Showing posts with label egypt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label egypt. Show all posts

Friday, October 28, 2016

Friday Favorites: An Unlikely Match by Sarah M. Eden {Review}

My Friday Favorite for this week is a great Halloween read! With Halloween right around the corner, I remembered this one and I'm excited to share.

An Unlikely Match by Sarah M. Eden is a ghost story and a Regency romance rolled up into one great book.

The future has never looked brighter for once penniless Nickolas Pritchard. Now in possession of an unforeseen legacy from a distant cousin, he can finally woo the exquisite Miss Castleton, belle of the London Season. What better setting for matchmaking than Ty Mynydd, his ancestral home nestled in the untamed hills of Wales? Ideal, indeed ... except for the ghost.

For nearly four hundred years, Gwen has walked the halls of the home in which she lived—and died a mysterious death. But despite centuries as the reigning force within her ancient residence, nothing prepares her for the charm and unexpected appeal of Englishman Nickolas.

A deep and abiding affection grows between the two, tempered by the unbreakable barrier that separates them. They cannot possibly hope for a happily ever after. there can be no future between a man yet living and a woman long dead.

But how can Nickolas possibly give Gwen up? And how can Gwen face an eternity without Nickolas?


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My Review: 5 Stars

What a sad story!! Nickolas Pritchard inherits a house from a very distant cousin and decides to move in to try and make his mark in society, since he's really a penniless orphan. He has dreams of wooing a certain lady, but her parents won't even consider him because of his station in life--until he gets this property. He decides to host a house party, against the advice of the help, who don't want to risk offending the resident ghost. Gwen, has been haunting the home for hundreds of years and an unlikely friendship forms and things may not be quite as hopeless as they seem.

I really liked the banter between Gwen and Nickolas, especially how he could make her smile and feel important. The supporting characters were great fun as well. This is a book that I read a few years ago and I'm really wanting to re-read it again, especially during this fun and spooky time of year. I'm not always a big fan of ghost stories, but this one hit the spot and is well done.

Content: some mild violence; otherwise clean.
  

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Saturday, May 21, 2016

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter {Review}

Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
Hardcover, 355 pages
Published August 1st 2011 by Arthur A. Levine Books

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8465337-cleopatra-s-moon

Selene grew up in a palace on the Nile under parents Cleopatra and Mark Antony - the most brilliant, powerful rulers on earth. But when a cruel Roman Emperor takes the country and whisks the princess to Rome against her will. She finds herself torn between two young men and two possible destinies - until she reaches out to claim her own.

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My Review: 3 Stars

Ancient Egypt is fascinating and I was hoping for more of the day to day events in the typical life of Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and their family. Yes, there was a little of that, but this story seemed to focus a lot of the political world at that time and the way the events played out with Rome. Life at this time was interesting, but there was a lot of evil that abounded. Prisoners, torture, death, adultery, incest, homosexual relationships, concubines, etc. This is all alluded to and skimmed over, with a few details given on the violent happenings, but I wouldn't say it's graphic.

Selene is a young teen when her parents die and she's taken to Rome with her two brothers. Her heritage is so ingrained in her that she's willing to forsake love and do whatever it takes to regain Egypt. It's hard to know who to trust and what to do, especially with so little experience in her young life, but Selene is strong, resourceful, and resilient. 

I did enjoy the story overall. At times, it moves along at a slower pace and is heavy on detail, but it is an interesting part of history. 

Content: some romance (non-graphic mention of two sensual incidents, kissing, non-graphic nudity); some language; violence (some moderately graphic details of death, torture, etc); talk of Egyptian religion. 

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Buy Links:

http://amzn.to/27CdmVP
 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cleopatras-moon-vicky-alvear-shecter/1100178245?ean=9780545221313

About the Author:

Vicky Alvear ShecterVicky Alvear Shecter is the author of the young adult novel, CLEOPATRA'S MOON (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2011), based on the life of Cleopatra's only daughter. She is also the author of two award-winning biographies for kids on Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta. The LA TIMES calls CLEOPATRA'S MOON, "magical" and "impressive." PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY said it was "fascinating" and "highly memorable." The WALL STREET JOURNAL called it "absorbing."