And Only to Deceive ★★★½ by Tasha Alexander

Lady Ashton is unexpectedly widowed shortly after the wedding when her husband dies on safari. Knowing very little of him, she embraces his interests in antiquities and finds herself caught wondering what really happened.

Combining the Victorian period restrictions for a woman with the mystery was thoroughly gripping, leading the reader along an unexpected path.

Series/ Progress: Lady Emily Ashton Mystery 1/11
DATE READ: May 24 - May 28
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Type of Book e book
SOURCE: Nook

Murder in the Paperback Parlor ★★★★½ by Ellery Adams

Jane Steward the Guardian at Storyton Hall in rural Virginia is hosting a Romance seminar for Valentine's Day with several well-known Regency Romance writers coming to schmooze with their fans.  On their arrival Jane realizes that all is not love and roses in this highly competitive field and when the top author, Rosamund York, is found dead in the garden Jane has to summon up all her skill to protect the Hall as well as her guests.

I really wish this place existed but I've tried every way of searching, and alas the only book/reading retreats seem to be in Europe and my budget can't handle that.  I guess I'm just going to have to continue visiting Storyton in these books.  Absolutely love them!


Series/ Progress: Book Retreat Mystery 2/3
DATE READ: May 22 - May 24
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Type of Book e book
SOURCE: Nook

One Book in the Grave ★★★★ by Kate Carlisle

Brooklyn is contacted by an old friend to restore a rare copy of Beauty and the Beast but when she sees it, she has to disappoint him by telling him that the book is stolen - she knows because she originally gave the book to the actual owner.  Separate twist, that owner is dead - or is he?

This mystery took us through some of Brooklyn's past history, exposed us to more of her family in Dharma, and see her wrestling with her own feelings as well as trying to support others.

Love the series!

Series/ Progress: Bibliophile Mystery  5/10
DATE READ: May 16 - May 20
NO. OF PAGES: 280
Type of Book ARD
SOURCE: Public Library

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ★★★ by Betty Smith

This is the story of a young girl growing up at he beginning of the 20th century in poverty circumstances caused by her father's alcoholism as well as her parent's lack of education.   Francie is told that she needs a good education by the adult members of her family and she strives toward success but is hampered by teachers who are unsupportive of the "poor" kids.

Many aspects of the differences between the early 20th century and current day are obvious .  I read this book for my book club and though few of us were enthusiastic about the book, it did garner a great a discussion.


DATE READ: May 16 - May 18
NO. OF PAGES: 528
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook

Pages of Sin ★★★ by Kate Carlisle

Wanda Frawley committed suicide and when Brooklyn Wainwright (a book restorer/bookbinder) is asked by her mother to help with Wanda's extensive book collection, things get a bit interesting because of what is found between the pages of some rare books.

Fun short story with interesting developments.

Series/ Progress: Bibliophile Mystery  4.5/10
DATE READ: May 14 - May 14
NO. OF PAGES: 84
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook

This Too Shall Pass ★½ by Milena Busquets

Very disappointing...that said I will try to explain.  First of all, you never know who the first person narrator is  directly, just by inference - a daughter who has lost her mother due to a debilitating illness.  You would think a very sympathetic character, not so.  This woman is whiny and sex crazy.  Throughout we only hear of her sexual exploits going from man to man "trying to ease her pain".

It got to be a pain all right.

Series/ Progress:
DATE READ: May 7 - May 14
NO. OF PAGES: 176
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

The Marriage of Mary Russell ★★★★ by Laurie R. King

Challenge Book# 42


This short story fills in all those answers to the questions of how exactly Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes actually go married.  Was there romance or was it totally practical? Jewish or non-denominational?  Spur of the moment or planned? Fancy or plain?  All I'll say is it was typical Holmes and Russell.

Loved it.


Series/ Progress: Mary Russell  16/16
DATE READ: May 8 - May 8
NO. OF PAGES: 84
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook

Chesapeake rumrunners of the Roaring Twenties ★★½ by Eric Miles

Prohibition was not popular in many areas of the nation when it took affect in the 1920s.  Some government officials refused to even enforce the law and others openly disobeyed.   Moonshine became a growing business all along the Eastern seacoast and the Delmarva peninsula with all its inlets and coves, kept the revenue hunters and Coast Guard on their toes trying to stop the illegal importation of alcohol.

I found this book entertaining for several reasons - the bootleggers seem to be a whole bunch smarter than the government agents (has that changed at all?), many of the areas that were mentioned near and around Baltimore I have actually seen having grown up in the area, and my mother actually grew up in this era and talked of her relatives that were involved in the Prohibition era activities so I really hit home.  The stories aren't those that we normally hear, so it gave some good background information though at times it was a bit too detailed.


DATE READ: April 26 - May 6
NO. OF PAGES: 170
Type of Book ARD
SOURCE: Public Library