The Devlin Diary

This is an intriguing story which jumps back and forth between the present day England, and the 1600's in King Charles II's court. It expertly entwines two murder mysteries into one captivating read.

Christi Phillips presents a well researched, in depth depiction of court life during King Charles II reign; the scandals, the schemes and the lengths to which courtiers and royalty will go to gain, cultivate and maintain power within that sphere of influence.

Medicine and new methods of medical treatments during this time in the 1600's are explored, as well as the limited role women had in everything but the home.

Mrs. Devlin, the main character, is a wonderful woman, wading through loneliness, practicing medicine through prejudice and striving to create a new definition for what women's capabilities could be. Mrs. Devlin, a widow, has been trained in the field of medicine from a long life assisting her famous physician father as well as her husband. Her skills, knowledge and proficiency are unparalleled even among the male physicians of her time. She slowly, quietly gains respect and confidence from her male counterparts and soon finds herself at the personal call of the King.

Mrs. Devlin's story directly parallels and offers clues to the murder mystery being unfolded in current England at Cambridge. The Devlin Diary is a entertaining read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery as well as a historical fiction.

Sizzling Sixteen

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich is a PERFECT summer read...fun, laugh out loud, and a "no brainer". I have read ALL of Ms. Evanovich's novels about Stephanie Plum since ONE FOR THE MONEY, and I have loved and devoured them all!

They were passed on to me from my 90 year old grandmother, via my aunt, to my mother, and then to me. I passed them on to my good friends, who then passed them on to their mothers and grandmothers, aunts and friends. Ms. Evanovich has a fantastic ability to write humor - which is hard to do. And not just "Oh, that's funny", but laugh so loud you embarrass everyone around you funny. It is a true gift!

SIZZLING SIXTEEN was funny, but a little thin on story and story development. Nothing really happened. Sure, I enjoyed it, laughed my butt off...in the orthodontics office, waiting for my daughter, on the deck with a glass of wine and at the pool...but I wish there was something more to develop the story and about 50 more pages. It was thin.

I loved it, but it was not up to Stephanie Plum snuff