Review: The Words In My Hands

Title: The Words In My Hands

Author: Guinevere Glasfurd

Publisher: 12 January 2016 by Two Roads

Pages: 325 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: womens fiction, romance, historical

My Rating: 3 crowns

Synopsis:

The Words in My Hand is the reimagined true story of Helena Jans, a Dutch maid in 17th-century Amsterdam, who works for Mr Sergeant the English bookseller. When a mysterious and reclusive lodger arrives - the Monsieur - Mr Sergeant insists everything must be just so. It transpires that the Monsieur is René Descartes.
This is Helena's story: the woman in front of Descartes, a young woman who yearns for knowledge, who wants to write so badly she makes ink from beetroot and writes in secret on her skin - only to be held back by her position in society.

Weaving together the story of Descartes' quest for reason with Helena's struggle for literacy, their worlds overlap as their feelings deepen; yet remain sharply divided. For all Descartes' learning, it is Helena he seeks out as she reveals the surprise in the everyday world that surrounds him.

When reputation is everything and with so much to lose, some truths must remain hidden. Helena and Descartes face a terrible tragedy and ultimately have to decide if their love is possible at all.

My Thoughts

"Words, Helena, words are another matter. Words pin me to the page."

Helena de Jans was a maid for an English bookseller in Amsterdam, where René Descartes lodged in 1634. A year later, she gave birth to his daughter, Francine. Their affair was innocent to begin with, she his student of sorts and intrigued by his investigations.

"Discoveries must be all about us, waiting to be found, in the most ordinary places of all - even in candles and flames."

Time spent alone together, quickly progressed to an affair. I appreciate how the author has tried to imagine the life of Helena through what material she could find, supposing how their relationship may have developed and what life may have been like. What I believe Glasfurd does very well is bring to life the streets of Amsterdam through characters and places as the story unfolds. 

"Loneliness is not the same as being alone; one can choose to be alone, seek it out, desire it perhaps. Loneliness asserts itself."

Unfortunately for me, the story was a little slow, rarely progressing. The ending I found to be rather peculiar. At 85% a new beau was presented which was strange after being slow for so long. Then, all of a sudden, in what I considered to be basically an epilogue of sorts, years were described in a matter of pages. I found this confusing and hard to digest. 

Overall a satisfying read if somewhat slow.

"He smiled faintly, but still looked sad. 'Helena, Helena ... we all know our place in the end."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Pride & Regicide

Title: Pride & Regicide

Author: Cathy Bryant

Publisher: 29 September 2015 by Crooked Cat Publishing 

Pages: 100 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: mystery, thriller, regency, Jane Austen

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

"The King? Dead? Here? Murdered? Regicide! Oh, heaven preserve us! Was it the French? Are they here? They will kill us all, and make us eat strange sauces."

So says Mrs Bennet, but the king is not dead - Miss King is dead, and it looks like murder.

Three years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, and having long been considering the role of single women in society, Mary Bennet puts her formidable mind to work to solve the case. Armed only with philosophy, her best friend, Cassandra Lucas, and some nifty detective techniques involving embroidery, Mary discovers secrets and scandals that may make her the murderer's next victim...

My Thoughts

Short and interesting - it was that simple. I am a huge Jane Austen fan and always venture into any spin-offs of her work. Some, of course, are better than others. Bryant doesn't claim to produce a continuation of the famous 'Pride and Prejudice', rather:

"Nor do I presume to call this a sequel. It is a light-hearted story and a tribute, and that is all."

And she does it well. It is well written in style and story, planning and plot, character and setting. What more could you ask for in a weekend escape?

This tale picks up three years from the end of Pride and Prejudice. Mary Bennet - still living at Longbourn - is friends with Cassandra Lucas - Charlotte's younger sister. As they are out walking one day, they see someone fall from the local bell tower. It is Mary who sees a shadow in the tower and decides to find out who the murderer is. And the victim, remember Miss King?

"Poor Miss King has few enough advocates in life - she has at least us in death."

I was pleasantly surprised with 'Pride and Regicide'! In fact, with Bryant's Regency voice in line with Austen and her pick up of character traits quite good, she presents a valid and entertaining short story. In fact I found it to be much like:

"... a comfortable social blanket, soothing us all and keeping out the cold facts of life."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Under The Spanish Stars

Title: Under The Spanish Stars

Author: Alli Sinclair

Publisher:25 January 2016 by Harlequin Australia MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: womens fiction, romance, Australian-Spanish cultural

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

Charlotte Kavanagh’s beloved grandma Katarina Sanchez is gravely ill, so when she begs Charlotte to travel to her homeland in Andalucía to uncover the truth behind a mysterious painting, Charlotte agrees.  Taking leave from her soul-destroying job and stalled life in Australia, Charlotte embarks on a quest through Granada’s ancient cobble-stoned streets and vibrant neighbourhoods. There she meets Mateo Vives, a flamenco guitarist with a dark past, and through him she quickly becomes entangled in the world of flamenco and gypsies that ignites a passion she had thought lost. 

But the mystery surrounding the painting deepens, reaching back in time to the war-torn Spain of the 1940s and Charlotte discovers her grandmother’s connection to the Spanish underground. Who is her grandmother, really? What is Mateo’s connection to her family history? And why is finding answers to a family mystery turning into a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte?

Weighed down by secrets, betrayals and shattered relationships, Charlotte finds herself questioning the true meaning of heritage, family and love. 

My Thoughts 

"There was nothing so exciting as a blank canvas, the chance to create a world from one's imagination, to pour out the feelings of one's soul."

This tale centres around Charlotte (an Australian) and her Spanish Grandmother. The former is sent on a journey which ultimately leads to her discovering her own path in life. The latter, time to reflect upon a tumultuous past. So in a nutshell it's contains family saga's, exotic Spanish locations, romance with a touch of mystery thrown in. 

There is some good research included and I especially enjoyed the young Katarina's story in Franco Spain. It's fascinating to read about life, cultural expression and family/society divisions at that time.

"Franco had come into power he'd lorded it over the people, his unwavering belief in Catholicism influencing daily life."

It has strong associations with Latin dancing, so if you are at all interested in "Duende" (stated often) or the importance of dance there is much to read and learn here.

"Rondena is part of the fandango malagueno and is the oldest fandango ever known."

For me, it was a little slow for things to get going; it took until about half way through for my interest to be peaked with the Grandmothers questions about her heritage and the mystery painter becoming evident. Sinclair takes the opportunity to reflect on life through her characters and there are many worthy snippets of advice to reflect upon:

"Do not live in a future of what-ifs ..... live in the moment .... life should be scary at times. How else can we push ourselves to dig deeper, climb higher .... regrets are pointless, focus on the good in life, embrace what we have and move on as best we can."

In many ways it could be described as a travel fiction as there are interesting cultural aspects. Ultimately, however, it's about life and finding one's path.

"She'd discovered a new self, connected with a past and found a future.....welcoming Charlotte to her new home under the Spanish stars."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Grass is Greener

Title: The Grass is Greener

Author: Loretta Hill

Publisher: 4 January 2016 by Random House Australia

Pages: 400 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: womens fiction, romance, chick lit, contemporary, Australian

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

From the author of The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots and The Maxwell Sisters comes a captivating novel about best friends, family and fighting for what you want, against all odds. 

The grass always seems greener on the other side . . . until you get there. 

For generations Bronwyn Eddings's family has thrived in the legal profession and a position at their prestigious firm is hers by right. Only problem is: she does not want it. 

Her best friend Claudia has always dreamed of being a lawyer, but tragedy struck and she took up the reins of her father's vineyard instead. It was supposed to be temporary . . . now there's no end in sight.

Bronwyn wants Claudia's life so badly. Claudia can't imagine anything better than Bronwyn's job. So the friends hatch a crazy plan to swap places.

Both are determined to be the person they always thought they could never be. But achieving your dreams isn't easy - and falling in love with the men who oppose them is not a good idea.

My Thoughts 

I was excited to finally try my first Loretta Hill book - and I loved it! The Grass is Greener by Aussie author Loretta Hill is a clever mixture of fun, family, a little intrigue to keep you guessing, romance of course and friends finding their own path in life.

"If I don't step outside my comfort zone for a minute I'll never find out who I need to be."

What a great story teller Loretta Hill proved to be as her book is not only entertaining but has an undercurrent of real life issues that are subtly addressed. Behind the veneer of chick lit musings you will find a range of characters dealing with real time issues: learning to assert your own identity, family obligations, older generation retirement, family businesses, family fallouts, people with disabilities - just to name a few. 

Why I think Hill is so clever is that she perfectly blends these issues against great Australian backdrops and flavoured with some Aussie sense of fun. The narrative easily flows that made me want to gobble it up in one sitting as I rode along with drama, wit and fun loving moments.

"This was her defining moment. This was the point where she realised it all had to change."

As Hill herself states, this is a book about starting again and that the adage of, 'the grass is always greener on the other side' has some flaws in it. She states in her conclusion that true happiness comes from being our best selves and not from somewhere or someone else. 

 

"The truth is, it was never about swapping our lives exactly. It was always about making the most of our own."

So you can see, if you dig a little deeper into this book you will find that The Grass is Greener has it all. Easy to read, perfect weekend escapism.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Edge of the Fall

Title: The Edge of the Fall

Author: Kate Williams

Publisher: 12 January 2016 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 432 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 2 cups

Synopsis:

For fans of DOWNTON ABBEY, ATONEMENT and Kate Morton - a compelling historical saga from the bestselling author of THE STORMS OF WAR.
In the aftermath of the Great War, the de Witt family are struggling to piece together the shattered fragments of their lives.

Rudolf and his wife Verena, still reeling from the loss of their second son, don't know how to function in the post-war world. Stoneythorpe Hall has become an empty shell with no servants to ensure its upkeep.

Celia, the de Witt's youngest daughter, is still desperate to spread her wings and see more of the world. To escape Stoneythorpe and the painful secrets that lie there, she moves to London and embraces life and love in the Roaring Twenties.

My Thoughts

I'll make this short. Reading the synopsis: Downton Abby! Kate Morton! Sounds perfect, however, in retrospect I guess too perfect. Sadly, it was neither. 

"It was as if the war had aged everything, dirtied it all, however much you hid things away."

Where did it go wrong for me? (and I'll say 'me' because this might just be right for others). Firstly, The Edge of the Fall is the second in a planned trilogy from historian Kate Williams. That I only learned upon closer inspection (not highlighted obviously anywhere), so I was behind from the get-go. Having picked this book up and not realising this fact, I was a little lost, and most likely, did not appreciate certain character developments. As an addendum, this book gets you ready for book three, so some answers you will not receive.

Given this, I don't believe it can really be viewed as a standalone due to the plot of the book. Maybe this book was suffering from middle trilogy syndrome? To my mind, the plot jumped around, everything from the narrative (two characters, first person), to the timeline itself. At times, the alternating viewpoints of Celia and Louisa are difficult to reconcile. In fact I found them in the extreme and bordering on major exaggeration. How could two people see the one event SO differently. 

At the heart of the book is Celia and, sad to say, I just did not like her. She is a sulky character and you never really feel like being on her side. She just whines way too much: 

"She's no fun. Always feeling sorry for herself, wandering around under a cloud."

Then there is her brother Arthur, and he is even worse. What a cad! Meant to be of course, however, I was most unhappy with the predictable outcome. In my humble opinion there was some much needed editing required as topics of conversation were repeated over and over, even events restated time and time again. We get it! Move on!

To say I was disappointed is an understatement. Better editing would have cut much of the repetition and had an increased impact. For example, the inclusion of Jonathan visiting Emmeline's children: why include this? In fact I struggled with much of the plot structure/timeline: Celia's personal drama, suddenly switched to brother's drama (her's totally forgotten), switched to this Jonathan (old beau) on the scene - one hot potato dropped for another with no depth or relevance. 

I was bordering on a two and a half star rating, however, by the end, I had 'fallen off the edge' (pun intended) and she didn't care and neither did I!

"She didn't care. She hoped it poured down on her and everyone else for the rest of their lives."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: All the Stars in the Heavens

Title: All the Stars in the Heavens

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Publisher: 1 January 2016 by Simon and Schuster Australia

Pages: 464 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, romance, Hollywood, drama

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Spencer Tracy, David Niven, Carole Lombard lead a magnificent cast of characters, real and imagined, in Adriana Trigiani's new novel set in the rich landscape of 1930s' Los Angeles. 
In this spectacular saga as radiant, thrilling and beguiling as Hollywood itself, Trigiani takes us back to the golden age of movie-making and into the complex and glamorous world of a young actress hungry for fame, success - and love. With meticulous, beautiful detail, she paints a rich landscape, where European and American artisans flocked to pursue the ultimate dream: to tell stories on the silver screen. 

My Thoughts

Get comfy .... this review may take awhile. 

"All the Stars in the Heavens" is about the Golden Years of Hollywood: Clark Gable, David Niven, Spencer Tracy, and Loretta Young just to name a few. Reading it felt like being transported back to that time in history, or at the very least, sitting enthralled as if I were watching a riveting black and white movie of the time. And what a perfect title for this book, for it reads just like a movie. 

Now, the details. 

Firstly, you have to appreciate the Golden Years of Hollywood. I love this period in history (thanks to my Mother) and to see the more private side of such unforgettable characters was fascinating. For example: the scene on set with Clark Gable and Hattie McDaniel on the set of the 1937 Saratoga movie (where Jean Harlow died - Googled that - one of many that you will upon reading this book) was most memorable. And that is just one of many factual episodes that Trigiani details. It's poignant at this stage to pause and think about the amount of research that Trigiani must have gone into and, that then begs the question, how much of the story is fiction versus fact? More of that in a moment. 

Although the focus is on Hollywood 1930s, it does jump around a bit (especially towards the end - large jumps along the timeline) but I found it all just so engrossing, that I was prepared to overlook these shortcomings. Trigiani introduces you to the leading actors, their glamourous lifestyles but, also, the double edged sword of just how controlling the studios were and the hypocrisy that existed. This was a reflection of the tragic side of movie making - it's not all bells and whistles. 

"The studio controlled the actors' public and private life. Their personal time was not their own."

Now to the controversy (have a look at the Goodreads reviews!). Let me state from the outset, this is a work of fiction. Yes, factual people and events, but just one persons interpretation. Take that for what it is - and I found it fascinating, for Trigiani can write. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be enchanted. 

"She knew that when the bubble burst, the snow globe would shatter like blown glass, and there would be no putting the picture inside back together."

Reviewers have made Trigiani's tale a battle between 'true love' versus 'date rape' (story bought to light a couple of months ago, a recalled conversation with Young who died over 15 years ago) I don't want to get into that discussion, for those answers, we will never know. I am here to discuss what I found to be a really interesting book. Any book that has you running to Google to check places and faces is good. I was hooked. The novel takes real people and imagines what might have gone on behind closed doors. Creating dialogue for characters who were real people fascinates me. You would have to be naive to not appreciate that artistic liberties were taken with the storyline and of course, things may have been very different. However, I can tell you I enjoyed my time researching all of these characters and movies just as much as reading the story. 

"Powerless to change the circumstances, she plowed ahead, believing that someday the entire situation would change for the better."

I grabbed this book having read Trigiani before, and with the added attraction of Clark Gable and Loretta Young's tumultuous love affair, which I knew nothing about. I loved reading about them and many others - Spencer Tracy (his family situation), Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, David Niven and even Young's delightful sisters -  all who are long gone. Their lives, their loves, their flaws, their joys, their hopes, their sorrows - became mine. I felt angry at Young, felt sorry for Gable, then felt empathy for Young. 

"Loretta would explain why she had to hide the truth on paper. She was protecting her baby, Clark Gable's career, her own livelihood, and the reputation of her family."

A fascinating read that had me thinking long after I turned the last page. I highly recommended it and congratulate Adriana Trigiani on another winning book. I couldn't put this down and suffered badly from withdrawals upon completion, that's how involved I had become. 

"You know, Sister, we think we have the luxury of time. We figure that there will always be a moment to have the conversation that we meant to have, and then the moment passes and it's too late."

ps. this is similar to 'A Touch of Stardust' (click on title to go to our review of that book) that involved some of the above mentioned actors also.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Seafront Tearoom

Title: The Seafront Tearoom

Author: Vanessa Greene

Publisher: 1 December 2015 by PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW

Pages: 370 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: womens fiction, contemporary, chick lit, contemporary, romance

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

From the author of The Vintage Teacup Club.
 
The first rule of afternoon tea: never rush. Take time to savor it. Just like friendship…

The Seafront Tearoom is an insider secret in small-town Scarborough – a beach-front haven with the best tea and cakes in town – and  journalist Charlie Harrison would love to put it on the map with a feature in her magazine. But single mom Kat Murray doesn’t want to see her favorite sanctuary overrun by tourists, and begs Charlie to seek out other options. She offers her help, as a “tea obsessive,” and so does French au pair Séraphine Moreau, whose upbringing makes her a connoisseur of everything sweet and indulgent.

Together the three women will scour the countryside for quaint hideaways and hidden gems, sharing along the way their secrets, disappointments, and dreams – and discovering that friendship, like tea, takes time to steep. But learning too that once you open your heart, the possibilities are endless. 

My Thoughts

There is just so much to like about this book. Let's start with the delectable cover. It gives you a window into what to expect from this book. And what can you expect once you open the cover (or click the button) - tea, cakes, love, and friendship. What more could a person ask for, as these are most definitely some of the essentials in life. 

"With a good book you can enter into whichever world you want."

The Seafront Tearoom is a light-hearted, inviting novel about the growing friendship of three women who meet in a tea room. All three women are going through challenging times, having reached crossroads in their respective lives, and working together, support each other without too much encroaching angst or over the top drama. It's chick lit at its best with a good storyline, well crafted characters facing realistic problems. With perfect backdrops, the growing friendships, romances and challenges all come together nicely. Throw in tea and cakes and we have a winner!

"Kat sipped her tea slowly, gazing out of the window. Life moved on, and places changed. She'd find a way to move forward to."

It was a real attraction to read about all the tea and tea shops they visited: what tea they requested and scrumptious cakes they ordered. It made me want to embark on a similar journey. There is even the added bonus of recipes found in the back of the book. The whole concept of tea rooms is just so warming for the soul, finding a peaceful corner with your worries and concerns left at the door and indulging in some quiet respite. 

"The champagne of teas" Kat said, lifting the lid of the teapot and drinking in the aroma."

There are a few unexpected plot twists that keep the reader engaged and the expected, heart warming conclusion to satisfy everyone. The Seafront Tearoom is a lovely novel that I enjoyed and, as I stated, what could be more perfect for a light weekend read: tea, cake, friendship, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. 

"Spending all evening in the bath with a glass of wine and a good book - you can't beat that."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.