5 stars
R- 1.5? It's Victorian, after all.
Book 6 in the Lady Emily mysteries
Oh how I love these books.
This latest installation is fabulous-- laugh-out-loud funny and utterly quotable.
For example:
"Have you ever met Lady Glover?" I asked Ivy, keeping my voice low. "She drives her phaeton through Hyde Park with zebras pulling it."
"Yes, I've seen them," Ivy said. "She makes it rather hard to miss."
"Zebras, Ivy. Zebras," I said. "Why are we not better acquainted with this woman?"
:D
All in all, wholeheartedly recommended. But read the first 5 first, probably.
Showing posts with label Tasha Alexander. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tasha Alexander. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Friday, December 24, 2010
Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander
5 stars
R- 2
It's no secret that I love these books.
This latest was no different.
Recovering from her latest adventure in Constantinople, Emily is in Normandy "enjoying" her new mother-in-law's "hospitality".
Between tensions there and her slow recovery, things are rough.... and then she finds a body.
We have a cameo appearance from the colorful (pun intended) Monet, and the dashing Sabastian Capet is back. Plus, of course, Cecile and her ever-present pooches.
Some of the domestic drama was... annoying. Thing is, it was all COMPLETELY in character AND appropriate to the era. Therefore, you couldn't be too annoyed.
And really, the way it's resolved is great. I loved that. :)
I didn't see the ending coming, which is always kind of a nice thing. I mean, I sort of saw bits of it, but I hadn't yet figured out who did it.
Some of the emotional and domestic trickiness is kind of hard... especially if you're a mom. But not terrible.
I cannot wait for the next one. I never can. :)
Counts for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
R- 2
It's no secret that I love these books.
This latest was no different.
Recovering from her latest adventure in Constantinople, Emily is in Normandy "enjoying" her new mother-in-law's "hospitality".
Between tensions there and her slow recovery, things are rough.... and then she finds a body.
We have a cameo appearance from the colorful (pun intended) Monet, and the dashing Sabastian Capet is back. Plus, of course, Cecile and her ever-present pooches.
Some of the domestic drama was... annoying. Thing is, it was all COMPLETELY in character AND appropriate to the era. Therefore, you couldn't be too annoyed.
And really, the way it's resolved is great. I loved that. :)
I didn't see the ending coming, which is always kind of a nice thing. I mean, I sort of saw bits of it, but I hadn't yet figured out who did it.
Some of the emotional and domestic trickiness is kind of hard... especially if you're a mom. But not terrible.
I cannot wait for the next one. I never can. :)
Counts for the Support Your Local Library Challenge.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
5 stars
R- 2
Book 4 of the Lady Emily books
I loved this one. We've finally moved past the love triangle/romantic tension/he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not nonsense that got on my nerves in the third book and I loved it.
Emily and Colin are on their wedding trip. And naturally they find a dead body. Sigh. So much for the honeymoon. :D
As they become tangled in the intrigues of the harem and other bizarre politics of Constantinople, they race to find a murderer before the body count climbs.
I thought the romance was cute, the story was great and all throughout it was rich with culture and history. All in all, Tasha Alexander has done it again.
When's the next one coming out?? :D
Totally counts for the Support Your Local Library Challenge-- though I really need my own copy.
R- 2
Book 4 of the Lady Emily books
I loved this one. We've finally moved past the love triangle/romantic tension/he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not nonsense that got on my nerves in the third book and I loved it.
Emily and Colin are on their wedding trip. And naturally they find a dead body. Sigh. So much for the honeymoon. :D
As they become tangled in the intrigues of the harem and other bizarre politics of Constantinople, they race to find a murderer before the body count climbs.
I thought the romance was cute, the story was great and all throughout it was rich with culture and history. All in all, Tasha Alexander has done it again.
When's the next one coming out?? :D
Totally counts for the Support Your Local Library Challenge-- though I really need my own copy.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Buying Books!
Inspired by Amy's Challenge and Cari's post, and armed with gift cards, I went shopping over the weekend!Yep, I bought myself books for my birthday. (Or were the gift cards from Christmas? No, definitely birthday.)
Gotta love browsing the bookstore!
I got The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! because the library only lets you renew things so many times.... Same with Magic Lost, Trouble Found, and I popped my SIGNED BOOKPLATE from Lisa Shearin in it! I had to have them order Armed and Magical, but I should get that next week!
Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Sanctuary was the only one of hers they had, but I do have a used copy of Silent in the Grave, so that works. For now.
And they didn't have Tasha Alexander's Fatal Waltz, so I could only get And Only to Deceive and Poisoned Season. But hey, it's all good.
And I LOVE the paperback copy of Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg, so I'm waiting for the paperback to get Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Wand too. Gotta love Gail Carson Levine!
:D:D
I love buying books!
Monday, February 2, 2009
One Book Meme
First of all, let me start by saying that I have no idea what the rules are for a meme, so there's a good chance that I'm not doing this right.
But.... I was entertained by THIS POST and thought I'd give it a go.
One book you're currently reading-- I am sadly between books. Who knows what I'll pick up next.
One book that changed your life-- Um.... honestly.... The Book of Mormon is all I can think of.
One book you’d want on a deserted island-- you cannot honestly expect me to choose just one! That would be cruel and unusual! I'd definitely need both of Lisa Shearin's, Deanna Raybourn's, and all of Tasha Alexander's.... At the very least.
One book you’ve read more than once-- Magic Lost, Trouble Found. But you already knew that.
One book you’ve never been able to finish-- I can actually count on one hand the books I've never finished. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of them. (Granted, I think I was 11 or 12 when I tried it....)
One book that made you laugh-- Eats, Shoots and Leaves.
One book that made you cry-- I very very rarely cry at books or movies, but Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince did it.
One book you keep rereading-- I reread a lot. I've read the books of The Work and the Glory at least 3 times each.
One book you’ve been meaning to read-- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've checked it out more than once....
One book you believe everyone should read-- I think everyone should read a little Dante.
Grab the nearest book. Open it to page 56. Find the fifth sentence--
"Maeve turned her head, said sharply, "Be merciful to her. You at least were loved."
-- The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia A. McKillip
Wow, I'm really bad at picking just one for anything.....
But.... I was entertained by THIS POST and thought I'd give it a go.
One book you're currently reading-- I am sadly between books. Who knows what I'll pick up next.
One book that changed your life-- Um.... honestly.... The Book of Mormon is all I can think of.
One book you’d want on a deserted island-- you cannot honestly expect me to choose just one! That would be cruel and unusual! I'd definitely need both of Lisa Shearin's, Deanna Raybourn's, and all of Tasha Alexander's.... At the very least.
One book you’ve read more than once-- Magic Lost, Trouble Found. But you already knew that.
One book you’ve never been able to finish-- I can actually count on one hand the books I've never finished. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of them. (Granted, I think I was 11 or 12 when I tried it....)
One book that made you laugh-- Eats, Shoots and Leaves.
One book that made you cry-- I very very rarely cry at books or movies, but Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince did it.
One book you keep rereading-- I reread a lot. I've read the books of The Work and the Glory at least 3 times each.
One book you’ve been meaning to read-- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've checked it out more than once....
One book you believe everyone should read-- I think everyone should read a little Dante.
Grab the nearest book. Open it to page 56. Find the fifth sentence--
"Maeve turned her head, said sharply, "Be merciful to her. You at least were loved."
-- The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia A. McKillip
Wow, I'm really bad at picking just one for anything.....
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Movie Novelization
Which is not something I would normally read. But since it was done by an author I love, I figured, what the heck.
Elizabeth- The Golden Age novelization by Tasha Alexander
4 Stars
R- 3 ish
If you've seen the movie, I'm sure you know what to expect. I haven't actually seen it, so I went in blind. I did want to see the movie, though, and it's the kind of thing I like to read.
Anyway.
The style is a little jumpy, but I think it works. It didn't bother me, and that's something that ususally does. (And I must be more tired than I thought, 'cause this review is sounding a little jumpy!)
What I really did like- the writing of Elizabeth, the character. The contrast between Elizabeth the public queen and Elizabeth the woman was great-- especially during the two more personally pivotal events. (No, I'm not going to tell you what those were. Goodness.)
The other characters aren't as deeply developed, but it's not really about them, so you don't mind too much. And really, since a lot of them are historical figures, you don't need as much as you would if they were fictional.
What I was not as happy about-- the notes were really slim. I LOVE to read the research/historical notes in fiction like this and she didn't include a whole lot. There is some info, but more would have been awesome. (Yes, I'm a nerd.)
Elizabeth- The Golden Age novelization by Tasha Alexander
4 Stars
R- 3 ish
If you've seen the movie, I'm sure you know what to expect. I haven't actually seen it, so I went in blind. I did want to see the movie, though, and it's the kind of thing I like to read.
Anyway.
The style is a little jumpy, but I think it works. It didn't bother me, and that's something that ususally does. (And I must be more tired than I thought, 'cause this review is sounding a little jumpy!)
What I really did like- the writing of Elizabeth, the character. The contrast between Elizabeth the public queen and Elizabeth the woman was great-- especially during the two more personally pivotal events. (No, I'm not going to tell you what those were. Goodness.)
The other characters aren't as deeply developed, but it's not really about them, so you don't mind too much. And really, since a lot of them are historical figures, you don't need as much as you would if they were fictional.
What I was not as happy about-- the notes were really slim. I LOVE to read the research/historical notes in fiction like this and she didn't include a whole lot. There is some info, but more would have been awesome. (Yes, I'm a nerd.)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
It's the weekend....
and I'm crazy busy! So, I think I'll take a break from Reader's Choice (I tell you, ADD) to tell you about one of my new absolute favoritest series! (Yes, I know, that's atrocious grammar.)
And Only To Deceive
A Poisoned Season
A Fatal Waltz-- all by Tasha Alexander
5 Stars
R- 1
Mystery and intrigue in Victorian England! Lady Emily Ashton has been widowed and when she decides to learn more about the husband she didn't really know well, she discovers much more than she'd planned! Theft, intrigue and murder... oh my!
(This is the first book where all this happens.) Here's an excerpt:
"My mother and I do not particularly enjoy each others company. From the day the queen kissed me during my presentation at court in Buckingham Palace, I heard from Mother constant reminders that my looks would soon fade, and she admonished me to do my best to catch a husband immediately. That I had refused several good offers continued to vex her, and I will not bore the reader with the details of these trivial events. Suffice it to say that I had little interest in marriage. I cannot claim that this was due to lofty ideals of love or outrage at the submission demanded by many husbands of their wives. Frankly, I considered the proposition of matrimony immensely boring. Married women I knew did scarcely more than bear children and order around their servants. Their time consumed by mundane details, the most excitement for which they could hope was some social event at which they could meet one another and complain about said children and servants. I preferred my life at home. At least as a single woman, I had time to pursue my own interests, read voraciously, and travel when opportunity presented."
I'm not going to say another word about them... You just have to go read them!
(But if you want to be sneaky, you can learn more at http://www.tashaalexander.com/)
And Only To Deceive
A Poisoned Season
A Fatal Waltz-- all by Tasha Alexander
5 Stars
R- 1
Mystery and intrigue in Victorian England! Lady Emily Ashton has been widowed and when she decides to learn more about the husband she didn't really know well, she discovers much more than she'd planned! Theft, intrigue and murder... oh my!
(This is the first book where all this happens.) Here's an excerpt:
"My mother and I do not particularly enjoy each others company. From the day the queen kissed me during my presentation at court in Buckingham Palace, I heard from Mother constant reminders that my looks would soon fade, and she admonished me to do my best to catch a husband immediately. That I had refused several good offers continued to vex her, and I will not bore the reader with the details of these trivial events. Suffice it to say that I had little interest in marriage. I cannot claim that this was due to lofty ideals of love or outrage at the submission demanded by many husbands of their wives. Frankly, I considered the proposition of matrimony immensely boring. Married women I knew did scarcely more than bear children and order around their servants. Their time consumed by mundane details, the most excitement for which they could hope was some social event at which they could meet one another and complain about said children and servants. I preferred my life at home. At least as a single woman, I had time to pursue my own interests, read voraciously, and travel when opportunity presented."
I'm not going to say another word about them... You just have to go read them!
(But if you want to be sneaky, you can learn more at http://www.tashaalexander.com/)
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