The Final Cut and my Final Book of 2019 ( 78 books read in my self-challenge of 75 in 2019 ! )

The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Fox has stolen the main jewel out of the Queen Mother's Crown. Bad enough for the Brits but not so good for the Yanks either, since it and the rest of the Crown Jewels were on loan to NYC's Met and one of the British MI6 operatives, sent to protect them, has been murdered and seems to be involved in the theft. The FBI moves in immediately to investigate, with Special Agent Michaela Caine prominent on the team. Hot shot nobleman, DCI Nicholas Hammond from MI 6 impetuously flies immediately to NYC where his Uncle is a former FBI SAC. Hammond's mother is American and he was born in the States. With these connections and his former service in the Foreign Service as a spy, Nicholas has no problem getting involved in the investigation. He also is a top class hacker--some good talents--and isn't as strictly bound by FBI protocols,which gives him a bit more leeway in his methods. As he and Mike travel around the globe trying to pinpoint the Fox and her client the car chases, physical brawls and gunfights abound and the tension builds until the final confrontation and solution. A page turner read over two days--exciting and looking forward to more crime solving as Nick trains in Quantico and joins the FBI as the first Brit Agent.

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A Poor Sequel to a Good Book--The Paris Diversion

The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Confusing unless you've read Kate Moore #1 recently, which I had not. I read it awhile back and so the whole premise was hazy and the resulting plot development caused the story to be less exciting than it may have been. If I still had the first one I would have reread it and then started this one anew. Kate's irritation with her husband, Dexter and his very weak showing were very off-putting. The outcome for the sniper was gratuitous--mercy for him?, a political statement about the treatment of immigrants by law enforcement?, a justified punishment?, all of the above? In addition, a catchall for the perceived problems of the day as throwaway scenarios: Kate: hand guns are only for killing people. Really? I use it for target practice. Forsyte's leering after Collette and her toleration and behavior in which she does not appear to notice it. To keep her job, one imagines, though at the end she finds that on second thought she doesn't need it. But does she confront him? No! And, of course, the off-handed shot at the unnamed President. All in all, the book seemed slapped together and disjointed rather than pulse raising exciting and threatening. Bookbrowse provided this copy for discussion later in the week.

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Love Lettering--Math and Calligraphy Make an Interesting Pair!

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a clever premise--Meg, a talented calligrapher creates stationery, planners and all the written pieces for weddings. She attempts to find the font and design that reflects the personalities of her clients. When Avery and Reid ( who comes only once to a preprinting conference ) hire her for their wedding invitations etal, Meg is quite taken with the stiff but exceedingly handsome Reid. Several months later, Reid shows up alone at her business with the program from his wedding in hand. He, however, is not wearing a wedding band and appears quite annoyed. He has discovered that Meg has coded the word M-I-S-T-A-K-E into the program and he wants to know how she was aware of the mistake it would have been.
After creating this encoded program, Meg has forsworn any further wedding work and is amazed that Reid even decoded her message. With this awkward and trust breaking incident at the basis of their ensuing involvement, Reid and Meg embark on a journey toward companionship, friendship and, ultimately, love. The twists and turns of this fraught discovery is based on games that the two of them design based not on a love of words but rather on a love of letters and numbers---Reid is a mathematician in Wall Street. How interesting to look at signs and the shape, size and color of the letters that make them up. How interesting to imagine a person or his/her voice and words in a sequence of specific letters with various shadings and colors. Just a unique and fun theme on which to base this not run-of-the - mill rom-com. This is a review of an ARC provided by Goodreads.

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Meet Me in Monaco--Go, You'll Love It!

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a delightful light romance with the backdrop of Monaco and the excitement of Grace Kelley's marriage playing like music softly in the background. A young French woman, trying to keep her parfum business afloat meets a divorced British photographer in Cannes, trying to get " the shot " of the American beauty to keep his job. He chases Kelly into the perfume boutique where she is sheltered from his harassment by the owner, Sophie Duval. Jim Henderson and Sophie don't know it , but this chance encounter with each other and with Grace Kelly will impact their careers and the rest of their lives. This is such a better book than the Girl In White Gloves, which has come out recently, too!

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The House of Falconer Book 2

In the Lion's Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book in the House of Falconer series. Haven't read the first one but should, although this books stands well alone. It is just that a prior romantic involvement probably needs a bit more clarification and Lionel's early relationship with Alex might be helpful,too. Still, even with that bit of mystery due to starting with book 2, Falconer's work for the Malvern Shipping Company is very interesting--his attitude toward his subordinates and toward working women is very reassuring. The book takes place at the end of the 19th century and it is evident that a wealthy merchant class has firmly established itself and Falconer has every intention of starting his own business. He is loyal, ambitious, intelligent, kind and fair in his dealings and has the makings of a successful businessman. He is surrounded by strong family ties and a circle of congenial friends, what his female co-worker calls his posse. Interesting term in this setting, since I thought it was fairly recent slang for friends.
Although I like his character there were a couple of alarms that may foreshadow a change in his character going forward --as he becomes successful and more competitive in business. His refusal to allow his sister to use her name on her shop was particularly jarring. Also, his adamant refusal to allow a sister of a shopkeeper to take over the store when the original owner becomes ill was off-putting as well. The lease on the store is clear that such a take-over is not allowed but his refusal to offer a new lease is based on his desire to have the shop for his own as much as his desire to follow the letter of the agreement.
Both of these events seem a warning of the hardness he may develop in business dealings over time--good for business but uncaring about the other person involved. His sister, a successful designer of shawls and scarves with her own shop is quite distressed to learn that her name on the shop will be replaced by the family surname, thereby erasing her personal standing. He is very supportive of women working but is strangely unaware of the impact his decision --made with no room for discussion--has had on her ambition and pride.

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Labyrinth--FBI Thrller

Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Don't know how I've missed this series but this episode was a page turner! Two mysteries--one a conspiracy to sell spy technology to the highest bidder--but what is it, who are the conspirators? The second mystery the kidnapping of 16 year old girls in the hills of Virginia. Apparently, Coulter's fictional FBI agents are a married couple--Sherlock and Savige. Sherlock has been in an auto accident and has amnesia but her exceptional powers of observation appear to be unaffected. Savige is slightly psychic which allows him to assist Agent Hammersmith, also psychic, both in Virginia and from afar in the kidnapping case. The narrative moves back and forth between the cases which are not related but the transitions are smooth and easy to follow. Now, I think I may have to start at the beginning of this series.
I like Coulter's easy and fast reading prose, her use of short chapters which aid in moving through the almost 500 pages at a quick clip. Plus she's named her cats Peyton and Eli--so for sure I'm a fan!

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The Real Victoria and Her Five Daughterss

Victoria's Daughters by Jerrold M. Packard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Took a longer than usual time for me to read this book, primarily because it was difficult to keep the characters straight there were so many of them. Needed to take a break periodically to pull what I'd read into a semblance of order before continuing. Fascinating time period historically, strangely controlling Queen who was determined to keep at least one of her daughters by her side throughout her long life, daughters of distinctly different personalities whose destinies were also very diverse. All in all a more realistic portrayal of Victoria and her reign than the highly romantic TV series based on diaries that her daughter Beatrice heavily edited once her mother died. This was at Victoria's direction but not only did Beatrice edit them, she destroyed the originals so there could be no retrospective study of them. Sad.

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