This second story in the Scarlet Pimpernel saga tells of Paul Déroulède, a non-aristocratic member of French society, who is unwillingly drawn into a duel with the young Vicomte de Marny which results in the Vicomte's death. The Duc de Marny forces his daughter Juliette to swear an oath of vengence for her brother's death.
After Juliette meets Déroulède and they spend time together, they fall in love, but Juliette must decide if she will fulfill her oath. When Déroulède's treasonous actions are revealed, the Scarlet Pimpernel becomes involved.
★★½
GENRE: Classics
CHARACTERS: Paul Déroulède, Vicomte De Marney, Juliette de Marcy
Series/ Progress: Scarlet Pimpernel/2
DATE READ: February 16 - February 25
NO. OF PAGES: 140
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
This was the 3rd installment and the descriptions of the yummy cheeses, special recipes and unusual ice sculptures only added to the enjoyment of this mystery set at the Winter Wonderland Faire.
Kaitlyn Clydesdale returns to Providence, OH and sets out to buy up land stating she's starting a honey farm but when she is found dead, the local honey farmer, Ipo Ho, is at the top of suspect list. Charlotte's assistant, Rebecca, is positive that he's not guilty (they were smooching in the park) but the sheriff is convinced otherwise, so Charlotte starts her own investigation. The results are "chilling".
★★★½
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Charlotte Bessette, Rebecca Zook, Ipo Ho, Chippendale Cooper, Kaitlyn Clydesdale
Series/ Progress: CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY/3
DATE READ: February 21 - February 24
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: ARD Stockpile
Returning to Henry Adams, KS will always pull at your heartstrings, especially when the children are at the center of the story. In this installment, 10 year-old Zoey Garland is the major heroine as she makes efforts to befriend a hermit at the same time as she is concerned with the state of her parents' marriage. The spirit of this your girl is struggling with her desire to help others as well as holding her family together.
The gentleness of the stories from Henry Adams are truly a "Blessing" because the reader sees how goodness triumphs.
★★★★
GENRE: Fiction
CHARACTERS: Zoey Garland, Roni Garland, Reg Garland, Bernadine Brown, Diane Willis
Series/ Progress: Blessings/5
DATE READ: February 19- February 20
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
For a short story, this tale really carried a punch.
Nell Pratt, the museum president is contacted by a wealthy local and offered a deal she can't turn down - check the museum's archives for anything related to the Logan family and in return get the family papers from the Civil War forward. What she doesn't expect is what she finds.
★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Nell Pratt, Arthur Biddle Logan, Thomas Reilly, Jeremiah Logan
Series/ Progress: Museum mysteries/2.1 (Short Story)
DATE READ: February 18- February 18
NO. OF PAGES: 40
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
This light cozy mystery series continues with the start of Enchanted Events and the first wedding at the new venue. Lacey and her sister Charlotte are startled by a body found in the bride's room and have to scramble to get everything ready on time.
Knowing how much the sisters have invested in this new venture, Wyatt , Lacey's boyfriend and local law enforcement, works overtime to find the murderer with a little help from his girl.
★★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Lacey Washburn, Charlotte Washburn, Wyatt Graves,
Series/ Progress: Aspen Valley Inn/3
DATE READ: February 16 - February 16
NO. OF PAGES: 203
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
This light cozy series carries on the tender romance of Lacey and Wyatt while expanding the characters and their background. In this installment, the Inn is booked with the Ward family - Tom and Jess celebrating their 30th anniversary - and their grown children. At the same time, Lacey and Charlotte want to expand their facilities by renovating the old barn into an event center. However, during prep of the property an old skeleton is found and the family along with Lacey are determined to figure out who it was and how they ended up there.
This was so interesting of how the family took this adventure to heart and researched the past to arrive at a tender conclusion. I couldn't wait for the next one.
★★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Lacey Washburn, Charlotte Washburn, Wyatt Graves, Laura Townsend, Jeremiah, Brownwood
Series/ Progress: Aspen Valley Inn/2
DATE READ: February 15 - February 15
NO. OF PAGES: 100
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
Once again a few well-loved characters becomes involved with newer characters as their travel previously unknown areas of Oz. It was nice to see Glinda working her magic as well as an unusual featherless flock of birds that came to the rescue of our friends several times.
★★★
GENRE: Classics
CHARACTERS: Cap'n Bill, Trot, Orks, Button Bright, Glinda, Princess Gloria
Series/ Progress: OZ/ 9
DATE READ: February 14 - February 14
NO. OF PAGES: 94
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
Whenever I need a touch of romance, Bertrice Small is the author that I can always count on to show that love isn't always easy but definiely worth the effort.
In his book, Bianca is forced into a marriage with a cruel older man to save her family honor. Afer escaping this travisty, she finds and falls in love a Muslim Prince. Their differences can't overcome their love.
★★★½
GENRE: Romance
CHARACTERS:Bianca, Orianna, Sebastino Rovere, Agata, Prince Amir
Series/ Progress: Silk Merchant's Daughters/1
DATE READ: February 10 - February 13
NO. OF PAGES: 419
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
The concept of this series is different than any I've read before - bringing in a new area of the literary community. As in many 1st in a series, some of the development slowed the action but as it moved along, it was very entertaining. Characters have great room for growth and I look forward to the next installment.
★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Lila Wilkins, Bentley Burlington-Duke, Carson Knight, Zahn Cohen, Marlette Robbins, Makayla, Officier Griffiths
Series/ Progress: Novel Idea Mysteries /1
DATE READ: February 8 - February 9
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
This installment of the Crochet mysteries places the reader in the midst of a mini-mystery and when we follow the clues with the main character we are lead on a scavanger hunt of details all related to a crocheted piece. It was great to see an actual needlework piece at the center of the mystery.
★★★
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Molly Pink, Dinah Lyons, Mary Beth Wells, Camille Katz, Barry Greenberg
Series/ Progress: Crochet/3
DATE READ: February 4 - February 7
NO. OF PAGES: 272
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
Gervase Tregarth, Earl of Crowhurst has to return home because of mischief his three young sisters has gotten into. When he determines that the reason for their misbehavior is to prevent him from marrying a "London" lady who will send them away, Gervase promises them that he will only marry a lady who meets their approval.
Immediately, the girls indicate that their neighbor, Madeline Gasciogne, would be perfect. Having known Madeline for many years, Gervase takes a closer look, getting involved with her family, 3 mischievous younger brothers, as well as local issues.
The romance that evolves as well as the story of the mixing of the families was very entertaining.
★★★½
GENRE: Historical Fiction
CHARACTERS: Gervase Tregarth, Madeline Gascoigne
Series/ Progress: Bastion Club/7
DATE READ: January 30 - February 3
NO. OF PAGES: 496
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile
