BkRv: Politics and women do not mix (at least for me)

Book Review: The Confessions Of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

Historical

First Line: I was ten years old when I discovered I might be a witch.








Has it really been a year since I read C.W. Gortner's The Last Queen? I suppose it has been, and I am thrilled that he has brought a new historical piece on another notorious queen. The most delightful part of Gortner's work is how he jumps into the female mind - in particular, famous royal women - and brings them to life for readers to sympathize with.

Catherine de Medici has no choice in any part of her life - whom she marries, the children she bears but does not get to raise, the political turmoil that threatens the lives of her loved ones. She had hoped that the political marriage with Henri would be tolerable, but that hope gets crushed as she discovers his complete devotion to his mistress who usurps Catherine's authority. Even though Catherine has to struggle to accept this insult, she must also remember her role as the French queen - however, insignificant that may be - and prove that she is a woman to be reckoned with.

The Confessions Of Catherine De Medici did not "wow" me as much as The Last Queen. I am not entirely sure why. C.W. Gortner unfolds Catherine's story with the same finesse as Juana La Loca. However, I just was not as impressed with Catherine - it may be a mixture of not connecting with Catherine as much as Juana; the fact that there were a lot of names thrown about (and sometimes duplicate names); and a lot of political ups-and-downs every other page or so. The latter is probably the majority of my discontent - Catherine lived in a very complicated political world that never seemed to let her relax and enjoy herself. Not that Juana didn't have a complex life, but I did not feel as overwhelmed in details and people then.

As far as historical fiction goes, I will still keep my eyes peeled for C.W. Gortner and his scintillating interpretations of famous queens with unflattering reputations. I absolutely love his writing style - the descriptions and personal thoughts continue to be the highlight of his novels.

From page 3
How little they know me. How little anyone knows me. Perhaps it was ever my fate to dwell alone in the myth of my own life, to bear witness to the legend that has sprung around me like some venomous bloom. I have been called murderess and opportunist, savior and victim. And along the way, become far more than was ever expected of me, even if loneliness was always present, like a faithful hound at my heels. The truth is, not one of us is innocent. We all have sins to confess.

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Disclaimer: BLOG TOUR / PUBLISHER

Get the Scoop on... Cindy Jacks

The Epic Rat is pleased to present Cindy Jacks today! We are promoting her latest romantic comedy All The Good Men where dating disasters abound and "good things come in forty-something firefighter packages." But first, let's see what Cindy has to say about dating - the good and the bad - and how it helped her find The One.

AUTHOR BIO: Prior to becoming a writer of romantic and erotic fiction, Cindy was a 'jacks' of all trades. Besides obtaining a BFA in sculpture, interning as a pastry-chef, and learning the art of furniture restoration, she worked for ten years in the corporate arena, but now happily spends her days as a full time author. Her first published work--"The Point of Distraction Series"--was inspired by a collection of short stories she wrote to entertain her best friend. Since then she's explored her inner bad girl and penchant for love stories by producing books full of humor and packed with real emotion. When not chained to her laptop, she enjoys belly dancing, international cooking, and making jewelry. She and her family call the Washington, DC area home.

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Thanks Epic Rat for having me as your guest today! And what an epic topic to discuss—the wonderful world of dating. We've all been there and experienced a range of emotions from wild anticipation to absolute dread. But love it or hate it, you gotta go through it. How else can you find out if the person you're attracted to is the right one for you? Until someone comes up with another way to get to know a potential mate, we're all stuck in the same foxhole.

In my book, All the Good Men, the heroine, Dahlia Foster takes on an ill-advised dare that includes going on several blind dates. She endures bad Jerry Seinfeld imitations, thinly veiled hostility, a totally uninterested companion and more. And the sad fact of the matter is, the dates in the book..I've been on every single one. Yep, they're all based on nights out I weathered during my time as a single gal.

My absolute worst date was with a young man who fancied himself an aspiring actor. All night long he did a really bad impression of Jerry Seinfeld saying, “Newman,” at random intervals. He forced me to listen to Jack Wagner album (yes, Jack Wagner—90s soap opera star and wannabe singer) on the ride to the restaurant.

I say restaurant but really it was a Tippy's Tacos. He spent the meal expounding on the details of his dubious acting resume. More Jack Wagner on the ride home. The kiss good night was rough and sloppy. When I finally dropped him at his apartment, I couldn't put enough distance between the two of us. I peeled out like I was being chased by Satan himself.

The best date I ever had took place in the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The young man took me on a late night stroll through the Civil War battleground. A low fog cloaked our path, crickets played their summer song for us. We walked and talked, got to know each other. He was quick to laugh and knew how to make me laugh, too. At the end of the night, gave me the most electrifying kiss at the foot of the “Angel of Marye's Heights” monument. Though he and I parted ways a couple years later, that magical, misty evening lives on my memory as the most romantic.

Most of the other dates I've gone on have fallen some where between Newman and the Angel of Marye's Heights, but each experience taught me a little about what I want in a man and what I don't want. Each one was an audition of sorts. So when I strolled hand-in-hand on a gorgeous autumn day through monuments of the National Mall in Washington, DC with the man who is now the love of my life, I recognized that spark, the chemistry that would bind us together for years to come. It's ten years later and we're still going strong. So, I suppose I owe a debt of gratitude to the suitors who came before. Without their attentions, both misguided and right on target, I might not have found the man who can always make me smile.