I Knew It Would Be Good, But I Didn't Know It'd be *Good*

Murder & Miss Austen's Ball by Ridgway Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. It is the best thing I've read in months, and I'm going to have a hard time moderating my praise.

I won this book in a giveaway and was really excited about it. Of course, I already love Austenesque books, so I was inclined to like it no matter what. My favorite series is the terrific Jane Austen mystery series by Stephanie Barron, and as this is right in the same vein, I was cautiously optimistic that it would be pleasant, maybe pretty good. I was pleased to find I had set my expectations too low, that it actually was fantastic, good enough that I could easily promote it without hedging. So here I go.

The novel has a good sense of place, expert pacing, and a tight plot with action and adventure, and it is built on the chassis of an entertaining and satisfying mystery. It also has engaging characters, including Jane and the dancing master and many others, especially a number of minor characters among the working class. But what I love most is watching awesome characters be awesome.

Jane--clever and headstrong and disarming--gets to surprise people, and win them over, and change their opinions from time to time. It's fun to watch her find ways around rules of propriety and get things done that no one else can do or would care to do. Mr. Worth, the dancing master--capable, tough, and world-wise, though compassionate--gets to amaze with his music, and show his nerve when nerve is needed, and demonstrate an impeccable sense of honor. Both befriend people of worth and kindness in the course of their adventure, earning allies by dint of their own worth. It's not that they make all the right decisions, or that everything works out just as they hope; it's not that easy. But they show us why they are the heroes of the story. The reader gets to cheer for them and celebrate when Jane shows she knows how to ride a horse, thank you, or when Worth casually intimidates someone trying to take advantage of Jane's brother, or when the two of them do something clever. That's what makes it fun.

It isn't all mystery or driving plot, though it moves along well; there are plenty of scenes where we see Jane visiting with her sister, or Worth and Jane drinking tea or coffee and just talking, or Worth stopping off with his relatives--little interludes of pleasant banter or character development and world-building between scenes with action. I found the pacing just to my taste and never grew weary reading (as I too often do). It was well done.

Austen fans, I think, will enjoy this, as will readers of mystery. And since he acknowledges Stephanie Barron's support in the end notes, I can shelve this next to her books without feeling weird about it...

; )

Recommended.

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Where Ya Gotta Fall In Love With Léonie At Least a Little

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Georgette Heyer may have been quite young when she wrote this, but I found it very entertaining and well written. I've read and enjoyed books from much later in her career, and I can see where she matured in certain areas, but she already knew here how to tell a great story with flawed, quirky, engaging characters. I liked it.

This tells the story of [sort of a spoiler here] a young woman rescued from poverty and ill treatment. Lord Avon, usually a rake but capable of kindness, sees something in her and makes her his ward, seeing that she is established in a proper home (with his sister) and given an education into life among the elite. Besides being young and beautiful, Léonie is high spirited, confident, and original, with unaffected manners, and these qualities endear her to Paris society. She is a hit, but she is also a mystery, and the novel tells both how she manages in the new world and how her true identity was discovered.

I don't care for the very first part, when Léonie is passed off as Lord Avon's page, pretending to be the boy she appeared when he rescued her. That section seems odd and almost pointless in terms of plot development. But from the time he takes her to England for her education, I found it super engaging and fun. I thought the ending might be a little different, but it was satisfying and logical and worked very well. As I always do when I read a book by this author, I wonder why it isn't being made into a movie or series. I could see ten awesome episodes out of this book...

Anyway, this is recommended for Austen readers (where I was introduced to this author) and romance readers in general, as well as historical mystery fans. I think most people will fall in love with Leonie. :)

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Cozy Fantasy of Manners on the Continent

The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first book, and I think I liked this one a bit more.

Like the first, this is told through letters, but also through diary entries and some other writings. It works quite well; a few scenes are told through multiple points of view, and I liked seeing the action that way.

I like Cece and Kate, but I have to admit that, two books in, I still mix up their husbands. I almost need to draw myself some pictures or get action figures to help me differentiate the guys. They might almost be Man 1 and Man 2. But that's not too central to my enjoyment in reading this, as it's the female characters who are most interesting and narrate the story.

I like the mix of manners and action. The mystery and even violence have a gentler feel, more of a cozy mystery sensibility. There are real stakes (as there are in cozy mysteries), but I don't get too agitated. It's chill, a pleasant read, and suitable for just before bedtime. (Am I the only one who won't read some genres other than horror before going to sleep? Also, I don't want to work so hard...) I like the way characters sit down to breakfast to have toast and talk about the day and then go do magic and fight off highwaymen.

Jane Austen meets Sir Walter Scott, sorta.

Which is perfect for me.

Recommended if you like your action with ☕ and antiquities.

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