Never Forget Me ~ Review; Origionally Posted By Carol of Rakes And Rascals

Carol recommended this to me and this is such a lovely review and one book that I’ ll be reading. Thank you Carol.

Rakes And Rascals

Genre: Historical Romance (WWI 1914-1918)

Cover Blurb:

AS WAR BLAZES ACROSS EUROPE, THREE COUPLES FIND A LOVE THAT IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO OVERCOME ALL THE ODDS…

A KISS GOODBYE
1914

As war looms, genteel Flora yearns to be more than just an observer. She finds a revolutionary kindred spirit in soldier Geraint—but will their fragile love be crushed before it can start to bloom?

DEAREST SYLVIE
1916

Soldier Robbie cannot forget his one hedonistic night in Paris with beautiful waitress Sylvie. But as Europe burns, can these two star-crossed lovers ever be reunited?

FOREVER WITH ME
1918

Nurse Sheila is horrified to discover her new boss is the French surgeon she woke beside after Armistice Day! Fighting for their love will be the bravest thing she’s ever had to do…

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I have to say thank you to my dear friend, Wendy Loveridge, for recommending not only this book but…

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A little History ~ Part One; ladies Fashion 1914

I am a huge History fan and I have a certain fondness for the world war one era of 1914-1918, it basically came about while I like thousand’s other’s started researching my my family history which was not only enlightening but it also brought to the surface my adoration of past era’s especially this one. I love researching and learning about the clothe’s the life style’s and just the basic day to day family life and what they went through during that turbulent time and thought it would be fun to share with you all some little bit’s and bob’s that I found interesting. I’ll be doing a series so that I won’t be bombarding you all with my babbling all at once, I haven’t quite figured out how many part’s there is going to be. So part one is. . .

Ladies Fashion during 1914

In the 1900’s people, women especially covered up more especially women and young girl’s and it was thought quite decadent for women to even think about wearing trouser’s. . .Ooh the thought! They would always keep their leg’s covered, even to show an ankle was deemed scandalous and so they had to wear long dresses and skirt’s.
Clothes were made from natural material’s such as wool and linen, seeing as there were no zipper’s on the market yet and Velcro wasn’t even invented clothes were fastened by button’s hooks and laces. Shoe’s and boot’s were made from leather and were kept on their feet with laces or buttons other shoe’s around in 1914 were canvas slipper’s with rubber shoes also known as plimsoll’s which are still going strong today (who hasn’t got a pair of plimsoll’s for lounging around in?)

A well dressed woman would either wear on a day to day basis :

Dresses : Which had long puffed sleeves or a shorter sleeve that ended at the elbow, the collars and cuff’s were often fringed with lace, short sleeved evening dresses would have been worn with long gloves often white that reached the elbow.
Long Skirt’s : The skirt’s were more or less always dark (Blue, Black and Green) and they were worn with a long sleeved lacy white blouse.
Finished of with either little shoe’s or leather ankle boot’s ( High heeled shoe’s only become popular after 1918).

When going out they would wear a ankle length coat that came in tight at the waist so that it would accentuate that tiny waist with that they wore a big hat that was named the “cartwheel” because the brim was so wide and it would be decorated with piles of feather’s, artificial flower’s and fruit and it was also known for the more extravagant women to wear whole stuffed bird’s on their hat’s. People of all social classes usually wore hat’s when outside.

Woman wore their hair piled up high on the top’s of their head’s in a “bun” shape, some might wrap their hair around a small, stuffed cushion, known as a “rat” to make their bun look more luxuriant. A lot like the hair “Doughnut’s” that a lot of us wear today.
Poorer Families : During the war year’s the poorer women’s clothing became simpler in design and much more practical to wear and were often ragged, heavily darned and patched and their wardrobe’s would have consisted of a plain linen white blouse, ankle length plain skirt and usually with an apron tied around her shoulder’s to keep warm they would add a woolen shawl tied around their shoulder’s which would have been one that she would have knitted herself.

 

Weekend Hottie’s ~ Bad Boy’s

Today’s Hottie’s we are going to the dark side with Bad Boys and Rogues.

Enjoy!!

(Leather clad and so bad) Richard Armitage : Guy of Gisborne, Robin Hood

(You name and this very, very bad boy has done it) Francois Arnaud : Cesare Borgia, The Borgias

(A Rake through and through) Toby Jones : Edward Rochester, Jane Eyre

(Who doesn’t like a green eyed pirate?) Colin O’Donaghue : Captain Hook, Once Upon A Time

( He never play’s by the rule’s) Idris Elba : DCI John Luther, Luther

(Another Rake) Rupert Evans : Frank Churchill, Emma

(The ultimate Bad Boy) Alan Rickman : The Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves 

There is a few of my favorite Bad Boys and Rogues, who is your ultimate Bad Boy or Rogue? Why don’t you let me know!

Her Secret Fantasy ~Review

Gaelen Foley : Her Secret Fantasy (The Spice Trilogy #2)

Back Blurb :

 
Some say the aristocratic Balfour clan is cursed, a once-great family now in a slow decline. Graceful Lily Balfour is her family’s last hope, and she has come to London with one ambition – to marry a rich man.

 
her plan’s are placed in jeopardy, however, by the irresistible Major Derek Knight, a handsome highborn soldier and adventurer newly returned from India. Derek is not just a fighter, but a notorious rake, infamous for his many dalliances. Though Derek find’s no shortage of willing women in London, it is the untouchable Lily who haunt’s him.

 
After one stolen moment, he hunger’s for more, but Derek has come to England on a vital mission, and when Lily is pledged to a wealthy man suspected of corruption, Derek must thwart the treachery that is in danger of ensnaring them both. . .

 
My View :

 
I have said it before and I am more than willing to say it again; I just adore this series! The second installment in the Spice trilogy is just as good as the previous one, and we are on to the the oh-so handsome Knight soldier brother’s. Really who doesn’t love the Knight’s? and when the handsome family are in uniform. . .Well it is all for the better, I definitely assure you.

 
Derek is a suave, intelligent and ruggedly handsome soldier as well as being brutally honest and forthright, but under all that he is a very damaged and quite haunted man who is tormented by his past battle experience, never quite knowing who to trust. Derek is a fascinating character, he has got so many different personality’s that he show’s to different people whether that be the hard-faced warrior, the intelligent diplomatic Major, the notorious womanizing rake of by far the best personality is the caring, sensitive and tender brother and lover. He is just this incredible man that is trying as hard as he can to do the right thing for his battalion as well as fiercely protecting his family.

 
Lily first come’s across as quite a doormat really, having everyone (especially her mother) walk all over her, and at the same time she is pushed aside, she is starved of affection and that come’s across right away. But actually Lily is very much like Derek she is stubborn ~ especially when it come’s to how she feel’s for Derek . She also has a fierce determination that rivals his. A bravery that only present’s it’self when she or someone she love’s is in peril, like when she run’s into a burning stable’s to save Derek’s life.

 
Derek shook his head. “No. Sweetheart,” he said in a softer tone, stopping her. She was astonished by how calm he was. He swallowed hard. “There may be no way out of this for me. You need to go.”
“No,” she uttered, shaking her head. “No”
“Please.” He reached carefully through the bars and touched her hand. “Just save yourself – “
“No!” she repeated more forcefully. “I’m going to get you out of here!”
“Lily,” he whispered, staring at her, “I Love you.”
She drew in her breath and turned to him in amazement. “Derek.” Tears rose in her eyes. She reached her hand carefully through the bars and took his hand. “I love you, too.”

 
When Derek and Lily are together it is so beautiful they are both very scarred in one way or another but yet that bound’s them together, they have a connection that neither of them would be able to get from another and that as always is so beautifully written.

 
It is like all of Gaelen Foley’s work, intensely sensual and atmospheric with interesting and complex character’s through out even the villain’s are always interesting that you never know whether to cheer them on or not. Our hero has so many trial’s that he has to face everything from high power corruption, kidnap and murder attempt’s and amongst all that he has to find out who has stolen his battalion’s so much needed pay and then he has to get the stubborn and feisty Lily to admit how she feel’s for him.

 
Gaelen Foley is a truly gifted individual, the way she can take the most basic of topic’s or character’s and bring them to life is astounding, this like all of her work isn’t merely a love story about a neglected young woman and a battle hardened soldier but there is so much more to it, and I do urge everyone to read these book’s, they are all just so good.

 
Next on stage is Gabriel. . .

Jackie Delecki Give Away Winner Is. . .

The winner of Jacki Delecki’s : A Code Of The Heart Ebook and Audio Book is. . .

Angela DeSilva

Congratulation’s Angela! Jacki’s team  will be in touch with you very soon for you to receive you Ebook and Audio Book.

Disney Book Tag!

I have been Tagged to do the Disney Book Tag by the wonderful Shivalika from The Whimsy Journal’s.

I have to say that I was very interested and excited to be included in the Tag Game so here is mine.

 The Little Mermaid: a character who is out of their element, a fish out of water. 

I’m going to go with Billy Blade from Gaelen Foley’s : Lady of Desire (The Knight’s #4) He is a rough and rugged leader of an East End gang, who is forced off the street’s and back into the society he left as a child and Billy has to learn all etiquette all over again.

Cinderella: a character who goes through a major transformation.

I have to go with Sophia Fry from Mary Balogh’s : The Arrangement ( The Survivor’s #2). She start’s off as being called “the Mouse” and being ignored and put down and in the end she end’s up a Viscountess.

Snow White: a book with an eclectic cast of characters.

 

The Secret’s of A scoundrel by Gaelen Foley for me, it is full of spy’s, pirate’s,  kidnapper’s, prostitute’s, and a mix of everything in between

Sleeping Beauty: a book that put you to sleep.

I hate to say it but I have to say Stephanie Lauren’s : On A Wild Night (Cynster #8) which is a shame as I do really like her work but I did feel that this one did drag.

The Lion King: a character who had something traumatic happen to them in childhood.

 

This has definitely got to be Ian Mackenzie from the Mackenzie Series by Jennifer Ashley. Without giving anything away, Ian witnessed a awful even as a child that had him detained in a asylum.

Beauty and the Beast: a beast of a book (a big book) that you were intimidated by but found the story to be beautiful. 

There are three that are quite big book’s, it’s the Languedoc Trilogy by Kate Mosse. Labyrinth,, Sepulchre and Citadel. Each one has it’s one beautiful story and the way that they are all interlinked together is really lovely.

Aladdin: a character that gets their wish granted, for better or worse. 

This for me is definitely Heathcliffe out of Wuthering Height’s, all his life he has wanted to be with Cathy and he doe’s eventually get to be with her. Do I have to say any more about him?

 Mulan: a character who pretends to be something or someone they’re not. 

In A Year Of Living Scandalously by Julia London, Kiera Hannigan and her cousin Lily swap place’s and Keira end’s up living as the Countess of Ashwood for a year.

 Toy Story: a book with characters you wish would come to life.

I would definitely love the entire Knight clan to come to life, from Gaelen Foley’s; The Knight Miscellany and The Spice Trilogy. Pure Heaven!

Disney descendants: your favorite villain or morally ambiguous character.

There are so many Villain’s out there. . .I am going to go with Valantine Napir from the Maiden lane series, he really is quite evil but yet he is so enthralling to read and with him being focus of the next Maiden lane series : Duke of Sin out soon, we will get to know so much more about this intriguing man.

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I Tag for The Disney Book Tag

Carol : @RakesandRascals

Rebecca : @Rebeccabookreview

Caz : @Caz’sReadingRoom

La Deeta : @LaDeetdaread’s

 

Celebrating Burn’s Night

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Burn’s Night, now in my ignorance I always thought of Burn’s Night as just a happy get -together where Scottish and the like can all have a great meal and enjoy some quality time with friend’s and family but now I have learnt what Burn’s Night is all bout I hang my head in shame for not knowing. So I have collected a few fact’s and history to celebrate Burn’s Night but also Robert Burn’s who the night is so famously named after.

So for those who don’t know Burn’s Night is celebrated on the evening of 25 January, the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, on which celebrations in his honour are traditionally held in Scotland and elsewhere.

Robert Burns 

Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire and various other names and epithets, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide.

Background

Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland, on January 25, 1759. He died in Dumfries, Scotland, on July 21, 1796. He was a bard (poet) and wrote many poems, lyrics and other pieces that addressed political and civil issues. Perhaps his best known work is “Auld Lang Syne”, which is sung at News Years Eve celebrations in Scotland, parts of the United Kingdom, and other places around the world. Burns is one of Scotland’s important cultural icons and is well known among Scottish expats or descendants around the world. He is also known as: “Rabbie Burns”; the “Bard of Ayrshire”; “Scotland’s favorite son”; and in Scotland “The Bard”.

Robert Burns’ acquaintances held the first Burns’ supper on July 21, the anniversary of his death, in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the late 1700s. The date was later changed to January 25, which marks his birthday. Burns’ suppers are now held by people and organizations with Scottish origins worldwide, particularly in Australia, Canada, England, and the United States.

 

What Do People Do?

Many people and organizations hold a Burns’ supper on or around Burns’ Night. These may be informal or formal, only for men, only for women, or for both genders. Formal events include toasts and readings of pieces written by Robert Burns. Ceremonies during a Burns’ Night supper vary according to the group organizing the event and the location.

 A piper in full Highland dress pipes in the haggis during a Burns’ Night celebration.

The evening centers on the entrance of the haggis (a type of sausage prepared in a sheep’s stomach) on a large platter to the sound of a piper playing bagpipes. When the haggis is on the table, the host reads the “Address to a Haggis”. This is an ode that Robert Burns wrote to the Scottish dish. At the end of the reading, the haggis is ceremonially sliced into two pieces and the meal begins.

Symbols

The Scottish flag is often displayed at Burns’ Night celebrations. It is known as the Saltire and consists of a rectangular blue background with thick white bars on the diagonals. The diagonals form a cross that represents Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.

At Burns’ Night events,many men wear kilts and women may wear shawls, skirts or dresses made from their family tartan. A tartan was originally a woolen cloth with a distinctive pattern made by using colors of weft and warp when weaving. Particular patterns and combinations of colors were associated with different areas, clans and families. Tartan patterns are now printed on various materials.

Many types of food are associated with Burns’ Night. These include: cock-a-leekie soup (chicken and leek soup); haggis; neeps (mashed turnips or swedes) and tatties (mashed potatoes); cranachan(whipped cream mixed with raspberries and served with sweet oat wafers); and bannocks (a kind of bread cooked on a griddle). Whisky is the traditional drink.

“I’ve just realized it’s Burns Night tonight, and I’ve no haggis in the fridge”

So there is my own round up of Burn’s Night and I hope everyone who is celebrating that they have a great time.