Review: Bath Tangle

Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer

Publication Date: July 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: Paperback, 368pp
ISBN-13: 9781402238796
ISBN: 1402238797

(Received from Sourcebooks for an honest review)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Excerpt from Bath Tangle

Synopsis:

A Delightful Tangle of Affairs...

The Earl of Spenborough had always been noted for his eccentricity. Leaving a widow younger than his own daughter Serena was one thing, but leaving his fortune to the trusteeship of the Marquis of Rotherham - the one man the same daughter had jilted - was quite another.

When Serena and her lovely young stepmother Fanny decide to move to Bath, Serena makes an odd new friend and discovers an old love. Before long, they're all entangled in a muddle of marriage and manners the likes of which even Regency Bath has rarely seen.

Thoughts:

Beloved author Georgette Heyer wrote over fifty novels, historical romance, historical fiction and mysteries. Her expertise on the Regency period as garnered her books high acclaim and attention. Recently Sourcebooks Inc. has begun releasing several of Heyer's books to a new audience, including Bath Tangle. This is a novel that reads like a comedy of errors, with rollicking fun and engagements switching around more quickly than the tides. Packed with romance, rich period detail, and impeccable research. If you've never read a Heyer book, it's time to start!

Serena Carlow finds herself in the terrible position of losing her father, her home and perhaps her heart. When the Earl of Spenborough dies, he leaves a bereaved daughter, a wife younger than his daughter and no heir. The house will go to a cousin, leaving Serena and her young step-mother Fanny to fend for themselves. And when Serena finds out that her former fiancee is left in charge of her money, she is beside herself. Why did her father choose the Marquis of Rotherham to oversee her trust? When Serena and Fanny retire to Bath for some much needed rest, circumstances are set in motion that have all the wrong people getting engaged and no one talking about their true feelings. Suddenly, it seems like the ton has descended on Bath and no relationship is safe.

Bath Tangle showcases not only Georgette Heyer's great research skills but also her humor. This is a book where all the wrong people are getting together and the people who really love each other are not. It is obvious to the reader who should be together and who shouldn't, but the characters of the book seem happily oblivious. This is the most humorous book by Georgette Heyer I have ever read and I found myself laughing out loud several times. I can't imagine how she worked out such a complicated but hilarious plot. Readers will find it comical, engaging and just a barrel of fun to read.

Serena isn't your typical Regency woman, she's headstrong, very spirited and she has a fiery temper. She sits a horse as well as any man and she isn't afraid of the peers of the realm. In fact she jilted the Marquis of Rotherham and lived to tell the tale. Though everyone else in the book seems to be terrified by Ivo, Serena isn't bothered by his arrogant behavior and down right bad attitude at times. The sparks fly between them from the beginning and the reader will easily see that it's because they don't suit each other, it's because they do. Ivo is another great example of Heyer's knack for characterization. He isn't the easiest of characters to like, but it's obvious that he and Serena should be together. So when he ends up with a young woman who doesn't want to be with him and Serena is trying to rehash and old love story, it's interesting to see what brings them back together in the end.

Heyer's choice of words has always been interesting to me. She uses an older style of language that readers may not be familiar with, but it has an elegance about it. And then there are those words that are just fun to read like, tyrannical, ninny-hammer, impetuous and abominable. She certainly had a way with expressing herself in her writing that really appeals to me. I love her work and I found Bath Tangle to be one of my favorites. She was most definitely a wordsmith. And today's Regency writers could take a page out of her book, so to speak, by adding some of these touches to their own writing. Heyer paved the way in more than just one way.

I recommend this one to old and new Heyer fans alike. The re-publication of several of Heyer's novels has opened up her work to a whole new crop of readers and I think this kind of book will appeal to not only Regency fans but mainstream romance readers as well. Heyer is a classic writer and it would be shame to miss such wonderful workmanship.

Bath Tangle is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Georgette Heyer wrote over fifty novels, including Regency romances, mysteries, and historical fiction. She was known as the Queen of Regency romance, and was legendary for her research, historical accuracy, and her extraordinary plots and characterizations.

Review: The Vampire Next Door

The Vampire Next Door (Strange Neighbors - Book 3) by Ashlyn Chase

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy
Pages: Paperback, 384pp
ISBN-13: 9781402236631
ISBN: 1402236638

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Ashlyn Chase on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter

Synopsis:

How does a vigilante vampire...

Undead Sly just hasn't been the same since he lost the love of his life, many years ago. He devotes his vampire powers to maintaining a nice safe neighborhood, until a chipped fang undermines his confidence - and leads him to a beautiful witch who awakens Sly's long-forgotten desires.

Hook up with a witch who's afraid of the dark...

The charming Morgaine has spells to cure everyone's problems but her own. Her intense phobias keep her in her shell, until she gets to know tall, dark, and brooding Sly. Just when these two unlikely lovers think they might find a cure for both of them, their deepest fears are realized, and suddenly they see their last hope for a "normal" life slipping away...

Thoughts:

The third book in the Strange Neighbors series, The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase continues the crazy adventures of an apartment building full of supernatural creatures. The old adage, "those of a feather, flock together!" is certainly true in this novel. Fans of Chases' writing will find this character driven book full of humor, romance. With all kinds of different shape-shifters, vampires and a witch or two this series is light paranormal fiction at it's best!

Merry's father Sly is a vampire who has been lonely for a really long time. The love of his life died many years ago and Sly has devoted his life to making his neighborhood safe and comfortable for it's residents, including the apartment building owned by his daughter and her husband, a shape-shifter. When Sly attempts to prevent a mugging, he accidentally bites into a silver chain around the neck of the assailant and chips his fang. He has no where else to turn except to the beautiful witch and healer Morgaine for help. Morgaine has issue of her own including a severe phobia of public places and the dark, but her fellow apartment dwellers know they can always come to her for help. When the sparks start to fly between Morgaine and Sly some of the residents are happy, while others would love to keep them apart.

In the third installment of the Strange Neighbors series, Ashlyn Chase tells the story of Sly, a lonely vampire, with a big heart. Chase introduced readers to Sly in the first book in the series and he has remained relatively quiet until this book. The Vampire Next Door explores Sly's vampire origins and his future with the beautiful witch, Morgaine. I have enjoyed reading this series and I was really excited that Sly would finally get a chance to be the hero. He was a good character in the first book and really comes into his own in this one. The entire series is very character driven and this book is no exception. Chase has a knack for writing quirky, fun characters that readers will love.

Sly is what you might call an accidental vampire. It certainly wasn't his choice and he has suffered a long time after the death of his wife. He finally has a relationship with his daughter Merry and is expecting his first grandchild. How's that for an unlikely hero? I thought Chase did an amazing job of making Sly a character that readers could identify with. He has a big heart and has spent his life protecting others, not exactly the typical profile for a vampire, but in this series it really works. Sly is honorable, handsome and full of surprises.

Morgaine is a character that has been talked about quite a bit in the series and I was glad to see that she might get her happy ending as well. She has her quirks that's for sure. She is agoraphobic, meaning she finds it hard to leave the confines of places she feels safe, like the apartment building in which she lives. She also has an unhealthy fear of the dark. Certainly an interesting mate for a creature of the night. She is a very caring witch who uses her craft primarily to heal. It will be obvious to readers that she has carried a torch for Sly for a long time and when the two finally come together there are definitely romantic sparks. Chase chooses some unlikely partners and turns the relationship into quite the supernatural romance. I liked the pairing and the steamy side of things between Sly and Morgaine was well written and certainly got the blood pumping.

I have become a fan of the paranormal in just about every form of reading, and with this series and especially The Vampire Next Door, readers will see the lighter side of paranormal romance. It doesn't all have to be quite so heavy to be good paranormal reading and I really appreciated that. I can get into horror as much as the next reader, but this book was a nice change of pace. The author uses humor generously and makes her supernatural characters seem like every day people you might meet on the street. I recommend this one to my paranormal readers and to my romance readers. If you are interested in starting out in the genre, this would be a good place to start before tackling the darker side of the supernatural.

The Vampire Next Door is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!







Ashlyn Chase describes herself as an Almond Joy bar. A little nutty, a little flaky, but basically sweet, wanting only to give her readers a scrumptious, satisfying reading experience.

She holds a degree in behavioral sciences, worked as a psychiatric registered nurse for several years, and spent a few more years working for the American Red Cross, where she still volunteers as an instructor. She credits her sense of humor to her former careers since comedy helped preserve whatever was left of her sanity. She is a multi-published, award-winning author of humorous erotic romances.

Represented by the Nancy Yost Literary Agency in New York City, she lives in beautiful New Hampshire with her true-life hero husband and spoiled brat cat.

Review: The Lady of the Storm

The Lady of the Storm (Elven Lords - Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Magical Elements
Pages: Paperback, 416pp
ISBN-13: 9781402236532
ISBN: 1402236530

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Kathryne Kennedy on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter

Excerpt from The Lady of the Storm

Book Trailer:

Synopsis:

GILES IS BOUND TO PROTECT HER...

In a kingdom viciously rules by warlike elven lords, village blacksmith Giles Beaumont reluctantly swears to protect the half-elf, half-human Cecily Sutton, never dreaming that he will fall under her enchanting spell.

BUT DUTY SOON TURNS TO DESIRE...

When Cecily's father disappears, Cecily and Giles set out to find him. But, as their journey unfolds, duty is quickly replaced by desire - and the search for Cecily's father leads to a magical destiny that could end the rule of the elven lords forever...

Thoughts:

The Lady of the Storm, second book in Kathryne Kennedy's Elven Lords series, takes readers back to an alternative England that is ruled by a ruthless race that is bent on destroying everything in it's path. Kennedy's world-building skills are phenomenal and readers will quickly fall in love with her descriptive writing style. With complex characters, facing seemingly insurmountable odds, this is part adventure story, part fantasy and part romance. It will appeal to a variety of readers from the romance fan to the paranormal enthusiast.

Cecily Sutton has been kept in hiding nearly all her life. Protected from her ruthless father, an elven lord, who would kill her if he knew her abilities had the potential to be stronger than his own. Living life in a small village near the sea, Cecily is at home in the water and successfully hides the fact that she can control it from the villagers. Until the man who raised her turns up missing and her village is attacked. Using her ability to control the water saves the village, but it alerts more than just the villagers of her presence. Giles Beaumont has been guarding Cecily since she was a child, watching her grow into a beautiful woman, he could never hope to have for his own. Taking Cecily and fleeing the village in search of Thomas, Giles is unable to hide his feelings for her. But he knows she is the last best hope to dethrone the elven lords forever. Cecily and Giles must both decide what is most important to them...

Kathryne Kennedy once again shows readers why she is considered one of the best, when it comes to fantasy. The Lady of the Storm, follow-up to Kennedy's, The Fire Lord's Lover is an exceptional book, written in a lyrical style that is pleasing to read and full of emotion. Readers who are familiar with Kennedy's writing already know how beautifully descriptive and complex her novels are and this one is no exception. Kennedy continues to use her world-building skills to introduce readers to an alternative England, that is beyond their imaginations. There are so many good things to say about this book, I hardly know where to begin.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Elven Lords series, The Fire Lord's Lover and I was excited to see where Kennedy would take readers in The Lady of the Storm. She takes a more laid back approach with this second book and the flow of the story is a little more leisurely, but it definitely works. As Giles and Cecily wander the regions of the land, readers start to find out more about the other kingdoms,
Dewhame, Bladehame and even Dreamhame. Kennedy has so much room to work with, it's staggering. That's exactly what I love about fantasy. The writer is able to create a world that is completely their own and then let readers in on the secret. The depth of Kennedy's imagination is remarkable. I thought her descriptions of the land and the features that were natural to each area were spot on and very interesting.

I also really enjoyed how Kennedy describes the abilities that these "half-breeds" possess and how the elven lord's react to them. Not wanting anything or anyone to be able to gain control over them, the elven lord's have tricked the people in the land into believing that the brightest and best children are sent back to their homeland to be trained, when in truth, they are systematically removing any threat to their reign. In this book, we see that their are those that can stand up to the elven lord's and make a difference. Cecily doesn't really want to be used by the Rebellion but when she realizes the depths they have gone to, to purge the land she cannot stand by. I loved the fact that Kennedy chose water as Cecily's element. She is not only able to control and use the water, she needs it to survive. It is a very intricate plot that is full of danger and adventure.

The romantic aspect of the book is also very well written. Giles has had to stand back and watch over Cecily practically her entire life, and he cannot act on the feelings he has for her. Cecily even approaches him, being drawn to him and he had to turn her away. But it is obvious that their feelings for each other are extremely strong even from the beginning of the book. I liked the way Kennedy sort of takes the reader back in time a little bit by describing their relationship through the years and then sends them on a very climatic journey, where they are forced to face their feelings for each other. I thought the romantic scenes were well written and not forced. The pace of the book itself, suggests that they are learning to follow their hearts and taking their time instead of rushing into things.

There is something for several different kinds of readers in this book. There is adventure for those who like a good battle now and then. There are tender moments and steamy situations to keep the romance readers interested and there are is magic! The world Kennedy creates is magical itself, but it is peopled with magical beings and abilities. If you enjoy a good fantasy read, you just can't miss this one! I recommend it to all my readers, from the romance fans to the paranormal readers. If you've never read a book like this one, this is the place to start, Kennedy is at her best in this series. One of the best books I've read this year!

The Lady of the Storm is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one a resounding 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Kathryne Kennedy is an award-winning author acclaimed for her world building and known for blending genres to create groundbreaking stories. The Lady of the Storm is the second book in her magical new series, The Elven Lords, following The Fire Lord's Lover. Look for book three, The Lord of Illusion, coming to bookstores soon. She's lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the United States, and currently lives in Arizona with her wonderful family - which includes two very tiny Chihuahuas. She loves to hear from readers, and welcomes you to visit her website, where she has ongoing contests.

Review and Giveaway: Bitter Harvest

Bitter Harvest (Orchard - Book 5) by Shelia Connolly

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 304pp
ISBN-13: 9780425242766
ISBN: 0425242765

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Shelia Connolly on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter

Synopsis:

WHERE DO MEG'S TROUBLES STEM FROM?

Now that Meg Corey's apples have been harvested and sold, she's enjoying some free time. Especially since she's snowed in without power or heat. Luckily, her maybe-boyfriend, Seth Chapin, is keeping her company, and has agreed to help her clean out her house.

In a dusty corner Meg finds an early-nineteenth-century silk sampler embroidered with apple trees, but she doesn't recognize the names on it as any of the earlier owners of the house. Then she starts being plagued by a series of small but annoying mishaps. Meg doesn't want to appear paranoid, but when she finds herself locked in the unheated barn overnight, and then her kitchen window is shot out, she can't ignore the problem any longer. And if she doesn't figure out how the sampler she found is connected to the motive of her modern-day tormentor, her first harvest could be her last...

Thoughts:

Author Sheila Connolly takes readers back to Granford, Connecticut and Meg's apple orchard with the fifth book in the Orchard Mystery series. Readers who love this series, will find Bitter Harvest a departure from the standard cozy mystery formula. Most notably absent is a present day murder for the heroine to solve, but there is still plenty of mystery and small town charm to keep readers interested. Connolly proves that not every mystery involves murder!

Meg's first harvest is past and her first New England winter is looming. It's time to make some hard and fast decisions about her future. As she waits for her Orchard manager Bree to get her the financial reports, Meg has lot on her mind. Will she be able to keep the business afloat? Is there enough profit left over to buy new trees and make needed repairs to the house and grounds? Just where does she stand with her next door neighbor, Seth? When Seth comes over to check on Meg's ailing furnace, they become snowbound together. Trying to distract herself, Meg asks Seth to help her explore the old farmhouse. On a long forgotten shelf in an upstairs closet, Meg finds a "mourning sampler" that must have belonged to the long ago owners of the house. When mishaps start piling up around Meg, she begins to wonder if it the pranks are somehow tied to the sampler? She'll have to use her wits to figure out who's behind the mischief before someone gets hurt!

Bitter Harvest is the fifth book in the very popular Orchard series by Sheila Connolly and I must admit it is definitely different from her normal fare. Readers who are expecting murder and mayhem will be a little surprised by this one. There is in fact, no present-day murder for our heroine, Meg to solve. There is however a mystery. Sometimes it's very difficult for readers to throw out their expectations, but I think cozy fans who can do that will find a lot to like about this book.

There are a lot of things that I like about this series in general. As with most cozies, the small town setting is often very important, as well as, the hobby or profession of the heroine. Granford, Connecticut is the kind of small New England town that I could picture myself living in. Connolly has created a town, with lots of interesting characters for Meg to interact with and build relationships with. And though we didn't see a lot of the townspeople in Bitter Harvest, we learn more about what Meg is up to with her manager Bree and her neighbor Seth.

I also really enjoy learning about the inner workings of a small orchard. When I was growing up we had an apple orchard just for personal use and I liked the idea of seeing what goes into making something like that a profitable business. In Bitter Harvest, the orchard is basically at a standstill. The harvest is over and there isn't much going on when it comes to apples. But, I realize that not every book in the series will go into new details about this aspect of Meg's life. However, readers will learn a lot more about Meg herself and her genealogy. For readers who enjoy genealogy and finding out more about the characters, this is a great book. It goes into detail on Meg's ancestors and those who lived in the old farmhouse long ago.

The mystery aspect of the book centers around a "mourning sampler" that Meg finds dating back to the late 1700's. Though there is no murder to solve in this book, there is definitely a puzzle. How does the sampler tie in with all of the pranks that keep happening around Meg's house. She gets locked in the unheated barn overnight, she finds a dead squirrel on her porch, someone tears down a part of her fence and even shots out the kitchen window. Though these pranks might not seem too bad, they are getting progressively more serious and could lead to someone, probably Meg, getting hurt. I don't know if I read mysteries for the murders or for the interactions of the characters. I think I like both aspects and I found that I enjoyed this puzzle, almost as much as a murder. But not everyone will!

I think Connolly was trying to show versatility with this book, and perhaps transitioning the series in a new direction. I don't think this will be the last murder Connolly has in the series or the last puzzler. The key is let go of what you expect and just enjoy the book for what it does contain and not what it doesn't. I loved the genealogy parts of the book. I also liked the setting of deep winter in New England. I enjoyed finding out more about Meg and it whetted my appetite for what's to come next in the series. I recommend this one to cozy fans who are looking for something a little different. It may be a departure from Connolly's other books in the series, but it's still a great book!

Bitter Harvest is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Sheila Connolly is an Agatha Award-nominated author (as Sarah Atwell), and has taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fund-raiser for several nonprofit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company, providing genealogical research services. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loves restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling. Now a full-time writer, she thinks writing mysteries is a lot more fun than any of her previous occupations. She is married and has one daughter and three cats.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The Publisher is offering one copy of Bitter Harvest for giveaway to one lucky winner from Debbie's Book Bag!

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Review: Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle

Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer

Publication Date: April 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: Paperback, 400pp

1. ISBN-13: 9781402238802

ISBN:1402238800

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Excerpt from Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle

Synopsis:

Rank, wealth, and elegance are no match for a young lady who writes novels...

Sylvester, Duke of Salford, has exacting requirements for a bride. Then he encounters Phoebe Marlow, a young lady with literary aspirations, and suddenly life becomes very complicated. She meets none of his criteria, and even worse, she was written a novel that is sweeping through the ton and causing all kinds of gossip... and he 's the main character!

Thoughts:

Georgette Heyer is the beloved author of over fifty novels, many from the Regency period. Just about every historical romance writer today owes their success to this iconic novelist. Sourcebooks has re-released several Heyer's books including Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle to a new audience, some who have never experienced her writing before. In this story that is reminiscent of Jane Austen's, Pride and Prejudice, readers are introduced to the formidable Duke of Salford, who is looking for a wife who fits a very strict criteria. A classic Regency romance by one of the great's!

Sylvester Rayne, Duke of Salford, has decided to get married. But he won't marry just any woman. He has some very strict standards for his bride to be and not many women could hope to measure up. When he first meets Phoebe Marlow he is sure she doesn't fit the mark. She seems dull and boring and certainly not what he's looking for. But when they meet again on a snowy night in a remote inn, he begins to realize just how wrong he was about her. Her intelligence is almost as piercing as her beautiful eyes and her fiery spirit is endearing. Phoebe didn't think much of Sylvester either when they first met, in fact she is so turned off by his arrogance and dry humor that she writes a story featuring a villain that is remarkable like the Duke of Salford. She too as a change of heart once she begins to get to know him better. But her book is being published and talked about all over London, if he figures out she is the writer it may destroy the tentative relationship they have started to build.

Georgette Heyer is one of the best when it comes to the Regency romance. She is often referred to as "the queen" of the Regency period and many of today's writer's consider her an inspiration. Her descriptive style and way of using dialogue is much like that of Jane Austen, also an iconic writer. One of the things that really enjoyed about Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle was is similarity to the story of Lizzie and Darcy in Austen's, Pride and Prejudice. Upon first meeting Phoebe and Sylvester absolutely cannot stand each other. She finds him arrogant and pompous, and he finds her dull and boring. But as they begin to meet again the sparks start to fly. Phoebe isn't a wall flower and she isn't afraid of speaking her mind. While Sylvester may be a bit stiff, he is also misunderstood. I like the similarities in the story, but also the differences.

Phoebe and Sylvester's story is different in that Phoebe is secretly the writer of a Gothic novel that happens to be based on the Duke, or rather based on what she thought of him after their first meeting. When she realizes that behind all the facades, he is a remarkable man, she knows she can't let it come out that she is the author of the horrible book, "The Lost Heir" who's villain is surely based on the Duke, right down to his very formidable eye brows. But, as is often the case, the Duke finds out the truth and it threatens to tear them apart. I loved the way that Heyer used dialogue to move the story along. She did a fantastic job of allowing the reader to see what was happening rather than being told about it.

Heyer's descriptions of the Regency period are both rich and fitting. She tells readers about the rules of polite society in the Regency era, she describes the customs, the clothes and even what people were eating. She talks about the rooms in their houses and how they got around town. What was expected of the Duke and the Duchess he would marry. She is very thorough when it comes to the 'ton' and how they conducted themselves. I think readers will appreciate Heyer's use of period language and decorum.

New readers to Heyer's work, probably wonder what all the fuss is about, but once they've experienced a novel like Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle they will certainly understand. Few people write like this anymore. It's all about flash and steamy bedroom scenes, instead of the true depth of the story. It's easy to see why Heyer is still considered a master of the genre even today, long after her death. Her books evoke a lot of emotion and a deeper sense of loyalty and honor that doesn't exist today. I think readers will be nostalgic when reading her books and think back to a simpler more decadent time.

Fans of Heyer will be thrilled that Sourcebooks is bringing back some of Heyer's most beloved books. Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle is definitely one of favorites, next to The Black Moth, Heyer's first novel. I would recommend this one to fans to Heyer and to readers who have yet to try her work. This is an evenly paced novel that does not seem rushed or too slow. Heyer's descriptions are genius and will make the reader feel as if they are touching the fabric of the dresses or feeling the wind from the carriage windows. Her characters are classic and complex. Her plot is masterful and full of surprises. I loved it, and I know you will too!

Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Georgette Heyer wrote over fifty novels, including Regency romances, mysteries, and historical fiction. She was known as the Queen of Regency romance, and was legendary for her research, historical accuracy, and her extraordinary plots and characterization.

Review and Giveaway: Murder by Mocha

Murder by Mocha (Coffeehouse Mystery - Book 10) by Cleo Coyle

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Hardcover, 384pp
ISBN-13: 9780425241431
ISBN: 0425241432

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Cleo Coyle on the WEB: website, facebook, twitter

Excerpt from Murder by Mocha
Book Trailer:

Synopsis:

Clare Cosi, manager and head barista of the landmark Village Blend coffeehouse can brew a beverage to die for. But can she stir up some evidence against a bitter killer who has gone loco for mocha?

Clare's Village Blend beans are being used to create a new java love potion: a "Mocha Magic Coffee" billed as an aphrodisiac. Clare may even try some on her boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn - when he's off duty, of course...

The product, expected to rake in millions, will be sold exclusively on Aphrodite's Village, one of the Web's most popular online communities for women. But the launch party ends on a sour note when one of the Web site's editors is found dead.

When more of the Web site's Sister's of Aphrodite start to die, Clare is convinced someone wants the coffee's secret formula - and is willing to kill to get it. Clare isn't about to spill the beans, but will she be next on the hit list?

Thoughts:

The husband and wife writing team known in the cozy world as Cleo Coyle once again thrill readers with the tenth installment in The Coffeehouse Mystery series, Murder by Mocha. With an intricate plot, eclectic characters, and a modern style, this book, as well as, the series, will have readers clamoring for more. Aphrodisiacs, Voss chocolates, murder and mayhem combine to give readers a great whodunit!

Clare Cosi is up to her eye-balls in coffee beans! Greenwich Village just wouldn't be the same without, "The Village Blend," a landmark coffeehouse that keeps turning out great coffee, delectable chocolates and muffins to die for. But when murder comes a little too close for comfort it's up to Clare to find the killer before she's next on the menu. When Clare's business partner and former mother-in-law, Madame Dubois makes a deal with an old friend to use "the Blend's" coffee beans to create, Mocha Magic, a coffee billed as an aphrodisiac, Clare is skeptical and has a foreboding feeling. If the coffee tanks, so will the reputation of her coffeehouse. Selling the new coffee on an exclusive women's website, called Aphrodite's Village seems like a good plan until the exec's and Aphrodite "Sisters" start to show up dead.

I don't generally like to start a series in the middle, but sometimes it just works out that way. Murder by Mocha is the tenth book in The Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle and I haven't read the first nine. But after reading this one, I am definitely going to make a point to go back and pick up the others. Each book in the series, can be read as a stand alone, because the author uses a good balance of back story in each one, to get new readers up to speed and remind older fans of what's happened in the past. I did not feel lost at all with this book, the characters were so engaging that I'm looking forward to reading the other books series, just to find out more about them.

I don't usually mention cover art in my reviews unless there is really something to talk about. The cover for Murder by Mocha is just gorgeous, the colors, and the type of styling all really worked. After reading the book, I liked the cover even more because it sort of symbolized the urban edge that this series has. It's not set in a small town, like most cozies. It is set in New York and has that modern urban appeal and I think the cover illustrates that really well, and when I went back and looked at the other covers in the series, I loved them as well. There is a definite continuity in the cover art that starts with book one and continues all the way to book ten. They are just beautiful.

The writing team of Cleo Coyle has obviously had great success with this series and I think readers will agree after reading this one, that it's easy to understand why. The setting puts me in mind of classic TV shows, like Friends and Cheers. The Village Blend is a place where friends come together to share the joys and frustrations of life. I thought Coyle did a fantastic job of making the coffeehouse appealing to the reader and full of interesting characters. From heroine Clare, all the way to the least of the secondary characters, Coyle makes these people feel real to the reader, like the girl down the hall in your apartment building, or the guy who sweeps your street. New York is an interesting setting for a cozy anyway. Most are set in small towns outside the scope of big cities, but it really works for this series and this book.

The mystery aspect of the story in Murder by Mocha, might sound a little far-fetched at first, but when you begin to get into the story, it becomes more and more believable. Murders have been committed for way less than a possible multi-million dollar coffee blend. I liked the fact that Coyle is sort of going with a girl-power kind of theme in this book. Using and all women exclusive website to sell the Mocha Magic blend was kind of empowering in my opinion. It wasn't a feminist kind of vibe, but more of a celebration of strong, intelligent women. I liked that and I think readers will too.

The plot for this one was very complex. Not only does Clare have the mystery of who is killing off Aphrodite's execs, but she also has a lot of personal issues to deal with. She is worried about her daughter who has just returned from France, and the fact that her NYPD detective boyfriend might be in the middle of a police corruption scandal and the possibility that her business partner Madame Dubois might have a darker side. She doesn't answer of the questions in this book, but that's what makes it so tantalizing, waiting for the next installment in the series to come out.

This is probably one of my favorite cozies of the year so far and I definitely recommend it to all my cozy readers. The plot is riveting and full of red herrings, you can't quite figure out who the killer is until the author is ready for you to, which is great. The characters are engaging and fun to read about and they make you want to know more about them. There's some humor that kind of lightens the mood when it needs to a little bit of romance for the romance fans out there. It is the total package when it comes to a good cozy. Great setting, intricate plot, quirky characters, murder and mayhem, what more could you ask for?

Murder by Mocha is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Cleo Coyle is the pen name for a multi-published author who collaborates with her husband to write the nationally bestselling Coffeehouse Mysteries. Although they did not meet until adulthood, Cleo and her husband had very similar upbringings. Both were children of food-loving Italian immigrants and both grew up in working-class neighborhoods outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before moving to the Big Apple to begin their postcollege careers: Cleo as a journalist and children's book and media tie-in author; and her husband as a magazine editor and writer. After finally meeting and falling in love, they married at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas. Now they live and work in New York City where they each write books independently and together, cook like crazy, haunt local coffeehouses, and drink a lot of joe. Among their many coauthored projects are the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, written under the pen name Alice Kimberly.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

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Review: Catriona

Catriona by Jeanette Baker

Publication Date: August 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: Paperback, 464pp
ISBN-13: 9781402255861
ISBN: 1402255861

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Jeanette Baker on the WEB: website, blog, facebook

Excerpt from Catriona

Synopsis:

Catriona...

Kate Sutherland always felt out of place in brash and modern Southern California. But when she comes to her ancestral home in the Shetland Islands to seek a mystical guide who may shed light on her true heritage, she is caught between the present day and visions of a life from five centuries past....

A fiery young woman of royal English blood, Catriona Wells is determined to save her family from the deadly political clashes of 15th-century Britain. But Cat's cunning is no match for Scottish border lord Patrick MacKendrick. When this powerful warrior betroths her against her will, Cat must decide whether she dares to love him--and to trust him with lives that are more precious to her than her own.

Thoughts:

Historical romance writer, Jeanette Baker is re-releasing her novel Catriona to a new audience. Originally titled, The Bold Deceiver, Catriona is a book full of secrets and past lives. Baker's writing will appeal to readers who are fans of historical romance, historical fiction and the paranormal. She weaves the three together to create a novel that is surprising and full of adventure. From Wicca to reincarnation, this book touches on the legends and tales of Ireland and Scotland. A great summer read for the historical reader!

Kate Sutherland has the "sight" and she doesn't know what it is or what to do about it. When she decides to fulfill the dying wish of the woman who raised her, Kate isn't prepared. She mistakenly thinks that returning to her ancestral home in the Shetland Islands, may cure her of her foreboding visions, but the feelings and dreams only get stronger. Since she found out she was adopted she has had many questions that can't be answered. She enlists the help of a local historian to try to help her understand what's happening to her, but Niall MacCormack is bringing up more questions than answers. Her visions are of one of her ancestors Catriona Wells. Catriona's younger brother is accused of treason and she would do anything to help him, even marry the ruthless Patrick MacKendrick. Kate's future depends on setting Catriona's past to rights. But can she choose between this life and one from long ago?

Jeanette Baker knows how to tell a story. She is one of those writers who tugs at the mind as well as the heartstrings with her historical romances. She is able to shift back and forth through time with ease and engage the reader in both stories she is telling. In Catriona, Baker shifts between the present day world of heroine Kate Sutherland and the 15th century world of Catriona Wells, a young royal. Baker shows a tremendous amount of versatility as she effortlessly conveys to the reader how Kate becomes intertwined with Catriona and what makes their connection possible.

She touches on reincarnation as well as the early teachings of the Pict and Druid religions. I liked the fact that there was a supernatural feeling about this book. It gave off an air that reminded me of stories my Scottish grandfather used to tell when I was a child. Being of Scottish ancestry, it is always interesting to me to see how authors treat Scottish history and legends and I think Baker does a wonderful job of showing reverence and respect to the people and the customs of the day. Right down to the styles of clothing and the kind of food that was served. I thought she went into great descriptive detail and that made all the difference. It seemed authentic and original at the same time.

Of the two women, I was most drawn to Catriona and her story, being a former history major, I tend to enjoy characters that come from an earlier time period and I really liked Catriona. She was a young woman put in a bad situation. She is willing to do just about anything to save her brother, even marry a man she doesn't know if she can love. I thought she was loyal and resourceful and showed a lot of passion. Kate on the other hand came across as a little too straight laced for my tastes, but she was still interesting and once she understood what was going on with Catriona she was willing to try to help her. Both characters were well written and Baker does a great job of bringing them both to life.

I recommend this book to readers of historical fiction and romance, and there is even a bit of the supernatural or magical elements to tempt the paranormal reader. Baker writes a very tight and passionate book. Her characters live hard and with lots of emotion. Her time slip style of writing is fun to read and engaging. The reader practically gets two stories for the price of one in this one and it's not one they'll want to put down very easily either. Fast paced, full of interesting ideas, and just in time for those days when the kids are back in school and you want something rich and decadent to read!

Catriona is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Author of fifteen novels, including the RITA Award-winning paranormal, Nell, Jeanette Baker has been hailed by Publisher's Weekly as a forceful writer of character and conflict whose novels are "irresistible reading." She graduated from the University of California at Irvine and later earned her master's degree in education. Jeanette lives in California during the winter months where she teaches literature and writing and in County Kerry, Ireland, during the summer.