Garden Spells by Sarah Eddison Allen

SYNOPSIS
Living in the old Waverley home, Claire Waverley chases folks away from her backyard apple tree, and its unusual fruit, while she runs a successful catering company using ingredients from the magical family garden. But, when her prodigal sister Sydney returns after ten years, Claires quiet world is turned upside down.

MY VIEW
This book is about 2 sisters - Claire and her younger sister Sydney. Claire lives in the big, ancient house that has been lived in by her family for generations with a very special apple tree which if you eat the apple revelas something very important in your life, and its not advised to eat it!

Claire takes ingredients from her gardening to make food that affects the eater, unfortunately this makes her seem quite odd to the locals. But, its not just Claire that seems rather strange. Enter Claire's aunt Evanelle who predicts peoples needs, they may not know at the time she gives them things why they would need it but, it soon becomes clear later.

And then there is Sydney, she left Bascom (where Claire lives) many years ago but, returns after leaving a very abusive boyfriend and brings with her her six year old daughter Bay and Bascom is the one place Sydney feels safe but, he comes looking for her only Sydney is known to him as a different name.

I loved this book it kinds of has a feel of Joanne Harris novels to this so if you love her books I think you will love this the characters are brilliant and with a nice storyline beautifully told with lots of magic and a touch of humour.

Halfway To The Grave by Jeanine Frost

SYNOPSIS
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield pursues the undead with a vengeance in the hope that one of her prey will be the father who ruined her mother's life, but her plans go awry when she is captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter.

MY VIEW
Catherine Crawford is a half-vampire and kills vampires, when Catherine was conceived it was the result of her mother being raped by a vampire. As the book begins Cat is on a hunt however, Cat comes across Bones the vampire and they begin working together.

Bones helps her with her vampire skills and are being persued by a bunch of killers.

Billed as a paranormal romance I just love this genre! And Cat is the usual heroine of this type of genre being feisty, well guess any vampire killer would be. And of course, Bones becomes Cat's love interest with some fairly steamy scenes but, it doesn't detract from the book in any way.

I've read quite a few of this type of book and it was a good read, I don't think I will ever find anything to beat Kelley Armstrongs Bitten/Stolen (the rest of that series after Stolen is not as good IMO but, thats an entirely different blog post!) it was good, not great and I will read the rest of the series but, tend to not read book after book by the same author unless its a fantastic series.

Babe in Ghostland by Lisa Cach

SYNOPSIS
Megan Barrows has retired from a brief career as a ghostbusting psychic and now uses her sixth sense to fill her Seattle antiques store with objects with happy pasts. After once nearly having the soul sucked out of her by a malevolent spirit, she prefers a quiet life.
Case Lambert is a real estate prospector who restores old houses, then sells them for profit. He has just bought a dilapidated mansion so amazing that he wants to keep it for himself, but the house appears to be haunted. Seriously haunted. A few inquiries lead him to Megan Barrows.

Megan at first refuses to help, but Case is a master of persuasion. Moving into the mansion, they discover that one of the ghosts has a thing for Case -- and there may be even more amorous spirits inside this veritable paranormal vortex. But it soon becomes clear that no one -- dead or alive -- can stop Megan and Case from ending up in each other's arms. . . .

MY VIEW
This is Paranormal Chick-Lit possibly not at its finest, I have read better but, quite a good read! Its a nice easy read with some nice characters, just fine and cutesy!

This is my first book from Lisa Cach but, by all accounts she has written a few more.

The majority of this book is based in a haunted house recently purchased by Case Lambert, Megan's love interest. He stops by her store to recruit in helping with the spooky goings on at his house although his belief in Megans abilities or rather the type of things she does is quite sceptical.


The storyline line is not huge and deep so if your wanting something deep and meaningful then this is not the book at lets face it not many chick lits whether paranormal or not are deep and meaningful - just stating the obvious!

Windfall by Rachel Caine

SYNOPSIS
Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin's stormy personal life is taking its toll on her patience-and her powers. But when the truce between the Wardens and the mystical Djinn starts to self-destruct, Joanne finds herself forced to choose between saving her Djinn lover, saving her Warden abilities-and saving humanity.

MY VIEW
This is the fourth in Rachel Caine's brilliant Weather Warden series and my favourite yet!

Jo has nothing more to do with the Wardens and finds herself back in Florida doing a 'regular' job and is working as a weather girl on a local TV station. And thats if you can call it that as she doesn't get to predict the weather. And smiles at the camera through gritted teeth.

We see a new character in this instalment in the shape of Cherise who is fantastic! Cherise is another weather girl who gets a better deal of being a weather girl than Joanne does. Also introduced is Joanne's sister Sarah, but we still have our old favourites in the shape of Rahel and Jonathan.

There is more of a darker side to this book but, on the other hand there are some lighter moments too with Jo and her sister making things a little more 'human'. Joanne is still with David but, their relationship takes an interesting twist I won't say anymore but, its none too good!!

If you love Paranormal romance etc just get this series, its brill!

Chill Factor By Rachel Caine

SYNOPSIS
Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin hasn't had it easy. In the previous two books in Caine's sharply written series, she "had a really bad week, died, got reborn as a Djinn, had an even worse week, and saved the world, sort of" and "died again, sort of" before waking up human. Normally, Weather Wardens must simply protect the rest of the human race from deadly weather, but Joanne, who's deeply tough, resolutely moral and highly fond of fast cars and "bitchin' shoes," keeps getting tasked with saving the world.

This time, a surly teenager named Kevin has holed up in Las Vegas with the world's most powerful Djinn and is wreaking utter havoc. In order to stop him, she'll have to surrender her own Djinn and lover David, die yet again, get resuscitated, interrogated and electrocuted by members of a powerful secret society, and experience countless other injuries and indignities, all the while trying to figure out who—among the detectives, Wardens, Djinns, Ikrits (a dark, undead Djinn), former bosses and former lovers—is really on her side.

It's all a bit confusing, for Joanne and readers alike, especially those who haven't followed her through Ill Wind and Heat Stroke, but it's a rollicking good ride. Caine's prose crackles with energy, as does her fierce and lovable heroine.

My View
I have read the first two books in this series but, it was quite a long time ago now I'd forgotten what a great series this is!

Joanne is a great character, she really has some ill luck as well as some good luck! This is a roller coaster ride with never a dull moment, anyone wanting a paranormal thriller must read this series.

Obviously Joanne is the main character but, this also has a great support cast too David & Rahel were two of my favourites! Myuch of this book was based around Las vegas (somewhere I would so love to go so maybe that was a pull for me too and the Bellagio - wow!), Joanne has been reverted to her human form after having been Djinn. Jo finds out in Vegas that the people with these awesome weather powers aren't wardens, and thats not good.

Just loved this!

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

SYNOPSIS
This is an epic historical novel following on from the bestselling "Dragonfly in Amber." Their passionate encounter happened two centuries ago when the gallant renegade Jamie Fraser sent her back to her own time, pregnant with his child, believing he would be killed in the bloody Battle of Culloden in 1746. Now their daughter has grown up and Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Drawn back across the chasm of time she seeks once more the man she could never forget, the destiny she cannot ignore...

MY VIEW contains spoilers!
The third in the Outlander series and I have to say I loved Cross Stitch (or Outlander to anyone beyond the English Isles) Dragonfly in Amber was good though I didn't enjoy it as much as Cross Stitch, and Voyager? Fan-blooming-tastic! I was so hooked from the off.

For the past twenty years Claire thinks Jamie was killed at Culloden but, he never and so begins a fantastic and beautifully told story. The beginning starts with telling the story as to where Jamie is and then with Claire back in the present day and then when Claire decides to go back again it was quite magical the moment they saw each other again, if this was a film I could really imagine it (though I hope this series is never made into a film as it always ruins it for me!).

Yes its an epic of a book and isn't a quick read on a rainy afternoon but, like with the previous books it just doesn't fell like you have devoured 1000 odd pages, I definitely didn't want it to end (even though I have the next 3 books!)

I need to catch up on a few of my other books that have been waiting in the wings for far too long but, I will be back in Claire & Jamie's world very very soon!

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

SYNOPSIS
For twenty years, Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to the majesty of Scotland's mist-shrouded hills. Here, Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones, about a love that transcends the boundaries of time, and about James Fraser, a warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful daughter as Claire's spellbinding journey continues in the intrigue-ridden court of Charles Edward Stuart, in a race to thwart a doomed uprising, and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves.

My View
This is the follow up to Cross Stitch which I read way back in September, I actually mean't to read these after I got back from my holiday but, forgot until a friend of mine mentioned she was reading them.

The story begins with Claire back in the present day (well almost as its back in the 1960's) and with her daughter Brianna, Claire's husband Frank having died two years previously. Claire is investigating the fate of the men at Culloden. Claire is visiting an old friend with her daughter and it is here that Claire finds out things from her past that could very well (and does!) change her future. Claire re-tells her story of what happened and we are then travelling back in time to 1744.

I did find this one dragged on a little towards the end but, there was no way on earth I was going to rush through it there were some parts that could have been more compacted, lets say. However, saying that this volume is nearly 1000 pages in total yet it didn't seem like that at all.

I have to say I wasn't as enthralled with this as I was with Cross Stitch (or Outlander as its known outside the UK) and as I say for me it did drag on a bit in parts but, overall a beautifully weaved tale and although I say it did drag on in some ways its nice to have a descriptive tale as it makes for a more believable and intense story.

Midnight Flight by Virginia Andrews

SYNOPSIS
They lived on the wild side.
Now these bad girls are paying the price.

At Dr. Foreman's School for Girls, the "students" sleep in barns, work on a farm in the blazing heat, and are subjected to ruthless guards who watch their every move. It's an institution run by the dreadful Dr. Foreman, a woman who delights in administering the worst form of punishment -- the mysterious Ice Room where the girls face their darkest fears.

Now Phoebe, Teal, and Robin -- three girls from very different worlds -- are the newcomers in this desert hell. During their stay, each girl will be tempted to commit the ultimate crime of betrayal as Dr. Foreman cleverly tries to turn them against each other -- until they learn that the only way to survive is to stick together...and fight back.

MY VIEW
This book has to be read right after Broken Wings as it continues to when the girls arrive at Dr Foreman's School.

Whereas I didn't think Broken Wings was that disturbing a read, this most definitely was. It was very twisted but, not in the way I thought Flowers in the Attic was disturbing just different somehow.

Some parts of it I didn't think was necessary like the diapers that was just ewwww. But, hey ho I guess that part was put there for some reason. This would be a good book for a troubled teen to read because I am sure if they read this they would start behaving as no-one would ever want to go to a school like this!

Virginia Andrews books are now written by a ghost writer and I think that does show as her later books are not a patch on the earlier ones but, still it was a good read just probably not one I would want to read again.

Blogger Award

I was deeply honoured to receive a blogger award from http://lifelongbookpassion.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-award.html.

The rules to follow are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

The blogs that I feel are worthy of this award are:

"http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/"

http://rhinoasramblings.blogspot.com/

http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/

http://susandhigginbotham.blogspot.com

http://lifelongbookpassion.blogspot.com/

http://cosyworld.wordpress.com/

http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/index.html

http://myreadingbooks.blogspot.com/

Sorry to say I couldn't find 15 I will have to make it my task for 2009 to get out there and explore more blogs :-)

Broken Wings by Virginia Andrews

SYNOPSIS
Three girls from different worlds with one thing in common: They were born to be wild.

Robin...With a mom who's more absorbed in her singing career than in her own daughter, Robin's left to her own devices when the two move to Nashville. That's where her mom hopes to strike gold -- and where Robin finds nothing but trouble.

Teal...This rich girl will do anything to get her parents' attention...even break the law. But after she takes things too far for the guy she adores, Teal loses their trust completely -- and is treated like a prisoner in her own home. Now there may be only one way out.

Phoebe...She's the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, trying to make it in a fast new crowd. She moved in with her aunt to make a fresh start. But now her biggest mistake may be to trust a charming rich boy who could ruin her life and destroy her reputation forever.

MY VIEW
This was a very interesting book, it didn't seem as disturbing as some of her other books. The book is divided up in to three parts in preparation for the follow up book, all 3 stories were each as good as the other. I loved reading Robin's story then when it ended was sad because I liked it so much but, then the next was equally as good.

Although all 3 girls are basically trouble I couldn't help but, feel for them in some way because the cause of why thjey were so bad stems back from their home life, it was quite sad really. But, then I guess you could say that about anyone who on the surface just seems to be a troublemaker and I'm sure we all know people like that!

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

SYNOPSIS
With its mythic mists and galloping legends, fifth century Britain is fair game and Miss Stewart takes to whole cloth with a couturier's skill. This time applied to Merlin - a seer, Arthur's evil genius and resident engineer - all depending on whether you have your faultless facts from Geoffrey of Monmouth, Malory, Tennyson or a ouija board. Miss Stewart artlessly confesses in an afterword that she followed Geoffrey but loosely and gaily admits anachronisms. (There are Pendragonian sallies: "you were perhaps a little - drastic?"; or bland references to the then non-existent "Germany" or "Ireland.") In any case this is all Merlin's tune - from childhood as a despised bastard at the court of his grandfather the King, with his mother, the King's daughter, who wasn't telling who downed her in the dell.

Then after secret tutorials in the cave of an old clairvoyant and scholar, Galapos, an escape to Count Ambrosius, a ruler who turns out to be. . . . Many ceremonials, prophesies and wars later, Merlin accomplishes his greatest coup - a procurement exercise resulting in the conception of Arthur by Uther Pendragon out of the Lady Ygraine. Period play, ripe and windy, for ladies easily lulled - and there are many of them.

MY VIEW
This is a book I have read before but, it was quite a long time ago so thought it was due a re-read.

The Merlin series is probably one of my favourite re-tellings from the Arthurian period that I have come across yet. This one concentrates on Merlin who rarely gets to be IMO the sole focus of attention in a book, or maybe its just the ones
I have read!

We get to see (or read about!) Merlin's childhood and upbringing and Merlin is the grandson of a local king, his father is unknown. I love how this book is as told by Merlin, sometimes I prefer a first person book and seeing everything through their eyes. The book covers Merlin from when he was very young up until he is mid twenties.

I loved how Mary Stewart developed the scenes of how life was like in this long ago time - the Arthurian era is one I would have loved to have lived in.

The 2009 Pub Challenge

I have signed up for the pub challenge for the second year running!!


These are the rules:

Here are the 2009 rules:

Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009. Any questions on what qualifies? Just leave a comment here, and I’ll respond with the answer.
No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
At least 5 titles must be fiction.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
Sign up below using Mr. Linky.
Have fun reading your 2009 books!

Jane Boleyn - The Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Lewis

After having a hard time of it settling into a new book over Christmas (too many distractions I think!) I finally plumped for something I have not rad for a very long time - anon-fiction book, this about the infamous Lady Rochford!

No matter if you sympathise with her or think she is the most awful woman ever she certainly was a very interesting woman in our history. I am actually one of the former and do sympathise with her some.

Anyway on to the book - SYNOPSIS

Debut author Fox sheds new light on the lesser-known life of Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law. The author vividly captures a pivotal moment in English history in an engrossing text that dances with devilry, opulence and deception as Tudor court intrigue swirls around Henry VIII and his various queens. After Henry dispensed with Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne, Jane was privy to dazzling displays of pageantry, and she witnessed the entrance of a new queen, a new religion and ultimately the Reformation.

This account of her life as an intimate of the doomed Anne offers an intensely personal look inside the day-to-day rhythms of court life. Fox is especially deft at conveying the walking-on-eggshells sensation experienced by all Henry's women, who knew only too well that they were expendable. Although Jane is something of a bit-player in the book's first half, after both Anne and her brother George (Jane's husband) are put to death, her own story and personality come into sharper focus. Living to serve as lady-in-waiting to two more of Henry's wives, Jane's own path to the executioner's block was paved by Catherine Howard, the king's ill-fated fifth wife.A sparkling chronicle, fine-tuned to the personal stories that lend texture and emotion to a biography.

This a very fascinating read mostly obviously because of the subject but, I would say the author is really no Alison Weir/Antonia Fraser as others stated on Amazon reviews there is a lot more speculation here rather than hard facts, it did feel like I was reading a historical fiction novel at times and probably if you look upon it like that you won't be disappointed. It was still nice to see a book about someone other than Henry's wives.

Happy New Year

Well one of my tasks this year was to read 100 books, well I am sorry to say I failed my 10 books! Well I am on my 91st book as we speak but, I doubt I will finish that by midnight as I have to work until 4pm unless I can get in some sneaky reading at my desk!!

On the up side it was the most books I have read in a year and there are a few books that stand out for me this year:

Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell - I have read this previously but, its a fantastic book especially if you are interested in the mystery of Stonehenge.

The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George - This is a most definite stand out book of the year for me, I have to confess I did put off reading this for quite some time due to the volume of pages to be devoured! But, it was so engrossing it didn't seem that long at all, a definite read for Tudor fans.

Courtesan by Diane Haeger - I loved this book it was something different for me as mostly my historical fiction reading is based around the Tudors so this was great to learn about other people from history and a beautiful story as well.

The Well of Shades by Juliet Marillier - Juliet remains one of my favourite authors and this was no exception continuing the story of Bridei's Chronicles, I just love the worlds Juliet creates and whilst this was not as good as the Sevenwaters series (I don't think I will ever read anything to top those) this was a fantastic series which I hope continues.

2008 also saw me complete my first reading challenge I tend to not sign up for things like that because often I forget or there is something else I want to read but, have to read something else for a challenge but, maybe 2009 will see me signing up for more challenges.

Hopefully I will reach my target of reading 100 books in 2009 I also must finish the Kushiels Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey will also give me an excuse to re-read one of my favourite books ever - Kushiels Dart.

Hope you all have a fantastic New Year and an even better 2009.

Teaser Tuesday

I saw this on Marg's of http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/ blog and not sure if you have to be nominated to join in or tagged whatever or can just do it yourself so opted for the latter!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading - http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/.

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

This is mine:

the body of the queen was lying. No one could quite believe it. The catastrophe had happened so quickly.

This is from Jane Boleyn by Julia Fox.

Don't talk back to your Vampire by Michele Bardsley

Broken Heart, Oklahoma, is now a center for paranormal activity of the vampire kind after a PTA meeting was disrupted by a sick vampire who turned every parent into one of his own kind.

Single mother Eva LeRoy is one of the new vampires, and her teenage daughter is adjusting. It helps that the whole town is vampire friendly, except for the renegade group that is trying to kill them. Eva is still testing her new powers when Lorcan, the vampire who transformed her, starts coming around.

She knows that he was sick with the taint and has forgiven him, but he has yet to forgive himself. Eva is drawn to Lorcan and relies on him to help keep her spirits up as her idea of normalcy is destroyed and her daughter's boyfriend turns out to be a vampire hunter.

This is the second book in this series and this time this story concentrates more on Eve leRoy who is the librarian of the towns library. Eve is a single and hasn't had a date in too long she can also communicate with animals.

This was every bit as funny as the first with a great mix of suspense & humour thrown into the mix.

I'm The Vampire That's Why by Michele Bardsley

There's a new breed of soccer mom in town-with fangs.

Does drinking blood make me a bad mother? That's the question single mom Jessica Matthews faces when she wakes from a savage attack sucking on the thigh of Patrick O'Halloran, a super-hot Irish vampire who'd generously offered his femoral artery to save her from death...only to make her one of the undead.

Jessica can't rest until the beast that did this to her is caught. Meanwhile, she's having trouble committing to Patrick (in the vampire handbook, physical intimacy costs you several hundred years of being bound together) and keeping her kids in line.

This was a fun paranormal romance and reminded me of a cross between the Argeneau vampires and PC Casts books. If you can get over then cheesy titles and covers and if you love paranormal romances you will love this.

Jessica is a great character and aside from all the erotic side of this book there are parts with some really good Celtic history. This is a very un-serious book so no Anne Rice comparisons at all, this is as far away from the Vampire Chronicles as you can get but, I loved it!

The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

SYNOPSIS
Proud and solitary, Eel Marsh House surveys the windswept reaches of the salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway. Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, the house's sole inhabitant, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the shuttered windows. It is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman, dressed all in black, at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk of the woman in black - and her terrible purpose.

MY VIEW
Firstly, the negative for a relatively short book I did find this rather slow moving - its brilliantly told don't get me wrong just rather slow!

But, thataside it is a very chilling shivers down your spine kind of book. It has all the typical traits of a typical ghost story - the lonely house no-one dares goes near but, for all its haunting and chilliness I did not find it really all that scary at least not scary in the way The Magic Cottage scared me!

Arthur Kibbs attends a funeral for Mrs Drablow and whilst there he is asked to go through the papers to find a benefactor. He goes to Crythin Griffin and it is when he gets here he enters Mrs Drablows house a house that seems totally isolated from the rest of the world!

If you love typical ghost stories then I am sure you will love this for an old well-loved classic I am sorry but, it didn't leave me as thrilled with it as I thought it would.

Sovereign by C J Sansom

SYNOPSIS
It was autumn, 1541. Following the uncovering of a plot against his throne in Yorkshire, King Henry VIII has set out on a spectacular Progress to the North to overawe his rebellious subjects there. Accompanied by a thousand soldiers, the cream of the nobility, and his fifth wife Catherine Howard, the King is to attend an extravagant submission of the local gentry at York. Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak. As well as assisting with legal work processing petitions to the King, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission - to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator being returned to London for interrogation. But the murder of a local glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. As the Great Progress arrives in the city, Shardlake and Barak stumble upon a cache of secret papers that holds danger for the King's throne, and a chain of events unfolds that will lead Shardlake facing the most terrifying fate of the age.

MY VIEW
The third instalment from CJ Sansom's brilliant Shardlake series was for me the best yet!

In this instalment we see Shardlake get as close to King Henry VIII than he ever has before and why? This time around Shardlake is working for Archbishop Cranmer and he has to go to York to meet with the King's progress.

At first Shardlake thinks he is just assisting a fellow lawyer but, as always not everything quite goes the way it should. In this instalment Shardlake's assistant is Barak who portrays a brilliant supporting character. Based in York rather than London this time makes for a wonderful descriptive tale.

This is longer than the previous two books but, not noticeably so as it kept me gripped right to the very end, I love these books and will be delaying reading Revelation, which I think is the last or at least is the last of the series in print at the moment, lets hope it continues for many books to come!

My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes

SYNOPSIS
My Lady of Cleves reveals the mesmerizing story of Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's fourth wife, one of the rare women who matched wits successfully with the fiery king and lived to tell the tale.

Written by world-renowned historical novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes, My Lady of Cleves gives readers an intimate portrait of the warm, unpretentious princess who never expected to become Queen of England. Knowing the king's ravenous desire for a son, and aware of the disastrous consequences of not bearing an heir, Anne of Cleves bravely took on the duty of weathering the Tudor King's temper, whims, arrogance, and irresponsible passions - and won the hearts of his subjects in the process.

A treat for readers of Tudor fiction and those fascinated by the complex relationships of Henry VIII and his wives, My Lady of Cleves leads readers into a world of high drama and courtly elegance.

MY VIEW
This was a very interesting account into the life of Anne of Cleves. The majority of Tudor books I have read focus mainly on Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard etc and with very little on Anne of Cleves, with possibly the exceptioon of The Boleyn Inheritance so to have an entire book dedicated to Anne of Cleves was IMO brilliant!

This was very well written and as I always check reviews before I read books I wasn't expecting a great deal as the one review gave this just a one star review which I did think was a little unfair but, of course we cannot all agree on everything!

This book covers Anne's life right from just before she married Henry right up to his death in 1547. I would really recommend this book especially if you want to know more about Anne of Cleves, ok it is fiction but, I thought the historical accuracy was fairly good.

This is the second of Margaret Campbell Barnes' books I have read (the first being Brief Gaudy Hour about Anne Boleyn) and both have been excellent, she has another re-issue acoming out next year and that will definitely be on my wish list!

Loved it!