Book Review: Murder by Misrule

Author: Anna Castle
Title: Murder by Misrule (Francis Bacon #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, and Romance
Pages: ebook
First Published: June 8th, 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf  (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"Francis Bacon is charged with investigating the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray's Inn. He recruits his unwanted protégé Thomas Clarady to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a privateer, Clarady will do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder. Bacon's powerful uncle Lord Burghley suspects Catholic conspirators of the crime, but other motives quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend for the murdered man's legal honors and wealthy clients. Highly-placed courtiers are implicated as the investigation reaches from Whitehall to the London streets. Bacon does the thinking; Clarady does the fencing. Everyone has something up his pinked and padded sleeve. Even the brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss — and in danger — until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule."

Like earlier stated, I read this for the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Awwwww Francis Bacon. I don't know why, but I liked him a lot. Maybe it's the fact that he reminded me of me at a lot of times. He also reminded me of Sherlock Holmes from time to time. THAT may have to do with the fact that he had a murder mystery on his hands. I wish that he didn't add the gang of kids with him, but it did add more to the story, but still. I didn't like Tom and his friends. Okay, Ben was okay and so was Trumpet (until near the end). Tom was annoying and I think Clara deserved someone better. Oh well. Clara didn't make it easy for Tom, so that made me feel better. She got screwed once by her first husband and wasn't about to make THAT mistake twice. Glad she was a smart girl.

The two twists near the end surely did catch me by surprise. Especially who was the murderer and the conspirator. Kuddos to the author for getting me! haha. I'm normally really good at mysteries, but this got me and I liked it. 

There were a couple dry spots that did have me skimming a little bit. 0.0 However, the adventure was fun and I'm excited to see what adventures poor Mr. Bacon has to endure. haha. The author did a fantastic job blending historical fiction with real history and with a nice mystery on top like a cherry. Wonderful. :)

In the end, I liked the mystery...it was a good one and I didn't expect it! I had my own list of suspects that surely did look suspicious. I hated Tom and his "friends". I'm glad that the author made Clara a strong girl who didn't completely give in to Tom and his "love". She made him prove it and made him work for it. I loved her and I wish she had more screen-time. Also, I wish that Francis Bacon had more screen-time as well. Oh well. This book would be fun for those that like historical fiction and/or mysteries. Out of five stars I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Francis Bacon, Clara, Ben, and Queen Elizabeth
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Tom and Casper 

Wordless Wednesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Beach Reading

To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or see the list of future topics click here.

Since I have nothing else to post today, I shall do the TTT. This week's topic is:  Ten Books That Will Be In My Beach Bag This Summer. 

(There is no order to my list)

-The Host by Stephanie Meyer

- Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

-The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

-Norwegian Wood  by Haruki Murakami 

- Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

- To Die For by Sandra Byrd

- A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward

- Murder by Misrule by Anna Castle

- The Bride Prize: Allan's Miscellany 1839 by Sandra Schwab

- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 

Book Review: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Author: Vicki Pettersson
Title: The Taken (Celestial Blues #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 432
First Published:June 4th, 2012
Where I Got It: Borrowed from Library

"Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he's an angel, but that doesn't make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he's been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine "Kit" Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif's search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn't Grif's biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . ."

First off...I LOVE, LOVE the cover. The girl is pretty and her dress is gorgeous. I want it!!!!!!! Also...I want the man in the background. 0_0 *drools* Perfect model to depict Grif and all his smexyness.   

Grif was simply an amazing character. Sure, he was grumpy, but he had a heart of gold. Yes, he said some rude stuff to Kit, but he was stuck on wanting to find not only his own murder, but the murder of his wife, Evie. He loved Kit, you could see that from the moment he seen her, but he felt like letting Kit in would be betraying Evie and he feared that Kit would be taken from him. 

Grif is an angel and he escorts murdered souls to the Everlast (aka Heaven); he helps them move on from their murder. Well...he escorts Nic (Kit's best friend and co-worker) after her murder, but he does a big no-no. He allows her back into her human body for a few minutes JUST so she can change clothes. Silly man. She leaves a hint to Kit about who murdered her and who the baddie is. This pisses off the Pures (his bosses and higher up angels), so they banish Grif to Earth, so he can watch Kit die and then he'd escort her. However....Grif can't watch innocent Kit die, so he intervenes AGAIN when he saves her. Through this the two of them team up to find the murder of not only Nic, but he makes her help him find the murder of Evie Shaw. 

I honestly wish that this whole book was in Grif's POV. I truly loved him and his story. Kit? Ugh. She got better near the end, but I wanted to punch her. She was overly positive even though her best friend is murdered and she was nearly killed. Also, she was over-the-top on being a Rockabilly. Meh. I get it! This was all she thought about throughout the whole story alongside with how sexy, but crazy Grif is. C'mon woman. I honestly can see why her ex left her. Yes, her ex was a total asshat, but she was annoying. Even Grif, the man from the era, told her she was over-the-top and that the '50s weren't all that it was cracked up to be. She settled down a little bit towards the end, but still....

Besides for the annoyance called Kit, I really was enthralled in the story. I could hardly put this down! I had to know who was the murder and head of the prostitution ring. I had it fingered out sort of, but I didn't grasp the fact on how BIG this was. There were multiple baddies that were working for and helping the main guy. If this was real life, that would be how it really was. Corruption is a poison. I loved the ending. Yes, it does leave a couple unanswered questions, but it was done in a way that you could leave this book and never read the rest in the series and be able to sleep at night. However, I really do want to read on. :) I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO EVIE! Even though I want Grif to be with Kit, I still must know. 

In the end, I did enjoy the journey. The mystery was good and the characters were written alright. Kit was annoying, but I'm glad that she simmered down a little bit. Perhaps I'll actually like her in the next book. We shall see. I would recommend this to those that like paranormal romances mixed with murder and mysteries. I especially suggest those that like Angels to give this a shot. Out of five stars, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Grif, Bridget, Charlotte, Nic (wish she had more spotlight), and the big baddie (he was truly corrupt and evil, but had a good mask to hide all the evil).

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Kit (she did get better), the big baddie (he was a nasty one) and his minions (no names).