What Are You Reading? August 2013

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Fri August 23rd, 2013, 1:40 pm

A Thing Done by Tinney Heath. 13th century Florence setting, and I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Fri August 23rd, 2013, 3:11 pm

Our Susan Higginbotham's The Traitor's Wife. Should have read it before Hugh and Bess. This is a new time period for me in HF and enjoying it. I might have to break out my ancient Thomas Costain's The Three Edwards and catch up.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Fri August 23rd, 2013, 3:59 pm

[quote=""fljustice""]Our Susan Higginbotham's The Traitor's Wife. Should have read it before Hugh and Bess. This is a new time period for me in HF and enjoying it. I might have to break out my ancient Thomas Costain's The Three Edwards and catch up.[/quote]

I think both The Traitor's Wife and Hugh and Bess had me in tears, but I really enjoyed them both.

JenniferLovesRoxi · Post by **JenniferLovesRoxi** » Sat August 24th, 2013, 12:33 am

I'm reading Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat. I downloaded the sample a while back and finally decided to read it and see if it was worth buying the whole book. So I read the sample and was at least caught up enough in the story to want to know what happened next, so I went ahead and bought it.

It tells the story of the years leading up to the French Revolution, but from the point of view of the peasants instead of the royalty. So, at least to the point I am at in the book, it is set in a small village of farmers and craftspeople. Pretty good so far.

I have definitely learned my lesson about getting all hyped up about a book just from reading the book description and a few reviews and then buying it immediately. After the fiasco that was The Cross and the Dragon I will be always be reading the sample before I ever buy a full book again.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sat August 24th, 2013, 12:40 am

[quote=""JenniferLovesRoxi""]I'm reading Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat. I downloaded the sample a while back and finally decided to read it and see if it was worth buying the whole book. So I read the sample and was at least caught up enough in the story to want to know what happened next, so I went ahead and bought it.

It tells the story of the years leading up to the French Revolution, but from the point of view of the peasants instead of the royalty. So, at least to the point I am at in the book, it is set in a small village of farmers and craftspeople. Pretty good so far.[/quote]

Sounds interesting! It's $4.38 for the Kindle.

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon August 26th, 2013, 7:50 am

Send Me Safely back Again by Adrian Goldsworthy, yet another military adventure set during the Pensinsular War. Hard not to see shades of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe, especially given that the cover figure is the spitting image of Sean Bean in his Sharpe period

, but this isn't anywhere near as derivative as Iain Gale's Keane's Company, which I read a month or so back.

On the other hand, Goldsworthy's novel is a bit drier and more militarily technical than Gale's and loses a bit of entertainment value as a consequence, so the two both have their points. Goldsworthy must be an Austen fan - good fun to see that dastardly soldier George Wickham from Pride and Prejudice in action (or as little of it as he can get away with). Wickham's ditzy, gossipy wife, Lydia (nee Bennett), and Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam also get a mention.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon August 26th, 2013, 12:20 pm

I've just started Stormbird by Conn Inguldden, a book I've been sent to review.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Mon August 26th, 2013, 4:04 pm

I'm in the throes of writing the last quarter of a novel, and so I don't dare get caught up in another storyworld -- it derails my ten remaining brain cells. But I'm also weary of research tomes, so I'm re-reading Watership Down.

JenniferLovesRoxi · Post by **JenniferLovesRoxi** » Tue August 27th, 2013, 1:03 am

Okay guys, I just finished reading Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat and all I can say is wow... Just wow.

I have read a LOT of Historical Fiction over the past 15 years or so, and as a result, it is pretty difficult to find a book that really satisfies me, let alone moves me. But this book did both. I have to say that this was the best book that I have read in at least 3 or 4 years. HIGHLY recommended!!

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue August 27th, 2013, 8:38 am

I've just started "Diving Belles" by Lucy Wood, and "The Mystery of Mercy Close" by Marian Keyes.