Book Review: The Woman Beyond the Attic: The VC Andrew's story

Author: Andrew Neiderman

Published by: Gallery Books

Overall rating: 3.5 Stars 

 

 

 

PLOT:  (3.5 Stars)

 

This is a biography of VC Andrews, a popular author in the 1980’s.  After finding success in her 50’s-60’s, it was short lived as she passed away from cancer in 1986. She was born in 1923 to a middle-class family and lived a normal life until she had an accident in her teenage years on a staircase that would eventually making walking difficult. She was considered disabled, she used a wheelchair, and was dependent on family. 

 

The book talks about her early years, her influences, her struggles, and her desires to be a painter and an author. The author takes you through her life, to her success with Flowers in the Attic, and how she responded to that success.

 

The end has a rough draft of a story she was working on when she died which is a real treat. 

 

 

CATAYLIST: (5 Stars)

 

Growing up in the 1980’s, I was big fan of VC Andrews and her books. I loved Flowers in the Attic.  Why? Because it dealt with topics that people just didn’t talk about. Her books were suspenseful, psychological, gothic, and blended all those elements equally. I heard she had died in the 1980’s and her stories were being ghost written, but didn’t know much else.  When I heard this book was coming out, I wanted to read it to discover more about one of my favorite authors. 

 

THOUGHTS: (3.5 Stars)

 

I loved learning about her background, what her influences were and about the accident that crippled her. There was a lot of referenced material which was shared, but the writing comes off a bit stilted, and not conversational. The writing style, while understandable, is lacking that familiar intimacy which Andrews’ books all shared. Yes, I learned about her life, but it felt mechanical. 

 

I did enjoy the rough draft that was shared after the biographical story. It was reflective of all her work, how she could draw you into that novel’s world, ease you into her rooting for the main character, and unfold a story that is suspenseful and unnerving at the same time. 

 

 

WHAT WORKS: (4 Stars)

 

I learned information about Andrews that I didn’t know before, and for me, that was a treat.

 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME (WHAT WAS ‘OFF’): (2 Stars)

 

What was off for me was the writing style of the material. The biographical story lacked a certain intimacy that her books had. 

 

WHY 3.5 STARS:

 

The book is put together and presented well. Just because the biographical chapters are dry, they do reveal a lot about VC Andrews. There are pictures which are shared, and I liked learning that Virginia did get a chance to enjoy her fame, even if it was for a little bit. She was determined to accomplish certain things, paint and write, and be successful, and that was certainly inspirational, especially knowing her limitations. 

 

 

EXTRA: COVER SIDE NOTE:

 

The cover is VC Andrews in a pose with a cover that is reflective of her Dollanganger series. It’s the perfect cover for this style of biography. 

****

If you get a chance, check out my author page on Smashwords at:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/StephanieBurkhart

 

 

Book Review: The Duke and I - 3 Stars

Book cover inspired the by Netflix Series

Book review for:

 

The Duke and I

Author: Julia Quinn

Published by: Avon Books, 2000

Overall rating: 3 Stars 

 

 

 

PLOT:  (3 Stars)

 

Daphne Bridgerton is a young lady in Regency England. The ton dictates society’s norms and it’s her turn to traverse the rumors and innuendos of the season along with Lady Whistledown’s gossip column.  Daphne is well liked, heck, she’s everyone friend, so when it comes to finding a potential mate, he’s got to be something special because ordinary won’t do.

 

Simon Basset is young, handsome, and the new Duke of Hastings upon his father’s death, only Simon never cared much for his father. In fact, Simon’s father abandoned him as a young boy when he discovered Simon had a stutter. Simon vowed to be opposite of his father – never to fall in love, never to marry, and never have children.

 

When Daphne and Simon meet, the incident is memorable for both. Friendship grows into attraction, but Daphne and Simon have opposite goals in life. Daphne wants to be married and have children.  Simon doesn’t want any of marriage and children. When the couple is caught by Daphne’s brother in a compromised position, will a forced marriage bring happiness or misery? 

 

 

CATAYLIST: (3 Stars)

 

I was shopping at Costco and found the book. I liked the blurb, but thought the cover was ‘off’ – and it was reading the cover that I discovered Netflix made a series out of the book.  The actress on the cover was ‘Daphne’ – she totally captured the character.  The actor on the cover seemed off for ‘Simon’ – oh, he was handsome, but as I read the book, and developed my own inner visual for Simon, I found the disconnect a bit disconcerting.  Still, I was intrigued enough to buy the book and read it. 

 

THOUGHTS: (3.5 Stars)

 

Daphne is easy to like. She’s honest, forthright, brave and knows her mind. Her family is easy to like, too – even Anthony, who can be a little rough, but it’s understandable why he is, and his love for his siblings always shines though.

 

Simon is the more complicated character. He’s had a hard time of it, having to overcome a stutter and the abandonment of his father. Simon hides his background and challenges well in society, but when confronted with uncharacteristic emotions, he buckles down on what he knows – avoidance.  Daphne brings out the best and worst in Simon as she challenges him to confront his complicated emotions. 

 

WHAT WORKS: (4 Stars)

 

The banter is witty. The plot moves at a nice clip until a certain scene. The characters are appealing.

 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME (WHAT WAS ‘OFF’): (2 Stars)

 

I don’t mind sexually graphic scenes. The romance genre varies from sweet to heavy charged graphic scenes. There are such scenes here in this novel. However, there’s a point in the novel where Daphne has sex with a drunk Simon and he’s barely aware of his surroundings. He’s in no condition to really give his consent to the encounter. That said, Simon’s been firm about his wishes – he does not wish to have children. The scene ends with the opportunity for Daphne to conceive and yet, it’s not something that Simon wanted.  Simon’s character development is not fleshed out to the point in this novel, when this encounter happens, where he willingly consents to Daphne’s desires.  For me, a romance reader, consent is a must. Not drunken consent, not implied consent, consent given willingly and freely. 

 

WHY 3 STARS:

 

I liked the setting, the time period, and the escapism of the novel. I liked Daphne as a heroine. I appreciated the complicated character that Simon was, I just didn’t think the author took the time to develop the character to the point where he was in an emotional place to share Daphne’s desires when he has drunken sex with her. 

 

WILL I WATCH THE NETFLIX SERIES?

Not at this time.  I love a good escapism series and Bridgerton could very well be that, but I appreciate more the realism of the escapism then the reimagining of it.  The series itself would stand much stronger on its own if it was its own world and not a reimagined world of the ton. 

 

EXTRA: COVER SIDE NOTE:

 

As usually I do with a review, I download the cover and share it with the review.  Well, I discovered the book had more than one cover. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, as it had a different covers when published in 2000 ,and then as it was published throughout the world, it was given different covers.  

 

I thought it would be interesting to compare covers.  Which ones have more appeal and which ones have less.  I’d love to get your thoughts on it. 

 

Memorial Day Weekend 2020: Book Review for Killing England

Blogger's Note: It's time to restart my Blog! I know it's been a while and I apologize.  I've been very busy with my job (911 dispatcher for LAPD) and dedicating my spare time to assisting my sons' Boy Scout troop as an adult leader.  But 2020 is a time of change and I can now, slowly, start to dedicate some of spare time to my writing and my own projects.  My oldest son is graduating high school and is an Eagle Scout.  My younger son is moving onto high school from middle school.  Both did well with their distance learning challenges. 

Thoughts on COVID 19:  I think I would be neglectful if I didn't mention that "Safer at home" orders and COVID 19 have effected us and our communities this year. We are just now starting to reopen our communities as the curve has flattened. It's been a challenging time for us. Thank you for picking my blog up, after months of neglect and giving me a chance. Going forward, I'll be sharing some of my COVID frustration, my highs and my lows, and sharing ideas to keep it positive going forward. 

As I've picked Memorial Day weekend to jump start my blog, this weekend's focus will have a military focus.  Today, I'm sharing my book review for "Killing England" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard.   I hope to have a new Memorial Day essay for you soon and a look a military hero. 

I'd like to rededicate my blog to my writing (so you'll see little blurbs about my books and writing projects), what's going on in my spare time, my likes, my dislikes, my weight loss journey, my thoughts on the year 2020, exploring my neighborhood, and maybe work, but let me tell you, being a 911 dispatcher is not that exciting. At least, I don't think so. I think to be a 911 dispatcher, you have to be a "jack of all trades" and I'll find that a re-occuring theme going forward. 

For all those who have lost family members to military service, from World War II to our time in Afghanistan and Iraq, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you.  

Engrossing! I couldn’t put it down! 

 Book Review: Killing England

Written by: Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

Published by: Henry Holt/Macmillian

ISBN: 978-1-62779-0642

I read: The hardback

5 Stars

O’Reilly and Dugard pen a comprehensive tale of hardship, perseverance, and determination with “Killing England.” The revolution set America on its own course, that’s unfortunately, given a dry treatment in the US History books. Not so with O’Reilly and Dugard.  Washington, Franklin, and Jefferson come alive as real people, their flaws exposed and raw; their strengths – amazing and almost superhuman. 

One of the main causes of the American Revolution is “taxation without representation,” yet it’s made clear the Americans are subjects to the British, meant to support the elite, and that won’t do. O’Reilly and Dugard give the events that led up to the start of the war a fresh look with anecdotes that have been lost to time. 

Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and other key figures such as George III, Cornwallis, Marquis de La Fayette and Prussian general Von Stuben are portrayed as real people. Their personalities shine and give rise to the birth of a nation. 

The writing is easy to read. The reader will learn a lot about the American Revolution including how the battles were fought, Washington’s courage, Franklin’s patience, and Jefferson’s loyalty. There’s always a new fascinating, historical tidbit to discover. “Killing England” is a griping read that will have the reader turning the pages to discover yet another historical nugget lost to time. It’s raw, it’s surprising, it’s gritty, it’s war. And O’Reilly and Dugard hold no punches. I highly recommend this book. 

****

It’s the start of the school year, and Alyssa has to take American Studies for college prep. She’s paired with classmate Miguel De Soto to find the first flag of New Hampshire, but the flag has only flown four times in New Hampshire’s past. Can Alyssa and Miguel track the flag through history before time is up?

First Flag of New Hampshire is available from 4RV Publishing on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the 4RV Publishing website as a paperback and Kindle book. 

4RV: 

http://4rvpublishing.com/brown-and-burkhart.php

Amazon Link:

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00UW2R71Q&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_xzuYEbZEW7DYT

Book Review: When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen

Book Review for:  When You Give a Duke a Diamond

Written by: Shana Galen

Amazon ASIN: B008BWAD6U

Published by: Sourcebooks

5 Stars

I read: the ebook

Dazzling with Diamonds, Full of Heart

Galen crafts a romance filled with suspense, danger, and heart with “When You Give a Duke a Diamond.” Juliette, aka the “Duchess of Dalliance,” is a courtesan during the heyday of the ton. Christened  the “Duchess of Dalliance” by Prinny himself, the gossip around the ton is that she’s  having an affair with the Duke of Pelham, a man who is always on time and stanchly set in his ways. He’d never go to bed with a courtesan.

Pelham, aka “Will” and Juliette are thrown into each other’s path when Lucifer shoots at Juliette. Lucifer believes Juliette has his stolen diamonds. Pelham is forced to keep Juliette safe, and in doing so, discovers he wants to find out the mystery behind the missing jewels and why Lucifer would go after Juliette.

They escape to York to avoid danger and Juliette manages to bring out Will’s softer side. As the Duke begins to fall in love, will legitimate danger, or those pesky conventional norms of the ton keep him from publically admitting his love for Juliette?

Shana Galen is one of my favorite romance authors. Her writing style is enjoyable. Her characters are sharp, witty, and infused with heart. Pelham is rough around the edges and it’s endearing to watch Juliette soften him. The danger and suspense never let up, and I hated it when I had to put the story down. Juliette is a capable heroine, not afraid to confront conflict. She’s appeals to modern norms while retaining regency charm. The love scenes are mainstream and tasteful.

Overall, “When You Give a Duke a Diamond,” is a delicious escape to another time and place, full of nail-biting suspense and heartwarming moments. It’s a romance that will touch your heart and leave wanting to read the next book in the series.

Question:  What is your favorite genre of romance do you like to read? 

Book Review: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Book Review for: The Sword of Summer

(Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard)

Written by: Rick Riordan

Published by: Disney/Hyperion

ISNB: 978-148476035-2

4.5 Stars

I read: the hardback

An incredible escape to another world!

Riordan pens an enthralling new adventure involving the Gods of Asgard with “The Sword of Summer.” Our hero is Magnus Chase. After retrieving the sword of Summer from the Charles River, he’s promptly killed by Surt, the fire god. Thankfully, a Valkyrie named Sam, saves him and takes him to Valhalla where he becomes one of Odin’s soldiers known as the Einherjar.

Trouble is not far behind. Sam is expelled from the Valkyrie, and Magnus must re-find the Sword of Summer. Complicating matters is Fenris Wolf who is rumored to bring about Ragnarok in 9 days. Can Magnus and his friends, Sam, Blitz, and Hearth find the sword and save the 9 worlds from Ragnarok?

Riordan’s writing style is easy to read and engages the reader. His characters are likable and endearing. Magnus is brave in the face of danger, and loyal to his friends. There are plenty of villains who bring out the humanity of Magnus and his friends. The plot is fast paced, keeping young readers turning the pages.

The best character of the book is Sumarbrander – the Sword of Summer – who has a personality all his own.

Overall, “The Sword of Summer,” is a story with great characters, great action, and great appeal. The ending is satisfying and leaves the reader wanting to find out more about Magnus and his friends.  I recommend this book for 10 years and older.  A breathtaking read that will resonate long after the reader has finished.