17th century England Restoration reviews: Jean Plaidy Kathleen Kellow
by Arleigh
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review: Rochester, the Mad Earl by Kathleen Kellow
Rochester, the Mad Earl
by Kathleen Kellow
The adventures and exploits of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, are resurrected in this 1957 novel by Jean Plaidy, under one of her lesser-known pseudonyms—Kathleen Kellow.
Rochester’s father, Henry Wilmot, was responsible for cutting the Roundhead-pursued Charles II’s curls, helping him escape the country incognito during Cromwell’s rule. The 1st Earl of Rochester was steadfast by his side, while his wife ran a Puritan household in order to hang on to some family assets. Though he died before Charles was restored to the throne, the King did not forget the man who shared his impoverished exile.
Rochester, true to the Royalist cause, came of age just as the King returned to England, and thus was rewarded with the King’s friendship. Being handsome, of clever wit and sparkling intelligence, Rochester quickly became a favorite in the court circles and set out to marry an heiress. His courtship and attempted abduction of Elizabeth Malet is an unexpected humorous love story. ‘Bessie’ is herself a smart and level-headed young woman, who truly stole Rochester’s heart even while it seemed to others he courted her vast fortune.
Though he seemingly had it all—youth, talent, a title, money and the King’s ear—Rochester’s inner demons were continually at the forefront of his mind. Shakespeare held the standard for him, and he wished to be immortalized in verse—but he couldn’t keep cynicism and barbs toward others from his writing. He is best known for scurrilous poems about fellow courtiers and the King (who amusingly accepted the true enough quips).
Perhaps most scandalous were the outrageous pranks he pulled: setting himself up as a quack doctor, disguised and diagnosing ills of the court, being a landlord of an inn with Buckingham, dressing as beggars and commoners (even with the King in tow). His driving ambition to become a great in the theater world had him searching for an actress to support. He found both Sarah Cooke and Elizabeth Barry, though neither paved his way to fame, and he was never considered a serious asset to the playwrights, other than a wealthy patron.
Rochester’s insistence on logical thinking, sparked by studying the writings of Thomas Hobbes, formed his mind against religion—and this is something he battled throughout his life. He was always questioning the meaning of life and the existence of an afterlife. He welcomed all experiences to further his understanding of the world—one can see why he succumbed to wine and debauchery, for he felt that if a person is only to have the present life, he must live it to the fullest.
Having read many, many novels by the author, I assumed her writing style would be similar with this book from her early career, but it read more clearly and without so many of the obscure ‘Plaidy words’ you find in her subsequent works. Her attention to detail and infallible historical accuracy is prevalent as ever, and I really enjoyed this reimagining of the life of such an intriguing Restoration character. Rochester has always interested me in other novels of the era, and I believe Plaidy went above and beyond in recreating an honest and admirable protagonist.
New Books January 2012: Christine Trent Paula Brackston Rosalind Laker Susanna Kearsley
by Arleigh
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New Releases January 23rd -29th, 2012
The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston
book description:
“An enthralling tale of modern witch Bess Hawksmith, a fiercely independent woman desperate to escape her cursed history who must confront the evil which has haunted her for centuries
My name is Elizabeth Anne Hawksmith, and my age is three hundred and eighty-four years. If you will listen, I will tell you a tale of witches. A tale of magic and love and loss. A story of how simple ignorance breeds fear, and how deadly that fear can be. Let me tell you what it means to be a witch.
In the spring of 1628, the Witchfinder of Wessex finds himself a true Witch. As Bess Hawksmith watches her mother swing from the Hanging Tree she knows that only one man can save her from the same fate: the Warlock Gideon Masters. Secluded at his cottage, Gideon instructs Bess, awakening formidable powers she didn’t know she had. She couldn’t have foreseen that even now, centuries later, he would be hunting her across time, determined to claim payment for saving her life.
In present-day England, Elizabeth has built a quiet life. She has spent the centuries in solitude, moving from place to place, surviving plagues, wars, and the heartbreak that comes with immortality. Her loneliness comes to an abrupt end when she is befriended by a teenage girl called Tegan. Against her better judgment, Elizabeth opens her heart to Tegan and begins teaching her the ways of the Hedge Witch. But will she be able to stand against Gideon—who will stop at nothing to reclaim her soul—in order to protect the girl who has become the daughter she never had?”
By the King’s Design by Christine Trent
book description:
“Annabelle “Belle” Stirling inherited the family draper shop from her late father, only to have it sabotaged by her ne’er-do-well brother, Wesley. Belle travels to London to seek redress, and while there, the Prince Regent, future King George IV, commissions her to provide fabrics for his Royal Pavilion. As Belle’s renown spreads, she meets handsome cabinetmaker Putnam Boyce, but worries that marriage will mean sacrificing her now flourishing shop. When Wesley plots to kidnap the newly crowned King, Belle finds herself entangled in a duplicitous world of shifting allegiances, where every choice could have unexpected consequences for her future, her safety, and her kingdom…”
The House by the Fjord by Rosalind Laker
book description:
“When Anna Harvik goes to Norway in 1946 this beautiful country is still recovering from five cruel years of Nazi occupation. Her late husband was a pilot in the Royal Norwegian Air Force and she has come to visit his homeland and to meet his family, in spite of being in doubt about how she will be received.
She stays with Molly, who with other English war-brides makes her welcome. On her first day a lawyer, Alex Ringstad, comes with what is virtually a command from her father-in-law that she accept ownership of an old house that has a unique history.
In spite of many difficulties, and facing up in those Northern climes to the coldest winter in living memory she finds love and much more in the country that becomes her own.”
The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley
book description:
“Eva Ward returns to the only place she truly belongs, the old house on the Cornish coast, seeking happiness in memories of childhood summers. There she finds mysterious voices and hidden pathways that sweep her not only into the past, but also into the arms of a man who is not of her time.
But Eva must confront her own ghosts, as well as those of long ago. As she begins to question her place in the present, she comes to realize that she too must decide where she really belongs.
From Susanna Kearsley, author of the New York Times bestseller The Winter Sea and a voice acclaimed by fans of Gabaldon, du Maurier, and Niffenegger alike, The Rose Garden is a haunting exploration of love, family, the true meaning of home, and the ties that bind us together.”
Hope of Israel by Patti O’Sullivan
Hope of Israel
by Patti O’Sullivan
book description:
“In 1656, a small community of Catholic merchants lived in London bound by a dangerous secret: they were Portuguese Jews in hiding from Puritan authorities. This is the story of one of them, Domingo de Lacerda, who learns early on that survival in seventeenth-century Europe requires both deceit and conformity. But then he meets Lucy, who has secrets of her own and who challenges Domingo to question everything he has been taught to value. The political and spiritual conflicts that characterized the Iberian Inquisition, the English Civil War, and the English Interregnum provide a backdrop against which Domingo must choose between his obligation to the Jewish community that protects him and the Catholic woman who loves him.”
review: The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany
Georgette Heyer’s Cotillion meets Bridget Jones’ Diary–this highly entertaining regency novel is a delight from start to finish! Author Janet Mullany began writing this book as a personal project, but it grew into a full-fledged book, and I am happy to have spent a day and a half in the world of Philomena Wellesley-Clegg and Inigo Linsley (which is quick reading for me)!
While Philomena is busy making lists, looking for a husband and shopping for bonnets, Inigo waltzes into the mix and upsets all of her plans. When things going awry, they conspire to alter outward appearances, all the while falling for each other no matter how much they strive otherwise. Secrets abound within their group of acquaintances, and we see ton snobbery, fortune hunters and class bias everywhere–there is more to this read than just a light, humorous tale.
Though not the most probable of plots, and with personalities and ideas too open-minded for the era, this is still an eye-opening Regency that sticks close enough to the period standards to be enjoyable. It is witty and laugh-out-loud funny, and definitely a great pick for Regency and Georgette Heyer fans!
19th century new books New Books January 2012: Dewey Lambdin
by Arleigh
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New Releases January 16th – 22nd, 2012
I’m sure I’ve overlooked some this week. Feel free to comment if you can add to the list!
Reefs and Shoals
by Dewey Lambdin
“Set in 1805, REEFS AND SHOALS is a ripping tale of life in the King’s Navy when privateers ran rampant and international conflicts were settled in sea battles. When Captain Alan Lewrie is ripped from a warm bed with the beautiful viscount’s daughter, Lydia Strangbourne, to go on a mission to the Bahamas, he must fashion together a small squadron of ships and style himself a commodore. His mission is to scour the wild shores of Cuba and Spanish Florida in search of French and Spanish privateers that have been taking British merchantmen at an appalling rate. The thrilling hunt will put Captain Lewrie in touch with old friends and old foes, characters that are both funnier and rougher at the edges than anything you might find in Patrick O’Brian’s catalog. REEFS AND SHOALS is bawdy and battle-scarred- naval adventure at its finest.”
About the author:
DEWEY LAMBDIN is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute and a Friend of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England and spends his free time working and sailing. He makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, but would much prefer Margaritaville or Murrells Inlet. His Alan Lewrie series has thrilled readers for over twenty years, developing a loyal and large following.
18th century France French Revolution reviews: Michelle Moran
by Arleigh
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review: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution
by Michelle Moran
Chronicling the famous wax figure maker’s years in France during the French Revolution, this novel gives a panoramic view of the Reign of Terror from a unique perspective.
Marie Grosholtz had been primed from a young age to take over the family business–an entertainment enterprise based on life-like figures of famous and infamous people. This attraction drew crowds because for some it was the only way they could see the royal family, but later displayed the latest news from the influential men and women of the newly established government–in a much more realistic manner than the politically charged articles in circulation. During the early 1790′s, with news coming in daily, Marie worked tirelessly to display new tableaux depicting the changing times. Though this proved profitable, it became necessary, as it was an outward display of the family’s support of liberty.
Marie, however, had a leg in each camp–she was tutor to the King’s sister, even with the royal family imprisoned, while hosting salons that brought none other than Robespierre, Marat, Danton and other famous leaders of the French Revolution into her home. Her own view–an understanding of the ideals that began the revolt against the monarchy mixed with horror at how it was playing out–she cleverly kept to herself, until the violence struck too personally. Many of the men and women who were so very passionate about bringing liberty to France became victims of the angry mobs during the Reign of Terror, and Marie found herself caught up in undesirable circumstances and ultimately condemned by the leaders who had previously counted her a friend.
As a novel of the French Revolution, I found this to be just the right balance between readability and historical accuracy. It’s not overly detailed, but gives enough information for even a reader new to the era an understanding of people and events. For those interested in further reading I recommend Annette Vallon by James Tipton, the Josephine B. Trilogy by Sandra Gulland and The Queen of Diamonds by Jean Plaidy (which is centered around the Diamond Necklace Affair, Marie Antoinette, and several characters mentioned in Moran’s novel).
New Releases January 8th – 15th, 2012
Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang (paperback)
“Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin’s determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the “manly arts” of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting ‘dragons’ and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.”
Pioneers of Freedom by Anne Elkins
“Where did we come from and where are we going? Who will lead and who will follow?
The United States is a baby of a country. The Revolutionary War gave birth to the War of 1812, which shared a century with the American Civil War. As the nation grows, it needs only the best of citizens.
John Payne just graduated from Transylvania Law School in Lexington, Kentucky, not into a life of mere work and play, but one where he must learn that love, war, and imminent death are all woven into the fabric of everyday life.
John knows his country needs him, but that his family needs him even more. How will John and the Payne family deal with the pressing problems in this new country—war with England, westward expansion, the slave question—and how can he lead by example? What legacy will he leave for those who follow after him? The Payne family spreads from the rivers of Kentucky to the hills of Indiana, and on into the Midwestern plains, growing in both number and character—character that exemplified a country. Pioneers of Freedom explores the kinship between man, God, and country, and what it means to have loved and lost. For any lover of history, this book begs us to ask questions about those who have gone before us, but also about what legacy we ourselves will leave.
Author Anne Elkins goes deep into her own past to decipher what is fact and what is fiction. It is this history, laced with great men as well as lesser ones, that beckons us all to look at how we arrived in this country.”
15th century England reviews Wars of the Roses: Philippa Gregory
by Arleigh
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review: The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
The Lady of the Rivers
by Philippa Gregory
The third installment of the Cousins’ War series, The Lady of the Rivers features a little known character at the forefront–Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Edward IV’s queen, Elizabeth Woodville. Born the daughter of a French count and supposedly a descendant of the legendary goddess Melusina, she first married the Duke of Bedford, uncle to England’s King Henry VI. This marriage brought her wealth, power, education and an introduction to the dark arts. Though she is gifted with foresight, she doesn’t understand the vague visions that come to her and the few lessons her great-aunt taught her about fortunetelling and cursing remain nearly unused throughout the story.
Instead, we follow the court of the childlike Henry VI and his virago queen, Margaret of Anjou—who is so very clueless as to the proper running of England, that the reader has almost no sympathy at all for the Lancastrain cause. The Yorks do not seem much better, but at least young Edward IV realizes that allowing all noblemen a voice in Parliament keeps them from perpetual revolt.
Though there are many intriguing connections between Jacquetta’s foretelling and the events, none were a surprise to me—knowing this era well enough to memorize the timeline of battles and such, and having read Gregory’s previous novel on Elizabeth Woodville, I knew what to expect from Jacquetta.
However, I had hoped this one would have a more interesting take on the legend of Melusina. Instead we have a protagonist who is a little too good, not using her powers to her advantage at all. The endless procession of babies (fourteen of them with only one loss) and with Jacquetta’s non-stop tisk-tisking over the Queen’s behavior and playing the victim, well, made for a boring read. It started out great, building up from her privileged, though war-torn girlhood and marrying a duke who was not at all as he seems, and the beginnings of scrying and alchemy. When Margaret of Anjou stepped into the pages, it was like a complete standstill until the last pages when the Yorks finally win and Jacquetta watches her daughter go out to meet Edward IV, presumably about her dowry.
I realize that a lot of my ire is caused by the fact that I’ve read Susan Higginbotham’s novel about Margaret of Anjou, The Queen of Last Hopes (read my review), and her version features a strong and likable protagonist—nothing like Gregory’s representation. I can almost understand why no author has taken on Jacquetta’s character before—she may have been at the forefront of the action during the Wars of the Roses (or the Cousins’ Wars) but other than having a true love story with Richard Woodville, and giving birth to a daughter who would become Queen of England, she wasn’t uncommonly interesting. She could have been, had she used her powers, but Gregory chose to have her suppress them for fear of conviction–not from piety. Perhaps it plays up to the accusations that come later—premonitions of being tried for witchcraft.
All in all, the cover is beautiful, there are some interesting chapters and the usual atmospheric details are superb, but I was disappointed with this read due to the characterizations of Jacquetta and Margaret of Anjou. I feel that if she could have made their personalities at little more balanced, it would have greatly improved the story.
The Author’s Note states that Gregory’s next novel is based on the Neville girls—daughters of the Earl of Warwick, who marry Edward IV’s brothers, George and Richard. I’m interested to see how she writes Anne Neville’s kidnap and rescue, as well as her marriage to Richard III.
New Books January 2012: Avery Ellis Colleen McCullough Eileen Halpin Eleanor De Jong Fiona Buckley Freda Lightfoot Georgette Heyer Kate Emerson Michael Jecks
by Arleigh
3 comments
New Releases January 1st – 7th, 2012
Red Sky Over Liberty by Eileen Halpin
“She had only planned on following it to get a closer look. Little did she know that what she would discover would be the beginning of the end to the only way of life she had ever known.
Madeline is pensive as she skips down Liberty Road toward her home and her lessons with the formidable Mrs. Marshfield. Talk of war has been resonating through the air and monopolizing the conversation in the Woodworth home for months now. Thankful for the reprieve she stares at the luminous red sky certain she is witness to God’s own hand transforming the colors into an artist’s dream.
Madeline’s discovery of a runaway slave family living on her family’s land would begin her own journey of self-discovery and the compelling need to discover the truth.
Will Madeline be able to get the slave family to safety? Will she be able to hold her family together as years of secrets and betrayal threaten to tear them apart?
The product of an upbringing defined by the very core of her southern belief and her awakening to the injustice surrounding her will create a divide between her roots, her family, and home.
Join author Eileen Halpin for a provocative, profound tale of survival, death, innocence, and shame as Madeline learns the true value of freedom and the real meaning of unconditional love under the Red Sky Over Liberty.”
Queen Without a Crown by Fiona Buckley
“The ninth gripping murder mystery to feature Ursula Blanchard, special aide to Elizabeth I – November, 1569. Happily married to her third husband, Hugh Stannard, lady-in-waiting Ursula Blanchard is hoping to give up her undercover work for Queen Elizabeth l in order to enjoy domestic bliss. But when Hugh unwittingly endangers possession of his ancestral home, Ursula is forced to take on a seemingly hopeless – but handsomely paid – private assignment, which the Queen spots is the perfect cover for a covert investigation into a group of rebel barons plotting to put Mary, Queen of Scots on the English throne . . .”
At the King’s Pleasure by Kate Emerson
“Married to one man. Desiring another. Beautiful Lady Anne Stafford, lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon, is torn between remaining faithful to her husband, the tender-hearted George, Lord Hastings . . . and giving in to her long-felt attraction to the king’s boon companion, the young and handsome Sir William Compton. Will is as fascinated by Anne as she is with him. But when King Henry VIII—amorous as always—joins Anne’s admirers, she realizes she is perilously enmeshed in the intrigues of the court. Can she remain true to herself and her ideals—or will she be forced to choose between the two men she loves . . . and one that she doesn’t?
Kate Emerson continues to charm with heroine Lady Anne Stafford, a passionate woman who steps out of the pages of history to win our hearts in this sumptuous novel of the passionate Tudor court and all its attendant scandals and dangers.”
April Lady by Georgette Heyer (reprint)
“What seems a marriage of convenience…
When young newlywed Lady Nell Cardross begins to fill her days with fashion and frivolity, the earl has to wonder whether she really did marry him for his money, as his family so helpfully suggests. And now Nell doesn’t dare tell him the truth …
Is getting trickier all the time…
He thought he was marrying for love, but between his concern over his wife’s spending sprees, rescuing her impulsive brother from one scrape after another, and attempting to prevent his own half sister from a disastrous elopement, it’s no wonder the much-tried earl can’t see where he’s gone wrong …”
The Queen and the Courtesan by Freda Lightfoot
“A brand-new historical novel from a well-loved storyteller – Henriette d’Entragues isn’t satisfied with simply being the mistress of Henry IV of France; she wants a crown too. Despite his promises to marry her, the King is obliged by political necessity to ally himself with a rich Italian princess. But Henriette isn’t one for giving up easily. All she has to do to achieve her ambition is to give Henry a son, and then do whatever it takes to set him on the throne . . .”
The Last Nude by Avery Ellis
“Paris, 1927, a day in July. A destitute young American named Rafaela Fano gets into the car of a dazzling stranger, the Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka. Struggling to halt a downward slide toward prostitution, Rafaela agrees to model for the artist. The two become lovers, and Rafaela inspires Tamara’s most accomplished and prized works of art, including Beautiful Rafaela, “one of the most important nudes of the twentieth century” (New York Times).
The relationship between the artist and her muse lasted less than a year, yet in 1980, just before Tamara died, she was working on a copy of Beautiful Rafaela. Author Ellis Avery imagines their affair from Rafaela’s point of view, and the final day of Tamara’s life from the painter’s point of view. A window into Jazz Age Paris as the forces of history close in, The Last Nude is a story of genius and craft, art and money, friendship and desire.”
Jezebel by Eleanor de Jong
“Jezebel, a young princess of Tyre is destined to be married to King Ahab of Israel. Yet she is determined to rule her own life and begins an illicit affair with Jehu, a visiting prince at court.
Years pass and Jehu, unable to relinquish his love for Jezebel grows bitter and twisted. But he is unaware of Jezebel’s greatest secret – that he is father to her eldest son Ahaziah, the heir to Israel’s throne.
With the King’s health deteriorating, Jezebel gradually assumes control of Israel but hatred of her is spreading across the land, fanned by the prophet Elijah and his aide, the terrifying Elisha. As they plot her downfall, Jezebel must find her inner strength and fight for her beliefs against all odds.
Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Holy Land comes an epic tale of one of the most courageous and controversial women of all time. Jezebel will enthral fans of The Red Tent and The Borgia Bride.”
The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet by Colleen McCullough (audio)
“Everyone knows the story of Elizabeth Bennet, who married Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. But what about Elizabeth’s sister Mary? Master storyteller Colleen McCullough imagines a life for Mary Bennet twenty years after the events of Jane Austen’s novel. Each of Mary’s four sisters is settled in her own way: Jane has a happy marriage and a large family; Lizzie and Mr Darcy have a formidable social reputation; Lydia has a reputation of quite another kind, and Kitty is in demand in London’s fashionable salons. Mary, however, is a changed woman, and newly independent of family obligations. Now she is afire with resolve – to publish a book revealing the ills of England and the plight of the poor. But the travels she undertakes to research her book will put her life in danger – and ultimately deliver her to the man who inspired her. The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet is both a page-turning adventure and a cracking romance, and a novel for every woman who has wanted to leave her mark on the world.”
King’s Gold by Michael Jecks
“As the year 1326 draws to a close, London is in flames. King Edward II is a prisoner, and the forces of his vengeful queen, Isabella, and her lover Sir Roger Mortimer, are in the ascendant. The Bardi family, bankers who have funded the King, must look to their future with the Queen, steering a careful course between rival factions – if, that is, they can keep themselves alive.
Others, too, find their loyalties torn. Guarding the deposed King on behalf of Mortimer, Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and bailiff Simon Puttock find themselves entangled in a tightening net of conspiracy, greed, betrayal and murder.”
Happy New Year & 5 Year Mark for H-F.com!
As 2011 comes to a close I am for once not compiling a list of favorites reads. I haven’t found the time for it, and I’ve read so many great books that it would be hard to choose. Every year I think I will find the time to read more and work on my writing projects and other websites, but life never quite slows down to allow me to do all that I wish. Moving to a remote area (according to any internet service providers) has allowed me more reading time as it has drastically cut down on my internet surfing–if I haven’t visited your blog in a while, this is why. I have to tether through my phone to get really slow internet, and so I get my reviews posted and check my email and sign off.
The most notable change I’ve made this year is joining the Historical Novel Society. I’ve submitted 5 book reviews–the first printed in the November issue–and will continue to make those top priority. I’m accepting books again since I am somewhat caught up, but I’m pacing myself so I don’t get in the ARC/Must-Read trap that I’ve been in before. I still have scores of MY OWN books that I want to read–it’s just that books are so addicting 
I wanted to make some changes to H-F.com, but instead I’ve changed Royal Intrigue over to a WordPress platform, which will be an ongoing work-in-progress and I have decided to spend my time on that project instead of further rearranging this site.
I have added the Sponsored Authors and Quotes widgets, which allow ANY HISTORICAL AUTHOR the chance to be front and center on every page for at least a week (the rotating quote is permanent). I have utilized this feature to allow me to post more original articles via the blog while still offering a valuable service to authors and introducing new books to readers.
Going into its 5th year, H-F.com continues to get hundreds of unique hits per day and is more often than not Google’s top choice when searching ‘historical fiction’. I’m very proud of my hobby and plan to stick to my usual schedule of 4-5 reviews per month (though the HNR ones will have to be posted belatedly). I am still accepting Author Guest Posts and Giveaways, though you may see less, as I don’t have near as much internet time to network. Anything new you will find on the Facebook Page, and fans of my beloved Plaidy must join the Royal Intrigue Facebook page as well (links are on the sidebar on both blogs).
As ever, thank you to my regular readers, those finding me through Google, GoodReads and other sites, and to authors who take the time to write and are always gracious even if I cannot read their book. Here’s to a GREAT READING YEAR in 2012!
