The Lion's Shadow

Rating:
Summary: i wasn't sure i'd like it; but, Zowie! I did!
Review: A friend of mine recommended "The Lion's Shadow" to me, and i must admit, i was hesitant at first- the book is billed as a "historical romance", and romance novels are not my ususal venue. However, the description of the book sounded promising- elements of mystery and adventure-, and I also took a peek at the reviews on this site. The comments made by Mrs. Titus W. Trout (an amusing name, no?) convinced me to give it a go. I must say the promise of mystery and adventure was, indeed, kept.

This book really is quite a page-turner, as they say. Difficult to put down, with lots of intrigue and adventure thrown in with the romance; and so well written! The style is witty, the characters an interesting and amusing mix- from the rather brooding hero Griffin St. John, the charmingly feisty heroine Cassandra Whitney (fervently devoted to the cause of women's suffrage, despite her family's objections), to the oily, obnoxious cousin Freddy- each one a colorfully-drawn work of art.

I will definitely recommend this book to friends! (some of whom will find it under the tree this Christmas)

Rating:
Summary: i wasn't sure i'd like it; but, Zowie! I did!
Review: A friend of mine recommended "The Lion's Shadow" to me, and i must admit, i was hesitant at first- the book is billed as a "historical romance", and romance novels are not my ususal venue. However, the description of the book sounded promising- elements of mystery and adventure-, and I also took a peek at the reviews on this site. The comments made by Mrs. Titus W. Trout (an amusing name, no?) convinced me to give it a go. I must say the promise of mystery and adventure was, indeed, kept.

This book really is quite a page-turner, as they say. Difficult to put down, with lots of intrigue and adventure thrown in with the romance; and so well written! The style is witty, the characters an interesting and amusing mix- from the rather brooding hero Griffin St. John, the charmingly feisty heroine Cassandra Whitney (fervently devoted to the cause of women's suffrage, despite her family's objections), to the oily, obnoxious cousin Freddy- each one a colorfully-drawn work of art.

I will definitely recommend this book to friends! (some of whom will find it under the tree this Christmas)

Rating:
Summary: A gripping page-turner!
Review: Arends' keen sense of pacing grips the reader from the first page, and ensures that he or she won't be able to set the book down (willingly, at any rate!) until the end.

Set against a beautifully detailed turn-of-the-century London, this romantic adventure is certain to captivate your attention, warm your heart, and tickle your funny bone.

I'll be re-reading 'The Lion's Shadow' for many years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Enjoyable -
Review: I am a great fan of Katie MacAlister and discovering that she also wrote under another name I discovered this out of print earlier novel. Cassandra Whitney is the charming and feisty heroine who has joined the suffrage movement to gain woman the freedom to vote. She is a die-hard feminist of her age and has landed herself in some pretty amusing (or would be, if not for the serious nature of the movement) circumstances that have landed her in jail. It was one of these situations that she would meet the explorer, Griffin St. John - brother of the Earl of Sherringham who was one of the staunchest opposers against the movement. While Griffin was not impressed with the suffrage movement - he was impressed with the lovely Cassandra Whitney. They would come into contact with one another on more than one occasion before their mutual attraction would be noticed and force a heinous plot placing them both in the thick of an intrigue of madness and greed.

The heroine is an interestingly feisty character who manages to get herself into quite a few messes but thanks to an unconventional childhood friend (one who taught her to plant `facers' and pick locks) she does quite well with extricating herself from some dangerous situations and nefarious plots. The story has its lighter moments as well as some cute romantic encounters (i.e. ...after a very passionate kiss she decided that she and Mr. St. Johns should definitely be on a first name basis) showing the more humorous side of the author that writes as Katie MacAlister. Griffin is not as finely drawn out as our heroine is and could have used a bit more background.

For the historical value as a chronicle of what these brave suffrage woman suffered for their ideals, I do applaud the author for writing about this area of history I only took for granted. While I am not in any way a feminist - I do value the freedoms that women in this day and age, and country enjoy and will recommend this book more for the historical aspect than for the romance. The romance was light and cute but not in anyway sensual or explicit in content. I did find it interesting and the mystery was tense and difficult to figure out until the very end. Bottom line - interesting and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Enjoyable -
Review: I am a great fan of Katie MacAlister and discovering that she also wrote under another name I discovered this out of print earlier novel. Cassandra Whitney is the charming and feisty heroine who has joined the suffrage movement to gain woman the freedom to vote. She is a die-hard feminist of her age and has landed herself in some pretty amusing (or would be, if not for the serious nature of the movement) circumstances that have landed her in jail. It was one of these situations that she would meet the explorer, Griffin St. John - brother of the Earl of Sherringham who was one of the staunchest opposers against the movement. While Griffin was not impressed with the suffrage movement - he was impressed with the lovely Cassandra Whitney. They would come into contact with one another on more than one occasion before their mutual attraction would be noticed and force a heinous plot placing them both in the thick of an intrigue of madness and greed.

The heroine is an interestingly feisty character who manages to get herself into quite a few messes but thanks to an unconventional childhood friend (one who taught her to plant 'facers' and pick locks) she does quite well with extricating herself from some dangerous situations and nefarious plots. The story has its lighter moments as well as some cute romantic encounters (i.e. ...after a very passionate kiss she decided that she and Mr. St. Johns should definitely be on a first name basis) showing the more humorous side of the author that writes as Katie MacAlister. Griffin is not as finely drawn out as our heroine is and could have used a bit more background.

For the historical value as a chronicle of what these brave suffrage woman suffered for their ideals, I do applaud the author for writing about this area of history I only took for granted. While I am not in any way a feminist - I do value the freedoms that women in this day and age, and country enjoy and will recommend this book more for the historical aspect than for the romance. The romance was light and cute but not in anyway sensual or explicit in content. I did find it interesting and the mystery was tense and difficult to figure out until the very end. Bottom line - interesting and enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading! Cassandra is a lot of fun and I loved the era and descriptions of the people and things around them especially the gorgeous clothes. I'll definately read more by this author and recommend it to anyone who likes historical books.

The story is about a suffragette named Cassandra who meets an explorer named Griffin who doesn't think women should do anything but sit around and look pretty. Griffin's sister Helena gets involved with the violent militant suffragettes and ends up putting herself and Cassandra in danger several times. Other people in the story are a cousin who needs money badly, a man with a gold tooth who is being paid to follow Cassandra and attack her and try to kill Griffin, a pregnant maid, and Griffin's brother, who is the head of the anti-suffragettes. It's alot of fun!

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: I normally don't read first person books, but I read this one, and am glad I did! Marthe Arends makes the characters come alive. I felt I was there among the suffragettes. The heroine was spunky and believable.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent historical romance and suspense
Review: I thought this book was delightful. It was very detailed in the suffrage movement in England, and I loved Cassandra's voice. She has a dry sense of humor and quite the taste in men. If you like historical suspense books with a bit of romance, you'll like this one.

Rating:
Summary: A fast-moving funny historical novel of romance and suspens
Review: THE LION'S SHADOW by Marthe Arends

The opening scene aptly sets the tone for the rest of the book. It is irreverently laugh-aloud funny. Our heroine, Cassandra Jane Whitney, is joining other Suffragettes in London chaining themselves to a fence to promote their beliefs. But Cassandra (I have to wonder if that name is not prescient) can't seem to get the chain threaded through the fence properly. The rain is pelting down and she is being harangued by a friend of her mother who definitely does not approve. She gives the chain one final jerk and pulls it completely free propelling her into a nicely dressed man waiting to pass by. They both end up in the mud. When the police come she can't even get herself arrested. She is one snake bit heroine.

Of course this is not the last of the handsome (if muddy) man. . At tea at Aunt Caroline's the next day she is horrified to see Griffin, the man she fell on, his sister Helena, and his brother and wife Lord and Lady Sherringham. Helena soon decides she wants to be a Suffragette too while Lord Sherringham is one of the loudest opponents in the House of Lords. Griffin does not approve of the Suffragettes either. Helena confides to Cassandra that she is worried because Griffin has experienced a suspicious number of accidents. Soon it begins to look like someone is after Cassandra and Helena as well. Cassandra is determined to get to the bottom of this.

Cassandra, while constantly assuring us of her rectitude, her aplomb, her dignity, thrashes her way about knocking things and people over and generally upsetting every thing and every body. She is not at all incompetent however. This is no shy and retiring woman waiting for her hero to ride to her rescue. She is perfectly capable of rescuing herself even if, sometimes, she might break a few things in the process. And at least once she manages to rescue her man.

This is breezy, light-hearted and just lots and lots of fun. I chuckled aloud as I read it. Cassandra reminds me just a bit of the young Amelia Peabody. She certainly reflects the determination many women had in the early twentieth century to begin taking control of their own destinies. She does, I feel, show remarkable stupidity sometimes when she rushes into what the reader knows is going to be danger, but she is always able to extricate herself. And I cannot imagine how she does all these things wearing the constricting clothing of that time.

The writing is very nice, providing, among other things, a series of eye-catching images beginning with the opening scene and including the night at the opera and the spectacle of two women rolling on the ground fighting in front of an exclusive men's club. The story is fast-moving and well-told and draws the reader in very quickly. It is not all fun and frolic, however, as serious issues are addressed. Sometimes by comparison situations seem more crucial seen side-by-side with comedy.

I have to say I enjoyed Cassandra's adventures very much. She is a well-drawn character, as is Griffin, while the others, if not as completely drawn, still come to life on the pages. While this book is more of a romance than I often care about, this one works very well and the story was so much fun I gulped it down in one day.

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly charming and engrossing
Review: The Lion's Shadow is that rare kind of book where you relish every sentence. Romance, mystery and historical background are perfectly balanced. Cassandra is a marvelous heroine - strong-willed and resourceful, with a unique touch of humor.