Thwarted Queen by Cynthia Sally Haggard

From Amazon... "THWARTED QUEEN is a portrait of a woman trapped by power, a marriage undone by betrayal, and a King brought down by fear.
Cecylee is the apple of her mother’s eye. The seventh daughter, she is the only one left unmarried by 1424, the year she turns nine. In her father’s eyes, however, she is merely a valuable pawn in the game of marriage. The Earl of Westmorland plans to marry his youngest daughter to 13-year-old Richard, Duke of York, who is close to the throne. He wants this splendid match to take place so badly, he locks his daughter up.
The event that fuels the narrative is Cecylee’s encounter with Blaybourne, a handsome archer, when she is twenty-six years old. This love affair produces a child (the “One Seed” of Book II), who becomes King Edward IV. But how does a public figure like Cecylee, whose position depends upon the goodwill of her husband, carry off such an affair? The duke could have locked her up, or disposed of this illegitimate son.
But Richard does neither, keeping her firmly by his side as he tries to make his voice heard in the tumultuous years that encompass the end of the Hundred Years War - during which England loses all of her possessions in France - and the opening phase of the Wars of the Roses. He inherits the political mantle of his mentor Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, and become’s the people’s champion. The rambunctious Londoners are unhappy that their country has become mired in misrule due to the ineptitude of a King prone to fits of madness. Nor are they better pleased by the attempts of the King’s French wife to maneuver herself into power, especially as she was responsible for England’s losses in France. But can Richard and Cecylee prevail? Everywhere, their enemies lurk in the shadows.
This book is filled with many voices, not least those of the Londoners, who forged their political destiny by engaging in public debate with the powerful aristocrats of the time. By their courageous acts, these fifteenth-century Londoners set the stage for American Democracy."

I think I grew up thinking that "royal" women were either trophy wives or "doormats" who did as was expected of them. It is so rewarding to read Thwarted Queen and realize that most royal women were neither. They were strong, competent women who crafted history... a fact which I learn more about all the time.

I am familiar with Cecylee's story but Ms. Haggard has delved into it in a new way. She writes the story of Cecylee Neville with a fluidity that allows the story to just flow. I found myself eager to read on, even though I knew, in a general sense, what was going to happen. I have never wanted to be a writer but, sometimes, when I read such a well-written novel, I kind of wish I had a story like that, bubbling in me. Since I don't... I settle back and read Thwarted Queen and, literally... enjoy every word.

I think it would be easy to write a book about the English Monarchy and not include the voices of the people at that time. Thwarted Queen encompasses a lot of what made that time period so interesting to me that I find myself drawn to it. It's easy to read about about the beautiful jewels, the stunning dresses and the "affaires de coeur". But to read all that within the context of the societal unrest adds a depth to the story... making it more historical than fiction.

Thwarted Queen by Cynthia Sally Haggard is an intimate look at a woman who was the mother of two Kings. History may regard that as her "crowning" achievement... yes, I say that a little "tongue in cheek" but I have come to see Cecylee Neville as so much more. She may hold a place in history but I will always think of her in those moments that Ms. Haggard so eloquently wrote.

I thank the author of Thwarted Queen, Cynthia Sally Haggard, for a copy of her debut novel in exchange for my review.

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

Please see Tamera Alexander's website for information about A Lasting Impression including an excerpt and information about her Facebook party and awesome giveaways!

I have always been intrigued with Civil War novels as well as the rebuilding efforts after the war. Throw in art forgery and I'm hooked! This novel has all of that and a love story that, while I knew it would end happily, kept me guessing at times.

I have read several Tamera Alexander novels and have decided that while she is a fabulous all-around author, in my opinion, she excels at creating characters that leave "A Lasting Impression"... lol! There are characters from her novels that I think about from time to time. What a talent to be able to do that... and Claire and Sutton are characters that, I know, will stay with me. Because A Lasting Impression is the first in a series, I hope that I will meet them again in the next novel. I LOVE when I'm reading a series and characters "jump around" in them... that's how life is so, it makes sense that that's how series novels should be!

I have not visited Nashville... other than a quick stop in front of the old Ryman Theater (home of the original Grand Ole Opry) on our way to Charleston, SC... so the settings and descriptions of the beautiful mansions made the perfect backdrop for this story that drew in some many elements.

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse for a copy of A Lasting Impression in exchange for my review.

Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson

From the publisher...Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow but what she finds is an empty mansion 150 years old. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories?
When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, Camden wonders what really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town--and her life--forever.

COMING SOON... Thwarted Queen by Cynthia Sally Haggard

Coming soon to Bags, Books & Bon Jovi... a review of Thwarted Queen by Cynthia Sally Haggard. Please check out her website... http://spunstories.com... on November 3, 2011 for a special announcement!"

In the mean time, though... here's a little sample to whet (I always think that looks incorrect... but it's not... I googled it.) your appetite...

From Amazon... THWARTED QUEEN is a portrait of a woman trapped by power, a marriage undone by betrayal, and a King brought down by fear.
Cecylee is the apple of her mother’s eye. The seventh daughter, she is the only one left unmarried by 1424, the year she turns nine. In her father’s eyes, however, she is merely a valuable pawn in the game of marriage. The Earl of Westmorland plans to marry his youngest daughter to 13-year-old Richard, Duke of York, who is close to the throne. He wants this splendid match to take place so badly, he locks his daughter up.
The event that fuels the narrative is Cecylee’s encounter with Blaybourne, a handsome archer, when she is twenty-six years old. This love affair produces a child (the “One Seed” of Book II), who becomes King Edward IV. But how does a public figure like Cecylee, whose position depends upon the goodwill of her husband, carry off such an affair? The duke could have locked her up, or disposed of this illegitimate son.
But Richard does neither, keeping her firmly by his side as he tries to make his voice heard in the tumultuous years that encompass the end of the Hundred Years War - during which England loses all of her possessions in France - and the opening phase of the Wars of the Roses. He inherits the political mantle of his mentor Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, and become’s the people’s champion. The rambunctious Londoners are unhappy that their country has become mired in misrule due to the ineptitude of a King prone to fits of madness. Nor are they better pleased by the attempts of the King’s French wife to maneuver herself into power, especially as she was responsible for England’s losses in France. But can Richard and Cecylee prevail? Everywhere, their enemies lurk in the shadows.
This book is filled with many voices, not least those of the Londoners, who forged their political destiny by engaging in public debate with the powerful aristocrats of the time. By their courageous acts, these fifteenth-century Londoners set the stage for American Democracy.

And just because I am so very fond of first lines... I'm leaving you with the first line of Thwarted Queen by Cynthia Sally Haggard...

"Today they tell me I must behave."

I cannot wait to dive into this novel and I'll have plenty of time, too... I'm heading to Deutschland for about two weeks... auf Wiedersehen!

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

From the author's website.."When Eva’s filmstar sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Trelowarth, Cornwall , where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina’s ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs.
But Eva must also confront the ghosts from her own past, as well as those from a time long before her own. For the house where she so often stayed as a child is home not only to her old friends the Halletts, but also to the people who had lived there in the eighteenth century. When Eva finally accepts that she is able to slip between centuries and see and talk to the inhabitants from hundreds of years ago, she soon finds herself falling for Daniel Butler, a man who lived – and died – long before she herself was born.
Eva begins to question her place in the present, and in laying her sister to rest, comes to realise that she too must decide where she really belongs, choosing between the life she knows and the past she feels so drawn towards."

Susanna Kearsley is a new-to-me author. All I can think is what took me so long to discover her?!? The good news, though, is that there are several Susanna Kearsley for me to discover...yay!

The Rose Garden is so well-written that I now understand why a lot of book bloggers were so enthusiastic about The Winter Sea. It is always such a great feeling to read the work of an author who really cares. Ms. Kearsley's story has some of my favorite elements... romance, an English setting and strong characters and even a "gothic" feel. I loved it all... including the time travel aspect. Even though Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is one of my favorites series, I am a little leery of time travel romances. If they are written poorly, it is a bad, bad thing! But, much to my delight, The Rose Garden is a very good, good thing! That part of the book is just as integral to the plot as anything else and I could tell the author took great care to write it. As a discerning reader, I so appreciate that.

~Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of this wonderful novel in exchange for my review.~

Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls by Karl Friedrich... GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

From TLC Book tours... Sally Ketchum comes from dirt-poor farm folk. She has little chance of bettering her life until a mysterious barnstormer named Tex teaches her to fly—and becomes the first person worthy of her love. But Tex dies in a freak accident, leaving Sally to make her own way in the world. She enrolls in the U.S. military’s Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, and in a special school located in West Texas begins learning to fly the biggest, fastest, meanest airplanes the military has to offer. She also reluctantly becomes involved with Beau Bayard, a flight instructor and aspiring writer, who seems to offer her everything she could want. But many people see no place for a “skirt” in the cockpit, and Sally soon finds herself pitted against a high-powered Washington lawyer who wants to disband the WASP once and for all. Their battle is a story of extraordinary women who broke society’s rules and became heroes, and of men who stood in their way.


Karl Friedrich was born and grew up in Tyler, Texas. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine and public relations writer, advertising copywriter, and photographer. A lifelong aviation fan, he got his first ride in an airplane at the age of five (“If I’d been six, I’d have had the sense to stay on the ground, as the thing was held together with rust and bailing wire,” he recalls.)
Karl’s friends who fly commercial, military or private aircraft, and his lifelong fascination with women who achieve great accomplishment despite the displeasure of men, provided the inspiration and impetus for Wings.
Karl and his wife live in Washington State.

You know Renee Zellwegger quote from Jerry McGuire... "You had me at Hello"? Well, this novel had me at the first chapter!


I wanted to read this novel for a few reasons. The two main reasons being that I knew little about the Flygirls of World War II and I am always intrigued when male authors write female protagonists. Look at this picture and tell me these girls aren't just a little bad @$$ but their hair still looks pretty darn good! They SO ROCK!!

The author uses historical fact and detail to weave a story that drew me in and taught me about the women who helped win WWII with little or no accolades. They were brash and sassy but also patriotic and determined to help our country in a great time of need.

The story is, obviously, set before my time but I related so much to these women and their wanting to become more than what society thought possible. It was these women, I believe, who knew that their place was where they were needed... even if that was the cockpit of a plane and not the kitchen. It was also these women who set in motion the road that so many modern women follow. They stepped out of what they were "supposed" to do and did what they loved and at which they excelled. As a mother of a teenage daughter, I am instilling that into her so that she knows there are no boundaries to what she wants to do... just as Sally and her Flygirls!

~~Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours... http://tlcbooktours.com... for sending a copy of Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls by Karl Friedrich in exchange for this review.

~~~GIVEAWAY~~~

Lisa has also offered one copy of this wonderful novel as a giveaway to one of my readers! Just comment on this review and you'll be entered. But...be advised! This is a limited time only giveaway (as I'm getting ready to a flygirl, too! No, no... really I am! Okay, I'm not flying the airplane but I'll be flying IN the airplane...lol! The giveaway is open until Sunday 10-23-11 at midnight. I'll choose a winner on Monday! Good luck!

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Love on the Line Bethany House (October 1, 2011) by Deeanne Gist


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm--all from the comforts of home.

Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.

After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a "corporate executive" was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.

Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, three RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.

Her latest releases, Beguiled, Maid To Match, and Love on the Line are now available.

Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-eight years and their border collie. They have four grown children. Click here to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.


Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He's a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do.  But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Love on the Line, go HERE.

I just love sweet, simple (and I truly mean this in the best possible way) romance novels. They are my "comfort" reads. I know exactly what to expect and thoroughly enjoy every page.

Deeanne Gist has created, at least in my opinion, the perfect niche in comfort reads. I have read several and always turn the last page with a smile on my face. She combines interesting plot lines with characters who are fully developed and puts them situations that are not so far-fetched and don't require a huge suspension of disbelief.

~Thanks to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for sending a copy of this novel. Please check out the website... http://christianfictionblogalliance.com/... for more tour stops.

First Line Friday... It's Back!!

FIRST LINE FRIDAY...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?

"On the 24th of February, 1815, the look-out at Notre-Dame de la Garde signalled the three-master, the Pharaon from Smyrna, Trieste, and Naples."

The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre Dumas, Pere


I chose this novel because it's been in "my orbit" lately. Not only is it a classic that I have not read in since high school... it is the basis for one of my new favorite shows... Revenge! have you seen this show? It's so good and it just keeps getting better every week! It has also been picked up for a full season!

It's, obviously, about revenge and all that implies. There have been several references to The Count of Monte Cristo so I thought I'd read this classic novel after so many years... okay... decades! Because it's in "public domain", I downloaded it free on Project Gutenberg... and put it on my ereader. I'm looking forward to seeing what similarities there are between a centuries-old tale featuring as man imprisoned for something he did not do and a modern woman seeking revenge against the people who ruined her father. However, as Confucius says... "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

GIVEAWAY~India Black & The Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr~ GIVEAWAY!!!

Again, I'd like to thank Carol Carr for stopping by Bags, Books & Bon Jovi yesterday. She gave us an author's view of book blogs and how we are really becoming a voice in the way books are marketed.

But back to Black...lol... India Black and The Widow of Windsor, that is! As much as I loved the first book and I really did, I think I enjoyed this second book even more. It's difficult to put this series into one genre... it encompasses so many but I've come to think of them as "capers"... which is just a fun word to thrown around!

Reading this second installment, it's apparent that my favorite thing is just India's voice. She is irreverent and, basically, has no filter... if she's thinking it, she says it. I also love that she talks to me. Yes, I know she's a fictional character but she "breaks the fourth wall" (is that just a theatrical term or is it also a literary term?). There are times, usually in the midst of a rather sticky situation, that she directly addresses the reader. I LOVE this! It's not in every novel, let alone first person narrative where this would work. If it's not written well, it would completely take me out of the story. The way Carol Carr has written India talking to me just makes it feel like I'm along for the ride.

One thing that struck me, as I enjoyed this second "romp" (yes, that can be a corny word but it truly fits this great, great series!) was how the chapters ended. While not giving anything away... I don't like reading reviews that include spoilers... I realized that the last sentence of each was, more often than not, just so clever and made me want to immediately start the next chapter. I appreciate Ms. Carr's writing style as she keeps me reading well past my self-imposed stopping point. It's because of such wonderful writing that I read India Black and The Widow of Windsor in just a few days.

To read about Queen Victoria and The Royals, from a madam/spy's perspective gives a whole new appreciation to the phrase historical "fiction". India's observations are "spot on" (I wish I was cool enough to use that phrase in my day to day life... sadly, I'm not as cool as India and I sound silly if I try) and sometimes make me re-think what I know about the English monarchy. I know there is definitely artistic license involved but I can tell Ms. Carr has also taken great care to accurately portray (within the parameters of fiction, of course) all things Royal.

I have it on great authority that, indeed, the third India Black adventure is, as we speak, being written. Well, maybe not, as we speak, because it's early and I hope Carol is enjoying the day after her book's release :D Who knows where India and her, ahem, associates... yes, I guess we can call them associates... will lead us next. I know I will join them and I hope you will, too. If you don't... well, you "can go to the devil. It's all the same to me"... hmmm... where have I heard those words before?!?

~Thanks to Carol K. Carr for sending me a copy of India Black and The Widow of Windsor in exchange for my fair and thoughtful review~

But wait... there's more! Ms. Carr and the publisher of India Black and The Widow of Windsor have allowed me to give away a copy of this wonderful caper! You can enter by commenting on either this review or Carol's guest post(yesterday)... that's right you can have two entries! I will choose a winner on Thursday October 13th.

India Black & The Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr~ Guest Post

From the author's website... "Black is back— Her Majesty’s favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure. When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects that Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen—and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands. French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests—and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty’s last Christmas..."

Today is the publication date for the much-anticipated, India Black & The Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr. It is the second book in in The Madam of Espionage series. India Black is a fresh voice in the mystery (although, really... it is SO much more) genre and with her motley crew of "associates", this series has quickly become one of my favorites! Hopefully, the third installment is "in the pipeline". Congratulations, Carol on this great series!

Carol has, graciously, stopped by Bags, Books & Bon Jovi to offer her thoughts, as an author, on the "phenomenom" that we hold so dear... book blogs! Welcome, Carol...
"Thanks for inviting me to your blog, Kathy. It's bloggers like you who have made a significant contribution to making my first novel, "India Black," a national bestseller. Given how kind the book blogging community has been to me, I thought I'd share a few thoughts about the internet, bloggers, and publicity.

By the time I signed a publishing contract, I had read enough about the industry to know that as a new author I wouldn't receive much assistance in promoting the book. The book tours would be reserved for the people who were already gracing the New York Times bestseller list and had sold hundreds of thousands of copies of previous books. Publicists will send your books to all the institutional reviewers (Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus, and the like) and may have accumulated a list of bloggers who have reviewed similar books in the past. They'll send the books to these folks as well. That pretty well constitutes the publisher's commitment to promotion for a first time author.

This is not a complaint about the industry or my publisher. It's just the way things are in the publishing world. As an author, you're going to have to devote time to publicizing your work. And here is where we offer a sacrifice to the gods of commerce and thank them for the internet in general and the book blogging community in particular.

I spent months before the publication of my first book reading book blogs and deciding who I would contact directly about reviewing "India Black." My criteria for choosing bloggers was fairly simple: I looked for people who read a variety of genres (as India Black skates across several, including mystery, romance, thriller and the useful if somewhat ambiguous "caper novel"), who wrote thoughtful reviews and gave honest opinions, and who did so without getting personal or snarky. The blogging community is a generous group of people and I am grateful to those to accepted a copy of the book and wrote reviews. I was delighted to watch the word of mouth travel around the web.

Do publishers pay attention to bloggers? You bet they do. When I received the copy edited version of "The Widow of Windsor," I was surprised and pleased to see that along with the usual institutional reviewers, a couple of bloggers were quoted on the inside cover as well. I think that speaks volumes about the power and scope of the blogging world. Book reviews are no longer entrusted to a small, elite group. The individual reader now has the ability to express his or her opinion and actually influence how books are received by the public.

Do I pay attention to bloggers? You bet I do. I read all the reviews, whether they're good, bad, or indifferent. I don't mind if a review points out things I could have done better. How can you improve without someone pointing out your errors? And I look at reviews as free market research. Reader reaction to "India Black" indicated that people wanted to know more of India's backstory. I have duly drawn out an elaborate family history for her, to be revealed over the course of a few books.

In short, I owe a lot to the blogging community, and bloggers like Kathy. Literary criticism (not that I'm writing literature, mind you) is now a democratic exercise, open to the people who matter most - the readers themselves."

Thanks, Carol for your kind words. Best of luck with India Black and The Widow of Windsor.

I will be posting my review of it tomorrow. If you're new to this series... you are in for a treat! Here is my review of it... http://bagsbooksandbonjovi.blogspot.com/2011/02/india-black-madam-of-espionage-mystery.html
You can also head to Carol's website... http://carolkcarr.com/... and get acquainted with India Black. She's someone you definitely must get to know!

I'm Really Not Obsessed!

Really... I'm not! I just ADORE leopard print!

These are my leopard print bags and accessories. When I wear leopard, I adhere strictly to the "one piece per outfit" rule. In my handbag, however... well, honestly, it's a jungle in there! It makes me very happy to look in my handbag and see all the leopard print. Right now, I have the pink/purple cosmetic bag (it has lip glosses, pocket anti-bacs and my shopping bag) and the silver and black cosmetic bag actually has... you guessed it... cosmetics. The other pink case holds my reading glasses (really cute "nerd" glasses that I bought at the Dollar Store... can't beat that price!) and the wristlet holds my sunglasses. Although, I don't always carry the ereader cover, I am using the leopard wallet.

Yes, you counted correctly... there are seven leopard print handbags! Each goes with a different outfit and I have been known to decide what to wear based on which bag I want to carry. What better way to make a basic outfit "pop" than to carry an awesome leopard purse!

Since I had a stay-at-home day today, I didn't carry a bag but I am, definitely, carrying one of these fun handbags tomorrow. And when I look inside, it'll make me purr with happiness to see all my leopard print accessories!

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

From the author's website... "Two very different women are linked by destiny and the struggle for the English crown. Matilda, daughter of Henry I, returns to England when her husband, the Emperor of Germany, dies. Her father promises her that she will succeed him, but at the same time marginalises her by marrying her to Geoffrey, the adolescent count of Anjou, more than ten years her junior. Despite her nightmare second marriage, Matilda remains unbowed and when her father dies, she is determined to win back her crown from her cousin Stephen who has usurped it. Adeliza, Henry's widowed queen and Matilda's stepmother, has become a good friend. Having been widowed, she now now marries William D'Albini, one of Stephen’s staunchest supporters. Both Adeliza and Matilda are strong in their own way, and prepared to stand firm for what they know is right. But in a world where a man's word is law, how can Adeliza obey her husband while supporting Matilda, the rightful queen? And for Matilda pride comes before a fall ...What price for a crown? What does it cost to be 'Lady of the English'?"


One of the best things about book blogs is discovering new authors. A lot of bloggers were saying wonderful things about Elizabeth Chadwick's novels. I was lucky to find one of her older books as a free ebook and I was hooked.

The writing is actually so good that I've read passages out loud to whoever was nearby. No, I'm not some crazy lady in the park... I read to my family. I think you get an even greater appreciation for quality writing by hearing it out loud.

Ms. Chadwick has taken on a challenge, in my opinion, that can make or break an author... writing a fictional account of actual people. I have read enough historical fiction to know that, sometimes, I need to suspend my disbelief. Sometimes, though, I want to truly believe that what I'm reading is real. Lady of the English pulled me in with its descriptive narrative and dialogue that was true to the characters who spoke it.

~~Thanks to Sourcebooks for providing a copy of Lady of The English in exchange for my review.~~

The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels

From Sourcebooks... "The Duke of Somervale’s sister is getting married and the ton is summoned from far and wide to the Duke’s estate for the wedding. But as the wedding draws nearer wedding bells is the last thing on guest’s minds.
Lady Olivia Reyne is struggling to pay her overdue rent and feed her young daughter and she feels she has no choice but to become a mistress to ease her financial troubles.
Penelope Townsend was married to the Earl to save his family from financial troubles. As they prepare for the wedding their marriage goes from a marriage-of-inconvenience to a passionate union.
Kate Blakeley fell in love with Andrew when she was seventeen but he left to fulfill his desires. When Andrew returns for the wedding old love sparks but will he be able to admit his true status?"

I've been on a Regency "kick" with my last few books and I'm totally rediscovering a genre that I really, really like.

Leigh Michaels is a new-to-me author... which is rather surprising because (again from Sourcebooks)... "she is the author of nearly 100 books, including 80 contemporary romance novels and more than a dozen non-fiction books. Over 35 million copies of her romance novels have been published by Harlequin. A six time RITA finalist, she has also received two Reviewer's Choice awards from Romantic Times, and was the 2003 recipient of the Johnson Brigham Award." How have I missed someone who has such a following?

The "ton" (pronounced tawn) provides such wonderful background characters, plot devices and settings. It is within this very rigid framework that this fun romance develops. I appreciated the way the stories of three couples... Duke of Somervale & Lady Reyne, Kate & Andrew, and Penelope & Charles... are woven together.

It's a given that we, as romance readers, know we'll read to the "happily ever after". So, it becomes crucial that the author make that journey enjoyable and somewhat "fraught with peril" (is that not just one of the greatest phrases ever?!?). Ms. Michaels captures exactly what I need to feel like reading a novel where, honestly, the ending is expected, is not a waste of my time. Her writing conveys thoughtfulness and the knowledge that her reader (and now... I count myself as one!) will not settle for a halfhearted attempt.

~~Thanks to Beth at Sourcebooks for sending a copy of The Wedding Affair in exchange for my review.~~

Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen

From the author's website..
"Meet Lord and Lady Smythe, England's preeminent spies. Their identities are guarded even from each other. After years of secrets and lies, their marriage is little more than a crumbling façade. But even love isn't as important as The Mission—to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte.
But what happens when the mission is complete?
Meet Lord and Lady Smythe, out of work spies. Lady Sophia Smythe will scream if she has to attend another tea party. Lord Adrian Smythe will hit someone if he's forced to while away another evening in Parliament. What are secret agents to do when the war is over?
There's one chance left to get back into the game. The prime minister needs a murder investigated. The problem? Two spies. One position.
All's fair in love and war."


Okay, here's a secret... I love "Brangelina"... okay, maybe that's not a secret. But, I do. I read gossip magazines just to see what they and their six children are doing.

So, when I had the opportunity to review a romance novel that had distinct parallels to Mr & Mrs Smith, the movie they were making when they fell in love, I knew I had to read it.

This book really had it all for me... romance (of course), pretty steamy scenes (you know what I mean...lol), intrigue, witty dialogue, a tight plot and, above all... interesting characters. I am seriously hoping that this is the first of a series... and, if not about Lord and Lady Spy... oops, I mean Lord and Lady Smythe :::looking around for any unwanted listeners::: than featuring some other colorful secondary characters.

Because Lord and Lady Spy is getting such great "buzz", Sourcebooks is offering this ebook for $.99. This fantastic price (I loved it so much I think it's worth every penny... even its paperback price) is only good for one week. Here's the link... http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/ebook-specials.html

~~Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending a copy of Lord and Lady Spy in exchange for my review.~~

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott

About the book... "Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.
On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann's dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.
Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker's apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann's compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann's father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.
When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?
Read an excerpt here: http://www.rosslynelliott.com/books.php"


Win a custom made period dress ... and a KINDLE from Rosslyn Elliott!
Enter 9/1-9/20!

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she's giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh...romantic.
Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews - Library Journal said, "A well-written historical series debut…". Read more reviews here.
Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest - 

One winner will receive:
* Kindle with Wi-Fi
* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)
To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.
Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn's Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don't worry if you haven't read the book yet - you could win a copy!) & historical Fiction, testing your trivia skills. She'll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

As much as I love historical fiction, reading historical fiction based on real people makes it even better! I would never have guessed that this debut novel was rooted in history. I saw the "blurb" on the back cover and, immediately, read the afterward. Cheating? Maybe. But I think it added depth to the story. I read this book with the knowledge that, even though the "characters" are long gone... they really aren't. They live on in their descendants today. It has to be pretty cool to have a family history (even fictionalized as Fairer Than Morning) that readers, like me, can appreciate as a work of fiction but to family members bring their personal history alive.

I tend to ponder (love that word!) what draws me to a book. Yes, I'll admit I do judge a book by its cover... and Fairer Than Morning does not disappoint. Ann is the focus of the cover and, at my first glance, the only person. But, a closer look reveals Will's arm. This made me look back at Ann and then notice her almost"sly" smile.

The title also struck me. At first, I believed that it was, again, all about Ann. She's beautiful... definitely "Fairer Than Morning". As I read, I realized a deeper meaning to the title. I try never to "spoil" a novel in my review so I'll leave it to you to find out what I mean.

I'm excited to see a sequel will be published in February 2012. It's titled Sweeter Than Birdsong. Not only is that such a beautiful title but I'm looking forward to discovering its deeper meaning as well.

To read more reviews of Fairer Than Morning, please click on this link... http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13424909

Thanks to Amy at Litfuse Publicity Group and Rosslyn Elliott for providing me a copy of Fairer Than Morning in exchange for this fair and thoughtful review.