Great New Series

A Gladiator's Tale by Ashley Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leonidas and Cassia just keep getting better. I loved where Leonidas day dreams children and who they will look like. Again there is murder and revenge is at the heart. Just seemed that the villain was unexpected by all. Great series, waiting for next book.

View all my reviews

Nice Addition

Blood Debts by Ashley Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella expands the knowledge we have of Cassia and Leonidas. There is a murder and a solution. Finding that solutions takes the two across Rome and into the countryside. A nice story and a good way to get my Leonidas fix as I wait for the next book

View all my reviews

Grat New Series

Blood of a Gladiator by Ashley Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leonidas and Cassia are really great characters. They form a team working together to build a new life. I loved the visual descriptions of Rome in the time of Nero. Great new series with lots of possibilities for plot points. Pick this up for a fun read.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 227 - Alien Attraction by Cara Bristol, Murder in St Giles by Ashley Gardner

Alien Attraction by Cara Bristol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a case of two wrongs making a right. Sunny Weathers is the star of an reality show. She is not really there to find a mate. Darq was not suppose to find a mate but keeps another man's chip. Both get caught out and both find that wrongs do sometimes turn out right but they don't without some interesting adventures. Another fun romance with interesting characters and world building. You even get to see characters from the first book.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Murder in St. Giles by Ashley Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Captain Lacey becomes involved in multiple events in Murder in St. Giles. First one is a good event. His daughter is arriving and will be having her season. (While this is good there is a problem daughter is keeping form Lacey and wife.) A Cousin of Donata's late husband is trying to take Peter. (This is serious problem.) Brewster, Lacey's bodyguard, involves him in a murder. (Another serious problem) All three keep the action moving. It was fun to see Lacey and Donata together but not always on the same page. Great addition to the series. Author says we can expect one a year and I look forward to more visits with Captain Lacey and friends.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 86 - A Mystery at Carlton House by Ashley Gardner, The Earl's Dilemma by Emily Larkin, Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron

A Mystery at Carlton House by Ashley Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is a lot going on in A Mystery At Carlton House. It starts with Captain Lacey and his wife Donata giving birth to their daughter but not without problems. From there Lacey gets involved with the disappearance of objects at Carlton House. Lacey and Donata are an unusual couple and their relationship is explored and strengthened as the story progresses. I loved the moment when Lacey finally convinces Donata that she is the most important person in his life. The mystery itself has a number of twists and turns. Grenville and Maryanne, Mr Denis and Brewster all play an important part in the story as do the Bow Street Runners. This is a great series that just keeps getting better and better. I always have the books on pre-order and read as soon as they up-load to my Kindle.

The Earl's Dilemma by Emily Larkin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the characters and loved how Kate held her own with James after hearing why he was asking her to marry him. Finding him the perfect bride made for some really fun and interesting moments. For James it also was an eye opener. Showing that PTSD is something that happened in the past was a nice inculcation. This is Larkin's first book and is not as smooth as her later novels but was still a nice read.

Long Upon the Land by Margaret Maron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am sad, sad, sad. This is another great story featuring the Knott Family but it is the last one and that is why I am sad. Maron finished it off in a very grand manner. I did get to see most of the characters and see how Kenzie and Sue got together. That was very satisfying. The dates did not bother me that much. That is a big problem with long running series. The technology just changes so fast that it often messes up the time line. Start at the beginning for a really great mystery series.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #21 Because of Miss Bridgeton by Julia Quinn, The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter, The Alexandria Affair by Ashley Gardner

Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Historical Romance

Quinn has found another Bridgerton who has given up on love.  We know better.  If your name is Bridgerton love is somewhere in your future.  Billie Bridgerton is a not your usual Ton lady.  She prefers the country and wearing pants instead of dresses.  What she needs is someone who understands and likes her.  The last person she thinks will do that is her neighbor George Rokesdy.  Of course they are perfect for each other.  A nice interesting story told with a lot of humor.  It works find as a stand alone.  If you are a Bridgerton fan you don’t want to miss this one.

The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter

Historical Romance

This is the third book in the Tall Dark, and Wicked trilogy but it works as a stand alone.  Lancelot Hemingford, Duke of Aylesbury has a big problem.  Was his older brother murdered and did he do it.  He just wants it over and his name cleared.  How marriage and love lead to just that keeps the story moving.  This is a really interesting and fun book.   The plot moves at a great pace. It was hard to decide if the older brother was murdered or dies from natural causes.  It turns out he was not a very nice person.  All of that made for a enjoyable reading experience. I will add that I did not find the Duke to be that wicked.

The Alexandria Affair (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries #11) by Ashley Gardner

Historical Mystery

Captain Lacey is one of my favorite characters.  This time his wife has had him bound, gagged and put on a ship for Egypt.  This is a trip with Lucius Grenville and has been planned for a year.  Lacey tries to back out but he is doing a little too much hovering so off he is sent.  I loved the history that is brought out in the book.  This was a time when any and everyone was digging up the past in Egypt and sending it out of the country.  There is a lot going on in the book.  Lacey has been asked to find a book from the original library in Alexandria.  Someone is still trying to kill him.  He makes a new enemy.   All in all a really good story that adds more depth to the series.  This can stand alone but reading the series from book one is much more fun.

Book Beginnings on Friday September 20, 2013 - A Disappearance in Drury Lane by Ashley Gardner

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

My Book Beginning this week is from A Disappearance in Drury Lane ( a Captain Lacey Regency Mystery) by Ashley Gardner.  Today is the release date so it is hot off of the eBook press.  I pre-ordered the book and got the email telling me it had been sent to my Kindle this morning.  We are all getting the book beginnig on the same day.  For those of you who do not know Ashley Gardner is a pen name Jennifer Ashley.  

A Disappearance in Drury Lane 

Chapter One

"Late December 1817

Marianne Simmons came to me on a cold December day when I was packing away my old life in order to begin my new."

The Captain Lacey Regency Mystery series is one that started in print and was discontinued by the publisher.  When Jennifer Ashley got the rights back she published them in eBook form along with a book she had written before the series was canceled.  They sold so well that she has written additional books (there are eight in all) in the series.  A Disappearance in Drury Lane is the latest.  The Hanover Square Affair (Book One) is .99 at Amazon.  If you like Historical Mysteries give it a try.  The prices for all the books in the series range for .99 to 2.99.  I love the series and hope some of you give it a try.

 

The Necklace Affair and A Body in Berkley Square by Ashley Gardner

Historical Mystery

I purchased The Necklace Affair when it came out in June and have been saving it until A Body in Berkley Square came out so I could read two Captain Lacey books in a row.  Now I have finished both and have to wait for another month for my next fix.

This is a character driven series and it just keeps getting better.  Each book has a mystery that gives additional clues to the makeup of the major characters.  In addition the mystery in each book has clues that lead both Captain Lacey and the reader on a merry chase.  I keep recommending this series because I really love it.  If you are a historical mystery fan the series is a must read. 

Jennifer Ashley using the pen name of Ashley Gardner writes the Captain Lacey books.  The series went out of print and the rights reverted to the author.  She is self-publishing the series and all of the titles are being re-released as ebooks.  In the future there will also be new books in the series released.  Another great thing about the series is the price.  The first book in the series is .99 and all the others are 1.99.  It does make me wonder.  If she can make money at these prices why are so many ebooks prices the same as hard copies?

To learn more about the Captain Lacey books go to http://www.gardnermysteries.com/.

I read both books on my Nook.

There is a great tease for A Covent Garden Mystery at the end of A Body in Berkley Square.  Reading it made me long for August when A Covent Garden Mystery will be released.  

The Hanover Square Affair, A Captain Lacey Regency Mystery – Book 1 by Ashley Gardner

Mystery

I have discovered a great new to me Regency mystery series.  The Hanover Square Affair is the first book in the series and is a .99 feature available for the Barnes and Noble Nook and Amazon Kindle.  This is a limited time offer so if you like mysteries buy it now.

Captain Lacey is a long time Army cavalry officer who is back in London on half-pay.  He has lost his purpose in life, has little money, a bad leg, and suffers from a deep melancholy.  He walks that boundary between the upper and lower classes in England.  He is a gentleman who has no money but does have acquaintances (he says he has no friends) in both classes.  When he intervenes in an altercation between a cavalry unit and a man who says that his daughter was kidnapped and taken to the home of a prominent man his life takes a turn in a new and dangerous direction.

The plot in The Hanover Square Affair is good; the pacing is great, the characters are interesting and the background is fascinating.  In addition to a good mystery The Hanover Square Affair introduces a large number of secondary characters.  While they are secondary in The Hanover Square Affair they look like they could be important in future books.   All in all this is a great start to a mystery series.  

Ashley Gardner is an established and accomplished author who knows how to tell just enough to keep you reading while still leaving you wanting to find out more.  According to her web site each month another of the Captain Lacey books will be released as an ebook.  All of the other books that have been released as ebooks are priced at 1.99.  I have already purchased the second book, A Regimental Murder.  It is a big plus that I do not have to wait for the next book.

Ashley Gardner is a pen name for Jennifer Ashley.  I found two copyright dates for The Hanover Square Affair, one for 2003 and the second for 2011.  There is no publisher listed for the ebook edition of The Hanover Square Affair.