Review: The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory and *Giveaway*

Book Info:

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Simon and Shuster; (August 3, 2010)

ISBN: 9781416563723

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher for review

Rating: 3.5/5

Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy.




The Red Queen is the second book in The Cousins' War trilogy and while it covers roughly the same events as The White Queen, it is told from a very different perspective.  Margaret Beaufort claims to be a religious women and believes that it is God's will that her son rule England.  However, I found her words and her actions to be at odds with each other.  I didn't mind her scheming ways, in fact I expect that from people clawing their way to power, but it didn't lend any credibility to her assertion that she is following God's will.  She is vain, pompous and self-righteous.  In other words, terribly unlikable.

While I was not a fan of Margaret Beaufort, that didn't mean that the whole book was a bust.  I have only read a few of Philippa Gregory's books, but I've always enjoyed them  The pacing is, as usual, wonderful.  I never feel like I am being buried in information, but instead am able to follow the often confusing events easily.  I'm not an expert on the events of the time period though, so I can't say if they are accurate or not.

If you are new to historical fiction, or just new to the time period, I would recommend Gregory's books.  She has quite a knack for bringing history alive.  I didn't like The Red Queen quite as much as The White Queen, but that was primarily because Margaret was so infuriating.  I am still anxiously awaiting the final book in the trilogy.  3.5 stars


Giveaway:

Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy of The Red Queen to share with you.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents.  Entries will be taken through August 30th at midnight, with the winner announced on August 31st.  Please fill out the form below to enter.  While I'd still love your comments on the review, you must complete the form to be entered in the giveaway.

Giveaway: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

Just in time for the release date of The White Queen I am thrilled to host a giveaway for one copy of this wonderful book. The White Queen is the beginning of a new series set during The War of the Roses. A special thank you to Kelly at Simon and Schuster for sponsoring this giveaway.

The book will be mailed from the publisher, so US and Canada addresses only.

Now onto the rules:
--Leave a comment here for one entry
--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry
--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry as I will be using the numbered comments to pick my winner. If you leave more than one entry in a comment, it won't be counted.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight August 31 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on September 1.

Review: Angel's Advocate by Mary Stanton (and giveaway!)

Book Info:
Angel's Advocate by Mary Stanton

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (June 2, 2009)
ISBN-13: 9780425228753

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5/5

Money’s been tight ever since Bree Winston Beaufort inherited Savannah’s haunted law firm Beaufort & Company along with its less-than-angelic staff. But she’s finally going to tackle a case that pays the bills representing a spoiled girl who stole someone’s Girl Scout cookie money. But soon enough she finds that her client’s departed millionaire father needs help too. Can she help an unsavory father/daughter duo and make a living off of the living?

Ok, I have to admit...I generally don't read cozies or paranormals, so you would think this book would be completely unappealing to me. For some reason the description caught my eye and I thought I would give it a try. I'm really glad that I did. Angel's Advocate is the second installment in the Beaufort & Company series. The mixture of southern charm, the quirky cast of characters and suspense really works.

Since I don't usually read paranormals I was afraid there would be an overwhelming amount of unbelievable things happening. I didn't want this to be distracting as that's not my usual cup of tea. Overall, this wasn't the case. There were a few things (like the slime) that didn't really work for me, mostly because I just have a hard time believing in it, but I found the angels and their "extra" space around Savanna very fun.

My favorite part of this book, by far, was the eccentric and funny cast of angels sent to help Bree out. They range from a Russian paralegal, to a fashion conscious secretary, to a buff PI/bodyguard. The characters often had me laughing or shaking my head, but they were always entertaining.

I prefer my mysteries to be a little more hard core. Blood and guts don't bother me at all. While this wasn't my usual mystery book, I enjoyed this part of the story. However, I didn't find the mystery as compelling as the characters were.

Since this is only the second book in the series, I would recommend starting with the first book, Defending Angels. This book really helped set the stage and set up all the relationships between the characters. 3.5 stars

Be sure to visit the blog tour page and check out the other reviews, guests posts and author interviews.

********

The Giveaway:

Mary Stanton is giving away a signed copy of her book, Angel’s Advocate, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to Mary’s book tour page, http://mary-stanton.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 5546, for your chance to win. Entries from Shhh I'm Reading will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on Mary’s book tour page next week.

Good Luck!

Review: Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland

Book Info:

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Touchstone (April 7, 2009)
ISBN-13: 9780743298926

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4.5/5

Set against the magnificent decadence of the seventeenth-century French court, Mistress of the Sun begins when an eccentric young Louise falls in love with a wild white stallion and uses ancient magic to tame him. This one desperate action of her youth shadows her throughout her life, changing it in ways she could never imagine.

Unmarriageable, and too poor to join a convent, Louise enters the court of the Sun King, where the king is captivated by her. As their love unfolds, Louise bears Louis four children, is made a duchess, and reigns unrivaled as his official mistress until dangerous intrigue threatens her position at court and in Louis's heart.

A riveting love story with a captivating mystery at its heart, Mistress of the Sun illuminates both the power of true and perfect love and the rash actions we take to capture and tame it.

Most of the historical fiction I've read has centered around common people, instead of royalty. This was a wonderful change of pace for me and I loved every minute of it.

Petite, as she's called, is a great character. She fun and interesting, without the all arrogance that some members of the court seem to have. I also loved her adventures with the different horses in her life. Also, since we met Petite at such a young age I really felt I got to know her as she grew up and changed.

Petite's relationship with the King was very interesting. I can't imagine trying to sustain a relationship amid all the scrutiny and regulations. I thought the King was aloof and little unlikeable, but he had so many other duties that it made it hard to get to know him.

The descriptions of the Court were amazing. I can't imagine the opulence and excess; it seemed everyone had a maid. The inclusion of the medical treatments of the times (bleeding and purging) were fascinating too. While it's a wonderful to "visit" such a time in books, I think I much prefer modern life.

If you enjoy historical fiction, do yourself a favor and pick this one up! You won't be disappointed. I have to admit, I've had the Josephine trilogy languishing on my shelves for quite a while. But now, after Mistress of the Sun and all of Ms Gulland's wonderful guest posts on this tour, I'm hooked. 4.5 stars

******

The Giveaway:

I have an extra copy of Mistress of the Sun to give away to one lucky reader. This giveaway is open to the residents of the US and Canada. Sorry, but my postage budget only allows for international giveaways occasionally.

Now onto the rules:

--Leave a comment here for one entry

--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry

--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry as I will be using the numbered comments to pick my winner. If you leave more than one entry in a comment, it won't be counted.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight May 12 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on May 13.

Review: Siam Nights by by J.F. Gump & Giveaway

Book Info:

Siam Nights: A Love Story by J.F. Gump
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Sabai Books (November 9, 2008)
ISBN-13: 9780971485525

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Rating: 3/5

Bad Luck Lady...She calls herself that sometimes. Tippawan is her given name but everyone knows her as Math. She doesn't know where her nickname came from, she just accepts it without question as a proper Thai lady should.

Math is a beautiful young woman in a mad dash to find herself. Her search takes her from the resort town of Pattaya on the Gulf of Siam to the beautiful city of Chiang Mai in the north. From the bed of her American lover to the arms of her dying father, she lives each day as if it might be her last. Join Math as she passes through one year of her incredible life.

I loved this book's setting in Thailand. Thailand isn't a country I know too much about, and what I have heard is mostly rave reviews for the beautiful beaches. Siam Nights introduces you to a different side of Thailand, one that most tourists don't see as it is populated with locals and their customs. I found this authentic view of Thailand fascinating.

Math is a complex character. In some ways she is the demure, contrite, proper Thai woman, but in other situations she is outspoken and brave. I found the difference interesting and honest. I think a lot of people behave one way around their families and sometimes very differently around their friends.

I found the flow of the writing a little halting at times. I think most of this was meant to portray Math's competency, but not proficiency, with English, but sometimes it was a little distracting. One thing I loved with regards to the language was in the inclusion of Thai phrases. They added another realistic layer to the book as I think some phrases would flow better in your native tongue than a secondary language.

Math is an entertaining and memorable character, and if you enjoy books set in far-off locales this is one for you. 3 stars

The Giveaway:

Mr Gump has graciously provided an autographed copy of Siam Nights: A Love Story to be given away to one lucky reader. This giveaway is open to the residents of the US and Canada. Sorry, but my postage budget only allows for international giveaways occasionally.

Now onto the rules:
--Leave a comment here for one entry
--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry
--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry as I will be using the numbered comments to pick my winner. If you leave more than one entry in a comment, it won't be counted.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight April 29 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on April 30.

Giveaway: Girls With Trucks by Katie Crouch

Thanks to the wonderful people at Hachette Books I have 3 copies of Girls in Trucks to give away!

Book description:

Sarah Walters is a less-than-perfect debutante. She tries hard to follow the time-honored customs of the Charleston Camellia Society, as her mother and grandmother did, standing up straight in cotillion class and attending lectures about all the things that Camellias don't do. (Like ride with boys in pickup trucks).

But Sarah can't quite ignore the barbarism just beneath all that propriety, and as soon as she can she decamps South Carolina for a life in New York City. There, she and her fellow displaced Southern friends try to make sense of city sophistication, to understand how much of their training applies to real life, and how much to the strange and rarefied world they've left behind.

When life's complications become overwhelming, Sarah returns home to confront with matured eyes the motto "Once a Camellia, always a Camellia" -- and to see how much fuller life can be, for good and for ill, among those who know you best.

Now onto the rules:
--Leave a comment here for one entry
--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry
--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry as I will be using the numbered comments to pick my winner. If you leave more than one entry in a comment, it won't be counted.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight April 29 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on April 30. The books will be mailed from the publisher, so US and Canada addresses only, and no PO Boxes.

Giveaway: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

I ended up with 2 copies of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, so I am giving one away! This book is an advance copy, so there may be some differences between it and the final version, which is set to be published June 9.

Description:

Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she can't refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest--to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.

As the pieces of Deliverance's harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past then she could have ever imagined.

Now onto the rules:

--Leave a comment here for one entry

--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry

--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

--Please leave a separate comment for each entry as I will be using the numbered comments to pick my winner. If you leave more than one entry in a comment, it won't be counted.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight April 14 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on April 15.

Valentine's Day Giveaway - Matrimony by Joshua Henkin

In honor of Valentine's Day Joshua Henkin has graciously allowed me to host a giveaway of his New York Times Notable Book, Matrimony! Joshua will send the book directly to you and it will come personally inscribed. Mine included a wonderful note!


Since I haven't had a chance to read my copy yet I wanted to provide links to some other blog reviews of Matrimony. Musings of a Bookish Kitty has a wonderful review here, and The Boston Bibliophile has her thoughts on the book here, and The Book Lady's review is here.



Joshua is very involved in the blogging community and reading groups in particular. Be sure to check out his website as he is willing to visit with your book group, either in person or by phone!



Now onto the rules:



--Leave a comment here for one entry
--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry
--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight Feb 28 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on March 2. This contest is open worldwide.

Winners Choice Giveaway

I have a backlog of ARCs that I've finished and want to share with others. So, it's time for another giveaway!

The winner will get to choose from the following list of ARCs:

--The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson (review)

--Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (review)

--The Help by Kathryn Stockett (review)

--Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell (review)

--One More Year by Sana Krasikov (review)

--Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein (review)

This list might grow a little bit as I look around. I thought I had a few more stored up...

Now for the rules:

--Leave a comment here for one entry

--Blog about the giveaway and link back here for a second entry

--Follow me or add me to your Google Reader for a third entry. Current subscribers are eligible for this too.

Please make sure you have a email address listed in your comment or on your profile. If I can't reach you, your entry won't count.

This contest will run until midnight Feb 22 and the winner will be chosen by random and posted on Feb 23. This contest is open worldwide for all books except The Help as it is quite large.

Beat The Reaper Audiobook Giveaway

Hatchette Book Group has graciously donated up to 3 copies of Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell to be given away! I really enjoyed it, and my review of the book can be seen here. **Please note that this giveaway is for an audio version of the book** I haven't had the chance to listen to the audio version, but would imagine it is quite entertaining!

Now for the rules: This contest is open only to residents of the US and Canada. No PO Boxes. I will choose one winner for each 10 people that enter, with maximum of 3 books given away. The winners will be picked by random.org. The giveaway will be open until midnight January 25, and I will pick the winner Monday, January 26.

For one entry leave a comment below. For a second entry blog about this contest and link back here. For a third entry follow me or subscribe to my blog, and let me know you have signed up. Current followers and subscribers are also eligible for this.

Good Luck!

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World Giveaway!

As a part of the Book Giveaway Carnival I am giving away a copy of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron.

Please leave a comment on this post to enter. As always, if you blog about this giveaway and link back here I will give you another entry. Please make sure you have either your email address in the post or a blog address that includes your email. If I can't get a hold of you, your entry won't count. This contest is open to the US and Canada. I will take entries through 5 pm mountain time on November 9th and will use my randomizer to pick a winner that evening. Good Luck!

Monique and the Mango Rains giveaway

I loved this book so much that I want to share my copy with others! You can see my review here.

Please leave me a comment to enter. Make sure to either leave me your email address or have it on your blog. If I can't contact you I will choose another winner. As usual, if you blog about the contest and link back here I will give you another entry.

This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada. I will choose a winner using random.org on November 1st, so you have until Halloween to enter. Good luck!

***Kris Holloway has graciously offered to call the book club of winner of this contest for a reading and to answer your questions. Thank you Kris for your wonderful offer!

Shoot The Moon Giveaway!

Welcome to my first giveaway! Hatchette Book Group has graciously donated up to 5 copies of Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts to be given away! I really enjoyed it, and my review of the book can be seen here.

Now for the rules: This contest is open only to residents of the US and Canada. No PO Boxes. I will choose one winner for each 15 people that enter, with maximum of 5 books given away. The winners will be picked by random.org. The winners will be picked on Friday, September 19, so you have until noon that day to enter.

To enter: I really loved the cover of this book. In your comment, tell me a book where the cover really caught your eye, or one that you really disliked. Please also make sure your email address is either in your comment or on your blog so I can contact you. As always, a second entry will be given if you blog about the contest and link back here.