Review: The Harem Midwife by Roberta Rich

When I saw "The Harem Midwife" novel up for review in the Edelweiss catalog, it appealed to me because 1) I know nothing about harems 2) how women in harems gave birth 3) that there were harem midwives (but that makes sense thinking about it now) 4) how women in harems lived and got along with each other. After reading it, I now have quite a bit of new information about harems. Hannah Levi is a Jew, exiled from her home in Venice, now living in Constantinople and working for the Sultan Murat III as a midwife for his harem. Except there is a problem...the Sultan only desires his wife. He can't "perform" with any of the women in his harem so there aren't many births happening for the midwife to assist with at the moment. This all changes when a young, wild child is brought into the harem to see if she can stir up the attentions of the Sultan.
    
While this all sounds sexually charged and titillating, it's not really. The sexual aspects of the book are very mild and generally summed up in a few short lines. It's a long, long ways from a bodice ripper. If you're looking for that, this is not your book. What I liked best about the book might surprise you. The story line was great, the characters well written and the plot was interesting but here are some of the reasons that made the book 7 out of 10 stars for me:
* the descriptions of the palace and the rooms in the harem. Roberta Rich does an amazing job of describing the grandeur and opulence of the environment - the bathing rooms, the birthing kiosk, the consummation room, the zoo - all described with attention to every detail. Even the descriptions of the streets, carriages and markets made you feel like you were there and could see what the characters saw. "A dwarf with a rounded forehead unhooked the door of the cage. The birds took flight, swooping and swirling overhead. The scent of orange blossoms filled the air. Hannah moved toward one of the doves at her feet. Fastened to its neck and to the necks of all the birds were scented pomanders, filling the room with that glorious aroma. It was as though a silk canopy had become unmoored from the ceiling and drifted down, holding her in a veil of fragrant oranges." Isn't that description amazing? Can't you see it and smell it? Love that.

* the descriptions of the birthing process and ensuing party - "At home in Venice, the birth room was a hushed, secluded space with only a midwife and perhaps the laboring woman's mother and mother-in-law. Here the entire harem believe a mother's suffering was cause for celebration." This celebration included dwarves doing gymnastics, acrobats, musicians, jugglers, an astrologer and a ton of people milling around. Sounds like a circus to me and would have made me insane.

* little things that I can't possibly imagine but delighted to read about - "The garden should have been dark. It was not. The flower beds were so well lit that Cesca could see every petal on the nodding heads of the tulips...The lawn glowed with light so bright it appeared as though the world had turned topsy-turvy. Instead of the stars being in the heavens, they were a carpet of illumination undulating on the grass...As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was looking at the glow of scores of beeswax candles, but they were moving...She bent over the closest source of light, surprised to see a tortoise at her feet. On its back was a beeswax candle pressed into the shape of a red rosette. All those pricks of light were tortoises with candles attached to their shells. She hoped her awe was not too apparent." I would have been in awe and would have definitely shown it. Just that description and the image it conveys, is worth the price of the book alone!

This was a really good read. It wasn't a book that I couldn't pull myself away from but it WAS a book that had me going back to it every chance I could. It was an escape to a magical environment in an exotic locale which made it a very good book indeed. Hannah and Levi are also featured in the book "The Midwife of Venice" which is first in the series. "The Harem Midwife" will be released February 25, 2014.

The Harem Midwife: 7 out of 10

Review: The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne by Jayne Fresina

This is the blurb on the back of the book "By night Ellie Vyne fleeces unsuspecting aristocrats as the dashing Count de Bonneville. By day she avoids her sisters' matchmaking attempts and dreams up inventive insults to hurl at her childhood nemesis, the arrogant, far-too-handsome-for-his-own-good, James Hartley.

James finally has a lead on the villainous, thieving Count, tracking him to a shady inn. He bursts in on none other than "that Vyne woman"...in a shocking state of dishabille. Convinced she is the Count's mistress, James decides it's best to keep your enemies close. Very close." This sums up the first few pages of the book. The story is much, much more than that little blurb on the back of the book.

Ellie doesn't spend much time being a thief or fleecing aristocrats in the book. That is sorta her backstory that we just know about more than we see in action. James Hartley is after the Count de Bonneville because his mistress has given the Count the Hartley diamonds and he needs them back. Hartley spends most of his time trying to find the elusive Count. Most of the story happens while traveling to their childhood home place.

Just thought I should let you know, if you are looking for a book like Connie Brockway's All Through the NIght, where the heroine lives in two different worlds - this isn't really it. This book is light hearted, hilarious in parts, and doesn't take itself too seriously yet finds an emotional depth that is refreshing and genuine.

I loved James Hartley. At first, I couldn't figure out his character. He has a lot of internal dialog going on that is blustery and feathery and seems shallow at first but then I realized his actions were deep, soulful and in contrast to what he says a lot of the time. As he puts it "Most people expected him to be full of charm twenty- four hours a day, and it was a terrible burden. As Grieves, his valet, had dryly observed: this was the dark side to being an Infamous Rake— the valet’s description, not his. But James was not in the mood tonight to chat and flirt with her. Whoever she was. The last thing he wanted was to entertain a strange woman and cheer her out of a bad mood or tears or a headache." pg. 2 Yet, he finds himself doing this often and is very good at being a good listener and partner. 

I loved the valet, Grieves. I really enjoy books where the valet has an influence in the hero's life and is more like a mentor and coach. What I like about Grieves is that somehow he does what he is supposed to do as a valet and yet somehow still gets his message across to Hartley without being insubordinate. One of my favorite parts is when Hartley supposedly loses his memory and thinks he's the valet. Grieves encourages his role to his maximum advantage. Quite funny.

I loved Lady Mercy Danforth. The child is bratty, speaks her mind and looks down on others. I loved it! We meet her as she is hiding in Jame's carriage trying to get him to run away with her to "Gretna's Greens." There are plenty of novels where the children are either perfect and know more than the adults in the book or they are serious/scared/shy characters that need to learn to trust. Mercy Danforth is neither of these, She shows a lot of growth in this book and it is fun to watch. 

And finally, I loved Ellie Vyne. Hartley calls her Vyne most of the time. Like he's quietly interoggating her each time he says her name. I really liked that he didn't call her lady or madam or duchess, etc. She was just Vyne to him for most of the book. Ellie has a super sharp wit and is a quick thinker. When Hartley finds her "in bed" with the Count, she is so smart and quick on her feet. Literally! She is also dedicated to helping her family even though they don't return the sentiment and see her as a drain on the good family name.

There is a lot to like in this book and depth in a short period of time. I liked all the characters and enjoyed the pace of the book. It didn't drag on and on yet it didn't rush developing the characters either. This is the first book I have read by Jayne Fresina and I can't wait to read her other works. 

The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne rating: 7 out of 10

Review: The Lady Most Willing by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway

This is a novel in three parts each written by some of my favorite authors. I love Connie Brockway and have read almost everything she has written. (I only have 2 more books left to read of Brockway's and I am savoring them like fine chocolate.) I also very much like Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. How can you go wrong with a book by these immensely talented authors? You can't! 

And that is what makes this an enjoyable and fun read. I started laughing at the prologue and didn't stop. It was hilarious to read about the mighty Laird Taran Ferguson with his motley crew of men in kilts intent on storming the castle party to steal a couple of women to take back home to his nephews so they can pick out brides. Scottish brides, of course. The writing is so funny. Anything Taran does ends up going astray in some way so he ends up kidnapping three ladies, a common girl and the Duke of Bretton. None of them want to be "kidnapped" and snowed into the castle but they all make the best of it knowing that help will be on the way when the snow melts. Hilarity ensues! 

I loved all the stories in different ways. One was more sensual. One was more comical but they were all great stories with a different approach to the romance of the Hero and Heroine. The second act has Lady Fiona hiding out in the study and intently reading Persuasion by Jane Austen which kinda' mirrors her own life story. I love the book Persuasion so this was really cool. Also, it is so cute to see her snuggled in the study for hours, slouching on the couch with her shoes off and feet propped up on the end. I think it is easy for us to relate to a character who wants to finish a book so badly that she will hide herself away in order to read a good novel. I loved this character. I also enjoyed the commoner, Catriona Burns when she interacts with the Duke of Bretton and her practical view of life.

The book does move a little fast so if you want a long, slow buildup of feelings, emotions and back story then you might not enjoy the pace of "Lady Most Willing." It's easy enough to suspend belief and root for the couples to find their "happy ever after" even if it is quickly done. They only have a couple of days before the snow melts, after all! This book is funny, sensual and light hearted. I loved it!

The Lady Most Willing: 7 out of 10.