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| 0062243322
| 9780062243324
| 0062243322
| 3.41
| 741
| Jun 24, 2014
| Jun 24, 2014
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it was amazing
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ORIGINAL POST can be found at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... ©copyright 2014 Stephanie Takes-Desbiens E-galley provided by publisher for rev ORIGINAL POST can be found at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... ©copyright 2014 Stephanie Takes-Desbiens E-galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own except as noted. When I first heard about LADY WINDERMERE”S LOVER I was immediately interested because of the title. When I was a 17 year old college sophomore I took an acting class as part of a theatre minor and did a soliloquy from the play that was part of Miranda’s inspiration for the story. I wanted to see how she tied this entry in her “Wilde” series to the play. And, her name and reputation was also an attractive feature. And it is obvious Miranda Neville knows her stuff and can not only read history but synthesize it to create a story that encompasses the political, diplomatic and social realms in a way that intrigues and delights. Not placed in the Victorian era like Wilde’s play, the book is loosely themed on the earlier story of imagined or perceived infidelity and an unwillingness to break through societal reserves to utter words of feeling. All could be lost based on that: position, financial status and ability to help others. As is often the case, all must nearly be lost to learn how much it means. The story is very human underneath the intrigue and danger, which doesn’t really have as much to do with the story as the personal side: Damian and Cynthia’s marriage and Damian’s friendships. In addition to the influence of Wilde, Neville brings in a little Pygmallion as well as Damian learns he has taken a mouse and given her the means by which to become a strong and beautiful woman. But even with a new sophistication her simple decency are what matters most. Unlike the falseness of the diplomatic circles he works within, she is real and true. That’s why he cannot really reconcile with her supposed indiscretion; otherwise he really would have no need to make it work. The fact that the indiscretion is with a former friend is interesting; is he wanting her or does he want to get back at his friend? I was very interested in the social issues brought up through the Spittalfields connections (see 6/19/14 post We Didn’t Start the Fire: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...) and the other societal tumult of the day: a rise in concern for abuse of women, labor rights and equal pay (something we’re still working on). This is another area where the historical research is outstanding, as is Neville’s use of the vernacular of the day. If you like well-researched and fast-paced, steamy Regency romance with great writing then this is a good choice for you and you definitely want to get back here Monday, June 23 for my interview with Miranda Neville and a Giveaway of a copy of LADY WINDERMERE’S LOVER. ...more |
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Jun 02, 2014
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Jun 21, 2014
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| 0062118196
| 9780062118196
| 0062118196
| 3.78
| 3,919
| Apr 29, 2014
| Apr 29, 2014
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really liked it
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Originally posted on Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... The Rule of Law and Changing Attitudes: HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN Originally posted on Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... The Rule of Law and Changing Attitudes: HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS Copy of the book provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. Suffering from trauma and subsequent ruination, super rich American heiress, Edie Jewell, goes to England to find a husband, hoping to find one who will look past her ruin to her deep purse. And, she needs to find a man who will make no demands on her as a wife. Stuart, Duke of Margrave, needs a wife who can solve all his financial problems and who won’t mind him spending most of his time exploring Africa. When he is forced to return home and wants a real marriage can the marriage of convenience become a love match? This is a big-dark-secret story. The reader gets told the big secret fairly quickly but I can only say that attitudes towards this violent crime really have changed to a great degree. Today, we don’t consider this crime a big secret the victim needs to hide, but in some ways the victim is still held to blame, and in some countries the crime is still considered the victim’s fault. And, this in itself is a good reason to take a look at this book. Not many romance novels look at a serious issue like this. I was able to date it to 1889, because they cite the opening of the Savoy Hotel in the book and that was something that really did happen. Back in the Victorian Era there was no real “help” for any kind of PTSD, or trauma-based panic which in women was called hysteria. My understanding is that women experiencing issues were sometimes “institutionalized,” so “help” in any way we think of it now would be hard to come by. According to the Science Museum, London: A woman who rebelled against Victorian domesticity risked being declared insane and committed to an asylum. This was usually at her husband’s or father’s request, and she generally had no right to contest or appeal. Women were further disempowered by moral treatment once locked away. This cornerstone of Victorian psychiatry claimed male dominance was therapeutic. The doctor ruled the asylum like a father ruled his family. (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broug...) If it weren’t for her financial power, Stuart would have been able to commit Edie for her problems; there were newly developing theories about female hysteria and dysfunction and mental institutions for the wealthy were starting to become less horrible. The help she does get, in the form of an understanding husband, solves the problem too quickly. And it also promotes a vigilante justice where no other justice would be forthcoming. In a sense it’s righteous, yet it is outside the law and, therefore, troubling. Of course, where there was no fairness for the victim, should there have been the rule of law for the criminal? I found myself wondering whether publishers think about the questions something like this might raise, and if they worry about it spurring someone to act outside the law. I thought the writing was fairly good, perhaps too simple, and the problems the couple faces are too simply solved. I thought that the concepts about exploration and what constitutes help in a situation where food would help more than bibles shows an enlightened character. And in large part this is a tale about changing attitudes toward science, women, exploration, religion as the age of science slammed headlong into antiquated ways of thinking and belief. In a larger sense it is about expanding beliefs and understanding, both personal and philosophical. This was a time when science, and the scientific method was overtaking a poor understanding of physical processes and shining light into beliefs that seem ludicrous today. And, even though England was ruled by a woman, females had fewer rights of self-determination than men and Edie’s situation of being able to control her own wealth, would be extremely unusual and is less than realistic. So, in less than a month, after five years away, Stuart revives his marriage. Perhaps the five years of freedom and self-determination did more to heal Edie’s issues and his presence is merely the final stage of recovery. Maybe. But it still felt too fast and a little false. The characters are interesting and not cookie-cutters. As an American heiress, Edie is expected to be a bit brash, but she mellows over time to a more British profile. I have often seen Americans in this situation painted as rude, and uncultured buffoons, but Guhrke does not do that. As a Duke, Stuart was born into a title his scientific mind must reject to some degree, and yet at the same time he does not discount his duties nor the feeling that he must return home to take up the mantle of his position. The other characters are drawn a bit more sketchily. There is an interesting reliance on personal “tells:” small twitches or gestures indicating a character’s emotional state or signaling a behavior about to occur. This story of an American “Buccaneer,” as American heiresses seeking impoverished husbands with titles and position in England has a happier disposition than many of the actual marriages. Edith Wharton wrote her last novel, THE BUCCANEERS, about this phenomenon but there were several examplesof real life marriages upon which it was based. I enjoyed the book even though parts of it, like a romantic liaison in a chicken feather storage building, felt ridiculous (perhaps it is a realistic thing for the time). The posturing over the demands a husband could place on a wife felt a bit repetitive. So, it’s a book with some heavy issues written in a light fashion with a rapid resolution. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Jun 05, 2014
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Jun 07, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0307878988
| 9780307878984
| 3.79
| 15,015
| Dec 28, 2010
| Dec 28, 2010
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really liked it
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ORIGINAL POST June 6, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THE LADY MOST LIKELY is a Good Bet as an Audiobook Borrowed via MaineInfo.net. No r ORIGINAL POST June 6, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THE LADY MOST LIKELY is a Good Bet as an Audiobook Borrowed via MaineInfo.net. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. I enjoyed listening to this story. It seems a great bet for an audio book. The narrator did a great job with the voices, both male and female. I particularly liked her voices natural timbre when she wasn’t voicing a character. One thing I really like with the audio book was hearing the correct pronunciation of words . There are three stories in the collaborative novel. Each story, it seems, was written by one author although on her website Julia Quinn says they got together to plot the book (there’s a video on Julia’s website wherein she and Eloisa discuss writing the book https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...). Each story had a different feel and the breaks between the stories felt abrupt. I’ve said that I have a hard time concentrating on audio unless I have something else to do. I used the listening period for this book to mow my lawn, drive and do some demolition. It kept my attention throughout and made the highly repetitive demolition go much faster. I even found myself amused. Like most romances this has a fairly certain outcome for each story, but, I wasn’t sure which guest would become the subject for each until they were underway. I did feel the research was done well, with period terminology being employed. While we are in the romance genre, it amazes me how much of women’s lives were about finding someone to marry. And, I thought it was interesting how naughty all the people at the party were. And fun! I like hearing the voices the narrator gives the characters and how it is given emotion without being acted. I did feel the stories were somehow discontinuous and choppy feeling. In particular Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, in the preamble sounds prissy. But he is much manlier in his story. I liked the first two stories the most. But all in all it was a good and engaging group of connected short stories as an audio book; since I borrowed it from a audio library I did not pay for it and I don’t know that I would ever pay the $25 for any audio book. I can’t speak to it as a print book because that is not how I experienced it, and reviewing it as an audiobook feels more like reviewing it as a video than as a book – I’m not sure how, but it is definitely different. But, as it kept me from being bored out of my skull as I completed mindless tasks I really appreciated it! ...more |
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1
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not set
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Jun 2014
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Jun 06, 2014
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Audiobook
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| 0062276220
| 9780062276223
| 0062276220
| 3.82
| 8,619
| Feb 25, 2014
| Feb 25, 2014
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it was amazing
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ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN HE REALLY LOVES YOU? Finished copy provided by publisher for review. No r ORIGINAL POST: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN HE REALLY LOVES YOU? Finished copy provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. How do you know someone loves you? All of you — not just your boobs, your ability to do long division while singing the Star-Spangled Banner, your bank account, or any of the many parts that make up the entirety of the appearing-in-this-universe-one-time-only you? And how can you free yourself of your past hurts to love someone else? These are the questions posed throughout this heartwarming book where a man filled with grief and misplaced guilt denies that he can ever love again and a young woman with a difficult secret wishes he could. You will see right away what will happen; it’s a romance novel so you know he’s not going to fix her up with someone else, right? We KNOW this going into the majority of romance novels we read. What charms in this story is Grace and her larger-than-Victorian sensibilities and her personality that displays bravery and thoughtfulness despite the big, dark secret that has not been shared outside her family; Heath doesn’t really share all of it with the reader in one go either. It helps that she comes from an unconventional family with great wealth and greater generosity. She’s been exposed to all kinds of experiences most ladies of the Ton will never see. Lovingdon, is a more typical character who is pretty much the noble scoundrel wracked by grief burying himself in scandalous activities to numb himself. The story is well written with good continuity. It’s sexy and very romantic, but the sex is more ethereal than graphic. For example, Lovingdon counsels Grace that if a swain really loves her, he will know her favorite flower. There’s also a tendency toward repetition: one example is Drake, a young man from the streets her family took in. Grace’s mother was a child from the slums too. I lost count of the times we’re told about his present and past. Grace’s friends and her father have some importance in the story, but the really developed characters are Grave and Lovingdon. It is really hard to imagine there was a time when love was not the most important factor in deciding who to marry; at least not in the upper classes. We’re told that Victoria and Albert really loved each other, so perhaps that is one reason that the concept seems to take off in the latter half of the 19th century. My point is that Grace wants to hold out for love, and has a reason to, but she recognizes that she could have a perfectly normal, correct and reasonable marriage to any of a number of young men. But she wants the real thing, a man like Lovingdon who would truly mourn her forever were she to die. We see the emotions blossoming, of course, before they do. And we know without a doubt that they really love each other even without a sign. This is a heartwarming romance; the epilogue is fantastic and worth the read on its on, but the rest is a treat too. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this one. ©2014 Stephanie Takes-Desbiens ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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May 19, 2014
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May 24, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0062267965
| 9780062267962
| 0062267965
| 3.58
| 380
| Apr 29, 2014
| May 27, 2014
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liked it
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ORIGINAL POST OF THIS REVIEW AT FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY DUST On June 16, 2014 http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Redemption of the Duke: Angst and ORIGINAL POST OF THIS REVIEW AT FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY DUST On June 16, 2014 http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Redemption of the Duke: Angst and Arrogance in Equal Measure Disclosure: Book provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. This book had an interesting plot with a mystery I was not completely certain of the villain at the root until the big reveal. While it more or less can stand on its own, I think I would have enjoyed it more with more backstory. If you like a book with steamy feelings but not too much fire then this might be a good choice; there’s some nookie but not a huge amount. I felt the story lagged in rehashing the duke the guilt feels over and over and in -gasp!- Faith’s terrible secret. And then there’s the blackmail and trying to figure out the perpetrator. Like a lot of romance novels, the primary problems in the story are communication or arrogance related. A Victorian era duke would probably be fairly arrogant, but this one was not raised to be the duke but his wartime experiences in India and his insistence that it was his arrogance that caused the problem would point to him being self-aware. But he keeps making these decisions and it’s just too obvious. He is likeable in that he is very human and fallible; not an all too perfect type hero. Faith, just annoyed me in her willingness to accept her lot in life. No wonder the duke keeps making decisions for her. But at least she is a thoughtful and kind person; willing to take the fall for those she loves or to whom she feels indebted. There are several angsty things in the book but the blackmail is the really nasty one and it gets less attention than this arrogance issue. I did think that Callen handled the mystery of the perpetrator very well. I had an idea of who it was but it was not until the more likely character is exonerated that I felt confident in my deduction. The most likelable character is the duke’s aunt, Theodosia, who hires Faith to be her assistant. She was ahead of her time in the quest for equality for women and eschewed much of the social convention with which she was raised. She’s a little like Downton Abbey’s Lady Viola in her temperament but without her arrogance. I was interested in the description of the Duke’s London residence as being set off from the road. Usually, the homes of nobility in historic romance are townhouses, but here it is most definitely described as not being a town house. On the other hand, the duke is able to look down and see Faith walking by, and chase a young man by running out on the street, so it felt a little inconsistent. If you have read the entire series, or you like a less steam filled romance this would be a good choice for you. I like mine a little spicier than this but Callen’s characters are human and accessible. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Jun 13, 2014
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May 24, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0515151319
| 9780515151312
| 0515151319
| 3.79
| 1,708
| Jun 03, 2014
| Jun 03, 2014
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it was amazing
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THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS: Comprising Positions — Has Not Confiding Helped or Hurt? http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... There are many reasons for me THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS: Comprising Positions — Has Not Confiding Helped or Hurt? http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... There are many reasons for me to recommend this well-crafted, interesting and romantic story to you; but the biggest is that I loved it and didn’t want to put it down at all! I have come to believe that if I forget to take notes while I read then a book is so good, I get so caught up in it that I just read and enjoy it. And, that more or less happened here! Rarely have I encountered such interesting and untypical characters nestled in a fabulously unique plot with links to badness, treasonous behavior, and taking advantage of a young woman. In addition the role of male relatives and husbands is explored in regards to their control over their sisters and wives in day to day movement, financial matters and allowed behaviors. But, while the men are in control they don’t act as if the women are dolts. As we often see, a large portion of the plot relies on one character’s refusal to ask one of these males for assistance in solving a problem that makes one look very bad. Indeed, at the time it could see her compromised or arrested. But she continues to not communicate and does not until she is revealed and cannot deny it. Were you ever in a compromising position that confiding in someone seemed impossible but, in hindsight would have helped? Does it help to confide in someone close? I loved that Lydia is very lucky at cards, not to the point where she is addicted but, she realizes that the store of money she can set aside is greater than if she were to use her allowance and it allows her much more freedom than she would have otherwise. The Duke is an active member of the House of Lords and has a lot of influence. He’s had some scandal associated with a duel. But is very honorable. Other characters besides these two are very much support characters. I also liked how she examined her feelings logically and sets out to learn more. The writing of the love scenes is a little fluffy, with the au courant bit of domination and submission thrown in. At least she is not terrified of sex and comes to enjoy it a lot. It took me some time to link all the parts together and arrive at the same conclusion as Lydia, so the mystery is well done too. And it takes place before the Regency period, during the reign of George III before his porphyria set in. It really is a rare treat among romance; one of the best I have ever read. I think it is a must read for lovers of historic romance! ©Stephanie Takes-Desbiens ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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May 23, 2014
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May 23, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0425265684
| 9780425265680
| 0425265684
| 3.71
| 703
| Jan 01, 2014
| Jun 03, 2014
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really liked it
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HOW TO SCHOOL YOUR SCOUNDREL: FINDING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE Original Post at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... on May 5, 2014. All rights reserved HOW TO SCHOOL YOUR SCOUNDREL: FINDING YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE Original Post at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... on May 5, 2014. All rights reserved Having read HOW TO MASTER YOUR MARQUIS (HtMyM) in December of 2013 and found it a thrill ride and I enjoyed this book too although it felt more serious. But my memory is severely flawed as to who the baddies are. In HtMyM It is Princess Stephanie who is the Princess featured. She is not destined to be the ruler of the principality unless something happens to Luisa, who is the ruler of their tiny principality upon the death of her father and her husband. What happens is they all go into hiding and are disguised into jobs with friends or associates of their uncle, the Duke of Olympia. He is a spymaster in Britain. She ends up working for Lord Somerton who is an absolute brutal asshat. He is the Evil Earl (instead of the Damaged Duke). And he needs to be saved from his badness, his bitterness and his all consuming desire for revenge. I could not reconcile Luisa and Somerton getting together. He is just really, really bad. But at the same time, I had no doubt that her goodness, her moral compass would reach into his soul and direct him to a moral magnetic north. And, they do it with a lot of good old sexual tension. There's some slapstick, but this book felt more serious than HOW TO MASTER YOUR MARQUIS. We learn how so many people are betraying the royal family of this little country. Luisa is all about service to her subjects, duty and loyalty. She's been overthrown and nearly killed by the revolutionaries herself at what was really a rather turbulent time in Europe (which was always having turbulent times). She is the Imperiled Princess who needs saving for herself and her country. In a way, the Earl, whose wife we learn in the first few pages, is not "his" in every sense of the word, has also been overthrown in his own little kingdom of wealth and power. Tossed from his moorings, and she, adrift from hers they both need rescue, and maybe a little help from the improbable cupidity of the Duke of Olympia, her Uncle. Is the "Olympia" a reference to the mythology whence Cupid sprang? This rescue could return one to her purpose in life with a fuller feeling and a more emotionally rounded life. There's a wickedly sensual scene in which a proper princess's bottled up sensuality explodes like shaken champagne. And for him it can become a purpose with which he can redeem his past. They each have the chance to find purpose. We all have the chance for that. I've been tossed from one purpose to another my whole life, so I have never been sure of mine unless it is to be adaptable. What about you? All in all, this book is a little more complex in some ways that one would think. But at other times certain things are glossed over. I found myself wondering what had happened to Luisa's little corgi, Quincy during the book's climactic crisis. And the relationships and backstory involved with some of the book's characters made this much more a series read than a stand alone. The writing in the book has the feeling of lightness with the underlying seriousness I mentioned before, and in that reminds me of steam punk, but without the weird science. The voice or mood reminds me of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. Those were very readable and this series is a pleasant read as well. I enjoyed it a lot. If you like books with passion, and Victorians, light humor and intrigue, this is a good choice for you. ...more |
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1
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not set
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May 03, 2014
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May 04, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0515153478
| 9780515153477
| 0515153478
| 4.24
| 1,160
| Apr 29, 2014
| Apr 29, 2014
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really liked it
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Review is posted at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... SCHEMES AND FAMILY DRAMA © Stephanie Takes-Desbiens ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Galley provided b Review is posted at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... SCHEMES AND FAMILY DRAMA © Stephanie Takes-Desbiens ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Galley provided by Publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. I really loved this book and it had no sex, and no four letter words. Nor was it religious, or no more so than would necessary in 13th century France. What it does have is a great love story, interesting family relationships, and great intrigue. You may think you know who the baddie is but you won't really be sure. There are a lot of issues with an injury that is not healing well. Now, remember that back in the day, almost any kind of wound could kill you, and a serious wound took a lot to recover from. For some reason, perhaps the absence of a female influence on the household, Gervase's 'rehab' is not happening. He wonders if he'll ever be strong again so he can fight; these guys love fighting. This makes him "the damaged duke." It means that the girl has to save him from himself. Then of course we usually do save men from themselves. While different herbs are used to help Gervase, it is exercise and massage, along with an attitude adjustment that will bring him around. There's a lot about protecting women in the book: chivalry. And, times were rough and women generally have enough upper body strength to wield a sword so that actually was the guys job But, in this book, the concepts of protection, and strength resting with men, are turned on their heads. While Gervase saves Isabelle from physical harm a couple of times, it Isabelle who saves Gervase from himself. Perhaps it is like that throughout the series — this is the sixteenth book — maybe women are always doing the rescuing. This is the first book in the series I have read. Speaking of that: I didn't even realize this was so deep into a series. There was obviously backstory, but this story stood on its own pretty well. And, that there is no sex wasn't really a problem. Imagine a couple getting to know each other without sex?! It's a good example of how something can be sexy without "knocking boots." Although I had a hard time seeing these characters who are larger than life: beautiful, strong, brave, etc., as the characters we see in medieval paintings, which are almost always slight, I did see them; just more as a Pre-Rapaelite painter, or NC Wyeth, would depict them. I did enjoy the way they lived and loved. And I liked the author's style. I can't figure out the title's meaning — lilacs are not mentioned in the book. The cover is weird too — I have never seen that kind of scrolled-iron work in a medieval picture. It looks more Victorian. Great read! ...more |
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1
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not set
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May 02, 2014
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May 04, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0062244906
| 9780062244901
| 0062244906
| 3.78
| 2,538
| Apr 29, 2014
| Apr 29, 2014
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it was amazing
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Originally posted on April 29, 2014 at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... [image] Galley provided by publisher for review purposes. No remune Originally posted on April 29, 2014 at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... [image] Galley provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own except as noted. This was such a good book; I was so emotionally involved in it that after I finished it I had to sleep on all the thoughts swimming around in my head! I like how the female characters are portrayed: very different from each other, but also a little different from the norm. They are very independent thinkers and very sensual creatures. On the other hand, the story has elements of so many gothic and romance novels I love. There's a little Heathcliff from WUTHERING HEIGHTS, a bit of JANE EYRE with an insane relative, some PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and even an Ashley Wilkes (GONE WITH THE WIND) type. I'm not saying there's copying of any sort happening; it's nice to see influences from other books I have loved. I wonder if Ms. Linden had particular characters in her mind as she developed these. And the hero of the story, Sebastian Vane, he is just fabulous. I love how Ms. Linden gives us his thoughts and emotions, in depth, and portrays him as very sensitive, desirous of affection, and falling in love. It felt very different from how male characters are usually portrayed and I felt she wrote a great view into his thoughts and emotions. He uses the his heart's desire to pull himself out of the depths. I found it unique and refreshing in that usually, even if the narrator is omniscient we get a much more feminine slant in Romance novels, but this gives a deeper view from the man's side. I loved the writer's use of language to describe the surroundings in such a way that I could feel the atmosphere of the drawing room, the damp of a cave, or the cool breeze of the woods. And I loved the history as it was explained where Sebastian had gone to war and it was one of the wars I wrote about the other week (Where Did All Those Young Men Go?). There is a romance — fraught with tension, does he love her?, does she love him?, etc. and it includes some very daring sensuality. But, on the whole, what really grabbed me other than the stories was the mystery from the prologue. I did not realize it would be as engrossing as it was. Linden provides the perfect trail of breadcrumbs to foreshadow in a way that gets you to the right place at exactly the most satisfying time — it's quite skillfully done. If you enjoy historic romance with love-making, with a good mystery and great characters then this is a MUST READ! EXCITING NEWS! I WILL BE OFFERING A NEW COPY OF IT TAKES A SCANDAL as a prize in the Alpha Male Hop starting May 14. Subscribe or follow so you don't miss it. ...more |
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not set
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Apr 27, 2014
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Apr 29, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0061963097
| 9780061963094
| 0061963097
| 3.70
| 4,661
| Feb 22, 2011
| Feb 22, 2011
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really liked it
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Original Post April 9, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Library Audio Download There are a couple of reasons why I downloaded and listened Original Post April 9, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Library Audio Download There are a couple of reasons why I downloaded and listened to this book. Many states, including Maine, have an inter-library electronic and audio book downloading programs and I wanted to check mine ours out, in particular how it worked with audio books. And, I have wanted to read one of Lynsay’s historical novels because I enjoy her Argeneau series so much. So, I saw the heiress and after a little time figuring out how to get the audio book onto my Kindle Fire HD, I was able to listen to it on the proprietary app needed to use the library audio book. The app is not as nice as the Audible app; mostly because you can’t change the speed and it’s frustrating to know I can read so much faster than the narrator could speak. But, as a library download it has the advantage of being absolutely free! I liked the way the narrator gave personality to the female characters in the book, but thought several of the male characters could have been better distinguished from each other. I also found her phrasing weird. For example even in the first couple of sentences. I would read this as "Suzette Madison nodded silently at her sister’s comment as she peered out the carriage window at the bustling activity on the streets they were passing through." But Ms. Adelle reads it as if she thought the sentence had ended, or the page had turned, or there was a comma. "Suzette Madison nodded silently at her sister’s comment/ /as she peered out the carriage window at the bustling activity on the streets/ /they were passing through." (From The Heiress by Lynsay Sands) That was kind of minor, but it did occur more than this one time and threw me a little each time. Perhaps that’s a strategy to help the listener stay focused on the recording; I find it rather easy to be distracted. This is a Regency (I assume) romance and a mystery-thriller as well. Sands writes in the plot layers well. The thing about mystery is anything you reveal is a spoiler. One thing I noted was the presence of a strong maternal figure in Daniel’s mother. It reminded me very much of Marguerite Argeneau’s position in Sands’ other series. While money and marriage are both important themes in the story, the often found trope of the injustice of primogeniture is not the problem here even though it is true that she had to find a man who would let her control her money once they were wed. The love story is nice and Daniel and Suzette are very, um, passionate. There is a period where you feel Suzette’s emotional state as much as the character would. Sands is really good at emotionally evocative writing. Suzette and Daniel are very different individuals neither are weak, or dependent type individuals, but I think Suzette is the smarter of the two. The audio helped me with the dialogue I often find hard to believe in reading. I will be reading and think, “No one would say that!” But the audio gives you that. And at times the thriller aspect of the story kept me listening, I actually listened to the last chapter while I did my grocery shopping on Tuesday. So it is an exciting quandary the characters get into. I enjoyed it a lot and I would read, or listen, to another of Lynsay’s hisoricals as eagerly as I await her Argeneau series! ...more |
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not set
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Apr 07, 2014
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Apr 12, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0451415337
| 9780451415332
| 0451415337
| 3.65
| 464
| Feb 04, 2014
| Feb 04, 2014
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liked it
| [image] Original Post March 30 at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THE COUNTESS CONFESSIONS: A 19th Century 007 Marries the Girl Disclosure: unco [image] Original Post March 30 at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THE COUNTESS CONFESSIONS: A 19th Century 007 Marries the Girl Disclosure: uncorrected Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own, unless otherwise noted. I was very restless reading this book. It didn’t capture my attention and I think it was both my mental state and that the book felt like it was written with restraint. The hero is restrained and noble, the heroine is quiet, intelligent, polite and the sex is okay and fairly realistic. Ah, while it lacked the titillating thrill of other romance novels, I liked that the heroine doesn’t go from virgin to wanton in one night. Although she enjoys her newlywed conjugal encounters, she is still shy and a bit embarrassed and often keeps her eyes shut. The language is accessible without fancy accents and words you will need to look up. That’s not to say it has been dumbed-down; it just hasn’t put on a veneer of pseudo-intellect. The title arises from a period of less than ten percent of the book where they meet and are welcomed into the family about whom I suspect the other books in the series are written. It feels forced into a naming scheme for the series (The Mistress Memoirs, The Duchess Diaries). This also forces a rapid, and shallow, relationship with the other women in the hero’s family that I doubt would have been included otherwise. I am silly perhaps in thinking the title should really have meaning within the tale. I am amused by the role the tarot plays in the story; lending a comic element and a tender moment as well. It is not an disengaging romp; there’s nothing terribly off-putting. There just wasn’t anything all that compelling. Split between two romance subgenres: historic and suspense, the restraint I mentioned earlier dampens the excitement or thrill one should find in either. It’s not romantic enough to be hot, nor based in an historical espionage event I could discover (although there was a period of unrest causing an uprising which ended in 1820), and it’s not very suspenseful. The one briefly exciting minute occurs at the very end. It’s a shame because Damien sounds every bit as dashing as our contemporary equivalents, and she could be quite the partner in espionage. However, the two are blind to the two very obvious clues cast in front of them. Now, remember, I like my romance very steamy, so what I see as tepid you might find just the right temperature. Not a bad read just not my favorite. The cover is gorgeous! ...more |
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not set
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Mar 25, 2014
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Mar 30, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0451416082
| 9780451416087
| 0451416082
| 3.68
| 296
| May 06, 2014
| May 06, 2014
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it was amazing
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[image]
Originally posted on my fabulous blog, FANGS, WANDS & FAIRY DUST on March 26, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... WHO DO YOU TRUS [image] Originally posted on my fabulous blog, FANGS, WANDS & FAIRY DUST on March 26, 2014: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... WHO DO YOU TRUST? Disclosure: E-Galley provided by publisher via Net Galley for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. This story grabbed me immediately with the paradox of how it is going to be possible to overcome the way this couple meets with the probability they will hook up. It’s a romance novel, so the way that’s going to go is in the book description, but still I was immediately hooked. I mean, it’s always possible it’s going to go another way, right? Quick note under “Is a Title Important?” I heard the first measure of “When a Man Loves a Woman” the entire time I read this book. And I bring it up now because every time I see the cover it starts up again! As the case against the MacCurran chief comes to light, it obviously has a ton of holes in it. Today, it wouldn’t stand up in court, but I have a good idea things were very different then. This story would have been under the rule of Alexander III whose second wife was Queen Yolande who is mentioned in the book. His first wife, Margaret of England, was the daughter of the English monarch Henry III who demanded homage. This is obliquely referenced in the story. Alexander III died in 1266, just a year after his marriage to Yolande while traveling in bad weather to visit her for her birthday. Just for the heck of it, here’s an illustration from the period depicting Alexander III’s coronation as King of the Scots ( read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexande...). [image] That picture gives you a much better idea of the time period of the novel than the very romantic book cover. However, I felt the representation of life in a colder, draftier, and much more dangerous world than ours was well represented. Keats takes time to explain what a woman’s role in a castle would be and what could happen if that person slacked off. And she does this with perfectly accessible, non-accented language, sometimes the Gaelic names are a mystery of pronunciation but I just imagine how they would be pronounced. There are a few mystical elements to the story. Some of the healers have magical powers that are cool, and very useful in a place where a simple cut could fester and kill you. The story’s timeline fits into the days and nights allotted to it but it feels like it should be accounted for as a longer period of time. That feeling probably arises due to the speed with which the relationship develops. There’s good foreshadowing: enough to give me an inkling of what would be happening, but not so much that I would think the characters stupid for not seeing it. A lot of this story has to do with trusting the wrong person and being betrayed. Big time. It does answer some of the questions in the story, but I assume the story will continue as loose ends remain and it will affect the relationship between these two characters. And it does bring up the question of how Isabail and Aiden would know who they could trust; and how they could come to trust each other. That brings me back to the initial paradox that grabbed my attention. I will definitely try to read the follow up; hoping for an answer to the mystery! I recommend this as a good romance with mystical elements and reasonable historic veracity while maintaining its relatability. ...more |
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not set
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Mar 19, 2014
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Mar 27, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0451418018
| 9780451418012
| 0451418018
| 3.61
| 333
| Mar 04, 2014
| Mar 04, 2014
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really liked it
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Originally posted on 3/19 at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... ENOUGH IS AS GOOD AS A FEAST [image] E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalle Originally posted on 3/19 at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... ENOUGH IS AS GOOD AS A FEAST [image] E-Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley.com for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own unless otherwise noted. The first half of this book was an idea wrapped in a romance, a work of art, a work of social conscience as well as fiction. The intensity which starts the book off wanes in the second half with the books becoming sentimental as the characters overcome addiction and the thick armor of pain. In the last quarter, the story rushes to a finish, but tries to pull back to the depth of writing I saw at the beginning. I really loved the book throughout, but I recognize that it turned to sentimentality and I feel what happened was the writer getting too caught up in the story of Ireland and the troubles; the terrible cost of the British arrogance and she was writing a romance novel. The writer was going in a direction that didn’t really align with the genre and she had to bring it back around to make a romantic happy ending. It makes the issue of addiction and recovery too simple, too quick and too easy. And it couldn’t offer a solution to the troubles. As the story began, I thought the book was a paranormal, because of James,’ the Viscount’s, confusion. His character is so hard to like, and Margaret’s character is so sympathetic. He is so deep in his addiction, she is so sure she can help. The writer puts her into a situation that is hard to understand, and hard to get out of without compromising something. The issues of Ireland are not trivialized, and the ending points out that violence would never be the solution to the problems there. I read a lot of Irish literature, Victorian through the contemporary writings of the 1970′s, and I think she has her facts well researched and really brings in the emotional price of Irish history. There are times when the writing in this book is fantastic, it’s “literature.” And it’s too bad it was hampered by the constraints of genre; I felt the writer had something to say that really didn’t fit in a “romance novel.” There’s always a price to pay for happy endings. At one point the aristocrats are taken to a soup kitchen for Irish immigrants. The lords learn how arrogant they are, despite their best intentions as they serve the hungry people — people who realize a bowl of soup is better than what was being served in Ireland. It brought to mind a phrase I read in a book a while back that I like to keep in mind: Enough is as good as a feast. Seven words with so much meaning. I’m not saying the book is not a great read. I enjoyed it, but I felt it had more to say that couldn’t fit into the one book, the one story and I would love to see more from her. Weird, and a complete coincidence that I read and review two books with Irish characters in the same week as Saint Patrick’s Day? Hmmmm~ ...more |
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not set
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Mar 15, 2014
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Mar 19, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0062223895
| 9780062223890
| 0062223895
| 4.05
| 9,606
| Mar 25, 2014
| Mar 25, 2014
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it was amazing
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Original Post 3/18/2013 at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X: A Must Read! WHY? E-Galley provided by publisher via Edelw Original Post 3/18/2013 at: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X: A Must Read! WHY? E-Galley provided by publisher via Edelweiss. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own. I’ve never made it a secret that I love Eloisa James’ writing. And, while her stories never fail to entertain, entice and empower, I think this is the best book by Eloisa I have read (and I’ve read quite a few). With THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X, Eloisa James cements her position as a master (mistress?) in the genre. THREE WEEKS WITH LADY X Eloisa doesn’t just provide us with “the hero” or “the heroine,” nor does she give us a simple cast of supporting characters who may well be interchangeable. Thorn is so interesting, so strange and complex, and has lived through so much who wouldn’t be captivated, maybe even a little frightened of his larger than life stature. Xenobia, called India, because who would wish to be called Xenobia all the time, well she’s a puzzle box. She’s a good example of having grown up in genteel poverty having made her own way while swimming upstream against the tide of the culture which spawned her class but would rather see her starve than make an honest living. Like many of Eloisa’s heroines, India knows she is entirely capable, but admits to a lack of classical education due to her circumstances. She is, however, the mistress of handling the British aristocracy whose homes she organizes. Today she would be Martha Stewart, Oprah and Gordon Ramsey all in one. Other characters are also interesting: A very serious child who reminds me of a much more charming, but just as smart, Sheldon from THE BIG BANG THEORY TV Show (If Sheldon were an orphaned Georgian/Regency little girl), Thorn’s father, India’s super supportive and not unnecessarily interfering aunt, Thorn’s buddy Evander who is quite noble, and Lala — a young lady with a learning disorder who all think stupid, and whose mother is the exemplar for harridans everywhere. With some great twists and turns, leaps forward in person growth and setbacks because of poor communication and lots of tension and then heat, Eloisa takes the romance novel out of the place where you know there’s going to be a happily ever after to someplace where you just are not quite certain about it. I love the historical details Eloisa puts in, and more important, when she takes license with something she tells us up front. I love that. But other important aspects of the time, especially furnishings are offered in just enough detail. The remarkable unfairness of the societal strictures on women are brought up. For example, how a woman who earned her own money would then have to turn that over to her husband upon marriage. It’s brilliant and if you love Regencies then it is a must read. Eloisa puts the romance with a nod at practicality into the romance novel and I love it. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ – I am all astonishment! ...more |
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not set
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Mar 18, 2014
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Mar 18, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0345547284
| 9780345547286
| B00DXKHIIQ
| 3.87
| 1,018
| Jan 14, 2014
| Jan 14, 2014
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liked it
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ORIGINAL POST March 13, 2013 AT: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans: Is True Love Blind? Disclosure: Book provided b ORIGINAL POST March 13, 2013 AT: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans: Is True Love Blind? Disclosure: Book provided by author or publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. I tore through KISS OF LIES; I had to know what would happen next in this complicated and suspenseful plot. But, even with a compelling story, I felt the writing in this book was uneven. Sometimes it was fine, but I found my self snorting through several of the love scenes. I also thought there was a little too much “telling. What I did like is the way the heroine, Sarah, falls for the hero, Christian, despite his scars — it’s touching and noble without being condescending. She falls for him because of his character, and the beauty he still possesses despite his tragic burns. She isn’t ignoring them, but she doesn’t think he’s less because of them. That’s a lovely sentiment. At the beginning she says that beauty is fleeting and intelligence is more important, but the character goes on to walk the walk as she falls in love with the hero.We live in a culture where we say that inner beauty is what counts but then we glorify appearance. But a pretty or handsome face opens doors and I see “pretty” women with “handsome” men, or rich ones. It seems the way of the world. Do you think love is truly blind or does it overcome certain types of atypical appearance? I had to remember that the character of Christian feels he has a violent streak, and he certainly has a tendency to act irrationally and out of proportion to the offense. Without this understanding, his reactions did seem out of proportion. But, it is helpful to remember that the character is drawn with a temper he worries about. He also has some very good friends who stick by each other and are all in a pickle — that’s what ties the series together. And they will need to stick together to overcome the threat in the rest of the series. This gets a “cautious recommend” for nobility of sentiment and complex plotting. ...more |
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Mar 04, 2014
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Mar 13, 2014
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| B00BYDNMBQ
| 4.07
| 260
| Mar 21, 2013
| Mar 26, 2013
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really liked it
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THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK EDITION Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Audiobook provided by author for fair review. No remu THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK EDITION Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Audiobook provided by author for fair review. No remuneration was exchanged, and all opinions presented herein are my own unless other wise noted. I am trying to listen to more audiobooks this year. It seems the prevalence of assorted personal electronic devices and a lack of time have combined to make audiobooks more popular than ever. In general however, I can’t just sit and listen to a book, I often feel like I need to read a book (kind of defeats the purpose), or at least do something with my hands or exercise. So, Friday, after reading so much last week my eyes were ready for a day of rest, I was offered Terry Spear’s TAMING THE WILD HIGHLANDER, and I grabbed it. I enjoyed the story of a young, telepathic, beautiful, Highlands woman in an undesignated time in the past; a time when Scotland was still ruled by Lairds and Chieftains. There are elements of danger and even more of love. Spear does a great job describing the characters we need to know: Edana (ee-dahn-ah) and Angus. They are both young, and although they had been attracted to each other even as children they do not know each other well. I like how the narration, through Borah Coburn’s speaking in the character’s voices, gave me even more sense of the characters. Edana sounds younger to me that the woman depicted on the book cover. And, while not a violent woman, she is fierce in the defense or protection of her loved ones, but not insensible to danger. She’s brave but not without fear. And, he, perhaps because of the fact that his voice is being spoken by a woman and has feminine undertones, sounds young, but not immature. And, I could only imagine how handsome he would be. And the narration, as well as Terry’s writing, gave life to the developing relationship between them. In general, I like this form of audio book more than the one I looked at several weeks ago which was performed like a radio drama. Especially when there’s sex involved. What was hard in this book in particular, without a text to read or look at, is the use of words from the Gaelic describing articles of clothing, and just looking at the book description, I see I had her maiden name completely wrong based on the pronunciation. For example there is an article of clothing that sounds like “lane.” Is it “lane” or spelled completely differently? While this is occasionally troublesome in a printed book, at least I have something I can look up and know I have it right. Fortunately, in this case it came up when I searched on another article of clothing mentioned (a brat) and what I thought was “lane” is actually "leine" (http://www.clans.org.uk/kilts_2.html). In this case, I think I would have preferred to have had a companion text (a new feature being offered for an additional amount when you buy an audible audio book), or even a note attached to the file would work for me. On the other hand I often wonder how the Gaelic words are pronounced in Highlander and Celtic fiction. Hearing right from the character’s mouth clears it up! I enjoyed this story even more than I have Terry Spear’s wolf shifter series. While there is an element of the paranormal in the story, and it is an important part of the plot, it is not overplayed. It was more matter of fact than mystical. It was important because even though it is useful, some people wouldn’t be able to understand it as natural and might denounce her for it and it does turn out as very useful. Angus could be perfect for her, has a family full of "freaky" women so it doesn’t bother him. There is a somewhat funny bondage scene in the story. I prefer to think of it as a tongue-in-cheek statement about the prevalence of BDSM in almost all romance these days instead of a token BDSM insertion. The test is whether I would have read the book and enjoyed it. Yes, although I believe this book is enhanced by the narration and the narrator. If you like stories set in the Highlands, filled with hunky warriors and brave women, then this book, filled with those elements plus a little ESP, may be a bonny idea. I recommend this audiobook for its excellent story and narration. ...more |
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not set
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Feb 28, 2014
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Mar 06, 2014
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0062240196
| 9780062240194
| 0062240196
| 3.88
| 49,113
| Jan 28, 2014
| Jan 28, 2014
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it was amazing
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Original Post and Many Others: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Romancing the Duke: He’s Given Up Being the White Knight and She’s Given Up Exp Original Post and Many Others: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Romancing the Duke: He’s Given Up Being the White Knight and She’s Given Up Expecting One Book provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted. I have loved everything I’ve read by Tessa Dare but I had a hard time getting into this at the very beginning of the story; the “damaged duke” trope is so often used (Injured Earl, Marred Marquis, Broken Baron), I find myself sighing when it comes up. However, Tessa quickly individualizes her characters and makes the trope more appealing. Then the story heats up until we know that there is a very naughty girl hiding under that skirts of England’s favorite fictional character based upon, well, another fictional character (although within the world of the book she is real). Those thoughts aren’t the only thing she’s hiding either. A theme here, and a recurring theme in Tessa’s books, is the inequity women experienced (and continue to experience to some degree depending on location). And, she has a way of combining humor, love, lust and the foibles of the upper crust of 19th century British society (AKA the Ton) into a charming, hot, poignant and humorous story. Her prose is often lovely and it is always accessible. And when I say heats up I mean it is rather hot under those skirts. I thought it was a little more erotic and regarded sex with more modern sensibilities than Tessa’s Spindle Cove series. The Duke is hiding something as well, although not under a skirt; something that has caused his damage. Here, the story is complex because while the duke, Ransom, is damaged physically, the more important damage is emotional damage from his childhood, as well as the imperious attitude granted by his ducal title, and a host of other titles. Another theme is the “white knight charging to the rescue;” only in ROMANCING THE DUKE the female love interest. Izzy, has finally rejected all the themes young women were, and often still are, brought up believing. In the end, I wasn’t sure if she really had a large nose and ugly hair or if she just thought she did because other girls were cruel. Even in that time there was an ideal English beauty and with dark hair, light blue eyes and Izzy with her abundant and dark, frizzy hair would not have met the standards. As the owner of a rather largish nose myself, I can say we don’t grow into them physically – but we have to own them! Tessa’s characters are always a bit to type, but with enough characteristics to make them individual. They are often somehow atypically employed for that character’s position. But, the hero is the hero and occasionally an ass. The heroine is usually physically innocent, often the one left on the shelf. But there is enough difference in them to make them worth reading and they always win my affection. There is a certain fairy tale feeling to this story as well: Weird pets, unsympathetic solicitors, and fans engaging in the world’s first readers’ con. It’s a spiders web of fictional fantasy such as a young woman whose life was very difficult could imagine. I seem to be having a hard time distinguishing between Izzy’s fantasy and Tessa’s. I think what ended up making this story interesting was the way the two love interests not only get together physically but how they help each other emotionally, how strong and resolute Izzy actually is, and how the stalwart duke learns he is open to emotional growth. So, yeah, I liked all those things and that it is hot — very, very hot. I highly recommend this or any of the books in the Spindle Cove series. This one is the first in a new series though and a great chance to be in at the beginning! ...more |
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not set
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Feb 28, 2014
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Mar 05, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0425251039
| 9780425251034
| 0425251039
| 3.99
| 250
| Aug 07, 2012
| Aug 07, 2012
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it was amazing
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Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... WEDDED IN SIN: A Hot Regency “Sherlock!” Book received from author at conference. No remuneratio Original Post: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... WEDDED IN SIN: A Hot Regency “Sherlock!” Book received from author at conference. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions herein are my own unless otherwise noted. I met Jade at Authors After Dark in August. She seemed smart, friendly, hilariously funny, and possessed of a delightfully dirty sense of humor. My first thought after the first few pages was, “This is Brilliant; it’s a Sherlock!” The same idea reappeared over and over through out my read. It was hard to put down and kept me up way past my bedtime with its many twists and sexual tension and hot hook-ups. I loved how Jade just goes all out on the writing; she holds nothing back and just says what she wants and I was left with no uncertain idea of meaning. She was definitely “in the zone.” Also, her historical setting and points seemed pretty accurate in the details. The book is filled with interesting characters who are often very different than your typical depictions of a particular person, for example, the constable is charming and caring. But least typical of all are Samuel and Penny. Samuel is sweet, but not exactly innocent second son. He is also a genius, in a kind of genius savant way. Like a pleasant version of Holmes or a congenial “House, MD.” He notices everything and makes those Sherlock-style deductions. He’s also handsome. But, as a second son of a not terrible well-off Baron, he is limited by his allowance. Penny is not the typical Regency tradesman’s daughter. She is privately educated, and a brilliant cobbler at a time when a woman couldn’t be a cobbler. Her father was allowing her to do his work as he took credit. But, the Regency was a time of change and a time of things staying the same as well. We now look back at that time through Victorian lenses, but I am pretty sure they were not as stuffy as we think. The hook ups here aren’t at all stuffy; they’re quite inventive. The plot is also complex and involves Samuel coming to the aid of Penny when she loses her home. She is thankful but Jade doesn’t make her so simple as to blindly trust him. He earns and loses her trust as he realizes she is not a “typical” female. There’s a complicated mystery to solve which Samuel, drawn to a beautiful damsel in distress, offers to solve. She’s smart. And, talented and limited by her gender wherein tradition disallows women from being shoemakers. Have you noticed that a lot of historical romances share this theme? The writing brings the characters to life through their thought processes and the dialogue which has both main characters thinking on their feet. I loved how Samuel's thinking about Penny changes throughout the novel. He’s so kind, but he becomes even more kind, As they get to know each other it becomes banter which adds some humor to what could be a Dickensian tale. The relationship changes both of them, as all relationship does. I really enjoyed the book and think it is a gem. I wish I had found Jade Lee earlier, and I highly recommend this story! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 22, 2014
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Jan 25, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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| 0425265552
| 9780425265550
| 0425265552
| 3.44
| 178
| Feb 04, 2014
| Feb 04, 2014
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really liked it
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Originally Posted: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Lord of the Rakes: Sex, Romance, Madness and Morality Disclosure: E-Galley provided by Publ Originally Posted: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201... Lord of the Rakes: Sex, Romance, Madness and Morality Disclosure: E-Galley provided by Publisher via NetGalley.com for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions expressed herein are my own unless otherwise noted. Anyone who went through my school’s high school English curriculum cannot help but notice a nod to LORD OF THE FLIES in this title. Is there a relationship? I don’t think so, although one could point to being the ruling class of Victorian England and their tendency to turn on each other as they do in this story being similar to the children in the earlier classic. But other than that, I don’t see a contextual reference and it’s been a few years since I was forced to read LORD OF THE FLIES in school so I can’t really put a fine point on it. I couldn’t find a date referenced in the story, but McAdam roads were referenced making it no earlier than the late 1820s. However, like another story about the Victorian period, THE YELLOW WALLPAPER, By Charlotte Perkins Gilman (free for kindle) it does deal with the position of women as almost non-entities during the period and how easily one could be at the mercy of one’s family/father/brother/husband. In this story, Caroline’s mother suffered from bouts of depression followed by periods of mania. Her father decided she was mad and confined her to home, although perhaps this was also a bit of revenge. It’s interesting, and telling, that the father, and then her brother, confine Caroline to the country and local surrounds, allotting her very little freedom. The reasoning was the madness would have been passed down to her. NOT TO HIM. Although, he seems the madder of the two. Also of interest is that insanity is referred to as a failing of morals and constitution. The story is novel, complex and exciting in its plot line. The catch with imprisoning a girl in the country is that when she finally gets free she’s quite likely to have a little wildness stored up like giving me a box of my favorite candy when I go off my diet. And, with her mother and father as examples, with her independence, she wants no attachment to a man. Pity the whole falling in love thing then. We are such complicated creatures, wanting one thing, and finding all those pesky emotions getting in our way. Both main characters, Phillip and Caroline, are deeply and richly scribed. I feel like I would know them if I came across them in contemporary society. Phillip is particularly unusual in the depth of his character and his personal growth. Caroline is perhaps the more usual of the two even with her unconventional decisions. I also enjoyed the way the living spaces were described. At one point, in a private home during a concert, I felt I could reach out with my senses and touch the potted plants. The intimacy is scorching hot. Caroline is descried as curvy, but perhaps with those years in the country and no debut (I assume), she has no real issue with whether she is too curvy. Phillip seems to like her body an awful lot. And their physical encounters are well detailed, not vulgar, and feel right for the time period (not that the act has changed). I could have used my own Baroque fan to cool down. So, newly independent, and naive in the ways of love, she embarks on this physical relationship with Phillip. That’s not a spoiler – it is in the blurb. He’s a little into BDSM, maybe BDSM-lite. But he wants her obedience in the bedroom and introduces it in their first encounter. My feeling is that no matter how horny she was this would have turned her off. So, at this point in the story the BDSM feels gratuitous. It gets a little more developed and mixed into the expectations placed on him by his father, who is disabled and seems to live through him. There’s a lot of internal monologue the characters use to argue with themselves. The issues here became somewhat muddled. Even struggling for her independence, maybe Caroline’s years of obedience to her father and brother made her less of a rebel than the character would have liked to believe. But through Phillip’s growth it feels a little more justified by the end. Caroline comes off as less able to rail against the machine. More realistic than some books perhaps, wherein a heroine is really independent, Caroline is still at the mercy of men all around. While still a steamy romance, bordering on erotica, the book is also a historical social commentary showing us the past and the fragility of the rights we experience today. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 17, 2014
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Jan 18, 2014
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Mass Market Paperback
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