What we are reading....Nikki

The Dead Travel Fast - Deanna Raybourn (MIRA)

Looks like Deanna Raybourn needed a break from Julia and Nicholas (her Silent in the… series) and unraveling the mysteries of the Ton, so she’s transported us all to Romania and dipped her toe in all things paranormal. The Dead Travel Fast was a wonderfully readable and thoroughly engaging story about a budding authoress, Theodora Lestrange, who (as is Deanna’s want with heroines) doesn’t really fit in polite English society. So she brushes off a hapless suitor and irritating brother takes herself to the furthest flung corner of Europe to research a book. Smart girl.

I think it’s a credit to Raybourn’s worldbuilding and characterization that despite the fact that I did rather see where the story was going from about the half-way point I didn’t really mind (sorry, no more in the interests of spoilers). I was very happily along for the journey. Theodora is an absolute gonner for the brooding and misunderstood Count Andrei who’s terribly Heathcliffe and interesting throughout. With a raft of gothic and appealing characters (even the baddies) The Dead Travel Fast was a delightful stand-alone detour.

What I’m reading next…? I’ve just started Christina Phillips’ Forbidden (Berkley Heat). Mental note to self, don’t start a historical erotica at the hair dressers…there’s no where to hide the blushes… But so far, so fabulous. Really enjoying the period and the Druid/Centurion pairing (no, not that pairing although I expect that, when I get there, to be inciendery). Stay tuned.