I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so when I saw that this second book was leaving soon from Audible freebies, I thought I'd give it a goI really enjoyed the first book in this series, so when I saw that this second book was leaving soon from Audible freebies, I thought I'd give it a go.
The leads in The Perfect Rake (the first title in the series) had great banter and I enjoyed the humour of that story. The Perfect Waltz just had all the sad back stories and darkness which I had not been keen about in The Perfect Rake. All the sad reminders of the times, especially around child exploitation and abuse, are not really what I'm looking for in a historical romance.
Maybe if I was in a better mood, but it all became a little depressing and, although there was a bit of a love triangle involved, it was obvious what the outcome would be in the HEA arena for the leads (and a couple of the supporting characters as well).
If the book was shorter too, I might have continued but I still have hours remaining and the story doesn't seem to be moving forward.
Disappointing. I will still give Gracie another go but unfortunately this one was a DNF and not for me.
I have loved all of Chris Hammer’s books and put this book aside to the perfect time when I could savour it slowly. But…
I unfortunately didn’t enjoy iI have loved all of Chris Hammer’s books and put this book aside to the perfect time when I could savour it slowly. But…
I unfortunately didn’t enjoy it as much as I assumed I would.
I can’t complain about the plot on the whole. It’s very intricate and well thought out, with several different threads weaving together to resolve the murders our leads are sent to investigate.
Although, maybe at times it was too intricate? Sometimes I had to really concentrate on the business machinations of the main characters a little too much. It’s not like the typical reader would have any prior knowledge of political slush funds, water trading systems, or how a fruit and vegetable conglomerate would operate. It wasn’t exactly like reading a university thesis, but it was close. (Hammer has written a non-fiction book about the Murray-Darling Basin, so I assume everything he included in Seven is accurate.)
I hated the historical plot told via a series of letters, featuring a woman of First Nations heritage. I was supposed to become invested in this (sorry to say, very unbelievable) story of Bessie, a maid who went to live with one of the landowners; apparently all for a brief cameo from her descendants near the beginning and end of the book. It was not worth the effort. The descendants could have been complete strangers to the other characters and it would have worked just as well.
I much preferred the modern day investigations, led by Ivan Lucic, who has featured in Hammer’s previous books and is great. His partner, Nell Buchanan, who has also featured previously, is unfortunately relegated to a bit player in Seven.
Hammer doesn’t disappoint, however, when it comes to his trademark crazy names for his new supporting characters. He was on fire this time around with some gems such as Alice Figtree, Horace (and Otto) Titchfield, Athol Hasluck, Clemence Heartwood and Craven Allsop.
It’s difficult to rate the book, considering my high expectations and general apathy for parts of it. Maybe 3 ½, heading for a 4 out of 5
Comfort reads are a great thing and my go-to is definitely Mary Stewart.
Thunder on the Right was apparently the second book she wrote and, to be honesComfort reads are a great thing and my go-to is definitely Mary Stewart.
Thunder on the Right was apparently the second book she wrote and, to be honest, it shows a little. All the elements which Stewart went on to use to great effect are still there: the exotic European setting (this time, the French Pyrenees) which she describes so beautifully, an artistic and clever heroine, a physically flawed but brave hero, charging steeds, and a mystery plot that makes the heroine seem a little deranged. But…
In my mind, there’s a few reasons Thunder on the Right doesn't work quite as well as Stewart's other titles. The background of the villains is a little too complicated, for starters. I didn’t even quite understand their whole smuggling crimes. The heroine goes from having a feminist attitude, to fainting, crying and needing a strong man to hold her. There was also an odd beginning to the book which didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the novel.
I also have to mention the rather intensely uncomfortable implications of what has happened to one female character which was a little darker than I would normally expect from a Stewart book.
It’s not all bad. The main mistaken identity mystery plot and how the heroine solves it is very clever. And, there’s definitely some well written suspenseful scenes. However, if I was trying to introduce someone to Stewart’s writing, this wouldn’t be the one I’d recommend they’d read first.
Peck was 60 when, seemingly out of the blue, her husband of 25 years left her for another (of course, much younger) woman. As part of the healing procPeck was 60 when, seemingly out of the blue, her husband of 25 years left her for another (of course, much younger) woman. As part of the healing process, Peck wrote this memoir of her life from then until approximately three years later.
Although a memoir, Peck includes some lovely descriptive passages featuring her travel destinations, food, clothes and art. The book has no chapters, something I’m not usually a fan of, but Peck’s style and writing flow so well, I can’t say I actually noticed after a while. There are sad and poignant moments, as well as funny ones (I’m pretty sure nearly every review will mention *that* massage) but she mixes it up so that her story never becomes boring or her theme’s repetitive.
One theme which is there is how much further we still all have to go when it comes to gender inequity. When Jo, an educated woman who ran a successful business for several years, can still be manipulated by a man for so long, it’s kind of depressing. As is the way the law obviously sided with her ex-husband during the divorce process.
I need to mention too that I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for you to be ‘age appropriate’ to enjoy this book. There’s nothing that a younger reader wouldn’t understand and relate to at all. In fact, if some of us stop and review our choices a little earlier in life, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Peck mentions that one editor advised to change the book from a memoir to a work of fiction. She resisted but I think if she decides to head down the path of writing another (fictional) book, I’ll definitely be there.
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