A Vision of Light

Margaret of Ashbury is a woman of the 14th century. She wants to write the story of her life, but she is unable to read or write. She approaches three clerics to write her story but they scornfully told her no. Brother Gregory, a Carthusian friar, agrees to write her life story as he needs money to buy food. As she begins to tell her story we find that Margaret has lived a extraordinary and at times difficult life. She was married off to a evil man at at the age of 14. She was left for dead by her husband during the Black Plague. Thanks to a wise woman she survived the plaque. Margaret became an apprenticed to the wise woman where she learned about herbs and plants for healing as well as how to be a midwife. Then one day she experienced a Vision of Light which gives her the healing touch. When someone reports her to the bishop courts, she is tried for heresy. Will she be able to survive this challenge like she has all the other challenges in her life?

A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley was a fun book to read. This book gave you a peek into the middle ages. It shows one, how men thought of women and how women had to behave. I loved Brother Gregory and Margaret interactions. Brother Gregory is shocked by Margaret. She does not fit into his view of women. But as he listens to her story, he starts to respect her.

Once you learn Margaret's story, you understand why she wants to tell it and why she wants to read and write.

If I knew what a great book this was; I would not have waited so long to read it. This is the first book in the Margaret of Ashbury trilogy. I can't wait to see what further adventures Margaret will encounter.

Happy Reading

The Courts of Love

I finished The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy. I read this book for the Royalty Rules Challenge and TBR Challenge.

Plaidy weaves fiction and history very well. When I looked up the people that are mentioned in this book; I found that Plaidy kept true to history. Eleanor lived a very interesting life. She was married to two kings, the King of France and the King of England. She went on a crusade with her first husband, the King of France. She was the mother of two Kings, King Richard and King John of England.

The first part of the book focuses on the many adventures that she went on. Her relationships with her two husbands. Her thoughts and feelings as to what was happening to her. She comes off as a selfish and self-centered person. She is right and everyone is wrong. I did not like her.

The second part of the book focuses on her children esp. her two sons Richard and John. She is telling their story. Her thoughts and feelings were about what was happen to her sons Richard and John. As the focus of the book changes I started to like her. I saw her as a strong, take charge woman. She was able to handle whatever comes her way.

Jean Plaidy did not let me down. I did enjoy this book. I was pulled into Eleanor's life. I was involved with court and political intrigue with her. Somethings she did I respected her for, others I was like why?

If you like historical fiction you will like this book.

Seed Upon the Wind

Seed upon the Wind by Carole Nelson Douglas is book 2 of the taliswomen. I enjoyed this book as well.

Alison sees a man with flaming red hair that remains her of Rowan. She sees that as sign that it is time to return to Veil. She has been absence from Veil for about 6 months. Veil time about a year, she returns just in time for the wellsinging the competation for attaining the cup.

She finds that alot has changed since her last visit. She is unable to decide if the changes are for the better.

I hope that Book 3 comes out soon but this qoute is from her web site.

"Many of you have been asking about when the third Taliswoman book will come out.That's not my decision, but rather whether the publisher will want to bring it out.
There has been some discussion of this in the past year, and the possibility of my writing the third book hasn't been ruled out. It depends on the state of the publishing business, which is pretty sickly right now"

I hope that the publishers decides on Book 3 cause I have some unanswered questions and I would like to see this story continue.

Cup of Clay

Cup of Clay By Carole Nelson Douglas is Book 1 of the Taliswoman. I could not put this book down. When I was at work I kept thinking about it.


This is a story about Alison Carver. She finds herself in another land called Veil. She inadvertently wins the Cup of Earth by song. By winning this talisman, she becomes the taliswoman. Her guide to Veil is Rowan. He was suppose to win the cup. They journey on to Rowan's home of Desmeyne. As they journey together, Alison learns many things and Rowan's thinking is challenged.

I loved that Alison was such a strong women. She stood up for herself. She did not need the hero to take care of her. A nice science fantasy book, I just loved it. I had to start Book 2 right away. I am looking forward to more of Alison adventures in Veil

The Pilot's Wife

I loved The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve. It is about a wife who has to deal with her husband's death when his plane crashes. As the investigation into the crash develops Kathryn learns that her husband has secrets.

This is book number 3 in my TBR Challenge. Why did I love it? I loved how I was pulled into the story. I felt her pain and her grief. I went along with her on her journey of discovery and saw how the discoveries affected her. Even though she wanted life to stop she was forced to continue to face her pain and discoveries. After reading this book one wonders does one ever know the people they love.

The Concubine's Tattoo

The Concubine's Tattoo by The Laura Joh Rowland is a mystery set in the late 1600s Japan. This is the fourth book in Sana Ichiro series and the first one that I read.

Sana Ichiro has just married, but on his wedding day one of the Shogun's concubine dies. As Shogun's honorable investigator, he is sent to investigate the death. He realizes that the concubine was murdered. He finds out that the concubine is poisoned while applying a tattoo.

Reiko is Sano's new bride. She is not the traditional Japanese wife that is found in the 1600s Japan. As the only child of a widowed magistrate, she was allowed to watch his court cases. She was trained in the ways of the Samurai warrior. She is not the docile wife Sano expected. Reiko helps with the investigation even though Sano tells her no. He is furious when he finds out.

Can Sano solve the murder and work things out with Reiko?

When I started to read this book, I was not sure if I would like it. But I kept going and the book became better. This is not your traditional mystery. This mystery does not get solved quickly. There is a lot of twist and turns in this book. I thought I figured out who committed the murder but Rowland there in some twist and it was not who I thought. This is definitely a thinker mystery. If you like mysteries then you will like this book. Enjoy.

The Poisonwood Bible

I read this book for the TBR challenge. This was my first book completed for this challenge, 11 more to go.

This is a story about a family of Evangelical Baptists who go to Africa to be missionaries. Through the narration of 5 different viewpoints, the mother and the 4 daughters, we see how cultures clash, learn about African (Congo) politics and the status of women. We see a family fall apart and then come back together.

I found The Poisonwood Bible difficult to get into at the beginning. I believe that it was due to the writing style of the author. I either became use to the style or the story became to enthralling to put the book down. After the first 100 pages the book became easier. The further I got in the book, I wanted to know more about the characters

Overall, I found the book a good read. I would definitely recommend it.

2008 TBR Challenge

I have decided to participate in this challenge. I have to read 12 books on my TBR List. The books must be on my list for more than 6 months. I finally completed my list. So here it is.

1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. The Concubine's Tattoo byLaura Joh Rowland
3. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
4. Cup of Clay by Carole Nelson Douglas
5. Seed Upon The Wind by Carole Nelson Douglas
6. Rebel by Bernard Cornwell
7. Queenbees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman
8. Seal Island by Kate Brallier
9. Nerd In Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
10. The Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
11. A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley
12. The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy

My alternatives

1. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2. In Broad Daylight by Harry N. Maclean
3. Flowers in the Rain by Rosamunde Pilcher
4. East and West by Gerald Green
5. Hide and Seek by James Patterson
6. To Touch The Earth by Fran Kendall
7. The Daughter of the Pangaron by David Divine
8. Savage Sunrise by Cassie Edwards
9. Airforce Wives by Ruth Walker
10. The Seventh Stone by Nancy Freedman
11. Comeback by Dick Francis
12. The Last Chance Cafe by Linda Lael Miller

Between this and the decades challenges, I hope I can complete all the books I plan to read for 2008.