Mariel Grey's Blog, page 4

Facebook hypocrisy? Say it’s not so!

Okay, I’m not always the biggest fan of Facebook, but having a Facebook page is almost a necessity to connect with other readers and authors at times, so I’ve endured it. In fairness, however, I must admit I have learned to have a little more fun in expressing myself on the page and sharing things [...]

Book Review: The Masterful Mr. Montague by Stephanie Laurens

If you enjoy mysteries, you’ll like this story. If you are looking for more of a romance, this book may not be for you. I’ve read other stories by Stephanie Laurens I’ve enjoyed more. I should expound on that statement and say this is not a bad story. On the contrary, it’s a good mystery. [...]

The grape just keeps getting better! Keeping my pearly whites intact

I love wine. As a matter of fact, I could be justifiably accused of liking it too much. If I lived in Europe where good wine is far less expensive than here in the United States and available in a similar fashion to the way gasoline is dispensed (I’m sure those of you who don’t [...]

Book Review: Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

I enjoyed Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James. The heroine of this tale, Lady Xenobia India, is as unusual as her name. Though the daughter of a Marquess, she was left in need of financial support when her parents were killed in a coach accident which ultimately led her to becoming what we [...]

Book Review: A Shocking Delight by Jo Beverley

The story opens with Lucinda Potter (“Lucy”) hoping to repair the relationship with her father, strained since the death of her mother, partly due to Lucy’s strong resemblance to her deceased mother. Lucy wants to resume her place in her father’s merchant business, which she took an active part in running prior to her mother’s [...]

Scents and Sensibility: if it smells good, it just might be good for you

We all know our reactions to malodorous things (think soiled baby diaper or dumpster in the summer time). Well, consider your reactions to pleasant scents. Not only do we enjoy them, but they can offer health benefits as well. I’m specifically referring to essential oils extracted from plants. Think armomatherapy. The Director of Complementary and [...]

Book Review: The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry

I haven’t read Steve Berry in quite a while so I picked one up that was laying around. The story revolves around Berry’s Cotton Malone character, a retired U.S. Department of Justice Agency agent who owns a bookstore in Copenhagen. In the opening, Sam Collins, a young Secret Service Agent recently fired from that agency, [...]

Review of Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas

I recently purchased this book and it appears to be a reprint from an earlier publication. I have read only a few books by Lisa Kleypas and can’t imagine why I haven’t read more. Her overall style and attention to detail of the period are marvelous and her dialogue clever and enjoyable. This particular story [...]

Guess your brain really CAN be full

You know that thing on the tip of your tongue, the edge of your consciousness, if only you could just think of it…. We’ve all had it happen to us and that phenomena only seems to get worse as we age. Don’t fret, however, it might not be dementia yet! Topics In Cognitive Science reported [...]

The Switch by Lynsay Sands- clever and entertaining

I found The Switch by Lynsay Sands to be a clever story and an enjoyable read. The story revolves around identical twin sisters, Charlotte and Elizabeth, who have been left in the care of their callous uncle after the death of their parents. After their uncle arranges marriages for them (i.e. sells them off) to [...]