Mailbox Monday

Another Monday, Another Mailbox!! Mailbox Monday is a feature where we gush about the yummy new books that now grace our bookshelves! WARNING: Mailbox Mondays can lead to extreme envy and GINORMOUS wishlists!!

Mailbox Monday was originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page and is now a traveling meme, for the month of August your new host is Staci @ Life in the Thumb.
 
Hey there, fellow bibliophiles!  I hope this post finds you all safe and well, especially my readers on the east coast!  I've been watching the news coverage and it was so crazy to see the images of an empty Times Square in NYC.  I was just there a few months ago and it was such a cluster that I can't fathom how eerie it must be now with everyone evacuated.  Mother nature has sure been busy lately! 

This past week two books showed up at my door for review...

by Susanna Kearsley

Publication Date:  October 1, 2011

SYNOPSIS

When Eva’s filmstar sister Katrina dies, she leaves California and returns to Trelowarth, Cornwall , where they spent their childhood summers, to scatter Katrina’s ashes and in doing so return her to the place where she belongs. But Eva must also confront the ghosts from her own past, as well as those from a time long before her own. For the house where she so often stayed as a child is home not only to her old friends the Halletts, but also to the people who had lived there in the eighteenth century. When Eva finally accepts that she is able to slip between centuries and see and talk to the inhabitants from hundreds of years ago, she soon finds herself falling for Daniel Butler, a man who lived – and died – long before she herself was born. Eva begins to question her place in the present, and in laying her sister to rest, comes to realise that she too must decide where she really belongs, choosing between the life she knows and the past she feels so drawn towards.

by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin and Michael Jones

Publication Date:  September 13, 2011

SYNOPSIS

#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory teams with two eminent historians to explore the historical characters in the real-life world behind her Wars of the Roses novels.
 
PHILIPPA GREGORY and her fellow historians describe the extraordinary lives of the heroines of her Cousins’ War books: Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford; Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV; and Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. 

In her essay on Jacquetta, Philippa Gregory uses original documents, archaeology, and histories of myth and witchcraft to create the first-ever biography of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at two rival courts. David Baldwin, established authority on the Wars of the Roses, tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the first commoner to marry a king of England for love; and Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes of Margaret Beaufort, the almost-unknown matriarch of the House of Tudor. 

In the introduction, Gregory writes revealingly about the differences between history and historical fiction. How much of a role does speculation play in writing each? How much fiction and how much fact should there be in a historical novel? How are female historians changing our view of women in history? 

The Women of the Cousins’ War is beautifully illustrated with rare portraits and source materials. As well as offering fascinating insights into the inspirations behind Philippa Gregory’s fiction, it will appeal to all with an interest in this period. 

Well, that's my mailbox...tell me, what goodies came your way?

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22 comments:

  1. "The Rose Garden" sounds like a very thoughtful novel. I would love to read it to see the comparisons that Eva is facing between the past and the present. In addition to her growing love for Daniel, is it perhaps an easier way of life in the past? Hmmm...I'm very curious to see which path Eva takes. Thanks for the great review!

    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

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  2. "The Women of the Cousins' War" sounds as though it would be a resource to help a reader tie together the many people involved in The War of the Roses. I love the time of the Tudors. Such a fascinating and history-changeing period! Philippa Gregory is such a talented author and anything she writes is fabulous. I'm definitely adding this one to my Wish List.

    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

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  3. Both of those sound great! Will have to add them to my never-ending TBR list!

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  4. I also got The Rose Garden and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Will look for your review. Enjoy.

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  5. Both of these books look great. I loved The Winter Sea by Susannah Kearsley and can't wait to read The Rose Garden. I also just got Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory from Netgalley. I'll have to check out The Women of the Cousins' War because my historical knowledge is seriously lacking!

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  6. I have both of them and am quite excited to get reading

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  7. I've heard great things about Susanna Kearsley, but I've never read anything by her. She's definitely someone I want to get into!

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  8. Man, I'm so jealous of The Rose Garden! I can't wait till it comes out! If you get a chance, check out My Mailbox!

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  9. The Rose Garden sounds amazing, almost a little bit like Ciji Ware's Cottage by the Sea. Have a wonderful week and happy reading with your new books.!

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  10. What a great mailbox! I have the Winter Sea on my TBR list, and now I guess I have to add The Rose Garden too.

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  11. Sounds like you got some great reads. I have the Rose Garden and everyone has given it thumbs up so I can't wait. Enjoy :)

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  12. Gaahhh! SO jealous that you have Kearsley's latest! ;) Can't wait to hear what you think of it!

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  13. Both of these sound awesome! I haven't read either of these authors (or these books!), but they look very tempting.

    Here's MY MONDAY MEMES POST

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  14. Even though I know the War of the Roses is a time in history, I have to confess, the first thing I thought of was the movie starring Michael Douglas. I'm ashamed. The book looks great!

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  15. I hope they're as good as they look!

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  16. The Rose Garden sounds great and I love the cover!

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  17. I have The Rose Garden, too, and it sounds really good. Happy reading!

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  18. These sound really good, would love to read both.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/08/mailbox-monday-analyst-by-pt-dawkins.html

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  19. Both of these look great -- Kearsley has been showing up in my GoodReads feed quite a lot -- everyone loves her!

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