Review: Mistress of Lies

Mistress of Lies

Author: Holly West
Series: Mistress of Fortune, #2
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Carina Press
Publication Date: September 29th, 2014
Format: ebook
Pages: 344
Source: Me, My Shelf and I
Purchase: Amazon | B&N 
iBooks | Kobo

Rating: ★★★★

London, 1679

Isabel, Lady Wilde, mistress of King Charles II, has made a good living disguised as fortune teller Mistress Ruby, counseling London's elite. But after the murder of one of her customers, business has taken a downturn, and Isabel is on the verge of accepting the king's offer to move into the palace.

Isabel's plans are interrupted when a beggar girl named Susanna shows up at her home, claiming to be her niece. Isabel always believed that her older brother, Adam, died alone during the plague. When Susanna reveals that Adam was actually murdered, Isabel is compelled to take up an impossible task: discover the truth about her brother's death, twelve years after it happened.

Isabel's investigation leads her through the gamut of London society, from bear-baiting matches and brothels to the realm of wealthy bankers. But as she uncovers her brother's dark secrets, Isabel begins to wonder whether the past is better left buried, especially when uncovering the truth could lead to her own funeral. (Goodreads)

Opening Lines

“Monday, 13 January 1679
I hardly remember when I first noticed her, the girl who would change everything. She was simply there one evening, huddled in the narrow overhang of a tavern near my home, soliciting spare change from passersby.”

Mistress of Lies was a fast read that kept me on my toes! It picks up a couple of months later in terms of where Mistress of Fortune ends. I highly recommend reading Mistress of Fortune before picking up Mistress of Lies. Isabel's character growth continues into this novel, we get a looked into her past and see what her family and childhood was like. I also enjoyed the history lesson, throughout the novel the readers learn a good amount of information about goldsmith and banking which I really didn't know anything about. Isabel was an easy character to love, she's strong, independent and is determined to make something of herself. While tossed into many situations that would diminish that amount of independence and confidence, Isabel just seems to move right through it all with her back straight, chin up, and head held high!

Romance wasn't the main factor or genre for Mistress of Lies, which I liked. This book focused more on the mystery, a mystery that kept me on my toes and no matter how many times I tried to guess how this would all end I never got it right! I don't want to spoiler anything, but I will say that I remember when it got down to the last 6-8 chapters my heart was speeding up and I was hoping for the best. Overall, Mistress of Lies was a fantastic read! I loved the setting, plots, characters and the mystery surrounding Lady Wilde's brothers death. If you love historical fiction and mystery than I highly recommend picking this series up!

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About the Author

Holly West is a crime fiction writer based in Los Angeles. Her short stories appear in several anthologies and her debut historical mystery, MISTRESS OF FORTUNE, will be published by Carina Press in 2014.

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Review: A Paris Apartment

A Paris Apartment

Author: Michelle Gable
Genre: Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Publication Date: April 22nd, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 378
Source: France Book Tours
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
Chapters | Book Depository

Rating: ★★★. 5

Bienvenue à Paris!

When April Vogt's boss tells her about an apartment in the ninth arrondissement that has been discovered after being shuttered for the past seventy years, the Sotheby's continental furniture specialist does not hear the words “dust” or “rats” or “decrepit.” She hears Paris. She hears escape.

Once in France, April quickly learns the apartment is not merely some rich hoarder's repository. Beneath the cobwebs and stale perfumed air is a goldmine, and not because of the actual gold (or painted ostrich eggs or mounted rhinoceros horns or bronze bathtub). First, there's a portrait by one of the masters of the Belle Epoque, Giovanni Boldini. And then there are letters and journals written by the very woman in the painting, Marthe de Florian. These documents reveal that she was more than a renowned courtesan with enviable decolletage. Suddenly April's quest is no longer about the bureaux plats and Louis-style armchairs that will fetch millions at auction. It's about discovering the story behind this charismatic woman.

It's about discovering two women, actually.

With the help of a salty (and annoyingly sexy) Parisian solicitor and the courtesan's private diaries, April tries to uncover the many secrets buried in the apartment. As she digs into Marthe's life, April can't help but take a deeper look into her own. Having left behind in the States a cheating husband, a family crisis about to erupt, and a career she's been using as the crutch to simply get by, she feels compelled to sort out her own life too. When the things she left bubbling back home begin to boil over, and Parisian delicacies beyond flaky pâtisseries tempt her better judgment, April knows that both she and Marthe deserve happy finales.

Whether accompanied by croissants or champagne, this delectable debut novel depicts the Paris of the Belle Epoque and the present day with vibrant and stunning allure. Based on historical events, Michelle Gable's A Paris Apartment will entertain and inspire, as readers embrace the struggles and successes of two very unforgettable women. (Goodreads)

PRAISE FOR A PARIS APARTMENT

“With its well-developed, memorable characters and the author’s skillful transitioning between story lines…this stunning and fascinating debut will capture the interest of a wide audience but particularly those interested in stories about women behind famous men like Melanie Benjamin’s The Aviator’s Wife or Nancy Horan’s Under the Wide and Starry Sky. Highly recommended.” – Library Journal (starred review)

“A charming read about a fascinating history and the woman behind it.” – Historical Novel Society

Opening Lines

"She only wanted to get out of town.
When her boss sidled up and said the words "apartment," "ninth arrondissement," and "a ton of nineteenth-century crap," April instantly thought: vacation. There would be work involved, but no matter, she was going to Paris. As every writer, poet, painter, and, yes, furniture assessor knew, it was the perfect place for escape."

I first came across A Paris Apartment a couple of months ago when I read a review for it on someones blog. I was instantly intrigued and wanted to pick it up, I was looking it up to see if it was available at my bookstore when I came across France Book Tours and had the opportunity to sign up! I'm glad I did because I couldn't find it at my bookstore for 2 weeks! Even by just looking at the cover I knew this was going to be a beautiful book to get my hands on, and let me just say that when A Paris Apartment showed up in the mail I couldn't stop looking at it! It's not just the simplicity of the cover; white apartment with beautiful black text, but also the inside! I loved the banners and designs used within the book that was separated by parts.

A Paris Apartment started off very slow for me but I was happy that it picked up and I was able to really enjoy the characters. April was an interesting character but at times I found her to be a bit too much. I understand that she had a lot going on in her personal life but I found her to be way too emotional, at times I felt uncomfortable with it all. I wanted to make her a cup of tea, give her a pep talk and tell her to get it together and calm down!! Now I don't want to spoil anything but her husband? No. Just, no. I didn't like him, still don't like him and I don't know if that will change when I re-read this at a later time. I would have preferred to see her with Luc!! I really liked Luc he was so charming and hilarious.

Michelle Gabe's writing style is beautiful. I've never been to Paris, and I really hope to make it there someday. Michelle's words and descriptions really brought Paris to life for me. The atmosphere and detailing of April's surroundings felt so real to me! I enjoyed the dual narration from April and Marthe de Florian's letters, while at times I found Marthe's parts to be a little flat from time to time it was pleasant having a present day vs. past narration. Overall, A Paris Apartment was a wonderful easy read that had me daydreaming about Paris!

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About the Author

Michelle Gable is a writer and also a mom, wife, financial executive, sports-obsessed maniac (Go Chargers! Go Aztecs!), Southern California native, barre class fiend, tennis player, and card-carrying member of the Chickasaw Nation. She grew up in sunny San Diego and attended The College of William & Mary, where she majored in accounting as most aspiring writers do.

Throughout a career that started in public accounting and then moved to private equity, then investment banking, and ultimately to the head of FP&A for a publicly-traded software company, Michelle continued to write. And write and write. Her first novel was released on April 22, 2014, her second scheduled for Spring 2016.

Michelle currently resides in Cardiff by the Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, and one lazy cat.

Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads.

Review: The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton

The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton  

Author: Viveka Portman
Series: Regency Diaries
Genre: Erotica, Romance, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Publication Date: December 1st, 2013
Format: ebook
Pages: 72
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

 
When faced with a rakish, lusty husband, what is a proper English wife to do but educate herself in the art of bedplay? “Marriages are strange things, none stranger perhaps than this betwixt me and my lord husband.” Lady Cecelia is married to the dashing and philandering Lord William Stanton, a situation that would distress even the most composed and refined gently-born lady. However, Cecelia has a secret balm to her dissatisfaction: her maid, Bess Miller. Cecelia’s inexperience and William’s insatiable appetites fuel her desire to learn, and Bess is a willing teacher. Then, when Cecelia blossoms into pregnancy and can no longer accommodate William’s needs, he distances himself, and Bess becomes her only solace and comfort — and the channel for her most intimate desires. As Cecelia struggles to understand her own feelings, gossip begins to spread. William starts asking questions, and wicked confessions must be made..

 

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First Impression

This is only 72 pages?! I thought I would be getting a full novel, hopefully Viveka Portman is able to cover all her bases within 72 pages...

Opening Lines

Thursday 17th June 1813 Wiltshire, England.

"I am with child, again. In the unfortunate event I do not recover from this birth, I write my confessions in this diary. I do so in the hope that should word of my most intimate affairs ever become public, then these confessions may give insight t into the reasons behind them."

The Good

Cover - I think the cover for this book is absolutely beautiful! I like the choice of a close up and the colours in the background, very intriguing and eye-catching!

The Bad / The In-Between

The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton was more focused on sex than historical romance. With how this was described I had expected it to be written in the form of diary entries. However the narration made it hard to follow and it no longer felt like diary entries. 

While Lady Cecelia and Bess were interesting characters there was a lack of a real connection. I do not feel like Viveka Portman successfully described Lady Cecelia’s feelings for Bess much less Bess’ feelings for Lady Cecelia. All she does is state it, but there was no description or building up to Lady Cecelia realizing her feelings for Bess and this bothered me.

And then there’s William, ugh. While he was crude and disloyal all she kept describing was how handsome he was. This description of William made it impossible for me to like him or sympathize for Lady Cecelia’s lack of a backbone. I have no idea what woman would actually be attracted to a man like him.

Lasting Impression

Overall, I felt that The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton was more of an outline/draft rather than a final copy. This is the second book in a series and I don't think I'll bother to go back and read book 1 or read book 3. 

   

 

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