The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned by Anne Rice

ISBN13: 9780345360007
Historical Romance/Horror, 436 pages
Published by Ballantine Books

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed (and returned)

This was a book highly recommended. It’s also the first Anne Rice I’ve ever read.

After finishing this novel, I’m don’t feel it’s representative of her best work.

Not that it’s that bad. The beginning popped for me and I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and characters. Bascially, this is a love story between a mummy brought to life and the daughter of the man who freed him from his tomb.

Sounds…unique. And it is. But to a point.

By the time Ramses and his modern love Julie return to Egypt, I was a little peeved at the way some of the characters and their storyline were being handled. Not to mention feeling that some of the subplots were more distracting than they should have been.

I had to remind myself I’m not reading a piece of literature that requires such scrutiny. In letting go of these prejudices, I did enjoy the read more, but not enough to post a rave review about it.

The last part of the book, just couldn’t keep me page turning like I did in the beginning.

I can see why she’s a popular writer and I look forward to reading the Mayfair witch series. I also cannot wait to finally read Interview With A Vampire.

So this wasn’t a bad introduction and I’m crossing my fingers I learn to like Anne Rice as much as her fans. I see the potential, but time will tell.

Outlanderby Diana Gabaldon
ISBN: 9780385319959
Historical Romance, 656 pages
Dell Books

FTC Disclosure: Digital edition from KoboBooks.com

For all of you who told me this series was one of the best you’ve ever read and I’d love it, you were right!

On my e-Reader this listed at 742 pages, but it never felt like I was reading such an epic.

Historical fiction has always been my favorite genre, but historical romances have been more hits than misses. This is a definite hit – bulls-eye as a matter of fact.

If I found myself skipping anything, it was because I was trying to read faster than my eyes were able.

Immediately I was drawn in by the premise and the rendering of it. The author is a gifted storyteller who can create characters as alive as if they truly existed. It’s no wonder throngs of fans have already cast the movie. What’s even more telling, is that many agree on the actors they would choose. The character’s descriptions and personalities are so vivid.

Time travel in fiction is not new. In this novel it is handled well and if not believable, it is at least plausible if you have any imagination at all.

This is a historical romance through and through. Beginning in post World War II England, then transitioning to eighteenth century Scotland, the story follows Claire Randall as she struggles to deal with a new reality: time travel. She is trapped in a place and time she has some knowledge of, but only just enough to get by. However it is not enough to keep her out of trouble and danger.

Adding to the uncertainty is Jamie Fraser. Their attraction and subsequent relationship makes Claire re-evaluate her life and her future, which interestingly enough, depends strongly on what she has encountered in the past – namely Jamie.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the remaining books in the series.

A highly, highly recommended read!

And when I think of literary romance, I think of Scarlett and Rhett. Cathy and Heathcliff. Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre. The list goes on.

I’ve read several good ones in my quest to broaden my horizons. But they are those that some would not consider a true romance. In fact, I found that they crossed over well into other genres.

These two books I received from Kensington Press, showed me the other, perhaps more realistic side of the coin. The type of Romance novels most fans of the genre choose and enjoy.

They have helped me come to the realization that it may be entirely possible, that I am a literary snob. I can see me reading these types of books from time to time, but to feel about them the same way I do Historical Fiction? Not likely.

I consider myself an honest reviewer. So, it wouldn’t be fair to the author and those many fans she’s earned over the years to give these negative reviews simply because I don’t favor the genre. Hence the following reviews may come off a bit  “colder” than what my readers are used to.

If He’s Sinful by Hannah Howell
Historical Romance, 323 pages
Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing Group

Review copy courtesy of the Publisher

If He’s Sinful is the second book in a series about the Wherlocke family. I hadn’t read any other books in this series, but the author presents her characters and plot in such a way, that I never felt I was missing anything.

According to the book blurb:

It is whispered throughout London that the members of the Wherlocke family are possessed of certain, unexplainable gifts. But Lord Ashton Radmoor is skeptical – until he discovers an innocent beauty lying drugged and helpless in the bedroom of a brothel.

The gifts mentioned are those of sight (seeing ghosts) and other paranormal abilities such as telekinesis. Considering the setting of the book, this offers a more complicated conflict than simply a poor women or man falling in love above or below their social standing. Add a murder mystery, and this develops into a more meatier story than I had first anticipated.

Wild Conquest by Hannah Howell
Historical Romance, 330 pages
Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing Group

Review copy courtesy of the Publisher

As for Wild Conquest:

Pleasance Dunstan is used to silently bearing the cruelties put upon her by her thoughtless family. But nothing can prepare her for the greatest indignity of all: being sold into servitude to a man as wild as Tearlach O’Duine. His untamed ways are whispered of throughout town, and he has set his sights on Pleasance to be more than his servant. He will have her in his bed.

Some readers may be challenged by the author duplicating Tearlach’s accent in writing. However, after a bit I became used to it, although at times it was an effort, albeit a small one.

I must advise you here, that there are sex scenes. However, I didn’t find any of them offensive. And I don’t mean in terms of the graphic nature of them, for they are graphic. What pleased me more was that she never overused terms and situations for that particular story.

I would note though, that when I read the second book, there are scenes of a similar in construction. I hate to say it was formulaic, and that if you read one sex scene, you’ve read them all, it wasn’t necessarily that way. I believe the reason for this is the writer is skilled enough to build the story in a way that the flow was kept at a good pace so these interludes, and their similarities, were never a huge distraction.

For those who read romances for this aspect, then you will definitely find these to your liking. Both books are quick, enjoyable reads; ones to take on a trip, a vacation, or for a few stolen hours away from the hustle and bustle of life.

I am not a huge fan of romance as a genre, but so far, all I have read are ones I would recommend to those who are fans, including these.

If you’ve reviewed Hannah Howell, please leave a link in your comment (if you choose to leave one).  always encourage readers to never listen to one voice, and especially one who clearly admits not being a true fan. I’m sure they will appreciate being directed to other opinions, I know I do.

Hannah Howell is a best-selling author of over 32 historical romance novels. Many of  them set in medieval Scotland. She also writes under the names Sandra Dustin and Anna Jennet. (courtesy of Wikipedia)