In Honor of All Hallows Eve...

In honor of this All Hallows weekend, I thought it would be fun to create a post linking to some of the books I have read and places I have visited related to this deliciously chilling holiday...a wax museum in the French Quarter, the house of the Mayfair witches, and some wonderful books to get you in the mood for Halloween.

Hope you have some exciting plans for celebrating, or just curling up with a book and some candy corn! ;)


The House of the Mayfair Witches

Musee Conti Historical Wax Museum

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James

A Broken Vessel by Kate Ross

Gardella Vampire Series by Colleen Gleason

A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn

Second Sight by Amanda Quick

Books to Thrill and Chill



My plans? With the family away at a football game, I intend to curl up and watch a few episodes from my Dark Shadows collection and du Maurier's Rebecca.

Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley

"When she agrees to accompany an author to Wales for the holidays, literary agent Lyn Revenshaw hopes to escape the terrifying nightmares that have plagued her since the death of her baby five years before. But shortly after she arrives at her host's rambling farmhouse, Lyn meets Elen, an eccentric young widow who's desperately afraid for her infant son's safety--and her dreams become even more vivid and distrubing.

Elen's fragile emotional state--and the mysterious paternity of her baby--inspire much gossip in this small coastal village, and she inexplicably sees Lyn as her son's protector. As Lyn struggles to understand the intrigue surrounding Elen and her imperiled child, she forms an unlikely alliance with a reclusive, brooding playwright--and is pulled into an ancient world of haunting legends and dangerous prophecies...where she will finally uncover the secrets of her dreams."

(from the publisher)

my thoughts:

Susanna Kearsley's novels have brought me back to my first love of reading.....I devoured everything in the romantic suspense genre many years ago, with Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Daphne du Maurier among my top favorites. I'm happy to say I feel right at home again with Kearsley's suspenseful and atmospheric writing.

Named of the Dragon brings the reader to a tiny village in Pembrokeshire, Wales, a place where ancient tales, myths and legends, and history are tied to the present. While the story is set in the present day, Kearsley's descriptions of the castle ruins, the rugged coastline, the charming atmosphere of an old farmhouse and village living gives the reader a real sense of the significance of the past and the present being inseparable. Kearsley expertly weaves the story of a young woman's haunting dreams following the death of her baby with beautiful poetry from Yeats, Tennyson, and the ancient legends and prophecies of Merlin. A dark, handsome, brooding playwright (Gareth Morgan) adds more tension and conflict to the story, adding a touch of romance to the mix of mystery and suspense. Another poignant, atmospheric tale from the author of Mariana and The Shadowy Horses. I'm looking forward to the upcoming release in the U.S. of The Winter Sea, described by many of her fans as her best.

Click here to view photos from Susanna Kearlsey's website of the beatufiul village of Angle, Pembrokshire in Named of the Dragon.


4/5 stars

Title: Named of the Dragon
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Berkley Books
1998
297 pages
genre: romantic suspense

A Broken Vessel by Kate Ross

"In London's notorious Haymarket district, Sally Stokes, a bold and bewitching Cockney prostitute, picks up three men one after the other and nicknames them Bristles, Blue Eyes, and Blinkers. From each of them Sally steals a handkerchief--and from one she mistakenly steals a letter than contains an urgent plea for help from a distraught young woman.

Luckily, Sally's brother is none other than Dipper, reformed pickpocket and valet to gifted amateur sleuth Julian Kestrel. After the writer of the letter is found dead, the authorities dismiss her death as suicide. But to Kestrel it looks like murder, and he forms an unlikely -- but highly entertaining -- alliance with Sally to track down the three clients. The two embark on a quest that leads them from a house of reclamation for fallen women to the abodes of England's highest ranking families as they race to unmask a dangerous killer."

(from the publisher)

my thoughts:

In a word, this book was fantastic! If you can read the first chapter and then put this book down, you have more willpower than I do! I read the first Julien Kestrel mystery in the series, Cut to the Quick, and while it was a well-crafted plot, I wasn't enthralled. Thankfully, I've read glowing reviews about the remainder of the series, so I continued with A Broken Vessel, and I'm so glad I did. It's destined to be a favorite of mine....it was that good!

An unlikely trio of characters (Julien, the London dandy amateur sleuth, his reformed pickpocket valet, Dipper, and Dipper's spunky, Cockney prostitute sister, Sally), become entangled in a web of secret scandals, plots of murder and suicide, and the sinister dark side of three of Sally's "encounters." From the seedy, gritty underworld of Regency London to the drawing rooms of the gentry, there are plots and counterplots, secret identities, skeletons in the closet, and a dangerous killer (or killers) who will stop at nothing to keep long-buried secrets hidden.

A raw, edgy mystery with authentic Regency cant and a truly fascinating, puzzling plot...kept my heart racing! Highly, highly recommended!

5/5 stars
Title: A Broken Vessel
Author: Kate Ross
1994
289 pages
Penguin Books
genre: Regency mystery

Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

"After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child--and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly, The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary."
(from the publisher)

my thoughts:

*NO SPOILERS* - Promise!

What an amazing read -- witty and snappy dialogue, an exotic setting, a cast of eccentric characters involved in a web of mystery and intrigue -- everything that I have come to expect (and more) from one of my favorite authors!

Having read and loved the previous three Lady Julia Grey books, I was concerned that the relationship between the charismatic/enigmatic Brisbane and Lady Julia might lose its edge since they were now a married couple. So much of the interest in the books for me was the maddening tension of will they/won't they, and they walked that very fine line between restrained passion and loathing. No worries here, though, as Raybourn deftly manages to keep the sparks flying as Brisbane and Lady Julia are challenged trying to find a balance in their new marriage (time together to love, work together, but also time apart - Brisbane routinely does a disappearing act, much to his wife's annoyance). Their love and commitment is deep and obvious, but it's evident that there are still issues to work on in their relationship. Realistic!

Raybourn keeps the surprises coming in this whodunit mystery -- the death of the heir to the Peacocks, a tea plantation in Sikkim, is suspicious -- was he murdered, and who would likely profit from his death? Everyone from his pregnant wife (Portia's ex-lover) to assorted servants, neighbors, and family members are under suspicion, and Lady Julia, confident in her detecting abilities, along with her sister, Portia, and brother, Plum, attempts to discover the truth (she desperately wants to one-up Brisbane). While Julia begins methodically seeking information around the village to establish a possible motive, Brisbane manages to constantly infuriate Lady Julia by staying one step ahead of her. The list of possible suspects is a mile long, and have no fear, Raybourn pulls a few new tricks out of her hat that left me saying, "I didn't see THAT coming!"

Lots of trademark sarcastic wit, quirky characters, and some truly poignant moments made Dark Road to Darjeeling a memorable experience. I laughed, I cried, and I'm left anticipating their next adventure back in England!


4.5/5 stars

Title: Dark Road to Darjeeling
Author: Deanna Raybourn
MIRA
2010
388 pages
genre: Victorian mystery; historical fiction

The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview

"A Young lady in disgrace should at least strive to behave with decorum...

Dispatched from America to England under a cloud of scandal, Mr. Darcy's incorrigible American cousin, Clarissa Darcy, manages to provoke Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Collins, and the parishioners of Hunsford all in one morning!

And there are more surprises in store for that bastion of tradition, Rosings Park, when the family gathers for their annual Easter visit. Georgiana Darcy, generally a shy model of propreity, decides to take a few lessons from her unconventional cousin, to the delight of a neighboring gentleman. Anne de Bourgh, encouraged to escape her "keeper" Mrs. Jenkinson, simply...vanishes. But the trouble really starts when Clarissa and Georgiana both set out to win the heart of the same young man."
(from the publisher)

My thoughts:

I enjoyed Monica Fairview's The Other Mr. Darcy and looked forward to her second Pride and Prejudice-inspired novel, The Darcy Cousins. The author has a mastery of the Regency period and is true to the Austen style, which I admire. Her characters' dialogue rings true, and the social expectations, fashions, and matters of propriety and etiquette are spot on.

In this coming of age story, Georgiana Darcy takes center stage as she begins to put the memories of a disastrous past with Mr. Wickham behind her. She is entering her introduction into society with anticipation as a certain charismatic gentleman, Mr. Percy Channing, has caught her attention. Unfortunately for Georgiana, two cousins from America have arrived and begin to cause problems for her all-important season.

Frederick and Clarissa Darcy are American and free in their thinking and speaking -- much to the dismay of the formidable Catherine de Bourgh. As Lady Catherine declares upon her first meeting of the Darcy cousins,

"I expect you are like all Americans -- presumptuous, outspoken, and opinionated."


Lady Catherine has no idea what's in store for her as Clarissa's influence begins to affect not only Georgiana, but her own daughter, the frail and sickly Anne.

And wouldn't you know it, Clarissa seems to have caught Mr. Channing's fancy, and both Georgiana and Clarissa attempt to do their best to seek his attentions.

While there were a few compelling storylines (what happens to Anne de Bourgh, and which gentleman, if any, will capture Georgiana's heart), this novel seemed long on dialogue and short on plot. The "scandalous" reason the Darcy cousins left America was a let-down, and the "mischief and mayhem" promised fell short. It was a good read, but lacked the sparkle and excitement of The Other Mr. Darcy.

And speaking of Pride and Prejudice, just for fun, head over to Jane Austen Today to read about a rare, three volume edition from 1813 of Austen's Pride and Prejudice that is available at Sotheby's. Sure wish I had an extra $150,000.00 hanging around! ;)


3/5 stars

Title: The Darcy Cousins
Author: Monica Fairview
Sourcebooks
414 pages
genre: historical fiction; Regency romance

A Treasure Trove of Autumn Reading - Part Deaux

Lately, I've been collecting books at an alarming rate! Too bad I'm not a speed reader as the growing TBR pile has reached gargantuan proportions, but I believe there is no such thing as too many books, and besides, I never know from day to day what reading mood I will be in -- I like to have choices at my fingertips.

I recently posted about my collection of Barbara Michaels gothic mystery novels that struck my fancy. Here's another series that I discovered that looks like it could be an interesting diversion. The cross-genre (mystery/romance/comedy) Maggie series by Kasey Michaels looks like fun -- what do you do if you are a writer of Regency romances and your dashing hero steps out of the pages of your novel and shows up in your NY apartment? (Doesn't the cover look like Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary?)


(editorial review from Publisher's Weekly)
"Prolific historical romance writer Michaels breaks into a new genre, thanks to an audacious premise with deliciously funny results. Maggie Kelly, midlist writer of historical romance, got dumped by her publisher when her sales figures didn't rise fast enough, so she reinvented herself as a mystery writer. Making use of her historical background, she created a Regency aristocrat-detective, Alexandre Blake, Viscount Saint Just, giving him an endearing, bumbling sidekick, Sterling Balder. Having quickly become a bestseller, Maggie is polishing up her latest when suddenly her two characters step out of her imagination and into her life. At first she thinks she's hallucinating, but she rapidly realizes that Saint Just and Balder really have come to life. It's one thing to write about the adventures of a gorgeous, arrogant and condescending hero; it's another entirely to have to live day to day with the man himself. When Maggie's former lover and current publisher, Kirk Toland, dies after eating a dinner Maggie prepared for him, Maggie is the chief suspect in a very nasty murder mystery for which she can't write the ending. Predictably, Saint Just insists on playing hero and trying to solve the murder, while Maggie tries to keep anyone from figuring out who (and what) he really is. Michaels handles it all with great aplomb, gaily satirizing the current state of publishing, slowly building the romantic tension between Maggie and her frustratingly real hero, and providing plenty of laughs for the reader."



(editorial review from Publisher's Weekly)
"Romance and cozy fans will welcome this cross-genre sequel to Michaels's Maggie Needs an Alibi (2002), with its original premise, sympathetic if reluctant heroine and lively supporting cast. New Yorker Maggie Kelly, a former author of Regency romances who now writes historical mysteries, has an unusual house guest, her fictional Regency-era hero, Alexandre Blake, Viscount Saint Just (aka Alex Blakely). What's more, he has registered her for the annual conference in Manhattan of We Are Romance (WAR), a romance writers' group with whom she's had past differences. Maggie grudgingly attends and fronts Alex and his friend, Mary Louise, in the cover-model contest. Tensions run high, and participants head for home as a series of increasingly dangerous pranks culminates in the death of one of WAR's most notorious members. Alex, a sleuth in his own fictional world, is determined to unmask the killer at the fancy dress ball, with or without the help of his creator, who's distracted by the reappearance of her NYPD detective heartthrob, Steve Wendell. Michaels, a romance writer herself and a pro at juxtaposing unlikely characters, keeps the sparks flying between Maggie and Alex, who serves as an admirable foil for her irritation. A surfeit of amusing secondary characters slows the action in the middle, but the plot picks up at the end with the unmasking of the surprise culprit."




(editorial review from Publisher's Weekly)
"Romance bestseller Michaels delivers more fantasy and fun in her third witty, well-plotted cozy (after 2003's Maggie by the Book) to feature Maggie Kelly, a former author of historical romances who now writes historical mysteries. When Maggie's editor, Bernice Toland-James, awakens in bed to find herself covered in blood and next to the dead body of her ex-husband, Benny, whom she assumed drowned almost seven years before, she phones Maggie in hysterics. Accompanied by her own fictional creation—Alex Blake, Viscount Saint Just, the tall, handsome, astute and somewhat arrogant Regency detective—Maggie rushes to the rescue. Having two quirky characters, Saint Just and his sidekick Sterling Balder, enter the real world and help Maggie solve mysteries lends an amusing metafictional twist to the series. Meanwhile, somebody breaks in and ransacks Saint Just and Sterling's newly sublet apartment. Further complications ensue as Maggie tries to balance her attraction to Saint Just with her relationship with NYPD Lieutenant Steve Wendell, while Saint Just discovers feelings and thoughts not written into his original character. A surprising conclusion will leave readers wanting more."

Happy reading!

Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker by Syrie James

"Acclaimed author Syrie James approaches Bram Stoker's classic DRACULA with a breathtaking new perspective -- as, for the first time, Mina Harker records the shocking story of her scandalous seduction and sexual rebirth."
(from the publisher)


my thoughts:

Set against the backdrop of the charming and elegant Victorian period, this fascinating mystery and passionate love story kept me turning the pages well into wee hours. I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous two novels by Syrie James (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen and The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte), and Dracula, My Love was no exception......it was haunting and thrilling.

While her fiance' is in Transylvania on business, Mina embarks on an innocent seaside holiday in Whitby with her best friend, Lucy Westenra and Lucy's mother. Both young ladies are properly engaged to be married soon, so they spend their days leisurely reading, walking, and enjoying the sights. Their tranquil vacation is disrupted when a terrifying event occurs...a ship appears in port, the entire crew is missing, and the captain's corpse (clutching a crucifix) is tied to the helm. A series of very strange and eerie events begin to occur. Lucy begins to sleepwalk, compelled to leave her bedroom and wander out into the night. At the same time, Mina makes the acquaintance of a very handsome and charming gentleman. Knowing that proper young ladies do not befriend strange men, Mina tries to resist his invitations to spend time together, but she is inexplicably and irresistably drawn to him.

It is then that the horrors begin...Mina's quiet life begins to be one of a nightmare. Who is this mysterious man who has taken over Mina's heart, body, and mind? Who or what is responsible for a series of tragedies that begin to occur to the people she loves?

Dracula, My Love is an interesting twist on Bram Stoker's portrayal of Dracula as an ancient, reclusive monster -- while the perception is that Dracula is a dangerous and monstrous creature, Mina experiences a passionate and tender side of this misunderstood figure. She learns of his origin and sympathizes with his immortal agony. While his actions appear to the world to be vile and horrific, Mina begins to understand a different side of the story -- and is forced to make a choice about the two men she loves.





4/5 stars

Title: Dracula, My Love
Author: Syrie James
Avon
2010
457 pages
genre: historical mystery, horror

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig

"After years abroad, Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned to England to avenge the murder of his mentor. To uncover the murderer's identity, he must infiltrate the infamous secret Hellfire Club. But the Duke has no idea that an even more difficult challenge awaits him -- in a mistaken, romantic-minded young lady.

Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero among men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage--investigating a plot to kidnap the King--Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime.

Caught in a dangerous game full of deadly spies and secret rites, Robert and Charlotte must work together to reveal the villain....and confront their true love."

my thoughts:

I've slowed up a bit with Willig's Pink Carnation series as I don't like whipping through a series and then being left with a long wait for the next installment. Fortunately, there's still plenty of adventures ahead with The Betrayal of the Blood Lily, The Mischief of the Mistletoe, and the January 2011 release of The Orchid Affair.

While Night Jasmine is classic Willig style -- the juxtaposition of the exploits of the historical characters and the modern day relationship of Eloise and Colin -- I didn't find the storyline of Charlotte and Robert, the Duke of Dovedale, as intriguing as some of the previous characters. Since Charlotte is a quiet, bookish young innocent, and Robert was noble and honorable, their relationship was very sweet and chaste, similar to a fairytale with references to a knight on a white horse sweeping the princess off her feet and disappearing into the future with unicorns and jam tarts. Very sweet -- their innocent kiss was a stark contrast to the illicit activities of the Hellfire Club, which, by the way, I thought was one the more interesting aspects of the book. Using the Hellfire Club as a cover for a plot against the king was the most compelling part of the story.

Meanwhile, back in the present, things between Eloise and Colin are finally moving forward as little by little the reader learns a bit more of Colin's background and career, and the couple finally seem to have made some progress on the romantic front, as well. (You have to read carefully, but I assume by "...we fell asleep in a happy haze of red wine and extra-connubial canoodling" that they have indeed become much more than just friends. ;)

Although I enjoyed the previous novels in the series much more, I still marvel at Lauren Willig's turn of a phrase and literary references sprinkled throughout her stories. I always learn something new from her books or feel compelled to look up a literature reference that is part of her storyline. In this case, I was intrigued by Charlotte's beloved Evelina novel, and don't you know, I had to check online and it's available in both paperback and e-book! (I wonder what Charlotte would think of a kindle?!) The book, titled Evelina: The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, was written by Fanny Burney and was very popular back in the day. (I had to order myself a copy!) Click here to read more about "the mother of English fiction" and more of her writings.




3.5/5

Title: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
Author: Lauren Willig
Penguin Group (New American Library)
2009
501 pages
genre: historical romance

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

"Valancy has never been in love and, at twenty-nine, fears she never will be. She lives a drab life with her overbearing mother and prying aunt, finding solace in John Foster's forbidden books and her fantasies of the Blue Castle. Then a shocking diagnosis from Dr. Trent prompts Valancy to make a fresh start. For the first time in her life, she does and says exactly what she feels....she abruptly leaves home...and meets new people an experiences new things. Valancy undergoes a transformation, discovering a whole new world of love and happiness. One of Lucy Maud Montgomery's only novels with an adult heroine and intended for an adult audience."

my thoughts:

Were you a fan of the Anne of Green Gables series or the Emily books when you were a young girl? I certainly was in love with L. M. Montgomery's charming writing and read quite a few of her children's books when I was in elementary school. I was not aware until recently that she had written a novel for adults. I learned about The Blue Castle from Lauren Willig's website and she referred to it as one of her favorite books. A favorite book of one of my favorite authors? That was all I needed to prompt me to find The Blue Castle and experience Montgomery's writing again. The old-fashioned charm was still there, but be prepared, at times, for an emotional drain.

Valancy Stirling -- twenty-nine, unmarried, oppressed, repressed, ridiculed, victimized by her unbelievably cruel family...the beginning of her story was achingly painful. I really wanted her to develop just an ounce of courage to stand up for herself when her overbearing mother was at her worst, but pain only made Valancy sink deeper into herself and her fantasy world of her books and her imaginary blue castle. Sick and weak in a physical as well as emotional state, Valancy's life is terribly bleak.

Prompted by pains in her chest, Valancy seeks medical attention and receives a letter with a horrifying diagnosis. Surprisingly, instead of succumbing to the hopelessness of the diagnosis, it becomes the catalyst for her transformation. Since she now has no hope for a future, she decides to begin to take control of her life and break away from her oppressive family. She becomes unconcerned with the social conventions and restrictions of the times and begins to live her life on her own terms. She befriends what her family considers "social outcasts" and begins to experience real relationships and acceptance for the first time in her life.

This is a story that made me want to stand up and cheer as I followed Valancy's journey of self-discovery and independence. Reaching out and grabbing all the happiness she could find made me stop and think: how would I live my life if I thought today might really be my last? A very poignant story of a young woman's search for love, independence, and self-worth.

4/5 stars

Title: The Blue Castle
Author: Lucy Maude Montgomery
Dundurn Press 2006
Originally published 1926
272 pages

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

"With its dark legends and passionate history, the windswept shores of Scotland are an archaeologist's dream. Verity Grey is thrilled by the challenge of uncovering an ancient Roman campsite in a small village. But as soon as she arrives, she can sense danger in the air.

Her eccentric boss, Peter Quinnell, has spent his whole life searching for the resting place of the lost Ninth Roman Legion and is convinced he's finally found it -- not because of any scientific evidence, but because a local boy has "seen" a Roman soldier walking in the fields, a ghostly sentinel who guards the bodies of his long-dead comrades. Surprisingly, Verity believes in Peter, and the boy, and even in the Sentinel, who seems determined to become her own protector....but from what?" (from the publisher)


my thoughts:

Another enjoyable tale from Canadian author Susanna Kearsley...I really enjoyed her romantic suspense novel, Mariana, which was very reminiscent of the style of Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt, only Kearsley includes of touch of the paranormal.
Her heroines are intelligent, sensible, professional young women who refrain from foolishly rushing headlong into obviously dangerous situations -- how refreshing!

Although the revelation of the villain was a bit rushed and anticlimatic, I still enjoyed the dream-like quality of her writing and she kept me turning the pages, immersed in ancient history, prophesy, and a sentinel ghost who desperately wants to communicate with the living and make amends for the past.

The story is based on the Yeat's beautiful and haunting poem, "He Bids His Beloved Be at Peace" --

I hear the Shadowy Horses, their long manes a-shake
Their hoofs heavy with tumult, their eyes glimmering white....
O vanity of Sleep, Hope, Dream, endless Desire,
The Horses of Disaster plunge in the heavy clay.
Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat
Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast,
Drowning love's lovely hour in deep twilight of rest,
And hiding their tossing manes and their tumultuous feet.


A perfect read for a long, quiet rainy day!


3.5/5 stars

Title: The Shadowy Horses
Author: Susanna Kearsley
Allison & Busby Limited
1997
407 pages
genre: romantic suspense