Brynn Chapman

Lorelai escaped a dangerous situation in Ireland, one that left her scarred after a fire. Lorelai landed in Philadelphia and found an orphanage to take her in while she works in a matchstick factory. An orphan that Lorelai cares for, Molly is suffering from Phossy Jaw and Lorelai takes it upon herself to find help. Help comes in the form of Rory Henry, a student under Dr. Mutter. Rory can help Molly and recognizes a kindred spirit in Lorelai. Lorelai and Rory quickly become enamored with one another. However, Rory's means to pull in extra money as a resurrection man along with the sway that the orphanage Reverend has over Lorelai and a murderer on the loose, their way out of 1850's Philadelphia is not an easy task.

Monster is an exciting historical romance with plenty of suspense, Irish folklore, medical drama, and the realities of the immigrant experience. From the beginning, I was engaged in Lorelai's story of escape. The writing expertly pulled together all the different strands into an exciting story that firmly grasped the setting and characters. Lorelai and Molly's story is endearing as they band together to survive the orphanage and the terrible working conditions at the match factory. Rory's story enlightens early medical care and teaching practices with how students learned anatomy. I also learned about Dr. Mutter, the father of plastic surgery, and his ingenious way of helping those who were labelled monsters by society. I enjoyed the added folklore of the Cailleach and what she meant to Rory and Lorelai. The romance, although quick, was heartfelt and genuine. With a promise to be continued, I can't wait to see what Lorelai and Rory will face in the next book.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (mer)

This historical suspense wastes no time jumping into action of the story . From the very first page readers are fed snippets of flashbacks of events and the character’s back story. It sets a heavy tone of suspense that fills the air and the readers has so many questions that will eventually be answered towards the latter part of the book.The asylum gives off a spooky and eerie atmosphere as Chapman describes the details of each nook and cranny of the building. From hushed whispers in the night, to secret underground tunnels, and a possible killer on the loose, this is someplace you definitely don’t want to pay a visit to.

Jane, our main protagonist, is very mysterious. She is quiet and weary when dealing with the nurses and doctors of the facility, but is always alert to what goes on daily at the asylum. She is very observant and is immediately suspicious, like some others that reside in the asylum, that something sinister is going on within its walls. While Jane is the main narrator of the novel, readers are also treated to other POVs of pivotal characters in the story. One of the most striking characters besides Jane, is Jules who bears an uncanny resemblance to Jane. Are they the same person, is the past and present blurring into one, or does Jane have multiple personalities? This is one of the many mysteries within in the plot that kept me on my toes.

Although Jane is surrounded by many other patients she always feels utterly alone in the asylum and has the constant feeling of being trapped. On top of that, the pieces of her past and how she ended up here are blurry. The reader feels sympathy towards Jane’s plight as her only friends seem to be her beloved drawings. Will she find a way out of her caged “prison”?

Overall, I loved this book! The details used to describe the asylum makes it seem like it’s straight out of a horror film and the plot and characters are well written. The reader only gets fed bits and pieces of the story told by various characters so you’re unsure of whom to really trust. This factor is key in keeping the reader constantly engrossed in the story. The ending is open-ended, so will there be a sequel?

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a honest and fair review.… (mer)

Arabella Holmes and Henry Watson (the children of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively) are in Philadelphia working at the Mutter Museum, studying bones and medical anomalies. They have not seen each other for several years—not since Henry stunned Arabella with a kiss that complicated their life-long friendship. Over-large humanoid skeletons have been found at a dig, and Arabella and Henry join the expedition. Some think the bones reveal the existence of the Nephilim (angels), although Arabella believes they are more likely Neanderthal remains. The first four scientists to go on the expedition mysteriously disappeared.
The story is told in alternating first person, but the voices of Arabella and Henry are similar, making it difficult to keep track of who is narrating. Both are obsessed with the other, their thoughts focusing on love and lust, personal insecurities, and how Arabella is not a “normal” woman. She is meant to have a Sherlockian intellect, but we rarely see her use it. Instead, her thoughts are consumed with Henry, a topic which confuses her and shows her mind as indecisive and emotional. The mysteries of the strange skeletons and the missing scientists are given short shrift to the romance.
The premise is promising and the mystery intriguing, but the story could have used more editing. It reads like an early draft.… (mer)