Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Sep 14

2

Review & Giveaway: And All That Madness by Joan Merrill

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on September 2, 2014
Posted in Books Read in 2014 • My Past Giveaways  | Tagged With: , , | 9 Comments

And All That MadnessToday it is my pleasure to kick off the tour for Joan Merrill’s ‘And All That Madness’, from her  ‘Casey McKie Mystery Series’.

Book Description:

Publisher:  CreateSpace (February 20 2013)
Category: Mystery
ISBN: 13: 9781 489278981
Tour Dates: September, 2014
Available in: Print , Audio, and E-book, 227 Pages

AND ALL THAT MADNESS is a Casey McKie mystery. When the New York Jazz Society acquires a fifty-year old letter from Georgia Valentine, questions arise over the legendary vocalist’s death. Did she give herself a fatal dose of heroin, as the original investigators ruled, or did someone kill her? And if it was murder, what was the motive?

Casey moves her operation from San Francisco to New York to investigate the cold case, questioning Georgia’s musician friends, her widower, a drug dealer, a Broadway actress, a mafia boss and the authorities who declared the death a suicide. This quest takes Casey to New York’s most venerable jazz clubs, a Harlem nursing home, a mob-owned Italian restaurant, a lesbian bar and One Police Plaza, home of the NYPD.

She joins forces with an attractive detective from the Organized Crime unit, and, as the case progresses, so does their relationship. With no shortage of suspects, Casey ultimately uncovers evidence revealing a surprising killer. Author Joan Merrill has produced yet another captivating mystery as part of her on-going detective series featuring SF detective Casey McKie.

Listen to an Excerpt

My Thoughts:

Casey is in New York investigating the death of a world famous jazz singer, Georgia Valentine.  Did she die of a drug over dose as the coroner, said or was it murder.

Casey takes into the modern day jazz scene as she visits some of the colorful, often seedy locations in New York while she investigates.

And All That Madness makes reference to some of the classic jazz singers, such as Elia Fitzerald.  I loved these references as they made this modern day jazz mystery have the feel of a more classic mystery.

Ms. Merrill’s characters are colorful and quirky and the plot well developed.  Her own love for jazz is very apparent in this novel and she makes the reader want to listen to jazz while they read.  This is a delicious jazz mystery that is not to be missed.  Books from this series do not need to be read in order.  Highly recommended!

5/5

I received the ebook version for my honest review.

About Joan Merrill:Joan Merrill

oan Merrill has written five Casey McKie mysteries, all taking place in the world of jazz:And All That Murder (2009), And All That Sea (2010), And All That Stalking (2011). And All That Madness (2012), And All That Motive(2014).

All books (except Motive, which will be published in early fall), are available at amazon.com and Kindle. And All That Madness is available as an audio book, narrated by long-time KCSM radio host, Alisa Clancy. To download, go to audible.com or iTunes.com or for the CD version, go to joanmerrill.com. An audio book of And All That Stalking is under production.

Joan Merrill has worked in the jazz field for over twenty years, producing fourteen shows for NPR’s Jazz Profiles and four shows for the Smithsonian/PRI series Jazz Singers. She’s represented various jazz singers; produced the video documentary “Saying It with Jazz” featuring Carmen McRae and others; and produced three CDs under her own label. She also created and curates the website: carmenmcrae.com.

Merrill is currently producing a musical revue tribute to Doris Day, entitled “Que Sera! Celebrating Doris Day” with Kristi King. See QueSeraTheMusical.com Paperback versions of the Casey McKie mysteries may be purchased at reduced rates from the website: joanmerrill.com.

Joan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoanMerrill20

Buy And All That Madness:

Amazon
joanmerrill.com
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository

Thanks to Joan Merrill, I am giving away one print copy or ebook.  Print is available to the |U.S. or Canada only.  ebook is available internationally.  This giveaway ends on September 30, 2014.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Sept 2 Review & Giveaway
Christa Reads and Writes Sept 3 Review
rantin’ ravin’ and readin’ Sept. 4  Review & Guest Post
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews Sept 5 Giveaway & Excerpt
Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author Sept 8 Interview
Lady in Read Sept. 9 Review & Giveaway
Pinky’s Favorite Reads Sept. 10 Interview
Mary’s Cup of Tea Sept.12 Review & Giveaway
Confessions Of A Reader Sept 15 Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt Sept 16 Review & Interview
Cassandra M’s Place Sept. 19 Review & Giveaway
Back Porchervations Sept 22 Review & Interview
What U Talking Bout Willis? Sept 23 Review, Giveaway, & Excerpt
Musings from Sri Lanka Sept 24 Review
JBronder Book Reviews  Sept. 26 Review
Amethyst Daydreams Sept 29 Guest Post

Aug 14

24

Review: The Promise by Ann Weisgarber

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on August 24, 2014
Posted in Books Read in 2014 • Historical Fiction  | Tagged With: , , | 7 Comments

Book Description:

From the author of The Personal History of Rachel Dupree, shortlisted for the Orange Award for New Writers and longlisted for the Orange Prize.

1900. Young pianist Catherine Wainwright flees the fashionable town of Dayton, Ohio in the wake of a terrible scandal. Heartbroken and facing destitution, she finds herself striking up correspondence with a childhood admirer, the recently widowed Oscar Williams. In desperation she agrees to marry him, but when Catherine travels to Oscar’s farm on Galveston Island, Texas—a thousand miles from home—she finds she is little prepared for the life that awaits her.

The island is remote, the weather sweltering, and Oscar’s little boy Andre is grieving hard for his lost mother. And though Oscar tries to please his new wife, the secrets of the past sit uncomfortably between them.

Meanwhile for Nan Ogden, Oscar’s housekeeper, Catherine’s sudden arrival has come as a great shock. For not only did she promise Oscar’s first wife that she would be the one to take care of little Andre, but she has feelings for Oscar which she is struggling to suppress. And when the worst storm in a generation descends, the women will find themselves tested as never before.

My Thoughts:

Catherine Wainwright has been scandalized in Ohio society and knows she must leave.  As an accomplished pianist, she this thinks about going somewhere to teach piano but know it would still be a difficult life as a woman alone.  She starts corresponding with an old friend that she grew up with.  Oscar Williams is a recently widowed dairy farmer on the island of Galveston, Texas.  It is a very isolated place.

When Oscar writes to Katherine with a marriage proposal, she hastily accepts and hops on the train.  Oscar meets her at the station, they have lunch and then they get married.  They then take the boat ride to the island and as they approach she sees how remote it really is.

Oscar takes her home to meet his son, Andre, who is still grieving for his mother.  She also meets their housekeeper, Nan who loves both Andre and Oscar,  She was best friends with Oscars wife, whom asked her to take care Andre for her.

Nan has trouble accepting Katherine as Oscars wife and Katherine has trouble getting use to her new family and the lesser cultured people on the island.  However, she does try.

Then, the worst storm of the 20th century in the U.S. hits the island.

The storm really happened and was deemed “the worst natural disaster.”  Ann Weisgarber knew that there were accounts of what happened in Galveston but not on the remote part of the island.

She did a great job capturing the time, place, and landscape.  I felt like I was there with her descriptions.  She also created great characters that came to life.  Ann Weisgarber is the The Personal History of Rachel Dupree, which is on my “to be read”.  Reading The Promise has made me want to read it even more.  I highly recommend The Promise to fans of historical and literary fiction.

5/5

I received this novel for my honest review.

About Ann Weisgarber:Ann Weisgarber

Ann Weisgarber’s first novel was the critically acclaimed The Personal History of Rachel DuPree. She was nominated for England’s 2009 Orange Prize and for the 2009 Orange
Award for New Writers. In the United States, she won the Stephen Turner Award for New Fiction and the Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction. She was shortlisted for the
Ohioana Book Award and was a Barnes and Noble Discover New Writer. She serves on the selection committee for the Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction.

She divides her time between Sugar Land, TX and Galveston, TX. Her website is http://annweisgarber.com.

Aug 14

18

Review: The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on August 18, 2014
Posted in Books Read in 2014 • Historical Fiction  | Tagged With: , | 11 Comments

Ambitious Madame BonaparteBook Description:

Tell the emperor that Madame Bonaparte is ambitious and demands her rights as a member of the imperial family.

As a clever girl in stodgy, mercantile Baltimore, Betsy Patterson dreams of a marriage that will transport her to cultured Europe. When she falls in love with and marries Jerome Bonaparte, she believes her dream has come true—until Jerome’s older brother Napoleon becomes an implacable enemy.

Based on a true story, The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is a historical novel that portrays this woman’s tumultuous life. Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, known to history as Betsy Bonaparte, scandalized Washington with her daring French fashions; visited Niagara Falls when it was an unsettled wilderness; survived a shipwreck and run-ins with British and French warships; dined with presidents and danced with dukes; and lived through the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. Yet through it all, Betsy never lost sight of her primary goal—to win recognition of her marriage.

My Thoughts:

Betsy Patterson dreamed of living in France since she was a little girl.  She didn’t want to live as a boring stereotypical wife in Baltimore.  So, when Jerome Bonaparte came into her life, he was the answer to her prayers.  Much to her father’s dismay, she fell for Jerome hook, line, and sinker.  For awhile she lived with him like royalty, in America.  However, when Jerome was summoned back to France by his brother, Napoleon, it was made clear he was to return without his wife.

Betsy went on many adventurers to try to get Napoleon to accept her, including getting caught up on a sinking ship.  No matter what she did, she was not accepted and her marriage to Jerome was annulled in France.  Jerome was under age when he married and hadn’t received the consent of his mother or brother.

By then Betsy had Jerome’s baby boy and had to start looking out for his welfare.  She wanted more for him than what she has.  Eventually she wanted him to be accepted by his royal family and to live in France with a title.  All he wanted was to settle down in Baltimore with a wife a raise horses.

The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte was part romance and part adventure, all wrapped up in a historical back drop.  There’s something for everyone.

At times I sympathised with Betsy.  I certainly wouldn’t have wanted the life that her own parents wanted for her, what most parents wanted for their daughters at the time.  To be a baby factory like her mother was.

Ruth Hull Chatlien made the characters, the places, and the history come alive.  While reading I felt like I was a good friend of Betsy, accompanying her on all her adventures.  Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte was a strong female, at a time when strong females were not welcome.  Due to Ruth Hull Chatlien, I got to know Betsy and see her through her ups and downs.  I found it very difficult to put this book down and highly recommend it.

5/5

I was provided with an ebook copy from the author for my honest review.

About Ruth Hill Chatlien:

Ruth Hull Chatlien has been a writer and editor of educational materials for twenty-five years. Her specialty is U.S. and world history. She is the author of Modern American Indian Leaders and has published several short stories and poems in literary magazines. The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is her first published novel.

She lives in northeastern Illinois with her husband, Michael, and a very pampered dog named Smokey. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found gardening, knitting, drawing, painting, or watching football.

Website: http://ruthhullchatlienbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruthhullchatlien

‘The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte’ had been named a finalist in the 2014 Readers Favorite Book Award Contest!

Buy The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes

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