This is the fourth novel I've read by Virginia Henley, and while there are things I loved this novel, there are things I really did not like. Which is kinda disappointing, but you win some, you lose some. I'll start off by saying I loved the exploration of the reign of King John, and some of the characters were memorable. The writing was spot on and it was certainly an entertaining read.

Series: The Medieval Plantagenet Trilogy, #1
My Rating: 3/5
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But. But, but, but...but. This book had its flaws. First off, it got caught in the willfulness of both heroine and hero. Jasmine was dead set against marriage, Falcon was determined to have her. She saw herself as a witch, free to cast her spells and at no man's command. He was a high minded, fierce soldier who commanded everything and everyone around him. And he wanted her. He wanted to tame her, make her his. Love her. And this is a serious flaw. The characters strength of will got in the way of the romance.

Don't get me wrong. It's fun to have the couple clash and warrior, especially in a novel like this. But their words cut too deep, their actions and reactions were too extreme and it got in the way of the love that I expected to grow between Falcon and Jasmine.  In fact, Jasmine's reaction and feelings once she is wedded and bedded is that of a rape victim. Because King John is evil and desires Jasmine, he allows one of his cronies to take her and wed her before Falcon and she marry. In exchange, the crony will share his wife with John. Falcon rescues her, marries her immediately and forces the consummation for Jasmine's own safety in the region of a mad king. By today's standards, this scene is a rape. It just frustrated me as it didn't make for good reading, or good romance and Jasmine's refusal to trust a man who clearly cared for her seemed illogical to me. I also hated that even though Falcon knew how afraid Jasmine was, he still derived pleasure and did not even apologize for hurting her or feel badly about the situation. Later sex scenes were even worse as Jasmine retreats into her mind whenever Falcon beds her.

Older romances let you down in this way sometimes. I think if Jasmine's character hadn't been so stubborn and afraid, if she had had more courage to face the reality of the situation they were in, she might have made a better heroine and the romance would have worked better. But, for me, it just failed in the romance department.

I did however like the character of her grandmother Estelle, who was crafty and had an inner strength that me made smile. The exploration of King John's England was interesting as well, as I'd always heard of King John being nasty, so the history woven into the story was a winner for me. Overall, interesting reading, and I'm glad I gave the book a chance.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

I was on a bit of a historical fiction binge this summer, specifically Tudor England. Let's face it, my fascination with this era is never going away. As soon as I saw the fourth instalment in Weir's series, I snatched it up and proceeded to read it very quickly. These novels provide a glimpse into the lives of Henry VIII's wives, from their youth right up until their deaths, and each thus far is riveting.

Series: Six Tudor Queens, #4
My Rating: 5/5
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This novel opens with Anna's engagement, but to King Henry VIII. Anna is young, and has been raised to adhere to her role as a daughter and a princess, and although the engagement is not one of her choosing, she's willing to follow through it as is her duty. However, in a surprising twist, she falls in love with a young aristocrat and experiences her first kiss which ends with the loss of her virginity. This encounter leaves Anna sorrowful as she can never be with the man she truly loves. And it ties beautifully into history as it provides the grounds for King Henry's suspicions that Anna is "no maid."

For this is the reason that Henry VIII wanted nothing to do with his fourth wife; or at least one of them. It's no secret that he found Anna unattractive, and that he stated she smelled foul and had a soft belly and breasts, among supposed other truths that confirmed in his mind that his bride was not a virgin. I thought this rather a brilliant stroke by Weir, who imagines that Anna engages in a sexual encounter early, gives birth to a baby and that Henry, who had both wives and mistresses immediately saw that her body was altered by that pregnancy. Could this have been why the king so disliked his fourth wife? Or were these words said merely of a woman Henry had no desire to bed? We'll never really know, but it certainly made for interesting and realistic story telling.

Anna navigates  the political waters of Henry VIII court wisely even though she time and again is pressed to debase her royal status. Luckily, she is much loved by Henry once their marriage is annulled and well kept, and Anna even finds love again. In this novel, we side a King Henry that sometimes history forgets, that Henry Tudor was sensitive and even kind hearted. Since Anna outlives Henry, we see him age and hear his last words to Anna and I was very moved by that scene in particular. We also saw how Anna manages after the death of this infamous king, into an era of Protestantism and financial waste.

A novel spans three Tudor monarchs, this study of Anne of Cleves was poignant, polished and praise worthy.

Happy Reading,

Jewels 

This novel was historical romance to the letter. Fiery, strong willed heroine. Dark, passionate and commanding hero. A marriage with a couple at odds, it made for easy reading. I've read a couple of novels by this author before, and enjoy them and The Raven and the Rose was another I really thought devastating.

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4/5 
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I really liked this novel, as the heroine Rosanna so thoroughly dislikes her husband. She never thought. to marry her betrothed, but despite her efforts to avoid the marriage, she ends up the bride of a man she dislikes, and promises to make him wretched. And for a time, she does. What interested me in this novel as well was that Rosanna was the illegitimate child of Edward IV, and as I've been learning more about the War of the Roses, and the Plantageants, it was certainly interesting to read about people who lived during those times, even if they were fictional. I also liked that there was a bit of intrigue woven into the story as well surrounding Rosanna during the time the Earl of Warwick was moving against King Edward.

I've mentioned before when reviewing older romance novels, that I sometimes fear as I delve into them that the love scenes might not align with more modern conceptions of romance and healthy relationships. I do find that that the roles of men and women are portrayed very traditionally, and as a modern reader they do sometimes irk me, even though they are appropriate for the times, I find them sometimes overtly sexist. This I can overlook given the age of the novel, so I try not to fault older romances for this as thirty to forty years ago, the world was more sexist. However, given that I did feel this way reading this novel at times, I was very glad that the hero did not force his wife to be his wife. He waited for a time instead of forcing her in the bedchamber. I can respect that in his character, and as a modern reader, appreciate it. I also appreciated the build up as it made everything sizzle. Like, really sizzle.

I am so glad to be once again reading amazing romance novels and this novel is one that has helped me out of a long reading rut. I can absolutely recommend this is if you enjoy historical romance and if you need something that is just fun and allows you to escape to another world.

Happy Reading, 

Jewels

I added this book to my collection a while back and finally began reading it and I am so thrilled by this novel. I've become really interested in true crime, and this novel is not based on real events, but its premise is one that we know to be real, which made this a bit like true crime for me. But I also love that this book does not dwell on the grittier aspects of the crime perpetuated against the main character, Lauren.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction

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The novel opens with the abduction of Lauren, which does kinda get your heart pumping, and then skips ahead six years where we see her family continuing to search for their missing little girl. It was quite a page turner as we got to get into the heads of different characters--Lauren's mother and father, her sister Sierra, and even Lauren herself. The writing really draws you in as it come to understand how the abduction of Lauren has affected her family, and how each perceives the situation and how it has affected their lives. I felt compassion for these fictional characters, especially as what has happened to Lauren is laid out. 

And then, suddenly, Lauren is found. A miracle. One parents of missing children everywhere hope for every day. It was wonderful to know Lauren would be going home, but now the novel begins to deal with her recovery. This could be difficult. It could be ugly. It could cause you to feel sick. It might make angry. All of this is possible when you divide into a novel with this premise. But I think the author did a fabulous job in focusing on Lauren's recovery and integration with her family rather than the suffering Lauren endured. We do get glimpses into that, but this novel does not focus on the victimization of Lauren, but rather on Lauren. And I liked that a lot. 

So, for those of you who like crime and mystery, this has enough of that to keep you engaged, and for those of you looking for a good summer read, this might be up your alley as well. It's definitely a page turner so it makes for easy reading. I loved it, and hope that I can continue to find gems like this among the many books on my shelves. 

Happy Reading,

Jewels

This book certainly took me by surprise. It was nothing like I expected, and made for some interesting reading although it's likely not everyone's cup of tea when it comes to romance. First off, it's an older romance and love and romance were handled differently I find in romance novels in the past. Secondly...well, that's what mostly of my review will be about. Secondly. I'd like to thank you for hanging around if you are a follower of my blog as I have not been reviewing books lately. I cannot believe this is the first book I've read in 2019, but there you have it. I did dive into several others, but I guess I was just too all over the place to really get sucked into any book. A first for me but I am back to steady reading now and am hoping to keep it again as reading is my first love in life. 

Series: Wyhnham Saga, #2

Stars: 3/5

Genre: Romance

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Love, Remember Me was first written in 1994, and I went into this novel knowing full well that the portrayal of women and relationships might give me some pause. However, I adore historical romance and I just decided to plunge. I thought maybe something that might strike me as overly dramatic and even ridiculous might just be the thing to get back into reading. But this book surprised me, as really opens with young Nyssa Wyhnham making her way to the Tudor court after a visit to her family home from Henry VIII himself. She is there to serve his new queen, Anne of Cleves, and to catch a husband. A simple enough device, and after some times Nyssa does meet the Earl of March, her future husband. Here is where things started to take me by surprise, and even delight me as the plot follows Nyssa's service to Anne of Cleves quite closely, and her separation from the king. 

Courts are usually full of politics and intrigues, and there is not doubt that the court of Henry VIII had many factions and intrigues swirling around at all times, and the author cleverly made use of this to throw Nyssa and the Earl of March together. Once they are married, quite against Nyssa's will, I thought the novel would largely focus on the couple living their life and falling in love. However, I was once again surprised, as the novel does not merely use these historical characters to throw Nyssa and Varian, the Earl of March together, but then follows the rise of Catherine Howard, the king's fifth wife, as well as her downfall. 

This is the secondly I mentioned. This novel really does not focus on the main characters. It's more of a historical fiction in my opinion, with Nyssa and Varian being some minor couple at court caught up in the pages of history. There is not much development of the relationship between the heroine and hero and I hardly felt that devastating feel that I named the blog for, if at all sadly. However, I must say that the plot is well paced, the characters are compelling and the history that this story is steeped in is well researched. If you like history, this might be a good read for you. Otherwise, you're sure to be disappointed. 

I'm so happy to be back to reading and reviewing books! I will have another review coming for you soon so please stay tuned. 

Happy Reading,

Jewels

I just realized that I have not shared with you some very new books on my shelf. It seems that I am always acquiring books. I'm still in a bit of a reading rut, but I am slowly coming out of it. I miss reading and reviewing books so these new books are ones I intend to dive into first. In fact, I already have.

First off, after a conversation with a random stranger in the book store I decided to pick up The Witness by Nora Roberts. This is a bit of a risk for me as Nora Roberts is really hit and miss for me. She's adored by thousands, but sometimes her writing irks me. Let's hope this is not one of those times. I am liking mysteries more and more so fingers crossed. I also picked up A Willing Murder by Jude Deveraux because the title caught my eye. The blurb sounded like this story might be a good thriller and so it now sits on my shelf. A girl's gotta read ;)

I was buying a lot that day and so The Lady's Traveler's Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl made it home with me as well. The novel is by Victoria Alexander, who I have never read, but the story sounded engaging and possibly humorous and I love good romance so I decided I needed this book. The cover is really pretty too. Next, I found The House on Tradd Street which I had added to my TBR list ages and ages ago and forgot about but once I had it in my hands, naturally I wasn't leaving it at Chapters. I have read a book or two by Karen White so I'm certain this will be a quick read for me.

I hope to review some of these very soon for you. It hasn't been the best blogging year for me, but I am committed to continue to review books. I have so many books I want to read and review and just enjoy, and I know that soon I will be back in my reading groove.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

So I'm guessing you're wondering where I've been. I promised to blog more--I promised that to myself as blogging is important to me. I may not have much of a following, but I love sharing my love of books, and I really wanted to get back into the groove of reading and reviewing.

I still do. I swear. But I realized something as February and March and much of April marched past me. My time management skills...need improvement. I do work full time, but in the past, I had more time to read and blog and what not. Now, life is different now than it was then, but still...where do the hours in the day go? At first, I thought, well February and March just sucked. I had no energy, I was stressed...life was up and down you know? But I started to realize that as much as that was true that something else was happening. I was wasting time. So I started to think seriously about how I was using my time outside of work.

Now, some of my free time was being spent caring for and bonding with my budgies, which are new pets. I adore these birds. And it's taken some time to get them to come out of their cage and doing their birdie thing. And I'm still working on building trust between me and these birds. But caring for these small creatures was not taking up every minute of my free time. Neither were real life annoyances like cleaning, or being sick (which thankfully I have not been this winter) so I knew that my time was being wasted somewhere.

My time was being wasted somewhere in my life....

And I figured out that I had been sucked into a time waster that many people are sucked into...social media. 

Seriously, I was sitting there one day, scrolling through a repetitive and uninteresting Facebook feed and was struck by the fact that I was sitting in front of the TV, not watching really it, scrolling aimlessly through Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. I use these platforms to connect with readers, to share my crochet or to learn more about budgies and even just to see what is going on in the lives of my friends that I don't see that often, but somehow social media had become an unproductive use of my time. I wasn't on these platforms to share anything, or for any real reason, I was just mindlessly scrolling through pictures and doing a whole lot of nothing for a heck of a long time.

So I am putting an end to that. I want to blog, so I am. I'm restructuring how I use my time. I'm putting my phone down. I still check out my feeds, but a lot less. Frankly, it took being bored by social media to realize that I was using it too much. And accomplishing nothing when I really wanted to doing things I love like reading, blogging, crocheting and spending time with my birds. I have time to do these things, but I really need to put down my phone.

I am back and I hope to bring you some book related posts soon.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

This novel was one I listened to a while back on audio, and I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure how to describe it exactly, there is an element of magic and mystery to it, but largely this is a coming of age story as well as a romance. And naturally, all of this combined made me a very happy reader.

My Rating: 4 ❀'s
Genre: Fiction
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The characters in this story are all vibrant and interesting, and definitely my favourite character was Paxton as she was struggling to begin living her own life while still maintaining the traditions and expectations of her family. That's a really hard road to navigate and it was obvious that Paxton needed to set some boundaries for her family. What I also liked was that she was in love with a wonderful man, who it seemed was in love with her, but who was...gay. From the beginning, I had to doubt this fact, but the way this part of the story unravelled was especially good romance in my books. I can't give more away so just read this book.

Now, the story of Willa and Paxton's unexpected friendship was also very interesting as these two women are from entirely different walks of life. But I loved that there was a shared history between their grandmothers and that this unexpectedly brought these women together in a way they could never have imagined. As did the history of their town and a man called Tucker Delvin.

Here is where the magic comes in, though I'm not really sure it was magic. Perhaps more like those from beyond lending a hand to the living? I'm not sure, but I enjoyed hearing this story from the past and having the mystery explained.

By the end of the story, Paxton has really started her life. She finally moves out of her parents' home, has a true friend in Willa, and has the man of her dreams. I was very happy for her, and equally happy for Willa, who has a romance of her own.

Well written, evenly paced and with just enough splashes of romance and magic to make this story one that is truly hard to put down. Or, in my case, since I listened to it on audio, shut off. I absolutely do recommend this novel to anyone looking for a change from romance but still wanting a bit of romance in their next read. This novel won't disappoint you.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

Hey everyone! Are you excited to see what's new on my shelf? Even though I wasn't reading much in 2018, I was buying a lot of books. Some I shared, and some I read and reviewed, and there are more I'm sharing with you today. Some I bought in 2018, others are brand new! I am definitely back in the reading groove and it's so exciting!

Bookworms like me will totally understand *insert emoji heart, hehe*

I think I ought have mentioned I decided that since 2019 was new, my feature ought get updated too. This feature was one I started last year, which I titled Latest Acquisitions and I decided to give the feature a new look, and renamed it New On My Shelf. So here we go, books new to my shelf!

Let's start with romance. I recently bought Paradise by the wonderful Judith McNaught. It's a contemporary romance and I've only ever read her historicals, so picking this up was a bit of a risk for me as I tend to shy away from contemporaries written by my favourite historical romance authors. I'm always afraid they'll let me know because I just don't love contemporaries as much. BUT so far this book is very good. It started out with the heroine as a young teen and it really reminded me of that awkward phase of my own life. I cannot wait to read more.

I also recently picked up a V.C Andrews novel. I always wanted to read these as a teen, but I thought my mother would flip if I brought home one of her books so I shied away. This novel, House of Secrets is new, so it's not by the author herself but by those carrying on her work. I did read Flowers in the Attic a couple of years ago (maybe more?? Time goes by way too fast) which was by the author and enjoyed it, but the second book in the second made me both uncomfortable and got on my nerves so I decided not to carry on with it. But I thought why not try again? Let's see what this novel brings. Oh, and I did read a few pages and I was getting sucked in so it looks very promising.

On to fiction! My best friend gave me Once Upon a River for Christmas by Diane Setterfield. I loved her novel The Thirteenth Tale and this one sounds soooo good. I cannot wait to read it. It's a big hardcover and I'm sure I will adore the story. Mystery is a new genre to me and this one has mysterious elements so it's win win for sure. 

Obviously I saw the movie and then went straight out and bought the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Because the book is always better. I have not started it yet, but I am dying to read this. It's always the same problem: so much to read, so little time! It's a novel I'm sure to get lost in. I just need to get started. 

That's it for today! I hope you enjoyed this edition of New On My Shelf. I can't bring you a book review soon, but I will be sharing something else in the near future so stay tuned. 

Happy Reading, 

Jewels

I started this book back in 2018 and just finished it up recently and as promised, I'm getting right into a review with you all! I adore historical fiction and love the detail and epic ness these novels promise. I've been longing to read a good book featuring this family for a long time, and I was not disappointed in this novel.

My Rating: 4 ❀'s
Genre: Historical Fiction
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I liked this novel began early in Lucrezia's life, as every time I've read a novel featuring her she's either a minor character or the book is set later in her life. So seeing Lucrezia as both the main character and one just starting out in life was so what I've been hoping to find in a novel about her and the  Borgia family.

The novel opens just as Rodgrio Borgia is becoming pope, and it is not too long before Lucrezia is married. She is still very young, thirteen or fourteen and adores her family utterly. They, in turn, seem utterly devoted to her which perhaps makes the family seem more loving than one might anticipate. It's not long though, before strife between the Borgia brothers, Juan and Cesare becomes apparent, as does the fact that Juan is clearly more beloved than Cesare by their father.

Was this so in life? I've seen this portrayed time and again, and it does lead me to wonder if the terrible Cesare Borgia was shaped by a lack of a loving, empathetic father. For it's a certainty that this family was a highly ambitious one and that power meant much to them. Sadly, Lucrezia becomes a pawn in their political thirst for power. Her first marriage she accepts as a matter of course, even though Cesare is clearly ready to fight tooth and nail for her not to enter into it should she not wish it. But it's apparent from the beginning of the marriage that Lucrezia has married a weak man, a man who is  both stupid and not entirely moral. She soon develops contempt for him. She also learns to become wary of her brother Juan, who is also violent and immoral. What happens between the brother and sister gave me pause and made me wonder, what could be behind all the rumours of Borgia incest?

The story was engrossing. So much was happening to Lucrezia, some things awful, others wonderful, and she grew up throughout the novel and yet, she remained the same strong, intelligent woman as well. Just one who finally was no longer blinded  by familial love and went forward in life wiser and I think, in a sense, freer.

This novel was well paced, well written and provides insight into the life of a woman who history has likely painted more darkly than she deserves. I was intrigued by the story, and impressed by the powerful writing.

Happy Reading, 

Jewels 

Happy New Year!  I know 2018 was not the best book blogging year I've ever had, and I'm sad that I didn't get to read more. There was a lot going on in my life, and somehow my reading time and therefore my blog took a huge hit.

But it is a new year, even if I am posting this three weeks into that year, and I do have goals to make this a better reading year.

Goal One: Read Everyday

Sadly, this was not something I was doing last year. It wasn't really by choice, but with me doing some different things, I sometimes went to bed without having read a single word of my book. Awful right? I totally agree and so the first goal must to be to read every single day. I'm so looking forward to it because I have tons of books I'm really dying to read and have been for a while, so I'm going to make this happen.


Goal Two: Read a Variety of Genres

I think for a long time I was so exclusively reading romance that I lost touch with other genres I enjoy reading like historical fiction. Which caused me to go on a binge of reading historical fiction novels last year. So I'm hoping to really mix things up and read a greater variety of genres--mystery, fiction, romance and whatever else might take my fancy. I have tons of unread books of all genres lining my shelves so this goal is totally attainable.


Goal Three: Set a Blogging Schedule 

I have never been one to blog by a schedule because I hate schedules. I just feel so pressured and then  blogging stops being fun. It starts being work. And I already have a very demanding full time job so I don't need my blog to feel like work. But I do think I want to set a schedule of posting on Thursdays at least twice a month. So that way I can get out reviews and hopefully even some other content. So far back to work in 2019 has been a bit rocky but from here on in, you can count on more posts. Please stay tuned.


Three goals I think is enough for someone who has really not been reading or book blogging in a while. I hope you all haven't entirely given up on me. I have always loved books and reading and blogging about books has been brought me a lot of fulfillment and I hope has helped you find truly devastating reads. I am trying to also jazz things up a bit on the blog in terms of my look; hopefully this make the experience a bit nicer for all of you readers. I am really excited to get back to reading and book blogging.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

Oooops, I did it again. I bought more books! And even more than I am sharing here today. They were on sale. What's a  book worm to do after all? Even though I have less and less time to read, I keep buying books. But to be honest, I am building in more time to read (it had died again after summer as I got busier with work) and I am really enjoying it. Anyway....

I bought some books that look absolutely up my alley. Hopefully some of you are into historical fiction, though I have tons of romance I haven't touched yet. Which I will get back to come hell or high water.

Here are the lovelies my friends!!

First, Smoke and Iron. I really need to get back to this series as it was really amazing. Time, time, time, if only I had more of You. I may need to start a reading list order although I was always against such list. We'll see. If you have not started this amazing series, The Great Library I strongly recommend you do. It's sooo compelling as it's about a world where books are controlled. Which raises so many red flags and I'm dying to see what happens next to all of that characters. 

I love historical fiction, so first off I'll start with Jane Seymour, the Haunted Queen. Seeing as I have the first two of this series in paperback, I told myself I would wait (and I did) to get this latest novel in paperback as well. It saves money, plus I like things to match. And then there was the sale so that went out the window. I don't regret it though. If you like historical fiction or are into the Tudors, this series is totally for you. 

And last but not least is The Vatican Princess. I've been trying to get my hands on good fiction about the Borgias, so we'll see if this one makes the mark. I don't know the author, but the reviews are decent so I hope I will love it. 

I honestly have more to share with you in terms of new to my shelf but I'll have to get to them another day. Next up is a review so stay tuned! 

Happy Reading,

Jewels 

It's been way too long since I posted a review but I am back! More on that later ;) If you've been following the blog for a while, you know that lately I've been into romantic suspense and thriller like stories. This one is just up that alley, and very well written. I'll be sure to read more of Karen White in the future.

My Rating: 5 ❀'s
Genre: Mystery 
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This story is well paced and draws you in from the opening pages. And that always impresses me as a reader. I love it when I can literally fall into a book like that, and that earns this book immediate points.

Byrn is a compelling character as she's a woman whose suffered a horrible accident, is clearly still struggling with her recovery and the trauma of what happened and is also facing some stumbling blocks in her marriage. She doubts whether Guy has the patience for her as she continues to remain fatigued and can't seem to work on her latest novel. Right away, we are introduced to a complex character.

A character who is suddenly plunged into a crime mystery. When the caterer of a dinner party is suddenly murdered, Bryn is first on the scene and the police seems to have their suspicions firmly fixed on Byrn and Guy. Which is understandable given that Byrn had confronted the victim about some stolen money, and given that Guy may possibly be more involved with the late caterer than previously thought. I'd say *gasp* but that's true crime TV has taught me that this is actually pretty common O.O

So we are plunged into a mystery. Who killed this woman? Will they strike again? Why is Guy seemingly hiding so much, and what is he hiding? The tale spun is logical and left me guessing and I was surprised at the end when the whodunit was solved. I also was totally fascinated with Byrn's lost memories and the role the night of the accident played in this mystery and it's ultimate resolution.

Filled with engaging dialogue, characters who are vivid and alive and a story that is totally plausible and gripping, this novel kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed. Which is why I intend to read more by this great mystery writer!

I plan to be back very soon with more reviews and features so please don't give up on me yet! This blog has helped keep me sane over the years and although my life is super busy, (and often gets way out of my control when I least expect it) I am totally committed to reading and reviewing books. I am back in the swing of things!!

Happy Reading, 

Jewels

I am ashamed of myself as lately my blog has really suffered. The book I am reading is loooong. I have to stop doing this to myself. I also have to find more reading time somewhere. I feel as though I keep telling myself to get it together and read and blog and crochet and blog but honestly, all of my efforts have been epic fails. Thus, the shame. So, I don't have a review for you all. I am so sorry. I will soon. But in the mean time, there are some fabulous reads I can recommend to you to set the mood for fall.

Fall is my  fav time of year. It's not about pumpkin spice lattes for me, but rather the changing colours and light, the cooler days, wearing boots and light sweaters. And still not needing a parka. But it's also about the atmosphere. The last luxurious days of daylight and the crispness of it, the scent of leaves and the wind bringing in something other. 

I am alluding to that spooky feeling you get on fall nights. Especially as we creep towards Halloween. So, what are some great reads to get you into the fall swing?

One my favourite novels. I cannot recommend this book enough. It's perfect! You can read my full review about this amazing novel. I promise you, it totally sets the mood for fall. 

What can say fall or spook night more than this classic? I've read this maybe twice now, and it is quite the gothic read and therefore, perfect for the season. 

Fans of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein are sure to enjoy this novel. I remember really loving it, even though I never had time to complete the series. I totally mean to though. In this novel, we see the young Victor as he begins to grow into the man who will create the creature we so pity in Shelley's class novel. And he is as pitiable as his creation. 

I remember feeling creeped out by many of the stories in this collection. Without misstep, the settings and characters come alive as the story unfolds and you'll be sure to get a shiver or two as you read these tales. 

I could not not include this novel. It is the first in Ward's famous series, and certainly it will get you into the mood for fall, and not just because it features vampires. Dark, gritty, and amazingly sexy, this sassy novel will be sure to make you yearn from the season than simple pumpkin spice. 

I adore the fall. I'm feeling the pull more and more this time of year towards my books. I just want to snuggle into a cozy corner with a great book and read the day away. Are you feeling this way? You might want to try the novels above to help you escape the tedium of the every day. I promise they will prove devastating. 

Happy Reading, 

Jewels 

Of late, I've been spreading my reading wings a lot. I have more or less given romance a break, reading them in between other novels. One of those "other novels" I read was this wonderful mystery by Ruth Ware. I had not read anything by this author before, but of course she was not entirely unknown to me. And I have to say, this novel proved for some very interesting reading.

My Rating: 5 ❀'s
Genre: Mystery
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I think what I liked most was the main character. Hal was so compelling. Young, alone, broke, targeted by thugs she owes money to, she is such a desperate character. She has no idea what to do next, and few choices. And then, suddenly, some money falls into her lap.

Although, Hal knows the money cannot possibly be meant for her. Still, she is desperate enough to seek to claim it, convincing herself that accepting a small bequeath can do little harm.

The story from here naturally becomes twisted up. Hal has to be so careful not to give herself away. And the people she is with, her supposed family, are so kind that you cannot imagine the family steeped in something dark or sinister. And yet, Hal comes to believe some of them must be hiding something because it soon becomes apparent that although Hal does not this family, that she is in some way connected to them.

This is by no means a ghost story, and yet, there are ghosts living in these pages. So many characters without voices, or whose voices are limited to some documents they have left behind. It's a mystery Hal feels she must uncover, even though she senses that doing so can be very dangerous.

I was totally engaged as I read this book. It's crisp description, determined pace and vividly portrayed characters really drew me in. I felt as though I knew Hal, and yet she was not entirely an easy character to know. An unbelieving fortune teller, an actress of sorts, a vulnerable girl with a backbone of steel. If you enjoy mysteries, this one ought be up your alley. And how everything ends certainly took me by surprise. You'll never see it coming.

Happy Reading, 

Jewels

For years I have seen the popular Brigerton series by Julia Quinn around the feeds. But I never started it because...well, there are just so many books! But then I stumbled upon this novel, and was surprised to find it was the first in the Rokesby series, so I thought, why not? And I have to say, it was quite a fun read! I loved Billie's character, and I thought George brilliant.

Series: Rokesbys, #1 
My Rating: 4 ❀'s
 Genre: Historical Romance
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The novel starts off hilariously, with Billie stuck on a roof with a twisted ankle and George, her least favourite (indeed, disliked) of the Rokesby brother as her rescuer. Only, they both end up in need of rescuing. Right from the opening pages there was wit, humour and sizzle between these two. So you are immediately drawn in, and yet it's very apparent that there are marked differences in character between them. George is definitely the traditionalist, while Billie is anything but.

And I think what makes this novel so compelling is that we discover George is not quite the traditionalist we might think he is. He is the heir to an earldom, but this fact in frustrates him because society and tradition have already decided life for him. He is not free to be a sailor or solider and serve king and country like his brothers. So I think perhaps he appreciated Billie's unconventionality in ways no one else in their families could because he too was different than his siblings.

Billie is also a compelling character as she is a tomboy and very determined to go her own way. She doesn't defy conventions exactly, but rather she lives outside of them at times when it seems most practical to her. She is also daring which gets her into more trouble than she ought to be in, but I admired her spirit and strength.

The book was very enjoyable reading, and while I cannot comment on it in relation to the Brigerton series, I can say you will be jumping into a sweet romance filled with humour, heat, and deep emotion, and also amazingly depicted secondary characters. While I did think the ending was a bit rushed, and I had hoped for more of a le sigh at the end, the novel stands on its own two feet and I am looking forward to the second novel in this series.

Happy Reading,

Jewels

Sadly, I have to wait on my next Alison Weir now that I'm done reading The Lady Elizabeth. I'm dying to read more, but I haven't got any right now and I'm determined to read more of the books I already own. I've been doing a good job doing just that, so until I polish off one or two more I cannot indulge in another Alison Weir book. But, onto this fabulous story about Queen Elizabeth I long before she ever was queen. This novel starts just as the young Princess Elizabeth is declared a bastard and her title changes from Princess to Lady.

My Rating: 5 ❀'s
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Elizabeth is a bright child and right away notices the difference in the way she is addressed. Her intelligence grows as she does and the reader sees the young Elizabeth grow in wit and daring. She is a person of strong opinions, and keen intelligence and does well in her studies. I can easily see this Elizabeth growing into the Elizabeth I've read about in history books.

The family dynamics in this novel proved interesting as Elizabeth has many step mothers. She certainly enjoys her time with Jane Seymour; being young, she enjoys the life at court and the procession at Christmas time and her father, Henry VIII seems to dote on her. Later in the novel, he is quite upset at her for questioning some matters of religion, and sends her away but is later accepted again at court. When Henry VIII dies, Elizabeth is saddened because her father has always been larger than life.

And Elizabeth is of an age when life for her becomes more precarious as a young king's sister. I thought the way the author handled Elizabeth's life with Katherine Parr and her husband, Thomas Seymour, very interesting indeed. In history, there is much reference made to her so called step-father teasing her in ways that were certainly inappropriate at the time, and today would be considered child molestation. And what comes of part of history in the novel certainly shed some new light on the character who had always protested she would never marry (as the woman herself did) and one who later would be called the Virgin Queen. Yet these were pages that taught our character valuable lessons as her life is now one where she must walk on political eggshells, especially after Edward's death.

It saddened me to see that Mary, a character who had loved Elizabeth, turn so bitterly against her. Mary's reign are not good years for Elizabeth as she becomes the focus of Protestant plots against the Catholic Mary. Elizabeth uses all of her wit and intelligence to survive, remaining loyal to her sister throughout. I admired her strength, tenacity and quick thinking. She also has vulnerabilities; a deep dread of being beheaded like her mother, an anxiety of being sent to the Tower so great that it softens her a little, makes her human, shows the deep emotion and passion of this woman.

I have to say, as someone who studied Elizabeth I a little, this novel did a wonderful job in bringing her to life, and revealing to us something of what this woman's mind must have been like. Five stars are hardly enough in my books.

Happy Reading ,

Jewels

I have more books today that I added recently to my collection. Book shopping is so much fun and even when I'm not in the market for books, I sometimes find a book in the drugstore that I just can't pass up. I'm sure you know the feeling so I don't really need to explain.

I've been getting a lot more reading done lately, and I'm quite proud of myself actually for hitting the books again. I missed my books. And I've read so many good ones lately!

But, on to the latest ones I've added to my shelves...

So by now many of you might have guessed that I've become a fan of Alison Weir. Her novels are fascinating studies of persons in history and I've reading everything I can get my hands on related to the Tudors from this fabulous author. I actually read The Lady Elizabeth (stay tuned for the review) and it looked at Elizabeth from an entirely different angle than other novels I've read depicting her before. Hats off to this author!

I have not read Mary Burton before, but this book is one I've started and it certainly seems gritty. We'll have to see. Crime mystery is a new genre to me. But I suspect since I found this novel in the romance section that I might get some devastating reading in the more traditional sense from this novel as well. 

The Woman in Cabin 10  is a novel most people will have seen I think, as it's been successful. I decided to see what all the fuss is about. I've read one book by Ruth Ware (again, stay tuned!) so I've high expectations for this novel. 

Well friends, that's it for now, but if you like this feature, it's one I hope to keep sharing with you from time to time. Which shouldn't be a problem as new acquisitions are always creeping their way onto my shelves. 

Happy Reading,

Jewels

I read this novel on a whim, liking the blurb and I am so glad I did. I wasn't exactly expecting the Pride and Prejudice spoof that this novel turned out to be, despite the synopsis but I think that's what I enjoyed the most about this novel. Casey and Tate were their own characters, but they also mirrored Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, as other characters were foils for Bingley, Jane and Wickham. And this made the novel such a lot of fun!

My Rating:  5 ❀'s
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
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The novel opens with a very interesting scene in which Casey stumbles upon a rather naked Tate. You'll have to read the book to get more info on this, but suffice to say this pits the two at odds right from the get go and leads to scenes of further misunderstandings. Many of which will give you cause to smile. And giggle. Casey develops the opinion that Tate, a famous actor, is a snob and disdains him so much that she lands the role of Elizabeth in the local play, Pride and Prejudice.

I love the novel within the novel. The author does an amazing job using the plot from P&P to bring the characters together and to tell their stories while maintaining her own plot brilliantly. My hat goes off to Jude Deveraux for this as it made her own novel as bright and sparkly as Austen's. The scenes at the end in which the characters are re-enacting the novel are especially important in brining closure to several plot points, all while lending a modern interpretation to Austen's classic novel. Wickham for once, is suitably punished.

Casey and Tate's romance is far more involved than Darcy and Elizabeth as Casey spends much more of the novel in love with Tate than Elizabeth ever did with Darcy, and this will thrill the modern reader. Tate is a sweet, level headed man with a loyal heart and we see this right from the beginning even though it takes Casey some time to fully realize just what sort of a man Tate is, and the proposal scene goes far better for Tate than it did for Mr. Darcy. Which gave me (and I am sure gave many readers) the a le sigh feeling that will leave you light as a feather for days afterwards.

A fun, intelligent read, you can't go wrong with The Girl from Summer Hill. 

Happy Reading,

Jewels

Being on a bit of a historical fiction kick, I couldn't resist another Alison Weir novel, and the story of Jane Grey certainly caught my interest. Queen for nine days, her reigned was always destined to doom.

My Rating: 4 ❀'s
Genre: Historical Fiction
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This book made for interesting reading as it is told from multiple points of view. We hear from Jane, her mother, her nurse, from Katherine Parr, from Lady Mary and others as well. The change in narrators was sometimes jarring but I think it painted a fuller picture of exactly what was happening politically after the death of Edward VI and how a young girl so far removed from the crown was set up as Queen of England.

Jane is depicted a pious, studious girl. From an early age, she is marked for her intelligence and thus her parents allow her education to include subjects that most girls of the time would not have studied. Her parents hope that this will allow Jane to make a great marriage, one that will also advance them in society, and as time goes on, they hope that Jane might make the greatest marriage go of all, to King Edward himself. It saddened me that despite her intelligence,  and her strong convictions, that Jane is nothing more than a puppet.

Her parents greed for power truly angered me. They had no care for Jane in their ambition and it led them into very dangerous waters. When it was out of the question that Jane marry the young king, they force into a marriage with a man who will have much power--and perhaps all--once the king is dead, a marriage that is hateful to Jane. This is how Jane becomes queen, through subterfuge and impossible schemes. I found I could not forgive her parents.

I also found I could forgive Queen Mary I. I have always pitied this woman, though she has been dead so long. Separated from her mother, made from princess into bastard, forced to give up her faith, never given the chance at marriage and children which she desperately desired, I always felt her life must have been especially hard, and indeed I still do. However, later in life she also became tyrannical her in quest to stamp out heresy and burned hundreds at the stake. Had her hard life made her too unyielding? Was she faithful to the point of being a fanatic? I cannot say, but I will say that she does take what may have been the first step down this bloody road in this novel when she signs the execution warrant that leads to Jane's death.

A great addition to the novels about the Tudor world, Alison Weir keeps me coming back for more.

Happy Reading,

Jewels