A Brother's Oath by Chris Thorndycroft

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: January 17, 2016

Denmark, 444 A.D. Two brothers – the cold and calculating Hengest and the intrepid but headstrong Horsa – find their separate worlds thrown into turmoil by royal treachery and an evil cult thought long dead. Reunited by an oath sworn in their youth, they set off on a journey that will define their destiny and set them upon the path to greatness. When Hengest’s family is kidnapped by an unknown enemy, Horsa knows his oath has become more than a thing of words and he infiltrates the crew of one of the most feared raiders in the northern world to find out who took them. Meanwhile, Hengest struggles to unite his rag-tag group of followers into a united people. His heart yearns for a safe haven for his family; a land that he and his followers can call their own for generations to come. This is the first part of the thrilling saga of the two warriors who spearheaded the Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain and whose names became legendary as the founders of the land that would one day be called England.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Hengist and Horsa Landing in England

It isn't often that I receive offers to review books I know absolutely nothing about, but when I do, curiosity usually overcomes inhibition. Something about not knowing sinks into my subconscious and I can't help wondering what new insight the story might afford. Chris Thorndycroft's A Brother's Oath was one such book and threw myself into the narrative as soon as it was made available.

Based on the traditional tales of Hengist and Horsa, Thorndycroft takes his readers back in time to carefully examine the intricacies of a relationship tested by time, distance, and deceit. Rich in detail, the narrative sheds light on an intriguing period of English history. The writing is a light and engaging and while I wish the telling had incorporated more in terms of atmospheric detail, I few complaints over the story's structure. It's a heavily masculine tale, but I think the tone highly appropriate to the subject matter.

I certainly enjoyed the time I spent reading A Brother's Oath and would definitely recommend Thorndycroft's work to fans of both Vikings and The Last Kingdom.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Passion surged within him, a passion and a lust for life that had been dampened by the cold winter. The shimmer of gold from the ancient sword and the news of his brother - whom he had not seen in twelve years - had rekindled a flame within his soul that was determined to burn free, oath or no.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Check Out All the Stops on Chris Thorndycroft's A Brother's Oath Virtual Book Tour

Monday, January 18

Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, January 19

Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Wednesday, January 20

Guest Post at The Writing Desk

Friday, January 22

Character Interview at Boom Baby Reviews

Saturday, January 23

Excerpt & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews

Monday, January 25

Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews

Tuesday, January 26

Review at Book Nerd

Wednesday, January 27

Excerpt at Let Them Read Books

Friday, January 29

Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copleton

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: December 23, 2015

When a badly scarred man knocks on the door of Amaterasu Takahashi’s retirement home and says that he is her grandson, she doesn’t believe him. But if you’ve become adept at lying, can you tell when someone is speaking the truth? Amaterasu knows her grandson and her daughter died the day the Americans dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki; she searched for them amongst the ruins of her devastated city and has spent years burying her memories of that brutal summer. So this man is either a miracle or a cruel trick. The stranger forces Amaterasu to revisit her past; the hurt and humiliation of her early life, the intoxication of a first romance, the fierceness of a mother’s love. For years she has held on to the idea that she did what she had to do to protect her family… but now nothing seems so certain. We can’t rewrite history, but can we create a new future?

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Ruins of Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki

My decision to request a review copy of Jackie Copleton's A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding was made blindly. I knew nothing about the author, I hadn't read a single review of the title and I'd no idea it was a debut piece. It wouldn't have mattered, I was sold on the subject matter, but I knew very little going into this book and was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered between its pages. 

Amaterasu is an atypical protagonist. She's emotionally complex and intensely vulnerable. She possesses a quiet strength, but it is masked by intense guilt and the pain of devastating personal loss. She is an elderly woman when she is first introduced, but the bulk of the story takes place during the middle years of her life and I loved that. I don't come across many historicals that feature women past the age of thirty and as such, felt Copleton's effort refreshing in both concept and design.

Copleton's description of Pikadon is at times graphic and her treatment may make some readers uncomfortable, but I personally appreciated the author's candor and feel the novel stronger for its authentic portrayal of the bombing of Nagasaki. Copleton's thesis is about family, the decisions we make, and the repercussions we reap, but the setting humanizes the tragic reality of the one the WWII's darkest chapters. 

As to the supporting cast, I greatly enjoyed Yuko, Kenzo, Shige, and Hideo, but Sato is nothing short of fascinating. It is clear that he is the narrative's antagonist, but Copleton writes him with an extraordinary amount depth. He is a convoluted personality that plays on multiple emotions and as a reader, I liked how he challenged me. I wanted to hate him outright, but the complexities of his motivations ultimately tempered my dislike with a certain degree of sympathy. 

When all is said and done, I found A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding a poignant novel that seamlessly blends human emotion and historic fact. It is a somber narrative that beautifully recreates the human condition against the horrors of Nagasaki. Highly recommended. 

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

 The doctor had seen the city, the air so thick with the dead you could taste the dust of them. But Sato rejected what he could not bear to be true. He said Yuko couldn’t be gone; she would be helping survivors, or maybe she was sick in some medical centre, or maybe she had been taken out of the city. He offered so many possibilities. I had thought of them all. How could I tell him I knew she was dead because I felt the void of her, a vacuum inside me where a mother carries the soul of her offspring? Sometimes I would feel her, like a ghost limb that causes pain despite its amputation, but I knew this was a trick of the mind. She was dead, and so was her son.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

The Silver Suitcase by Terrie Todd

Rating: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: January 1, 2016

It’s 1939, and Canada is on the cusp of entering World War II. Seventeen-year-old farm girl Cornelia is heartbroken when she learns that her beloved soldier, Henry, has been killed in a train wreck. Alone and carrying a heavy secret, she makes the desperate choice that will haunt her for years to come. Never telling a soul, Cornelia pours out the painful events of the war in her diary. Many decades later, Cornelia’s granddaughter, Benita, is in the midst of her own crisis, experiencing several losses in the same week, including her job and the grandmother she adored. The resulting emotional and financial stress takes its toll on her and her husband, Ken, who is also unemployed. On the brink of divorce, she discovers Cornelia’s diary. Now the secrets of her grandmother’s past will lead Benita on an unexpected journey of healing, reunion, and renewed faith.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

I took note of Terrie Todd’s The Silver Suitcase the moment I laid eyes on it. The jacket description, with its reference to a war era diary, teased my imagination and sparked enough curiosity that I flagged the book as a must read for 2016. I’d never heard of the author and I’d no real expectations going in, but I soon realized that my excitement was severely misplaced.

Structurally, The Silver Suitcase is an absolute nightmare. I understand the contemporary story surrounding Benita, but I felt Todd’s treatment of Cornelia redundant. Todd illustrates her heroine’s experiences as they unfold, only to reiterate much of the same material in the character’s diary entries. As a reader I found the format maddening and admit I struggled with the verbose nature of Todd’s execution.

Todd’s tendency to jump into the superfluous and obscure doesn’t help matters. The early chapters of the novel chronicle Cornelia’s teenage years, but the journals Benita discovers take Todd’s audience back to Cornelia’s childhood. Why? I wish I could say, but the rationale eludes me. Why did Todd hone in on a turn of the century ice cream maker? How is the disjointed epilogue even plausible under the circumstances? Why should I have cared about random people reading journal entries they couldn't possibly understand? Why did the author switch narrators to feature Miriam for a single scene halfway through the narrative? Again, I am at a loss.

The author obviously knows where she is taking her story, but she doesn’t develop her characters or chain of events for her audience. Many of the cast members experience emotional outbursts that are wholly irrational to the reader because Todd fails to establish their situations ahead of time. Ken’s anger and Cecil Black’s antagonistic hatred don’t make the least bit of sense and I found Grace’s response to Benita’s announcement equally illogical. The revelation surrounding Miriam is coincidental, but it lacks any sort of power as Todd omits the character from the bulk of the narrative. I hate to be blunt, but I found the end result sloppy and unconvincing.

Take a look at the jacket description. “Never telling a soul, Cornelia pours out the painful events of the war in her diary.” Spoiler alert folks, but Todd’s story doesn’t relate to WWII. Henry is a soldier when he dies, but he could have been written onto a train for any number of reasons with the same result and the only other scene that relates to the conflict is Cornelia’s attendance at a victory celebration. Again, the festivities could have related to anything and taken place at any other time. Cornelia pours out the painful events of her life in her diary. Period.

Bottom line here is that I feel I wasted my time on The Silver Suitcase. Todd’s characterizations, plot, structure, and writing style failed me in every sense and I can’t see myself recommending the title forward.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Benita sat back in her chair again, her heart pounding. Oh my gosh. This really is a treasure, she thought. Where do I start? But even as she asked the question, she knew the answer. She would start at the beginning, and read every word her grandmother had written, in chronological order.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Interview with author Marina Julia Neary

Author interviews are one of my favorite things to post which is why I am super excited to welcome author Marina Julia Neary to Flashlight Commentary.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Welcome to Flashlight Commentary Marina. It’s great to have you with us. To start things off, I’d like to know a little bit about you. Where are you from? What is your background?
I grew up in Central Europe in a family of classical musicians, fairly privileged by those standards. My parents were not rich, but they were kind of famous – big frogs in a small pond, I suppose. Let’s just say, my “privileged” status didn’t really give me much protection from political persecution. I came to the US at the age of 13 on a refugee visa. I really don’t consider myself a member of any ethnic group. I joke that my DNA was altered by the Chernobyl disaster, so I’m not even sure if I’m 100% human anymore. I am definitely a corporate rat. I have a splendid day job in foreign exchange.

How would you characterize your writing style? What sort of themes are you drawn to? 
“Laughter through tears”, as a colleague of mine remarked. A very Eastern European / Jewish / Irish trait. Offensive dark humor is my trademark. Having grown up in an ethnically and ideologically mixed family, I am drawn to the question of ethnic strife. When people hear “ethnic strife” they automatically assume it’s a black/white issue. There’s plenty of prejudice and antagonism within the Caucasian population. My specialties include the Anglo-Irish and the Russo-Baltic conflict. 

I get a lot of grief from the liberally-minded readership for my allegedly callous, nonchalant and sometimes humorous depiction of abortion, rape, incest and cancer. I’ve been accused of “trivializing suffering”. The flip side of is sensationalizing suffering, shrouding it in melodrama.  When you write, you have to be true to your own worldview, not what’s currently acceptable in mainstream media. Some readers had beef with the fact that one of my characters, after being gang-raped by her classmates, curls up with a blanket and a stack of comic books instead of crying in the shower, rocking back and forth. It cracks me up when people tell me how a person should react to a traumatic event like that. 

Historic fiction is obviously a favorite genre of mine, but why do you think it holds so much appeal for modern readers? 
Not all readers of historical fictions are coming from the same place in terms of their motivations for picking up a historical novel.  There are people who tend to idealize the past and use historical fiction as an escape. Then there are those who want to learn from history. If more people read serious historical fiction that’s rooted in cold facts versus romantic fantasy, they wouldn’t be talking about “rape culture” and “war on women” in 21st century America. 

How would you describe your writing process? Where do you start and how do you get into the right mindset?
It’s not uncommon for me to “nurse” a plot or a concept for years, sometimes even decades. “Wynfield’s Kingdom” took 15 years to write, and only 6 weeks to sell once it was finished. “Martyrs & Traitors” , on another hand, took me 4 months to write. A 400+ page beast dealing with the Easter Rising in Dublin. The reason why it took me so long to finish “Wynfield’s Kingdom” is because I started writing it at the age of 15, when I had absolutely no background and no experience and, above all, no guidance or encouragement. Once you get your first novel out, the prospect of writing, submitting and marketing seems more … manageable.  You know what you are dealing with.  

Do you struggle with dialogue, research, plotting, character development, etc.? If so, how do you overcome it? 
It’s hard for me to write love scenes and keep a straight face.  By nature I’m very cynical person with a low libido, so when I read about “sweltering kisses” and “urgent desire”, I start cracking up. On another hand, sex scenes involving physical and emotional duress and manipulation come very easily to me. My own sensuality is not totally traditional. As a writer, I have not yet reached a point where I can depict love scenes through the prism of traditional eroticism. At least, people have commented that my love scenes come across as authentic, if somewhat disturbing.  

Many people, myself included, dream of publishing their stories. How and when did you know it was time to start writing professionally?
I never considered writing a major source of income. To be perfectly honest, I took the “throw against the wall and see what sticks” approach.  You stick your fingers in multiple cakes and pray you don’t get slapped.  

Navigating the ins and outs of the industry can be confusing for many. What was the most difficult hurdle for you as far as getting your work on the market? 
Three of my novels deal with the Anglo-Irish conflict. I’ve had many author friends tell me that I should  find a British or an Irish publisher to reach my core audience.  In theory it sounds like a reasonable thing to do. In reality, many British and Irish publishers don’t want to deal with an American author. There is a certain amount of xenophobia: “Exactly who do you think you are?” If you write romance or horror, the author’s nationality doesn’t matter as much. But if you write a hardcore historical novel about a particular ethnic group that’s not yours, you should be prepared for a certain amount of skepticism and resistance. I actually had my last Irish novel contracted by a publisher in the UK, and they ended up dropping me because they changed their mind on the account of me being an American citizen. I asked them specifically if that would be a problem, and at first they assured me that they only cared about the story.  Well, as it turned out, I was right.  They went back on their offer 8 months later, shortly before the projected publication. It worked out in the end. I gave my book to one of my existing American publishers. Still, that experience left a very unpleasant residue. 

Those of us in the book world understand writing the novel is only the tip of the iceberg. What tool or tools have you found to be the most beneficial in terms of advertising and promoting your work?
Apart of nagging and stalking my fellow writers and friends, often to the point of antagonizing them with my “check out my latest novel” e-mails, I have had luck approaching genre-specific publications that target the same audience I hope to engage in. Much of my fiction deals with military history, so various military publications are on my list. I hate to admit it, but I do “book swap” with other authors.  “You buy mine, and I’ll buy yours” type of arrangement. 

As an author, who inspires you? Who are your favorite authors and what are your favorite books?
I am inspired by my fellow authors whose books are published by small presses. Hats off to the founding editor and the authors of Penmore Press – the new landmark in quality historical fiction. 

Midnight in Paris is one of my favorite movies, I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but it centers on a writer who falls through time and meets many of his own literary heroes. If you could do the same, who would you want to meet and why? 
Gosh, many of my characters are real historical figures.  I would love to meet the real historical Bulmer Hobson and ask him what he thought about my depiction of him in “Martyrs & Traitors” and “Never Be at Peace”. 

In looking ahead to possible future projects, what subjects or historic characters interest you the most? 
I just finished writing a novel set in 19th century Lithuania, the land of my paternal ancestors. The Baltics have been overlooked by historical novelists, so I feel that it’s time to fill that niche.  It’s such a fascinating part of the world from the linguistic, political, religious, and artistic standpoints. A true melting pot of Slavic, Germanic and Judaic influences. 

What advice, if any, do you have for aspiring authors?
Don’t get bogged down by reading articles about how terrible the publishing industry is.  Try not to track other author’s Amazon rankings. I know it’s easier said than done. Yes, competition is healthy, but it shouldn’t become your focus. Otherwise you’ll never get anything finished. 

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

PRAISE FOR MARINA JULIA NEARY

"The spirits of Charles Dickens and Victor Hugo haunt this darkly compelling novel of the mid-Victorian underworld. Exhaustively researched, ambitious in scope and rich in period detail, King Wynfield is a harrowing tale of wretched poverty and desperate survival, of monstrous child abuse and atrocious acts committed in the name of science. Diana the wild robber maiden and her bandit lover Wynfield are larger than life anti-heroes destined to linger long in the reader’s imagination." – Eileen Kernaghan, author of Wild Talent: a Novel of the Supernatural

"Neary writes with unbelievable power, yet never loses her sense of emotional insight…. Wynfield’s Kingdom is truly an extraordinary first novel." – Tom Grundner, author of Midshipman Prince.

"Ms. Neary tells Helena's tragic story with an undercurrent of dark humor. "Never Be at Peace" will appeal to anyone who wants to learn more about Irish history and the real human beings behind the 1916 Easter Rising and its aftermath." - Kim Rendfeld, author of The Cross and the Dragon

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Marina Julia Neary is an award-winning historical essayist, multilingual arts & entertainment journalist, published poet, playwright, actress, dancer and choreographer. A specialist on the obscure works of Victor Hugo, she has lectured at the French Alliance. Her historical tragicomedy Hugo in London featuring the adventures of the French literary genius in England during the Crimean War was produced in Greenwich in 2008 and recently acquired by Heuer Publishing. A sequel, Lady with a Lamp: an Untold Story of Florence Nightingale, premiered in 2009 as a theatrical benefit for The Wyatt Foundation. 

In 2007 she was commissioned to collect and publish the memoirs of residents from an affluent retirement community in Stamford, CT. The project involved interviewing over forty senior citizens over the age of ninety. A new Connecticut-based leisure publication Norwalk Beat has recently brought her on board as a steady contributor. She focuses on the entertainment industry in Connecticut. Her poems have been accepted by literary journals such as Alimentum and The Recorder and First Edition (UK). After having her short story accepted by Bewildering Stories Magazine, she was invited to join the editorial staff. 

In addition to her writing career, Neary has a career in the performing arts. She has starred in several independent horror films shot in CT and NY. In the 1990s she has competed in various talent competitions in New England and placed second in Miss LaSalle beauty pageant. 

Blog ❧  Goodreads

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: December 15, 2015

In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship. Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister's vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… Los Angeles, 1938. Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey's zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood's glitterati enthrall Violet… until each woman's deepest desires collide. What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

I was really excited when I landed a copy of Susan Meissner’s Stars Over Sunset Boulevard. I love old Hollywood and Gone With the Wind is one of my favorite films. The jacket description piqued my interest and I was absolutely giddy over the subject matter. 

Unfortunately for me, this is one of those scenarios in which reality failed to meet expectation. I's hoped Stars Over Sunset Boulevard would bridge the gap between A Touch of Stardust and The Woman in the Movie Star Dress, but the novel did neither. I might have fared better if I'd been able to relate to the character, but I unsuccessful there too. 

While the novel takes place during the filming of Gone With the Wind, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard is primarily about two women. It is a chronicle of the friendship they share, the decisions they make, the lies they tell, and repercussions their actions reap over the natural course of time. There are some fun anecdotes about the famous film, but Meissner’s work is more Women’s Fiction than Hollywood Historical. I’ve nothing against that, but the historic subject matter is what drew me to this title and I was disappointed that it played second fiddle to the personal drama of her leads. 

I also had great difficulty with Meissner’s writing style, format and structure. The narrative features a variety of locations and I felt the transitions between them awkward. I had similar feelings about the timeline and felt the narrative distinctly one-sided. The modern elements lacked intrigue and would have been content without the experiences of the younger generation.

A Touch of Stardust had many flaws, but at the end of the day I think Alcott’s interpretation of the filming of Gone With the Wind stronger than Meissner’s. Asthana’s storyline is modern, but his use of iconic clothing in The Woman in the Movie Star Dress is decidedly more creative than Meissner's effort in Stars Over Sunset Boulevard. The latter title definitely had moments and I found it entertaining enough to finish, but I think it pales in comparison to novels with similar subject matter and would have difficulty recommending as more than a beach read. 

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Violet looked up at her friend. Sometimes, as at that moment, Violet could see Audrey in her mind’s eye, sitting on the little cement bench at the studio commissary the first day she met her and the two of them were both young and full of dreams. They’d both managed to seize what they had so desperately wanted. And yet here they were, all these many years later, and it seemed as if what she had so determinedly clutched to her chest was struggling to free itself from her grasp. 

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Cover Clichés: The Over the Shoulder Smolder

Sometimes, while browsing the virtual shelves on Amazon and Goodreads, I see jacket art that gives me a disconcerting sense of deja vu. I know I've not read the book, but I am equally certain I've seen its image somewhere before.

This phenomenon is what inspired Cover Clichés. Image recycling is fairly common as cover artists are often forced to work from a limited pool of stock images and copyright free material. The details vary cover to cover, but each boasts a certain similarity and I find comparing the finished designs quite interesting. 

 ═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine's father. After Mr Earnshaw's death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine's brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.

When it comes to undercover work, nobody does it better than Madam of Espionage India Black... India and the handsome British spy, French, are ordered to escort a Russian agent to Paris where he will be exchanged for one of Her Majesty’s operatives. The task seems straightforward and India looks forward to enjoying the delights of the city—and the delights of French. But it isn’t long before things go awry and the duo are battling for their lives in the City of Light. Includes a preview of the Madame of Espionage Mystery, India Black and The Gentleman Thief.

Sometimes, falling in love isn't enough... Lady Verena Westbridge would rather die than marry. When her father accepts the depraved Percival Winters on her behalf, flight seems her only option and entering into menial service the perfect hiding place. Resigning herself to serving her own kind for the rest of her life, she naively believes she is safe. Lord Connor Northwicke arrives at a house party and rescues a young housemaid from the unwelcome advances of a brute. Feeling the need to be near her, he offers her friendship. But her disguise is undone and he must save her from her father by doing the very thing she fears the most. He must marry her. As Verena's past emerges in bits and pieces, fear threatens to overcome love. Verena must fight for her marriage...and her sanity.

Madelyn Wickham is a shy farmer’s daughter who wants to be left alone to tend to her bees and make candles so elegant they've capture Queen Charlotte’s attention. For years, she and her father had a good system. Madelyn made the candles the queen requested for the Christmas celebration she hosted at the Queen’s Lodge, and Madelyn’s father handled the men the queen sent to fetch the merchandise.

Her father’s death changes everything. The idea of dealing with the queen’s men terrifies her, people have always made her feel uncomfortable, but she has no choice. It takes all of her courage, but she manages to walk up to them and start a conversation. Moments later they find the candles she’s prepared for the Queen’s celebration have been destroyed.

Oliver Hamilton has always had a knack for seeing the bright side of every situation. He understands the seriousness of the situation, but doesn't see any reason for despair. He sees the situation as the once in a lifetime to spend time with a woman who’s always intrigued him, but who he’s only ever seen from a distance. He has no idea he’s stepping into the middle of a tense sibling rivalry, and a bitter fight custody fight over the small farm, a battle Madelyn can’t handle by herself.

As Christmas Day draws close, Madelyn’s panic gives way to a softer, sweeter emotion. Instead of running away from Oliver, she wonders if there’s any possibility of ever being able to put her fear aside complete so they can explore the future together.

Charity Greves has the gift of healing. So when a naked bleeding Highlander materializes out of the air into her kitchen, she does what any rational free-thinking herbalist under the same circumstances would do--she heals him. She didn’t expect to be drawn back to the 13th Century where a dangerous whacked-out witch holds the handsome Highlander captive.

Nor is she prepared to be drawn so strongly to him that she’ll do whatever it takes to save him.

Imprisoned by the witch, Toren Limont the High Sorcerer and Protector of the Faes’ magic, uses the last of his magical reserves to go forward in time and find a healer the witch doesn’t have any influence over. He merely seeks the small respite a healing can give him in order to continue to withstand the witch’s tortures long enough for his clan and siblings to flee.

Until Charity falls with him through time as either his salvation or his entire clan’s downfall.

Miss Susannah Blakemore is kidnapped and sold into white slavery as payback to the Huntingtons. Will her pirate hero save her?

“The Huntingtons will pay. Oh, they will pay.” Plots and unholy alliances are put into action carrying out long-awaited retribution.

Only.. one was not thought of. One was not even considered. How would anyone have guessed that a descendant of a pirate would take up his old family tradition in a mad quest to regain his bitterly lost love? The Marquess of Latham will not abide by this act of violence arranged for his precious love, but will surely save her - will he not? And will he make her the next pirate bride?

Next? There must be a first to have a 'next'. But there was another... centuries ago... that still walks the halls of Stonecrest Castle.

Red hair, red dress, and a temper to match. Charlie had his work cut out to persuade Caroline they were the perfect couple.

What a difference a year makes.

Charlie remembered his fiance as dull and dowdy, not the glowing vivacious woman confronting him.

It's not just her looks that have changed, so has her attitude. Caroline won't put up with anything less than the best.

It's up to Charlie to prove that's him.

═══════════════════════════ ❧  ═══════════════════════════

Which cover strikes your fancy and why? What colors draw your eye? Do you think the image appropriate next to the jacket description? Leave your comments below!

Have you seen this image elsewhere? Shoot me an email or leave a comment and let me know. 

The Secrets of Lizzie Borden by Brandy Purdy

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: December 15, 2015

In her enthralling, richly imagined new novel, Brandy Purdy, author of The Ripper’s Wife, creates a compelling portrait of the real, complex woman behind an unthinkable crime. Lizzie Borden should be one of the most fortunate young women in Fall River, Massachusetts. Her wealthy father could easily afford to provide his daughters with fashionable clothes, travel, and a rich, cultured life. Instead, haunted by the ghost of childhood poverty, he forces Lizzie and her sister, Emma, to live frugally, denying them the simplest modern conveniences. Suitors and socializing are discouraged, as her father views all gentleman callers as fortune hunters. Lonely and deeply unhappy, Lizzie stifles her frustration, dreaming of the freedom that will come with her eventual inheritance. But soon, even that chance of future independence seems about to be ripped away. And on a stifling August day in 1892, Lizzie’s long-simmering anger finally explodes… Vividly written and thought-provoking, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden explores the fascinating events behind a crime that continues to grip the public imagination—a story of how thwarted desires and desperate rage could turn a dutiful daughter into a notorious killer.

════════════════════════════ ❧  ════════════════════════════

Lizzie Borden

I feel like the only reviewer who didn't love Brandy Purdy's The Secrets of Lizzie Borden. Most of my peers have offered up glowing commentary that is chock full of unadulterated praise, but my own reflections are decidedly more moderate. As usual I found Purdy's subject matter quite interesting, but the execution fell short and while I'd certainly recommend the book, I can't claim it a personal favorite.

Those who aren't familiar with the facts will relish the research that went into the construction of this piece. I don't agree with Purdy's characterization of Emma and I think some of the subplots rather tenuous, but artistic license aside, I think Purdy did a nice job adapting fact to fiction.

In terms of structure, I feel the color and rhythm of Lizzie's life after the murders allowed Purdy a lot more freedom as a writer. The first half is meatier and more intriguing, but the facts limited Purdy to particular places and events and at the end of the day I don't feel Fall River read as well as the Moulin Rouge.

Purdy's effort to tell Lizzie's side of the story is inspired, but I feel it pales in comparison to the darker interpretations of the infamous double murder. The sad reality is that the more heavily fictionalized versions hold more entertainment value for me. Much as I admire what Purdy aimed to illustrate within these pages, I can't help feeling disappointed that The Secrets of Lizzie Borden failed to send chills down my spine and/or capitalize on the raw horror of the folklore on which it is based.

════════════════════════════ ❧  ════════════════════════════

 And on the table, now clean and sparkling, lay “the Great Emancipator,” the hatchet that would either be my avenging angel and set me free or be the demon that would damn me to Hell for all eternity.

════════════════════════════ ❧  ════════════════════════════