Gunpowder Tea

What fun! Miranda Hunt is a woman detective in the late 1890s who sets off, undercover, to Arizona, under pretext of being an heiress. Her talents have been recognized by the Pinkerton Detective Agency and she is keen to prove herself by uncovering the identity of The Phantom, a notorious robber. Arriving at the Last Chance Ranch, Miranda finds numerous suspects, one of whom she is strongly attracted to. She is, however, determined that nothing – not even romance – will interfere with her mission to apprehend the Phantom. I found myself becoming as bewildered as Miranda as she sought to discover who was friend or foe – including another undercover agent working for the rival company, Wells Fargo. Margaret Brownlee throws the delights of a small community, intriguing characters and a young woman’s desire to follow God’s will for her life into the mix. The plot is enough to keep up the reader’s interest, while not too complex for enjoyment. BookSneeze® provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. Although I enjoyed it, it was a very light read: I would probably not have bought a hard copy to keep and reread. Nevertheless, I would definitely read more books by Margaret Brownley. Good for those ‘switching off’ moments – pure escapism!

Dear Mr Knightley - a book review. For fans of Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters...and Jean Webster

When I read that  Dear Mr Knightley by Katherine Reay (coming out tomorrow November 5th!)  was available on Booksneeze, I absolutely had to read it. Instantly.  Advertised as a modern Daddy-Long-Legs by JeanWebster, with a heroine who hides her true self behind Jane Austen quotes, what wasn’t to like? Almost every girl loves Jane Austen, while Daddy-Long-Legs is just about my favourite novel ever. I reread it, following the development and adventures of the heroine Judy Abbott, every few years, along with Dodie Smith’s  I Capture the Castle.

However, my high hopes initially disappointed me. The setting: Chicago, around a young people’s residential unit for children who had missed out on fostering, was recognizable as Judy Abbott’s  orphanage but the context was too modern for me. Sam, our heroine, had far more issues than Judy and I didn’t identify with her.  Still, I ploughed on and found myself becoming absorbed by the story. The plot and equivalent characters with Daddy-Long-Legs were fairly easily identifiable and I enjoyed seeing how Sam, with determination, persistence and loving encouragement, began to turn her life around. Her predilection for speaking in romantic literary quotations, chiefly from Austen and Bronte, was quirky and fun. I found myself trying to place the quotes before the characters were able to do so.

As the story progressed, I became anxious.  Sam’s letters to her anonymous benefactor (Mr. Knightley) parallel Judy’s letters to her college sponsor.  As I read, I wondered if Sam’s story would have the same equivalent charming, happy ending. Judy falls in love with a wealthy, successful man before she discovers he is, in fact, her anonymous benefactor.  Sam develops a close relationship with Alex, a highly successful writer. Yet she also has a steady boyfriend with a good job and lavish lifestyle. Both relationships have ups and downs which she shares with ‘Mr Knightley’.  More importantly, Sam works through her issues, overcoming past hurts and damaging experiences. The story might draw on an older novel, but would this modern retelling end in a similar fashion?

Well, I won’t spoil it. Suffice to say that the ending is suitably happy. Sam achieves success: in her career, in her relationships, and in becoming a whole, healed, happy person. And, as Jane Eyre would say: “Reader, I married him.” What more could the reader of romantic fiction want? 

This was a free copy from Booksneeze, but I would have bought it.

A Bride For All Seasons: comfort reading for cosy nights (and lazy summer days) - a book review for Booksneeze

When I started to read ‘A Bride for All Seasons’ I hadn’t realised that it was, in fact, four linked novellas by four authors: Margaret Brownley, Debra Clopton, Robin Lee Hatcher and Mary Connealy. Once I realised how talented these women are, then the book just had to be a winner, and it did not disappoint.

Each novella has its own distinct flavour, yet a common thread weaving through all: a girl  who arrives in a remote Western location to marry a stranger; a husband to be who suffers from a misunderstanding; an interfering matchmaking agency which causes the misunderstanding in the first place; and a happy (although, at first, unlikely) ending.  Strong, determined, feisty, loyal,  feminine women and men who are faced with having to change from their own set ways and expectations.

And Then Came Spring tells of a husband with preconceived ideas and a bride who relies on ‘luck’ before she realises that it is God who holds her future in His hands.  An Ever After Summer tells of a bride, who has only ever dreamed of a different life, the chance to actually change things. And, again, a husband who finds that discarding his prejudices can actually bring him happiness. Autumn’s Angel again shows how difficult circumstances can be overcome for the better while  Winter Wedding Bells again demonstrates how a marriage of convenience can change into a match made in heaven.

Love, loyalty, commitment; sacrifice and reward; overcoming hardship and winning happiness. Eternal themes running through never fail to satisfy the reader who is looking for a comforting read with a sweet taste.

The book comes with a useful study guide for a reading group and an added bonus was to read a behind the scenes interview with the authors: such fun!  How I would have loved to be a fly on the wall – it sounded as if they all had a blast! In future, I’ll pursue this combination of talented writers while devouring their individual creations.

I reviewed a free copy for Booksneeze: the books on offer are usually very well worth reading.  This was quite a lightweight read - good escapism!