The Marriage Game by Alison Weir

Final Rating: 3/5

A sequel of a Queen's decisions...or not

   "Decisions, decisions, decisions" seems to be the reappearing theme for this tale of the private and court life of Queen Elizabeth I. Being the sequel to The Lady Elizabeth, The Marriage Game spans from 1558 to 1603 and Ms. Weir takes her readers into the heart of the religious and political turmoil that consumed England during these unsettled times and places us in the mind of the woman who was seen to bring a golden light to her people and country. Instead of an unrealistic immortal view of a queen Ms. Weir shows us a mortal being that fears, contemplates and desires love during her reign on the throne. In The Marriage Game, The Court of Elizabeth I is painted in a very frantic and complicated light with whispers of scandal and impending disaster that adds to the matters of the daily life of Elizabeth I. Love is fleeting in these pages and it is sometimes hard to imagine that true love can overpower the desire for a coveted crown. And yet Ms. Weir recreates the complicated relationship that played out in this chaotic world with Robert Dudley as Elizabeth's connection to her past and endless future possibilities and that is when she lost this reader unfortunately.

   Up to this point I enjoyed the complicated shard-like view of Elizabeth I but once the many ways to say "no" "maybe" and "wait" made a rampant montage of the chapters I became a little frustrated and disappointed. I would have to say albeit repetitious, paced (especially towards the end), with debatable speculations and a surprising missing authentic flavour of dialogue; this will not be my last read by Ms. Weir. Hearing such praise and recommendations from other readers perhaps The Marriage Game better suited to another curious reader as an introduction to the reign of Elizabeth I and this reader will try Innocent Traitor or A Dangerous Inheritance in the near future. Overall, I would still recommend The Marriage Game to those that enjoy this period of history, complicated relationships and a private view of royalty.
 
*I would like to thank Ballantine Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and enjoy The Marriage Game: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth I.

Series:

The Lady Elizabeth

by Alison Weir

  

The Widow's Confession by Sophia Tobin

Final Rating: 2.8/5

   With inspiration of such a picturesque locale, time period and an intricate showcased painting, The Widow's Confession had quite of a bit of possibilities to explore. So much so, that unfortunately the story became a little lost in the fog of different aspects of mystery and romance that it ultimately left this reader cold. Perhaps it is just me and I have not been having much luck with my recent title purchases but this one disappointed me. I will be honest and tell those interested that this novel is slow and ebbing, slow in developing any action or conflict and ebbing with the characters and mystery that is gets all tedious to the point that I thought about quietly moving along to other novels. Although tempting at a few points something kept me reading and I did manage to finish though. This is one of those reads you stop after turning the last page and think "and yet..and yet.."

   I did find the conclusion of events plausible but the journey was just sadly predictable to this reader. And yet the true positives of this read were the details. I applaud the research that went into and the incorporation into the story and perhaps that is what kept me turning the pages. Fascinating locations are visited by the central characters and in particular a few caught this reader's full attention and I would dearly love to see Margate Shell Grotto after viewing a photo gallery of this curious site. The believable incorporation of customs and era dialogue was also a joy to read, along with the catastrophe that can ensue from stepping away from tradition. And yet the characters were painted in shadow in the beginning but reveal too much of themselves so quickly at the end that there is nothing left to wonder about after they have been fully dissected with dramatic outbursts. In the end, I found The Widow's Confession a title that showcased fascinating details, vintage styled writing and although very paced; a decent winter night read.

-read and purchased hardback

An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey

Final Rating: 2.8/5

   I have to be honest; I was disappointed with this story of secrets of servants and masters and desire to explore memories through collected recipes. This was one novel I have been anticipating for months which sounded like a change from the ordinary with an intriguing savory Gothic journey and an under-cook as the reader's guide from the quaint English country side to refined Italian villas; I think I was expecting too much sadly. This novel starts out with a striking opening but then gradually loses its desired flavour and relies on loosely stringed events to cart the story from one destination to another with a new receipt for the narrator to collect for her journal. Although an appealing inspiration for some reason the effect became lost, overdone and it all just didn't work for this reader. I was expecting more and sadly found this lite history with tastes and smatterings of the time period but not enough to clearly distinguish the 18th century and the dialogue strange with mixtures of snippets of modern with addled country tones.

   I have not noticed other reviewers commenting on this next observation, there are some memorable passages with graphic content that may have a few curious readers turning away but I can only think of two graphic scenes that may disturb some. It all depends on the reader. On the other side of the coin I was very interested with the incorporation of history and food and the character of Obedience Leigh ("Biddy") was a lively character and the very beginning of her journey and the side stories of those of Mawton Hall were also very enjoyable. There are also little glimmers of some classic Gothic inspirations such as The Moonstone and Lady Audley's Secret that make appearances but are very briefly explored and left this reader wanting much more. All and all, An Appetite for Violets could be worth some readers time if they enjoy lite history, culinary journeys with a memorable and lively narrator and an ending that makes you stop and think about those gone and the special meals you shared- this may be your next read.

-read and purchased on kindle

Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman (Lady Montfort Mystery #1) by Tessa Arlen

Final Rating: 4.1/5

Quite the genteel debut

  Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman is a grand murder mystery that echoes in many ways Delderfield and Wharton in its presentation, undertones, social examinations, characters and overall atmosphere; this is a read to enjoy with a piping cup of English tea. Ms. Arlen sweeps her readers to the fictional grand house of Iyntwood on June 4th 1913 and with the following days introduces and presents a cast of characters that can fill the 60 rooms of the grand ancestral house to keep the reader engaged until the final page. Tradition and social order are strong themes in this novel and the notion of "old England" versus the imminent "new England" and no better conditions can be found to explore the differences than the hierarchical hive of the upstairs and downstairs order. On the surface this grand old house may seem benign and the occupants ordinary but when a grisly murder and baffling disappearances disrupts the delicate balance and an invisible sense of security is shattered, this is when the novel really shines and becomes a keeper for aficionados of classic murder mysteries and lovers of bygone eras.

  In the end, this reader was beyond impressed with the attention to detail however minute and highly recommends Death of a Dishonorable Gentlemen. This novel was like a slice of classic cake for me, with its comforting and satisfying effects. Ms. Arlen has certainly found a niche with her attention to historical detail and its sound absorption into her storyline, nothing shared is not used in some way to enhance and bring a deeper level to the story and end experience. The fictional setting of Iyntwood and its surrounding grounds and the small villages are painted so vividly and grandly that you just want to put them in an album of places to visit when you go to England to make sure they are only in your imagination. The huge lists of characters/suspects in this murder mystery are also impressive, every character is introduced to the reader and surprisingly it becomes very easy to tell the Lords and Ladies from the Cook, Scullery Maids and even to the surrounding village professions. Overall Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman is a memorable start of a bright star of talent and this was quite the genteel debut.

* I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman.

In this series:
  
Death Sits Down to Dinner (Lady Montfort Mystery #2) by Tessa Arlen
Expected publication: January 2016
 

Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Final Rating: 2.8/5

There are some things best left unsaid and unknown...

   Miramont's Ghost is a story that would fit perfectly in a section of variegated Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Instead of the dark forests of Germany, this tale takes the reader into bucolic 19th-century Beaulieu France with an established aristocratic family as the central characters and their secrets that can destroy all within. Gossip can be just as poisonous and deadly as arsenic and in Miramont's Ghost this simple fact is weaved into a complicated noose that threatens to strangle the youngest generation of the castle. Whether the location shifts from the opulent opera houses of Paris, the polished floors of the Waldorf in New York City or the majestic mountain towns of Colorado; past sins and ugly rumors seem to follow and the hushed whispers begin yet again and well to be polite there are some things best left unsaid and unknown.

   In the end, Miramont's Ghost was a quick read that held my interest until the final page. A decent mixture of folklore, unsolved mysteries, surprising undertones and old fashioned storytelling that served as a needed distraction is how I would describe this title. Although quite a few times I found myself wincing at anachronistic dialogue, minor slips in history and aristocratic protocol, a few strings of forced and predictable drama and the story was a little lackluster in spots of potential that really could have shined for this reader. That all aside, Miramont's Ghost is still an entertaining read that touches on all the familiar elements of a ghost story that we all still eagerly lean in to hear.

-read and purchased on kindle