Celeste Bradley: Fallen

I have now been a fan of Celeste Bradley for about a year, so was pleasantly surprised when I picked up her debut novel Fallen at the office bookshare.

Here is the back synopsis: When Izzy went to bed, she never expected to awaken to disgrace. Of course, it felt wonderful…warm hands on her flesh, rough stubbled skin on her cheek. It all seemed some wonderfully wicked dream. But that hardly mattered to the ton. To them she was ruined, for Lord Eppingham Julian Blackworth had been discovered in her bed and she’d claimed him as her own.

She had not wanted to trap the handsome rake into wedlock. Though she might want to fall forever into his golden-brown eyes, marriage to any man was not something she sought. It had been something in his touch, his kiss. Something that had called out to her to protect Julian from his own ruination by placing herself in the way. If to save this man meant to be fallen, so be it. And in saving him, she just might save herself.

I love the way our hero and heroine fall in love, I love the rake Julian’s slow reformation…heck, I just love this book!  It is entertaining without relying too heavily on plot twists and turns, and her banter sparkles.  I love that Izzy, our heroine, actually welcomes the freedoms that come with ruination and I love her Pollyanna ability to see the good humor in things.  She is frank and sassy, and it is her inner beauty that truly sparkles through.

Julian is also a well rounded character with none of the caricature-esqueness other rakes take on.  He feels as really as Izzy, and he is ultimately loveable, especially as he falls in love.

Although the ending was maybe a bit disappointing (I won’t spoil it, however), it was at least different.

For a debut novel, I think it is an outstanding example of Bradley’s talent.

Regency (H)Not Spots: London Docklands

In honor of the recent read No Place for a Lady, I thought it was high time I add a little bit of the seedier side of Regency London for your pleasure.

The Docklands was the name eventually (circa 1970s) given to the stretch of docks along the East and South East of London and the River Thames.  Commercial expansion in the Georgian era gave us the following docks: West India (opened 1802), followed by the London (1805), the East India (also 1805), the Surrey (1807), St Katharine (1828) and the West India South (1829).

Most dock sections had specialities: textiles, rubber, grain, etc.  Within each dock section you had a division based on the type of dock: wet docks where ships could drop anchor and unload; dry docks for smaller ships in need of repair; and dockyards for ship building.  On land, warehouses, moors, piers and jetties organized systems of efficiency for the rapidly expanding British Empire export and import.

Naturally, the docks were teeming with workers–lightermen (for carrying cargo between ships and “lighter” barges for distribution), crewmen, shipbuilders, and a whole other crew of “dockers” or day laborers who met at pubs in the early morning ready for casual work (“You can imagine for a moment from 1,500 to 2,000 men crowded together, the front men forced up against the chain: the back men are climbing over the heads of those in front, and the contractor behind the chain is picking out the men, generally his own favourites.   The Times, 29 August 1889.)

This also spanned a subsidiary workforce of laundresses, pubs, marine stores, lodging houses, brothels, dolly-shops (unlicensed pawnbrokers), and instrument makers.

The dock lands were marshy, and consisted for the most part of wharves connected to basins that could be locked from the river and help control the level of water.

For more information visit this wonderful site: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Learning/Learningonline/Trade_1750_1900.htm

NEW AUTHOR Katherine Greyle: No Place for a Lady

Perhaps it is my love of Charles Dickens and the gritty underbelly of my home away from home London around the industrial revolution, but the word rookery immediately caught my eye when perusing a new stash of freebie books at my favorite worktime hangout.  Or perhaps it was simply the ever present hunt for the next new author of my heart.

Here is a little blurb from Greyle’s website about the book:

Fanny Delarive is no lady, and so she’s allowed to go everywhere: the dockside lair of notorious criminals, the glittering ballrooms of the haut ton, even the dark, secret places of Marcus Kane, Lord Chadwick’s bedroom.  Well, perhaps not allowed there, but certainly welcome as Fantine and Marcus scramble through debris and diamonds, hidey-holes and hideaways in search for the mysterious criminal Teggie.

In No Place for a Lady, Greyle tops her previous efforts with a fast-paced historical complete with side-splitting humor.  Her trademark dialogue is in beautiful form with witty comebacks and tender endearments, right before the plot picks you up and tosses you off in another direction.

No wonder the Madcap award for romantic comedy put her right alongside Teresa Medeiros and Betina Krahn!

Says Greyle, “I try not to push for humor, but let it come from the characters themselves.  That’s why I created Fanny and Marcus as complete opposites.  Fanny Delarive is a dockside criminal…perhaps.  Marcus is the stiffest of the haut ton…maybe.  When the two are forced to work together, humor is a natural result.  And so are the romantic sparks as they’re chased by killers through the London underbelly, a society ball, and of course, his lordship’s chamber.”

This was a change of pace and fun–if the characters weren’t expertly drawn…at least the plot was imaginative.  And I truly love the villain characters, even if the ending was a bit anti-climatic.  This is almost the opposite experience of my other recent foray into new author territory with the Anna Campbell misogyny undercurrents–here is a heroine who we can sink our teeth into and cheer for her bravery and desire to remain true to herself in the face of poverty and constant conflict.

I recommend this book for adventuresses of the hist-ro variety who like finding new authors and sampling the murky waters of historical London–for once we get a taste of the dockside rather than the ballroomside!

Candace Camp: The Marriage Wager

First in a series, The Marriage Wager by Candace Camp is a delightful tale that is very Heyer-esque in its uncomplicated plot and simple character driven storyline.

Here’s the skinny: Constance Woodley is of an advanced age as a result of tending to an ailing father during her “marriageable” years.  Her uncle inherits after her father’s demise, sticking Constance with the unhappy duty of playing lady’s maid to her Aunt and cousins–simpering young debutantes primed for a London Season.  Although she briefly flirted with romance, Constance has been pretty sheltered and is now resigned to her status as a spinster.  Although she saves her pin money away for her future, lurking behind her practicality is a passion all readers will love.

Francesca is a widow of considerable fashion and reputation who makes a naughty wager over her matchmaking skills–the unlikely challenge is Miss Woodley herself.  I love Francesca because she still has flair in light of financial struggle–what a unique character who knows how to make her money stretch!

I am sucker for the Cinderalla makeover story, and we get a taste of that (of course with some practical economizing!) along with a lot of fun Regency House Party.  I don’t want to spoil to much of the story–but needless to say we have an unlikely match in the making.

Its a beautiful and true love story that reminds us of what hist-ro is really about.  Beyond the ball gowns and on dit (and the steamy love scenes which we do get at least a chapter of here) its about the infalliability of humans and why we fall in love.

Candace Camp is definitely a new author for me and one I will be looking out for.

Regency Hot Spots: Haymarket Theatre

Originally established in 1720, The Theatre Royal Haymarket (or Haymarket Theatre), has had a long and distinguished place in history of London.  By 1820, the theater company moved next door into the building designed by John Nash–its current home. However, during the Regency it was still in its original location on ther former site of the King’s Head and the Gun Smith shop.

Fire reduced its viability in 1789 after a series of unfortunate battles with the government it passed hands and experienced devastation and success intermittenly until it moved into its new home.  The theater began a meteoric rise in popularity around the Regency area, as new theaters sprang up in London and in the larger cities of Britian.  As the third oldest London playhouse still in use, The Little Theatre (as it was known) was situated in the prime West End location which still is the theater district of London.

During the Regency era, the management of the theatre was passed to George Colman, the Younger who was a talented dramatists.  However, he lived beyond his means and was known to engage in literary feuds.  A few of his more successful plays were: Poor Gentleman (1802), John Bull (1803), Love Laughs at Locksmiths (1803); despite his penchant for extravagant living he is recognized as one of the most profitable managers of The Haymarket in history.

After many successful years of running the Haymarket, he eventually brought in his brother in law D. Morris to help run it around 1806.  Summer Seasons were flourishing and brisk business, despite competition, and Haymarket often had celebrated actors of the day perform (like Kemble).

In 1811, George the Younger was invited to Carlton House by the Duke of York, where he continued to tease both the Duke and Prinny until Prinny burst out into song and Colman threatened to lure him to the stage.  George’s wild behavior created friction between himself and Morris, which resulted in a closed theater for the season of 1813 and a bumpy and late entree into the season of 1814.  Undoubtedly it was this rocky relationship that led to the 1820 sale of Haymarket and its reconstruction by John Nash.

For wonderful letters and accounting of the wild and witty George Colman the Younger, check out his memoirs and letters here.

Find out about what was playing and who was doing what here:

http://www.trh.co.uk/history_page1.php

Anna Campbell-Claiming the Courtesan and Untouched

Trying to branch out into uncharted hist-ro waters, I picked up a new author Anna Campbell.  The first book I read, well tried anyway, was Claiming the Courtesan.  A noblewoman is forced to become a courtesan, and after years of success ends her last affair with an obsessed protector…who tracks her down and holds her hostage.  I had to put it down after trying faithfully to slog through because I found the premise and the unfolding character development offensive.

That is hard for me to say, for although I like to give the honest truth in my reviews I also know how tough it is to write quality and new romance.  But when there is already so much media violence against women (ala Twilight, etc) in terms of objectification and jenky plots that make us believe relationships like Pretty Woman won’t end up like Sleeping With the Enemy…well I just couldn’t stomach it in my hist-ro.  Long standing readers will know of my feminist bent and how I staunchly defend hist-ro as a feminist expression and contemporary reworking of herstory.

So, if you are anything like me stay away from Claiming the Courtesan.  Trying to fall in love with a hero is obsessed to the point of being a socio-path is just unacceptable.  And when rape is threatened on multiple occasions–well, you get my drift.

I did finish Untouched, despite its similar leanings.  Lost in the streets of Bristol, widowed Mrs. Paget is picked up by goons of a reportedly mad Lord Sheene’s dastardly and twisted uncle and guardian.  Threatened with her life unless she successfully seduces the mad lord, Mrs. Paget fights her convictions–and finds passion in a most unexpected place.

There was actual likability in her hero and heroine, although it skirted some strange and potentially noxious plot lines.  I am sure some women might fantasize about such a scenario, and maybe will find it thrilling and satisfying.  I just thought it was mostly in poor taste.

Anna Campbell has talent—she’s no hack–but I do wonder if she “gets” what hist-ro is about…or if she herself feels she is forced to prostitute her writing in order to make a living.  It seems like an outsider to romantic fiction who has glimpsed a few harlequin covers and read the back of a couple of books and makes an attempt to fit in–without really understanding the audience.

I could be off base, vastly preferring light and fun romps…but I think she needs to steer clear of the prostitute plots in the future.

Mary Balogh: The Huxtable Family Series

I haven’t read Seducing an Angel yet, but I am going to be sure to pick it up on my next pilgramage to the book store.

Mary Balogh does it again, proving she has the hist-ro chops, in this wonderful character driven series about the Huxtable Family (three sisters and a brother).

We meet them in their backwoods country home in Throckbridge, where they reside with one servant in a tiny cottage.  Their mother died many years before, and their local cleric father more recently.  Suddenly, a surprise visit to their village by a Viscount threatens to completely change their universe–and turn the middle sister’s life upside down.

Like so many of Balogh’s heroine’s, Vanessa is flawed: has a sunny disposition but no real beauty when compared with her ravishing sisters.  And although she is just out of mourning for her childhood friend and husband, she decides once again to sacrifice her own future happiness by offering herself up to the Viscount bent on marrying one of the Huxtable women.

And so we have a marriage of convenience and a very unconventional love story…a perfect beginning for a great series that is vastly entertaining and full of depth.

Then Comes Seduction tells the story of the youngest sister, who courts scandal and ultimately is shangaied into a marriage made by the rumor mill.  Only Katherine, convinced there is no true love, will be able to determine whether or not reformed rakes do make the best husbands.

At Last Comes Love is the eldest sister Margaret’s story (which I have now read twice!).  Its the ultimate marriage of convenience, and one with a real scandalmonger.  I love this one probably the best because of Margaret’s character–she is truly a woman who has devoted herself to her family and must find her way out of her empty nest by courting scandal of her own.

Balogh’s characters are rich and three dimensional.  Although I can’t necessarily “see” the characters as well as other authors, I can definitely feel them.  They’re emotions aren’t cardboard or cliche–instead they are meaty, rich and often bloody (figuratively, of course).  Her love stories are awesome, too.  She gives her heroes and heroines ways and intentions of falling in love that are so much like real, enduring unconditional love and partnership rather than the “love at first sight” infatuation/lust that characterizing other novels.

Balogh isn’t action rich, although there are twists and turns to keep up the pace.  But plot driven, this series is not.  Therefore if you like the typical story arc with a biug climax and resolution, you aren’t going to find it here.  Instead, she gives us more of a character study which is really a sneaky way of teaching history and relationships.

If you haven’t yet read Balogh, do.  Especially this series.

Wacky WordPress: Regency Dish

WordPress has been wacky the last several days.  Coupled with the final book of Harry Potter calling my name from its spot on the nightstand, I have been terribly naughty, dear gentle reader, about reporting the latest on hist-ro and all things Regency.

But never fear, Harry Potter has at last been finished and I am now ripping through the final pages of the new Mary Balogh series…

So stay tuned for my full report.

In the meantime, do you ever wonder why widows weeds never seem to apply to the opposite sex in the tomes of Regency?

A Bachelor’s Cupboard elucidates the gentlemen’s mourning ritual for us:

“A man wears mourning for a parent, sister, or brother for six months or a year, as he prefers. The crape hatband is adopted for this dress, but should be much narrower than that of a widower. First mourning consists of complete suits of black, dull black leather shoes, black gloves, and cuff-links of black enamel. Second mourning should be gray or black clothes, black and white silk ties, gray or black gloves, and black and white linen. Men do not, as a rule, carry black-bordered handkerchiefs. Few men wear mourning for grandparents or other relatives. The wearing of a black band on the coat sleeve is condemned by the best people. It is a custom borrowed from England, where it was originally introduced for liveried servants whom it was not thought necessary to fit out in complete black liveries. The worst thing about a band is that it is unclassifiable, since a man may wear it for a near or a distant relative. If a man cannot afford or does not approve of mourning, then he should abjure the entire livery of grief, for the compromise of a black band betrays a painfully economical mind.

After mourning, a man may resume his social duties in from three weeks to two months. While wearing a broad band on his hat for a near relative a man should not attend the theater, opera, or a ball.”

Regency Recipe

Oh dear, gentle reader.  I have been so remiss.

Alas, the final Harry Potter book had long been sitting near the nightstand calling my name.

But finally finished with it, I am now back in action and ripping through the rest of the “First Comes Marriage” Mary Balogh Series.  Stay tuned for more.

In the meantime, enjoy this lovely recipe for making a sack possett…a Regency panacea for ailments of the heart and body!

Heat a half-pint of ale and a half-pint of sherry, add one quart of boiling milk, sugar to taste, and some grated nutmeg.

It should stand in a warm place for an hour, and just before serving add the yolks of two eggs, then beat well and serve hot.

Georgette Heyer: The Regency Buck

For some reason, my husband found the title of this book hilarious.  Usually he doesn’t comment too much on the stacks of hist-ro on the nightstand shelf, or on the titles of my own novels.

Perhaps it didn’t help that the cache of Heyer books looked rescued from a library and had seen they’re better days (with those funky retro Harlequin esque covers).  He was somehow convinced that this was the NAUGHTIEST of the naughty, making me laugh even now.

For those of you who have (or have not) read Heyer, you know that Regency Buck is very vanilla and defintely PG (if only for language and adult themes).  Its why I continue to recommend it for young women interested in reading romance…much more wholesome and with a message than many of the tripe teens and tweens read today (ahem, does no one else think about the metaphor of vampires?).

If you are lucky enough to find a copy of Heyer’s Regency Buck, old fashioned cover or a newer release, pick it up!

Combining both of her preferred genres, historical romance and the detective novel, Regency Buck is the cornerstone of many contemporary hist-ros.  We have two young provincials adventuring to Town in defiance of their newly appointed (and never encountered) guardian.  Judith, our heroine, is possessed of a sizable fortune and stands to inherit even more at the demise of her younger brother, Peregrine.  Judith is instantly launched to Diamond status because of her fortune, while Peregrine cuts a dash spending money and getting into scrapes (which Judith begins to suspect are attempts on his life).

Meanwhile, the Earl of Worth is a classic Heyer hero.  Aloof, managing and ever bit cut of the same cloth as Austen’s Mr. Darcy both the reader and Judith are confounded by his heavy handedness that is tempered with levity.

There is mystery, a dash of suspense, and the delightful appearance of Beau Brummel who makes an instant companion out of Judith.

This cast of characters reappears in Heyer’s ode to Waterloo, An Infamous Army (which I am trying still to slog through, not caring much for military machinations).

My only complaint is that Regency Buck, too, ended abruptly leaving me with a gratitude for contemporary authors who provide a little epilogue at the conclusion of their stories.