THE BOOK OF LIES by Mary Horlock

synopsis from the publisher:
Life on the tiny island of Guernsey has just become a whole lot harder for fifteen-year-old Cat Rozier. She’s gone from model pupil to murderer, but she swears it’s not her fault. Apparently it’s all the fault of history.
A new arrival at Cat’s high school in 1984, the beautiful and instantly popular Nicolette inexplicably takes Cat under her wing. The two become inseparable—going to parties together, checking out boys, and drinking whatever liquor they can shoplift. But a perceived betrayal sends them spinning apart, and Nic responds with cruel, over-the-top retribution.
Cat’s recently deceased father, Emile, dedicated his adult life to uncovering the truth about the Nazi occupation of Guernsey—from Churchill’s abandonment of the island to the stories of those who resisted—in hopes of repairing the reputation of his older brother, Charlie. Through Emile’s letters and Charlie’s words—recorded on tapes before his own death— a “confession” takes shape, revealing the secrets deeply woven into the fabric of the island . . . and into the Rozier family story.

I really wanted to love this book. It had an interesting premise and takes place on Guernsey Island, a place I have been fascinated with since reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.


I found Cat interesting and that we find out right at the beginning that Cat kills Nic. However, it kind of goes downhill from there. The story is very fractured as it moves from Cat's story to that of her father and uncle. I don't mind  an alternating story, but this wasn't done very well. I wouldn't get far into either story before it would switch and it just didn't hold my interest.

I did enjoy the history of the island and I think that it this could have been a great novel. But it was mediocre at best despite it's potential. Hopefully, the author will have better luck with her next book.

my rating 2.5/5

SYLVESTER or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer

synopsis from the publisher:
 Sylvester, Duke of Salford, has exacting requirements for a bride. Then he meets Phoebe Marlow, a young lady with literary aspirations, and suddenly life becomes very complicated. She meets none of his criteria, and even worse, she has written a novel that is sweeping through the ton and causing all kinds of gossip... and he's the main character!

 Sylvester is a great marriage catch and he has avoided it until now. He has decided it is an appropriate time to marry and gives his mother a few names of girls he is considering. She is horrified that he doesn't want to marry for love. Sylvester is then talked into meeting his godmother's granddaughter, Phoebe.

Phoebe is a smart young woman who has no ambitions to marry. She wants to be a writer and has written a book. She hopes to be able to set herself up, along with her governess in her own small home. When she hears from her not so nice stepmother that the Duke of Salford is coming for a visit and plans to make an offer for her, Phoebe is desperate. She tells her father that she does not wish this but he ignores her. And when she meets the Duke, he is cold and distant. She met him previously in London society and he was rude to her. So she made him the villain in the book she has written.
 In desperation, she convinces her friend Tom to take her to London, where  Phoebe can live and be under the protection of her grandmother. But the weather intervenes, stranding Phoebe and Tom as their carriage is overturned. Meanwhile, the Duke, who never intended to offer for Phoebe takes advantage of the household chaos that ensues to leave for London. He finds the overturned carriage and finds Phoebe and Tom at a nearby farmhouse. When he discovers why Phoebe fled, he is miffed but helps her to get to London. They then find themselves in frequent company and Phoebe discovers he is not so bad. But now her book is to be published and she is terrified he will find out.

I love Heyer novels. They are like more adventurous Austen novels with heroines that are strong and not traditionally beautiful. The heroes are flawed and arrogant but of course we love them anyway. The dialogue is witty and amusing and these make great beach reads.
This wasn't my favorite Heyer but I did enjoy it a lot and recommend it.

my rating: 3.5/5

I received this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest review