Musings from a Modern Bluestocking

What I've Read This Week

2012-01-27T18:20:00.000-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Lady Whilton's Wedding by Barbara Metzger -- Regency Romantic Comedy

Daphne Whilton and Lord Graydon Howell grew up the best of friends. She hero-worshiped him and he thought her a great gun. They arranged their own marriage as children but their parents put off making any formal announcement until Daphne comes of age. In the meantime, Gray went off to school and off to London to sow his wild oats while Daphne remained in the country caring for her two nearly orphaned cousins. After the death of Lord Whilton, his disreputable brother Albert inherited the Barony and the estate. Only Lord Hollister, Gray's father, can keep Albert from causing too much trouble. Lord Hollister, recently widowed, welcomes Lady Whilton and her family into his home for Daphne's debut. Daphne makes a big splash with both the gentlemen and the ladies, secure in the knowledge that Gray is hers. One evening Daphne spies Graydon in public with a fashionable impure and all her dreams come crashing down. She retreats to the country to nurse her wounded heart while Graydon joins the army on the Peninsula. Lady Whilton prefers London to the country and after a time convinces Daphne to return to London. Lady Whilton acts as a political hostess for Lord Hollister, who is a rising political star. Two years later, the old friends have fallen in love and are planning a wedding. Daphne is thrilled to help her mother but dreads meeting Gray again. She's certain he's on the path to becoming just like her uncle: caring only for wine, women and wagering. Dealing with her tumultuous feelings towards Gray takes a back seat when Uncle Albert arrives for the wedding and puts the whole household in an uproar. He soon expires with none to witness his death except for Daphne. She knows that his death will upset her mother and delay the wedding so she's determined to hide the body. Gray wants nothing more than to prove to his Daffy that he's the hero she thinks he is. When he discovers Uncle Albert's body, he's determined to save the situation. When Uncle Albert disappears, it's up to Daphne and Gray to join forces to save the wedding and find Uncle Albert. A gang of bumbling thieves and their dog are on the loose in the neighborhood and Daphne's persistent stuffy suitor Miles, as Justice of the Peace, is determined to thwart them and track down exactly what happened to Uncle Albert. This comedy of errors resembles a screwball comedy movie of the 1930s. While it's not exactly laugh out loud, I enjoyed the mystery and wondering what crazy thing would happen next. Daphne is an admirable character. She's strong-willed, opinionated and not afraid of anything. Her relationship with Gray develops over the course of the novel but it's mostly on her part. He says he's grown up and changed but he's not a very well-developed character to really understand how he's changed. He's charming and eager to please and I can see readers falling in love with him. The secondary characters are mostly one dimensional but provide the comedic moments to balance the romantic plot. My only real complaint about this novel is that the story takes too long to set up. I would recommend this book to fans of Barbara Metzger's other novels and those who like mysteries and screwball comedies.

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer -- Historical Romance

This second novel by Georgette Heyer is a companion of sorts to The Black Moth. She changed the names of the characters and most of their backgrounds while retaining the sobriquet of her villain, now turned hero. The hero, Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, is in exile in Paris where even the French are so scandalized by his reputation that they call him "Satanas." Walking home after a night of gaming, Justin is nearly bowled over by an urchin. The boy swears he wasn't picking Justin's pocket, merely running from a horrible punishment dealt forth by his brother. When the brother confirms the story, Justin intervenes and buys the boy body and soul. Léon worships Justin, calling him monseigneur and following the man wherever he goes. The Duke's pretty redhaired page attracts attention and some doubt the Duke's motives. However, the Duke's motives are not at all sinister this time, or at least they aren't for Léon. Justin sees Leon as a means to enact revenge on an old enemy. First he needs some help from his silly sister Fanny. His younger brother Rupert enters the picture to complicate matters a bit but serves the family well when the villain sees to thwart the Duke's plans. The question on everyone's lips becomes: "Has Satanas reformed at last?" I don't wish to spoil the plot by adding more description but this is a rollicking adventure that doesn't stop almost from the beginning. Though the plot is predictable, I couldn't put it down until I found out exactly what happened. The resolution with the villain actually came as a bit of a surprise and a shock. The writing is infinitely better than The Black Moth. The characters are larger than life but sparkle with their own unique personalities and the descriptions of the lifestyle and clothing help make the characters come to life. The only character I did not really care for was the heroine. At first she's so subservient she's obnoxious and then she turns around and teases until she gets her own way. I did admire her spirit and her sense of adventure though. My favorite character is Rupert. He deserved his own book where he could have been the dashing hero. The biggest problem with this book is that Miss Heyer shows her upbringing as an upper Middle Class Edwardian. A son of an aristocrat who wants to be a farmer is described as dark, coarse, and clumsy. The desire to farm is inherited from one generation to the next and can't be erased. In contrast, aristocratic features and bearing are also inherited and described in praiseworthy terms. It's still a good story but the stereotypes bothered me a bit. There's also a brief appearance by a black page that is a bit distasteful but it's only two lines and unimportant to the story. This book is not for everyone. Some people, including myself, may be bothered by the "romance" between the hero and heroine. It's awkward and I can't stand that sort of thing but in this book it didn't bother me so much. I just wanted the characters to be happy in the end. There's quite a lot of old French which I had trouble understanding though I took French for 5 years and read French literature during that time. There's also very lengthy descriptions of court life and upper class customs and manners which may seem strange to modern readers or readers more familiar with the Regency period. I do not care much for the styles of this time period but I liked the story a lot. It's a grand adventure and a wonderful early novel by someone who was quickly proving herself as one of the world's best writers.

What I Read This Weekend

2012-01-22T15:48:00.001-05:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer -- Historical Fiction/Romance

Set in the Georgian era, this first book by the legendary Georgette Heyer is full of melodrama and sweeping action. Tracy Belmanoir, the Duke of Andover is known as "The Black Moth" for his somber way of dressing. He is also known as "The Devil" for he is as wicked as they come. His friend, The Honorable Frank Fortescue wishes that Tracy will fall in love and have love be the making of him. Tracy is perfectly happy with his wicked ways. Six years earlier, Jack and Richard Carstares, sons of the Earl of Wyncham, were in love with Tracy's sister Lavinia. Only one could have her hand in marriage though and one fateful night, a card game changed all their lives forever. Tracy accused one of the Carstares brothers of cheating at cards. Jack claimed it was he and after being shunned by his friends and family, he fled to the Continent where he learned swordfighting from masters, and then back to England where he has taken up the life of a highwayman. When he learns of his father's death and his own ascendancy to the Earldom, he refuses to return home. He enjoys being a Robin Hood type figure and is always honorable in his dealings. Meanwhile, Richard's wife Lavinia, is never happy with what she has. She wants more gaiety, more frivolity and above all, more money. Her brothers, too, want more money and are determined to squeeze Richard dry. Richard refuses to touch Jack's money, though, for Richard has a guilty secret and it's eating him up inside. A chance encounter during an attempted robbery shows Jack that he has not been forgotten by those who knew him well. When Jack encounters a young lady being abducted from her carriage, he fights off the villain in a daring swordfight. The villain turns out to be The Black Moth himself. Tracy has at last fallen in love with the beautiful Diana Beauleigh, but the lady will have none of him which only increases his desire. Tracy attempts revenge on his unknown assailant by shooting the man. Jack, severely wounded, is taken home by Diana and her aunt to nurse back to health. Jack and Diana fall in love but he is too noble to be so selfish as to ask her to marry him and he's too proud to take up his own life. His friends and family, meaning well, attempt to set things right but there's always the Black Moth flitting around where he is least wanted.

This book reads very much like a first novel and one that would appeal to teens with lots of melodrama, dashing heroes, swordfights and a beautiful heroine. There are many spots were the writing doesn't flow very well and the characters are all pretty much cardboard. There's noble Jack, wicked Tracy, spoiled and selfish Lavinia, intelligent and kind Diana, etc. These character archetypes would be developed into flesh and blood people in later novels but in this first work, Miss Heyer had not yet developed her ability to create real people the reader can care about. My favorite characters are Sir and Lady Miles. They're the most well-drawn characters in the novel and seem like people I would actually like to know. The plot is a bit ridiculous and unbelievable and a bit complicated. There are many characters to keep track of and I had to keep turning the page back to find out who was speaking or what was happening. There's lots of sweeping melodrama and adventure but not much romance. We're told that Jack and Diana fall in love but the actual falling in love is glossed over, perhaps because Miss Heyer had not yet been in love or perhaps because she was writing for her kid brother. The historical details are incredibly impressive and fans of historic costuming will die at the descriptions of powder, patch, hoops, wigs and other styles of the mid-18th century. I would recommend this book to those who love an old-fashioned high drama adventure story or to those fans of Miss Heyer who wish to see how her style evolved. It's not a bad effort for a seventeen year old's first novel.

What I've Read This Week

2012-01-22T15:19:00.002-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Behind the Masks: The Diary of Angelina Reddy (Dear America) by Susan Patron -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

Angeline lives with her parents in the wild western town of Bodie, California in 1880. Her father is a criminal lawyer noted for his ability to keep people out of jail. He's also dead or supposedly murdered in the saloon where he keeps his office. Angeline and her mother are convinced that Patrick/Papa is hiding out, waiting to see what happens without law and order. What happens is that the vigilante posse 601 is out riding around in masks shooting and burning and running "undesirable" people out of town. Angeline sets out to search for clues to her father's disappearance, beginning with a a message brought by a strange Chinese girl named Ling Loi. Angeline's budding friendship with the wealthy Eleanor Tucker reveals more secrets and mysteries in the form of a ghost child. As Angeline searches for clues about her missing father, she discovers the residents of Bodie are all hiding behind masks and when those masks are taken off, then her father will come home and all will be well. Despite the dangerous times, Angeline feels safe because a handsome young clerk at Wells Fargo, Antoine Duval, is looking out for her along with a group of rag-tag actors known as The Horribles. Angeline is drawn to their wit and satirical stories and longs to be a part of their world. This book is not for the faint of heart. It features murder, vigilante justice, warnings about opium addiction, racism, and prostitution. The description of the wild western town of Bodie is very vivid and the author holds nothing back. I really appreciated that as an adult reader but I'm not sure how much the realistic, gritty details will appeal to the target reader group. The mystery of Angeline's missing father isn't much of a mystery. The truth is revealed to Angeline early on and I feel it was too early and should have been dragged out longer. The other mystery, about the ghost child is more compelling and also very true to the harsh realities of life in the 19th century. I do not feel that Angeline is a very memorable character. She doesn't leap off the page as some of the other Dear America characters do and her writing style is boring. Some of the dialogue, especially Ellie's, sounds fake. I think Ling Loi should have been the main character for her story is much more interesting. Taking into consideration all of the Dear America series, this one stands slightly above average but is not the best of the best. I would recommend it for young adults 14 and up and adults interested in a realistic portrayal of life in the Wild West.

Midnight Masquerade by Joan Smith -- Regency Romance/Mystery

Deidre Gower's aunt, the Duchess of Charney, is robbed of her prized diamond necklace by a man masquerading as a ghost at a New Year's house party given by Deidre's fiance's mother, Lady Bertie Belami. Deidre immediately suspects her fiance, Lord Richard Belami, for he arrives rather late to the party full of lame excuses. Deidre knows Lord Belami has no intention of marrying her and she has no desire for the match either. Dick is determined to prove his innocence in the affair of the necklace and find the true culprit by deduction and reasoning. He enlists the aid of his foolish, bumbling friend Pronto Pilgrim and Deidre insists on sleuthing too. Chief among the suspects are the scandalous Lady Lenore, her lover (her husband is elsewhere), and Lord Bidwell, who helped Lady Lenore plan a tryst with her lover just before the diamond was stolen. Another suspect soon appears but Dick is reluctant to accuse without proof. For that he needs some help from Lady Lenore which lands him in hot water with Deidre, who has come to consider him in the light of more than a friend. While partnering with Deidre in searching for clues, Dick discovers a warm heart enclosed within Deidre's cold external appearance. He finds himself desiring to fan the flames of her heart and win her hand, but first he needs to find that diamond. This novel is simply dreadful and not worth the time or effort to read it. There are too many characters to keep track of in the mystery. The mystery is engaging enough to have kept me guessing all the way through. However, the quality of writing lacks considerably especially compared to Georgette Heyer and the more recent Jane Austen mystery series by Stephanie Barron. The romance is more of a grand sweeping passion than marriage of the minds. The characters come to appreciate each other and feel desire for one another but they never really quite make it as a couple, in my opinion. The hero is an entirely selfish rake who desires what he can't have and Deidre succumbs to his charms. I would not recommend this book to anyone who like quality literature and well-written, well-developed characters and plots. If you just like to read about Regency house parties and enjoy a good mystery, you might like this one.

Jane Austen Mystery Series

2012-01-21T16:37:00.000-05:00

Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron

Jane beloved sister Eliza dies and brother Henry is bereft, so Jane suggests a holiday at the seaside for the two of them. Henry chooses Brighton, the fashionable watering hole of the Great. Along the way, they stop to change horses when they discover a young lady bound and gagged inside a crested carriage. Miss Catherine Twining, a young miss of 15 years, claims to have been abducted by none other than the infamous poet Lord Byron! Byron intended to take Catherine to Gretna and when she tried to escape, he bound and gagged her. Jane is outraged and even more so upon returning to the young lady safely to her home only to be insulted by General Twining. General Twining spared no insults for his only surviving child as well, blaming her for dishonoring the family name. Poor Henry is nearly obliged to fight a duel with the General! Jane and Henry make a hasty exit and take up their lives among with fashionable residents of Brighton. Jane is surprised and delighted to discover that Pride and Prejudice is popular amongst the ton and even more surprised when Lord Harold Trowbridge's niece, Lady Desdemona Swithin, claims Jane as a friend. Jane likes the frank, intelligent countess and soon they are partnering to solve a mystery. A certain young lady known to Jane is found lifeless, stitched in a hammock in a bed recently vacated by Lord Byron! Byron is taken up for murder and though he is allowed to go free, some suspicion remains. The Countess wishes to know whether he is truly guilty or not for her dear friend Lady Oxford is Byron's latest paramour. Lady S wishes for Jane to solve the mystery. Jane finds doors opened that were never open to her before as she rubs elbows with the likes of the Prince Regent and his set. Complicating matters a bit is Lord Byron's cast off mistress, the notorious Lady Caroline Lamb, come to Brighton to stalk her love. Caro was the person last seen in company with the young lady before her death: could she have rid herself of a rival? Could it have been the young lady's closest relative or the pompous elderly clergyman who wished to marry her? Or perhaps her chaperone or the odious lecher General Hangar, a crony of the Regent's once seen attempting to ravish the now deceased young lady? Jane has a tough job on her hands but with help from the Countess and Henry, she will hopefully be able to put together the clues and solve the mystery.

This is the most ridiculous of all the mysteries. Lord Byron, outrageous though he may have been, was never taken up for murder in 1813 and Miss Austen never hobnobbed with the Prince Regent and his set. Aside from the historical facts, the plot was slow- the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the book. Also, I guessed the murderer's identity right away. Even though I changed my mind a few times, I was right in the end. The author really excels at period detail and this book is even better than all the rest in regards to setting the scene. I like that Barron's Jane knows her limitations as a woman and a shabby genteel spinster. She requires help from others to take her where she can not go. Lesser writers would send their heroines into improbable situations. The descriptions go on a bit too long though without adding to the story and one scene is lifted from Georgette Heyer. This one gets an A+ for period details and a C for the plot. The cover is also dreadful. Is that supposed to be Jane or the murdered young lady or someone else entirely?

Jane and the Canterbury Tale

It's the fall of 1813 and Jane is visiting her brother Edward and his family, now known as the Knights, at Godmersham in Kent. Jane delights in watching her too-serious niece Fanny dance and flirt all night at the wedding of one of their neighbors, Adelaide Thane Fiske. It's a second marriage for young Adelaide, her first husband was a wastrel who ran off to India and left his wife in debt. With his death, Adelaide was able to find true love with a dashing captain on Wellington's staff. The wedding is fun until the bride receives a mysterious gift from someone that seems to have some meaning for her When Jane's nephews and their friends discover the body of a pilgrim on the path cutting through Godmersham, they fear they mistakingly shot the man while shooting pheasants. Jane's keen eye and experience see more: the man was shot at close range. It was no accident! As Magistrate, Edward must begin an investigation. The body is revealed to be Cuzon Fiske, the first husband of Adelaide and when the smoking gun is found, young James Wildman, Adelaide's cousin, is charged. When evidence points to Adelaide as the killer, Jane begins to worry that the wrong person will be hanged for murder. The introduction of an old sailor complicates matters and the death of another person from the Castle leads to more questions than answers. Jane is running out of time and knows she has to get to the true culprit quickly. A little subterfuge on her part is required along with help from Fanny before the truth is revealed. This mystery is closest to the first book in story and in tone. Jane has mostly stopped wallowing in pity and she is well-placed to investigate. As a history of the time period, this book is quite good. However, as a mystery, I give it low marks. I figured out the murderer right away and even figured out the motive before Edward and Jane. I think that Jane would have figured it out much more quickly. Even so, I enjoyed this one much more than the last few and couldn't put it down until it was finished.

What I Read This Weekend

2012-01-14T21:43:00.002-05:00

What I Read This Weekend

The Rogue's Reform : The Everard Legacy Book 1 by Regina Scott -- Inspirational Regency Romance

I was send an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review. This review will be unbiased.

Jerome Everard has worked his whole life to ensure that his legacy, his Uncle Arthur's estate, should prosper while Uncle Arthur was content to float through life enjoying himself with London pleasures. Now Uncle Arthur is dead and his solicitor reveals shocking news: Jerome is not the heir after all! Uncle Arthur has a secret daughter and the title and the estate pass to her from her father. Jerome will only inherit a minor estate and only after his cousin has a successful season with three offers of marriage and her governess's approval. Jerome heads off to Cumberland accompanied by his dashing brother Richard and his roguish cousin Vaughn to charm the governess into revealing the truth and expose their so-called cousin as a fraud. Jerome expects to find a scheming jade and her greedy governess, but instead he finds a young lady badly in need of comfort and a remarkable woman who stands as her friend. Adele Walcott, Samantha Everard's governess, is 27 and had her share of difficulties. She has been managing the Everard estate for the last ten years and she is determined to protect her cousin from the rogues who appear unannounced on her doorstep. Yet, as she watches Jerome go about estate business she starts to admire the serious, dedicated young man. The more Jerome gets to know his lively young cousin and her remarkable friend, he begins to feel protective towards the ladies and perhaps even something more for the lovely Adele. Adele once loved and lost and felt the light go out of her life. She has found a new Light to guide her yet she still remains cynical. As Jerome and Adele become close, someone seeks to separate them and will stop at nothing to achieve their aims. Adele must decide who to believe in and trust in her Lord to guide her and show her the way to truth and happiness. Before I share my opinion, I must begin by saying this book is the most Christian of all three of Regina Scott's Love Inspired books so far. It is not as easy to gloss over the Bible passages and prayers in this novel as it is in the other two. If you don't believe in Adele's God, then you probably won't want to read this book. If you do want to read this book, read on.

As usual Regina Scott excels at creating a wholly original story in a genre in which many authors borrow plots from Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer and each other and toss in cliche after cliche. The characters are well-developed and are kept from becoming stock characters by Regina's excellent characterizations. Jerome is a nice hero but a bit too serious. He's on a mission which could be interpreted as caddish but he has good reasons for it and he grows and changes throughout the story. Adele is the weak link. She's a typical redoubtable spinster, capable of handling everything that comes her way calmly. Yet she's also more well-drawn than many Regency novel heroines. She has doubts and fears yet she isn't afraid to trust her heart. She could use a bit more of a temper to make her a bit more human but I quite like her, aside from her reliance on God to guide her way. I quite like Vaughn and I expect I shall entirely lose my heart to him once he has his own story. I also really liked Samantha who at times seems spoiled and childish but also has backbone and a good sense of humor. I look forward to seeing her grow up. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading but dragged on a bit in the last third of the novel. My only major criticisms are that the mystery of Samantha's mother is easy to figure out and the romance happens a bit too quickly for me to believe. Finally, my biggest complaint is that since this book is the first in a series, the big mystery is yet to be resolved and I hate waiting!!! Overall, it's a good book but not as good as Regina Scott's older non-Inspirational books, but that's my personal opinion and I would recommend that those who like the Regency genre and don't mind Inspirational Regencies give this one a try.

The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

This sequel to A Brief History of Montmaray picks up just after the first book began with Sophie's first journal entry in a brand new book detailing the FitzOsbornes new life in England. While Sophia is looking forward to her presentation at Court and all the lovely new frocks and Henry is running wild, Veronica is depressed. She feels responsible for the destruction of their home and feels helpless. She wants nothing to do with Aunt Charlotte's plan to marry the FitzOsbornes off to wealthy and influential suitors. Toby too resists Aunt Charlotte's grand plans for him. Fate has grand plans for the FitzOsbornes that differ from Aunt Charlotte's: the Spanish Civil War affects someone they know and Veronica finds relief in working towards saving starving Basque children and becoming more interested in international politics. In between all the parties and balls the young relatives (including Simon) plot and plan to save their home. When everything seems to go wrong, it's up to Sophie to keep her head and save the day. Not much happens until around page 400 and then the story picks up for the last few chapters. Most of the book is a typical coming-of-age novel. The plot is peppered with real-life historical events and people (The Kennedys make a cameo) as well as fictional situations. Henry provides the comic relief with her wild antics and Veronica's obtuseness about the workings of the human heart also provide some lighthearted moments. Again Sophie's journal is full of fabulous literary references : Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, W.H. Auden, Virginia Woolf and more, which I absolutely loved. The biggest problem I had with this book is that I had a hard time following the political situation in Europe and the difference between Fascists and Communists. There were a little bit too many real-life facts and people thrown in (Including the Kennedys!) to keep track of, at least while reading late at night. Luckily the author has some great summaries on her website. This book also lacks the charming feel of the first, not being set in Montmaray. I especially loved the history and descriptions of Montmaray and I missed that in this book. It's still a great novel and I am eagerly awaiting the final volume in the trilogy. If anyone in the USA gets ahold of the Australian edition I would LOVE to read it.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-12T21:47:00.003-05:00

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012

I am aiming for Severe Bookaholism: 20 books! This should not be difficult but more difficult than last year to find 20 NEW books to read!

Here is my list of books read in January:

Of Paupers and Peers by Sheri Cobb South
The Rogue's Reform by Regina Scott
Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron by Stephanie Barron
Jane and the Canterbury Tale by Stephanie Barron

What I've Read This Week

2012-01-12T21:42:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Of Paupers and Peers by Sheri Cobb South -- Regency Romance

James Weatherly, a penniless curate and Latin tutor, receives the shock of his life when he learns he is the new Duke of Montford! About 100 years ago, James's great-great grandfather disowned his second son for marrying a milkmaid. Though James's great-grandfather was disowned, the estate and title were still entailed and James is the next heir. With a purse full of coins, he sets out on the common stage and by foot to Montford Priory and is attacked by ruffians. He manged to get in a few blows before being knocked senseless. Miss Margaret Darrington discovers the unfortunate man lying in the road. She assumes he is Mr. Fanshawe, the tutor she has hired for her younger brother Phillip. James finds he can not remember his identity or anything before he was attacked. Assuming he is the tutor, he goes home with Margaret. Margaret fears her younger, beautiful sister Amanda will fall in love with the tutor. Margaret has grand plans for Amanda which include marrying a fortune and supporting the family. Amanda makes the acquaintance of an unknown, infuriating young man whom she can't seem to get out of her mind. As Mr. Fanshawe, James quickly becomes one of the family. He enjoys his cozy chats with Margaret and even teaching Phillip. When he finally recovers his memory, he discovers that he desires to be a permanent member of the Darrington family. However, in order to discover his lady love's true feelings, he must remain incognito for awhile longer. Margaret comes to lean on the sturdy young tutor and depends on his advice and conversation. Surely that doesn't mean she's in love with him, does it? After all, he's in love with Amanda, or is he? A Gypsy fortune teller tells Margaret she has a difficult choice to make that will affect her future.Is love the choice she meant? What to do? If you're a fan of this genre you will know how the story goes. The plot drags a bit in the middle with a few random, unlikely moments of discovery. The writing is otherwise decent and the period details about country life are good. The characters interact with each other realistically for the most part and can easily be identified with. Margaret and Amanda resemble the Dashwood sisters in Sense and Sensibility. James is a much stronger character than Edward Ferrars, however, and I really liked him. He's sweet and a bit awkward and very earnest. This is a pleasant read in the tradition of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. It's what Heyer would call a "quiet" romance. I rather liked it but I wouldn't rate it in my top 10 or even top 20.

Star Crossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce -- Young Adult Historical Fantasy

Set in a fictional fantasy sort-of Renaissance era world, this fantasy features a 16 year old thief named Digger as the narrator. Digger is on the run from the dangerous Greenmen. They caught up to her and her partner Tegen while on a job "recovering" some important letters. Digger spends the night in a thief's hideout waiting for Tegen. When he doesn't come, she concludes he was killed and takes off running. While on the run she encounters a party of young nobles heading down the river to escape duty. The young nobles take her up in exchange for directions. Digger, the most devout of the liar god's servants, spins a tale of a life spent inside the walls of a convent. The parents of the young nobles catch up to them and attempt to dole out punishment to the wild teenagers. The very young Lady Merista Nemair has a big surprise when she discovers her parents have returned from exile (they were banished for being a part of rebel forces during a civil war) and plan to take her to their castle in the mountains to prepare for her Kernja-velde, a coming-of-age ceremony. Meri is shy and unsure of what to expect. She takes a liking to Celyn, as Digger is calling herself and asks her parents to bring Celyn as her lady's maid. They also bring along Phandre, a noblewoman whose parents died in exile. Digger can't help becoming soft in her luxurious surroundings so to stay sharp, she steals little things from the castle. Then the guests begin to arrive including Marlytt Villatiere, a city courtesan and Lord Remy Daul, the foster brother of Meri's father. Lord Daul catches Digger doing what she does best. In exchange for her silence, he puts her to work for him spying and stealing from The Nemair and their guests. The Nemair have been good to her but if they find out her secret, will they stay kind? Digger doesn't want to take that chance and soon finds herself in way over her head as she uncovers secrets involving forbidden magic and political intrigue. She discovers that she has violated the thief's rules don't get caught and don't get involved. This book differs greatly from the author's first novel, A Curse Dark As Gold. This one is set an an entirely fantasy world which in some ways resembles the real world and in other ways does not. The history, politics and religions of this country are incredibly confusing. The story seems to start in the middle, assuming the reader knows what Digger means with references to various gods and political leaders and then the history is revealed in bits and pieces. Digger's story is also hinted at and then finally revealed towards the end. This method of story telling did not work for me. I had a really hard time getting into the story. All of the unfamiliar and unpronounceable names complicated the already complicated story. Once Digger starts spying for Lord Daul, then the story picks up and I couldn't put it down. The ending seems like it would be rushed but was actually paced well. I was hoping for something along the lines of a Tamora Pierce novel or Patricia C. Wrede's Mairelon the Magician but this one was just too complicated and out there for my tastes. I would recommend it to experienced fantasy readers.

Young Adult Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2012-01-08T15:03:00.001-05:00

YA Bliss's YA Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Level 3: 15 books.

January

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper

What I've Read This Week

2012-01-08T15:00:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

A Brief History of Montmaray: The Montmaray Journals Book 1 by Michelle Cooper -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

On her 16th birthday, October 23, 1936, Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia Margaret Elizabeth Jane Clementine FitzOsborne, of the island kingdom Montmaray receives a new journal from her brother at school in England. She also receives a summons from her Aunt Charlotte, the Princess Royal, to come to England where Sophia and her cousin Veronica will be presented at court, have their Season and get married. Sophia is excited to go but Veronica refuses to leave. She has to hold the family together and keep track of their dwindling finances. Veronica is excited for Sophia to chronicle the history of their tiny nation in her journal (population: 1 mad king, 3 princesses, a prince, a housekeeper and 4 villagers), but Sophia worries she won't have anything interesting to write. She's the plain middle child. Veronica is bookish, her brother Toby is the heir to the throne and her younger sister Henry wants to be a boy. At first Sophia writes about her dream of going to London and making her debut and charming everyone with her poise. She writes about her crush on the housekeeper's son Simon and about her frustrations being the middle child in an eccentric family. Simon arrives from London with news of the Spanish Civil War and bickers with Veronica over what role Montmaray should play in international affairs. It's confusing for Sophia who doesn't understand the difference between Communists, Facists and Socialists or why she should care what is happening outside of her country. Then her life changes forever when two strangers appear flying a flag with an inverted cross and searching for information. As the situation becomes more dangerous, Veronica's composure begins to crumble and Sophia must take the lead or their country and their lives will be in danger. This is a brilliant coming of age story set just before World War II in a fictional island nation off the coast of Spain. Sophia is a good narrator. She's quiet, caring and observant yet she doubts her own abilities until faced with a crisis. All of the characters truly come to life and become flesh and blood before the reader's eyes. The author does an amazing job sharing the history of Montmaray, complete with quirky ancestors. I loved the epic poem which Violet dismisses as nonsense but provides the comic relief in the story. I also loved the literary references from Jane Austen and the Brontes, to Shakespeare and Tennyson. The plot starts slow but halfway through it picks up and doesn't let go until the very end. My only real complaint is Sophia's moments of introspection and speculation on great issues which seem out of character for her and a bit forced.This story will make you laugh and it will break your heart and make you cry before it's over. I highly recommend this book for older teens and adults. I can't wait to read the sequel!

New Year, New Look

2012-01-07T21:56:00.000-05:00

New Year, New Look

I found this background on Photobucket and decided to redesign my blog. I think it looks much better. What think you? Do you like the new look or was the old one better?

Georgette Heyer: Biography of a Best Seller

2012-01-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

Georgette Heyer: Biography of a Best Seller

by Jennifer Kloester

I received this lengthy biography for Christmas. I believe it was purchased through an Amazon reseller.

Miss Heyer was born in 1902 to an upper middle-class British family. She loved to watch the stage coaches come rolling down the street, an image which stayed with her for the rest of her days and helped her Regency world come to life. A bright and imaginative child, her parents allowed her imagination to run free and her father encouraged and influenced her story telling. At the age of 19 she published her first book, written to amuse her invalid brother Boris. She published one or two novels a year almost every year for the rest of her life. Her early marriage to George Ronald Rougier and the birth of her son Richard did not hamper her career. Her husband was supportive and even helped shape the plots of her early mystery novels. Miss Heyer's early novels were contemporary and dealt with the issues of a woman's place, marriage and other topics of the day. Her fun mystery novels paid the bills and allowed her the freedom to research for her historical novels. History was her true passion and by the 1930s, she was writing nearly exclusively Regency novels. Miss Heyer was notoriously reserved and very private. She almost never gave interviews and was very demanding in regards the the publication of her books. She was conservative, snobby and prejudiced by modern standards though she was very much a product of her upbringing in that time and place. She admired and idealized the Regency era and drew her world from her own memories of the Edwardian era and extensive research. Her attention to detail and ability to bring characters to life made her books instant best sellers. Her death from lung cancer in 1974 was a great tragedy in the world of literature.

Ms. Kloestner built on a previous work by Joan Aiken Hodge to create a complete picture of the life of one of the 20th century's most prolific and beloved authors. Ms. Kloestner interviewed Miss Heyer's son, friends and others who knew Miss Heyer well. The biography is also drawn from archival sources (my favorite!) such as private correspondence and publishing records. The biography is well-written and the writing style is accessible to anyone. Though it is long, it moves along quickly, at least if one doesn't ready every word! The book goes into great depth, almost too much at times, about the life of Georgette Heyer and those who were close to her. Ms. Kloestner quotes extensively from Miss Heyer's correspondence and the back of the book includes lists of Heyer's novels, short stories and Ms. Kloestner's sources and acknowledgments. There is even a section of photographs, many never before seen from private family archives. I am very impressed by Miss Kloestner's research and think this is a wonderful biography. Short of any new information that comes to light in the future, there can never be another book about Georgette Heyer equal to this one. I highly recommend it to those who want to know more about their favorite author.

2012 Reading Challenges

2012-01-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

Reading Challenges 2012

This year I will participate in

Historical Tapestry's Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

I am aiming for Severe Bookaholism: 20 books! This should not be difficult but more difficult than last year to find 20 NEW books to read!

And YA Bliss's YA Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Level 3: 15 books.

Again my challenge will be to find 15 NEW books to read!

Jane Austen Mystery Series

2011-12-31T17:07:00.000-05:00

Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Ghosts of Netley

This 7th installment finds Jane still living in Southhampton living with her mother, sister and friend while waiting for Mrs. Austen to decide whether to move to one of Edward's holdings in Kent or Hampshire. Jane's curiosity is awakened by the arrival of someone at Netley Abbey. Rumor has it that the Abbey is haunted by ghosts of the monks who used to live there. Jane doesn't quite believe it but it's fun to imagine just the same. She is surprised by a visit from The Gentleman Rogue himself. Lord Harold wants Jane to spy on the beautiful but dangerous widow Sophia Challoner who resides at the Abbey. Lord Harold believes that Mrs. Challoner, whom he had known intimately in Portugal, is a French spy. An unlucky accident brings Jane right into Mrs. Challoner's home and her confidence. The widow has nothing good to say about Lord Harold and Jane begins to question whose opinion is correct. The arrival of a stranger from Baltimore arouses Jane's suspicion but she becomes confused again when Maria Fitzherbert, a cast off royal mistress, joins the house party. While Jane socializes with Mrs. Challoner and friends, she dreams of living the life of a tonnish lady by Lord Harold's side. Another mysterious stranger arrives at the Abbey and Mrs. Challoner's maid accuses her employer of witchcraft. With the help of His Lordship's valet, Jane attempts a more in-depth investigation involving hysterical maids, secret tunnels and a stranger called Mon Singeur. Just as Jane thinks she has it all worked out, something goes horribly wrong and one dear to her becomes the victim. This is not the best mystery of the series. It's not too difficult to figure out who Mon Singeur is and what the connection between Mrs. Challoner's houseguests is. I also suspected the villain and I think that Lord Harold was stupid and should have figured it out. This story is darker and more sad than some of the others. Jane spends almost the whole book mooning over Lord Harold and I find it quite out of character for her.

Jane and His Lordship's Legacy

Do not read this review unless you have read Jane and the Ghosts of Netley.

Jane and her family have finally removed to a cottage in Hampshire on the Knight estate owned by her brother Edward. Jane feels she should be rejoicing in the move back to the country but her heart is heavy. She mourns the loss of Lord Harold and wonders what he really thought of her. Upon arrival, a London solicitor shows up at Chawton Cottage for Jane. He brings with him a bequest from Lord Harold. Lord Harold has left Jane a Bengal chest full of his personal papers for her to use in writing a memoir of him. Half of London would give anything for that chest of papers and the other half is busy gossiping about Jane's relationship to Lord Harold, much to the dismay of Jane's Mama. It also seems that the locals are unhappy with the Austens arrival in the country. They feel that one of their own, a Mr. John-Knight Hinton is the true heir. While the locals gossip about the too high in the instep ladies arriving at Chawton Cottage and despair over the removal of the bailiff's widow who previously inhabited the cottage, Jane is busy trying to hide the chest of papers. While moving the chest to the cellar with help from a neighbor, Jane discovers a man's body. Calm and collected, Jane knows just what to do and she isn't about to miss the inquest and her chance to give testimony. The her beloved Lord Harold's papers are stolen and Jane wonders if the two events are connected. It seems the locals may have an interest in Lord Harold's papers as well for a young Mr. Thrace has come to Hampshire. The London gossips say the young man is an illegitimate son of a peer and about to be made the heir. There are two possible gentlemen who could be the Mr. Thrace's father and both were connected to Lord Harold. The daughter of Lord Harold's old friend the Earl of Holbrook has also come to Hampshire to contest Mr. Thrace's possible right to inherit her family home. Rounding out the cast of characters are Major Spence who is the Steward of the Holbrook estate, two young ladies and a bunch of villagers and workers in Chawton. Jane must use her wits to discover who stole Lord Harold's chest and also see that the murderer is found and brought to justice. Part of this mystery should have been fairly easy for Jane to figure out. Once the clues were laid out and the red herrings cleared away, I figured out the mystery of the heir. Then I figured out the WHO and some of the why. It took Jane much longer and I would think that someone as intelligent as she could have used the information she was given to put the clues together and solve the mystery. I did not like the author playing fast and loose with real historical events and people. She explains why she did it in the Afterward but I don't like it when she does that. I do like that Jane went around accompanied by her brothers, though she makes a stupid mistake at the end. I also don't like that she had lost her heart to Lord Harold. I think the author is taking too many liberties with Jane Austen's life. I shall have to see how the next book is before I decide if I am going to continue reading the series.

Jane and the Barque of Frailty

Jane is staying in London with Henry and Eliza to oversee the publication of her first novel. Jane has a chance to experience life among the Great including the scandals and gossip that the ton feed on. The latest scandal involves a Russian princess and some love letters published in the newspaper assumed to be written to Lord Castlereagh, a prominent Tory MP. When Princess Tscholikova is found dead on Lord C's doorstep, it fuels the rumors of an intimate affair. Lord C swears he never knew the princess and was innocent of any wrongdoing. The coroner rules self-murder and the case is closed. However, Jane can not let the matter rest, for she and Eliza have been accused of murdering the princess, all thanks to a favor for one of Eliza's fellow French emigrees. Jane is determined to put her sleuthing skills to work to solve the murder. She sorely misses Lord Harold but his personal papers suggest that the late princess may have been a political pawn in a larger game between Lord C and his political opponents. Jane also wonders what role the beautiful high flyer Julia Radcliffe has to play, if any. There's no denying that all the men of London are at her feet. Could she be a French spy? There are plenty of twists and turns in this story to keep Jane and her readers guessing. Some mysteries remain unsolved even at the end. The mystery is quite intriguing though I found the political situation confusing. As for a story featuring Jane Austen, spinster, as a character, this one completely fails. It starts off well enough but heads into fantasy land and ending with something that no well-born lady, let alone Jane Austen would do, even to solve the mystery. Once again the author incorporates real life people and situations into her story which I dislike. This time she goes farther taking Jane into the glittering world of the ton and visiting with high flyers. The books always seem well-researched so it came as a surprise that the author would even consider having her Jane do something so improper. This is not the best book of the series but if you want to read it as a Regency-set mystery and ignore the fact that the sleuth is the REAL Jane Austen, it's quite a good book. It would be a better book with a made up heroine.

What I've Read This Week

2011-12-31T17:01:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allian -- Regency Romantic Comedy

The Honorable Mr. Jeremy Malcolm, the biggest catch of the Season (1818) has a reputation for being a Trifler, a Breaker of Hearts, a Destroyer of Young Women's Dreams. His latest victim is his friend Lord Cassidy's cousin Julia. Julia, a headstrong beauty feels rejected that Malcolm didn't fall at her feet and propose after one outing. Mr. Malcolm tells Cassie that he found Julia boring. Julia, like all other women of his acquaintance, does not meet all of the qualifications he requires in his bride. When Cassie tells Julia about Mr. Malcolm's list she is furious and feels humiliated. She decides the best course of action is revenge. Julia invites her old school friend Selina Dalton to come to London to enact the plan for revenge. Selina, a country clergyman's daughter, had been working as a companion to an elderly lady who became a close friend and confidant. Selina's employer has recently died, leaving Selina with a comfortable independence but not enough to live in London. Selina jumps at the chance for an adventure in the metropolis but when she learns of Julia's plan for revenge, she isn't so sure she wants to do it. Julia plans to present Selina as the perfect bride for Mr. Malcolm but then when he proposes, Selina will announce he does not meet all the qualifications on her own list. When Selina meets Malcolm incognito, she's immediately attracted to the handsome, witty man and when she learns he is the one who spurned Julia, her reservations about then plan increase. She believes that she will never meet all the qualifications on Mr. Malcolm's list so she need not worry about Julia's plan for revenge, but as he gets to know Selina better, he seems more and more intent on getting serious. When her former employer's nephew Henry Ossoroy arrives in town, Selina also finds him a genial companion though Julia is determined to keep Selina and Henry apart. Selina worries she's beginning to lose her heart and what to do if Malcolm proposes? This light romantic comedy is filled with the usual cliched characters and plot devices. I didn't like the relationship between Malcolm and Selina. I felt it could have been better developed aside from mere physical attraction. They are both intelligent and witty but most of their interactions are sparse on dialogue. Malcolm mostly comes across as a snob who doesn't really know what he wants. Selina is a bit too nice at first but she improves as her temper is tried. Another character experiences a change of heart which seems too abrupt. The dialogue is stilted and unrealistic and there's lots of telling as opposed to showing. The list plot has been done much better elsewhere. If you enjoy the light, fluffy books of Clare Darcy and other Georgette Heyer copycats you'll like this one. If you can get a copy for free or download the inexpensive e-book version, then this book is worth the money. It was not well-written enough for me to feel the paperback was worth the price.

Letters to a Lady by Joan Smith -- Regency Romance

When Diana Beechum's neighbor, Lord Harrup, sends a letter from London asking their old nurse to send a foodman to pick up a packet of important documents from a Mrs. Whitby, Diana decides to do it herself. Diana and her chaperon/former nurse Miss Peabody, will be heading to London to help her brother Ronald get settled into his new apartment. Diana is shocked to discover Mrs. Whitby is a member of the muslin company and the important "documents" are actually love letters written from Lord Harrup to his former mistress. On the road to London, the letters are stolen by someone who knew to look for them. Upon arrival in London, Diana installs herself and Peabody in Lord Harrup's house despite the high in the instep reputation of her neighbor. She vows to get the letters back and hopes that Harrup will reward Ronald with a secretarial position. Lord Harrup is perfectly happy to pay any blood money to thwart the publication of the letters which would hinder both his political career and his engagement to the very young and proper Lady Selena. Diana is not afraid to speak her mind to Lord Harrup and tell him exactly what she thinks of his consorting with lightskirts, willingness to comply with blackmail and her thoughts on "old" men of 35 marrying innocent young teenage girls. Diana never dreamed that her search for Lord Harrup's documents would send her on an unexpected journey fraught with danger both to her person and to her heart. The plot drags on too long though the book is short but the search for the letters serves as a backdrop to bring the characters together. I liked Diana a lot and admired her willingness to speak her mind. However, I felt Diana was a bit too naive at times and some of her exploits would have resulted in hanging! Lord Harrup is not a very well-rounded character. He's a semi-Mr. Darcy copy with more of a temper. His interactions with Diana are very real though and I liked their relationship. I think more of the story needs to be from his point of view so the reader can tell what he is feeling and how he evolves. I especially loved Ronald, who, like me, is bookish and absent minded. He is a nice character and the jacket description of "bumbling" does not apply to him. He is a good foil for Diana. This is a nice, light predictable romance. It has charming moments that don't quite reach screwball comedy status but are funny just the same. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who like light, fun romantic comedies.

What I've Read Recently

2011-12-23T16:45:00.003-05:00

What I've Read Recently . . .

The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure -- Nonfiction/Memoir

Growing up Wendy McClure wanted to be Laura Ingalls. She had imaginary fantasies about visiting Laura in the nineteenth century and having Laura show her around (and vice versa). Rediscovering the books as an adult launched Wendy into a frenzy of Laura Ingalls Wilder obsession. She not only reread the books, she read every biography and website she could find and even attempted recipes in the Little House Cookbook featured in the series. Supported by her boyfriend Chris (and now husband), Wendy went on a literal journey into Little House territory visiting sites that were significant to the Ingalls and Wilder clans. Wendy's observations on pioneer life are sometimes funny, especially when encountering a bizarre end-of-the-world cult at a working farm, and sometimes sad. She finally realizes what she's been searching for all along and finds her way home. At first I instantly identified with Wendy. I had no idea others had Laura fantasies too! I was obsessed with the TV show before I could read and once I read the books, my obsession became even more intense. I wore sunbonnets and prairie dresses and pranced around pretending to be Laura. I loved reading Wendy's descriptions of her childhood fantasy because I kept thinking "ME TOO!" and "No way! You too?" and agreeing with everything she said. A few chapters in, her attitude turns more cynical and I found myself disagreeing with her point-of-view. Our backgrounds are different so I think that we have very different approaches to our Laura fantasies, plus when I was 8 years old, an educator named Pleasant Rowland came up with a line of dolls, clothes, accessories and books that represented girls during different periods of American History. At 9 I fell in love with Kirsten, a "pioneer girl of strength and spirit" who allows me to fulfill my Laura fantasies without any of the unpleasantness such as wolves, locusts, drought, disease, starvation and fire. I'm glad Wendy took the journey to all the sites. I loved reading her descriptions which are sometimes written in awed tones and others in a more irreverent way. I can empathize with her disappointment that she couldn't find Laura in most of the home sites. I highly recommend she move to New England and or get a job working at Old Sturbridge Village where she can enact her pioneer fantasy. This book is a must read for those like Wendy who grew up wanting to be Laura and who have fantasized about churning butter, making sourdough bread and sleeping in a sod house! I'm not usually a huge fan of non-fiction or memoirs but I give this one an A!

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards (The Lacey Chronicles # 1) -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime has a worthless title in the eyes of the English court of Queen Elizabeth I. Ellie's Spanish mother died leaving Ellie alone with her alchemist father. Ellie's father has little care for material matters; his desire to find a way to make gold is an obsession. He bankrupted his patron, the Earl of Dorset, and when the Earl died, his son, Will, forcibly removed the alchemist and his "brat" from the estate. Several years later, Will heads to court to seek a rich bride. He believes he has found one in Lady Jane Perceval. Lady Jane is bored by society. She knows she has to find a husband and thought she had found one in Sir Walter Raleigh. However, Sir Walter took her maidenhood and left her with empty promises. The young Earl of Dorset is handsome enough and he's much kinder than her brother Henry who is busy dallying with her maid Nell, but Jane isn't attracted to Will. His younger brother James is more charming but alas, is a younger son. At Court, Will encounters a beautiful, bewitching, dark haired maiden who embroiders badly but can read Latin. He's instantly enthralled, but then moved to anger when he discovers her true identity as the daughter of the alchemist who ruined his father. All Ellie wants to do is settle down somewhere comfortable and help her father with more legitimate scholarly pursuits. She's drawn to the handsome Earl but knows he's not for her. Each of the characters hopes to better their lives one way or another and that interest motivates them to search for happiness. Happiness will be denied or thwarted for some before they get a chance to learn if true love will triumph. This novel is similar to Phillipa Gregory's stories but written for younger readers. Girls ages 13-16 will love the sweet romance. I am an adult and I disliked the romance. The plot was boring and slow moving. It took me a long time to finish this book reading a chapter or two at a time in the bookstore. It just didn't grab me and make me want to rush right through. It was sweet and charming but completely unrealistic. As an historian, I appreciated the gritty every day details of Elizabethan England, including some mild sex scenes and innuendo. The characters were likable enough but do not really sound or act realistic for the time. This book is more of a fairy tale romance than a true historical fiction novel. I recommend it to teen girls who aren't obsessed with history but love a good romance.

What I've Read This Week Part II

2011-12-20T14:48:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week Part II

Mastiff : The Legend of Beka Cooper Book 3 by Tamora Pierce -- Young Adult Historical Fantasy

It's been two years since the events of Bloodhound and Beka Cooper has just buried her fiance. While everyone around her weeps, she feels guilty because she was about to break off the engagement. When Lord Gershom calls Beka on a Hunt, she is happy to get out working again, doing what she loves the most. She and her partner, Tunstall, are accompanied by Achoo, the faithful scent hound and Pounce, the Constellation cat. They are joined by Farmer Grange, a young mage who acts the country bumpkin, but Beka suspects has hidden depths no one can see. Lady Sabine Macayhill, the Lady Knight and Tunstall's lover also comes along on the Hunt. The King and Queen of Tortall are in residence at the Summer Palace which has been attacked and their only son kidnapped. The Dogs suspect an inside job: a conspiracy of mages and nobles who are angry at the King for his recent interest in politics. Beka vows to the Queen that she will get little Prince Gareth back to his mother alive. Soon they're on a lengthy journey to find the prince with Achoo leading the way with her nose. Not much happens for 500 pages. The story is more of a quest novel than an adventure story until then. Around the 500 page mark the plot becomes filled with intrigue and danger. It's hard to keep up with all the nobles and mages who suspect that the Dogs knows what they're up to. The noblewomen despise Beka for her unladylike work. They follow the cult of the Gentle Mother and expect ladies to be gentle, soft and far removed from any violence. Beka is disgusted by the noble ladies and is eager to get back on the Hunt. With some help from her Birdies, dust spinners and of course, Achoo, she picks the trail back up and discovers that the young prince is in the hands of ruthless mages who treat the prince a slave. With every beating he receives, a magical bond threatens the welfare of the King and Queen threatening to plunge the country into a civil war. Beka is determined not to let that happen but she suspects there is a traitor in their midst and hates to think one of her friends could betray her. She knows her duty and will stop and nothing until the prince is returned home. There are some big surprises towards the end that provide the action sequences and human side of the plot. This story is very violent. There are many gruesome deaths along the way which bother even Beka at times. I had to skip a few descriptive passages. The animal companions provide the humor that lightens the story somewhat but it still remains a dark and difficult tale. Though there is not a lot of action, I couldn't put the book down. I liked the new character, Farmer. He's a very different sort of mage than the academic mages and his teacher was the first to identify wild magic. I liked seeing Beka develop from a young woman to a mature woman who knows what she wants and goes after it, despite pressure to be otherwise. She realizes that she is who she is and she needs to be respected for that. I didn't quite like the surprises at the end. One was out of character and an awful shock and the other surprise involved a romance I didn't see coming. The epilogue is not Tammy's best writing. It's not as dreadful as the Harry Potter epilogue but it's awkward. It links Beka's story to George Copper at the moment where he first meets "Alan." I enjoyed the book and I am sad to see the series come to an end.

What I've Read This Week

2011-12-20T14:23:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

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Christmas Wishes by Barbara Metzger -- Regency Romantic Comedy

Miss Juneclaire Beaumont has lost her father to the Terror and her mother to despair and now lives as a poor relation with her greedy, penny-pinching aunt, uncle and wayward cousins. She's lonely and friendless except for Pansy. When Juneclaire's aunt threatens Pansy, Juneclaire will do whatever it takes to save her small, lame friend, including running off to London and going into service. The journey is more difficult than she realizes, until she runs into the Merritt Jordan, Earl of St. Cloud. The Earl, alias Satan St. Cloud is an angry young man. He was returning home to a set of grasping relatives when he was set upon by highwaymen and robbed of nearly all his possessions. When he comes upon Juneclaire, he decides to get into the Christmas spirit and offer help to the damsel in distress. Juneclaire is unsure of his motives at first, but unaware of his dangerous reputation, she quickly surmises he is an honorable gentleman. The Earl is captivated by the charming, innocent young woman with a big heart. When a crisis imperils Juneclaire's reputation, St. Cloud gladly offers for her hand but the lady runs off leaving Pansy in his care. St. Cloud is determined to find and marry Justine for only she can bring him the happiness he craves, but first he has to deal with his greedy relatives, strong-minded grandmother, weak-willed mother and... the family ghost. This is another amusing romp by one of the best in the business. There are several different story lines that make up the plot of this novel. Each one could have been it's own book and the first few chapters would have made a sweet novella. Though there is a lot going on, the plot moves along quickly despite being nearly 300 pages long. As usual, the story is populated by quirky characters who really make the story. My favorites are Pansy and Aunt Florrie. I preferred the secondary characters to the primary ones. St. Cloud is not my ideal hero. He has anger management issues and his exploits in London are legendary. Juneclaire is charmingly naive and childlike. She should not be marrying anyone, let alone someone like St. Cloud. I really identified with her love of animals and desire to protect them. Despite the fact that I didn't care so much for the characters, I really enjoyed the story and there were some twists that kept me reading long past when I had promised myself I'd stop. There is slightly more than kissing towards the end but nothing is really described and the characters are interrupted before they go too far. I highly recommend this book for fans of Metzger's other Regencies and those who like the comedy of manners Regencies.

A Christmas Gift by Elizabeth Mansfied -- Regency Romance

When Miss Evalyn Pennington, a penniless governess, is accosted by her employer's besotted son Geoffrey, Evalyn is turned off without a character. Her only choice is to go to a distant relative in London and hope to find a position. Geoffrey's friends are aghast at his treatment of Miss Pennington and hit upon the perfect solution. Jamie Everard will ask his father, the Earl of Gyllford and his Aunt Clarissa to invite Miss Pennington home for the holidays. Once Aunt Clarissa meets Evalyn, she will be able to recommend a new place for the governess. Jamie, with his best friend Reggie, convince Evalyn to go along with their plan even hiring her an abigail to make everything proper. Other guests are invited to Gyllford Manor for Christmas as well, including the Covingstons, a family with a pretty teenage daughter and a pair of lively twins and Gervaise, Lady Clarissa Steele's longtime friend and beau. Also invited is Miss Sally Trevelyan, a scheming woman determined to catch the widowed Earl. Sally has a difficult job ahead for the widower refuses to be caught. He is still grieving over the death of his wife many years ago. When Evalyn arrives she is made to feel welcome and a part of the festivities, for all she tries to stay in the nursery with the twins. Phllip, the Earl, wonders what his son's intentions are towards Miss Pennington and believes the pair to be engaged. If that is so, then why does Jamie spend all his time with the lovely young Marianne? As Philip tries his hardest to be a good host, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Evalyn and she to him. Then he suddenly withdraws and turns his attentions towards Sally. Hurt, Evalyn tries to run away and when Phllip realizes the truth, it may be too late. This story is much longer than the typical Signet Regency. It would have made a far better short story. As it stands, it's too long and slow. The characters are all so stereotypical, with the exception of Philip, it's almost painful. Evalyn is too perfect and good so I did not like her much. Phillip is an original character but he's also too good and kind to be realistic. Though predictability is a hallmark of the genre, this one is incredibly predictable and full of cliches. My favorite part of the story was the description of the Christmas celebration. What could have been a heartwarming short story is here a rather slow, predictable, fluffy novel. It's not bad just not really my style.

Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield-- Regency Romance

Included in the same volume as A Christmas Kiss.
At age 19, Barnaby Traherne attended his first ever ball. A shy, gawky youth, used to being petted and protected by his much older brothers and sister-in-law, he is awkward in social situations. When his eye catches the reigning beauty, Miranda Pardew, Barnaby is determined to be introduced despite his sister-in-law's worries. Miranda, a hardened flirt, makes mincemeat out of young Barnaby without even learning his name. Needless to say, Barnaby will never ever forget his first ball. Eleven years later, Miranda is an impoverished widow who is being displaced from her home by her late husband's greedy relatives. After less than a day, Miranda realizes she is not welcome in her own home and applies for a position as a governess in the home of a Mrs. Terrance Traherne. Barnaby, heading to his brother Terrance's home for Christmas, is no longer the shy youth he once was. In fact, some ladies find him downright formidable. Certainly the impertinent gentleman who dares insult the young lady traveling on the stage with them finds Barnaby formidable. The highway men who rob the stage also find Barnaby a worthy opponent though he is no match for their pistols. Circumstances force Barnaby and Miranda together. He instantly recognizes her but she has no notion of his identity. Barnaby refuses to acknowledge the fact that they are acquainted, confusing Miranda who senses that Barnaby acts as if she had once done him an injury. Once safely arrives at Terrance's house, Miranda takes charge of Barnaby's three nephews, the youngest who is shy and timid like his uncle was before him. Miranda and Barnaby clash over child rearing as he continues to hold a grudge. His sisters-in-law have matchmaking on their minds with different brides in mind. His eldest sister-in-law believes Barnaby needs a shy, modest bride like Miss Olivia Ponsonby. Poor Livy can hardly say two words to this strange gentleman. Delia, Mrs. Terrance, learns of Miranda's past treachery and discovers a growing attraction between her brother and her governess. First Barnaby has to learn to be a man and then he must forgive Miranda. Can he find it in his heart to do so during this joyous season? This story is better written than the previous one. The characters are vastly different from the common Regency novel types. I really liked the focus on the younger son and his journey to manhood, except that it made him VERY unlikable. He's angry and acts like a complete jerk towards Miranda and I could not like his behavior. Miranda is a well-developed character and I really liked her and wished she had a better hero. I also liked the lively, loving Traherne family. It's a refreshing change from the usual distant Regency family. The children were charming except for lisping Jamie who I thought was rather bratty. The epilogue is mostly unnecessary and what happens there to tie in earlier events should have been part of the action of the main plot. This is a slightly above average novel that is a good, quick read.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-12-11T15:58:00.001-05:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

An Honorable Gentleman by Regina Scott -- Inspirational Regency Romance

Regina Scott's newest book features Sir Trevor Fitzwilliam, the mysterious best friend of Chase Dearborn in The Irresistible Earl. Sir Trevor has recently been made a Baronet and is heading to the estate purchased for him by his benefactor. Sir Trevor hopes that the estate will provide enough income for him to live as an honorable gentleman should instead of scraping by solving puzzles of embezzlement, theft and adultery for the ton. Sir Trevor longs to be a part of that glittering world that he's only ever been on the margins of since his illegitimate birth makes him ineligible to properly take his place in society. Sir Trevor's hopes are quickly dashed as the manor house is crumbling and the land is not fit for crops or animals. A mysterious nighttime intruder only adds to Sir Trevor's problems. Gwen Allbridge has been helping her father oversee Blackcliff Hall almost all her life and in the last year, since her mother's death, she has been doing so almost entirely alone as her father drowns his sorrows in gin. Gwen and her faith Mastiff Dolly are checking on things one night when a mysterious intruder awakens Sir Trevor and he literally crashes into Gwen. Gwen is thrilled a master has come to Blackcliff Hall at last. She believes he is the one who can rescue the dying village and bring back happier times. Sir Trevor is skeptical but Gwen is determined to show him the beauty of Blackcliff and make him see that he has to stay. Sir Trevor finds Gwen's faith in him irresistible but yet how can he live up to her expectations with his background and lack of funds working against him? When the mysterious intruder returns, Sir Trevor may just find his path to happiness after all. I liked this book much more than the Irresistible Earl. It contains a mystery, that though I figured out really quickly, had me interested to see how the characters would figure it out. The characters are more appealing than Chase and Mercedee too. Sir Trevor has a slightly roguish air about him that I find attractive. He's not overbearing like his friend though he is rather cynical at first. Gwen is an appealing heroine because she's strong and intelligent. She's also very very good and incredibly naive, traits which I found irritating at times. This novel contains a bit more inspirational content than the first. There are brief pleas to the Lord, some Bible reading and more in-depth prayers. Most of all is Gwen's firm belief that the Lord will provide and He has provided Sir Trevor. Sir Trevor must learn to have Faith as well. I didn't find the Inspirational content too obtrusive. I was able to gloss over some of it. I would recommend this book to readers of Regina Scott's earlier Regencies and to those who don't mind Inspirational fiction.

Regency Christmas II by Mary Balough, Carla Kelly, Mary Jo Putney, Anita Mills, Sheila Walsh -- Regency Romance short stories

In Sunshine for Christmas by Mary Jo Putney, a lonely gentleman heads to Naples for the holidays hoping to find some sunshine. Instead he finds an English governess who shows him the the sites and finally the path to happiness. This is the best of the stories in this anthology. It's well-written though I think the relationship between the characters is a little too informal for that era. The descriptions of Naples are incredible and now I rather feel like joining my parents on their holiday there next year. The romance is very sweet and believable.

The Last Wish by Anita Mills has three young gentlemen coming to attend their uncle's deathbed. Two of the three are deeply in debt and hope to inherit their uncle's fortune. Then a young woman and a small girl show up claiming that the girl is the daughter of Sir John's estranged younger son. Sir John is very ill and wants to make peace with his son but it's too late. Now there's a granddaughter and her aunt to care for but what to do? Sir John decides on a solution but it's one that can not be agreeable to little Rebecca's Aunt Maria. She would rather starve than accept charity. It will take a Christmas miracle to save Maria and Rebecca from the poorhouse. This story is somewhat of an imitation of Georgette Heyer's style but doesn't match her wit or unique characterization. It's a standard story with a predictable ending.

In Playing House by Mary Balough, Lilias, an impoverished young woman, swallows her pride and calls in a debt to the Marquess of Bedford to make Christmas for her younger siblings. This will be the last Christmas they have together before Lilias is forced into service and her siblings sent to relatives. The Marquess was once Lilias's childhood friend. He and his older brother used to make merry with Lilias and her younger brother. Now both brothers are dead and the Marquess has grown older and cynical. He learned at an early age that everyone wants something from him and he fears Lilias is hoping to trap him into marriage. He promises himself he'll be courteous and give her the gifts for her siblings but he will not be trapped into another loveless marriage. He's been there done that and the only good to come out of it is is four-year-old daughter. On a standard Christmas visit to the villagers, little Dora becomes fast friends with Lilias's sister and brother. The three children have such fun together that the Marquess can hardly deny his little girl the pleasure of their company. Of course that means being thrown together with Lilias again and being reminded of the love they used to share. Lilias knows that her beloved Stephen would never be so cold as the Marquess but she occasionally gets a glimpse of the boy he used to be and that makes leaving him that much harder. This story is a tried-and-true formula. The relationship develops nicely and is believable based on the characters' past history. The ending is a bit rushed and fairy-tale like.

In the Three Kings by Carla Kelly, Lady Sarah's brother James has just been killed and she taken prisoner of the French. She doesn't understand why she has been placed in such a situation for she and her brother were engaged in scholarly research in a library in Salamanca. With the French hard on the heels of the retreating British army, Sarah must find protection with the Spanish and British troops to find her way home. She's entrusted to the care of a Colonel Sotomayer. He is anxious to get home to his two young daughters for the feast of the Three Kings on January 6th, but the French are after Sarah and he swore he'd see her to safety. This story has a much darker tone than the others. It's full of loss and sadness and finally, love. Of course the ending is predictable but I liked it. Because of the circumstances the characters were in, the romance was fully understandable and very welcome.

The final story, The Christmas Star by Sheila Walsh is a Cinderella story wherein almost-18-year-old Louise has come to spend Christmas with her wealthy Godmother, a Duchess, and her family. Louise has spent the last several Christmases with the Duke and Duchess but this year she will be staying on as a companion for the Duchess. Lou is unsure of her place: not quite a servant and not quite a family member. When a dashing Russian prince needs her help, she is quick to offer assistance without knowing the plot. She discovers a tale of young lovers separated and a young lady in need of rescuing. Though Louise may wind up with a broken heart, her generous nature will not allow her to leave a young woman abandoned to a merciless fate. This is a true fairy tale. The plot is unique but the romance is entirely predictable. This story is too light and fluffy for my tastes.

What I've Read This Week

2011-12-07T13:13:00.002-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Will Shakespeare is a struggling poet, actor and sometimes playwright in London in 1601 when he comes across a little fool and his clown performing in the streets of London. In need of a new fool for his latest play, Will makes the acquaintance of the pair. The clown is actually a young lady, Violetta, daughter of the late Duke of Illyria. Violetta and Feste the Fool have a dark and difficult story to tell of a maiden sprang from the sea, mistaken identities, love, jealousy and betrayal. All that Violetta loves and cares for in Illyria has been destroyed through the jealous machinations of her Uncle Sebastian and the villain Malvolio who calls himself a Jesuit priest. While Sebastian was content to bring down Illyria, Malvolio has greater aspirations. He has stolen a beloved and sacred chalice from Illyria and with it he plans to rally Catholic support in England to kill Queen Elizabeth and place a Catholic pretender in her place.Violetta is determined to stop him with help from Feste and Will Shakespeare. The plan is difficult and dangerous and she may lose everyone she's come to care for, especially her beloved, Stephano. Did you ever wonder what happened to the characters of Shakepeare's Twelfth Night after the play is done? This novel imagines the events of the play as real events and what happens next is not a comedy as I was expecting. The events of the story are dark and tragic and tinged with magic and superstition. Will Shakespeare hears the story of events in Illyria from Violetta, Feste, and Violetta's kinswoman Maria. Much of the story is given over to those past events. The book is a little short on action as a consequence. The action sequences are fairly brief except for the final confrontation. There is lots of violence and bloodshed and no funny moments. Shakespeare fans and scholars will recognize situations, people and lines from his plays that the reader must believe influenced his works. What I really liked about the book were the descriptions of Illyria and the creation of the culture of that land. I also loved the depiction of Elizabethan England with one foot rooted in superstition. The author weaves in magic and superstition to create a fully believable world. I came to care about Violetta and her homeland but I wanted a bit more action in the story. I felt that it concluded too quickly. Fans of Celia Rees's other books will not be disappointed by this one.

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted -- Middle Grades Contemporary/Historical Fiction

Emily March is a typical 21st century teen. She goes to school, does homework, fights with her sister and dreams of getting together with the cute jock with whom she eats lunch every day. Emily feels sorry for herself though. She's the middle sister and never gets anything she wants, not even the boy, for he has a crush on her older sister! When Emily's English teacher gives an assignment to change something about a favorite book, Emily knows she wants to write about Little Women. She identifies with Jo and wants to be a writer like Jo. She cried when Beth died and was outraged when Laurie married Amy. Emily decides that she's going to change Little Women and make sure Laurie marries Jo. As she prepares for her assignment by rereading the book, there's a noise like a vacuum cleaner and suddenly Emily is swooshed back into time and sucked into the pages of the novel. Once again Emily finds herself the middle March sister and she does not like it. She's jealous of Meg and Jo and can't stand snobbish little Amy but Beth, as sweet and loving as always, she can't help but love. Emily experiences all the dullness and privation of the daily life of the March sisters trying to get home, until a boy enters the picture. With the introduction of Laurie, Emily begins to compete with Jo for his affections. Emily decides her purpose is not to get Laurie and Jo together but to save Beth. Soon she finds that even the best stories get away from their authors and things may not turn out as planned. This is a cute story that will appeal mainly to tween and young teen girls. Emily is very selfish and obnoxious but that's the point of her character. She learns lessons along the way that shape who she will become as an adult later on after the story ends. Until then, she's very unlikeable. My favorite March sister, Jo, is also an obnoxious teenager. She doesn't come across as the fun-loving tomboy I grew up loving. She's in desperate competition with her sisters with occasional moments that shine through from the original. The story is interesting though and kept me reading late at night to find out how it turned out. The ending is a bit rushed but there's a big surprise there that I didn't see coming. The author tries a little too hard to impart a moral at the very end that I think could have been left out. Overall though, I liked the story and I think girls in the target age range who love Little Women will enjoy this book.

Jane Austen Mystery series

2011-12-04T17:50:00.000-05:00

Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery

Miss Jane Austen, spinster, of Bath is visiting her dear friend Isobel, the new Countess of Scargrave during the holiday season. Jane looks forward to enjoying a holiday house party celebrating her friend's recent nuptials to the older Earl of Scargrave, only something is amiss. Isobel seems unhappy. She is being pestered to sell her land in the West Indies to Lord Harold Towbridge, a disreputable seeming character. Lord Scargrave's haughty heir, Lord Fitzroy Payne, looks at Isobel in a very un-relative like fashion. Isobel's young cousin Fanny flirts with the charming roguish Lieutenant Thomas Hearst much to the dismay of her Mama who wishes her to marry Fitzroy. Rounding out the party is the Lieutenant's gloomy elder brother George, a clergyman farmer. When dear Isobel's husband is murdered it seems that everyone is a suspect. Isobel and Fitzroy's relationship is suspect and when Isobel's Creole maid meets an unhappy end, the young nobles are sent to London to await the Assizes in jail. Jane is positive her friend is innocent and determined to prove it. She has only a few days to collect evidence and find the true murderer. Everyone has a motive but whodunnit?This story resembles the board game Clue. Was it Fanny in the stable yard with a rope? Was it George in the study with poison? Sleuth Jane to the rescue. I enjoyed this story a lot. Jane works within the boundaries of her world with the help of some men to solve the mystery. I had three chief suspects and figured out who the murderer was but not the motive. Everyone seemed to have an obvious motive and the actual motive came as a bit of a surprise out of nowhere. Jane learns a lot of things about people that make it into her stories. I dislike the use of dialogue and situations from her novels being put into her life story. This is the best written of the mysteries I have read so far and the most realistic for a woman of Jane Austen's time and situation.

Jane and the Man of the Cloth: Being the Second Jane Austen Mystery

This second mystery brings the Austens to Lyme for a holiday. Jane is looking forward to getting away from Bath and exploring the coast but their journey starts off badly when the carriage overturns her Jane's beloved sister Cassandra sustains an injury to the head. Jane and the post-boy head up the hill to the nearest house for help. They are met by the rudest man Jane has ever met, Mr. Geoffrey Sidmouth, who is less than happy to have the Austens as uninvited guests. Living with Mr. Sidmouth is a lovely French girl who is dressed as a peasant who the gossips believe is Sidmouth's mistress. Cassandra receives excellent care under the excellent surgeon's assistant Mr. William Dalgiesh who falls instantly in love with Cassandra. The Austens believe the rest of their stay will be enjoyable and maybe even a hint of romance will be in the air. Rev. Austen makes a friend of Mr. Crawford, a fossil expert and Jane makes the acquaintance of the local tabbies and one dashing wounded ex-Naval Lieutenant Fielding . When Jane is rudely awakened early one morning from some noisy men on the Cobb, she discovers a man hanging from a makeshift gallows. Liuet. Fielding believes the hanging to be the work of the so-called "Reverend" the chief smuggler in the area. Lieut. Fielding is on a mission to catch the Reverend and put him away for good. He insinuates that Sidmouth is the Reverend and certainly the man's uncivil and mysterious behavior gives him cause for suspicion. Yet, Jane seems something in Sidmouth that others do not. He too seems charmed by her unconventionality. When Fielding is discovered dead on the road, Sidmouth is arrested. Jane becomes involved in investigating the murder. She has a personal interest in the matter for she may be losing her heart to Sidmouth. Investigating the shore leads to clues which lead Jane down an unexpected path towards solving the murder. The story starts off slow and picks up about 1/3 of the way into the book. This mystery is very obvious to anyone who has read Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. I figured out the characters based on their Jane Austen counterpart and I guessed the villain. The villain rather exposed themselves early on in Jane's investigation and I think in real life she would have been smart enough to figure everything out more quickly. I dislike the way Jane goes off on her own to investigate and there are some instances where she would have ruined her reputation in real life. The footnotes are a bit overdone but not too much. I learned a few new things about Lyme and Jane Austen's time. I would recommended skipping this mystery and going on to the third except for a key scene at the end which sort of explains why Jane is where she is in the third mystery.

Jane and the Wandering Eye : Being the Third Jane Austen Mystery

Jane, her brother Henry and his wife Eliza are invited to a masquerade party in honor of a troop of actors come to Bath. Jane is tagging along with her more well-to-do relatives to keep an eye on the hostess's granddaughter, Lady Desdemona. Jane was asked specifically by The Gentleman Rogue to look after his niece, who is trying to avoid the man she has just jilted. Just as one of the well-known actors finishes declaiming a speech from Macbeth, the dead body of the theater manager is discovered! When Lady Desdemona's brother is found with the bloody knife in his hand, he is immediately suspect, though he swears he didn't do it. Gentleman Rogue, Lord Harold Towbridge to the rescue! he arrives in Bath hunting for clues and discovers that his nephew recovered a miniature portrait of an eye from the dead body. The portrait leads to more clues and an list of suspects that includes everyone from actors to artists to peers of the realm. Jane tags along to help figure out the clues to the mystery. This being my second Jane Austen mystery, I found that I did not enjoy it as much as the first. There were far too many characters introduced too quickly to keep track of. Many of those characters become suspects in the murder mystery and I found myself trying to figure out who they were and what their motive would be. I did guess the villain right away but not the motive. The motive was unusual and not explained very well. There really wasn't any good reason for murder. I also did not like real life characters and events playing into the story. It lacked credibility. I do not have a problem with the sentence structure so far but those not familiar with 18th and 19th century writing may find it difficult. I still am bothered by the footnotes, which in this book are mostly unnecessary. Using a rating of 1-5, I would give it perhaps a 3 1/2 or 4.

Jane and the Genius of the Place : Being the Fourth Jane Austen Mystery

Jane is on the move again. This time she is at the Canterbury Races in Kent with her brother Edward and his family. Also at the races is the scandalous Mrs. Grey, a Frenchwoman who has captured the interest of many of the men in Kent but not many of the ladies. Scandalous Mrs. Grey is rumored to have had numerous affairs while her husband was occupied with business in London. Mrs. Grey gives rise to the rumors when she is seen hitting a gentleman with her riding crop. Later she is seen entering a neighbor's carriage and then following the horses as they race. Finally, she is discovered dead in the neighbor's carriage, strangled to death with her own hair ribbon and wearing only her shift. As Justice of the Peace, Neddie Austen is charged with finding the murderer and bringing them to justice. He immediately suspects the neighbor in whose carriage Mrs. Grey was found, but isn't positive. Neddie needs Jane's help to solve the mystery of the murdered woman. Among the other suspects are Mr. Grey who is said to have had little affection for his wife, Neddie's impecunious brother-in-law Edward, Edward's military friend, a timid governess, a dashing French count and a genius of a landscape architect. This mystery can probably be figured out in part by those who have read any number of novels, include Miss Austen's own. Some situations and conversations appear in her novels, a joke which I really wish the author would abandon. It makes the mystery way too obvious. I figured out the what but not the why or who. The why was a bit confusing and seemed to be summarized far too quickly and wrap up too neatly. As usual there's a bit too much history tossed in and some pointless conversations between characters that seem to go nowhere though actually lead to clues. I'm not a big fan of the footnotes and usually the reader can figure out the context just by reading the story. An author's note would better explain the history behind the story but as Barron is writing as an editor of Austen's journals, I see why she chooses to add footnotes. I like Jane the character a lot. She's intelligent and witty and she refuses to be pressured into being someone she's not. The mysteries are a lot of fun and I look forward to reading the rest.

Jane and the Stillroom Maid: Being the Fifth Jane Austen Mystery

Jane, Mrs. Austen and Cassandra are still making a tour of various relatives before settling down with Frank in Southhampton. This time they are visiting cousin Edward Cooper. The Cooper family becomes afflicted with whooping cough so Edward must take his relations off on a tour of Derbyshire. Jane heads off to explore the peaks while the gentlemen fish and Mrs. A and Cassandra rest at the inn. While exploring, Jane comes across her most gruesome murder yet. She discovers the body of a young gentleman with a bullet hole to his forehead and a badly mutilated body. Cousin Edward's friend Mr. Hemming lends his assistance in bringing the body back to town. The locals believe the crime is the work of the local branch of Freemasons based on rumors and superstition of devil worship and Satanic sacrifice. When the coroner/surgeon examines the body it is found to be that of a young female named Tess Arnold who worked as a stillroom maid at the home of Mr. Charles Danforth, a grieving widower with a club foot. The locals all fear Mr. Charles Danforth is cursed or worse since his entire family has recently deceased. They believe he is the murderer and want him hanged. Jane is disturbed by the grisly murder and determined to see justice done. Lord Harold, her gentleman rogue, shows up in Derbyshire to mourn the loss of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire. His niece, Desdemona is also there and desires to see Jane again. Jane heads off to the luxe Chatsworth estate and finds herself socializing with the scandalous Cavendish set. At Chatsworth Jane discovers an unhappy situation and fears that the clues may lead to the murder of the maid. With the help of the maid's stillroom book, Jane manages to solve the murder but not before more death and unhappiness visit the area. This story is the best mystery yet. It introduces the murder and suspects right away. Just when the answer seems obvious, the story takes twists and turns. The motive and murderer were pretty obvious but the clues left me in doubt until all was revealed. I liked having an intimate glimpse of Chatsworth and the Duke's family whom I know a little about from the Keira Knightly movie The Duchess. I was happy to have Lord Harold return to help Jane solve the investigation but I did not like that she loses her heart to him and nearly succumbs to the desire to live the life of the ton. That does not fit with the Jane that is depicted in the previous books and very unlike the real Jane. I absolutely loved the stillroom recipes included at the end of each chapter. There was very little knowledge about medicine in those days and even the descriptions of the doctor's care are cringeworthy. An editor's afterward names the sources of stillroom medicine from Jane Austen's time and explains what happened to the Duke of Devonshire and family after the events of the novel.

SPOILER ALERT:

I believe that the doctor killed the family unknowingly with all that bleeding. That subject was never addressed in the editor's afterward.

Jane and the Prisoner of the Wool House : Being the Sixth Jane Austen Mystery

Jane, her mother, her sister and their friend Martha Lloyd have removed to Southampton to live with her brother Frank's bride Mary. Frank is on shore too, hoping for the Royal Navy to grant him a fast sonhip. Frank's wish is about to come true - he will soon be granted command of the Stella Maris. Unfortunately, the promotion for Frank comes at the sacrifice of his friend, Captain Seagrave, who is under arrest for murder of the French captain whose ship the Stella Maris had overcome.Captain Seagrave has been accused by his Lieutenant, Eustace Chessyre, who should have stood by him. Frank knows his friend and knows that Tom Seagrave would never have violated the Articles of War by killing a surrendering captain. As the people of Portsmouth turn against Captain Seagrave, only Frank remains loyal. Jane, being possessed of a "fine naval fervour" also believes that Captain Seagrave is innocent. Jane, having the opportunity to employ herself as a nurse in the Wool House, where French prisoners of war are kept, decides to investigate the murder to find clues that will exonerate Captain Seagrave. Jane's investigation takes her from Captain Seagrave's home, to the Wool House, the docks and the slums of Portsmouth. Jane's search brings her in contact with a prisoner-of-war French surgeon who seems to have some answers, if only he will testify and only if she and Frank can keep him safe, for when Lieutenant Chessyre turns up dead, it becomes clear that someone wants the witnesses out of the way. This being my first Jane Austen mystery I did not know what to expect. The author writes in the style of Jane Austen, alluding to the fact that the novel is an edited version of a long lost manuscript written by Jane Austen. I really liked the way Barron copied Jane Austen's style of writing and I also loved that Barron obviously did a ton of research to write the novel. However, I think she included far too many historical details, some of which she felt the need to add a footnote to further clarify. Those who are familiar with Jane Austen's life and times probably will not need the footnotes. The story is very slow to start but once Jane began her investigation, the story captured my attention and I couldn't do anything until she had solved the mystery. There are many twists and turns in this book that I never suspected. Like Jane, I jumped to a lot of conclusions, having read too many "dreadful novels." The ending is really rushed and I felt like more explanation was needed. I highly doubt that Jane Austen herself would have been running all over Portsmouth (often by herself!) trying to solve a murder mystery but it's fun to think that she would have if she could. I would recommend this book to Janeites that don't take their favorite author too seriously and also fans of Georgette Heyer's mysteries and traditional Regency novels. On a scale of 1-5 I would give this a 4 or 4 1/4.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2011-12-02T22:17:00.010-05:00

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Greetings Readers! I have entered the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge sponsored by Historical Tapestry. As you know it's not much of a challenge for me, but it will be fun. I'm aiming for "Severe Bookaholism": 20 books. I've already beaten that but I'd like to see how many I read. I hope some of you will enter the challenge also.

Here is my list of books read in December:

Jane Austen Mysteries 1-6 by Stephanie Barron
The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees (Young Adult)
An Honorable Gentleman by Regina Scott
A Regency Christmas II
Christmas Wishes by Barbara Metzger
A Christmas Kiss and Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield
The Other Countess by Eve Edwards (Young Adult)
Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain
Letters to a Lady by Joan Smith
Jane Austen mysteries 7-9 by Stephanie Barron

What I Read This Weekend

2011-11-28T17:57:00.002-05:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

Out of Oz: The Final Volume in the Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire -- Fantasy

This volume purports to be the final volume of the series that began with Wicked. When the book opens, Dorothy Gale, now 16, is traveling to San Francisco with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. They hope the trip out of Kansas will put all thoughts of Oz out of her head and make her suitable for marriage. With Toto riding along too, Dorothy compares all the sights to Oz, whether better or not as thrilling. On the morning of April 18, 1906, Dorothy and Toto too are in an elevator car when the car began to shake to quake . . . Back in Oz, Munchinland has seceded from Oz and the two factions are deep in a fierce war. Commander Cherrystone, now General, and his forces take over Lady Glinda's home, leaving her with a skeleton crew. With her are Puggles the butler, Murthy her companion and Rain, the little broom girl. General Cherrystone wagers Glinda that he can teach Rain to read and if he's successful Glinda will learn to cook. When Glinda realizes Gen. Cherrystone wants Rain to read for his own purposes, she learns that the little girl is a valuable spy. They discover a terrible secret about the army and when a Clock of the Time Dragon appears, the boss leaves a certain book with Glinda. She understands the significance of the Grimmerie but doesn't know how to use it. Finally, she and Rain discover a way to halt the army's plans, but it is no longer safe for Rain or the Grimmerie to stay with Glinda so she sends them off with the crew of the Clock of the Time Dragon. Rain joins up with Brr the Lion, his human wife Ilianora (aka Nor from Wicked), the dwarf known as Mr. Boss and later his wife Little Daffy on a long journey through Oz to find a safe place to hide. Rain goes along for the journey, not realizing what is happening outside her little family in the forest. She has an affinity for animals and acquires a rice otter along the way. She has few memories of her early life and no idea how important she really is. The journey is long and dangerous and at last the little family meet up with Liir and Candle and Rain learns the secret of her birth. Sullen and resentful, she wants little to do with events outside the country home where she lives, but the Army of Oz is mighty and their arms reach wide. It's time for the family to leave and to separate once again. A rumor around Munchinland says Dorothy is back in Oz and about to be tried for the double murder of the Wicked Witches. The Lion feels it's time to finally redeem himself for his part in the story by defending Dorothy while Rain is sent off to boarding school to keep safe. At school Rain learns enough to think for herself. She befriends and falls in love with, an orphan boy, a vagabond running from dangerous enemies. To continue on will spoil the plot. The rest of the book deals with Dorothy's trial and summing up the war and tying up loose ends. Most of the book is exposition, devoted to beautiful descriptions of the world of Oz and thought provoking questions. It's slow going but I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen. The story gets a bit bogged down in the middle and the plot seems to be going nowhere. When the denouement begins, it seems to be going nowhere and finishes with a grand summary of events, some teenage ahem "Butter and Eggs" ahem, revelation of secrets and then a spectacularly failure of an ending that could have been the beginning of another book. There seems to be some messages concerning war, parenthood, sexuality, gender issues, destiny, nationalism and national identity but they're harder to figure out than the message in Wicked.

I really really wanted to like Rain but she's a tough character. She's very ambiguous, part Elphaba but mostly Liir. I related to her affinity with animals but I kept waiting for that to come to more and it never did. She was a victim of circumstances and was acted upon for most of the novel. Rain seems to want to be a victim of circumstances rather than do anything to change her situation. By the time she takes action at the very end, it could be an entirely new novel which I did not like. She's kind of an anti-hero.

I really liked the beautiful prose, especially the descriptions of Oz. I also liked the inside jokes and references to The Wizard of Oz movie, Gone With the Wind, Charlotte's Web and A Little Princess. The full color maps on the endpapers are beautiful and a much needed timeline and summary of previous events is included.

If you've made it this far in my review, I recommend just reading the book and letting me know what you think. I have mixed feelings about it and I wish I had time to reread the series again and analyze it a bit more, but I don't.

What I've Read Recently

2011-11-28T17:14:00.001-05:00

What I've Read Recently . . .

Georgina by Clare Darcy -- Regency Romance

Georgina has been raised by her grandfather in a most unladylike fashion. She was the grandson he never had. Life was more fun back then. Now Georgie is ready to come out but her grandfather's death has the women in retreat in Bath where Georgie's grandmother is trying to marry her off to someone or another. Georgie isn't the least bit interested in marrying. To punish her for failing to do her duty, Grandmama sends Georgie off to distant relatives in Ireland. In Ireland she finds everything all helter-skelter with her silly aunt in hysterics because the household must move posthaste ere the heir moves on. The heir, Mr. Shannon, inherited The Place of the Oaks from Georgie's late cousin Nuala. Shannon is the illegitimate son of a Scottish Earl and said to have married Nuala for her money. When her aunt is injured in a fall, it's up to Georgie and her cousin Brandon to keep the household running smoothly, which they are unable to do until the appearance of the autocratic Mr. Shannon. Georgie decides to hate Shannon from the beginning because he is rude and unsympathetic to the family's plight. The traitor Brandon adores having adult male company for a change. When the family finally removes to their new home, Georgina's aunt hopes a romance between Georgie and Brandon will bloom, but soon Georgie is the belle of the neighborhood and has more suitable suitors than her impoverished and lame cousin. Georgie doesn't seem to care much about her suitors though, but she does begin to revise her opinion of Mr. Shannon when Georgina's aunt and most of the neighbors snub him. The only one who will receive Mr. Shannon is Lady Eliza, a wicked flirt. Georgie decides to take it upon herself to help Shannon, with very unexpected consequences. I seemed to like this book a lot the first time I read it but I have a revised opinion. I admire Georgie for standing up to her grandmother and she's an appealing heroine for her spirit but she's very young and very naive. Her innocence is both charming and annoying at the same time. Her behavior towards Shannon is pretty dreadful even when she means well. She behaves a lot less stupidly than most other teenage heroines in Regency novels. Shannon is not a very appealing hero. Shannon was shaped by life experiences which have made him proud. He's also stubborn with just enough sense of humor to find Georgina mildly interesting and mildly irritating at the same time. He's a bit too authoritative for my tastes but maybe he would come around and loosen up a bit. The story has it's funny moments and there's chemistry between the hero and heroine that becomes apparent in a realistic and romantic way. It's almost a rewrite of Georgette Heyer's Venetia with a younger heroine. If you're a fan of Clare Darcy's other books or want Georgette Heyer light, then read this book.

What I've Read This Week

2011-11-26T14:33:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Explosive Eighteen : A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich -- Contemporary Mystery

When last we met Stephanie, she was given two plane tickets to Hawaii and had to decide which one of her men she was going to take. The book picks up after the vacation and Stephanie is on her way home - alone. Stephanie is exhausted and her stomach is in knots over the mess she has made with her love life. She's not talking about what happened in Hawaii but there's a telltale ring tan line on her finger and Grandma and Lula really want to know what happened. All Stephanie will say is "it's complicated." Her life gets even more complicated when some phony FBI guys, followed by some real ones, come searching for a photograph a man on the plane may have slipped into her bag. The man has turned up dead and everyone wants the photo but Stephanie doesn't have it. She's followed by the FBI agents (real and fake), a crazy Somali terrorist and a mourning fiance (or so she says). Meanwhile, the bail bonds office is being rebuilt by a mafioso who won't play nice with Vinny and there are the usual FTAs to apprehend. Finally, Joyce Barnhardt shows up in Stephanie's apartment nearly sending Stephanie over the edge of sanity. Stephanie has decided to turn over a new leaf where men are concerned but having to rely on Ranger and Morelli for protection from the bad guys isn't helping. And so goes another chapter in Stephanie's crazy life. The good news is the mystery was pretty good. There were some unrelated mysteries that didn't really belong but the central mystery was different from the past dead body in Trenton plots. The funny moments come mostly from Lula and are gross enough to please a 12 year old boy. Lula has been getting more page time than Grandma lately and I think Grandma is a better written, funnier character. The bad news is Stephanie's love life. Don't read this book looking for answers. The only good thing is Stephanie realizes she doesn't like herself very much but then she really doesn't do anything about it. This book is infinitely better than the last but if you're new to the series, quit reading no later than book 12.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2011-11-11T15:14:00.001-05:00

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Cecily by Clare Darcy
Georgina by Clare Darcy
Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron (Books 1-3, 6)

What I've Read This Week

2011-11-11T15:12:00.001-05:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Cecily: or a Young Lady of Quality by Clare Darcy -- Regency Romance

Mr. Robert Ranleigh's friends are all agog over the newest actress come to town. The beautiful young ingenue Miss Dangerfield-Nelson has caught the eye of all the gentlemen of the town except for Mr. Ranleigh. The young lady seems disinterested in gentlemen but Mr. Ranleigh's cousin Lord Anthony Portandrew believes that every woman has heard of Mr. Ranleigh and would be honored to see him. Tony challenges his friend Sir Harry Breckonridge that Ranleigh can gain entree into the Green Room to meet Miss Dangerfield-Nelson. Mr. Ranleigh accepts the wager to prevent his cousin from losing money and looking like a fool. His request is met with acceptance by the young actress but then denied by the Female Dragon who serves as chaperone. However, Miss Dangerfield-Nelson requests Mr. Ranleigh to call upon her the following afternoon where she reveals that her name is actually Cecily Hadley, an impoverished distant relation of Mr. Ranleigh. She asks for his help in obtaining a suitable position as a governess. Ranleigh, concerned about Cecily's virtue and upset at the association with an actress, sends her off to his mother in the country. Cecily falls instantly in love with Mr. Ranleigh but thinks he sees her only as a tiresome child. Cecily is determined to prove she is grown-up and when a potentially dangerous situation gets out of control, she thinks she can handle it with nearly disastrous consequences. This story closely resembles a Georgette Heyer novel with a naive young heroine and an authoritative hero. The plot was slow moving to begin with but picked up after a few chapters. Cecily is very young and naive and whenever she tries to solve her problems, she ends up in a greater mess than ever before. I am not a huge fan of the innocent, silly heroine plot. I found Cecily annoying and I found myself cringing in anticipation of her next disaster. I did find some parts amusing, especially with the colorful secondary characters. I would recommend this book to fans of Georgette Heyer's Friday's Child, Spring Muslin, and The Corinthian.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-11-06T21:51:00.002-05:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

Exile by Anne Osterlund -- Young Adult Historical Fantasy

This sequel to Aurelia picks up where Aurelia left off. Aurelia has renounced her claim to the throne after her father refused to believe that her step-sister Melony tried to kill Aurelia. Aurelia has gone into exile with a troop of armed guards and her friend Robert. Aurelia longs to see the kingdom and meet the people to discover more about them. She travels as a normal girl and not just a princess, but though she has renounced her claim to the throne, someone still wants her dead. She soon learns the only person she can rely on is Robert and he is infuriatingly stubborn! Aurelia realizes she has more than friendly feelings for Robert and she wonders if he feels the same way too? He must not or we wouldn't be continually yelling at her for doing things he considers foolish... or would he? Robert can't fight his growing attraction for Aurelia. She's stubborn and foolish sometimes but that's what he loves about her. Love drives him to follow her into exile and guard her with his life for Aurelia refuses to accept the reality of her dangerous situation. Along the journey Aurelia learns about the people of the kingdom and their wishes and needs. She discovers that what is right and what is true are not necessarily the same thing. Aurelia also learns about love and loyalty and what it takes to become a great leader. This book is heavy on action and romance. The first third of the book is full of action and danger. There is quite a lot of grisly violence that affects the characters profoundly and drives their actions. Then the story halts a bit in the middle and picks up with lots of romance in the last third before ending in somewhat of a cliffhanger! The story doesn't quite come to the point. Aurelia is a girl on the brink of womanhood. She's trying to figure out who she wants to be and what to do about the corruption in the kingdom. She's also trying to figure out her feelings for Robert, who is not a suitable consort for a princess. All of these qualities make Aurelia very real and easy to identify with. I especially like her personality because I can see myself saying and doing many of the things she does. I loved the sweet romance that develops though I think Robert's character could be defined a bit better. I feel like we don't really know him though the story alternates between his point of view and Aurelia's. The story does not really seem to go anywhere, however. It reads like the middle of a story rather than a story that can stand on it's own. The characters refer to events in Aurelia but unless you've read the book, you will not know to what they refer. The story doesn't come to a full conclusion so another sequel is needed. The writing is really good and seems geared for teens and adults. The author does not talk down to her readers and expects her readers to come along for a journey that is not always pleasant. I hope the sequel is in the works and will be published soon because I quite enjoyed this one.

Smokin' Seventeen : a Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich -- Contemporary Adult Mystery

Stephanie is in trouble. The bail bonds office is operating out of Mooner's bus and resembles the Death Star, a dead body was found on the property and now business is way down, Joe's Grandma Bella put the evil eye on her and to make matters worse Stephanie's mother is after her to get married. Stephanie's mom tries to fix Stephanie up with a former classmate of hers named Dave. Dave is a nice guy and he loves to cook. Stephanie's mom loves him, her friends love him, but... Stephanie just isn't interested. She still can't decide between Ranger and Joe! Lula suggests Stephanie decide which one is best in bed and choose that one. When Grandma Bella puts another curse on Stephanie, Stephanie takes Lula's suggestion and runs with it. Meanwhile, there are the usual FTAs to apprehend, Dave won't leave her alone and someone is leaving dead bodies for Stephanie to find. Stephanie is close to her wit's end and determined to get some answers. This is a typical Plum story. There's the usual quirky FTAs (one thinks he's a vampire, one is a nudist and one has a circus bear), Lula's crazy antics and the smoking bedroom scenes with Joe and Ranger. Most of the humor comes from the secondary characters, especially the FTAs and Mooner. Grandma doesn't get enough page time but she does have one memorable scene. I found myself giggling a lot in places but the plot was really only mediocre. I pegged the killer from the very beginning as soon as they were first mentioned. It was really obvious and it bugged me that Stephanie couldn't figure it out. It also bothered me that she didn't do anything to stop her creepy stalker wannabe boyfriend. Most of all, I did not like what the jacket flap calls the "red hot boudoir bake-off." To do what Stephanie did is demeaning and stupid. She acts more like a teenager in lust than a grown woman and she refuses to take responsibility for her behavior, blaming silly curses instead. The mystery was solved way too neatly and then ended in a cliff hanger. I agree with those who think the first 12 books were better. This book may have been fine as a stand-alone but as a part of a series about one character, it flopped. There's only a tiny bit of character growth at the end and from the description of the next book, it sounds like Stephanie is right back to where she started. Grab this book from the library for some nice, light reading but don't expect too much.

What I Read Last Week

2011-11-04T13:33:00.002-04:00

What I Read Last Week . . .

Caroline and Julia by Clare Darcy -- Traditional Regency Romance

Since Caroline's Devereaux's wastrel father died leaving them destitute, Caroline and her mother contrived to live on whatever they can grow or make. Now Caroline's mother had died too and Caroline is at a loss for what to do. She contacts her father's wealthy uncle Chandos, but when no word arrives, she decides to make her way to London to stay with her mother's old school friend, Julia Daventry, until she can figure out how to make her own way into the world. Julia is a famous actress in London with many admirers, though she still mourns the loss of her beloved soldier husband who was killed several years ago. When Caroline arrives on Julia's doorstep, Julia immediately takes the younger woman into her home. Julia's admirers take notice of young Caroline and one young Byron wannabe is instantly smitten by Caroline's innocent charm. When Caroline's cousin Neville receives word that Uncle Chandos is dying, he rushes to his uncle's manor only to learn that his uncle has died. He finds the housekeeper Mrs. Knox-Gore worried about her future and that of her grown son Sidney, whom she claims was like a son to her employer. Mrs. Knox-Gore is certain that Chandos left everything to Sidney, however, the will can not be found to prove it. A meeting with his uncle's solicitor reveals that Caroline may actually be the sole beneficiary of their uncle's estate. Neville has no idea where to find his young cousin and is terribly worried about her. His friends decide to cheer him up by introducing him to Julia. Neville immediately finds himself behaving like a bashful schoolboy, all tongue-tied in the presence of a beautiful lady. Their next meeting has Neville behaving peevishly, when at last he discovers Caroline and makes plans for her return to the country to observe her mourning period. Caroline is made of sterner stuff that she appears and refuses to leave London. Meanwhile, Uncle Chados's shady butler and the Knox-Gores are plotting to keep Chados Deveraux's money for themselves. However, the butler does not care much for the Knox-Gores and has his own plan that may put them and Caroline into danger. This story resembles one of Georgette Heyer's traditional Regencies but not as well written. There isn't much reason for the couples to fall in love and even less chemistry. The danger is patently obvious but the key characters chose to ignore it even though some of them are not so naive as Caroline. I would have liked to have seen more character growth from the key characters. The story dragged a lot in the beginning and wrapped up too neatly at the end. The story would have been better told as a comedy of manners without the danger plot. This is a good light read for those who like traditional Regencies.

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Miss Agnes Wilkins is not your typical teenage girl planning her debut in London Society in 1815. She's well-educated and can quote lines from her favorite novels (by A Lady) in multiple languages. She is both excited and apprehensive about her debut. She doesn't feel ready to marry. She longs for adventure and excitement. Agnes has caught the eye of London's most eligible bachelor, Lord Showalter. Lord Showalter shares Agnes's interest in antiquities and invites the neighborhood to a mummy unwrapping party. Agnes finds the idea of unwrapping a mummy quite appalling, but her mother, eager to please Lord Showalter, forces Agnes to attend the party. Even worse, Lord Showalter urges Agnes to take the first cut! The party goers are encouraged to keep whatever trinkets they find wrapped inside the mummy. As the excitement around the unwrapping builds, Agnes uncomfortably cuts through the wrappings and discovers a small figurine of iron. As no one is watching her and not wanting to show off she tucks the figure in her bodice to save as a memento. Then the museum sends word they sent the wrong mummy and everyone must return their "trinkets." Agnes keeps hers, however, and the decision sets her on a path of greater adventure than she could ever have hoped for. Working with a young museum clerk/self-taught Egyptologist she must discover the secret of her trinket and save England before it's too late. This book is a fun adventure set in Regency England that takes the traditional plot and adds the unique element of Egyptian culture to provide more mystery than is usually found in traditional Regencies. Agnes is a great character. She's smart but unsure of herself and her place in the world as most teens are. She's flattered by Lord Showalter's attentions yet doesn't want to be tied down just yet. She's torn between duty and desire, much like her favorite literary hero Mr. Darcy (though in a different way). The mystery kept me very interested because it was so different from anything else I've read. I enjoyed learning about Ancient Egypt along with Agnes and Caedmon. It made the mystery more enjoyable because I couldn't figure it out right away. Though I guessed the villain, the big reveal came as a bit of a surprise. I liked the little bit of sweet romance too. My main complaints with the book were the inaccuracies in styles of address (for example, the same character is referred to as both Mr. and Lord when they're not the same at all.). Also, Agnes considers going to Scotland Yard to tell the police and I don't see how she can because Scotland Yard wasn't formed yet in 1815! I especially disliked the constant telling of how difficult it was to be a woman at that time. The author could have left out the telling and just shown the reader. If you're a high stickler for accuracy, don't read this book. Agnes is a teenager, this is a young adult book. Agnes does not behave according to the strict rules of propriety that dictate the behavior of young women in this era. I missed the period language as well. Teenagers are not stupid and they can and will read books that are more precisely detailed. For the simplicity of the language I would say this book is aimed at 12-14 year olds. It can be enjoyed by all ages 9+ though. I recommend this book if you enjoyed The Agency trilogy by Y.S. Lee, Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle, La Petite Four by Regina Scott and The Season by Sarah MacLean. I can't wait for the sequel! I hope Agnes will have many more adventures to come.

What I've Read This Week Part II

2011-10-30T17:23:00.001-04:00

What I've Read This Week Part II . . .

My Lady Pocahontas by Kathleen V. Kudlinski -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

We all know some version of the story of Pocahontas saving John Smith, but the true story of the daughter of the Powhatan chieftan is lost to history. This novel aimed at older teens and adults imagines the gaps in the story of Pocahontas. When the reader first meets Pocahontas, she's a mischievous woman-child of about 12. She enlists the aid of Nuttagwon, a girl from another tribe to help her spy on the strangers that have come to the shores of Virginia. The two girls become heroes to the Powhatan for the knowledge they bring of the strangers. Nuttagwon is adopted into the royal family and given a new name, Neetah, meaning friend. Pocahontas believes that she has been given a vision to bring about peace between her people and the pale strangers and tries her hardest to get her father to trade with them. Neetah is more suspicious, thinking the strangers are smelly and rude, but she's a loyal friend to Pochontas and will remain by her friend's side as long as Pocahontas needs her. Neetah's loyalty will be tested time and time again as the relationship between the English and the Powhatan progresses and then degenerates. This is an emotional story that provides a vivid portrait of a real life historical figure through the eyes of a fictional friend. The author's extensive, hands-on research provides the rich details of this story (a far cry from Disney). The reader is taken into a world that's long gone and becomes a part of the Powhatan Confederacy along with Neetah. The author holds nothing back about life in the 17th century. Her strength is in the details about the largely unknown Powhatan culture, which she has based on modern scholarship and the traditions of Virginia Indians and other eastern Algonquin speaking people. Pochontas is a well-rounded character that the reader empathizes with as she is troubled by her visions and tries to do what she thinks is right, sometimes in spite of her father's wishes. The reader also comes to know and care about Neetah, the narrator of the story, as she struggles with her decisions to remain loyal to Pocahontas even though she really wants to return to her home in the hills, marry and have a family. The story is incredibly compelling and though I knew of Pochontas's untimely death, I was captivated by the story and eager to know what happened to Neetah (a fictional character). I couldn't put the book down though I did not like the unhappy ending (though I appreciate the historical accuracy). This book is unforgettable and I highly recommend it for people ages 14 and up, especially adults who may have an interest in Native cultures.

Talk Like Jane Austen Day

2011-10-29T16:31:00.000-04:00

Talk Like Jane Austen Day

Dearest Readers,

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Sense & Sensibility, today, 30 October, is talk like Jane Austen day! If you wish to discover more about Miss Austen's language or her life and times, please visit http://www.talklikejaneausten.com/talklikejaneaustenday.html

Return to Georgette Heyer

2011-10-28T22:08:00.002-04:00

It's been a few years since I discovered the wonderful Regency world of Georgette Heyer. I have decided to reread some of my old favorites and blog about them in depth.

Lady of Quality

Annis Wynchwood left her brother's home at the age of six and twenty to set up her own establishment in Bath because she and her brother Geoffrey can not rub on together while they live under the same roof. Annis has a comfortable home in Bath with her garrulous, indigent relative as chaperone. Annis enjoys her life but she is a bit bored. On the way home from visiting her brother and his family, Annis comes across a broken down carriage and a young lady and young gentleman in distress. Annis offers her assistance to the pair and changes her world forever. The young lady, Lucilla, is running away from an unwanted marriage with her childhood best friend Ninian. Ninian wants the marriage as much as Lucilla but his sense of honor compels him to keep her from getting into trouble. Annis befriends the pair and takes young Lucilla under her wing. Lucilla's uncle Oliver Carleton, the rudest man in London, arrives in Bath and barges his way into Annis's well-ordered life. The pair are forever at odds yet they seem to share the same sense of humor and enjoy trading witty barbs. Soon Annis has more excitement than she every thought possible when her brother, fearing for her virtue, sends his wife and children to stay. Annis has her hands full playing hostess and keeping Druscilla out of trouble but she doesn't need help. Indeed Mr. Carleton expresses little interest in his niece. Why then does Mr. Carleton insist on staying in Bath?

This book is tied for my #2 favorite Heyer novel. I love the independent, older heroine who thinks she knows everything until she matches wits with a notorious rake! The dialogue between Annis and Oliver is quite witty and made me smile. They are an evenly matched pair. The secondary characters provide much of the screwball comedy antics Heyer is known for. I chuckled out loud in many places and smiled at the end. I love comedy of manners plots and no one did it better than Heyer. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first time, even if it is basically a copy of her earlier book Black Sheep. I loved Black Sheep. It was great so why mess with success?

What I've Read This Week

2011-10-28T21:42:00.001-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Allegra by Clare Darcy -- Regency Romance

Allegra Harrington, spinster, age 29 has had it with living with her crotchety old aunt. The only other place for her is to join her younger sister Hilary as an unpaid servant in another aunt's household. Allie's godmother presents the perfect solution: marry Sir Derek Harrington, the cousin who has inherited Allegra's father's title and estate. Allegra remembers Derek as an arrogant boy but agrees to give him a chance, until local gossip turns her mind against him. Too proud to marry out of charity and still half in love with her late fiance, Allegra takes Hilary off to Brussels to a girls' school run by their former governess, Mlle. Jusseau. Mlle. Jusseau encourages the sisters to take part in the whirlwind of English Society. When the find themselves in a jam, they must turn to Sir Derek and ask for help. Allegra begrudgingly realizes that perhaps she made a grave mistake in refusing him. Now he's courting another woman who will take over Allie's beloved home. Once again the sisters find themselves in need of help and Sir Derek to the rescue.Allegra is convinced it is because Sir Derek shares their family name and refuses to allow a scandal to be attached, but young Hilary sees a different motivation for Sir Derek's kindness but her sister may be too proud to see it and they will be back to where they started. What ever shall they do? This is a lighthearted take on Pride & Prejudice. There isn't a whole lot of substance to the story or even much of a romance. It reads a lot like a Georgette Heyer novel but not quite as well written. That being said, I liked Allegra and found her to be a realistic and engaging heroine. I especially liked her silly little sister even though I normally hate silly teenagers in this genre. The story is fun and I like Pride and Prejudice copy cats as long as the hero isn't too overbearing. Sir Derek is masterful at times but not too high-handed. He knows just how to deal with his cousins and does it well. I recommend this book for fans of the traditional Georgette Heyer style Regency. For those who are looking for a romance (Regency Historical) do not read this author.

The Sugar Rose by Susan Carroll --Regency Romance

Miss Aurelia Sinclair has been waiting her entire 23 years for her neighbor and best friend Lord Justin Spencer to finally propose. The arrangement has been of long standing between their families and Justin feels so comfortable around Aurelia that he completely forgets to employ any romantic charms when proposing. His friend Everard Ramsey, a noted London dandy is horrified. How could his friend be so gauche? Sure Miss Sinclair is a bit plain and plump but she is intriguing just the same. When Justin dashes off to London to play the bachelor for awhile, Everard wages that he can turn Aurelia into a belle who will charm Justin. Aurelia then begins a diet and exercise regime to help her lose weight and Everard helps her learn to carry herself with grace. Soon though Everard begins to think Aurelia is too good for Justin. He promised to be there whenever Aurelia needed him but he begins to wonder if he was wrong to become involved with his friend's fiance. When Aurelia finally is reunited with Justin, his response is everything she could have hoped for, but she wonders why it doesn't feel the way she hoped it would. Aurelia must decide if she should stay with the comfortable life she's always known. She may not have a choice though, for another lady is out to claim Justin as her own while one of Aurelia's rejected suitors (Mr. Snape!) is bent on revenge. This story is a different sort of plot from the tried and true (and sometimes hackneyed) plots of most Regencies. It's a take on Pygmalion and I quite enjoyed the unique plot. There's more depth to the plot than it seems at first glance. The hero has quite an interesting backstory that I would have liked to see developed more. Aurelia also has a backstory but hers is a bit more common. Their stories help the reader understand why they behave as they do. The relationships develop nicely. There's a solid friendship between the hero and heroine before romance blossoms, which I really appreciated. I think many people will be able to relate to Aurelia. She's an emotional eater and as he begins to feel better about herself, she learns self-control. However, the writing is merely average. The author tries to hard to mimic the style of writing at the time with lots of " 'Tis" and " 'Twas" which is a little irritating. I really like light, fluffy romances with well-developed characters and relationships so this one fit the bill despite the average writing. I would definitely recommend it to fans of "sweet" Regencies (kisses only).

What I've Read This Week

2011-10-21T21:55:00.001-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

Abilene Tucker has been riding the rails and wandering around with her Daddy Gideon her whole life. Now she's 12 Gideon is sending her to the small town of Manifest, Kansas where he spent time as a boy. Manifest is a dry, dusty town hit hard by the Depression. Abilene wonders what the town was like when Gideon lived there and searches for answers in old newspaper columns from 1918. She uncovers a cache of letters from a boy named Ned to a boy named Jinx all those years ago in 1918. Abilene searches for connections to Gideon and tries to understand why he left her. She makes the acquaintance of a host of quirky characters, including the diviner Miss Sadie. From Miss Sadie she hear a tale of hope, joy, love and loss in a small Kansas town in 1918. Abilene helps her adopted hometown unbury the mysteries and tragedies of the past and learns how her father's past has affected her present and will affect her future if she doesn't bring old secrets to light. The story is told from the point-of-view of Abilene, who is a typical down-on-her-luck Depression era kid common in children's literature. Her story alternates with the story of Manifest in 1918 as told by Miss Sadie and through Ned's letters. Manifest was a town driven by greed, fear and prejudice, all of which factor prominently into the story. The reader comes to know and care about the inhabitants of Manifest in 1918 more than in 1936. The characters come to life not only for Abilene for for the reader as well. The story in Manifest in 1918 gripped me and sucked me in until I had to finish the book. I guessed at some of the mysteries shortly before Abilene did but that didn't stop me from wanting to know what happened. The plot has plenty of funny moment to counterbalance the sad ones. Abilene's best friends provide much of the comic relief. The writing is really good and the author stays away from heavy-handed lessons. This is one of those books that can be read and enjoyed by anyone ages 12 and up. I enjoyed it a lot but I did not think it was the best book I've ever read and I'm not sure I would have chosen it as the Newbery winner.

Miss Armstead Wears Black Gloves by Marian Devon -- Regency Romance

Miss Frances Armstead refuses to marry her childhood best friend, Bertie Yarwood as her uncle and his father wish. Instead, she plans to run off to Gretna with his older brother Evelyn when she comes of age. In order to get her uncle to stop pressing marriage with Bertie, Frankie decided to invent a secret fiance. She chose Lord Grenville Wainwright, whom she had briefly met at her Aunt Maria's house party. Lord Grenville was an easy choice for he was away at sea. When Lord Grenville was presumed drowned, Frankie found a convenient excuse to avoid marriage. Now Lord Grenville has returned in the flesh to settle on his estates and take up his duty as his grandfather's heir. Poor Frankie is in a pickle. She hopes she can bluff her way through the next six months when she can run off with her beloved. However, Lord Grenville is most uncooperative. He brought a beautiful lady from London which causes the neighbors to gossip. If that weren't enough to mortify Frankie, he refuses to listen to her explanation and threatens to expose her as a fraud. To avoid scandal, Frankie's Uncle Matthew sends her to Aunt Maria in London where Frankie discovers Lord Grenville living next door and still deeply angry over Frankie's scandalous plot. Fortunately for Frankie, the Yarwoods are in London too. Charming Evelyn manages to make a conquest out of every woman he meets while Bertie and Frankie attempt to save the Yarwoods from ruination. Frankie often runs afoul of Lord Grenville and shocks him with her plain speaking. Interestingly enough, Frankie discovers that she is after all, not the object of a scandal for Lord Grenville has not yet exposed her secret. Could it be that he's waiting for the right time or is it that he actually likes Frankie and finds her schemes amusing? This story is a poor imitation of Georgette Heyer's tried and true teenage heroine plots. Frankie is very young and immature and does not know what she wants yet. She invents one crazy scheme after another, barely escaping ruination. Lord Grenville is a typical stock character of the hot-tempered proud Lord. The story is not told from his point-of-view so the reader only seems him through Frankie's eyes and learns his story when she shares it with the reader. All of the secondary characters were pretty stereotypical: the impecunious rake, the young foolish guy pal, the greedy widow and the kindly old gentlemen. None of the characters seemed real to me or appealed to me. My favorite character was Bertie. The plot is rather incredible and I was hoping for a different outcome. This is not one of my favorites, but I'm not fond of silly teenage heroines. If you like Georgette Heyer's Spring Muslin, Arabella or April Lady you will probably enjoy this book.

What I've Read This Week Part II

2011-10-16T22:07:00.001-04:00

What I've Read This Week Part II . . .

Lord Pierson Reforms by Donna Simpson -- Regency Romance

Dante, Lord Pierson is staggering home drunk one night accompanied by two doxys when a carriage rolls by and splashes him. Pierson views the face of a beautiful angel staring out the window at him and vows that he will find and marry that angel and she will be his moral compass and guiding light to reform. The angel's face belongs to Lady Rowena Revington and her beauty is only skin deep. Lady Rowena is the spoiled youngest daughter of a Duke who has vowed never ever to marry though she enjoys making conquests of all the gentlemen of the ton much to the dismay of her chaperon, Miss Amy Corbett. Amy is a simple, country girl fresh from her governess job in Ireland and she knows little about the ways of the ton and even less about how to convince Lady Rowena to marry so Amy doesn't get thrown out on the streets. When Lord Pierson at last comes face to face with his angel once more, he begins his suit. However, his friend Lord Bainbridge, feels that Lady Rowena would not make the ideal bride for a hopeless romantic like Lord Pierson and he sets out to prove it. Lord Pierson continues on with his suit despite the odds with some help from the sweet, gentle Amy. The very basic plot outline of this story copies Georgette Heyer's The Nonesuch but is vastly different in the approach. Lord Pierson acts as if he's been placed under a love spell for a good 200+ pages. Amy is mostly too good to be true with only occasional moment of humanity. I preferred the secondary characters more because they had more depth and realism than the primary characters. The story is rather silly and unbelievable and I had a hard time getting through it without throwing the book down in disgust. It is not destined to be one of my favorites. If you like besotted love struck heroes and Mary Sue heroines then you'll like this novel.

A Dangerous Dalliance by Regina Scott-- Traditional Regency Romance

Miss Hannah Alexander is the art teacher at the Barnsley School for Young Ladies is about to embark on a career as a portrait painter when the headmistress engages Hannah to chaperone four young ladies to visit Priscilla's Aunt Sylvia on the Earl of Brentfield's estate. Lady Sylvia's husband and stepson have recently died in a terrible carriage accident, leaving Lady Sylvia to run the estate until the new heir could be found. David Tenant, an American leatherworker from Boston is newly arrived in England to inherit the title of Earl of Brentfield and take over the running of the estate. He has no idea what he's doing but thankfully he has a friend in his steward, a black gentleman named Asheram. It's a good thing Asheram is on hand because Lady Sylvia is extremely reluctant to give up control. She has tried all means of keeping her position - including trying to seduce David. Now she's bent on throwing her niece Priscilla at his head. David, however, only has eyes for Hannah. He loves her quiet beauty and her passion for art. Likewise Hannah quickly falls in love with the charming David. Together they search for the missing art treasures the late Earl had hidden from his greedy wife. When mysterious accidents happen that nearly cost the lives of David and Hannah, the young ladies are convinced someone is trying to murder their teacher and/or their host. They're determined to make the adults understand. They also understand that their host is courting their quiet art teacher and are determined to make a match. However, it may be too late for a happy ending unless the young ladies can make the adults see what is happening. This novel is a bit of a departure from Scott's other books. It takes place after The Twelve Days of Christmas and just before La Petite Four. It introduces the characters of La Petite Four. There is also a mystery which must be solved and murder to avoid. The reader knows exactly who the villain is and what the villain's motivation is. It's painfully obvious yet the characters don't realize it until the end. The villain is very diabolical. I felt a bit sorry for the villain at first but then they went way over the top to try to gain the upper hand. The villain is truly nasty and someone the reader will love to hate. The romance is not secondary to the mystery as in Georgette Heyer's traditional Regencies. The romance takes front and center with love at first sight. I always find love at first sight a bit silly but this time the characters seemed attracted to one another and seemed interested in getting to know each other. The romance is sweet even though Hannah and David break a lot of rules. The young ladies are spoiled and selfish. They're stereotypical upper class young ladies and don't show a whole lot of character growth. Only Priscilla grows as a result of events in the novel. We also learn more about some of the characters featured in previous novels, which is always fun. This is not my favorite of Scott's novels, but it will please fans of traditional Regencies and sweet Regencies.

What I've Read This Week Part I

2011-10-15T13:44:00.004-04:00

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

Belladonna by Mary Finn -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Sent back home to his native village after failing school, Thomas Rose finds a girl hidden in the grass. Curious, Thomas seeks her out. The girl's name is Hélène but in England she goes by Ling, for in 1757 France and England are at war (as usual). Spirited Ling has run away from her home in a traveling circus in search of her beautiful white horse, Belladonna on whose back she rode and did tricks. Belladonna is Ling's best friend and family and the loss of her horse tears Ling apart. She's determined to find Belladonna and steal her back and enlists Thomas's aid. Thomas, besotted with the lively French girl, agrees to help. Their search for Belladonna brings them closer together and introduces Thomas to new people and new ideas. I expected to read a fun adventure tale but this novel is exactly the opposite. This is a coming-of-age novel for young Thomas as he learns to open his heart and his mind to love and acceptance. The prose is written in a lyrical, almost poetic way. I found it difficult to read and others may have a There are many characters and situations described so thoroughly that it sometimes bogged down the action of the story. hard time understanding the author's descriptions of things that are unfamiliar to Thomas. There is also quite a lot of French dialogue which the reader can guess by the context and some Romani (Gypsy) words too. The story is slow moving and there is not a lot of action. Thomas tells the reader of his feelings for Ling but I didn't feel there was much real chemistry between them but he was besotted by the exotic young woman. I'm not sure this book would appeal to the target age market but adults might enjoy it.

The Book of Story Beginnings by Kristin Kladstrup -- Middle Grades Fantasy/Adventure

In 1914 young Oscar lives on an Iowa farm with his family. He dreams of adventure and becoming a writer. When he finds a mysterious old book locked in his mother's trunk, he can't resist writing down his ideas for story beginnings. One night the sea appears on the Iowa bluffs and Oscar rows away never to be seen again. Many decades later, his great-niece Lucy and her parents move to the same Iowa farmhouse Oscar's younger sister bequeathed to them. Oscar's sister spent her whole life trying to figure out what happened to Oscar. She was certain it was something magic and experimented with alchemy. Lucy's father, a chemist, can't resist trying his hand at Great-Aunt Lavonne's experiments while Lucy tries to solve the mystery of the missing boy. When she discovers the book of story beginnings and jots down her own story beginning, she begins an adventure she never dreamed of. This is a cute, charming fantasy story along the lines of E. Nesbit's turn-of-the-twentieth-century classics. The adventure is a lot of fun though mostly predictable. The scary factor is very minimal. The bittersweet ending has a bit of a heavy-handed message. I think the timeline of events from 1914 to Lucy's time is a lot off but I'm very nitpicky about that sort of thing. I think middle grades children and children at heart will enjoy this book.

What I've Read This Week

2011-10-09T16:31:00.003-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

A Season for Scandal by Marian Devon -- Regency romance

Lord Dalton's father, the Earl of Rexford, makes him promise to stop his carousing and find a bride before the Earl's imminent death. Dalton is furious at his father's demands. His father wants him to marry the daughter of one of the famous beauties of the Earl's day. Dalton feels like he can't refuse his father's dying wish so off he goes to Almack's to view his potential bride (along with all the sons of his father's peers). Jenny, Claire and Sylvia are cousins, daughters of the four famous sisters who captivated the ton with their beauty 21 seasons ago. This next generation fails to live up to the expectations of the ton: Jenny is too tall and too outspoken and Claire is too plump. Only Sylvia can rival their mothers' famous beauty. None of the cousins wants to make their come out this Season but they are happy to be together though they don't know each other very well. Lord Dalton decides to marry Sylvia but Jenny feels that a rake would not be a good husband for her sweet cousin and decides to deflect his attention. Unfortunately Dalton can't stand Jenny and Jenny's sharp wit. Jenny also makes an enemy of the sharp tongued Mr. Roderick Chalgrove, the successor to Beau Brummell. Plump Claire worries about her weight and a family secret that everyone seems to know expect her. She finds an ally in an unexpected place who helps draw her Claire out of her shell. Sylvia remains a mystery but she's loyal to her cousins. The cousins take Society by storm and find love where they least expect it. This is a charming, sweet novel in the tradition of Georgette Heyer. It's fun and funny and there are some plot twists that were entirely unexpected. There was great character growth not usually shown in Regency novels of this type. I really liked the depth of the characters and how they changed each other for the better. It seems to be well researched but high sticklers beware for Jenny is not your typical 19th century miss. This is one of the better Regency novels and I highly recommend it to fans of the sweet Regency style novels.

With the Might of Angels : The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson (Dear America) by Andrea Davis Pinkney -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

During the 1953-1954 school year, Dawnie is a normal 12 year old African-American girl living in the small town of Hadley in Virginia. Her town is strictly divided along color lines. She's forbidden by her parents to go to Ivorytown the white section of town but that doesn't stop her from dreaming about the brand new school there. Dawnie dreams of becoming a doctor and she knows that the stinky, falling down school and ancient tattered textbooks of her school won't help her achieve her dream. Dawnie keeps her dreams to herself, writing them down in her precious diary, a birthday gift from her autistic younger brother. Dawnie finishes 6th grade at the top of her class and spends the summer jumping on her Pogo stick and playing baseball but come fall, her life changes forever when the Supreme Court decides schools must be integrated. Dawnie has passed the competency exam proving she's smart enough to compete with the white kids so her parents give her permission to integrate. Dawnie hopes to share this experience with her best friend Yolanda and another child from their class, but only Dawnie's parents approve of integration. The decision to attend an all-white school causes a lot of stress for both Dawnie and her family. They meet with opposition from both the white and black communities. A young minister from Alabama visits Dawnie's church and encourages non-violent resistance and Dawnie learns that she can write down all her rage and hatred in her diary while studying hard to stay on top. Finally, she finds an unexpected ally and they challenge each other to pull through. This is a remarkable story of a fictional girl based on real life people and events that took place not that long ago. It's really eye opening to read the comments coming from the white community regarding their ignorant assumptions about African-Americans. Even more surprising was the opinions of many of the members of Dawnie's community who didn't believe in integration. It's really hard to believe this story takes place less than 100 years after the Civil War and just over 50 years ago. The writing is lively and entertaining as well as thought provoking. The author includes many historic events that occurred during this time as well as the usual historical note and information about her own life which inspired the novel This book is a must read for all ages.

What I Read Last Week

2011-10-07T21:59:00.005-04:00

What I Read Last Week . . .

Sophie's Halloo by Patricia Wynn -- Regency Romance
At Nineteen, Sophie Corby and her parents are on the way to London for her come-out. Sophie is dreading it, fearing that all men are hunting-mad like her father and anxious to leave her to go back to the hunting field. Sophie retreats into her daydreams to avoid her father's long-winded ramblings until a chance encounter with Sir Tony Farnham opens her eyes to the fact that there are gentlemen who don't like to hunt! Sir Tony is a welcome friend in London. He is clever and easily able to capture Sophie's attention and she finds him attractive, however, Sophie's father prefers fellow hunter Mr. Rollo as a husband for Sophie. It's up to Sir Tony and Sophie to ensure they end up happily ever after. There isn't much plot in this book and it's very quiet and slow. Everything is resolved neatly but left me wondering "is that all?" Sophie is mostly bland but she grew on me once she revealed her sense of humor. Sir Tony is one of those too good to be true heroes. This book didn't thrill me but I didn't hate it. It's fine if you like quiet stories where nothing happens.

The Keeping Days by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
Set in 1900 in Yonkers, New York, this book is the journal of 14 year-old Tish, middle child of a large suburban family. Tish feels nobody understands her and longs to be a writer. She pours out her feelings about life, love and her family in her journal. Tish collects special days she calls "keeping days" and hopes her new year will be full of them, instead she gets a mother who insists on being an Early Christian Martyr, an older sister who is conflicted in her feelings towards two gentlemen, wild and unruly siblings and the Queen Bee of the neighborhood who is well on her way to becoming a Scarlet Woman! Through the year, Tish learns the true meaning of love and the importance of family. This is a typical coming-of-age story full of teen angst and critical family situations. I think I would have appreciated it better when I was a teenager but I could identify with Tish's feelings towards her family and the other teens. I felt that towards the end, the book took on a Christian slant that I didn't really care for. It raised some interesting questions about Faith but I didn't really sympathize with Tish's conclusions. The plot moved slowly and I didn't feel an overwhelming interesting in what happens next. I think fans of classic literature of the 19th and early 20th centuries will enjoy this book and teenagers will especially be able to relate to Tish and her situation.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith -- Classic
Like Keeping Days (above), this is a journal of a teenage girl who wants to be a writer. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra lives with her eccentric family in a crumbling old castle in the English countryside in the 1930s. Cassandra's father is a writer with one brilliant book to his credit and a brief jail stint which may have possibly inhibited his desire or ability to write, therefore, the family lives in utter poverty, doing what they can to get by. Cassandra's older sister Rose is fed-up with being poor and will do anything to change her situation. Younger brother Thomas is a brilliant scholar. Hired-boy Stephen is madly in love with Cassandra and she's not sure how she feels about him. Two American men and their mother arrive from New York when the elder man, Simon, inherits the landlord's estate. At first, it seems like the men are captivated by Rose's beauty and think Cassandra an amusing child, but Cassandra overhears what they really think of her family and is embarrassed and angry about it and becomes determined to hate them, but it is difficult when they keep running into each other. Cassandra's father enjoys attention from Mrs. Cotton, Simon and Neil's mother, and the intellectual discussions they share though he shows no signs of wanting to write again. Luck finally comes their way when Rose and Simon become engaged to be married, but Cassandra worries about her sister's motives and her own feelings about the situation. Cassandra likens her family to the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice and there are many literary references to Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and others. It seemed at first like this was going to be a rewrite of Pride and Prejudice but it turned out to be Filled with lots of angst and difficult situations, this book is best appreciated by teenagers who can identify with Cassandra. an entirely original story about life and love and coming-of-age.

My Vicksburg by Ann Rinaldi -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
Ann Rinaldi's latest novel for young readers takes place during the Civil War in Mississippi during the 87-day Siege of Vicksburg in 1863. Claire Louise Corbet has always lived with her family in a large house with her family and many servants. Her father is brisk and stern but cares for his family. With her older brother enlisted as a doctor in the Union Army and her father as a doctor in the Confederate Army, it seems Claire Louise's world changes quickly. When General Grant and his troops march on Vicksburg, Claire Louise, her mother and little brother James must move from their grand home to caves carved into a hillside. Their cave rooms are spacious with many accomodations from home but it's hard not to worry with the constant shelling going on above their heads. During a cease-fire moment, Claire Louise sneaks off to pick berries and comes across her older brother nursing a man in a Confederate soldier. Claire Louise can tell Robert, the Confederate soldier, has a secret and is determined to help him in some way. Her views about honor and doing the right thing are challenged when she learns his secret. Claire Louise comes to a difficult decision that may change her life forever. This book is filled with amazing period details that are Ann Rinaldi's specialty. The plot was good and kept me interested though it seemed rather thin. Claire Louise is a typical Rinaldi heroine, spunky and brave. I liked this book much better than some of her other more recent works because of the period details and also because the plot wasn't so depressing. I recommend this one to fans of Rinaldi's books young and old and also Civil War and history buffs.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-10-02T21:50:00.002-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

This novel tells the story of the last years of Imperial Russia told from the point-of-view of the four Grand Duchesses. There's the big pair: Olga, intelligent and sensitive big sister, Tatiana, "the governess," and the little pair, sweet Maria and mischievous Anastasia. The girls enjoy lazy summer days on the family yacht teasing each other and their little brother, flirting with soldiers and playing with their pets. Little do they know that their idyllic world is about to change in an instant. The Serbian assassination of the Archduke of Austria plunges the world into war with Russia siding with their Slavic kin rather than Mama's cousin "Willie" (Kaiser Wilhelm II and Alexandra Romanova were both grandchildren of Queen Victoria). The Russian people become discontented and the Tsar is forced to abdicate. The Romanovs face house arrest with an ever-increasing humiliating and degrading routine. The sisters face the uncertainty of their future bravely, clinging to each other and to their Faith. An author's note includes details on the deaths of the Romanovs and the search for the true story. An extensive bibliography follows. I found this novel very long and very slow. I had a hard time getting through it knowing what happened to the Romanovs. I liked the characterization of each of the Grand Duchesses but I felt that their personalities really did not show through in their diary-like chapters. I couldn't tell which sister was telling the story without looking. The strongest voices are Olga and Anastasia. I also felt that the author did a little TOO much research. She includes many Russian words and phrases, some of which are unnecessary when the English word will do just as well. I had to keep checking the glossary which interrupted the flow of the story as I was reading. I'm not sure I would recommend this book to teens unless they have an intense interest in the Romanovs. I would recommend this book to adults who love history but haven't really explored historical fiction.

What I've Read This Week

2011-10-02T15:02:00.003-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales (Beka Cooper) by Tamora Pierce -- Young Adult Fantasy/Contemporary

This anthology of fantasy tales by popular YA author Tamora Pierce features 11 short stories, most of which have been published before. There are three new tales to continue the Tortall legends and a sneak preview of the new Beka Cooper novel. (Lets out an unladylike squeal of delight).

I will focus on the three new stories. Nawat is a sequel to the Trickster books. Aly gives birth to three live, human babies while Nawat struggles with his identity as a crow man. His ideas of child rearing clash with those of the human nurses and even the Queen. The Rajumat flock is angry and Nawat has to deal with them one way or another. This is a bittersweet tale about Nawat from his point-of-view. It's sometimes funny but also a bit sad and even makes you think in spots. Nawat has to make some difficult choices in this one as he struggles with his identity. I loved seeing Aly and Nawat again and finding out what happened next. I think Aly grows more like her mother as she gets older, though she would hate to hear anyone say that!

Lost: Adria, a girl from Tusaine is a math genius. She's made to doubt her abilities by an abusive father and an incompetent teacher. She's befriending by a Darking who helps her realize her worth. This is a cute story full of girl power. As much as I hate and don't understand math, I felt sorry for Adria and loved how Lost helped her find her way. It was an extra awesome bonus to read more about Darkings. (They're also in Nawat). I just love this magic world Tammy has created!

In Mimic, Ri, a young shepherdess is content with her freedom to roam the hills despite her grandfather's wish for her to learn healing and her brother's pleas to take over the sheep. When Ri rescues a strange creature from a hawk, she vows to keep it alive no matter how ugly it is. The strange creature turns out to be full of surprises and wisdom for Ri. This story teaches some great lessons to teen girls about doing what is right and about growing up. The creature is amusing and the story is a fun read.

The other stories included are:

The Dragon's Tale about Daine's dragonling, Kitten

Elder Brother: about the repercussion of Numair using a word of power at the end of the Immortals Quartet

The Hidden Girl: A companion to Elder Brother, paralleling the Taliban's treatment of women

Huntress: A contemporary fantasy set in New York City

Plain Magic: A short story which teaches that appearances can be deceiving.

Testing: A contemporary non-fantasy about troubled teen girls testing their new house mother

Student of Ostriches: About Shang warriors

Time of Proving: A short story that doesn't appear linked to any other legends thus far. A girl helps a creature in need but not without payment. She learns a few things along the way about proving herself.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2011-10-01T16:21:00.011-04:00

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Here's my list of books for October (links lead to my reviews):

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller (Young Adult)
A Season for Scandal by Marian Devon
With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson (Dear America) by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Belladonna by Mary Finn (Young Adult)
Lord Pierson Reforms by Donna Simpson
A Dangerous Dalliance by Regina Scott
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool (children's)
Miss Armstead Wears Black Gloves by Marian Devon
Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer
Allegra by Clare Darcy
Sugar Rose by Susan Carroll
My Lady Pocahontas: A novel by Kathleen V. Kudlinski (Young Adult)
Caroline and Julia by Clare Darcy
Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury (Young Adult)

What I've Read This Week

2011-10-01T16:14:00.002-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Waltz With A Rogue by Mona K. Gedney, Kathleen Baldwin and Lisa Noeli -- Regency Romance

This book of short stories contains three stories by well-known Regency authors. The first, The Highwayman Came Waltzing by Kathleen Baldwin, follows a very different plot line from the usual Regency story. It's loosely based on the poem "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes. In this story, Elizabeth Claegborn is the long suffering heroine, living with her aunt, grandmother and cousins on the estate of her cheapskate uncle. The family has a very unique way of earning money. When Elizabeth's childhood sweetheart Trace, Lord Ryerton returns from the wars, he's determined to find the highwaymen robbing his stepfather's guests and put a stop to those rogues once and for all. He also wants to rekindle the relationship with Elizabeth but she hides a terrible secret that could force her true love to choose between his duty and his heart. She's certain he'll choose duty but will he? This is the best of the three stories. It's well written and has a slightly Gothic air but is also funny and sweet at the same time. Elizabeth comes across as a bit of a Mary Sue but her big secret prevents her from actually being so bland. She and Trace have great chemistry. The story was suspenseful enough to really hold my interest though it bears little resemblance to the poem.

In The Rebel and the Rogue by Mona Gedney, Vivian Woodruff tries to avoid being married off to her odious stepfather's youngest brother. Her stepparents yell and threaten but Vivian will not give in. She will marry for love or not at all. When she encounters the dashing and dangerous Anthony Mallory, she decides to use some secret knowledge she has of him to blackmail him into helping her. Anthony is amused and intrigued by the young lady and can't believe the trap he's fallen into but he agreed to help after all, and maybe he's enjoying himself more than he ever has before. This is a predictable story about a hardened rake who meets his match in a naive young girl. The writing isn't bad but not as great as Georgette Heyer or some of the other authors who have tackled the same plot.

Dance with Me by Lisa Noeli features a Lord in disguise as a dancing master. Neville Dunsleigh knows he will find his bride when he dances with her, but all the ladies he meets are the same old boring fortune and title hunters. In disguise, he'll have the chance to meet his true love at last. He hadn't counted on his clients flirting with him or being fired because he refused to flirt back. He also didn't know just how painful it could be when a lady steps on his toes. When a chance encounter with a beautiful woman comes his way, he just knows she's the one. However, she disappears and makes it difficult for him to reach. Penelope Spencer also has a secret. She's the daughter of theater performers raised as a gentlewoman. She thinks she loves Neville but she isn't sure and will he love her if he finds out her secret? This is the lightest of the three stories. It's almost a fairy tale it's so unrealistic. It's sweet and charming and if you can overlook the rapid advancement of the romance and the unlikeliness of it all, you will enjoy it.

What I've Read This Week

2011-09-25T20:05:00.002-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

Tugs Button is not expected to make anything of her life. She comes from a perfectly ordinary, if not unlucky, family in rural Iowa. It's 1929 and 12 year old Tug is at an in-between stage. She doesn't know where she fits in with her family or with the other girls in her neighborhood. When she makes friends with the wealthier, but also tomboyish, Aggie and a slick stranger comes to town, Tug's life begins to change and just maybe, she can change her luck after all. I liked this book but didn't love it. I expected more from it being an Independent Booksellers' choice. I hoped it would be one of those unforgettable books but instead I felt it was merely average. The mystery was so obvious even the target age child could figure it out right away and it was resolved a little too quickly and easily. I had hoped Tug's burgeoning interest in photography would be made more of and factor into the plot in a larger way with more insight into why she loves it, how much it means to her and how it has impacted her life. I did like the quirky secondary characters and the local color a lot. I would recommend this to advanced second grade readers through third grade or beginning fourth grade.

Little Miss Austen : Pride and Prejudice

2011-09-19T22:36:00.001-04:00

Pride and Prejudice :

A Counting Primer

by Jennifer Adams with art by Alison Oliver

This board book is an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for babies. Yes, that's right, babies. It's set up as a counting primer, with each number representing something in the story such as 1 English village, 2 rich gentlemen and so on to 10. It's beautifully illustrated on one side with a giant number and a background design that reflects the subject. On the other side of the page is an adorable comic style illustration to provide a visual cue for the number and also to explain the story. See examples online at the publisher's website.

I found this little book charming and delightful. My favorite pages are 4 and 5 which actually summarize the events of the novel. I know some purists object to watering down the novel to this form but I think it's a great idea. It's the only way I can get my sister (an adult) to read Jane Austen without vampires or zombies and hopefully her daughter will develop an interest in Jane Austen and pick up the actual novel when she's older. If anything, my sister's daughter will understand the themes of the story perfectly. If Mr. Bingley moved in next door, my brother-in-law would be arranging a marriage between his daughter and the Bingley heir or even Bingley himself!

This is the perfect addition to the library of any Janeite with someone small in their lives or those who like good art or amusing adaptations. I can't wait to see which books they publish next!

What I Read Last Week

2011-09-19T22:23:00.001-04:00

What I've Read This Week Part II . . .

Lady Fiasco by Kathleen Baldwin -- Regency Romance

This is the first book in the trilogy featuring Aunt Honore. The other two being Mistaken Kiss and Cut From the Same Cloth. In this book Tyrell, Earl of Westmont has returned home from the wars to take up his duty upon his father's death. His mother is determined it's high time he marry and give her a grandson. Tyrell is angry at the world for he feels that he should still be on the battlefield in Spain and not in the ballroom. He's determined not to even look at any of the young ladies his mother forces on him but then he encounters his childhood playmate Fiona Hawthorn. Fiona was always an adorable elf and Tyrell soon discovers that the little elf has grown into a beautiful minx. Fiona tries to warn Tyrell of her reputation for disaster. The villagers all think she's cursed and even her stepmother doesn't want to be around her. Tyrell cares little for curses and pursues Fiona. However, Tyrell refuses to be leg shackled and when he always gets carried away with Fiona he storms off in anger. Fiona's Aunt Honore comes to the rescue and brings Fiona to the attention of the ton first in Brighton and then in London. Aunt Honore's eccentric ways and Fiona's accident prone nature make Fiona the belle of the ball. Soon Aunt Honore's stepson Marcus becomes jealous of Fiona and is determined that her reputation will keep him in his inheritance. Tyrell soon follows Fiona to London raging with anger and jealousy. He's determined that Marcus should not have Fiona but he doesn't seem to want her himself - or does he? Obviously this is a romance novel and the plot is pretty obvious. It follows a bit of a different path though since the hero and heroine already know each other. Fiona is likable enough and I felt sorry for her that everyone thought she was cursed. I loved Aunt Honore in the previous two books I read. She's outrageous and shocking but in this first novel she's not quite as funny. I did not like Tyrell at all. He's hot tempered, jealous, brooding and uncontrollable. We never really learn his whole story and he never talks to Fiona about why he refuses to be married. I do not like heroes with anger management problems. This is an average read. The other two books are better, with Cut From the Same Cloth having the most depth. Each book stands alone so you do not need to read them all or in order.

Town Bronze by Kate Huntington -- Regency Romance

Christopher Warrington spent the last eleven years in hellish prisons in France. Now he has returned to England and to the rule of his autocratic grandfather, the Viscount Adderly. Christopher's grandfather wants Christopher to marry Cassandra Davies, the Viscount's ward and the sooner the better. The lady objects to the match and Christopher also wants nothing to do with the sharp tongued young girl, but the Viscount remains adamant. Christopher is not about to exchange one prison for another so he hares off to London without a moment's notice. Grandfather and Cassandra soon follow. Cassandra is thrilled to be in London where she will be able to do the Season at last. Her miserly guardian has hitherto not allowed her to have a Season. At two and twenty Cassandra is a bit naive but she's not so naive to know that when she next encounters Christopher, he has acquired a great deal of town bronze. Christopher arrives in London thinking he'll take his time to find a bride and get reacquainted with London. He becomes friendly with the fashionable widow Mrs. Benningham who helps him when he is in need. At first Cassandra has the time of her life in London. She enjoys the attentions of Lord Whitby, an Earl's heir. Christopher despises Whitby and tries his hardest to keep Cassandra out of harm's way. His jealously does nothing to endear him to the lady but perhaps she isn't the awful creature he has always believed her to be. Cassandra loves London but she can't help but feel like something is missing. This is a typical Regency story that contains slightly different plot elements. Christopher's plot is interesting and unusual, especially. Cassandra's plot feels very realistic and the interaction between Christopher and Cassandra is wonderful. There are some amusing moments but little actual romance. Cassandra's character is a bit stereotypical at first. She comes across as mercenary. She becomes well-developed as the story progresses and I liked her more. She's naive but not stupidly innocent. She has spark and fire and she knows what she wants. Christopher is charming and witty but he has a nasty temper that I'm not fond of. He's much kinder than many Regency heroes, however, and others may love him. The end of the story seems a bit rushed but it's funny and sweet just the same. I really enjoyed this book. It's well-written, realistic (as much as a Regency novel of this type can be) and a cut above the average Regency novel.

What I've Read This Week Part I

2011-09-12T21:18:00.003-04:00

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

Ruby Red (Ruby Red trilogy book 1) by Kerstin Gier, translated by Anthea Bell -- Young Adult fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Gwynneth Shepherd is an average teenage girl living in London and attending high school. She just happens to be able to talk to ghosts. That's not the only weird thing about her. Her great-aunt has visions and her cousin is expected to inherit the time travel gene that is passed down through the female line of the family. Beautiful, intelligent cousin Charlotte Montrose has been raised with the secret knowledge of the time travel society to which the family belongs. However, the Montrose family is in for a shock became it's not Charlotte that has inherited the gene, it's Gwen! Gwen unexpectedly and uncontrollably finds herself traveling through time. Gwen is suddenly thrust into a world of which she knows nothing about. Secrets come to light and questions are raised about her past. Gwen wants nothing to do with time travel but she begins to see the benefits thanks to the beautiful costumes she gets to wear and the handsome young man who has been assigned to time travel with her. Together Gwen and Gideon must visit their ancestors in the past to obtain the blood needed to run the chronometer (the device which makes time travel happen). They must also discover the whereabouts of Gwen's cousin Lucy and Gideon's relative Paul who stole the original chronometer long ago. Gwen's mother puts doubts in her head about whether to trust this secret society or not. Through it all her best friend Lesley is an enthusiastic supporter, willing to research whatever is necessary to help Gwen figure out what's going on and who to trust. The book ends with an action packed cliffhanger and more secrets that cause more questions. Despite the rapid pace of the story and the endless questions it raises, I loved this book. I'm hooked on trying to solve the mysteries, especially as the reader is privy to information Gwen is not. I loved the costumes and the adventure, the quirky characters and the gorgeous cover of the novel. This book is a must-read for young adults and those young at heart. If you think you know time travel stories, think again and read this book! I can't wait for the next two volumes to be released.

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine -- Middle Grades Fantasy

Elodie has been sent from her home on a farm to the city of Two Castles to apprentice as a weaver. Elodie has other plans for herself. She dreams of becoming a mansioner (actor). Mansioning is her passion and she's constantly reinventing her life to make it into a mansion. It's a good thing to because her first day in Two Castles doesn't go as planned. First she's dressed differently than everyone else, then she's robbed and finally, she's told there is no place for a free mansion apprentice. Luckily for Elodie, she's befriended by a dragon Masteress Meenore. IT (only dragons know their own gender) offers to hire Elodie to proclaim IT's prowess at deducting and reasoning to solve mysteries. Business is slow until the ogre Count Jonty Um comes to Masteress Meenore for help. Elodie quickly realizes that Count Jonty Um is warm and friendly but the citizens of Two Castles don't see him that way and he fears his life is in danger. Masteress Meenore sends Elodie to Count Jonty Om's castle to solve the mystery of who has been robbing him and who wishes him dead. Elodie finds her mansioning skills put to the test in addition to her new found skills of deduction and induction as she races to solve the mystery before the kind ogre is no more. This is another adorable middle grades fantasy novel by the author of one of my favorite books ever, Ella Enchanted. It features a fully developed medieval type world complete with peculiar speech patterns and accents. I love detail oriented authors who develp fully fleshed out worlds. It's much easier to become engaged in the story. I found Elodie charming despite her youthful enthusiasm and empathized with her struggles. Mastresss Meenore is a great multi-dimensional character and Count Jonty Um is not at all like Shrek though they are both ogres. This book teaches kids lessons on acceptance, using common sense and perseverance. I enjoyed this so much, I hope it becomes a series. I highly recommend it for ages 8 and up.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-09-11T20:53:00.001-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins -- Adult Romantic Fiction

Harper James is a successful divorce attorney on Martha's Vineyard (an island off the coast of Massachusetts). She's pretty, successful, owns her own home and has been dating a sweet, lovable firefighter named Dennis for two years. Harper is about to turn 34, a year younger than her mother was the last time Harper saw her. Harper is convinced it's high time to get married and have children. She makes a checklist of what she wants and decides to propose to Dennis. So what if he's a "fixer-upper"? She can change him and make him into what she wants. However, Dennis isn't too interested in marriage at this point. Then a phone call from Harper's step-sister Willa sends Harper on a trip to Montana to witness her sister's (third) wedding. Harper loves Willa and is always bailing the younger woman out of trouble and Harper is convinced this is another one of Willa's big mistakes. After all, Willa is marrying Harper's ex-huband's half-brother. (Complicated enough for you?) Harper's step-mother BeverLee couldn't be happier for her little girl and Harper's dad never says much at all. Harper tries to counsel Willa and offers her help once again. Harper's ex Nick thinks the young couple should be made to sink or swim on their own. Harper and Nick exchange many angry words over the course of the weekend but they are still undeniably attracted to each other. A problem at the airport forces Harper and Nick to take a cross-country road trip together where they enjoy the scenery and spending time with Harper's dog Coco. Nick wonders if they can rekindle their romance but Harper is cynical and cautious. The story follows the typical romantic plot: meet cute, argue, kiss, separate, realization of love, happily ever after. However, this book is different because of the realistic elements of the plot. There is a reason for Harper's cynicism and she has some demons to confront before the happily ever after can happen. Because of those demons and cynicism, Harper is really an unlikeable character. She's described as a cold-hearted *itch which she is until the end of the novel when she has an epiphany. Nick is amazing but a little too perfect to be true. The secondary characters aren't quite as quirky as in Higgins's other novels. BeverLee especially is a carbon copy of Barbara Jean on the TV show Reba. I liked the road trip plot but I felt the rest of the story after that really dragged on. I wasn't as interested in this book as I was in the previous Higgins novels I have read. It took awhile to finish this book and the ending was rushed and the rest of the story told in an epilogue when it really needed to be part of the actual plot. The story should have ended after Chapter 18 or at least after Chapter 21. I also disliked the original swear words and other slang that I have never ever heard anyone in Massachusetts ever use before. (And believe me I've heard plenty of Massachusetts swearing). The book probably resembles a Lifetime movie so if you like that sort of thing, read this book. If not, skip the melodrama for not even the cute little dog makes this book great.

What I've Read This Week

2011-09-11T20:27:00.002-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Wicked Marquis by Marnie Ellingson -- Regency Romantic Fiction

Now impoverished after her Italian opera singer father's death, Esme Leonardo has come to live with her very English cousins. She s quickly charmed by her cousin Kit, but he sees her as just another little sister. Esme comes to love Kit like a brother and is determined to help him with whatever is bothering him. Kit's sister, Drusilla, Constance and Hope share the (in their mind) tragic story of Kit's ill-fated romance. Kit once engaged in a youthful passion for an unsuitable woman. Their uncle, on whom they are dependent, wants Kit to marry a neighbor, Lydia Milliman, a particularly awful girl who desires a title. Though Kit doesn't have a title yet, he is heir to his cousin, the Marquis of Locklynde who is known for his wild lifestyle. The Marquis has determined that Kit should marry Lydia without ever having met the girl or even really knowing Kit. Esme has already made an enemy of Lydia and Esme knows Kit and Lydia would not suit. Esme comes up with one crazy scheme after another, finally deciding to inform Lydia that she (Esme) is engaged to the Marquis. Complications arise when the Marquis comes to London and the ton learns to Esme and Jared's supposed engagement. The Marquis agrees to Esme's wild idea. The wicked Marquis takes an unusual interest in the plain-speaking Esme, who can't help but wonder about his motives. The premise of this book sounds a lot like Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy. Esme is similar to Sophy but not quite as outrageous. The plot is light and moves along quickly, providing a few chuckles along the way. There is a subplot involving Dru which is entirely predictable as is the primary romance plot. The witty dialogue doesn't quite sparkle like Heyer or Austen but it's fun and funny. I really liked this book though it was not at the level of Heyer. It's a nice, pleasant read for fans of the genre.

The Little Balloonist by Linda Donn -- Adult Historical Fiction

This novel chronicles the life of Sophie Armant Blanchard, a female aeronaut in Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. Sixteen-year-old Sophie loves her pretty home by the sea and precious moments spent with her best friend Andre. She dreams of marrying Andre but he seems to have withdrawn from her. Andre is a healer. He can heal people with a single touch. He has decided that he needs to learn how to be a healer and love Sophie at the same time, which he feels is impossible at this moment. Andre heals a young Republican soldier who brings back the story of the charming young Sophie to his friend, Napoleone Buonaparte. Unbeknown to Sophie or Andre, the Armants have already betrothed Sophie to Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a pioneer balloonist who visited their home before Sophie's birth. Though Sophie's mother wishes for her daughter to marry for love, Sophie's father overrules her objection and Sophie is married off to a man twice her age whom she does not know or love. Life with Jena-Pierre is difficult. He is consumed by his passion for creating and flying in new and better balloons. Sophie meets the young revolutionary Napoleon and he falls instantly in love and their lives become entwined forever. Sophie, not having any children to love, decides to become an aeronaut. The free spirited young woman loves the feeling of flying free and her husband loves the fame it brings. The beautiful Sophie becomes the toast of Paris rubbing elbows with Napoleon, Goethe, Darguerre and other luminaries of the day. Through it all, Andre continues to love her. When her husband dies, Sophie is torn between the love of her childhood friend and the advances of the Emperor Napoleon. Above all else, she desires freedom. This is a really slow moving novel which covers the life of one woman from age 16 to death. It's told in third-person omniscient and sometimes interrupts the narrative to tell the reader what will happen in the future. The narrator is detached from the story and never engaged me as a reader. The plot skips around from character to character and there are far too many to keep track of. Sophie's life is summarized rather than fully shown. The epilogue does not match the prologue or even the rest of the novel. I found this book really slow and uninteresting. I wanted to like it but I just couldn't get into it. The story of Sophie's childhood would make a great young adult novel.

97 Orchard Street

2011-09-06T17:11:00.001-04:00

97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement

by Jane Ziegelman

This non-fiction book explores the foodways of the various immigrant families who lived in the tenement at 97 Orchard Street in New York's Lower East Side from the 1860s to the 1930s. The author begins with the Germans and their process of assimilation. She then tells how, through their culinary traditions such as delicatessens and beer, Germans established themselves in American culinary culture. Next is the Moore family from Ireland. This chapter examines how the Irish lacked in culinary tradition except for potatoes. She traces the history of Irish immigrants and their interest in becoming "American" and eating "American" foods. She discusses how corned beef and cabbage became the American image of traditional Irish cuisine. The third and fourth chapter deal with Jewish families. First the Gumpertz family, a western European Jewish family whose ancestors borrowed from Gentile traditions. Then in America, the German Jews meshed traditional European and Jewish foodways with more typically American ones to create a new culinary tradition. The chapter on the Rogarshevsky family will seem familiar to those who have visited Ellis Island and/or know about Jewish foodways. My personal favorite chapter is the last one, the Baldizzi family from Sicily. This chapter is near and dear to my heart, being the granddaughter of an Italian immigrant. The story broke my heart and gave me a new appreciation for what my family went through and how our food traditions have become part of mainstream American culture. I could easily imagine the smell of garlic frying in the Balzizzi kitchen (or is that wafting through my bedroom door from my parents' kitchen?). I found this book fascinating. I really enjoyed learning about the different traditions of the different cultures and how those traditions became part of American culture. The author really did her research and I always appreciate a book based on primary sources. I also liked seeing the period recipes sprinkled throughout the book. There's even one from the province my grandmother was born in. My biggest complaint is that there was too much about immigrants and immigrant life in general in some of the chapters but I liked reading about it all anyway. The Baldizzi chapter is too short too and there is no conclusion. The book ends rather abruptly. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book and it's one for the keeper shelf. I highly recommend it to those who are interested in immigrant life in American cities and the history of foodways in America.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-09-06T16:49:00.001-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews -- Contemporary Romantic Fiction

Savannah restaurateur BeBe Loudermilk has a thing for bad boys. She's been married three times (twice to the same man) but has managed to become a successful businesswoman and home owner. She falls hard for the charming Reddy who is a polished ladies' man. He's charming and considerate and so passionate. When everything seems to be falling apart in BeBe's life, Reddy offers his help. In one moment, BeBe loses everything when Reddy turns out to be a slick con man. BeBe still has her restaurant but is forced to close because she can't afford to pay her employees. When she discovers that Reddy used her money to buy an old rundown motel on Tybee Island near her hometown of Savannah, she is furious. She doesn't want a run down motel. She wants her life back. The motel happens to be prime beach front real estate so BeBe decides she'll sell the land and at least get money enough to begin her life again. She doesn't count on the cantankerous caretaker, Harry and his little white dog. Harry has been living and working on the property and isn't about to leave. He loves the old motel, despite it's dilapidated state and he certainly doesn't want some shiny new condos full of city slickers going up in it's place. BeBe faces another setback and is forced to renovate the property after all. Her best friend Weezie, an antiques dealer, sees the charm of the place and soon BeBe does too. Then she learns that Reddy or whatever his name is, has been up to his old tricks in Fort Lauderdale and she is determined to catch him and do to him what he did to her. BeBe's grandfather shows up to lend his support and gets roped into the scheme, along with Harry and Weezie. BeBe plans a not-quite legal scheme to get back what she lost. She needs the full cooperation of her friends though and she and Harry can't seem to stop arguing. Will she be able to pull it off and get her old life back? The first half of this book is really slow. It picks up once BeBe and company head to Florida. Though this book got rave reviews from other library patrons, I didn't like it. I couldn't like BeBe. I don't have anything in common with BeBe and found her hard to relate to. I found it hard to believe anyone could be that naive and trusting, especially after two ex-husbands and an ex-fiance. Her plan to get her money back is not at all legal and I could not believe that her friends would go along with it. I did not like the outcome of the story either. I also didn't think there was much chemistry between BeBe and the love interest. The romance was rushed and the ending very abrupt. Some of the story is told from Weezie's point of view. I enjoyed Weezie's character more than BeBe but her narrative interrupted the flow of the story. I would recommend this one for someone who is looking for escapist reading without much substance.

What I've Read Recently

2011-09-06T16:25:00.001-04:00

What I've Read Recently . . .

In The Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

In 1854 London, Seventeen-year-old Molly works hard as a parlourmaid in a rich household, but an enemy destroys her chance of ever climbing the ladder higher. Unable to face her family with the shame of her disgrace, she learns of Florence Nightingale's request for nurses to go to Crimea and nurse wounded soldiers. Molly is rejected because she's too young and not a trained nurse but she is determined to find a way. Her tenaciousness pays off and soon she finds herself on a dangerous journey to the unknown in Turkey where she will experience things she's never seen or felt before. Though the nurses are forbidden from fraternizing with the staff or patients, Molly strikes up a friendship with a young doctor which she thinks may develop into more. Molly discovers a deep empathy for the suffering and her skills are desperately needed. She keeps busy nursing and trying to keep her friend Emma out of trouble. Then someone from her past shows up on the front and complicates matters. Molly is torn between duty and loyalty. One will cost her her heart and the other will cost her job. This is a coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of the Crimean War. I do not know anything about that war or even where Crimea is on a modern map. My biggest complaint with the story is that there isn't enough historical background that explains what the soldiers are fighting for. A map would have been appreciated. Otherwise the historical details are excellent, almost too good, for the book contains detailed descriptions of period medical practice complete with blood and gore. The author also describes the unsanitary conditions of the hospital where Molly works. The plot of the novel is fine. There are some really unrealistic moments, even some bordering on fantasy, which I did not like. I could have done without the romantic triangle plot. Molly is a plucky heroine and one to be admired. Florence Nightingale was a true heroine and I would like to read more about her.

The Rogue Crew (Redwall) by Brian Jacques -- Middle Grades Adventure/Fantasy

This final novel by Brian Jacques features a vermin leader known as a Wearat who rides a ship with a green sail over the high seas until being burned by the rogue crew of sea otters of the High North Coast. Razzid Wearat nearly went to Hellsgates in that attack but he survived and now he's bent on revenge. His ship now has wheels and it carries the vermin leader wherever he wants to go. A surprise murder of Salamandastron hares has some of the Long Patrol heading out to form an alliance with the Rogue Crew. Back in Mossflower, the peaceful Redwell Abbey dwellers face the problem of a gluttonous young hedgehog Uggo Wiltud. While sleeping off a stomachache, Uggo sees the green sailed ship on wheels sailing towards Redwall. The otter Cellarkeepeper Jum Gurdy knows of his ship and the destruction it could cause to the Abbey. He hopes his uncle will be able to tell him more and takes young Uggo off on a journey to find out whether Razzid Wearat and his ship were finished off long ago. The adventure will take all of the characters off on a dangerous quest where they will come closer to the enemy than they ever dreamed. It's up to the Redwallers to defend their home against the vermin raiders and hope the experienced warriors arrive in time. This story follows the usual pattern of the Redwall novels but it's a grand adventure just the same. I felt it dragged a bit in parts and took too long to get to the point. There were also so many characters I had a hard time connecting with any of them. I also thought too many good guys died and some of the characters were pretty gruesome. Though the plot is predictable it's a rousing good yarn anyway. The book works as a stand-alone as long as the reader has read Redwall. This series by a much-loved author will be much missed by legions of fans all over the world. Farewell old friend!

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2011-09-06T15:58:00.008-04:00

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Here's my list of books for September (links lead to my reviews):

In The Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap -- Young Adult
The Wicked Marquis by Marnie Ellingson
The Little Ballonist by Linda Donn
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier -- Young Adult
A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine -- Children's
Lady Fiasco by Kathleen Baldwin
Town Bronze by Kate Huntington
The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker -- Children's
Waltz With A Rogue by Mona K. Gedney, Kathleen Baldwin and Lisa Noeli

What I've Read This Week

2011-09-01T15:11:00.001-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins -- Contemporary adult romantic fiction

Chastity O'Neill is tall, athletic and confident. She's just returned to her hometown of Eaton Falls, NY from the big city and is starting a great new job at the local paper. She loves her large extended family and longs to have a family of her own and preferably soon. The problem is guys seem to be intimidated by her height, her athleticism and especially by her very rugged four older brothers and firefighter father. Everyone in their small town knows the O'Neills and Chasity is fed up with not having luck finding a mate. The real problem is that Chasity is madly in love with her honorary brother, Trevor Meade and has been since she was ten when her classmate (Trevor's sister) died and Chastity brought the lonely, grieving boy home with her. Trev and Chas hooked up once in college but it didn't work out. That doesn't stop Chas from dreaming and being jealous of the other women in Trev's life. Chasity decides it's high time to get over Trevor, no matter how perfect he is he will never want her the way she wants him. He sees her as a sister or just one of the guys. Chasity's mother also decides to get in the dating pool now that she's divorced Chasity's workaholic father. Chasity has her hands full mediating between her parents, looking for love and parenting her lovable mutt. Finally, she thinks she's found happiness with a handsome trauma surgeon who will give her everything she's dreamed of, but is it enough? This novel is an emotional journey. This book will make you laugh out loud but it will also make you cry. The characters are well-developed and very realistic. The O'Neill clan could exist outside of the pages of the novel and Chasity and Trevor's relationship is also very real. My biggest complaint is that I feel like a certain character took advantage of Chas twice when she was feeling bad but she was a willing participant and knew what she was doing both times. My other complaint is that the ending is rushed. This is Kristan Higgins's best novel yet! I highly recommend it. Some people may not like this book because Chasity is a Yankees fan. If you only root for two teams or just the Red Sox, don't read this book or have a friend change the Yankees references for you.

Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews -- Contemporary adult romantic fiction

Regina (Gina) Foxton is the host of her own healthy southern cooking show in Atlanta. The show has had local success but Gina dreams of the big time. Unfortunately, her sponsor is about to pull the plug on her show because her producer (also her boyfriend) was busted having a one-night stand with the sponsor's wife. Regina is faced with losing the job she loves and the home in the big city she shares with her party-girl younger sister. Then The Cooking Channel comes searching for their next big star and Gina is one of their top choices. Their other top choice is the hunky outdoorsman Tate Moody who is more known for his good looks than his hunting, fishing and grilling techniques. Gina and Tate's assistants, along with The Cooking Channel producers, decide to turn the search into the next battle of the sexes reality show. They arrange a series of challenges with the winner taking all. Gina thinks she can beat that arrogant butthead Tate and he's convince he's better than that plastic Barbie doll he calls Reggie. As the competition becomes more intense, sparks fly between Gina and Tate and not in the way they expected. The TV ratings system would state this book contains dialogue and language. There is some intense kissing and making out plus references to hooking up but nothing is actually described. Regina is a self-described "nice Christian girl" and tries to behave accordingly. This book is a good summer read. It's a quick, light read with a plot typical of most chick lit novels. The characters are fairly standard for the genre and the plot really doesn't yield any major surprises but the story is interesting and kept me turning pages at all hours to find out what happened next.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-08-22T21:32:00.001-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

The Mischievous Spinster by Marian Lorraine -- Regency Romantic comedy

Miss Antonia Radcliffe is 29 and a spinster. She is not, however, a confirmed spinster and is open to the idea of marrying for love. Her younger sister Julia has found her love at the advanced age of 23. Julia's betrothed to Lord Colin Neville invites the sister's to visit his home and meet his family. Colin expects his mother to make a scene but he hopes for support from his older half-brother, the Duke of Sayer. Unfortunately for Colin, Derek opposes the match. He has made plans with his friend, the Earl of Atlee, for Colin to marry Atlee's sixteen-year-old daughter Emily. Colin stands his ground and with help from the mischievous Tonia, he plots to change his brother's mind. The schemers are in for another surprise when Atlee and Emily arrive, for Atlee is Tonia's most persistent suitor. Add to that an amorous neighbor, a social climbing widow and plotting mother, the story has all the makings of a farce. However, it doesn't quite get there. Most of the story surrounds convincing everyone that Julia and Colin are meant for each other with Tonia's relationship taking a backseat. When she finally gets to be the heroine, the plot is rushed and summarized. It is funny in spots and I liked the characters a lot. The primary characters are not stereotypes and I admired most of them. Derek's temper gets out of hand and he behaves in a very unpleasant manner which Tonia easily accepts. The supporting characters are typical stock characters for the lighthearted Regency plot. Some of them never really emerge as fully fleshed characters. I liked this story a lot though. It is one of the better Georgette Heyer copycats.

too good to be true by Kristan Higgins - Contemporary adult romantic fiction

Grace Emerson's ex-fiance is now dating her little sister. In order to spare her sister guilt and to keep her family off her back, Grace has invented the perfect boyfriend: he's a pediatric surgeon, kind, romantic and wrangles feral cats. Grace struggles to keep her family from wanting to meet her boyfriend as she tries to get over Andrew and tries Internet dating. One night after drinking a few gin & tonics, Grace sees a strange man prowling around next door. She calls 911 but before the cops arrive, the mysterious man shows up on her doorstep and she hits him in the face with a field hockey stick while her faithful Westie Angus bites the man. The man turns out to be her new neighbor, Callahan O'Shea, an ex-con. Cal served 18 months in prison for embezzling over 1 million dollars. Frequent encounters with Cal make Grace's girly bits all tingly though she knows she should stay away from men like Cal and focus more on men of her own background. The problem is, most of the men she knows are already married, gay or playing dead during Civil War reenactments. In between dealing with her older sister's bitterness over the breakup of her marriage, trying to find the perfect man for herself and one for her gay best friend, dealing with her sister's wedding plans and flirting with Cal she learns to get over Andrew. Will Grace have the courage to follow her heart instead of her head? This book is almost a carbon copy of all i ever wanted. Just like Callie, Grace has an eccentric, loving family and a sleazy ex who consume most of her thoughts when she's not lusting over the wrong man. There's very little chemistry between the hero and heroine and I failed to see why he was interested in her. I really wanted to like Grace because professionally, she is very admirable. Plus, I am also a history buff and a Civil War fanatic. I could not admire the way Grace dealt with her personal life. She let everyone else walk all over her and ignored her own advice to Stuart, following the example of her favorite heroine. (Let the records show that I can't stand that particular heroine either). I personally feel that Angus is the only man Grace needs and if my terrier hated a man, I wouldn't allow him anywhere near me or my terrier. Angus is funny and sometimes he's so true to Westie behavior but on the other hand he gives Westies a bad name. They are mostly all bark and no bite and a stranger coming to their home means first alert alert danger danger and then en enthusiastic greeting of kisses and belly rubs not growling and biting. /steps off soapbox/ This book is a nice, light read but it lacks originality and believability.

What I've Read This Week

2011-08-19T14:05:00.002-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Trouble With May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm, illustrated by Adam Gustavson -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

In this sequel to Our Only May Amelia, it's 1900 and Amelia is 12 years old. Her Pappa still thinks Girls Are Useless and May Amelia Is Trouble. Amelia tries not to get in trouble but her 7 older brothers make it difficult to stay out of trouble with their constant teasing and tormenting. In Amelia's opinion, Boys Are Trouble! She longs for peace and quiet and admires her eldest brother who ran away. She is also dying for another girl to play with. Though she claims to hate boys, May Amelia prefers wearing overalls to dresses. She enjoys school with the prettiest, nicest teacher they've ever had who lets them do lessons in their underdrawers. Some big changes come to the Jackson farm and May Amelia is right in the middle of them. She gets her chance to prove herself to her Pappa by translating for a businessman who wants to buy their farm and make them rich. Pappa is a hard man though and it will take a lot of sisu (Finnish word that translates to guts or courage) to make her family notice her in a good way. This book is every bit as charming as the first. It's told from May Amelia's point-of-view. May's voice is colloquial and childlike, really suited to her character. The first-person narrative helps the story seem more realistic and adds to the charm. May Amelia is an engaging, plucky little heroine that girls and boys will like. Adults will enjoy the innocence of the story and the refreshing honest voice of May Amelia. This book can be read as a stand-alone or as a sequel to Our Only May Amelia.

Violet Eyes : A Retelling of "The Princess at the Pea" (Once Upon a Time) by Debbie Viguie' -- Young Adult Fairy Tale

Violet knows change is coming when a storm hits. Storms always bring about monumental changes to her life. This storm is no exception. A handsome, wounded stranger is brought to her father's farm where she nurses the young man back to health. The stranger is Prince Richard, heir to the throne of Cambria. Violet quickly falls in love. Prince Richard knows he must marry soon so he has invited numerous princesses to visit his castle where his parents will put them through a test to find the most delicate princess to be his bride. Violet knows true love doesn't matter in royal marriages but a secret about her birth makes her a contender after all. Violet goes to the castle to win the man she loves. She's determined to be his bride no matter what she has to do to win. Violet wonders whether the King and Queen's silly tests hide a deeper meaning Even with a little help from Richard and her new friends, Violet wonders if she has what it takes to be a queen. This is a light fairy tale for the 10-12 year old crowd. There's kissing but not much actual romance. Violet and Richard fall in love almost at first sight, despite being strangers. Violet's mysterious backstory is entirely too coincidental and the story would have been far better without it. I liked the King and Queen and the reasoning behind their tests. It fleshed out the story a lot more than the usual telling of the tale. However, the plot drags a bit in the middle and the actual pea part comes at the end and is a bit too quick. The ending is rushed and rather random. If you like impossible to believe fairy tales then you will probably like this book but I wouldn't recommend it for adults.

Wild Orchid: A Retelling of "The Ballad of Mulan" by Cameron Dokey (Once Upon a Time) -- Young Adult Fairy Tale

Less a fairy tale than a legend, this book tells the story of Hua Mulan (Mulan means wild orchid), a tomboyish girl in ancient China. Her father is a great general serving the Emperor and her mother died in childbirth leaving her father devastated. As a consequence, Mulan has been alone all of her life, raised by an overprotective nanny. She learns how to read, write, shoot a bow and arrow and use a sword from her best friend Li Po. At almost marriageable age, Li Po's mother is horrified at his friendship with Mulan and worries her only son will marry the wrong woman. Li Po isn't sure of what he wants. Mulan knows she doesn't want to marry and be a dutiful wife. Her spirit is free and longs for adventure. When her father unexpectedly returns home, Mulan tries her hardest to make him proud of her. Changes come to the Hua family and to China. When the Emperor learns the Huns plan to attack China again, he calls for each family to send a man to fight. Mulan is determined her elderly, injured father should not have to fight so she runs off to the field of battle. Her friend Li Po is aide de camp to a great general who knows Mulan and her father. He allows her to stay though because her skill with the bow and arrow is much needed. Mulan proves her worth to the Emperor's son Prince Jian, the leader of the archers. Working alongside Prince Jian allows Mulan to see the gentle heart of the man who struggles with many of the same uncertainties as she does. She falls in love but knows such a love is never meant to be. He's a prince and she's a soldier. If she told him her secret, she would lose everything. This story is well known to those who have seen the Disney movie and others who study folk tales. This retelling lacks the comic relief of the secondary characters and focuses more on Mulan and her inner struggles. This Mulan is much like the Mulan in the movie and I think many teenagers and even adults can identify with her. My main problem with this book is that half of it is devoted to Mulan's growing up so when the important part occurs, it feels rushed. There's far more going on in the Disney movie than this short novel. The author could have used a lot more pages to develop the relationship between Mulan and Prince Jian and tell us about Mulan's time in the army. Overall though, I liked this book because it's different from the typical fairy tale.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-08-15T16:21:00.002-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

A Lady's Lament by Rebecca Ashley -- Regency Romance

Miss Cynthia Thornbury has carefully tended to her estate these last six years. She wants desperately to buy the neighboring estate to improve it, unfortunately, the new owner, Giles Blenhurst, seems to prefer the "rustic charm" of the place and refuses to sell. Not only that, he seems to refuse to take her offer seriously. How rude of him! Cynthia has been a prim and proper spinster and is well-qualified to care for more land. Giles tries to flirt with Cynthiaand he both irritates and intrigues her. She comes to rely on him for help dealing with her wayward teenage brother and Cynthia's thoughts turn to her first (and only) Season when she was young and gay. Cynthia finds herself wanting to be that girl again. Her relationship with Giles is starting to cause gossip among the neighbors and Cynthia refuses to be gossiped about. Secrets from the past begin to threaten Cynthia's hopes for future happiness. This book is a pale imitation of a Georgette Heyer with more sightly more sensuality. The reader does not really get to know the characters beyond what appears on the surface. This is very much Cynthia's story and not at all about Giles. None of the story is from his point of view and there's very little development of the relationship between him and Cynthia. The story isn't terrible but it's not that great. If you've already read Georgette Heyer than skip this one. If you're new to the genre and want something shorter and less well-written than Heyer, read this instead.

Cannons at Dawn: The Second Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart (Dear America) by Kristiana Gregory -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

This story picks up six months after The Winter of the Red Snow in 1779 with Abby and her family living in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Her papa has joined the Continental Army to fight for freedom. He's a cobbler by trade and no longer young. Abby worries for his safety. When their home is burned in a terrible accident, the Stewart women and children have no choice but to leave Valley Forge and travel Philadelphia to be with family. The journey is difficult and dangerous and the Stewarts do not find what they expected. While Abby's older sister Elisabeth finds a reason to stay, Mrs. Stewart, Abby, Sally and little Johnny must leave Philadelphia and follow the army. Another difficult winter is on the way and Abby worries about being the oldest child at home and prays the war will end soon. The Stewarts soon bond with other camp followers and soldiers, including the handsome Willie Campbell, a blacksmith's son. As the months pass, Abby matures and grows into a woman who is capable of caring for her family through the most difficult times. I would put this book in the Young Adult category, rather than Middle Grades. Gregory spares nothing from her details about the difficult conditions of army life in the 1770s. There's also quite a bit of romance, including some marriages and births which may not interest younger readers. I love this series because of the wonderful, realistic historical details and this book is no exception. I really felt for Abby's family and turned the pages wondering what would happen. The secondary characters are richly drawn as well and I cared a lot about them and hoped they would survive the brutal years of the war. This is another excellent book from one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I'm so pleased that Scholastic has brought back the series for a new generation.

What I Read Last Week

2011-08-15T15:45:00.001-04:00

What I Read Last Week

Everything But the Groom by Holly Jacobs -- Contemporary adult romantic fiction

Many years ago in Hungary, Vancy Bashdale was the most beautiful girl in her village and she was determined to marry the handsome Bela Salo. She had everything planned for her wedding but the groom failed to appear. In her heartbreak, Vancy cursed his descendants so that they would never have a big, fancy wedding until they understood that love triumphs over pageantry. The groom reappears with a good excuse and she marries him, regretting her hasty curse. Now her granddaughter Vancy is getting married and won't listen to her Nana and elope. Vancy has everything under control. She sees the wedding as a business opportunity for both her and the groom. However, the groom fails to appear and sends word that he ran off with some waitress he had just met. When the media gets a hold of the dual stories of Nana's curse and the runaway groom, they stalk Vancy. Matt Wilde, owner of Everything Wilde landscaping business has just discovered he has two young nephews he has never met. His twin brother abandoned the twins' mother and the mother in turn left the children to her mother who has dumped them on Matt. Rather than see them as an inconvenience, Matt falls in love with the boys at first sight. His path crosses Vancy's and he offers her a place to hide from the media. Vancy becomes a surrogate mother to Matt's nephews. She loves the charming twins despite their propensity for mischief, and she loves her domestic role. She realizes that her wedding to Alvin was just a wedding and not a true marriage. Matt realizes he loves Vancy but feels it's too soon after her failed wedding to make a move. Their families think otherwise and wonder if Vancy and Matt will ever realize their feelings for each other. Perhaps if they help things along a bit it will happen and Vancy will break the family curse. This is a light, fluffy novel that can be read in one sitting and promptly forgotten. I expected more of a family comedy but it's more of a 1950s domestic story than anything else. The dialogue is terrible and the introspective moments are too soon and too frequent. Vancy and Matt are stock characters and I could not relate to her or like her much at all. Likewise, Matt is too saintly to be realistic. The romance is sweet though. If you like clean, sweet romances and heartwarming stories more than a well-written book, this one is for you.

all i ever wanted by Kristan Higgins -- Contemporary adult romantic fiction

All Callie Grey has ever wanted is to be loved and have a happily ever after. She thinks she's found that with her boss, Mark with whom she had a brief fling months ago. On her 30th birthday he informs her that he's seeing someone and it's fairly serious. Callie is devastated and holds a very loud phone conversation with her sister while waiting in line at the DMV. The guy behind Callie is disgusted with her behavior and tells her to get a grip. Callie's friends tell her to find a new man to make Mark jealous but it's hard when Mark's new girlfriend is the daughter of their biggest client, young, skinny and beautiful. There also aren't a lot of available men in Georgebury, Vermont that aren't creepy or old. Callie's faithful dog Bowie and her quirky family tries to help her through in their own individual ways. Callie decides to check out the new veterinarian Dr. Ian MacFarland, whom she had heard was single. Callie's inner Betty Boop urges her to pursue him but her inner Michelle Obama encourages her to be her own woman. Unfortunately for Callie, she should have listened to Michelle for the new vet happens to be the man from the DMV! Embarrassed, Callie invents a cover story involving her PR expertise. When Ian decides to take Callie up on her offer, she gets to know him better. Still, she finds him a bit stuff and formal but as they get to know one another, they each become a good influence on the other. Before Callie can find her happily ever after, she has to learn to get over her infatuation with Mark and learn to love herself. This book is a better rendition of stories like Bridget Jones and Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble and Heather Wells books. There's more depth to the story than Bridget Jones and Callie isn't quite as pathetic. The story was a bit hard to get into at first because I couldn't relate to or identify with Callie at all. It seemed like she was a train wreck waiting to happen. The story picks up more about halfway through. The book is long for a chick lit novel but it doesn't really drag much. The ending was a bit rushed and the epilogue isn't really necessary. This book contained more profanity and mentions of making love than I remember from Higgins's previous books. Unlike some of the reviewers on Amazon, I didn't see a political agenda in this book at all. I especially loved Callie's family. They provide the giggles in this story and make my insane family seem almost normal. The romance is not central to the story. Callie is at the center of the story and she has to find herself before she can find what's she's always wanted. This story will make you laugh and cry. Read if you want something light and fun.

What I Read This Week Part I

2011-08-09T15:16:00.002-04:00

What I've Read This Week Part I. . .

Forgiven by Janet S. Fox -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

In this companion to Faithful, 17 year old Kula Baker's Pa, the outlaw Ned Baker, sends her out into the world alone when he discovers a dangerous stranger has been searching their camp for a secret hidden box. Kula first goes to Bozeman, Montana where she works for Mrs. Gale, the kind photographer. Kula is angry at her Pa for not coming with her and starting fresh. She dreams of a fine man to come and marry her and keep her in luxury for the rest of her life. Then Kula's Pa is arrested for a murder Kula is sure he didn't commit. He urges her to go to San Francisco and find the box. Mrs. Gale sends Kula to her sister-in-law Miss Everts in San Francisco. San Francisco in 1906 is a dangerous place and Kula finds herself lost and alone in The Barbary Coast, the most dangerous section in the city. She's rescued by a kind Chinese boy, David Wong. Though it is considered improper for a Chinese man to be seen with a non-Chinese woman, David asks to call on Kula, hoping they will become friends. Knowing what it feels like to be an outsider, Kula agrees. Miss Everts is a bit brusque but she's kind enough. She introduces Kula to high society as an artist's model. Kula realizes that perhaps she can make her own way in the world. However, Miss. Everts has secrets and Kula thinks the woman is died to the dangerous man who framed her father. Kula is also haunted by the faces of the girls she saw in the Barbary Coast. Girls who are exported from China to be slaves for the pleasure of men. Kula finds herself torn between wanting to help and wanting to be accepted into the society to which she dreams of belonging. She's drawn to David but the attractive wealthy young man Will Henderson who is paying her lots of attention. Kula discovers secrets all around her and she wants to put the clues together. She doesn't trust anyone least of all herself. When disaster strikes San Francisco, Kula realizes she will have to trust in order to save those she loves. Once she learns to trust, she can begin to forgive. This is an excellent novel. It's far better than Faithful. Kula is a more interesting character than Maggie. She's more complex but in many ways she's exactly the same. The plot is gripping and I just couldn't put it down. The story is gritty and realistic for the most part and I would not recommend this book for most people under 16. Though the book is a companion to Faithful and takes place a year and a half later, the author is careful not to reveal spoilers from the plot of Faithful. I really liked this book and I think readers of the Luxe novels who can't stand the melodrama will prefer Fox's novels.

Assassin by Anna Meyers -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Bella Gretchel first meets John Wilkes Booth when she is just a child in Richmond. She's struck by his charm and gentlemanly nature. She dreams of joining the theatre like her idol but tragedy intervenes and she is sent to live with her grandmother in Washington City. Bella's grandmother is an assistant seamstress at the White House for President Buchanan's niece. There Bella meets Steven Browning, an intelligent, talkative boy who quickly becomes her best friend. Soon there's a new family in the White House and Bella is busier than ever helping her grandmother sew. She likes the boisterous Lincoln boys and the kind President but still dreams of a life in the theatre. Her opportunity finally comes when she finds a job in the costume department at Ford's Theater. With the help of the charming Wilkes Booth, she learns to recite poetry as so to be ready when the time comes for her to take the stage. John Wilkes Booth, or Wilkes as he prefers to be called, is the son and brother of a famous family of tragedians. His life has been a perfect tragedy, especially now that his beloved South is being invaded by upstart northerners. He blames Lincoln for the country's troubles and is determined to do something that will make him a hero in the South. First, he needs to charm Bella into helping him, no matter the cost. For Bella, this is her chance to catch and keep the attention of her crush. She little dreams that her acquiescence will place her beloved Mr. Lincoln and even herself in danger. This is a real sleeper of a novel. Not much happens in the first three quarters of the book. Bella and Wilkes tell the reader their life stories and rehash the events that led to the Civil War and the events of the war. Then finally the plot picks up when Bella meets Wilkes. Bella is very naive and she believes that Wilkes will love her if she goes along with his plan. She's a bit too innocent and gullible to be likable. Maybe younger readers can identify more with her. Wilkes is portrayed as a madman, blinded by his love for the South and desire for honor and glory. He's supposed to be charming but I found him sleezy and insincere. The last quarter of the novel is page-turning as Bella finds herself in danger. The ending is unrealistic though true to historical events. There were also some historical inaccuracies, though minor, that bothered me. This novel can be compared to one of Ann Rinaldi's more recent works. If you like those, you will like this one. I wouldn't recommend it to adults though, but maybe younger teens.

What I Read This Weekend

2011-08-07T20:02:00.002-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

The Rose Bride : A Retelling of "The White Bride and the Black Bride" (Once Upon a Time) by Nancy Holder -- Young Adult Fairy Tale

Once upon a time in the Land of Beyond, the Crown Prince Jean-Marc marries the lovely Lucienne. The priest of Zeus prophesies a son will be born and heal two broken hearts. Once upon a time in the Forested Land, Rose Marchand waits for her father to arrive home for her 13th birthday. Her loving father has been off chasing more gold for a very long time and Rose and her mother Celestine are left waiting for him to return. All Rose wants for is the love of her father. In the rose garden, Celestine prays to the statue of the goddess Artemis that her daughter will always know she is loved for true love never dies and when one has true love, one will always be safe. Celestine gets her wish and Rose must learn her lesson through extreme hardships. She must be brave and remember she is loved if she is to survive the wicked magical plotting of her step-mother and step-sister. Rose tries to remember those who loved her and when she needs a boost, Artemis is there to help. Finally, Rose must help another remember what it is to love and be loved. This story is a typical fairy tale similar to Cinderella. It's well-written and well-developed, but I'm not a big fan of traditional fairy tales so this book just didn't appeal to me.

The Crimson Thread :A Retelling of "Rumplestiltskin" (Once Upon a Time) by Suzanne Weyn -- Young Adult Fairy Tale

In 1880, Bridget O'Malley and her family arrive in New York City, land of opportunity. They have the best apartment $5 can get, which happens to be in a dirty, smelly tenement. Bridget is horrified and disgusted with New York but her father, ever the dreamer, has big dreams and plans. When her father and brothers get in trouble for fighting at work, they must seek new identities and new jobs. Posing as a Welshman named Miller, her father talks his way into a job as a coachman for the wealthy textile manufacturer J.P. Wellington. Not content with that, her father then bluffs his way to getting jobs for the rest of the family, all except the youngest two children. Bridget, now called Bertie, will work as an apprentice seamstress to the Wellington family dressmaker. Bertie's head is turned by the handsome charming James Weelington. Bertie has to juggle working with caring for her younger siblings and when life gets rough, a young vagabond who calls himself Ray Stalls is there by her side. Ray offers his help when Bertie's father once again stretches the truth about Bertie's sewing abilities and claims she can practically spin straw into gold and create the beautiful fashions the Park Avenue girls desire. Ray asks for nothing in return for his help except a kiss. Bertie refuses to sell herself so Ray demands her first born child. Bertie takes his request as a joke and they part in anger. Bertie gets caught up in a whirlwind of success but when she loses the one that's most important to her, she fears Ray has claimed his payment. Now she must discover his real name and find out where she is to get her own back. This is more of a historical fiction novel than fairy tale. The prologue and epilogue seem tacked on to make it more fairy tale. Since I love historical fiction, I enjoyed this take on the familiar tale. It's realistic for the most part and there are some great period details. There's little to no magic so don't expect a traditional take on the tale. I liked Bertie and could relate to her. I found the secondary characters were pretty much stock characters. The ending is rushed and unrealistic and that was a big turn-off for me. The book isn't as good as Water Song but I liked it.

What I've Read This Week

2011-08-05T17:43:00.003-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Bluestocking on His Knee by Regina Scott -- Regency Romance

Kevin Whattling is close to being thrown in the poor house. The once wealthy handsome Corinthian has paid most of his late younger brother's debts but the bills keep coming. He has only one way to stay out of debtor's prison - marry an heiress. He decides on Miss Eugennia Welch, a wealthy bluestocking. Eugennia likes nothing better than to be studying something but she can't help wishing for a handsome prince to come and marry her. When Kevin announces his intentions, Eugennia is surprised but interested. She agrees to begin a friendship to see whether they would suit and discovers that her heart is telling her something different from her head. Kevin's enemy tries to come between them and it's up to Eugennia to figure out how to stop the villain. She also must decide whether she wants to follow her head or her heart while Kevin hopes desperately that the woman he has come to love will be the bluestocking on his knee. This novel is one of Regina Scott's best. I really liked and identified with Eugennia. Kevin is a little two-dimensional and a bit unlikable for his mercenary ways but as the story progresses, I came to like him better. There is great chemistry between Kevin and Eugennia without their feelings overpowering the story. (There's nothing more than kisses). The plot progresses quickly but is not rushed. My only quibble is that I wish Kevin had talked to Eugennia about Robbie but other than that, I really enjoyed the story.

Ginny by Jennie Tremaine (Marion Chesney) -- Edwardian romance

Ginny Boggs, a coal merchant's daughter inherits a fortune and an estate from someone she's never met. The relatives of her benefactor Mr. Giles Frayne are angry at being snubbed in favor of someone from the middle-class. His will stipulates that they must stay on at Courtney and help Ginny go on in Society until her marriage. The four relatives are convinced Ginny will be nothing but a uncouth person and are determined to make her life miserable. Ginny arrives in full splendor turning malicious words and intentions on their head. Watching on the sidelines is Ginny's neighbor, Lord Gerald de Fremney. Gerald thinks Ginny is not his type - he prefers modern women like the cool, confident Alicia, but he is extremely physically attracted to Ginny. The more he meets of Ginny, the more he finds himself wondering what is going on in her head and finds it difficult to maintain a physical distance from the young woman who has turned the Kentish countryside upside down. When Ginny fears her life is in danger, why does Gerald feel the need to protect her? This is a screwball comedy similar to Georgette Heyer's The Unknown Ajax. It's typical Marion Chesney style: lighthearted and fun, for the most part. The Edwardians are a bit more racy than their Regency counterparts. There is a love scene but nothing is shown. Roles for women had drastically changed by the time this story is set. This novel presents both modern and old-fashioned women and favors the old-fashioned type. I enjoyed the novel but found it bothersome not to know what was going on in Ginny's head. If you like light novels without much substance and Marion Chesney's Regencies, you'll love this one too.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2011-08-03T20:02:00.007-04:00

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Here's my list of books for August (links lead to my reviews):

The Bluestocking on His Knee by Regina Scott
Ginny by Jennie Tremaine (Marion Chesney)
The Crimson Thread : A retelling of Rumplestiltskin (Once Upon a Time) by Suzanne Weyn (YA)
Forgiven by Janet S. Fox (YA)
Assassin by Anna Meyers (YA)
A Lady's Lament by Rebecca Ashley
Cannons at Dawn : The Second Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart (Dear America) by Kristiana Gregory (Middle Grades)
The Trouble With May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm (Middle Grades)
The Mischievous Spinster by Marian Lorraine

What I Read This Weekend

2011-08-01T17:26:00.002-04:00

What I Read This Weekend . . .

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter -- Young Adult

Sequel to Heist Society

Since pulling off the heist at the Henley last year, Kat has been traveling the world stealing back priceless treasures that were stolen by Nazis or otherwise illegal means, all in the name of Visili Romani. Now Kat is being approached by an older woman whose life mission has been to get back the Cleopatra Emerald her parents discovered in Egypt. It was stolen by their business partner and ruined their lives and all Margaret wants is the emerald back and the recognition her parents were robbed of. It just so happens that the rare emerald is being exhibited for the first time. Should be easy for a pro like Kat right? Not quite. First, the emerald is said to be cursed, second Uncle Eddie doesn't approve. With the family away in Paraguay (or is is Uruguay? Kat gets confused) Kat is on her own. She likes it that way. That no way no one can get close enough to her to get hurt. However, Kat's friends won't take no for an answer. Their wits are tested when nothing is at it seems and they are in more danger of than ever before. Plus, there's the whole issue of her feelings for the handsome Hale. For a smart thief, Kat is a stupid girl. She needs to trust herself and her friends like never before if she's going to pull off this heist. This is another great face-paced novel from Ally Carter. It didn't quite leave me breathless the way Heist Society did and I was able to put it down in spots. At first it reads like a short story but then some plot twists had me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next. It concludes nicely without leaving many loose ends hanging but I'd still love more books in the series. This is a great fun read for young and old!

What I've Read This Week

2011-07-30T14:22:00.003-04:00

What I've Read This Week . . .

A Season of Surprises by Rebecca Ashley -- Regency Romance

Miss Julia Weston is on the shelf and happy about it. She would far rather write her observations of Society in her journals and hunt for a husband, but her Aunt Sophie has other ideas. Sophie decides that Julia and the Marquess of Brandon would make a fine couple and wrangles an invitation to his country home from his aunt, Lady Sayde. There's only one problem - Julia can't stand Lord Brandon! She thinks he's rude, condescending and insufferable. Their few previous meetings have not been enjoyable at all. Also attending the house party are the beautiful Vanessa and her matronly sister, the sweet but dim-witted Christy and her title-hunting mother. The visit is a disaster from the start. Lord Brandon has eyes only for Vanessa, Lady Sayde appears to be senile and enjoys singling out Julia with her outrageous comments and Julia overhears Lord Brandon accuse her of being a spy! Julia would pack her bags and leave at once if it were not for the kind librarian, Mr. Brixham. To make matters worse, Julia's friend Lord Anthony Devon shows up and becomes friendly with Lord Brandon and sides with him against her friendship with Mr. Brixham. Julia is determined to show Lord Brandon that she's her own woman and far superior to Vanessa. Why should she care what he thinks? There's no chance she will ever marry such an arrogant man! This story is told entirely from Julia's viewpoint and the romance is a bit lacking in the courtship department. She is an unusual, modern character and one with whom I could easily identify. I could see myself acting just like Julia in the same situation. I do wish that the story was also told from Lord Brandon's point-of-view because we never really get to know the real him. It's hard to tell what he's thinking and feeling when all the reader knows is Julia's impressions of him. Lady Sayde and Anthony provide comic relief while the other young ladies are fairly stereotypical characters. The plot drags a bit in the middle and finishes up too quickly and randomly. I had hoped for more character development before the story came to a close. I liked it well enough but it doesn't hold a candle to Georgette Heyer's similar plots. It is a nice light read and perfectly clean. There are exactly three kisses and nothing else beyond kissing.

Water Song : A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time) by Suzanne Weyn -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Miss Emma Winthrop, a proper English young lady, has found herself on the Western front of the Great War (WWI). Trapped in her family's country home in Belgium with only two old caretakers for company, Emma is at a loss. She dreams of her father to come and take her home. When she receives a shocking letter from her crush, she can only think to rid herself of the picture she placed in her locket by tossing it down the well. However, the locket was a family heirloom and contains something more precious than photographs. Jack Verde is an American wanderer, signed on to fight for the British. Separated from his unit, he struggles to survive the deadly poison gas the Germans have unleashed on the allies. Jack knows the only way to survive is to hold his breath. Luckily for him, he's a champion swimmer and has Louisiana magic on his side. Struggling to rescue a young soldier from his unit, he finds himself blindly stumbling towards safety, which he finds in the bottom of a well. When Emma discovers Jack at the bottom of the well, she thinks him an ugly frog, but learns that he can retrieve her locket for her. Unfortunately, they're captured by the Germans and held prisoner in her home. Jack promises to get her locket if she will give him a kiss. Horrified at the idea, Jack amends his demands to friendship. Emma promises, hoping to be rid of Jack and of the Germans soon and get home to England. With a little help from his mother's spirit, Jack learns to have courage and faith in love. As battle rages on and more Germans take over the manor, Emma and Jack find their lives in danger. They have to trust each other in order to survive. This is a realistic retelling of a little-known fairy tale. The details of World War I are incredibly realistic. The plot is fast paced and danger filled. I couldn't put it down. The ending is a bit rushed, especially the epilogue. I think there should have been a sequel to develop the characters and their relationship a bit better but overall this is a really interesting novel that will appeal to teens and adults.