Young Adult Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

YA Bliss's YA Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The rules are simple:

• All historical fiction books must be YA or MG.
• Books don't have to be 2012 releases.
• Anyone can join. 
• You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

I signed up for Level 3: 15 books. 

January

1. A Brief History of Montmaray and The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper - 1930s
2. Deadly by Julie Chibarro - early 1900s America
3. Magic Under Glass and Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore - fictional Victorian
4. Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee- Victorian England
5. Dark Mirror ,   Dark Passage,  by M.J. Putney -Regency England/WWII England
6.  Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney - Great Depression
7. Renegade Magic (Book Two in the Kat, Incorrigible Series) by Stephanie Burgis 
8. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen -- Robin Hood adventure
9. Secret Letters by Leah Schier -- Victorian England
10.  The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats -- Medieval Wales
11. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley -- early 1800s Virginia
12. Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl -- Regency England
13. Princess Academy Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale -- fantasy fairy tale 
14. Cross my Heart by Sasha Gould --16th century Venice
15. Courtship and Curses by Marissa Doyle -- Regency England 

What I've Read This Week

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

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

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

 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

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

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.