Tag Archives: Reading Challenge

Kim’s Review of Glamorous Illusions (Grand Tour Series #1) and Grave Consequences (Grand Tour Series #2) by Lisa Tawn Bergren

giltbIt’s not a secret that I love historical fiction novels.  If you were to take a look at the book genres I read in a pie graph form, I’m 99% positive that more than 65% of that graph would be dedicated to historical fiction novels.  As I was scouring Netgalley one evening I came across a novel entitled Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren.  It was all about a woman finding herself (WIN!) while on a Grand Tour in the early 1900′s! For those unfamiliar with that term, back in the day the wealthy would go on tours around Europe to see the sights, meet people, etc.  For more info, click here.  Excited to see what Bergren had in store for me, I jumped right into Glamorous Illusions.

Cora Diehl’s family has fallen on hard times.  As farmers in a small town in Montana in 1913, her family can barely keep it together as their crops fail and Cora’s father’s health declines after multiple strokes.  Her life takes a dramatic turn, however, when she learns that she is the illegitimate daughter of an incredibly wealthy man, Wallace Kensington, The Copper King.  Through a massive fortune made in the copper business, Cora’s new family has more money than she could ever imagine.  They take her along as they tour through England and France, and Cora begins to experience sights that she only dreamed of before.  Her journey will be filled with danger, discovery, and adventure as she travels across Europe on a journey of self discovery and self acceptance.

Wow. Wow. Wow.  This book, in a word, wowed me.  From the glamorous locations to the high fashions in early 1900′s, this book hooked me.  Cora is a character going through deep transformations: spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  She’s got a lot on her plate, and what better way to figure out what she’s made of than a trip around the world.  Bergren gives Cora and Will great narrative voices for the reader to engage and connect with.  Their emotions are so clearly and eloquently written for the reader.  Their anger, their guilt, happiness, and sadness are all there to make the reader connect with these characters.

I’m not the most religious of people, but I can say that I did find the spiritual elements of the book to be moving.  God is a major part of Cora’s life, and as much as her journey is about finding herself, it’s also about finding her place in His master plan.  I was also incredibly surprised at how action-packed the end of the novel was.  It changed the whole feel of the novel (in a good way) and made me that much more anxious to begin Grave Consequences (book two).  In short, Glamorous Illusions is a solid start to the Grand Tour series, and historical fiction fans should definitely add this mainstay on to their reading lists.

4 out of 5 Stars

Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook (2012)
eBook: 416 pages
ISBN: 9781434705334

gcltbI immediately dove into book two in the Grand Tour series, Grave Consequences.  Taking place immediately following the first novel, Grave Consequences, it promised to be an exciting continuation to the action-packed ending of Glamorous Illusions.  With that in mind (and the book loaded up on my Nook), I started right in.

Grave Consequences begins with Cora and her family continuing their tour, making stops in Austria, France, and Italy.  All seems well, until Cora realizes that she is being followed.  What’s more, she must not only protect her physical safety, but her emotional safety as well, as a mysterious Frenchman makes a bold move to claim Cora’s heart.  Will she be able to escape her past and move forward as a new woman?  What will she make of all the claims laid on her heart?

I LOVE books with angst.  I can’t get enough of it!  I love when I stress out about a book, because it makes me realize how utterly connected I’ve become with the book and the characters.  When you can’t breathe because you’re so worried about what will happen to the characters, then you know you’re really in the thick of the story.  And that is exactly what happened with me and this book.  I felt like I was right there with Cora, Pierre, and Will as their love triangle exploded.  The whole kidnapping plot line afforded the novel an opportunity to become a rapid page turner.  What started out as a small ending plot to Glamorous Illusions turns into a full-blown mystery in Grave Consequences.  The kidnapping helped move the growing relationships between characters in a unique and creative way.  I really like how Bergren writes from both Will and Cora’s points of view.  The duality of the narrative flows surprisingly well as you get multiple perspectives on what’s truly happening.  Will all of this being said, it’s no surprise that I’m eagerly awaiting book three in the series, Glittering Promises, due out October 1st.

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my fifteenth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge

Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren
David C. Cook (2013)
eBook: 448 pages
ISBN: 9780781408783

Special thanks to David C. Cook for my review copies through Netgalley!

Kim’s Review of Sapphire Blue (Edelstein Trilogie #2) by Kerstin Gier

sbAs you may remember from my review of Ruby Red, the first book in the Edelstein Trilogie (which can be found here), I can’t get enough of the covers on these books.  What’s more, not only are the covers stunning, but so is the writing.  Gier did a wonderful job at crafting a complex story that spans multiple time periods and included interesting characters.  The cliffhanger at the end of Ruby Red nearly did me in.  Luckily for me Sapphire Blue was already available to read, making my depression short lived.

Plot from Goodreads: Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

When I started reading Sapphire Blue I didn’t think this series could get any more epic,  but upon finishing this book I think it totally blew Ruby Red out of the water!  Gideon and Gwen are thrust into a dual-sided battle of words as they try to decipher who is telling them the truth about the power the chronograph will unleash.  Sapphire Blue gives a little more depth into each side’s reasoning behind their belief in what the power is, but left just enough mystery to make reading Emerald Green a no-brainer.

As I suspected, Sapphire Blue delved deeper into Gwen’s mind and her ever growing/changing feelings for Gideon.  The lack of over-the-top intricacies on the “how-to” of time traveling allows the reader to be impressed with other elements Gier presents.  The comedy of Gier’s writing truly shines in this second installment, as Gwen is given a crash course in Georgian history.  Her study of the culture and customs is rife with humorous moments, most especially her dance lessons.  I didn’t think it could get any funnier, but then she’s actually transported back to 1782 and winds up getting drunk on punch.  I became so endeared to Gwen as she struggled to do her best while dealing with the turmoil of discovering that she was a time traveler and confusion over her feelings for Gideon.

In all, if you’re still on the fence about reading the Edelstein Trilogie, take it from me that both of the books have been a delight, and it is definitely worth your while to pick up a copy of both.  Just like Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue left me on the edge of my seat, and it looks like I’ll have to wait until October, when Emerald Green, the third book in the trilogy, will come out.  Until then, we’ll have to find a way to occupy ourselves and not think of this incredible cliffhanger!  So, if you haven’t already, go out and read this book!

5 out of 5 Stars

This is my fifth completed review for the Color Coded Challenge

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Co (2012)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 9780805092660

Kim’s Review of Seduction (The Reincarnationist #5) by M.J. Rose – Blog Tour

SeductionPreviously, I was exposed to author M.J. Rose’s amazing writing with her novel The Book of Lost Fragrances (review here) a little over a year ago.  I was struck at how well Rose was able to blend a historical fiction work with her writing style, making it seem as if her writing was perfectly fitted to the time period.  Therefore, when I was approached to be a part of the blog tour for her newest book, Seduction, I was happy to oblige!

As the plot contains multiple storylines and a bit of history, I’ll leave it to Goodreads:

From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost letters of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.

In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo’s beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, Hugo began participating in hundreds of séances to reestablish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with the likes of Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the Devil himself. Hugo’s transcriptions of these conversations have all been published. Or so it was believed.

Recovering from her own losses, mythologist Jac L’Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey—where Hugo conducted the séances—hoping to uncover a secret about the island’s Celtic roots. But the man who’s invited her there, a troubled soul named Theo Gaspard, has hopes she’ll help him discover something quite different—Hugo’s lost conversations with someone called the Shadow of the Sepulcher.

What follows is an intricately plotted and atmospheric tale of suspense with a spellbinding ghost story at its heart, by one of America’s most gifted and imaginative novelists.

As I stated previously, one of the best things about reading M.J. Rose’s work is getting to experience her amazing writing style.  I’m happy to report that she did not fail us in this particular endeavor, as her use of imagery and ability to describe multiple time periods simultaneously and clearly was a delight to read.  Jac and Theo’s flaws are evident, but they are likeable in their own right, and Rose is able to weave both their stories and those of characters from the past effortlessly.  Secret fragrances blur the lines between reality and the world of ghosts, as there is a dark and mystical tone overall that kept me riveted from the beginning.  My only complaint is that the pacing seemed slightly disjointed at times, but other than that this was just as enjoyable as my first M.J. Rose experience!  You can definitely count me as a newly minted fan.  This is not one to pass up, so check it out!

4 out of 5 stars

This is my fourteenth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge

Seduction by M. J. Rose
Atria Books (2013)
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN:  9781451621501

Special thanks to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my review copy! Continue following the Seduction virtual book tour around the web.  A full listing of all tour spots is here.  You can also follow on Twitter by searching the hashtag: #SeductionVirtualTour

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Kim’s Review of Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie #1) by Kerstin Gier

rrFriends. I have a confession to make. I totally judged a book by its cover.  I saw the cover for Ruby Red and immediately HAD to have it.   Turns out it was a great judgement, because the book was AWESOME.  Ruby Red is the first book in Kerstin Gier’s Edelstein Trilogie, which was originally published in Germany.  

As the plot is a bit complex (time traveling!!), I’ll let Goodreads guide you through it:

Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon–the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I am honestly so surprised that I haven’t come across more people who have read this series.  This book hooked me from start to finish. It had time-traveling, secret societies, intrigue, visions of the dead, secret signet rings, mystery, sword fights and so much more.  There is an incredible amount of story packed into this book.  The time traveling element allowed for great variety of time periods to be visited, which helped set a fast pace.  Since Gwen was never prepared to be a time traveler, her quick lessons in how to time travel, as well as the history of The Guardians society (the secret society helping the time travelers), led to some great comedic moments.  There were times where I felt these moments felt stilted, which I think is mainly due to the translation (the books were originally published in German).  Other than that I think the translation is excellently done.  Gwen’s voice totally draws you in to the story and describes the woes of her life as a teenage time traveler perfectly.

Ruby Red definitely sets up what is sure to be a phenomenal trilogy.  I’m interested in seeing how Gwen and Gideon grow from here.  They’re both in their teens, yet thrust into extraordinary circumstances far beyond what 16 and 17 year-olds should have to deal with.  We’re not given too much depth with their characters, but I’d expect that to change as we travel through time with them in the second and third books.  I know that I keep talking about the future of the series and I’ll explain why.  Having already read book two, Sapphire Blue, I know it picks up quite literally after the last sentence of Ruby Red.  I think when Emerald Green (book three) comes out it’ll be more apparent that the story is one long story split up through three books.  The development of the characters will happen gradually throughout the three books since it’s one massive conflict that is trying to be resolved.  I’m usually not a fan of series’ written like this, but surprisingly the good outweighs the bad here.  Ruby Red was just too damn fun! Gwen and Gideon are, to put it simply, hilarious.

My goal before Emerald Green is released in October is to get the word out about this series.  It’s seriously one you don’t want to miss.  I hope that those of you who choose to read it out there decide to share it with your friends! This is a series that definitely needs to be shared more.

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my fourth completed review for the Color Coded Challenge

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Co (2011)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN: 9780805092523

Kim’s Review of Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener – Blog Tour

dotsmdMichelle Diener popped on my radar about a year ago when I received a copy of her novel In A Treacherous Court.  I quickly became engrossed in the book and her ability to take me on a wild ride from start to finish.  When I heard she was publishing a book about the war between the British Empire and the Zulus (an African clan that is now KwaZulu-Natal) I was intrigued to say the least.

As the only survivor of a deadly shipwreck that took place off the coast of Zululand, Elizabeth Jones is rescued and saved by the Zulus, known as the people of the sky.  Raised by these people for the next six years, Elizabeth learns their ways and becomes one of them.  Her white skin becomes an asset after these six years, however, when the Zulu army faces an attempt by the Victorian empire to take over their lands in order to control a trade route.  Elizabeth is sent in to infiltrate the enemy camp as a spy, and there she meets Captain Jack Burdell.  Burdell finds out that she is a woman immediately, but allows Elizabeth to keep her cover (which he believes is a search for her missing brother) and has her pose as his batman in order to keep her from being discovered.  Time is running out, however, as war is growing inevitable between the two sides, and Elizabeth finds herself torn between the tribe she grew up with and the man she finds a growing attachment to.  What will she do?

The entire premise behind this story is great! Who doesn’t love an underdog story?  The Zulus are clearly the underdogs here, as they are set up in a war they have no choice but to fight in with inferior technology.  Knowing absolutely nothing about this conflict previously, I’ve been inspired to read up on the history behind this story and have found it quite fascinating.  So, it didn’t seem like much of a stretch to create an exciting story based on the history between these two groups.  The only downside to this story was the fact that I was often confused at parts.  I had to keep going back to earlier parts of the story to reorient myself, only to have it happen again.  This could be due to the fact that the story, being about a war, introduced a lot of characters and locations that moved quickly through the plot.  Other than this, however, the story was engaging and lively, and I really enjoyed Elizabeth’s passion for the Zulu people.  Her inner conflict over doing what is right for the Zulu people, while dealing with her growing feelings for Jack was written extremely well.  As the reader, you are definitely drawn in.  Her anxiety becomes your anxiety, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.  She fits the bill of a strong female heroine, something Diener is well  known for.  Her female characters are all much stronger than the men around them give credit for.  This simple fact is what keeps me coming back for Diener’s writing each and every time.  If you’re in the mood for an engaging book with a historical twist and a kickass heroine, definitely check out Daughter of the Sky.

3 out of 5 stars

This is my thirteenth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener
Michelle Diener (2013)
Paperback: 342 pages
ISBN: 9780987417626

Special thanks to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my review copy! I’m just one stop on the blog tour for Daughter of the Sky!  You can check out all the other stops here!  For those of you on Twitter, follow the hashtag: #DaughterOfTheSkyVirtualTour

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Kim’s Review of Death in the Floating City (Lady Emily Series #7) by Tasha Alexander

ditfcTowards the end of 2011/beginning of 2012 I was introduced to a character by the name of Lady Emily. She is a woman of the Victorian Era, a time when woman should be seen and not heard.  Lady Emily, however, is a woman who bucks that notion and delves into learning, reading, languages, art, geography, etc.  I found so much of myself in her at times that I flew through the first book of Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series And Only to Deceive. After falling head-over-heels in love with Alexander’s writing, characters, and settings I quickly made my way through the other five available books: A Poisoned Season, A Fatal Waltz, Tears of Pearl, Dangerous to Know, and A Crimson Warning (all links lead to my reviews).

In the latest installment of the Lady Emily series, Death In the Floating City, we follow Emily as her adventures take her to Italy for the first time.  Many years ago, Emily’s childhood arch nemesis  Emma Callum, shocked English society by eloping to Venice, Italy with her lover, an Italian count.  Despite their past, Emma has now turned to Emily for help as she finds herself entangled in a mystery that involves the death of her father-in-law and the disappearance of her husband.  Emily takes her up on the offer, and travels to Venice with her husband, Colin Hargreaves.  There, Emily discovers that there is more to this story than what meets the eye, and she finds that she must look to the past to solve this crime in the present day.

I’ve always been impressed with authors who can write 5+ books in a series and keep each one feeling fresh and new, while continuing to develop the characters and relationships in new and exciting ways.  Death in the Floating City is the seventh book in the Lady Emily series, yet it reads with the excitement and freshness of the first, And Only to Deceive.  It’s 100% due to Alexander’s talent as a writer.  Not only should she continue to write the Lady Emily series, but I think she should start writing travel books as well.  Her descriptions of Venice are astonishingly beautiful, stunning, and so visual.  At times I could close my eyes and completely see the scene she was painting for me.

When I read Alexander’s books I literally become so engulfed by them.  The characters’ sadness is my sadness, their happiness is my happiness as well.  By the time I got to the last few pages of the book my face hurt SO MUCH from smiling.  I walked around the whole day with just a goofy grin on my face because I was completely overwhelmed with happiness.  Books that can have that kind of effect on a person are my favorite.  It’s a clear indication that the writer got you enveloped in the story.  The added surprise to Death in the Floating City was a book within the book!  Not only do you become completely obsessed with the murder mystery, but you are fascinated by the tragedy that is Besina and Nicolo’s story.  I was slightly saddened that Colin was missing for large chunks of this book, but understood the reason for it once I got to the end.

I’m excited about the direction that the series is taking.  The decisions and discoveries made at the end of Death in the Floating City should create some interesting problems/conflicts to overcome in the next books of the series.  Book eight, Behind the Shattered Glass, is slated to release this upcoming October.

On a completely different side note, Elsie Lyons has been designing the covers of Alexander’s novels since book five (Dangerous to Know) and she needs a shout out. These covers are exquisite and to put it simply, I love them.

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my twelfth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander
Minotaur Books (2012)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN: 9780312661762

Kim’s Review of The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon, Illustrated by Hoang Nguyen

theexileSo 2013 has turned into the year of the Outlander series for me.  I’ve made it through three of the main novels (Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager) and am moving on to Gabaldon’s Lord John spin-off series before starting book four in the series, Drums of Autumn.  With all that being said, imagine my surprise when Todd and I went into our local Barnes & Noble and found an Outlander graphic novel in the bargain bin!! For $4 I got to be the lucky new parent of The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel.  Never has a person been more excited about a bargain than this one right here. 

The Exile is the first 1/3 of Outlander but told from Jamie’s perspective.  I won’t regurgitate the plot of Outlander myself, I’ll let Goodreads do it for me!

After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.

And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his  compassion . . . and arouse his desire. 
 
But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere. 

So I knew going into this that I would already love the story Gabaldon was telling.  Jamie and Claire’s story is truly one of my favorites…..ever. Like Darcy and Elizabeth level love.  Therefore I was incredibly surprised to see how weakly their story translated over into a graphic novel.  As I sit here writing this I’m not sure where the graphic novel fell short.  The illustrations I thought were perfectly suited for the story.  Nguyen is a wonderful artist and captured the imagery of the story magnificently.  It’s possible that because the Outlander book is so detailed and long and the graphic novel so much shorter, that description and story embellishment went missing.  The eBook of Outlander I read was 800+ pages while this graphic novel was 224.  That’s a small amount of pages/illustrations to translate nearly 300 pages of text to.

While it’s not sharing anything new to us plot-wise as readers, it was fun to get inside Jamie’s head for a short period of time.  To get his perspective on the speed and depth in which he fell in love with Claire adds a new dimension to their love.   I’ll admit, it was also great to see how far Murtagh was willing to go with his fierce loyalty to Jamie.  I think fans of the Outlander series will ultimately have the same response that I’ve had to this graphic novel: it’s ok.

3 out of 5 stars

This is my eleventh completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon, Illustrated by Hoang Nguyen
Random House (2010)
Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN: 9780345505385

Kim’s Review of Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gabaldon

10987As most of you know by now, I’ve been working my way through the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and enjoying them thoroughly.   You can see my review of Outlander (book 1) here and Dragonfly In Amber (book two) here.  Actually, “enjoying thoroughly” is a bit of an understatement; I love this series!  As I mentioned in my review of Dragonfly In Amber, there is quite a cliffhanger ending, so I was excited to move on to the next book in the series, Voyager, to see what happens to Jamie and Claire!

I’ve been sticking with the Goodreads plot summaries for this series, as there is too much that I could let slip! Plus with all the time-traveling elements I’m pretty sure I’d just confuse you with all I wanted to tell you! SO, once again, from Goodreads:

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her… and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her…the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland… and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

After the cliffhanger that ended Dragonfly in Amber I wasn’t sure my heart could take any more.  I needed a period of emotional mourning, stability, and recovery before I could pick up my shattered heart, begin book three, and risk it shattering all over again.  I can honestly say that the Outlander Series has taken me on a deep and tumultuous emotional journey that I’ve never felt with any other book/series I’ve read.  Sure I’ve had emotional reactions to books before, but I’ve never reacted quite the way I have with this series.  Voyager was no less of a riotous journey, but it’s told with such beauty and passion that you gladly go back for the laughter, tears, heartache, and smiles that Gabaldon’s prose brings.

As much as I love Jamie and Claire and their timeless love story, much praise has to be reigned on Gabaldon for all of the other intriguing things she adds into her novels.  In Voyager we’re given a glimpse into slave plantations and slave markets of the Caribbean in the late 1700′s.  We’re also given a lesson in Chinese culture and the deep seeded racism that existed for the Chinese people in Scotland and the surrounding countries.  There is a great depth to her works; depth that is obviously and meticulously well researched and presented in a way that adds to the plot as well as opens the eyes of the readers to what life was like back in the day.  Gabaldon pulls no punches in presenting what she finds.  All of it is not pleasant and I love that she doesn’t try to sugarcoat it and make it pleasing to read.  She respects history and for that I bow down to her.

With all this being said, it’s no wonder I keep going back for more in this series.  Every time I think Gabaldon won’t get any better, she blows away my expectations.  I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next in the series with Drums of Autumn, the fourth installment, especially considering that it takes place in my home country, America.  Look out for my review coming soon!

5 out of 5 stars

This is my tenth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Random House (2004)
eBook: 1044 pages
ISBN: 9780440335153

Kim’s Review of Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen (The Man Who Loved Jane Austen #2) by Sally Smith O’Rourke

16064895A bajillion years ago (read: three years) I read The Man Who Loved Jane Austen by Sally Smith O’Rourke.  I was at once fascinated by a story that was able to take time traveling, Jane Austen, traditions of horse farms in Virginia, and newly discovered letters authored by Jane Austen to Fitzwilliam Darcy work.  The main plot followed a young man (named Fitzwilliam Darcy!) from preset day Virginia who ends up traveling back to Jane Austen’s time!  I won’t tell you all the plot details, but suffice it to say Jane and Fitzwilliam shared a brief romance before he headed back to the future, a future in which a woman named Eliza found unread letters from Jane Austen to a Fitzwilliam Darcy in her vanity. Her search leads her to Virginia to try to discover who the inspiration behind the character of Fitzwilliam Darcy was.  Fast forward to a few months ago when I found out that O’Rourke decided to write a sequel! Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen thrusts us back to present-day Virginia, and Regency England and back to the lives of Eliza, Fitz, and Jane to show us that sometimes happily-ever-afters take some work.

I’ll let Goodreads do the talking for the plot:

Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!

His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?

Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

Those of you who have been reading my reviews for a while know that I will love most books inspired by P&P, regardless of what form they take.  This series has been no different, for although time travel is in the mix, reading about Darcy still makes the story just as fun and exciting as it was the first time I read P&P.  Add to this though the fact that we get to get inside Jane’s head, as well as see a whole new relationship evolve between Fitz and Eliza and I was drawn in from page one.  I especially loved Jane’s involvement in the whole story, adding in her thoughts and input was a great move that added a complexity to the novel and an alternate point of view that we don’t usually see in P&P inspired novels.  The only two downsides I would have to point out was the fact that Fitz’s character seemed to be all over the map emotionally at times and the fact that Jane’s scenes were a bit confusing chronologically.  Other than these points, O’Rourke should be commended for her strong follow-up work in her The Man Who Loved Jane Austen series.  Between the exciting love story between Eliza and Fitz and the intriguing point of view from Jane’s incorporation in the story, it’s a great read that will make fans of the series eager to move on to the next work!

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my fourth completed review for the Pride and  Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen by Sally Smith O’Rourke
Victorian Essence Press (2012)
Paperback 380 pages
ISBN: 99781891437038

Special thanks to Ms. Smith O’Rourke for my review copy!

Kim’s Review of Sons and Daughters (Darcy and Fitzwilliam #2) by Karen Wasylowski

sddfI remember the first time I read Pride and Prejudice and chuckled to myself at the little tongue-in-cheek humor that Austen used.  Elizabeth’s observations and statements (especially about Mr. Collins) regarding those around her were always sure to get a rise out of me.  It’s this memory that makes me so happy that there is an author in the Austen fan fiction world that can continue to make me laugh with these characters.  Karen Wasylowski is this author and it was her first book, Darcy and Fitzwilliam, that really got me laughing.  Between the over-the-top (in a good way) personality of Lady Catherine and the hysterical brotherly relationship between Fitzwilliam and Darcy, I was hooked.  When offered the chance to review book two in the series Sons and Daughters I immediately said yes!  For who would ever turn down a chance to add humor to one’s life? 

From Goodreads:

Sons and Daughters, a sequel to Karen V. Wasylowski’s Darcy and Fitzwilliam (which was itself a continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice), again follows the iconic Fitzwilliam Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Now we see the two battling best friends as loving husbands and doting fathers, older and a bit wiser, making the sacrifices, the difficult (and frequently unpopular) decisions that men must make for the good of their families and we see their large brood of offspring – the ‘Fitzwilliam Mob’ – grow from childhood to adolescence then on into adulthood. Along the way, Darcy and Fitzwilliam are viewed by their children first as heroes, then as the enemy, but eventually as mortal human beings and the children’s adored champions once again.

I knew from reading book one of this series that I was in for some seriously funny stuff.  Wasylowski is a master at writing humor.  It’s obvious from the title that the Fitzwilliam and Darcy children play a large part in the plot.  Getting the opportunity to see Darcy and Fitz in parental roles was hilarious.  Especially Fitzwilliam! His brood runs roughshod all over him, especially his twin sons who are major practical jokers.  The only detraction I would have to list is the fact that there were so many characters, which caused some of the story lines to feel rushed and incomplete.  It was a little difficult to keep everything straight because of all the new characters, but once I got the hang of it all was well again.  I have to say that this was easy enough to overlook because of how well Wasylowski was able to hold my attention.  The combination of abundant humor and unique storylines was a delight to read and has cemented my interest in this series as a whole.  I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us in the future!

4 out of 5 Stars

This is my eighth completed review for the Historical Fiction Challenge

This is my third completed review for the Pride and  Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge

Sons and Daughters by Karen Wasylowski
CreateSpace (2012)
Paperback 416 pages
ISBN: 9781480002913

Special thanks to Ms. Wasylowski for my review copy!