When Passion Rules by Johanna Lindsey
Johanna Lindsey's novel was initially confusing since the location is the fictional kingdom of Lubinia which is somewhere East of Austria but the novel is set twenty years after the Napoleonic Wars. Luckily the plot was intriguing enough to make up for the borderline fantasy location. Alana (the main female character) is brought up to think she's nothing special, although extremely well educated, only to find out she's actually the abducted princess of Lubinia instead of the assassinated in the cradle princess. She and her former assassin turned guardian travel to Lubinia from London to prove her identity and prevent a civil war, except the main male character, Christopher Becker, the captain of the palace guards imprisons her as an impostor. Drama ensues as Alana and Christopher bicker their way through assassination attempts on Alana's life while trying to prove that Alana is or isn't the missing princess. The twists in the plot make this novel a fast and entertaining read even if the location is too fanciful for me and the use of contemporary language makes random and jarring appearances and the title is cliche.
February 27, 2012
February 20, 2012
Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences: Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
A very refreshing novel featuring Steampunk themes and incredibly poetic writing. The authors are able to seamlessly blend late nineteenth century vocabulary with modern to create a very reader friendly story with the language expected from Dickens and Austen but the brevity of modern sentence structure. Set during Queen Victoria's reign Agent Wellington Books and Agent Eliza Braun are the unlikely partners who discover the nefarious actions of the underground Phoenix Society which has steered every major political change within the British Empire since the Romans. The relationship between Books and Braun is tense and occasionally hostile since Agent Braun was reassigned from active fieldwork to the Archives under the supervision of Agent Books the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences' methodical and uptight Archivist. Although their initial investigation surrounds the gruesome deaths of factory workers that were originally investigated by Miss Braun and her former partner, whose untimely descent into madness halted the case, the connection between the Phoenix Society and the murders soon crop up. The mixture of strict Victorian expectations and fanciful technology give this novel something very unique and exciting in its structure and plot. I can't wait to find a sequel or similar novels.
A very refreshing novel featuring Steampunk themes and incredibly poetic writing. The authors are able to seamlessly blend late nineteenth century vocabulary with modern to create a very reader friendly story with the language expected from Dickens and Austen but the brevity of modern sentence structure. Set during Queen Victoria's reign Agent Wellington Books and Agent Eliza Braun are the unlikely partners who discover the nefarious actions of the underground Phoenix Society which has steered every major political change within the British Empire since the Romans. The relationship between Books and Braun is tense and occasionally hostile since Agent Braun was reassigned from active fieldwork to the Archives under the supervision of Agent Books the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences' methodical and uptight Archivist. Although their initial investigation surrounds the gruesome deaths of factory workers that were originally investigated by Miss Braun and her former partner, whose untimely descent into madness halted the case, the connection between the Phoenix Society and the murders soon crop up. The mixture of strict Victorian expectations and fanciful technology give this novel something very unique and exciting in its structure and plot. I can't wait to find a sequel or similar novels.
February 14, 2012
Sticks and Scones by Diane Mott Davidson
Sticks and Scones by Diane Mott Davidson
A modern mystery set in Colorado with a caterer, Goldy Schultz, as the narrator and main character who can't keep her nose out of other people's business. This inability to keep from asking questions leads Goldy into some life threatening situations as living room window is shot out, she stumbles over a charred body, sees her husband shot, is knocked over the head by a thief, and that's all in the first 50 pages. Although I'm having issues with books written in first person, the novel is well written and thought out, and with so many possible murderers and thieves the reader isn't sure whose done what. The main mysteries, there are about four minor ones too, are Who Stole the Queen Victoria Stamps? and Who Shot Tom? (Goldy's husband). Since the main character is a caterer there is a lot of talk surrounding cooking and the author inserts a half dozen recipes as they are spoken about by Goldy to her clients. Having the recipes (which I plan to try at some point) makes Goldy seem a bit more like a real person, since the novel follows her day to day activities and a takes place in a three day period leading up to Valentine's Day which is why this post is so appropriate.
Since today is Valentines and my review surrounds the antics of a caterer I thought I'd share the recipes I'm using today on my husband. Breakfast was Blueberry Streusel Scones and English Breakfast tea (of course), Lunch was Mushroom Tart, and Dinner will be Chicken Parmigiana, salad, and Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake.
A modern mystery set in Colorado with a caterer, Goldy Schultz, as the narrator and main character who can't keep her nose out of other people's business. This inability to keep from asking questions leads Goldy into some life threatening situations as living room window is shot out, she stumbles over a charred body, sees her husband shot, is knocked over the head by a thief, and that's all in the first 50 pages. Although I'm having issues with books written in first person, the novel is well written and thought out, and with so many possible murderers and thieves the reader isn't sure whose done what. The main mysteries, there are about four minor ones too, are Who Stole the Queen Victoria Stamps? and Who Shot Tom? (Goldy's husband). Since the main character is a caterer there is a lot of talk surrounding cooking and the author inserts a half dozen recipes as they are spoken about by Goldy to her clients. Having the recipes (which I plan to try at some point) makes Goldy seem a bit more like a real person, since the novel follows her day to day activities and a takes place in a three day period leading up to Valentine's Day which is why this post is so appropriate.
Since today is Valentines and my review surrounds the antics of a caterer I thought I'd share the recipes I'm using today on my husband. Breakfast was Blueberry Streusel Scones and English Breakfast tea (of course), Lunch was Mushroom Tart, and Dinner will be Chicken Parmigiana, salad, and Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake.
January 12, 2012
The Duchess aka Georgianna: The Duchess of Devonshire
The Duchess by Amanda Foreman
Fascinating biography on Georgiana Spencer/Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire (the same Duchess played by Kiera Knightley in the 2008 movie based off this biography) which covers her private life, public life, affairs, gambling addiction and debts, trend-setting fashions, and political endeavours while strictly dealing in facts. I can easily see how Hollywood changed pieces of Georgiana's life to suit their dramatized view. The biography gives the reader more than just an acquaintance with the subject, it gives the reader a portrait of the entire time period's social and political events as well as redefines the traditional view that women had no say in their lives and were completely controlled by their husbands. Georgiana Spencer/Cavendish was a major political player, trend-setter, author, and is one of the people responsible for England's definitive bi-partisanship.
I never read non-fiction since I get enough of sort of thing by reading text books and scientific papers but I grabbed a copy of this book at a Friends of the Library sale this past summer for shits and giggles (I've been interested in the time period ever since watching the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice and Emma as a child). Considering this was a book I only read while on the train it took me a bit of time to get through it, especially since it isn't a short book to begin with, but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed my venture into non-fiction.
Fascinating biography on Georgiana Spencer/Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire (the same Duchess played by Kiera Knightley in the 2008 movie based off this biography) which covers her private life, public life, affairs, gambling addiction and debts, trend-setting fashions, and political endeavours while strictly dealing in facts. I can easily see how Hollywood changed pieces of Georgiana's life to suit their dramatized view. The biography gives the reader more than just an acquaintance with the subject, it gives the reader a portrait of the entire time period's social and political events as well as redefines the traditional view that women had no say in their lives and were completely controlled by their husbands. Georgiana Spencer/Cavendish was a major political player, trend-setter, author, and is one of the people responsible for England's definitive bi-partisanship.
I never read non-fiction since I get enough of sort of thing by reading text books and scientific papers but I grabbed a copy of this book at a Friends of the Library sale this past summer for shits and giggles (I've been interested in the time period ever since watching the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice and Emma as a child). Considering this was a book I only read while on the train it took me a bit of time to get through it, especially since it isn't a short book to begin with, but in the end I thoroughly enjoyed my venture into non-fiction.
January 8, 2012
The Book of Spells by Kate Brian
The Book of Spells by Kate Brian
The Book of Spells is (apparently) the prequel to the Private series also set in Connecticut at the elite Billings School for girls. Taking place in 1915 a group of girls find a map which leads to a trunk of spell books. With power comes tragedy as the girls attempt to cover up a fatal accident involving one of the coven members. Although the book is set during World War I there is absolutely no mention of world events and almost the entire book takes place on the Billings and adjoining Easton campuses. The over all story is standard YA fare; a love triangle, boy crazy girls, harmless magics that progress to destruction, and a curse upon the coven. Well written and entertaining (for fluff) the book ends with the only unanswered question of who ends up with whom.
Of course the author follows the Harry Potter method of magic in which the girls see instant results from the spells they cast, something practically unheard of in the real practice of witchcraft. Of all the witch novels I've read only those by Alice Hoffman consistently demonstrate how magic actually works in real life.
The Book of Spells is (apparently) the prequel to the Private series also set in Connecticut at the elite Billings School for girls. Taking place in 1915 a group of girls find a map which leads to a trunk of spell books. With power comes tragedy as the girls attempt to cover up a fatal accident involving one of the coven members. Although the book is set during World War I there is absolutely no mention of world events and almost the entire book takes place on the Billings and adjoining Easton campuses. The over all story is standard YA fare; a love triangle, boy crazy girls, harmless magics that progress to destruction, and a curse upon the coven. Well written and entertaining (for fluff) the book ends with the only unanswered question of who ends up with whom.
Of course the author follows the Harry Potter method of magic in which the girls see instant results from the spells they cast, something practically unheard of in the real practice of witchcraft. Of all the witch novels I've read only those by Alice Hoffman consistently demonstrate how magic actually works in real life.
January 6, 2012
The Flappers: Vixen
The Flappers: Vixen by Jillian Larkin
Set in Chicago during the 1920's Vixen follows three young women as they navigate the thrilling speakeasy scene following Prohabition. The general set up of this novel is similar to another young adult novel, Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen, in that there are three girls one of which is a singer, another is a star-crossed lover, one is already a flapper, a semi-abusive fiancee, and of course both are set during the 20's. Luckily, for me that is, one book is set in New York and the other in Chicago. Carla, Loraine, and Gloria all have very different story-lines which are packed with social and physical danger as they get entangled with gangsters and socialites. While the book initially comes off as a simple teenage rebellion to straight-laced upper-crust white society the plot progresses to some rather unexpected events taking place before ending with the promise for a fabulous second book.
Set in Chicago during the 1920's Vixen follows three young women as they navigate the thrilling speakeasy scene following Prohabition. The general set up of this novel is similar to another young adult novel, Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen, in that there are three girls one of which is a singer, another is a star-crossed lover, one is already a flapper, a semi-abusive fiancee, and of course both are set during the 20's. Luckily, for me that is, one book is set in New York and the other in Chicago. Carla, Loraine, and Gloria all have very different story-lines which are packed with social and physical danger as they get entangled with gangsters and socialites. While the book initially comes off as a simple teenage rebellion to straight-laced upper-crust white society the plot progresses to some rather unexpected events taking place before ending with the promise for a fabulous second book.
January 4, 2012
A slightly skewed Humboldt: A book review of Robyn Carr's Virgin River
Virgin River by Robyn Carr
A contemporary romance set in Humboldt County, CA in the fictional town of Virgin River. Although not all of the details are correct, especially the geography since there are towns closer than Eureka to Highway 36 (the location of Virgin River based off of descriptions), it is a well written if slightly Rancher flavored novel that helped me get over a brutal case of homesickness.
Humboldt is internationally known for its marijuana exports (some of it is actually legal within the state, although not federally) less known by outsiders is that the social and political climate is split between (to make things simple I'll stereotype) the very liberal pot smoking community and the very conservative rancher/timber community (the meth addicts are generally too tweeked out to have a political voice). This split causes a fair amount of tension and drama which Robyn Carr does a decent job of showing.
The plot of the novel is pretty straightforward (woman moves to new town, falls in love with a local, climactic drama, marriage, and baby) but having the marijuana aspect adds some twists (however there is a significant difference between potheads and tweekers that the author fails to notice fully). Despite the skewed depiction of the social and political climate, the descriptions of Virgin River, both the town and the river (the Van Duzen), and the rest of the countryside are accurate which made reading this book worthwhile for me.
A contemporary romance set in Humboldt County, CA in the fictional town of Virgin River. Although not all of the details are correct, especially the geography since there are towns closer than Eureka to Highway 36 (the location of Virgin River based off of descriptions), it is a well written if slightly Rancher flavored novel that helped me get over a brutal case of homesickness.
Humboldt is internationally known for its marijuana exports (some of it is actually legal within the state, although not federally) less known by outsiders is that the social and political climate is split between (to make things simple I'll stereotype) the very liberal pot smoking community and the very conservative rancher/timber community (the meth addicts are generally too tweeked out to have a political voice). This split causes a fair amount of tension and drama which Robyn Carr does a decent job of showing.
The plot of the novel is pretty straightforward (woman moves to new town, falls in love with a local, climactic drama, marriage, and baby) but having the marijuana aspect adds some twists (however there is a significant difference between potheads and tweekers that the author fails to notice fully). Despite the skewed depiction of the social and political climate, the descriptions of Virgin River, both the town and the river (the Van Duzen), and the rest of the countryside are accurate which made reading this book worthwhile for me.
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