The Death of Mrs. Westaway

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game comes Ruth Ware’s highly anticipated fourth novel.

On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

My Review:

The Death of Mrs. Westeraway

By Ruth Ware

 I have enjoyed all of Ruth Ware's novels, but this last one, The Death of Mrs. Westaway has to be the best by far....This book is written differently than her other novels as it is a Modern Gothic Novel, and gothic novels are my favourite genre of books.  I found this book to be on par with Daphne du Maurier and Mary Stewart.  It has the poor,  unhappy, frightened and lonely female protagonist, the strange inheritance of a dark, old atmospheric large country estate, a family full of secrets and lies, an eerie and hateful housekeeper, a very gripping plot, interesting characters, suspense and a feeling of foreboding, that makes it impossible to put the book down.   Years of lies and secrets, death and deceit brings Harriet 'Hal' Westaway to a secret family she never knew existed, and to a terror and danger she could not get away from.

A big thank you to Netgalley for the chance to receive an advanced copy of the book and for allowing me to give an honest review.

Expected Release on: April 24, 2018

Author: Susanna Kearsley

Genres: Romance novel, Historical Fiction, Historical romance

From the bestselling author of A Desperate Fortune and The Firebird, comes an entrancing new novel of love, war, and historical intrigue.

Some houses seem to want to hold their secrets.

It’s 1759 and the world is at war, pulling the North American colonies of Britain and France into the conflict. The times are complicated, as are the loyalties of many New York merchants who have secretly been trading with the French for years, defying Britain’s colonial laws in a game growing ever more treacherous.

When captured French officers are brought to Long Island to be billeted in private homes on their parole of honour, it upends the lives of the Wilde family—deeply involved in the treasonous trade and already divided by war.

Lydia Wilde, struggling to keep the peace in her fracturing family following her mother’s death, has little time or kindness to spare for her unwanted guests. And Canadian lieutenant Jean-Philippe de Sabran has little desire to be there. But by the war’s end they’ll both learn love, honour, and duty can form tangled bonds that are not broken easily.

Their doomed romance becomes a local legend, told and re-told through the years until the present day, 
when conflict of a different kind brings Charley Van Hoek to Long Island to be the new curator of the Wilde House Museum.

Charley doesn’t believe in ghosts. But as she starts to delve into the history of Lydia and her French officer, it becomes clear that the Wilde House holds more than just secrets, and Charley discovers the legend might not have been telling the whole story...or the whole truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~ MY REVIEW

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley does it again! No wonder she is one of my top favourite authors.  This story has a Contemporary and Historical timeline which I love.  Susanna has that gift to transport the reader whether it is back in time or to a contemporary place, where the reader feels at home.  This book starts off slow, building the characters and story line.  Once the reader has been drawn into the story, it feels as if you know the characters personally.  They feel real and familiar as if a family member or a close friend. I found this a well-written book, interesting and enjoyable.  A wonderful story about the effects of the 7 Year War fought in the mid 1700's.  This story takes place in Long Island, New York but concerns the fight over Quebec between Great Britain and France.  It tells the story of French Canadian officers who during capture resided with an Officers family who would be considered their enemy at war.  The story concerns the relationship of one of the French officers and the daughter of his captor.  As someone who came to Canada from England quite young (10 years of age), I had always had a keen interest in Canadian History.  However, I knew very little about the 7 year War with France over Quebec or New France as it was known back then.  Susanna's story has peaked my interest to find out more.  One of my favourite things about Susanna's books is there is always a romance, however,  it is not in the readers face, but gently hinted, but enough to feel the sparks and the chemistry between the Protagonists without resorting to bedroom scenes.  There is always some excitement and suspense and surprises along the way, so when you finish reading the book, you have a smile of deep satisfaction and a hint of sadness that the book. Has finished!    Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me access to the ARC, to Sourcebooks for such a wonderful book cover as alway.  Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to read and review the ARC and to Susanna Kearsley for writing Bellewether it was a wonderful adventure.  I will be the first in line to buy the book when it published for re-reading and to put on my Susanna Kearsley book shelf at home.

The book was amazing so interesting and entertaining and the characters in both the contemporary and historical timelines, were very real characters that it felt like I knew them.  It was such a beautiful read not just as a well done historical fiction (although, I do want to read more on the Seven Year War), but it was such an entertaining and haunting read.  I was filled with mixed emotions when the story ended.  I felt truly blessed to have read such a wonderful book but at the same time, a bit sad that it was over.

Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley

From the bestselling author of A Desperate Fortune and The Firebird, comes an entrancing new novel of love, war, and historical intrigue.





From the bestselling author of A Desperate Fortune and The Firebird, comes an entrancing new novel of love, war, and historical intrigue.

Some houses seem to want to hold their secrets.

It’s 1759 and the world is at war, pulling the North American colonies of Britain and France into the conflict. The times are complicated, as are the loyalties of many New York merchants who have secretly been trading with the French for years, defying Britain’s colonial laws in a game growing ever more treacherous.

When captured French officers are brought to Long Island to be billeted in private homes on their parole of honour, it upends the lives of the Wilde family—deeply involved in the treasonous trade and already divided by war.

Lydia Wilde, struggling to keep the peace in her fracturing family following her mother’s death, has little time or kindness to spare for her unwanted guests. And Canadian lieutenant Jean-Philippe de Sabran has little desire to be there. But by the war’s end they’ll both learn love, honour, and duty can form tangled bonds that are not broken easily.

Their doomed romance becomes a local legend, told and re-told through the years until the present day, when conflict of a different kind brings Charley Van Hoek to Long Island to be the new curator of the Wilde House Museum.

Charley doesn’t believe in ghosts. But as she starts to delve into the history of Lydia and her French officer, it becomes clear that the Wilde House holds more than just secrets, and Charley discovers the legend might not have been telling the whole story...or the whole truth.

Some houses seem to want to hold their secrets.

It’s 1759 and the world is at war, pulling the North American colonies of Britain and France into the conflict. The times are complicated, as are the loyalties of many New York merchants who have secretly been trading with the French for years, defying Britain’s colonial laws in a game growing ever more treacherous.

When captured French officers are brought to Long Island to be billeted in private homes on their parole of honour, it upends the lives of the Wilde family—deeply involved in the treasonous trade and already divided by war.

Lydia Wilde, struggling to keep the peace in her fracturing family following her mother’s death, has little time or kindness to spare for her unwanted guests. And Canadian lieutenant Jean-Philippe de Sabran has little desire to be there. But by the war’s end they’ll both learn love, honour, and duty can form tangled bonds that are not broken easily.

Their doomed romance becomes a local legend, told and re-told through the years until the present day, when conflict of a different kind brings Charley Van Hoek to Long Island to be the new curator of the Wilde House Museum.

Charley doesn’t believe in ghosts. But as she starts to delve into the history of Lydia and her French officer, it becomes clear that the Wilde House holds more than just secrets, and Charley discovers the legend might not have been telling the whole story...or the whole truth.

One of Historical Fiction Fans most Influential Authors of the 20th Century

As we approach what would have been her 106th Birthday and as she was such an influential Author to most of us Historical Fiction fans, I thought I would add some information about the lustrous career of the author who many of us know as JEAN PLAIDY, VICTORIA HOLT and PHILIPPA CARR, just to name a few...

Eleanor Alice Burford was born on 1 September 1906 in Kensington, London, England. She married a leather merchant, George Percival Hibbert, who shared her love of books and reading. Eleanor Burford was one of the preeminent English authors of historical fiction for most of the twentieth century. She used eight pennames during her career and many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities. In 1941, she began signing her novels with her maiden name: Eleanor Burford, later she created her first and most prolific pseudonym: Jean Plaidy. In the 1950's she used the pseudonyms: Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. In 1960, she created the pseudonyms: Anna Percival and the popular Victoria Holt. In 1972, she created her last pseudonym Philippa Carr. (Some of her novels were reedited as different pseudonyms). She died on January 18, 1993 at sea, somewhere between Greece and Port Said, Egypt. By the time of her death, she sold 56 millon copies as Victoria Holt, 14 as Jean Plaidy and, 3 as Phillipa Carr.

Author's series
Catherine de Medici Trilogy
The French Revolution Trilogy
The Georgian Saga
Isabella & Ferdinand Trilogy
Lucrezia Borgia Duology
Mary, Queen of Scots Duology
The Norman Trilogy
The Plantagenet Saga
Queen Victoria Quartet
The Queens of England
Spanish Inquisition Trilogy
The Stuart Saga
The Tudors

Single Novels:

Together They Ride (1945)
Beyond the Blue Mountains (1948)
The King's Pleasure (1949) (a.k.a. Murder Most Royal in the Tudor Saga)
The Goldsmith's Wife (1950) (a.k.a. The King's Mistress)
Daughter of Satan (1952)
Lilith (1954)
Melisande (It Began in Vauxhall Gardens) (1955)
The Scarlet Cloak (1957)
The Queen of Diamonds (1958)
Milady Charlotte (1959)
Evergreen Gallant (1965)
Defenders of the Faith (1971)
Madame du Barry (1994)
The King's Adventurer (1996) (Originally This Was a Man by Ellalice Tate)

OMNIBUS
Katharine of Aragon (omnibus of novels 2 – 4 in The Tudor Saga)
Catherine De Medici (1969)
Charles II (omnibus of novels 2 – 4 in The Stuart Saga)
Isabella and Ferdinand (1970)

The Tudor Saga
Uneasy Lies the Head (1982) (a.k.a. To Hold the Crown)
Katharine, the Virgin Widow (1961)
The Shadow of the Pomegranate (1962)
The King's Secret Matter (1962)
Murder Most Royal (1949) (a.k.a. The King's Pleasure)
Saint Thomas' Eve (1954) (a.k.a. The King's Confidante)
The Sixth Wife (1953)
The Thistle and the Rose (1963)
Mary, Queen of France (1964)
The Spanish Bridegroom (1954) (a.k.a. For a Queen's Love)
Gay Lord Robert (1955) (republished as Lord Robert (UK) in 2007 and A Favorite of the Queen (US) in 2010)

The Catherine De Medici Trilogy
Madame Serpent (1951)
The Italian Woman (1952) (a.k.a. The Unholy Woman)
Queen Jezebel (1953)

The Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots Series
Royal Road to Fotheringhay (1955) (first published as by Eleanor Burford)
The Captive Queen of Scots (1963)

The Stuart Saga
The Murder in the Tower (1964)
The Wandering Prince (1956)
A Health Unto His Majesty (1956)
Here Lies Our Sovereign Lord (1957)
The Three Crowns (1965)
The Haunted Sisters (1966)
The Queen's Favourites (1966) (a.k.a. Courting Her Highness)

The French Revolution Series
Louis the Well Beloved (1959)
The Road to Compiegne (1959)
Flaunting, Extravagant Queen (1957)

The Lucrezia Borgia Series
Madonna of the Seven Hills (1958)
Light on Lucrezia (1958)

The Isabella and Ferdinand Trilogy
Castile for Isabella (1960)
Spain for the Sovereigns (1960)
Daughters of Spain (1961) (a.k.a. Royal Sisters)

The Georgian Saga
The Princess of Celle (1967)
Queen in Waiting (1967)
Caroline, the Queen (1968)
The Prince and the Quakeress (1975)
The Third George (1969)
Perdita's Prince (1969)
Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill (1970)
Indiscretions of the Queen (1970)
The Regent's Daughter (1971)
Goddess of the Green Room (1971)
Victoria in the Wings (1972)

The Queen Victoria Series
The Captive of Kensington Palace (1972)
The Queen and Lord M (1973)
The Queen's Husband (1973)
The Widow of Windsor (1974)

The Norman Trilogy
The Bastard King (1974)
The Lion of Justice (1975)
The Passionate Enemies (1976)
The Plantagenet Saga Edit
The Plantagenet Prelude (1976)
The Revolt of the Eaglets (1977)
The Heart of the Lion (1977)
The Prince of Darkness (1978)
The Battle of the Queens (1978)
The Queen from Provence (1979)
Edward Longshanks (1979) (republished as The Hammer of the Scots in 2008)
The Follies of the King (1980)
The Vow on the Heron (1980)
Passage to Pontefract (1981)
The Star of Lancaster (1981)
Epitaph for Three Women (1981)
Red Rose of Anjou (1982)
The Sun in Splendour (1982)

The Queens of England Series
Myself My Enemy (1983) (a.k.a. Loyal in Love)
Queen of This Realm (1984)
Victoria Victorious (1985)
The Lady in the Tower (1986)
The Courts of Love (1987)
In the Shadow of the Crown (1988)
The Queen's Secret (1989)
The Reluctant Queen (1990)
The Pleasures of Love (1991) (a.k.a. The Merry Monarch's Wife)
William's Wife (1992) (a.k.a. The Queen's Devotion)
Rose Without a Thorn (1993)

Children's novels
Meg Roper, daughter of Sir Thomas More (1961)
The Young Elizabeth (1961)
The Young Mary Queen of Scots (1962)

The Spanish Inquisition Series (non-fiction)
The Rise of the Spanish Inquisition (1959)
The Growth of the Spanish Inquisition (1960)
The End of the Spanish Inquisition (1961)

Historical non-fiction
A Triptych of Poisoners (1958)
Mary Queen of Scots: The Fair Devil of Scotland (1975)

Pamela Hartshorne a new favourite author to add to my list

Times Echo by Pamela Hartshorne

When I first read this book I had never actually heard of Pamela Hartshorne. But as it was recommended by a friend who like me,  love books that are Historical Fiction with a Time Slip element,  I was willing to give it a go.  In particularly, as the story takes place in York, where I was actually going to visit on holiday.

The story is about Grace Trewe the main protagonist from the 21 century who moves to York in order to sort out her Godmother's things after her sudden death.  Grace had recently survive a tsunami in Indonesiana and was hoping with the sale of her godmothers house, she would have the finances to travel and enjoy living!...but once Grace started sleeping in the house, she was bothered by nightmares and then while waking around York she felt herself drifting in and out of 16th Century York.  Streets would change in front of her and she thought she was suffering from stress, but this was no to be the case...500 years before a women named Hawise, who's own life starts to take Graces over, died a  horrible death during a time of witch trials and death to women who were accused of Witchcraft.  Even the house is magical!

Time Echo's  is a brilliant "Gothic" Historical Fiction with the right mix of fascinating history to make the reader feel as if they are living in the past at times, as well as a contemporary suspenseful, and mystical fiction, that is downright entertaining and thrilling to read.  At times it is somewhat errie,  yet you are drawn into the story and can not pull yourself away.  This book is a haunting mystery with lots of suspense and at times quite creepy yet totally interesting and absorbing. I found that I couldn't put the book down even though at times I had a feeling of unease and spookiness! ...I will never look at "rotting apples" without a chill run down my spin!..

 I also like to mention that the historical part of the book was so real, I felt as if I was actually living in 16 century York.  When I finally visited York myself, I could see how it was during the Middle Ages and was hoping I too, would have a time slip moment, alas, this was not to be.  But York in the 21 century still maintains a 16 century feel.

The Memory of Midnight

Like Time’s Echo, The Memory of Midnight is a Historical time slip which is set in present day and Elizabethan York.  It’s the story of Tess, who returns from London with her small son, Oscar, in an attempt to escape from her controlling and manipulative husband.  Living with her mother again isn’t a success, so Tess is delighted when she has the chance to move into a flat in Stonegate, one of York’s oldest streets.

But the flat that seemed so welcoming when she first saw it holds a terrible secret.  More than four hundred years earlier, Nell was mistress of the house in Stonegate, and as Tess is increasingly drawn into her life, she finds herself sharing Nell’s joys, fears and tragedies.

For a historian like Tess, the idea that she might be reliving the past is an impossible one, but the vividness of her experience is hard to deny.  Is she really slipping through time?  Or is she having a breakdown?  With a husband intent on tracking her down and threatening to claim custody of Oscar, both options are equally frightening.  Stalked by danger in the past and the present, Tess has to find the strength to confront her own demons, as well as Nell’s.

Sometimes the past refuses to let go …

A Beautiful Poem by Julia Donaldson

I just came across this..32 reasons to read more books..please share!

32 reasons to read more books...

To escape your normal life.

To travel to real destinations.

To explore new worlds.

To imagine more than you could on your own.

To understand something new.

To understand something old.

To connect with the author.

To connect with other readers.

To dream a new life.

To compare dreams, realities, and in-between.

To laugh and enjoy.

To deepen your understanding and insight.

To know more than you could learn on your own.

To learn what you don’t know.

To learn what you do know.

To discover something extraordinary.

To meet incredible characters.

To build a larger vocabulary.

To cry after a great read.

To be entertained by a great story.

To relax with a great storyteller.

To stimulate thought.

To grow your spirit.

To find motivation to do more.

To go on a great adventure.

To learn how others live or have lived.

To expand your horizons.

To explore inner dimensions.

To educate yourself.

To inspire your own writing.

To learn how to change the world.

To discuss in a reading group.

To share a good book with your friends.

---

JUDITH SCHARA.. Author of the wonderful book SPIRAL

JUDITH SCHARA, author of the wonderful historical time slip novel SPIRAL who passed away January 2015

Historical & Time Slip Novels Book Club

This is a wonderful book group on Facebook, for book readers who love Historical and Time Slip Novels....

We are happy to welcome you to our group.  This is where you can connect with people who have the same interest in books. We share recommendations and discuss our love of books, have laughs, share pictures, support each other's views.  If you have time, please feel free to read past posts, join in discussions and share with us your favourite books

Just click on the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/463020810398738

Book Seven in the Bradshaw Chronicles about Flavia de Luce's is a thoroughly enjoyable, adventure with plenty of intrigue and added humour.

As Chimney Sweeps Come to Dust.                     

By Alan Bradley

Released: Jan 6, 2015

Read: Advanced. Readers Copy (ARC)

My rating: 4 out of 5

Alan Bradley adds a new twist to an already outstanding series...think of a 12 year old female version of Sherlock in the 1950's, shipped (literally) by her father and Aunt Felicity (and to Flavia it feels it is more like being Banished) from her stately home in England and placed in Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada.  This is the same boarding school as her mother Harriet attended.

In the seventh book in the Flavia du Luce series, (or Buckshaw Chronicles as they are known,) Flavia is feeling lonely in Canada where the language is somehow different at times and this combined with being miles across the sea from home and her family, and our heroine, Flavia feels homesick...that is of course, until charred remains of a body, falls out of a chimney and practically land at her feet.  There is nothing better to take Flavia out of this funk, than a mystery and a dead body.  Suddenly Flavia discovers that all is not as it seems.  There is more to this school than she thought.  Flavia curiosity has been aroused and her super sleuth skills are tested.  Flavia discovers that several girls from the school have gone missing and that one of the staff had been charged and acquitted of a previous murder. Flavia also discovers that her mother is well know amongst the staff and some of her classmates.  Flavia is admired by some and disliked by others and she must find out who is actually on her side and who is not.  Flavia can not trust anyone until she knows what is really going on.

There are some wonderful new characters in this book from the stern but admirable Miss Bodycote, to the St. Trinian type school girls attending the school.  This is but a year out of Flavia's life, but what an exciting year it is.  

I did miss some of the old characters from Buckshaw such as Flavia's sisters and Dogger in the beginning, but once the mysteries took hold and the adventure began, I too like Flavia, forgot the aching to return to Buckshaw.

I could really empathise with Flavia when she first left England for Canada.  I too had done this around the same age as Flavia.  I was homesick for the comfort of England and my extended family and it felt quite strange and lonely at first.  It must have been very hard on Flavia for at least I had my Mum, Dad and sister with me.  Flavia was alone.

Flavia is an exceptional brave young lady and she prove this throughout this book too.  Her determination to find the answers, to solve the mysteries and still find time to be a 12 year old girl alone in a new country is admirable.

How does Alan Bradley manage to continue to write such wonderful mysteries about a precocious preteen age girl from England during the 1950's with such passion, plenty of intrigue and humour astounds me.  The characters in his books no matter how minor are always so well developed that they are believable and well remembered. Alan Bradley puts his heart and soul in his writing, he believes in Flavia and as readers of the Buckshaw Chronicles do as well.

Writers could learn a lot from this man. Alan is a truly gifted writer who not only immerses himself into the writing process with passion and love for the characters in his stories but is the author of one of the best classic mystery series out there. It is a thoroughly enjoyable, adventure with plenty of intrigue and added humour which appeals to both the female and male reader of varying age groups....No wonder they are going to make this a TV series.

Susanna Kearsley how she became my favourite Historical Time Slip Author

I still remember the first time I discovered Susanna's first book Mariana.  It was just after Susanna won the Catherine Cookson Award for Mariana.   I remember thinking I love Catherine Cookson Books so I will take a look at this one.  I bought it and instantly fell in love with Susanna Kearsley as a writer.  I thought, she is writing for me.  Her book contains everything I love in a great book, history, paranormal such as a time slip, mystery, suspense, it was a book I could not put down, a book which transported me into another time and place.  I became the protagonist Julie and I found Greywethers.  It was a remarkable book and she reminded me of Daphne Du Maurier and Mary Stewart two other authors I loved.  She also reminded me of Barbara Erskine.  Barbara Erskine wrote similar "TIME-SLIP" Historical Fiction books and who was at the time was my very favourite Historical Time Slip author, (Diana Norman is my "All Time" favourite "Historical Fiction" Writer) that is Time-Slip novels without being overly a Romance novel (where the Romance is the focus of the story as opposed to the mystery,) these books were really hard to find at that time, but I had found Susanna Kearsley and my book shelves screamed with joy!  Susanna has become my number one favourite author and for good reason.  Susanna's books get better and better as each new novel comes out.  Firebird is my favourite of her books, but I am waiting feverishly for her next novel "a Desperate Fortune" to come out next April 7th. 2015.

A major deal has been struck for the film rights to Irish Independent columnist and author Martina Devlin's latest novel, The House Where It Happened.

From the Irish Independent - http://www.independent.i.e
Published 30/08/2014 | 02:30
John Spain

A major deal has been struck for the film rights to Irish Independent columnist and author Martina Devlin's latest novel, The House Where It Happened.

The gothic novel, inspired by Ireland's only mass witchcraft trial which took place in Antrim in 1711, is published on Monday. Eight women were prosecuted for witchcraft - the last conviction for the felony in Ireland.

The rights to the book have been optioned by Samson Films, the company that made the Oscar-winning film Once starring Glen Hansard. Samson's productions also include The Sea, the recent adaptation of John Banville's novel, starring Ciaran Hinds and Sinead Cusack, and the comedy-drama Run and Jump.

"I stumbled across the story which forms the basis for my novel by chance," Devlin said. "I was flicking through a newspaper, and paused at the 'It Happened This Day' column. It said that on this day, in April 1711, eight women were convicted of witchcraft at the spring Assizes in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.

"I thought there must be some mistake. There hadn't been any mass witchcraft trials in Ireland, surely? They had happened in Salem in Massachusetts, and in Scotland - in other parts of Europe.

"I felt compelled to dig deeper - and the more questions which were answered, the more questions I had. The trial caused a sensation at the time, and hinged on an 18-year-old named Mary Dunbar who arrived in the community and almost immediately started complaining about being tormented by witches."

International bestseller Joseph O'Connor said he was "utterly gripped by the book's power".

In an unusual move, the deal for The House Where It Happened, published by Ward River Press, was struck even before the novel was published.

Devlin's awards include the Royal Society of Literature's VS Pritchett Prize, and a Hennessy Literary Award. Her previous books include Ship of Dreams and Banksters.

Irish Independent

I CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED APRIL 7, 2015

Over six months away from Publication and I am thrilled to see the new bookcover by Sourcebooks, for SUSANNA KEARSLEY's  newest novel DESPERATE FORTUNE

Here it is folks:

How Fabulous is that cover!

LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THIS BOOK ON MY HOLIDAYS IN THE UK AND IRELAND

Historical Fiction

Here’s what historical fiction is: a story set in the past and brought to life in the present, with themes and dilemmas with resonance today. At its core, historical fiction is a compelling story in which plot and character are more important than setting. Yet the setting can enhance a reader’s enjoyment of the novel. - Martina Devlin, author of The House Where It Happened.

The House Where It Happened is inspired by a true but little-known story about the last conviction for witchcraft in Ireland. In 1711, in a remote corner of Antrim, eight women from the Ulster-Scots community were accused of being witches by a pretty young newcomer. A group trial followed, causing a sensation. What happened was Ireland’s version of the notorious Salem Witch Trials. Martina Devlin has fictionalised a compelling episode from history, transforming it into a spine-chilling tale. Her novel will be published by Ward River Press, a new Poolbeg imprint.)

Simone St. James writes another fabulous haunting story in her latest novel SILENCE FOR THE DEAD

Silence For The Dead 

by Simone St. James 

ISBN-13: 9780451419484

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Publication date: 4/1/2014

Pages: 384

Rate this book 5 out of 5

*****

Synopsis:

“Portis House emerged from the fog as we approached, showing itself slowly as a long, low shadow....”

In 1919, Kitty Weekes, pretty, resourceful, and on the run, falsifies her background to obtain a nursing position at Portis House, a remote hospital for soldiers left shellshocked by the horrors of the Great War. Hiding the shame of their mental instability in what was once a magnificent private estate, the patients suffer from nervous attacks and tormenting dreams. But something more is going on at Portis House—its plaster is crumbling, its plumbing makes eerie noises, and strange breaths of cold waft through the empty rooms. It’s known that the former occupants left abruptly, but where did they go? And why do the patients all seem to share the same nightmare, one so horrific that they dare not speak of it?

Kitty finds a dangerous ally in Jack Yates, an inmate who may be a war hero, a madman… or maybe both. But even as Kitty and Jack create a secret, intimate alliance to uncover the truth, disturbing revelations suggest the presence of powerful spectral forces. And when a medical catastrophe leaves them even more isolated, they must battle the menace on their own, caught in the heart of a mystery that could destroy them both.

My Review:

This is a beautifully crafted story which I found to be both haunting and moving.  Not only is it full of mystery and suspense but it is also a vivid heartfelt emotional journey of courage and survival.

Kitty Weekes the main protagonist in this novel, is trying to escape a past which is full of fear, torment and loneliness...

When she arrives to take a nursing position under false pretences, at a very isolated  grand estate called Portis House, she discovers it to be a very eerie, atmospheric mental hospital for WW1 soldiers. The patients here, suffer from mental disorders or post traumatic stress disorder as it is know today.  But they also seem to be experiencing the same nightmare as each other.  They are frightened of the horrible experiences of these dreams, but they also afraid of the consequences of mentioning their nightmares to the medical staff, one of which, is being placed in the dreaded isolation room. 

Portis House seems alive with its strange eerie noises and ghosts.  Only the patients seem to be aware of these frightening events they are experiencing, that is until Kitty starts too as well...

This is such a well crafted book which I could not put down.  The more I read, the more my heart races and the more addictive the story became.  The story is so vivid it comes alive with each sentence you read.  Simone St. James has written an interesting novel which has such wonderfully well developed characters and such a compelling story, both powerfully evocative and emotionally heart-wrenching at times, as well as terrifying with a horrible sense of foreboding at others. Such a roller coaster of emotions.

It was wonderful to see Kitty's character develop into such a courageous person.  After experiencing such terrible events in her life, she finally finds what she had been missing, Love, Trust and true Happiness.

As with Simone St. James other two books, this was a brilliant read.  Simone St. James never disappoints her readership and as always, I look forward to the next book she writes.  

JUDITH SCHARA - a new author with an excellent first novel called SPIRAL

Spiral by Judith Schara                            

Product details
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 4137 KB
Print Length: 452 pages
Publisher: Periplus (12 Mar 2014)

My rating: 4 out of 5


Synopsis

Spiral, a new historical time slip novel begins a tale of genetic destiny... a novel of two women's shared genetic destiny, set in the 5th century worlds of ancient England, the fabled Phoenician city of Carthage, and the current time.

England 2006.When a midnight explosion at a clandestine Druid burial blasts a deep hole into the heart of an ancient hillfort, a rare Celtic scabbard is revealed that hints more treasures may be concealed. Desperate to salvage her troubled career, archaeologist Germaine O’Neill rushes to excavate and unearths the rich burial chamber of an Iron Age Celtic queen, and makes discoveries that will change lives and the history of prehistoric Britain.


My Review:

This is a very well researched and descriptive historical fiction with a time slip, (not a time travel,) between the 21st century back to the 5th century, which includes lots of interesting historical facts.

It is quite evident that lots of research went into this book.  It is very intelligently written and it is obvious that the author put her heart and soul into writing this story as she left nothing amiss.  You will read about druids, magic, slaves, barbarians, ancient tribes, archeology and mitochondrialDNA.

Even a reference to Bryan Sykes in the beginning, which I found fascinating as I am a big fan of his works especially, The Seven Daughters of Eve which is mentioned in this book.

This book is full of mystery, suspense and a time of prehistory before written history was recorded.
There are wonderful contemporary and historical protagonists in this story, in fact all characters mentioned are descriptive and very well rounded....
The two young, but strong women protagonists, Germaine O’Neill (living in the 21st. Century) and Sabrann ap Durot, (living in the 5th. Century) are unknowingly, BOUND together through their mitocondrial DNA.  One is an archeologist of Celtic History, the other a Druid with the gift of a Seer, but both are fighting to survive in a male dominated environment, and who's lives are very much in danger.

As I do not want to give too much of the plot away and spoil it for future readers, I will just say that this is a book full of history, mystery and suspense....Slow at first,  but as  the plot unfolds, the story really takes off.  Once the book takes off, you are hooked as it is so captivating!

Warning:  You will become immersed into the story.  Your heart will race at times and as you become emotionally attached to the characters, they will become part of you, which will leave you hungry for more!  It feels so true to the time and place, that when you stop reading, you feel as if your present time is somewhat dull and unadventurous.

This is an outstanding first novel by Judith Schara.  I can not wait to read the next book in this series.

If you enjoy a great historical fiction which is well researched, full of adventure, mystery and suspense, or just someone who enjoys a good read, then I highly recommend this book.

Simone St. James and her Classic Gothic Ghost Stories

Simone St. James is an author to look out for.  All her books are amazing to read, but best done with the lights on!

Simone St. James novels take place in the 1920's.   The novels are amazing classic gothic ghost stories which blend a thrilling historical mystery and an atmospheric spooky suspense with a little romance.  Simone has currently written and published three novels, they are in order: The Haunting of Maddy Clare, An Inquiry into Love and Death and her latest novel, Silence for the Dead.

Simone St. James is a lifelong reader of ghost stories and other spooky reads, but it wasn’t until she was an adult that she discovered two wonderful genres: romances and old, classic gothics.

THE HAUNTING OF MADDY CLARE won two of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® awards, as well as Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Book.

I am currently reading Silence For The Dead.

Published May 1st., 2014 

Book I am currently reading as of April 2014

Spiral: Book One of the Spiral in Time [Kindle Edition].           

By. Judith Schara

Spiral, a new historical time travel novel, begins a tale of genetic destiny . . .

England 2006. A clandestine Druid burial blasts a deep hole into the heart of an ancient hillfort revealing a rare Celtic scabbard. Desperate to save her failing career, archaeologist Germaine O’Neill rushes to be first to excavate and unearths the burial chamber of a Celtic queen, when the site suddenly collapses, almost killing her. In a coma, Germaine is catapulted back in time to the 5th century BC, where she lives the life of Sabrann ap Durot, the woman whose burial chamber she excavated—and Germaine’s ancestor.

Marked by a prophetic spiral tattoo on her face, many fear Sabrann ap Durot, a clairvoyant Druid. When enemies order her death, she is relentlessly hunted by assassins, even after she escapes to the fabled pagan city of Carthage.

But instead of finding safety, Sabrann’s life is in even more danger at the hands of ruthless explorers, corrupt priests, and vengeful queens, who sentence her to death by sacrificial fire. As Sabrann’s fate hangs in the balance, hope lies in the power of time and magic to transform her destiny and that of her descendant, Germaine O’Neill, far off in the distant future.