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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Book Blast and Giveaway: 1066: What Fates Impose by E.K. Holloway
Publication Date: March 4, 2013 Matador Publishing King William then utters the following words to the room: ‘I appoint no one as my heir to the Crown of England, but leave it to the disposal of the Eternal Creator, whose I am and who orders all things. For I did not attain that high honour by hereditary right, but wrested it from the perjured King Harold in a desperate bloody battle.’ England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break…
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Review: The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag
Alba’s life is falling apart. Everything that she has been working for has literally come to a grinding halt, she has lost all hope. While working on her MPhil at Cambridge, she suddenly gets rejected and can no longer continue pursuing her passion–history. While wandering the streets of Cambridge one night, she suddenly finds herself in front of a house that she has never seen before. Mysteriously drawn to the house, Alba is met by the land lady, Peggy, who invites her into the house for some tea. As soon as Alba enters the house, she notices the hundreds of photos of famous women in British history–Beatrix Potter, George Eliot, Daphne…
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Review: The Secret Woman by Victoria Holt
Anna Brett was born abroad in India but was sent to live in England with her spinster aunt, Charlotte, where she would be educated. Anna’s parents promise that it will be a short stay only but when tragic circumstances occur, Anna finds herself stuck in England indefinitely. Anna’s Aunt Charlotte is we well known antiques dealer in the busy port town of Langmouth. There the wealthy Crediton family runs the town. They live in a ‘fake castle’ on the hill and the family is the talk of the town. When Anna and her aunt visit the castle to purchase some antiques, Anna meets the dashing Captain Redvers “Red” Stretton. Though she…
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Review: Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt
On the storm coastline of Cornwall lies Mount Mellyn, a magnificent old family home. The Mount is home to the TreMellyn family, Connan and his daughter Alvean. Connan is recently widowed and looking for a governess for Alvean, who seems to go through governess’ at an alarming rate. Martha Leigh has agreed to take the governess post at the house, and she is dreading it. Having had her season she has not obtained what every Victorian woman dreams of–a husband. So after a couple of unsuccessful seasons her only option is to find a position. When she arrives at Mount Mellyn the house is imposing, dark, and basically all around creepy! When…
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Announcement: The Chalice (The Crown #2) by Nancy Bilyeau
And the winner of The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau is….. Kara (follows on Twitter @Shamstress) The winner will be notified via email. Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to the publisher for making this giveaway possible!
