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Showing posts with label World Settings: France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Settings: France. Show all posts
Friday, October 29, 2021
Shiver An Addicting, Thrill-a-Minute Page Turner
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"Snowboarding does something to me. It turns me into this demon who doesn't care about anyone else" (271).
Ten years ago, 33-year-old Milla Anderson was a pro snowboarder at the top of her game. Along with a crowd of other young athletes, she came to Le Rocher, a ski resort in the French Alps, to train while pitting herself against the best of the best. Amidst the tense, sometimes vicious, competition, friendships were formed, rivalries heightened, and enemies created. The season ended with Saskia Sparks—the most beautiful and conniving snowboarder among them—missing, presumed dead.
A decade later, Milla receives an invitation from a former Le Rocher friend to reunite at the resort. Although reluctant to return to the site and revisit the trauma she experienced there, she can't help but be intrigued. She hasn't seen or spoken to anyone from that fateful season on the mountain in the intervening years. Is it finally time to put the past behind her? Time to renew friendships, even rekindle a past flame? Despite her misgivings, Milla goes, only realizing too late that nothing about this mysterious reunion is quite what it seems. The resort is deserted, save for her and four others; their cell phones have disappeared; an innocent-seeming icebreaker game turns sinister; and everything is going bump in the night. With the threat of an oncoming snowstorm looming over the uneasy group, it's becoming quickly apparent that none of them is safe. Someone wants the truth about what happened ten years ago—and they'll stop at nothing to get it.
Shiver, a debut novel by Allie Reynolds, is my favorite kind of thriller. I mean, an atmospheric locked-room type mystery set in a remote location that features dangerous old secrets coming to the fore as nasty weather threatens to trap all the victims together in one place? Yes, please! Those kinds of stories always get my imagination whirling and my heart pumping. Although there are many things Shiver is not, it is a page turner. The story is a crazy, addicting thrill ride that kept me racing through the pages. Even though I figured out who was behind the reunion setup about halfway through the book, I still wanted to know what was going to happen next. While Shiver's plot kept me engaged, its characters are not a likable lot. They're admirable for their athleticism and determination, but not for their fickleness, petty jealousies, cruelty, and cold-hearted competitiveness. A good deal of the story, in fact, revolves around who slept with whom ten years ago, which I absolutely could have done without. Although we do see some growth in a couple of the characters, overall they're just a very messed up group. That, plus the fact that the story's a mite predictable, made Shiver less enjoyable for me. Still, for pure entertainment value, it's not a bad read as far as thrillers go. It definitely kept me engrossed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of One By One by Ruth Ware; In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware; The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse; The Guest List by Lucy Foley; And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, March 27, 2021
The Book of Lost Names Leaves Me Wanting More—And Not in a Good Way
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It's 1942 and Paris is fast becoming a dangerous place for Jews. This is brought home one terrifying night when Eva Traube's father is arrested by the Gestapo. A chance visit to a neighbor is all that saved Eva and her mother from being taken as well. With their names on the Nazis' round-up list, the women have targets on their backs. Despite her mother's insistence that she's not leaving Paris without her husband, Eva forces the issue. She forges new papers for them and the two women are able to sneak out of the city to Aurignon, a small mountain village in the Free Zone of south central France.
When the leader of a local Resistance group sees how well Eva's papers are forged, he urges her to put her skills to use by helping to make false papers for the Jewish children the group is smuggling into Switzerland. Although reluctant to put herself and her mother at risk, she agrees in exchange for shelter and promises for help in securing her father's release. As Eva systematically gives the fleeing kids new names, thus erasing their Jewish identities, she grows distressed as she realizes some of them will be too young to remember their true names when the war ends. Using an old, forgotten religious text, she records every one so the information will never be lost. With tension heating up in Aurignon, however, Eva's work and the secret record book are both in imminent danger...
Sixty-five years later, Eva is stunned to see a newspaper article about books recovered from Nazi stores after the war. Among them is one she never thought she would see again. Does she have the courage to revisit the traumas of her past in order to reveal the secrets she once protected with her life?
I find World War II endlessly fascinating, so I've read tons of books set during that time period. Because so many of them are so similar, I'm always on the lookout for those that bring something new to the genre. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel has been getting so much buzz that I thought it might do just that. And it does. Sort of. I've read few World War II novels about the French experience, so the book's setting was a new one for me. The forgery angle was also one I hadn't really encountered before. Both of these elements made the novel interesting. The rest of it, though? Meh. The characters are pretty cliché and there are no surprises in the plot. It's a very run-of-the-mill story, really, and one that is made even worse by stale, simplistic prose (I felt like I was reading a YA novel or even a middle-grade one, at times) and a predictable plot (I saw the twists coming from miles away and the novel's final scene is obvious from the get-go). The characters are likable because, for the most part, they're good people doing good things, but none of them are developed enough to feel like real human beings. Eva drove me a little nuts because she doesn't really do anything. Yes, she risks her life by creating forged documents, but it's all very benign—she's in no real danger until the very end of the book. Thus, for a war story, The Book of Lost Names is actually fairly dull, with not a lot of action to keep it exciting. It's really more of a romance than anything else. Since I never felt any real sparks between Eva and Rémy anyway, I didn't care all that much about the love story. I wanted more derring-do, more action, more suspense.
Don't get me wrong, The Book of Lost Names isn't a bad book. It kept my attention enough that I read to the end. It's also cleaner than most adult novels, which I appreciate. My problem is I just wanted more from it—more originality, more character development, more emotion, more excitement, etc. In the end, unfortunately, this was just an average read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels about World War II, although no specific titles are coming to mind)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, September 24, 2020
My Least Favorite Ware Novel Still Engrossing and Entertaining
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Erin and Danny are used to being "the help" at the private ski chalet they operate in the French Alps. One pampered group of vacationers is pretty much like every other one with their flashy wealth, entitled attitudes, and ludicrous requests. The duo notices tension among their newest guests—ten shareholders in a wildly successful social media start-up—almost immediately, but they brush it off as more petty squabbles between the rich and the privileged. They've seen it all before. Then a guest goes missing after an outing on the slopes. The suspicious disappearance casts a disturbing pall over the group, making their inherent, unnerving distrust of each other seem suddenly more sinister than snippy.
While guests launch a search party for their missing associate, the weather worsens by alarming degrees. An avalanche is building outside the chalet while, inside, guest after guest is turning up dead. With dawning horror, Erin and Danny realize that they're trapped in an isolated dwelling, cut off from any hope of rescue, with a cunning killer who wants everyone dead ...
As the title suggests, Ruth Ware's newest locked-room mystery, One By One, pays homage to Agatha Christie's most famous novel. It's not nearly as clever, though, and the guilty party(ies) in Ware's story is/are fairly obvious from the get-go. Still, Ware is famous for her edge-of-your-seat thrillers and her latest is no exception. The plot of One By One drags more than it should and it isn't nearly as twisty as those in the author's other stories, but all in all, it's still pretty darn riveting. Even though I could see where the tale was going, I still found it impossible to look away. As with every other Ware book (I've read them all), I ended up devouring this one fast and furious and far into the night, desperate to know what was going to happen next. Because it's a bit clumsy, a lot depressing, and features characters who aren't exactly likable charmers, One By One is probably my least favorite of Ware's novels. It did keep me engrossed and entertained, though, so I give it kudos for that. My enthusiasm for Ware isn't diminished either. I'm still looking forward to reading whatever she writes next.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other Ruth Ware novels as well as those by Gilly Macmillan, Paula Hawkins, Lucy Foley, and Mindy Mejia)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, disturbing subject matter, mild innuendo/sexual content, scenes of peril, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of One By One from the generous folks at Gallery Books via those at Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, February 08, 2020
WWI Underground City Novel Not As Immersive As Promised
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Rosalyn Acosta doesn't care for France or its famous bubbly, yet here she is on her way to the country's Champagne region on a buying trip for her boss' winery. Anyone would be envious of such a trip. For Rosalyn, however, it's a painful reminder of her honeymoon in Paris, a celebration of a marriage that ended too soon, leaving her paralyzed with grief. And debt. Hence, her need to bring in some lucrative French accounts.
A chance conversation on the plane with her vivacious Australian seatmate piques Rosalyn's interest in a little-known fact about Champagne's tumultuous history. During World War I, as bombs pelted the small town of Reims, France, its beleaguered citizens—mostly women and children—hid in the tunnels beneath the village's famous champagne houses. In this underground city, the resilient occupants ran shops, a school, and even continued to harvest and store champagne. As Rosalyn begins reading old letters describing wartime Reims from a young French soldier to his Australian pen pal, a marraine de guerre, she becomes so immersed in their story that she must know how it ends. Suddenly, the trip Rosalyn has been dreading becomes something much, much more intriguing.
While Rosalyn gets acquainted with Champagne and researches its fascinating history, she finds herself rising out of the ashes of grief, finding herself again, and experiencing hope for the first time since her husband died. Will she find all the answers she seeks in France?
I love me a dual-timeline novel, especially one that's based on an intriguing historical detail like the underground WWI city in Champagne. Throw in some old letters, a family mystery that will require a genealogical treasure hunt and you've pretty much caught me hook, line, and sinker. Which means I should have absolutely adored The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell. Despite the fact that it boasts a blend of elements I find particularly appealing, this novel turned out to be just an okay read for me. Why? As happens often in dual-timeline novels, I became more interested in the past storyline than the present and The Vineyards of Champagne spends most of its time in the latter. Rosalyn drove me a little crazy with her self-absorbed whining. I much preferred keeping company with the besieged folks of Reims. It's them and their lifestyle I wanted to know more about. Since I know little of France and nothing at all about champagne, I found these topics interesting. Overall, though, The Vineyards of Champagne just seems to go on forever without really immersing the reader in the most interesting part of its premise—the underground WWI city of Reims. In the end, then, I liked this novel well enough, just not as much as I wanted to. It's interesting in a lot of ways, but its focus isn't where I wanted it to be if that makes sense.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing's really coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
or brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Vineyards of Champagne from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, January 23, 2020
My First Audiobook a Slow, Gory Slog
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As an aspiring journalist, 16-year-old Nathalie Baudin is thrilled to be writing a column for Le Petite Journal. Even if the editor, an old family friend, hired her only as a favor to her unemployed mother and away-at-sea father. Even if she has to dress as a boy to do her reporting. Even if the job means spending her days studying corpses at Paris' public morgue. Despite her unladylike interest in the macabre, she's as horrified as everyone else when a serial killer begins preying on the city's young women. She's even more aghast when, while viewing the victims' bodies at the morgue, she begins having nauseating visions of them being brutalized. Most confusing of all, the scenes are from the perspective of the killer. Why is she having these strange visions? What could they possibly mean?
Soon Nathalie realizes that her gruesome waking dreams are a weird gift that could help the police find the killer who has been dubbed "The Dark Artist." But that means opening herself to more violent visions, which leave her frightened and disgusted. Is it worth her sanity to encourage the blood-soaked visions? As Nathalie searches for answers, she stumbles across shocking secrets about her family and herself. Her sleuthing soon attracts the attention of the murderer. With a killer on her own tail, she must find answers—and fast—before she becomes the next corpse lying on a slab for all of Paris to view.
Spectacle, a debut novel by Jodie Lynn Zdrok, has an intriguing premise and a creepy, atmospheric Jack the Ripper feel. While neither of these elements is all that original, the combination presents a compelling jumping-off point. Unfortunately, the story Zdrok spins from it is slow, with a lot of meandering around before it gets anywhere. The tale gets repetitious and dull, making its 368 pages feel like double that. Add in a lot of bloody, gory scenes, some of which made me feel physically ill, and Spectacle became a tough tale to get through. I did become invested enough in the story to finish it, but in the end, I just didn't find the book all that enjoyable or satisfying. Needless to say, I won't be bothering with the sequel, Sensational, which comes out in February.
I should mention that I listened to Spectacle as an audiobook—my first one ever. The narrator, Laurie Catherine Winkel, is okay. Her narration is a little stiff, with her French sounding more natural than her English. My daughter says she sounds like the Google Translate voice. I don't know if listening to Spectacle as opposed to reading it altered my experience with the book or not. I think I would have felt the same way, no matter what, but I'm still a noob when it comes to audiobooks, so who knows?
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting [The Body Finder; Desires of the Dead; The Last Echo; and Dead Silence] as well as various books about Jack the Ripper)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language; violence; disturbing subject matter; and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received a free finished audio copy of Spectacle as part of a promotion offered by Audible.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Art History Thriller Not Quite Thrilling Enough
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As the daughter of a passionate collector, 19-year-old Paulien Mertens knows art. She especially loves the Post-Impressionist paintings in her father's collection and longs to turn the family's barn into a museum showcasing the genre. Those dreams turn to dust when her father—along with many other art lovers—become the victims of a multi-million dollar con game perpetuated by Paulien's fiance, George Everard. Implicated along with her lover, Paulien is forced to flee Belgium in shame. It's 1922 and she is penniless and alone. Not without a bit of pluck, she runs to Paris, where she reinvents herself as a French art critic named Vivienne Gregsby. When she's hired as a translator by an eccentric American art collector, Paulien is once again enfolded into the vibrant world of art that she loves so much. As long as she keeps her true identity well hidden, she can revel in the chance to travel and consort with exciting new artists while helping Dr. Edwin Bradley acquire interesting paintings for his museum in Pennsylvania. She encourages her boss to recover her father's precious Post-Impressionist paintings, which she vows to return to their rightful owner as soon as possible.
While Paulien schemes to make her long-held dream come to pass, she finds herself in George's clutches once again. He wants her to do him a favor in exchange for his silence about her real identity. Before she knows it, she finds herself in an even bigger quandary—she's being accused of murdering Dr. Edwin Bradley. Can Paulien clear her name? Or will she lose everything, once again?
I adored The Art Forger, B.A. Shapiro's 2012 debut, so I was excited to try another of her historical art thrillers. Unfortunately, I wasn't as enamored of her newest, The Collector's Apprentice. While Shapiro's depiction of the 1920s art scene in Paris is interesting enough, it gets a little too detailed for someone like me who isn't all that interested in art. The extra information weighed down the story for me, making it drag, especially in the middle. I also didn't care much for the cast of this novel. Paulien is not all that sympathetic; although she wants justice for her father, her pursuit of it comes off as greedy, calculating, and manipulative. Overall, I still enjoyed the book. It just dragged and didn't engage me nearly as much as The Art Forger did.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (one F-bomb, plus milder expletives) and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Collector's Apprentice from the generous folks at Algonquin Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Friday, November 23, 2018
Underwhelming Thriller Doesn't Stand Out Among Its Many, Many Fellows
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ten years ago, six university friends from Oxford decided to spend an idyllic week at a quaint farmhouse in the French countryside. It was supposed to be a relaxing holiday away from books, homework, and college stress. When the group met Severine Dupas, the beautiful 19-year-old girl next door, things changed. Some welcomed the novelty of her presence, others resented it. A big fight ended the vacation, Severine vanished, and none of the friendships were the same afterward.
Now, a decade later, Severine's corpse has been discovered in a well near the farmhouse. Detectives are questioning everyone who knew her and everything that happened during the holiday week prior to her disappearance. Kate Channing, a 31-year-old London lawyer, stands to lose everything she's worked so hard for if she's named as Severine's murderer. As suspicion mounts against her, Kate struggles to make sense of what she remembers from the ill-fated holiday. What really happened during that week in France? Who wanted or needed Severine gone badly enough to take her life? Which of Kate's friends became a killer during the vacation Kate desperately wishes had never happened?
The French Girl, a debut novel by Scottish author Lexie Elliott, offers an intriguing premise with a heck-ton of potential. Unfortunately, the story starts slowly and never really gains momentum. Its plot and characters are intriguing enough that I kept reading, but not unique enough to make this psychological thriller stand out among its many, many fellows. In the end, The French Girl left me feeling underwhelmed and confused since Elliott left some story threads dangling. Still, I'm definitely willing to give the author another chance. Her upcoming sophomore novel, The Missing Years, sounds like the kind of Gothic thriller I adore. I will for sure be checking it out in April 2019.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware and Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day)
Grade:
for strong language, violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, May 07, 2018
"Modern" Pimpernel Novel Offers a Fun, Feminine Twist (With a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lady Scarlet Cavendish, a wealthy English widow, wears many disguises. At home, she masquerades as a feather-headed, fashion-obsessed debutante. While in France, she plays a harmless hag, a clever seamstress, a guillotine groupie, even a soldier—anything to aid the innocent victims of the country's bloody revolution. Her most secret identity, the one she guards with her very life, is that of the Pimpernel. A daring spy, the Pimpernel is a "man" of mystery who specializes in whisking French aristocrats out of the country right under the noses of their accusers. No one would believe a moneyed, well-bred society lady like Scarlet capable of such derring-do, which is the very reason she must pretend to be as incapable as possible. Lives depend on her ability to act a part (or two or three).
When Scarlet rescues the handsome, charming Comte Matteo Durand, she finds the last thing she wants to do with him is pretend. She would like nothing more than to act on her growing feelings, to allow herself to fall in love and settle down with the man who makes her heart pound and her soul swoon. She can't be entirely honest with him, though; revealing her identity as the Pimpernel could put them both at great risk. With powerful enemies and strong motivation to unmask the infamous spy, Matteo could be Scarlet's undoing—in every way possible. Can she truly trust the man she's grown to love? Can she risk the lives of innocent people by revealing herself to him? Will the desire burning in Scarlet's heart cause the unraveling of the bravest, most fearless hero of the French revolution?
I barely know anything about The Scarlet Pimpernel—the fictional hero of a series of novels penned by Baroness Orczy in the early 1900s—but I still enjoyed Jen Geigle Johnson's Scarlet, a "modern" twist on the classic tale. The story stars a likable couple, whose exploits are marked by action/adventure, humor, and romance. Scarlet makes a convincing heroine, although her antics definitely get far-fetched. Although it deals with serious issues, overall Scarlet is a fun, enjoyable novel that is both entertaining and compelling. At just over 200 pages, it's quick, it's clean (besides innuendo and some passionate kissing), and it's captivating. If you're looking for a light, romantic tale, definitely give this one a try.
(Readalikes: The Nobleman's Daughter by Jen Geigle Johnson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, sexual innuendo, and references to prostitution
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Scarlet from the generous folks at Covenant Communications. Thank you!
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Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Newest Hebridean Thriller A Compelling Page Turner
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When Ruairidh Macfarlane proposes investing in a small, Hebridean tweed company, his wife balks. Niamh has business and marketing experience, but still, sinking their life's savings into her husband's dream seems more than a little risky. Still, the duo manage to make a successful go of it. When their unique version of Harris tweed catches the attention of some bigwigs in the fashion industry, it seems like everything's finally coming up roses.
Although the business is taking off, Niamh's relationship with her childhood friend turned husband, has gotten a bit rocky. While on an important business trip in Paris, she accuses Ruairidh of having an affair with Irina Vetrov, a married fashion designer. Furious, he stomps out of their hotel room. Moments later, Niamh spies him climbing into Irina's car. Minutes after that, the vehicle explodes, killing Ruairdh and Irina instantly. A shocked Niamh soon finds herself the prime suspect in her husband's murder. Even when she's released and allowed to return to Scotland, she's hounded by police and regarded with suspicion.
While Niamh grapples to come to terms with her husband's violent death, she also searches for answers. The more she discovers, the more she begins to suspect that the reason for Ruairdh's murder has more to do with local politics than international ones. When someone makes an attempt on her life, she knows the killer isn't satisfied yet ...
I'm a big fan of Peter May's thrillers, especially those that take place in the moody, broody Hebrides. May has a keen way of making the locale come alive for me in all its stark, striking glory. His newest, I'll Keep You Safe, is set mostly off-island, which might explain why I didn't love it as much as some of his others. Like a true Hebridean, I'm leery of outlanders and prefer an all-local cast. This novel also seems more graphic to me. May uses a different format for this novel, which provides an interesting contrast. Still and all, I'll Keep You Safe remains a tense page turner that kept me riveted from start to finish. I saw the killer coming, but a couple of the story's twists did catch me by surprise. So, while this isn't my favorite of May's, I'll still read anything of his, especially if it's set in the always-fascinating Hebrides.
(Readalikes: Other Hebridean thrillers by Peter May; also books by Ann Cleeves)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, depictions of illegal drug use, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of I'll Keep You Safe from the generous folks at Quercus. Thank you!
Thursday, February 01, 2018
May's Newest Not My Favorite, But Still Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Ruairdh Macfarlane proposes investing in tweed, his wife balks. After all, what do the two of them know about fabric? Will they be able to survive if they sink their life savings into a small, Hebridean textile business? Niamh has a background in business and marketing, but she still thinks her husband's idea is crazy. Against all odds, the duo create a successful company. When their unique take on Harris Tweed catches the attention of bigwigs in the fashion world, it looks like their dreams of fame and fortune are finally coming true.
Although Niamh and Ruairdh have been friends since childhood and spouses for a decade, their solid bond seems to be cracking. While on an important business trip to Paris, Niamh accuses Ruairdh of cheating on her with Irinia Vetrov, a married Russian fashion designer. Furious, he stomps out of their hotel room. She spies him climbing into Irina's car, which explodes only moments later, killing them both. A shocked Niamh soon finds herself the prime suspect in her husband's murder. The only way to clear her name is to find out what really happened.
Even in the Macfarlane's remote home in the Hebrides, Niamh becomes the target of someone bent on doing her harm. Why did her husband die? And who is trying to kill her now?
I'm a big fan of Peter May's novels, especially those set in the moody, broody Hebrides. He has a way of making the locale come alive for me in all its stark, striking glory. A lot of I'll Keep You Safe (available March 6, 2018), May's newest thriller, takes place off-island, which is maybe why I didn't like it quite as much as some of his others. It also felt more graphic. Its format differs from May's previous novels, which made for an interesting contrast. I did enjoy delving into the characters' back stories, although I realized that, like a true Hebridean, I'm leery of outlanders and prefer an all-local cast. Still and all, I'll Keep You Safe is a tense page turner that definitely kept my attention. While I saw the killer coming, there was at least one twist that caught me by surprise. His newest isn't my favorite, but I still love May and will read anything he writes, especially if it's set in the always-fascinating Hebrides.
(Readalikes: Other books by Peter May; also those by Ann Cleeves)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of I'll Keep You Safe from the generous folks at Quercus. Thank you!
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Sixth Installment in Charming Action/Adventure Series As Enjoyable As All the Rest
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for My Bonny Light Horseman, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Bloody Jack novels. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
Jacqueline "Jacky" Faber is no stranger to danger. In fact, it seems to follow the 16-year-old orphan wherever she goes. Although she's had a fine time being a ship's boy, a pirate, a riverboat captain, an entertainer, and a student at a fancy Boston school, it seems her life of adventure is about to come to an end—at the guillotine. She's in deep trouble and there seems to be no way out.
Luckily (or unluckily as the case may be), everything is not as it seems. By faking Jacky's death, British Intelligence is able to enlist her as a spy in the war against the French. Going undercover as a dancer in a seamy Parisian nightclub, her job is to flirt her way into the private lives of enemy soldiers, coaxing out secrets she can pass along to her own government. Jacky's not happy about taking such a big risk—both to her life and to her virtue—but it's the only way she can get her friends freed from prison. In her trademark fashion, Jacky soon finds an even more daring way to fight the French, one that will take her to the front lines, even into the presence of Napoléon Bonaparte himself. While Jacky's certainly gotten herself into some grand scrapes before, this one might be the most dangerous one of all. If she fails, her friends will surely rot in prison and "Bloody" Jack—the infamous, unforgettable pirate and adventurer—will be no more.
It's no secret that I'm mad about the Bloody Jack series by the late L.A. Meyer. I've loved every installment, each of which is full of humor, adventure, and charm. My Bonny Light Horseman, the sixth book, is no exception. It's exciting, fun, and just downright enjoyable. No surprise here, I adored it. I'm reading this series slowly, savoring every book, knowing that there will be no more. R.I.P., Mr. Meyer.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Bloody Jack series, including Bloody Jack; Curse of the Blue Tattoo; Under the Jolly Roger; In the Belly of the Bloodhound; Mississippi Jack; Rapture of the Deep; The Wake of the Lorelei Lee; The Mark of the Golden Dragon; Viva Jacquelina!; Boston Jacky; and Wild Rover No More)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of My Bonny Light Horseman with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Unique and Lovely, Dolssa Is Another Julie Berry Gem
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her reputation as a prophetess becomes a threat to the Catholic Church, Dolssa de Stigata—an 18-year-old noblewoman—is sentenced to death by hanging. Although she manages to escape her grisly fate, she's hardly free. An inquisitor stalks her through the countryside, hunting for his prey with a determination dark and dangerous. Devoted to her beloved Jhesus, Dolssa prays for deliverance.
Like Dolssa, Botille Flasucra harbors a special gift. With an almost supernatural talent for matchmaking, the 17-year-old's services are much requested in the small town of Bajas. Botille uses her skills to supplement the money she and her sisters make from running the Three Pigeons tavern.
The fates of the two women intertwine when Botille discovers Dolssa lying half-dead by an isolated lagoon. Although no one wants to borrow trouble, Botille and her sisters rescue the delirious mystic. Hiding her in the tavern, they nurse Dolssa back to health. When they learn who she truly is, the sisters vow to protect her. As danger creeps ever closer to Bajas, the Flasucras begin to realize just how much they are risking, not just their own lives but those of everyone in the village. Is it worth it to shelter Dolssa and her outrageous claims? When the vengeful friar comes calling, what will happen to Botille and her sisters? To peaceful Bajas? Only one thing remains certain—no one will escape unscathed.
With only three books to her credit, Julie Berry is not a prolific writer (Edit: Turns out this statement is totally false. You can see all the books she's written listed on her website. I apologize for the error.). Which is a real bummer because I'm a huge fan. I've loved all her novels, her newest being just as unique and lovely as all the rest. While I can't see teens flocking to check out The Passion of Dolssa, I adored it. The rich, sophisticated story is told in gorgeous prose. Short vignettes narrated by various everymen and -women break up the narrative, adding interest, local color, and originality to the tale. Dolssa and Botille are intriguing narrators in their own right, but it's all the different voices that really plump this book up, making it stand out from its fellows. The recipient of numerous awards (including a Printz Honor designation and a recent Whitney Award for best YA novel by an LDS author), it's a gem that I can't stop recommending.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Passion of Dolssa from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Sweet Parisian Romance Uplifting and Enjoyable
(Image from author's website)
As an American in Paris, Chastity Whitmore finds herself charmed on a regular basis. Just not by Viscount Charles Jean Anne Monorie de Brase. The arrogant aristocrat thinks he can walk all over people just because he's wealthy, influential, and—okay, she'll admit it—dashing. Chastity refuses to let herself fall under the viscount's spell. As his son's English teacher, she's more concerned about Louis de Brase, especially since the boy seems to be ignored by his important father. When the viscount pooh-poohs her concerns, Chastity is outraged. Just who does the man think he is?
It's not until a tragedy brings them together that Chastity gets a peek beneath the viscount's slick veneer. At the same time her impression of Charles is changing, she's becoming increasingly worried about Louis. The teenager has gotten himself mixed up in a dangerous trade with men more vicious and calculating than he can possibly imagine. Can Chastity convince the viscount to act in time to save his son?
The closer Chastity gets to Charles, the more attracted to him she becomes. She knows a romance between them could never work. With her ex-boyfriend begging her to get back together, she's confused. Chastity wants to do what's best for herself and her young son, but what is that? Her heart's already been shattered once—is she willing to give love another chance? Or will she remain forever alone in the world's most romantic city?
The Viscount of Maisons-Laffitte by Jennie Goutet is a modern love story with a strong Regency influence. Although it deals with contemporary issues, at its heart the novel is a sweet, clean romance about two people with broken hearts who find healing in each other. My favorite part about the book, in fact, is its hopeful overtones. While the love story at its core doesn't offer anything unique, I do wish the plot had focused more keenly on the romance, less on drug dealing, art heists, and nefarious Parisians. Too many subplots make the tale feel chaotic and melodramatic. Still, I remained interested in the story throughout. Yes, I wanted stronger characterization. Yes, I longed for a more atmospheric setting. Yes, I would have liked a tighter plot. On the whole, though, The Viscount of Maisons-Laffitte provides a pleasant, uplifting read that will be appreciated by those who enjoy clean, predictable romance in which two deserving people finally get their longed-for happily ever afters.
(Readalikes: Hm, I don't read a lot of romance. Ideas?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and depictions of illegal drug use/drug dealing
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Viscount of Maisons-Laffitte from the lovely and generous Jennie Goutet. Thank you!
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