Tome Thursday: Robin Hood

 

Hello everyone!

 

I'm finally back after a bit of a break which unfortunately needed to happen because of some RL stuff I had going on BUT! I return!

 

And I have a book review for you all, first and foremost.

 

Tuesday's blog didn't get written up so it will be bumped to a Synopsis Saturday one, which you'll all hopefully read just as well, as I'm planning on recapping the premiere of Outlander's sixth season. Are we ready for what's undoubtedly going to be a bumpy ride? Hopefully!

 

In the meantime, this blog post is a sort of connected one? Maybe? But our own Fraser was an outlaw for a little bit of time there so I suppose the inspiration was certainly in the works.

 

However MY outlaw is probably the one that's basically the most known across literature and film if you think about it. When someone says rob from the rich and give to the poor, you usually know right off the bat who this is about.

 

There were many authors who wrote about him, but Henry Gilbert's Robin Hood was the first book I ever read about the famous archer.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

 

"No man decides my fate."

 

Hello everyone!

 

If you look at the title for tonight's blog post, you'll see I finally, FINALLY managed to get around to actually getting to the proper Robin Hood.

 

I've covered quite a few on this blog before but I just haven't had the time to come to this one, which is honestly a shame and I know it. I admit it.

 

Dishonour on my cow.

 

Then this past weekend, surprise surprise, one of the Cinemax TV channels rolled this movie again because, one, it's basically one of the best things to happen, and two, why not??

 

My parents hadn't seen it in a while so they watched it together, and I sort of went in and out of it.

 

But it did remind me that I should do the talking with my fingers.

 

So here it is! Kevin Hood, ahem, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, here we go!

Becoming Mrs. Lewis (Booktober)

 

"What on earth would become of me if I should ever grow brave?"

 

 

When reading C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, inevitably a question should arise about the author himself - what was he like, who his friends were, what happened to him. Becoming Mrs. Lewis answers some of those questions, though keep in mind it IS a fictionalized version of the life of the woman who ended up marrying him. Still, it's an insight, and even if you end up disliking it (and a lot of people do, at that, because they say she was incredibly selfish based on what you read in this book) I think it's something you have to make up your mind for yourself. Certainly it's worth a read as it gives you all the glory of Oxford in fall!

 

 

 

When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis—known as Jack—she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and the beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn’t destroy. Joy lived at a time when women weren’t meant to have a voice—and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn’t know they had.

(from Goodreads)

 

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*image not mine

 

Lord John Grey (Booktober)

The Last Wish (Booktober)

The Inheritance Cycle (Booktober)

His Dark Materials (Booktober)

The White Queen (Booktober)

The Thorn Birds (Booktober)

The Bourbon Kings (Booktober)

Cop of the Year (Booktober)

Nefertiti (Booktober)

Timeline (Booktober)

The Murder at the Vicarage (Booktober)

Persuasion (Booktober)

The Longest Ride (Booktober)

Midnight Sun (Booktober)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Booktober)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Booktober)

Atlantis (Booktober)

Origin (Booktober)

Quo Vadis (Booktober)

Death on the Nile (Booktober)

The Little White Horse (Booktober)

The Sign of Four (Booktober)

Harry Potter #2 (Booktober)

Troublemaker (Booktober)

The Lord of the Rings (Booktober)

The Little White Horse (Booktober)

 

"He is lost and gone and now I do not know

 If it was a little white horse that I saw,

 Or only a moonbeam astray in the silver night."

 

 

 

No fall reading list can ever be complete without something along the likes of this. A hidden valley somewhere in England; an old family mystery; and a little girl with a fierce belief in the good of this world, searching for the unicorn that will make everything right again. Elizabeth Goudge created a timeless classic with her Little White Horse fairytale, one that adults and children alike reach for on the daily. Even I do, and often, when the mists dance through my own home valley. Because who knows - maybe you'll be the one to see the little white horse, standing proudly and beckoning!

 

 

 

 

In 1842, thirteen-year-old orphan Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor, her family's ancestral home in an charmed village in England's West Country, and she feels as if she’s entered Paradise. But the enchanted valley of Moonacre is shadowed by a tragedy that happened years ago, and the memory of the Moon Princess and the mysterious little white horse. Determined to restore peace and happiness to the whole of Moonacre Valley, Maria finds herself involved with an ancient feud, and she discovers it is her destiny to end it and right the wrongs of her ancestors. But what can one solitary girl do? 

(from Goodreads)

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*image not mine

The Sign of Four (Booktober)

Harry Potter #2 (Booktober)

Troublemaker (Booktober)

The Lord of the Rings (Booktober)

Tome Thursday: Her Wedding Knight

Hello everyone!

You know what they say - when you find something that works, stick to it!

As you may or may not have noticed, Serenity Woods has been publishing some cozy mysteries for the last little while under the name Hermione Moon, and her main characters are Gwen and Arthur.

If those names ring any bells at all for you, well, I'm here to tell you why.

It's because they're ACTUALLY King Arthur and Guinevere.

Well, okay, he's not the king - he says so himself - but that's how we modern folk know him.

But there's one more book int this series to look at now and here I am with the review of it for tonight - I haven't had the chance to read it a second time yet because of some real life issues, HOWEVER, I can honestly say that if you've enjoyed the series so far, this one won't disappoint either.

It has our favourite crime-solving duo, stunning locations, more than enough intrigue to keep you going, and a little unveiling at the end that had me grinning like a Jack-o-Lantern.

So, without further ado: Her Wedding Knight!

Tome Thursday: A Knight to Remember

Hello everyone!

I am, once again, back with yet another Hermione Moon book - or should I say yet another FANTASTIC Hermione Moon book.

Because I'm loving this series. I really am.

To bits and beyond, because COME ON. Arthur and Gwen? How could you NOT love them??

If you haven't been paying attention to this blog, I'm sure you may have noticed the books as they were being published. And if not, well, this is an ideal chance to catch up, since we're headed into some pretty interesting territory now!

You thought this was going to be an easygoing, cozy witch mystery, did you?

I did too.

And then Hermione Moon went and turned everything on its head with this last book she just released, which I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of.

So be sure to pay attention, because A Knight to Remember is a book you can't afford to miss!

Talkie Tuesday: Robin Hood 2010

"Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions."

Hello everyone!

I seem to be doing these backwards.

If you recall, some time ago, I made a post concerning the 2018 version of the Robin Hood movie, which could have very easily not been done and if you don't watch it you're not missing out on anything in terms of actual Robin Hood.

Then this weekend, one of our channels decided to do a re-run of the 2010 version, and I said to myself, you know what? For the heck of it, why not.

There's a bunch of other versions out there after all, and I should note that Prince of Thieves pretty much gets re-runs almost as frequently as a sitcom, so mostly once a week, and that movie should be the next in line if I don't find any other in-between the Robin Hoods.

The there's still at the very least the cartoon AND the parody that was made, so, you know, this is the franchise that never dies. I think only Spider-man got more re-makes!

So Robin Hood, circa 2010, here we go!

Tome Thursday: A Knight on the Town

Hello everyone!

I'm back with another review from Hermione Moon, aka the author who is bringing us the lovely kitchen witch stories that hold more than a dusting of romance, and a speck of mystery along the way.

Also, there's the labradoodle (I think the dog breed was changed from the first to the second books, BUT the cuteness of said dog has not), who can honestly steal the show.

I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying these stories, and they're short enough to be able to read in one sitting and one afternoon only; me personally? I've read this second one at least two times by now since graciously receiving an ARC, and I have to admit that I'll probably be reading it again sooner rather than later.

There's something to be said about charming heroes and magical heroines, after all, not to mention when they have psychic dogs to help them along their quest.

And if you know that the Holy Grail is included, but not exactly in the way you think, then you'll probably be able to tell this is, indeed, a whole lot of fun.

A Knight on the Town, here we come!

Tome Thursday: One Dark and Stormy Knight

Hello everyone!

As promised last week, I'm returning with the actual first book in Serenity Woods' new series, The Avalon Café. She's publishing these under the name Hermione Moon, but if you've read any of her contemporary novels at all, you'll know the kind of writing you can anticipate!

Last week, we tuned in to this new, magical world of potential reincarnation and King Arthur, or, alright Arthur Dux Bellorum, since he doesn't like to be called 'king'.

We were introduced via a canine companion, because every witch needs her familiar, right? Right.

That said, it was only a novella and didn't give us much to sink our teeth into, but this one, ooooh this one is grand.

Have you ever read anything by Agatha Christie? This isn't quite as morbid as the Queen of Mystery can make it, but it's got the same general idea AND it's also happening in the UK, which is another nod to Ms Christie if you ask me.

And although there's no egg-shaped headed, mustachioed detective mincing about, I'm pretty sure Hercule Poirot would be quite proud of the sleuthing done in this one.

Without further ado, let's can my blabbering about, and go right into One Dark and Stormy Knight.

Tome Thursday: Every Dog Has His Day

Hello everyone!

I don't know about you guys, but the weather is definitely looking up on my end, which is SUCH a relief after all the insane dips back down below zero. It's April now, can it please start getting warmer?

Not that we can take full advantage of it yet - quarantine is still in effect, after all, and there will be a little something about it at the very tail end of this blog post, something fun, so stay tuned - but EVENTUALLY even this has to pass, right? And we'll be able to head out and actually soak up all the rays of sunshine, both real and the ones from our friends and family.

Until then, however, we have to keep entertained in different ways.

As you know, I tend to read pretty much anything and everything that I can get my hands on, with a couple notable exceptions that I won't be going into tonight. So if I get asked to come along on an exciting new adventure, you bet I'm going to say yes!

Serenity Woods being pretty much my favourite contemporary author of all time, it was a no-brainer to check out her new, witchy works.

Published under the name of 'Hermine Moon', these begin with Every Dog Has His Day.

Tome Thursday: Black Moon Witch

Hello everyone!

Once again, I hope you're staying safe, and staying at home.

I know this has been said pretty much everywhere and anywhere by this point, but please, stay alert, not anxious, practice as much social distancing as you can, and make sure to be careful about washing your hands and using disinfectant whenever possible.

It's the only way we'll be able to successfully combat this without too much loss of life.

That said, hopefully at least some of the vlogs and blog posts going up at this point in time are keeping you entertained or marginally amused if nothing else.

I myself am back with another book review this week.

And since we started in with our witches last Thursday, it's time to keep going with them!

Serenity Woods ventured out of her usual field of writing with the Murder of Crows series, and having talked about the prequel last week I think it's time to sink our teeth into the actual first novel.

Black Moon Witch sounds ominous enough - let's dive right in!

Tome Thursday: Hunter's Moon Witch

Hello everyone!

This week on my book review list comes one that I actually wanted to read much earlier but somehow got too distracted by every other book thrown my way.

And yes, there's a lot of those!

But I can never stay away from Serenity Woods for too long, no matter what else I'm doing, and I'm blessed to have been granted the chance to read and review this particular prequel to a new paranormal mystery romance series!

If that sounds like a lot of adjectives, you're right. There's a bunch.

But they all convey the message they're supposed to!

If you've been following Ms Woods and her career for a bit, you'll know she's usually more of a contemporary romance writer, but let me tell you, that's not stopping her from making this book absolutely fantastic.

So let's check that the cauldron's bubbling, and see what Hunter's Moon Witch is all about!

These Old Shades (Booktober)

"You offend my nostrils."

If you want some good old 18th century sarcasm and sass, there's absolutely no better book than Georgette Heyer's These Old Shades. The first in a series of Regency novels, this one introduces the two characters who will basically be the mama and papa of the lot of them later. I've read the other books, but none have captured my heart so much as this one, where Satanas prowls the streets of Paris and wreaks havoc over the English countryside just because he can, making sure everybody knows who's boss.

Want to take a jaunt with the Devil himself? Autumn is prime time for it!

Under the reign of Louis XV, corruption and intrigue have been allowed to blossom in France, and Justin Alastair, the notorious Duke of Avon and proud of his soubriquet 'Satanas' flourishes as well. Then, from a dark Parisian back alley, he plucks Léon, a red-headed urchin with strangely familiar looks. Among the splendours of Versailles and the dignified mansions of England, Justin begins to unfold his sinister plans against the Comte de St Vire - until, that is, Léon becomes the ravishing beauty Léonie ...

(from book jacket)

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*image not mine

Term Limits (Booktober)

Boudica (Booktober)

The Lady of the Rivers (Booktober)

The Name of the Wind (Booktober)

The Red Knight of Germany (Booktober)

The Kommandant's Girl (Booktober)

Nemesis (Booktober)

Outlander series (Booktober)

The Conqueror Series (Booktober)

The Lost Symbol (Booktober)

The Host (Booktober)

The Bridgertons (Booktober)

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Booktober)

The Infernal Devices (Booktober)

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (Booktober)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Booktober)
Broken Sky (Booktober)

The Shadow of the Wind (Booktober)

Dracula (Booktober)

Life and Death (Booktober)

ACOTAR series (Booktober)

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (Booktober)

Sepulchre (Booktober)

Pride and Prejudice (Booktober)

Tempting Autumn (Booktober)

Harry Potter (Booktober)

The Hobbit (Booktober)

The Lady of the Rivers (Booktober)

"Some women cannot march to the beat of a man's drum. Do you understand?"

So every once in a while I will pull out a Gregory novel, although I have to admit I prefer her Plantagenet ones to her Tudor ones - and even then only the first few! But Lady of the Rivers was a fascinating story for me, and for some reason it makes me think about autumn and falling rain what with it happening in foggy, murky England almost all the time. I know it's definitely not all true, but if you keep an open mind it can certainly be entertaining, plus Elizabeth Woodville's mother really WAS formidable!

I mean hey, only way to give birth to a future Queen, right?

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of 19, she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a new life for herself; this is the story of the real-life mother to the White Queen.

(from Goodreads)

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*image not mine

The Name of the Wind (Booktober)

The Red Knight of Germany (Booktober)

The Kommandant's Girl (Booktober)

Nemesis (Booktober)

Outlander series (Booktober)

The Conqueror Series (Booktober)

The Lost Symbol (Booktober)

The Host (Booktober)

The Bridgertons (Booktober)

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Booktober)

The Infernal Devices (Booktober)

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (Booktober)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Booktober)
Broken Sky (Booktober)

The Shadow of the Wind (Booktober)

Dracula (Booktober)

Life and Death (Booktober)

ACOTAR series (Booktober)

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (Booktober)

Sepulchre (Booktober)

Pride and Prejudice (Booktober)

Tempting Autumn (Booktober)

Harry Potter (Booktober)

The Hobbit (Booktober)

Pride and Prejudice (Booktober)

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in

 possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

 

Who didn't see this one coming? Of course you can't really have any kind of autumnal read without a Jane Austen novel. In this case, Pride and Prejudice is pretty much the author's most read and known work, and it also happens to be my favourite (sharing the spot with Persuasion). The timeless classic that features Lizzy Bennett marching across the wet fields to give Mr. Darcy a piece of her mind is one of those you can't miss out on during a long, rainy autumn afternoon.

Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

(from Goodreads)

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*image not mine

Tempting Autumn (Booktober)

Harry Potter (Booktober)

The Hobbit (Booktober)