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The Wife: A Novel
The Wife: A Novel
Alafair Burke | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
186 of 230
Book
The Wife
By Alafair Burke
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

His Scandal - Her Secret

When Angela met Jason Powell while catering a dinner party in East Hampton, she assumed their romance would be a short-lived fling, like so many relationships between locals and summer visitors. To her surprise, Jason, a brilliant economics professor at NYU, had other plans, and they married the following summer. For Angela, the marriage turned out to be a chance to reboot her life. She and her son were finally able to move out of her mother’s home to Manhattan, where no one knew about her tragic past.

Six years later, thanks to a bestselling book and a growing media career, Jason has become a cultural lightning rod, placing Angela near the spotlight she worked so carefully to avoid. When a college intern makes an accusation against Jason, and another woman, Kerry Lynch, comes forward with an even more troubling allegation, their life begins to unravel. Jason insists he is innocent, and Angela believes him. But when Kerry disappears, Angela is forced to take a closer look—at both the man she married and the women she chose not to believe.

Well that was one hell of a book! From start to finish it was just brilliant. It had you questioning all the way through how far would you go to protect your family? And how much would you put up with as a wife? Even right to the end it’s not what I was expecting. It made you want to keep reading. Highly recommended!
  
The Queens Lady
The Queens Lady
Joanna Hickson | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Queens Lady is the second in the Queens of the Tower series, and picks up the Joan Vaux story where it left off in the last book. She’s now Lady Joan Guildford, and is Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the wife of Henry VII. It’s a privileged position and means that Joan is at Court when Prince Arthur dies and Prince Henry is named as heir. Joan acts as something of a go between with the King and Queen, but King Henry is a serious, dour man - and this isn’t improved when the Queen dies shortly after her son.

Joan no longer has a place at court, and her husband falls out of favour when his enemies gain considerable influence with the King.

It was really interesting to learn about the inner workings of the English court and the precarious line that courtiers had to tread. Joan also gave some insight into some significant historical events: the Field of the Cloth of Gold in France, Princess Margaret’s marriage to King James, the arrival of Catherine of Aragon, and accompanying Princess Mary to Paris when she marries King Louis.

I’m an absolute sucker for historical fiction, and I loved the details and the very human, realistic style this book was written in. And I really liked Joan.

The ravens are a constant - after all, Joan is the Lady of the Ravens. Bu they’re not as central to the storyline this time.

I don’t know whether this will just be a duology, or if there’s more to come, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Highly recommended.
  
Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets ( Six Tudor Queens book 4)
Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets ( Six Tudor Queens book 4)
Alison Weir | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
213 of 250
Book
Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets ( Six Tudor Queens book 4)
By Alison Weir

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Newly widowed and the father of an infant son, Henry VIII realizes he must marry again to ensure the royal succession. Forty-six, overweight, and suffering from gout, Henry is soundly rejected by some of Europe's most eligible princesses. Anna of Kleve, from a small German duchy, is twenty-four, and has a secret she is desperate to keep hidden. Henry commissions her portrait from his court painter, who depicts her from the most flattering perspective. Entranced by the lovely image, Henry is bitterly surprised when Anna arrives in England and he sees her in the flesh. Some think her attractive, but Henry knows he can never love her.

What follows is the fascinating story of an awkward royal union that somehow had to be terminated. Even as Henry begins to warm to his new wife and share her bed, his attention is captivated by one of her maids-of-honor. Will he accuse Anna of adultery as he did Queen Anne Boleyn, and send her to the scaffold? Or will he divorce her and send her home in disgrace? Alison Weir takes a fresh and astonishing look at this remarkable royal marriage by describing it from the point of view of Queen Anna, a young woman with hopes and dreams of her own, alone and fearing for her life in a royal court that rejected her almost from the day she set foot on England’s shore.
  
The Freedom of Loving (Matters of the Heart #3)
The Freedom of Loving (Matters of the Heart #3)
Abrianna Denae | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE FREEDOM OF LOVING is the third book in the Matters of the Heart series and it's time for Jared and Sam to shine. Both of them appear in book 2 (Robert and Niall) and, this book runs concurrently in places, so I really would recommend you read at least that one first. I haven't read book 1 (Garrett and Presley) yet but it will be done, I promise you!

Jared is in a marriage of convenience... but not for much longer. He's put up with a lot from his wife but her latest trick is one step too far. Once his divorce is final, he'll be free to be with Sam, the man he has loved for years. Sam returns that love but refuses to be the other man. There is a little angst as Jared mistimes certain revelations but nothing too serious.

Oh, if anyone needs to be together, it's these two. The chemistry is there in spades on every page they share. But it's not all hot and heavy, it's full of emotions too. They are there for each other, and there for their found family, including horrible situations with parents that others simply may not understand.

I found the pacing to be perfect for their story. It moved along nicely without being bogged down anywhere. There isn't a single thing I would change. This is a hug-in-a-book and definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
A Novel Disguise
A Novel Disguise
Samantha Larsen | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
How Long Can Tiffany Disguise the Danger She’s In?
When her half-brother dies unexpectedly, Tiffany Woodall quietly buries him and then assumes his identity. There is nothing else for her to do in 1780’s England, especially if she wants to stay in the cottage the two of them lived in. But she quickly finds that being two people is much more challenging than she expected, especially when she starts falling in love with the local book seller and has to dodge the marriage proposal of the local rector. But it’s taking over her half-brother’s job of the local duke’s librarian that puts her in the most danger when one of the servants dies. Might it tie to her brother’s death?

Obviously, there is a lot going on here, and it does mean the mystery takes a little time to become an important part of the story. But I didn’t care. I was quickly caught up in Tiffany’s life and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to her next. And make no mistake about it, the mystery here is strong. I loved how things were all pulled together for the climax. The characters are also wonderful, with plenty of them to love or love to hate. I always felt like I was transported back in time as I was reading. My only complaint was that we learned a little more than I felt necessary about the after effects of the poison, but that was a minor issue. I’m already looking forward to the sequel. If you are looking for a fun historical mystery, don’t miss this one.