Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

Somewhere in France

by Jennifer Robson

Publisher:  William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication date:  December 31, 2013
ISBN:  978-0062273451
Genre:  historical fiction

Book Synopsis:  Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford wants to travel the world, pursue a career, and marry for love. But in 1914, the stifling restrictions of aristocratic British society and her mother’s rigid expectations forbid Lily from following her heart. When war breaks out, the spirited young woman seizes her chance for independence. Defying her parents, she moves to London and eventually becomes an ambulance driver in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps—an exciting and treacherous job that takes her close to the Western Front.

Assigned to a field hospital in France, Lily is reunited with Robert Fraser, her dear brother Edward’s best friend. The handsome Scottish surgeon has always encouraged Lily’s dreams. She doesn’t care that Robbie grew up in poverty—she yearns for their friendly affection to become something more. Lily is the most beautiful—and forbidden—woman Robbie has ever known. Fearful for her life, he’s determined to keep her safe, even if it means breaking her heart.

In a world divided by class, filled with uncertainty and death, can their hope for love survive. . . or will it become another casualty of this tragic war?

My Thoughts:  It really surprises me that this is a debut novel.  The author is very skilled at including the historical details without allowing it to become dull and boring.  I was immediately drawn in, not wanting to put it down. I think the idea of the forbidden romance was the lure.  The blurb on the front cover claiming a similarity to Downton Abbey helped too.

I really enjoy reading about this era and the hierarchy of the society.  A high-society girl defying her parents in search of something more.  Having all the money at her fingertips was not enough. Lily wanted to taker her part and felt it her duty to do something in this time of war.  She was not satisfied staying at home being told what she was not allowed to do.  She did not want to have and arranged marriage to someone she did not love.  What a wonderful character!  She gave up the world to seek her dreams.

Although Lily holds onto and follows her desires, the author was adept at showing the changes and growth in this character.  She provided a nice cast of supporting characters that allowed Lily to be herself and be comfortable in her ever changing world - going from having everything to nothing - and back again.

I really respect the control that Robbie shows throughout the novel.  For the most part, he is the underdog - coming from the lower class - not of the same world as Lily.  The only reason the even crossed paths was because he was the best friend of her brother, Edward.  Lily's mother disapproved of the friendship between Edward and Robbie, and even more so of any relationship between Lily and Robbie.  Robbie, now a surgeon, does his best to distance himself from Lily, but finds he cannot get her off his mind.  It becomes even more difficult when she is working right under his nose, at the same hospital.  He spends his days worrying about her safety.

This book was an easy read; not too complex with al the historical information, but straightforward and casual in its approach.  If you enjoy historical fiction, you will definitely find this book worth the read.  I excitedly await the follow-up coming next year (2015).

About the Author:  Jennifer Robson first learned about the Great War from her father, acclaimed historian Stuart Robson, and later served as an official guide at the Canadian National War Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France. A former copy editor, she holds a doctorate in British economic and social history from the University of Oxford. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and young children.                                                                         Goodreads           Facebook           Twitter            Website

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It's Been a While...............

I know I have been gone from my blog for quite some time, but it has not been totally forgotten.  I am slowly going to make my way back to the blogging world & book reviewing.  I have missed it so much.  I absolutely love to read, but had gotten so busy with my job -teaching, and my change in positions that I really had no time for reading.  And .....  what was I thinking.  Me and not reading - that just does not work.  So, I have started back in with my favorite genre - historical fiction.

Tomorrow I will be posting a review for Somewhere in France:  A Novel of the Great War by Jennifer Robson.

My Loving Vigil Keeping by Carla Kelly

My Loving Vigil Keeping 
by Carla Kelly 

Publisher:  Cedar Fort, Inc.

Publication Date:  August 14th 2012

ISBN:  1599558971

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Book Synopsis:  Della’s giving up all the comforts of bustling Salt Lake City to teach school in a rural coal mining camp. Little does she know, she may soon be giving up her heart as well. But when tragedy strikes in the Scofield Mine, Della’s life will be changed forever. Based on true events, this thrilling new romance from award-winning and bestselling author Carla Kelly is a must-read!

My Thoughts:  Oh, my goodness!  I just read my all-time favorite book!  No kidding!!  I really, really loved this book! My Loving Vigil Keeping by Carla Kelly is of course from my favorite genre – historical fiction & it also includes romance!!  The title comes from the lyrics of a very popular lullaby “All Through the Night” – one of my favorites as well. 

Della is a young woman who had been orphaned early on- her mother had left when she was an infant, and her father was killed in a mine accident.   She grew up in the home of her wealthy uncle, where she was looked down upon, and pretty much took care of herself.  She got herself through school and eventually earned a one-year teaching certificate.  After a couple of years teaching in a typical community/school, she goes out on a limb and applies for and accepts a position in a coal-mining community called Winter Quarters, located in Scofield, Utah. 

It’s almost as if she were returning home – there are many similarities to her childhood community.  However, the people of Winter Quarters relate her to the wealthy family that raised her and wonder why she is there.  She has to earn the respect of these people of Winter Quarters and find herself.

Owen, oh how I loved Owen!!  He is such a sweet, gentle man.  The father of a beautiful little girl who also lost her mother at a young age – her mother died giving birth.  Own is so perfect for Della.  This growing, possible romance was so great to read.  What I loved most about it was that it was not rushed. Real people with real issues and histories to overcome.  What happens in the end, I will let you read the book to find out.

You will not believe everything that goes on in this story!!!  Let me just tell you, there are many, many ups and downs.  Times I laughed and times I really cried!  I was cheering Della on throughout the whole book!  I found her to be the best protagonist I have encountered in some time.  She was just so real – emotions and actions so authentic.  The other characters – especially those in Winter Quarters – were just what I imagined.  They honestly made me want to check the place out for myself.  Sounds strange doesn’t it? Why would I want to go to an old coal-town?  Well, I was born and raised in West Virginia – where coal mining is a mainstay for many.  While I did not grow up in a family of miners, many of my friends did.  The town I grew up in was not a coal camp, but many years before I was born, that is what the town was all about!  So, many of the same characteristics and lifestyles still lingered.  Therefore, I completely related to the individuals in the novel. 

Carla Kelly definitely knows what she is doing when writing a historical fiction.  The events in the story are based in part on a very tragic mining event – the Scofield mining disaster of 1900.  Lots of chilling events – many that made my heart bleed!!!  At one point I was so angry with what was going on – or really, what I thought was going on.  I was very happily surprised with the turn of events as the story unfolded.  This is most assuredly a must-read – so don’t let it get by you!!!! 

About the Author:  Although Carla Kelly is well known among her readers as a writer of Regency romance, her main interest (and first writing success) is Western American fiction—more specifically, writing about America's Indian Wars. Although she had sold some of her work before, it was not until Carla began work in the National Park Service as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie National Historic Site did she get serious about her writing career. (Or as she would be the first to admit, as serious as it gets.)


Carla wrote a series of what she now refers to as the "Fort Laramie stories," which are tales of the men, women and children of the Indian Wars era in Western history. Two of her stories, A Season for Heroes and Kathleen Flaherty's Long Winter, earned her Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America. She was the second woman to earn two Spurs from WWA (which, as everyone knows, is all you need to ride a horse). Her entire Indian Wars collection was published in 2003 as Here's to the Ladies: Stories of the Frontier Army. It remains her favorite work. 


The mother of five children, Carla has always allowed her kids to earn their keep by appearing in her Regencies, most notably Marian's Christmas Wish, which is peopled by all kinds of relatives. Grown now, the Kelly kids are scattered here and there across the U.S. They continue to provide feedback, furnish fodder for stories and make frantic phone calls home during the holidays for recipes. (Carla Kelly is some cook.) 


Carla's husband, Martin, is Director of Theatre at Valley City State University, in Valley City, North Dakota. Carla is currently overworked as a staff writer at the local daily newspaper. She also writes a weekly, award-winning column, "Prairie Lite."


Carla only started writing Regencies because of her interest in the Napoleonic Wars, which figures in many of her Regency novels and short stories. She specializes in writing about warfare at sea, and about the ordinary people of the British Isles who were, let's face it, far more numerous than lords and ladies. 


Hobbies? She likes to crochet afghans, and read British crime fiction and history, principally military history. She's never happier than talking about the fur trade or Indian Wars with Park Service cronies. Her most recent gig with the National Park Service was at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site on the Montana/North Dakota border. 


Here's another side to this somewhat prosaic woman: She recently edited the fur trade journal of Swiss artist Rudolf F. Kurz (the 1851-1852 portion), and is gratified now and then to be asked to speak on scholarly subjects. She has also worked for the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a contract researcher. This has taken her to glamorous drudgery in several national archives and military history repositories. Gray archives boxes and old documents make her salivate. 


Her mantra for writing comes from the subject of her thesis, Robert Utley, that dean of Indian Wars history. He told her the secret to writing is "to put your ass in the chair and keep it there until you're done." He's right, of course. 


Her three favorite fictional works have remained constant through the years, although their rankings tend to shift: War and Peace, The Lawrenceville Stories, and A Town Like Alice. Favorite historical works are One Vast Winter Count, On the Border with Mackenzie and Crossing the Line. Favorite crime fiction authors are Michael Connelly, John Harvey and Peter Robinson. 


And that's all she can think of that would interest anyone.

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr (Tudor-set series #2) by Sandra Byrd

Publisher:  Howard Books

Publication Date:  June 5th 2012

ISBN:  1439183147

Genre:  Historical Fiction / Romance

Synopsis:  What she sees in secret, she may not tell.  Mistress Juliana St. John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight’s family. Though all expect her to marry the son of her late father’s business partner, time and chance interrupt, sending her to the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII.

     Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to Wiltshire to conclude his affairs with Juliana’s father’s estate and chances upon her reading as lector in the local church. He sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and wants most to please, Kateryn Parr. Juliana’s mother agrees to have her placed with Parr for a season and Juliana goes, though reluctantly.  For she keeps a secret.

     As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henry’s devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queen’s desire to influence her husband’s—and the realm’s—direction and beliefs. Later, without Henry’s strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. Ultimately, her course is driven by a final kept secret, one that undoes everything she thought she knew.

About the Author:   Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children. For more Tudor tidbits, please visit www.sandrabyrd.com.


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My Thoughts:  This book has everything that I love about historical fiction / romance novels!  Sandra Byrd is now one of my favorite authors!  I absolutely loved her writing style - so very easy to read.  She has an obvious expertise in the Tudor time period.  The book was so rich in historical facts, but not so much that it took away from the narrative.  I have not read the first book in this series, but I know now that I will - as a matter of fact, I just ordered it!!!


Juliana St. John is a fascinating heroine.  I loved that the author did not paint her to be perfect - rather showing her flaws / weaknesses.  Juliana had the gift of prophesy, which was very dangerous in this time period.  She had her share of both friends - some of which were quite controversial -  and enemies - adding to the danger.  Juliana became part of Kateryn Parr's household, prior to her becoming queen.  During this time, Juliana became close friends and confidant to Kateryn.  This allowed Juliana to take part in most everything - even the most intimate events.  Such detail was provided throughout for the characters and events that I often felt as if I were actually there - taking part!  The imagery was amazing!


I fell in love with both Juliana and Kateryn.  Both women were very generous in character, in ways beyond wealth.  It was a shame that not everyone loved them - although many did.  Their relationship was very complex, and so different than the bitter, jealous women of that time.  The love interests of both women were very intriguing.  The motives behind the interests in these men, quite captivating.  There is definitely no comparison to today's world - quite a difference.  There is an obvious difference in the roles of women at the time, no matter what your status.


I must say that I have learned quite a bit about Henry VIII.  I had learned a lot in school about him, but this put a new perspective on the time and person - and the novel was quite accurate to any of the historical accounts that had ever read or been exposed to.  Kateryn's love, Sir Thomas Seymour, sure had some ups and downs.  I both loved and hated him.  The plot twists involving him and Juliana were quite surprising!!!


I was immediately attracted to Juliana's love interest, Jamie.  Although at first, I was not sure they would have a chance, he was very persistent.  The romantic story-line the author created was very enjoyable.


This is a very cleanly and accuratley written historical fiction, that I would would recommend to anyone who loves this genre, and especially those that like this time period.


**I received a free copy of this book from Howard Books, for my honest review.  The opinions expressed here are my own."

Book Review: A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur

A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur
Publisher: Kane Miller
Publication Date:  March 1st, 2012
ISBN:  978-1-61067-044-9
Genre:  Young Adult / Middle Grade historical fiction
Author Links:  Goodreads        Blog

Book Synopsis:  Lucy Catherine Thomkins was looking for poetry when she slipped the booklet from Papa’s coat pocket and discovered Information for Kanzas Immigrants. Just another political paper, nothing a thirteen-year-old poet would be interested in. But before dinner is over that night, Lucy becomes one those immigrants. She feels as out of place in 1855 Kansas Territory as the sky-blue silk gown she has worn for the journey from Pennsylvania, and she seeks her own purpose in this strange place. Papa is committed to the cause of abolitionism, and Mamma is committed to the success of the family’s general store. Even her brother, ten-year-old Joseph, seems to embrace this new life, despite the threats of the Border Ruffians who harass the citizens of Lawrence. When Lucy discovers that her best friend’s family is working with the Underground Railroad, Lucy must make a decision which could have dangerous consequences for herself and her family. She must decide just what she stands for, and she must find her own true voice to express herself in a time and place where a young girl’s voice is seldom valued.

My thoughts:  Lucy, a young aspiring poet, was uprooted from her home in Pennsylvania when her family emigrated to the Kanzas Territory.  She had to build a new life, new friends, new school, a whole new life.  She now had to face challenges that were she was protected from in her old life.  She was now more directly involved in the Free States movement and the Underground Railroad - or as called in this story - the Liberty Line.  Every decision she made had an impact on others she loved.


I found A Voice for Kanzas to be very moving.  I could not imagine being so young and having to face all the challenges that were thrown at Lucy.  All Lucy wanted was to write poetry, not travel as a immigrant, but she did not realize just what a new role that poetry would have in her new life.  Her old teacher gave her a journal to continue her writing.  Her new teacher told her she needed to find her voice.  By the end of the book, Lucy did in deed find her voice.  


Lucy, a 13 year old girl, is probably one of the strongest child characters I have read in quite some time.  You see her growing throughout the the story. She goes from being an innocent to becoming a very responsible, informed, courageous young lady.  She helps her family with their new family store, and with her new best friend, assists those that travel the Liberty Line to freedom.  You witness her changes and her grown through her poetry that is strategically placed throughout the book.


The book provides a unique look at the time period leading up to the Civil War.  So much content presented in a non-challenging way about pro-slavery and the free states endevour, enable readers to learn without much effort. 


I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, and especially to classroom teachers for its content. 

Historical Fiction

OK, so yesterday in my discussion of genres, I really got chatty with historical fiction - more so than I thought I would.  Especially since I had planned to give it its attention today for the letter H.  So, since I did the talking yesterday, I thought I'd do more cover images today.  Enjoy!  If all works well, click on the cover to read more about each book!

Top Ten Favorite Historical Fiction

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and the Bookish.  Each week we are given a new theme in which to post a top ten list.    

Each week a new theme for a Top Ten list is posted. Everyone is welcome to join. Post your responses on The Broke and the Bookish along with a comment on their post.  This week the topic is Top Ten Books Of Your Favorite Genre.  My pick this week is historical fiction.

Top Ten Favorite Historical Fiction

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Historical Fiction Challenge 2012

Historical fiction - my all-time favorite genre!  And, guess what, another challenge to match:  The Historical Fiction Challenge 2012 is right up my alley.  I am going to play it safe though when I commit to the number of books I am reading for this challenge, as I want to stretch myself with various new genres this year.

There are 5 levels to this challenge:

1. Severe Bookaholism:  20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed:  15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction:  10 books
4. Daring & Curious:  5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone:  2 books

My commitment is to 2 books for now.  It is not out of my comfort zone, but the other genres I want to read this year are.  

For more info or to sign up:  Historical Fiction Challenge 2012