Madeline Hunter

I have discovered a new writer who I absolutely love:  Madeline Hunter.  I read Ravishing in Red while in Texas for spring break.   Bought the next two in the series while I was there and had been thinking about them ever since.  Finished Provocative in Pearls yesterday and started and am halfway finished with Sinful in Satin.  Dangerous in Diamonds doesn't come out for another month...I don't know how I'll wait to finish this group of books.  Wonderful all around.

They are focused on four women during the early 1800s in England who have for one reason or another come to live together as independent women.  Following the rule that they don't pry into their reasons for being alone, but simply love and support one another, they each grow and find love along the way.  Sinful in Satin is especially interesting because it is about Celia, the daughter of a famous prostitute in London.  Her limitations for moving about in society are painful to read about, but it is wonderful to learn how she has faced and eventually overcome as much as possible those limitations.

In Pearls, I was a little worried because when I started it I really didn't like either Hawkeswell or Verity, but by the end I loved them both and was both sad and happy to see their story end.  Happy because it's such a wonderful ending and sad because I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters.

Hunter's books are rich in detail and character development, and most amazingly to me, carry a very interesting plot.  There are mystery elements thrown in.  The solving of those mysteries is important, but carried off in such a way that it doesn't take over the overarching plot.  AND I didn't solve it before the time necessary nor feel jipped when I did find out the underlying currents.

Really wonderful books.  I highly highly recommend and cannot wait to read the rest of Hunter's works.  These are definitely on my "to buy" list!

A Bevy of Book Reviews

I'm trying to catch up on my blog (and my life really, but the blog is just as good a place to start as any).  So, I'm going to catch up my book reviews in this blog and hopefully manage to keep up from this point forward.

Bad Day for Sorry by Sophi Littlefield.  A slightly charming, mostly disarming crime novel with a menopausal, formerly abused wife who sets out to "right the wrongs" of all abused women everywhere.  The plot sagged a bit, overly violent.  Not really my cup of tea, but I gave it a shot for bookclub.

On Beauty by Zadie Smith.  Beautifully written, dense novel dealing with lots of issues ranging from race, to class, to feminism.  I found it slow to read at times, and put it down three times before I managed to finish it.  While I was reading it I was enjoying it but something would happen to take me away and I found I didn't want to get back to it for a while.  I'll try another book by Z. Smith..but I'll be skeptical.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby.  This is a memoir of a French man who had a stroke in his mid-40s that left him in "locked-in" syndrome.  He wasn't able to move or communicate except through blinking his eyes.  In this manner he wrote his memoir which is reallyl quite insightful about the power of the mind.

When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James.  The 4th in the Desperate Duchesses series follows Lady Isidore as her duke returns to claim her as his wife (after being married 11 years via proxy) and his life as duke.  It was a charming story about 2 people getting to know each other and themselves and finding love along the way.  My favorite of the duchesses series so far.

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck.  Steinbeck had a traveling truck built and he drove across most of America in 1961 with his French poodle Charley.  It was a funny, insightful, and sometimes horrifying journey that left me wishing for more miles on the road.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read, and especially for those who like to travel.

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philipa Gregory.  This is the 5th in the Tudor series by Gregory.  In time, it comes right after The Other Boleyn Girl and tells the stories of Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn.  It was gripping and I had a hard time putting it down--read rather quickly.  However, I do get tired of Gregory's novels about 2/3 into them. So, while I love them, I'm always happy to finish.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James. Unlike Gregory I never want James's novels to end.  This was no exception.  I absolutely loved watching Linnett and Piers fall in love and learn to accept and love themselves as well as their families in the process.  Fun book, and James has a "way" with characters, dialog, and humor.

Just Imagine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  A fun story about Kit and Baron as they battle wits and power to eventually admit they have fallen in love with one another.  The novel deals with issues pertinent to a Reconstruction Era fiction:  race relations, rebuilding the south, coming to terms with the issues of slavery and the "southern" way of living.  Excellent book, though not your typical romance.

A couple more book reviews

Madame Mirabou's School of Love by Barbara Samuel follows the life of Nikki as she is navigating her life after her husband divorces her for another woman.  The journey she takes to finding herself is interesting, and Nikki's a likeable character; however, I did feel a little bogged down in the "whiney divorcee" syndrome by about the middle of the book.  I would also like to read a book where a woman finds the courage to do what she wants without worrying about the approval of a man.  Recommended.

The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander is about the Russian revolution and covers the time period from 1906-1918.  It is told from the perspectives of Pavel, a revolutionary, and Ella, the wife of the Grand Duke.  I liked the swapping perspectives because it helped to demonstrate that the any story, especially one as "grand" as this one, has many different sides and explanations for what happened during a major historical upheaval.  Highly recommended.

A Batch of Book Reviews

I've been so strapped for time that I haven't had much opportunity to write up my usual book reviews...nor have I really had much time to READ books to review.  Since September 4th (the last date of my last book review), I've only completed 4 books, 3 of them in the last week alone.  I've started one book that I haven't yet finished but plan to...it's just a little dense for me right now.  So, to the books that I have finished (and enjoyed thoroughly each and every one!)

The Forgotten Garden follows the lives of three women:  Elizan, Nell, and Cassandra.  Nell is abandoned on a boat heading to Australia as a four year old child.  She is adopted by the dockmaster and not told of her coming into their household until she is 21.  It isn't until Nell's death that Cassandra begins to search for Nell's past.  It is truly an enchanting story and one that I enjoyed thoroughoughly.  In fact, I wanted to read it slowly to prolong my enjoyment of it.  I've asked my entire family to read it so that we can discuss.  Highly recommended.

The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith is a different series focusing on the character Isabel Dalhausie.  Isabel witnesses a man falling from the upper balconies after an orchestral performance and sets about to discover how something such as that could happen.  It is slightly reminiscent of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books, but without Mma Romatswe's charm.  I thought the prose was dense and troublesome at times, but I'm willing to read a second book in the series to see if they'll grab me.  I usually enjoy Smith's books so much.  Recommended.

This book was recommended to me by a co-worker who also likes to read.  She thought that since I enjoyed the Forgotten Garden so much that I would also enjoy this book.  She was right.  The Physic Book of Deliverance Dane is loosely about the Salem Witch trials of 1692 but also about the struggles that a graduate student undergoes to complete her dissertation work.  Throw in some family dynamics, a love story, an interesting mystery, magic, historical flashbacks, and a friendship and you have a really enjoyable book.  I devoured this one.  Highly recommended! (especially to my Aunt Janice who I think will LOVE this one!)

Yummy!  Duchess by Night by Eloisa James is my favorite of her Desperate Duchesses series so far (3 more to go...so happy).  It was a wonderful romp through the awakening of a woman to power and freedom.  Harriet dresses as a man so that she can attend a risque house party at Lord Strange's house.  Little did she think that she would enjoy being a man so much and that she would find love and happiness while there.  Another wonderful romance by James.  Highly recommended for romance readers.

Book Review: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrich

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrich follows the characters Ralph Truitt, a very rich man in Wisconsin, and his "mail order" bride, Catherine Land.  Catherine arrives in the middle of the first snow storm of the year to begin her life as the wife of Mr. Truitt.  She misrepresents herself from the start yet Mr. Truitt marries her anyway.  Her plan was to slowly poison him with arsenic and then bring her lover to live in his mansion.  Things don't go as planned for either, and to tell too much of the rest of the plot would give away more than anyone interested in reading the book would want. 

It's a quick read, even though it feels "big."  And mostly good.  I didn't like any of the characters and thought Goolrich's writing was overdone in many instances, but it was a good book, and I recommend it to anyone who likes reading books with surprise endings.

Book Review: A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James is a Cinderella story complete with "rats," a fairy godmother, and of course the evil step mother.  Orphaned Kate must pretend to be her sister, Victoria, and go to the Prince's castle in order to get his blessing on their marriage.  While there, of course she falls in love with the Prince and he with her, but there's the complication of his betrothal that will be announced the night of the ball.

This is another lively book with a strong heroine by James. 

I loved it.

Book Review: The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant

The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant tells the story of the town Dogtown as it is "dying"...people moving on and out.  I almost didn't pick the book up because the description sounded so depressing, but I'm glad I did because it's a beautifully written book that details the death of a town with both humor and love. 

I thought Diamant wrote a compelling story about how people move to and then leave Dogtown, what it means to the remaining residents, and of course, the dogs for whom the town is named.

Recommended.

Book Review: Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens

Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens is a really fun mystery.  The main character is Beau Brummel, the "real life" fashion guru of Regency England.  He is joined by a cat named Chakkri, who I just adored.

The mystery plot revolves around the poisoning of a cranky old woman, Lady Wrayburn.  Miss Ashton is accused of the murder, but Beau knows she didn't do it and is out to prove her innocence.  He's not the best of detectives and stumbles along into the clues and answers to the mystery, but does so in a very delightful way.

I want to read the rest of the Beau Brummel series and all the other books that Rosemary Stevens wrote, so I highly recommend it.  Hope you enjoy!

Book Review: Seduction by Amanda Quick

Seduction by Amanda Quick was a very satisfying read.  At first I thought it was a little slow to get started, but once I was a little over 1/3 into it, the plot really picked up and the characters took on a personality that was both enjoyable and fitting.

Sophy and Julian decide to marry for their own reasons, neither of which is embedded in a deep passion for one another.  Sophy is quite the budding feminist, reading such books as A Vindication of the Rights of Women, and has expectations of her husband that he's not willing, at first, to abide by. They negotiate their relationship and come to an understanding of one another that brings the book to a satisfying close.

Recommended to readers of romance.

Book Review: An Affair before Christmas by Eloisa James

In this second installment of the Desperate Duchesses series, James focuses on the love between Poppy and Fletch, who have been married for four years but have never been able to kindle that "spark" that begins with their love of one another. As Poppy works through the abusive relationship she has with her mother and learns to grow and develop her own interests, she discovers the passion that she holds for Fletch and as a result their marriage is able to survive.

Meanwhile Jemma and Beaumont are slowly negotiating their relationship. She is learning to appreciate his passion for politics while he is learning to love her intelligent and wit. The Duke of Villiers, injured in the duel at the end of Desperate Duchesses develops an infection and is sick most of the novel--he has to learn to forgive himself in order to be healed.

Artful weaving of three stories. Beautifully written. I'm always sad when I finish a James book because I know I'm not going to miss the characters.

Highly recommended for romance readers.

Book Review: The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue by Barbara Samuel

LOVED this book. I liked all of the characters, really appreciated their growth and determination. Samuel's use of 4 women in different stages of life and love represented a "whole woman" and I thought it was a perfect picture of womanhood. The style is also accessible, and the book well-written.

In The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue, Samuel tells the story of Trudy (whose is separated from her husband after finding out he was having an affair, Jade (who returns to her grandmother's house after the death of her grandfather), Roberta (Jade's grandmother who just lost her husband) and Shanelle (who is having trouble with her husband accepting her desire to be a writer). The women support each other, grow and learn from each other, and seek out fulfillment in things that will make them a better person--and by default a better wife and mother.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: On Agate Hill by Lee Smith

On Agate Hill by Lee Smith follows the life of Molly Petree from the age of thirteen until her death as an "old woman" of 68. It is a depressing tale of loss and more loss and then more loss. I thought at some point there would be a glimmer of hope, but really, there wasn't.

Smith's books tend to be more dark than I like to read these days, but On Agate Hill was particularly so. After the lackluster The Last Girls, I'm not sure I'm excited or looking forward to reading more Smith books. Her early works, Fair and Tender Ladies particularly, while sad, had a wrangle-hold on life and love and the characters were trying very hard to make their lives better. Molly, however, really just floats along without much volition or course in life.

While I wanted to like the book, finding it a little like Fair and Tender Ladies in the diary and letter aspect, I didn't find Molly as compelling a character. I just didn't care what happened to her. Which was sad.

The book got good reviews on amazon.com, from die-hard Lee Smith fans and others alike, so maybe I just missed something. But, for me, there was just a polish or finish on the book that wasn't there.

Book Review: Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands

Devil of the Highlands is a fun romance that pits Evelinde against the "devil of dunairrach" (misspelled I know but I don't have the book with me), Cullen Duncan. Their marriage has been arranged by her evil stepmother in the hopes of making Evelinde's life miserable, but the opposite is quite true, as the nickname "devil" doesn't really aplly to Cullen since he's really quite considerate and sweet, just doesn't talk much.

The conflict involves several "accidents" that are happening to Evelinde that if successful would have ended in her death. The latter half of the book does a great job of developing the mystery and revealing the attempted murderer without feeling trite or rushed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found Evelinde's character to be rather charming and funny and enjoyed her growth through the novel. Looking forward to reading another novel by Sands (though I won't read her vampire stuff...I just don't get into vampires).

Highly recommended for romance readers.

Book Review: Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery

Having absolutely loved The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I was very excited to see Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery. It tells the story of Pierre Arthens as he is dying. Every other chapter is from a different person's perspective, the other chapters are from Pierre's perspective as he is remembering his life and seeking out that "flavor" which is the essence of living for him.

It's a slim novel, without the difficult passages that many people found troublesome in "Elegance" but, to me, it was also without the depth of character and development that "Elegance" brought forth. I truly cared deeply about the characters in Elegance, but didn't really about the characters in Gourmet...perhaps that's because I got such a brief view of each of them except for Pierre, and he really is an unlikeable character.

I did find it an enjoyable read even so and recommend it. Especially to those who like reading books about food.

Book Review: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

I parse out James slowly because one day I'll be out of her books and then I'll be so sad...I absolutely love her books and Desperate Duchesses was not disappointing.

Desperate Duchesses sets up the series of 6 books that is known as the Desperate Duchesses series. In this story we get to know Jemma and her duke, Elijah Beaumont. While they are the main titular characters of the story, Roberta and Jemma's brother Damon are the main love interests. (I think Jemma and Elijah's story is simply too complicated to deal with in this book.)

Roberta's father, the Mad Marquis, embarrasses her with his overly expressive emotions and flamboyant mistresses. Roberta desires to marry the Duke of Villiers after seeing him at a party and realizing that he will not ever display any excessive emotions. Roberta finally goes to London in search of marrying Villiers and shows up at her far-distant cousin, Jemma's, house and from there partakes in a game of love and learning that leaves her heart captured quite by surprise.

James is a wonderful writer, and her characters are lively and ever-so-much-fun. I always miss them when I'm finished and have a very hard time not going back and picking up the next one to read...patience is a virtue, even with romance novels :)

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Miss Julia Speaks Up by Ann B. Ross

A delightful book about a widow who must learn to take care of herself and does so through learning that her husband wasn't all he pretended to be. When his mistress shows up on her front door and leaves his illegitimate son and then drives off, Miss Julia must face the fact that her life has changed forever. Unable to confront the author of her anger, she begins to confront all the confining actions and behaviors that she had dealt with all her life.

I found the book hard to put down even if I did find it hard to believe that Miss Julia would be quite so dependent and silly. Still she cares and learns to love herself and her husband's second family after much trial and tribulation.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Restoration by Rose Tremain

Restoration by Rose Tremain is a novel that will stay in my head for a while. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes books that make you think...especially when you're finished and have to wonder how much of the story can be trusted.

Restoration follows the life of Robert Merivel over a couple of years during the 1660s. He's brought into the court as a Fool and physician to the royal dogs, almost by accident and ends up being married to the King's mistress. What follows is a descent into dispair as low as his highs had been, and then a shallow creeping out of the mess he made of his life.

The novel starts off very funny, bawdy and enjoyable. The character is very likable and the writing clean and enjoyable. I actually couldn't wait to get home to read everyday and felt "tried" by the fact that my days and evenings were so busy lately.

I'm looking forward to reading other novels by Tremain.

The reading slump is finally over, thank goodness

Sometimes I find myself reading several really great books in a row. When I do this, I'm so excited about reading that it's all I want to do in my free time. However, every now and then I get to reading some books that I don't like at all, and I think "is something wrong with me?" Then I'll go read the reviews of the books on amazon.com and sometimes see that I'm not the only person who has had particular issues with a book. Always, when I'm not enjoying a book, or find myself avoiding reading, I give myself permission to put the book away. Time is too precious and there are too many wonderful books out there to force myself to read something I'm not enjoying.

And I've been in an awful reading slump lately.

It started out with Douglass' Women by Jewell Parker Rhodes. I wrote on this one last week, but I was really looking forward to it because it came as a referral from one of my favorite authors. I absolutely hated the writing style. Couldn't get past it and decided that in addition I hated every single one of the characters and found the historical components of the novel to feel flat and uninteresting. So, back to the library with that one (glad I didn't spend my money buying it!)

Then I started Like unto Like by Sherwood Bonner. Here was a book a bought a while back, written in the 1880s, highly recommended by the literati of the day. Oh my! I could (somewhat) ignore the overt racism as a product of the time period and Bonner's Mississippi upbringing, but I found the STORY so difficult to get into and the prose so stilted that I had to put it aside after about 50 pages. That book was donated to the library today as it was a book I'd purchased some years back.

Next I started reading Karen Robard's Irresistible. Again, looking forward to this one because it was recommended by an author I like...also it's a romance, historical at that, and I generally LOVE romances. After 80 pages of kidnapping, near rape, and the protagonists ogling of each other, I just couldn't take another word. Quit it mid-sentence in fact. I returned it to the libraray today (again glad I didn't waste my money on it!).

I started Restoration by Rose Tremain on Monday. It's funny, bawdy, and well-written. The main character is lovable in his shabby haphazard way and I'm looking forward to seeing his growth and development. The author has already demonstrated to me that he will grow and develop and that there is a plot in the book. In fact, I'm hooked and all I want to do is sit down and read...looking forward to some time with it this evening and during lunches (now that I'll be working again). So, thankfully the slump is over.

p.s. I have been challenging myself to read books I wouldn't normally pick up, which is why the slumps are a little more frequent than before. I don't mind, really, because I've also found some wonderful gems along the way.

Book Review: Douglass' Women by Jewell Parker Rhodes

I don't usually review books that I was unable to finish simply because I think it's unfair to the author of me to do that. However, I will review this one because I thought there were some interesting and compelling points to the book that other readers might want to look at...I simply found the writing too annoying to want to continue.

Douglass' Women tells the story of Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna Murray and his mistress Otillie Assing. Assing was a German-Jew who immigrated to America and became interested in the abolitionist cause upon arrival. Anna Murray is a free black woman who helped secure Douglass freedom and then married him shortly thereafter. The women are polar opposites in race, education, and personality but both love the man Frederick Douglass for their own reasons.

That was the interesting and compelling part of the book. This is the seed of the book that I think could have flourished (and did for a lot of readers as the reviews are typically very good); however, for me, the writing styles between the two women's narrative/diary sections is so similar that I couldn't get a feel for either of them as an individual person--I guess I felt too strongly Rhodes coming through her characters rather than the other way around.

Recommended to readers who like historical fiction and 19th century American literature.

Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha is a book that started out with great potential but petered out and left me feeling rather worn out and uninterested. The shift in character development, plot interest and writing style happens about 2/3 through with the book. By that time you’re committed to finding out what happens. I found myself wanting to be finished with the book but not having the interest to continue reading.
Memoirs of a Geisha is about Chiyo/Suyuri who is sold into a okiya (geisha house) at the young age of 9. She is a beautiful girl with exceptional blue-grey eyes.

Because she is so beautiful, she is the target of the jealousy of the okiya’s current geisha, Hatsumomo, who tortures her in psychological and physical ways and makes young Chiyo’s life utterly miserable.

In an attempt one day to relieve her misery, Chiyo goes to the river to cry and meets a man who we know as the Chairman. The Chairman changes Chiyo’s life forever and becomes an important focal point for her to cling to as she goes through the trials and tribulations of her life.

Things that didn’t ring true for me:
• Hatsumoto’s single minded obsession with Chiyo/Suyuri. She was simply evil with no clear motivation. Her end-outcome was rather pitifully executed.
• WWII was glossed over as a “bad time,” but little descriptions of that time other than Suyuri having to work hard were provided. This whole section felt very flat and uninteresting to me
• The plot line comes to a tension point when Suyuri and Mameha finally outsmart Hatsumoto, but then the novel kept going. It almost felt like there were two separate books, the first a very detailed lush description of a girl growing up a very hard life and the second a young woman adrift without much clue how to proceed.

For the most part the voice rings true and is interesting and well done. And I did enjoy the book despite my disappointments. Perhaps that’s why I’m more disappointed: Because there was so much potential and it left me feeling wrung-out and deflated.