Julie's Review: To Swoon and to Spar

Author: Martha Waters
Series: Regency Vows #4
Publication Date:  April 11, 2023
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 336
Obtained: Amazon First
Genre:  Historical Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Clever romance 
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Summary: Viscount Penvale has been working for years to buy back his ancestral home, Trethwick Abbey, from his estranged uncle. And so he’s thrilled when his uncle announces that he is ready to sell but with one major caveat—Penvale must marry his uncle’s ward, Jane Spencer. When the two meet in London, neither is terribly impressed. Penvale finds Jane headstrong and sharp-tongued. Jane finds him cold and aloof. Nevertheless, they agree to a marriage in name only and return to the estate. There, Jane enlists her housekeeper for a scheme: to stage a haunting so that Penvale will return to London, leaving her to do as she pleases at Trethwick Abbey. But Penvale is not as easily scared as his uncle and as their time together increases, Jane realizes that she might not mind her husband’s company all that much. ~amazon.com

Review: This series just puts a smile on my face. Plus it's a good fill in after you've read or watched Bridgeton. The men are charming, smooth but not self-absorbed; the women are strong and opinionated. They also know what they want and go after it. Penvale and Jane are a bit different than the other 3 couples in the series as they aren't a "love match", meaning they are marrying for reasons other than love. In this case it is so that Penvale can buy his childhood home in Cornwall. Basically, if he buys it from his Uncle, Jane pretty much comes with it. Penvale agrees because after meeting Jane he decides that the house is worth the risk of her. Jane doesn't have much of a choice but does decide that Penvale is a step up from his awful Uncle.

I thought the haunting pranks were funny but I knew that Penvale was too smart to let it fool him for long. I enjoyed how he took that information and kept it to himself but it did make Jane think that he knew something but she wasn't sure what he knows. The games are cute but really it's just a distraction until they do bring them together. 

I liked Jane and I did feel badly for her because she never truly felt that she belonged anywhere and that caused her to become introverted or shy. She tended to lose herself in books, so of course extra points for here there. She admires Penvale for his thoughtfulness towards his tenants and his work ethic. He admires Jane for her wit and her ability to make people around her comfortable, even if she's not. 

If this is the end of the series, I'm happy with it. I've enjoyed all of the characters/couples and how they make their appearances in each of the books. 

Julie's Review: To Love and to Loathe

Author: Martha Waters
Series: Regency Vows
Publication Date:  April 6, 2021
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 349
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Fun barbs witih heart and romance
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Summary: The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy’s country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition. After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover. Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy’s marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they’re focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts. ~amazon.com 

Review: I loved To Have and to Hoax last year and that was before the Bridgerton phenomeon came about and To Love and to Loathe is delightfully charming. The characters are witty and fun. The setting is what you would expect, a country house with people of the ton around. Diana and Jeremy have the best jabbing conversations I might have ever read. They know exactly what buttons to push on each other and where it hurts. As a reader you know underneath all of that jabbing, they are really drawn to each other. Shoot everyone in their inner circle sees it. So the bet they make sets up nicely for some romance.

You just know that as they spend more quality time together, their attraction will deepen and maybe they'll respect each other. Of course things don't really go as planned but that's what makes it such a fun book. There are a few surprises along the way that I really didn't see coming. Plus we get Violet and Emily back as Diana's best friends which is even better. Plus we get to see how Violet and James are fairing now that they settled their stupid fight. 

I chuckeld quite a lot reading this one and I can't wait for the next one in the series. If you are looking for a Bridgerton filler, you will definitely want to read the Regency Vows series. 

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Julie's Review: To Have and To Hoax

Author: Martha Waters
Series: None
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 367
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Historical Romance
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: A fun romp in Austen Era England
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Summary: Five years ago, Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley met, fell in love, and got married. Four years ago, they had a fight to end all fights, and have barely spoken since. Their once-passionate love match has been reduced to one of cold, detached politeness. But when Violet receives a letter that James has been thrown from his horse and rendered unconscious at their country estate, she races to be by his side—only to discover him alive and well at a tavern, and completely unaware of her concern. She’s outraged. He’s confused. And the distance between them has never been more apparent. Wanting to teach her estranged husband a lesson, Violet decides to feign an illness of her own. James quickly sees through it, but he decides to play along in an ever-escalating game of manipulation, featuring actors masquerading as doctors, threats of Swiss sanitariums, faux mistresses—and a lot of flirtation between a husband and wife who might not hate each other as much as they thought. Will the two be able to overcome four years of hurt or will they continue to deny the spark between them? With charm, wit, and heart in spades, To Have and to Hoax is a fresh and eminently entertaining romantic comedy—perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Julia Quinn. ~amazon.com 

Review: I wanted something campy and fun to read and this novel definitely fit the bill. It's set in "Jane Austen" England which means a lot of women weren't bold and brash but more likely to do what their position in society told them to do. That is definitely not Violet at all much to the chagrin of her mother who just wants her to be proper and hold up her duty as a wife. Violet meets Lord James at a party where she was alone on a balcony with another guy (a no no at the time) and came in to rescue her. Of course, Violet doesn't need rescuing but she really does need James. They quickly fall in love and get married.

Of course Violet has a temper as does James, so a year into their marriage they have an epic fight, which means no speaking and separate lives. When James takes a spill off of a horse, Violet rushes to his side only to find out he's not really hurt that badly. She's so irritated that he's not hurt and she rushed to him, that she comes up with an elaborate plan to get revenge on him. Except of course it doesn't really go as planned because James isn't dumb and sees through her little plan. He decides to go along with it.

What ensues is a comedy that will have you laughing and a bit of eye rolling but in the best way. I love the way they both love each other but have a hard time admitting it to each other because they are seriously stubborn. I think this would be a great film or limited series.

Alice's Review: Otherwise Engaged

Author: Amanda Quick
Series: None
Publication Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 352
Obtained: Purchased
Genre:  Historical Romance
Rating: 4
Bottom Line: A mysterious romp.
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Summary:  Miss Amity Doncaster, world traveler, is accustomed to adventure and risk. Benedict Stanbridge, a man of science and a spy for the Crown, has faced danger in the darker corners of foreign lands. Now they are about to face a threat that is shockingly close to home…One does not expect to be kidnapped on a London street in broad daylight. Yet Amity Doncaster barely escapes with her life after she is trapped in a carriage with the killer known in the press as the Bridegroom. He is unwholesomely obsessed by her scandalous connection to Benedict Stanbridge—gossip about their hours alone in a ships stateroom seems to have crossed the Atlantic faster than any sailing vessel could. Benedict refuses to let this resourceful, daring woman suffer for her romantic link to him—as tenuous as it may be.  For a man and woman so skilled at disappearing, so at home in the exotic reaches of the globe, escape is always an option. But each intends to end the Bridegrooms reign of terror in London. And as they join forces and prepare to confront an unbalanced criminal in the heart of the city they love, they must also face feelings that neither can run from…

Review: Earlier this month, I sailed the Seven Seas on a wonderful cruise vacation.  Although I have stacks of books to read, nothing in my TBR pile sang to me.  In my late teens and early twenties, I was a avid Historical Romance reader.  I loved getting swept away by a dashing hero just as much as the damsel in distress did.  As I got older, I realized women seriously need to save themselves.  A knight in shining armor won't save you, you need to do that on your own.  And just like that, my love of Historical Romance was gone.

I picked Otherwise Engaged on a whim because I wanted something light and fun, and I remembered how much I loved Amanda Quick.  Plus, it starts off with Amity on a cruise vacation in the Caribbean.  I thought it was a good sign, and man was I right.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was entertaining and the perfect thing to read poolside. It had plenty of action and mystery and a good dose of romance.  Amity was a free-spirit, independent.  She knew how to save herself and I loved that about her.  Benedict was an unexpected hero. He wasn't what I anticipated at all.  Usually the heroes are strong and fierce, doers not thinkers. Benedict was a good combination of the two.  In the end, I like to think that they saved each other.

I also enjoyed the side story of Penny and Inspector Logan.  I wished more than once that Amanda Quick would have written a novel staring these two.

I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Otherwise Engaged until the very end.  The conclusion was wrapped up in a neat little package, a little too coincidental for my liking.  Some aspects didn't make total sense to me, it was forced. Odd.  That was the only flaw in an otherwise delightful love story.

This novel renewed my love of Historical Romance.  Amanda Quick has not lost her touch of writing memorable characters, especially heroines. She keeps the romance classy and well, romantic.  That says a lot in the post Fifty Shades of Grey age.  If you are looking for something sweet and exciting, I recommend this.  I'm looking forward to picking up a few more of her novels.

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Julie's Review: To Ride a White Horse

Author: Pamela Ford
Series: None
Publication Date: December 14, 2014
Publisher: Aine Press
Pages: 374
Obtained: TLC Book Tours
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Rating: 4.5/5
Bottom Line: An easy romance to get swept away in
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Summary: Your feet will bring you to where your heart is. Set against the backdrop of 1840s Ireland and America, To Ride a White Horse is an epic historical saga of hope, loyalty, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of love. With Ireland ravaged by famine, and England unsympathetic to its plight, Kathleen Deacey, a spirited and strong-willed young Irish woman faces a devastating choice--leave her country to find work or risk dying there. Despising the English for refusing to help Ireland, she sets sail for Canada, determined to save her family and find her missing fiancé. But her voyage doesn't go as planned and she ends up in America, forced to accept the help of an English whaling captain, Jack Montgomery, to survive. As Jack helps her search for her fiancé and fight to save her family and country, she must make an impossible choice--remain loyal to Ireland or follow her heart. With insight and compassion, award-winning author Pamela Ford captures the anguish of a devastating period in Irish history, illuminates the resilience of the human spirit and celebrates the strength of love. To Ride a White Horse is a deeply-moving novel that wraps itself around the heart and doesn't let go. ~amazon.com  

Review: Sometimes you have to thank someone for knowing what you like to read and then suggesting a book to you. So Trish (TLC Book Tours), Thank You! I would have missed this lovely novel if it wasn't for her and the tour.

To Ride a White Horse is the story of one women's journey across the Atlantic to save her family and to search for her fiance that didn't return home with her brother. She was chosen as the one member of the Deacey family to make the trek to America in hopes of finding work to send money home for her family to survive.

Unfortunately, Katleen's voyage across the Atlantic isn't easy. In fact, it's because of her issues at sea that she happens upon Captain Jack Montgomery. Let's just say if I had an issue at sea, I would want Captain Jack to be my savior as well. It isn't too hard to figure out that these two will end up together. It's the journey of them getting there that is charming.

They have obstacles of their own to overcome: she's already betrothed, he's got a stubborn streak and his grandfather pretty much hates the Irish. So, when they figure out that they love each other, it's still not going to be easy. You root for Kathleen and Jack the entire novel. You hope that both aren't stubborn and regret decisions that they are likely to make. Let's face it Jack's dreamy. Sure, he has a little bit of a temper and yes he's a man about town but he really does want to change for Kathleen.

Ms. Ford definitely did her research for this novel. Between the potato famine, the ship journey across the Atlantic and to the bigotry in Boston towards the Irish it's hard to imagine how so many survived and then prospered. What always amazes me is how this country has always been chaffed towards one religions, ethnicity or race at certain times in history. It's amazing that we have come as far as we have, but we still have a ways to go.



If you are in the mood for a sweeping romance, with detailed history, then look no further than To Ride a White Horse you will not regret it.


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Julie's Review: The Winds of War

Author: Herman Wouk
Series: The Henry Family #1
Publication Date:October 18, 2011; original publication of hardcover - 1971
Publisher: Audible Services
Narrator: Kevin Pariseau
Length: 45 Hours and 53 Minutes
Obtained: Audible;Mine
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.75/5
Bottom Line: A must for fans of historical fiction
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Summary: A Masterpiece of Historical Fiction-The Great Novel of America's Greatest Generation Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II, which begins with The Winds of War and continues in War and Remembrance, stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events-and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II-as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.

Review: Holy Cow! I now know why The Winds of War holds up over decades. It is a sweeping family saga set with the beginning of World War II as it's backdrop. You could even say that the war is it's own character that allows the rest of the characters to exist. There are a lot of characters to follow since the book follows the Henry's and the Jastrow's. You quickly figure out who is important and who isn't. There are a lot of them that come and go throughout the story.

As with any family, each member ends up annoying you at times. Rhoda was the one that got on my nerves the most. She was truly all about appearances and status. She came from old money and still wants to act like she's old money. Truth is, while being a Navy Officers wife is prestigious, it definitely doesn't pull in the cash like Rhoda would like to think.

The Henry's boys, Bryon and Warren couldn't be more different.  Bryon is more of a free spirit trying to find his way in life; whereas Warren is more career driven. As they are different, they both marry two completely different women. For me, Janice, who marries Warren, is a lot similar to Rhoda. She is all about climbing the career ladder through her husband. I'm not so sure she's cut out for the Navy life. Natalie, while at times I thought she made poor decisions, is probably my favorite character in the whole novel. She is bright, resourceful and stubborn. She also falls for Byron while having other plans of marrying another man.

I really wish that they would have focused more on the Henry's daughter, Madeleine. I would have liked to have gotten the perspective of the war from her vantage point in NYC working in media.  It would have been interesting to see how she was fairing not going back to school and working in the Big Apple.

Mr. Wouk does a fantastic job of getting in the details of war and the effects of it. What astounded me was the amount of research that must have gone into getting the details right. I loved the "behind the curtain" view of it all.  Pug Henry's correspondence with President Roosevelt are so interesting and add a whole different dimension to the storyline.

There is a lot of ground covered in The Winds of War but it leaves off just as the attack on Pearl Harbor has occurred. I look forward to continue this family saga in War & Remembrance to see how what happens to the Henry's and Jastrow's. If you are a WWII novel addict, then you must read or listen to The Winds of War, while it might take a bit to read all of it, you won't regret it.

Jenn's Review

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Julie's Review: Overseas

Summary: A passionate, sweeping novel of a love that transcends time. When twenty-something Wall Street analyst Kate Wilson attracts the notice of the legendary Julian Laurence at a business meeting, no one’s more surprised than she is. Julian’s relentless energy and his extraordinary intellect electrify her, but she’s baffled by his sudden interest. Why would this handsome British billionaire—Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor—pursue a pretty but bookish young banker who hasn’t had a boyfriend since college? The answer is beyond imagining . . . at least at first. Kate and Julian’s story may have begun not in the moneyed world of twenty-first-century Manhattan but in France during World War I, when a mysterious American woman emerged from the shadows of the Western Front to save the life of Captain Julian Laurence Ashford, a celebrated war poet and infantry officer. Now, in modern-day New York, Kate and Julian must protect themselves from the secrets of the past, and trust in a true love that transcends time and space. ~amazon.com

Review: You know how when everyone raves about a book you find yourself curious if it'll feel the same for you? Well, Overseas doesn't disappoint, at all. Ms. Williams has created quite the sweeping love story with a bit of time travel thrown in for good measure. Julian is dashing, debonair, funny, protective, smart and mysterious. Kate is a strong-willed, independent and smart young lady. Together, they are one of my favorite literary couples.

I don't usually do a lot of romance books, but there was something about the description of the book that drew me in. Ms. Williams does an excellent job of weaving 1916 with 2008. She does it in such a way that when they two eventually collide, you aren't confused and it makes perfect sense. It is not all authors that can deftly handle time travel but Ms. Williams is one of them.

Overseas immediately reminded me of The Time Traveler's Wife, which is still one of my all-time favorites. There are obvious differences when you get into the novel but the power of love is evident in both of these stories.

I really don't want to say much about the book because of fear of ruining it. It is a magnificent debut novel, that makes you feel the power of true love that spans over time and is timeless. I can't recommend Overseas enough.

Final Take: 5/5

Julie's Review: Dream While You're Feeling Blue

Summary: New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg takes us to Chicago at the time of World War II in this wonderful story about three sisters, their lively Irish family, and the men they love. As the novel opens, Kitty and Louise Heaney say good-bye to their boyfriends Julian and Michael, who are going to fight overseas. On the domestic front, meat is rationed, children participate in metal drives, and Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller play songs that offer hope and lift spirits. And now the Heaney sisters sit at their kitchen table every evening to write letters–Louise to her fiancé, Kitty to the man she wishes fervently would propose, and Tish to an ever-changing group of men she meets at USO dances. In the letters the sisters send and receive are intimate glimpses of life both on the battlefront and at home. For Kitty, a confident, headstrong young woman, the departure of her boyfriend and the lessons she learns about love, resilience, and war will bring a surprise and a secret, and will lead her to a radical action for those she loves. The lifelong consequences of the choices the Heaney sisters make are at the heart of this superb novel about the power of love and the enduring strength of family. ~amazon.com

Review: Alice is a huge Elizabeth Berg fan and after reading Dream When You're Feeling Blue, I can definitely see why. She definitely has a gift for transporting her readers to a different era. For this novel it was the era of World War II. The Heaney's are a big Irish Catholic family living in Chicago in the midst of World War II. Pearl Harbor has been bombed and young men are enlisting like crazy. This includes Louise and Kitty's boyfriends who are off to boot camp and then off to fight the evil Axis.

I have to say that I loved all of the characters in the Heaney family. They each had their own personalities. I will say that Tish annoyed me the most. She was a moon-y 17 year old girl who had a major crush on her sister's boyfriend.

Ms. Berg did an excellent job of describing how the war was affecting families. Everything from cooking to having a simple cup of strong coffee wasn't easy to do. The sacrifices every family made to help the war effort was astounding. I wonder if our country could rally like that again?

Kitty is the main character or voice of the novel. She is the oldest sibling in the family. She is a bit lost in the beginning of the novel. She is really unsure of her relationship with Julian. So much that she struggles to write him long letters. Kitty really changes and grows throughout the novel. She gets a job in a factory making airplanes and it gives her purpose. She is an easy character to like and cheer for.

My issue with the novel was the ending. I felt that it came out of nowhere and with no explanation. It seemed to me that it was a sacrifice that really wasn't needed. I did like that we got a glimpse into their futures, that might be the only thing that saved the ending for me.

I can say this, I will be reading Ms. Berg again in the future.

Final Take: 3.75/5

Jenn's Review: The Winds of War

Summary:  A Masterpiece of Historical Fiction-The Great Novel of America's "Greatest Generation" Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II, which begins with The Winds of War and continues in War and Remembrance, stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events-and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II-as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.


Review:  When I think historical fiction, this is the standard to which I compare it.  This is one of my favorite mini-series of all time, so it's no wonder I adore the novel.  


The story covers the period from 1939 right through the bombing of Pearl Harbor with incredible attention to historical details.  It follows the struggles of the Henry family, a naval family, across continents and through life in a constant state of upheaval.  I love the relationships in the novel and all the characters, though on occasionally I would forget a name or two, it never took me long to get up to speed.  Herman Wouk was a screen writer before he became a published author, so, as so rarely happens, he wrote his own script for the miniseries...  it may be the most literal translation of book to screen I have ever seen, and that makes me love it all the more.


 There are several rather heavy passages that discuss the world events as they occur, and I won't pretend I didn't skim them a little when I started to get tired.  I think they come off better in the mini-series where they were able to cut actual clips into the re-enacted moments.  However, I still marvel at the detail and research in this novel.  Following this families story really makes the history come a live, and frankly, if more history was taught this way, no one would ever loose interest.  


This story is perfect for the WWII buff and those who enjoy realistic familial stories.  I look forward to having the time to jump into War and Remembrance, for though it is the most difficult part of the story emotionally, and historically, it is also the most rewarding. 

Alice's Review: Blood Brothers

Summary:  Josephine Cox Drama with heart Alice Jacobs has finally found the family she always wanted! With her shy smile and kind nature, Alice wins the hearts of the Arnold family. A decent and well respected couple,Tom and Nancy Arnold have raised two very different sons, Frank and Joe. Frank is a devious, brutal man. Seeing Alice as the key to his fortune, he is determined to have her for himself. However, his younger brother Joe has fallen in love with Alice, so when she and Frank become engaged to marry, Joe leaves home, determined to put a distance between himself and temptation. He reluctantly returns when Frank summons him to be his best man. Alice finds herself inexplicably drawn to Joe, but feeling it to be her duty, she goes ahead and marries Frank, not wishing to hurt him. On their wedding night Frank shows his true colours and when he forces Alice to reveal a devastating secret, his evil nature reaps a shocking revenge. In his blind hatred, intent on punishing those who have crossed him, Frank plans the final, ultimate retribution. An act that could tear apart not only the Arnold family, but shatter the lives of those around them forever. Unless someone can stop him!


Review:  It’s been a long time since I read a novel that actually made me angry.  I’m not talking about the kind of anger that comes from a novel skillfully written which conjures genuine emotions.  I’m talking about a different kind of anger that is self-imposed because I could kick myself for investing this much time on Blood Brothers.

I’m hard-pressed to find something positive to write.  Right from the beginning, Ms. Cox made Alice so annoyingly perfect.  She’s pretty and kind and free spirited enough that not one, but two brothers instantly fell in love with her.  I mean seriously, lambs follow her around.  And no, this is not a fairy tale.  Alice’s own mother and sister don’t like her and want her out of their lives.  I can’t fault them in their feelings.  Ms. Cox did her a great disservice by not giving her a flaw.  Any flaw. 

The story flows quickly, beginning during the preparation of Alice’s wedding to Frank, the bad son.  Joe, the good son, returns after a year-long exodus.  Was he looking for adventure?  Of course not, he was running away from his budding feelings for his brother’s new girlfriend.  Mind you, she’s a woman who within seconds of meeting, he fell madly enough for that he needed to take off in the middle of the night to prevent himself from acting on those feelings.  His return was to fulfill Frank’s desire to have him stand up at their wedding.  Joe also wanted to make sure that Alice was happy.  Of course, we all know what happens next.  After some shameful behavior, Frank leaves three people for dead.  Oh, how the townsfolk tongues’ were wagging with sacks full of gossip.

After pages and pages of scandal, healing and naturally, unfailing love, Ms. Cox tied up the ending.  To say it felt rushed is an understatement.  Seriously 380 pages of set up in exchange for 20 pages of resolution. I felt a bit robbed, yet thankful that like Alice, my ordeal was finally over.  I didn’t feel this incredible love Alice and Joe were supposed to have shared.  I believe love like that exists.  In a glance or a touch or smile, people connect.  That kind of love is fierce, powerful, honest and true.  Yet Ms. Cox doesn’t conjure any of that in Alice and Joe.  It was as if they made the decision to love, not the fates making the decision for them.

The two shining stars in this novel were Nancy and Tom Arnold.  Yes, Tom Arnold.  I cracked up a little every time Ms. Cox mentions him by his full name.  The one thing she succeeds in is writing an extremely believable romance between this twilight couple.  I loved their interactions, how they played off each other.  They teased each other and acted exactly how any couple would act after 25+ years of marriage providing that couple genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, of course.

I can’t imagine anyone really enjoying this novel unless it was some hopeless romantic who believes true love will with withstand time and one crazy brother who is hell-bent on seeking revenge.  

Final Take: 2/5

Julie's Review: Forever Amber

Summary: Abandoned pregnant and penniless on the teeming streets of London, 16-year-old Amber St. Clare manages, by using her wits, beauty, and courage, to climb to the highest position a woman could achieve in Restoration England—that of favorite mistress of the Merry Monarch, Charles II. From whores and highwaymen to courtiers and noblemen, from events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London to the intimate passions of ordinary—and extraordinary—men and women, Amber experiences it all. But throughout her trials and escapades, she remains, in her heart, true to the one man she really loves, the one man she can never have. Frequently compared to Gone with the Wind, Forever Amber is the other great historical romance, outselling every other American novel of the 1940s—despite being banned in Boston for its sheer sexiness. A book to read and reread, this edition brings back to print an unforgettable romance and a timeless masterpiece. ~amazon.com

Review: I have to admit if it wasn't for What's in a Name Challenge 4 and Alice I wouldn't have picked up this book, which would have been a great loss for me. Sure Forever Amberis almost 1,000 pages but it's a wonderful novel. Amber is certainly a character I will never forget. I loved her gumption and yet at times I wanted to shake her and yes, even slap her.

Amber is a young woman with great ambition. From the day she convinces Lord Carlton to take her to London from Marygreen to the last page of the novel, she never stops plotting and conniving. She will go to any lengths to attain wealth and status and boy does she ever.

At almost 1,000 pages long, we get a great amount of detail for 10 years of Amber's life. We see her through various lovers, 4 husbands and of course her tumultuous relationship with Lord Carlton. From the beginning you want to tell Amber that Lord Carlton is trouble and will never love her the way she will love him. Like all teenagers, she wouldn't have listened. Their relationship is toxic and you just know it won't end well.

This book was definitely Amber's story but within are multiple stories that are just as fascinating. King Charles II is an enigmatic character and the way he is described, I can see why women would swoon and throw themselves at him. It's not only his looks but his relaxed personality. He had quite a lot of mistresses but only one wife. The politics of the court are weaved into the story and make for an interesting sub-plot. Especially, given the fantastic ending of the book.

During the course of the book you will love and hate Amber. She reminds me a lot of Scarlett from Gone with the Wind, 75th Anniversary Edition. For most of the novel you do understand her and what drives her make her decisions. At times you feel for the men who are in her path and at other times you feel like they knew what they were in for.

Two of my favorite characters were Nan and Almsbury. They were always loyal and Almsbury never failed to try to wake Amber up when it came to Lord Carlton.

As always with historical fiction, I am fascinated by the fashions of the time period. I can't imagine wearing a corset and having to walk in those heavy dress. Yet, these ladies did it without much of a quiver.

I did have some issues with it: 1) It really was a bit long. I feel that it could have been cut by 100 pages or so and still told the same story. 2) I didn't feel that the rivalry between Lady Castlemaine and Amber came to a satisfactory conclusion.

Compared to Rebecca, I found that this novel wasn't dated. As far as historical fiction goes, it's a winner.

If you haven't thought about reading Forever Amber, I encourage you to read it. If you are put off by the mammoth size of it, don't be. I finished it in less than a week. I definitely think that it's a novel that shouldn't be missed by historical fiction fans.

Final Take: 4.75/5

Julie's Review: Faith and Honor

Colonial Boston churns with rebellion with every patriot addressing the cause of freedom through thought and deed. Persistent in her own dedication to the struggle for independence, Faith Ashley is no exception. Rescued from the harassment of British officers by Fletcher Irons, the young widow finds herself attracted to him and confused by emotions long held in abeyance. In their initial meeting Fletcher appears to be merely another of Boston's citizens on his way home; however, his secrets are soon revealed. When war erupts in the first battles of the Revolution, Faith is torn between her loyalty to the cause and her love for this man who is far more than he seems. All of Faith's strength and courage is put to the test to remain true not only to herself and to her country, but to the man whose destiny rests with her own. ~amazon.com

Julie's Review: When I received the summary of Faith and Honor from Tracee at Pump Up Your Book Promotion, it sounded right up my alley especially since I'm on a historical fiction kick. At first I had a hard time keep the Whigs and the Lobster's straight since it's been a great many years since I've had Revolutionary War history but I was able to muddle through it. While this book wasn't exactly up my alley, I didn't mind reading it.

Faith is a widow who lost her husband 3 years ago. She's on her way home from her father's house to Boston when she meets Fletcher Irons. The sparks fly between them but she's not ready to be attracted to a complete stranger. Faith finds out that Fletcher isn't exactly what she thought he was and she doesn't know how to handle it. She's offered marriage by an older man who is a family friend and turns him down. Now here is where I think that the story went array. I think she would have accepted the offer of marriage since I believe that is what was expected and what happened in that time period.

Needless to say, she and Fletcher can't resist their attraction to each other and act on it. This complicates things because while "love conquers all" it is hard in times of war, especially when you re on the opposite sides.

I didn't particularly like Faith. I thought she was a bit self-aborbed, arrogant and childish. I do realize that there were strong, independent women in every decade but I didn't subscribe to it with her. While women did work towards the resistance of the British forces, I think most of them did so by aiding their husbands. I thought that maybe she was too much ahead of her time.

I did enjoy reading about a fictionalized Rachel Revere, who was the wife of the very famous Paul Revere and how she and Faith were friends.

If this kind of historical fiction is your taste, please click on Robin Maderich to purchase an autographed copy.

Final Take: 3/5