Book tour: "The Secret Keeper" by Sandra Byrd

The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd

Reviewed as a part of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Author website: www.sandrabyrd.com
Twitter event hashtag: #SecretKeeperVirtualTour

It's hard to find a historical fiction book that I don't like, but, truthfully, my initial thought going into this book was "Oh God, ANOTHER book about one of Henry VIII's wives." The Secret Keeper needs to be a wonderful standout in the mass seas of Tudor books that are out there...and boy, it is.

The book focuses on Juliana St. John who serves in the household of Katherine Parr (her name is spelled Kateryn in the book, but somehow I can't bring myself to write it that way). Juliana is a 'seer' who foresees climatic events in Katherine's life, making Juliana that much more protective of and devoted to her. We follow Katherine through her years as queen, the time after Henry VIII's death, and beyond. 

This book follows a lot of common stereotypes found in historical fiction: a fictional character (often who has some spiritual/mythical power) finds herself in the service of a queen (or future queen), quickly becomes a favorite, then steers her lady (who has absolutely no flaws) through the storm, all the while juggling advances from her own dashing suitors. The Secret Keeper is no different in this form, yet manages to still be unique, fund, and fresh. While I liked reading about Juliana, Katherine, and the other ladies-in-waiting, who were all wonderfully written, the 'villain' Anne Stanhope, and Thomas Seymour, who is a bit of a scumbag, were much more interesting to reading about. Sandra Byrd has a great way of writing both sympathetic and detestable characters, which is respectable. Everyone was strong and memorable in their own way.

I also liked the theory that was offered up on what happened to Katherine's daughter. Historically, a toddler Mary just simply disappeared from record books, strange for the daughter of a former queen. There has always been questions as to whether she died, went abroad, or married a low-born. Here, were are given a speculation that actually makes sense given the circumstances that you would read about.

As said before, The Secret Keeper has the ability to really have it's own presence in the historical fiction world. I'm excited to get my hands on Sandra Byrd's other novel about Anne Boleyn!

Top Ten Characters Who Remind Me Of Myself Or Someone I Know In Real Life

Learn more and check out the TTT schedule.

Top Ten Characters Who Remind Me Of Myself Or Someone I Know In Real Life

This week, we at The Boke and Bookish decided to do a collaboration The collection is below.

Bridget chose Elinor from Sense & Sensibility
Elinor reminds me of me first of all because of her reserved personality and her love of a reserved guy--and also because Marianne is much like my own younger sister, who has difficulty understanding my relationship with my boyfriend. (Just because she wouldn't be happy with him means she can't understand how or why I am.) I don't know if Elinor would necessarily remind me of myself as much if she didn't have Marianne as a comparison, but together it's like reading about my exact relationship with my younger sister.

Daisy chose Juniper and Wise Child from Juniper and Wise Child by Monica Furlong
I love, love, LOVE these books and have read them so many times as a kid and I think it's because Juniper reminds me of my mom and Wise Child reminded me of me as a kid. I can't explain it, but I think it's why I connected to this story in this way. Juniper is such a warm, caring, strong woman and just makes me think of my mom.

Paula chose Hermione from Harry Potter
I hope it's not presumptuous to say that... but when I was growing up I was that geeky over achiever that did extra reports just for the fun of it, who constantly had her hand raised, and thought you were crazy for not wanting to be in class. It was awesome to see a character like that who played such an important role in the series. I really connected with her - and it was fantastic that she grew into this super strong person that was an essential part of the team. AND I had a crush on Ron- soooo... there's that

Jen chose Amy from Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
Like Amy I tend to be somewhat reserved and guarded. I don't open up to people quickly, and usually give them limited information about myself. I've never understood why when you first meet some people they tell you their entire life story.

Daisy chose Trevor from Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
Trevor reminds me of my boyfriend. Trevor's smart, a really good guy, wonderful brother and loyal friend. Also, he's a totally supportive boyfriend. And he totally reminds me of my boyfriend who I love very much!

Julia chose Lucy from On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
Lucy didn't remind me much of myself until the second time I read it. What she is going through mimicked what I was thinking at the time. This is the first, and to my knowledge, only review where what an author wrote became myself.

I wracked my brains trying to think of more, but I see myself reflected in every character. If I think of the rest or get more from the fellow bloggers, I'll add it in.

Julia Reviews I Suck At Girls by Justin Halpern

Title/Author:I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern
Publisher/Year Published:May 2012 by HarperCollins
How I got this book: The publisher provided the book freely for a honest review
Why I read this book: Sh*t My Dad Says was a hilarious book.
Rating: 5 stars


The one thing that I have to say about Justin Halpern is that he can write a memoir. His first book, Sh*t My Dad Says, was based on growing up with a dad that speaks his mind regardless of how it comes off to the rest of the world. The result is a few hours of fun and barking laughter and getting a glimpse into their father son relationship.

I Suck at Girls has more of a Justin centric focus as he talks about his life with women and sex. His dad features a few times, all times bringing the wit we remember from the first book, but really the focus is Justin’s journey with girls. This book is also told in memoir form with each chapter being a different part of Justin’s life.

It’s hard not to compare this to the last book, and I am not going to try. While Sh*t My Dad Says was more anecdotal with loose connections to each chapter, this book has the feeling of a complete journey. You can see how each chapter in his life builds upon his past experiences sometimes calling back to something he had learned earlier in life and thus the book. While this book still had doses of humor in it, the overall plot is more his journey and less life lessons.

The experiences he has vary from hilarious to poignant (and sometimes both). I think the other book was a little bit more laugh out loud funny, but this one does not lack humor. Justin is a great character in his own life, and he has had interactions with a lot of interesting people. I really want to tell people my favorite part of the story (involving a secret cave… literally. No, that is not a euphemism), but I don’t want to spoil anything. You’ll just have to go out and read it for yourself!

If you are sensitive to swearing and sexual, well everything is pretty much in here, and this may not be for you. But if not and you are looking for a quick, heartwarming and laugh out loud funny read about one man’s journey with sex and women, pick this up. I highly recommend it.

PS: I love the cover design of this book and how they made it so closely designed to the cover of the first book. If I just saw this cover, I would pick it up thinking it had to do with the other book, and I would be right. So A+ marketing/design team.

Daisy Reviews Her Highness, the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham

Title/Author: Her Highness, the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham
Publisher/Date published: Sourcebooks Landmark, June 1st 2012
How I got this book: received it from the publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads summary: "As Henry VIII draws his last breath, two very different women, Jane Dudley, Viscountess Lisle, and Frances Grey, Marchioness of Dorset, face the prospect of a boy king, Edward VI.
For Jane Dudley, basking in the affection of her large family, the coming of a new king means another step upward for her ambitious, able husband, John. For Frances Grey, increasingly alienated from her husband and her brilliant but arrogant daughter Lady Jane, it means that she — and the Lady Jane — are one step closer to the throne of England.
Then the young king falls deathly ill. Determined to keep England under Protestant rule, he concocts an audacious scheme that subverts his own father’s will. Suddenly, Jane Dudley and Frances Grey are reluctantly bound together in a common cause — one that will test their loyalties, their strength, and their faith, and that will change their lives beyond measure."

You guys, I'm SUCH an anglophile and will basically read anything that mentions anything about the time period of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and all the troubles of the times between his death and her actually getting on to the throne. I LOVE all the court intrigue and the drama that goes along with it. Though I'm exceedingly thankful not to actually be living in the time it all went down. So when I saw this one being about Jane Grey, the Queen of England for all of 9 days, I knew I had to read it.

Jane Grey is in my opinion one of the most tragic figures in the history of England's monarchy and though I never really liked her when I came across her in the other Tudor novels, I always felt bad for her, cause I don't think she really meant anyone harm in assuming the throne. And to see all the events partly through her mother's eyes was really interesting! I didn't really know a lot about the girl herself or her upbringing or that she had a husband! I could have just missed it, but I haven't seen much mention of said (and sad) husband before.

The POV switches between Jane Dudley, the mother of THE Robert Dudley (who will look like Joseph Fiennes in my mind) and Frances Grey, mother of Jane Grey. I loved that these two ladies were married to two of the most powerful men in England, the Duke of Northumberland and the Duke of Suffolk, and because of that were in the know about all the intrigue and basically everything going on. I liked reading Jane Dudley's chapters better, I felt that in the end she was a better person and I loved that she became such a mama bear fighting for her children and husband in the only way she could: through court politics. I clicked less with Frances Grey, she was a bit distant and sometimes cold and I couldn't fully connect with her character. Also at one time I was SO angry at her, though I can relate to her reasons for doing what she did, but still, it wasn't right what she did.

I enjoyed it all: the drama, the good times, the court intrigue, even the beheadings (though I was REALLY sad at most of the beheadings). From the beginning there's a huge sense of foreboding, and obviously I knew it couldn't end well for most of the characters I was reading about, but still, I was rooting for them and wishing that maybe this time it would be different. But alas, it all happened over 450 years ago and I cannot turn back time.

Susan Higginbotham really managed to bring history to life with Her Highness, the Traitor and I loved seeing the 'villains' of history from another perspective. Experiencing all the things that went down in that time through the eyes of the wives of these powerful man made it become real instead of a summing up of facts and it was just wonderful. The writing was engaging and though sometimes I wished the story would hurry up a bit, I was never once bored. I would absolutely recommend it to historical fiction fans!

My rating: 4 stars

Happy 2 Years To Us + Giveaway FOR YOU!

 Really...it's been TWO YEARS since we started this thing?? I think I can speak for all of us when I say it's been incredible. We love talking books with you. We love Top Ten Tuesdayin' it up with y'all and adding to our already daunting TBR piles. We've loved the FAB twitter conversations. WE LOVE IT ALL. What a community that makes us come back here each and every day for TWO YEARS. Back in the day when I had issues with commitment and would listen to friends talk about how they had been dating each other for TWO or THREE years. I would joke that I can't think of ONE thing I've done consistently for two years -- besides like sleeping or brushing my teeth. But being apart of this community every day for two years seems easy. It's flown by. But really what these two years have been about is not just US and what we put on this blog but what, as a community, we've been able to share with each other for two years. SO YAY you and YAY us and YAY books! Let's keep doing this for many years to come!   - Jamie

To help get everyone into the celebratory mood and to thank you all so much for being following our blog for two years, we have decided to give away a free book of the winners choice! Wondering what book to choose? Maybe you should check out our master list of reviews? Or how about everyone's most anticipated reads of this coming season? I am sure you can find something in a Top Ten Tuesday linkie!

The Rules:
Be celebratory and enter via Rafflecopter below!*

Also check and make sure The Book Depository ships to you so you can get the prize.

The contest ends at 12:01 EDT on June 28th.

The Prize:
An up to $15 book of choice from The Book Depository

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*If for some reason you cannot enter with the Rafflecopter, email Julia (bambbles{at}gmail{dot}com) and I'll enter for you (with your two freebies!) If you chose to leave a comment on this post or tweet us, let me know and I'll enter those options for you as well.

Kelly's review of "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See

Title: Shanghai Girls
Author: Lisa See
Published: Random House, 2009

Shanghai Girls is a short and easy book to read, yet is is so beautiful, cultural, and deeply human. It tells the story of Pearl and May, sisters in 1937 Shanghai (also known as the Paris of Asia). They are young, beautiful, privileged, work as models, and are engaged to wealthy business heirs. In short, their lives are perfect. This abruptly ends with their father's financial demise and the outbreak of WWII. Their homes and lives are completely destroyed. They endure the worst sorts of heartbreak as they make a dangerous escape to America and try to find their fiancees.

Once in California, they are held on Angel Island for months where they wan and are on the brink of starvation and mental breakdowns. When they are finally released, they make their way into their new lives. The rest of the book follows them for the next 25 years. We meet their fiancees and new families, learn about their adjustments to living in America (in a time with much prejudice towards Asians) and watch as they face their new identity struggles.

I loved the sisters' relationship. Even though they were complete opposites and often did not get along, they were very devoted and protective of each other. Well into their 40s and 50s they wouldn't leave each other's sides. They clung to each other because they were all they had left of China, their parents, and their old lives. Pearl and May perfectly complimented each other and it was great to read about the different paths they took in their new lives in America.

I can't wait to read Lisa See's other book, The Snow Flower & the Secret Fan, if I know it'll be half as good as this one! I also discovered that a sequel to this book recently came out, focusing on Pearl's daughter, Joy.  I'll have to pick it up soon!

4.5 stars.

Jen Reviews Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Title: Second Chance Summer 
Author: Morgan Matson 
Published: Simon & Schuster, May 2012 
How I Got It: Purchased myself 
Rating: 5 stars

From Goodreads: Taylor’s family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then they get news that changes everything: Her father has pancreatic cancer, and it’s stage four – meaning that there is basically nothing to be done. Her parents decide that the family will spend his last months together at their old summerhouse in the Pocono Mountains.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.


Review:


It's a pretty well known fact that I LOVED Morgan Matson's debut novel, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (you can read my review of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour).  When I heard Matson had another book coming out I immediately starting counting down the days.  Then of course life got in the way and I was busy and I completely forgot that the book was out until a week after it was released. 


So what did I think of Second Chance Summer?  LOVED it.  But in a much, much different way than Amy and Roger.  Side note: Amy makes a quick, blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in Second Chance Summer.


Warning: this book will break your heart.  It will remind you of all the emotions you've gone through when you've lost someone close to you.  That is what made me love this book as strongly as I do.   While those emotions are heartbreaking and reliving them is never fun, I love that Matson was able to convey all of those feelings in her writing.  

A box of Kleenex is necessary to get through this book.  Ladies, no eyeliner.  You'll end up crying it off.  I do want to mention that the entire book is NOT depressing.  Happy things do happen to the characters!  


I know this wasn't much of a review but I honestly cannot get the thoughts in my head to form complete sentences.