It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 8:07 AM
Four young ladies enter London society with one necessary goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So they band together, and a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.
It happened at the ball...
Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren't entirely "the thing." And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London's most eligible aristocrat.
It happened in the garden...
When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn't even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed... thank goodness they weren't caught very nearly in the act!
It happened one autumn...
Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable... as his bride?
My Review:
“There is nothing on earth more beautiful to me than your smile...no sound sweeter than your laughter...no pleasure greater than holding you in my arms. I realized today that I could never live without you, stubborn little hellion that you are. In this life and the next, you’re my only hope of happiness. Tell me, Lillian, dearest love...how can you have reached so far inside my heart?”
I did not think Kleypas could surpass Secrets of a Summer Night but It Happened One Autumn, the second book in her Wallflowers series, is even better!
Lillian was a fantastic heroine—high-spirited, willful, bold, outspoken, direct and a bit cynical; she is a wealthy heiress because of her father’s business interests. I loved her drive, her tenacity, and her challenging ways. She’s willful, bold and outspoken but never annoyingly so.
Marcus (hero) reminded me of Mr. Darcy. He’s proper and serious all the time. Pretty buttoned up but underneath all of that was amazingly kind and caring man.
The chemistry and the clashes between these two strong-willed people are tremendously entertaining, particularly watching the arrogant Westcliff lose his famously cool head when Lillian dares to defy him.
The other characters were great. I love the wallflowers and their wonderful friendships and I enjoyed the relationships the men have with each other as well.
Excellent writing. Loved the details of the time period and the traditions. I loved the building heat, the tension, and the drama. I was on the edge of my seat turning the page because I had to know how it would all play out.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 6:45 AM
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 2:07 PM
To cheek this book on amazon go to this link https://amzn.to/2ZJ7BcA
Synopsis:
In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history.
The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family—all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.
Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.
Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, The Heretic Queen is a novel of passion and power, heartbreak and redemption.
My Review:
“This is how memories are; what seems so clear and unforgettable at one moment vanishes like steam the next.”
History interwoven with fiction make for a most enjoyable view of the customs and traditions of Egypt. The love between the two protagonists is clear from the beginning. This is a story of intrigue, deceit, passion and a thirst for power. The unusual beliefs that the Egyptians had about matters like death, and the ceremonies done to ensure that their dead are recognized by the gods in the afterlife displayed in the story pull you brilliantly into the Egypt of Ramses II.
I loved the character of Nefertari. She was trapped in this life where people hated her because of crimes by family members she’d never even met; she spent her entire life unsure of what would happen to her when she grew up. Then one day, her dreams came true - she was engaged to be married to her childhood best friend and the love of her life, who is also the Pharaoh. Just when she felt like all her childhood fantasies were becoming a reality, she realized her life as Rameses’ wife would be filled with challenges - the Egyptian people didn’t respect her, her in-laws all hated her, and it was possible that someone was trying to sabotage her just as had been done to her aunt, Nefertiti. I felt a lot of sympathy for Nefertari and rooted for her throughout the book - she was an easy character to like and relate to.
I felt the plot was a fast-paced, entertaining, and light-hearted. There is a beautiful love story between Ramses and Nefertari, enough of palace intrigue and plotting and scheming, battles, wars, pirates, evil priests, loyal friends, grand palaces, and even grander tombs.
The author does an absolutely wonderful job of describing not only the characters, who come alive but also the sights and sounds of ancient Egypt. I could smell the figs wafting on the breeze, hear the roar of crowds, and see the splendor of Egypt’s Nineteenth dynasty.
The simplicity of Moran’s writing style and storytelling grasps your attention. The story becomes addictive in small, measured steps and your imagination gets the better of you, that said, I found this to be a credible, fascinating look into this era of history.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 5:52 AM
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ |
To cheek this book on amazon go to this link https://amzn.to/2Ok5EwB
Synopsis:
Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Elonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother--and to abide by the countess's motto: Family comes first.
With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite's illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Elonore--independent and daring--is betrothed to Henry III of England. In turn, shy, devout Sanchia and tempestuous Beatrice wed noblemen who will also make them queens.
Yet a crown is no guarantee of protection. Enemies are everywhere, from Marguerite's duplicitous mother-in-law to vengeful lovers and land-hungry barons. Then there are the dangers that come from within, as loyalty succumbs to bitter sibling rivalry, and sister is pitted against sister for the prize each believes is rightfully hers--Provence itself.
From the treacherous courts of France and England, to the bloody tumult of the Crusades, Sherry Jones traces the extraordinary true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions, conquests, and progeny shaped the course of history.
My Review:
“Women have only the power that men allow them, said Beatrice.” How happy I am that the world has evolved enough that women have more of a voice to not have to continue to believe that true.''
This fantastic book has it all: family drama, love, lust, betrayal, redemption, and irony. Sherry Jones creates a story that explains how four very different sisters were able to end up as Queens and leaders of Europe - at the same time. Marguerite, Queen consort of France, Eleonore, Queen consort of England, Sanchia, Queen consort of Germany, Beatrice, Queen consort of Sicily. Four remarkable women made even more so by their sisterhood and the trials each faced.
The lifetimes of the Savoy sisters was a complicated epoch of war, rebellions, reconciliations, betrayals, conspiracies, bravery, cruelty, misunderstandings and regrets. Sherry Jones excels at piecing the puzzle together and pulls no punches about revealing less than sympathetic characteristics, along with admirable strengths.
Each of the sisters were so different, yet, they are both human and flawed. The sisters’ lives are very fascinating and sometimes tragic I could not help but sympathize with them. These sisters grew from naive women to become mature, intelligent, and strong from the struggles they faced. Each of them were admirable because they faced their problems with unyielding courage head-on in the face of their enemies. You will root for them and feel their sorrows as you follow their intertwined stories from childhood through death.
Overall, this novel is about family. It is about women striving to have power in a world that is influenced by men. The novel is about the meaning of power and the consequences and sacrifices they made because of it. It is a great tribute not only to these four fascinating women but also to women in the medieval time.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 5:33 AM
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 7:11 AM
To cheek this book on amazon go to this link: https://amzn.to/31MfAab
Synopsis:
Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she'll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.
From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.
My Review:
“You stole my heart the night we met, when you sang that ridiculous song and dared me not to laugh. and every moment I have spent with you since then, you have stolen more and more of me until when you're not with me..." He drew in a breath. "When you are not with me, I am left with nothing but longing for you.”
This book was such a refreshing surprise to a reader getting tired of the ‘same old thing’ with regency romances. This story has everything a good regency romance needs: action, romance, deceit, flirtation, suspense, and countless others. Donaldson created such a wonderful world to escape into with excellent character development and storyline. This is a well-written book you will fall in love with!
As some books will drag out getting to the romance for other things, this book does not do that. The romance starts quick, but the writer does a wonderful job of bringing a Jane Austen-like story to the romance full of misunderstandings and charged tension between the hero and heroine that never gets resolved until the ending. There is also a mystery to figure out and a healthy dose of danger on top of the typical intrigue involving inheritances typical for novels taking place during this time period.
Marianne’s internal conflict between her own desires and her inferiority to her sister were well played without being overdone. And the interactions between the characters and the effects they had on each other balanced perfectly to create a unifying story of love and friendship.
Donaldson's characterizations of her heroine are charming, funny, and very witty. Marianne found her way into my heart and earned my unwavering admiration. She is naive, yet bold with sharing her thoughts and opinions. Sometimes that gets her into trouble. She has a kind heart; she is giving and unselfish. She recognizes when someone else is in distress, and she puts aside her own hurt, to help that person. I connected easily with her and understand many of her struggles even though we live in such different time periods.
I also loved the fact that Mrs. Donaldson wrote her novel in the first person. She is Marianne. Everyone can be Marianne, and this is amazing. Every reader can be in the book, everyone can live Marianne’s adventures and feel happy, sad, brave, fearful, shy, envious. Everyone can live a dream until the book ends.
Philip, the love interest, is delightful, one of those characters you wish were real. Handsome, gentlemanly, honorable, and smitten beyond words. I loved the conversations he had with Marianne. He wasn’t put off by Marianne’s humor, or her naive misunderstandings.
Marianne’s grandmother is delightful. Rough around the edges with a warm, gooey heart. Her well-delivered quips made me laugh out loud! She may seem put-off-ish, but Marianne understands her prickly exterior.
The secondary characters are also fun. Each of those characters adds something special to the story. It's wonderful to find a book where you feel like all the characters play an important role.
Donaldson’s writing was also very picturesque and I could easily visualize Edenbrooke, its inhabitants and the lovely countryside. The subtle beauty of the garden complemented the lush details of the grand estate itself. From the descriptions of the estate to the details of the surrounding gardens, everything allowed me to place myself in 1800 England. It transported me into this romantic time, and I was sad when I had to go back.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
Memory Lane Books
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 6:24 AM
2015
 |
| ✬✬✬ This book was disappointing. The characters seemed unrealistic, and the ending was a little predictable. This is not a memorable story despite its WWI background. Using letters to tell the tale did not help the story, I have enjoyed other novels that used this structure, here; the method left the reader too removed from the action. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ Scarlet Lion only solidified my love of Chadwick further and reminded why I enjoyed her work so much. Chadwick weaves a captivating and all-too-real world that comes to life on every page. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with an emphasis on history. |
2016
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ It is a good novel. It show’s Roman warfare in brilliant detail and is a good insight into that part of the Roman world. The story is good as well it’s not the most amazing story in the world, but it’s still kept me interested and has a mystery, through the story and leaves with another mystery at the end. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ Provocative, engaging, and human, Eva Etzioni-Halevy has produced a fine and entertaining piece of biblical fiction, well worth the time for those who enjoy the genre. |
2017
 |
| ✬✬ I have read and enjoyed others of Philippa Gregory’s novels, but was disappointed by “The Virgin’s Lover”. It was repetitive, and the characters were boring in their portrayal. This is one of my favorite periods for historical fiction, and I have read dozens of novels set in the period. So it isn’t the facts/the plot that matter as I read; it is how the story is told. |
2018
 |
| ✬✬✬ Different kind of book, first point of view with the main character that does what she has to do to survive. I liked the way the author breathed life into a person who existed, but no one knows too much about, was slow in some spots and sometimes confusing. |
 |
| ✬✬ Information about the Spanish Civil War kept me reading, not the love story or the back story of parentage. The little bit of info about making perfumes and how smells affect us was of interest too. The plot and dialogue- disappointing. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ Story is written in the past and the future, with chapters alternating between the two for most of the book. The present-day sections were not great but the historical sections were well done and imparted a good bit of information about the lives of the Chinese in the Pacific Northwest during the 1880s after the Exclusion Act was passed. Writing in these sections was good, and the characters had weight and substance. The story rang true, and it included some actual historical events alongside the fictional ones. Modern story, however, was unrealistic, and the characters did not come alive. Too much depended on coincidence and lacked credibility. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ A fascinating read about a truly exceptional situation, with more than enough message to occupy my brain, and enough visceral happenings to keep me emotionally engaged throughout the book. |
 |
| ✬✬ The book is filled with family, love, and friendship. It is a mystery, romance, and adventure. It sounded more intriguing than it actually is. Book started out to be great but as the story went on, I just lost interest and found it a chore to finish. The plot is slow-paced, and there is a lot of trudging through to get through to the climax. The setting is well-developed, but the characters are not likable and forgettable. |
 |
| ✬✬ I wanted to like this book, but just couldn’t. The writing was incompetent with predictable plots and an attempt to throw in bits of historical fact here and there. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ Just like the first book, this one, captIvates the reader. The plot even though tied to the first book, has twists of its own. The technique of dedicating a chapter, within a timeframe, to each character, makes it easy to follow the plot. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ Mr. Sansom develops an excellent story in a location that is often forgotten about in the World War II era - post-Civil War Spain. There are not too many characters to keep track of, and flashbacks provide deep, if somewhat rushed, explanations for events that continue to mold the story. The biggest fault is the end which feels rushed and takes some unnecessary events. Character closure is also not addressed. Overall, a great book to read that keeps you on your toes in a new, dark environment and lets you feel the despair that many felt in the 1940’s Europe. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ I just love the way Archer weaves the story with so many strands. He continues to keep us interested by giving us just enough information to tell the main plot but leaves out enough info so we keep reading on to find out what happens. Archer takes on many exciting adventures and weaves them all into one fantastic story. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ I had wanted to read this book for years. Finally, got around to it. Surprisingly, I didn't like it. Couldn't follow it. It didn't hold my interest. Didn't like the style of writing. Took me a long time to finish it. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ For a casual read, with an interest in how a feminist woman could fight back, in a patriarchal world, I loved this. We catch onto the melodrama, the matchmaker themes and heavy breathing going on. But the heroine is brilliant; the mystery plot is detailed and tangled. It keeps you guessing. I love a book that tends toward disaster, but all is well in the end. This one is well worth reading. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ Insightful and well written. The reader gets carried along with Aron's story. |
 |
| ✬✬ There was no chemistry between the hero and the heroine. I didn’t like either one. The secondary story was a good diversion from the shallow nature of the main story. That was the only redeeming quality in my mind. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ This was an original, funny, and charming book, with likable, if overly stubborn leads and the interesting twist of having a historic working woman being a scholar. Also, I love how seriously Anthony takes his duty and responsibilities, a true gentleman. Light, fun and utterly charming. |
2019
 |
| ✬✬✬ It was just an “okay” reading experience for me. There were parts in the dialogue where I had trouble following who was speaking and it took a while to get into the story. The ending was just too abrupt for me and needed something more. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ The book was really good until a certain point. The rest was just unnecessary filler until the conclusion at the end. I felt like the author was just dragging it on to hit a certain page number. I kept waiting for it to pick back up and it never did. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ I think many people will like this book much more than I did. It’s not a bad book---just limited in character development and simplistic in philosophy. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ Marc Levy writes about secrets, lies, and reconciliation in a great compelling way. I love his easy flowing writing style. In his stories, anything is possible, which is something I like a lot. His main characters are multilayered and he writes with a warm sense of humor. Some topics he addresses are serious, but because of his lighthearted style, his stories don’t become too heavy. I enjoyed the exact right harmony between crazy twists and turns, deep feelings and clever dialogue. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ The main character for whom the book is named got on my nerves. I did not like her at all and had a hard time getting through this book. I wanted to like this book, but it was a disappointment. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ It was good, not great. There are three love stories to follow, each of which takes place in a different era, as the main character seeks info to free an imprisoned man perhaps wrongly accused of Nazi war crimes. The action jumps back and forth from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Poland and Germany. I wish that there were fewer storylines. It would have kept me more captivated and less confused. I was very disappointed with the ending of the main storyline. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ A great big Russian Novel beginning with the death of Stalin when things were supposed to get better. This novel is not about the peasant poor but the educated poor and the constant fear they lived in never knowing who would tell that they were reading smuggled western literature. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬✬ The book is very interesting and gave me an insight into the corrupted world of medieval times and how some of those corruptions still exist. There is a lot of darkness in this book, but it is split up with parts of dark humor, which was cleverly done and had me laughing out loud in some places. The writing is superb, and the scenes and setting draw you in and hold you tightly. The author has an extraordinary way of describing things, I could almost taste the food from his descriptions and I could almost feel pangs of suffering from the torments that some characters were forced to go through. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ My main problem with this story was the time it took the main character to stop sulking about and feeling sorry for herself - at least half the book. Otherwise, it’s a good story jumping back and forth between times and I did eventually enjoy it and the way it ended. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ It was a struggle to get through the first half of this book, but my interest in the storyline and setting kept me going. This story comprises a long history of Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, and an extensive math lesson regarding the riddles of the pyramids and their meaning. The writing was overly detailed but was well researched. |
 |
| ✬✬ “The Queen’s Pawn” is ok but with little historical accuracy. I got through the book by pretending that Eleanor, Alais, Richard, and Henry were just character names and not representing historical figures. It is repetitive in its descriptions and phrasing, and the characters’ perpetual ability to mind-read each other’s thoughts is implausible and irritating. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ I enjoyed this book, particularly at the beginning. I could classify this book as a mystery and towards the end, I felt that the clues had gone on too long and it was getting tedious. Also thought the major mystery was solved too early in the book so after that, I completely lost interest. I finished the book hoping that there would be a surprise, some twist but there wasn’t. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ The book comes on slow because the author is extremely detailed. However, once you get to know the characters and the story I was hooked because it is more than what you think it is on the surface. It is not the best writing in the world and seems a tad repetitive with some characters self-dialogue. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ I really enjoyed it as political thrillers are not so much my cup of tea. It describes the exotic and dangerous locales in vivid detail. It’s a serious subject but never too heavy. The action is non stop. There are so many layers to this story and the end is so surprising that the book stays with you well after you finish reading it. An original and thoughtful thriller, ‘’Death in Shangri-La’’ is for all fans of spy thrillers. |
 |
| ✬✬ At first, I thought I would like this book. After a while, though, it just droned on and lacked depth. Repetitive, jerky dialogue; gaping holes in character development; and, failure to tie the ends, leaving you hanging on so many aspects of the book. |
 |
| ✬✬✬ Starts off brilliantly and I was expecting the subtlety and range of his Dark Materials but it becomes more and a more simple, but fun, an adventure story with some interesting fantasy stuff thrown in. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ Maurice Druon does a wonderful job, bringing the middle ages alive. I can see the knights in shining armor, battling for their countries, and the kings waging war, fighting to win. His fiction is so reality-based that I feel I am right there. I enjoyed this book very much, as I did the previous two in this series. |
 |
| ✬✬ The author repeats lines and themes, leaves out important pieces, and does not bring many important characters to life. There are frequent occasions when she tells us about events rather than bringing us into the story. I enjoyed some ideas she had about character motivation but was disappointed with the execution of those ideas. |
 |
| ✬✬ The ending is predictable; the relationship is predictable, and the author is verbose; what she could describe in three words, she would use 20. I felt the more obscure the adjective, the more likely she’d use it. Sometimes the story-telling overpowered the plot. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ The book was well-written, well-researched, and in general, was both an easy and an excellent read. My only criticism is that I was confused about the timeline and who was doing what, when as it went back and forth between the war period and 40+ years later. |
 |
| ✬✬✬✬ It is a well written, interesting mystery that sweeps the reader into the daily lives of the ancient Egyptian upper class. Entwined throughout the mystery is the side story of Meren and Tutankhamen-and Meren’s attempts to keep the King alive while he is surrounded by traitors everywhere. |
