The Further Adventures of Dragos and Holmes: Everything Dear

by Lorena Cassady

Dragos and Holmes are about to face the most devastating challenges of their lives. Dragoș’s little daughter, Colette has been kidnapped out of the villa in Toledo, Spain, by the arch villain, Haroun. Dragoș reaches out to Holmes to assist in the rescue.Meanwhile, Holmes, who appears to being going through a harrowing midlife crisis, is himself in danger. A mysterious young Frenchman named Laurent, who aggressively seduced him at a soirée for the King of Sweden, has turned out to be an extortionist. He has threatened the detective with exposure, and ultimately with murder. All of this comes in the midst of the sensational Oscar Wilde trial in London, which is causing an eruption of public sentiment against ‘men of a certain persuasion.This is a book of adventure, romance, humor, melodrama and historical fiction, meticulously researched. As in Book 1, the style of storytelling honors its eighteenth and nineteenth century precursors: Tom Jones, Fanny Hill, the romances of Alexandre Dumas, and of course, the detective novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

320 pages, Paperback

Published December 25, 2018

About the author

Lorena Cassady was born in Greenwich, Connecticut and now lives in Oaxaca, Mexico.

A former Zen Buddhist nun whose new book EVERY BUDDHA, SAME PRICE records her misadventures at Kim Son Monastery and Plum Village, France, 25 years ago. A spiritual travel book that well documents the ironies, pitfalls, joys and slapstick stumbles of life in the monastery.

https://amzn.to/2LOrjw0

Some publication credits: Articles, reviews, excerpts, and poetry in several journals, magazines, and anthologies, including Travelers' Tales, Bomb Magazine, In Celebration of the Muse, Smoke, East Bay Express and Santa Cruz Express. Previously published books are: Smoker , poetry (1983), Hair Suit, a picaresque memoir (1987). Her Perilous Journey, 2015 and 2018. Darkness and Light: Poetry, 2016. The Adventures of Dragos and Holmes, 2019.The Further Adventures of Dragos and Holmes, 2019

Reviews

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Lori
Book provided by the author

I was graciously asked by Ms Lorena Cassady to read the second installment of Dragos and Holmes as I read and reviewed the first one and loved it.  I was shocked and thrilled to be asked by the author herself to read and review her work.  Gosh I hope I do her work justice!!!  I think that I did because this book was just as good, if not better, than the first.

Reading the first book isn’t necessary as the author gives enough information that the reader should be able to follow along without difficulties.  I recommend reading the first book only because it was so good.

I loved Holmes in this book.  He’s still funny as hell when he gets bitchy and moody when he’s in a jealous tantrum over something that he thinks Dragos has done to him, or won’t do to him (haha!!!). He has developed some introspect and is truly trying to improve his behavior.  He isn’t always successful as bad habits are hard to break, but he is trying.  I love his dry wit, and his way of drawing out the truth in a case with his questions and keen intellect.

Dragos is still a gypsy at heart and doesn’t like to be pinned down by anyone.  He learns that he has to think about others and not just himself.  He proves that he’s learning this lesson when he goes after his child when she’s kidnapped.

I’m not giving anything away as its discussed within the prologue and the brief reminder of book one that the author so generously puts in the beginning of the book for the reader.  I thought this was a great idea in case the reader forgot what happened previously and needed a reminder.  It’s also convenient for the reader who hasn’t read her work yet but wants to read this book.  I hope something like this is in her future books as well.

Dragos and Holmes realize that they love each other deeply and need to be in each other’s lives in some kind of capacity because they need each other not only as lovers but as friends.  They are starting to understand that they don’t have to change the other as they are who they are, good bad and indifferent.

I can’t wait to read the next installment of this series and find out what happens next.  I hope the reader is just as invested in this as I am.

[Christine Duts · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading book 1 in the series, I was eager to read the second book and it was a page turner just like the first one. I finished it in three days. Dragos and Holmes's relationship is so poignantly described when Holmes waits for Dragos after a long separation and he ponders his conflictive feelings for the dashing Romanian. Sometimes I wanted to shake Holmes and tell him how he complicates things for himself, but eventually he seems to come to that conclusion himself. The question remains; can these two ever find a way to stay together or is their relationship just too complicated?
Lorena Cassidy is a talented writer and she demonstrates a true understanding of the Roma, Dragos's people. The description of their desire to travel aroused sympathy and understanding in me for people I have - so far - known very little about.
The end came too soon and I didn't want to stop reading! I am glad I have book 3 to look forward to. I simply must know how it all turns out for Dragos and Holmes.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just couldn't put the book down, the story captivated me from the start and my heart broke for Holmes and Dragos who are so wrong for each other and at the same time so right. This time they try to find Dragos' kidnapped daughter and follow her around the world, it was amazing to read and I especially enjoyed the side characters, Gorgeous was my favorite. But the villains were satisfyingly evil too, no doubt in my mind they deserve only the worst, so I loved watching them brought down. And now I can't wait for the last book in the series, even if I am very sad that there will only be one more...