Books... NaNoLoMo#1
NaNoLoMo #1
1 Nov 12
The Chocolatier's Wife by Cindy Lynn Speer
(c)2012 Dragonwell Publishing
ISBN-13 978-1-4524477-6-6
Part mystery, part magic, with a measure of old fashioned romance make The Chocolatier's Wife a delightful sweet. In a world where marriages are arranged in infancy by use of a 'Mating Spell' William, of the House of Almsley, was looking like a forever bachelor when he went to see the Wise Woman on his seventh birthday. Finally, his perfect mate appears, but to his proper Merchanting family's horror, she is from the North Country. After the end of a war 500 years before there has been little communication between the North and the South. All 'proper' Southerners know that the people of the North are Hags who eat their dead and 'just anyone' can practice magic. Barbarians, indeed - but are they... ?
Over the years William develops a relationship by correspondence with his intended, while progressing in the management of the family business and becoming a fine captain of his own merchant ship. When the time comes to marry he shocks the family by announcing he intends to quit sailing and open a chocolate shop. Appalling!
Miss Tasmin Bey has grown up with William's letters and gifts and developed an affection for him, but is teaching Herb Lore at the University (!!?!) and wondering if he will ever come for her when she learns that he has been arrested for murder! Her family, who are not much inclined to have their daughter marry on of the 'barbarians of the South' see this as an opportunity to void the marriage arrangement. Instead, Tasmin resigns her post at the University and flies (after a fashion) to his aid. It is quickly apparent that William didn't commit the crime, and up to Tasmin to get to the bottom of it.
A well constructed story with murder, magic (and pirates!!!) there are some clever sub-plots and a few completely unpredictable twists. Speer writes a fast paced tale that engages to the very end.
(****) Four Stars
This entry was originally posted at http://somewhatbent.dreamwidth.org/449010.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
1 Nov 12
The Chocolatier's Wife by Cindy Lynn Speer
(c)2012 Dragonwell Publishing
ISBN-13 978-1-4524477-6-6
Part mystery, part magic, with a measure of old fashioned romance make The Chocolatier's Wife a delightful sweet. In a world where marriages are arranged in infancy by use of a 'Mating Spell' William, of the House of Almsley, was looking like a forever bachelor when he went to see the Wise Woman on his seventh birthday. Finally, his perfect mate appears, but to his proper Merchanting family's horror, she is from the North Country. After the end of a war 500 years before there has been little communication between the North and the South. All 'proper' Southerners know that the people of the North are Hags who eat their dead and 'just anyone' can practice magic. Barbarians, indeed - but are they... ?
Over the years William develops a relationship by correspondence with his intended, while progressing in the management of the family business and becoming a fine captain of his own merchant ship. When the time comes to marry he shocks the family by announcing he intends to quit sailing and open a chocolate shop. Appalling!
Miss Tasmin Bey has grown up with William's letters and gifts and developed an affection for him, but is teaching Herb Lore at the University (!!?!) and wondering if he will ever come for her when she learns that he has been arrested for murder! Her family, who are not much inclined to have their daughter marry on of the 'barbarians of the South' see this as an opportunity to void the marriage arrangement. Instead, Tasmin resigns her post at the University and flies (after a fashion) to his aid. It is quickly apparent that William didn't commit the crime, and up to Tasmin to get to the bottom of it.
A well constructed story with murder, magic (and pirates!!!) there are some clever sub-plots and a few completely unpredictable twists. Speer writes a fast paced tale that engages to the very end.
(****) Four Stars
This entry was originally posted at http://somewhatbent.dreamwidth.org/449010.html. Please comment there using OpenID.