1. Murder on the Minneapolis by Anita Davison
The only physical book I know I'm going to buy this summer (because I want an autograph!). I've seen drafts of sequels, but missed out on the first, so I'm eager to get the beginning of the story. And how could you not want to read about a couple named Bunny and Flora? Due out on June 30th in the UK, October in the US.
The official blurb: Flora Maguire, governess to thirteen-year-old Edward,
Viscount Trent, is on her way home to England from New York after the wedding
of her employer’s daughter. Conscious of her status among a complement of only
first class passengers on the ship’s maiden voyage, she avoids the dining room
on the first night, but meets the charming Bunny Harrington on deck, a motor
car enthusiast.
Flora finds the body of a man
at the bottom of a companionway, but when his death is pronounced an accident,
she is not convinced. The mystery of her mother’s disappearance when she was a
child young drives her to find out what really happened to the dead man.
She confides her suspicions to Bunny, and a German passenger, both of whom apparently concur with her misgivings, but the ship's doctor and the captain are reluctant to accept there is a murderer on board.
She confides her suspicions to Bunny, and a German passenger, both of whom apparently concur with her misgivings, but the ship's doctor and the captain are reluctant to accept there is a murderer on board.
Flora starts asking questions, but when she is threatened, followed by a near
drowning during a storm and a second murder - the hunt is now on in earnest for
a killer.
The UK link.
The US link.
The UK link.
The US link.
2. The Apothecary's Widow by Diane Scott Lewis
I mentioned this in a previous post - a book for those of us who know that love isn't confined to twenty-somethings with perfect bodies. I hope Diane won't mind my remarking that the heroine is much more down to earth and relatable than that slightly sultry cover picture suggests.
The official blurb: Who murdered Lady Pentreath? The year is 1781, and the war with the American colonies rages across the sea. In Truro, England, Branek Pentreath, a local squire, has suffered for years in a miserable marriage. Now his wife has been poisoned with arsenic. Is this unhappy husband responsible? Or was it out of revenge? Branek owns the apothecary shop where Jenna Rosedew, two years a widow, delights in serving her clients. Branek might sell her building to absolve his debts caused by the war—and put her out on the street. Jenna prepared the tinctures for Lady Pentreath, which were later found to contain arsenic. The town’s corrupt constable has a grudge against Branek and Jenna. He threatens to send them both to the gallows.
Can this
feisty widow and brooding squire come together, believe in each other’s
innocence— fight the attraction that grows between them—as they struggle to
solve the crime before it’s too late?
The UK link.
The US link.
3. The Craigsmuir Affair by Jen Black
Jen self publishes, including being her own cover designer, and her writing puts many conventionally
The official blurb: In 1893 Daisy dreams of a career as an artist but runs up against the rock that is Adam Grey, who distrusts women and thinks wives should be content with home and family life. When a valuable painting goes missing in the country house where they are both guests, Adam turns detective and Daisy must prove that she is not the thief Adam initially believes her to be. Does she want love and marriage or to fulfill her dreams?
The UK link.
The US link.
4. The Barbers by Katherine Pym
Katherine takes you into the minds of 17th century Londoners not just through her recreation of their lives, but by giving a sense of their language, too. If you enjoy a slightly different reading experience now and then, check out her works.
The official blurb: It is London 1663 and science flourishes in a mini-Renaissance. Celia Barber shares her father’s shop; he barbers, and she heals during a time when women are not allowed to practice medicine.
As a
licensed barber, Celia longs to visit the Royal Society or Surgeon’s Hall to
see a dissection, but women are not allowed. She befriends a viscount who
sneaks her into the Royal Society, where she sees an experiment and meets
Robert Hooke, the great scientist of the day. Celia’s sister works as a
domestic in Whitehall Palace, who finds an ancient coin. Will it lead to hidden
treasure?
Life in London is harsh. People sicken and die easily. As a healer, Celia sees tragedy. She cannot save all who come to her. Hardest of all, will she be able to save her brothers?
Life in London is harsh. People sicken and die easily. As a healer, Celia sees tragedy. She cannot save all who come to her. Hardest of all, will she be able to save her brothers?
The US link.
5. Lady Faith Takes a Leap by Maggi Anderson
This is the latest in Maggi's Baxendale Sisters series. Once I got through Georgette Heyer in my
adolescence, I never cared for traditional romances... until I read Maggi's stories. Her heroes and heroines are easy to empathise with, and for those who care about the 'bedroom door' issue, the sex is very often post marital and not uncomfortably explicit.
The official blurb: Dutiful
daughter Faith Baxendale just wants to please. Faith isn’t as adventurous as
her younger sister, Hope, gadding about the Continent with their aunt, nor as
rebellious as her elder sister, Honor, who planned to become a card sharp. And
Faith couldn’t lose herself in her art like sixteen-year-old, Charity. Even
Mercy, at fourteen, shows more backbone!
After
Faith’s first Season ends, her father urges her to marry the man of his choice.
But when Lord Vaughn Winborne, a neighbor Faith had a crush on while still in
the schoolroom, arrives home for the Brandreth’s hunt ball, surprising even to
herself, Faith is drawn again towards a man her father would never consider.
The youngest Brandreth male, Vaughn, is the black sheep of the family. His elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, still looks upon him as a reckless youth, and Vaughn is determined to prove him wrong.
The youngest Brandreth male, Vaughn, is the black sheep of the family. His elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, still looks upon him as a reckless youth, and Vaughn is determined to prove him wrong.
A chance comes in the form of a scandal not of Vaughn’s making, and he must learn to trust Faith, who, when all’s said and done, has always known her own mind.
The US link.
6. The Captain and the Countess by Rosemary Morris
Rosemary keeps the bedroom door firmly shut, writing old-fashioned romance that reflects its time,
The official blurb:Why does heart-rending pain lurk in the back of the wealthy Countess of Sinclair’s eyes?
Captain Howard’s life changes forever from the moment he meets Kate, the
intriguing Countess, and resolves
to banish her pain. Although the air sizzles when widowed Kate, victim of an
abusive marriage, meets Edward Howard, a captain in Queen Anne’s navy, she has
no intention of ever marrying again. However, when Kate becomes better
acquainted with the Captain she realises he is the only man who understands her
grief and can help her to untangle her past.
The US link.
7. All Kinds of Hell by Amy Dupire
Something completely different to round out my seven: a contemporary YA that explores sisterhood and faith in all its facets. Amy used to live in my town - I still miss our chats on life and writing, and most of all her quirky humour that also plays out in her books.
The official blurb: In a final, desperate attempt to reconnect with Becca, Joely decides to give Jesus a chance. She volunteers with Becca for the church's Hell House event, an interactive drama designed to scare the Hell out of attendees and chase them straight into Heaven.
But it's only when Joely sees how far Becca has gone that she can face her greatest fear and take a step of faith into the unknown.
The US link.
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