What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

 This author's reviews were good, and she has lots of historical fiction, so I decided to see if she were in the library. She was, so I went with her Irish history story. It was an enjoyable read, but not a compelling read. I learned a sketchy amount of Irish rebellion history, and enjoyed some interesting characters, but will probably not seek this author out again. There is also an interesting time travel twist, where the heroine goes back in time and eventually gets to stay there with her own true love.

It was a bit confusing because Anne is the heroine, the granddaughter, and goes back in time (via boat accident) to become her grandfather's mother and help raise him. I finally got the characters all straight, but had to keep reminding myself who was who! It was well done, the writing and characters interesting, but bascially pretty one-diminsional. A fascinating idea and the quoting of lots of Yeats' poetry was a nice addition. 

I think I need character development to find a story compelling. And I need a love story, if a part of the story, to be real and not sweet and devoted in every detail and instance. Love is complicated and sometimes troubling; here it was seamless and endless. A nice idea but not as interesting to me.

Bottom line? I need more substance!

The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters

 At this point in the series, Ramses has become a man, along with David, his adopted brother. They were taken under the wing of an Arab sheik or someone similar and learned manly things. This novel begins in England, with a suffragist theme and meeting, introducing the mysterious people and crimes, which then follow the family into Egypt. The sheik also gifts the young men with beautiful and talented horses. 

Nefret, David, and Ramses become a strong force in their own right, and Ramses confesses to David his lovesickness for Nefret. Amelia and Emerson are oblivious to this development, and still call them "the children." This plot involves "the children" more, and Nefret uses her charms to get into tombs and other places that Emerson, for example, can't go. There is also the character of Layla, who intrigues Ramses and ultimately rescues him. The notorious "master criminal" whom I thought was killed in an earlier book, reappears, as well as the evil Bertha. The Egyptian scenes are interesting and culturally enlightening. This plot was fairly easy to follow, and I especially enjoyed the character of Sir Edward. It turns out he was in league with the master criminal and gives up (I think?) his aspirations of winning Nefret's affections.

This book also continues the device introduced earlier that gives Ramses/Nefret's point of view every few chapters. It's a nice contrast and contributes to understanding the different threads unweaving. 

All in all a satisfying read, a fun romp, and the perfect light book to help me transition from Rapid City to St. George during the hot summer of 2021. I'm ready for a break in this series now, especially since we have now moved into our new home in St. George, and I have access to some of my favorite books. Next up, one I've longed to re-read ever since Bismarck: Prodigal Summer. 

It's a little confusing to know what book to read next...there is a published order and a chronological order.  Here's a list I recently found on Amazon that is the chronological order. Since this one is the last one I have, I want to read the next ones (if I do) in chronological order. There is definitely some confusion... at the end of this book is a "teaser" from A River in the Sky, as if it's the next one in the series! 

Amelia Peabody Mysteries in Chronological Order:

1. Crocodile on the Sandbank (1884-1885)
2. Curse of the Pharaohs (1892-1893)
3. The Mummy Case (1894-1895)
4. Lion in the Valley (1895-1896)
5. Deeds of the Disturber (1896)
6. The Last Camel Died at Noon (1897-1898)
7. The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog (1898-1899)
8. The Hippopotamus Pool (1899-1900)
9. Seeing a Large Cat (1903-1904)
10. The Ape Who Guards the Balance (1906-1907)
11. Guardian of the Horizon (1907-1908)
12. A River in the Sky (1910)
13. The Falcon at the Portal (1911-1912)
14. He Shall Thunder in the Sky (1914-1915)
15. Lord of the Silent (1915-1916)
16. The Golden One (1916-1917)
17. Children of the Storm (1919-1920)
18. Serpent on the Crown (1921-1922)
19. Tomb of the Golden Bird (1922-1923)

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The Soldier's Holiday Vow by Jillian Hart

I love Denise Anderson, a marvelous and powerful woman whom I got to know working in the temple. I asked her one day what she liked to read. She said she likes clean, get-away-from-it-all reading and suggested an author. I forgot about that conversation until she brought me this little paperback.

I should have known from the cover that this would be a lightweight book. It looks like a Hallmark movie set. I don't have the patience for Hallmark movies either, unless I'm in a certain mood. I obviously wasn't in the right mood for this because it made me ANGRY. What's up with that?

I think it's because these characters were not only shallow and predictable (as was the plot), but they the author kept repeating to the point of nausea, the same thoughts over and over and over again. So frustrating. So redundant. Yuck. Why did I stick with such shallow junk? Because I was hoping to be able to say SOMETHING positive to Denise when I return it to her. After all, this is one of her favorites. What I do I say to her? Yes, it is a get-away-from-it all book. And yes, it was squeaky clean. I guess that's all I can say.

And I will keep asking people for their suggestions, and hope I will find a good book buddy soon!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

I asked my friend (and my daughter's mother-in-law) what books she especially liked... She mentioned this one. Sylvia and I have a lot in common, so I hoped I'd like what she likes in reading. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but this book was a disappointment. When I found it used in a bookstore, I thought, "Oh, this cover looks like a Romance novel." Not a good thing, in my book. Too vapid, too one-dimensional, shallow characters and luster-less writing. But, I thought, Sylvia really likes it! So I took it home and dove in.

The writing was better than the cover promised. Descriptive and entertaining. The characters were interesting, and not one-dimensional. But the plot didn't move along, it really sauntered and took some meaningless tangents. I didn't look forward to reading it; it didn't call me like a good book does at the end of the day. The plot felt ponderous. I didn't care a lot about the characters. The plot was mildly intriguing...a daughter sets out to find out about her mother's life before she had children. The plot went back and forth between the mother's past, set in World War II and the London blitz, and the present. The backdrop of the blitz and the attendant problems was interesting but not new.

All in all, blah. With a big surprise turn at the end, but that didn't even excite me much. I may give it to Sierra and see if she likes it better. If nothing else, maybe it will give us something to talk to Sylvia about! Plus, there may be more than one book with this title, and I need to verify that this is even the right one...

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

This book was also recommended by Karla, and I see why she enjoyed it. It's a beautiful yet rough setting along the Scottish coast, has some interesting historical connections, and is a safe and clean romance. It's a very enjoyable read, but not particularly satisfying. Like Maisie Dobbs, it's going to the corner library for someone else to enjoy.

One part that intrigued me was the way this author wove the present into the past and vice versa. It was really two stories in one. That was well-done, but that wasn't enough to put it into a category that I would ever want to read it again. I think this is what romance novels are all about--safe and fluffy. I like more reality, I guess. And more interesting characters. But as a light summer read? Okay.

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

My sweet young friend in Rapid City, Carrie, often attended book club. One night we were munching on the refreshments after an Agatha Christie discussion, and she said her favorite book was this one. She loves it so much, she reads it over and over. I thought I should try it, since I love Pride and Prejudice in that same way. Maybe I would find another favorite gem. When I ordered it on Amazon, I was surprised that it seemed so shallow, even in the description. But I ordered it anyway.

What a disappointment. I think "romance" writers are either totally lacking in reality or assume their readers are. This story was so vapid, the characters so unreal and predictable that is was absolutely frustrating to read. I persevered. No joy or satisfaction at all. The ending was predictable and obvious...

In thinking about this, I understand why a busy young mom would want to escape into a pillow-soft world, But that world was not well-described or populated. Not MY kind of escape at all...glad it takes all kinds of books and all kinds of people to appreciate them!