Treachery by S. J. Parris

                                                           

Title: Author: S. J. Parris

Genre: Historical Mystery

Other books I've read by this author: Heresy, Prophecy, and Sacrilege

Synopsis:

August, 1585. A relentless enemy. A treacherous conspiracy. Elizabethan England is on the brink of war.

Sir Francis Drake is preparing to launch a daring expedition against the Spanish when a murder aboard his ship changes everything.

Giordano Bruno agrees to hunt the killer down, only to find that more than one deadly plot is brewing in Plymouth’s murky underworld. And as he tracks a murderer through its dangerous streets, he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the future of England itself. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed book 4 of this series. It was actually this book that got me into the series. I took it out of the library months ago without realizing it was part of a series. I hate reading series out of order, so I returned it and grabbed book one! I loved the incorporation of Sir Francis Drake. A fresh historical character into an already fun historical series is a highlight for me! The mystery and drama do not disappoint; this novel is as good as all the others so far.

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To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

 

Title: To Sir Phillip, With Love

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Other books I've read by this author: The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer From a Gentleman, Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Synopsis: Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he’d proposed, figuring that she’d be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn’t. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her . . . and more.
Did he think she was mad? Eloise Bridgerton couldn’t marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking . . . and wondering . . . and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except . . . he wasn’t. Her perfect husband wouldn’t be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled . . . and when he kissed her . . . the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn’t help but wonder . . . could this imperfect man be perfect for her?

My Thoughts

I have enjoyed all of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton novels, but this one is just a little different. For the most part, it takes place away from London and society and the reader gets to know Eloise and Sir Phillip independently from the Bridgerton family. I love that Eloise decides to marry not because she feels she has to, but rather because she wants to; she always does things on her own terms. 

I also like their love story, it is different than all of Eloise's siblings, and while it isn't without drama, it is less overtly dramatic.

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The Dime by Kathleen Kent

 

Title: The Dime

Author: Kathleen Kent

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Other books I've read by this author: The Heretic's Daughter

Synopsis: Dallas, Texas is not for the faint of heart. Good thing for Betty Rhyzyk she's from a family of take-no-prisoners Brooklyn police detectives. But her Big Apple wisdom will only get her so far when she relocates to The Big D, where Mexican drug cartels and cult leaders, deadbeat skells and society wives all battle for sunbaked turf.

Betty is as tough as the best of them, but she's deeply shaken when her first investigation goes sideways. Battling a group of unruly subordinates, a persistent stalker, a formidable criminal organization, and an unsupportive girlfriend, the unbreakable Detective Betty Rhyzyk may be reaching her limit. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

I was at the library walking through the fiction section on the second floor and stopped because I saw the name of an author I'd read before. I pulled this one off the shelf and read the blurb inside the jacket cover. It is set in the early 2000s, about a female police officer. Not my usual go-to read. The last book I had read by Kathleen Kent was about the Salem Witch Trials, so I was surprised to see this. I put it back on the shelf. I started to walk away and pulled it back off the shelf again, deciding to read the first page and see if maybe I should branch out. 

I flipped a few pages and found the epigraph:

"A patient woman can roast an ox with a lantern" - Chinese Proverb

I laughed aloud. It was exactly what I needed to hear that day. Even if the book turned out to be a dud, it was worth checking it out for just that quote. 

Luckily it was not a dud. In fact, it was an enjoyable read, though the end felt a little rushed to me. There is a second in the series and I look forward to reading it!

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                                To see more from the author, visit the website linked above

Giordano Bruno Series: Heresy, Prophecy, Sacrilege by S. J. Parris

                      

Title: Heresy; Prophecy; Sacrilege

Author: S. J. Parris

Genre: Historical Mystery

Synopsis: Excommunicated monk, Giordano Bruno, flees Italy and finds himself in the service of Queen Elizabeth I 's spymaster. Murder seems to follow Doctor Bruno and the philosophy and science that made a traitor to the Catholic Church give him the unique ability to track down the perpetrators. 

My Thoughts

I think this series was written with me in mind. Set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a protagonist who risks everything for the pursuit of knowledge and the truth, religious contention, and a murder mystery? I would read a book with any of those aspects, but all together in one series? Yes, please.

Naturally, I read the first three books in the series one after another, I couldn't get enough! The series is dark and intriguing and familiar characters appear throughout in unexpected places. The reader gets an excellent picture of the class disparities, religious persecution, and fear of scientific progress present during this time. It feels really well-researched. 

 I accidentally came upon the series by mistakenly grabbing the fourth book in the series off the shelf at the library. When I realized there were three books before it, I returned it unread in exchange for book number one. I can't wait to go back and take Treachery back off the shelf! 

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Spare by Prince Harry

                                                          

Title: Spare

Author: Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex

Genre: Memoir 

Synopsis: Prince Harry tells the story of his life, one plagued by paparazzi and family difficulties, explaining why he and Meghan Markle chose to leave royal life behind.

My Thoughts

I'm catching up on my summer reads! I have been reading I just wasn't good about reviewing them in June. I had heard mixed reviews about this book ahead of reading it. I adored Queen Elizabeth II and love watching The Crown, so I knew I had to check it out for myself. After hearing that it was written in a stream-of-consciousness style, I decided my best chance of enjoying it was to listen to the audiobook; to hear the story straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. For me, that was the best choice. Every night, after reading a bit from whatever novel I was working through at the time, I'd listen to 30 minutes of Spare. 

The chapters are short, most under 5 minutes, and the book itself runs about 16 hours. I found Prince Harry's telling of his life story intriguing, some of it familiar, much of it new. I especially enjoyed hearing about his military service. Some parts dragged a little or felt unnecessary to moving the story forward, but it's his life, he should include the details he felts were important. 

I'd say if you are even a little intrigued to read this memoir you should give the audiobook a whirl. 

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The Family by Naomi Krupitksy

    

 

Title: The Family

Author: Naomi Krupitsky

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: 

"Sofia Colicchio is a free spirit, loud and untamed. Antonia Russo is thoughtful, ever observing the world around her. Best friends since birth, they live in the shadow of their fathers’ unspoken community: the Family. Sunday dinners gather them each week to feast, discuss business, and renew the intoxicating bond borne of blood and love.

But the disappearance of Antonia’s father drives a whisper-thin wedge between the girls as they grow into women, wives, mothers, and leaders. Their hearts expand in tandem with Red Hook and Brooklyn around them, as they push against the boundaries of society’s expectations and fight to preserve their complex but life-sustaining friendship. One fateful night their loyalty to each other and the Family will be tested. Only one of them can pull the trigger before it’s too late." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

The best book I've read in a long time, I could not get enough of this story. I loved the characters, the style it was written in, and how raw it felt. The characters are wonderfully human, a coming-of-age story that feels so very honest. To me, it felt like a fresh take on a classic mafia story.

This was exactly the book I needed to read right now. I typically don't enjoy novels that have so little dialog, but it was done so well that I didn't even miss it. The Family got me out of a reading rut and I'm so glad I pulled it off the shelf. I finished it two days ago and I'm still sad that it is over. It's a contender for my favorite book of 2023, yep, I said it. 

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American Royals by Katharine McGee

Title: American Royals

Author: Katharine McGee

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: 

"When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart." - Back Cover

My Thoughts

The most interesting part of this novel is that it is based on the premise that George Washington accepted the American People's offer to become their king and that this is the story of the modern American Royal family. When I realized that other nations that are now republics also maintained their monarchies in the story because their revolutions were inspired by the formation of The United States without a traditional monarch, I was geeking out. I'm not sure how many people reading this type of novel normally pick up on the brilliance of that choice by the author and the historical context that it brings, but I loved it. 

As for the plot itself, it is not super original,(oldest daughter is dutiful and has to marry someone suitable, younger siblings lost with no role, plain girl has a crush on her best friend's popular brother) but it is entertaining. It was disappointing that nothing really got resolved by the end, making it feel like a ploy to force the reader to continue the series, rather than choose to pick up the next book because the first was so good. Do I want to know what happens? Yes. Do I still find this tactic annoying? Also yes.

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