Category: Gen Lit

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas) by Lauren Willig

After finishing the latest installment of Lauren Willig’s flowery spy series (The Pink Carnation series), I couldn’t resist eking out a little more frivolous adventure by reading this short story/novella: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas).

Since this is more of a short story, my review will not be as lengthy. I found the novella available for free online through Willig’s website, however I found that reading 100 or so pages on my computer was not ideal so I splurged and spent $0.99 to get it on my iPad through Amazon :).

Amy Balcourt has just married the dashing, Lord Richard Selwick (AKA, the flowery spy better known as the Purple Gentian) and they are celebrating their first Christmas together at Selwick Hall with the entire Selwick family–including one very unwelcome house guest–Lord Richard’s first love Deidre.

While Amy despises Deidre on principal, she is surprised to find that Deidre is not all together as upsetting as her cousin Jane….Amy is feeling the growing pains of her marriage. While Jane is off playing caped crusader all over France, Amy is left in stuffy old Sussex with her new husband–not exactly the glamorous life that Amy imagined. Continue reading “Review: Ivy and Intrigue (A Very Selwick Christmas) by Lauren Willig” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit Bitch11 Comments on Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig

Dapper, dark, mysterious, and mature: Lauren Willig’s latest flowery spy novel, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose  was the ‘changeling’ in the series.

Each book follows the usual pattern of ‘romance’ between a dashing international man of mystery (typically of peerage) and a virginal debutant.

The Crimson Rose is principally the same as the other books, but the love story between Lord Vaughn and Mary Alsworthy is more of an intimate, mature, intellectual love not like the previous books that are more of a fairytale romance….Vaughn and Mary for me were more like Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara.

I was actually surprised that the love story was more intellectual in nature….based on the previous books with Vaughn and Mary I suspected their romance would be all passion and elicit romance, so I was surprised that the story lacked ‘compromising’ encounters between the two lovebirds.

Though the story lacked the same dashing, flowery affection that the other books had the lack of overt attraction was one of the reasons I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED Lord Vaughn as a hero. Continue reading “Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4) by Lauren Willig” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading

Author Interview: Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Author Interview: Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin.

Letters in Cardboard Boxes is a heart-warming coming of age story. It was an absolutely fantastic and well written, I was honored to review Abby’s book, truly a pleasure to read!

Abby also agreed to do an interview with me, so without further ado please welcome Abby Slovin to The Lit Bitch! Continue reading “Author Interview: Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Random, Reading, Reading Challenges

Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway

An author friend of mine, Lynn Shepherd, is hosting a comparative book review contest on her blog.

I couldn’t resist entering as the goal is to review two of the hottest Austen inspired murder mysteries on the market, Murder at Mansfield Park and Death Comes to Pemberley. Shepherd is putting both books together in a head to head compare and contrast style review contest.

What is the goal of the comparative book review?

  • I’m pitching these two Janeite murder mysteries together, head to head, to see which one you think comes out on top. I’m inviting anyone who’s read both books to write a short review comparing the two, and giving them each a score
  • Reviews/entries will be posted on Lynn Shepherd’s blog 

The #AustenMurderMatch starts on December 26th and runs till Monday 9th January 2012

What do you need to do? Continue reading “Entry: Austen Murder Matchup Contest/Giveaway” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James was literally DOA for me.

It really tears me up when I have to write and unfavorable review, but I do have to call them like I see them, it’s only fair to my reads, fans, and authors.

For me, Death Comes to Pemberley was a flatline. I really wanted to like it but I just could never really get into it which makes me very sad.

With every page that I read I was hoping it would improve but I found it confusing at times and the characters flat. James begins with giving the ‘ridiculous short version’ recap of the original Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice novel which gave me hope because it WAS a comical rendition.

Then the actual story itself starts a few years after the marriage of the Miss Bennets to Bingley and Darcy. Continue reading “Review: Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James” →