Here Comes The King by Philip Lindsay

Description:

“England, 1540.

After a string of of doomed marriages Henry VIII despairs of finding a wife who is both trustworthy and pleasing to him.

When Katherine Howard catches his eye at court, a hope flutters in him which revives the ageing king.

Innocent, beautiful and easy to love, Henry wastes no time in sealing marriage with his new bride and even dreams of another son to join his sickly heir Edward.

But in a court dominated by Henry’s unpredictable passions, not even Katherine is safe.

Henry, no longer the slender, young monarch, had grown bloated and become a glutton with table manners more suited to the farmyard than the palace.

Katherine’s youthful eye begins to wander as she seeks solace with a coterie of lovers …

A dangerous affair is formed and fuelled by daredevil nature of love, and leaves in its wake terrified witnesses.

Surely it is only a matter of time before the King finds out…and in this sinking ship no one will survive… ”

My Review:

This was a cool novel about King Henry VIII’s fifth wive Katherine Howard, it was enjoyable to read, I felt really bad for Katherine Howard especially during the end. I thought the story was really well-written and the characters in the novel felt true to the real life counterparts,

4 out of 5 stars

Once Upon a Dream A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell

Description:

“What if the sleeping beauty never woke up? Once Upon a Dream marks the second book in a new YA line that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways.
It should be simple–a dragon defeated, a slumbering princess in a castle, a prince poised to wake her. But when the prince falls asleep as his lips touch the fair maiden’s, it is clear that this fairy tale is far from over.
With a desperate fairy’s last curse controlling her mind, Princess Aurora must escape from a different castle of thorns and navigate a dangerously magical landscape–created from her very own dreams. Aurora isn’t alone–a charming prince is eager to join her quest, and old friends offer their help. But as Maleficent’s agents follow her every move, Aurora struggles to discover who her true allies are and, moreover, who she truly is. Time is running out. Will the sleeping beauty be able to wake herself up?  ”

This book comes out on April 5th.

My Review:

What a great story, I was a fan of Ms. Braswell from reading the first in the series A Whole New World, and the sequel did not disappoint but was better than the first book. I loved the writing between the real world and Aurora’s new world, all the characters were great and I loved Lianna. I could believe that this could have happened as a movie. I look forward to more in the series and more from the author.

5 out of 5 stars

Daughters of Palatine Hill, The A Novel by Phyllis T. Smith

Description

“Two years after Emperor Augustus’s bloody defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, he triumphantly returns to Rome. To his only child, Julia, he brings an unlikely companion—Selene, the daughter of the conquered Egyptian queen and her lover.

Under the watchful eye of Augustus’s wife, Livia, Selene struggles to accept her new home among her parents’ enemies. Bound together by kinship and spilled blood, these three women—Livia, Selene, and Julia—navigate the dangerous world of Rome’s ruling elite, their every move a political strategy, their most intimate decisions in the emperor’s hands.

Always suppressing their own desires for the good of Rome, each must fulfill her role. For astute Livia, this means unwavering fidelity to her all-powerful husband; for sensual Julia, surrender to an arranged marriage and denial of her craving for love and the pleasures of the flesh; for orphaned Selene, choosing between loyalty to her family’s killers and her wish for revenge.

Can they survive Rome’s deadly intrigues, or will they be swept away by the perilous currents of the world’s most powerful empire?”

Comes out Feb 16, 2016

My Review:

The first thing we're greeted to is a list of the leading players, and I 
really liked that. It helped me create a image of the players before getting
into the story. The story itself was amazing and I liked having multiple 
people narrating chapters. I've always enjoyed this time period and Phyllis 
T. Smith was able to create a wonderful world that I picture during this 
time-period. I felt bad for Cleopatra Selene, she sacrificed so much to live,
 then again none of the three women in the book seem to end happy.
 Really well done.

5 out of 5 stars

In the Company of Evil—Thirty Years of California Crime, 1950-1980 by Michael Thomas Barry

“California’s picturesque shores have always been a magnet for outcasts and criminals. Read about 64 of the most horrifying crimes ever committed in The Golden State, from the early 1950s into the 1980s. These accounts tell of man’s inhumanity toward his fellow man and provide an inside look at infamous serial killers, assassins, sadistic rapists, bank robbers, kidnappers, Satan worshippers, and a plethora of other notorious criminals. Revisit “The Sex Club Slaying,” “The Chowchilla School Bus Kidnapping,” and the “Real House on Haunted Hill.” Be glad you’re not on the helpful list of “The Lonely Hearts Killer” or “Souls for Satan.” Written in an accessible, chronological sequence and enhanced by over 60 photographs, each entry provides an overview of the crime, the parties involved, evidence gathered, and leading theories about solutions. This reference is indispensable for the study of the history of modern crime in California.”

This book comes out March 28th 2016

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this, it was well-written and had really interesting 
facts and cases in it. I loved how organized it was and I couldn't put it down. 
I liked that they included photos to go along with the cases. I also thought the 
length of each event was perfect and never was boring. Overall I really enjoyed
 reading this book.

5 out of 5 stars