Anything you ask of me - Heather Curley

Check out this new Historical novel from Heather Curley. While you're here, don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post. It closes on the 29th of September.

Anything you ask of me

Although her home state of Maryland hasn’t sworn allegiance to either Union or Confederacy, twenty-two-year-old Elizabeth Archer’s life is shattered. Her father has fled North, abandoning the household. The man she loved—and who married her sister instead— is killed in battle. Elizabeth’s life of parties and societal obligations dwindles down to isolation and too many empty hours; hours to mourn the man who gave her up to chase an inheritance.

She meets Confederate general Jeb Stuart by chance and, in an instant, she’s the center of his attention.

As commander of the Army of Northern Virginia’s cavalry division, General Stuart doesn’t ask, he orders. The attraction seems mutual and, flattered by his affection, Elizabeth agrees to spy for the Confederacy. She’s Stuart’s La Belle Rebelle, the Beautiful Rebel; the siren of the south. She’s notorious in the Union and lauded in the Confederacy. And she’s falling in love with him.

Notoriety, however, is a spy’s worst enemy. Now pursued by a Federal officer tasked to stop her at any cost, Elizabeth faces the sentence of hanging if she’s convicted of treason against the Union. Devoted to a cause she doesn’t believe in and with Federal blood on her hands, Elizabeth must save herself—or die a traitor.

Time is running out. And no one, not even La Belle Rebelle, can outrun the war.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31394969-anything-you-ask-of-me

Purchase:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JFOMKLI/

B&N:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anything-you-ask-of-me-heather-curley/1120641544?ean=9781910282427

AUTHOR BIO:

Heather Hambel Curley was born in West Virginia and raised in Western Pennsylvania.  She graduated magna cum laude from Robert Morris University with a degree in Communications in 2004. Heather has been involved with Civil War reenacting since 2001.  In 2004, she volunteered at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park with the living history and archeology departments.  Currently, she is a corseted living historian with the Baltimore Light Artillery, a group of historians who provide artillery demonstrations in parks such as Harpers Ferry, Gettysburg National Military Park, and Antietam National Battlefield. Heather resides in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.  She is a member of Pennwriters and the Historical Novel Society.

Author links: 

https://heatherhambelcurley.com/

https://www.facebook.com/heatherhambelcurley

https://twitter.com/Heather_Curley

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The Viscount's Rose - Meara Platt

The Viscount's Rose by Meara Platt is the fifth book in the Farthingale Series. I reviewed number four, A Midsummer's Kiss here. As these books have, so far at least, have gone in reverse order, this is actually the first book time wise. If you haven't read one before, then you could quite easily start with this one and then work your way forwards (backwards?) to the beginning.

Rose, the oldest of the Farthingale sisters, a keen potter, is rescued from her pottery studio when it explodes. Her rescuer is her best friend Nicola's brother; Julian Emory. The dashing Viscount is courting Countess Valentina Deschanel, a celebrated beauty. But Julian's family do not like the Countess and are desperate to see him break off his relationship with her and settle down with someone more suitable. 

Rose attempts to help her friend by coming up with a plan to separate Julian from the Countess, but Rose is falling for the dashing Viscount. His family take the plan further than Rose expected and suddenly she finds herself thrown together with Julian. Can they resist one another?

There's more to Julian's supposed courtship of the Countess than first appears, is he able to admit his growing attraction for Rose, or does he have to put that to one side and finish his mission first? I thoroughly enjoyed the book. There were a couple of times towards the end when I wanted to give Julian a little shake because he wouldn't let Rose know how he really felt about her. 

I was a little bit worried that with the fifth book in the series and all five of the Farthingale sisters having had their story, that this might be the end of the books. Fortunately, though, the book finished with an extract of the next book in the series, featuring a cousin of the family. 

Wild Pork and Watercress - Barry Crump

It's probably about fifteen years since I last read a book by Barry Crump. I don't claim to have a great knowledge of his work, but do remember enjoying a good keen man. I may have read more, I'm not sure. I was fairly certain that I had not read Wild Port and Watercress previously. When the film Hunt for the Wilderpeople came out earlier this year, I watched, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wild Pork and Watercress, the book on which it's based was sitting on our bookshelf. I decided that it might be worth a look.

Although the story is slightly different to the film, the basic idea is the same. An overweight and seemingly unloved young Maori boy goes to live with his aunt and uncle in the countryside. After his aunt's sudden death, Ricky is faced with going into care. Rather than allow that to happen, he runs away to the bush. His Uncle Hec has also gone into the bush and the two of them find themselves on the run from authorities.

Living off the land and their own hunting skills, they manage to avoid the police and rangers who are on the look out for them. They move around to avoid detection, supplementing what they can catch, with supplies from various huts.

In many ways, this is the innocent tale of two loners who find themselves thrown together against the rest of the world. A World that thinks that there must be something quite unsavoury and unnatural about the relationship between an older man and a young boy. Really, this is a story of friendship.

Told from Ricky's point of view, you can't help but hope that Ricky and Hec manage to make it and survive out there. Keeping out of the way of the authorities that want to split them up and bring them home. It's an easy read and Crump manages to capture Ricky's voice so well that it's easy to accept the idea that the narrator is a teenage boy. Great read and unusually one that could be read before or after seeing the film, without one spoiling the enjoyment of the other.

The Marriage Arrangement - Patricia Ryan

A few years ago now, I came across a wonderful series of historical murder mysteries set in Boston in the late 1800's. If you've been to this blog before, then I'm sure that you'll know that the Nell Sweeney books are some of my absolute favourite books. You might have also gathered from my reviews of them, (which are here by the way) that I'm a bit of a fan of their author; P.B.Ryan. 

While the Nell Sweeney series is written under the P.B.Ryan name, it just so happens that the same author writes some pretty great romance novels under the name Patrica Ryan. I happen to be a bit of a fan of them too, although, until now, I haven't actually reviewed any of them on here. In actual fact, Patrica Ryan can claim credit for making me realise that I do enjoy a good romance novel and opening up all of those wonderful (and yes, some not so wonderful) stories that I've consumed over the last few years. I started with Nell Sweeney, decided to try out her historical romances (to be reviewed at a later date, I promise) and then moved onto the contemporary romances. Loving each and every one as I read them.

Until recently, all but a few of Patricia Ryan's back catalogue of contemporary romances have not been available on Kindle or in eBook format. But recently she has been able to re-release them with new titles, new covers and (I believe) having been slightly updated. When I was given the chance to review one of them, I jumped at it. I did get this book in return for a review, but lets face it, I would probably have purchased it anyway, and I will be buying the others too. Enough waffling though, on with the review.

North Moon Bay Series

The Marriage Arrangement is number two in the North Moon Bay series, don't let this put you off though. Although there are currently 3 books in the series, they are actually stand alone novels. The setting of the books is what ties them together, rather than any links between the characters from each story. 

What's it about

Clay Granger, a billionaire extreme sports star, thrives on taking risks and pursuing thrills. When his friend Izzy Fabrioni finds herself pregnant, alone, and broke, Clay proposes an arranged marriage that should solve all her problems while making his own life a bit more bearable. As one of the most eligible bachelors in the world, he's found himself hounded by matchmakers and gold-diggers. A wife—in name only, of course—should be just the ticket to get them off his back. 

Wary but desperate, Izzy agrees to the insane plan. It's just another escapade for Clay… until he discovers that sharing his life—and bed—with sweet, sexy Izzy makes the “in name only” part of the deal a whole lot harder than he had anticipated.

My Review

While the whole two people getting married for something other than love, but falling in love once they are married, is hardly a new theme in love stories, it is one that I enjoy. Most of the previous books that I have read with this as the story line, have been historic fiction. This one by contrast is a modern take on the theme. The idea that Clay and Izzy might think that marriage was a good idea to help them out of their problems, is believable and works. There is a hint though, right from the beginning, that as Izzy has long had feelings for Clay, she might be hoping for something more over time, even if she doesn't admit it to herself.

One of the things I loved about this story, was that it wasn't just about Clay and Izzy discovering how they felt about one another. Izzy has baggage from her previous relationships, men very like Clay have in the past treated her badly and she's reluctant to fall into the same trap again. For Clay the ghost of his previous wife has meant that he's kept women at arms length emotionally speaking, and had no closer relationships than one night stands. Both of the characters need to work out exactly what they want and except that, then make the changes in their life, or see the changes in the others life, before they can accept the growing relationship.

Over all this was a great book, perhaps a little bit of a lighter read than some of Patricia Ryan's other books, but still very enjoyable. The Marriage Arrangement was a good read, give it a go, I'm sure you'll like it.

The Stranger - Anna del Mar

Back Cover Blurb:

When a mysterious stranger is your only hope...

The scars of the past have left their mark, both physical and emotional, on former military pilot Seth Erickson. Off-grid in the far reaches of the bitter Alaskan wilderness, he wants only to be left alone with his ghosts. But he can’t ignore a woman in need—beautiful, stranded and nearly frozen with fear.

Summer Silva never imagined that the search for her missing sister would leave her abandoned on a wintry back road, barely escaping with her life from a cold-blooded killer for hire. Now, hiding out in the isolated cabin of the secretive wounded warrior who saved her, Summer knows she must do what she fears most. Putting her trust in a stranger is all she has left.

All defenses are down

After a fiery first night together, Seth and Summer are bound by a need as powerful as a Bering Sea superstorm—and vulnerable to enemies just as fierce. For Seth, reawakened by desire, there is no sacrifice too great, no memory too dark, to keep Summer safe. But murder and treason lurk everywhere and Summer may not survive Alaska’s ruthless winter.

A Wounded Warrior Novel. 

My review:

Anna de Mar's book was a great read, the growing love story between the two main characters Summer and Seth, along side the thrilling danger that Summer faces, with someone trying to kill her. The chemistry between the two leads came through well and I found myself rooting for them as the book progressed. I loved the wintry setting for this book, with the ice and freezing weather a great contrast to the growing heat between our hero and heroine. I have to admit that Alaska is an area I know little about, but the writer managed to paint the scene well. I was glad I was somewhere a little warmer when I read the book.

The Stranger was a bit of a first for me, I don't remember reading a book before, where the story is told in alternating first person accounts by the two lead characters. Switching between the two voices as this book did, gave an interested insight into the thoughts and feels of each as the romance between them grew. I have to admit that for the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure if I liked the way that it was done. As the book progressed though, I enjoyed seeing it from both points of view and I think that it worked quite well.

If I had to have one little criticism, it would be that I wasn't totally convinced by how much Summer could do whilst sleep walking. Getting up and going places is one thing, but to spend a whole night having wild sex with a man she had just met, without waking up, seemed a little far fetched. Still, it didn't detract from the story and I enjoyed the book as a whole. This was an exciting read, a great mix of danger and love. Recommended.

Buy Links For The Stranger:

Amazon

Carina Press

Barnes and Noble

Kobo Books

Google Play

Metro Diaries - 2

About the Book:

Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist!

Some told, some untold, some heard and some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light and make you ponder over its definition of it till now.


Goodreads I Amazon






Reviews for Metro Diaries 1:

After touching your hearts with 'Metro Diaries - Love Classics' she is back now with stories that will redefine life for you!

The stories in Metro Diaries - Love Classics are free from any trappings of youthful slang and fashionable language stunts. These young adults are speaking to the readers with Namrata’s maturity shining through, and Namrata’s ideas of love. - Sakshi Nanda 

The language is fairly pleasant to read and the elaborate discussions between characters in each story must have taken a lot of work – because the most difficult job of all authors is to bring out human emotions in proper words. Thankfully, Namrata has concentrated upon it very well! - Dhivya Balaji


About the Author:

Namrata is A Lost Wanderer who loves travelling the length and breadth of the world. A published author in various anthologies and magazines she enjoys capturing the magic of life in her words. She is forever in pursuit of a new country and a new story.




Contact the Author:
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The Odd Women - George Gissing

I first read The Odd Women by George Gissing nearly twenty years ago, when researching my dissertation. I recently decided to pick it up again and have another read, as, although I had really enjoyed it previously, I was reading now just for pleasure.

My dissertation was on women in the workplace in the late 1800's, (being a History student, not English literature), in case you were wondering. The Odd Women was a perfect book to read, as it tells the story of women trying to find their way in what, at the time, was considered a non-traditional role. 

The book calls these women odd, not because they are unusual in their life choices, as you might first assume, but rather because they didn't have men to marry. Raised during a time when marriage was seen as the proper course for a young lady, there were simply more women than men. Meaning that a large number of women were 'odd'; they didn't have a partner.

The Odd Women looks at a number of different women, who all find themselves having to work for a living. Some who embrace this independence, some who look to the chance of an unhappy marriage, just to save them from the grind of working and some who are crushed by the experience of trying to live and support themselves.

In many ways George Gissing's book is ahead of its time, suggesting ideas that would have no doubt seemed shocking at the time. His voice is very passive, though, at no point does he show his own opinion on this, allowing the characters to discuss the options and situation. I do wonder if a woman writing at the time would have been able to express such ideas, I rather suspect that despite the subject under discussion, it wouldn't have been considered suitable for women to discuss and may well have been dismissed as madness or ravings.

Although not a particularly uplifting book, it is still well worth a read. Time and attitudes may have moved on much since this was written, but it's still well worth a read. A little different to many of the novels written at a similar time. I'm glad that I picked it up again.