Book Review: Me A Compendium by Wee Society

An adorable journal that is meant for creative little minds. This book was a perfect gift for my son. He is super creative and artistic and he really enjoyed the drawings in this fun book. My son really enjoyed the removable cover that had hidden things to write about. I would highly recommend this book for children because it encourages them to fill in the pictures using their imagination.

G ~ Rating Fun For All Ages
FTC ~ I received this book from Blogging for books. I received no compensation for this honest review.

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Me A Compendium by Wee Society

"Inventive, hilarious and joyously colorful, this fill-in journal was designed to help kids capture nearly everything that’s uniquely rad about them. With design-savvy, yet completely kid-friendly illustrations, they’re asked to draw or write about a bunch of interesting things — like what their hair looks like, what their band name would be, what they’d bring to outer space, and how they feel about lightning, lizards and pickles. There may or may not be a place for super-secret stuff inside the book jacket. Whether kids complete their entire compendium on a rainy day, or finish it over a year, it’ll become a treasure to look back on and smile".

Book Review: MEDICIS DAUGHTER: A NOVEL OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS by Sophie Perinot

Marguerite de Valois princess of France is the daughter of the notorious Italian poisoner Queen Catherine de Medici. Ruled by her vigilantly religious mother Margot is ordered to the French court. A child no more, Margot finds the French court full of deceit and intrigue with her family the full center of it.

It was a natural thing at the French court to flirt and have secret liaisons with lovers. But Margot being a blood royal was excluded from the affairs of the heart. She was to be like every other royal princess and be bargained off for the political advantage of her family. She knew her duty to her family but could not stop herself from falling in love with her kingly brothers BFF the Duke of Guise. Starting out as a puppy love affair it rapidly progressed to an affair. Her mother would lock her up in a convent for the rest of her life if she ever found out the truth of her late night meetings with the Duke.

In love with the Duke of Guise, Margot starts to slide and her vicious mother and brother discover her liaisons. Brutally punished for her transgressions her mother decides the only way to stop the courts gossip was to marry her off to her cousin for the most political gain. Her new husband Henri of Navarre is the leader of the heretic Huguenot’s. Margot will become Queen of Navarre but married to a heretic.

Religious tensions are running super high at the time of the wedding because France is a catholic country. Marrying a catholic princess of France to a heretic caused quite a stir. Margot’s disgruntled lover the Duke of Guise was at the head of it all. All this tension is leading up to one of France’s darkest days, the St. Bartholomew’s massacre. Torn between a promise to her new husband and her vicious family Margot will have to look deep within her heart to find a way to survive the massacre her family has inflicted on the Huguenots.

5/5 incredibly vicious in the best of ways possible. I love Sophie Perinot’s novels. She always delivers on the darker sides of history.

R ~ Rating for sexual references and violence
FTC ~ This novel was sent to me for review. I received no compensation for this review.

Amazon
Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois
The Sister Queens
~Lizzie~

Book Review: THE ROYAL SUCCESSION by Maurice Druon

King Louis X of France is dead, poisoned by the Countess Mahaut. Louis left behind a country in complete crisis. His pregnant widow Queen Clemence of Hungary was stricken with grief. So tremendously that she was on the verge of losing the unborn child in her womb. Her unborn child was the only legitimate heir to the French throne. Sick to death Clemence lay in her bed fighting for her life and the life of her unborn child. In the midst of the battle of her life every single noble in France was vying for the positions of power in France. Mahut and her son in law Philippe of Poitiers were leading the pack in a great game of deception. Together they were a lethal pair and they would do anything to secure Mahut’s position as Countess of Artois. They plotted on how to steal the greatest prize of all the crown of France from a child that was not even born yet and might not even make it to birth.
3.5/5 I enjoyed this read but it was by far the darkest and dirtiest of the novels in the series I have read to date. The despicable murders that take place were very hard to stomach. It was hard for me to not wince while I was reading it. This is book number four in the Accursed Kings series.

R ~ Rating for violence
FTC ~ This novel is part of my personal collection. I received no compensation for this honest review.

Amazon
The Royal Succession by Maurice Druon
The Accursed Kings Series
~Lizzie~

Book Review: WONDERLAND A Coloring Book Inspired by Alice’s Adventures by Amily Shen

Adult coloring books have become a hot item this past year. Numerous adult coloring books have been released to help you relax. I love anything artistic especially coloring. Wonderland is a beautifully drawn funky version of Alice in Wonderland. This fun filled coloring book is filled with 80 pages of coloring and puzzles. This sweet artistic book is a fun way to unwind and enjoy your creative side.

“Artist Amily Shen takes adult coloring book fans on a magical journey inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Follow the White Rabbit into this imaginative coloring book inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, featuring intricate pen-and-ink drawings by acclaimed artist Amily Shen. Meet the Cheshire Cat, attend the Mad Hatter’s tea party, and play croquet with the Queen of Hearts in this evocative tale that invites you into a strange and beautiful new world of coloring.”

G ~ Rating Fun for all ages!
FTC ~ I received this book from Blogging for Books. I received no compensation for this honest review.

Amazon ~ WONDERLAND A Coloring Book Inspired by Alice’s Adventures by Amily Shen

Book Review: A BRIDE FOR A SEASON by Jennifer Delamere

Lucinda Cardington was nothing like the other social butterflies of London’s polite society. Socially awkward Lucinda found herself at parties always wishing she could melt into the walls and disappear. Her little sister Emily on the other hand was her complete opposite. She loved all the girly things in life like dresses, parties, and men. The sisters made social appearances regularly and the Beauchamp ball was another event Lucinda cringed at being forced into going. Emily partied the night away pursuing London’s most eligible bachelor James Simpson. Caring nothing for these events she stole away from the party with a photography book even though her father did not approve of her reading such books. By chance she accidentally crossed paths with James and rekindled their mutual love for photography. Emily was always hot on James heels and she burst in and ruined the moment they shared.

Later that night Lucinda caught Emily sneaking out of her room to surprise James at his scandalous gentlemen’s club. Fearing her sisters reputation would be forever destroyed Lucinda had no other option but to follow her and force her sister to come home before it was too late.  Arriving at the club just in time to see her sister in a secret embrace with James, Lucinda threw a hissy fit to get her sister home. But the whole time a gossip reporter was documenting the whole drama as it unfolded. It would be the top story in the Times gossip column the next morning. To save Emily’s reputation James the long time bachelor decided it was time he settled himself down with a wife. Emily was young and frivolous but he felt in time she would grow to become the woman he really needed yet there was one problem in the way.  The sister’s father had put one condition on the engagement agreement; James must help find Lucinda a husband before he could marry Emily. It would be no easy task and the more time he spent with Lucinda the more he developed feelings for this unique woman.

3/5 Loved this one too but I have to admit the ending was a bit too cheesy for me. I still read it and enjoyed it greatly. This is the third book in the Loves Grace trilogy that I highly recommend for romantic historical fiction lovers

PG - 13 rating for slight sexual reference

FTC - This novel is from my personal collection.
Amazon A Bride for a Season by Jennifer Delamere

Book Review: A LADY MOST LOVELY by Jennifer Delamere

Margaret Vaughn was part of London’s social elite. She put up a good front hiding the fact that her father had died leaving her seriously in debt on the verge of financial ruin. Realizing she had little options of saving her family estate she knew she had to marry into money or loose everything. Her fiancé at the time was a well-bred entrepreneur that would have the resources to bring her back from the brink of finical ruin. Everything was working out as planned until after some careful detective work she found out that her fiancé was a fraud and a liar. Breaking off the engagement Margaret found herself in serious trouble with her debtors.

Tom Poole had freshly arrived from making a fortune in gold mining in Australia. He was struggling to fit in with London’s polite society. His sister Lizzie was forcing him into social circles he was not fond of. The first time he saw Margaret at her engagement ball he knew on the spot that she must be his at whatever the cost. In a coincidental turn of fate Tom barged into Margaret’s home with the intention of rescuing her. The aggressive loan sharks had forced themselves into her home demanding payment of all loans immediately. Being the willful woman that Margaret was she refused Toms offer of help and his hastily stated marriage proposal. Margaret realized that she had no other choice but to strike a deal with him to save her estate. Tom would loan her the funds she desperately needed while putting her families racehorses up as collateral.  There was no denying that she felt a connection to this rough adventure man from Australia. Yet Margaret had always done everything alone and saving her family estate was no different. Tom found he could not give up on her. He knew Margaret was tough on the outside but he was determined to beak down the walls she worked so hard on keeping up.

5/5 LOVED this one too! It was super romantic and I honestly could not tell where the story was going to go. One second she hated him and in another she acted like she loved him. If you enjoy romance with a historical flare I highly recommend this trilogy. This is book is number two in the Loves Grace trilogy.

PG - 13 rating for slight sexual reference
FTC - This novel is from my personal collection.
Amazon A Lady Most Lovely by Jennifer Delamere

Book Review: THE POISONED CROWN by Maurice Druon

King Louis X of France was a weak king. He inherited none of his father’s noble features. He ordered his first wife strangled and his heart was now set upon his marriage to the beautiful Princess Clemence of Hungary. Her arrival from Italy was a tumultuous sea journey. Her ship barely survived the sea crossing. Married almost on the spot they immediately found themselves in the middle of a blood feud between Robert of Artois and his headstrong aunt Mahaut.  The battle between the two was a never-ending drama fest. Robert was still insisting that his aunt stole his right to rule Artois. Determined as he was Robert would never give up his fight and might end up causing an all out civil war in the process.

As if the fights between Robert and Mahaut were not enough, king Louis decides this was the perfect time to go wager war against Flanders. Failing miserably he retreated home and finds his wife disgruntled over his past discretions. Louis finally opens up to Clemence and tells her everything including the details of his first wife’s death. Clemence being the pious woman demands that does penance for all his dastardly deeds and ends up bringing out Louis’ better nature. Soon after Clemence finds herself with child and the war between Robert of Artois and Mahaut reaches its highest point forcing Louis’ hand. He forces them to peace terms, which left many of the nobles extremely unhappy with the terms and some in disgrace. It was a social war Louis was fighting in his court with no end in sight. Waiting for his child to be born Louis finds the only peace he ever had was with Clemence that is until the Templars curse came back to destroy another member of the Iron Kings family.

4/5 I love this series. All the novels have been short, to the point, brutal and scandalous all in one. This is the third novel in the Accursed Kings series by Druon. I would highly recommend this series but I would not recommend reading this as a stand-alone novel because you will need the back history to make sense of the intrigues of the later novels.

PG -13 Rating for mild violence and sexual references.

FTC- this novel is part of my personal collection

Amazon The Poisoned Crown by Maurice Druon

Book Review: AN HEIRESS AT HEART by Jennifer Delamere

Victorian era Lizzie Poole had made many bad choices in her life but running away to Australia with her brother was not one of them. In Australia the pair met a beautiful couple that would impact their lives deeply. Lizzie and her new friend Ria were each other’s doppelgangers; the resemblance between the two was striking. In a tragic turn of events Lizzie looses everything including her new best friend Ria.  Upon Ria’s deathbed she forced Lizzie promise to return to her family in England and take her place to right all the wrongs Ria had done to her family.

Left with no other choice Lizzie went back to her native England but this time as Ria, Lizzie Poole no longer existed. Upon her arrival Lizzie almost lost her courage to go to Ria’s grandmother Lady Thornborough. In a flash Lizzie was hit by a passing carriage and knocked completely out of her senses.  Almost knocked to death Lizzie was lucky that the man in the carriage had scooped her up out of the street to safety. Coincidently the man in the carriage was Geoffrey Somerville, Ria’s own brother in-law that she had never met. Geoffrey ran Lizzie to the closest friendly home he knew and that was Lady Thornborough’s grand home.  Geoffrey took her to the one place she needed to be.

Before coming to her senses Lizzie is almost immediately taken for Ria by the household staff. Upon waking she confirms to all that she really is Ria the runaway granddaughter of Lady Thornborough. Officially taking Ria’s place meant that Lizzie was now part of London’s elite upper class and not poor Lizzie from the working class. As she comes to and put everything together she realizes that this handsome man that carried her here was actually Ria’s brother in-law making her charade of becoming Ria even more complicated. How long could she keep this up? Her plan was to go on indefinitely as Ria but she suddenly finds herself falling head over heels in love with the one man Ria was not ever meant to have. 

5/5 I LOVED this novel. I happened to find this book at my work and was so bored one night that I picked it up and gave it a go. I literally could not put this book down. I read it in two days because the story was more of an adventure than a love story. I would highly recommend this novel because it was romantic in all the right ways with a flare of adventure that added up to a real page-turner.

PG -13 Rating for mild violence

FTC – This novel is part of my personal collection
Amazon An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere

Book Review: ROYAL LOVE STORIES by Gill Paul

This book is a visually stunning compilation of fourteen real love stories of the royals through out Europe. Many of the stories mentioned had tragic ends but not all of them. The book includes sections on: Peter I of Portugal, Ines de Castro, Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, Catherine the Great, Gregory Potemkin, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, Josephine de Beauharnais, Ludwig I of Bavaria, Lola Montez, Victor Emmanuel II, Rosa Vercellana, Rudolph Crown Prince of Austria, Baroness Mary Vetsera, Nicholas of Russia, Alexandria, Edward VII, Wallis Simpson, Prince Bertilof of Sweden, Lilian Craig, Prince Rainier III, Grace Kelly, King Hussein of Jordan, Lisa Halaby, Prince William, and Catherine Middleton.

My favorite of the love stories was Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. In a time where rulers had numerous wives, I found their love unique and truly moving. Shah Jahan loved his wife dearly and he literally could not spend a day with out her. She even went to battle with him pregnant and when she died he spent his final years building the Taj Mahal for her mausoleum. His plan was to build one for each of them but his son took over the throne and locked him away before he could start his own mausoleum.

5/5 Visually stunning, this non-fiction work is detailed with pictures and facts about the era of the story mentioned. I picked up this lovely book from Barnes and Noble in the bargain book section for 10$. I absolutely could not pass up this one because Grace Kelly is drop dead gorgeous on the cover. I would highly recommend this book to history lovers across the board because it is visually stimulating and is a great addition to any library.

PG – 13 Rating for mild mentions of sex and violence.

FTC- this novel is from my personal collection.
Amazon Royal Love Stories by Gill Paul