What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Storybook Hero by Andrea Pickens -- Regency Romance

Alex Sheffield is a wastrel. He's a younger son who spends his time drinking, wenching and anything else that will estrange him from his illustrious family. He is quite surprised when his uncle suggests that Alex go to Russia to rescue a recently orphaned young relative. His uncle feels that Alex is a risk taker and would be the best person for the job. Alex feels his life is worthless and thinks his family is trying to get rid of him once and for all. Then, on the voyage to Russia, he meets Miss Octavia Hadley, who sees through his mask of bravado to the wounded boy inside and makes him feel human again. Octavia is the penniless daughter of a recently deceased country vicar forced to live as an unpaid nanny to her despicable cousin's children. When her cousin's husband tries to seduce her, Octavia lets him know soundly what she thinks of that idea, which results in her banishment to Moscow to work as a governess to a young English girl. On the ship to Russia, Octavia literally bumps into a thoroughly cupshot Alex who then kisses her. She retaliates and instead of becoming angry, Alex is amused. Octavia senses that Alex is hiding his vulnerability behind drink and she helps comfort him and care for him in a time of need. Hoping to never see Alex again, but secretly wishing she will, Octavia begins her new life with young Emma, who is an independent minded young lady, much like Octavia. The two quickly bond and when the French close in on Moscow, the ladies are abandoned by Emma's relatives and Octavia must use her wits to survive. Alex is not so lucky in his quest. First he must locate young Nicholas and then travel across the frozen country avoiding both the French and Nicholas's unscrupulous uncle who wants them dead. Alex and Nicky's journey intersects with Octavia and Emma's and soon they find themselves in the midst of an adventure worthy of one of Mrs. Radcliffe's novels forging close bonds that will leave them changed forever.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. I prefer the lighthearted comedy of manners and this could have been one, but wasn't. For all that it wasn't, it was actually a good story, if one overlooks the little inaccuracies and somewhat hurried plot. Alex is a deeply flawed hero. He has a lot of issues stemming from a family tragedy that have made him who he is. He has a hidden vulnerable side which he rarely shows anyone, yet Octavia perceives it right away and tries to help. Octavia is a very modern heroine, a follower of Mary Wolstonecraft (not Mrs.) and Jane Austen (published under "a lady", not her own name). She's intelligent and unafraid of anything, which made me like her very much. Alex and Octavia's relationship really works because Alex is flawed and Octavia isn't sure how to deal with that. It makes the relationship very realistic. Some of the plot is rather hurried in favor of the romantic development but overall, this is a romance that's much more than a typical romance novel and worth a read if you like more substance than sweet comedies.

Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Triginai -- Historical Fiction

Kit Zanetti is an aspiring playwright living in a Greenwich Village walkup in present day New York. Auntie Lu is the only other single lady in the building, a woman in her 70s whose nephew owns the building. When Auntie Lu invites Kit to tea and to go over some items Lu intends to give Kit, Kit is impressed with all of the wonderful things Lu has collected and wants to know Lu's story. In the 1950s, Lucia Sartori lived with her Italian immigrant parents and four older brothers in the building in which she lives in the present day. Lucia works as a seamstress and apprentice dress designer in the Customs department of B. Altman Department Store. She loves putting together gorgeous fabrics and trims and turning them into a beautiful dress. Now that Lucia is 25, her family and friends think she should get married. She is engaged to the nice Italian man, Dante DiMartino, but she has to discover whether her feelings for Dante and respect for Italian cultural traditions outweigh her love of being an independent career woman. Lucia learns a lot about love and family over the next two years. She has to make difficult decisions which may not be the best ones to make. All the while she mostly maintains her spunk and enthusiasm for modern life while respecting and loving her traditional Italian family. I sure could relate to Lucia! Lucia's family is a bit less crazy than mine (they're Northern Italian and we're Southern) but sometimes they drive her crazy just the same. Lucia's story is interesting and compelling read for women. I think many women will sympathize with Lucia's determination. Thank goodness in the 21st century, it's more acceptable for women to be independent, but it's a difficult path to take when it clashes with traditional Italian family values. The plot is a little slow to begin with and there are numerous descriptions of fashion but about halfway through the story picks up and then I couldn't put it down. Again I have mixed feelings about this novel. It was serious and rather sad at times but at the heart of it all is Lucia's Italian family who love her and support her no matter what. The one thing I didn't like was that Lucia's story is told in present tense, almost like a journal, which was weird considering it was a flashback. I would recommend this book to women in their mid-20s and especially those with traditional Italian parents or grandparents!

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction

In 1573 ("after the ascension of Queen Elizabeth to the throne but before London's first theatre and Shakespeare") Meggy Swann arrives in London to meet the father she has never known, is accused of being a beggar and brushed off by her father. Meggy longs to go home to the country, to the brewery where she grew up, though her mother sent her away. Meggy grows angry with her father and with the world, for most people shun her because she is a cripple. Cantankerous Meggy's only friend is a goose, but her father's former assistant Roger would be Meggy's friend if she let him. Cantankerous Meggy must learn to fend for herself in the cold and dirty city because her father cares only for his alchemy work. His work consumes him and he largely ignores Meggy and leaves her to find her own way in the world. Meggy discovers that she can't shut the world out and that not everyone sees her solely as a cripple. Meggy learns there is more to London and to life than she had previously thought. Her happiness is threatened when she uncovers a terrible secret about her father. She's faced with an ethical dilemma and struggles to do the right thing. Meggy has to learn to stop feeling sorry for herself and take charge if she wants to survive. It takes a lot of understanding to like a character like Meggy. I understand why she is the way she is but at first I found her whiny and self-centered. As the story develops, so does Meggy and her personal journey is central to the plot. I liked learning about alchemy and the crazy things Meggy's father thought he was going to discover. Harry Potter fans will delight in another book revolving around the Philosopher's Stone (or Sorcerer's Stone as it is called in U.S. Harry Potter books). I'm not very good at chemistry so I had a little bit of difficulty following what was actually happening, but I just stopped trying to analyze it and read the story and it became more clear once it was explained to Meggy. As usual, Cushman excels in period details. The descriptions of London are incredibly gritty and realistic. I could see and smell the sights as Meggy traveled through the city. Cushman's other strength is in period language. This book is no exception. Meggy hurls fantastic insults left and right that are full of colorful language of the period. This is another fun read from one of my favorite authors!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls 2) 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.

Last semester Cammie Morgan just wanted to be normal. This semester, she wants to be a good spy. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Cammie resumes life at her top-secret boarding school for spies will go back to whatever passes for normal, but she accidentally overhears a secret - Blackthorne or Black Thorn or something like that. Cammie and her friends are determined to find out what it means and utilize their spy training to find out. As if Cammie didn't already have enough to worry about, on a Cove Ops mission she's seen AGAIN but another boy! This time she's content to get rid of him and never see him again because she's determined not to make the same mistake she did with Josh. Cammie is unprepared for what happens next. The one thing they don't teach at Gallagher Academy is how to understand boys! Cammie must learn to trust a boy who is also a spy in order to save her school. I don't want to give too much away but this book is a real page-turner! The basic plot premise bears a strong resemblance to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which happens to be one of my favorite books. The boy/girl stuff is cute and so so true and the spy adventures are fun and dazzling. I couldn't put this one down and now I can't wait to find out what happens next!


Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls 3) by Ally Carter -- Young Adult Fiction

Cammie Morgan joins her friend Macey in Boston where Macey's dad is campaigning for Vice President. Macey's cover as a spoiled little rich girl is nearly blown when she's pestered by the annoying son of the Presidential candidate but boy concerns seem minor when someone tries to kidnap Preston and Macey and it takes all of Cammie's spy training and instincts to get out alive. Their fall semester at Gallagher Academy is marked by major changes when a Secret Service agent joins the school to protect Macey. Cammie worries about her friend's health and safety as well as her usual course work. She also wonders about the boy she met last semester, Zach, and why he's so mysterious. If only someone would invent a way to decode boy-speak! By the end of the semester, one of the Gallagher girls is in grave danger and Cammie has more mysteries to solve. This is a hard book to describe without giving anything away. It's more action packed than the first two and more about the life of spies than normal teenage stuff. I prefer the boy/girl parts to the action but the action sequences kept me turning the pages, trying to figure out clues and wondering what was going to happen next. Even though I'd make a terrible Gallagher girl, I can't wait to find out what happens next!

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Heist Society by Ally Carter, read by Angela Dawe -- Young Adult

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

Katarina Bishop comes from a family of con men and thieves, but she just wants to be normal. After pulling off what she thinks is her greatest con of all, a free ride to boarding school, Kat is expelled for a prank involving the headmaster's car and a fountain. Kat is furious because this con isn't one of hers! She's soon drawn back into the family business by her best friend (and crush) Hale. Kat's dad has been accused of stealing priceless paintings from an Italian mafioso who wants his paintings back OR ELSE. Kat reluctantly reenters the family business in order to save her dad and she and her friends form their own heist society to steal back the paintings and save Kat's dad. The story takes a major turn when the history of the stolen paintings is discovered and a Robin Hood type thief is out to right the wrongs of the past. Along the way, Kat has to figure out the most mysterious of mysteries - boys! I enjoyed the heist plot and couldn't put the book down. The secondary characters provide comic relief and I liked them all, even Gabrielle, who exemplifies traits I typically abhor. She's a good foil for Kat. I especially liked Hale and the romantic tension between Hale and Kat is well developed and realistic. I wasn't crazy about the introduction of the history of the paintings and the Robin Hood character. The story was fun and light and then quickly turned into a question of ethics. Even so, I really liked this book and can't wait for the next one. Dawe is an average reader. She does voices and accents but they're hard to understand. The audio version of the book doesn't add to the enjoyment of the book. This is a fun and entertaining story for anyone ages 12+.

Mandesky Square by Eva Ibbotson -- Historical Fiction/Romance

This book is rather different from her other adult romances, it's written as a first person journal by Susanna Weber who owns a dress shop in 1911 Vienna. Susanna is older (36) and she's worked hard to build up a successful clientele. She won't take help from anyone, not even the man she loves. Susanna loves her shop and can easily manage the difficult clients as well as her anarchist shop assistant, Nini. She also loves the square and all the people who live around it. Their daily lives and intertwined as they go about their business. When a young piano prodigy moves to the square, Susanna sees he is neglected and abused and makes it her duty to befriend the boy and help his career. Susanna remains cheerful and optimistic most of the time, but sometimes she can't help but fall into a depression because she has a secret sorrow and a secret heartache. Spoilers: highlight the next two lines:

She had a child out of wedlock she gave up for adoption years ago and she's the mistress of a married man.

Susanna records her daily events and secret hopes and sorrows into her journal. Then the day comes when her peaceful world is shattered and life as she knows it may change forever. She tries to remain positive and hope things will turn out all right. Help comes from an unexpected quarter and Susanna ends her year with a surprise. I wasn't crazy about this book. It's not as sad as the other adult novels but it's not as satisfying either. It's more realistic, I suppose, than the typical fairy tale plot, but I quite enjoy fairy tale romances and was disappointed in this one. I wanted to like Susanna but I felt like slapping her and telling her to grow up and move on. The secondary characters are much more appealing. They're fully fleshed people you'd expect to meet in real life and lots of fun to read about. I would recommend this book to those who like realistic stories but not to those who prefer neat and tidy happy endings.

Love's Masquerade by Cynthia Richey -- Regency Romance

Sarah Fairchild's father had the misfortune to die when a stray dueling bullet hit him, thus leaving Sarah with all of his debts. Sarah wishes to save her family home by opening a school for girls where she'll teach them all the ladylike accomplishments they need to know to find good husbands. When Sarah's godmother invites her to London, it seems like her prayers will be answered, but what her godmother wants Sarah to gain from her trip is not quite what Sarah had in mind. She's not opposed to finding a husband, but she refuses to marry without love. Without money of her own, Sarah feels she has no choice but to offer her beloved home for sale while she's in London. When a gentleman shows up on the day of her departure, she thinks he's come to view the house and dutifully shows him the finer points. When she enters the curricle, however, she finds she is mistaken. The gentleman is her godmother's son, Sarah's childhood playmate and tormentor, Edward, Duke of Pemberton. Along the way to London, Sarah and Edward are compromised and he offers marriage, however, she refuses because she doesn't trust him and he doesn't believe in her school. Though Sarah believes she doesn't love Edward, she is willing to accept his friendship but not his help. The dashing Charles offers his help and Sarah feels she must at least consider it, though Edward doesn't approve. Though her time in London doesn't go as planned, Sarah never gives up on her dreams and her convictions until she gets what she wants. This is a light, fluffy Cinderella story which had me smiling almost the whole way through. I liked that Sarah stuck to her beliefs but her anger at Edward was a little too harsh and uncalled for. I nearly fell in love with him from his introduction, so I could be biased. This is what they call a sweet Regency or clean Regency and I really enjoyed it.

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 . . .

The Third Sister: A Continuation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility by Julia Barrett
The central character of this novel is Miss Margaret Dashwood, now seventeen and the right age to have suitors, yet there are no eligible young men available in Devonshire and Margaret spends most of her time playing nursemaid to the unruly Middleton children. She sees her sisters infrequently and longs for the happiness they have discovered. Visitors to Barton Park bring a new friend for Margaret and a potential suitor. Though Margaret longs to accept Mr. DuPlessy's flirtations, she can't help but remain cautious in light of what happened to Marianne. A trip to Brighton brings more new friends and another potential suitor for Margaret. She must determine whether sense or sensibility will win out. Meanwhile, Elinor and Edward Ferrars deal with domestic drama when Edward's mother pays an unexpected call and Marianne and Col. Brandon grow ever fonder of each other and try to help their family and friends the best they can. This is a slow moving novel that is supposed to be in the tradition of Jane Austen, yet I couldn't get into it. The plot borrows from Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion but doesn't come close to matching the charm and liveliness of the originals. Margaret never fully develops as a character and she comes across as boring and weak. There are too many subplots and too many new characters to keep track of that I found myself getting confused. I do not recommend reading this sequel.

My Lady Nightingale by Evelyn Richardson -- Regency Romance
Lord Christian Hatherleigh returns home battle weary after five years fighting in the Penninsula, looking forward to seeing his family again but feeling as if all beauty and ideals have gone out of the world. On a visit to his brother's townhouse, Christian overhears a beautiful lady's voice singing opera as he's never heard it before. Christian is intrigued by the voice and accidentally intrudes on the lady's vocal practice session. Lady Isobel de Montargis, daughter of French emigrees, is governess to Christian's beloved young nieces. At first Isobel is angry at the interruption, then alarmed by Christian's charming manner. In Isbobel, Christian sees a saviour, one who has lifted him from a place of darkness and brought back the light. In order to thank her, he decides to help advance her musical career, a favor which Isobel is reluctant to accept. Isobel is determined she will advance her career on her own without help from anyone. Christian uses his connections to get Isobel the opportunity to study with a great master and though she is grateful for the opportunity, she is angry at Christian's interference. Though she is grateful for his help, she stubbornly refuses to admit that Christian's attention means anything to her. Her dreams are on the verge of coming true, but soon, she faces greater obstacles to her happiness than her own stubborn pride, and she may loose all she holds dear, including love. This is a very well-written novel. The plot unfolds slowly, though the character's backgrounds are revealed early on. There is also a unique family drama subplot and a heartbreaking scene towards the end that had me practically in tears.I sobel and Christian become friends and he respects and admires her rather than lusts after her. He truly wants to help her career and slowly realizes he loves her as the story progresses. Isobel is a really admirable character. Like all of Richardson's heroines, she's proud and independent but I feel that she is the best developed. I couldn't help but fall in love with Christian myself. He's deeper than your typical rakish hero but still gets tongue tied with the woman he loves. He understands Isobel and understands what's best for her versus his personal interests. All of the above combine to create Richardson's very best novel. As usual, Richardson includes almost too much historical background information, but it doesn't affect the plot. Also, her heroes tend to turn into stalkers and Christian is not exception but he's slightly less creepy than some of the others. There are a few unrealistic points, like Isobel wanting to be an opera singer in the first place, but if you don't quibble and accept the story, you won't be disappointed.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

A Lady of Talent by Evelyn Richardson -- Regency Romance
Years ago Sebastian, Earl of Charrington purchased a painting of a young woman in a print shop and the young woman in the painting quickly became his confidant and true companion and has in fact ruined any other woman for him. He's spent most of his adult years in business, working to regain the fortune his father lost. Now he is affianced to his mentor's only daughter, the beautiful Miss Barbara Wyatt. Barbara and Sebastian could not be more different: Barbara enjoys flirting and parties and longs to be part of the ton while Sebastian is more interested in intellectual pursuits. He feels that in a marriage of convenience, it doesn't matter much if the partners are not soul mates. As a betrothal gift, Sebastian hires a painter, C.A. Manners, whose paintings he admired at the Royal Academy, to paint Barbara. He is shocked to discover that C.A. Manners is a Miss Cecilia Manners and the woman in his painting! Cecilia loves painting more than anything and works hard at painting portraits to support her brother's expensive habits and to reclaim some of the cachet they lost when their father gambled away everything. Cecilia and Sebastian quickly become friends and confidants, discovering rhe passion and love that they've never known. However, Sebastian is engaged to Barbara and Cecilia is too proud and independent to rely on a man's help to solve her problems which of course creates more problems! This is not the best of Richardson's novels. Sebastian comes across as creepy and kind of stalkerish. The young woman in the painting was only 12 at the time she painted herself and Sebastian fell in love with her picture! He didn't even try hard to find out who she was or whether she was really his ideal companion and when he did find her, he kept intruding on her privacy and trying to help her when they barely knew each other. They confide in each other too quickly and the solution is so painfully obvious that I didn't even really care about how it came about. Like all of Richardson's heroines, I admired Cecilia though she was more weepy and less independent than some of the others. Unlike most of Richardson's novels, this one doesn't get too bogged down in historical details which is a plus. Unless you feel compelled to read all her books, skip this one.


Hellie Jondoe by Randall Platt -- YA Historical Fiction
Helena Smith alias Hellie Jondoe has lived most of her life on the streets with her brother and their gang of Street Arabs. She likes her life just fine the way it is, but she's growing up and soon she won't be able to pretend to be a boy and for girls on the streets, there's only one option which Hellie is absolutely not interested in. Hellie's brother Harry has the solution to the problem - the Orphan Train. Hellie refuses to go west to be adopted by strangers but Harry thinks they can hop off the train anywhere they want and start over. Harry becomes involved in a struggle with another gang member and Hellie is forced to make her way on her own. Her street sense and tough talking ways make life difficult on the closely chaperoned Orphan Train but she is befriended by the lady photographer/journalist Amanda Collins and makes her first friend in the disfigured girl Lizzie. At the end of the ride Hellie, Lizzie and baby Joey with the club foot are taken to live with a wealthy woman on a large ranch. It's there that Hellie finally meets her match in the tough Scholastica Gorence! An unexpected visitor and a tragedy force Hellie to figure out where she belongs. Hellie is who she us and is unapologetic, which makes her an interesting character. She's also quite funny. Hellie speaks in street slang but the author makes it easy to understand from the context. I had a lot of sympathy for Lizzie but wish her story had been told in more detail. I had a pretty good idea of how the story would end but getting there was the fun part. This book is so well written and can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. This is a great self-discovery story without being corny or moralistic. My biggest complaint was the alternate narrative but it became clear why that story was necessary by the end. I also thought the ending was rushed and I'm hoping for a sequel!


The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson -- Middle Grades Historical Fiction
Tally is content with her life in London attending school with the nuns and living with her loving father and doting aunts. She feels safe there, despite the fact that the Nazis are on the march and war is imminent. In order to keep Tally safe, her father has the opportunity to send her to boarding school in the country. Tally refuses to leave at first and is terrified by her cousin's horror stories of life in boarding school, but she soon discovers that her school, Delderton, is quite different. Delderton is a progressive school where the staff are kind and the children do pretty much whatever they want. Tally soon comes to make new friends and love the school, especially the great cedar tree standing for centuries in the courtyard and hands-on, all-hours biology lessons from the mysterious Matteo. Tally's dream is to make the world a better place, starting with a folk dance festival held in the little country of Bergania, where the proud and brave king refuses to give in to Hitler's demands. Tally and her classmates enjoy befriending the children of other European nations, while Berganian Prince Karil watches wistfully from his bedroom with a telescope. Young Karil wishes he were an ordinary boy, free from the rules and restrictions his strict governess places on him. Karil's world changes in an instant and it's up to Tally and the other children to save his life and help him become free. The plot is entirely unpredictable and I could never figure out where she was going with it. There is an epilogue that provides that "what happens next" for anxious readers who need to know. The book does borrow elements from her adult novel, A Song for Summer but the plot is mostly different and much more innocent. Tally is a bit of a do-gooder but she's so sweet and innocent, you can't help but love her and want to assist her in saving the world. Karil is a complex character and his story really shows how difficult it is to be a young royal and the troubles of ruling a nation in the 20th century. I loved Delderton and wish I could have gone to a school like that. The quirky characters who populate the school are lots of fun and the children's stories are developed well. The descriptions of Bergania, probably based on Austria where Ibbotson grew up, are so lovely they make me want to go there immediately! Eva Ibbotson blends historical fact and reimagined history in this compelling story. This is a great read for all ages. The dust jacket of this novel warrants mention for it's beautiful blue tones and shimmery dragonflys. It attracted my eye and drew me in immediately.

The Rogue's Bride by Paula Roland--Regency Romance
The book opens with 26-year-old, twice-widowed Lady Alexandra Redcliffe walking down the aisle in the wedding of the Season, however the bride and bridegroom are not in attendance! Lexie is standing in for her best friend, Dulcie Winford, who has had the misfortune of contracting measles before the big day. It doesn't matter to Dulcie because she has never met the groom, Major Brandon Clive, nor wishes to marry him, but it means a lot of her father who arranged the marriage. After muddling through the ceremony with an elderly vicar, Lexie discovers she inadvertently signed the marriage license on the wrong line and is now the legal wife of Major Clive! Lexie does not wish to be married again and immediately plans for an annulment. She allows Papa Winford to handle things and escapes to Bath with Dulcie to visit Dulcie's kind aunt and see Lieutenant Daniel Symington, the bridegroom stand-in, whom Dulcie is determined to marry. Major Clive is furious when he discovers the mix-up. He fears being saddled with an old wife and/or a fortune hunter and heads to Bath to track down Lady Redcliffe. In Bath he is mistaken for his older cousin, Mr. Peyton Clive! He goes along with the masquerade once he discovers that his bride is actually young, charming and witty! Brandon is determined Lexie shall be his true wife and she is determined to avoid marrying anyone ever again! Dulcie has other ideas though and is determined to rearrange everyone's lives to suit her romantic notions. The rest of the plot involves the usual silly and pompous suitors, jealous rivalry, a scheming teenage girl and romance. There are some love scenes but they are discreet and can be skipped easily. The author seems to be trying to copy Georgette Heyer in tone but fails miserably. The plot is silly and the characters behave too modern for the Regency era. I didn't like or care anything about any of the characters but couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know how it would all be resolved. I would not recommend this book to those who enjoy the excellent writing of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen. This book earns a letter grade of C from me.