Books in my year 2013....

It's that time again when I take stock of the books I have read this year and say a whopping big thank you to everyone for making Jaffareadstoo such a fun place to hang out.

Thank you also to the 56 authors who have given generously of their time and have allowed Jaffa and I to intrude into their writing time and who have contributed some interesting and informative interviews.

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I've read over 200 books this year so it's been a real challenge to complete my "best of " list

But here goes...in no particular order...these are a few of my favourites

Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick

The Forbidden Queen by Anne O'Brien

The Bleeding Land by Giles Kristian

Appetite by Philip Kazan

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

The House We Grew up In Lisa Jewell

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

The First Blast of the Trumpet by Maria Macpherson

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Longbourn by Jo Baker

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat

Huge thanks, as always, must go to the individual authors and publishers who have trusted Jaffareadstoo with their most precious books. We hope that we did your books justice.

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Special thanks

To

The team at Penguin UK,
Elizabeth at Transworld,
Liza, Gillian, Jill, and Catriona at Triskele Books
Ian at Great Stories with Heart
Carol at Romantic Fiction Online
Helen at The Historical Novel Society
Guy and Michelle at Newbooks Magazine
The review team at Lovereading.co.uk
And everyone at NetGalley.

And most important, thank you to all those who have taken time to visit Jaffareadstoo in 2013

 We simply can't do this without you.

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Here's to lots more Happy reading in 2014

Happy New Year

My Author in the spotlight is Maggie Craig...

I am delighted to welcome to the blog

Maggie Craig

Author 

of

Gathering Storm

Jacobite Intrigue and Romance in 18th Century Edinburgh

Gathering Storm is the first in a suite of Jacobite novels by Scottish Writer Maggie Craig, author of the ground breaking and acclaimed non- fiction - Damn 'Rebel Bitches: The Women of the '45 and its companion Bare-Arsed Banditti : The Men of the '45.

Her novels include:

The River Flows On

One Sweet Moment

When the Lights Come On Again

The Stationmaster’s Daughter

The Bird Flies High

A Star To Steer By

The Dancing Days

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*~Maggie ~ welcome to Jaffareadstoo~*

What is it about your writing that will pique the reader’s interest?

Well, there's my lifelong passion for the Jacobites of 1745, which I've expressed in two non-fiction books: Damn Rebel Bitches: The Women of the '45, and Bare-Arsed Banditti, the men of the '45. I'm immersed in this period of Scottish history.  I love doing the research for my novels too.

Readers who enjoy my books tell that they love the sense of place and the depth of the emotions. Place is really important to me and all my novels start from there. I always revisit the locations important to my stories, taking photographs, making little sketches and above all, absorbing the atmosphere. It's easy to do that in a city like Edinburgh, where Gathering Storm is set. History is down every close and round every corner. I do my best to evoke not only the sights but also the sounds and smells of the past, touch and taste too.

When it comes to the emotions the characters are experiencing, mine don't necessarily wear their hearts on their sleeves. I find it's often better when they don't, leaving them guessing and picking up clues about one another's states of mind. However, it has to be clear to the reader how deep their feelings are. I believe that when we pick up a book, the most satisfying read is one which takes us into the heads and hearts of passionate human beings, for whom much is at stake.

What can you tell us about Gathering Storm that won't give too much away?

Robert Catto is a young Scottish Redcoat officer, seconded back from the wars in Europe to captain the city's town guard. His covert mission is to assess the strength of the Jacobite threat in the run-up to the last Jacobite Rising of 1745. Scotland holds painful memories for him but he's a man who always does his duty. He clashes with Christian Rankeillor, daughter of surgeon-apothecary Patrick Rankeillor. Both father and daughter are committed Jacobites. With Jamie Buchan, Patrick's apprentice, they're hiding a Jacobite agent with a price on his head in Edinburgh's vast new Royal Infirmary: a hanging offence.

Robert and Christian's mutual attraction is evident from the outset. So are their respective moral dilemmas.  They interact too with a varied cast of characters. Everyone is keeping secrets, even young Geordie, the cook-boy for the Town Guard. Everyone is in real danger. If I had to classify Gathering Storm, I'd call it a romantic historical thriller.

In your research for Gathering Storm, did you discover anything which surprised you?

That's a hard question to answer, as I've been researching the Jacobites of 1745 for much of my adult life. What I really enjoyed with Gathering Storm was doing the medical research, especially when I was invited to sit down in the library of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh at a beautiful antique table under a sparking chandelier and leaf through documents from the 18th century - well, carefully lay them on a linen-covered pillow and try to touch them as little as possible! Those include the tradesmen's bills for building the bagnio or bath-house which features in the story. I also did an Open University course on the history of European medicine which I found fascinating. Physicians and surgeons of the 18th century were much more advanced in their practice and thinking than we often give them credit for.

If you could invite three prominent Jacobites from the 1740s  to your dinner table, who would they be, and why?

I'd definitely want John Roy Stuart sitting across the table from me. By all accounts he was a charmer and I think his conversation would have been highly entertaining. He was a poet too so we could talk about the creative process. Maybe being so often on the run sharpened his perception. I'd like Lord Pitsligo too, one of the older supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie. He was a scholar and a gentleman, interested in everything and everybody. He was also a great supporter of education for girls and women. You'd have to allow me one non-Jacobite to complete the party: Duncan Forbes of Culloden who, with John Roy, features in Gathering Storm. We might not agree on politics but he was a humane man who wanted peace and prosperity for his beloved Scotland and he was a convivial man too, who enjoyed good food, good conversation and the odd glass of claret.

When do you find the time to write, and do you have a favourite place to do your writing?

I sit down every morning early and work until about 1 o'clock. My computer is on the upstairs landing under a Velux window. When I look up from the screen I can see the big old trees at the bottom of our garden, the sky and the clouds and, at this time of year, the geese flying south in their v-shaped squadrons.

Can you tell us what you are writing next?

The current work in progress is The Captain's Lady, a big, sweeping time-slip novel set in my native Glasgow and the West Highlands in modern times as well as before, during and after  the ‘45.  Its historical heroine is Meg Wood, who appears towards the end of Gathering Storm as one of Christian Rankeillor's close friends. 

I'm keeping the non-fiction muscle exercised by writing a short biography of Henrietta Tayler, a Scottish Jacobite historian who served during the First World War as a volunteer nurse with the Red Cross in Belgium, France and Italy, never very far from the frontline.

After those two are completed, I'm going back to Robert Catto and Christian Rankeillor. Can't leave them where they are. They have decisions to make and more adventures to have.

Maggie is very kindly offering 2 paperback copies of Gathering Storm - 1 UK copy and 1 US copy to 2 lucky winners of this fabulous giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maggie thank you so much for spending time with us. Jaffa and I have loved hosting this interview. 

We wish you much success with the continuation of your Jacobite series.

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My thoughts on Gathering Storm

Edinburgh, 1743, is a scheming hotchpotch of political intrigue. The ever present threat of English interference doesn't sit comfortably with those Jacobites whose preference for the Scottish king ‘across the water’ relies heavily on subterfuge and clandestine meetings. When Redcoat officer Robert Catto is enticed back to Scotland, from the wars in Europe, ostensibly to join the Edinburgh Town Guard, his real mission, to assess the strength of the Jacobite threat, will prove to be an enormous challenge.

Christian Rankeillor is the daughter of the Edinburgh surgeon-apothecary, Patrick Rankeillor, a known Jacobite. She is feisty, determined and no shrinking violet when it comes to the seamier side of Edinburgh life, and together with her father, and his apprentice, James Buchan, she helps to hide a Jacobite agent with a price on his head.

The gradual layering of the story as Robert Catto and Christian Rankeillor’s world start to collide and coalesce takes place over the course of a very eventful week, when the Edinburgh Jacobites are at the heart of conspiracy, deception and despicable murder.

Overall, Gathering Storm is a really enjoyable depiction of this troubled time in Scottish history. There is a real authenticity to the story as the author has with great skill used her considerable knowledge of the period to bring together a very credible story. Edinburgh comes alive; its cobbled streets and dark and damp alleyways form the backdrop to a story which abounds with intrigue, political mayhem and clandestine skulduggery.

Well worth reading.

Merry Christmas Everyone....

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

*~*~*

Jaffa and I would like to wish all our authors,blog viewers
and supporters

a

Very 

Merry Christmas

Review ~ The Other Side of the Bridge by Katharine Swartz

November 2013
KateHewitt Ltd

Following the break down of her marriage Ava Lancet escapes to a small Greek village, ostensibly to check out the dilapidated cottage which she has inherited from her dead grandmother, but also to heal her emotional wounds in peace and tranquillity. Her arrival in the village is the cause of much speculation, but it is her uncanny similarity to her grandmother , Sophia, which sparks memories long buried.

In 1942, Sophia Paranoussis is enrolled, albeit unwillingly, into the local resistance , where she is given the task of aiding twelve British special operation executives who have parachuted into Greece to blow up the nearby Gorgopotamos viaduct.

What then follows is a well written dual time narrative which explores Ava's life in the present and her determination to find out more about her grandmother's life during WW2, whilst at the same time evaluating her own life, either with or without her husband, Simon. The transition between both time frames is expertly done, and the story flows well and captures both the indecision of Ava's modern marital dilemma, alongside the more poignant story of Sophia's involvement in the danger and uncertainty of living through the German occupation of Greece.

Overall, this was a nicely written multi generational family saga which kept my attention from beginning to end.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kate Hewitt Ltd for my ecopy of this book.

2013 catch up reviews..

The First Rule of Swimming

by

Courtney Angela Brkic

Little,Brown and Company
2013

I thought that this was an uninspiring look at multi generational family difficulties told through the eyes of two very different sisters. When Jadranka disappears shortly after emigrating to America, her sister Magdalena must leave her home in Croatia and travel to New York, where her quest of answers throws up more questions than it does answers and uncovers long buried family secrets which once exposed can never be forgotten.

I found the story to be quite slow moving in places and felt like at times the narrative lacked impetus, so much so, I was quite bored by the whole concept of the story and found myself skipping chunks of the narrative to get to the more interesting parts.

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In the land of the Living

by

Austin Ratner

Little, Brown and Company
2013

In the land of the Living is the story of fathers, sons and brothers and of the family ties which bound them together. Mainly this is a story about divided loyalties and the anger and unease which can fester and accumulate until problems become insurmountable. Isidore Auberon has grown up with the need to protect his brothers from their abusive father and it is this drive and ambition to protect which will propel Isidore into accomplishing his medical training. When Isadore has his own family he tries to nurture and protect them in the same way until tragedy strikes.

This was a credible look at family dynamics and of the ties that bind us together.

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Questions of Travel

by

Michelle de Kretser

Little Brown and Company
2013

Laura is a traveller who wants to see as much of the world she can before returning to Sydney where she works for the publisher of travel guides. In Sri Lanka, Ravi dreams of becoming a tourist but when he is forced to leave his homeland after a devastating family tragedy, he must learn to readjust and develop as a person.

I found the book really difficult to read with any enthusiasm and am guilty of putting the book away to 'read later'. I didn't warm to any of the characters and couldn't gather enough enthusiasm to really work at the story. It's not that the book is badly written, in parts the prose is quite attractive, it's just that the premise of the story, remains, for me , unappealing.

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My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for my e-copies of these books.

Review ~ The Queens of Love and War ~ Ellen Jones

Add caption

This series which comprises three book have been reissued with new art work. Originally published in the 1990's, the books cover the tumultuous years of the middle 1100s, when the English throne was the subject of much political skulduggery.


Book 1 -The Fatal Crown charts the story of the fight for power between Maud, daughter of King Henry I, and her cousin Stephen of Blois.


Book 2 - Beloved Enemy charts the early life of Eleanor of Aquitaine and explains her upbringing amongst the troubadours and gallants in one of the most glittering places in Europe. Married to Louis of France, Eleanor must put aside her own feeling to support her husband and his quest for political fulfilment.

Book 3 - Gilded Cages charts the passionate and volatile relationship between Eleanor and her second husband, Henry Plantagenet. The dawn of a new royal dynasty will have repercussions that lasts for centuries.

All three books are nicely written and  explain the historical background with a few minor embellishments. Overall, I thought that the series was well worth reading, especially if you enjoy historical fiction set during the Middle Ages.

My thanks to NetGalley and Open Road media for my e-copies of all three books in the 

The Queens of Love and War series.

All three books are available in one volume.

2013
Kindle Edition

Book Beginnings on Fridays...

Hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader

Book Beginnings on Fridays as stated by the host was started:

"to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires."

You can share on Google + and social media , please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings and there's also a Mr Linky on the host's blog.

Book Beginnings: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens




Stave 1

Marley's Ghost

Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon'Change' for anything he chose to put his hand to.

This book doesn't really need any more introduction from me.It's one of my all time favourite Christmas stories and my Christmas is complete until I have read it.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas

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