All For Love by Patricia Gallagher

Wealthy New York banker Earl Britton is named guardian of Jacintha Howard upon the death of her beloved grandparents. Virtually penniless, she is left without much more than the family’s dilapidated estate, Riverview. Earl would rather she sell the run-down estate, take the money and find herself a husband but a defiant Jacintha digs her heels in and refuses. Married to a wealthy heiress he has come to loathe, Earl finds himself falling in love with Jacintha and makes her the only offer a married man can make, which she refuses. Eventually Jacintha’s desperation to save Riverview leads her to accept a marriage offer from the much older Cole Danvers, who built his fortune on saloons and sweat-shop labor.

Of course you know Cole is going to be despicable and brutal, let alone hot to make an heir, but there’s really no way for Jacintha to get herself out of this pickle so she tries to make the best of it – and at least Riverview can be returned to its former glory.  At the outbreak of Civil War, Earl joins the Union Cavalry and Cole rubs his hands with glee at the thought of the increased profits.  And since this is a romance, you do know that our hero will be wounded and our heroine will have to whisk him off someplace safe to nurse him back to health and well…you can figure it out from there can’t you?

No, I’m not spoiling you will see that one coming a mile away. All in all a fairly typical Civil War romance, with the usual plot twists, but still an enjoyable read. Since the story is set mainly in New York, there isn’t a lot of first hand battle experiences, just brief historical recounts. Tammany Hall is little more than a brief mention, but Gallagher does give some insight into the horrible conditions of the sweat-shops and treatment of the laborers. Kudos for that – this is not a wall-paper historical.  There aren’t a lot books set in this period (we’ll not discuss those awful Luxe books), either Civil War or old New York, so it’s always a treat to find one. While not the most absorbing book ever (her Castles in the Air trilogy is much better) and despite its predictability and pat ending, I’d recommend it for fans hungry for one more Civil War romance. There is some sex in this book but not what you’d expect from the cover and very, very tame by today’s standards. 3/5 stars.

FTC, I know you really really care about where I got this long-forgotten OOP book so I’ll tell you – PaperbackSwap.

Grail Prince Nancy McKenzie

“There is no one left. Pendragon is no more.”

The battle of Camlann is over, Arthur is dead and Britain is shattered into pieces once again.  Guinevere has retired to a nunnery and a heart-broken Lancelot returns to his Kingdom across the sea.  Lancelot’s young son Galahad was charged by Arthur to find the buried treasures that can reunite Britain once again and is joined by his twelve-year-old cousin Percival, now King of Gwynedd upon his father’s death (although his uncle rules as regent).  The lads are soon following the clues and legends of the hill men, the *ancient ones*, hoping to find the grail and spear of Macsen Wledig that can reunite Britain and make it whole again. 

“If I cannot love my fellow-men, however dirty their hands, how can I love the God who made them?”

The book then backtracks to Galahad’s childhood, when he was raised to hate his father and Queen Guinevere (see more of Elen’s story in the first book, Queen of Camelot) by an embittered mother and a vicious priest with an agenda of his own. Lancelet eventually brings Galahad to Camelot to train for his knighthood and his hatred of Guinevere continues to grow and spreads to a disdain for all women, especially those who have been *cheapened* by unclean acts – including rape. The third part of the book backtracks to events leading up to the Battle of Camlann covered in the previous book in the series, albeit this time from Galahad’s viewpoint.

The latter part of the book continues as Britain is rudderless upon the death of Arthur and the Saxon threat continues to grow. The wheel of fortune spins around once more and Galahad finds himself committing the very sin in the flesh that he has so loathed his father for desiring only in his heart, and in doing so dishonors his greatest friend and ally. Galahad continues to wander Britain without purpose until he can face his true self and turn the circle ’round again  – will there be happiness or sorrow at the end of end of his quest? Can he find the grail and spear and reunite Britain?

 This was a highly entertaining follow-up to the first in the series, Queen of Camelot, and I found it the perfect blend of myths and legends, dreams and just a *wee* bit of magic. Highly recommended for Arthurian fans, although I suggest you leave a goodly period of time between this and book one as there’s a lot of story back-tracking in the middle. A solid four star read until the last 100 or so pages, and then I was riveted and needed the tissue box handy for a few of them. Despite this being part of a trilogy this book covers enough of the previous history that it could stand well enough on its own. The third book in the series is called Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte. 4.5/5 stars.

Books one and three,

 

FTC, well if you must know. I got it from the library.

Library Loot and Mail Box Monday on Tuesday

Library Loot is Hosted by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Marg at Reading Adventures. Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at the Printed Page.

From the library,

I’ve heard mixed reviews on this one, but the Florence Nightingale/Crimean War topic intrigues me.

UK title A Taste of Sorrow. I’ve heard nothing but good about this one, and I love the Brontes.

Just landed from Amazon Vine,

Mysterious disappearance of lover, exiled by angry parent to a remote lighthouse in Scotland and more. This was has garnered a lot of interest over at Goodreads and I’m anxious to get my hands on it.

Eh, not exactly historical fiction but I am borderline (it runs in the family) and don’t watch my diet as best as I should so I thought this might inspire me. Besides it was better than the deoderant they offered everyone 🙂

YA, 1918 style

I got on the topic of my old Nancy Drew books with a friend over at Goodreads and whilst dragging out my two 1930 editions out for a future post I found a few other forgotten treasures, including this one. I decided to give it a reread just for fun and post a review and share the illustrations as well.

Don't go looking at the prices on Amazon

Heh, can you even imagine dressing like that for a picnic and a swim at the river? Times have changed.

The journal begins on November 22, 1913 as sixteen year old Susan moans “Nothing ever happens in Stafford” (she and her friend Carol are each beginning one as a school project). The girls live off the main road on the triangular Paradise Green somewhere in New England, and across the way lives Louis Durant and his guardians the Meadows. A mysterious Frenchman referred to as Monsieur comes to visit Louis and the girls soon find themselves involved in a bit of a mystery. Why does Monsieur treat Louis with kid gloves and reverence? Who is behind the covered paintings in Monsieur’s room? Why do Monsieur and the Meadows freak out over Louis’ love of all things mechanical – especially fixing locks?

That’s as far as I’m going, I don’t want to spoil it for you. While much of the big secret is pretty easy for today’s jaded readers to figure out, it was still fun getting there and the author does slip in a last minute surprise that you may or may not guess at. Probably a bit too tame for today’s teens, but for those adults who like to take a walk down memory lane with a light Nancy Drew-ish mystery might enjoy this. If you can find a copy reasonably priced that is, because I am not parting with mine.

I don’t know what I like more, the ladie’s haircoverings or the *Imp’s* hair ribbon. I know it looks like she’s holding a *sucker* but it’s really a candle. Don’t you wish we still had books with images in them? Just you wait though because I’m going to share some from my 1930 editions of Nancy Drew,  and if you’re very good I’ll get around to scanning some from my OZ books (and they are awesome).

Now here’s a nice cover for you

Or maybe not. What say you all to this one?

You just never know what you’re going to come across when lurking in the trenches at Harriet’s reviews. Yes the library has it, but nooooooooo I’ve read the first one and I am not putting myself through another. No way. No how.

Library Loot

Library look is a weekly event hosted by Eva and Marg and encourages bloggers to share books that have been checked out from the library. Only two, but they should keep me pretty busy,

I’ve heard nothing but raves about this one and I’m in the mood for a good old swashbuckling kind of tale.

I read the first book in this trilogy, Queen of Camelot, a couple of years ago and just loved it. I was overdosed on all things Arthur and Camelot though and took a long break before I was ready to tackle another.

I’m also waiting for Anna by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, the first of a trilogy she wrote set in Russia, but dang-it-all there’s only one copy and someone else already has it. Must wait impatienly patiently for my turn

“When Anne Peters, a young Englishwoman, is offered a new life in St Petersburg as governess to Count Kirov’s children, she finds herself caught up in the intense lives of the family.”

I’ve wanted to try CHE for ages, but the book count on the Moreland books scares the willies out of me.

The Rebellion of Jane Clarke by Sally Gunning

   The book begins in 1769 as the Winslows and Clarkes battle over water rights and a horse – was it Jane’s father who whacked off the ears of the Winslow horse?  Jane defies her father and despite the heated political sentiments decides to ship her off to tend to Aunt Gill in Boston.  Jane settles in and cares for her elderly aunt, but her world is soon torn asunder when she witnesses British troops shoot down five civilians (the Boston massacre), inflaming the rest of the town to a heated frenzy. Jane’s brother was shot, but he survived and the two have different recollections of what really happened.

Will Jane’s relationship with her brother survive their disparate testimony at the subsequent trials? Will Jane find more than she bargained for living with Aunt Gill? Will she marry the man her father choses or find love with another in Boston?I’m not sure if it was me or my current mood (life was a bit off-kilter the last week or so), but I never warmed to Jane nor cared much what happened to her. I really had a hard time keeping track of some of the lesser characters, as well as events as related by the author. Perhaps I’m a bit dense but I couldn’t always tell exactly what was going on – the writing was too obtuse for my tastes – and in the end the author just did not suck me into her world. A shame as the massacre and ensuing aftermath should make for gripping reading, but it just didn’t work for this reader – I didn’t feel the crowd’s anger nor the soldier’s fear of the crowd – I didn’t feel anything at all. A good book, just not a great one.

My review is based on an ARC I received through Librarything Early Reviewers.

Secrets of the Tudor Court by D.L. Bogdan

 I’m beginning to see a pattern developing in the latest offerings in historical fiction similar to what I’m accustomed to in romances – you have the solid gritty novels with real historical detail and then there are the wall-paper variety and IMHO this book falls into the latter category. Secrets is the story of Mary Howard, daughter of the powerful Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, and wife to Henry VIII’s illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy. As a young girl Mary is packed off to serve future Queen Anne Boleyn, and we see the story of Henry’s court and his queens through Mary’s point of view. *Yawn*

I think by now all Tudorphiles know the basics of Henry and his six wives and I’m not going to drag it out for one more recap. An interesting concept using an historical character of which little is known to tell the same old story, but unfortunately I found this one is a tad bit underwhelming. Norfolk is as bad as bad can be, from beating on his wife and daughter to scheming to get any and all Howard women married to Henry, to his somewhat questionable method of getting Kitty Howard to produce an heir for Henry. As for Mary, she is so darn sweet and Mary-Sueish (pun not intended) that you’ll feel like fingernails are grating on the chalkboard anytime she opens her mouth – which considering this is first person narrative that would be on every page.

In the end, this book brings absolutely nothing new to the Tudor story, and I’d only recommend it for Tudor junkies who must read every book ever written on the Tudors. Without an author’s note to back up her facts I have no idea whether or not Thomas Howard beat his wife and daughter, but if you have been a victim of domestic violence you might want to pass on this one as the scenes are quite disturbing and in more detail than was truly necessary. Get it from the library if you must and then buy it if you love it.

Lastly, a note to the publisher. If you ever do a second printing, please fix this will you?

“He holds the reigns with one slim-fingered hand…”

I could be mistaken but I believe Kings reign and a horse is lead with a rein. 2/5 stars and not recommended. FTC: if you really must know I got it from the library.

The Lost Summer of Lousia May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees

Tags

little women, louisa may alcott, new hampshire

 

“…Jo would have ceased to be Jo if she had agreed to marry Laurie.”

This book is a “what if” account of the supposed “lost summer” of author Louisa May Alcott. The story begins in 1855 as the Alcott family moves to Walpole, New Hampshire after a relative offers them a home for the summer (Louisa’s transcendentalist father Branwell had a rather unique view of working sponging off of others for a living).  Louisa meets Joseph Singer and Joseph *courts* her quietly – that is until his father drops a bombshell that threatens any relationship the two could have had. A heartbroken Louisa eventually moves to Boston to further her writing career, but will Joseph offer her one more chance at happiness? Or will the lure of the pen lure her away from true love?

Full disclosure – I am not a huge Louisa May fan and I honestly can’t recall if even read Little Women in my younger days – so I’m not as fascinated with her story as a true LMA junkie might be. That said, I still didn’t find this book all that enthralling.  The book was very slow-paced and not much of anything happened outside of a visit to a circus and a local play, although you can’t expect much else in a small town in the 1850’s. My biggest problem is the lack of chemistry between Louisa and Joseph, they left me feeling a bit cold. I felt the characters could have been better developed, and I certainly didn’t pick up on any grand passion and dedication from Louisa for her writing career.  In the end, it is a good book, just not a great one.

My review is based upon an ARC I received through a giveaway at Librarything.

Lord of Sunset by Parke Godwin

Before the  Norman Conquest of 1066, England was ruled by Edward (now known as Edward the Confessor).  Edward was related through his mother Emma to Duke William of Normandy and the Duke believed he was Edward’s heir and had a right to England’s crown upon his death. Like all the other English kings, Edward’s Earl’s were pesky and troublesome, and the most powerful of them was the Earl of Wessex. Godwin had plenty of sons, two of whom caused quite a bit of mischief of their own, but the son who inherited the earldom was Harold – and that is who this book is about.

Harold loved Edith Swan-Neck, a woman who was *beneath* his station and he could not wed her in the eyes of the church, but they were handfasted and lived as man and wife. The English earls wanted none of Duke William upon Edward’s death, so they elected Harold as king and thus begin the events leading up to the Norman Conquest. That’s a very basic rundown and of course there’s a whole lot more to it than that but you know what I always say – read it for yourself.

This book is written from the point of view of several characters, Harold and Edith’s being the main ones, along with Edward and William and a few others. I’m not terribly fond of first person narratives, although Godwin did handle these quite nicely and gives the reader a well-rounded look at each side of the *coin*. While I found the author’s prose very lyrical, the story telling was a bit too slow paced and in the end I just wasn’t pulled into the story as much as I’d like to be, nor did I pick up on a lot of *grand passion* between the pair. Perhaps it’s because I came into this book after having read Valerie Anand’s Gildenford as well as Helen Hollick’s fabulous Harold the King, but this one just falls short in comparison to those two. A good book, just not a great one. 3/5 stars.FTC, if you must know – I got it from the library.