A Review: Liar Temptress Soldier Spy (I Met the Author!)

Summary: New York Times bestselling author Karen Abbott tells the spellbinding true story of four women who risked everything during the Civil War. Seventeen-year-old Belle Boyd, an avowed rebel with a dangerous temper, shot a Union soldier in her home and became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her considerable charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds disguised herself as a man to enlist as a Union private named Frank Thompson, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the war and infiltrating enemy lines. The beautiful widow Rose O'Neal Greenhow engaged in affairs with powerful Northern politicians and used her young daughter to send information to Southern generals. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper Southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring—even placing a former slave inside the Confederate White House—right under the noses of increasingly suspicious rebel detectives. With a cast of real-life characters, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, General Stonewall Jackson, Detective Allan Pinkerto,n, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and Emperor Napoléon III, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy shines a dramatic new light on these daring—and, until now, unsung—heroines.

Thoughts: I LOVED this book! Even though a reader's copy was provided, I ended up purchasing it through Audible as well so I could listen when I was editing photos and cooking dinner and reaching my 10,000 steps. I needed to know what was going to happen next! I'd heard of Belle Boyd from one of my favorite podcasts, Stuff You Missed in History Class, and had been interested in hearing more about women involved in the Civil War after reading Erin Lindsay McCabe's I Shall Be Near to You (which is FANTASTIC), so this seemed like it would fit the bill. Abbott doesn't disappoint-- she really brings each of these women to life with beautiful prose and her attention to detail. If you're into fast-paced nonfiction about incredible women in America's history go grab a copy NOW!

Oh, and don't be jealous, but Karen Abbott just happened to be in Chicago this week so I also got to meet her and get my book signed!!! Yep, so cool. Here's some photos from the event at Women and Children First in Andersonville (these were taken on a Nikon and edited on an iPhone-- be nice!):

The Author: Karen Abbott is the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City, American Rose, and, most recently, Liar Temptress Soldier Spy, which was named one of the best books of 2014 by Library Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, Amazon, and Flavorwire, and which was optioned by Sony for a miniseries. A native of Philadelphia, she now lives in New York City, where she's at work on her next book.

*I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours and Harper Perennial in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, TLC!

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A Review: Again and Again by Ellen Bravo

Summary (from the book jacket):

If sexual shenanigans disqualified candidates for Congress, the U.S. would have no goverment. But what if the candidate was a pro-choice Republican support by feminist groups-- and a college rapist whose secret could be exposed by a leading women's rights advocate?

Again and Again tells the story of Deborah Borenstein-- as an established women's rights leader in 2010 Washington, DC, and as a college student, thirty years earlier, whose roommate is raped by a fellow student. The perpetrator is now a Senate candidate who has the backing of the major feminist groups...which puts Deborah in a difficult position. Torn between her past and present, as the race goes on, Deborah finds herself tested as a wife, a mother, a feminist, and a friend.

Thoughts: Despite the disturbing content, I was interested in the concept of this book as I've actually never read a fiction title that explored sexual assault in the political realm. I found it informative, in the sense that there's much to research after reading, and enjoyed getting into something that was focused on women's issues in such a direct way. It definitely stirred emotions as the reader realizes its meant to emphasize how far society still has to go on this issue. Is it true that women face the same scrutiny and disbelief when reporting date rape now that they did in the 1970s?

This was very much a first novel for the author, but could still be a great learning tool for young men and women. I was impressed with Bravo's representation of Deborah and Liddie's relationship, but less so with Deborah and her daughter, and even less so with Deborah and her husband as they felt one dimensional and relied on the snotty teenager/inattentive husband stereotypes. The storyline had much to offer, but was somewhat dulled down by the technical language of Deborah's daily life and the tidbits clumsily added to modernize the story. I don't want to share too much as the summary has already provided enough, but I would recommend the novel based on the importance of the content and can definitely say I can't wait to see more from Bravo in  the future.

*Please note that those who have suffered from similar encounters may want to refrain from reading as the defining scene is graphic.

I received a copy of this novel from TLC Book Tours and She Writes Press in exchange for an honest review.

*Ellen Bravo is the head of Family Values @ Work, a network of state coalitions advocating family-friendly policies, and an award-winning writer. Her award-winning nonfiction books include Taking on the Big Boys, or Why Feminism Is Good for Families, Business and the Nation. A Cleveland native, she makes her home in Wisconsin.

Take a look at what other bloggers are saying on the tour here.

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A Review: She Rises by Kate Worsley

When I saw that this one was sporting a blurb by Sarah Waters on the cover I knew I had to read it!

Louise is a young dairy maid on a prosperous farm when she's chosen to become lady's maid for the master's niece far away in a seaside town. Her mother, wary of her daughter's proximity to the dangerous waters after losing a husband and a son to ship life, begrudgingly consents to her new task. Rebecca, the lady in question , is far different than anything Louise ever expected and threatens to change her life completely. While Louise takes to her new position, Luke, a young man, finds himself aboard a naval vessel with men that have been taken into the sea life by force. Faced with a new way of living, Luke must learn the ways of the pack quickly in order to survive. A gritty tale of sea life and its dangers, readers will feel like they stepped back in time.

First, let me say that I really enjoyed this novel despite having a few issues overall. It's official that I'm less fond of stories told in the style of alternating between two characters. It can really break up the story and make it a bit more confusing than a straight narrative. I also found I was much more taken with one narrative in the book than the other and had a harder time reading the chapters that weren't as engaging. However, each character had their own distinct voice which made this style successful in the end. I could see the similarities in the two writers' styles shortly after beginning the novel. While Waters has had far more time to perfect her craft, Worsley will not disappoint with this debut novel. Bits of dialogue reminded me very much of Waters's Fingersmith, and were at times a little too similar, but enjoyable nonetheless. All and all, it's a great novel that is perfect for those who enjoy detailed stories with multiple characters.

**Readers beware! There are some pretty distressing subjects in this book. While they aren't necessarily discussed in gory detail, subjects are strongly alluded to and could be distressing for some readers. 

Oh! and guess what?? TLC Book Tours is offering one lucky reader a copy of this beautiful book!

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A Review: Enchantments by Kathryn Harrison & Giveaway

When Grigory Rasputin's body is found in the frozen waters of the Neva, tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna immediately sends for his daughters Masha and Varya in the hopes that they have the same healing powers as their father. Masha, the eldest and most like Rasputin, is asked to take charge of the future tsar Alexei, a young boy who suffers from hemophilia and whose greatest challenge is to live to see the next day. However, Masha and Varya arrive just as the Romanov family have relinquished their titles, are swept away by Bolshevik soldiers and forced into house arrest, leaving them with more than enough time to question their fate. Aware that she does not possess the same healing powers as her father, Masha embarks on a 1001 Nights-esque journey with young Aloysha to distract him from the pain his disease inflicts and the thought that his family will soon meet their end.

I've been fascinated with Russian history as long as I can remember. My hopes to visit this vast landscape have grown stronger with each passing year. When I expressed excitement over TLC Book Tours offering this title, I found a copy in my mailbox a few weeks later. After having just finished John Boyne's (author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) The House of Special Purpose*, another novel taking a look at the tragic lives of the Romanov family, I was completely ready to dive into another title that looked at the same situation from a different light.

While Enchantments is completely fictional, the subject of the thoughts and feelings of the imperial family while prisoners in their own home is interesting. So little is known of their imprisonment (or has been entirely exaggerated since) as much of it was either destroyed by the family or those that opposed their position that Harrison had the opportunity to be really creative. Out of all the historical novels I've read on the subject, Harrison's novel seems the most realistic. Furthermore, Masha's tales for the young tsarevich explore everything from his parent's courtship, to the crowning of his father, to the sexual exploits of Rasputin in the hedonistic city of St. Petersburg. Exploring a budding sexuality, Masha and Aloysha slowly form an unlikely relationship that the audience will root for despite knowing the tragic outcome.

Beautifully detailed prose, the reader is swept up into the world of Russian society and into the freezing landscape of one of the last places the Romanovs would call home. If you enjoy historical fiction, or Russian history, or imaginative prose, Enchantments is the perfect title! My favorite TLC title to date, I will be recommending this one to everyone I know.

*Pub Date: April 2, 2013.

I received a copy of Enchantments from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review of the title.

 

Learn more here: Random House Reader's Circle http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/rc/

TLC is offering one lucky reader a chance to win a copy of Enchantments!

*open to US/Canada only

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A Review: An Unmarked Grave by Charles Todd

Bess Crawford is serving as a nurse in France during WWI when she suddenly comes down with Spanish influenza. An illness that is killing more than the shots fired on the battlefield, Bess is quickly transported back to England and into the care of her parents. However, when Bess finally emerges from her prolonged sickness, she remembers the events that occurred just before she succumbed to the illness. Was the body Private Wilson revealed to her that of Major Carson, a family friend and celebrated military man? And, if so, why was his body covered in an ill-fitting uniform without identification? Slowly Bess begins to put the pieces together in order to uncover an act that she believes must be shown justice. As Bess trust her instincts and takes action, in her desperate attempt to discover the murderer, the target begins to track her every move and harm all those that stand in the way.

An Unmarked Grave is a title in a series of novels following the nurse/detective Bess Crawford during the Great War. I was unfamiliar with this series, but agreed to read this one without first discovering the others written before.  If you're looking for a new series to get involved with, I suggest taking the time to look this one up. I could easily grasp the characters and the dynamics between them without reading the novels prior. I had a sense of who Bess was on her own, through her actions and thought processes, without really needing other characters to provide much detail.

I was drawn to this title because it sounded very similar to the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, which I've become quite fond of. While the two focus on the same period, same profession and face the same hardships, Todd's novel felt like a more authentic description of life as a nurse on the lines, or a soldier on leave in a busy city, slowly being lost to an enemy.  There was grit and reality that seemed to shine through in An Unmarked Grave that I've always wanted to find in the Maisie Dobbs series. I also appreciated that the authors didn't repeat Bess's story again and again to keep the reader up to speed if they had not read the previous titles in the series. While I understand the logic behind adding these details, I have always felt that Winspear takes it a level that is unnecessary and spoils the pacing of the story.

My only complaints were that many of the situations seemed to work out too perfectly against odds that just were not plausible, and the motive, finally uncovered, was hastily explained and just a bit weak. The charming characters and their stories, trials and successes really made this book an enjoyable read for me.

If you enjoy historical wartime dramas, with strong female leads, and mysteries that keep you going until the very conclusion of the book, a Bess Crawford mystery is worth looking into.

I received a copy of An Unmarked Grave from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review of the title.

To learn more about the authors, visit their website: http://charlestodd.com/.

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A Review: Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Catherine leads a life of long nights of debauchery and good times. When she meets Lee, an obnoxiously beautiful man in an equally beautiful suit, at a night club, a passionate relationship begins that seems too good to be true. Lee, however, slowly begins to spend more and more nights out and shows signs of increasing aggression. Catherine doesn't realize his harmful potential until it's too late. Told between the past and present, Catherine looks back on a relationship with a man she hardly knew and presents the struggle to live afterwards.

Into the Darkest Corner originally interested me because I enjoyed Before I Go To Sleep and Gone Girl, which seemed in line with what Haynes was offering. The novel is definitely very similar to the two and offered an equal amount of shock, sex and violence. However, unlike Gone Girl's complex narrative, Into the Darkest Corner was a bit more to the point without many of the twists fans of Flynn have come to expect.

The novel pretty much dives right into the story and gives the reader a good sense of Catherine's character. We follow her along to parties, to work functions and on the night of her fateful meeting with Lee. Fast forward, we see a highly disturbed Catherine, much different from the carefree, and at times, completely careless, woman Haynes has first introduced. I don't know much about individuals who suffer compulsive disorders like Catherine, an exercise that forces her to check the locks of her home repeatedly, exhausting herself in the process, but felt that the symptoms seemed realistic. While I found these made the story much more believable, I do feel the scenes of door checking and so forth could have been cut down without taking anything away from the reading experience.

I'd recommend this title for those who love the genre, are looking for a quick read and can stomach intense scenes of violence and sex. Some readers may have trouble understanding Catherine's character from the start. I felt that she made terrible decisions and a lived a life on the edge, and often grew frustrated when she repeatedly allowed Lee to lie and hold details (such as his occupation) from her (surely this would raise eyebrows). Furthermore, her friends are absolutely deplorable and I had a hard time believing they would have made the decisions they did. However, these obviously keep the novel together to make it the train wreck you can't stop looking at.

A title sure to keep the reader engaged Into The Darkest Corner is a thrill-seekers delight.

I received a copy of Into the Darkest Corner from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review of the title.

Visit the following sites to learn more about Elizabeth Haynes:  Website, Facebook page,  Twitter account.

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