BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

The Witch of Painted Sorrows: A Daughters of La Lune Novel
by M. J. Rose

A novel of Belle Époque Paris (3/18/2015)

This story has everything: the occult, Kabalists, demonic possession and famous painters of the Ecole salon, all seamlessly weaved inside a family curse involving a 16th century courtesan. I enjoyed escaping reality as I became immersed in this page turner. I look forward to her next novel, having previously read this author.

The Silver Witch
by Paula Brackston

Disappointing Final Pages (2/20/2015)

I have read Paula Brackston in the past and looked forward to reading her latest, The Silver Witch. The story alternates between modern day Wales and ancient Celtic times, telling the story of a ceramic artist with an intuitive nature and a Celtic shaman seemingly connected through time. It's a provocative read, and kept me interested until the last few pages wherein it seems the author, in her haste to wrap things up in a tidy way, threw in everything but the proverbial kitchen sink. Sadly for me, this left me feeling as if the story was unfinished and poorly constructed. I gave it 4 stars because prior to the last few pages the story had serious credibility and potential.

Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen

An inside look into Juliet's life (7/8/2014)

The author stated she wanted to give voice to the person who had the most dialogue in Shakespeare's original version of Romeo & Juliet, outside of the two main characters, Juliet's wet nurse. Seen though her eyes we learn about Juliet's infancy and early years, as well as the author's poetic-licensed interpretation of Juliet's birth. The depictions of 14th century urban Italian life are vivid, including the devastation of the plague. While a work of fiction with more than a few liberties taken, the author's attempt at bringing the reader a new vantage point into the best known play in English literature is compelling and satisfying.

Her
by Harriet Lane

A riveting, dark tale (5/15/2014)

This story follows two women, seemingly strangers, who are connected by an obscure life thread. The narrative alternates between each of the women's voices and interpretations after they meet somewhat randomly. I was riveted by the prose, as it draws you in from the first into what turns out to be a crash landing in the very last paragraph. I found I couldn't put it down, wanting desperately to know the outcome.

The Devil in the Marshalsea
by Antonia Hodgson

Intriguing Murder Mystery (3/17/2014)

I loved this book. It's still a wonder to me how this author can take a subject as unpleasant as debtor's prisons in 18th century Britain and turn it into a fascinating, page turning book. Then, add to the mix a few absorbing murder mysteries to make it even more interesting. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and this book delivers on all fronts. Just when you think you have the mystery solved, you are thrown in a completely different direction. This book is the true definition of a page turner and I look very forward to future books from this talented author.

Where Monsters Dwell
by Jørgen Brekke

Norwegian Murder Mystery (11/10/2013)

Two murders, one in Virginia and one in Norway, are seemingly connected and two detectives embark on the quest to solve the crimes complete with flashbacks to the 16th century. While I am not a fan of present day murder mysteries, the addition of the 16th century flashbacks intrigued me. The story moves at a good pace keeping the reader interested, but as with some books translated from the author's original language, the dialogue is stilted and forced in parts. I imagine this book will do well on general best-seller lists.

The Disenchanted Widow
by Christina McKenna

Lighthearted Irish Tale (8/25/2013)

I wasn't sure at first if I would be able to get interested in this book since this is not my genre but, as it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised. Spoken in the dialect of the Emerald Isle, this is really a story about happy endings and learning not to judge people by their outward appearances. Intermingled with the daily struggles and humorous experiences of the residents of sleepy Tailorstown, is a promise that lives can change in an instant.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by Neil Gaiman

Where's the rest of it? (7/17/2013)

I was so very excited to read this book, but when I went to pick up a copy at my local bookstore and saw the size of it (very slim and small) I was disappointed before I ever even opened the front cover. I don't know about you, but I like a large, hard to manage hardcover that keeps you engaged for days and days. When I saw the size of this book, I knew it was a story that I would read in one sitting, which I did.

The story started interestingly enough, but evolved into what I would characterize as a science fiction/ghost story for adults. While the story is at times outlandish, the sweet and earnest nature of the narrating character endeared me to him and his story, albeit a short one.

The Secret Keeper
by Kate Morton

One of Morton's best (7/3/2013)

I have read all of Kate Morton's books, so I was of course eagerly awaiting her latest. Rich in period detail, which I have come to expect from all of Morton's books, this story moves back and forth from Second World War London to the 21st century, unraveling a family mystery. I love it when a book throws you for a loop just when you least expect it, and this story delivers such a blow just when you think you have finally solved the mystery.

The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
by Margot L. Stedman

A Heartrending Tale (7/2/2012)

Notwithstanding the innocuous dialogue between husband and wife during the early years of their marriage, which takes place very early on, thankfully this book unravels into an absorbing, stirring and emotional story about how a seemingly benevolent split-second decision carries with it consequences that resonate throughout a lifetime. While the characters are rather undeveloped, the story is well written and the reader’s desire to see the story through gives the characters the lifeline they need.

Afterwards: A Novel
by Rosamund Lupton

Parallel Universe Whodunit (4/24/2012)

After the sudden fire at a primary school, a mother embarks upon a crusade, with her daughter's aid, to get to the bottom of this senseless and horrific act. The twist here is that both mother and daughter have been existing in an outer-body dimension, which proves problematic for crime solving. Although this book is very well written with characters that evoke genuine feelings on the part of the reader, had this story been written in traditional prose, it would stand out as a top-notch mystery, with emotional and gripping unforeseen twists and turns.

Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art
by Christopher Moore

Merde! (2/9/2012)

What do you get when you mix the Impressionist painters, mysterious deaths, time travel, life in fin de siècle Paris and irreverent humor? You get Christopher Moore’s new novel, Sacre Bleu. As a lover of art history and historical fiction, I enjoyed traveling back to fin de siècle Paris when Impressionist painting was in its infancy. If that wasn’t interesting enough, Moore ‘s story is interwoven with time travel and stories about the mysterious Colorman, and the Colorman’s dubious influence upon artists throughout the ages. Humorously clever, I enjoyed how the humor was intricately woven into the historical and not so historical facts of the period.

The Dressmaker: A Novel
by Kate Alcott

First Class Historical Thriller (10/6/2011)

We all know the tragic story of the Titanic, but few of us have read the transcripts of the Senate hearings that took place immediately following the ship’s sinking. The author relies on those transcripts to set up her story, and what a story it is. Intermingled with supplementary human interest stories and fascinating history from the early 20th century, this telling of the Titanic disaster is truly edge-of-your-seat stuff. The breathtaking mistakes and miscalculations of the Titanic’s White Star Line will linger in your mind long after you have read the last page.

In Search of the Rose Notes: A Novel
by Emily Arsenault

A Jewel of a Mystery (6/1/2011)

If all authors had this gift for character development, every book we read would be a treasured jewel. The obvious draw in this novel is the reader’s ardent desire to find out what happened to Rose, that fateful day. The not-so-obvious draw is the way the author peels away all the layers of the characters, year by year alternating between then and now, keeping us not only engaged but genuinely interested in the ultimate outcome. My favorite book reading genre is historical fiction, but once in a while a mystery comes across my lap that pulls me away from the 17th, 18th or 19th centuries and drops me into a world of intrigue and surprise. If this book had a moral, it would be that sometimes the choices we make have dire consequences.

Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer
by Wesley Stace

A Lyrical Murder Mystery (11/4/2010)

Written in the nuanced language of early 20th century England, this is the engaging story of fictional composer Charles Jessold's life, as well as the life of his friend, music critic, and the story's narrator, Leslie Shepherd. The underlying murder mystery and descriptive passages of life during pre and post World War One Europe, pulls this novel out of the depths of the author's professorial dissertation on 19th and 20th century operettas and traditional folk music. Concentration is the key, and for that you will be richly rewarded.

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise: A Novel
by Julia Stuart

Love and Loss and all things English (8/1/2010)

As a self-proclaimed Anglophile and a Tower of London enthusiast, of course I was anxious to read Julia Stuart's book. While filled with delicious tidbits about the Tower of London and interesting British history in general, this book is more about the power of love and how it can transform even the deepest of grief. The characters remain somewhat distant due to the author's at-arms'-length narrative, but that doesn't stop them from finding a way of getting inside your heart, keeping you interested in their daily trials and tribulations while they live at the illustrious Tower. A sequel would be grand.

Heresy
by S.J. Parris

Elizabethan Era Thriller (11/30/2009)

As a lover of all things Tudor and Elizabethan, I thoroughly enjoyed S.J. Parris' Heresy. The book follows monk and scientist Giordano Bruno as he is called to London on a secret mission at the behest of Sir Francis Walsingham. This mission becomes secondary to Bruno's inadvertent involvement and subsequent investigation of several murders at Oxford University. Rich with accurate period detail and multi-dimensional characters, Heresy is one for the bookshelves for lovers of English historical fiction.

The Book of God and Physics: A Novel of the Voynich Mystery
by Enrique Joven

Astronomically Entertaining! (6/13/2009)

Although chock full of intricate astronomical and astrological statistics and references, this novel is highly readable and entertaining. Following the main character (a Jesuit priest) and his acquaintances throughout their quest to decipher the ancient text called the Voynich Manuscript, keeps the reader not only interested but often times surprised with the story's twists and turns. This book is definitely not recommended for the reader wanting a quick story with no thought-provoking and educational material. For readers who loved The Flanders Panel, The Last Secret of the Temple and The Rossetti Letter, this one's for you.

Eve: A Novel of the First Woman
by Elissa Elliott

Historically based family drama (12/28/2008)

On one level, this book takes us back to the beginning of creation with all the wonder and glorious newness surrounding the inception of the world. On a larger scale, this books examines the lives and relationships of and within a family, albeit the first humans known to walk the earth. Rife with historic detail, the saga of each and every character is woven into the Genesis story with much the same conflicts, strife and forgiveness dealt with every day within 21st century families.

The Sweet In Between: A Novel
by Sheri Reynolds

Classic Sheri Reynolds (8/31/2008)

I first fell in love with Sheri Reynolds as an author after reading The Rapture of Canaan, one of the best books I have ever read. The Sweet In Between is an unconventional coming of age story about an almost 18 year old young woman living with what could be termed society's misfits. Despite their meager economic circumstances and her gender confusion, the book proves that dysfunction and all of its baggage can sometimes substitute for idyllic, depending on one's perspective. The characters are rich in spirit although flawed, but through all of this Sheri Reynolds manages to prove that "family" can be defined in many ways.

Reviews by Diana C. (Delray Beach, FL)

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Reviews by Diana C. (Delray Beach, FL)

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