more than kin, and less than kind...

I freely admit that I love Lauren Willig's writing. I've enjoyed her wonderful "Pink Carnation" series for years and I liked her first two stand alone titles, THE ASHFORD AFFAIR and THAT SUMMER very much. That said, I wasn't expecting my reaction to her latest non-series book, THE OTHER DAUGHTER. While this book contained all of the trademarks of Willig's fine style, it also felt a bit deeper and darker than much of her previous work.

The plot involves a young women who is serving as a governess in France. I admit, I love a good governess tale, so I was hooked early on. Rachel Woodley was raised by her widowed mother after her father dies when she is quite young. Returning home from France after her mother's sudden death, she stumbles onto the fact that her father is still very much alive and everything she believed about her parents is suddenly called into question. When she finds out that her father is not only alive, but flourishing as a member of an old, aristocratic family and also has additional children, another daughter and a son, Rachel assumes that she is illegitimate. Angered by her beloved parent’s apparent betrayal, Rachel decides to attempt to get close to her father and his new family with some vague hope of revenge for his deception. Assisting Rachel in her quest is a suave and sophisticated aristocrat named Simon Montfort. Simon has his own ax to grind with Rachel's father, so he is happy to help with her scheme. After assuming a false identity as Simon's sophisticated cousin, so that she can be introduced into the smart set of British, post WWI, society, Rachel finds herself confused by the fact that nothing is as she assumed and everyone is dealing with their own secrets and lies. Surprisingly, she finds herself sympathetic to her half sister and even her father, and has to struggle with what she really wants from them; revenge or acceptance.

While the set up is obviously mysterious, there isn't really a mystery here. The suspense is more along the lines of what one finds in a classic Mary Stewart or Catherine Gaskin novel where a young female protagonist encounters a family secret and has to work to unravel the deception. That said, Willig provides many surprises for both Rachel and her readers as the truth concerning Rachel's family unfolds. The plotting is strong and steady and keeps the reader moving along to find out what the next little truth bomb might be. The solid plotting is complemented by many finely drawn characters. Willig, per usual, has done her historical homework well and her descriptions of the "bright young things" adds wonderful depth and texture to the story she is weaving. The supporting cast in this book was so strong, that several of those characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. The post WWI period was one of turmoil and upheaval on both a societal and a personal level for many and Willig does a masterful job of showing the impact of that war on her characters and the world in which they lived.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in post WWI England with the characters in Willig's book. It was a challenging time for many and I was pleased that the tone of this work captured some of the darkness and despair that most were living with in the late 20s. Having read everything Lauren has written, I felt like this was her most mature and confidant book. With her Pink Carnation series wrapping up soon, I'm hopeful that we will be getting more of this sort of work to enjoy. I am always on the look out for a worthy successor to Mary Stewart or Catherine Gaskin and if The Other Daughter is an example of what we have to look forward to from Lauren Willig, then I think I may have found her. Excellent characterization, strong plotting, solid historical detail all serve to make The Other Daughter a truly satisfying read.

a quick succession of busy nothings...

I'm back!  Seems forever and a day since I revved up the old blogger engine. Per usual, I'm blaming the hustle and bustle of life for the delay. Since last we visited, I managed to fit in a couple of author events/book signings, a trip to NYC, a chance to see Alan Rickman on stage, a very busy bout at work and dealing with the day to day stuff, like buying a new car and playing with my new Kindle Fire!  See? Busy. Doing stuff. Of course, some of that stuff is book related and I've managed to fit in a good bit of reading while I've been mucking about, so I thought I'd ease back into the blogging routine by sharing some tidbits with you guys.

First, Alan Rickman. I had the chance to see him on Broadway in his new play, Seminar and it was amazing!  I should say Rickman was amazing, the play was OK. Seminar featured AR as a successful novelist who terrorizes four younger writers during a writing seminar. It was a bit cliched and full of too many writing/publishing in jokes, but Alan was brilliant! Of course, to me, he is always Col. Brandon, but take any opportunity you get to see Mr. Rickman up close and personal. He rocks!

While in NYC, I also had the opportunity to visit with some writers that I've mentioned often on the blog, Tasha Alexander, Deanna Raybourn and Lauren Willig.  These three lovely ladies did a talk/signing at the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan. Great fun to see these masters of historical mysteries interact with their fans and each other. I read and enjoy all three of these writers and I know that many of you do as well. If you have the chance to meet up with any of them as they travel around, take it. They are very warm and friendly and seem to genuinely enjoy meeting their readers. Check out their perspective websites to get updates on their work and travels.

Tasha Alexander
Deanna Raybourn
Lauren Willig

Also, if you get the chance to visit NYC, don't miss a stop off at The Mysterious Bookshop. This place is a mystery lovers heaven!

Back in the ATL just in time to get the opportunity to hear writer John Connolly speak about his work at The Peerless Bookstore.  Connolly is the author of one of my favorite mystery series featuring the brilliant and tortured detective, Charlie Parker.  I have read his stuff forever, but never managed to hear him speak about his work. It was a wonderful evening. Connolly is an articulate, opinionated and energetic speaker and a warm, gracious individual. The Peerless is a find.  If you are in the ATL and looking for a really active independent bookstore, this is the place!  They offer tons of author visits, writing workshops and a really lovely spirit of community for both readers and writers.  Good stuff!

I'll be posting my review of the latest Charlie Parker book, The Burning Soul in the next week or so, so be sure and check back.

As I mentioned above, I also found the time to do some shopping, purchasing both a new car and a new Kindle!  The car is a Rogue, appropriately dubbed Sebastian, after many of my fave rogues in romance novels. And no, I did not buy the car just because of the name, but it certainly didn't hurt. Take note, car namers!  And as to the new Kindle Fire, I've only had it a day or two, but I am loving the size of the thing.  It handles media and internet stuff really well and can be very comfortably held in one hand. Flove that. Much of what i was looking for in the iPad, in a much more compact form. And cheaper. Yay Amazon! Nice job!

Yours truly with John Connolly at his recent signing in Atlanta.

I Love a Big Party...

Lucky me. I spent last week in sometimes sunny California attending the RT Booklovers Convention. For those who aren't familiar with RT Reviews, it was formerly known as Romantic Times magazine. It features tons of reviews of genre fiction and every year they hold a big blow-out for readers, writers, librarians, booksellers, publishers and anyone else who feel like celebrating all the best in genre reading. I've always wanted to attend an RT and this year I couldn't resist the lure of southern California. So how was it? Well, it was fabulous! I really had a great time talking to authors and readers about books. The energy and enthusiasm of the folks attending this conference was absolutely contagious. Everyone wanted to talk about their fave. It helped me to remember why reading is and always has been my favorite thing in the world.

There were great sessions geared to almost any interest from pirates to steampunk. There were plenty of extravagant parties and lovely swag and books galore. If you're a fan of genre fiction, I can't recommend attending next year's conference strongly enough. You'll have a blast!


And here's a quick list of some of my favorites from RT:

Most interesting party favor: Fruit flavored personal lubricant from the lovely folks at Ellora's Cave.

Best panel discussion for aspiring authors:  The Editors panel which featured editors from a zillion publishers telling you exactly what they hope to publish this year.

Favorite author to swill champagne with: Lynsay Sands, hands down. She is bright, warm, and hilariously funny. And the girl knows her way around a glass of Moet!

Favorite party:  The Steampunk Social. Excellent costumes, beautiful little cakes and plenty of squid to stroke. What more can one ask for?

Favorite author to chat about books with: Lauren Willig.  She was as lovely and gracious as one might suspect from reading her charming Pink Carnation series, and she has excellent taste in books! I feel she is the perfect person to join me in my quest to bring back the traditional gothic. What a delight!

Favorite party food:  The corndogs at the Avon Paranormal bash.  Paranormals, corndogs and magaritas! A winning combination.

In celebration of this wonderful experience, I'm going to try a first for this little blog and do a giveaway!  Just leave a comment telling me which author you would most like to meet and I'll do a random drawing next week for a gift bag featuring goodies straight from the RT conference.  This is the perfect time for all you lovely lurkers to take a second and comment.  I'd love to hear from you...

Where Shadows Dance...

I was thrilled to get the latest title in the wonderful Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series this week.  Penned by the talented C.S. Harris, Shadows Dance is the sixth book featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, a sort of Regency era James Bond. St. Cyr, or Viscount Devlin, as he is also known, is an intriguing character and Harris is a marvelous writer. I was very excited to find a historical mystery series set in the regency era, as it is probably my favorite historical period.

Overall, this has been a really solid and enjoyable series.  Sebastian is an intriguing character with a wonderful wit and style.  In the early going, he was deeply involved with an actress, Kat Boleyn. I never really enjoyed the pairing because Sebastian seemed like a whiny child when he was around Kat. He seemed to use her as a threat and a wedge with his estranged family and it just got tiresome. As the books progressed, it became very clear that the mysteries involved were somewhat secondary to the familial secrets that Sebastian is constantly uncovering. This ongoing storyline lets the reader get to know more about Sebastian and his family with each book and a fascinating family it is. One of these family secrets eventually brings an end to the romantic relationship between Sebastian and Kat and while I felt for them, I was actually pretty thrilled about this development as I hoped it meant less of the petulant, emo Sebastian and more of the witty, mystery solving, urbane Sebastian.

Throughout the series Sebastian's nemesis is the wonderfully villainous, Lord Jarvis. Jarvis is the power behind the throne and  perhaps my favorite character in the books. If I loved Jarvis for no other reason, I would love him for fathering his daughter, Hero Jarvis. Hero is an amazing character. She is a 25 year old bluestocking, with a love for all things intellectual as well as a highly developed social concious.  Her ability to stand up to Sebastian as an equal made their relationship interesting to me from the start. As the series progressed, I hoped for a relationship between these two, but didn't see how Harris could pull this off since Sebastian is so sure that he can never love anyone but Kat. I should not have underestimated Harris's abilities, since she has indeed managed to build a unique and complex storyline for these two.

Where Shadows Dance is, I think, a pivotal book in this series. It felt like Sebastian was finally growing up. When a low level but well liked young diplomat is murdered, Sebastian steps in to investigate. The investigation uncovers an incredibly complex situation involving politicians and diplomats from many countries and almost more twists and turns than the reader can keep up with. Almost. Harris outlines the many players and elements of the storyline very carefully and I had no trouble following the action. The plot of this book serves to remind one just how volatile the world was in the early 1800s. There were so many powerful players on the world's political stage and all were seeking to build and strengthen alliances. As Sebastian works to unravel the puzzle surrounding the young diplomat's death, he also works to convince Hero to become his wife. Thanks to an unplanned episode in their recent past, Hero and Sebastian find themselves facing a difficult situation and both seem to be trying desperately to behave honorably. As they agree to marry, Hero steps in to aid Sebastian in his investigation. This development gives me great pleasure as well as real hope that this trend will continue in future books.  Sebastian and Hero are an amazingly well-matched couple and when they join forces they are indeed a force of nature!

A word here about romances in historical mysteries.  I am in favor of them. Really. That said, I think that writers of historical mysterys have to tread a bit lightly to keep the fine line between mystery and romance in place. Harris has always done an excellent job with this and I am truly grateful that she didn't try to keep some sort of love triangle going between Kat, Sebastian and Hero. When Sebastian makes his decision, he definitely mourns for what he might have had with Kat, but he makes it clear that he is going to be a faithful husband to Hero. He and Kat have a couple of lovely moments and I'm sure that she will continue to be featured in the series, but I felt like Harris effectively ended the concept of any sort of sordid triangle. I also worried about Sebastian and Hero being trapped in a stuffy marriage of convenience. These two have enormous chemistry and a strong physical attraction, but I was concerned that they would refrain from attempting a real relationship due to the circumstances of their marriage.  I would like to cheer C.S. Harris for not going that very tired route. The last few pages of this books are quite possibly the most romantic I have ever read in any genre. The writing is truly beautiful and I am reminded that Harris, under her real name, Candace Proctor, wrote several excellent historical romances earlier in her career. She even quotes one of my favorite poets, Sir Thomas Wyatt. Sigh!

So, strong mystery, swoony romance, great attention to historical detail, interesting familial situations, intriguing characters, both main and supporting, along with some truly fine writing combine to make the latest entry in this series one of the best.  If you haven't read this one, do so.  At the first opportunity.  Number seven in the series is due next March and believe me I expect that they will only get better and better! Harris is a worthy successor to the late, great Kate Ross and while Julian Kestral remains number one in my heart, Sebastian is certainly a close second.

Titles in the Sebastian St. Cyr series:
What Angels Fear: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery, Book 1
When Gods Die: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery
Why Mermaids Sing: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery
Where Serpents Sleep: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery, Book 4
What Remains of Heaven: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery, Book 5
Where Shadows Dance: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery, Book 6

Anticipation...

It's a quick top 5 Tuesday list today since I'm trying to get ready to dash off to California for a conference. I'm hoping now that the Holidays are over, I'll have a bit more time to update the blog.  Thanks to those of you have continued to read, comment and email to let me know you're visiting. I truly appreciate your support.

I thought we'd start off the New Year with a list of five of the genre books that I'm most looking forward to in 2011. Most of these don't have covers yet, so no pretty artwork. They are all available for pre-order though, so keep an eye on Amazon.

The Dark Enquiry - Deanna Raybourn - pub date: June 21, 2011

Fifth book in her amazing Julia Grey series. Brisbane is back! Yay!

Cold Vengeance - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - pub date: August 2, 2011

Latest in the newly re-energized Agent Pendergast series.  Looks like a good one!

One Was A Soldier - Julia Spencer Fleming - pub date: April 26, 2011

I've been waiting for this one. Seems like forever since the last Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne book.  

Fallen - Karin Slaughter - pub date: May 31, 2011 

I never know what to expect from Slaughter, but this title is supposed to mingle characters from her Grant County and Atlanta series, so it should be interesting.  

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart - Sarah Maclean - pub date: May 1, 2011

I have enjoyed this historical romance trilogy by new writer, Maclean, but I'll be happy to finish it up just so I never have to type these silly titles again.

The Dark Enquiry (A Lady Julia Grey Novel)
Cold Vengeance
One Was a Soldier: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery
Fallen: A Novel
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Building a Mystery...

Since last week's top 5 Tuesday list included my favorite historical mystery series, I thought this week we would give equal time to my favorite contemporary series.  I think that I look for very different things from contemporary series, for example, a good plot matters much more when I don't have all that delicious historical detail distracting me.  Setting is important.  I like to read about places that are interesting and that add to the story in some way.  That said, it still comes down to authors who create memorable characters. Every series on this list features at least one, if not several truly amazing characters and I'm grateful to have had a chance to meet them.

Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries - Julia Spencer- Fleming
If someone had told me that one of my favorites would involve the exploits of a female, ex-chopper pilot, episcopal priest and an ex MP, current police chief in a small upstate NY town, I'd have been doubtful to say the least. Thanks to Ms. Spencer-Fleming's talent, I fell in love with these characters. The series is a strange mix of cozy elements with much more bleak and hard-boiled plotlines. The chemistry between the two main characters is off the charts and I cannot wait to find out where the author takes them next.

Pendergast Series - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
It took two very fine mystery writers to come up with a character as intriguing as the complex and mysterious FBI Agent Pendergast. He is a suave southern gentleman, who seems to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of everything from fine dining to eastern religion. He is urbane and witty and fabulous and I hope that Preston and Childs never get bored with him. I know I won't. The first book in this series, Relic, remains one of my favorites.

Travis McGee Series - John D. MacDonald
In my opinion, one of the very best series detectives ever. Travis McGee was a knight errant, beach bum who lived on his yacht, The Busted Flush in Bahia Mar in Ft. Lauderdale. He was the prototype for many who would follow, but nobody has ever done this sort of mystery better. MacDonald's astute observations on the environment, development and culture, continue to be as meaningful as when he wrote them in the late 60s and 70s.  I re-read this series annually just to remind myself how good a series mystery can be.

Charlie Parker Mysteries - John Connolly

Perhaps the darkest of all of the series I've listed, the protagonist of this series has lost everything and had to fight to hang on to both his sanity and his humanity. This series deals with some very disturbing themes, but Connolly always manages to allow Charlie some shred of hope and decency. The supporting characters are memorable and the setting in Maine fits the mood of the series well. Even the occasional dip into the paranormal world doesn't bother me, because Connolly's writing is so strong and poetic. If you don't mind occasionally visiting the dark side, this is one of the best series going.

Adam Dalgliesh Series - PD James
You all didn't really think I was going to make it through an entire list without including a Brit did you?  PD James is a master and Adam Dalgliesh is one of the best characters in contemporary mystery writing.  Dalgliesh is an intellectual and honorable man and his methodic approach to solving complex crimes is as enjoyable today as is was in 1962 when the first Dalgliesh, Cover Her Face was published.

History's Mysteries...

Top five Tuesday is here already! In honor of the recent excellent guest review of Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, I've decided to offer up my current top 5 historical mystery series. Obviously since I am new to the Willig series, she isn't on there yet, but I hope you'll check out these other, very fine, historical mystery writers...

The Lady Julia Grey Series - Deanna Raybourn
Excellent Victorian era series featuring Lady Julia Grey and her delicious husband, Nicholas Brisbane.  With four titles in this series, Ms. Raybourn just gets better and better, I am eagerly looking forward to the fifth.  

The Julian Kestral Series - Kate Ross
In my opinion, one of the best historical mystery series ever! Set in Regency times, Julian is a suave, erudite and fashionable rogue, however his dapper exterior hides a much deeper core. It breaks my heart that Ms. Ross only completed four books in this series prior to her untimely death. If you are a fan of historical mysteries, hunt them down and read them all.  Brilliant!

The Sebastien St. Cyr Series- C.S. Harris
Excellent Regency era series featuring the dark and cynical Sebastian Alistair St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin.  Harris creates truly remarkable supporting characters and St. Cyr is a perfect world-weary hero, but I live in fear that he will choose the wrong woman.  Team Hero for the win!

The Molly Murphy series - Rhys Bowen
This entertaining series set in turn of the century New York is a delight. A bit lighter in tone than the other series, it features a protagonist who is funny, smart and endearing, even though she isn't much of a detective. The setting and the historical period, along with the aforementioned heroine, make this series a winner.

The Lady Emily Series - Tasha Alexander
Another Victorian era series featuring a very sharp lady protagonist. Lady Emily exhibits remarkable growth throughout this series and a strong cast of supporting characters, including sexy new husband, Colin Hargreaves, an agent for the crown, make this fast-paced and far-reaching series a delight.


There you have it.  I hope that you'll share your favorites in this genre, I am always on the look out for a new series to love!  

Blame it on the Mistletoe...

I'm so excited about this review, mainly because I didn't have to write it. Yes, IRR, is featuring the first guest posting!  YAY, guest posting!  What is the point of having a zillion, funny, smart and well-read friends, if you don't use them to make your life easier?  Our guest blogger today is Jessie, a fellow librarian and avid reader who is going to give us the low down on Lauren Willig's newest installment in her Pink Carnation series, The Mischief of the Mistletoe!  This series seems to grow in popularity with each book and according to Jessie, the praise is justified...  

The Mischief of the the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig is part of the Pink Carnation Series. It’s set between the fourth and fifth novels in the series, and the reader will see some of the intersecting stories from the 4^th and 5^th book interwoven in the story. As usual, spies and romance are involved and in this book a few Christmas puddings are thrown about as well. To really enjoy this book, you would need to have read at least the first 4-5 novels in the series (in my opinion).

The story begins with Arabella Dempsey, a young woman of good family who had lived with her aunt for many years after the death of her mother. When the young man she thought would ask her to marry him, asks her elderly aunt instead, Arabella goes home to her father and 3 younger sisters. She knows she can’t stay there indefinitely, so she decides to take a position in a school for young ladies. Turnip Fitzhugh’s (readers will remember him from previous novels) younger sister is at the school where Arabella will teach. An errant   Christmas pudding is given to Turnip and he and Arabella discover a message written on the muslin wrapper. An investigation ensues and is continued at a Christmas party in the country. The relationship developing between Turnip and Arabella is sweetly done and fun to watch. As usual, Willig’s dialogue is witty and well done. I don’t want to give too much away as to the plot, since it is a bit of a mystery and that’s half the fun of reading this series.

One part of the book that I’m still not sure about is Jane Austen is written in as an old family friend of Arabella’s and she pops up occasionally throughout the story. Although I usually dislike things like this, Willig does this well, and with a light touch. The interactions between Austen and Arabella are brief and fairly neutral. Willig has a nice note at the end of the book about Austen and how a character from The Watsons inspired the character of Arabella.

The Pink Carnation series is one of my favorites. I love historical fiction, mysteries, and romances and this series combines all three with really great stories and characters. I read The Scarlet Pimpernel when I was about 14 and this series really plays into that type of novel. The premise of the novels is very clever. Eloise Kelly is a Ph.D candidate doing her dissertation on a network of British spies at the beginning of the 19^th century (so 1805-ish) fighting Napoleon. The spies have flower codenames (hence the titles of the books). The story jumps between Eloise in present-day London and Regency England. Throw in some French spies (also with floral names), some younger sisters, society ladies, Regency society, and one hot Brit in present day and you’ve got a really great plot. Each novel tells the story of different characters that belong to this band of spies. There’s always a romance and a mystery. The characters are fantastic. Minor characters from earlier books in the series are highlighted and given their own story, giving them more depth and rounding them out. The ongoing relationship between Eloise and Colin in present-day makes it fun because you’re never sure when Willig is going to pop back to present-day to their story. I look forward to the next installment in the series, The Orchid Affair, due out on January 20, 2011.

For the record, the Pink Carnation series is not one of those you can pick up in the middle or read out of order.

Well, I have a copy of Mischief sitting on my desk, but I'm going to take Jessie's advice and start at the beginning with this series.  I plan to read them over the holiday break and I'm eagerly anticipating the thrill of finding a new historical fiction series to love!  Thanks Jessie for the inspiration and the review.  Great job!

Taking the Dark Road...

If you are a fan of historical mysteries and you haven't read the first three books in Deanna Raybourn's amazing Lady Julia Grey series then I must suggest that you do so immediately.  This is a fantastic series featuring excellent writing, wonderful characters, exacting period detail, and sharp as a tack dialogue.


I was thrilled to receive an arc of the latest Lady Julia Grey mystery and set down on a Saturday afternoon to lose myself in the world of Lady Julia and her soulmate and now, husband, Nicholas Brisbane.  The first three books in the series found Julia and Nicholas meeting over the body of her first husband, bonding over adventures involving her family and his and finally realizing that they are meant to be.  The newest book was bound to be a challenge for it would be the first to feature the couple as husband and wife.  These are two incredibly strong-willed people and I wondered if DR would be able to find a way to allow them to make all of the compromises a newly married couple must make and still retain their individuality.  I needn't have worried, because in DR's masterful hands Julia and Nicholas manage to navigate their way through the rocky waters of their new marriage and emerge not only stronger as a couple, but also with their individual character intact.


The book opens with Julia's siblings Plum and Portia tracking the newly married Brisbanes down while they are on their honeymoon.  Portia requests their assistance in the matter of her ex-partner Jane.  Jane is recently widowed and expecting a child.  She is living on her husband's tea plantation in India and Portia is concerned about her safety, as well as her state of mind.  The group travels to India, where they set about figuring out if there was indeed foul play involved in Jane's husband's death.  Initially, I bemoaned the fact that this book was going to be set in India since England is my favorite setting for historical mysteries, but I soon changed my tune. The setting was perfect. The exotic locale pulled Nicholas and Julia out of their normal comfort zone and, in my opinion, placed them on a more even playing field.  As they begin investigating the strange occurrences around the plantation, they both are forced to deal with people and places terribly unfamiliar to them.  It was interesting to watch their different investigative styles emerge as they struggle with their individual desire to be the one to solve the mystery versus their obvious strength when they work as a team.  The plot was well-developed and the ending was a bit of a shocker. Although I started to suspect the truth about 3/4ths of the way through, I wasn't sure that DR would go in that direction, but I thought it provided a solid twist. 


The most satisfying aspect of the book for me was watching Nicholas and Julia figure out how to be husband and wife.  It was clear that the idea of melding their lives was causing both some real angst.  I was pleased to see that they continued to treat each other with the respect and affection that they have always shared.  The romance lover in me was thrilled to find that the intimacy of the marital bed had not dampened the heated attraction between the two. When Nicholas and Julia married at the end of the last book, I was alternately excited and concerned.  I was so happy that they were together finally, but wondered if DR would be able to keep their relationship interesting.  After reading Dark Road to Darjeeling, I feel nothing but optimistic that this relationship will continue to develop and grow in all kinds of intriguing ways.  While I have loved all three of the previous books in the series, I have to say that Dark Road to Darjeeling was pretty nearly flawless.  I came away from it anticipating all of the amazing adventures that the future holds for these two characters as well as the rest of the eccentric March clan.  Kudos Ms. Raybourn!  Keep 'em coming...


PS.  I don't always cast books as I'm reading them, but here are my picks to play Lady Julia and Nicholas:

I think Rachel Weisz and Richard Armitage would be absolutely perfect in the roles.  Who would you cast?

To glom or not to glom?

Do you glom?  Yes, I'm aware that glom has a multitude of meanings, but in this case we're discussing the one that involves a reader obsessively reading all of an author's backlist.  I am a big time glommer.  I confess that when I read a book that I love, it is a certainty that I will immediately set about locating and reading other books by that writer.  I think that glomming is an activity that has special appeal for genre readers.  Genre reading, by it's very nature, involves looking for some consistency from writers.  Whether you read, mysteries, science fiction, romance or any other genre, you've most likely identified consistent elements that make a book work for you.  So, it follows that if you love police procedurals and you find a writer who writes a fantastic procedural, you'll want to check out their backlist.

In my world, glomming can also involve reading an entire series, rather than the entire author backlist.  This is especially true of genre writers who may have three or four very different series running at once.  For example, I've recently been laid up recuperating from some minor surgery and I sort of stumbled onto a historical mystery series by Rhys Bowen.  Now Bowen writes three series and they appear to be quite different, so rather than glom her entire backlist, I limited my glomming activity to her Molly Murphy series.  I had tried one of her Constable Evans mysteries years ago and found it a bit to cozy for my taste (I can only read a cozy if there is a cat in it, it's a terrible personality flaw), but the MM series worked for me.  A big part of the charm was the setting of NYC at the turn of the century.  An author could not ask for a more exciting, tumultuous time or place and I'll read almost anything that uses this backdrop.  I decided to glom the series on the strength of setting and I've since worked my way through six of the nine titles available and I have the other three waiting at the library.  While I have a few qualms about this series, it has consistently delivered on the elements that appealed in the first title I read and that is really all a glommer can ask for.

So, any other glommers out there?