Category Archives: Historical

December 4, 2012 · 4:26 pm

The Devil’s Thief (The Saint’s Devils, #1) by Samantha Kane

The Devil's Thief (The Saint’s Devils, #1)The Devil’s Thief by Samantha Kane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Samantha Kane’s Brothers in Arms series for years. As a matter of fact, she may be the author that introduced me to the joys of a menage relationship (reading about it people, not living it!) I love her books, so I was excited to have the chance of reviewing her first book for a mainstream publisher. I was also nervous because I was afraid her style would be changed because the book was intended for a different audience.

I shouldn’t have worried.

The Devil’s Thief is a straight historical romance. There is no sexual kink involved, but the sex scenes are still hot. More importantly, the relationship between Julianna and Alasdair is heart warming. They got off to such a bad start and they have so many problems to overcome, you really, really want them to work things out.

Julianna is the more likable of the two characters. After her unconventional upbringing, she is determined to help other children who have no one to care for them. That is why she turns to thievery. She does not have the money to keep her foundling home afloat.

Alasdair, however, is a rake and an immature one at that. Although the heirloom belongs to his side of the family, he only really wants it to spite his cousin. That is until Julianna steals it. Fortunately, Alasdair realizes he must grow up if he is going to win Julianna and regain the heirloom. More importantly, he realizes that Julianna is what he really cares about, not the heirloom. He finally understands which is the true “pearl of great value.”

There are a number of characters introduced in this book who I am sure will have their own stories soon. The next book in the series, Tempting the Devil, is about Alasdair’s friend Roger. It will be released in July of 2013 and I cannot wait.

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July 2, 2012 · 4:45 am

By Royal Command by Laura Navarre

By Royal CommandBy Royal Command by Laura Navarre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: By Royal Command*
Author: Laura Navarre
Series: N/A
Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance
Publisher: Carina Press
Format: E-Book
Date/Year: July 2, 2012
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review

Summary from the publisher:

Two brothers. One woman. Three hearts at war.

Katrin of Courtenay’s husband is dead–and she doesn’t mourn him. He was cruel and controlling, and she doesn’t need a husband to hold her northern keep. But her vengeful uncle, the King of England, has other ideas: intent on marrying her off, he’s ordered his Viking-bred warrior to return her to court.

On the journey, the Viking captures her interest, and for the first time Katrin understands passion. But her guard is honor-bound to deliver her to the king, and so it is settled–she must wed the mysterious Rafael le Senay, the Baron of Belmaine.

A forced marriage to a stranger slowly becomes something more, and Katrin realizes she is in love with Rafael. But with the shadow of her former lover hanging over her, and Rafael’s powerful brother making dangerous plans, can Katrin negotiate the delicate balance between survival and happiness?

My Musings:

1005 A.D. – England

This book is historical fiction with a strong romantic component. I like knowing that about a book going in because my expectations are different. Some books are romances with a historical setting. Other books focus more on the setting and historical events with the romance as a subplot. This one is somewhere in between.

Katrin of Courtenay is a strong female character who is not afraid to do whatever is necessary to protect her people. She feels guilty when she must lie to achieve her aims, but will do so anyway. (Should I admit that I admire her for putting the people she protects before her own moral code?)

Unfortunately, Katrin is the pawn of her uncle Ethelred, (Aethelred) the King of England. He has already married her off once to secure the border and now that she is a widow, he plans to do so again. Lady Katrin feels she is quite capable of holding her lands without a husband’s help, but is given no choice in the matter.

The king sends Eomond, a knight and captain of his guard, to bring Lady Katrin to court to be remarried. Katrin is just as determined not to go as Eomond is to obey his orders. And that is why I just couldn’t bring myself to like Eomond. As the story progresses, it didn’t matter how Katrin felt about being given to another man. It didn’t matter that Katrin and Eomond fell in love. The only thing that mattered was that Eomond followed his king’s orders. Yes, I know that was the honorable thing to do, but it definitely wasn’t the romantic thing.

The second half of the book is actually better than the first. Katrin is sent to the home of her future husband where an entirely different subplot develops. I can’t really say more without spoiling the book, but new characters are introduced that I found a lot more appealing than Eomond.

I guess I would summarize this book with the following question: Which is more important . . . a man’s honor or a woman’s heart? Although I had issues with the romantic elements of this book, the story itself was wonderful. Any book that entices me to explore its historical setting has obviously hooked me.

By Royal Command should be read for the excellent writing as well as the plot. Once the story moves away from the romance between Eomond and Katrin, it is difficult to put down.

Ratings:

Overall: 4 stars
Sensuality level: 3

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November 4, 2011 · 5:00 am

Fires of Winter (Tales of Jernaeve, #2) by Roberta Gellis

Fires Of Winter (Tales of Jernaeve, #2)Fires Of Winter by Roberta Gellis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Title: Fires of Winter*
Author: Roberta Gellis
Series:N/A
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: paperback, e-book
Date/Year: November 2011 (reissue)
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary from the publisher:

A SPARKLING PRIZE OF WAR: The beautiful, cherished daughter of Scottish nobility, Melusine of Ulle had all the privileges of rank. But her family and her life were destroyed by the ravages of war. And her noble name made her a threat to the new king . . .

A LOYAL VASSAL’S REWARD: A bastard son of an English lord, Bruno of Jernaeve was born with nothing. But through loyalty, cleverness and brute strength, he carved out a spot at the right hand of the king. And to remain in favor he would do anything, even accept the hand of his enemy . . .

They have nothing in common and every reason to hate each other, but even in the coldest of winters one spark can ignite a fire too hot to tame.

My Musings:

Told in alternating chapters, Winds of Fire tells the story of the lives of Melusine and Bruno. I have classified this book as a historical romance, but it is really more history than romance.

The book begins during the childhoods of each character. Melusine is the only surviving daughter of nobility and has been allowed more freedom than most girls of this time period. Bruno is the son of an English lord and the manor whore.

Melusine’s entire family is destroyed and her lands are taken from her by the English king because her father had supported Scotland. Her focus throughout the book is to convince King Stephen to return her lands to her. As a female, this means she must have a husband in the King’s favor.

Bruno is a soldier of King Stephen and attends him at Court. He has given the king his oath of loyalty and although he recognizes the king’s weaknesses, his honor and his love for the king keeps him at his side.

King Stephen gives Melusine to Bruno as a bride to serve two purposes. He is rewarding a loyal soldier and he believes Bruno can control any of Melusine’s desires to overthrow the King.

Taking place during the 1100s or High Middle Ages in England and Scotland, the author spends a lot of time discussing the political maneuverings of various characters at the beginning of the book. These are not the two protagonists, but various lords, princes, and religious leaders. This is not a time period that I am particularly familiar with so it is probably a good thing that the author spends some time setting the landscape . . . but, eighty-five pages!

It is not until the eighty-sixth page that Bruno and Melusine meet. He weds and beds her and she tries to kill him. Probably not the best start to a marriage.

I almost gave up on this book several times. If it had not been a book I had promised to review, I would never have finished it. As I said earlier, it is more history than romance. I felt there was way too much time spent discussing the political landscape to the detriment of the story between Bruno and Melusine.

Having said that, I am glad I finished it. I now know something of the history of that time period, although I do not know how accurate it is. The book had a solid ending with enough information about Bruno and Melusine to satisfy my curiosity on how their lives turned out.

I would never recommend this book to someone who is looking for a romance. However, if you are interested in a political history of the time period, this is definitely the book for you.

Ratings:

Overall: 2 stars
Sensuality level: 3.0

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October 25, 2011 · 3:24 am

A Winter Scandal (St. Dwynwen, #1) by Candace Camp

A Winter Scandal (St. Dwynwen, #1)A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: A Winter Scandal*
Author: Candace Camp
Series: Legend of St. Dwynwen Series #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: paperback, e-book
Date/Year: October 25, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to reviewer by the publisher in exchange for an honest review,

Summary from the publisher:

When plain and proper Thea Bainbridge stumbles upon a baby in the manger of her church’s nativity, she is understandably shocked. Discovering a brooch bearing the insignia of Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, hidden among the child’s clothing, she is certain the dissolute rake is to blame. Incensed, Thea sets out to reproach the arrogant lord—only to find herself utterly swept away.

Gabriel is intrigued by the vivacity in Thea’s flashing gray eyes when she accuses him of fathering the orphan, even as he adamantly maintains his innocence. The brooch is one he remembers all too well, however, and Gabriel is determined to find the mother of the missing child. As the mystery around the baby deepens, Gabriel is continually thrown together with Thea—and finds himself growing more entranced every day.

Even with whispers of winter scandal swirling around them, they cannot deny the longing in their hearts. A longing which promises the best gift of all: a shelter from the storm . . . in each other’s arms.

My Musings:

Thea is the spinster sister of the local vicar. She is content with her life and knows that she will never have a family of her own. She is very conscious that her behavior must be above reproach because it will reflect on her brother. Her one secret is the kiss she received at a party when she was quite young.

Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, has recently purchased a manor house in the neighborhood and has invited some of his male friends to visit. The local people are scandalized by the “goings on” at the house and will not allow any of their daughters to work there. The gentlemen are however invited to the squires party because, after all, they are nobility and he has several daughters to marry off.

Needless to say, Thea is very disapproving and Gabriel hardly notices her. It is certainly not a case of love at first sight.

A few days later, Thea discovers an infant in the church and the only identifying item is a brooch with the Morecombe seal engraved on it. She storms to the manor house with the baby and confronts Gabriel with his misdeeds.

Gabriel certainly notices her now.

I am partial to any romance set in Regency England because it is one of my favorite genres. I have read dozens if not hundreds of Regency Romances and I am always looking for another author to add to my autobuy list. Candace Camp has definitely been added to that list.

Thea is the more well-developed character which is common in romances as most of them are written from the female’s point of few. We do get to see that Gabriel’s life is not just one party after another. He has had tragedies in his life that Thea has been spared.

My only “problem” with the book is that Thea seemed quick to risk her reputation for Gabriel and the baby after years of behavior beyond reproach. Of course, there wouldn’t have been much of a book otherwise.

I thought I had the bad guy figured out well before the end of the book. The author threw in a twist, however, that totally surprised me. It fit well within the story and I feel that I should have seen it coming.

The author did a wonderful job of showing how Thea’s and Gabriel’s feelings for each other develop. After all, sometimes it takes more than the first sight for love.

Ratings:

Overall: 4 stars
Sensuality level: 3

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September 9, 2011 · 9:21 am

In Bed With a Highlander (Highlander, #1) by Maya Banks

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

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July 26, 2011 · 9:07 am

Martyr (John Shakespeare, #1) by Rory Clements

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In this ingenious debut, Rory Clements introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England’s most remarkable investigator, and delivers a tale of murder and conspiracy that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and a crime thriller.

In a burnt-out house, one of Queen Elizabeth’s aristocratic cousins is found murdered, her young flesh marked with profane symbols. At the same time, a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, England’s most famous sea warrior, is discovered—a plot which, if successful, could leave the country utterly defenseless against a Spanish invasion. It’s 1587, the Queen’s reign is in jeopardy, and one man is charged with the desperate task of solving both cases: John Shakespeare. With the Spanish Armada poised to strike, Mary Queen of Scots awaiting execution, and the pikes above London Bridge decorated with the grim evidence of treachery, the country is in peril of being overwhelmed by fear and chaos. Following a trail of illicit passions and family secrets, Shakespeare travels through an underworld of spies, sorcerers, whores, and theater people, among whom is his own younger brother, the struggling playwright, Will. Shadowed by his rival, the Queen’s chief torturer, who employs his own methods of terror, Shakespeare begins to piece together a complex and breathtaking conspiracy whose implications are almost too horrific to contemplate. For a zealous and cunning killer is stalking England’s streets. And as Shakespeare threatens to reveal a madman’s shocking identity, he and the beautiful woman he desires come ever closer to becoming the next martyrs to a passion for murder and conspiracy whose terrifying consequences might still be felt today…(from Amazon)

I have really got to stop reading book reviews and recommendations.  I keep finding books that sound interesting, but are complete different from my normal reading fare.  To make matters worse, most of them are good books too.

Martyr is definitely one of those good books.  The book was engrossing, but not something I could read for hours at a time.  There was just too much going on.  That is my only complaint.  There were so many different characters and so many plots and subplots that I had difficulty keeping track of the storyline.

I have categorized this book under romance, although it is primarily a historical mystery.  The romance is very minor and definitely just a side note.

Two more books in the series have been published:  Revenger and Prince.  I may read them some day, but I am not certain.  They are definitely not next on my list.

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July 22, 2011 · 7:33 am

The Bride (Lairds’ Fiancees, #1) by Julie Garwood

By edict of the King, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice was Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison . . . a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec ached to touch her, to tame her, to possess her. . . forever. But Jamie vowed never to surrender to this Highland barbarian.

He was everything her heart warned against–an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks spoke of savage pleasures. And though Kincaid’s scorching kisses fired her blood, she brazenly resisted him… until one rapturous moment quelled their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatened to conquer her senses…

This is the first book I ever read by Julie Garwood back when it was originally published in 1989.  I reread it every year or so and it is still my favorite of all her books.  And I have them all.  She has been on autobuy since I read The Bride.

The publisher’s blurb does not do this book justice.  The best parts of the book are the funny scenes which come constantly.  The Kincaid knows how a wife is supposed to behave and Jaime (the fact that she has a man’s name is a running joke) does not follow his preconceptions.  She thinks his ideas are crazy and he knows hers are.

Shoot, I may have to pick it up and read it all over again!

All of Julie Garwood’s early historicals are wonderful.  I don’t like her contemporary suspense books as much, although I do still read them.  I keep hoping she’ll pick up her old style.

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July 13, 2011 · 4:17 am

The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels

Title:  The Wedding Affair*
Author: Leigh Michaels
Series:  N/A
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Paperback & ebooks
Date/Year:  September, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Summary from the publisher:

The Duke of Somervale’s sister is getting married in the wedding of year — but the wedding guests are in the mood for affairs, not vows!The Duke needs the help of beautiful, stubborn Olivia Reyne to fight off the debutantes who have taken over his country estate. Olivia’s willing to help — at a price which will secure the future for her small daughter.

Penny Townsend sees the wedding as her last chance to salvage her arranged marriage and turn it into something more than a matter of convenience.

And vicar’s daughter Kate Blakely needs a job — and fast — before she gives in to the tempting presence of her first love!

My Musings:

Leigh Michaels is a new author to me although she has published over eighty books.  I don’t know how I have missed her all this time.  After reading The Wedding Affair, I will certainly be looking into her backlist.This book actually focuses on three separate romances.  I originally thought they would be treated as separate stories in an anthology.  However, there is a single storyline with the three relationships interwoven together.

The first couple introduced, and to me the primary one, are Lady Olivia Reyne and Simon, the Duke of Somervale.  Olivia is a widow with a young daughter.  Her husband left her pretty much penniless and her landlord is trying to coerce her into becoming his mistress.

The wedding in the title refers to Simon’s younger sister’s marriage.  Their mother has invited numerous eligible young ladies in hopes of finding a bride for Simon as well.  Simon makes an arrangement with Olivia to act as his potential bride in order to ward off the debutantes.  This arrangement also includes acting as his mistress.

Olivia’s friend and houseguest, Kate Blakely, is the daughter of the late village vicar.  The duchess asks her to help with chaperoning and entertaining the young ladies at the manor house.  To help distract the ladies, Simon has asked a number of his male friends to join the party.  One of these friends, Andrew Carlisle, just happens to be the young man who Kate fell in love with at seventeen.  Unfortunately, Andrew does not have a family income either and Kate knows she must support herself.

The final couple are Charles and Penelope, the Earl and Countess of Townsend.  Although they have been married for three months, the marriage has never been consummated.  Penelope’s father is a commoner who owns a series of breweries and ale houses.  He is very wealthy and arranged a marriage with the Earl in order to buy a title for his daughter and future grandchildren.  The Earl is determined to thwart his plans by never fathering any children.

Within the first chapter, this book had me hooked and I ended up reading it in just one day.  The sex scenes are not numerous, but they are very will handled.  While explicit, the scenes are very vanilla.  Each couple is true to each other and there are no indications of any infidelity.

All in all, this is an excellent book.  The author does a wonderful job of weaving the stories together while maintaining the separate romances.  I felt like I was reading three books in one.  It was an outstanding introduction to a wonderful author.

Ratings:

Overall: 4 stars
Sensuality level: 3

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July 5, 2011 · 3:44 am

Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto

Pride and Prejudice: Hidden LustsPride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts by Mitzi Szereto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts*
Author: Mitzi Szereto
Series:N/A
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Cleis Press
Format: paperback & digital ebook
Date/Year: July 5, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author for review

Summary from the publisher:

Imagine that Jane Austen had written the opening line of her satirical novel Pride and Prejudice this way: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a good romp and a good wife—although not necessarily from the same person or from the opposite sex.” In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts, the entire cast of characters from Austen’s classic is here, caught with their breeches unbuttoned and their skirts raised high in this rewrite that goes all the way – and then some! Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on.

In this no-holds-barred account, men are not necessarily the only dominating sex. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. Darcy’s manhood; Elizabeth’s bff Charlotte marries their family’s strange relation, discovering that her husband’s pious nature extends to worship of a different sort; and, in this telling, Lady Catherine de Bourgh takes the disciplining of those in the parish very seriously. As for the handsome Mr. Wickham, he’s wickeder than ever! And of course there’s plenty of good old-fashioned bodice ripping that shows no pride or prejudice and reveals hot hidden lusts in every scandalous page-turning chapter. This is the book Jane Austen would have written, if only she’d had the nerve!

My Musings:

The original Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a favorite of mine, so I was a little nervous about reading this book. However, I was very impressed that the author was able to maintain the “flavor” of Austen’s writing even though the content was quite obviously added. There was no delineation between the original book and the new content. It flowed beautifully.

The sex scenes were inserted naturally and very well done. Some of the dialogue was comical, but it was meant to be so. For example, Lady Caroline’s attempts to seduce Mr. Darcy and his attempts to ignore her seduction were hysterical. Should I mention Lady Caroline’s fascination with “birching?”

Lydia’s interest in sex in all its forms was wonderfully described. If it would hold still long enough for her to rub against it, she would. That includes pieces of furniture, men’s thighs, or other more interesting parts of the anatomy. Is it any wonder she ends up with the villain of the book?

Do I find the general acceptance of all this raunchy behavior believable for the time period? No, but I enjoyed it immensely anyhow. I think we all expect our predecessors to be a little more circumspect than they actually were. After all, we think we’re the modern ones.

Ratings:

Overall: 5 stars
Sensuality level: 5

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June 26, 2011 · 1:18 pm

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

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Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t. (from Goodreads)

The HelpThe Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another one of those books I didn’t mean to like. The genre is not something I normally read, but with the movie coming out I felt that I had to read it first.

Although I have southern parents, I was not raised in the South. I do remember my aunt having black maids throughout my childhood though. Just like in the book, they did more to raise the kids than their parents did. Of course that is my opinion, an outsider looking in.

This book is extremely well written. It is not however a book that I felt I could read in one sitting. I think that is one of its strengths. It is so powerful, I could only take it a little at a time.

Did I like the book? I am still not really sure, but I don’t think I will ever forget it.

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