I picked this new novel up when I read something about it being reminiscent of Rebecca. I'm actually not going to review it, but I did want to post about it since the author mentions that novel in the work and is obviously going for a contemporary, updated version... in some form.
When Eve meets the mysterious, handsome Dom, she is swept off her feet. They seclude themselves in the French countryside, but questions about his first wife's disappearance plague Eve. What really happened to his wife, and what secrets does the villa they live in hold?
I'd call The Lantern Gothic (lite), but I think it falls far short of DuMaurier territory. There are ghosts, and there is a husband who can't quite be trusted, but there is really nothing of the extreme menace and off kilter, creepy characters of Rebecca. The house is bland in many ways with not enough description for my tastes, and the prose is thick and literary. I wanted more spooky and less showy diction. But that's just me.
If you like novels set in France and high literature, I think you'll enjoy it-- and I do enjoy high literature, but I want my Gothics Gothic. I think I wasn't bowled over by it because it is a split plot (past and present) story, and it didn't have much suspense... at least not to me. Any thoughts? Have you read it? Here's more about the novel:
The Lantern
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Velda Johnston: The Hour Before Midnight
I found this gothic romance/romantic suspense novel by Velda Johnston, The Hour Before Midnight, published in 1978, at my local friends of the library. The cover is unexceptional, but when I saw it, I had to pick it up.
I like Johnston's work, but she treads a line between the two genres mentioned above, and I find her novels to be uneven in quality. This novel is not one of her best, in my opinion.
The Hour Before Midnight
Here's a list of Velda Johnston's titles with a picture of her. This page is from the literary agency that handles her estate:
Velda Johnston
In the novel, Judith Dunne, an American artist travels back to London to work on her illustrations. The murder of her fast and wild cousin the year before, Cecily Grenville, still haunts her.
Someone wants the past forgotten, and Judith is in danger.
Plot: 3/5-- I figured out whodunnit early on, though I did like the large variety of male suspects. I didn't enjoy the predictable plot twist of mental illness. A better ending would have been... well, I'll let you read it. Let me know what you think. :) Also, references to the common culture are pretty neat as are the stories of the British monarchy.
Characterization: 4/5-- I liked the hero and didn't pinpoint him as such right away. The heroine is also likeable and believable.
Atmosphere: 3/5-- A few genuinely creepy moments occur in the story when Judith finds the murder weapon--a nasty cleaver in a neat hiding place--but overall, there is nothing paranormal or really Gothic about this one other than some of the story line.
Romantic elements: 3/5-- The story in this regard was so/so.
Rating: 3+ stars
**If you like older romantic suspense, London in the 70s, or Velda Johnston's work, I recommend this one. Otherwise, you might skip it for something with a bit more Gothic atmosphere.
I like Johnston's work, but she treads a line between the two genres mentioned above, and I find her novels to be uneven in quality. This novel is not one of her best, in my opinion.
The Hour Before Midnight
Here's a list of Velda Johnston's titles with a picture of her. This page is from the literary agency that handles her estate:
Velda Johnston
In the novel, Judith Dunne, an American artist travels back to London to work on her illustrations. The murder of her fast and wild cousin the year before, Cecily Grenville, still haunts her.
Someone wants the past forgotten, and Judith is in danger.
Plot: 3/5-- I figured out whodunnit early on, though I did like the large variety of male suspects. I didn't enjoy the predictable plot twist of mental illness. A better ending would have been... well, I'll let you read it. Let me know what you think. :) Also, references to the common culture are pretty neat as are the stories of the British monarchy.
Characterization: 4/5-- I liked the hero and didn't pinpoint him as such right away. The heroine is also likeable and believable.
Atmosphere: 3/5-- A few genuinely creepy moments occur in the story when Judith finds the murder weapon--a nasty cleaver in a neat hiding place--but overall, there is nothing paranormal or really Gothic about this one other than some of the story line.
Romantic elements: 3/5-- The story in this regard was so/so.
Rating: 3+ stars
**If you like older romantic suspense, London in the 70s, or Velda Johnston's work, I recommend this one. Otherwise, you might skip it for something with a bit more Gothic atmosphere.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Spotlight on Joselyn Vaughn and Her Gothic Cozy, Hauntings of the Heart
Today, the spotlight is on a fellow Astraea Press author, Joselyn Vaughn and her new release, Hauntings of the Heart. Don't you love this amazing cover? If you like Gothic cozy, I think you'll enjoy this book.
When Minnie decided to advertise the Lilac Bower as a haunted house, we both got more than we bargained for. How were we to know that actual paranormal investigators would show up? We both expected people who would be excited by some creaky doors and flickering lights.
So when the paranormal investigators showed up with cameras, thermometers and digital voice recorders, we knew we were in trouble. Minnie because her advertising scheme was in trouble and me because I had no idea what the investigators do on a ghost hunt. I doubt they sit around and wait for a ghost to jump out and say Boo!
Luckily, some local investigators were making a presentation at our library and I could do some research. They explained the tools they use and what those gadgets are supposed to detect. It was all very interesting and exactly what I needed to learn until they started talking about places they had investigated and what they had found. Most were safely hours away from my home. Their ghostly figures, weird shadows and hair-raising voices could stay safely in my mind's mythology.
Until the last place they talked about. It is a mere block away from my house and I can see it from the window above my writing desk. There wasn't anything terrifyingly haunted about the place except that Al Capone may have slept there. The occurrences were more along the lines of the jukebox turning itself on and off and people just having an unsettled feeling while there. They felt creepy and uncomfortable while inside. (Which would probably explain the string of businesses that opened and closed in the building since we moved to town.) I only went inside once to a consignment shop that was there briefly. I don't remember feeling odd, but I know that I didn't buy anything.
And yet, as I walked home that night - alone and in the dark - I couldn't help but wishing I didn't have to walk so close to the building.
P.S. For anyone who likes to get the heebie-jeebies...The building is for sale.
So when the paranormal investigators showed up with cameras, thermometers and digital voice recorders, we knew we were in trouble. Minnie because her advertising scheme was in trouble and me because I had no idea what the investigators do on a ghost hunt. I doubt they sit around and wait for a ghost to jump out and say Boo!
Luckily, some local investigators were making a presentation at our library and I could do some research. They explained the tools they use and what those gadgets are supposed to detect. It was all very interesting and exactly what I needed to learn until they started talking about places they had investigated and what they had found. Most were safely hours away from my home. Their ghostly figures, weird shadows and hair-raising voices could stay safely in my mind's mythology.
Until the last place they talked about. It is a mere block away from my house and I can see it from the window above my writing desk. There wasn't anything terrifyingly haunted about the place except that Al Capone may have slept there. The occurrences were more along the lines of the jukebox turning itself on and off and people just having an unsettled feeling while there. They felt creepy and uncomfortable while inside. (Which would probably explain the string of businesses that opened and closed in the building since we moved to town.) I only went inside once to a consignment shop that was there briefly. I don't remember feeling odd, but I know that I didn't buy anything.
And yet, as I walked home that night - alone and in the dark - I couldn't help but wishing I didn't have to walk so close to the building.
P.S. For anyone who likes to get the heebie-jeebies...The building is for sale.
EXCERPT:
Gordon stared at the paper. “You said Minnie?
She’s the owner?”
“Well, technically Minnie is the president of the
corporation.” Maybelle glanced over the top of her glasses, then
hefted the book and carried it toward the copy machine. “I’ll get a
copy of this for you.”
His mind was bouncing all over the place. Minnie. His heart
pounded. The memories of all his travels to see the places they’d
dreamed about. He’d always hoped he’d stumble across her in a
cantina in Buenos Aires, or disembarking from a mission plane in
the Philippines. He’d never considered finding her in his old home.
Emotions he’d long thought dead flowed to the surface.
Minnie had been his oxygen once, and losing her had been like
living in a backwards Claritin commercial. Everything had gone
from bright and clear to cloudy and bleary. After a while, he’d
gotten used to it.
If his father had told the truth, it would have been
humiliating, but Gordon would never have lost Minnie. They
would be living at the Lilac Bower together. He could rectify that
now. He could see her. She was only blocks away. His luck was
changing. He felt like skipping.
It briefly crossed his mind that getting all he wanted
couldn’t be this easy. But he’d worry about it later. Seeing Minnie
now was as important as finding water in the desert. He thanked
Maybelle as he ran out the door, almost leveling a woman who was
entering.
Maybelle called after him. “You forgot your copy.”
He dashed back and snatched the paper from Maybelle,
crumpling it and stuffing it into his pocket.
“And your hat,” the other woman said, tossing him the tan
fedora. Gordon caught it and slapped it on his head.
He couldn’t miss this chance.
Blurb:
When lost love shows up on your doorstep, what do you do? Minnie Schultz slams the door in his face. She and Gordon Anderson have a history—close to ancient history, given the fifty years since their last encounter. After all that time, it might seem like water under the bridge. But the water pours from the plumbing in Minnie’s bed and breakfast, the Lilac Bower, uncovering all the secrets and heartache between them. With the help of some paranormal investigators, an Elvis impersonator and a couple of nosey friends, can Minnie and Gordon find the future they were meant to have?
Buy Links:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1106922258
Contact Links:
Email: jvaughn@joselynvaughn.com
Webpage: http://joselynvaughn.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/joselynvaughn
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joselynvaughn
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Judith Hawkes: The Heart of a Witch
I read Julian's House a few years ago and was blown away by it. It was one of those creepy, Gothic novels I never wanted to end. I searched for other works by Judith Hawkes and was disappointed to find that she has only written a few novels.
One of them is The Heart of a Witch. I lucked up on this novel at my Friends of the Library sale a month or so ago. At over 400 pages, I read through it pretty quickly. It just too me too long to get the review up.
Twins Kip and Shelley Davies wonder about The Arms, the elegant bed and breakfast that might as well be in another universe but that is just across the road from their house. What they find out about it changes their lives when they become members of a local coven.
Plot-- 5/5: This novel was wild. The story of Kip and Shelley grabbed me from the start. The tie ins with Wicca and evil make for a great read. I really didn't know where it was going for some time, and I like that. Hawkes is creative and is not afraid to tackle taboos and nudge them. If you want to read an exciting, mysterious, and edgy Gothic novel, this one is for you. I will warn that it does have some erotic scenes that some Gothicked readers might not enjoy.
Characterization-- 4/5: Apart from understanding Shelley's motivation or attraction to one particular love interest, the characters are well rounded and easy to sympathize with.
Atmosphere/spooky elements-- 4/5: Yes, this one had some spooky, scary, and frightening moments. The question of whether good or evil is at work comes up quite often.
Literary elements-- 4/5: The novel is well written and has the feel of a weighty work.
Romantic elements-- 4/5: Once some of you read this, you might scream at that rating. :) But the novel is full of many types of love, some of which push boundaries. I really like how Hawkes isn't afraid to go to the edge and then over it. My favorite gothic romance novel of all time, Wuthering Heights, does a great deal of that as well. With that said, I would not call this a gothic romance.
If you're interested in novels that deal with the struggle between good and evil, witchcraft, and what lies beneath the every day surface, this one is for you.
One of them is The Heart of a Witch. I lucked up on this novel at my Friends of the Library sale a month or so ago. At over 400 pages, I read through it pretty quickly. It just too me too long to get the review up.
Twins Kip and Shelley Davies wonder about The Arms, the elegant bed and breakfast that might as well be in another universe but that is just across the road from their house. What they find out about it changes their lives when they become members of a local coven.
Plot-- 5/5: This novel was wild. The story of Kip and Shelley grabbed me from the start. The tie ins with Wicca and evil make for a great read. I really didn't know where it was going for some time, and I like that. Hawkes is creative and is not afraid to tackle taboos and nudge them. If you want to read an exciting, mysterious, and edgy Gothic novel, this one is for you. I will warn that it does have some erotic scenes that some Gothicked readers might not enjoy.
Characterization-- 4/5: Apart from understanding Shelley's motivation or attraction to one particular love interest, the characters are well rounded and easy to sympathize with.
Atmosphere/spooky elements-- 4/5: Yes, this one had some spooky, scary, and frightening moments. The question of whether good or evil is at work comes up quite often.
Literary elements-- 4/5: The novel is well written and has the feel of a weighty work.
Romantic elements-- 4/5: Once some of you read this, you might scream at that rating. :) But the novel is full of many types of love, some of which push boundaries. I really like how Hawkes isn't afraid to go to the edge and then over it. My favorite gothic romance novel of all time, Wuthering Heights, does a great deal of that as well. With that said, I would not call this a gothic romance.
If you're interested in novels that deal with the struggle between good and evil, witchcraft, and what lies beneath the every day surface, this one is for you.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Gothic Romance Print Bundle Gothicked Giveway
Time for another Giveaway. :) Here's what I'll send out to you if you win:
1. The Laughing Ghost by Dorothy Eden (Ace Gothic edition) Here's what it looks like...
2. two other random print gothic romances
This time around, I'll be choosing a winner in one of three ways. You can do as many of these as you would like to enter for one or multiple chances to win:
1. "Like" Gothicked Blog on Facebook
2. Share Gothicked Blog on Facebook
3. Post a comment on this blog post.
4. Comment on the Gothicked Blog facebook page to enter.
I'll choose a winner by October 12th at 12:01 am CST. Hope you're enjoying your October reading! I definitely am, and I'm planning more giveaways this month. I'd love to hear from you: more e-books or more print books?
Thanks for reading!
1. The Laughing Ghost by Dorothy Eden (Ace Gothic edition) Here's what it looks like...
2. two other random print gothic romances
This time around, I'll be choosing a winner in one of three ways. You can do as many of these as you would like to enter for one or multiple chances to win:
1. "Like" Gothicked Blog on Facebook
2. Share Gothicked Blog on Facebook
3. Post a comment on this blog post.
4. Comment on the Gothicked Blog facebook page to enter.
I'll choose a winner by October 12th at 12:01 am CST. Hope you're enjoying your October reading! I definitely am, and I'm planning more giveaways this month. I'd love to hear from you: more e-books or more print books?
Thanks for reading!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Gothicked Giveaway Two and Guest Blogger Sarah Ballance!
I am so thrilled to have a fellow Astraea Press author, Sarah Ballance, here today! Her novella, Hawthorne, has been getting tons of buzz, and it's a gothic romance. How cool is that? Just comment about why you like gothic romance or that you'd like to win below by Sept. 30th at 12 p.m. So, without further ado, here's Sarah...
Support Disaster Relief with HAWTHORNE
Sarah Ballance
Hi, Lisa! Thanks so much for this opportunity to get out the word about HAWTHORNE. It's been called everything from a paranormal romance to Southern gothic, but the bottom line is it's only $1, and 100% of those proceeds will be forwarded directly from the publisher to benefit Japan earthquake relief. I hope you will all join me in supporting the tens of thousands of people who are still suffering from the disaster which occurred on March 11, 2011. Unfortunately, the story has faded from the news, but some horrible truths remain. An August 11 update from Red Cross Japan reveals the following sober statistics:
- As of July 14, 35,643 persons disaster refugees remain in evacuation centers and other temporary housing within the three worst affected prefectures (Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate). 4,757 people are still missing.
- An astounding 142,109 survivors have applied for unemployment benefits as of July 29 in the three most affected prefectures alone.
- 51,000 families still live in pre-fabricated houses, most having lost their homes and everything in them. Thousands others remain in shelters.
My Personal Challenge
I'd never written a short story before, so this was scary territory for me. I struggled a bit with coming up with a plot that was enough to keep readers' interest without being too much for novella territory. It was actually my husband who came up with the idea to make it a ghost story, and I think those were the most brilliant words to ever leave his mouth. (Well, second to asking me to marry him, LOL.) With his suggestion, the last scene of HAWTHORNE hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks. I wrote that scene first, and I was so excited to get to the end to tie things together that the rest of the words just flew.
And wow, what a response! If you'd like to see what readers are saying, take a look at HAWTHORNE's GoodReads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12035577-hawthorne I'm likely a new-to-you author (because I'm new in general, LOL) but for a $1 donation to earthquake relief, I hope some of you are willing to give me a chance. If you do, and you enjoy the story, please tell a friend! (And if you hate it, you can always recommended HAWTHORNE to your frenemies, LOL).
**GIVEAWAY** It's my honor to give away a PDF copy of HAWTHORNE to an interested reader, but before I do so I'd like for everyone to know the winning copy will be paid for so the charity will receive the full donation. Thanks so much for having me here, and I hope you'll consider lending your support to this wonderful cause.
About the author: Sarah lives a charmed life as the mother of six incredible homeschooled children, all of whom are completely adorable when they're asleep. Her husband of many years (long, long years, he calls them) is the kind of guy who could teach those heroes from the books a thing or two about romance, not that he'd readily admit it. Completely supportive of her love for writing fiction, he's generously offered to help with any necessary research for "the good parts." She's never had to ask twice.
(Links to embed): Web http://www.sarahballance.com/ | blog http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/ |buy link http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=1011841&mode=product&product=4810595
After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home. She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.
Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace. In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything. What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?
Source: RED CROSS JAPAN http://www.jrc.or.jp/vcms_lf/kokusai_100811Rev2.pdf
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Let the Halloween Gothicked Blog Contests/Giveaways Begin!
The first giveaway starts tomorrow, 9/23, and these giveaways will run through 10/31 in celebration of autumn and Halloween. It's a Gothic and Gothicked time of year! Our first giveaway will be for a copy of Tammie Gibbs' gothic romance novel, Island of Secrets. It's been a bestseller in Romance>Gothic and Time Travel on Amazon US and UK for some time. It's an e-book, and I'll send it to you if you win!
Here's the rules, you can either follow the Gothicked Blog Facebook page (if you haven't already) OR you can comment here about why you like gothic romance/Southern Gothic and/or time travel genres by 8am, 9/26. That's it! Once you do, you'll be entered in a random number drawing, and one winner will be announced on 9/26. We'll have lots more contests, so stay tuned!
**I wanted to put a link here to Tammie's book but my Amazon widget isn't working. I'll try to do it later.
Island of Secrets by Tammie Clarke Gibbs
Here's the rules, you can either follow the Gothicked Blog Facebook page (if you haven't already) OR you can comment here about why you like gothic romance/Southern Gothic and/or time travel genres by 8am, 9/26. That's it! Once you do, you'll be entered in a random number drawing, and one winner will be announced on 9/26. We'll have lots more contests, so stay tuned!
**I wanted to put a link here to Tammie's book but my Amazon widget isn't working. I'll try to do it later.
Island of Secrets by Tammie Clarke Gibbs
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