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I review all genres and I post them in 30 spots. Check out previous posts and I'm sure you'll find several books to catch your interest. I am a published reviewer and an award winning one. I am one of the best reviewers around. CELEBRATING 14 YEARS OF BOOK REVIEWS!!

Saturday, June 18, 2022

The Royal Reason Why Brides Wear White

 Queen Victoria spent the majority of her reign wearing black, to mourn the death of her husband Albert. Yet, she is credited with kicking off a very different fashion trend: Brides wearing white on their wedding day.

After her wedding, Victoria wrote in her journal of her dress, "I wore a white satin gown with a very deep flounce of Honiton lace, imitation of old. I wore my Turkish diamond necklace and earrings, and Albert’s beautiful sapphire brooch." Little did the 21-year-old queen know that the white satin gown she wore would begin the trend of bridal dressing for centuries to come.

albert and victoria
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in a re-enactment of their marriage ceremony, 1854.
ROGER FENTONGETTY IMAGES
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At the time of Queen Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert, it was common for wedding dresses to come in a variety of colors—but Victoria chose a white dress. White gowns were not popular, as keeping a white dress white after it was worn was exceedingly difficult. White outfits, therefore, were viewed as a sign of wealth.

There are competing theories on why Queen Victoria wore white. "Victoria had chosen to wear white mostly because it was the perfect color to highlight the delicate lace," writes Julia Baird in Victoria The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an EmpireShe especially wanted to show off the lace to support lace makers in England.

"Before bleaching techniques were mastered, white was a rare and expensive color, more a symbol of wealth than purity," Baird wrote. "Victoria was not the first to wear it, but she made it popular by example. Lace makers across England were thrilled by the sudden surge in the popularity of their handiwork."

Historian Jennifer Steadman, however, believes Victoria chose white aware of its perception of innocence in the media. "She wanted to be seen as [Albert's] wife, so she didn’t wear the red ermine robe of state. She wore white. After that, all representations in...fashion magazines picked up on that. The white wedding dress became the standard symbol for innocence and romance," Steadman explains. Agnes Strickland’s 1840 biography of Queen Victoria backs up Steadman's theory on public perception: Strickland wrote Victoria was dressed on her wedding day "not as a queen in her glittering trappings, but in spotless white, like a pure virgin, to meet her bridegroom."

Victoria was not the first to wear a white dress on her wedding day, nor was she even the first royal woman (Mary, Queen of Scots wore white on her wedding day in 1558), but she certainly was the most influential. White wedding dresses quickly became the norm, not the exception, following Victoria's nuptials.

News... News>>> Important

 I have reached a heartbreaking decision. Starting today I will NOT accept any more books for review. I will continue to work on the books I have. If you'd rather I didn't please send me an email and I will delete the copy you sent me or send the books back. No one but me has access to the books sent for review, so there isn't a need to worry someone else will have them. It's been 11 years of reading and reviewing for authors all over the world. I have given 110% to my blog and the authors. I've always posted my reviews in more places than anyone else. Right now it's right at 30 places. It takes a lot of time to read the book, then write the review and make sure it gets posted on 30 different sites.

I thought it was appreciated but I'm not so sure any more. Lately I'll have one day of 300 views on my blog, the next 3. I review for enough authors to have a fairly steady readership, but after 11 yrs, it's a pitiful one. I've done all this work for free. I have never charged anyone for the hours and hours it takes to do this work.
Yes, I enjoy the work. Yes, it's fun for me. Recently though it's been tons more work. When I started the blog, it was to help get authors newest read out to the public. It was to share my love of reading. I'm not sure it makes a difference. I know on Amazon, which by the way, I fought for weeks with Jeff Bezos and his staff to be allowed to post for my authors, people appreciated my reviews because I have over 1,000 Yes the review helped votes.
This is where I stand as of today. I can't see wasting my time reviewing if people don't care. Enjoy the weekend and next week. If you have anything to say, please email me. Thanks. macladie25@yahoo.com

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Sunflower Season: A Historical Romance Charity Anthology for Ukraine

 SUNFLOWER SEASON is a charity collection featuring stories (some never-been-published and some old favorites) by over 70 -- that's right -- SEVENTY of your favorite Historical Romance authors. ALL royalties will be donated to humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Featuring novellas, stories and novels by Christi Caldwell, Amalie Howard, Royaline Sing, Bree Wolf, Virginia Heath, Caroline Lee, Golden Angel, Nicole Locke, Natasha Blackthorne, Sabrina Jeffries, Lenora Bell, Amy Quinton, Janna MacGregor, Annabelle Anders, Rachel Ann Smith, Eva Devon, Sandra Sookoo, Tabetha Waite, Diana Bold, Sadie Bosque, Cheryl Bolen, Erica Monroe, Kate Bateman, Cara Maxwell, Tracy Sumner, Jenna Jaxon, Jane Charles, Eliza Knight, Mariah Stone, Robyn DeHart, Wendy LaCapra, Hildie McQueen, Madeline Martin, Amy Rose Bennett, Ava Bond, Piper Huguley, Fenna Edgewood, Kathryn Le Veque, Caroline Linden, Nancy Yeager, Dawn Brower, Celeste Barclay, T.L. Christianson, Lauren Royal, Michele Pollock Dalton, Glynnis Campbell, Rose Pearson, Erica Ridley, Sydney Jane Baily, Deb Marlowe, Rebecca Paula, Amanda Mariel, Christine Sterling, Ava Stone, Lauren Smith, Sawyer Quinn, Caroline Warfield, Jessica A Clements, Jude Knight, Anna St. Claire, Tamara Gill, Gina Conkle, Charlie Lane, Terri Brisbin, Bronwen Evans, Emmanuelle de Maupassant, Merry Farmer, Tammy Andresen, Cecelia Mecca, Meredith Bond, Christine Donovan, Lana Williams, Carrie Lomax, Eve Pendle, Bethany Bennett, Bianca Blythe, Maggie Dallen, and Samara Parish.

Again, ALL proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian relief efforts. We are not affiliated with any charities but are only doing what we can to provide help for the innocent people who've lost so much as a result of this senseless tragedy.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Early Thursday: A War, A Hurricane, A Miracle! by Linda S. Cunningham

     Walt is from South Louisiana. He's twelve years old and his Papa calls him Boy. Walt didn't know what his future would be like but he knew he didn't want it like his life now. He wanted his Mama to be happy and healthy. He wanted his family, except his Papa, to have a home where their lives would be good. They wouldn't have to struggle.

     This book is a good one. It's hard to read, in a way, because of the hard story it tells. It hits at the center of your heart and then shreds it. It's an important story to be told though. Too many live like this. The writing is good. The characters well defined and three dimensional. I recommend this one for teens and adults. It will give you  a clearer center of gravity. It will teach valuable lessons.  Add it today to your TBR pile or library.

     I did find issues. It really drags. It beats a point to death. It jumps to too many characters. Keep it somewhat simple. Last, it isn't as focused as it could be.

    I gave this one 3 cheers out of 5 because of the issues above.