Historical Fiction at its Best!

Awhile ago, I read and reviewed The Royal Harlot by Susan Holloway Scott.  She somehow found my review and responded to it.  We emailed and she graciously sent me a copy of another one of her books, The King’s Favorite.  She also sent me some really cool bookmarks for her upcoming book, The French Mistress.  

Sometimes, I feel when I am reading an author, the books start to lose something after awhile.  The author’s first novels are great and then it kind of peter outs.  This is NOT the case here.  In fact, I think Ms. Scott improves with each book she writes.  I read Duchess – The Sarah Churchill Story last year sometime.  While I enjoyed, I felt it dragged a little.  The Royal Harlot kept me interested from beginning to end.  Well, The King’s Favorite, I had trouble putting down.  Maybe this had something to do with the main character of each book, but I definitely think Ms. Scott improved her story-telling with each subsequent one.  

The King’s Favorite again takes place at King Charles II’s court.  It starts after he has returned to the throne.   The story is about Nell Gwyn, one of a few women who become famous upon the stage, and how she catches the King’s eye.  From her early years of being poor, Nell Gwyn decides she wants to make something of herself (more than a prostitute, like her mother and sister), and she does.  Nell is kept by a couple of different men before she “lands” the King.  She doesn’t apologize for this and she is proud that she stays “loyal” to each man in turn.    Eventually, she has two sons with the king and he “keeps” her for many years, most of which were difficult years of his rein.

I loved the story and how it was about a common woman who was strong enough to fight against the difficult position that women in this era were forced.  It was a story of a strong woman who was seemed to be a generally “good” person trying hard instead of  some spoiled nobility trying to better her family’s position.  As you can tell, I love Nell, even with all her faults.

Again, Ms. Scott provides information about the history of the time period.  I like to read about the history within the structure of a story as it adds something without being boring.  I also enjoyed how “the royal harlot” made an appearance in this novel, too.  When viewed from Nell’s eyes and not her own, I got a whole different picture of Lady Castlemaine.

Ms. Scott is a must-read author for me now.  I can’t wait until her next book, The French Mistress, comes out in July.  This one will be about another of King Charles II’s mistresses, Duchess of Portsmouth.  This duchess did make several appearances in The King’s Favorite and I can’t wait to see the world through her eyes!

 

Sorry for the delay….

AND THE WINNER IS….

 

Hi everyone,  I’m so sorry.  I was supposed to declare the winner of Best Intentions by Emily Listfield over the weekend and I just plumb forgot.  I’ve been so busy with work, the end-of-year kid stuff, living life and I’ve been  stressed out.  But, without further ado, the winner is……..

 

 

 

 

 

Serena

at

Savvy Verse and Wit

 

If you haven’t checked out Serena’s blog (which I’m sure you have), it’s great!  

 

I’m off to catch up on my work.  I’ve missed reading your blogs and I hope to be back soon.  I do have two reviews to write on two really good books.  Plus, I’ll be at BEA at the end of the month, so I’ll have a lot to blog about.

 

 

 

Chick-Lit Mystery

While perusing the library stacks for any Charlaine Harris books, I ran across a title that caught my eye:

Death by Chick Lit

by Lynn Harris

I thought to myself, that sounds like fun!  And, it was.  It was a typical chick lit story with the added bonus of a mystery.  The main character, Lola, is a budding novelist trying to hit it big.  She has one novel out, which did just okay,  and has writer’s block when it comes to a second novel.  While at a friend’s book party, Lola comes across the friend’s dead body.  Soon, other chick lit authors are turning up dead.  Lola decides this is her chance for her next novel.  She’ll solve the mystery and turn it into a new book.  Entertwined in the mystery is the typical themes of friendship, betrayal, trying to find oneself. 

The characters in this book were nothing too special.  Lola, like many women in these chick lit novels, was a little over the top.  Why do these chick lit authors do this?  I’d like to see more light stories with a strong woman rather than these silly women.   Lola’s husband was a little too good to be true; you had to love him.  Her best friend was somewhat forgettable.

Having expected these kinds of characters, it turned out to be a fun book.  The mystery added something a little fun and  the author did a pretty good job with it.  There were some twists and turns.  She threw in some possibilities and some rogue characters to consider.  I thought the conclusion of the mystery was well done. 

As for the conclusion of the other parts of the book, again, predictible.  It always amazes me how these crazy women do such a 180 before the book is over.  If only change was so easy!!

All in all, I thought this was a fun novel.  A good one for the upcoming summer reading season.

New Emily Listfield Novel — Review & Contest

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of, Best Intentions, Emily Listfield’s new novel, released May 5.  I wasn’t familiar with Emily Listfield before receiving this book, but I have to say I’ll be checking out more of her novels after this one!  I thought this book was really well done.  As described by the publisher:

Best Intentions tells the story of four college friends whose reunion stirs old desires and grudges
with fatal results. In just twenty-four hours, everything Lisa Barkley had  been certain
of—job, husband, best friend, “the intrinsic netting of my life”—is suddenly  flimsy, insubstantial. Everything she had taken for granted “now  seems up for grabs.”

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter.  I’m not even sure why; I think it was the writing.  I just felt very connected to the book right from the start.  I love when that happens!  I was interested in the main character’s life immediately and couldn’t wait to see what happened.  The story is told in first person from Lisa Barkley’s views.  Using this method, the author really let us see (and feel) the struggling of this character.  I really enjoyed hearing Lisa’s thoughts and how she was perceiving events and actions around her.  It really added to the story.

As a mother and wife, I could definitely relate to the main character.  She struggles trying to be a good mom and wife, sometimes has doubts (although I have to say my doubts about my marriage have never reached the level hers have), worrying about money and fitting in with your children’s friend’s parents.  Some of the most relatable parts of the book, for me, was Lisa’s interactions at her daughters’ school.  Very well done!

There is a mystery component to this novel.  However, I was more interested in the relationships.  The mystery was fine.  The author was successful in throwing out possible solutions and giving some twists.  However, I didn’t think the mystery was the best part of the book.  I didn’t find myself trying to figure it out.  I was too busy thinking about the characters and how things would work out between them.

I truly recommend this book.  If you really enjoy character books and also like mysteries, this one is definitely for you! 

 There is more to find out about this book at Who Killed Deidre?

And, now for the contest.  I have a hardcover of this new novel to share.  Just leave me a comment with your email to enter.  If you link to the contest from your blog and let me know in the comments, I’ll add another entry.  The contest is open until May 15.  I’ll announce the winner on May 16.  Good luck!!

The Vampire Diaries Series

When I first returned to blogging, I mentioned that I had started reading The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith.   This is a young adult series about a small town that has a lot of psychic power and it attracts all kinds of supernatural creatures.  Vampire Diaries:  The Return: Nightfall is the latest in this series of books.

As I mentioned before, I’m not sure if I would recommend this series to anyone.  But nevertheless, I am hooked on it.  I am a sucker for a series, especially a young adult one.  I”m not sure why a 34-year-old mother of two little ones would get hooked on these type of novels, especially when this one isn’t the greatest.    I think part of the allure is the intense romance between the teens that always sucks me in.  It’s fun to read and remember the strong emotions of that time in my life.  And, looking back as an adult, it’s not nearly as painful.  I can appreciate it on a different level now.

This book is quite different than the Twilight series and it is not nearly as good.  I don’t like the main character in this one as much as I like Bella.  In fact, I don’t like most of these characters as much.  But, there is more of a variety of them which keeps the story interesting.  We have werewolves, witches, vampires, etc.  And, of course, the “bad-boy.”  I think Damon is the most interesting character in the story with, at least, some complexity. 

This latest novel is the continuation of the last books.  There’s new evil to fight and relationships continue to be tested.  This story actually gets kind of confusing and I didn’t always understand what was happening.  It was a little convoluted even for a “fantasy” type story. 

But, the author did leave us hanging at the end, promising a next one…..And, of course, I’ll read it!