This n' That: Scalzi, Guy Mark Foster + Updates

Hey, how is everyone! I've been missing lately, I know, and slow in posting, but so far this has been one of those tough blogging months for me. Let's see... I had one long week of migraines that would not go away, I am still serving on Grand Jury duty every Thursday and won't be done until the end of February. That means double duty at the office. I can't seem to catch up no matter what I do! Plus, the situation with my mom seems to be deteriorating and it is both an emotionally draining and stressful time for all of us.

But you wonder if I've been reading, I have! Reading is one of those personal joys that I need to keep going. So what have I read lately? What am I reading now? I think I've chosen to read everything but "romance," and by that I mean mainstream contemporary and historical romance.

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I have been keeping up with John Scalzi's new science fiction serial, The Human Division and read, Episode #3: We Only Need the Heads, and Episode #4: A Voice in the Wilderness. In We Only Need the Heads, Scalzi returns to the Ambassador's negotiating team and Harry Wilson, cleverly weaving in the events that took place in the wildcat colony featured in Walk the Plank. In A Voice in the Wilderness, Earth is the setting and readers get an inkling as to how the Colonial Union is viewed from their perspective. Political ramifications, manipulation by and of the media play a big part in this installment and I love that this episode ended with a bit of bang! I have Episode #5: Tales from the Clarke in my queue to read, but didn't get to it yet.

I'm really enjoying this serial, folks! So far Scalzi has alternated between the overall storyarc involving negotiations between the Colonial Union and different aliens and key events that affect or will affect those negotiations. So far some of the individual episodes work well on their own while others do not, and as a whole book the flow may seem a bit choppy. However, as the story moves along and revelations come to light, it works. I think that after Tales from the Clarke the story may flow better. I will let you know. So far this is a solid B read for me.

The 2013 Science Fiction Experience 
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Earlier in the month I highlighted The Rest of Us: Stories by Guy Mark Foster. Foster is a gay African-American writer whose collection of gay fiction stories turned out to be fantastic. I purchased the digital edition, began to browse and ended up reading the whole book in one sitting.

The collection begins with "Boy," a short piece that sets the tone for the rest of the book, where a father explains to his son what manhood is all about, "rest the ankle of one leg on the opposite leg's knee-never cross one leg over the other's knee, and people won't too easily peg you for the punk you are right under my very roof due to become; " and ends with the amazing "Between Us," a story in letter form addressed to "Dear M" where Foster's character Mark attempts to explain to his former white lover why he tends to push people away. Foster's character explains that in addition to being black and gay he also has to "navigate the ever present complexities" of racial history: "simply being a human being presents a whole host of conflicts, but to be gay and of African descent in our society only increases those conflicts."

In between, Foster's wonderful collection of stories captures the social and cultural complexities of growing up as a gay African-American male while dealing with difficult family issues, religion, racial differences, racism, homophobia, and snapshots of men who continue to love men regardless of the obstacles. Highly recommended, this was an A- read for me.

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Then, I got all caught up reading Jordan Castillo Price's addicting PsyCop series. Now, some of the books in this series have been sitting in my eReader for years. No kidding. So yeah... I gloamed and read: Among the Living #1, Criss Cross #2, Secrets #3, Body & Soul #4, Camp Hell #5, GhosTV, Book #6 plus the novellas Many Happy Returns, Striking Sparks and In the Dark, to complete my reading experience. As you can imagine, I really enjoyed that experience, otherwise I would not have read all of these books consecutively. Expect an overview of the whole series soon!

I'm not done with Jordan Castillo Price yet. I'm planning on reading more of her series, plus Hermovore. All books already in my Kindle. Can't wait!

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I began but have not finished The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke. I really wanted to concentrate on that book and unfortunately my migraines hit while I was in the middle of it and I had to place it aside for another time. Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone suffered the same fate. This is a book that has been sitting in my Kindle since last year and I was enjoying it so much! But, I really needed the time to concentrate on the world building which is quite intricate and unfortunately my head was not in the right place to do so. So I will be reading it at another time. Hopefully soon.

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What Am I Reading Now?

Two upcoming March releases: In Search Of and Others is a collection of speculative fiction stories by Will Ludwigsen that's working perfectly for me at this time because I can read and enjoy a few stories at a time in between other books. I will let you know how it turns out when I'm done, but there are some great stories in this collection so far.

The other book I'm reading is Rigoberto González's upcoming creative nonfiction release from UA Press, Red-Inked Retablos. This is another book that I'm thoroughly enjoying. It is totally different from my other reads in that it is nonfiction, but because the book is essentially a collection of distinct essays it can also be read slowly. So far a great read.

That's it for now folks! Hope those of you in the U.S. are enjoying President's Day.

Poetry: Natural Takeover of Small Things by Tim Z. Hernandez

Natural Takeover of Small Things
by Tim Z. Hernandez

Natural Takeover of Small Things by Tim Z. Hernandez is an intimate portrayal of life in California's San Joaquin Valley with all its beauty and exposed flaws. Mr. Hernandez's poetry is personal and while some poems are rendered with deeply moving, lyrical and rhythmic prose, others are rather straight forward, raw and cutting in nature. There is no real place for nostalgia in Hernandez's memories of "home;" instead there is realism filled with love and care in the shaping of moments, places and people who live and die in the valley -- from campesinos who work the land to those who become collateral damage.

The culture of the West and Western Latino culture permeate Hernandez's poetry. Readers experience the pride embodied by hardworking men and women, as well as substandard living conditions, wasted lives, and personal loses. But there is also taste and smell to savor in Hernandez's poetry: menudo, lengua, the fruits of the valley, the earthy smell of the campo -- the beauty and the tragedy.

This 80 page book is divided into three sections: The Arms in Dead Heat, San Joaquin Sutra, and Natural Takeover of Small Things.

I. Arms in Dead Heat includes memories of life in the San Joaquin Valley beginning with the poem that hooked me, Home:

Fresno is the inexhaustible nerve
in the twitching leg of a dog [...]

II. San Joaquin Sutra describes the beauty and the tragedy;

[...]
San Joaquin Valley,
where tired faces water quaint gardens with cut hoses,
bending to bury
the corn next to the sugarcane, reaching
for the avocado on the highest branch,
the melon's elusive fragrance
in all directions toward all the windows in all the houses on all the streets,
sweet invisible nectars drifting
in vastness of big sky
where taunts a kite
broken free
of its
strings.

☀ ☀ ☀

San Joaquin -
where sickly bodies of old Texan mothers draped in aprons of sunflower
and waning seasons sit idly by, waiting for some slick cancer to escort
their last days to proms of disintegration, while the souls of
amputated limbs
twitch anxious habits for workloads of the waiting day, [...]

III. Natural Takeover of Small Things is full of reflections on those little details that make up life and bring eventual death, the letting go of one life to begin another. Adios, Fresno says is all . . .

Adios, Fresno
You could use more letters of love.
Here, take these. You owe me nothing, except back pay.
But I won't mention it again.
Trust me when I say I'll have no regrets leaving you. [...]

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About the Author: Tim Z. Hernandez is a poet, novelist, and performance artist whose awards include the 2006 American Book Award, the 2010 Premio Aztlan Prize in Fiction, and the James Duval Phelan Award from the San Francisco Foundation. He is the author of a previous book of poetry, Skin Tax, and the novel Breathing in Dust. In 2011 the Poetry Society of America named him one of sixteen New American Poets. His novel of historical fiction, Mañana Means Heaven, based on the life of Bea Franco, will release in Fall of 2013. He holds a BA from Naropa University and an MFA from Bennington College.

Category: Poetry
Series: Camino del Sol: A Latina and Latino Literary Series
ARC provided by Publisher: The University of Arizona Press
Publication Date: February 21, 2013

All poetry quotes taken from Natural Takeover of Small Things by Tim Z. Hernandez. © Tim Z. Hernandez, 2013.

Mini: How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox

How to Misbehave
by Ruthie Knox

How to Misbehave is a novella that serves as a prequel to the new Camelot contemporary romance series by Ruthie Knox planned for release on March 2013.

Tony Mazzara has a well-earned "bad boy" reputation, and Amber Clark suffers from the "good girl" syndrome. Amber is the director at the Camelot Community Centre for the small town and Tony works for the family construction company along with his brother Patrick. The two get stuck alone in the center's basement during a tornado warning and not only do they get to know each other through conversation but a mutual sexual attraction ignites and explodes. After all of it is over they consummate the attraction, but Tony has some heavy baggage that prevents him from seeking happiness while Amber falls for him hook, line, and sinker.

This is a short novella that packs heat and then some. It also packs emotion which elevates the somewhat predictable storyline. Knox works the short format with a deft hand by developing her characters and giving readers an understanding of what is really behind Tony's self-imposed punishment and Amber's need to misbehave. Knox wisely ends the novella with a possible future for this couple. It is the perfect ending, particularly for Tony's character who accepts the possibility of happiness and not more.

Category: Contemporary Romance
Series: Camelot (# 0.5)
Publisher/Release Date: Random House/January 28, 2013
Format: eBook, 96 pages
Grade: B+

Visit Ruthie Knox here.

Review: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley is a combination historical fiction and contemporary with romances taking place during both time lines and running parallel to each other. Kearsley uses one central character, Carrie McClelland, to tie both storylines and romances together.

James VIII of Scotland
(1688 - 1766)  

Carrie McClelland is a seasoned historical fiction author writing a historical fiction romance that took place in the midst of the failed Jacobite conspiracy to return James Stuart or James VIII to the throne of Scotland in 1708. Unfortunately, Carrie is suffering from writer's block, but while visiting Scotland fate takes a hand and she ends up at a place that calls to her, Slains Castle in Cruden Bay and there meets a man with winter sea eyes. Carry moves to a cottage within sight of the Slains Castle and begins the process of writing her story from the perspective for a fictional woman as the central character, one she names after a long-dead Scottish ancestor, Sophia Paterson. At first her story seems to spill out of her with characters and situations so vivid and real that she can't seem to stop writing, but slowly Carry's research shows that her characters and events, down to the smallest details, were indeed true. Carry ends up with more questions than answers. How can this be happening?

Admiral Thomas Gordon
(1658-1741)

This is where I fell in love with this book. Kearsley seamlessly weaves two beautiful stories together. She focuses the historical fiction romance of the young, orphaned Mistress Sophia Paterson whose kinswoman the Countess of Erroll, mother to the Earl of Errol takes her in to live as her companion in Slains Castle at Cruden Bay. Soon, Sophia is embroiled in a Jacobite conspiracy to return James Stuart or James VIII to the Scottish throne and meets the young and loyal Jacobite John Moray who already has a price on his head for treason against the crown. Kearsley then proceeds to weave a gorgeous romance between these two characters that is full of danger, betrayal, excitement, angst, and timeless love.

James, 4th Duke of Hamilton
(1658 - 1712)

I love that within this romance Kearsley includes historical characters John Moray, Nathaniel Hooke, Captain Thomas Gordon, the Duke of Hamilton, the Earl of Erroll, his mother the Countess of Erroll, and more. However, these characters are not portrayed as two-dimensional historical figures but become viable characters in the novel that contribute to both the story and the romance. I was particularly taken by the Countess of Erroll whose characterization is extremely well-rendered, as is Thomas Gordon. Sophia and Moray's romance made me sigh out loud, bite my nails at the danger they both faced, and cry. . . Yes, this was an emotional read for me.

But Kearsley's main character is Carrie McClellan and she is a historical fiction romance writer, so think of this as a romance within a romance. By setting up the story this way, Kearsley uses her character's portrayal as a writer to incorporate pertinent historical background and deftly avoids making it feel like info-dump, instead history becomes a key element of the exciting romance/story Carrie is weaving. However, this set-up also serves to give readers an intimate view into a writers world: how they conduct research, the writing process, and even little details like daily routines, and even relationships with readers. I loved that little peek into a writers' world.

All of those details are an intrinsic part of the contemporary storyline which includes a straight forward romance with Carrie as the female protagonist. This romance narrated in the first point of view from Carrie's perspective has little angst and not much conflict, but it includes some of my favorite secondary characters and it ties in quite well with the historical fiction story and romance. Additionally, in Mariana I loved how Kearsley executed the time-travel aspect of her story, in The Winter Sea although on the surface the end result of how Carrie gains knowledge about a different period in time may sound similar, in reality it is quite different and if not necessarily as arresting to me, how Kearsley develops this aspect of the story is definitely intriguing.

Kearsley's writing swept me away to Scotland, both to 1708 and contemporary times. This is only my second read by this author, but I'm loving her writing style, the excellent fusion of historical fiction romance and contemporary romance that she uses to whisk me away to another time while simultaneously keeping me grounded to the present, and her talent for bringing historical characters to life and creating a romance that stays with me. So, the end result is that I will definitely continue to explore her backlist with pleasure.

Slains Castle, Cruden Bay, Scotland

Part I: Group Read: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley hosted by Christine of The happily ever after...

Part II: Group Read The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Highlighting... The Rest of Us: Stories by Guy Mark Foster

The Rest of Us: Stories by Guy Mark Foster

Releasing February 7th

''Love makes us all vulnerable. Guy Mark Foster's exquisitely crafted new collection The Rest of Us cradles that vulnerability in crystal-clear yet cryptic language. And story after story within this deeply engaging book portrays what it means to love even more dangerously, to live for love that's marked by race, sex, age, and class as 'other.' From visions of clubbing immortals to elegiac letters written by regretful adulterers,The Rest of Us rings true notes, dances surely through complicated steps, and offers intimate, detailed vignettes of heroes who surprise readers and themselves with their despair, determination, and hope.'' --Nisi Shawl, acclaimed co-author of Writing the Other: Bridging Cultural Differences for Successful Fiction

A remarkable collection of short stories that embrace the breadth and depth of being a gay African-American, The Rest of Us approaches life from the angst of youth and first love to the familiarities of cruising and romancing later in life. The boys and men in Guy Mark Foster's tales refuse to be bound by the heavy chains of oppressive religion in the family household or racism encountered on campus. And this strength will be needed to face the passions stirring in their chests, their bedrooms, their lives. From the restlessness of "Lasius niger (The Black Ant)" to familiar discord in "Legacy" and the promise of love in "This Man and Me," Foster's is a voice that will resonate with all readers.

I love the idea behind Lethe Press' Tincture imprint. Tincture showcases quality fiction written by authors whose stories bring to the forefront the gay experience as experienced from different cultural perspectives. I've read and loved a few of the books from their catalogue: The Abode of Bliss: Ten Stories for Adam by Alex Jeffers, Slant by Timothy Wang, and From Macho to Mariposa: New Gay Latino Fiction edited by Charles Rice-González and Charlie Vázquez. All winners! Needless to say my expectations for The Rest of Us: Stories by Guy Mark Foster are high.

Gay Fiction / African-American Fiction
A Tincture imprint of Lethe Press
Paperback, 180 pages

January 2013: Recap + The Vintage Science Fiction Month

January is already over! I can't believe it... I guess it is true that "time flies when you are having fun." And I had lots of fun during this first month of the year reading and blogging about different types of science fiction reads, both the old and the new.

I would love to thank The Little Red Reviewer for hosting The Vintage Science Fiction Month. Not only did I read a few oldies but goodies, but I also added to my "to read" list by visiting other blogs and reading some excellent reviews posted by fellow participants. I am also participating in The 2013 Science Fiction Experience hosted by CarlV from Stainless Steel Droppings and enjoying it to the fullest, but I still have one more month of enjoyment left and planning to read quite a few books too.

Books read & Related Posts:
Andre Norton: Sargasso of Space (Solar Queen #1)
Group Read: Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Parts I & II)
Group Read: Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Parts III & IV)
Sci Fi Books Old and New: When the price is right
Andre Norton: Storm Over Warlock (Forerunners, Book #1)
Plague Ship (Solar Queen #1) by Andre Norton (Not reviewed but recommended)
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AND, here is my recap of all books read for the entire month of January:

Total books read: 19
 Contemporary: 5
 Historical: 3 (Fiction/Romance: 1, Historical Romance: 2)
 Science Fiction: 8
 LGBT: 3 (Gay Mystery/Romance)

Grades:
A=2
B=10
C=7

1)   The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley: A-
2)   Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry: A-
3)   Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey: B+
4)   Plague Ship (Solar Queen #1)by Andre Norton (Not reviewed but recommended): B
5)   Taking the Reins (Roped & Tangled #1) by Kat Murray: B
6)   Sargasso of Space (Solar Queen #1)by Andre Norton: B
7)   The Human Division #1: The B-Team by John Scalzi: B
8)   Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey (Kowalski #1): B
9)   How to Misbehave (Camelot #1) by Ruthie Knox: B+
10) Deadly Wrong (Deadly Mystery #2) by Victor J. Banis: B
11) Deadly Nightshade (Deadly Mystery #1) by Victor J. Banis: B-
12) Deadly Dreams (Deadly Mystery #3) by Victor J. Banis: B-
13) Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey: C+
14) The Seduction of Elliot McBride (Highland Pleasures #5) by Jennifer Ashley: C+
15) Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers: C+
16) The Human Division #2: Walk the Plan by John Scalzi: C
17) Storm Over Warlock (Forerunners, Book #1) by Andre Norton: C
18) Seven Sexy Cowboy Robots by Sandra McDonald: C
19) Bound to You by Bethany Kane: C-

Favorite books of the month: Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry, The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (upcoming review for Read-along hosted by Christine from The happily ever after...), and the Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey.

To Read: Jan/Feb 2013 SFF Releases & More

Lately I've read and reviewed more science fiction books than usual. I've also browsed through catalogues checking out new or old SFF books and as a result have been inundated with recommendations. A few of the new releases by new-to-me authors caught my eye and have been added to my "to read" pile.

In Print:

The Kassa Gambit by M.C. Planck
Release Date: January 8, 2013

Centuries after the ecological collapse of Earth, humanity has spread among the stars. Under the governance of the League, our endless need for resources has driven us to colonize hundreds of planets, all of them devoid of other sentient life. Humanity is apparently alone in the universe.

Then comes the sudden, brutal decimation of Kassa, a small farming planet, by a mysterious attacker. The few survivors send out a desperate plea for aid, which is answered by two unlikely rescuers. Prudence Falling is the young captain of a tramp freighter. She and her ragtag crew have been on the run and living job to job for years, eking out a living by making cargo runs that aren’t always entirely legal. Lt. Kyle Daspar is a police officer from the wealthy planet of Altair Prime, working undercover as a double agent against the League. He’s been undercover so long he can't be trusted by anyone—even himself.

While flying rescue missions to extract survivors from the surface of devastated Kassa, they discover what could be the most important artifact in the history of man: an alien spaceship, crashed and abandoned during the attack.

But something tells them there is more to the story. Together, they discover the cruel truth about the destruction of Kassa, and that an imminent alien invasion is the least of humanity’s concerns.

Ice Forged (The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga #1) by Gail Z. Martin
Release Date: January 8, 2013

Condemned as a murderer for killing the man who dishonored his sister, Blaine "Mick" McFadden has spent the last six years in Velant, a penal colony in the frigid northern wastelands. Harsh military discipline and the oppressive magic keep a fragile peace as colonists struggle against a hostile environment. But the supply ships from Dondareth have stopped coming, boding ill for the kingdom that banished the colonists.

Now, as the world's magic runs wild, McFadden and the people of Velant must fight to survive and decide their fate ...

From Gail Z. Martin, author of the beloved series THE CHRONICLES OF THE NECROMANCER and THE FALLEN KINGS CYCLE, comes a new fantasy adventure for the ages.

Welcome to the end of the world.
Welcome to the beginning of THE ASCENDANT KINGDOMS SAGA.

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Release Date: January 8, 2013

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

In my Kindle:

The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Release Date: January 29, 2013

“Cat, this is Finn. He’s going to be your tutor.”

Finn looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task now is to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion… and more.

But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world.

On Pre-order in Print:

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan
Releasing: February 5, 2013

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

2013 Sci Fi Experience

All the above books caught my interest for different reasons, but I absolutely LOVE the delicacy and beautiful details found in Todd Lockwood's illustration of the cover for A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent.

On the other hand, the book summary that just calls to me is that of The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke. That little sentence underneath the title,"A Tale of Love, Loss and Robots," sold me! That means that I will probably read this book first. 

Note I say probably above because with me you never know! The Kassa Gambit and Ice Forged look to be great adventures, and Paper Valentine a quieter mystery but totally out of my usually reading scope since it falls under young adult also looks great. I might just pick that one up first. Who knows? I will let you know soon. :D

The Human Division #2: Walk the Plank by John Scalzi

Wildcat colonies are illegal, unauthorized and secret so when an injured stranger shows up at the wildcat colony New Seattle, the colony leaders are understandably suspicious of who he is and what he represents. His story of how he came to their colony is shocking, surprising, and might have bigger consequences than anyone could have expected.

The second installment of John Scalzi's The Human Division serial Walk the Plank is quite different from the first, The B-Team.Scalzi sets this rather short piece (90 pages) in the wildcat colony, New Seattle where a young man and the rest of his shipmates land after having been made to "walk the plank" by space pirates.

This short story is set up to read like a transcript with four characters and the young man narrating events while the unauthorized wildcat colony leader makes decisions about the man's immediate future. Walk the Plank reads like a chapter in a book that will probably advance the overall storyarc, but doesn't necessarily stand well on its own, lacking the excitement and completeness of The B-Team. However, it gives the reader an idea of what to expect when it comes to ruthless actions and characters to be found in this world. I know that I'm already speculating about where Scalzi is going with this story and can't wait to read the next installment.

2013 Sci Fi Experience

Category: Science Fiction
Series: The Human Division
Publisher/Release Date: Tor Books/January 22, 2013
Grade: C

Series:
The Human Division #1: The B-Team

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The Human Division is John Scalzi's new thirteen-episode novel in the world of his bestselling Old Man's War. Beginning on January 15, 2013, a new episode of The Human Division will appear in e-book form every Tuesday. Each episode is 0.99 cents.

Look for the new episode releasing tomorrow, January 29th. The Human Division #3: We Only Need the Heads.

Review: Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers

Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers

A notorious rake is about to make the ultimate faux pas—fall in love with his own wife.

Gil Truman has eyes only for the beautiful Tilly—until he is forced to marry plain, sickly Rose Davenport to reclaim the lands his father foolishly gambled away. After a disastrous wedding night tainted with his bitterness, he deposits Rose at his remote Northumbrian estate, soothing his guilt with the thought that she need never lay eyes on him again.

Five years after the mortifying wedding night that destroyed all her romantic fantasies, Rose is fed up with hearing second- and third-hand reports of Gil’s philandering ways. She is no longer the shy, homely girl he left behind, but a strong, confident woman who knows how to run an estate. And knows what she wants—her husband, back in their marriage bed.

Gil doesn’t recognize the bold, flirtatious woman he meets at a ball, with or without her mask. Yet he is bewitched and besotted, and their night together is the most passionate he has ever known.

But when he confesses his sins to the beautiful stranger, the truth rips open the old wounds of their blighted history. Threatening any hope of a future together.

I loved Joanna Chambers' debut novel The Lady's Secret where she managed to give that old cross-dressing heroine trope a new fresh twist, so I looked forward to reading her second foray into historical romance. In Unforgivable Ms. Chambers again tackles a well-known trope, this time it is the marriage of convenience.

Gil Truman's father gambles away the family's lands and properties, forcing Gil to marry the sickly and very young Rose Davenport to save them from ruin. Gil loves Tilly but marries Rose and after a terrible night together bitterly rejects and leaves her at his Northumbrian country estate for five years. During those five years Rose grows from an insecure young lady into a strong, beautiful woman who makes the best out of a raw deal. She is admirable, if too soft and easily forgiving of Gil. Gil, in the meantime, becomes a philanderer known throughout London for his multiple affairs and beautiful mistresses.

Rose wants a real marriage and decides to confront Gil personally in London, but when they first meet at a masked ball and Gil doesn't recognize her, Rose lies about her identity. Gil falls hard for this beautiful woman and the two have a short, passionate affair. Hurt after some truths surface, Rose retreats to the country without telling Gil the truth. Soon after Rose contacts Gil with news that brings him rushing to the country estate where he finds out that the woman he fell in love with was his own lying wife. After five long years, this neglected marriage finally gets a second chance, but can they get over the hurt feelings and bitterness?

I like Joanna Chambers' writing style and hope to enjoy more of her historical novels in the future. As a matter of fact, Unforgivable is a well executed romance. Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy parts of this romance because of a personal disconnect with the unsympathetic male protagonist that did not change at the end. The female protagonist is portrayed as a woman of strength and a sympathetic, emotionally available character. I connected with her although under the circumstances I found her to be much more forgiving than expected.

Unforgivable is a quick read with excellent flow, and truthfully I read it in one sitting because I wanted to know what Gil was going to pull next. Gil is a superficial fool who initially has valid reasons to be bitter about how things turn out for him but errs by placing the blame on the wrong person, Rose, and unfortunately as the story moves along compounds that error with continuous bitterness and actions that make it tough to sympathize with him. It's interesting because this behavior continues even after he falls in love with Rose! Rose is forgiving and takes too much responsibility for the situation between them, particularly since Gil is pretty much intractable. Frankly Gil is more than a flawed character, he becomes irredeemable almost to the very end.

Unforgivable is a well written historical romance with a sympathetic heroine and what I think of as an "irredeemable" hero. The story is riddled with lots of angst and conflict and a too easy resolution with passion found in the middle of it all.

Category: Historical Romance
Series: None
Publisher/Release Date: Samhain/January 15, 2013
Grade: C+

Visit Joanna Chambers here.