The Mid-Wife's Secret - The Hidden Princess

The Midwife’s Secret – The Mystery of the Hidden Princess

By

Linda Root

I have read many historical fiction accounts of the royal houses of Europe during the reign of the King Henry the V

III and Queen Elizabeth I.  The royal house of Mary Queen of Scotland is the subject of this fascinating historical account written by Linda Root.  Much of the general historical content of the novel has been put forth before, but that is not what this deliciously tantalizing tale is about.  This story is about one of the rumors of the era that has followed Queen Mary down through history.  Linda Root has taken the time to trace back every source possible and told the story of the survival of a secret twin female child heir to the Throne of England, and a child of Mary Queen of Scotland.  I had never heard of this little known rumor and found the story fascinating.

From the time Mary Queen of Scots first realized she was pregnant, while imprisoned at the Douglass fortress in Scotland, to the very end where the inscriptions on the tombstones in the graveyard adjacent to the nunnery in France are spoken of, the story of Marguerite de’  Kirkcaldie is explored from every direction.  All family connections, the possible trail of how and where the mystery princess went and lived out her life, and the study of any royal and papal emissary hints that might have shown who might have been in the “know” about this greatest of all political secrets.   

Even though written in a novel format, in many ways it was more investigative in nature.  Each chapter was another key and link into locating and discovering the truth of whether or not Marguerite was the heir to the British Throne.  It is a treatise that encourages you to know and understand the names and intricacies of the familial structure of the European Monarchy and the major Papal powers of the time. 
Linda Root has written two other books about this period of time, in which Marguerite is mentioned, The Other Daughter, and 1603: The Queen’s Revenge.  The second book about this subject, Shadow of the Gallows, is currently in progress.  I look forward to checking them out at a future date.

For the historical fiction aficionado, this is a fantastic find and a wonderful read.  For the Saturday afternoon historical “romance” reader, I would advise a pass, as you will be lost three chapters in.  You really need to know your history to keep up and fully enjoy the complexity and intrigue of this novel.  With this codicil in mind.  I rate this novel a good Four Stars for the serious historical reader.

 

Hostile Beauty Series - BEAUTY MARK

Beauty Mark

By

Jan Moran

The second book in Jan Moran’s Hostile Beauty Series, Beauty Mark, is the continued story of the beauty industry from the inside out, but this time from the viewpoint of Scarlett Sandoval, a high-end corporate lawyer.  Unlike the heroine in Flawless, Scarlett was not born to privilege and did not live in one of those fabulous homes in Beverly Hills, with locking gates. 

Scarlett, our heroine, was raised in the Barrio of Los Angeles. After the death of both her father and brother, she became focused on success. It was only with brains, scholarships, and student loans that she was able to move up and out to the Ivy League schools and law firms.  After years of hard work she could finally see the coveted “partnership”.  Then the veneer of the glossy life and success started to crack in front of her eyes. 

With a stage set, once again for a fabulous novel, Jan Moran did not disappoint her readers.  It wasn’t until I read Beauty Mark that I realized how much of the character’s personality ran over into even the writing style of the book, itself.  Where Flawless had this polished elegant presence throughout the book and in the way Ms. Moran wrote.  You could feel the old world elegance and prestige. 

Not so in Beauty Mark.  Even though our heroine was brilliant, educated and, confident with the powerful people she worked with; there was still a raw rough edge to her.  You could almost feel her Latino blood running hot, with the angst and turmoil running just beneath the surface of the page.  This was felt both in the character’s persona and in the writing.  I could almost sense that the writer’s pen held a secret just waiting to scribble out across the page, but couldn’t quite get there yet.  Before it could, something else would happen, forcing the heroine and the story to go another direction. 

The overlying love story that spilled into the middle of a major life crisis for the heroine with no one less than the coveted brother’s best friend, added even more edginess and angst to a bad situation. He had also moved up in the world and became the head maître d’ at the Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Club.  How can a person keep priorities straight and think clearly when hormones are out of control?

The depth of industry and workplaces issues that were addressed within context, were handled wonderfully and with vivid detail to what many women deal with on a daily basis.  A job well done.  A story well written, left this reviewer eager for the upcoming offerings of this series.

Beauty Mark is a definite recommendation to read, alone or as a part of the series. 

A DRAWING FOR A FREE COPIES OF BOOKS

In celebration of the release of Beauty Mark, Jan Moran is having a drawing for a free signed copy of her first two books, Flawless and Beauty Mark. CLICK HERE to link to the site to register for the drawing and to sign up for Ms. Moran’s newsletter.  There is also a free book giveaway for Beauty on Goodreads.

books by Author Jan Moran

Scent of Triumph to be released March 2015  (look for an upcoming review on this site in the coming weeks).

THE MERKABAH DECEPTION - Book Two

The Merkabah Deception

By

L.Z. Marie

I know I am in trouble and have found a compelling story series when, as soon as I have completed the current book that I am reading, I am online purchasing the next book in the series.  This is the quandary I have found myself in with the discovery of the Merkabah Series by L.Z.Marie.  The first book in the series, The Merkabah Recruit was a well written novel in my personal favorite genre (historical-thriller-romantic -woman’s-fiction—kinda, well a little of all the above).  As with any great first novel in a series, it left me panting and begging for more.

The second novel in the series, The Merkabah Deception utilized The Recruit as a diving platform to send me deep into the muck and mire of the ancient gods and demons ongoing battle of the spiritual world.  Much to my consternation and surprise, the battles are not so ancient and they continue to throw the clueless populace of planet earth into the middle of the fight, with us mere humans never knowing we are fodder for the battle.  With every turn of the page Ms. Marie sweeps you into new waves of angst and terror as she takes you through the streets and back country of the mountains and Amazonian Country in South America.  Just as you think you are sitting down to a quiet dinner to crash and recover from the day, you are ripped from your seat and into another whirlwind of the unknown.

The academia of the heroine professor (as well as that of L.Z. Marie) is evident all through the book. This is demonstrated in their minute detail and knowledge of the history of the area.  Ms Marie’s extensive study of the ancient histories and religions keeps both Daphne’s and the readers’ heads spinning as they try to stay out of the path of the dangerous Cryptivitas’, Brujos, and Witches that show up to bring down destruction and mayhem on mankind.  

  

The Nephilim mentor and protector assigned to Daphne, the heroine, has been declared taboo and off-limits by the powers that be. In spite this, an undeniable smoldering attraction continues to brew between the two of them.  A warfare of a different kind and on a different level leaves the Daphne and her Nephilim hero both breathless, exhausted, and distracted.  How will they ever survive it all and get the work-at-hand taken care of?  Will their smoldering passions ever be allowed to flame and light their world? 

A book to read and read again. 

You can find The Merkabah Series books at Amazon and Barns & Nobles.

Box of Books Series - Debbie Haupt

Box of Books

 The Guest Post Series

Debbie Haupt

The Reading Frenzy

I'm a reading fanatic of all fiction genres and sub-genres and enjoy some non-fiction as well. I love interviewing authors and sponsoring giveaways on my blog The Reading Frenzy-http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/ you will find many ways to contact me on my blog  and often post daily there.

I'm an editorial reviewer for both LibraryJournal and RT Magazine.

I formed the General Fiction Expats forum here on Goodreads to give my friends from the now defunct B&N forum a place to land-https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/133771

I  am a staunch library advocate who volunteers at my local branch.

My Box of Books

My dear friend Karen Laird put this question before us way back when the Barnes & Noble General Fiction forum was alive and well and we all had a lot of fun with it and I have to admit that maybe one or two of my choices have changed.

RELIGION:

I’ll start with the most important text, the one of my ancestors- The Tanach- The Hebrew Bible. 

Scholars are still arguing about when these texts were finalized. Some say during the Hasmonean dynasty 140 BC, some say it was much later. But it is something that is to be treasured.

CLASSICS:

Now on to the classics-

I’ll start with the oldest – The Iliad which began it’s history as a Greek epic poem by Homer set during the Trojan War. The characters are human and Gods and all fantastical.   I first read this as a required project during high school and I hated it. But once more a few years ago and I was blown away by the content and the realization that it was written so long ago.

The next is my all time favorite classic - Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte’s only published novel from 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, she died the next year at age 30. After her death her sister Charlotte edited and republished it attributing it to Emily in 1850. It came out to mixed reviews because of it’s mental and physical cruelty. A tragic love story that really spoke to my heart the first time I read it and all the other times too.

My third and last classic is by my all time favorite classic author, Ernest Hemingway - For Whom The Bell Tolls published in 1940 about an American Robert Jordan during the Spanish Civil War. It’s regarded as one of Papa Hemingway’s best.

CONTEMPORARY FICTION:

Now we go on to my main course of contemporary fiction.

First is probably the best book I’ve ever read – Overseas by Beatriz Williams. It was her debut novel about a British WWI Captain and a modern Wall Street Analyst. Yes there is time travel involved but this is NOT a fantasy. It’s a beautiful love story about the endlessness and timelessness of love. I loved it so much I chose it for both my on-line and in-person book clubs. Click HERE for the review

My favorite by one of my favorite romance author Kristan Higgins – My One And Only.

I laughed and I cried and I couldn’t put it down. It’s my favorite kind of love story, a second chance love story. It stars an ex married couple Harper and Nick. Click HERE for my review.

Next is a novel about friendship by another favorite author and friend, Lisa Verge Higgins- The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship. This novel was also chosen for both in-person and on-line clubs. This was Lisa’s first mainstream novel and I’ve enjoyed each one since. It’s poignant, it’s tragic, it’s unforgettable. It’s the story of four very different women who were the best of friends. Click HERE for my review

The next is also by a favorite women’s fiction author Marilyn Brant- A Summer in Europe which was also chosen for our book club read. This story still brings a smile to my face. It’s a coming of age a little late story about 30 year old Gwen Reese and her trip to Europe with her aunt and her aunt’s cronies. It’s also a love story. I loved this and all of Marilyn’s novels. HERE is my review

CONTEMPORARY SCI-FI / FANTASY

The next section is my sci-fi/fantasy faves.

Number one is By British hard fantasy author extraordinaire Mark Lawrence – The Prince of Thorns is his first novel in his Broken Empire saga- it stars an very un-hero like hero Jorg Ancrath who at a very young age witnessed a horror that would change and shape his life, the murder of his mother and his brother. Click HERE for my review in RT magazine.

The next is the final novel in Alma Katsu’s Taker Trilogy- The Descent it’s a very adult fairytale starring some very narcissistic characters who it takes centuries to learn the right from wrong and they unfortunately leave a string of tragedies along the way. Alma is a former employee of the CIA and yep she’d have to kill you if she told you what she did there. Click HERE to enjoy my interview with her and my review of The Descent.

Next is the First of Justin Cronin’s trilogy The Passage- Wow, just wow. I’m excitedly waiting for the third and final installment to see how or if he saves the world. For those of you who live under a rock and have never read The Passage it’s an pre-present-post apocalyptic saga of a Government experiment using prison inmates gone very, very wrong. Click HERE for my review of The Passage- and HERE for my RT review of the second novel in the trilogy The Twelve.

Next is an amazing first in another adult fantasy/fairytale trilogy staring another debut author Deborah Harkness, A Discovery of Witches is the first of her All Souls trilogy, 

it’s an epic tale that spans centuries also but by the way of time travel. It’s the unlikely love story between historian and witch Diana Bishop and Professor of genetics Matthew Clairmont who’s a vampire. Yeah don’t go all poo-poo this is not your average Vampire tale it’s literary fiction at it’s finest. Click HERE for my review of A Discovery of Witches and HERE for my review of Shadow of Night and HERE for the third in the trilogy The Book of Life

Next – is a novel that I waited impatiently for Karen Marie Moning’s 5^th and we thought last in her Fever Series but it’s lived on. This is Ms. Moning’s greatest accomplishment and I’ve been a fan for years. Shadowfever is the culmination of MacKayla (Mac) Lane and Jericho Barrons epic to retrieve the elusive, destructive, deadly Sinsar Dubh a tomb of the greatest importance. Click HERE to see my review

Next is The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston. This is another fantasy set in the wilds of Wales in the 1830s and yet another book club choice. I found Paula quite by accident when the B&N General fiction club was active and I loved her prose, her settings and her characters. The Winter Witch is a story about a strange girl named Morgana Pritchard who is taken from her home and married off to Cai Jenkins by her mother. I think this is a read enjoyed by many genre lovers, literary, fantasy, romance. Click HERE for my review

Last by never least is The First in a YA Sci-Fi Trilogy that I had the great pleasure to review for RT magazine. Midnight City is set after an alien invasion of earth where all the adults have disappeared and the planet is now run by the children. It’s inventive, it’s exciting, its terrifying and it’s wonderful. Click HERE for my review courtesy RT magazine.

Well there you have it. I can’t wait to see what others have chosen and I’m sure if I’m asked again this list will once again change.My Box of Books

______________________________________________________

I want to thank Debbie Haupt for taking the time and effort to share her list of books that would go into her Box of Books with us today.  With the many, many novels that go across her desk and that she has read as a book reviewer, blogger, and host of many many book club reads at Barns & Nobles and now Goodreads, I know the selection had to be hard.  As always, after reading a blog by Debbie, I am walking away with new books to add to my list of books to read.

If you would like to participate in the Box of Book Series, contact Karen Laird @ ShadeTreeBlogging@gmail.com .