Book Review: The Lady of Secrets (The Dark Queen Saga #6) by Susan Carroll

The Lady of Secrets (The Dark Queen Saga #6) by Susan Carroll:

Meg Wolfe, The Lady of Faire Isle, is a gifted healer who can find a cure for almost any ailment. But she’s also the daughter of Cassandra Claire, a mad witch and heretic with a notorious history.

Meg’s infamous lineage makes her a target from both those who want to use her extraordinary talents for good and those who want to use them for evil.

One man in particular needs her special skills: to execute his revenge on a king. History and a kingdom hang in the balance as Meg tries to navigate the delicate line between right and wrong. And what she discovers is that she can no longer trust anyone or anything…not even her own heart.

I have long loved reading the stories in the Dark Queen Saga that Susan Carroll has created. The story that delves deeper into the story of Meg the new Lady of the isle is no different. For me the book started out a little bit slow but once it picked up I could not set it down. I am slightly baffled and slightly annoyed by some reviews I have come across on the internet when folks have said this was the first book by this author they have read and rated it down because they did not understand some of the past references, well it clearly states it is part of a series if you haven’t read the rest don’t judge the book because of that (end rant sorry about that!)

Once again we are treated to sweeping landscapes and we get a treat this time for much of the time is spend in England. I love this era and England, and Meg has a lot of things to overcome. Danger meets her at almost every turn and of course where she least expects to find it she finds some love. If you want a solid series with danger, love and a touch of magic this is one that you will enjoy. I am so happy that Meg got her happy ending, she deserved it after the tough childhood she had and then the loss of her Father. Some characters will always touch close to your heart for me Meg is one of them and the fierce Seraphine as well how could I forget her. She is loyal and brash and she finds her happiness again too after a lot of bitter loss. I hope we get another book in this series because I want to spend more time with my old friends.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Booking through Thursday 3/19/15


This one is Hosted at the Booking through Thursday Blog.

What new book would make you spring out of your chair and run to the bookstore? (Or library, or nearest computer screen, depending on your book-delivery-method of choice.)

None have in a while, although if I was caught up on the Black Dagger Brotherhood I would do that one. However when the new Harry Dresden comes out….I will be leaping up for that.

Teaser Tuesday 3/17/15

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

As Bess advanced, it was the Cardinal who looked at her with calm concern and held out a fat jeweled hand to stop her. It was the first time in all these years she had ever seen his fleshy face full of anything but condescension for her, “Perhaps you should not get to close my dear they are quite certain now it is the sweating sickness.” ~ The Queens Rival by Diane Haeger pg 201

Musing Monday 3/16/15

Musing Monday is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

Musing Monday asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

Another Happy New Year from Fire & Ice and here is the first Musing Monday of the year!

Musing Mondays asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer each week…

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION:How often do you use your local library? Are you happy with their availability?

I use it at least once a month though I tend to use it for the online choices. Ebooks and Audio books. I am happy enough with the availability only thing i don’t like is so many of my books often have a very long hold and wait list.

Booking Through Thursday 3/12/15


This one is Hosted at the Booking through Thursday Blog.

Two part question:

In an ideal world, what kind of book cases would you have? Built-ins? Barrister ones with glass doors? The cheapest you could find so you could have lots of them?

And … what kind of bookcases do you REALLY have?

In an ideal world I would have fully inbuilt to the wall book cases. Like an elaborate old english library. That would make me happy in an ideal world.

Presently I have a mish mash variety of book cases including my closet.

Teaser Tuesday 3/10/15

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Anne shifted in the bed, trying to get comfortable. “She has recently given birth. She has a good supply of milk.”

Cecily gave a dismissive gesture with one plump hand, “That is the least of it. A wet nurse must be of good character, else the child will drink in her bad habits when he suckles. I am not surprised that Lady Hungerford did not know this only have had two children.” ~ At the Kings pleasure by Kate Emerson

Musing Monday 3/9/15 ~ I read what I want!

Musing Monday is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

Musing Monday asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

Another Happy New Year from Fire & Ice and here is the first Musing Monday of the year!

Musing Mondays asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer each week…

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Who (or what) influences your reading most?

My Mood seems to b a major influence. Lately I have been on a hug Tudor era kick. I am not sure why, I mean I always have loved the era and have ton’s of books from the era but lately it is back to back of the Tudor’s. I feel bad I marked a shopaholic to read and meant to start it because I love the books, alas. I got hooked on the Tudor era for now. I am sure I will get the shopaholic one done soon though. As for who, no one really. I read what I want.

Teaser Tuesday 3/3/15

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“I swear by God I never abused my sovereigns bed.” Wept pleadingly, the words were lost on the wind one that blew over a nation that cared nothing for the young Queen nor the grim fate she steadily neared. Yet, horror-striken, she spoke to them still, a silent testimony to the truth no one wished to hear, “In the name of God and all his holy angels and on the salvation of my soul, I am innocent of the crimes for which I am condemned!” ~ page 1 The Queens mistake by Diane Haeger

Musing Monday 3/2/15

Musing Monday is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

Musing Monday asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

Another Happy New Year from Fire & Ice and here is the first Musing Monday of the year!

Musing Mondays asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer each week…

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What’s your favorite genre? Why?

My favorite genre is Historical Fiction because I love historical things and i love good fiction. I know that seems like a simplistic answer but it is the simple truth for me. It combines two things I love.

Book Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) by Alan Bradley

It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.

For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

I really wanted to like The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It was chosen as the March reading for a book group that I plan to join I wanted to like this book so we could have good chats about it. Alas, I just could not get into this book very well. The girl who is the main character Flavia she is just, I can’t like her. I don’t mind precocious children at all but this goes above and beyond. The writing style of it all being from her point of view, it is just a little to much for me.

The book is not bad so much as it is just a bit to much for me. Ah well what can you do right? It was not a total waste of time but I think I am going to stick with Sherlock Holmes when I want smart crime solvers.

My Gemstone Rating:

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