Category: Literary Criticism

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Review: The Anatomist’s Wife (Lady Darby Mystery #1) by Anna Lee Huber

by The Lit Bitch10 Comments on Review: The Anatomist’s Wife (Lady Darby Mystery #1) by Anna Lee Huber

After reading Anne Lee Huber’s novel Secrets in the Mist, I realized how desperate I was for another Gothic romance novel. I wasn’t really up for a murder mystery but everyone raved about Huber’s Lady Darby mysteries so I thought I would try out her well known mysteries that boast Gothic elements and romance.

The Anatomist’s Wife was on my radar years ago when it released and I recall trying desperately to win a copy when it was published. I obviously didn’t win a copy, but I did try very aggressively for days. Then of course I moved on to some other novels only to have this one resurface again on my radar.

Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister’s estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when her hosts throw a house party for the cream of London society, Kiera is unable to hide from the ire of those who believe her to be as unnatural as her husband, an anatomist who used her artistic talents to suit his own macabre purposes.

Kiera wants to put her past aside, but when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to utilize her knowledge of human anatomy to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage–a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn’t about to let her guard down as accusations and rumors swirl. Continue reading “Review: The Anatomist’s Wife (Lady Darby Mystery #1) by Anna Lee Huber” →

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

Review: Secrets in the Mist (Gothic Myths #1) by Anna Lee Huber

by The Lit Bitch5 Comments on Review: Secrets in the Mist (Gothic Myths #1) by Anna Lee Huber

I have been craving a Gothic romantic suspense novel for a while, I just haven’t been able to find something more contemporary than Victoria Holt. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Victoria Holt but I just wanted something a little more up-to-date.

I downloaded a sample of this one months ago but just never got around to starting it. So on a whim I decided to just read the sample and see how it was. I was completely hooked from the first couple of chapters!

Foggy marshes, a chance encounter on a misty night, a handsome stranger masquerading as someone else, spies, and a damsel in distress? This book had it all! I found myself wondering why in the world I didn’t start this one sooner!

I haven’t read anything by Anna Lee Huber, but I’ve had her book series, Lady Darby Mysteries, on my radar for years, but for some reason I just never have gotten around to reading it.

The description of this book caught my eye, especially since it’s marketed to fans of Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart….I can never resist a Gothic romantic/suspense novel!

Continue reading “Review: Secrets in the Mist (Gothic Myths #1) by Anna Lee Huber” →

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

Review: If I Could Tell You by Elizabeth Wilhide

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: If I Could Tell You by Elizabeth Wilhide

Ahhh war romances how I love you! When this one came across my desk for review, I jumped at the chance to review it. The description was tantalizing and I just knew I had to read this one!

For some reason I just love books about ill-fated or impossible romances and while this one had an adultery element, that wasn’t a deal breaker for me….in fact I was curious to see how that angle would work within the story.

England, 1939: Julia Compton has a beautifully well-ordered life. Once a promising pianist, she now has a handsome husband, a young son she adores, and a housekeeper who takes care of her comfortable home. Then, on the eve of war, a film crew arrives in her coastal town. She falls in love.

The consequences are devastating. Penniless, denied access to her son, and completely unequipped to fend for herself, she finds herself adrift in wartime London with her lover, documentary filmmaker Dougie Birdsall. While Dougie seeks truth wherever he can find it, Julia finds herself lost.

As the German invasion looms and bombs rain down on the city, she faces a choice—succumb to her fate, or fight to forge a new identity in the heat of war (Summary from Goodreads).

Continue reading “Review: If I Could Tell You by Elizabeth Wilhide” →

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Review: A Death by Any Other Name (Lady Montfort Mystery #3) by Tessa Arlen

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: A Death by Any Other Name (Lady Montfort Mystery #3) by Tessa Arlen

I am always on the look out for new murder mysteries, preferably with a female lead ‘detectives’ and set in England. While this isn’t my first novel by this author, it felt new to me. I read Tessa Arlen’s first book in this series, DEATH OF A DISHONORABLE GENTLEMAN, back in early 2015 and though I wasn’t completely hooked at the beginning, I was invested enough to finish it and was rewarded for my tenacity.

I didn’t read the second book in this series for some reason, but when the third book came up for review it sounded rather good so I decided to give her books another go. I wish now that I had read the second book before this one, but over all, the third book read find as a ‘stand alone’.

Set in the day leading up to WWI, the elegant Lady Montfort and her redoubtable housekeeper, Mrs. Jackson, investigate a murder among a group of amateur rose-breeders. When Mrs. Jackson receives a visit from a cook who believes she was an indirect witness to murder from a poisoned dish of breakfast kedgeree Lady Montfort promises to do what she can to clear the cook’s name, and contrives an invitation to Hyde Castle, the home of a self-made millionaire, to investigate a murder of concealed passions and secret desires.

Continue reading “Review: A Death by Any Other Name (Lady Montfort Mystery #3) by Tessa Arlen” →

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Review: Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World by Maria Tatar

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World by Maria Tatar

Be our guest this weekend with the live action Disney, Beauty and the Beast, hitting theaters!

The animated Disney film was one of my most favorite movies growing up and even now, I still find myself singing along to all the songs when I hear them!

Not to mention, my 7 month only baby LOVES animated Disney and the music, though The Little Mermaid is his all time favorite, Beauty and the Beast is a close second so needless to say I watch the animated Beauty and the Beast about once a week.

I am also currently streaming Disney on my Pandora station which is full of Beauty and the Beast classic songs, all to get ready for the upcoming movie release!

So like many fans around the world, I am anxiously waiting for the live action film to be released because let’s be honest….it looks absolutely magical! And as a little girl, I loved that Belle made reading cool for nerd girls around the world!

Continue reading “Review: Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World by Maria Tatar” →