Mrs. Poe Blog Tour: Review

Paperback: 352 pages
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Gallery Books


READ AN EXCERPT.


Great Reads of 2013 –NPR
Books That Make Time Stand Still –Oprah.com
Editor’s Pick—The Historical Novels Review
Best Books of 2013—Atlanta Magazine
Indie Next List Pick

Synopsis:

A vivid and compelling novel about a woman who becomes entangled in an affair with Edgar Allan Poe—at the same time she becomes the unwilling confidante of his much-younger wife.


It is 1845, and Frances Osgood is desperately trying to make a living as a writer in New York; not an easy task for a woman—especially one with two children and a philandering portrait painter as her husband. As Frances tries to sell her work, she finds that editors are only interested in writing similar to that of the new renegade literary sensation Edgar Allan Poe, whose poem, “The Raven” has struck
a public nerve.

She meets the handsome and mysterious Poe at a literary party, and the two have an immediate connection. Poe wants Frances to meet with his wife since she claims to be an admirer of her poems, and Frances is curious to see the woman whom Edgar married.

As Frances spends more and more time with the intriguing couple, her intense attraction for Edgar brings her into dangerous territory. And Mrs. Poe, who acts like an innocent child, is actually more manipulative and threatening than she appears. As Frances and Edgar’s passionate affair escalates, Frances must decide whether she can walk away before it’s too late…


Set amidst the fascinating world of New York’s literati, this smart and sexy novel offers a unique view into the life of one of history’s most unforgettable literary figures.

So What Did I Think About The Story?:

Before reading Mrs. Poe I knew Edgar Allan Poe for much of the same things most people know him for: his shockingly unsettling poetry and stories, his dark and somewhat worn-out looks and crabby personality, his mysterious death. Mrs. Poe completely turns those stereotypes on their head, giving incredible backstory and justification to the darkness inside Poe as well as showing the tender side he kept well hidden from others and the jealous people in his life who worked to try and turn Poe into the monster many later believed him to be. All of this incredible character development is set up against the vivid backdrop of an ever-changing New York City in the mid 1840s, a world and group of people caught between constant advancement and an unyielding desire for life to stay within the traditional rules of decorum.

One of the biggest surprises to me was how attractive so many women found Mr. Poe during this time. From the images I had previously seen he just looks unpleasant. In Mrs. Poe he is reserved, sardonic and dark but he is also talented, intelligent, open-minded and brooding in a way that made the women swoon! It wasn't hard to see how Frances Osgood - the wife of a charismatic, flippant and philandering ne'er-do-well husband who has to try and support herself after being abandoned - would fall for this deep and attentive man. They are both lovers of words who are lonely and sad and there ability to find some happiness and passion within each other was captivating. The fact that they did so while bucking up against every acceptable norm of the time, many of which were just ridiculous given the circumstances, made me cheer for them even more. They were a very touching couple and, while this is by no means a happily-ever-after sort of story, I couldn't get enough of watching them come together like magnets only to be torn apart again and again.

The secondary characters (if they can even be called that as so many of them are flamboyantly unique and unforgettable) were absolutely delightful! The talented yet eccentric group of individuals that came together to discuss their art and the world were a who's who of  artistic, political and industrial history and I got a little thrill each time a new member was introduced so casually to the conversations.  So many have become favorites of mine through other readings so it was exciting getting a little peek at what they might have been like behind closed doors with their contemporaries. Some characters seemed slightly over the top - such as the childish, vengeful and ever-ailing Mrs. Poe and the hateful, pompous Rufus Griswold - but they are made that much more fascinating because of it and, reading through the insightful author notes at the back of the book, it is quite possible they were that bold in reality. They are the kind of people that exemplify the belief that sometimes the facts can be more entertaining than any fiction!

Another enticing component of Mrs. Poe is the ever present sense of foreboding and the dark mystery running through this complicated romance. Accidents and strange coincidences keep happening, some of which have dangerous and frightening consequences, and the reader is left to try and figure out who is causing them. There is a little twist towards the end that I wouldn't dare give away, but suffice it to say nothing and no one is exactly as it seems. As Poe would say:

"Madness spreads like a drop of ink in water. Soon one does not know who is mad and who is not."

 

 

Mrs.Poe is everything that is wonderful about historical fiction. It has stellar characters, a setting that is so well developed it might as well be a character itself and a sense of mystery and discovery that keeps the reader unable to stop reading until the very end. I can't think of any components that this novel does not have and I am so impressed with Lynn Cullen's ability to leave me heartbroken and breathless now that I'm done reading. It's quite plainly a perfect story.

 

So What Do I Think About The Cover?: 

I love it! It appears to show one of the daguerreotype photographs so popular during this time and fits in with a trip Mr. and Mrs. Poe and Francis Osgood took to get their pictures taken. The only thing that could make it better is if somehow her head would disappear when you turn the book (sort of like those 3D cards you can get that change the picture when you move it) which fits in with something that happens when Mrs. Osgood's picture is being taken. But even without I love it.

 

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

 

Make sure to come back on June 11th for a guest post by the author and the chance to win a copy of Mrs. Poe for your very own! You can also find more information about the book, the author and the tour below so be sure to read through to the end!

 

Praise for Mrs. Poe

“Is it true that Edgar Allen Poe cheated on his tubercular, insipid young wife with a lady poet he’d met at a literary salon? Cullen makes you hope so.” –New York Times

“This fictional reenactment of the mistress of Edgar Allan Poe escorts you into the glittering world of New York in the 1840s…A bewitching, vivid trip into the heyday of American literary society.” –Oprah.com, Book of the Week

“Vivid…Atmospheric…Don’t miss it.” –People

“Nevermore shall you wonder what it might have been like to fall deeply in love with Edgar Allen Poe… Mrs. Poe nails the period.” –NPR

“A page-turning tale…Readers who loved Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife will relish another novel based on historical scandal and romance.” –Library Journal, starred review

“Immensely engaging…Set upon the backdrop of a fascinating era…this is not only a captivating story of forbidden lovers but an elaborately spun tale of NYC society.” –The Historical Novels Review

“A must-read for those intrigued by Poe, poetry and the latter half of nineteenth-century America.” –RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

Buy the Book

Amazon (Kindle)
Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
IndieBound
iTunes
Simon & Schuster

About the Author

Lynn Cullen grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the fifth girl in a family of seven children. She learned to love history combined with traveling while visiting historic sites across the U.S. on annual family camping trips. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington and Fort Wayne, and took writing classes with Tom McHaney at Georgia State. She wrote children’s books as her three daughters were growing up, while working in a pediatric office and later, at Emory University on the editorial staff of a psychoanalytic journal. While her camping expeditions across the States have become fact-finding missions across Europe, she still loves digging into the past. She does not miss, however, sleeping in musty sleeping bags. Or eating canned fruit cocktail. She now lives in Atlanta with her husband, their dog, and two unscrupulous cats.

Lynn Cullen is the author of The Creation of Eve, named among the best fiction books of 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and as an April 2010 Indie Next selection. She is also the author of numerous award-winning books for children, including the young adult novel I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter, which was a 2007 Barnes & Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection, and an ALA Best Book of 2008. Her novel, Reign of Madness, about Juana the Mad, daughter of the Spanish Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, was chosen as a 2011 Best of the South selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and was a 2012 Townsend Prize finalist. Her newest novel, MRS. POE, examines the fall of Edgar Allan Poe through the eyes of poet Francis Osgood.

For more information please visit Lynn Cullen’s website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

 

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, May 19
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, May 20
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, May 21
Interview & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, May 22
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Friday, May 23
Review at A Bookish Affair

 

Monday, May 26
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, May 27
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, May 28
Review at Turning the Pages

Friday, May 30
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Monday, June 2 Review at Let Them Read Books
Review & Giveaway at Book Lovers Paradise

Tuesday, June 3 Review at Kelsey’s Book Corner
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, June 4 Review & Giveaway at Reading Lark

Thursday, June 5 Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Friday, June 6 Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Interview & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Monday, June 9 Review at Historical Tapestry

Wednesday, June 11 Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Tapestry

Thursday, June 12 Interview & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, June 13 Review at Peeking Between the Pages

Monday, June 16 Review at Unabridged Chick
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews

Tuesday, June 17 Review & Interview at Layered Pages
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick

Wednesday, June 18 Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Fact Fiction Friday ~ Juliet and her Nurse by Turner

Continuing our new and regular feature here at Historical Fiction.  

Each Friday we will publish an historical fact based upon the date. Each fact will be accompanied by a book(s) title and perhaps a review or other snippet.

Image courtesy of The Tate Gallery, London

30th May 1980 - Sees the sale of the painting by Turner "Juliet & Her Nurse" sell for $6.4 million. The painting itself had already been owned since 1836 when it was painted by eight people including Turner. This sale was in fact the highest any artwork had sold for at auction.

The book I am going to recommend this week is this one, which is an eBook and available from Amazon.

Joseph Mallord William Turner - 150 Romantic Paintings

Whilst not absolutely historical fiction, it does give rise of interpretation of how Europe was during this period. The painting itself was painted whilst George III was still King, Victoria still a Princess and even though we can allow for some artistic license, we get to ponder the question. Is this what it was like?

The preview of the book does list the pictures that are contained within the eBook. It is fascinating (or is it just me that thinks that?) to look at a painting of a spot you know and compare the image to the current reality. Is there a glimpse of truth or is it artistic license, or even a combination of the two?

Fact Fiction Friday ~ The Mounties!

Continuing our new and regular feature here at Historical Fiction.  

Each Friday we will publish an historical fact based upon the date. Each fact will be accompanied by a book(s) title and perhaps a review or other snippet.

23rd May 1873 - Today celebrates the day when Canada introduced the North West Mounted Police Force.

The book is Forty Years in Canada by Samuel B Steele, which I have added to my library list.

There is some archive material online for those who, like me have a relative who served in the Mounted Police Force. This archive online is a fascinating resource for the genealogist or someone who is simply curious!

Book Blast And Giveaway For The Frost of Springtime by Rachel Demeter

I am so very excited to host this book blast for Rachel Demeter's novel The Frost of Springtime. Please read below for information on the book, the author, and even a giveaway!


Publication Date: February 14, 2014
Black Lyon Publishing
Formats: Paperback, Kindle eBook 
Genre: Historical Romance/Historical Fiction
 
 
 The recent release of The Frost of Springtime, by debut author Rachel L. Demeter, transports readers to the war torn streets of nineteenth century Paris. Driven by paradoxical characters, steamy encounters, and a compelling storyline, it’s a bittersweet tale of revolution, redemption, and the healing power of love. Described as “poignant,” emotionally devastating,” and “beautiful,” The Frost of Springtime is sure to please historical and romance readers alike. Available now in both eBook and paperback. Currently Amazon Prime members can read the Kindle edition for free!

To rescue her was to rescue his own soul.

 
 
On a cold Parisian night, Vicomte Aleksender de Lefèvre forges an everlasting bond with a broken girl during her darkest hour, rescuing her from a life of abuse and misery. Tormented by his own demons, he finds his first bit of solace in sheltering little Sofia Rose.
But when Aleksender is drawn away by the Franco-Prussian war, the seasons pass. And in that long year, Sofia matures into a stunning young woman—a dancer with an understanding of devotion and redemption far surpassing her age.
Alongside his closest friend, Aleksender returns home to find that “home” is gone, replaced by revolution, bloodshed, betrayal—and a love always out of reach. Scarred inside and out, he’s thrust into a world of sensuality and violence—a world in which all his hours have now grown dark, and where only Sofia might bring an end to the winter in his heart.
Inspired by the 1871 Paris Commune, The Frost of Springtime is a poignant tale of revolution, redemption, and the healing power of love.

 

Read an Excerpt

The heat of their bodies mingled as one. With each breath, Aleksender drank in the sweet essence of his beloved ward. His mind swam with unorthodox visions and desires. He inclined his head, lost to the power of her nearness, entranced by everything that was Sofia.
“Alek, my Alek …”
Each word infused Aleksender with a delicious and undeniable warmth. Intoxicated by roses and wintertime, he found it difficult to speak, difficult to think. Breathless, he swallowed and met the haunting depths of her eyes.
“Please,” she dreamily murmured, “I want you to kiss me again…”
 

 

READ SAMPLE PROLOGUE & FIRST TWO CHAPTERS ON GOODREADS.

 

Watch the Book Trailer

 

 

 

Praise for The Frost of Springtime

“I am astonished at this being Rachel L. Demeter’s debut work, for in form and style, it is very much a tour de force. A riveting story of love and courage in the aftermath of a brutal war, the author brilliantly juxtaposes the hazing splendor of French nobility and the impassioned elegance of two people in love, despite all the world’s oppositions. The title is, in a sense, a representation of change: the beginning of a new spring with La Belle Époque and the transition into a new era, for the world and our protagonists. The wistful loveliness of the setting paints a picture of a crying France, blending in with the dynamic romance perfectly. Or rather, it does not merely blend in the background as much as glitters like the brightest jewel, shining with a vibrancy that makes one want to relieve the halcyon days of grand old Paris. I was captivated by the setting, the lush writing of Rachel L. Demeter, and the subtle expressiveness of the characters, which all compelled me to research more of the historical background, of the 1871 Paris Commune, through which this story is made more infinitely dearer.” – Buried Under Romance
 
“We are in awe. The Frost of Springtime is a MUST HAVE! Despite that we loved the true facts, we fell instantly in love with the story. It was dark, emotionally devastating, and sensual. The innocence between the two main characters was beautiful and their love grew so strong throughout the story with such grace. One of us even cried while reading The Frost of Springtime. We loved the cover, we loved the writing style, and we adored the characters. We fell in love, really hard.” – Divas Book Blog
 
“This novel is intricately detailed and wonderfully written! Opening with a heartbreaking scene, I was immediately drawn to the story of Aleksender and his Sofia. Of course, as the story moved on, other enchanting characters helped to make this poignant book complete. The author has blended historical facts with fiction skillfully, and presented several narratives flawlessly. It’s beautiful! I loved it!” – Romancebookworm’s Reviews
 
“I absolutely love this book. The Frost of Springtime shows how love and tragedy go hand in hand and that love can actually be more powerful than anything. I have found that most books do not hit this point right on the nail like this one does. It’s a Historical Romance and let me just tell you this is one book I couldn’t put down.” – Magic Within The Pages
 
“WOW!! The Frost of Springtime is a powerful, epic love story unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The emotional and visual/sensory depth is astounding. I felt Aleksender and Sofia’s connection from beginning to end. Aleksender’s path to healing was at times breathtaking and heartbreaking. This is a hero who loves his woman with every last breath, every fiber of his being… and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. AMAZING cast of secondary characters as well… a ‘villain’ who actually leaves you morally torn! Beautifully written (loved the vivid imagery and descriptions!), dark, unusual, rich with history, epic scope, and a soul deep love that only comes once in a lifetime… Brava!!!” – Sivonna, an advanced reader

 



Buy the Book

 

Amazon (Kindle eBook) *Amazon Prime members can read the kindle edition for free!

Amazon (Paperback)

Barnes & Noble 

Black Lyon Publishing

 

 

About the Author

 
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and high school sweetheart of ten years. She enjoys writing dark, edgy romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and examine the redeeming power of love. Imagining stories and characters has been Rachel’s passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mom would jot them down for her. She has a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances.

Whether sculpting the protagonist or antagonist, she always ensures that every character is given a soul. Rachel strives to intricately blend elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some common themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.
Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.

 

Author Links

 

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

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Goodreads

Pinterest

LinkedIn

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SIGN UP FOR RACHEL L. DEMETER’S NEWSLETTER.

 

Book Blast Schedule

 

 

Monday, March 3

HF Book Muse-News

Read More Romance

A Bibliotaph’s Reviews

Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Romance Reviews by Alice

Good Books and Good Coffee
Tuesday, March 4

Diva’s Book Blog

Room With Books

LovLivLife Reviews

Perusing Princesses

The Maiden’s Court

Book Lovers Paradise

Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, March 5

The True Book Addict

Curling Up By the Fire

Buried Under Romance

A Blog Hop Place for Books

Svetlana’s Reads and Views

History From a Woman’s Perspective
Thursday, March 6

Bibliophilia, Please

One Book at a Time

Susan Heim on Writing

Just One More Chapter

Romantic Historical Lovers

Blushing Divas Book Reviews

Devilishly Delicious Book Blog
Friday, March 7

I Read Indie

A Bookish Libraria

Historical Tapestry

Literary Chanteuse

CelticLady’s Reviews 

Magic Within the Pages 

Confessions of an Avid Reader

Saturday, March 8

Book Nerd

MIBookshelf

Mina’s Bookshelf

Between the Pages

Historical Fiction Obsession

Caffeinated Bookworm Reviews
Sunday, March 9

Rookie Romance 

A Dirty Book Affair

Passages to the Past

Caroline Wilson Writes

Book Obsessed Chicks

Love Romance Passion

Peeking Between the Pages

 

Giveaways

To enter to win one of the following prizes please complete the Rafflecopter form below.

2 – Kindle Ebooks of THE FROST OF SPRINGTIME (open internationally)
 
1 – Signed Paperback of THE FROST OF SPRINGTIME (open to US residents only)
 
1 – $15 Amazon Gift Card (open to US residents only)

Giveaway will run from March 3-9. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on March 10 and notifiied via email.
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Click Here to Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway

 



 

 

Siege by David Humphry

As I said yesterday, I read this book back in 2007 when I obtained an early released, signed edition from the author.

Here are the details from the back cover:

"Manchester 1976. The oldest living Victoria Cross holder and the last survivor of three friends who went to do their duty for Queen and country in the Boer War collapses at a remembrance Sunday service. A young newspaper reporter is assigned to cover the story and is treated to a unique first hand insight of life before and during the siege of Ladysmith in a long forgotten war, fought over three quarters of a century earlier. Natal 1899. Britain and her empire are at war with the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Three old school friends, Privates Charlie Browell, Walter Shawcross and Frank Hoyland are involved in their first armed conflict which will leave one of them dead and another the proud recipient of Britain’s highest gallantry award, the Victoria Cross. As the twentieth century beckons, this last great imperial war will have far reaching consequences for many people including the three generations of the van Oppen family, riding on commando together in the service of the Transvaal Republic; Sarah Dyson, a volunteer nurse who finds love among death, disease and deprivation; Ada Dunkley, matriarch of a prominent Ladysmith family, left shattered by the tragedy of a murder of which and innocent man is accused and Joseph Ncube, a fifteen year old Zulu boy left disillusioned as his loyalty and courage are quickly forgotten after the siege is lifted."

The author is a member of the Boer War mailing list and a web page about the book is Here

Review:

A page turning story about a young reporter sent to interview the last surviving British soldier of the Boer War. The reporter sits and listens as the old soldier relives the moments and events of 1899. The stench of illness & death, the friendships which were so treasured because they could be snatched away through the events of war, the way the black South Africans who were unrewarded for their involvement in the war were treated, and of the nurses who cared for the soldiers against all odds.

Entwined through the story are three generations of South Africans who are fighting the same war, but on opposite sides and of how one of the medals of the eldest generation of this family came to be back in Manchester with the surviving British soldier.

A really enjoyable book, well researched, and will there be a sequel?......Very thought provoking to someone who has an ancestor who fought in the Boer War.

Fact Fiction Friday ~ Siege of LadySmith

Continuing our new and regular feature here at Historical Fiction.  

Each Friday we will publish an historical fact based upon the date. Each fact will be accompanied by a book(s) title and perhaps a review or other snippet.

28th February 1900 ~  The Second Boer War - 118 Day Siege of Ladysmith is lifted. The book to accompany the fact is Siege by David Humphry. 

I read this book back in 2007 when I obtained an early advance, signed copy. Pop back tomorrow when I will share my review of the book!

Fact Fiction Friday ~ Heading to India

Continuing our new and regular feature here at Historical Fiction.  

Each Friday we will publish an historical fact based upon the date. Each fact will be accompanied by a book(s) title and perhaps a review or other snippet.

24th January 1857 ~ The University of Calcutta was founded as the first University in Asia. Today there are two books to accompany the fact. First is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. This book I read back in 2005. From my brief notes I enjoyed it as it made my top ten of the year!

The second book is a book I read more recently, I think back in 2013. I recall being excited to read it, and the book was good, but it could have been so much better. That book is The Fishing Fleet by Anne De Courcy

Fact Fiction Friday ~ We are Going Underground!

Continuing our new and regular feature here at Historical Fiction.  

Each Friday we will publish an historical fact based upon the date. Each fact will be accompanied by a book(s) title and perhaps a review or other snippet.

10th January 1863 ~ The world famous London Underground opened between Farringdon and London Paddington - The Book to accompany today's fact snippet is Underground London - Travel beneath the streets by Stephen Smith

White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India by William Dalrymple

The June choice for our reading group was The White Mughals by William Dalrymple. The comments from the group were split into essentially three camps, those that loved it, those who read it and persevered and those who hated it.

I fell into the loved it camp and I did love it. The book took the author 5 years to write. It is thoroughly researched and painstakingly written, threading the storyline together with the use of historical documents and probable hypothesis when the documentation can not support the theory.

The book is based upon the surviving papers and diaries from 18th Century British aristocrats who spent many years in India. What is shown is India in context with history; the defeat of Napoleon in Egypt for example. The book explores the culture exchange, where many of the men in the region "go native" with local women and then send the children back to England to be educated. The book explores the Christian/Muslim/Hindu exchange which was perfectly acceptable in the 18th Century, alas when the 19th Century appears that exchange and the "go native" approach is scorned and unaccepted.

The book does cover the romance of James Achilles Kirkpatrick who was a promising British resident in Hyderabad, and a young noblewoman and descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, called Khair-un-Nissa and whilst this romance is essentially the backbone of the book, it in some ways fades into the background amongst the historical aspects of India and the region at this time.

Even so, I loved the book, I loved the provision of sources and notes and the depth of research and for me this has to be the read of the year.

The Fishing Fleet – Anne de Courcy

When the author was undertaking her research we did correspond rather briefly, but my interest regarding my ancestral links to India was out of the time frame for Anne's book.

I waited rather eagerly for the book to be published. Once it hit the shelves of my local library I managed to grab the book and then quietly enjoy it.

The book looks at women who migrated to India looking for a husband during the period of the mid 19th Century until 1947, when India gained it's Independence.

I loved the colour of the cover which for me set the tone of the book. I enjoyed the depth of the research, which was gathered from letters and memoirs of the time and the focus of the book.

There is a suitable explanation of why the women were there, and why they risked travelling the globe to find a husband, but there was little detail on how the women adapted to the change in culture and their experiences. The author further explores the processes in India at this time, the bureaucracy of India and mixed raced children and how they were viewed.

Despite all that, I was a little disappointed. There is little scope given to how these women coped, not only with the country and culture, but also how they experienced married life with the men they met in India. I felt as though the author ran out of steam with the subject matter before the end of the book.

I enjoyed it, but it could have been better.

The Widow's Redeemer by Philippa Jane Keyworth

A penniless young widow with an indomitable spirit. A wealthy viscount with an unsavory reputation. London, 1815: After her husband’s untimely death, Letty Burton comes up from the country with her domineering mother-in-law. Hiding a past she wishes to forget and facing an uncertain future, all she wants is to navigate London Society as a silent companion. A chance meeting with London’s most eligible bachelor sets in motion a series of events that will bring her quiet life under the unfriendly scrutiny of the ton. With the net of scandal, debts, and rivals closing in, will she let her dark past dictate her life forever? Will she learn to trust again? And most importantly, will she allow herself to love?

When I was offered a chance to read this book I couldn't resist it because it sounded just like the traditional regencies I used to read and love. It had a penniless widow and a confirmed rake which are common characters in this type of stories and I jumped right into it.

The story starts with Letty Burton becoming a widow. It is apparent from the beginning that she did not have a happy marriage with her husband and that he has left her with an amount of debts that leave her near destitute. She eventually goes to live with her sister in law and once that young woman also becomes a widow she moves to London with her mother in law.

I struggled a bit with the beginning of the story because I felt that Letty and Beauford take a long time to finally meet and actually speak to one another. I also had some trouble with the characters. Letty felt a bit too good to be true, she is dignified, understanding, patient and everyone trusts her after meeting her for two minutes… Regarding Beauford I was sorry not to know more about him, he seemed like an interesting character once we got past his arrogant ways. He is not exactly amiable from the start but he does improve as he gets closer to Letty. A character that I did love was Major Deverill, Letty's friend, I was sorry not to see his happy ending come about during the course of the story.

Despite these problems, I was interested in knowing how Keyworth would make them fall for each other after a tumultuous first meeting. She does tell us about it but I wish we had spent more time seeing their relationship develop. I was surprised that we are introduced to a new secondary character and a secondary plot at some point instead of gaining deeper knowledge of them. That only made sense to me when I read the Author’s Note at the end of the book where Keyworth explains that she based her story in the Bible's Book of Ruth and gives enough information so that we can compare both stories.

This is a type of story I enjoy and I while this one didn’t totally work for me I would be interested in reading more by the author. She did keep me interested in the story and the characters. If you like Traditional Regencies and stories based on the Bible this might be a good one for you.

Grade: 3/5

The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener

Synopsis

From nineteenth-century London’s elegant ballrooms to its darkest slums, a spirited young woman and a nobleman investigating for the Crown unmask a plot by Napoleon to bleed England of its gold.

Chance led to Charlotte Raven’s transformation from chimney sweep to wealthy, educated noblewoman, but she still walks a delicate tightrope between two worlds, unable to turn her back on the ruthless crime lord who was once her childhood protector.

When Lord Edward Durnham is tapped to solve the mystery of England’s rapidly disappearing gold, his search leads him to the stews of London, and Charlotte becomes his intriguing guide to the city’s dark, forbidding underworld. But as her involvement brings Charlotte to the attention of men who have no qualms about who they hurt, and as Edward forges a grudging alliance with the dangerous ghosts of Charlotte’s former life, she faces a choice: to continue living in limbo, or to close the door on the past and risk her heart and her happiness on an unpredictable future.

When Michelle Diener contacted me to offer a review copy of this book, I was interested, but mainly because Michelle lives in Australia  and therefore I could count this book for several challenges. And then I noticed that Amy from Historical Fiction Virtual Tours was running a tour for the book. I volunteered because then not only would I intend to read it, I would actually read it and in a timely fashion! The thing is though, by the time I finished the book, I was happy to have read the book, not because of challenges or impetus to read, but because in the end this was a really good read!

The book opens with a scene that is quite unusual. A London lady finds herself with a chimney sweep stuck up her chimney because the sweep had grown too large, and the sweep is abandoned by her master because if the sweeps can't work, then he can't afford to feed them.

Fast forward a number of years, and we are introduced to Charlotte Raven. She is a young lady who is mostly at ease in the glamorous world of the ton but equally at home in the rougher parts of London. She is something of an oddity in the ton, because she is ward to a well respected lady who took her into her home and introduced her into the rarefied ways of the ton. She is also unusual in the stews because she is one of the lucky ones, one of the people who climbed out of a life of poverty. Charlotte is acutely aware of her own good fortune and does her best to help others get a start on a better life if they are prepared to make the necessary changes.

There are two main male characters in the book, both representing the two different parts of Charlotte's life. On one hand, Charlotte's childhood protector and love, Luke, is now running a crime ring. He rules the streets of his area which are filled with hardship and deprivation and more. On the other, Lord Edward Durnham. He is aloof, rarely seen in society but has a complicated secret life. When the two worlds collide, thanks predominantly to Charlotte's own actions, she is the one who has the power to control their fates. And yet, it is her own fate which may be the most difficult to decide given that she doesn't really fit in her new world but she certainly doesn't fit in the old world either.

Central to the drama between the characters is a plot which seems highly improbable, until you realise that it was taken straight from the pages of the history books! This plot is what gives the book it's title. I must confess that for the first parts of the book I was wondering precisely where the title fitted in, but it all became clear in due course. The only clue I am going to give you is that the book is set during the Napoleonic wars.

The thing about this book is that it doesn't really fit neatly into any sub-genre. There are times when you might think that what you are reading is building up to a historical romance story... but it's not only that. You may think that you are reading a historical mystery, and you are, but not in the sense that the heroine decides that she wants to be an amateur sleuth and sets out to solve a crime. Rather Charlotte is trying to find, or keep, her place -trying to keep one foot in both her past world and her present world.

I may have mentioned once or ten times now that I am currently reading Les Miserables. Whilst I am enjoying that book, it is a book that I am having to work hard at reading. By contrast, this book was a completed breeze to read and I closed the book already wondering if we were going to see more of these characters. As I look back with the added distance of a couple of days, there are probably a couple of plot holes, and there probably could have been a bit more in the way of character development, but in terms of the actually reading experience I had, it was perfect for me at the time. Just what I needed.

This was the first time I have read this author, and I will definitely be looking for more from her in the future, especially if there is a follow up book to this one.

Rating 4/5

Thanks to the author for providing a copy of the book along with a gorgeous bookmark. This did not influence my review.

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