Don't Call it a Comeback ...

So, family and the holidays have taken up a lot of my time, but I haven't stopped reading.  I'm working on my next review, and hope to have it to you this time next week.  Peace

Ten Things I Love About You

Julia Quinn's "Ten Things I Love About You" is the third in her Bevelstoke series, which takes place in England during the Regency era. One of the main characters, Sebastian Grey, was a main part of the story in the second book of the series.

Annabel Winslow is in the unenviable position of family savior; bound by familial duty to wed a wealthy man in order to keep her own family afloat, she attempts to reconcile herself to an unhappy marriage with a loathsome earl. Sebastian Grey, presumed heir to the loathsome earl and secret Gothic novelist, attempts to reconcile himself to his half-in/half-out place in society. The jaded gentleman and discouraged lady bump into each other, literally, and the subsequent events change the course of their lives.

I have always enjoyed Ms. Quinn's novels in the past, and this one is no exception. Her finely tuned sense of humor shines through in the witty dialogue between the main characters and their friends. The excerpts from Sebastian's Gothic novels are laugh-out-loud funny, and Annabel's grandmother's unusual advice was completely unexpected. Several of Ms. Quinn's characters from previous stories have cameos, allowing habitual readers in on the joke.

It seems that when it comes to romance plots that, like in fashion, there's nothing new under the sun. Ms. Quinn manages to make what could have been a worn-out scenario into something fresh, although the impoverished family pressuring Annabel felt a little clumsy. It may be because the family members she is trying to save are barely present in the story - there's merely a brief mention of a letter Annabel receives reminding her of the deterioration of their finances.

I'm already anticipating to the next series, which I've just read on her website will be about the Smythe-Smith girls. I read that and I had to groan and laugh at the same time. I'm looking forward to see who gets stuck... I mean, who falls in love with them.

Buy it as a paperback, or an ebook, here

Halloween was fun

I was super busy in the week leading up to Halloween, getting Alex's costume ready, and then going to various get-togethers.  I have another review in the works, and I'm reading a couple of new novels. I'm really looking forward to Lois McMaster Bujold's newest, "Cryoburn." I hope to have it within a week, review to follow.

Book Review of "Intrigues" - A Mercedes Lackey Valdemar Novel

"Intrigues" is the second book in Mercedes Lackey's latest addition to her popular Valdemar series. Part of the Collegium Chronicles, it continues the story of Mags, a Herald trainee at the founding of the Collegium.

Mags is chosen to be a Herald trainee at a time in Valdemar's history when the Heralds are changing the way they train their new members. Although there's no time line in the front of this book to indicate its position in Valdemar's history, I believe it takes place not long after the Vanyel series.

In the first book of the series, Mags was rescued from slavery in a mine by a Companion, and brought to the Collegium. This book continues the story with Mags having trouble fitting in with his peers because of his childhood experiences. He has difficulty grasping the social facets that the other trainees his age know instinctively. With the help of his close friends and his Companion, Mags is finally settling in when misfortune strikes. The Foreseers have an ominous vision involving the king, and circumstances lead people to believe Mags will be at the heart of it. Racing to prevent calamity before it strikes, Mags has to prevent becoming a victim himself.

Considering that the author has jumped around the Valdemar time line in creating the series, the continuity in this novel works very well. She does well in filling in back story, and the heavy moral sermons that were in earlier novels has been toned down greatly. Ms. Lackey still seems to be as addicted to italics as a teenage girl is to exclamation points; Unofficially, I estimate an average of three italicized words a page. Over the years, I had hoped that she would realize that one's writing should provide the emphasis, not one's font. Another style point I had difficulty with was Mags' dialect. I felt bogged down trying to translate his dialogue into English.

Nevertheless, Ms. Lackey is a good storyteller, and fans of Valdemar have waited a long time for this trilogy. I highly recommend reading the first book in this series, "Foundation," before this one.  You can get it on sale here.  "Intrigues" can be found here.

"The Enchantment Emporium"

Tanya Huff brings us a new magical family in "The Enchantment Emporium." Alysha Gale is one of the Gale girls, part of an extended family of magic users. Laid off from her job and living at home again, Allie finds herself stifled by the expectations her family has placed on her. Allie receives a letter stating her grandmother in distant Calgary, Alberta, has left most of her possessions and her store to Allie, and she decides to jump on this chance to gain some breathing room from her "Aunties."

Once in Calgary, Allie discovers that not everything is as clear-cut as she thought, and she becomes entangled in a power struggle between old magical creatures and the man who wishes to get rid of them.

In the same vein as her Keeper's Chronicles, Ms. Huff writes "The Enchantment Emporium" with the wonderful sense of  humor that categorizes many of her novels. You may need a scorecard to keep the relationships between the various characters straight; However, the wickedly funny dialogue keeps the action moving, and eventually the reader finds themselves caught up, perhaps without even realizing it.

I was bothered by a couple of plot points -- mainly by the existence of the creature the sorcerer is attempting to keep from coming through, (I'm being vague on purpose, to prevent a spoiler) and by how Allie's brother's issue is resolved. None of these negatives deflects from the story, or bogs down the narrative. I am once again amazed at how Ms. Huff has managed to create a fantastical, and yet believable, world based in our more mundane one. I found myself involved in the characters' lives, rooting for them as they struggled through their obstacles, and hoping to hear from them again soon. Tanya Huff has written another winner her fans will be sure to enjoy.  Buy it on sale here.

"The Truth of Valor" book review

"The Truth of Valor" is the 5th book in the Valor Confederation series, written by Tanya Huff. The series is set in the future, and centers around Marine Sergeant Torin Kerr. In this universe, peaceful space-faring aliens find themselves at war with an enemy they only know as The Others. Because they are non-violent, they recruit humans, and other aliens, to fight for them in exchange for advanced technology.

In the previous books, Torin showed her mettle as a Marine, and was promoted through the ranks. Despite a series of conflicts that tested her, she persevered and saved the day, exposed the true instigator of the conflict with The Others, and found a love interest. At the end of the fourth book, Torin decides it's time to leave her beloved Marines and move on.

"The Truth of Valor" opens with Craig teaching Torin the salvage trade, and introducing her to her new life as a salvage operator. She is having trouble adapting to civilian life; After being part of the military machine for so long, she has a hard time adjusting to an individualistic viewpoint. However, a series of events occurs which forces Torin to fall back into the role of Marine Sergeant, and compels her to resolve her future.

This book, while good, almost has the feel of filler material to it. It gave the impression that the series was on hold, rather like Ms. Huff decided to explore a secondary story line before heading back into the real action. That said, I enjoyed the story and felt it moved the series and characters along. More of a romance than the rest of the series, there is still plenty of the same action, witty dialogue and inside jokes featured in the first four books.

If you enjoy space-opera sci-fi and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series, I recommend you check out this series as well. If you've already read and liked the other Valor books, definitely read this one also.  Buy it on sale here.

A Rake's Vow - to cut this book by a third. A book review ...

Stephanie Laurens has published many regency romance novels. She has several series within this genre, including one that follows the Cynster family. The second book in the series, "A Rake's Vow" is about the relationship of Spencer "Vane" Cynster and Patience Debbington.

Vane Cynster is forced to seek shelter from the weather at the home of his godmother, Minnie. Minnie's niece, Patience, is also living there, as well as several other people. Vane decides to delay his trip in order to cultivate a relationship with Patience, and help his godmother solve a troublesome mystery.

The author excels at her chosen genre. She tells a good story, and manages to throw a credible mystery into the plot line. There are even plenty of sex scenes. All these positive qualities, however, are buried under the ponderous nature of Ms. Laurens writing. To get to the good stuff, one has to wade through a multitude of repetitive statements and choppy phrases. There are an excessive number of dashes, commas and one-word sentences. This makes reading the story a lot more work than necessary. Here are a couple of sample sentences, to demonstrate.

'They had no time to talk, no time to speak, no time to discuss anything at all.' p.343

'She had, indeed, started to wonder if her desire to hear that particular assurance stated, in words, might, in the end, be too much to ask, an unrealistic expectation from a man like him.' p.343

While the identity of the villain may be unknown until the end, there is no ambiguity about the feelings of the two principle characters. There is a complete lack of emotional tension. In fact, they are often in complete accord about -- everything. It's amazing how well these two strangers get along with each other almost from day one.

Overall, I would say that this novel is a better mystery than romance.  I recommend saving your money by buying it on Amazon.