More Five Star Book Reviews

Hey Friends!

I meant to get this blog out yesterday, but you know how life goes sometimes. The best intentions...and all that. So, without further ado, here are another five books that I gave the highest ratings to in the past year! Again, feel free to comment if you've read them and if you agree with my choices, or respectfully disagree. I'd love to hear from you!  Again, all synopses are borrowed from Goodreads, with my personal comments following after. Enjoy!

1.  (Historical Fiction) The Forgotten Queen by D.L. Bogdan:  Married by proxy to James IV, Margaret Tudor, the daughter of Henry VII, becomes the Queen of Scotland and, after a tragic loss, falls victim to the attentions of the ambitious Earl of Angus.  (Linda's Note:  I hadn't read anything by this author before, but will certainly again.  I hadn't read much on Margaret either, and this novel paints her as neither saint nor sinner, providing a highly entertaining glimpse into the turbulent, and often tragic, life she must have led. And now, of course, I want to read more about Margaret, a compliment to this novel's author!)

2.  (Non-Fiction)  Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail by Cheryl Strayed:  A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again. At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone. (Linda's Note:  This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE books read so far in 2014. I didn't even expect to like it, as I thought it would be all about hiking, but it's not. It's so much more. It's also about a woman's emotional journey through grief to healing. Whether hiking interests you or not, this is still a must-read. Put it on your "To Be Read" list now. 

3.  (Fiction-Mystery)  So Pretty It Hurts (Bailey Weggins Mystery #6) by Kate White: 
Bailey Weggins, the Manhattan-based thirtysomething true-crime journalist, is in a good place. She's enjoying her regular gig at Buzz, a leading celebrity magazine, getting freelance work, and hoping her first book will garner attention. In the love department, she's finally back in the game with her recently-turned-exclusive boyfriend, Beau Regan. When Beau heads out of town one early December weekend, Bailey accepts an invitation from her office friend Jessie to a music mogul's house in the country, hoping for a fun, relaxing getaway. But a weird tension settles over the houseguests--a glamorous crowd that includes the famously thin supermodel Devon Barr. An impending snowstorm only adds to the unease. So when Devon's lifeless body is found in her bed, Bailey immediately suspects foul play: she can't stop thinking of the day before, when a frightened Devon shivered in the woods and pleaded, "I have to get out of here. . . . It's not safe for me." When Bailey starts to nose around, she finds herself a moving target--running closer to the truth and straight into danger. (Linda's Note: This is the last novel (so far anyway, I have hopes for more!) in the Bailey Weggins murder mystery series by author, Kate White. I've read all of them, and once again, I enjoyed this novel even better than the last. I've also enjoyed Ms. White's single title "The Sixes" and look forward to reading her latest novel, "Hush". If light mysteries are on your reading radar, you must give this series a try. Finishing this last novel feels like I'm saying good-bye to an old friend, and that speaks volumes, as mysteries are not usually a genre I read.)

4.  (Historical Fiction)  To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn (Ladies in Waiting #1) by Sandra Byrd: Meg Wyatt has been Anne Boleyn's closest friend since they grew up together on neighboring manors in Kent. So when twenty-five-year-old Anne's star begins to ascend, of course she takes Meg along for the ride.Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling... at first. Meg is made mistress of Anne's wardrobe, and she enjoys the spoils of this privileged orbit and uses her influence for good. She is young and beautiful and in favor; everyone at court assumes that being close to her is being close to Anne.But favor is fickle and envy is often laced with venom. As Anne falls, so does Meg, and it becomes nearly impossible for her to discern ally from enemy. Suddenly life's unwelcome surprises rub against the court's sheen to reveal the tarnished brass of false affections and the bona fide gold of those that are true. Both Anne and Meg may lose everything. When your best friend is married to fearsome Henry VIII, you may soon find yourself not only friendless but headless as well. (Linda's Note: One of the best historical fiction novels I've read. Told from the point-of-view of the fictional Meg Wyatt, we are given a first hand look into the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn. Meg is a childhood friend of Anne's, and follows her to court to become one of her ladies. The writing is spot-on, the voice engaging and the pacing perfect. I also liked how the author didn't paint Anne Boleyn as either sinner or saint, which in my mind was the correct way to go. An excellent and enjoyable read.) 

5.  (Historical Fiction) The Other Queen (The Tudor Court #6) by Philippa Gregory:  
This dazzling novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary, Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "guest" of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick.The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailers will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treachery and treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman. (Linda's Note: Philippa Gregory can do no wrong when she writes of the Tudors. This novel just proves it again. I could not put it down. Highly recommended!)
 

"To Find You" Excerpt

Hi Friends:

It's been nearly five months since I last posted a blog and I apologize for my slacking. The good news is that I've been busy finishing and publishing my third novel, "To Find You", a historical fiction romance set in 1912.

Below is a very brief synopsis of the story (no spoilers!) and half of the first chapter for your enjoyment. I was inspired to write this novel after watching a documentary on Typhoid Mary, and the question popped into my head...what happened to the immigrant survivors of the Titanic who were coming to America and lost their spouse, the bread winner in the family? How did these people, brand new to America adjust and survive?  While Irish immigrant Brigid O'Brien, the heroine of this novel, was not aboard the Titanic, someone she dearly needed  was...and when he did not return to America, her life changed forever.

So, go grab a cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy this excerpt from "To Find You". I hope it gives you as much pleasure to read as it did for me to write. If interested in the rest of Brigid's journey, links to the novel (print book and e-books) follow. And, as always thanks for following my blog.  And now, without further ado:

Synopsis:

Brigid O’Brien is not in love with David Cavanaugh, but agrees to marry him and move to America to escape an arranged marriage in Ireland.

All hope of a bright future fades, however, when David perishes on the Titanic. With nowhere to turn, Brigid finds work as a kitchen maid in the stately mansion of millionaire Charles Ransom and his wife Eliza. Unfortunately, Charles and Eliza each have their own plans for the new maid.

Thomas Ashton is a medical student, studying in New York. Hearing of the Titanic disaster, and hoping to aid the survivors, he goes to Pier 54, but can’t reach the ship due to the crowds. It is there, however, that he meets the beautiful Irish immigrant, Brigid. Over the next few weeks, Thomas and Brigid become friends, and romance blossoms.

Enter Charles Ransom who decides he’s waited long enough to put his ideas for Brigid into action. When Brigid inexplicably goes missing, Thomas teams up with Eliza Ransom, and together they search for Brigid and a missing child.

Set in the spring and summer of 1912, “To Find You” is a historical fiction novel and a mystery. Most of all, it is the tale of romance between a man and a woman, and a story about the never-ending love between a mother and child.

To Find You

Chapter One

Brigid Mary O’Brien noted the date - April 18th, 1912 - and tried not to cry. Today should have been her wedding to David Cavanaugh. But instead of standing before a New York City justice of the peace, she stood on Pier 54 in the cold and drizzle, while David’s sister, Clara, clenched her arm in a vise-like grip.

Not that Brigid could blame Clara, nor think to ask her to let go, even though she was fairly certain her arm would be bruised within hours. That didn’t matter. None of it did anymore. Not the wedding, not the weather, not even the homesickness in Brigid’s heart for her beloved County Donegal. The only thing that mattered now was seeing David Cavanaugh walk off the Carpathia and home to safety.

Deep in her heart, however, Brigid knew the chances of David surviving the sinking of the Titanic were slim. The latest reports on the ship’s disaster said that only seven hundred people or so had been saved, mostly women and children. Thousands perished in the early morning hours of April 15th when Titanic sank, and Brigid prayed that David was not one of them. But, given the thousands of people on and near the pier, each waiting for a relative or friend as she and Clara did, Brigid knew odds were against them.

“Here they come!” A man a few rows ahead shouted and pointed at the Carpathia now docked against the pier. Brigid lifted her eyes from the rosary she held between her chilled fingers. The gigantic ship stood magnificent, illuminated by the many powder flashes from photographers who perched aboard a trailing tugboat.

Passengers crammed the Carpathia’s deck. Brigid’s heart wrenched as a gangplank lowered and they began to disembark. The crowd strained and stretched in hope of finding a loved one.

Brigid said a silent prayer that David was among the passengers. Beside her, Clara stifled a sob. Brigid patted Clara’s hand, but remained silent, for what words would comfort this woman who most likely lost a brother? She was also afraid that if she tried to help Clara, her own emotion would boil up and erupt, and she might say something to upset Clara further. For, should David be dead, not only would Brigid not marry, but she’d be dependent on Clara’s kindness and generosity to help her adjust to this new country. She did not know a soul here, and she didn’t wish to be a burden, especially if Clara would be grieving. But without David, Brigid would be lost. He was her future. Her past was in County Donegal, to which she certainly could not return. Those bridges had been burned.

Brigid pushed the memories of home far into the recesses of her mind and returned her attention to the Carpathia.

“Those aren’t the Titanic survivors.” A baritone voice startled her from her thoughts. Brigid looked to her left. The voice belonged to a tall man with sun-streaked, light-brown hair, a tailored overcoat and dark bowler hat.

“No, I be supposin’ not,” Brigid answered.

“How do you know?” From somewhere behind Brigid, a woman spoke, her voice choked with accusatory anger and angst.

“They have luggage.” Brigid and the gentleman spoke in unison. They turned sad glances on each other, and their eyes locked. Brigid could not help but be drawn to the compassion the man’s brilliant light blue eyes conveyed. She didn’t even know him, yet his sympathetic expression seemed to say he understood what was in her heart at this moment. She forced her gaze back on the ship.

Brigid watched as more passengers descended. From what she could see, the original Carpathia passengers wore furs or stylish coats like the one David had bought her in England. He had wanted her to look smart when she sailed with Clara on their earlier voyage over on the Olympic. He had given her so much in the brief time she knew him, not only a fancy coat, hat and dresses, but his unwavering love. And she hoped that one day, she’d return that love with her own. In time she’d fall in love with David Cavanaugh and repay him for helping her escape a marriage to a man of her parents’ choice. But perhaps now, it was too late. If David had perished, he did so believing she loved him. She had truly wanted to.

As the last of the original Carpathia passengers left the ship, Brigid felt her toes begin to numb in her new, tight-fitting button shoes. Her stomach growled with hunger.

“Here come the Titanic survivors,” said the man beside her. She nodded in acknowledgement as her throat clenched tight and her eyes welled. Many bedraggled looking women and children, and too few men, left the ship. They carried no luggage and wore makeshift clothing, most likely borrowed from Carpathia’s passengers.

The crowd around Brigid wailed and sobbed as each survivor descended the gangplank. Waiting officers escorted the weary travelers to a nearby building.

“I don’t see David.” Clara spoke softly, her grip on Brigid’s arm loosening.

“I don’t either.” Brigid blinked back tears. She could barely see the faces of the survivors, but it was heartbreakingly easy to discern that none were David. They didn’t fit his height or form. He had been, or was, Brigid corrected herself, unusually tall.

“Where will they go if they have no family here?” asked woman in the crowd.

Brigid wondered the same thing and praised the saints above that she, at least, had Clara.

“Well, if they have no family or friends in America to greet them, The Travelers’ Aid Society of New York, the Women’s Relief Committee and other organizations are on hand to provide clothing and transportation to shelters.” Again, the answer came from the man at her side. She looked at him again.

“How do you know all this?” she asked.

“I’m a medical man.” He offered a kind smile. “Came to the pier to help out, but with this crowd, I can’t get near the building or ship to offer my assistance.” He turned his mesmerizing blue eyes on Brigid, and his voice softened. “Did you have someone on the Titanic?”

She glanced at the Carpathia and found she could not answer. She simply nodded as her tears began to fall, for David’s fate now revealed itself on the ship’s empty deck. The crowd around her thinned; the sounds of their heart wrenching sobs would haunt her forever.

She felt Clara let go of her arm, and Brigid hastily wiped her own tears. She must help Clara now. Whereas she had lost a future, Clara had lost a brother. And, with a most deserved rush of horrendous guilt, Brigid knew Clara’s grief would be the greater.

She turned to offer Clara comfort, but to Brigid’s horror, Clara slumped to a sitting position on the ground, ready to topple over.

“Clara!” Brigid stooped to catch her, but her slight frame could barely manage to keep the taller woman righted. The gentleman at Brigid’s side rushed to help. He knelt beside Clara, held her upright, and gently patted her cheek to keep her from fainting full on.

Brigid knelt beside her as well and rubbed Clara’s arms to keep her warm.

Brigid was relieved to find her friend conscious. “Don’t worry, Clara. I’m here.”

David’s sister, who had treated her with nothing but kindness since they left England, slapped Brigid’s hands away. She glared as if Brigid herself killed David. And when Clara finally spoke, she spewed more malice and hatred than Brigid had ever heard in her twenty-three years.

“Get your filthy hands off me, you money-grubbing Irish whore!”
  ***************************************************************************

To Find You: Available in e-book form at:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I20AR8A
Smashwords.com: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/399264

Print book available at Amazon.com: http://amzn.com/1494985624

Not available for the Nook yet, but stay tuned!
  

My 2012 Recommended Reading List!

     2012 is not quite over, but the coming weeks will be busy, and I won't finish reading any more novels this month, so I'm going to go ahead and answer what you all have been wondering: "What novels did Linda read and like best this year?"

     Yes, it's time for "Linda's Favorite Novels of 2012"!!!!  Now, please note that these are novels/books I read during 2012, not ones that were necessarily published in 2012. I don't know why I feel that is important to mention, but there you go. My reading taste also varies widely, so hopefully, whether you love romance or non-fiction, you'll find something on my list to add to your "Can't Wait To Read This!" list.

     I need to add an aside. I have so many talented friends who are authors, and whose books I love and adore.  I would have loved to include each and every book I read by these talented authors, but then my blog would have turned into a novel itself. Plus, its very hard to choose favorites from all that talent, so rest assured dear Friends Who Are Authors, your books are very special to me as well! 


     And so, without further ado! (And in  no particular order. These all received 5/5 star ratings from me.)

Linda's Favorite Novels of 2012!

1.   "A Dangerous Inheritance"  by Alison Weir  (Historical Fiction) -  England's Tower of London was the terrifying last stop for generations of English political prisoners. A Dangerous Inheritance weaves together the lives and fates of four of its youngest and most blameless: Lady Katherine Grey, Lady Jane's younger sister; Kate Plantagenet, an English princess who lived nearly a century before her; and Edward and Richard, the boy princes imprisoned by their ruthless uncle, Richard III, never to be heard from again. Across the years, these four young royals shared the same small rooms in their dark prison, as all four shared the unfortunate role of being perceived as threats to the reigning monarch.

2.  "The Last Queen" by C.W. Gortner -  (Historical Fiction) Juana of Castile, the last queen of Spanish blood to inherit her country’s throne, has been for centuries an enigmatic figure shrouded in lurid myth. Was she the bereft widow of legend who was driven mad by her loss, or has history misjudged a woman who was ahead of her time? In his stunning new novel, C. W. Gortner challenges the myths about Queen Juana, unraveling the mystery surrounding her to reveal a brave, determined woman we can only now begin to fully understand.  

3.  "Mercury: An intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury" by Lesley-Ann Jones (Biography)- As lead vocalist for the iconic rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury’s unmatched skills as a songwriter and flamboyant showmanship made him a superstar, and Queen a household name. But few people ever really glimpsed the man behind the glittering faÇade.      Mercury was the first major rock star to die from AIDS. Now, twenty years after his death, those closest to him are finally opening up about this pivotal figure in rock n’ roll. 

4. "The Inn at Rose Harbor" by Debbie Macomber (Romance) - Jo Marie Rose first arrives in Cedar Cove seeking a sense of peace and a fresh start. Coping with the death of her husband, she purchases a local bed-and-breakfast—the newly christened Rose Harbor Inn—ready to begin her life anew. Yet the inn holds more surprises than Jo Marie can imagine.  

5. "Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13" by Jim Lovell (Non-Fiction) - The full story of the moon shot that almost ended in catastrophe has never been told, but now Lovell and coauthor Jeffrey Kluger bring it to vivid life. What begins as a smooth flight is transformed into a hair-raising voyage from the moment Lovell calls out, "Houston, we've got a problem."  

6. "Best Enemies" by Jane Heller (Fiction) - Book publicist Amy Sherman tripped over it when she caught her fiancé horizontally attached to her best friend, the impossibly tall, inexcusably blonde, and insufferably gorgeous Tara Messer, who added insult to injury by marrying the cad right out from under her.  After four years of therapy, Amy's finally back on track-until she has to publicize the hottest new book of the season by "the next Martha Stewart." Nightmares do come true. It's the dreaded Tara who's the author, and why shouldn't she write a bestseller about perfection? She's the perfect woman enjoying the perfect life with the perfect man. Who'd ever guess she's living the perfect lie? 

7.  "Victoria R.I." by Elizabeth Longford (Biography) -  In this biography, Lady Longford, long recognized as an authority on the subject, gives a full account of Queen Victoria's life and provides her unique assessment of the monarch. Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 on the death of her uncle, William IV. In 1840, she married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

8. "'Til Death Do Us Part" (Bailey Weggins Mystery #3)  by Kate White- (Fiction/Mystery) - In Bailey's latest outing, she takes the plunge into a world of domestic divas and deadly nuptial doings. When she gets a call from Ashley Hanes on a frigid night, Bailey expects to be hit up for fashion show tickets. Instead Ashley reveals that two bridesmaids from Peyton Cross's wedding have recently died in freak accidents...and Ashley is terrified she's next.  

9.  "Bring Up the Bodies" Wolf Hall #2 by Hilary Mantel (Historical Fiction) - The sequel to Hilary Mantel's 2009 Man Booker Prize winner and New York Times bestseller, Wolf Hall delves into the heart of Tudor history with the downfall of Anne Boleyn.  

10. "703: How I Lost More than a Quarter Ton and Gained My Life" by Nancy Makin (Non Fiction) - Nancy Makin weighed an astounding 703 pounds in May 2000. She was forty-five years old and had diabetes and heart disease. Thanks in equal parts to shame and logistics, she'd been homebound for a dozen years. But all that changed after a gift from her sister: a computer. A technophobe, Nancy ignored it for months, until finally boredom and curiosity pushed her into cyberspace. And there, in a chat room, she found the friendliness, the support, and even the love she'd been missing for so long. Nobody flinched when Nancy spoke up; people treated her with the same respect accorded to everybody else. Thanks to these emotional connections, Nancy's life was transformed. 

11. "A Body to Die For" (Bailey Weggins Mystery #2) by Kate White (Fiction/Mystery) - Bailey thinks a weekend at a friend's country inn and spa sounds like the perfect pick-me-up after her recent brush with death. Unfortunately, the publicity that follows Bailey's discovery of a dead body in a mud wrap won't be a selling point for the healthful qualities of her friend's otherwise delightfully elegant Massachusetts resort.

12. "Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell is This?" by Marion Meade (Biography) - with an afterward by Marion Meade.  

13. "The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, The Epidemic That Shaped Our History" by Molly Caldwell Crosby (Non-Fiction) - The American Plague reveals the true story of yellow fever, recounting Memphis, Tennessee's near-destruction and resurrection from the epidemic-and the four men who changed medical history with their battle against an invisible foe that remains a threat to this very day.

14. "Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife" by Irene Spencer (Non-Fiction) -  Irene Spencer did as she felt God commanded in becoming the second wife to her brother-in-law Verlan LeBaron. When the government raided their community-the Mormon village of Short Creek, Arizona-seeking to enforce the penalties for practicing polygamy, Irene and her family fled to Verlan's family ranch in Mexico. Here they lived in squalor and desolate conditions with Verlan's six brothers, one sister, and numerous wives and children. This appalling and astonishing tale has captured the attention of readers around the world. Irene's inspirational story reveals how far religion can be stretched and abused and how one woman and her children found their way out, into truth and redemption.

15. "I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down" by Jennifer Hudson (Non-Fiction) - Soulful and sultry, Jennifer Hudson wowed the world with her powerful voice in American Idol's third season, and then took Hollywood by storm with a star turn in Dreamgirls that won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. But before we knew her as an American Idol standout, Jennifer was singing in her church choir in the South side of Chicago. This uplifting memoir tells the story of Jennifer's meteoric rise from American Idol to Dreamgirls to her amazing weight loss on the mega blockbuster Weight Watchers diet plan. 

16.  "Nefertiti" by Michelle Moran (Historical Fiction) - Love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict—Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.

17. "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York" by Deborah Blum (Non-Fiction) -  Deborah Blum, writing with the high style and skill for suspense that is characteristic of the very best mystery fiction, shares the untold story of how poison rocked Jazz Age New York City. In The Poisoner's Handbook Blum draws from highly original research to track the fascinating, perilous days when a pair of forensic scientists began their trailblazing chemical detective work, fighting to end an era when untraceable poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime.

Happy Reading in 2013!!!!