Lincoln, the Civil War and Chiaverini: Reviews

dear readers,

I have taken some courses in American History but many were beginner courses that briefly touched on Civil War and Lincoln.  Jennifer Chiaverini seems to have done a great deal of research pre to post Cival War and the key players...she has written three standalone historical fiction focused on that time...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

MRS. LINCOLN'S RIVAL

4 STARS 

Kate Chase Sprague is the eldest daughter of an ambitious lawyer, Salmon P. Chase who had his eye on the Presidential seat.  With the death of his second wife, Kate becomes Salmon's hostess.  She was at his side to attend parties and threw parties on his behalf.  Kate saw herself as the First Lady as her father rose in politics.  Unfortunately for Kate and Salmon, Abraham Lincoln would become President and thus putting Kate and Mary Todd Lincoln's at odds.

While Kate liked Mr. Lincoln she felt snubbed by his dull wife.  Mary  on the other hand thought Kate was snubbing her because Kate felt she was the rightful First Lady.  The two would try to outdo the other through proper social circles.  

Kate then focuses on her own life and falls for an ambitious Rhode Island politician William Sprague.  The two political minds seem perfect for one another or do they?

I enjoyed this novel but it is a bit overly descriptive in the day to day activities I appreciated most of the acts as I did not know too much about Lincoln's presidency or the key players.  At the time I found the main character, Kate Chase, to be arrogant but she did not turn me off reading the book. Other than Lincoln and Kate's younger sister most of the characters seemed unlikeable - very flawed but realistic characters.

After reading this novel I was hooked and decided to read Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker which seemed to detail more of Mary Todd Lincoln's life through her personal dressmaker...

MRS. LINCOLN'S DRESSMAKER

3 STARS 

Mrs. Lincoln dressmaker is Elizabeth "Lizzie" Keckley a freed slave with her own dress shop frequented by all the women in Washington high society.  When Abraham Lincoln becomes President his wife Mary looks to Lizzie to dress her for every event.  Mary is a nervous woman afraid that everyone is looking down on her and is easily agitated.  Lizzie soon discovers more about the First Lady and become her confident.  In fact, Mary greatly relies on LIzzie.

First half of the novel is LIzzie getting to know Mary and is living a good life.  When the President is assassinated Mary is left alone and becomes more unstable.  Mary now has less pull and even less wealth but has not come to terms with it.  Once her debts get out of control she asks Lizzie to help sell the dresses Lizzie made for her.

Mary's debts and instability brings Lizzie down as well.  She leaves her shop to help Mary and loses revenue and clients.  Her association with the former First Lady also brings her down socially.  Lizzie seems to be Mary's maid more than a friend that she says she is.  When Lizzie is pushed into writing a memoir she thinks this may restore Mary and her's reputation instead this breaks their friendship and Mary spirals down mentally.  

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Keckley does in fact write a memoir and this seems to be the basis of this novel.  Again Chiaverini gives a lot of information and some of it is not useful to the story.  Rather it seems like a random trivia bit.  I did not like this novel as much as Mrs. Lincoln's Rival.  Mary and Lizzie were not overly likeable but also seemed to lack the engaging characteristics.

The Spymistress is also a story involving a real-life historical figure but is told from the South...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

THE SPYMISTRESS

4 STARS 

In Spymistress Chiaverini tells the story of a wealthy Southern spinster who aligned herself with the Union side.  Elizabeth Van Lew's finacee died before they could marry and has remained true to his memory.  She lived with her widowed mother, married brother (with his wife and two daughters) and houseful of "freed" slaves.  Her slave-holding father made a stipulation in the will that the slaves could never be freed but the Van Lew women have told the slaves in their eyes they are.  

When the Civil war begins the Van Lew family, minus her sister-in-law, align themselves with the Union but have to do so quietly.  It becomes dangerous to help or side with the Union side so Elizabeth decides to go undercover like other "Unionists".  She and her household risk everything to save innocent lives - black and white.  

"Although Van Lew was inducted posthumously into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the astonishing scope of her achievements has never been widely known. In Chiaverini's riveting tale of high-stakes espionage, a great heroine of the Civil War finally gets her due." (From Amazon).

I knew that the Confederates were unkind to the Union side but I did not know that civilians in the South were treated so unkind.  The atmosphere reminded me of Germany Nazi or the Salem Witch trials and made me shudder.  I liked Elizabeth Van Lew a lot as well as her mother.  I think this is a novel I would read again.



Chiaverini has my interest so I will definitely read more books by her and I will try her Elm Creek series in the near future.

love,
kris

Lawhon Beautifully Revives An Old Case

dear readers,

By now you know I love a good mystery and historical fiction...add a true cold case story and it is the perfect night of reading...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS
written by Ariel Lawhon
genre: historical fiction, true crime, mystery, suspense

4 STARS 

Based on a true scandalizing case where 1930's Justice Joseph Crater seemed to disappear into thin air.  Ariel Lawhon uses fiction along with facts to weave an answer to Crater's disappearance.

We see Crater through the eyes of three women...his wife, Stella, who is the ultimate supportive trophy wife dressed in designer duds and lives her life according to society's rules...his mistress, Ritzi, a girl from a small town trying to become an actress but is only a chorus showgirl...his maid, Maria Simon, wife of a police detective trying to earn money to supplement their lives...each holds secrets of the man and of their own.

Thirty five years later Stella meets Detective Simon and finally offers him the truth..

Lawhon uses fiction along with facts to really make the story come alive. The writing and setting of the 1930s seemed quite realistic. It adds flavour to the setting and story.  The three women in this story each tell their story and Lawhon does a great job weaving their story together.  

Justice Joseph Crater

For more information about this case and what is fact from fiction please see wikipedia: 
//enwikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Force_Crater









love,
kris

I Tried Staying Awake While Reading this Novel: Review

dear readers,

The following review is for Anna Hope's debut novel, WAKE.  Anna Hope is a British actress well-known for her role in Crime and Punishment.  From reading Wake you can tell that the author researched the era but forgets a bit of the heart of the story...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

WAKE
written by Anna Hope
genre: historical fiction, world war I, literary fiction

3 STARS

"London, 1920. The city prepares to observe the two-year anniversary of Armistice Day with the burial of the unknown soldier. Many are still haunted by the war: Hettie, a dance instructress, lives at home with her mother and her brother, who is mute after his return from combat. One night Hettie meets a wealthy, educated man and finds herself smitten with him. But there is something distracted about him, something she cannot reach. . . . Evelyn works at the Pensions Exchange, through which thousands of men have claimed benefits from wounds or debilitating distress. Embittered by her own loss, she looks for solace in her adored brother, who has not been the same since he returned from the front. . . . Ada is beset by visions of her son on every street, convinced he is still alive. Helpless, her loving husband has withdrawn from her. Then one day a young man appears at her door, seemingly with notions to peddle, like hundreds of out-of-work veterans. But when he utters the name of her son, Ada is jolted to the core. 

The lives of these three women are braided together, their stories gathering tremendous power as the ties that bind them become clear, and the body of the unknown soldier moves closer and closer to its final resting place." (From Amazon) 

I really wanted to like this novel but something about the writing kept me at an arm length.  The writing and characters remind me of 1940s novels which I really liked.  I also liked the realism of the soldiers' lives along with the families they left behind.  I gave it a three because as I said above I could not feel the novel and also at times I found myself drifting off as it did not seem to flow between characters that well.

love,

kris

Review: Mrs. Poe

dear readers,

Everyone knows Edgar Allan Poe for his gothic poem, The Raven and story, The Tell-Tale Heart but did you know his own life was just as gothic as his writing? Poe's young life has had much upheaval and when he was 27 he romanced his 13 year old first cousin.  When Poe meets commercial and critical success with The Raven he meets fellow writer Frances Osgood. Frances is a mother of two young girls living with friends.  Her own husband is busy romancing rich women and leaves her in New York alone.  When Frances - a non-gothic writer - meets handsome Poe things only heat up...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

MRS. POE
written by Lynn Cullen
genre: literary fiction, historical fiction, romance

2.5 Stars 

Mrs. Poe is based on true events, rumours and with Cullen's imagination.  In 1845 Edgar Allan Poe was known for his gothic poem, The Raven and marrying his very young first cousin, Virginia.  Frances Osgood, a writer, has been abandoned by her artist husband.  She and her two young daughters take refuge in New York at a friend's house.  Through a literary society she meets the enigmatic Poe and forges a connection through writing and attraction.  Mrs. Poe requests to meet Frances claiming to be a fan of her.  Curious Frances goes to see her and does not know what to think of the sickly Mrs. Poe.  As Frances visits and spends more time with the couple and Mrs. Poe's mother she grows more attracted to Edgar and more scared of Virginia.  As rumours begin to fly and poems exchanged the once happy trio is hurled into dangerous games.

While the subject matter and plot was interesting the book felt long and then started to get dull. The writing was very flowery which might have been due to the book being about poets.  Yet this added to the book feeling longer. I did finish the novel to see the author's interpretation of the facts and gossip. With better editing I think this novel would have been more engaging.

While the novel did not engage me the story of Poe, his young wife and maybe mistress has definitely intrigued me.

love, 
kris

Review: Whiter than Snow - Sandra Dallas

dear readers,

WHITER THAN SNOW

Written by Sandra Dallas

(Audio)

genre: literary fiction, historical fiction

3.5 STARS

1920s - Swandyke, Colorado - The novel opens with an avalanche heading towards the school house and branches out to show the past life of Swandyke residents.

There is Lucy Patch - born and raised in Swandyke - daughter of a miner and sister to the town beauty.  Her  intelligence bides her time out of the mine and into the city and college life with the promise to return right after as per her father and sister, Dolly. 

Grace Foote is more than the snobby mine manager's wife...she was once a debutante and from a wealthy family whose fortune had crumbled.  Wanting to go to college she is instead sent to finishing school which seems to be of no use in the small mining town.

Joe Cobb once had dreams of walking beside a white man until he saw a lynching of his school teacher.  He now finds himself on the run from Alabama with his young daughter.

Minder joined the war not because he wanted to help the black man but he didn't know what else to do. He finally finds a sense of family only to be ruined by the war that once was though to bring him happiness.

 Essie is a prostitute who has the talent of sewing which keeps her fed and housed.  She was once from a good Jewish family with dreams of having a better life.

They now must turn to one another in the face of tragedy

A great novel!  The characters are so different and come from different pasts but are brought together when tragedy strikes the small mining town.  Some of the men in this novel were so insensitive and the women seemed to have suffered the same path of men bringing down love and forcing them towards one road...Swandyke.

love,
kris

How TWILIGHT Should Have Been Written: Review

dear readers, 

Ever feel like the teen angst and whining in the Twilight was going make you crawl the walls?  Not that it is a bad series it just felt simplistic, unedited and a lacked passion.  The kind of love that when you shut the book it makes you swoon a bit.  I have the solution of you...

THE DISCOVERY OF WITCHES 
(All Souls Trilogy: Book 1) 
written by Deborah Harkness
genre: fantasy, paranormal, romance, historical, literature

4 STARS

An epic forbidden relationship between a powerful Witch and ancient Vampire. It had Daemons, Witches and Vampires picking sides - for or against mixing of supernaturals. Enemies from all sides...threatening notes, kidnapping, stalking and murders. That is just the first part of the long yet quick novel.
It is a well written story that takes you away to another world and holds you a voluntary prisoner till the end! There is no flat love triangle or disturbing relationships. The characters are lively and jump from the pages.  And, the love...there is longing where he tries to keep her away from his dark side, but the push and pull has passion behind it.
 Matthew should be added to the list of tasty vampire men - handsome, worldly and of course brooding.   Diana, the hesitant witch, is his love and a strong heroine.  Did I mention this is only book one in the series?

*The Discovery of Witches was published February 2011.

http://deborahharkness.com/discovery-of-witches/

I am currently reading FALLEN (Book 1) by Lauren Kate another teen paranormal novel.  I am only halfway in the book and still in suspense.  This might be another good teen novel - will keep you posted.

love, 
kris

Lady Emily vs Lady Julia...Part II (A Review of Two Series)

dear readers,

AND IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE LADY JULIA...

SILENT IN THE GRAVE 

written by Deanna Raybourn

(Book 1)
genre: historical mystery, gothic

3.5 STARS

Lady Julia Grey's husband and childhood sweetheart, Edward, has died and she has set in for the year of mourning and taking care of the heir Sir Simon Grey.  On the day of her husband's death she meet the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane who claims he was hired by Edward and he may been been murdered.  She pushes those thoughts aside until discovers the threatening letters and forges ahead to solve a mystery that may not exist.

I loved Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily mysteries and found Lady Julia a good read while I wait for more Emily.  Set in Victorian times - Julia is apart of the eccentric March family whom I fell in love with and the servants were not lumped together as cardborad characters.  It is a fun historical mystery/romance.

link to summary: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/deanna-raybourn/silent-in-grave.htm

I have rest of the books on hold to read soon.  I will post links to my reviews when I have read them for those interested.

http://www.shelfari.com/books/3552591/Silent-in-the-Sanctuary/readers-reviews

Book 3: Silent on the Moor

Book 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling

Book 5: The Dark Enquiry

COMING SOON:

SILENT NIGHT 

(A Novella)

'Tis the season for an investigation! Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane return for a Christmas caper at Bellmont Abbey - .

After a year of marriage - and numerous adventures - Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together - until they find themselves at her father's ancestral estate, Bellmont Abbey, with her eccentric family and a menagerie of animals.

Nevertheless, Julia looks forward to a lively family gathering - but amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs. There are missing jewels, new faces at the Abbey, and a prowling ghost that brings back unwelcome memories from a previous holiday - one that turned deadly. Is a new culprit recreating 

When it comes to the first books in the series Lady Julia kicks Lady Emily's butt by .5 stars.  Alexander's series is mostly focused on Emily and then her relationship with the Queen's agent, Colin.  Raybourn, on the other hand, focuses on Julia and her family.  There is an attraction between Julia and private investigator, Nicholas and I find it to be more interesting.  Nicholas is mysterious and we only get his story in strands. In real life you may want to be married to Colin, but when it comes to novels you definitely want to fantasize about Nicholas. 

Julia's family plays a bigger part in the book which adds to the book's flavour; Emily's parents seem a bit more bland.  Raybourn's novel is a bit more dark and mystical - think Sherlock Holmes (novels not movies) mixed with Bronte, and Alexander's novel is more women's rights and adventure - think Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World mixed with Jane Austen.  I liked both books for what they were and if I had to pick, "Silent in the Grave" was the better of the two.  As for series...stay tuned.crimes of the past? And will Brisbane let Julia investigate - ? 

love, 
kris