Happy Sunday!

I haven't read much this week (owing to the Great Gaudy Book Hangover), but it has been quite a week in other ways. 

My cooker (hob and oven) had packed it in over the holidays and I have been trying to arrange to get this fixed over the last week ... but with busy work commitments, I took some time to get this arranged. Yesterday, finally, was the day. It's still not fixed, but it is now working enough to last me until the new appliance gets delivered. Yay!

All of this, of course, had to be celebrated, and what better to do this than to make some soup!?

The recipe can be found here ... but I had to leave out the spinach as I forgot to pick some up. 

In other news, I  really needed the soup today. I've been on a little outing earlier and got soaked through with freezing rain and chilled to bones by that ever-present North Sea wind. 

But it was worth it to see the seal colony that has made its home just north of the city. 

They are so cute, and so impressive. They are completely wild but you would not really know it when they swim up right to the other end to the river mouth (the one that is safe for visitors and seals, and unlikely to distress the colony while hauled out on the other bank). Seriously, they came right up to the edge of the water! They are such nosy buggers! And so cute. Have I mentioned this already?

I hope you all had a great day. 

I figured the only way to follow up Gaudy Night with another book would be to switch to a Sayers biography.

However, early on in this book I find myself arguing with the author over a description of Ms Vane's relationship with Wimsey...

I guess it is too early to start another book.

First and foremost, I'd like to thank the many fans who apparently asked for this book. I can't believe it wasn't all part of the plan. Since I have only been reading Meredith Duran and historical romance for a very short time, I'm so thankful she listened to your pleas!

I was absolutely riveted by Lockwood from the first introduction in The Duke of Shadows.  A strange, dark charm...I actually didn't realize till late in the book that her new release was to be about him, and I was so happy to hear it. 

Now onto the review of this book....

It's almost not fair. What kind of brilliance does it take for an author to understand the human condition, make us understand and empathize with both characters nearly in equal measure, hurt and hope with them, and fall in love with them? A Meredith Duran level of brilliance. I know I haven't been reading romance long, but having read #1, #5,#6 from this series I unreservedly say that she is the one of the best that romance has to offer. Her books are instant classics with their meaty plots, incredible but not miraculous character development, and beautiful words. (Which I'll share upon a second reading).

I am realizing my reviews of her books are far less than adequate. I intend to reread and more heavily review this rich examples of romance. I can tell you in so many ways this book pushes you to the edges of your capacity to understand and creates a little fissure that eventually becomes something you can identify with. Though I still favor Duke of Shadows, this is equally poignant. She's taken flawed characters and made us love them more for it. 

I shall stop with the gushing...well through writing, I still have a lot going on my up in my brain over this stunner of a book.

Thanks to Netgalley/publisher for the advanced copy of this book. 

I have no coherent thoughts after finishing this book, or if I do, they are all jumbled up in my head. I am going to have the biggest book hangover. That ending, though!

4 only because Stephen King does have this odd way of writing certain things, and there was one scene I wasn't personally comfortable with.

Overall, his writing style is enjoyable. The story was so much more than the miniseries, which I saw first.

Not relating to the book content at all, but I can't decide which cover I like the most!

Other Stephen King books:

Carrie (5/5 stars)

Desperation (4/5 stars)