Everything I Know About Love I Learned from Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell review/giveaway.

Title: Everything I Know about Love I Learned from Romance Novels
Author: Sarah Wendell
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5449-9
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99 U.S.
Pages: 256
Release Date: October 2011
How I Read it: ARC from publisher
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

Take a dashing hero with a heart of gold and a mullet of awesome. Add a heroine with a bustle and the will to kick major butt. Then include enough contrivances to keep them fighting while getting them alone and possibly without key pieces of clothing, and what do you have? A romance novel. What else? Enough lessons about life, love, and everything in between to help you with your own happily-ever-after.

Lessons like...

Romance means believing you are worthy of a happy ending

Learning to tell the prince from the frog

Real-life romance is still alive and kicking

No matter how bad it is, at least you haven’t been kidnapped by a Scottish duke (probably)

Straight from the heart of influential romance blogger Sarah Wendell, this inventive gift book provides the best wisdom about love that the romance genre has to offer. Laced with signature witty commentary and peppered with thoughts from bestselling romance authors (Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, Debbie Macomber, Eloisa James, Robyn Carr, and lots more) and avid readers, these pages will reveal what every romance reader already knows: while romances are certainly steamy, they have more to offer than just a sexy hero. In fact, they might have more to say about love than we give them credit for. Sarah Wendell is cofounder of one of the top romance blogs, SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com.
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts:

Witty, funny, and utterly entertaining, Everything I Know about Love I learned from Romance Novels, draws out the lessons learned in the romance novel and applies them to real life. I loved this book. I loved the way it was compiled and the snippets from romance authors and readers give it that extra something.

This book arrived at the perfect time. A friend and fellow book club member is getting married so for our last book club meeting we had a romance novel themed hen night and for the gift bags we added in Everything I Know About Love I Learned From a Romance Novel. I have to say the book was a huge it. Everyone was and still is talking about this book. And, it’s not just the who are loving it, I have noticed the guys are flipping through it too!!

This is one of those books if left sitting on the coffee table, people will definitely pick it up and ask if they can borrow it. So, when you pick up your copy make sure to buy an extra in case someone nicks yours.

I happen to have two “Hen Night” Packs to giveaway.
Giveaway Open TO ALL
To enter leave your name and a valid email address.
Giveaway Ends. November 20.

The Hen Packs Include:

1 Copy of Everything I Know About Love I Learned From a Romance Novel
1 Copy of A Novel Seduction By Gwyn Cready
1 Copy of Pride & Prejudice
1 Copy of Lord & Lady Spy by Shana Galen

(the books were supplied by members my book club)

Mr. Darcy’s Bite by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Title: Mr. Darcy’s Bite
Author: Mary Lydon Simonsen
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5077-4
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99
Pages: 336
Release Date: October 2011
How I Read It: Trade Paperback Arc from Publisher
Rating:4 Crowns

MR. DARCY HAS A SECRET…   

Darcy is acting rather oddly. After months of courting Elizabeth Bennet, no offer of marriage is forthcoming and Elizabeth is first impatient, the increasingly frightened. For there is no denying that the full moon seems to be affecting his behavior, and Elizabeth’s love is going to be tested in ways she never dreamed…

Darcy has more than family pride to protect: others of his kind are being hunted all over England and a member of Darcy’s pack is facing a crisis in Scotland. It will take all of Elizabeth’s faith, courage, and ingenuity to over come her prejudice and join Darcy in a Regency world she never knew existed.
(from the back of the arc)

My first thought after reading the blurb:

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley a werewolf…this could be interesting! Although the blurb on the back of the arc is a bit misleading as I thought that, the novel would be about someone hunting down werewolves.

My Thoughts:

I love adaptations of Pride & Prejudice, although when it comes to paranormal versions of the novel I am a bit hesitant. The storyline needs to be believable, one misstep in the believability and the novel goes down the drain and I am happy to report that Mr. Darcy’s Bite was believable. What I am about to say may sound a bit odd, but I can truly see Mr. Darcy as a werewolf. That would explain his character traits, so I believe that this type of paranormal fits better than the others that I have read.

I had previously read and enjoyed A Wife for Mr. Darcy so when I started reading Mr. Darcy’s Bite, I was happy to see that the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth remained the same, other than the whole I’m-a-werewolf-can-you-still-love-me aspect of it.

I do have one complaint about this book-it could have been longer, although I may just be saying that because I never wanted this novel to end.

Overall, Mr. Darcy’s Bite was an adorable paranormal take on the love story that is Darcy and Elizabeth. If you want an amazing addition to your P&P collection, then you definitely need to give this book a go.

Visit Angela @ Renee’s Reads

The Rose Garden by Susana Kearsley Review/Giveaway

Title: The Rose Garden
Author: Susana Kearsley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5858-9
Release Date: October 2011
Format: Trade Paperback
$16.99
Pages: 448
How I Read It: Trade Paperback Arc from Publisher
Rating: 5 Crowns A ROYAL READ

TIME AND DESTINY AWAIT NO ONE…   

When Eva Ward Returns to the old house on the Cornish coast, seeking the happiness of her childhood summers, she hears mysterious voices that sweep her into the intrigue and danger of the eighteenth century.

Award-winning author Susana Kearsley sweeps her modern heroine into a fascinating era of the past, intertwining a compelling love story with a spellbinding tale of a dethroned king awaiting his moment of glory.
(from the back of the arc)

 

First thoughts after reading the blurb: Cornish coast! Time-travel!! Compelling love story!!! Dethroned king awaiting his moment of glory!!!! Susana Kearsley!!!!! The perfect elements for an intriguing story.

My Thoughts:

I had read/loved/devoured her novel The Winter Sea, so when Sourcebooks offered The Rose Garden for review, I jumped at the chance.

At first, I was a bit worried that I would constantly be comparing The Rose Garden to The Winter Sea, although once I started reading The Rose Garden I fell instantly in love with it.

The characters, both the ones in the past and the ones in the present, were able to pull me into the novel and I loved that they had the ability to do that. I also enjoyed the fact that the secondary characters were as well rounded as the main characters. And the way that Susana Kearsley paints the settings were so vivid they come alive.

The mystical aspect of this novel is well done and rather believable and I hate to label this as a paranormal novel because it is so much more than that. The Rose Garden is part historical, part romance, part historical, and sheer brilliance.

The Tamar

“Crossing the Tamar for some reason made me feel different inside.
It was only a river, yet each time I crossed it I felt I had stepped through some mystical veil that divided the world that I only existed in, from the one where I was meant to be living in. It was as my mother always used to say, a kind of homecoming that only those with Cornish blood could feel, and since my blood was Cornish on both sides for several generations backs, I felt it strongly.”
-page 5 of the arc
( printed version may be different)

I have to say that this novel will forever hold a permanent spot both in my heart and on my shelf.

I have 1 copy of The Rose Garden to giveaway.
Giveaway open to all.
To enter leave your name & a valid email address.
Contest ends. November 19

Visit Angela @Renee’s Reads

The Goblin King by Shona Husk

 

Title: The Goblin King
Author: Shona Husk
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5985-2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$6.99
Pages: 320
Release Date: October  2011
How I Read It: Mass Market Arc
Rating: 4 Crowns

 

 

 

ONCE UPON A TIME…

A man who had been cursed to the Shadowlands,
his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold.
In legends, he has become known as

THE GOBLIN KING.

For a favored few he will grant a wish.
Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul,
His one own desire remains unfulfilled:

A WILLING QUEEN.

But who would consent to move from
the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares?
No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter
how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous.
And the one woman who might dare to try
could also destroy forever his chance at a

HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

 

First thoughts after reading the blurb:

This reminds me of the Legend of Shift Jack. This has potential be to a grand read.

My Review:

A Celtic King cursed for all eternity for a betrayal he did not commit. Cursed to live life as a goblin. A piece of cold gold where his once beating heart had resided. A never-ending desire for gold running through his veins.

In the Shadowlands, he can live as the man he once was. In the Fixed Realm, he is the monster he was cursed to be. For some, he is the harbinger of their worst nightmares. For others, he is their protector.

For Eliza, he was the warning her mother had given her about becoming greedy. Then he was the warrior she had summoned when she was in need of protection. He had taken her to the Summerland, the place where dreams began and leaving her with an amber bead to remember him by and the warning that if she ever wished for him again he would not let her go.

Nine years had passed. Eliza once again found herself in need of him. Answering her summons to “take her away”. Roan did her bidding, this time taking her to his home in the Shadowlands. Now, the teenager he once saved is a woman that he does not want to release.

Will Eliza be able to make Roan realize that he is still the man he once was…or will his lust for gold be his destruction? 

My Thoughts:

When I first started reading this book, I was a bit disappointed. I thought that it would have more of a Celtic-vibe to it than it actually did. Although it wasn’t too long before I got over my disappointment and devoured the book.

The Hero and Heroine:

I loved the way that author allowed the reader to connect with Roan by using his back-story as a Celtic king and showing what led to him becoming a goblin. It added a sense of depth to his story, which I loved. I found that I could not get enough of Roan. You could sense his desire to hold on to his humanity for his brother’s sake as well as his own. You could also feel the toll the loss of the other’s who were cursed along with him had taken on him. I found myself wanting him to be free of the curse.

Eliza was enjoyable as well, but to tell the truth, I was more interested in Roan than I was in her. I felt that she was expecting too much. She wanted to be with Roan in the Shadowlands, yet she wanted to live in the Fixed Realm (the real world) as well. It was kind of like she wanted to have her cake and eat it too. I also felt that she was seeking solace in the Shadowlands when life in the real world become too much for her.

The Settings:

I loved the way Shona Husk was able to create three believable worlds. .

1. The Fixed Realm, which is the real world Eliza lives in.
2. The Shadowlands, which is the land of nightmares, the place where the Roan resides.
3. The Summerland, the place where dreams start.

Each of the three worlds was very well crafted and believable which shows strength in the authors writing.

What Would I Change?

I would have added what happened nine years ago when Eliza first summoned the Goblin King. It was mentioned briefly, but I wanted more. I think that some readers may be put off by the fact that they have to download “A Summons, A Goblin King Prequel”.

It can be downloaded free from:

Amazon

ITunes

Barnes & Noble

 Did it live up to its potential?

I think it did and that is why I gave it a 4 Crown review. I said that it didn’t have the Celtic-vibe I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, it has Celtic undertones (the druid turning into a rave, Roan being a Celtic king and such), I just wanted to see more.

Overall?

The concept of the book was interesting. Like I said before, it bares a resemblance to the Irish legend of Shifty Jack and that had me intrigued. While it was not what I was expecting to read, I found that it was surprisingly good.

Would I read it again?

I would read it again. The writing was well paced; the characters were well fleshed out. I liked the fact that Roan was not a brooding mess, like most tragic heroes.

This is the first book in a series, and so far, Shona Husk is off to a good start.

Cover thoughts:

The cover is very appealing; it draws your eye to it. However, does the model match up with the books description of Roan? Possibly, but there was a difference you will notice once you have read the book. 

Visit Angela Renee @ Renee’s Reads

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

Title: The Night Strangers
Author: Chris Bohjalian
Genre: Supernatural suspense/horror
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
ISBN: 9780857206732
400p
Rating: 4 Crowns

Synopsis: It begins with a door in a dusky corner of a basement in a rambling Victorian house in northern New Hampshire. A door that someone has sealed it shut with thirty-nine enormous carriage bolts. 
The home's new owners are Chip and Emily Linton and their twin daughters. Chip was an an airline pilot until he was forced to crash land on a remote lake the jet he was flying after double engine failure. Thirty-nine people aboard Flight 1611 died that day - a coincidence not lost on Chip when he discovers the number of bolts in that basement door ...
Meanwhile, his wife is increasingly troubled about the women in this sparsely populated village, self-proclaimed 'herbalists'. Why do they seem excessively interested in her young daughters. Emily is terrified, too, that her husband's grip on sanity seems to have become increasingly tenuous, in the wake of the devastating plane accident.

My thoughts: If you like spooky, creepy , good old fashioned ghost stories complete with haunted house then The Night Strangers is for you. Reminiscent of Stephen King's earlier books there are some genuinely spine chilling moments and not all of them are from a supernatural source  The opening chapters describing the plane crash are so horror- filled it's enough to put one off flying forever. 

With several interwoven themes it's also the psychological study of a man suffering severe PTS and haunted by the past and the destructive effect his condition has on his life and family. The use of the second person worked very well as a means of being able to identify with Chip and to share the horror of his mind unravelling. 

Then there are the numerous little old hippy ladies pottering in their greenhouses, growing 'herbs' and cooking up 'goodies' to feed to unsuspecting townsfolk. I enjoyed reading about the plant lore and the medicinal and healing (or not) uses of the herbs but there was a point when I felt the focus stayed too long in the green house and slowed the story down. I also found it strange that Emily allowed these women to spend so much time with her daughters when she had had initial misgivings about them.

Chris Bohjalian creates an atmosphere that is perfect for the Halloween season. The story builds to a way OTT climax and a slightly unexpected ending and overall was the book made for very satisfactory reading.

I enjoyed it !

Visit Cat @ Tell Me A Story

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Title: Living Dead in Dallas
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Paranormal – Vampires
Pages: 279
How I Read It: Paperback purchased by me
ISBN: 9781841493008
My Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Synopsis: When a vampire asks cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse for a favor, she complies. And soon she’s in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She agrees to interview the humans involved as long as the bloodsuckers promise to let them go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly…

My Review: Life with vampires is difficult for Sookie. She used to spend all her time trying to stay out of trouble, being one of the most seemingly boring people you could meet, until a vampire walked into Merlotte’s bar one day. And everything changed. Now Sookie can’t seem to stay out of trouble. I swear, every time you turn around, there’s Sookie in trouble again!

The second book in the series, like on True Blood, takes place mostly in Dallas where Sookie is helping to investigate the disappearance of a vampire. And while the show does operate in parallel with this book, there are enough differences in this one that it kept me much more entertained. There were times during the first book that I thought I was going to fall asleep because the TV show had mirrored it so closely. The second one did not suffer from this problem, and I liked it a lot more because of it.

Some of the same issues that I had with book one, and with the TV series for that matter, remain in this book, mainly that Sookie is rather annoying at times, and Bill is just…ugh. I am so not a fan of Bill Compton. But there was a lot more Eric Northman in this book, and that is much more up my alley. Ladies – we get a good description of Eric wearing a lycra outfit. And since Eric is so yummy, well, it’s a pretty nice picture that I *wish* had translated over to television.

Although we’re dealing with supernatural beings throughout much of this series, the book did raise some interesting questions I hadn’t thought about in awhile in relation to the show – particularly along the lines of persecution and hatred of a type of person for something that is out of their control. The Fellowship of the Sun, an anti-vampire church, is present throughout most of this book, and presents a somewhat sad mirror into what things can still be like in our society. The book is worth reading for the view of these fanatics, if nothing else, at least in my opinion.

One complaint I do have is that from pretty much the start of the book, one of my favorite characters from the TV show, Lafeyette, is killed off. That was a little bit of a slap in the face, I almost thought it was a joke at first, and it did take me some getting used to. Even now, the knowledge that the book version of the series will have no more LaLa – it makes me want to cry a bit. I’ll miss you, love!

This one is a significant improvement over the first book, but I will say that there’s enough back story needed that you shouldn’t just pick this one up. Read the series in order, you’ll thank yourself!

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused

Vampire Darcy’s Desire by Regina Jeffers review/giveaway

Title: Vampire Darcy’s Desire
Author: Regina Jeffers
Publishers: Ulysses Press
ISBN: 978-1-56975-731-4
Format: Paperback
$ 14.95
Rating: 4 Crowns


Tormented by a 200-year-old curse and his fate as a half-human/half-vampire dhampir, Mr. Darcy vows to live forever alone rather than inflict the horrors of life as a vampire on an innocent wife. But when he comes to Netherfield Park, he meets the captivating Elizabeth Bennet.

As a man, Darcy yearns for Elizabeth, but as a vampire, he is also driven to possess her. Uncontrollably drawn to each other, they are forced to confront a "pride and prejudice" never before imagined--while wrestling with the seductive power of forbidden love. Meanwhile, dark forces are at work all around them. Most ominous is the threat from George Wickham, the purveyor of the curse, a demon who vows to destroy each generation of Darcys.

Written in authentic Austen style and faithful to its Regency-era setting,
Vampire Darcy's Desire retells the greatest love story of all time in a hauntingly imaginative fashion.
(from the author’s website)


My thoughts:

This will be either exceedingly good or very bad.

I have often noticed that when Pride & Prejudice turns paranormal it either shines or falls flat, there is no middle with deal with this type of spin-off. The author must construct a storyline that is paranormal yet believable while maintaining the elements Jane Austen infused into the character as well as the novel.

In Vampire Darcy’s Desire, author Regina Jeffers ups the ante even more by basing the core of the plotline on the traditional Scottish ballad “Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender”. I was half expecting to fling this novel against the wall, although I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how well this novel was composed.

I rather enjoyed this novel and found that the elements fused together quite nicely without feeling forced or impossible to believe. Although if the novel were to stand with just the paranormal spin-off quality, without the addition of the ballad I am not sure that I would have enjoyed it as much. For me, it was the incorporation of the ballad that sold it.



*I have one copy of Vampire Darcy’s Desire to giveaway!
Contest is open to all.
To enter leave your name and a valid email address.
Contest ends November 13

Visit Angela Renee @ Renee's Reads

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Title: Bet Me
Author: Jennifer Crusie
ISBN: 0-312-30346-7
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Date of Publication: 2004
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit
Pages: 337
Rating: 3 1/2 Crowns


Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes, and keep him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all-true love.


My Thoughts:

Bet Me is the first Jennifer Crusie book I've read and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The story is told in multiple viewpoints which I was not expecting and there is quite a cast of supporting characters. Min is a very down to earth character. She does obsess about her weight a lot and she enjoys food and fashionable shoes. I do wish that she hadn't had such a low self image. It would have been nice if she had listened to her friends and realized her true worth and beauty without needing to hear it from Cal. Still, this makes her a believable woman because unfortunately that is something many women struggle with. It is good to see her bloom though and her personality definitely shines. 

When I read the description of this book, I wasn't sure that I would like Cal. Like Min's first impression, I thought I'd hate his character and find the romance unbelievable. Thankfully, Cal proved to be a decent guy (there are a lot of misunderstandings surrounding that "bet") or the story wouldn't have worked. I liked that Min and Cal's relationship develops gradually. At first Cal sees Min as an uptight and boring woman who is bitter towards men and Min thinks of Cal as a player who agreed to that horrid bet. It is nice to see their attitudes about each other change. I also liked how protective their friends were. 

The supporting characters were entertaining but I do wish that the book was only written from Min and Cal's points of view. At times the book felt a little overcrowded with personality because of this. There is quite a bit of humor and food descriptions that made me crave donuts and chicken marsala. There are some deeper moments too. The issues of family expectations, self esteem issues for both Min and Cal, and the idea of taking risks vs. playing it safe were handled nicely without overwhelming the lighthearted tone.  Bet Me is the kind of story that would appeal to both readers of contemporary romance and chick lit. I would suggest it to fans of Jennifer Weiner, Sarah Strohmeyer, and Meg Cabot's chick lit novels. Overall I thought this was a fun romance with a predictable plot but enjoyable just the same.

Visit Christina T @ Reading Extensively

One Day by David Nicholls

Title: One Day
Author: David Nicholls
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 435
ISBN: 9780340896983
How I Read It: ARC provided by the publisher
My Rating: 4 Crowns

Synopsis: “I can imagine you at forty,” she said, a hint of malice in her voice.

“I can picture it right now.” He smiled without opening his eyes.

“Go on then.”

July 15, 1988. Emma and Dexter meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways. But, after only one day together, even though they are clearly mismatched, they cannot stop thinking about one another.

So where will they be on this one day next year?

And the year after that?

And every year that follows?

Twenty years. Two people. ONE DAY.

My Review: I didn’t know much about this book prior to reading it, just that it was being turned into a movie and people liked it overall. So I came into the book with few expectations, and although it took me awhile to get used to the format of it simply being a snapshot of the lives of Emma and Dexter on their “anniversary” every year, I quickly understood why people enjoy this book so much. Because it’s just a lovely, honest story.

Admittedly, I spent a lot of the book wondering why on earth Emma would put up with Dexter. He is such a stereotypical, slightly famous jerk – alcohol, drugs, women. A very frustrating guy to read about! But I feel like he’s someone we all know a variation of, which ultimately lends credibility to the real-feel of this story.

Emma, on the other hand, can be pretty endearing at times. Like all of us, she makes mistakes and I definitely found myself shaking my head at her, but Emma is the kind of lady I’d like to know. Why she maintains a lingering love for Dexter for so long is honestly beyond me, I don’t think I could do it, yet I think we all know that person we are always there for despite their bad behavior.

The romance between the two of them is largely one-sided for much of the book, but I did find myself coming around to Emma’s way of thinking as we watch Dexter grow throughout the course of their friendship. As a reader, I found myself just wanting them both to be happy, regardless of how they necessarily get there. I guess you could say that not too far in, they felt like friends of mine as well.

I was a bit taken back by the end of the book, but then again, much of this book wasn’t what I expected. To say the least, I adored the journey it took me on, the range of emotions I felt, and the way it seemed like this could maybe even be my own life. I was very impressed with the author, in fact I went straight to my goodreads list and added his other novels to my list. I can see myself becoming a devoted fan of David Nicholls as time goes on, and I hope you will be too.

Oh, and I’m rather disappointed that the movie isn’t in my local theaters anymore, so I’ll have to wait to see it when it’s out on DVD!

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused

Scones & Bones by Laura Childs

Title: Scones & Bones (A Tea Shop Mystery)
Author: Laura Childs
ISBN: 978-0-425-23896-7
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover, an Imprint of Penguin
Format: Hardcover
$25.95
Pages: 320
Release Date: 3/1/2011
How I Read It: ARC from the Author
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

Indio Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is lured into attending the Heritage Society’s Pirates and Plunder party by her master tea blender. Amid the gold earrings and doubloons, an antique skull cup set with a huge diamond steals the show--and gets plundered by someone who murders a history intern in the process.

Even with that on her plate. Theodosia still has to attend the Charleston Food and Wine Festival, where she’s hosting a tea and cheese tasting--the latest culinary trend. But as her thoughts keep drifting to the victim, Theodosia knows she’ll have to whet her investigative skills to find the killer among a raft of suspects…
(from the back of the arc)

First Thoughts After Reading The Blurb:

Theodosia is back at it again…and this time it has Pirates!!!!

Review:

The Jolly Rogers are hung, doubloons polished until they gleam, and an antique skull cup set with a massive diamond are proudly on display at the Heritage Society’s Pirate and Plunder party. Those in attendance are expecting to view a few artifacts and write a few checks, yet when a young history intern is murdered and the skull cup is stolen, Theodosia is once again in the position of amateur sleuth.

With only an orange members ticket in hand, Theodosia (owner of the Indio Tea Shop) and her master tea blender, Drayton, begin to untangle a deadly web consisting of Pirate lore and Blackbeard’s treasure.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mystery Series. And so far, Scones and Bones has been my favorite.

Review:

The Jolly Rogers are hung, doubloons polished until they gleam, and an antique skull cup set with a massive diamond are proudly on display at the Heritage Society’s Pirate and Plunder party. Those in attendance are expecting to view a few artifacts and write a few checks, yet when a young history intern is murdered and the skull cup is stolen, Theodosia is once again in the position of amateur sleuth.

With only an orange members ticket in hand, Theodosia (owner of the Indio Tea Shop) and her master tea blender, Drayton, begin to untangle a deadly web consisting of Pirate lore and Blackbeard’s treasure.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mystery Series. And so far, Scones and Bones has been my favorite.

Each time I open a new book in this series it’s like visiting old friends and I simply cannot get enough. The setting of Charleston comes to life in the dazzling and descriptive writing of Laura Childs. I also loved the fact that this book contained Pirate lore. It was a different take for the basis of a cozy mystery.

Visit Angela @ Renee’s Reads 

Review: 

Jolly Rogers, gleaming doubloons, and an antique diamond encrusted skull cup are proudly being displayed in the Heritage Society’s first-ever Pirates & Plunder party. Charleston’s elite are there to see, be seen, and hopefully make a lovely donation to the Heritage Society. Yet things don’t go quite according to plan when an intern is murdered, a loved one is injured and the priceless skull cup stolen.

  Once again Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indio Tea Shop, and her master tea blender, Drayton finds themselves in the middle of a deadly investigation.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery Series, and so far, Scones and Bones has been my favorite.

The latest installment in the series, Scones and Bones centers around Pirate lore and I so love pirates. I loved that fact that to solve the murder, they had solve the mystery of the skull cup. According to legend the cup was crafted out of the skull of Edward Teach aka Blackbeard.

Once Theodosia and Drayton discovers the truth about the cup, they know they are in for a heap of danger. Plus Theodosia’s love life gets a tad more trickery with the arrival of Max.

I can never get enough of the Tea Shop Mystery Series. Each time I open a new book, it’s like visiting new friends. A perfect weekend mystery.

  Visit Angela @ Renee’s Reads

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer

Title: Mary, Bloody Mary
Author: Carolyn Meyer
ISBN: 0152019065
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 225
Genre: Historical Fiction-Children’s
Rating: 3 Crowns


Synopsis:

The story of Mary Tudors childhood is a classic fairy tale: A princess who is to inherit the throne of England is separated from her mother; abused by an evil stepmother who has enchanted her father; stripped of her title; and forced to care for her baby stepsister, who inherits Mary’s right to the throne. Believe it or not, it’s a true. Told in the voice of the young Mary, this novel explores the history and intrigue of the drastic rule of Henry VIII, his outrageous affair with and marriage to the bewitching Anne Boleyn, and the consequences of that relationship for his firstborn daughter. Carolyn Meyer has written a compassionate historical novel about love and loss, jealousy and fear-and a girls struggle with forces far beyond her control.

My Thoughts:

I had been curious about Meyer’s Young Royals series since I received Cleopatra Confesses this summer through Galley Grab. This will be a mixed review, I would not recommend this for serious historical fictionistas. I don’t believe the material id “deep” enough to hold some adult’s interest. However, if you are looking for a light historical reading (like me) or if you’re looking for historical fiction for children I’d definitely recommend this book. The book does a great job at giving the reader the condensed version of Mary’s childhood, and of drawing a picture of what was happening around her and in England. A personal pet peeve, that I also experienced with Cleopatra Confesses, is that Meyer doesn’t seem to have her characters mature. Meaning her characters, as then year olds have a pretty mature voice and since her books are written in first person the change in their character as they grow up does not come across very well. I believe it’s a great children’s book, I would simply be hesitant to recommend it to an adult. That said, I will continue this Young Royals, can’t wait to get to Marie Antoinette’s book!


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What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown

Title: What Would Jane Austen Do?
Author: Laurie Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pages: 352pp
Publish Date: May 2009
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 2 Crowns


Synopsis from the publisher:

"When a modern woman goes back to Jane Austen's time, she needs to know...
Everything! Eleanor agrees to travel back in time to prevent a deadly duel, but she doesn't know how to behave, what to say, and most importantly...

How to tell a villain from a rake
The captivating, infuriating, and mysterious Lord Shermont is a renowned rake and womanizer—but is he also a dangerous cutthroat and spy? Eleanor has to get up close and personal to find out...

Otherwise, she could fall into a most shocking scandal...
Thankfully, Miss Jane Austen herself arrives on the scene, with sage guidance and a twinkle in her eye, to help Eleanor navigate countryhouse society and the dangerous terrain of her own heart...

From the author of Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake, a new time travel romance featuring a modern day career woman swept back in time to Regency England, where she thwarts a Napoleonic spy, chats with Jane Austen, and falls in love with a notorious rake."

My Review:

When Eleanor Pottinger's room reservations are mistakenly given to someone else and she has no alternative but to sleep in the old haunted tower of the hotel, She could not fathom anything worse than encountering the two ghosts that inhabit her rooms... that is until they decide to transport her 200 centuries into the past! Stranded in the 1700's with no clue of what to do, Eleanor must recall what she has learned through the readings of Jane Austen to see her through. But when her charade is questioned by the dashing Lord Shermont, what answer but French spy could possibly make sense? Torn between the empty but safe life she left and the new chaotic yet passionate one, Eleanor must determine what's real and whether her romance is merely a part of her charade. 

The first couple chapters of What Would Jane Austen Do? completely captured my attention; with haunted towers, a regency setting and time travel what could possibly go be better?! Unfortunately, the plot could be an answer to that rhetorical question. Even though the first few chapters grabbed your attention right away, the rest of the novel seemed to lag and there was never a higher point than what the beginning offered. In addition to this, the characters could have been more entertaining and three dimensional. While I loved the encounters between Lord Shermont and Eleanor, I found the other characters to be a bit dull. There is also the fact that the title eludes to Jane Austen having a major play in the novel, whether by influence or character, but I was surprised by how little she was referred to throughout the book.Yes she made appearances at the ball and spoke to Eleanor a bit, but nothing to the extent I expected considering the title of the book. Overall What Would Jane Austen Do? is a quick read with some entertaining moments, but one to put further down the TBR pile.

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The Circus of Ghosts by Barbara Ewing

Title: The Circus of Ghosts

Author: Barbara Ewing

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Sphere, 2011

ISBN: 32351003129490

520p

Rating: 4.5 Crowns

"Bring her to me, she is mine."

London, late 1840's.......memories fester in the mind of an old and vicious duke of the realm who plots with an unscrupulous lawyer against the mother and daughter: to kill one and abduct the other.

Cordelia and Gwenlliam Preston have fled from his evil intentions to the exciting young city of New York where they have found sanctuary and employment in Silas P. Swift's circus. Here they hide their own painful memories and excite audiences in the Big Top: Cordelia as a mesmerist who can heal people and Gwenlliam as an acrobat and tightrope walker. But very soon their security will be threatened and their lives will become entangled with New York gangs and the Police Department.

New York - " expanding, bustling, prosperous, wild, thrilling, new-world New York".

From elegant mansions on gas lit streets to the seething and sinister underbelly of the Bowery where vicious gangs rule: Barbara Ewing excels at capturing the essence of great cities, and in this book writes in a bold and exuberant style with larger than life characters to match including Cordelia and Gwenlliam's ' family' - a London detective who is Cordelia's husband,the elderly Frenchman who is her mesmerism teacher and mentor, her best friend and two elderly ladies. Real life people are also woven into the story - the Fox sisters, a 19th century phenomenon who began the cult of table-tapping and claimed to talk to the dead. Gallus Mag, a well-known figure in the underworld of New York gangs and the colourful Mrs Ray from the Royal Theatre in New Zealand.

The central narrative moves from New York to the Californian goldfields and the back to New York as mother and daughter attempt to elude their pursuer in a story that is full of adventure, romance and excitement but the historical background provides equally as much interest. In the mid 1800's the world was going through great changes as the old made way for the new and New York is the perfect choice to reflect these changes. A city where new ideas and new inventions were welcomed - the telegraph, anaesthestics, daguerreotypes are a few of the subjects mentioned which make fascinating reading.

There's never a dull moment in The Circus of Ghosts. It's a wonderfully entertaining and interesting book that  I recommend to all readers. 

I loved it!

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Utterly Charming by Kristine Grayson

Title: Utterly Charming
Author: Kristine Grayson
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4851-1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$6.99
Pages: 320
Release Date: October  2011
How I Read It: Mass Market Arc
Rating: 4 Crowns

He could be her own personal Prince Charming if only dreams did come true…

Mysterious, handsome wizard Aethelstan Blackstone hires beautiful, hardworking attorney Nora Barr to get a restraining order to protect Sleeping Beauty from her evil stepmother. But if Sleeping Beauty is supposed to be his soul mate, then how come he’s becoming bewitched by Nora?

And when Nora finds herself baby-sitting a clueless maiden from the middle ages, avoiding a very wicked witch, and falling hard for a man whose magic she doesn’t believe in, she begins to think that love itself is only a fairy tale…

Welcome to the fractious fairy tale world of Kristine Grayson, where the bumpy road to happily every after is paved with surprised…
(from the back of the ARC)

First Thought When I Read The Blurb:

Who knew Prince Charming’s name was Aethelstan?

My Review:

Nora Barr is a lawyer whose career is going nowhere. Aethelstan Blackstone is a man with a problem. Ok, that’s a lie. He’s a man with a few problems and is in need of some legal advice yet it takes his sidekick, who claims to be Sancho Panza, to actually get the legal help he needs.

When Nora finds the two arguing in the parking garage, her first thought is to flee. But what’s a struggling attorney to do when they make her an offer she cannot refuse?

Hours after agreeing to take him on as a client, Aethelstan has been arrested for destroying a block of houses and murdering a mysterious woman. According to the radio, the two were spotted throwing balls of fire at each other. Things then from crazy to certifiable, when the dead woman wakes, the houses return to normal, Nora is left with a van housing a mysterious case that they claim is housing Sleeping Beauty, and no one but a handful of people remember what happened.

Ten years pass by and it’s time to wake Sleeping Beauty who apparently is name Emma. Nora awakes Emma, and then the madness ensues as once again her wicked stepmother and Aethelstan fight over who is going to claim her.

However…what if Emma doesn’t want to be claimed? It’s a new era and she has figured out that a woman can be in control. When she rejects her Prince he should be heartbroken, yet it seems that Nora is the woman on his mind.

Will Prince Charming go with heart and choose Nora…or will he choose Emma, believing her to be his soul mate?

My Thoughts:

This is the first Kristine Grayson novel that I have read, so I was sure what to expect. Plus, I have never read a fairytale-based book since I was a child, so I wasn’t sure this would be my cuppa tea. I have to say that I was intrigued once I started reading I became hooked and was unable to put the book down.

This novel had humor and spunk, which added to the delight of reading it. I loved how the characters surprised me, especially Emma, who added delight bits of comedy along the way due to her being unaccustomed to the time in-which had awoke. Prince Charming had a few surprises up his sleeve too, and no I am not talking about his pet snake.

I am definitely going to give Kristine Grayson’s other books a go as I thoroughly enjoyed reading UTTERLY CHARMING!

Overall, this book was a fun read and I believe that it will make the perfect fall read. A light romance that will leave you happy as a lark.

Visit Angela Renee @ Renee’s Reads

Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

Title: Before Ever After
Author: Samantha Sotto
ISBN: 978-0-307-71987-4
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Format: Hardback
$23.00
How I Read It: Proof copy from the Publishers
Rating: 4 Crowns

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max; same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose; he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.

As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem; how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down; if it is really Max and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to
(from Goodreads)

My Thoughts:

Man dies, woman mourns, five years later man who looks like husband shows up on doorstep claiming that he is said man’s grandson and that her once dead husband is thoroughly alive and well making baked eggs in a restaurant in Boracay. Oh, did I forget to mention he NEVER seems to age?

With that being said, after reading that how can you not want to read this book? I wanted answers to questions that the blurb left unanswered. I wanted to know who this mysterious Max was, why he never seemed to age and why he was hiding from his wife.

I did get those answers, and plenty more whilst I was reading, BEFORE EVER AFTER although as much as I enjoyed the back-story that was provided for both Max as well as his relationship with Shelley, I wanted to know what happened when she finally found her husband. Moreover, while I did get a bit of the story, I wanted more than eight pages. I hope that since this is her debut novel, she will put out a sequel that covers what happens after the last page.

I have to say that I loved the way this novel switched from past to present and the way it was seamlessly blended together. It held my attention to the very end, even though I will admit that I came to a certain part in the novel where I had to resist the urge to chuck it up against the wall. I will say that I was glad to have finished it.

This is one of those novels that you do not want to reveal too much about it to a potential reader because it could ruin it for the reader.

IF I COULD CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOVEL:   

Make it longer. It was only 293 pages in the proof format, it could have easily went on to 400 pages or more and held the readers interest. I wanted to know more about what happened when she finally found her husband and since so little was offered I feel as though the story is not complete.

Overall:

It’s unusual for a novel such as this to hold my attention, yet I was spellbound. I could not put it down until the very last page was read. I highly recommend this book

Warning:

When reading this novel you should have two things on hand: Eggs and Jasmine tea because by the end of this novel you will be craving both.

My thanks to Julie Cepler at Crown Publishers for this advanced copy.

  http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/

A Sneak Peek of Jack Caldwell’s new Jane Austen Spin-off

Jack Caldwell, author of Pemberley Ranch, is preparing to release his next Austen-inspired novel, The Three Colonels, in March 2012. 

1815. After a generation of war, England is at peace. A time for soldiers to think of other matters besides battle, particularly three friends of Mr. Darcy. Col. Brandon and his Marianne begin a family. Col. Fitzwilliam begins a courtship of Anne de Bourgh. And even Caroline Bingley finds love with a war hero.

All this is threatened by Napoleon's escape from Elba. England is thrust back into conflict, and her fighting men must answer the call, and will face their fates on the fields of Waterloo.

A sprawling, romantic, and thrilling sequel to two of Jane Austen's most beloved novels, this tale of love, loss, and redemption incorporates characters from all of Austen's major works, as the people of Regency England face their greatest challenge.
(from the author’s website)

The Three Colonels-Jane Austen’s Fighting Men, a sequel to Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility will be released from Sourcebooks Landmark March 2012. 

Intrigued? Want to read a bit more before the book officially releases?
Then take a look at this excerpt from chapter 16 .

 

 

 

About the Author - Jack Caldwell is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook. Born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, Jack and his wife, Barbara, are Hurricane Katrina victims, and now make the upper Midwest their home. Always a history buff, Jack found and fell in love with Jane Austen in his twenties, struck by her innate understanding of the human condition.

Jack uses his work to share his knowledge of history. Through his characters, he hopes the reader gains a better understanding of what went on before, developing an appreciation for our ancestors' trials and tribulations. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons.