Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine

Title: Highland Hellcat
Author: Mary Wine
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3738-6
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
$6.99/8.99
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Genre: Historical Romance
How I read it: Mass Market ARC
Release Date: 10/2010
Rating 4.5 Crowns

Description:

HE WANTS A WIFE HE CAN CONTROL………………………………

Connor Lindsey is a Highland Laird, but his clan’s loyalty is hard won and he takes nothing for granted. He’ll do whatever it takes to find a virtuous wife, even if he has to kidnap her……………………

SHE HAS A SPIRIT THAT CAN’T BE TAMED…………………………

Brina Chattan has always defied convention. She sees no reason to be docile now that she’s been captured by a powerful laird, and taken to his storm-tossed castle in the Highlands far from her home.
(from the back of the book)

My Review:

Connor is a Highlander all the way through and he is motivated not only to keep his clan strong, but to keep their trust. Being born before his parents marriage, he has struggled to gain his Lairdship and respect. Being ousted as a child by his Uncle and Aunt and forced to sleep in the stable, so Connor knows what it is to earn his keep and his title. Like many Highlanders from that time period Connor has faced and overcome many struggles that have molded him into the man he has become today. When he entered into an agreement with Laird Robert Chattan, he viewed it as a strengthening of his own clan as well as an alliance with another. Yet things are about to change when Roberts daughter decides that she would rather have another. Now not only would Connor’s heir’s be in question the release of his sister would be as well. When Connor see’s his chance at a unquestionable marriage he takes it, no questions asked.

Brina Chattan has known since her birth that she has been promised to the kirk, it’s a fact that has been instilled in her since as long as she could recall. With that being said she has been raised accordingly, and has only learned to respect and fear two men, the Lord and her father. Brina runs wild for a woman of her standing, and even though she has not known the finer things in life, she has learned to take care of herself without the need of a man to do so. One fateful night her future changes forever as she is kidnapped on her way to the abbey that she has been promised to. Now that she is in the arms of Connor Lindsey, she is torn between her duty and her desire.

My thoughts:

I loved this book, in fact I loved it more than the first in the series. Although I have to say that I found Connor intriguing in the book, To Conquer a Highlander, so I was very pleased indeed when he had a book of his own. I love the way that Mary Wine has incorporated the traditions and customs of the era into her story. Normally romance books allow the romance to guide the plot, but Mary Wine’s novel allows the plots/characters to guide the book, all the while placing in the perfect amount of romance.



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The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare

To end paranormal week lets take a look at the newest novel from Lydia Dare.




Title: The Taming of the Wolf
Author: Lydia Dare
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4437-7
$6.99
Pages: 384
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Release Date: 11/2010
Genre: Regency Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 Crowns (Royal Read)

HE COULD NEVER LOSE CONTROL…………

Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth, has spent his life fighting the wolf within him. But when the full moon rises, Dash is helpless. A chance encounter with Caitrin MacLeod on a moonlit night inadvertently binds the two together irrevocably, and Dash’s impulsiveness plunges them both into a nightmare……………..


SHE NEVER SAW HIM COMING……………………..

Caitrin MacLeod is no quiet country lass, but a witch with remarkable abilities. But when it comes to Dashiel, she’s as helpless to fight his nature as he is. Her senses overwhelmed, she runs back to the safety and security of her native Scotland………….

But Dashiel is determined to follow her-she’s the only woman who can free him from a fate far worse than death. And Caitrin will ultimately have to decide whether she’s running from danger, or true love……..
(from the back of the book)


My Review:

We’ve all heard the story of the Big Bad Wolf.
He’ll huff. He’ll puff. He’ll claim you the first time he lays eyes on you?- Oh wait that’s not the Big Bad Wolf, that’s Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth, the newest addition to Lydia Dare’s Regency era Lycans.

I’d like to say that his bark is worse than his bite, but sadly he done some dubious things in his not so distant past. The so called “Monster of Eynsford” even records some of his, -um, shall we call them deeds- in a journal of debauchery. Normally this dashing devil would spend the full moon chained to a wall (if you wish to know the strength of these said restraints just ask William Westfield, I am sure he will attest to their durability.), but one night unleashed not only changes his fate but chains his future to Caitrin MacLeod. Now not only does this golden wolf have to learn to heel, he must also learn how to win the heart of a witch.

Then there is Caitrin MacLeod, a crafty little witch who can read your mind and is not afraid to speak her own. A friend and coven sister to the lovely Elspeth Campbell-Westfield, Caitrin seems to have a strong dislike of Lycans, almost to the point one may believe that she has Lycanphobia. Not only does she view them as an annoyance, she views them as a threat to her coven, yet all that is about to change when she stumbles upon a golden Adonis in the Duke of Blackmoor’s study. Unable to read his thoughts, this seer, for once in her life, is living life with no visions to guide her. One bite was all that was needed to send her life spiraling out of control.

When these two come together sparks are going to fly- just ask Benjamin Westfield.


My thoughts:

Ok if Simon is my favorite lovable Lycan then Dash is my second, which is funny because these two are a dichotomy. Dash has that rugged quality (I imagine that the authors had a brilliant time writing his character- I know I certainly had a brilliant time reading it), he also has this searching side of him that made me curious about why he is who he is. I felt that while the Westfield men were fairly easy to figure out, Dash was an enigma. His actions from the previous book (The Wolf Next Door) left me wondering what had happened to him in the past, and I felt that The Taming of the Wolf, peeled back the layers of his story, revealing the wounded wolf within.

Caitrin was a very well plotted character, if she would have been wrote any different I feel that the quality of the story would have been diminished. Some say that they found her annoying, but I have to say that I enjoyed reading her, as well as watching her character change her thought process.

Overall- This was an amazing book!! I was so intrigued I read it in one sitting, then found that I was disappointed when it came to an end- it’s truly one of those books that you don’t want to end. Although I am now eagerly looking forward to Blaire’s story, which you can see forming in the subplot of this book.


If you would like to be entered for a chance to win a signed set of the Westfield series & a copy of The Taming of the Wolf Please leave your name & a valid email address.

Contest ends November 15th.
Contest is International
(please note that all entries on the Lydia Dare posts will be entered in a random drawing)

The Wolf Next Door by Lydia Dare

Title: The Wolf Next Door (book 3 in the Westfield series)
Author: Lydia Dare
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3696-9
$6.99
Pages: 395
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Release Date: 6/6/2010
Genre: Regency Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 Crowns (Royal Read)

THEY CAN’T EVEN BE IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER………………………

Ever since their failed elopement years ago, Prisca Hawthorne has taunted, insulted, and in every way tried to push him away. If only her heart didn’t break every time Lord William Westfield left……………….


BUT STAYING APART IS EVEN WORSE……………………..

Lord William throws himself into drinking, gambling, and debauchery and pretends not to care about Prisca at all. But when he returns to fid a rival werewolf vying for her, he’ll stop at nothing to claim the woman who should have been his all along.

Can Prisca forgive the unforgivable, or are the moon-crossed lovers going to be forced into a battle of will that could be fatal?


My thoughts:

WOW!! This is the book that most readers have waited for since the first book in the Westfield series and I have to say that it did not disappoint. You could feel the attention and attraction between Will and Prisca since day one. Not only are the lovable Westfield brothers and their wives featured we also get introduced to Prisca’s brothers. And although they may be human lets just say they are a bit wolfish at times. I loved the way they concocted a way to rid themselves of their sister. They also seem to be master manipulators by playing the newly introduced Dashiel Thorpe against Will. It makes for some hilarious moments.

This was a great novel that I will enjoy rereading. I have to say that I loved the way that Prisca kept Will close to her heart.


Readers will also see a few subplots emerge some are dealt with by the end of this novel and some conclude in The Taming of the Wolf, although I would like see a book that features Alice Westfield, and the Major. I also would love for Lydia Dare to put out a follow up book, maybe a Christmas type theme or whatnot that shows what happened after the I do’s.


If you would like a chance to win a signed set of the Westfield trilogy as well as the newest novel, The Taming of the Wolf, please enter HERE!!! Contest is International!!!














Visit Angela Renee @ Renees-Reads

Tall, Dark, and Wolfish by Lydia Dare

Title: Tall, Dark, and Wolfish (Book 2 in the Westfield series)
Author: Lydia Dare
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3695-2
$6.99
Pages: 387
Format-Mass Market Paperback
Release Date: 5/2/2010
Genre: Regency Paranormal Romance
Rating 5 Crowns (Royal Read)


HE’S LOST THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HIMSELF………………

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a power werewolf-until one full moon when he doesn’t change. His life now shattered, he rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she’s not at all what he expected……

SHE WOULD MAKE HIM WHOLE, IF SHE COULD…………….

Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will do anything to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Then Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her……

My Review:

I have to say that I loved this book from the moment that I picked it up. Lord Benjamin is a very charming Lycan, even though he believes that he has lost the best part of himself. Setting off on a search for a healer to restore what has been lost to him, Lord Benjamin, the youngest of the Westfield brothers, discovers more that just a remedy for his ailment. He discovers Elspeth Campbell, a red-headed Scottish witch who shatters
Lord Benjamin’s Shakespearean thoughts of what a witch should be. Now Ben finds himself drawn into Elspeth’s charm, yet afraid to allow himself to get close to her.

Both Benjamin and Elspeth feels more then just the pull of the moon pulling them together, although things are not going to be easy when you have a coven of witches trying to pull them apart.

My Thoughts:

I loved Lord Benjamin, he plays that part of wounded Lycan well. I also loved how each of the Westfield brothers shows traits of their birth order, it adds a more authentic feel to the storyline. I also loved Elspeth, she has to be my favorite heroine. She is pure Scottish to the core, and I loved the devotion that she has to her gift. She always has a way of drawing Lord Benjamin in that will entertain the reader.

Overall all TALL, DARK, and WOLFISH was an amazing book that I will both reread and recommend. I also enjoyed the way that the authors incorporated Arthur’s Seat into the story. For those of you who are not privy to Arthur’s Seat, it is a group of hills that form most of Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, Scotland, there also is a bit of mythical qualities that have been associated with the area. So I pleased to see that is where the Coig convenes.

I also enjoyed the introduction of the Coig. Even though this novel stands on its own, I feel that if you skip this novel you will be missing the foundations for THE TAMING OF THE WOLF.


I do have to say readers be warned- while reading this novel you may find yourself craving blueberries. I ended up making me a nice cuppa blueberry tea!





Would you like to win a signed set of The Westfield Trilogy, as well as The Taming of the Wolf? Enter HERE!! Contest is International!



Visit Angela @ Renees-Reads

Lydia Dare Guest Post, Giveaway, & Review

First off I would like to thank Lydia Dare for providing this lovely Guest Post for Royal Reviews.

As the 4th Lydia Dare book, THE TAMING OF THE WOLF, is set to be released next week-we thought we’d take a look back at the previous three books in the series. If you haven’t met the Westfield brothers or the women who end up capturing their hearts, please allow us to introduce you…………..


A CERTAIN WOLFISH CHARM

Hero: Simon Westfield, Duke of Blackmoor

Simon is the oldest Westfield brother, the head of his family, and alpha of his pack. Oh, yeah, and he’s a Lycan. (Don’t say werewolf, it tends to make him angry.) Simon is often fodder for the society rags and has made quite a name for himself amongst the ton- a bad one. He retreats to his ancestral seat when the full-moon is imminent, to quietly transform into his wolfish self before returning to his Mayfair home. However, one particular month he finds a woman from his past awaiting him on his country doorstep, refusing to leave no matter the danger he represents.

Heroine: Lily Rutledge

Lily is firmly on the shelf and has been raising her orphaned nephew for the last six years. She love the Regency tween as though he was her own child and would protect him as a lioness would her cub. Lily is more than a little disturbed by certain changes she’s noticed in her nephew as he starts to enter adulthood. When the boy’s legal guardian refuses to respond to her written pleas for help, Lily takes matters in her own hands and tracks the blackguard down. Simon Westfield might intimate most of London, but Lily isn’t just any mild-mannered miss.

* * *

TALL, DARK, and WOLFISH

Hero: Lord Benjamin Westfield

Benjamin is the fun-loving, youngest Westfield brother, and the one who always seems to end up in one predicament or another. He is terrified when he doesn’t transform into a wolf one full-moon and is determined to keep the ailment a secret from his overbearing brothers by finding a solution all on his own. His quest leads him to Scotland in search of a witch. He didn’t expect to find five of them.

Heroine: Elspeth Campbell

Elspeth is a witch-but a very nice one. A healer by birth, Elspeth is one of five witches in an ancient powerful coven. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of her birth, she happily cares for the people of Edinburgh even if they look down their noses at her. The mystery of who Elspeth’s father is has always troubled her until a beast who wears the same mark as she does arrives in town searching for a healing witch.

* * *

THE WOLF NEXT DOOR

Hero: Lord William Westfield

William is the silver-tongued, middle Westfield brother who has the power to charm anyone in a skirt. It’s a power he uses on a regular basis to his full advantage. He wears the term ‘Lothario’ like a badge of honor and is the envy of many a man. However, his devil-may-care façade is all for show. Beneath his suave exterior beats a heart that has always belonged to the girl next door.

Heroine: Prisca Hawthorne

Prisca is very particular about her name. The ‘c’ is soft as in Priscilla. But don’t call her Priscilla or worse- Prissy, not unless you’d like a tongue lashing, anyway. With five older brothers, Prissy-er-Prisca learned early on how to manage men. Well, most of them. Her neighbors, those Westfield brothers, are more difficult than most to bend to her will…..Her Will. Slip of the tongue? She’s always wanted Will to be hers and he almost was once. But now, only animosity and angst exist between the two of them. Or is there more



About the Author Lydia Dare is a pseudonym for the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson. Both are active members of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and have set on the organization’s Board of Directors. Their writing process involves passing a manuscript back and forth, each one writing 1500 words after editing the others previous installment- Jodie specializes in writing the history and Tammy in writing the paranormal. They live near Raleigh, North Carolina.










Thanks to Lydia Dare & Sourcebooks, Royal Reviews is giving away a set the first 3 Westfield books signed by Lydia Dare as well as THE TAMING OF THE WOLF (unsigned)

To enter please leave your name & a valid email address.
Contest ends November 15th.
Contest is International


To coincide with the release of Lydia Dare’s new book ,THE TAMING OF THE WOLF, Royal Reviews will be featuring the first three books in the Westfield Trilogy as well as THE TAMING OF THE WOLF.



Title: A Certain Wolfish Charm (book 1 in the Westfield series)
Author: Lydia Dare
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3694-5
$6.99
Pages: 375
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Genre: Paranormal Regency Romance
Rating: 5 Crowns A Royal Read



He gets crankier and crankier as the moon gets full...

The rules of Society can be beastly-especially when you're a werewolf and it's that irritating time of the month. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, is rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, and has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn't help his wolfish temper at all that Miss Lily Rutledge seems not the least bit afraid of him, and in fact, may be as untamable as he is...

A woman whose charm is stronger than the moon...

When Lily's beloved nephew's behavior becomes inexplicably wild, she turns to Simon, the boy's cousin and guardian, for help. But Simon's idea of assistance is far different than hers, and Lily finds herself ensconced in his house and engaged to the rogue. They both may have bitten off more than they can chew when each begins to discover the other's darkest secrets...


My Thoughts:

While Simon may go around barking orders, I found that out of the three Westfield brothers he has to be my favorite. There was something about him that drew me in and made me want to know more about his story. Although he has a broody side to him I found him fascinating, and would like to have seen more from this character.

I also enjoyed the way he connected with Oliver and I believe that if you do not read “A CERTAIN WOLFISH CHARM” you will be lacking a good deal of information.
Lily was also a character to remember, she was determined, straightforward and relentless. I enjoyed her interaction with Simon as well as her devotion to Oliver.

Overall would I read this again? Defiantly! I was truly surprised at how much I enjoyed this series, this was my first encounter with this genre, and I have to say I found myself eager to read the next book, and then the next book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially if you wanted to read the remainder of the series. Each book does stand on its own, although each contains a back-story of sorts for the remainder of the characters and books.



Please stop by tomorrow for my review of TALL, DARK, and WOLFISH (book 2 in the Westfield series).











Visit Angela @ Renees Reads

Firelight By Sophie Jordan

Title Firelight

By Sophie Jordan

Publication date: September 7, 2010

Genre: YA paranormal romance




My review:

Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons able to shift into human form. Her pride values Jacinda because she is a rare fire breather. Since her father's death, they are even more protective and controlling of her. Jacinda loves to fly and in one moment of recklessness she breaks a rule that could expose their secret to humans and she is spotted by dragon hunters. Forced to flee to the desert with her mother and sister, Jacinda tries to fit in at her new school but she is shocked to come face to face with Will, the handsome young hunter who saw her in dragon form. Jacinda and Will are drawn to each other but the closer Jacinda gets to Will the more danger that the truth will be revealed.




The YA paranormal market is saturated with books about vampires, werewolves, and angels so it is refreshing to read a paranormal romance about dragons. Firelight is more than just the typical impossible love scenario. Jacinda struggles to figure out where she belongs and who she is. She also has to deal with family issues-her mom has chosen not to manifest in her draki form and allowed that part of herself to die away and her sister Tamra never manifested in the first place. Both of them want Jacinda to let go of the draki part of herself and embrace humanness. There is also the pride which would like to force Jacinda to mate with their alpha so that there will be more firebreathers.




Will is a sympathetic character as well as a hunter who does not want to hunt dragons with his bloodthirsty family. Their romance is incredibly intense. Jacinda practically burns for Will (when she gets emotional or scared her draki self emerges and she starts to transform) and although it appears to be love at first sight the relationship is given time to develop. I think the world that Sophie Jordan has created with draki living alongside humans and hunters is very well realized. The ending is a cliffhanger that will leave readers anticipating the sequel.




Readalikes: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey





Visit Christina @ Reading Extensively

The King's Mistress & Outlander double review

Title- The King’s Mistress
Author- Emma Campion

Rating: 4 Crowns

From the Back Cover:

When had I choice to be other than I was?

From childhood Alice Salisbury has learnt obedience in all things and at fourteen, dutifully marries the man her father has chosen for her - at the cost of losing the love of her mother forever and the family she holds dear. But merchant Janyn Perrers is a good and loving husband and Alice soon learns to enjoy her marriage. Until a messenger brings news of his disappearance and she discovers that her husband had many secrets, secrets he didn't want her to know - but which have now put a price on her own head and that of her beloved daughter.

Her only chance to survive lies in the protection of King Edward III and Queen Philippa and she must dutifully embrace her fate once more - as a virtual prisoner at Court. And when the king singles her out for more than just royal patronage, she knows she has little choice but to accept his advances. But obeying the king brings with it many burdens as well as pleasures, as she forfeits her good name to keep her daughter free from hurt. Still a young woman and guided by her intellect and good business sense, she learns to use her gifts as wisely as she can. But as one of the king's favorites, she brings jealousy and hatred in her wake and some will stop at nothing to see her fall from grace.


There are a couple of things that make crafting a believable, romantic fictional account of Alice Perrer's story hard to do. First, the author has her work cut out for her in trying to persuade the reader that Alice is not as bad as her contemporaries made her out to be. History has accused Alice of taking advantage of a senile king for her own financial and political gain, and of usurping the position of a beloved dead queen, taking her place beside the king as the queen would have, even wearing the queen's jewels in public. After Edward's death she was tried by Parliament for "crimes against the king and kingdom", stripped of her holdings and banished from England.

Second, by the time Alice becomes Edward's mistress he's an old man, and the author has to try really hard to make an old man sexually attractive and to make the reader believe that a woman as young and vibrant and beautiful as Alice would enjoy bedding him. For the most part I think she succeeds here, but there were one or two descriptive phrases that made me cringe a little!

Campion excels at using Alice's story to depict the plight of medieval women--at the mercy of the men in their lives--and Alice's mantra: When had I choice to be other than I was?, pretty much sums it up. And though I think Campion's portrayal of Alice is probably much more accurate than that of Alice's contemporaries, I think Campion took Alice too far in the other direction. Alice is a little too perfectly good and selfless, especially in the face of such circumstances. But she's very likeable, and I was really rooting for her.

Be forewarned: some of the plot points in this story are completely fictional. I don't mind that as long as they are believable within the confines of the time period and the author is up front about it, and in this case she is. Overall I enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and easy to lose myself in, and I enjoyed reading about some of these historical figures from another viewpoint, since Katherine by Anya Seton is really the only novel I had previously read about this time period. I look forward to future novels from this author.





**********************************************************************************

Title- Outlander (graphic novel)
Author- Diana Gabadon
Rating: 4 Crowns

I'm sharing a few of my thoughts upon finishing the new Outlander graphic novel: The Exile. The Exile is a re-telling in graphic-novel form of the first half of Diana Gabaldon's wildly popular novel Outlander, and while it is true to the original story, the reader gets to see it from a different point of view. If you haven't read Outlander, then you should certainly start there as this graphic novel is really just a fun little extra and does not have the depth and scope of the original.

I'd never read a graphic novel before and I found it took some getting used to. Sometimes I couldn't tell in which order the dialogue was spoken and I was disappointed that the characters' faces were not drawn with the same detail throughout the novel as they were in the beginning of the story, but I'm supposing that's how it goes: the artist gives you a couple of very detailed, complete pictures of the main characters, Jamie and Claire, so you'll know what they look like, but doesn't keep up that level of detail throughout the rest of the novel, focusing more on the action shots. Thus sometimes Jamie and Claire looked like cartoon characters. But, oh, those first few frames of Jamie are awesome!! (You can get a sneak peak by browsing through a few of the pages on Amazon.)

The story begins with MacKenzie clansman Murtaugh bringing Jamie Fraser home from an abby in France where he has been recuperating from an attempt on his life. They meet up with their fellow clansmen to make the trip back to Castle Leoch, the MacKenzie stronghold, and then along comes Claire Randall who stumbled through an ancient stone circle in 1945 and ended up in 1743, and if you've read Outlander you know what happens from there! There's a new element to the story, though, and it involves Murtaugh and a mysterious man who appears from out of nowhere, and Murtaugh, being highly superstitious, believes him to be a faery demon. But this fellow keeps popping up and soon it becomes evident to the reader that he is a fellow Traveler who's come through the standing stones. This new subplot has no real bearing on the Outlander story, so it doesn't change anything we already know, just adds another layer to it and helps give a little more insight into Murtaugh's mind. The story ends when Claire makes her choice between her old life in 1945 and her new life in 1743 at the circle of the standing stones. (In Outlander, this is actually only about two-thirds of the way through the book and much more story follows.)

I gobble up anything Outlander-related, so I pre-ordered this as soon as I was able to do so. Based on story and read-ability I'd rate it 3 stars, because I did find it rather confusing, the addition of the new subplot was nothing to get too excited about, and the bare bones storyline does not do justice to the original book. BUT the artwork is absolutely beautiful, I loved getting to see one of my favorite novels of all time get a treatment like this, and its "coolness" factor earns it 5 stars, so I'm splitting the difference and calling this one 4 stars. I don't think it's going to end up a beloved classic, but if you're a devoted Outlander fan you've got to add this to your collection.



Let Them Read Books

The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips book discussion

Claire Donovan always dreamed of visiting Venice, though not as a chaperone for a surly teenager. But she can’t pass up this chance to complete her Ph.D. dissertation on Alessandra Rossetti, a mysterious courtesan who wrote a secret letter to the Venetian Council warning of a Spanish plot to overthrow the Republic in 1618. Claire views Alessandra as a heroine and harbors a secret hope that her findings will elevate Alessandra to a more prominent place in history. But an arrogant Cambridge professor is set to present a paper at a prestigious Venetian university denouncing Alessandra as a co–conspirator—a move that could destroy Claire’s paper and career.

As Claire races to locate the documents that will reveal the courtesan’s true motives, Alessandra’s story comes to life with all the sensuality, political treachery, and violence of seventeenth–century Venice. Claire also falls under the city’s spell. She’s courted by a handsome Italian, matches wits with her academic adversary, bonds with her troubled young charge, and amid the boundless beauty of Venice, recaptures the joy of living every moment…

Layering wit and warmth into her portraits of two very different yet equally dynamic heroines, Christi Phillips shifts effortlessly between past and present in a remarkable novel that is at once a love story, a mystery, and an intriguing historical drama. Filled with beautifully rendered details of one of the world’s oldest and most magical cities, The Rossetti Letter marks Phillips’s debut as a writer of extraordinary skill and grace.

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Tonight from 8-9 pm. EST Royal Reviews will be discussing The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips. So please feel free to stop by and join the discussion. If you are unable to do so, please feel free to leave your thoughts, comments, and/or questions.

Sky Lines and Woodsmoke by Badger Clark

It's anything goes week. Please stop by and see what caught our reviewers fancy. Who knows you might just find your new favorite novel.

-The Queen of the Quill



Title: Sky Lines and Woodsmoke
Author: Badger Clark
Genre: Poetry
Royal crowns: 5/5

As the first Poet Laureate of South Dakota Badger Clark absolutely defines the romance and atmosphere of the Black Hills. Born Charles Badger Clark in 1883 to a minister and his wife in Albia, Iowa. The family moved to Dakota Territory while Badger was a baby. There he lived until he contracted tuberculosis, at which point he moved to Arizona to take advantage of the dry climate. While in Arizona, Badger Clark found work as a cowboy. These experiences remained with him when he was called home to South Dakota due to his father's ill health.
Badger Clark settled in to South Dakota, building a cabin on land leased from Custer State Park for $10. This was a temporary home while he built his new home nearby. It took him five years, but he completed the job with his own labor. All the while he wrote poetry.
The subject of his poems range from the cowboy trail to the nature of God to love. I will be the first to admit that I don't know much about poetry, and I also don't read much. Poetry has never been something that I sit down to enjoy in my free time. That all changed when I encountered Badger Clark's poetry. His command of language is amazing. The way he evokes the images of the Black Hills of South Dakota moved me. I felt joy and elation while reading. He transported me to a different place, a place I love to be, but only get to visit on rare occasions.
If one has never been to the Black Hills, Clark's poetry will open a burning desire within you to see what this amazing place is all about. If you have been to the Black Hills, Clark's poetry will bring you there in your mind's eye.
I highly recommend this book, and all of Clark's poetry. For more information visit the Badger Clark Memorial Society website: http://www.badgerclark.org/



Visit Liz @ The Book Nook Of Liz

Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband by Melissa Mayhue

Title: Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband
Author: Melissa Mayhue
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Publisher: Pocket Paperbacks (Simon & Schuster), 2007
Pages: 356
Rating: 3 Crowns


Synopsis:

SCOTLAND, 1272. Connor MacKiernan, a descendant of the Fae Prince, is a warrior who lives only for honor and duty. Though he's vowed never to marry, that's exactly what he must do to save his sister. Enter a little Faerie magic, and the search for a bride is on.

DENVER, 2007. Caitlyn Coryell is having a really bad day -- she just discovered her fiancé with another woman! Imagine her surprise when she puts on some sexy lingerie and an antique pendant and Connor appears in her bedroom, begging for her help. He offers a simple yet outrageous adventure: travel to his time, marry him, and return home.

But nothing's simple when Cate is trapped in the thirteenth century. The wedding's delayed, someone's trying to kill her, and in the middle of all this, she realizes she's falling in love with a man who can only be her husband for thirty nights.

My Review: Anytime there's talk about time travel, I think about Scotland. It seems such a magical and mysterious place, if time travel were real, I'd definitely want to go there. So I count Cate as one of the lucky heroine's of time travel.

I found this book to be great escapist reading, I read it in less than a day and it was quite charming. Add to that a hot Highlander? You've got a book that's hard to put down.

I was honestly a little bored with Caitlyn Coryell, she mostly felt like a method to expose the plot points and get into trouble, but she also gets to be part of some great sex scenes with Connor, so I won't complain too much. I think what really bothered me was that she just didn't feel like a woman who has much of an identity outside of a relationship and her work - not a great role model for a modern woman!

Connor, however, is steaming hot. He's just the sort of confident, experienced, solid Scottish man you expect from a book like this. Sure, he's no Jamie Fraser, but I guess I'll lower my standards every now and then.

I think my only complaint is that the whole time travel to a different century thing didn't seem to affect anyone too much. I mean, even if you're expecting to be transported, don't you think you'd be a little shocked by everything? I can envision the danger, lack of electricity and running water, difficulty preserving food - but actually living it is another question entirely.

I don't feel like I can say much about the plot, there are a lot of twists and turns that I would hate to ruin for anyone, but let's just say - you will want to keep reading and won't be disappointed. This is the debut novel by Melissa Mayhue, and I definitely think she has promise. In fact, I intend to look around for the next few books in this series. She's an author to watch!








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Flirting With Forever by Gwyn Cready

Title- Flirting With Forever
Author- Gwyn Cready
Publisher- Pocket Books Romance
ISBN - 978-1-4391-0724-9
$7.99
Genre- Paranormal Romance
Rating 4.5 Crowns


Art Historian Campbell Stratford is about to make a name for herself with her scandalously sexy tell-all “fictographies” of famous seventeenth-century artists, but she’s more intimately familiar with her subject than her eager readers can imagine. Thanks to a time portal she accidentally discovered, she has caused quite a stir in the Great Beyond. To save their reputations, the Guild protecting dead artists convinces playboy Peter Lely, portraitist to the king, to sabotage Cam’s latest project. A few hours posing on Sir Peter’s modeling chaise leads to a night of seductive passion-then Cam returns home and discovers his betrayal. But before she can turn her angry pen on her lover, Sir Peter makes a surprise visit to the future and transforms Cam’s twenty-first century life into chaos of classic proportions………………….
(from the back cover)



My Thoughts:

Author Gwyn Cready is the master of time travel romances. She has created the perfect setting and characters, to complete this one of a kind masterpiece. Not only has she provided romance, and time travel, she has provided a healthy dose of art history as well. For those of you who have studied or have heard about Sir Peter Lely, painter to King Charles II, or have been captivated by his many paintings, Flirting with Forever, takes you inside his world. Plus with this being a time travel novel it also brings him into ours. Readers will find the relationship between Lely and Cam heartbreaking, hilarious, and enduring. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

If like me you have seen a painting by Sir Peter Lely you will never be able to forget that painting. One of my favorites is this painting of Nell Gwyn.



You can find out more about Sir Peter Lely Here



About the Author:
Gwyn Cready has a BA in English literature and an MBA in marketing from the University of Chicago. She spent many years as a brand manager at a company as least as funny as Pilgrim Pharmaceuticals. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family and is the RITA® Award-winning author of two novels with two more on the way.



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The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

Title: The Brutal Telling
Author: Louise Penny
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2009
Pages: 372
Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Synopsis: Chaos is coming, old son.

With those words the peace of Three Pines is shattered. As families prepare to head back to the city and children say goodbye to summer, a stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store. Once again, Chief Inspector Gamache and his team are called in to strip back layers of lies, exposing both treasures and rancid secrets buried in the wilderness.

No one admits to knowing the murdered man, but as secrets are revealed, chaos begins to close in on the beloved bistro owner, Olivier. How did he make such a spectacular success of his business? What past did he leave behind and why has he buried himself in this tiny village? And why does every lead in the investigation find its way back to him?

As Olivier grows more frantic, a trail of clues and treasures— from first editions of Charlotte’s Web and Jane Eyre to a spider web with the word “WOE” woven in it—lead the Chief Inspector deep into the woods and across the continent in search of the truth, and finally back to Three Pines as the little village braces for the truth and the final, brutal telling.

My Review: I had no expectations going into this book, not really even an idea of what it was about. I hadn't ever read anything by this author, and I hadn't heard of Armand Gamache in my life. So imagine my surprise at how much I really liked this book, a feeling that started a couple of chapters in and stayed with me the whole time!

Typically when reading a book in a "series", I like to read it in order to get all the details. Luckily, this isn't so much a "series" as it is more like an Agatha Christie character - you may not know everything about them, but you likewise don't need to have read the other books to understand the characters. Which I loved, because Armand Gamache was a charming Chief Inspector who I would be happy to spend more time with going forward.

The setting is the lovely Canadian village of Three Pines, a picturesque little town where unfortunate things seem to happen on a regular basis. While it doesn't go into much detail, the reader understands that dreadful things have happened in Three Pines before, and it's all come back. It's clear from the start that someone in Three Pines had something to do with the murder of the stranger - but who?

We're lead through a cast of very interesting and unique characters, people from all over the world, looking for happiness and solace, who find their way to Three Pines to settle down in the Canadian forest. Poets, artists, bakers, former investors, Czech immigrants - all become suspects in the horrendous murder as they all have something to potentially gain from it as secrets come out.

I'm not one of those readers who has to figure out the mystery before the detectives in the story do, so I was just along for the ride as Chief Inspector Gamache and his team tried to unravel this brutal telling. That being said, like the characters in the book, I was not convinced that the correct conclusion had been reached by the investigators, but also wondered what other ending there could have been. To me, it seems like a lot of murder mysteries in real life are like this - the evidence tells you one thing and is pretty conclusive, yet your heart feels differently.

I think fans of mystery novels will enjoy this book, and I definitely recommend it to people familiar with Louise Penny. I, for one, will be looking for more Armand Gamache to fill my shelves!






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The Grave Tattoo by Val McDermid

Title: The Grave Tattoo
Author: Val McDermid
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2006
543p

Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Summertime in England and heavy rain over the Lake District fells has uncovered a bizarrely tattooed body. Could it be linked to the old rumour that Fletcher Christian, mutinous First Mate on the Bounty, had secretly returned to England?Scholar Jane Gresham wants to find out. She believes that the Lakeland poet William Wordsworth , a friend of Christian's may have sheltered the fugitive and turned his tale into an epic poem which has never been found. As she follows each lead and begins to interview descendants of Wordworth's servant, Dorcas, death is hard on her heels. There are others who realise that this lost poem would be worth a great deal of money.

Jane has more to deal with than research. A snarky and resentful brother, an ex-boyfriend who deals in rare manuscripts, and the unexpected presence of a young girl she mentors in London who is mixed up in arson and murder.All of this adds up to several subplots and it's to the author's credit that she manages to weave them all together so successfully, but personally I thought it one or two too many which tended to slow the central action down at times.

Val McDermid is well known for her contemporary crime novels but this one steps into a different area with the historical content. Interspersed between chapters is a supposed letter to Wordsworth from Christian relating details of the Bounty and his life following the mutiny and there are also glimpses of Wordsworth's life and descriptions of the beautiful Lake District which make for interesting reading.

The Grave Tattoo is well written and constructed and a good crime read but it isn't as exciting and suspenseful as some of her other books. Don't be put off by the 543 pages - my copy was a smallish paperback and the font is large.It should appeal to readers who appreciate a mixture of history and mystery and I did enjoy it very much.






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Fiber & Brimstone by Laura Childs

Title- Fiber & Brimstone
Author- Laura Childs
Publisher- Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN- 978-0-425-23674-1
Release Date- 10/5/2010
$27.95
Format- Hardcover
Pages- 336
Genre-Mystery
How I read it- Trade Paperback ARC (from the publishers)
Rating- 4 Crowns


With its history of spooky folklore, New Orleans offers the perfect atmosphere for Halloween. But when real corpses start turning up in time for the Day of the Dead festivities, scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand once again dresses up as a detective in time for the holiday…………


With the help of her best friend Ava Gruiex, Carmela is building a giant monster puppet for the French Quarter’s gala Halloween Monsters and Mayhem Torchlight Parade. Things get terrifying earlier than expected when they overhear an argument between Jekyl Hardy and Brett Fowler-and just minutes later they find Fowler’s body, his heart pierced by the razor-sharp horns of a gigantic Minotaur head.

Carmela has known Jekyl for years and can’t believe he’d ever resort to murder, despite the fact that Fowler owed him money. Fowler owed a lot of people money after being indicted for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme, making every investor a suspect. But when another victim is discovered-who also had an unfriendly relationship with Jekyl-Carmela is convinced someone is framing her friend and now must find a way to unmask the real killer……
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts-

This is a nice cozy mystery for Halloween. I have Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mysteries and have enjoyed them immensely- so I was quite pleased when Fiber & Brimstone (book 8 in her Scrapbook Mysteries) arrived in my mailbox. Fiber & Brimstone is set in post-Katrina New Orleans and I love the way the Laura incorporates her setting into her book, it adds that nice layered feel. Her characters were charming as well, and I found that I liked them just as well as those in her Tea Shop Mysteries.

I was also pleased with her plot line, and even though this is part of a series and it referred a few things from the past, I did not feel as though I lost anything from not reading the previous books. Although now that I have read Fiber & Brimstone, I am eager to read the pervious 7 books.

This book also includes Scrapping Tips as well as a few nice recipes in the back.

Overall I enjoyed this cozy little mysteries. It held my attention, and it even offered up a surprise or two.





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Autumn Greetings

As I sit here and write this I am watching as my front lawn becomes covered with Autumns palette. Over the past few days the leaves have become emblazoned with deep burgundies, crisp oranges, and golden browns, which are now scattering in the chilly breeze. My street is lined with local farmers who are sitting out bales of hay that are scattered with scarecrows and pumpkins galore. And the smell of a bonfire still lingers in the air, which brings to mind a stanza from Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “Autumn Fires”
“Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!”

I have to say that Autumn is my favorite time of year, it’s a love that I have inherited from my mother. I hold many wonderful memories pertaining to this time of year, and still hold fast to the traditions of my youth. I also find that there are several books that I like to reread during this time, the top one on my list being “Fair is the Rose”, by Liz Curtis Higgs. If any of you have read the book, you will know that it is set against the backdrop of a Scottish Autumn, for those of you who have not read it, what better time is there to begin a new adventure in the Lowlands?

Even the great poets such as Keats, Shelley, Frost, and Dickinson have created odes to this beautiful time of year. So with that in mind during the month of October Royal Reviews will featuring books for the season. We will also have spectacular giveaway thanks to Lydia Dare at the end of the month so keep an eye out for that.

So what is your favorite book to read at this time of year? Do you have a favorite recipes or a tradition that you would like to tell us about? Feel free to comment we love to hear what our readers have to say.


Also Royal Reviews will be hosting another online book club on October 20th from 8-9 pm EST. The book featured this month will be The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips so please join us for that. If you are unable to make our live discussion I will have the page up the whole day so please feel free to drop by and say hello.


I hope that you all enjoy the beauty of Autumn, and what better time is it to Fall in love with a good book?

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,
Angela Renee







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