100 Pages A Day.... Stephanie's Book Reviews
  • Blog Tours
  • Historical Fiction
  • Sci Fi & Fantasy
  • Thriller & Horror
  • Non-Fiction
  • Middle Grade & Children's
  • Literary Fiction and Other Genres
  • Challenges
  • Promo's
  • Product Reviews

Kilbride House

2/19/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Victoria Goulding resides at the esteemed estate of the Kilbride House on Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.  In 1955, a strict divide between the Protestants like the Goulding's and the Catholics existed with the two groups rarely intermingling.  When Victoria meets Canice Meager, a Roman Catholic who was recently evacuated from the Blasket Islands, sparks fly.  Victoria and Canice meet in secret since Victoria's mother would never accept their relationship. In 2018, Edith Goulding, Victoria's sister has died and left specific instructions for her daughter, Catherine and granddaughter Lainey to return to Ireland and Kilbride House in order to uncover the past that she left behind. 

Kilbride House is a story of love, heartache, secrets and redemption.  With many elements that I love- dual timelines, family mysteries and numerous secrets to reveal- I devoured this book. I loved Victoria and Canice's story.  Their romance reflected the best and worst of Ireland in the 1950's.  The descriptions of the landscapes, islands and Kilbride house were detailed and majestic, making me feel as if I were there.  I could easy imagine Victoria riding along the beach and the rooms of Kilbride house.  The religious tensions between the Protestants and Catholics were palpable.  The fact that Victoria was Protestant and Canice was Catholic led Victoria's mother to make decisions that would affect three generations of lives.  Catherine and Lainey's journeys were heartwarming and revealing of how choices in the past that they were unaware of have affected them to this day.  I liked that they were respectful of the past and the people still alive who could still be traumatized by the decisions that were made. 


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

0 Comments

Blood Divide: A Novel of Flodden Field

2/14/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
" A battle is like a kind of dance...You have to sense your partner's moves, be ready to respond to the merest nuance.  It was time this reel was ended." 

In September of 1513 the English and Scottish forces prepare for battle on the boggy Flodden Field.  King James IV of Scotland, married to King Henry VIII sister, Margaret Tudor is retaliating for King Henry VIII invasion of France.  Alexander Lord Hume leads the Scottish troops and Isabella Hoppringle, the Abbess of Coldstream deals with the consequences of the violence with her young charges.  Leading the English Forces is Sir Thomas Howard, an older, but wizened leader while King Henry VIII fights in France. John Heron of Ford strategizes, and Lord Dacre leads a Calvary force for England. 
​

Blood Divide expertly recounts the battle of Flodden Field through the preparation, battle and aftermath.  Through the points of view of Sir Thomas Howard, Alexander Hume, John Howard, Lord Dacre and Isabella Hoppringle along with letters from other significant players, a wide view of the battle is seen.  Written with accurate and thorough historical fact, the reasoning behind the war is explored, the battle strategy on both sides, the weaponry choices as well as the consequences of victory for the English and defeat for the Scottish.  I was most drawn into Isabella's story.  As the Abbess of Coldstream, she was pulled from her duties to aid the Scottish soldiers with medical care.  With an amazing amount of grace and fortitude, she is able to save some soldiers while caring for others and deal with an amazing amount of carnage and death with the little amount of medical training she was given.  I was also intrigued by the English strategy going into a battle that didn't seem like they would be able to win as well as the Scottish decision to send their King and all of their nobility in the front lines.  I do wish there were better transitions between character points of view as I would get temporarily confused at many of the transition points. Overall, a wonderfully written and researched book about an overlooked battle during King Henry VIII reign.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

0 Comments
    Follow my blog with Bloglovin

    Archives

    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.