Friday Mini Reviews #90: Cindy Anstey, J.D. Robb & Michelle Sagara
Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish their research.
Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.
Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.
Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US/UK | The Book Depository
7.5/10
A sweet, lighthearted historical romance, but I felt like the author held back which left the narrative somewhat dry and underwhelming. It's a clean story, and the characters are very charming. they just needed a bit more oomph.
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Милый, лёгкий исторический роман, однако у меня было ощущение, что автор постоянно себя сдерживала, поэтому сюжет казался сухим и скучноватым. Характеры сами по себе обаятельные, просто автору надо было с ними разыграться, добавить драматизма.
Chaos in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #33.5)
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
A fantastic new Eve Dallas short story set after New York to Dallas.
Eve Dallas' latest case is starting off a little more bizarre than usual - a police sketch of a killer based on eye-witness testimony reveals he has green skin, swollen red eyes, goblin ears, and a dislocated jaw-structure that defies the human form. Is it a mask? Is it make-up? Or is the explanation more sinister?
Dallas faces off against multiple suspects - all of them students of medicine capable of precisely slicing the ears, noses, and eyes of the three victims. But who had the motive? More importantly, what kind of rogue science are these healers practicing?
7/10
This was a fun take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. short and gross, it would have been a perfect plot for a cheesy horror b-movie. I enjoyed reading how Eve in her usual unflappable manner went about apprehending the killer.
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Это был интересный пересказ Доктора Джекилла и Мистера Хайда. Мрачноватый, кровавый и идеально подходящий для дешёвого комедийного фильма ужасов. Я с удовольствием читала, как Ив в типичной для неё невозмутимой манере арестовывала убийцу.
Cast in Silence by Michelle Sagara (Chronicles of Elantra #5)
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
Don't ask. Don't tell. Stay alive.
A member of the elite Hawk force that protects the City of Elantra, Kaylin Neya has sacrificed much to earn the respect of the winged Aerians and immortal Barrani she works alongside. But the mean streets she escaped as a child aren't the ones she's vowed to give her life guarding. Those were much darker…
Kaylin's moved on with her life—and is keeping silent about the shameful things she's done to stay alive. But when the city's oracles warn of brewing unrest in the outer fiefdoms, a mysterious visitor from Kaylin's past casts her under a cloud of suspicion. Thankfully, if she's anything, she's a survivor…
8/10
A very convoluted book, but at least we saw some of Kaylin's traumatic past, and we finally! found out why Nightshade singled her out in the first place. It's all clear now, ladies and gents. And of course, I found myself ridiculously excited by his role in this book. Obviously, I am team Nightshade, because we need more antiheroes in books.
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Запутанная книга, в которой мы видим проблески травматичного прошлого Кейлин и наконец-то! понимаем почему Найтшейд её заметил. Теперь тут всё ясно, дамы и господа. Признаюсь, что роль Найтшейда в этой книги меня привела в восторг, так как я полностью в его лагере и считаю, что нам нужно больше антигероев в книгах. Интересно!
