Book Review: The Oriental Wife by Evelyn Toynton

Wednesday 20 July, 2011 By 8 Comments


Title: The Oriental Wife
Author: Evelyn Toynton
Publisher: Other Press
Publication Date: July 19, 2011
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN: 978-1590514412
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

The Oriental Wife is the story of two assimilated Jewish children from Nuremberg who flee Hitler’s Germany and struggle to put down roots elsewhere. When they meet up again in New York, they fall in love both with each other and with America, believing they have found a permanent refuge. But just when it looks as though nothing can ever touch them again, their lives are shattered by a freakish accident and a betrayal that will reverberate into the life of their American daughter. In its portrait of the immigrant experience, and of the tragic gulf between generations, The Oriental Wife illuminates the collision of American ideals of freedom and happiness with certain sterner old world virtues.

My Review:

The Oriental Wife by Evelyn Toynton is a story about two Jewish children who grow up as friends and subsequently part ways as they leave Germany amidst the oppression and genocide of Hitler’s regime.   In well-crafted prose, Toynton brings readers through the difficulties faced by immigrants to the United States who had to leave everything behind to begin life anew.  Written in three parts, Toynton portrays the manifestation of the horrors committed by the Nazis even on those who fled before the holocaust.  Toynton narrates a compelling tale as these two friends marry and experience a pregnancy with severe complications that threatens their familial bonds.  Loosely based on her own parents’ lives, Toynton writes with passion and emotion as she shares her thoughts and views on what it must have been like to experience Jewish life at such a turbulent and violent time in Europe. And the struggles between traditional values held to strongly by parents in the midst of a new set of values being adopted by their daughter.  For historical fiction fans in search of a different viewpoint on the experiences and challenges faced by immigrants, especially Jewish families who fled Nazi Germany, I recommend The Oriental Wife.

About the Author:

Evelyn Toynton’s last novel, Modern Art, was a NewYork Times Notable Book of the Year and was long-listed for the Ambassador Award of the English-Speaking Union. A frequent contributor to Harper’s, she has also written for The Atlantic, The American Scholar, the Times Literary Supplement, and the New York Times Book Review, and her work has appeared in a number of anthologies, including Rereadings (edited by Anne Fadiman) and Mentors, Muses & Monsters. She lives in Norfolk, England.

I received an arc of The Oriental Wife by Evelyn Toynton from Other Press to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Tour and Review: Bring It Close by Helen Hollick

Monday 18 July, 2011 By 5 Comments


Title: Bring It Close
Author: Helen Hollick
Publisher: Silverwood Books
Publication Date: June 22, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1906236625
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

Back Cover Blurb:

Jesamiah Acorne, Captain of the Sea Witch, has accepted a pardon of amnesty against his misdeeds of piracy, but old enemies do not forget the past. In particular Edward Teach – Blackbeard himself – has a bone to pick with Acorne.
Following an indiscretion with an old flame, Jesamiah finds his fiancée, the midwife and white witch, Tiola Oldstagh, has gone to North Carolina to help with a difficult birth: the problem, that is where Blackbeard now resides. He must not discover that Tiola is Jesamiah’s woman. She will have to hide her gift of Craft from the black-hearted pirate who has sold his soul to the devil.
With Sea Witch damaged and himself wounded, Jesamiah must take stock of the situation – but arrested for acts of piracy how is he to clear his name, avoid the noose, keep Tiola safe and put an end to Blackbeard – all while being haunted by the ghost of his father?
From the Bahamas to North Carolina and Williamsburg in Virginia Bring It Close moves at a swashbuckling pace. There is intrigue, misunderstandings, romance and adventure – all wrapped up in a blend of supernatural fantasy and a sailor’s yarn of a good read!

My Review:

Bring It Close by Helen Hollick is the third voyage of Captain Jesamiah Acorne, the previous two in the series are Sea Witch and Pirate Code. I have read the previous two books and believe that while the reader can find Bring It Close enjoyable without having read the previous two books, it is best if the books are read in order. While I am not generally a fan of mystical fantasy, Hollick’s writing is exceptionally well done in Bring It Close. With a blend of historical fiction, the genre for which Hollick is well known for, and fantasy, readers will find Bring It Close a tantalizing story of adventure and the conflict between Acorne and Edward Teach, better know as Blackbeard. Packed with suspense and intrigue, readers will want to hang onto this 3rd installment through to the end as Jesamiah’s fiancée risks discovery by Blackbeard while serving as a midwife near Blackbeard’s residence. In the copy of the book I reviewed, Hollick offers the reader detailed maps and an extremely helpful glossary of terms used throughout the book, I cannot confirm the newest release contains these items, but certainly hope it does as for this land lover, they proved invaluable. To fans of historical fiction looking for a unique twist of fantasy intertwined, I recommend Bring It Close and Hollick’s preceding two novels in this series, Sea Witch and Pirate Code.

About the Author:

Helen was born in North East London, England, and started writing pony stories as a young teenager. She moved onto science fiction and fantasy and then discovered the delight of writing historical fiction. Published in the UK and the US with her books about King Arthur and the 1066 Battle of Hastings, Helen also writes a series of historical adventure seafaring books inspired by her love of the Golden Age of Piracy. Helen still lives on the outskirts of London with her husband, Ron, adult daughter Kathy and a variety of pets, including a dog, a cat, and three horses.

To learn more about author Helen Hollick and her books, please visit her main website.

I did not receive a copy of the book from Silverwood Books for this tour.   I relied on my personal copy of Bring It Close which is a different edition, publication year, and publisher therefor if any changes have been made to the most recent edition, it is not reflected in my review.  Silverwood Books provided me with the images and information for the tour button, book cover, book blurb, and the author information.

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Book Review: Small Wars by Sadie Jones

Wednesday 26 January, 2011 By 6 Comments


Title: Small Wars
Author: Sadie Jones
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 978-0061929892
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

Passionate and brilliantly rendered, Small Wars questions how honor can exist amid cruelty and asks what becomes of intimacy in the grinding gears of empire.

A major in the British Army, Hal Treherne is a dedicated soldier on the brink of a brilliant career. He is eager to lead his men into combat; his wife, Clara, however, is relieved when they are posted instead to seemingly peaceful sun-kissed Cyprus. But war erupts over unification with Greece, the island is consumed by violence—and Hal discovers that his military training cannot help him navigate the minefields of moral compromise that lie beneath every battle he fights. Clara grows fearful of her increasingly distant husband. When she needs him most, she finds the once-tender Hal a changed man—a betrayal that is only part of the shocking personal crisis to come.

My Review:

Small Wars by Sadie Jones is a multifaceted historical fiction account of 1956 Cyprus as the Cypriots are uprising to do away with British colonialism and seek unification with Greece. The reader views Cyprus, war and morality through the eyes of Hal and Clara Treherne. Hal comes from a long line of military men and falls in love with Clara, whose father does not approve, and soon Hal is relocating his wife and small twin daughters to his new post in Cyprus. Jones brings up many deep issues regarding war, morality, and family in Small Wars and one can extrapolate further out to look at modern day, but rather I prefer to focus on the 1950s and Cyprus as is so beautifully described by Jones. On one hand the reader watches Hal become increasingly infatuated with war, then traumatized and unable to express or truly comprehend the horrors he has witnessed. On the other hand the reader views life through Clara’s eyes, a young British mum with twin girls to raise, living in a foreign country, a husband who is growing more distant and despondent and she herself becomes increasingly fearful. Small Wars takes an in-depth look at what war from a militaristic outlook and that of a civilian and the deep complexities that arise during a time of stress, tension, and trauma that is a direct result of a war. Jones writes an emotionally beautiful novel filled with complex issues, emotions, and of things unspoken, which beg the readers to look within and ask themselves what they would do in either position. While I am uncertain Small Wars is for everyone, it is a period of history not often spoken about and deals with extraordinary issues paralleling society today. I would definitely recommend Small Wars to those readers who enjoy history and to discussion groups.

About the Author:

Sadie Jones’s first novel, The Outcast, won the UK’s coveted Costa First Novel Award and was a finalist for the Orange Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction. She lives in London.

For more reviews of the book, please follow the Book Tour.

I received a complimentary copy of Small Wars by Sadie Jones from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Review: The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham

Wednesday 19 January, 2011 By 17 Comments

Title: The Queen of Last Hopes
Author: Susan Higginbotham
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-1402242816
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A man other than my husband sits on England’s throne today.

What would happen if this king suddenly went mad? What would his queen do? Would she make the same mistakes I did, or would she learn from mine?

Margaret of Anjou, queen of England, cannot give up on her husband—even when he slips into insanity. And as mother to the House of Lancaster’s last hope, she cannot give up on her son—even when England turns against them. This gripping tale of a queen forced to stand strong in the face of overwhelming odds is at its heart a tender tale of love.

Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham will once again ask readers to question everything they know about right and wrong, compassion and hope, duty to one’s country and the desire of one’s own heart.

My Review:

The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham is a stunningly beautiful portrayal of Marguerite of Anjou and a refreshing look at her life, which is usually told through the Yorkist viewpoint, but not this time. Higginbotham gives Marguerite, who becomes Margaret when she became the Queen of England, her own voice telling the events of 1444-1509 as she lived them. The narration is not solely through Margaret’s voice, several chapters alternate with the voices of key players during the turbulent years King Henry VI was on the throne and beyond. Most heart-breaking to me were the chapters told through the voice of Suffolk, a strong man who did his best to serve the crown. Higginbotham gives historical fiction fans a fresh look at the House of Lancaster and the strength of Margaret, a woman who has often been portrayed in a rather unflattering light, and yet in The Queen of Last Hopes, the reader will see a loving daughter, wife, friend, and mother. Higginbotham cleverly sets the scene during the War of the Roses, shedding an entirely vivid light on the Lancastrian’s side of the War and how one woman fought with tenacity not only for the thrown for her husband Henry, when even he wanted to give up, but also for their son Edward, Prince of Wales. The Queen of Last Hopes is an astonishingly vivid, detailed, and brilliant account of the life of Margaret of Anjou and I was unable to set the book down, Higginbotham kept me engrossed from the very beginning to the last word and I anxiously await her next book. I highly recommend The Queen of Last Hopes to every reader who enjoys historical fiction and to those who have not yet tried a historical fiction book, this is the one to read.

About the author:

Susan Higginbotham is the author of two historical fiction novels. The Traitor’s Wife, her first novel, is the winner of ForeWord Magazine’s 2005 Silver Award for historical fiction and is a Gold Medalist, Historical/Military Fiction, 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards. She writes her own historical fiction blog and is a contributor to the blog Yesterday Revisited. Higginbotham has worked as an editor and an attorney, and lives in North Carolina with her family. For more information, please visit her website.

I received a complimentary ARC of The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: A Darcy Christmas by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, and Carolyn Eberhart

Friday 17 December, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: A Darcy Christmas
Author: Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, and Carolyn Eberhart
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN: 978-1402243394
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

From the Publisher:

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Wish You a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Share in the magic of the season in these three warm and wonderful holiday novellas from bestselling authors.

Christmas Present
by Amanda Grange

A Darcy Christmas
by Sharon Lathan

Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol
by Carolyn Eberhart

My Review:

A Darcy Christmas is a charming compilation of three Christmas novellas by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, and Carolyn Eberhart. The first novella, “Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol” by Carolyn Eberhart, is a take-off from A Christmas Carol, only Christmas past, present and future are Darcy himself. The second novella, “Christmas Present” by Amanda Grange, is a cheery Christmas tale of the Darcys and the Bingleys gathering together. In the final novella, “A Darcy Christmas” by Sharon Lathan, Darcy and Elizabeth look back at Christmases past with and without being in each other’s lives. Of the three novellas, I thought I would like Lathan’s the best and yet it was not my favourite of the three, which truly surprised me. I attribute this to the more sensual and romantic nature of Lathan’s writing. My favourite of the three was the second novella, “Christmas Present” where I felt Eberhart most captured the essence of the continuation of Pride and Prejudice with the Darcys and Bingleys gathering for a Christmas Ball in grand style. The newest members of the families, along with the beauty of the season and magic of the season are told in beautiful prose. Finally my least favourite of the novellas is the first, “Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol”. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what I disliked about the first novella, “Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol”, as it was well written, yet maybe I am simply a Dickens purist, but the novella fell short for me. Overall, A Darcy Christmas is a well-written compilation of novellas by three well-known and respected writers and the book leaves the reader in a holiday mood. I would recommend A Darcy Christmas to anyone who enjoys Austen sequels or is merely looking for a delightful book of historical fiction Christmas stories.

I received a complimentary copy of A Darcy Christmas by Amanda Grange, Sharon Lathan, and Carolyn Eberhart from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King

Friday 10 December, 2010 By 11 Comments


Title: Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland
Authors: Susan Fraser King
Publisher: Crown
Publication Date: December 7, 2010
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-0307452795
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

Refugee. Queen. Saint. In eleventh-century Scotland, a young woman strives to fulfill her destiny despite the risks . . .
Shipwrecked on the Scottish coast, a young Saxon princess and her family—including the outlawed Edgar of England—ask sanctuary of the warrior-king Malcolm Canmore, who shrewdly sees the political advantage. He promises to aid Edgar and the Saxon cause in return for the hand of Edgar’s sister, Margaret, in marriage.

A foreign queen in a strange land, Margaret adapts to life among the barbarian Scots, bears princes, and shapes the fierce warrior Malcolm into a sophisticated ruler. Yet even as the king and queen build a passionate and tempestuous partnership, the Scots distrust her. When her husband brings Eva, a Celtic bard, to court as a hostage for the good behavior of the formidable Lady Macbeth, Margaret expects trouble. Instead, an unlikely friendship grows between the queen and her bard, though one has a wild Celtic nature and the other follows the demanding path of obligation.
Torn between old and new loyalties, Eva is bound by a vow to betray the king and his Saxon queen. Soon imprisoned and charged with witchcraft and treason, Eva learns that Queen Margaret—counseled by the furious king and his powerful priests—will decide her fate and that of her kinswoman Lady Macbeth. But can the proud queen forgive such deep treachery?

Impeccably researched, a dramatic page-turner, Queen Hereafter is an unforgettable story of shifting alliances and the tension between fear and trust as a young woman finds her way in a dangerous world.

My Review:

Royalty, sainthood, loyalty and treachery are but just a few topics brought to life in the brilliant book Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King, who expertly takes the reader back to the 11th century. The book opens in 1074 with Eve the Bard imprisoned on charges of witchcraft and treason caught between two Queens, Margaret Queen of Scots, wife to King Malcolm and the Lady of the North, Lady Grudah, King Macbeth’s widow. King quickly sweeps the reader back to 1069 to explain Margaret’s life and all she endured to reach the heights she does. Rich in historical detail, prose full of vivid imagery which easily takes the reader deep into the eleventh century, time rapidly passes by as the reader becomes more and more engrossed by the stories of Eva, Margaret, and Gruadh. Queen Hereafter is filled with mystery, intrigue, alliances and allegiances forged and broken, spies and the ever present question of just whom can be trusted during these turbulent times and told in beautiful and often times lyrical prose. King has masterfully taken fiction and history and entwined them to form an absolutely riveting historical book rife with drama of court life, romance, and betrayal and in Eva’s case, the charge of witchcraft. Clearly a well-researched book, Queen Hereafter is a delightful book to read and impossible to set down. I look forward to reading other works by Susan Fraser King and I recommend without any reservation Queen Hereafter to all readers. May each reader enjoy this book as much as I did.

About the Author:

With graduate degrees in art and art history, former college lecturer SUSAN FRASER KING is the author of several bestselling novels praised for lyrical style and historical accuracy. Raised in upstate New York and a frequent visitor to Scotland, she lives in Maryland with her family.

For more information about the author and her books please visit Susan Fraser King’s website.

For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.

I received a complimentary copy of Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Review: The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason

Thursday 9 December, 2010 By 8 Comments


Title: The King’s Daughter
Authors: Christie Dickason
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Publication Date: November 23, 2010
Paperback: 480 pages
ISBN: 978-0061976278
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

The daughter of James I, the Princess Elizabeth would not be merely her father’s pawn in the royal marriage market.

The court of James I is a dangerous place, with factions led by warring cousins Robert Cecil and Francis Bacon. While Europe seethes with conflict between Protestants and Catholics, James sees himself as a grand peacemaker—and wants to make his mark by trading his children for political treaties.

Henry, Prince of Wales, and his sister, Elizabeth, find themselves far more popular than their distrusted father, a perilous position for a child of a jealous king. When Elizabeth is introduced to one suitor, Frederick, the Elector Palatine, she feels the unexpected possibility of happiness. But her fate is not her own to choose—and when her parents brutally withdraw their support for the union, Elizabeth must take command of her own future, with the help of an unexpected ally, the slave girl Tallie, who seeks her own, very different freedom.

My Review:

The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason takes the reader back to the 17th century and the childhood and young adult years of Elizabeth of Scotland, Queen of Bohemia. The King’s Daughter is an intriguing tale of young Elizabeth, whose parents are James VI of Scotland/James I of Great Britain and Queen Anne marking a truly fascinating time in history and extends the House of Stuart from Scotland to England. Dickason has certainly researched this time period and brings the reader into the life of young Elizabeth from the years 1605 through 1613, while not a lot of her life is covered in The King’s Daughter, it is a richly detailed book filled with rich and vivid characters as well as an intimate look at life as a princess. Dickason captures the essence of the time period and easily draws the reader into the book, a word of caution, this is not at all a fast moving story, rather it is deliberate and while it may appear slow, it is detailed and pointed. I was most intrigued to see how King James I would be portrayed as from all accounts he was a beloved ruler, yet I learned of a new side of him from this book. Which version of James I is true I cannot say without doing my own research. Regardless, Dickason truly does justice to this period of time, where young Elizabeth is moved to England around the age of six when her father is named as Queen Victoria’s successor. After reading and reflecting upon Dickason’s version of Elizabeth’s life it is difficult to tell if she would be a person I would have wanted to be acquainted with. Naturally, historical fiction is just that, part history and part literary license and I would need to read a few more books from Elizabeth’s life to fully form an opinion of her, however, I did find The King’s Daughter to be enlightening and enjoyable. I would recommend The King’s Daughter to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

About the Author:

Christie Dickason, Harvard-educated, is a former theater director and choreographer with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is the author of The Firemaster’s Mistress and lives in London with her family.

For more information about the author and her books please visit Christie Dickason’s website.

For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.

I received a complimentary copy of The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

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Book Review: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Thursday 2 December, 2010 By 7 Comments


Title: The Winter Sea
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Publication Date: December 1, 2010
Paperback: 544 pages
ISBN: 978-1402241376
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

History has all but forgotten…

In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.

Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write.

But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth—the ultimate betrayal—that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her…

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis for The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley, I was almost convinced I had read another book very similar, so it was with hesitation that I began reading. Fortunately I discovered an engrossing historical book, which took me to Scotland and the shadows of Slains Castle where writer Carrie McClelland moves to write her next book, and soon finds the story is writing itself. In a seamless manner Kearsley weaves together present events along with the unfolding memories of past events from 1708. Kearsley’s writing is touching, her imagery is vivid and her characters are deep, intense and intriguing. The Winter Sea successfully tells two stories at the same time leading up to an absolutely brilliant ending. I found the two stories to be compelling and enjoyed the historical aspects of the book and learned a lot more about the Jacobite uprising. The Winter Sea has so much to offer the reader it was difficult to set the book down as the story moves along at just the right pace to keep the reader alert and wanting to know more. The Winter Sea is a beautiful work of historical fiction and the blending of history and romance. I highly recommend The Winter Sea to any reader who enjoys historical fiction.

About the Author:

After studying politics and international development at University, Susanna Kearsley worked as a museum curator before turning her hand to writing. Winner of the UK’s Catherine Cookson Fiction prize, Susanna Kearsley’s writing has been compared to Mary Stewart, Daphne DuMaurier, and Diana Gabaldon. Her books have been translated into several languages, selected for the Mystery Guild, condensed for Reader’s Digest, and optioned for film. The Winter Sea was a finalist for both a RITA award and the UK’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and is a nominee for Best Historical Fiction in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awareds. She lives in Canada, near the shores of Lake Ontario. For more information, please visit http://www.susannakearsley.com/.

I received a complimentary copy of The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: The Wolves Of Andover By Kathleen Kent

Wednesday 1 December, 2010 By 7 Comments


Title: The Wolves of Andover
Author: Kathleen Kent
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Publication Date: November 8, 2010
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-0316068628
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

In the harsh wilderness of colonial Massachusetts, Martha Allen works as a servant in her cousin’s household, taking charge and locking wills with everyone. Thomas Carrier labors for the family and is known both for his immense strength and size and mysterious past. The two begin a courtship that suits their independent natures, with Thomas slowly revealing the story of his part in the English Civil War. But in the rugged new world they inhabit, danger is ever present, whether it be from the assassins sent from London to kill the executioner of Charles I or the wolves-in many forms-who hunt for blood. A love story and a tale of courage, The Wolves of Andover confirms Kathleen Kent’s ability to craft powerful stories of family from colonial history.

My Review:

Dark, historic and deeply compelling, The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent is more than a work of historical fiction as she is writing about her own ancestors and their lives in 1673 colonial Massachusetts. Following Kent’s extraordinary novel, The Heretic’s Daughter, I was not certain if Kent would be able to match the quality, when in fact she exceeds it in The Wolves of Andover. Historical fiction fans will recognise many names straightaway especially when Kent shifts to England. Kent’s characters are vividly described and both the feelings in the colonies as well as in London during this time in history are made quite clear to the reader as Kent easily transitions the reader into this period where, for Martha in the colonies, life is rather desolate, bleak and extremely dangerous. The crown wants someone to pay for Charles I’s execution and witch trials are in full force. As I read The Wolves of Andover I had little difficulty imagining life as a colonist and I do not think I would have made it. The life was very hard and for the characters even more so as the wolves Kent alludes to in her title pertain to more than the animal that could easily destroy a family. It is not necessary for one to have read The Heretic’s Daughter to follow along in The Wolves of Andover, but once read, I believe readers will want to read Kent’s previous book. I went into The Wolves of Andover with extremely high expectations and I was not disappointed. I strongly recommend The Wolves of Andover to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is merely looking for an intriguing and captivating book.

About the Author:

Kathleen Kent lives in Dallas with her husband and son. To learn more about Kathleen Kent and her extraordinary novels please visit her website.

I received a complimentary copy of The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent from Hachette to review. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Tuesday 30 November, 2010 By 11 Comments


Title: The Distant Hours
Author: Kate Morton
Publisher: Atria
Publication Date: November 9, 2010
Hardcover: 576 pages
ISBN: 978-1439152782
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A long lost letter arrives in the post and Edie Burchill finds herself on a journey to Milderhurst Castle, a great but moldering old house, where the Blythe spinsters live and where her mother was billeted 50 years before as a 13 year old child during WW II. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives looking after the third and youngest sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiance jilted her in 1941.

Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. The truth of what happened in ‘the distant hours’ of the past has been waiting a long time for someone to find it.

Morton once again enthralls readers with an atmospheric story featuring unforgettable characters beset by love and circumstance and haunted by memory, that reminds us of the rich power of storytelling.

My Review:

An astonishingly brilliant gothic narrative, dark, mysterious, and beautiful, The Distant Hours by Kate Morton is an absolute must-read book.   I had heard about Kate Morton and her books, but this is the first one I have read and I was so impressed by the beauty from Morton’s use of lyrical prose, vividly described details both present and past, coupled with her marvelous characters. I was truly engrossed and unable to stop reading.  The Distant Hours is a rather lengthy tome, which will capture the reader from page one and not let go and as the reader journeys with the characters, time will pass by without notice as the reader journeys deep into the Blythe sisters history as Edie works to unearth the secrets of the Milderhurst Castle.  Historical fiction, a gothic mystery and a love story, The Distant Hours does not disappoint.  I am officially adding Morton’s previous two books, The House At Riverton and The Forgotten Garden to my Christmas wish list since The Distant Hours took my breath away.  Beautiful, lyrical, mysterious and riveting, I cannot praise The Distant Hours enough and without reservation highly recommend The Distant Hours to every reader and gift giver alike.

About the Author:

Kate Morton, a native Australian, holds degrees in dramatic art and English literature and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland. She lives with her family in Brisbane, Australia.

I received a complimentary copy of The Distant Hours by Kate Morton from Atria Books to review. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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