A- Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended ReadsA Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery / Agent/Spies/Undercover / dysfunctional family / female friendship / Historical / London / mental health / murder / Post WWII / traumatic-past5 Comments
The Right Sort Marriage Bureau was founded in 1946 by two disparate individuals – Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (whose husband was killed in the recent World War) and Miss Iris Sparks who worked as an intelligence agent during the recent conflict, though this is not discussed. While the agency flourishes in ... more >
Book Reviews / Conversationsarranged-marriage / believability / fake relationship / forced proximity / high stakes / marriage-of-convenience / maturity / motive / tropes23 Comments
Janine: In our April open thread I lamented the omnipresence of fake relationships in contemporary romances so this seems like a good time to have a conversation about the trope. I’ve sometimes seen it discussed along with the marriage of convenience trope (readers compare them or group them under the ... more >
Book Reviews / C+ Reviewschildhood friends / Contemporary / Dual Timelines / f/f / friends-to-lovers / Italy / LGBTQIA+6 Comments
Ice queen Ashlin has one passion: art. That shared interest drew Olivia to her for an intense childhood friendship, but after that friendship’s disastrous end, Olivia never wanted to see Ashlin again. Years later, when the two women run into each other in Florence, Olivia is shocked to discover that ... more >
B Reviews / Book ReviewsA Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery / London / mystery / Post WWII / short-story2 Comments
Sparks and Bainbridge of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau return in this short story from Allison Montclair as their expansion into a new office – and acquisition of a new desk – results in unexplainable phenomena that can only mean that their new digs are haunted! In London, 1946, The ... more >
B Reviews / Book ReviewsEngland / epistolary / Historical / World War IINo Comments
World War II is now in its third year and although nothing can dent the unwavering patriotism of Henrietta and her friends, everyone in the Devonshire village has their anxious moments. Henrietta takes up weeding and plays the triangle in the local orchestra to take her mind off things; the ... more >
B- Reviews / Book ReviewsArt / medieval / non-fictionNo Comments
This abundantly illustrated book is an illuminating exploration of the impact of medieval imagery on three hundred years of visual culture. From the soaring castles of Sleeping Beauty to the bloody battles of Game of Thrones, from Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings to mythical beasts in Dungeons & ... more >