3 short reviews: Historical fiction and cozy mystery

From the author of 'The Grafton Girls' comes the story of one Liverpool family preparing for the onslaught of World War Two, while trying not to fight among themselves. Jean and Vi are twins but couldn't be more different. Jean's proud of her honest, hardworking husband and their children, but there's never a penny to spare. Vi's equally proud of her husband's new role as a local councillor and their elegant new house, and has raised her children to expect the best. As war breaks out, agonising decisions must be faced. Should the oldest children enlist? Should the youngest be evacuated? All the traditional certainties are overturned. Then the twins' own younger sister, singer Francine, returns home unexpectedly and stirs up the past, even in the midst of present danger. This is a tremendous saga of fighting spirit and family closeness, and the belief that even though today is full of destruction and pain, there is hope for a better tomorrow.

My thoughts:

I liked this family saga, I read it fast, but f that bitch in the book, she  destroyed it all and hell this gets a 1. Hated that effing ending.

I can't even talk about the book cos all I wanted was that woman to buuuuuuuuuuuuuuurn!!!!!!!

Spoiler: Highlight to read

Ok so there is this horrid spoiled conniving bitch who is horrible to everyone. She tells lies so that a woman breaks up with the man that woman loves. She makes a plan with her brother to trap a man in marriage. And yes that man shows to be an ahole, but if I had to marry her, god, I'd never come home to see her stupid face. And then at the end, she finds I guess true love. AND will be happy. The morale of the story being that you can be a stupid bitch and not even apologize to anyone and still ge everything you want. Of course she will never be happy, she will complain about all the things she wants until that guy tires. And it just spoiled the whole book for me. I did not want her to get a happy ending, why!? did she have to get a happy ending? She did not even learn any lessons. She is still a bitch. OH OH I forgot, that new guy, well she used his sister as slave labour . Fuck this book

Hardcover, 512 pages
Published February 4th 2008 by HarperCollins
Campion Family #1
Historical fiction, family saga
Own

“The ancient ones whisper to me, Iluak,” Nana says. “They talk about you. They say a bear is waiting.” In the land of snow and ice, where the midwinter sun doesn’t rise and it’s black all day, Iluak is afraid. But he’s not afraid of the darkness. He’s afraid of whiter things.

My thoughts:
A short story set in the north where a young boy faces down a prophecy. I can't really say a lot, it was short. A good MG? novel. Maybe it was YA, but a younger crowd can read it too. Learn a bit about seal hunting, whale hunting, the first northmen coming.

The dangers of ice, water, cold and starvation. And not to take more than what nature can give.

Conclusion:
Short and good.

Hardcover, 203 pages
Published January 1st 2008 by Walker Books Australia
Historical YA fiction
Own

Cupid has cast his spell on good witch Ophelia Jensen. The practical, pragmatic, law-abiding librarian has just begun letting down her hair with Stephen Larsen, the author of some of the most scandalous crime exposés ever written. It's a match made in the stacks—until the would-be lovers take a quiet countryside stroll, and shots ring out.

A murderer, not magick, made Stephen disappear—and Ophelia might be next. The sheriff warns her and her grandmother Abby not to meddle, but after another shooting leaves them shaken the women can't help but get involved. A sinister stalker is slowly drawing closer to Ophelia, and she'll have to summon all her powers to prevent herself from ending up six feet under. 

My thoughts:
I think I had the same issues with this one as book 1. It started well enough, but then in the middle I got bored. It was just so meh.

I did not really care for Ophelia.
The whole nazi dream mystery was all wtf is that even doing in the book?
The blurb promised me some romance, the guy gets shot in the first few pages and they met minutes ago.
Yes I did not read the ones in between, but considering book 1 was meh and this one was meh. I wont. It will get an ok from me, since I did like it before it got all meh and I skimmed.

Paperback, 262 pages
Published December 30th 2008 by Avon
Ophelia & Abby Mystery #6
Cozy paranormal mystery
Own

Mr Darcy's pride and joy - Monica Fairview

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are engaged at last, and Mr. Darcy is preparing to take out a special licence to get married quickly. But, just when everything seems to be going just right, he encounters opposition from an unexpected quarter. Then, when his engagement is announced – to someone else – Elizabeth, understandably, begins to doubt his sincerity.

Perhaps their love is doomed after all… 

Find out more in this third part of the Darcy Novels series, a Pride and Prejudice variation. 

My thoughts:

"Perhaps their love is doomed after all… "

The blurb does say it all. Poor Lizzy and Darcy, they do have to struggle. But that is why I like variations, they have to work a bit to get it right ;)

Darcy is simply wonderful in this one, he does not back down even though there is setback after setback. And even another engagement! But he loves her so, awwww. And do not worry about the engagement, there is something fishy going on.

And Lizzy shows her strength too. She refuses to believe anything bad about him when those setbacks comes around. She fights for him and wants to prove herself.

It's part of a series, and book 2 did end happily, but a lot can happen before you get engaged as we will see in this one. I must say though that it works excellent as a stand alone. It's the road to their happy ending. Sure things happened before, Bingley and Jane, Wickham, and more, but it still works well like this too. But hey, the road is always the fun thing so read book 2 too ;)

Conclusion:
A lovely variation where they fight for their love.

Kindle Edition, 227 pages
Published June 25th 2016 by White Soup Press
The Darcy Novels #3
Pride and Prejudice variation
For review

Once upon a moonlit night - Elizabeth Hoyt

Hippolyta Royle is running for her life. Pursued by hounds on a cold rainy night, the heiress flags down a passing carriage and throws herself at the mercy of the coach's occupant. Whoever this handsome traveler may be, he is her only hope to escape a terrible fate. But should he agree to escort her to safety, he's in for much more than he bargained for.

At first Matthew Mortimer doesn't believe Hippolyta's story, that she's a fabulously wealthy heiress who's been kidnapped. He assumes she's a beggar, an actress, or worse. But once his new travel companion washes the mud from her surprisingly lovely face, and they share a breathtaking kiss, there is no turning back. 

My thoughts:

I had to read this one after having read Duke of Sin and seeing poor Hippolyta running away in the dark. It seems she got lucky and someone took pity on her.

Oh yes Matthew, but he was an ass about it. Yes I get that she looks and smells like shit, but why would you think she is a whore? Wouldn't like runaway farm girl be more of an answer? And yes actress that he thinks too, but the whore thing... I did want to hit him there.

But this is a novella and things move fast and I do forgive him because he wants her anyway. Just being an ass at first.

Conclusion
And then they lived happily ever after! After some drama and passion.

ebook, 100 pages
Published July 5th 2016 by Forever Yours
Maiden Lane #10.5
Historical romance, Novella
NG

Carole's Sunday Review: Cleopatra's daughter - Michelle Moran

Author: Michelle Moran

Title: Cleopatra's Daughter

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 447

First Published: 2009

Where I Got It: My shelf (Birthday gift

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts. 

Honestly, Michelle Moran has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers throughout the last few years. She is an amazing writer and she has such a powerful voice. She brings not only the characters to life, but the world around them to life as well. This is one of her older novels, but I've been dying to read it. Lucky me and someone got this for me for my birthday this year. 

Now, the story follows the journey of Selene and her twin Alexander. They had a little brother, but he did not survive the journey to Rome which made me really upset. The two are Cleopatra's children with Marc Anthony (we all know the story with those two). Now, Rome has conquered Egypt and the twins are taken hostage back to Rome. They are forced to be part of Octavian's household. Which...I never understood WHY he did this. Was it guilt because they are kids and he didn't want to be known as a kid-killer? Would it be easier to turn them to his side and marry them off? IDK - that is too work for me honestly.

Selene and Alexander are 12, but they seemed so much older! I guess it makes sense, because they witnessed such horrible, horrible things at the beginning. I'm glad the author constantly reminded the reader that they are so young and so mature in many aspects now. 

Well, this was a tough journey for me. The beginning was great and had me hooked. The ending was amazing and I had to read like a madwoman, because I wanted to know how it was all going to end. Now...the middle was rough. It was extremely slow for me. Nothing really happening. Just SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. It took me forever to get through the middle, because I felt nothing. I was annoyed with everyone including Selene. Once the tension started building I was back into the story, but it took forever. 

Also, I hated the vast majority of the characters. I've read a couple other books about Selene and I had found that I either pitied, understood, or liked. There were only a few I hated. But in this one I hated many of them. Selene was okay, but very childish in many of her decisions. Alexander seemed to conform really quick and that annoyed me. Juba was SUCH a butt! Why? Normally I really love him, but in this he was SO overly nasty to Selene. Even near the end, I was annoyed with him. Julia was an air-headed moron. Marcellus was too flirtatious, but I did like him overall. Octivia was nice. Oddly, I feel like Octavian was around enough to understand him. Tiberius and Livia were of course the "baddies" of the book like always. Livia, especially, is a special kind of snot! The rest of the people I didn't really care about. 

Overall, this was okay. I really felt the middle was super slow and it really did take me forever to get through it. Also, I didn't feel as connected to some of the characters as I wanted to be. Total bummer, because I do really like Selene. The rest of the book was addicting! I had to know what was going to happen next! I do recommend this to lovers of history. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3. 

psssst: Blodeuedd here, my review is here I read it 7 years ago, I feel so ooold