Why I Love Unusual Settings by Carrie Lofty

I've always been just a little bit stubborn. Call me principled or hard-headed, but I tend to do things my own way. For example, medieval romances are much scarcer than they once were--maybe all those vampire brotherhoods horned in on the knight-hero's territory? But when I sat down to write the follow-up to my Robin Hood-themed debut, WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS, I somehow got it in my brain to set SCOUNDREL'S KISS in Spain.

Medieval Spain.

The Kingdom of Castile, to be exact.

Why? Once the idea fired up inside my imagination, I couldn't let it go. Maybe writing a warrior monk hero just sounded intriguing and sexy to me at the time. Imagine all the training and hard-earned experience of a warrior, but all the humility and, ahem, self-control of a monk. Talk about conflict!

But you see, I started out my career as an historian. More specifically, I studied nothing other than gunfighters and outlaws for roughly ten years. (Blame that fantastically melodramatic TV show from the early 90s, "The Young Riders.") Then I wondered what other places had history. Turns out...well, every place! *grin*

I became very curious, and the more exotic the better. But it turns out that historical romance is not as adventurous as I am. Regency settings, the Scottish Highlands--that wasn't enough for me. I wanted the thrill of new times and places to go along with the thrill of love's first blush.

Even since then, I've made it my mission to bring a little bit of the exotic to historical romance. I've set works in 1950s Italy, medieval England, and Napoleonic Austria, and my current work-in-progress takes place in Victorian South Africa! I even founded a multi-author blog in November of 2006, called Unusual Historicals (http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/) to serve as a meeting place for like-minded fans and authors.

But more than exotic settings, I love a great romance. I love that zing that the hero and heroine feel when they realize they're with their one-and-only. I sigh happy sighs and clutch really great books to my heart. As a writer, that's always been my first and foremost goal. Otherwise, all my fascination with history and exotic locales blends into a boring textbook--that's not sensual or sexy at all!

Oh, speaking of stubborn, did I mention that the heroine of SCOUNDREL'S KISS is addiction to opium? I just can't seem to help myself!

__________________________________

Born in California, raised in the Midwest, Carrie Lofty met her husband in England--the best souvenir! Since earning her master's in history, she's been devoted to raising two precocious daughters and writing romance, including her Robin Hood-themed debut, WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS. This June, Carrie's sensual tale of two lovelorn musicians in Napoleonic Austria will launch Carina Press, Harlequin's new all-digital venture. With Ann Aguirre, she also co-writes hot'n'dirty apocalyptic romances as Ellen Connor.

http://www.carrielofty.com/

http://www.ellenconnor.com/

Challenge: The Alphabet in Historical Fiction

It's time for a new letter in The Alphabet in Historical Fiction but first let's take a look at our entries for the letter B:

1 - Heather (Epoch Tales) - Black Robe by Brian Moore

2 - Whitney (She is Too Fond of Books) - The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory

3 - Teddy (So Many Precious Books, So Little Time) - Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors

4 - Sarah (Reading The Past) - The Boundless Deep by Kate Brallier

5 - Leya (Wandeca Reads) - Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore

6 - Robin (The Lady Gwynn's Kingdom) - The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper

7 - Cat (Tell Me a Story) - The Fraud by Barbara Ewing

8 - Miss Moppet (Misadventures of Moppet) - Madame du Barry by Jean Plaidy

9 - Rowenna (Hyaline Prosaic) - Mr Timothy by Louis Bayard

10 - Stark Raving Bibliophile - March by Geraldine Brooks

11 - Ana (Aneca's World) - Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

12 - Marg (Reading Adventures) - The Master of Verona by David Blixt

13 - Gautami Tripathy - Midwife of The Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

14 - Carrie (Opalescent Essence) - Honolulu by Alan Brennert

15 - Daphne (Tanzanite) - Desire The Kingdom by Paula Zabka

16 - Alex (Le Canape) - Les Aventures Extraordinaires de Adele Blanc-Sec by Jacques Tardi


Lucy from Enchanted by Josephine left her A letter post on the B's, it's The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Since the next letter would collide with the season's festivities we decided to jump the Jan 1st th date and you have a whole month to read your book. The next letter with be presented on Jan 15th.


And now it's time to remember the rules and introduce the new letter!

Each fortnight (1 month this time) you have to write a blog post about an historical fiction book of your choice (it might even be something you already read before), but it MUST be related to the letter of the fortnight.

You have several possibilities:

- the first letter of the title

- the first letter of the author's first name or surname

- the first letter of a character's first name or surname

- the first letter of a place where an historical event took place


You just have to choose one of them and participate.


Please check our blog each 1st and 15th of the month to find out our new letter, and then link your post (not your blog) back to our page through Mr Linky (see below). Then come and check to see who else has posted and visit their blog to find out all the details of the book they were reading.



This time you have until the Jan 15th to complete your mission.



And the next month will be dedicated to the letter C:

Scoundrel's Kiss by Carrie Lofty

Turning his back on his old life as a rogue, Gavriel de Marqueda has joined a monastic order in Spain and taken a vow of chastity. Before he becomes a monk, he must pass one final test: help a woman who has lost her way. But when he lays eyes on Ada of Keyworth, he is tempted beyond measure by her sultry beauty and dangerous curves. Far from her home in England, Ada has been battling inner demons for more than a year. When she discovers that her only friend has abandoned her, she has no choice but to grudgingly accept Gavriel's help. But Ada is not fooled. Though Gavriel wears the robes of a monk, Ada sees that he is a virile man who looks at her with a hunger that matches her own - one that begs to be satisfied again and again.

Castile, Iberian Peninsula, 13th century. The fights between Moors and Christians have been going on for centuries. The Convivencia is in place, having Moors, Christians and Jews living together despite their religious beliefs causing deep social differences.

Ada of Keyworth is an English woman with a talent for languages who found a place in the court of a known aristocrat in Toledo. Her troubled past led her to a opium dependance to calm her dreams. While trying to end her thirst for more drugs she finds herself under the power of a merchant. The young woman ends up in a brothel to be sold as slave to pay her debts.

Gavriel of Marquaeda is a mysterious young man about to become a monk of the Order of Santiago. While on a mission in a local brothel with his master and another novice, he notices a dazzling woman being rescued by a young warrior, Jacob. Seeing him outnumbered, he decides to help and both get to save Ada from a life of servitude. The English woman will then become his final test before joining the Order: help her with the drug addiction and keep her safe.

The main characters in this story are a little different from what we normally expect in an historical romance. Ada is independent, tough and haunted by dreams and even guilt that never let her sleep. She's not the innocent and typical damsel in distress, this woman is determined to have a career and fend for herself when needs be.

Gavriel is training to join the Order of Santiago. His warrior past weights on his shoulders and he desperately seeks redemption. When he meets Ada, his world is completely shaken. While sometimes a little overbearing, he is also resigned about his future. His past and family would never let him find his peace and built a life with Ada.

These two are a perfect match, both determined to get through the worst ordeals while fighting for what they want. But they are far from being the flawless heroes who always save the day. It's one of the reasons why they win me over.

The secondary characters are also very endearing and I truly hope to see Bridget and Jacob in Carrie Lofty's future books.

I really enjoyed the fact that the author ends up with a note discussing the historical context and explaining the changes she made to suit her story. Writing a romance during the Reconquista in the Iberian Peninsula is probably not an easy task. The era and location are not usual among historical romance or even historical fiction, and from the first pages, I was immediately swept away.

Some details like the character's names who are so often misspelled, anglicized or even stereotyped (no Juanitas here!) feel familiar to anyone who is close to this culture. My grandmother's family is originally from the region of Castile and Leon and one of the characters has her family name which is common in the area but it was nonetheless funny to find here.

The language used by the characters might seem sometimes a tad too modern, especially Ada's, but nothing that spoils the story.

Scoundrel's Kiss is the sequel of What a Scoundrel Wants which I still didn't read but I planned to do as quickly as my TBR pile will allow me. I heartily recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good romance and history as well.

Grade: 4/5

Murder in Nob Hill by Shirley Tallman

The year is 1880, the place San Francisco. Intelligent,
outspoken Sarah Woolson is a young woman with a goal and the fortitude to achieve it. She has always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. The trouble is, everyone believes women belong in the home – that it is not only unnatural, but against God’s will for them to seek a career.

When Sarah finagles an interview with one of the city’s most prestigious law firms, no one thinks she has a prayer of being hired. Except Sarah. Using her brains and a little subterfuge, she not only manages to become the firm’s newest (and only female) associate attorney, she also acquires her first client—a lovely young society matron suspected of brutally stabbing to death her wealthy but abusive husband. Sarah is sure of her client’s innocence, but the revelation of the woman’s secret lover may make that innocence impossible to prove.When four more victims fall prey to the killer’s knife, Sarah fears she has bitten off more than she can chew. Bucking her boorish employer and the judicial system, Sarah finds herself embroiled in shady legal maneuvers, a daring Chinatown raid, and a secret and very scandalous sex club in this irresistible blend of history, romance, and murder.

Sarah Woolson is the younger daughter of a prominent family of San Francisco. Her father is a respected judge and she always wanted to follow his footsteps and practice law. While having all the requirements, a woman attorney was not a common thing in 1880. But Sarah is not easily put down and with the help of her brother, she manages to get an interview with Shepherd, McNaughton and Hall (a renowned law firm). There she meets Annjennet Hannaford, a young widow and a client of the firm but who gets a patronizing answer to her economical concerns caused by her husband’s recent murder. Sarah’s attention is immediately caught by the lady's situation and she offers her services to Annjennet, to great despair and annoyance of Shepherd.

Sarah is one of those heroines I can’t help admiring. She’s intelligent and brave, nothing stops her until the mystery is solved. Even if pampered and protected by her father, she knows how privileged she is and that awareness grows during her investigations.

My favorite moments are the bickering scenes between our heroine and Robert Campbell. It’s hilarious when she calmly and logically explains something to her stubborn and quick temper colleague.
I also enjoyed the glimpses of the town’s Chinese community, something I don’t often read about. The mysterious Li Ying is a wonderful character and I truly hope to see more of him in Tallman’s future books.

Not only the portrait of 19th century San Francisco caught my attention right away but the fast pace mystery keeps you guessing until the end.

Grade: 4/5

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Piel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

' I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.' January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second

World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb..

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends - and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island - boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

I had no idea what awaited me when I started this book, I had some knowledge about the Island of Guernsey but none about its history and the period of the German occupation. Not that I felt this about the place, it's much more about people, how they live, love and cope in a time of adversity, but I definitely felt like hopping on a plane and travel there just to see if it was how I imagined it.

The story is told entirely in epistolary format, the common thread is Juliet, a writer, she is on tour and sends letters to her publisher in London retelling what's happening with her life and writing. One day she receives a letter from a man in Guernsey, Dawsey Adams, he bought a second hand book with her contact inside and wants to know if she can help him find more books by the same author as they are scarce in Guernsey. What follows is a rather interesting and funny exchange where we see their personalities reflected. Through his letters Juliet gets to know the Guernsey inhabitants and the story of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club they founded when under the Nazi occupation. Juliet is so intrigued that she eventually decides to travel to Guernsey and not only gets to know them all in person but to write about their experiences during the war.

It's a sweet and charming story, with lots of literary references and with a very cosy feel. You can't help a few laughs while reading it but there's also sadness and tragedy, the main thing I suppose is that you actually feel like you would really like to meet those characters some time. They are that real!

Grade: 5/5

Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

After reading His Dark Materials (Golden Compass), I was curious about Philip Pullman’s other works. Sally Lockhart’s series seemed a good start to know this author a little better, so I decided to try Ruby in the Smoke.

‘Have you ever heard the phrase The Seven Blessings?’That question causes a man to die of shock, and propels Sally Lockhart into a desperate adventure that will expose the deepest secrets of the corrupt and murderous opium trade. Sally is sixteen when the story begins, orphaned and alone. She’s had an unconventional education: her knowledge of English Literature, French, History, Art and Music is non-existent, but she has a thorough grounding in military tactics, can run a business, ride like a Cossack and shoot straight with a pistol. When her father is drowned in suspicious circumstances in the South China Sea, Sally soon finds herself in terrible danger too – and at the rotten heart of it all lies the deadly secret of the ruby in the smoke.

This is the story of 16 year old orphan, Sally Lockhart. After her father sudden death, she receives a strange message... Decided to unveiled the mystery, the young woman starts an adventure who will change her life.

One of my problems with this book, is the main character – Sally. Many of her decisions and attitudes are not what we expect for a young woman of the late 19th century and she really felt terribly fake to me. Also, Sally is too perfect! No matter what, she always seems to find effortlessly a solution for everything and everyone's problems.

Another particularity, in every dangerous situation she’s never really hurt or threatened. Unfortunately, her companions cannot say the same and they end up beaten and bloodied by Sally's enemies. No need to say how annoying it can be to read about such flawless and stagnant characters.

The secondary characters were also a problem, since I barely noticed them. I was expecting so much from the photographer, Frederick and what a disappointment it was to see how he constantly stayed in the background just like the others. Even the villainess, Mrs. Holland, who, at first, sounded so promising, couldn't save the story. She ended up looking like just a rather silly old woman in quest of power. Even her ending is pathetic, making everything easy for Sally.

I never really had the feeling I was reading a story set in Victorian England, but maybe Pullman wanted to keep things simple, since this is a young adult book.

Everything happens very quickly which is sometimes confusing making it hard to keep your attention the story without being distracted by something else. I don’t think I’ll continue reading Sally Lockhart’s adventures.

Grade: C+

HT News

The ladies from Hoydens and Firebrands, a group author blog that focusses on the 17th century, have interviewed Christie Dickason about her new book, The King's Daughter.

Did you know that author Anne Whitfield has set up a Historical Fiction books network on Ning? It's a place specifically for readers and authors of Historical Fiction to connect. You can check it out here. It's been around for a while now, but I have only just found out about it, so I am sharing it with you all!

Tony Hays has guest posted on CW Gortner's blog, Historical Boys. Speaking of Tony Hays, Amy from Passages to the Past is giving away a copy of his second book, The Divine Secret.

Alaine from Queen of Happy Endings is having a huge December/January giveaway at her blog. There are 6 books up for grabs in total, 3 of which are historical fiction. Full details can be found here.

Lucy from Enchanted by Josephine is giving away a copy of Syrie James' The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. Correction. The book being given away is a collection of Jane Austen novels. This giveaway closes on 7 December so you will need to hurry if you are interesting in getting into the draw for this prize.

Arleigh from Historical-fiction.com has two new giveaways on her blog. The first is for The Green Bronze Mirror by Lynne Ellison, and the second is for Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill by Susan Holloway Scott.

Dolleygurl from The Maiden's Court is giving away a copy of the novel which started her reading historical fiction, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

The December giveaway at Scandalous Women is The Harlot's Progress: Yorkshire Molly. Details of how to enter here.