The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews, #3 in the Belles of London series
Narrated by Samuel Roukin and Elizabeth Knowelden
Regency romance, fiction, horses
Recommend: yes
There are four books in this series and I don't believe they have to be read in order since I've never read one and two. This is a typical regency romance story with plenty of missed opportunities and opinionated people that don't believe the main characters should be in love or get married. The series follows 4 single women who bonded over their horsemanship. All four appear in each book and they support and help each other through many troubles and even perils to end up in a "love match" as they put it instead of marrying the right person for all the reasons society places upon them. They are fun to read and listen to.
The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews, #4 in the Belles of London series
Narrated by Stewart Crank and Zara Hampton-Brown
Regency romance, fiction, horses, artists
Recommend: yes
This last book was just as enjoyable as #3. Ms. Matthews has a nice balance between angst and resolution and these books are clean romances as well. The first two are The Siren of Sussex and The Belle of Belgrave Square.
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson, #2 in The Stormlight Archive series
Published in 2014
Fiction, fantasy, war, world building, series
Recommend: Yes
After reading the first book I wanted to tackle this second book and even though it took me a couple of months to get through all 1000+ pages, it did not disappoint. Sanderson has a gift of weaving details throughout the story that at first don't seem to impact characters but come together in a satisfying way as the plot unfolds. Kaladin and Shallan have difficult choices to make and don't always do things the easy way which makes this epic novel never boring and pushed me to finish it. There are 3 more books in the series as well as 2 novellas.
Glass: A Cinderella Tale by Kathryn Lasky
Published in 2024
Fantasy, junior fiction, fairy tale, Cinderella
Recommend: Yes
I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings and I needed a short book to read on my recent flight. Kathryn Lasky is a prolific children's fiction writer and has a Newbery Honor Award under her belt.
This retelling takes a bit of a different twist and tells the back story and beginings of the fairy god mother. I enjoyed the different view point. It is a quick read, a little over 200 pages, and worked perfectly for my travels.