What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani, read by Cassandra Campbell -- Adult historical fiction

The story opens in 1924 and fourteen-year-old Nella Castelluca dreams of leaving her family farm in the slate belt of Pennsylvania for the Italian-American village 3 miles away where she could go to high school. She becomes smitten with Renato Lanzaro, an older boy who is kind and charming. An opportunity arises for Nella to go to high school in Roseto and she's on her way to the big time. A terrible accident ends Nella's dreams of becoming a school teacher, instead she goes to work at the local blouse mill and works her way up the ladder of success. Along the way, she experiences the joys and heartaches of being part of a large, loving Italian family. She also experiences romantic love and learns what it means to really live. This is the story of Nella Castelluca's life from age fourteen to her death. It will make you laugh and cry along with the Castelluca's as they struggle through life. I mostly enjoyed the first third of the book when Nella was a teenager. It took a dramatic (or melodramatic) turn halfway through and became a little bit predictable. There was one major plot twist I didn't see coming that affected the final third of the novel. Trigiana excels at describing the landscape and lifestyle of the people of Delabole and Roseto, Pa. as well as the Italian village where Nella's family is from. The strength of this book lies in the character development. The book reads more like a memoir than a novel, telling the reader about key events in Nella's life, rather than one coherent plot with a rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. At times, the timeline jumps too quickly and the events summarized. Campell is a good narrator, pitching her voice differently for each character so that the listener can easily identify who is speaking. I loved her voice for Chetti the best and it's exactly how I would imagine a girl like Chetti to sound. This would be a good book for older teen readers. There's some romance but nothing terribly descriptive or at all racy. I think many women will be able to relate to Nella and her struggles to find her place in the world and enjoy reading about Nella.

Lady in the Briars by Carola Dunn -- Regency Romance companion to The Black Sheep's Daughter

Rebecca Nuthall has lives most of her life with an abusive uncle. The day after her twenty-first birthday, she secretly leaves his house, vowing to never let another man have power over her. She takes a position as companion to an elderly relative to make her own way in the world. Lord John Danville, younger son of the Duke of Stafford, finds himself in hot water after a joke goes wrong. His father, tired of John's wild lifestyle, threatens to send John into exile. John wishes to go into Parliament on the Whig side, but first, his father promises to have John sent on a mission for the Diplomatic Corps. John's first stop on his journey is his brother Tom's home, where he encounters Rebecca hanging from a bridge in an attempt to rescue a little boy from drowning. John rescues Rebecca and thereafter feels protective of her. John's adventurous cousin Teresa arrives with her Diplomat husband Sir Andrew, and their little daughter Esperanza. John adores little Peri as well as his brother's two children and finds that Rebecca is also good with the little ones. He recommends Rebecca for the position of governess as John, Teresa and Sir Andrew leave on a spying mission for Russia. At first Rebecca is timid but soon finds herself enjoying the social life in St. Petersburg; she even catches the attention of a prince! John's protective instincts turn to love as the situation in St. Petersburg becomes dangerous for innocent Rebecca. John is willing to risk his life to save the woman he loves and convince her that not all men are like her uncle. This book is told mainly from John's point of view. His development from wild child to reliable man is very good and realistic. I liked John a lot. He isn't too high handed and his occasional flares of temper are justified. Rebecca is a very different sort of heroine. She has difficulty overcoming abuse and for most of the book she's very meek, though has strong opinions about right and wrong. Teresa is the best character in the novel. She's lively and fun and a really strong woman. She's a good role model for her daughter as well. When the true adventure happened, I couldn't put the book down. The rescue is accomplished in a daring but realistic manner. This is a pretty good book for those who enjoy traditional Regencies.

A Spinster's Luck by Rhonda Woodward -- Regency Romance

Orphaned at the age of sixteen, Celia went to live with the young widowed Duchess of Harbrooke in the role of companion and governess to the Duchess's two young boys. Despite protests from the Duchess's brother, the Duke of Severly, Celia proves to be an excellent governess and a true friend for Imogene. The Duke spies Celia playing with his nephews one day and instantly struck by her beauty. He makes every effort to be kind to her, despite Celia's apprehension. Celia's life takes an unexpected turn when the Duchess's old beau returns and encourages her to go to London for the Season. When an old friend dies, Celia's life changes again and she gets swept away in the current of the haut ton. The Duke enjoys Celia's transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, yet believes he has no intentions of getting married any time soon. Someone from the Duke's past tries to prevent Celia from getting close to Severly and Celia must decide whether she will spend her life in spinsterhood and loneliness or swallow her pride and surrender to love. This is not the best book in the series. It's a little slow in the beginning and I just didn't feel anything for the main characters. The plot development is a little weak because the basis for the antagonism between Celia and Severly is quite pointless after the first few chapters. I enjoyed Imo and her romance much more and would have preferred her to be the main character. I also really liked the Duke of Westlake but found Severly and Celia boring. This is a sweet Regency and if you liked the others by this author, then you will like this one. Moonlight and Mischief remains my personal favorite of Woodward's novels.

Miss Hartwell's Dilemma by Carola Dunn -- Regency Romance

Miss Amaryllis Hartwell's Papa created a scandal and left Amaryllis to fend for herself. With the help of her godmother, aunt and former governess, Amaryllis runs a successful school for young ladies. Two new pupils, the innocent Isabel Winterborne, daughter of the rakish Lord Daniel Winterborne, and the incorrigible Louisa, niece of Lord Bertram Pomeroy, bring romance to Amaryllis's quiet life. Lord Pomeroy, the suitor she left behind, is determined to marry her and Lord Daniel comes across as hot-tempered and rude. Through Isabel, Amaryllis learns to see another side of Lord Daniel. The vicar is courting Miss Tisdale aided by Amaryllis and her aunt Eugenia, who scheme to remove the vicar from his sister's control. A mysterious stranger lurking about provides more drama and excitement in Amaryllis's life and is unwittingly the key to her happiness. The characters in this novel are fully fleshed out and very interesting. I would like to inhabit their world and know them. Some of the Winterborne family drama bears a strong resemblance to Susannah Carleton's Winterbrook clan, but sufficiently different enough to add suspense and drama to the plot. This is a sweet Regency along the lines of Georgette Heyer so the romance develops slowly and unobtrusively. The dramatic scene is concluded too easily and quickly and the very end is very Heyeresque. I enjoyed this novel but it isn't one of the very best.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls) by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Fiction

A departure from my usual genres, I picked up this book recommended by my friend Irish at Ticket to Anywhere.

Sixteen year-old Cammie Morgan attends a super select prep school for girls but this isn't your typical high school novel for Cammie's school is a school for spies! The Gallagher Girls are taught multiple languages, covert operations, culture and assimilation, and advanced encryption. During a Covert Ops training class, the Gallagher girls head off to town to mingle with the townies and spy on their teacher. Cammie does her best to blend in to her surroundings and remain unseen, but someone does see her and he happens to be a cute teenage boy and it seems like he's kinda into her. Cammie turns to her new classmate to explain the language of boys, something they definitely DON'T teach at her school. Her friends worry that Josh is also a spy and set out to discover his true identity, but Cammie just wants to be a normal teenage girl and date the boy she likes. She has to figure out whether she can be normal and how to have a relationship, because, in her world the rule is "I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you." This is a cute adventure novel for teens. It combines elements of Harry Potter, The Princess Diaries and adds a whole new dimension with a spy plot. Cammie is a really interesting character for a girl who is learning to be a spy. She's shy and a bit awkward and isn't sure where she fits in. She relies on her more outgoing friends to help her get along in the world outside the school. I could really identify with Cammie and I liked that she wasn't a super smart, smooth spy-in-training who had all the answers. She's a normal teenage girl, aside from being a spy. Josh was a little bit too good to be true but he had his moments of acting like a normal teen too. I liked the contrast between Cammie's world and Josh's world and how they connect even though they come from different backgrounds. This is a fun adventure story for teens. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read the next!

Lady Emma's Dilemma by Rhonda Woodward -- Regency Romance
This book is a companion to The Wagered Heart but can easily be read as a stand-alone. Lady Emmaline Fallon, the older sister of the Duke of Kelbourne, is a young widow grown tired of life in the country and come to Town for some adventure. Emma becomes the new reigning beauty, much to the dismay of an actress named Mrs. Willoughby alias Queen Willow, the former beauty. Emma is looking for love but not to remarry. She vows never again to allow a man to have complete control over her. Several candidates present themselves to Emma, none quite as dashing or alarming as handsome, rakish Baron, Jack Devruex who broke Emma's heart thirteen years ago. Bitter over events that happened in the past, Emma remains angry with Jack while he tries to make amends. Thirteen years ago Jack was a penniless boy trying to restore his family name and fortune and now he's a self-made man. He's told himself he's over Emma, but his heart tells him otherwise. Emma is conflicted and has to learn to let go of the past. I didn't like this book as much as I wanted to. I thought both Emma and Jack were rather selfish and annoying. Neither tried to understand what the other was feeling. Emma was really angry at herself but that never came up in the plot and instead she continued to blame Jack for everything that happened to her. The romantic development is good, though and there's just the right amount of romantic tension between Emma and Jack to make the story believable. This is a decent Regency novel and worth checking out from the library.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Wagered Heart by Rhonda Woodward -- Regency Romance
Julia Allard looks forward to a Season in London with her cousin Caroline until a rakish gentleman accosts her in the street and kisses her in broad daylight! The Duke of Kelbourne claims he made a vow with Dame Fortune to kiss the most beautiful woman he saw that day. Julia doesn't care about vows or wager; all she knows is that she's just been insulted and humiliated in public. Julia is forced to return home to the country in disgrace, where she becomes the subject of cruel gossip. A year later, cousin Caro, newly married, invites Julia to join her in Bath. Julia happily accepts the invitation. The last person she expects or wants to see in Bath is the Duke of Kelbourne. Kel shows up to do his familial duty at the summons of his adored older sister, expecting to be bored, but once he sees Julia, his boredom vanishes. Kel tries to apologize for his insufferable behavior, but Julia feels his apology is shallow and insincere. She wants to humiliate him the way he humiliated her and concocts a scheme of revenge. Her cousin warns her that she might lose her head, but she doesn't imagine she might lose her heart. The plot of this novel is a little bit unconventional since the "meet cute" occurs so early and Julia hates Kel for what he did. The story is paced too slowly and there isn't much plot. I feel like the reader doesn't get to know either of the main characters very well. I think the book could have benefited from being longer so there could be more character development. If I hadn't read Moonlight and Mischief first, I may have liked this one better. Kel and his friend Lord Haverstone appear so different in that book than this one. Moonlight and Mischief is a spinoff of this book but is superior in plot and character development.

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson -- Historical Fiction/Romance
In Vienna, Austria in the 1920s, Karl Berger, professor and Zoology, and his wife Leonie are raising their daughter Ruthie to be intelligent and curious about everything. When Leonie's step-sister's son Heine, the piano virtuoso comes to live with them, young Ruth falls madly in love and Heine decides that Ruth is his starling, like the starling Mozart kept in a cage to sing for him. Quinton Sommerville, a young paleontology/zoology student comes to visit and is captivated by Ruth's recitation of an English poem. After Quin leaves, however, he returns to his work and forgets about the little girl but not about his kind host. Years later, when Quin is offered an honorary degree back in Vienna, he accepts because of the kindness of Professor Berger. However, the Nazis have taken over peaceful Vienna and the Bergers have been forced to leave Austria. Ruth was supposed to join her family in England, but was left behind. Wanting to help, Quin offers Ruth his protection. He finds it more difficult to get Ruth out of Austria than he realized and decides to offer Ruth a morgantic marriage based on the concept of the morning gift. After the wedding night, the husband absolves the bride of all marriage rights and her children will not inherit. Ruth reluctantly agrees, knowing it is the only way to get out of Austria. She believes they will be able to get an annulment or divorce easily, Heine will join the family in England, become a celebrity and she will marry him and live happily ever after. However, things don't go as smoothly as hoped and circumstances bring Ruth and Quin back together, this time, as student and teacher at Thameside University. Ruth quickly becomes a top pupil and a favorite with the other students and professors, all except the daughter of the Vice Chancellor whose goals include being the top student and marrying the wealthy Quin. Quin has no intentions of marrying anyone or producing an heir for his ancestral home. He's happy with his work and his experienced lovers, or so he thinks. The ending is a little surprising but not all together unpredictable. World events take a backseat to the romance in this novel, unlike some of her others, which is nice. I really liked the romance until 3/4 of the way through when the story gets rather melodramatic. I also didn't like the ending very much and would have done it differently. This is basically an update of the Regency novels I usually read. At first I was bothered by the double standards but soon ignored them as I got caught up in the romance. In order to love this novel, you have to overlook some really stupid behavior on the part of the characters and the beautiful, good, doe-eyed heroines Ibbotson likes to write about. I was able to do that and was so absorbed in the story I couldn't put the book down. This is a good read for adults and older teens who like sweet romances.

Magic Flutes (also known as The Reluctant Heiress) by Eva Ibbotson -- Historical Fiction/Romance
Found on the docks at Newcastle-upon-Tyme, Guy is a foundling who spent his earliest years at the Foundling Home fighting any perceived insult or injustice. At the age of 6 he was adopted by the widow Martha Hodge, who saw his potential and loved him unconditionally. Guy worked hard to please Martha and turned his energy to his studies. After attending University in Vienna, Guy came home changed and determined to make millions. Now, in 1922, he has become a multi-millionaire and is rich enough to buy a castle. He decides to buy Pfaffenstein castle to woo back his lady love who rejected him years ago when he was poor. Tessa was born and bred the Princess of Pfaffenstein but is now a republican and working backstage at a Vienna opera company for free because she loves music so much. She encounters Guy backstage when he comes to hire the opera company for his engagement house party. She is struck by his kindness to her but knows he will go away and she'll never see him again. When the opera company is engaged to perform Mozart's Magic Flutes at Pfaffenstein, Tessa is torn between her duties to her station and her heart. Should she marry Maxi, a prince who lives in a damp and crumbling home or can she help patronize the arts? Will Guy actually marry the spoiled beauty he believes he loves? Those are the questions that kept me turning the pages long into the night. This is a typical Ibbotson romance novel with a doe-eyed virtuous heroine who tried her hardest to please everyone and an older man of the world. The book is filled with beautiful descriptions and historical details of pre- WWII Austria and a number of quirky characters. This is a sweet, funny and charming romance novel for teens and adults.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Moonlight and Mischief by Rhonda Woodward -- Regency Romance
After Lord Haverstone loses a fortune gambling, he is approached by a young tradesman's son, a Mr. Steven Thorncroft who offers up his sister and her dowry as a solution to Stone's gambling debt. Stone is surprised and a bit offended but decides the younger man amuses him and invites Steven and his sister to a house party on his estate come October. Mrs. Thorncroft is delighted with the invitation and is anxious to marry Mariah off to a peer and believes Stone may "come up to scratch." Mariah is furious and annoyed with her family but reluctantly joins her mother and two brothers at the house party, despite the fact that no formal invitation was issued. Stone had forgotten the invitation, but graciously allowed the Thorncrofts to stay, though hoping they'd leave early so he and his guests could have fun in the manner in which they were accustomed. When Mariah discovers her host in an embarrassing situation, they agree to be fully honest with one another and Mariah and Stone soon finds themselves sharing intimate secrets they've never shared with anyone else. She struggles to protest against her growing feelings for Stone and her realize her desire for independence. Mariah manages to stay true to herself and her desires and find happiness at last. I really admired Mariah for that and empathized with her dream of independence. The romance was very realistic and the characters actually got to know one another's dreams and desires. The writing was not up the the mark of Georgette Heyer or even some other copycats, but still good and the story interesting and enjoyable.

Mama's Disappointment by Judy Chirstenberry -- Regency Romance
Emma Chadwell is bullied and belittled by her step-mother who continually compares Emma to her beautiful step-sister Aurora. Mr. Fairchild is looking for a mother for his unruly 4 year old daughter, the product of his disastrous first marriage, and thinks Emma will fit the bill as she is the exact opposite of his first wife. Emma wants nothing more than to return home and continue managing the family's estates and tries to warn off Mr. Fairchild by being shy and sullen. He is persistent, however, because he doesn't require his wife to be charming or companionable,. Emma's greedy family readily accepts the match though she is against it. When her wastrel brother finds an heiress to marry, he makes it clear that Emma will not be wanted back home and she has no choice but to accept Mr. Fairchild's arrangement. Mr. Fairchild invites Emma and her step-mother to visit his home in the country and meet his mother and daughter. For moral support he brings along his friend Lord Atherton, the pretty young Miss Deborah Harris and her mother. Emma quickly endears herself to Mrs. Fairchild and little Melissa, makes friends with the other guests and becomes one of the family Richard doesn't exactly feel the same way and Emma despairs of ever being truly happy. The ending is predictable of course, but I didn't like it. Emma was so downtrodden that I could not like her. She didn't do anything to even try to make Richard care for her and pretty much let his mother direct their relationship. Richard was an unappealing hero with a hardened heart. He behaved rudely towards Emma for the entire book and was also incredibly cruel to his daughter who desperately wanted to be loved. Emma's step-mother and brother were stereotypical and the plot pretty much went nowhere. I would not recommend this book.

The Unsuitable Suitor by Marilyn Clay -- Regency Romance
The orphaned Fraser sisters, Katie 24, Minerva, 20 and Lucy, 16 are about to be turned out of their home after their father's death. Practical Miranda decides to head off to London to meet with the solicitors and prove ownership of the house. Sweet, pious Katie believes the Lord will provide and spoiled beauty Lucy is just dying to have a London Season. On the road to London, Lucky naively chats with a handsome London gentleman who turns out to be the rake who once randomly kissed Miranda at a party 5 years earlier. Miranda has never forgotten that kiss and never forgiven Lord Peterbloom for his wild ways and strives to keep her sister from harm. When things don't go as planned, the Fraser sisters take refuge with their wealthy estranged aunt and uncle. Aunt Isobel, Lady Heathrow decides to sponsor Lucy's come-out. Lucy becomes the toast of the town and sets her sights of Lord Peterbloom who is continually rescuing the sisters from mishap. Miranda struggles to get her home back from Peterbloom who now holds the deed and alternately worries about keeping her sister out of his clutches and wishing for the marriage so she and Katie can return home. Lord Peterbloom has reformed his wild ways but is not looking for a wife . . . or so he thinks, but he experiences strange sensations whenever Minerva is around and she can't help admiring his fine figure and keen mind. Though the story ends predictably, most of the story goes nowhere and takes too long to get to the point of conflict. Miranda is too high-strung and practical to be an appealing heroine and I felt that she obsessed over that kiss with Peterbloom five years ago and she was too unforgiving. Her sisters were equally stereotypical and annoying. Peterbloom seemed attracted to her spitfire nature but she came across as snappy and rude to me. Peterbloom is an appealing hero with intelligence and a good heart. Even he can't save this novel. It lacked appealing characters and excellent dialogue. I didn't really care for it that much but would recommend it for the less picky readers.

See No Love by Monette Cummings -- Regency Romance
Emily Harmon is extremely is so short-sighted, she can't see much of anything without spectacles, which her overbearing mother forbids her to wear in fear that Emily will never find a husband. When Emily makes her debut at court, she makes friends with Violet, the daughter of an Earl who invited Emily to a house party, hoping her brother will fall in love with Emily and forget about the mean Lady Isobel Darcy who is keeping company with their cousin Philip, the Duke of Durban. At the house party, poor Emily has a series of misadventures because of her poor eyesight and the hero must rescue her. Emily's accidents are told to the reader in a rather detached and summarized manner. I was expecting them to be really funny but instead they were rather sad because no one understands Emily's predicament and her mother believes that Emily could only see if she tried hard enough. I felt sorry for Emily and she didn't know how to laugh at herself so the reader does not get to laugh with her. She is also very young to be a romantic heroine and her romance comes out of the blue. This is a cute, light read but not my favorite.

The Incomparable Miss Brady by Sheila Walsh -- Regency Romance
Miss Clementina Brady from Baltimore, Maryland, USA arrives on the doorstep of the home of the Marquess of Cadogan expecting to reconcile with her estranged grandfather, instead, she learns her grandfather has died and a distant cousin has taken his place and the new Marquess has a very low opinion of Clementina, whom he labels as a managing female. That's fine with Clemmy, who doesn't care what others think of her. She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself and her younger brother Patrick. Clemmy and Patrick instantly adapt to life in London and Clemmy catches the eye of a dashing French comte whom the Marquess knows to be a fortune hunter. Clemmy, Patrick and their aunt Seraphina head to Paris and take Parisian society by storm and experience the pleasures and dangers Paris has to offer. Used to managing her American grandfather's estates, Clemmy turns her energy into managing everyone else's lives but fails to notice that some events are beyond her control, including her own future. The Marquess is also in Paris and he suspects the Bradys are not as capable of looking after themselves as they seem and decides to keep an eye on them, just in case they need help and finds himself strangely drawn to his unusual cousin. This book started off wonderfully. I loved the interactions between Clemmy and the Marquess and Clemmy's determination to throw off convention and remain in control. Once the characters head to Paris, the story becomes more about everyone else than Clemmy. There were way too many characters to keep track of and too many titled characters to keep straight. I would have preferred more witty banter between Clemmy and Lord Cadogan instead of Clemmy's scrapes and adventures, that would have made for a much better story.



The Locked Garden by Gloria Whelan -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
12 year old Verna and 6 year old Carlie move with their father and aunt to the grounds of a mental institution in northern Michigan. The year is 1900, and their father is a well-known psychiatrist who has radical ideas about the improvement of mental health. The children enjoying playing on the beautiful grounds and get to know the patients who are well enough to be outside and work, though Verna wonders about the patients in the locked ward and how they will ever get better by being locked up. Eleanor, who is recovering from depression, comes to work for the family and quickly endears herself to the children, causing tension in the household. When dour Aunt Maude becomes jealous, her actions nearly cause irreparable damage and it's up to Verna and Callie to try to help Eleanor free herself from her harsh father and inner demons. The ending happens rather abruptly and is too insightful to be from a child's point of view. I didn't feel this book was as well written as some of her previous novels for the same age group but I liked learning about the treatment of mental health patients at the turn-of-the-century.