AUGUST 2010 REVIEWS:

PEACEWEAVER
Judith Arnopp, YouWriteOn.com, 2009, £9.99, pb, 468 pp, 9781849234771
    In Peaceweaver, Arnopp has woven a tale of hope and love around the epic Battle of Hastings. Eadgyth, daughter of Ælfgar of Mercia, is forced into marriage with Gruffydd ap Llewelyn of Wales to seal an alliance between the two kingdoms. Her loveless marriage provides her with children and eventually the welcome attentions of her stepson Rhodri. Over time, Wales becomes her home and her longing for fellow Saxons lessens. When battle overtakes their stronghold, she is captured by Earl Harold and taken to England. In the court of Edward the Confessor, she pleads for the safety of her children who are in hiding with Gruffydd. When Gruffydd is overthrown and betrayed by his own men, Harold reunites her with her sons as he promised.
    Eadgyth has caught the eye of Earl Harold, the eventual successor to King Edward the Confessor and with Edward’s death, Eadgyth is once again Queen. The tale ends as it begins, with the Battle of Hastings. Eadgyth, widowed and in hiding, resolves to survive and preserve her sons’ survival and legacy by escaping into Wales until the day they can reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
    Other than the simple facts that Eadgyth was the daughter of Elfgar of Mercia, wed first to Gruffydd and then to Harold, the historical record is silent. In her author’s notes, Arnopp explains who was real and who was created to support the story. She also makes clear that this is primarily a work of fiction set during a fascinating period in English history and told from a woman’s perspective. I found it an entertaining and pleasant diversion on a long plane flight.  --Debra Spidal

A CRUEL CALM: Paris Between the Wars
Patricia Daly-Lipe, Xlibris, 2010, $19.99, pb, 252 pp, 9781450044707
    This well researched novel covers the years 1927-1939, a time when Paris was the cultural center of the world. Paris, still recovering from the ravages of the First World War, faces the growing shadow of the next “great war.” Young, naïve, American socialite, Libby Whitacker, moves to Paris with her new husband during this period of artistic, technological, and cultural dynamism. Libby witnesses Charles Lindbergh as he makes the first transatlantic flight in 1927, and she meets and gets guidance from James Joyce, who lives in the same apartment building as she does. As Libby moves in the circles of high society, she also meets Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and Joseph Campbell among others. However, the heart of the story is how Libby deals with the reality that her husband is not who she thinks he is.
    Patricia Daly-Lipe does an excellent job of including accurate historical details that enhance the story. Additionally, we learn about the artists and their works through the clever use of their own words. The novel also shows how, despite all the changes in the larger society, the Catholic Church refuses to deviate from tradition. The church’s refusal to adapt has terrible consequences for the heroine.
    The book does a good job of capturing the spirit of the time—an age when everything seemed possible as a result of the pace of technological change. The combination of historical detail and poignant romance make this novel well worthwhile. The author should also be commended for the creative way she introduces historical figures into the novel. Anyone who is interested in learning about the time in history between the two world wars should read this novel.
--Gerard Shea

MAGICIAN’S SPELL
Debra Sue Denson, Red Rose Publishing, 2010, $5.99, e-book, 558 pp, 9781604356830
    All Captain Harold Monroe wants is to sail his ship—and clear his name of a dishonorable discharge from the British Navy. All Lady Johanna Cornehl wants is to sail home to her father. Unfortunately, her father is the man who orchestrated Monroe’s discharge, so when Johanna comes aboard Monroe’s ship, sparks are bound to fly.
    Magician’s Spell is a fairly straightforward romance novel, with a dash of the sea for flavor. Monroe and Johanna, who know just how to push each other’s buttons, exhibit real tension as their opinions of each other constantly change. Yet events keep throwing them together, as much as certain people, notably Johanna’s father, want to keep them apart.
    Quickly paced and easy to read, the novel also boasts a well-developed number of supporting characters, including an eccentric doctor who happens to be both Monroe’s best friend and Johanna’s first love, a former slave turned society belle, and a conniving shipping magnate. Several side plots involving these characters add spice to the novel, though at times they feel neglected for more of Monroe and Johanna’s endless vacillating.
    Though somewhat slow to start, the final third of the book does an excellent job of building up to a thrilling climax that is solved in an unexpected way. While Magician’s Spell is not heavy on historical details or facts, it makes for a very enjoyable light read.  --Megan Kitzman

THE PEARL OF DUBAI
Grant Foster, PublishAmerica, 2009, $32.95, pb, 292 pp, 9781448920853
    Set in the dramatic months leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917, The Pearl of Dubai is an imaginative tale of how the fabled Grand Duchess Anastasia might have managed to survive her family’s downfall.
    Though the common people suffer in St. Petersburg’s streets and the Russian Army seethes with whispers of rebellion, the Romanovs enjoy a life of luxury in the Winter Palace. At a fateful ball, the mischievous Anastasia is told of the town of Dubai in faraway Arabia where beautiful pearls are harvested. Determined to have a great adventure, Anastasia concocts a plan and blackmails her sister Marie and their roguish cousin Dimitri into helping her pull it off. On her trip, Anastasia is joined by a colorful group of guides and protectors, but nothing goes as planned, either in Dubai or back in Russia.
    Many of the book’s characters are engaging, if over the top, especially Anastasia’s newfound friend Terrance Hodge, a former “female impersonator” prone to charmingly vulgar remarks, and the major villain of the story, Rasputin. In fact, Anastasia herself, as a young if headstrong girl, tends to get lost in the massive personalities surrounding her.
    While the story is highly creative, the book is unfortunately riddled with distracting copy errors. For those obsessed with Anastasia’s story and the many theories surrounding her, this will be an entertainingly fresh take; for others, the poor editing may temper their enjoyment. --Megan Kitzman

THE HADRIAN ENIGMA: A Forbidden History
George Gardiner, GMP Editions, 2010, $24.99, pb, 476pp, 9780980746907
    A fair-haired young man, dressed in rich ceremonial armor, is found dead in the Nile River. When he is identified, everyone realizes the dangerous political implications of this death, because Antinous was the eromenos—the lover and protégé—of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
    A grief-stricken Hadrian appoints two members of the court, Suetonius and his patron Clarus, to find out how and why Antinous died. They have two days to find the answer, permission to interrogate anyone except the Emperor and Empress, and the promise that they may forfeit their lives if they fail to satisfy Hadrian.
    Failure is a distinct possibility. While Antinous was well-liked and respected, the circle of suspects is wide, as it often will be when the victim is the confidant of an absolute ruler. The two sleuths quickly draft unlikely but able assistants to help them, including a scribe and an observant, multilingual prostitute.
    The book offers an extensively researched picture of life in the Roman Empire of 130 AD. Gardiner is equally convincing when writing about imperial politics and succession laws, marriage and sexual customs, philosophy and the theater.
    The prose can be overwrought, and the language is occasionally jarringly politically correct. (“Sex worker”, for example, as a term for prostitute, did not appear before the twentieth century.) But The Hadrian Enigma—a mix of mystery, comedy, gay and straight romance—is an entertaining read.
--Laura Staley

RIDUNA
Diana Jackson, Vanguard Press, 2009, £8.99, pb, 307 pp, 9781843865117
    Life was picturesque growing up on Riduna on the Channel island of Alderney, before the second World War. It was a place where the old ways remained steadfast even though “outsiders” were slowly creeping in. Lifelong friendships develop and, in the case of Harriet and Edward, these friendships blossom into love. As the two grow into adulthood, they find that their love will be tested, when each desires a different path for their futures. Edward’s dream of becoming a sailor finally pays off, and he finds that life onboard a ship is very different from the strict morals of Riduna. Harriet has decided to wait on the island for her sailor boy to return, and during his Christmas visit, their actions lead to a possible pregnancy. After discovering that it’s a false alarm, both are relieved. After an unfortunate accident that shakes Harriet’s world, Edward becomes more distant as his taste for the sea takes over his life. Throughout their journeys, both Harriet and Edward must make sacrifices and decisions that will forever change their lives.
    Riduna speaks volumes about the power of love and loss and is beautifully written with a fluidity that speaks to your soul. Author Diana Jackson’s ability to portray the everyday ordinary yet life-changing events of those in a community is amazing; you get a true feel of what it must have been like living in Riduna during that era. Fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will fall in love with Riduna. --Angela Simmons

DUNCAN OF THE BRITONS
Philip Kelly, Nightingale Books, 2009, £7.99, pb, 219pp, 9781903491874
    Duncan of the Britons transports us to Britain in the 1380s where we are plunged into the conflict between the Saxons and the Normans. Thirteen-year-old Duncan is a descendant of King Arthur and is the son of the Briton King Kane.
    We are in the midst of a complex time in England’s history; there is a desire for the Saxons to join with the Britons to oust the current ruling Normans, who 300 years ago had defeated the then-ruling Saxons. There is no eager desire on the part of the Britons to make such an alliance, and when raving mercenaries (not to mention the chronicler Geoffrey Chaucer) are introduced into the milieu, it makes for a fast-moving and complex plot. Duncan is swept up, kidnapped, and finds himself traveling the known world and is finally reunited with his father.
    The book is dense at times and is appropriate for advanced middle-school readers. There is a lot of history and character development to keep straight; a chart or two showing historical allegiances and “current” ruling lines would have been helpful, as would a map and possibly a timeline.
    Altogether, this is a good read for someone already familiar with the time period. The descriptions are rich with detail, and the character of Duncan is likable enough (along with the tense fight scenes) to appeal to most readers. Reluctant readers could struggle with keeping up with the plot at times; this might be good for a young adult book club. --Steve Shaw

WATCH THE HOUR
J.R. Lindermuth, Whiskey Creek Press, 2009, $17.95, pb, 316pp, 9781603134767
    J. R. Lindermuth’s latest novel is a page-turning yarn of 19th-century Pennsylvania coal towns and the conflict between the mine owners and Irish immigrants over working conditions. Ben Yeager isn’t your ordinary Coal and Iron Police deputy sheriff. Dutiful son and brother, Ben believes in justice (although his job is to protect the interests of the mine owners), even for Sean McHugh, falsely accused murderer and brother of dead Molly Maguire organizer and thief, Danny McHugh. And Sean’s pretty daughter, Nora, loved by crippled Dylan Teague and lusted after by local priest, Father Delaney, and Nora’s employer, Clayton Dreiser. Complicating Ben’s sense of justice is Phoebe Llewellyn, daughter of C & I sheriff Rhys Llewellyn and granddaughter of miner magnate Samuel Mason, who he is being pressured to marry. Another complication is Jennie Teague, Dylan’s sister. Phoebe’s love for Ben assures him a comfortable place in life—if he marries her. His love for Jennie, however, threatens not only Ben’s future but Jennie’s life and that of Ben’s family. As Ben’s love for Jennie deepens, so also does Phoebe’s determination to have him. Willing to risk everything for Jennie, Ben tells her outraged family he won’t marry Phoebe even as word of Nora’s rape and murder breaks. Ben struggles to “[set] all things even” and thus restore order to the many disparate lives.
    The historical background is well researched though not entirely convincing, particularly the intimation the Molly Macguires were criminals and thugs. The very poverty and desperation Lindermuth depicts argue a more nuanced view of the labor movement. -- B. N. Peacock

PARIS 1934: Victory in Retreat
Paul A. Myers, Paul A. Myers Books, 2009, $10.99, pb, 249pp, 9780982596005
    Sandrine Durand is a budding young journalist and student covering a series of political uprisings in Paris in 1934. Fresh and flirtatious, Sandrine’s presence adds a sense of brightness to any scene during this otherwise troubled period. Serving as a part-time reporter for French and American papers, Sandrine is ready to prove her mettle and takes no nonsense from fellow reporters. Forming an unexpected and advantageous alliance, Sandrine claims her independence and allows her sensuality to reign free, setting her stakes high for the future.
    Richly detailed description brings Sandrine’s Paris to life and illustrates the mounting tension in France as the German threat grows. As Sandrine becomes more involved in journalism, new friendships and a sweet romance take shape and add charm to the story. Though the political atmosphere provides Sandrine and her fellow reporters with plenty of action, the serious business of reporting is counterbalanced by playful banter and jokes at the Oasis, the Americans’ favorite bistro. Myers highlights the easy passions and unselfconscious enjoyment of French society in these lively bistro scenes. These slice-of-life moments add depth to the plot and help the reader traverse the complexities of the political setting and history of the region.
    Readers who are interested in pre-World War II French society will find much to enjoy in Paris 1934. Myers’ descriptive and thoroughly researched narrative feels true to the era; the “City of Light” shines through the page.
--Gricel Dominguez

KABBALAH OF STONE
Irene Reti, Juniper Lake Press, 2010, $15.00, pb, 290pp, 9780984319602
    Kabbalah of Stone primarily takes place in 1491 in Girona, Spain, and follows the story of Domingo Fontclara, a scribe with a secret Jewish heritage who must also hide his homosexuality from the Church and the Inquisition. As he begins to study Judaism, he and the rabbi helping him are caught up in some of the more occult aspects of Jewish tradition as they are visited by the spirit of Huldah, a biblical prophet who needs their help in preserving and spreading her vision of a theology which unites both male and female traditions. But their explorations into Jewish mysticism may be brought short by the physical torture and exile ordered by the Inquisition.
    This book is a realistic portrayal of the plight of both Jews and conversos (Jews forced to convert to Christianity) in medieval Spain. At the same time, Reti delves into Jewish theology, exploring female traditions of healing and interpreting dreams which were excluded from the official canon. Interweaving scenes from 7th century BCE in Jerusalem with 15th-century Spain and glimpses of possible futures, Reti creates a compelling and suspenseful narrative full of both historical detail and thoughtful commentary on Jewish lore and heritage.
    Kabbalah of Stone celebrates the power of the written word while also exploring traditions handed down from one generation to the next that survive without the aid of the pen. This absorbing narrative would appeal to anyone interested in medieval Judaism or medieval Spain in general. --Ann K.D. Myers