Title: A Race to Splendor
Author: Ciji Ware
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Paperback: 544 pages
ISBN: 978-1402222696
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

Early in 1906, the ground in San Francisco shook buildings and lives from their comfortable foundations.

Amidst rubble, corruption, and deceit, two women—young architects in a city and field ruled by men—find themselves racing the clock and each other during the rebuilding of competing hotels in the City by the Bay.

Based on meticulous research, A Race to Splendor tells the story of the audacious people of one of the world’s great cities rebuilding and reinventing themselves after immense human tragedy. Filled with courage, passion, and conflict, Amelia Bradshaw’s spirit will capture your imagination as she strives to redraft her life amidst the ruins with both help and hindrance from a wayward son of privilege who pulls her into worlds she’d never have known.

My Review:

A Race to Splendorby Ciji Ware is yet another well-researched, well-planned historical fiction book, this time taking place in 1906 directly after the San Francisco earthquake. Amelia Bradshaw is an architect and not only plans to rebuild her grandfather’s hotel, Bay View, but to make it the first hotel rebuilt after the devastating earthquake. Considering it is 1906, Amelia is up against quite a lot of differing opinions as her profession is not one deemed for a lady. Of Ware’s historical novels, I think Amelia may be her strongest and most fierce protagonist to date. Ware not only describes the tension of the time, the devastation caused by the earthquake and the toll it takes on the inhabitants of San Francisco, it is also a fictionalised historical account of the competition amongst the architectural firms, the difficulties faced by being a woman in a predominately male profession, and the effects a devastating earthquake can have on a city and its people. Ware will take the reader to San Francisco during the earthquake and the aftermath, feel the tension, despair, good will, and unfortunately also the anger, greed, and corruption that can occur after a tragedy of this magnitude. A Race to Splendor is fast paced, meticulously detailed, events come to life as do the characters, and Ware sweeps the reader away with her ability to transform readers into the past. I highly recommend A Race to Splendor to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is new to the genre.

To learn more about Ciji Ware and her books please visit her website.

I received a complimentary ARC of A Race to Splendor by Ciji Ware from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: Sins of the House of Borgia
Author: Sarah Bower
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Paperback: 544 pages
ISBN: 978-1402259630
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

A Notorious Duke
An Infamous Duchess
An Innocent Girl

Violante isn’t supposed to be here, in one of the grandest courts of Renaissance Italy. She isn’t supposed to be a lady-in-waiting to the beautiful Lucrezia Borgia. But the same secretive politics that pushed Lucrezia’s father to the Vatican have landed Violante deep in a lavish landscape of passion and ambition.

Violante discovers a Lucrezia unknown to those who see only a scheming harlot, and all the whispers about her brother, Cesare Borgia, never revealed the soul of the man who dances close with Violante.

But those who enter the House of Borgia are never quite the same when they leave—if they leave at all. Violante’s place in history will test her heart and leave her the guardian of dangerous secrets she must carry to the grave.

My Review:

Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower takes the reader back in time to the Italian Renaissance, the glittering balls, gowns, and opulent courts and into the most powerful families of the time. The book begins in 1492 with persecution of the Jews under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, which leads Ester Sarfati, our narrator, to eventually becoming baptised, renamed twice, although most often she is referred to as Violante, and she is given the position of lady-in-waiting to Lucrezia Borgia, Pope Alexander VI’s illegitimate daughter. Lucrezia Borgia is to be wed to Alfonso d’Este, heir to the dukedom of Ferrara, which would unite the extremely powerful houses of Borgia and Ferrara. While all this is occurring, Violante is falling in love with Lucrezia’s brother, Casare, who takes the term “debauchery” to an all-new level. To say Cesare is unkind is far too generous. If Sins of the House of Borgia is beginning to sound like a very dramatic soap opera, it is because it is. Greed, power, wealth, political ambition and lust are found throughout the book. Bower uses a lot of creative license and writes beautifully flowing and descriptive scenes. It does not take much for the reader to be able to visualise the courts, the gowns, or life. Bower uses the same flair when it comes to her characters. She brings them to life for good or bad, and each is quite vivid to the reader. It is not often I read historical novels set outside of England, and Sins of the House of Borgia did not disappoint. I found myself swept away into all the drama, scandal, drama, scheming, loyalty, along with the political and social pressures found amidst the pages. I would recommend Sins of the House of Borgia to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

About the Author:

Sarah Bower is a literature development officer for Creative Arts East. She teaches creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She was UK editor of the Historical Novels Review for two years until the beginning of 2006, when she stepped down to make more time for her own writing. She is the author of the forthcoming novel The Needle in the Blood.

I received a complimentary copy of Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: Staying at Daisy’s
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Paperback: 512 pages
ISBN: 978-1402243844
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

Hotel manager Daisy MacLean thinks she has people all figured out. When she meets cocky, sarcastic Dev Tyzack, it’s a no brainer—stay away. But as guests come and go, Daisy realizes Dev is the one person she wants to stay.

My Review:

Staying at Daisy’s by Jill Mansell is a delightful, witty and thoroughly enjoyable book and the perfect choice for a quick read that will lift readers’ spirits.   Daisy MacLean runs the country inn, Colworth Manor, which is owned by her father and when a wedding is about to take place at the inn, Daisy is assured by her friend Tara that there will not be any problems with the guests. Naturally that means problems will abound – and they do.  Not only does Daisy find herself in some uncomfortable as well as hysterical situations, but her father Hector has some secret affairs of his own he is trying not to make known.    Mansell’s ensemble of characters are flamboyant, annoying, and delightfully quirky, making certain there is not a dull moment.  The storyline is a slight deviation from romantic comedy in a fun, fast-paced comedy of errors with romantic tension.  Staying at Daisy’s is a wonderful escape book, one a reader can easy get lost in and forget all their worries for a few hours, one reason I enjoyed this book so very much.  Staying at Daisy’s was a delightful, enjoyable diversion for me and I found myself laughing quite often, which has not been easy for me to achieve on my own lately.  I have had the honour to review several on Mansell’s books and each one has taken me into a group of intriguing characters and I look forward to future books from this amazing author.  I recommend Staying at Daisy’s to anyone how enjoys a good escape novel and hours of fun filled reading.

About the Author:

With over 4 million copies sold, Jill Mansell writes irresistible and funny romantic tales for women in the tradition of Jilly Cooper and Catherine Alliott. She worked for many years at the Burden Neurological Hospital, Bristol, and now writes full time. She lives with her partner and their children in Bristol, England.

I received a complimentary copy of Staying at Daisy’s by Jill Mansell from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: To Defy A King
Author: Elizabeth Chadwick
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Paperback: 544 pages
ISBN: 978-1402250897
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the Publisher:

The adored and spirited daughter of England’s greatest knight, Mahelt Marshal lives a privileged life. But when her beloved father falls foul of the volatile and dangerous King John, her world is shattered. The king takes her brothers hostage and Mahelt’s planned marriage to Hugh Bigod, son of the Earl of Norfolk, takes place sooner than she expected. Mahelt and Hugh come to care for each other deeply, but Hugh’s strict father clashes with the rebellious Mahelt. When more harsh demands from King John threaten to tear the couple’s lives apart, Mahelt finds herself facing her worst fears alone, not knowing if she—or her marriage—will survive.

A brilliant story of a vibrant woman in a tyrant’s world, To Defy a King is another impeccably researched masterpiece from a beloved author.

My Review:

Elizabeth Chadwick has created yet another masterpiece, this time in her historical fiction novel To Defy A King.  The two main characters of this magnificent book are Mahelt Marshal and Hugh Bigod.  Mahelt’s family has fallen out of favour with King John and the solution appears to be a marriage to heir of the Dukedom of Northumberland, Hugh Bigod.  To Defy A King occurs during the time of the Magna Carta, readers unfamiliar with this time should not fear, as Chadwick expertly takes the reader deftly back to this time in history.  Chadwick’s choice of heroine is strong, intelligent, feisty, and brave.  Mahelt lives through numerous highs and lows and manages to maintain her dignity and fights for her beliefs even at the potential cost of losing all she holds dear.  To Defy A King spans fourteen tumultuous years and is one of Chadwick’s most emotional books yet.  Chadwick’s extensive research, vivid and detailed prose, and the life she breathes back into characters that lived eight centuries ago is pure genius.  Often I am asked if one needs to know a lot about a time period to understand a work of historical fiction and in this case the answer is no.  Chadwick offers the reader plenty of information and quickly, and with extraordinary skill, whisks the reader back to the very beginnings of the thirteenth century.  While To Defy A King is over 500 pages, the time will fly by and the reader, if like myself, will not be able to set the book down.  I cannot praise To Defy A King highly enough and strongly recommend it to all readers.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Chadwick (UK) is the author of 17 historical novels, including The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion, A Place Beyond Courage, Lords of the White Castle, Shadows and Strongholds, The Winter Mantle, and The Falcons of Montabard, four of which have been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Awards.
For further information, please visit the author’s website.

I received a complimentary copy of To Defy A King by Elizabeth Chadwick from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

Title: All That’s True
Author: Jackie Lee Miles
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-1402240850
Genre: Fiction

From the Publisher:

“My life was close to being perfect until my brother Alex got killed. Then my mother started drinking and my father started having sex with Donna, my best friend’s stepmother. She’s not even thirty years old.”

With an equal mix of joy and sorrow, All That’s True follows Andi’s poignant—and sometimes laugh out loud—journey to young adulthood, where she struggles with the elusive nature of truth and the devastating consequences of deception.

My Review:

All That’s True by Jackie Lee Miles is another beautifully written novel, this time about a young girl coming into her own throughout the midst of tragedy, family drama, and teen issues exacerbated by her home life. I typically do not read coming of age stories, however I did so enjoy Miles’ book, Roseflower Creek, that I wanted to read this book. To say Andi is privileged is an understatement; her life appears perfect until the tragic death of her older brother, which causes the family to fracture. I was surprised how even with the affairs and alcohol abuse, certain aspects of the family’s life stayed the same, however, this book is written from Andi’s perspective, which could possibly explain why some aspects seem almost too normal and others not. Miles is a gifted writer and her prose is beautiful, she easily draws the reader into her book and into Andi’s life. The characters are well described, multi-dimensional and easily relatable. I enjoyed reading the book written in Andi’s voice, which for me has positive and negative qualities. The tone of the book is akin to listening to a teenager sit and talk with you, which makes perfect sense, but a reason I do not typically read coming of age books. The perspective is clearly Andi’s and it is only right the narrative should be in her voice. Miles does an exceptional job capturing the spirit of an adolescent and I would recommend All That’s True to readers who enjoy coming of age novels.

About the Author

Jackie Lee Miles lives in Georgia with her husband, where she is a featured speaker at book clubs, schools, and writer’s workshops. The author of three novels, Roseflower Creek was her first, published to critical acclaim. When not writing, Ms. Miles tours with the Dixie Darlin’s, four nationally published book-writing belles.

I received a complimentary copy of All That’s True by Jackie Lee Miles from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.