Book Review: Cleopatra's Daughter

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Description: This is the story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony's children told from the perspective of their daughter Selene. She has been captured by Octavian and taken back to Rome. She is forced from Egypt to live in a new land. Neither a slave, not a freed person she doesn't know where she is to go next. Meanwhile in Rome there is a rebellion going on with the slaves. Can she survive the political minefield that is going on?

Thoughts: I haven't spent a lot of time reading about Roman history because it tends to be told from a dry perspective. But I love Rome (I was there a few years back). It is beautiful and the history is amazing. For me this book was the perfect foil for the backdrop of Rome. It was intriguing telling a story that I hadn't heard a million times before (I didn't even know that Selene had existed). I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction!

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall:

Book Review: The Devil's Queen

The Devil’s Queen by Anne Kalogridis

Description:Catherine deMedici was destined to be a great queen – and through fate and her own strong will she becomes one. But her dependence on those that foretell the future is not something that many of her people will understand. She just wants to be loved. She wants her children to grow and survive like she did. But did she do to much to get the children that she wanted? Did she touch the devil? Does that mean her children are destined to have the mark of the devil as well?

Thoughts:I haven’t read a lot about her time period/reign before. I like historical fiction and this is definitely an interesting read. It is not dry and doesn’t include too much fact so much that you feel like you are reading a history book. But at the same time it does include enough that you feel like you may be really there. I wonder what drove the obsession with those astrologers that would predict things for the people of that time. They walked a fine line between helping and connecting with the devil. This book made me wonder more about Catherine’s children and the deMedici family as I have heard them many times in the past but really didn’t know all that much about them. Now I can tell they are closely tied with the rulers of that time period.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall:

Book Review: The Last Hellion

The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase

Description: Lydia Greenville is a writer who wants to help the world. She sees the young women in the town getting abused and forced into prostitution and she will do anything to stop that - even if it means putting herself in danger as well. Lydia has no use for men and is a bit of a unique woman of the time in that she does things other women cannot get away with.

Meanwhile Vere Mallory is used to being one of the wild ones. He has been hurt by those he loves dieing and he has little use for opening his heart up for another abuse. Lydia though is entertaining on a level he never thought he could be entertained on. Can he open his heart to her? Can he deal with her wild side?


Thoughts: One of the things that stuck out to me in this book (which really has little to do with the story) was the author's use of footnotes. If the author refers to someone from a previous book there is a little footnote at the bottom of the page that tells me what year the book was made in and what book it was. It is definitely interesting and makes you more likely to pick up whatever book has that character in it.

Now on to the story. It is a good story. Entertaining. A classic romance novel. The beginning and end stuck out to me as being unique more in the way they were written then in the story itself. Either way it kept me entertained and wanting to read more.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

Overall:

Book Review: First Comes Marriage

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh

Description: Three sisters have lived in a small country village for most of their lives. They have sacrificed and done whatever they needed to after their father died and left them caring for their younger brother. When one day a rich Viscount comes to the village and tells them their brother is the heir to a fortune and that he is going to take him away. These sisters aren't going to let that happen - they are going with him.

So away they go to city life. But the women need to have a sponsor, they are in their 20's and ready to be released to society and for Viscount Lyngate there is no one appropriate out there. Then again he is ready to marry so why not marry one of these sisters.

Elliott can't help but be attracted to what many characterize as the least attractive sister - a widow who cared for a dieing husband. But the thing about her that is so attractive is her personality. She is witty and always putting him on his toes. Is he ready to let her be the wife that he needs? Can it be more then just a marriage of convenience - can it be a marriage filled with love?

Thoughts: I have loved some of Mary Balogh's books and not liked others. But this one I really enjoyed. I don't know if it was the foil of the cousin Con who you don't know if he is good or not. I don't know if it is the fun characters of Elliott - who feels responsibility with is title or Vanessa - who is so much more than just another widow looking for a husband. But something about it just kept me entertained.

I can't wait to see where this family goes next. The sisters are fun, the other charecters are fun, and there is just a lot going on where you can't wait to see what is around the corner. Things are not always what they appear to be in this family that is for sure.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Frederica

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Description: Frederica comes to London with the hope of finding an advantageous marriage for her beautiful sister. Of course things are never as simple as they seem. Frederica decides to ask her distant cousin, the Marquis of Alverstoke for help with this and he can't deny her that.

Alverstoke quickly realizes that he has quite the bunch on his hands. He tries hard to distance himself - but who can deny them (and the trouble they get into)?

Thoughts: For those that are Jane Austen genre fan's this is the author to pick up. She has a variety of novels that we are lucky enough to have getting republished. I wouldn't think of her as a modern day historical romance novelist (as you won't have any graphic love scenes here) but instead of as a the woman who maybe allowed the genre to grow as her books became great sellers so did the genre open up.

The characters can't help but be loveable - from the sister who is beautiful and can't tell anyone no, to the brother who can't help but be ernest, to the heroine herself. It all keeps you coming back for more.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

Overall:

The Ideal Wife

The Ideal Wife by Mary Balogh

What was this book about?

Miles Ripley, the Earl of Severn has been Earl for a year and since his time of morning is over – it will be expected that he choose a wife. And being the only male in his family for many years he knows that his mother and sisters will take it upon themselves to find the woman for him. He is tired of being controlled by them and he knows when they return to town they will press him for a betrothal with a woman he has no interest in. He gets it in his head that he will marry a mouse of a woman, who is silent and has no need or desire to control his life.

Meanwhile, Abigail Gardiner is fired from her job and needs a reference in order to get a new one. She stopped one of her bosses from assaulting her friend in a sexual way and he responded by accusing her of trying to seduce his son. Abigail decides she will visit her cousin, the Earl, and see if he is willing to help. She doesn’t want money – just a reference.

When Miles sees Abigail he thinks that just what he wants has dropped into his lap. She is not overly beautiful, she seems to be pretty timid. Perfect. So he proposes marriage on the spot. And for some reason not even known to her Abigail agrees.

But of course things are not that easy. Abigail has a past that Miles doesn’t know about. It could tear them apart. Add into that the ton’s gossipy ability to bring down anyone not of their class and Abigail will definitely have a hard time. Lastly, Abigail isn’t who she pretended to be. If anyone is vocal and aggressive about their opinions it is her. But maybe that is ok – maybe Miles didn’t want what he thought he wanted.

What did you think about the book?

It had been a little while since I had grabbed a historical romance and read it. And honestly I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It made me want to get many more of them. It wasn’t too heavy in any sort of crazy dangerous plot. It was about a man who wanted control of his life, made a rash decision, and ended up with something better because of it.

The characters were likeable. The book a quick read. Definitely a great book while not being incredibly thought provoking (no overwhelming themes that I had to think to hard to get – which quite honestly I liked).

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you like historical romances that focus more on the history or more on the relationships? Do you think a book can be carried by a good story – with no historical references other then the customs of the time?