from my bookshelf> Lady Julia Gray Series

Title: Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, Dark Road to Darjeeling
Author: Deanna Raybourn

I found this series after I read the Gail Carriger books.  I really enjoyed the Victorian setting and mystery in that series and I think I ended up googling "Victorian mystery". 

 While there's a lot less supernatural stuff happening in this series, there is a twinge of the other worldly.  Can't divulge more without spoiling it for you.  I think technically these are classified as "Mystery Romance" but they are way more mystery.  The leading man is a Holmes-y type character, which I kind of like (watching both BBC Sherlock and the new Holmes Movies) and a little rough around the edges.  The only quarrel I have with the series is that the heroine, Julia Gray, is sometimes incredibly slow...I feel like she should be a little more quick witted.  All in all though I really enjoyed them!

>Cassie

from my bookshelf> The Parasol Protectorate

Title(s): Soulless, Changeless, Blameless
Author: Gail Carriger

Like Jessi, I am also on a vampires and werewolves kick; but throw in a dash of steampunk, comedy, romance and mystery!  Mixing so many genres should be a mess but I found it to be funny and engaging.  I read this series a while back while I was looking for something to introduce me to steampunk writing and I guess you could call this steampunk light. Less automatons and dirigibles, more vamps, werewolves, & ghosts. I couldn't put the first book in the series down and quickly got the rest of them.


The Victorian mannerisms almost seem like a caricature and it's funny to see characters trying to keep up their decorum in situations that definitely do not call for it.  "Mr. Vampire, if you would kindly stop trying to attack me maybe we could discuss this in a civilized manner?"  I kind of love witty banter ... the same sort of thing that makes me watch old Bogey and Bacall movies :)


I also like it when love interests infuriate each other and there's plenty of that here! A stubborn, strong willed heroine and a fiery short tempered suitor? Yes, please!  I can't wait for the next installment, Heartless, that's being published this summer!


> Cassie