A solid historical fiction novel with a love story but not one that will stay with me.
352339
Before I picked read FROM SAND AND ASH, I had no idea (or if I did, I totally forgot) of the incredible role the Catholic Church played in saving many Jewish people during World War II. Amy Harmon beautifully weaves together fiction and her own characters with historical truths, real heroes, and villains to form a harrowing tale of faith, love, and the power of unrelenting hope.

Harmon draws you in with an emotional prologue, finding our hero, Father Angelo Bianco, running for his life and frantically searching for Eva, the woman hes loved for years but cant have. Hes beaten almost to the point of immobility but that doesnt stop him from trying to make sure Eva is safe.

Afterwards, were taken back to when Angelo and Eva are young children, prior to the new laws that restricted what the Jews were allowed to do. Eva is Jewish and Angelo is Catholic, but religion was never a issue for them until later. The clamp around the Jews autonomy in Europe reaches Italy and begins to tighten to the point where its dangerous for Jews. The threat of imminent death takes hold, forcing Angelo to fulfill a promise he made to Evas fatherto protect her at all costs.

Angelos family heavily encouraged him to become a priest, but throughout the story, he struggles with the desires of his heart and Gods will for his life. This internal struggle is complicated by the fact that he loves Eva in a way a man loves a woman, but hes always deemed his commitment to the Church as his calling. His choice has haunted him and hurt Eva in the process. But what I liked in this story is how his view on his true destiny shifts and changes, showing the true providence of God.

Both Eva and Angelo go through so much together: working to save the Jews of Rome, keeping her identity a secret, and the ever-present threats to the lives of the Jews. Eva and Angelo change drastically throughout the story, hardening to the harsh realities of war, but their love for each other never falters. And thats the beauty of this story: their love is constant.

Much of the book centers on religious faith and Gods will, but I would also argue that there is an even more general theme of just having faith, having hope when times seem bleak. Sometimes hope is all you can have when you have nothing. One of my favorite passages was when Eva was talking about mitzvah, a holy act or tradition that elevates the mundane to the divine. That idea was woven throughout the book in different contexts and I find it quite beautiful.

The prologue reveals that the hero and heroine are in serious peril, which really left me wanting to know how they got to that point. But I had some trouble getting into the story immediately. I liked that there was an external force at play to keep our hero and heroine apart, aside from just the internal conflict of Angelo being a priest. The character development is done well but I was more attached to the characters plight rather the characters themselves.

As much as I really enjoyed this historical aspects of this book, some of the more longer historical narratives slowed down the pacing of the plot. I wanted there to be a little more story with our characters and edited down educational dumping. I liked this book but it won't be one that will stay with me for a long time, which is another reason I didn't rate it higher.

Like I mentioned before, I didn't know the amazing story of how the Catholic Church actively hid Jewish in convents and operated a World War II Underground Railroad, taking Jews from danger to safety. All in all, a solid historical fiction novel with romantic elements, full of moments that will break your heart and then fill it up again.

* Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy of From Sand and Ash. All opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving this book for free.
4849703
I would have given this one 3 and 1/2 stars if I could have.

I wanted to read To Capture Her Heart because I read A Place in His Heart and wanted to see how Rebecca continued the series.  I really LOVE the historical detail Rebecca puts in her stories and I especially love the descriptions of how people made things back then.  In the last book it was linen and in this one it's bayberry candles among other things!  I found that I enjoyed reading about Mary and Barnabas again.  Where I'm torn is I feel like the pace is a bit sluggish and only captures my attention for short periods of time.  Bouncing from season to season it's very interesting what day to day life held for people in this time in history, but I find myself not really drawn to Heather Flower like I was with Mary.  Heather Flower is an interesting character but I think I felt closer to Mary and more emotionally connected to the outcome.  A love triangle is at the heart of this tale and Rebecca is very crafty in not letting on who Heather Flower will choose in the end!  I found that there are times it's hard for me to read and then there will be a scene that I just devour!  The end is exciting and it has left me wondering what will happen next since it really doesn't have an ending.  Overall I'm finding it hard to finish this one, but it has made me want to see what the next one might hold.  Yup I'm torn. :/

Songs to come:
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

~ASC

*I requested and received this book from Revell for the purpose of reviewing it.  This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about To Capture Her Heart. ~ASC
4591727
While I didn't dislike this book, I felt the author missed a few steps.

The storyline was interesting, but I always feel that when writing historical fiction there's a responsibility to research and educate. I didn't learn very  much about WWII that I didn't already know. Placing characters in Normandy just wasn't enough for me. It was almost a romance story set during WWII.

So if you look at it as a romance, I found the author repeatedly "telling" me how much the characters cared for each other. I would have preferred more depth so that I "felt" their relationships. Books like this always remind me of the complications and challenges that writers face. I admire every writer for trying to develop characters while still watching word count and story accuracy.

And if I'm going to get really picky, (going to be vague so I don't include any spoilers) it seemed unrealistic that serious wounds could heal enough within months so that touch and clothing wouldn't be problematic. Especially considering wartime medicine in the '40s.

I don't regret reading it; it was definitely entertaining and held my interest. I just expected more.

My opinion.
1012640
Maid of Deception is a book to be read for the characters. I say this because the story doesn't really play up the historical setting, and the plot wasn't focused. Admittedly, the characters could have been fleshed out more, but they're definitely the centerpiece in the novel. Each maid of honor has a unique personality and skill that makes her invaluable for the queen's services. Beatrice is the maid of deception, the one who specializes in court politics and ferreting out secrets.

For someone who is supposed to know about everything going on at court, Beatrice is surprisingly nave and blind to things she doesn't want to see. For example, she seems to believe that her father is out to ruin her life and doesn't trust him to run the family estate. She also seems to believe that she needs to be in control of everything. In spite of this, she's a pretty likable character with her own insecurities. I actually would have liked her vulnerabilities to be played up more. While some things are mentioned, there isn't a lot of elaboration, and it resulted in some surprises when Beatrice acts contrary to what I'd come to expect of her.

I did have a serious problem with the romance. In the early days, when Alasdair is trying to get Beatrice to pay attention to him, he gets really intrusiveeyeing her inappropriately and even, at times, touching her inappropriately and getting into her private space. There are times as well when they kiss that he acts overpowering, dominating her with his physical strength. Now, I have no problem with this when a couple is in a serious, exclusive relationship, but he acts domineering and intrusive at a time when she makes it clear that she has no interest in him whatsoever. I don't find this romantic but rather very, very disturbing. So though I found Alasdair quite charming later on in the book when a friendship blooms between him and Beatrice, and it becomes apparent he's not just some boorish outlander in search of a conquest, I didn't ever find myself letting my guard down around him.

This isn't a book I'd recommend if you're really interested in the time period. I'm not a medieval England expert, but there seem to be a lot of inconsistencies in the mannerisms of the people and the time period. I'm definitely glad the people don't use "period talk" (I'd be at such a loss trying to understsand what they say!), but I do expect some degree of historical accuracy in a historical fiction as well as a greater attempt at world building so that readers can get a feel for the time period. As it is, it feels like the time period was chosen for the romantic feel. I wouldn't read it for the spy aspect either. There isn't much intrigue to the plot. Rather, it feels like Beatrice moves forward from one event to another. The only solid resolution I feel we get is with Beatrice's heart.

For all my complaints, the writing did flow smoothly, and the different maids of honor are compelling in their own right. I would be potentially interested in reading the next installment. I recommend Maid of Deception to readers looking for a YA historical romance with a dominating male alpha figure.
1291130
I typically enjoy all varieties of historical fiction, and Pillars of the Earth was no exception.  I enjoyed how the story crossed close to fifty years' time.  The main characters were nicely developed, and I found myself rooting for Prior Phillip, Ellen, Tom, Aliena and Jack.  Alfred was an interesting villain, because I'm not really sure *how* he ended up being so contemptible.  In early chapters, he seemed like a kind and spirited boy. Perhaps he changed when his mother died - but that fact is never really established. I found it difficult to really dislike him completely because I didn't understand the "why" behind his behavior.  Waleran Bigod and the Hamleigh family were solidly evil characters. Their persistent evil gave the story's protagonists something to struggle against in every stage of the book.  I was glad to see Remigius' redemption near the end of the story. I wish the characters of Martha, Richard, Tommy and Sally had been a little more deeply developed.

I also liked the cathedral architecture tie-ins and the tales of English civil war.  Overall, the book was really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it.
377317
I almost gave up on the story. I could get behind Avelynn as she wanted recognition for her contributions to her father's land, but I was unconvinced of her paganism and her disconnect from her mother.

After a time, the carefully woven depth of the Dark Ages rose to the forefront and I was a little surprised as I hadn't yet read about the Viking she would fall in love with.

I won't give too much more away than to say that somethis as written by the author rang true of the Dark Ages, but most could have been just any romance novel.

I will say that after wanting to give up the story in the beginning, the invested time paid off eventually. Pick this book up if you like stories with Vikings or you like historical fiction.
1883604
3.5 STARS

Beauty of the Beast is a realistic historical fairy tale retelling. Ill let you figure out which fairy tale. 

From the start I was lost in this epic tale. The setting (though over described for this particular readers tastes) was epic and beautiful. The heroine kind and caring. The hero, beyond damaged. And the villain? Just when you loathe him beyond imagination, the author gives you a taste of his backstory and you almost don't hate him as much. Almost.

It was fun to read this book and compare events and scenes to the Disney version, at times they were nearly identical, but at other times they were brand new. I much preferred the brand new, because it was something new!

I loved the backstory of Prince Adam, how he was forced to watch his family murdered, how he was burned and badly disfigured. It was at times TOO well described. Leaving me feeling a little sick. (I mean that in the best way.)

I honestly didn't care as much for Isabelle, Im not sure if it was her use of Mon Dieu all the time or what. But something about her kept me from fully connecting. She was well developed, so I think its just me. Isabelle and I probably just wouldnt be good friends if she was a real person.

Raphael, the villain, is a selfish, arrogant, drunken jackass. I was absolutely repulsed by him. I couldn't believe Isabelle would ever have agreed to marry him, no matter how dire her situation. In other words, he was a great villain.

I liked that Demeter also added in a couple of wicked step-sisters for Isabelle. It was a nice touch, one of those changes from the Disney version that I appreciated.

The love story built slowly. So slowly that I cant really pinpoint the moment their relationship turned into something more.

I would recommend this for fans of sweeping epic historical romances. Those looking for the magic and wonder typically found in a fairy tale will be disappointed that there are no evil witches and curses. A word of warning though, this book gets very dark in a few places.
809851
this is an area of historical fiction with which I am not all that familiar and I enjoyed the experience. It is a but dark at times, but does represent the superstitions and ideas of this period in history. It also speaks to the struggle of those attempting to introduce foreign concepts of science, medicine and actual investigative processes. The story starts strong, and while it does lag a bit in the middle, it picks up and finished nicely.
591740
I can never figure out just what it means or what I should expect when reading a book that is either a Pulitzer or Booker winner or nomination.  I think it's going to mean that I will just love it because it is so fabulous, but somehow that doesn't seem to be the way it turns out for me and this book is no exception.

'Restoration' starts out well enough, with Robert Merivel falling into favor with King Charles II.  Merivel is a wild, lascivious, gluttonous young man fully enjoying the excesses of the king's court, thinking very little of his purpose in life.  Merivel is commanded to marry the king's mistress and rewarded with a modest country estate with the understanding that he will have little or nothing to do with his wife Celia Clemence.  At first the situation is agreeable to Merivel but after a period of time he becomes dissatisfied and restless with his life.  He struggles to find something to inspire him and give him a feeling of accomplishment.

This story is a parable of sorts but the ending is somewhat beyond belief and written with a dreamlike narration which is inconsistent with the rest of the novel.  I enjoyed the hedonistic Merivel at King Charles' court and the details of the period including the London fire of 1666.  Much of the story was interesting, and it was well written but at the same time it didn't move me as much as I had hoped it to.  I wanted to love Merivel and we certainly started off on the right foot but it just didn't develop into much and his character didn't stay with me after I was done reading.  I liked many of the interactions between the characters but overall wasn't satisfied by this novel.  I thought it was tied up a little too neatly for my tastes which gave it a bit of a fluffy feel. If you are looking for something light during this period you might like this.  It just didn't have enough emotional depth to satisfy me.
4635561
I found myself skimming overly descriptive passages as I read to get to the climax of this book. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story, but the experiences of Clare as she fended for herself and then waited for Monty to regain his memory were sometimes a little farfetched. I would rather give a 3.5 stars, but since that's not an option I'm rounding up to 4.
1129564
From its description I believed this book had all the ingredients I would enjoy; war, romance in a devastated city and the mystery of a missing soldier after he was believed to have deserted.
  Told in the first person by a young man who was gathering bones to place in the ossuary, (and later in life as a reporter and Hollywood screenwriter), he falls in love with a woman searching for news of her missing or dead husband in Verdun as World War 1 winds down. He describes the horrors of war and his developing passion for the woman, but for some reasons his feelings seemed remote and muted, and I was unable to engage emotionally. Dialogue often seemed stilted to me, and the narrative detached from the actions and emotions described. The characters in the love story did not seem compatible.
There was a great plot here, and the author has a fine talent for words. However, there was much that was unnecessary in telling the story and which detracted from the plot.
  I was sorry that I was unable to connect with the characters and events which may be entirely my failing, and do believe that some readers will enjoy the novel.
  Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2707305
First Sentence:  It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Fallen Woman of good family must, soon or late, descend to whoredom.

Sarah Tolerance is a disowned daughter of nobility who now lives in a cottage behind a high-class brothel and who acts as a private inquiry agent.  She is hired by Count Verseillon to locate and retrieve an antique fan he's given to a lady when he was younger.  What should be a relatively simple undertaking becomes less so when Sarah is attacked and others die.

For a purely fictional story, this was enjoyable.  However, as historical fiction, this is definitely not the book for the historical purist and I was disappointed.  The author plays fast and loose with historical facts and social details.  Although she acknowledges it, I still found it disruptive.

The story, itself, was quite enjoyable and well plotted.  It was a good mystery and there were things I did enjoy about it.  There was one incident toward the end I felt was handled in an unlikely way and the romance felt superfluous.

I probably will read another, but more because I already have it rather than because I would now intentionally seek it out and there are other authors I would recommend instead.
4384019
I really enjoy historical fiction set during the First World War and the title of this one grabbed my attention. A note posted in a box of ammunition shells, wishing luck to a soldier on the front line, gets a reply and life in the East End of London changes forever. The war had already forced change on the role of women; girls free from a life in service were now working in the munitions factories, living with more freedom and money than they ever had before, but life was far from easy. Lizzie is a strong and independent woman who may not always make the best choices, but certainly has great passion for life and wasn't afraid to make decisions that some might have felt inappropriate for her position. Eunice initially came across as cold, hard and in control, but as the story unfolds and we learn of her pain and suffering, my feelings towards her softened.

There were quite a few twists in the plot and plenty of story lines to keep me page turning, but some things that were hinted at in later parts of the novel seemed to fizzle out unexpectedly. It may be that I am a bit of a drama queen, but I was expecting more drama from the end of the book, although it did reach a satisfactory conclusion. It is certainly an emotional novel with passion, compassion, deceit, loss and grief, which seemed to me to be a realistic portrayal of life during the First World War, mainly from the point of view of the women left behind, but not forgetting the horror of life in the trenches. This would be a great read for lovers of historical fiction.

I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review
2222117
IVORY AND BONE originally caught my eye because, historical fiction set way, way, way in the past? With mammoths and saber cats and the Ice Age? Gimme. Im always on the lookout for historical fiction set in different eras than the popular ones.

Author Julie Eshbaugh did a good job of making me feel like I had gone way, way, back in time. She described the camps, clothing, food, kayaks, setting, etc. The prehistoric setting of IVORY AND BONE was probably my favorite part of the book.

The biggest problem I had with IVORY AND BONE is the way its written. The author took a risk by having Kol narrate to Mya. On one hand, it makes sense, since there was such a big tradition of storytelling back then. But at the same time, Kols telling distanced me from the story and from the characters while slowing the pacing to a crawl.

I was bored for the majority of IVORY AND BONE, because I just didn't care about anyone or what was happening. Halfway through the book, I was still waiting for something big to happen, something to keep my attention. I only kept reading because the author didn't stick to traditional gender roles  a leader of one clan is a woman, other women hunt with the men, and so on. Historically improbable Im sure, but I liked it.

Overall, I liked the idea of IVORY AND BONE, but the risk of Kol narrating the story to Mya (you speak, you disappear, you are rude) just didn't work for me. The writing style kept me too distanced from everything, and I thought Kol sounded like a whiny girl for a lot of the book, making lover boy eyes at Mya. Maybe some of that is the Pride and Prejudice allusions, but Im not a fan of that classic, so I cant say for sure. IVORY AND BONE is the first in a trilogy, but I cant imagine where the series will go from here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
1047845
I'm having a hard time deciding how well I liked this book. The writing was beautiful, and the story intriguing. I read it quickly. I really liked the flashbacks to the Nazi invasion. It was one of those stories you like as you're reading it, but when it's over you're not quite sure if you liked it. The family was so dysfunctional I had a hard time keeping up. Tess wasn't my favorite heroine ever, but her journey was nice to watch. The romance between her and Dominic was nice too. Just nice. I liked that it evolved slowly and wasn't a Hi, I'm in love with you, romance. But I just didn't feel the chemistry. And what was up with Isabella? She was so sad and lost. I expected to hear that she had some horrible calamity like cancer. Major denial issues with her. Then, suddenly, all of their issues are solved, a little too easily, and they are all living the perfect lives. For all the beautiful writing and the almost nostalgic feel, I expected something a little deeper and lasting.
2248237
For the most part, this is fairly standard historical fiction, brand B. (Brand A has as its central character royalty, or someone at a royal court; brand B opts, instead, to tell a tale of ordinary life.)

The difference, and what made it intriguing to read in spite of the not-really-believable romance (the conventions of the genre and the writer made it overly-clear that a particular romance was in the wind, but beyond common interests and goals and a perfunctory scene or two of lustful glances, the characters weren't able to deliver or develop the emotions convincingly) was the fact that its heroine, Feyra, finds herself behind enemy lines when she ends up in 16th century Venice. True, she has just discovered her Venetian heritage, but she has been raised a Muslim and an Ottoman -- even if the reason she has ended up in Venice at all has been as part of Sultan Murad's attempt to destabilize the hated Venetian regime. That means the reader, instead of getting to see the glittering Venice that we're accustomed to -- that of Western eyes -- instead sees an almost hallucinatory vision of the city's foggy lanes, filled with debauchery, that horrify and terrify Feyra and remain with me vividly.

For the most part, however, this is little more than a reasonably good and historically accurate glance at Venice in the aftermath of Lepanto, when most of Christianity assumed, complacently, that the final victory over the Ottomans had been won but the sultan hoped to find one more trick up his sleeve. I do wish that the author had expanded her overly brief historical note to include any basis for the conspiracy theory at the basis of her plot, but nothing there alas, so I'm left to wonder whether it was imagination or history.

The bottom line? A perfectly adequate, if not ground-breaking or tremendously memorable novel set in (thankfully) a relatively uncommon era and with a more-than-usually interesting protagonist and perspective that merits it being boosted from 3.5 stars to 4 stars.
2281927
A Love in Time of War is set in Bulgaria and Turkey between 1915 and the 1930s. It is a rite of passage, about a young woman's love for her family, and for the man she meets who is from a different culture, and an enemy country. Maria is highly educated and intelligent, but aged 18 she is still immature and nave. She meets Mustafa, an older man who has experienced  life on the front line of war. He is a highly ranking government ambassador, so he is careful and considerate in his actions. But he is also headstrong and vain, so when he wants something, he gets it. I am intrigued by the way this story is set out. We begin in the 1930s, and flash backwards and forwards as the story unfolds. It seems to be written almost  like a memoir, and I like the short `chapters.' It contains some beautiful descriptions, and although the language sometimes seems a little too modern or awkward for the period, it does seem to fit the tone. This is not a fairytale, it is a reflection on real life and true history. It almost brought me to tears at one point, because I became so involved in the love story of Maria and Mustafa, and all of their obstacles. Love is enduring but it doesn't magically fix everything. Maria must obey her family and put on a brave face. Mustafa experiences battles of a different kind, and learns the harsh realities of love between enemies.

The Last Secrets of the Ancient Island is an addictive read about the lives of ordinary people. It is set in a town at the base of Mount Etna National Park, so it mixes historical significance with contemporary intrigue. The central characters are Michael and Kate. He is an architect and she is married. Unhappy with her husband, and trying to change her career from an unfulfilling one to something more creative, she becomes fairly selfish at this time, although she is basically a good person. Michael's younger brother Ralph is searching for direction in his life. He seeks adventure and excitement, which adds intrigue to the story. There is teenage angst from Kate's son and his friend. They too seek adventure and an escape from the control of their parents and the stifling familiarity of their home town. This story is a little muddled, and might have been an easier read if it was simplified. There are lots of deep themes about the meaning of love and friendship, including the selfish nature of humans and their emotions. Overall, I did enjoy it, and I couldn't put this book down once I started reading. It does require concentration, however, to keep up with the fast pace and myriad of characters and sub plots.