Review: The Poetic World of Emily Brontë: Poems from the Author of Wuthering Heights by Laura Inman

Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favorite novels. The windy moors, tragic love story, and romantic writing style are second to none in my book.

Though Wuthering Heights was Emily Bronte’s only novel, she was an avid poetry writer.

I am note a huge poetry fan, I never seem to get out of it what I everyone else does, so therefore I just haven’t read a lot of it.

However, when The Poetic World of Emily Bronte came across my desk for review, I paused.

I haven’t read a lot of the Bronte sisters’ poetry, shockingly, and I thought this book would be a convenient way of rectifying that situation.

In Laura Inman’s book, The Poetic World of Emily Bronte, she explores in detail, several distinct themes in her poetry: nature, mutability, love, death, and captivity and freedom.

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Review: Long Live the King (Love & Inheritance Trilogy #2) by Fay Weldon

Like many fans of the show, Downton Abbey, I am constantly on the look out for upstairs/downstairs inspired books to tide me over until the next season of Downton comes out!

I stumbled upon Fay Weldon’s latest novel in the Love and Inheritance series, Long Live the King and was thrilled to learn that Weldon was actually the writer of the original series Upstairs Downstairs.

This novel is full of Edwardian era intrigue, not to mention a healthy dose of occultist practices such as seances and communicating with the dead.

Queen Victoria is dead and along with her, the restrictive lifestyle that had defined her reign. Her son, Bertie is to take the throne and London is buzzing with excitement about the upcoming coronation.

It’s to be the historic and  social event of the new century!

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Cover Reveal: First Impressions by Charlie Lovett

I’m very excited to share with you the beautiful cover of Charlie Lovett’s upcoming novel, FIRST IMPRESSIONS, which will be published by Viking this October. This charming book is sure to appeal to the same readers who loved his novel The Bookman’s Tale, and will be especially exciting for Jane Austen fans (maybe the title rings a Pride and Prejudice bell?).

First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen (Viking; October 16, 2014; 978-0-525-42724-7)

Book lover and Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of Little Book of Allegories by Richard Mansfield. Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the trueauthorship of Pride and Prejudice—and ultimately threaten Sophie’s life.

In a dual narrative that alternates between Sophie’s quest to uncover the truth—while choosing between two suitors—and a young Jane Austen’s touching friendship with the aging cleric Richard Mansfield, Lovett weaves a romantic, suspenseful, and utterly compelling novel about love in all its forms and the joys of a life lived in books.

Review: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

What do you do with a married woman besides leave her alone? David Graham is stuck in quite the predicament!

His letters and heart have been laid before a woman half way around the world, now it’s up to her to decide if she will erase him from her life completely or risk a correspondence.

A forbidden love story written entirely in letters spanning two world wars? Be still my heart! This is the book I’ve been looking for!

I am a real romantic at heart and to me there is nothing more romantic than a love letter. But that’s not exactly how this story starts out.

Elspeth Dunn is a published poet who lives on the remote Scottish island of Skye.

One day she receives her very first fan letter from David Graham in America.

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Review: A Little Folly by Jude Morgan

Valentine and Louisa Carnell have lived under the overly cautious eye of their father for their entire lives. They have scarcely been allowed to leave their country estate in Devonshire nor have they been allowed visitors.

Their father has purposefully alienated them from their deceased mother’s family so it’s mostly been just the three of them for years. Then suddenly, their father dies leaving them a comfortable fortune and the forbidden freedom they have been craving.

Valentine and Louisa have received a condolence letter from their estranged cousins who happen to be visiting a few towns away and plan on heading home via Devonshire. The siblings agree that their first independent act will be to invite their cousins to stay with them.

When Tom and his sister Sophie arrive, they bring an unexpected guess–the Lady Harriet Eversholt, who is living apart from her husband. Valentine and Louisa welcome them to their home and when they hear of Lady Harriet’s tragic marriage they can’t help but welcome her too.

After a short holiday in the country, Tom and Sophie must return to London. They invite both Valentine and Louisa to join them in London and take in the excitement and distractions of town.

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