Poison or Protect Written by Gail Carriger Narrated by Suzanne Lavington

Lady Preshea Villentia is an Assassin who was trained at an unuual finishing school that no longer exists. (If you’ve read some of Ms. Carriger’s other series, you’ll know what I’m referring to here.) And she has one last assignment to complete before she will be released from her indenture. After that, her future and any assignments she takes on will be of her own choosing. But before that can happen, she must complete this one. It seems an easy enough assignment, though this one does not involve any killing. But what happens when she meets a Scotsman during this assignment who both sparks her interest and causes her to fear the desire she begins to feel for him.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novella while I was working in my garden and enjoyed it. Having read several other books in this universe, I was already familiar with many of the characters mentioned in this story, and knew the background behind how Preshea had been trained. The character voices were well done and easily distinguished from every other character in this audiobook, I enjoyed listening to the story as I worked in my garden.

I do need to warn you that this story involves some sexual encounters, and thus may not be the most appropriate of books for younger readers. It does involve both men and women as well as women who prefer the company of other women. So you will have to decide if you feel this book is right for you. While not extremely graphic, there are a few scenes that may not be appropriate for younger readers/listeners..

I enjoyed seeing the main character, who had a very colorful background story, begin to discover that not all men were only interested in their own desires, and that some men actually cared whether or not their partner was enjoying their time together as much as they were. This book was set during a time period where women were often married off by arrangement rather than for love. Actual love was something she, and many other women were not fortunate enough to find. It was simply not a consideration when it came to arranged marriages.

If you have read (or listened to) any of the other books set within the Parasol Protectorate universe, then you will enjoy this book. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys steampunk romances with more than a little bit of a “spicy” nature to them.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Realm of Crows by Angelina J Steffort

Ayna has escaped from the traitor crow and the king who have been trying to claim her for themselves and found her way back to her mate, friends, and family. They have allies to help defeat their enemies, but will it be enough? Can they actually succeed against the drug that even the slightest contact with will temporarily remove their magic abilities? Are there enough people willing to fight with or for her? Or will Ephegos manage to kill Myron, fulfilling the bargain he made with the Crow God, Shelak, to force Anya to become his mate instead of Myron’s. With more hidden traitors surrounding them, is there truly hope for their success, and will they be able to find a new home and create a kingdom for the surviving Crow Fairies and any who would choose to join them?

I received and read a review copy of this book, and wow, it does not disappoint. This book will take you through the full range of emotions, from joy and hope to despair then back again multiple times. This book made me both tear up and smile at different times. It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I do not want to give anything away to those who have not either read this book or the earlier books in the series, but I will say that if you have read any of Ms. Steffort’s other books, you will want to read both this book and the previous ones in the series. (I would recommend reading them in order if you don’t want to be lost, however.) It is the perfect ending for this series, as well as a potential starting point for a new one (though that last is only my opinion, as I have no idea whether or not the author will decide to write more about any of the characters who were in this book or not, but I hope that she will.)

Anyone who has read any of Ms. Steffort’s other books, whether from this series or her other series’ will enjoy this book. Anyone who enjoys stories about different types of fae, and their interactions with humans, those who enjoy a romantic fantasy series that takes you through the entire range of emotions, as well as those who enjoy stories about magical creatures, a war that includes their gods, or just a well written fantasy novel will likely enjoy this book. Recommended.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

On Other Shoresby Nelson Mckeeby

Javier al-Rasheed is a sailor who secretly married the Princess, which has her father understandably very upset. With his wife's help, Javier manages to escape being killed by her father and becomes the captain of the tea merchant ship Remarker. He and his wife have a plan that will (hopefully) end with his returning home to free her from being under her father’s control. As the mother of the heir, she is meant to rule the land with her husband. But will either of them survive long enough to allow that to happen when it is clear that her father does not wish to give up his power as the country's ruler?

I read a review copy of this story and enjoyed it. The adventures of Javier and his crew as they travel around the ocean include trading to earn a profit as tea merchants and rescuing stranded sailors as well as others from natural disasters. I enjoyed reading the stories of everyone they encountered along the way. It gave a very unique view into the lives of the people living on the various islands in the Halo. The life of a sailor isn’t easy in this world, but it is a necessity if one wishes goods from islands other than your own. So, many men and women from all social statuses and from all lands often decide to choose a life as a sailor. Each of them has a unique story to tell, and many of them are shared in this book.

The most interesting one seems to be the one that we learn during the course of the book about Captain Javier’s history. We are given hints and clues about him and his main companion, known as Devious. The two have been together for many years, but there is a big twist at the end involving them both that may leave you stunned. It is certainly one that took me somewhat by surprise. But if you want to know what that twist is, you’ll have to read the book, as telling you anything more about it would spoil the ending. I am looking forward to learning what will happen in book two of this series.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Scripts and Empty Crypts by Trixie Silvertale

Ghostma has sold the movie rights to Mitzy’s story and they intend to film the show using the actual bookstore. The problem being that Ghostma signed the contracts in Mitzy’s name without telling her about it, and now they have no choice but to allow the filmcrew to film inside of the building, despite there being sections of the bookstore that the general public aren’t allowed to know about. In the midst of this, the election is nearing that will either return Erick Harper to the position  of Sheriff or allow Paulson to continue on, doing things her way while resenting any help offered from Harper-Moon investigations. And to top things off, you guessed it, there is a murder involving the movie crew.

I received and read a review copy of this novel. And as you might expect, I enjoyed it, just as I have the previous ones in this series. There are quite a few twists and turns involved in this cozy mystery that will keep you guessing all the way until the end. This book has the vibrant characters that we have come to love from the Mitzy Moon Cozy Mysteries and the Harper-Moon series. It is every bit as entertaining as the previous books, and while it is a quick read, it is a very fun one as well. I know that I enjoyed it a great deal.

This book ends with a twist that can be pretty easily anticipated if you're a regular reader of any of the Mitzy Moon and Erick Harper books, but that will affect this series as it goes forward, And I for one, can’t wait to see what will come next. (I really don’t want to spoil the ending for you, so if you want to know what I’m referring to, you’ll just have to read the book yourself.)

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading Cozy Mysteries, Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, or who has enjoyed any of the other books involving Mitzy Moon, Erick Harper, and Ghostma. You won’t be disappointed.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Murder in the Garden of Enchantmentby Kathryn Gaucci

After receiving an invitation to a prestigious wedding in Constantinople, Theodosia begins planning, shopping for new clothing for herself and daughter, and gifts for the bride and groom. While talking with a close friend of hers, she hears some worrisome news about the groom and his reputation, and asks one of her servants to discreetly follow the young man to determine if these rumors are true or false. For if they are true, the young woman about to be married—the younger daughter of a friend of hers—will likely have an unhappy marriage ahead of her.

This cozy, historical fiction murder mystery was a beautiful description of life in early 20th century Constantinople. While it focused mostly on the wealthier lifestyles, it did also include a small amount about those who were among the less fortunate. This was a different type of book that what I am used to seeing from Ms. Gaucci as it is not primarily based on historical events or taking place in the middle of WWII. I received a review copy of this book, and as I have her WWII historical fiction novels, I enjoyed this one too.

The descriptions of the people and places are quite vivid. And it makes it easy to imagine being in the middle of a street market in Constantinople during this time period. And while I did figure out the “who-done-it” part of the story, there were quite a few surprising twists and turns along the path to revealing much of the how and why as well as the who behind the murder. For me, this was a nice, relaxing read. One where I could sit and immerse myself in the setting and the culture described within the book. And I believe that was one of my favorite aspects of this story.

If you like historical fiction with a touch of cozy mystery added in, then you will very much enjoy reading this book. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Gaucci provides her readers with her next novel. Whether that is a return to her WWII historical fiction or another cozy mystery, we are sure to enjoy the descriptions of what life would have been like in that time period and location.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writersby Renni Browne & Dave King

This textbook is one that was strongly recommended for a class that I am currently taking. It covers a fair amount that can be problematic, especially for writers who have not previously been published. It covers such topics such as show versus tell,  characterization, exposition, point of view, voice, and more.

There is a lot of useful and helpful information in this book, along with examples of what the authors are talking about. There are also exercises in each chapter for the reader to put into practice what each lesson was about. The “answers” to the exercises are at the end of the book rather than at the end of the chapter with each exercise. I personally would have preferred them to be on the pages immediately after the exercises themselves, but being able to look at a potential solution to each one is in itself helpful, no matter where in the book it winds up.

I would recommend that anyone reading this book attempt to complete them as it lets you put into practice what you are trying to learn. They are useful and the explanations on their answers are also helpful in teaching the why behind the choice to change the passage in certain ways.

At times, this felt very much like I was reading a textbook, which is what it is, however that aspect does at times make it a little less interesting (causing it to feel a bit "dry") to me than the previous book assigned in this class. But overall, I believe this is a helpful and useful book for anyone seeking to not only improve their writing, but who is seeking to improve their self-editing skills in order to strengthen the impact of their stories.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Champion's Lord by V.C. Willis

After losing control of their land to the invaders from the old continent, life had been rough for many people, most of whom now seek only to survive. When the empire’s crown prince comes seeking an alliance with the Thompson clan, he brings along some knowledge of what the invaders seem to be looking for, though parts of the puzzle are still missing. Still, Raphael is determined to try and aid his new friends and allies as best he can while trying to keep the fate that befell the empire from happening again. With the help of Ashton’s family, hopefully he can succeed, despite the odds stacked against them.

I first read an Advance Review Copy of this book when it was originally about to be published only as a Yonder app Web exclusive and enjoyed it. But earlier this year, the book was released more widely and is now available in both a paper and ebook versions from multiple retailers. (And with Yonder closing down later this month, access to this book on the app will be lost.) I reread the book before updating my review to repost, and I can say that it is just as enjoyable to read the second time around.

I found this book to be well written; the story is fast paced and the characters are fascinating. They each have their own problems and faults, just as they bring their own strengths and abilities to the fight. They know that if they fail, things will become very dark for those still around to see it. Someone is messing around with dark magic, and without the aid of the Fates, will anything remain? And if the Fates are forced to intervene, who knows what will happen.

It does need to be noted that this fantasy/adventure story is not meant for younger readers. There are a fair amount of very graphic sexual encounters, both male/female and male/male. This book is a very descriptive, very steamy adventure/romance novel. There is also some violence in the story, as it is clearly building up to a war, or at least some sort of battle between two opposing forces; one side seeking to protect, the other, possibly to destroy or possibly simply to dominate and control the rest of the world.

If you enjoy books that involve male/male as well as male/female relationships, have read any of Ms. Willis’ other books, or are looking for an extremely steamy fantasy adventure/romance novel to read, I’d recommend giving this book a try. I think you’ll enjoy it. Ms. Willis is an excellent writer, and one whose books are worth taking the time to read.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.