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

Review: The Smuggler’s Daughter by Kerry Barrett

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This book’s cover is positively stunning and that’s how it ended up on my TBR list! I love the tempestuous looking sky, rocky coastline, and the pale peach of the girl’s dress on the cover. It suggests innocents and yet something stormy brewing in the sea. Not to mention the title suggests adventure! I love books set on the coast, it’s something so instantly atmospheric about it.

Author Kerry Barrett, has written a couple of other books and while they sound good, this is the one that would naturally stand out to me. I love the description of the book and the setting, and as I noted before, the cover is eye catching. I liked that it’s a duel timeline story with a historical narrative and a modern day one that culminate in the end. This is a storytelling style that I rarely get tired of.

But then there was part of me that was hesitant about this one…..there are a lot of books with ‘daughter’ in the title—The Witches Daughter, The Timekeepers Daughter, The Painters Daughter, The Hangman’s Daughter….the list goes on. Everyone has a daughter and it’s a title that doesn’t really distinguish itself. But nevertheless, I liked the Smuggler portion of the title and I think in a way it did stand out for that.

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Special Feature: Courage, My Love by Kristin Beck

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If there is one historical fiction trend I am loving this year, it’s more WWII books set in Italy! So many WWII books are set in England or France and while I love WWII historical fiction books, the setting never feels original or different. But this year I have seen a number of WWII historical fiction books set in Italy and I am 100% here for that!

I think there are so many untold stories from that area during that time, and I am so excited to read more about that time and location in history! This book right here has caught my eye on a number of levels too! I love that this book focuses on the Italian resistance during the war years. It feels like it’s going to be fresh and new, something I haven’t read before!

This one sounds like it’s going to have a lot of emotional tension as the Nazis occupy the area and are closing in on the resistance fighters. I think that’s going to add not only suspense but emotion in the larger narrative. I am really excited to share a little about this book below and if you love historical fiction this is going to be one book that you want on your radar this spring! I for one have it high up on my historical fiction TBR list! And the best part is, that it’s out today! So snag yourself a copy now!

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

Review: A Wicked Conceit (Lady Darby Mysteries #9) by Anna Lee Huber

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I have been a long time fan of all Anna Lee Huber’s books, but the Lady Darby series stands out as a favorite of all her books. I will gladly clear my calendar for any upcoming Anna Lee Huber book because they are just that good! This book is the ninth in the series and I will say that I encourage readers to start this series from the beginning.

Some of the books could be read out of order but there are relationships and back stories that spread across multiple books, thus making it difficult for readers to fully appreciate the nuances of the characters and the mysteries. This book in particular harkens back to earlier books in the series and previous relationships that readers will want to be aware of.

As a side note, I loved that this book was so timely. In the book, there is a cholera pandemic and the author has commented on the fact that when she was writing this book she had no idea that we would be in an actual pandemic. It’s a fun aspect of the book and also rather ironic and timely.

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Special Feature: The Virgin and the Viscount by Robyn DeHart

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Publication Date: April 12, 2012
Entangled Publishing/Scandalous

Series: Lords of Vice, Book Four
Genre: Historical Romance

As a Lady of Virtue, Matilda Brooks swears to reform the most despicable man of her acquaintance, her brother-in-law, Sullivan Chase, Viscount Glenbrook. Well he may not be the most despicable, but he is certainly arrogant, flirtatious, and entirely too charming. To make matters worse, he has the irritating tendency to poke fun of her and rile her emotions as no other man does. However, when she confronts him, he laughs off her concern about his slothful ways.

But when a carriage accident forces Sullivan to play knight to Tilly’s damsel, his unexpected act of chivalry ends up costing them both their freedom. Her compromised reputation and his honorable declaration forces them into a marriage neither of them wants. Which is most inconvenient, given that she has sworn to despise him forever.

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Special Feature: The Test of Gold by Renee Yancy

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Heiress Evangeline “Lindy” Lindenmayer has been groomed since childhood to marry into the British aristocracy as her mother’s ultimate ambition is a royal title for the family name. But literature fascinates Lindy far more than ballgowns, and she spends all her free time in the library, the only room in the Fifth Avenue mansion where she can safely indulge her passion for reading and find refuge from the prying eyes of her mother.

Jack Winthrop is studying for the ministry at Union Theological Seminary and has been invited to use the Lindemayer’s library for his studies. His sole experience of upper-class young women has occurred at his uncle’s church, where he has found these young debutantes universally featherbrained. When he meets Lindy, he is pleasantly surprised to discover she has wide-ranging interests and is highly intelligent. Although cautioned by his uncle to stay away from her, he finds Lindy a kindred spirit and over animated discussions of books and life, they fall in love.

But to reach happily ever after, Lindy will need to challenge her mother’s long-laid plans, and weathering the approaching storm will take more backbone than she even knew she had.

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