Romance Novel Corner

What I Read in April

2006-04-29T05:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, technically April still has two more days to run, but due to my schedule this weekend, I know that I will not be able to squeeze in another book. In terms of quantity, it was not a terribly good month, due to various committments at work, and the length of one of the books read.

1. "A Moment's Madness," by Helen Kirkman. 'B/C-' I reviewed this book in detail in a post on April 07, entitled "Not Enough History, Yet Not History Light." The B rating was for the setting, England in the period of 870 AD, while the C- part of the rating was for the execution. Almost all of the action took place offstage, while we read endless chapters (the book was only 300 pages, so how endless could it be,you might ask, but they seemed endless) about a Danish widow and a Saxon warrior learning to trust each other in order to allow them to love. The sad part for me was that the author obviously knows her subject matter, so why the suffocating setting of the bower, while we head-hopped around about Feelings? It was like being forced to watch Dr. Phil. And Oprah. Together. Well, the cover was cool!

2. "The Da Vinci Code," by Dan Brown. 'C' So, this was what the shouting has been about for the past two years? Ho hum. If I were a very conservative Roman Catholic instead of a liberal Episcopalian I probably would be offended by the picture painted of the Church of Rome. As it was, I was more struck by the lack of quality in the writing -- the characters were cardboard cutouts, the dialogue was stilted, and even though the book took place over a breakneck period of 72(?) hours, no one had to go to the bathroom. Maybe the movie will be better, even with Tom Hanks horrible hair.

3. "Kiss Me, Annabel," by Eloisa James. 'A' Read the review published here earlier this week.

4. "Emma," by Jane Austen. 'A+' I simply adore this classic novel by Jane Austen. It is personally my favorite. IMO it is a much more complex work than "Pride and Prejudice," although many object to a heroine who is not automatically as lovable as Elizabeth Bennet.

5. "His Majesty's Dragon," by Naomi Novik. 'A' for this first novel, a sci-fi/fantasy set in an alternative 19th century that comes complete with adorable dragons. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Jane Austen, and Anne McCaffrey you will be ahead of the game to enjoy the Napoleonic Wars with an air corps. Captain Will Laurence goes from the Royal Navy, with its stuffy traditions of class, to a flyboy in the rough and ready Aerial Corps when he bonds with a newly-hatched dragon captured during a battle with a French frigate. The dragon Temeraire is a wonderful character -- sweet tempered with his Will, intelligent, and brave. Be warned: some passages will require the use of a hanky. The second book in the series, "Throne of Jade," has just been released, and the next, "Black Powder War," is due out in June (all, so far, in mass market paperback).

6. "March," by Geraldine Brooks. 'A-' I love the premise of this book: the principal narrator is Mr March, the mostly absent father from Louisa May Alcott's classic "Little Women." This is not a book for children. Some reviewers indicated a YA audience as well as an adult readership, but I wonder if they made that call due to the association with "Little Women." I have to confess that as I have no YA readers in my family I cannot assess whether that is an appropriate rating or not -- if I were pressed on it, I would think 15 or 16 would be the youngest age I would feature being interested in the book. The book is told in first person narrative with some flashbacks, first from the POV of Mr March, then from the POV of Marmee. There are scenes of violence; themes of war, racial prejudice, sexual desire (both within and outside of marriage); loyalty to one's country, one's principles, and to one's spouse; and the role of women in 19th century America. And the book is entertaining as well as thought-provoking. I have not read Ms Brooks' other novel, "The Year of Wonders," but I think that will soon be joining my TBR pile.

Now I Finally Get It!

2006-04-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

For quite a while I have read all the rave reviews about Eloisa James, including when she "outed" herself as both a romance novelist and a professor at Fordham University. While I was impressed with her academic credentials, her books seemed rather ho-hum to me -- I read the early novels, including "Potent Pleasures," and found them generally to be too long to support a rather slight story involving younger heroines. It wasn't that I didn't recognize, and appreciate, an almost literary writing style, but perhaps the problem was with me, as it was a time when I had almost stopped reading historical romances, which means I was reading damned few romances period. Jaded. Disappointed again. Whatever...

I believe it was in 2004 that the first book in Ms James series on four sisters living in Regency England was published. The sisters were relatively poor -- their only doweries consist of a racehorse apiece, an interesting premise. "Much Ado About You" attracted much positive buzz, so I decided to give Ms James another try. I was attracted to the premise, but, once again, found the execution to be somewhat lacking for me. For one thing, I have a pet peeve about the overusage of the word "grin," and almost everyone in that book spent a lot of time grinning, sometimes when a smile would have been far more appropriate. The characters were appealing, but the major problem for me was that the hero and heroine of the first book were not as interesting as the secondary characters, especially Annabel.

Enter Annabel in her own novel, "Kiss Me, Annabel." The second in the series, "Kiss me, Annabel" was published last year and has languished in my TBR pile for several months. It was only the publication of the third book in the series that prompted me to pick up the second. Now I finally get it! I don't know if I am just in the right mood for this story or what, but now I understand the Eloisa James following. The hero and heroine, Annabel and Ewan, are fresh and lively. Ewan in particular is a hero not often found in today's romance novel -- technically he is a virgin, although not without great interest in, and some experience of, women; he is religious and frankly talks about his feelings to Annabel (who is more like this reader, in that her interest in orthodoxy is limited), but he is not preachy or pious, nor is he an evangelical (this is NOT an "inspirational" romance). Annabel is a character who grows emotionally and ethically during the course of the novel. The novel has strong suggestions of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," and that play is alluded to during the course of the couple's trip from England to Scotland. I found this to be a delightful part of the novel, and it greatly increased my reading enjoyment, and respect for Ms James writing.

There is an interesting sub-plot with one of Annabel's younger sisters, a widow, and the rake she is trying to seduce in an attempt to forget her grief over the premature death of her husband. The youngest sister is reintroduced, and will, no doubt, be the subject of the final book in the series. The third book, "The Taming of the Duke," has received mixed reviews, primarily due to even stronger references to English literature (especially to "A Midsummer's Night Dream") throughout the book. If often seems to me that the reasons I enjoy a book are the very reasons others come away dissatisfied -- and I think that is due to the fact that, oddly enough, the romance is not the primary reason for me to read a romance novel. I like a good story well told and the romance is secondary. In the case of "Kiss Me, Annabel," I think those with both points of view will come away satisfied.

What I Read in March

2006-04-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

March was actually a good month for reading -- I finished seven books. For those more prolific readers, I know that seven books is not many, but considering that the major part of my reading is accomplished on a commuter bus, I feel like crowing!

What I read:

1. "The Return of the Native," by Thomas Hardy. Good solid 'A' rating for this literary classic. The discussion on the Barnes and Noble University website was hot and heavy -- many of the women participants were outspoken in their dislike of the character of Eustacia Vye, whom apparently in their eyes was the next thing to the Whore of Babylon!

2. "The Innocent," by Posie Graeme-Evans. 'B+' for this first novel, an historical set in the reign of Edward IV. The historical background was carefully recreated, the secondary characters were outstanding, the problem for me was with the heroine. She was almost too naive to be true, and I had a difficult time with her sudden maturity when she was faced with the unexpected answer to the mystery of her birth. The second book in the series ('The Exiled') is already out, but I believe the third book has not yet been published. Fans of Anya Seton, Marsha Canham, and Elizabeth Chadwick would enjoy this book -- but it is not a romance, and the adultery, plus a couple of S & M sex scenes, may bother some readers.

3. "Avalon," by Anya Seton. 'A' Beautiful re-issue of the classic Seton novel of England around the year 1000 AD.

4. "The Mysterious Miss M," by Diane Gaston. 'B' This entertaining Regency romance with a heroine who was really a whore, not a virgin hiding in a brothel, was marred for me by the almost constant presence of the heroine's little girl. In real life, I love children but I rarely care for them in romance novels.

5. "A Lady Raised High," by Laurien Gardner. 'C' Lackluster historical novel that is second in a house series on the six wives of Henry VIII. "Laurien Gardner" is a pen name shared by six authors, each of whom will write one book in the series. The problem with this book was the uninteresting heroine and narrator, a plain-faced country girl who is taken under Anne Bolyn's wing and becomes one of her ladies in waiting. Her romance with a handsome minor noble is improbable.

6. "One Little Sin," by Liz Carlyle. 'A' This Regency had the most engaging hero and heroine I have recently encountered in a romance novel. There was much humor in the book and an unexpected twist at the end of this variation of the secret baby theme. I could even tolerate long passages where the hero played with his toddler daughter without impatiently waiting for the scene to end. First of three novels by Carlyle dealing with a trio of men who have been determined to escape The Parson's Mousetrap.

7. "Green Darkness," by Anya Seton. 'A+' Reissue of the classic historical novel on reincarnation.

What Happened on my Birthday?

2006-04-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Go to the on-line Wikipedia and put your birthday (month and date only, not the year), then post three things that happened on that date; three people born on that date; and at least one death that happened on that date to your blog. If you don't have a blog, post on mine!

JANUARY 12

EVENTS:

1777 - Mission Santa Clara de Asis founded in what is now Santa Clara, CA. I loved visiting the missions when I lived in California. At one time I lived less than 10 miles from Mission San Gabriel, and it was always a treat to visit there and sit in the garden.

1915 - U.S. House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote (boo! hiss!).

1932 - Hattie W. Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate (ah ha!! vengence is mine!).

BIRTHS:

1729 - Edmund Burke - Irish stateman and philosopher

1876 - Jack London - American author

1954 - Howard Stern -- radio personality (yikes! if that isn't bad enough, Rush Limbaugh was born on January 12, 1951).

DEATHS:

2001 - Affirmed - American race horse, foaled in 1975. Won the Tripe Crown in 1978. Those of us who saw Affirmed beat Alydar in the Belmont Stakes will never forget the stretch drive when Affirmed won by a nose!

Not Enough History -- Yet Not History-Lite

2006-04-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

"A Moment's Madness" is my first Helen Kirkman novel. It was published by Harlequin Historicals in 2003, but the later books in the series moved to Harlequin's HQN line. The book satisfied a longing for historical romances set in something other than the Regency period -- the books are set in Wessex prior to the year 1000 AD and involve Vikings (or Danes) and Saxons. This is hardly a well-worn path for a romance author, although Viking romances were at one time very popular -- for the most part they were also not very accurate.

A visit to Ms Kirkman's website indicated that this is an author who has done much research on the period about which she writes. The website is colorful and has wonderful information about the cultures and their histories. I looked forward eagerly to delving into this book, with it's beguiling cover art (okay, I admit it --I am a fan of the so-called decapitation covers, and the couple is shown in all its glory on the back cover as well).

The opening chapter was exciting and full of the promise of conflict and, I thought, of the rich historical details I love -- I think I was expecting Elizabeth Chadwick in 292 pages, which is just not possible! Yes, there were historical details about the conflict between the Danes and the Saxons, brief, but close enough for government work. There was some use of Danish and Saxon words -- not enough to overwhelm those who do not care for that sort of thing, and just enough for those who do. But, basically, deep down, at heart this is a rather traditional character-driven romance novel, centering on the relationship of the heroine and the hero(a young Danish widow and a weary Saxon warrior). Most of the action takes place in the bower, where Sigrid and Liefwin overcome their fears in an attempt to come together as a couple.

For those who like historical romances to be primarily about the couple, with less emphasis on history, but still accurate, this would be considered an excellent book. It is not History-Lite, in that the author knows her subject and is skillful in recreating aspects of the world as it was once in that time and place. It is also well-written, although I have some quarrel with many of the conversations consisting of Liefwin saying,"Sigrid," followed by Sigrid replying, "Liefwin," with long looks and pregnant pauses abounding. But, after all, this is a first novel!

I have all the books in the series, which is current as of March 2006, and I do intend to read them all. I am just hoping the rest of the books get us out of the bower and onto the battlefield a little more often, and that the dialog is not quite as stilted as that in "A Moment's Madness." I give it a B+ for the setting and the research, but only a C for plot and execution.

An Historical Novelist for the Romance Reader

2006-04-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

If the term "fan girl" had been invented back in the 1960s, I would have been the prime candidate to be "honored" with that title due to my undying admiration for the works of Anya Seton. It was one of the major disappointments of my reading life when I found out that 'Green Darkness' was going to be Ms Seton's last work. The author retired, citing reasons of health, and lived on for another 25 years. Her books went out of print several years ago, and are just now being reissued by Chicago Review Press in these lovely trade paperback editions.

'Green Darkness' is Ms Seton's final work, and for many it is her crowning achievement. In the introduction to this edition, Barbara Samuel writes that she can usually tell after a few minutes of conversation whether 'Green Darkness' or 'Katherine' is the favorite book of a Seton fan, as it is usually one or the other. With me, ever the rebel, it is neither: I still, after all these years, cannot make up my mind between 'The Winthrop Woman' and 'Devil Water.' The former will be issued in September of this year, and Chicago Review Press just acquired the rights to the latter. A hint: if you are a fan of Diana Gabaldon, you will probably vote for 'Devil Water.'

What makes Ms Seton's works endure at a time when romantica, or erotica, is taking center stage in the romance novel world? Sex is merely hinted at in her works -- she almost always stops at the bedroom door, and, even when she doesn't, there is nothing that could make a teenager blush (do they still blush?). Historical romances are being dumbed down by editors who want fewer historical details that increase the length of the book and Ms Seton's books are well researched and full of details. I think part of her appeal is that she obviously relishes the history about which she writes and communicates that to the reader -- I know many people who date their love of history to their first readings of Ms Seton.

But, ultimately, I believe it is her gift as a story teller that makes her timeless --she is able to create characters that stay with the reader long after the book is closed. Even her weaker books are a breath of fresh air, free of cliche writing, full of emotion, and true about life. Anyone who has ever loved not wisely but too well will identify with Celia and her obsession with Brother Stephen in 'Green Darkness,' or with 'Avalon's' Merewyn who loves Prince Rumon but ends with a far-different life than she could ever have imagined when dreaming of her future.

I love the covers of the new editions, although I have a couple of small gripes about the cover of 'Green Darkness,' and those are that the portrait is not from the Tudor period, nor does it look like Celia in either of her incarnations. The best cover in my opinion was for 'Katherine,' and I realized I have not downloaded it as I have the other Seton books. I will do so later, as to me it fully captures the woman so vividly portrayed by Ms Seton.

4 MeMe

2006-03-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD
1. Supervisor at a government agency
2. Substitute teacher
3. Retail sales associate
4. Owner of a janitorial service

4 PLACES I HAVE LIVED
1. Fredericksburg, VA
2. Bishop, CA
3. Fayetteville, NC
4. Pasadena, CA

4 MOVIES I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN
1. "Tombstone"
2. "Glory"
3. "When Harry Met Sally"
4. "Persuasion"

4 TV SHOWS I LIKE TO WATCH
1. "Imas in the Morning"
2. "Wildwest Tech"
3. "Everyday Italian"
4. "Masterpiece Theatre"

4 PLACES I'VE BEEN ON VACATION
1. Williamsburg, VA
2. Yellowstone National Park
3. Jackson Hole, WY
4. The Grand Canyon

4 WEBSITES I VISIT DAILY
1. Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine
2. Romancing the Blog
3. Weight Watchers
4. amazon

4 FAVORITE FOODS
1. Fried chicken
2. Scrambled eggs and bacon
3. Watermelon
4. Tacos

4 PLACES YOU WOULD RATHER BE NOW
1. Bishop, CA., riding a horse
2. Dublin, Republic of Ireland
3. NYC for the St Patrick's Day Parade
4. Paris

4 FRIENDS YOU ARE TAGGING TO RESPOND WITH THEIR OWN 4
1. Erika
2. T. Marie
3. Jenster
4. Anyone who sees this post!

Still Around -- Still Reading -- Still Working

2006-03-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

I am right in the middle of crunch season at the office as well as being involved in a group read of "The Return of the Native," by Thomas Hardy. I have two more group reads coming up shortly, including one of Jane Austen's "Emma." It has been about four years since the last time I read "Emma," and before I read it I have to read the Sinclair Lewis classic "Babbitt." Romance novels will be catch as catch can for the next few weeks, which is a shame because I have so many tempting books in my TBR pile, including a couple of new-to-me authors. One of the new-to-me authors is Margaret Moore, who writes novels set in the early Middle Ages for Harlequin. While other authors of historical novels often mention her as an inspiration for their own writing, Romantic Times Magazine generally only awards her three stars for her efforts. I will be curious to see whose opinion most clearly matches my own!

Happy Reading! I will be checking back on my poor neglected blog this weekend.

Yet More Books Read in February

2006-02-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

My final count for the number of books read in February is nine. In addition to the books listed in previous postings, I read:

"The Duchess's Next Husband," by Terri Brisbane. This was a delightful Regency by an author previously known to me as strictly a writer of books set in the Middle Ages. Ms. Brisbane always seems to have mixed reviews in publications such as "Romantic Times," but I enjoy her books. She captures the feeling of the time periods in which she writes, and in this book created a heroine who went from passive pawn to heroic lady fighting for her man in a believable fashion.

"The Face of a Stranger" is the first in the William Monk mysteries by the great Anne Perry. If you enjoy mysteries that keep the solution until the very end, and an author who faithfully recreates a by-gone era (in this case early Victorian England), you cannot do better than Ms Perry.

"Dragonwyck," a reissue of the beloved Anya Seton classic from 1944. This is truly lovely cover art, is it not? This Gothic novel deals with murder, and includes subtle hints of sexual sadism (but nothing to put you off your feed), drug use, and a cast of characters that includes Edgar Allen Poe.

"The Mystery Kiss," by Judith Landsdowne. A fun Regency mystery with a cast of very appealing characters, including a doormouse! Not my usual cuppa' but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Cover Art -- Again!

2006-02-26T04:02:00.000-08:00

Oh why, oh why, oh why saddle a perfectly delightful book with such a dismal cover? Amanda reviewed this book, "The Mystery Kiss" by Judith Landsdowne, in depth on her Bookwormom blog a few weeks ago, and based upon her review I ordered the book from a secondary seller on amazon. I agree with Amanda's assessment of the book -- it is a well-written and enjoyable romance novel, although normally not the type of book that catches my fancy (a rather lighthearted Regency that includes children, but does have slightly dark undertones, due the fact that the heroine was mistreated by her late husband prior to the opening of the story).

But the cover, ladies! What was the publisher thinking when first someone said, "Let's put gold foil figures on a purple background?" Ick! Romance readers are divided into several camps on cover art: some, and I am one, like covers that depict the characters in some fashion (I enjoy cover art that is a reproduction of a famous work of art, or a photograph that is from the time period of the novel), and if it is a "clinch cover" I like the stepback cover format. Other readers enjoy flowers and fans on their covers, or symbols, such as those that grace Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" books. There are a very few who enjoy the cartoon covers, covers that started out only on chick-lit, but since have migrated to Regencies as well (although with the demise of the Zebra Regency line it is possible we will see fewer cartoon covers on historicals). But I know no one who likes covers with stylized foil characters!!

For one thing, one of the pleasures of reading a romance novel is holding a book with an attractive cover, whether it depicts an embracing couple, a lovely face, a manly chest with plenty of what Amanda referred to as "man titty," or something more generic and abstract. Second, I find that when a book has an attractive "couple cover", I will often pause in my reading and look back at the picture, to get a refresher as to the appearance of the hero and heroine. While sometimes the author and the artist part company on details such as eye and hair color, the best cover art conveys the essence of the story and adds to the emotional aspect of the reading experience. The cover of "The Mystery Kiss" is a big zero -- it does not convey in the slightest the magic of the hero and the heroine, the awakening of the heroine to the idea that she can find love again after her marriage to a wife-beater, nor the charm of a hero with big ears (someone like Clark Gable, is my take).

"The Mystery Kiss" was published about five years ago, and I have to admit I have seen fewer foil covers since that date, with the horrible exception of the latest "Outlander" book, "A Breath of Snow and Ashes." If, indeed, the trend is away from cartoon and foil covers, I applaud that trend and hope that it holds.

Two Frustrating Hours & Still No Links!

2006-02-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

I managed to change my template to what I feel is a more attractive format, but am unable to create embedded links on this site. I spent two hours this morning trying to follow what appeared to be very clear step-by-step instructions from another site, and still am unable to create links to other blogs and websites. Obviously I have no idea what I am doing! If anyone can guide me through the process step-by-step I would appreciate it.

My Worthless Blog!

2006-02-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Amanda (Bookwormom)posted today that Technorati has a feature which allows you to determine the monetary worth of your blog (her Bookwormom blog, which I never miss, had $0.00 value). If her's was deemed worthless I knew this blog hadn't a prayer!! Sure enough, I went to www.technorati.com and got the bad news, hence the title of this posting.

What makes the difference between a blog that has monetary worth and one that doesn't? I haven't solid clues, but I have some theories. I think the name of the blog may have something to do with it and I know that mine is pretty bland -- I was thinking of changing it to "One Old Broad's Views of Life, Love, and Literature," which is probably closer to the mark than "Romance Novel Corner." I will have to check out whether it is possible to change the name but keep the blog intact (I'm a little website challenged, to say the least). I think the layout may also contribute -- Tara, whose romancereadingmom blog has monetary worth, is much more lively than mine. She also posts photographs of her adorable son -- not fair! My family will not allow me to post snapshots of my grandchildren on the internet, so y'all will have to wait until I get my poodle next year.

I also think that in addition to being dull, the title of my blog is misleading, as I do not confine my reading to romances, and often review other types of literature. And, working full time leaves me little free time to interface with other bloggers, let alone update my blog every day. I was disappointed that several recent posts resulted in 0 comments from readers...that is if anyone even looked at them. Jeeze, I'm starting to whine, and I hate it when I do that!!! I need to rethink this blog, because as much as I enjoy posting on it, I also like the interaction with anyone who takes the time to look at it (although I can do without the merchants selling trusses who like to post as well).

If anyone reads this, please take a couple of minutes to offer feedback: good, bad, ugly. The Old Broad can take it -- after all, I am a survivor of the Political Forum on the Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine website, so you know my hide is tough.

"Unmasked" was Ultimately a Disappointment

2006-02-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

A beautiful cover does not a great, or even good, book make! The problem I had with this book is entirely due to the hero and heroine, as the rest of the book, including a wonderfully drawn Charles II, was excellent. As usual, Ms Henley's research into the historical background of the novel, early Restoration England, was outstanding. History is never just wallpaper in her novels. It was interesting to read of her Charles II, and contrast that strong, dashing figure to the effete fop created by the author of the also newly-released "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man," which was reviewed here as well. Both novels were set in around the same year of Charles II's reign, but from everything I have read about Charles, Ms Henley's Charles seems to be the more accurate of the two.

As to the hero and heroine: Ms Henley kept piling misunderstanding upon misunderstanding upon misunder...well, you get the idea. She had trust issues, he had trust issues...and they never learned from one incident to the next, until suddenly, at the end, "all better!" By the time each decided that the other was trustworthy, I no longer cared. But the cover was an eye-catcher.

Not My Usual Read but...

2006-02-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed this lovely book far more than I anticipated. Kristin Hannah's "Angel Falls" is unusual,in that it is women's fiction, but told almost entirely from the male point of view. The plot is fairly straight forward: woman has accident, goes into coma, husband finds out that woman's first husband was famous movie star, when woman reacts to mention of first husband's name, present husband contacts the exH to see if he can bring wife out of coma. Sounds like a soap opera, but not in the hands of Ms Hannah! The principal male characters are real people who hurt, feel guilt, feel love, perform heroic acts of everyday bravery. The children are real children who want to go to the prom, have trouble seeing their mom in the hospital, write on the walls, and love their parents.

My only issue was with the minor character of the MIL -- I felt that after being a part of the second husband's life for ten years, there would be a closer relationship, as there was no indication that there had ever been bad feeling between the two. I felt it was a rather awkward handling of the fact that the MIL was Mexican-American. She was "this close" to a cliche, with her jumble of English and Spanish, which wasn't realistic considering there was never an indication that she was anything but U.S. born and raised. The character of the second husband was well-drawn and very two dimensional, although he liked to live his life as a cardboard cutout of a "bad boy" movie star. The wife doesn't appear until the last 1/4 of the book, and the remainder of the novel is taken up with "will she or won't she" stay with her current husband, of whom she has no memory.

All in all, every well handled contemporary novel that could have been a tear jerker and nothing more! I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Books I've Read So Far in 2006

2006-02-05T05:59:00.000-08:00

1. "Roselynde," by Roberta Gellis. A- (romance)

2. "Conspiracy of Paper," by David Liss. A- (historical novel)

3. "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man," by Jeane Westin. B+ (romance)

4. "The Magnificent Rogue," by Iris Johansen. C+ (romance)

5. "The Constant Princess," by Phillipa Gregory. B+ (historical novel)

6. "Prince of Fire," by Daniel Silva. A+ (contemporary spy thriller)

7. "The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar," by Robert Alexander. A for originality, quality of writing, and mood. C+ for the rushed ending which tied up loose ends too quickly. All over rating B+ (historical novel)

Current read, as shown in previous post, is a romance, "Unmasked," by Virginia Henley. Tomorrow the new Barnes and Noble University group reads start. I am signed up for a discussion of "The Metamorphoses," by Ovid, and I need to at least read the introduction today (before the Super Bowl). I've read sections of "The Metamorphoses" in the past but as poetry, not prose.

Cover Art Again!

2006-02-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'll confess: I bought this Virginia Henley book due to the cover. I have been a fan of Ms Henley since the 1990s, but for some reason I stopped reading her books a few years ago. It was just recently that I started reading her books again, with "Undone." I started reading "Unmasked" today, and have to say that "so far, so good." I wasn't sure how to deal with a heroine named Velvet, as that seemed a little too precious, as in affected, until I realized the character changed her name from Elizabeth at the age of seven. Think I will have to go back and check out the Henley titles I have missed over the past few years -- yep, I'm a sucker for a good cover!

Must Every Review Be a Fan Letter?

2006-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have reason to believe that my honest review on amazon of Phillipa Gregory's latest novel, "The Constant Princess," is being given "Fan Girl" treatment. The review has received 3 negative votes and 0 positive votes since I posted it earlier this week. I asked Amanda (Bookwormom) to do a sanity check for me, as I wondered if the review was not as balanced, fair, and honest as I believe it to be. Amanda agreed that the review was what I perceived it as being. I respect her opinion, and would have pulled the review if she indicated that it was not fair, balanced, and honest: to me, those are the keys to a helpful review, and is the standard that amazon asks its readers to use. The reviewer should give the reasons for their opinions clearly and intelligently. Being or not being a fan of the author should not be the standard used in reviewing a review! I made both positive and negative comments, gave examples, and rated the book a 4 with reservations, which were clearly spelled out.

It is not impossible that those who disliked the book gave my review a negative rating, but having dealt with some members of Ms Gregory's fan base in another forum (Barnes & Noble University Book Discussion Group), I know that there are some readers who cannot see any flaws in her writing, and take her historical novels to be totally accurate. Ms Gregory herself is a very gracious woman who, from my experience being in two discussion groups with her, is always open to questions from those who disagree with her premises. We had an interesting discussion about "The Virgin's Lover," as I disagreed to the end with her premise that Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley consumated their relationship. She gave her reasons for believing Elizabeth I was not the Virgin Queen and I gave mine for supporting the more traditional view. There were some participants who were outraged with those of us who found the slightest fault with the work, not seeming to understand that her books are works of fiction.

Will this negative trend keep me from posting reviews on amazon? In a word: No. I do not have time to post reviews there on a regular basis -- I can hardly keep up with this blog! -- but if I feel strongly about a book, I will still offer my comments. And it is not the first time that I have had negative votes on my reviews and do not want to appear that I am whining -- I'm an adult and I can take criticism, but for the right reasons.

A Rollicking Good Read!

2006-01-14T05:11:00.000-08:00

Once again I have found myself in the minority regarding a romance novel. I found Jeane Westin's first novel, "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man," so enchanting, and just downright fun, that I read it in two days, which given my work schedule is speed personified. However, the opinion on the Romantic Times message boards, and various blogs, indicated that I was almost alone in my liking for this book, although everyone seemed to agree that the cover was very eye-catching and attractive.

The very things that seemed to be off-putting for those who didn't care for the book were the things that amused me and drew me in: the slightly archaic language, the somewhat improbable plot, and the breakneck speed at which the story accelerated to the, yes, predictable climax (this is a romance novel, after all, so the outcome was a given).

The language used by the author evokes the time period, Restoration England. This is not the first time that readers have encountered these speech patterns, especially if they have read "Forever Amber," or any of the classics such as "Tom Jones" or the plays of Oliver Goldsmith. The danger of trying to recreate the language patterns of a by-gone era are the same as trying to include regional dialects in novels: too many archaic phrases, or the over-use of dialect, can be the kiss of death to a novel. It becomes more like work than pleasure to decode the meaning of the dialogue. I personally felt that Ms Westin did an excellent job in avoiding the pitfalls of archaic language: the narrative sections are written in standard modern English, and it is only in the conversation between characters that she uses phrasing that has a slightly old fashioned feel. The chapter titles ("A Highwayman Hangs, or The Obscene Verse" is just one example) reminds this reader strongly of Fielding or Thackeray, which I believe to be the intent.

In this example, the heroine,Lady Anne Gascoigne, is disguised as a boy and conversing with a member of the town watch, who asks her destination: "I am to London, sir," she answered in her boy's voice..."And who might ye serve, me young cock?"... She said the first name that came to her mind. "Lord Waverby of Burwell Hall, gentleman of the bed chamber to His Majesty, King Charles, being the second of that name, sir." Nothing too difficult about that, is there? And yet it evokes the feeling of the time period far better than "I'm on my way to London, sir," and "Who do you work for?"

The plot is improbable in some ways -- yes, why would a judge put his only daughter under the protection of a man he had just sentenced to death? And, true, they arrive at the gallows only seconds before our hero, John Gilbert, is about to ride into eternity, but that is part of the fun of the book. Think of all the wonderful swashbucklers you have seen on televsion or in the theatre, including Errol Flynn's "Robin Hood," and the movie versions of "Tom Jones," as well as Johnny Depp's pirate. If you enjoyed those movies, then reading a book that evokes those same feelings shouldn't be a stretch.

Was there anything I didn't like about the book? Yes: I would liked to have had fewer TSTL moments from the heroine in the first part of the book; I thought Anne's mourning period for her father ended too soon, considering the circumstances under which he died; and I felt Charles II was presented as too much of a fop. His attractiveness to women was apparently genuine, especially in the early part of his reign, but Westin's word portrait of the Merry Monarch made him sound effeminate and petulant.

One of the things I am always reading on blogs, and on various message boards that deal with romance novels, is that readers want something different, not just the same old/same old. But often when something different comes along, the reaction is negative, which seems to be the case with "Lady Anne's Dangerous Man." Not only am I looking forward to the next book ("Lady Katherine's Wild Ride," due out in August 2006) but I ordered a copy of "Tom Jones" to reread that classic. I would just like to see Ms Westin's work given a fair chance and not just dismissed out of hand because it oh, so slightly, engages in a little envelope pushing.

The First of the "Roselynde Chronicles" Reissued

2006-01-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

The classic Roberta Gellis series set in the Middle Ages of Richard I and his brother John is in the process of being reissued by Harlequin under their Signature Select imprint. "Roselynde," the first in the Roselynde Chronicles, came out in January 2006. It was originally published in 1978, reissued by a different publisher in the mid-1980s (which is when I first read it), and has since become a cult classic among those who love accurate historical romances.

Roselynde is not the name of a character. It is rather the name of the estate inherited by the heroine, Lady Alinor Devaux, named for Queen Alinor, widow of Henry II, mother of Richard and John -- whom we know best under the spelling Eleanor. The book takes place in England and in the Middle East, as Gellis has Alinor accompany Richard's bride, Berengaria, on crusade. The book is gritty and not for gentle readers, nor for those who enjoy "history lite." Ms Gellis knows her subject matter! The battle scenes are realistic (at one point, our hero, Sir Simon Lemangne, laughs as he decapitates the enemy in a rather gory fashion), and Alinor is not above striking her maids across the face with a beringed hand.

Queen Alinor, Richard, and John are as realistically portrayed as one can expect in a novel, while Lady Alinor and Sir Simon are fully realized characters, not cardboard cutouts plunked down in the Middle Ages, with modern sensibilities intact -- in fact, some readers may object to the rather sexist view of women that is present throughout much of the book. Perhaps men did want women to be emotional outlets for their frustration -- to berate and yell at as a means of venting -- but the fact that the female characters found this totally acceptable did grate on this reader's modern nerves from time to time. I had to keep reminding myself that this was probably historically accurate. Ms Gellis was, I believe, one of the first romance novelists to deal with the subject of Richard I's alleged homosexuality. Some 21st century readers may be slightly put off by the fact that Ms Gellis always deals with this issue in a manner consistent with the time period: it is generally refered to as a perversion.

One of the most controversial aspects of the book, however, has to do with the age difference between Alinor and Simon: Simon is 46 and Alinor is 16 when they meet. Alinor never sees the age difference as a barrier to their love, although Simon has grave reservations. Not only is he 30 years her senior, but he has never been in love, never married, and has, by his own confession, sometimes forced women to have sex with him (this is never explained, but I surmise it was in the aftermath of battle). I really don't have a problem with the age difference issue, as we know that marriages between young girls and older men were not unheard of at that period in history, or later, for that matter. What became tiresome after a while was the continual "does he really love me," "is she interested in someone else" byplay that would go on for pages, when a simple honest conversation would have cleared up the matter in a few minutes.

The next book in the series, "Alinor," will be issued later this year. No date was given for the third book in the series; however, the new fourth book, the disappointing "Desiree," was issued last year: it was not up to the standard of the first three books, as a beta hero and a beta heroine just fell flat in my opinion. I highly recommend the first three books in the series, but keep in mind that they are not written with modern views of the relationship between the sexes in mind.

The Year of the Courtesan?

2005-12-29T05:04:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a theme running through my TBR pile and my recent purchases: courtesans, light skirts, ladies of the evening. My current read is "Nell Gwyn: Mistress to a King," by Charles Beauclerk, who is a direct descendant of Nell and Charles II. Anyone interested in the Restoration period of English history should relish this book..fans of "Forever Amber" should be lining up at their bookstore or library for a copy. Beauclerk has done his research on both his ancestress and the time in which she lived: he cites from both primary and secondary sources, gives an intimate look at Restoration theatre life, and although he is never sensational, his prose is not dry. The book includes an insert of famous paintings of the principals. If Nell Gwyn's portraits are accurate, she was a true beauty in that her appeal is evident to 21st century eyes as well as those of the 17th century.

The book whose cover graces this post is "My Lady Scandalous" by Jo Manning, who worked in the publishing industry for several years, and is the author of two Regency romances. This biography is of a late 18th century Georgian courtesan previously unknown to me: Grace Dalrymple Elliot, who had a child whose father may have been the Prince of Wales. The book received mix reviews on amazon and the cover blurbs were strictly by other romance authors, but the book looks to be quite lively and entertaining, as well as lavishly illustrated.

Another courtesan book that I recently purchased is "Perdita: The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson," by Paula Byrne. This book, unlike "My Lady Scandalous," received almost uniformly positive reviews, including recommendations by The Sunday Times (London) and the Sunday Telegraph (London). Mary Robinson was another who charmed the Prince of Wales, advanced her theatrical career with patrons, but ended as a distinguished author of her day, if not well-known here in the states.

In my TBR pile are the first two books in Susan Carroll's latest series, the second of which is entitled "Courtesan." I also have books on prostitutes in the Alaskan Gold Rush, as well as another book that gives a superficial but lively examination of "The Life" in the 19th century American West.

I normally do not buy hardcover books, but I received a very generous performance award at work this year, and decided to use some of the money to splurge on these lovely hardcovers, as well as some other books I had been looking at for some time. As I finish these books I will report on them here in this forum.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!

2005-12-18T04:55:00.000-08:00

I will not be updating my blog until after Christmas, so I want to wish all three or four of you who regularly visit here a wonderful holiday, and that wish is extended to those who may stumble upon this blog in your wanderings through the internet. May you receive lots and lots of lovely books for Christmas!

A note about my progression through the Barnes and Noble Classics series: I end up the year adding three more books to the list I started earlier: "Persuasion," by Jane Austen; "The Magnificent Ambersons," by Boothe Tarkington (a wonderful, complex work); and "O Pioneers," by Willa Cather (a disappointment, as I am a fan of Ms Cather). I am still reading "Wives and Daughters," by Elizabeth Gaskill, not because it isn't interesting, but because I have so many other books I want to read as well, that I put it aside for several days at a time, then pick it up to read two or three chapters before going on to another book. But it isn't a race! I will need to start Dicken's "Great Expectations" soon, as the Barnes and Noble group read starts the second week in January.

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen

2005-12-16T01:42:00.000-08:00

Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775. Today, Jane Austen societies all over the world will be celebrating the 230th anniversary of her birth (if I am doing the math correctly at 4:30 am before my first cup of coffee). I will expand on this post later today, but for now let it suffice that I raise my glass in a birthday salute to "dear Jane."

I was finally able to take some time to talk more about one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen. After 230 years, why does she still speak to us today, we who live in a time where pierced belly buttons are considered the height of fashion, "talk to the hand" has been raised to an art form, and Mr Collins has gone into politics?

Those of us who read romance novels are not surprised by the continuing popularity of Ms Austen, as on the most basic level she writes a love story, and love stories continue to be popular (romance novels are the best selling adult literature in America, for good or ill). Many of us use romance novels to distract us from the demands of work and family, and as a means of temporary escape from a complex and dangerous world. But Jane Austen's world was not simple and peaceful (we know that Napoleon did not invade England but rather ended up dying in exile, and sometimes forget what a very real threat he was to the peace and stability of Europe).

The world of Jane Austen's novels does not include the laborer nor does it, for the most part, include the very wealthy, so perhaps that is one way in which the reader is drawn in -- we can identify with the status of the protagonists of the majority of Ms Austen's works. Even though sexual permissiveness is not the order of the day in a Jane Austen novel, we can sigh when Elizabeth and Mr Darcy finally declare their love for each other, and we can feel Marianne's pain when the man in whom she has invested so much emotion snubs her in the most public of forums, in the presence of his fiance. We laugh at Mr Collins, who worships at the shrine of a rich and shallow woman instead of ministering to a worthy flock, and roll our eyes when we find that he and Charlotte Lucas have produced an heir (better her than I, we think with relief).

Ms Austen put the R in Regency! Even though publishers have currently ceased publishing the short & "sweet" category Regency novels, the period continues to be the most popular in the longer historical romances, which contain sexual scenes unheard of in the mainstream literature of Ms Austen's time. I personally think we enjoy the contrast between the mannered and formal public life of the period, and the steamy private lives of the lovers in our favorite Regency novels written by contemporary authors. Even though we frequently long for historical romances set in other periods, the Regency romance continues to be cranked out every month. And Jane Austen continues to be popular, and discovered anew by the next generation, as shown by the popularity of the Kira Knightly version of "Pride and Prejudice."

So once again I raise my glass in admiration and appreciation: "To Jane!"

My New Favorite Author

2005-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

I find that the novels of Elizabeth Chadwick have become my new obsession! I reviewed a book by the author several weeks ago, and since then have purchased several more of her works. Ms Chadwick writes historical novels set in the Middle Ages of 12th and 13th century England and France. It is a coin-toss as to whether they can be considered romances or straight historicals -- if you are familiar with the works of the late Anya Seton (another favorite) you know that she was historically accurate, had romantic entanglements as part of the plot line, but stoppped at the bedroom door. Ms Chadwick books are similarly accurate, with romantic entanglements; however she opens and goes through the bedroom door. The scenes of lovemaking are emotional, but they are not sex manuals...if detailed "hot" sex is a reading requirement for you, then you need to look elsewhere.

"The Marsh King's Daughter," the cover of which is shown above, deals in a fictional manner with the still-unsolved historical mystery of what happened to the fortune in gold belonging to King John of England, which was lost when a packtrain perished in a boggy marsh, full of quicksand. The characters are appealing, the writing is literary in style, and the scholarship is impressive. There is another author named Elizabeth Chadwick, who writes category romances; this is not the same Ms Chadwick, as the author is quick to point out on her website. She is also very approachable -- I e-mailed her through her website to tell her how much I had enjoyed her novel "The Falcons of Montabard," and she responded promptly. She also indicated that her agent is in negotiations with her publisher to see if U.S. readers can have better access to her books (at present they have to be ordered from secondary U.K. sources). These books are well-worth tracking down through secondary sellers on amazon. Try one and I think you will be hooked!