Welcome to Litsy!

June saw 4 5⭐️ reads for me and 2 rounded up. My two favorites were both historical mysteries from beloved series…Raybourn with her Speedwell and Huber with her Darby. Both authors NEVER disappoint.

#12BooksOf2024

So great to be back in the Veronica Speedwell universe. This one sees a return of a villain thought dead and a surprise villain working together to use Veronica in a power-hungry scheme for control of the empire. Veronica meets her half-brother, is kidnapped, helps to arrange a tortoise wedding and she and Stoker continue their mating dance. Humor and hijinks abound as I continue to fall more and more in love with this series. 5/5⭐️

I can‘t believe I waited 5 years to dive into the 5th installment in the #VeronicaSpeedwellSeries! I adored the 4th book & pre-ordered this one as soon as I could! Honestly, I didn‘t love this one as much as I expected to—maybe from the long hiatus or because there‘s less of the flirtatious banter between Veronica & Stoker? Once again, her heritage leads them into foiling a plot to save the monarchy, with Jack the Ripper providing the backdrop!

Marvelous! Less direct detecting than being swept up in an adventure this time around, but I really loved the hijinks, the unexpected opportunity for family time, commentary on sex work & poverty, Raybourn's unflagging ability to balance banter and heartfelt emotion without being corny or melodramatic. The Author's Note on this one felt particularly important. And praise be, no more UST! 🙌🏻 ⚠️Classism, mentions of Ripper murders

Veronica Speedwell, Our Lady of Taking No Shit. 💅🏻

This is another wild adventure for Veronica and Stoker, including a dead body, a kidnapping, and a plot to overthrow the monarchy. These books have some of my favorite things: witty banter, murders, and shenanigans. I look forward to more.

I love this series, but this fifth instalment didn‘t quite have the usual magic and it just felt a little flat. However I did like that Deanna Raybourn enjoyed The Five (the biography of the five canonical victims of Jack the Ripper) just as much as I did 😂 and that Veronica shared those insights in the book!

This 5th book in the Veronica Speedwell mystery series has Veronica and Stoker on a dangerous mission to prevent a royal scandal, with Jack the Ripper murders terrorising London as the backdrop. I‘ve enjoyed the witty banter and chemistry between the duo all along, however I‘m not sure how I feel about them now. It was fast paced, engaging, and fun though.
#serieslove2023

Congrats on your milestone and Happy Birthday month @wanderinglynn

So generous to celebrate by giving 😁

I have chosen the tagged book as one I would love to receive because I think it's the only one I'm missing from the set!!

Thank you for the opportunity!

#300KBirthdayGiveaway

Book 5 is another great adventure! In addition to Veronica unwillingly getting pulled into more adventures surrounding her royal family, the story also parallels the murders by Jack the Ripper, and the author highlights the reality of his victims, the women of Whitehall, who have been written off by history as simply prostitutes.
Also, Veronica and Stoker 😍
My library doesn't have the next installments, so I guess I'll have to buy them 🤷‍♀️.

This is such a fun series. I love Veronica and grumpy Stoker. The story in this one was clever, and it tied in with Jack the Ripper while also being respectful of the real women who were his victims. I‘m glad I have a few more in this series still to go!

This was my #doublespin for May.

Veronica and her colleague, Stoker, are asked by Lady Wellie to help with a potential scandal so explosive it threatens to rock the monarchy. Prince Albert Victor has given a very expensive gift to the proprietress of an exclusive club in London. Lady Wellie would like Veronica and Stoker to retrieve the jewel from the club before scandal can break. Then there‘s a possible connection to the man called Jack the Ripper.

My first book or the new year! This is my current comfort series - charming characters, lively dialogue, exciting adventure and possibly the slowest slow burn romance ever written.

The fifth book in the series is on sale for kindle. I enjoy this serious immensely thanks to a recommendation from @HOTPock3tt

Oh, so good! This series just gets better and better. I adore the characters, the mysteries and the adventures. I am, unequivocally, a Veronica Speedwell fan.

My June #BookspinBingo was pretty good. 2 bingos and, if I finish the tagged book tonight (I‘m blessed with a signed copy!) a 3rd. I read both my #bookspin and my #doublespin so that is a win! @TheAromaofBooks

I just don‘t think I‘ll ever get enough of these characters.

This kind of felt like a filler book. Going to keep going with the series because I do love Veronica and Stoker, but this one fell a bit flat for me.

Well, it's about time! (Fans of the series will understand lol) Now a patient wait until March 2nd for the next book.

Another reread so I am ready for the next book to come out in March!

These books are like potato chips - you can't stop at one.

Yay! I finished another TBR read this morning.
#WinterGames2020 #ReadNosedReindeer

I adore Veronica & Stoker.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have only read the first two books in the Veronica Speedwell Victorian mystery series. I find them #enjoyable , definitely a series I will continue whenever I need something fun to read. The tagged book is the latest.
#wordsofoctober

#3Books that were gifted to me

I received the tagged (autographed) and The Last Seance (hoping to read in Oct) from my first Litsy pen pal @inthegreensandblues !

A Dangerous Duet I got from my Father in Law for Christmas last year. I always love getting at least 1 book for Christmas because my family doesn‘t actually like buying me books. 😔

All. The. Stars! I think I‘m going to have a book hangover now that I‘ve finished this. I love how she portrayed Eddy except I‘m desperately sad in knowing that he does not long after this takes place.

I finished this weeks ago and just saw I didn‘t review it yet. So a short review today. A far less complex story than previous books in the series. But it advances Veronica‘a personal story and her relationship with Stoker. 4 stars partly because it‘s still a fun story and partly for nostalgic reasons for this 5th in the series.

Currently crafting and listening to the latest in one of my favorite series. Colored this postcard a couple of nights ago. Found the absolute best markers ever where I can feel halfway competent to do shading!!

As long as Deanna Raybourn continues to write books featuring the exploits of Veronica Speedwell and Stoker, I will pre-order them. As long as they are narrated by Angele Masters, I will pre-order them on audiobook.

Photo is of my reading buddy for the last 20 mins of this romp.

I‘m very excited about starting this audiobook tonight, the next in the Veronica Speedwell series. Book 5!

#CurrentlyListening to the latest installment of the very fun and quirky #VeronicaSpeedwell mystery series.

A fun romp. Not quite as engaging as the rest of the series but still a good time.

I‘m so sad to be finished with this series. When Covid quarantine started I began the first book for something light and entertaining and I loved it.

Set in Victorian England, Veronica Speedwell is an unconventional woman in philosophy and occupation. In the first novel she falls into solving a murder mystery with Stoker, her handsome and reluctant partner of circumstance.

The series follows Speedwell and Stoker through mysteries and romance.

Really love this series.

I was so overexcited for this book that I read the digital copy from the library, but want to own them all. Veronica and stoker again get caught up trying to solve a mystery, this one set in jack the ripper‘s london and involving royalty. The relationship between them heats up and the plot is engrossing and all in all, I loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really, really enjoyed this. I can‘t say too much about the plot without spoiling the first novel, but this is a really clever turn into London during the Ripper panic with a Veronica twist. Don‘t start the series here though.

I did not expect this series to take on Jack the Ripper. There were all kinds of weird things happening in this one and I loved it. Plus we finally got to an anticipated moment. Next, please!

#BookishBingo: Begins with M
#AtoZ

Current historical fiction read!

“What in the name of flaming Hades do you mean his lordship wants me to officiate at the wedding of a tortoise?“ Stoker demanded.

I love Veronica and Stoker 😄

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

#BookReport - Finished 2 books last week. I read so much less with my husband home 😂

In progress, Uprooted and Know My Name. I‘m hoping to finish Uprooted today on the hammock. I realized I can‘t read Know My Name with my hubby around because it‘s hard getting out of the mindset the book puts you in.

#WeeklyForecast - My #BookSpin book and an audiobook. Though I‘m sure I‘ll read more than that!

I LOVE this series! And this one did not disappoint. If you have not read any books in this Veronica Speedwell Victorian mystery, your life is lacking! 🤪😘

Oh, I forgot I was using this for #Booked2020 New in 2020

Up next. Love this series!😍

Not my favourite of the series, which is a bit disappointing because I devour anything Jack the Ripper-y but an enjoyable listen nonetheless 🔪 😈

Always look forward to a new Veronica and Stoker adventure 😍

"What in the name of flaming Hades do you mean his lordship wants me to officiate at the wedding of a tortoise?” Stoker demanded.

☺️ Classic Speedwell/Stoker. I just started this today.
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

My #MurderbytheBook order came in! I ❤️❤️❤️ this #indiebookstore in Houston and when my trip was cancelled, I ordered online. It arrived so fast and I love the special care they took in packaging them! Check out their website: https://www.murderbooks.com/

It would be difficult for me to not like a Veronica Speedwell book, or any Deanna Raybourn book for that matter. The mystery didn't take the turn I thought it would at all, which is part of the fun. Of course Deanna's writing is so fantastic, her characters so witty and relatable, it always makes her books a pleasure to read.

In my opinion a satisfying end to the series. Although I'm still hoping it's not the end.

Was a bit disappointed with the mystery. It was a bit predictable.

"What is it?" I inquired, catching a little of Mr Pennybaker's enthusiasm.
"The king's ass!" he said in a delighted whisper.
"Indeed?" I managed.
He nodded, his spectacles bobbing on his face, the tufts of hair waving madly. "The king's painted African ass!" he exclaimed.
??

And now Shippo wants to know what's up with the book on the bed. 😻

Going to start reading this in bed before I go to sleep. I probably won't last long, as I'm tired, but I don't want to wait any longer to read this.