Top Ten Tuesday: Genre Freebie

This week's topic is a genre freebie. I'm going to chat about YA historical fiction, because I love a good historical fiction, particularly if there's romance.

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Top Ten Tuesday

This week's topic Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To a person wanting historical fiction. I've included a mix of teen and tween books. I'm a sucker for the covers of girls in pretty dresses, but I also like the mystery, action, and a little magic with history. 

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Photo taken by: by heatheronhertravels

Grave Mercy
Spy in the House
Countess Under the Stairs
The Season
Flygirl
Nathan Fox
Bloodline
Midnight Tunnel
Keeper of the Grail
Kat, Incorrigible 

What other historical fiction books do you like?

Gah! 
Forgot Maid of Secrets and In the Shadow of the Lamp

Maid of Secrets Blog Tour: Interview with Maid of Stealth

Today at YA Book Nerd we have Jane, one of the five spies we meet in the new YA historical adventure Maid of Secrets. I just started the book and so far, it's fabulous! Jane is usually a woman of few words, but she graciously agreed to speak with us today.

Welcome, Jane! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Jane Morgan, and I work for the Queen.  I see you refer to me as “Maid of Stealth”, and that sounds right enough. As a spy for the Queen, I make short work of anyone the Crown prefers to see dead. So you definitely need stealth for what I do. That, and a sharpened blade.

What's your weapon of choice?
If I were smart, I would say a bow and arrow. It’s silent and you can sight your opponent from a far distance, then kill him quickly and cleanly.  But I do not often have the luxury of distance for my tasks. As a result, I find that I work best with the dagger. Or, in my case, several daggers hidden at various points on my person. A dagger is a quick, effective and silent weapon, and if managed correctly achieves my goals before my prey knows I am even there.

Where in Wales did you live? (This interests me as I'm 25% Welsh and my family was from Northern Wales)
Because you are a countrywoman, I will share the story of my home with you. But I do not talk often of this place; there are now only memories there for me. Memories and pain.
My family lived in a small village near the town of Newborough, on Anglesey Island. It was not an easy life, but it was simple, and it was ours. We were fisherman in the main, though some of us also wove nets out of the long grasses in the area for the fishing trade, and we kept to ourselves. The trouble with living so close to the sea, however, is what it might wash up on your doorstep. Marauders were a constant threat to us. Now there are a few less of them.

How did you train to become stealthy?
It happened quite by accident. I said we were fishermen. I am terrible at fishing. To make myself useful and avoid getting assigned the chores only fit for women to do, I learned to hunt. I found I had an affinity for sneaking up on animals without them being fully aware. This skill helped a great deal in the pursuit of small game (and larger game), when my only concern was helping my family and neighbors put food on the table. It became much more useful when I turned my focus to hunting men. To keep sharp, however, I must constantly hone my wits and my speed. If I am not quick, in body and mind… I’ll no longer be the hunter, but the prey.

What's your favorite part of court?
Leaving it.
In truth, I cannot say that I enjoy the Queen’s court and her endless rounds of entertainment, dancing and feasts. I have no quarrel with the woman—you might say we understand each other. But she is surrounded by so much revelry that it is all I can do not to flee the court outright every day, just for a few hours alone in the forest surrounding the castle. I’ve done it, often enough. I escape more than anyone realizes, and slip back inside just as quietly. And given what Meg and I have found within the walls of Windsor Castle, which you’ll know once you read Maid of Secrets, coming and going is about to get a lot easier.

Can you describe your favorite dress?
If I have to wear a dress at all, my favorite dress involves a split walking skirt.
I would much rather dress like a guard or, better yet, a servant. Someone who has only to wear loose breeches and a tunic, with a belt for carrying a sword and an extra blade, and boots sturdy enough to walk miles in--but soft enough to not leave your fleet a bleeding mess. That’s been the biggest benefit of being at court, I’ll tell you plain: the quality of the footwear. That and you always know where your next meal is coming from. Of course, you also know the price of the food. You just have to be willing to pay it.

Thanks! Excited to be part of the tour.
And good day to you, m’lady.

Author Bio via Goodreads: Jennifer McGowan writes Young Adult romance full of swash and buckle. Her first novel, MAID OF SECRETS, debuts in Spring, 2013 from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Royal Secret: Came from a small town in northern Ohio
Became a Maid of Honor: After bringing her tale of spygirls to the noble city, and winning the favor of the great house of Simon and Schuster
Special Skill: Matrix-like reflexes, superior strength, fabulous wit… okay, ah – we’ll get back to you on that.

Website: http://www.jennifermcgowan.com/
Twitter: @Jenn_McGowan 

Contest: a Rafflecopter giveaway

YA Historical Fiction Challenge 2012

Here's my original list, I didn't read all the books on it. Here's a list of HF books I did read:

1.  Renegade Magic (Sequel to Kat, Incorrigible)
2. Mastermind Plot (Sequel to Midnight Tunnel)
3. Grave Mercy
4. Courtships and Curses
5. Victoria Rebels
6. Wentworth Hall
7. Dark Mirror
8. Queen's Lady
9. Other Countess
10. No Crystal Stair
11. Cross My Heart
12. Time Traveling Fashionista book 2


I wanted to read 15, but I only finished 12. Guess I read too many adult historical fiction novels. Guess I'll have to do better next year!

Review: Victoria Rebels

Queen Victoria ruled for years, but before she made it to the throne, she was forced to deal with her family. Through a journal she reflects on the horrible relationship she has with her mother who tries over and over again to manipulate Victoria.

Her mother doesn't approve of the King's family and doesn't want her daughter around them.Victoria and her mother fight. While still under age, Victoria must go along with her mother's demands. Still, she's formed her own opinions and she's ready to take control over her future. 

Victoria tries to surround herself with people she can trust, but gradually, they seem to disappear. She keeps her emotions in check as best she can, writing them down in her journal. As she matures, her determination becomes stronger. As next in line to the throne, she watches and waits for her moment. When it comes, she's ready.

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I read it on the plane home from the YA Lit Symposium, where I had the good fortune to meet the author.  I hated Victoria's mother, she might win the worst parent award in books I've read this year. She was crafty, manipulative, egotistical, and a social climber. She never put her daughter first. The fights between them were outrageous. However, she was a wonderful character - the type the reader loves to hate.
My heart went out to Victoria who had to deal with so many obstacles in her young life. She's strong, determined, and stubborn. Sometimes her stubbornness was unwarranted and sometimes she was able to take a step back and see that. Other times she dug her heels in. At times I sympathized with her and at times I wanted to yell at her. The complexity of her character made me want to read more and uncover more of her story.


Pet Peeve: In the beginning, I found it hard to determine Victoria's age. After doing a little math, I figured it out. It distracted me from the book for a few minutes as I flipped back and forth trying to figure out her age in the early chapters.

 Cover Thoughts: Attractive
Source: YA Lit Symposium
Date Published: January 1st 2013
Fun Fact: This book reminds of Young Victoria

Review: Queen's Lady

 * second book in the Lacey Chronicles*

Lady Jane's family was most unhappy with her broken engagement to the Lacey family. Jane knew they wouldn't care about her reasons. They forced her into exile where she could think about her behavior. A much older man rescued her by offering marriage. Their marriage was a matter of friendship not romance. When her husband died, he made her promise to be come a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen. He wanted to protect her from his vile sons.

Lady Jane did has requested. She found herself a new life with old friends, including the man who stole her heart. Now that she's back in society's good graces, her family comes looking for her. They want her to marry again and they're not above manipulating Jane to get what they want.

Will Jane find herself a champion and will it be James?

My Thoughts: I really like this series. I liked reading more about Jane. Her best intentions seem to find her into trouble. I really liked reading about Lady Jane's time at court, the whims of Queen Elizabeth and her favorites. It was hard to read about her horrendous family and the lengths they would go to secure their position. Knowing her family made me love her relationship with Milly more. I found Milly delightful and longer to know more about her shop. I loved how these two girls kept their friendship, even though it was forced into secrecy.  I wished there had been a little bit more about Ellie in this book. I liked how the war troubled James and how he fought to change his dreary future. I admired him for going to the New World in such a fashion.   I liked the twist about the brothers and I'm interested to see where this series will go next. 

Cover Thoughts: Not a huge fan - the girl looks awkward and strange.
Source: my Library

Review: Courtship and Curses

 * prequel to the Bewitching Season and the Betraying Season *

As Sophie makes her debut into society, it isn't everything she hoped it would be. Her mother isn't here to guide her through society. She never thought her sickness would create a deformed leg.  She certainly never imagined that she would need to regain her magical skills lost during her sickness to save her family and friends from accidents.

These accidents are triggered by magic. As more and more accidents occur at social events, Sophie becomes curious. She notices that all the targets seem to work in the War Office. Could someone be trying to make things worse between England and France?

Sophie confides her secret in her new friend, who happens to be the cousin of the man she admires. Can Sophie trust her new friends enough to confide in her own powers? She'll have to figure out something if she wants to save members of the War Office, including her father's!

My Thoughts: I really love this series - for the time period (I'm a sucker for Regency England), the magic, and the mystery. Although I didn't like the reactions from society members, I loved reading about Sophie's debut. I liked watching Amelie smooth over her entrance to society with beautiful dresses instead of the boring subdued colors her aunt wanted to wear and the festive canes that didn't hide her deformed leg.  I really enjoyed Parthenope with her bubbly nature, her determination, and her sense of loyalty. I found her amusing. I liked how Sophie didn't give up when everything seemed impossible and how she blossomed under the friendships in society. I liked her how her magical abilities failed, but worked at times. 

I would have liked the see this book connected with the previous two books about magical twins at the time of their debut. For me, having read those books when they first came out, it hard connecting character wise.

Cover Thoughts: I like the soft purple, but it doesn't match with the review two covers who used models, still it's a very nice cover.
Source: My Library.

Historical Fiction Challenge 2012

I can't believe I didn't write up this post before - but it was in the back of my head.YA Bliss (one of my favorite blogs) set this up last year and it was great way to consciously read more historical fiction.

I'm going to try for Level 3: 15 books

Here are books that I'm hoping to read

1.  Renegade Magic (Sequel to Kat, Incorrigible) 

2. Mastermind Plot (Sequel to Midnight Tunnel)

3. The Girl is Murder 

4. Grave Mercy

5. Ladies in Waiting 

6. Dark Mirror

7. Wrapped 

8. The Princess Curse

9. Bloody Jack

10. Lily of the Nile 

11. Courtship and Curses

12. Secret Letters

13. The Wild Queen

14. Scarlet

15. Spirit's Princess

Are you participating???