The Owl Bookmark Blog

Book Tour Review: Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes

2012-02-29T10:55:00.000-08:00

Phoebe Lee is surprised when her sister-in-law, Belinda, hatches a crazy plot to sail with a British ship to rescue Belinda's husband. She is also surprised when Belinda reveals that she is pregnant and needs Phoebe to accompany her on the voyage in case the baby comes while making the trip. But, Phoebe is astounded and outraged when she is taken against her will as part of Belinda's plan. While on the voyage, Phoebe must put up with Belinda's constant selfish requests and complaints, but she makes a new friend in the ship's captain, Rafe Docherty. Rafe is haunted by the violent deaths of his wife and parents and has made a pledge of revenge which requires having Belinda aboard as a bargaining chip. Though he never counted on the possibility of Belinda giving birth on the voyage, he can't help but be thankful Phoebe is along for the journey as their friendship slowly turns into something more.

My thoughts: Heart's Safe Passage is the second book in Eakes's Midwives series (the first book being Lady in the Mist). I enjoyed this novel much more than the first because I connected with Phoebe's character more than I did with the main character in Mist. Phoebe is a spitfire who doesn't take kindly to being kidnapped and shows it and I enjoyed getting to know her. I thought the romance between Phoebe and Rafe was great to read about and really liked his character as well. It took a while before Rafe's revenge plot was revealed, so I feel like I spent much of the book in the dark, however I think it added to the suspense and made me keep reading. It was a fun and inspirational read that I would definitely recommend.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

*Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley

2012-02-26T12:47:00.001-08:00

Kate Tenney doesn't have much to believe in. Her father left when she was young and her mother spent the rest of her short life telling Kate that there is no such thing as true love and that men can never be trusted. God never seems to listen to her or even care that she exists and now that her latest dime novel has been banned by the Watch and Ward Society, Kate decides to leave Boston and her past behind her. She answers a want ad that promises her land and independence as the heiress to an Arizona cattle ranch. Though she has never left Boston, she has written novels about the wild west and is sure that her knowledge will get her by. What she doesn't realize is that writing about working on a ranch and actually working on a ranch are two completely different things. She decides to work hard though, and when Eleanor Walker, the owner of Last Chance Ranch, explains that she will have four months to prove herself and that she must sign a Spinster clause stating that she will have to remain unmarried in order to inherit the farm, Kate knows that this is the place for her. She soon sees that staying single may be harder than it seems after she spends more time with Luke Adams.

My thoughts: I thought Dawn Comes Early was a pretty good read, but there was one thing that really bothered me, which I will get to in a moment. First, I enjoyed the setting. I haven't read many "western" books but I have found myself drawn to them lately for some reason and I liked the descriptions of the desert and the people who inhabited it. I thought that Kate's character was very well written and showed steady development throughout the book. Luke, the love interest, was fantastic and I couldn't help rooting for him throughout the story and the two meddling aunts made nice comic relief. But, I was bothered by how there was a lack of anything to really set this book apart and by the "villain" who cried because people didn't think him as dangerous or memorable as Jesse James. I literally began cringing every time he came into a scene, not because of the potential to mess things up for the main characters, but just because the character of Cactus Joe was a bit ridiculous and brought the whole scene down with him. If it were not for his character, I think I would have loved this book, but it is hard for me to ignore how irritating he was.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls for being a likable, if predictable, read but needing a new villain.

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 11/22/63 by Stephen King

2012-02-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

Jake Epping is a high school English teacher who makes a little extra money teaching adult GED classes. When he assigns a paper having his adult students write about a time that changed their life, he doesn't expect much. But, when he reads the paper that the high school's janitor Harry Dunning writes, it literally changes Jake's life. Though the paper has numerous typos and misspelled words, the story about how Harry's father came home on Halloween night in 1958 and killed Harry's mother, sister, and brother with a hammer, astounds Jake. Later, when Al from the local diner calls Jake over and shows him a time portal in his pantry, they discuss how Jake could go back in time to stop the John F. Kennedy assassination, thus decreasing the chance of America getting caught up in the Vietnam War and other unforeseen consequences of that fateful day on November 22, 1963. Al explains that when you enter the "rabbit hole", as they call it, you always come out at the same spot, at the same time, on the same day in 1958, and anything you may have done on previous trips resets itself. Jake agrees to take on the task, but first he decides to see if he can change the past by changing Harry's life.

My thoughts: Let me start by making a confession: I am not a fan of Stephen King. Yes, I know some of you are absolutely screaming at your computer right now, and the words you are screaming aren't able to be repeated around polite company. And that's okay because I understand where you're coming from. While I appreciate what King has done for the horror genre and writing in general, I've just never been able to get into his books. That was until I picked up 11/22/63. One word: Wow. Seriously, that just about sums it up. I literally could not put the book down. I had a stomach virus that kept me out of work and though I was miserable, my first thought was, "Hey, I can finish the book!!" The story just grabbed me and would not let go, so even when I wasn't reading I was thinking about reading, and what would happen next, and what had already happened. I loved the description of the late 50's and the town of Lisbon Falls and though there was so much more that I loved, I truly do not want to spoil it for anyone else and give even the slightest thing away. So, I'll just say that this book blew me away and that you really should go pick it up. Now.

My rating: 5 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction, Support Your Local Library

Review: Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes

2012-02-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

As the town's only midwife and healer, Tabitha Eckles hears and sees a lot of things that people might not want her to know. After attending a woman who suffered a fall and then died during birth, Tabitha returns home feeling defeated. Walking along the beach, lost in thought, she stumbles upon a man hidden in the mist. That man is indentured servant Dominick Cherrett, who also happens to be British. Since the Revolutionary War, tensions between Americans and the British on their shores have been high and Tabitha finds it difficult to understand why Dominick would be on the shore unless he is up to no good. With British war ships abducting American men to serve in their war with France, Tabitha suspects that Dominick might be aiding the British with finding able bodied men to take. She decides to follow him to find out just what he's up to, but little does she know that Dominick is hiding a secret that may not be quite what she expects.

Lady in the Mist is the first in the Midwives series by Laurie Alice Eakes and since I will be reading the second book in the series (Heart's Safe Passage) for a tour this month, I wanted to get a feel for Eakes's writing before hand. I also have a kind of OCD thing about reading books from series out of order, even if they can be read as stand-alone books. I really enjoyed Eakes's writing and thought that her story was interesting. Everything flowed well, for the most part, although it could be a bit slow at times. Most books focus on tensions before or during the Revolutionary war, rarely right after, so I was intrigued to see how Tabitha and Dominick's relationship would pan out. I also am fascinated by anything having to do with midwives so the passages in the book where Tabitha was at a childbirthing were exactly what I was looking for, though midwifing takes a bit of a back seat to Dominick's secret mission and Tabitha's difficulty choosing between him and her ex. Dominick made a fantastic hero, being tall, dark, and handsome, with a British accent to just make him that much more irresistible. I enjoyed Tabitha's character, but I never really connected with her the way I like to when reading. She was a strong woman, but at times I found her to be a bit frustrating. Overall though, it was an interesting read and I am looking forward to the next book.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls for being good, but having a hard time making me love the heroine

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction Support Your Local Library

Book Tour Review & Giveaway: By the King's Design by Christine Trent

2012-02-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Some of you may remember that Christine Trent's book A Royal Likeness made it on my Best of 2011 list, so I was thrilled when Amy asked me to be a part of this tour. Visit Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and Twitter (Tour hashtag: #BytheKing'sDesignVirtualTour) to see the other blogs participating. To learn more about Christine Trent or any of her fabulous books, visit her website or Facebook!

Review:

Machines are just beginning to edge skilled workers out of their trades, and England's fabric croppers are none too pleased about it. When Belle Stirling installs a new gig mill in her fabric shop to increase production, she doesn't believe that anyone could protest what she does in her own business. The outraged croppers do take offense to it though, and they storm Belle's shop and destroy the machine sending Belle in a fury to London to complain to the government. After having difficulty making anyone take her seriously in Parliament, she is, surprisingly, summoned to visit the Prince Regent: the future King George IV. She charms the prince and becomes a draper for his new palace, ensuring a steady income for her new London shop and guaranteeing a long line of clients anxious to have the same fabrics the prince uses. Although all should be wonderful, it isn't. Something is wrong with her brother Wesley, who seems to be keeping secret after secret from her, and her commitment to her shop may keep her from making a commitment to a man she loves.

This novel had everything I love from Trent's books: a strong, capable female heroine who isn't afraid to stand up for herself, fascinating historical detail, and a wonderful romance that keeps you guessing on whether it will work out or not. Though I have never been all that interested by fabrics, By the King's Design made not only the process but the history behind fabric-making interesting. The main character, Belle, truly makes the book and I believe she is my favorite of Trent's characters thus far. Because she is angry about men destroying her shop, she marches to Parliament to do something about it. She always does what she feels is right and you really have to applaud her for it, even when it seems as though it may not be the best decision at the time. Another thing I love about Trent's books are the cameos that historical figures make in her books and I was so excited to see Jane Austen make an appearance. Though she only plays a small part, her personality shines through and she became one of my favorite characters. Another character I loved was Put, who cut a very dashing figure and was the kind of reliable man any girl would dream of but still had his faults which, to me, made him that much more interesting. Overall, this was a fantastic read and I will continue to read anything Christine Trent writes.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway!

Thanks to Ms. Trent, I have one copy of By the King's Design up for grabs! Here are the rules:

Must by 18 or older
Giveaway runs from now until March 5
Open internationally
Followers of this blog receive 8 extra entries and any posts or tweets about the giveaway earn 5 extra entries. (You must enter a valid link to your post to receive the extra 5 entries.)

Loading...

Blog Tour Review: Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart

2012-02-19T08:00:00.001-08:00

Adriane Darcy is not a lady by any stretch of the imagination: she works at The Tribune (her father's newspaper), she hates going to parties and socials, and she is very outspoken about what she does and does not like. Yet somehow, she turned the head of well-to-do Stanley Jimson and now he wants her to marry him. Though this may seem like the answer to a prayer, she doesn't really love Stanley, however her father has already agreed and cannot understand why Adriane is so reluctant. While in the midst of trying to wrangle her way out of the unwanted nuptials, Adriane must also deal with The Tribune's rival paper, The Herald. It recently acquired a new editor from New York, Blake Garrett, and has been gaining readers since publishing stories with lurid details about a string of murders in Louisville. With her father battling Blake in the editorials, Adriane cannot speak to him without arguing when they run into each other at social events. But as the political situation in Louisville becomes more difficult and as her wedding date draws near, Adriane finds herself drawn to the mysterious Blake Garrett and can't help but wonder if God is showing her a different path.

I really enjoyed reading this novel, which was set in 1855 Louisville, though it was a setting that I'm not very familiar with. I knew next to nothing about the American political party, also known as the "Know Nothings", but they play a prominent part in this book. It sounds as though they were a group that was more concerned with keeping the Irish and Germans from obtaining equal rights than dealing with real issues. Words Spoken True did a fantastic job of conveying the political unrest of the time as well as the difficulty immigrants felt about having any crimes against them investigated and taken seriously. It also reminded me how lucky I am to be living in a time where I can choose what I want to do for a living and who I want to spend my life with. Adriane was an interesting and likable character who had a sharp tongue but still had doubts about going against her father. Gabhart displays a deft hand at foreshadowing and character development by planting little clues throughout the book about who the "River Slasher" is and having some characters appear nice in the beginning, but having something a little off about them as the book progresses. Another interesting thing about this novel was how an event that would have been the "and they lived happily ever after, the end" of some books was in the very middle and the reader was able to see how things went after this, which I really appreciated (I really don't want to give too much detail and give any unintended spoilers.) Overall, it was a great read and I really enjoyed the love story that played out in this novel.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. This novel is available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Review: Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

2012-02-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Mutnodjmet has watched her sister, Nefertiti, as boys and men fell in love with her and her beauty. Since her family has provided wives to Pharaoh's for generations, Mutnodjmet knows that Nefertiti will be chosen as the next bride since she is much more attractive and magnetic than Mutnodjmet's tall figure, dark skin, and cat eyes. When Pharaoh-to-be Amunhotep takes Nefertiti as his Chief Wife, Mutnodjmet and her family follow and soon get wrapped up in the court intrigue and everyday battles to keep their esteemed position. Amunhotep has decided to worship little known Aten as his primary god over Amun, whom Egypt has worshipped for centuries. As Amunhotep forces Egypt to follow in his wake, Nefertiti must walk a fine line to keep her coveted Chief Wife title and control over the Pharaoh's affections.

I did not know much about Nefertiti, other than she was reviled as a heretic, so this book was a great introduction into her life and reign. The story is told through her sister Mutnodjmet, known as Mutny, and while she is a very likable character, Nefertiti seemed to be a spoiled brat. After reading countless books about the Tudor queens, I can understand the plight of a queen and how she had to bend and mold herself to what her husband wanted so that she didn't lose her position, or even her life, and I typically feel very sorry for them. However, I could scrape up little sympathy for Nefertiti. She came across as extremely vain, shallow, and a spoiled princess who was used to getting what she wanted. Now, I do have to hand it to her for being crafty and knowing exactly how to get what it was she wanted, but for me, the characters that really made the book were Mutnodjmet, Queen Tiye, and Ipu. I enjoyed seeing Mutnodjmet come into her own and watching her relationship with General Nakhtmin flourish. The details about how Nefertiti and Amunhotep came to revolutionize the way Egyptians viewed art were fascinating and I loved getting a glimpse of life in the everyday Egyptian court. It was a great book and I recommend it to anyone interested in Egypt and the Pharaohs.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction, Support Your Local Library

Guest Post: Christine Blevins and Giveaway

2012-02-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

As part of the blog tour for The Turning of Anne Merrick, I am so excited to have author Christine Blevins join us and share a bit about where the idea for her fantastic novel came from.

Photo from author's website

A Novel Idea

In my quest for the wonderful tidbits required to make a historical novel come alive, I often bump into a tasty morsel altogether unrelated to what I am seeking, but compelling nonetheless. So what do I do when this happens? I jot it down.

Evidently, sometime during in the course of research for my debut novel, Midwife of the Blue Ridge (an adventure set in 1763), and amid notes regarding 18^th century ocean travel and life aboard a sailing ship, I jotted down this completely unrelated fact:

Really? New York City had been occupied by the British Army for seven years?

Boston and Philadelphia are the large cities that spring to mind when you think about the American Revolution. New York – not so much. I was surprised the city had been occupied by the British enemy for seven years. Not only did I jot the fact down – I double bubbled it!

Once I completed the manuscript Midwife of the Blue Ridge, I set out to get it published. This difficult process begins with first finding a literary agent willing to take on an uncredentialed and unpublished author. One does this by sending out query letters and sample pages, and suffering many, many rejections and much disappointment. At one fairly low point, I was organizing my research materials seriously thinking about giving up on writing, I ran across the bubbled note again.

Really?

New York City had been occupied by the British Army for seven years?

Hmmm…

We Americans begin learning about the birth of our nation from the moment we gaze in wonder at a firework display at our first Fourth of July celebration. Between kindergarten and high school, a multitude of significant events, the battles and the stories of our forefathers – all of this history becomes etched on, and sometimes lost, in the wrinkles of our brains.

I reread the note and turned to the internet to recover what I had lost, and began to unearthed things I didn’t ever know. I became swept up in the American Revolution – swept up in the confusion and fervor of that extraordinary time in our history. A story began to coalesce in my mind, somewhat mimicking what was happening to me. This began with the tale of an ordinary woman – not the daughter, or wife or mistress or maid of any historically famous man – just a woman who gets swept up by remarkable events taking place around her.

It’s hard for me to describe the complete evolution of this story, but it became apparent once I began the deep research, the story I envisioned would require more than one book. The bubbled note I had written years before became the embryo of a three book series set during the American Revolution.

Anne Merrick’s adventure begins in The Tory Widow with a celebratory kiss from a handsome young stranger. Against a New York City backdrop of civil strife, revolution, and war, Anne discovers her true ideals, and true love.

In The Turning of Anne Merrick, as the war drags on and the Patriot cause appears evermore hopeless, Anne’s resolve and core purpose is tempered and tested at Saratoga, Valley Forge, and in British occupied Philadelphia.

Author Christine Blevins writes what she loves to read- historical adventure stories. She is at work on the third novel in a series set during the American Revolution and War of Independence. To learn more about Christine and her amazing novels, check out her website, Twitter, and Facebook. Also, be sure to visit Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for info on this and many other book tours!

Giveaway!

18^th Century Paper Goods – these sheets and envelopes are perfect for scrieving all manner of treason. The bundle is supplied with a quill pen and wrapped for convenient stowing amidst your gear.

Rules:

Giveaway from now until Feb 25
Open internationally!!
Fill out the form below for your chance to win:

Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

2012-02-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

The year is 2044 and the world has deteriorated to the point that most people spend their waking hours inside a video game rather than face reality. That video game is the OASIS. Inside the OASIS, people can be as skinny, beautiful, cool, powerful, and influential as they want through their avatars and lead the life they've always dreamed of. Gone are the days of vacationing on the beach, instead families will all enter the OASIS and travel to a distant planet together. Most children no longer ride a school bus to school, but rather will put on their visor and haptic gloves and attend a virtual public school that allows no interruptions during teaching and no physical violence. When the creator of OASIS, James Halliday, dies he leaves behind an "Easter egg" hidden inside his massive video game. The first player to find three keys and unlock the three hidden gates will win his fortune. Years go by without anyone finding a single key, though many players devote their lives to studying all of the 1980's movies, music, and video games that Halliday was known to love hoping to find a clue to the location of the first key. Wade Watts grew up in the OASIS world and prefers it over the rundown trailer park he lives in. He is one of the self-proclaimed "gunters" (Egg hunters) and knows as much about the 80's as if he'd lived during the era himself. When he becomes the first player to find a key, he sets off a race against his fellow gunters and against a corporation determined to stop at nothing to win Halliday's fortune.

When I heard about this book I knew that I would probably like it, but I had no idea how much I would love it until I started reading. Immediately, I was sucked in and, much like the video game in the story, I didn't want to stop reading and return to reality. My husband is the video game geek in the family and though I've played a few, he knows a lot more about all of it than I do. I thought that this might throw me off a bit since I'm not really much of a gamer, instead I found myself interrupting my husband's reading to tell him cool parts in the book and to ask him about different anime characters and video games that were mentioned because I became so interested in the story. The world created in this book was so detailed and the pacing was really well done. It moved along very quickly, almost too quickly because I finished a lot sooner than I would have liked. :) I really can't explain what it was about this book that I enjoyed so much except that I just could not put it down. I seriously contemplated calling into work sick one day just so I could curl up and read the entire day.

My rating: 5 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Support Your Local Library

Book Tour Review: The Turning of Anne Merrick by Christine Blevins

2012-02-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

This review is a part of the blog tour of The Turning of Anne Merrick by Christine Blevins. Make sure you visit Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and Twitter to check out the other awesome blogs on the tour!

Anne Merrick would do anything for Jack Hampton, the man that she loves, but she would also do anything for her country. In the battle for independence, Anne is a spy who has infiltrated the British army and sends her messages to the Americans with the hopes that they will use the information to secure a victory. However, there are times when giving all for her country does not mesh well with what her heart is telling her to do...

My thoughts: This is the second book in a trilogy that began with The Tory Widow. I would definitely recommend reading these books in order so that you can see how Anne and Jack's love story begins and how far they have come. Plus, a certain betrayed captain makes a reappearance (I don't want to give names and spoil it for anyone who has not read the first book) which I was extremely excited about because, even if he was on the "wrong side" of the fight, I still liked his character. I loved getting to see Anne and Jack's relationship evolve and getting to know them better. As before, Blevins proves that she is adept at research and the details she adds really help you to feel that you are walking alongside Anne and Sally as they barter scones for information and secrets in the British camp. The writing was really well done and I enjoyed getting to see both sides of the fight. Typically, I have read books about the American Revolution that pretty much just stuck to the Americans side of it, so it was interesting to develop feelings for the characters that served in the British army. Overall, it was a great read and I have quickly fallen in love with this series and can't wait to read the next one!

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

Also, don't forget to come back Feb 7 to check out Christine's guest post and to enter in a special giveaway!

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Little Bee by Chris Cleave

2012-01-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

Little Bee is a refugee from Nigeria who flees to Britain for safety only to be locked away in a detention center until she can be deported. However, through a "mix-up" in the computer system, Bee is released after two years and she sets off to find the British couple she met on a Nigerian beach, where they had an encounter that gave her the motivation to escape the death sentence hanging over her head in her home country.

My thoughts: For some reason, I get a little irritated when I go to read a book blurb and there is just a message from the publisher saying they don't want to give you a summary because they "don't want to give anything away because the book is too wonderful" (not a direct quote, mind you, just my paraphrasing.) I felt that there was enough hype about the book and I didn't need that little extra kick to tell me, "hey, this book is gonna be awesome!" Because to me, the book didn't live up to the hype. It was good, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy reading it. I really wanted everything to work out for the characters and see it all end well, I was horrified at the places I should have been horrified at, and I truly did enjoy the writing because it was wonderful and at times even beautiful. However, I think if I had just come across this book on my own rather than hearing about it from everyone, and their mother, I might not have had such high expectations and just enjoyed the book for what it was. A sad book about really sad characters stuck in a really, really sad situation.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls because I enjoyed it, really I did, but I didn't like it quite as much as I'd hoped.

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Support Your Local Library

Author Interview: Nancy Bilyeau and Giveaway

2012-01-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

I loved reading The Crown, so I was really excited to get the chance to ask Nancy Bilyeau a few questions! (I was especially excited by her answer to the last question!)

Photo retrieved from author's website

1. King Athelstan was a real historical figure, but was there really such a myth surrounding his crown?

There are many mysteries about Athelstan and one of them concerns his relics. Which ones did he possess and what happened to them? Did a descendent of Charlemagne give Athelstan some of the holiest relics of all to make an alliance and win the hand of Athelstan’s most beautiful sister? That is what some people believe. A crown is mentioned as one of those relics—as for the myth that surrounded it, I will leave that open to speculation. The holy object that the darkest known mystery surrounds is the Lance of Longinus—the Roman soldier who is said to have pierced the side of Jesus with a lance while he hung on the cross. The object was for a time in the hands of King Athelstan, historians speculate. Somehow the lance and some of the other objects ended up in Constantinople by the Middle Ages. The lance shows up in some scary places over the centuries. Adolf Hitler was obsessed with getting possession of the Lance for the mystical power he thought it possessed.

2. Why choose the 1500's as the setting for your first historical fiction novel?

I’ve always loved reading about Tudor England for the drama of the rulers—their wars and their divorces. I do find the religious split of Catholic and Protestants very interesting. A friend of mine said, “It’s fascinating that you write about the Reformation from the side of the losers!” Of course to me, the nuns and monks and friars are anything but losers.

3. Who was your favorite character to write about?

I have a special feeling for Sister Joanna Stafford—to me she is a real person and I feel proud of her sometimes and other times a bit exasperated. Even though I am the one putting her in these impossible situations! But I also enjoy writing Brother Edmund Sommerville. I like to think he is pretty original in his creation: sensitive and perceptive but flawed too.

4. What do you feel was the most difficult part of writing The Crown? What was the easiest?

The most challenging part was the middle, when Joanna is on her quest to find the crown. I needed to tell the readers the things that Joanna discovered along the way but keep the action going too. The end sort of wrote itself!

5. How long did it take you to research your novel? What was the most interesting thing you learned during your research?

I worked on my novel for five years, but not every day. I also worked fulltime as a magazine editor the whole time and I have two young children. I found it very interesting to learn what daily life was like for a nun in the 16th century—not easy, believe me!

6. If you could describe one scene to entice readers to pick up The Crown, which scene would you choose?

I think my first chapter is pretty dramatic: a nun in disguise who has run away from her Dominican Order to go to her cousin, who has been condemned to death for treason. But one of my other favorites is the Howard family’s masqued dance and the huge twists and turns of that night.

7. What are you working on now?

I’ve finished the second book in the series. It is called THE CHALICE and follows Joanna Stafford’s life after the priory has been closed. There are some new characters along with the main ones from THE CROWN, and I think it’s darker and scarier. Not one but two of Henry the Eighth’s wives are in it—and Joanna comes face to face with Thomas Cromwell!

To find out more about Nancy Bilyeau and The Crown, visit her website or check her out on Twitter! Also, visit the other fantastic blogs that are a part of the tour!

Giveaway!
Want the chance to win your very own copy of The Crown? Below are the rules:

Giveaway is for one copy
Open to US residents only
Giveaway is open from now until Feb. 5

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Review: Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey

2012-01-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

Faith Lindberg has one dream in mind, to move to Oregon and leave the memories of her father and brother who died in the war behind. In the midst of her plotting and scheming, her grandfather puts her in charge of the mercantile store that has been in the family for years and they make a deal, if Faith can return the store to its former glory, he will think about selling it and making the move to Oregon. Faith begins to see improvements in the store but her new friends Curt and Rosemary make it difficult to keep to her plan of moving. When her old flame, Royal Baxter, returns to town, things get a lot more complicated.

This is the first in the new Sisters at Heart series and if the rest are like this, I will definitely be picking them up. I loved Faith's character and enjoyed watching as her hopes and dreams slowly began evolving into something completely different. I kept hoping for her relationship with Curt to blossom and grew more and more frustrated as she kept turning to Royal, but I liked the way everything turned out. Faith's grandpa was practical and showed his love for God without being preachy. The ending seemed a bit rushed to me, almost as if the author only had three or four pages to tie up ALL loose ends, but that's really the only complaint I have about the book. Otherwise, it was a great read that kept me interested the entire time and hoping all would work out.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

*Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.

Book Tour Review: The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau

2012-01-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

Today I'm posting a review for the blog tour of The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau, promoted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Don't forget to check out the other awesome blogs on the tour and Twitter!

Review:

Joanna Stafford has committed her life to serving God as a Dominican nun and is happy with the peace and servitude. However, when her favorite cousin, Margaret, is found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by burning, Joanna breaks the rule of enclosure and rushes to offer Margaret comfort at her death. Upon arriving, she is surprised to see her father rushing to Margaret's aid, and in an effort to protect her father from the armed guards, she becomes involved in the confusion. She is arrested and taken to the Tower, where she is sure she will be locked away forever or sentenced to death like her cousin. After weeks of being held with no word of her future, Bishop of Winchester, Stephen Gardiner, approaches her and explains that both she and her father will go free if she will help with finding a crown of unimaginable power that has been hidden away for centuries. If she does not find the crown however, her father could face torture or death. Fearing for her father's life, Joanna sets out on a treasure hunt for a relic from the king who first ruled a unified England.

I was really excited to read this novel and found it to be really well written and enjoyable. Joanna is a really likable character and I was more than happy to accompany her on her journey searching for the lost crown. While this novel is set during the reign of Henry VIII, he only appears once in the novel but his wishes and whims completely affect Joanna's actions. I found this interesting because I am used to books about this time period dealing completely with Henry and his court while The Crown and its characters, Stephen Gardiner's character aside, have little to do with the king. I enjoyed getting to see how those outside the court felt about Henry's decision to take England from Catholic to Protestant merely as a means to marry Anne Boleyn and keep his pride. I also really enjoyed learning about the history of the crown, the king who wore it, and all that Joanna had to go through to locate it.

My rating: 4 owls!

If this sounds like a book you would be interested in, come back on Jan 25th! I'll be interviewing the author and hosting a giveaway for a copy of The Crown!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction, Tudor Challenge

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

2012-01-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

Sara Gallagher grew up knowing that she was different from her sisters because she was adopted. She would daydream as she had fights with them and her father that one day, her biological parents would come and rescue her. They would love her completely and all would be right with the world. Even though Sara is now an adult, she can't let go of her childhood daydreams and with her wedding approaching, she decides to search out her biological parents and make contact with them to find out why they gave her up for adoption. After finding her mother and being rejected, Sara hires a private detective to learn about her mother's past and what she could be hiding. After some investigation, the detective warns her that there may be a reason her mother did not want to be found: her mother was the only person to survive an attack by a serial killer known as the Campsite Killer.

When I read Still Missing a couple of years ago, I was blown away and while Never Knowing didn't haunt me quite as much, it was still a good read. I think my main problem with this book was that I quickly grew irritated with Sara. She could be very annoying at times, bordering on being whiny. When her fiance, Evan would try to talk some sense into her, she would blow up and take things completely out of proportion, which I understand was her "character flaw", but really, it drove me crazy at times. Other than that, it was a fast-paced read and it really made me think about how much of what makes us who we are is determined by our parents genes.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Support Your Local Library

Review: The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

2012-01-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

Title: The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: Catherine de Medici, also known as Madame Serpent and Jezebel to her enemies, was a French queen surrounded by murder and intrigue. While many blame her for the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, what if she wasn't quite as bad as history has led us to believe? What if she was so concerned for the welfare of France and the fate of her children that she would stop at nothing to protect her beloved adopted country and family?

My thoughts: I was so excited to win a copy of this book from Amy at Passages to the Past! So, before this novel I really knew next to nothing about Catherine de Medici because typically when I read books set in this time period, they are about Henry VIII and his schemes. Because of my ignorance, I had no preconceived notions about her motives and was easily swayed by Gortner's version of her life and crimes. From the first page, I was sucked into the story and found Catherine to be a strong character who knew what she wanted but was at times helpless. Through these trials, she grew more capable and soon was running France from behind the scenes. I thought the setting was very well done and could almost picture myself following Catherine through the palaces and feel her anguish at the discontent between the Huguenots and Catholics. Overall, I loved this novel and can't wait to read more by C.W. Gortner.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself, Historical Fiction

Review: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

2012-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

Title: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Stoney Ridge Seasons #1)

Setting: Present day Pennsylvania

Genre: Christian fiction

Summary: Julia Lapp has steadily watched her beloved home, Windmill Farm, decline since her father began having heart problems. He desperately needs a heart transplant, but refuses to be put on the transplant list because in order to receive a new heart, someone else must die and he is unwilling to accept this. Meanwhile, Julia has been planning to marry Paul Fisher since she was a young girl, and even though he has already postponed the wedding, she refuses to give up hope. When Paul comes to her and wants to postpone again, she knows that Roman Troyer, known as the Bee Man, is to blame. Roman makes his living as a modern day nomad, traveling through the Amish communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania and renting out his bee hives to pollinate farmers crops. When Roman passes through and extols the wonders of having a carefree existence, many of the young boys decide they want to be just like him. After the second postponement of her wedding, Julia has had enough and is determined to make Roman's time at Windmill Farm difficult.

My thoughts: I've only read a couple of books in the now popular Amish romance genre and The Keeper has been my favorite to date. I loved the character of Julia and I really enjoyed getting to know her and her family, especially her youngest sister Mary Kate who had a large enough personality to take up the entire book. I'm always fascinated by the Amish way of life and it was interesting to get to see a bit more of it through this book. The whole time I kept rooting for Julia and Roman to get together and enjoyed the romance side of it, but the additional story line of Julia's father having heart problems kept me immersed in the novel and wanting to find out if he would end up having a transplant or not. The writing was really well done and overall, this book left me with a warm and cozy feeling and wanting to try the next in the series which is expected to be published in August.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: Outdo Yourself

Also, the author is hosting a giveaway for an iPad (running from now until Jan. 17) and release party on Facebook on Jan. 17 if you are interested!

*Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.

2012 Tudor Reading Challenge

2012-01-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. I said I wasn't going to go overboard with challenges this year, but I was just visiting one of my favorite blogs and saw this really cool one:

It is hosted by The Musings of ALMYBNENR and since I love anything Tudor, I think I'll really enjoy this challenge. I'll be joining at the Henry VII level and reading 5 Tudor related books.

Best of 2011 & Giveaway!

2011-12-31T09:39:00.000-08:00

Here it is... the requisite end-of-the-year wrap up! It was really, really hard for me to choose my Best of 2011 books. There were a few that automatically went on the list, no questions asked, but others were a bit more difficult. As I was looking back through the books I read this year, I realized that I had read so many good books, it was hard to choose just 10 that I considered "The Best". But, I did end up only choosing 10, just because if I listed every book I enjoyed this year, well, that might take too long. I'm also going to be hosting a giveaway for one of these awesome books so check out the rules below! And, here they are, in no particular order, the books that I most enjoyed in 2011!

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

Doc by Mary Doria Russell

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

A Royal Likeness by Christine Trent

Night Road by Kristen Hannah

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

And, in honor of my 1 year blogiversary and the new year coming, I'm going to have a giveaway where the winner gets their choice of one of my Best of 2011 books. Below are the rules:

One winner gets their choice of one of the aforementioned books
Contest open until Jan 15
Open to US and Canadian residents

Review: Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

2011-12-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

Title: Midwife of the Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

Setting: 1700's Scotland and America

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: When everyone in Maggie's village, including her family, is killed for lending aid to those who fought on the Highlander's side at the Battle of Culloden, seven-year old Maggie Duncan helps a wounded soldier find his way home and is taken in by his wife, Hannah. Hannah is the village midwife and teaches young Maggie her trade as well as knowledge about plants and healing. When Hannah dies, Maggie knows that she can no longer stay because of the mistrusting townspeople who believe her to be cursed because of being the sole survivor from her hometown. She travels to America as an indentured servant where she soon finds her place in a family in need of a midwife and her healing.

My thoughts: I have to say that after reading the summary on the back of the book, I was eager to start reading. I was quickly pulled in by the story line and loved the character of Maggie. She is a strong female character and I did not want to put the book down because I was dying to see how everything turned out! I really enjoyed reading about the herbology discussed and it was clear that Blevins did a lot of research for her novel. I learned all kinds of cool things from reading this book! While this book had the requisite love story, the love interest was not your typical knight in shining armor. Tom's armor was actually a breechclout and it had a lot of chinks. Yes, he rescues her a time or two, but he isn't perfect (as the love interest usually is) and there were actually moments where I was unsure if I wanted her to end up with him. It was a lot like Gabaldon's Outlander series (a fiery woman with a skill for healing and finding nifty plants in the Blue Ridge, but without the time travel) and I truly enjoyed Blevins's debut novel.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: +11 in '11

* Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author, but I was not required to write a review in exchange... I just wanted to write one. :)

Review: Incendiary by Chris Cleave

2011-12-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

Title: Incendiary by Chris Cleave

Setting: Present day, London

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Summary: In an open letter to Osama Bin Laden, an unnamed woman tries to find the meaning behind her son and husband's death in a terrorist bombing. She describes her life before the bombing, what it was like to watch the football stadium blow up on television, and what her life has been like since the death of "her men."

My thoughts: This is not something I would have picked up on my own. I probably wouldn't have continued past the first few pages if a friend had not promised that it would be amazing and that I would love it. And while it didn't live up to all she promised, at least not to me, it was an okay book. First, there is little punctuation and no commas to break up run on sentences, so it could be a bit confusing at times. I have a terrible time with commas when I am writing, but then again, I'm not publishing a book. I completely understand where Cleave was coming from when he chose to write the book this way. It definitely added to the feel he was trying to give the book and helped make the main character more realistic. It still drove me crazy though. That aside, it was a very sad story that made me cry a few times, but more often I think I was a bit baffled by some of the things that happened to her. I really couldn't make up my mind on whether I liked the main character or if it was my pity for her that made certain things she did endearing. I actually didn't like any of the other characters now that I think on it. So, overall it was interesting, but maybe just not my type of book.

My rating: 3 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: To Be Queen by Christy English

2011-12-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Title: To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Christy English

Setting: 12th century France

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: Eleanor is her father's beloved daughter and has been raised to take over the lands of Aquitaine since she was a young child. She loves her people and her people love her and happily accept her as their duchess when her father unexpectedly dies. She feels that she has truly made her life complete when she is betrothed to the heir to the throne of France, Louis VII. Unfortunately, her new groom loves her, but more as a sister than a wife. It becomes difficult to convince him to try and produce an heir and he scurries to church to ask forgiveness for even looking at her. It soon becomes apparent that she must make her own way in the world and seek out her own happiness away from her husband.

My thoughts: I finished reading this book in only a day, a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I did not have time to give it the review it deserved at the time, so I will just have to make due with a mini-review before returning to writing papers for class. It was an enjoyable read filled with many interesting details of the time and I especially liked the parts where Eleanor travels to the Middle East on Crusade. I liked getting to glimpse inside the palaces and see the architectural wonders of the day. Overall, Eleanor was a likable character who I felt sorry for at times, and in disbelief at others. I haven't read much about Eleanor of Aquitaine, but I definitely will seek out other books about her in the future.

My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: +11 in 11

2012 Reading Challenges

2011-12-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, where I make a list of all of the reading challenges that make my heart soar just looking at them. Now, you may be saying to yourself, "But Siobian, if I read correctly, it appears that you finished one challenge, but have come nowhere close to completing two of your challenges from 2011, and one challenge you said you were going to do just completely disappeared. Now, you want to take on more?" Why yes, astute reader of my blog, yes I do. See, here's the thing. Due to an abundance of classwork that needs to be done (think 10 papers due by Dec. 31) and my brilliant idea to make all of my Christmas gifts by hand (yes, I am insane) my reading has unfortunately fallen by the wayside. So, where I had been planning on spending the week I have off work reading to my heart's content, I will now be working on classwork until my computer explodes.

But... next year is a new year and I am determined to turn it all around and complete all of the challenges I join. So, without further ado, these are the challenges I want to tackle.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012

Hosted by Historical Tapestry

This was the only challenge that I actually finished this year, so I am determined to do it again and at a higher level.

My plan is to complete the Severe Bookaholism level by reading 20 historical fiction books.

Non-Fiction Non-Memoir 2012 Reading Challenge

Hosted by My Book Retreat

I have been wanting to read more non-fiction books and have quite a few of them languishing on my shelves. In an effort to step out of my comfort zone and read more, and learn more, I am planning on joining, and completing (!) this challenge.

My goal is to complete the Elementary level by reading 5 non-fiction books.

Outdo Yourself Challenge 2012

Hosted by The Book Vixen

So, my goal in 2011 was to read 102 books (adding 11 books on to how many I read in 2010) and, obviously, I have had some trouble with that. This challenge seems a bit more my pace because I can choose how many books I want to add to read beyond my total for this year.

I've read about 80 books this year (I'll put the grand total on my Reading Challenges page on Jan. 1, 2012) and I think I would like to add at least five to that total for next year, so I am going to join the challenge at the Getting My Heart Rate Up level by reading 1-5 more books.

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Hosted by The Eclectic Bookshelf

This is one of the challenges where I did not meet my goal, but I still think that checking books out from your library is the way to go.

Even though I didn't make this goal in 2011, I'm going to set the same goal for myself in 2012 and really strive to meet it this year by entering at Level Three and reading 36 library books.

Alright, I think that does it for now. It isn't as ambitious a list as last year, but I'm working on learning my boundaries and setting myself attainable goals. Hopefully, these challenges will be just that, challenging, but attainable. :) We'll see.

Author Interview and Giveaway: M.J. Rose

2011-12-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

After reading The Hypnotist, I really wanted to find out about where M.J. Rose got her inspiration. Luckily, she was willing to answer a few of my questions.

1. The Hypnotist features characters who have been reincarnated and are aware of their past lives. How did you get interested in the subject of reincarnation?

To answer that question I have to go back… not that far… but to when I was three years old and at a family dinner.

The family was gathered around and my great-great-grandfather who was a Kabbalistic scholar was saying a prayer over the wine when I chirped up and told him something about his childhood in Russia.

I was three. I didn’t even know what Russia was.

My mother later told me--because I don’t remember it--he never finished the prayer.

I apparently had told him something that he’d never told anyone about, an embarrassing moment in the life of a 9 year-old boy, buried deep inside this 88 year-old man.

He became convinced I was a reincarnation of someone in his past which considering his study of the Kabbala was not that strange. The mystical teachings explain that we are born over and over, returning to learn in this life, the lesson we didn’t learn in the last.

There are many Jewish fables about greedy wealthy landowners reincarnated as beggars to learn about generosity and shrewish wives reborn as kind husbands to learn about love.

That night, my mother was disturbed. A very sane and logical woman, she was much horrified at the turn in the events of the evening. She argued with her grandfather that I’d overheard the story or it was a coincidence and he argued right back that she was wrong and I was here again, in his life again for a reason.

He was also a Talmudic scholar and an expert arguer. He won.

After more incidents, my mother started to study reincarnation and came to believe what my great-great-grandfather believed: that in a past life, I’d been in Russia and had been part of his family and was here for a reason.

So reincarnation was an idea I grew up with that my mom and I talked about often and researched together as her interest in it continued.

For years, I wanted to write a novel about someone like my mother – who was sane and logical – who started out skeptical but came to believe in reincarnation. But I was afraid if I did people would think I was a “woo woo weirdo”.

I tried to start the book ten years ago after my mother died but I was too close to the subject and missed her too much to be able to explore it objectively. Every once in while the idea would start to pester me again but I still stayed away from it.

Then a few years ago on the exact anniversary of my mom’s death my niece, who was a toddler at the time, said some very curious things to me about my mother and I--things she really couldn’t have known--and the pestering became an obsession.

When asked if I believed in reincarnation before I wrote on the subject I used to say "I don't not not believe." But now, after writing about it for more than 6 years, I do--I believe.

2. Are any of the characters inspired by real people?

No.

3. Who was your favorite character to write about?

I’m like any mom – I love all my children

4. What do you feel was the easiest part of writing The Hypnotist? What was the most difficult?

Nothing about writing is easy for me – I wish there was though!

5. If you could describe only a single scene from your novel to entice readers to pick it up, which scene would you choose?

I’m really bad at that – it would all depend on whether someone was interested in reincarnation, painting, supsense, a love story, museums, New York City, Paris, ancient Greece, Persia….

6. What do you have planned to write next?

My next novel, THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES will be published in March.

7. When you read novels, what types of books draw you in the most? In your opinion, what makes a book really stand out as a "great read"?

I love historical fiction especially if it has to do with art of any kind. A great read is book that makes you turn the pages, touches your heart, engages your mind and for me – that moves me deeply.

8. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Write because you love it – not because you think it will be a way to get rich or famous. Less than 20% of authors can live off the money they make from their books. And read, read, read. If you don’t you can’t grow as a writer.

To learn more about M.J. Rose or any of her fantastic books, check out her website: www.mjrose.com. For more information about The Hypnotist blog tour, visit Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours (Twitter hashtag: #TheHypnotistVirtualBookTour).

Giveaway!

Enter to win one copy of The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose!

Rules:

Open to US and Canada only
Contest open until Dec. 20th

Review: A Royal Likeness by Christine Trent

2011-12-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Title: A Royal Likeness by Christine Trent

Setting: 1800's London

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Marguerite Ashby has been running Laurent Fashion Dolls and has loved every minute of it. She has a wonderful business and a doting husband who she loves dearly, so she couldn't be happier. But when her husband is killed by a mob seeking to determine if Marguerite is smuggling money and information to the French, she loses herself in despair and doesn't feel that life is worth living. Soon though, she is taken in as an apprentice by the famous wax worker, Marie Tussaud and begins to travel with her new employer and her touring wax exhibition. While learning the tricks of the trade, Marguerite meets many important people and is asked to perform a mission for her country to help in the battle against Napoleon. While completing her task, she meets two very different men and must decide which of them she trusts and will give her heart to.

My thoughts: This story picks up shortly after The Queen's Dollmaker (read my review here) ends and features Claudette (the doll maker from the last book) a bit but focuses mainly on Marguerite and her many adventures. I was immediately caught up in this book and even though it happened only 27 pages in, I still got a little teary eyed when Marguerite's husband, Nicholas, died. I really enjoyed reading about all of the many things that Marguerite got to play a hand in, although it seemed like there was a lot of things going on at once sometimes. The text was well written and easy to read and the depictions of how the wax figurines were created was really fascinating to me. I'm not a big fan of battle scenes in books, they typically lose my interest fairly quickly, but in A Royal Likeness, there were so many historical tidbits about how a sea battle was conducted that I read with interest and was as entertained during the Battle of Trafalgar scene as I was during the rest of the story. Overall, it was a great read and I can't wait to pick up Trent's next book, By the King's Design, which is expected to be released in January of 2012.

My rating: 4 owls, for being a great read and even keeping me entertained during the battle scene.

Challenges: + 11 in '11

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-12-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Genre: Young Adult, Sci Fi/Fantasy

Summary: Jacob has been listening to his Grandpa Portman tell him stories about his childhood for years. In these stories, he lived on an island and went to a school for peculiar children where a boy is invisible, a girl can float away, and there is a set of twins that are remarkably strong. While these stories seem unbelievable, his grandfather has the photographs to prove it, so Jacob believes him until his friends find out about the stories and begin to make fun of him. Then the stories stop. Jacob's father explains that Grandpa Portman had to hide from the Nazis during WWII and that he probably created this fiction to make things seem like they were not as bad. As Jacob gets older, he doesn't think about the stories or photos as much, until one day something terrible happens that forces him to go to the island where his grandfather was sent during the war to find out the truth behind the photos.

My thoughts: I saw all the hype surrounding this book and had to know if it was worth it. My first impression was that the photos in the book were extremely cool and really creepy, so I was expecting the story to be the same way. And it was in parts. The photos added a completely different dimension to the book, which I truly appreciated, and I loved the fact that the author found the pictures and fashioned the novel around them. It was a great premise and I was really intrigued by the different characters and the abilities that the peculiar children had. Unfortunately, I was really expecting the creepiness factor represented in the photos to pervade the book and it didn't. I enjoyed the book, I just wasn't as blown away as I was hoping I guess. I heard somewhere that this was going to be the first in a trilogy and I will definitely read the next one because I want to know where the story is going and I am interested enough in the characters to want to follow them on their next adventure.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls because it had an interesting concept and I loved the pictures. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

Challenges: +11 in '11

Book Tour: The Hypnotist by M.J.Rose

2011-11-30T04:19:00.000-08:00

This book tour is sponsored through the ever fabulous Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours (Twitter hashtag: #TheHypnotistVirtualBookTour)! Be sure to stop by and check out all of the other amazing blogs hosting and then head over to M.J. Rose's website to find out more about this and her other books!

On December 7th, I will be posting an interview with Ms. Rose and hosting a giveaway for a copy of The Hypnotist, but for now, here's the review:

Title: The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose (The Reincarnationist #3)

Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Historical Fiction

Summary: "Haunted by his inability to stop the murder of a beautiful young painter twenty years ago, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work with the FBI's Art Crime Team. Investigating a crazed collector who's begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation—dedicated to the science of past-life study. There, to maintain his cover, he submits to the treatment of a hypnotist.

Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to nineteenth-century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie capital of the world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history: a fifteen-hundred-year-old sculpture the nation of Iran will do anything to recover."

My thoughts: Since this is the third in the series, I was a bit apprehensive about reading it because I was afraid that I would have missed so much from the first two books that I would be lost. Luckily, that didn't happen. At the very beginning, I felt like I was perhaps missing a few pieces of the puzzle, but I don't think that I missed out on anything essential. I will definitely be picking up the first two books (The Reincarnationist and The Memorist) in the series though! It took me a few chapters to get in to this book, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. I thought the premise was fascinating and loved getting to read about the past lives of Lucian Glass. It was nice to have that mix of historical fiction thrown in with the mystery/thriller. My favorite thing about the whole book though, was how well all of the parts fit together. The different past lives of each of the characters melded so well with the other character's past lives and that was what had me hooked. I wanted to find out what was going to happen next and how everything would turn out, even from events that had happened centuries before. Overall, I thought this was a great book and very well written.

My rating: 4 owls for having me completely hooked and lost in the story

Challenges: +11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel as part of a blog tour and in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Crime Fiction for Beginners by Gervase Shorter

2011-11-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

Title: Crime Fiction for Beginners by Gervase Shorter

Setting: Present day London

Genre: Mystery

Summary: When literary publisher, Laurence Barlow, is murdered, it is up to Detective Inspector Harriet Ware to find the killer. Unfortunately, the victim was not a very well loved guy, was hated by just about every one he came into contact with, and was decidedly better liked after he was dead than alive. The suspects include Barlow's wife, his colleagues from the publishing agency, a woman who filed a sexual harassment charge against him, as well as several authors who were told in no uncertain terms that their work was terrible and it was ridiculous for them to even think of having it published. Detective Ware must sort through all of the clues and motives to determine which of these would-be killers decided to make a murder mystery a reality.

My thoughts: I love when I read a book where the murder victim is a jerk and everyone is happy they are dead. It makes for very entertaining reading and throws a bit of dark humor in there as well. This book was one of those entertaining reads and I enjoyed watching Detective Ware try to take what little evidence there was to find a killer, although I wish there had been a bit more character development involved in the story. While reading the included excerpts from the dejected author's works was amusing, there were times where I felt like it was a bit too much and wanted to get back to the actual story and learn more about the characters themselves rather than how badly they wrote or what they ate for breakfast. The snippets gleaned from each character piqued my interest and I wanted to know more. If Detective Ware's character was developed a bit more, I could see this being the beginning of a great series.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls, for being a quick and enjoyable mystery but lacking in character depth.

Challenges: + 11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

2011-11-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

Title: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (Strangely Beautiful #1) by Leanna Renee Hieber

Setting: London, 1888

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Summary: Percy Parker is very different from other girls her age; she grew up in a convent, she has strange visions and dreams, and she has albinism. Other people take her for a ghost walking around while Percy is able to see and converse with real spirits. When it becomes apparent that the convent can no longer keep her, Percy is sent to Athens Academy in the heart of London. There she meets and falls in love with Professor Alexi Rychman, a man who has spent his life searching for something but has yet to find it. As Jack the Ripper runs rampant in London, Percy and Alexi will discover the destiny that has drawn them together.

My thoughts: When I saw this as one of the Kindle freebies or really low priced books, I can't really remember which, I quickly snatched it up hoping that it would be a good introduction into the world of historical fantasy for me. While I enjoyed the thought of seeing ghosts in Victorian London, it was all just a bit too much for me. I could handle the whole Prophecy thing, and the group of people set to police ghosts and keep them from harming mortals was intriguing, but then when Percy and Alexi start getting their romance on... it lost me. I guess I've never been a huge romance fan. I mean, and you can totally object to this and I understand many people do, I'm all for love in a novel and I even like a little romance, but when it starts to get to the "let me pull you to my bosom while I have thoughts of ravishing you on this desk, oh but wait, we can't! You're my student!" part, I cringe and wait patiently until they start vanquishing demons again. It isn't that I'm a prude, it just always comes off as a little corny and forced to me. So, cheesy romance parts aside, I thought this was a very original idea and a great premise for a book. I might have to try the next book in the series (The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker) just to see what happens next because I did enjoy the characters, mostly. There were a couple that just kind of drove me crazy.

Has anyone else read this book or any other books in the series? I'm really curious to know what you think if you have.

My rating: 3 owls, for having an intriguing premise but making me sit through heavy petting and some very forced dialogue.

Challenges: + 11 in '11

Review: Testimony by Anita Shreve

2011-11-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

Title: Testimony by Anita Shreve

Setting: Present-day Vermont

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Summary: When Mike Bordwin, headmaster of the prestigious Avery Academy, first watches a sex tape involving four of his students, he doesn't know what to do. Nevertheless, a series of events, that started before the tape was made, is put into play and everyone involved is changed at the end.

My thoughts: I was intrigued by this novel because, honestly, who isn't intrigued by this sort of thing? I wanted to see how both sides of the scandal were approached and Shreve did a great job of giving both the accuser and the accused, including everyone in between, voices and opinions. This story is told through short chapters by different people involved in the scandal such as the boys and girl involved in the tape, their parents, the headmaster, the arresting officer, and others. While this showed how different people can feel very differently about the same event, it also got a little confusing and made it difficult to really get to know any of the characters. By the end of it, I found that I didn't really care about anyone from the book, except maybe Noelle, (a girlfriend of one of the boys on the tape) and that I didn't really care what had happened to them. It was a very interesting concept and I mostly enjoyed reading it, but this was a book that didn't make a huge impression on me.

My rating: 3 owls for being a fairly good read but, unfortunately, one that I will probably forget by next year.

Challenges: +11 in '11

Olga Giveaway winners!

2011-11-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Laura, Kimberly and Lacey, winners of Olga: A Daughter's Tale by Marie Campbell! I hope you enjoy!

Awesome Giveaway

2011-11-17T06:29:00.000-08:00

Amy from Passages to the Past is having another Bookshelf Cleaning giveaway and has three fantastic books up for grabs:

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner
For the King by Catherine Delors
Claude and Camille by Stephanie Cowell

Click here to enter and good luck!

Review: Cedardale Court by Nathan Lee Christensen

2011-11-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

Title: Cedardale Court by Nathan Lee Christensen

Setting: Present day Oregon

Genre: Mystery

Summary: Canner Connelly has been raising his daughter, Chloe, alone since his wife died during birth ten years ago. He is fearful, rundown, and lets his mourning for his wife control his and Chloe's life. When they move in with Uncle Henry for a little while until they can come up with a better plan, they expect that it will be calm and peaceful in the small town. However, the morning after they arrive, it is discovered that someone has killed a woman, chopped her up into tiny pieces, and thrown them in the sewer below their house in Cedardale Court. As the police try to determine who she was, why she was killed, and who did it, Canner and Chloe try to decide if moving in with Henry was the best idea after all.

My thoughts: This wasn't your average mystery story. The story was more about Canner and Chloe making terms with their new life, the love story behind Henry and his neighbor, Jane, and two men who are trying to hide all their connections with the murder victim while the question of who the killer is kind of fades into the background. To be honest, this was the first mystery that I have read where I didn't really worry about trying to figure out who did it because I was too caught up in everything else that was going on. When I finally found out who the killer was, I was genuinely surprised because I never saw it coming. The characters were realistic and likable and there really weren't any of the stereotypical roles you find in many mysteries, such as the bumbling sheriff or the overzealous detective. The writing style was easy to read and was pretty humorous. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read that I would recommend to someone looking for a mystery that thinks out of the box.

My rating: Four owls for being humorous and not-your-typical mystery read, and for surprising me at the end with who the killer was.

Challenges: +11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

2011-11-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Title: In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

Setting: Berlin, 1933

Genre: Non-fiction

Summary: In 1933, William E. Dodd and his family moved to Berlin when Dodd was asked to serve as the American diplomat. What Dodd, his wife, and his children did not realize was how pervasive Hitler's power had become and what it would mean for them and the people of Berlin. Dodd's daughter, Martha, was taken in by the Nazi propaganda and supported their cause for a time, while Dodd watched uneasily as the violence against Jews and tourists mounted. Dodd remained silent for a time, but soon realized that the destruction will only get worse and he must say something.

My thoughts: I read this book because I've always wondered why no one did anything when Hitler first began to enact his evil plan. When I would read interviews of people who lived during this time, many times they would say that they had no idea what was going on or that anything terrible was happening until it was too late. Every time I read or heard that, my immediate thought was, "Really?!?! I mean, how could you NOT see that something horrible was happening?" But, in an effort to put aside my glasses painted with the knowledge of all that actually happened, I wanted to read In the Garden of Beasts to see what an outsider saw happening and see how realistic it was that no one knew what was going on.

What I got was a detailed description of what a penny-pincher Dodd was and how his daughter, Martha, was a tramp. Seriously. That was what the first half of this book was about and to be honest it drove me a little crazy. Initially, Dodd was too caught up in the excesses of his fellow diplomats to focus on the attacks on American citizens and the anti-Semitism rampant throughout Germany. While his daughter was (probably) sleeping with the head of the Gestapo, Dodd was writing his superiors about how to cut spending. Now, as the book pointed out, Dodd did make speeches that criticized the Nazi regime and he was very uncomfortable with what was going on and began to inform people back home of what he saw. The book did a great job of explaining why no one other countries stepped in when it became apparent that Hitler was starting to become the evil dictator we all know him as today (because they were afraid Germany wouldn't repay its debts if they spoke ill to Hitler. Oh, and they didn't want to go through another war all over again, but mostly the money thing.) So, while I have a clearer understanding of what things were like to actually live in Berlin during this tense time leading up to WWII and I found parts of it extremely interesting, overall, I had a hard time getting through this book.

My rating: 3 owls because of its slow pace and due to the fact that I still can't figure out why Larson spent so much time on telling me about Martha and her escapades.

Challenges: +11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: Night Road by Kristen Hannah

2011-11-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

Title: Night Road by Kristen Hannah

Setting: Present day Washington (the state, not DC)

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Summary: Lexi Baill is used to living in broken homes and having few people who care about her. When she moves in with her last remaining relative, she expects more of the same. Those fears are quickly put behind her when she realizes that her hardworking aunt wants to give her a true family and when she meets the Farraday twins. Mia is a shy girl who is outshone by her popular brother, Zach. Mia and Lexi quickly become friends, enabling Mia to break out of her shell and allowing Lexi to become a member of the close knit Farraday family.

Jude Farraday is used to being completely involved in her children's lives and finds it hard to give up control when they reach high school. She likes determining who they hang out with, where they spend their time, even which college they will go to when they graduate. As the twins and Lexi begin testing their boundaries more and more, Jude worries that they will make the wrong choices and she will have to pick up the pieces. One night, against her better judgment, she lets them go to a party and when the consequences of that night become fully known, the Farraday family and Lexi will fall completely apart.

My thoughts: I have to go ahead and say from the very beginning: this book is a tear-jerker. If you don't cry easily, you might be okay; however, if you are like me and cry when you hit a butterfly with your car, watch out. I literally cried at least three times reading this (which breaks my past reading and crying record of two, also during a Kristen Hannah book.) To me, that shows the depth of which I cared about these characters. I loved Mia and Lexi and loved reading about them. I didn't get that close to Zach and I had a lot of issues with Jude, the dad was practically nonexistent (I can't even remember his name) and I couldn't stand the grandmother, but Mia and Lexi made the book for me. Ms. Hannah really knows how to take something that is already a little sad and make it heart wrenching. This book read a lot like a Jodi Picoult book in that it had a tragedy, a court battle, and then the effects of the tragedy and court battle with a little romance thrown in. I had a really hard time putting this book down and when I wasn't reading it I wished I were and I longed for nothing more than to go home and read more of it.

My rating: 4 1/2 owls for making me cry, trapping me in the story, and making me think about what happened long after I finished the book.

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Rie, winner of the Road from the West giveaway! I hope you enjoy it and thank you to everyone who entered!

Also, don't forget to enter to win one of three copies of Olga: A Daughter's Tale!

Review: A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman

2011-10-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Title: A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman

Series: Winds of Change # 2

Setting: 1930's Boston

Genre: Historical fiction, Christian fiction

Summary: Ten years ago, Emma Malloy came to Boston trying to escape from her past in Ireland that included an abusive husband and less than compassionate parents. Now that she is here, she has made the most of her life by managing a well-to-do department store, showering her friends with affection, and devoting her life to what God wants. One thing she is sure that God does not want, is for her to forsake her marriage vows, regardless of the type of man her husband was, and fall in love with another man. But when Sean O'Connor, brother of her best friend Charity, begins to get a little too close for comfort, she realizes that God may have a different plan for her life altogether.

My thoughts: Emma and Sean are two of the sweetest characters in both the Winds of Change and the Daughters of Boston series so I was excited to see if they would end up together. Emma almost seems too good to be true and you can't help but like her and want her to be happy. This novel dealt with some difficult subjects such as domestic violence and forgiveness toward those we don't necessarily feel deserve it. A Heart Revealed will be nothing new to fans of Lessman's work; however, this book spent less time on the main couple (Emma and Sean) and more time on other couples (such as Katie and Luke) than previous books. This was both interesting, as we got to see more of the other O'Connor sisters, but also a little disappointing because I wanted to spend more time with Emma and Sean. All of this being said, I wasn't as hooked on this book as I have been with the others in the series. There were times where I would put it down and not really want to rush back to pick it up. It seemed to move a bit slower than previous books; however, wasn't boring by any means. Overall, I enjoyed the latest installment and liked getting to know Emma and Sean a bit better.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls- It was a bit slower paced but was still a good read

Challenges: + 11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

2011-10-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

Title: A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

Series: Winds of Change #1

Setting: Late 1920's, early 1930's Boston

Genre: Historical fiction, Christian fiction

Summary: Katie O'Connor has her life all mapped out. She plans to go to law school, become an advocate for women's rights, marry a rich husband who adores her and gives her everything she desires, and live happily ever after. Not necessarily in that order. She feels like she has it all on track until a boy she knew when she was younger, and hated, has suddenly made a reappearance in her life and she isn't happy about it one bit. When she and Luke McGee are forced to work together for a summer, she feels like her life is put on hold... until she gets to know the new Luke and finds herself falling for her former enemy.

My thoughts: Though this is the first in the Winds of Change series, Katie, and other characters, will be well known to fans of Lessman's Daughters of Boston series. I only read the first of that series before reading A Hope Undaunted and I didn't feel confused by what was going on, plus there were enough summaries of previous events to keep me in the loop, although I recommend reading the Boston series before beginning this one. Katie's character irritated me at the beginning, although as she changed, so did my opinion of her. I couldn't help but hope that she and Luke would get together while she still kept her dreams of becoming a lawyer. As with her previous books, Lessman's writing has a nice, even flow that is enjoyable to read, and although I was fairly confident of the ending, there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested. Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls due to it being an enjoyable read but a little predictable

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

2011-10-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Title: Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

Setting: 1800's Ireland and America

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Honora Keeley has lived her entire life in Galway Bay as a fisherman's daughter and is about to give up all thoughts of marriage to join the nuns. However, before she can join the church, she meets Michael Kelly and falls in love. The two get married, start a family, and are wonderfully happy as potato farmers, but when the Potato Blight hits, it becomes difficult to feed themselves and their children. As the famine continues and the British rulers turn a blind eye to the Irish suffering, Honora must make a choice to either stay in her beloved Ireland or travel to America and the chance for a new life.

My thoughts: I have to admit that every time I heard about the Potato Famine, a part of me asked, "Why didn't they just eat fish or something else?" After reading this book, questions like those are no longer in my mind because Mary Pat Kelly does such an amazing job of portraying a typical Irish family during this difficult time. It was like getting a history lesson, only much more interesting than my high school teacher made it. I completely fell in love with Honora and Michael and enjoyed watching their family expand and prosper. When reading about the famine, the author took me through the complete span of emotions, from anger, to joy, to sadness (I actually cried at one point.) Another thing that I loved about this novel was how completely immersed I became in the story, I hated having to put this book down to do something else. There were parts where it dragged, but overall, I thought this was an amazing story.

My rating: 4 1/2 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Author Interview: Marie Campbell and Giveaway

2011-10-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

Olga: A Daughter's Tale was such a moving and interesting story that I wanted to find out more about it and its author (see my review here.) Author Marie Campbell (Marie-Thérèse Browne) gave me a few moments of her time to satisfy my curiosity!

1. Olga: A Daughter's Tale is based on your mother's life and family history. How did she feel about you writing this?

Initially, Mum wasn’t happy about the idea of me writing her story. In fact she was horrified, particularly since she’d spent so many years avoiding telling me anything about her past. Once I’d made contact with her family she’d become more open about her life and childhood in Jamaica and London and the desire for secrecy seemed to have diminished. I think she realised it was very important to me and that’s why she finally relented. Mum never actually saw a copy of the book – she died just before I finished it and in a way I’m glad she didn’t read it because I think it would have made her very sad and resurrected bad memories.

2. How long did it take you to research your mother's life? What was the most interesting thing you learned during your research?

Once I’d traced Mum’s sisters in Jamaica, which was very quick, I went to visit them in Jamaica. Unfortunately, by that time my Mum had a serious heart condition and her doctor wouldn’t let her travel. It was such a memorable meeting, not only for me but for them too, They gave me lots of information about their lives and their relationships with each other as well as telling me about my grandmother, Becky and Aunt Lucy. Once I was back home I got more information from Mum and, I thought, the story cried out to be written. So I decided to research the history of Jamaica and it’s culture – and that was a revelation to me!

The most interesting thing I learnt about was how much obeah, which is a form of witchcraft, was practised in Jamaica by everyone - white, coloured and black Jamaicans, even though it was illegal, including my family!

3. Do you have any advice for others trying to research their family history?

Talk to all members of your family because each one might have a little bit of information that you don’t have. Researching family history is bit like doing a jig saw puzzle – you get little bits of information and eventually they link together and form a picture. My advice would be don’t limit your research to just a family tree. Investigate events around the period your writing about using archived newspapers because that gives you a great feel for the period.

4. What do you feel was the easiest part of writing Olga: A Daughter's Tale? What was the most difficult?

Because I’d researched the history of Jamaica, her folklore and culture and spoken to Mum’s sisters, I had quite a lot of information. I’d found the voice - the diaries and letters, so it was easy. The most difficult part for me was being confronted with a piece of my history that I had knew nothing about. I don’t want to sound enigmatic, but I also don’t want to have to be specific here as I’d like the readers to discover for themselves what I’m referring to.

5. If you could describe only a single scene from your story to entice readers to pick it up, which scene would you choose?

That is such a hard question! In the end I decided on the scene I found the most difficult to write about which was when Olga was in the Refuge for Friendless Women. The name alone makes me want to cry. So I suppose, as I reader, I would be curious to know the journey Olga took to get to a place like that..

6. Are you planning to continue writing? If so, what do you have planned to write next?

Yes. The plan is that the second book will take up the story from where ‘Olga – A Daughter’s Tale’ finished. But time constraints mean I’m not able to start it until early next year.

To find out more about Olga: A Daughter's Tale and Marie Campbell, check out her blog!

Giveaway Details!

For this giveaway, there are 3 copies of Olga: A Daughter's Tale up for grabs! Marie Campbell is offering one paperback and two e-copies in your choice of format (Kindle, pdf, etc.)

Rules:

The giveaway runs from now until Nov. 15
It is open internationally!
You can enter for both the paperback copy and the e-copy, but you can only win one copy.

Guest Post and Review: War Brides by Helen Bryan

2011-10-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Taylor from Our Military Home to do a guest review for her awesome site. Of course, I was thrilled and agreed immediately! Since her site is geared toward those serving or married to those serving in our armed forces, I chose a novel set during World War II for the guest review. Taylor was incredibly sweet and I enjoyed the idea of choosing a sort of "themed" book to read for her site. Make sure you check out Our Military Home and all of Taylor's great posts! Plus, she is having an awesome giveaway right now for Sarah Sundin's Wings of Glory trilogy so head over there to enter!

Title: War Brides by Helen Bryan

Setting: England, WWII

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: As Britain gets ready to go to war once again, five very different women find themselves in a tiny village in the countryside. Alice has lived in Crowmarsh Priors her entire life and is in love with Richard, whom she grew up with. Richard proposed to her before he was sent to the United States but came back married to another woman. Evangeline is from New Orleans, has lived the life of a Southern belle, and is practically engaged to a man twice her age though she loves someone else. When her secret is threatened to be revealed and her love, Laurent, is sent to France, Evangeline seduces Richard, marries him, and returns to Britain to be closer to Laurent. Frances is a socialite intent on living her own life and making the most of it, but when some of her antics become embarrassing to her important father, she is sent to Crowmarsh Priors to get out to London's limelight. Tanni and her family have watched the tide turn against the Jewish people in Austria. Though her father was once a beloved doctor in their town, people now refuse to be treated by him because he is a Jew and Tanni and her sisters can no longer be on the streets alone for fear of being abused. In an effort to save her, Tanni's parents hastily arrange a marriage between Tanni and Bruno, an old family friend who lives and works in Britain. Tanni escapes from Austria just before the SS invade her hometown. Elsie lives in London in one of the poorer sections of town and hears the rumors of an German invasion and a war on its way. Her mother, desperate to save her children, arranges for Elsie to go to Crowmarsh Priors and away from the bombs soon to be falling in the city. Though these five women have nothing in common, they soon forge a steadfast friendship that survives war, rationing, and danger.

My thoughts: I truly enjoyed this book! I was a little worried that it would be more of a romance than historical fiction based on the title and cover art, but I was soon taken in with the story line and the lives of the characters. I felt like the characters could have used a little more depth, but I loved getting to know all of the women and seeing what would happen. Though the story features many different characters and as the reader, you delve into each of their stories and points of view, I never felt confused or lost in all of the individual dramas. This story covers everything from how women made due during rationing and what it was like to have to rush to the bomb shelter during a raid and I felt like I was right there with the characters throughout it all. About halfway through, I literally did not want to put the book down and would have the text-to-speech feature on my Kindle playing while I drove to work and back. I have to take a minute to point out that the editing of the Kindle edition I read was terrible. There were typos, grammar and punctuation mistakes, and generally read like the first draft of a novel; however, if you can ignore all of that, it is a great book. If you are looking for a light read and enjoy novels set during the WWII era, I highly recommend this book!

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11

Review: Olga: A Daughter's Tale by Marie-Therese Browne

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Olga: A Daughter's Tale by Marie-Thérèse Browne

Setting: 1900's Jamaica and London

Genre: Memoir/Biography

Summary: Olga is a young woman living in Jamaica and is the daughter of a Jamaican man and a white woman. When she has the opportunity to study dance in England, she seizes the opportunity expecting only to stay for a few months. However, when WWII begins, she is unable to return to Jamaica and instead decides to take up nursing. During her training, she is raped by an army doctor and finds herself pregnant which forces her to give up of her idea of becoming a nurse. Olga keeps her child, but does not return to Jamaica or let her family know because of her fear of bring shame to them.

My thoughts: Olga is told through actual newspaper clippings, diary entries, and letters, which usually I am not a fan of. I typically prefer narratives; however, I felt that the epistolary style really helped tell this story better. It helped to remind me throughout that everything I was reading about actually occurred and that these were real people. The diary entries also helped to explain what was going on in London during the war and showed a little of what it must have been like to be fearful of the bombs falling. I haven't read many stories set in Jamaica and Olga helped me to understand how similar it was to London and the US in terms of a large emphasis being placed on class, race, or even how dark your skin was. I really felt for Olga as I read about all she went through, but felt that she was such a strong woman. She didn't give up and tried to provide the best she could for her child, who is the author of this book. This was a very quick, but emotional read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: It is Said by Edward Medina

2011-10-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

Title: It is Said (Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox #1) by Edward Medina

Genre: Sci Fi/ Fantasy

Summary: Mathias Bootmaker has been having a bit of trouble lately. He can't seem to remember anything about himself, other than his name, or anything from his past and is plagued with horrible nightmares. He sets out to find out what has happened and who he is but gets sidetracked when he meets a boy who is suddenly stolen away by a mysterious man on horseback. Putting off his quest of self-discovery, he begins his journey to recover the kidnapped boy and the other stolen children from the Academy Darke.

My thoughts: I have to admit, when I first started reading this book, I was really confused. I had no idea what was going on and what was a dream and what wasn't. I'll admit also that I stayed confused for a while, got my bearings, then was confused at the end as well. That being said, I soon found myself caught up the events that were unfolding and didn't continue reading just to put an end to the confusion, but to find out where Mathias's journey led him. Medina does an amazing job of setting the stage and I could very easily picture the bright, colorful, happy place from the beginning of the book and the dark, dismal, lonely place at the end. I became really interested when the Academy Darke was brought into the story and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series to find out more about it. Overall, this book is worth reading for the characters, setting, and mystery and the more I think about it, the more I seem to like it.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Author Interview: Rosanne E. Lortz and Giveaway

2011-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

As part of the Road from the West tour, sponsored by Historical Fiction Blog Tours, I got the chance to interview Rosanne E. Lortz.

1. Where did you get the idea for Road from the West?

The idea for Road from the West--like most of my story ideas--came while reading through historical sources from the time period. There are so many interesting nuggets out there, buried like gems in the medieval chronicles! As I read through the histories of the First Crusade I knew it was a powerful story, a poignant story, and a story I wanted to tell. I liked the fact that it was a relatively unknown period (instead of one that has been done to death like the Tudor era), and I wanted to give these eleventh century characters, each with a fascinating tale of his own, a voice in the arena of historical fiction.

2. How long did it take you to research your novel? What was the most interesting thing you learned during your research?

I spent about three-quarters of a year researching Road from the West before I started writing and then another year doing the actual writing, with more research along the way. There were so many interesting things I discovered that I can’t possibly pick just one to share with you: the fact that Tancred’s grandfather almost conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1082 (the Norman Conquest that didn’t happen), the huge amount of money it took just to equip one knight for the Crusade, the stratagems necessary to capture a city with walls too thick to be breached. My favorite anecdote tells how one of the Turkish sultans had mustaches so long that he had to tie them behind his neck when shooting a bow and arrow--I’m still trying to find a way to include that tidbit in Flower of the Desert, the sequel to Road from the West.

3. Where did you get your inspiration to create your characters?

All of my principle characters are historical persons based directly on the pages of history. I love reading the descriptions of the different Crusader lords--from Western, Byzantine, and Arab sources--and then bringing them to life as characters in my own book. Mentions of women are scant in the contemporary chronicles, and the female characters in my story were inspired by a sixteenth century epic poem about the Crusades called Jerusalem Delivered. A few of the supporting characters I conjured up from my own imagination to help flesh out the events of the story and shed light on the motivations of the main characters, but for the main part, primary sources are my muse and inspiration.

4. Who was your favorite character to write about?

My favorite character to write about was definitely Tancred. Originally, when I planned a novel on the First Crusade, I hadn’t planned for Tancred to be the protagonist of the book. But there were so many good stories about him that I wanted to tell, and I soon saw he would overshadow anyone else who tried to be the hero. His impetuous nature and idealism appealed to me, as well as his courage and his propensity for being the center of attention in every martial endeavor.

5. What do you feel was the easiest part of writing Road from the West? What was the most difficult?

The easiest part of writing Road from the West was the battle scenes. Quick-paced, action scenes seem to increase my typing speed to a breakneck pace. I love to depict the panorama of the battle lines and the clash of armies and individuals. The hardest part of writing Road from the West was the dream sequences. It was difficult to create exactly the atmosphere I wanted and to cultivate an air of mystery while still being comprehensible.

6. If you could describe only a single scene from your novel to entice readers to pick it up, which scene would you choose?

What a great question! I would choose the scene where Tancred encounters a mysterious procession sneaking out of Nicaea in the dead of night. He follows a black-curtained litter out to the edge of the forest, determined to discover who is inside. After Tancred wins a brief skirmish with the litter bearers, the Turkish sultana emerges along with her newborn child. She freely admits that she is escaping from the Byzantine army, earning Tancred’s sympathy with her beauty and piteous plight. But when the Byzantine governor himself shows up with a troop of men, Tancred has to make the difficult decision: should he aid and abet the sultana’s escape?

7. What do you have planned to write next?

I am currently working on the two sequels to Road from the West, titled Flower of the Desert and Prince of the East. After I finish those, I have grandiose plans to fast forward a few centuries into the Tudor era. I don’t think most historical fiction does justice to Mary, Queen of Scots, and I’d like to try my hand at a novel involving her.

8. When you read novels, do you read historical fiction? Or do you prefer a different genre? In your opinion, what makes a book really stand out as a "great read"?

Historical fiction is my primary obsession, and over the past few years I have become increasingly fond of mysteries with a historical setting. Books that really stand out to me have lush and vibrant settings, deep but understandable characters, and plots that stay true to history. I’m also a big fan of witty banter, at which Lindsey Davis (with her Marcus Didius Falco series) is the queen!

9. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

If you want to be an author, be willing to put in the long hours and the many words you need in order to make it happen. Don’t waste time waiting for the muse to strike! If the current chapter isn’t inspiring you, then go work on writing another. If you can’t find the words to say something new, go back and do some editing. Set yourself a daily (or weekly) goal and stick to it. It’s the little increments of work faithfully carried out over the long haul that lead to a finished novel.

Make sure to visit Rosanne's website to find out more about her and her novels!

Giveaway!!

This giveaway is for one copy of Road from the West:

Rules:

Enter between now and October 31
Winner will be announced Nov. 1
Open internationally

Review: The Boleyn Wife by Brandy Purdy

2011-10-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Title: The Boleyn Wife by Brandy Purdy (released in the UK as Vengeance Is Mine)

Setting: 16th century, England

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: Jane Parker is definitely a "plain Jane" and seems like she would be hardly memorable. However, Jane Parker went on to marry George Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's brother, and become Lady Rochford. Jane becomes obsessed with George and wants to spend her every waking hour with him; unfortunately, her husband seems to prefer the company of Anne and his friends more than his demanding wife. As Anne gets closer to King Henry VIII, Jane becomes more and more jealous and wants Anne to fall from grace so that George will focus his attentions on Jane instead. Instead, Anne becomes Queen of England and when there is an opportunity to yank her from the heights that her star has risen, Jane seizes it and is determined to make her pay for what Jane sees as the destruction of Jane and George's marriage. But will Jane regret her decision when it is obvious that George will suffer her wrath too?

My thoughts: When reading about Anne Boleyn, her relationship with her brother seems important because they are later charged with incest, but I don't really ever remember much about her sister-in-law. Except that her testimony was key in sending George to the block and that later, Jane herself was beheaded because of her role in helping Henry VIII's fifth wife, Katherine, have an affair. This novel provided a plausible explanation behind why Jane would testify against her own husband: that she was jealous and though she didn't really believe that Anne and George had an affair, she was too angry to care and say otherwise. I have to say, I really, really did not like Jane. She was nagging, irritating, and generally made for an unsympathetic character. I literally had to remind myself at times, "It's okay, she dies at the end" just because she drove me so crazy. Although I didn't like her, it was interesting to read a novel from her point of view and see some sort of justification (insane as it was) for why she testified to what she did. Overall, it was an good read and I enjoyed it, but hated the narrating character.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

2011-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

Setting: Present day Philadelphia

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Summary: Ginny has always been different. She doesn't like crowds, she has trouble communicating with people, and when she gets really upset she has to hide in a closet for hours to calm herself down. None of this has truly mattered before, but when her parents die unexpectedly, Ginny is forced to face facts. Her sister Amanda wants to sell their parents house, where Ginny has lived her entire life, and move in with her. Amanda also wants her to get help for her "personality" which Amanda has figured out is caused by the fact that Ginny has Asperger's. Ginny decides that she needs help coping so she turns to something that has sustained her throughout her life: cooking. She is obsessed with food and the preparation of it. So, to deal with the stress of her parents death and Amanda's demands, Ginny begins to cook her grandmother's bread soup. When the aroma of the soup fills the kitchen, suddenly Ginny's long dead Nonna appears on a kitchen stool and warns Ginny "Do no let her" before vanishing again. Ginny has no idea what this means but as she is packing up all of her parents belongings, she comes across a secret letter that her mother has hidden away. She wants to know what the letter is referring to and why it was hidden but doesn't know who to ask. Soon though, she realizes that as long as she has recipes, she has the key to contacting the right people to solving the riddle.

My thoughts: I thought that this novel would be more about the ghosts that Ginny contacts through her cooking; however, that doesn't play a huge part in the book. Instead, it is more about Ginny learning about herself and stepping outside of her long-standing comfort zone. I enjoyed Ginny's character and thought that this novel did a great job of sharing her quirks and showing what it is like for someone who has autism but is unaware of it. Another great thing about this novel was the food. There are actual recipes in the book and the way the food is described made me want to immediately try my hand at cooking a few of them, despite the fact that I would probably burn anything I attempted. I didn't get completely sucked in to this novel, the way I enjoy, but it was definitely interesting and enjoyable.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Book Tour: Road from the West by Rosanne E. Lortz

2011-10-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

This Blog Tour is sponsored through Historical Fiction Book Tours; be sure to check out all of the other great blogs who are hosting!

Title: Road from the West (Chronicles of Tancred #1) by Rosanne E. Lortz

Setting: 1000's, Europe & Middle East

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Everyone has heard of the Crusades, but many people are not aware that there was more than one (I certainly wasn't.) This novel begins during the First Crusade and follows Tancred, a young man trying to escape from and atone for his past by engaging in a holy war. Through this novel, we follow Tancred on his journey through Italy to Constantinople and all of the dangers, perils, battles, and intrigue on the way. Tancred truly believes in the cause, however he soon finds it difficult to know who to trust and which rules to follow.

My thoughts: Before reading this novel, I really was only acquainted with the Third Crusade and the part Richard the Lionheart played in it. It is very obvious right off the bat that Lortz did her research and probably is as familiar with the Crusades (all of them)as she is with the back of her hand. This novel is full of historical facts and anecdotes as well as a very realistic setting that allows Lortz's historical prowess to show. Tancred was an interesting character, however I wish that there had been more character development throughout the book. I would have loved to know a bit more about him and seen him mature, but since this is the first in a trilogy, he will probably mature a bit throughout the series. While this novel is full of battles, it wasn't over done with gore. The battles were well described but it didn't feel as though I was wading through a river of blood to see what was going on. Overall, this book had everything from war to romance and the writing was really well done. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series to see what happens next.

My rating: 3 1/2 owls

Challenges: +11 in '11

Contest Winner!

2011-10-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Julie Lessman has drawn a name for the winner of one of her books (winner's choice) and the prize goes to: Pam K! I hope you enjoy and thank you to everyone who stopped by to enter!

Review: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

2011-09-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Title: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Setting: Present-day Vermont

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Summary: Jacob is eighteen years old, he hates school, has a loving mother, a brother who he fights with, and is obsessed with crime scene investigation. He sounds like any typical teenager however, he is very different. Jacob has Asperger's syndrome. Because of this, he must have same colored meals on specific days, (for example, all brown food on Thursdays, all white food on Fridays) he cannot wear button-down shirts because the buttons are too painful on his chest, he finds it extremely difficult to make eye-contact with others and must have a tutor explain to him the rules of having a conversation. He is fixated on crime scene investigation and knows everything there is to know (when he was younger, he was obsessed with dinosaurs) from what blood spatter can tell you about how a victim was killed to how to read a crime scene to determine information about the killer. Jacob sets up his own crime scenes at home and even listens to his police scanner to know where a crime scene is, then shows up to help the police. When Jacob's social skills tutor is murdered, all signs point to Jacob and the detectives feel that his lack of emotion and inability to make eye contact are all indicators that he is the sociopath who killed her and feels no remorse. Jacob swears that he didn't kill her but admits that he did change the crime scene. But will that make a difference to a jury unfamiliar with autism?

My thoughts: It has been a while since I read any of Picoult's books, simply because they became too predictable. When I heard that she had written a book featuring a suspect with Asperger's, my interest got the better of me and I had to try it. I must admit, this is the best book by Picoult that I have read in a while. I loved Jacob and his extremely dry sense of humor. I've had several children in my class with some form of autism throughout the years and Picoult did a great job of explaining all the aspects of living with a child who has autism. If you are someone already familiar with Asperger's, it may get a bit repetitive, however I think it will be a good crash course for anyone unfamiliar with the syndrome. The mother drove me absolutely crazy. Yes, I'm not sure how I would have reacted in that situation, but as an outsider looking in, I wanted to shake her and tell her to just talk to her kids already! I thought it was a very interesting concept: a teenager being accused of a crime because he shows the classic signs of a guilty conscious, which also happens to be the classic signs of Asperger's. There were times that I just could not put this book down and ended up putting off classwork and laundry just to read one chapter more. And then another. And then one more. Overall, I really enjoyed this book even though the ending left me wanting just a bit more closure.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye

2011-09-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Title: Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Lyndsay Faye

Setting: London, 1888

Genre: Historical fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Summary: Everyone has heard of Sherlock Holmes and most have heard of his various escapades, but few know of his involvement in one of the most famous cases of all time: the Jack the Ripper killings. When a murderer starts attacking London's "unfortunates", Sherlock Holmes believes he has what it takes to discover the killer's identity. He begins his investigation, all the while delving deeper and deeper into the East End, but soon realizes that he cannot begin to uncover everything. He hires Mary Ann Monk, a prostitute who is not quite what she seems, to search where he cannot and relies on her to bring him any information possible. Meanwhile, the people in Whitechapel become suspicious of Holmes's investigating, especially when he discovers a dead body himself and supposedly chases the killer but cannot capture him. As the suspicions rise, Holmes is implicated in the murders and must make a decision: move on to another case or continue to search for Jack the Ripper and risk being killed?

My thoughts: I've always enjoyed reading Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and Holmes is by far one of my favorite detectives of all time. The first thing I noticed about this book was how well Faye mimics Doyle's writing style. If it had been told that this was a recently recovered story of Doyle's that was just now being published, I probably would have believed it. Faye does everything from getting the character's personalities and idiosyncrasies right to having the small reminders of past cases thrown in randomly, without over doing it. At the beginning of the novel, I wasn't drawn in as much as I would have liked, but as the story picked up pace I found myself reading longer and longer and soon did not want to put the book down. I was worried that at the end, the killer would be unmasked as someone completely implausible, but luckily Faye did not disappoint. The ending was completely plausible and understandable. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I would recommend reading this book; it is definitely satisfying.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11

Review: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

2011-09-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Title: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Setting: Present-day Australia

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Chick Lit

Summary: When Alice wakes up after hitting her head while at the gym, she thinks that she is pregnant with her first child, she is head over heels in love with her husband Nick, they just bought a run-down house that will take years to finish fixing up, and that she is 29 years old and loves chocolate and sleeping late. When everyone starts asking her absurd questions and looking at her strangely, she soon learns that she is in fact 39 years old, (and is going to be throwing the 40th birthday bash of the year) has three children, works out and diets obsessively, and she and Nick are going through a very rough divorce. Oh, and on top of it all, every one who knows her basically thinks she's self-obsessed and rude. Over the next few days, Alice's memory still does not return to her and she desperately tries to repair what "other Alice" has done to herself. She wants to reconcile with Nick however, there are the small problems of a) Nick seems to hate her now and keeps saying that when she gets her memory back, she'll go back to hating him too, and b) she seems to be dating the principal at her children's exclusive school.

My thoughts: I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. When I read the summary on the Goodreads site, I started thinking, how will my life be different in 10 years? How will I change? It was really interesting to see the answer to that question through Alice's life. This book made me laugh out loud at times and while it never made me cry, it definitely had its sad parts. I loved the character of Alice. She was very easy to connect with (the 29 year old Alice, not the 39 year old one) and I could feel her sense of excitement about her new baby and the love she felt for Nick. The whole time I kept hoping she and Nick would get back together, while never really sure if they would, and sometimes, I thought maybe they shouldn't. The author really made their relationship complex and interesting, without being overly dramatic. The writing was easy to read and very quick to get through. The story is told through the eyes of Alice, her sister, and her grandmother, so we get to see their stories as well. I think this added to the complexity of the story rather than taking anything away, and found it interesting to see Alice through the eyes of someone else. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and wished it wouldn't end.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: +11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

2011-09-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Title: A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

Setting: England, WWII

Genre: Christian fiction, historical fiction

Summary: Ruth Doherty is trying so hard to be the perfect example of a virtuous woman as she nurses wounded soldiers back to health. She refuses to date, preferring instead to leave work and going to write letters to the many brothers and sisters she is supporting back home in the States. She hopes that if people see how virtuous she is now, they won't ask questions about her past. One thing she didn't count on is Major Jack Novak. When Jack is wounded in the line of duty, he is fortunate enough to have Ruth as his nurse. Jack becomes determined to be the one to break Ruth's "no dating" rule and make her fall in love with him. He makes a plan to overcome all of her objections, but isn't aware of the things that have happened in her past that she refuses to let go of and be happy.

My thoughts: We met Ruth briefly in A Distant Melody when she tried to talk some sense into Walt and get him to confess to Allie how he felt about her. It was nice to get the chance to explore her character deeper in this novel. For some reason, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the Wings of Glory series. The characters were still fascinating, the writing was still great, and the message was still perfect, but I liked Melody better. Now, don't get me wrong, this is still a great book. Even though it is the second in the series, it would be fine read on its own, although knowing the background of the characters does make it a bit more interesting. Once again, Sundin shows her prowess at describing the WWII details without getting carried away and bogging you down in descriptive language. She also continues to create books that are inspirational and interesting rather than preachy. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the last book in the series, Blue Skies Tomorrow.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: + 11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

The Tudor Throne winner!

2011-09-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

So, as I was sitting in my classroom listening to a toy tell me "You're always a winner to me!" in a happy, cheerful voice, I realized that I never announced the winner of the signed The Tudor Throne copy. I e-mailed the winner but never actually announced it. Thank goodness for Fisher Price, yeah?

Anyway, the winner is: Tanya! Congratulations!

Author Interview: Karen Charbonneau

2011-09-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Where did the idea for The Wolf's Sun come from? Why 17th century France and why the Affair of the Poisons?

I began researching French history, thinking I might fictionalize the story of my ancestors, who sailed from France to Quebec in 1661 during the reign of Louis XIV. I was soon sidetracked by three subjects- Keltic Brittany, its peasant life and the desperate peasant uprising of 1675 against the French throne's heavy taxation; the growing intolerance of Louis XIV toward the Huguenots; and Louis' interference in, and manipulation of, The Affair of Poisons. The common denominator is Louis XIV. His was an absolute monarchy. He wasn't called the Sun King for nothing.

The Wolf's Sun is filled with rich detail that makes the reader feel as if they are standing next to the hearth or laboring in the fields with the characters. How long did it take you to research your novel? What was the most interesting thing you learned during your research?

I spent eight years researching and writing The Wolf's Sun. I was practicing law for some of those years and was a weekend writer. I had access to a university library and those old research books were a joy. Now Google, The Gutenberg Project, and a number of universities have free online resources. I'm in seventh heaven with that, as must be other writers wanting historical accuracy.

You asked what the most interesting discovery was I made during my research. Rather, it was the most shocking, and it was the subject of torture, but the intricacy of torture, the logic behind it, the lack of any understanding of human nature when under the duress of physical agony, left me shaking my head. Also, the life of a galley slave was an eye-opener. If I'd had to live during the 17th century, I certainly would have wanted to belong to a powerful family- and even that might not have saved me during those tumultuous times. I would not have wanted to begin my life as a peasant, as did my female protagonist.

Where did you get your inspiration to create such realistic characters?

Thank you for perceiving them as realistic. They became real to me as I wrote. Many writers will tell you that when they set fingers to keyboard, ideas pour out, almost like automatic writing. And then they do a lot of rewriting and editing. I take long evening baths and, as I relax, characters and situations make their appearances. At the time, I had a small calico cat named Emma who snuggled into my chair next to me as I wrote. One should always have a muse.

Who was your favorite character to write about?

Per ar Drez, the White Wolf, was my favorite character. Although he was an assassin, he had a sort of code of ethics, but I was never sure how he would react to a situation- until he did. Also, I was half in love with Luc de St. Connec, one of the two male protagonists, despite his flaws.

What do you feel was the easiest part of writing The Wolf's Sun? What was the most difficult?

I'll start with the most difficult aspect of writing this story, and that was trying to show Anna/Anne's emotional and intellectual growth from a 14-year-old peasant girl into a woman with secrets to hide. We want our heroines to be brave, and she was; but as she progressed in her life's journey, she could no longer be impetuous- as she was when a girl- or ever relax her guard. She was an impostor at court, and someone was close to discovering this fact- someone who had terrorized her in the past. She had to put her trust in Luc and John Keyes, the two men who knew some of her secrets. I didn't want her to be a damsel in distress, but she didn't have much room for self-assertion. When she had a strong hand, she played it; but mostly she bluffed.

The easiest aspect of writing was developing the characters and back stories for the peasants who inhabited the parish of Kemerik. For example: I'd found the list of demands the peasants made during the revolt of 1675. One demand was that peasants be allowed to marry the children of minor nobility and be allowed to use the nobles' coats of arms and assume their hereditary titles. Another demand was that killing the local nobles' pigeons- when the birds were destroying and eating their crops- would no longer be a crime. I thought there must be a back story to each demand. And then I settled in for a long bath.

If you could describe only a single scene from your novel to entice readers to pick it up, which scene would you choose?

That is a difficult question to answer, so I asked my husband and editor, Jay, for his opinion. He chose the Prologue. The Breton peasant revolt had been suppressed by the French troops. And now the soldiers were about to humiliate the inhabitants of the parish of Kermerik. At the beginning of the Prologue, the reader doesn't know just what the soldiers were preparing to do, while the women and children watched in fear from the far side of the square. Some of their men had been hanged and the others had gone into hiding. And what the French troops did, actually occurred in villages all over Brittany after the uprising. I found one line in a letter from the governor of Brittany to Louvois, Louis' minister of war, informing him of this collective punishment. I had to delve much deeper to figure out how it was done.

What do you have planned to write next?

First, let me say that I have a second novel on Amazon in paperback and in Kindle format (on Barnes & Noble, also) titled, A Devil Singing Small. It's loosely based on my mother's life with my schizophrenic father. I consider it also to be a historical novel, because it follows their lives from World War II through the Vietnam War.

I'm currently researching, and am in the early stage of writing, a historical novel about the labor troubles in the Pacific Northwest in 1917, as the United States prepared to enter World War I and needed wood for ships. At the same time, the I.W.W. (the Wobblies) struck the logging camps for higher wages and better living conditions. There are subplots, of course. I don't think I'm capable of writing a short novel, though Jay has asked me to try this time.

When you read novels, do you read historical fiction? Or do you prefer a different genre? In your opinion, what makes a book really stand out as a "great read"?

I have read a lot of historical fiction and historical romances in my time. But it's historical nonfiction that fascinates me and spins my mental wheels.

As for what makes a great read, I've wondered that myself. For a long time, I'd meant to read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, and last November through February I read all seven novels. I thought Outlander was rather sexually explicit, but, still, I couldn't put it down. I was hooked. Her writing became better with each book, historically and otherwise. I thought, "Why are these books such great reads?" And I realized it was the ease of her dialogue between characters, especially between Claire and Jamie. Dialogue makes us invisible eavesdroppers. When an author writes descriptions, we readers hover above the action, but when there is dialogue we stand beside the characters. We're practically participants.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

When you finish your manuscript and think you have successfully edited it, close the manuscript window and let it rest in your computer for a few months. When you read it again, it should be with fresh eyes. You might even have acquired a certain disinterest, so that certain passages will no longer be near and dear to you.

I finished The Wolf's Sun in the late 1990s and began looking for an agent- which was about the only thing one could do then. The first agent who read it told me to cut out the section on Brittany and make a novel out of the part about Paris and the Affair of Poisons. The second agent who read it told me to cut out the part about Paris and the Affair of Poisons and make a novel out of the section on Brittany. The third agent who read it told me to cut it in half (she also had her assistant send me a list of changes she wanted made to the plot, characters, etc.) and then to resubmit it. I spent five months following her instructions, and then she rejected the result. By this time I was writing my second novel, so I put The Wolf's Sun in a box and pushed it under the bed. After a couple of rejections for A Devil Singing Small, I put that manuscript away as well. By then, we had moved from Maryland to Wyoming, and I had retired from the practice of law. We needed a second income, so I began selling used and rare books on eBay, which was then in its infancy, and that took up all of my time for many years. Last year, my son self-published a series of manuals on hedge fund investing on Kindle. "I can do that," I realized. And so I did. After all of those years, I re-read my manuscripts as though they were someone else's work. And Jay, who had edited a university journal for many years, edited them mercilessly, too. Sometimes a novel needs only time and a fresh mind.

For more information about Karen, or The Wolf's Sun, visit Karen's Amazon page or her blog!

Review: The Wolf's Sun by Karen Charbonneau

2011-09-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

Title: The Wolf's Sun by Karen Charbonneau

Setting: 17th century France

Genre: Historical fiction

Summary: An epic novel that tells the story of Anna, a peasant girl from Brittany who has inherited the gift of healing and knowledge of herbs from her great-grandmother. When Anna lays her hands on someone, she can take their pain into her own body, leaving the injured with none. Anna is revered and feared for her gift, but is mocked and not trusted because her mother refuses to tell the town gossips who Anna's father is. After getting caught up in the peasant uprising of 1675, when the peasants toiling in the fields became fed up with the king's and noblemen's taxes, Anna's life abruptly changes. Physician Luc de St. Connec discovers Anna's unique talent and decides he must have her for himself. After purchasing her from her family, he takes her to a relative's house and passes her off as a long-lost cousin who needs to be taught the ways of nobility. When Anna and Luc go to the court of King Louis XIV, Anna is implicated in the Affair of the Poisons and Luc and his friend, English spy John Keyes, must rescue her.

My Thoughts: Though this is a very long novel, it was definitely worth it. Charbonneau's writing was amazing and made even harvesting and threshing grain interesting. When I first met Anna, I wasn't sure I liked her. She seemed a little irritating, but soon she grew on me and I began to feel sorry for her when it became clear that all of the townspeople mistook her actions and motives for something sinister. All of the characters are very realistic and many times I was so caught up in the novel that my husband would say something to me and it would take a moment for me to remember where I was because I was picturing Anna and Luc talking so vividly. I was unfamiliar with the Affair of the Poisons (I usually focus on the French Revolution when reading about French history) and reading about it made me want to learn more and wonder why I hadn't heard more about this fascinating scandal. This was a very well researched novel, but it didn't feel bogged down in useless historical facts and intricacies, instead the detail helped to bring the scenes to life. There were a few parts that seemed to move slowly, but overall, I was completely immersed in this book and had difficulty putting it down.

My rating: 4 1/2 owls!

Challenges: + 11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2011-09-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Title: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Setting: Present day England

Genre: Sci/Fi and Fantasy

Summary: Diana Bishop has spent years trying to escape from who she really is: the last in a long line of very powerful witches. She ignores her magical talent and instead escapes into the world of academia, specializing in the historical study of alchemy. One day while she is studying in the library, she requests a book that has been lost for centuries and other magical creatures are dying to get their hands on. She is unaware of all of this and sends the book back to the stacks when she is finished with it. Shortly thereafter, other witches, daemons, and vampires alike begin stalking her, hoping she will call forth the magical tome once more. One vampire in particular, Matthew Clairmont, is relentless and soon the two begin an uneasy friendship that is on the verge of becoming more.

My Thoughts: So, I had heard all the hype surrounding this book and figured I really needed to read it to determine whether it deserved all the attention. I put it on hold at the library and waited. And waited. And waited. Three months after putting it on hold, I finally got it. My first impression of this book was just the wonder associated with a good description of a library. Seriously, I've always dreamed of spending lots of time in a really old, beautiful library surrounded by really old, beautiful books. After that, it reminded me a lot of the Twilight series, only a bit more grown up. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn't necessarily a good thing either. I enjoyed the romance between Diana and Matthew, but I had hoped for a bit more witchiness and spells, that sort of thing. I have to say, my favorite character in the whole book was the Bishop house. If you haven't read the book and are thinking, "Wait a minute. A house isn't a character!" then you haven't met a house like the Bishop house. Who wouldn't want a house that throws picture frames at unwanted guests, expands and creates rooms for guests who are wanted, and magically stores things until they are needed at a later time? The writing was really well done and I enjoyed the premise. I'm looking forward to the next book and hoping it will explain more about what happened to Diana's parents and her magical heritage.

My Rating: 4 owls

Challenges: +11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Giveaway reminder!

2011-09-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder, today is the last day to enter the giveaway for a signed copy of The Tudor Throne by Brandy Purdy! If you still want to enter, click here!

Author Q & A with Julie Lessman and Giveaway!

2011-09-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

What sparked your interest in romance and how has this impacted your writing?

Four life-altering words: Gone With the Wind. You see, when I read that novel at the age of twelve, I was swept away into the world of romance for the very first time. It captured me like no other book had done, and I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I'm sure), what I hoped would be “the great American novel.” Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn't go anywhere, but I did write 150 single-spaced pages of a story that became the basis (some forty years later!) for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure.
Today, I like to think that not only are Margaret Mitchell's fingerprints are all over me in my religious devotion to passion, but God's as well--merging my passion for romance with my passion for Him.

You've joked about being the “Queen of Rejections.” Can you tell us a little about that?

Uh, yeah … anyone who attended the 2005 ACFW Conference will remember me as the poor slob who waved her hands wildly in the back of the room when Brandilyn Collins asked who had the most rejections in a year. I won hands-down with 19 (at that time) and went on to garner in excess of 45 (both agent and publisher rejections, including three received AFTER I signed a 3-book contract with Revell Publishing!). Even my agent, Natasha Kern, blanched a bit when she first signed me, realizing after the ink was dry just how many times I'd been rejected. I believe the word she used was “daunting.” But apparently not too daunting for her amazing skills as an agent because she landed a contract for me within six months. Imagine my shock and awe when a few years later I stood on the same stage on which I'd received that booby prize for the most rejections, to receive ACFW's Debut Book of the Year. Go ahead-- pinch me!

What would you like your readers to take away from your books?

The MOST important thing I pray readers take away from my books is the reality of how natural and fulfilling an intimate relationship with God can and SHOULD be. Like breathing. These books may be fiction, but this is NOT a fairy tale here. It IS possible to have a living, breathing relationship with the God of the Universe. He's crazy about us, and if most people really understood that, their lives would turn on a dime and blessings would overtake them. Believe me, I KNOW this firsthand--I used to be a hard, cynical, coarse human being before God pulled me up by the scruff of the neck and said, “Yo, Julie! Get a clue. You're the apple of my eye!” J He's been the love of my life ever since.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I RUN … not walk … to the throne of God! He is my high tower, my place of refuge in ANY storm, be it professional or personal. For me, He has never been a last resort, but a first resort when life's hurried pace overwhelms me. A good example is a story on my Web site about when a doctor told us he thought our college-age son had cancer. Now I am a wired individual under the best of circumstances, so this had the potential to fell me like a tree. But I sprinted to God faster than Jackie Joyner Kersee going for the gold, and the prize was God's peace. You can read the steps I took in maintaining my sanity athttp://julielessman.com/from-the-heart/.

Your husband and children are the light of your life. Do they enjoy your stories?

Well, yes, most of them … You see, my husband Keith wouldn't read A Passion Most Pure until he could hold a published book in his hand because he hated the gargantuan binders I'd use. But once he did, I was shocked at his response. He admitted he was nervous because what if he didn't like it??? I still remember the first day I caught him reading it--it was so weird seeing this big, hulking guy holding a romance novel. But the moment he looked up, his eyes locked on mine and he mouthed the words, “It is soooo good!” Needless to say, my heart swooned! I mean, the man's only read two or three books in 30 years, and my book actually kept him up till the wee hours of the morning AND made him cry! Now, I'm not saying the ability to make your husband cry is necessarily a good thing, but in this case, it was pretty special!
Now my daughter? Another story altogether! Although she was an A student in college, she despises reading, so I actually had to bribe her with $20 to read the first chapter of A Passion Most Pure. But I am happy to report that it hooked her, and the rest of the book and the other two didn't cost me a dime! J But … my son the financial advisor? He'll probably read one of my books when I include baseball statistics or financial advice!

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release, A Heart Revealed?

A Heart Revealed is book 2 in “The Winds of Change” series, and it's the forbidden love story of the oldest O'Connor brother, Sean O'Connor, a confirmed bachelor, and his sister's best friend, Emma Malloy, a battered married woman. Here's my blurb:

The ring on her hand belongs to one man …

But her heart belongs to another.

As a battered woman, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston ten years ago, seeking shelter for a heart badly bruised by both her husband and guilt. But when she falls in love with Sean O'Connor, a confirmed bachelor who wrestles with demons of his own, fear and shame almost destroy her … until she is finally set free by a heart revealed.

Q&A material provided by Baker Publishing

To learn more about Julie Lessman, A Passion Most Pure, or any of her other novels, visit www.julielessman.com

Giveaway!

Just comment on this post between now and October 1st and leave your e-mail address to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a copy of any one of Julie Lessman's books, including her newest novel, A Heart Revealed. (This is a giveaway that Julie Lessman is offering between this and several other blogs. For a complete list click here.) Good luck!

Review: A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

2011-09-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Title: A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

Setting: Boston, 1916

Genre: Christian fiction, historical fiction

Summary: Faith O'Connor is the good girl in her large Boston Irish family. She helps her mother around the house and with her siblings, minds her father's instructions and prays regularly. She has fallen for a boy she knew from school, Collin McGuire, and hopes that one day, he will notice her too. However, Collin is definitely the bad boy. He is known for making girls fall for him, sleeping with them, then leaving them in the dust after only a few days or weeks. But, one girl has had him coming around for months now. Unfortunately for Faith, that girl is her sister, Charity. Faith is unsure what to do and when Collin seems to have feelings for her, she is torn between the decision to set aside her own standards and go for him or let her sister keep him.

My Thoughts: I'm still fairly new to the Christian fiction genre, as I've said before, but this book wasn't like most of the Christian fiction I've picked up. This book actually had sex in it! I mean, not like explicit scenes that detail every touch and caress, however it points out that we are supposed to feel passion, and hey, guess what? That's okay and we aren't going to hell for it. (Can I get a Hallelujah?!) I liked the character of Faith, she wasn't a perfect person, like some books try and make the heroine. There were actually times in the book where she questioned her faith and God, and was even pretty angry with Him. Once again, not something I've ever really seen in a book like this. Overall, it was a bit refreshing and I enjoyed getting to see the "new" face of Christian fiction. The writing was pretty good and I thought that the flow from Faith's thoughts to Collin's thoughts was very smooth. This is the first in the Daughters of Boston series (the second is A Passion Redeemed which follows Faith's sister, Charity) and I will definitely be following the series to its conclusion.

My rating: 4 owls

Challenges: +11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Author Interview: Nadine Rose Larter

2011-09-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

When I read her novel, I was very curious if Nadine Rose Larter wrote it based on an actual event. Luckily, Ms. Larter agreed to an interview so that I could get the chance to ask!

Coffee at Little Angels takes place in a small town, which affected the characters in various ways. Did you grow up in a similar town, and if so, how did it affect you?

I did grow up in a small town, but I can't really say if it affected me in any particular sort of way. I do feel today that I am sorry my kids live in the city. I had so much independence growing up where I did, and yet here I wouldn't really let my kids so much as walk to the shops to buy sweets. It's sad. I like that I grew up there even though as an adult I would go mad living in such a small place now. The town in the book is very exaggerated though, and not at all indicative of the place or people I grew up with.

Where did you get the idea for Coffee at Little Angels?

After a high school friend of mine died in a car accident the story kept coming to me in bits and pieces. I finally wrote it all down after about a year and a half. Angels is not at all autobiographical but it was definitely the accident that caused the story to come to life for me. I just started thinking about how different it might have been if it had happened while we were all still at school together and what the impact would have been then compared to how it was. I kept asking questions and I guess the book came up with all sorts of answers.

If you could share only one scene from your book, which scene would you choose to entice readers to pick it up?

I imagine I might choose the scene where Philip describes his love for Sarah. Or possibly one of the scenes where Sarah finds Phil in her bedroom.

What was the hardest part of writing Coffee at Little Angels? What was the easiest?

I think sometimes the hardest part can be getting around that little voice that keeps asking "what's the point?" Eventually I just decided that there didn't need to be a point and that it was perfectly acceptable to write the story just because I want to. Otherwise, writing Sarah and Phil were relatively easy. The others had their moments of being challenging. Mostly the writing part is pretty simple and straight forward, it's the getting yourself to sit down and do it that can be challenging sometimes.

Which character do you identify most with from your novel?

Sometimes none of them. Sometimes all of them. I think my split personalities have developed their own split personalities. Perhaps if I had a therapist she would fire me. I think I identified with them while I was writing the story a lot more than I do now. It's almost like the book has been written, and it's out of my system now so I can move on. No more relating to be done. I started Angels when I was 24. Five years later I'm a completely different person. During the editing process I had to be true to the person who wrote the book in the first place. It's all still me, just a younger version. If any of that makes sense!

What do you have planned next?

I am busy on a novel called The Tequila Thursday Writing Club which is about a man whose best friend tricks him into starting a writer's group as a way to help him get over what she has decided is a severe case of writer's block.

If you would like to learn more about Nadine Rose Larter, you can look her up on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @Nayes1982, and check out these websites where she regularly writes: http://www.thewritersclub.co.za/, http://www.thepoetryproject.co.za/, http://katalina.co.za/, and http://www.passingtheopenwindows.co.za/.

Review: Coffee at Little Angels by Nadine Rose Larter

2011-08-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

Sarah, Phillip, Kaitlyn, Josh, Maxine, Melanie, Grant, and Caleb were inseparable growing up in their small hometown. However, as is inevitable, some of them moved away and began a new life, leaving their childhood friendship behind. When Phillip is killed in a hit-and-run accident, the friends all return to mourn his loss. Getting back together proves difficult for some of them and past grudges, heartbreaks, and arguments rear their ugly heads once again.

To be completely and perfectly honest, I probably would not have picked this book up on my own because it isn't something I would normally read. But, I have made a commitment to try to read a few novels that are "out of my sphere of typical reading habits" so to speak, and when the author contacted me about reviewing her book, I decided to try it out. I enjoyed how the author got straight to the point and didn't use a lot of flowery language detailing how beautiful the town is and what a glorious sunset the characters are beholding. My attention was grabbed immediately when I discovered that the first narrator was already dead, but still talking to me. I have to admit that it got a little confusing trying to keep up with all of the characters and trying to remember which one was talking at that particular moment, but this seemed to get easier as the book progressed. I also think I would have enjoyed more dialogue between the characters, because I would have enjoyed getting to know the dynamic between some of them. Overall, it was a quick, simplistic read that I enjoyed. My rating 3 1/2 owls.

Challenges: +11 in '11
*Please note, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Interview with Brandy Purdy and Giveaway!

2011-08-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

I loved The Tudor Throne, so I was extremely excited to get the chance to ask Brandy Purdy some questions!

1. What or whom did you use for your inspiration when creating the personalities of the characters in The Tudor Throne?

I tried to be true to what I read about each character in their various biographies and to picture them as real live women to make them come to life in a woy readers could relate to, to show their flaws as well as their good qualities. In my writing I tend to focus more on the passions, the emotions, rather than the political.

2. Who was your favorite character to write about?

Elizabeth. I have always admired her confidence and poise, her intelligence and strength. I keep an Elizabeth I Barbie doll on the shelf above my printer looking down on me while I am at my computer to help remind me to write the way that feels right to me, to go where the story leads me and not be distracted or influenced by what other people think.

3. Do you feel like you connect with Elizabeth or Mary more?

Mary unfortunately though I hate to admit it to myself or anyone else. I'm not the least bit religious and that was one of the hardest parts of her character to write since religious fanatics definitely rub me the wrong way, but her longing for love and her disappointments in her personal life is something I can really relate to. That yearning and desperation to be loved and that failure to find it I know all too well.

4. What do you feel was the easiest part of writing The Tudor Throne? What was the most difficult?

The most difficult thing was trying to find a fresh way to tell this often told story. There are so many books out there about the Tudors, it is hard to come up with anything different or new that isn't way out there like relocating the dynasty to Mars and turning them all into vampires and zombies, which isn't really my style.
It was also difficult switching back and forth chapter by chapter between the two voices.
As for easy, none of it was easy.

5.If you could only describe a single scene to encourage someone to ready our novel, which scene would you describe?

That's a tough one, I think perhaps the chapter where the sisters have their last meeting, and make their peace with each other. Sometimes knowing how a story ends makes a person want to go back and see how it began and why it ended the way it did.

6. You are known for taking stories that most people of heard of and putting a twist on them and showing the story through a different viewpoint. Who's story do we get to hear next?

If all goes well, sometime next year I will be giving Amy Robsart Dudley a voice.

7. What do you feel is the best part of being an author?

For me it's the creativity, I have always been artistic but I can't draw or paint or sew and acting and filmmaking aren't really options, but in writing in a way I get to do all those things, I get to paint with words, design, and, for some readers, I succeed in creating a story that unfolds like a movie they can watch in their mind. When someone tells me that then I know I succeeded with that reader and accomplished what I set out to do.

8. When you read, do you stick to historical fiction or branch out? What do you look for when deciding to read a book?

I read all kinds of things. When I finish writing a book after spending months immersed in the time period and reading research books I take a few months off and step away from that era. I will read anything that catches my attention or provokes my curiosity. I like novels from all different places and time periods, even modern day ones, mysteries, horror, and thrillers, true crime books, books on the paranormal, archaeology, nature, biographies, and history. I usually review the books I read on my blog http://brandypurdy.blogspot.com unfortunately it's hard to juggle everything and sometimes I have to just put the book I am writing first, since I am under contract and have a deadline to meet, that has to be my first priority, and I just have to let other things slide. But I am in the process of catching up now and, though its a few months later than I originally intended, weekly reviews will be resuming soon.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I don't really think there is anything I can say that hasn't been said before. You have to believe in yourself and keep trying. The first agent who ever looked at my work told me I had no talent, it's a business where it is very easy to get discouraged and give up, and with publishers, like any business, focusing their eyes on the profits, talent isn't always enough to succeed. One thing I will say, unless you are a super confident highly independent person, as a writer whether published or aspiring you really need a good support system in your life, even if it is just one person, to encourage you,, believe in and support you, someone who is on your side and understands and appreciates what you are doing. Some writers do really well in a group type situation, like a writers' group, while others, like myself do better with one on one individual support. That's why you don't see me too much on Facebook, it's not that I don't care, it's just with everyone "talking" at once I feel overwhelmed. And from not having that kind of support I can truly say how very important tt is and how hard it is to be without it.

To learn more about Brandy Purdy, The Tudor Throne, or Brandy's other books, visit her website or her blog!

Giveaway!

Want to read The Tudor Throne? Enter the giveaway for a signed copy from Brandy Purdy!

Rules:

Contest ends September 8th
Open to US residents only
You do not have to be a follower, but if you are an old follower you get 2 extra entries and if you start following you get 1 extra. If you post about this on your blog, you get an additional 3 entries, just make sure to attach the link!

Loading...

Review: The Tudor Throne by Brandy Purdy

2011-08-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

King Henry VIII has just died and though his son is the next in line, everyone knows Edward won't make "old bones." That leaves Henry's daughters, Catholic Mary and Protestant Elizabeth, left to rule. Both have been disinherited at one point by the king, but now both stand to take the throne. Slowly, Mary and Elizabeth's relationship begins to fray as rumors about Elizabeth's personal life begin to spread and Mary's paranoia begins to rise. When Mary becomes Queen, she swears to bring England back to the true religion and begins burning heretics at the stake. Her upset subjects start looking to Elizabeth to save them which makes Mary's paranoia that Elizabeth is plotting to take over the throne become worse and threaten to destroy them both.

Though I have read many books about both Elizabeth and Mary, this is the first time I've read a story quite like this. Purdy focuses on both characters, but has their relationship take front stage many times. I thought it was very interesting to see how each of their lives affected their friendship as sisters and look at it from that point of view, rather than solely focusing on each of their reigns. Mary also comes across as a sympathetic character many times, rather than the religious fanatic bent on destroying her people as she is frequently portrayed. I really enjoyed seeing Purdy's unique spin on this well-told story and was very disappointed when it ended. Not because I didn't like the ending, but because I wanted the story to keep going! I hope that the author is planning to write more about Elizabeth in future books, because she came across as such a great character. Though the chapters rotate between Mary and Elizabeth's separate points of view, I was never confused and thought the story moved very smoothly. Overall, I loved reading this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a different telling of Mary and Elizabeth's story. My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: + 11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

2011-08-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Sarah Nickerson is a career-driven woman who lets nothing get in the way of being the best at her job, including her three children. She is constantly juggling the needs of her kids, the needs of her career, and her own personal needs. Her day begins with rushing her children and trying to get them ready for school and day care, then she drops them off at their appropriate places and rushes to work. There she rushes to meet all of her deadlines, make all of the phone calls, and answer all of her e-mails before she has to leave. Then, she gets home and relieves the nanny, sends her children to bed, and spends a quiet night with her husband, both curled up in the living room with laptops and smartphones in hand, the news on the television, and oblivious to one another until they drop exhausted in to bed next to each other. It seems like nothing can make Sarah falter at her juggling act until she has a car accident and suffers a traumatic brain injury. When she awakens in the hospital, she is no longer aware of her left side. She isn't aware she has a left arm or leg and no longer sees anything to her left. She has to retrain her brain to be aware of everything to the left, all while she tries to adapt to a life where she isn't rushing anywhere to get anything done.

I absolutely loved Genova's other novel, Still Alice, and was so excited to see Left Neglected sitting on the shelf at my library. I went into it with high hopes and I was not disappointed. I've always been fascinated by brain development and injuries, so this book fed that side of me. Not only was it interesting, I loved the story line and characters as well. I wasn't a big fan of Sarah to begin with, it irritated me how preoccupied she was and hardly spent any time with her own children (I am a preschool teacher, so these kind of things bother me, even in books, because I know how hard it is on the kids). However, I had to hand it to her for her determination after her injury. I felt the story moved very smoothly and I love Genova's writing style. One minute I'm laughing at something funny Sarah says and the next I am somber, thinking about all of the obstacles she has to overcome. This book wasn't a cry-out-loud-book like Still Alice was, but it was at turns witty, sad, and joyous. Overall, I thought this was a great book. My rating: 4 1/2 owls!

Challenges: +11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

2011-08-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Harry Dresden just can't catch a break. He has just killed the entire Red Court of vampires and saved his daughter, and the world, from destruction and ruin and what does he get in return? Someone decides to shoot him. In Ghost Story, (#13 in the Dresden Files series) our fearless hero is a ghost, hence the title, and is sent back to find out who killed him. Only, everything and everyone he once knew has changed and he has no magic to help guide his way. Using only his memories and a little help from his new ghostly friend, he attempts to reconnect with his old friends only to find that with the Red Court destroyed, there is a disruption in the power balance and every bad guy imaginable is trying to fill the void left by the dead vampires.

So, seriously, everything is different in this book. All of the main characters have changed in some way, including Butters, Murphy, and Bob. It took a little getting used to but I have to admit that I liked some of the changes, especially the new Butters. Even though Harry doesn't have his magic, there is still lots of action so I wasn't disappointed there. The one thing that drove me crazy about this book was the sheer repetitiveness of Harry talking about what happened to the Red Court and how he is upset about the choices he made to save his daughter, but he would make the same choices again. He had this discussion with himself at least every other chapter, sometimes more, or at least it seemed that way. I kept skimming through those parts just because it got old so fast. Otherwise, this installment in the Dresden series wasn't so bad. I enjoyed getting to see how Dresden would handle things without his magic and only his friends to rely on. The ending, was once again, surprising to me and I love surprise endings; it seems Butcher is going to be making a habit of this. My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: +11 in '11

Becoming Marie Antoinette Giveway

2011-08-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

I was just over at one of my absolute favorite blogs, The Maiden's Court, and I was very excited to see that she is having a giveaway for a copy of Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey. I can't wait to read this book, but don't have my own copy yet, so I signed up. If you want to try your luck, fill out the form here!

Review: Side Jobs by Jim Butcher

2011-08-06T18:16:00.000-07:00

Side Jobs is a complilation of short stories featuring the wizard Harry Dresden. These short stories take place between the Dresden novels and were included in various short story anthologies. Some of the stories include a vampire attack on a mall, a werewolf wedding, what happened to Harry's friend Michael after he is wounded in the attack on The Island, and a story of when Harry was just getting started as a private investigator. It also includes a never-before-published novella about what happened after the crazy ending to Changes (Dresden Files # 12.)

I purposefully waited to read Side Jobs until the newest Dresden book, Ghost Story, came out. My husband usually reads these books before I do and told me about the story at the end that explains a little of the aftermath of Changes. I didn't want to be in anguish waiting for the next installment, so I waited until Ghost Story arrived in the mail and my husband started it. I have to say, some of the stories are really good, others... not so much. The one I liked most was probably The Warrior story, which features one of my all-time favorite Dresden characters, Michael. It was nice to see him in a situation that was a bit out of his element and, of course, still save the day. Now, if you have not read Changes DO NOT read Side Jobs first. It will ruin the ending of Changes (or at least the last story will) and I would hate for anyone to miss out on the heart-stopping surprise of finding out what happens to Harry at the end (and by heart-stopping surprise, I mean "Holy crap! Can that actually happen to him?!?!") I don't usually like short stories for the sheer fact that I get into the story and am really enjoying it and then...it's over. Just like that. However, I will admit I really enjoyed this book. It was probably because I already knew most of the characters and didn't have to go through the whole "getting to know you" stage and then trying to focus on the story. So, while some of the stories weren't great, over all, they were really enjoyable to read. My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: + 11 in '11

Review: The Locksmith by Lafe Metz

2011-07-31T13:51:00.000-07:00

Told to Lafe Metz by Kurt Kann, The Locksmith tells the true story of Kurt as a young Jewish man in Nazi Germany. It begins on Kristallnacht with Kurt hurrying home to protect his parents from the Gestapo. When he arrives at their apartment, it has already been searched and trashed; father has been arrested. Kurt is told about the arrest by his younger brother, who also explains that their mother was attacked and humiliated by the German soldiers who came to search the apartment. After hearing about this, Kurt becomes very upset and vows to get his father out of Dachau, the concentration camp where he has been sent, and to get revenge for his mother's embarrassment. Later, after succeeding in getting the bribe money to obtain travel visas and his father's release, Kurt and his family move to America where they begin to create a new life for themselves. Soon, however, their peace is shattered when Pearl Harbor is attacked and America joins the war against Germany. Kurt remembers his vow to take revenge on the superintendent who led the raid against his family and returns to his homeland as an enemy: an American soldier.

I'm fascinated by all stories of WWII, so when the author of this novel contacted me for a review, I happily accepted. It was interesting to read about a person who escaped Nazi Germany only to return fighting on the opposite side. Reading this novel was as if I were sitting down with Kurt himself and he was the one telling me his story. About halfway through the book, I realized that I had been reading for hours and was looking forward to finding out how all of it would end and what would happen to Kurt and his family. At times I wanted a bit more detail and development, but overall, I really enjoyed hearing Kurt's story and was amazed by all he went through. For those of you who do not like a lot of swearing, there is quite a bit in this book, but keep in mind, soldiers curse. A lot. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good war story. My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: +11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Coming back soon...

2011-07-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

So, I have to apologize for my disappearance lately! Between mysterious health ailments and the end of a school year at work and preparing for the new school year, I haven't gotten much reading, or posting done. I have a few reviews that I need to do and I'm hoping that once the new school year begins and my health issues get resolved, I can catch up with the blogging I have so missed! See you soon!

Review: A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

2011-07-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

Set during WWII, A Distant Melody tells the story of Allie and Walt, and is the first in the Wings of Glory series. Allie is used to people finding her ordinary and not as attractive as her gorgeous mother. She has made peace with this and tries to be content that she is dating a nice man who her parents adore, that he will probably propose to her soon, and that she will one day inherit her father's successful business. However, as much as she tries to be happy with this, she can't help but notice that her boyfriend, Baxter, seems to enjoy spending time with her parents much more than he enjoys being with her. When she goes away for a weekend to be in her best friend's wedding, she meets Lt. Walter Novak and feels the stirrings of something she has never felt with Baxter. When Walt is sent overseas, he and Allie keep up a correspondence that will change both of their lives.

Okay, let me say first, I don't read much Christian fiction. I agree with the ideals put forth in them, but typically, in my opinion, the Christian fiction I have read has not been very well written. So, when a friend told me that I HAD to read this book because it was "so, so, so good!" I have to admit, I was more than a little skeptical. Especially when I saw the cover. But, I checked it out from the library with the game plan that if I didn't get around to it and had to turn it back in without being read, my friend would understand. I mean, who wants to rack up late fees?

Then, the stomach virus hit. I was absolutely miserable for a couple of days and when I finally felt like getting out of bed, I could only get down the hall to the living room couch before the nausea hit again. I looked around for reading material within arms reach and, you guessed it, all that was on the end table was this book. So I started reading. Before I knew it, I was fifty pages in and, dare I say it, actually enjoying it! Sundin's writing style is really smooth and really good. I grew really attached to Allie and found my self rooting for her to dump boring old Baxter and hook up with the dashing Walt. I think I was so drawn in because the details and setting were completely immersive, and Sundin obviously knows a thing or two about the set up of the B-17 bombers Walt spent so much time in. I definitely will read the next in the Wings of Glory series and I probably won't be so hesitant about reading more from this genre. (If you have any good Christian fiction titles you'd like to recommend, please let me know!) My rating: 4 owls!

Challenges: +11 in '11, Support Your Local Library

Review: The Heart Specialist by Claire Holden Rothman

2011-07-07T14:08:00.000-07:00

Set in Quebec in the late 1800's and inspired by the work and life of one of Canada's first female doctors, The Heart Specialist follows Agnes White as she struggles to become a physician at a time when medicine was a world dominated by men. Agnes's father was a renowned physician but left Agnes and her family when she was young, after he became caught up in a scandal. Growing up, Agnes was different from the other girls around her: she was not interested in her looks, dolls, or boys, instead she was fascinated by looking through her father's forgotten microscope and learning about anatomy. When Agnes is caught dissecting a dead squirrel, her grandmother determines to do something about her wayward granddaughter and sets Miss Skerry, the family's new governess, to the task of educating and normalizing young Agnes. However, instead of repressing Agnes's interests, Miss Skerry encourages them and soon helps Agnes attend a girl's school in Montreal. There Agnes flourishes and becomes top in her class. After graduating, she attends a local college and attempts to enroll in medical school, but her dreams seem destined to be vanquished when a committee of men refuse her entrance. A woman of strength and determination, Agnes struggles and fights until she is known as one of the country's leading heart specialists.

This was an interesting book and though events moved quickly, it seemed to be a slow paced book. I didn't necessarily feel this was a bad thing, but you shouldn't expect lots of drama or intrigue. I thought Agnes was an admirable character and enjoyed watching her develop from a girl who doesn't fit in to a woman willing to fight for what she wanted. I also found it interesting watching the character development of Dr. William Howlett and seeing Agnes's thoughts toward him subtly change throughout the novel. However, the love interest seemed awkward and the description of the man having a yeasty smell and sour breath made me cringe every time Jakob Hertzlich came on the page. The author used lots of wonderful period detail without getting bogged down too much in trying to set the scene and I enjoyed the descriptions of the medical museum where Agnes eventually works and finds success. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and learning more about the first women to join the medical field. My rating: 3 1/2 owls!

Challenges: +11 in '11

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*