Storm Within by David Hillier

Tags

historical thriller, Oliver Cromwell

Cologne, 1654. Charles Stuart lives in impoverished exile, forever plotting to regain the English crown. A mysterious letter arrives claiming knowledge of the location of a long-lost fortune in gold, and Charles sends Richard Tremaine back to his native Cornwall to obtain it at all costs. Richard’s ship is wrecked in a storm off the coast and he’s the only one to survive, rescued by the current inhabitants of his ancestral home. It doesn’t take him long to figure out that things at the old home front aren’t exactly according to Hoyle, first and foremost being his long-lost sister “Susannah” – a girl he was never laid eyes on before. Richard is soon enmeshed in plots and counter-plots, a secret society bent on all kinds of evil doings, secret agents and more of that kind of stuff.

*Yawn*

Perhaps it is my fault, as I went into this expecting a straight historical novel with all the intrigues and treachery inherent in Cromwell’s England.  Unfortunately, this book would be better categorized as a historical thriller – and one more suited to the male reader at that – think 17C James Bond action with a hero that appeals to all the girls.  Think hero and bad guys with nine lives and then some no matter how many knife wounds they get. Think hero who can recover beautifully from a badly sprained ankle in a matter of hours.  Think hero who whilst watching a woman have the clothing torn from her by a deranged madman he manages to observe her “creamy back and full, rounded breasts” (no, I am not kidding). Worst of all, is the sex out of nowhere at the most ludicrous times (was sex so important we had to do it before we escaped?) and I suspect most female readers would react to the sex scenes as I did:

“..Richard fought against the chains, craving to be closer to her, deeper into her, taste her, feel her, be her.”

“A flame was working its way up between her legs, caressing her, licking her very core into a hot swollen burst. She gasped and tasted moist leaf and lichen in the air and pressed deeper into the bed of leaves.”

Eeewww. In the end, if you are looking for an OTT action-packed (sort of) historical thriller this might do, but if you are looking for some insight into England’s Civil Wars and Cromwell’s rule you will not find it here. 2.5/5 stars.

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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 King’s General by Daphne du Maurier

 

A most unusual love story

Set during the English Civil War of the 1640’s, du Maurier retells a lesser known bit of Cornish history as an elderly Honor Harris reflects back on her life and love. Wooed by the charming, irascible but extremely flawed Richard Grenvile, eighteen year old Honor loses her heart and prepares to marry Richard until a tragic accident changes their plans. Richard and Honor separate (no spoilers, that’s the first few chapters), but meet years later during the Civil War as he is now the King’s General in the West as they fight the Parliamentarian rebels – although not all the Royalists think too highly of Richard’s high-handed approach to prisoners and discipline. While Honor refuses to marry Richard, her feelings for him are as strong as before and they begin a most unusual relationship as the tides of war ebb and flow around them.

Honor takes up residence at Menabilly, the family home of Honor’s brother-in-law Jonathan Rashleigh and things soon begin to go bump in the night in typical du Maurier fashion – mysterious comings and goings, a secret door, a mystery floorboard in the summerhouse and….. well more than that, I’m not telling – read it for yourself. du Maurier once again weaves a magical tale, albeit this time with real-life characters. The dialogue between Richard and Honor sizzles off the pages, as does the enmity between Honor and Richard’s sister – and boy can those two swap some memorable barbs. The scene where those two sat and played at cards and witty repartee as the rebels sacked Menabilly to its bare walls was just brilliant, as was the bit when Richard over indulged in dinner and wine and called the troops back after retiring – simply priceless.

All in all a very unusual love story and an interesting glimpse at a footnote in Cornish history. I’d love to see this one on film – the actors would have a field day. As for Menabilly, du Maurier rented the home from the Rashleigh family and lived in it for some time and was the inspiration for her most famous novel, Rebecca. Five stars and now I’m off to find more of these almost long lost gems to put on the reading pile.

Hester by Paula Reed

“And I could almost pity him, the most powerful man in England”

We’ve all read Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter back in our old school days (and most of you hated it), but I reread it a few years back and just loved it. Hester refuses to name her lover and is forced to wear the badge of an adulteress – the Scarlet Letter – while preacher Arthur Dimmesdale wears his own badge in secret. In the end, Hester’s older husband dies and leaves his fortune to her free-spirited daughter Pearl. So, what happened after that? Thanks to author Paula Reed now we know – Hester and Pearl return to England, an England ravaged by Civil War and controlled by Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army. An England where the Puritans reign supreme and gaiety, laughter and frivolity are frowned upon.

Finding her father dead, Hester takes up residence in the Puritan household of a childhood friend who is married to one of Cromwell’s loyal generals. She enters their social circle, but Hester’s gift of being able to look into one’s eyes and see the *sins of their soul* becomes a bit disconcerting to those Puritans who are perhaps not quite as pure as they pretend. This gift (which she developed in her years of wearing the letter) comes to the attention of Cromwell, who sees Royalists spies and traitors everywhere. Hester eventually becomes a bit too involved in the plots to oust Cromwell and finds herself caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse as England tires of Cromwell and plots abound to bring Charles Stuart back to England as King.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous going into this one, usually spin-off novels fall flat as a pancake, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. While not the greatest novel ever written, it was still quite enjoyable and fun reading *the rest of the story*. I really liked Reed’s writing style, even with the first person narrative (not a favorite of mine) and she managed to keep Hester in the thick of things and not retelling the story from the sidelines of the sewing room. Although this is a pretty complicated period in England’s history, the author keeps it on the lighter, less complicated side, so I wouldn’t be concerned going in not knowing too much about it. I didn’t care too much for the final bit of Pearl’s story and her romance felt a bit contrived and for that I’m knocking off a half star to 3.5/5. Outside of that quibble, this was a light, entertaining read and I’m looking forward to more from Ms. Reed.

*******
My copy courtesy of the King County Library System

The Chains of Fate by Pamela Belle

“the chains of fate will not bind us forever, and the chains of love are stronger.”

**To avoid spoiling the story for those who have not yet read the first book, some characters shall remain nameless in this review.**

Chains of Fate picks up Thomazine’s story where The Moon in the Water left off. Desperate with grief over the death of her beloved, Thomazine is manipulated into marrying Sir Dominic Drakelon and she bears him his son and heir. When she discovers her husband deceived her over her beloved’s fate, she leaves her husband and newborn child behind and begins the long trek to her great-aunt’s home along the Scottish border. She expects the journey to last several weeks, but a country torn by the Civil War between Charles I and the Parliamentarians leads to danger and numerous delays and she arrives many months later – and not everyone welcomes her with open arms. Thomazine will not give up faith that she will convince her beloved she was not faithless, but when she finally appears to have succeeded a country and people at war with themselves takes its toll, and threatens time and again to separate the two lovers forever.

That’s really all I’m going to tell you. This was a very absorbing novel and one that was very difficult to put down. A nice treat seeing this type of story set among the countryside and the gentry instead of the King and his Court and it’s intrigues. While told in the first person narrative (one I don’t normally care for), the author did a fine job putting Thomazine into the thick of things, and when she couldn’t she was able to deftly recount what was happening “off-scene” without dragging things on to the point of boredom, as I’ve seen a lot of recently with some of our current historical fiction authors.

All in all a very engaging read packed with plentiful history, deceit and betrayal along with a pair of star crossed lovers that you will keep you on the edge of your seat rooting for until the very very end. Will they live happily ever after or will the scheming, despicable, evil witch Meraud win in the end? Can you tell I hated Meraud with a passion? Will Thomazine be able to build a relationship with her young son raised by his father to hate the mother who abandoned him? You know what I say, read it for yourself, and I’m now off to start the last book in the trilogy, Alethea. This one tells the story of next generation of the Heron family and is set during the rein of Charles II and Restoration England.

The Black Madonna by Stella Riley

Orphaned when his father is convicted and hanged for treason against Charles I, Luciano Falcieri Del Santi and his sister Gianetta leave England and return to their uncle’s household in Genoa. Gianetta is raised as a pampered daughter while Luciano is apprenticed to learn the gold trade. When older, Luciano is still bent on vengeance against those who lead to his father’s death and he returns to London as a master goldsmith and money lender. His path eventually crosses with that of Richard Maxwell of Thorne Ash, his wife Dorothy and their brood of children – including the not-quite-mature Kate.

As Civil War between King and Parliament begins Luciano and Kate find them in the midst of war, treachery, and conspiracies everywhere. Can Luciano keep Kate safe from those desperate to destroy him before he can uncover the truth? Luciano’s search for the truth culminates in a final showdown with his prey in a nail biting finish as Cromwell besieges Basing House. Will Luciano and Kate make it out alive? Or will his search for the truth destroy them all? Hate to say it, but I am not telling.

Luciano was one of the best flawed hero I’ve come across in quite a while (I think I’m in love), his knife wielding Turk bodyguard Selim was a hoot and as for Kate – she was a perfect foil – intelligent, independent but without being so OTT with it that she’s grating on your nerves as well. No TSTL heroine here. I loved the Maxwell family and their brood of children, and my heart just broke for eldest son Eden and what the witch of a Royalist wife put him through. It was also fun catching a glimpse of Justin Ambrose from A Splendid Defiance, the second in Riley’s Civil War trilogy.  4.5/5 stars.

Riley’s books are quite rare and virtually impossible to find without paying an arm and a leg but don’t give up hope. Scour your used book stores and keep watch on the online sellers – especially over at the UK. Don’t bother for an ILL, I already tried it and not one to be had in the US and I only lucked out by a very generous friend offering me the loan of her copy – a very big thank you. As best as I can ascertain the series order is,

The Black Madonna
A Splendid Defiance
Garland of Straw

London in Chains: An English Civil War Novel by Gillian Bradshaw

It’s 1647 and the “first” Civil War between King and Parliament is over – and London is seething with politics and seditious printers. After an attack on the family farm by soldiers Lucy Wentnor has lost both her dowry and her innocence, and her father brings her to London to live with her uncle Thomas and his parsimonious wife Agnes. Agnes intends to use Lucy as an unpaid servant in the household, but our independent miss manages to find herself a job assisting a printer – and when he is thrown in jail she takes over the operation herself along with the inherent dangers that come with operating an illegal press. Soon caught up in the political agendas of the varying factions (King, Parliament, Covenanters, Cromwell) as well as torn between the two men who lover her, Lucy dances a fine line to keep herself out of prison and independence intact.

While certainly not the be-all to end-all novels that deal with this period, I did like the fact that it focused on a very narrow window (between the two major phases of the wars) as well as how the author used Lucy’s involvement in the printing business to make some of the various political parties easier to understand. This is a very short novel at just over 200 pages and doesn’t get as in-depth with the characters as I would normally prefer in a book. I enjoyed Lucy’s story, but I didn’t find myself sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next either. If you are interested in this period and already have some knowledge going in I would recommend this but for those new to the period I’d recommend starting elsewhere, either Pamela Belle’s Wintercombe series or the The Moon in the Water trilogy.

**********
Sigh, if I must. My copy courtesy of the King County Library System.

Herald of Joy by Pamela Belle

Tags

17C England, historical fiction, Restoration England

  Herald of Joy picks up with the St. Barbe family six years after the close of Wintercombe. Silence’s husband George is near death, although except for his oldest daughter Rachael the rest of his family is none too distraught over it. George makes a few last minute changes to his will that will continue to manipulate his family after he dies, leaving Silence at the mercy of her step-son Nat and Rachael engaged to an overly pious young man not best equipped to deal with her fragile emotions. On the heels of this also comes Silence’s younger sister Patience – their brother has tired of her schemes and plots and has sent her packing to the country to keep her out of trouble – although there is little chance of  that happening.

Charles Stuart the newly crowned “King of Scotland” brings his army south to Worcester, and among his guard is the long-lost Cavalier Nick Hellier. The Royalist attempt fails and Nick flees for his life with an unwelcome companion who looks too much like the much sought after Charles for everyone’s comfort. Hounded by Roundhead soldiers, their travels take them from Worcester to Bristol and then finally to Wintercombe – will Nick and Silence be reunited? Or will their secret be betrayed to the Roundheads and disaster befalls them all and they lose everything, including Wintercombe?

As usual, that’s about all I’m willing to tell you – read it for yourself. This was an excellent follow up to the first book and not quite as dark as the first, although there are still some nail biting moments and Belle definitely keeps you hovering on the edge of your seat until the very end. I loved the way she incorporates the children and pets into her story (just wait until you see their escapades in this one keeping Nick and friend hidden), as well as seeing the day to day lifestyle of a 17C household. I loved the addition of Patience (or IMPatience as Nat calls her) and her hijinks into the family fray. Although the hands down, laugh out loud, scene stealing character was the cursing Parrot. ROFL when Rachel’s sanctimonious Puritan father-in-law spotted him and was told to “bugger off”. Priceless.

The series in order,

Wintercombe
Herald of Joy
A Falling Star
Treason’s Gift

Wintercombe by Pamela Belle

Tags

17C England, civil war, historical fiction

  Raised in a strict Puritan household with an abusive father, Silence learned at a young age to keep her emotions locked tightly inside her. Married at twenty to older widower Simon St. Barbe, London raised Silence struggles to fit in with Simon’s children and his tyrannical mother. Nine years later Civil War breaks out between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians and Simon leaves to join the army leaving Silence and her children in relative peace – that is until a troop of Royalist soldiers arrive to take possession of Wintercombe in the King’s name. Leading the troop is the ruthless Colonel Ridgeley who has no pity for the wife of a “traitor” – and Wintercombe is soon invaded by drunken, carousing soldiers.

Always keeping a mask over her emotions, Silence withstands the horrendous abuses committed against her family, home and servants – although she finds sympathy and friendship with Captain Nick Hellier who tries his best to nullify the abominations committed by Ridgeley. Does Nick harbor stronger feelings for Silence or is he just amusing himself during his tenure at Wintercombe? Can Puritan raised Silence resist the love she finally admits for Nick or will she commit the great sin of adultery? Can anyone stop Colonel Ridgeley and his horrifying abuses or will he destroy Wintercombe and the St. Barbe family?

Despite the appearance of being a romance novel, do not let that stop you. What *romance* there might be in the story between the two (and I’m not letting on) is well towards the end of the book – what this book is about is characters and family and how they are affected by war as their home and lives are taken over by brutal, ruthless soldiers – and let me tell you there are some terrifying scenes in this book. There is a lot of family interaction and details of daily life in 17C England, as well as seeing the conflict from both sides. Belle really brings the period and people to life, and I especially enjoy how she writes children and pets.

This might be a bit slow paced at times for readers looking for an action packed read, but if you enjoy a more character driven plot and want to see the affects of war on the women, children and their daily lives I would recommend an immediate trip to your library or your favorite used bookseller. This is the first of a four book series and continues the story of the St Barbe family through the reign of Charles II and the Monmouth rebellion. In order,

Wintercombe
Herald of Joy
A Falling Star
Treason’s Gift

A Splendid Defiance by Stella Riley

Tags

17C England, civil war, historical fiction

It’s 1644 and Royalist Cavalier Justin Ambrose has been relegated to duty at the soon-to-be-besieged Banbury Castle. While the Royalists hold the castle for the King the townspeople are solidly Puritan, including Abigail (Abby) Radford. Although Justin originally thinks of Abby in a sisterly fashion, their friendship eventually blossoms into something more as England’s Civil War rages around them. Outside forces threaten to part them forever, including the religious fervor of Abby’s brother and a dark secret from Justin’s past. Will Justin be able to set aside his past and declare his love for Abby? Is Abby willing to be the wife of a mercenary soldier traveling from camp to camp? Can Abby escape her zealot brother’s attempts to marry her to a depraved monster?

Inquiring minds want to know but I’m not telling. This was a very sweet tale (loved the ending!) of two fictional characters set into actual historical events, as they are caught up in the midst of a country and people at war with each other. There’s plenty of action, treachery, passion, a Parliamentarian spy with a knack for poison as well as sparks flying between Justin and Abby (although it’s very clean) and I had a hard time putting this one down – and oooh I want a Justin for my very own. What a man. The only caution I’d give if you’re new to this period and not very familiar with the history I’d read a few other books first so you’re more grounded on the period – Pamela Belle’s Wintercombe series is a great start.

Riley’s books are very rare and horrendously expensive, but I’m glad I was able to snatch up a copy reasonably cheap (also got even better luck on Garland of Straw). I originally tried for an ILL and received a note that there was one library left to ask but they would be asking for a $15 service charge. I poked around the UK used sellers and got lucky so don’t give up hope – keep scouring those used book stores and library sales. Four stars.