Review: The Map of Lost Memories: A Novel

The Map of Lost Memories: A Novel by Kim Fay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received this ARC compliments of Goodreads & Ballantine Books. This was an ARC book with nothing fancy about the cover; my husband said the cover looked like a busy tablecloth. There were no blurbs to whet your appetite and yet it reminded me of the old saying: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” When I received the book, I didn’t remember requesting it but I’m glad that my memory is faulty. So, I went on to pick it up just planning to glance at the first few pages and refresh my memory and the next thing I knew I was on Chapter 3. It took will power to put the book down and I did only because it wasn’t the book I was supposed to be reading next. It scored big points in being an attention grabber and I couldn’t wait to get back to it. After a few hours, I’ll admit that I backslid and read the book.

Lillian Blum had poured her heart and soul into her love of the ancient artifacts of Cambodia. She was the force that put the Brooke Museum of Oriental Art on the international map but that was a little known fact for she always let others take the credit for her work. When she was betrayed by the board members and lost the curator’s position to an old rival, Lillian sets out on what her father’s old friend and Lillian’s mentor, Mr. Simms calls: “One Great Adventure of your life” in search of the mythological scrolls describing Cambodia’s lost Khmer Civilization.

This novel opens in 1925 and its description of Shanghai, China’s European sector during that time period is a rich, colorful place filled with all walks of life. Thieves, poets, writers, philosophers, and religious & political zealots are blended together forming China’s European community. This eccentric and eclectic group come together daily to discuss world events and a revolution for the Chinese people. Lillian Blum travels to Shanghai to enlist the aid of Simone Merlin’s expertise of the area, people and artifacts of Eastern Civilizations. She arrived wide eyed and fresh from America disbelieving and mesmerized by her surroundings because she had only dreamed of being in the Orient.

This novel is an action packed adventure with twists, turns and hidden agendas that kept me entertained throughout its entirety. I was reminded of Indiana Jones because it has a similar characterization, plot & exotic background. I loved the descriptive turn of phrases that Kim Faye used to enmesh me into the characters fictional lives, secrets and ambitions. Although they are all searching for the same thing, each has a different reason and will go to alarming lengths to attain their goal. For Lillian it wasn’t just a lifelong dream but also became a journey of self-discovery.

I liked how Ms. Faye developed the characters to grow and change throughout the book. She kept me entertained and surprised throughout the book. She was the puppeteer & I was happily one of her puppets right along with her characters. Best of all I came away with a bit of history and feel for Cambodia and Shanghai. She did her research and it showed in her well written book.





View all my reviews

Review: Scotsmen Prefer Blondes

Scotsmen Prefer Blondes by Sara Ramsey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is a Goodreads first reads book that I won. I believe that any review is a trust/duty between myself, goodreads & the author to review any book with my honest opinion. Honesty will always supercede my gratitude for a free book.

4.5 overall score

The Muses of Mayfair Series portrays the stories of women who should be living in modern times. They have dreams, ambitions & goals beyond marriage and the constraints placed upon women living in the early 1800's. Society scripted the lives of all women in that time period and they were trained from birth not to veer from the script. Each book delves into the life of one of these women. We live the stories through their hearts and how they dealt with the conflicts between their lives in society and their dreams.

Scotsmen Prefer Blondes (Muses of Mayfair #2) by Sara Ramsey is the best historical fiction book I have read this year. What makes it better in my eyes than other books is that she had a way of breathing life into the dialogue and actions of the characters that reminded me of my feelings when I first fell in love over 40 years ago. The human heart doesn't change whether it is 1812, 1972, or 2012 and she was able to capture the human heart in her book. Ms Ramsey is a sorcerer of words! (I had a woo-woo moment when jotting that note and turning the page - seeing Malcolm described as a sorcerer by Ms. Ramsey.) This is one of those books that I need to shout “READ THIS and listen to your heart as you read it”. If you do, you will come away not only entertained but enriched. I am still astounded that this is only the 2nd book she has published. If the others are as good as this one then she will have a long successful career and I will be a very happy fan.

I can't imagine the frustration women had in 1812 (and prior years) knowing their only worth was as a birthing machine and/or eye candy. Sure, some women enjoyed that role as they do today but many wanted much more. Amelia and her friend Prudence were such women. They wanted nothing more than to be left alone to pursue their dreams. Amelia's as a writer & Prudence as a historian. Prudence was up for auction (so to speak) on the marriage mart and her soon to be husband, Malcolm, wanted a docile woman to help further his career. Amelia, being a good friend of Prudence, intervenes and things don't turn out as Amelia hopes. We learn they usually don't. Being a strong woman, Amelia feels she can extract herself from the situation she inadvertently created but there was one element she didn't account for...Love conquers all.

By page 4, I was hooked on the witty dialogue between Amelia & her best friend Prudence. It was so easy to envision the “two spinsters” discussing men, marriage & their life ambitions in a joking manner. That joking between the two made it real. I cracked up when I read (pg 23) about “drunken hyenas”. The description was so unique, yet accurate, that I again applauded Ms. Ramsey and was so loving this book. To say I was highly entertained throughout the book is easily an understatement. It woke up emotions that I had forgotten. She captured the feeling of first falling in love. The confusion when you are drawn to that person, wanting to be close yet feeling wary & the excitement/fear felt in those early days of courtship. I was astounded that she was able to put all those mixed emotions into words and recreate those feelings in Amelia. Amelia was a strong woman but she reacted differently to Malcolm than she had to any other person. Her reaction to him confused her and she questioned herself, her out of character behavior and sometimes her sanity. Although I can't describe those emotions felt from a man's perspective, I can say that Malcolm felt real. He thought he wanted “eye candy” or a quiet wife to help with his ambitions but early on he realized that Amelia was anything but that quiet wife and yet he couldn't stay away from her even when he was warned by a friend. He thought he was getting a marriage of convenience but felt protective. Many times what we think we need and what we need is vastly different. Malcolm was slowly growing into that knowledge...aware of emotions that he had earlier tried to put aside for the good of the clan.

The protagonists who are both normally strong characters found themselves in the situation where they are being driven – not by their strong wills – but by hormones & pheromones. They know they aren't behaving as usual but are drawn by their instinctual need for each other. Ms. Ramsey was able to capture those feelings and tell how love can drive you beyond logic. She went beneath the surface and captured each characters emotions & insecurities during "love's mating dance". The love scenes were perfect. Again, I was in Amelia's place, inexperienced, yearning for more but not quiet sure what more was. She had the advantage we do today of having knowledge (she was around 28) but not the practical experience. She felt excitement, fear of the unknown and those other jumbled emotions of making love for the first time. It was hot, romantic and sweet. Malcolm was awesome. And later scenes, well let's just say they grew exponentially & you won't be disappointed.

Scotsmen Prefer Blondes (Muses of Mayfair #2) isn't just a love story, it has action, drama, adventure and will keep you highly entertained. It is a book that can be read as a stand alone and enjoyed as I did. However, I plan to go back to pick up the first book in the series and late this summer read the third one. Am I satisfied? YES! Will you be? I hope so. I did read one reviewer who said she was disappointed that Amelia caved to Malcolm and wasn't strong. My response to that is everyone behaves out of character when they fall in love. Amelia was self aware enough to know she was acting out of character. She would have caved it she had reacted that way to everyone. Love allows us to be weak but also gives us strength. The only thing that would have made this book better in my eyes is if it were in Audiobook format. I've thought of who I would like to narrate it and decided Tavia Gilbert would be the person who could do the fast flying, witty dialogue between Amelia & Prudence. She would do Malcolm justice too! However, if I got my wish...Malcolm would be portrayed by a man with a good Scottish brogue when needed. He only pulls the brogue out to impress the ladies. I would also like to see the BBC get this series and recreate the books on the big screen. They do period pieces so well. They would have to cut out or curtail some of the love scenes but I could always go back to those in other formats. I'd especially love to see the drunken hyena scene but I don't think it could be portrayed as well as my imagination or memory. Now I am anxious to see if others who have read the book got as much out of it as I did. We all like or dislike books for different reasons and I've said why I loved this one above others. Please let me know what you thought. Remember, it is 1812 and their behavior is based on that time period.



View all my reviews

Review: The Silver Pigs

The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Narrated by: Donal Donnelly. This series was narrated by Donal Donnelly in the US & later by Christian Rodska. Rodska did the British version. Oh yes, just to add to the mix, several of the first books in the series were recorded in full cast for BBC Radio 4.

REVIEW OF SERIES
Lindsey Davis wrote The Silver Pigs (Marcus Didius Falco Series #1) in 1989 and it is one of my favorite books. I fell in love with Marcus Didius Falco many years ago and the love affair still exists today. He is funny, witty, smart, irreverent, kind, compassionate, and according to Justinia he's a good lover. What's not to love about him. I love his dog Nux, too! Oh yes, he's the best informer(detective) in 70 AD Rome even though Anacrites (sneaky, whiny Bas**rd) thinks he is. Anacrites, is Falco's rival, Vespasian's Chief Spy,a sneaky, whiny Bas**rd & someone you can love to hate. When Falco gets together with his side kick Petronius things really get crazy. Poor Helena Justina. You can imagine what it's like when old army buddies get together. Even though Petro is a Roman Guard now, he moonlights for Falco; sometimes for the excitement and other times because they just don't pay Guards what they should for all they go through.

So when looking over my audiobooks a few weeks ago and seeing this book I'd decided to have another listen. I just want to see if it is as good as the first time I visited with Falco and his cohorts in ancient Rome. This series must have made an impression on me because it's been at least 10 years since I last read this book...probably longer and I remember everyone. But I have to admit that the last book in the series (#20) may have helped. However, there have been many books under the bridge (so to speak) since I've last read this one. So I'll give it another listen in the next few days and tell you if everything is as good as I remember. Overall, this series is one I would recommend to everyone. If you hated history in school, you will come away with an appreciation of it. Davis makes history come to life.


Review of The Silver Pigs
"Wherever Falco ventures, chaos is sure to follow." [b:Shadows in Bronze|972533|Shadows in Bronze (Marcus Didius Falco, #2)|Lindsey Davis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1217303768s/972533.jpg|1331067]

The Silver Pigs is more than a murder mystery. It has elements of political intrigue, history, sarcastic comedy and love. The thing I liked most about this book is the author telling everything about Falco's life. It doesn't just show his ability as an informer (detective) but his entire life warts and all. Lindsey Davis breathed life into Marcus Didius Falco. I share the idea of seeing the humorous side of life that she presents so I really related to the entire series.

Here is just one scene where Falco and the senator's daughter are being chased and they duck into a shady place/bar?:

"Hades we were followed." "Fine pickle you've lured me into here." A phalanx of bulky shapes came sliding in through the entrance behind us with ominous intent. Protests from the doorman indicated they had not paid his fee. Once they laid hands on us they were not intending to stay. My companion muttered to her new friend, "This clown is crossing his legs. Is there a..." "Out the back, dear." "Come on Falco, I'll take you." She pulled me straight across the floor show. Hardly anyone noticed. Those that did thought we were part of it and for one ludicrous moment we were. A writhing young amazon with no sense of direction backed into Helena's arms. She passed her to me like an unwanted bread roll. I gave the girl a smacking kiss, regretted it. She tasted of sweat & garlic only to be born when you taste of the same. Then I positioned her tidily on the nearest table where she disappeared under the lecherous clutch of a group of happy Corsicans who could not believe their luck. Rival foreign parties roared with jealousy. The table toppled over pulling down a curtain to reveal some citizens' white backside rising like the moon goddess as he did his anxious duty by a maiden of the house. The poor rabbit froze in mid-thrust, then went into eclipse. A cheer went up. Helena giggled. "Hail & Farewell." By now, outraged stokers and stevedores were swaying to their feet ready to spar with anyone and not caring why. The monkey had bitten into an apple while waiting until he was wanted. I clicked my fingers above his head, snatched the apple as he looked up, then drew back my arm like a javelin thrower to hurl the fruit at the gang who followed us in. Bearing his teeth he lept into their midst biting anyone who's face he could reach. Helena Justina had found a low doorway. She ducked me out into the back alley before I could gasp. We never even had a drink. Well people don't go to a brothel for a drink...

I could see that scene in my mind and laughed until tears came.
The story unfolded a little too slowly for my taste, but it also put down the long roots need for the series to have depth. Just like a strong tree has deep roots, this series has details that make it a strong story. This is not a book of instant gratification but one that gives lasting memories. I stand by my review of a 4 rating. I'd love to have the Christian Rodska version for comparison.





View all my reviews

Review: Blood Kin

Blood Kin by M.J. Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a Goodreads win - advance readers copy. No one requested me...paid me, begged me, threatened me, tied me up to make me do a review for this book. I am reviewing this book for one reason only...I love books and would hate it if someone steered me wrong about any book they read.

Blood Kin (The Half-Light City, #2) is a Steam punk/Fantasy book and this genre falls outside my comfort zone of reading but I love to stretch my horizons occasionally and this is one of those times. Blood Kin originally caught my attention because one of its main characters was a Templar Knight. The world M.J. Scott created with Knights, the Fey, Vampires and Shifters together was something that boggled my mind on the surface and I couldn't imagine how she could pull off a book that combined them all. Well I am here to report that she did it and did it well. It flowed smoothly from the first chapter. The chapters were written & labeled from either Holly's (heroine) or Guy's (hero) point of view. I knew exactly who was talking and their thoughts by that label. Everything was described/explained so easily and smoothly that I was drawn into Holly & Guy's world from the first page. Actually, it was that first chapter that had me hook, line and sinker...when Holly (while spying on others) fell off the rain slicked roof into Guy's arms. You see, Guy was out on patrol leading his fellow Templar Knights through a dark, dreary street seeking out the Beasts causing havoc over the city when suddenly he hears a scraping & scream, looks up and a woman literally falls out of the sky into his arms.

Review to be continued after dinner....Sorry folks for the delay. I fell asleep after dinner and I blame this on [a:M.J. Scott|4458590|M.J. Scott|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1299212701p2/4458590.jpg]. She kept me up all night reading Blood Kin and my body just wouldn't go anymore without sleep. So now I continue...

Things are strained in the city and will remain so until The Treaty is signed again. Nightworld consists of the Beasts (shapeshifters), Blood (Vampires), Fae, & Nightseekers (humans who crave the Blood). They coexist with humans only through The Treaty. The political factions are gathering and all hell is about to break loose. One of the leaders of the Nightworld has disappeared or was he murdered? Everyone has their own political agenda.

(kinda what's happening today in our world today - political agendas, factions fighting for power - no one can be trusted. I'll let you label the players in your imagination but mine starts with the bankers as the Bloods...but I digress again. On with the review.

Because of what she is, part fey part human, Holly has lived on the fringes all her life. She earns her living as a spy-thief and modiste (mostly a cover). Holly will do almost anything to care for her mother, a shell of a woman since Holly's father (a Fey Lord) abandoned them. She knows that she can only depend on herself and trust no one.
Guy, on the other hand, has a life filled with the love and support of his family, his brother knights and respect of all who know him. From their opposite worlds, Holly & Guy are coming together to infiltrate Nightworld and help restore peace to the city.

This book is full of intrigue, plots & betrayal. I liked the world that M.J. Scott developed, a world that although alien to me on some levels was also one I could compare to our world today. There was romance but it wasn't descriptive or detailed as PRN romances are so don't expect any hot steamy sex...it is romance and alluded to rather than detailed. If you want a peek at Blood Kin Ms. Scott gives you a couple of chapters to whet your appetite here. http://www.mjscott.net/books/blood-kin/

What I didn't like about this book:

I did not like the fact that I was a sleep deprived zombie the day after I read the book. I lay the blame entirely on M.J. Scott. It was her book that kept me up all night and into the next day. (Sleep is a valuable commodity and I even convinced my young daughter that sleep was a treat and she continues to believe that even as an adult.)

I didn't like that the book isn't in audiobook format yet and I lay the blame on the publishers for this one. Penguin should have realized this book would be one that should have went directly to Audiobook format and been published alongside the paper and kindle format.

I didn't like that I didn't read the first book in the series [b:Shadow Kin|11581827|Shadow Kin (The Half-Light City, #1)|M.J. Scott|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312516477s/11581827.jpg|14578543]. This was entirely my fault and I will remedy it. However, I didn't need Shadow Kin to understand Blood Kin. Blood Kin was able to stand alone remarkably well.

I didn't like that the new book in the series isn't out yet...Iron Kin. This may be a blessing in disguise...by the time it comes out Penguin may realize their mistake and I can get all three books in audio format as I deserve them to be. (By the way, Penguin Group, if you are reading this be sure and get an awesome narrator to do the books. Better still...get two...a male and a female.)

Other than those things listed above, I have nothing to say except this is another Goodread for me.



View all my reviews

Review: Shadowfever

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



20 hour audiobook. Natalie Ross & Phil Gigante are awesome narrators.

Update to review: This portion is written both in the first or the last book of the series.
Karen Marie Moning is a genius. I don't know if she meant this series to have so many levels - but it does...or at least I took that much away with me. The first thing to say is that you have a mega mystery on your hands. There are cliff hangers at the end of each book so I warn you ahead of time - DO NOT GET ONE BOOK. Don't think you can read the first book and blithely run out to get the next book when finished. This series does not work that way. You will go out of your mind until you can start the next book. Fair Warning! As soon as you finish the last sentence in the book you will be compelled to start the next book. I happened to have mine in audio version (all of them). That kept my sanity in check. The books while entertaining also made me retrospective. I questioned human nature as a whole and individually. Each choice/decision we make have consequences (to paraphrase the book). As Mac says, "It's not my fault who I am, the only thing my fault is what I choose to do with it." (Shadowfever) So you can take this series as light entertainment or search for the genius of KMM and look deeper & even introspective into your life choices.

Even though this series has many dark things in it and some very X rated scenes and much bad language I think it would be a good series for young adults to discuss values and how our decisions affect not only us but have a ripple effect. I wouldn't recommend it to all but if they have been exposed to these things in the past (and most have) it wouldn't be harmful and may open a dialogue for them to discuss the core values we have. It would definitely be a series that would keep their attention and therefore give them an opening to talk.
Barrons keeps telling Mac throughout the series to "see me". He warns her to think before she acts. Mac does make mistakes but tries to be honest with herself about her actions and mistakes. Yet she does keep making the same mistakes over and over. Trust issues are a problem with both of them. The books break down human nature and all our weaknesses and examines them yet these books are highly entertaining while giving us food for thought. I know that I will be contemplating this series for a long time.



View all my reviews

Review: Ravished by a Highlander

Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



4 Stars for Paula Quinn (author) & 4 Stars for Carrington MacDuffie (Narrator)

Mesmerized is the first word that comes to mind, Paula Quinn had me mesmerized. I'm amazed that she has already immersed me into the history of the highlands without my awareness & knowledge. Every phrase is so descriptive that I just close my eyes & I'm there sharing Davina's grief over her loss of the nuns & her protectors. I see the stoic, half dressed, giant of a highlander named Rob who saves Davina from death while he bears the wound from her arrow. I feel Davina's confused feelings for Rob Macgregor & his unusual softness of heart conflicting with his anger that she doesn't trust him (even though she doesn't know him). It seemed impossible for me to be so deeply immersed into the characters within the first 15 minutes of the book. Yet, between Paula Quinn's writing skills and Carrington MacDuffie's gift of Scottish brogue & English speech captured the character's essence & conveyed just the perfect amount of emotion and detail to transport me into the Highlands.

Rob yearns for the innocent Davina but is held back by her calling to God and the veil. Regardless, he must protect her from her unknown enemies. They've struck once leaving her the sole survivor of the convent. Davina confuses Rob on many levels. He is shocked that a woman, especially one in a convent, has such a complex understanding of politics, the inner workings of the government & deep divisions between the Protostants & Catholics. He wants to know all her many secrets and yet those very secrets can keep them apart.

Ravished bya Highlander turned out to be a beautiful love story with just the right amount of conflict and surprises to make it to my favorites shelf. Did I say it was steeped in history?



View all my reviews

Review: The Immortal Highlander

The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The joke's on me! I've been waiting and wondering throughout each of the previous audiobooks about Adam Black and his story. So when I finally got here, I kept thinking "that sounds familiar". Yes - I read it back in 2004 when it first came out. So now I'm listening to it and Still Loving it!

As the book says, Adam is "the foulest of the fey, a trickster, deceiver, cold blooded, arrogant seducer who cared for nothing but his pleasure at the moment". Yet, he is so much more. That description is a part of his past & somewhat a part of his character. But, who hasn't done something in their past that now they ask themselves WTF was I thinking? Plus his deep feelings of betrayal by Cenn's mother has warped him. So, I for one, was so happy he met Gabrielle. He's suffered the past TOO LONG. Not to say there isn't suffering in the book - Oh yes there is. But he has Gabrielle by his side and she is polar opposites of his past love. She is the balm over his hurts and it's about time. Centuries to be exact. Adam has the Queen of the fey punishing him for being too close to the humans. So as punishment - she makes him human. Poof - Powers gone [well he has a smidgen left - just enough to remind him of all he's lost.] She makes him invisible to make it just a little more interesting. On the other end, the humans hate him for his mischievous interfering over the centuries. So he has nowhere to turn but to Gabrielle - one of the few who can see the fey & has been taught to fear them, for those that can see on both planes disappear. As it usually happens when you are down - your enemies come out of the woodwork to ensure it happens all the quicker.

The Immortal Highlander never let me down as I went through all of Adam & Gabrielle's adventures with them. I was as frustrated as Gabrielle during their pre-foreplay & foreplay. I had moments of panic, fear and a few heart palpitations throughout the book. I fell in love with Scotland through Adam's eyes and learned to understand and love him. It was a great read the first time years ago and even better via audiobook with the other books in the series under my belt. I'm really curious to see where KMM goes now in the series. Hopefully, Phil Gigante (Narrator) will be there for the rest of the series for he is KMM's Highlander in all the books.



View all my reviews