Posted on 2 Comments

Review: A Deadly Brew by Susanna Gregory

Review of A Deadly Brew, an historical mystery set in Medieval Cambridge by Susanna Gregory

A Deadly Brew by Susanna Gregory cover

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Doctor Matthew Bartholomew is trying to get on with teaching his students at the University of Cambridge while treating his patients in the town who have the winter fever. Things go wrong, however, when a student and a teacher both die after drinking poisoned wine. This is shortly followed by the murder of a servant on university property.

Bartholomew tries to keep out of the investigation, leaving it to his friend, Brother Michael. Then their lives are threatened and Bartholomew is forced to help. Before long he’s dealing with an unusual corpse, a nun hiding in the home of a prostitute, and students failing disputations due to the winter fever.

Review

This mystery has a lot of different layers. There’s the sale of the wine and the accidental poisonings. Then there’s the mystery of who brought the poisoned wine into Cambridge and for what reason. Also, there’s all the smuggling going on and the attacks on various characters. It’s all intertwined and was difficult to keep track of.

I had to read this book through twice in order to really follow the story. The second time, I was much better able to keep track of who the minor characters were and who exactly did what. It was very complex, and I liked that, but it made it hard to remember what had already happened and understand what is going on.

I didn’t like how the main characters (Bartholomew and Michael) turn out to have very little to do with finally solving the mystery. They work out what happened to the wine and uncover who killed Master Greene. However, they have no idea about the mastermind who first brought the poison into Cambridge until he reveals himself while trying to kill Bartholomew.

“And I suppose our little roles in all this count for nothing?” asked Michael scathingly.

“Precisely!” said Langelee, with a superior grin. “And you would not even be alive now, if it were not for me.” He beamed at them, oblivious of Michael’s indignation.

The author did a fantastic job at recreating the atmosphere of medieval Cambridge. It was like I could feel the cold and I really sympathised with the residents of Michaelhouse not having enough fires and candles during the long winter nights. While I was reading, the world really did feel saturated.

Conclusion

Have you read A Deadly Brew? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? What about other books by Susanna Gregory? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

Want to get more from your reading? Get my free book review template here.

* indicates required
Posted on Leave a comment

Review: Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

Review of Three Weeks with Lady X, Historical Romance set in late 18th century England by Eloisa James

Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James cover

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Thorn Dautry is the highly ambitious, very rich, illegitimate son of the duke of Villiers. In an attempt to dilute the effects of illegitimacy (at least for his future children), Thorn determines to marry the well-born Laetitia Rainsford (aka Lala). Knowing that Lala’s mother won’t allow the marriage unless he can impress her, Thorn buys a country house and hires Lady Xenobia India St. Clair to renovate it.

India is familiar with Lady Rainsford and knows that it will take more than a fancy house to get her to agree to the marriage. In addition to fixing up his house, India attempts to correct his manners. As they spend more time together and their relationship becomes increasingly heated, Thorn tries to set India up with his best friend, Vander.

Review

Three Weeks with Lady X has less romance in it than one would expect from a romance novel, particularly towards the beginning. While Thorn and India are physically attracted to each other, they both work towards fixing the other’s relationship with other people. Unfortunately, the author uses quite a few modern idioms and euphemisms that don’t fit the setting and also make the story seem more sexual than romantic.

I liked India. She is independent and a free thinker. Despite her obvious strength, we see her brought low towards the end when Thorn is unwell. This made her seem much more real than if she had been unaffected by Thorn’s injuries.

Right from the beginning, Thorn and India’s relationship is prickly and heated. They disagree on just about everything, while still managing to become friends and care for each other. This is particularly brought out by the stuff that was left in the house when the previous owner died. Additionally, the dialogue between the two of them was always entertaining.

“Those pictures are exaggerations. You do know that, don’t you, India?”

She scowled at him. “The matter is irrelevant.”

“It’s not irrelevant, because you’re about to marry. During my years at Eton, I saw hoards of men starkers. I can tell you this, India; whoever you marry will not compare to Feather.”

India felt, irrationally, that she should defend her future husband. “You don’t know that,” she objected. “I’m sure he will be … everything that a man should be.”

Thorns grin was making that hot and muddled feeling spread all over her body. “It’s really irrelevant,” she repeated crossly.

“Maybe before you decide on the man, I should take him for a dip in the horse pond and take a discreet glance. It would be awful if you went to your wedding night with images of Feather in mind, only to discover your beloved is the size of a thimble.”

“He won’t be!”

“How would you know? I would feel terrible if a book I owned corrupted you and consequently you never enjoyed your marital life.”

Compared to Thorn’s relationship with India, his relationship with Lala is subdued. Lala is quiet, timid, and a bit afraid of Thorn. She seems quite drippy and obviously believes that she is an idiot. I liked how Lala became more sure of herself around the doctor; she was clearly interested in his work and acted intelligently once she had someone treating her like she was smart.

I was disappointed that Vander didn’t get a HEA. Thorn and India (predictably) ended up together. Lala found someone that she loved. Vander is the only person who gets caught up in this complex web of relationships that doesn’t get together with the love of his life.

Conclusion

Have you read Three Weeks with Lady X? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

Want to get more from your reading? Get my free book review template here.

* indicates required
Posted on Leave a comment

Review: A Knight in Shining Armour by Jude Deveraux

Review of A Knight in Shining Armour, historical Fiction set in Elizabethan and modern England by Jude Deveraux

Cover of A Knight in Shining Armour by Jude Deveraux (review by the Travelling Book Nerd)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

After being abandoned by her partner on holiday, Dougless meets a strange man wearing odd clothing. Nicholas was awaiting execution in the 16th century when he found himself transported to the future. Dougless and Nicholas form a reluctant partnership and work together to find out the truth behind Nicholas’ betrayal and supposed execution.

Once they find what they need to know, Nicholas returns to his own time equipped with knowledge that he believes will save him. Still in the 1980s, Dougless finds that Nicholas was still executed, and stumbles upon more information about the end of Nicholas’ life. Before long she finds herself in the past with a second chance at saving Nicholas and changing history.

Review

This story made me cry and cry and cry. I don’t know why, but it seemed to be during the parts that Dougless and Nicholas were resisting their feelings and were separated from each other. I found it to be a real emotional rollercoaster but my grandma, while she said it was a good book, didn’t find any of it sad.

My favourite part of this story is when Nicholas is discovering the 20th century. In most books that involve time-travel, the characters travel back in time, and thus have at least a small idea of what they’re encountering. It was amusing to see time-travel happen the other way around. I particularly like how Nicholas likes the taste of ice cream so much that he kisses Dougless when she first buys him some.

‘But then Nicholas saw the table lamp, and Dougless spent fifteen minutes demonstrating electric lights. Nicholas nearly drove her crazy with turning switches on and off until, to make him go to bed, she promised to read more to him.’

It was interesting to see Nicholas’ views on Romeo and Juliet. Nicholas had lived 30 or 40 years before Shakespeare wrote most of his work so hadn’t read any of it before, but would have been closer to the original intended audience than anyone alive today. As such, I imagine his interpretation would be closer to the ideas that Shakespeare was trying to convey.

The author (Jude Deveraux) appears to have done a reasonable amount of research into the Elizabethan era. She uses Nicholas to address modern myths about the past; Nicholas reacted to things in a realistic way and nothings seems terribly out of place, historically.

I struggled a bit with Dougless’s sudden character development. Throughout the book Dougless has problems with her self-worth and how her view of herself affects the way others treat her. When she returns from the past, this changes. That was fine, but it happened so abruptly that it was jarring.

Conclusion

Have you read A Knight in Shining Armour? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? What about other books by Jude Deveraux? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

Want to get more from your reading? Get my free book review template here.

* indicates required
Posted on Leave a comment

Review: The Chosen Queen by Joanna Courtney

Review of The Chosen Queen, historical Fiction set in 11th century Britain by Joanna Courtney

The Chosen Queen by Joanna Courtney cover (review by the Travelling Book Nerd)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

The Chosen Queen is based on the life of Edyth, daughter of the Earl of east Anglia, wife of king Griffin of Wales, and later married to Harold Godwinson.

When Edyth’s father is exiled from court, the family go to Wales. There, Edyth catches the eye of King Griffin and when her family leaves, she stays behind to marry him. As Queen of Wales, Edyth learns how to support the men in her life rule a country.

Returning with her children to England following Griffin’s murder, Edyth becomes firm friends with Svana, handfast wife of Harold Godwinson. As political tensions rise due to the lack of an obvious heir for the aging king, the pressure on Edyth and Harold to marry and claim their place at England’s head.

Review

Even though I’m familiar with the history and knew the basics of what was going to happen, especially towards the end, I still found myself hooked. Primary sources from this period of history are largely biased (about men by men), and I enjoyed the way this book focused more on the women.

Despite being a bit modern, the characters are brought to life well and seem more like actual people than primary sources make them seem. They seemed understandable and I came to really care for them.

Edyth is a very admirable woman. She is strong, resilient, and mature. She fights for what she believes in. I particularly admired her understanding of politics and the way that she helps the men in her life make decisions. In this way, she has a significant effect on the running of her country even though she couldn’t hold any official power.

He looked at her curiously and she spun round to grab his other hand in hers. “We should tour the whole country – the north first. Let people see you, talk to you. It is what you do well, Harold, and people will trust a king they have seen with their own eyes.” He nodded thoughtfully and she pushed on. “Griffin skulked at Rhuddlan. He thought he was safe, but it was an illusion – as you proved all too well.” Harold grimaced but now was the time for lessons, not recriminations. “We only rode south when it was too late – that is not a mistake you can afford to make.”

“You are right. You are so right, Edyth. See, I told you I needed you as queen.”

The author changed the names of some of the characters to make it easier for a modern reader. I understand this, and some of these changes were done well, such as Eadyth/Edyth and Gyrth/Garth. Other changes, I didn’t like – the difference between the real person’s name and the book character’s name is just too great. For example, Gunnhild becomes Hannah and Leofwine becomes Lane.

The Chosen Queen is full of historical detail but isn’t bogged down with it. It really made me feel that I was experiencing the 11th century. The intense political climate of the time is thoroughly explored. The author has clearly done some excellent research into the period; her world-building is excellent both in the big events and the little details.

Conclusion

Have you read The Chosen Queen? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

Want to get more from your reading? Get my free book review template here.

* indicates required
Posted on Leave a comment

Review: All About Passion by Stephanie Laurens

Review of All About Passion, a regency era romance by Stephanie Laurens

Cover of All About Passion by Stephanie Laurens

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Gyles Rawlings, Earl of Chillingworth, thinks he has found the perfect meek and mild woman to marry. He requires an heir, but likes his bachelor lifestyle and doesn’t want a wife who would make him change that.

Everything he has heard about Francesca confirms the idea that she would be the perfect countess. However, in his eagerness to keep all arrangements overly formal, he mistakes her for her cousin and finds himself marrying the woman he has been dreaming of an affair with.

Their encounters are passionate, and Francesca sets about making herself invaluable to her new husband in the hope that he will come to love her. Gyles finds himself unwittingly protective of her, but it takes a serious attempt on Francesca’s life for him to admit that he loves her.

Review

All About Passion is part of a series about the Cynster brothers and their love lives. While Gyles is a Rawlings, not a Cynster, he might as well be. When I bought it, I didn’t realise this, but the book was fine as a standalone. There are a few things that I thought might reference one of the other books, but they didn’t affect the story or my ability to follow it.

It was fun to see Gyles dig himself into a hole before the wedding. His comments to Francesca show that he obviously does not know that she’s his bride, and this makes her furious, especially once she realises it. And he keeps making it worse. To be fair, Francesca didn’t correct him once she realised he had made a mistake.

‘“You may now explain how it was that you thought my cousin was the woman you were marrying.”

The demand, and her tone, refocused his mind wonderfully. When he didn’t immediately respond, she flung out her hands. “How could you have made such a mistake?”

“Very easily. I had perfectly reasonable grounds to imagine your cousin was the lady for whom I was offering.”’

The sex scenes were too long. I do appreciate a bit more than “wham, bam, they made love,” but two or three pages is usually sufficient. The sex part of the wedding night lasts for 15 pages, and a later scene in the library is 8 pages long. Too long. Doesn’t add to the story.

I liked Francesca. She’s intelligent, passionate (not just in bed), and doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Francesca goes after what she wants, even after Gyles insists that he cannot give it to her. Even though strong heroines are fairly common in romances these days (at least the ones I read), Francesca still seemed unique.

One thing that I did not like was the predictability of the plot. It followed the obvious course for a romance with a case of mistaken identity: they get married anyway, struggle at first, but eventually fall in love. The solution to the mystery of who is trying to harm Francesca was easy to guess correctly (afterall, there was no other way to tie in Franni’s illness).

Conclusion

Have you read All About Passion? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

Want to get more from your reading? Get my free book review template here.

* indicates required
Posted on Leave a comment

Review: The Perfect Wife by Lynsay Sands

The Perfect Wife by Lynsay Sands

Review of The Perfect Wife, an Historical Romance set in Medieval England by Lynsay Sands

The Perfect Wife by Lynsay Sands cover (Review by the Travelling Book Nerd)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Avelyn has a very poor view of herself. This leads to a calamitous wedding day, including a gown that’s too small, fainting during the ceremony, and setting the marriage bed on fire.

At the beginning of their marriage, Avelyn suffers several mishaps and her new husband, Paen, worries that she might be clumsy and incompetent. Avelyn falls into a depression as she thinks that her husband cannot stand to be around her. Once he realises this, Paen sets about convincing her of her own worth.

Review

The Perfect Wife was a light, quick read. When I read it, I had been unable to concentrate on anything heavier. It was the perfect book for me to read at the time.

The characters are very likeable. Paen and Avelyn are so unsure of themselves and their relationship and they try so hard to please each other. Sometimes they act a bit silly, especially at the beginning, but it shows their eagerness and naivety. To me it made them more endearing.

I enjoyed how the relationship between Paen and Avelyn unfolded at a steady pace. When they first meet each other, Paen is unimpressed with her, but as they get to know each other, he comes to care for her, then at the end they both realise they love each other. This process happened realistically, and while Paen’s realisation of his feelings are sudden, we are shown them developing at a believable pace.

I enjoyed how at the beginning, Avelyn kept trying to alter her appearance for Paen but that he preferred her as she was. She thought she was overweight and went to extreme lengths to look thin so that Paen would like her, binding herself and sucking in her cheeks. She wanted to look good for him, but he found her attractive how she was.

‘His gaze slid over her now in the red gown, and Avelyn bit her lip, afraid that without the binding he would be displeased. She was doing her best not to flinch when he announced, “You look much better now. There is colour in your cheeks, and you are no longer all sucked up and fishy looking.”

“Fishy looking?” Avelyn gasped with dismay.

“Aye.” When he pursed his lips and sucked his cheeks in to show her how she’d looked, Avelyn felt herself flush again. She hadn’t realised how ridiculous she’d appeared. And she had imagined herself looking better!’

I liked the little mystery woven through the story. It is introduced slowly so that at first I didn’t realise there even was a mystery. Having a mystery was a great way to keep the story going while Paen and Avelyn’s relationship progressed. The resolution of the mystery was also a great climax to the story and created a fantastic ending to the book.

Conclusion

Have you read The Perfect Wife? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

Want to get more from your reading? Get my free book review template here.

* indicates required