March 2025 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Deadly Duo: Two Novellas by Margery Allingham (1950)  4/5 stars

U.K. Title: Take Two at Bedtime

Two well-written novellas (neither featuring Campion), with solid plots, lots of tension, and satisfying endings.

The Net That Holds Me by Scarlett Luna Strange (2023)  3/5 stars

This is a short "Little Mermaid" retelling, sweet but not well developed.

After the Armistice Ball by Catriona McPherson (2005)  4/5 stars

Dandy Gilver mysteries, book one

Taking place in Scotland in 1923, this is an intelligent, engaging, entertaining, and generally well-written mystery.  

Cloaked by Rachel Kovaciny (2017)  4/5 stars

Once Upon a Western, book one

This is a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood", taking place in the Wyoming Territory sometime after the American Civil War.  Sixteen year old Mary Rose travels from the East to visit her Grandmother's ranch, where she makes good friends, learns to ride a horse, and begins to mature.  Her courage and love are put to the test when she meets a wolf-in-man's-clothing. 

This is a well-written YA book that is engaging from beginning to end.  It's intelligent and entertaining, with good lessons and themes running through. I'll admit that I didn't expect the violence (though given the setting, I probably should have), but aside from that, I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to reading more in the series.

"Magic on Main Street" Series by K.M. Shea

The Lies of Vampires and Slayers (2023)  4/5 stars

The Games of Enemies and Allies (2024)  4/5 stars

The Order of Blood and Ruin (2024)  4/5 stars

This is an urban fantasy trilogy about a vampire slayer on the city's supernatural law enforcement task force who makes friends with a young vampire in her apartment building, while fighting an ancient vampire at night.  (I don't want to share much so that I won't spoil anything.)  The entire series is well-written, fun, humorous, and totally engrossing.  I absolutely loved it!

Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim  (1898)  4/5 stars

This was a reread; my original review is here.

The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim  (1899)  3/5 stars

This is the enjoyable companion volume to Elizabeth and Her German Garden but is not as witty or engrossing.

Audiobooks Completed:

The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope (1867)  3/5 stars 

Chronicles of Barsetshire, book six

Princess Charlotte

This, the final book of the series, was repetitive and dragged, and felt too long by about 200 pages.  I know it may be be unfair compare it to the Palliser series (all of which were five stars for me), but the series as a whole was inferior.  If the Chronicles of Barsetshire had been my first experience with Trollope, I would not have completed the series, and probably wouldn't have tried him again.

The Lost Queen: The Life & Tragedy of the Prince Regent's Daughter by Anne M. Stott (2020)  5/5 stars

This is a well-written, thoroughly researched biography of Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817).  In it Stott  discusses the doomed marriage of Charlotte's parents, Caroline of Brunswick and George, Prince of Wales (later Prince Regent, and finally King George IV), and how the terrible aftermath affected Charlotte's childhood and short adult life.  Her "rebellious" teenage years and her brief happy marriage are detailed, along with the influence of friends and relations, world events, and domestic situations.  Overall, it's easily accessible and completely engrossing, painting a living portrait of this ill-fated princess.