The Night Circus by Erin Morgestern

Review by Cheryl G. (Poncer)

I am not a reader of fantasy, nor a believer in it. But maybe after devouring The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern….
I ordered this book through PaperBackSwap for a mere credit, just to see what the hype was about and from the moment I admired the cover art, though the last page of the book, I was not disappointed.

The story begins, “The circus arrives without warning” and I am very glad that I opened my mind up enough to begin to read.

Throughout I remained a bit confused. But now looking back, that was not due to my inexperience reading fantasy, but rather Ms. Morgenstern’s plan.

A circus set in the late 1800’s, with enough well-developed characters to make it enjoyable, is the setting for the book. Le Cirque des Reves. The Circus of Dreams.

But the circus is so much more than just an old-time circus and the characters were really the focus of the story. At the center, a hero and a heroine, who either alone would have made a great story the author makes them so real. And the supporting characters too, are real enough to make one hate or love them. To cheer for them, or wish them gone.

And like so many time since becoming a member at PBS, the overwhelming feeling that we are all together greater than the sum of our parts.
Get a copy and read this book. I am certain you will be glad you did.

Hot SEAL Lover by Lynn Raye Harris

Review by Cynthia F. (frazerc)

This is another great read from Lynn Raye Harris. It delivers all the things we expect from her: hot alpha guys, fast-paced action, a hero and heroine laden with ‘issues’ and a connection between them so strong it can’t be denied [although they try, REALLY try], hot sex scenes and a satisfying conclusion. For those who have been following the series we also see many of the characters we have grown to know and love along the way.

I must admit to occasionally wanting to smack the heroine. Her issues led her to a one night stand with the hero and then she left. The hero has his own problems, especially the guilt he feels for not rescuing his sister. Things might have stopped there if there wasn’t a revolution…

When the rebels trap a bunch of Americans [including Christina] the hero’s team is missioned in to get them out of the war zone. It’s a long and dangerous journey and adrenaline is a great prioritizer. Sometimes the truth does set you free…

A great story with a happy ending. What more can one ask?

Can you read this as a stand alone? Yes. Is it better if you read it as part of the series? Yes, it enriches the reading experience if you do. No, you don’t have to read them in order but again, it is better if you do.

Hostile Operations Team series

Book 1: Hot Pursuit (Matt & Evie)

Book 2: Hot Mess (Sam & Georgie)

Book 3: Hot Package (Billy & Olivia)

Book 4: Dangerously Hot (Kev & Lucky)

Book 5: Hot Shot (Jack & Gina)

Book 6: Hot Rebel (Nick & Victoria)

Book 7: Hot Ice (Garrett & Grace)

Book 8: Hot & Bothered (Ryan & Emily)

Book 9: Hot SEAL (Dane & Ivy)

Book 10: Hot Protector (Chase & Sophie)

Book 11: Hot SEAL Lover (Remy & Christina)

Five Roundabouts to Heaven by John Bingham

Review by Matt (BuffaloSavage)

John Bingham (1908 – 1988) worked in British counter-intelligence. He was also a writer of crime novels, spy novels and mysteries. Readers that like novels by John LeCarre, William Haggard, Patricia Highsmith, or Ruth Rendell’s Barbara Vine novels will like Bingham’s psychological realism and unflinching view of fallible human beings.  In this novel, also known as ‘The Tender Poisoner,’ the characters feel driven to adultery. This leads to lying, scheming to steal the GF’s of other guys, and plotting murder for tender and compassionate reasons.

Definitely not escapist fiction, but a solid crime story. Not a mystery, but rather an exploration of the psychology that could prompt an average person to contemplate murder, and ultimately to be able to commit murder.

The Case of the Calendar Girl by Erle Stanley Gardner

Review by Matt B. (buffalosavage)

The 57th Perry Mason novel begins by introducing us readers to George Ansley, an honest contractor. George feels lowdown at having to bribe influence peddler and extortionist Meredith Borden to call off building inspectors that are giving George’s crews a hard time. Distracted, George is involved a car accident. The gorgeous driver of the other car persuades him to drive her home, despite possible injuries. The beguiling beauty sidetracks him even more by smiling, acting fragile and helpless, showing extreme legginess and, most diverting of all, kissing him.

After beauty’s adverse effects on his better judgment wear off, he begins to fear that he’s taken a legal misstep. That same night Honest George consults Perry Mason, buttonholing the super-lawyer and his office manager Della Street in a restaurant. Mason wants to examine the accident scene, so they return to Borden’s estate. They get scared off by savage watchdogs and barbed wire catches threads from their clothes. As it turns out, Borden is killed about this time and the police are combing the city for witnesses and suspects. In efforts to save George from the gas chamber, Mason tracks down a couple of calendar girls – women who pose for amateur and professional photographers for ads and what they called in the Sixties “art photography.”

To my mind, late Masons, say from 1958 through the Sixties, are readable but just okay. I get qualms. For instance, in this one, no question is raised whether or not the murder gun had fingerprints on it. Although it provides rather an interesting twist, it also seems far-fetched when Mason saves a client by tossing a party to the cops and then takes on the tossed one as his client. Despite the fact that Gardner’s narrative pyrotechnics always overshadowed fair play, usually we cheated readers can forgive Mason sitting on evidence and not giving us a chance to figure the case out. In this one, the lack of fair play is harder to forgive since there is more explaining and reported speech than showing us action. It’s mildly disappointing that Gardner’s usual narrative magic fails to pull rabbits out of hats in this one.

After 56 Mason novels, we can’t blame Gardner for trying new gimmicks, for the sake of his own sanity and ours. In this one, I don’t think the tricks and devices worked as well as they did in other late Fifties outings such as Gilded Lily (1956), Lucky Loser (1957), Daring Decoy (1957), Foot-Loose Doll (1958), and Long-Legged Models (1958).