As a teenager I read Sidney Sheldon’s Bloodline, I was hooked on his books from that time onwards. When he passed away in 2007 I thought we would never hear anything else about the Blackwell Clan. Enter Tilly Bagshawe...
I was on a weekend away and discovered a lovely little shop that had used books in the back, old records in the middle, and served takeaway coffee at the front! As I'm looking at the books I came across this book again and this time I was not going to let it get away, I was determined to read it!
I am so glad that I got it and it was easily read on a Sunday afternoon and I have to say I loved it. Tilly Bagshawe may have written it, but if her name wasn’t on the cover I would’ve thought it was Sidney Sheldon himself. I felt she captured the characters really, really well.
Whereas The Master of the Game was centred on matriarch Kate
Blackwell, the Mistress of the Game is her great-granddaughter Lexi
Templeton. Breathing life into the
Blackwell clan Tilly Bagshawe allows us once again to get caught up in the
twists and turns of the Blackwell family and the massive family company
Kruger-Brent.
Fans of Sidney Sheldon will really
enjoy this book and if you enjoy following family sagas then maybe you should
read it too. Although I did read Master
of the Game (it was many, many years ago) I believe that you could easily enjoy this book as a stand-alone
book. There were so many twists and
turns that it will make you grateful for your own family!
This book includes manipulation, kidnapping, murder,
deception, and mental illness. I haven’t
read a family saga in a while, but this book has me feeling like reaching for a
few more of this style of books. I may
even have to revisit Sidney Sheldon’s books, I definitely have to read a few
more of Tilly Bagshawe’s books (her sister Lousie Bagshawe is also an author in
this vein).
How Did Tilly Bagshawe Come to Write Sidney Sheldon Books?
Tilly has written two other books based on Sidney Sheldon's and from reviews I've read it seems as though she has again captured his characters really well. There is a very good reason for that - she was a massive fan of Sidney Sheldon and actually wrote to him when she had finished her first book and he wrote back (she still has the letter).
When Sidney Sheldon passed away the Sheldon family thought it would be a great idea to get someone to keep his characters alive. Tilly Bagshawe and Sidney Sheldon actually shared a publishing agency (his agent was the father of hers). The family was really happy with Mistress of the Game and the way in which Tilly has definitely written it in his style as opposed to her own.
How to Best Enjoy Mistress of the Game
This book is best enjoyed when you have time to kick your
feet up and read without interruptions, accompanied by a lovely big mug of tea
and something yummy to snack on. I
enjoyed Chamomile tea and homemade chocolate mint cookies, but here’s some
other suggestions:
Peppermint Tea
A refreshing tea that is perfect for drinking while reading a good book on a lazy afternoon. There's just something about the smell and taste of mint that is pretty special.
Aveda Tea Reviewed
Aveda tea is a herbal tea that combines licorice with peppermint, I haven't actually tried this brand before but I have had other teas that combine these two and would imagine that like them this would be a refreshing and sweet tea to enjoy
Arbonne Essentials Herbal Tea
I enjoy a cup (well actually a mug) of this tea every single day, it is really delicious while also having a lot of great health benefits to drinking it so why not enjoy a healthy tea while reading?
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
If you love carrot cake then this cupcakes are a great idea as a snack while reading - being cupcakes you could hold them in one hand so that you don't have to put your book down and being carrot cake .... well you just know they'll be delicious!
Dream Bars Cookie Recipe
Tea, cookies and reading really go well together and these dream bars sound like a great alternative to whipping up a batch of choc chip cookies or opening a packet of custard creams. With coconut, nuts and brown sugar in the ingredients you just know this will be moorish.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
If getting time to read a book uninterrupted is a rare occasion then why not plan well and bake some cinnamon rolls ahead of time for an indulgent snack as you eat, my mouth is drooling just thinking about them!
Sounds like a perfect way to spend this cloudy and cool Saturday, Lou - a cuppa (as you might say) and a yummy snack to go with this good 'read'. I enjoyed your book review of Tilly Bagshawe's remake of Sidney Sheldon's books in 'Mistress of the Game". Very clever.
ReplyDeleteThanks for featuring my Dream Bars Cookie Recipe as one of your 'reading time snack suggestions'.
I have read Sidney Sheldon many years ago and enjoyed his books. I will have to give Mistress of the Game a try. Thanks so much for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteAh, Louanne, this sounds like an awesome book! I always hate it when a series dies along with the author. It is rare for someone to be able to step in and maintain the integrity of the original plot, style, and characters. Thank you so much for including several of my posts in your list of teas and snacks while reading. Very thoughtful of you and greatly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteWhen Robert B. Parker died, I assumed I would never again be able to read a new novel in his wonderful Spenser, Jesse Stone, or Sunny Randall detective series. (I never did get into his Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch Westerns). I was thrilled when Bob Parker’s estate decided to “award” each of those iconic series to handpicked author successors so these characters and their stories could continue to evolve in Parker’s distinctive voice.
ReplyDeleteIt’s wonderful that Tilly Bagshawe has been equally adept at channeling Sidney Sheldon’s literary voice. I’m sure that Sheldon’s fans must be as delighted as I have been to have the lives and stories of the characters in a favorite, extensive series live on, and to have a favorite author’s legacy expand beyond what he (or she) originally penned.
Thanks for a great review!
Thanks Louanne, I love Sidney Sheldon books too, but haven't read one of his in a while. Now I have another author to fill in that gap on my list of lists! I'm always taken away by murder mayhem and a little mental disease just to add to the soup! Sounds like I'll be looking for this book soon!
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you. I'm going to save this book for mom. So interesting how, after his passing, they had the series continued this way - very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteFran has many Sidney Shelden books laying around the house. I'm so glad that Tilly Bagshawe has picked up where he left off. Thanks for the recommendation sounds like great read.
ReplyDeleteOh I dream of a time where I can have "time to kick your feet up and read without interruptions". This sounds a perfect book to read when relaxing like that. It sounds fascinating plot wise and with great characters. Thank you for an interesting review and recommendation.
ReplyDelete