Book Review: The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason

The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason brings alive the life at court with all the treachery and betrayal that swirls through it. The King’s Daughter is about the life of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England and VI of Scotland, told through her own eyes.

From a very young age Elizabeth is aware of her place in the family as third in line to the throne. She would be matched in a marriage that would further benefit her father’s position. Elizabeth is kept very sheltered and away from court. Her father doesn’t want her to know anything that is going on there. Her mother has nothing to do with her. Her mother at one time tells her that there is no point in getting to know a daughter as they are soon married off and the mother’s heart is only broken if they are close. The only thing that Elizabeth truly treasures is the special relationship she shares with her older brother Henry, Prince of Wales.

King James is quite erratic and unstable at times; given to flying into rages. His biggest fear being that his children are trying to take over the throne. This is his main reason for keeping Elizabeth so secluded and for keeping Henry under his thumb as well. Elizabeth though is pretty gutsy and does at times stand up to her father especially when he threatens to marry her off to someone she can’t even stand the thought of being married to. She also, as she gets older, decides to send out spies in order to learn more about what is going on around her especially those matters to do with her. She learns many things; things about her father as well; things that finally give her more control over her own life and future.

The biggest fear Elizabeth had was that she would be married off to some old and mean man. There were many times she was put on display to would be suitors. There were a few that she outright refused to marry; standing up to her father’s rage. In this matter her brother Henry came to her rescue. He tried hard to find her a man that would make a good match for her; someone that would make her happy and succeeded. Without him, who knows who her father would have sent her off with.

I liked Elizabeth and enjoyed this novel being told from her viewpoint. Dickason weaves fact with fiction in such a way that kept me turning the pages in this book to see what Elizabeth would face next. Henry as well was a character I liked. He seemed a kind and caring prince regardless of his father. King James is painted in a bad light in this novel- he is unstable and mean; most often quite drunk.

As with most historicals I am always appalled by how little say that women had and very horrified at the young age they were married off at; most often to men much too old for them. They were used as pawns; nothing more. That a mother turned away from her children because it hurt too much to love them, only to lose them, breaks my heart and yet this is how things were. Elizabeth spent her days not knowing what would happen to her at any given moment. I was glad that she found love and a way to move forward in her life. If you’re a lover of anything historical, then Christie Dickason’s The King’s Daughter is definitely a book you’ll want to read!

I read The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. You can check out all the other tour stops here and also be sure to visit Christie Dickason’s website as well. You can purchase The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason here in the US and here in Canada.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My review copy of The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason provided by TLC Book Tours and the publisher.

Book Review: Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck & GIVEAWAY

Dining with Joy was my first experience reading any of Rachel Hauck’s work but it most certainly won’t be my last. What a fantastic, feel good read and perfect for all us foodies out there! There’s even a couple of recipes at the end of the book — one for banana bread that I fully intend to try out!

Joy Ballard is the star of the very popular cooking show, Dining with Joy. The problem—Joy can’t cook! At all! She’s one of those who can’t even boil water without burning down the house kind of cooks. However, she has that special something that captivates an audience and makes the show a success. How did Joy end up on a cooking show when she can’t cook, you ask? Well it was her father’s show and when he became suddenly ill and passed he asked that she take over. She couldn’t refuse her father and after with Joy being so popular, it seemed easy enough to continue the lie.

Things are going merrily along until the producer sells the show right out from under Joy without warning. The new producer Allison has no idea about Joy and her little secret but she is money hungry and ambitious and she plans on taking the show to new heights. She does the one thing that Joy hates which is being thrown into a cooking competition and worse it’s with Wenda – Joy’s trouble making rival who just may know about Joy’s secret. Of course Joy is terrified – she can’t cook! However, just in time and to the rescue, is the handsome and talented chef Luke Redmond to save Joy’s day. He saves more than Joy’s day though; he may have stolen her heart as well.

Luke becomes Joy’s co-host and her hope is that he’ll be able to take over all the cooking segments, leaving her the reality stuff. Along the way sparks seem to fly between them but then sizzle out only to sparkle again. However, as with all things, nothing stays the same. It’s only a matter of time before Joy’s lies will catch up with her and everything will go up in smoke. Will she still have a career? More importantly, will she still have Luke?

I loved Joy. I thought she was funny even while being really stubborn. There is so much more to this book than just the cooking aspects as well. There is Joy’s family and all the other stuff surrounding the story that makes it good too like her past relationship with her father. The novel is classed as Christian Romance and there are numerous references to God but not overwhelmingly so although for me I love Christian fiction so it in no way bothered me. The romance is light and fun – just the way I like it. Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck is a light and fun read – just perfect for this time of the year when you just want to relax and enjoy a book. It’s definitely one of my favorites of the month!

I read Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. Be sure to stop by and check out the other tour stops as well as Rachel Hauck’s website. If you’d like to purchase your own copy you can do so here in the US or here in Canada. That or you can try your luck in my giveaway below!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have 1 copy of Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck to share with my readers courtesy of the publisher. To enter:

• For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
• For 2 entries follow my blog. Those who do get the extra entry as well – just let me know in your comment.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, January 8, 2011. Good luck everyone!

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
My review copy of Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck was provided by TLC Book Tours and the publisher.

Book Review: Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins is fast becoming a favorite author for me. Even though I don’t normally like novels told in verse, I do really enjoy hers. After reading Crank, I had to pick up Glass right away and find out what came next for Kristina in her fight against the ‘monster’ (crank – crystal meth). I’ve been completely taken by Kristina’s life and struggles with her drug addiction. At times I am horrified by her behavior but you have to stop and think it’s the drug causing her actions. It’s such a highly addictive drug and lifestyle once you’ve been sucked into it.

Kristina has been doing pretty good where the crank is concerned. She’s trying to take care of her son Hunter while living at home with her mother and working at the local 7-11. The only thing is she’s feeling pretty unattractive after having the baby and she thinks, what can it hurt? Just a little here and there will help her lose weight and give her more energy to care for her son. This time though things fall into place much easier for Kristina. She finds it much easier to get the drugs and a better quality drug at that. In no time at all she is completely immersed in the ‘life’ again with no regard for her life and more importantly for her son’s life.

While Kristina has been assuming that nobody knows she’s back on the crank, she is surprised to find out that her mom and Scott knew all along. At one point Kristina puts her son Hunter in danger and her mother finally blows up. She tells Kristina to go and get her life together; that she can’t have Hunter until she is capable of properly caring for a baby. So Kristina leaves vowing she’ll get herself together and get her son back one day.

She ends up living with the cousin of her latest boyfriend and life turns into one continuous loop of drugs and sex. She knows she’s heading down a bad path but she hasn’t the power to stop it and just lives day to day – hit to hit. Selling drugs seems to be the best and easiest way to survive but that never leads to a good end. This installment leaves us knowing that there is more to come and that’s what we get with Fallout, which is available now.

As with Crank, Glass drags us full tilt into the world of a drug addict with first class seats. You can feel the hopelessness in the pages of Kristina’s life. I found Glass even more disturbing than Crank except for being relieved that her son was being taken care of. The life Kristina is living is horrific. There is no care for anything that we, as human beings, normally care about like a clean place to sleep, a job, food and proper care for our kids. She doesn’t care (the drug doesn’t let her/can’t let her) – she only cares about getting her drugs. Such is the life of a drug addict.

I already have Fallout and plan on reading it as soon as I can. I’m definitely anxious to find out how it will all end for Kristina. Will she get off the drugs? Will she get her son back? Will she rebuild her life? Or will she just sink deeper into the life of drugs?

Again, I think these are good books for teens to read but I would still recommend a parent reading them first. Not all parents are appreciative of the blunt directness with which Ellen Hopkins writes. As an adult, I was shocked by some of it but then again this is not a life I’m in any way familiar with. Glass by Ellen Hopkins is another great novel well worth reading and I’m glad I took Staci’s advice and gave both Crank and Glass a read.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of Glass by Ellen Hopkins was purchased by yours truly.

Book Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

I read Crank by Ellen Hopkins on a recommendation from my good friend Staci over at Life in the Thumb. I really wasn’t sure that this type of novel told in verse form was anything I would like since normally it’s not my thing. So, imagine my surprise when I started reading it and found myself sucked into the story to the point where I could not put this book down. I didn’t think an author could get a point across in verse as well as in a full length novel but in the case of Ellen Hopkins I was wrong. She can say more in a few words than some can say in pages. This novel reminded me quite a bit of Go Ask Alice which is a novel I read many, many years ago that still remains vivid in my memory.

Kristina seems to be a teenager with everything going for her – friends, good grades and never in trouble. Then on a fateful trip to see her father who really hasn’t had a part in her life for a long time, she is introduced to a life better left alone. Her father is a druggie, an absentee father and generally not someone you would want your kid spending time with. While there she is introduced to the ‘monster’ (crank – crystal meth). From this point on things are never the same for Kristina who further develops an alter ego, Bree, to handle her new life.

It is extremely disturbing to see just how fast this drug controls a life and destroys it. This drug is highly addictive and it’s said that from the first time you try it, you crave it. Such was definitely the case for Kristina. She entered a life where the number one priority was finding money and a way to get her next fix. As Kristina she is conflicted but as Bree she’s as a free as a bird to do what she wants. Bree is much more adventurous and daring than Kristina ever could be.

Kristina’s life is never the same. She risks her health, her family and her sanity – the drug makes her fearless. At one point she ends up raped by her drug dealer and becomes pregnant. She chooses to keep the child which is one issue I had. My other issue was why she was allowed to go visit her father in the first place. I don’t believe it ever said if he had the right to see his children or not but I would have moved mountains to ensure my kids didn’t get near him. You have to wonder though with a drug addict as a father if she wasn’t already genetically predisposed and may have headed down this path anyhow.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins is an intense and intricately woven story of the damage that drugs can do an individual and those around them. It shows us how the drug takes everything away – everything that was once important – your family, your future; and biggest of all, yourself. This novel is very powerful and while I finished reading it a while ago it is still very clear in my mind – that is the power of words. What gives it even more impact for me is that the author loosely based this story on her own daughter. If you’ve not read this series – there is Crank, Glass, and Fallout – you should. I think it’s an important story for both teens and their parents to read although it is quite graphic so I’d suggest a parent reading it first. I loved the book and moved quickly on to the next one, Glass, which I’ll review tomorrow.

© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My copy of Crank by Ellen Hopkins was purchased by yours truly.