Review: The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau

The Crown
By: Nancy Bilyeau
Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN: 978-1-4516-2686-5

Review:

Joanna Stafford forsook the life of a noblewoman that was her birthright as a niece to the Duke of Buckingham for a life of seclusion and spirituality as a Dominican novice at the famed Dartford Priory. These are turbulent times in which to dedicated oneself to the service of the Catholic Church, as ever since Henry VIII obtained the dissolution of his marriage from Katherine of Aragon, the monasteries and priories so beloved by that queen and her supporters have found themselves under attack. All are threatened with dissolution at best, torture and a martyr's death at worst for not bowing to Henry's edict demanding they swear an Oath of Supremacy, binding them to the king first and foremost and ceding to the authority of the new Church of England. But safely ensconced within Dartford's walls, Joanna paid little heed to the tumult of religious politics consuming the outside world, until she receives news she cannot ignore - her beloved cousin has been sentenced to death. Lady Margaret Bulmer may pay with her life for opposing the dissolution of the monasteries and priories, but Johanna determines she will not die alone, and defying the rules of enclosure embarks on a dangerous journey to Margaret's appointed place of execution.

But the day of Margaret's death nothing goes as planned. When Johanna's father attempts to interfere with the execution, both he and Johanna are arrested and thrown into the infamous Tower of London on suspicion of treason. While incarcerated within the Tower's formidable walls, Johanna finds herself the unwilling pawn of the ruthless Bishop of Winchester, Stephen Gardiner. He arranges for Johanna's release, on one condition -she is tasked with finding the legendary crown of Athelstan, the first king of a united Britain, whose crown is rumored to possess incredible and dangerous powers. The crown is rumored to be hidden at Dartford, and only when it is safely in Gardiner's possession will her father be released. And so Johanna returns to the priory under a cloud of suspicion and mistrust, her sacred home, once a refuge, now heavy with the portent of faceless dangers. For while her father's life hangs in the balance, Johanna is faced with an equally graver choice -- can one who sought the peace of a religious life survive the treacherous machinations of court? And more importantly, can her faith survive the trials and discoveries her search for the crown requires?

People, THIS BOOK. The Crown is a fresh, utterly captivating glimpse into Tudor England through the eyes of those faithful to the old ways, those who fought to preserve a way of life threatened by the politics of lust and power. Its a rare thing to discover a debut so absorbing and masterfully executed -- a pitch-perfect historical that reads like a tautly-plotted thriller. The intrigue of Henry's court has provided endless fodder for fictional retellings, from the television show The Tudors, numerous films, and countless novels examining the lives of Henry and his wives. Bilyeau smartly sets her debut outside the court proper -- its influence is felt, but The Crown stands apart by showcasing the ripple effect of Henry's policies on those who sought to live their lives and faith outside the court-proscribed norm.

The Crown is positively saturated with the history of faith. Through the characters of Johanna and those who join her in her bid to preserve a vanishing way of life, The Crown is one of the most stirring, well-drawn portraits of faith that I've ever read. This is an emotionally-charged, vibrantly-detailed picture of faith under fire, both personally and corporately, never shying from its oft-times brutally honest examination of the nature and cost of belief, doubt, and sacrifice. While persecution between groups of people, be it over religious, ethnic, or political differences, is as old as mankind itself, here I was particularly struck by the tragedy of the conflict between Catholic and Protestant. Both claiming belief in the same God and His Son, and each side in turn guilty of horrors in the name of advancing their faith.

Joanna is a wonderfully compelling, multi-faceted heroine. A fiery mix of faith, devotion, and a fierce loyalty and temper, the latter often putting her at odds with the lifestyle to which she aspires. In a world where women were confined to strictly proscribed roles, Joanna is a woman wholly of her time, yet determined to be her own woman, above all striving to be true to herself, her faith, and her God. Bilyeau's cast of supporting players are equally well-sketched -- and let me just say, I cannot wait to see what Bilyeau has planned for Joanna's relationships with the angst-ridden healer, Brother Edmund, and the DELICIOUS constable, Geoffrey Scovill. :)

The Crown is an expertly-plotted, page-turning thriller replete with a wealth of historical detail and atmosphere, bringing the sixteenth-century to life. Bilyeau peppers the narrative with fascinating detail, everything from feast preparations to medical treatments for seizures. Given Joanna's status as a novice, Bilyeau deftly recreates the world of the priory, the beliefs and traditions that form the bedrock of Joanna's character. And the history of relics -- particularly the Athelstan crown -- the reverence with which they were viewed and shadowy legends that grew up surrounding their history. With her stunning debut Bilyeau has delivered a heady, unforgettable mix of fact and fiction. An author to watch, I cannot wait to see where she takes Joanna next!

About the book:

Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin's side. Arrested for interfering with the king's justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

While Joanna is in the Tower, ruthless Bishop of Winchester forces her to spy for him: to save her father's life she must find an ancient relic -- a crown so powerful, it may possess the ability to end the Reformation.

With Cromwell's troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must decide who she can trust so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England's past.

*My deepest thanks to TLC Book Tours for the review opportunity!

Review: Tempest in the White City by Deeanne Gist

Tempest in the White City (Prequel to It Happened at the Fair)
By: Deeanne Gist
Publisher: Howard Books
ASIN: B00B0XIC74

Review:

When Texas Ranger Hunter Scott was assigned to work the Chicago World's Fair, he anticipated working an exhibit that was suited to his rough-and-tumble tastes. Instead he's assigned to the Women's Building, where every corner was created, designed, filled, and run by women. When his nagging stomach pains blossom into an ailment that leaves him as helpless as a babe, he finds his welfare dependent on the one thing he fears most -- a doctor, and a female one to boot. Dr. Billy Jack Tate thought her greatest challenge was being one of the first female doctors in a male-dominated field -- until a handsome, stubborn Texas Ranger stumbles into her clinic and sparks fly.

Tempest in the White City could perhaps be more accurately titled Tempest in a Teacup, as I remain unsure of the point of its release. Ostensibly a prelude to Gist's latest full-length novel, It Happened at the Fair, Tempest is a slim story featuring characters that don't even feature in the later book (if the search inside feature is to be believed). While this story hints at Gist's ability to bring the 1893 World's Fair to life, replete with historical detail and ephemera, this vibrant backdrop is overshadowed by a meet-cute that consists of, I kid you not, a man in desperate need of an enema. It's an interesting twist on the always-popular battle of the sexes storyline in historical fiction, but with so little time in which to develop decent characterizations, as a reader all I was left with was a story about a man so neurotic about his own body processes that he makes himself seriously ill. I mean, really? Perhaps in a full-length novel you could get some plot mileage from a relationship that builds around late nineteenth-century constipation treatments, but in this format it's just...awkward. Here's hoping Gist's full length follow-up takes full advantage of its setting to craft a more...palatable romance.

About the book:

When a World’s Fair Guard and the woman doctor assigned to treat him square off in the White City, a storm is brewing…

Hunter Scott is one of the elite. An 1893 Chicago World’s Fair guard specifically chosen for his height, physique, character, and ability to serve and protect. When he is overcome with debilitating abdominal pain, Hunter stumbles to the Fair’s infirmary only to discover the doctor is female—who ever heard of a female doctor? But even worse, she has the nerve to diagnose him, the toughest man west of any place east, with constipation—an unspeakable ailment in mixed company. What will happen when this tough Texan and attractive doctor face off? Either way, a tempest is brewing...

subscription options!

Just a reminder that this weekend marks the demise of Google Reader, so if you haven't already and you use GR get your subscriptions transferred to a new site! :) I've been using Feedly.com for several months now and I just love it -- personally I think it is the closest option to GR but better if you're looking for increased organizing ability and ease-of-use. The second most popular option seems to be Bloglovin -- I've added a Bloglovin' subscription button in the right-hand sidebar, or you can click here to keep up with Booktalk & More on that site. If y'all have any other GR replacements that you love please chime in with links in the comments!

Matt Smith's Who Goodbye

This has been around for a while but I finally got the chance to watch it. Matt, you'll be missed!

Review: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer

A Big Hand for the Doctor (Doctor Who 50th Anniversary #1)
By: Eoin Colfer
Publisher: Puffin
ASIN: B00AX0MRNK

Review:

In honor of Doctor Who's fiftieth anniversary in 2013, Puffin announced plans to publish one story each month, each featuring one of the Doctor's eleven incarnations. Eoin Colfer was tapped to deliver the first story, featuring the First Doctor as portrayed by William Hartnell. Since I came to love Doctor Who with the show's resurrection under Russell T. Davies and Nine (Christopher Eccleston), I have a difficult time judging fiction featuring pre-Nine incarnations of the Doctor, as I have so little experience with the original program. That said, I was excited to read Colfer's offering into the Who-universe, as having read a few of his Artemis Fowl novels several years ago I was impressed by his imagination and humor.

Hartnell's Doctor always struck me as rather grandfatherly and frail, an opinion immediately borne out within the pages of this story as I learn that the Doctor's first companion was his granddaughter, Susan, and his mannerisms are suggestive of an old curmudgeon. *wink* The whole plot line involving a bio-mechanical hand and the Soul Pirates is suggestive of the 2005 Christmas special, "The Christmas Invasion," with the Sycorax, a sword fight, and the newly-regenerated Ten regrowing his own lost hand. While I can't really speak to how Colfer's Doctor compares to Hartnell's portrayal, personally I enjoyed the chance (albeit a short one) to see the Doctor interact with a family member in an adventure that recalls one of my own favorite Ten episodes. Though the story itself is barely fleshed-out at a slim forty-odd pages, is nonetheless an entertaining example of both Colfer's imagination and a concept that fits comfortably within the Doctor's universe.

Some criticisms of this story allege that this Doctor is too much of the "Nu-Who" generation, and indeed it's hard to dismiss that allegation when you have this allegedly old man turning into something of an action hero in the second half of the story. I have mixed feelings about this -- on the one hand, I like the idea of writing an old Doctor adventure but updating his point-of-view to include current cultural touchstones, but on the other hand I'd like a clear, engaging snapshot of the Doctor as he was at the beginning of his adventures. That's the rub with time travel -- the show itself is very much a product of its time, but we forget that it's all out of order too. *wink* I wish Colfer had been given the chance to write a full-length adventure featuring Eleven as I think he'd be a perfect fit for Matt Smith's quirks and energy -- but that being said I enjoyed this short story -- especially the epilogue -- and look forward to checking out more of these short stories.

About the book:

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.

London, 1900. The First Doctor is missing both his hand and his granddaughter, Susan. Faced with the search for Susan, a strange beam of soporific light, and a host of marauding Soul Pirates intent on harvesting human limbs, the Doctor is promised a dangerous journey into a land he may never forget...

Review: Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson

Miss Buncle's Book
By: D.E. Stevenson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ISBN: 978-1402270826

Review:

Thanks to the Depression, Miss Barbara Buncle's finances have never been in such dire straits. As the dividends she's relied upon for her living dwindle, delivering ever-smaller returns, she hatches a desperate plot -- surely she'll make money if she sells a novel. But first, she'll have to write it -- and as Barbara is quick to admit, she has little imagination. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and what Miss Buncle lacks in imagination she more than makes up for in determination and observational skill. And so Miss Buncle writes what she knows, and when to her shock and delight her novel, Disturber of the Peace, is published (under the pseudonym John Smith), it becomes abundantly clear that what the unassuming spinster knows best is her town of Silverstream and its varied and colorful inhabitants.

To Miss Buncle's shock, Disturber of the Peace becomes a runaway bestseller, alternately lauded for its simple, refreshing realism or reviled for its gossipy tone and passionate scenes, with the controversy reaching a fevered pitch when Barbara's friends and neighbors recognize themselves within its pages. She never expected those painted in a less-than-favorable light in her book to become obsessed with unmasking John Smith's true identity -- or for others to take their fictional doppelgangers' actions to heart, translating her script for their lives from the page to reality. As the lines between fiction and reality become increasingly blurred, Miss Buncle -- she of little imagination -- finds herself facing the greatest challenge of all: penning her own happy ending and finding the courage to live it out.

People, you know the saying you can't judge a book by its cover? Well I'm happy to say in this case you totally can, as the gorgeous, charming, red-accented cover Sourcebooks created for this reissue is the entire reason I picked up this novel in the first place. First published in 1934, Miss Buncle's Book is quirky, engaging, utterly charming, and very much a product of its time, as the best way I can think of to describe this story is a screwball comedy in novel form. Screwball comedies reached their creative zenith during the Great Depression, tapping into the public's desire for escapist fare, oft-times wrapped in biting -- and hilarious -- social satire (i.e., My Man Godfrey, You Can't Take It With You, etc.). Miss Buncle's Book is startlingly reminiscent of the later 1936 gem Theodora Goes Wild, starring the inimitable Irene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas. In that film, Theodora pens a racy bestseller under a pseudonym and she's desperate to maintain her reputation while evading the ardent pursuit of the man responsible for illustrating her book cover -- the latter sure she needs rescuing from her strait-laced hometown. In contrast to the later film, Stevenson's novel is the bitingly funny portrait of a town in flux, completely at the mercy of a disingenuous authoress who had the temerity to write what she knows with brutal honesty. *wink*

While Barbara Buncle is linchpin around which events revolve, the novel is rather episodic in nature, traveling house to house, examining the impact of Disturber of the Peace vis-a-vis each Silverstream resident's sense of humor (or lack thereof), contrasted with the plot trajectory their literary counterpart is set upon within the novel. Stevenson throws so many characters into the mix that between there actual identities and their fictional counterparts, keeping everyone straight is a bit confusing at first. But once the story finds its rhythm, following Barbara's attempts to deal with the fallout from her debut while trying to pen a sequel, and the impact of her startlingly sharp observations playing out in the lives of her unwitting subjects, the resultant novel is an utter charmer. While I loved watching Barbara blossom, exceeding the expectations of everyone who thought they knew her, I particularly loved the story of the Vicar, the gold-digger, and the student -- a love triangle for the ages!

Miss Buncle's Book sparkles with humor and period detail, a timeless and hilarious examination of the pitfalls of pride and the foibles of human nature. Sure to appeal to fans of P.G. Wodehouse and the like, Stevenson's wit and charm shines. I'm thrilled to have at long last discovered a new favorite "classic" author, and cannot wait to explore her backlist further!

About the book:

Who knew one book could cause so much chaos?

Barbara Buncle is in a bind. Times are harsh, and Barbara's bank account has seen better days. Maybe she could sell a novel...if she knew any stories. Stumped for ideas, Barbara draws inspiration  from her fellow residents of Silverstream, the little English village she knows inside and out.

To her surprise, the novel is a smash. It's a good thing she wrote under a pseudonym, because the folks of Silverstream are in an uproar. But what really turns Miss Buncle's world around is this: what happens to the characters in her book starts happening to their real-life counterparts. Does life really imitate art?

A beloved author who has sold more than seven million books, D.E. Stevenson is at her best with Miss Buncle's Book, crafting a highly original and charming tale about what happens when people see themselves through someone else's eyes.

FINALLY!

I can't remember the last time I was quite THIS excited for a book's release!! The Hero's Lot is the WILDLY ANTICIPATED FOLLOW-UP to Patrick Carr's debut A Cast of Stones, which you can read all about HERE - AND I HAVE A COPY!!! Good times ahead people, GOOD TIMES. :)

Review: Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh

Dreamspell
By: Tamara Leigh
Publisher: Tamara Leigh
ASIN: B007MDF8OG

Review:

Dr. Kennedy Plain, a sleep disorders specialist, has one driving passion in life -- to complete her study analyzing the affect of sleep deprivation on dreams.  Her deadline is nothing less than the end of her very life, as the inoperable tumor within her brain increasingly threatens the once-vibrant woman's most precious commodity -- time. When one of her long-time patients -- a Gulf War veteran named Mac -- comes to her with a shocking theory, Kennedy is forced to re-evaluate the cost of her research as well as the extraordinary, inexplicable power of that most immeasurable of human emotions, hope. Mac comes to her with outlandish tales of time travel through dreams, of history in flux, a history he hopes to return to in order to right a terrible wrong -- to save the nephews of the infamous Earl of Sinwell, Fulke Wynland, from death at the hand of their erstwhile protector. Kennedy dismisses Mac's story as the ravings of an unstable mind. But, stripped of her research grant and sent home to await her death, Kennedy becomes increasingly obsessed with Mac's tales, and when she finally succumbs to sleep at the end of an eighty-plus hour deprivation cycle, she finds herself thrust into fourteenth-century England. Face-to-face with the infamous Fulke, Kennedy is determined to maintain her hold on 21st-century reality. But Fulke and his effect on Kennedy's emotions, is all too real, and Kennedy becomes increasingly invested in her dream world. For Fulke is not the villain history claims, and if Kennedy can accept her impossible second chance she might not only rewrite Fulke's history but her own as well.

Having read and enjoyed Tamara Leigh's contemporary-set chick-lit novels (Stealing Adda -- a classic!), I was thrilled to see her return to the genre that launched her writing career -- medieval romance. Only this time, medieval romance with a twist -- time travel via one's dreams. Reminiscent of the film Timeline, where one is given the chance to right a historical wrong, this is a book just begging to made made into a film. From the romance, adventure, and intrigue surrounding Fulke's position at court, Dreamspell is an enthralling novel, perfectly poised to transition Leigh's contemporary fans to her historical work.

As someone who has, on occasion, dealt with sleep issues, I found the fictional application of Kennedy's work fascinating. Leigh taps into this rich vein of possibility with a beautifully-told story contrasting Kennedy's modern sensibilities with Fulke's chivalric code. I loved the spicy, slow-burning tension between Kennedy and Fulke, the former completely out of her element masquerading as Lady Lark, one of the king's infamous mistresses, while the latter, hardened by years of battle, finds himself attracted and stymied in turn by "Lark's" strange ways. Leigh takes her time developing a relationship between her leads, forcing each to face their deepest fears, and a veritable host of lies that would seek to destroy any hope of happiness. The mistrust  and impossibilities laced throughout the relationship that would derail it make their eventual, hard-won declarations all the sweeter.

While Dreamspell isn't an inspirational novel per se, given Leigh's history in the inspy market I couldn't help but liken Kennedy's dream journeys to a test of faith. The circumstances are impossible, every logical feeling screams no -- but when she steps out in faith, embracing her improbable second chance at life, she is in a very real sense reborn. And the healing and life found within this second chance is beautifully told, underscored by one of the most poignant, pitch-perfect epilogues I've ever read.

Dreamspell shines with Leigh's passion for the time period. Her carefully-crafted characters, attention to detail, and escalating plot tension work in concert to craft an unforgettable, thoroughly enjoyable tale. It's worth noting that this marks Leigh's first venture into self-publishing, and she is to be lauded for the care she took in delivering a manuscript as professionally presented and crafted as her traditionally published works, from the lovely cover design to the text formatting. Both gorgeously told, poignant tale of second chances and a heart-stopping romance, I loved this book and am more eager than ever to see fiction of this ilk from Leigh's pen. Well done!

About the book:

A time to live. A time to die. A time to dream.

Sleep disorders specialist Kennedy Plain has been diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. When her research subject dies after trying to convince her he has achieved dream-induced time travel and her study is shelved, she enlists herself as a subject to complete her research. But when she dreams herself into 14th-century England and falls into the hands of Fulke Wynland, a man history has condemned as a murderer, she must not only stay alive long enough to find a way to return to her own time, but prevent Fulke from murdering his young nephews. And yet, the more time she spends with the medieval warrior, the more difficult it is to believe he is capable of committing the heinous crime for which he has been reviled for 600 years.

Baron Fulke Wynland has been granted guardianship of his brother’s heirs despite suspicions that he seeks to steal their inheritance. When the king sends a mysterious woman to care for the boys, Fulke is surprised by the lady's hostility toward him--and more surprised to learn she is to be his wife. But when his nephews are abducted, the two must overcome their mutual dislike to discover the boys' fate. What Fulke never expects is to feel for this woman whose peculiar speech, behavior, and talk of dream travel could see her burned as a witch.