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Category: Historical

Review: The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick

[ 8 ] November 2, 2010

Reviewed by Erin N.

When 13-year-old Emma arrived at the gates of the Canterbury Cathedral to do her duty by her Norman brother, she had no idea that she would be marrying England for life. In 1002, the King of England, Æthelred the Unready, entered into an agreement with the Duke of Normandy. Duke Richard would provide England with a much needed alliance against the raiding Northmen, while King Æthelred would provide the newly formed Norman duchy with the stability of land and coin. And Emma was the key. She would wed a king 21 years her senior and be anointed England’s Queen.

Unlike all the queens before her and unlike most who followed, Emma’s reign outlasted two husbands, two step-sons, and two sons, all of whom shared the crown with Emma during her lifetime. Beloved by her subjects, Emma was England’s heart, its strength, and its hope for the future. The only anointed Queen for five of the last Saxon kings and aunt to the conquering Norman kings, Emma’s bloodline has run through the veins of British monarchs and nobility throughout the ages.

Helen Hollick brings the story of England’s perpetual queen to life in The Forever Queen. Hollick captures the political intrigue of early Medieval England and presents the reader with some of the most colorful characters to sit on the British throne. And, despite the historical record having very little information about Queen Emma (aside from the Encomium Emmæ Reginæ, a “spin” biography commissioned by Emma to give credence to her son’s claim to the thrown), Hollick manages to see past the male monarchs of the time and find the unsung tale of Emma “Ælgifu” of England.

Erin fell in love with the written word as a small child and subsequently spent most of her life happily devouring literature. She works as a freelance news, marketing, and technical writer. Erin lives just outside of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

The Forever Queen Book Club Schedule

November 3

http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/

November 4

http://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com/

http://historicallyobsessed.blogspot.com/

November 5

http://booksbythewillowtree.blogspot.com/

http://www.historyandwomen.com/

November 8

http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/

http://www.bookwormsdinner.blogspot.com/

November 9

http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/

http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/

November 10

http://literatehousewife.com/

http://carpelibrisreviews.com/

November 11

http://web.me.com/quirion/Bookaddict/Welcome.html

http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/

November 12

http://www.brokenteepee.blogspot.com/

http://www.read-all-over.net

November 15

http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/

http://celticladysramblings.blogspot.com/

November 16

http://www.jennylovestoread.blogspot.com/

http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/

November 17

http://bookalicio.us/

http://themaidenscourt.blogspot.com/

November 18

http://pushersink.blogspot.com/

http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

November 19

http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/

http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/

November 22

Book Club Chat on http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/

7pm-9pm EST

This book 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 Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare by Arliss Ryan

[ 7 ] October 27, 2010

Reviewed by Erin N.

The “Shakespeare authorship question” is widely diverse in claims yet “almost without exception, they [Elizabethan literary historians] were agreed: Shakespeare’s marriage to Anne Hathaway was a youthful mistake in an otherwise glorious career.”

But, what if they are all wrong? What if Anne wasn’t a “homely, coarse, illiterate, immoral country wench,” but, instead, half of a duo that aimed to be the foremost writer in the Elizabethan patriarchal England? What if she were truly the most gifted of playwrights but the gender laws and perceptions of the times would never allow her work to see the light of day if she put her own name to her work? What if William Shakespeare was much more progressive than originally thought and was able to recognize a talent in the privacy of his own marriage?

Arliss Ryan’s The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare attempts to answer these hypothetical questions. Anne, an older woman, is seduced into literacy and then into pregnancy by a young and impetuous William Shakespeare. Caught up in the passion of their words and deeds, Anne turns up pregnant and forcibly married to Will.  She is also faced with the harsh realities of living with Will’s family who blames her for ruining their son’s life.

Three children later, Will abandons his family to chase his star in London. Shortly after, Anne follows Will to [amazonify]0451229959[/amazonify]escape the torment of her in-laws. Once in London, she takes up the guise of Will’s younger sister (his idea), takes up a needle to sew for the theaters, and ultimately takes up the quill to be part of the creative entity known throughout history as William Shakespeare.

Ryan creates an interesting alternative to what is commonly believed about William Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, and Anne Hathaway. The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare is a historical fiction that leads the reader to wonder how much of the story is really fiction…

Erin fell in love with the written word as a small child and subsequently spent most of her life happily devouring literature. She works as a freelance news, marketing, and technical writer. Erin lives just outside of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

This book was provided free of any obligation by NAL Trade. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Penelope’s Daughter by Lauren Corona

[ 7 ] October 9, 2010

Reviewed by Coy M.

In a time when the men were off fighting the Trojan War and women were known as either troublemakers or threats, as written in The Odyssey, comes a girl that even Homer himself didn’t know about. Odysseus’ daughter.

Xanthe was born two years after Telemachus and mere months after Odysseus’ departure for the War. Xanthe grows up in a fatherless world, where suitors hound every inch of their home, and her mother is too busy coming up with ways to take control of her land. Even long after the war has ended, there is no sign of Odysseus; the suitors are quick to realize that if Telemachus is killed and Penelope is taken out of the way, the husband of Xanthe will become the inheritor of Odysseus’ lands.

To protect her daughter, Penelope decides to fake Xanthe’s death and sends her off to live with her cousin, Helen of Troy. At first, Xanthe blames Helen for being the cause of the War, but as she meets the beautiful and eccentric woman, she learns that Helen too was a victim of Aphrodite’s tricks and Xanthe comes to love her as a second mother.

Xanthe spends five years in Sparta and becomes fond of her life there, and returns to Ithaca with great reluctance. There, she is thought to be Telemachus’ cousin and is hidden out of the way. But one day, an old man arrives in Ithaca and Xanthe finds her life in an uproar as the old man is revealed to be her father. After getting rid of the suitors, Odysseus is reunited with his land, wife, son and a daughter he never [amazonify]0425236625[/amazonify]knew about. As the family is brought back together, Xanthe’s future is thrust in the hands of a man who is practically a stranger and she finds herself yearning for the lover she left in Sparta. Will her father force Xanthe to marry a suitor she doesn’t love or respect or will she finally find herself in the arms of the one she’s meant to be with?

I am not a big fan of Homer’s portrayal of women, so this book was definitely a nice fit for me. Laurel Corona’s idea is original, fresh and depicted so beautifully that it literally takes the readers’ breath away. Combining romance, action and adventure, Penelope’s Daughter is a wonderful book crafted a talent that almost anyone would enjoy!

Coy M. is pursuing a degree in writing, which is a great passion of hers. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Berkley Trade. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Elizabeth, Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin

[ 8 ] October 7, 2010

Written by Meg M.

Elizabeth, Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne, is the second installment in Margaret Irwin’s famed Elizabeth I trilogy. Irwin’s tale begins in July 1553, immediately following the death of Elizabeth’s sickly brother, King Edward. Edward, upon his deathbed, named cousin Lady Jane Grey his successor in hopes of keeping the monarchy in the capable hands of the members of the Protestant faith. But soon, his sister Mary takes the throne for her own, beheading Jane in the process. Suddenly Elizabeth, perceived as a great threat to her half-sister, is imprisoned.

In the midst of her political troubles, Elizabeth must combat the urge to become involved in romantic entanglements that could destroy her life and right to the throne. Known in her later life as the “Virgin Queen”, it is both strange and exciting that Irwin’s tale often finds Elizabeth in the midst of flirtacious conversation and sometimes intimate interludes with assorted men. The young woman, however, never seems to give in to the temptation, keeping her future as Queen at the forefront of her mind.

Though we all certainly know how the story turns out, Margaret Irwin provides an often unexplored perspective of the life of the young woman who would one day become England’s most well-known Queen. Irwin’s concept of the language, customs and everyday details of the period are unparalleled. While a little slow at some points, this novel certainly delivers a vivid depiction of the period.

Meg lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan. Marketing professional by day, freelance writer by night, Meg writes about life, entertainment and everything in between on her blog, Morning Cup With Meg.

This book 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 Princeling (Morland Dynasty Saga) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

[ 5 ] October 4, 2010

Reviewed by Erin N.

Paul Morland III faced a serious dilemma. After the death of his beloved Elizabeth, Paul couldn’t seem to interest any of his nine children to be heirs to the Morland estates and titles. His eldest, John, ill-advisedly fell in love with a wild, northern, female princeling and abandoned his family responsibilities to follow that star. Paul Morland IV died young and senselessly. William fell in love with the theater and Arthur, the sea. With the Morland nurseries empty, Paul III might be forced to acknowledge the living result of the Morland’s most scandalous secret as his heir.

Set against the backdrop of Elizabethan England, this third installment of the Morland Dynasty follows the families of Paul Morland III and Nannette Chapham (Paul’s aunt) as they come to grips with the changing political and religious landscape while trying to hang onto the legacy of their forefathers. Through Nannette, the Morlands have a place of honor with the royal Tudors, yet even this distinction might not save their Catholic heritage enforced religious reformation. Family responsibility and the concept of individual freedom clash as the Morland children make their way in an England that seems to be constantly evolving.

The Princeling is book three in The Morland Dynasty Series. Originally published in 1981, The Princeling is enjoying a re-printing as the 33rd book in the Morland Dynasty Series is scheduled to be published in 2010. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles created the Morlands and their dynasty as a means to follow English history from the Middle Ages up through the Second World War.

Originally intended as a 12-book series, Harrod-Eagles has found her muse with the Morlands and has created the longest family saga in literature today. The Princeling was republished on October 1, 2010.

Erin fell in love with the written word as a small child and subsequently spent most of her life happily devouring literature. She works as a freelance news, marketing, and technical writer. Erin lives just outside of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

This book 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 Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

[ 4 ] October 3, 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Jensen

With the help of her aunt, Miss Felicity Bennett has secured what she believes to be a governess position with an aristocratic family in London. When Felicity arrives at the town house for her interview, she is introduced to her charge. Having pictured her charge to be around 6 or 7, she is shocked when she encounters a devastatingly handsome man of about 22.

The Comte de Valère, Armand, had been locked up for 12 years in a Paris prison after all aristocrats were being arrested and put on trial. After years of searching, Armand’s elder brother Julien discovered his whereabouts and brought him to their new home in London.

Felicity now has a task that she deems near impossible; can she really teach this man who has no regard for The Rules of Society how to speak and act when around others of his own kind? Armand has no interest in Society’s rules, or the boundaries that Felicity lays out for him. However, she is able to tame him in ways that no other person can. Through her musical talent, Felicity is able to draw Armand out from within himself. Through her beauty, she awakens the passionate man inside. As they begin to fall in love with one another, secrets from both of their pasts threaten to destroy their hopes for the future.

I don’t normally choose to read romance novels, but after reading the plot summary for The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen, I was most interested in the historical setting of the novel. Once I began reading, I was hooked and would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have other obligations at the time. This isn’t the “bodice ripper” that the cover portrays it to be; there are plenty of steamy scenes between Felicity and Armand, but the plot is well done and the characterization is charming. I found many of the supporting characters intriguing, including Julien and his mother.

[amazonify]1402238665[/amazonify]Since The Making of a Gentleman is the second book in a series, I thought I might get a little lost along the way. Galen provided enough back story for some of the supporting characters that I was able to keep up. I am now excited to read The Making of a Duchess, which is Julien’s and Sarah’s story. I have always been a sucker for a good romantic tale. Not only does Galen provide that, but she also offers historical details regarding the war between France and England in the late 1700s and very early 1800s. This is the perfect author for anyone who loves romance, but doesn’t want to compromise a love of good historical fiction to get it.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Casablanca. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

[ 8 ] October 2, 2010

Reviewed by Jenna Arthur

Deanna Raybourn submerses us in a world of ball gowns, Rajahs, mystery and death in the 1889 setting of Dark Road to Darjeeling. Set in India, the story begins with a series of small introductions to the Marchs, a predominant family stretched across continents and time. At a time when gowns were seen commonplace, private investigators flourished and mystery in the world still abounded, the story finds us at the honeymoon of our most notorious and elusive characters, Brisbane and Lady Julia.

On their world travels, the newly married Brisbane and Lady Julia are suprised to find in their dining parlor Plum and Portia, Lady Julia’s siblings, beckoning them to India.

Upon arrival, Portia tells a story about her once lover, Jane, who had ran away to India to marry Portia’s distant cousin; the cousin died shortly after under mysterious circumstances. Begging Brisbane and Julia to accompany her to India, they embark unknowingly on a trip of disaster, and deeply hidden secrets. Slowly and reluctantly, Portia reveals to her sister that she indeed fears the worst: that Mr. Cavendish, Jane’s husband, was murdered and Jane may be next. Quietly and without arousing suspicions, Lady Julia must find the truth in a family tree where secrets rule lives.

Thoughtful and whimsical, Dark Road to Darjeeling has the air of a classic 19th century exotic mystery. With an airy yet solid plot and strong subtext, the story allows the readers to think outside the box, and explore their thoughts, feelings, and suspicions in the fantastical world of The Marchs and Cavendishs.

[amazonify]0778328201[/amazonify]The story was entertaining, however, what it gained and achieved in plot and flow, it lacked slightly in climactic tones and suspense, leaving readers in a monotone pattern of satisfaction. Written with a feminine undertone, Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia is definitely appealing to the more romance taken, unfortunately leaving the book less as a craving for the male and dark mystery infatuated readers.

Raybourn has created another successful addition for fans of the series who were left wanting more after Lady Julia and Brisbane’s last appearance. I would not recommend this novel to those who find interest in darker or more thriller-type mysteries; however, I would highly recommend this story to those female readers who crave just a little bit more romance and intrigue in their everyday lives.

Please visit Deanna Raybourn’s website to learn more about her books.

Jenna lives in a small town in Ohio with her fiance and cat Osiris. Along with her passion for reading and the literary world, she is also a painter, poet, fiction writer, and amateur photographer.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Mira Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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