#498 ~ My Lady, The Spy

My Lady, The Spy by Barbara Devlin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Fourth book in the 'Gentleman Always Play Fair' Box Set (location 16322 to 21971), although as mentioned before I will be doing separate reviews and rating, and then at the end give the whole box set a rating based on sum of its parts.

The other two books so far in the box set scored three stars overall, which was judged on the usual, plot, pace, characterisation and also errors and highlights (sadly no highlights for either of them, or this one).

I have struggled how many stars overall to give this one based on the same criteria, given that there were not many errors it came out nearer a 3 star than 2, and thus I think I will generously go with the 3 stars. There wasn't too much else to say about it I'm afraid, it was not good, but neither was it truly terrible. Simply it suffered from the usual malaise of American grammar and a feeling of not enough true research to engender a truly authentic historical novel for that period. I am, however, quite hard to please, and others may love it and not be so bogged down with detail. It seems the more I study the subject of Creative Writing, the harder it is to please me.


Errors/Bug Bears/Highlights:

No highlights, and as you can see above general moaning about a feel of authenticity, i.e. 'entryway' (location 16796) and 'sidewalks' (location 17040).

Errors:

Location 16537:  'kept the miniature next to his.' - missing bit?

Location 17632: 'Just when things were getting interesting, she was relegated to the position of hall monitor.' - I rest much case about authenticity of language or phrase for historical novels, especially ones centred around England.

Location 17903: 'Well, that is just swell dandy fine.' - see comment above and insert derisive snort.

Location 20437: 'rested a shoulder on the sidewall ...' - oh dear, oh dear, oh dear what would be wrong with just 'leant against the wall wit a furrowed brow'?

As mentioned in the previous posts, I will rate each book separately and then given an overall rating to the box set at the end.

Happy reading.

Kay xoxox









View all my reviews

#394 ~ Tales of MI7: The Kramski Case

Tales of Mi7: The Kramski Case by J.J. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars







JJ Ward, the Author very kindly sent me a copy of this book in return for an Honest Review (actually, you'd never get any other kind from me!).

At the start of this read I wasn't sure what to expect, it's a fairly plain cover after all .... so was astonished when I found that I was getting a bit annoyed when real life popped its head up and expected me to do stuff, rather than be left alone to read this. It certainly was a real page turner.

Having read it, I now love the fact that the cover is plain, it made me feel a like I should be meeting a man in dark glasses in a park somewhere to pick it up.

The subject matter would at first hint at full on "macho" type reading, but I'm a pink and frilly girlie and there was still plenty to keep me interested. There were quite a few strong females characters in this novel too, all written really, really well.

Not only did the Author conjure up some really great characters, but the dialogue was interesting and snappy, which made the whole Novel stand out as being Ian Fleming meets modern day, but written to perfection. Well done Mr Ward, you are now most definitely right at the top of favourite Authors' List. This is the kind of writing that would convert so well to TV Screen, or better still full on action film. I loved it, loved it ...... LOVED IT and it deserved the full 5 Stars Plus from me, and that's not just because I've fallen in love with Orlov!

There were a few small Errors, but as usual will be detailed in my full Blog Post Number #394 (October 2013). After I've updated the Blog, I'm off to search up more stuff written by James.


Product Details:

You can get this as a Kindle download HERE, listed at £1.88, which given that it's such a good read is well worth the money.

Published by:  Indie Writer/Self Published
Pages:           317
Reading Age:  Adult - with little to no sexual content
Genre:           Fiction > Contemporary > Spying > Suspense

The Author has also written another book in this Series, and I will update the Review by Series section as soon as possible with the details.  He also also written The House of Charles Swinter - check out his GoodReads page HERE. 


Errors/Bug Bears:

Not that many, as as this is a Kindle download, hopefully they will be corrected shortly.

Loc 1480:  He knew what coming.

Correct to:  He knew what was coming.

Loc 2387:  On the fourth day, Joy came down into for dinner for the first time.

Correct to:  On the fourth day, Joy came down for dinner for the first time.

Loc 3053:  Bronstein wore a V-necked jumper and chinos and had his had his left hand in his pocket.

Correct to:  Bronstein wore a V-necked jumper and chinos and had his had his his left hand in his pocket.

Loc 4784:  ... decent people and set yourself up as an tin pot dictator.

I think it should be corrected to:  ... decent people and set yourself up as a tin pot dictator.

Loc 5254:  The grandma retracted into her shell then peeped out as of she might still get her feelers bitten off.

Correct to:  The grandma retracted into her shell then peeped out as if she might still get her feelers bitten off.

Loc 5262:  ... I know how I feels, believe me.

I think it should be corrected to:  I know how it feels, believe me.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

#356 - Susannah and the Spy

Susanna and the Spy

Anna Elliott

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance > Spying > Smuggling

Indie Author (Self-published)

Description:

What if the man you loved was a smuggler--or a spy?

Jobless and nearly destitute, Susanna Ward intends only to find work as a governess. She certainly has no intention of contacting her family, who cast off her father and scorned her mother years ago. But a chance encounter with a figure from her past suggests that her estranged grandfather was murdered, and that his death was connected to a local ring of smugglers, led by a mysterious figure who calls himself Captain Clark.

When Captain Clark himself appears at her door, wounded and in need of her help, Susanna must decide where her true loyalties lie. And she must also discover the truth of her grandfather's death. Otherwise the man she is rapidly falling in love with may be hanged for treason and murder. 

Product Details:

I picked this up as a free Kindle Download in early March this year, and have only just got around to reading it.  I've just checked on Amazon whilst writing this, and it is still showing as available as a free download - click HERE to get a copy.

Normally, it's listed as £8.99, which in my own personal view is a little on the high side for the length.

* * * * *

Summary/thoughts:

I'm not sure that's the best cover I've seen, it felt a little too 1970's cheap print for me.

However, once inside it was a really nice, and I have to say surprising read.

Nice little bits of dialogue between the two main characters, with a good sprinkle of chemistry and hasten to the bedroom tension.

Susannah certainly was a game one, nothing seemed to put her off, or slow her down ..... brave, or stupid? .... you decide!

I actually found it a bit reminiscent of Georgette Heyer, with a bit of Julia Quinn's more modern style and humour woven through it. 

Rating:

The cover image notwithstanding, I loved this little gem of a read, and highly recommend it.

For me 5 stars, and add Anna Elliott on to my favourite author list.

Errors/Bug Bears:

1% - "...in her father's carriage, driven by his own coachman and two footmen and drawn by the team of four handsome greys." - I am a pedant, but did all three of them drive it? ... surely it should be ".... with two footmen".

42% - "though" was used in three consecutive (and quite short) sentences.

44% - "The shadows closed in over him as he moved away, but not quickly enough for Susanna to miss this stiffness in the way he held himself" - in the context of the whole sentence it should have probably been "the".

44% and throughout the books actually - "captain" - as a Rank it should have been with a Capital Letter.  Also, the same should probably be true for things like cousin, aunt, father, wife, etc.

Apart from those really nit picking bits, it was a reasonably well delivered product.

Hugs

Kay