Book review: Born of No Man by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Wow ... this is a fantastic story. The author takes us straight into the heart of Arthurian Britannia with a tale that gives us the origins of the story of Merlin. 

At its heart though, it's a powerful romance: the story of Lynette and Cadfael the Black. She's a princess's handmaid, he's a powerful battle commander. She's loyal to a fault, while he's embittered after the brutal loss of his wife and son many years earlier, and has vowed to never live again.

Although this isn't a big book, the main characters are fleshed out excellently. Lynette is strong, sensitive, and tough. Cadfael is attracted to her from their first meeting, but held back by suspicion and bitterness. The scenes where their attraction deepens are fantastically written and filled with tension. I found their resolution highly emotional, and was delighted that they got their happy ending.

Tracy Cooper-Posey does her research too. Her descriptions of the historical setting, political set-up, and how people lived felt really authentic.

There aren't enough romances written in the Dark Ages so I was delighted to discover this one. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!

Five stars! 

Check BORN OF NO MAN out on Amazon.

Book review: Eirik: A Time Travel Romance (Mists of Albion Book 1) by Joanna Bell

Gripping story ... Four and a half stars.

I usually avoid Time Travel romances - Diana Gabaldon has set the bar too high - but this one was a real surprise. The writing style grabs you from the first page, and the story is great.

The heroine, Paige, is one of the book's highlights for me. The story is told entirely from her point of view but I never got tired of being in her head. We don't get to know the hero, Eirik, as well as we do Paige, but he's definitely a great hero: strong, powerful, and ruthless when necessary, but with a deep, kind and chivalrous side.

I loved the setting too. The author brings 9th Century Anglo-Saxon Britain to life brilliantly. The Kingdom of the East Angles and the Viking raids are realistically drawn with just enough description to make the setting seem authentic without going into too much historical detail. Paige's 'portal' between the two worlds - a tree on her father's property - works too. It's simple, but unlike some other time travel romances, I could believe it could exist.

I thought Paige's back-story was beautifully drawn, the loss of her mother, and her father's depression, followed by visits to psychologists. You really want this girl to find happiness!

The only thing that didn't work for me in the book (which is why I've given it 4.5 instead of 5 stars) - was the use of language. In 9th Century Britain, the Angles would have been speaking Old English, and the Vikings, a form of Norse. However, our heroine slips from 2017 North America to the 9th Century without any language difficulties. Maybe I missed it, but she just thinks her new Angle friends speak a little differently to her. Plus, Eirik would not likely have spoken the local tongue either - there would have been two new languages to learn! Outlander works because Claire only goes back a couple of centuries to Jacobean Scotland, where the same language (apart from the local Scottish Gaelic) is used. It's quite a big detail not to get right! If the portal equips travelers with some Tardis-like language device, the reader needs to know that!

However, the story is so strong, the plot so exciting, the writing so vivid, and the characters (even the minor ones) so richly drawn that I will just overlook that issue ...

I highly recommend this novel, and look forward to more in this series.

Buy a copy on Amazon.com

Book review: Silver Hammer, Golden Cross (Book Six of The Circle of Ceridwen Saga) by Octavia Randolph

A sweeping, epic novel that picks up around a decade after Ceridwen and Sidroc's story. This is the tale of Ceric (Ceridwen's son) and Ashild (the daughter of Aelfwyn and Yrling). Like the earlier books in this saga, Octavia Randolph uses real historical events to bring her story to life. The peace forged by King Alfred and Guthrum has ended, and war sweeps across England once more.

The characters are great - well rounded with flaws that make them feel like real people. I particularly loved Ashild. A young woman of independent spirit, she struggles with the role that she must play; to marry to strength alliances and wealth. She and Ceric are childhood friends, and both their families wish them to wed. However, despite her attraction for him she wishes to choose her own fate.

Likewise, Ceric is a young man coming to terms with his own place in the world as he reaches manhood and must fill the gap left by his uncle.

Unlike the earlier books in the series, this one is told in third person narrative (rather than first person). This creates quite a different tone - less intimate, more epic. We move from Four Stones (in what is now Lincolnshire, I guess) down to Kilton on the south coast of England, and then across the water to Gotland in Scandinavia. Ceric and Ashild are the main POV characters, although we also spend some time again with Ceridwen and Sidroc, which I enjoyed.

What I love most about Octavia Randolph's books (apart from the memorable characters) is the way she brings 9th Century Anglo-Saxon England to life. She has done vast amounts of research and it shows, not in an 'info-dump' way but in a rich, detailed tapestry. She really brings you there. I particularly loved the descriptions of the food!

The story also highlights the conflict between the paganism and Christianity at this time, hence the title of this book. Ashild carries the silver hammer of Thor from her father, Yrling, and a golden cross from her mother, Aelfwyn, around her neck.

There are quite a few battle and fight scenes in this book that were really well done. There are some great action scenes toward the end of the book - but I'll say nothing about those as I don't want to spoil the story for readers!

I look forward to reading the next installment in the Ceridwen saga - highly recommended five-star read.

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Buy a copy of Silver Hammer, Golden Cross on Amazon.com

Review: Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters, #1), by Juliet Marillier

What a beautiful book - one of the best I've ever read.

Where to start ... Juliet Marillier is a wonderful writer. The way she evokes the time and place of the novel is nothing short of spectacular. As this is a historical fantasy romance you don't really know exactly when the story is set but judging from her descriptions of the various cultures and politics of the time I'd say late Anglo-Saxon times, possibly just before the Norman Conquest. It's set in Ireland and Northern England - a world that the author brings to life beautifully.

Sorcha is a strong female lead - the seventh child of an Irish family with six protective elder brothers. First person narration can be tricky to get right but Marillier takes us on a long journey with Sorcha and I never tired of her voice. Her courage, even at times of horror and pain, had me in tears a few times during the book.

Red is possibly my favorite hero of all time. The author takes great care in bringing him to life - and it's difficult not to fall in love with him. He's sexy, strong and kind - what's not to love! If Sorcha has one fault is that she is 'too strong' - and risks isolating herself with her need to prove she can deal with everything on her own. However Red understands this about her. His flaw is pride - he doesn't find it easy to express his deepest feelings, and this almost ruins his own chance at happiness as a result.

 I can't believe I've only just discovered Juliet Mariller now - I'm going to enjoy diving into her other works. I also discovered that we're from the same city in New Zealand and studied at the same university!

I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you love historical fiction with a bit of fantasy thrown in - and a powerful love story that will have you reaching for the tissues - don't miss this one.

Buy a copy on Amazon.

New review for THE BREAKING DAWN

THE BREAKING DAWN has just been reviewed by the Historical Novel Society... 

"Jayne Castel maps a classic troubled love story onto a much broader canvas of war and political intrigue in the first of her 'Kingdom of Mercia' series, The Breaking Dawn."

Read the full review here.

Book review: Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

A powerful love story about two very unlikely individuals. I love romances that are a bit different, ones that challenge the genre a bit. The 'rake and the innocent' has been done to death in historical romance - but never like this!

Our hero, the Duke of Jervaulx is a reckless womanizer - until the day he suffers a stroke. Our heroine, Maddy Timms, is a Quaker spinster who has dedicated her life to helping her blind father with his work.

Uptight and judgmental, but also passionate and brave, Maddy is both drawn to and repulsed by the Duke. She volunteers in the mental asylum where Jervaulx has been incarcerated, and is the only one who does not believe he is mad. However, it is not long before her growing attraction to him gets the better of her...

What happens to Jervaulx after he has his stroke is appalling, but also historically accurate. The 'treatment' for mental illness was once barbaric. The reader really experiences his frustration and anger at being labelled 'mad' when he has merely lost his ability to speak. His stroke strips Jervaulx of everything - status, money and power. He must rebuild his life, stone by stone.

I love Laura Kinsale's writing, her evocation of time and place is beautiful, as is the way she depicts the developing relationship between Jervaulx and Maddy. Both characters begin the tale with some serious character flaws but the story sees them grow enormously. The sexual tension between them is scorching and beautifully written.

Loved it!

Purchase a copy of this book from Amazon.

Book Review: Fragments Of Grace by Kathryn Le Veque

Fragments Of Grace is a really exciting read - from start to finish. It tells the story of Keir, a knight with a tragic past, and Chloe, the daughter of a wealthy landowner.  Chloe's enthusiasm, passion and openness help Keir heal the wounds of the past and he slowly opens up to the possibility of loving again. 

However, the path of true love does not run smooth, and Keir and Chloe have huge obstacles to face before they can truly be together.

What I liked about the novel:

- I really enjoy bitter-sweet stories (yes romance with happy endings can still be bitter-sweet!) and this one has a lot of sadness and darkness, which gives the story a lot more power than many traditional historical romances.

- I loved the romance and the deep feelings the two main protagonists have for each other. It truly is a 'love story' in the classic sense.

- The supporting cast of characters, and the secondary love stories, and all great and well-rounded. I must say that there were times when I preferred Chloe's feisty sister, Cassandra, to our heroine - and Summer (the young healer who appears at around the novel's three-quarter mark), is a fabulous character I would have liked to have seen developed further.

- I loved the action - there's not a dull moment throughout the novel. It sets a cracking pace and keeps you turning those pages.

What I didn't like so much...

I have given Fragments Of Grace 5 stars because I was thoroughly drawn in by it - however there were a couple of things that bugged me.

- I don't know how many times I heard that Chloe was the 'most beautiful woman in the whole North of England', and that her beauty was without comparison. After a while, it got a bit boring. I prefer reading about women who are a little more realistic, women I can actually relate to. As I mentioned above, I actually preferred Chloe's sister, Cassandra, as a character.

- Some of the descriptions were a little clumsy and rushed, which was a pity as there were some moments (especially towards the end), that deserved more attention given to them. Throughout the novel, there were a few too many instances of the author 'telling' us what the characters are like and how they feel, rather than 'showing' us.

Those niggles aside, I really enjoyed this book and recommend Fragments Of Grace to any lover of historical romance.

Buy a copy of Fragments of Grace on Amazon.


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Book review: The Hall of Tyr Book #4 of The Circle of Ceridwen Saga by Octavia Randolph

A fantastic conclusion to the best series I've read in years. The Circle of Ceridwen Saga had it all - coming of age, adventure, romance, intrigue and survival. 

The Hall of Tyr takes place on the Island of Gotland, where Ceridwen and Sidroc have made their home together. We follow their new life, and their deepening love in a richly drawn setting. However, their happiness is overshadowed by the past, and the people they left behind in Angle-land. 

This novel adopts a slightly different narration style to the rest of the series. Ceridwen is our narrator throughout the books, except for some chapters in this one, where we return to Four Stones, and to the people Sidroc and Ceridwen have left behind. These chapters are told by Aelfwyn, who must deal with the grief of losing her husband and best friend. She must also face Godric - Ceridwen's jealous and controlling brother-in-law - who will see Ceridwen returned to Kilton at any cost. 

I really enjoyed reading from Aelfwyn's point of view - and can envisage another series with her as the main character (hint, hint!).

A great series, and well worth getting lost in.

Five stars! *****

Buy a  copy of this book on Amazon.

Book Review: The Claiming (The Circle of Ceridwen Trilogy, #3) by Octavia Randolph

An exciting book, as Ceridwen's life takes an unexpected turn. This is by far the most gripping book of the series so far (and all of them have been riveting), with abduction, sea adventure, survival and romance all thrown together. 

I won't go into the details of the story, as anything I mention will spoil the book for those who haven't read it, but... I will say that this novel focuses on the relationship between Ceridwen and Sidroc (finally!)

A must read for anyone who loves richly drawn, character-driven, historical adventure novels!


Five stars *****

Buy a copy of this book on Amazon.

Book Review: Ceridwen of Kilton (Circle of Ceridwen Trilogy #2) by Octavia Randolph

A great sequel to the first book in this series. 

Ceridwen of Kilton has a very different feel to the first book - due largely to the fact that Ceridwen is now a wife and a mother. She does not move from Kilton during the duration of the story. However this does not slow the plot down at all - plenty happens at Kilton to keep the reader engrossed! During the first novel, she is very young, optimistic and naive about herself and others. During this novel, she starts to mature.

Warning: a few potential spoilers ahead!

Ceridwen's new life is overshadowed by the threat of Viking attacks on Kilton, and she cannot forget the Dane, Sidroc, who she left behind in the north. Gyric, Ceridwen's husband, is a changed man when he returns to Kilton. The loss of his sight has stripped him of any sense of self-worth, and although Ceridwen initially ignores this, hoping that their love will conquer his maiming, it eventually starts to affect their relationship. To complicate matters, his brother reveals his obsession for her, which results in an odd - and slightly uncomfortable - episode between the three of them (I won't elaborate here, or I will spoil the story for those who have not yet read it!).

Once again, Octavia Randolph brings Anglo-Saxon England to life in this richly detailed tale of one woman's survival in a brutal time. The character development is excellent and, once again, I can't wait to read the next installment!

Buy a copy of this book on Amazon.

Book review: ROGUE KNIGHT by Regan Walker

I enjoyed the historical background to this novel – historical romances that use actual historical events and characters to help drive the plot make for exciting reading.

Rogue Knight is set in the early medieval period, three years after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. It is the second installment in the Medieval Warriors series, in which Norman knights end up falling for the charms of fiery, independent English women.

Rogue Knight is set in York, and the author has gone to a lot of trouble to bring the Viking roots of this city to life. Our heroine, Emma, is of proud Danish stock, and her father was an actual historical figure – a rebel who helped marshal the Danish help in retrieving York from the Normans. Our hero, Sir Geoffroi, is a Norman Knight who is part of the occupying force in York. He meets Emma on the battlefield, after a bloody exchange between the locals and the Normans. She is initially hostile towards him, but after he shows considerable kindness towards her, and her family, she gradually grows to trust, and love, him.

This novel had a lot of promise but what it provided in rich historical detail, it lacked in romance. Emma and Geoffroi’s love story is a gentle one, but as the plot is driven almost entirely by events out of their control, they both appear a little passive at times.

Geoffroi is a kind, decent man – the epitome of a gallant knight – and Emma is strong and brave, but apart from the obvious ‘enemy’ divide, there was little else keeping them apart. I would have liked to have seen a little more conflict between them – especially since Geoffroi so readily forgives Emma after he discovers her real identity, as the daughter of a rebel leader. Still, that said, it was an enjoyable read and I liked being able to take a peek into the Norman conquest of England.

FOUR STARS ****

Purchase a copy of Rogue Knight on Amazon.

Book review: THE KING'S MAN by By Elizabeth Kingston

I loved the grittiness of this historical romance.

It can be difficult to portray a ‘warrior woman’ in romance, without resorting to cliché or creating a parody or watered down character who could never have, in reality, survived. However, our heroine is a tough young woman who has been groomed by her mother to one day lead the Welsh against the English king.

Gwenllian of Ruardean learns early on how difficult it is to be a female warrior in a man’s world; in order to maintain her position as a leader of men, she had to prove herself to be stronger, faster and cleverer than any man – a struggle that exhausts her.

Our hero is Sir Ranulf, an English knight with a dark past. Gwenllian had been promised to marry Ranulf’s step-father, but that never came to pass as Ranulf murdered him. Years later, she is still bitter about the future she believes he took from her. They meet after Ranulf is badly injured by Gwenllian's men. Once he has healed, Ranulf is rude and dismissive towards Gwenllian and when she bests him in a physical fight his resentment grows. However, as the story progresses a tense but all-consuming bond develops between the two of them.

The romance between Ranulf and Gwenllian is intense and sexy. Gwenllian is strong and determined but secretly vulnerable and lonely, whereas Ranulf only lives in self-imposed isolation, as he is plagued by the terrible events of his childhood and the murder he committed.

This historical romance was refreshingly free of stereotype, was beautifully written and had memorable, flawed characters who both undergo considerable change throughout the story. If I had one issue (albeit a small one), I would have like to see our hero truly lose his self-protective shell at the end; he never really lets his guard down which prevented the resolution from being as intense as it could have been.

I recommend this novel to anyone who likes their historical romance with a bit of realism and grit.

FIVE STARS *****

Purchase THE KING'S MAN on Amazon.

Book review: Shards of Ice by Catherine Mede

I enjoy reviewing books - but don't post reviews as often as I'd like to. This Sci-Fi Romance was a fun read, and despite some flaws, had a lot to like about it.

SHARDS OF ICE
Catherine Mede

3 STARS

This novel certainly has promise.

Here's what I liked about it:

1. A big fan of space opera and love stories set in space, I really enjoyed the setting of Shards of Ice. In many ways, I would have enjoyed more insight into the ice planet where this story takes place.

2. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, which is a plus for me as I tend to prefer romances which don't just have the developing romance as the primary focus of the story. A gripping story can really amplify the romance, if done right.

3. The cover is gorgeous - one of the best I've seen in a while.

However, there were a couple of things that prevented me from giving this novel a higher rating.

1. The characterisation. Vyvica is certainly a memorable character. She's one arse-kicking lady, and it's good to see a strong female lead. However, her tendency to solve all arguments with her fists - especially towards the hero, put me off her. I lost count of the number of times she punched him in the face! Her character is a little uneven, and her aggression and stubbornness jarred with her insecurity. These are all character traits that could work well together, but they need to be handled more subtly. Kelvaras was a difficult character to get a sense of. Initially, I pictured him as a bit of a Han Solo - a cocky 'gun for hire'. However, he appeared to drift for much of the story and came across as a bit weak next to Vyvica's hostility. Both characters had promise, they just needed to be rounded out more so that the reader has a clear sense of their personal journeys.

2. Lack of emotional connection between hero and heroine. The relationship between Vyvica and Kelvaras lacked depth. This comes from the characters themselves not gelling properly. There's a lot of attraction - although it's all external. When the couple finally get together there isn't any emotional punch.

3. There was a bit too much 'telling' rather than 'showing' throughout the novel. This tends to kill suspense and makes the story one-dimensional. It also stops the reader from drawing their own conclusions and fully engaging their imagination.

The good and the bad said, I read this book quickly over a couple of days, and was keen to know what happened next - a good sign! All the ingredients are there, and if the characters had been developed a bit better, and the developing romance between them made more real, this could have easily been a five-star read!

I look forward to reading more from this author and I get the feeling she's just get started!

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