Spare by Prince Harry

 

Title:  Spare

Author:  Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

Narrated by:  Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

Publisher: Random House Audio

Length: Approximately 15 hours and 39 minutes

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Are you a fan of the royal family?  Although I am American, I have always enjoyed reading about the royal family of the United Kingdom.  Spare is Prince Harry’s tell all memoir that was much publicized.  This was the August pick for the Page-turners Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library.

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       Prince Harry’s memoir started with his mother’s, Princess Diana’s, death.  This was a defining moment in his life and many of his actions through his life have all been based on this.

·       Harry’s relationship problems with William seem to be typical brother woes but made to be worse by the separateness of family members.  Treating two brothers so very differently is going to cause problems.  I was horrified by the details Harry included that were personal and would have been best discussed directly with family members rather than in a tell all memoir.

·       Prince Harry read the book himself, which I greatly enjoyed.  He has a nice voice.

·       The memoir seemed raw and honest; it was Harry’s truth as he sees it.

·       I am not sure I believe that Harry should have written about his family like this.

·       Harry really hates the paparazzi, and it seems to consume his life.

·       He has a real fear of not having himself and family protected, and I understand that.

·       You can feel his love for Meghan in this book.  You can also feel the love that his father has for him.  I’m sad that they are estranged.

·       Harry has had a lot to live with being in the public eye, his mother’s death, and PTSD from his military service.  I hope he can get the help he needs, and I hope he learns to keep some things private and to appreciate the family he has while he has them.

Overall, Spare was an interesting memoir, and I am glad I listened to the audiobook.  It did make me wonder about our insatiable curiosity about the royal family.  Living under the microscope can benefit family members like Harry who are looking for an income, but it really seems to strain family relationships.

The Windsor Conspiracy by Georgie Blalock (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Windsor Conspiracy by Georgie Blalock.

Do you have a favorite color of flowers?  I love all flower colors, but red is one of my favorite colors.  I really like my red lilies that are blooming right now in my garden.  My lilies have been having a hard time this year as I have a couple of rabbits that are eating them.

Amelia Montague is a young cousin of Wallis Simpson.  After a personal tragedy of her own, Amelia leaves America to be a private secretary to her cousin Wallis in Europe.  She arrives just in time to witness Wallis Simpson marry Edward VIII after he has abdicated the throne of England.  The now Duke and Duchess of Windsor remain exiled in France.  Amelia at first is eager to learn about her new role and is touched at how Wallis helps her out of her difficulties.  As the world inches towards WWII, Amelia becomes concerned about the relationship between the Duke and Duchess and their friends in Germany.  Are they giving military secrets to the Germans?  Why are they banished to the Bahamas?  Are they still spying even in their banishment?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I have always found the love story between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson to be so romantic.  This story definitely took the stars out of my eyes as it detailed the callous way that Wallis treated the Duke as well as their traitorous activities with the Germans.  Both Wallis and the Duke were very self-centered people.

·       In the acknowledgement section at the end of the novel, author Georgie Blalock details the very real history she used to put together the story of the Duke and Duchess.  She also used various books about people who worked for the Duke and Duchess to come up with the fictional character of Amelia.

·       I especially enjoyed it when Amelia became a spy for MI5 and the FBI.  I did feel stressed though as Amelia spied on Wallis and tried to get the information to the proper people.

·       There is a light romance in this novel between Amelia and Robert, an employee at the American embassy.  I adored it.

·       The characters were very interesting and richly imagined.  It was quite the time to be living.  I found myself at first liking Wallis and then greatly disliking her.  She was an interesting multi-layered character.

·       I read this book quickly.  It was engaging and fascinating to read.

·       Favorite quote, “Wallis had said the best revenge was a life well lived.  She’d been right.”

Overall, The Windsor Conspiracy is an engaging story set before and during WWII focused on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and their traitorous activities.  I enjoyed Cousin Amelia’s spunk as she investigates them.

The Queen’s Faithful Companion by Eliza Knight (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Queen’s Faithful Companion by Eliza Knight.

What is your favorite book featuring dogs?  I have so many favorites.  One favorite is The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford.

The Queen’s Faithful Companion by Eliza Knight is the story of the extraordinary relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her faithful corgi, Susan.  Susan was a gift from her father, King George VI, on her 18^th birthday.  Susan is with her through her service in WWII, courtship and marriage to Philip, the birth of her first child Charles, and her accension to the throne.  She couldn’t care for her dogs and be Queen without her loyal helpers.  Hanna Penwyck helps to care for Susan when she isn’t with the Queen and has her own ups and downs in life. 

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I really enjoyed the three different viewpoints of this novel – Queen Elizbeth, Susan, and Hanna Penwyck.  It was interesting to contrast and compare Elizabeth and Hanna’s lives.  They were in the same girl guide troop at Windsor as children, but now lead different, but interconnected lives.

·       I thought this was an interesting and unique way to tell the story of Queen Elizabeth’s younger years and Great Britain during that time period.

·       I love dogs and this made me think about whether a corgi would be right for me in the future.  Daisy Beagle says no.  I enjoyed that Susan the corgi had her own viewpoint.  It was also interesting thinking through what life would be like for a royal dog.

·       I was very stressed out with work and getting ready for my oldest son’s graduation party when I was reading this book.  I found this book to be stress-relieving and a pleasant diversion.  It is a great cozy read.

·       I enjoyed the romance between Philip and Elizabeth.

·       I always enjoy a good author’s note.  In this novel, it discusses the writing process in creating this work of historical fiction as well the real person that Hanna was based upon. 

·       It’s interesting to think that Susan was the matriarch of such a long line of royal corgis – 14 generations.

·       Favorite Quote, “Dogs truly are our soulmates, our protectors in things that might harm us from the outside as much as things that harmed us from within.”

Overall, The Queen’s Faithful Companion by Elizia Knight is a wonderful cozy historical fiction read perfect for dog lovers.

The Royal Windsor Secret by Chistine Wells (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells.

What type of book do you like to read to relax?  One type I like to read is more escapist historical fiction.  It’s a type of fun historical fiction with a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a high society life that I can only dream about.  It’s a stressful time of year for me and The Royal Windsor Secret fit the bill to help me escape and relax.

Cleo has grown up in Cairo Egypt at Shepheard’s Hotel.  Nicknamed “the princess” she has grown up with rumors that she is the daughter of the Prince of Wales.  She has the opportunity to travel to London in the 1930’s with Lord and Lady Grayson to make her debut.  She begins the search for the truth about her birth.  Is she the daughter of the Prince of Wales?  Who is her mother?  She also explores her true passion for designing jewelry and tries to decide if her childhood friend Brodie is more than just a friend.

The book alternated viewpoints at times with the French courtesan Marguerite Meller and how she became a courtesan and started a relationship with David, the Prince of Wales.  It was very interesting.  I didn’t realize she was a real person until the fascinating author’s note at the end of the novel. I had only ever heard of David’s relationship with Wallis Simpson. The novel ranged from World War I to post World War II from Egypt to Paris to London.  I loved the timeline and the settings.  It was an interesting story, and I was intrigued by the mystery aspect.

The Royal Windsor Secret was published on September 12^th.

In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite book cover?

I love the book cover for In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore.  I think it goes perfect with the title.  When your mother is Queen Victoria, how do you step out of the shadow to be your own person?

Louise is the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.  Her life comes to a sudden change when her father, Prince Albert, dies when he is only 42.  Louise’s teenage years are spent alone in mourning.  Her family stays out of the limelight, and she is unable to meet others her own age. As she grows older, she discovers her great love of creating sculptures.  She is the first woman from the royal family to attend the art academy. When it comes time to marry, she is able to chose from the British peerage rather than a foreign prince.  When everyone is trying to help you make a match though, it does tend to dampen the romance.  Will she find the love of her life?

I enjoyed this book and learning about Louise.  I came in with no prior knowledge of her and I learned a lot.  This book goes from Louise’s childhood through her early marriage.  I loved the romance with her husband.  There were also difficulties with marrying within the British peerage that I had no idea about.  It was interesting.  I loved the parade of suitors and Louise having to deicide with too much help from her family the royal household.  It was also interesting that with Queen Victoria’s large family marrying into so many royal houses that they were often in conflict or even war with each other.  That would make conversation interesting!

I loved that Louise did emerge from the shadow of the queen and forged her own path in life.  I love how she had her artistic creative side making her sculptures, her marriage to the man she loved, and her political causes.  There was an interesting author’s note at the end, and it goes through each chapter to tell the real history.  I loved it!

This is a clean read with hints of romance, but all romance is closed door.

Review Copy from Shadow Mountain Publishing as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: In the Shadow of a Queen

·       Author: Heather B. Moore

·       Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction

·       Publisher: ‎Shadow Mountain Publishing (October 4, 2022)

·       Length: (384) pages

·       Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-1639930500

·       Tour Dates: September 26 – October 9, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Based on the True Story of the Free-Spirited Daughter of Queen Victoria.

Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother―the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.

Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.

Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria but finding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.

In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost.

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Peek into the House of Hanover and view the strength of two women: Queen Victoria and her daughter Princess Louise. This story weaves compassion and conflict into breathtaking and gripping historical detail.”— Julie Wright, author of A Captain for Caroline Gray

 
"Moore crafts an intriguing portrait of the independently minded Princess Louise and her tensions with the English royal family. Moore sets the stage with meticulous research, and she expertly combines fact with fiction, with psychological insights on Victoria's mercurial moods and the impact of her controlling nature. It adds up to a worthy portrait of a woman divided by duty and self-determination."— Publishers Weekly

 
5 STARS – “I always enjoy Heather Moore’s historical novels. This one did not disappoint! She is impeccable with her research and always does an excellent job of bringing people from the past to life.”— Julia Daines, bestselling author of Haven Cross, and Whitney Award Finalist

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

 

AUTHOR BIO

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications, including The Paper Daughters of Chinatown. She has lived on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as Hawaii, and attended school abroad at the Cairo American Collage in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about history and is passionate about historical research.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Brothers and Wives by Christopher Andersen

 

Title:  Brothers and Wives

Author:  Christopher Andersen

Narrated by:  Nicholas Boulton

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 55 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster.  Thank-you!

Are you a royal watcher?  I’ll admit, since my Princess Diana paper doll as a child, I have loved everything to do with the royal family.  I love to read books and news articles about them. One of my favorite shows is The Crown.  I was very happy to get a review copy of Brothers and Wives, subtitled:  Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan.

Brothers and Wives tells the story of William and Harry growing up, their relationship as young men, and how their relationship changed in recent years as they married and had families of their own. It also goes through how their mother’s life and death have inspired the choices the two men make today.  The book also sets the narrative that Harry was always very much the spare and was treated differently by the palace and by the media as compared to his brother.  This accelerated when he met and married Meghan. 

Nicholas Boulton was a great narrator to this book, and I thought it was very interesting to listen to.  As a royal watcher, there wasn’t anything really new in this book. It did give a good overall narrative of the brothers.  It also states that Prince Charles is the person who made the harmful comments about the potential color of Harry and Meghan’s children.  The book did a good job discussing the racial issues that face the royal family.

Overall, Brothers and Wives was an interesting audiobook about Prince William and Prince Harry and their relationship.

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett

The Windsor Knot is a delightful, unique mystery where the sleuth is none other than Queen Elizabeth II.  In 2016, Queen Elizabeth hosted a party just ahead of her ninetieth birthday celebrations.  Unfortunately, a Russian pianist ends up dead.  It looks at first like an accidental death, but Queen Elizabeth and MI5 suspect foul play.  Will they be able to solve this mystery?

I liked the unique premise of this book.  Queen Elizabeth has to solve the mysteries from the background without looking like she is solving the mystery.  She has her staff find information for her based on her judge of character and she puts it in the way of the investigators to put them on the path to the correct answer.  I like how she was treated as an elderly woman by some who didn’t realize that even though she is old, she has a sharp mind.  I also enjoyed her relationship with Prince Phillip.  I was saddened to hear of his passing this morning. 

 I think the Windsor Knot would be the perfect book for fans of The Crown, the royal family, cozy mysteries, or Agatha Christie.

 Favorite Quotes:

“Because when you consider them, fairy tales always have dark forces at their heart.  Evil lurks where we most desire it not to be, and evil often wins.”

“She set her face grimly to the drizzle and prepared to be patronized.”

Overall, I greatly enjoyed The Windsor Knot.  It had a great mystery, characters and premise.  I look forward to the next book in this great new series.

Book Source:  Review Copy from William Morrow. Thank-you!