Book Tour and Review: The Women of the Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory

My thoughts:
The Women of the Cousins' War was written to bring to light the "truth" behind the women featured in Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War trilogy, The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Lady of the Rivers.  Jacquetta (The Lady of the Rivers), Elizabeth Woodville (The White Queen), and Margaret Beaufort (The Red Queen) take center stage in this exploration of their lives and how they were very much a part of the Cousins' War, or the Wars of the Roses.  I have to admit to not knowing much previously about the Wars of the Roses except for the most minute details.  I found the accounts of the events very interesting and thorough in this book.

While Philippa's "essay" was supposed to be about Jacquetta (mother of Elizabeth Woodville), her section really centers on the unfolding of the events in the Cousins' War...we really do not learn too overly much about Jacquetta.  However, I don't fault Gregory for this, as she does state in the introduction that very little is known about Jacquetta.  What Gregory does reveal about Jacquetta is that she was a loyal and staunch woman who bore fourteen children--a major feat in that era.

I found that David Baldwin's account of Elizabeth Woodville (wife of Edward IV and mother to the princes in the tower and the future queen of England, Elizabeth, mother to Henry VIII) was the most interesting, as he explores both sides of what was said about her.  On one hand, she has been maligned as a witch, that she obtained her marriage to Edward IV through sorcery and that once she achieved such high status, she became a cold and calculating person.  However, in some accounts of the time, she is portrayed as a generous and charitable woman who was patron to many religious institutions.  She also had a great love of learning and the written word.

The final woman featured in the book by Michael Jones, Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VI and grandmother to Henry VIII), would seem to have had one end in mind and that was the advancement of her son, Henry.  According to Jones's account, this was quite the truth.  Throughout the maneuverings of the Wars of the Roses, Margaret had only one goal and that was seeing her son on the throne and, as we know, she succeeded.  Margaret was the most tenacious of the three women, in my opinion.

In conclusion, I have to say that I enjoyed this book thoroughly.  I now have more knowledge about the Wars of the Roses (the Cousins' War) and I look forward to reading more about the all the other individuals who were involved in the events.  Also, I have not yet read Gregory's Cousins' War trilogy (although I own two of the three books) and I feel that when I do, this book has given me great insight into the true events behind the fictionalized stories in the books.

The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin, and Michael Jones

Jacquetta of Luxembourg was a royal duchess who married beneath her for love and became mother of a queen. In this unique presentation Philippa Gregory uses original documents, site visits and even archaeology to create the first biography ever written of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to be the first lady at two rival courts.

Elizabeth Woodville was a widowed mother when she married the young King Edward IV. Her two sons are infamous as ‘the Princes in the Tower’, but little is known of her own life. David Baldwin, established author on the Wars of the Roses, tells her story, that of the first commoner to marry a King of England for love.

Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes about Margaret Beaufort, whose official story is powerfully bland. Yet she committed treason against an ordained King of England and her son, Henry VII, became the first Tudor to take the throne.

In an introduction by Gregory, she discusses her life’s work: history, and the writing style she loves: historical fiction. She answers many of the questions posed by her readers and history scholars alike:

What is the difference between writing history and historical fiction? How much of a role does speculation play in each? How much fiction should there be in a historical novel? How are female historians changing our view of women in history?

The Women of the Cousins’ War is beautifully illustrated with rare portraits and source materials. It offers fascinating insights into the inspirations behind Philippa Gregory’s fiction and will appeal to all with an interest in this period.

About the authors:
Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl which was made into a tv drama, and a major film. Now, six novels later, she is looking at the family that preceded the Tudors: the magnificent Plantaganets, a family of complex rivalries, loves, and hatreds.

She lives with her family on a small farm in Yorkshire where she keeps horses, hens and ducks. Visitors to this site, Philippa Gregory.com become addicted to the updates of historical research and the progress of ducklings.

Her other great interest is the charity that she founded nearly twenty years ago: Gardens for The Gambia. She has raised funds and paid for 140 wells in the primary schools of this very dry and poor African country, and thousands of school children have been able to learn market gardening in the school gardens watered by the wells. The charity also provides wells for womens’ collective gardens and for The Gambia’s only agricultural college at Njawara.

A past student of Sussex university, and a PhD and Alumna of the Year 2009 of Edinburgh university, her love for history and commitment to historical accuracy are the hallmarks of her writing. She also reviews for the Washington Post, the LA Times, and for UK newspapers, and is a regular broadcaster on television, radio, and webcasts from her website, PhilippaGregory.com. (source)

Visit Philippa on Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube


David Baldwin taught history at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham for many years, and is the author of four books dealing with people and events of the Wars of the Roses, including the acclaimed Elizabeth Woodville, Mother of the Princes in the Tower. (source)

Michael Jones did his Ph.D. on the Beaufort family, and subsequently taught at the University of South West England, the University of Glasgow, and Winchester College. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and now works as a writer and media presenter. He is the author of six books, including The King's Mother, a highly praised biography of Margaret Beaufort, which was shortlisted for the Whitfield Prize. (source)

Tour in conjunction with....





FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book in conjunction with Crazy Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.  I was not monetarily compensated for providing my opinion.

BOOK REVIEW: THE KING'S DAUGHTER BY CHRISTIE DICKASON

The King's Daughter by Christie Dickason

My thoughts:
It's amazing to me how close England came to having another Elizabeth to rule the kingdom, well before the current Elizabeth II.  King James VI of Scotland and I of England, was named successor to the throne after Elizabeth I died and was the son of the infamous Mary, Queen of Scots.  He had three children, Henry who was heir to the throne, Charles (called Baby Charles), second in line to the throne, and Elizabeth, third in line to the throne.  There were plots and intrigues in abundance and many conspired to put Elizabeth on the throne.  King James was very suspicious of his two older children, who were much loved by the people.  He was constantly accusing them of treason, of plotting to usurp the throne.  Elizabeth came very close to being the sole heir to the throne.  After her brother Henry died, Baby Charles was next in line, but he was sickly and not expected to survive.  Ultimately, Charles did survive and became Charles I of England.  The King's Daughter focuses on King James' attempts to marry Elizabeth off in the most politically strategic betrothal.  Elizabeth had a precarious existence at court.  In constant fear of being accused of treason and losing her head and feeling more like livestock on the auction block than a person, she was navigating dangerous waters.  The author introduces the (fictional) character of Tallie, a black slave girl who is given to Elizabeth as a gift from her mother.  Elizabeth sees potential and senses a kindred spirit in Tallie and frees her, making her the chief lady-in-waiting in her household.  Tallie becomes Elizabeth's ally and confidant.

What I liked about this book was the interesting dynamic between King James and his children.  James is portrayed here as smart and calculating, but quite uncouth.  He did not seem well-loved by the English people.  So as I stated before, he was constantly suspicious of his children because he knew that England preferred his children to him.  I also enjoyed the friendship between Tallie and Elizabeth.  Although a fictional character, Tallie's introduction into the plot added a touching aspect of camaraderie to the book.  In all, The King's Daughter is an enjoyable and somewhat informative historical novel.

Note:  The author adds a helpful character list at the end of the book, outlining which characters were real and which were fictional, as well as an author's note regarding the historical aspects of the novel.

Book description (from Goodreads):
The court of James I is a volatile place, with factions led by warring cousins Robert Cecil and Francis Bacon. Europe is seething with conflict between Protestants and Catholics. James sees himself as a grand peacemaker—and what better way to make his mark than to use his children in marriage negotiations? 


Into this court come Henry, Prince of Wales, and his sister Elizabeth. Their louche father is so distrusted that soon they are far more popular than he is: an impossibly dangerous position for a child of the king. Then Elizabeth is introduced to Frederick of Bohemia, Elector Palatine. He’s shy but they understand one another. She decides he will be her husband—but her parents change their minds. Brutally denied their support, how can Elizabeth forge her own future? 


At once a love story, a tale of international politics and a tremendous evocation of England at a time of great change, this is a enthralling novel to thrill all lovers of fine historical fiction.


Read in conjunction with


Qualifies for the following reading challenges:
Alphabet Challenge
Monthly Mix-up Mania
Historical Fiction Challenge 2011
Chunkster Challenge 2011
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
Spring Reading Thing



FTC disclaimer:  Book was provided in conjunction with a book tour and was mailed to the next tour participant.  Opinions are entirely mine and I was not monetarily compensated.

BOOK REVIEW: MY NAME IS MEMORY BY ANN BRASHARES

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
finished reading on April 4, 2011

My thoughts:
I have been wanting to read this book for a long time.  When I first read about it, I was fascinated by the reincarnation aspect of it.  I was not disappointed.  I'm not sure if this book is considered YA, but it really didn't have that normal YA feel, if you know what I mean.  When Daniel and Lucy 'meet' in the present time, they are teenagers, but Daniel is various ages throughout the book as he recounts his past lives beginning in the 500s AD.  These are the parts of the book that I most enjoyed...the looking back in history.  Daniel has been reincarnated many times over and he remembers every life he has led.  I'm not sure if that would be a blessing or a curse and I do not think that Daniel always looked on it as a blessing either.  Intertwined in the story is the love story between Daniel and Lucy/Sophia.  Lucy does not remember her past lives and when Daniel approaches her with the idea, it spooks her.  Understandable.  I mean it would be pretty incredible for someone to come up to you and tell you that you have lived before.  When Lucy and Daniel finally do meet again, there is an element of danger left over from the past that is hellbent to interfere.  So, as we approach the end, it is very climactic and exciting and then...it just ends! I was pissed until I found out that this is a planned trilogy.  Thank goodness because I'm not sure the book would have survived my wrath.

I am a person who likes to think that we are reincarnated each time we die.  The reasons for my feeling this way are because of children who have imaginary friends, which I had when I was a child.  I believe that these children are remembering past lives.  Also, I believe that the feelings of deja vu we experience throughout life could be shadows of our previous lives.  Sorry...didn't mean to get all new agey on you here, but my beliefs are just one of the reasons I liked this book.  If you normally steer clear of YA novels, don't do it on this one.  Like I said, it's not your normal YA book.  And if you like an historical aspect in books, you will most probably like it as well.  I'm not saying that it has the most extensively researched historical bits I've ever read, but it's believable in its own right.  In all, I recommend this book.

Book description (from Goodreads):
Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short.

Interwoven through Sophia and Daniel's unfolding present day relationship are glimpses of their expansive history together. From 552 Asia Minor to 1918 England and 1972 Virginia, the two souls share a long and sometimes torturous path of seeking each other time and time again. But just when young Sophia (now "Lucy" in the present) finally begins to awaken to the secret of their shared past, to understand the true reason for the strength of their attraction, the mysterious force that has always torn them apart reappears. Ultimately, they must come to understand what stands in the way of their love if they are ever to spend a lifetime together. 

A magical, suspenseful, heartbreaking story of true love, My Name is Memory proves the power and endurance of a union that was meant to be.


This book was read and reviewed for a book tour with Crazy Book Tours.  Book copy was provided by tour and mailed to the next tour participant.


Qualifies for the following reading challenges:


Alphabet Challenge
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

BOOK REVIEW--CLEOPATRA: A LIFE BY STACY SCHIFF

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
finished reading on February 16, 2011

My thoughts:
I have been too long away from non-fiction so this book was a slow and difficult read for me.  However, it was definitely worth the read.  We all know the story of Cleopatra, a story we've probably been told from novels and/or movies.  Cleopatra was a beautiful seductress who loved and manipulated two great men, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.  But she was so much more.  She was a Ptolemy...from a family who was well known for murdering each other to gain power...yet she was rare in this family in that she actually loved her father.  Her love for her father led to her passionate love of her country and this was most important to her above anything else.  So yes, she did use some feminine wiles to protect and secure her position, but she did so shrewdly and without compromising her honor, at least in her own eyes and the eyes of her subjects.  The Romans' opinion of her was entirely different and not favorable.  Schiff really brings to the fore just how skillful Cleopatra was, whether we know the whole truth or not.  So much of the accounts of Cleopatra's life were written by Roman (and other) philosophers who often did not have good opinions of her either.

I learned things in this book that I previously did not know.  I did not know that Cleopatra had four children.  I knew of Caesarion, her son with Julius Caesar, but did not know that she had three children with Mark Antony, two boys and a girl.  I also did not know that the daughter, Cleopatra Selene, would go on to be a queen in Africa...pretty much following in her mother's footsteps in her rule there.

This is an excellent book for people who enjoy non-fiction and for people who would like to learn more truth behind the legend.  There are rumors that a movie is being made based on this book and that Angelina Jolie may play Cleopatra.  I am rather disappointed by this news, as it is clear from the book that Cleopatra was not a true 'beauty', her seductive ability aside.  Someone less attractive, but capable of sultry gestures and manipulations would be more appropriate, in my opinion.  Like Hollywood cares what I think, right?!

Book description from goodreads:
Her life spanned fewer than 40 years, but she was the last Egyptian pharaoh and one of the most influential women of the age. She married twice, each time to a brother; she poisoned one and waged a war against the other. To this day, the life of Cleopatra VII (69-30 B.C.) intrigues us. This adept biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff tells us why it should. The true story of the woman behind the myth.

This book was read in conjunction with a book tour for Crazy Book Tours--book was provided by the tour and was mailed back to the tour organizer.

This book also applies to the following reading challenges:

Monthly Mix-Up Mania
The Dewey Decimal Challenge
Valley of the Kings Reading Challenge
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

BOOK REVIEW--THE SIXTH SURRENDER BY HANA SAMEK NORTON

The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton
finished reading on November 1, 2010

My thoughts:

The Sixth Surrender is what an ideal historical fiction novel should be; rich in historical detail with vivid characters and settings.  And the story was so very engaging.  I invested myself with these characters.  Juliana is the embodiment of every woman who has ever been unsure of herself with a man.  And her husband, Guerin de Lasalle, is an intriguing man who has a powerful hold on every woman he encounters.  I'm not afraid to admit that he had that hold on me as well! This man is the hero you love to hate.  The villain with a heart of gold.  Throughout the book I kept waiting and waiting for him to finally open up about his true feelings.  It was like a dentist pulling teeth from an unwilling patient.  The entire book is a gem and Guerin de Lasalle steals the show from beginning to end.

I have been on quite the love affair of late with the historical figure of Eleanor of Aquitaine (spelled Alienor of Aquitaine here, which is said to have been her true moniker).  Alienor plays a significant part in this book so one can imagine that there was a good amount of medieval political intrigue contained within the pages....and one would be correct.  The book had the feel of one which was meticulously researched without taking away from the flow and excitement of the story.  I commend Ms. Norton on writing such a wonderful book and I thoroughly look forward to her future offerings.

Book description from Goodreads:

In the last years of her eventful life, queen-duchess Aliénor of Aquitaine launches a deadly dynastic chess game to safeguard the crowns of Normandy and England for John Plantagenet, her last surviving son.

To that end, Aliénor coerces into matrimony two pawns—Juliana de Charnais, a plain and pious novice determined to regain her inheritance, and Guérin de Lasalle, a cynical, war-worn mercenary equally resolved to renounce his. The womanizing Lasalle and the proud Juliana are perfectly matched for battle not love—until spies and assassins conspire to reverse their romantic fortunes.

Populated by spirited and intelligent women and executed in flawless period detail, The Sixth Surrender is a compelling love story that heralds the arrival of a major new talent in historical fiction.

This book was read in conjunction with a book tour for Crazy Book Tours.

BOOK REVIEW--ARCADIA FALLS BY CAROL GOODMAN

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman
finished reading on September 9, 2010

(Please note:  I will now have the book description placed after my review)

My thoughts:

I own several books by Carol Goodman, but Arcadia Falls is the first one of hers that I have read.  Let me first say that Ms. Goodman writes beautifully.  Her descriptions are so vivid, I felt like I was there in the book, interacting with the characters.  The art school at Arcadia, which started out as a summer artist colony, has a feminist sensibility.  The whole theory of its founder, Vera Beecher, is that women cannot be married and have children without giving up their art.  Now I think myself to be somewhat of a feminist, but I choose to believe that women can have it all.  I do not think that having a family hinders or prevents creativity.  Opinions aside, Goodman successfully portrays the thinking of the early 20th century.  Women just could not have it all.  Interspersed in the workings of the art colony/school is the mystery of the death of one of it's founders and Vera Beecher's companion, Lily Eberhardt.  Lily's diary is found and the truth behind what happened in the years leading up to her death is revealed.  A death on campus in the present adds further mystery and I was thoroughly drawn into the mysterious story and trying to figure out what exactly was the truth.  This is the kind of novel I enjoy...one that keeps me guessing until the end.  Although, I did have one hunch right that is revealed at the very end of the book.  Arcadia Falls is an interesting and entertaining read.  I recommend it and I'm looking forward to reading more of Goodman's work.

Book description from Goodreads:

Meg Rosenthal is driving toward the next chapter in her life. Winding along a wooded roadway, her car moves through a dense forest setting not unlike one in the bedtime stories Meg used to read to her daughter, Sally. But the girl riding beside Meg is a teenager now, and has exchanged the land of make-believe for an iPod and some personal space. Too much space, it seems, as the chasm between them has grown since the sudden, unexpected death of Meg’s husband.

Dire financial straits and a desire for a fresh start take Meg and Sally from a comfortable life on Long Island to a tucked-away hamlet in upstate New York: Arcadia Falls, where Meg has accepted a teaching position at a boarding school. The creaky, neglected cottage Meg and Sally are to call home feels like an ill portent of things to come, but Meg is determined to make the best of it—and to make a good impression on the school’s dean, the diminutive, elegant Ivy St. Clare.

St. Claire, however, is distracted by a shocking crisis: During Arcadia’s First Night bonfire, one of Meg’s folklore students, Isabel Cheney, plunges to her death in a campus gorge. Sheriff Callum Reade finds Isabel’s death suspicious, but then, he is a man with secrets and a dark past himself.

Meg is unnerved by Reade’s interest in the girl’s death, and as long-buried secrets emerge, she must face down her own demons and the danger threatening to envelop Sally. As the past clings tight to the present, the shadows, as if in a terrifying fairy tale, grow longer and deadlier.

Read for Crazy Book Tours

Qualifies for the following challenges (you can view my complete challenge progress at my challenge blog here):

Pages Read
100 + Reading Challenge
Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge
Women Unbound Challenge (feminist elements throughout the book)
New Authors Challenge
Art History Reading Challenge
Hogwarts Reading Challenge



FTC Disclosure:  This book was received in conjunction with a book blog tour and was sent on to the next tour participant.  No monetary compensation was received for this review.

Book review--A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

Blog Tour Stop

Description from Goodreads:

Every dress has a history, so does Phoebe-Phoebe always dreamt of opening her own vintage dress shop. She imagined every detail, from the Vivienne Westwood bustiers hanging next to satin gowns, to sequinned cupcake dresses adorning the walls.At the launch of Village Vintage, Phoebe feels the tingle of excitement as customers snap up the fairytale dresses. Her dream has come true, but a secret from her past is casting a shadow over her new venture.Then one day she meets Therese, an elderly Frenchwoman with a collection to sell, apart from one piece that she won't part with -As Therese tells the story of the little blue coat, Phoebe feels a profound connection with her own life, one that will help her heal the pain of her past and allow her to love again.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  For one, I've always had an interest in fashion (Project Runway fanatic here!) and vintage fashion is intriguing because it has a history.  Wolff did an excellent job of describing the vintage fashion world.  I could tell that she really did her research on the subject.  Intertwined in this vintage fashion world is a poignant story of loss and redemption.  Phoebe has suffered a great loss of a dear friend--a loss for which she feels responsible.  When she meets the elderly woman Therese, one who herself feels responsible for the loss of a friend during the Holocaust, Therese's story helps Phoebe to see the truth about the loss of her friend and Phoebe is able to help Therese reconcile the tragedy of her past.  Ultimately, Phoebe and Therese learn that what happened in their unique situations...what they harbor such guilt for...was really beyond their control.  A Vintage Affair does a great job of introducing two entirely separate subjects--fashion and tragedy--and making them entirely relatable.  Wolff has written a gem here and I recommend it.

Qualifies for the following reading challenges (click here to view my progress at my challenge blog):

100+ Reading Challenge
New Authors Challenge
ARC Reading Challenge 2010
Countdown Challenge 2010
Monthly Mixer Mele
Pages Read Challenge


FTC Disclosure:  I received this ARC copy to read and review in conjunction with a blog tour.  Book was mailed to the next tour participant.  I received no monetary compensation for reading and reviewing this book.