Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent

 

In 1861 London, Violet Morgan is struggling to establish a good reputation for the undertaking business that her husband has largely abandoned. She provides comfort for the grieving, advises them on funeral fashion and etiquette, and arranges funerals.

Unbeknownst to his wife, Graham, who has nursed a hatred of America since his grandfather soldiered for Great Britain in the War of 1812, becomes involved in a scheme to sell arms to the South. Meanwhile, Violet receives the commission of a lifetime: undertaking the funeral for a friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. But her position remains precarious, especially when Graham disappears and she begins investigating a series of deaths among the poor. And the closer she gets to the truth, the greater the danger for them both…

 

After the adventures of a dollmaker, a cloth merchant and a waxworker, Christine Trent brings us a new story about a female undertaker. I enjoyed her previous books and was very excited to read this one too since Lady of Ashes is an historical mystery set during Victorian England, one of my favourite historical period. Also, I have to say that the title and cover caught my attention right away.

 

Violet Morgan is an independent and strong willed woman who is married to an undertaker, Graham Morgan. While Violet is completely taken by her profession, Graham seems to be much more worried about their social status than anything else. This is often a topic of heated discussions between spouses. Slowly, Violet feels that the man she is married to is not the same anymore…

 

The heroine clearly knows that she is good at her job and she isn’t afraid to show it, despite her husband’s patronizing manners. I couldn’t help but to feel proud of her, a woman in a world lead by men who only see her as a wife. She feels real, strong with just enough sensitivity and warmth to make you cheer for her. The scenes where Violet takes care of the deceased and their families always providing the best care are quite moving.

 

The historical details about mourning and funerals are completely fascinating and made me even understand some of the modern customs. Honestly, I never thought much about the subject before and it wasn’t something that would usually draw my attention. Since reading this book I cannot stop searching for more information, especially about mourning jewelry.

 

Having very little knowledge about the American Civil War, it was interesting to read about the British and American relationship during this conflict and how fragile those ties were with both the North and South. The tension was palpable through the pages!

 

Lady of Ashes became my favourite book by Catherine Trent and certainly one of my best reads this year.

Grade:  4.5/5

 

Don’t forget to visit Christine Trent website for more information about Lady of Ashes and her previous books: http://www.christinetrent.com/

Paris and Food

French culture and language were present in my life since as long as I can remember, even though I was born in Portugal and raised there part of my childhood. Before moving to France for good at 24 years old, I was already familiar with the country and it’s ways. Or at least I thought so… Paris has been my home now for almost 9 years, but it wasn’t always easy to understand the subtilities of the French ways. I have my suspicions that even after living here for 50 years, there will always be some things that I will never quite understand.

This is one of the reasons why I enjoy reading books about Paris. Many are written by people who are not French and have a totally different perspective (even if it’s often American or British). The problem is that most of the times, these books seem quite unrealistic. We have the ones who tell us about a fairytale Paris à la Amélie Poulain where everything is perfect and romantic (nothing against all this, I do enjoy Amélie Poulain, even if I never understood how she could pay that beautiful flat in Montmartre with her waitress salary); and the other kind of story, where you can find only negative things, for instance: all French people are rude and arrogant. I do know a couple of ones that fit the bill, but most of them are really quite nice.

Unsurprisingly, some of my favourite books about Paris are related to cooking/food. I recently discovered two books that were really fun and they tells us about the good and the bad times around here, which I really appreciated.

 

I’ve been a lurker at David Lebovitz’s blog for ages. His good humor and yummy recipes are two excellent reasons to follow his adventures in culinary world. If you live in Paris or you are thinking to visit, David has always a good advice. We both live in the same neighborhood and it was nice to read about places that I know well. We do have different perspectives about some points, but it’s all about personal experiences, so nothing that spoiled the fun in this book. It’s obvious that David loves Paris but he’s far from being blind to it’s faults. Oh and the recipes are … irresistible !

 

Sweet Life in Paris was a very good surprise and quite honestly a charming voice that touched me more than I was expecting. It was fun to follow Elizabeth Bard‘s life in Paris, but also her relationship with a French guy. Could see myself in some of those situations… I had some really good laughs imagining some scenes and thinking that I had exactly the same problem. It’s always good to know you’re not the only one not quite understanding French life.

Recently, I saw this TV show and I was immediately hooked: The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo. I loved how she cooks in her minuscule kitchen (the true Parisian reality !) with such passion and enthusiam. I already order her book and can’t wait to test some of her recipes. Those who are in love for French cooking and good shows, will certainly enjoy the adventures of this quirky and fun British cook.

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family’s fortune decimated and forced her to wed London’s most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it’s selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can’t help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn’t felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

 

A few years ago, I was a big fan of paranormal and urban fantasy stories. Over the time, I’ve been reading less and less, even if I always keep an eye in the new releases and have a couple of auto-buy authors. When  I saw the opinions of this book at Goodreads, I knew I had to read it. Not only the story was set in Victorian London, but there was a kind of Phantom of the Opera thing going on. This was a combination hard to resist !

Miranda Ellis is a feisty young woman who has a few secrets well kept and an attitude that unsettles many men around her. It’s been quite a long time I read about such an interesting female character. Miranda reminds me of Kate Daniels and Mercedes Thompson in an historical setting. She can kick ass, but there’s a sensibility and a sense of humor that really makes you wish she was your friend.

Now, let’s talk about the brooding, mysterious and incredibly captivating man (aka Benjamin Archer) who is fascinated by Miranda since the first time he sees her. That first scene together is quite powerful and transforms you immediately in a Miranda-Benjamin scenes addict. Each time they are together sparks fly !  There’s a great chemistry going on between these two during the entire story.

Kristen Callihan creates really  intriguing characters and I’m also talking about all the secondary ones that will certainly have their own books very soon, I suppose.  And let’s not forget about the dark and foggy Victorian settings which are done well and fit perfectly with the intrigue. My only complain would be the villain. It is really predictable and after so many good things, I was expecting something more.

This is one of my best PNR reads this year. Going to pre-order Callihan’s next book right away !

Grade: 4.5 / 5 stars

I’m in love

 

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord MacIntosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

 

(synopsis of the movie from Wiki)

Not only Mérida looks absolutely cute with all that curly red hair, but knowing that Kelly Macdonald is lending her adorable voice to her is enough for me to watch it. Well, the fact that Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and Kevin McKidd are in this project makes things even more interesting.

Official website: http://disney.go.com/brave/

Don’t forget to see the “About” feature at the website, it’s really lovely:  http://disney.go.com/brave/#/about/1/

Movies I’ve seen lately

 

Like many people out there, I’m a Millennium fan. It all started with the books, then with the Swedish movies/series (I have a huge girl crush on Noomi Rapace) and finally, as soon as the trailer of the american movie was released, I knew I had to see it.

Last week, I finally had the opportunity. Did I like it ? Yes, very much so. Somehow they managed to add some new elements more similar to the book and still recreate the same mysterious and dangerous atmosphere.

Rooney Mara was the star of the movie. Her transformation is breathtaking, but in some scenes I saw her much more like a sensitive teen than the tough as nails Noomi Rapace Lisbeth. What I liked about the character in the Swedish version was her strength, like nothing could break her down, even if deep down we could feel how lonely she felt and how fragile she was. That restrain made her fascinating. In any case, both Lisbeths remain interesting characters and both actresses did a perfect job.

Daniel Craig was a good Mikael Blomkvist, but he was a little too buff to play the middle age journalist. I read somewhere that he gained 10 pounds for the movie. I didn’t really noticed, my eyes were fascinated by his abs…

A little note about the soundtrack, I absolutely loved the new version of a favourite song of mine, The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin.

 The Immigrant Song by Trent Reznor and Karen O.

 

My friends absolutely wanted to go see this movie mostly because of Michael Fassbender. His Jane Eyre didn’t convinced them (they remain completely in love by Toby Stephens, just like me !) but the man has some charisma that none of us could resist. The excellent critics also made us curious about this apparently original movie.

I left the theater completely bored after watching endless sex scenes. The first ones were surprising, it’s not everyday you see an actor doing a full frontal. Sex was in almost every corner, and that killed the movie for me. I was expecting more about Brandon, his past, his sister… We can read between the lines what happened, but it wasn’t enough for me.

 

Currently reading…

Virginia Company, Jamestown, 1621. The once struggling colony is now thriving, and the arrival of a ship full of potential brides has all the single men rushing to put on their best and meet the ladies in hopes of finding wives. Captain Ralph Percy, hardened soldier, gentleman farmer, and avowed bachelor, watches from the sidelines, marveling as his comrades make fools of themselves over the women. He has no need of a wife and can’t understand the sense in asking a perfect stranger to marry him . . . until he catches sight of Jocelyn Leigh.

Struck by her uncommon beauty, quiet grace, and regal bearing, he wonders why a woman such as she would need to brave the sea voyage and the wilds of the new world to find a husband. And then he finds himself doing the unthinkable, asking for her hand in marriage before another man can snatch her up! But he was right to suspect that Jocelyn was not as she seemed, and he soon discovers that his new wife fled England in a desperate attempt to escape an arranged marriage. Ralph vows to protect her, not knowing how soon he will be called upon to do so, or how dangerous it will be to him.

Jocelyn’s jilted fiancée is coming to find her, and when Lord Carnal lands at Jamestown, he brings dubious tidings. A handsome lord with the wealth and power of the king at his disposal, he informs Ralph that he has married a ward of the king without the king’s permission, a treasonous offense. But all will be well—all Ralph has to do is hand her over and Lord Carnal will sail away with her as though nothing ever happened. But if Ralph does not comply, he is to be clapped in irons and bound for England and the Tower, and Lord Carnal will take Jocelyn by force. The choice seems clear enough—who is Captain Ralph Percy to go against the king’s orders? But one look at Jocelyn’s fear-stricken face decides his fate. This solemn and stoic woman has woven herself into the fabric of his life, and he’s not going to give her up so easily.

Ralph and Jocelyn defy the king’s command and fight for their right to stay together, but it soon becomes evident that their only course of action is to flee. As they make their way through the dangerous wilderness, battling the king’s men, Indians, and even pirates, what started out as a marriage of convenience becomes a true love match, and Ralph discovers that what is worth having is worth holding, no matter the cost.

 

To learn more about this book and other very interesting ones who are being released by The Vintage Reader, please visit their website: http://www.thevintagereader.com/ 

 

Any WWII HF recommendations ?

I’m currently reading The Golden Hour and quite loving it. Since I’m in a mood for more WWII historical fiction, I decided to look for more books set in the same time period. The two above, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves and Code Name Verity, caught my eye, but I’ve been looking for more. Do you have any suggestions ? Which is your favourite book set during the WWII ?

A skilled violinist sacrifices her career aspirations and family’s approval to secretly elope with her Japanese American boyfriend — the night before Pearl Harbor is bombed. Torn between sides, she will make choices few people in history dared.

Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern’s life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto. Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo. Her brother’s best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants. Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent. In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.

When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp, Maddie follows, sacrificing her Juilliard ambitions. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.

Skillfully capturing one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history, Kristina McMorris draws readers into a novel filled with triumphs and heartbreaking loss–an authentic, moving testament to love, forgiveness, and the enduring music of the human spirit.

 

I have two weeks. You’ll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.

That’s what you do to enemy agents. It’s what we do to enemy agents. But I look at all the dark and twisted roads ahead and cooperation is the easy way out. Possibly the only way out for a girl caught red-handed doing dirty work like mine – and I will do anything, anything, to avoid SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer von Linden interrogating me again.

He has said that I can have as much paper as I need. All I have to do is cough up everything I can remember about the British War Effort. And I’m going to. But the story of how I came to be here starts with my friend Maddie. She is the pilot who flew me into France – and Allied Invasion of Two.

We are a sensational team.

Currently reading…

 

In this stunning debut set in the summer of 1944 in Tuscany, Giovanna Bellini, the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat and vineyard owner, has just turned seventeen and is on the cusp of adulthood. War bears down on her peaceful little village after the Italians sign a separate peace with the Allies-transforming the Germans into an occupying army.

But when her brother joins the Resistance, he asks Giovanna to hide a badly wounded fighter who is Jewish. As she nurses him back to health, she falls helplessly in love with the brave and humble Marco, who comes from as ancient and noble an Italian family as she does. They pledge their love, and then must fight a real battle against the Nazis who become more desperate and cruel as the Allies close in on them…

To learn more about this book, you can visit Margaret Wurtele’s website: http://margaretwurtele.com/

By the King’s Design by Christine Trent

Thanks to her patron and great architect, John Nash, Belle Stirling is a rising star in the homes of London’s fashionable elite. Even the prince regent wants her elegant, high quality fabrics used in the decoration of his new palace, Brighton Pavilion. But when those closest to her conspire against Parliament, she risks losing her reputation, her business…and even her life

 

 

19th century, Yorkshire. Annabelle (Belle) Stirling was raised learning all about the wonderful world of drapers. After the lost of both her parents, Belle starts running the family draper shop all by herself, even if the owner is her brother, Wesley. The latter is a charming young man who isn’t interested at all in the shop and lets his sister do whatever she thinks is best for the business.

 

My favourite moments in the first part of the story were the scenes during Belle’s younger years learning all there is to know about drapers with her father, Fafa. They are full of tenderness and we can see what a wonderful and accomplished woman Belle is becoming.

 

After an incident at her shop, Belle leaves for London where she finally decides to stay and built a new life. Sometimes, I was a little surprised how quickly she landed on her feet. Maybe I was expecting a little more resistance from her peers because not only she was a woman and unmarried but mostly she was unknown in town without any connections. But, in the other hand, the girl knew her business quite well.

 

The only aspect of this story that pleased me the least was Belle’s attitude in presence of her brother. I do understand that he was her only kin, but after so many problems and so many signs that something was really off, Belle remained, for a very long time, completely blind over her brother’s doings. It was even more frustrating knowing that otherwise Belle was an intelligent, hard-working woman who valued her independence above all.

 

I have to say that Ms Trent has a real gift to create interesting heroes. Putnam Boyce stole every scene he was in. His calm, self-confidence and passion make it impossible not to fall head over heels for him. Each time Belle needed his help, he was there for her. The mutual admiration for their respective work was something that I could feel and really appreciate. Of course, Putnam is not without faults, and that makes him even more interesting.

 

The historical background was extremely captivating. I knew little about the Luddites and while I was reading By The King’s Design, I excitedly searched all kind of informations about the movement. The attacks were described vividly, I could imagine without any difficulties the rage and the fear felt during the destruction of the new machines.

 

In the other hand, the Prince Regent is one of those royals that I never really cared for and therefore, except for his excesses, lovers and marriage with Caroline of Brunswick, my knowledge is quite limited. His reaction to Belle was surprising, but probably not unexpected given his changeable opinions and love for lovely women.

 

By The King’s Design was a wonderful way to begin the new year !

 

Grade : 4/5

 

GIVEAWAY at Historical Tapestry:

 

Historical Tapestry is organising a giveaway of By the King’s Design. If you want a change to win a copy, just leave a comment. The contest is open worldwide !

Eagerly waiting in 2012… for now !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m including Cinder, even if I already read the book. For those who enjoy YA and original stories, this one is for you.