Book review : Sent to the Devil by Laura Lebow

Sent to the Devil
by Laura Lebow
Lorenzo Da Ponte Mysteries Book #2

GENRE : #HistoricalFiction #CozyMystery #MusicalWhodunit
My rating: ★★★★★

What a delightful mystery to dive into!

It features real-life historical figures as the stars, captures all the enchantment of the 18th-century Viennese theater scene, avoids any graphic violence, and masterfully weaves authentic history into the fabric of a fictional plot.
If you’re looking for a mystery that feels like a warm embrace rather than a dark alleyway, you need to pick up Sent to the Devil by Laura Lebow.

__THE PLOT __ 1788, Vienna.
Lorenzo Da Ponte, the court poet, is hard at work as the librettist for Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which has already seen great success in Prague.
While the theaters remain busy, the atmosphere is tense. Emperor Joseph II has embroiled the nation in a war against the Turks, and the city is frequently rocked by protest riots.
To make matters worse, a series of shocking murders targeting the aristocracy and clergy has gripped the public in fear.

One of the victims is a close, long-time friend of Lorenzo. Because of this connection, Da Ponte is summoned to police headquarters and tasked by the chief of police with assisting in the investigation alongside Count Benda (who was also linked to the first victim).
Determined to bring his friend’s killer to justice, Da Ponte joins the secret inquiry.
Alongside another dear old friend, the legendary Giacomo Casanova, he finds himself caught in the middle of the delusional, paranoid schemes of a madman obsessed with the verses of Dante’s Purgatorio.

__________________________

_____ MY THOUGHTS _____

I absolutely adored everything about this book as it aligns perfectly with my personal tastes, though I feel it’s only fair to note that I’d primarily recommend it to fans of light mystery (such as cozy or classic whodunits). Despite the title and the serious-looking cover (which I quite like), the nature of the mystery and the investigation won’t satisfy those who prefer high-octane, gritty thrillers filled with dramatic tension or gory details.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, blood-soaked thriller, this isn’t it.

Conversely, if you love mysteries with an inviting atmosphere, lighthearted moments that foster a sense of friendship and camaraderie, an investigation that moves at an easy pace, a relatable human protagonist (who is certainly no fearless hero pulling off complex logical miracles), and abundant historical nods, then this is the perfect book for you!

__ WHY I LOVED IT (AND WHY I’LL BE RE-READING IT!) __

1 _ THE MAIN CHARACTERS :
These are three figures who truly existed, were genuine acquaintances in real life, and shared real moments of friendship.
While history books give us the facts, fiction allows us to step into their shoes: watching them banter, collaborate at the theater, share a drink, or exchange confidences. These moments, while imagined by the author, feel entirely plausible and human.

• Lorenzo Da Ponte, Approaching his forties, he serves as Mozart’s librettist.
  Born in Venice, he took his vows as a priest not out of religious calling, but because it provided a path to education.
  Much like in real life, he’s a man who appreciates feminine beauty, and Lebow’s books don’t shy away from that trait.
  He is cultured, polite, and kind; he doesn't go searching for trouble but is frequently dragged into it against his will. It’s truly amusing to watch him navigate dangerous confrontations with cunning killers in his own clumsy, charming way.



• Giacomo Casanova, Also a Venetian, he actually assisted in adding scenes to Mozart’s Don Giovanni, even though he wasn't in Prague at the time.
  Here, he is sixty years old but remains as charming as ever with quite an eye for the ladies.
  It’s worth remembering that he was far more than a libertine; he was a brilliant, cultured man who authored several books and served as an Italian diplomat and secret agent!



• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart needs no introduction, though most people only know the surface details.
  He was a magnificent, fascinating genius with a restless soul and an unruly life (filled with gambling, debt, parties, and women).
  I loved seeing him in a romanticized light, as a devoted husband enjoying a peaceful day-to-day life with his wife, Constance, and their children.
  I loved watching him joke with his colleagues and direct actors at the theater.
  It was a joy to set aside his chaotic history and focus on the sunny side of his personality. That is the true magic of fiction!

At the same time, once you step out of the “bubble of serenity” that fiction provides, it’s wonderful to go back and learn the historical truths about these men.
This is one of those rare historical mysteries that incorporates true facts—literature, opera, politics, and the splendor of Vienna, and encourages me to dig even deeper into history.

2 _ THE SETTING:
As I mentioned, the backdrop is warm and inviting.
I loved the theater scenes during rehearsals, complete with the real names of actors from that era, capturing their insecurities, hysterics, wit, and creative spark.
It was fascinating to see how the opera was adapted based on the specific vocal strengths of the singers and the political climate of the time.

Beyond the theater, the author provides a wonderful overview of the beautiful Habsburg capital.
As Da Ponte travels around for work or investigation, the book highlights streets, monuments, and buildings that still stand today.
Having been born in Vienna and returned many times, I loved “traveling” through the 18th-century version of my home city, even searching for old lithographs online to help myself get fully immersed in the atmosphere!

3 _ THE STRONG HISTORICAL ELEMENT:
It shows up in many ways and blends perfectly with the fiction.
There are books that use history as a mere backdrop, and then there are “true historical novels” where fiction is perfectly integrated with factual history.
Thanks to the author's deep research, we get a beautiful look at the past:

• The novel offers a glimpse into the political climate and public mood of the period.


• The author explores the protagonist's love for literature by including Dante's verses in the killer's messages and explaining them through Da Ponte's words.


• Laura Lebow talks about Vienna’s iconic monuments, buildings, and cafés, explaining who built them and why. She also shares even more details in the historical notes at the end of the book.


• The story includes real life events of the three main characters.


• We get a front-row seat to the rehearsals of one of Mozart’s most famous operas, alongside mentions of many other works of the era.

All of this is woven into the plot in a light and pleasant way, but it's also sharp enough to make you curious to find out more.

I applaud the author, and I sincerely hope she continues this series, perhaps exploring other works Da Ponte focused on in other cities where he lived.

👉 Clean language, one sex scene barely mentioned and without any explicit description.
👉 This mystery is perfect for both adults and young adults, especioally for fans of cozy and classic mysteries.
If you love gentle investigations, charming settings, and a protagonist who is more "relatable human" than "fearless detective," you are going to love this.
I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great overall story, even if the mystery investigation itself is low on tension and pathos. The final resolution, however, is wonderfully unexpected!

This is installment #2 in "Lorenzo Da Ponte series", If you’re interested in my review of the first book, The Figaro Murders, you can find it here:

#BOOK 1 : THE FIGARO MURDERS "Lorenzo Da Ponte Series" by Laura Lebow book review

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my review.

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Book review : Shadow of the Alchemist by Jeri Westerson

Shadow of the Alchemist
Crispin Guest Book #6
Medieval noir by Jeri Westerson

My rating: ★★★★★
5 full stars ! 😃
Installment #6 in the Crispin Guest series and one more time was an exciting read!

__ THE PLOT IN SHORT__ 1387, London. This time Crispin Guest, a disgraced former knight, now known as the Tracker, the one who finds lost things (or people), is hired by a French master alchemist, secretly staying in London, to find his wife and missing assistant.
One of the two is immediately found dead and the other kidnapped.
No ransom money, but riddles, several strange characters and other crimes, seem to lead Crispin towards a single path...
No holy relic and no parchment is valuable, this time, the historical object at the heart of this story is a legendary object, which tickles the imagination and credulity of people: the "Philosopher's Stone", which can transform objects into gold and can give eternal life.

*************

It is a fast-paced mystery, with more than one crime to solve: a murder and a kidnapping, a mass poisoning, mysterious characters, misunderstandings and liars, against the backdrop of recent political plots.
A race against time to save the kidnapping victim, through puzzles to solve, by a villain full of hatred and skilled in disguises.

___ HISTORICAL EVENTS FORMING THE BACKDROP___ The end of the year 1387 in England was a turbulent time, as Jeri Westerton tells us in the final notes.
Along with the fictional characters, as in every book of this series, we find other characters who were real historical figures.

The king who banished Crispin Guest from court is Richard II and the house to which Crispin was linked when he was a knight is that of Lancaster.
---> While in the previous books we often meet John of Gaunt (father of the future King Henry IV), here, as in book #5, we meet his eldest son, the young Henry, Earl of Darby and future king of England.
While Crispin runs around half of London trying to solve strange riddles and capture the culprit, Henry, very dear to Crispin, participates in the "Lords Appellant" group, aristocrats who impeached five of the king's favorites, to curb what was seen as a tyrannical and capricious government.
Henry finds himself in the crosshairs of those who want to eliminate him as a possible candidate for the throne, but despite being a friend of Crispin, he never fully reveals the truth about his role in the various affairs, so our hero is continually torn between affection and suspicion.

---> Even the alchemist Nicholas Flamel (also present in Harry Potter) and his wife Perenelle, are figures who truly existed in the 14th century, although, as the writer explains in the notes, they were not alchemists.
Actually Flamel was a writer and seller of manuscripts who, thanks to his interest in the Philosopher's Stone and his studies on it, was thought as an alchemist in the following centuries.

Political events appear only marginally during the story of the book, while at the end many points and all developments are clarified.

I really like following Crispin's stories intertwined with the several historical real-life figures.
I use to love, while reading, exploring the true story of those really existed characters on the web and feeling like I am a participant in those historical events, thanks to the dialogues of the characters in the fiction.

___CRISPIN GUEST, THE MAIN CHARACTER ___
I love this character with all my heart!
He is young, courageous and full of ideals, but he doesn't always do or think the right thing... in fact the author also shows his flaws and this makes him feel more real and more human.

While the series begins with Crispin feeling sorry for himself, with each book and adventure, our ex-knight matures as a person, learning to have a more open view of people and facts and while remaining very proud, we discover that he has a very big heart.
Over the course of the books, he earned the appreciation and affection of the poor people and found some true friends at court.
I'm really happy that in this book, he also manages to have a semi-official demonstration of esteem and affection, which he would never have expected.

---> In addition to Crispin, the character of Jack, the little cut-purse, also grows, becoming Crispin's now honest assistant.
As a boy we see him slowly become a man and in each book his affection and loyalty (both reciprocated) for Crispin, manage to move me. I love him too.
Together they are the perfect duo.

NOT a "cozy" mystery : there are no gruesome scenes in this book, but it has happened in other books in the series.
No foul language, but every now and then a bad word can happen by villains (not here that I remember).
Also in this book, as in the others, there is a woman who manages to enchant Crispin and although it is not a serious love story, but more cuddles, sex and physical attraction, I am happy to see Crispin momentarily more satisfied and less "alone" than the moments in which he drowns the sorrows of love in wine.
--> Kisses and a non-explicit sex scene.

___ TO CONCLUSION___
Thank you for reading my review and please be lenient with my English: it is not my native language.
I'm not good at writing reviews, but I hope that my enthusiasm for this series does enough justice to "Crispin Guest" and its author, even if readers' taste is subjective.

I hope you can find the necessary guidance in choosing or not choosing the book.

------> Each book is readable as a standalone, but if you read them in order your enjoyment will be doubled !

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #1 "Veil of Lies" :

BOOK #2 "Serpent in the Thorns" :

BOOK #3 "The Demon's Parchment" :

BOOK #4 "Troubled Bones" :

BOOK #5 "Blood Lance" :



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Book review : Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander

Dangerous to Know
by Tasha Alexander
Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries book #5
GENRE : #historical-cozy-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3,7 stars rounded up to 4.

Another mystery very hard to solve, this time set in wonderful Normandy ( France ).

I love to read the "Lady Emily mystery series", because it leads me through the most beautiful places in Europe and through the history, art and real-life historical figures of its charming regions, cities and towns, in the late Victorian era and later in the series in the early 1900s.

__ PLOT IN BRIEF __ 1892. After a disastrous honeymoon in Constantinople, where Lady Emily risked her life and lost the child she was carrying, she is now convalescing, accompanied by her husband Colin, at her mother-in-law's residence in Normandy .
Here Emily not only meets characters of the caliber of Monet and Maurice Leblanc, but she meets the fascinating thief Sebastian and comes across a terrible murder and perhaps even a ghost.

___THINGS I LOVED ___

As you may have guessed from the plot, there's a lot of stuff in this installment #5.

The mystery begins immediately with the gruesome discovery of a corpse, in which the killer's modus operandi brings to mind London's famous Jack the Ripper.
The discoveries regarding the victim's past, however, lead to different paths and Lady Emily, still very sad and sensitive for the loss of the child, finds herself facing other difficult issues: mental disorders and the shame that family members often felt when someone he was affected by it in his family.
The etiquette of good society and the terrible pressure that women underwent at that time in not being able to show their feelings and suffering, the lack of freedom in expressing themselves and the absurd submission that was imposed on wives by their husbands... and despite Emily's modernity and the declared equality of the 2 spouses within the marriage declared by Colin, we will see that this couple in love will also have big problems in this regard.

In addition to the murder, from the beginning of the story, we meet the supporting characters, among which the famous Claude Monet, impressionist painter who had just married his lover of many years Alice Hoschedé and the writer Maurice Leblanc, father of Arsène Lupin and who was then still a young journalist.

Tasha Alexander, the author, allows us to have tea with the famous painter in his beautiful home in Giverny, and it is fantastic to find ourselves immersed in the beautiful gardens that Monet loved so much. We breathe in the enchanting atmosphere of the village of Giverny with its half-timbered houses and rolling hills.
No less enchanting is the atmosphere of the medieval towns of Rouen, in which Lady Emily recalls that Joan of Arc was burned.
Not much is said about personal life of Maurice Leblanc, but is good to watch him to take part from time to time in this investigation.
The author also makes the reader understand that Leblanc was inspired by the friendly and charming gentleman thief Sebastian Capet (fiction obviously, in fact Sebastian is a fictional character) to write the his future novels starring the legendary Arsène Lupin.

As I already said, each historical mystery in the Lady Emily series is a journey through history and different places, interesting to visit and that will make you want to travel right away!
The descriptions range from landscapes to city streets, from historical events to the traditional gastronomy of the place, from habits and customs to the fashion of the time and place.
This does not prevent the author from creating complicated puzzles in each book in which it is really difficult to guess the culprit.

__LITTLE THINGS I LIKED A LITTLE LESS ___

Perhaps the thing that made me lower my rating for the book was the prolonged argument between Emily and her husband Colin. Not because the discussion itself bothered me, on the contrary, I liked seeing the couple with problems of misunderstanding, more similar to reality than a perfect sappy relationship that doesn't exist in any couple in the world...

What bothered me was Colin's unexpected arrogance and his alternation: imposition and "I love you", imposition and prohibitions and then again "you know I love you"... Wow, it really made me nervous and it made me even more angry with Emily, who, despite being dissatisfied, was trying to submit to this... true at the time it was like that, but it really made me nervous and even if they finally made peace... I wasn't satisfied with the motivation.
I like Emily's independent spirit and wish she had done more to be respected.

Another thing that had a negative impact on my rating was the presence of what was believed to be a ghost... Tasha Alexander often includes fake ghosts in her short stories (I have read all those published in the series) and it is a topic which I don't like very much and if it can fascinate me once, if it is repeated in several books of the same series, it tires me.

___ SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE MORE IN THE SERIES ___

The only topic I would like to see more often and I could never get bored is actually a side character: Sebastian, the thief with refined taste... I love him!
He is charming, gallant, always ready with a joke and unpredictable, even if he may look predictable.
He appears for the first time in book #3 (A Fatal Waltz, set in Vienna), where it is impossible not to fall in love with him. He reappears here and will reappear in book #12 ( Death in St. Petersburg ), which I read last year and I highly recommend it, it's a great read.
I already know that Sebastian will not appear in more books than those named by me ( among those already published), but I hope to have the pleasure of his presence in future books in the series.

I've read many books in this series out of chronological order and although the stories are connected to each other by Lady Emily's personal life, they all are readable as a standalone.

Clean language, no sex or kissing scenes, no violence, no gruesome descriptions.
Therefore a historical mystery also suitable for the youngest and those who love cozies.
If you choose to read the book, I hope you will enjoy it the same as me.

Thank you for reading my review and please forgive my bad English, because it is not my native language.

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #2 : A Poisoned Season

BOOK #3 : A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander

BOOK #4: Tears of Pearl

BOOK #13.5 : Upon the Midnight Clear ( Christmas novella ) BOOK #17 : A Cold Highland Wind




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Book review : Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander | Opulent Harem Intrigues & Vivid Victorian Mystery! 🕌

Tears of Pearl
by Tasha Alexander
Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries book #4

GENRE: #HistoricalCozyMystery #DualTimelineStory #VictorianEra
My rating: ★★★★☆
(Actually3.5 stars, rounded up to4!)

A highly intricate and atmospheric Victorian mystery!

📜 THE PLOT IN SHORT:

Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves, esteemed diplomats of the British Empire, are finally married. They can't wait to escape the rigid expectations of London and enjoy a relaxing, magnificent honeymoon in an exotic paradise. Their choice falls on the breathtaking, historic city of Constantinople.

Of course, as is often the case with cozy mysteries, plans don't go as expected. On their very first night in the ancient city, a young harem girl is found brutally strangled in the courtyard of the Sultan’s lavish Topkapi Palace.

An English official working at the local embassy happens to be present and recognizes the tragic victim as his long-lost daughter, who was kidnapped twenty-four years earlier. Heartbroken and desperate, he begs Emily and Colin to find her killer. As a woman, Emily gains exclusive access to the strictly forbidden, cloistered world of the harem. However, she soon discovers that behind those mysterious, opulent walls, no one is safe from a ruthless predator.

As the body count rises under the Turkish sun, Emily must rely on her sharpest wits, putting her own life at great risk—with potentially catastrophic consequences.


__________ ****************** ___________

😊 MY OPINION:

| 🕵️‍♀️ THE MYSTERY: A TWISTED WEB OF FALSE LEAD

Tasha Alexander is incredibly skilled at leading the reader down a specific path, making you believe you’ve predicted the outcome, only to completely pull the rug out from under your feet!

With each passing chapter, more characters enter the scene, expanding the web of suspects. Every single hypothesis you formulate as a reader ultimately turns out to be wrong. The author layers the clues so cleverly that you won't fully figure out the culprit or the motive until the final pages.

| 🗺️ VIVID SETTINGS: BEYOND THE SHORES OF ENGLAND

One of the aspects I enjoy most about this series is that Lady Emily's adventures frequently take place outside of Victorian England.
The historical descriptions of exotic locations, magnificent imperial buildings, local customs, and deep-rooted traditions are so vivid and sensory that you feel like you are standing right there beside the characters.

Furthermore, the author does a wonderful job of maintaining a rich, living universe.
In each installment, there are meaningful nods to Emily's past adventures and recurring characters. Whether they are directly involved in the active investigation or simply drop by through a letter or a courtesy call, it makes Emily's life feel authentic, grounded, and incredibly real.

| 👤 CHARACTERS: GRIPPING PORTRAITS AND RECKLESS CHOICES

The characters are exceptionally well-defined, each endowed with distinct, realistic personality traits—both positive flaws and heroic virtues.

While I generally love Lady Emily’s independent and fiercely intelligent character, I must admit she irritated me quite a bit in this book. She rarely listens to Colin’s well-considered advice and frequently acts on impulse.

To make matters more tense, Emily is pregnant in this novel. While she initially struggles with mixed emotions about the pregnancy, she repeatedly and recklessly puts herself in highly dangerous, life-threatening situations, risking the baby's safety. Her stubbornness felt a bit irresponsible this time around!

| 👉 WHY I GAVE IT 3.5 STARS: CIRCULAR NARRATION & REALITY CHECK

Ultimately, this mystery didn't captivate me as deeply as previous books in the series, for two main reasons:

1) Circular Pacing:
While the intricate mystery is highly enthralling at first, the narrative begins to stretch out without any real resolution, which became quite frustrating.

To my taste, the story went round and round in circles, padding the middle section instead of building momentum.
I actually found myself skimming the final chapters quickly, losing that personal"recitative" tone I usually use to fully immerse myself in a novel, simply because I couldn't wait to just reach the conclusion.

2) The Dark Reality of the Harem:
When I was a little girl, my mother used to read me the magical tales of Aladdin's lamp and Ali Baba. I grew up fascinated by beautiful women in colorful veils and sultans with magnificent turbans.
However, the historical reality of the harem is far from a fairytale.

These women were prisoners, stripped of their freedom and torn from their families. Living in constant rivalry for the sultan's favor made genuine friendships nearly impossible.

Facing this bleak reality within the plot stripped away the exotic romance of the setting for me. It left a bittersweet taste, reminding me of why the modern Middle East remains a fascinating place to read about, but one I would be highly reluctant to travel to in real life.

| 🏁 FINAL VERDICT: A MUST-READ FOR COZY MYSTERY LOVERS

Overall, I highly recommend Tears of Pearl to all fans of historical cozy mysteries! 🕌✨

If you are looking for a captivating historical tale with clean language and no graphic or violent crime scenes, this is the perfect addition to your reading shelf.

While it might not be the absolute best book in the series due to its pacing, it is an essential piece of the puzzle for another huge reason: it adds beautiful depth to "Emily and Colin’s married life"! 💍💑

As I mentioned before, every single book in this series works wonderfully as a STANDALONE (I for one have always read them completely out of order!). However, getting to know the background of their private lives and watching their personal evolution makes every subsequent adventure so much more interesting. Trust me, their personal lives are going to evolve in many beautiful ways as the series moves forward!


So, grab your virtual passport and let yourself be swept away by the colors and secrets of Constantinople. It is a journey well worth taking! 🗺️📖💖



👉 Curious about Lady Emily's PREVIOUS ADVENTURES? Read my full reviews here:

🔹 BOOK #2: A Poisoned Season
🔹 BOOK #3: A Fatal Waltz
🔹 BOOK #5: Dangerous to Know
🔹 BOOK #13.5: Upon the Midnight Clear (Christmas Novella)

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Book review : Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster | The Imperial Season #3

Vienna Dawn
by Mary Lancaster
The Imperial Season book #3

GENRE : #regency-suspence-romance #Clean-Romance

My rating: ★★★★★

Actually 4.6 rounded up to 5 stars.

Another lovely regency romance by Mary Lancaster!
I adored the "Imperial Season" series ( 3 main works ) set in the capital of Austria during the 1814 Congress of Vienna.
The 3 books are all wonderful and well connected to each other. Each book tells the love story of a specific couple with several important side characters that we meet in all 3 books ( sometimes in the  main roles and sometimes in secondary roles ).

There is also a short story as book 4 in the series ( which I haven't read yet ), but it's very very short and with brand new characters that are not connected to the ones in 3 main books. The only thing in common with the other 3 novels in the series is the setting : 1814, Austria :  Congress of Vienna.  

__ PLOT in short __ Autumn 1814, Vanya's family (book 1), mother, 2 sisters and the husband of one of them, are going to Vienna. Following an argument, Dunya, the heroine of this story, runs away but runs into a libertine who tries to take advantage of her.Entering a random room in an inn, she meets the English captain Richard Trelawny, who lost an arm in the war, but has lost no gallantry, no generosity, no courage.
 Together with his faithful servant, he saves the girl and decides to help her in her plan to win back an old boyfriend, thus rediscovering verve and joy of living. Lies, misunderstandings and dishonest people will complicate the whole situation, bringing a whirlwind of negative and positive emotions until the happy ending.

____ WHAT I LIKED IN THE BOOK ___
Speaking of this 3rd installment I loved the main couple: Dunya, a young Russian countess without dowry and sweet and handsome and also penniless Captain Trelawny.

Their falling in love happened slowly and neither of them ever denied it to themselves.

There are only two kisses in the book (while I expected more like in book 2), but the plot, despite being light, completely involved me from the beginning.

---> I liked Dunya's liveliness, resourcefulness and ability to admit that she was wrong about some people.
---> Trelawny made me fall in love right away, not only because he is handsome and doesn't back down when faced with the needs of others, but because despite the horrors of war and the loss of his arm having dulled his desire to heal and live a little, he doesn't wallow in self-pity.
Indeed, he gets involved in the girl's vivacity and without ever having an ulterior motive, he protects her and supports her in his plans so that she can find happiness.
Honor, kindness and honesty are not his only qualities. He's also smart and brave, in fact, the war has taught him to fight and despite not having an arm, he doesn't hold back when it comes to foiling an espionage plan or confronting the arrogant and despicable person with the sword.

---> I loved the fact that the protagonists of the 1st book (Lizzie and Vanya and the children with the dog and other characters) were secondary characters in this 3rd installment and I liked finding again, even if only in small cameos, the protagonist couple of book 2 ( Esther and Zelig).
Finding characters I was already very fond of and seeing them actively participate for most of the narrative allowed me to enjoy the whole story even more.

___ LITTLE THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE so as not to give 5 full stars___
I rated it only 4.6 stars ( rounded to 5 because Goodreads doesn't allow half a star ) and not a full 5 stars, like the 2 previous books, because though the love story is gripping and very sweet to read, there are some open doors ( especially one in the ending ) which not only weren't necessary but they lead the reader to think that some events and adventures will follow ( in this book or in the next one ), but the truth is that the series is closed ( the last book is dated 2017) and the short story written by the author as book 4 is not connected to either the events or to the characters of the previous 3 book.
This means that I finished reading the book with a bit of a frustrating sense of unfinished business.

TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T MIND SPOILERS and also TO THE AUTHOR just in case she reads my opinion, I will explain myself a little better :  
There are 3 things that remain open:

__ 1) the most important at the end :

___WARNING : SPOILER____

our couple is stopped by two highwaymen with rifles, who then change their minds and leave. Dunya asks Richard who the villain was with the gun pointed at them, since it was clear that he recognized Richard and therefore let them go without robbing them. Richard doesn't answer and the novel ends with something unfinished which is decidedly annoying for the reader. This cliffhanger would make sense if the series continued, but it didn't and it made me angry.

___SPOILER END____

__ 2) The second thing is less important, but it seems like the introduction to a new story and instead it leads to nothing:

___WARNING : SPOILER____

in this book we find Misha, Vanya's trusted servant, brother of the novel's heroine. Misha convinces Dunya (the heroine) to take in a maid who was being mistreated and this is because it turns out that he is in love with her.
Maria, the maid and Misha, are mentioned a couple more times and then in the end Dunya and Richard leave on a trip with no definite return, around the world. Dunya says she wants to give Maria time to say goodbye to Misha and hopes that Misha will maybe ask her to marry him, but still he takes the maid with him, separating her from her beloved... BUT WHAT'S THE SENSE? The author could have written that Maria married Misha and they both remained employed by Vanya or another solution for them to be together. What the hell is the point of introducing a newborn love and then separating the characters forever, other than disappointing the reader? Let's remember that these are light romances where there is a happy ending for all the good characters (and here we even had a happy ending for a really bitchy girl, another thing I didn't like)

___SPOILER END____

__3) This third thing is perhaps not so important, but it bothers me that it doesn't make sense:

___WARNING : SPOILER____

at a certain point in the novel, the heroine's mother says a sentence that has nothing to do with the important events and characters at that moment.
He asks her if she treats her daughter-in-law (Lizzie, heroine of the first book and Vanya's wife) badly. Everyone answers yes in unison, then the whirlwind of events continues its normal course.
THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION and THAT ANSWER make the reader assume that there will be a clarification between the two characters and that Vanya's mother-countess will finally begin to treat her daughter-in-law with affection... NONE OF THIS... nothing happens in this book or in the next one because there is no continuation of the events of these characters.
At the end of the book Vanya says that Lizzie will try to talk to the angry countess... but then nothing more is said, no scene between the two women is described and she will no longer know anything about their relationship.
It seems that the writer thought about improving the relationship between the two characters, but then changed her mind (did she forget? Did she no longer want to dwell on the novel? ) well, in this case, before printing the book she should have deleted that question and that answer from the others... IT MAKES NO SENSE

___SPOILER END____

___ __IN CONCLUSION: do I recommend reading the book? Certainly yes and even if readable as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order or at least the first book, because you will be better able to enjoy the presence of the side characters and their actions.
---> You can enjoy book 3 even without reading the previous two books, but book 2 for me was absolutely the best, so don't miss it!

:-) Apologies for my faulty English, which is not my native language, thank you for reading my review, I hope it can be useful to you in choosing whether or not  to read the book.


READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #1 and BOOK #2:
#1

Vienna Waltz (Book Review)

#2

Vienna Woods (Book Review)

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Book review : An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton | Humorous and Gritting Historical Action Mystery

An Honourable Thief
by Douglas Skelton
Company of Rogues book #1

My rating: ★★★★☆
GENRE : #HistoricalFiction #ActionMystery #HardBoiledVibes

Actually 3.7 stars rounded up to 4.

It really took me a long time to get into the book and to get fond of the characters but finally, almost halfway through the novel I felt involved in the plot.

The author divided the story into 3 MAIN PARTS.

-----> Part 1:

It starts with a lot of action and humorous lines by the main character, the villains, and the people around him
I generally love action and humorous books. I dare say that action+humour+mystery-or-and-adventure is the perfect mix for me, but I had a great problem with this story.
The humorous lines felt so forced, and the dialogues with jokes so long that they sound ridiculous, It felt like reading an old hard-boiled detective novel starring Sam Spade ( do you know The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett ? ) combined with a femme fatale or some comic book starring Spider-Man or Batman... I expected to read "boom, splash, boing, gulp, crack and so on" at any moment !

I assume the author wrote PART 1 as a sort of introduction to the hero and his lifestyle... but there were too many chapters full of action and jokes with no real substance... it felt more like a competition between the hero and his adversaries to prove who was the coolest.

___ THE PLOT begins in earnest with Jonas Flint, the hero, who—despite having been a thief and a scoundrel—works as a sort of secret agent for an important figure who, in turn, works for the monarchy. The action I was talking about takes place during a mission where the character shows off all his James Bond skills, using guns, swords, and daggers, all while cracking jokes non-stop during the fighting. We are in 1715 London, and the main mission of the book is to recover a document written by the dying queen, which could compromise the future of the throne and the stability of England at a time when Jacobite uprisings are already causing unrest and death.

Part 1 also introduces the historical setting of the novel.
When a sovereign has no direct heirs there's always great tension and a high risk of riots, revolts, and wars to gain power...

-----> Part 2:

It was a little more serious and far better than the first.
It takes the reader into the hero's past and deeper into the patriotic feelings of the people, especially the Scots towards the English monarchy, in the daily difficulties of common people and in the callousness that, at that time, saw slavery as normal.
The intelligence, sensitivity, and goodness of heart of a few people were unfortunately suppressed by the arrogance of the wealthy and those of aristocratic rank.

In this second part there is no shortage of moments of lightness or witty jokes, but here I was able to appreciate them because they were well-dosed (not too many or forced) and skillfully mixed with deep feelings and emotions.
In this second part I began to grow fond of the characters and suffered with them in their difficult moments.

Although Jonas' mission was always his primary goal, the second part explores the introspective side of the main character and his family/friends more thoroughly.

Talking about characters, the main ones are fictional, but they are well-blended with real historical figures, and you'll find many clarifications on the matter in the author's final notes.

-----> Part 3:

It is also interesting and engaging.
Even if it's more focused on the main mission (to recover the important and dangerous document), all the events of the second part come to a head.
There are a couple of very important twists, and while one is a little bit predictable (I saw that one coming!), the other is truly surprising—and I have to warn you: it's a little sad and bitter.

👉Overall, I'm happy to say that I liked the book, and I'm thinking of reading the next one in the series too.
The series is named "Company of Rogues" and it consists of three books total.
Each book works as a standalone, but I think that reading all three in a row gives the reader a more complete understanding of Jonas Flint’s soul. This is very important because Jonas isn't a flawless hero; I must admit that at the beginning, I wasn't happy to have a protagonist who killed people left and right, even if they were villains. But his past helps the reader to accept him, and in this first book, we eventually see the good sides of his soul and the shame he feels for having led a certain kind of life.

WARNING : Some crude and bloody scenes are present in the book, and the language used by certain characters is quite vulgar.

I hope my opinion and impressions have been useful in helping you decide whether or not to read this historical fiction.

Thank you all for stopping by and reading my thoughts.

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Book review : The Jewel Thief by Jeannie Mobley | Sun King Court Intrigue & Flat Pacing! 💎👑

The Jewel Thief
by Jeannie Mobley

GENRE: #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #RoyalCourtIntrigue
📍 Setting: France | ⏳ Era: 17th century ( King Louis XIV monarchy )

My rating: ★★★★☆
(Actually a solid 3.7 out of 5 stars, rounded up!)

The glamorous French court of the Sun King, a legendary 115-carat blue diamond, and a forbidden love story...

I have an absolute weakness for fiction inspired by true historical events. If you mix in a dash of romance and an unusual setting—like the gritty world of 17th-century diamond cutters—you get the perfect recipe for my reading tastes.

While the premise of this book is undeniably fascinating, and I enjoyed the overarching plot, the author’s narrative style unfortunately kept me from truly connecting with the characters or feeling the emotional highs of the story. Written from the perspective of the heroine delivering a formal statement from a prison cell, the delivery felt a bit too detached.

📜 THE PLOT IN BRIEF:

Juliette Pitau, the sixteen-year-old daughter of King Louis XIV's former royal jeweler, finds herself trapped in a damp cell inside the notorious Bastille.

She stands accused of stealing the "Tavernier Violet"—a massive, deep blue diamond that her father was tasked with cutting to make it shine as bright as the sun itself. Turning such a dark gem into a brilliant masterpiece is a near-impossible feat, one that only a master artisan could perform with absolute precision.

To save her struggling father, Juliette devised a high-stakes, highly illegal plan. Now, she faces charges not just of theft, but of treason and conspiring against France alongside a family of exiled Jews. Providing a testimony that proves her good intentions to the Sun King is her only ticket to avoiding a death sentence.

Regrettably, her well-meaning lies and the cruelty of greedy officials have painted her guilty even in the eyes of René—the young scribe tasked with recording her confession, who also happens to hold her heart.

😊 MY THOUGHTS:

| 💎 HISTORICAL HOOK: A GORGEOUS WORLD OF ROYAL GEMS

The most mesmerizing aspect of this novel is how it effortlessly transports the reader into a world shrouded in lore: the meticulous craft of precious gem cutting, the evolution of diamond facets to maximize brilliance, and the legends surrounding the French Crown Jewels.

All image rights are reserved to their rightful owners. Image found on: Cursed Jewels: The Hope Diamond
You will also find the detailed history of the diamond.

All image rights are reserved to their rightful owners. Image found on: researchgate.net, article "THE FRENCH BLUE AND THE HOPE" by Francois Farges

All image rights are reserved to their rightful owners. Image found on: Blu Brunswick

The historical background is incredibly rich. While the author provides EXHAUSTIVE HISTORICAL NOTES at the very end, anyone who has researched the "Tavernier Violet" online knows its fascinating journey.
It was eventually recut into the "French Blue", vanished for decades during the chaos of the French Revolution, and later resurfaced in a brand-new shape as the infamous, cursed "Hope Diamond". Experiencing this transformation through fiction was a true delight!


For further information, you can also visit the original source here: This is Versailles: Bleu de France.

| ⏳ PACING PROBLEMS: DETACHED NARRATION & FLAT SUSPENSE

What ultimately kept me from fully savoring this adventure was the narrative framework chosen by the author. Because the entire story is told as a retrospective deposition from a prison cell, it reads more like a dry "news report" than a living, breathing mystery.

Even though the protagonist recalls past dialogues from time to time, it isn’t enough to inject true momentum or emphasis into the plot. For a story about treason and execution, the pacing felt surprisingly flat and lacking in genuine suspense.

Even the high-stakes dynamic between Juliette and her interrogator/lover—who initially views her as a greedy criminal before slowly realizing the immense suffering behind her desperate choices—failed to make my heart race.

| 🤫 STEAM LEVEL: SWEET BAND CUTS BUT NO BUTTERFLIES

The book features several kisses—some tender, some passionate—and a single intimate scene written without explicit descriptions. However, in my honest opinion, these moments felt highly unrealistic given they took place inside a heavily guarded prison cell where guards could look in at any second!


Furthermore, the romantic descriptions failed to stir those familiar "butterflies in my stomach" that I often get from cleaner romances, where authors manage to create breathtaking tension through simple stolen glances and brief kisses.

| 👤 CHARACTER ARCHETYPES: GOOD POTENTIAL, LACKING DEPTH

The characters themselves make perfect sense within the plot, but they severely lacked deep exploration.

I appreciated the emotional fragility of the two main protagonists, both trapped in the painful uncertainty of wondering whether they are loved for who they truly are or merely for outward appearances.
On the other hand, I found myself deeply frustrated by Juliette’s father—a cowardly, alcoholic man who does nothing but cry over his misfortune while his teenage daughter literally tries to move mountains to save his life.

The secondary cast is well-placed, from the tyrannical, greedy leaders of the jewelers' guild to the egoistic, self-centered Sun King himself.
They all fit the puzzle perfectly, but the monotonous narrative voice prevented me from fully enjoying their personalities.

| 🏁 CONCLUSION: A WORTHWHILE YA HISTORICAL TALE

If the author had chosen to tell this story in real time rather than through a retrospective prison diary, the dialogues and character arcs would have had the space to truly grip my soul.

Unsurprisingly, my favorite part of the book was the ending, where the action finally breaks free from that dark, damp cell, and you can finally feel the palpable pathos of what could be.

Of course it's a matter of personal taste and while it didn't completely win me over and I won't be continuing the series or re-reading it, it remains a well-crafted, fascinating story.

It is a perfect fit for Young Adult readers, who will likely find a much stronger emotional connection to Juliette's journey than I did.


Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my opinion !😊

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Book review : Vienna Woods by Mary Lancaster | The Imperial Season #2

Vienna Woods
The Imperial Season Book 2
by Mary Lancaster

GENRE : #RegencySpyRomance #clean-romance

My rating: ★★★★★ + 1⭐ Special Golden Star

Beyond the 5 Stars: A Special Golden Star added!

Wowwwwwwww!!
This was a fabulous read!!

Not only do I give 5 full stars, but I've decided to introduce a 6th GOLDEN STAR for those rare books that I'd start re-reading the moment I finish them! !!

The genre of this novel is: clean romance.

----> The recipe includes :
the right dose of joy and lightness, a nice handful of adventure and a hint of espionage suspense and a few splashes of drama and tension, just to make our hearts beat faster!
Oh I forgot: fantastic HERO and HEROINE, very different from each other (she is brighter, he is more introverted and mysterious), but they're perfect together.

Before I delve into my opinion, let me introduce you to

THE PLOT:

__1814, Congress of Vienna.
Esther Lisle, is the daughter of an English general, now a diplomat in a small European kingdom and unofficially engaged to the heir of the aforementioned kingdom, a man whose bad reputation, meanness and arrogance are known to many.
__ One day Esther wakes up in the woods of Vienna, with an agent of the tough and feared Austrian secret police in front of her, who asks her questions about her relationship with Prince Otto, whose corpse is just a few steps away.
__ Secret Agent Zelig, also called Agent Z, has the task of maintaining security in Vienna and above all foiling any conspiracy and devious plan that could ruin the important congress and peace negotiations that will be discussed by the heads of government of the whole Europe.
__The death of the prince has a heavier weight than it may seem and although Esther and Agent Z don't know if they can trust each other they will try to collaborate to get to the truth.

In a world where you have to pay attention to every word said, because everything can be conspiracy and betrayal, it will not be an easy task.
Between masquerade balls, tournaments and all the "bon ton" prejudices of the time, reality and truth will be even more confused and elusive. To increase the tension and emotions there is a pleasant physical attraction, not foreseen by both, but which, little by little, will transform into a strong feeling and bond.

__________

MY OPINION

________

I REALLY LOVED THE CAST OF CHARACTERS:

1) the HERO of the story is not the usual consummate libertine (as is present in almost all romances) and who when he meets true love magically redeems himself (it's an overused cliché).
He is a very good young man of few words, very mysterious also because of his job, who despite a past of poverty, does not feel sorry for himself and does not resort to alcohol when he is desperate.
He earns his living with his work, which he is really good at and does not solve problems with the bottle, but by throwing himself headlong into his duty.
Put like this, he may seem like a boring boy, but he is not at all devoid of passion.
His icy gaze in contrast with his kind and polite ways, his tender gestures towards Esther and some street kids, whom he takes care of, fascinated me. I loved his hidden and barely visible smiles
And the way he kisses Esther...I wanted to be Esther! 😜😁

2) I also loved the HEROINE of the novel: yes, a beautiful girl, but above all with charisma. A young girl, but with a good head on her shoulders and who knows how to respond with intelligent and playful jokes, even if she is taken by surprise.
Esther is courageous and generous (but without being too saccharine or far-fetched) and the thing I like most about her is that she doesn't classify people based on social rank, but knows how to make friends with every good person.

3) among the complementary characters that I adored, there are the two main characters of book #1, plus 3 street thieves who help Agent Z in some unorthodox missions.
They are just over fifteen years old and like all young people they exude energy, liveliness and spontaneity from every pore.

This is the second book in a series of 4, all romances and with a hint of adventure/mystery.
I really liked installation #1 and rated it 5 stars, but this #2 is absolutely superior to the first.

I LIKED THIS SECOND NOVEL MUCH MORE THAN THE FIRST because the whole story mixes romance, mystery and espionage well, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly wondering 'what happens next?', so much so that it made me turn the pages one after the other with voracity.

Compared to the first novel we have more romantic moments in which the emotion of the couple's attraction and falling in love are truly palpable...indeed, despite being a slow-burn romance, the heartbeat and courtship begin immediately.
The kisses are clean, but described so well that it's like watching a movie.

The romance is clean and sweet, with no explicit scenes—making it perfect for readers of all ages.

---> I want to remember one thing though: the books are born as romances and even if there's a little mystery adventure, they are not comparable to real "mystery crime or spy stories", if you're looking for that genre , this is not for you).

Each book develops around a different couple, so you can easily choose one as a standalone, but my advice is to read them all in a row, because the main characters of one book become secondary ones in subsequent ones and the stories, in one way or another, are intertwined.
In fact the protagonist of this book, Garin/Agent Zelig, was not a simple extra in installment #1.
He had a small active role, so when I started reading this story I felt already a little fond of the character
As a counterpart, the main characters of book one ( Lizzie, Vanja and family ) have an important role in this adventure

---> UNLIKE THE FIRST NOVEL, here the historical figures of the time are only named and have no active role. However, the plot was so intriguing and engaging that I didn't miss it.
The description of the balls and the display of opulence, the subterfuge, the lust for power, the corridors of the Hofburg and the rides in the Viennese woods, make us imagine the setting and the political context.
Furthermore, if like me, while reading, you listen to the notes of the waltz in the background (you can find hundreds of wonderful playlists on Youtube) then you will feel directly catapulted into 1814 in the glittering Austrian capital!

I will definitely also read books 3 and 4 in the series, but first I need to take a break with a mystery where romance takes a backseat, because I was so involved in this one that if I read another one I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate it... I must first recover from this wonderful book hangover.

Thanks everybody for reading my review and please excuse any mistakes as English is my second language.
I hope my opinions have been helpful to you and if you read it I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #1 and BOOK #3:
BOOK #1

Vienna Waltz by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

BOOK #3

Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

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Giveaway : March 2024 Free Printable Calendar

March 2024 free printable calendar

Hello everybody,
the month of spring is about to arrive!

Like every month, I have prepared a colorful and lively planner, which you can freely download and print.

I use to do it for myself, printing it in original size to keep on my desk, but sometimes I like to print it in a postacard format ( you have only to reduce the size with a free app ) and then I use it as a bookmark or I put it in my bag, just to have a mini-calendar to consult on the fly.

To download, simply click on the preview image and save it on your device.

@TizianaFragnerGraphic
March 2024 Calendar
Size 1634 x 1264

Please forgive any errors in my text, since English is not my native tongue :-)

Enjoy my monthly planning and have a happy March ! See you soon :-)

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Book review : Vienna Waltz by Mary Lancaster | Clean Regency Romance

Vienna Waltz
The Imperial Season Book 1
by Mary Lancaster

GENRE : #regency-spy-romance #clean-romance

My rating: ★★★★★

5 FULL STARS !! :-D

This is a lovely clean romance, with a hint of espionage that will delight every regency light romance fan.

Set during the famous Congress of Vienna in 1814, it brings us not only among the sparkling ballrooms of high society but also among intrigues, lies, dangerous papers and secrets concerning the politics of that time.

The novel, basically, follows the love story that slowly arises between the two main characters: Lizzie, the daughter of a recently deceased English baron, and the ambiguous thief Johnny, whose acquaintance began thanks to a big misunderstanding.

__THE PLOT IN SHORT__ 1814 Vienna. All the nobility of Europe and the biggest names in politics participate in the event and in the most sumptuous parties and masquerade balls.
---> Lizzie, daughter of an English baron, and her siblings have recently lost their father and with him the inheritance of the house which went to a mysterious and hateful Russian cousin, with English origins.
Having been welcomed by their uncles, they now all find themselves in the glittering Central European capital, on the occasion of the great peace congress.
While aristocrats and diplomats delight in courtship, dancing, gambling and espionage, Lizzie only thinks about how to get the money to find a new home for her sisters and step brother, herself and the lively and unpredictable big dog.
She therefore devises a very unorthodox plan, involving a brazen yet charming thief, thus getting herself into one mess after another.
---> The heartbeat, however, does not only come from the dangers, but also from a charming and fiery young Cossack colonel, met at a masquerade ball, who will help her not only solve her problems, but also those of her cousins and uncles.

___MY OPINION__ I loved it simply because it had everything that can put a romantic and bored (and perhaps lately a little depressed) female reader in a good mood:

1) a handsome and gallant hero, cheeky enough to please all women, but with a good heart, who cannot say no to the request for help of an impoverished young woman and her lively and friendly siblings.

2) an enterprising heroine. Inexperienced enough to still be innocent and without malice in contact with men, but also courageous enough to throw herself headlong into desperate undertakings for the good of her sisters and illegitimate brother, who are still children and at the mercy of an unjust fate.

3) funny situations created by misunderstandings and small romantic skirmishes.
THE LOVE STORY in fact grows little by little, but you don't have to be half through the book to enjoy sweet emotions and romantic sparks... OUR HEROES MAKE US DREAM DURING THE WHOLE STORY.

4) Pleasant supporting characters, who make the atmosphere light and cozy:
- smart children and the troublemaking dog.
- the beautiful and rich countess who gives great emotional and material support to Lizzie.
- a secret agent, gruff and lethal, but ultimately good (and protagonist of the next book in the series)
- Lizzie's uncles and 2 cousins, a little naive but good people.
- our hero's good friends, a bad guy to kick, a slimy guy to kick too, a hateful mother and all the real prominent characters of the time (starting from the Tsar of Russia up to the most courted noblewomen of 'Europe, such as the Princess Bagration and the Duchess of Sagan and her sister Dorothéé de Talleyrand).

_WHAT IS MISSING IN THIS CLEAN HISTORICAL ROMANCE? __
I could say that, with the exception of the historical characters, cleverly inserted among the fictional ones, there's no historical analysis of an event so important as to change the fate of the whole of Europe, nor some descriptions of the city of the time.
The author limits herself to indicating important names and a delicate political situation.
----> Since this is a light, entertaining read, the lack of historical depth didn't bother me and I didn't miss it.
While reading I was able to fully enjoy all the lightness and joy of a clean love story that the novel offers, so much so that I have already started reading the second book in the series. After all, why leave this bubble of well-being?

AS ALWAYS I ADD: forgive my English, it's not my native language, but I still hope that my review can be useful to you in some way.

READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #2 and BOOK #3:
#2

Vienna Woods by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

#3

Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

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