Book Review: In Golden Splendor by Michael K. Reynolds

Hello Bookworms!!

          I have a new review for you all today! Some time back I read a novel called “Flight of the Earls” by author Michael K. Reynolds. Later, I posted an interview with Mr. Reynolds! Today, I have the review for the second book in the Heirs of Ireland trilogy “In Golden Splendor”. Be careful though, If you haven’t read “Flight of the Earls” this could contain SPOILERS!!!

 

Summary:

          Seamus Hanley’s life has never been easy. His father was a cruel man. His brother Keavan drowned and it was all Seamus’s fault. Now he is a defector from the United States Army living in a cabin that isn’t exactly up to standard for Rocky Mountain Living. When a United States Soldier has an accident on the mountain side, Seamus’s life takes another sudden turn.

          A letter, a picture, and an inner pulling from an unknown source lead Seamus to San Francisco in the middle of the gold rush and the events that follow change Seamus in ways he never thought possible.

 

Review:

          I am going to say first off that this is not a book that you should read without having read the first book first. It will ruin LOADS on surprises from the first book if you read them out of order. Now, to my thoughts on ‘In Golden Splendor”:

          I greatly enjoyed the book. The characters are numerous but none of them are lost in the story. Each and every one of their personalities are distinctive and are just as important to the story as the main characters! No detail is wasted (which is personally something I LOVE in a book. It can get tiresome to read tons of detail that doesn’t further the story). As far as the main characters (Seamus, Ashlyn, Henry Parnell, Annie, Cade, Clare, Davin, Brother Chuck, and others) stories, they braid together better that a little girls pigtails. Michael Reynolds ability to tie details together from the very beginning to the very end (and from book one to book two) reminds me of the writing of J.K. Rowling with the Harry Potter Series.

          There are so many twists in this story that one can never get bored. Something amazing happens, you get a few pages to breathe and process the information along with the character and then BOOM! Something else happens (They’re not all bad things though so don’t panic and jump ship before you start ;) ). Two of my favorite themes that were dealt with in the story had to be the damage that parents can do to their children when they choose not to parent properly and does God really love us no matter what we’ve done (the answer is yes by the way J ).

          I am forced to ask why we have such crappy movies coming out when there are great novels out there that could make amazing movies. Flight of the Earls and In Golden Splendor would make awesome movies! I can see it as I’m reading! Please if you are a movie maker or you know how to contact one, give these books some consideration!

          All that being said, I HIGHLY recommend this book and its predecessor (Flight of the Earls) to everyone! Even to guys! I know that sometimes it’s difficult to get boys to want to read (no offense to any boys and men who do love to read <3 ), but I think these books especially Seamus’s story will be one that they will enjoy following.

 

Buy In Golden Splendor

 

Read my review of Flight of the Earls here!

Buy Flight of the Earls

Read See Lizzie Read's Interview with Michael K. Reynolds here!

 

Until Next Time!!!,

                   Lizzie <3

A Suitable Wife (Ladies In Waiting) by Louise M. Gouge

Hello Bookworms!

        I thank you all for being so patient with me during my absence! As some of you know I am a college student and this past semester has been extremely hectic leaving me no time read many new books and even less time to blog about them. BUT! I am happy to say that I passed the semester and now I am back to blogging with new reviews! I’d like to start with a sweet summer romance that I read during this summer A Suitable Wife by Louise M. Gouge.

Summary

          Lady Beatrice Gregory is beautiful, eligible, but poor thanks to the gambling habit her brother developed. That’s why her first season in London is being spent as Mrs. Parton’s companion. Beatrice wants nothing more than to be able to have the wonderful season that her dear, departed mother had always promised her. Beatrice wants to find a husband. But how she can do that without offending her patroness, Mrs. Parton, she does not know. Therefore Beatrice is resigned to give up on her dreams of marriage and enjoy the season as Mrs. Parton’s companion only.

          Lord Greystone is the eldest of three brothers. And the only one who remains unmarried much to his mother’s frustration. Lord Greystone looks at the happy and blessed marriages of his two brothers and hopes to have that himself. But he is afraid to try. Lord Greystone’s father was a man with a temper and he took it out on his family. Lord Greystone’s biggest fear is that he is more like his father than he realizes. After all when he was a younger there was that one incident…

          Both of these people find love during the season in London. How? With Whom? Find out in A Suitable Wife by Louise M. Gouge!

Review

        Readers I LOVED this book!!!! Mrs. Gouge masterfully tells a tale of suspense, secrets, and love that will keep readers interested from beginning to end.

          One of my favorite parts of the book is the relationship that both main characters have with the Lord. Mrs. Gouge meshes what the characters are dealing with on the outside with their internal monologue between themselves and the Lord so well that it doesn’t interrupt the flow of the book nor does it seem out of place. In particular one of my favorite prayers is when Lord Greystone is thinking about whom he should marry and then in two short sentences puts all of his worry and trust back into the Lord’s hands by praying “Lord Thou knowest whom I should marry. I pray Thee, do make haste and bring her across my path.” Then Greystone chooses to concentrate on other things and let the Lord work it out. What a beautifully written example on how we should deal with all the concerns in our lives.

          Another favorite part of the book is when the main characters are attending the play Hamlet. As the actor performs the famous “To Be or Not To Be” speech as Hamlet, Mrs. Gouge weaves the lines from the play and Lord Greystone’s thoughts together so that the lines from the speech mirror that of Lord Greystone’s feelings and as Lord Greystone reflects on those words and we follow his internal monologue we get a deeper sense of the conflict inside of the character. A page later, Mrs. Gouge does the same thing with Lady Beatrice’s character by giving us a deeper understanding of Lady Beatrice’s internal struggle through the characters of Hamlet’s Queen Gertrude and Ophelia during the announcement of Ophelia’s death. Never before have a I seen an author do such an amazing job of tying a classical piece on literature into a new work so that it added so much to the new work.

          I would certainly recommend this book to anyone. I would also recommend looking at Louise M. Gouge’s other works Love Thine Enemy, The Captain’s Lady, At the Captain’s Command, A Proper Companion (Ladies In Waiting).

          Now when most people hear “summer romance read” they think of those steamy romance books that include a lot of sex that most people would be embarrassed to admit they read (which is probably why they read it while on summer vacation while everyone they know is back home haha!). That’s not the case with A Suitable Wife. A Suitable Wife is published by Love Inspired Books. Love Inspired Books lives up to its name by publishing romance stories that are based on love not lust. So, if your tween or teen wants to be a part on the summer romance reading craze, these books would be perfect for them. The look and length of the books and the stories inside are the same but with better values.

 

Link to buy:

http://www.amazon.com/Suitable-Wife-Love-Inspired-Historical/dp/0373829450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375375857&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Suitable+Wife+Louise+M+Gouge

Louise M. Gouge on Twitter:

@Louisemgouge

Links to Love Inspired Books:

http://www.harlequin.com/store.html?cid=236&cmpid=PSSUPSSEM201307010001&kw=love%20inspired%20books

Love Inspired Books on Twitter:

@LoveInspiredBks

 

Until Next Time!,

                Lizzie <3

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs!

Hello Bookworms!
        I am especially excited about sharing this book with you all! By the end of this post you'll all know why. ;) The book is called Mine is the Night and it was written by Liz Curtis Higgs! CAUTION! This post contains SPOILERS!!!!! (duh! duh! Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh!)


Summary:
     Marjory Kerr (formerly Lady Kerr) has lost everything. Her husband, her beloved sons, her fortune, her standing in society, and her home. So she is returning to Selkirkshire in hopes that a cousin will take her in. There are only two problems with this plan: 1. She has not treated Ann Kerr as she should have in the past and may not recieve a warm welcome or if Ann even still lives there and 2. Elizabeth Kerr. Her daughter-in-law who was married to her dear son Donald. Will Ann be welcoming to a stranger?
     Elizabeth Kerr is hurting. Donald, her husband, is dead. But he wasn't faithful to her so she is not sure how to grieve. She has lost her title and her home, she has no family to go back to, so she has pledged to travel with Marjory. What once was a strained relationship with Marjory is now turning into a budding friendship and for that Elizabeth is grateful. But for them to live Elizabeth is going to have to use her needlework skills. That's when she meets Lord Jack Buchanan. A handsome admiral with no wife. Elizabeth vowed she would not marry again unless God chose a husband for her but Lord Jack catches her attention. Is this the man God wants her to marry? Can an admiral for King George and a former Jacobite who was disgraced for being so have a happy marriage? Find out in Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs!!

Review:
     Readers as you know, I am a massive fan of Mrs. Higgs and her books! Mine is the Night does NOT disappoint! There are constant twists and turns that you will never see coming! Faith and love abound in this novel and no character's story bores you! This re-telling of the second part of Ruth's life story that we find in the Bible is an absolute thrill ride! You will not be sorry that you read it! I give Mine is the Night 5 bookmarks and a STRONG recommendation that everyone read it and give a copy to a friend! You're going to love it!

Links to buy:
http://www.LizCurtisHiggs.com

Find more about Liz's Scottish Fiction here:
www. MyScottishHeart.com

Now, why am I so excited about this book? Becuase I have a special surprise for you all! An interview with Liz Curtis Higgs herself!! I cannot wait to post it for you all next week!!!

Until then,
     Lizzie <3

The Champion by Carla Capshaw!

Hello Bookworms!

     I have finished a wonderful book and I just had to share it with you all!! It’s called The Champion and it is written by Carla Capshaw. This particular book is set in ancient Rome and it is one of three of Mrs. Chapshaw’s books that are set in that time period. But don’t panic, they are three separate stories not three parts of one story. J

Summary:

TIberia the younger, or Tibi, is the second daughter of Tiberius. Tiberius wanted a son and He didn’t get one. As a result, it seems that Tibi cannot earn anything but her father’s scorn. Now that Tibi is older, it is time for her to be married. Marriage is, supposedly, one of the few things that Tibi could do to “be of use” to her family. However, after four failed engagements, Tibi’s father has lost his patience with her and has decided to make her become a priestess in the temple so that she can “be of some use” to the family. Tibi would rather risk death than to become a temple priestess to a false “goddess” that she has never really believed in….so she does. Tibi makes a run for it earning herself death threats from her father. Tibi knows her father’s temper and that he really might go through with it. Tibi needs a champion. Desperate, Tibi turns to the only person who might shelter her until her christian cousins are in town…Alexius, champion gladiator of Rome. Can a frightened girl from a violent home trust a man known for killing and maiming others in the Coliseum? What happens next is more than Tibi bargained for and more than she had ever dreamed possible. 

Review:

            Readers this book is amazing!!! You will NOT be sorry you read it!! This is the first Carla Capshaw book I have ever read and I have been instantly transformed into a Carla Capshaw Fan!! Mrs. Capshaw’s fast paced plot line and colorful characters will keep your eyes glued to the page and your mind racing! And not only is Mrs. Capshaw a master at love stories, but at suspense also! I can confess that I would read 100 pages at a time and not even realize how much time had passed because I was so engrossed in what was happening in the book! I stayed on the edge of my seat! I give The Champion 5 bookmarks and strongly recommend it to all looking for a good, old fashioned love story that will keep you guessing! The Champion by Carla Capshaw is without a doubt, one of the best new romantic stories released in any genre!

 

To buy "The Champion" by Carla Capshaw:

Books-A-Million:
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Champion/Carla-Capshaw/Q442244062?id=5362413321527

 

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Champion-Love-Inspired-Historical/dp/0373828799

Carla Capshaw LOVES to hear from her readers! Readers are encouraged to go to www.carlacapshaw.com or write to her at Carla@carlacapshaw.com

Other Books By Carla Capshaw:
http://www.carlacapshaw.com/books.html

Until next time,

                    Lizzie <3

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

Hello bookworms!,
            I have a new book review for you today! I recently read Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell and I wanted to share it with you all!


Summary:
       Cranford is a town run by "amazons". There are hardly any men in the town and the women like it that way. But how can a town survive with only women in it during a time when men own and run everything and marriage is the primary means of stability for women? Well the women of Cranford have figured it out. As in all small towns, everyone knows everyone's business. So what do a death, a mysterious conjorur (Signor Brunoni), and a missing brother have to do with the ever proper, yet sometimes odd, ladies of Cranford? Find out by reading Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell!

Review:
    I truly enjoyed Cranford. I originally became interested by watching the Cranford series with Dame Judi Dench in it on PBS. After finding out that Cranford was in fact a book, I wanted to read it. So, the first opportunity I had to buy a copy, I did.
    The story is really good. It is told from the point of view of a frequent visitor to Cranford as if she were retelling the events to another person. The narrator relates one tale of the ladies of Cranford after another in chronoligical order. While a story about the day to day life of one group of people can be a touch boring at times, the major events, which are many and fairly close together, are really very interesting and funny. The final few surprises will shock you and warm your heart. While Mrs. Gaskell's writing isn't as spell-binding as Jane Austen or Daphne Du Maurier, Cranford is a great book for a rainy day. I personally give it 4 bookmarks and recommend it as a read.

To buy Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell:

Books-A-Million:
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Cranford/Elizabeth-Cleghorn-Gaskell/9780141439884?id=5486900245639

Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Cranford-Elizabeth-Gaskell/dp/1619492075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348690068&sr=8-1&keywords=Cranford+book


To Purchase Cranford on DVD:
*The DVD is actually a compilation of more than one of Mrs. Gaskell's novels. It features a wonderful cast who play the characters exactly as you picture them in the novel! It's truly wonderful! I greatly recommend it!

PBS:
http://www.shoppbs.org/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=cranford&origkw=Cranford&sr=1

Death of a Dreamer by M.C. Beaton

Hello Bookworms,
       I have another review for you today! Its a book for the mystery lover in you! It's called Death of a Dreamer by M.C. Beaton! and I can tell you, I loved it so much I have already purchased another book by this author!

Summary:

            Hamish Macbeth is a highland police officer with a knack for crime solving. But Hamish prefers the quiet life. That’s why he stays is his quiet town with his two interesting pets Lugs, his dog,  and Sonsie, a mountain lion. The villagers have their suspicions about the unmarried cop and his weird pets but he keeps them safe so they accept him. Hamish doesn’t like new comers to the village. They cause trouble. But when Effie Gerard, a local artist, comes to town to sell her art, he feels like maybe he can accept a newcomer or two every once and a while. When an artist named Jock Fleming comes to town, he thinks he can definitely get used to it…especially when Jock’s drop dead gorgeous agent Betty Barnard comes in for a visit. But the quiet is soon interrupted when one artist is murdered and the other is suspected of being the murderer.

Review:

            Death of a Dreamer is the 22nd installment in M.C.Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries but the first novel by M.C. Beaton that I have ever read and I was not disappointed. It usually takes me a little while to get into a crime novel, but Beaton’s writing hooked me instantly. In fact within two weeks of finishing this story I went out and bought another book in the Hamish Macbeth Mysteries series! I give Death of a Dreamer 5 bookmarks and recommend it to everyone!!!!!!

To buy Death of a Dreamer by M.C. Beaton:

Books-A-Million:
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Death-Dreamer/M-C-Beaton/9780446618137?id=5362413321527

Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Dreamer-Hamish-Macbeth-Mysteries/dp/0446618136/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343060940&sr=1-1&keywords=death+of+a+dreamer+m.+c.+beaton

Norhtanger Abbey by Jane Austen!!

Hello Bookworms!!,

           Its been so long! But I'm back with a new review for all of you! it's another classic, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen!

Summary:

Catherine is ready to see more of life than her family’s farm. When an opportunity to travel with family friends presents itself, she is thrilled to take it. While in Bath, Catherine meets Isabella. Isabella is smooth, confident, and beautiful...and engaged to Catherine’s brother. However, Isabella lacks the art of conversing over anything of substance unlike Ms. Tilney. Ms. Tilney is smart, beautiful, and excellent company. Catherine meets Ms. Tilney through Mr. Tilney, Ms. Tilney’s tall, good-looking brother. As they bond, Catherine’s friendship with Isabella becomes strained. When Catherine visits the Tilney’s at their home, Northanger Abbey, a discovery is made about Isabella and the Tilney family and shortly after Catherine is ejected from the house with no explanation as to why. What has Isabella done? Why was Catherine thrown out of Northanger Abbey? And What about Mr. Tilney? Catherine was hoping that something was blossoming between them…is all hope for that over now?

Review:

I really enjoyed Northanger Abbey. As you may know by now I am a big fan of Jane Austen and am slowly working my way through all 6 of her major novels. Northanger Abbey is definitely worth your time. There are twists and turns from beginning to end with every character that keep you guessing right down to the last page. This book that takes place in just over a year’s time is one of the most eventful year’s any young woman could live through. You don’t want to miss out on reading a day of it! I give Northanger Abbey 5 bookmarks and I hope that you will read it very soon!

To buy Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen:

Books-A-Million:

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Northanger-Abbey/Jane-Austen/9780486414126?id=5362413321527

Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Northanger-Abbey-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486414124/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343059884&sr=1-1&keywords=northanger+abbey+jane+austen