Month: June 2022

The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, World War II Era (1939-1945)Leave a comment

The Key to Deceit (Electra McDonnell, #2)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Electra McDonnell #2
Publication Date: 6/21/22
Period: WWII – London
Number of Pages: 288

This series was off and running no-holds-barred with the first book in the series, A Peculiar Combination, and now this one is proudly carrying the torch. With strong major characters and strong supporting characters, this book (and this series) will definitely leave you with a pounding heart and fraught nerves! The mystery is excellently plotted and the book is well-written and perfectly paced.

I had wondered if there would be any movement in the quasi-love triangle that was set up in the first book – and the answer is – there is and there isn’t. While the Major’s interest in Ellie is quite obvious to the reader, it isn’t at all obvious to Ellie because she thinks he only tolerates her because he has to. Then there is her childhood friend Felix who is developing feelings for her. Or is he? I wonder if it is more to do with him being injured, etc. and he sees Electra as a solid in his life. Not that he doesn’t care for her, but I wonder if it is ‘the real thing’. I guess we’ll just have to continue to read and find out – but I hope it doesn’t drag on too long because that gets tiring to me – and seems unfair to the character who doesn’t ‘win’.

Everyone is on tenterhooks waiting for the German bombings that they know are coming. They know they are coming, but they are also in denial – until the bombs actually start dropping. Amid the tensions, Major Ramsey arrives at the McDonnell home to ask for their assistance with a lock – which happens to be on the wrist of a body at the morgue. Ellie takes a big breath and then agrees to help – little knowing that it would lead to a search for a nest of German spies who are helping to target London locations for the bombers.

There are banks to rob, suspects to follow, bodies to identify, and spymasters to catch all while London is being bombed into oblivion by the Germans. Before the search is over, the entire McDonnell clan along with Felix and an interesting new character will be involved. While they are pursuing the spies, Ellie and Felix are searching for information on Ellie’s mother (FYI – her mother died in prison after being convicted of murdering Ellie’s father – and she was pregnant with Ellie at the time she was convicted.)

I highly recommend both this book and the series. I hope you will read it and love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

His Wicked Whispers by Jen Bradlee

On By TracyIn Ancient Britain, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Novella, Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

His Wicked WhispersHis Wicked Whispers by Jen Bradlee

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Prince of Whispers, #1

Release Date: May 10, 2022

When Prince Crispin of Meradin is called by his father the King to his presence chamber, he was expecting the usual lecture on his hedonistic lifestyle and how he should be more like his late brother, Frances, but is shocked to learn that his father is casting him out! His father tells him that if he doesn’t shape up, he will be disowned and his cousin will inherit the throne, that said, his father tells him to leave with nothing but the clothes on his back until he has learned some humility and how to serve his people. Angry beyond belief, Crispin leaves and sets out to prove his father wrong, but instead is set upon by thieves, and if not for the quick-thinking action of a woman, he would be dead!

Crispin has been forbidden to tell anyone who he is, so he tells the woman he is a guard at the palace named Tristan and asks for her help. Ruby aka the Lady of the Forest, is a bit of Robin Hood and really wants nothing to do with him and after tending him, leaves him. But they reconnect and he helps her retrieve some items stolen from her friends. This leads to a steamy night of passion but in the morning, everything changes when soldiers from the palace come to find him and he learns that his father is dead. Upon learning who her lover really is and feeling betrayed, Ruby takes off and Crispin is forced to let her go – for now.

Crispin returns to the palace and brands Ruby as an outlaw, and sets a plan in motion to find her. He also sends for his best friend Henry who was banished to Wales by his father, to return and act as his right hand. When Ruby is brought in, he shocks her letting her choose her fate – marry him or be tried and convicted of being a thief!

This was a very well-written, intriguing read with lots of steamy love scenes and interesting characters. Ruby is a complex character, part innocent maiden and part badass, and she is perfect for Crispin. Crispin is not your typical hero, he is a bad boy and he unrepentantly wears that title with pride, so if you don’t like anti-heroes with strong sexual appetites, you might want to pass on this book – but if like me, you like a bad boy who doesn’t magically transform into Prince Charming once he falls in love, then you are going to love this story! This book is the first book in a trilogy and after reading this story, I can’t wait to see what happens next!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*