Midwest Mary

One of the pleasures of blogging is meeting readers and fellow bloggers around the world. Scottish Ada Jenkins is one of those special bloggers. Her blog, The Introverted Bookworm, highlights reviews on books, many of which I’ve read and enjoyed.

Today, I turn the tables and offer reviews on Ada’s books, Scotland’s Fire’s: A Miscellany and His Dark Song.

If you’re interested in Scotland, history, fires, or fire prevention, you’ll find Ada Jenkins’ book, Scotland Fires: A Miscellany, interesting. The booklet covers 13 devastating fires in Scotland from 1390 to 2018. Each fire is highlighted with a brief description of the building, its cause of fire, and the resulting damage. Also included are illustrations of the structures that burned.

Some of the fires were intentionally set. Others were accidental but progressed due to safety violations and flammable materials both in the construction of the buildings and the materials within those buildings.

The cost of those fires included lives, materials, and significant structures of historical value. Priceless artwork and books, alcoholic beverages, and places of worship are some of the items destroyed.

Many of the lives lost could have been prevented. One warehouse owner was more concerned about the building’s contents than those who worked there. Fire escapes were blocked, doors locked, and windows barred to protect the contents within the warehouse from theft but didn’t allow an escape route for its inhabitants.

Scotland’s Fires’ 42 Kindle pages deliver a quick read and resource for those interested in the topic.

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An old German saying states that there is a lid for every pot, and in His Dark Song by Ada Jenkins, Jonas finds his lid in Regan. His Dark Song combines the fairy tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin with a love story about two individuals in need of companionship.

You may remember the fairy tale of the Pied Piper, a young man who lures rats out of the pest-infested town of Hamelin. When the piper is not paid per the agreement, he lures the children from the town as revenge. The twist on the traditional story is that he takes the young woman, Regan, with him, as well.

Regan is ill-treated by her family, and Jonas is alone with no one to love or be loved by. The two are attracted to each other from the beginning, and their love quickly grows in this 92-page story.

Ada’s books are well-written and flow smoothly. You can find both Scotland’s Fires and His Dark Song on Amazon.

©Mary K. Doyle, 2025