Review + Giveaway - Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery

TITLE:    Title  Death of a Chimney Sweep
AUTHOR:    M. C. Beaton
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 247 pages
PUBLISHED:   Grand Central Publishing, 2011
ISBN#:   978-0-446-54739-0
SOURCE:   Received from Hachette Books for Blog Tour and Review

FROM GOODREADS:   In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed—and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.

MY TAKE:    While this is the latest installment of the "Hamish Macbeth Mystery" series, it is quite enjoyable as a stand alone read.  It is the first of one of these mysteries that I've read.  I found it to be a fast, fun story that was hard to put down.

Hamish Macbeth is not your average detective.  He's quite a bit laid back and a whole lot peculiar.  Of course the fact that he's nuts about his cat and dog endeared him to me immediately.  He doesn't get a lot of respect from some of his colleagues, but he does tend to have great instincts when it comes to murders.  His love life leaves a lot to be desired as he seems to have more than his fair share of misunderstandings and bad timing.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this mystery.  I would start feeling pretty confident that I had unmasked the murderer and I would then immediately be proven wrong.  There were several characters that were especially misleading, just adding to the fun. 

Recommended to Hamish Macbeth fans as well as anyone who enjoys a fun mystery.  I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and Hamish's further adventures.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

As part of this great book tour, the author and publisher are generously offering THREE of you lucky readers a chance to win your own copy of Death of a Chimney Sweep! 

• You must be 13 years old to enter
• Shipping addresses in the US or Canada only, NO PO Boxes
• Entries close 3/11/11
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond
• Leave a comment on this post WITH your email address
• Only one copy of this title per household
• Good Luck!

If you don't want to wait to see if you're a winner, Death of a Chimney Sweep is available TODAY!  Happy Release Day!  You can find it at the online stores below:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas

TITLE:    The Oracle of Stamboul
AUTHOR:    Michael David Lukas
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 300 pages
PUBLISHED:   HarperCollins, 2011
ISBN#:   978-0-06-203683-4
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from TLC Book Tours for Review and Tour

FROM GOODREADS:  Late in the summer of 1877, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes suddenly appears over the town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and Eleonora Cohen is ushered into the world by a mysterious pair of Tartar midwives who arrive just minutes before her birth. "They had read the signs, they said: a sea of horses, a conference of birds, the North Star in alignment with the moon. It was a prophecy that their last king had given on his deathwatch." But joy is mixed with tragedy, for Eleonora's mother dies soon after the birth.

Raised by her doting father, Yakob, a carpet merchant, and her stern, resentful stepmother, Ruxandra, Eleonora spends her early years daydreaming and doing housework—until the moment she teaches herself to read, and her father recognizes that she is an extraordinarily gifted child, a prodigy.

When Yakob sets off by boat for Stamboul on business, eight-year-old Eleonora, unable to bear the separation, stows away in one of his trunks. On the shores of the Bosporus, in the house of her father's business partner, Moncef Bey, a new life awaits. Books, backgammon, beautiful dresses and shoes, markets swarming with color and life—the imperial capital overflows with elegance, and mystery. For in the narrow streets of Stamboul—a city at the crossroads of the world—intrigue and gossip are currency, and people are not always what they seem. Eleonora's tutor, an American minister and educator, may be a spy. The kindly though elusive Moncef Bey has a past history of secret societies and political maneuvering. And what is to be made of the eccentric, charming Sultan Abdulhamid II himself, beleaguered by friend and foe alike as his unwieldy, multiethnic empire crumbles?

The Oracle of Stamboul is a marvelously evocative, magical historical novel that will transport readers to another time and place—romantic, exotic, yet remarkably similar to our own. 

MY TAKE:    The entire experience with this book (an advanced reader's edition) started from the moment I began unwrapping it.  The outside packaging was sumptuous.  The book comes encased in an elegant marbled eggplant-colored box/book cover made of heavy card stock.  It is lined in a gold paper and has a stylish seal of a bird (that we later find out is the hoopoe from the story.)   This rich treatment of the packaging signified to me that the actual book inside would be something special.  It truly was an impressive beginning to a magical journey.

Besides Eleonora, there are many full-faceted characters in this lovely tale.  Eleonora's guardian Moncef Bay and her tutor, Reverend Muehler are both interesting and intriguing.  Throughout most of the story, the reader wavers back and forth as to what these men are really up to.  Mystery abounds!  Another fascinating player is the Sultan.  While the POV is primarily Eleonora's, we are also privy to his thoughts at times.  He is a very astute man who is much more in tune to what is going on around him than he is given credit for.  His love of nature is also endearing.

I don't want to get too much into the plot as I hate giving anything away.  This is a story the reader needs to savor on their own, without spoilers.  It is a fast, fun read that will definitely provide an afternoon of pleasure.  The end was satisfying, yet did make this reader hunger for more. I am hoping there is more to come from this author in the near future. I would love to continuing reading about Eleonora and her further wanderings.  Mr. Lukas has left that bit of wiggle room at the end of this rich adventure for further stories.

I was amazed by the fact that this is the author's debut novel.  He writes with a voice that brings to mind the storytellers of old ~ he draws you into the story, to become a part of the journey.  It is easy to visualize the setting and the people without having a lot of needless extra descriptions thrown at you.  He has the gift!

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

From the TLC site:  Michael David Lukas has been a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey, a late-shift proofreader in Tel Aviv, and a Rotary Scholar in Tunisia. A graduate of Brown University and the University of Maryland, his writing has been published in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Slate, National Geographic Traveler, and the Georgia Review. He has received scholarships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Squaw Valley Community of Writers, and the Elizabeth George Foundation. He currently lives in Oakland, CA, less than a mile from where he was born. When he isn’t writing, he teaches creative writing to third and fourth graders.

For more on Michael David Lukas, check out his website.  You can also see more of the great reviews that The Oracle of Stamboul is receiving at some of these other tour stops:

Tuesday, February 22nd: The Feminist Texan [Reads]

Wednesday, February 23rd: My Two Blessings

Wednesday, February 23rd: Man of La Book

Thursday, February 24th: One Book Shy

Friday, February 25th: Rundpinne

Friday, February 25th: Staircase Wit

Monday, February 28th: A Fair Substitute for Heaven

Click for the Full Tour Schedule

Thank you to the ladies of TLC Book Tours, the author and his publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this exciting new book.

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Healing the Highlander by Melissa Mayhue

TITLE:    Healing the Highlander
AUTHOR:    Melissa Mayhue
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 355 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Books, 2011
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-9020-3
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    ANDREW MACALISTER longs for a cure to free him from the excruciating pain caused by an old wound, but when he rescues a drowning woman, he has no idea how much his life is about to change. All Drew knows is that this mysterious woman is hiding secrets—and that he’s never felt such a consuming desire before. Yet he cannot deny her request for help, even if it means bringing the detested English army to his Highland clan’s home.



LEAH NOBLE MCQUARRIE still harbors a deep hatred of the Fae who tortured her eleven years ago, forcing her to escape back in time to the thirteenth century. A descendant of the Fae, Leah denies her heritage and her magical healing abilities. But the English army is holding her beloved adoptive grandfather captive, so Leah must seek help from the Fae—and the captivating man whose touch she craves.

Then Drew discovers Leah’s secrets, and he’s torn between old loyalties and trusting a woman who has the power to give him the future he’s sought—but could destroy his clan forever. . . .

MY TAKE:    This is the first book I've read by this author and I know it won't be the last.  I was sucked right into this tale and didn't want to close the book. Melissa Mayhue knows Highlanders!  Healing the Highlander is her latest addition to the Daughters of the Glen series. With a lovely blend of Fae magic and Highland intrigue, the author creates a tale that is mesmerizing.  It is easily enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, but I think it will be a pleasure to read the rest of the stories. 

Character development is very well done.  You feel the hope and pain of both Leah and Drew as they are pulled to each other.   They fight what they perceive to be the untrustworthy Fae magic.  Both have had dealings with the Fae that ended poorly, so they can't trust that this could be a good turn.  The unselfish deeds performed by each of them makes you root even louder for their happy ever after.  Other rich characters add to the atmosphere and Scottish/Fae color of the story.  I am looking forward to catching up with all of their stories in the other books, both the ones published and the new ones coming up.
 
The plot of Healing the Highlander is fast-paced and fun.  The action is non-stop and full of surprises.  Descriptive dialogue and backstory help the reader feel as if they are there in the thick of things.  The author has a way of conveying what she is seeing in her mind so you can almost taste the rich foods. You can feel the cold sea water as the men....., you can feel the sting as Leah.... ~ sorry, not going to tell you as it could spoil part of the story. 

I was impressed with this tale and highly recommend it to fans of Highland romance and those who love a touch of magic.  There is an element of time-travel in the series as well which just adds to the overall fun.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

Other books by Melissa Mayhue:

  

   

                             coming soon...

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

TITLE:    Georgia Bottoms
AUTHOR:    Mark Childress
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 278 pages 
PUBLISHED:   Little Brown & Company, 2011
ISBN#:   978-0-316-03304-6
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from Hachette Books for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    Georgia Bottoms is known in her small community of Six Points, Alabama, as a beautiful, well-to-do, and devoutly Baptist Southern belle.

Nobody realizes that the family fortune has long since disappeared, and a determinedly single woman like Georgia needs an alternative, and discreet, means of income. In Georgia's case it is six well-heeled lovers-one for each day of the week, with Mondays off-none of whom knows about the others.
 But when the married preacher who has been coming to call (Saturdays) decides to confess their affair in front of the whole congregation, Georgia must take drastic measures to stop him. In GEORGIA BOTTOMS, Mark Childress proves once again his unmistakable skill for combining the hilarious and the absurd to reveal the inner workings of the rebellious human heart

MY TAKE:    Adultery, quasi-prostitution, racism and various illegal activities are just a few of the things taking place in this story set in the South.  Miss Georgia Bottoms is what we are led to believe is a typical Southern belle.  She is a gracious hostess, she cares for her ailing mother, she defends and enables her worthless Brother and she loves her friends and neighbors.  She also just happens to sleep with six of those different male neighbors for money - money that is gifted to her, not to be considered or confused with pay for services for rendered - on a regular weekly basis.

I couldn't make myself like or care a bit about Georgia.  She was completely vapid and self-absorbed at times, while at the same time very conniving.  Her choices and her justifications for them were too much for me.  I don't have patience for the superficial "Scarlett O'Hara" type of women and must admit I was hoping for her consequences to catch up to Georgia.  My complete irritation with her got in the way of the story for me.

I do want to state that I think fans of Southern fiction will get a kick out of this story. It has garnered several great reviews on Goodreads and elsewhere.  Mark Childress is a very popular writer with a large following.  He does a good job of writing the Southern female POV where his own quirky sense of humor comes shining through.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

 WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Polyxena: A Story of Troy by H. Allenger

TITLE:    Polyxena: A Story of Troy
AUTHOR:    H. Allenger
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 400 pages
PUBLISHED:   iUniverse, 2009
ISBN#:   978-1-4401-5470-6
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from Author for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    After Troy falls, Neoptolemus claims Polyxena as his prize, but she rejects his advances. In a fit of rage, Neoptolemus contrives a story that dooms the ill-fated Polyxena. She knows what she must do to survive, but she cannot change her destiny. Polyxena, the daughter of King Priam of Troy, knows her misfortune has been to have Neoptolemus fall in love with her. As she prepares to die at the commemoration rites for Neoptolemus's father, Polyxena reflects over her past year, relating her thoughts to Aphrodite, the Goddess she believes is responsible for orchestrating the events that have beset her. As she tries to make sense of it all, Polyxena converses with all the well-known personages associated with the Trojan myth-Achilles, Agamemnon, Cassandra, Helen, and many others-while seeking solace in the hope that her existence has not been futile. In this moving story of forbidden love, a young woman who is an integral part of the romantic legacy surrounding Troy comes to a surprising and satisfying conclusion about the life she has lived.

MY TAKE:    This is the story of a young princess of Troy caught in the battle between the Trojans and the conquering Greeks.  She is the daughter of King Priam, but is in love with the infamous Greek warrior Achilles.  Theirs is a doomed romance that will have an immediate effect as well as long-term repercussions on the outcome of the war. 

This fictional tale was based upon stories of Greek history and legends.  Although the book starts out a bit slow, the pace picks up quite a bit as Polyxena begins interacting with the Amazons. She becomes a favorite of Penthesileia, Queen of the Amazons and has a love affair with the Amazon warrior Antiope. Polyxena's time with the Amazons is probably my favorite part of the book.  I would have liked to see that part of the story expanded even more, especially with the warrior training. 

There was a large cast of players in this story.  Frankly, Polyxena wasn't really one of my favorites; she annoyed me.  Part of this might have been because a male author writing in a female first person point of view is a difficult task to pull off.  Polyxena's "musings" at times made me think of those vapid song lyrics, "I'm pretty, oh so pretty..."  They were in complete contrast with the strength and intelligence she showed in her political dealings and relationships.  The self-absorption didn't ring true with her other attributes and thoughts.  It was fitting more with what a man might think a woman would think about. 

I did like many of the male characters as well as Penthesileia, Queen of the Amazons.  They were much more fleshed out and realistic feeling to me ~ especially in the roles they were given.  Agenor, Achilles and King Priam were all strong male leads with a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders.  The Queen and several other females such as Helen and Andromache were portrayed as a male might observe them and thus came across believable.

One other small issue I had was with some of the dialogue.  Our modern slang crept into this story and jumped out at me a few times.  I find it a bit hard to believe that warriors from around 1200 B.C. would use terms such as "get real" or "get over it". 

This was an enjoyable story even though there was a large dose of sadness mixed into this tale.  When I was finished I immediately got online to read a bit more about Troy and the mythology surrounding it.  I think when an author has entertained, educated and inspired me to learn more about his subject matter, he's done a good job. 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound


 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Weekly Wrap 022011

The first part of this feature is inspired by The Story Siren's "In My Mailbox" posts.  Let me show you the books that I've come across in one way or another for the past week. 

This was an awesome week for incoming goodies!  My poor delivery guys were hating it though as it has been a very wet and muddy week.

     

    

Thank you to Sourcebooks, Pocket Books & Hachette Books

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Thank you Anna of Anna's Book Blog

 

Thank you Donna of The Happy Booker  

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Thank you my beloved hubby!!

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The second part of this post is to show you what happened here in the last week and give you an idea of what is scheduled (so far) for next week. 

Last Week

Open Giveaways

How Sweet It Is - ENDS TONIGHT (3 winners)
The Tudor Secret - ends 2/28

Reviews

The Tudor Secret
Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Juliet

Next Week.....

     

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.