Book reviews featuring history, historical fiction, and mysteries, as well as my thoughts on all things bookish.
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Can't Wait Wednesday: The Sugar Merchant's Wife by Lizzie Lane
Friday, April 14, 2023
The Bookseller of Inverness by S.G. MacLean
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Can't Wait Wednesday: The Armor of Light by Ken Follett
Friday, February 3, 2023
The Chevalier: (Morland Dynasty Book 7) by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz
This is my first post for Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings. I chose The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz because anytime I see the words "Jacobite" or "Scotland" I'm hooked! This book is set during the first Jacobite rising of 1715 and looks unique and interesting. I've gotten a little ambitious with my TBR pile for 2023 so I'm not exactly sure when I will get to it. If you have read it or plan to, let me know what you think.
Happy Reading!
January 23, 2023
Christian Historical Fiction/Romance
416 pages
Book description courtesy of NetGalley
In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley's father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.
No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems--a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.
Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies--and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
A Plague of Zombies by Diana Gabaldon
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Length: 116 pages
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK:
If you've read any of my reviews before then you know I'm a huge Outlander fan. What I probably haven't said before though is that I'm a huge Lord John Grey fan. At the risk of the wrath of fellow Outlanders out there I am going to be honest....I enjoy the character of Lord John Grey more than Jamie Fraser sometimes. He is fascinating with his aristocratic background, military prowess, and the interesting situations he always finds himself in. Many loyal Gabaldon readers don't even like or read the LJG books but I can't understand why. They fill in a lot of gaps from the big books and as the series has progressed he has become an important figure. In honor of Halloween this month I wanted to review my favorite LJG story, A Plague of Zombies. It is a novella added to her collection in the book Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, but you can buy it as a stand alone as well. The previous title was Lord John and the Plague of Zombies. I've probably read this book at least four times and each time I do I discover something else I over looked. It is unique, creepy, and has an exotic location I absolutely love...Jamaica. So much so that when I visited Jamaica in 2019 on our cruise I couldn't get enough of the beautiful place. Having read this story before it was even more special. So Happy October and here's to many more additions to the LJG saga.
SUMMARY:
Lieutenant Colonel Lord John Grey has been sent to the island of Jamaica to help put down the restless stirrings of a slave rebellion. The current Governor Warren is only too glad to let Grey step in and take charge of the frightening situation as the rebels are slowly encroaching on the capital of Kingston, and thus ruining Warren's daily existence. A prominent plantation owner, one Mr. Abernathy, was found a few days before with his throat slit and the English slave owners are beginning to fear for their lives. As Grey tries to acclimate himself to the bug filled, creepy crawly infested surroundings, including a very unwelcome snake, he comes to realize that the superstitions and culture of the island are going to make it hard to convince the inhabitants that this is not, in fact, a matter of spiritual rituals or ghosts run amok, but rather a simple case of someone trying to use fear to channel things in their desired direction.
When Governor Warren himself is targeted and Grey is accosted by a deathly figure, Lord John realizes there is more at stake than he thought. Strange happenings continue to occur right in the Governor's mansion and then someone in the house is murdered. All seem to be connected to zombies and the supernatural but Lord John is too practical to believe it. He is definitely shaken and fearful but not enough to stop him from delving into the unknown, including pursuing information from the maroons living in the mountainous region surrounding Kingston.
As he further investigates, Grey begins to find there is a great deal of government corruption and mismanagement and that the convenient explanation of bloodthirsty zombies is a ruse. With his usual courage and insight he traces the roots of a conspiracy that is wide ranging with deadly consequences.
WHAT I LIKED:
As I stated above I love anything Outlander and Lord John related. But I think this story was especially intriguing to me because I knew from the beginning it was a mystery with a reasonable explanation. I love authors who inject superstition into a story and make you think there is something supernatural going on, only to reveal the truth behind the curtain. This story had a touch of history as well with the addition of the maroon population. I hadn't heard of this group before reading this book and it set me on a path of discovery. When I eventually visited Jamaica it was amazing to see and tour their Rose Hall plantation and to imagine what life must have been like for the slaves who fled into the mountains to escape their horrible situation. Gabaldon's writing and historical research is always superb and my favorite thing about her is the way she assumes the reader is smart enough to figure things out without lots of specific explaining of details. Her stories always unfold piece by piece and it is up to us to put them together and figure out what is happening. Perhaps this is why I often read and re-read her books because each time I find little things I missed before.
I also love the way she infuses characters and events from the big Outlander books into the short stories. The murder of Mr. Abernathy and Grey's meeting with Geillis Duncan are exciting and creepy if you've read the first three in the series. It is fun to glimpse a little peek into a storyline that Jamie and Claire are not even a part of.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Not much! Really that it was so short. I have found myself disappointed each time I've come to the end of her novellas and would like for her to continue to write more. The Lord John bigger books are great but it seems she is done with his backstory at this point. I am hoping she will write some new stories to fill in the gaps of other minor Outlander characters.
RECOMMEND? OR NOT? Yes, if you are an Outlander fan already. Maybe, if you are not. I say this because at first glance this story would have seemed ridiculous to me had I not already known and loved the character of Lord John. It would be very short and very odd to the person unschooled in Outlander trivia and so I really think it's best to read the first three Outlander books before diving into the novellas.
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Enemy in the House by Mignon G. Eberhart
Sunday, July 24, 2022
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Highland Spirits by Amanda Scott
Monday, May 2, 2022
A Fugitive Green by Diana Gabaldon
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Length: 122 pages
This story is a novella first published in Gabaldon's collection Seven Stones to Stand or Fall. It has never been published in book form on its own that I can find other than for audible. I highly recommend buying Seven Stones if you are an Outlander fan as it has several of these novellas in one book and it is worth every penny! This story gives us background on some of the more minor Outlander characters that are linked to some of the major ones.
It is 1744 when the story opens. Minnie Rennie (aka: Minerva Wattiswade) lives in Paris with her father Andrew Rennie (aka: Raphael Wattiswade). On the surface Raphael is just a dealer of rare books but really he is a collector of letters and information which he uses to his advantage and financial gain. Minnie is well aware of her father's undercover associations and helps him when necessary. She is smart and capable and has a fierce independent streak which serves her well in this shady world. At the opening of the story we find her in the bookstore where a note is delivered concerning a mysterious Mrs. Simpson. Minnie has been expecting this letter for some time as it contains clues as to the identity and, she hopes, the whereabouts of her mother. She is elated to receive it and hopes to travel to meet this Mrs. Simpson.
Raphael wants Minnie married off well. When he sees an opportunity to obtain both a prospective husband for her and further his quest for information to suit his financial ambitions, he sends her to London to work on both missions. She is to be chaperoned, much to her chagrin, by one Lady Buford and two Irish bodyguards. Minnie is determined to obtain the information her father wishes while not being coerced into a loveless, boring marriage.
Meanwhile, Hal Grey (brother of John Grey from the Outlander novels) is having troubles of his own. Living in London, he is distraught after the death of his wife, Esme and the unborn child she was carrying. His guilt is further exacerbated by the knowledge that she had been carrying on an affair with a man whom he subsequently shot and killed in a duel. He also has family baggage relating to his now deceased father who committed suicide a few years before when he was suspected of being a secret Jacobite.
When Minnie is asked to meet with one of her father's contacts she ends up meeting Hal and the two share an intense personal moment. She will end up meeting him again as her tasks cause her to further delve into his personal problems in order to obtain information requested by a secret contact. Minnie also is determined to meet with Mrs. Simpson and find her long lost mother.
I have read A Fugitive Green twice now. Once when I was an Outlander newbie and then again this month as a long time Outlander fan. It is interesting the things I picked up on the second time around. Little details that mean a lot more now that I'm super familiar with the characters and their future selves in the big books and Lord John Grey spinoffs. It is a great addition to the stories and character personalities you won't find in the main novels.
Having said that, I think that as a stand alone story it would probably not be my cup of tea. I was already invested in Minnie and Hal because I knew about John Grey and also a bit about them as related to the Outlander saga. I admit I'm not a fan of novellas in general because I like to really sink my teeth into a story and they always leave me feeling cheated out of that experience. But in order to really care about these characters you would need to have more of a reason than the one outlined in the plot of A Fugitive Green. It is not terribly detailed or compelling on its own. Seven Stones is itself a collection that I wouldn't care much about had I not already been so invested in the characters.
As always, Gabaldon is original and interesting with the witty dialogue and vocabulary. This is an area she excels in. The time and place are always authentic and well researched and I am always pleased at how she ends her stories with a clever line each time. One of the best things about her books is the way in which she does not constantly explain things to the reader. She is great at just telling the story and assuming we will eventually pick up on what is happening. It's always a great brain challenge! A Fugitive Green is a good read if you want more insight into the Greys of Outlander.
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Of Lands High and Low by Martha Keyes
Publication Date: October 17, 2020
Length: 322 pages
This is my second book to read by Martha Keyes. I stumbled across her books when I was looking for something to read between Outlander books. I wanted a book set in Scotland with a bit of romance and mystery to tide me over. Her books are easy to read and enjoyable if you are looking for a break from the 1,000 page novel. Even though the characters aren't as fleshed out as those in a longer epic I found them to be quite good. The storylines are unusual and original and in this one I learned quite a bit about smallpox before vaccination was available. She also does a great job with local dialect and making the characters seem authentic to their time and location.
This story is set in Scotland in 1794. Doctor Graeme MacNeill is a Highlander who has returned to the Lowlands to settle things with his estate, Pitcairlie House, recently inherited by him on the death of his Uncle David. He'd never expected to acquire it because until recently Catholics were not allowed to inherit land and were unwelcome in the Lowlands. His plan is to sell it as quickly as possible and return to the Highlands where he practices medicine and feels at home. Unfortunately his Uncle David neglected to resolve a land dispute with the neighboring Findlay family and Graeme must turn his attention to this issue before he can think of selling. He decides to confront things head on and introduce himself to the Findlays, believing they can work things out in both their favors.
There he encounters Isla Findlay, the niece of the neighbor in question. She has been raised to believe Highlanders are barbarians and her town of Craigmuir is highly suspicious of the newcomer. But Isla has secrets of her own. She never knew her mother and only knows she is the daughter of a Highlander herself and that her mother was disgraced for the relationship. She does not feel she belongs with her family and lives between two worlds. She and Graeme begin a friendship and when a smallpox outbreak occurs in Craigmuir they work together to help the suffering residents.
I thought Keyes did a great job of letting their relationship build slowly and realistically. It wasn't love at first sight and it is only as they experience the heartbreak of working through the smallpox epidemic that they come together in a meaningful way. The descriptions of medicine during the 18th century were interesting and engaging and very educational. It is clear Keyes did her research on this topic and on how suspiciously people would have behaved toward any new ideas in life saving techniques. I found myself sad for those who lost loved ones and she evokes a real sense of the harshness of life and death.
Sometimes the book got a bit melodramatic for me and repetitive in spots but overall it was a good read. It was definitely more serious than her previous book, The Widow and the Highlander. When I read historical fiction I am most impressed with and more likely to return to authors who stick to the facts of the day and Keyes certainly does that. She has a good grasp of the land, the people, and the social mores of the day. And I'm always up for any book set in Scotland in the past. Also, her books are clean, free of cursing and gratuitous sexual content. That is rare these days and appreciated. While I'm supportive of some of it in certain books I find that is often highly unnecessary and this is a book I'd let my teenager read. I will be reading more of her books in the future.
Monday, January 3, 2022
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK:
My first book to review is Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon. Full disclaimer...this book is 928 pages and I read it from November 23rd to January 2nd so technically I finished it in 2022 but started it in 2021. It is so long that I'm going to just pat myself on the back and count it as my first book.
I started the Outlander series in 2003. It took me several years to become hooked and to really appreciate the detailed, intricate way in which Gabaldon writes. I stopped reading the series several times because I didn't really understand that it is a masterpiece you have to savor and read with purpose. Once I was hooked though, that was it. I have read all the "big books" twice and the Lord John Grey and all spin off books once. I'd love to read them again someday.
MY THOUGHTS:
Bees was wonderful and, as usual, Gabaldon never disappoints. It filled in all the gaps about both major and minor characters and maintained the suspense, drama, and historical feel we've all come to expect as Outlander fans. It is important to understand that this book is going to be a hard sell for those who have not read any of the other books. I'd be so confused and to her credit she does a marvelous job of trying to explain any needed back story but it is nearly impossible to do so adequately. This series is now nearly 9,000 pages long and it is hard to pick up in the middle of Book 9 and not be bewildered about what is happening. When you throw in time travel, the Revolutionary War, and a huge cast of characters it is a lot to process even for those of us who've read all the books.
What stood out most to me was the relationship between Jamie and Claire evolving from passionate and turbulent to familiar and settled. It really feels like they are an "old married couple" now but of course wild events are always happening around and to them so there is still the drama and excitement we've come to expect. What is missing is the frequency and urgency of their romantic encounters and I personally like this change. After all they are now in their sixties and it is just not realistic to think after 30 years together (and sometimes not!) they are going to behave like they did when they first met. I think the author does a good job of keeping their romance alive without treating them like twenty somethings in the constant throes of romantic interludes.
Their children and grandchildren have most of the prominent roles and events in this book. I felt like Jamie and Claire were more in the background and that their daughter Brianna, nephew Ian, and Jamie's son William carried the narrative more. Those looking for the feel of books 1-6 will be disappointed in this but I liked it and again think it is more realistic and natural to evolve stories that contain younger characters who can live on in future books.
If you are looking for a book that heavily centers around historical facts and events and are using it to learn about said events this book is not the best for that. Yes, there is definitely time period and history and she is always meticulous in presenting them accurately. However, the book is ultimately about the characters and how the events are affecting them. If you are looking for learning about the war or specific leaders this is not the book to do that with. You will not be disappointed though in how she manages to convey the atmosphere and feel of the time period and will feel transported to the 1700's. The book settings jump around from Charleston to New York to Savannah and you will meet some major historical figures from Benjamin Cleveland to Frances Marion. I love how at the end of the book the author has a section where she explains about the real people presented in the book.
RECOMMEND? OR NOT?
Bees was excellent and I'd recommend it to any Outlander fan. If you have not read the books in order I'd highly encourage you to start with the original book 1 and go from there chronologically. You will better appreciate the depth of this story and will be amazed by the way the events all come together in book 9. I am sad to know that book 10 will be the end of the series. Jamie will likely die and although we know it has to end sometime it is going to be hard to say goodbye to these characters I've spent nearly 20 years getting to know. If you start at the beginning and stick with it you will be not be disappointed. Happy reading all!