Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

August 24, 2014 · 5:21 pm

Review and Giveaway: Darcy’s Tale by Stanley Michael Hurd

Austen In August

I am thrilled to be taking part in the Austen in August event.  Thanks so much to Lost Generation Reader for organizing such a great literary exchange.  Jane Austen has been one of my favorite authors since I was in high school.  Please click on the image above to see the full list of blogs participating in this event.  I will be reviewing Darcy’s Tale Volume III: The Way Home and giving away a copy of Darcy’s Tale Volume I: Into Hertfordshire so that you can get started on the series (open internationally).

Review:

Last fall I decided to reread all of Jane Austen’s works, including my favorite novel which is Pride and Prejudice. After I finished Austen’s works I was still eager for more of Austen’s stories and became curious about the genre of Austen fan fiction that is so popular. I was particularly looking for a novel that would give me the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and in my search I came across Stanley Michael Hurd’s books. I quickly devoured Darcy’s Tale Volumes I and II and I was Darcy's Taledisappointed to find that I would have to wait for summer to read Volume III. But it was well worth the wait.

I believe that of all the characters in what is arguably Austen’s most famous work, Darcy is the one who undergoes the biggest transformation. From the time of his prideful proposal to Elizabeth at Rosings, to his encounter with her at Pemberly he is a changed and humbled man. I, like many others,  have wondered what exactly happened during this time to make him reassess his attitude and approach towards Elizabeth. Stanley Michael Hurd’s latest book Darcy’s Tale Volume III: The Way Home fills in the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and picks up Darcy’s story just after the failed proposal.

In Darcy’s Tale Volume III, Darcy is at first angry at his rejected offer but he admits that he still loves Elizabeth and he cannot stop thinking about her. After a heart to heart talk with his aunt, Lady Andover, who is also Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother, he understands the error of his ways. He vows if he ever sees Elizabeth again that he will prove to her that he is a humbled man and a true gentleman.

This book also fills in the details about Darcy’s involvement in tracking down Wickham and Lydia. I enjoyed this part of the book because it showed us a more daring and adventurous side of Mr. Darcy of Pemberly. Colonel Fitzwilliam is also a character in this part of the book which is very interesting since in Pride and Prejudice he has a very limited role.

The final part of the book, as one would expect, deals with Bingley’s proposal to Jane, Darcy’s successful proposal to Elizabeth and the double wedding. Georgiana is also a character who features prominently in these books and it was delightful to see her grow from being shy and unsure of herself to a true friend and sister to Elizabeth.  I truly enjoyed all three volumes in this set and if you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice then all three volumes of Darcy’s Tale are a must read.

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Giveaway (Open Internationally):

Darcy's Tale V1In order to get you started on this great series, I am giving away a copy of Darcy’s Tale Volume I: Into Hertfordshire.   Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite Jane Austen novel is.  I will randomly pick a winner on August 28th and email the winner.  This giveaway is open internationally as long as you can receive an Amazon gift code.  If you live in the U.S. you may choose an electronic or hard copy of the book.

*The winner of the giveaway is Sylvia.  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  If you like what you read, please feel free to sign up for The Book Binder’s Daughter via email on the sidebar so you don’t miss any posts or giveaways.

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August 18, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: East India by Colin Falconer

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Today I welcome Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours back to the Book Binder’s Daughter with another great historical fiction novel, East India by Colin Falconer.  Please read my review, learn a bit about the author, enter the giveaway (paper copy for US, e-book for International) and see the full list of blogs on the tour.

Book Synopsis:

02_East India

In any other circumstance but shipwreck, rape and murder, a man like Michiel van Texel would never have met a fine lady such as Cornelia Noorstrandt.

He was just a soldier, a sergeant in the Dutch East India company’s army, on his way from Amsterdam to the Indies to fight the Mataram. Such a woman was far above the likes of him.

But both their destinies intertwine far away from Holland, on some god-forsaken islands near the Great Southland. When their great ship, the Utrecht, founders far from home, surviving the Houtman Rocks is the least of their worries.

As they battle to survive and the bravest and the best reveal themselves for what they are, Cornelia’s only hope is a mercenary in a torn coat who shows her that a man is more than just manners and money.

He makes her one promise: ‘Even if God forsakes you, I will find you.’

Described by one critic as ‘Jack and Rose in the seventeenth century’, East India will keep you wondering until the final page.

My Review:

East India is the grown up version of Lord of The Flies.  The Utrecht sets sail from Holland on a seven month voyage to India, laden with gold, silver and other treasures from the Dutch East India Company.  This unlucky ship becomes a place of misery for all of its passengers.  Of its 300 passengers, some are soldiers who are forced to spend most of the voyage below deck in darkness, some are regular Dutch citizens who are on their way to join loved ones in India, and some are the crew that are employed by the East India Company to sail the ship.  The first third of the book describes the wretched conditions of this long voyage when everyone on board experiences sea sickness, cramped quarters, rotten food and stale water.  The ship becomes a volatile atmosphere ripe for a mutiny.

The captain of the ship, Ambroise, keeps falling ill with a fever and his absence gives the mutineers plenty of time for plotting.  This gang of nasty men also knows that the captain has a weak spot and it is Cornelia Noorstrandt, a beautiful noblewoman who is sailing to India to meet her husband.  The fact that the captain and Cornelia have spent a lot of time together on the ship has not escaped anyone’s notice.

Just when they thought their situation couldn’t get any worse, the skipper steers the ship directly into a reef which slowly breaks the ship apart.  The passengers, in a fit of chaos and panic, take rafts to a nearby island where they can only hope and pray that someone will save them.  It is on the island where the “Lord of the Flies” atmosphere breaks out.  The undermerchant, who was the leader of the mutiny while they were still on board the ship, makes himself a sort of tyrannical king of the island and slowly starts to murder some of the other passengers.

The heroes on the island actually turn out to be the soldiers who especially come to the rescue of the women on the island who are being abused and brutalized by the undermerchant and his band of thugs.  I will warn you that there is a fair amount of violence in this book that might not be to everyone’s liking.

The greatest strength of the narrative is the descriptions of what it would have been like to spend months on end in a ship while traveling the rough and dangerous high seas.  Today we take for granted the fact that we can easily board a plane and go from one continent from another in a matter of hours.  Imagine having to sail on a ship in the 17th century under deplorable circumstance.

It was evident Colin Falconer did a lot of research about this famous shipwreck.  If you like historical fiction about ships, sailing, mutinies and shipwreck then this is the book to add to your “to-read” list.

Giveaway:

This Giveaway is for one hardcopy book (US only) and one e-book (International).  Winners will be chosen on 9/19 and will be notified via email. There are TWO easy steps to enter:

1. Please follow The Book Binder’s Daughter in ONE of the following ways:

  • Like My Facebook Page
  • Follow Me On Twitter
  • Subscribe to The Book Binder’s Daughter blog via e-mail (to the right)
  • Follow me on Google+
  • Follow me on Bloglovin (button to the right)

2. Fill out this Google Docs Form with some basic information:

Thanks so much to everyone that entered!  The winners are:

E-book: Mary P.

Paperback: Sharon B.

About the Author:

03_Colin FalconerBorn in London, Colin first trialed as a professional football player in England, and was eventually brought to Australia. He went to Sydney and worked in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines. He has published over twenty novels and his work has so far been translated into 23 languages.

He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz.

He currently lives in Barcelona.

For more information please visit Colin Falconer’s website. You can also find him on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

 

East India Blog Tour Schedule:

Visit the other blogs on this tour-

Monday, July 28
Review at History & Women

Tuesday, July 29
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Wednesday, July 30
Review at Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, August 5
Review at Book Nerd

Thursday, August 7
Review at Bibliotica

Monday, August 11
Review at A Library of My Own

Friday, August 15
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, August 18
Review at The Book Binder’s Daughter

Thursday, August 21
Review at Beth’s Book Reviews

Monday, August 25
Review at Casual Readers

Saturday, August 30
Review at Book by Book

Wednesday, September 3
Review at Unshelfish

Tuesday, September 9
Review at The True Book Addict

Wednesday, September 10
Review at A Bookish Affair

Friday, September 19
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

 

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August 14, 2014 · 2:42 pm

Review: The True and Spendid History of the Harristown Sisters by Michelle Lovric

Harristown SistersWho knew that hair could make a compelling and interesting storyline?  The story of the Swiney sisters begins in rural Ireland in the 19th century during the famine.  Like many others during that time, the 7 Swiney sisters live in abject poverty with their mother and they have never met their father.  The first part of the book chronicles their lives as they scrape out a bare existence, attend school, and have typical and sometimes not-so-typical sibling fights.

Their most prominent feature is their extremely long and thick hair and the eldest sister, Darcy, realizes that they can make some money by performing a variety show with singing, dancing and skits.  At the end of each show the sisters walk on stage and unravel their hair for all to see.  Men are especially attracted to the site of unbound hair which, in the 19th century, is usually only allowed to be displayed in the intimacy of the bedroom.

As the shows and the reputation of the sisters’ hair grows in popularity, the sisters take on two business partners, Rainfleury and Stoker, who make them rich beyond their wildest imaginations.  But, as is evident from the beginning of their acquaintances with these gentlemen, they are taking advantages of the sisters and exploiting them.  The story comes full-circle when, in the end, they become almost as poor as they were when they were children.

This book is a wonderful and heart-wrenching story of the survival of these sisters during a time when all of Ireland is suffering.  Despite their numerous trials and tribulations, the Swineys always stay together as a family, experiencing marriages, deaths, births, betrayals, affairs, and more.  The author’s greatest strength is the ability to weave a tale as long, elaborate and unique as the Swiney sisters’ hair.

My only complaint about the book is that there were parts of the story which were belabored over a bit too much.  For example, the fighting and sibling rivalry could have been portrayed just as poignantly in about 20 fewer pages.  The drawn out affair between one of the sisters, Manticory and an artist named Alexander also felt very drawn out at times.

Overall, this was an entertaining read and I highly recommend it for readers that love historical fiction set in 19th Century Ireland.  This is a  unique storyline and book.

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August 12, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: The Wharf of Chartrons by Jean-Paul Malaval

Today I am very excited to welcome France Book Tours to the Book Binder’s Daughter with a unique historical fiction book The Wharf of Chartrons.  This book is set just before, during and after World War I, and continues my commemoration of the centenary of The Great War.  I hope you read my review, look at the other stops on the tour, and enter to win your own copy of this book.

Book Synopsis:

Wharf of Chartrons coverA family linked by wine and old rivalries sets out for new territory, during the turmoil of World War I. David and Gaspard are cousins, bonded by family and their allegiance to their winemaking heritage. Parting with tradition and moving their vineyards near Bordeaux threatens to upset the family peace, but that’s only the beginning of their trouble. Short on funds, they are forced to team with a wealthy but morally corrupt engineer—though perhaps at a cost too high for the cousins.  Despite the odds, David and Gaspard succeed in making a successful wine, Clos-Marzacq.  Along the way, they each fall in love, though not always in the best of circumstances. And now, to cement their successes, the cousins need to secure a stronghold on the Wharf of Chartrons, seen as the gateway to selling in England and America

My Review:
David and Gaspard are cousins who have been raised in the winegrowing region of Chantegrele.  For generations their families have made a living off of the land by producing wines from their vineyards.  But David and Gaspard want to break free of their families and move to Bordeaux, buy a plot of land, and make their own award-winning wines.  The first part of the book deals with David and Gaspard trying to separate themselves from their disapproving families and to establish their own vineyard.  They take on a partner, Castillard, who is a ruthless captain of industry and shows Gaspard the ways of modern business deals.  This book really leaves off where Malaval’s last book, The Winegrowers of Chantegrele leaves off.  If you want more background about the Pierrebrunne and Maldelbos families, I suggest reading his first book as well.

 

The second part of the book, which I found more engaging, deals with David’s and Gaspard’s struggles with relationships.  David meets, falls in love with, and marries a woman rather quickly but their marriage is tumultuous.  Gaspard spends years pinning over a woman he cannot have because she is married.  At one point he does manage to seduce this woman, named Constance, but she is never completely willing to let go of her husband and Gaspards’ obsession with her becomes pathetic.

 

The Wharf of Chartrons also describes the effects that France’s involvement has on the winegrowing industry during World War I.  There is also a brief description of the battlefield when Constance’s husband volunteers to go to the front lines to fight for his country.  I do wish that the author spent more time detailing the effects of World War I on French families, businesses and society in general.

 

Overall, The Wharf of Chartrons is an emotional read about two men trying to break free of their traditional families, to carve out their own success in a corrupt business world, and to find the loves of their lives.  If you appreciate fine wine and a French setting, then THE WHARFS OF CHARTRONS is the book for you.

About The Author:

Wharf of Chartrons - MalavalJean-Paul Malaval was a journalist before turning to a career as a writer of local photography books and later fiction.  In 1982, he began what would become a long-term relationship with the publishing house Éditions Milan, in Toulouse.  To date, Jean-Paul Malaval has written ten works of historical fiction, mainly based in the region where he grew up, the Corrèze, which is near the Dordogne. Five of his ten novels have been published by Presses de la Cité.  He is loyal to his home region and has been mayor of the town of Vars-sur-Roseix in Corrèze since 1995.

 

Giveaway:

This giveaway is open internationally, one print book for someone in the U.S. and on ebook for someone anywhere else in the world.   Giveaway ends 8/21. Click Here To Enter The Giveaway.Thanks so much to France Book Tours for organizing this great tour.  Don’t forget to visit the other stops on this tour. Click Here to view the full tour schedule and see the list of participating blogs.

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August 11, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: The Yankee Club by Michael Murphy

I am very excited today to welcome author Michael Murphy to the blog with his mystery The Yankee Club. You can read my review, enter to win a copy of the book, and visit other stops on the blog tour.

My Review:
The Yankee ClubDo you know what a gumshoe is? I have to admit that I had never heard the word until I read Michael Murphy’s novel The Yankee Club. A gumshoe is a slang word used in the 20’s and 30’s for a detective like Jake Donovan, the main character in the novel. Actually, Jake is a former detective, turned mystery writer and when we meet him he is returning to New York City after two years of a self-imposed exile.  I love it when an author uses the correct slang and turns of phrase to put the reader in the mindset of the time period like Murphy does in this noir mystery.

Jake was admittedly running away from his former girlfriend Laura who refused his marriage proposal in favor of focusing on her career as an actress.  His first stop when he returns to New York is The Yankee Club where he reconnects with his old friends.  This novel is well-researched and  with its speakeasies, dames, tommy guns and gangsters and transports the reader to early 1930’s New York where the Great Depression and Prohibition are in full swing.

As soon as Jake steps foot off of the train in Grand Central station he regrets his decision to return to New York.  Laura, the love of his life, is engaged to a banker whom Jake does not trust and his best friend Mickey, who is also a gumshoe, is gunned down in front of his office building. Jake is determined to find his friend’s killer and the hunt to do this puts Jake’s own life at risk several times throughout the novel. Jake finds himself entangled with a group of very dangerous people and discovers that Mickey’s murder was part of a more dangerous conspiracy than he originally thought.

This novel is a fast-paced, exciting mystery but it also has a serious side. At one point in the book Jake walks through Central Park and notices the shanty towns that sprung up because of the Depression. He also encounters destitute families at the bus station and a soup kitchen. Michael Murphy adeptly interweaves the destitute circumstances of Great Depression into the backdrop of the narrative.

It was amusing to see so many famous characters from the time period make appearances in the story such as Babe Ruth, Cole Porter and Ethel Merman. But the author doesn’t just throw them into the story as some sort of literary name-dropping, he cleverly and seamlessly weaves them into the scenes at appropriate points.

For a long time I resisted reading mystery novels, but Michael Murphy’s book has completely changed my mind about how entertaining this genre can be. Do yourself a favor this summer and pick up a copy of Michael Murphy’s The Yankee Club. I enjoyed this book so much that I signed up to be part of Michael Murphy’s next book tour for his forthcoming mystery All That Glitters.

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About the Author:

Author MurphyMichael Murphy is a full time author and part time urban chicken rancher in Arizona. He lives in Arizona with his wife of forty-one years and the four children they adopted this past year. In August, Random House Alibi will publish his ninth novel, a historical mystery set in the prohibition era, The Yankee Club.

 

Giveaway:

Do you want to win your own copy of this book?  Giveaway ends 8/29.  Click Here To Enter

Please click on the TLC Book Tours logo to visit the other stops on The Yankee Club Book Tour:

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