India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy
India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy by Carol K. Carr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Book #3 of Madam of Espionage Mysteries
Publisher: Berkley
Category: Mystery, Romance
Setting: Victorian England
Author Website: http://www.carolkcarr.com
About this series:
Carol K. Carr is now my favorite author with her India Black series. I appreciate a heroine who is smart enough to know when she needs help and independent enough to do her own thing; even when it goes against convention. These books are written as if India is writing her memoir. Hindsight is everything and India has a great power of observation as she looks back on her adventures.
About this book:
If you have read the previous books in this series you know that India Black tells it like she sees it but she hides her soft heart believing no one will see it. You’ll find humor in this book as well as a good strong mystery. In more than one scene I laughed out loud at India’s observations.
This is an intricate story that Carr has given us. It is a spy novel. It is a political novel. And it is a romance. Nothing satisfies like a cloak and dagger spy novel and this one hits the mark when we hear India repeatedly proclaiming she’ll just shoot someone. As is often found in historical novels of any genre, readers will learn about the time period and political views of the era. This does not slow down the pace of this at all, as no one can state the obvious as bluntly and colorfully as India; her profession gives her a unique prospective on the world. And India has no problem saying what most people would only dare to think. This book brings the attraction between India and her spying partner French into the light. There is no denying that there is passion between them. Yet, Carr manages to invoke that passion without tawdry romps in bed. Don’t get me wrong, India is a madam. There‘s plenty of talk about whores and bedding, but Carr doesn’t need to give you the details of what goes on behind closed doors to turn up the heat in her novels. You won’t miss the sex and you’ll appreciate the passion all the more for her delivery of it.
Learn about other books in this series:
Book #0.5 India Black and the Rajah’s Ruby
- Published: December 31, 2012
- Available in Kindle Edition only, this is more a novella than a full-length novel.
- This prequel involves a background story with India’s lover Philip Barrett and helps to set the stage for the India we have seen in the rest of the series.
Book #1: India Black
- Published: January 4, 2011
- Madam India Black gets drawn into the world of intrigue when an employee of the War Office dies in her establishment.
Book #2: India Black and the Widow of Windsor
- Published: October 4, 2011
- Scottish nationalists are planning to assassinate the widow Queen Victoria. India and a British spy, French, are put on the case to help protect the Queen.
- This novel travels to the Scottish highlands – a favorite setting for me – and involves some of the supernatural as the queen attempts to reach her beloved Prince Albert with a séance.
Other book(s) of interest:
- Published: 1908
- Author: G. K. Chesterton
- This book has been called a metaphysical thriller. Carol K. Carr mentions it in the closing pages of India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy.
If You Love Firefly, Read The Lunar Chronicles
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My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Book #2 of Lunar Chronicles
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Category: Young Adult, Sci-Fi
Setting: Future, New Beijing & Space
Author Website: http://www.marissameyer.com/
About this series:
The world is has gone through a reorganization grouping itself into larger regional governments. Technology has advanced. All citizens, commerce, and security are managed using surgically implanted id chips. Humans injured or ill are rebuilt as cyborgs that have intelligent prosthetics integrating computer processing power with their bodies. All the Earthen governments are looking to Emperor Kai of New Beijing to navigate a tricky political situation with the power-crazy Queen from the Luna planet.
About this book:
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles quartet. While this book is still very much about Cinder, the Lunar cyborg with a big secret, readers are introduced to another strong female character who will help take this series to whole new level. Scarlet, who wears a red hoodie, is searching for her kidnapped grandmother. Scarlet’s search will require her to work with Wolf, a street fighter. Their rescue mission takes them to Paris where their new found friendship will be questioned.
The first half of this book seemed a little slow as it flipped between Cinder and Scarlet’s story lines. However as soon as it is clear that these two are on a collision course the pace picks up dramatically. Scarlet is as strong-willed as Cinder and yet in a completely different way. These two leading women could not be more different; Cinder is a city girl and Scarlet is as country as you can get. Yet, during this novel we discover that they might actually have something in common.
Oh yeah, did I mention there is also a prison break and a cool spaceship in this novel? I think fans of the space-western drama Firefly will enjoy this book. I don’t want to give any spoilers away but there is a wonderful balance of humor, action, and passion that underscores this novel and the series. I couldn’t help but find myself comparing the characters between Scarlet and Firefly.
- Cinder is a born leader much like Firefly’s Captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds and yet Cinder has just enough girlish humor and genius mechanic skills to remind one of Firefly’s adorable prodigy, Kaylee.
- Scarlet’s unfailing loyalty could march steadily besides Firefly’s Zoë Washburne while her confidence in who she is as a person ensures that Scarlet would become fast friends with Firefly’s independent spirit, Inara Serra.
- Wolf’s physical strength and fighting instinct could do some serious damage if paired with Firefly’s Jayne Cobb.
- Captain Carswell Thorne (you’ll meet him in Book#2) invokes the humor and daredevil piloting skills of Firefly’s Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburne.
- Emperor Kia’s willingness to sacrifice all for those he cares about could only rival Firefly’s selfless Dr. Simon Tam.
- Iko’s sweet innocence combined with super-intelligence makes me think of Firefly’s beautiful and resourceful River Tam. (See Firefly episode #10, Objects in Space.)
- Michelle Benoit, Scarlet’s grandmother, has wisdom and professional experiences that Firefly found in Shepherd Book.
- Queen Levana of Luna would make the perfect partner in crime for Firefly’s villain, Niska. (See Firefly episode #1 The Train Job and episode #9 War Stories.)
Learn about other books in this series:
Book #1: Cinder
- Published: January 3, 2012
- Cinder is a cyborg; or as I’d rather call her an amputee. She has a prosthetic foot and hand. She was adopted by a man who promptly died and left her with his wife and two daughters. Much like the childhood story we know, Cinder is treated like a second class citizen in her house. In fact, all cyborgs are less than normal citizens. And through Cinder’s eyes we see how the world treats people who are different.
eBook #1.5: The Queen’s Army
- Published: November 23, 2012
- I haven’t read this book yet, but after reading Scarlet I’m definitely going to seek it out. This is the story of how Queen Levana is building her army trained in the art of killing.
Book #3: Cress
- Published: Coming in 2014
Book# 4: Winter
- Published: Coming in 2015
Also see graphic novels about this series:
Book #0.5: Glitches
- Published: December 5, 2011
- This is a short prequel to Cinder, providing some additional background into Cinder’s life with her step-mother.
Clockwork Princess
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Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Series: Book #3 of Infernal Devices
Release Date: March 19, 2013 (expected)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Category: Steampunk, Young Adult
Setting: Victorian, London
Author Website: http://www.cassandraclare.com/
About this series:
This series is a sequel to The Mortal Instruments series, which is going to be released as a movie in summer, 2013. This is the world of Shadowhunters who hunt and kill demons in London’s Downworld. The Downworld is where all the vampires, werewolves, and warlocks live unknown to mortals.
About this book:
This is the final book in this trilogy. It is time to make choices. How will our young heroes uncover the evil Magister who seems to be pulling all the strings?
Learn about other books in this series:
- Published: August 31, 2010
- Tessa Gray is a 16-year old American who comes to London in search of her missing brother. What she discovers is a world she never expected filled with supernatural heroes and magic. But the biggest mystery may be what she finds out about herself.
- Published: December 6, 2011
- The Magister continues to hunt Tessa. This time he is striking at Charlotte, the head of the London Institute and leader of the London Shadowhunters. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street unprotected.
Lust, Money & Murder
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Lust, Money & Murder – Book 1, Lust by Mike Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Independent Author (UK)
Category: Romance, Mystery
Setting: Present day, United States / Europe
Series: Book #1 of Lust, Money & Murder series
Author Website: http://www.thegreenwater.com
In Lust, the first book of Mike Wells’ Lust, Money & Murder series we meet Elaine Brogan who is having a difficult childhood. Her mother abandons her and her father when she is ten years old. Yet somehow Elaine remains innocent and naïve in her poor neighborhood. When that innocence is finally shattered it sets Elaine on a course to join the Secret Service and track down counterfeiters.
This is clearly the world building book of the series, as every Book 1 should be. Most of Elaine’s early issues are neatly and quickly resolved. Even though her childhood is pretty bad at some points, Elaine clearly gets some breaks that allow her to easily pursue her chosen career with the Secret Service. If the story had a slower pace this might really bother me, however Wells writes a rapid read that dares you to keep up. Each scene is a quick snapshot of Elaine’s life and clearly Wells is working toward something bigger. This author doesn’t ask you to patiently hang out while he tells Elaine’s background story, he grabs your hand and runs all out toward the real story. You can’t help but hold on and feel the wind rushing at your face until suddenly you’re staring on the edge of a cliff in Elaine’s life.
Lust really is more a novella. By the end you’ll know who are the players are, but Wells has only just turned the corner into the true mystery of this series. I wouldn’t be surprised if after finishing Lust readers are quickly clicking on their favorite bookseller website to download Book #2 to discover what comes next for Elaine.
Learn more about other books in this series:
Book # 2: Money
- Published: June 14, 2011
- Publisher: Independent Author
- Elaine finds herself in Russia running from the mob and hunting down the world’s #1 counterfeiter.
Book # 3: Murder
- Published: June 13, 2011
- Publisher: Independent Author
- Elaine struggles with the temptations that her job presents and her love life.
Lord of Darkness
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Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Category: Romance
Time Period: 1730’s London, England
Series: Book 5 of Maiden Lane
Author Website: http://www.elizabethhoyt.com/index2.php
I love stories where the husband and wife are both leading secret lives and they bump into each other as alter-egos. Who figures out their identities first? How do they pick up their lives when the masks come off? Will either finish with their objectives? It is also a formula for humor and passion.
Also see:
- Wicked Intentions, published August 2010 (book #1)
- Notorious Pleasures, published February 2011 (book #2)
- Scandalous Desires, published November 2011 (book #3)
- Thief of Shadows, published July 2012 (book #4)
Universal Truths found in Divine Misdemeanors
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Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Series: Book #8 in the Merry Gentry series
Published: December 8, 2009
Setting: Present Day, Los Angeles
Category: Fantasy
Author Website: http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/
From page 240
“He held Saraid the rest of the way home, and in a way she held him right back, because sometimes and especially for a man, being able to be someone’s big strong shoulder to cry on helps you not need to cry so very much yourself. ”
This perfect example of one of the many universal truths that Laurell K. Hamilton weaves into her stories. While her settings are in fantasy and science fiction, there is always a connection to real human emotions. Sometimes it is that acknowledgement of weakness that we all have that make her characters so real and in turn help to make us braver in our own lives.
Learn about other books in this series:
Book #1: A Kiss of Shadows
- Published: October 3, 2000
- This first book sets the stage for how difficult it is to be an outsider. While Merry has lived in both the human and Faerie worlds, regardless of where she is she always knows that the other side of her heritage is with her.
Book #2: A Caress of Twilight
- Published: March 26, 2002
- Merry is now surrounded by royal guards who are there to protect and service her. They need to get her pregnant before her cruel cousin, Prince Cel, produces his own heir and claims the throne that rules Faerie.
Book #3: Seduced by Moonlight
- Published: January 3, 2004
- Merry’s power grows as she is surrounded by her royal guards. In this book an ancient relic comes to her. Though some are pleased as it must be a sign that the Goddess is still with Faerie, others are bitter that Merry, a half-breed (half mortal/half fey), would dare to rule the Sidhe.
Book #4: A Stroke of Midnight
- Published: February 1, 2005
- Merry investigates the murder of a fey and a reporter inside Faerie.
Book #5: Mistral’s Kiss
- Published: November 30, 2006
- As the title implies this is Merry and Mistral’s story. Merry still hasn’t conceived a child and if Prince Cel gains the throne her death is certain.
Book #6: A Lick of Frost
- Published: October 23, 2007
- Frost is the key hero in this book. Meanwhile King Taranis, ruler of Seelie Court, tries to get at Merry through her guards. Taranis has accused them of crime to the mortal authorities and if they are convicted they’ll be sent back to Faerie where Taranis will torture them.
Book #7: Swallowing Darkness
- Published: November 4, 2008
- All pretenses of hiding are gone. Merry is a Princess whether she is in Faerie or on mortal land. Her enemy list grows with each new gift from the Goddess. In this book Merry must match wits with Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, and self-proclaimed leader of fey in Los Angeles.
Book #8: Divine Misdemeanor
- Published: December 8, 2009
- Someone is killing the demi-fey and even though Merry has left Faerie again, she feels compelled to help the police find this murder. Meanwhile, Merry and her growing following must learn how to live in the real world.
Groundswell Offers Hope When Faced with Changes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publisher: Gallery
Published: June 21, 2011
Setting: 2000’s New York
Category: Romance
Author Website: http://www.katieleehome.com
I found Groundswell while watching an episode of Giada De Laurentiis’ show on the Food Network. Giada was cooking for her book club and the author Katie Lee was invited to attend. As I have always been in love with the ocean, I was immediately intrigue by the definition of a groundswell which appears in the front of the book:
GROUNDSWELL (noun): A perfectly even and balanced series of waves, or swells,
caused by a distant storm or disturbance. Also known as ideal surfing conditions.
Emma Guthrie seems to have the perfect life. She is married to an action movie mega-star husband and her first screenplay has been made into a successful summer romance movie. She is on top of the world when a distant storm hits her.
This book initially reminded me of The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer. But while the stories may have some overlapping plot points, Grazer’s heroine felt superficial whereas Lee’s character seems genuine. Emma is a woman searching for herself. Lee documents Emma’s journey with honesty and integrity.
Groundswell isn’t a book with lavish descriptive paragraphs or pages of introspection. It is a quick snapshot of a moment in one woman’s life and how she deals with life changing events. It’s a satisfying read that will leave you smiling. Almost like a chick lit version of Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert. I don’t see Groundswell inspiring women to self-discovery like Gilbert’s book may have, but readers might look at the ocean and ponder the storms they’ve survived in their own lives and feel blessed. I believe that is enough to call this book successful.
