Tag: romance

The Dictionary of Animal Languages by Heidi Sopinka

Pub. Date: 20-Feb-2018
My Rating: 4 Stars

The Dictionary of Animal Languages by Heidi Soponka is a captivating literary fiction novel that is also historical fiction. The prose is lovely and lyrical and connected me to the main character in an unexpected way.

The story tells the tragic tale of the life of famous artist Ivory Frame. At the beginning we meet Ivory at the end of her life as she is trying to finish her life’s work of studying animal languages that will be a dictionary of sorts. As she is working on completing the dictionary, she receives a message that she has a granddaughter; yet, she never had children. This message is the catalyst to a flood of memories. We see Ivory as a young girl who never fit into various schools she is sent to and later expelled from. Finally as a young woman, disowned by family, she arrives in Paris where she studies painting.

 For Ivory this is where her life truly starts and in some ways ends. It is the time between the Great Wars and Paris is alive with creative people. Not only does she discover her place in the world among the artists and other creative people living in Paris at the time, she finds the love of her life in Lev. Lev is a Russian artist, and an enigma, and Ivory loves him passionately even though he is married. Then in a dreadful and tragic turn of events Ivory loses everything.

This is truly a heart breaking story told with such thoughtfulness and the beautiful prose just took me away. I did think the plot was rather slow; however, it fit the prose and the mood to perfection. If the story had been written any other way it would not have had the same effect on me.

The only negative thing I can say it that I felt the granddaughter connection did not fit as well into the story as it could have. To ultimately be so important, the revelation did not get the attention it should have.

This is a tricky book to recommend because not everyone is going to like the slow pace or appreciate the prose. Though I enjoyed reading it, I recognize that it is not what I would call a “commercial novel”. Yet, for those readers that can truly appreciate it as the art form it is, I think you will love it.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau

 

 

 

Title: The Blue
Author: Nancy Bilyeau
Pub. Date: 3-Dec-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

I always like to point out to readers those books that hit all the right notes for me. Especially when it is an indie-author or from a small/independent publisher which is the case with The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau. The alluring thing for me about this lovely historical fiction is all the factual tidbits of 18th century life and the production of porcelain in that era. This is the perfect example of why Historical Fiction is among my favorite genres.

Genevieve Planche is a young British women who lives with her grandfather, a well-known artist, in London. Her family are Huguenots and refugees, having fled France for England in the wake of religious persecution. Since she was born in England she has no particular loyalty to the French crown and Louis XV. A good thing, since England is now at war with France.

Despite being at war, the English still crave some French goods, such as the famous porcelain pieces produced by Sevres the French manufacturer preferred by Madame de Pompadour chief mistress to Louis XV. Genevieve finds herself drawn into the world of porcelain when her family arranges for her to become a painter at the English porcelain factory of Derby. What she really craves is to study painting under one of the great masters of her time. This is not an option for her because painting is not considered proper for a young lady.

Genevieve chafes at the constraints that society has placed upon her. She even goes so far as to attend a party giving by an English artist, who her grandfather knows, in hopes of persuading him to become her teacher. Of course, she utterly fails. Though she does meet Sir Gabriel Courtenay who later calls on her as her grandfather’s home. He manages to enlist her help as a spy. He desperately needs the formula for the new blue color that Derby is reported to have developed. In exchange, he has promised her what she wants the most, to study under a painter. She agrees to spy and only has a few short weeks to find the formula. Yet, spying is a dangerous business and spies are hanged.

As I already stated, I love Historical Fiction because I always learn some little tidbits. In this instance, I learned a lot of tidbits. The author has out done herself with researching the period and the subject of porcelain. She actually peaked my interest and I had to do some further reading about porcelain, particularly Derby and Sevres.

I also loved the complexity of the main character Genevieve. She is intelligent, a gifted artist and somewhat self-centered person who struggles with her sense of duty to family and friends. Most importantly she is a strong young woman. Imagine going off to live and work were you do not know anyone and you are 4 days away, by carriage, from any family. She also has her flaws, she can be reckless and fails to see the consequences of her actions until it is far too late.

I thought the pace of the plot was good and there were some interesting things that happened that encouraged me to keep reading. The author did an excellent job of marrying fact and fiction.  It gave the story a boost and complemented the prose.

In short, this was an excellently crafted story that any Historical Fiction fan will be sure to enjoy. Be sure to mark it as “Read Soon” on your TBR list.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

November Road by Lou Berney

Title: November Road
Author: Lou Berney
Pub Date: 9-Oct-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

November Road by Lou Berney is a crime thriller centered around the assassination of JFK. Americans have long been fascinated by this mystery, myself included, and there seems to be more theories that you can shake a stick at.

In this fictional version of the assassination, a crime boss in New Orleans, Carlos Marcello, is the master mind behind the fatal shooting. He has personal reasons for wanting Kennedy dead. It is the crime of the century and it has been meticulously planned even down to getting rid of EVERYONE who has ties to the crime no matter how trivial.

Frank Guirdy has been a loyal employee to Carlos for most of his life. He has worked his way up in the crime organization and is now one of the top lieutenants. He is very valuable to Carlos…. until he is not. A little errand in Dallas to drop off a car for the boss two weeks prior to the assassination has made him expendable. Very expendable!

It does not take Carlos long to put two and two together. Since everyone, regardless of rank, who has a connection to the crime is being eliminated. He fears he is next and he runs. However, he finds that he is too memorable as a traveler alone and Carlos has a long arm. Therefore, it is fortuitous that he happens to run into Charlotte, a young mother with two young daughters, who is escaping her unpleasant life in Oklahoma. They become the perfect cover. Carlos’s agent will not be looking for a couple with two kids. But Paul Barone is not just any agent and he is very good at what he does. Now not only is Frank’s life in danger but also the lives of the innocents he has attached himself to.

What a great story. I loved the author’s take on the murder of JFK. The plot worked so well and it was paced to keep the reader interested without feeling rushed. And the ending, not what I expected but it was a perfect fit.

Still my favorite part was the main character Frank. I did not like him much at first, but as I got deeper into the story I started to connect with him. I can even say I felt sorry for him. This left me conflicted because you are not supposed to like a person like Frank. He has done horrible things and he is using Charlotte for his own personal gain. Yet, you want him to win because the only other option is Carlos to win and you do not want that either. Wisely, the author has Frank grow as a person; therefore, making him more likable.

The only thing I was not crazy about is when Frank’s meets up with his contact in Las Vegas. All the stuff that went on between them just did not seem to fit at well with the rest of the story. I know that it was a means to reach a desired conclusion but it felt clunky. In the end, it is such a minor thing I felt it did not impact my overall feelings about the book.

In short this was a well-executed, entertaining historical fiction. I recommend it to not only readers who love that genre but also to those that like thrillers and crime fiction.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash

Title: The Paris Wedding
Author: Charlotte Nash
Pub. Date: 12/Jun-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

After reading the blurb, I thought The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash would be about the main character, Rachael, putting her past behind her and finding love in Paris. In other words, a beach read that is heavy on the romance. Boy was I wrong. It is really about a young woman finding her place in the world.

Rachael West has been caring for her mother for the past ten years, ever since she was diagnosed with a rare form of MS. Rachael has sacrificed going to college, a career and her first love, all to care for and watch as her mother slowly succumbs to the disease. Just after her Mother has passed away, she receives a wedding invitation to Matthew’s, her high school sweetheart, wedding. He is marrying Bonnie Quinn, the daughter of a billionaire and the wedding is in Paris with all expenses paid.  Continue reading “The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash”

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne

Title: Brightly Burning
Author: Alexa Donne
Pub. Date: 1-May-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne is a futuristic remake of Jane Eyre. At first it was kind of hard to wrap my head around the idea of Jane Eyre in space, but it worked. I am sure it helped that I am a fan of Science Fiction. Though the focus is on the story and not the science.

The setting is in the future when the Earth is covered in ice. This new ice age is a result of an eruption of a super volcano. All people that were able to evacuate did so, and now live in colony ships in Earth’s orbit. Stella is an engineer on one of these ships and stuck in a job she hates, on a ship that is on its last legs, and she wants off. She does have marketable skills and applies to various jobs in the fleet. Continue reading “Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne”

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Title: Sky in the Deep
Author: Adrienne Young
Pub. Date: 24-Apr-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

The gorgeous cover is what drew me to Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young. After reading the blurb, I was like; I have to read this one. The story is a Vikingish YA fantasy with a heroine you will fall for within the first few pages. It is a beautifully crafted tale and I dare you not to get hooked by the end of the first chapter.

Eelyn is a warrior for the Aska clan and has been training since a young girl to fight their sworn enemy the Riki. She fights alongside her friend Myra and together they are fierce on the battle field. Until one day Eelyn almost gets killed by a young Riki warrior. Her brother, Iri, saves her. Yet, this cannot be possible, Iri died five years ago in another battle against the Riki. Continue reading “Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young”

Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch

Title: Stone Circle
Author: Kate Murdoch
Pub. Date: 1-Dec-2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch is a mixture of fantasy, historical fiction and coming-of-age set in Itlay during the 16th century.  It is a fascinating story of a young man’s first steps into adulthood.

Antonius has always known he was special. He can hear others thoughts.  So when he finds out that the local seer, Savinus, is having a trial to accept a new apprentice he is eager to go.  Once Antonius demonstrates his abilities to the seer, there is no question who will be the next apprentice. However, the Conte’s son, who is a major employer of Savinus, also shows a small amount of talent. Rank is everything in this society and the seer is left with no choice but to accept both as apprentices. Continue reading “Stone Circle by Kate Murdoch”

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller

Title: The Philosopher’s Flight
Author: Tom Miller
Pub. Date: 13-Feb-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller is an alternate history/fantasy work set in the early 20th century. It is a stunning debut novel and appears to be the first book in a series.

In this alternative history, Philosophy, or Empirical Philosophy as it is better known as, is a relatively new branch of science. Those people, mainly women, who are born with this innate ability can move or shape energy to transport people hundreds of miles, send messages instantly across thousands of miles, and fly, among other things, by drawing a sigil. Of course, leave it to the government to turn it into a weapon for war. Continue reading “The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller”

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

Title: As Bright as Heaven
Author: Susan Meissner
Pub. Date: 6-Feb-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner is a poignant story about a young family who moves from a small town in Pennsylvania to Philadelphia to begin a new, and hopefully better, life after the death of their youngest child. The story is told from four points of view, Pauline Bright and her three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa.

When Thomas Bright’s Uncle, a permanent bachelor, asks him to move to Philadelphia to learn and take over his funeral pallor business, Tom sees it as a chance to lift his family out of poverty. With much hope, the family relocates and starts their new life. As everyone settles in to their new home in Philadelphia, the Great War in Europe is raging and the United States enters the conflict and Tom is called to serve his country. Not long after, the Spanish Flu makes it way to North America and to the city the Bright’s now call home. Continue reading “As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner”

Keturah by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Title: Keturah
Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Pub. Date: 6-Feb-2018
Rating: 4 Stars

I am not big on sappy romance, but love historical romance when the history has an important presence in the story.  This is exactly what I got with Keturah by Lisa Tawn Bergren, a beautifully written historical romance about women of strength in the 18th century.

Lady Keturah Tomlinson, a recent widow, and the oldest of Lord Banning’s three girls, has just received word of her father’s passing, on the Caribbean island of Nevis, where he was overseeing the running of the sugar plantation, Table Top, which provides the wealth for his family. She soon learns that the plantation’s sugar crop has been declining in recent years and that her father has mortgaged the plantation, as well as her family home in England, on a gamble to revive it. If she wishes to save all she has ever known, and provide for her sisters, she must get to Nevis, hire an overseer, and get the next harvest is the ground as quickly as possible. It may sound simple, but for a woman in the 18th century practically impossible. Continue reading “Keturah by Lisa Tawn Bergren”