The Flight of the Falcon - Daphne Du Maurier

Hello Bookworms!

            It’s time for a new review. This book is full of suspense a twisting tale of truth and lies, family secrets and neighborhood scandals. It is The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Maurier.

Summary:
            Armino Fabbio is a courier with the Sunshine Tours out of Genoa, Italy. His life’s work consists of betting his driver on how long it will take to get from one city to another and showing gawking tourists all the beauty Italy has to offer. He enjoys his job but he’s restless. Then the murder occurs. What’s worse is Armino is almost sure it’s his fault. Worse than that, he is almost sure he knew the woman. Armino is the only member of his family left (after his father died in a prison camp, his brother was shot down in the war, and his mother passed away of illness) but he must go back to his old hometown of Ruffano to hopefully find some of the people who lived there when he was a boy and find out about this woman who was murdered. What Armino will find when he reaches Ruffano will be more than he believed could even be possible.

Review:

            Okay readers, I really enjoyed the overall story. If you are a Daphne Du Maurier fan, you will definitely want to make sure that you read this book. The twists and turns are shocking and the fine line between genius and insanity is blurred beyond recognition. However, there are a few things that you’ll want to know before you start reading.

            First, there is the little matter of confusion. You will have to pay attention to what is happening in the book because from time to time it gets a little confusing. There were times that I really wasn’t sure how certain details fit or where we were going with what I was reading.

            Second, there are the parts that are inappropriate to younger readers. There are places throughout the book where sex is the topic of focus. There is a lot of conversation about an affair between two of the characters. Also, the character Carla Raspa (a major player throughout the book) has several partners including several attempts to seduce the main hero, Armino Fabbio. These topics are not suitable for younger readers and parents should exercise caution when deciding whether to let their child read this book.

            Third and finally, is the issue with religion. The characters in this book have hostility towards God and express it many times in the book. At one point one character decides that God does not exist. Mature readers will be able to deal with it but I do not recommend it for less mature readers (it is at this point that I must say that maturity is not tied to age so parents please use discretion when allowing children tweens and teens to read this book or when recommending it to your adult friends and family).

            I recommend this book for mature, adult fans of Daphne Du Maurier. I do not recommend this book for immature adults, or young people because of the consistent themes of hostility towards God and sex.

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

A Scandal in Bohemia – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A Discussion on Irene Adler

Hello Bookworms,
      I have a new review of one of the original Sherlock Holmes stories! and I am starting an interesting discussion on the character of Irene Adler!

Review:

     To Sherlock Holmes she is the woman. A mysterious man has asked Sherlock to retrieve a scandalous photograph from the illusive Irene Adler.  Sherlock makes short work of locating the woman. However, what Irene does next is something not even Sherlock expected…

Summary/Discussion:

 CAUTION! This summary contains SPOILERS!

                I honestly loved “A Scandal in Bohemia”! Before now, I really didn’t like the character of Irene Adler. After reading “A Scandal in Bohemia” I realize that my aversion to the character of Irene is simply because I have never before seen the original version of Irene.

                I had always been bugged by the idea that Sherlock Holmes was “in love” with Irene, but in the original, they weren’t in love at all. In fact, Irene Adler married another man! What’s amazing about Irene is not Sherlock’s “attracted” to her but that she’s the only woman who outsmarted him! Sherlock didn’t call her “The Woman” because she was “The only woman for him”, it was a name he called her out of respect. In fact, in the opening lines of “A Scandal in Bohemia” Watson states:

    “In his [Sherlock’s] eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise, but admirably balanced mind”

                We can see from this statement that Sherlock’s calling Irene “THE Woman” is merely a way for Holmes to show respect and possibly even something akin to admiration for her brilliant mind which rivaled that of his own. Holmes always had great respect for someone who could break the barriers of cleverness and enter downright brilliance (whether they were friend or foe).

                So why then do many versions of Sherlock Holmes portray Irene Adler as Sherlock’s one true love? I believe the answer lies in the history of the Sherlock Holmes stories and their original theater adaptation. In 1898, William Gillette, an American playwright, was turning the Sherlock Holmes stories into a stage play (in which Gillette himself would star as Holmes). Gillette contacted Arthur Conan Doyle and asked if he could have Sherlock Holmes get married in the play. Doyle famously replied “You may marry or murder or do what you like with him!” Gillette did decide to have Holmes get married in the play and fashioned a wife (named Alice Faulkner) for Sherlock that he modeled after Irene Adler in A Scandal in Bohemia.

                After having seen Irene Adler in both lights, first as Sherlock’s “One true love” and now as her original self, I must admit that I much prefer the original Irene Adler to any of her “alter egos” such as Alice Faulkner (Sherlock Holmes, the play), The Woman (Sherlock, BBC), Adler/Moriarty (Elementary, CBS), etc.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION!! :

 Which version of Irene do YOU prefer? Please leave comments below! J

Illustration by Sidney Paget

               

 

Credits:

The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes – Arthur Conan Doyle

An Entirely New Country – Alistair Duncan

Sherlock Holmes (play) - Wikipedia

Death by Child Abuse and No One Heard by Eve Krupinski and Dana Weikel

Hello Bookworms,

     April is national Child Abuse Awareness Month and in honor of that I would like to bring to you all a review about a book that brings awareness to child abuse. The book is called Death by Child Abuse and No One Heard by Eve Krupinski and Dana Weikel.

Summary:

     Ursula Sunshine Assaid is five years old (her father gave her the middle name Sunshine because he wanted her initials to be U.S.A.). She lives with her mother, Susan Assaid, and her mother’s boyfriend, Don McDougall, in Florida. Ursula’s father lives in California. Ursula wants to tell everyone a story. It is about the last week of her life.

Review:

                What happens when a child misses several days of school and when she finally comes back the signs are all there but no one notices? Or when there are other adults present from time to time in the home but no one says anything? Or when neighbors see the signs that something is wrong but rather than call someone they simply shake their heads and turn the other way? Ursula’s story is a real life example of what can happen when the warning signs of child abuse are ignored.

     Readers, I challenge you to read this book. It may not be very easy because this book gives the details everything that Don McDougall and Susan Assaid did to Ursula that last week before she finally died as a result of the abuse. That being said, it is a short book and you could easily read it in stages or all at once, whichever way is easiest for you. This book is an amazing look at what can happen in abusive homes, why it happens, and what can happen when people do not report child abuse when they see evidence of it.

    There is a particularly helpful chapter at the end of this book written by a professional about the signs that a child is being abused. If you are someone who works with children in any capacity, I encourage you to get a copy of this book, if for no other reason than to read that one chapter, and share it with your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, so as to be aware of the signs.

     After reading the book, I encourage everyone to take a look at the child abuse laws in your area. They are usually easily accessible online. If you are in the U.S., you can go to www.childwelfare.gov  and find lots of great information on recognizing and reporting child abuse.

                The adults in Ursula’s life failed her. Let’s do our best to make everyone aware of child abuse and its signs and make sure that tragedies like this happen to as few children as possible.

 

 

Links to buy Death by Child Abuse and No One Heard:

**Death by Child Abuse and No One Heard is no longer in print. There are used copies and eBook copies available on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=death%20by%20child%20abuse%20and%20no%20one%20heard&sprefix=Death+by+Child+A%2Caps%2C205

 

**SPOILER ALERT!!**

For those of you who may want to know if Ursula’s case was resolved before you begin the book, Yes, Susan Assaid and Don McDougall were both convicted of their crimes and sent to jail. Don, who did most of the abuse, was denied appeal. Later, when it came close to the time that Don was scheduled to be released from jail, a radio host got a copy of the book and read it over the air. Inmates who heard the story murdered Don before he was released back into society.

Until next time and with happier subjects to come,

                                     Lizzie <3

See Lizzie Read 5 Minute High 5 With Author Michael K. Reynolds!

Hello Bookworms!,
       Today I have a special treat for you all!! Recently, I posted an interview about Flight of the earls by Michal K. Reynolds! Now I am proud to bring you an interview with Mr. Reynolds himself! Its See Lizzie Read's 5 Minute High 5 with Author Michael K. Reynolds! Enjoy!

Michael K Reynolds, Author/Speaker

 

 

1.       I read that you have a B.A. in Creative Writing, but it had been many years since you had written any fiction. What made you decide to return to it?

I had written three books by the time I was 21, with two of them being fiction. My fourth novel I began in college, but got no further than a title and some initial research. That title was Flight of the Earls. Once graduating I got a job as a journalist and then got swept into the marketing industry where I became a copywriter and started my own agency. Twenty years had gone by without me writing a sentence of fiction when, on a whim, I pitched the idea for Flight of the Earls at a writers conference. Two publishers requested to see the manuscript just on the concept alone…and that’s what returned me to my first love of fiction.

2.       You’ve been involved with both non-fiction and fiction projects. With non-fiction the facts are decided for you, whereas with fiction you get to decide the facts. Is it more satisfying to receive a good response to your non-fiction or fiction projects?

The response you crave most is that people were inspired by your writing, and that can be accomplished with both disciplines. I’ve authored non-fiction for decades and I enjoy it because it’s writing with the skin of the grape peeled back—very direct and effective. However; it’s a unique and revelatory joy to hear your readers converse in a positive way about the characters and plots of your novels because all of this comes from the raw clay of your imagination.

3.       Flight of the Earls is set around a time period that I have not often seen (The Irish Potato Famine) especially from the point of view of the Irish. What led you to use this time period and this point of view?

 

The Great Potato Famine is the single most important (and tragic) event in Irish history, so that’s what drew me to that era. However; as I began to research and draw storylines for my next two novels in the series it was like an archeologist pulling amazing discoveries from the ground. This time span from 1845-1865 is truly a transformational period in American history and is overflowing with human drama and scintillating plots.

4.       You’ve said in another interview that without having had experience living with four women in your house (your wife and three daughters) you would not have been able to work on the strong female lead, Clare Hanley, like you've been able to today. Do we as the readers see any parts of those women in Clare Hanley’s character?

That’s an interesting question! When I first shared the initial chapters of Flight of the Earls with a critique group early on in the process, the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. However; many of the women complained that I made Clare “too perfect.” I had to go back and “scuff her up” in the subsequent drafts. What I realized was I had originally written Clare as what I saw in my daughters, and most Dads think their girls are perfect. Once I shifted out of that mentality, I was able to create a Clare that was much more well-rounded and believable. But definitely, I think very highly of my wife and daughters and I’m sure Clare represents some of the best of each of them.

5. It is obvious that your first fiction novel, Flight of the Earls, is getting great response and that people are excitingly anticipating the other two books (In Golden Splendor, July 15^th, 2013 and Songs of the Shenandoah, January 1^st, 2014) in the series. After the Heirs of Ireland trilogy finishes, are we going to get to see more fiction projects from you in the future?

Yes. I’ve been blessed with some great interest in my writing pursuits following the Heirs of Ireland Series, and my agent and I are sorting through those. Although it’s too early to discuss specifics, God willing, it is safe to say there will be more of my novels coming to a bookshelf near you.


There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this look into Mr. Reynolds and his work! If you'd like to buy your own copy of Flight of the Earls, Click here:

http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Earls-Heirs-Ireland-Novel/dp/1433678195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366146381&sr=8-1&keywords=flight+of+the+earls

In Golden Splendor, the second book in the Heirs of Ireland Triloghy is available for pre-order now! If you'd like to pre-order your copy now, Click here!:

http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Splendor-Heirs-Ireland-Novel/dp/1433678209/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366146490&sr=1-1&keywords=in+golden+splendor

And remember to keep an eye out for Songs of the Shenandoah, out January 1st, 2014!

You can become one of Michael K. Reynolds author insiders! You'll recieve e-mail updates about books, opportunities for prizes and more! Want to become one of Michael K Reynolds Author Insiders? Click Here!: http://www.michaelkreynolds.com/?page_id=2363

Follow Michael K. Reynolds on Twitter:
@M_K_Reynolds

and on Facebook:
Author Michael K Reynolds

More posts coming soon! ;)

Until Next Time!,
                    Lizzie <3

Spotlight on Author N.E. David

Hello Bookworms,
       Around Christmas time I brought you two interviews by Author N.E. David. Since then, Nick has had a some successes so that's why I wanted to put the spotlight on him in this post. 

       The novella I reviewed here was entitled CAROL'S CHRISTMAS and it had just been released to ebook. Since then:

1. A Day at the Races has been released to ebook.
              In his blog, Nick said that a goal of his for this year was to finish the conversion from brint to eletronic format and he has done it! Get your copy of A Day at the Races here!: http://www.nedavid.com/books/

2. His first novel Bird of the Nile is set to be published.
            This week, Nick said in his End of Term Report that "Fingers crossed, we should see publication by the ROUNDFIRE imprint of John Hunt Publishing some time toward the end of the summer." Read Nick's full End of Term Report here: http://www.nedavid.com/blog-1/

Want to read the Interviews I posted here?
Part 1 click here: http://www.seelizzieread.blogspot.com/2012/10/see-lizzie-reads-5-minute-high-five.html

Part 2 click here: http://www.seelizzieread.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-special-gift-interview-with-author-ne.html

To find out more about N.E. David and his books:

www.NEDavid.com

or follow him on Twitter:

@NEDavidAuthor

Until Next Time,
                    Lizzie <3

Spotlight on the Hamish Macbeth Series by M.C. Beaton

Hello Bookworms!,

     Today marked the U.S. and UK release of Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton! Death of Yesterday is the latest installment in the Hamish Macbeth Mysteries! 

      According to MCBeaton.com, Death of Yesterday marks the 29th addition to the Hamish Macbeth Mysteries.

      Here is a list of all of the Hamish Macbeth Mysteries to date (titles pulled directly from MCBeaton.com)

Death of a Gossip
Death of a Cad
Death of an Outsider
Death of a Perfect Wife
Death of a Hussey
Death of a Snob
Death of a Prankster
Death of a Greedy Woman (Also published as Death of a Glutton)
Death of aTraveling Man
Death of a Charming Man
Death of a Nag
Death of a Macho Man
Death of a Dentist
Death of a Scriptwriter
Death of an Addict
Death of a Dustman
Death of a Celebrity
Death of a Village
Death of a Poisen Pen
Death of a Bore
Death of a Dreamer
Death of a Maid
Death of a Gentle Lady
Death of a Witch
Death of a Valentine
Death of a Chimney Sweep
Death of Yesterday
A Highland Christmas

....(Whew!)

Pick up your copy of Death of  Yesterday today!:
http://www.mcbeaton.com/us/books/hamish_macbeth_mysteries/death_of_yesterday/

Want to see a review of another Hamish Macbeth Mystery?
Here's my review of Death of a Dreamer (Hamish Macbeth #21):
http://seelizzieread.blogspot.com/2012/07/death-of-dreamer-by-mc-beaton.html

Want to see other books that M.C. Beaton has written other than the Hamish Macbeth Series?
Historical Romances:
http://www.mcbeaton.com/us/books/romances/

Stand Alone Mysteries:
http://www.mcbeaton.com/us/books/stand-alone_mysteries/

Edwardian Mysteries:
http://www.mcbeaton.com/us/books/edwardian_murder_mysteries/

Agatha Raisin Mysteries:
http://www.mcbeaton.com/us/books/agatha_raisin_mysteries/

Until Next Time,
                    Lizzie <3