Tag: Regency Lit

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Review: The Journal of Countess Francoise Krasinska by Klementyna Tanska Hoffman

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Journal of Countess Francoise Krasinska by Klementyna Tanska Hoffman

Charming towering spires, castles, and palaces litter Poland in the 18th century which makes it the perfect backdrop for a fairytale romance. In The Journal of Countess Francoise Krasinska by Klementyna Tanska Hoffman we explore the true life fairytale romance of Francoise Krasinska and the Prince Royal, Charles Duke of Courland (Poland/Lithuanian region).

Klementyna Tanska Hoffman pens this historic account of the Countess Francoise courtship and hasty marriage to the Duke. Though it is a second-hand account of the events, they are historically accurate and offer a unique insight into the royal court during the Georgian era.

I am not familiar with Eastern European history….at all, so I was a little weary about reading this book when my friends over at Onesuch Press suggested I read it. However I knew it was a short read (about 120 pages) and since I love courtly history, I felt that by reading this, I might have the perfect excuse to build my historic base, and I was right!

I love reading primary sources and first hand accounts, especially of courtly life. I was surprised to see not much has changed in the world since 1759 (which is where the Journal opens). Girls still write in their diaries about boys they like, and they still hope upon hope that, that boy is looking at them….then the wish comes true! He returns said maidens affections and marries her, living happily ever after…..or so the story goes. Though that is not the case for the Countess. Continue reading “Review: The Journal of Countess Francoise Krasinska by Klementyna Tanska Hoffman” →

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Review: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation #5) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation #5) by Lauren Willig

The exotic scent of night blooming jasmine fills the pages of Lauren Willig’s latest Pink Carnation series installment, The Temptation of the Night Jasmine.

Robert, the entailed Duke of Dovedale, has  returned to England after being abroad in India for 12 years. Though it’s not his nostalgia that draws him home….it’s revenge.

There is one debutant that threatens to derail Robert’s revenge….his distant, twice removed ‘cousin’ Charlotte. Charlotte is the granddaughter of the Dowager Duchess of Dovedale–think Maggie Smith from Downton Abbey :).

The Duchess rules her family and relations with an iron fist–a duchess to the core. She is strong, ruthless, and stubborn to a fault….Charlotte on the other hand is innocent and bookish, a far cry from her ancestors. Her whole life has been spent in a fairy tale world. Her reality has been filled with tales of courtly love and romance found in her favorite novels.

Charlotte has carried a torch for Robert since childhood and when he returns…the trumpts blow and her knight and shining armor dismounts his white horse burlesquely to plan a kiss on the fair maiden’s hand as she tosses him her handkerchief…or so the scene goes in her mind LOL :). Continue reading “Review: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation #5) by Lauren Willig” →

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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” →

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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” →

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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” →