Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions To My Book Collection (or books I plan to buy)

 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is  "what books did Santa bring you for Christmas?" Or, alternatively, what books are you planning to buy with all those gift cards and money Santa brought you? Well not only did Santa bring me money for books, I got a brand new Kindle Paperwhite to read them on. So Merry Christmas to me! Of course I bought it and wrapped it without looking inside the Amazon box and then told my husband what he'd bought me. He was very surprised when I opened it on Christmas morning, ha! But I wanted to make sure I got the one I really wanted. Now I have the same dilemma I always have....I want ALL the books. 

Here are the ones I either received from someone in paperback form or plan to buy. Some are so new they are expensive so if I can get them through my online library app I will go there first. Happy Reading in 2023 everyone!

1. The Sun in Splendour by Jean Plaidy- The story of Edward IV and the Wars of the Roses comes to life in this novel which bears the same title as the Sharon Kay Penman book. I have read hers and want to see how Plaidy handles the story. This one is not available on Kindle so I'm excited to have bought a new paperback copy.

2. Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen- Book number 16 in this cozy mystery series, Royal Spyness. I requested this on NetGalley but was declined, (oh well) so I just got my own copy. It looks like a lot of fun. Who doesn't love an international mystery set in Paris?

3. Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs- This story is a retelling of the story of Ruth from the Bible but set in Scotland during the 1745 Rising. I am definitely intrigued and excited to have discovered it. 

4. The Maid by Nita Prose- I read this is to be made into a movie and so I'd like to buy it and read it before I go see it.  Amazon says it is "a Clue-like locked room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit." 

5. The Drowned City by K.J. Maitland- Book 1 of the Daniel Pursglove Mystery series set in the 17th century. The main character goes "underground to infiltrate a Catholic network and discovers a Jesuit conspiracy."

6. Mystery By the Sea: (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery- Book 5) by Verity Bright- I still have to finish Book 4 but I love this series so much there is no doubt I'll want the next one in line. In this book Eleanor travels to a resort in Brighton to enjoy some rest and relaxation, only to find herself embroiled in a mystery involving her former husband, who is supposed to be dead.

7. Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic Story of America's Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay Dolin- I love all things pirate and high seas. I started this book awhile ago and had to return it to the library, so I'd like to finish it. It is a great read covering the Golden Age of Piracy. 

8. The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz- I mentioned this one last week for Can't Wait Wednesday.  This one is set during the 1715 Jacobite Rising and looks like a bit of a romance, which I'm normally not big on, but there seems to be enough mystery and history to make me want to buy it and read it. 

9. The Innkeeper and the Fugitive: Tales From the Highlands Book 3 by Martha Keyes- I have been meaning to get back to these books for a long time. There are four books in this series and I've read the first one. I already own book 2 but will probably go ahead and get book 3 just because I want to have it. Set in the Highlands of the 18th century they are more romance than mystery. The author does a great job with authenticity of the time and place so I really have enjoyed them so far. 

10. Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander- I'm not sure about this one but will probably go ahead and get it. I love books set in Egypt so the cover and title alone were enough to hook me. It is a mystery involving murder, a Nile cruise, and ancient relics. Seems like an Agatha Christie or Elizabeth Peters type book and I love those!

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Read Christie 2022 December Selection)

Publication Date:  December 19, 1938

Length: 288 pages

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

I have been saving this book for awhile now because I wanted to join the Read Christie challenge and this is the book they chose for December. Also, who wouldn't love this book around Christmas time of course! I am still a newcomer to Agatha Christie books and am learning to adjust to her style. As someone who expects a lot of historical atmosphere from her novels it has been a stretch to remember that Christie books are all about the crime and the whodunit and not necessarily the historical setting. But I think I'm finally appreciating her the way she intended. This book had a lot of colorful characters to keep track of and my original theory was way off. Seeing the story develop and realizing how wrong I was made it an interesting read.

Summary

We begin in London on December 22nd at a train station where a mysterious stranger, Stephen, is returning home from South Africa after a long absence. His cryptic thoughts as to his reappearance are clues to the unfolding drama. On the train he meets a young woman, Pilar, who stands out due to her exotic, ethnic appearance and the two strike up a conversation. When Stephen realizes she is headed to the same home, Gorston Hall, as he is, he is puzzled and intrigued. But he keeps this news to himself.

At Gorston Hall we meet the first of several couples who are gathering for the holiday festivities.  The host and owner of the manor house is Simeon Lee, an old man nearing the end of his life, who has called everyone together for his own nefarious purposes. His four sons, Alfred (who already lives at Gorston Hall with his wife, Lydia), George, David, and Harry (who is unmarried) are all as different as can be and at odds with one another due to the complicated relationship between them and their father and now deceased mother. All are mistrustful of Simeon and his motives and have their own reasons for wanting to be present to witness the awkward family reunion. Their wives are equally distrusting of the old man and only care to know what he might be up to regarding changes in his will. Enter Stephen and Pilar who appear to throw a wrench in the already contentious situation. Stephen is Simeon's late business partner's son and Pilar announces she is Lee's granddaughter. 

When Simeon is brutally murdered on Christmas Eve all are suspects. Detective Hercule Poirot, who happens to be visiting the area, is asked to help with the case and is only too happy to agree. As he eventually moves into Gorston Hall to get closer to the suspects and crime scene, he discovers some are not who they claim to be and others are hiding secrets that unravel slowly to form a much different picture than they present. Knowing Simeon was murdered in a seemingly locked room with no one inside makes for a difficult case. Poirot sets out to discover just how it could have happened and the twist is not what anyone expects. 

What I liked

I enjoyed this book and felt that the ending was satisfying. It was not one I figured out quickly, although I did start to suspect the correct answer in the last few pages. Still, it was hazy enough throughout the story that Christie did a superb job of leading one in the wrong direction several times. The couples and their wives were a hot mess of dysfunction and Stephen and Pilar added a mysterious quality to the bunch. I thought Harry, the prodigal son was an interesting character and Poirot is always fun to watch as he goes about his work solving the crime. The interaction between him and the policemen working the case was well written as the three men bounce ideas off of one another, always looking to Poirot to guide them and wanting his expert opinion. 

What I didn't like

Sometimes the story seemed to go in circles and repeat itself with references to the characters' backgrounds. I found myself thinking I already knew information that was just being presented a different way again. There wasn't much of a Christmas atmosphere and at times it felt as if this book could have taken place pretty much in any month. Unlike Anne Perry, Christie didn't work to give one that holiday vibe, which was a bit disappointing. But this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. 

Recommend or not?

Although I enjoyed it, I don't think it is one of Christie's strongest I've read so far. Noticing it is book 20 in the Poirot series I can't help but wonder if maybe she was churning out many books at this time in her career and wasn't able to create as strong of a story as she typically had in the beginning. For this reason I gave it four stars instead of five. I am glad to have read it and it is a must for any Christie fan but it certainly would not be the one I'd start with. 

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz

This is my first post for Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings. I chose The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz because anytime I see the words "Jacobite" or "Scotland" I'm hooked! This book is set during the first Jacobite rising of 1715 and looks unique and interesting. I've gotten a little ambitious with my TBR pile for 2023 so I'm not exactly sure when I will get to it. If you have read it or plan to, let me know what you think.

Happy Reading!

January 23, 2023

Christian Historical Fiction/Romance

416 pages

Book description courtesy of NetGalley

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley's father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems--a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.

Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies--and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.

2022 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

Last January I joined this challenge with the intent of reading 25 historical fiction books. I also planned to leave a review for each book on Amazon or Goodreads. Then I saw the beautiful book blogs others had created and wanted to try it myself in order to leave my reviews all in one place. Nearly a year later here I am ending the challenge with my blog and it all started here! Thanks to Marg at The Intrepid Reader and Baker for hosting this challenge.

Below is my list of books I read in 2022. Reviews for each book can be found on my blog ShellieLovesBooks. My goal was 25 books and I read 27 (not counting other genres like history, etc.) so I'm pretty pleased with that. Something I noticed was the number of sequels and certain authors I gravitate to. While it is fun to read and review new books I find it hard to let go of characters I love. In the coming year I'm going to try to work on more classics and new books but it will be a challenge!

Happy reading everyone!

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon

Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman

The Summer Country by Lauren Willig

Lionheart by Ben Kane

Silence in Hanover Close by Anne Perry

Monk's Hood by Ellis Peters

Uneasy Lies the Crown by N. Gemini Sasson

Of Lands High and Low by Martha Keyes

Highland Spirits by Amanda Scott

The Land Beyond the Sea by Sharon Kay Penman

A Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Crocodile On the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

A Very English Murder by Verity Bright

To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy

The Jane Seymour Conspiracy by Alexandra Walsh

Queen of Swords by Judith Tarr

Murder At the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell

Death At the Dance by Verity Bright

A Witness To Murder by Verity Bright

A Christmas Deliverance by Anne Perry

Enemy in the House by Mignon G. Eberhart

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie

Isabeau by N. Gemini Sasson

The Reluctant Queen by Jean Plaidy

The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters

 

The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody Book Two) by Elizabeth Peters

Publication Date: January 1, 1981

Length:  357 pages

My Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

This is the second book in this series and since I almost always go in order when reading series books, my second one to read by this author. I enjoyed book one, Crocodile On the Sandbank, enormously and was really looking forward to seeing what was happening with these characters. Peters really got my attention with her unique style of dialogue and the humorous inner monologue of Amelia. It reminds me of the old movies of the 1940's and 50's. The setting is also a big draw in that there aren't a lot of mysteries that take place in Egypt except for a few Agatha Christie stories. 

SUMMARY

Our story begins in England where Amelia and her husband Radcliffe Emerson are attempting a normal, quiet life with their young son Ramses. It is clear both feel stifled by domestic life and the social niceties that go along with 19th century upper crust society. Amelia especially is frustrated at home as wife and mother, yearning to return to Egypt and their archaeological adventures from where they first met. Emerson is a professor now but would rather be digging out tombs and roughing it in the desert. When one Lady Baskerville arrives asking for help with her late husband's latest Egyptian dig, both are excited to oblige her. Thinking the man's death was a natural one, neither Amelia nor Emerson are concerned about any danger, and deciding to leave Ramses with his Uncle Walter and Aunt Evelyn, they journey to the middle east to take over the project. Upon arriving they are introduced to the crew already employed on the site and as they begin work, start to believe that Lord Baskerville's death was in fact caused by something sinister. Overjoyed to be back in a location and atmosphere they are comfortable and enthusiastic about, neither Amelia nor Radcliffe want to get involved with the details of what could be murder but nevertheless soon find themselves targeted personally and have no choice but to begin investigating. While simultaneously continuing with the project, they both start to become suspicious of the different people involved with the dig itself. A mysterious figure in white running around terrifying the workers, more strange deaths, and mayhem continue as the couple work to unravel the who and the why behind it all.

WHAT I LIKED

As in the first book, this one started off with the witty, funny interaction between Amelia and Radcliffe but since they are now married and parents, it included their feelings about their son Ramses, which made it even more endearing. Amelia is constantly keeping up a running conversation in her head that the reader is privy to, concerning her feelings about things and it is amusing to see that she is not especially maternal while Radcliffe is giddy over his son. Although I don't share her disdain for motherhood and domestic life, I did sympathize with the frustrations of being a stay at home mother, as I have been one, and for someone as brilliant as Amelia it must be incredibly trying. Ramses is also an unusually bright and unique child that keeps them on their toes.  

When they arrive in Egypt and the mystery really gets going we are introduced to a lot of new characters but each have a distinct personality I found interesting. The author does a good job of giving each a solid back story that keeps you guessing as to the identity of the murderer because all of them have some motive. This book was a bit Agatha Christie like in that way as I found myself having to keep track of the clues and the way Peters was always inserting some new tidbit to throw your predictions off track. The setting is always a draw for me and she does another fabulous job of describing Egypt, the people and culture, and teaching a few layman's facts about archaeology. I did not guess the ending so that is always a plus for me and even the characters I thought would be killed off or have a love story between them were a surprise. The feelings between Amelia and Radcliffe really shine in private even if they publicly argue and bicker and it is clear they are devoted to one another.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

I was a little disappointed that the previous characters Walter and Evelyn were not included much in the story. I really liked them and as Radcliffe's brother and sister in law as well as good friends of Amelia's I had hoped the four of them would be a team again. Sometimes I found Amelia's sarcasm a little off putting and I think she is a bit hard on her husband who clearly matches her in wit and mental strength but she is also a woman living in a time when most men would not typically entertain a lady's opinion about much outside of society and home life. She has to maintain a tough exterior in order to be heard and seen.  The introduction of Ramses in the beginning and how quickly he is left in England and forgotten bothered me a bit because I just don't relate. My personal feelings toward Amelia were annoyance at how unconcerned she seemed to be at leaving her child so suddenly.  Overall the story was good, the suspense was there but I confess I gave it four stars because it just wasn't as good as the first book. I felt it took a bit too long to get moving and sometimes tended to go in circles. But the ending was satisfying so it was okay in the end.

RECOMMEND OR NOT? Yes it is a well written, well researched, entertaining mystery with an exotic setting. This is a series I plan to continue.