What We're Reading: April Edition

by Mary Jo

We Word Wenches love doing these posts because we always find new authors to try! 

Starting off with Pat Rice:

One Plus One by  JoJo Moyes  I love the way romance has expanded into women’s fiction, and One Plus One by JoJo Moyes is a masterful example of how it’s done. It’s clear from the very first that we have a conflicted hero and heroine. Ed is owner of a software company about to go mega-huge. Jess is his housekeeper—and he doesn’t even know she exists because she cleans his vacation home, and he never takes vacations.

But this is not the usual meet cute or billionaire-sweeps-heroine-off-her-feet. They both come with so much baggage that it takes most of the book to unload it, with bits exploding along the way—in suitably dramatic fashion. She comes with a math genius daughter and a goth teenager who isn’t even hers, plus a giant slobbery dog. He has a dying father, a screaming sister, a girlfriend he tried to get rid of by handing off insider stock info, and an ex-wife who helps herself to his bank account whenever she likes.

 

Only when both Jess and Ed’s lives completely implode do they even begin to see each other as fellow human beings. The black moment is sheer romance trope, but the rest of it—pure heaven. If you like your love stories gritty and joyous, give this one a try

Andrea’s choices:

My TBR file finally shifted enough for me to get to A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole, which I know has been mentioned before in this column. But it was so good that I think merits another shout-out. It’s a classic trope of Cinderella meets the handsome Prince, but done with such a fresh and modern take. The heroine is a young woman who was orphaned during early childhood and has spent most of her life bouncing from foster home to foster home. Despite those challenges, she’s now a grad student juggling studies and applications for summer internships while also working to make ends meet.

When she gets an e-mail saying an African prince wishes to arrange a meeting, she thinks, “yeah, right" and hits “delete". And that’s where the fun begins. The characters are all really well drawn, with an emotional depth and texture you don’t always see in romantic comedies. I loved the interaction between Naledi, the science nerd, and Thabiso, the playboy prince. It’s smart, sassy and I highly recommend it!

I also glommed A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn, the latest book in her Veronica Speedwll historical mystery series. Veronica is yet another strong, heroine who is determined to live life by her own rules. . . .which rarely align with those of Victorian England. The hero, Stoker, a younger brother of Lord Templeton-Vane, is equally eccentric and acerbic, so sparks are constantly flying between them—though they're often distracted from their own tempestuous relationship by the need to solve some puzzling mystery.

This one involves travel to a remote island off the coast of Cornwall to visit a friend of Stoker’s brother, who announces on their arrival that he wants their help in discovering why his bride simply vanished three years ago on their wedding night. It’s a locked-box sort of mystery involving an old castle, a “poison” garden and centuries-old smuggling tunnels. As always, the plot twists are great fun—as are Veronica and Stoker.

 

Nicola here:

A few days of holiday gave me the chance to get to my TBR pile and first off was Lethal White, the latest Strike novel from Robert Galbraith, the crime-writing alter ego of JK Rowling. Andrea mentioned this book a while ago and I’d been wanting to read it. I was glad it was less graphic and gruesome than the previous Strike novel. Which I found a bit too much. This one has a good, complicated plot and some very interesting characters. It kept me turning the pages.

Since the Strike books have been televised, Rowling has said that the interest in the personal relationship between Cormoran Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott has influenced the way that she writes and one of the bonuses for me was that there was certainly a lot more character and relationship development in this book, which was really interesting.

Whilst I felt that Robin’s marriage issues seemed to drag on for rather too long, my biggest gripe with the book was an odd one; I got fed up with everyone in the book finding both Strike and Robin so attractive. It got really boring! There must be someone out there who can resist either or both of them! However, this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story as a whole and part of it was set just down the road from where I live and it was interesting to see an area I know so well through the eyes of another writer

I also read Bound to her Blood Enemy by Tora Williams which I loved as much as any historical romance I’ve read in a long while. I just kept on reading when I should have been writing! It’s set during the 12th century and features the struggle between the Normans in England and the Welsh under King Owain of Gwynedd. Matilda Comyn is half-Welsh, an orphan and the ward of a cruel Norman lord who is only waiting for his wife to die so that he can marry her.

When Huw ap-Goronwy, a Welsh spy, offers her the opportunity to escape and return to her mother’s kin she seizes it only to discover that Huw has secret reasons of his own to hate her and covet her inheritance. Huw and Matilda were both great characters and the relationship between them is strong and complex. The story had lots of twists, turns and adventure on the way to a happy and satisfying ending. The final conflict was rather strung out but overall the book was very engrossing and unusual historical background was also a nice change.  

Susan King reports in!

"It's a truth universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it's a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up." Ibi Zoboi's Pride tells us right up front what to expect: a new spin on Pride and Prejudice--and while it hits all the main points of the beloved classic, it's very much its own story. Set in Brooklyn, with an excursion to D.C., Zoboi's story is a fresh and interesting YA read. Zuri Benitez is a Afro-Latina girl living happily with her parents and sisters in an older established Brooklyn neighborhood, when a new family moves in.

She keeps encountering Darius, the new family's eldest son. At first she's put off by his family's affluence and sophistication and struggles with her own assumptions about economic and cultural differences. She's aware that the neighborhood is becoming more gentrified, but resists change. Gruff, distant Darius is not as privileged as he appears, and has his own problems to deal with. As the two prepare for college, and when one of Zuri's sisters gets into some trouble, Zuri discovers an unexpectedly kind and responsible ally in Darius.

Zoboi's Pride takes on issues of economic, social, cultural, and race differences, and at the same time, is a delightful love story that evokes new crushes and young love. Beautifully written, faithful to its Austen inspiration, it is fresh and original throughout. And not only does it have a gorgeous cover--the endpaper drawings are stunning, too!

Joanna here.

Apparently I like Fantasy Police Procedurals. I mean, who knew this was even a thing For a couple months I’ve been diligently reading through Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series (Begins with Midnight Riot) where wizard’s apprentice Peter Grant, a policeman in nowadays London, deals with magical crimes.

I’ve moved on to Snake Agent by Liz Williams. This is Book 1 in the Detective Inspector Chen series. DI Wei Chen’s mandate is to protect an alternate Singapore — and earth — from the forces of Hell. And demons. And flying monsters with poisonous claws. Working with his counterpart from Hell, the dapper demonic detective Irzh Zhu, Chen tracks miscreants on both sides of the Earth/Hell divide.

Did I mention he’s married to a demon? Who is quite lovely and has a badger familiar that turns into a tea kettle (MJP here: Jo had me at 'badger familiar who turns into a tea kettle.' <G>

Anne Gracie's choices: 

I've had a good reading month - historical crime and romance, mainly. I've already spoken about Lucy Parker's delightful The Austen Playbook — see the interview here.

The historical crime series I glommed is by Sulari Gentill, an Australian author. The books are set in the early 1930's (yes, that's regarded as historical these days) and take place largely in Sydney, though they move around — in book #2 the events take place on a luxurious trans-Atlantic liner, and in New York, and in book #4 much of the action happens in Germany during the rise of Nazism.

The series opened, for me, on a chapter of Australian history I didn't know much about — a time when the Sydney Harbour Bride was about to be completed and the forces of the left and right were at such a point that the state of New South Wales seemed on the brink of civil war. The communists were rallying, and the forces of the right were raising and training private armies.

The history is excellent, so are the mysteries and I really took to the characters, as well. The main character is Rowland Sinclair, the youngest son of a wealthy family. Educated in England, at Eton and Oxford, he returns to Australia and finds himself at a loose end. Uninterested in helping run the family empire, he becomes an artist, and soon finds himself caught between the politics of the times — his friends are bohemians and communists, his brother and all his family connections are staunchly right wing. And this is a time when Nazism was on the rise, internationally, not only in Germany and Italy.

One of the fun things about these books is the dropping of little historical "bon-bons" through the stories — where a real historical person interacts with the fictional characters. For instance in Book #2, while they're in New York, the heroine, Edna, goes dancing with Mr Archibald Leach, a handsome young English actor who's hoping to break into movies. <g>

The series starts with A Few Right Thinking Men.But you might prefer to dip your  in with THE PRODIGAL SON, a free prequel, which introduces you to Rowly and his friends and sets the other stories up. The Prodigal Son can be downloaded from platforms in Australia and the UK and perhaps other countries within the British publishing territories.  It doesn't seem to be available on US platforms, but you can download it for free from Sulari Gentill's website.

 

 

 

Mary Jo here

I'm on a romantic comedy kick. I heartily endorse Lucy Parker's new novel, The Austen Playbook. As Anne mentioned above, she interviewed Lucy about the book, but I'm here to talk about the story.  The set-up is great: a popular recent electronic game in the UK was called "The Austen Playbook," and it was a mash-up of familiar Jane Austen characters and the classic board game, Clue. All the characters are staying in one house, a murder is committed--and who of Jane's characters is the victim and who the murder? 

Now a live action, interactive version of the game is going to be staged, with viewers voting on plot options at different points in the game. So they decide who gets killed, who falls in love, and who survives--and the actors have to learn multiple versions of the mammoth script so they can perform whatever options the viewers favor.

Shooting is to be done the family country house of Griff, the stressed, cranky hero. A TV presenter and critic, Griff is the lone rational member of a family of flaky dreamers and his family needs the money, but he does not need a house full of diva actors! One of whom is Freddy Carlton, effervescent scion of a famous London theater family, who has received more than her share of critical barbs from Griff

Yet sparks fly between them as they delve into a mystery that involves both of their families, and they connect in ways neither could have imagined. By the end, mysteries are solved, family issues are sorted out, and Freddy and Griff are where they want to be. The Austen Playbook is highly recommended!

My other romantic comedy suggestion is Just This Once by Judith Arnold/Barbara Keiler. Barbara has written many, many romances as Judith Arnold and is now branching out independently with mysteries and women's fiction. Just This Once is pure romance, though, as well as a love song to the quirky wonders of New York City, protective Italian families, and Jewish guilt.

Josh and Loretta meet on a commuter train from Long Island into The City when he shuts down a crazy-making cellphone user. Loretta is a producer for a talk show and thinks he'd made a great guest as a champion of all people driven crazy by inconsiderate cellphone use. They like each other, neither is interested in a relationship, so when Loretta is forced to go on a blind date on her own TV show, Josh seems like a great and safe choice.

As the blurb says, what could possibly go wrong? <G> Just This Once made a long flight fly by. Fun!

So--what have you been reading? We Wenches love hearing about what books others are enjoying!

Mary Jo

Comments

[Sue McCormick]

Looks like I'm first.

I'll begin with the fact that I'm adding the jew Galbreath to the Austen Play book as books to be purchased.

I've read lots this month, but don't have much comment. The only new reading that I recall is Andrea's Lady Arianna "A Question of Numbers." Patricia Rice mention her "The Marquess" on her page and I said I planned to reread the series. I said, I was planning to re-read them and she asked to be told how they came out this time. So — I was more annoyed with the annoying characters (those she intends to be annoying) than I usually am — but I believe this is because right now my life is full of a nook reader that won't connect to the internet — we're persuing this with B&N, Apple, and our iternet provider— at the same time that myy computer is developing sticky keys. Real-day annoyances do tend to make the fictional ones worse. (and yes, Patricia, I'll say this on Facebook also!)

Lots of other re-reads, but I don't remember which (see annoyances as mentioned above).

[Janice]

Looks like I'm the second :)

This month I read new entries in some of my favorite series - The American Agent by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs #15) and A Forgotten Place by Charles Todd (Bess Crawford #10). I also reread some classic science fiction, including Shakespeare's Planet by Clifford D. Simak, whose style I really like.

The only book that kept me up at night was The Huntress by Kate Quinn, a hefty paperback that I couldn't stop; I was yawning but thinking "just a couple more chapters". It's set in WW2 and postwar and has three very good female characters, with one I'll never forget, the Russian pilot Nina. I have her other WW2 historical, The Alice Network, in the TBR pile and I will be moving it up.

Other than that, still cruising through short vintage regencies from Fawcett, Zebra and Signet, and a longer Topaz one called Red Red Rose by Marjorie Farrell, which I've always really liked.

[Mary M.]

I seem to have gotten in an unusually heavy amount of reading lately, but two books stand out:

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence has one of the punchiest first chapters I've ever read, in which "Alex is stopped at customs with 113 grams of marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the front seat, and an entire nation in uproar, he's fairly sure he's done the right thing." And he has. This is easily the most satisfying book I've read in a loooong time.

The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August by Claire North (Catherine Webb) is a time travel novel the way a can of Chef Boyardee spaghetti is an Italian dinner. If you have a bunch of time to contemplate big, meaning-of-life issues, plan to think a lot more than you usually do when reading fiction. Oh, and keep telling yourself, it's just quantum mechanics and human nature. Yes, it is. Surely everything will turn out all right ...

[Margaret]

Thank you, all, for once again adding to my teetering t-b-r mountain! Although for a change, I'm caught up with some of the titles mentioned. I, too, read The American Agent this month and thought it was fantastic, although Ms. Winspear is not the best at conveying romance. I also loved One Plus One when I read it about a year ago. In April, though, my hands down favorite was The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves. An incredibly sensitive story about autism and love, it is an absolute triumph, and it had me unable to put it down, especially towards the end. Reality being what it is, I also returned to Suzanne Brockmann, one of my perennial favorites, and found comfort and delight in The Undercover Princess and Prince Joe.

[Mary T]

Reading a lot of old favorites this month and the new reads (I'm sorry to say) haven't been any more than average at best. But you ladies have given me some good ideas here.

The most interesting being Sulari Gentill's A FEW RIGHT THINKING MEN. I've put it on my kindle and it has gone to the top of my to be read list. Early 20th century history is a favorite with me and I know practically nothing about that time period in Australia. A good mystery and a gentle history lesson. Win-win.

[Elizabeth Rolls]

I swear I will never read your monthly recommendations again! You've added several books to my insane pile of must-reads. The physical books are bad enough, and then there's a whole nother bunch on my Kindle App. 😂
I love the Rivers of London series, but I'm all up to date on that at least. Must find Pride and Bound to Her Blood Enemy. I have Lethal White on the pile already. Glad to hear it's less gory than Career of Evil. I may be able to read it after dark.

[Mary Jo Putney]

As always, you have good taste, Janice! Marjorie Farrell is a lovely writer--if I recall correctly, Red, Red Rose was listed by Library Journal as one of the top 10 romances of the year. Kate Quinn, who is local to me here. is another fine writer and she picks interesting periods.

But some days, the classic Regencies are just what one wants!

[Mary Jo Putney]

What a lovely book mix, Margaret! But do try to avoid being crushed by toppling To Be Read Mountain. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Mary T, I like that early 20th century period also, and like you, I've decided to try Sulari Gentill. Also I've bought Snake Agent because like Jo, I find I like Fantasy Police Procedurals. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Elizabeth, think of your well stocked Kindle as like money in the bank. I like knowing I'm unlikely to run out of books for at least a decade.

I do avoid the gory and grusome, though. Too much imagination is a curse late at night!

[Faith Freewoman]

One of the things I loved the most was Ms. Parker's use of Austen-style irony, especially in the heroine's dialogue. And then of course there were the many plot ironies...all in all fun, surprising, suspenseful...I think this was her biggest and most complex project so far and I LOVED it (enough to read it once and then start all over again to appreciate the nuances)!!

[Kareni]

This is always a dangerous post as I add titles to my list from both the post and the comments. I relish reading this column every month!

My daughter visited from South Korea for two-plus weeks, so I didn't read as much as usual.

— Midnight Riot, Moon Over Soho, and Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch
-- also read a boatload of samples out of the 200 plus that are on my Kindle.

— enjoyed Lucy Knisley’s latest memoir, Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos
— continued reading Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series and finished the fourth book, Broken Bones. This ended on a surprising note. I enjoyed it (save for the continuing use of “Me and so-and-so”). Went on to read Foxglove Summer.
— Reread with pleasure Anne Cleeland’s Murder In Thrall, Murder in Retribution, and Murder in Hindsight from her New Scotland Yard series.

— American by Day by Derek B. Miller which I read for my book group. I quite enjoyed it. It’s the rare book group book that had me laughing from time to time but also thinking. Several years ago, my group read and enjoyed the author’s first book, Norwegian by Night; this book features a character from that book and follows it in time. I’m half tempted to go back and reread that earlier book since I only recall a fraction of its details. That said, this book can stand alone. Interestingly, my library has this labeled as a mystery while I would classify it as fiction. Sadly, I was sick and had to skip the meeting.

— Ben Aaronovitch’s The Hanging Tree which I enjoyed. I have one more book to read and then I’ll have finished the series.
— started but did not finish The Last Dog on Earth by Adrian J. Walker and Today I Am Carey by Martin L. Shoemaker before deciding to go for a comfort book. I reread SK Dunstall’s Linesman (A Linesman Novel Book 1) and Alliance (Book 2).
— another reread of SK Dunstall’s Confluence (A Linesman Novel Book 3) which I enjoyed once again.
— reread of The Goblin Emperor: Katherine Addison which I enjoyed once more.  (Note: the book is currently on sale for $1.99 for Kindle readers. I recommend it.)

[Vicki L.]

I'm going to have to go back and reread the post and comments with pen and paper handy when I have a little more time. Lots of lovely sounding books!

As for my reading, I'm happy to say that this month was much better than last month!! A couple of uggs but lots of loved it books. Plus found several new to me authors I really enjoyed so went and found additional books to add to Mt. TBR. Though after reading the interview with Lucy Parker I have actually removed one off the mountain (grin).

- Making Up by Lucy Parker - loved that book. Why I let is sit so long on Mt. TBR I don't know. Laughed out loud frequently but luckily didn't wake my husband up in the middle of the night.

- Jo Goodman - Bitter Springs series set in the 1890's in the American West. They were a lot of fun to read. They are rather Georgette Heyerish in the writing and flow because they move slow and have complex character development. Excellent characters, even the minor ones. There are 6 minor characters that show up in all 4 books. Loved any scene that Finn and Rabbit showed up in (2 young boys). The Last Renegade, True to the Law, Boots under the Bed and In want of a Wife. They can be read as standalones but I did read them in order.

- Lisa Bern is another new to me author. She has only written 3 books so far I think. Regency romance with some Scottish elements. You May Kiss the Bride, The Laird Takes a Bride, The Bride takes a Groom. Enjoyed all three.

- Gayle Callen - I've seen her books around but never took one off my Mt TBR. This month I did and enjoyed both of the ones I read. Never Trust a Scoundrel and A Most Scandalous Engagement. She has written quite a few because I see them at the library book sale but I don't know why I hadn't actually read one yet.

- Say No to Joe by Lori Foster. Favorite re-read. Love that book. We were camping and for some reason nothing was striking my fancy but it was on my Kindle so....that was what I read.

- Forever my Hero by Sharon Sala. Contemporary. Enjoyed the latest entry in the Blessings GA series. Though it does have one minor ummm, wrong in it which if it is a pet peeve you should skip reading. It is set down on the coastal plain of Georgia, an hour south of Savannah. Ms. Sala consistently refers to the mountains. Umm...no mountains. No hills. Flat, flat, flat.... My sister says no more of her books cause it just causes her to be PO'd and she can't stand it any more.

- Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown. Contemporary. Women's Fiction set either in Texas or Oklahoma. (Can't remember which at the moment and I've already returned the book). A continuation of my current love affair with reading any Carolyn Brown book.

- A Better Man by Candis Terry. Contemporary. New author to me. Not sure how many in the series. Set in California. Hero is a Hockey Player, Heroine is a local girl. A 2nd Chance romance. Love story with this one being the first in a series with family drama, an underlying mystery revealed with the death of the parents, etc.

- Enchanted No More by Robin D. Owens. Contemporary/Fantasy/Paranormal. Ran across it in the Young Adult section at the used bookstore. Though the characters weren't young - The H is 200 years old and the h is 85. They are magical beings so they look young. Enjoyed it very much. 1st in a series but a fine standalone book.

Whew.....I'll keep my fingers crossed that I have at least a couple of good books in May and didn't use up all my Good Book Mojo in April.

[Janet]

I love love love Sulari Gentil! Unfortunately, the two most recent Rowly Sinclair books are not available here in the US, for reasons involving some cockamamie Amazon vs Australia thing. I have devoted lots of curses to this situation.
I've been re-reading a lot. Made my way through Justine Davis' Cutter books, and several old Dallas Schulze books as well.
I did read Sea People, the Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson, which is as much about those explorers and scientists trying to figure out how the Polynesians spread out the way they did.
And I just got A Woman unknown by Frances Brody, which is fourth in her Kate Shackleton mysteries. I don't know why I enjoy the 20s so much! And I actually prefer Brody to Winspear. And Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple to everyone else!

[DB Tait]

Thanks for all these great recs! Although I assume you mean the Sydney Harbour Bridge not Bride Anne, although that would make an interesting story!

[Anne Gracie]

Mary T and Mary Jo, I hope you enjoy the Sulari Gentill books as much as I did. I saw on the web that she's just finished the first draft of book #10, and I can't wait for it to come out.

[Anne Gracie]

Faith, I totally agree — I was in writerly envy and reader heaven as I finished The Austen Playbook! And it made me want to reread all her others from Act Like it, onward.

[Anne Gracie]

Janet, I soooo sympathize with you on the latest Rowly books not being available in the US. I HATE the way publishers monkey around with these things. It happens all the time to me with US books.

[Janice]

Red Red Rose is classic. The war zone setting is convincing and the main romance is swell, but it's the subsidiary romance between Will and Mags that always makes me cry, even now.

[Anne Gracie]

Ahh the famous Sydney Harbour Bride -- LOL -- she whose ribbons were cut by the mad horse-riding sword-weilding nazi-sympathiser De Groot on the morning of her wedding. A story I would indeed love to write.
Thanks for my morning chuckle, Deb.

[Mary Jo Putney]

That's a spot on analysis, Faith. It is her most complex book yet, and she nailed it. I'll be rereading it soon, too!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Kareni, even on a light reading month, you put most of us to shame! I need to reread The Goblin Emperor, too. I really liked the book but wish she hadn't made the names so complicated. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Lots of great sounding books, Vicki L! May your good reading luck continue.

[Mary Jo Putney]

I'm with you on Daisy Dalrymple, Janet! For the more recent Sulari Gentill books, try The Book Depository in the UK. They'll sell British territory book and they ship free all over the world: https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=sulari%20gentill&search=Find+book

[Mary Jo Putney]

LOL! I wondered about that Sydney Harbour Bride. *G*

[Linda L Manwiller]

I am rereading for the fifth time the Brother Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters. I really love her writing...and since I've retired from 47 years as librarian I no longer can play favorites with what stays on our shelves. Only circulation will save them! ( So the salvage efforts included the Travis McGee series prior to Cadfael and will move on to Terry Pratchett's Discworld series next!)
I just finished The Time-Traveller's Wife for our book group. What a strange book. I'm curious to see how other readers reacted to it.
I'm also reading Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus and Richard Preston's The Wild Trees...both examples of excellent non-fiction.

[Lillian Marek]

After having trouble getting through more than the first few chapters of a whole bunch of new books, I picked up an older one, Arturo Pérez-Reverte's The Nautical Chart.
What can I say? He is just so good.

[Lillian Marek]

After having trouble getting through more than the first few chapters of a whole bunch of new books, I picked up an older one, Arturo Pérez-Reverte's The Nautical Chart.
What can I say? He is just so good.

[mary jo putney]

Ah, Brother Cadfael! As you say, she's a lovely writer and the stories are a wonderful blend of history, mystery, and romance. I really liked the TV series they did as well--Derek Jacobi made a wonderful Cadfael.

[mary jo putney]

It's a sad, sad thing when a reader can't find a good book. I'm glad you found an antidote to the book blahs!

[Nicola Cornick]

I've added The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August to my list, Mary. I love a thought-provoking time travel story although the quantum mechanics do rather tend to go over my head!

[Jeanne Behnke]

Has anyone read the Amberlough trilogy by Lara Elena Donnelly? I'm on the third one now (Amnesty). It's got a Cabaret setting in an alternate universe. War, intrigue, sex - it's one of those series where you can't believe you have to wait a year for the next book. In a way though, I wish I was discovering it now so I could read all three books one after the other. It would keep all the characters & plots fresher in my mind!

[MaryJoPutney]

Jeanne, I haven't read these, but clearly I should take a look! This looks like something I'd enjoy. Thank you.