Enshrine - Kay Bennson

Date of Reading: 28/11/2019

Author: Kay Bennson

Publisher: Solstice Publishing

Publication Date: June 4, 2017

Source: YA Bound Book Tours

Rating: 3.5/5

About the book:

When Sage Wolfe is accidentally mistaken for a peace offering, her world turns upside down. Dayton, the young, handsome, and insane King of Rosementh whisks her away to his castle to be his bride with the promise that he can give her the world and anything she desires. These offers becoming tainted as Dayton’s true colours show themselves; he is cruel and violent and Sage vows to run away or die trying.

Just when Sage thinks she is hitting rock bottom, a hooded stranger named Jonathan Kreider comes to the castle. He doesn’t say much but his actions speak for themselves. Not only can he wield a sword or shoot an arrow better than most of Dayton’s men, but he always seems to be a step behind Sage, and though it should terrify her, for the first time Sage finds herself filling with hope.

Sage is faced with a choice. Should she run away from the wicked king who took her away from her family? Or should she stay to learn more about the man who lurks in the shadows, the man that makes her heart race and almost makes suffering Dayton’s wrath worthwhile? Sage is about to discover that nothing is as it seems and everyone has secrets; Dayton, the man that calls himself Jonathan Kreider, and even herself.

Review:

       If you think for a moment that I picked this book because of the stunning cover, then you are ABSOLUTELY . . . right! Yes, yes, I know; you should not judge the book by its cover. Since my judgment is not made poorly, I think the problem resolves itself. Trust me, the story inside is as intriguing as the cover itself.
       Kay Bennson was an unfamiliar name, but one couldn't help but be drawn to this storyline. From the very beginning, the beautiful landscape and the small community piques our interest and the author cleverly maintains this throughout the novel. One part of my brain had hoped for a Beauty and the Beast storyline, but that is not to be so. This is all about Sage and Jonty, aka Jonathan and what a delightful love story it is! But be warned, this is a sweet, slow-burning romance which makes the last scenes all the better.
        Still, I maintained a soft spot for Dayton till the very end. An orphaned Prince burdened with leading a kingdom on its decline will always touch a chord. However cruel he is, I did wish for his redemption. But the most touching scene involves Martin and Nev. They might be part of an irrelevant side story, but they surely have stolen the show. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but suffice to say that their eternal love brings back memories of 'Titanic'.
        On the whole, a beautiful book inside and out that won't fail to leave some traces in your bookish world.

Meet the author:

Kay Bennson is from Northwestern Connecticut where she lives with her husband. She doesn't remember a time where she wasn't writing stories (in fact, some of her best ideas were forged in high school classes and at part-time jobs). When she isn't writing, she is a competitive Irish Dancer. Enshrine is her first novel.

Killing Beauties - Pete Langman (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 18/01/2020

Author: Pete Langman

Publisher: Unbound

Publication Date: January 23, 2020

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

England, 1655. Following the brutal civil wars the country swelters under a cloud of paranoia, suspicion and the burgeoning threat of rebellion. With the fragile peace being won by Cromwell’s ever-efficient Secretary of State John Thurloe, the exiled king Charles Stuart sends two spies on a dangerous mission to wrest back the initiative. These spies are different, however: they are women. Their task? To turn Parliament’s spymaster into their unwitting accomplice.

Killing Beauties is a dark tale of subterfuge, jealousy and betrayal.

It is sometimes said that women are written out of history, but often they are not yet written in. Killing Beauties is based on the true stories of two female spies from the 1650s and gives them the voice that only fiction can.

Review:

      I am not going to tell that this is a literary masterpiece. But this review is a salute to Pete Langman for his efforts to preserve the bravery of two female spies forgotten by history. There are many loose threads and vagueness for sure, but the book has accomplished its intention of bringing into life the efforts of Susan Hyde and Diana Jennings.

        As you must have garnered from the abstract, both Susan and Diana are part of a Sisterhood which work for the restoration of Charles Stuart to the throne. Their mission now is to infiltrate the secrets of Crowell's spymaster John Thurloe. Susan, in spite of her inexperience and her position as a lady, volunteers to seduce Thurloe defying the protests of Diana. But things are not that easy, are they? What follows is some nerve-racking and emotionally unsettling events which unfortunately the author fails to take full advantage of.

       Yes, the story could have been narrated better. But this is just the beginning of a grand venture. The novel, without a doubt, is an inspiration to future writers to pursue the search for unsung heroes and heroines.

Meet the author:

An unexamined life is one not worth living, or so they say. Well, what if you're too busy living to examine?

Sometimes painter and decorator, professional guitar singer, university lecturer and cricketer, Pete's been quite busy. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2008.

He's written for Prospect, the Independent, the Guardian, All Out Cricket and, most voluminously, Guitar and Bass Magazine. He was awarded a PhD in Renaissance Literature a few years back and his first book was a collection of essays on Jacobean Books in 2011, editing the great Randall McCloud, who went under two pseudonyms for the first time.

In 2013 this was followed by Slender Threads, the much-lauded (honestly) disquisition on early-onset Parkinson's disease, and in 2014 the short story collection Black Box and The Country House Cricketer longlisted for the MCC/Cricket Society book of the year.

Lady of the Ravens - Joanna Hickson (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 12/01/2020

Author: Joanna Hickson

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: January 9, 2020

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

My baptismal name may be Giovanna but here in my mother’s adopted country I have become plain Joan; I am not pink-cheeked and golden-haired like the beauties they admire. I have olive skin and dark features – black brows over ebony eyes and hair the colour of a raven’s wing…

When Joan Vaux is sent to live in the shadow of the Tower of London, she must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of this new England under the Tudors. Like the ravens, Joan must use her eyes and her senses, if Henry and his new dynasty are to prosper and thrive. 

Review:

      Why do we read historical fiction? For me, the major attraction lies with the power of knowledge. At least here we know what is going to happen to our favourite heroes and vile villains. A bit like sharing the experience of being a divine perhaps. And Tudor England? Oh, that is the best of times; intrigue, executions and glory abound, making it a gold mine for writers and readers alike.

    'Lady of the Ravens' is another wonderful addition to this growing pile and we get to see the beginning of Tudor reign through the eyes of Joan, Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth. Bold and compassionate, her role establishes a bridge between the royalty and the common man and we get to see both worlds, thanks to her perceptiveness. Intimate details of the royal household, pleasures of the countryside, danger lurking behind London alleys and the ravens of the Tower . . . there is not a single dull moment in this large narrative.

    More than the Tudor household, I was interested in knowing more about Joan. She seems to have a wisdom that is well beyond her time period. The openness in her narration revealing her concerns on marriage and childbirth will further endear her to us. I am practically jumping with joy to see that the author is going to continue this story. 

       Another character that intrigued me is Sir Henry Wyatt, the major fiend we get to know. How such a vile creature can produce a poet son is beyond me. Nature works in strange ways indeed!

     On the whole, this book was a delightful journey to Tudor England, a country struggling hard to find the stability it so craved after the wars of the Roses. Future years are going to witness the culmination of Henry VII's efforts and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Highly recommended!!!

Meet the author:

Joanna Hickson became fascinated with history when she studied Shakespeare's history plays at school. However, having taken a degree in Politics and English she took up a career in broadcast journalism with the BBC, presenting and producing news, current affairs and arts programmes on both television and radio. Now she writes full time and has a contract with Harper Collins for three historical novels. The Agincourt Bride is the first. She lives in Scotland in a 200-year-old farmhouse and is married with a large extended family and a wayward Irish terrier.

Joanna likes people to join her on Twitter (@joannahickson) or Facebook (Joanna Hickson) and says if you can't find her she'll be in the fifteenth century! 

A Kiss Like Thorns - Eliza Colton

Date of Reading: 30/12/2019

Author: Eliza Colton

Publication Date: October 22, 2019

Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

A princess doomed to sleep forever. A nobleman with countless secrets. Can they save each other before eternal rest claims her, or will they sacrifice themselves to the cursed forest trying?

Unwilling to accept an early death, Princess Isabella has spent most of her life hunting down a way to prolong her life—without success. With thirty days left to live, she begins to relinquish hope and decides to fulfill the dreams she pushed aside.

The number one thing on her wish list?

Making up with her estranged best friend, who distanced himself after a childhood kiss gone wrong.

However, she comes across something strange in his home: a collection of magical talismans and a map through the cursed and deadly Briar Forest, where lives the wicked witch responsible for her impending demise.

He can't have collected the strange items to save her. He barely even talks to her. So what could they possibly be for?

Confused but determined, Isabella makes a decision that may curtail what little time she has.

She'll head to the cursed forest, defeat the witch, and save herself from her deadly curse.

This standalone Sleeping Beauty retelling is perfect for fans of fairy tales, magic, dangerous adventures, and clean romance. 
Review:

         Fairy tale retellings are always going to be one of my favourites and when it comes to Sleeping Beauty . . . well, that is a tale definitely need to be retold. Who doesn't love the makeover of a docile heroine as pictured in the original version? In that respect, Eliza Colton delivers a wonderful and emotional story with a kick-ass princess. To be honest, my eyes were full by the time I reached the last chapter. Predictable for sure, but I loved that climax.
        'A Kiss Like Thorns' is the second book in the Fairy Tale Synergy series but rest assured it can very well be read as a standalone. Some of the other characters from the previous novel is going to make an appearance and with enough hints, this doesn't prove to be a hurdle.
      Princess Isabella is cursed to eternal sleep when she reaches seventeen and the impending gloom makes her bold to try every cure prescribed; even a kiss of love with her best friend. Sadly, the kiss doesn't work its magic and their friendship is strained. Now living her last months, what she wants most is to reconcile with her best friend. But Jeremiah is aloof and stubborn . . . or that is what she thinks.
       Are you tempted enough to read the rest? If you are a fan of slow-burning romance and a bit of magic, this story will surprise you. Mysteries are unfold and some past stories are revealed making this a story that will keep you on the edge. 

Meet the author:

Eliza Colton wishes she were a puppy so she can laze around a day and still be fed.

Then again, maybe not, since puppies can’t read (… or can they?). She’s had an unhealthy obsession with fairy tale and fantasy romances since she was a toddler, and she’d never sacrifice reading for anything.


She feels incredibly blessed to write, and she hopes you enjoy her stories as much as she loves creating them!