Review: The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland

"The thirteenth century is just begun and King John has fallen out with the Pope, leaving babies to lie unbaptized int heir cradles and corpses in unconsecrated ground.  Across a fear-ravaged England, the people are dying in sin.

And into the Norfolk village of Gastmere comes a new Lord of the Manor - the cruel and bloodthirsty Osborn, not long returned from crusading.  Spying treachery at every turn, he is prepared on the slightest pretext to damn anyone to hell and the scaffold.

So when Elena, a servant girl, is falsely accused of murdering her child, she is convinced she will be next.  But there are others who will defy Osborn's brutal regime to save a girl who once took part in the secrets and strange rituals of the manor..." (back cover description)

My Take:

This is going to sound super lame but sometimes when I'm having trouble getting a review started, I like to do some word association, and this will get my creativity flowing.  I never include the word association in my review, but since it failed to get me going this time, here it is.  This may give you an idea of my feeling about this book, which are as mixed as a Berry Best Frozen Custard Avalanche (I just got finished eating my Turtle Sundae from BRC's Frozen Custard, so be prepared, there may be many dairy based metaphors in this post.  My apologies to the lactose intolerant.)

(Photo used under creative commons from Sirsnapsalot)

Plot: Interesting...Depressing...Unique...Semi-meandering...

Characters: Eh....Meh...Vienna Boy's Choir candidate...zzzzzz.....

Historical Content: Rich...Detailed...Folklore-ful (yeah, I like to make up a lot of words when I do word association)

Writing Quality: A+...solid...pro...

Did that give you any idea about the book?  No?  Let's dig into the review and maybe...hopefully...I'll circle around to a coherent thought or two :)  

Plot:  The plot was very very interesting, as I said in the association, but also like I said, it was super depressing.  As in depressing like each copy sold should come with a prescription for Prozac.  

(Photo used under creative commons from Carsten Schertzer)

 

These sorts of books, where basically nothing goes right for anyone, aren't usually my thing, but the other positives in the book kept me reading.  For example, the unique narrator kept me riveted.  The narrator was a mandrake root.  A shriveled, gnarly and amoral plant. Intrigued?  You should be.  As for the plot being semi-meandering, I think labyrinthine is more the word I'm searching for.  In the end, the way all the different plot points came together wasn't a big enough payoff to make the work it took to follow everything worth it.

Characters:  I've got to say, I didn't really love any of them.  The main girl, Elena, was weak, annoyingly blinded by love and a bit on the snoozy side (hence the Eh, Meh and zzzzzzz)  Now her unwanted savior is a bit more interesting, he is a fierce eunuch chomping at the bit to get his revenge and save the fair (and boring) maiden with whom he is in love.  I think most of the villains are a little flat, I wanted more layers, maybe some back story to make them more complex.  They felt a little mustache twirling, "I'm evil just because I'm evil" and I'm gunna tie you to a railroad just because I can.  

(Photo used under creative commons from mpeake)

Moving on...

Historical Content:  Awesome.  I wouldn't say accurate, because in the book, the supernatural is very much a real force, but as far as the day to day life, work, clothing, customs, etc., it's pretty spot on.  I loved how this book really brought to life the time period in which the church had left these people.  When you hear about it in history books, you think so what, but this book really made you realize it's a whole lotta what!  These people were genuinely terrified for their souls, and you really get that int he book.  A+.

Writing Quality:  The quality is not on trial here.  It is engaging, natural and down right fascinating.

So there you have my feelings on the book broken down, but what about as a whole?  Well.....

All in all, it was  just too twisted for me.  The dark stuff was too dark.  It had too many of the depressing elements of medieval Europe.  I can usually take it when a book focuses on one thing, but with all of the curses (which are real in the book) the hangings, the child prostitution, the dead baby spirits, the evil evil evil Aristocracy, murders of Monks, etc, it was too much for me.  If you love a good dark novel and don't get squeamish, check it out.  If you are a bit more sensitive, steer way clear of this book.  It'll haunt the crap out of you!  I think I'm going to have to give this book a rating of 3, Find a Used Book Store.  I have  to say that while this book isn't really my favorite, I am very interested in reading more from this author.

Tell me what you think!  

Are you into dark historical novels?

What is your favorite?

How do you feel about this author?

Is this her best work?  

Sound off in the comments!

If this book were a movie it would be rated R for disturbing images, sexual content and violence.

***FTC Disclosure:  The Gallows Curse was provided free of charge by the publishers in exchange for an honest opinions.  No other compensation was given, all opinions are my own and not influenced by any author, publisher, publicist or blogger***

Kate's Mailbox Adventure, or, How My Heart Was Stomped on by a Video Game

Since I've been on hiatus, I haven't accepted any books for review.  I just barely started accepting books again, and I forgot how exciting it is to check the mail!  I open up my mailbox, hoping against hope to see that little golden key.  That little golden key-or the key of dreams, if you will-is the key to the separate mailbox that is just for packages.  I open the package box to see a large, rectangular package waiting there just for me.  I pick it up, looking down at the label, expecting to see Kate the Book Buff lovingly inscribed (or machine automated, either is acceptable :) as the addressee but then the unthinkable happens...

What's this?????  I'm not the addressee???  It's a video game for my brother-in-law???  Depression quickly sets in until my sad eyes turn downcast and I see another package!!!  My betrayed heart barely dares to hope that...YES!  It's for me!  Some lovely author/publicist has sent me a book.  My day is complete and I skip merrily into the house with my precious loot.

I was lucky enough to experience this several times this week (thankfully only one time was the package for my brother-in-law, I'm not sure my fragile heart could handle that every day) and I thought I'd share my loot with you.  Please let me know if you've read any of these books, or are waiting on them yourself. I'd love to hear your thoughts on each one!

The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

*Amazon*     *Goodreads*

Etiquette for an Apocalypse by Anne Mendel

*Author*     *Goodreads*

The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith

*Amazon*     *Goodreads*

The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland

*Amazon*     *Goodreads*

If you've reviewed any of these, please feel free to leave a link or URL in the comments!  

Deadly Kisses

Brenda Joyce

Rich-girl sleuth Francesca Cahill returns for another adventure in early twentieth-century New York, this time attempting to exonerate her fiance of murder. Much to the dismay of her parents and most of polite society, Francesca is engaged to a self-made, wealthy enigma of a man, Calder Hart. She alone can see the goodness and vulnerability in this former rogue, and her faith in him is severely tested when his former mistress is murdered and he becomes the number-one suspect. Francesca dedicates herself to finding the real killer, in spite of much opposition. Calder attempts to distance himself from her until he realizes that no matter what he has or hasn't done, and no matter what is said of him, Francesca will loyally stand by even as things go from bad to worse. 

My Take:

Very rarely do I dislike a book as much as this one.  I couldn't stand the man character AT ALL.  She is in love with an absolute, well, the only way I can think of to describe him is D-bag, to be quite blunt.  She is proclaimed to be super intelligent and have amazing judgement, yet, the reader is forced to swallow this romance.  Francesca spends over half of her dialogue defending her "true love" and at least 3/4 of her inner thoughts defending him to herself and the reader.  Yuck.  I skipped pages and pages and pages (something I oh so rarely do) because it was so repetitive and unenjoyable.  Now, aside from the romance that bugged me, I was completely unimpressed by Francesca's sleuthing skills.  It wouldn't be a big deal, except that her character is famous for her ability to solve crimes, but I saw absolutely no evidence of her crime solving prowess.  In fact, she was so blinded by her personal life that she missed out on a ton of important clues and she was totally off base in a bazillion of her assumptions.  She didn't even have the slightest inkling of who the killer was until said person was waving a gun in her face.  I know it is easier for the reader to figure out whodunnit than it is for the characters, but I had the killer pegged so early it wasn't even interesting.  Also, the final showdown, a scene I always look forward to in mysteries, was a zzzzzzz fest.

Not only did I find the storyline lackluster, but the writing as well.  My apologies to the author, but contraction removal alone does not authentic period dialogue make.  Period dialogue is tough, if the author doesn't know what they are doing, the reader will see right through you and your dialogue.  I, personally, am a super crappy historical dialogue writer, which is why I stay away from it.  All in all the book felt clunky, badly paced, and completely uninteresting.  There was a very distinct feel of been there done that-a total no no for a mystery.  There were a few side story lines that I really enjoyed but since they took up a total of probably 40 pages, they weren't nearly enough to save this book for me.  I absolutely hate assigning this rating, but I have no choice.  5-Don't Even Bother 

Tell me what you think!  Have you read this book, or any of the other Francesca Cahill mysteries?  Have you read anything by Brenda Joyce?  Do you think I am totally off base in my review?  Hit the comments and let me know!

If Deadly Kisses were a movie, it would likely be rated R for some strong language and brief but strong sexual content

***FTC Disclosure:  Deadly Kisses was provided free of charge by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Deadly Kisses, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

Paperback:                          Kindle:

Dracula in Love

I'm very excited to participate in this blog tour.  A big ol' thanks to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to participate.  I am always so grateful when I am able to participate in things like this.  Anyway, below you'll find all sorts of good stuff.  We've got my review, a book trailer and some really awesome links for anyone wanting to learn more.  Enjoy!  (P.S. stay tuned for a guest post later this week!)

Karen Essex

"Reader, you are about to enter a world that exists simultaneous with your own. But be warned: in its realm, there are no rules, and there is certainly no neat formula to become—or to destroy—one who has risen above the human condition…The truth is, we must fear monsters less and be warier of our own kind."

London, 1890. Mina Murray, the rosy-cheeked, quintessentially pure Victorian heroine, becomes Count Dracula’s object of desire. To preserve her chastity, five male “defenders” rush in to rescue her from the vampire’s evil clutches. This is the version of the story we've been told. But now, from Mina’s own pen, we discover that the story is vastly different when told from the female point of view.

My Take:

This is a tough review for me to put into words.  But I'm just gonna soldier on and hope I can string together a coherent sentence or two :)  First off, let me say that I found Dracula in Love to be extraordinarily engaging and very well written.  I liked the strong female characters (but hated the semi demonization of the men, yes women were oppressed at the time but that doesn't mean every man was super sexist/chauvinistic as they all seemed in the book) and I really enjoyed the super random twist on the original story.  I loved the Irish fairy twist which seemed totally out of place in a retelling of Dracula, but in my opinion, it worked.  Now, there were some things I didn't love.  First and foremost, there was a bit of random folklore and mythology told in the first half of the book or so, which, while interesting, didn't really do much to further the story, and didn't pop up later, as I expected.  I hesitate to call it filler, as it was very intriguing, but just didn't give the book any forward motion, thus feeling a bit filler-y.  Also, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the ending.  I think it was probably the most appropriate ending for the story, but I didn't love it, it was a tad anti climactic.  Though I didn't love the end, it definitely didn't ruin the overall book.  I'm always a huge fan of retelling from other points of view, and I think that the author gave Mina Harker a great voice.  She was a practical woman for her time.  She was smart.  She knew her realistic limitations and was happy with her lot in life overall.  This was a really enjoyable book, I loved the creepy tone and I LOOOOOVE the cover!  Just like this was a toughie for me to review, it was a toughie for me to rate.  While there were some things I didn't love about the book, it had a lot of resonance, that elusive indescribable "it-factor" which keeps you thinking about the book long after you've read it, and is one of the most important aspects for me to consider when rating a book.  This in mind, I rate Dracula in Love a 2, Borders with a Coupon

Tell me what you think! What do you think about a redo of a classic like Dracula?  Do you enjoy retellings from another point of view?  Have you read Dracula in Love?  What did you think of it? Hit the comments!

If Dracula in Love was a movie it would likely be rated R for sexual content and mild violence (the violence by itself is definitely more in the PG-PG-13 range)

Whats that you ask?  You want to watch the book trailer?  Well...



If you are interested in learning more about the book, the author, etc. here you go:

• Dracula in Love Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgHRtNHZiQI
• Link to tour schedule:  http://hfvirtualbooktours.blogspot.com/2011/07/virtual-book-tour-dracula-in-love-by.html
• Karen's Website:  http://www.karenessex.com/
• Karen's Blog:  http://www.karenessex.com/blog/
• Karen's Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1060811184

***FTC Disclosure:  Dracula in Love was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Dracula in Love, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

             

  

Once Upon a Scandal

Delilah Marvelle

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free of all his family's debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet. And one he cannot fail!

My Take:

Do you ever read a romance novel, but the romance moves so quickly, you don't know where the story can go for the rest of the book?  That thought ran across my mind several times in this book, and the author kept taking it in a random direction I wasn't expecting, so kudos to her for that.  The book itself was not too bad, but it felt a little disjointed at times and I didn't love all of the characters.  I enjoyed the love interest, Remington.  He was flawed but wonderful and stubborn and romantic.  Victoria on the other hand was a big ol' pain in the butt and I didn't really get why Remington was hopelessly in love with her.  Several times I just wanted to smack her and tell her to get over herself and chill out.  She was super cold and unfeeling, but of course her handsome love warmed her up by the end, it is a cheesy historical romance after all.  Like I said before, the book took some unexpected twists, which was good, but some of them I think felt a bit out of place.  The villain of the book was referenced throughout, but not an actual character or threat until the very end, and his storyline ended quickly and easily.  Once Upon a Scandal was a quick and easy read you'll enjoy well enough, but you won't remember it very far into the future. With all this in mind I rate it a 4, Borrow from a Friend.

Tell me what you think!  Have you read this book?  Did you enjoy it?  Did it feel disjointed at all to you, or was that all me?  Hit the comments!

If Once Upon a Scandal was a movie it would likely be rated R for brief but strong language and sexual content.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was given,all opinions are my own*** 

If you are interested in purchasing Once Upon a Scandal, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

Paperback:                         Kindle:

 

Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Mary Connealy

After a disastrous marriage, widow Mandy McClellen Gray is doing just fine in her remote mountain home.  She's got her three children to keep her company and gold in the bank to keep her solvent.  The last thing she needs right now is a cantankerous cowboy encroaching on her life.

Rancher Tom Linscott is as tough and cranky as his unruly stallion.  When he finds outlaws have trapped Mandy on her mountain, he's determined to rescue her, whether she wants to be saved or not.  Only problems is, Mandy's trouble follows her.  When he brings her to his home--against her will--outlaws trail then right to his door.

When  the feuding family expands their vengeful plans to include Tom, his need to protect his woman puts him right in the line of fire.

My Take:

Growing up I did a lot of stuff to be like my dad.  As a kid, I thought blue cheese dressing was quite possibly the nastiest thing on planet earth, but I ate it all the time because that's what my dad ate.  I read Lord of the Rings in elementary school because they were my dad's favorite books, though I had to take it one line at a time and consult a dictionary constantly.  I ate sushi with a smile concealing a gag reflex. I watched James Bond movies completely confused by the Cold War intrigue (I was 2 when the Berlin Wall came down, so I didn't grow up in the height of it). Whodathunk that eating and doing these things as a kid would make them my favorite things as an adult.  I can't get enough blue cheese and sushi (though not at the same time-gross!), I am an avid Lord of the Rings fan, and I go to the midnight release of every James Bond movie and actually understand the plots (mm'mm Daniel Craig, be still my beating heart).  

Well, in all of the things I did to be like my dad, one thing stands out as the thing I most love: reading amazing Westerns a la Louis L'Amour.  I don't read as many as I used to, because I've read everything by my beloved Louis, and other westerns just can't stand up in comparison.  So in my oh so verbose and "I digress" sort of way, I'm trying to point out that westerns were a very important part of my childhood and I'm picky about them and I really enjoyed Sharpshooter in Petticoats.  The author really seemed to know what she was talking about.  As I've mentioned before on my blog, I grew up in rural Nevada, where they pronounce "creek" as "crick" etc. so I have a healthy appreciation for all things outdoorsy including hunting fishing and firearms.  I cringe a bit in most books when firearms are brought up, because most of the time, I can see write through the author attempting to sound knowledgeable and it really bugs me.  This is especially key to westerns, because whether you are pro or anti gun, there is no denying that they were an integral part of the old west, and an authentic knowledge is essential.  Sharpshooter in Petticoats is, I believe, the third book in the the Sophie's Daughters series, but it was the first one I read.  I absolutely enjoyed it and never felt lost or that I'd missed out because I hadn't read the previous books.  I did get very interested in the other character's stories and I can't wait to read the other books.  If you enjoy a good western, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.  The characters are rough, gruff and often down right mean, the action is good, the scenery is beautiful and the romance was practical yet sweet. Now, I'm nothing if but honest on this blog, so I do have to say that Sharpshooter in Petticoats was no Louis L'Amour, but it was a great book nonetheless and I rate it a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

Tell me what you think!  Do you enjoy westerns?  Have you ever read Louis L'Amour?  Have you read any of the books in this series?  Which is your favorite?  Hit the comments!

If Sharpshooter in Petticoats was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some mild violence and mildly suggestive material (references to "wifely thoughts" or "being a wife in every way")

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing the Sharpshooter in Petticoats, or any of the books from the Sophie's Daughters Series, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

Paperback:
   
























Kindle:
 

The Mysterious Lady Law

Robert Appleton

In a time of grand airships and steam-powered cars, the death of a penniless young maid will hardly make the front page. But part-time airship waitress and music hall dancer Julia Bairstow is shattered by her sister's murder. When Lady Law, the most notorious private detective in Britain, offers to investigate the case pro bono, Julia jumps at the chance—even against the advice of Constable Al Grant, who takes her protection surprisingly to heart.

Lady Law puts Scotland Yard to shame. She's apprehended Jack the Ripper and solved countless other cold-case crimes. No one knows how she does it, but it's brought her fortune, renown and even a title. But is she really what she claims to be—a genius at deducing? Or is Al right and she is not be trusted? 

Julia is determined to find out the truth, even if it means turning sleuth herself—and turning the tables on Lady Law...

My Take:

"Eh." "S'Okay."  Such were my considerably underwhelmed reactions at the conclusion of this little steam punk novella. Parts of the book I thought were totally random and downright weird (and not in a fun way, but in a huh? way) and the ending was just so so.  But there were aspects I really enjoyed.  I thought the main character (not the titular character Lady Law, she, I didn't care for) Julia, was interesting and her love interest, while nothing to write home about, was engaging.  The whodunit mystery at the center of the book was not all that mysterious, but the means by which  Lady Law solves mysterious (and whether or not she is a good guy) proves to be the far more interesting question.  Now, while I didn't find the novella to be all that gratifying overall, to be fair, I must say that I didn't expect the twist at the end and overall the story was quite a page turner (or clicker, since I read it on my Kindle:)  It is a fun and quick read, if you like steam punk, or light mysteries, you will probably enjoy this book, I'm just saying don't expect it to rock your world. 4, Borrow from a friend

I'd love to hear your opinion!  Have you read this book?  If so, what did you think of it?  Do you enjoy the steam punk genre?  What do you think the twist ending is (if you've read the book don't spoil it!)?  Hit the comments!

If The Mysterious Lady Law was a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for some violence and brief strong sexual content 

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Mysterious Lady Law, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Scandal of the Year

Laura Lee Guhrke

One tryst was all she wanted...

From their very first meeting, Julia knew that Aidan Carr, the oh-so-proper Duke of Trathen, had a bit of the devil in him, a devil who secretly yearned for what he could not have, a devil who harbored a desire for her. So when she needed to be caught in a compromising situation, Aidan was the answer to her prayers.

One tryst just wasn't enough...


Aidan is supposed to be looking for a bride, yet his scandalous liaison with Julia is all he can think about. Memories of kissing her skin, falling into her bed, continue to torment and tempt him. What is it about this brazen seductress that he finds so hard to resist? And how can he stop himself from falling into her bed a second time?

My Take:

Scandal of the Year is the second of book of the Abandoned at the Altar series and definitely the best so far.  While the first one, Wedding of the Season, lacked spice, Scandal of the Year did a million times better in that department.  The main character, Julia (cousin of the main character from the first book) is a very interesting and surprisingly complex character.  She is battling her attraction to her cousin's former fiance, Aiden Carr, who is of the strong and silent variety (and a Duke no less, which always sends hearts aflutter in the historical romance genre)  Anyway, the storyline is much more unconventional, as the "deed" has already been done previous to the start of the book, but that does nothing to dampen the tension between the two.  Another improvement upon the first book is that there was a villain; he was definitely in the background and I think only actually appeared in the book once, but he is the catalyst for Julia's (supposed) scandal and infamy within her social circle.  I always love watching a straight laced nice guy loosen up a bit due to the untamed beauty he finds himself attracted to, and I think Aiden fit the bill just right.  While he seemed very boring in the first book, you get inside his head in this one and are treated to an interesting surprise: he isn't all manner and formality, he thinks just as scandalous of thoughts as everyone else in a romance novel.  I think the character development and plot were fantastic in the book, it really is everything you want in a romance novel.  I highly recommend Scandal of the Year to romance lovers.  2, Border with a Coupon

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tel me how you feel!

If Scandal of the Year was a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for sexual content

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Scandal of the Year, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Vespertine

Saundra Mitchell

The summer of 1889 is the one between childhood and womanhood for Amelia van den Broek-and thankfully, she’s not spending it at home in rural Maine. She’s been sent to Baltimore to stay with her stylish cousin, Zora, who will show her all the pleasures of city life and help her find a suitable man to marry.

Archery in the park, dazzling balls and hints of forbidden romance-Victorian Baltimore is more exciting than Amelia imagined. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset-visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. Newly dubbed “Maine’s Own Mystic”, Amelia is suddenly quite in demand.

However, her attraction to Nathaniel, an artist who is decidedly outside of Zora’s circle, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own- still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. And while she has no trouble seeing the futures of others, she cannot predict whether Nathaniel will remain in hers.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

My Take:

I was really excited to read this "Victorian Gothic" novel, but found myself disappointed upon completion of something quite silly and, to me, unappealing.  The story had some great elements I find interesting: historical setting, romance, creepy undertones and a bit of paranormal mixed in.  However, put together in this particular combo didn't float my boat.  Half the book felt like a regular historical fiction, then all of a sudden it got very paranormal and creepy culminating in the absolutely silly ending.  Just because a book is paranormal or fantasy doesn't mean you can suspend reality completely.  The characters' emotions and reactions should be anchored in realism and logic, but alas, it was not to be.  I hate to use this word, because I think it is pretentiously overused in the world of critique, but in this case, I think it is warranted.  The word is: contrived.  The plot didn't feel like an authentic turn of events and I found myself giggling (not a good giggle) as I finished it. The writing in general however was not without merit.  I think the author is a good writer, but maybe not so strong at the story spinning aspect of writing a book.  With a better plot, I believe the author would put out a good book.  While it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, I also wasn't able to get into it  and therefore must assign it a rating of  4, Borrow from a Friend. But hey, just because the book didn't work for me doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, if it looks interesting to you, check it out!

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

If The Vespertine was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence disturbing imagery.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Vespertine, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Wedding of the Season

Laura Lee Guhrke

Abandoned at the altar . . .
Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter . . . and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke . . .
Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable . . . the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

My Take:  

Don't let the cover fool you, this book doesn't take place in the 1980s as you might expect, but instead takes place in turn of the century England. The storyline follows a pretty classic romance novel storyline: boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl separate, girl moves on, boy returns, girl feels torn between safe new love and exciting old love.  We all know what happens at the end of these books, but just in case you don't know, I won't spoil it for you here, but you'll learn after you get a few dozen romance novels under your belt.  Like I said, we all know what will happen at the end of romances, but that isn't really the point, romances are all about he journey and the characters.  The journey and the characters in Wedding of the Season aren't half bad.  The two love interests are a little whitebread  (the book needed a good villain, or something to spice it up a bit) but still good semi-interesting people you can root for.  The setting of coastal England was gorgeous, further fueling my Anglophile status.  The book was solidly written, so if you are looking for a quick sweet read, you won't be disappointed.  Was this the greatest love story ever written?  Nope.  Did I enjoy it?  Absolutely.  With that I rate Wedding of the Season a 3 Find a Used Book Store  I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author, and I am very interested in learning the fates of the rest of the characters in the book, as this was the first in a series.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Wedding of the Season was a movie it would be rated PG-13 for sexual content

**FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Wedding of the Season, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Tudor Secret

C.W. Gortner

The era of the Tudors was one of danger, intrigue, conspiracy, and, above all, spies.

Summer 1553: a time of danger and deceit.  Brenden Prescott, an orphan, is reared in the household of the powerful Dudley family.  Brought to court, Prescott finds himself sent on an illicit mission to the king's brilliant but enigmatic sister, Princess Elizabeth.  But Brenden is soon compelled to work as a double agent by Elizabeth's protector, William Cecil,who promises in exchange to help him unravel the secret of his own mysterious past.

A dark plot swirls around Elizabeth's quest to unravel the truth about the ominous disappearance of her seriously ill brother, King Edward VI.  With only a bold stable boy and an audacious lady-in-waiting at his side, Brendan plunges into a ruthless gambit of half-truths, lies, and murder.  Filled with the intrigue and pageantry of Tudor England, The Tudor Secret is the first book in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles. 

My Take:

I must admit, I count myself among the legions of fans obsessed with the Tudor Era.  The scandal, the romance, the intrigue, the beheadings, the phantom pregnancies, blah blah blah I eat it all up!  I really enjoyed the fact that The Tudor Secret took place during one of my favorite time periods, but from the perspective of someone different.  I've read a million books on the same 5 or so people's point of view, you know I love you  Queen Elizabeth I, but hey, I wanna hear what someone else has to say!  Enter Brenden Prescott, supposed humbling foundling thrust into the world of ultra deadly intrigue that surrounded this particular court.  He had a fresh, idealistic perspective that was very naive at first, but very noble and likable.  Normally, I don't love the books that focus so much on the political "so and so works for so and so who is the sworn enemy of so and so who casts their lot in with displaced royal so and so" but I tell ya, The Tudor Secret was all about the political and it was exciting.  There were more than a few unexpected twists and turns that had me flying through this book in record time.   Now, this book is absolutely more fictionalized than a lot of other books of this genre, heck, the main character, his entire storyline and his romantic interest are all fictional, but I didn't mind.  I really felt like the point of the book was to get across how treacherous and downright frightening this court really was, how literally one wrong word spoken at the wrong time could cause you to lose your head.  Reading the book from the perspective of one who has no power and no leverage, and must watch every word he says almost makes you feel paranoid and claustrophobic, in a very intense and exciting way.   Now I have to say, there was a time or two when something would happen and I'd think, okay, that went a little too smoothly, I think something really bad is about to happen--but it didn't.  While at times it did seem too easy, it didn't take way from the overall excitement of the book.  I really enjoyed this Tudor thriller and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.  The Tudor Secret only covered a very short period of time, there is so much more to read about!  With all of this in mind, I rate The Tudor Secret a 2, Borders with a Coupon

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Tudor Secret was a movie, it would likely be rated a very light PG-13 for some violence and one instance of relatively sedate sexual content

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Tudor Secret, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Darling Strumpet

Gillian Bagwell

Witty and beautiful, Nell Gwynn was born into poverty, and traded her mother's treacherous grasp for the grim life of a prostitute at a precious young age.  But before long she finds herself drawn into the enthralling world of the theater, where her saucy good humor and sensuous charm earn her a place in the King's Company.  As one of the first actresses in the newly opened playhouses, her comedic talents and endearing personality catapult her to fame, winning the affection of legions of fans--and the heart of her leading man.  But it is when she catches the eye of the most powerful man in all of England--the king himself--that her life is transformed in ways she could never have imagined.  Surrendering her body and heart to Charles, Nell with be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court--and discover a world of decadence and passion she never dreamed was possible...

My Take:

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of Nell Gwynn, so basically any book with her at the center is alright by me.  I think that Nell is such a rich and fascinating historical figure and The Darling Strumpet definitely did her justice.  The most important thing for me, when I read a book focusing on Nell, is if the author properly catches the sense of humor, generosity and caring personality she was famous for.  I think Ms. Bagwell has done so in spades. This book was just all around solid.  The characters were rich and complex, the plot was paced well and the period language felt natural.  Thankfully, the politics of the time were not too heavily discussed and the focus remained on Nell.  I will say one thing I didn't love (something that is 100% my own personal taste) was I felt that some of Nell's *wink*wink* "encounters" were told in a bit too much detail too often.  I just would have preferred that aspect been a little more tame.  Yes I know she was a prostitute and it wasn't a pretty profession, but that doesn't mean I want to hear about all the details.  Anyway, overall, I LOVED it.  As with all historical fiction, creative license must be taken to create a full and vibrant character, and I felt that the little things added or changed were very tasteful and were not distracting at all.  It is important that if you change and add things, you don't take away from the overall spirit of the person, as perfectly demonstrated in this book.  You saw Nell for what she was: unashamed to do what she needed to do to support herself and her family (because let's face it, being born into poverty at that time left a woman with very few options other than the road Nell took).  She was flawed, she was funny, she was faithful, she was generous, and last but not least, she was absolutely outrageous as gorgeously captured in this book.  If you are a Nell fan, or a fan of historical fiction in general, this is a must read.  If you haven't read much his/fic, this book would be a great introduction for you! 1 Pay Full Price

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Darling Strumpet was a movie, it would be rated R for sexual content and some violence.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Darling Strumpet, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you! 















If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Butterfly Swords

Jeannie Lin

During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding.

Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior….

Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li's innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate to protect her—which means not seducing the first woman he has ever truly wanted….

My Take:

If you are even remotely familiar with my blog, you probably already know that romances are my guilty pleasure.  Is the setting an English Castle?  Is the castle home to a Duke (feel free to sub in Prince, Baron, whatever...any ol' nobleman will do) who swore he'd never fall in love for whatever reason?  Is the heroine a sassy and remarkably beautiful girl who is the only person who can call said Duke out on his crap?  Do all events miraculously lead up to wedded bliss no matter how unlikely the circumstances?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, I will probably love the book.  I'm a sucker for 'em, I can't help it.  I do love intellectually stimulating books, but something about these dinky romances just gets to me.  

Well, now for the book at hand--Butterfly Swords.  There were quite a few changes made to the romance formula which made me love the book.  First off, the girl is a Chinese Princess quite proficient in ripping a man to shreds with her Butterfly Swords.  The man is a blond hair blued eyed former soldier, current wanderer from a vague "somewhere over there" in Europe.  This interracial couple makes for an especially interesting story when you add in the fact that the story happened about a thousand years ago and the girl is engaged to the second most powerful man in the empire.  They are then, of course, put in life or death situations where they can barely fight their attraction to one another--chaos ensues.  If you are a romance lover, you'll really enjoy this book.  The heroine is strong, the setting is gorgeous, the pacing is pretty good and the ending is surprising (not shocking by any means, but not what I expected)  I loved the fact that the book was set in China, as much as I love my English Dukes, it was nice to escape the stuffy castles into the refreshing Chinese countryside. I had a hard time rating this book, as I enjoyed everything about it.  However, the one missing factor is resonance.  After I finished the book, I was ready to move on to the next book without so much as a backward glance.  For a book to be rated in those upper ratings, I've got to be up all night thinking about the characters.  With this in mind, I think I'll give Butterfly Swords a solid 3, Find a Used Book Store. 

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you,, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Butterfly Swords was a movie, it would likely be rated a strong PG-13 for brief but strong sexuality and some violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Butterfly Swords, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you! 

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Free Men and Dreamers Volume II: Twilight's Last Gleaming

L.C. Lewis

While cannons roar and rockets ignite American skies, disease ravages the upper Connecticut Valley. Few notice the sufferings of the families . . . Of a single child . . . A remarkable lad named Joseph. Attentions are forced elsewhere on the Chesapeake, which guards the entrance to the infant nation's threatened capital. It is the height of the War of 1812. As the beleaguered American forces begin to rally, Britain's military is divided between battlefronts on two continents. Until Napoleon can be toppled and all of the crow's resources can be diverted to the American campaign, Britain needs a tactical diversion. They attack the Chesapeake Bay.

Lieutenant Jed Pearson heads to war, leaving his beloved Willows estate in the care of powerless freed slaves. But soon circumstances will blur the line between adversary and friend, family and foe, British and American. In this second volume of the epic historical series Free Men and Dreamers, witness the saga of five families caught in the tumult of the oft-forgotten war that cemented American Liberty and set the stage for the great work of the Restoration.

My Take: 

This book is the 2nd book in the Free Men and Dreamers series chronicling fictional families during the little thought about, yet important, War of 1812.  I have to say that L.C. Lewis really found her footing on this book.  The first book, Dark Sky at Dawn, was an awesome book, but there were a few kinks, which I think were all smoothed out in Twilight's Last Gleaming.  There were so many things I loved about this book, I'm not quite sure what I want to talk about first.  Hmmm, let's see...how about we discuss the characters first?  I really hate when historical fiction books that take place during wartime make one side the absolute bad guys and the other side the absolute good guys, which thankfully this book does not do.  The author really shines by creating complex and real characters.  The good guys have flaws, and even some of the bad guys have a redeeming quality or two, which of course makes every character more relatable and enjoyable.  The next thing I really enjoyed were all the romances going on.  There were quite a few, some of them come to heartwarming fruition, some were left hanging for future books, and some, be prepared, end in heartbreak.  The pacing of the romances were a bit off in the first book, but were perfect in this one.  The politics behind the war (though some of the reasons behind the war are fictionalized to go with the backgrounds of some of the characters) are not discussed too much, because the book series is really more about the characters than the events, but just enough to be informative.  After reading this series so far, I have really gained a new found appreciation for this particular generation of Americans.  But don't worry, if you aren't American, I think you'd still enjoy this book immensely.  I can't think of how many War of the Roses books I've read and loved and I'm born and bred American :)  All in all I'd say this book was absolutely wonderful and proudly give it a rating of 1, Pay Full Price. 

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Twilight's Last Gleaming was a movie, it would be rated PG, for some violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Twilight's Last Gleaming, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

Rasputin's Legacy

Troy Matthew Carnes

What if the two most ruthless mass murderers in history wanted you dead?

Giorgi Lazarov is only a young boy, but he can predict the future.  Until recently, only one person on earth knew that Giorgi's remarkable gift was passed down from his famous grandfather Grigori Rasputin.  But now the two most dangerous men in the world know of his special power.  Adolf Hitler learns of him through SS Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler's most gifted witch, and Joseph Stalin finds out when an insane prostitute languishing in an asylum claims to have borne Rasputin's child.  She is in fact Giorgi's grandmother.

Now, as the Nazi war machine invades the Soviet Union, launching the bloodiest conflict in human history, both Hitler and Stalin want him desperately,  They send their most capable assassins to find the boy and either claim his power for their cause or make certain that he does not live to be used against them.  When the Germans capture his village, Giorgi is separated from his parents, and he finds himself in a world of madness and utter evil where it seems there are only killer and corpses.

The people of the Ukraine can see no hope of salvation, but Giorgi can see everything...

My Take:  

Sometimes when I am on a deadline, I'll read a book in one day because I have to.  Other times, there is the rare book where I literally cannot put it down and I read the entire 400+ pages in one sitting.  Rasputin's Legacy is absolutely one of those rare books.  The beginning sucks you right in, grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until the end.  The book is chalk full of great history, but trust me, you won't ever mistake this book for a textbooky historical fiction piece.  If you aren't a history buff, you'll be too distracted by the amazing story and action, you won't even notice the history lesson you are getting.  One of my favorite parts about this book, is that it discusses certain atrocities that aren't really mentioned in high school World History.  We all learned about the Nazis and the Holocaust, which was of course very important, but many times the plight of the Russian people that were murdered by Stalin is completely passed over.  This book has it all as we follow little Giorgi, Rasputin's illegitimate grandson, as he attempts to evade the clutches of both Hitler and Stalin.  The reader gets a front row seat to witness the inner workings of two of the most evil men in modern times.  All in all Rasputin's Legacy is amazing.  It is well written, exciting, and filled with rich and complex characters.  It is a great book for people who love history, WWII, action and adventure, paranormal thrillers, German and Russian history, or really anyone who loves a great story.  1, Pay Full Price

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

If Rasputin's Legacy were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for violence, some sexual content and adult situations

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Rasputin's Legacy, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!