This book was a delightful romp through Green Meadows, bursting with wildflowers and fresh air, and oh, how I loved it.
Plain expectation’s wildly exceThis book was a delightful romp through Green Meadows, bursting with wildflowers and fresh air, and oh, how I loved it.
Plain expectation’s wildly exceeded my expectations. I had no idea what a shining gemstone of a story I was getting, read it in one sitting.
I should also stress I chose this after reading several very dark and disturbing books. I was in the mood for something light, and this book is a lot of things, but romance plays a role and that’s not usually the kind of book that I’m into.
I am here to tell you that anyone could get into this book, and I think it’s much more geared toward fans of books, like “Jane Eyre”, and “Pride and prejudice” and even “Cinderella” than anything else.
So Georgia has lived in the shadow of her sister, all her life. Georgia is not conventionally beautiful. She hides herself away, as dreamers tend to do sometimes, replenishing herself with books. She is an avid reader, and she loves to write.
But girls are being courted, and their hands asked for in marriage.
Georgia considers herself a plain Jane in part because that’s the way her sister and her mother have always treated her. But she also happens to be the sister of the prettiest girl in the countryside. It’s not easy for her and she has resigned herself that men will not be breaking down the door for her.
Then Mr. Garrett comes to town.
There is more than a spark of many different, classics in this book.
Others have mentioned “Pride and prejudice” and I thought that too, but “Jane Eyre” was the first one that came to my mind for me, which I read as a kid, and absolutely adored. This book is way lighter than Jane Eyre though.
There’s also something of the Cinderella story. But this is a clean book as there is no sex drugs, or even any rock ‘n’ roll!
It’s sparkling clean. So please do not go into this expecting a bodice ripper because it’s as far as that as one can get.
What makes this delightful is Georgia herself. I had an immediate connection with her. Just like I did with Jane Eyre when I was a kid. I wanted to be friend and and know her.
Of course, aspects of it are predictable, but I cannot even begin to tell you what a breath of fresh air the story is.
I felt like I’ve gone back in time because I read a lot more of these types of stories when I was younger. Maybe I should be reading more of them.
There’s a lot more that goes on, but I don’t want to reveal anything and I’m not even going to use spoilers to do that.
I will tell you if you choose this book you will not be fond of the sister. This is also an ugly duckling, beautiful swan, kind of story. Only Georgia is not ugly no matter how certain people choose to perceive her and there are plenty of other people who know that too.
To sum up… This book was utterly adorable. It’s so readable, even from the first page, and it was such a calming book and a fun book and glorious to read, After all the dark pages I’ve been taking in lately!
The last book I read before this was a five star read but it’s also one of the darkest stories I’ve read ever so to go from that to this was delicious.
What a beautiful period piece this was, light and airy and brimming over with fun and joy and love.
I would encourage anybody reading my review to pick up a copy of plain expectations. I am having an amazing reading year so far and this book is definitely at the top of the list....more
It is not enough to love the nightbird’s song. One must also love the nightbird. And … one must eventually fall in love with the night itself.”
Speaks It is not enough to love the nightbird’s song. One must also love the nightbird. And … one must eventually fall in love with the night itself.”
Speaks the Nightbird (Matthew Corbett, #1) by Robert R. McCammon
This book had everything that I adore. Historical Fiction. Check. Great writing. check. Woman accused of witchcraft. Check. Sinister yet beautiful atmosphere. C heck.
Seriously, this book is quite good. And DIFFERENT. I can see by all the four and five star ratings many a reader loves it.
It is hard to describe the genre. It is sort of a Historical Mystery and romance wrapped into a darkly enchanting multi layer character study. It IS sort of addicting and I love how one get get lost in the book so easily.
The only thing is, "Speaks the Nightbird" is long. Like in seriously. My 2nd favorite book of all time, "I Cleopatra" was like that. (It clocked in at almost 800 pages). So does this one. Don't let that spoil it for you.
Rachel, the townsperson judged by her suspicious town folk as being a witch is a compelling character. I do love these types of stories that feature history and folklore and amazing chararacters with an environment that...LOL...speaks.
So I stumbled on this one by chance. I'd recommend it. And I do have to mention that the name "Rachel" seems to be very popular among Gothic women of mystery.I do love it when I can find patterns with certain book names used. Sadly there are not many Brens in the book world.
I have noticed that "Alice" is often a villain and also mysterious, Janes are lovely and strong women and Rachel is a popular name for the Gothic and alluring woman in Historical Mysteries.
Anyway....putting aside my name tangent I would recommend this book....more
"Even at a young age, Mary had an avid interest in politics. Her family were devoted Whigs. At the age of nine, she supported Zachary Taylor and refus"Even at a young age, Mary had an avid interest in politics. Her family were devoted Whigs. At the age of nine, she supported Zachary Taylor and refused to attend a parade for Andrew Jackson when he visited Lexington. Politics was discussed freely in the Todd house, and Mary developed her strong beliefs early on".
Mary Todd Lincoln: A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History
I love these type of books.
I remember back in elementary school reading about the Lincolns. However, that was a long time ago, (longer than I like to admit). I saw this book on Kindle and decided to read it.
I really enjoyed this book. It is short but covers so much. And I learned so much about Mrs. Lincoln. And I deeply respected her.
Mary Todd Lincoln was a woman ahead of her time which I am glad the writer notes. At a time when women were expected to be strong, silent and fade into the backround, Mary was blazing with intelligence and was both intelligent and sassy. People did not know what to make of her. But most of all she had a deep love of Politics that many could not understand because it was not proper for women to get involved in these things.
I related to her greatly. I am a political junkie who was born with it in my blood and have come across many people, even in today's times, who do not understand it. How difficult it must have been, being herself in a world that was so not open to change and non conformity. I have such admiration for her.
She did not seem happy as many have mentioned but how could she be? The wheelings and dealings of her son, Robert, were shocking and distasteful and I'd love if this writer were to research HIM because I'd love to know why he did the things he did to Mary.
The fact that she was disliked by many while alive and then revered after she died does show the hypocrisy of the general public and and of politics in general.
I enjoyed reading about President Lincoln as well, an unassuming farm boy who becomes one of the greatest presidents who ever lived.
I loved everything from reading about the people to the time period.
It was a quick and educational read that I would really recommend to just about anyone....more
And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Revision of earlier The map of love is uncharted.”
And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Revision of earlier review of this book which I misplaced before I could finish:
I have a big problem. But it is not the problem it first was where I misplaced the book.
So I am a big Historical Fiction fan and I love, in particular, reading about real people, especially royalty.
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was certainly as close to royalty as one could get without actually BEING royalty.
So I was excited to read this and started with high hopes. I love this writer as well.
My problem originally was that I lost my copy of the book.
Then I found it.
And I discovered I just did not like it so I DNFED.
I cannot even say why with this one. I usually love Biographies and are one of the easiest genres to lose myself in. Not here though. I didn't find it compelling and even at tense and tragic points like where JFK is shot I just did not want to keep reading.
I have read and seen so much on her. And I have been to the Kennedy Gallery in Dallas and I just grew tired of the book. There really isn't another reason.
“What is love, but to hold dear without expectation? What is love, but first given devotion? What is love . . . But freedom.” ― Tosca Lee, Legend of Sh“What is love, but to hold dear without expectation? What is love, but first given devotion? What is love . . . But freedom.” ― Tosca Lee, Legend of Sheba: The Rise of a Queen
My review:
Wow. I am struggling here with what to say. I honestly do not think words alone can do this book justice.
I am one who went into this book knowing little to nothing. Oh I had heard of Bilqis,Queen Sheba and King Solomon, king of Israel. But really I had no knowledge of their story.
Although this is Biblical History, I chose it because of the Historical story. I have always adored reading about great Monarchs. This book seemed to me, one that I would enjoy.
But I was not prepared for how deeply, movingly, bitter sweetly and beautifully TOUCHING the story would be. Nor was I prepared to read Prose that treated every word as..for lack of a better term..a celebration. Words are to be celebrated and this book is word upon exquisite word. The writing stunned me with it's deep poignancy and ravishing beauty.
So Bilqis ruled over Saba and Solomon ruled over Israel. This is their story although it is told from Sheba's point of view and we do not meet Solomon for awhile.
We are introduced to Bilqis as she is a young girl. She grows up with so much tragedy. Losing her mother at such a young age and then the violent rape that takes place. It would have been enough to break many people.
We watch her rise to power and her introduction to the far away King who would ultimately change the course of both their lives.
I do love Historical Fiction so much. As a child, I sat in my school's library and devoured books about Historical Figures. And my second favorite book of all time is "I Cleopatra" a masterpiece and incredible work of art about Queen Cleopatra.
The writing here reminded me of that book. I mean it when I say every word is a celebration. It is so lyrically written and so uncompromisingly beautiful, that it is deeply lovely even before the letters.
The letters.
I think I fell in love with King Solomon myself, reading those letters. Watching the two fall in love via scroll was beautiful. If ever one wants to see what makes up the word "soulmate", they need look no farther than this book. We, the readers, are taken into a very precious arena, where we watch two brilliant but lonely people slowly remove the masks they wear to the public and let themselves be known.
The letters between the two are electrifying. So too is the journey the queen undertakes to meet Solomon. I had thought I'd not like that and would have to skim . I generally do not enjoy action oriented aspects to books. But this journey itself was it's own character and a joy to read. It was a festival, a party. And we, the readers, are there. Or we long to be. It feels so classically REAL. And honestly , I loved that aspect of the book. It was fascinating and once again, CELEBRATORY. I will not forget it.
And than there is the end. Of the book. I did not expect my reaction which was visceral and came with tears. I do not often weep at books. Sometimes but not frequently. I wept at this. The bittersweet aspect went so deep and I was amazed at how emotional I got.
So, yes I'd recommended this tantalizing and enthralling story. I have read so many excellent Historical reads this year, including The Tiger Queens, a book about the women of Genghis Khan.
Many times I praise a writer and say I plan to read more from them but never get around to it, simply because my TBR list is so long. In this case however, I KNOW I will get around to it. While reading this book, I found out there is a short prequel about Sheba's mother. This will be read by me, most likely in the next few weeks. Sheba's mother was one of my favorite characters. She was only in the story for such a short time but her character was so VIVID and fully realized.
So..to sum up..if one likes Historical Fiction..this one is a must read. I found about it because I saw a GR friend reading it. I'd like to thank them but cannot recall which friend it was so thank you nameless friend!
And thank you Tosca Lee for painting such a beautiful portrait of love, of sorrow, of triumph and of freedom. I will never forget this book....more
“You can't stop your heart from loving, really -- it's like standing out there in the ocean yelling at the waves to stop.” ― Sue Monk Kidd, The Mermaid“You can't stop your heart from loving, really -- it's like standing out there in the ocean yelling at the waves to stop.” ― Sue Monk Kidd, The Mermaid Chair
My review..9/6/2020
The Mermaid Chair was a must read for me. I fell in love..immediately..with the cover. I'd also read "The invention of wings" which I'd rated a five. I was prepared to love this. I did not.
I DID love certain aspects. By gosh, this woman can write. And she writes in a way I love. She writes about summer and islands and Mermaids. She writes of Star Fish and beautiful Sea Corral and she writes of water and tranquility. She writes of beautiful flowers and the sweetness of the Sea Spray and of tropical breezes and citrus and her writing is just..simply..heavenly.
But the subject matter..it did not do it for me. The infidelity was not the issue..not really. So what WAS the issue? Lots of things.
I did not really understand Jess. I did understand her motivation, her wanting to be free. And I understood her desire. To people who question why she needed sex to feel free..I get that. Is there anything more exciting then the first blush of pure passion? Of feeling a soul connection? I got all that and it did not offend me.
But her feelings of disdain for her husband bewildered me. Not that she was tired of him. But in certain ways, she seemed to find him repugnant and that I did not get. To question one's life..yes. But at times Jesse almost seemed to dislike him and she became so hostile toward High and so..almost contemptious..that I found it hard to understand.
Add to that:
SPOILERS:
When Jesse had the odd turnaround and wanted to go back to Hugh. It seemed to happen so suddenly. Can one really turn off one's sexuality that quickly? She LOVED this man..Brother Tom..and all of a sudden she was longing for Hugh. I GUESS this sort of thing happens. Not having ever been married maybe I just do not get it. But all of a sudden her feelings shifted toward Hugh and she loved him fiercely. Now if it had been casual between tom and her I'd have understood but she felt Tom was PART of her and her soul. It was hard to understand when all of a sudden she was literally saying the same thing about Hugh. I was a bit baffled.
Plus..the book was depressing. Really gloomy. And very New Agey. And just not in a way I liked.
I'd have adored this book if it had all been just about the island. The incredible writing, the raw and special BEAUTY of how this woman (Sue Monk Kidd) writes is vivid and beautiful. I just was not wild about the story line.
I also did not get what she said about how their love ( her and Brother Tom’s), wasn’t meant for such mundane things as washing socks or living together. Then is it really love at all? I had to wonder. Jesse's marrying herself to the sea was a little out there but I love the sea too so I could understand that. And the images of the island made me want to go there. Very mixed feelings.
And so much time was spent on the mom's story line as well as the story of her dad which broke my heart but was to painful for me to read without skimming..The book was a celebration in a way of life and living and I get that and I deeply respect some of the messages in this book. But the book as a whole was not for me....more
“They each sat in a chair without talking. Words weren’t necessary to keep someone company.” ― Amy Sue Nathan, The Last Bathing Beauty
Review to follow.“They each sat in a chair without talking. Words weren’t necessary to keep someone company.” ― Amy Sue Nathan, The Last Bathing Beauty
Review to follow..someday!
Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Nostalgia!!
That is what this book does..clothes you in nostalgia!
How many times have I said nostalgia now?
So..just a few thoughts on this one. I am not always in the mood for nostalgia. Certainly not now. This is one that I think is really beautiful that I just was not in the mood for because..that word again! It is nostalgic!
A grandmother recounting what went wrong in her life to her Granddaughter who is in danger of making those same mistakes.
So nostalgic.
And summery. It is blooming with summer as Bet recounts the summer on the beach in Michigan that changed her life and altered its course forever.
I have read so many books like this and sometimes I find them wonderfully tranquil, even therapeutic, but other times books like this bring me down.
Why? Because we can't go back..any of us..the beach is a distant memory and I'm stuck in the house trying to avoid Corona Virus.
Not in the mood to be nostalgic.
That does not mean it isn't a moving, well written and tender read, brimming with breathtaking descriptions of the Lakes of Michigan. Calling all Michiganders...you will want to read this!
And it takes place at an inn, strangely like the Catskills where us New Englanders got our summers on. (See Dirty Dancing for more on that.)
I do not want to give anything away so I will not. But one thing: the kind of thinking that lead to a certain decision the main character made infuriated me.
I w as in a youth group as a kid for people of my religion, Jewish. I stopped going when, at a weekend getaway, they showed us a film on why it is so important Jewish people marry in their own religion only.
Being the little rebel I was, I was enraged, disgusted and quit the group.
I believe anyone should love whomever they want and whatever ethnicity or religion they are, it's fine. I never subscribed to that other stuff. (I could use a stronger word than "stuff" but for purposes of being the demure gal I am not, I will refrain).
Anyway..yeah, I LOVED the Jewish terms that will make sense to nobody who does not know Judaism. That's Okey Dokey though. I would encourage people to read The Last Bathing Beauty, as it is witty and warm and full of strong characters. It is just a fun book. But it is NOSTALGIC! Oy vey. Highly recommended....more
“Unless I confess to a crime that I did not commit, I will be sentenced to death. The irony does not escape me. Lying before God will buy my freedom a“Unless I confess to a crime that I did not commit, I will be sentenced to death. The irony does not escape me. Lying before God will buy my freedom among men.” ― Heather B. Moore, Condemn Me Not: Accused of Witchcraft
This book is about Susannah North Martin who was an ancestor of the author. It is also a masterpiece of writing, one that I suspected I would like and did. Loved. It is so good when the high hopes you have for a book are met or even exceeded.
I am not including spoilers because we know how this one ends.
Susannah was accused of witchcraft during the era of the Salem witch trials, as were many other people. This book is told in two parts. In the present, she is jailed and awaiting her trial. But the book also goes back in time to tell of her life as a young girl and how she came to met and know her true love, George.
I have read many books on this period in time. It both fascinates and horrifies me. But what really makes this book stand out ate two things.
One: we get to know the other women in the cell as well. And we see the absurdity of these accusations and just how out of hand..crazy..things got. Condemn me not shows the tragedy so deeply that it is impossible, I think, not to feel emotional reading this. And angry as well.
The other aspect that makes it stand apart...is the tenderness. Aching tenderness and the love story between George and Susannah.
In as much as you weep for her fate, you rejoice knowing how deeply loved she was and I will freely admit that romances in books are not always my thing but I found the romance in this one as good as the other aspects of it. It completely carries one away and I adored reading about this wonderful couple's courtship. Five stars for sure.
I will admit that I am a bit more hardened than I used to be and way more jaded. I now see how such a thing could have happened. It saddens me that I CAN see it. People are very gullible. And suggestible. And some people are just evil. And for me, I wanted to reach through the book and scream at all this lovely woman's accusers. So will you, I think. As great a book as this is, it's deeply painful too.
In closing..highly recommended. A masterpiece. One of my best reads of 2020. And this is a book I will not forget any time soon or ever....more
"Privateer, sister, privateer. Sanctioned by the queen of England and sailing under the English flag".
En brazos del pirata by Connie Mason
Reread. I o"Privateer, sister, privateer. Sanctioned by the queen of England and sailing under the English flag".
En brazos del pirata by Connie Mason
Reread. I originally read this book so many year s ago.
3.5 stars.
What an adventure this book was! Pirates and royalty and damsels in distress! Pretty fun stuff.
Although this is a Fun swash buckling tale, it is also quite the Bodice Ripper which I did not know when I picked it. But the story was really good and I loved that most of it took place at sea.
The two main characters in this luscious romance had plenty of chemistry. I liked reading about Morgan and Luca's adventures at sea and how they slowly become obsessed with each other. And the supporting cast were quite fun as well.
This is not the type of book I generally read as I am not a huge Pirate fan but funny enough this book sort of changed my mind on that. I enjoyed every bit of it.
If you want a book with romance, adventure, pirates, royalty, bad guys, good guys, and just an all around fun adventure you've found it here. Very enjoyable....more
"They were standing on the terrace that overlooked the charming garden below, bursting with rare flowering plants and creepers, ornamental shrubs and "They were standing on the terrace that overlooked the charming garden below, bursting with rare flowering plants and creepers, ornamental shrubs and fruit trees-the result of the princess's personal undertaking. She had decorated the wooden enclosure surrounding her quarters in the harem with paintings done in vegetable dyes, made for her by a maid who had learnt the art when she had worked under Jain monks."
Rani Padmavati: The Burning Queen by Anuja Chandramouli
Possible Triggers..Suicide
I knew nothing about the story of Rani Padmavati when I chose this book. I had seen it here on GR and was taken with the stunning Red and Gold cover along with the description of the book. I adore Historical Fiction but this story is not one I knew literally anything about.
I do read much on Cleopatra but Rani Padmavati, the Queen of Chittor, who commits jauhar, (Self-immolation to avoid captivity) , I had no knowledge of. And that is good because it allowed me to go in fresh and not compare the story to any others I had read about her..since I haven't.
Padma, as she is referred to in the book, was married to Rawal Ratin Singh and together they ruled the Indian kingdom of Chittor. Their love story was genuine. It was not just a marriage of convenience. They adored one another.
Padma possesses beauty that is almost incomprehensible. She is breathtaking and void of malice as well. Her personality is like sunshine but with a mischievous quality and she is also blessed with high intelligence.
Alauddin Khalid is the conqueror and he has conquered alot. It is inevitable that he wants to take over Chittor and so the book..short as it is under 300 pages, has a strong degree of tension running through it at all times.
I already knew how this story would end from reading reviews and just from the title. But there is so much to Padma's story. I would really recommend this to Historical Fiction fans, particularly those who, like me, enjoy reading about Historical Royalty. It is written in deeply shimmering, vibrant Prose and the imagery and the scenery are beautifully imagined. I read it in one sitting.
The writing also has a sort of light.dark quality. For example, at times there is a playful edge to it but do not mistake that for a lack of intensity. As others have mentioned, Padma's vision is written incredibly and is one of the most intense scenes I have read this year in any book. It catches you off guard as well.
While there are no happy endings in the physical sense for Rani Padmavati, the Spiritual element is a different story. If one believes that love..and the human soul..extend way after death and are endless through time, you may look at the end a bit differently as the book blends the beauty of the love story of Padma and Rawal Ratan Singh beautifully with the spiritual element of love never ending.
Compare that to the vast emptiness of the life of the conqueror, who may have won the physical battle but absolutely lost the emotional war, as he has nothing to show for all his victories except an empty soul devoid of love or anything remotely resembling it.
This book was beautifully written, taught me so much and I really liked it. I do wish it had been a bit longer and I sort of wish Padma had narrated it as we are told much without being shown frequently. I wanted more of Padma which is hard to get in a book that is a bit on the shorter side. Still, it was a unique and beautiful read about a unique and beautiful queen who had more courage than almost anyone I have read about. Highly recommended to Historical Fiction fans....more
We stepped back to admire our work and then closed the sliding barn door to the old carriage house, now a country gallery.
The Old Cape House by BarbaWe stepped back to admire our work and then closed the sliding barn door to the old carriage house, now a country gallery.
The Old Cape House by Barbara Eppich Struna
The Old Cape House is a work of Historical Fiction, taking place in Cape Cod. The book has two stories in one. In current times, Nancy and her family have just relocated to Cape Cod and purchased a beautiful old house that they are also planning to convert into a gallery. Not long after moving in, they stumble upon some items that appear to be quite old, maybe hundreds of years old. The family are slowly pulled into the mystery of the C ape Cod House and events that happened in the Seventeen Hundreds.
The second story is the mystery of the people or person who dwelled in the house before..all those years ago.
Way back, Maria Halleck, just a young girl, falls in love with Sam. There is a significant age difference between them and Maria's father orders Sam to stay away from her. They fall in love anyway and Sam leaves to plunder for Gold in the High Seas, promising to come back for his love. Only he doesn't..
Alone and seemingly abandoned, Maria finds she is pregnant. The townspeople are not happy about this and brand Maria as evil. There is a trial held.
I will not say anymore. I thought this book was utterly charming, with breathtaking descriptions of The Cape. If you are reading this and have never been to The Cape, you may not appreciate it to the extent that Fans of Cape Cod do.
I used to vacation in The C ape. I knew the sights and smells since almost before I could walk. As a proud New Englander, I know how unique and special The Cape is and it was delightful to read a work of historical fiction that takes place there.
I was surprised to see many low ratings. I agree the writing was , at times, rather stilted in the conversations. I did not care about that. I could easily imagine this happening and my personal only complaint is that I was so caught up in the Historical story, I really did not care about present time and skimmed much of t hat part. I find this happens in many Historical works that switch back and forth from present to the past.
For me, Maria was such a compelling character, that I rushed through the present, skipping pages, impatiently thumbing through, to get to the past again.
I would recommend The old C ape House to fans of Historical Fiction. It's a beautiful book and makes me want to buy a cottage in Cape Cod....more
"She wondered what kind of business he did with the earl. They seemed worlds apart".
Amelia's Deception (Deception #1) by G.G. Shalton
Such a fun book!
O"She wondered what kind of business he did with the earl. They seemed worlds apart".
Amelia's Deception (Deception #1) by G.G. Shalton
Such a fun book!
OK..I am giving this a 5. This shocks me because although I love Historical Fiction, this is pure Historical ROMANCE and that is not usually my thing.
However exceptions can and should be made. This book is fantastic! I can't believe how into it I got. It was so much fun.
So this is fairly light reading. I needed that badly. I was starting to go into burnout mode because I have read so many dark books lately. Stephen King's "The Institute" and a few other dark ones including a book about a sinister fertility clinic that I could not read to completion. So this was like a breath of fresh air.
Amelia's dad is in trouble with gambling debts and to get out of them, he gives his daughter away to wed Andrew Baird, head of a criminal underworld. Amelia is devastated but wants to do what she can to get her family out of debt.
Well you know where this is going doncha? They start having real feelings for each other, Amelia and Andrew. And as they do, their pasts are revealed and the reader can see these two are more alike then they may initially appear.
I LOVED this. first off..this is not a Bodice Ripper and anyone who thinks that it is will be let down. There is barely any sex in the book. Look, I do not mind Bodice Rippers. I have enjoyed many a Jackie Collins novel. But this book has none of that. It is about these two people and how they gradually heal their own wounds and self hurt by falling in love. I found it beguiling.
Any fan of just good old fashion romance will want to check this out.Not that it does not have any dark aspects but by and large, it is the type of book one can read leisurely and after all the fast paced, dark and sinister reads of the last few months, reading this was a pleasure.
This is the plea that Kate Morgan’s grandfather makes to her. Kate has no idea what he’s talking about but sh“Find her. Find the Beautiful stranger”.
This is the plea that Kate Morgan’s grandfather makes to her. Kate has no idea what he’s talking about but she know she has to honor this request. The journey she is about to take will transform her forever.
This gorgeous piece of historical fiction will appeal to many different types of people I’m sure. It is a mystery. It is a ghost story. It is a story about old Hollywood. (Marilyn Monroe makes several appearances). It is a romance. It is a coming-of-age story. It is a story of a beautiful historical and mystical Hotel, the hotel Del Coronado in California. It is a story of the sea. It really offer something to everybody.
I was slow to get into the spot I must admit. But the story becomes mystical and fascinating. Most of the book takes place at the Hotel Del Coronado as Kate's quest to fulfill her Grandfather's wishes will take her there. And the story primarily takes place in the Nineteen Fifties but parts of it take place even earlier as once upon a time long ago there was another Kate Morton and this one lived and died at this hotel. Although she has died, her presence is still felt at there. And she has a story to tell as well.
The lives of these two women with the same name will intersect in ways that the reader does not see coming
I loved the atmosphere in this book. Most of it takes place at the hotel in Southern California and the ocean is incorporated into this book in a captivating way.
If I had to use words to describe the atmosphere I would call it Sultry and languid. You will feel like you’re right there with the palm trees swaying, the ocean water roaring and the feel of the hot sand and sea spray all around you.
The pace on this one is slow so I would suggest reading it when you have some time to really feel the book because if you go in any other way you will not be able to totally absorb the lush atmosphere.
It’s a warm and wonderful story that also carries with it the themes of personal freedom and fighting to go beyond one's own perceived limitations and society's expectations to make the life one wants for themselves.
It is very well written and I am really glad I read it. I think, if you decide to read it, you will be too....more
"I love to study. Knowledge is fun for me. I've always been that way".
Reading Seraphina by Tiago De Silva.
Reading Seraphina was quite an imaginative r"I love to study. Knowledge is fun for me. I've always been that way".
Reading Seraphina by Tiago De Silva.
Reading Seraphina was quite an imaginative read. I enjoyed this book.
For those that know me well, they know I have always been fascinated by Egyptian History. I started reading about Celopatra around age seven and even now I look for books about Her life and about Egypt.
This book was really not so much about Cleopatra. She is in it but plays a small role. Rather the focus is on Seraphina.
Seraphina is a young and curious girl, a Hebrew, living as an Egyptian in the great library of Alexandria. People do not know she lives there. Well, just a few people who care for her and her dog. Her parents vanished when she was just a little girl and very little is known about what happened to them.
The story has another aspect to it and that is the telling of Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy and the fight over the Egyptian thrown. It is also the story of the general Caesar puts in charge of Alexandria. His name is Rufio.
I have seen Rufio in other books but always as a small character. He is portrayed in this book as quite a villain.
Seraphina is on a quest to find out what has happened to her parents and Rufio is on a quest to convince his sensitive, peace loving son that studying science, math and philosophy is a waste of time. Rufio would much rather his son join the army and become a soldier.
It seems at first that these two story lines are separate but nothing could be further from the truth. At around the halfway mark, they start to interweave.
I enjoyed this book but my one negative has nothing to do with the lovely writing. I was consumed by the storyline of the royal palace and not as interested in Seraphina. I can't help it. I just happen to love reading about the Egyptian royalty so I found myself more into that aspect then the other.
The book also covers the war between the troops of Cleopatra and Ptolemy including the accidental fire of the great Library of Alexandria which I have read about before and which was such a tragedy in itself.
There is romance in this book which I did not expect and though I enjoyed Reading Seraphina I did not love it madly mainly because I've read many books on this subject and have a few favorites in regards to that. But it is still a fine book I'd recommend.
I also just want to say what also makes this book unique. There is the constant theme of forgiveness. Not just forgiving others but forgiving oneself. This really stood out to me along with the theme of meditation which is also a strong aspect of the book. In fact, just today I was beating myself up about something and this book came to mind and I stopped. I'd say parts of this book are actually therapeutic. And that is why I just changed my rating from a three to a four.
Reading Seraphina is so well written and the story has many both beautiful and brutal aspects. It is also educational and for anyone interested in that time period they will likely enjoy this....more
I have a rule when it comes to DNFING a book. I do not rate if I have not read at least 50 pages or so.
This is obviously a good book. The writing is gI have a rule when it comes to DNFING a book. I do not rate if I have not read at least 50 pages or so.
This is obviously a good book. The writing is great. I can see that. However it is not for me. The story involves two people, both dealing with extreme loss. One is a young Norwegian girl come to North Dakota to meet her fiancee only he is not there to greet her..
The other is a man whose wife dies in childbirth.
I have no doubt this is a great book. For me, the high volume of tragedy happening before even fifty pages were finished was to much for me. Also I had not realized this was part of a series.
I am sure it is great but it is not for me....more
"For one chilling moment, Roselyn thought for sure the old sailor would be lost, but she grasped whole handfuls of his shirt and hauled him on board j"For one chilling moment, Roselyn thought for sure the old sailor would be lost, but she grasped whole handfuls of his shirt and hauled him on board just before the small vessel crashed broadside into the roiling ocean".
The Sea Rose by Amylynn Bright
3.5 stars for this fun book.
The Sea rose is nothing if not fun. Reading it, one immediately enters the world of pirates, boats and the open sea. It is a fun book.
I used to avoid these types of books until many years ago, I read a full length Historical romance not very different then this book. I loved it! Then my interest in all things swash buckling was started!
So there are some sex scenes in this but it isn't really a bodice ripper or anything. It is short too, not a short story but more like a novella.
What I liked best are the descriptions of the sea. You can feel like you are there and almost feel the boat moving and the sea swirling around you.
I really do enjoy this type of read and although I do not read romance frequently, when I do, I like this type of story. It seems I chose well with The Sea Rose and highly recommended to fans of Historical Romance novels....more
"If I were to stand, I'd see the whole farm spread before me, a neat patchwork of paddocks wound through with the dark ribbon of the creek".
All I Want"If I were to stand, I'd see the whole farm spread before me, a neat patchwork of paddocks wound through with the dark ribbon of the creek".
All I Want by Shayne Parkinson
I have to start by saying there is something so delicate about the writing of this short book. It just grabs you immediately.
This is a short and poignant story about love, loss and sacrifice. It is narrated by the wife of a dairy Farmer in New Zealand after The great war.
She takes the reader through her first meeting with her husband, the sadness of war, his return home and his desire to become a dairy farmer. She tells of their personal struggles in having a family and their enduring love. This is a short book but it contains alot of pain as well as much beauty.
I'd say this is a must read. There is something wonderfully intangible about this book. As she describes their house and their land, you can almost feel yourself out there with them, breathing in the fresh air and looking out to the beautiful land beyond.
The writing sparkles. There's really no other way to describe it. It's light and delicate and the book is like a rose petal bursting with color.
If you like Historical Fiction and want a short but precious read, add All I want to your list....more
The feeling one gets from reading a five star quality book is almost indescribable.
Before I go on, I should really say that I have read this authors wThe feeling one gets from reading a five star quality book is almost indescribable.
Before I go on, I should really say that I have read this authors works before and everything I’ve read has been good, but I consider this her masterpiece.
So this book is about queen Nefertari.
Not Queen Nefertiti. Queen NEFERTARI.
They are two different people.
Nefertari was the niece of queen Nefertiti.
This is the story of her life. It is a coming of age story, a love story, and a beautiful historical work that had everything I look for in a great book.
Queen Nefertari does not start out as a queen. She grows up an innocent tomboy, playing palace, games, with her friend Ramesses.
They chase each other around courtyards! Nefertari is a little bit of a wild little thing, unwise to the ways of the scheming and duplicitous palace.
She also lives in a bubble and it’s not a nice bubble.
Nobody is allowed to mention her aunt Nefertiti‘s name. She is considered a Heretic. Nefertari has little family left. Most of her family died a long time ago killed in a fire , a very mysterious fire.
Some people in the palace do not like her. They worry that she too, is a Heretic.
One person who does not worry about that is Rasmesses.
He and Nefertari have been friends for a long time. He is a good friend too.
But the winds of change come, and suddenly Nefertari is more alone than ever. Rasmesses Has become king. He needs to take a wife .
For the first time she’s on her own. And people tell her she must grow up and figure out what her place in the palace will be, or even if she’ll have a place at all.
She has options. She could become a scribe. Or perhaps she could be a priestess or perhaps – should she even dare to think it – she could become the wife of her longtime friend from childhood.
For those that don’t know, yes, the Pharaoes of Egypt could have more than one wife.
They could actually have as many wives they want to have. But will the king even notice her as a woman, and not as his little Tom boy friend whom he used to chase through the Palace since childhood? If he does notice or her, can she become the chief wife?
That is what all wives want to be. The chief wife, the royal queen.
I cannot even describe with words how utterly captivating this work was.
With historical fiction, particularly those books that take place in exotic locations like Egypt, one has to feel transported there. I really did. I felt like I was right there, a wanderer in the palace watching events unfold.
This is one of the best books easily that I’ve read all year. What is particularly touching is the love story and now I must write.
SPOILERS :
Many of the events that take place in this book are reimagined. However, the love story is not.
“ My love is unique, and none can rival her… Just by passing, she has stolen away my heart.”
That is what Rasmesses wrote to Queen Nefertari on the wall of her burial chamber.
It is the author who tells us this herself, because after the book ends, there’s a whole portion, devoted to events, and what events really happened and what events were reimagined. The love story really happened.
It is hard to have dry eyes when one finishes the book.
In any event, it was a great reading experience, about as good as it gets, and I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the subject matter....more
This was not on my TBR list..a friend gave it to me quite awhile ago. I did not expect to like it but it was just so adHow could anyone not LOVE this?
This was not on my TBR list..a friend gave it to me quite awhile ago. I did not expect to like it but it was just so adorable! What a fun story!
I may have to go back to the romance genre at least part time. I used to read many a Historical romance but moved away from that as I got older.
This book is not only fun and warm and interesting, it is also an homage to the game of "Clue".
If you have never ever played the game of "Clue" I would urge you to please start now. I was a real board game buff as a kid and Clue was always one of my favorites.
I could see this is as a movie. It's a frothy witty book with beautiful cover art and a fun mystery. Highly recommended....more
“Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” ― Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing
Review “Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” ― Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing
Review to follow shortly.
It is difficult for me to believe this is a first novel. I still am in shock over this book.
I stayed up to 2:30 AM just to finish. There are occasionally those books that one can not put down nor go to sleep without finding out what happens. This is such a book.
I realize it is not for everyone. I looked at some reviews. Some of what others did not like are exactly what I adored. The descriptive writing..lush and poetic..I could see the world created, before me so easily. I could smell the Ocean air and hear the chirping of the crickets. I could feel the shadows of the swamp and bask in the tranquility.
The writing in this book is so beautiful, it is as much of a character as anyone.
This book will make you laugh, cry, smile and hurt. You will fall in love with Kya. It is the best book I have read this year..no question . And it is an instant classic....more
Bren fall in love with the sea.
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