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Category: Genre Fiction

Review: The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

[ 9 ] February 1, 2012
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

I’m posting The Winter Palace review earlier than planned due to popular demand! 

Reviewed by Lauren Cannavino

The Winter Palace is perfected historical fiction. The characters are lively, the plot thick and the details crisp and plentiful, yet not overdone. Eva Stachniak combines historical facts with brilliant, lyrical adaptation and creates characters that keep the reader turning the pages for more and more. The novel moves quickly even for someone not familiar with Russian history, and the life at court is expertly portrayed for the imaginative reader.

The Winter Palace tells the tale of Varvara, a young Polish girl without a family, who begins her life at the court of Empress Elizabeth as a nobody, then quickly becomes a spy for the royal ruler. Varvara is compassionate, smart, quick and most importantly, sneaky. She forms a relationship, almost against her will, with the slimy Chancellor at court, and begins her life as a palace “tongue”.

When Princess Sophie, who later becomes Catherine the Great, arrives at court, Varvara is assigned to watch the young, foreign princess and report back to the Empress. What no one expects is that Varvara develops a close friendship with Sophie and alliances begin to shift. The Empress, who is not left in the dark about Varvara’s actions or feelings, quickly marries her off to a dashing officer and removes her from court. The friendship, however, does not end and what develops over the years both at court and outside of it, is truly remarkable.

The Winter Palace is a fantastic novel that gets better as it goes on. The characters and the scenery are meticulously developed and made me feel as if I had my ear to the floorboard listening in on the action of the Russian court along with Varvara. This is an excellent read for historical fiction and adventure fans.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Lauren Cannavino is a graduate student, freelance writer, wine lover, and avid reader. Random musings can be found over at www.goldiesays.com.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Bantam. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Three Maids for a Crown by Ella March Chase

[ 3 ] January 27, 2012
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Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

Reviewed by Shannon Hopkins

The Lady Jane Grey is quite possibly one of the most tragic figures in the English royal lineage: at fifteen, she was declared King Edward’s successor to the English throne in an attempt to keep Mary Tudor from succeeding to the throne and reinstituting Catholic rule. Jane’s nine days as heir apparent are recognized as the shortest reign by an English monarch, but there is far more to the story of the Greys than Jane’s fateful visit to the Tower of London.

In Three Maids for a Crown, Ella March Chase weaves a brilliant story of love, ambition and betrayal, about three sisters who became pawns in a game larger than they could begin to understand. Their tandem narration paints a moving picture of the ties that bind, and the desires that can tear worlds apart.

Jane is a quiet, pious girl who finds strength in her faith. She goes into her wedding day with a sense of dread and distaste for her new husband, as yet unaware that her parents have set her up to take a kingdom. When her father and father-in-law press the ring of state into her hands, she is swept into a whirlwind in which she is declared queen and then a traitor when her cousin Mary comes to claim the crown. Despite a promise that she will be safe from reprisal, danger nonetheless looms when the queen chooses Prince Philip of Spain as her husband.

Katherine is as unlike her sister as night and day. She is radiant on the morning of their double wedding, dizzy in love with her new husband and eager to start their life together. Like Jane, though, she has no idea that her marriage is part of a carefully coordinated plan between three of the most powerful families in England. When Mary takes the throne instead, Katherine loses her husband, her father, her sister, and her hope – and gains center stage in the intrigue still swirling about her family. She becomes a lady in waiting at her cousin’s court, and very nearly becomes Mary’s heir; however, when Elizabeth ascends the throne instead, Katherine becomes a threat to be eliminated.

Mary, the youngest Grey sister, bears witness to the treacherous paths her sisters are forced to follow. Stunted, deformed, and uncharacteristically blunt for a medieval lady, Mary is often dismissed to the fringes – where she finds that being invisible has its benefits. She observes and learns secrets of planned campaigns and attacks, but her best efforts cannot stop the chain of events that has been set in motion. Still, hope and love remain for Mary to find even when she has lost her sisters, her cousin and, it seems, everything else worth holding on to.

Chase’s beautiful prose brings both hope and tragedy to life in a story that is well-known but little understood. Each of the sisters tells her part of the story in a back-and-forth that flows smoothly even over the roughness of tragedy and heartbreak, and reminds the reader of the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Shannon lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her fiancé and a room full of books that she peruses when she isn’t trolling Apartment Therapy for new decorating ideas. In her free time she enjoys maintaining her blog, The Writer’s Closet, planning her wedding, and baking tasty gluten-free treats.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Broadway. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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SheKnows Book Club Pick: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

[ 7 ] January 26, 2012
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Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay is the January pick for the SheKnows Book Club!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova (Luxury Reading)

I’ve heard great things about Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay ever since it was published in 2008 but never got around to reading it. I was thrilled to see it picked as the SheKnows Book Club selection for January and to finally experience this amazing yet heartbreaking story.

Sarah’s Key is a book of dueling stories – one of Sarah, a 10-year-old girl growing up in 1940’s Paris and another of Julia Jarmond, an American living in modern-day Paris – that come together in an unforgettable and haunting way.

Sarah Starzynski was born in France to Jewish parents. On the fateful day in July 1942, the family was rounded up by the French police along with thousands of other Jews and hoarded into Vel d’Hiv, an indoor sports stadium. Unaware of the permanence of the situation, Sarah locked her little brother in a hidden cupboard in their apartment and pocketed the key, promising to return for him as soon as possible.

Sixty years later, journalist Julia Jarmond is researching the Vel d’Hiv round up for an article commemorating the anniversary of the tragic event. Many of the people she speaks to know very little about Vel d’Hiv; others are embarrassed about the French involvement in the deportation of thousands of innocent Jewish families. What Julia does not expect is the strange reaction of her husband’s family to her questions and their mysterious connection to the Starzynski family.

I’ve read many books about the Holocaust but knew nothing about the fate of French Jews. Although Sarah’s Key is a work of fiction, De Rosnay based the book on the actual Vel d’Hiv round up that occurred on July 16 and 17, 1942. Sarah’s fictional trials could have easily been the reality for many children who were woken up from their beds, forced into inhumane conditions and eventually sent to their deaths. De Rosnay’s fluid writing style brings life to those terrible days in a story that will stay with you long after the final page.

Movie note: I rushed to see the movie after reading Sarah’s Key and was sad to see that it did not do justice to the book. Then again, do any movies ever do? The film version felt rushed and jumbled, and I was constantly filling in the missing pieces for my friends who have not read the book.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

This book was provided free of any obligation by St. Martin’s Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn by Persia Woolley

[ 4 ] January 23, 2012
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

Reviewed by Jessa Larsen

Even as the powers of Camelot continue to grow, peace in Britain remains uncertain. With the quest for the Holy Grail, tensions have increased and the restless champions of the Round Table have begun to fade away. As a more volatile generation of new warriors begins to emerge, Guinevere quickly realizes that the greatest dangers to the crown lie not beyond the walls of Camelot but among those she loves the most.

When an undeniable spark ignites between Guinevere and Lancelot, their secret passion may prove to be Arthur’s undoing. With an unrelenting destiny bearing down upon her country and her king, Guinevere must draw upon her strong, fiery spirit for the courage to bring triumph out of tragedy.

Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn is the third and last in the Guinevere trilogy by Persia Woolley. We have seen Guinevere grow from a child into a young woman, and from a young woman into a fine queen. But even the queen is human and thus must deal with the ups and downs of life just like the rest of us. In this third installment we watch the unfolding of a relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot, Mordrid’s years in Arthur’s kingdom and the final show down between father and son. All the while, Guinevere must stand strong as a wife to her husband and a queen to her king and country.

I have always loved the mythology and legend of King Arthur and his men, but Persia Woolley’s portrayal of these people made me love them even more. Every character was so much more humanly relatable that I couldn’t help but love them, faults and all. I really felt for Guinevere as she was thrust into marriage and monarchy. All three books are must reads and will keep fans up long into the night.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Check out our review of the other two books in the trilogy, Child of the Northern Spring and Queen of the Summer Stars

Jessa lives in Utah with her husband, 2 sons, 2 cats, and 2 dogs. She goes to school full time as an English major with a focus in creative writing. She likes anime and reads books and plays video games in her moments of spare time.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Plain Fear by Leanna Ellis

[ 3 ] January 19, 2012
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Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Reviewed by Jodi Horsley

Plain Fear: Forsaken by Leanna Ellis is an interesting piece of fiction. It combines Amish community and vampires in a captivating, unique story. The lead character, Hannah, is unable to move on with her grief after her love Jacob dies in an unfortunate farm accident. At least that is what everyone is told. Jacob is buried quickly and the family moves to Ohio. Everyone that is, except Jacob’s brother, Levi.

Levi is unable to move forward either, but his reasons are entirely different than Hannah’s. Although Levi is aware of how much Hannah loved his brother, he cannot help but fall in love with her. He also knows how his brother actually died and is prepared to take the secret to his grave.

Two years after Jacob’s “death” a rash of strange, gruesome murders and a missing Amish teen bring Detective Roc Girouard to the Amish community of Promise, Pennsylvania to investigate. These strange murders are a reminder to him of how he lost his Emily.

A stranger comes to the Promise, Pennsylvania and he brings along a secret as well. This secret will force Hannah to make a choice between the dark and the light. Levi will also be forced to confront that which he has been trying to hide while remaining true to his family.

Plain Fear is not a book I would normally read. This is the first book I’ve read where the lead characters were Amish, but, being a vampire fan, reading the description peaked my interest. The book moves a bit slowly at first; I feel like it could have been about 100 pages shorter. Also, I feel that the character of Roc Girouard could have been more developed. Still, I enjoyed it.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Jodi lives in the western suburbs of Illinois with her husband, her elementary school daughter, and preschool boy/girl twins. She is an avid reader and loves losing herself in a good book. She has a Master’s in Information Technology and has been a WAHM mom for 4 years now.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin

[ 4 ] January 18, 2012
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

Reviewed by Alisha Churbe

In Daisy Goodwin’s first novel, The American Heiress, the reader is transported to 1890s England with all of its style, frivolousness, etiquette and customs.

Cora Cash is the American Heiress, rich beyond belief and after the one thing her money has not yet provided, but can easily buy for her: a title. In a bizarre and truly predictable accident, she encounters and marries, Ivo, Duke of Wareham. Ivo’s family is in financial, and in many instances emotional, ruins. Ms. Cash arrives on the scene at the perfect moment. Ivo and Cora’s marriage is that of convenience, but as Cora will ultimately fight for, love as well. The novel presents her in many moments of doubt about whether her marriage is that of love or if she is merely tolerated for her money.

In the beginning, Cora is spoiled and naive to a point where she tends to grate on your nerves. She is accustomed to getting anything she wants with only a demand, never a request. The parties are lavish, over-the-top and in many instances, downright ridiculous. Throughout the novel, Cora is made fun of for her American heritage, her social status and her American customs. It is when the secrets begin to be uncovered that the story begins to take on some speed. The characters in the novel hint at the secrets and lies so blatantly that it is frustrating when Cora seems as though she doesn’t have a clue about them. But when she finally begins to see the truth about her marriage and status, we begin to see some of her true character. She is much stronger and rational than the girl presented at the beginning of the novel.

I’m torn with this novel. The American Heiress is a novel of frivolity and its consequences. It was a quick read with wonderful descriptions of England and the time period. Many scenes were filled with intricate and delicate details that draw you into the era. The novel is well written and organized. The characters are unique to each other. Some are well developed, while others are left shallow and undefined. However, the fact that Cora is (and maybe it is purposeful) oblivious to what those around her have made very obvious is a bit unnerving and frustrating. You really want to yell in her face and tell her to smarten up a bit. It may have been the intent of Goodwin to have the reader react in this manner and if that is the case, she was quite successful.

Many reviews criticize the ending of this novel and I feel that in the end, Cora was presented with a decision that many would have handled differently. However, how she handled her fate was within the bounds of her character. While I would not actively search out this novel, The American Heiress is extremely readable and worth the time if it ever lands on your night table.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Part-time fiction writer, Alisha Churbe lives in Portland, Oregon. In the rare instances when you can pry her away from books, Alisha can be found travelling in foreign countries, cooking, or hiking with her husband Michael and dog Euro.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by St. Martin’s Press. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Maid by Kimberly Cutter

[ 11 ] January 16, 2012
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Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Reviewed by Colleen Turner

I think it’s fair to assume that most people have at least heard of Joan of Arc (or Jeanne d’Arc). We’ve read of or seen the movies depicting Jeanne on her divine mission to rid France of the invading English and put the rightful King on the throne. However I, for one, did not know the full story of where she came from and how she ended up a martyred saint of France.

The Maid by Kimberly Cutter has done a wonderful job of bringing Jeanne to life and giving me a firmer grasp of who this young, brave maid was and what she really did for the God, and country, she loved.

In The Maid Jeanne relays her story – from dirty, abused farmer’s daughter in Domremy to captive prisoner of the English – to a priest named Massieu. We learn of her humble beginnings and her firm belief that she was born for so much more than the meager, cruel life of a farmer’s daughter and eventual wife. When she is visited by the powerful voices of saints in her parents’ garden at the age of twelve, she realizes that she cannot be tied down to any man but must do whatever God commands in his service. And what he commands is for her to ride through France, lead an army to fight off the English and crown King Charles VII in Reims.

For me, the beginning of Jeanne’s story was slow going. Once she leaves Domremy behind and begins her quest, however, the story becomes unputdownable. It’s action-packed and you cannot help but cheer for Jeanne in the hopes that she will be able to fulfill her mission and find some happiness in this cruel land she’s been born into, even as we’re told she is destined to die early on. The language and violence can be harsh at times but I felt it helped showcase the brutality of the war and warriors that Jehanne was surrounded by. The final betrayal by Charles VII and the seeming abandonment of her saints were devastating, but her ultimate decision to either live as a liar or die as a righteous daughter of God brought her story to a sad but satisfying conclusion.

Cutter describes in the author’s notes that much of what is told in the story is known fact and it makes the book that much more fascinating. She was able to take these seemingly miraculous facts and surround them with enough description and character development that I felt like I was right there next to Jeanne on her journey and on the battlefield. I am now very eager to read more about this enchanting heroine.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Colleen lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, son, their dog Oliver and their fish Finn. When not working or taking care of her family she has her nose stuck in a book (and, let’s face it, often when she is working or taking care of her family as well). Nothing excites her more than discovering a new author to obsess over or a hidden jewel of a book to worship.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Friday Cravings: Day After Night by Anita Diamant

[ 9 ] January 13, 2012
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Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

It’s time for Friday Cravings! Read more about the feature here.

Have a book that you’re craving to add to your collection? I’d love to hear from you! Just leave a comment here. And if anyone has read the book below, please let me know what you thought.

Pick of the Week – Day After Night by Anita Diamant

Found: Through the Amazon.com “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” feature.

Publisher’s Description

Just as she gave voice to the silent women of the Hebrew Bible in The Red Tent, Anita Diamant creates a cast of breathtakingly vivid characters—young women who escaped to Israel from Nazi Europe—in this intensely dramatic novel.

Day After Night is based on the extraordinary true story of the October 1945 rescue of more than two hundred prisoners from the Atlit internment camp, a prison for “illegal” immigrants run by the British military near the Mediterranean coast south of Haifa. The story is told through the eyes of four young women at the camp who survived the Holocaust: Shayndel, a Polish Zionist; Leonie, a Parisian beauty; Tedi, a hidden Dutch Jew; and Zorah, a concentration camp survivor. Haunted by unspeakable memories and losses, afraid to hope, the four of them find salvation in the bonds of friendship and shared experience even as they confront the challenge of re-creating themselves in a strange new country.

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