Friday Review: Blast from the Past!

I thought it would be fun to take a look back in time at what were the most popular novels of ten, twenty, even fifty years ago.

Did you know, for example, that in 1963 the best selling book was The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris L. West? If you happened to drop into your local bookseller’s back in 1991, you were most likely looking to pick up a copy of Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley. In 1979, everyone was clamoring for a copy of The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum.

What’s that? You say you’ve never heard of some of these books – let alone read them? As with any consumer-driven product, the world of literature is subject to trends. Just like fashion (bell bottoms or low rise jeans), hair do’s (the Farrah or the Dorothy) and color schemes (brown and gold or pink and green), what’s hot today will more than likely be cold as the arctic tomorrow.

Sure, vampires may be all the rage this year, but I kind of doubt there will be the same fervor for them ten, twenty or fifty years from now.  To predict the future, just look to the past.

Of course, there are the marvelous exceptions: The Grapes of Wrath, The Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice – all the stuff that makes up the curriculum of Freshman Lit. These are the timeless classics and their messages translate well beyond their own eras. Sure, it’d be great to leave a legacy like that. But let’s face it – most of us would be thrilled simply to see our name on the cover of a book at the local Wal*Mart.

In the end, if vampires are your thing, then by all means, write about vampires. Otherwise, it would probably be prudent to follow this sage advice: write where your heart leads you.

Bestselling Books from
Ten, Twenty, Fifty Plus Years Ago

(How many of them have YOU read?)

1950 – The Cardinal by Henry Morton Robinson: This novel traces the development of one man's vocation from young Roman Catholic priest in New England through his elevation as cardinal in the early part of this century. Along the way, he faces many moral dilemmas and heartbreaks.

1960 – Advise and Consent by Allen Drury: A political novel which explores the Senate confirmation of a controversial figure.

1970 – Love Story by Erich Segal: Oliver Barrett IV is a rich jock from a stuffy WASP family on his way to a Harvard degree and a career in law. Jenny Cavilleri is a wisecracking, working-class beauty studying music at Radcliffe. Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny immediately attract, sharing a love that defies everything ... yet will end too soon.

1980 – The Covenant by James A. Michener: Adventurers, scoundrels and missionaries. The best and worst of two continents carve an empire out of the vast wilderness that is to become South Africa. For hundreds of years, their rivalries and passions spill across the land. From the first Afrikaners to the powerful Zulu nation, and the missionaries who lived with both--all of them will influence and take part in the wars and politics that will change a nation forever.

1990 – The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel: The saga continues the cross-continental journey of Ayla, her mate Jondalar and their menagerie to his homeland. En route, they encounter a variety of problems, yet manage to find panaceas for each. Their enlightened compilation of skills, inventions, therapies and recipes transforms the voyagers into spirit-like personas providing The Others with constant awe.

2000 – The Brethren by John Grisham: Three former judges, doing time at a federal prison in Florida, concoct a lucrative mail scam that goes awry.

Shadow Fall - Book Review

Synopsis: Custo Santovari accepted pain, blood, even death, to save his best friend. But a man with all his sins just isn't cut out to be an angel. One moment he's fleeing Heaven; the next, he's waking up stark naked in Manhattan. In the middle of a war. Called there by a woman who's desperately afraid of the dark. The Shadowlands gathers around Annabella as she performs, filled with fantastic images of another world, bringing both a golden hero and a nightmare lover. The Wolf pursues her relentlessly, twisting her desires even as she gives herself to the man she loves. Because each of us has a wild side, and Annabella is about to unleash the beast.


This is the second book in the Shadow series (see my review of Shadow Bound here) with the same basic premise of fighting the wraith war. I like the Custo character - he's everything an alpha male should be - dark, hot and sexy. Annabella is fragile yet strong and the ballet that she dances is described beautifully. Both of them make for a hot, sexy read. Although I enjoyed reading this book, I will admit that the plot is somewhat convoluted.  There is talk of Annabella needing to "master her magic" yet no one seems to know what the magic is that allows her into the Shadowlands, nor is there any plan on how she will accomplish the mastery. She has worked for 17 years to become the lead ballet dancer, yet she is willing to give it up without a struggle. This just doesn't track. The reasons for keeping Custo and Annabella apart in the first half of the book also seem a bit contrived. He thinks he is such a bad person that he couldn't possibly be with her. She runs hot and cold on whether she wants him to touch her. And then there's the "bad guy"- which in this case is a creature from the Shadowlands who is hunting Annabella. It's never fully explained if he is a shapeshifter or just possesses peoples bodies or both. Nor do we know how Annabellas magic will benefit him. And the way Custo disposes of the Wolf seems a bit too convenient.

The beautiful, moving prose that was part of the first book is gone in this one, but the writing itself is strong. The characters are fully developed and make you want to care about their problems. If you can read this without asking why the characters do what they do, it's a good book.

Friday Book Review: The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme

Being a long-time vacationer on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and an American history buff, I thoroughly enjoyed Diann Ducharme's debut novel, The Outer Banks House. 

The story is set in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War.  Abigail Sinclair, a seventeen year old daughter of a North Carolina plantation owner, moves to her family's new summer cottage on the beach at Nags Head on the Outer Banks.  She's lived a privileged, sheltered life, despite the fact that the war has taken its toll on the family's plantation.  Abigail's mother is distant and aloof, her father is a man's man, consumed with hunting, fishing, and unbeknownst to Abigail, involved in a manhunt motivated by racism and revenge.

As a favor to his hunting guide, Ben Whimble, Abigail's father insists that she teach him to write and read each afternoon after the day's hunt has concluded.  Ben, who is dirt poor, filthy, and unrefined, disgusts Abigail at first.  Eventually, however, Ben's down-to-earth sensibility, kindness, and broader view of the world wins Abigail's affections.  Abigail's parents approve of and encourage a match for their daughter not with Ben, but rather with Hector, a medical student from their hometown of Edenton.  Hector turns Abigail off since he is interested only in having an attractive wife to compliment his future career in medicine.  Social and familial pressures cause Abigail to maintain her relationship with Hector, despite her distaste for him.  Abigail finds herself sneaking out to spend time with Ben, though she knows her parents would disapprove. 

Meanwhile, Ben is assisting Abigail's father with more than just hunting and fishing.  Though he is angry with himself for doing it, Ben helps Abigail's father locate a runaway former slave of a plantation owner associated with Mr. Sinclair.  Roanoke Island is home to a large number of freed slaves, and Ben, being intimately familiar with the land and the people of the Outer Banks,  is the best person to infiltrate the colony of freed slaves to locate the subject of the manhunt.  The act of helping Abigail's father with the manhunt goes against Ben's nature, but he's been promised a good paying job building the Hatteras lighthouse in return for the assistance.

Abigail soon becomes intertwined with the Roanoke Island colony by teaching former slaves to read and write.  She is unaware of the clandestine activities of both her father and Ben, but the ugly truth eventually reveals itself, forcing Abigail out of her innocence.

I appreciated the descriptions of the land and the historical accuracy that Ducharme lovingly weaved throughout the story.  For anyone familiar with the Outer Banks, the author hit all the major historical draws of the area including the wild horses, life-saving stations, Jockey's Ridge, and the rich heritage of Roanoke Island with the Lost Colony and the Freedman's Colony.  Of course, the Wright Brothers' first flight did not take place until a few decades later. 

I also enjoyed the exploration of racism and race relations in the post Civil-War era.  In some respects, freed slaves had a more difficult way in life than before the war, without the benefit of education, business networks, and established communities.  The book is told from the points of view of both Abigail and Ben.  Ben's voice, in particular, is very strong, reminding me a bit of an older Huck Finn.  The plot line itself was solid, but the layering of setting, history, and social issues made the novel that much more rich. 

Check back with Fiction Flurry in the coming weeks for an interview with the author, Diann Ducharme!

Shadow Bound - Book Review

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison
Summary: Adam Thorne has devoted the last 6 years of his life to researching and tracking beings called wraiths, possessed humans who feed on human souls, and who have taken control of his brother Jacob. He finds Talia O'Brien, the half-fae daughter of Death himself and the key to destroying the wraiths. Her ability to move within the Shadow world has kept her alive, but now the wraiths want her for themselves. As they are pursued, allies become enemies and safety comes at too high a cost. Despite the danger around every corner, Adam and Talia cannot resist the growing attraction between them. For this unique woman, Adam will sacrifice everything he has, including himself.

This book surprised me and that's hard to do. I'm a big fan of paranormal romance and consequently, I've read a lot of them. After awhile, they tend to blend together, with similar themes, similar character types and similar conflicts. Shadow Bound surprised me by different from any of the books I've read lately. Although the author uses a familiar creature, the fairy, she does so in a way that separates her from the likes of Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry. (note to Erin: Thank you for not once using the the term "Seelie.") Other paranormal romance writers should take note, Erin is the future voice of this genre.
 
I was blown away by the evocative prose in the prologue and initial chapters. It reads like poetry - not something I expect to find in a romance novel. I just wish there were more of this type of writing throughout the rest of the novel.   
 
In typical romance style, the story is told from alternating viewpoints of the two main characters. This doesn't bother me because I like seeing the story from both sides, but if you are used to another genre, this could throw you.  I found the story intriguing and the pacing fairly well done. It does lag a bit in the middle, but I can forgive that when the story still keeps my interest.
 
I highly recommend reading Shadow Bound. The follow up, Shadow Fall, was released a few days ago. I haven't read it, but I will. Erin Kellison has a unique voice and I eagerly await her upcoming books.

What's In YOUR Beach Bag?

Summer is officially here, and it is HOT HOT HOT! We hit 100 degrees in Central Ohio yesterday. The only thing to do? Head straight for the beach (or nearest municipal pool) with the “have-to-have” accessory of the season: a great summer read! So, what’s in YOUR beach bag this year?

To me, the essence of a great summer read is that it is fun, casual, and not too taxing on my poor little brain cells. C’mon, they are already working overtime trying to keep me cool! Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the great literary classics, but sometimes it’s fun just to kick back and not have to think too hard. With that in mind, here are three of my favorites:

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. This novel follows the five neighbors of Freesia Court through forty years of friendship, laughter, and the tribulations of life – and death. The gals meet each month to read a book and eat dessert. Landvik does a great job of bringing all the women to life, without any of them falling off into the land of caricatures. Plus, there is a huge BONUS – each chapter begins with the title of the book the women are reading, so it’s a little like having a built-in reading list (the recommendations are top notch!)

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner: Plus-sized Cannie Shapiro opens the pages of Moxie magazine only to find that her ex-boyfriend has written a piece for their “Good in Bed” column entitled, “Loving a Larger Woman.” About her. Ouch! Not to worry, as we follow Cannie through her heartbreak, we are soon rooting both for her and with her – and you can be sure that this full figured gal will come out on top by the end of the story!

ANY of the Stephanie Plum Numbered Mysteries (One for the Money all the way up to the most-recent release, Sizzling Sixteen) by Janet Evanovich: Evanovich’s prose is witty, fast-paced and truly laugh out loud funny. Not really the best bounty hunter out there, Stephanie tirelessly pursues her folder of FTAs (Failure to Appear) with her sidekick Lula (a former ho). It doesn’t hurt matters that she’s got two hot men in her life to assist her – Detective Joe Morelli and co-worker and Bounty Hunter extraordinaire, Ranger. Be prepared – Evanovich is irreverent and potty mouthed, and absolutely hysterical. You don’t need to follow these books in sequence, as each one is a stand alone title, with enough information and background that you won’t be left guessing – except as to which guy Stephanie will end up with!

So, now’s your chance to share. What will you be reading this summer? What’s on your list?

Happy Reading!

For more from writer Beth Zellner, please visit:

http://www.bethnbijoux.blogspot.com/

Book Review Friday: "Angelology" by Danielle Trussoni

Danielle Trussoni's first work of fiction, Angelology, caused a bidding war among publishers with film rights sold immediately.  Is it worth all the fuss?  If done well, I think the story will make a really good movie. The book was hard to put down, though belabored at some points.  Angels may be the new vampires.  I know, I know...fifteen years ago, angels were everywhere. Everything old is new again, I guess.

Angelology is an epic tale of the eternal battle of humankind versus Nephilim, which are the spawn of male fallen angels and human women.  The book has a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" kind of feel to it because the good humans and evil Nephilim race to find a powerful golden lyre, once used by the angel Gabriel, just as Indiana Jones raced against the Nazis to find the ark in the 1930's.  In fact, a good portion of Angelology takes place during the same time period as "Raiders." 

I have never read much paranormal or sci-fi fiction because I have a need to have the plot at least somewhat plausible.  Though a plot involving multiple orders of angel spawn isn't what I'd call realistic, at least the author explains that this race has kept itself hidden from humanity, the Nephilim can appear as human, and she also weaves in plenty of Biblical references to the miscegenation of heavenly and earthly creatures.  I wasn't too disturbed by this suspension of reality.

The lead character, Sister Evangeline, is a young nun at a convent in rural New York.  Even though she's in her early twenties and separated from society, Evangeline is a bit too naive to make a strong lead in the novel.  Evangeline operates the convent library, which contains a vast collection of material regarding angels, and she often turns away researchers seeking access to the library's materials.  However, a letter from a scholar, Verlaine, who suggests that the wife of John D. Rockefeller Jr. had correspondence with the abbess of the convent in the 1930's, piques Evangeline's interest.  She helps Verlaine confirm his suspicions.  However, Verlaine has been hired by the Nephilim ring leader to research Abigail Rockefeller, for she was the last known person to have had possession of the magical lyre.  And so the race begins. 

The pacing of the book slows when the story turns to pre-WWII France when Evangeline's grandmother, Gabriella, and Celestine, Evangeline's present-day mentor,  were students at an underground academy devoted to the study of angels,  Nephilim, and their generations-old conflict with humanity. The reader is forced to sit through lectures along with the characters, all for the purpose of revealing back story through the professor's ramblings.  As if that weren't bad enough, the author occasionally uses one sided dialogue to reveal even more back story, but the dialogue reads as if it were literary prose, not a conversation.  Picture an information dump with quotes around it, essentially. 

Even with the book's faults, though, the suspense is strong enough to carry the day.  That's what might make Angelology a good movie.  The Nephilim, despite their angelic ancestry, don't hesitate to lie, cheat, steal, and kill...even nuns. Evangeline and Verlaine are drafted into the academia and action of angelology, leaving their past lives behind to pursue, protect and study the lyre. 

The premise of Angelology is intriguing enough to outweigh the rookie mistakes of this first-time novelist.  The author does have a literary style to her writing, which makes the language rich and tactile.  I have no doubt that a sequel is on the way, so I'm hopeful that this talented writier will have worked out some of the kinks by then.

Haily Twitch is Not a Snitch - Friday review

Do you like to step outside your comfort zone? I mean, it's called a comfort zone for a reason, right? Because you've found something that works for you, so why change? Today, I decided to not only step outside my zone, but to blow my comfort zone up completely. Today, I am reviewing a middle grade book.

So what's the big deal, you might ask? Well, let's start with the fact that I don't have children (unless you count my two cats and we won't go into that.) There was an advanced reading copy of this book going around our group (thanks Annie!) and I decided, What the heck?

Hailey Twitch is a normal seven-year-old girl. Sort of. While she loves pink sparkly pencils and bending the rules, she also has a secret. She's friends with Maybelle, a sprite that's visible only to her. And Maybelle is on a special mission to help Hailey have fun. The problem is that Maybelle keeps getting Hailey into trouble.

Hailey likes having Maybelle around, but soon things are a big mess. She's about to lose her newest friend at school and she finds herself being blamed for everything Maybelle does. Can Hailey keep her secret, even if it means losing her friends?

I found this book quite charming. There is such an innocence in the characters and the story. This isn't Harry Potter. Maybelle, the sprite, just wants to get back to her job. And Hailey just wants everyone to be her friend. I can see young girls reading and identifying with Hailey (and of course, wanting a sprite of their very own.)

There was only one thing I found mildly annoying - and I will admit this is probably because I'm not seven myself - and that was the word repetition. Throughout the book, words were repeated in threes. I understand that for a seven-year-old, that feature wouldn't be as irritable, but for me it was overdone a bit.

The story ends in a cliffhanger, so there is sure to be another book featuring Hailey coming out soon. This was released in May, so you will find it in the stores.

Hailey Twitch is Not a Snitch by Lauren Barnholdt

Friday Review: A Timely Vision by Joyce and Jim Lavene

At the beginning of my vacation this week in Duck, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks, I visited the Island Bookstore at the Scarborough Faire shops in the heart of Duck.  Knowing I was scheduled to write a book review today, I wanted to pick a new book that I would be able to read in time for today's review.  A display of books having local interest caught my eye.  "A Timely Vision," by Joyce and Jim Lavene is a cozy mystery set in my vacation spot, Duck, North Carolina.  Published by Berkley Prime Crime in May 2010, I knew I had my "victim."

The main character, Dae O'Donnell, is the single, thirty-something mayor of Duck.  As in reality, the novel accurately portrays Duck as a quaint tourist town on the narrow strip of land that runs parallel to the coast of North Carolina.  Dae also is the owner of a shop called Missing Pieces, which features a mish mash of antique pieces, collectibles, and souvenir items, what some might call junk.  Dae has a particular gift for finding lost items by holding the hand of the person who lost the item.  This paranormal talent comes in handy when a local woman, 90+ year old Miss Elizabeth, is found murdered and buried in the beach dunes.

When the Duck police ultimately implicate Miss Elizabeth's cantankerous older sister, Miss Mildred, for the crime, Dae knows they have charged the wrong person, but she has nothing but her intuition and her skill for finding lost items to assist her in identifying the killer.  A cast of characters, mostly local shop owners and police, are introduced to either help or impede Dae in unraveling the murder mystery.  Kevin Brinkman, the new owner of the run-down Blue Whale Inn, comes to Dae's aid as both a former FBI agent and love interest. 

History, both real and fictional, plays a leading role in the novel as well.  The Outer Banks has 400 years of European history in its sands, which the authors weave into the novel, particularly with the pirates who used the land as sanctuary.  The history of Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mildred comes to the fore as well, when the skeletal remains of Miss Elizabeth's lost love are found in a locked room of the Blue Whale Inn.  The sleepy town of Duck now has two murders to investigate.

Miss Mildred is declared incompetent to stand trial because she reports seeing the ghost of her dead sister who brings her a purse with bloody gloves for safekeeping.  After Miss Mildred is taken to an "institution," her valuable house and land are quickly put up for auction along with the property of her dead sister.  Knowing that Miss Mildred is innocent, Dae must solve the mystery before the properties are sold at the auction block and Miss Mildred loses her ancestral home.  Immediately, Dae suspects Miss Mildred's grand nephew, who is responsible for rushing the properties to auction, of the crime.

In the end, the mystery is solved of course, and Miss Mildred's property is saved in the nick of time.  Dae and Kevin have not hooked up as a couple yet, but certainly that will follow in the next book or two of the series.  "A Timely Vision" is the first in the Missing Pieces series by the authors. 

Aside from some implausible probate and property transfer issues (OK, that's the paralegal in me talking), "A Timely Vision" is a delightful mystery and a quick read.  Distinctive characters in the small town setting are sure to develop further as the series continues.  Dae O'Donnell is a strong, smart lead who can carry her townspeople through a crisis or two.  The authors successfully captured the feeling of Duck and the Outer Banks, at least from this tourist's perspective.  This is a light, fun read, perfect for an afternoon at the beach.

Book Review Friday: The Fiction of Geraldine Brooks

Geraldine Brooks is an Australian born journalist who has written three novels, one of them capturing the Pulitzer Prize. While none of her books are brand new to the marketplace -- the most recent of them published in 2008 -- all of them are worth your while. Brooks develops exquisite characters, uses historical backdrops to add tumultuous depth, and writes beautifully. Each book has it's own feel as if different authors might have penned them. I think that's what makes her a wonderful writer...the ability to re-invent herself from novel to novel.

     Year of Wonders is set in a small English village in the1600's.  The story centers around a young widowed mother of two boys, Anna Firth, who finds that the plague has entered her town through a contaminated bolt of cloth brought into her home by her tenant.  The plague spreads quickly through the town.  While the wealthy flee the town's borders, the regular folk decide to quarantine themselves, letting no one in or out, hoping to stop the spread of the deadly disease.  After losing those dear to her, Anna finds herself aiding the townspeople, assisting a local woman with herbal remedies.  Out of desperation, villagers turn on one another with accusations of witchcraft, theft, and in-fighting.  Despite the death all around her, Anna can't help her deep feelings for the religious leader of the village, though his wife is Anna's dear friend.  This novel is deeply emotional, but a hopeful ending to the story offers relief.  The themes of the book are heavy, but the character development, prose, and historical detail are top notch.  This is my favorite of the three books.

March is the Pulitzer Prize winning novel set in America's Civil War.  In a way, this novel is an eloquent piece of fan fiction, for the main character, Mr. March, is taken from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women.  I'm embarrassed to say that I had never read Little Women.  However, I did not feel too deprived for back story.  Brooks weaves in real historical figures as tertiary characters such as John Brown and Henry David Thoreau. Mr. March, from the abolitionist, intellectual town of Concord, Massachusetts, volunteers for the Union because he feels so deeply for the cause that he is willing to leave his family.  Mr. March finds himself a guppy in a pool of sharks as a Union chaplain and covert reading teacher to freed slaves.  The ugliness of racism on both sides of the conflict weighs heavily upon him, though he filters the garish details from his flowery letters back home to his little women.  After March suffers a near fatal injury, the story takes both he and his wife, Marmee, to Washington D.C. during his convalescence.  There, the point of view turns to that of Marmee, who feels some bitterness over March's sacrifices because his decisions forced her to make sacrifices of her own.  She discovers a relationship that March shared with a lovely mulatto woman.  Both characters are strongly drawn, though March sometimes seems more womanly than Marmee.  Still, they are each well defined.  The use of language in this book seems to be plucked right from the 19th century, though it is not cumbersome.  If you are interested in the Civil War, race relations, or 19th century literature, this is your book.

People of the Book follows the path of an ancient Jewish illustrated manuscript from the circumstances of its creation in medieval Spain to present day, though not in linear fashion.  The unifying character is Hanna Heath, a specialist in the restoration of ancient texts, as she discovers unexpected tiny artifacts in the book's binding:  an insect wing, wine stain, cat hair, and sea salt.  Hanna's narrative pauses while the reader is taken to centuries past to find out how each artifact wound up in the religious text. Because Hanna's story stops and starts amid the digressions to centuries past, I found it a little difficult to establish a connection with her.  The fact that she's fiercely independent and a bit jaded didn't help either.  Regardless, some of the characters in the sub-plots, from Spain to Venice and Vienna to Sarajevo, are strong and sympathetic.  People of the Book is more akin to a series of interrelated short stories, though the stories are masterfully stitched together through Hanna's narrative.  The good and evil of the world's three major religions is a theme throughout. 

Friday Book Review - Mistress By Mistake

Today in the Friday Review, I'm reviewing the book Mistress By Mistake by Susan Gee Heino. In the interest of full disclosure, know that Susan is a member of our critique group and our first published author. However, that is not the reason why I decided to review this book.

I had two criteria when choosing a book for this project; One, that it was that is was a romance and two, that it was the first book published by an author. Romance is my favorite genre so that was a no-brainer. Reading a first time author just seemed to fit - I like to start at the beginning, whether it's a series or an author. And let's face it, Nora Roberts doesn't really need more publicity, does she?

Also, in accordance with the FTC rules, I should tell you that I purchased this book, it was not provided to me.

Mistress By Mistake by Susan Gee Heino ISBN 978-0-425-23151-7

Evaline Pinchley and Lord Randolph Dashford have one thing in common - neither of them wants to marry. Although this might seem an odd premise for a book (especially for people who don't read romance), in Regency England (1795-1837) it makes perfect sense.

I have to say upfront, that Regency romances have never been my favorite thing to read. The women are always fluttering about, swooning with the vapors. And the men - well, let's just say that you don't find a lot of Alpha males running around in lace cravats and satin knee breeches. I had some preconceptions going into this book, to say the least.

Well, I was wrong. Mistress By Mistake combines a heroine who is feisty and independent with a hero who is a man's man. No fluttering, no lace cravats. These characters feel real - with human failings that a reader can understand and relate to.

In the opening scene, Evaline gets drunk on her birthday and ends up in Lord Dashford's bed - something more than a few of us can relate to (I'm not talking about me. No, really). The resulting actions and reactions fill the book with drama and intrigue. And just when you think there isn't any reason for them not to be together, his fiance shows up - and the bridge is washed out, stranding them all together with nothing to do but have a picnic in the dining room.

What kept me interested in this book, in addition to the well written characters, was the humor. Let's face it, writing humor well is hard. But writing humor for Regency England? Yikes! The author has a real talent for using humor in the right place to make the characters and situations come alive and feel real to the reader.

The author writes a complex story and there are several subplots woven around the main romantic plot that keeps the reader hooked . Will Evaline's aunt succeed in her evil plotting? Why is there so much interest in the abandoned property next door? And why is the boat grotto so popular? Well, perhaps that last one is obvious.

I highly recommend reading Mistress By Mistake to everyone. To help make that possible, I'll be giving away an autographed copy of Mistress By Mistake (graciously provided by the author) next week. Check back Tuesday for further details - and tell all of your friends and followers.