A few weeks ago, I inherited someone's cast off Android and he kindly installed a Kindle app on it. Since then, I've gone a bit gung-ho in seeking free novels on Amazon to read. Today, on the freebie list, I found, Remember Love, by Jessica Nelson which is part of the series, The Women of Manatee Bay.
The key verse that this novel revolves around is Isaiah 42:3, which
says, "A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not
quench: He shall bring forth judgment to truth."
Katrina (Kitty) Ross and Alec Monroe have a long history together. They had been childhood sweethearts, but Kitty stood Alec up at the altar on their wedding day, and Alec left town. They are reunited ten years later when he roars back to Manatee Bay on his motorcycle. The former wild boy is now a successful businessman and has returned to open a new business in his hometown, but is also hoping to sniff out information about Kitty. When he finds out that she is one of the lessees in the building that he is buying, his interest in her picks up again, until he finds out that she had withheld knowledge of the existence of their now deceased son from him. This has wounded him greatly because Kitty knew that if he had known about their son, he would not have abandoned them. He had been abandoned by his own father as a child and would not have subjected his own child to the same fate.
Alec vacillates from wanting revenge against Kitty for hurting him in this way, to wanting her to be his wife. He is also wanting to show the townspeople who had rejected him in the past that he has made something success out of himself. Kitty, on the other hand, is the obvious bruised reed in this story. She has faced rejection and abandonment all of her life, from a father who walked out on her and her mother, from her mother who was not very loving towards Kitty, and from the deaths of her mother and her son, Joe, in a car accident. Kitty, who had become a Christian shortly after Joe was born, has been struggling with her faith since the deaths of Joe and her mother. Alec has become a believer during the past year, but he's still grappling with desires for vengeance.
Both of them can see that the other has changed greatly since they were youths, and are attracted to what each other has now become. However, Kitty still has difficulty in trusting Alec, because he won't say aloud whether he loves her or forgives her of what she had done. Alec is more of a man of action than of words; he doesn't know how to scale the walls around Kitty's heart. There comes a point in the story when the tables are turned; Kitty needs to forgive Alec for withholding information from her if there is any hope of reconciliation between the two of them.
Much of this novel touches on the issue of forgiveness and the healing that can come when it is given. There were a lot of people that needed to give forgiveness and a lot of people who needed to receive it in this story. There was one point in the story that felt a little abrupt, and it was the revelation of the details surrounding the car accident that led to the deaths of Kitty's mother and Joe. There was a little bit of foreshadowing of this, but I think that I would have liked a couple more hints because it did feel abrupt and sudden to me. However, once that portion of the plot was revealed, it led to quite an important development in the life of a minor character who had been kept hidden until this point, and also to Kitty, because it caused her to realize that it was possible for her to believe that Alec might be able to forgive her. I thought that this part was nicely done.
I loved the line in which Alec thought that the Lord said to him, "I've made all things new, Son." Just reading that is like breathing in hope. Alec really needed it at that point too.
This was a good story. I hope to read more of the Women of Manatee Bay.
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Review: Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel
Today, I was at a relative's home and was ambushed by a small child who said that I had to read, "Bad Kitty Meets the Baby," by Nick Bruel. It is a children's book and is classified as a easy chapter book but it includes illustrations on practically every page. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press and the edition that I happened to lay my hands on was a Square Fish edition. My little relative was correct; the book is hilarious.
The story begins with, "In the beginning, there was Kitty." Yes, I noticed the similarity to the Genesis narrative, but it set quite a funny tone for the book, because the next event to happen to Kitty is the appearance of Puppy into her life. This leads to traumatic times for our dear little Kitty until she gets used to him. Then one day, the pet owners go away for a few days, leaving Kitty and Puppy in the care of Uncle Murray. By the time the owners return, Uncle Murray is a frazzled mess, and the pets are now confronted with what Kitty thinks is the new dog because it drools and reminds her too much of Puppy. The neighbourhood kitties think that the newcomer is just another kitty. However, what the owners have actually done is that they have adopted a baby into the family.
Because the cats think that the baby is actually a kitty herself, they invite New Kitty to participate in the Pussycat Olympics which consists of events such as the STARE-AT-YOURSELF-IN-A-MIRROR-UNTIL-YOU-GET-BORED and WHO-CAN-CREATE-THE-BIGGEST-STINK competitions. Who will win the Pussycat Olympics? Will Kitty and New Kitty get over their adversarial roles and become friends?
As I mentioned before, the book is quite funny. I laughed at how Uncle Murray's pet sitting week turned out. Here's a hint: it involves the pets, a tree, a fridge and several calls to the fire department. Interspersed throughout the book, we can also read Uncle Murray's Fun Facts about how to deal with a cat stuck in a tree. Near the end of the book is a short appendix of some cat tricks (how to get a cat to come/sit/shake paws/sit up/beg). An interview with the author and a brief preview of another book in the series, "Bad Kitty for President," are also included.
This book could probably be placed in the humour section of a bookstore, but that's just my opinion. I finished this in less than an hour, with interruptions from the little book critic who pointed out some parts of the story that she found funny. I appreciated the wit that I found in the writing style and must say that I'm now interested in reading the rest of the books in this series even though I'm no longer six or seven years old.
The story begins with, "In the beginning, there was Kitty." Yes, I noticed the similarity to the Genesis narrative, but it set quite a funny tone for the book, because the next event to happen to Kitty is the appearance of Puppy into her life. This leads to traumatic times for our dear little Kitty until she gets used to him. Then one day, the pet owners go away for a few days, leaving Kitty and Puppy in the care of Uncle Murray. By the time the owners return, Uncle Murray is a frazzled mess, and the pets are now confronted with what Kitty thinks is the new dog because it drools and reminds her too much of Puppy. The neighbourhood kitties think that the newcomer is just another kitty. However, what the owners have actually done is that they have adopted a baby into the family.
Because the cats think that the baby is actually a kitty herself, they invite New Kitty to participate in the Pussycat Olympics which consists of events such as the STARE-AT-YOURSELF-IN-A-MIRROR-UNTIL-YOU-GET-BORED and WHO-CAN-CREATE-THE-BIGGEST-STINK competitions. Who will win the Pussycat Olympics? Will Kitty and New Kitty get over their adversarial roles and become friends?
As I mentioned before, the book is quite funny. I laughed at how Uncle Murray's pet sitting week turned out. Here's a hint: it involves the pets, a tree, a fridge and several calls to the fire department. Interspersed throughout the book, we can also read Uncle Murray's Fun Facts about how to deal with a cat stuck in a tree. Near the end of the book is a short appendix of some cat tricks (how to get a cat to come/sit/shake paws/sit up/beg). An interview with the author and a brief preview of another book in the series, "Bad Kitty for President," are also included.
This book could probably be placed in the humour section of a bookstore, but that's just my opinion. I finished this in less than an hour, with interruptions from the little book critic who pointed out some parts of the story that she found funny. I appreciated the wit that I found in the writing style and must say that I'm now interested in reading the rest of the books in this series even though I'm no longer six or seven years old.
Saturday, 21 June 2014
Review: Never Like This (Revealing Book 2) by Rena Manse
Strong, wealthy, handsome, alpha male with a bad boy past? Check.
Smart, intelligent, good humoured heroine who has several dark secrets of her own? Check.
Christian romance? Check.
Some hot kisses that left me fanning myself? (Looks around furtively.) Check.
Never Like This, by Rena Manse is an interracial Christian romance. It is the second book in the Revealing Series, but can be read as a stand alone book.
Kavin Reigns is the 34 year old Chief Operations Officer of his family's cosmetic and fashion corporation, Revealing, which is primarily situated in America. He's near the end of negotiations for a takeover of a smaller company in France when the representatives of the other company wish to renegotiate the terms. Kavin meets Sherri Harbor when he asks for her to join the team that arranged the takeover deal because she previously worked as a lawyer in France for five years before joining Revealing to work in its Foreign Relations Department.
They are instantly attracted to each other, but try to mask their interest from each other and from the rest of the world because of the differences in their positions in the company. Unaware of what the other is thinking, they both know that a romantic relationship between a boss and subordinate could potentially be disastrous for their work environment. Kavin also wants to avoid being accused of sexual harassment. Sherri views herself as damaged goods because of her past relationships. However, the takeover deal requires that they work closely with each other, and they eventually reveal their interest to each other.
There was an incident that happened earlier on in the novel in which Sherri was trapped in an elevator in Kavin's apartment building while she was on her way to deliver paper work to him. It was used to build the romantic tension between the two of them, but I did get a moment of thinking that it was a bit too contrived and convenient for Kavin to be the shirtless knight in armour that rescues Sherri at that point (he had been exercising in his private gym). However, if such a thing could happen in real life, one might think and consider that in the background, God could be orchestrating their meetings, contrived as it may appear in the novel.
As for the interracial aspect of the story, I liked that it seemed to be more important to Kavin that Sherri was a believer. Besides worrying about being accused of sexual harassment, at some point in the story, he wonders if Sherri would ever consider dating a white man and he fears that she would reject him because he's not black. As for Sherri, it appears that she has always pictured a black man as her Prince Charming, until she meets Kavin. As soon as they learn that their attraction is mutual, they are both open to exploring the possibility of a relationship. However, as it grows, it seems to be that Kavin is the one who does more of the pursuing and is more open to revealing his secrets in order to win Sherri, than she is to him. Her reluctance to be transparent with Kavin has less to do with race, and more to do with her woundedness in other areas of her life.
The novel is clean; however, the characters do share a few fervent kisses. Well, maybe they were quite passionate than just simply fervent.
The characters take their time getting to know each other. I've read some other reviews in which there were complaints about the length of time it took for the characters to get together, and perhaps the author could have trimmed a bit from the story to tighten it up, but I thought that it was okay. Also, there are quite a few spelling errors, but I found the couple featured in this story to be extremely likeable. I enjoyed this book.
Smart, intelligent, good humoured heroine who has several dark secrets of her own? Check.
Christian romance? Check.
Some hot kisses that left me fanning myself? (Looks around furtively.) Check.
Never Like This, by Rena Manse is an interracial Christian romance. It is the second book in the Revealing Series, but can be read as a stand alone book.
Kavin Reigns is the 34 year old Chief Operations Officer of his family's cosmetic and fashion corporation, Revealing, which is primarily situated in America. He's near the end of negotiations for a takeover of a smaller company in France when the representatives of the other company wish to renegotiate the terms. Kavin meets Sherri Harbor when he asks for her to join the team that arranged the takeover deal because she previously worked as a lawyer in France for five years before joining Revealing to work in its Foreign Relations Department.
They are instantly attracted to each other, but try to mask their interest from each other and from the rest of the world because of the differences in their positions in the company. Unaware of what the other is thinking, they both know that a romantic relationship between a boss and subordinate could potentially be disastrous for their work environment. Kavin also wants to avoid being accused of sexual harassment. Sherri views herself as damaged goods because of her past relationships. However, the takeover deal requires that they work closely with each other, and they eventually reveal their interest to each other.
There was an incident that happened earlier on in the novel in which Sherri was trapped in an elevator in Kavin's apartment building while she was on her way to deliver paper work to him. It was used to build the romantic tension between the two of them, but I did get a moment of thinking that it was a bit too contrived and convenient for Kavin to be the shirtless knight in armour that rescues Sherri at that point (he had been exercising in his private gym). However, if such a thing could happen in real life, one might think and consider that in the background, God could be orchestrating their meetings, contrived as it may appear in the novel.
As for the interracial aspect of the story, I liked that it seemed to be more important to Kavin that Sherri was a believer. Besides worrying about being accused of sexual harassment, at some point in the story, he wonders if Sherri would ever consider dating a white man and he fears that she would reject him because he's not black. As for Sherri, it appears that she has always pictured a black man as her Prince Charming, until she meets Kavin. As soon as they learn that their attraction is mutual, they are both open to exploring the possibility of a relationship. However, as it grows, it seems to be that Kavin is the one who does more of the pursuing and is more open to revealing his secrets in order to win Sherri, than she is to him. Her reluctance to be transparent with Kavin has less to do with race, and more to do with her woundedness in other areas of her life.
The novel is clean; however, the characters do share a few fervent kisses. Well, maybe they were quite passionate than just simply fervent.
The characters take their time getting to know each other. I've read some other reviews in which there were complaints about the length of time it took for the characters to get together, and perhaps the author could have trimmed a bit from the story to tighten it up, but I thought that it was okay. Also, there are quite a few spelling errors, but I found the couple featured in this story to be extremely likeable. I enjoyed this book.
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Review: Persy and the Prince by Jane Myers Perrine
Persy and the Prince, by Jane Myers Perrine is being republished by Beyond the Page Publishing. This novel was originally published by Avalon in 2003. I became interested in reading this because I enjoyed Ms. Perrine's regency, The Mad Herringtons, which was a delightful read.
When Persy Marsh first meets Jordan Prince, a manager of a chain of upscale hotels, she is acting as a hotel's dog walker at their workplace, trying to prevent a dog from piddling onto Jordan's shoes. He requests to see her in his office, officially to give her a piece of his mind, but he is so physically attracted to her that he asks her out on a date with dishonourable intentions. Jordan starts moving too fast, and Persy puts the brakes on. She admits to Jordan that she is also deeply attracted to him and that she also behaved a bit inappropriately, but didn't mean to carry on as far as she did.
They agree that they shouldn't see each other again, however, in the following days, they can't seem to keep away from each other at the hotel. Persy seems to wear a few different hats at the hotel and assumes several different jobs there, so they frequently run into each other while she is acting as the housekeeping maid, waitress/server, lifeguard, and casino dealer. For people who have decided to stay away from each other, they end up kissing each other a fair bit too.
Persy's name comes up in a letter requesting a meeting with the hotel administration about improving safety conditions for hotel employees between the building and the neighbourhood where they live. This prompts Jordan to discover who and what Persy is: a caring neighbourhood organizer/reformer, educated at Stanford, who has a background in law, and who left the privileged society that Jordan is also a part of. Persy intrigues and infuriates Jordan at the same time because of the attraction between them, and because she won't defer to his position in society or at the hotel.
As for Persy, she finds her attraction to Jordan to be problematic; she is afraid that he will tempt her to leave the life that she has built for herself since she left her privileged background. However, her previous life had been a source of unhappiness for her and she loathes the idea of returning to it.
When Persy is attacked on the pathway between the hotel and the section of town where many of the employees live, Jordan begins to spend quality time with her and starts to change, becoming less of a pompous jerk and becoming more conscious of the welfare of his employees. Eventually, he realizes that he has fallen in love with Persy and desires a life with her, but she is not convinced that he can really love the person that she is now and not want to change her back into the type of person that she was before she got involved with the community that she lives with now.
Parts of this novel were quite funny. Persy is a bit of a smart mouth who ends up talking circles around Jordan. I loved the bit where she was frustrated at her cleaning supply cart which she had christened, "Jordan." Guess who was standing nearby when she cursed it by name?
As for sex, there isn't any. For a believing reader, that may come as a relief, but this is a secular type of novel. Jordan enters into a relationship with Persy hoping that once he has her body, that he will get her out of his system. He mentions to her several times that he wants to spend the night with her. One thing that I had appreciated about him was that he let Persy go in that first date when she refused to go all the way with him. Although he grows more marriage minded as the plot unfolds, he lets her know repeatedly that he's interested in her sexually, and she has to say no to him a few times. It isn't mentioned overtly that Persy is a Christian, other than a mention of her Calvinist background. In the story, as Persy realizes that she needs to make a decision about where she is going to go in her relationship with Jordan, it is implied that this decision will also involve a choice for her to become physically intimate with Jordan.
The book ends quite abruptly. When I reached the end, I asked myself, "That's it?" I would like to have known a little more about what happens to Persy and Jordan after the final scene. They confess their love for each other, but we are left hanging about what will actually happen. Will they get engaged and married? We don't actually find out for certain.
I found Persy and the Prince to be just okay. It's fairly clean, and there were a couple of thought provoking ideas through the challenges that Persy had to face, about waiting to have sex, and about needing to stop trying to please everyone else, and learning to do what is best for one's self. It was a fairly light read that can be finished in a couple of hours.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of Persy and the Prince from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
When Persy Marsh first meets Jordan Prince, a manager of a chain of upscale hotels, she is acting as a hotel's dog walker at their workplace, trying to prevent a dog from piddling onto Jordan's shoes. He requests to see her in his office, officially to give her a piece of his mind, but he is so physically attracted to her that he asks her out on a date with dishonourable intentions. Jordan starts moving too fast, and Persy puts the brakes on. She admits to Jordan that she is also deeply attracted to him and that she also behaved a bit inappropriately, but didn't mean to carry on as far as she did.
They agree that they shouldn't see each other again, however, in the following days, they can't seem to keep away from each other at the hotel. Persy seems to wear a few different hats at the hotel and assumes several different jobs there, so they frequently run into each other while she is acting as the housekeeping maid, waitress/server, lifeguard, and casino dealer. For people who have decided to stay away from each other, they end up kissing each other a fair bit too.
Persy's name comes up in a letter requesting a meeting with the hotel administration about improving safety conditions for hotel employees between the building and the neighbourhood where they live. This prompts Jordan to discover who and what Persy is: a caring neighbourhood organizer/reformer, educated at Stanford, who has a background in law, and who left the privileged society that Jordan is also a part of. Persy intrigues and infuriates Jordan at the same time because of the attraction between them, and because she won't defer to his position in society or at the hotel.
As for Persy, she finds her attraction to Jordan to be problematic; she is afraid that he will tempt her to leave the life that she has built for herself since she left her privileged background. However, her previous life had been a source of unhappiness for her and she loathes the idea of returning to it.
When Persy is attacked on the pathway between the hotel and the section of town where many of the employees live, Jordan begins to spend quality time with her and starts to change, becoming less of a pompous jerk and becoming more conscious of the welfare of his employees. Eventually, he realizes that he has fallen in love with Persy and desires a life with her, but she is not convinced that he can really love the person that she is now and not want to change her back into the type of person that she was before she got involved with the community that she lives with now.
Parts of this novel were quite funny. Persy is a bit of a smart mouth who ends up talking circles around Jordan. I loved the bit where she was frustrated at her cleaning supply cart which she had christened, "Jordan." Guess who was standing nearby when she cursed it by name?
As for sex, there isn't any. For a believing reader, that may come as a relief, but this is a secular type of novel. Jordan enters into a relationship with Persy hoping that once he has her body, that he will get her out of his system. He mentions to her several times that he wants to spend the night with her. One thing that I had appreciated about him was that he let Persy go in that first date when she refused to go all the way with him. Although he grows more marriage minded as the plot unfolds, he lets her know repeatedly that he's interested in her sexually, and she has to say no to him a few times. It isn't mentioned overtly that Persy is a Christian, other than a mention of her Calvinist background. In the story, as Persy realizes that she needs to make a decision about where she is going to go in her relationship with Jordan, it is implied that this decision will also involve a choice for her to become physically intimate with Jordan.
The book ends quite abruptly. When I reached the end, I asked myself, "That's it?" I would like to have known a little more about what happens to Persy and Jordan after the final scene. They confess their love for each other, but we are left hanging about what will actually happen. Will they get engaged and married? We don't actually find out for certain.
I found Persy and the Prince to be just okay. It's fairly clean, and there were a couple of thought provoking ideas through the challenges that Persy had to face, about waiting to have sex, and about needing to stop trying to please everyone else, and learning to do what is best for one's self. It was a fairly light read that can be finished in a couple of hours.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of Persy and the Prince from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Monday, 26 May 2014
Review: The Mad Herringtons by Jane Myers Perrine
The Mad Herringtons, by Jane Myers Perrine, is a regency romance. It is published electronically by Beyond the Page Publishing. I think that it had been previously published in 2002 by Avalon, which had been bought out by Amazon. Anyways, at the present time, Beyond the Page is selling the Kindle version for about $2.99 US on Amazon. For the most part, I found the novel to be breezy, funny, and enjoyable to read. One might describe this as a fun regency romp. Certainly, it has the feel of chick lit done in regency style.
Aphrodite Herrington is the sensible and responsible daughter, born into a family whose members all exhibit passionate natures. They are collectively known to the ton as the Mad Herringtons and include Aphrodite's parents and 12 other siblings. Her parents have no problem making rather public displays of affection and procreating at such a fast rate and continually increasing their brood (indeed, in this story, there is another on the way). Her sister, Terpsichore, who dresses quite provocatively for regency standards, has established her own townhouse without a chaperone, with their parents' approval. Her oldest brother, Aeolus, is in Congo, Africa, searching for the source of the Nile based upon his own opinion. Her younger sister, Athena, is an accomplished flirt, enjoying the company of eligible and ineligible males, particularly in kissing them without thought or concern for her reputation.
Aphrodite is different; she wishes to conduct her life with propriety, without any hint of scandal. She also desires to be married, but to a husband who is sober, sensible and not prone to frivolity and passion. She finds herself betrothed to Frederick Horne, who exhibits a similar personality and compatible interests to her own. However, Frederick's mother is not convinced of Aphrodite's suitability, and so arrangements are made for a house party at Frederick's estate so that Aphrodite has the opportunity to get acquainted with her future mother-in-law.
Included in the house party are Aphrodite's sisters, Terpsichore and Athena, and another brother, Asklepios, who appears at the party under an alias in a scheme to temporarily escape being caught by a magistrate who is looking for the culprit who dug up his daughter's dead dog. Frederick's cousin, Viscount Thomas Warwick, heir to the Earl of Wharton, is also present to represent his branch of his family. At least, that's what he is telling himself and others.
Warwick decides that Aphrodite really needs to know what she is getting into if she marries Frederick; she will gain the atrocious Mrs. Horne as her mother-in-law, which would be a fate worse than death. Really, he's not helping Aphrodite because he can't forget the kiss that he stole from her two years previously, a kiss that he can't get out of his memory.
We also find out that even though Aphrodite says that she wants the predictable and dependable Frederick, it is the rogish Warwick who catches her eye, but she will not let her heart open to him because she doesn't trust that he would offer marriage to her because of his past dealings with her.
Thrown into the mix is the re-entrance of former suitor of Terpsichore's, Athena's indiscriminate flirting towards the male species, and preparations for a performance of a Midsummer's Night Dream. Will Aphrodite be able to keep all her siblings from social ruin? Will she be able to resist Warwick and keep her intentions to marry Frederick?
The novel has a touch of naughtiness in it, but this is expressed by characters other than Aphrodite, who is in all things proper and controlled. For instance, Athena makes reference to to Warwick looking at Aphrodite by saying, "When you weren't aware, he looked at your bosom. You have a lovely bosom. I've seen many men notice that," (typical talk from a flighty man-crazy teenager). Terpsichore also makes a couple of outrageous comments about how it would be worth it to be compromised by Warwick should the occasion arise. Her character appears to live to shock others with her outrageous talk and dress. However, there isn't really any actual descriptions of sex in this book, other than the implication of something that is to happen between a couple of minor married characters. By some standards, this novel would probably be considered sweet and clean, but it certainly doesn't match what you would find in a Harlequin Love Inspired novel.
There was one point in the story where I was a bit confused. In chapter 1, Aphrodite turns away from the Viscount Warwick, but he is referred to as a Marquis. At least, I think that the use of the word referred to Warwick, because otherwise, she is turning away from her father, who is known to be a Marquis. However, she is not dancing with her father; instead, she is dancing with Warwick.The other thing that I found confusing what that Terpsichore had her own townhouse, which I think would be unheard of for a single unmarried woman who would be considered under the protection of her living parents. However, it is explained in the story that the Marquis and Marchioness had encouraged the whims of their children and permitted Terpsichore to have her own establishment.
I'm not an expert on regencies, but I had a lot of fun reading this, so if there were major historical inaccuracies, I didn't notice them and I don't think that I would have really minded. This was an enjoyable book. I wish that there was more to read about the Mad Herringtons. Maybe Ms. Myers Perrine will write more about this delightful family; after all, there are ten (eleven!) other members that we haven't met yet!
Disclaimer: A free e-copy of The Mad Herringtons was provided by Net Galley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Aphrodite Herrington is the sensible and responsible daughter, born into a family whose members all exhibit passionate natures. They are collectively known to the ton as the Mad Herringtons and include Aphrodite's parents and 12 other siblings. Her parents have no problem making rather public displays of affection and procreating at such a fast rate and continually increasing their brood (indeed, in this story, there is another on the way). Her sister, Terpsichore, who dresses quite provocatively for regency standards, has established her own townhouse without a chaperone, with their parents' approval. Her oldest brother, Aeolus, is in Congo, Africa, searching for the source of the Nile based upon his own opinion. Her younger sister, Athena, is an accomplished flirt, enjoying the company of eligible and ineligible males, particularly in kissing them without thought or concern for her reputation.
Aphrodite is different; she wishes to conduct her life with propriety, without any hint of scandal. She also desires to be married, but to a husband who is sober, sensible and not prone to frivolity and passion. She finds herself betrothed to Frederick Horne, who exhibits a similar personality and compatible interests to her own. However, Frederick's mother is not convinced of Aphrodite's suitability, and so arrangements are made for a house party at Frederick's estate so that Aphrodite has the opportunity to get acquainted with her future mother-in-law.
Included in the house party are Aphrodite's sisters, Terpsichore and Athena, and another brother, Asklepios, who appears at the party under an alias in a scheme to temporarily escape being caught by a magistrate who is looking for the culprit who dug up his daughter's dead dog. Frederick's cousin, Viscount Thomas Warwick, heir to the Earl of Wharton, is also present to represent his branch of his family. At least, that's what he is telling himself and others.
Warwick decides that Aphrodite really needs to know what she is getting into if she marries Frederick; she will gain the atrocious Mrs. Horne as her mother-in-law, which would be a fate worse than death. Really, he's not helping Aphrodite because he can't forget the kiss that he stole from her two years previously, a kiss that he can't get out of his memory.
We also find out that even though Aphrodite says that she wants the predictable and dependable Frederick, it is the rogish Warwick who catches her eye, but she will not let her heart open to him because she doesn't trust that he would offer marriage to her because of his past dealings with her.
Thrown into the mix is the re-entrance of former suitor of Terpsichore's, Athena's indiscriminate flirting towards the male species, and preparations for a performance of a Midsummer's Night Dream. Will Aphrodite be able to keep all her siblings from social ruin? Will she be able to resist Warwick and keep her intentions to marry Frederick?
The novel has a touch of naughtiness in it, but this is expressed by characters other than Aphrodite, who is in all things proper and controlled. For instance, Athena makes reference to to Warwick looking at Aphrodite by saying, "When you weren't aware, he looked at your bosom. You have a lovely bosom. I've seen many men notice that," (typical talk from a flighty man-crazy teenager). Terpsichore also makes a couple of outrageous comments about how it would be worth it to be compromised by Warwick should the occasion arise. Her character appears to live to shock others with her outrageous talk and dress. However, there isn't really any actual descriptions of sex in this book, other than the implication of something that is to happen between a couple of minor married characters. By some standards, this novel would probably be considered sweet and clean, but it certainly doesn't match what you would find in a Harlequin Love Inspired novel.
There was one point in the story where I was a bit confused. In chapter 1, Aphrodite turns away from the Viscount Warwick, but he is referred to as a Marquis. At least, I think that the use of the word referred to Warwick, because otherwise, she is turning away from her father, who is known to be a Marquis. However, she is not dancing with her father; instead, she is dancing with Warwick.The other thing that I found confusing what that Terpsichore had her own townhouse, which I think would be unheard of for a single unmarried woman who would be considered under the protection of her living parents. However, it is explained in the story that the Marquis and Marchioness had encouraged the whims of their children and permitted Terpsichore to have her own establishment.
I'm not an expert on regencies, but I had a lot of fun reading this, so if there were major historical inaccuracies, I didn't notice them and I don't think that I would have really minded. This was an enjoyable book. I wish that there was more to read about the Mad Herringtons. Maybe Ms. Myers Perrine will write more about this delightful family; after all, there are ten (eleven!) other members that we haven't met yet!
Disclaimer: A free e-copy of The Mad Herringtons was provided by Net Galley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Vogue Knitting Crochet 2014 Issue
I didn't mean for this blog to become focused on crafting, but I just received a copy of the latest Vogue Knitting Crochet (2014). I'm absolute newbie when it comes to crochet. As I mentioned in a previous post, when it comes to crocheting, my tension is rather limp and loose, so I don't think that I have much hope of actually being able to crochet some of the samples that are included in this magazine.
The crochet issue follows a similar format to Vogue Knitting's knitting issues: there are a "hot picks" page filled with trendy knit/crochet accessories, a featured yarn page, news from the crochet world, a special section titled, "World," in which the crochet arts from various parts of the world are featured, a featured local yarn store (LYS), and a book review section. There are also a couple articles, including one on scallops and swags (edgings), another on shaping, and one on Ashley Blalock's Keeping Up Appearances art installation.
Next is the photograph section which features the designs. The pattern instructions follow after. This magazine includes about 29 patterns. I want to make the Mock Hairpin Wrap, the Tank Dress that is also featured on the cover, a Missoni-Inspired Shift Dress, and a Double Ladder Wrap. There is, of course, a granny square throw design by Kaffe Fassett, but it really looks good.
On the last page are charts for conversion between US/UK/Aus terminology, standard yarn weights, and crochet hook sizes. Also included are a short glossary and an abbreviations table. On another page is a key for the crochet symbols used for all the charts included in the magazine.
On glancing through the magazine's rating system for difficulty, I would say that most of the patterns are at an intermediate and experienced/advanced level and recommend lace or superfine yarn for materials. There are a few that use heavier weights, such as the Kaffe Fassett throw. One pattern has a series of photographs provided showing various stages of progress in the construction of the item and close-ups to see the detail. Unfortunately, it is only for one item.
Vogue Knitting usually has a 360 degree gallery on their website (www.vogueknitting.com) in which you can see the designs on a model who turns around in a circle. This feature is supposedly provided for this Crochet issue too, but I haven't previewed it for myself yet.
Unlike some other crochet magazines, there are no diagrams provided demonstrating how to crochet and make various crochet stitches. I don't believe that this is a magazine for beginners, but it is certainly filled with a lot of eye candy demonstrating what could be possibly done with crochet.
As for the patterns themselves, they appear to be detailed enough, and there are diagrams, specs, and charts provided. Vogue Knitting also provides errata for their patterns on their website if there are errors.
I like this magazine. It may actually inspire me to crochet something.
The crochet issue follows a similar format to Vogue Knitting's knitting issues: there are a "hot picks" page filled with trendy knit/crochet accessories, a featured yarn page, news from the crochet world, a special section titled, "World," in which the crochet arts from various parts of the world are featured, a featured local yarn store (LYS), and a book review section. There are also a couple articles, including one on scallops and swags (edgings), another on shaping, and one on Ashley Blalock's Keeping Up Appearances art installation.
Next is the photograph section which features the designs. The pattern instructions follow after. This magazine includes about 29 patterns. I want to make the Mock Hairpin Wrap, the Tank Dress that is also featured on the cover, a Missoni-Inspired Shift Dress, and a Double Ladder Wrap. There is, of course, a granny square throw design by Kaffe Fassett, but it really looks good.
On the last page are charts for conversion between US/UK/Aus terminology, standard yarn weights, and crochet hook sizes. Also included are a short glossary and an abbreviations table. On another page is a key for the crochet symbols used for all the charts included in the magazine.
On glancing through the magazine's rating system for difficulty, I would say that most of the patterns are at an intermediate and experienced/advanced level and recommend lace or superfine yarn for materials. There are a few that use heavier weights, such as the Kaffe Fassett throw. One pattern has a series of photographs provided showing various stages of progress in the construction of the item and close-ups to see the detail. Unfortunately, it is only for one item.
Vogue Knitting usually has a 360 degree gallery on their website (www.vogueknitting.com) in which you can see the designs on a model who turns around in a circle. This feature is supposedly provided for this Crochet issue too, but I haven't previewed it for myself yet.
Unlike some other crochet magazines, there are no diagrams provided demonstrating how to crochet and make various crochet stitches. I don't believe that this is a magazine for beginners, but it is certainly filled with a lot of eye candy demonstrating what could be possibly done with crochet.
As for the patterns themselves, they appear to be detailed enough, and there are diagrams, specs, and charts provided. Vogue Knitting also provides errata for their patterns on their website if there are errors.
I like this magazine. It may actually inspire me to crochet something.
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Review: The Husband Campaign by Regina Scott
The Husband Campaign, by Regina Scott, was released by Harlequin's Love Inspired Historical line. It is the third and final book of the Master Matchmakers series which is set in Regency England. The idea linking together the books in this trilogy is that the servants of several neighbouring noble houses are conspiring to find romantic matches for their aristocratic masters. In spite of this book being the final part of a trilogy, it can be read as a stand alone novel.
In The Husband Campaign, the aristocrats in question are John, Lord Hascot, and Lady Amelia, daughter of the Marquess of Wesworth. They find themselves coerced into a marriage of convenience to prevent scandal after John finds Lady Amelia taking shelter in an abandoned stable on his property. Neither wishes to marry each other as they are virtually strangers; Amelia wishes to marry for love, while John had previously been burned in love when the woman whom he loved married his brother instead. John is finished with society now, preferring the company of his horses, even refusing to sell them if he perceives that the prospective client would make a poor master to his animals.
Two of the servants who have supporting roles in this story are Marcus Fletcher, John's veterinarian, who assists him in running his horse breeding farm, and Dorcas Turner, the lady's maid that John hires to wait on Amelia. Turner ends up being an advocate for Amelia, helping Amelia's efforts to establish herself as the lady of the house, and in Amelia's campaign to win her husband's love when Amelia realizes that she wants more than what she and John initially agreed to when they first entered into marriage. Fletcher tries to help John realize that Amelia should be more precious to him than the horses that he owns.
Things are moving swimmingly along, until John's ex-love, now a widow, enters their lives. Also complicating the situation is the arrival of Amelia's father, a man who has never shown affection or approval towards Amelia. He is especially concerned about John's refusal to sell his horses to certain members of society, and threatens to take Amelia away if John does not meet the Marquess' expectations of providing for Amelia's social standing and protecting her reputation from scandal. Will Amelia and John be able to make their marriage succeed in the face of these obstacles?
I enjoyed reading this story. For a man who is uncomfortable with talking to women, John can be quite effective in getting his point across, especially by the end of book. He reminded me a little of Fitzwilliam Darcy, with his standoffish behaviour towards others, preference for the country, and also from the wording in a letter to Amelia. You'll know what I mean when you run across it in the book.
I also enjoyed how the lead characters acknowledged the Lord in this book, through their foxhole prayers. There were also a few concluding paragraphs giving us news about the two other couples from the other two books of the trilogy. I only wish that we could have heard about the story of how the Duke of Bellington (an extremely minor character who we never actually meet throughout the series) meets his bride, but perhaps that story might turn up in one of Ms. Scott's future stories. This was a nice end to the Master Matchmakers.
In The Husband Campaign, the aristocrats in question are John, Lord Hascot, and Lady Amelia, daughter of the Marquess of Wesworth. They find themselves coerced into a marriage of convenience to prevent scandal after John finds Lady Amelia taking shelter in an abandoned stable on his property. Neither wishes to marry each other as they are virtually strangers; Amelia wishes to marry for love, while John had previously been burned in love when the woman whom he loved married his brother instead. John is finished with society now, preferring the company of his horses, even refusing to sell them if he perceives that the prospective client would make a poor master to his animals.
Two of the servants who have supporting roles in this story are Marcus Fletcher, John's veterinarian, who assists him in running his horse breeding farm, and Dorcas Turner, the lady's maid that John hires to wait on Amelia. Turner ends up being an advocate for Amelia, helping Amelia's efforts to establish herself as the lady of the house, and in Amelia's campaign to win her husband's love when Amelia realizes that she wants more than what she and John initially agreed to when they first entered into marriage. Fletcher tries to help John realize that Amelia should be more precious to him than the horses that he owns.
Things are moving swimmingly along, until John's ex-love, now a widow, enters their lives. Also complicating the situation is the arrival of Amelia's father, a man who has never shown affection or approval towards Amelia. He is especially concerned about John's refusal to sell his horses to certain members of society, and threatens to take Amelia away if John does not meet the Marquess' expectations of providing for Amelia's social standing and protecting her reputation from scandal. Will Amelia and John be able to make their marriage succeed in the face of these obstacles?
I enjoyed reading this story. For a man who is uncomfortable with talking to women, John can be quite effective in getting his point across, especially by the end of book. He reminded me a little of Fitzwilliam Darcy, with his standoffish behaviour towards others, preference for the country, and also from the wording in a letter to Amelia. You'll know what I mean when you run across it in the book.
I also enjoyed how the lead characters acknowledged the Lord in this book, through their foxhole prayers. There were also a few concluding paragraphs giving us news about the two other couples from the other two books of the trilogy. I only wish that we could have heard about the story of how the Duke of Bellington (an extremely minor character who we never actually meet throughout the series) meets his bride, but perhaps that story might turn up in one of Ms. Scott's future stories. This was a nice end to the Master Matchmakers.
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