text: Historical Fiction | La Deetda Reads
  December 16, 2019 · 5:06 pm
  Have you often thought about the life Jane Austen led? What was her family like? What did she do for entertainment? How was she educated? These and more in wonderful detail. Everything you have been wondering about Jane Austen answered here at PBS.
  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/jane-austen-answers-to-the-most-frequently-asked-questions/
  Filed under Authors, Books, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance
  Tagged as 2019, Happy 244th Birthday Jane Austen
  October 31, 2019 · 1:24 pm
  News for Historical Romance Fans
  As has been stated on here before today, Julia Quinn's Bridgerton Series is coming to Netflix in 2020. If you want to know more, IndieWire has an insightful look at the cast.
  https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/bridgerton-shonda-rhimes-netflix/quarteto-smythe-smith-df/
  Filed under Books Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, News
  Tagged as Bridgerton Series, Netflix
  October 17, 2019 · 12:29 am
  Review- Stealing Roses by Heather Cooper
  Title: Stealing Roses
  Author: Heather Cooper
  Publisher: Allison & Busby, May 2019
  1862. Growing up in the small seaside town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, free-spirited Eveline Stanhope feels trapped by the weight of expectation from her well-to-do family. Her mother and two elder sisters would rather she focus her attention on marrying well, preferably to the wealthy Charles Sandham, but Eveline wants more for herself, and the arrival of the railway provides just the cause she's been searching for.
  Driven by the cherished memories of her late father, Eveline is keen to preserve the landscape he loved so much and becomes closely involved with the project. She forms a growing attachment to engineer Thomas Armitage. But when the railway is complete and Thomas moves on, will Eveline wish to return to the way things were?
  I was totally pulled into this book; loving every minute of reading about Eveline's life in Victorian England. Heather Cooper's debut is beautifully written with characters who are so well developed that we know their thoughts and even sometimes anticipate their next move (I'm thinking of the gentleman, Charles, here). Tom is a bit of a reluctant suitor but then he does have several misconceptions about Eveline. Victorian England is another character in the book for that is what sets the tone, successes and historical triumphs. I strongly recommend this book to Historical Romance fans and Historical Fiction fans. This is a winner!
  Filed under Book review, Books Historical Romance, Historical Fiction
  Tagged as 2019, 5 stars, Heather Cooper, Stealing Roses, Victorian Historical Romance
  November 8, 2018 · 1:16 am
  Recent Release Review- A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry
  Title: A Christmas Revelation: A Novel
  Genre: Historical Mystery/ Victorian
  Publisher: Ballentine, November 6, 2018
  This is a short novel, more a novella. The mystery is a bit thin but the story is heartwarming and at times heart-pounding. Ms. Perry brings to life the Victorian seedy side of London and those decent people as well as ruffians who reside there. I was won over by sweet, nine-year-old Worm and not quite sweet, 60-year-old Squeaky as they do there best to save the beautiful lady (Eloise). Christmas comes into the story as the two also are bringing Christmas décor and festivities to the clinic where they live.
  Filed under Book review, Books, Historical Fiction, Holiday, Mystery
  Tagged as 2018, 4 stars, A Christmas Revelation:A Novel, Anne Perry, Holiday, Mystery
  September 6, 2018 · 12:35 am
  Book and Movie Review- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
  Publisher: The Dial Press, 2008
  THE BOOK: I have been meaning to read this book for years. It has been sleeping on my TBR pile always being moved lower in favor of some newer romance. Well Netflix made a movie of it and I decided that before I watched the movie I would read the book. And what a truly wonderful experience, yes, it is an experience to read this book. It is heartwarming, romantic, chilling, sorrowful, joyful and I guarantee you will place this book on your shelf to take down and reread over and over again.
  It is written in the form of letters between all the characters and Juliet. Each letter moves the story along and gives more insight into the lives of people on the island of Guernsey during the Nazi occupation. It is a story of hardship, resilience, cooperation and love but it is also the story of Juliet and the members of the Society after the war.
  If you read no other book this year please take some time and read this one. Don't let it languish for years on your To-Be-Read pile.
  THE MOVIE (currently on Netflix): Not the same as the book, only the characters are recognizable and well cast. I can't really compare it to the book since so many features and scenes were changed. However, if I hadn't read the book I am sure I would thoroughly enjoy the movie. Lily James (Downton Abbey's Rose and Disney's Cinderella)was perfect in the role of Juliet. The photography was beautiful and the whole movie felt like the 1940's should have felt. Perhaps you should watch the movie first, then read the book. I think I would have enjoyed the movie more if I had done that.
  P.S.- I was not a subscriber to Netflix until I heard that this movie and The Great British Baking Show was to be on this month. Now they have me with a free month but I suspect my subscription will continue….sigh…
  Tagged as 2018, 5 stars, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, Movie review, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
  December 28, 2016 · 3:26 am
  Recent Release Review-House of Silence by Sarah Barthel
  Genre: Historical Fiction/Thriller/Suspense (romantic elements)
  Publisher: Kensington, Dec. 27, 2016
  Oak Park, Illinois, 1875. Isabelle Larkin's future—like that of every young woman—hinges upon her choice of husband. She delights her mother by becoming engaged to Gregory Gallagher, who is charismatic, politically ambitious, and publicly devoted. But Isabelle's visions of a happy, profitable match come to a halt when she witnesses her fiancé commit a horrific crime—and no one believes her. Gregory denies all, and Isabelle's mother insists she marry as planned rather than drag them into scandal. Fearing for her life, Isabelle can think of only one escape: she feigns a mental breakdown that renders her mute, and is brought to Bellevue sanitarium. There she finds a friend in fellow patient Mary Todd Lincoln, committed after her husband's assassination. In this unlikely refuge, the women become allies, even as Isabelle maintains a veneer of madness for her own protection. But sooner or later, she must reclaim her voice. And if she uses it to expose the truth, Isabelle risks far more than she could ever imagine.
  Was this a good read? Well…it was just okay. I kept reading to find out what would happen. The plot was interesting. But it didn't flow and it left unanswered questions. Why was Gregory living a lie? Why was Isabelle's mother not willing to give Isabelle the benefit of a doubt, when Isabelle never had told a lie? Another big question was, why is Mary Todd Lincoln in this book at all? It added nothing to the story.
  The book definitely was short on character development. Side characters, like Isabelle's friend Lucy, seemed to do things that made no sense. Such as Lucy's trip to Montana and back again without even telling her fiancé that she was leaving. A sanitarium in the late 1800's would not be a social spa like it is characterized here. If you read this just for the story then it is just okay but be prepared to find fault with much of the action and characterization.
  (This is the kind of book that drives people to say "I think I will write a book. I can certainly improve on something like this.")