The Printed Page

• Total pages: 64,641
• Print books: 64
• eBooks: 107
• Total books: 171
• DNFs: 34
• New to me authors: 82
• ’10 pub date: 100

New favorite authors discovered this year: J.T. Ellison, Kate Emerson, John Hart, S.J. Bolton, Jilliane Hoffman, Carol K. Carr, Richard Castle, Daniel Judson, Cody McFadyen, Mitchell James Kaplan, Julia Quinn

Returning favorites: Ted Dekker, David Baldacci, Linda Castillo, Susan Holloway Scott, Lisa Kleypas, J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts, Tami Hoag, Jeffery Deaver, Dean Koontz, Erica Spindler, Alex Kava, C.S. Harris, Tess, Gerrtisen, Victoria Thompson, Karen Harper, Michael Connelly, Vince Flynn, John Grisham, Deanna Raybourn ____

1. Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory
2. Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory
3. Compulsion by Jennifer Chase
4. Dead Game by Jennifer Chase
5. Voodoo Season by Jewell Parker Rhodes
6. Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann
7. Doubleback by Libby Fischer Hellmann
8. The Timer Game by Susan Arnout Smith
9. The Apple by Penelope Holt
10. The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley
11. Burn by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy
12. It’s In His Kiss & Epilogue II by Julia Quinn
13. The Sheen on the Silk: A Novel by Anne Perry
14. Roses by Leila Meacham
15. The Sonnet Lover by Carol Goodman
16. 14 by J.T. Ellison
17. Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson
18. Judas Kiss by J.T. Ellison
19. The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner
20. The Cold Room by J.T. Ellison
21. Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen
22. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
23. Am I Not A Man? – The Dred Scott Story by Mark L. Shurtliff
24. The Vanishing Point by Mary Sharratt
25. The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello
26. The Empty Mirror by J. Sydney Jones
27. The Last Child by John Hart
28. Bellfield Hall: Or, The Observations of Miss Dido Kent by Anna Dean
29. Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci
30. Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo
31. Hush by Kate White
32. The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato
33. Drink the Tea by Thomas Kaufman
34. Juliet by Anne Fortier
35. The Tulip Virus by Danielle Hermans
36. The Calligrapher’s Daughter: A Novel by Eugenia Kim
37. The Breath of Allah by Tempest O’Rouke
38. The French Mistress: A Novel of the Duchess of Portsmouth and King Charles II by Susan Holloway Scott
39. The Skull Ring by Scott Nicholson
40. The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
41. The Rivers Run Dry by Sibella Giorello
42. Rumors by Anna Godbersen
43. The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello
44. The Queen’s Soprano by Carol Dines
45. Envy by Anna Godbersen
46. Inside Out by Barry Eisler
47. Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas
48. The Butcher of Beverly Hills by Jennifer Colt
49. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
50. The Heretic’s Wife by Brenda Rickman Vantrease
51. The Mangler of Malibu Canyon by Jennifer Colt
52. Watermark: A Novel of the Middle Ages by Vanitha Sankaran
53. The Con Arist of Catalina Island by Jennifer Colt
54. Secrets of the Tudor Court by D.L. Bogdan
55. The Lost by J.D. Robb
56. The Hellraiser of the Hollywood Hills by Jennifer Colt
57. Snowbound by Blake Crouch
58. Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
59. Deeper than the Dead by Tami Hoag
60. The Hypnotist by MJ Rose
61. The Lady in the Tower by Alison Weir
62. Drummer Boy by Scott Nicholson
63. The Secret of the Glass by Donna Russo Morin
64. The Book of Spies by Gayle Landis
65. Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
66. Damaged by Pam Callow
67. Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
68. The Hollow by Nora Roberts
69. The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
70. Awakening by S.J. Bolton
71. Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory
72. Judgement Day by Sheldon Siegel
73. Triumph: Life After the Cult – A Survivor’s Lessons by Carolyn Jessop
74. Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten
75. The King’s Mistress by Emma Campion
76. The Ninth Step by Gabriel Cohen
77. Through the Cracks by Barbara Fister
78. Poison: A Novel of the Renaissance by Sara Poole
79. Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton
80. Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain
81. The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver
82. Nonna’s Book of Mysteries by Mary Osborne
83. Breathless by Dean Koontz
84. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
85. Last Known Victim by Erica Spindler
86. Legacy: The Acclaimed Novel of Elizabeth, England’s Most Passionate Queen — and the Three Men Who Loved Her by Susan Kay
87. Exposed by Alex Kava
88. Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris
89. Executive Privilege by Philip Margolin
90. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerrtisen
91. Breakneck by Erica Spindler
92. Black Friday by Alex Kava
93. Fugitive by Phillip Margolin
94. Murder at St. Mark’s Place by Victoria Thompson
95. Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
96. The Thorne Maze by Karen Harper
97. Blood Vines by Erica Spindler
98. Where Serpents Sleep by C.S. Harris
99. The Search by Nora Roberts
100. Murder on Gramercy Park by Victoria Thompson
101. Damaged by Alex Kava
102. The Queene’s Christmas by Karen Harper
103. Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen
104. What Remains of Heaven by C.S. Harris
105. In Harm’s Way by Ridley Pearson
106. Murder on Washington Square by Victoria Thompson
107. The Reversal by Michael Connelly
108. His Last Letter: Elizabeth I & the Earl of Leicester by Jeane Westin
109. Broken by Karin Slaughter
110. The Fyre Mirror by Karen Harper
111. The Big Dirt Nap by Rosemary Harris
112. Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
113. Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson
114. Murder on Mulberry Bend by Victoria Thompson
115. Dead Head by Rosemary Harris
116. Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson
117. The Fatal Fashione by Karen Harper
118. Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman
119. The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson
120. Damsel Under Stress by Shanna Swendson
121. India Black by Carol K, Carr
122. City of Veils by Zoe Ferraris
123. Heat Wave by Richard Castle
124. The Hooded Hawke by Karen Harper
125. The Countess and the King: A Novel of The Countess of Dorchester and King James II by Susan Holloway Scott
126. Don’t Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson
127. Murder on Lenox Hill by Victoria Thompson
128. Plea of Insanity by Jilliane Hoffman
129. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle
130. Murder in Little Italy by Victoria Thompson
131. The Immortals by J.T. Ellison
132. Ruthless by Anne Stuart
133. Reckless by Anne Stuart
134. Breathless by Anne Stuart
135. The Bookseller’s Sonnets by Andi Rosenthal
136. The Violet Hour by Daniel Judson
137. Murder in Chinatown by Victoria Thompson
138. The Panic Zone by Rick Mofina
139. Sacrifice by S.J. Bolton
140. The Tapestry Shop by Joyce Elson Moore
141. Mania by Craig Larsen
142. The Lady’s Slipper by Deborah Swift
143. Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen
144. The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans
145. The Price of Life by Greg McCarthy
146. When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker
147. Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
148. Final Target by Steven Gore
149. By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan
150. Indefensible by Pamela Callow
151. The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent
152. Absolute Risk by Steven Gore
153. The Virgin Widow by Anne O’Brien
154. The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer
155. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
156. American Assassin by Vince Flynn
157. The Golden Tulip by Rosalind Laker
158. Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
159. The Courtier’s Secret by Donna Russo Morin
160. Naked Heat by Richard Castle
161. Figures in Silk by Vanora Barrett
162. Blood of My Brother by James LePore
163. A Royal Likeness by Christine Trent
164. The Confession by John Grisham
165. Gideon’s Sword by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
166. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
167. Gone ‘Til November by Wallace Stroby
168. Rizzo’s War: A Novel by Lou Manfredo
169. Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn
170. Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci
171. Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson

____

DNFs

• Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Out At Night by Susan Arnout Smith
• The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
• The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer
• Requiem in Vienna by J. Sydney Jones
• City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley
• The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
• The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
• The Red Church by Scott Nicholson
• Daughters of Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt
• The Exile of Sara Stevenson by Darci Hannah
• Becoming Queen Victoria: The Tragic Death of Princess Charlotte and the Unexpected Rise of Britain’s Greatest Monarch by Kate Williams
• Neverland by Douglas Clegg
• Haunt Me Still by Jennifer Lee Carrell
• The End Game by Gerri Ferris Finger
• Song of Seduction by Carrie Lofty
• Think of a Number by John Verdon?
• Splendor: A Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen
• Shadow of the Swords by Kamran Pasha
• The Dog Park Club by Cynthia Robinson
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen
• My Splendid Concubine by Lloyd Lofthouse
• The Shape of Mercy by Susan Messiner
• Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox
• The Pindar Diamond by Katie Hickman
• Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup
• Mary Tudor: Princess, Bastard, Queen by Anna Whitelock
• A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
• The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton
• A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron
• Devoured (Hatton and Roumonde Mystery) by D.E. Meredith
• The Cypress House by Michael Koryta
• The Traitor’s Wife by Susan Higginbotham

• Number of books read: 12 (11 eBooks)
• Number of pages read: 4,661
• DNFs: 2

1. Naked Heat (Nikki Heat, #2) by Richard Castle | Fun series
2. Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett | new-to-me author | OK
3. Blood of My Brother by James LePore | Good
4. A Royal Likeness by Christine Trent | Good
5. The Confession by John Grisham | Favorite author
6. The Cypress House by Michael Koryta | new-to-me author | DNF @ pg. 67
7. Gideon’s Sword by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (Gideon Crew, #1) | new-to-me author | Good
8. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (Bridgertons, #2) by Julia Quinn | Favorite series
9. Gone ‘Til November by Wallace Stroby | new-to-me author | Very good
10. Rizzo’s War: A Novel (Joe Rizzo, #1) by Lou Manfredo | new-to-me author | Excellent
11. Dark Road to Darjeeling (Lady Julia Grey, #4) by Deanna Raybourn | Favorite series
12. The Traitor’s Wife by Susan Higginbotham | new-to-me author | DNF @ pg. 111
13. Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci | Favorite author
14. Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson | Favorite series

Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson

Charming. Desirable. Forbidden. Brought to court with other eligible young noblewomen by the decree of King Henry VIII, lovely Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Brooke realizes for the first time that beauty can be hazardous. Although Bess has no desire to wed the aging king, she and her family would have little choice if Henry’s eye were to fall on her. And other dangers exist as well, for Bess has caught the interest of dashing courtier Will Parr. Bess finds Will’s kisses as sweet as honey, but marriage between them may be impossible. Will is a divorced man, and remarriage is still prohibited. Bess and Will must hope that the king can be persuaded to issue a royal decree allowing Will to marry again . . . but to achieve their goal, the lovers will need royal favor. Amid the swirling alliances of royalty and nobles, Bess and Will perform a dangerous dance of palace intrigue and pulse-pounding passions.

Dollmaking vs. Waxworking: Remarkably Similar?

I recently interviewed Christine Trent, author of THE QUEEN’S DOLLMAKER and A ROYAL LIKENESS (due out on December 28th), about her research experiences.  I learned that, contrary to what I imagined, these two unusual professions were quite similar to one another in the late early 19th century.  Read on for more. . .

Q:  What was the difference between dolls and waxworks figures?  Weren’t some dolls made of wax, too?

Not in the 18th century!  Even the highest-end fashion dolls were exclusively carved of wood, although few examples survive today.  Homemade dolls might be made with rags or dried fruit.

Also, dolls were not as focused on being lifelike, whereas waxworks were always an attempt to be faithful to the sitter (or dead body, depending upon the circumstances).

However, in the early 19th century, dollmakers began experimenting with wax and then composition materials (a mixture of wood pulp and glue), leading to more realistic features and being more in line with waxworks.  In both cases, bodies might have been made of burlap stuffed with straw, or perhaps leather wrappings.  Wax was too expensive and delicate to use for bodies that would be covered by clothing anyway.

Q:  Were dollmaking and waxworking actually unusual professions for a woman of the time?  Dollmaking sounds like a perfect career for an 18th century woman!

Well, there was a lot about dollmaking that made it a man’s profession.  The carving of wood into faces would have been closer to a carpenter’s job than anything else.  Sewing doll clothes would have been naturally a woman’s profession, but there were plenty of men who were handy with a needle and thread (just ask any of the jack tars in His Majesty’s Navy who were responsible for mending their own clothes and fixing sails!).

Conversely, you’d think waxworking would actually be a man’s profession, what with handling all of those heavy figures and constantly rearranging them inside your exhibition.  But this was an industry where women flourished.

Q:  Who were some of the famous women waxworkers of the time period in which you write?  Besides Madame Tussaud, of course.  Were there famous dollmakers, too?

In mid-18th century America, Mrs. Patience Wright began molding faces out of putty, bread dough, and wax.  She traveled to England and opened up a successful wax museum, with enthusiastic patrons in no less than Benjamin Franklin, William Pitt, and King George III.  Mrs. Wright was even a spy for a time, passing messages to America inside her wax figures.

A Mrs. Salmon housed her collection in an ancient building Fleet Street at the turn of the 19th century.  Interestingly, she had an exhibition that was part toy store, part waxworks.  So, presumably, you could leave your child downstairs to be entertained with whistles, bilbo catchers, and spinning tops, while you headed upstairs to entertain yourself with the wax figures.

A very famous dollmaking family of the time was the Pierottis.  Of Italian descent, they lived in London from the late 1700s.  They were pioneers in using poured wax to create dolls in the early 18th century, and even used glass eyes and real human hair to create their dolls (is this beginning to sound like waxworking or what?).  The family created dolls through the 19th century, and were responsible for many fine portraits of royalty.

Q:  What’s next for you?  Another “unusual professions” novel?

Of course!  In early 2012 should be the release of my next book, tentatively titled THE PRINCE’S PAVILION, about a cloth merchant named Annabelle Stirling.  Thanks to her patron and great architect, John Nash, Belle Stirling is a rising star in the homes of London’s fashionable elite.  Even the prince regent wants her elegant, high quality fabrics used in the decoration of his new palace, Brighton Pavilion.  But when those closest to her conspire against Parliament, she risks losing her reputation, her business. . .and even her life.

Get ready to learn about early 19th century cloth manufacture, the Luddite riots, and other conspiracies of Regency England.

My fourth novel will be another unusual profession, this time a dark and mysterious one in Victorian England.  And that’s all I’m saying for right now!

I find all the furor over eBooks very interesting and for the most part entertaining. My question is this: Does it really matter whether readers choose print edition, audio books, eBooks or some combination of all three as long as we’re reading (or listening)? Reading is reading (well listening but you still get the story) no matter the format we choose.

After a week filled with friendship, support and encouragement I’ve decided that The Printed Page will take semi-retirement instead of full retirement. The most difficult part of blogging for me has always been writing – what to say, what not say and how to say it. Going forward Printed Page posts will be filled with my favorite things – cover art and few words. I’ll continue to post my wish list and monthly wrap up posts along with updates to my yearly reading and series lists. My side bar will update with my current and just finished reads. And any Mailbox Monday posts will post at the newly minted Mailbox Monday blog.

Dear friends,

I want to thank everyone for your support these last three years. As we all know life brings new adventures and change. And for me its time move on from blogging. I do intend to keep my blog domain name just in case I should have a change of heart in the future.

To my book blogging friends ~ Thank you for your friendship and support. There are no words to adequately express what you mean to me.

***

Mailbox Monday will be moving to it’s very own WP blog. I have the address, I just need to set up the blog. There will be an announcement here by the end of December, hopefully this weekend.

***

And I’m pleased to announce that The Printed Page’s last post will be a guest piece by Christine Trent, author of the historical fiction novels The Queen’s Dollmaker and A Royal Likeness.

• Number of books read: 12 (9 eBooks)
• Number of pages read: 4,917
• DNFs: None

1. Final Target (Graham Gage, #1) by Steven Gore | Excellent
2. By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan | Excellent
3. Indefensible (Kate Lange, #2) by Pamela Callow | OK
4. The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent | OK
5. Absolute Risk (Graham Gage, #2) by Steven Gore | OK
6. The Virgin Widow by Anne O’Brien | Very good
7. The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer | Favorite author
8. The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) by Julia Quinn | Deliciously wicked fun
9. American Assassin (Mitch Rapp, #11) by Vince Flynn | Favorite author
10. The Golden Tulip by Rosalind Laker | Very good
11. Indulgence in Death (In Death, #38) by J.D. Robb | Favorite author
12. The Courtier’s Secret by Donna Russo Morin | Good

Book cover links to story synopsis