Amanda Forester Guest Post & Giveaway!

War and Chaos - the Perfect Setting for a Hero
by Amanda Forester
Medieval Scotland holds a certain mystique; it draws me from across the centuries. I'm not exactly sure why, maybe it is the knights and code of chivalry. Maybe it is the colorful clothing and long, elegant gowns. Maybe it is the vicious clan rivalries and political intrigue. Maybe it's just hunky Highlanders in kilts.
Whatever the reason, I am fascinated with this time period, but how to chose an exact date for my novel? This question leads me to do something I enjoy most about writing historical fiction - the research. The history of medieval Europe often reads like a novel itself, rich with battles, conflict and political intrigue. No time period more so than the Hundred Years War.
The Hundred Years War, which true to its name spanned over a hundred years, began in the early 14th century when the kings of both England and France claimed the throne of France. England, whose monarch had strong connections to French nobility (in fact the nobility of many countries spoke French in their respective courts) controlled parts of what is now France and fought to control it all.
Scotland and France were bound by the "auld alliance" so when England invaded France, the French called on the Scots for help. In 1346, French and British forces clashed in Crécy, and Scotland invaded England to force the English to fight on two fronts. Unfortunately for the alliance, the English won both battles. Decisively. Hundreds of French knights were killed, and King David of Scotland was captured. It was a good year for England. Not so good for Scotland.
With their king being held for ransom, the black death slaughtering the populace, and clans struggling to gain power, it was a tumultuous time in Scotland. This chaos and strife is a perfect time for a hero to emerge. In The Highlander's Heart, this hero is Laird David Campbell, who must lead his clan through the dangers surrounding them.
When Laird Campbell comes across Lady Isabelle, a lost English countess, he sees her initially as an interference in his plans. He decides to ransom her back to her kin to get rid of her, but with Isabelle about, nothing ever goes according to plan.
In the end, Isabelle decides she'd rather stay with her hunky Highlander (who wouldn't?) and Campbell realizes the girl is far more valuable than the ransom. Isabelle proves to be not only the healer of Campbell's lonely heart, but also the key to save his clan.
So what is your favorite historical setting? Are there certain time periods or characters that are "must reads" for you?

I would like to thank Amanda Forester for providing this lovely guest post.

 

THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART
Lady Isabelle escapes her murderous English husband only to be abducted by a Highland warrior and held for ransom. Her determination to break free from captivity is exceeded only by the passion growing between her and the Highland Laird. David Campbell plans to hold Isabelle for ransom as an easy way to line his pockets and return her back where she belongs, but he is unprepared for a feisty English lass with a penchant for finding trouble. Caught between rival clans bent on claiming the throne of Scotland, Campbell must choose a side, and a bride. Standing on the brink of war, Isabelle may be his only hope to save his clan, and his heart.
Visit Amanda: website, facebook, or twitter.

I have two copies to giveaway.
US Residents only.
Copies will be sent from publisher.
Please leave your name, a valid email address, and an answer to Amanda’s question:
So what is your favorite historical setting? Are there certain time periods or characters that are "must reads" for you?

Giveaway ends December 9th.

 

Visit Angela Renee @ Renee’s Reads

The Black Sun’s Daughter Series by M.L.N. Hanover Giveaway

The Black Sun’s Daughter Series by M.L.N. Hanover
Book 1- Unclean Spirits
Book 2- Darker Angel’s
Book 3- Vicious Grace
Book 4- Killing Rites

I HAVE ONE SET OF BOOKS TO GIVEAWAY. US & CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY. WINNER WILL BE SELECTED TONIGHT AT 11:30 pm

TO ENTER PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS.

 

Book 1- Unclean Spirits
In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules.
Jayne Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayne travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers -- and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayne finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means -- magical or mundane -- so Jayne had better start believing in something to save her own life.

Aided in her mission by a group of unlikely companions -- Aubrey, Eric's devastatingly attractive assistant; Ex, a former Jesuit with a lethal agenda; Midian, a two-hundred-year-old man who claims to be under a curse from Randolph Coin himself; and Chogyi Jake, a self-styled Buddhist with mystical abilities -- Jayne finds that her new reality is not only unexpected, but often unexplainable. And if she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast -- or break them completely....

Book 2- Darker Angel’s
In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight.

When Jayne Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations -- and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayne has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a body-switching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.

Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayne races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayne will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most....

Book 3- Vicious Grace
When you're staring evil in the eye, don't forget to watch your back . . .

For the first time in forever, Jayne Heller's life is making sense. Even if she routinely risks her life to destroy demonic parasites that prey on mortals, she now has friends, colleagues, a trusted lover, and newfound confidence in the mission she inherited from her wealthy, mysterious uncle. Her next job might just rob her of all of them. At Grace Memorial Hospital in Chicago, something is stirring. Patients are going AWOL and research subjects share the same sinister dreams. Half a century ago, something was buried under Grace in a terrible ritual, and it's straining to be free. Jayne is primed to take on whatever's about to be let loose. Yet the greatest danger now may not be the huge, unseen force lurking below, but the evil that has been hiding in plain sight all along -- taking her ever closer to losing her body, her mind, and her soul. . .

Book 4- Killing Rites
Jayne Heller has discovered the source of her uncanny powers: something else is living inside her body. She's possessed. Of all her companions, she can only bring herself to confide in Ex, the former priest. They seek help from his old teacher and the circle of friends he left behind, hoping to cleanse Jayne before the parasite in her becomes too powerful.
Ex’s history and a new enemy combine to leave Jayne alone and on the run. Her friends, thinking that the rider with her has taken the reins, try to hunt her down, unaware of the danger they’re putting her in. Jayne must defeat the weight of the past and the murderous intent of another rider, and her only allies are a rogue vampire she once helped free and the nameless thing hiding inside her skin.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Title: The Luxe
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: YA
Hardback 433 pages
Source: borrowed from the library
My Rating: 97/100




In the self-contained world of young Gilded Age Manhattan socialites, Elizabeth and Diana Holland reign supreme. Or so it seems. Scratch the surface, though, and you can detect festering jealousies that threaten to topple them. Elizabeth suffers a more literal fall when her carriage overturns and she is carried away by the swift East River current. That's only the beginning of the action and suspense in The Luxe, the launch volume in a teen series by Anna Godbersen. (From Goodreads)

My Thoughts:




Decadent...fun......deliciously sinful. These are the wrods that immediately come to mind after reading The Luxe. The plot is not difficult. It is actually very simple and to me completely predictable. It was however the journey in finishing the book, the delight I had while reading this book, that made it's simpleness palatable. The basic plot is this: rich, young, gorgeous people in 1899 New York, that must marry certain people for family's sake. They gossip, party, and waste their days away thinking how awesome they all. Now although all of the characters sound totally vapid, there are one or two that make the story redeemable. There is Diana Holland who tries to buck convention. She likes to read, dress differently, and speak her mind. There is also Henry Schoonmaker who starts out as quite a despicable character, but when he meets the woman he really loves, he changes his ways. At least the best that he can. His character becomes much more likable. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Penelope the trouble maker. She is quite a piece of work, and every story needs a villain, don't they?




Overall, the book has the feel of soap opera, something I don't normally read. But for whatever reason, I completely lost myself in this book. One could say Godbersen is trying to demonstrate how women had little freedom, and family was everything, but to analyze this book in that way seems false to me. The Luxe is a guilty pleasure, plain and simple. It allowed me to escape life and imagine being a fly on the wall in 1899 New York, and for me that is the sign of a good read. I can't wait to get my hands on the second in the series, Rumors. Incidentally all of these books have now been reviewed her on Royal Reviews.




Visit Jenny R. @ Jenny Loves to Read

The Time In Between by Maria Duenas

Title: The Time In Between
Author: Maria Duenas
Publisher: Atria books, 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9781451616880
624p
Rating: 4 Crowns


The inspiring story of a seemingly ordinary woman who uses her talent and courage to transform herself into a prestigious couturier and then into an undercover agent for the Allies during WWII.


Synopsis: Raised in Madrid, young Sira Quiroga begins her apprenticeship as a seamstress at fourteen and by her early twenties is skilled in her trade and engaged to be married to a nice young man. But everything changes when two charismatic men burst unexpectedly into her neatly mapped-out life: an attractive salesman and the father she has never known.
With the Spanish Civil War brewing in Madrid, Sira leaves her mother and fiance and travels with her lover to Morocco. Very soon she finds herself abandoned, penniless and heartbroken in a foreign land where she knows she has only one skill that will save her: her gift for creating beautiful clothes.
As a couturier for a clientele of Nazi officer's wives, eventually she becomes embroiled in the half-lit world of espionage and political intrigue.


My thoughts: I have mixed feelings about The Time In Between : one of those books you both like and dislike!


I loved the time and places the book is set in - 1930's Madrid and Morocco. Being woefully ignorant of Spain's presence in Morocco and with only a basic understanding of the Spanish Civil War I found the history fascinating especially seeing the events of this era from a Spanish perspective. Nor had I ever given any thought to Spain's role during WWII and the attempts by both the Allies and the Germans to ensure that this small country, devastated by it's own war, joined their side.
That there are many real life people in the story was something else I liked and set my fingers googling to find out more. Rosalinda Fox was one of my favourite characters and it wasn't until after I'd finished reading that I realised she actually existed - what a captivating woman she must have been.

The story is narrated by Sira and this is what didn't work for me. I don't mind not liking the 'heroine' in a story but , good or bad, I want to be able to connect with her. I didn't like Sira and felt about her much as Ignacio  , her abandoned fiance who she meets again several years on and he says...

"You don't care about anyone but yourself, Sira. It's all about me, myself..........me, me me."

What I didn't care for was the way she keeps the reader at a distance . Her story becomes an account of her life rather than invitation to share her experiences and her feelings and in such a long book it's inevitable the reader is going to lose interest. I did like many of the secondary fictional characters and would have enjoyed more of their presence particularly as most of them played a significant role in helping Sira to success.

Overall, I enjoyed it but thought it lacked the passion and intensity that would have made it great.

Visit Cat @ Tell Me A Story

Leaving the World by Douglas Kennedy

Title: Leaving the World
Author: Douglas Kennedy
Publisher: Atria
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 448
How I Read It: ARC received from the publisher – The views expressed in my review are mine alone and I have received no compensation for these opinions.
ISBN: 9781439180785
My Rating: 3 Crowns

Synopsis: On the night of her thirteenth birthday, Jane Howard made a vow to her warring parents: she would never get married, and she would never have children. But life, as Jane comes to discover, is a profoundly random business.

Many years and many lives later, she is a professor in Boston, in love with a brilliant, erratic man named Theo. And then Jane becomes pregnant. Motherhood turns out to be a great welcome surprise -- but when a devastating turn of events tears her existence apart she has no choice but to flee all she knows and leave the world.

Just when she has renounced life itself, the disappearance of a young girl pulls her back from the edge and into an obsessive search for some sort of personal redemption. Convinced that she knows more about the case than the police do, she is forced to make a decision -- stay hidden or bring to light a shattering truth.

Leaving the World is a riveting portrait of a brilliant woman that reflects the way we live now, of the many routes we follow in the course of a single life, and of the arbitrary nature of destiny. A critically acclaimed international bestseller, it is also a compulsive read and one that speaks volumes about the dilemmas we face in trying to navigate our way through all that fate throws in our path.

My Review: Wow, this book. I’m not even sure I know how to review it, to be honest. While I started it with no real expectations, I found myself on multiple occasions thinking, “This is so not what I expected.” Which is a pretty hard thing to say, since I didn’t really expect anything.

I will say that I liked it, and at the same time say that I felt like someone had punched me several times during the course of the novel. Jane’s childhood and relationship with her parents by itself is a sad story, one that had me crying on multiple occasions. On top of that, we get to see just how much that childhood can reach into adulthood and continue to affect someone. Furthermore, there are all kinds of other horrible things that Jane has to encounter – and it was almost too much for this reader.

I’ve said before that I can be a sensitive consumer of all entertainment: you show me a touching show, commercial, play some music for me, I will be crying. I give this as a disclaimer to say that for a reader who is less sensitive than I am, you’ll probably be able to get through this one more easily. This is not to say that I think other sensitive readers should avoid it – on the contrary, I think this is a great novel that we can all benefit in some way from reading. I just want to give a warning to those who may have a more emotional palate.

Through the events of the novel, I kept coming back to the thoughts I had about Jane’s relationship with her mother, and how in many ways I see parallels to my relationship with my own mother in it. This was one of those books that took me inside myself on multiple occasions, which can be good for the soul at times.

I found it to be a reasonably fast read, although there were times that some of the mundane details bogged me down a bit. That being said, I read the whole thing in the matter of a couple of days, and probably would have finished it more quickly if I didn’t have a pesky job to get in the way.

With that in mind, it is heavy reading and I think even the most seasoned, non-emotional reader is going to tear up a few times. There are some hard concepts in this one, something I wouldn’t shy away from but I feel everyone should be prepared for that. I really feel that this author understands loss, and if not, is very good at pretending he does.

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused

Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani

Title: Lovetorn
Author: Kavita Daswani
ISBN: 0061673110
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date of Publication: January 17, 2012
Genre: YA contemporary fiction
Pages: 304
Rating: 4 Crowns


When Shalini’s father gets a new job in L.A., she is torn away from her life in India and the boy to whom she’s been betrothed since she was three. L.A. is so different, and Shalini dresses and talks all wrong. She isn’t sure she’ll survive high school in America without her fiancé, Vikram, and now she has to cope with her mom’s homesickness and depression. A new friend, chill and confident Renuka, helps Shalini find her way and get up the courage to join the Food4Life club at school. But she gets more than just a friend when she meets Toby—she gets a major crush. Shalini thinks she loves Vikram, but he never made her feel like this. 
In Lovetorn, Shalini discovers that your heart ultimately makes its own choices, even when it seems as if your destiny has already been chosen. 

Author Kavita Daswani has always been fascinated by child marriages and betrothals, and this story of a traditional girl from India, who is exposed to so many more freedoms and experiences after being dropped in a completely alien culture, is a fresh and contemporary look at the subject.


My thoughts:


Lovetorn on the surface sounds like a romance with a love triangle however the novel focuses more on Shalini and her family than on romantic relationships. Toby doesn't even appear until more than halfway through the story. When he does show up, he does not make enough of an impression. Readers who pick up this book solely for the romantic aspect might find themselves disappointed but I am glad that the author chose to spend so much time on other things. The portrayal of the culture shock and the adjustments her family must make are well portrayed. I liked seeing how Shalini grew and changed from the dutiful girl she was in India to someone who makes her own decisions. 

Readers may not agree with arranged marriages for children but the author does a good job of making sure it is written with sensitivity. I also liked how Vikram was not painted as a bad option. He genuinely cares for Shalini and loves her. The immigrant experience is central to the novel and I think it was depicted believably with both the exciting opportunities as well as the fears and the struggles to fit in. I was also pleased with the ending which felt realistic. The one weakness of the book is Shalini's relationship with Toby. It might serve as an important catalyst in Shalini's growth as a person but it seemed like instant infatuation and I didn't like seeing Shalini become so boy crazy for Toby after months of pining for Vikram. Thankfully the strengths of the novel outweighed the weaknesses for me. I would suggest this to fans of Neesha Meminger, Anjali Banerjee, and Mitali Perkins. 

Visit Christina T @ Reading Extensively

Note: I read an ARC of this book courtesy of Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for an honest review

Black Friday Giveaway!

 

 

For us in the US, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. As if the stress  from all the cooking isn’t bad enough; Thanksgiving is followed by what I call The Day of Lunacy otherwise known as Black Friday.

I for one am not willing to trade in my sanity for a bargain. So I am going to stay nestled warmly and safely inside and host a day of giveaways here at Royal Reviews.

The rules are simple:
-Comment on the appropriate post, leaving your Name and a valid email address.
-Some of the giveaways will be International and some due to publisher shipping restrictions will be for the US & Canada only. Each giveaway will be marked accordingly.
-Winners will be announced throughout the day on the 25th of November and contacted the same day. Winners will have until midnight on the 28th to respond with their shipping  address.
-Last but not least, Have fun and don’t forget to share this with your readers.

Please note that these books are either books that I have purchased or books that publishers have provided, they will be noted accordingly.

A Royal Giveaway.
Contest is International.
Please leave your name and a valid email address.
Books have been purchased by me.

One winner will receive the following:

 

 

  

    

 

 

Best Wishes,

Visit Angela Renee @ Renee’s Reads

The Maid by Kimberly Cutter

Title: The Maid: A Novel of Joan of Arc
Author: Kimberly Cutter
ISBN: 978-0-547-42752-2
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date:  20 October, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
How I read it: from Publisher via NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 Crowns




Synopsis from Amazon: "The girl who led an army, the peasant who crowned a king, the maid who became a legend It is the fifteenth century, and the tumultuous Hundred Years’ War rages on. France is under siege, English soldiers tear through the countryside destroying all who cross their path, and Charles VII, the uncrowned king, has neither the strength nor the will to rally his army. And in the quiet of her parents’ garden in Domrémy, a peasant girl sees a spangle of light and hears a powerful voice speak her name. Jehanne . 

The story of Jehanne d’Arc, the visionary and saint who believed she had been chosen by God, who led an army and saved her country, has captivated our imagination for centuries. But the story of Jehanne—the girl—whose sister was murdered by the English, who sought an escape from a violent father and a forced marriage, who taught herself to ride and fight, and who somehow found the courage and tenacity to persuade first one, then two, then thousands to follow her, is at once thrilling, unexpected, and heartbreaking."

 My Thoughts: The story of the young peasant girl from Domremy who led an Army and crowned a king has reached mythical proportions over the passage of time.  In The Maid, Kimberly Cutter allows the reader to see past the storied exploits of the legendary saint and introduces us to the real girl that was Jehanne.  Jehanne knows from a young age that her calling is with God but in her father's eyes, her only use is to make a good marriage that will benefit the family.  When her true path-to free France from the English and place Charles VII on the throne- is revealed to her by the Saints Michael, Catherine and Margaret, she places her faith in God and leaves her small village to try and accomplish the seemingly impossible task.  Jehanne is by no means perfect in this novel which I really appreciated.  At several points she is unsure of her ability to bring people to support her cause but they see something in her and slowly her Army begins to come together.  It was interesting to watch the transition from the frightened worried girl to the confident fearless leader.  She knows her time is limited and she has much to accomplish in  this short span of time. I appreciated the more reasonable explanation for some of the feats Jehanne was able to accomplish- how she was able to recognize Charles from among a crowd and how she knew where to find her famed sword to name a few.  I personally prefer a more rational explanation to "it was all God's doing".  Of course being about a woman who hears voices and has visions from God, the book does have it's fair amount of religious content and I really liked the way this was handled.  Cutter didn't make the vision/voices aspect seem hokey and despite Jehanne's deep rooted faith the book was not preachy. 

My biggest problem with the book is with focus on Jehanne being so intense the book lost sight of explaining what was going on with the bigger picture.  There wasn't a whole lot of background on the Hundred Years War.  I am not as well versed in this part of history as I am with other areas so I wasn't quite sure why certain battles were key and why certain locations were so important to the story-and it wasn't really explained either.  Also Jehanne was the only character I really felt I got to "know".  Everyone else-Charles, Jehanne's family, her supporters-weren't really fleshed out enough for me to entirely understand their motivations.  Charles' less than ideal childhood was briefly explained but not enough so to justify why he was such a spineless coward who decided to listen to his shady advisers than support the woman who brought him to the throne.  I found it curious that while some time was devoted to Jehanne's time in prison, virtually no time in the novel was given to her trial.  Also interesting is Cutter does not end Jehanne's story where authors typically do.  The writing itself flows nicely throughout and while short chapters may be annoying to some people, I thought it worked well here.

 Despite getting a little lost with the history aspect of the novel, I really liked this more personal view of Jehanne.  I would say if you're looking to learn about this point of time as a whole this might not be the best book for that but if you're looking for a book that attempts to get inside the head of the well known figure, this was a good effort.  Bonus points because the author included a note at the end explaining which elements of the novel were based in truth and which parts she fiddled with history a bit.  I love when authors offer insight into why they wrote the story the way they did, especially when I don't know the history that well as the case was with this book.

Visit Holly @ Bippity Boppity Book

The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy

Title: The Soldier’s Wife
Author: Margaret Leroy
Publisher: Hyperion
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 416
How I Read It: ARC received from the publisher
ISBN: 9781401341701
My Rating: 3.5 Crowns

Synopsis: As the war draws closer and closer to Guernsey and her home, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting.

What she does not know nor expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, dementia takes hold of her mother-in-law, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship – and her family – safe. But when her young daughter befriends a prisoner from a work camp, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.

A novel full of grand passion and intensity, The Soldier’s Wife makes readers take pause and wonder “What would you do for your family?” “What should you do for a stranger?” and “What would you do for love?”

My Review: This was my first foray into historical fiction set in World War II, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. Having grown up in the US, I think my opinion and views of WWII are rather different than that of the rest of the world. While all wars are devastating, things weren’t nearly so risky living here as it was in Europe.

As a result, this book helped give me a different perspective on the war and how it affected an ordinary family like the de la Mare’s. I can only imagine what it would be like to live in an occupied territory, having a state imposed curfew and worrying about what it might look like if I’m seen talking to certain people. And on top of that, worrying about how to feed not only my family, but other people less fortunate than myself – I’m scared just thinking about it.

But that’s the reality for Vivienne, who makes a last minute decision to stay on Guernsey instead of taking the boat over to England. When the German’s come to occupy their little island, it’s actually not quite as bad at first as you might imagine. There are limitations imposed, but Vivienne does her best to make the lives of her family members as easy possible. After not too long, the island is cut off from the mainland and everyone is forced to find new ways to survive in an increasingly harsh world.

When Vivienne meets Gunther, she feels rather conflicted – something about him is a huge draw to her, but she doesn’t want to let down the side by fraternizing with the enemy. In the end, her love wins out and she embarks on a great journey of love in a dangerous time, full of secrets and double lives.

There are so many different choices Vivienne must make on a daily basis, the biggest one being how to best protect her family from the various risks they confront, most of which her children aren’t even aware of. While her affair with Gunther is dangerous from some aspects, it unintentionally serves the purpose of protecting the family at the same time. Which can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

This book shows not only a different side of the war, but really illustrates that not everyone involved is necessarily a bad person. Many of the soldiers on the island are forced themselves between choosing life or death – you either follow orders, or you will likewise be disposed of. It’s an ugly truth in the world they are living in, and one I hope I never have to face.

Visit Crystal @ I Totally Paused

The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry

Title: The Arrow Chest
Author: Robert Parry
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace,2011
ISBN: 1452801142
342p
Rating: 4 Crowns


Synopsis: London, 1876. The painter Amos Roselli is in love with his life-long friend and model, the beautiful Daphne - and she with him - until one day she is discovered by another man, a powerful and wealthy industrialist. What will happen when Daphne realises she has sacrificed her happiness to a loveless marriage? What will happen when the artist realises he has lost his most cherished source of inspiration? And how will they negotiate the ever-increasing frequency of strange and bizarre events that seem to be driving them inexorably towards self-destruction. Here, amid the extravagant Neo-Gothic culture of Victorian England, the iconic poem ‘The Lady of Shalott’ blends with mysterious and ghostly glimpses of Tudor history. Romantic, atmospheric and deeply dark.


My thoughts:  The story begins when, during restoration at the Tower of London, an arrow chest containing bones believed to be those of Anne Boleyn is discovered. Amos is asked to sketch the remains and alone in the dark and  spooky surroundings has an experience that perfectly sets the dark gothic atmosphere for the story.
The lives of Henry VIII, the ill-fated Anne and her childhood friend and supposed lover, Thomas Wyatt, are reflected in the lives of Amos, Daphne and her husband, Oliver Ramsay, and picking up the references to the Tudor era is great fun. Daphne chose to marry Oliver partly to fulfil the expectations of her parents and partly because she feared marriage to a penniless artist although she still cared for Amos. She persuades her husband to commission Amos to paint his portrait and later invites him to join them on the Isle of Wight for the summer . He's accompanied by his housekeeper, Beth, whose sweet and practical nature brings a the breath of normalcy to lighten the darkness.

The Isle of Wight was a popular holiday resort for fashionable Victorians. Queen Victoria built her beloved Osborne House there and Lord Tennyson also had his summer home there. It attracted many writers and artists - ' the arty-farty crowd' as Oliver Ramsay disparagingly calls them, to relax away from the everyday restrictions of the era.
Robert Parry's descriptive prose is gorgeous and really brought the beauty of the place alive - I could almost feel the summer breeze and hear the sea crashing on rocks below the cliffs.

A lovely, multi-layered novel of romance , suspense, ghostly hauntings and dreams, spiced with wonderful touches of humour and a fascinating glimpse of life in the Victorian era.
Loved it! I recommend!

Visit Cat @ Tell Me A Story

Sharon Lathan Guest Post & Giveaway

Introducing Georgiana Darcy
By Sharon Lathan

Who is Georgiana Darcy?

It is a valid question whether one has read Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice or not. If you have read the novel you will catch a glimpse of the girl who is Mr. Darcy’s “more than ten years my junior” sister primarily through the eyes of others. Darcy adores his sister, that is very clear, but most brother’s love their sisters so this tells us nothing of her character. Caroline Bingley has this to say: “I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments.” Might be a slight exaggeration, considering the source and circumstances. A more trustworthy source is Lizzy Bennet, whose impression of Georgiana is that she is shy, lacking courage, very civil, easily embarrassed, and soft spoken. (Paraphrasing from Chapter 45

By the end of Austen’s novel we like Georgiana because others like her. The attachment to Lizzy, who is referred to as Georgiana’s “sister” with a shared loved for each other, tells us much. I especially love these words that the end of Pride & Prejudice:

“Georgiana has the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive manner of talking to her brother. He, who has always inspired in herself a respect which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open pleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen in her way.”

As nice as though tidbits are, it barely qualifies as an introduction. There is so little about  Georgiana Darcy to go on that the fields of inspiration and interpretation are wide open! The scenes in the 2005 movie where we see Georgiana at the piano, twice, and then with a teasing spirit and deep affection for her brother were burned into my brain. Austen wrote her as reserved and shy at this point, yet I liked that movie gave us a hint of the Georgiana described at the end of the novel. I liked that Georgiana.

I liked her so much that I knew from the beginning of writing my Saga, even when she was yet the shy, easily frightened girl of sixteen, that she would evolve into a woman of strength and character. Of course it was a gradual process, aided by Lizzy’s influence and her brother’s love. Most of the time I did not know how she would mature or what the catalyst would be! She surprised me at times. I honestly sis not think she would adapt to her debut Season and dances at Almack’s so well, but she did. I never imagined her bravely traveling on without her brother and crossing the Alps, but she did that too. And although I always pictured her at a pianoforte, I was stunned when she told me she was a composer!

Who is my Georgiana Darcy?

Well, she is a complex woman, as we all are. She is on a journey, a quest if you will, to answer that question for herself. I feel fortunate that she allowed me to share her quest with others. It has been a marvelous adventure that I can’t sum up in a few paragraphs. What I can promise is that you will like her, very much, and there can be no doubt that “her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen in her way.” I can also promise more than a mere introduction. Georgiana will be your friend.

 

Synopsis of Miss Darcy Falls in Love-

Noble young ladies were expected to play an instrument, by Georgiana Darcy us an accomplished musician who hungers to pursue her talents. She embarks upon a tour of Europe, ending in Paris where two very different men will ignite her heart in entirely different ways and begin a bitter rivalry to win her. But only one holds the key to her happiness.

Set in post-Napoleonic Empire France, Miss Darcy Falls in Love is a riveting love story that enters a world of passion where her gentlemen know exactly how to please and a young woman learns to direct her destiny and understand her heart.

 

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Her previously published novels are: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One, Loving Mr. Darcy, My Dearest Mr. Darcy, In the Arms of Mr. Darcy, A Darcy Christmas, and The Trouble with Mr. Darcy. Miss Darcy Falls in Love is Georgiana’s tale of love and adventure while in France. Complete with a happy ending. In addition to her writing, Sharon works as a Registered Nurse in a Neonatal ICU. She resides with her family in Hanford, California in the sunny San Joaquin Valley. Visit Sharon on her website: www.sharonlathan.net and on Austen Authors, her group blog with 25 novelist of Austen literature: www.austenauthors.com.

I would like to thank Sharon Lathan for stopping by Royal Reviews today. It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

I have two copies of Miss Darcy Falls In Love to giveaway.
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Giveaway ends: November 25

The Virtuoso by Grace Burrowes

Title: The Virtuoso

Author: Grace Burrowes
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4570-1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: November 2011
Pages: 416
Format: Mass Market Paperback,
$6.99
How I Read It: Mass Market Arc from publisher
Rating: 4.5 Crowns

A genius with a terrible loss. . .

Gifted pianist Valentine Windham, youngest son of the Duke of Moreland, has little interest in his father’s obsession to see his sons married, and instead pours passion into his music. But when Val loses his music, he flees to the country, alone and tormented by what has been robbed from him.

A widow with a heartbreaking secret. . .

Grieving Ellen Markham has hidden herself away, looking for safety in solitude. Her curious new neighbor offers a kindred lonely soul whose desperation is matched only by his desire, but Ellen’s devastating secret could be the one thing that destroys them both.

Together they’ll find there’s no rescue from the past, but sometimes losing everything can help you find what you need most.
(from the publishers)

My Review:
From the start of the series, Val is the glue that holds that brothers together. He is their shelter in the storm, so when encounters a storm of his own in the form of an condition that demands he give up his music, Val is lost. He feels that he is defined by the extraordinary music he plays  and when that ability is stripped he feels as though he has lost his soul.

Ellen Markham is a widow, who is hiding a secret. When she stumbles upon Val inspecting the estate he won in a card game, the kiss the two shared a years ago is fresh in her mind. While the two become close, the secret Ellen holds may be enough to tear them both a part.

Having the first two books in the Duke’s Obsession Series, The Heir and The Soldier, I knew that Val’s story was going to be a great read. What I didn’t expect was how much I was going to come to care for the character. My favorite of the Windham brothers had, and is, Devlin, although Val is a close second.

My Thoughts:

Having previously read the first two books in The Duke’s Obsession Series (The Heir & The Soldier), I knew that I would enjoy reading, The Virtuoso. What I didn’t expect however was how much I did enjoy it. If you read my previous reviews of this series, you know how much I loved St. Just, although after reading this book Val is catching up to his older brother in my affection.

There is something about the hero’s that Grace Burrowes creates, they captivate you in a way no other romance characters can. I guarantee that you will fall in love with Val & Ellen. 

While the titles do indeed fit the description of the heroes, I feel that that there is so much more to Valentine Windham than the label of “Virtuoso” and I hope that you explore his character in Grace Burrowes’ newest edition “The Virtuoso”.

Favorite Bit From The Virtuoso:

“You are safe with me, Ellen.” He punctuated the sentiment with a kiss to her temple then rested his cheek where his lips had been.” I am a gentlemen, if nothing else. I might try to steal a kiss, but you can stop me with a word from even that at any time. The question is, how safe do you want to be?”

“Shame on you.” Ellen whispered, turning her face to his shoulder.

“Shame on me is right, for I do not offer you anything, you see, but kisses, and illicit pleasures. Those I can give you in abundance, if you want them.”

She pulled away, peering at him in the moon light. “Are you insulting me?”

“I am not. I am commenting on my unworthiness as a mate to a decent woman. I can bring you pleasure and take some for myself, if you can offer it, but that is the extent of my utility.”
Page 68 of the Uncorrected Proof, finished copies may differ.

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