Crazy Book Tours Book Review: His Mistress By Christmas

Author: Victoria Alexander
Title: His Mistress By Christmas
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Oct 1, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours & the publisher
Book Blurb:  For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been perfectly happy as a widow — and thoroughly independent. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him. Sebastian will come into his inheritance in a matter of weeks — if his family deems him responsible enough. There’s no better way to prove his maturity than with a home and a wife. But though the lovely Veronica will share his bed, she steadfastly refuses to marry. However, Sebastian has a plan. An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change Veronica’s mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And even in the midst of mischief-making relatives and unexpected complications, he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together — in this, and every season to come...

Review: Holiday historical romances are my absolute favorite type of book. When it comes to historicals you can't go wrong with Victoria Alexander either. Her characters are so wonderfully refreshing and colorful.

The story is one we've seen a variations of before, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. Veronica and Sebastion are wonderful characters. (I'm a sucker for a hero named Sebastion) I love the reversal of roles here. It is usually the man who would prefer to have a mistress. But Veronica and Sebastion aren't your conventional characters and neither are their friends and relatives.

Portia is Veronica's friend and Sebastion's cousin and her prim and proper ways are so, well prim and proper that it is laughable.

The story has a lot of really funny moments too and some fabulous dialogue. It is wonderful to read the exchanges between Sebastion and Veronica. These are two headstrong people that are used to getting what they want. It is a shame that what they want are polar opposites! That's what makes everything fun.

It is a fast paced read, which is unique for me, when it comes to historicals. The pacing is wonderful and everything moves along quickly. If you have a cold December afternoon that you want to spend with a book, this is the one to pick. It is definitely a must read for Christmas!

Rating: 5 flowers

Crazy Book Tours Book Review: The Lady Of The Rivers

Author: Philippa Gregory
Title: The Lady of the Rivers
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publish Date: September 15, 2011
Source: Crazy Book Tours
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream.
Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, and he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Not even their courage and loyalty can keep the House of Lancaster on the throne. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favorites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty.

Jacquetta fights for her king, her queen, and for her daughter Elizabeth for whom Jacquetta can sense an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York.

A sweeping, powerful story rich in passion and legend and drawing on years of research, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother of the white queen.


Review: I haven't read a Phillipa Gregory book in ages, even though every book she's written is either on my TBR pile or on my Nook. The Lady of the River might not be the best book to pick up if you haven't read any of her other novels before. The beginning drags a bit and if you aren't used to this kind of historical fiction, you may be tempted to put the book down.

Don't do that. You'll miss out.

Gregory focuses on witchcraft which is something that figures into Jacquetta's life. This book ties in with The White Queen and The Red Queen, which you'll want to read after this one.

The thing that I like the most about any book by Phillipa Gregory, is her ability to take you back in time with her characters. You are there with Jacquetta. Her writing pulls you in to the story, and though this book isn't as good as any in the Boleyn series, it is still worth reading if you have a love for historical fiction. Gregory is a master at her genre, much like Jean Plaidy.

When you put down this book, you'll have not only read a good story, but you'll have learned something too.

Rating: 4 flowers

Crazy Book Tours Book Review: Naughty In Nice

Author: Rhys Bowen
Title: Naughty In Nice
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Sept 6, 2011
Review Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours & the publisher
Book Blurb: Lady Georgiana Rannoch has once again been called into service by Her Majesty the Queen. This time she's sent to Nice on a secret assignment that's nothing to sneeze at-recover the Queen's stolen snuff box.
As much of an honor as it is to be trusted by Her Majesty, an even greater honor awaits Georgie in Nice-as Coco Chanel herself asks Georgie to model her latest fashion. But when a necklace belonging to the Queen is stolen on the catwalk, Georgie has to find two priceless items-and solve a murder. How's a girl to find any time to go to the casino?

Review: Cozy mysteries are such fun, and this one is really different from most of the series I read. There are no recipes or pets helping solve the crime or little old ladies...

I really found this book to be refreshing.  Spying, theft and a murder! All taking place in the 1930s and involving the aristocracy! The closest series that this comes to are the Lady Jane Grey mysteries, but this is much lighter fare and a more fun read.

Georgie is a fabulous heroine and her family make up a great supporting cast of characters. I particularly loved the ever annoying Fig, Georgie's sister-in-law, who wishes the family didn't have to support the unmarried sister.

This book is part of a series, but like most cozy mysteries in this same genre, you really don't need to have read the others to enjoy this one. It is definitely a stand alone book.

Rating:  4 flowers

Book Review: After The Party

Author: Lisa Jewell
Title: After The Party
Publisher: Atria Books
Publish Date: August 16, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours & The Publisher
Book Blurb: Eleven years ago, Jem Catterick and Ralph McLeary fell deeply in love. They thought it would be forever, that they’d found their happy ending. As everyone agreed, they were the perfect couple. Then two became four, and an apartment became a house. Romantic nights out became sleepless nights in. And they soon found that life wasn’t quite so simple anymore. But through it all, Jem and Ralph still loved each other. Of course they did.


Now Jem is back at work part-time as a talent agent. Ralph, a successful painter, is struggling to come up with new, hopefully groundbreaking, work for his upcoming show. But the unimaginable has happened. Two people who were so right together are starting to drift apart And in the chaos of family life, Jem feels like she’s losing herself, while Ralph, stuck on the sidelines, feels like he’s lost his muse altogether. Something has to change. As they try to find a way back to each other, back to what they once had, they both become momentarily distracted—but maybe it’s not too late to recapture happily ever after…


Review: After the Party is a sequel to Ralph's Party...and for some, the book might be better received if the first book is read...well....first. However, as I read, I found that After the Party could stand alone. Lisa gives enough backstory that you don't really need to have all the details of how they got together.

What will surprise most...well, at least it did me, is that Jem and Ralph aren't married. The way the story read, they felt like a married couple, but only Jem acted like she was part of one...for the most part.

Jem and Ralph are two characters that are really not very likable. It is difficult to believe that these two managed to get together at all, they seem that intensely different in what they want out of life. Both are selfish and stubborn and it was difficult to hope for the best for them as their relationship deteriorates.

This couple is very real, maybe too real for readers looking to escape "real life" when it comes to their reading.

What was most surprising is the "happily ever after", because these two people certainly didn't seem to deserve it.

Rating: 3 flowers

AUTHOR INFO:


Links:

S&S Lisa Jewell Page: http://books.simonandschuster.com/After-the-Party/Lisa-Jewell/9781451609103

Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewellofficial

Lisa’s official website:  http://www.lisa-jewell.co.uk/index.html

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lisajewelluk

Bio: Lisa Jewell is the international bestselling author of nine novels, including Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing, and One-Hit Wonder. She was born and raised in north London, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at www.facebook.com/LisaJewellofficial or www.twitter.com/lisajewelluk

Crazy Book Tours Book Review: The King's Daughter

Author: Christie Dickason
Title: The King's Daughter
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publish Date: Aug 20, 2009
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours
Book Blurb: Superb historical novel of the Jacobean court, in which Princess Elizabeth strives to avoid becoming her father's pawn in the royal marriage market The court of James I is a volatile place, with factions led by warring cousins Robert Cecil and Francis Bacon. Europe is seething with conflict between Protestants and Catholics. James sees himself as a grand peacemaker -- and what better way to make his mark than to use his children in marriage negotiations? Into this court come Henry, Prince of Wales, and his sister Elizabeth. Their louche father is so distrusted that soon they are far more popular than he is: an impossibly dangerous position. Then Elizabeth is introduced to Frederick of Bohemia, Elector Palatine. He's shy but they understand one another. She decides he will be her husband -- but her parents change their minds. Brutally denied Henry's support, how can Elizabeth forge her own future? At once a love story, a tale of international politics and a tremendous evocation of England at a time of great change, this is a landmark novel to thrill all lovers of fine historical fiction.

Review: I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. I was gung ho for a book about a royal that wasn't a Tudor.  Elizabeth's story seems to be dragged out. There were times when I had to look up information about her so I had an idea of how old she was.

The first part is the slowest dealing with Elizabeth's unknowing part in the Gunpowder Plot to assissinate her father. Christie doesn't spare her readers from the gruesome outcome. Elizabeth witnsses the execution of Fawkes and his conspiritors. They were hung, drawn and quartered.

This was definitely an age were punishments were gruesome.

But the book isn't bad. It really paints a good portrait of what James I was like and the relationship between Elizabeth and her brother Henry and her younger brother Charles. I often found Baby Charles was portrayed a bit unfairly. He seemed to be a spoiled brat, yet all accounts of him that I found said he emulated his older brother Henry.

I appreciated the historical accuracy, but the fictional characters Christie added didn't enhance the story. In fact, they detracted from an otherwise interesting story. I would have liked to know more about Elizabeth than the battle between her and her father over marriage. The slave girl, Tallie, didn't even seem necessary as a character, since she didn't make an appearance until Elizabeth was presented in London. There were some scenes that just didn't seem plausible for a princess to be doing, particularly when they snuck out to a brothel so that Elizabeth could learn about lovemaking, via a peephole in a wall.

Elizabeth wasn't very interesting. I found myself more interested in the intrigues of the court. Her father's preference for men. The religious beliefs of her brother, who had his men pay a tithe when they swore. All were more interesting than Elizabeth and her desire to choose her husband. It is because of the rest of the family that I finished this book. Had Christie not brought those characters to life, I probably would have abandoned this book.

Rating: 3 flowers

Crazy Book Tours Book Review: Friday Mornings At Nine

Author: Marilyn Brant
Title: Friday Mornings At Nine
Publisher: Kensignton Press
Publish Date: Oct 1, 2010
Review Copy From:  Crazy For Books Tours
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Every woman remembers her firsts: Her first kiss. Her first lover. And her first time contemplating an affair...

Each Friday morning at the Indigo Moon Café, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara meet to swap stories about marriage, kids, and work. But one day, spurred by recent e-mails from her college ex, Jennifer poses questions they've never faced before. What if they all married the wrong man? What if they're living the wrong life? And what would happen if, just once, they gave in to temptation...

Soon each woman is second-guessing the choices she's made—and the ones she can unmake—as she becomes aware of new opportunities around every corner, from attentive colleagues and sexy neighbors to flirtatious past lovers. And as fantasies blur with real life, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara begin to realize how little they know about each other, their marriages, and themselves, and how much there is to gain—and lose—when you step outside the rules...

Review:  Friday Mornings At Nine wasn't quite what I expected. Each woman in the story was hitting a crisis point in their marriages. As the story started it was hard to believe that any of the ladies would stay in their current situations.

Brandt writes from three different point of views in this novel, and each woman is vastly different from the others. The only thing they have in common is a dissatisfaction with were they are in their lives.

She really does a great job showing her readers why the women are in the state that they are in. She also shows how they grow and come to terms with their relationships, even if the end results aren't what the reader would expect.

This book isn't about happily ever afters. If it was, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara would have either found new loves or stayed happily with their husbands, but that isn't the case. Marilyn makes these women real. The feel hardships. They make mistakes, some that they regret. None of them are perfect, but that's why the reader is drawn to them.

They all harbor, hopes and dreams that they cast aside years earlier for marriage. Marilyn takes you on their journey of self discovery.

Of the three women, Jennifer is the one who surprised me the most. She seemed more comfortable in her marriage and yet, when the story was ending, her marriage still wasn't good. I wished a little more for Bridget because she was the mousey one of the bunch. As for Tamara, the outcome there was what was expected.

I found this book hard to put down. Once I got wrapped up in the characters lives I didn't want to put it down. The only thing that bugged me was that she left some loose ends with Jennifer. I would have liked to have seen her situation resolved.

Rating: 4 flowers

Crazy Book Tours Book Review: Lady In Waiting

Author: Susan Meissner
Title: Lady In Waiting
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publish Date: Sept 7, 2010
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours
Book Blurb: Content in her comfortable marriage of twenty-two years, Jane Lindsay had never expected to watch her husband, rad, pack his belongings and walk out the door of their Manhattan home. But when it happens, she feels powerless to stop him and the course of events that follow Brad’s departure.
Jane finds an old ring in a box of relics from a British jumble sale and discovers a Latin inscription in the band along with just one recognizable word: Jane. Feeling an instant connection to the mysterious ring bearing her namesake, Jane begins a journey to learn more about the ring—and perhaps about herself.

~ In the sixteenth-century, Lucy Day becomes the dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey, an innocent young woman whose fate seems to be controlled by a dangerous political and religious climate, one threatening to deny her true love and pursuit of her own interests.

As the stories of both Janes dovetail through the journey of one ring, it becomes clear that each woman has far more infl uence over her life than she once imagined. It all comes down to the choices each makes despite the realities they face.

Review: To say I loved this story would be an understatement. Lady In Waiting tops my list of books I will forever adore. It was so beautifully written, entwining the lives of a modern day Jane trying to come to terms with her life and Lady Jane Grey, the nine days Queen of England.

The modern day Jane feels so real. She could be the lady at the antique store in your town. Her issues with her parents and her husband make her a little bit annoying at times, but considering the upheaval she's going through, she has every right to be that way.

The historical portion is told through the eyes of Lucy Day, a dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey. Lucy and Jane's friendship blossoms and continues to grow until the execution of the the Queen.

Susan Meissner really made all the characters believable, and though this is a work of fiction...and the relationship aspect of the story, between Lady Jane and Lord Edward Seymour is based on "What if" rather than fact, the story feels real.

I really found this book hard to put down. I really wanted to know what was going to happen next in both parts of the story, and though I didn't care as much for Jane and her husband Brad, I wanted them to work things out.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially the works of Jean Plaidy or Phillipa Gregory, this is definitely a book to try.

Review: 5 flowers

Crazy Book Tours Book Review: Oogy: The Dog Only A Family Could Love #9

Author: Larry Levin
Title: Oogy: The Dog Only A Family Could Love
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publish Date: Oct 12, 2010
Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: In the bestselling tradition of Rescuing Sprite comes the story of a puppy brought back from the brink of death, and the family he adopted.
In 2002, Larry Levin and his twin sons, Dan and Noah, took their terminally ill cat to the Ardmore Animal Hospital outside Philadelphia to have the beloved pet put to sleep. What would begin as a terrible day suddenly got brighter as the ugliest dog they had ever seen--one who was missing an ear and had half his face covered in scar tissue--ran up to them and captured their hearts. The dog had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been thrown in a cage and left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy's charms, and decided to take him home.
Heartwarming and redemptive, OOGY is the story of the people who were determined to rescue this dog against all odds, and of the family who took him home, named him "Oogy" (an affectionate derivative of ugly), and made him one of their own.
 
Review: This is the kind of animal book I love to read, the kind where the animal is still alive at the end. Oogy is a dog that anyone can't help but love and his owner really shows that love as he shares his story of his family and how they came to welcome a poor abused Dogo pup into their lives.

Sure this story is about Oogy, but it was also about Larry, Jennifer, Dan and Noah. The type of people they were helped shape Oogy's life, just as he helped shape theirs. Larry shares Oogy's life story with the world as best as he can.

It is wonderful to see a family that can take in a dog like this and give him love. Oogy is not the prettiest pooch, but how can you not love that face? He's like E.T.  He's so ugly he's cute.

What made this story super special was how the Levin's really went above and beyond for this dog. After the first $3,000.00 surgery, many people would have given up. Lucky for Oogy, his owners were attorneys as well as animal lovers. Oogy was really part of the family, like one of the twins said, "Oogy is my brother."

Most people that truly love their furry companions will feel this way and I don't think I've ever read a book with a pet where this is more perfectly illustrated. Larry loves Oogy and will do just about anything for his dog.

The Levin's are my kind of people.  Oogy is my kind of dog!

Rating: 5 flowers



Meet Oogy:

Book Tour and Book Review: She's Gone Country #5

Author: Jane Porter
Title: She's Gone Country
Publisher: 5 spot
Publish Date: Aug 23, 2010
Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Shey Darcy, a 39-year-old former top model for Vogue and Sports Illustrated led a charmed life in New York City with a handsome photographer husband until the day he announced he'd fallen in love with someone else. Left to pick up the pieces of her once happy world, Shey decides to move back home to Texas with her three teenage sons. Life on the family ranch, however, brings with it a whole new host of dramas starting with differences of opinion with her staunch Southern Baptist mother, her rugged but overprotective brothers, and daily battles with her three sons who are also struggling to find themselves. Add to the mix Shey's ex-crush, Dane Kelly, a national bullriding champ and she's got her hands full. It doesn't take long before Shey realizes that in order to reinvent herself, she must let go of an uncertain future and a broken past, to find happiness--and maybe love--in the present.

Review: A lot of readers will recognize Jane's name from the many Harlequin Presents novels she's written over the years. That's why I was a bit wary of reading She's Gone Country at first. It didn't take long for  me to change my way of thinking.

Jane's character's are grown up, have "real life troubles" and are for the most part, are people you'd like to call a friend. I can't say that I can relate to a former supermodel with a gay ex-husband, but she felt real, and it was easy to empathize with her and her struggles, even when you want to smack her, when she can only eat 2 fajitas!

Only two!

This book was more a story about life than it was a romance, though Jane does focus on the short teenage relationship with Dane Kelly, but it isn't quite what the story is about, and there sure aren't any real hot and heavy sex scenes here.  Though you will be excited for her finally sorting out that old relationship, what the reader really cares about here is her relationships with her 3 sons, Hank, Bo, and Cooper, all of which have issues of their own to deal with.

Shey felt more like a mom in this story than a supermodel. The only thing that I had any issue with was the financial problems that Shey and her ex had, because there really wasn't much of an explanation for them.

Other than that, Jane's She's Gone Country was a perfect example of chicklit for the slightly older chicks.

Rating:  4 flowers