Historical Reading Challenge

This challenge has moved but you can still sign up here.

Technical Difficulties

I'm not sure how things work in other countries but in Australia our cable TV companies and Internet service providers are the same. In our case literally, we have the same Internet and TV company and on Friday night they blew a poofle valve (that's technical talk for 'it's not working) and we have been told, all three times that I've rung so far that we won't be back online until Monday night.

This is very unfortunate news as I'd organised myself to finalise all the challenge posts for 2010 this weekend. I can't use someone else's computer to do it as I still have to set up Mr Linky and finish designing the buttons, which are half done on my laptop. So as soon as we are back up and running I will launch Challenge Week 2010 on Royals, which we are very excited about. Until then I hope all our American Reviewers and Readers are having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Reading
Alaine

Trouble Shooter by Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

Copyright: 1951

Pages: 221

Rating:

Trouble Shooter is the last of four novels that Louis L'Amour wrote, under the name Tex Burns, about Hopalong Cassidy's adventures in the American Western frontier. Click Hopalong Cassidy Background for more information about these books.

Plot Summary: Hopalong Cassidy (Hoppy), former cowhand for the Bar 20 ranch, received a letter from his friend Pete Melford that has him traveling to the site of the PM ranch, near Kachina, to help out. When Hoppy arrives, there's no ranch in site, but a sniper is taking aim at a man investigating the location.

Melford's niece, Cindy Davis, sold her ranch in Kansas to come up to run her uncle's land. She brought Rig Taylor with her to help in the new endeavor. Rig is the one being shot at by the sniper as he tries to compare the local landmarks with the map in Melford's letter to Cindy. Neither Hoppy nor Rig understand how a ranch could disappear and a full-grown tree appear in place of the ranch house. Colonel Justin Tredway now claims to own the entire area, up to the mysterious Babylon plateau and the secretive Brotherhood who inhabit it.

My Reaction: This was the most complex storyline of the four Hopalong stories. The Brotherhood's involvement and reputed haunted mesa reminded me of the other L'Amour story I've read, The Haunted Mesa, which was as much science fiction as Western.

The territory in this book reminded me the most of our West Texas home, too. The prickly pear and mesquite Hoppy describes sounds just like the open land around here. "Before him were thousands of acres of chaparral, dense thickets of mingled mesquite, towering prickly pear, low-growing catclaw with its dangerous thorns that hook into the hooves of cattle or horses, and colima with its spines. Everything here had a thorn, long and dangerous, some of the poisonous, all of the needle-pointed."

Western Slang: Here's another sample of some of the slang used in this book that caught my attention:

• "pear forest" - area covered by prickly pear cactus and brush.
• "tapaderas" - saddle addition that covers the front of the stirrup.
  
• "That old devil's rode with the curly wolves. He's bucked the tiger an' heard the owl hoot. You won't get anything from him but a stomach full of lead."
  

(Warning, racial language in this book is mild, but may be offensive.)

Bottom Line: This is my favorite of the Louis L'Amour Hopalong Cassidy novels. Like the others, it's a sand-alone story with only small references to the others (like the reference to the scar Hoppy picked up during The Riders of High Rock).

Overall, I think these books have changed my opinion of Westerns and the quality of L'Amour's writing. I started reading these books as a challenge to read a genre I hadn't tried before (and because my husband had an extensive collection that I was organizing). I really enjoyed them and, after these, will check out more of L'Amour's work.

Visit Shonda at her blog Texas Red Books

The Riders of High Rock by Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

Copyright: 1951

Pages: 256

Rating:

The Riders of High Rock is the third of four novels that Louis L'Amour wrote, as Tex Burns, about Hopalong Cassidy's adventures in the American Western frontier. Click Hopalong Cassidy Background for more information about these books.

Plot Summary: Hopalong Cassidy (Hoppy), former cowhand for the Bar 20 ranch, has made it to Nevada to visit his friend Gibson at the 3TL ranch (after sorting out some gold thieves in The Trail to Seven Pines). As he arrives, he learns in town that men from the 8 Box H ranch are hunting someone with red hair who's rumored to be a killer. From they way they joke about how they have every water hole and shelter in the area staked out, Hoppy begins to be sympathetic to the fugitive. After getting some additional information from folks in town, Hoppy realizes the man being hunted is his friend Red Connors, who came out from the Bar 20 ranch to help Gibson out.

After rescuing Red, Hoppy begins to investigate the complex, interstate rustling scheme underway at the 8 Box H ranch. Red had stumbled across one of the few clues as to what the ranch owner, Jack Bolt, has been doing. All of the local ranches have been losing cattle (including, according to Bolt, the 8 Box H). Bolt has found a way to send more than a thousand head of cattle from his neighbors' ranches to another ranch he owns in California after he's re-branded them with the 8 Box H brand. Red followed the most recently stolen cattle far enough to realize they were being taken out of the area, but then he was attached by the rustlers.

He and Hoppy now need to convince the local ranchers that Jack Bolt is not as upstanding as he appears and that someone could conceive and carry out such a convoluted rustling plan. Bolt's killed enough men in his life, though, not to mind adding two more to the count. He's also counting on matching his reputation in the area as a gentleman against the word of two out-of-town gunslingers.

My Reaction: I had heard of cattle rustling being a "hangin' offense" and have read historical fiction talking about cattle rustling in the Scottish highlands and other places. Still, somehow, I imagined small groups of unorganized bandits stealing 2-3 cows an evening and being chased away. It took me awhile to realize that in northern Nevada in the 1860s, it would be possible to steal thousands of cows and drive them over lands that would be very difficult to track to set up in another state where no one knew you. Just another example of how different the American West was during that era.

Sue Gibson, the female character in this book annoyed me. She was completely ready to be suspicious of Hopalong, even though her father vouched for him, just because he was "uncivilized." Meanwhile, she had lots of civilized conversations with the murderer who was stealing her family's business. I expected all of the female characters in Louis L'Amour's books to be this kind of empty-headed pretty dolls and was pleasantly surprised to find otherwise, which made Sue stand out (but not in a good way).

Western Slang: Here's another sample of some of the slang used in this book that caught my attention:

• "palouse" - Appaloosa breed horse with spotted flanks.
• "sourdough" - and older gold prospector (in this story, it's used as the name of the former prospector who now runs the livery stable in Agate).
• "There was a young feller named Clemens workin' on a paper down in Virginny City who says a feller could tire himself out jumpin' back and forth across the river and then drink it dry when he got himself thirsty." This is a reference to Samuel Langhorne Clemens who began using his more famous pen name, Mark Twain, while living in Virginia City, Nevada.
  

(Warning, racial language in this book is mild, but may be offensive.)

Bottom Line: I enjoyed the complex rustling plan in this book and the interactions among Hopalong and the other cowboys. Like the other Hopalong Books by Louis L'Amour, this was a quick read and had the feel of a Western movie or TV episode.

Visit Shonda at her blog Texas Red Books and a very Happy Thanksgiving to our US readers!

The Trail to Seven Pines by Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

Copyright: 1951

Pages: 239

Rating:

The Trail to Seven Pines is the second of four novels that Louis L'Amour wrote about Hopalong Cassidy's adventures in the American western frontier. Click Hopalong Cassidy Background for more information about these books.

Plot Summary: Hopalong Cassidy (Hoppy), former cowhand for the Bar 20 ranch, is now drifting through the American West on an indirect path to visit his friend Gibson at the 3TL ranch. To reach that ranch, he has to pass through the town of Seven Pines. On his way, he overhears a gun battle on the road. He doesn't get a good look at anyone involved other than a dead man and a badly wounded man. As he bandages the wounded man, Jesse Lock, he finds out that he just missed a hold-up of the stagecoach run. Jesse was riding shotgun (literally) to protect the $30,000 gold shipment from the mines. That night's attack was the fourth raid in three months.

Hoppy leaves Jesse with a bandaged chest, food, and heads to town to get the doctor and some help. Hoppy finds several of the townsmen (including the doctor) already headed his direction, just a few miles down the road, and brings them back to Jesse. However, when they arrive, Jesse is dead from an apparent suicide. Despite the circumstances, Hoppy challenges the assumption based on Jesse's state of mind when he left and the clearly staged location of the gun (early forensics!).

Hopalong takes the murder of a man he'd rescued very personally, so he decides to stick around Seven Pines to figure out what's going on. He takes a job as the second-in-command for rancher Bob Ronson at the Rocking R. The Rocking R is having its own trouble. Ever since Bob's father died, dishonest prospectors and rival cattle ranches had been trying to take over the town. Hoppy figures he can help Bob protect his father's legacy while finding out who's organizing the gold raids (and therefore who killed Jessee).

My Reaction: This is also a stand-alone story, although, the Gibson of 3TL ranch described at the very beginning and end of the book is one of the main characters of L'Amour's third Hopalong Cassidy book.

It took awhile to get used to the culture of this book. Cowhands, including Hoppy, drift in and out of town doing work if they need to, or just causing trouble. L'Amour describes how the characters are good at remembering details about the countryside and the people in it, but still, it's clearly a land where people can disappear or reinvent themselves at will. Gunfights over small insults are common (which worries me, except all the characters seem to know that and be playing by the same rules).

I'd heard it said that barbed wire is really what settled the American West. There's definitely a theme to that effect here. Rocking R's trouble with its neighboring ranch is over range land -- grazing land that isn't owned by either of the ranches. Rocking R has a traditional right to graze cattle in the area, but the neighbors are seeing the change in power to Bob after his father's death as a chance to rustle Rocking R cattle and take over Rocking R range land.

Western Slang: The language in these books is beautiful. Some of the slang reminds me of my father-in-law, but taken to the extreme. Some I had to ask my husband for translations. Here's a sample.

• "Ronson had inherited the Rocking R from his father, who had been an old gray wolf from the high timber, a man who had teeth and used them on the least provocation." p23
• "what's your handle" - what's your name
• "The three of them are tough as mule hide and poison-mean. They take to trouble like a bear to a berry patch, and they are slippier than a mustang on a blue clay sidehill."
• "puncher" - cow puncher, a cowboy who herds cattle (usually not by actually punching them)
• "souwegian" - best I can find this is slang for some European people group, but here it's just used as a general insult for cowhands not working hard enough.

(Warning, racial language in this book is mild, but may be offensive.)

Bottom Line: This is a fun read and a look into 1860s American Western life and culture, with some great descriptions of wild western landscapes thrown in among all the action.

Visit Shonda at her blog Texas Red Books

The Rustlers of West Fork by Louis L'Amour

Genre: Western

Copyright: 1951

Pages: 244

Rating:

The Rustlers of West Fork is the first of four novels that Louis L'Amour wrote about Hopalong Cassidy's adventures in the American western frontier. Click Hopalong Cassidy Background for more information about these books.

Plot Summary: It's the 1860s and ranchers and the cowhands who work for them are the most common residents of small towns in the frontier. Buck Peters, the original foreman of the Bar 20 ranch, is ready to repay a debt he owes to another rancher, Dick Jordan. Unfortunately, Dick now lives several days ride west of Buck's ranch, on the Circle J ranch near Horse Springs. A trusted messenger needs to take the $15,000 Buck is repaying Dick across the wild land and into a region known for lawlessness and robberies. Buck decides that person should be his friend, Hopalong Cassidy.

Hopalong (Hoppy) runs into some trouble on his way to Horse Springs, first when three men try to ambush him to get the money before he ever leaves town and then when he rescues a father and son from an Apache Indian raid. One of the men who attacked Hoppy mentions a name before he dies, Avery Sparr. Hopalong learns from the family he rescued and their friends that Avery Sparr has a reputation as "the slickest, fastest gunman" around Horse Springs. He has also taken up residence at the Circle J with Dick Johnson and his daughter, Pam.

After Dick Johnson was injured in an accident, Avery Sparr and his partner Arnold Soper have taken a bigger and bigger leadership interest in the Circle J. Unbeknownst to Dick or his daughter, Sparr also had Soper register a new cattle brand. In a time before the West was fenced off with barbed wire, ownership of each cow (and the potential profit it represented) was based on the brand it wore. By trusting the wrong men, Dick has given Sparr the opportunity to organize a slow takeover of his entire business. Even worse, Sparr has used the opportunity posed by Dick's injury to make Dick and his daughter, Pam, prisoners in their own home.

Hopalong had some inkling of trouble at the Circle J from a letter Pam sent him before he left the Bar 20. Mixed in with the standard greetings and conversation was a coded call for help. The more Hoppy finds out about Sparr, Soper and their gunmen, the more convinced he becomes the he needs to rescue Dick and Pam and set things right on the Circle J.

My Reaction: I didn't know any of the Hopalong Cassidy background until I reached the Afterword of this book. That didn't really effect my enjoyment of the story. Some of the characters from Clarence Mulford's original Bar 20 stories make appearances, but they're all clearly labeled as friend or foe. This book is really more of a stand alone story, like a Western TV series with one-shot episodes instead of long-term story arcs.

If you've ever seen a Western-themed movie or TV series, you'll have a good idea what to expect from The Rustlers of West Fork. The good guys are full of common sense wisdom, courage, and grit. The bad guys are cowardly, conniving, and bloodthirsty. I enjoyed L'Amour's descriptions of the lands and history of how towns like Horse Springs developed and the way a clever man could try to takeover an entire ranch without raising any suspicions.

I was also more impressed with the Pam character than I had expected to be. She wasn't able to protect the family business from these high-class rustlers, but she did manage to get a message out for help and work with Hoppy on his rescue plans.

Western Slang: The language in this book is beautiful. Some of the slang reminds me of my father-in-law, but taken to the extreme. Some I had to ask my husband for translations. Here's a sample.

• "plumb salty" - street-wise, crafty, (maybe a "gun-slick") opposite of a "pilgrim" or "soft-tailed tenderfoot"
• "Boot Hill" - the graveyard
• "played hob" - cause trouble
  
• "hoss" or "cayuse" = horse
  

Bottom Line: This book is the Western equivalent of a serial romance novel. It's not earth-shaking or epic, but it is a fun read and a good entry into the genre for people not familiar with Westerns.

Visit Shonda at her blog Texas Red Books

Louis L'Amour Hopalong Cassidy Novels - Background

In the spring and summer of 1950, Hopalong Cassidy's Western Magazine published 4 new novels about a classic character, written by a new writer named Tex Burns. The books were commissioned by Doubleday's Double D Western imprint. The titles of the novels were The Rustlers of West Fork, Trail to Seven Pines, Riders of High Rock and Trouble Shooter.

Clarence Mulford created the cowboy-hero, Hopalong Cassidy, who later appeared in 118 TV episodes and films (acted by Bill Boyd). Between 1906 and 1908, Clarence wrote a series of magazine stories that were collected into a book called Bar 20. These stories were set in the American western frontier in the 1850s-60s and included several characters, including Bill Cassidy, who became known as "Hopalong" because of a pronounced limp that resulted from a bullet wound. From 1906 - 1941 Clarence wrote more than two dozen novels about Hopalong and the Bar 20 ranch characters. In addition to the limp, Hoppy always had the black outfit, white horse, and nickel-plated guns in the books and films. The author agreed to let the production studios clean up the "foul-mouthed, hard-drinking, but basically realistic character" from the books to make him acceptable for the screen.

Clarence retired from writing in 1941, after which 30 Hopalong movies were made. Doubleday organized a magazine that would be dedicated entirely to stories about Hoppy (and support the movies that were coming out). Clarence declined to come out of retirement to write the books, but agreed to select his successor. The editor of Better Publications recommended several of their magazine writers to Clarence, including a young Louis L'Amour (who had been writing for the magazine for 10 years). Clarence chose Louis to write the new novels for the magazine. According to the Afterword to The Rustlers of West Fork, by Beau L'Amour, Louis L'Amour's son, at the time Louis was living in Los Angeles, writing for magazines, and subletting the room he was living in.

Louis agreed to write the Hopalong novels, and even to follow the Bill Boyd on-screen version of the character and the very detailed plot instructions put forth by Better Publications. Louis later referred to these books as works for hire, and looking back, the publisher certainly controlled the tone and content of the novels. According to a January 4, 1950 letter, these stories were to include Hopalong as "a free lance trouble shooter, drifting along and settling range, town and other western problems.... There may be a slight woman interest in the stories, but it should be handled so that it is more a case of hero worship ... let's forget the limp."

The publisher even created the author name that it wanted Louis to use for these works, Tex Burns. The copyright for one of the four Hopalong Cassidy stories above, though, ended up being filed as "Louis L'Amour" rather than Tex Burns. According to Louis's son's speculation, at some point a fan, editor, reporter or someone else asked Louis about writing the Hopalong Cassidy books. Louis began denying the books because of the interaction with the publisher and then he felt he had no choice but to continue to deny writing them. The books weren't officially acknowledged, according to http://www.answers.com/topic/louis-l-amour, until the family re-published the books 3 years after Louis's death.

Nevertheless, these four books are part of the earliest published writings of an author who would go on to sell more than 225 million books around the world. As part of the Louis L'Amour collection, these books come with a request. Just before his death, according to the afterword, Louis asked Beau to include a request in his final book for all his readers. "Dad wanted to ask you, whoever are, to go out and plant a tree. He didn't care what kind and he didn't care where you put it. He only cared that thousands of trees are cut down every day and few are ever replaced....Louis wanted you to do this for yourself, to do this for your future."

Tomorrow we'll start with the first of the four reviews of these unusual books, the Rustlers of West Fork.

Visit Shonda at her blog Texas Red Books

Sunday Post - Reading Challenges 2010

Have you seen all the 2010 reading challenges that have been popping up all over blogland? I have seen some wonderful challenges and have signed up for a few already. Next Sunday on Royal Reviews we will begin posting all our challenges for 2010.

Challenges will be:

• Historical Reading Challenge
  
• Fantasy Reading Challenge
  
• Romance Reading Challenge
  
• Wish I'd Read That Reading Challenge
  
• 1st in a Series Reading Challenge
  
• 2nd Reading Challenge
  
• Finish Your Series Reading Challenge
  
• Audio Book Reading Challenge
  
• E-Book Reading Challenge

Here are some links to other blogs running wonderful reading challenges in 2010:

• J. Kaye's Book Blog
  
• MizB's Reading Challenge Blog

• Jenny Love to Read
  
• Book Chick City
  
• Bookishgal
  
• Bibliophile by the Sea
  
• 1 More Chapter
  
• A Novel Challenge - this is where many blog hosts list their challenges

This Week:
The week on Royal we will be learning more about Western novels from Princess of the Wild Wild West - Shonda from Texas Red Books.

As long as you weren't hiding under a rock this week you know that New Moon hit cinemas. I along with a couple of Royal Review pals (who shall remain nameless) was crazy enough to go to a midnight screening. I thought that like Twilight they did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the book and it was converted reasonably well to film. Although I did have a couple of gripes they were only minor. If you are a fan of this series of books then I doubt you will be disappointed by the movie. Now if only I could get to see Time Traveler's Wife.

Well that's it for me this week, if you know of, or are running any challenges yourself then please leave us a link in the comments section so that we can check them out. Have a great week!

Happy Reading
Alaine

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 384

Rating: 3.5/5

From the authors site:
Meet the Roncalli and Angelini families, a vibrant cast of colorful characters who navigate tricky family dynamics with hilarity and brio, from magical Manhattan to the picturesque hills of bella Italia. In this luscious, contemporary family saga, the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. The company is on the verge of financial collapse. It falls to thirty-three-year old Valentine Roncalli, the talented and determined apprentice to her grandmother, the master artisan Teodora Angelini, to bring the family’s old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century and save the company from ruin.

While juggling a budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother to learn new techniques and seek one-of-a-kind materials for building a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. There, in Tuscany, Naples, and on the Isle of Capri, a f amily secret is revealed as Valentine discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life and the family business upside down in ways she never expected.

Book Review:
This is a book filled with laughs, sorrow, romance, and the love for your family and the love for shoes. They play a big part in this book and she presents those doing it the old fashioned way. A way that might be forgotten today. It’s the first book in a trilogy but it can be read as a standalone novel. The next book, Brava Valentine is out in February 2010.

Valentine gave up much to make shoes and she loves her job. It is what she was born to do. She a person easy to like for the reader, even if she herself does not always think so. She is the funnyone in her family, not the brain, not the beauty, and that has colored her. But she is in her best element when she is creative and making shoes. But it looks like the company might be going under, and they need help fast. A situation is presented that might give them a chance. She will be able to prove herself and make her family see that this is what she wants and is great at. The Angelini shoe company might live to see another day.

Trigiani knows how to write a compelling book. It has humor in hidden depths and it’s an easy book to read, but a hard book to put down. The family dynamics is real and they argue a lot, but they also love each other fiercely. Everything is not always that easy when it comes to family and love. Her grandmother is my favorite, she has spirit and she has a little story of her own in this book. A sweet story that is not to be missed.

The romance is not easy either in this book. It deals with real life and two very busy people. They hardly have time for each other and their budding romance. Valentine deserves her romance and even if this can be read as a standalone novel it does make you curious what will happen in the next one. How does the romance go, and what about their little shoe company? Because they do make the most remarkable shoes, and I do love shoes, and reading about them.

It’s a warm novel, and she knows what she is doing. She brings in a little of everything into the book so there is something for everyone and all ages. If you want some romance, some smiles, some hard times, and some shoes then this might be a book for you.


Thanks to Linda from Book Girl from Mur-y-Castell for this great review!

KISS OF CRIMSON (Book 2, Midnight Breed Series) by Lara Adrian

Genre: Romance/Paranormal

Copyright: May 29, 2007

Pages: 416 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 3/5

KISS OF CRIMSON is the second book in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series. I fell completely in love with the first book, A KISS OF MIDNIGHT. In this second installment, there is a deadly drug that’s turning vampires into Rouges. When a vampire turns into a Rouge, he savagely kills any human that crosses his path. Dante is on the drug trail when he is injured. He stumbles into a veterinarian clinic late one night where he meets Tess Culver. All he needs is a little of her blood to heal. Once he’s done, he’ll wipe her memory and no one will be the wiser. Too late did he discover Tess was a Breedmate. Once a vampire drinks a Breedmate’s blood, their bonding begins.

With his brethren in danger of this drug, Dante doesn’t have time to deal with Tess. He soon discovers that Tess is somehow connected, only she has no clue. He will also come to understand the power this bond has over him. Unfortunately, Tess has no idea who Dante is. By the time she finds out, the bonding ritual is done.

What I loved in book one wasn’t found in book two. In the first book of this series, the author focused on just the love interest of the two main characters, Gabrielle Maxwell and Lucan Thorne. In this story, it was split between Dante/Tess and Chase/Elise. I really find that distracting and have to skim the story when it splits off from the main two characters. That could be why I was halfway through the book before the story hooked me.

Will I continue with this series? You betcha! I do have one recommendation and that’s to start with book one and read the series in order. Each book is a continuation from the previous one.


Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog

THE SEDUCTION OF SNOW WHITE by Cathy Yardley

Genre: Romance/Fairytale

Copyright: June 3, 2008

Pages: 272 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 3/5

CRAVE is a modern-day story, loosely patterned after the classic tale of Snow White, only this one is adult rated. Beth Cordova barely escaped her stepmother who intended to killer her. She found refuge under another name with a group of people called the Penitents in rural Pennsylvania. They were shut off from the outside world, which is why Beth felt safe until a new arrival came to the compound.

Stephen Trent is an investigative reporter. His boss sent him undercover in order to dig up dirt on the Penitents, but he knew this was punishment over his last assignment. Two things he didn’t expect from this assignment. One was to find a princess who had disappeared and rumored to be dead. Two, he’d never expected to fall so deeply in love.

The cult leaders aren’t what they appear. Beth finds out that her stepmother isn’t the only evil person intent on killing her. Stephen tries to get Beth out, but places himself in the middle of danger as well. This assignment might just be his last.

While the story is creative in the location and set-up, I had a difficult time connecting with the hero and heroine. I also didn’t feel the intensity of the story. Of course, that might be my inability to bond with the main characters. This is the first book I’ve read by Cathy Yardley. I’d like to give her other book, RAVISH, a go before making up my mind.


Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog

UNMASQUED: AN EROTIC NOVEL OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Colette Gale

Genre: Historical Romance

Copyright: August 7, 2007

Pages: 352 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 5/5

As sad as this might sound, I’ve never read the original PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I did watch the movie with Gerard Butler and the book followed along somewhat. The part that really had me excited was the way this story was told. The book opened with a Biographer’s Note. In it, the author claimed to have received the personal diaries of Miss Christine Daaè. This story is Christine’s story. From the beginning, this book had a realistic feel to it.

The story unfolds much like the classic, but with some interesting additives. There are rumors of a Opera Ghost who is blamed for anything wrong that happens. Christine, a chorus singer at the Opera House, knows him as her angel who has protected her, tutored her, and is the inspiration behind her singing. What she doesn’t realize is that he has fallen deeply in love with her.

When Christine takes center stage, Victome Raoul de Changy, a childhood friend, is in the audience along with his brother, Philippe. On that night, she steals Raoul’s heart with her beautiful voice, but his brother wants to possess her too. Soon she’s caught in an erotic web of seduction.

This was my second book to read by Colette Gale and though I enjoyed both, this was by far my favorite. In both books, the author has the ability to portray the deep pain of betrayal on paper. She does it in such a manner, parts of the book are hard to read and I have to stop to catch my breath. This is definitely the best historical fiction I’ve read in a long time – lots of sizzle and plenty of adventure.

Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog

Sunday Post - Need New Reviewers

This past week I've been in contact with all our Royal Reviewers to find out who has to time to commit to being a Royal Reviewer in 2010. As life changes and demands on our time change we make decisions accordingly. What this means is that we are looking for two new permanent reviewers and seven new guest reviewers.

Permanent Reviewer:
If you'd like to be a permanent reviewer you would be required to contribute four reviews every three months. Each review is to be done the week before it is due (if you don't think you can keep up with this commitment then please don't apply). A choice of genres and weeks is sent out well in advance and then you nominate which weeks you'd like to participate in. The reviews are spread out over different weeks and we will be specifically looking for reviewers who love historical fiction. You are also expected to respond to our lovely readers comments (especially when your reviews go up) and also pick one of the challenges we will be running and be a cheerleader for that.

Guest Reviewer (Lady in Waiting):
Guest reviewers are required to do one review every three months. I also often call on Guest Reviewers to help out if I am short on reviews or someone is sick. Guest reviews will go up every Friday next year and are required to be completed and emailed to me the week before they are due.

Please email royalreviews at bigpond dot com with details about which position you'd like to apply for and an other relevant information including which genres you read the most.

This Week on Royals:
It's Romance week on Royals featuring the Countess of Hearts, The Princess from the Past and a Lady in Waiting. Who doesn't love a good romance especially at this time of year, so have your TBR lists ready as I'm sure you will add to it this week.

Well that's it from me, sadly I haven't been reading much myself lately but I'm hoping that will all change this week as I have a little more time. Have a great week!

Happy Reading
Alaine

The Reluctant Queen by Jean Plaidy

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: Released 2007

Pages: 464

Rating: 5 Crowns

Jean Plaidy’s The Reluctant Queen is the story of Anne of York, wife to King Richard III. Anne was born the second daughter to the Earl of Warwick, also known as "The Kingmaker" and along with her sister Isabel, was one of the greatest heiresses in the country. Unfortunately, being an heiress also means you are little more than a pawn, to be moved hither and thither at the fancy of others.

Anne’s father Warwick was an ambitious, austere man and as he had helped place Edward IV on the throne, he was known as “The Kingmaker”. Being so close to the royal family, Anne grew up around the king’s brothers, George (Duke of Clarence) and Richard (Duke of Gloucester) at the Warwick home of Middleham. Middleham would prove to be a big part of Anne’s life, as she and Richard would live there years later as husband and wife – it was the place they always considered home, the place where their affection for each other began.

The amiable relationship between Warwick and King Edward comes to an end when Edward secretly marries a commoner (and some say witch), Elizabeth Woodville – thus eradicating all the hard work Warwick had put into negotiating with France for a bride for Edward. It was a blatant lack of respect for all that he had done for Edward. So, now that Warwick has lost his puppet, he moves on to the next in line to the throne, Edward’s brother, George. One way he did that was marry his eldest daughter Isabel to George. However, over time he proves himself unworthy of a crown and Warwick turns sides, to Lancaster. He approaches Margaret of Anjou and sets before her a proposal, he will help her overthrow Edward and place Henry VI back on the throne and he secures the agreement with the betrothal of Anne and Prince Edward, Margaret and Henry’s son, the heir to Lancaster. Anne is terrified. She was brought up to hate the Lancastrians and now she is forced to marry the son of her father's worst enemies. As collateral Anne is placed in the care of Margaret of Anjou. A serious and formidable woman, she is quite the opposite of Anne….however, during Anne's time with Margaret they form a bond. Margaret can relate to Anne’s sadness at being apart from her family and her feeling of fear for marrying a stranger and though she is the daughter of her enemy, Margaret comes to care for her.

Warwick and the Lancastrians succeed in defeating York, King Edward is taken prisoner and Henry VI is back on the throne. The celebration, however, is short lived - Warwick loses his life at the Battle of Barnet and Prince Edward dies at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Margaret of Anjou is taken prisoner and Anne is reunited with her sister, Isabel and placed in the care of her brother-in-law, the shady Duke of Clarence. Now that Anne is free of her betrothal, she and Richard are free to marry. They make their home at Middleham, where they raise their son, a frail child named Edward.

When King Edward dies, Richard is named Lord Protector, in charge of protecting the heirs to the throne. After certain facts come to light, Edward’s two sons are declared bastards and the crown passes to Richard. Anne’s biggest fear is realized, she is now Queen. This is a role she has never wanted – her only dream was to live quietly at Middleham and away from the treachery at court. Never a robust woman, Anne is only in her early 30s (and 2 years a Queen) when she dies. Sadly, she passed with doubts of Richard’s love in her heart and amidst rumors of Richard courting his niece, Elizabeth of York.

While Anne of York’s story is far from envious, it is a story worth knowing.

The King's Grace by Anne Easter Smith

Genre: Historical

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 581

Rating: 5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: The bestselling author of A Rose for the Crown and Daughter of York takes a young woman that history noticed only once and sets her on a quest for the truth about the murder of two boys and a man who claims to be king.

All that history knows of Grace Plantagenet is that she was an illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and one of two attendants aboard the funeral barge of his widowed queen. Thus, she was half sister of the famous young princes, who—when this story begins in 1485—had been housed in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, and are presumed dead.

But in the 1490s, a young man appears at the courts of Europe claiming to be Richard, duke of York, the younger of the boys, and seeking to claim his rightful throne from England's first Tudor king, Henry VII. But is this man who he says he is? Or is he Perkin Warbeck, a puppet of Margaret of York, duchess of Burgundy, who is determined to regain the crown for her York family? Grace Plantagenet finds herself in the midst of one of English history's greatest mysteries. If she can discover the fate of the princes and the true identity of Perkin Warbeck, perhaps she will find her own place in her family.

Book Review: I have really enjoyed all of Anne Easter Smith's historical fiction novels. Since reading all three of the books I have gained a much deeper understanding of the Yorks, Lancasters and Tudors. This was a gap in my knowledge of British history so I'm glad I have a better picture in my mind.

Grace Plantagenet is the bastard daughter of Edward Plantagenet and Grace is used as the storyteller for the beginning of the Tudor reign. For most of her life she grew up in the company of her cousins and Edward's Queen. She is a faithful, gentle and loving daughter to her step mother and they form a close bond. Grace is with her in her final days and promises to find out if one of her sons (the two princes in the tower) is still alive.

This promise puts Grace in conflict with her half sister the Queen as she is married to their families enemy. It even had her banished from court for a few years, causing long separations from her husband who was in the service of the King's maternal uncle. There is no doubt that this book gives the reader the concept of fear of King Henry VII through Grace's eyes and a better understanding of why Henry VIII turned out the way he did.

The thing I really liked about reading all three of these books is that they tie into each other, obviously it is the same family but various stories are weaved together to give you a clearer picture and deeper understanding. Although the mystery of the two princes in the tower and what happened to them will, I fear, remain an unsolved historical mystery.

I absolutely loved Anne Easter Smith's historical fictions and I highly recommend them to any lover of this genre. Anne's next book is due to be published in the fall of 2010. Check Anne's website for details.

Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings

Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 592

Rating: 3/5

From the author's website:
Daughter of York re-visits many of the characters from "A Rose for the Crown," as we follow Margaret, sister of Edward IV and Richard III, from the court of England where, as a pawn in Edward's political schemes, she is kept single until she is 22, when a Burgundian alliance is forged through her marriage to Charles the Bold, the new Duke of Burgundy.

Despite fulfilling her duty to her new country with intelligence and aplomb, Margaret never forgets she is an English princess and a daughter of the House of York. Her homesickness is exacerbated by having to leave behind the love of her life. Fate brings them together rarely after she becomes duchess to a man she only met a week before her marriage, and whom she discovers suffers from such a grandiose view of his place in history that he is capable of great cruelty towards anyone who stands in his way. He also prefers spending time on a battlefield than at home with his wife. She finds solace in the bond she forges with her new young stepdaughter, her friendship with William Caxton, learning to rule her new country, and her unusual confidante, a dwarf named Fortunata. But once in a while, she breaks the rules in the arms of her one true love...

My Thoughts:
This book covers a 20 year span in Margaret York's life. From Christmas 1461, a few months before the crowning of Edward IV, to 1480, three years after the death of Charles of Burgundy. All of the trials and tribulations of the York family are seen through Margaret's eyes. To her, family is everything and she loves her mother and especially her brothers very deeply. Margaret is proud to be a York. Being the King's sister makes Margaret a pawn, thus arranging the most advantageous marriage possible takes about six years. Margaret finally marries Charles the Bold when she is 23, but they have no children.

Margaret was very unhappy to leave to leave England. However through this marriage she comes into her own. Burgundy is a rich and powerful court, so Margaret's courtly training pays off. Although she is away from family and her beloved England, Margaret stays abreast of all her family's doings, and even convinces her husband to offer shelter to Edward IV while her other brother George, Duke of Clarence, helped to lead a rebellion.

Margaret is a likable character. Her anxiousness to be married and settled, and her love for her family is palpable to the reader. Unfortunately, the plot of this book was way too s-l-o-w for me. I lost interest and skimmed quite a few chapters.

There were two aspects of the book which I did like. One, the portrayal of Margaret and her mother, Proud Cis as normal, likable people. My past encounters with the both of them always painted them in a negative light. Cis and Margaret are usually portrayed as evil, mean spirited witches. In Smith's book they are nice, family oriented people. I would not hesitate to sit down with a mug of ale and a trencher with them, no problem.

The second aspect of the book, is that I learned a bit about Richard III, Margaret's younger brother. I know very little about Richard III, and I believe most people have a love/hate opinion about him. In this book, he seems to be the most serious and forthright brother of the York bunch. I would love to read more about him, so if you have any recommendations please let me know.

Smith creates a secret love relationship between Margaret and Lord Anthony Scales. Unfortunately, the author's note at the end of the book left me disappointed upon learning the truth. I guess something had to be created for Margaret since her real life was apparently pretty boring. Maybe that's why authors like to make her a witch.

As I said previously, I had to slog through this book due to the snail-like plot. The descriptions and secondary characters were richly described. Although, I wasn't crazy about Elizabeth Neville either. Now she just might be a witch.

I have heard good things about Smith's other two books, A Rose for the Crown, and The King's Grace. I think I just picked a dud.



Thanks to

from Jenny Loves to Read or this great review!

A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2006

Pages: 672

Rating: 5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: AN UNFORGETTABLE HEROINE, A KING MISUNDERSTOOD BY HISTORY, A LOVE STORY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD.

A Rose for the Crown, we meet one of history's alleged villains through the eyes of a captivating new heroine -- the woman who was the mother of his illegitimate children, a woman who loved him for who he really was, no matter what the cost to herself. As Kate Haute moves from her peasant roots to the luxurious palaces of England, her path is inextricably intertwined with that of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III. Although they could never marry, their young passion grows into a love that sustains them through war, personal tragedy, and the dangerous heights of political triumph. Anne Easter Smith's impeccable research provides the backbone of an engrossing and vibrant debut from a major new historical novelist.

Book Review: A Rose for the Crown is a beautifully written and well told story set in a fantastic historical background. This is first and foremost a work of fiction about a made up character (Anne's description) that has been interwoven with historical facts. It is such a well thought out story and it is my favourite kind of historical fiction. In my opinion, books like this bring history to life. This book is full of wonderful characters and I loved reading their stories!

Kate leaves her family home at a tender age to live with her cousin as a companion. There she learns a lot about herbs and healing and becomes best friends with her cousin. Kate is married off to an older man that fortunately doesn't live to long and then she marry's for love, or does she? But the man that she would give her heart to completely and no other is Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Over time she would give him three children, two of them sons.

This is novel takes us to the end of the Yorkist period and into the Tudor raine. It is an excellent account of history blended perfectly with fiction. I loved the way Richard of York, the final York King was portrayed as a compassionate and noble man. I highly recommend this wonderful historical novel!

Anne Easter Smith has written three historical books the most recent being The King's Grace and prior to that, Daughter of York. Anne's next book is due to be published in the fall of 2010.

Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings

Sunday Post

This week on Royal Reviews we will be looking back in time to have a little history lesson. The War of the Roses will be our topic and the focus of our reviews. Amy from Passage to the Past will have a couple of reviews for us, as well as me (Queen of Happy Endings) and Jen from Jenny Loves to Read. Up until a few months ago I didn't know a whole lot about the War of the Roses and the house of Lancaster and York. So join us this week and share any books that you've read about these fascinating families.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year and it's fast approaching. It's only a matter of weeks before we will be pulling out our Christmas trees and decorating our homes.

Kate at The Neverending Book Shelf is running a Secret Santa. I thought it was such a fun idea that I'd tell you all about it. It is open to international bloggers and ends on November 15th so hurry and check it out.

The Bride Finder - Susan Carroll

Genre: Romance

Copyright: 1998

Pages: 416

Rating: 4.5/5 Crowns


Book Synopsis: Chosen by the Bride Finder, a man blessed with amazing insight, Madeline Breton has come to Cornwall to meet her new husband, the enigmatic Anatole St. Leger. But her dream of happiness soon diffuses in his overpowering shadow. Anatole knows only too well the legacies that to him have been more curses than gifts. But as Madeline embarks on an odyssey both otherworldly and undeniably real, she and her husband fall hopelessly in love--until she sees a haunting vision of murder and a terrifying enemy emerges to threaten both their lives. . . .

Book Review: This beautiful story pushed all the right buttons. I was caught up in the vivid tale of ghosts, mysticism, love, family tradition, legend & vendettas.

The men of the St Ledger family must accept the partner chosen for them by the Bride Finder, to do otherwise risks disaster. Practical Madeline Breton arrives in Cornwall to meet her husband, the tormented Anatole St Ledger and the story that follows became a page turner for me (which pleasantly surprised me.)

The story unfolded at a believable pace and Carroll's writing made for an effortless emotional connection with the characters and the gothic setting. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance with a spellbinding dose of supernatural.

Visit Teddyree at her blog The Eclectic Reader

Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter

Series: Alien Huntress - Book One

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Sci-Fi

Copyright: 2006

Pages: 358

Rating: 4.5/5

Awaken Me Darkly is best described as a futuristic romance for readers who want only to dip their toes into the waters of science fiction. Gena Showalter weaves an earthly future where hundreds of different alien races have become a dangerous and seductive part of reality, inspiring both fear and awe in humankind. This book gives you the opportunity to take a trip to the edges of the author’s imagination…and I have to tell you, it’s a very sexy place to be.

The book’s heroine, Mia Snow, has to be one of the most fun female characters I’ve read in a romance in a long time. You’ve heard of the alpha-male; Mia is the definitive alpha-female. She really is a take-no-prisoners kinda gal and even though she is a mega-bitch (or ‘super bitch’ as she prefers) you can’t help cheering for her…even when she is breaking all the rules of decency. I would love to count how many times she punches the hero in the face in the course of the novel; my best is probably eight times. You may think that sounds horrible but in some bizarre way it actually heightens the sexual tension between them.

Let me explain: The hero of this novel is Kyrin – a highly sexual alien with psychic abilities and a body to make any human girl weak at the knees (Mia being no exception). The problem is that Mia is essentially a special agent licensed to kill predatory aliens without a trial and Kyrin has something she needs desperately to save her friend’s life. Used to using her fists to elicit answers from suspects, she has no hesitation beating the hell out of the hero and being the gentleman that he is….he lets her! I should disclose that he has incredible healing abilities which mean that he recovers almost instantly from each blow she dishes out and rather than hurt her or defend himself, he usually lets her get a few blows in before pinning her underneath him. Considering this man is pure sexual heat and makes no reservations about wanting Mia to himself, this infuriates her to no end.

It seemed as though the ending of every chapter was laced with a cliff-hanger, causing me to virtually inhale the pages of this book. So many times I found myself thinking ‘I’ll just finish this chapter,’ and still be sitting in the same place half an hour later. If you’re a savvy reader then you’ll pick the secrets of the plot before they are disclosed so don’t read this novel expecting too many ‘OHMYGODIDON’TBELIEVEIT!’ moments because you will probably see them coming however it won’t stop you from wanting to confirm your suspicions.

My only wish is that there was more of this novel and more of these characters. I’m not content that I will not get to read any more about Mia and Kyrin and find myself wishing the rest of the series had been about these two alone (although I’m sure I will fall in love with future characters too). It also felt like the book wrapped up a little too quickly. It did feel like it could do with at least an extra 50 pages and made me wonder if an editor had any influence over the length. This is a pretty minor issue though and just means it leaves you wanting more.

Granted, in Australia, it sometimes feels like I’m living under a book-rock however I am so surprised I hadn’t really heard of this series or heard many recommendations for this author! Thank heavens the Brisbane City Council Library has its finger on the pulse when it comes to romance novels – I probably never would’ve found this author otherwise considering you can’t buy her work in Aussie book shops. Awaken Me Darkly has well and truly hooked me as a Showalter fan so I’ll be ordering the rest of this series from Book Depository this week.

Visit Annie @ her blog Reading, Writing & Ranting

Along for the Ride by Sarah Desson

Pages: 383

Copyright: 2009

Genre: YA Romance

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Synopsis: Riding a bike is only one of the many things Auden's missed out on. Even before her parents' divorce, she was cast in the role of little adult, never making waves, focusing on academics to please her demanding mother.

Now she's spending the summer before college in the tiny beach town of Colby with her father and his new wife and baby. A job in a trendy boutique introduces her to the world of girls, their friendships, conversations, romances. And then there's Eli, an intriguing loner. A former star on the bike circuit and a fellow insomniac, Eli introduces Auden to the nocturnal world of Colby. Together they embark on a quest: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she's been denied; for Eli, to put a tragic episode behind him. Combine two lonely people with a charming beach town and an endless supply of long summer nights, and just about anything can happen.

Review: At the beginning of this book, I thought perhaps I was very similar to Auden. Like her, I often find it easier, and nicer, to be by myself and caught up in books or just alone with my thoughts. But as you get further into the book, you find that Auden isn't necessarily happier to be alone, she's just so socially behind that she doesn't know how to connect with people. We accompany her on her journey of self discovery, learning just how much of her is aimed to please her mother rather than herself...maybe she does want to be normal after all!

I found it endearing just how clueless Auden is when it comes to other people, and I suspect some of the people I went to high school with were the same way. I personally love stories about people finding themselves, especially when it helps me learn something about myself. To an extent, I also felt like I was experiencing typical rites of passage for the first time, such as a food fight or having a paper route.
This is also an interesting look into small town life, where everyone knows each other, learning the history of each of them more through their knowledge of each rather than from a first hand account. It challenges you to go beyond your initial impression of people, teaching you that even when everyone is so intimately involved in the lives of everyone around them, you can still be surprised.

I really enjoyed the characters and their interaction with each other, including the Auden at the beginning of the book and the person she becomes at the end. Her interactions with Eli, how they both help each other heal and become more complete people, was especially touching for me to read. It's so sad to see people that young as broken as they are, and it makes it that much more satisfying as you see them come back together and become the people they should be.

I'd never read anything by Sarah Dessen before, but now that I have, I'm a fan for sure. I feel like she has a great insight into what a YA reader is looking for, and manages to make the subject matter interesting for adults as well. While the end of many books leaves me wishing there were more, this one wraps itself up nicely and although I would love to see what college and the future holds for Auden, I am happy to she where she ends up when the book is finished.

I thought this was a great book as an adult, but I think it's an especially good read for teen girls, and will hopefully help them see that they are all unique and it's never too late to change. More importantly, that it's okay to be different.

Thanks to Crystal from I'm Totally Paused for this wonderful guest blogger review!

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Genre: Historical Fiction
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 320
Rating: 4/5

Book Synopsis: For Bess Heath, 1915 is the year her life changes dramatically. Set against the backdrop of the dawning era of hydro-electricity and the First World War, Bess comes home from boarding school to discover that her father has lost his job and her sister has changed dramatically from the girl she had known only the year before.

The same night as she discovers all these changes, Bess meets Tom Cole, the fearless, and rough riverman. He has made a life for himself of being able to predict the behavior of the Niagara River and Falls. That ability has made him into a local hero and a threat to the power companies.

Bess finds herself drawn to the young man despite her family's disapproval, and over the course of the next year the two lives become more and more closely entwined.

Book Review: Cathy Marie Buchanan has woven a fascinating mix of history and fiction in this, her first novel. Everything about it shows that balance between what was real and what she chose to make up. The events described really do feel like they could have happened as she described them. That's because many of them really did happen. I can't say for sure if all of them did, but last month I was on a tour of Niagara Falls, and that's what inspired me to pick up this book. While on the tour, we saw the wreck of the grounded scow, which still sits on the riverbed today. We also saw photos of some of the daredevils and stuntpeople who ventured the falls and survived (or not). All of that really added to the atmosphere of The Day The Falls Stood Still for me. However, I really don't think you have to have seen the falls to see the grandeur and awe they inspire in this book.

The other thing that added to the mix of history and fiction combined in this book is the use of archival photos at the start of many of the chapters. There's the ice bridge, pictures of the stunts, the powerhouses, and the falls themselves (among many others).

Tom Cole is, according to the author's note, closely based on a historical figure called William "Red" Hill. I can't say anything about it, not knowing the local history, but Tom is an interesting character, as is Bess Heath, the protagonist and viewpoint character of the story.

The Day The Falls Stood Still is rich with details and imagery of the First World War years, all told from the point of view of a woman who stayed at home to support the children while her husband enlisted. It's interesting the way life in those years is portrayed in this book. Scrimping and saving on food, while still wearing individually tailored dresses in fancy materials with embroidery and beadwork.

By the end of the book I found that I really had gotten to like Bess, and she'd become a 'real' person to me with all her flaws and quirks. All of the characters filled out and became true individuals. However, I found the book a bit slow starting. That could have been just me though. Regardless of a slow start, it really took off at the start of the second part, and kept me up late.

The Day The Falls Stood Still is a book I'm glad to have read, and I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for anything else by Cathy Marie Buchanan in the future.


Thanks to Elena @ All Booked Up for this fantastic guest review.

Review: The Perfect Royal Mistress by Diane Haeger

Genre: Historical

Copyright: 2007

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 Crowns

Book Synopsis: Born into poverty and raised in a brothel, Nell Gwynne sells oranges in the pit at London’s King’s Theater, newly reopened after the plague and the Great Fire devastated the city. Soon, her quick sense of humor and natural charm get her noticed by those who have the means to make her life easier. But the street-smart Nell knows a woman doesn’t get ahead by selling her body. Through talent, charm, intelligence, and sheer determination—as well as a keen understanding of how the world operates—Nell works her way out of the pit and onto the stage to become the leading comedic actress of the day. Her skills and beauty quickly win the attention of all of London—eventually even catching the eye of King Charles II. Their attraction is as real as it is unlikely, and the scrappy orange girl with the pretty face and the quick wit soon finds herself plunged into the confusing and dangerous world of the court, where she learns there are few she can trust—and many whom she cannot turn her back on.

From the gritty streets of seventeenth-century London, to the backstage glamour of its theaters, to the glittering court of Charles II, The Perfect Royal Mistress is a love story for the ages, the rags-to-riches tale of a truly remarkable heroine.

Book Review: This really is a remarkable Cinderella story from an amazing story-teller. To watch Nell start with absolutely nothing and rise to become the favourite of the royal mistresses to Charles II is incredible to say the least. I fell in love with this gutsy heroine for her attitude towards life and her ability to use humour to cope with the many difficulties she faced. We could certainly all do with a dose of that in our lives! What a refreshing character.

On the subject of being the King's mistress though, I do have to say that after finishing this book, I have come to the conclusion that Charles II was undoubtedly a man whore. There's just no pretty way to say it - he chased everything that moved and I wouldn't be surprised if what he really died from was a sexually transmitted disease. That man could not keep his hands to himself (and bravo to Diane for writing about it!) This is the second novel I’ve read about him and both authors certainly painted the same picture of him.

Having said that, the author really does illuminate the complexities of the King and (from what I know) stays true to what is known about him accurately. I really enjoyed the intricate natures of both the main characters and it is certainly a story I'd like to revisit again at some point. Diane Haeger really knows how to bring history to life and make it relevant to the modern reader. If you were morbidly fascinated by Henry VIII and want to read about another English King who pushed the envelope of propriety then you can't go past this book.


Giveaway Alert!

Diane's latest novel, The Queen's Mistake has just been released and to celebrate we are giving it away this month on Royal Reviews. Leave a comment telling us your favourite Diane Haeger book and be a follower and you could win a copy of this book. Winner will be announced on the Sunday Post, November 29.

Book Synopsis: From the author of The Secret Bride, the tragic tale of the fifth wife of Henry VIII…

When the young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of the fifty-year-old King Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her undoing. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart’s desire in favor of her family’s ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who sought to bring her down a most effective weapon—her own romantic past.

The Queen’s Mistake is the tragic tale of one passionate and idealistic woman who struggles to negotiate the intrigue of the court and the yearnings of her heart.

Visit Alaine at her blog The Queen of Happy Endings