A Woman of San Francisco by Lynn Erickson

 San Francisco, 1890. Annette Tofler returns from two years studying art in Paris and returns home with a strong desire to paint professionally.  Despite being the sheltered youngest daughter of a well-to-do Nob Hill merchant, Annette rents herself an artist’s studio (!!), offers herself up as a nude model (!!) for any artist willing to pay and even comes and goes to and fro with nary an eyebrow raised by her doting father and brother. One of her first modeling gigs is for painter Rolf Karman (she’d met him previously at a gallery opening and hated him on sight), and since this is a romance y’all know the sparks are flying between the two at the get go.

Annette’s father has been doing business of the dirtiest kind with the shady guys in town, and when it goes awry the angry mobsters are out for their money back – and if not well, I won’t spoil but you will see that one coming a mile away.  The story continues with the Big Rescue, the Big Misunderstanding, and a long-lost family member with a deep dark secret (you’ll guess that lickety split). The characters were not terribly believable and didn’t always act in a manner that suited the period. I won’t spoil but dangerous situation or not, I couldn’t believe Annette was left alone with a man who was not her husband for days, nor that she and Cecily accepted their brother’s mistress with nary an eyebrow raised.

It is unfortunate, as at the beginning I had high hopes for this. I liked the writing at first, she even made good use of dialog for setting up the back history instead of those tedious info dumps. I know it is a romance and we’re not supposed to care, but unfortunately the big romance wasn’t much of one, Annette was…well…a bit too slutty at the start (she kind of had the hots for anything in pants…) and I really didn’t warm up to her.  Romance or not, I was all set for a juicy tale of Old San Francisco,  the Barbary Coast and its resident baddies, a heroine held captive by the meanest baddie of them all and all I ended up with was silly mess including a HEA with enough sugar and sweetness in it to set the alarm off on the glucose meter. Give this one a pass.

Lady of the Butterflies By Fiona Mountain

So which cover do you like best? I’m kind of fond of the last two. At least they have their heads.

“Reserve judgment until the truth is compelling.”

As the story begins, Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians are out and Charles Stuart is in. Eleanor is the daughter of Major William Goodricke, a strict Puritan and former soldier in Cromwell’s army.  Her father dies, leaving the family’s estate in Somerset, Tickenham Court, to a very young Eleanor. Her ward-ship is given to a like-minded associate of her father’s and he eventually marries her off to Edmund Ashfield. Eleanor loves her husband (so she thinks) but what about Edmund’s great friend, the dashing and ever so charming cavalier Richard Glanville who sets her heart a-flutter?

Eleanor settles into married life and motherhood, but the lure of the butterflies sends her flitting about the countryside in chase of them. Tragedy strikes, leaving Eleanor widowed – can she resist the charms of the oh-so-hunky Richard Glanville or will she keep her independence and control of her property? Well you know I’m not going to tell you but let’s just say that events start taking a dark turn and her fascination with the butterflies has spooked the superstitious country folk leaving her vulnerable to accusations of madness and witchcraft. Can she hold onto her property and her freedom? Or will she lose it all?

“no one who was not deprived of their senses would go in pursuit of butterflies”

This was a beautifully written novel, and one I had a hard time putting down. A lot of time is spent on Eleanor and her beloved butterflies, as well as the debates over whether or not to drain the fens (a very hot issue among the commonors) and may not suit readers liking their books action packed with heroines leaping tall buildings in a single bound, but for those who want to sit back and savor some lovely prose with a glass of red wine or a box of chocolates (or both!) this should do quite nicely. As very little of Eleanor’s life is known outside of birth, death and whom she married, the author has plenty of  *wiggle room* to weave her story as she sees it. Things did get just a wee bit melodramatic (the big search is all I’ll say), but a surprising ending and not one I saw coming at all. Eleanor is a passionate woman, and you will find some sex in this book, but I didn’t find it gratuitous, nor OTT as this reviewer from The Washington Post did.

FTC? I won it at Goodreads. Go and pester Harriet, she’s still not disclosing her book sources on all those blogs she has and we are all dying to know 😉

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

From a very young age, Margaret Beaufort idolized Joan of Arc and imagined herself with a similar destiny – riding into battle to save England from the  grasping York family and installing the *rightful king* on the throne.  Margaret is first married to Edmund Tudor, bears a son Henry, and she knows from the get go that this son is destined to be King of England (funny, I could have sworn the Beauforts were legitimized with the provision they could never rule…). Marriage #2 is to older (but wiser) Henry Stafford, and he prefers to keep his head and sit quietly on the proverbial fence as the wars between the houses of Lancaster and York tear England in two. Who will win in the end? The mad Henry and his she-devil wife Margaret of Anjou or will Warwick the kingmaker put Edward of York on the throne?

The dust finally settles with Edward as king (no spoilers that’s known history), and a now widowed Margaret comes to court to find a new husband, a husband who is willing to aid her in her schemes on Henry’s behalf – and she finds a perfect fit in Thomas Stanley. The two insinuate themselves into Edward’s court biding their time until they can make a move, and upon the death of Edward, Richard takes the throne, his two sons disappear from the Tower and Stanley’s treachery at Bosworth field forever changes history.

“Don’t be a Beaufort filled with wounded pride – be a Stanley: get on the winning side”

Sound like a chant at a football game? We all thought so and credit to Karla at Goodreads for making us a Team Stanley poster,

Hehe. OK, yes there’s a whole lot more to it than that but this is one of those times where you either know the history already and don’t need it rehashed one more time and for those who don’t – Wik can do it much better than I can. My thoughts? While a bit better than The White Queen, using the first person narrative with someone who spends so much time stuck out in the country really boxed the story into a dreary corner. There is way too much telling instead of showing, especially those treasonous letters between her and Jasper – I’m guessing Margaret and her co-conspirators were a bit smarter than to put that stuff to paper. While I understand that Margaret was an extremely pious person, I am smart enough to figure it out from the get go, I didn’t need to be clubbed over the head with it like we were with Melusine in TWQ. I have to admit to jumping up and down for joy when I hit this on page #304,

“This letter irritates me so intensely that I cannot even pray for the rest of the day.”

Whew! In the end, this was an average book, one that doesn’t bring anything new to the table and might not appeal to serious Ricardians – and the gold standard of those is still Sharon Penman’s fabulous The Sunne in Splendour. That said, this series will definitely appeal to PG fans as well as those looking for a starter point for exploring the period, just don’t take everything in the book as gospel – I’m not buying Elizabeth of York as a fortune-telling water witch

3/5 stars. As for Mr. FTC? Why this book was passed along to me from another reader.

Men on White Horses by Annette Motley

Tags

catherine the great

 I want to ride at the head of my men on white horses. It has taken me so long to reach them.

 German Princess Joanna of Anhalt-Zerbst brings her daughter Sophie to the Russian Imperial Court with an eye to marrying her to Peter Ulrich, the Empress Elizabeth’s heir.  Sophie senses Russia is her destiny and takes it to heart, learning the language and converting to the Orthodox faith, and baptized as Catherine (Ekaterina). She and Peter are wed, but he is a bit of an odd duck and more interested in playing with his toy soldiers (no, I am not kidding) than consummating the marriage and producing the necessary heir and a spare.

Of course the wife is always the one to blame and a shunned, isolated and frustrated Catherine can’t resist the temptation to take on a lover when the opportunity comes upon her – but does Sergei truly love her or does he have other motives for seducing her? After several attempts Peter finally consummates the marriage and the required heir is produced, but he tires of his wife and takes up with a new mistress and the two live the debauched high life of the younger court-set, leaving Catherine to find comfort where she can. She drifts at first, and you might start getting annoyed wondering where the formidable Catherine we know from the history books is, but don’t worry – that butterfly does emerge from the cocoon,

I did not come here to satisfy my own desire for love, or for the security of a family and hearth. I came here to rule Russia, and that, whatever you may think now, is what I am eventually going to do.

The aging Empress finally breathes her last and Peter is Tsar, but his loyalties to Prussia strike fear into the heart of the Russians. Will Catherine’s latest dish lover be the cavalier leading the men on white horses she’s dreamed of? Well, if you know your history you know what happens next and if not you don’t want me spoiling it for you.

I have to say I enjoyed this a lot, despite a bit of a slow start that was made especially confusing with the numerous courtiers and their multiple titles (just stay focused on the main players and you’ll get past it). This is a more *romantic* take on Catherine, but Motley seems to stay true to the basic facts of Catherine’s life, and I was really surprised to learn that she wasn’t Russian born, but a minor German princess.  While Catherine does take on lovers, the sex (with one odd exception and that’s over quickly) is fairly tame by today’s standards but there was one that’s too good not to share,

She gave the kind of glad shout she was accustomed to keep for the hunting field, and rode madly towards the quarry they both were chasing. Stasio caught her mood and went with her, exultantly matching his pace to her wild career. Accomplished sportsmen, they both came in for the kill at the same moment, dividing it to their equal satisfaction. Afterwards, in a flurry of laughter and kisses, the Grand Duchess fell from her mount.

And no, what ever game they were hunting, it wasn’t venison :).  At first I was considering a 3.5 rating, but since 1) I couldn’t put it down and 2) Peter’s nutty antics (don’t miss the bit where he hangs the rat his “sergeant” the dog caught), as well as the efforts made to get him to consummate the marriage had me laughing my arse off (I am sooooo tempted to quote a few choice ones) that I just have to give this one four stars and a permanent place on my keeper shelf.

FTC, rest assured. This is a genuine Amazon Verified Purchase. The world is still safe.

Liliane by Annabel Erwin

When her husband is murdered by Bonaparte’s soldiers, Liliane has little choice but to flee France with her young daughter and join her sister in Virginia. Unfortunately, Liliane arrives at Cloudmont to find her sister dead of a sudden (and mysterious) illness. The Madison family welcomes Liliane into their home and she and her daughter Melisse fit quite nicely into the household – and that includes her sister’s widower Andrew who is most definitely the marrying kind. Or is she more attracted to Andrew’s brother George, the dashing sea-captain who prefers the bachelor life?

Liliane soon finds that her sister was very different at Cloudmont from the one she grew up with. What could have happened to turn her into such a termagant? Why would she beat her son Andy? Was her death just a tragedy, or did someone wish her harm? Andrew professes love to Liliane and wants to marry her, but what deep dark secret does he keep that could shatter all their lives? What about the slaves who suddenly seethe with resentment towards their white masters? Inquiring minds want to know.

While this is written in the first person narrative (not my favorite) I have to say the author did a good job with putting Liliane where she needed to be to *witness* the action. No hiding in cupboards or peeping through keyholes here, nor any endless recounts of history. Whew! The author gives the reader a lovely glimpse of plantation life (I am so craving turkey right now), as well as the gay balls and society of Richmond. And don’t judge this book by its cover, old *skool* romance or not any sex that happens in this book is pretty much all done behind closed doors. A quick, easy read and perfect for a beach book. 3/5 stars.

 FTC, I know you’re terribly concerned about the source for this long forgotten OOP. Rest assured, it came via a book swap. The world is still safe.

The King’s Mistress by Emma Campion

 Daughter of a wealthy London merchant, Alice catches the eye of Janyn Perrers and the two marry despite her mother’s rather irrational objections. The marriage is definitely a love match, but Janyn and his mother have a deep dark secret that has something to do with the dowager Queen Isabella and while it has brought them great wealth, it also brings great danger to those who keep the old Queen’s secrets.  When Janyn mysteriously disappears (no spoiler, that’s on the book jacket) Alice seeks protection of Edward III and his queen, Philippa.  A commoner, the noblewomen at court shun her, but the Queen loves Alice’s knowledge of clothing and fabric, and as for the King? I’m guessing the book’s title will indicate to you where the rest of the story goes, no?

If you are familiar with the period you know what happens next and if not you don’t want me spoiling it for you.  While I appreciated the author’s effort to portray one of history’s most vilified women in a more favorable light, I think she did herself a disservice by doing a complete 180 and turning Alice into something a wee bit too sugary sweet. Would someone with her business acumen really worry much over a profitable wardship offered by the King because people might think ill of her? The first person narrative (admittedly not my favorite) doesn’t help much either and I felt the author painted herself into too many corners trying to justify events so that all the bad things that happened were always someone else’s fault. I’d rather see a more well-rounded character, warts and all.

As for the story and pacing itself? IMHO too much time is spent on Alice’s marriage with Janyn, along with all those pages upon pages of oohing and aahing over the fabrics. I would have liked to know more about the merchant’s role in purchasing and marketing cloth rather than hearing about the next pretty dress and headdress. Better yet, fast forward to Alice entering the royal household and then give us a few flashbacks to flesh out the back story.  I also found myself scratching my head when the Big Mystery is finally revealed, why anyone would be so hell-bent on murder because of *that* I can’t quite fathom.

In the end, this was on OK book, good but certainly not great, with very little character development and far too much telling instead of showing. Since the story is told from Alice’s point of view and she’s not always in the thick of things some of the more important events in this period are skimmed over a bit too quickly, i.e. the Peasant’s Revolt was over and done with in three pages. Kudos to the author for attempting to shed new light on such a heinous woman, but in the end just too much sugar for my tastes. 3/5 stars and I recommend getting it from the library first and then buy it if you love it.

FTC, my copy came via Amazon Vine.

The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton

History tells us that upon the death of Richard I (The Lionheart) his younger brother John became King of England and Duke of Normandy, despite the fact that John’s older brother Geoffrey left behind a young son named Arthur, who some felt was the rightful king. John had a real knack for ticking off his barons (Magna Carta anyone?), let alone that he dumped wife #1 to steal Isabelle de Angoulême out from under her intended’s nose (one of those de Lusignans) and married her himself (a bit young at twelve, but oh well – needs must).  When his nephew Arthur rebels along with the de Lusignans, he and his sister Eleanor (The Pearl of Brittany) are captured by John. Arthur mysteriously vanishes from his prison (believed by many to have been murdered by John), but Eleanor is kept at the impenetrable Corfe Castle in England.

I think I got that right, if not please let me know.  Sooooo, now comes a new twist on this tale from first time author Hana Samek Norton, set in Normandy, early 13C. Despite living a more cloistered life at Fontevraud Abbey, an aging Aliénor (Eleanor) of Aquitaine still keeps her fingers in the political pies and to that end she plans to wed novice Juliana de Charnais, heiress to the strategically important Viscounty of Tillieres, to jaded mercenary Guérin de Lasalle – and trust me it is not love at first sight. Juliana fights off any attempts at consummating the marriage and it appears that Guérin would rather dump his new bride back off in a convent, annul the marriage and keep the viscounty and lands for himself. Or does he have a different agenda all together?

The story takes plentiful twists and turns and ups and downs as John battles his rebellious Norman barons and the revenge minded de Lusignans. How does Arthur fit into the de Lusignan’s plots? Or do their schemes involve his sister Eleanor? What do Juliana and Guérin have to do with it all?  Does Guérin care for Juliana or is he really the disgusting drunken hot-tempered sot that he seems? Will our pair find true love in the end, or end up killing each other instead? Will Juliana’s stupidity (I kid you not) ruin them all? 

Well I’m not telling. I have to say that I was disappointed in the way this novel was represented in the book description – “executed in flawless period detail” – I’m sorry but that is not the book I read. While I’ve read quite a few novels set in the medieval period, I’m not *up-to-snuff* enough to spot the minor discrepancies but things just didn’t feel right compared to the experiences I’ve had with novels by Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Penman. Since the copy I read is an uncorrected proof I won’t quote but I did find a word used by John that I couldn’t find a reference to earlier than the 1600’s. Eleanor of Brittany referring to England as Britain instead of England? I don’t think so… 

Once I accepted that this wasn’t going to be a serious novel with any new insight into the period, I decided to kick back and enjoy the story and the sparring between the pair, and it was fun in the first half of the novel. However, in the latter half the plot became a tad bit too complex and I felt the author threw in one too many plot twists (as well as the kitchen sink) and it all eventually developed into a dire, silly and completely improbable mess. If there is still time, I would heartily recommend trimming down some of the secondary characters to tighten things up, as well as a list of characters at the front to refer to. It became mind-numbing at times trying to recall who was who – particularly when just about everyone started being someone else entirely.

In the end, the book I ended up reading was more something in the line of a medieval spy/thriller/action/adventure romp and if you go in realizing its make-believe and not real history you might enjoy it, but if you’re looking for something similar to Chadwick or Penman, I recommend you pass this one by. I give three stars to the first half and one to the latter and round it out to two stars. From a glance at the author’s notes there are plans to continue the story in Cyprus. I will be passing on that ride.

FTC? I got a copy from Amazon Vine.