Blog Tour: The Beast’s Enchantress

Author: Elizabeth Jane Kitchens

Genre: Fairy tale

Series: I do hope there’s a sequel.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5 high

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 234

Time period: 1700s

My overall opinion: This book is a new and delightful take on the classic fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast! I was amazed by the creativity of the author – you won’t guess it all! The story was quick moving with never a dull moment – always interesting. It was an absolutely fascinating storyline. The characters were lovely and I really enjoyed getting to know each of them. I quite loved the Woodsman! This book kept me reading the whole way through, and I would definitely read more books by Elizabeth. I recommend this one especially for those who love fairy tales.

**Elizabeth Jane Kitchens, the author, sent me this book in return for my honest review. I wasn’t paid for this review in any other way, nor was I forced to review it positively. All opinions are my own.**

Lady in the Mist

Author: Laurie Alice Eakes

Genre: Life, adventure, mystery

Series: The Midwives

Number in series: 1^st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: Kindle read

Time period: 1700s

My overall opinion: An enjoyable story! It concerns an unusual but fascinating topic (midwives). There was plentiful excitement and mystery laced throughout! A good read.  

Ring of Secrets

Author: Roseanna M. White

Genre: Mystery, adventure, suspense

Series: Culper Ring series

Number in series: 1^st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5 high

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 337

Time period: 1700s (specifically, Revolutionary War)

My overall opinion: What a wonderful opening to a new series by Roseanna M. White! I haven’t read just a whole lot of books set in the Revolutionary War, so I was looking forward immensely to the this book and to the upcoming ones. While I did end up preferring Roseanna’s Biblical fiction (the only one I’ve read is Jewel of Persia [click on title to read my review], and I loved it!), this book was very enjoyable as well. It’s a spy story through and through, with suspense and mystery blended seamlessly. The heroine, a girl named Winter, was someone easy to identify and empathize with, and the story felt very real and accurate. It was clear the Roseanna must have done some serious research for this book, and no doubt, series! However, just because a book is historically accurate doesn’t mean it’s boring, right? Avid readers know this. The historical accuracy and realistic characters didn’t detract from the story in the least. There were even a few real historical characters too! Always a good thing. This is a delightful story that will make the Culper Ring (the spy ring the story centers on and is named after) ever memorable.

**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers in return for an honest review. I was not obligated to post a positive review, nor was I recompensed for this review in any way. All opinions and thoughts are my own.**

Washington’s Lady

Author: Nancy Moser

Genre: Life

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Historical fiction, biography

Number of pages: 414

Time period: 1700’s

My overall opinion: It was interesting to learn about Martha Washington’s life! I didn’t find it riveting, but it was a good way to learn about her. What a lot of tragedy she had! Losing children as babies and as adults, having her first husband die… it’s sad. Martha exasperated me with her parenting in the first 1/3 of the book. But by the end, even she saw her mistakes, so that made it better. The cover is rather deceptive…for most of the book, she’s not a slim young debutante. But it’s a pretty cover, so.  

The Count of Monte Cristo

Author: Alexander Dumas

Genre: Classic, life

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction (one of the most elaborate works of fiction I’ve ever read!)

Number of pages: 1095 of story, 1130 total (includes end notes)

Time period: Probably the 1700’s

My overall opinion: I liked it better than Nicholas Nickleby. That was another huge book, you know! By the time I was 500 pages into this one, it really started to pick up. Oh, I still had some trouble keeping characters apart at times, and there are tons of subplots (you get that in books this size…and they weren’t in the movie), but it was good. I’m glad I read it, and I recommend to any extremely brave reader who likes classic literature.

Movie: The Count of Monte Cristo

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Genre: Adventure (very exciting!)

Primary actors: Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce

Length: About 2 ¼ hours.

Based on: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.

Time period: 1700’s (?)

Year it came out: 2002

My overall opinion: It was pretty good! Exciting. It had a lot of really cool locations! There was a tad of mystery and a ton of adventure. Just wonderful! I highly recommend it. It was mostly clean – a few times, it was clear that a couple was sleeping together, but nothing explicit was shown. I will watch this again! But first, I gotta read the book…it’s got something like 1000 pages. I kid you not. It’s huge. But hey – I CAN do it! (I think)

A Tale of Two Cities

Author: Charles Dickens

Genre: Adventure

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 293

Time period: 1700's, French Revolution

Main characters: Lucie, Dr. Manette, Charles, Sydney

Exciting events: A great many.

Passage from book: It has a most epic beginning. :) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way -- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

My overall opinion: Unfortunately, despite the beginning, I didn't really enjoy it. :( It is possible that I was reading too fast. I do that sometimes. But the story didn't really grab me. I will apologize for not liking it to all you people who are devoted to it. Each to their own. :P Take hope, though, I will probably read it again someday.

Beneath the Mockingbird's Wings

Author: Gilbert Morris, Aaron McCarver

Genre: Romance, life

Series: The Spirit of Appalachia

Number in series: 4th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 270

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: Hannah, Fox

Exciting events: Indian battles, jealous uncle, much more!

Passage from book: A light snow crusted the frozen earth, and the acrid smell of woodsmoke hung in the air as Fox stood stone-still behind a clump of elderberry bushes. He had remained in this position for half an hour, the only motion the involuntary blinking of his eyes and the slow, methodical rise and fall of his chest. He had grown taller and more sinewy than most boys of fourteen. In fact, he looked several years older than his actual age.

My overall opinion: I enjoyed it!

Among the King's Soldiers

Author: Gilbert Morris, Aaron McCarver

Genre: Life, romance

Series: Spirit of Appalachia

Number in series: 3rd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 298

Time period: 1700's, Revolutionary War

Main characters: Sarah, Jacob, Seth, Amanda

My overall opinion: A good one! Loving this series. :)

Beyond the Quiet Hills

Author: Gilbert Morris, Aaron McCarver

Genre: Romance, adventure

Series: The Spirit of Appalachia

Number in series: 2nd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 348

Time period: Revolutionary War, 1700's

Main characters: Abigail, Hawk, Jacob, Andrew, Elizabeth

Exciting events: Fights!

Passage from book: FYI, this is the opening paragraph. :) As Elizabeth MacNeal stepped outside the small cabin, she took one startled look at the glistening bear standing not ten feet away and froze in her tracks. Hawk had warned her that the bears around Wataugawere prone to wander close to the settlement, but she had only seen them at a distance since coming to the Appalachian Mountains. Now her heart leaped up into her throat at the enormous size of the bear. Suddenly he reared, his beady black eyes meeting hers...a shiver of fear ran through her at the sight of the long claws and sharp white teeth as he slightly opened his mouth.

My overall opinion: A good book. I say that a lot. Oh, about the time period. Everybody know that the Revolutionary War was in the 1700's, and usually I wouldn't put both. But this book doesn't concentrate on that fact that there's a war going on. It covers a span of about five years (the book, not the war) and included in there is the R. War. There is an occasional mention of men who side with the king, but the book's location is over the Appalachian mountains, so there isn't much fighting. Complicated explanation, I know. ;)

Over the Misty Mountains

Author: Gilbert Morris, Aaron McCarver

Genre: Adventure, life

Series: The Spirit of Appalachia

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Historical fiction

Number of pages: 344

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: Hawk, Patrick, Elizabeth

Exciting events: Indian battle, a very vengeful Frenchman

Passage from book: Three war-painted Indians burst out of the woods and fell upon the Simmons family. Elizabeth and Patrick and the children watched in horror as tomahawks rose and fell, and all four of the Simmonses lay dead...

My overall opinion: A good book! I'm kind of into Gilbert Morris right now, had you noticed?

Movie: Brigadoon

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Main characters: Tommy, Fiona, Jeff

Genre: Romance  

Primary actors: Gene Kelly, Cyd Charise, Van Johnson

Time period: 1950's, 1700's

Exciting events: A big chase

Year it came out: 1954

My overall opinion: This is one of my favorite movies. It's unique. It's a Scottish romance in a disappearing town...literally. You want to watch this one. :) 

Keeper of the Light

Author: Patty Metzer

Genre: Romance, life

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages:  367

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: Kaytra, Colin, Lydia

Exciting events: Many! :)

My overall opinion: This is one of the best books I've read in a long time! I highly recommend it to everyone. Well, not little kids, but you get the idea. :) It's a really unique, sweet story!

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author: Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Genre: Romance, adventure

Series: Hmmm...it has several sequels.

Number in series: First.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Fiction.

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Marguerite, Percy

Exciting events: Chases, rescues, discoveries...exciting!

Passage from book or back cover: We seek him here, we seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? -- Is he in hell? That demmed; elusive Pimpernel?

My overall opinion:

12-13-10 (original): Another terrific book. And for the record, there's a great movie that goes with it. Like I said, it has several sequels too.

12-25-12 (update): Having just read my original review again, I think it's abundantly unclear what I meant to say is as follows: 1. It's a great book. 2. It has several great sequels. 3. There's a good movie version (1982). That's all. This book has remained a favorite, and I recommend both it and the movie! You'll enjoy, I have no doubt.

Gennie the Hugenot Woman

Author: Bettie M. Ross

Genre: Adventure, family, romance

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 6

Type: Historical fiction

Time period: 1700's

Main characters: Gennie, Thomas

Exciting events: Birth, mind-loss, war

My overall opinion: I didn't really like this book. I don't wish to read it again. It just wasn't my kind of book!