Always, Almond Fudge by Charlotte O’Shay

September 3, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Always, Almond Fudge by Charlotte O’Shay
One Scoop or Two
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

On a lengthy car ride to their annual seaside vacation, a mother recounts the true story of a sweet family tradition.

It’s the summer of 1941 in the seaside town of Langford, Rhode Island, and seventeen-year-old Meredith Franklin works as a server at Seymore’s Ice Cream Shoppe.

When aspiring baseball player Anthony Fanelli strolls into the ice cream shop, his teasing banter leads to romantic sparks and dreams of forever love.

With propecia you can get back your viagra canadian charm. The medicine involves FDA approval to which one can easily put to termination of the ED issues, on low price cialis a quicker note. Unlike impotence treating medicines, supplements are not subject to as many regulations regarding safety or other efficacy. purchase cialis online There are certain reasons due to which a man faces a lot of complications in his erections which he makes while http://secretworldchronicle.com/2015/03/ cost of viagra prescription having a love making session. Their whirlwind courtship comes to an abrupt halt on December 7, 1941, when America enters World War Two, forcing the couple to put their future on hold.

Decades later, a treasure trove of wartime letters details the romance of Merry and Anthony and the sacrifices of a generation.

Some traditions have beautiful origins.

Is it nature or nurture that leads certain traits to be passed down in families for generations? This is a question I love discussing, and there were plenty of opportunities to think about it here. The contemporary narrator was someone who’d never known much about his great-grandparents at all, and yet he shared so many surprising things in common with them. I really liked the process of comparing his personality and interests to what his ancestors were like nearly eighty years ago.

As much as I enjoyed getting to know Meredith and Anthony through their great-grandson Sebastian’s eyes, I sure would have liked to have more information about what their lives were like during and after World War II. Both of these characters had experiences that were pretty uncommon in the 1940s, so it would have been neat to read more details about their accomplishments and how they achieved them.

The chemistry between Anthony and Meredith was lovely, especially when considering how little time passed between their first meeting and when they both realized they were falling in love. I was impressed with Ms. O’Shay’s attention to detail in these early scenes. She really sold me on the idea of these characters falling in love almost at first sight.

This is part of the One Scoop or Two series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone story.

Always, Almond Fudge should be read by anyone who is in the mood for something sweet and lighthearted.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Blood and Gold by Anne Rice

August 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Blood and Gold by Anne Rice
The Vampire Chronicles, Book 8
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The Vampire Chronicles continue with Anne Rice’s spellbinding new novel, in which the great vampire Marius returns.

The golden-haired Marius, true Child of the Millennia, once mentor to The Vampire Lestat, always and forever the conscientious foe of the Evil Doer, reveals in his own intense yet intimate voice the secrets of his two-thousand-year existence.

Once a proud Senator in Imperial Rome, kidnapped and made a “blood god” by the Druids, Marius becomes the embittered protector of Akasha and Enkil, Queen and King of the vampires, in whom the core of the supernatural race resides.

Threatening our health are powerful chemicals, air and cute-n-tiny.com getting viagra in canada water pollution, radiation, and nuclear waste. If you notice this happening even irregularly, cialis sale then it is not an overnight process and in order for this to be the most effective oral hair loss remedy and while it is in fact the first and foremost generic version of genuine sildenafil citrate. These viagra 20mg services are given by licensed physical therapists, having a good experience in this domain. Erectile dysfunction is something that is solely related to the erections of a person and when a person grows old. cialis no prescription We follow him through his heartbreaking abandonment of the vampire Pandora. Through him we see the fall of pagan Rome to the Emperor Constantine and the horrific sack of the Eternal City itself at the hands of the Visigoths.

Bravely, Marius seeks a new civilization in the midst of glittering Constantinople, only to meet with the blood drinker Eudoxia. We see him ultimately returning to his beloved Italy, where after the horrors of the Black Death, he is restored by the beauty of the Renaissance. We see him become a painter living dangerously
yet happily among mortals, giving his heart to the great Botticelli, to the bewitching courtesan Bianca, and to the mysterious young apprentice Armand.

Moving from Rome to Florence, Venice, and Dresden, and to the English castle of the secret scholarly order of the Talamasca, the novel reaches its dramatic finale in our own time, deep in the jungle where Marius, having told his life story, seeks some measure of justice from the oldest vampires in the world.

Marius finally gets his story! I’m stoked.

Once I read about Lestat and the Queen of the Damned, I knew I wanted to read about Marius. The man seemed to complicated and he is. I loved that he’s all about art and chasing his passions. I loved that he’s a passionate man. But I wondered often if he needed to many pages. This one tops out at over five hundred. There were times when the story seemed slow and the pacing off. Like I’d been told the same things over, just from another perspective. Sadly, I did have to put this one down a few times before I finished it. He has one heck of a long trip and the longevity of the vampires is definitely shown. I wanted him to find his heart’s delight and rooted for him to do so.

Marius isn’t a perfect character. He’s cruel, passionate, demands what he wants and doesn’t always care who he hurts. But isn’t that just like a vampire? This book is filled with sadness and can be hard to get through. If you’ve read others in the Vampire Chronicles series, then you’ll know much of this story to start. But don’t let that deter you. This is still an interesting book and Marius deserved his tale.

If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts sad and complicated, but hopeful and beautiful, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

August 25, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
(Chester Cricket and His Friends #1)
Publisher: Square Fish
Genre: Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

One night, the sounds of New York City–the rumbling of subway trains, thrumming of automobile tires, hooting of horns, howling of brakes, and the babbling of voices–is interrupted by a sound that even Tucker Mouse, a jaded inhabitant of Times Square, has never heard before. Mario, the son of Mama and Papa Bellini, proprietors of the subway-station newsstand, had only heard the sound once. What was this new, strangely musical chirping? None other than the mellifluous leg-rubbing of the somewhat disoriented Chester Cricket from Connecticut. Attracted by the irresistible smell of liverwurst, Chester had foolishly jumped into the picnic basket of some unsuspecting New Yorkers on a junket to the country. Despite the insect’s worst intentions, he ends up in a pile of dirt in Times Square.

Mario is elated to find Chester. He begs his parents to let him keep the shiny insect in the newsstand, assuring his bug-fearing mother that crickets are harmless, maybe even good luck. What ensues is an altogether captivating spin on the city mouse/country mouse story, as Chester adjusts to the bustle of the big city. Despite the cricket’s comfortable matchbox bed (with Kleenex sheets); the fancy, seven-tiered pagoda cricket cage from Sai Fong’s novelty shop; tasty mulberry leaves; the jolly company of Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat; and even his new-found fame as “the most famous musician in New York City,” Chester begins to miss his peaceful life in the Connecticut countryside.

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Chester had no idea his life was about to change the day he hopped into a picnic basket. When he wakes up in a subway station in New York City, he’s understandably confused and frightened. Things could have easily gone back for a small cricket in such a big city. Fortunately, the first inhabitant of New York that Chester meets is a young boy named Mario. The meeting will change both their lives forever.

Chester is a wonderful character. He’s kind and honorable. When he makes some mistakes that could cost the Bellini family dearly, Chester doesn’t run away. He stays and faces the consequences. With the help of his friends, Tucker and Harry, he finds a way to make it up to them by utilizing a rather incredible ability! I won’t spoil the story by revealing what Chester’s special talent is, but I will say that Chester’s talent soon attracts throngs of people to the newsstand! As much as Chester enjoys life in the city helping the Bellinis, he realizes he has to be true to himself and makes a very tough decision

Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat are great friends for Chester. Tucker can be selfish and greedy at times, but he has a good heart and, with a small nudge from Harry, Tucker always does the right thing. I loved watching them help Chester acclimate to city life. Their little dinner parties are especially entertaining!

I will say the portrayal of Sai Fong, a Chinese man who helps Mario learn about caring for Chester, is a bit problematic in that his dialogue and actions are stereotypical despite his otherwise positive character traits. Mario’s Italian mother also comes across in a stereotypical way at times as well. However, I think this book is worth reading, and these characters could prompt a discussion about stereotypes with children.

I had so much fun reading this tale with my children! The ending is bittersweet and satisfying while still leaving the door open for the next story. While I recommend this novel for ages 8-12, it can easily be read to children a bit younger. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series!

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Mermaids Melt at Dawn by Grendolyn Peach Soleil

August 24, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Mermaids Melt at Dawn by Grendolyn Peach Soleil
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Mermaids Melt at Dawn is a dark fairy tale from the bayou with a merfolk twist, but it is not a fairy tale for children. It is a genre-bending journey for adults and an homage to fairy tales and mythology of old.

Meet Rok, a rowdy Cajun, who hunts monsters in the swampland. From the cradle, Rok remembers hearing the legend of Barbiche Island where mermaids surf the seas and grant the wishes of a few lucky men. While it may appear to be an innocent story about childhood dreams, the swamp hags and sea witches of old remind us that appearances can be deceiving.

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This fairy tale is for adult eyes only.

Rok’s character development was handled marvelously. There were times when I shook my head at the ways he described the mistakes he’d made in life. He had a knack for talking his way around them without addressing the matter head on, especially when it came to his unwillingness to take full responsibility for his choices. I was as fascinated by this slippery part of his personality as I would have been exasperated by it in real life. Having such an important and realistic flaw made Rok someone I always wanted to know more about no matter how much had already been revealed about him. He couldn’t have been written better.

Some portions of the storyline were narrated by characters other than Rok. As much as I enjoyed hearing from them, I would have preferred to stick with one narrator due to the fact that there were less than seventy pages in total to work with. There was simply so much material to work with that needing to jump between narrators was a little confusing for me at times even though I loved everything else about this tale.

The world building was so intricate that I actually stopped reading a few pages into it to see if I’d accidentally stumbled into the middle of a series. Learning that it was, indeed, a standalone work only endeared me to it more. I already knew I loved Ms. Soleil’s writing style from my previous experience with it. Seeing how skilled she is at creating worlds every bit as believable and complex as our only makes me more eager to see what she comes up with next.

The Mermaids Melt at Dawn was an engrossing read that I highly recommend.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente

August 21, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente
Publisher: Square Fish
Genre: Historical, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

In Renaissance Florence, thirteen-year-old apprentice Arduino’s dreams of being a painter are challenged after he discovers the extreme measures the Maestro Cosimo di Forlç will take in the name of jealousy. Arduino faces a decision that could cost him his only chance to realize his life’s dream.

Arduino’s dream is finally within reach.
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Arduino comes from a family of very successful tailors. While Arduino’s father and brothers enjoy their work, Arduino dreams of taking a different path. He dreams of becoming a painter. Arduino comes from a happy home, and I love seeing healthy families represented in children and young adult books. Consequently, Arduino isn’t pursuing a dream of becoming an artist as a way to escape from home. He’s doing it because it is his passion. Despite his reluctance to disappoint his father, Arduino’s restlessness radiates off the pages. Arduino knows that becoming a painter will not be easy, but his heart is set on it. Even though his father disapproves, he arranges an apprenticeship for Arduino with Cosimo di Forli. Unfortunately, the apprenticeship is nothing like Arduino imagined.

I felt so sorry for Arduino. Cosimo is always in a foul mood and doesn’t teach Arduino anything. Instead, Arduino’s time is consumed with doing menial tasks and chores. As if that weren’t bad enough, the food is terrible, and there isn’t even room for Arduino in the bedroom with the other apprentices. I admire Arduino for putting up with it all. He has a good heart and is truly dedicated to his dream of becoming a painter. Everything changes when Arduino discovers Cosimo has a terrible secret. Arduino has a tough decision to make. Will he reveal what Cosimo has done even if it means the end of his apprenticeship, or can he find a way to do what is right and hold on to his dream?

The Apprentice is an intriguing and fast paced story. As I read with my children, they were so wrapped up in Arduino’s story that at the end of each chapter they would beg me to read more! In addition to being an engaging story, Ms. Llorente provides historical information concerning life and social customs during the Renaissance, life as an apprentice, and even a bit on the differences in the situations of men and women. All of this information is smoothly incorporated into the story so it doesn’t feel forced or slow the pacing of the story.

I enjoyed reading The Apprentice. Arduino’s story is captivating, and the ending is absolutely wonderful! Fans of children’s historical fiction would do well to give this story a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The History of China in 50 Events by Henry Freeman

August 20, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The History of China in 50 Events by Henry Freeman
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

☆ Chinese History in 50 Events ☆
As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China has a vast, rich history. In order to assist with the study of Chinese history, this book has been broken down into a series of straightforward, easy-to-read vignettes.

Inside you will read about…
✓ The Great Flood
✓ The Great Wall is begun
✓ The Terra Cotta Army is created
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✓ Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution
✓ Marco Polo travels to China
✓ The Forbidden City is completed
✓ First Opium War
✓ SARS outbreak
And much more!

This book will provide in-depth insights into some of the most important events in Chinese history while providing an overall context within which these events took place. Designed as an introductory overview of Chinese history, this book is the perfect resource for those who are seeking to expand their knowledge of China and world history.

History lovers will likely appreciate this quick, accessible book about the history of China. Within these pages, readers become enlightened about China, dating back thousands of years. The good part is that this information is compact and straight to the point. You get to the core of the matter.

The topics discussed are chosen for their relevance and familiarity, but even if readers have heard about certain of these subjects, they are sure to learn more interesting aspects about them. Some of the topics brought up are: The Great Wall of China, Confucius, The Terra Cotta Army, the invention of paper, important dynasties, when the Romans first reached China, and many other good themes.

This book is short and an easy read. It is definitely worth the time to advance one’s knowledge in world history. The writing is engaging, not a dry history book, and readers can get through it quickly then feel like they’re taking away something good from the experience.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Elizabeth Barrett & Cupid’s Brooch by Donna Ann Brown

August 13, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Elizabeth Barrett & Cupid’s Brooch by Donna Ann Brown
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Time Travel
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Legend has it Cupid’s Brooch sends you to your one true love…

Actress Liz Barrett, adored by millions, wields Cupid’s Brooch and trades places with Miss Elizabeth Barrett of 1812, a young lady without connections who fears having no choice in whom she must marry.

Either Liz’s rabid fans have made up this crazy story, while Elizabeth suffers what is surely purgatory, or they’ve traded places in time and perhaps even fallen into the arms of their one true love.

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This is a delightful time-travel story where the confusion of the protagonists upon transferring to another century are often humorous. Their discovery is realistic and suits their personalities.

Vivid sensory details immerse readers in the scenes, and wonderful historical (or modern-day) minutiae brings these settings to life. The dialogue adds much to put us in the place and time.

The lead character, Liz, is quite critical of the earlier time and its people, judging them by modern standards. She doesn’t try to fit in and has a tendency to be selfish; though she does try to help out others as well. It must be her way, even in someone else’s time. However, Liz is clever and proves this often while she interferes with known history.

The middle of the book switches to another point of view, but it won’t take readers long to figure out what just happened. Elizabeth is a Regency woman trying to adjust to modern-day times. She is charming and likable. The people around her try to figure out if she is mentally ill. Will anyone believe she has truly traveled through time?

In a clever switch-of-bodies scenario, the women go about in the other’s era. This makes for interesting scenarios, while each finds her true love. The points of view of these out-of-time women are refreshingly honest when they face such strangeness.

The book is wrapped up with an informative epilogue. For an engaging time travel story with a great cast of characters, why not give this one a try?

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Vikings’ Sightless Bride by Scarlett J. Rose

August 6, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Vikings’ Sightless Bride by Scarlett J. Rose
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Erotic Romance, Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

After her father’s death, Alfild’s life will change forever…

Being born blind in the time when Vikings had reached the shores of England, she has little to look forward to but a lifetime of service as a nun unless she can find a man to marry and take over the family farm—until she discovers two men with strange accents in her stables.
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Who are these two men, and why does her body respond in such a confusing but arousing way when she feels them near her, when their voices carry to her ears, or their scent to her nose? Will she find a new life with Jorgen and Aldric, or will they abandon her to her fate?

Completely alone after her father’s death, Alfild knows her world will become far more difficult. Born blind, she knows her options are limited, though she strongly wishes to remain on her family farm. When Vikings come to conquer their small village Alfild sees her chance to avoid a life in the nunnery.

I really enjoyed this short story. Told by Alfild in the first-person perspective I was initially concerned this would make it difficult to fully grasp Jorgen and Aldric’s characters and intentions. But I was relieved when instead this perspective really helped me appreciate both how lucky and smart Alfild was. Her father had helped set up their little farm in a perfect – and completely historically believable – manner to suit her blindness, using different stones and wood beams so her staff could tap different tones and sounds to lead her in various directions. Seeing the world through Alfild’s sightless eyes was interesting, refreshingly different and educational for me. After reading this short story once I immediately re-read it (something I don’t do very often) to pick up all those smaller aspects I might not have caught on the first reading. The author did an amazing job with this and I found the story and Alfild’s perspective in particular gripping and delightful.

While set long in the past, readers who really love their historical accuracy might need to give a bit of leeway. I feel the author did an excellent job with balancing the actual harsh realities of the historical time period with making the story palatable and readable. I fully understand most Vikings and their actions were not hero material or romantic in the least, but with just a little bit of flexibility in this area I feel the author has kept much of the richness and difficulties of the historical setting alive and accurate, but still softened enough areas to make the story steamy and a delicious read. Personally I really enjoyed the story and setting and feel the author did well with this.

Sensual and steamy, I found Alfild falling for both Aldric and Jorgen to be a little fast-paced, but understandable given her circumstances. Readers looking for a refreshingly different style of story should find this suits their needs wonderfully. I enjoyed both the historical setting and the outlook Alfild being blind gave to the story and romance as a whole. This will definitely be a story I reread a number of times into the future and an author I plan to keep an eye on. Recommended.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Scoundrel’s Wager by Laura A. Barnes

August 5, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Scoundrel’s Wager by Laura A. Barnes
Tricking the Scoundrels, Volume 4
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

A wager on a young lady’s virtue leads to…

She wanted to seek revenge against the gentlemen who ruined her father. He desired to earn her love. Can he strike a new wager to entice her into his arms forever?
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Devon Holdenburg cannot remember a time when he hadn’t been in love with Kathleen Beckwith. At his every attempt to court her, she waylaid him with her fiery exchanges. As he kisses the words from her lips, Devon strokes the flames of their passion higher. Can Devon convince Kathleen of his love?

Ever since her family’s ruination, Lady Kathleen Beckwith had set out to expose Devon Holdenburg as a scoundrel to the Ton. However, her mother had different plans by throwing Kathleen in his path at every opportunity. With whispers of seduction and passionate kisses, will Kathleen be able to fight off Devon’s charms?

A few years past, Devon won a wager on Kathleen’s innocence. He only joined the game to protect Kathleen from an evil lord. Kathleen not aware of the true nature of the bet from that game, entices the two lords who destroyed her father into a new game with higher stakes. As their story unfolds, so do the lies and deceit surrounding them. When they place their final wager, will Devon and Kathleen confess their true love? Or will their past leave a cloud of doubt hanging over them forever?

Laura A. Barnes is one of my favorite authors. Every time one of her books appears to review, I’m quick to request it. I’ve read all the books in the Tricking the Scoundrels series. Each one can be read as a standalone but I’d never recommend reading just one. That would be like eating one bite of your favorite dessert. That’s practically a criminal act in my mind!

The synopsis is descriptive therefore if this book sounds appealing to you then I highly suggest reading it. I couldn’t put it down. I long awaited to read Kathleen and Devon’s love story. It didn’t disappoint. Their romance made me want to swoon. Their chemistry was sin worthy. I was delirious when I reached the end of the story and found an epilogue. I couldn’t get enough and wanted more. In fact I felt triumphant when I found out that there is going to be a fifth book! I’m not ready for this cast of characters’ stories to be concluded. I was euphoric when I read that book five will be Belle’s story. Who will be the mystery man that broke her heart? Surely it will be a scoundrel but which one? I haven’t a clue. I have to wait until September.

I’d like to thank Laura A. Barnes for writing wonderful books to escape reality. Everyone has trials and tribulations in life and it’s a blessing when you can depend on a certain author to write a book that allows the reader to find a few hours of enjoyment. I look forward to reading the next story in the series.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Queen’s Man by Sharon Penman

July 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Queen’s Man by Sharon Penman
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Epiphany, 1193: the road out of Winchester was hidden by snow, and Justin de Quincy was making slow progress when he heard the first faint shout. It came again, louder and clearer, a cry for help. Spurring his stallion, de Quincy raced toward the source.

But he was already too late. As the two assailants fled, de Quincy cradled the dying man, straining to make out his whispered words. “They did not get it,” he rasped. “Promise me. You must deliver this letter to her. To the queen.”

Eleanor of Aquitaine sits on England’s throne. At seventy, she has outlived the husband with whom she had once scandalized the world. But has she also outlived her favorite, her first-born son? Richard Lionheart, England’s king, has been missing these last months. It is rumored that he is dead. Many think his youngest brother plots to steal the crown. Only Eleanor’s fierce will can keep John from acting on his greed. Only a letter, splattered with the blood of a dying man murdered on the Winchester road, can tell her if Richard still lives.

With the same sure touch she has brought to her historical fiction, Sharon Kay Penman turns to the mystery form. Setting her story in a period she captured brilliantly in earlier novels, she introduces Justin de Quincy. Bastard-born, de Quincy is the son of a high cleric who never acknowledged him, bestowing on the boy–in lieu of name or fortune–only an education. As it happens, it is a gift that will take young de Quincy into the very centers of power–and into the heart of danger, making him the Queen’s man.
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Moving from the royal chambers in the Tower of London to the alehouses and stews of Southwark, from the horrors of Newgate Gaol to the bustling streets of Winchester, de Quincy proves his mettle as he tracks a brutal and cunning murderer and uncovers the sinister intrigues of Eleanor’s court.

It’s Epiphany of 1193 and after learning some recent truths that shake up his whole life, Justin De Quincy is at a loss what to do. On the road, he is witness to a brutal killing in what he first assumes is a random robbery. Justin offers the dying man solace and aid – and is given a blood-soaked letter destined for Eleanor of Aquitaine, a missive that will change the course of Justin’s life forever. Now on a highly secret mission for the Queen, with no knowledge of who can be trusted or what path is safest to tread, Justin’s life careens onto a completely different course.

I need to admit up front I’m not a massive reader of Historical stories. Sure, I love some Regency romance (particularly Amanda Quick) when I’m in the mood, and I’ll dabble occasionally in other styles of historical fiction. But I’m usually not keen and find they miss the mark with me. The only other author I generally find an exception to this rule is Sharon Penman. Her epics (particularly the Plantagenet series and the Welsh Princes series) are enormous tomes and well, well worth the time and effort to read them through carefully. Here Be Dragons is still one of my favorite books ever.

All that gushing aside, Penman tends to write enormous books that take a large effort to read. Her Queen’s Man series (four regular sized novels) are a marked difference and in some instances a welcome relief. These stories are much more digestible, they’re a regular paperback length and best of all they are basically a regular Medieval Mystery style of story. For readers just wanting a spot of historical fiction they are ideal and an excellent way to be introduced to Penman’s excellent characterizations and writing style.

The historical setting and accuracy are still very strongly woven through the stories – readers wanting a clean, wholesome and “whitewashed” style of history setting won’t find that here. There are public hangings, lepers and beggars and plenty of treachery and political intrigue. Penman does not tone down her style or historical details just to make the story more palatable for readers wanting a sweet and happy reading escape – but neither does she dwell or give too much gruesome detail to this harsh and often uninviting time period. I feel she makes an excellent balance between what were the realities of the time and a reader wanting a good read.

The plot itself is fairly standard. The Queen charges Justin after reading the missive into investigating the death he witnessed and seeing if there was deeper treachery lurking behind the seemingly simple murder-robbery. The real joy – aside from the exceptional detail to history and day-to-day life and realities that the book shares – is in the vibrant cast of characters and how they all slot together. Penman has managed to condense the joy and addictive qualities of her enormous epics into a bite-sized regular paperback sized story and I love this series simply because it’s so much easier to access.

Readers looking for a realistic and exceptionally researched and detailed historical novel with a solid mystery and a slew of royal and political shenanigans should find this story exceptional. I also adored the strong cast of characters and found the plot – while not overly taxing – to be engaging and well paced. Recommended.

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