Hmmm. The trouble with trying to write a review about Guy Gavriel Kay is that he is a talented author who has written some wonderful novels – TIGANA, YSABEL, UNDER HEAVEN & […]
THE LAST LIGHT OF THE SUN by Guy Gavriel Kay, narrated by Holter Graham
Cynthia
Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, settling in the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
In June, 2015, Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA.
Her first novel, "Thwarted Queen," a frustrating tale (hence the title) of a woman who was nearly crowned Queen of England, was shortlisted for many awards, including the 2012 Eric Hoffer New Horizon Award for debut authors. To date, sales have surpassed 38,000 copies.
Her second novel, "Farewell My Life," a Cinderella-ish tale with not-so-charming princes who inhabit the edgy setting of 1920s and 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, won a Pinnacle Award for Historical Fiction (2019) and was a Distinguished Favorite for the 2019 New York City Big Book Awards.
Reading Sundays: THE END OF CHILDHOOD (Part 2), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
Mr. Clayton nodded briefly, but his blue eyes hardened as he stared at his wife.Suddenly, he caught sight of me. There was something about his smile I did not care for. Nevertheless, […]
Kate Quinn’s THE HUNTRESS narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
How I loved THE HUNTRESS, Kate Quinn’s study in evil! We are in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the spring of 1946. The Second World War has just ended, when Jordan McBride is […]
Kate Quinn’s THE ALICE NETWORK narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Kate Quinn’s THE ALICE NETWORK is superb. Like many historical novels today, this one has a braided narrative, alternating between 1915 and 1947. Nineteen-year-old Charlotte “Charlie” Sinclair is looking for her much-loved […]
Regina Doman’s RAPUNZEL LET DOWN
In this re-telling of RAPUNZEL, we are in modern-day USA. It is summer and we are in a vacation spot in New England. Raphaela and her mother have an unusual tower of […]
Reading Sundays: THE END OF CHILDHOOD (Part 1), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Ten thousand pounds, Clayton. That’s my price.” “I haven’t got the money.” “Come now! I hear you’re to marry an heiress with thirty thousand.” “Why should I pay? Your daughter is a […]
MOONFLOWER MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Lesley Manville & Allan Corduner
This is the second volume, that follows on from author Anthony Horowitz’s wildly successful MAGPIE MURDERS. Like that novel, we have a novel within a novel, as the protagonist is an editor. […]
MAGPIE MURDERS, a novel by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Samantha Bond & Allan Corduner
I love it when I experience a really clever piece of writing. That is why I am such a fan of Georgette Heyer’s THE MASQUERADERS, John Grisham’s THE RUNAWAY JURY and Agatha […]
The audio version of “Thwarted Queen” recently dropped…
…and here is what one listener had to say about it on Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbaralunz/status/1374426252719710210?s=20
RODHAM by Curtis Sittenfeld, narrated by Carrington MacDuffie
Like AMERICAN WIFE, RODHAM filled me with alarm, not because of the story but because of the risks this author was taking. Whereas AMERICAN WIFE was a poke at George W. Bush, […]
Reading Sundays: THE WAYWARD DAUGHTER (Part 10), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
The front door banged open, and suddenly I’d had enough. Spencer wouldn’t be around for the next few days, so now was time to act. In two strides I was in the […]
LORD OF EMPERORS (SARANTINE MOSAIC #2) by Guy Gavriel Kay, narrated by Berny Clark
I read this volume straight after Volume 1 (SAILING TO SARANTIUM) and found this to be equally as strong, if not better. The author’s descriptions are the best I’ve ever read. The […]
SAILING TO SARANTIUM (SARANTINE MOSAIC #1) by Guy Gavriel Kay, narrated by Berny Clark
SAILING TO SARANTIUM is Guy Gavriel Kay’s alternative take on the Byzantium of the Emperor Justinian (482-565 CE.) In Kay’s novel this emperor is referred to as “Valerius II” and his wife […]
The LIONS OF AL-RASSAN by Guy Gavriel Kay
This is author Guy Gavriel Kay’s sixth novel, coming after the FIONAVAR TAPESTRY (a trilogy), TIGANA (which I absolutely loved) and A SONG FOR ARBONNE (which I didn’t much care for.) My […]
Reading Sundays: THE WAYWARD DAUGHTER (Part 9), a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Mary, dear.” Laura Mollington’s voice jolted me from my reverie. “I was wondering if you would mind helping us to settle a dispute. Lucy’s daughter is to marry an American and he […]
THE GODDESS INHERITANCE by Aimée Carter (GODDESS TEST #3)
At the beginning of this volume, Kate Winters finally gives birth to her son Milo. The problem? Calliope wants to use this baby as her pawn in her machinations to torture and […]
GODDESS INTERRUPTED by Aimée Carter (GODDESS TEST #2)
Hmmm. This novel was not as successful as her first (THE GODDESS TEST.) Instead of spending time with Henry/Hades and Kate and seeing their relationship unfold, we are immediately yanked into an […]
THE GODDESS TEST by Aimée Carter (GODDESS TEST #1)
In the upper peninsula of Michigan lies a mysterious estate, Eden Manor. Kate’s dying mother insists on her daughter driving off piste down a dirt road so that she can see it […]
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