The Real Wallis Simpson - Anna Pasternak - Well Researched~

#NetGalley This was a very well researched and impressive book about Wallis Simpson and the former King Edward VIII. I am not exactly sure it was a new history, because most of the facts are known, but probably a somewhat different slant. However you present their affair, marriage, and life together it remains a tragedy and not happy reading. It was quite comprehensive, perhaps too much so, and offered perhaps new evidence for the rift between the Prince and former king and his brothers. Financial insecurity, the fact that "David's"  brother did not want to be King and the antipathy of King George's wife led to a lifetime estrangement. The book was very well done and painstakingly researched. I enjoyed the earlier chapters of Wallis' life prior to coming to England the best. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Victory Garden- Rhys Bowen - A Novel- #TheVictoryGarden #NetGalley

#TheVictoryGarden #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union and Rhys Bowen for this very interesting read, Rhys Bowen's first non- mystery was quite good. Not being British I did not know about the "Land Girls" and that it was formed in World War I.

Emily Bryce was the only surviving child, from a wealthy family and wanted to follow her best friend, a volunteer nurse, into service for England. Her family, having lost their son early in the War as well as having class issues with volunteers, refused to let her.

When she turns 21, having met a wounded Australian pilot at the hospital next door, she goes to volunteer. The only possible job she qualifies for is to be a Land Girl and she gladly volunteers and leaves home with essentially the clothes on her back.

The Australian pilot, Robbie and she are in love and plan to marry but their liaison results in a child and he is killed when he ditches his plane to save a village. She finds peace and purpose in a Devonshire estate with two new friends who share her willingness to work hard, if not her background.

The ending is poignant and hopeful for a revisit to these characters ( who hopefully will acquire more depth in a sequel) Recommended for historical fans of British war stories.

Joan - Forgotten Women of History I - Anne R. Bailey~ Interesting read~

An interesting book about the wife of Roger Mortimer, Joan de Geneville and her life and times. It started off a bit wobbly but improved a great deal. 4 Stars.

Joan's early life and how she inherited from her grandparents was quite fascinating to me. Her Grandfather was Justiciar of Ireland, and one of my ancestors was also a Justiciar so I was intrigued. Her early life was a bit quiet but her marriage to Mortimer presumably was happy for many years, producing 12 living children. They were Marcher nobility, something that presumably went to Mortimer's head as he took more and more risks( the author skipped over that a bit)

Roger Mortimer's relationship with Queen Isabella and the rising of the Marcher Lords against the King led to his downfall and eventual death. Joan, who had nothing to do with her husband's insurrection, lived in relative comfort after Edward III pardoned her.
                                                    

An Innocent Client- Scott Pratt- A "Best Debut Mystery"~

 "Mystery Readers International finalist for "Best Debut Mystery," criminal defense lawyer Joe Dillard has become jaded over the years as he's tried to balance his career against his conscience"

I got this book on Prime reading and it was extremely well written and enjoyable ( a bit graphic). I give it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. I am glad that there are others in the series and sorry to hear that Scott Pratt passed away last fall.

Joe Dillard is planning to end his career as a public defender but takes one last ( but lucrative) case for the opportunity to really defend an innocent client. The plot will astonish you as a preacher is murdered, and loses a body part, in a private club which includes topless dancing and private rooms. 

Joe's sister Sarah, a drug addict, was just was released from prison and his mother is in the end stage of Alzheimer's. Despite all the terrible things going on, his relationship with his wife and children is warm and loving. 

That and his own idealism on "innocence until proven guilty' makes it a book worth remembering. A fast paced legal procedural that works !

Kissed a Sad Goodbye - Deborah Crombie - Amazingly good!!

"Crombie weaves a tale of two boys who become allies, then friends, in a story of trust and betrayal whose repercussions echo across six decades." 

Another 5 star read in this series which I jumped into midway and have gone back to start over.
My first read was book #8 when Gemma and Duncan moved in together. I am gaining on all of it now and so very much enjoy the mysteries as presented and the characters sub-story.

Each volume in the series is set in an interesting place in England ( and other areas I suspect) which allows for an intricate plot line. This one was in the Isle of Dogs, London and shifted back and forth between the present day and WWI evacuated children. 

Gemma and Duncan, Scotland Yard Detectives were called upon to solve a mystery which had it's beginnings in another time. The additional twists and turns are enhanced by their growing relationship. and how they process through their own past history.

Amazingly well written and absorbing. I can't recommend Deborah Crombie and her series enough. 

Spinning Forward - Terri DuLong - Fun series starting in Cedar Key Florida~

I came upon this book on my digital public library and so happy they have others. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5, as it was easy to foresee any mystery about Sydney's parentage. It was also a stretch how quickly she started her business- but over all very enjoyable.

 I know Cedar Key pretty well and was thrilled about the place and time. My usual genre has more mystery in it but it worked very well. 

The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle- Susan Wittig Albert - A 5 Star read!!~

#TheDarlingDahliasAndThePoinsettiaPuzzle #NetGalley
I received this ARC from NetGalley and it was darling ( smiling), actually it was a great read and sorry I have not explored this series before this! I loved the fact that Susan Wittig Albert explained what book certain events would have happened in,  which is terrific, since this was my first.

The author is a favorite of mine and I have read and reviewed many of her books( A Wilder Rose, The General's Women, Loving Eleanor) and read two of her series (Robin Paige and Beatrix Potter ) Not quite sure why I did not try this one but that can soon be remedied.

The town, the Dahlia's and all the supporting characters were so well done, as was the mystery and how it was solved. The romance between Mr. Moseley and Liz was such a good ending, as was the murder/bootlegging prison investigation and arrest which preceded it.

Please read this to find out about the Poinsettia Puzzle and "Hide the Cupcake" and you will enjoy it as I did