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Category: Genre Fiction

Blog Tour: The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

[ 2 ] March 13, 2012

Please join Sophie Perinot, author of The Sister Queens, as she tours the blogosphere with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours!

Reviewed by Sara Drake

Once upon a time, two sisters grew up to marry kings, rulers of rival nations. This may sound like the beginning of a fairy tale but it’s actually a page from history. Sophie Perinot takes the history of these two sisters, their husbands, and their nations and spins a delightful historical novel. Taking place in thirteenth century Europe, The Sister Queens explores the themes of love and family against a backdrop of war, religion, and politics.

Louis IX of France marries the teenager Marguerite. A few years later, Henry III of England marries her sister, Eleanor. The two sisters have different personalities and their lives take them down different paths. Marguerite finds herself married to a religious zealot and mama’s boy (are you allowed to call a king a mama’s boy?). Her struggles to find a place in her husband’s heart start with a silent struggle with her mother-in-law and lead to crusading (literally) against the infidel. Meanwhile, her sister finds true love (with her husband) but faces a nobility frequently at war with their king.

I enjoyed Perinot’s well-written tale. The characters and especially the relationship between the sisters came alive. I truly enjoyed Perinot’s depiction of Marguerite’s life and environment. She gave the French court an amazing depth with her descriptions, allowing it to spring from the pages.

Unfortunately, the English court did not have that same depth and I found myself struggling to get a good feel for the dynamics there. I know that it is much easier to find detailed accounts of Louis IX then Henry III. In fact, many of the sources from the time period offer delightful details of the individual quirks at Louis IX’s court. I just found myself longing for more details of Henry III’s court and the personalities that Eleanor interacts with throughout the novel.

I had trouble following the political strife throughout The Sister Queens. Why did English barons fight with Henry III? What role did Simon de Montfort play? Why did Henry fight France? While I know the historians’ answers to these questions, I struggled to follow the motivations as presented within the novel. The real details tend to be very dry and boring and I can understand not dwelling on them. I just wanted more details in this regard to help follow the action in the book.

Despite these two issues, I found myself sucked into the story and could not put the book down.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Learn more about Sophie Perinot and The Sister Queens

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Sara Drake has been an avid reader since a young age. She has both a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and a Master’s in History.

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

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Blog Tour: Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love

[ 2 ] March 13, 2012

Please welcome Dorothy Love, author of Beauty for Ashes, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Amanda Schafer

Carrie Daly was widowed when her husband, Frank, was killed during the Civil War. Since that time, she’s been living with her brother, Henry, in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee. Carrie has been seeing a new man, Nate Chastain, and feels reasonably sure that she will marry him. Some day, that is. She’s just not completely sure of the idea.

One day, a handsome gentleman saves her from being run down in the street by a runaway horse. Carrie’s thoughts are sidetracked, though, when Henry gets married and Carrie feels she is no longer welcome in her own home. Henry’s wife, Mary, is extremely rude to Carrie, treating her like a hired hand rather than a sister. Mary’s boys (from her previous marriage) are physically violent with Carrie and no one does anything to stop them. Carrie realizes she has no choice but to leave and moves into town.

Griff Rutledge is relatively well off financially but is estranged from his Charleston family. Determined to get to Australia, Griff stops over in Hickory Ridge to work with a spirited horse and train it for the upcoming race. But Griff has a quiet and mysterious nature about him that causes the townspeople to be cautious of him. So when Griff and Carrie are seen in town together and their attraction becomes obvious to the town, people begin to pull Carrie aside and inform her that she needs to end her budding relationship.

Suddenly, Nate turns up married, Henry announces that he’s heading to Chicago to find work and asks Carrie to move back to the farm to care for his wife and children. She refuses, but relents when she finds out that Mary is confined to bed with her pregnancy. Carrie feels the responsibility of caring for Henry’s family, but isn’t sure she can handle the stress, either financially or emotionally. When word comes that Henry was killed in a freak accident, Carrie leans on Griff to help Mary and the children work through the grief process.

Beauty for Ashes is the second installment of the Hickory Ridge Romance books by Dorothy Love. In it, we see that a person can experience many hardships and trials in life, and feel as if there is no hope and no God to help them through. But God always brings beauty from the ashes of the fires that we go through. Carrie went through several sad times and feelings of being let down by the circumstances in her life, but her faith in God saw her through those circumstances and caused her to be better on the other side of them.

Both Beauty for Ashes and the first installment, Beyond All Measure, are good stories and are well-researched, but there is something lacking in the writing style. The books seem a bit simplistic and not as deep as they could be, considering they are part of a series. I was disappointed that something was mentioned early in the book regarding Bea Goldston from the first book, Beyond All Measure, but the tidbit of information was never revisited or further explored. Perhaps that will come in the third book!

I did enjoy the book and will read the next book in the series to see what happens next. I hope that Love continues to write and that her writing improve with each book!

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband, two sons, and one daughter. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book!

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Thomas Nelson. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
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Dorothy Love’s Beauty for Ashes Kindle Fire and a Sapphire Ring Giveaway! Enter Today & RSVP for 3/20 Facebook Author Chat Party!

We’re thrilled to announce the fun giveaway Dorothy is hosting! First, she’ll be giving away a Kindle Fire (3/1-3/20), then on the evening of the 20th she’s inviting everyone to her Facebook Author Page for a fun Author Chat party! Don’t miss a minute of the fun … sigh.

One beautiful winner will receive:

  • A Brand new Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi
  • Beauty for Ashes by Dorothy Love
  • Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/20/12. Winner will be announced at Dorothy’s Facebook Author Chat Party on 3/20. Come for an evening of chat, trivia, and a sneak peek at the next book in Dorothy’s Hickory Ridge series – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a stunning sapphire ring!

So grab your copy of Beauty for Ashes  and join Dorothy and friends on the evening of March 20th for an evening of fun.

Don’t miss Dorothy’s delightful giveaway and party. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison

[ 38 ] March 12, 2012

Please join Kathryn Harrison, author of Enchantments, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours.

Reviewed by Jennifer Jensen

Ever since my teenage years and the release of the Fox animated feature film Anastasia, I have had a strong interest in the fall of the Romanov dynasty. When I learned about Kathryn Harrison’s Enchantments, which blends fantasy and fiction involving young prince Alexei (called Alyosha) and Rasputin’s daughter Masha, I couldn’t wait to hold a copy of it in my hands. Once I started reading the book, however, my excitement quickly evaporated.

Enchantments takes place after the death of Grigory Rasputin, the Mad Monk. Rasputin’s daughters, Masha and Varya, become wards of the Romanov family. While the Romanovs are under house arrest by the Bolsheviks, Masha and the young hemophiliac prince become close, telling stories of their families to one another while they patiently wait for murder to claim them.

The bulk of Masha’s stories are recollections of Rasputin, which I actually found disappointing. I was drawn to this novel because I was curious about Rasputin’s daughter and her relationship with the Romanovs. I was expecting that there would be quite the tension between them, given that Rasputin is often blamed for why their reign ended. Disappointingly, there are few interactions between Masha and the tsar and his wife. Alexandra has maybe one scene with Masha, and I found it fascinating. I was extremely disappointed that she didn’t return, but that we only learned more of her from Alyosha’s stories.

Aside from finding this a tedious and boring book, I was disgusted by some very descriptive sexual situations that occurred between Masha and Alyosha. There was almost four years’ difference in their ages; Masha is eighteen during their captivity, and Alyosha is thirteen going on fourteen. I wish Kathryn Harrison had just kept them as platonic friends rather than introducing a disturbing romantic element to her tale.

Enchantments was a less than enchanting read for me, though I respect that many will disagree with my assessment of this story. If I should ever find myself wanting to read about the Romanovs again, I think I will tackle a well researched non-fiction book rather than looking to fictional titles to gain further insight.

Rating: ★½☆☆☆ 

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.

Enter to win a copy of Enchantments and judge for yourself


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Review: Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron

[ 4 ] March 10, 2012

Reviewed by Lauren Cannavino

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron is the story of a young man coming to terms with life, love and himself in war-torn Rwanda. Jean Patrick Nkuba is a thoughtful boy and a gifted runner who has a goal to run for Rwanda’s Olympic team. He trains, works hard at school and enjoys time with his close family. When his father dies in a car accident, it acts as a precursor to all of the horrible things that Jean Patrick, his family and his country will have to endure as the countryside soon becomes divided, often violently between Tutsis and Hutus. Jean Patrick is a Tutsi, part of the group who is to come under much seize from the Hutu power groups and soldiers in the coming years.

As tensions rise and violence and infractions ensue, Jean Patrick constantly turns to running as his escape from his surroundings. He also knows that running may be his only chance to survive, as well as his opportunity to represent a unified Rwanda. Jean Patrick is under the guidance of Coach, a lofty character who sticks by Jean Patrick through much; Coach becomes a dominant figure in the novel and provides Jean Patrick with a Hutu nationality card, looks out for him and makes sure he can still attend school. The violence that is creeping into Rwanda, is peppered throughout the novel, but through the eyes of Jean Patrick, the reader sees what he sees on his runs, what he encounters at train stations, in class and how he finds out the fate of people he cares about and grew up with. It is all deeply personal and at the same time, quite lyrical.

Rwanda’s political and national problems grow increasingly terrible, and tensions between the groups begin to boil over, even as Jean Patrick begins to run in Olympic qualifying races and falls in love. Soon, no one is safe from the government, soldiers and various militia groups that begin to spring up all over. Jean Patrick looses those closest to him, encounters horrible violence and suffering and soon learns that those he trusted most in the world are not on his side. Quickly, staying alive becomes Jean Patrick’s main objective and the Olympics seem like a far away dream. Wounded, emotionally and physically, Jean Patrick remains driven.

Benaron does a great job describing the landscape, the characters and even the horror, in a readable, yet educational way. Running the Rift is fiction, but the tragedies detailed within were common practice and occurrences during the genocide in Rwanda. With Jean Patrick as the mouthpiece, the reader is able to see and also feel his immense sense of self, loss and eventually pride as Rwanda is torn apart.

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 Algonquin Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: The King’s Agent by Donna Russo Morin

[ 5 ] March 8, 2012

Please join Donna Russo Morin, author of The King’s Agent, as she tours the blogosphere with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours!

Reviewed by Colleen Turner

Florence in the 1520s finds the Medici family in power. Pope Clement VII is bestowing his own administration and giving little power to the citizens who long for the reestablishment of a Republican body of government. With Charles VIII of Spain and Francois I of France again battling for Italian lands, many, including Battista della Palla, hope the French can help bring about their independence. The French King has made it clear to Battista, his art agent, that the people of Florence can rely on his help if Battista, in turn, collects for him what great works of art he desires.

Battista is glad to do the King’s bidding, at whatever costs, if it will ultimately mean some peace and independence for his people. But when the King sends Battista an urgent letter, stating he must find the ultimate artifact that will guarantee power beyond all others to the man who wields it, he gives little clue as to how Battista will acquire it. As Battista and his band of loyal men dig deeper they discover they must go on a quest for the relic, using the words of Dante and the artistic images of Giotto as their guide.

The men are confident their search must start at the Palazzo of Mantua but Battista soon finds himself under attack by the guards. When a mysterious woman comes to his rescue, whisking him to the safety of the woods, he is grateful but wary of her assistance. When she discovers a scroll Battista pilfered from the Palazzo, she promises to assist him on his adventure, as long as he takes her with him.

Aurelia has spent her life sheltered as the warden of the Marquess of Mantua and longs for freedom and independence to see what life can bring beyond the walls of the Palazzo. When she finds Battista injured and desperate she realizes he is her way of escape. In his current state he won’t have room for complaint and he might find her of use in his search.

Aurelia soon ingratiates herself in the band of brothers and jumps right in as they find the three places they must venture to for the pieces of Giotto’s triptych: they must travel to “Hell” at the hedonistic Palazzo Prato, through “Purgatory” in the grottos of the Ciociaria mountains and finally to the “Heaven” that awaits them at the heights of the Castello della Dragonara. But Battista continues to wonder how much he can trust Aurelia’s help as she seems to know more about their search than she lets on. And as Aurelia continues on their adventure, she must indeed decide how much of herself to reveal to Battista. As they grow closer together the ultimate price looms near and Aurelia must finally reveal who she really is, something that will change everything they have come this far to discover.

I found this book to be a true gem. The King’s Agent mixes heavy doses of history with mysticism, adventure and romance. The writing is beautiful and, while it is not an easy or fast read, I found myself taking my time and relishing the beautiful language. There are many components to the story so the reader needs to pay attention and really use their wits to stay present in the story. While I really enjoyed the mystical aspect I can see how some sticklers of history might find this aspect to venture a little too far outside their comfort zone. As I am always happy to find new twists to history and historical fiction I loved it.

For those who love lyrical writing and a story that tests the reader along with the characters The King’s Agent is a must read. For readers who are looking for a fast touch of history or one that stays within well traveled roads, this might not be for you.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Also by Donna Russo Morin: To Serve a King

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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.

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

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Review: Like Death by Tim Waggoner

[ 5 ] March 7, 2012

Reviewed by Caleb Shadis

Like Death was not what I was expecting. I was expecting dark fantasy, while this book can only be classified as fairly dark supernatural horror. I actually found it a bit disturbing and was debating if I could make it through the book. I will say that the story did come together very well by the end.

Scott Raymond is possibly going insane, or is being driven insane. He already has issues – he is the sole survivor of a massacre and his family was killed in front of him. Scott has managed to block out almost the entire episode except for the bits and pieces that come back in dreams or flashes of memory.

Scott is recently estranged from his wife and son. His wife initiated the separation because she could see his violence slowly escalating. She partly blamed it on his childhood trauma, and partly on the job he chose for himself. He writes about true crime and all the grisly details.

Now, after following his family to a new town, Scott’s actions appear very stalkerish and he’s on the trail of a new story. When he tries to research the disappearance of a little girl, he meets an interesting woman who leads him down a rabbit hole. And it’s a trip that would make the Divine Comedy seem like a jolly jaunt.

Overall, Like Death was a very disturbing read. It was very well done and put together, but the story had a lot of very vividly described gruesome scenes. It was definitely not for the faint of heart, nor for the squeamish. It took me over half-way through the book before the last piece clicked and I had a good understanding of what was going on and where it was likely to be going. After that point, it flowed much better for me and I could almost enjoy the story. In the end, I thought Like Death was rather brilliant but enjoyed is not the word I would use to describe my experience in reading it.

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Caleb is a software engineer and amature woodworker living in southern Minnesota. He has more hobbies than he has time or money for, and enjoys his quiet time reading.

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Apex Publications. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

[ 4 ] March 4, 2012

Please welcome Julie Klassen, author of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, who is touring the blogosphere with LitFuse Publicity!

Reviewed by Vera Pereskokova (Luxury Reading)

Others may believe Margaret Macy’s step-father to be a dashing and charming man, but she knows just the opposite to be true. Margaret is about to come into a great fortune left by a spinster aunt, and her step-father is determined to get his hands on the money. He moves in his conniving nephew, Marcus, with the intention of marrying Margaret off and thus getting access to her fortune.

When Margaret overhears her step-father instructing Marcus to use any means available to force Margaret’s hand – even if that means dishonoring her – she flees from her home with a recently fired maid. Disguised as a maid herself, Margaret finds herself at Fairbourne Hall, employed as an under maid at the estate of her former suitors, Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch.

Disguised with a wig and her father’s old reading glasses, and instructed to be invisible – as all maids were – Margaret at first has no trouble remaining anonymous and blending in with the rest of large staff. Before long, however, certain visitors bring up suspicions about Margaret’s true identity and she must do all she can to remain incognito until she gains access to her inheritance and independence.

I’ve read a few of Julie Klassen’s books, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall was just as well written and researched as her previous works. In fact, the true-to-the-period language can be a little hard to get used to at first – and for that reason the beginning of the book was somewhat slow for me – but did make the book feel more authentic once I became accustomed to the various terms.

As I read The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, I could not help but compare it to the Downton Abbey series on PBS since both have similar subject matters. The sheer size of staff required to run these old English mansions, and the hijinks and politics were fascinating to read about. Margaret’s experience as a maid also provided an interesting contrast between the lives of the upper class at that time period and the lives of their help.

Overall, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall was an enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of pleasant, clean historical fiction.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Also by Julie Klassen: The Silent Governess

Don’t miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie’s Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.

One fortunate winner will receive:

  • A brand new Kindle Fire
  • A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/14/12. Winner will be announced at Julie’s Fairbourne Hall Book Chat Party on 3/15. Julie will be hosting an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek of her next book – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a Downton Abbey Prize Pack (Seasons 1 and 2)!

So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for a book chat party.

Enter via TwitterEnter via E-mail Enter via Facebook

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 15th!

The review copy of this book was provided free of any obligation by Bethany House. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Dirt by Lori Culwell

[ 2 ] March 1, 2012

Reviewed by April Kirkland

The Dirt is a written from Lucy Whitley’s perspective. Lucy is a frizzy-haired science nerd constantly overlooked by her family and tortured by her older sister Sloane, the head of a secret group called the PGs. Although, it looks like Lucy’s life is about to get better. Her dad is getting remarried and she gets to go away to boarding school in Connecticut, far away from the cruelty of the PGs and the constant desert gossip about the Whitley family scandal. That is, until an unexpected guest from the past shows up at the wedding and turns everything upside down.

Suddenly, Sloane is playing nice and gives Lucy a makeover so that she too can join the PGs. Lucy decides to go undercover and agrees, but can she keep herself from getting sucked into their glamorous lifestyle? Should she trust Sloane?

The Dirt was full of surprises. It had a little bit of something for everyone: family, humor, drama, and mystery. I found myself rooting for Lucy, loving to hate Sloane, and curious about what was in store next for the Whitley family. The characters are relatable and Lori Culwell’s writing – from the perspective of a teenage girl – was very engaging.

The Dirt was quite the page turner and at times very unpredictable. I think anyone who enjoys YA novels will love this book….. no matter what clique you yourself belong to.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Also by Lori Culwell: Hollywood Car Wash

April is a stay at home mom and wife. She lives in a small county in Alabama famous for its peaches. She loves to write poetry, read, and paint, and is also an aspiring author.

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

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