Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 303 - The Bartered Brides by Mercedes Lackey, Dragon's Code by Gigi McCaffrey

The Bartered Brides by Mercedes Lackey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another series that plays on the Sherlock Homes character. Here he is missing and psychic Nan Killian, medium Sarah Lyon-White, and Elemental Masters John and Mary Watson have to solve a new mystery. At first there are just the headless bodies and no clue as to where they came from or why they are missing their heads. This is the first book of the series I have read but at no time did I feel lost. Lackey is a master at giving clues to the backstory in small easy to find snippets usually in dialog. I loved the strong women and how one because what she felt she had always should have been. Great story with all the tension expected and with some interesting twists and turns. Of course Sherlock did make two small solo appearances.

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



Dragon's Code: Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern by Gigi McCaffrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has been a long time since I have visited the world of Pern and it was great being back. I liked how the mix of old and new drove the story. Piemur, a journeyman harper, is as lost as the Oldtimers. They are not adjusting to how Pern changed and Piemur is looking for a direction for his life after his voice broke and he can no longer sing. The danger and adventure keep the story moving as both finally find a direction and place in their life. Nice addition to a old and familiar world.

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

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 138 - Going Dark by Monica McCarty, A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas, The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels and Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander

Going Dark by Monica McCarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What do you do when you are a Seal group and your mission goes very, very bad. Someone has betrayed you and all the survivors go dark. One goes to Scotland and while trying to stay under the radar finds himself in the middle of a plot to blow up a drilling ship. Oh, and of course there is a woman involved that needs help. A really good start to the new Lost Platoon series. The backstory is covered at the beginning. The character development is first rate and the danger is very real. I loved how the Annie Henderson and Dan Warren (not his real name) learn to work together while protecting Dan's identity. A easy to read and hard to put down book.

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


A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A new mystery of Charlotte Holmes and a new set of characters walk through the series. It turns out Lord Ingram's wife is up to more than anyone knows. At the same time Charlotte has a marriage proposal - one that would make her more acceptable to society. I am enjoying this series and all of the ends and outs that are part of the plot. I am not that much of a Sherlock Holmes fan so I don't really know or care how it follows or deviates from the original stories. I just like the mystery and suspense that kept me guessing throughout the story.

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


The Lady Travelers Guide To Scoundrels And Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

India Prendergast is off to prove that the Lady Travelers Guide is up to no good. Derek Saunders is determined to prove just the opposite. That leads to a fun romp where India learns some things about herself and how she reacts to other people and Derek learns that there is more to India than he thought. An interesting take on what different people do during difficult times of their lives and how they react to events in their past. A nice start to a new series with a interesting twist to the plot line.

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A Study in Silks (The Baskerville Affair #1) by Emma Jane Holloway

Steampunk/Paranormal Romance

What Goodreads Says:

"Evelina Cooper, niece of Sherlock Holmes, is ready for her first London Season - except for a murderer, missing automatons, a sorcerer, and a talking mouse. In a Victorian era ruled by a ruthless steam baron council, mechanical power is the real monarch, and sorcery the demon enemy of the empire. Evelina has secretly mastered a coveted weapon - magic that can run machines. Should she trust the handsome, clever rake who speeds her breath, or the dashing trick rider who would dare anything she would ask."

World Building:  There are two worlds created here.  There is the very public world of steam and the powerful men who control it.  There is the forbidden world of magic.  Both are important to the story.  The world building is very complex.  Explaining this world in the context of the story requires a long book.  Don’t try to skim or you will miss some very important facts about the world of A Study in Silks.

Back Story:  While this is a steampunk/ paranormal world this is also the world of Sherlock Homes and his story as told by Author Conan Doyle is important in A Study in Silks.  Of course each of the characters come with their own back-story and that is woven into the dialog and action. 

Plot:  Very complicated.  It starts with murder and moves from there.  Solving the murder leads to further problem.  Don’t look for a clean ending to the book.  This is a set up for the rest of the series and leaves a lot hanging.

Characters:  Evelina Cooper is the main character.  She is very well developed, as are the other main characters.  Nick, who comes from Evelina’s past, and Tobias, who is part of her present, are interesting but are developed in a way that makes a great contrast. The book is filled with great side characters that play an important part in the story.

Writing:  It is difficult to take a character developed by someone else and make him part of a new story. By placing Sherlock Homes in a different world and making him a side characters Emma Jane Holloway has managed to overcome that difficulty.  A Study is Silks is a complex well-written story that held my attention and left me ready to read book two, A Study in Darkness.

It will be interesting to see how the many loose threads are resolved in future books.  A Study in Silks lays a great foundation and provides a good platform for future stories.

Del Ray published A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway in 2013.

I received an ARC of A Study in Silks from Netgalley.