Book Review: THE MIDWIFE'S TALE by Sam Thomas

It is 1644, and Parliament’s armies have risen against the King and laid siege to the city of York. Even as the city suffers at the rebels’ hands, midwife Bridget Hodgson becomes embroiled in a different sort of rebellion. One of Bridget’s friends, Esther Cooper, has been convicted of murdering her husband and sentenced to be burnt alive. Convinced that her friend is innocent, Bridget sets out to find the real killer.

Bridget joins forces with Martha Hawkins, a servant who’s far more skilled with a knife than any respectable woman ought to be. To save Esther from the stake, they must dodge rebel artillery, confront a murderous figure from Martha’s past, and capture a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks. The investigation takes Bridget and Martha from the homes of the city’s most powerful families to the alleyways of its poorest neighborhoods. As they delve into the life of Esther’s murdered husband, they discover that his ostentatious Puritanism hid a deeply sinister secret life, and that far too often tyranny and treason go hand in hand.

SOURCE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First Line:

On the night I delivered Mercy Harris of a bastard child, the King's soldiers burned the city's suburbs and fell back within its walls to await the rebel assault.

My Thoughts:

From the first line, THE MIDWIFE'S TALE grabbed my attention and didn't let go. This absorbing historical mystery is set during the English Civil War when the city of York was under siege. The widow Bridget Hodgson is a well-respected and influential midwife, and though there is heaving fighting all around, her important work in the city continues.

Bridget receives the shocking news that her friend Esther Cooper has been accused of murdering her husband, and after a sham trial, she's sentenced to be burned at the stake. Believing that Esther could not have done this, Bridget, along with her new maidservant Martha, sets out to prove her innocence. Bridget soon learns that despite her high station and influence, meddling in the affairs of powerful men is a very dangerous game.

THE MIDWIFE'S TALE is a beautifully written debut novel that I greatly enjoyed. Mr. Thomas created two strong and clever female characters in Bridget and Martha, and I loved watching their friendship develop. The secondary characters were well-drawn too, each one contributing to the intrigue of the story.

This book captured the political upheaval and historical details of daily life at that time. It also provided a fascinating look at midwifery in 17th century England. I was unaware of how far a midwife's duties went and the laws she was subject to. So interesting!

I was very impressed with Mr. Thomas' first book, and I'm looking forward to more. 4½-stars!

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

Book Review: SHELTER MOUNTAIN (Virgin River, #2) by Robyn Carr

John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her, but he knows immediately that this inclination to protect is something much more. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.

But when Paige's ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there's one thing the marines' motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it's that some things are worth fighting for.

SOURCE: I borrowed this book from the library.

First Lines:

A fierce and unseasonably cold September wind blew chilly rain against the windows. Preacher wiped down the bar, and while it was only seven-thirty, it was already dark.

My Thoughts:

SHELTER MOUNTAIN is the second book in the Virgin River series, and it is just as wonderful as the first. I loved getting to know the real Preacher as he helps a young mother on the run from her abusive husband. Paige and Preacher's relationship develops slowly and realistically given their delicate situation. My heart went out to Paige as she fought to save herself and her son from a monster. Luckily she had Preacher and the rest of Virgin River to offer support and protection.

At first glance, Preacher may not seem like your typical romance hero, but it doesn't take long to fall in love with him. He's a huge ex-marine, bald, with dark bushy eyebrows. Along with his intimidating appearance, he's also very quiet, so getting close to him isn't easy. But when he does let someone in, he's the most loyal, protective and kind man on the planet. *swoon*

SHELTER MOUNTAIN also continues the Mel/Jack and Liz/Rick story lines from the first book. I enjoyed revisiting those characters and sharing their joys and heartbreaks - very emotional stuff. 5-stars! 

Book Review: FEINT OF ART (An Art Lover's Mystery, #1) by Hailey Lind

Annie's got bad news for her ex-boyfriend, curator Ernst Pettigrew; The snooty Brock Museum's new fifteen-million-dollar Caravaggio painting is as fake as a three-dollar bill. Then, the same night Annie makes her shattering appraisal, the janitor on duty in the museum is killed—and Ernst disappears.

To top it all off, a well-known art dealer has absconded with multiple Old Master drawings, leaving forgeries in their places. Finding the originals and pocketing the reward money will help Annie get her landlord off her back. But a close encounter with a fickle yet charming art thief could draw her into the underworld of fakes and forgers she swore she'd left behind...

SOURCE: I borrowed this book from the library.

My Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of Juliet Blackwell (Witchcraft Mystery and Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series), so when I found out she was half of the Hailey Lind writing team, I had to read FEINT OF ART. Hailey Lind's other half is Juliet's sister Carolyn J. Lawes, a professor of history.

FEINT OF ART kicks off the Art Lover's Mystery series, and introduces readers to main character Annie Kincaid. Annie spent her teenage years forging artistic masterpieces with her grandfather in Europe. But after a run in with the law, Annie decided to give up that life. Now, she runs a struggling yet respectable faux finishing company in San Francisco. However, her extensive knowledge of the forgery business is about to get her in trouble again.

Annie gets wrapped up in a murder mystery when her ex-boyfriend, the curator at the Brock Museum, asks her to determine if the new Caravaggio painting is a fake. Yep, it is, and Annie knows who painted the forgery. That same night, a museum janitor is murdered and her ex disappears. In addition to that, an art dealer approaches Annie about tracking down some priceless Old Master drawings that were stolen and forged, leading to more murder and mayhem.

I had mixed feelings about this book. It was quite interesting, yet kind of confusing at the same time. There were a lot of players in this book and a lot going on. It was hard to keep everyone straight. The cast of characters was intriguing, but there were just too many involved in some way. I liked Annie's character pretty well, though she was a little flighty at times and made some silly moves.

On the other hand, I loved taking a look at the underworld of art forgery. Fascinating! It's clear the authors did their research. Some of the tidbits presented - well, I had no idea!

Though somewhat chaotic, FEINT OF ART was an entertaining cozy mystery, and I will continue with the next book. I'm pleased that my local library carries the series. I think the paperbacks are out-of-print at this point.

Book Feature and Giveaway: THE MIDWIFE'S TALE by Sam Thomas

About the Book:

In the tradition of Arianna Franklin and C. J. Sansom comes Samuel Thomas’s remarkable debut, The Midwife’s Tale.

It is 1644, and Parliament’s armies have risen against the King and laid siege to the city of York. Even as the city suffers at the rebels’ hands, midwife Bridget Hodgson becomes embroiled in a different sort of rebellion. One of Bridget’s friends, Esther Cooper, has been convicted of murdering her husband and sentenced to be burnt alive. Convinced that her friend is innocent, Bridget sets out to find the real killer.

Bridget joins forces with Martha Hawkins, a servant who’s far more skilled with a knife than any respectable woman ought to be. To save Esther from the stake, they must dodge rebel artillery, confront a murderous figure from Martha’s past, and capture a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks. The investigation takes Bridget and Martha from the homes of the city’s most powerful families to the alleyways of its poorest neighborhoods. As they delve into the life of Esther’s murdered husband, they discover that his ostentatious Puritanism hid a deeply sinister secret life, and that far too often tyranny and treason go hand in hand.

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publication Date: January 8, 2013

Add: Goodreads | LibraryThing

Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Sam Thomas is an assistant professor of history at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Newberry Library, and the British Academy. He has published articles on topics ranging from early modern Britain to colonial Africa. Thomas lives in Alabama with his wife and two children.

http://samthomasbooks.com/

About the Giveaway:

As part of my stop on Sam Thomas' book tour, I have one copy of THE MIDWIFE'S TALE to give away. The contest is open to US/Canada only. To enter, please a comment on this post with your e-mail address. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday, 1/22/2013, at 11:59pm CST. Good luck!

Click HERE to see a list of all the stops on THE MIDWIFE'S TALE virtual book tour.

Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013

I'm participating in the Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge this year. It's hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Review Blog. Cozy mysteries in any format count toward this challenge. Review links may be posted HERE.
This will be my official challenge post to track my progress. I'm aiming for Level 3 - Super Sleuth again this year (13+ books).

1. MURDER ON THE HOUSE by Juliet Blackwell
2. FEINT OF ART by Hailey Lind
3. IT TAKES A WITCH by Heather Blake
4. BEWITCHED, BOTHERED & BISCOTTI by Bailey Cates
5. EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK by Lucy Arlington
6. SCENT TO KILL by Chrystle Fielder
7. CORPSE IN THE CRYSTAL BALL by Kari Lee Townsend
8. TROUBLE IN THE TAROT by Kari Lee Townsend
9. PEACH PIES AND ALIBIS by Ellery Adams
10. DON OF THE DEAD by Casey Daniels
11.
12.
13.

Book Review: THE LAST CAVALIER by Heather Graham Pozzessere

The battle was raging, the air hot with smoke, loud with rifle fire. Then the air turned dim with an eerie mist, and for Jason Tarkenton, captain in the Confederate cavalry, the true nightmare began.

Vickie Knox was today's woman dressed like yesterday's, wearing Yankee garb to play a part. But playacting ended when a Reb stepped out of the mist and took her prisoner - for real.

They never should have met, never should have battled - never should have loved. But something had gone wrong with time itself, weaving together past and present like torn threads of a tattered tapestry. Something had gone wrong, and in mending such shredded silk, their loves - and their lives - might be the final sacrifice.

SOURCE: I purchased this book.

Book Details:

Silhouette Shadows, #1, first published March 1993.

First Line:

The Confederate cavalry officer stood staring down Blackfield's Mountain, his gloved hands upon his hips, his silver-gray eyes fixed on the field that stretched out below him.

My Thoughts:

THE LAST CAVALIER was the debut book in Silhouette's Shadows series, which ran from 1993 to 1996. The series was billed as stories "from the dark side of love" (e.g., Gothics, paranormal romances). Some of the books were reprinted later in the Dreamscapes series.

THE LAST CAVALIER was an interesting twist on time-travel romances. This one takes place on Blackfield's Mountain in Virginia. In 1862, a Civil War battle is raging on the mountain, and on that same date and location in 1993, a battle reenactment is taking place.

By some twist of fate, a portal opens which brings Jason Tarkenton, a colonel in the Confederate army, into "present day." He assumes the reenactment is the actual battle, and thinks participant Vickie Knox is a spy for the North. Jason kidnaps Vickie to keep her from turning him over to the Yanks.

Of course, Vickie thinks Jason is a madman who's taking the battle reenactment way too seriously. And Jason doesn't believe he's been transported to 1993. As they work to convince each other their own story is true, sparks fly between them.

For the most part, I liked this book. It was interesting to see Jason's reaction to Vickie's modern world. In addition to the developing romance, there was a side story of Jason trying to return to 1862 to save his wounded brother. I thought it was cool how he went about it.

As far as the characters go, I'd say I loved Jason and Vickie's grandfather "Gramps," but unfortunately Vickie herself fell a little flat. She was also a bit annoying at times, but Jason made up for it. They did seem well suited for each other in the end, and I loved how their story concluded.

THE LAST CAVALIER was a pretty good start to the Silhouette Shadows series. 3½-stars!

Book Review: MURDER ON THE HOUSE (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery, #3) by Juliet Blackwell

Since word has spread that contractor Mel Turner can communicate with the spirits of the dead, it's been difficult to maintain a low profile. She embraces her new reputation, however, for the chance to restore an historic house in San Francisco's Castro District. The new owners, who hope to run a haunted B&B, want Mel to encourage the ghosts that supposedly roam the halls to enhance the paranormal charm.

The catch: Mel has to spend one night in the house to win the project. But during the spine-chilling sleepover, the estate gains another spectral inhabitant—when someone doesn't survive the night. And as Mel tries to coax the resident spirits into revealing the identity of the killer, she risks becoming the next casualty of this dangerous renovation.

SOURCE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First Lines:

What makes a house look haunted? 

Is it enough to appear abandoned, run-down, bleak? To creak and groan when long fingers of fog creep down the nearby hills?

My Thoughts: 

MURDER ON THE HOUSE was a spooky little cozy mystery, and I loved every minute of it! Though I haven't read the first two books in this series, I was able to jump right into this one with no problems. The main character Mel and I felt like longtime friends.

Mel Turner is a contractor, specializing in the restoration of older homes in San Francisco. She can also see and sometimes communicate with ghosts that dwell in these places.

The new owners of a Victorian house want to hire Mel for both her restoration and "ghost whispering" abilities. They want Mel to convert the home into a Bed & Breakfast, but first she has to spend the night in the house to see if she's up to the challenge. But, things don't go so well. Someone ends up murdered in the house, and Mel's hoping the ghostly residents will help her figure out the culprit.  

Truly I enjoyed everything about this book. It was the perfect blend of ghost story and clever mystery, with a cast of interesting and likable characters. I also loved the author's rich descriptions of the San Francisco Bay area - really drew me into the story.

I would highly recommend MURDER ON THE HOUSE to fans of paranormal cozy mysteries. 5-stars!

Review copy courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: DEADLY PATTERNS (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery, #3) by Melissa Bourbon

Bliss, Texas, is gearing up for its annual Winter Wonderland festival, but when a mysterious Scrooge ends the merriment with murder, it'll take more than a ghost from Christmas past to set things right.

Designing a holiday fashion show set in the town's most prominent historic mansion seems like a job tailor made for dressmaker Harlow Jane Cassidy. But with the mansion's restoration still in progress and threatening weather on the horizon, she's feeling on pins and needles more than reveling in holiday cheer.

Having volunteered to play Santa in this year's festival, Dan Lee Chrisson was ready to move on after his divorce -until Bliss became his final resting place. Discovering his body puts Harlow at the scene of the crime. She'll need plenty of help from friends and even her late great-grandmother's spirited sleuthing if she's to have a ghost of a chance of catching a killer who's just jumped to the top of the naughty list...

SOURCE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First Lines:

Forrest Gump's mama always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

My Thoughts:

DEADLY PATTERNS is another fun installment in the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series. Christmas is coming to the small town of Bliss, Texas, and with it the Winter Wonderland festival. Dressmaker Harlow Jane Cassidy has been put in charge of the fashion show, which is being held in the newly renovated Denison Mansion. Preparations for the event are rolling along until the man hired to play Santa winds up dead, the victim of foul play.

After some investigating, Harlow finds out that this particular Santa was on several people's naughty list, and perhaps he wanted in the old Denison House for a reason other than spreading holiday cheer. With a little encouragement from her deceased great-grandmother's ghost, Harlow sets out to solve the Santa murder mystery and have the fashion show set to go on time.

This is one of my favorite new cozy mystery series, so I can't miss a book. I love visiting Bliss, Texas, and Harlow is a very interesting and likable main character. In addition to the mystery, the story also delves deeper into the Cassidy family tree. It did get confusing remembering who was related to whom and how, all the way back to Butch Cassidy himself, but luckily there's a family tree chart at the back of the book.

I would probably recommend reading the prior two books in the series first, just because Harlow has a complex family history and it would help to know the backstory. Fans of cozy mysteries with a little romance and a little magic are sure to be pleased.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher.