The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

This was a definite twist and variation on a variation of the Austen reads.

Isabel persuades or rather manipulates her friend Mary to join her in an Austen reinvention stay in England, all expenses paid.  Isabel's dissertation is on Austen and to complete this she feels that this stay is necessary. Mary is an engineer, very clear cut in her views and ideas and thinks logically. This is really not her scene but she needs to get away from a unpleasant work scenario and her father too thinks this would be the ideal break. Two weeks is not the end of the world.

Everything goes on smoothly with the Regency clothes, the enactments, the food, the service at the inn. Until Isabel loses her memory, goes into a fugue state and forgets her entire past and actually begins to think that she is living at the time of Austen with the same mores and rules that apply then. Mary is on her own to deal with the situation and deal with it she along with the other participants do.

The complication and distrust set in when Mary half way through discovers betrayal by a friend who has been close to her and her family from the time they were tots and the work scenario becomes very much personal and in Mary's face.

The story was beguiling and interesting and different and totally different to what I've read before on JA variations!

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Thomas Nelson FICTION. 

Mad for the Marquess by Jess Russell

Though I started this read initially thinking it was going to be a light hearted, sensual romance between a prim governess type girl and the dashing Marquess, this was anything but.

It came as a surprise that within the romance that evolved between an understanding woman and a much maligned man (Marquess though he was), the real story is about mental asylums in Britain where a soul could be thrown into and completely forgotton as it was an embarrassment to the family to have anyone even tainted with the slightest hint of madness as they called it.

Devlin was found covered in blood - and the murder was most gruesome. He has also lost his memory and so his father as a form of treatment has assigned him to Dr. Hives at his establishment to try to "cure" him and bring him back to sanity. In shackles, purged, bled and drugged Devlin does not know most of the time what he is, where he is or what he did.

The arrival of Anne Winton is the turning point in both their lives. She herself has had a very raw deal. Orphaned and then in an orphanage where she bore the brunt of bullying just because she was different she is aware that the slightest bit of showing that she is "different" would mean that she will be thrown out of this establishment as well. She has to tread very carefully amongst many treacherous staff and also try to effect some form of healing for its inhabitants. Her gift of healing can be a two edged sword and despite healing many, she can also be called out as a witch with its own horrors.

The story outlining treatment of the insane, the mentally depressed and also the homosexual was very depressing but factual. Sadly you realise that so many would have just faded away in these institutions forgotten by all and ultimately becoming raving mad through no fault of theirs.

The romantic part of the story however was quite interesting and very sensual which added a certain amount of piquancy to an otherwise brutal story.

Sent to me by Netgalley, for an unbiased review, courtesy of The Wild Rose Press Inc.

Virtually Perfect by Paige Roberts

Coming down from having your own television programme and being a star of sorts to now being a personal chef - yes to a rich, spoilt, dysfunctional family is a bit of a come down and Lizzie is finding it difficult to come to grips with it. Anyone would. You have to deal with people with quirky tastes, some of whom are arrogant and rude and treat the hired help as just that. With Zoe the daughter of the house wanting to emphasise the difference it becomes awkward and difficult.

Lots of different personalities in this story (I felt one too many) but the storyline itself was a nicely crafted story. One young woman has to reinvent and recreate herself in the way she knows how to make an independent life for herself.

It was a bit bland in parts but generally a very readable story.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Kensington Books

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

The opening line was evocative enough. I thought the ditty was just that but now I realise its based on true fact.

Lizzie and Emma are two spinster sisters from an affluent household. A father and a rather scheming step mother and a maid comprise the main characters. Brought up without any love or affection the two sisters are different but close by ties of blood alone.

Finding her father's body brutally murdered, Lizzie is almost clinical at the very onset. Finding her step mothers body as well just added to the cold bloodedness of the murders. Taken in for questioning eventually Lizzie is released but questions remain. Both sisters wanted their independence badly which was being denied them. Was that the reason for getting rid of the impediment which held both back. Lizzie and Emma sought different things but both knew that obtaining it was almost impossible.

Lizzie is almost child like in her mannerisms, thoughts and behaviour. But the fact is that there were two murders and finding out who did it was the crux of the novel.

A rather unsettling story which highlights once again that you never know the depths of the human mind, and what each of us is capable of doing or not doing.

For a debut novel, this was amazing.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Grove Atlantic.

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka

A girls murder is anyway going to touch lives. Family friends and of course the detectives assigned to the case. It is such a waste of life that there is always trauma surrounding it.

In this case you have to add obsession, voyeurism, stalkers and simple straight forward blinding jealousy.  A debut novel combining all these unhealthy factors should make for an interesting mystery murder and it does. It was not the average mystery murder thriller - it was a bit unsettling for me.

Sent by Netgalley, for an unbiased review, courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood

Set in Melbourne in 1928 it involves a star cast of characters - the Hon. Phyrne Fisher, lots of orphans and destitute children picked up and rehabilitated, single pregnant women (discarded by all), vicious nuns of the infamous Magdalena Laundry and various supporting stars - all unique.

Phyrne gets drawn into activities which need active and urgent help. Girls keep going missing in Melbourne. Three heavily pregnant girls right now, and then there is a problem of young blonde women also disappearing from Melbourne. Only blondes.

Ramifications in both cases are quite complex. The Catholic Church holds considerable sway in Melbourne, getting access and finding out what happened to the girls once they enter the hallowed precincts of the convent is going to be tough. Finding out what happens to the blonde beauties is dangerous as obviously lots of money is involved.

Sailing into violent situations and finding a way out seems to be the way to go and Phyrne excels at it all. With verve, sophistication and lots of support she solves issues which have been a headache for the Melbourne police, especially since once solved she does not try to gain any credit or publicity for these wins. So its wins all around.

Loved the style of writing, the flair of Phyrne and the easy going style of the book.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press.

Three short reviews, three different genres!

I'm way behind on reviews so thought I'd do three together.  My apologies to the authors as well as the publishing houses which sent me the books.

When Shannon realizes that there is a stalker in her life it is an unsettling feeling. It does not end however badly as what would one imagine. A black suv following you around does not sound good at all. In this case it is very good and life would change for Shannon.

A different kind of storyline, mystery in a woman's fiction novel. Very nice.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Kristin Dow.




A story of war during Napoleon's time and the epic battle of Waterloo as well. Set in the French countryside initially we have a young French woman thrust into the heart of the battle when her father, brother and a good friend are all faced with danger. She must try her best to avoid the dangers facing a single young woman and she now dresses as a stable boy to be able to evade the dangers of an unprotected woman in the midst of a war.

Romance and history combined very well, with a wealth of descriptive detail of the era and the setting makes this a very good book.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Manor Gate Press.





This was the third book in the story of Befu and Calli so I came into it blind.

Ivy is very protective of her blind sister Lily. She feels that she must do everything in her power to protect her. When Lily is abducted Ivy will do all she could to get her safely back.

On the other side Befu and Calli's long lost daughter is found but she is also caught up in the family saga of whether she should look forward or stay in the past.

An intriguing story especially from a female point of view, where the girls of this family are very much loved and cared for in the face and at a time where value for daughters is rather low.

Very interesting setting and a family story with all the ramifications of a complicated family where love and faith will prevail.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.