Isabeau by N. Gemini Sasson

Isabeau by N. Gemini Sasson

The fascinating life of Queen Isabella of France and her marriage to England's King Edward II is spectacularly portrayed in N. Gemini Sasson’s newest novel, Isabeau. This riveting story sweeps the reader into the turbulence of 14th century England, Scotland, and France with passion and detailed historical fact.

From the earliest days of her marriage to Edward, Isabeau learns she must compete for her husband's attentions. Piers Gaveston is her husband's favourite, his lover; a peacock of a man whom Edward showers with gifts of vast wealth. Edward's incompetence on the throne of England is evident to everyone. His apparent attentions to Piers angers politicians and leaders. As the misguided Edwards errs in his political judgements, Isabeau attempts to guide her husband. Not only beautiful, but highly intelligent with sharp diplomatic skills, Isabeau attempts to influence Edward's decisions to keep tensions both within and outside of England to a minimum, but it proves to be a daunting task.

Edward, however, is not so easily influenced and as time passes, matters worsen for him. His unpopularity reaches new heights. The attentions he lavishes upon Piers Gaveston ires his countrymen and soon Piers is executed. Isabeau is hopeful that perhaps now, her husband will turn his attentions back to her. It was not to be. Before long, she learns her husband has taken a new lover - Hugh Despenser, a dangerous, ambitious man who will stop at nothing to wield his influence and destroy Isabeau whom he sees as his enemy.

Isabeau's plight increases as Hugh Despenser manipulates Edward's every action. Isabeau finds herself separated by her children and sent to France to negotiate on her husband's behalf. It is in France that she reunites with Sir Roger Mortimer, a man she saved from the Tower several years earlier. Unable to deny their love for each other, the two enter into a dangerous liaison that will take them back to the shores of England where Isabelle leads an army to recapture the country on behalf of her son, Edward III.

From start to finish, the novel, Isabeau, kept me turning its pages. Lulled by the beautiful prose and stunning descriptions, N. Gemini Sasson breathed life into the woman known as the She-Wolf and portrayed her with sensitivity and great humanity. As I made my way through the story, I was impressed by Sasson's descriptions of people and places. Every detail of every scene was written with clarity, activating all the reader's senses. The novel spans nearly twenty years of her life and includes numerous characters of the era. The fact that the author has spent years researching English and Scottish history during this time is evident. For anyone who loves European history or biographical novels about influential women of days of yore, you must read this novel. It will bring you hours of reading pleasure. I guarantee it.

Book Giveaway - Isabeau by N. Gemini Sasson

Book Giveaway

For the next three days, we're featuring this newly released novel about Isabelle of France, queen consort of Edward II.

To celebrate the release of this beautifully written novel, we'll be giving away a free copy to one of our readers. To enter, all you have to do is:

1. Be a follower of this blog (Historical Novel Review) and (My Dog Ate My Manuscript)

2. Leave a comment about why you want to read this book.

That's all that is required.

Please stop by and visit for your chance to win.

Valeria's Cross by Kathi Macias and Susan Wales

 

In 3rd century Rome, Valeria is the daughter of Emperor Diocletian.  She secretly abandons her pagan Roman faith and becomes a Christian. When she falls in love with the handsome Mauritius, also a Christian and the leader of an elite troop of skilled warriors named the Theban Legion, her life is full of hope for their future together. But shortly after they meet, Mauritius is called to war.  He promises that upon his return, he will ask Valeria's father for her hand in marriage.

Galerius is an ambitious general who will stop at nothing to rise to power and he sets his sights on Valeria, the Emperor's daughter. Valeria does everything to discourage his lecherous lust.

On the battlefield, however, Mauritius falls under the evil machinations of Galerius who executes him and the entire Theban Legion because of their Christianity. Valeria grieves at news of her beloved's death. Her life turns upside down when she learns her father has betrothed her to the licentious Galerius, a man she loathes. As time passes, Valeria struggles to accept her new life with a man she does not love.

Based on actual historical events, Valeria's Cross, co-authored by Kathi Macias and Susan Wales is an interesting novel of the brutality of the Roman Empire and the struggles of early Christianity. They did an excellent job of portraying the persecution of the Christians in that violent era. I must admit, I struggled to accept the marriage between Galerius and Valeria, and I could not grow to like him, no matter how hard he tried to be a good husband to Valeria. Nevertheless, this novel offers much for readers interested in early Christianity and includes Reader's Group questions at the end.

Hope Against Hope by Sally Zigmond

Eighteen-year-old Carrie Hope and her younger sister May, who is twelve, lose both home and livelihood when their Leeds pub is sold out from under them to make way for the coming of the railway.

They head for Harrogate to find work in the newly prosperous spa town, but lose all their possessions in an accident along the way. Spurning the help of Alex Sinclair, a kindly Scot who comes to their rescue, Carrie presses on for Harrogate where the girls immediately fall prey to predators. A misunderstanding drives the sisters apart, and their mutual pride won’t allow them to reconcile over the coming years, despite the encouragement of friends.

Carrie marries a wealthy man for money, and to escape a brothel, May goes to Paris with a lecherous man she does not know and becomes his mistress. Carrie becomes a virtual slave to the vicious hostess of a filthy boarding house and the victim of her vindictive son.

Alex Sinclair, a bold and warm-spirited Scot, a railway engineer loves Carrie, but when his wealthy and disreputable doctor friend, Charles Hammond, is forced to marry her for money, he keeps his feelings to himself and leaves her to her fate. The years pass and the sisters overcome more than their fair share of various hardships. May becomes the most sought after dressmaker in Paris, and Carrie, the proprietor of the most successful hotel in Harrogate.

Charles Hammond, Carrie’s husband in name only, is almost destroyed through gambling, drunkenness and medical ineptitude, but tired of his destructive way of life, appeals to Carrie who helps him onto the long and difficult road to redemption.

In 1848, when Carrie and May have been estranged for ten years, the streets of Paris erupt in bloody insurrection...while Alex Sinclair is commissioned to bring the railway to Harrogate.

This novel is almost an epic, which jumps from Harrogate to Paris and back again as the two sisters pursue happiness, with friends, but also enemies and at times the reader wonders if either will ever have a quiet life.

There is plenty of adventure for the sisters in this novel and it makes a good read if you don’t mind suspending your disbelief at some points. For instance how would an eighteen-year-old girl be running a pub alone in 1837? There is also a line where Carrie has a faded picture of Queen Victoria’s coronation, a year before she was crowned. There is also a reference to two of their friends being ‘like Albert and Victoria’, three years before the royal couple actually marry.

But then this is fiction, so maybe historical accuracy isn’t necessary, and as far as a rollicking story goes, this should satisfy readers who like epic novels – and at 448 pages - this is a long book!

Genghis: Bones of the Hills by Conn Iguldden

Any novel that takes on the life of the Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan has to be dramatic and sweeping in its scale, to do justice to the enigmatic life of its subject. Conn Iggulden's Genghis: Bones of the Hill was my first Kindle purchase and a great introduction into the author's view of Mongolian steppe life. I'm late to the Khan series and reading the books out of sequence, but Iggulden completely immerses his reader in the storyline, so that I had a good feeling for the character development from the two earlier novels.

Genghis' sons, brothers, and generals have completed bloody military campaigns against the Khan's enemies. On the southern steppes, the great general Tsubodai has defeated Russians in battle with the support of Jochi, Genghis' eldest son. In the kingdom of Koryo, the second son Chagatai and General Jelme await the full submission of the Koryon emperor. On the outskirts of Chin lands, Genghis' brother Khasar with the Khan's third son Ogedai plans the final destruction of Kaifeng. All receive the summons to return home at Genghis' command because he plans to make war on the Islamic dynasty of Khwarezmia.  

The relationships in the novel bear a tremendous strain, the most obvious being the conflicts between Genghis and Jochi, and in turn, Jochi and Chagatai. The divisions stem from Jochi's conception. Early in Genghis' first marriage, his wife was stolen and given away to another man. He rescued her and within a year, she gave birth to Jochi. Genghis cannot forgive his son for the circumstances of his conception, and Chagatai as his brother's rival refuses to follow "the rape-born whelp," his favorite term for Jochi. He even goes so far as goading Jochi into fighting a tiger, and nearly deserting him in a key moment of battle. Jochi's resentment is painfully laid bare on the pages, and his plight is sympathetic.

When Genghis sends his family and generals against the Khwarezmia Dynasty, Iggulden also provides the viewpoint of the enemy, the Shah Alaudin and his eldest son, Jelaudin. Iggulden shows great skill in portraying equally sympathetic antagonists and protagonists. The Shah and his son begin with the intent of destroying the Mongol invaders, but soon Alaudin dies and Jelaudin must struggle to assume his father's power.

Everything about life on the steppes is hard for the characters, whether in the daily struggle to survive brutal weather or fierce conflicts, or in the punishments they mete out to various enemies. Each character is fully fleshed out, their emotions deftly sketched. Iggulden makes the reader feel Genghis' righteous fury against the Shah for the deaths of his men, his general Tsubodai's sadness when the Khan asks him to commit a murder that goes against his principles, and Jelaudin's religious fervor, in equal parts. While Amazon reviews are sharply divided over the merits of Iggulden's writing (one reviewer claimed "the author has raped historical facts..."), I loved Genghis: Bones of the Hill, even for its bittersweet ending. I look forward to reading an advance copy of the next title from Iggulden, Khan: Empire of Silver. 

Whisper On the Wind Review by Ginger Simpson

It's 1914. The German army left their devastating boot mark on the town of Louvain, Belgium.  They may have destroyed the buildings, but the spirit of the people who survive remains steadfast.  Edward Kirkland, a young man thought dead at the hands of the Germans, hides his identity behind the make-up mask of a much older man.  He fears for his mother and younger brother, and mourns his father. Food is scarce, danger is plentiful, but an underground newspaper fuels the citizens’ determination.

Isa Lassone grew up in Belgium. The hours spent with Edward’s family made leaving difficult and the very reason she arranged to be smuggled past enemy lines, back to rescue those she loves. Her return brings no joy for Edward…only another burden to carry as he fights the attraction he feels growing for her. She’s no longer the child he remembers from two years past.

She and her family fled Belgium at the hint of war.  Safe with her wealthy and respected parents, Edward cannot fathom why she risks coming back to death and destruction. In her heart, she carries the impetus: Isa has loved Edward since childhood and has returned to convince him and his family to leave.  Edward refuses, insisting she should go back where she came from.  Though she longs to see love shining in his eyes, everything about him is centered on hatred for those who have ruined his country and killed innocent people.  Determined to stay, Isa soon becomes involved in La Libre Belgique, the underground paper that can be the death of anyone involved with its printing.  Isa is willing to  risk anything to be with Edward.

Maureen Lang has authored a compelling read in Whisper on the Wind.  Her characters are believable, her descriptions so well done that you can picture the destruction, and the emotions so high, you’ll experience them along with Isa and Edward.  Secondary characters such as Genny and the Major, lend even more to the romantic aspect of the story, and prove that love can overcome hatred if given the change.

Even if you aren’t a fan of war stories, this is still a book not to be missed. Whisper on the Wind is so much more.  Ms. Lang has taken a very distasteful period of time and conveyed a strong message in her storyline.  I urge you not to pass this one by.  Kudos for a smoothly written, interesting, and well-researched novel.  You’re sure to become a Maureen Lang fan.

This story is published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Once Upon a Place by Renee Goudeau

In 1922 in the town of Lake Badin, Louisiana, Giselle O’Connell Richards is a young war widow and partial owner of the local newspaper. Passionate about justice, the spirited Giselle targets Frank Cotton III, also known as Rabbit. He is a money-hungry extortionist and Captain of the Krewe of the Corsairs – a dastardly group of bigots and criminals bent on destruction. When Rabbit turns his attention to Giselle’s aunt and blackmails her, she fights back. 

Peppered with very vivid and detailed descriptions, Renee Goudreau sweeps us to Louisianna’s Bayou. This is a tale of mystery and suspense with a courageous heroine as its heartbeat. There is a strong Cajun accent throughout the novel that sometimes makes it difficult to follow the prose, but the story is rich and complex. A good depiction of the deep south in the time of Prohibition.