Review: The Six Loves of James I by Gareth Russell

The Six Loves of James I

by Gareth Russell

Release Date: December 2, 2025

2025 Atria Books

Ebook Edition; 496 Pages

ISBN: 978-1668049686

ASIN: B0DV674KT4

Audiobook: B0DW1WW4QH

Genre: Non-Fiction / Historical / Biography

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Gareth Russell’s “rollicking, gossipy” (Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets), and scholarly voice invites us into James’s world, revealing a monarch whose reign was defined by both his public power and personal vulnerabilities. For too long, historians have shied away from or condemned the exploration of his sexuality. Now, Russell offers a candid narrative that not only reveals James’s relationships with five prominent men but also challenges the historical standards applied to the examination of royal intimacies.

This biography stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of royal history, illuminating the personal experiences that shaped James’s political decisions and his philosophical views on masculinity and sexuality.

 

My Thoughts

The Six Loves of James I was both riveting and fascinating. Having just read The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett (review coming shortly), I was happy to read another accounting of this king, but from a different perspective.  And while it did focus on the men who influenced him, this book was so much more than that, something that I really appreciated. This book satisfied me in a way that many others have not.

 

I am very familiar with the life of King James I, but somehow the author made me feel something new for this very fragile king, a connection that made me empathize with this man who struggled with so much on his shoulders from such a young age. Even though I have read about it frequently, I don't think I can still grasp the enormity of the responsibility he had from such a young age, dealing with the tragic outcome of the falling out of both his parents, Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley, two people so equally despised their names still reverberate throughout history today.  The political shenanigans from the fallout and what happened afterwards left their indelible mark on this man, something that would haunt him for the rest of his life and colour his perceptions of people and events.

 

While this book implies it's about the love life of James I, it is so much more than that, showing how much James relied on his relationships in order to survive the day to day struggles of ruling a country that had so many political issues. I liked how the author outlined exactly what James was up against, showcasing his brilliance and his intelligence in dealing with so much, and quite successfully. But there was the darker side to everything as well, and the author wrote about those episodes clearly, leaving it up to the reader to decide for themselves what they choose to believe about what happened.  I certainly appreciated the different viewpoints as well as the new research that is exploring some other theories about some of the events that occurred throughout his reign. And perhaps more information will come to light in the future that will change what we know about some of the events that happened as well. To understand things through a man's eyes who possibly had ADHD and more than likely experienced PTSD (both of which were definitely terms that were non-existent during this time period), it gives valuable insight into some of his choices and his reactions when dealing with dangerous situations. I also really liked how the author looked into different sources to give us a better understanding of his physical characteristics, his personality, his intelligence, and other traits that have been twisted over the years, and how this would have happened.

 

I thought the author did a great job outlining the relationships that James had in his life, the men as well as with his wife and his children. It really gave us a great viewpoint to see who James leaned on during certain times in his life and how important these relationships were to him, but it also gave us great insight into how fragile he was, and how much he needed support and love to keep going.  While others around him may not have agreed with his choices, he certainly seemed to choose well and managed to control the vipers at court for many years and balance the power that could be so dangerous at court.  

 

Verdict

The Six Loves of James I was an interesting book, and I will admit that this monarch is one of those monarchs over whom I long have had a huge fascination, both for the contradictions about his life and reign as well as the amount of obstacles he had to overcome.  This man survived multiple assassination attempts, religious issues, the death of his children, the loss of his parents, treasonous lords (and ladies), tumultuous relationships (including his wife),  the witch trials, the trials over the unification of two countries, quarrelsome courtiers, money issues, and so much more, using intelligence and a whole lot of patience.  And there was no way he could have done this without being extremely cunning.  That being said, if you are going into this book expecting an outline of James' sexual life, this is not what this book is about. It's more about James' relationships and how it shaped his life throughout his reign, and that suited me just fine. 

 

 

 

Review: An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly

An American in Scotland (Scottish Isle Mystery, #1)

by Lucy Connelly

Release Date: April 4, 2023

2023 Crooked Lane Books

Ebook Edition; 304 Pages

ISBN: 978-1639103508

ASIN: B0B5Z1TDP2

Audiobook: B0BX4LSW45

Genre: Ficton / Cozy / Murder

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Sea Isle was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of. Far from the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the quirky residents who immediately welcomed her. When she stumbles across a dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the drama and intrigue as she initially thought.

Emilia soon learns she has bigger issues at hand.  Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found. Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact, occur. The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more suspicious she becomes.

 

My Thoughts

An American in Scotland is the first book in the Scottish Isle Mystery series, and I was sent all four books in the series by the publisher.  I was intrigued by the setting because it's set in Scotland, but I was concerned because of the title as I was prepared for lot of stereotyping, and this is exactly what we got in this book.

 

So, let's talk about the things that I really liked about this book. First of all, I loved that the medical office and the house were in a church. One of the things I adored about the Rachel Morgan books (Kim Harrison) was that she lived in a church as I always thought that would be so cool.  Instead of tearing them down, the fact they are sold and used as homes or businesses combines the history of the building and the modern use.  I also really enjoyed the fact that this book was set in Scotland as I have visited the country a couple of times and it's beautiful.  

 

Emilia is one of those main characters that is rather annoying however, but the secondary characters kind of even out the fact that she is so annoying. For a doctor who worked in ER, she makes some rather rash decisions, and I got tired of her condescending attitude. And since when do you do research about a place by watching British television shows, and since when do you not read the fine print on a document you sign for a job offer? Holy hell. She shows up to Scotland surprised by the weather conditions and has to pretty much purchase a new wardrobe. I shouldn't be so surprised by this however, as I live in a snowbelt and have seen people rush to buy boots and parks when the first snowfall hits where I live as well, but when you are going to live there permanently? 

 

The mystery was actually interesting, but I did think Emilia was the weakest link in the whole thing.  For a doctor who has learned to keep one's counsel over the years and keep one's mouth shut due to privacy issues, she certainly has not demonstrated she has learned either of these and I would be concerned if she was my doctor.  She blabs information to the wrong people and keeps pertinent information from the people who really needed to know said information.  And I'm not even going to get started on the issues I had with the medical stuff in this book as that was just lack of research on the author's part and too many liberties were made (as if people who read the book don't have any medical training and won't know the difference).  I think Medical Imaging Technologists would have a field day with the errors in this book.  Let's just say an untrained person would not be able to run an MRI, x-rays, etc... by doing some online courses.  The pace however, moved along quite quickly, and I really enjoyed the secondary characters in the story.

 

Verdict

An American in Scotland had a pretty interesting mystery, but I honestly just couldn't connect with the main character as she made so many silly decisions and the author relied too much on the reader having to just go with the flow of things. The lack of research about the medical stuff bothered me as I felt it was just assumed people would not realize that it was just not possible for a young, untrained woman to have that much knowledge through the internet considering some of these programs take 2-4 years at college to complete, each. I did love the descriptions about the Scottish countryside and the weather as I could definitely relate to the cold and the snow, and I was not really surprised the main character was not prepared for the weather as she was not prepared for anything else either, but it would have been nice if some of the things were actually in the dialect of the area and not Americanized, as I am sure they don't use dollars there (LOL).   While I will read the next book in the series, I won't be rushing to do so soon. 

 

Review: The High Tide Murder by Emylia Hall

The High Tide Murder (Shell House Detectives, #6)

by Emylia Hall

Release Date: November 4, 2025

2025 Thomas & Mercer

Ebook ARC; 397 Pages

ISBN: 978-1662521812

ASIN: B0F54M65YZ

Audiobook: B0FFNFKWWH

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

The High Tide Hotel, overlooking stunning Trebaron Cove, is a dream destination for an autumnal getaway. But the serene atmosphere of this luxury enclave is shattered when the body of a guest is discovered on the terrace, directly below their balcony.

The victim's friend is adamant that this was no accident, and when it emerges that the dead man was a detective with a chequered past, the police enquiry intensifies. Meanwhile fellow guest Jayden, one half of the Shell House Detectives, wastes no time in bringing Ally on board to help find the killer.

With the hotel cut off by a storm on the night of the murder, everyone at the High Tide is a suspect. As Ally and Jayden delve deeper into the pasts of both guests and staff, they uncover a mass of secrets and complex connections. Who wanted this man dead—or rather, who wanted him dead most? 

 

My Thoughts

The High Tide Murder is the sixth entry in the Shell House Detectives Series, and this one finds our detectives out of their comfort zone and in a posh hotel on the coast. Even though the setting was not the usual coastal town, I liked that the author decided to take our detectives to a new location for this mystery and introduce new characters.  Plus, I tend to have a weakness for destination mysteries within series so I was glad to see something different.  However, while the previous mysteries were quite interesting and I enjoyed them very much, this one didn't quite work for me and I couldn't wait to finish this book.

 

First of all, by the sixth book, the usual effort to develop the main characters usually falls to the side which was the case with this book as if a character can't develop, grow, or show the reader any new hidden depths. And this is exactly how I felt reading this book, as if the characters were wooden characters with only one-dimensional development, all of them.  This created a problem connecting to the characters, considering the subject matter, and honestly, by the end, I just didn't care who would eventually be discovered as the culprit. The way it was written didn't really allow me to develop any empathy for what was a very sad situation.  

 

The mystery itself was very interesting, but the way it was written was a bit disjointed.  I thought the plot dragged quite a bit and found myself flipping through the pages, especially the last 30 percent of the book.  The author attempted to use the landscape, the hotel, the weather, and the elements to build this atmosphere, but it didn't work for me. And I love the coast, the water, the elements, and that wildness in my stories as I find the weather so fascinating.  And I may be an outlier here, but I was hoping the love triangle thing would not happen, but it seems that is the way it is going. Not a fan.

 

Verdict

The High Tide Murder had a very interesting mystery, but I wasn't a fan of the execution as it felt like it dragged in this latest instalment. I also thought there was a lack of character development as they all felt wooden unemotional. There was a darker element to this book that wasn't fully explored however, and I like the fact the author isn't afraid to dip into darker material when necessary. The actual mystery is heartbreaking, but the way it was written prevented me from being fully invested in what happened. That being said, I really enjoyed the first five books in this series, and will definitely read book seven when it is released as I am hoping this one is an outlier.  

 

Review: The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney

The Missing Ones (DI Lottie Parker, #1)

by Patricia Gibney

Release Date: March 16, 2017

2017 Bookouture

Ebook; 529 Pages

ISBN: 978-1786811509

ASIN: B01N5I5EV7

Audiobook: B06XK8RH86

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how?

The trail leads Lottie to St. Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal.

As Lottie begins to link the current victims to unsolved murders decades old, two teenage boys go missing. She must close in on the killer before they strike again, but in doing so is she putting her own children in terrifying danger? 

 

My Thoughts

The Missing Ones is the first book in the long-running DI Lottie Parker mystery series.  The publisher kindly sent me the first ten books in the series as well as the latest entry, but I was intrigued enough that I decided to start with the first book. With a relatable MC, a quirky group of secondary characters, and an interesting mystery, this one was quite enjoyable to read. 

 

Lottie Parker is one of those main characters that could drive you crazy though. While she is quite driven and organized while on the job, her private life could only be described as slightly above absolute chaotic. And personally, this is something that I really liked about her. Yes, she is driven and dedicated to her job, one that is quite demanding on her time and energy, but she is equally devoted to her three kids, and struggles with the guilt when she is not there for them because of the demands of the job. A widow, she is also struggling with the loss of her husband and her grief, but refuses any psychological help even though she knows she needs counseling. As someone whose spouse was in the military and was posted for years at a time, I can relate to her struggles and appreciate reading about a character who feels guilt when she is so tired all she wants to do is sleep standing up, but still has three kids to take care of, kids who are still struggling with their own grief.

 

While I really enjoyed the character development, I wasn't always so invested in the mystery as it seemed to be a bit convoluted and disjointed at times.  I did feel like Lottie delegated things that she should have taken care of, and took charge of things that really should have been left to her Detective Sargents. Despite all of that, this one did delve into some pretty deep psychological things, some that affected Lottie and her family personally.  And I am deeply thankful the author didn't go into a lot of detail when it came to the abuse the kids endured at the home as just imagining it was enough for me, and the details that were given were heartbreaking. The plot moved along fairly quickly, and I did enjoy the investigations into what happened as well as the interactions between the characters. There was a lot going on, some of which will continue into the next book, but it doesn't hinder the ending of this book. But, I thought I knew what was going on, and there were a couple of things I missed, so kudos to the author.

 

Verdict

The Missing Ones had a lot of plot threads going on, with a lot of twists and turns, but the author took care to ensure only enough information was dropped at a time so it didn't overwhelm the reader. I enjoyed this author's writing style as you figure out what is happening with the characters; I am not a fan of being led by the nose and having everything explained to me. There are some dark themes running through this book however, including substance abuse, sexual abuse, death, trauma, loneliness, family issues, and so on. I do recommend this book for those readers looking for a gritter crime novel, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.