The Lady of Misrule by Suzannah Dunn

I knew about Lady Jane Grey and the infamous nine day rule. I did not know the background story at all and this story filled in all the gaps.

Elizabeth Tilney accompanied Lady Jane Grey all across London to the Tower. She surprised herself even by volunteering for this job. She did not know what it entailed nor did she seem to care. Elizabeth lived in the moment, did not know anything very much about the world at large and did not seem to care. Her foray into London and accompanying Lady Jane Grey changed her as much as it possibly could.  She thought it was a temporary stay, after some time the Queen would forgive and forget and Lady Jane would go back to wherever she had to go and Elizabeth would go back home to her boring life.

The two could not have been more different - Jane was erudite, self contained and resolute. Elizabeth was the opposite. She could not understand Jane and her studious ways, she could not fathom how someone could be so "alone". Characterization was wonderful in this book.  You could visualise every scene the manner in which Elizabeth and Jane would react to each other with just a word, or with a raised eyebrow!

The story necessarily ended with the summary execution of both Jane and her young husband but the story of Elizabeth is the one that interested me more. I would have liked to know what happened to her afterwards.

Family machinations during the Tudor regime, no love lost between family members and betrayal was commonplace. This is part of this period of history and it is well enacted here.

The book was sent to me by Edelweiss for an unbiased review.

daughters-in-law by Joanna Trollope

Joanna Trollope always always gets it right with the characterization. The family unit in this story is so beautifully portrayed that you can imagine it, right within your own family circle. The gregarious outgoing wife, the quiet, supportive husband giving in to his wife, three boys and now the daughters in law are coming.

So far the first two fitted in. They may not have been happy with lots of things but for the sake of getting along and not upsetting the unit, they just gave in. Enters Charlotte, the spoilt youngest daughter amongst three and who is definitely not going to give in to her mother in law. It is her way and no other way and her husband, poor fellow feels he is being torn apart!

I loved the way the story fell - a favourite daughter in law - though the parents tried to pretend it was not so, the very capable and clever daughter in law and then the spoilt one. The morale was a good one for all parents - we have our children's undivided love only for a very little time!!! then its time to let go and in this case Rachel had a hard time of letting go and allowing herself to think that she was no longer numero uno in her son's lives!!!!

This was a book I picked up in Melbourne library and so glad I did. I haven't read a Joanna Trollope for years and this was one I had not go to. 

Picture Perfect by Kate Forster

The story set in fast paced Hollywood has leading actresses, directors, producers all of them. They all have hidden stories that they do not want unearthed. Some of them are rather gory, some so personal that they naturally feel that they would be so hurt in the process and some secrets would hurt others as well. The story told from several points of view gave the reader a very good glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous and also those who aspire to be rich and famous. You have to constantly strive to better, faster and more informed than the next man and that alone sounded exhausting.

Zoe and Maggie are friends from way past in this world where friends, true friends are rare. Now delicately balancing their friendship against the odds of new men in their lives as well as a new film to be directed and parts cast, they have to find a way to keep their friendship on a steady track.

A love story actually a couple of them, together with a secret kept hidden for over twenty years which is going to eventually come out (fortunately it all came together very well!), and the importance of having good friends, kept this an entertaining read.

Sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review courtesy of Harlequin (UK) Limited.

SISI by Allison Pataki

Sisi was a strange Queen for her times. She could not be tied down and despite the Emperor (and his mother) admonishing her there was no way Sisi had time for the Court and Court life. She sought the freedom of the countryside and later on travelling anywhere but to stay beside her husband for whom the Empire was the beginning and end of his world. Sisi and the children were secondary only important if they were of some benefit and in relation to the Empire and its work.

Sisi was dutiful, faithful to a point but she was up against many odds and she had to fight against it all with very few weapons at her disposal. An overwhelmingly powerful mother in law, with her own Court and coterie of officials, her husband staid and good but without a shred of understanding for Sisi, two older children who were taken off her hands and who as grown ups are strangers to her and only the youngest who is an actual daughter to her.

The story of Sisi is alternately sad and joyous, complex and different. It made for a very interesting read, especially since the other characters were also important in their own right and would make for interesting stories on their own!

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review courtesy of Random House Publishing Group.

Exposure by Helen Dunmore

An espionage thriller with the innocent being made to take the fall, and with important men hiding behind the scenes and the amazing lengths a woman will go to protect her family.


A very important file goes missing and Simon Callington is suspected of passing information to the Soviets. Imprisoned immediately, the disgrace extends to Lili his wife who loses her teaching job and the children have to face snide remarks at school. On top of it Lili realises that to keep the mortgage going she will have torent out her home. Taking determined steps, Lily decides to move out to a remote village where she will be not known to anyone and where the children will be free from any pressures.

Lily becomes the pivot of the story and it is her strength and mindfulness that will be the saving grace for not just Simon but for the family.

Characterization was exceptional with a story that held your interest from beginning to end.

Sent to me by Edelweiss for an unbiased review.

I would also like to thank bloggers who sent good wishes for my husband's recovery. He is now back at home (so am I though I do miss the children and grand children). 

Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster A Josie Bates Thriller

It was a case hitting headlines in California. 16 year old Hannah is indicted for the murder of her step grand father the very highly respected, regarded Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.  The murder seemed an open and shut case and the odds were stacked heavily against Hannah.

Josie Bates brought in by Hannah's mother for her defence seemed quite alone. The step father was staying away from both Hannah and the publicity as he himself was seeking appointment as the next Chief Justice. He did not want the taint of murder on his hands. Hannah herself seemed a little removed from the whole proceedings and it was puzzling what exactly her views were. Coupled with Hannah's obsessive behaviour things were not looking very bright for Hannah but Josie was not going to give up.

The storyline and plot of this book was a very good one. It is a scenario that has been replicated and one that will always hit headlines, A step daughter behind the murder of family but the impact of the story was not followed through.

I did not figure who actually did it till the very end so I am in the minority here! Most readers seemed to have figured it well before I did.

On a non blogging note, I returned to Sri Lanka unexpectedly as my husband fell ill and was hospitalized. Things seem to go haywire when I am not here and I think my travelling for anything more than a week are done! That puts paid to visiting the children and grandchildren but first things first right now. Cleaning up right now before going into hospital!

The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LaBan

Lila is in a position that a lot of women are today. It is a first world problem! having a masters degree and an aptitude for crisis management which she has done wonderfully in the past, she and her husband now have two children. She has a work mad husband whose passion as a restaurant critic borders on paranoia and who is insistent that she does not go for work as he feels that it would endanger his own job. It sounded weird but his understanding was that by her being photographed or known he would not be able to maintain his anonymity as a critic and could be then viewed as biased. This also extended to friendships and he was against being overly neighbourly or friendly with anyone in case they were directly or indirectly connected to the restaurant business.

Lila is not happy with the situation but she is willing to go along as she is torn between being a good wife and mother and being a professional woman. Her children are very young and she feels guilty about putting them second to her career. She however feels alive when she is working and she knows that sooner or later she will have to learn to balance the two if she is to feel happier than what she is now.

The story takes us through their ups and downs of a normal restaurant critic's life eating their way through Philadelphia's myriad restaurants, having enormous meals very nicely detailed and making one's mouth water whilst reading!

Lila and Sam's story was a good one which is replicated in a lot of homes. How does one keep the balance going, feel fulfilled and at the same time provide a caring and good home for your children.

The book was sent to me by Netgalley courtesy of Lake Union Publishing for an unbiased review.