Just finished The Whip by Karen Kondazian,12/2/2020, 4 stars.  This is a book I have picked up many times to read but put aside until next time.  What an interesting book!  Charlotte falls in love with a black man but her romance and life with him is against the law.   When he is hung by masked men and their baby girl killed, she turns to a different life.  Recalling what Jonas, a black man she viewed as the father she never knew, told her, she turned to what she knew.  She knew horses.  She knew how to drive them.  She knew how to control teams of horses.  She became a whip, a driver who rides stagecoaches and took on a role as a male because females were not allowed to do so.  This is her story and it's a fascinating one based on her real life.  And, she never forgot the wisdom that Jonas shared with her.  Very good read.

Hello, all, and Happy December!  I'm still reading The World Is Not Enough, but am making better progress than I was before.  I'm about 3/4 of the way through it.  I'm listening to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, which is interesting.  More of it, so far, takes place in present day, which is not my favorite thing.  Hopefully we will get to spend more time in the past as the book moves on.  

I am continuing through the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King with Locked Rooms.

Verdict of the Court (Burren, Bk 11) :: Cora Harrison   4.5 stars out of 5

Loved it!!  Set during Christmas 1519 western Ireland. Such a rich story of the culter of the Gaelic culture and Brehon law. The characters, especially Mara, are very complex and well written. This series makes you want to travel back in time and visit the Burren.  Only a few more books in the series. I will be sad when it is done. Start with book one of series My Lady Judge.

I finished the Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. It was very good. Set in 1914 and 1993. Very nice how the two time periods were linked. Great ending.

Strating Robin Hood and the Castle of Bones by Angus Donald, his latest book in the Outlaw Chronicles.

Setting up a 2021 Challenge  and would like Ideas for memoirs, biograhies and nonfiction.  Anyone interested?  Head for biographies and give your thoughts..

The new Obama biography is supposed to be good. I don't read a lot of nonfiction so I am not much help

Hi, guys!  I finished The World Is Not Enough last week.  It was okay.  Pretty long, and honestly, I didn't really like any of the characters.  Now I'm reading a novella, Until the Robin Walks ont the Snow.  Not normally a book I would choose, but I needed a quick read for one of the 2020 HF Challenges.  

I am reading Murder Comes to Call by Jessica Ellicott. A fun historical cozy set in 1920 England. Captures a country healing after war.

I'm starting The Caine Mutiny by Herman Woulk. I never saw the movie, and I'm not sure how it recently came to my attention, but it sounds interesting!

I have opened a new historical fiction swap for all types of HF and nonfiction HF. Hope you can join

Worldwide Historical Fiction Swap

Alice:  What is HF nonfiction?  Hadn't heard that term till you mentioned it.

Read Sherlock Holmes Daughter, 3 stars.  It's relaxing and likable.  Know that the author writes medical thrillers but with this one it's a mystery/romance.  Tried to decide if the author meant to write a mystery or a romance.  Really liked the mystery part but thought the romance was overdone.

On the other hand I loved The Alehouse Murders by Maureen Ash.  What a writer.  Kept me guessing all the way to the end.  I liked the key character very much, and I award it 5 stars.

I finished a couple of HIstorical cozies

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman set in 1899 England

Betrayal at Ravenswick by Kelly Oliver set in 1916 England

A huge different 17 years made on what was going on in Englad. Both were good.

I am now reading  Death of the Maiden by Samantha Norman (she is finishing her mother's Ariana Franklin's books).  This will be the last book in the series. Set in 1191 England. 

Finished Until the Robin Walks on the Snow - eh.  A sweet story. Not very exciting but a nice glimpse into the lives of some immigrants in the 1920s.  Started Pilate's Wife the other day, which is the last book I need for the 2020 HF challenge.  Woo hoo!  Still listening to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.  

How is the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I have that one to read.

Alice