The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Title: The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
Author: Mary Lydon Simonsen
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 978-1402240256
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

If the two of them weren’t so stubborn…

It’s obvious to Georgiana Darcy that the lovely Elizabeth Bennet is her brother’s perfect match, but Darcy’s pigheadedness and Elizabeth’s wounded pride are going to keep them both from the loves of their lives.

Georgiana can’t let that happen, so she readily agrees to help her accommodating cousin, Anne de Bourgh, do everything within their power to assure her beloved brother’s happiness.

But the path of matchmaking never runs smoothly…
(from the publisher)

My review: As an avid reader and lover of all things Austen inspired, I have to say that I fell in love with The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy. First off let me that while this is a Pride & Prejudice redo and holds the same key notes that the original has it is completely different. I felt that it was such a nice deviation, like a breath of fresh air. Humorous, witty, and well composed, I could not put this book down. A wonderful addition to your Jane Austen collection, readers should defiantly give it a go.

Overall would I read this again? Most defiantly!


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I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell

Title: I Dream of Genies
Author: Judi Fennell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4189-5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
$6.99 US/ $8.99 CAN/ £4.99 UK
How I Read It: Mass-Market Arc
Rating: 4 Crowns



HE NEEDS TO CHANGE HIS LUCK, AND FAST!

Matt Ewing would gladly hunt down a fortune in lucky pennies if he thought it would help save his business.
But for all his hoping, Matt’s clueless when his long awaited lucky charm falls in his lap in the form of a beguiling genie. He just can’t believe that this beautiful woman could be the answer to his prayers…

SHE’S BEEN BOTTLED UP FOR FAR TOO LONG!

Spending 2,000 years in a bottle would make any woman go a little stir crazy. So when Matt releases Eden from her luxurious captivity, she’s thrilled to repay him by giving him the magical boost he needs…
But for all her good intentions, Eden’s magical prowess is a little rusty and her magical mistakes become more than embarrassing. And though Eden knows falling in love will end her magic and immortality, she can’t help but be drawn to the one man who wants her just for herself
(from the publishers)

My Review:

Eden is a genie with a problem- a big problem- as a form of punishment Eden has been banished to her battle for decades. Trapped her only contact with the outside world is that of a talking cat named Obo. Desiring her freedom, she watches and waits for the day that someone will set her free. Then the unthinkable happens the owner of the shop in which her bottle is kept decides to throw her in the dustbin. She now finds that some bizarre accident has freed her from her imprisonment and landed her right in the lap of the man she has been watching from the shop window.

Matt Ewing’s life seems to be falling apart, so when a woman dressed in a genie costume shows up out of nowhere he is beginning to think things could not get any stranger. Unable to resist helping a damsel-or should that be genie- in distress, he takes her back to his place where things go from odd to downright weird.

After a bit of convincing, and faulty magic, Eden slowly but surely convinces him that she is in fact a living breathing genie. Now she must remove the bracelets on her wrist so that Faruq, her keeper will not be able to locate her and force her back inside the bottle. Although things do not quite go as planned as, her mismanaged magic has left behind glimmer that Faruq is able to track down.

Along the way Eden begins to fall for Matt, yet she knows that Matt is not looking for a serious relationship. Will she fall in love and become mortal or will she decide that Matt’s life is too messed up to fit her into in? So, what is a genie a to do?

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book; I found that it was a fast-paced witty romance that had charm and pizzazz. I enjoyed reading about Eden and her struggles for freedom and I found that Matt was fun to read as well. I do wish that Matt’s problems had addressed a little better seeing as he whined about them throughout the book. It was a magic little read that I read straight through.

Overall would I read it again: I probably would if I was looking for a “flight of fancy” read, one that would take you away from reality for the duration of the book.

Cover Thoughts: I loved the cover other than the man’s striped shirt; it seemed not to blend with the rest of the book. However, I do have to say that the cover has captured the element of whimsy that the book has.


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Kiss At Your Own Risk by Stephanie Rowe

Title: Kiss At Your Own Risk
Author: Stephanie Rowe
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4195-6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 2011
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
$6.99 US/ $8.99 CAN/ £4.99
How I Read It: Mass-Market Arc
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

HE NEEDED A KILLER WOMAN…..

Blaine Underhill was one lucky man. Having recently escaped a century and a half of imprisonment at the hands of an evil witch, he’s determined to save his still-enslaved friend. But in order to do so, he’ll need the help of one of the world’s most lethal women.

SHE WAS DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, LITERALLY……

Trinity Harpswell is sick and tired of a Black Widow. Having managed to go three years without accidentally killing anyone she loves, she’s one short week away from freeing herself from this killer curse forever.

When Blaine tracks her down and convinces her to help him, little does Trinity know that the next seven days are going to be murder!
(from the publishers)

My Thoughts:

First off let me say that I normally am not one read paranormal books of any kind but I was captured by the blurb. With that being said, I have to tell you that I LOVED this book I have never read another like it, and now I have to say that my curiosity has been peaked. KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK is a witty, weird, and wonderful read. Filled with action, adventure, and romance, it opened strange worlds that was filled with mythical creatures, all the while swarming with humor. This is one of those have to read books.


KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK is the first book in Stephanie Rowe’s SOULFIRE series, and I cannot wait to read more.

OVERALL: This is what I call a weekend book that you can curl up on the couch with and have finished before you realized you’ve read it front to back.

Would I read it again: Yes, I would read it again, especially when the remainder of the series comes out.

Cover thoughts: I thought the cover was well done seeing as how Blaine’s talent is making fire. Although I would like it to have more of a pick me up and read me feel, because this book is well worth picking up.




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A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl

Title: A Little Bit Wild
Author: Victoria Dahl
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Zebra
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: August 2010
Format: Mass-market
Rating: 4.5 Crowns



HE IS NOT WHAT SHE HAD IN MIND
Jude Bertrand is not an excellent dancer. Nor does he wear the most fashionable coats. But when Marissa York’s brother approaches him, desperate to preserve Marissa’s tenuous reputation, Jude does heroic enough to offer to marry the girl. In fact, the union should more than make up for hid lack of social graces-

BUT MIND CHANGE….
Marissa knows that betrothal to the son of a duke-even one as raw and masculine as Jude-will save her from ruin, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy about it. Soon, though, she finds that Jude has a surprisingly gentle touch-and plans to use it to persuade Marissa that their wedding day cannot come soon enough…
CLICK HERE to read an excerpt!

Review:

A LITTLE BIT WIND is a new Victorian set-series by award-winning author Victoria Dahl that starts with a bang and doesn’t disappoint.

Miss Marissa York has a weakness for a handsome face and nicely turned out gentleman. Her weakness has gotten her into more trouble than she can count. And it has caused her family no doubt sleepless nights. To her dismay she gets caught having a tryst that wasn’t at all what she had expected. The man not only declares his undying love for Marissa but that he was hoping to seduce her into marriage. Marissa irrevocable says no, by her brother, Edward, still needs help in squashing any rumors that have already started. What they need is a biddable man that will ride out the storm as Marissa’s fake fiancé.

Jude Bertrand had the raw masculine sensuality of a man who has lived a hard life. As an accepted bastard son of a Duke and a French courtesan he will always be tolerated by the ton. Jude offers himself up to help defense the situation. Hoping that the more time Marissa spends with him the more she will like and fall in love with him. Jude isn’t exactly the welcomed help the Marissa was hoping for. Marissa is obsessed with pretty faces, graceful dancing and a man that has tight hard thighs-oh my. Bertrand is confident that the more time she spends getting to know him that eventually she will see through her superficial façade and see him. Will Marissa take off her rose petal glasses and see a man for who Jude truly is in time before she loses him?


Accolade

A LITTLE BIT WILD is Ms. Dahl’s take on the classic of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST-. Readers this is not Walt Disney’s singing version. Ms. Dahl did a fantastic job of creating two most incompatible protagonists that had this reviewer going a slew of emotions as their story unraveled. Dark and erotically sensual A LITTLE BIT WILD is a classic in the making with its witty dialogue, a couple with sexual chemistry that explodes off the page. Readers will melt into this story and once the book closes long to re-read again and again.





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The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor

Title: The Anatomy of Ghosts
Author: Andrew Taylor
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Hyperion
Pages: 496
Rating: 3 Crowns

Synopsis: 1786, England. John Holdsworth, a bookseller and novelist fallen upon hard times is approached by a man with an odd commission. Lady Anne Oldershaw's husband has passed away. Now a wealthy widow, she would like to hire Holdsworth to catalogue her late husband's extensive library in order to donate it to Cambridge University. However, before he undertakes that task, he must complete a more pressing one: find Lady Anne's son Frank - who is committed to a home for the mentally unstable under the claim that he has seen a ghost - and return him to London.

Once in Cambridge, Holdsworth finds Frank in a manic state that is somehow connected to the mysterious death of Sylvia Whichcote, the wife of one of Frank's colleagues at Jerusalem College. As Holdsworth tries to help Frank and unravel the mystery of Sylvia's death, he is drawn deeper into the secretive Cambridge community and encounters scholars, louche young men, enigmatic women, and street urchins in ready supply - many connected to a secret society that meets within the college's walls.

My Review: Part ghost story, part mystery, and a slight love story mixed in, The Anatomy of Ghosts is a rather interesting look into Cambridge University in Georgian times. Although the story started off a bit slow, with a lot of the recent history of our main character, John Holdsworth, I found myself appreciating this quite a bit later on when the action picks up. Understanding Holdsworth's particular situation helped bring a lot of insight into much of the rest of the story. This novel is nearly 500 pages long, but you definitely don't realize it as you get caught up in the mystery of Jerusalem College.

We're introduced to a wide cast of characters at the beginning of the novel, which is a useful reference as you start to actually meet the characters and learn more about them. I found myself referencing the list on more than one occasion, much as I might do when reading a play, and remembering the significance of little details pertaining to each person as the plot thickens. And as any good mystery should, you're wondering who can really be trusted and who may actually be the villain.

Holdsworth arrives at Cambridge knowing one thing for sure - he needs to help restore Frank to sanity above all else. While on this journey, he finds that the cause of Franks condition is very layered and a new set of questions seems to come up with each answer he potentially finds. All the while you can't help but ask: did Frank really see a ghost? Is Jerusalem College haunted?

In a time when there could be little keeping him on his feet, Holdsworth must do his best to placate everyone while uncovering the truth. It's a great ride to simply figure out which truth is the most important, who you can trust, and who may simply be misleading because it is to their advantage. And seeing the amount of scandal that can take place in this university is astounding - who knows how they managed to keep anything sacred when you see all that is going on!

I liked this story quite a bit, but I will admit that I would have given it a higher rating if I didn't feel that there were a lot of unanswered questions in the end. Many story lines seemed to have loose ends, which makes you wonder if the intention is to write a sequel to help tie things up. Holdsworth is a pretty good, though accidental detective, and I found myself rooting for him to uncover the truth and chase away some ghosts of his own.




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Title: Lily of the Nile
Author: Stephanie Dray
ISBN: 978-0-425-23855-4
Publisher: Berkley
$15.00
Format: Trade Paperback
Rating: 5 Crowns

With her parents both dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, it falls to Princess Selene to save her brothers and reclaim what’s rightfully hers……

In the aftermath of Alexandria’s tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she’s ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she’s put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene’s captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the Roman emperor’s sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans….

Now trapped in a Roman court of intrigue, where her heritage is reviled and her faith is suspect, Selene can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. Faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his vary own, Selene is determined to honor her mother’s lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. But can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is to win or die?
(from the back of the book)

My review:

I was hooked by the first chapter, and continued to fall in love with the book as I read it through. As a fan of historical fiction as well as Egyptian culture I was eager to read this novel, and I have to say that Stephanie Dray weaves a brilliantly crafted story. Rich is details, plot, and character, I highly recommend that readers give this book a go.

I believe that “Lily of the Nile” is an amazing start of I am sure will be a brilliant trilogy. I simply cannot wait to read what comes next for Selene.


I would like to thank Stephanie Dray for providing this guest post:
Why Lily of the Nile is First Person
by
Stephanie Dray
I want to thank you for having me here today on the Royal Review. I’m so delighted to be writing a post for dedicated historical fiction readers because you’re the people most likely to understand the benefits and drawbacks of a first person narrative when it comes to re-telling the life of a historical figure.
In truth, when I started writing Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra’s Daughter, I didn’t intend for it to be told in first person. I intended a third person narrative that would have allowed us to see through the eyes of Cleopatra and Augustus and all the adults who controlled Selene’s life after she was taken prisoner and marched through the streets of Rome in chains.
But Selene wasn’t having it.
I should start by saying that I’m a very workmanlike writer. I don’t wait upon my muse. I don’t write by the seat of my pants. And most importantly, my characters don’t speak to me. But whenever I sat down to write this book, I heard voices. Well, one voice, in particular. It was Selene’s voice, vibrant, strong and clear, as if she wanted to tell her own story, and I was in no position to argue.
At first, I told myself to just write the book in first person and I could always go back and change it later. However, when I tried to rewrite the opening chapter in third person, I realized I was losing the reader’s intimacy with Selene. There are a few scenes in the book, the strength of which would have been utterly crippled by third person. I didn’t want to distance the reader from the very things that moved me about Selene’s story.
Here was a little girl who lost her entire family--a girl who would have to find a way to survive behind enemy lines, in the household of the very man who drove her parents to commit suicide. This was a little girl who found a way to survive. Though Selene would grow up to be one of the emperor’s favorites, the evidence of her life shows that she never forgot her mother or her religion or her homeland. But to survive and thrive in Rome, she must have spent her entire childhood hiding her true feelings. She must have learned to control her tone of voice, to keep quiet that which she wished to speak, to hold her tongue when she wanted to scream.
Because of that, it seemed only right that Selene should finally be allowed to speak and that’s why I wrote her story in first person






BIO
Stephanie Dray is the author of a forthcoming trilogy of historical fiction novels set in the Augustan Age, starting with Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.
She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.









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