Hello, and welcome back! I think we're completely ready for back-to-school here at our house, though the boys aren't so thrilled with the idea. I can see their point, though I don't really have much sympathy for them, since their vacation lasts for months while mine lasts a week. Nonetheless, it does make me happy to know that fall is also on the way, with all the beautiful leaves changing colors before too much longer, and the much pleasanter weather. But not quite yet. And I do still have a couple August books to share with you.

This time out, I have Charlotte Mede's The Midnight Man (Brava). The widowed Lady Helena Hartford first meets Nicholas Ramsay in a place where the rich of London go to do the immoral and illegal unbothered. But she runs from others who are after her. After all, not only is she quite wealthy, but she's an artist, and openly flouts society's strictures, and her late husband's nephew the bishop is determined to wrest control of her money for himself. But Nicholas has plans of his own for Helena, plans he's worked on for years, and now the time is exactly right to put them into motion. And he's not above using their strong chemistry to his own advantage. But Helena doesn't go along easily, at least not until he finally takes all control away from her. But his plans for revenge get hopelessly tangled up in his growing feelings for her, until Nicholas really does want to keep her safe from her other enemies. I didn't love this one, I'm sorry to say. Helena may be independent and strong, but she also makes some very foolish choices, which didn't make her especially endearing. And Nicholas, well, he's not particularly kind at times, which makes him a little less than attractive, at least to me. The background material is obviously well-researched, but these characters just don't appeal to me, or make me believe in their love. I'm afraid this one has only earned two and a half of Cupid's five arrows.

Until next time, happy reading!