Renegade by Sarah Parr

Genre: Historical romance
Copyright: June 2009
Pages: 320
Rating: 2

Synopsis: Far from England, alone for too long, Captain Jonathon Barry is captivated the instant he sees Jaline - she is too magnificent not to notice. There is a grace to her movements, an elegance to her bearing, that sets her apart even before she lifts her exotic black eyes or speaks. Her voice is intoxicating, soft as velvet with a sweet, lilting quality, as she recounts an evil bargain made against her will. She is to be his mistress, and he may do with her as he pleases. Jonathon is deeply torn, for Jaline is indeed his by right. She is only a slave, the prize he has won in a Constantinople gambling den. Trembling, bared to him, body and soul - oh no - he can see how cruelly she has been treated. It is clear that Jaline is in danger still and he may well be her only hope. Yet even a renegade like Jonathon would risk anything to save so beautiful a woman...and to love her, if she will let him.

My Review: This book, well there is nothing wrong with the author's writing, her imagination and her willingness to explore other lands. But I had a problem with this book, and that was the story itself.

Jonathon, the hero, buys Jaline, sure he does it to save her, but he sure wants her too. Am I supposed to root of for a man who buys himself a mistress? But he grew on me, because he loved her and it showed through out the book. This was a lovestory, at least from his point of view. From his part I truly saw it.

But then there was Jaline. The way she came in to the relationship telling him that ok if I must I will be your mistress, and her being a virgin and all. And she kept on saying that even though he made it clear he would not force her, and he was willing to let her go. Still she wanted to stay, and that is the point I do not get. Stay as a slave when she didn't even love him then? All the decisions she made in this book were strange, and one part was her unwilingness to tell him about his accident that we learnt about early on. That she had raced horses, I never understood why she couldn't just tell him.

So there you go, that is why I had problems with this book. When it came down to it all I geuss it was Jaline.

I am not telling you it was a bad book. No, I am sure many will be swept away with this book and the lovestory that slowy grows between these people. One who wants to love the other person, the other that is scared to be loved. It can be rather bittersweet.

Then there is the danger in the book, Jonathon buys excotic objects and now there seems to be someone after him, or is it after Jaline? The reader does not know for sure. There is some action, and a mystery concerning what really is going on.

I also liked that she started the book in Constantinople in the beginning, I like a romance novel that at lest to some parts takes place in another country, even if they later go to England. It gave more flavour to the book.

Some romance fans will love this concept, even if I didn't.

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The Undoing of a Lady by Nicola Cornick

Genre: Historical Romance


Published: 2009


Pages: 384pp


Rating: 2.5 Crowns

Synopsis: (From the Publisher) Courting scandal since girlhood, free-spirited Lady Elizabeth Scarlet vows there is just one way to save her childhood friend from a loveless marriage: to kidnap him! But Nathaniel is furious. So angry that he challenges her to take their assignation to its natural conclusion and seduce him.

When her inexperienced attempt flares into intense passion, Lizzie is ruined…and hopelessly, unexpectedly, in love with Nathaniel, the Earl of Waterhouse. Now the wild and willful Lizzie must convince Nat that they are a perfect match—in every way.

My Review:Lizzie Scarlet, orphaned at a young age and at the mercy of her two devilish half-brothers, has always been one to divulge in daring activities without a thought about their consequences. In the beginning of this book, we find Lizzie up to one of her most outlandish schemes; she is determined to save her friend from marrying a rich but boring lady. Acting on impulse, Lizzie manages to capture Nat and hold him hostage but unwittingly sets herself in a very compromising position...

Running away is always how Lizzie handles a horrible situation, but when murder and blackmail occur, Lizzie finds she can run no longer. Forced to make life changing decisions, Lizzie sets out on a course that will either leave her blissfully happy or terribly heart broken...

This book was a light and fast paced read that can easily be finished in a couple days. The author definitely has a talent for keeping the ending a surprise. Once the murderer was finally revealed, I was completely shocked. Having really enjoyed the previous two books in the series, I was a bit disappointed with this one. There was little suspense, and when a revelation did occur, it seemed to be glossed over with little reaction from the characters. Also, although Lizzie's eccentric pranks were amusing and well appreciated, some of them were a bit far stretched...not wanting to give away the details, lets just say she acted out the part of "Lady Godiva" in public. Overall I had no trouble finishing the book, but if I had to do it over, I just might pass. If you wish to read this book, I would definitely recommend reading the first two in the series first.

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A Shield of Roses by Mary Pershall

Genre: Historical Romance

Copyright: 1984

Pages: 499

Rating: 2.5/5 Crowns

Synopsis (from back of book): Lady Eve MacMurrough, fairest of Erin's fair flowers, her flashing emerald eyes held secrets no man could resist. Defiant daughter of one king and willful ward of another, she would bring the purity of true love to her marriage bed.

Sir Richard FiztGilbert deClare, sitting astride his great black war horse Taran, no English knight was bolder. To the tempestous Lady Eve he had pledged his troth, but he longed to posses in timeless ecstasy her wild, resisting heart.

Born in a fierce, feudal world as cruel as it was courtly, theirs was the rapturous love destined to change the face of the Irish nation forever.

Review: This 1980’s romance is based on the lives of two historical figures – an Irish Princess Eve (Aoife) MacMurrough and Richard de Clare the son of one of England’s most powerful nobles who would later be known as Strongbow. For those who are interested in “who’s who”, Eve and Richard are the parents of Isabel de Clare, William Marshall’s wife (from Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion. As the animosity intensifies between Eve’s father (the King of Leinster) and other clans, he sends his daughter to England where he believes she will be safe with the family of Gilbert de Clare (Richard’s uncle). Not long after she begins her journey, Eve runs into trouble and is saved by Richard – of course she has no idea who he is and is shocked when she finds out. From there, the story follows the general 1980’s romance formula – they are attracted to each other but don’t want to admit it and suffer through a series of rather contrived misunderstandings until they both finally see sense and admit they’ve been in love the whole time.

A Shield of Roses if full of the usual characters - the young ingénue with a fiery temper who talks too much and usually before she thinks and the handsome, chivalrous knight with the patience of saint who puts up with her. And even though they claim to hate each other, they have great sex - often. Eve has a tendency to find herself in places she shouldn’t be and has to be saved by Richard numerous times.

Despite the somewhat stereotypical characters, I did like reading about some of the “history”. The author admits that she condensed the events of about twenty years into a much shorter time frame for purposes of telling the story and that she has Richard and Eve meeting long before they actually did. Covering the end of the civil war between King Stephen and Matilda through the early years of Henry II’s reign, Eve and Richard have to contend with the politics of the day as they find themselves being used as pawns in England’s desire to conquer Ireland. May of the events in the book did actually take place although not in the time frame indicated. This really would have been a better book if Eve and Richard's lives not been quite so formulized and had Eve really not been so darn guilty of being TSTL.

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And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke

Series: Girl Bachelors, Book 1

Genre: Historical-Regency

Copyright: 2007

Pages: 375

Rating: 4 Crowns

Synopsis: An expert in etiquette, Emma takes her pristine reputation most seriously. But the devilish Lord Marlowe is determined to prove that some rules of proper behavior are made to be broken...

Supremely sensible Emmaline Dove wishes to share her etiquette expertise with London's readers, and as secretary to Viscount Marlowe, Emma knows she's in the perfect position to make her dream come true. Marlowe might be a rake with a preference for can-can dancers and an aversion to matrimony, but he is also the city's leading publisher, and Emma is convinced he's her best chance to see her work in print...until she discovers the lying scoundrel has been rejecting her manuscripts without ever reading a single page!

As a publisher, Harry finds reading etiquette books akin to slow, painful torture. Besides, he can't believe his proper secretary has the passion to write anything worth reading. Then she has the nerve to call him a liar, and even resigns without notice, leaving his business in an uproar and his honor in question! Harry decides it's time to teach Miss Dove a few things that aren't proper. But when he kisses her, he discovers that his former secretary has more passion and fire than he'd ever imagined, for one luscious taste of her lips only leaves him hungry for more...


Review:

I spent two months searching for this book, and then it spent 8 months on the shelf.
Stupid me.

And Then He Kissed Her is a wonderfully well-written historical romance. Emma Dove is the extremely prim and proper spinster past her spring who works for a rake and has hopes of publishing her own etiquette books. Viscount Marlowe is said rake, successful publisher and someone who needs his secretary to tell him where to be when and buy gifts for the ladies breezing through his door.

Until Emma realises that Marlowe will never publish her books, and decides to make some life changing decisions- like resigning without notice. In trying to get his secretary back Marlowe suddenly realises there's a lot more to her than a staid prim secretary he thought he knew, and he likes what he’s now seeing a whole lot.

There's no chemistry at all between these 2 at the beginning of the book. They're strictly employer and employee, and intend to keep it that way. Which makes the sweet interactions between them later in the book a joy to read. The romance is sweet and hot at the same time. No smut here though. Guhrke really know how to write her stuff. That scene at the chocolate store and in the parlor where Marlowe tries to seduce the virgin Emma are some of the amazingly hot scenes that’ll stay with you. Phew!!

The characters in the book are very well written. Marlowe as the sexy alpha hero has to be one of the sweetest rakes out there. This book was really about Emma though. No TSTL heroine, she knew she was good at her stuff and stuck to her guns to get what she wanted. I loved watching her battle her need to conform to society and rules against a will to live a full life of happiness. This book was a refreshing read in its plot and characters. I'm definitely picking up more Guhrke books

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Wondrous Strange and Darklight by Lesley Livingston

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 336

Rating: 4 Crowns

Synopsis: 17 year-old Kelly Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelly's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

Review: I stumbled upon this book through an ad on Goodreads where I could read it free online for a limited amount of time. I enjoyed this story from the very beginning because it's a very cool twist of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. With all of the faerie books out there aimed at the YA market this is one that truly captured my imagination. I like the main character Kelly...she came through as a real teen just looking to make it on her own in the Big Apple. Of course, there is always that...more Review: I stumbled upon this book through an ad on Goodreads where I could read it free online for a limited amount of time. I enjoyed this story from the very beginning because it's a very cool twist of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. With all of the faerie books out there aimed at the YA market this is one that truly captured my imagination. I like the main character Kelly...she came through as a real teen just looking to make it on her own in the Big Apple. Of course, there is always that handsome boy who steals your heart....I'm secretly in love with Sonny!!!! Very original story plot and great fun...I can't wait to get my hands on book #2 Darklight!

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 312

Rating: 4 Crowns

Synopsis: "Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever.

Review: Much has changed for Sonny and Kelley. They've been apart from each other for almost six months. Kelley can't stop thinking about Sonny and all she wants to do is let her power loose so that they can be together again. Unwittingly, she lets her guard down while walking through Central Park. There she is attacked by a mugger. In order to get away she summons help from one of the Janus crew and somehow cuts a portal into the Otherworld. She and Sonny meet back up and that is when they start to notice that an ancient magick is stirring and someone has plans for both Kelley and Sonny. The Winter King is sick and the faerie world is being threatened. Sonny is not who he thinks he is...nor does he have any clue. But Kelley does and she is forced to make a decision that will change both of their lives forever. Livingston has created another magical book with Darklight and I devoured this in one sitting. At times Otherworld is a bit difficult to understand...a lot of different characters with magical qualities and I'm never quite sure who is good and who is wicked!! But I guess that only adds to the fun with this series. I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series!!

Visit Staci at her blog Life in the Thumb

Ice Land by Betsy Tobin

Genre: Fantasy

Copyright: August 2009

Pages: 368

Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Synopsis: Iceland, AD 1000

Freya knows that her people are doomed. Warned by the Fates of an impending disaster, she must embark on a journey to find a magnificent gold necklace, one said to possess the power to alter the course of history. But even as Freya travels deep into the mountains of Iceland, the country is on the brink of war. The new world order of Christianity is threatening the old ways of Iceland's people, and tangled amidst it all are two star-crossed lovers who destiny draws them together-even as their families are determined to tear them apart

Infused with the rich history and mythology of Iceland, Betsy Tobin's sweeping novel is an epic adventure of forbidden love, lust, jealousy, faith and magical wonder set under the shadow of a smoldering volcano.

My Review: Prior to reading this book, I knew virtually nothing of the mythology of Iceland. I briefly thought about doing some research about Norse mythology, but then decided against it...mostly because I feel a book like this should act as a standalone and not require you to have prior knowledge of the topic.

I will admit it took a little bit for me to get into this book, as the introduction to the characters is somewhat slowly paced. I longed for the book to pull me in, to be one of those I couldn't put down, and it happily became that kind of book after the introduction chapters were finished. That being said, many of the characters were very engaging, and you could feel their beauty spilling off the pages.

The story is a basic telling of the journey of Freya, the Norse goddess of love, to find a legendary necklace that is rumored to be the savior of her race, the Aesir. Thrown in are the tales of others affected by her journey, and it all takes place during the tumultuous period when Christianity is being introduced to the people of Iceland.

Along the way, Freya meets dwarves, giants, a daughter of Odin, and develops relationships with all of them. I loved watching these relationships unfold, seeing how the presence of a real life goddess affected the lives of mortals, and how without even trying, she could affect such drastic change in their lives. In the background lies the ever present volcano, Hekla, unpredictable and always threatening to destroy everything around her.

I could really gush about all the major characters in this book, but I will instead let you read the book for yourself. Their individual, and collected stories, are beautiful, and will make you yearn for the chance to visit this lovely country. But since we cannot visit Iceland in 1000 AD in person, we'll have to settle for wonderful stories like this one which will allow us to go there in our imaginations.

You can read more about the book here

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The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

Genre: Fantasy/Arthurian

Published: 1997

Pages: 425

Rating: 4.5 crowns



The tale begins in Dark Age Britain, a land where Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, where a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, where religion vies with magic for the souls of the people. It is to this desperate land that Arthur returns, a man at once utterly human and truly heroic: a man of honor, loyalty, and amazing valor; a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than he should; a man whose life is at once tragic and triumphant.

As Arthur fights to keep a flicker of civilization alive in a barbaric world, Bernard Cornwell makes a familiar tale into a legend all over again.
This was the first of Cornwell's books that I ever read and it was positively remarkable. Instead of the usual Arthurian story that is full of Merlin and magic, knights in shining armor, and Camelot, we have a a story that breathes life into a possible historical basis for the legend behind Arthur. If you are looking for a true fantasy or romance, this is not the Arthur book for you.
The story is told through the eyes of Derfel, a Saxon child raised by the Britons and a ward in Merlin's household. He works his way up through the ranks to become a great solider and one of Arthur's close friends. Through his eyes we see an Arthur that really "could have been." He is not a king but a powerful lord. He is a great man and respected but just a man with his own faults and weaknesses; Merlin is not beside him helping out with lots of magical spells. We see a gritty, harsh, dirty 5th Century England full of superstition, violence, and bloodshed, only a generation or so removed from the Roman occupation. The descriptions of scenery, battles, etc are positively amazing and you will feel like you are in the middle of it all. Cornwell has included characters that we are familiar with but some of them (Lancelot in particular) are given very different personalities or rolls in the overall story (Mordred for example is the true king, Uther's grandson, but a crippled infant, while Arthur is Uther's bastard son who has come to protect the child). Some may find the changes in a few of the personalities disturbing (if you really hold to the well known Arthurian legends) but I found it enjoyable to read something a bit new in a familiar story; I honestly hated Lancelot once his true personality was revealed. The twists and turns throughout the story will keep you on the edge of your seat; you think you know this story well but Cornwell adds so much more to it in this novel. One good example is the relationship between Arthur and Guinevere (though their story becomes much more filled out as you progress through the trilogy); there is that flash of love and passion in the beginning but things never stay that way forever. Cornwell includes an extensive and detailed character and places list at the beginning and a few maps at the end which will really help you keep up with who is who and where they are since he does not use well known names for most of the locations. I think what I enjoyed most about this story (and the next two in the series) was that they are written in such a way as to be incredibly believable; I can really believe that THIS Arthur existed.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good story about Arthur and to those who love to read versions of the story that make it seem as if he could really have existed. If you enjoy this book, make sure that you read the following novels in the series: Enemy of God and Excalibur.

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Beautiful Creatures by Garcia Stohl

Genre: YA Fantasy

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 563

Rating: Four Crowns

Series: The Caster Chronicles, #1

Synopsis: There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Review: Beautiful Creatures was a little slow in the beginning and I was over 1/4 of the way through the book before I was engaged in the story. I enjoyed the authors vivid description of the little town and the way they slowly built the intrigue in the book but it was a little slower than I like. For me a great book is one the you either can't put down or you can't stop thinking about it when you do. I could put this book down but was still really wanting to find time to sit down and finish it.

Lena was a fascinating character and in fact was the source of most of the intrigue in the first half of the book. Ethan was portrayed as a typical teenage boy who wanted more than living in a small town could give him. His mother was dead and his father was a recluse who spent his nights in his office 'writing' and days sleeping. He was an only child being raised by the family 'housekeeper' Amma, although she was more like a bossy Grandmother. The love story between Lena and Ethan was one of the most touching and realistic that I've ever read in a YA, I felt the connection between to two of them and it was beautiful. Being a YA it didn't cross any lines and teens as young as 12 or 13 could read this story.

The book built up to a huge finish but again I felt this was a little dragged out. However, it was well worth reading until the end and I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which the book ended. It wrapped up most of the intrigues but left a few hanging. These included, what will happen to Lena when she turns 17, did she actually choose dark over light, what happened to Ethan's Mum, what happened to Link's Mum, what about Ridley, will she be punished and by whom? All of these things will hopefully be answered in Book 2, Beautiful Darkness.

This is a great book and one that I definitely recommend, just be patient with it as it takes a little time to build the intrigue. For more info about this book and it's authors check out their website, you can also download the song Sixteen Moons.

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The Royal Life - Hever Castle

The Royal Life is a look into the lives, homes and leisure of the Royals and aristocrats of Europe. We aim to give you a few more places to add to your Travel Wishlist!

Hever Castle, Kent
England

Tudor fans this one's for you!  Many of you will instantly recognise Hever Castle as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn however it may also look familiar as many of the scenes from the movie The Other Boleyn Girl were filmed here!

The History:

Oddly, I struggled to find the very early history of the castle that relates to the building of the structure however the information on the official website states that it dates back to 1270.  It came into the possession of the infamous Boleyn family in the early 1500's and was the early childhood home of Anne, Mary and George Boleyn (although it is unlikely they were born there).

After the death of Anne in 1557, the castle came into the ownership of Henry VIII and he gifted it to Anne of Cleaves after their marriage was annulled.  From there, the castle passed into the hands of many different families until William Waldor Astor gained ownership in 1903 and invested in restoring the structure, creating beautiful gardens and a unique Tudor village on the grounds. 

The castle has one of the largest collections of Tudor paintings to be found in Britain and other amazing artifacts such as two Book of Hours signed by Anne Boleyn herself.  Other features include the award-winning gardens and hedge maze.  All in all it sounds like a brilliant place to spend the day!

Web Sources:  Hever Castle Official Website

  

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City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Copyright: March 2009

Pages: 496

Rating: 5 Crowns

Synopsis:

Welcome back to the exotic world beyond the shadows...

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace.How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Review:

Whoa, baby! City of Ashes is a breathtaking sequel, to Clare's 2008 epic debut, City of Bones! City of Ashes is a powerfully written adventure that holds on to your senses & fails to let go. This is 3D reading come to life in the form of the written word. Whew!

The action in City of Ashes is much more foreboding & the momentum is unrelenting, Clare delved deeper into her writer's arsenal to produce this phenomenal follow up. Ms. Clare's got skills and this definitely proves her debut wasn't a "fluke.

City of Ashes proves w/o a shadow of a doubt, Clare didn't succumb to the dreaded "sophomore slump" so many writer's often end up tangled in. *Applause* Applause*

Clare's well developed characters are a smooth blend of ruthless, vibrant, manipulative and courageous beings. Blockbuster proportions enfolded inside 496 pages of tantalizing goodness is what City of Ashes transmits.

I have to say, that there is a revelation to the series that totally grosses me out but for some reason, I think there is much more to this divulgement than what was disclosed.

City of Ashes launches the story arc into the stratosphere with the second installment of Clare's Mortal Instrument saga.


Check out Clare's website here!



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Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: The undead can really screw up your senior year.

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth - and he's her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess.

But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war - and save Lucius's soul from eternal destruction.

Review: JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE is one of the best YA books I've read in a long time. It made me laugh out loud since the first page, and I'm not sure if it's because I've been looking forward to reading it since last year. I found it wholly addictive and pleasureable. If a book could make you feel pleasantly full, this is it.

The range of emotions that was portrayed was outstanding. JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE showed that there were more things to vampires than the blood. And if you took out all the vampiric elements from the story, there's a love story that can stand by itself. It's not just a story about their love, but a story about the awakening of a princess.

The supporting cast was believable, if a bit two dimensional in some cases. I don't think that's a fault, because if those characters came to life, they'd really be two dimensional. I'd love to read more of how Lucius and Jessica rule their clans, and I'm really excited to find out more in the sequel that Beth is writing. I hope it comes to fruition! The tone will definitely be different than JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE and attached to my excitement is the fear that the sequel might not live up to my expectations, but I'm looking forward to it.



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Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Series: Dark-Hunter, Book 2

Genre: Paranormal

Copyright: 2004

Pages: 336

Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Synopsis:
Dear Reader,

Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power?

That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minute of it. Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda's case, buttoned all the way up to her chin. She's smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal---in other words, me.

My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist. Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there's any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he's not sure it will ever beat again.

Kyrian of Thrace

Review:

Night Pleasures is a good book to read if you're just starting out with the paranormal genre. Simple, quick and pretty quirky.

Amanda Deveraux is an accountant in a family of witches, vampire hunters and psychics. She likes her life normal and supernatural-free. Until she gets mistaken for her twin vamp slaying sister and gets handcuffed to a gorgeous blond vampire. Kyrian of Thrace was a fearsome general who fought the Roman empire. Now he's a Dark Hunter - a soulless creature of the night fighting the soul sucking Daimons who prey on humanity. Betrayed by the woman he loved, he's lived centuries with the pain of the betrayal and execution at the hands of the Romans, with only his Dark Hunter duties as his guide.

These two individuals are as far apart as it can get, and yet through Kenyon's quirky and sometimes cheesy lines, you'll see them fall for each other. Now there's a super Daimon on the loose and he has it out for both of em. Kyrian has to keep Amanda safe while trying not to fall for her at the same time.

I loved the lil bits of history in this book. Although the second book in the series, this is actually where the series begins. So if you haven't read book 1, Fantasy Lover, it won't really matter.
This is a good book to pass the time. I didn't really connect with the characters since a lot of their situations were a bit hard to be believable, not to mention the monologues are a bit sappy. The rest of the supporting cast is pretty dramatic and entertaining tho.

There's some pretty good scenes in the book that you'll like, like Amanda's attempts to erase the memories of Kyrian's torture and execution. There's also a sense of bonding among the Dark Hunter's that Kenyon manages to push through, which is why i'll probably pick up the next book to see where this series goes.

You can read the review of the first book, Fantasy Lover here

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The Royal Life - Pevensey Castle

The Royal Life is a look into the lives, homes and leisure of the Royals and aristocrats of Europe. We aim to give you a few more places to add to your Travel Wishlist!

Pevensey Castle, England

If walls could talk then I'm sure old Pevensey Castle in England would have more than a few stories to tell.  From its birth as Roman Fort in AD290 right through 16 centuries of history (including use as a home-base during WWII), this is reported to be the oldest castle in Britain.  There may only be the outer walls left but considering her age, I'd say Lady Pevensey is looking pretty damn fine.

The History:

Okay, so as mentioned above, the Romans built a fort in East Sussex along the coastline of what is now known as Pevensey in AD290.  The world has certainly transformed since the building of the original fortress - the ocean which once lapped against the castle walls, is now four miles away.  The outer walls of the original fortress are still visible and you can get a feel for the scope of this structure by checking out the aerial view picture below - pretty amazing!

On 28th September 1066, William the Conqueror and his army landed on the shores of Pevensey where they rested and planned the infamous battle of Hastings.  There, it continued to be used by nobility until in the 15th Century it began to be used as a prison.  There are too many stories about this period of the castle's life to include in this meager little blog post!

A really interesting fact is that during WWII, American and Canadian troops were stationed at Pevensey Castle to protect Britain against shore landings.

Ghost Stories:  As you can imagine of a structure is old as this one, Pevenesey Castle is reputed to be haunted by a wide variety of ghosts.  Time Travel Britain's Ghosts of Pevensey article tells the tale of one such spectre:

A "grey or pale Lady " is reputed to haunt the inside of the castle. She has been seen pacing up and down one of the parapets. There has been much speculation as to whom she might be. Some say it is the ghost of Lady Joan Pelham, whose husband took over the castle in 1394. He was called away with his troops to help fight a battle in the north and Lady Joan, a lady of strong character, was left at Pevensey in charge of the castle. With most of the soldiers gone, the virtually unprotected castle was besieged by an invading army demanding its surrender in the name of King Richard II. Trapped inside, Lady Helen did not know whether she would survive or if she would see her husband again. In a letter smuggled out to him she wrote, "I am laid here in a manner of siege... that I may not out nor no victuals get me." She held on, pacing the parapet every day until he returned. But she suffered such mental trauma under the pressure that it is believed her troubled spirit still walks the battlements.
Web Sources:  Time Travel Britain 

  

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Houston, We Have a Problem by Erin McCarthy

Series: Houston, We Have a Problem

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Copyright: 2004

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 Crowns

Synopsis: Josie Adkins has a serious case of the klutziness as the orthopedic resident under genius, and handsome Dr. Houston Hayes, orthopedic surgeon at a Florida hospital. Why does this surgeon cause her to be so nervous, and is the heat she’s feeling anything the same for him? The answer to that is a sincere yes, and Houston is serious about bringing the tension between them to an end by offering one night together to get it out of their system. (Seriously, does that ever work?) Obviously, Houston and Josie are continually drawn to one another, and after a serious accident that threatens Houston’s career, does their relationship have more to draw on than chemistry?

Review: In the beginning, I had serious issues with this novel. I was annoyed by the instant sexual tension between the two characters, that was built on nothing more than sexual magnetism (pretty graphically described). Where was the relationship, where was the build up in the story? Besides the relationship element being missing, I had my doubts that a surgeon would come on so strong to a resident. A friend of mine is in med school, and I can’t say she’s ever had any sort of licentious interaction with any of the doctors she’s worked with. In fact, she’s been more paranoid about being yelled at than in starting a relationship with them. Maybe therein lies the “fantasy” of this contemporary romance? In essence, Josie and Houston are the fantasy side of the “what if” in a surgeon/resident relationship?

Although I initially felt pretty annoyed by the shallow relationship between Josie and Houston, I am happy to say that the remainder of the novel switches gears and builds a much stronger bond between the two. After a debilitating accident, Houston is forced to depend on Josie, and to even expose that he has more feelings for Josie than just those of a physical kind. The two become emotionally connected, and finally become believable as a couple.

In the end, I will say that I enjoyed the journey of these two characters. Yes, I found the initial sexual content a bit annoying, and not very likely, but thought the second half of the novel developed their relationship enough to help me buy into their love. Altogether, I think this is a story built on a fantasy, and sometimes the unbelievable can be fun to consider.

Visit Becky at her blog One Literature Nut

Loyal in Love by Jean Plaidy

Genre: Historical Fiction

Published: 2007 (Originally published 1983)

Pages: 496

Rating: 3.5/5 Crowns

Synopsis: The daughter of Henry IV of France, Princess Henrietta Maria, becomes a pawn in a political strategy to stabilize relations between two countries when her father marries her to Charles I of England. Sent abroad, she finds herself living in a Protestant country that views her own faith—Catholicism—with deep suspicion.

Yet her new husband is a man of principle and integrity, and Henrietta and Charles fall deeply in love. Henrietta is passionate about her faith, however, and soon politically powerful people, namely Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans, turn her loyalty to her religion into a focal point for civil war. As the royal couple watch the fall of Thomas Wentworth, first Earl of Strafford, the rise of Puritanism, and Englishmen fight Englishmen, they are undeterred in their dedication to each other and in their belief in the divine rights of king and queen—even as spies lurk in their very own household.

Loyal in Love offers an inside look at an unforgettable time in England’s history and at the life of a queen whose story of devotion and bravery has gone untold for too long.

Review: I decided to try and switch things up a bit and read more about another royal family I'm interested in - the Stuarts. A book like this always makes me wish I could have known the characters during their actual life times; to have conversations with them and try to understand what is going on in their heads. I spent much of this book being both fascinated and frustrated by Henrietta at the same time. I cannot remember the last time I wished I could just take a main characters face in both my hands and ask them to at least try to think about something other than themselves.

Henrietta seems, at times, to be a religious zealot, and I felt through much of the book that the only time she made any consideration for the people of England was when she was trying to convert them to Catholicism. It was amazing to see the level of selfishness from a person who should have been concerned for the wellfare of an entire country.

Despite my love/hate relationship with Henrietta, I did like the book and found it very interesting to see the relationship between her and Charles grow from a pretty rocky situation, to a loving, beautiful marriage. It was wonderful to read about a happy and loyal marriage, especially knowing that so many kings had numerous mistresses...and sometimes numerous wives!

I will say that I don't think this is necessarily a good book to start out with if you don't know anything about the Stuarts. I was curious to see the roots of Catholicism in their family, knowing that it causes so much strife later on. Nonetheless, Jean Plaidy does not disappoint. The writing was as fantastic as you would expect, and I really felt as though I was there with these people, as frustrating as I found them to be at times.

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused!

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2010

Pages: 470

Rating: 3.5/5 Crowns

Source: Review copy from publisher

Synopsis (from Amazon): Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, passionate, musical, and guarded. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea will become her mistress's rival for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome's newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life-that is quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the life of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome's aristocrats. Unwittingly, she attracts another admirer in the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But Domitian's games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and paranoid Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor's mistress.

Review: Set in late first century Rome during the reign of Titus Flavius Domitianus (referred to as Domitian), Mistress of Rome revolves around the fictional Thea and those who come in and out of her life. Thea is likeable enough with a strong survival instinct and her path from slave to mistress of the emperor is an interesting and sometimes disturbing one. Quinn uses a combination of first (Thea and her b*tch of a mistress Lepida) and third person narration. At times the switch between first and third person was a little confusing and the transitions were not always smooth, but for the most part it didn’t bother me.

The first third or so of the book was a little slow – I kept trying to figure out where the story was going and I even considered not finishing it. But I’m glad I kept reading and thought the second half was much stronger with a more exciting plot as the storylines begin to intersect and Thea becomes entangled in political intrigues as she tries to save herself and her family. Emperor Domitian was apparently somewhat of a psychopath and although Quinn alludes to his fondness for playing games with people (both physically and mentally), she avoids going into graphic detail. The same can not be said for her treatment of “the games” of which the Romans were apparently so fond, both as “entertainment” and as social events. The gladiator games are vividly described with a pretty good dose of blood, gore and violence (although a guy might not think it so bad!) but understanding the life of the gladiator is important to understanding some of the characters relationships.

As indicated in her “Historical Note”, Quinn based several of her fictional characters on people who really existed but who were either nameless to history or very little was probably known about them. A list of characters is included in the back of the book but I wish it had been in the front since I didn’t realize it was there until I was almost finished. Despite the slow start, I thought Mistress of Rome was an entertaining read and it’s nice to get out of England once in a while!

Visit Daphne at her blog Tanzanite's Shelf and Stuff

The Heretic Queen

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2008

Pages: 416

Rating: 4.5 crowns


From Amazon.com: The intricacies of the ancient Egyptian court are brought to life in Moran's fascinating tale of a princess's rise to power. Nefertari, niece of the famed heretic queen Nefertiti, becomes part of the court of Pharaoh Seti I after her family is deposed, and she befriends Ramesses II, the young crown prince. When Ramesses is made co-monarch, he weds Iset, the granddaughter of a harem girl backed by Seti's conniving sister, Henuttawy, the priestess of Isis. As Nefertari's position in the court becomes tenuous, she realizes that she, too, wants to marry Ramesses and enlists the help of Seti's other sister, Woserit. But when Nefertari succeeds in wedding Ramesses, power struggles and court intrigues threaten her security, and it is questionable whether the Egyptian people will accept a heretic descendant as their ruler or if civil war will erupt.

This was my first experience with Michelle Moran's writing but it came highly recommended - and ancient Egypt has always been a bit fascinating. I was not disappointed. The novel was absolutely amazing; I was caught up in Nefertari's life from page one. Moran creates fantastic characters that you love and that you love to hate. Nefertari was likable from the beginning and I really loved the way she grew and developed from a young girl in love with a prince to a woman who has the knowledge and skills to catch that prince and help him become a great Pharaoh. Her knowledge that an intelligent wife, one that could stand beside Ramesses and help him in peacetime and in battle, would ultimately be triumphant in becoming queen really helped her in her battles against Iset. I really loved the scenes where it almost portrays Nefertari as the brilliant, true queen and Iset is merely pretty ornamentation. Ramesses himself is quite a likable character as well and I could almost feel sorry for him when he was caught between his two wives. His continued affection for Nefertari, even after his first marriage and Nefer's year long absence, was touching, as was his constant support of her once they were married. Iset, Ramasses's first wife, is arrogant and despicable from the get-go. She, along with her mentor Henuttawy, were a pair of conniving, sneaky, mean snakes in their quest to have Iset named queen and I was quite happy to see them get what was coming to them in the end.

Besides these magnificent characters there is also exceptional plot development. You can almost feel the secrets and mysteries surrounding the palace and intrigue runs rampant. Between the pages you will find everything that makes a story wonderful and full of action: love, passion, betrayal, intrigue, politics and scheming, true friends, pirates, blood, and battles. The story is a bit slow at the start as you sort through the introduction of all the main players but once Nefertari is taken under Woserit's wing the action really picks up. There are wonderful details describing Egyptian society, culture, everyday life, and even the architecture. This very ancient time came alive for me in Moran's writing. The main storyline throughout the novel, Nefertari and Ramasses's love, was even more fascinating to me once I realized that it was real! The inscription he had placed on a wall in her tomb speaks volumes: My love is unique—no one can rival her, for she is the most beautiful woman alive. Just by passing, she has stolen away my heart. They were a couple that you just can not help but pull for in this novel. I would highly recommend this novel, especially to those with even the slightest interest in ancient Egypt. Moran's brilliant writing and exceptional characters make this a novel you do not want to miss.

You can visit Robin at her blog The Lady Gwyn's Kingdom

The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany

Genre: Historical Fiction

Copyright: 2007

Pages: 268

Rating: 4/5 Crowns

Synopsis: Regency heiress Philomena Wellesley-Clegg has rather strong opinions about men and clothing. As to the former, so far two lords, a viscount, and a mad poet have fallen far short of her expectations. But she is about to meet Inigo Linsley, an unshaven, wickedly handsome man with a scandalous secret. He's nothing she ever dreamed she'd want—why then can she not stop thinking about how he looks in his breeches?

A delightful marriage of Pride and Prejudice with Bridget Jones's Diary, Janet Mullany's The Rules of Gentility transports us to the days before designer shoes, apple martinis, and speed dating—when great bonnets, punch at Almack's, and the marriage mart were in fashion—and captivates us with a winsome heroine who learns that some rules in society are made to be broken.

Review:Philomena Wellesley and Inigo Linsley are two very opinionated people who have a certain dislike for each other from the start. Although they might irritate one another, they do have one thing in common, the desire to evade their disagreeable marriage prospects. When one of Philomena's suitors finally manages to gain her fathers blessing for their marriage, she is distraught. To her immense and shocking pleasure, Inigo swiftly proposes a false engagement, which will give them both a means to find their own happiness...

As Philomena and Inigo act out their false engagement, they start to realize it might be a bit more difficult then they first expected. As secrets are revealed and emotions run high, even more is at stake then when they began this charade; for now, their hearts have been thrown in the mix...

With unspoken feelings, denied passions and devastating misunderstandings, hearts are broken and rash actions are taken. Philomena soon finds herself in a dire situation with no hope for escape, but when Inigo learns of her plight he will risk everything to save and win back the woman he just might have fallen in love with...

This was a cute and delightful read. Told from the perspective of both Philomena and Inigo, it gave the reader a chance to have a complete and satisfying vision of the story. Another enjoyable aspect of the book were the witty comments. There were many subtle remarks and thoughts that were amusing and often I found myself laughing throughout. Although this is an easy read with a more basic plot, the end did have a few unexpected twists that not only brought new information but completed some random events in the beginning, creating a very satisfying conclusion. I am exceedingly happy that I chose to read this book after having it for so long; it was just the type of book to read on a relaxing spring day.

Visit Svea @ Confessions & Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog

The Royal Life - Chillingham Castle

The Royal Life is a look into the lives, homes and leisure of the Royals and aristocrats of Europe. We aim to give you a few more places to add to your Travel Wishlist!

Chillingham Castle

Northumberland, England

Chillingham Castle not only has a rich historical past but a pretty spooky present.  Voted one of the most haunted castles in Britain, going on the Chillingham Ghost Tour is sure to give you the heebeejeebies!

The History:  As you know, I am a lover of all things Scottish and this castle located in Northern England has a link with none other than William Wallace himself.

In 1298, on his way to forge war with Wallace, Edward I (or Edward the Longshanks) stayed in Chillingham Castle.  As a special honour to the King, the prestigious Grey family who owned Chillingham, had a window installed especially for the King.  To give an alternate perspective on the Brave Heart story, William Wallace had actually raided Northumberland (where Chillingham Castle is located) in 1297 where he locked all the women and children inside a church and burnt it to the ground.

The Ghosts: This castle has been investigated by a slew of paranormal TV shows including Most Haunted, I'm Famous and Frightened!, Scariest Places on Earth and Ghost Hunters International.  While Chillingham Castle is rumoured to be haunted by a variety of ghostly residents (including Lady Grey pictured on the right).  However, the most famous spectre is the 'Blue Boy'.  He would appear in the Pink Room of the castle with a loud, piercing wail and blue flashes of light. 

In the 1920's it was believed that the identity of the Blue Boy had been discovered after workers genuinely found the body of a young boy inside the walls of the castle, along with some important documents that were to be passed to the Spanish to help them defeat the English during the Spanish Armada.  It seems to be a case of punishing the messenger as this poor child was literally walled up alive inside the castle along with the documents that betrayed the English.  Some grisly physical evidence suggests he tried to scratch his way out.  The Pink Room is now closed to the public...

Web Sources:  Ghost Story and Chillingham Castle Official Website

  

Visit Annie @ Princess of the Past

Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

Genre: YA Fantasy

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 256

Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Synopsis: For Tola Riley, life is not a fairy tale, it only feels like one. She's got evil classmates, a runaway dad, a wicked stepmother, a possible Prince Charming, and her very own troll. But it's only when someone accuses her of having an affair with her art teacher that her whole world turns into something out of Grimm's. Because the person accusing her is her own mother.

"If I really wanted to open up, I'd confess that I really am the liar everyone believes I am."

High-school junior Tola has green hair, a nose ring, an attitude problem, and a fondness for fairy tales, which are a great escape from real life. Everyone thinks she's crazy; everyone says so. Everyone except Mr. Mymer, her art teacher. He gets her paintings and lets her hang out in the art room during lonely lunch periods.
But then rumors start flying and Tola is suddenly the center of a scandal. The whole town is judging her—even her family. When Mr. Mymer is suspended for what everyone thinks is an affair, she has no choice but to break her silence. Fairy tales won't help her this time . . . so how can she tell the truth? And, more importantly, will anyone believe her?

Review: For young Tola life is about to get a whole lot harder. A budding art student with a terrible crush on her art teacher Mr. Mymer turns into much more as they are accused of having an affair and are caught out together at an art museum. Thing is we really don't know if that is the truth quite yet. The school is forced to suspend the teacher and Tola is pretty much on lock down by her mom. A woman who thinks she is a liar and is watching her every move.

Tola is adorable and quirky really, green hair, nose ring and with her head in the clouds she is a talented artist who just wants to go on with her day. Unfortunately her ex-best Friend Chelsea has it out for her. Told is convinced that Chelsea is the one who is spreading the rumors of the alleged "affair" as she is continually making her life a living hell. Chelsea is a vindictive and jealous little creature, blogging nasty things about Tola on-line, tormenting her in the hallways at school, a truly disturbed individual Chelsea is.

Charming Tola has a little reprieve with her budding relationship with a boy at school, Seven and her best friend who tries to pull her through this entire mess.

Although predictable at times, the author really keeps the story going with an intriguing cast of characters who you will either love or hate. Chelsea did if for me, but her character was all too real. Bulling, cyber bulling is a very real and disturbing epidemic we have that starts in elementary school and highly ignored. Just this January a young girl was so tormented in school, blogs, facebook, etc that he felt she had no out and killed herself. So the subject is serious and the story of Tola at times was frustrating and heartbreaking watching Tola take the brunt of Chelsea's vicious attacks. At times the author gave the reader a reprieve with Chelsea and Seven which I found very sweet and charming, but just wanted a little more of.

Poignant yet sometimes a little slow I found Bad Apple to be a very real, very delightful story of a young girl and her struggles, internally and within her microcosm.

Thanks to Brande from Book Junkie for this great review!