His Wicked Reputation/Madeline Hunter/432 pgs

This is the first book in a trilogy. Gareth is the bastard son of a duke who's made a fairly good life for himself both in business and in pleasure. He returns to England from Europe upon news of his oldest legitimate brother's death. He and the oldest brother did not get along but once he arrives back it's clear that he has a much closer relationship with his other two half-brothers. One of the brothers enlists Gareth to help track down some missing paintings.

With no other family but a younger sister, Eva has had to make her own way for years. She's an artist who is currently "borrowing" paintings from the attic of one of the ducal properties, copying them, and then selling the copies through a middleman.

I really liked both characters in this story--Eva was a level-headed heroine and Gareth was a down-to-earth hero but I don't think they spent nearly enough time together. They seemed to be heading in opposite directions much of the time. The subplot of the missing paintings did not intrigue me at all, mostly because their being found would have no impact on the main couple. In fact, the paintings were not even found by the end of the book and I suspect this subplot will play into the other two books in the trilogy. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure I've already figured what happened to the paintings, not that I really care.

So, great characters, wonderful writing (Hunter never fails there), too much subplot, too little romance. I'm unsure if I'll read the other two books in the series.

Pollyanna Grows Up/ Eleanor Porter/ 216 pages

Pollyanna Grows Up was written by Eleanor Porter as a sequel to Pollyanna.  Pollyanna has recovered from her accident and has returned home to Aunt Polly and her new husband Dr. Chilton.  At the request of a nurse Pollyanna goes to Boston to bring her special magic to her spinster sister, Ruth Carew.  Miss Carew has lived in a dark dreary world ever since the disappearance of her nephew, Jamie.  Pollyanna is amazed at Boston, the size and number of people excite her.  It's not long before she makes friends and introduces Miss Carew to the 'stray people' she befriends.  Over the course of the book Pollyanna becomes a young woman facing yet another obstacle to overcome with her glad game.  The reader will be satisfied with the ending as all becomes clear and friends become more.  The only draw back in reading this book is setting it in time.  Pollyanna, Aunt Polly and Dr. Chilton spend six years in Europe.  It seems that they would have been there during World War I yet this never enters into the book.

Interview with the Vampire / Anne Rice / 368 pages / November Challenge (horror)

This first novel of Rice's Vampire Chronicles presents the vampire Louis telling his story to the skeptical human reporter Daniel.  The tale winds its way through New Orleans and Europe, from Louis's vampire birth in 1791 until the early 20th century.  The book hints at many sexual themes, but none of the relationships are explicitly described.  Louis tells of attractions to two older male vampires, a human female, and even a 5-year-old turned vampire by his maker, Lestat.  The novel primarily chronicles events in Louis's vampiric life and his feelings about those events.  He begins as a young man (he is 25 when he is turned) grieving for his brother.  He is excited by the new perceptions he gains as a vampire and seeks out all the beauty of humanity, taking in music and art and literature.  As he finds it necessary to kill humans rather than animals, he becomes more and more disturbed by his vampiric nature and begins to believe he is forever damned.  The novel inspired the 1994 film, Interview with the Vampire, starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.  It can be surmised that Stephenie Meyer has drawn on Vampire Chronicles for her Twilight series; many of the descriptions of vampires' skin and perceptions and the theme of guilt in some vampires over taking human life are similar.  The next book in the series is The Vampire Lestat.

An Echo in the Bone / Diana Gabaldon / 820 pages

Having almost caught up with the author of the Outlander series, I can safely say this has been the most enjoyable series to read.  I find it amazing that while describing time travel and more bad luck than any one family should ever have to contend with, the author keeps the characters themselves realistic.  Beware reading further for spoilers.


One thread that has been running through the last few books was whether young Ian would ever return home - in this book he finally does.  Relations between the Frasers and John Grey come to a head.  While resolving some cliffhangers from past books, this one opened up several new cliffhangers.  I can't wait to see how they are resolved.

Doctor Death" a Madeleine Karno Mystery/Lene Kaaberbol/289 pgs.

Madeleine Karno wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a pathologist. The problem is that the year is 1894, and that kind of ambition in a woman is considered "unseemly." When seventeen-year old Cecile Montaine is found dead in Varbourg, Madeleine's father is called in to try to determine the cause of death, even though the family will not permit a full autopsy. Shortly after, the priest who presided over Cecile's funeral is found brutally murdered. When Madeleine's father is incapacitated with a broken leg, Madeleine is able to play a more active role in the investigations.  There are twists and turns in this mystery, with an overall air of melancholy. It's the first in a new series by this author, but I have mixed feelings about the effort. At this point, I prefer the author's Nina Borg series.