A Leaf On the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Book 8.5)

 

Publication Date:

December 3, 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length:  67 pages 

Series: Outlander

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Orphaned during World War II, Roger believed that his mother died during the London Blitz, and that his father, an RAF pilot, was killed in combat. But in An Echo in the Bone, Roger discovers that this may not be the whole story. Now, in “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows,” readers finally learn the truth.

My Thoughts: (Mild spoiler alerts! I try not to do this but it's hard to review this one without that a bit).

I originally planned to re-read all of the Outlander series in order (again, lol) a few years ago and posted that on my blog. Sadly, I am way behind. I discovered other authors with amazing long epics like Sharon Kay Penman and got sucked into another era! But that's okay because I'd already read all the Outlander books twice and am keeping up with the amazing STARZ series of course. The new prequel spin off about Jamie and Claire's parents, Outlander: Blood of My Blood,  is coming out this summer and even though it isn't based off of a particular book, Gabaldon is heavily involved in writing and production and it should be amazing.

Since I'm working my way through other books right now I decided to post a  review of this novella and skimmed it (I've already read it twice before). It's been awhile so I truly ended up reading a lot of it again. So fun to remember these details. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Call of the Cross: A Historical Novel of Scotland by J.R. Tomlin (William the Bold Book 2)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Call of the Cross, by J.R. Tomlin. I have only read the first book in her series about The Stewarts, A King Ensnared. It was written accurately from a historical perspective, although re-reading my review I remember it did drag a bit at times. I intended to continue with the series. Now I think I'd like to go back and start at the very beginning of her books chronologically to help me better understand Scottish history. Her books run from the late 1200's to the 1500's and cover Black Douglas, Robert the Bruce, and the Stewarts prior to Mary Queen of Scots. 

Set in 1267 Scotland this series tells the story of Sir William Douglas, who goes on Crusade. I love this time period and Crusader history. I'm sure starting with book one is best though and this is book two. If going in chronological order this series might be first in the timeline. I need to find out.

This is an overlooked time period, especially in Scotland, compared to say the Mary Queen of Scots era so I'm glad she loves Scottish history enough to research and write these. I hope you have found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Medieval Historical Fiction

Scottish Historical Fiction

 July 23, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Scotland, 1267: Sir William Douglas, hero of the Battle of Largs, rides to war again. When the Pope calls a crusade, as an honorable knight, he must answer the call. He leaves behind the conflicts of his homeland to fight for the Holy Cross. But once in the Levant, he must question if that is what he is truly fighting for.

Stacking the Shelves #60

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Death in SoHo by Emily Organ (Augusta Peel Book 1)

Amazon Kindle purchase

This author has two other series but this book was the first in this one and inexpensive and I thought it was unique in setting. I don't know anything about SoHo so it looks like a fun read! The heroine repairs old, neglected books which is fun for us book lovers and gets mixed up in a murder investigation. It is a good, light cozy for summer I'm sure.

 

Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England by Sharon Bennett Connolly 

Sample downloaded (planning to purchase on Amazon Kindle with points)

Sharon Bennett Connelly is one of the hosts of my new favorite podcast, A Slice of Medieval, and the author of several great books. She is an expert on medieval history and has written several wonderful books. This one is unique, focusing on the women in an era that almost exclusively focuses on the men. Some of the people covered in this book include Ela of Salisbury, Eleanor of Brittany, and Nicholaa de la Haye. I know nothing about these women so I'm looking forward to this one. 

She has several other books focusing on women of the Norman Conquest and those in the twelfth century like Eleanor of Aquitaine.  I found seven books total on medieval women in different eras. Sometimes it is hard to get these types of books here in the U.S. especially for a deal.

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon (The Secret Detective Agency Book One)

Amazon Kindle purchase with points

I featured this book on one of my Can't Wait Wednesday posts awhile back and now I have it to read. Helena Dixon has written the Kitty Underhay mystery series and I enjoyed the first book. This is her new series about Miss Jane Treen in 1941 working as a government spy agent. The fact that her cat goes everywhere with her is a plus for me! It looks like a fun cozy read for summer. And there are more to follow if I like it. 

Stormbird by Conn Iggulden (The Wars of the Roses Book One)

 

Publication Date:

October 10, 2013

Genre:

Historical Fiction/Medieval Fiction

Length:  482 pages 

Series: The Wars of the Roses

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

King Henry V - the great lion of England - is long dead.

In 1437, after years of regency, the pious and gentle Henry VI, the Lamb, comes of age and accedes to the English throne. His poor health and frailty of mind render him a weakling king -Henry depends on his closest men, Spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, to run his kingdom.

Yet there are those, such as the Plantagenet Richard, Duke of York, who believe England must be led by a strong king if she is to survive. With England's territories in France under threat, and rumours of revolt at home, fears grow that Henry and his advisers will see the country slide into ruin. With a secret deal struck for Henry to marry a young French noblewoman, Margaret of Anjou, those fears become all too real.

As storm clouds gather over England, King Henry and his supporters find themselves besieged abroad and at home. Who, or what can save the kingdom before it is too late?

My Thoughts:

I have to confess.....this was my second attempt at this book. Years ago I tried the series and at the time was not as immersed in knowledge of the time period or the Wars of the Roses and found it kind of boring. This second time it was really good and I plan to continue with the other three books. Having said that, I did find the first half much better than the second. I know the author is generating a slow build because the series is four books long covering the wars in detail. And I know I should care about Jack Cade's rebellion but it was so detailed and became almost monotonous the last part of the book. I ended up skimming chapters. Probably this stems from two things: 1. I do not like historical fiction that is heavy on the military/battle angle (I am interested in the real people and their stories) and 2. I am not a huge fan of historical fiction about real events that make a fictional person the main focus. Both things happen in this book.

The first part leaned more heavily on Margaret of Anjou and William de la Pole, the French King, etc. and that was riveting. It gave me a great feel for Margaret and what she must have gone through marrying Henry. And I was very invested in de la Pole's story and Richard of York and how he came to be protector when Henry's mental state collapsed. So the book was a great way to learn history which is what I most want out of historical fiction. 

Stacking the Shelves #59

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton 

(Borrow from Libby app)

This will be a re-read for me. I read it years ago and another blogger reviewed it and reminded me I loved it! Thanks Olivia at Unsolicited Advice. Set in 1600's Jamaica during the crazy Pirate era, critics say it is too cliche and has way too many movie Pirate tropes but I don't care! I love all things pirate themed and this book I remember has a lot of history. It looks like a fun summer read and I've forgotten the story so I'm looking forward to reading it again. 

Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Aloysious Pendergast Book 10, or, Helen Trilogy Book One)

(Borrow from Libby app)

Technically this isn't historical fiction but it is a mystery. Not a cozy one though! One of the main characters also comes from the past. I have read books 1-9 (years ago) and came upon these again this week. I got hooked into looking into what Agent Pendergast has been up to and saw this is a middle of series trilogy (Helen books 10-12) about the death of his wife, Helen. It was where I left off before. So I thought I'd pick up with this next one. I hope I enjoy them as much as I used to. They are scary and suspenseful for sure. 

Conclave by Robert Harris

(Borrow from Libby app)

I haven't watched the movie yet but am going to. This isn't normally a book I'd choose first but the first chapter hooked me. I think it will be a bit of a history lesson too as I know absolutely nothing about this process. I like stories set around Italian politics concerning the church. It will be a power struggle for sure and should be interesting. It's not really historical fiction but it has that vibe and the mystery feel about it. So I'm counting it for my blog!

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book One)

 

Publication Date:

March 1, 2021

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:  231 pages

Series: Lord Edgington Investigates

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A little music, a little dancing, a little murder at the spring ball.
England, 1925. After years shut away from the world, former detective Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall plans a grand ball to celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday.

But when someone starts bumping off members of his scheming family, the old man enlists his teenage grandson to help find the killer, before one of them is next.

The mismatched duo must pick the culprit from a gaggle of preening playboys, scatter-brained spinsters and irate inspectors in this Agatha-Christie-style whodunnit that will have you racing to spot the killer.

My Thoughts

I had already read the first Christmas book in the series and wanted to go back and start the first book. It sets the stage for Lord Edgington and his grandson Christopher's relationship and how it begins. Lord Edgington has been a recluse and missing his deceased wife and when he finally decides to live again he wants to celebrate with a ball, putting his grandson in charge of things. Flattered but unsure of himself, Christopher tackles it to the best of his ability and learns to become more independent. He also discovers his talent for sleuthing when two family members are murdered and he and his grandfather work to find out who wants them dead before it happens to all of the family.

I enjoyed the story between the two men as I did in the Christmas book. I also like the author and his back story. So I will continue with the series and plan to read his spinoff, Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad....where they go to exotic locations and murders occur! I also want to start his other series, Marius Quinn Mysteries. Having said that though....this story was a little far fetched for me. I enjoyed it and I like the characters but the plot was kind of over the top to be believable and the murderer's story a little out there too. I can't say a lot because of spoilers but let's just say I wasn't completely sold. So I'm glad I'd read the other one first or I might not have been attached enough to continue. 

I'll just chalk this up to a debut novel and that maybe it just won't be my favorite of the series. I always like to continue and see if I'm still hooked. The covers are gorgeous, the historical cozy vibe is done well, and Lord Edgington clearly has a back story all his own that is slowly being revealed. His children and their offspring are a hot mess and will be great for more stories going forward. Descriptions of the mansion and Christopher's awkwardness are charming and you can't help but love the way Brown depicts him....sweet, innocent, but smart, and hard working. 

This is a great series if you love strong male leads, family loyalty, and the 1920's cozy mystery feel along with the formality of nobility and manners. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Death at a Paris Hotel by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 22)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Death at a Paris Hotel, by Verity Bright. I already love this series but it is now forever near and dear to my heart because the female member of this husband and wife writing team died tragically in a car accident. Her husband is still recovering as well and is trying his best to honor her by continuing with the series as best he can. She had written ahead and has more books in the ready but sadly those will be it unless he continues writing. 

This is also the first cozy series I started with and I just think they are adorable. My condolences to the family and prayers they are coping as best as they can. 

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 30, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

For Lady Eleanor Swift, Paris means champagne at breakfast, romantic walks by the Eiffel Tower… and her deadliest case yet!

Newlyweds Lady Swift and Detective Hugh Seldon are honeymooning in the most romantic city on earth. Clifford, her butler, has come along for the trip to make sure everything goes to plan for the happy couple. And Gladstone, the mischievous bulldog, to make sure it doesn’t!

But the pair are shocked when, just as they are toasting their new marriage at the best table in their hotel’s opulent restaurant, a man tumbles through the glass roof and lands amid the silverware and coq au vin. Before he dies, he presses a striking pearl brooch into Eleanor’s hands. She has the strangest feeling of déjà vu. Has she met this man before? All too quickly, the local police arrive and immediately accuse the new Mr and Mrs of working with the victim – a thief who’d just robbed the museum down the block.

With her new husband by her side, Eleanor races to clear their name and discover who would kill to get their hands on the unusual brooch. Following a clue about a doomed love affair takes the gang from the famous cabarets and cobbled streets of Paris to rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy at the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

But soon Eleanor notices a mysterious man in black following their every footstep. Is he friend or foe? And can Eleanor and Hugh unravel the case before the City of Light becomes the city of death?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Summer 2025 To Be Read List

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "Books On My Summer 2025 to be read list." I love this topic! Since I've already joined a summer reading challenge it's easy to list them. I've made a few slight changes to the last list I posted elsewhere as I've really cleaned up my Kindle of samples I'll never read and books I know I have absolutely no interest in. Also, I tend to love epics and long books and sequels but reading them in one summer isn't realistic. So I've tweaked things a bit. I hope you have a great list for me to check out too. Happy reading ya'll!

Link goes to Goodreads

1. The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

2. Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown

3. Stormbird by Conn Iggulden

4. The Enemy and Miss Innes by Martha Keyes

5. The Iron King by Maurice Druon

6. Blood Roses by Kathryn Warner

7. Bethlehem Road by Anne Perry 

8. The Falcon of Palermo by Maria R. Bordihim

9. Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer

10. Winter of the World by Ken Follett 

Have you read any of these? What did you think? 

Stacking the Shelves #58

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Blood On the Tracks: Railway Mysteries by Martin Edwards (Editor)

(Kindle purchase)

This book is part of the British Library Crime Classics series that are being reissued. It contains a collection of mysteries, all set on trains, by some of the leading authors of the twentieth century. I know there are so many of these books, more than I could ever read, (over a hundred), but this one appealed to me because of the train setting. That's always a favorite of mine. Some of the authors I know like,  Arthur Conan Doyle, but most are new to me. I like being able to read one as I feel like it as most are short. 

Crown and Sceptre by Tracy Borman (A New History of the British Monarchy, from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II. 

(Kindle purchase)

This was on sale for 99 cents and I was interested based on the title. I'm not sure what it means by "new" history but wondered enough to get it. And I love timeline books with short summaries or bios that I can refer to for quick information. This runs to Elizabeth II so it covers every monarch. I'll probably flip through and read about the ones I am most interested in first.

Murder Under the Mistletoe by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 4.5)

(Libby audiobook borrow)

Having just finished through book 4 in this series, I thought I'd read the middle stand alone Christmas one before starting book 5. I'm sure there are things I'll learn about the characters that will be helpful to know. And Christmas in summer is always fun! It's called book 4.5 because it's shorter and a "gap" book. Should be fun. 

Danger On the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 3)

 

Publication Date:

March 29, 2022

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length: 304 pages

Series: Jane Wunderly Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

For young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected, and deadly, addition waiting just below deck.

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship--even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa Fitz Simmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea.

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn't convinced, not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land, or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

My Thoughts:

I had been reading this series out of order (not something I like to do anymore) so going back to books 2 and 3 was very helpful and I'm glad I did. Although this definitely wasn't my favorite of the series so far, it does tie up loose ends that book 4 (the one I read first because of the cover and location!) had in it. Jane and Redvers relationship is clearer for me now and I can just go straight to book 5 and pick up from there. This book was a nice addition, just not terribly exciting.

When it opens they are taking the ship to America, where Jane lives, and are posing as husband and wife to find a spy Redvers is looking for. Jane is happy to be sharing time and a room with Redvers although still conflicted about her feelings for him. This being the 1920's and all, it is highly unusual and she is careful about opening up to him, modesty especially important, even though she is a widow. 

Noteworthy News: A Slice of Medieval Podcast

 

This last week has been crazy around here and then I went out of town and I didn't get a review in. So I'm going to add a Noteworthy News entry because I haven't done one since February! It also seems these turn out to be about my favorite new podcasts and this one is no different. I have found one I'm totally obsessed with called, A Slice of Medieval,  and want to share for those of you who love the Wars of the Roses, and any medieval history. These two hosts are fantastic and entertaining and have the most wonderful guest authors and historians on their shows. The content is fresh and relevant to today and their style of bantering back and forth and being very human in their discussions make it an all around top three of mine right now.

The hosts are both well known authors, Sharon Bennett Connelly and Derek Birks. They have all kinds of well known guests on to talk about their latest book or a historical time that they are experts in. To name just a few...Elizabeth Chadwick, Matt Lewis, and Kathryn Warner, some of my favorites. Every episode is new and entertaining and I always learn something or come away with a new book to look into. If you love the medieval period and new content this is one you need to subscribe too. So far everything is free too which is great as a lot of the podcasts I love have started charging for premium subscriptions. Hopefully this post will give you a new way to learn medieval history and find great new authors!

20 Books of Summer Reading Challenge

 

I'm very excited to be joining this challenge!  I didn't do the best my first time in another challenge about reading during the summer but that's okay. No pressure right?? I really like the "rules" because it makes me relax and focus on reading more books I already own. 

I decided to go through my Kindle and meticulously weed out all samples I know I will never read and to create my list from those books I have started and not finished but didn't DNF because I still want to finish them. Shockingly, I didn't have as many of those as I thought so I added a few books that I haven't started and put aside and want to try. Several are sequels, some are big books, and of course cozy mysteries. But all are a TBR pile that I need to finish or already own. I have also listed them in my preferred reading order but that might change. Currently I am reading Stormbird and listening to Murder at the Spring Ball. 

Here are the challenge rules. Head over to annabookbel.net  or click on the picture above if you want to join. Emma, from the blog, wordsandpeace.com is hosting too but the sign up Linky is on annabookbel.net

• The #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge runs from Sunday June 1st to Sunday August 31st
• The first rule of 20 Books is that there are no real rules, other than signing up for 10, 15 or 20 books and trying to read from your TBR.
• Pick your list in advance, or nominate a bookcase to read from, or pick at whim from your TBR.
• If you do pick a list, you can change it at any time – swap books in/out.
• Don’t get panicked at not reaching your target.
• Just enjoy a summer of great reading and make a bit of space on your shelves!

This is my list....no links as I'm short on time!

1. Stormbird  by Conn Iggulden

2. Murder at the Spring Ball  by Benedict Brown

3. The No. 1 Detective Agency  by Alexander McCall Smith

4. The Land Beyond the Sea  by Sharon Kay Penman (re-reading)

5. Bethlehem Road  by Anne Perry

6. Crouchback  by Sarah Woodbury

7. In a Dark Wood Wandering  by Hella S. Hasse

8. The Falcon of Palermo  by Maria R. Bordihin

9. Lord John and the Private Matter  by Diana Gabaldon (re-reading)

10.The Iron King  by Maurice Druon

11. Winter of the World  by Ken Follett

12. Here Be Dragons  by Sharon Kay Penman

13. The Sister Queens  by Mary McGrigor

14. The Enemy and Miss Innes  by Martha Keyes

15. The Summer Queen  by Elizabeth Chadwick

16. Blood Roses  by Kathryn Warner

17. Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman  by Tessa Arlen

18. The Man in the Brown Suit  by Agatha Christie

19. Murder at Everham Hall  by Benedict Brown

20. Murder at Rough Point  by Alyssa Maxwell

21. (if I am feeling ambitious...lol...Emma  by Jane Austen!)

Have you read any of these? What did you like? Dislike? I fully realize this list is ENORMOUS for me and has lots of big books too but I like variety. 

I am going to leave them in a TBR collection on my Kindle and bookshelves to inspire me to keep working through it. Everything else I own is brand new so this list is great for me to see I don't have nearly as many unfinished books as I thought. 

Happy Reading ya'll!

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber (A Lady Darby Mystery Book 13)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Tarnished Canvas, by Anna Lee Huber. This is the latest book in the series and although I haven't read it yet, I have read one from her other series, Verity Kent, and thought it was unique and well written. I have the first book from this Lady Darby series so I probably should start it soon. It's called, The Anatomist's Wife. Set in Scotland it is a series that interests me even more. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 24, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Lady Kiera Darby had planned to spend the winter practicing her painting, but instead, she must find the flaw in a killer’s masterpiece when an art auction results in one participant’s final bid.…

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin’s coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit’s aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage’s assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer’s intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they’re on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter’s repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.