What's New Wednesday: A Look at Next Weeks New Releases

Pub Date: April 6th 2010

Format: paperback 352

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

The author who "masterfully builds a dramatic story" presents another gripping novel of the women of Tudor England. 

As the bereft, orphaned cousin to the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard knows better than many the danger of being favored by the King. But she is a Howard, and therefore ambitious, so she assumes the role Henry VIII has assigned her-his untouched child bride, his adored fifth wife. But her innocence is imagined, the first of many lies she will have to tell to gain the throne. And the path that she will tread to do so is one fraught with the same dangers that cost Queen Anne her head. 

Pub Date: April 6th 2010

Formmat: paperback 400 pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

A historical novel of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine and the one person she loved more than power-her rival for the throne. 

At only nine, Princess Alais of France is sent to live in England until she is of age to wed Prince Richard, son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Alais is an innocent pawn on the chessboard of dynastic marriage, her betrothal intended to broker an uneasy truce between the nations.

Estranged from her husband, Eleanor sees a kindred spirit in this determined young girl. She embraces Alais as a daughter, teaching the princess what it takes to be a woman of power in a world of men. But as Alais grows to maturity and develops ambitions of her own, Eleanor begins to see her as a threat-and their love for each other becomes overshadowed by their bitter rivalry, dark betrayals, conflicting passions, and a battle for revenge over the throne of England itself. 

Pub Date: April 6th 2010

Format: Hardcover 352 pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher)

Sometimes he dreamt he held her; that he would turn in bed and she would be there. But she was gone and he was old. Nearly seventy. Only cool paint met his fingers. "Ma très chère . . ." Darkness started to fall, dimming the paintings. He felt the crumpled letter in his pocket. "I loved you so," he said. "I never would have had it turn out as it did. You were with all of us when we began, you gave us courage. These gardens at Giverny are for you but I'm old and you're forever young and will never see them. . . ."

In the mid-nineteenth century, a young man named Claude Monet decided that he would rather endure a difficult life painting landscapes than take over his father's nautical supplies business in a French seaside town. Against his father's will, and with nothing but a dream and an insatiable urge to create a new style of art that repudiated the Classical Realism of the time, he set off for Paris.

But once there he is confronted...

Pub date: April 6th 2010

Format: paperback 480 pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
An exciting debut: a vivid, richly imagined saga of ancient Rome from a masterful new voice in historical fiction

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, passionate, musical, and guarded. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea will become her mistress's rival for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome's newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life-that is quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the life of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome's aristocrats. Unwittingly, she attracts another admirer in the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But Domitian's games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and paranoid Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor's mistress.

Giveaway Winner!!!

A big thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway, it was a great turnout! I will not hold you in suspense any longer...the winner of Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran and an authentic Roman coin is:

Congratulations Helen, you are going to love it! I will send an e-mail shortly, please respond within 48 hours or I will draw a different winner.
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Be sure to check back soon everyone, I have a couple more great giveaways coming up in the coming week! Have a great day everyone :)

Masterpiece Monday

Pierre Auguste Cot. Spring 1873

Suddenly Sunday

Since The Sunday Salon is closed to new members, I have created my own weekly event of Suddenly Sunday! Feel free to join in the fun, just link back to this blog :)

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Good morning everyone! I hope you have all had a wonderful week and relaxing weekend. As I write this post and reflect on this past week, I once again am in shock that it is yet another Sunday. Not only is it just Sunday, but the last Sunday in March! There are so many things that I need accomplish this week (besides my crazy reading schedule) since Easter is only a week away. Even though this week might be hectic, it will all be worth it on Easter morning to see how excited my daughter is. She's now 2 1/2 so this will be the first Easter she kind of understands :)

This week, I posted two reviews:

The Highest Stakes by Emery Lee
O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell

In addition to my review of The Highest Stakes, Emery Lee was kind enough to bestow Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog with an enlightening guest post which you can read here:

The Sport of Kings from Genesis to Zenith by Emery Lee

My mailbox was happy once again with a couple books for review:

You might have noticed toward the top of my blog, there are now tabs! They are still a work in progress but after a few more tweaks, they should be a delightful and helpful addition.

It has come to my attention that the comment feature for my posts has not been working 100%. I have gone back through my settings and hopefully fixed the problem, so please comment away everyone :)

It has been another fun and eventful week over at HFBRT! They just wrapped up their "Elizabeth Chadwick's The Scarlet Lion" event yesterday. As usual, there were creative posts, giveaways and an excellent interview with Elizabeth Chadwick. If you have not had the opportunity to see everything this event entailed, you can visit their website: historicalfictionroundtable.com.

And if you still cant get enough of The Scarlet Lion, here is my review: The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick

Don't forget to enter in my giveaway for one signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran and an authentic Roman coin! Hurry the giveaway ends March 29th @ 11:59PM. 

Giveaway: Cleopatra's Daughter & Authentic Roman Coin!

Have a excellent week everyone and happy reading!

Friday Finds at the Bookstore....One Day Later

Pub. Date: July 2007 (In Stores Now)
Format: Paperback, 288pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

Regency heiress Philomena Wellesley-Clegg has rather strong opinions about men and clothing. As to the former, so far two lords, a viscount, and a mad poet have fallen far short of her expectations. But she is about to meet Inigo Linsley, an unshaven, wickedly handsome man with a scandalous secret. He's nothing she ever dreamed she'd want—why then can she not stop thinking about how he looks in his breeches?

A delightful marriage of Pride and Prejudice with Bridget Jones's Diary, Janet Mullany's The Rules of Gentility transports us to the days before designer shoes, apple martinis, and speed dating—when great bonnets, punch at Almack's, and the marriage mart were in fashion—and captivates us with a winsome heroine who learns that some rules in society are made to be broken.

Author Guest Post: The Sport of Kings from Genesis to Zenith by Emery Lee

I am pleased to announce that Emery Lee, author of The Highest Stakes, has created an enlightening guest post for us about the history of equestrian racing! If you missed my review of this debut novel, be sure to read it here: The Highest Stakes Review.

Thank you Emery, for honoring "Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog" with your presence.

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The Sport of Kings from Genesis to Zenith              by Emery Lee

Although racing horses for sport dates back to the ancient Greeks, the first sanctioned races in modern times were the Royal Plates by order of Charles II. The king himself commissioned a new round course on Newmarket Heath in 1665, where the first twelve stone plate was run, and later held annually on the second Thursday of October.

                                                      

      Horse race at Warren Hill in Newmarket   

The stated 12 stone, equivalent to 168 pounds, represented the amount of weight each horse would carry inclusive of rider and tack. The horses were at least six years old and the normal distance four miles, with multiple heats. Interestingly, Charles II frequently rode his own horses and reputedly won the plate at  least two times!

While six Royal Plates were held during the reign of the Merry Monarch, there were no Royal Plates during the brief reign of James II, and only eleven during the years under William and Mary.

The dawning of the eighteenth century, however, breathed new life into the sport of kings (and queens) with the patronage of Queen Anne, a noted equestrienne, who first laid out the racecourse at Ascot. While riding the open heath near Windsor Castle, she remarked that it would be ideal to “gallop horses at full stretch.”

Her Majesty’s Plate at Ascot, worth 100 guineas, and open to any horse; mare or gelding over the age of six, first took place August 11, 1711. Seven horses ran three heats of four miles, but no winner recorded for posterity. During Queen Anne’s era (1702-1714) a total of twenty-eight Royal Plates were run.

Though competition in horseracing began to heat up with ninety races under George I, racing was still in its embryonic stage. It was actually under George II that horseracing reached its true zenith, with four-hundred-sixty-two Royal Plates run between 1727 and 1760.

Following the example set by Charles II in the prior century, for whom horseracing came to be called” the sport of kings,” the aristocrats of the Georgian age embraced horse racing as the means to several ends. 

These gentlemen of rank and title wholeheartedly pursued every manner of pleasure, dissipation, and gaming. They bet on horses because they bet on everything from cards and dice, to cock fighting, bear baiting, and bare-fisted pugilism.

Horses, in particular were ideally suited for this fast-living crowd who admired no virtue more than “bottom.”

With this growing fervor came the importation of Eastern blood horses, the kings of the desert well known for their unparalleled stamina.  The Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian, and later the Godolphin Arabian (sometime called Barb) were some of the very best horses selectively crossed with the blood of the early mares of Charles II to create an entirely new type of horse. Bred specifically for the speed and stamina needed for racing, this horse became known around the world as the English Thoroughbred.
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Great news everyone! I have just learned that Sourcebooks has agreed to publish a sequel to The Highest Stakes. Emery Lee is now hard at work writing Fortune's Son, which has an expected release date of Fall 2011. I will be sure to post any new information as soon as it comes my way!


If you would like to learn more about Emery Lee and her wonderful novel The Highest Stakes, you can visit her website: authoremerylee.com

Copyright © 2010 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.

Book Review: The Highest Stakes by Emery Lee

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

The breathtaking origins of thoroughbred horse racing
A tale of drama, danger, thwarted love, and retribution set in the high stakes gentleman's world of 18th century horse racing, where fortunes could be won... and lost...
She's lonely and neglected, but she knows horses...
Charlotte Wallace is orphaned and alone until a sympathetic stable boy takes her under his wing and teaches her everything about thoroughbred racing. In the process, the two discover in each other a love destined to be thwarted at every turn...
If only he could, he'd take her away with him forever...
Robert Devington has tried everything to persuade Charlotte's uncle to allow them to marry. Then an ill-fated friendship, a scandal in the making, and one desperate act of folly rob them of their love and his livelihood... Dead set on retribution, all Robert's hopes are hanging on one small horse-his only chance to reclaim his land, his dignity, and his love, against all odds...

My Review:

Robert Devington, a groom in Sir Garfield service, has a passion for racing horses and an even grater passion for Sir Garfield's niece, Charlotte Wallace. Robert constantly petitions Sir Garfield for Charlotte's hand in marriage but to no avail. No matter how hard Robert tries to make himself worthy, he is always viewed as a lowly stable boy of no consequence. As a young man with no prospects, he must find his own way in life in order to gain favor with Sir Garfield and convince him that he is the best man for Charlotte...

After forging his way in life, Robert returns home decorated as a hero of war and Captain of the Horse Guard. With a hopeful heart, he seeks out Sir Garfield in another attempt for Charlotte. Unfortunately, Roberts hopes are dashed when he learns that Sir Garfield has his own selfish plans for Charlotte's future...

Charlotte and Robert are desperately in love and are determined to find a way to be together. Forgoing all consequences they embark on a plan, that if successful, will give them the future they dream of. Just when they can finally see the finish line to their problems, disaster strikes. With an unthinkable betrayal, self-fish actions and threats of death, Robert and Charlotte's path to happiness is more treacherous then ever...

With The Highest Stakes, Emery Lee has given the reader a highly detailed and researched plot. While reading this novel, there was never a time when I knew what was going to happen next. Unexpected twists kept you guessing until the very last page. There are just a couple small issues I had with the book, the first being the times when writing became a little dry with the abundant equestrian detail. The detail of the horse racing was great, it was just the history and lineage of horses that became a little overdone. That being said, any of the dry moments were quickly forgotten when the intricate plot became intense. Also, I felt the end was a little abrupt. I did love the outcome, but after such a long and intense journey to reach happiness, the ending was pale in comparison. Overall, this is an enjoyable and intriguing read that will keep the readers attention through it's 500+ pages. 

A Little Extra:

 Be sure to read the enlightening guest post by Emery Lee: 

The Sport of Kings from Genesis to Zenith.

Copyright © 2010 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.

For the King by Catherine Delors: Update!

A couple months ago I announced the upcoming release of For the King, which is the newest novel by Catherine Delors. At the time of that post, there was not yet a definite synopsis but now I bring you the complete synopsis and exiting book trailer! 

Publish date: July 8th
Pre-order: barnesandnoble.com

Snopsis: (From the Publisher)

From the author of the critically acclaimed Mistress of the Revolutioncomes a spellbinding historical thriller set in post- revolutionary Paris. 

For her first novel, Mistress of the Revolution, which the Associated Press dubbed one of the "best reads of the year," Catherine Delors earned comparisons to Tracy Chevalier and Philippa Gregory. In For the King, she again demonstrates her matchless ability to illuminate key turning points in history while weaving a gripping story about a man caught between his heart and his integrity.

The Reign of Terror has ended, and Napoléon Bonaparte has seized power, but shifting political loyalties still tear apart families and lovers. On Christmas Eve 1800, a bomb explodes along Bonaparte's route, narrowly missing him but striking dozens of bystanders. Chief Inspector Roch Miquel, a young policeman with a bright future and a beautiful mistress, must arrest the assassins before they attack again. Complicating Miquel's investigation are the maneuverings of his superior, the redoubtable Fouché, the indiscretions of his own father, a former Jacobin, and two intriguing women.

Based on real events and characters and rich with historical detail, For the Kingtakes readers through the dark alleys and glittering salons of post-revolutionary Paris and is a timeless epic of love, betrayal, and redemption.
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To read more about this exciting new novel, visit Catherine Delors' website @ catherinedelors.com



(update...had a glitch with the trailer, it should be up again soon)

What's New Wednesday: A Look at Next Weeks New Releases

Pub Date: March 30th, 2010

Format: Paperback 544pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
In this exhilarating cross betweenThe Da Vinci Code and The Birth of Venus, an irrepressible young woman in 15th-century Italy must flee for her life after stumbling upon a deadly secret when she serves as a model for Botticelli...

When part-time model and full-time prostitute Luciana Vetra is asked by one of her most exalted clients to pose for a painter friend, she doesn't mind serving as the model for the central figure of Flora in Sandro Botticelli's masterpiece "Primavera." But when the artist dismisses her without payment, Luciana impulsively steals an unfinished version of the painting--only to find that somone is ready to kill her to get it back. 

What could possibly be so valuable about the picture? As friends and clients are slaughtered around her, Luciana turns to the one man who has never desired her beauty, novice librarian Brother Guido. Fleeing Venice together, Luciana and Guido race through the nine cities of Renaissance Italy, pursued by ruthless foes who are determined to keep them from decoding the painting's secrets.

Gloriously fresh and vivid, with a deliciously irreverent heroine, The Botticelli Secret is an irresistible blend of history, wit, and suspense.

Pub Date: April 1st, 2010

Format: Paperback 368pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

Set against the backdrop of a country racked by revolt and class warfare, Within the Hollow Crown showcases the true spirit of a king at the end of one of the most glorious dynasties, who wants both England's heart and crown. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood of all English monarchs, the son of the Black Prince and grandson of Edward III has been portrayed in a dim light by history. But Margaret Campbell Barnes gives readers a different portrait of Richard II. Although his peace-loving ways set him apart from the war-mongering medieval world around him, Richard proved himself a true king by standing down a peasant revolt and outwitting the political schemes of his enemies. Struggling to uphold the valiant Plantagent dynasty, Richard and his queen, Anne of Bohemia, nonetheless manage to create an exquisite partnership, described as "one of the tenderest idylls of romance ever written."

Pub Date: April 1st, 2010

Format: Paperback 560 pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

The breathtaking origins of thoroughbred horse racing
A tale of drama, danger, thwarted love, and retribution set in the high stakes gentleman's world of 18th century horse racing, where fortunes could be won... and lost...
She's lonely and neglected, but she knows horses...
Charlotte Wallace is orphaned and alone until a sympathetic stable boy takes her under his wing and teaches her everything about thoroughbred racing. In the process, the two discover in each other a love destined to be thwarted at every turn...
If only he could, he'd take her away with him forever...
Robert Devington has tried everything to persuade Charlotte's uncle to allow them to marry. Then an ill-fated friendship, a scandal in the making, and one desperate act of folly rob them of their love and his livelihood... Dead set on retribution, all Robert's hopes are hanging on one small horse-his only chance to reclaim his land, his dignity, and his love, against all odds...

Pub Date: April 1st, 2010

Format: Paperback 432 pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

A young lady in disgrace should at least strive to behave with decorum...
Dispatched from America to England under a cloud of scandal,
Mr. Darcy's incorrigible American cousin, Clarissa Darcy, manages to provoke Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Collins, and the parishioners of Hunsford all in one morning!
And there are more surprises in store for that bastion of tradition, Rosings Park, when the family gathers for their annual Easter visit. Georgiana Darcy, generally a shy model of propriety, decides to take a few lessons from her unconventional cousin, to the delight of a neighboring gentleman. Anne de Bourgh, encouraged to escape her "keeper" Mrs. Jenkinson, simply...vanishes. But the trouble really starts when Clarissa and Georgiana both set out to win the heart of the same young man...

Pub Date: April 1st, 2010

Format: Paperback 560 pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

Seeking power and prestige, grim, ambitious Yorkshireman Edward Morland arranges a marriage between his meek son Robert and spirited Eleanor, young ward of the influential Beaufort family. Eleanor is appalled at being forced to marry a mere "sheep farmer"; she is, after all, secretly in love with Richard, Duke of York.
Yet from this apparently ill-matched union, Robert and Eleanor form a surprising connection that soon will be tested by a bloody civil war that divides families, sets neighbor against neighbor, and brings tragedy close to home.

Pub Date: April 1st, 2010

Format: Hardcover 252 p

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

Adelia is back in this thrilling fourth installment of the Mistress of the Art of Death series.

In 1176, King Henry II sends his daughter Joanna to Palermo to marry his cousin, the king of Sicily. Henry chooses Adelia Aguilar, his Mistress of the Art of Death, to travel with the princess and safeguard her health. But when people in the wedding procession are murdered, Adelia and Rowley must discover the killer's identity . . . and whether he is stalking the princess or Adelia herself.

Book Review: O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that knows not the bounds of her great family's stalwart keep. 
The latter path is hers for the taking when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars. The breathless intrigue that ensues is the stuff of beloved legend. But those familiar with Shakespeare's muse know only half the story...



My Review:

Shakespeare's timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers comes to life in a whole new way with Robin Maxwell's O, Juliet.

Romeo Monticecco and Juliet Capelletti meet by chance during a masked ball in honor of Juliet's best friends betrothal. It is this on this starry night that a love forms between them, a love so strong that it binds them closer together with each passing day. With their love being perfect in every way, there should be no doubt of their imminent marriage, but their future is full of blockades, with the most prominent one being that their two families are bitter enemies...

Romeo has always been hopeful for peace between their two families and now, with his greatest love on the line, he is more determined then ever to end the century old blood feud. Unfortunately, Jacopo Strozzi, Juliets future betrothed, is just as determined to sabotage any chance of peace so he can claim Juliet and a lucrative business partnership for himself...

While trying to find a way out of their horrible predicament, Romeo and Juliet rely on secret meetings, touching poems and their love for the works of Dante to help them endure their trials. Even when secrets, murder and betrayals begin to occur, Romeo and Juliet refuse to give up on their future and there is no limit to what they will do for love...


O, Juliet has all the classic romance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet while combining new intrigue and twists. The result of such a mixture is a splendid and enthralling new take on a timeless classic. When I first heard that there was a new book on Romeo and Juliet, I was a bit skeptical weather or not it would live up to Shakespeare's work, but after reading a couple pages my doubts quickly vanished. This enchanting novel is told mostly from Juliet's point of view; but she is not our usual Juliet. In this version she is a strong, self-thinking and knowledgeable woman who is not afraid to take action. With every page, I soaked up the breathtaking romance that was unfolding before me, never wanting it to end. When the end did come, it was beautifully done leaving the reader completely satisfied and at peace. There are not enough words to describe the depth of how touching this novel was, I can only say that it will definitely be a book I will read again and again.


A Little Extra:

Romeo and Juliet have inspired artists for centuries. Here are some of those paintings:

My personal favorite by Sir Frank Dicksee.

Karl Ludwig Friedrich Becker

Francesco Hayez

This one is another favorite of mine that I found by chance a long time ago. Unfortunately, I am yet to discover the artist.  

Copyright © 2010 Svea Love. All Rights Reserved.

Suddenly Sunday

Since The Sunday Salon is closed to new members, I have created my own weekly event of Suddenly Sunday! Feel free to join in the fun, just link back to this blog :)

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Well this week did not turn out to be as crazy as I thought it would! I still had company from out of town twice but it was really fun and relaxed. The weather this past week was perfect, and if I didn't before, I definitely have spring fever now :)

Even though my week was busy, I somehow managed to post two reviews! 

Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

My mailbox was very happy this week with some great books for review:

Today is the start of the newest event over at HFBRT! "Elizabeth Chadwick's The Secret Lion" is this weeks exciting event & giveaway. Throughout the week there will be creative posts, reviews, author interviews and so much more. To learn more about this great event, visit their website: historicalfictionroundtable.com

Don't forget to check out the awesome giveaway I have going on here on my blog. The very generous and talented Michelle Moran has offered to give one lucky winner an autographed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter and one authentic Roman coin! You can enter in the giveaway here:  Cleopatra's Daughter & Roman Coin Giveaway.


Have a great week everyone & happy reading!