Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 6, 2008




Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss
by Deb Marlowe




Sophie Westby has come to London to help her friend, Emily Lowder design a nursery. Emily was so pleased with the nursery, she asked Sophie to do several more rooms. Viscountress Dayle, a visitor to the Lowder home is so enamored over the redecorated rooms that she requested Sophie do a project for her.

Lady Dayle happens to be the mother of Sophie’s childhood friend, Charles. Sophie and Charles have lost touch over the years and he is now Viscount Dayle. When Sophie meets him, she hardly recognizes him since he has changed so much. Gone is the young man full of tricks and laughter and in his place is a stern, mean-spirited, stuffy curmudgeon.

Charles has tried to turn over a new leaf and be respectable, upright, and worthy of his title. However, his efforts seem to be worth little as someone is out to destroy his reputation by exposing his wild youthful exploits. He decides to marry a woman of stellar reputation as a way to improve his standing with the ton. Of course, that women cannot be Sophie, no matter how much she fascinates him. She’s just too eccentric and just too ready to step forward and take a stand, no matter the consequences,

Ms. Marlowe inserts romance, intrigue, and humor into a story of the days after the Napoleonic wars. She writes of the ton, the attitude of Parliament, women’s rights, and the plight of the returning soldiers. Both romance and history buffs will find this book well worth reading.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

BOOK REVIEW
Buckingham Palace Gardens: A Novel (Thomas Pitt Mysteries) by Anne Perry

Ms. Perry's new novel is the latest in the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Victorian detective series. Thomas, once a police superintendent, continues in his role at Special Branch investigating treason and crimes against the Crown.

I found this book a bit different from others in the series, in that except for a brief appearance early on Charlotte was only mentioned in Thomas’ thoughts. In an unusual twist, the Pitt’s maid Gracie is asked to assist Special Branch with the investigation at Buckingham Palace, which she does with her usual aplomb. I missed Charlotte, Aunt Vespesia, and Emily, all of whom had minor parts. Pitt was more in the forefront than in other books in the series, his pockets loaded with bits and pieces. One could almost visualize the Pitt's wheels of detection turning and spinning with an occasional twist from Gracie.

In addition, there appeared to be more byplay between the other characters outside of the interview process. Ms. Perry presents us with an offering more complex than others in the series with multiple plot twists. I enjoyed the book and recommend it with the caveat that it is a bit different from other Pitt Mysteries.