The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

  Myfanwy (rhymes with Tiffani) wakes up in a park bruised and battered, surrounded by dead bodies, and no memory of who she is or how she got there. Fortunately there is a letter in her pocket to help her figure out who she is. The new MyFanwy will have to figure out the rest.

Myfanwy is an agent for her majesty's secret, secret service, the Checquy, whose job is to protect the UK from supernatural threats. Myfanwy has a supernatural power but her greatest power is administration and organization. She learns that she rose through the ranks of the Checquy based on her ability to efficiently run a large organization (which truly is a talent not possessed by many). If this all sounds crazy, well it does to Myfanwy too. She goes along with it because what else can she do? Someone tried to kill her and she doesn't know who or why or if they'll try again. She must figure out what happened to her without letting anyone know that she has her memory. After all, she was/is a high ranking member of a secret government organization and if her colleagues knew she had amnesia they might deem her a liability.

Half the story is told in letters written by the old Myfanwy to the new Myfanwy. As I read I couldn't help but think about the role memory plays in our lives. Who are we if we can't remember who we used to be? Can one truly become a new person?

This was not at all what I expected. I was expecting a more straightforward international spy story (and yes I realize a straightforward spy story is something of an oxymoron but maybe you know what I mean). It is rare to be truly surprised by a story and for that alone I recommend this book.

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole

  This is the second novel in Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series. In this one Portia, a flighty fun loving woman, goes to Scotland to do an internship with a swordmaker named Tavish. Tavish is immediately struck so hard by Portia's beauty that he can't think straight or act right. Instead he is rude and dismissive. Eventually he sees how smart and talented Portia is. Portia for her part is also attracted to Tavish but she never lets that get in the way of her job. Speaking of which, while doing research Portia discovers that Tavish is the son and heir of the former duke. So then Tavish has to learn how to be a duke and the two of them have to figure out their relationship.

This was cute. The ending was a little rushed. There is a story line involving Portia's relationship with her family that I wanted to explore more, but aside from that minor quibble this was an enjoyable read.