The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn

Title: The Sixth Wife
Author: Suzannah Dunn
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780061431562
How I Read It: Paperback purchased by me
My Rating: 3/5 Crowns

Synopsis: Clever, level-headed Katherine Parr has suffered through four years of marriage to the aging and irascible King Henry VIII – and she has survived, unlike the five wives who came before her. But less than a year after the old king’s death, her heart is won by the dashing Thomas Seymour, and their hasty union undoes a lifetime of prudent caution.

An unwilling witness to the queen’s late-blossoming love, Catherine, Duchess of Suffolk, harbors nagging suspicions of Kate’s handsome and ambitious new husband. But as Catherine is drawn deeper into the web of politics ensnaring her oldest friend, it gradually becomes clear that she has her own dark tale to tell. For though Thomas might betray his wife for power, Catherine might betray her for passion, risking everything she has in a world where love is a luxury not even royalty can easily afford.

My Review: I was really looking forward to this book, I had read another by this author earlier in the year and liked it quite a bit. And I liked this too, but it took me a bit of time to adjust to the viewpoint and way of speaking in this one.

The book is told from the viewpoint of Catherine of Suffolk, the last wife of Charles Brandon, who was a great friend to Henry VIII. Cathy, completely by coincidence, is a great friend of Katherine Parr, Henry’s sixth and final wife, and we pick up the story right after Kate marries Thomas Seymour, going through the last year or so of her life.

I think that’s the part I had a hard time with – I’d like to read a bit of a story about Kate’s time married to Henry in addition to the time afterwards. We see so much fiction about several of his earlier wives, and if I’m being honest, that’s the interesting part about Katherine Parr – that she was married to Henry.

Anyone who reads into the latter wives of Henry probably knows how Kate’s life goes…she’s married to Henry in his twilight, is nearly arrested, outlives him, marries Thomas Seymour, and dies shortly after giving birth to their child. This book kept me guessing as to how the author would factor Elizabeth I into this story, as she was allegedly involved in a somewhat scandal with Thomas, and it kept me on edge with wondering when that would come into play. Although I didn’t love the way it all came about, I have to admit that it was an interesting portrayal into the lives of this family for the short time they were together.

While I didn’t learn anything new from this book, I did enjoy the tale. After my initial adjustment to how it was written, I felt it was an entertaining telling of this story, and I really enjoyed having Cathy as our main character and reading from her point of view. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author!

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused

A Dash of Scandal by Amelia Grey

Title: A Dash of Scandal
Author: Amelia Grey
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3979-3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$7.99 £5.99
Pages: 352
Release Date: October 2011
How I Read It: Mass Market Arc
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

 

 

IS SHE STEALING….
OR JUST HIDING IN DARK CORNERS….

The Earl of Dunraven is obsessed with catching the thief who stole a priceless heirloom from him. When he keeps running into London newcomer Millicent Blair in places she shouldn’t be, his suspicions aren’t the only thing aroused…

But Millicent’s real secret is a far cry from what the earl thinks--and would horrify him much more if he knew. Yet, every encounter increased the attraction between the powerful earl and the lovely, intelligent, and feisty Miss Blair…

Welcome to the sparkling Regency word of Amelia Grey, where the gossip is fresh and a new scandal is always brewing.

My review:

Chandler Prestwick, Earl of Dunraven is intent on obsessed with finding the gold raven heirloom that was stolen from him, but to find the raven he must first find the thief. Yet, this thief is very elusive, so elusive in fact many think it to be a thieving ghost. When Chandler spies a woman sneaking off from the crowd making notes on her dance card, he assumes that she is making notes for the person who stole his raven.

Millicent Blair may be making notes, but making notes of items to nick? Highly unlikely. But she is none too eager to share her transcripts with the charming Earl of Prestwick. Sure, he may charm, dazzle and delight, but she’s heard the rumors and believes him to be a rake of the highest order. When he confronts her about being the thief’s assistant, she has no choice but to tell him exactly where her notes are ending up and she knows that he will not like her answer.

What’s a man who hates seeing his name in the Scandal Sheets to do once he discovers he is enchanted with the woman who writes them?  

My Thoughts:

Sweet, charming, and utterly endearing A Dash of Scandal is one of those books that allow the reader to lose themselves in the world the author creates.

It seems that Chandler has come to a fork in the road in his life. He can either continue on living the rakish way he is known for, or he can settle down find a wife, create an heir, and do what is expected of an Earl. As part of the Terrible Threesome, he has earned a reputation of a rake that will follow him wherever he goes, not that he’s running from who he is/was. You can see that he’s starting to come into his own, leaving his friends out of certain aspects of his life. Of course he claimed it was due to finding the raven that was nicked; it seems to be more of a cover-up so that he can distance himself enough to start settling down.

Millicent on the hand has come to London to aid her Aunt. She never would have guessed that she would be aiding her by writing down the gossip of the ton. Yet, she has found herself doing just that, even though it was the scandal sheets that forced her mother out of London.

Both Chandler and Millicent have their own struggles to contend with and that was interesting to read, but what I enjoyed the most were the scenes in which they were together. They had good chemistry, which always makes a book so much more enjoyable, it also made it hard to put down.

This is the perfect recipe for a perfect Regency romance novel. A pinch of mystery, a slice of romance, a sliver of gossip, and A DASH OF SCANDAL. What more could you ask for?

  Visit Angela Renee @ Renee’s Reads

Corrag by Susan Fletcher

Title: Corrag
Author: Susan Fletcher
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Fourth Estate, 2010
ISBN: 9780007350698
368p.


Rating: 5 Crowns!


The Massacre of Glencoe.............a dark stain of treachery and betrayal of trust on the pages of Scotland's history . On the 13th February. 1692, thirty-eight members of the MacDonald clan of Glencoe were murdered when the soldiers to whom they had given hospitality for ten days , rose up in the early hours of the morning and set about killing their hosts. Many more who fled into the mountains would die of exposure in the winter snow. 
Even today the legend persists that it was the Campbells who were to blame but in the years following the massacre the truth was brought to light by an Irish journalist and Jacobite propagandist , Charles Leslie, who. eager to discredit William III , discovered the orders for massacre originated with the king.


This is the background against which Susan Fletcher sets her novel and in her fictional account she takes the real life character of Charles Leslie to the town where a young woman is being held awaiting death by fire for her part in the massacre. He is confronted with an apparition of matted hair and filthy rags from whom he recoils in horror ........Corrag. She agrees to tell him what she knows if he will in turn listen to her life story.

Corrag is an intense narrator and a magical storyteller. " I was always one for places" she says and it is places, the natural world and its wildlife , that come to vivid life in her tale of a solitary girl with a longing to belong who finds beauty in the smallest things around her.


At the end of each day Charles analyses what he has heard in letters to his wife. An unsympathetic character in the beginning he gradually begins to see beyond surface appearance and conventional attitudes and into the heart of both Corrag and himself. Their short time together will change both their lives.

What makes this book special is the writing. At the risk of using words that overuse has made trite - Susan Fletcher's prose is lyrical, poetical and stunningly beautiful, particularly when she is describing the natural world. An absolute joy to read.

Definitely one of this years favourites -I loved it and recommend to all lovers of historical fiction.

Visit Cat @ Tell Me a Story 

Never Been Bit by Lydia Dare

Title: Never Been Bit
Author: Lydia Dare
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4513-8
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$7.99 £5.99
Pages:  384
Release Date: August 2011
How I Read It: Mass Market Arc
Rating:  4.5 Crowns

 

THE GLITTERING WORLD OF HIGH SOCIETY IS THE PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH, AND RELUCTANTLY UNDEAD….

 Alec MacQuarrie’s after-life has become an endless search for pleasure in an effort to overcome his shame and despair. Wandering through the seedy world of London’s demimonde, he’s changed into a dark and fearsome creature even he doesn’t recognize…

BUT THE TON IS NO MATCH FOR ONE INCORRIGIBLE YOUNG LADY…

 After watching each of her coven sisters happily marry, Sorcha Ferguson is determined to capture a supernatural husband of her very own. Then she finds herself embroiled in an atrocious scandal and has to bring to heel more mystical gentlemen than she knows what to do with…

Over his dead body is Alec going to allow this lovely radiant innocent to throw herself away on an unworthy cad, but that leaves him responsible for her, and he’s the worst monster of all…

My Thoughts:

Sorcha was born with a green thumb; she can coax a plant back to life in the blink of an eye. Although when it comes to claiming a supernatural man for own it is going to take a bit more work than she realized. 

Alec, once a gentleman, now a vampyre, just wants to be left alone to brood. Yet, when he realizes Sorcha’s intentions, he knows he must stop her come hell or high-water he just never realized that saving her may led them to the alter.

Sorcha Ferguson is the youngest member of the coven and I have to say that she is indeed the spunkiest member she is also a bit reckless and overly determined. When the nature-born witch realized that fellow Còig member, Elspeth captured a Lycan of her own, Sorcha was bound and determined to get one for herself, no matter the risk.

Alec MacQuarrie’s heart was broken when the Còig’s seer, Caitrin turned down his offer of marriage then his soul was taken to save his life. Now he is living existing for all eternity without the possibility of love or happiness.

Yet, when he discovers that Sorcha is determined to snatch a Lycan of her own, Alec is determined to stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life. It is finally then that Alec truly notices the woman Sorcha has bloomed into.

Will a monster such as him be able to save Sorcha from the scandal she found herself in as well as the Lycan she wishes to catch?

I have loved Alec from his first appearance in the series and waited, somewhat patiently, for his book to come out. Alec has a lot to contend with in this novel, not only is he dealing with losing Cait to a Lycan he has to deal with the fact that he is a vampyre. A vampyre whose maker as well as his friend, has turned back into humans due to the love they felt. He feels that he will never find love because of Cait’s rejection as well as the fact that he views himself as a soulless monster. Then on top of that, he has to deal with the fallout of Sorcha’s scandal and the fact that she wants to marry a Lycan of her own. Just to make things a bit more interesting, Alec also has to deal with the fact that his best friend, Ben is a Lycan.

Alec has a lot on his plate, and it made for a great read seeing the way he dealt with it. He was gruff yet lovable.

Sorcha, as the youngest and most determined member of the coven could have come off, as annoying, and I have to admit I was worried that she would come off as annoying due to her persistence in finding a Lycan to call her own. Although I am happy to report that, she was very likable and spunky. She reminded me of a very good friend of mine which made the book ever that much more likeable.

A brilliant end to a fantastic trilogy.

NEVER BEEN BIT is the third and final book in Lydia Dare’s Vampyre trilogy it is also the fifth and final book that features a member of the Còig as the books heroine.  While it is a standalone read, I recommend that you read the entire series.  

The Hadley Brothers who are featured in this book will be receiving a series of their own in 2012, and I have to say that I am eager to read the new Lycan Series.

 

  Visit Angela Renee @ Renee’s Reads

Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

Title: Dark Road to Darjeeling
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Historical Mystery
Pages: 388
ISBN: 9780778328209
How I Read It: Paperback purchased by me
My Rating: 5/5 – A Royal Read!

Synopsis: For Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane, the honeymoon has ended…but the adventure is just beginning…

After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia’s eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband’s family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child – and with discovering the truth about her husband’s death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

My Review: Oh my, what a story! I was expecting this one to be great, and I think my expectations were exceeded by a long shot.

We pick up with Julia and Brisbane en route to India, along with two of Julia’s siblings, Portia and Plum – Portia being the only one who really wants to make the journey. This, of course, sets the stage for much tension and arguing between Julia and her new husband, because these books would be nothing without the banter between the two of them.

Julia soon learns that the little valley, fondly known as The Peacocks, is full of secrets and mysteries of a whole different kind. Between inquisitive children, ailing relatives, and hidden romances, there is plenty to enjoy all around and keeps one wondering for quite awhile. Oh, and not to mention a killer tiger and a potential murderer lurking about.

No one is who they seem, despite the relatively small population of The Peacocks, and we encounter quite a bit of tragedy along the way. There were numerous times during this book that I wept openly, so many touching scenes that I doubt will leave many with dry eyes. By the end, I don’t think anyone was left unscathed by all the events that took place.

I can’t review a book in this series without more comment on the relationship between Julia and Brisbane – how frustrating! There were times when I wanted to slap both of them silly, to make them see reason and tell them to just talk to one another! Of course, it wouldn’t be them without all of that, which absolutely keeps me coming back, but I do wonder sometimes how either of them can put up with the other.

On the whole, a very satisfying continuation of this overwhelmingly lovely series. I highly encourage you all to pick it up!

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused

Lord & Lady Spy by Shana Galen

 

It’s Regency & Victorian Reads this week here at ROYAL REVIEWS.

This week our lovely Royal Reviewers will be featuring books that have caught their fancy that are set in the Regency or Victorian Eras.

 

 

 

 Title: Lord & Lady Spy
Author: Shana Galen
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5907-4
Publishers: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 416
Release Date: September 2011
Format: Mass Market
$6.99
How I Read It: Mass Market UAC* (Uncorrected Advance Copy)
Rating: 5 Crowns A Royal Read

NO MAN CAN OUTSMART HIM…

 Lord Adrian Smyth may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England’s most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn’t the only one with secrets…

BUT ONE WOMAN ALMOST CERTAINLY CAN…   

Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of retuning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he’s is not who she thinks he is after all…

Want to read an excerpt? Click Here.

 

First Thoughts When I Read the Blurb:

A Regency Era Mr. and Mrs. Smith???!!!! Yes, Please!!!!

A Quick Summery:

Lord and Lady Smythe seem to be your average marriage-of-convenience-Regency-era couple. Each have their own lives, he has his gentleman’s club, she her charitable work. Both attend the obligatory functions required by society. Both are hiding covert lifestyles that center around the top-secret Barbican group. Ok, so the last one may be a bit out of the norm for a Regency couple (or any couple for that matter), but when said Regency couple happen to be spies for a top-secret government agency intent on stopping Napoleon, stitching up a bullet wound on your way to a soirée is just another day on the job. Of course it is still a bit tricky when neither knows that other is a spy.

With Napoleon captured the Barbican group no longer feels the need to keep all of their members, thus Agent Wolf and Agent Saint are dismissed. Both are upset over the fact that they have been let go and start to wonder what to do with their life now they are no longer spies. When both are separately summoned by the Prime Minister to investigate the murder of his brother, each are in for the shock of their lives when they come to the realization they both are spies.

Everything the two thought they knew about the other, flew out the window, once they tried to kill each other. Now they find themselves in a competition of sorts, who ever can find the murderer will win back their position in the Barbican group. Not only do they have a murder to solve they have a marriage to save. And one will be a whole lot easier than the other.

My Thoughts:

I have to say that this was an incredibly fun read and an entirely new type of book for me. I simply could not put in down.

While this is a spy novel, it is also a romance novel. You could feel the tension between Adrian and Sophia. It wasn’t because they were spies; it was because they never truly learned who the other was. In fact they themselves had no idea who they were, so how could they start to figure out who the other was? Take the following excerpt for example:

 “Now that he knew her true identity, she no longer had to sneak out of the house in unfashionable clothing or heavy mantles. She could wear what she liked, be herself-whoever that was. Well, she knew one thing about herself. She liked O’Neill hats.”

You could see that they both desperately wanted that position in the Barbican group, but you also could feel how much they wanted to save their marriage. Both knew nothing about being a spouse and both had suffered greatly. The losses Sophia had suffered caused her to put up a shield and she has no intentions of letting it down just to please her husband. She was constantly on guard and her lifestyle made it hard to trust her husband. , then again once a spy always a spy.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A brilliant take on a Regency Romance that had me hooked until the very last page. It also left me wondering what happened once the book was closed and that in itself spoke volumes as to the way this novel pulled me in.   I would love for this to become a series of Regency Era Spy novels, although I am not sure what that author intends.

If you are looking for a different sort of Romance, please give LORD AND LADY SPY a go.
Filled with action, mystery, allure, intrigue, romance, and of course spies LORD AND LADY SPY definitely garners a 5 Crown Royal Read Rating from me!

Be forewarned- if you see some crazy lady in your local bookshop rambling on about how good LORD AND LADY SPY is and that you should purchase a copy, it’s probably me!  No, I am not a crazy book lady, I just loved this book!

Giveaway time. Because I loved Lord and Lady Spy so much, I purchased a copy to giveaway to my dear readers!

Here are the rules:

Contest is Open Internationally.

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.

Contest ends October 15 .

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

Feel free to advertise this giveaway on your site.

*The UAC was provided by Sourcebooks.

*The giveaway copy was purchased by me

 

Visit Angela @ Renee’s Reads

 

A Roman Ransom by Rosemary Rowe

Title: A Roman Ransom
Author: Rosemary Rowe
Publisher: Headline, 2006
ISBN: 9780755327416
Genre: Historical Mystery
337p


Rating: 3 Crowns


A Roman-Briton Whodunnit!


A Roman Ransom is the eighth in the Libertus Mystery series which are set in the second century AD when Britain had been for two hundred years the most northerly outpost of the Roman Empire. Libertus is a former slave, turned mosaic maker and part-time sleuth, working under the patronage of an influential Roman , Marcus Aurelius Septimus.


Synopsis: Libertus is lying in his sickbed after a dangerous fever when he receives a visit from a distraught Marcus Septimus and knows something is terribly wrong. Marcus's beloved wife, Julia, and their baby son have disappeared without a trace. A ransom note has been delivered wrapped in a piece of Julia's stola: unless Marcus uses his power to release a certain political prisoner, he will never see his family again. 

Struggling with his illness and the accusations of a sly Greek physician who has wheedled his way into Marcus's confidence, Libertus must try to find the criminals and save Julia and the baby.


My thoughts: These historical mysteries are perfect for those times when you only want to put your feet up and read for pure entertainment. The plot in A Roman Ransom is a little slower than in others in the series but it still has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the end.  

I enjoy the historical background. It is filled with small details of everyday life and  characters representing different social and occupational groups which give an interesting and informative picture of what life may have like in the second century.


A good read for those who like to combine history and mystery.

Visit Cat @ Tell Me a Story 

Catriona by Jeanette Baker review & giveaway

Title: Catriona
Author: Jeanette Baker
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5586
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Trade Paperback
$9.99
Pages: 400
How I Read It: Trade Paperback ARC from publishers
Rating: 5 Crowns A Royal Read

Kate Sutherland’s arrival in the misty moors of her ancestral home in the Shetland Islands was supposed to cure her visions of danger, intrigue…and a sexy powerful Scottish border lord. Instead, she discovers that she’s been living the tormented memories of Catriona Wells, a beautiful young woman of royal blood who lived five centuries before.

Shielding a dark secret from her past, Catriona was willing to do anything to save her young brother from the deadly politics of her royal family--even agree to an arranged marriage with the formidable Patrick MacKendrick. But would daring to love the hardened warrior who desired her so fiercely destroy her family…or finally allow her to heal?

Meanwhile, Kate is battling her own attraction to Niall MacCormack, an alluring Scottish historian. As the pull of history beckons, Kate had her own decision to make: choose the life and love of her present, or risk everything in Catriona’s world of passion and peril.
(from the back of the arc)



A Quick Summery:

Kate Sutherland has always felt that she doesn’t quite fit into her surroundings. After her mother’s death, Kate learns from their solicitor that she was adopted. Returning to the place of her birth, the Shetland Islands, she has two purposes: scatter her mother’s ashes and seek the answers to why she is having dreams about Catriona Wells, the cousin of James IV of Scotland.

Arriving in Scotland, she meets a handsome historian, Naill MacCormack, who seems to recognize Kate. Yet that would be impossible seeing, as Kate has never been to Scotland (other than as a babe). Finally, it dawns on Naill that Kate is the spitting image of a portrait he has seen of Catriona Wells.

Once she steps foot upon the soil of Cait Ness, the past of Catriona Wells is alive in the dreams and visions of Kate taking her to places she never imagines she would go.

When the past of Catriona Wells and Patrick MacKendrick threaten the future of Kate Sutherland and Naill MacCormack, will Kate give-up her present to correct the past?

My thoughts:

I loved this book from the moment I started reading it. Combining elements of Scottish history, Pectiwita mysticism, danger, intrigue, and romance Catriona is the perfect book to lose yourself in.

At times, I found myself wanting more of the story of Catriona Wells. Cousin to James IV, she was raised at the English court with English sympathizes. When she realizes that, her brother is in danger of losing his life she heads straight to her cousins court with the intentions of becoming an English spy. Yet, things do not go according to plan: first, she finds herself a prisoner of Patrick MacKendrick, a handsome, ruthless Scottish border lord who has the ear of King James, then his betrothed.

Although the book never states the year Catriona’s story begins, I believe that it would be 1495 as the book mentions ‘the Pretender’ to the English throne, Perkin Warbeck being supported by James IV. This was a very tricky time for Scottish-English relations, and especially so for Catriona, who was intent to use both sides to ensure that her brother remains unharmed.

Then we have Kate and Naill. Kate’s story is just as intriguing as she works out both her present and Catriona’s past.

I loved the way this book showcased the emotions, conflicts, and actual events of the time in-which it was set. It allows the reader to connect with the characters knowing that these events, these conversations could have actually transpired. I also loved the way the book draws upon the mysticism associated with the old ways of Scotland.

I hesitate to label this book as a “romance” book because it is so much more than your typical romance book. It is more so historical fiction, laced with romance, and a touch of the paranormal. A true gem well worth discovering.


Overall:

I simply could not put this book down. If you have read a book by Jeanette Baker, then you will know that her books possess that certain something that stands apart from the rest. The characters from Catriona have definitely left a mark upon my heart and I have found myself thinking about them long after the final page was read.




Who would I recommend this book to?

-A lover of historical fiction.
-Someone with an interest in romance novels.
-A reader of time-travel novels.
-Someone with an interest in the machinations of this particular period.


********

I HAVE ONE COPY TO GIVEAWAY
GIVEAWAY ENDS OCTOBER 6
OPEN TO ALL
TO ENTER PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS.

*Review copy sent from Sourcebooks
*Giveaway copy was purchased by me.

Visit Angela Renne @ Renee's Reads

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

Title: Shadows on the Moon
Author: Zoe Marriott
ISBN: 9781406318159
Publisher: Walker Books, Ldt.
Publication date: July 7, 2011 (UK), April 2012 (US)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 464
Rating: 4 1/2 Crowns








"On my fourteenth birthday when the sakura was in full bloom, the men came to kill us. We saw them come, Aimi and me. We were excited, because we did not know how to be frightened. We had never seen soldiers before."

Suzume is a shadow-weaver. She can create mantles of darkness and light, walk unseen in the middle of the day, change her face. She can be anyone she wants to be. Except herself.

Suzume died officially the day the Prince's men accused her father of treason. Now even she is no longer sure of her true identity.  Is she the girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama? A lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens? Or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands?

Everyone knows Yue is destined to capture the heart of a prince. Only she knows that she is determined to use his power to destroy Terayama.

And nothing will stop her. Not even love.


My thoughts:


Shadows on the Moon is a Asia-inspired fantasy retelling of Cinderella. In this version, the heroine goes to the ball not to win the prince's heart but to win the position of Shadow Bride, the highest ranking mistress. If she succeeds, she will be able to seek vengeance for the murder of her father and cousin. 


Suzume is a young girl at the start of the story and it is clear that her father loves her but her mother is distant. When her father is falsely accused of treason and executed, Suzume and her mother (who wasn't there when the attack happened) flee to the safety of her father's best friend Lord Terayama. Soon after, her mother marries Terayama-san and it becomes clear to Suzume that all is not as it seems. Her mother is happy while Suzume only feels anger and pain. The only thing that gives her release from the overwhelming feelings is cutting herself. Suzume knows that she musn't let Terayama-san see her true self. She begins to hide her emotions and cutting scars using Shadow Weaving, a skill she didn't even know she had until after the attack. With the help of a servant and fellow Shadow Weaver, Suzume learns to disguise herself first as an obedient daughter, then as Rin, a mute and slow kitchen servant and later as Yue, the beautiful musician and dancer. But Suzume's plans for revenge are put into jeopardy when she meets Otieno, a foreigner and Shadow Weaver who can see through her disguise.


Suzume is not always likable, especially when she is so bent on revenge. She hurts not only herself but others who care about her.  She is a determined girl though her narrow minded focus might cause her to lose the love of a good man. She feels that she doesn't deserve to be happy. It is all part of her growing process however and she must learn to deal with her grief, rage, and guilt. On Suzume's journey to healing, she meets three people who profoundly change her life. The first is Youta, the elderly Shadow Weaver who sees in Suzume the daughter he lost. It is Youta who saved Suzume's life the day her father was killed by hiding her in the ashes of the fireplace. Youta does his best to convince Suzume to live her life rather than seek revenge. Suzume later meets Akira while on the run. Akira is a Shadow Weaver too and a former Shadow Bride. It is Akira who teaches Suzume what she needs to become a Shadow Bride herself. She tries to encourage Suzume to let go of her scheme for vengeance and embrace love instead. Otieno is the young Shadow Weaver from a distant land who fell in love with Suzume and can see through all her disguises. He offers Suzume his heart but hers is so broken that she believes she is unworthy of his love.


Shadows on the Moon is a beautifully written novel that has been described as "Cinderella meets Memoirs of a Geisha", a sentiment that I agree with especially for the last section of the book where I couldn't help but compare Suzume to Sayuri, the heroine of Memoirs of a Geisha. The world that Zoe Marriott creates is inspired by Feudal Japan. I enjoyed the descriptions of the kimono, tea gardens, the music, dancing and other details of Suzume's daily life. The descriptions of Shadow Weaving are also fascinating though not much insight is given into how Suzume and the other Shadow Weavers can do what they do.


I have found Zoe Marriott to be a talented writer of YA fantasy and she does not disappoint with Shadows on the Moon. She delivers a story of magic, adventure, beauty, and love. I enjoyed the romance between Suzume and Otieno though it was not the focus of the story. What pulled me in the most was the emotional journey that Suzume takes over the course of the novel. The ending shows that Suzume has come to some important realizations about herself and her behavior. She still has some healing to do but she is well on her way. If there is one think that could have been improved it would be the ending. I felt that the last part of the book was rushed and the conclusion came a little abruptly. Still, I thought it was an amazing book and one of my favorites of 2011. I would suggest this to fans of Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon and those who like fairy tale retellings.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud review, guest post and giveaway

Title: Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star
Author: Heather Lynn Rigaud
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5781-0
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: September 2011
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99 US/ £9.99 UK
Pages: 576
How I read it: Trade Paperback Arc from the Publishers
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

DARCY’S AS HOT AS HE IS TALENTED…

Fast music, powerful beats, and wild reputations--on and off stage--have made virtuoso guitarist Fitzwilliam Darcy’s band into rock’s newest bad boys. But they’ve lost their latest opening act, and their red-hot summer tour is on the fast track to disaster. Now Darcy and bandmates Charles Bingley and Richard Fitzwilliam are about to meet their match…

BUT SHE’S ABOUT TO ROCK HIS WORLD…

Enter Elizabeth Bennet, fiercely independent star of girl-band Long Borne Suffering. Elizabeth, her sister Jane, and friend Charlotte Lucas have talent to spare and jump at the opening band slot. Elizabeth is sure she’s seen the worst the music industry has to offer. But as the days and nights heat up, it becomes clear that everyone is in for a summer to remember.
(from the back of the arc)

First Thoughts:

Do I want read about Fitzwilliam Darcy being a guitar god clad in skin-tight black leather pants? YES, PLEASE!!!!!!



The Characters:

In this modern retelling, we see Fitzwilliam Darcy as a rock god that knows just the right cords to strike--both on stage and off. As the founder of the rock band Slurry, we see Darcy in a new light as well as a new wardrobe that consists mainly of black leather pants and dark sunglasses. Yet while he is this amazing guitar god, he still has the problems of the original Darcy, meaning that he still comes off as arrogant and he still has guardianship of his younger sister, Georgiana. Oh, and of course Wickham is still around.

At the beginning Darcy and Elizabeth are like chalk and cheese, they would not even be able to agree on the correct time if a clock was placed in front of them. As the novel progresses their relationship waxes and wanes and it seems that everyone but the two of them can see their attraction to each other.

Charles Bingley plays bass as well as delivers smashing vocals. In this version, he doesn’t come off as quite so daft, although she still is quick to love. We still see him form an emotional attachment to Jane rather early on and their romance heats up throughout the novel with the expected interlude.

Jane is just Jane; throughout the novel, she is the one who remains the most true to the voice of the original character, but with that being said this character is completely new and exciting.

Then we have Richard Fitzwilliam, Slurry’s drummer who also happens to be a recovering alcoholic that develops a sex addiction. In a sense Richard is the true embodiment of a rock god, doing what he pleases and pulling a new flavor every night.
Then he meets Charlotte and his world changes.

Out of all the characters Charlotte has to the one who has been changed the most, and I find that I rather enjoyed this Charlotte.

The web of characters we see in the original P&P still make appearances although they have all been made over to fit a contemporary novel.

The Plot:

The plot was very fast paced and I was continuously turning the pages as the plot heated up. I read this book in four settings, yet if I had not been traveling, it could have been a two setting read. The plot did throw a few unexpected twists and turns my way and I was highly intrigued to see how they played out.

Overall, this was a very different take on P&P, which I enjoyed. While you do see flickers of the original characters, you must remember that this book is a modern retelling. It was light and fun yet it did contain a few heavy undercurrents. It also contained very steamy scenes that kept the adage of Drug, Sex, and Rock ’n Roll alive throughout the novel.

Would I read it again? Most definitely!

For those of you who view spin-offs and retellings as a slight to Jane Austen and the characters she created, please give this novel a chance. Even if you have to dissociate this book from the original, give it a go. You will definitely enjoy it!


**********************
I would like to thank Heather Lynn Rigaud for this lovely guest post!



Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star is a completely new spin on Pride & Prejudice, what inspired you to place these characters as rock stars?

Let me start by saying I enjoy taking liberties with Jane Austen’s characters. I freely admit it. I’m shameless. I love to think about what each character in a book was feeling at the various points of the book. And then I love to think about new ways of expressing those feelings. Jane Austen is so amazing at identifying emotions and thoughts and motivations in her work, it makes the characters feel very modern, and very accessible to her readers, even 200 years later.

I also love to put them in new settings. I’m somewhat obsessed with finding parallels between modern times and different periods in history. I want to know how a mother would raise her children in the Renaissance. I’m curious how a young man learned a trade in the Regency. What was courtship like in the Roaring 20’s? How are they different from now? How are they the same? What can I personally relate to vs. what’s strange and foreign? And this extends to Austen’s wonderful characters. (I suspect very few people could blame me for wanting to spend more time with these fascinating people.) So, there I was mentally playing with my Darcy and Elizabeth paper-dolls in my head. I was wondering how to distinguish the class difference between Darcy and most other people? Austen’s Darcy has a prestige and status that I wanted to find a modern equivalent for.

It occurred to me that a musician, particularly a proud, aloof, anti-social musician could work. I was already mulling on this when I heard the Puddle of Mudd song, “She Hates Me”, which struck me as having exactly the mixture of rage, injured pride, and self-hate that Darcy would be feeling after the Hunsford proposal. From there, everything fell into place for him. I had my Darcy-Rock Star Darcy: proud, talented, reserved, famous. Everything Jane would have wanted for him.

But what about my Elizabeth?

One of the things I love in Pride & Prejudice is how at the end Darcy and Elizabeth come together as emotional peers. Elizabeth starts the book with a tremendous inferiority complex. She’s embarrassed and ashamed of her family. She’s not the pretty on, but she can’t be really jealous of Jane, who makes Mother Teresa look angry. She thinks she’s the world’s greatest judge of character, but Charlotte’s easily got her number. In other words, she’s got a terrible chip on her shoulder for not being ‘good enough’.

So it’s very telling that at the end of this huge and emotional journey, Elizabeth tells Lady Catherine that her and Darcy are “in the same sphere”. When Catherine challenges her on that, Elizabeth’s response is the regency equivalent of ‘bite me’. For me, this is huge. It’s a sign that emotionally Darcy and Elizabeth are finally on the same page.

So I needed my modern Elizabeth and Darcy to also have a way that they could be peers, that wasn’t immediately obvious. Well, talent is often no indicated by fame. There are plenty of very talented musicians, artist, actors, writers, etc. that aren’t famous. Everyone has heard the saying “90 percent of being famous is being in the right place at the right time”. Part of fame if having a ton of good luck. What it Elizabeth was as talented as Darcy, but not as famous? This appealed to me because Darcy could easily fear Elizabeth and her sister seeking to improve their fame by attaching themselves to Bingley and himself. Ooohh, and Elizabeth could have issues because Darcy was famous, and she wasn’t-even though she was just as talented as he was.

It was a moment when things clicked, and making them Rock Stars became an obvious choice. I went all out developing this concept. I gave Darcy everything: money, talent, fame, success, a mother in the business; in short, I made him a “man of sense and education, who has lived in the world.” Everything that Elizabeth didn’t have. This gave them a gap that Darcy could feel all superior about, and Elizabeth could resent.

Of course, I gave Darcy plenty of troubles too, but Elizabeth doesn’t see that, certainly not at first. She’s ready to take offence as soon as it’s even hinted at, which of course poor Darcy does. He’s Darcy, after all, and Elizabeth and her band represent a possible danger to His Band. (Darcy is so superior that of course he feels the need to protect his less talented, less worldly, less intelligent friends) So with her pride stung and him feeling increasingly uneasy, Elizabeth starts her journey with Darcy, and hopefully, I’ve made a case for them both being Rock Stars.

I want to thank you for letting me visit your blog today and I’d love to hear from your readers about their thoughts on Darcy, Elizabeth, and brazen authors who take unbelievable liberties with them.


I HAVE TWO COPIES TO GIVEAWAY ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
TO ENTER PLEASE LEAVE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS AND YOUR ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.

What are your thoughts on Darcy, Elizabeth, and brazen authors who take unbelievable liberties with them?


WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN RANDOMLY.






Visit Angela Renne @ Renee's Reads

Arabella by Georgette Heyer

Title: Arabella

Author: Georgette Heyer

ISBN: 978-1-4022-1946-7

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Format: Trade Paperback

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 312

How I Read It: from my own personal library

Rating: 4 Crowns

Synopsis (from Amazon): Daughter of a modest country clergyman, Arabella Tallant is on her way to London when her carriage breaks down outside the hunting lodge of the wealthy Mr. Robert Beaumaris. Her pride stung when she overhears a remark of her host's, Arabella pretends to be an heiress, a pretense that deeply amuses the jaded Beau. To counter her white lie, Beaumaris launches her into high society and thereby subjects her to all kinds of fortune hunters and other embarrassments.

When compassionate Arabella rescues such unfortunate creatures as a mistreated chimney sweep and a mixed-breed mongrel, she foists them upon Beaumaris, who finds he rather enjoys the role of rescuer and is soon given the opportunity to prove his worth in the person of Arabella's impetuous young brother...

Thoughts: I was immediately swept up in the story of poor girl Arabella who gets the opportunity to debut in London and hopefully catch herself a husband that will enable her to help all her other siblings.  Arabella is a delightful character who is beautiful and has lovely manners but cannot bear to be insulted or see injustices occur without stepping in.  When her carriage breaks down in route to London she seeks shelter at the home of Robert Beaumaris who she discovers is "the" man to know if you want to get anywhere in society.  She thinks he is handsome but when he assumes that Arabella is just a fortune hunter who made up the broken down carriage story just to get his attention and Arabella overhears this, she decides to tell a little white lie-that she herself is obscenely rich, plagued by fortune hunters and wants to keep this quiet as she makes her debut in London.  Unfortunately, soon this lie is all over London.  For reasons Arabella can't discern Beaumaris has decided to help elevate her to the top of London society.  At first it is just a game to him but soon he is charmed by Arabella and her unconventional ways.  Arabella's brother soon throws a wrench in things when he arrives in London and gets in over his head.

This is my first Georgette Heyer novel and I loved it.  I did find I didn't know some of the words that were used or the language was a little odd to me it is in keeping with the time period the novel is set.  There aren't a lot of surprises here because you know poor Arabella will somehow come out alright in the end and the one who appears to be the devilish rogue has a whole other more endearing side but still this is a very enjoyable story. She still does manage to incorporate a few elements you wouldn't expect-the rescuing of a street urchin and a raggedy dog because Arabella doesn't have the heart to leave them to their unfortunate circumstances. The plot in this kind of reminded me of some of the movies from the 30's and 40's I've been watching lately.  I can see why Heyer was crowned Queen of the Regency Romance.  I will be dusting off my collection of Heyer novels and reading through some more of them in the very near future.