Thursdays In the Park

Title: Thursdays in the Park
Author: Hilary Boyd
Published: August 4th 2011 by Quercus
Format: Paperback, 352 pagess
Genre: Romance
Source: Amazon Vine

I think I am offended by the person that called this book “granny-porn”. This is nowhere near some of the “mommy-porn” that I have come across and if a woman approaching her 60th birthday, stuck in a failing marriage meets a gentlemen and starts up a relationship, is too much for some, then I am wondering about you - there are some out there that think once you are past 50, your life should revolve around cats and rocking chairs.

After working in her health food store during the week, Jeanie spends Thursdays in the park with her granddaughter. On one of their usual outings, Jeanie meets Ray, a kind man watching over his grandson. Ray sparks an interest in Jeanie and since her own husband has not visited their bed in ten years, Jeanie relishes the attention that she is receiving.

Of course, Jeanie’s friends and family are questioning her sanity, but why should they; they have no idea the man that her husband has turned into. Or for that fact, the man that he has always been behind closed doors. When George’s reasoning is revealed, as to why he left their bed, I was neither surprised or for that matter, interested. It was a new twist, I will give the author that much.

Oh goodness, I just read another review that stated this is a “fifty-shades style book”, no it is not. I thought that this book was a sweet romance that did not involve all the silly junior high school drama that a typical 20-something romance writes about. This was a friendship that turned into more and gave a new spark to a woman that thought that she was dying on the vine.

Our Lady of Pain

Title: Our Lady of Pain
Author: Marion Chesney aka M.C. Beaton
Published: May 29th 2007 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Format: Paperback, Pgs 256
Genre: Historical Mystery
Series: Edwardian Murder Mystery #4

After swearing that I would never read another book in this series, what do I do but pick up the next and final book of the series and midway through wonder what was I thinking.

The farce of Lady Rose Summer and Captain Harry Cathcart’s engagement is continuing, but there just might be a crack in the armor when Lady Rose realizes that another man that she had suddenly taken an interest in is weak and if there is any more danger heading her way, she will need a stronger man – someone like Cathcart. Whereas, Cathcart is trying his best to become what Lady Rose needs but he is easily distracted with business and when they are separated, they both see what the other has to offer.

Rose’s companion Daisy finally marries Harry’s manservant Beckett, but once in, Daisy is bored to tears and Beckett is turning into a person that no one in their right mind could stand being in a room with.

All of this takes place in the background as Harry takes on courtesan Dolores Duval as a client. Jealous Rose threatens the vamp and next thing you know Dolores is found dead. Yada, Yada, Yada, Rose is found to not be the murderer but that part ends too soon, so Marion Chesney or MC Beaton, depending on which version of this book that you are reading, adds in more intrigue and foolishness among the wealthy and low and behold we reach the end and exhale a sigh of relief that this is the final book in the Lady Rose Summer saga.

It is truly amazing how you can love one series (Agatha Raisin) from an author but barely be able to pick up other books that she writes in other series. Now back to Agatha and we can finally say good-bye to Lady Rose.

Rooms

Title: Rooms
Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: September 23rd 2014 by Ecco
Format: Hardcover; Pgs 320
Genre: Ghost Story

I tried, but I could not make it more than half way through this book. I lost track of who was talking, I really could not care one way or another about what was going on. This book was too meandering with no end in sight.

Ever since, Before I Fall, I have been searching for a Lauren Oliver book that I liked. I have gone through the Delirium series and Panic, in hopes that something would bring me back to the feeling that I had had for the first book, but that was not to be.

Told in the perspective of two ghosts, the reader learns of the Walker family after the patriarch Richard Walker dies and his ex-wife and children return.

Having made it through 150 pages, I cannot tell you anymore of this book, because either it had not yet been revealed or there was just nothing to tell. I kept waiting for that spark but it never arrived so it was time to move along.

Murder in the Mystery Suite

Title: Murder in the Mystery Suite
Author: Ellery Adams
Published: August 5th 2014 by Berkley
Format: Paperback, Pgs 304
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Book Retreat Mysteries #1

Increasingly, cozy mysteries are taking on the reputation of plugging in a woman that is suddenly on her own, a man to the rescue, a pet, a small town, and a murder. So, in a way, this book has broken out of some of the clichés and engages the reader with a slight change and an interesting twist as to what the lead character’s purpose is.

Jane Stewart is the resort manager of Storyton Hall, a resort catering to booklovers who want to get away from modern technology and meet others with their same hobby. This is not your typical resort; it is a castle of sorts that has been transported from England to Virginia one brick at a time. Storyton has its secrets and when Jane’s Aunt Octavia takes ill, it is up to the librarian, the chauffeur, and others to train Jane in her new role as Guardian of Storyton.

That was an interesting change of pace and much more attention-grabbing than the murder mystery involving two deaths, also known as Rip Van Winkles, that occurred at the resort during a Murder and Mayhem Week where mystery lovers dress in the style of their best loved literary crime solvers and participate in a scavenger hunt with the winner being presented with a first edition book.

Granted, this prize created more interest than you could imagine when Aunt Octavia realizes that she wrapped the wrong book and it goes missing. Apparently, this book has a hidden secret that Storyton has been entrusted to keep and now Jane must retrieve it and its secret.

This mystery has very interesting characters from Hem and Fitz, the twin sons of Jane to the staff to Aunt Octavia and Uncle Aloysius even to Edwin the brother of her best friend Eloise. Each person plays their role and with this being only the first in the series, I am sure that each character will add surprise and intrigue to the goings on at Storyton Hall.