Spring For Susannah by Catherine Richmond

From the author's website... "When Susannah goes to Dakota territory as a mail-order bride she finds something she never dreamed she would—true love.
With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Underhill agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister’s homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn’t see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.
In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn’t look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father’s veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse’s ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.
But Susannah’s feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can’t believe that Jesse’s praise—or the tenderness and love he shows—could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie."

As an avid reader, I am frequently asked if I ever want to write. My answer is always "No". I enjoy the art of reading more then the art of writing. That said, though, I would definitely write if I could write a (debut, no less!) novel like Ms. Richmond has written with Spring for Susannah. She has taken a story that could be very trite and predictable and crafted a story that surprised me. While it is a "Christian" romance, it read more like a historical fiction novel.

Ms. Richmond has written characters that I have thought about even after I finished reading. The relationship between Susannah and Jesse was what made the story but their relationships with the secondary characters made the story fill out.

I am always struck by the amount of faith people of that time had. I cannot imagine leaving everything I know behind to live in what, at that time, was, essentially, wilderness to marry a man I did not know. Yes, this is fiction but it is based on the countless stories of women who did just that. I loved the strength that Susannah found... not only through Jake's love but through herself and her actions.

~~Thanks to the author and Amy at Litfuse for a preview copy in exchange for this review.~~

Queen By Right Review and GIVEAWAY!

From Anne Easter Smith's website... "In Cecily Neville, duchess of York and ancestor of every English monarch to the present day, Anne has found her most engrossing character yet. Cecily earned two monikers from her contemporaries: Rose of Raby for her fair-haired beauty and Proud Cis for her fierce loyalty and courage in the face of the many history-making events she experienced in her eighty years. This was a woman who could have been queen had her husband lived to win the day over Henry VI and his queen, Margaret of Anjou, in the winter of 1461.
History remembers Cecily of York standing on the steps of Ludlow Castle, facing an attacking army while holding the hands of her two young sons. Queen by Right reveals how she came to step into her destiny, beginning with her marriage to Richard, Duke of York who she meets when she is nine and he is thirteen. Raised together in her father’s household, they become a true love match, and together they face personal tragedies, pivotal events of history, and deadly political intrigue.
All of England knows that Richard has a clear claim to the throne, and when King Henry VI becomes unfit to rule, Cecily must put aside her own hopes and fears and help her husband decide what is right for their family and the kingdom. As civil war escalates between the cousins of Lancaster and York, Cecily will lose her love, her favorite brother and her dearest child. But in the end, she will watch proudly as her oldest son takes his father’s place at the head of a victorious army and is crowned at Westminster Abbey as King Edward IV."

My thoughts... I am always a little surprised at how little of the English Monarchy I know about. So, I love to read well-written fiction that not only gives me a great story but teaches a bit in the process. Anne Easter Smith has delivered with Queen By Right! Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, is someone I had only heard about as a peripheral character in other novels. She is the mother of two kings and an ancestor to the British Royal Family that captures our attention even today.

I was pleasantly surprised to read the first page and see the setting... Baynard's Castle February 8, 1461". Why is that so surprising? Well, February 8th is my birthday! So, I knew that I would have a "kinship" with Cecily... which by the way is such a great name!

Having never read a novel by Ms. Smith, I have to say that her writing style is perfect for a historical novel. She adds the perfect amount of research so that I'm not completely lost. I love dialogue in novels but found that I actually enjoyed the narrative passages more in this novel. Ms. Smith writes so eloquently and uses dialogue to enhance the story. I honestly think she could write nonfiction that is interesting and "fall asleep" boring. I also enjoyed how she used flashbacks to show Cecily's thoughts about events in her life. I honestly think she could write nonfiction that is interesting and "fall asleep" boring.

Like I said, I don't know that much about her so having the maps, the family tree and the Dramatis Personae (cast of characters) and glossary to refer to was so helpful. This is why I will never give up "real" books. It's just easier to flip to the front (or back) as opposed to trying to navigate on an ereader. Ms. Smith wrote not an interesting Author's Note but there is included a book club guide and an interview. These are really helpful tools that increased my enjoyment of this novel.

** Thanks to Anne Easter Smith, the publisher and Amy from Historical Fiction Book Tours for providing Queen By Right, in exchange for my honest and thoughtful review.


***GIVEAWAY***

Anne Easter Smith has graciously offered a copy of Queen By Right to a reader of Bags, Books & Bon Jovi.

I'm keeping this simple... just leave comment about this novel or Ms. Smith's guest post and you'll be entered to receive this book. You can also enter Tuesday when I post my review... you'll just need to comment on my review or tell me what other Queen By Right blog review you read. So... maximum... two entries!

The contest (open to US readers only) will start when this post is published and I will choose a winner at 11:59pm Tuesday June 21, 2011.

Queen By Right ~~ Anne Easter Smith~~

I am excited to be part of Anne Easter Smith's virtual book tour for her latest historical novel, Queen By Right. You can find other reviews as well as Anne Easter Smith's guest posts here... http://hfvirtualbooktours.blogspot.com/2011/05/virtual-book-tour-for-queen-by-right-by.html

Please come back tomorrow as I will be posting my review of Queen By Right.

From her website... "In Cecily Neville, duchess of York and ancestor of every English monarch to the present day, Anne has found her most engrossing character yet. Cecily earned two monikers from her contemporaries: Rose of Raby for her fair-haired beauty and Proud Cis for her fierce loyalty and courage in the face of the many history-making events she experienced in her eighty years. This was a woman who could have been queen had her husband lived to win the day over Henry VI and his queen, Margaret of Anjou, in the winter of 1461.
History remembers Cecily of York standing on the steps of Ludlow Castle, facing an attacking army while holding the hands of her two young sons. Queen by Right reveals how she came to step into her destiny, beginning with her marriage to Richard, Duke of York who she meets when she is nine and he is thirteen. Raised together in her father’s household, they become a true love match, and together they face personal tragedies, pivotal events of history, and deadly political intrigue.
All of England knows that Richard has a clear claim to the throne, and when King Henry VI becomes unfit to rule, Cecily must put aside her own hopes and fears and help her husband decide what is right for their family and the kingdom. As civil war escalates between the cousins of Lancaster and York, Cecily will lose her love, her favorite brother and her dearest child. But in the end, she will watch proudly as her oldest son takes his father’s place at the head of a victorious army and is crowned at Westminster Abbey as King Edward IV."

I would like to welcome her and thank her for giving us a little more insight into this interesting woman and the times she lived in.


Thank you Kathy, for hosting me here at Bags, Books & Bon Jovi. – Anne Easter Smith


Medieval ideas of love and marriage: A Guest Post by Anne Easter Smith

Cecily Neville and Richard, duke of York, are said to have had one of history’s few real love matches in an arranged marriage. This probably came about because they were together at Cecily’s father’s castle of Raby from an early age. Richard was orphaned when he was only four, and after being put in the care of Sir Robert Waterton for several years, his wardship was eventually purchased by Ralph Neville, earl of Westmorland. And so Richard would have met and been under the same roof as Cecily when he was twelve and she was eight. It was not long afterward that Ralph wisely betrothed his youngest daughter to the young duke. Richard Plantagenet had a strong claim to the throne (but that’s another story!), so when he married Cecily she became the highest ranking of all the Neville clan.

When Ralph died in 1426, he willed the wardship to his wife, Joan, who was then placed in the king’s household with Cecily and Richard until Richard took his place at court, probably when he was 17. In Queen By Right I have the couple married before November 1429 when we know Richard received a Papal indulgence to have a portable altar and a confessor “for the duke of York and his duchess” (so we know they were married by then).

You might ask why it was unusual for theirs to be a love match? As lovers of historical fiction, I’m sure you know that most marriages from the gentry up to the royals were those of political and economical expedience. Many contracts were arranged between families when their offspring were only a few years old. But these young people might live at opposite ends of the country from each other and never meet until the legal age for marriage arrived: 12 for girls and 14 for boys. Sometimes--in the case of King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou--one or other had someone stand proxy for them and you might be married before you even saw your husband! Imagine dreaming about your knight in shining armor or your Guinevere and being forced to live the rest of your days with Eygor from Frankenstein or Cruella Deville. Yes, a familiar love grew between couples in many cases, but it was hardly what we know today as conjugal bliss! Romantic love was most definitely missing for these very often mismatched pairs; can you blame them for looking for it elsewhere?

And so early in the medieval period, the troubadours began to sing about love and romance, which quickly spread to literature and pretty soon, anyone born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth were caught up in what we would probably call affairs today. We now refer to this idealized version of romance as “courtly love.” We would laugh at it now as it was highly exaggerated and artificial; we would also deem it highly dangerous as it’s most exciting aspect was secrecy. When a knight or lord fancied a lady, he was supposed to let her know by sending her secret gifts, singing her songs or penning poems. The lady on the other hand was supposed to only afford her pining lover a mere nod of approval and hint at affection. The relationship was more of a mistress dominating her servant, and the men apparently went for it.

Did they go all the way? You betcha! In fact medieval intellectuals believed that romantic love had to be adulterous because everyone knew that marriage was just for begetting children, thus real love was precious and lovers should be allowed to carry on in secret. Andrew the Chaplain, a medieval clergyman, wrote: “Love rarely survives when it becomes common knowledge.” And Heloise (the lover of Abelard) is said to have stated: “The love freely given matters. The name of ‘wife’ may seem more sacred or more worthy, but sweetest to me will always be the words ‘lover, concubine or whore.’” Quite controversial for even our time, wouldn’t you say!

Back to Cecily and Richard. Compared with many of their rank in the 15th century, there is no evidence of Richard ever having a mistress--or a bastard that has surfaced in this age of genealogy fascination--and Cecily faithfully followed her husband around the country or to France or to Ireland or wherever his career took him dragging her children with her. When Richard returned from 10-months exile in Ireland and the king had tried to stop his progress from the North Wales coast to London, the first person he sent for was Cecily, who raced up to meet him at Worcester, to where he’d pushed his way down, gathering men as he went. It was one of the few times she went to him without her children. I am sure it wasn't to talk about the weather or how little George and Richard were, I think they were hungry to wrap their arms about each other.

For more information please visit Anne Easter Smith's WEBSITE and FACEBOOK PAGE.


***GIVEAWAY***

Anne Easter Smith has graciously offered a copy of Queen By Right to a reader of Bags, Books & Bon Jovi.

I'm keeping this simple... just leave comment about this novel or Ms. Smith's guest post and you'll be entered to receive this book. You can also enter Tuesday when I post my review... you'll just need to comment on my review or tell me what other Queen By Right blog review you read. So... maximum... two entries!

The contest (open to US readers only) will start when this post is published and I will choose a winner at 11:59pm Tuesday June 21, 2011.

Lady of Bolton Hall by Elizabeth Camden

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Lady of Bolton Hill Bethany House (June 1, 2011) by Elizabeth Camden


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

A word from Elizabeth: I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.

As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing London's poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as ever. However, Daniel's success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara's deeply-held beliefs about God's grace force Daniel to confront his own motives. When Clara's very life is endangered by one of Daniel's adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen.

When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain's worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.

But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts, and lives, hang in the balance?

If you would like to read the first chapter ofThe Lady of Bolton Hill, go HERE.
To purchase The Lady of Bolton Hall, please click here...http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764208942

I am definitely loving novels set in The Gilded Age. And this book, the Lady of Bolton Hall, is no exception. Setting alone, though, cannot carry a story. No worries here... this is such a well-written novel. I found the dialogue especially good and, unlike a lot of novels where dialogue is almost a "filler", Ms. Camden really took care to use it to move the story forward as well using it to define the characters.

I've been reading on some "romance" forums the debate of epilogues... do we love them or should the story end when it ends? Well. I'm definitely on the "love them" side of that debate. And the epilogue of The Lady of Bolton Hall is the cherry on a great ice cream sundae. Why that particular analogy? Because there's some Häagen-Dazs ice cream in my new freezer! Anyway, the epilogue just closes the book on such a great note. I love to how the characters have changed and are living their "happily ever after".

~~Thanks to Bonnie at CFBA and the publisher for sending me a copy of The Lady of Bolton Hall in exchange for my review.~~

Meet Me on Sunday... I Mean Monday!

From Java's blog... "Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!
Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post four get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!
Java will add a linky so we can follow who participates and get to know them better!! Be sure to link the POST and not just your whole blog!!
I have decided to change the meme to four questions each week.

Questions:

1. What is was the last piece of candy that you ate?

Right before I started reading Java's blog, I ate a mint. My favorite, too :D

2. Do you "read" in the bathroom?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
I have never, ever understood this concept. Really... you cannot find anywhere in your entire home that's more comfortable to read? Besides taking a relaxing bubble bath or shower, the bathroom is a very utilitarian room... do what you need to do, wash your hands and get out.

3. I can't stand when someone _________?
... has not mastered the concept of "common courtesy". Saying "please" and "thank you" is truly not a difficult thing. Thank you :D

4. Do you do daily, weekly or monthly grocery shopping?
For whatever reasons, my husband has been doing the grocery shopping for about the past year. He goes, generally, about once a week with our daughter. I love not going!

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment so I can check out your answers!

First Line Friday

I began First Line Friday because first lines have always intrigued me since I heard an author say that writing the first sentence is, by far, the most difficult part of writing a novel. The reasoning was that a first sentence can make the reader continue reading or cause the book to be tossed aside. So, go to your To Be Read Pile, choose as many books as you want and share the first line. Be sure to include the title and author so that if your reader also finds it intriguing, they can find the book. Also, share your thoughts about the first line. Does it draw you in? Is it...exciting...thought provoking...scary...funny? Join in, if you enjoy first lines as much as I do! Be sure to use my great First Line Friday graphic and leave me a comment so I can read your blog! I'm not the only one with a meme celebrating first lines... Becky at Page Turners at http://pageturnersbooks.blogspot.com/ hosts Book Beginnings... check her blog, too.



"Even before it all went bad, she had the feeling it was going to be a rotten day."
The Death Artist
Jonathan Santlofer

This is about as good as a first line can be! Granted, it's a novel of suspense and I know it's going to go bad but to read it in the first line...genius! I just hope the rest of this novel is as well written.

I know this is First Line Friday but I have to talk about this amazing cover! It's beautiful and kind of scary all at once. This book is set in the art world with murders that mimic famous works of art. I'm very intrigued.

I bought this book today at the Friends of the Library book sale. M and I braved the first day crowds and found some great books. As I was looking through the tables, I overheard a woman say to her friend that she would scream with joy if she found the book in hardback. So, I asked her what book. She told me The Stand by Stephen King. I told her I'd look. And, seriously... not five minutes later... I found a withdrawn library copy in a box under the table. I handed it her and, while she didn't scream with joy, she was very happy.

Sunday is $5 a bag day and we'll go back and get enough books to read over the summer... even though I think we're still reading some of the books we bought last year :D