Book Review: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Mira

Publish Date: October 1, 2010

Paperback, 400 pages
Historical Mystery, Romance, Lady Julia Grey #4

My Review:
Why I read this:  I was contacted by the publicist and the book sounded interesting and different from what I usually read, but in line with what I read enough that I thought I would enjoy it.  And really the cover is just beautiful as well as the title.

How is the novel driven:  Plot - the characters are important, but the detecting of the case is what drives this book ultimately.

My thoughts:   Humor, that is what struck me in the first few pages of the book.  Not in the slapstick over the top way of Stephanie Plum, but in the subtle sarcastic and witty way that I really enjoy it and best fits with a historical novel of a British family.  So Dark Road to Darjeeling was off to an excellent start for me with the humor and it never let up.  I was intrigued.  At one moment the book was very lighthearted, poking fun at the English ways and this unconventional family and the next it had a darker feeling.

This book was not at all what I expected.  You know the amateur sleuth type novels that are happy and cute (cozy mysteries), well Dark Road to Darjeeling had that, but the darker more suspenseful side was there as well and such a delight to read.  I loved how it was unexpected.  I guess if you have read other Lady Julia mysteries this will be expected but since this was my first, it was all new to me.

The mystery/suspense plot was well-done and though I did figure out who did it, it was not easy and it was really only a hunch on my part.  Ms. Raybourn does a magnificent job making sure there are lots of suspects and lots of reasons to believe each person is responsible for Freddie's death.  It was well-done and keeps your interest throughout.

I also love the family plotline and Lady Julia and Brisbane's marriage elements that are through this book.  I think they are what take this book to a higher level.  Lady Julia and Brisbane don't have the conventional blissful marriage, but they are muddling through and they have great love for each other.  This book is not conventional in any means and I think that is a breath of fresh air.

I have not read any of the others in this series and thought this book read well as a stand-alone.  I will go back and read the other now because I am intrigued by the characters and want to learn more about them and see them solve other mysteries as well.  I also can't wait for the next book as a nice teaser comes at the end of this one.

If you like historical mysteries and exotic settings then this is a book for you.  If you enjoy interesting characters and humor, then this is a book for you.   Dark Road to Darjeeling is a wonderful book and I can't wait to read more of Lady Julia, Brisbane and her family.

One quote that I really liked (this is from the ARC):

Brisbane regarded her thoughtfully. "Morag, the point of learning to swim is rather to prevent drowning."

She sniffed. "Ha! My father was a sailor, he was. And he always said them that learnt to swim died the worst. They flailed around and waited to be saved while the sharks circled and took them a piece at a time, prolonging the agony. But them that drowned quick were spared the pain of it."

Brisbane looked at me and shrugged. "The logic is faultless," he said.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:

After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next?

Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

Lady Julia Grey Series:
Silent in the Grave
Silent in the Sanctuary
Silent in the Moor
Dark Road to Darjeeling

About the Author:

In her refurbished study, surrounded by painted peony pink walls and an elegant crystal chandelier that dangles from a Mediterranean blue ceiling, Raybourn constructs an inspirational collage for each book she writes.  For Silent in the Grave, Raybourn won the 2008 RITA Award for "Novel with Strong Romantic Elements."  The Lady Julia Grey series has been nominated for several other awards, including an Agatha, a Daphne du Maurier, a Last Laugh and two Dilys Winns.

After enduring too many scorching summers in San Antonio, the award-winning author and native Texan moved her family to charming Williamsburg, Virginia, where her father's family name is still engraved on a pew in Bruton Parish Church, the same church whose bell was donated by her mother's ancestor.  In her old Colonial-style home, Raybourn is in the perfect setting to continue her historical Lady Julia Grey series.

As a former teacher and student with an emphasis on Shakespearean studies, Raybourn dabbled in English and history but always reverted back to her renowned taste.  "I noted that my favorite novels were all historical, British and witty.  They all had a mystery at the heart and a touch of romance," she says.  "I only read things I loved for a year to develop my own voice.  I always approach my writing from a reader's perspective--readers enjoy when you make an effort."  An avid blogger on writing, clothing and travel, she continues to entertain her readers with classic romantic characters, and style with a dollop of humor.

Her website
Her Blog

FTC Information: I received this book from Erin McNichols at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Solitary by Travis Thrasher

 
Solitary by Travis Thrasher

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publish Date: August 1, 2010

Paperback, 400 pages
Young Adult, Solitary Tales Series #1

My Review:
Why I read this:  I have read several of Travis Thrasher's adult novels and love his style of writing and his books so when I was offered this one I really wanted to read it.  Mix young adult with an author I love and it's a must-read for me.

How is the novel driven: Character and plot are intertwined brilliantly in this one.  Action/plot drives it for the most part, but the characters are so integral that it’s hard to separate and say what truly drives this exceptional book.

My thoughts:   My first thoughts of wanting to read this book were correct.  I went on an amazing ride during this one.  Travis Thrasher seems to channel Stephen King, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti and other great authors, yet he keeps his novels true to him.  I hate comparing authors to other authors because it sounds like they don’t have their own voice.  This is not what I mean when I do this with Travis Thrasher.  I think I do it more to share that if you like certain authors you might like his books.  But if you don’t like those authors, don’t let that turn you off either.  As I said, Travis Thrasher has his own voice and a way with storytelling that bridges the gap between adult fiction and young adult fiction. 
Most of Mr. Thrasher’s books have a supernatural bend to them.  A good vs. evil plotline and Solitary takes this plot and makes it so much more.  He writes what I consider the new “Christian” fiction.  It takes a story and doesn’t beat you over the head with Christianity but lets you make the decisions for yourself and lets you see real people trying to do the right thing, not perfect people.  Solitary takes this, adds in some teenage angst, some cliques, a new boy at school, an aloof beauty and a town where nothing seems right but no one dares speak about it.  I must say go ahead and mark out a block of time and sit down with this one because you won’t want to put it down once you pick it up.
With quotes like the following it can appeal to multiple generations like my own generation which will understand this fully:

I'm listening to the Foo Fighters and wish I could've been sixteen back when Dave Grohl was in his first band.  Foo Fighters are great, but Nirvana was epic."

And here a gem that will appeal to today’s generation:

I laugh and let out a curse of disbelief.  "What is going on here?  I mean--where in the world is this place?  Isn't this America?  Things like this don't happen.  Can't someone put out a rumor on the Web?  Tweet about it?"

With Solitary, Travis Thrasher proves he has a great grasp on what it’s like to be a teenager and writes the book with genuine feeling that I think any teenager can relate with.  While getting the teenage aspect right, I also feel he does a masterful job weaving a story that grabs you on the first page and keeps you hanging right up until the last page and then has you eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Come check out the town of Solitary, meet Chris and Jocelyn, fall in love with them, be scared of the town and some of it’s inhabitants and find a book and an author that you won’t want to put down.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About the Book:

His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear….

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents’ divorce, a school full of nameless faces—and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother’s unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin—and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

About the Author:

The author of a dozen works of fiction, including Isolation and Ghostwriter, Travis Thrasher has been writing since he was in the third grade. His writing is known for its honesty, depth, and surprising twists. Thrasher lives with his wife and daughter near Chicago.

His website
His Blog
Facebook
Twitter



FTC Information: I received this book from Audra Jennings at The B&B Media Group for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Blogger Hop - October 15-18, 2010

To check out other answers and join the hop go and check out Crazy-For_Books.com for the Mr. Linky for the Blog Hop. 

This week's question:

"When you read a book that you just can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title?"

It depends, if it is one for review I will try and stick it out if I need to review it soon.  If not I will put it down until a time when it might appeal to me more.  Much more leeway with books that aren't for review.  I like to put in at least 150 pages if it is for review and if I still can't get into then that is how I review it.  It rarely happens, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the book, or it is just not for me.

I've been missing from the hop for a few months but decided to come back - I look forward to hopping and finding new blogs this weekend!

Fall Into Reading 2010: Question #3

This year as part of the Fall Into Reading Challenge, Katrina at Callapidder Days has questions for us during the Fall.  I personally love this type of thing because it gives me something to post about and I love reading things about other people and their reading habits.

The first question and other bloggers' answers can be found here.


Do you eat and/or drink while you’re reading? Or do you keep food and liquids far away from your books?

I mainly snack when I have some chocolates before bed while reading. This involves Dove Dark Chocolate Squares (2) or a Ghiridelli Dark Chocolate (60%) Square and a Ghiridelli Dark Chocolate with the creamy mint center, depending on what I have on hand. 

For drinks, I can always be found with one by my side while reading, whether in my chair, on the front porch swing or outside in my backyard chair.  Sometimes herbal teas when I am at home during the cool months, sometimes beer or other malt beverage in the evening during the warmer months (Mike's Hard Lemonade is my personal favorite). Diet 7-Up can be found in hand in the evenings, Diet Mountain Dew during the day and a cup of Caffeine Free International Foods French Vanille Latte with Hershey's chocolate syrup and whipped cream added, yummy - that is my present addiction.  I'm not a coffee drinker but make it less and less like coffee and I'm there :)  I also almost always have a cup of Sleepytime tea while eating my chocolates before bed.

Detailed enough for you - I have eclectic drinking habits, but my chocolates are my pleasure - it's really the only snacking I do (besides nibbles of what is left of the kids foods - I have to quit that nasty habit!)

Author Interview with Shelley Workinger, YA Author of Solid

 

Please join me in welcoming Shelley Workinger to My Reading Room today.  Shelley is the author of Solid, the first in a series of three young adult books.  I reviewed Solid yesterday and it is a major winner in my book so definitely read the interview then check out her book!

How did you celebrate when you found out Solid to would be published?
I didn't celebrate per se, but the day the proof came in the mail was the same day my girlfriends and I were going to see "Eclipse", so it gave us something fun to check out while we waited for the movie to start.

How would you describe the plot of Solid to others?
Genetically-altered teens brought to a secret Army campus develop super-abilities, find love & uncover conspiracy. "Solid" could be classified as sci-fi, though the science is light and accessible; it has a fantastical element, but also has its feet on the ground; and although there is most certainly romance, the developing friendships are the more dominant relationships. Overall, the independence and empowerment aspects are what I see as the core value/message.

Where did the idea for Solid come from?
I dreamt the romantic scene that is now Chapter 12 and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to explore how those 2 people could end up in that scene.

Did you plan Solid out or do you just write and see where it took you?
I almost wrote it like a screenplay, putting down scenes as I visualized them and then going back and filling in the gaps. I started with Chapter 12, then wrote 5, then 2, and so on.
I'm actually writing "Settling" chronologically, though, because there really is no exposition to deal with and I get to start with action right from the onset.

Do you get time to read? What are your favorite types of books to read?
I definitely wish I had more time to read because my tbr list is hovering around 80 and every time I check out a blog or go to a library, something new catches my eye! I recently read "What You Need To Know Before Joining The Peace Corps" just because it jumped out at me and even though I have no plans to join the Peace Corps, I sure found out some things! So although I love YA fiction, I obviously will read anything :).

What is your favorite room in your house?
The deck - I know that's technically not in the house, but I love to hang out outside.

What is your favorite spot to read in?
Anywhere that I can lie down - bed, couch, blanket in the grass.

What is your favorite snack food?
Guacamole

What is your favorite season?
Spring!

Do you have a schedule for writing each day or do you just do it when you can?
When I was writing "Solid", I wrote every day for at least 2 hours. The marketing and promotion is now taking up a lot of my time, so I'm trying to find a good balance so I can finish "Settling"!

Where do you do the majority of your writing?
I write out all my thoughts, outlines, and dialogue in bed, then the next day I sit at the laptop and try to clean up and organize all of it into something comprehensive.

Did you find writing Solid to be difficult or did the book just take off with no problems?
Both! The characters came to me very vividly and their voices (thus the dialogue) just flowed. But as a reader, I tend to skim over descriptions and background to get to back to the conversations so I had to really fight to write those parts since they weren't as fun for me.

As I understand it, Solid is the first book in the series, when will the others be coming out?
"Settling" will be out in 2011 (the prologue is up as a sneak peek on the solidnovel.com site) and "Sound" will hopefully follow in 2012.

Any book signings/conferences/public/blog appearances in the near future?
I just hosted a table at a festival in North Jersey, so my next event probably won't be until Thanksgiving - something I'm working on for Baltimore. I basically use the Facebook fan page (facebook.com/solidnovel) like a blog, so becoming a FB fan keeps readers up-to-date on everything book- and appearance-wise.

Do you have a new book in the works?
I have a solid (excuse the pun - I may never be able to use that word with a straight face again) draft of the first 12 chapters of "Settling" and know where the narrative is going; now it's just a matter of fleshing that out.

Anything else you would like to say?
I think blogs are fantastic! I was born just a little too early, because I really lost interest in reading around middle school when the required reading was overwhelming in quantity and, to be honest, overwhelmingly boring as well. I grew up in a very small town with limited access and options, so if I'd been able to connect with like-minded readers on-line and get e-books it would've opened a whole new world for me.

Thanks so much for agreeing to do an interview with me
Absolutely - I'm happy to do it. I love books, talking with other readers, and I thrive on feedback! Thanks so much for having me :)

Book Review: Solid by Shelley Workinger

 
Solid by Shelley Workinger

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publish Date: July 9, 2010

Paperback, 228 pages

My Review:
Why I read this:The author contacted me via email and the premise sounded interesting so I accepted it for review (and I'm glad I did).

How is the novel driven: Character.  Solid is about setting the ground-work for the series and about the characters.  There is action, but I would say it is primarily about the characters.


My thoughts: Solid is a very intriguing novel.  I was sucked right into it from the beginning.  Getting to know Clio, Jack, Bliss, Melinda, Garrett was really interesting.  Clio is the main character, but the other tie in closely with her and really make the friendship aspect of the book work well.  The characters are well-done teenagers, they behave in typical teenager ways even with their extraordinary gifts.

The premise is set up very well, these kids have special abilities and they have been collected together for research and for the government to make up for a doctor creating this difference in them before they were even born.  The set-up is well-done and not overdone.  Ms. Workinger does a beautiful job launching you into the story and building up the premise as she goes.  I never felt bogged down in the story at all.  Engaging dialogue keeps it going and entertaining.

As the premise sets itself up, the characters begin their interactions and the reader gets to know each of them primarily through Clio's eyes and Clio learns more about herself in the process.  Of course to make it interesting there is much more to the book, but I don't want to give anything away, so suffice it to say the plot is extremely interesting and keeps you engaged throughout the book.

I would actually say my only complaint would be that it's too short. I wish things could have developed more, but I guess that is what the next two books are for.  Since I enjoyed Solid and it's characters so much I will definitely be checking out Settled and then Sound.  I look forward to  more adventures and friendship with Clio, Bliss, Melinda, Jack, Garrett and Alexis.


My Rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:
Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work. Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance. While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

About the Author:
Shelley grew up in Maine, graduated from Loyola University New Orleans, currently resides in New Jersey, and considers all of them home.  There are three books planned in the Solid series, Solid, Settling and Sound.
Her website
Facebook
Shelley's page on Goodreads


FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Sloane Hall by Libby Sternberg

 
Sloane Hall by Libby Sternberg

Publisher: Five Star

Publish Date: October 6, 2010

Hardcover, 390 pages

My Review:
Why I read this: I have interviewed this author before and she contacted me to be a part of the tour for this book, I read the blurb and was intrigued and immediately said yes.

How is the novel driven: Character, this is about the primarily about the life of John Doyle and Pauline Sloane.


My thoughts: Wow, Ms. Sternberg has done a wonderful job with Sloane Hall and it's ability to transport me back into time, into the 1920s.  I don't know much about this era, but her book feels real to me and I felt like I was in that time, when movies changed from silent to spoken word and how big a change that really was.  I honestly thought it was no big deal, but when you think about how much acting had to go into movies without sound it's really impressive.  So the setting and the time were done beautifully and I loved this setting.

I will now confess that I have not read Jane Eyre (but will remedy that soon) so I don't know about the parallels to Sloane Hall.  I do know that John is a tortured hero, he falls for Pauline but she continues to hurt him no matter what he does and there are some similarities between John's mom and Pauline's behavior that make John want to stay far from Pauline, but he can't.  I loved the tortured soul part of it and both characters John and Pauline are tortured in different ways.  But not so much that the book becomes unbearable to read, just enough that you feel for both characters trying to change and John trying to change Pauline.  The characters are well-written and well-developed.  They moved the story along and they were interesting.  They were the ones that kept me turning pages.  Would John still love Pauline, would she change, what would happen next.

There were even very unexpected things for me in the plot, I won't give those away because I want you to be surprised as well.  The surprises work beautifully to move the story along and create more character growth for John. 

What else can I say - Ms. Sternberg has a winner in this novel and I am thrilled I got a chance to read and review it.  She writes beautiful, tortured characters, puts you right in the time frame and crafts an amazing story around all of it.  Wonderful job and a wonderful book - give it a try and see for yourself.


My Rating: 4.75/5.0

About the Book:
In 1920s Hollywood, young John Doyle learns the craft of cinematography when a stupid mistake costs him his job. On a tip, he heads to Sloane Hall, the estate of a famous silent screen actress, Pauline Sloane, where he lands a position as chauffeur. Sloane Hall first offers him peace as he enjoys the bounty of the luxurious home, then unrest as its beautiful namesake returns and starts preparing for her first talking picture. Despite his best efforts to resist, John falls hopelessly in love with his employer. His future brightens, however, when she appears to return his affection, leading to plans for a secret wedding--until other awful secrets intrude, leading to heartbreak and separation. A story of obsession and forgiveness, Libby Sternberg's Sloane Hall was inspired by Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.

About the Author:
Libby Sternberg is the author of historical fiction, young adult mystery (for which she was an Edgar nominee), and, writing as Libby Malin, humorous women's fiction.

Her YA mysteries have been called "taut, vivid and stirring," by Library Journal while her latest humorous women's fiction was called "a world of wit and chaos, intelligently written," by Booklist.

A graduate of a music conservatory, she worked as a Japanese Geisha, Russian courtier, French courtesan, Chinese peasant and Middle Eastern slave after college -- that is, she sang in the choruses of Baltimore and Washington Operas. Vocal music plays a crucial role in her historical mystery, Death Is the Cool Night, offered in digital format on Kindle.

A native of Baltimore, she now lives in Pennsylvania. She is married and has three children, of whom she is immensely proud.

Her website
Her Blog


FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.