and all the loose ends are tied up.

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You Belong to Me

You Belong to Me by Johanna Lindsey 1994 Avon Books

This romance takes place in 1836 Russia where Constatin Rubliov is desperate to marry off his youngest daughter, Alex, who is only interested in her beautiful horses and pines for her first love Christopher, an Englishman who was a diplomat at court.

Constatin creates a fake betrothal between Alex and his late best friend’s son, Vasili Petroff, who is an alpha male with woman fawning all over him. His best friend is King Stefan who is happily married to Tanya (another story).

Alex is wearing her riding outfit of pants, white blouse and a hat when she meets Vasili, and they are determined not to marry one another. She refuses to wear anything but her riding clothes. He demands that they leave for Cardinia the next day. She packs two wagon and brings along a dozen horses. They both employ tactics to shock and make the other break the betrothal. Neither will budge out of honor and stubbornness.

Alex eats with her hands, uses crude language, and threatens every woman who looks at Vasili with violence. Vasili is insulting and threatens he will return to his life of women even after they marry. She thinks he’s a court dandy. She threatens to make his life miserable if he strays. He kisses her and they discover passion between them and fight to control it.

Bandits steal some of the horses, and Alex rides after them. Vasili follows in the snowstorm. They are captured and Vasili must fight their leader, Patel, who chooses whips. He has no idea how to fight with one, and Alex has to give him instruction. After receiving the lash a few times, he punches Patel in the face and knocks him out.

They are locked in a hut and make love. He’s surprised she’s a virgin, and she’s the best sex he’s ever had. They meet up with the others and rescue the horses. Vasili threatens to sell them if they marry, knowing she loves them like her babies. She threatens his mistress. She believes they would make each other miserable if they marry.

His mother is appalled by her coarse behavior, which she continues, but Tanya tells her Vasili is pretending and knows Alex is also pretending, showing each other their worse behaviors. Alex tells her he is still a lecher, but Tanya says ‘until he falls in love.”

She calls the betrothal off and heads for England to find Christopher. He only wanted a mistress, and she realizes she pined for nothing. She also is pregnant with Vasili’s child and tries to find a father for it. Only Vasili has followed her and drags her out of a ballroom, shocked she’s wearing a dress and behaving like a lady.

Alex has to reconcile with her father, and Alex and Vasili have to declare their love.

The obnoxious behavior works well in this story because they fall in love with the worst versions of themselves. It also provides plenty of humor.

#Lindsey #romance #historical #bookreview

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The Earl’s Unsuitable Bride

The Earl’s Unsuitable Bride by Lauren and Devon Royal 2020 Historical Romance

This is a sweet version by Devon of her mother’s steamier “When an Earl Meets a Girl” and sex is limited to kissing and closed bedroom doors.

The year is 1666 and Royal provides plenty of history for that period along with clothing and castle descriptions that any historian will love. Charles II has just returned to the throne, and a fire rages through London to add to the drama of the period.

Colin Chase is the Earl of Greystone, the title and land given to him by Charles for his loyalty. It is in disrepair and requires him to marry heiress Priscilla who is cold as ice. He has already used part of her dowry to begin repairs on his home.

Amethyst Goldsmith makes jewelry in her father’s shop. He has no son and has betrothed Amy to Robert, his apprentice, who Amy loathes. He is only too eager to marry Amy, bed her, take over the business and the large family safe of gold and jewels used in the jewelry business.

Colin meets Amy when he brings his sister, Kendra, to purchase a birthday present for her. Amy shows her a treasured creation of her own, and Colin asks her to make him a signet ring. They are instantly attracted to each other but both betrothed.

The fire changes their lives. Amy loses her father but saves the family chest of gold and jewels. Colin rescues Amy and nine children from the fire and takes them to his brother’s home. The Chase siblings are loud and love practical jokes. Kendra befriends Amy and plots for her to marry Colin, who won’t go back on his betrothal to Priscilla.

It is about half way through the story when we meet Priscilla, who doesn’t like pranks. Kendra and Amy run into Robert, who is determined to marry Amy and claim her wealth. The plot picks up pace when Robert kidnaps Amy. Will Colin rescue her in time and then what?

Some historical novels provide a lot of information on that time period and this is one of them. It’s a good one to read if a writer wants to learn about the 17th century. Before writing a historical novel, writers need to do their research, but be careful. Some things written in fictional books, are not accurate. Double check your information.

#Royal #romance #historical #bookreview

More book reviews can be found at http://www.authorfreeman.wordpress.com

Curtain

Curtain by Agatha Christie 1975 Pocket Book Mystery

The first Hercule Poirot book was in 1931, and he was retired. This book is 44 years later, which would make Poirot a very old man. It is subtitled “Hercule Poirot’s Last and Greatest Case”

Poirot dies at the end so it is his last case. I’ve only read two other books but I’ve seen a couple of movies of other stories with him as the lead character, and I can say this is not his greatest case.

Poirot knows who the killer X is but won’t tell Hastings, who muddles through the narrative as he returns to Styles, the site of their first case. The other inhabitants are introduced in Christie manner. George and Daisy Luttrell are the owners; Dr. Franklin and his invalid wife, Barbara; Judith Hastings, who works for Dr. Franklin and is Hastings’ estranged daughter; bird watcher Stephen Norton; Sir William Byrd Carrington, who is waiting for his manor house to be completed; nurse Elizabeth Cole; and womanizer Allerton.

Poirot has a file of five previous murders in which someone confessed or was convicted of a crime. He is convinced that X was responsible through psychological manipulations and is at the Styles house. He doesn’t tell Hastings the identity because they have no way of stopping the murders, and none of the three choices will help: warn the victim of the crime; warn killer you know; or catch the killer red handed. None will work without knowing the motive.

Christie states the murderer must have motive, opportunity, means, and escape. Anyone writing a mystery should keep these four requirements in mind. She also misdirects the reader about the crimes and motives and waits until the end to reveal the truth. I was tempted to look at the ending in this mystery, but read the book from page 1 to the final page in order.

Hastings has plenty of conversations throughout the book, and I wondered about their importance. He also tries to patch up his relationship with Judith, but fumbles several attempts. The remarks shared between the characters provide the clues to the identity of X and the motive, but it takes a long time to reach the final chapters where three people die, including Poirot. A letter from Poirot reveals everything to Hastings who has remained in the dark throughout the story.

#Christie #mystery #bookreview

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The Haunting of a Duke

The Haunting of a Duke by Chasity Bowlin – Regency Romance

Lord Rhys Brammel discovers Emme Walters sleepwalking in his home. He thinks she is a fake psychic his mother has invited to Briar Hall to discover if he killed his wife, Elise. He returns her to her room using a secret passageway. Both are attracted to each other but separated by rank.

Bowlin introduces a cast of characters including Rhys best friend, Michael, his cousin, Alistair, and others who have a part in the past that haunts the manor. They participate in a seance led by a fake, who is murdered during the performance. She also adds an aunt who hates Emme, an evil stepfather, and a sister who can see visions of the future.

Rhys doesn’t trust Emme, but Michael sees her talking to Melisande, the sister of Rhys who was raped and murdered. Emme discovers the same man who killed Melisande also killed Elise. When someone tries to kill Emme, Rhys is determined to protect her and find the murderer.

Besides the physical attraction, Rhys must come to terms with Emme’s powers to converse with the dead. She is also possessed by Elise, who threatens to harm Emme. This additional genre of fantasy or ghosts adds to the romance and is important to the plot of the story to solve the past murders of Melisande and Elise.

The sex scenes are spicy, and the story well plotted as the relationship deepens in proportion to the increase in danger when they close in on the killer. It was a fun read, and the ghosts added to the story and kept me turning the pages.

#Bowlin #romance #supernatural #bookreview

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The ABC Murders

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie 1963 Pocket Books Mystery

This story is told from Captain Hastings first person point of view with a third person POV from the killer. A letter is sent to Private Investigator Hercule Poirot giving him the place, Andover, and date of a murder. When a shop owner Mrs. Ascher is hit over the head and murdered, her drunken husband is the primary suspect, but Poirot discards him quickly. He begins to question her niece Mary Drower and neighbors, but no one saw anyone in the shop during the time of the murder.

He waits for the second letter naming Bexhill by Sea on the 25th, and a young woman Betty Barnard is strangled. More suspects, including a sister Megan, and boyfriend, Donald Fraser, are added to the list of suspects. The characters are diverse, which is key to any story. You want your reader to be able to keep the characters easily identified.

The third letter arrives late because of an error in the address, and Sir Carmichael Clark is found hit over the head while on a walk. His wife has cancer and a young woman, Thora, works for him. His brother Franklin is questioned.

Christie uses the term alienist, because the crime is attributed to a mad man. There is a popular show The Alienist which deals with serial killers. Poirot does not buy into the theory that the killer is a madman and takes time to “reflect on the killer” and search for a motive.

For writers, a killer needs a motive to make the story interesting in a mystery. Mad men work best in thrillers where we know who the killer is, and the story is about how to stop him. Poirot says the killer is a gambler, and his luck must turn. He introduces a couple who think they know who the killer is based on the news stories and report it to the police.

The letter for Doncaster arrives, and Poirot takes all the relatives and friends who may have seen the killer to the town to hopefully, ID him. The reader needs to remember Poirot is a genius and does nothing without a reason. The murder occurs but the man’s name does not end in D.

Poirot interviews the suspect and disagrees with the police who are not as clever. The final confrontation reveals Poirot’s extraordinary ability to solve a crime and uncovers the killer.

Poirot is an example of the retired or private investigator who does a better job than the police in solving a crime. Christie allows the reader to discover all the evidence and figure out the killer before or on the reveal. Again, it is not the obvious choice.

#Christie #mystery #bookreview

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