Upcoming reads

The Perfume Garden by Kathleen Lord Kent High in the hills of Valencia, a forgotten house guards its secrets. Untouched since Franco's forces tore through Spain in 1936, the whitewashed walls have crumbled, the garden, laden with orange blossom, grown wild.Emma Temple is the first to unlock its doors in seventy years. Guided by a series of letters and a key bequeathed in her mother's will, she has left her job as London's leading perfumier to restore this dilapidated villa to its former glory. It is the perfect retreat: a wilderness redolent with strange and exotic scents, heavy with the colours and sounds of a foreign time. But for her grandmother, Freya, a British nurse who stayed here during Spain's devastating civil war, Emma's new home evokes terrible memories. As the house begins to give up its secrets, Emma is drawn deeper into Freya's story: one of crushed idealism, lost love, and families ripped apart by war. She soon realises it is one thing letting go of the past, but another when it won't let go of you. Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey Late on a frozen February evening, a young woman is running through the streets of London. Having fled from her abusive boyfriend and with nowhere to go, Jess stumbles onto a forgotten lane where a small, clearly unlived in old house offers her best chance of shelter for the night. The next morning, a mysterious letter arrives and when she can’t help but open it, she finds herself drawn inexorably into the story of two lovers from another time. In London 1942, Stella meets Dan, a US airman, quite by accident, but there is no denying the impossible, unstoppable love that draws them together. Dan is a B-17 pilot flying his bomber into Europe from a British airbase; his odds of survival at one in five. The odds are stacked against the pair; the one thing they hold onto is the letters they write to each other. Fate is unkind and they are separated by decades and continents. In the present, Jess becomes determined to find out what happened to them. Her hope—inspired by a love so powerful it spans a lifetime—will lead her to find a startling redemption in her own life in a powerfully moving novel perfect for fans of Sarah Jio and Kate Morton. Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams In the summer of 1966, Christina Hardcastle—“Tiny” to her illustrious family—stands on the brink of a breathtaking future. Of the three Schuyler sisters, she’s the one raised to marry a man destined for leadership, and with her elegance and impeccable style, she presents a perfect camera-ready image in the dawning age of television politics. Together she and her husband, Frank, make the ultimate power couple: intelligent, rich, and impossibly attractive. It seems nothing can stop Frank from rising to national office, and he’s got his sights set on a senate seat in November. But as the season gets underway at the family estate on Cape Cod, three unwelcome visitors appear in Tiny’s perfect life: her volatile sister Pepper, an envelope containing incriminating photograph, and the intimidating figure of Frank’s cousin Vietnam-war hero Caspian, who knows more about Tiny’s rich inner life than anyone else. As she struggles to maintain the glossy façade on which the Hardcastle family’s ambitions are built, Tiny begins to suspect that Frank is hiding a reckless entanglement of his own…one that may unravel both her own ordered life and her husband’s promising career.

My Heart gave one appalling lurch and stopped beating altogether

The Seance - John Harwood
Wraxford Hall, a decaying mansion in the English countryside, has a sinister reputation. Once, a family disappeared there. And now Constance Langton has inherited this dark place as well as the mysteries surrounding it.
Having grown up in a house marked by the death of her sister, Constance is no stranger to mystery, secrets, and the dark magic around us. Her father was distant. Her mother was in perpetual morning for her lost child. In a desperate attempt to coax her mother back to health, Constance took her to a seance hoping she would find supernatural comfort. But tragic consequences followed, leaving her alone in the world— alone with Wraxford Hall. Saddled with this questionable bequest, she must find the truth at the heart of all these disappearances, apparitions, betrayal, blackmail, and villainy, even if it costs her life.

Hmm... so this book was just okay for me. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't really love it either. More than anything, I was left feeling disappointed. I got the impression that it was going to be a classic Victorian ghost story, but really it was a thriller more than anything else. When I think of a Victorian ghost story, I think... spooky mansion, weird noises, ghosts, supernatural occurrences, etc. And although certain parts definitely gave me chills, the story mainly revolved around the history of Wraxford Hall and it's descendants, as well as it's very sinister and deceiving heir. I also didn't care for the whole 'Seance' experiment and alchemy references.

I did enjoy the Gothic feel and atmosphere to it, however. Harwood is an excellent writer and I will definitely be looking out for his books in the near future (The Ghost Writer has amazing reviews!). I also liked the different character narratives of Wraxford Hall and how they all intertwined with one another. There were more than a few surprising twists and it's actually a great book.. (I'd recommend to any fans of the Gothic genre or novels set in 19th century England).. but for me, it was just a good read. Not great, but good. It just wasn't what I was expecting..

"--I was sitting up in bed reading when my grandmother came into the room and sat down in the chair beside me, looking exactly as she had when I was a little girl....The Chair creaked as she settled herself in it, smiled at me and took up her work, just as if she had only been gone five minutes, rather than resting in Kensal Green Cemetery for the past fifteen years." p104

But with its persistent beauty, Far surpasses and finally tames the flame

The Flame and the Flower - Kathleen Woodiwiss
Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence—until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee... and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger. A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman...and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

As I’ve mentioned before I am a huge, HUGE fan of Historical Romance. I really have a love for all genres, but HR has a special place in my heart! I just love everything about it – the different time periods, the culture, the love stories, etc., etc. The Flame and The Flower is no exception to my obsession: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It’s pretty incredible to think this is Kathleen Woodiwiss’s debut novel, the first book in her brilliant career and the first of her many amazing love stories!!

I absolutely love the plot and especially the romance/relationship between the two main characters, Brandon and Heather. Of course, I am completely in love with Brandon Birmingham. Okay, so yes, he’s somewhat of a pompous asshole…..but dealing with Heather who at times was VERY naive and clueless when it came to life & love, (and pretty much EVERYTHING else) I can’t really blame him. Maybe that’s what I actually liked about their relationship? That is the whole premise of the novel; the flower taming the flame. I just love how Brandon, president of the Mr. Arrogant club becomes totally smitten and whipped by sweet little innocent Heather. It’s quite amusing (and oh so romantic!) and such a classic tale!

A la “Shanna” & “The Reluctant Suitor” there are tons of twists & turns that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole story. Definitely one of those books that I had a hard time parting with at the end of the night. A totally captivating love story and I cannot wait to get my hands on “Elusive Flame” the second book in the Birmingham series!

Teaser Tuesday - The Seance by John Harwood

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

Though I was, in waking life, far bolder than Sophie, I had been prone to nightmares, as well as sleepwalking, for as long as I could recall. As I grew older, I walked less frequently in my sleep, but the nightmares became more frequent and oppressive"

p. 102 -- "The Seance" by John Harwood

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!
Right now I am reading, "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss and it is seriously the perfect book to read this Valentines day. I absolutely love Historical Romance, by far my favorite genre (along with Historical Fiction). As the queen of romance, Kathleen Woodiwiss is one of my favorite authors and not only is this her debut novel but it is also the first in a trilogy series of which I've read nothing but rave reviews!

I am about half way through right now and it is definitely holding up to my expectations. As with any love interest in a Woodiwiss novel, I am secretly in love with Brandon Birmingham and would love nothing more than to be whisked away into the story. Sighhh.. if only, right?

The Flame and the Flower - Kathleen Woodiwiss
Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence—until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee... and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger. A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman...and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

For the woman with everything except a Mr. Darcy of her own. An invitation to Austenland.

Austenland - Shannon Hale
Pembrook Park, Kent, England. Enter our doors as a house guest come to stay three weeks, enjoying the country manners and hospitality-a tea visit, a dance or two, a turn in the park, an unexpected meeting with a certain gentleman, all culminating with a ball and perhaps something more... Here, the Prince Regent still rules a carefree England. No scripts. No written endings. A holiday no one else can offer you

I absolutely adore this book. ♥ It has quickly become one of my favorites. As a huge fan of Jane Austen (really a fan of the whole time period) and her work, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The whole premise totally captivated me from the first pages. A thirty-something single woman who's obsession with Mr. Darcy is ruining her life, gets an amazing gift: a wealthy relative leaves Jane a pre-paid vacation to visit a resort. But this isn't any ordinary resort. Oh, no. This is an Austen-themed English resort which caters to Austen-crazed women. It's here where Jane gets to live out all of her fantasies, and her dream of finding the perfect gentlemen, becomes even more realer than she could have ever imagined.

Honestly, I can completely relate to the main character and her obsession with all things Pride & Prejudice.. that's pretty sad, right? Just the thought of being whisked away to this dream land where I can meet my own Mr. Darcy? sighh.. completely makes my heart melt! I don't know what else to say except that I absolutely loved it. Such a fun read & a very cute story about a woman's obsession and journey to find the perfect man (in the form of Mr. Darcy). I look forward to reading more of Hale's work and I definitely recommend this one!

"Seriously, a thirty-something woman shouldn't be daydreaming about a fictional character in a two-hundred-year-old world to the point where it interfered with her very real and much more important life and relationships. Of course she shouldn't. "