Review of Whispers in the Sand

Whispers in the Sand

Barbara Erskine

Sourcebooks Landmark

ISBN 9781402261756

   Recently divorced, Anna is encouraged to take a holiday to get her life back on track. She decides to retrace a Nile cruise her great grandmother, Louisa, took in the mid 1800's. She takes along the diary outlining the original cruise and an Egyptian scent bottle that had been given to Louisa as a gift.

   While reading Louisa's diary, Anna discovers a love story from the past and a  distant secret of the bottle. Two passengers on the cruise show  increasing interest in Anna and her diary and bottle. Are they interested in Anna or are they more interested in the diary and scent bottle? As the story progresses, dark and sinister things begin to happen and Anna becomes involved with far more then she bargained for. The lives of three different eras become intertwined to make up the present.

   This was my first read of Barbara Erskine and it most certainly will not be my last. This book drew me in from the start and I was unable to put it down. The storyline is wonderful and it flows smoothly from the beginning to the end. The interweaving of the present day with the diary and the distant Egyptian past is absolutely incredible. The discriptions of the temples and the Nile are so effective you can see them in your mind without being there. There was quite the mix of characters and they all had a definite place in the story and all were important to the culmination of the events that transpired.  Anyone who enjoys a good story cannot go wrong by reading this one. I highly recommend it.

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in anyway except for the privilege of reading the book.

I give Whispers in the Sand 5 out of 5 stars

Reviw of The Butterfly Cabinet

The Butterfly Cabinet

Bernie McGill

Free Press 2011

ISBN 9781451611595

   Maddie McGlade receives a letter from one of her charges. Maddie is in her nineties, living in a nursing home in Ireland. She realizes it is time to unburden herself of a secret she has kept for some seventy years. She knows what really happened on the last day in the life of Charlotte Ormond, the four year old daughter of the big house in which Maddie was employed. She tells the tale to her would be niece who is pregnant with her first child.

   Harriet Ormond is charged and held responsible with her daughter's death. She does not try to defend herself throughout the trial. She does not take to motherhood easily despite the fact she has numerous children. She is a proud and unforgiving woman whose only passions seem to be in riding free with her horses, and collecting butterflies that she stores in her beloved cabinet.

   I am generally not inclined to read stories that jump back and forth in time from person to person. In this case, the author  flawlessly paints a picture of the events that occurred when Maddie tells her tale in 1968, and of Harriet's side of the story that is written in her diary while she is in prison in 1892. The diary, discovered by Maddie in the confines of the butterfly cabinet, was kept hidden by Maddie for decades. In the sunset of her life, Maddie decides it is time to tell the story.

   The story is an engrossing portrayal of the dark histories of two lives that intertwine. The story is inspired by the death of an aristocratic Irish family who's daughter died at the end of the nineteenth century. As Maddie's life of sacrifice, poverty, fear, and lies unfold, she tells the truth to Anna in an attempt to set herself free at last. Harriet's life also unfolds in the pages of her prison diary. as she tells the tale of her daughter's death and the secrets and lies of her own family are revealed. What starts out as her prison, eventually sets her free also.

   This is an emotionally heartrending read; but is well worth the time. You will truly see what it means when someone says, "the truth shall set you free."

   I wish to thank Free Press for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in anyway except for the privilege of reading the book.

I give The Butterfly Cabinet 4.5 out of 5 stars

  

Review of Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk

Freya North

Sourcebooks Landmark

ISBN 9781402254468

   Petra Flint is a talented jeweller by day; but by night she is troubled. She is a sleepwalker who is unable to put her past to rest. Nothing has been able to help her. Arlo Savidge was a heartthrob musician whom tragedy strikes. He leaves his dreams of stardom behind to become a music teacher in a quiet countryside, as well as, his dreams of falling in love.

   Petra and Arlo had feelings that ran deep when they were teenagers. Seventeen years later they run into each other again. Is it fate or accident? Will their first love get another chance or will what troubles their sleep keep them apart?

   This is an awesome romantic story that will help you escape for the day. It is a wonderful story of love, romance, tragedy, and enduring love. The storyline is so well written it moves flawlessly from the beginning to the end. Despite the tragedy, the story is humorous even though some of it is at the expense of Petra's sleepwalking. Petra and Arlo are such down to earth people, you have to fall in love with both of them. I think anyone who reads this would be hard pressed not to love it. Once I started reading, I was unable to put it down. This is my first read by the author; but it will not be my last.

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in anyway except for the privilege of reading the book.

I give Pillow Talk 5 out of 5 stars

Review of Just My Blood Type

Just My Blood type

Carrie Clevenger/Nerine Dorman

Smashwords Edition 2011

   Romance author, Therese von Willyen, is bored to death sitting in her hotel room. She receives a mysterious text message telling her to meet in a bar called Pale Rider in a hole in the wall town of Pinecliffe, Colorado. She meets up with tall, dark, and brooding Xan Mercelles. Mind, he's a vampire. What could this bassist from the band Crooked Fang have to do with a romance author?

   The pair bat back and forth with questions and answers going from both sides. There is sexual tension just under the surface that never becomes full blown from either one of them. Therese never says anything about vampire; but there is a hedging under the surface where she may think without saying. Maybe it is just a wondering...

   This is not your usual vampire read. No sparkles in the sun for this vampire. There just seems to be a connection between our two characters with lots of tension going on. Therese sure made Xan smile or was it because he had the first Type O negative blood in a long time? This book is a collaboration between the two authors that is written flawlessly. The storyline reminds me of dialogue that you frequently see when you read a story involving a PI. It just fits so well and keeps you reading until the end. This was a short, fast read that is easily read in a single sitting. I am certainly psyched and ready to see more of Xan. He is definately tall, dark and brooding mixed with a little mystery.

   This book was offered free on Smashwords and reviewed by request of the author Carrie Clevenger. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book.

I give Just My Blood Type 4 out of 5 stars

  

Review of A Weekend With Mr. Darcy

A Weekend With Mr. Darcy

Victoria Connelly

Sourcebooks Landmark

ISBN 9781402251320

   Dr. Katherine Roberts teaches at St. Bridget's College in Oxford. She is an authoress and also instructor of Jane Austen. She is addicted to Jane Austen; but secretly loves racy Regency novels by the author, Lorna Warwick. She is so looking forward to a Jane Austen weekend at Purley Hall in Austen country, in England, to escape her ex and fawning students. She has been secretly corresponding with the author of her racy romance novels and is hoping she will decide to attend the Austen weekend.

   Little does Katherine know that the author of the letters is actually a man and he is falling in love with her. He attends the conference with the intent of personally meeting her. Will the relationship survive the lies that have been perpetrated in the letters? 

   Love is in the air in Jane Austen novels, as well as, at the conference. This is a wonderfully humorous, modern take on an Austen novel. Fans of Jane Austen are sure to be pleased with the results. The storyline is quite catchy and the characters are a real mix. Katherine and Warwick (Lorna Warwick) are the major players; but there is also a secondary romance going on between another attendee, Robyn, and a gorgeous and sexy stable hand. The big problem is she has to dispose of her longtime boyfriend, Jace. Both women have  baggage that needs to be sorted before any relationship can bloom. The story revolves around these two women and their men and the Jane Austen weekend. It is a lovely story sure to please and makes a wonderful relaxing read.

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an ARC to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in anyway except for the privilege of reading the book.

I give A Weekend With Mr. Darcy 4 out of 5 stars.

Review of Knight of Swords

Knight of Swords

Sara Curran-Ross

Hellfire Publishing 2011

Ebook Edition

   The year is 1893 and Lord Nathan Valancourt is being haunted in his dreams by a vampire killer. Lord Valancourt is handsome, rich, and a womanizer. He doesn't believe in the supernatural; but the vampire killer, who dresses like a clergyman, is killing off, one by one, Nathan's former conquests.

   Nathan's uncle is dying and his last request is for Nathan to bring his charge, Juliet, to his home and see that she is taken care of. That may be more diificult then it sounds. Juliet's uncle has her locked up and guarded. He has been abusing and starving her and has no intentions of letting her go. Nathan has other plans. He has a strange psychic connection to her almost from the start and develops possessive ideas towards her. The plot thickens as the vampire killer turns his sights on Juliet.

   This is a wonderful paranormal/fantasy read. This is the first book in The Sword's Series and is an introduction to how the vampires came about and where they are headed. Their true heritage is from the union of a human and a vampire. When the story begins, Nathan is not a vampire yet, at least he is not aware that he is a vampire. The connection starts to become evident when he attempts to rescue Juliet from her uncle's home. As the story progresses, the strong connection between the two becomes apparent; as well as. the fact that Nathan will have to fight others to become her mate. Nathan is the Knight of Sword's and Juliet is to be their Queen. The Queen is more powerful as her abilities will attest to. The psyhic connection between the two is so pwerful that Nathan has physical ills when Juliet shuts down their connection. The storyline is quite fascinating and keeps you glued from the start. There are all sorts of creatures encountered and each has a definate place in the story. The initial story ends when Juliet is put into a coma like sleep and Nathan is forced to leave her side to find an antedote to awaken her. This book is sure to please every paranormal/fantasy reader. I for one am looking forward to the next book in the series, Ace of Swords.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me witha copy to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in anyway except for being provided a copy of the book.

I give Knight of Swords 4 out of 5 stars

  

    

Review of The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter

The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter

Mary Ellen Dennis

Sourcebooks Casablanca April 2011

ISBN 9781402246319

   Elizabeth Wyndham is the daughter of an innkeeper and a successful Gothic romance author. She has been content with being a spinster and has become obsessed with one of her book characters she has  "the raven-haired knight." Beth finds her knight in Rand Remington.

   Rand survived the American Wars and is unable to come to grips with his 18th century England. Rand has turned into somewhat of a Robin Hood/highwayman and  robs the rich to give to the poor. He knows full well he could be imprisoned and hanged; but he doesn't fear the consequences, until he meets Elizabeth. Together, they set on quite an adventurous path and fall madly in love.

   All the while, Elizabeth's family want her to marry Walter, a forty something man who is obsessed with Elizabeth and will stop at nothing to have her. He is certain he can change her mind and eventually she will love him. Unfortunately, he wants someone who will do his bidding and bow down to his wishes. That includes giving up her writing.

   The story is based on a poem about two lovers who will die for each other. All in all it is a very good story. The first chapter or so moves a little slow; but once Beth and Rand meet, the story takes off. It doesn't seem possible that two individuals could keep getting into such a tangle. You keep waiting for the next disaster to happen. The big problem I had with the entire story was Beth. She starts off looking like she is a strong character; but in truth she is rather wimpy. It is hard to imagine the pair falling so much in love. She wants you to think she is a self sufficient writer; but she will turn around and bow down to Walter and her family at every turn. Walter convinces her to believe him with little difficulty. She blames her maid for not keeping her mouth shut and she turns around and does the same thing.

   Even though I was not fond of the character of "bonny Bess," it was a very pleasant romance and actually keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. If you are fond of historical fiction, I would definitely recommend  this book. It is not your usual romance.

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks for providing this ARC to review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any way except for receiving the book to read and review.

I give The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter 4 out of 5 stars