Cover Reveal: Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War

Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War
Adult Historical Fiction
Expected Publication: 1 March 2016 by William Morrow Paperbacks


Top voices in historical fiction deliver an intensely moving collection of short stories about loss, longing, and hope in the aftermath of World War I—featuring bestselling authors such as Hazel Gaynor, Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig and edited by Heather Webb.

A squadron commander searches for meaning in the tattered photo of a girl he’s never met…

A Belgian rebel hides from the world, only to find herself nursing the enemy…

A young airman marries a stranger to save her honor—and prays to survive long enough to love her…The peace treaty signed on November 11, 1918, may herald the end of the Great War but for its survivors, the smoke is only beginning to clear. Picking up the pieces of shattered lives will take courage, resilience, and trust.

Within crumbled city walls and scarred souls, war’s echoes linger. But when the fighting ceases, renewal begins…and hope takes root in a fall of poppies.

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Book Review: Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Book: LILY OF THE NILE
Author: STEPHANIE DRAY
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION
Published: January 2011, BERKLEY TRADE

Series: none
Source: Star Book Tours, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die?

My Review:
The first time that I read a book by Stephanie Dray, it was actually from her adult urban fiction alter, Stephanie Draven. What she brings across the different genres she writes is a very strong female character, and a really deep understanding of women and their place in history. I know a little bit about Cleopatra and her reign as Queen, next to Mark Anthony. A little bit. Reading about her children was a whole new experience for me, and I really enjoyed LILY OF THE NILE.

Selene, Cleopatra's daughter knows only Egypt and their culture. When she is ripped from the only place that she knows, and brought to the home country of her mother's husband, she sees barbarians that triumph in war and the utter subjugation of other cultures. Dray writes this young girl with such alacrity, especially because Selene is not a fictional person. The reader spends most of the time feeling Selene's displacement, and her struggle to maintain herself, in the midst of a culture that seemingly does not value anything she has been brought up to cherish.

Not only is LILY OF THE NILE beautifully written, but it had to involve a fair amount of research to come to fruition. And, what really made me engage in the book so much more, was the fact that I follow Stephanie Dray on twitter, and she truly seems committed to revealing the inner lives of some of the most powerful women in the world's history, in order to bring that empowerment to young female readers.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 (3.5 stars)

Highly Recommended, if you liked:
StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Contagion by Joanne Dahme
Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Links for the author and books:
* Website
* Twitter
* GoodReads
* Facebook

Purchase at:
* Barnes and Noble
* Book Depository
* Amazon


Available formats: Print (Paperback), E-Book

Challenge Participation:

Book Review: Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes) by Andrew Lane

Book: DEATH CLOUD: YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES
Author: ANDREW LANE
Genre: YA MYSTERY/HISTORICAL FICTION
Published: February 2011, FARRAR, STRAUS and GIROUX

Series: Young Sherlock Holmes #1
Source: Star Book Tours, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.




My Review:
There's something about a really good mystery that always grabs my attention, and DEATH CLOUD had me from the mysterious "cloud" of black smoke in the first few pages. It doesn't hurt that I am a total pushover for British literature, especially historical. Andrew Lane has written the first book in a series, that is endorsed by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so right away I had high expectations.

Lane has re-written and re-imagined the younger life of Sherlock Holmes. Here, the venerable detective is just a young teen, who finds himself in a rather hostile environment. His father isn't around, and Mycroft, his brother, must conduct his business in London. Therefore, Sherlock must spend his school break in the country.

DEATH CLOUD follows the classic story-styling of a Doyle Sherlock Holmes tale. There's a mystery that sparks Holmes' interest, and in the absence of Watson, he teams up with a local boy, to puzzle out the mystery. Though the outcome is not in doubt - Sherlock will obviously be caught in some tight situations, possibly at the brink of death, and then pull a clever solution from nowhere, while utilizing his skills in deduction and observation - the plot held my interest, and the book is very well-written. Mystery lovers, especially those that enjoyed the original Sherlock books, will surely find DEATH CLOUD entertaining.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 (3.5 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
Maisie Dobbs (series) by Jacqueline Winspear
Armand Gamache (series) by Louise Penny

Links for the author and books:
* Website
* GoodReads

Purchase at:
* Barnes and Noble
* Book Depository
* Amazon


Available formats: Print (Hardcover), Audiobook

Challenge Participation:

Book Review: (Blog Tour) Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Book: FALLEN GRACE
Author: MARY HOOPER
Genre: HISTORICAL YA
Published: June 2010 (UK release) February 2011 (US release), BLOOMSBURY

Series: none
Source: Publisher, no compensation for honest review

From Good Reads:
Life has been nothing but unfair to Grace Parkes and her sister. Penniless, the two orphans manage to stay alive—but only barely, like so many on the streets of Victorian London. And Grace must bear a greater heartbreak, having become pregnant from terrible circumstances and then given birth to a stillborn baby. But the infant's death sets Grace on a new path, bringing her into contact with people who hold both riches and power. A great fraud has been perpetrated on young Grace and her sister, and they are the secret recipients of a most unusual legacy—if only they can find the means to claim it.


My Review:
FALLEN GRACE is billed as a Dickensian novel about a young girl, her sister, and the misfortune that they encounter after a terrible event that Grace has to endure. The billing does not lie. But, I thought that the novel deserves so much more than just the moniker, Dickensian. Yes, it has some of the same themes, but the characters are uniquely their own, and Mary Hooper's writing is excellent.

Grace and Lily are the two characters that the reader spends the most time with, though there are brief interludes where the villians of the novel get their gratuitous hand-rubbing and evil plan-making point of view. Grace and her sister have had misfortune upon misfortune delivered to them. They live in poverty, with every day bringing the possibility of no food, or having to sell another of their meager belongings. What seems as good luck, just at the time that they are at their lowest, is quite the opposite.

Though FALLEN GRACE is not filled with action and adventure, Hooper sets a nice pace that moves the two girls, and the plot, closer and closer to the time when they might discover a secret that would change their lives. I actually liked the close calls, and the different mis-steps that stop them from finding out their destiny too soon.

FALLEN GRACE is the first book by this author that I have had the opportunity to read, but Hooper is an veteran writer with many children's and YA books having been published in the UK (where she is from). Her skill with the written word is demonstrated here, and I will definitely be looking to read some of her other titles.

4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (3.5 stars)

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
Contagion by Joanne Dahme
Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens


Links for the author and books:
* Author Website
* Author GoodReads Page
* Bloomsbury and Walker Facebook Page


Purchase at:
* Barnes and Noble
* Book Depository
* Amazon

Available formats: Print (hardcover), E-Book

Book Review: Contagion by Joanne Dahme

Book: CONTAGION
Author: JOANNE DAHME
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION

Published: September 2010, RUNNING PRESS KIDS


I received this book for review, from Star Book Tours

From Good Reads:
A young woman named Rose strives to rid Philadelphia’s water of the deadly typhoid bacteria. Set in the late 19th century, Rose Dugan is a young wife who is actively involved in her community. But when her best friend is killed while working at Philadelphia’s Water Works' gardens, the mystery around her death pulls Rose in. Will she save the city from a deadly typhoid outbreak that is threatening the city’s water system? Will Rose unravel the mystery behind her best friend’s murder—a fate that was actually meant for her?


My Review:
CONTAGION is full of interesting characters that inhabit historical Philadelphia on the precipice of a typhoid outbreak. Even though the story is seen in alternating chapters, through the eyes of Rose Dugan and Sean Parker, it's not just their personalities and viewpoints that are expressed throughout the book. Rose's husband, Patrick is an almost overwhelming character, in terms of his attitude and influence. I felt that even Rose's friend, Nellie Murphy, had distinctive characterization, for the brief time that she appears in the book.

Perhaps because of the historical setting, I felt that there was a lyrical aspect to the language in CONTAGION. I have encountered this in novels that have a contemporary setting (MAGGIE STIEFVATER!), but Joanne Dahme clearly has her finger on the right ebb and flow of the English language during this time, as well as the rhythm of the inner dialogue of her characters.

And, that comes to the heart of my feelings while reading CONTAGION. There was a flow to the book, almost like a body of water. Almost like the Schuylkill River, that plays such a big part within the pages, in the debate about filtration and disease. There were times that I read it slowly, savoring every word. There were times that I sped through the pages, anxious to see what was going to happen next. But always, I was entranced by the story and its ultimate outcome.



4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15

Highly Recommend, if you liked:
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Book Review: Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

Book: CATE OF THE LOST COLONY
Author: LISA KLEIN
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION

Published: October 2010, BLOOMSBURY


I received this book for review from GOOD GOLLY MISS HOLLY BOOK TOURS (ARC edition)

From Good Reads:
The greatest unsolved mystery of American history--what happened to all the colonists who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587? This novel traces the fortunes and misfortunes of one Cate Archer, banished to Virginia by a jealous Queen Elizabeth because of her dalliance with Sir Walter Ralegh. What will be her fate in this dangerous New World?



My Review
My interest in CATE OF THE LOST COLONY was piqued immediately by the idea that Lisa Klein had created a fictionalized account of the events leading up to the disappearance of the missing colony of Roanoake. Obviously, because the history was indisputed, I knew that she would have done a great amount of research to get the details right; the British involvement with the native peoples of America, the royal court and the background of the Queen, and even the people that lived in her orbit. These are important facts that done right could make a great novel, but done wrong could turn the read sour for me.

But, Klein's result is so much more than just an accounting of history. Her characters, be they created, or real people who lived at the time are so three-dimensional, it was fairly breath-taking. I really enjoyed the insight into the Queen and Ralegh. Even though it is fictionalized, the inclusion of their personal reactions to love, their own jealousies, and their persuasive qualities speak to how, no matter the title or position in society, all of humanity is similar in very base ways.

I was even pleasantly surprised by the native people that Klein wrote into her novel. Manteo especially, turned out to be a key character, and his point of view enriched the book for me by having him as a representative, figuratively and literally, of the native inhabitants that lived in the area before the British arrived. Through his eyes, she shows a people rich in culture, and far from being savages. Yes, he has a foil in Wanchese. But, the idea that all of the natives were war-crazy or brutal is dispelled here.

CATE OF THE LOST COLONY brings a fresh perspective to what it might have been like, on both sides, to experience the birth of a new era for North America, and the difficulties that were endured and overcome by the colonists that departed from European soil.


4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 13.5/15 Must Read


Find more about Lisa Klein, and her other books, at the following links:

Lisa Klein website
Bio
Facebook Page

Book Review: Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm

Book: HEART OF LIES
Author: M.L. MALCOLM
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION

Published: June 2010, HARPER

I received this book from The Book Report Network for free, in exchange for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Leo Hoffman was born with a gift for languages. When his dreams for the future are destroyed by World War I, the dashing young Hungarian attempts to use his rare talent to rebuild his life, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in an international counterfeiting scheme. Suddenly Leo is wanted across the European continent for a host of crimes, including murder. Left with no options, he must escape to Shanghai with his lover, carrying with him a stolen treasure that could be his salvation . . . or his death warrant. But the gangsters who control the decadent Asian city have no intention of letting him outrun his past. And when the Japanese invade, one wrong move could cost Leo Hoffman everything he holds dear.

My Review:
HEART OF LIES by M.L. Malcolm is a sweeping historical novel that travels from eastern Europe, to Asia, and even to America. I was taken on a lovely ride that included danger, lies, misunderstandings, manipulations, the affects of war, but most of all, love.

There's something to be said about a writer that can create a flawed character that can still capture the reader, such as Leo Hoffman. Despite the fact that he seems to act with good intentions in mind, Leo doesn't necessarily operate on the "right side" of the law. While his adventure starts out with him being taken advantage of, and it precipitates a quick escape from his home, Leo is still culpable in many of the actions that he takes throughout this story. However, I thought that, perhaps in spite of his mistakes, Leo is also a character that I could sympatize and empathize with.

Truthfully, it was the locales that Malcolm included in HEART OF LIES that kept me reading the book, as well as their history. The characters were rich and interesting, but Malcolm's research and depth as she describes the places is truly enthralling. This is the real star of the book. The places and the everyday people that inhabit them. Malcolm infuses the novel with such detail, while still telling Leo's story, that the cities he spends time in become just as important to the plot, as the things he does while there.


4/5 for plot
3.5/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 11/15 Recommend


HEART OF LIES was selected as an “Indie Pick,” and Target chose the title as a “Breakout Book” in their Emerging Authors Program as well.

To find more info on the author, M.L. Malcolm and her work visit any of the links below:

M.L. Malcolm's bio
Blog
HEART OF LIES Discussion Guide
More about HEART OF LIES and her upcoming sequel, HEART OF DECEPTION
Schedule of author events

Advance Review: Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

Book: DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS
Author: BETH KEPHART
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION


I received this book from the author at BEA
Picture courtesy of Good Reads


Overview
Katherine and Anna are twin sisters that are so intertwined, heart and soul, as to almost be one. But, love and freedom and adulthood seek to pull the two further and further apart. And then one day, Anna is gone. Now, Katherine is left alone, feeling that her life should be at an end too.

Among the marvels of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Fair, Katherine will have to come to terms with her crushing grief. Finding salvation is neither easy or painless, but Katherine must face her memories of Anna, and set her sister, and herself, free.

DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS begins at the end. Katherine has lost her sister, Anna. She finds herself cast adrift during a time when the city of her birth is celebrating the centennial of the nation's birth. It's very clear that Katherine deeply mourns her sister. The first few pages unfold so beautifully that I found myself caught up in Kephart's words instantly. I turned the pages, one after the other, completely engaged. It wasn't just that Kephart had such rich characterization for Katherine. Anna is there too, in the memories that take the reader back to when she was alive.

Even though the novel is told somewhat in reverse, I almost felt like the end was the beginning. Katherine is a whole being when I began reading. As I fell more and more into the story, I was able to see how she unraveled, with each encounter that she had with Anna, where Anna seemed to need her sister less and less. The more that the name Bennet was mentioned, the more Katherine moved toward the crisis point. And, while that point happened at the ice pond when Anna died, it is clear that a parting of the sisters would have been inevitable, even without the accident.

I actually have so many emotions about this novel, because I had such a connection while reading it. I'm just not sure that I could do justice to those feelings with my words. And, I almost feel like I don't want to share them. For me, DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is like that first secret crush, or the meeting of hands, when you know that you've met your soulmate. I think this book is going to stay in my head, and in my heart for a very long time.

4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
5/5 for language

My Rating: 13.5/15 Highly Recommend
Bonus Cover Points: 3.5/5