Virgins by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander 0.5)

 

Publication Date:

December 3, 2013

Genre:  

Historical Fiction

Length:   

 86 pages

Series: Outlander 

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A young Jamie Fraser learns what it really means to become a man in this Outlander prequel novella. Featuring all the trademark suspense, adventure, and history of Diana Gabaldon’s #1 bestselling novels and the Starz original series, Virgins is now available for the first time as a standalone ebook.
 
Mourning the death of his father and gravely injured at the hands of the English, Jamie Fraser finds himself running with a band of mercenaries in the French countryside, where he reconnects with his old friend Ian Murray. Both are nursing wounds; both have good reason to stay out of Scotland; and both are still virgins, despite several opportunities to remedy that deplorable situation with ladies of easy virtue. 

But Jamie’s love life becomes infinitely more complicated, and dangerous, when fate brings the young men into the service of Dr. Hasdi, a Jewish gentleman who hires them to escort two priceless treasures to Paris. One is an old Torah; the other is the doctor’s beautiful daughter, Rebekah, destined for an arranged marriage. Both Jamie and Ian are instantly drawn to the bride-to-be, but they might be more cautious if they had any idea who they’re truly dealing with.

My Thoughts

I read Virgins years ago. But never reviewed it because it was long before I had my blog! It has always been a goal of mine to review all the books from favorite authors that I've read in the past. So a re-read was in order for this one. It is a novella, short and easily read when I'm busy. While not my favorite of her stories, it grew on me over time as I wanted to know more about the back story of Jamie and Ian.

The main story is not terribly relevant. Jamie is recovering from wounds inflicted on him back in Scotland and grieving the death of his beloved Father. Ian is working in France with dangerous mercenaries and Jamie decides to join him. The story follows their reconnection, and involvement with the devious Rebekah and throughout we are privy to things about Jamie that we might not have discovered in the main Outlander book. There are many thoughtful conversations to be read between him and Ian and I liked learning more about the relationship between them. It showcases their youth and innocence and feels like a great way to see them both before life hardens them.

The immediate story involving the Jewish man and his daughter is quick and not necessary to further Outlander plot lines. But as someone who loves mystery and intrigue I thought it was engaging enough to want to figure out what was happening. Gabaldon is such a great writer that she can turn 86 pages into something thoughtful and suspenseful with ease. 

I liked Virgins much better the second time around. Having invested more time and thought into the characters made it more personal. If you are a fan of the series get the novellas and read them as stand alone books. They will give you more insight into the people she's created. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Radiance and Revenge by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe (A Diamond of the Ton Regency Mystery Book 3)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Radiance and Revenge, by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe. This series takes place in London in the Regency era with a Lord and Duchess who are involved in "a tangled web of espionage, revenge, and political sabotage. This book will end the series and resolve the love triangle, hopefully with a happy ending.

This author has a great newsletter you can sign up for to know what is going on with her new books, and, if possible, receive advance copies. 

 https://lynnmorrisonwriter.com/ 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Historical Mysteries/ Regency Mysteries

October 30, 2025

Book description courtesy of GoodReads

A royal threat. A dangerous love. A feud that refuses to die.

After enduring the court’s suspicion, Lord Peregrine Fitzroy has finally earned back his standing—and Charity’s heart. But the arrival of her family in London threatens to reopen old wounds and reignite a bitter feud that once made their love impossible.

Charity, Duchess Atholl, is ready to stand beside the man who was once her enemy. Yet just as they begin to build a future together, foreign royals descend on London with secrets, schemes—and ties to a powerful adversary thought to be in hiding. Determined to uncover who is harbouring their most dangerous enemy, the couple is drawn into a tangled web of espionage, revenge, and political sabotage..

As whispers swirl of a plot to upend the royal succession, Peregrine and Charity must outwit an opponent who knows exactly how to strike where it hurts most. Loyalties will be tested. One misstep could cost them their love, their lives—or the crown itself.

Note Worthy News: The History of England Podcast is back!

 

David Crowther's History of England podcast is the first one I ever listened to. It is very special to me. He is witty and super knowledgeable and taught me all the particulars about each stage of history in England from the Anglo Saxon period on. He admits when he is biased and does it all with humor. He has been on a hiatus for several months and this week has picked up with all new episodes. 

Season 9, Episode 1 (432A overall) begins with the Sun King, Louis XIV of France. He starts with French culture and its domination of European culture at that time. This is why I appreciate his show....I know almost nothing about this time period, or how anything affected anything...so when he starts here, I get the necessary background knowledge to move ahead and it makes my learning more interesting and easy. History buffs like me always want that little "extra" he gives! And being American there is always a lot I definitely don't know.

Crowther started in his shed (he still calls his work area "The Shed") on his private property just doing his thing (and sometimes his children joined him) and now has a successful show teaching us all about the history of his country. Both the website and his Facebook page also have fun things to explore, like places he visits while on vacations, challenges, and a ton of resources.

Recently I took part in his "who was the greatest Welsh ruler of all time" and it was fun if you love learning more about Wales. He and his Welsh born friend went through different stages of Welsh history and had listeners vote. Of course, Llywelyn the Great won!

You can surf some for free or choose to subscribe to other sections of the website for a yearly fee and have access to more shows like The History of Scotland.

I love promoting my favorite podcasters and so I'm excited to announce his return. It should be a fun filled fall/winter with all new episodes taking us through the mid-1600's and beyond. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Murder Most British by Helena Dixon (The Secret Detective Agency Book 3)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Murder Most British, by Helena Dixon. I have featured this series before but have yet to read it. Her other series with Kitty Underhay as the heroine started off cute and I have read the first one, Murder at the Dolphin Hotel. 

Murder Most British takes place in 1941 during WW II which is typically not my favorite era to read but this series looks cute. Jane Treen investigates murders with codebreaker Arthur Cilento as they also navigate the drama of the war around them. Another fun cozy series I'd like to read. 

Hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mysteries

November 6 , 2025

Book description courtesy of GoodReads

Big Ben chiming in the distance, chilly walks along the river Thames, cocktails at the Ritz… and a government secretary dead? Only Jane Treen can solve the case!

London, 1941. Miss Jane Treen is faced with another mysterious disappearance within her Secret Detective Agency’s team. Tabitha Moore, a government typist, was on her way to meet Jane with vital information about some secret codes. But she didn’t turn up for work and has seemingly vanished without a trace. Then Jane and her colleague, handsome codebreaker Arthur Cilento, find a body has been found, and it matches Tabitha’s description.

It quickly becomes clear that Tabitha’s death was not due to ongoing air raids as the the silk scarf tied tightly around her neck suggests otherwise. The prime suspect is Tabitha’s fiancé Leo Cavendish, a dashing government official, but there are plenty of others with a motive too. Jane and Arthur scrutinize those around Tabitha at work and at home, including a charming newsreader reporting on government affairs, a jealous pianist in love with Leo, and a known womanizer and gambler fond of causing trouble.

Together, Jane, Arthur and her fluffy ginger cat Marmaduke hole up in her London townhouse, with black coffee in plentiful supply and a roaring fire in the grate. But just as they begin to piece together the puzzle, someone else is found dead. It’s clear they need to step up and catch the killer on the loose in the big smoke, before it’s their turn next.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl,is "Books I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time." I seem to recall doing this one before but I'm going to resist the urge to look for a previous post. I want to see what I come up with today. Several are books I would not read now. I was in such a true crime phase in my 20's and don't like it at all now! But I tried to include all my years of reading in this list.

In no particular order here they are. If you read my blog at all, many on the list probably won't surprise you, lol.  Click on the title to link to Goodreads.

Happy Reading ya'll!

1. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Book 3 of the Outlander series

2. The Land Beyond the Sea by Sharon Kay Penman

3. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

4. North and South by John Jakes

5. The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy (Eleanor of Aquitaine)

6. Queens of England by Norah Lofts

7. Susannah by Candice F. Ransom

8. The Shattered Crowns series by Christina Crofts

9. Alexandra: The Last Tsarina by Carolly Erickson

10. Everything She Ever Wanted by Ann Rule 

Stacking the Shelves #71

 

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. Happy reading ya'll!

Last Dance in Salzburg by Vivian Conroy (Miss Ashford Investigates #4)

Kindle Sale: 99 cents this week 

I have read the first two books in this series and enjoyed them. I have to read book three first but this is book 4 so I got it while it was only a dollar. The covers are beautiful and I love the unique location settings. Atalanta tries to uncover the truth behind the death of a convicted jewel thief. She has to sleuth among the European elite in 1930's Austria. 

A Perilous Premiere by Gail Meath (Stone and Steele Mysteries #1)

Kindle Points

Growing up with the old movies this series looked really charming to me. The author has written another successful one called Jax Diamond Mysteries, and this is her newest one. It's set in the 1930's Golden Age of Hollywood and the heroine is friends with Carole Lombard, owns a fashion boutique in Beverly Hills, and is trying to solve the recent murder of her banker husband. She has the unwanted help of Preston Stone, a man she doesn't care for at all. Should be a fun series set in an iconic period. 

Death at a Paris Hotel by Verity Bright (Lady Eleanor Swift #22)

Kindle Sale: 99 cents this week

I grab all of this series as I can. I am not up to this one yet but it was super cheap this week. Lady Eleanor and Hugh are honeymooning in Paris but just can't seem to avoid being drug into another case of murder. This time Eleanor thinks she knows the victim but isn't quite sure who he is. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Christmas Witness by Charles Todd (An Inspector Ian Rutledge Novella)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Christmas Witness, by  Charles Todd. This is yet another series I'd like to start. Set in the 1920's its main character is Inspector Ian Rutledge and I like to read some cozy mysteries with males as the lead. So many have women so it's nice to change it up! This story also has the Christmas vibe which is great with the holidays approaching soon. 

This story is a short novella, probably because it's a holiday one and while I'm not fond of novellas and short stories, when they are part of a series I will usually read them to fill in any gaps in the story. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Christmas Mystery/Novella

 October 21, 2025

Book description courtesy of GoodReads

December 1921: Being single and a new Chief, Inspector Rutledge gets the short straw and is called upon by Chief Superintendent Markum to go to the Kentish home of a lord who is recovering from an attempt on his life. In bed with a concussion, the man is convinced someone is trying to kill him after he claims he was struck by the hoof of a running horse whose rider never stopped to check on him.

When he gets there, Rutledge learns that he and the lord were both young cavalry officers and graduated from Sandhurst together. As Rutledge’s investigation gets underway, he uncovers even more similarities between his life and that of the man he’s sent to protect, all of which grows eerily poignant as the Christmas holiday approaches…

Top Ten Tuesday: Satisfying Book Series

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is Satisfying Book Series.  I love series and have way too many of them going at once. I'll probably never read them all but I like to read book one and decide if I want to continue. It has to really be good for me to keep going past the first 2-3 books and I'm becoming more selective as there are just so many!  

The ones I've listed below are my absolute favorites (yes I repeat them often in these types of posts) and ones I either have read many or most of in the series or intend to. So enjoy, hopefully you find one you like from my list, and I can't wait to see other bloggers' lists. Might give me some new ideas! 

Happy reading ya'll!

Click on the link for GoodReads

Lady Eleanor Swift by Verity Bright

Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters

The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes

William Monk by Anne Perry

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt by Anne Perry

The Inspector de Silva Mysteries by Harriet Steel

Lord Edgington Investigates by Benedict Brown

Fiona Figg Mysteries by Kelly Oliver

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

The Medieval Saga Series by David Field

Have you read any books from these series? If yes, which ones were your favorites? Did you finish the series or not?

 

Bethlehem Road by Anne Perry (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Book Ten)

 

Publication Date:

June 1, 1990

Genre:  

Historical Mysteries

Length:   

 313 pages

Series: 

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

The gentleman tied to the lamppost on Westminster Bridge is most elegantly attired --- fresh boutonniere, silk hat, white evening scarf --- and he is quite, quite dead, as a result of his thoroughly cut throat.

Why should anyone kill Sir Lockwood Hamilton, that kindest of family men and most conscientious member of Parliament? Before Inspector Thomas Pitt can even speculate on the reasons, a colleague of Sir Lockwood's meets the same fate in the same spot.

Public indignation is boundless, and clever Charlotte Pitt, Thomas's well-born wife, can't resist helping her hard-pressed husband, scouting society's drawing rooms for clues to these appalling crimes. Meanwhile, the Westminster Bridge Cutthroat stalks still another victim ...

My Thoughts

I have gotten to know the main characters in this series well over the years. There are a lot of books in the Pitt series (32!) and so I always remain behind. But when I start a new book it is like being with old friends. I was excited to check in and see what the Pitts are up to.

The London community is living in fear. Prominent members of Parliament are being attacked and it is not as easy to shrug off this time as it is when the poor people who live in the shadows are normally the victims of brutal crimes. No, these are wealthy, powerful men, found with their throats slit and hanging from a bridge used by all classes of citizens. 

Stacking the Shelves #70

 

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. Happy reading ya'll!

The Doctor's Wife by Myra McIlvain (A German Family Saga Book One)

Kindle Points: 99 Cents

This just looked interesting. It's about a woman who travels to Galveston, Texas and is abandoned by her employer. She ends up marrying the ship's physician and settles into the German population. Being from Texas myself and loving Galveston I thought I'd enjoy this. The author has written for many Texas publications and is a several generations Texan. It just looked unique and full of history. It's also part of a series which appeals to me. 

A Precarious Homecoming by D.S. Lang (Arabella Stewart Historical Mystery Book One)

Kindle: Free this week

This is part of a series and I hadn't heard of the books or the author. The covers are really unique and pretty and the story looks interesting. Arabella, the heroine returns to her hometown to save her family resort and ends up working on a murder with her childhood friend who is now the Constable. It is set just after WW1 which I prefer over WW2 stories. There is another series by the author called Doro Banyon which she says is a little cozier than this more serious one. 

The Virgin Widow by Anne O'Brien

Kindle: Free with points

I know this author well but hadn't heard of this book. It is about Anne Neville, Richard III's wife and Queen of England. I don't know why but I just love anything about her and really enjoyed my last book I read by Jean Plaidy. This is a popular author so I'm hoping I like this one. With my huge TBR file I don't know when I'll get to it but I'm glad to have it.