Jeannie Hudson's Blog: Bookmarks, page 2
May 14, 2014
5 Stars for THE UNINVITED GUESTS by Sadie Jones
I've been remiss lately making entries herein but I do have a good excuse. I've
been finishing up my new book MARIPOSA -
BOOK ONE - THE QUEST, the first book in
a family saga trilogy.
Now I hope to get back to more reviews etc.I recently finished a delightful novel THE UNINVITED GUESTS by Sadie Jones where British wit meets manor mystery with the result being a delicious romp by a critically acclaimed author.
At the aging country estate, Sterne, a
birthday party for eldest daughter Emerald Torrington's 20th birthday. As the festivities get underway, a dreadful
accident nearby causes a small crowd of
unsavory survivors to descend on Sterne,
seeking shelter from an approaching storm.
The rainy night is given over to peculiar
parlor games and 'great undertakings' in
a frightening and enchanting drama of
dark goings-on in a witty Edwardian setting. Lovely, lovely read and I give
it 5 Stars.
been finishing up my new book MARIPOSA -
BOOK ONE - THE QUEST, the first book in
a family saga trilogy.
Now I hope to get back to more reviews etc.I recently finished a delightful novel THE UNINVITED GUESTS by Sadie Jones where British wit meets manor mystery with the result being a delicious romp by a critically acclaimed author.
At the aging country estate, Sterne, a
birthday party for eldest daughter Emerald Torrington's 20th birthday. As the festivities get underway, a dreadful
accident nearby causes a small crowd of
unsavory survivors to descend on Sterne,
seeking shelter from an approaching storm.
The rainy night is given over to peculiar
parlor games and 'great undertakings' in
a frightening and enchanting drama of
dark goings-on in a witty Edwardian setting. Lovely, lovely read and I give
it 5 Stars.
April 7, 2014
Review STILL LIFE WITH BREAD CRUMBS
I found STILL LIFE WITH BREAD CRUMBS by
Anna Quindlen quite delightful. Rebecca
Winter is at a crossroads. A photographer, she enjoyed great success in her day, mostly from her photo bearing the same name as the novel. But she has enjoyed no recent coups in the photography marketplace, hence her bank balance has been steadily losing ground to all her financial responsibilities. Having divorced her arrogant English husband, she no longer has real ties to Manhattan where she's lived most of her life. She decides to sublet her beloved New York apartment and relocate
to a cottage in the middle of nowhere.
There she deals with various eccentric
new friends, hikes to the best shape she's ever been in, is adopted by a dog,
falls in love with a man with as many
issues as herself, stumbles onto a new
photography project while hiking that
takes New York by storm. During days of
solitude, she gains new perspective on
life and what she wants from it. STILL
LIFE WITH BREAD CRUMBS is heartfelt and
very moving account of a woman falling in
love and discovering a life more engaging
and successful than anything she could've
imagined, though the success isn't remotely the same as what she sought when
she was young. An extraordinary novel by
a masterful storyteller with great insight into people's foibles. I give it
FIVE stars.
Anna Quindlen quite delightful. Rebecca
Winter is at a crossroads. A photographer, she enjoyed great success in her day, mostly from her photo bearing the same name as the novel. But she has enjoyed no recent coups in the photography marketplace, hence her bank balance has been steadily losing ground to all her financial responsibilities. Having divorced her arrogant English husband, she no longer has real ties to Manhattan where she's lived most of her life. She decides to sublet her beloved New York apartment and relocate
to a cottage in the middle of nowhere.
There she deals with various eccentric
new friends, hikes to the best shape she's ever been in, is adopted by a dog,
falls in love with a man with as many
issues as herself, stumbles onto a new
photography project while hiking that
takes New York by storm. During days of
solitude, she gains new perspective on
life and what she wants from it. STILL
LIFE WITH BREAD CRUMBS is heartfelt and
very moving account of a woman falling in
love and discovering a life more engaging
and successful than anything she could've
imagined, though the success isn't remotely the same as what she sought when
she was young. An extraordinary novel by
a masterful storyteller with great insight into people's foibles. I give it
FIVE stars.
April 1, 2014
Review THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
I found THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa
Diffenbaugh to be a most enjoyable read.
The main character Victoria's harrowing
passage through the foster care system was a sensitive work of character development.
We learn why Victoria is so scared, so
vulnerable, so angry, so weary. We can
understand her stubborn need for self-
reliance. She's been let down or has let herself down too many times. When she is
emancipated from the foster care system at 18 because 'there's nowhere else for her to go' she faces the hard truth that it's up to her alone whether she has a life or not. During one of her trial adoptions, she was taught 'the language of flowers' by her foster mother and she carries this with her until it is ultimately the source of her
redemption. Through her own unstable attempts to find love, friendship, motherhood and success, she comes close to having a stable, happy life. Yet she
continues getting in her own way because
of her ingrained lack of self-confidence
and belief that she is damaged beyond
repair. At this juncture when she teeters
at the brink of either grand success or
total failure, she turns to the lessons
she's learned while studying 'the language of flowers.' Because she identifies so completely with these tenets and has the ability to apply them
to the needs and problems of others, she
finds her gift that brings her untold
success happiness.
The title THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS sounds
like a rather lighthearted romp. The actual story is filled with quite serious themes with a satisfying ending.
I give it 4.5 stars.
Diffenbaugh to be a most enjoyable read.
The main character Victoria's harrowing
passage through the foster care system was a sensitive work of character development.
We learn why Victoria is so scared, so
vulnerable, so angry, so weary. We can
understand her stubborn need for self-
reliance. She's been let down or has let herself down too many times. When she is
emancipated from the foster care system at 18 because 'there's nowhere else for her to go' she faces the hard truth that it's up to her alone whether she has a life or not. During one of her trial adoptions, she was taught 'the language of flowers' by her foster mother and she carries this with her until it is ultimately the source of her
redemption. Through her own unstable attempts to find love, friendship, motherhood and success, she comes close to having a stable, happy life. Yet she
continues getting in her own way because
of her ingrained lack of self-confidence
and belief that she is damaged beyond
repair. At this juncture when she teeters
at the brink of either grand success or
total failure, she turns to the lessons
she's learned while studying 'the language of flowers.' Because she identifies so completely with these tenets and has the ability to apply them
to the needs and problems of others, she
finds her gift that brings her untold
success happiness.
The title THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS sounds
like a rather lighthearted romp. The actual story is filled with quite serious themes with a satisfying ending.
I give it 4.5 stars.
March 27, 2014
Review THE SWAN THIEVES
I absolutely love THE SWAN THIEVES, a
magical story of art and love. The author's masterful description creates glorious images of art by famous and lesser-known artists, each striving for the elusive muse that will inspire a masterpiece.- Robert Oliver has found his muse while descending into mental illness. A gifted artist and art teacher, Robert becomes obsessed
with the l870s work of Beatrice de Clerval,a woman of great beauty. She was an artist during the French Impressionism era and in love with a contemporary artist Olivier Vignot. Robert steals letters written by the lovers and becomes obsessed with their relationship as well. The lovely Beatrice de Clerval becomes Robert's subject in dozens of stunning paintings, his preoccupation with the woman causing the end of his marriage - When in his madness, Robert attacks a painting at the National Gallery of art, he becomes the patient of psychiatrist Andrew Marlow, entering the hospital with his packet of 130 year-old love letters
and the disinclination to speak after uttering a few words - Marlow, himself an artist, is eager to help Robert but his efforts are thwarted by his refusal to talk. - Marlow must learn about Robert through the people who knew
him best, his ex-wife, his former girlfriend, his former teaching associates. During his search for whatever accounts for Robert's condition,he travels to speak to people who have personal knowledge of
Beatrice de Clerval and her lover. He
discovers a great deal about himself and
his patient. He unravels a mystery that
spans over a century and finds the woman who will become his wife.- The truly
amazing plot kept me reading avidly through nearly 600 pages. I loved the
inspired descriptions of the art world,
I loved the mystery inherent in the plot,
I loved the two romances. I highly recommend this lovely book and give it
five stars.
magical story of art and love. The author's masterful description creates glorious images of art by famous and lesser-known artists, each striving for the elusive muse that will inspire a masterpiece.- Robert Oliver has found his muse while descending into mental illness. A gifted artist and art teacher, Robert becomes obsessed
with the l870s work of Beatrice de Clerval,a woman of great beauty. She was an artist during the French Impressionism era and in love with a contemporary artist Olivier Vignot. Robert steals letters written by the lovers and becomes obsessed with their relationship as well. The lovely Beatrice de Clerval becomes Robert's subject in dozens of stunning paintings, his preoccupation with the woman causing the end of his marriage - When in his madness, Robert attacks a painting at the National Gallery of art, he becomes the patient of psychiatrist Andrew Marlow, entering the hospital with his packet of 130 year-old love letters
and the disinclination to speak after uttering a few words - Marlow, himself an artist, is eager to help Robert but his efforts are thwarted by his refusal to talk. - Marlow must learn about Robert through the people who knew
him best, his ex-wife, his former girlfriend, his former teaching associates. During his search for whatever accounts for Robert's condition,he travels to speak to people who have personal knowledge of
Beatrice de Clerval and her lover. He
discovers a great deal about himself and
his patient. He unravels a mystery that
spans over a century and finds the woman who will become his wife.- The truly
amazing plot kept me reading avidly through nearly 600 pages. I loved the
inspired descriptions of the art world,
I loved the mystery inherent in the plot,
I loved the two romances. I highly recommend this lovely book and give it
five stars.
March 20, 2014
MARIPOSA BOOK ONE - THE QUEST
I recently gave my historical suspense novel BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN to Dawn Newland the gifted artist who is creating
the cover for MARIPOSA. I was delighted by her response after reading BALH. I must share - "I just finished BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN. I must tell you I couldn't put it down. What a creative and captivating writer you are. I am honored to be doing your next cover...."
I would love it if my fellow Goodread
members would read BALH or my romantic
suspense TEN HOURS 'TIL SPRING and write a review. Thanks so, so much!!!
Now here's another excerpt from my brand
new historical romance MARIPOSA BOOK ONE -THE QUEST that will be published in May.
'He stopped at the edge of the wood,
his breath catching at the sight of her absorbed in her drawing, her slender body
inclined over her sketchbook. She'd discarded her bonnet onto the grass and the dappled sunlight through the branches
bathed her delicate features in soft light. Her low-cut summer gown offered an
enticing view, the elegant column of her
throat, creamy ivory shoulders and cleavage. He full mouth was pursed in thought. Heat flooded Damien's groin when
he recalled that her sensuality was no longer completely forbidden.
He hadn't expected such fervor in one so young and innocent, though he had
sometimes been sorely tempted by her amorous teasing. He had thought weeks of
gentle lovemaking would be required to unlock the passion he was determined would nourish their marriage. As it was,
he found in her an eager desire that roused his own carnal appetite and fueled a burning impatience. Now that he
knew her promise, he was half mad with his love for her and knew he'd never want
another woman in his bed. If she would agree, he'd elope with her tonight, the consequences of such brash action be damned.
When he stepped nearer, she looked up from her work, her eyes lighting. Tossing aside the sketchbook, she reached for his hand to stand, then dove headlong into his arms, searching his face for answers. "Please, what did she
say?"
"Kiss me first." He lowered his mouth to hers, glorying in her unabashed
answer, the warm melding of her body to his.
"Damien, I love you so," she said
some minutes later, her eyes shiny, her
limbs trembling. "When can we be married?"
He tenderly traced the curve of her cheekbone. "Tonight if you like, darling."
Her lips parted in confusion mixing with her joy. "But how...."
He pressed a slender finger to her
mouth. "Come sit with me and I'll tell you what Aunt Pris told me." One hand spanned the small of her back as he shepherded her to a low chestnut limb where they sat. "Aunt Pris doesn't want us to marry right away, Harper."
Her hand convulsed on his arm; worry
chased away the last of her gaiety. "She
loves you like a son. She's known since I
was small that I'd marry either you or
Brendon. She's known for years and years
that you're the one I chose...." She held
to the haven of his steady gaze as tears
threatened her composure.
"My love, she disapproves neither of
me, nor our marriage. She's merely determined that you see something of life beyond the refuge of Laughlin and
Willow Rook. In spite of her prim demeanor, Aunt Pris is a freethinking
woman, Harper. She hates the idea that
you might have a typical marriage where
you're only a subservient accouterment
of my life...."
"Our marriage won't be like that!
You said you wouldn't have it!'
"Certainly not, darling, I'll cherish and care for you, protect you with my life. Yet I want us to nurture
each other, sharing equally as we love and make love. You will be mistress of
Willow Rook and share equally in our life there...."
the cover for MARIPOSA. I was delighted by her response after reading BALH. I must share - "I just finished BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN. I must tell you I couldn't put it down. What a creative and captivating writer you are. I am honored to be doing your next cover...."
I would love it if my fellow Goodread
members would read BALH or my romantic
suspense TEN HOURS 'TIL SPRING and write a review. Thanks so, so much!!!
Now here's another excerpt from my brand
new historical romance MARIPOSA BOOK ONE -THE QUEST that will be published in May.
'He stopped at the edge of the wood,
his breath catching at the sight of her absorbed in her drawing, her slender body
inclined over her sketchbook. She'd discarded her bonnet onto the grass and the dappled sunlight through the branches
bathed her delicate features in soft light. Her low-cut summer gown offered an
enticing view, the elegant column of her
throat, creamy ivory shoulders and cleavage. He full mouth was pursed in thought. Heat flooded Damien's groin when
he recalled that her sensuality was no longer completely forbidden.
He hadn't expected such fervor in one so young and innocent, though he had
sometimes been sorely tempted by her amorous teasing. He had thought weeks of
gentle lovemaking would be required to unlock the passion he was determined would nourish their marriage. As it was,
he found in her an eager desire that roused his own carnal appetite and fueled a burning impatience. Now that he
knew her promise, he was half mad with his love for her and knew he'd never want
another woman in his bed. If she would agree, he'd elope with her tonight, the consequences of such brash action be damned.
When he stepped nearer, she looked up from her work, her eyes lighting. Tossing aside the sketchbook, she reached for his hand to stand, then dove headlong into his arms, searching his face for answers. "Please, what did she
say?"
"Kiss me first." He lowered his mouth to hers, glorying in her unabashed
answer, the warm melding of her body to his.
"Damien, I love you so," she said
some minutes later, her eyes shiny, her
limbs trembling. "When can we be married?"
He tenderly traced the curve of her cheekbone. "Tonight if you like, darling."
Her lips parted in confusion mixing with her joy. "But how...."
He pressed a slender finger to her
mouth. "Come sit with me and I'll tell you what Aunt Pris told me." One hand spanned the small of her back as he shepherded her to a low chestnut limb where they sat. "Aunt Pris doesn't want us to marry right away, Harper."
Her hand convulsed on his arm; worry
chased away the last of her gaiety. "She
loves you like a son. She's known since I
was small that I'd marry either you or
Brendon. She's known for years and years
that you're the one I chose...." She held
to the haven of his steady gaze as tears
threatened her composure.
"My love, she disapproves neither of
me, nor our marriage. She's merely determined that you see something of life beyond the refuge of Laughlin and
Willow Rook. In spite of her prim demeanor, Aunt Pris is a freethinking
woman, Harper. She hates the idea that
you might have a typical marriage where
you're only a subservient accouterment
of my life...."
"Our marriage won't be like that!
You said you wouldn't have it!'
"Certainly not, darling, I'll cherish and care for you, protect you with my life. Yet I want us to nurture
each other, sharing equally as we love and make love. You will be mistress of
Willow Rook and share equally in our life there...."
March 17, 2014
Review - THE BAKER'S WIFE by Erin Healy
I really enjoyed THE BAKER'S WIFE, a
Christian thriller and a new genre for me.
The opening scenes set up a complicated mystery and I was immediately hooked and
was reading rabidly over the day or two it
took me to finish it. I admire the author's
excellent character development, weaving
their experiences past and present into a
compelling finish.
Christian thriller and a new genre for me.
The opening scenes set up a complicated mystery and I was immediately hooked and
was reading rabidly over the day or two it
took me to finish it. I admire the author's
excellent character development, weaving
their experiences past and present into a
compelling finish.
March 16, 2014
MARIPOSA BOOK ONE - THE QUEST
I'm writing the final two-hundred pages of my historical romance family saga,
MARIPOSA BOOK ONE - THE QUEST. This is the story of the Whittaker twin brothers, Damien and Brendon from Herefordshire, UK - Harper has loved the brothers since they were all children but has finally chosen Damien as her life partner. They are engaged to be married only to be torn apart by Peggy, a neighbor who's been Harper's avowed enemy since they were girls. Now that the brothers are about to emigrate to America with a herd of their prime Hereford cattle, it is Peggy who tricks Damien into marrying her instead of
Harper. Desperate to follow Damien, Harper agrees to marry Brendon whom she no longer loves....
I'll be posting excerpts from MARPIOSA BOOK ONE - THE QUEST during the weeks
before its publication in May.
MARIPOSA BOOK ONE - THE QUEST. This is the story of the Whittaker twin brothers, Damien and Brendon from Herefordshire, UK - Harper has loved the brothers since they were all children but has finally chosen Damien as her life partner. They are engaged to be married only to be torn apart by Peggy, a neighbor who's been Harper's avowed enemy since they were girls. Now that the brothers are about to emigrate to America with a herd of their prime Hereford cattle, it is Peggy who tricks Damien into marrying her instead of
Harper. Desperate to follow Damien, Harper agrees to marry Brendon whom she no longer loves....
I'll be posting excerpts from MARPIOSA BOOK ONE - THE QUEST during the weeks
before its publication in May.
March 14, 2014
Excerpt - BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN by Jeannie Hudson
'Grateful when she neared Aiden's camp she found him seated at a small table covered with papers. He leaned over his work, intense in his concent-, ration and she faltered to a stop.
She yearned to run to him, giving free rein to the joy rushing along every nerve but uncertainty kept her rooted a few yards away. Slowly drawn by her eyes, he looked up as if she'd just appeared in his parlor.
His brain could not accept that she
was truly there. His preoccupation with her shining hair, the soft lines of her stylish frock suspended time. He wasn't immediately obliged to face the danger yet again. He could drink her in like a man dying of thirst.
It took time for the truth to catch
up with his runaway reaction and he was
possessed by the profound desire to take her in his arms, bury his face in the silk of her hair and weep.
Regan watched emotions playing over
his features like light on water and she
struggled to decipher what he was thinking. She identified pleasure and a
bemused confusion. His dark, wary eyes
seemed to worship and rebuke her all at once;she saw no trace of the cold she feared. But gradually the rest seeped away, and he looked at her with unmist-
akable panic. And something else, some-
thing that jolted her.
Was it a warning she saw? Or terror? Revulsion? She couldn't be sure.
She was only conscious of the terrible
pain deep inside as she glimpsed what
had been hidden until now....'
She yearned to run to him, giving free rein to the joy rushing along every nerve but uncertainty kept her rooted a few yards away. Slowly drawn by her eyes, he looked up as if she'd just appeared in his parlor.
His brain could not accept that she
was truly there. His preoccupation with her shining hair, the soft lines of her stylish frock suspended time. He wasn't immediately obliged to face the danger yet again. He could drink her in like a man dying of thirst.
It took time for the truth to catch
up with his runaway reaction and he was
possessed by the profound desire to take her in his arms, bury his face in the silk of her hair and weep.
Regan watched emotions playing over
his features like light on water and she
struggled to decipher what he was thinking. She identified pleasure and a
bemused confusion. His dark, wary eyes
seemed to worship and rebuke her all at once;she saw no trace of the cold she feared. But gradually the rest seeped away, and he looked at her with unmist-
akable panic. And something else, some-
thing that jolted her.
Was it a warning she saw? Or terror? Revulsion? She couldn't be sure.
She was only conscious of the terrible
pain deep inside as she glimpsed what
had been hidden until now....'
BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN by Jeannie Hudson
For those of you who love Historical Suspense, I want to recommend my novel
BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN! Set in 1876 Deadwood, Colorado and Dakota Territories,it is the story of Regan Townsend, gutsy, young photographer determined to make a name for herself in a male-dominated society. She falls in love with Aiden Endicott, a debonair Englishman who's already carved out his niche in the massive pursuit of progress and success sweeping across the awakening land.Yet, issues from the past threaten their love. However,with courage and insight and the help of Aiden as well as Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill whom she encounters in her search for the finest photographs for her future exhibitions,Regan forges a future she couldn't have fathomed when she first set out upon her quest.
I hope you enjoy BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN
as much as I loved writing it. I'd love
it if you could jot a review on Goodreads
and Amazon.
BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN! Set in 1876 Deadwood, Colorado and Dakota Territories,it is the story of Regan Townsend, gutsy, young photographer determined to make a name for herself in a male-dominated society. She falls in love with Aiden Endicott, a debonair Englishman who's already carved out his niche in the massive pursuit of progress and success sweeping across the awakening land.Yet, issues from the past threaten their love. However,with courage and insight and the help of Aiden as well as Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill whom she encounters in her search for the finest photographs for her future exhibitions,Regan forges a future she couldn't have fathomed when she first set out upon her quest.
I hope you enjoy BEHOLD A LONE HORSEMAN
as much as I loved writing it. I'd love
it if you could jot a review on Goodreads
and Amazon.
THE PAINTED GIRLS by Cathy Marie Buchanan
I very much enjoyed this historical novel about three gutsy sisters growing up in the world of the theatre and ballet in 1880s Paris. This is a frank and gritty story of poverty in both the material and emotional lives of the three main characters. It covers themes of selfishness as well as selflessness. The reader may form preconceptions about the young protagonists but then be surprised
by the ultimate paths they venture along.
The excellent description of l878 lower
class Paris serves as a believable back-
drop and the author masterfully presents
the three unique personalities of the young sisters and their mother who has
given up on living her life. Wonderful book by the award-winning author Cathy Marie Buchanan. I give it a 4.5.
by the ultimate paths they venture along.
The excellent description of l878 lower
class Paris serves as a believable back-
drop and the author masterfully presents
the three unique personalities of the young sisters and their mother who has
given up on living her life. Wonderful book by the award-winning author Cathy Marie Buchanan. I give it a 4.5.
Bookmarks
Words of wisdom from an author who is an avid reader and loves sharing her point of view on the works she reads. Jeannie has gathered a vast amount of knowledge during the 40 years working through var
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