Get Ready to Wear Your Leprechaun and Shamrocks for St. Patrick's
Day!
St. Patrick's Day is only a week away. Last year, we let the holiday
slip-up on us and we were not prepared to wear our green. For me, I
work at home, so there was no one around to pinch me for not wearing
green. However, our son works in an office that has apparel
restrictions.
Thinking outside of the box this year, I wanted him to be able to have fun
wearing the traditional green shamrocks or leprechauns. The only things I
could think of that would be hidden apparel that he could wear were
undershirts, boxer shorts and socks. It is already too warm to wear a
thick undershirt and you can't really show off boxer shorts in the office
setting. I thought socks would be the perfect choice.
I had no idea there were so many St. Patrick's Day socks available! Since
he still needed to appear to be in dress code with his black socks, I opted
for black socks with green shamrocks, but I also purchased the socks with the
St. Patrick's Day puppy on them for after work.
Fun St. Patrick's Day Socks
If you are free to wear whatever your heart desires on St. Patrick's Day,
there are a lot of fun designs on socks for you. Choose from
leprechauns, clovers, lucky horseshoes, the puppy I chose, just plain green
socks or a combination of fun designs.
Whatever your preference, embrace the luck of the Irish and have fun
sporting the green on St. Patrick's Day. Above all, avoid being
pinched!
Be sure to look for the socks that ship from Amazon for faster delivery!
Crafting in St. Patrick's Day Green
Craft ideas for St. Patrick's Day! Creating crafts in green is a fun way to add to the pleasure of St. Patrick's Day.
The Famous Wigleys Corned Beef Reviewed
Enjoy the "Best" corned beef! Wigleys Famous Corned Beef will not disappoint. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day and the traditional boiled dinner.
Galway Bay - A Must-Read Irish Historic Fiction
Galway Bay is a story of an Irish mother's love and so much more. A beautifully-written historical fiction based on a the epic tale of a family who survives the Great Starvation.
Irish Mug Reviewed
An Irish mug for St. Patricks Day or just to celebrate your Irish ancestry.
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Alaska is an epic novel by James Michener that spans an unimaginable
length of time and describes Alaska and it's people from the beginning. From
the formation of mountains and land masses to Mastodons to modern times. As
soon as I pick up where I left off in the story I find myself surrounded by
the people in the unique land that eventually became a U.S state.
Introduction by Steve Berry
Steve Berry explains how he came to read his first James Michener novel
then goes on to tells us a bit about James Michener the man and author.
Michener was reportedly an orphan, adopted by Mabel Michener. He lived in
poverty in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for at least a portion of his
childhood. Then as a young adult, he traveled the country by train (in
boxcars to be more specific) and found odd jobs. James Michener wrote his
autobiography in 1991 titled The World is My Home. He attributes his
curiosity about people and their lands. I feel that his curiosity about
people, their cultures, and their lands as well as his love of travel shines
through his writing.
Fact and Fiction
Alaska is a
historical novel. Fiction. But based in fact. The Fact and Fiction chapter
explains some of the examples in which fact and fiction come together. For
example, it is widely accepted that the order of the arrival of humans in
Alaska was The Athapascans first, followed by the Eskimos then followed by
the Aleuts (with the Tlinglits being offshoots of the Athapascans). But the
time of their arrival is unclear and possibly somewhere between 12,000 B.P.E
and 40,000 to 30,000 B.P.E.
Alaska by James Michener
This novel has me hooked. I am writing this before I've finished the novel
but due to the length, I feel that's acceptable.
Michener describes how the land was likely formed. How the collision of
plates created the Aleutian Islands and the mountains of Alaska. How the
Mastodons and Mammoths arrived, lived, and perished in the area. The arrival
of humans. And how conflict begins as soon as different groups live in
proximity of each other. As time moves on, we learn about the Russians who
settle there under Tsar Peter the Great and how others such as Vitus Bering
and Georg Stellar explore the area. The story goes on to include the
introduction of different religions; Shamanism, Russian Orthodoxy, and
eventually Christianity. The area transfers from Russian ownership to
American. Then comes the Gold Rush and moves on to more recent places and
events.
I wish I could write the review this story deserves. I can't. Some online
reviews describe the beginning of the book as slow and hard to get through.
For me, I enjoyed thinking about the massive number of years that it took
for the land to form over time, mountains being sent to great highs due to
the movement of the plates and volcanos forming due to the geographical
events that are beyond my comprehension.
I am amazed that Alaska was settled at all. People walked to get there.
They rode in tiny kayaks to hunt whale for survival and to change their
location Conflict, war, and slavery occurred long before I had imagined.
Larger ships began to move people up the Yukon and into the land but became
frozen in the ice and stranded for months until the thaw. Humans have gone
through a lot to find and keep a home.
The writing is beautiful.
"And each one was formed by some segment of the Pacific Plate bulldozing
it's way into the North American Plate, submerging along the edge, and
causing such tremendous commotion and movement of forces that the great
mountains erupted as a consequence. When one looks at the glorious
mountains of Alaska he sees proof of the power of the Pacific Plate as it
noses its way north and east... "
"The ten children were like a collection of colorful flowers, for the
clothes they wore were varied in design and color. Some wore short tunics
with stripes of white and blue, others long robes and heavy boots, but all
wore in their hair some ornament, some flashing bit of shell or
ivory"
I find myself cheering on the adventurers, crying with those who have
suffered loss, and booing the villains. All while learning how Alaska became
a place where humans chose to call home.
I have two regrets with reading this book. First, I regret that I
don't have more time that I can dedicate to getting comfy in a chair and
reading for days upon days. Second, I'm not sure that starting this novel
during my winter holiday break was the best choice. My area was hit with a
powerful ice storm that wrecked havoc in our county followed by an Arctic
blast that was most uncomfortable. Choosing to read Alaska during that time
frame was almost as bad as choosing to read Jaws before going to an ocean
beach for the first time. Other than those two things, I am enjoying this
immensely.
Related Link:
The first James Michener novel I read was Chesapeake. It was a
wonderful read and I enjoyed the setting around the Chesapeake Bay.
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I found this book to be totally captivating on many levels. First of all, the author made the characters so believable that you couldn't wait to turn the page and find out what was going on in their lives. Secondly, for me the storyline and characters sounded like they stepped right out of my family history. The similarities include: my father growing up in a German Lutheran community, my parents eloping, and my father and uncles going off to fight in World War II.
The Characters
An Enemy Like Me is seen through the characters that make up the book. There are three main characters that bring the book to life.
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller is a second generation German American. He was brought up by his mother, a widowed immigrant. Although they were poor they had each other and she instilled into Jacob a strong sense of patriotism for America.
Jacob meets Bonnie Phillips and they work to make ends meet after the depression. They are starting to get comfortable and buying their first home to bring home their son William. Then the unthinkable happens, the country they love is drawn into the war in the Pacific and in Europe. Jacob is torn, he is very patriotic and feels he must help the war effort and yet he has a new young family that he loves and does not want to leave. Add to that part of the war is being fought against people from his parents homeland and he is even more torn.
Bonnie Phillips
Bonnie's family were once very wealthy and that is the background she brings to her marriage with Jacob. During the depression her family loses much of their wealth. Bonnie falls deeply in love with Jacob and they elope and begin their live together. What they don't have in money they make up for in their love and desire to carve their place in America. Although Bonnie is also a strong patriot she does not want Jacob to leave. She can't imagine life without him.
William Miller
William is Jacob and Bonnie's son, who is 4 years old when Jacob feels the call to join the fight. The story is told through alternating chapters of Bonnie, Jacob and William. William's chapters are also told in the present time where we find him on Veteran's Day 2016 visiting his father's grave and reminiscing about his memories of the war. We see how those years when Jacob was gone made a difference in William's life.
This book brings to life the joys and perils of German Americans during WWII. It made me think of my own family and how their time during WWII shaped their lives.
The Book on Amazon
About the Author
I always find it interesting to learn more about the author on books that I enjoy. Here is a bit about Teri M Brown taken from her media kit. Take a few minutes to also look at her website where she recommends other books of historical fiction.
Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown graduated from UNC Greensboro. She began her writing career helping small businesses with content creation and published five nonfiction self-help books dealing with real estate and finance, receiving "First Runner Up" in the Eric Hoffman Book Awards for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, finalist in the USA Best Books Awards for How To Open and Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorate, and Real Estate Staging Business and for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, and Honorable Mention in Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award for Private Mortgage Investing. In 2017, after winning the First Annual Anita Bloom Ornoff Award for Inspirational Short Story, she began writing fiction in earnest, and published Sunflowers Beneath the Snow in January 2022. Her second novel, An Enemy Like Me, launches in January 2023. Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others. Learn more at www.terimbrown.com.
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Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is an absolute gem of a movie. I
discovered it while perusing American Airlines' in-flight entertainment
selections during a recent flight home from California. This comedy/drama was
released earlier this year and received enthusiastic positive reviews from
film critics and audiences alike. However, likely because it wasn't promoted
heavily or well, it had only a short run in theaters and I hadn't heard about
it before. (Such a shame to stint on the marketing for such a terrific
picture!) It deserves a much wider audience.
I am delighted to share my review of this wonderful, delightful, inspiring
movie, which is available to purchase or rent via DVD or streaming media.
Based on the First of Paul Gallico's Bestselling 1958 Novel
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris
Paul Gallico started his career in the 1920s as a sportswriter, sports
columnist, and sports editor of the New York Daily News. After
switching to writing fiction in the late 1930s, the prolific author wrote 41
books, numerous short stories, 20 theatrical movies and 12 TV movies and had a
TV series based on his Hiram Holliday short stories. Two of Gallico's most
famous works were the short story The Snow Goose (1941) and
the novel The Poseidon Adventure (1969), which was also
adapted for the big screen.(Source)
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris (1958) was the first of Gallico's four
novels about the adventures of Mrs. Ada Harris, a war widow and hard-working
charwoman for London aristocrats. Mrs. Harris's adventures continue in the
subsequent books in the series, Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (1960),
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Parliament (1965), and
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Moscow (1974).
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris has been adapted multiple times for stage and
screen:
A 1958 American TV episode for the television series Studio One starring
British comedian Gracie Fields.
A 1982 West German TV film, Ein Kleid von Dior (A Dress by Dior) starring Inge Meysel.
A 1992 television movie starring Angela Lansbury, Diana Rigg and Omar Sharif
(produced by Lansbury's production company and directed by her son, Anthony
Shaw).
A 2016 musical-theatre adaptation, Flowers for Mrs Harris (the
Gallico novel's UK title) produced by Sheffield Theatres in May 2016, with a
new production mounted in 2018 at Chichester Festival Theatre, which was
streamed online in April 2020.
The 2022 feature film adaptation I am reviewing, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (note the tweak to the title).
A Fabulous Cast of Characters
Here are the main characters of this charming movie set in the mid-1950s:
Ada Harris (Lesley Manville), a charwoman in London who cleans up the
messes of her well-heeled, arrogant clients. She learns that her beloved
husband, Eddie, a soldier who had been missing for seven years, was killed
in action.
Violet Butterfield (Ellen Thomas), Ada's best friend, who also works
"in service." Vi encourages the grieving war widow to try to enjoy herself
and get on with her life now that she finally knows Eddie's fate, taking her
out to a dance club in the evening and to greyhound races on their day off.
Archie (Jason Isaacs), another friend and bookie who takes their bets
at the races. Although he fancies Ada, she thinks it's too late for her to
love again and makes it clear their relationship is strictly platonic.
Giles Newcombe (Christian McKay), a womanizing bachelor and house
cleaning client.
Pamela Penrose (Rose Williams), another of Ada's clients, is a
beautiful but spoiled, scatterbrained, pouty and self-centered actress who
is also a slob, tossing and leaving her clothes and accessories all over the
floor for Ada to pick up and put away.
Lady Dant (Anna Chancellor), another client who spends lavishly on
parties and clothes (including a one-of-a-kind, beaded and sequined
Christian Dior dress that Ada falls in love with at first sight), yet
repeatedly deflects Ada's requests to be paid her long-overdue wages.
Christian Dior (Philippe Bertin), the world-famous
haute couture fashion designer whose first collection under his
own label in 1947 was dubbed "The New Look" by the editor-in-chief of
Harper's Bazaar.
Claudine Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) is the directrice of
the house of Dior and guardian of its refined, elegant, exclusive image. She
is offended and supercilious when an English charwoman invades the hallowed
halls of Dior, mistakes Madame Colbert for a shopgirl and naïvely assumes
she can purchase one of the master's iconic, one-of-a-kind
haute couture creations just because she has brought enough
money to Paris with her to pay with cash.
Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson), a wealthy, aristocratic
widower whose late wife used to enjoy attending the exclusive Dior couture
shows. He continues to attend in her honor and, when Ada is rebuffed by
Madame Colbert, the marquis invites her to attend as his guest. He
subsequently buys her roses and invites her over for tea.
Natasha (Alba Baptista), Dior's top model with an Audrey
Hepburn-eque, waif-like beauty. She would rather be at home curled up on a
couch, wearing a plain black sweater and reading Sartre than parading around
as a fashion model.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a story about how kindness, courage,
honesty, hard work, a willigness to dream big and a single-minded commitment
to achieving your goals can, indeed, make your dreams come true.
It's a modern fairy tale grounded in some historical fact. Director Anthony
Fabian takes some liberties with Gallico's story. In an interview for a
July 22, 2022 article in Town & Country magazine, Fabian said, "The key to this story is that it is magic realism, so it has
to have an equal dose of magic and reality. If you go too far into magic, you
won’t believe it; if you go too far into the realism, it wouldn’t have that
uplifting fairy tale quality."
Check Out the Official Movie Trailer
If you are reading this on a mobile device and the video player doesn't
display, you can click on this line to watch the MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS Trailer (2022) on YouTube.
Stream, Rent or Buy This Heartwarming and Inspiring Film
There are multiple options for watching this movie, including:
This wonderful story encourages us to dream big but also keep our priorities
straight. I definitely plan to rent or buy the movie so I can watch it again
and plan to get the audiobook as well. Both the movie and the book would make
a lovely gift for any occasion, as well as a great stocking stuffer.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris: A Wonderful, Delightful, Inspiring Movie — Reviewed by Margaret Schindel
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Before we ever read the first word in the book, the title tells us what to
expect. What the title doesn't reveal is how and why Selena loses her
position in society.
This historical fiction is set in Hertfordshire, England in 1817 and paints
a vivid picture of how easy it was for a young woman, or even a whole
family, to have
the ton
(high society) shun them.
Imagine having everything you have ever known or expected your life to be,
stripped from you because someone else made a mistake. By no fault of your
own, you have to learn how to make a living for yourself while watching the
world you once knew carry on without you. Becoming an employee in a house
where you would previously have been received as a desired guest and ushered
into the drawing room for tea with the countess. Instead, you will now
be expected to use the servants entrance and consider yourself fortunate
that the countess has favored you enough to even allow you to be her
companion.
That is what happened to Selena Lockhart in "A Fall from Grace" by Jennie
Goutet.
The first few chapters of the book are somewhat humorous. We are
immediately introduced to Sir Lucius Clavering, sixth Baronet of
Mardley. As a wealthy landowner, he is accustomed to having "young
maidens" devise reasons to be in his company alone in order to force a
marriage. A snowy night is the perfect opportunity for "accidents" to
strand fair maidens who would require refuge in a nearby home. On this
particular night, two such woman separately appeared at his door. One
was intentionally planned, the other truly was in dire straits. Both
are greeted with suspicion.
___
As the lone female occupant of a broken down stagecoach, Selena needs
shelter from the snow storm and other danger. She believes her
salvation must lie within the walls of a nearby home which is lit well
enough for her to see in the distance. Dispute her lack of warm clothing,
she sets out for the house and has plenty of time to recount the events that
put her in this frightening situation. Her father's extreme gambling
problems followed by his subsequent death; her fiance's recindment of his
offer of marriage; insufficient funds to sustain her mother &
sisters; all combined to create this life she was so ill-prepared to
live. She was equally unprepared to be greeted by the cynical
landowner who did not readily welcome her in out of the cold.
_____
Following Selena's story of becoming a companion to a bitter and unhappy
widowed countess, caused me to consider what a truly difficult situation
this would have been for a young lady who was raised in a wealthy home with the
expectations of a prosperous marriage and continued position in high
society. It would require a strong and determined individual to make
this unwanted transition in life status.
Since this is a Regency Romance novel, the reader can rest assured there
will be a developing romantic relationship throughout the book. However, I
was equally interested in watching the other relationships develop in this
book.
I highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys clean &
wholesome romance novels.
At publishing time of this review, "A Fall from Grace" is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited Subscription. Or, you can purchase it with the link below.
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I recently read the first two books in the "Bradwell Brothers" book series
by Kasey Stockton. The third book will not be released until April,
2023.
I have really enjoyed this series, thus far, because the author included
unusual or funny circumstances, as well as giving her characters an
abundance of humorous wit. I can hardly wait for book three to be
available.
The books are in the Regency Romance genre, which means they are historical
fiction that takes place during the British Regency (1811–1820) time
period. This series is clean and wholesome, therefore it can be
recommended for any age. It almost seems educational as it peeks into
the historical British social classes and what is acceptable behavior for
ladies and gentlemen, as well as the family hierarchy of the wealthy
class.
There are 3 Bradwell brothers. At the beginning of the series, their
mother still reigns over the Bradwell home and all 3 bachelor brothers
reside there at Chelton most of the time. Henry, the middle brother,
was bequeathed the "hunting box", a separate family home, that is his
private getaway when needed. As with all siblings, the brothers have
similarities and shared memories, but each has their own individual
personality. They are so well described that I can easily envision
James' concerned & watchful eyes, Benedict's looks of confusion or
misunderstanding, and Henry's quiet reserve. I feel like I know these
boys.
Synopsis of Sensibly Wed - Bradwell Brothers Book 1 London, 1817
Sensibly Wed (Bradwell Brothers Book 1)Check PriceJames Bradwell chose to attend his godmother's ball in hopes of finding a
suitable wife. As the oldest brother, and heir to his father's estate,
James is mindful of his family duties. However, he resents the girls in
attendance who merely seek his company because of his wealth. Desiring
a brief escape from the marriage mart, he slips into the library, but
quickly finds he is not alone.
Felicity Thurston would much rather be reading than attending a ball.
Not only does she suffer with anxiety attacks, but she is certain she will
never find someone who loves her "as her father loves her mother" at a
superficial social event. In an attempt to avoid a particularly
unappealing man, Felicity slipped into a dark room and closed the door
behind her. To her delight, she realized she was alone in the library.
She lite a candle and began pursuing the book shelves. When she hears
the unmistakable creak of the opening door, she blew out her candle, hoping
to not be discovered. Unfortunately, hot candle wax dripped on her hand and
she yelped.
And, that is how Felicity and James met, and how they were
discovered: alone together in the library during the ball. How
scandalous! Before they even exited the room, the gossip was spreading
quickly throughout the ballroom.
Felicity and her parents quickly left the ball, but James already knew what
was going to be required of him. He was at their home early the
following morning proposing marriage. Soon after Felicity and her
parents accepted his proposal, she found out his last name. Of all the
people in the world, how could she possibly be engaged to the
brother of the only man she had ever hoped to marry.
And, that is just the beginning! You will need to
read the book to
find out what happens next.
Synopsis of Pleasantly Pursued - Bradwell Brother Book 2
Pleasantly Pursued (Bradwell Brothers Book 2)Check PriceDorothea Northcott has escaped her impending doom. She simply could
not be "deposited" at her lecherous chaperone's home, but she couldn't tell
her guardian, Lady Edith Bradwell, about her cousin, Lord Claverley, and his
despicable desires either. She felt her only salvation would be to run
away and seek employment. While she greatly appreciated her godmother's
efforts to see her sponsored and properly introduced to society, Thea would
forgo that for a simpler, safe life. She had found a position
working in a kitchen and would be content marrying a humble
man.
Benedict Bradwell had been searching for Thea for months. He followed
her trail of jobs until he finally found her working as a kitchen maid.
However, she was not happy to see him and she did not want to be returned to
his mother and her home. When Benedict explained that is mother was
worried sick over her disappearance, Thea acquiesced and agreed to return
with him, but only if he agreed to her one condition: she would not be
forced to go to Lord Claverley's house or forced to remain at Chelton.
Benedict's plan to sneak Thea back to Chelton, was just the beginning of
"interesting" situations they faced. Without a proper chaperone, Thea
had to dress as a male servant for the duration of a journey that would take
four days, including nights in various inns. Their verbal sparring
made the trip, as well as the entire season, a fun journey for
readers.
Perhaps you have figured out what happens in terms of romance, but the
book is worth
reading, regardless.
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Imagine that you are a young woman in 1940's Russia. You are a mother raising a young son alone as you work in a library and study to gain your degree. You are forging along in everyday life when suddenly your country is invaded, and you are facing a world at war. In this riveting novel, Kate Quinn gives a look into the life of Mila Pavlichenko, a young history student and mother who joins the Russian military and becomes a world-famous sniper.
I found this book to be very intriguing. Mila is a young woman who married way too young when she found she was pregnant. She is raising a young son and trying desperately to get a divorce from her older and emotionally abusive husband. This is not easy in 1940's Russia. She is a passionate history student and loves her studies. Then Hitler invades the Ukraine and Russia, and she feels compelled to sign up to protect her homeland.
Mila is a strong woman who does nothing partway. When assigned the task as a sniper, she becomes the best and shoots over 300 of the enemy. Her talents gain her fame, and she is sent on a good will tour of the United States where she befriends Eleanor Roosevelt. This friendship and the dangers that come with it made this one of the best books I've read in a long time.
The book is based on a true story and most of the people and many of the events really happened. In the author's notes at the end of the book she details what parts were true (based on Mila's memoirs) and what parts she fictionalized. I found this very interesting and would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, historical fiction and intrigue.
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If you are looking for a sweet, romantic easy to read book, you will love
"The Social Tutor" by Sally Britton. It is the first book in her
Branches of Love series and quite a delightful read.
Earlier this week, I was without electricity for approximately 5 hours.
Since I couldn't cook, work around the house due to the dark, or even work
on my computer, I grabbed my Kindle and settled in to read. I opened it to
"The Social Tutor" and was immediately allowed to relax as I was pulled into
a lovely story set in the early 1800's in England. A time when women were
expected to marry someone who benefited their family whether they were in
love or not.
I am a huge historical fiction fan and I prefer clean romantic stories.
"The Social Tutor" was the perfect choice for me! When the electricity
was restored, I was already so deep into the book that I didn't set it down
until I had finished reading the entire book.
The Social Tutor Book Synopsis
It had been made perfectly clear to Christine Devon that she would marry
someone who would bring wealth, business associations and hopefully a title
to her family. Her father would give her one season in London to
complete this mission.
Christine was the second daughter in the household. Her older sister had
failed to make the desired alliance and was relegated to overseeing her
father's household. He would not waste any more money on her.
The Social Tutor: Branches of Love, Book 1Check PriceBecause she was under so much pressure, Christine knew she would need help.
Since her mother had died years before, she had never been taught how to
attract a man's attention, engage him in an acceptable conversation, and
make him choose to marry her out of all of the eligible young women in the
"marriage mart".
Thomas Gilbert had been friends with Christine's mother. They had shared a
love for horses and Mrs. Devon had taken him under her wing to teach him
about horses. It was Thomas's desire to add a horse breeding venture to his
family's farm. With the right horse selections, he believed he could
bred champions and sell them to society members who demanded the
best.
Christine decided she would ask Thomas to tutor her. In exchange for the
lessons, she would allow him to borrow the horses she had inherited from her
mother. Even though Thomas wasn't exactly sure at first how he could
help her, the offer was too good for him to pass up. After all, Miss. Devon
owned the best horses in the area and their offspring would be highly
desired.
They agreed to meet every 3rd day until Christmas (only a few months) to
prepare her for the social season which would begin immediately
thereafter. Thomas had no idea just how naive and trusting Christine
was. He knew she would be eaten alive by both the men and the women of
society and he suspected that is what happened to her older sister. Without
their mother's direction and oversight, it would be like a lamb among
wolves. Out of loyalty to her mother, he could not let that happen to
Christine.
Perhaps, you think you have already figured out what happens. Maybe you
have, maybe you have not. Either way, it is a charming romance to read. I
have no doubt, you will want to continue reading through the entire
series.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
I rarely read a series where I would say the author saved the best book for
last, especially when I enjoyed all of the books in the series. However, in
the case of "A Daring Proposal", I do think Jennie Goutet saved the best
'til last.
Perhaps this book was my favorite because the main character has been a
part of the previous two books and I already liked her. Maybe, it was
because I just liked the true historical story line so much. Most likely, it
was both.
Each of the books in the series could be read independently, but I do
think, in this case, Phoebe Tunstall's character was developed over the
entire series. Therefore, even though it is my favorite, I think the series
should be read in order. Otherwise, you might miss just how unusually
"daring" Phoebe becomes in "A Daring Proposal".
A Daring Proposal Synopsis 1815 - London, England & Brussels, Belgium
Phoebe Tunstall has already enjoyed four London seasons. There is a concern
that she may well end up being considered "on the shelf" by potential
suitors. At 22, she is far from an old maid, but society tends to focus on
the newest, brightest stars that appear on the scene. Phoebe was not looking
forward to another season, especially since her sister, brother, and best
friend were all now married. She would feel alone in the crowd.
A Daring Proposal (Memorable Proposals Book 3)Check PriceBecause she often stayed in her vivacious sister's shadow, Phoebe was
viewed by society as shy, perhaps disinterested or unavailable, as she
attended to her elderly aunt. Something Phoebe shared with no one, including
her twin sister, is that her heart was unavailable. For as long as she could
remember, she had loved someone who viewed her "like a little sister".
Still, she realized she needed to marry, even if it wasn't a love match, and
a fifth season might be her last chance.
When her friend, Lydia, suggested she accompany her and her husband to
Brussels instead of staying in London, Phoebe surprised herself by
considering it. As she mentally recounted Frederick Ingram's suggestion that
she do "something daring", she decided she would do just that and accept his
sister, Lydia's, invitation to go to Brussels. She would cast off this
despair, all expectations and embrace the opportunity to travel somewhere
new.
That turned out to be the best decision she could make because "somewhere
new" offered her the opportunity to be someone new. Well, at least, someone
new to Brussels society, where she was immediately received as a desirable
partner at every ball & social gathering. Little did she expect to
catch the eye of someone she had known all of her life or to be caught in
the middle of a war.
_______
We may not immediately think of Brussels as the setting of a war, but it
was in fact, the location of the Battle of Waterloo, which ended with the
final defeat of Napoleon, and as in all wars, with many deaths.
Jennie Goutet did a masterful job of threading the story of "A Daring
Proposal" into the fabric of real historical events and real people.
This entire "Memorable Proposals" series is truly wonderful. I highly
recommend all three books to anyone who enjoys historical romantic fiction,
but especially "A Daring Proposal" because of it's historical accuracy.
I previously reviewed the first book in this series and you can read that review here: A Regrettable Proposal
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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