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WORK TITLE: Legacy
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://hannahfielding.net/
CITY: Kent, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born Alexandria, Egypt; married; children: two.
EDUCATION:Alexandria University, Egypt, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and romance novelist. Previously worked in property development and as an interior designer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Romance writer Hannah Fielding grew up in Alexandria, Egypt and is fluent in French, English, and Arabic. She began writing in childhood, partly inspired by a governess who told her charge fairy stories and partly by a family friend from Kenya who fascinated Fielding with stories about magic ceremonies and witch doctors. After graduating from college, Fielding traveled throughout Europe, spending time living in Switzerland, France, and England. She eventually married an Englishman and had two children; as Fielding told a Romancing the Book website contributor, she “subsequently had little time for writing while bringing up my two children, looking after dogs and horses, and running my own business renovating rundown cottages.”
Eventually, Fielding turned to writing romance novels. Commenting on where she gathers inspiration for her novels, Fielding told Happy Ever After website contributor Joyce Lamb: “My books are born of my travels; of poking around in back streets and cafes; of meeting locals and exploring landscapes—and, of course, of reading extensively on cultures.” Fielding, whose grandmother Esther Fanous was a feminist and writer in Egypt, went on to note: “The passion of Spain, the romance and grandeur of Italy, the mystery and allure of Egypt, the exotic wilderness of Kenya have all left a special mark on my soul from which I have drawn inspiration.”
Burning Embers
In Fielding’s debut novel, Burning Embers, the story takes place in Kenya. Although Coral was born in Kenya, she moved to England with her mother when she was nine years old following her parents’ divorce. When her father dies in Kenya, Coral, who is now twenty-six years old, returns to inherit the family plantation. On the boat trip to Kenya, Coral develops an infatuation with a man. Although the two have no interactions, she cannot get him out of her mind. In Kenya, Coral learns the man’s identity. He is Rafe de Montfort, who was a friend of her father’s but ended up having an affair with her mother, thus leading to her parents’ divorce. Still, there is no denying the attraction the two have for each other. However, their growing love is complicated by the past.
“Their relationship is very turbulent, switching from love to hate and back again, so it is questionable how it will end for them,” wrote Novelicious website contributor Jenni Cahill. Book Thingo website contributor Jen Wu commented: “Burning Embers paints an evocative and compelling picture of Kenya and the story’s almost star-crossed lovers.”
The Echoes of Love
In The Echoes of Love, Fielding sets the stage in Italy, where Venetia Aston-Montague, a twenty-eight-year-old Englishwoman, is working in her godmother’s architectural firm in Venice. Venetia has been disappointed in love and has steadied herself against falling in love again, a resolve that has lasted for ten years. Then, at a carnival one night, a stranger named Paolo Barone saves her from an attack by unknown assailants. Venetia soon finds herself falling for Paolo even though he is known as a lothario who has a mistress. Then Venetia is sent to work on a project at Paolo’s home in the Tuscan region and soon realizes that she has a rival. In addition, other nefarious forces at work want to stop the burgeoning love between Venetia and Paolo from coming to fruition.
“Fielding’s writing is like reading poetry,” wrote a Maureen’s Books website contributor. The critic added: “Her writing is very detailed and almost feels like . . . reading a book written in the Jane Austen era, although it takes place in the present.” A Painfully Fictional website contributor remarked: “The best factor is the chemistry between the characters.”
Indiscretion
Fielding is also author of the “Andalusian Nights” trilogy. The first book in the trilogy, Indiscretion, begins in the spring of 1950 with a young writer named Alexandra de Falla who has had enough of her staid life in London. Alexandra, who is half-Spanish, decides to go to Spain to reconnect with her family there. However, once there, she finds her Spanish family to be rather strange, as they adhere to Andalusian customs. Alexandra eventually meets someone who arouses her passions, the arrogant Salvador, who is as troubled as he is immensely handsome.
“Indiscretion is a story of love and identity, and the clash of ideals in the pursuit of happiness,” wrote Romantic Historical Reviews website contributor. Debs Carr, writing for the Novelicious website, called Indiscretion “a tense, compelling story that kept me enthralled to the very last page.”
Masquerade
The next book in the “Andalusian Nights” trilogy, Masquerade, takes place in 1976 with writer Luz returning to Cádiz, Spain, after a failed book commission in England. Luz soon finds herself involved in a love triangle with two men who could not have more different backgrounds. One is a mysterious gypsy and the other a successful businessman. However, they could almost be twins in appearance.
“Luz is soon entangled in a complicated web of secrets, feuds and intrigue as she tries to work out what or who she really wants,” wrote Verity Wilde in a review for the Novelicious website. A Painfully Fictional website contributor called Masquerade “a pure piece of heaven,” adding: “Makes me want to visit Spain and fall head over heels in love.”
Legacy
Legacy concludes the “Andalusian Nights” trilogy. A young investigative journalist based in New York City named Luna Ward believes she has just been given a chance to propel her career. She is to write an expose on Dr. Rodrigo Rueday “Ruy” de Calderon and the alternative treatment center he founded in Cádiz, Spain. She goes to Cádiz and starts an undercover investigation. Then she meets a stranger several times who seems to be keeping things about himself secret. Nevertheless, he awakens an intense desire in Luna, who comes to learn that the man is really Ruy himself. However, Ruy is not the only one of the two who is keeping secrets.
“I’m not usually a hopeless romantic, but reading this novel got me soaring into a whole new level of exquisiteness and ardor,” wrote a Painfully Fictional website contributor. A Publishers Weekly contributor pointed out: “Fans of Fielding’s previous [“Andalusian Nights”] novels . . . will recognize past heroes and heroines.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, January 30, 2017, review of Legacy, p. 187.
ONLINE
Book Thingo, http://bookthingo.com.au/ (January 23, 2013), Jen Wu, review of Burning Embers.
Hannah Fielding Website, http://hannahfielding.net (November 5, 2017).
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (September 1, 2016), Joyce Lamb, “Hannah Fielding Finds Inspiration for Her Books in Her Extensive Travels.”
Maureen’s Books, https://maureensbooks.blogspot.com/ (April 22, 2015), review of The Echoes of Love.
Novelicious, http://www.novelicious.com/ (July 12, 2012), Jenni Cahill, review of Burning Embers; (April 30, 2015), Debs Carr, review of Indiscretion; December 17, 2015, Verity Wilde, review of Masquerade.
Painfully Fictional, https://painfullyfictional.wordpress.com/ (January 31, 2017), review of Legacy; (February 25, 2017), review of The Echoes of Love; (April 18, 2017), review of Masquerade.
Romantic Historical Reviews, http://www.romantichistoricalreviews.com/ (May 16, 2015), review of Indiscretion.
RomCon, http://www.romcon.com/ (August 6, 2017), review of Legacy.
Romancing the Book, http://romancing-the-book.com/ (August 22, 2016), “Interview: Hannah Fielding.”*
Welcome
A warm welcome to my website; it is a pleasure to have you here. My name is Hannah, and I am an incurable romantic, which comes in very useful in my day job: writing romance novels. This website accompanies my romance writing, in particular my novels Burning Embers, The Echoes of Love and the Andalucían Nights trilogy, passionate love stories set against beautiful backdrops. On this website you can find out more about me, my writing and my book. Since childhood I’ve had one foot in reality and the other in the world of romantic fantasy; and from an early age I’ve been putting pen to paper in an effort to bring to life the handsome, dreamy heroes in my head.
A little romance in life goes a long way, I believe: it’s uplifting, it’s affirming, it’s comforting, it’s a little slice of solace in a stressful world. I can think of nothing more pleasurable than spending an afternoon curled up in an armchair beside a roaring fire reading of love and happy-ever-afters until the cold, dark, rainy day outside the window just melts away. I hope very much you’ll enjoy reading the website, and gaining an insight into the inner world of Hannah Fielding. It’s a realm of sultry heat and mystifying intrigue, of evocative colour and spine-tingling sensation, of vivid settings and exotic cultures, of whispered attractions and gentle caresses, of all-consuming passion and all-conquering love.
About Me
When I was a child, my governess told me fairy stories. These tales, full of superstition and magic, were my first inspiration, and the warmth and colour they still evoke greatly influence my writing. They were also the experience through which I learned to become a storyteller, as my governess and I had an agreement – whenever she told me a story, I would have to tell her one in return.
As a novelist, I am obsessed by vivid colours, lush landscapes and tales of exotic customs in far-off lands. I can trace much of this back to a dear and long-departed friend of my family Mr Chiumbo Wangai, who fascinated me as a teenager with stories of the witch-doctors and magical ceremonies in his native Kenya. When I visited the country myself, I soon fell in love with its beautiful countryside and unforgettable sunsets.
Though I have been telling stories since I was a child, it was only after my children had grown up and my husband and I had turned our family business into a success that I felt I could devote myself to writing full time. After I dug out the various ideas and sketches I had jotted down over the years, I realised how profoundly my travels throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and particularly Africa had burned themselves into my memory. I felt driven to turn them into a novel.
The mystery, magic, heat and passion of Kenya’s landscapes inspired me to use them as the setting for my first novel. Burning Embers, a passionate love story set against the backdrop of the country in 1970. My later travels through Europe provided rich fodder for more stories, including my novels The Echoes of Love, set in Venice and Tuscany, Italy; and the Andalucían Nights trilogy, set in the smouldering heat of Andalucía, Spain.
Hannah Fielding finds inspiration for her books in her extensive travels
By: Joyce Lamb | September 1, 2016 12:01 am
Hannah Fielding
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Hannah! Please tell us a bit about your new release, Masquerade.
Hannah: Masquerade is book two in the award-winning Andalucian Nights Trilogy, a family saga set in the south of Spain from 1950 to the present day, and spanning three generations of three families whose lives are entwined by various circumstances.
Summer 1976. Luz de Rueda returns to her beloved Spain and takes a job as a biographer of a famous artist. On her first day back in Cádiz, she encounters a bewitching, passionate young gypsy, Leandro, who immediately captures her heart, even though relationships with his kind are taboo.
Haunted by this forbidden love, she meets her new employer, the sophisticated Andrés de Calderón. Reserved yet darkly compelling, he is poles apart from Leandro – but almost the gypsy’s double. Both men stir unfamiliar and exciting feelings in Luz, although mystery and danger surround them in ways she has still to discover.
Luz must decide what she truly desires as glistening Cádiz, with its enigmatic moon and whispering turquoise shores, seeps back into her blood. Why is she so drawn to the wild and magical sea gypsies? What is behind the old fortune-teller’s sinister warnings about ‘Gemini’? Through this maze of secrets and lies, will Luz finally find her happiness… or her ruin?
Masquerade is a story of forbidden love, truth and trust where the heroine becomes entangled in an illicit gypsy love affair, pulling her into a world of secrets, deception and dark desire.
Joyce: What inspires your book ideas?
Hannah: “Write about what you know” is advice often given to authors and I totally agree with this. Place holds such power to color a story, and I believe any story must be firmly rooted in the “where.” So, essential to my work is research, not only passive through the Internet and books, but physical, by traveling to the places where I am setting my story. My books are born of my travels; of poking around in back streets and cafes; of meeting locals and exploring landscapes — and, of course, of reading extensively on cultures. In a way, I am sharing my happy experiences with the person who has done me the honor of reading my book. The passion of Spain, the romance and grandeur of Italy, the mystery and allure of Egypt, the exotic wilderness of Kenya have all left a special mark on my soul from which I have drawn inspiration.
Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants (pantser), or do you carefully plot your stories (plotter)?
Hannah: I am a thorough planner. Having researched my facts thoroughly, I plan my novel down to the smallest detail. A writer today has no excuse for not getting his/her facts right. Use all the tools available to you. Travel, Internet, books, films, documentaries: they’re all there to enrich your experience and make your writing journey easier. Planning ahead, I have found, makes the writing so much easier and therefore so much more enjoyable. I use my plan as a map. I never set out on a long journey by car without a map, and the same applies to my writing. By the time I write the first paragraph, I know the story, the characters, the setting, the mood — everything.
Joyce: What’s your ideal scenery while you’re writing?
Hannah: I am a very passionate and emotional person, and as a writer, nothing affects my mood more than my background. I love warm, vivid colors and lush landscapes, and I am never so happy as when I watch the sun sink over the horizon from the balcony of my mas in the south of France. Places and settings have always had a powerful influence and impact on me, and certainly this is apparent in my writing. In France, for instance, my favorite writing places is my gazebo in the garden surrounded by bright and exuberant vegetation and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Just as important to me, though in a different way, is my house in Ireland. While the Irish countryside doesn’t have the same intensity of color as does the bay of St. Tropez, my refuge and inspiration there is my high-ceiling paneled study, where I write surrounded by the works of all my favorite authors, while a log fire is roaring in the hearth and an almighty storm is howling outside.
Joyce: What do you do in your spare time?
Hannah: I am a loner to some extent, and a dreamer, so the beach calls to me. I live part of the year in the south of France, and I love taking long walks on the beach on a sunny day. I gaze at the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, with its ever-changing shades of blue under the smiling sky, and conjure up romantic stories. When I am in my home in Ireland, I love to cook, using the various produce from the local market: jams, chutneys and stewed fruit for winter crumbles. Otherwise, nothing is more satisfying and relaxing than curling up either in bed or in front of a log fire with a romantic novel.
Joyce: What’s coming next?
Hannah: Legacy, to be released in May 2017, book three in The Andalucían Nights Trilogy.
A troubled young journalist finds her loyalties tested when love and desire unearth dark secrets from the past.
Greece and Egypt, two captivating countries with huge historical and cultural heritages are the setting of two romantic novels that have already been written and are in the pipeline for publishing, as are Lake Como and Ireland.
I still have many books in me. In my opinion, being a writer is not about publishing. It is simply about writing — writing from the heart the books that I most want to read. As the great American writer Toni Morrison said, “If there’s a book you want to read and it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
Joyce: Do you have anything to add?
Hannah: I would like to thank my fans for their reviews, and that I am delighted that they enjoy my tales and I hope to always live up to their expectations. They should not hesitate to drop me a note at my e-mail address: fieldinghannah@yahoo.co.uk. I am always delighted to hear from readers.
Joyce: Thanks, Hannah!
Find out more at www.hannahfielding.net.
Romancing the Book
Interview: Hannah Fielding
Posted on August 22, 2016 by Jen @ RtB
Portrait of Hannah Fielding and photos of where she writes.
Jen: Todayh we welcome Hannah Fielding to Romancing the Book. Hannah, will you share a short bio with us?
Hannah: I was born and grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. I went to a French convent school and then, upon graduating with a BA in French literature from Alexandria University, I travelled extensively throughout Europe and lived in Switzerland, France and England.
After marrying my English husband, I settled in Kent and subsequently had little time for writing while bringing up my two children, looking after dogs and horses, and running my own business renovating rundown cottages.
I now divide my time between my homes in Kent, Ireland and the South of France, where I write overlooking spectacular vistas.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Jen: Please tell us about your newest release and where the idea came from.
Hannah: Legacy is the third novel in my Andalucían Nights trilogy. Each book reads as a standalone, but there is a thread of family ties running through the overall series.
The core idea for Legacy had been haunting me for some time: how can you simultaneously be your own person and carry on the legacy of your ancestors?
Here is an outline of the story:
Spring, 2010. When Luna Ward, a science journalist from New York, travels half way across the world to work undercover at an alternative health clinic in Cadiz her ordered life is thrown into turmoil.
The doctor she is to investigate, the controversial Rodrigo Rueda de Calderon, is not what she expected. With his wild gypsy looks and devilish sense of humour, he is intent upon drawing her to him. But how can she surrender to a passion that threatens all reason; and how could he ever learn to trust her when he discovers her true identity? Then Luna finds that Ruy is carrying a corrosive secret of his own…
Luna’s native Spanish blood begins to fire in this land of exotic legends, flamboyant gypsies and seductive flamenco guitars, as dazzling Cadiz weaves its own magic on her heart. Can Luna and Ruy’s love survive their families’ legacy of feuding and tragedy, and rise like the phoenix from the ashes of the past?
Legacy is a story of truth, dreams and desire. But in a world of secrets you need to be careful what you wish for…
Jen: What age did you discover writing? Tell us your call story.
Hannah: Stories and writing have always been part of my life. My grandmother was a published author of poetry and my father, a great raconteur, published a book about the history of our family.
My governess used to tell me the most fabulous tales and when I was seven, we came to an agreement: for every story she told me, I told her one in return. Later, at the convent school I went to, the French nuns who taught us sowed in me a love of words and of literature. When I was fourteen, I wrote short romantic stories that I circulated in class, which made me very popular with my peers – but less so with the nuns that taught us! In addition, since a young age I have kept some sort of a diary where I note my feelings, ideas and things that take my fancy (or not).
To quote Anais Nin: ‘If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don’t write.’ I do all that. Writing is my life.
Jen: Are you a plotter or pantser?
Hannah: I am a thorough planner. Having researched my facts thoroughly, I plan my novel down to the smallest detail. Planning ahead, I have found, makes the writing so much easier and therefore so much more enjoyable. I use my plan as a map. I never set out on a long journey by car without a map, and the same applies to my writing. By the time I write the first paragraph, I know the story, the characters, the setting, the mood – everything.
Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest? Most rewarding?
Hannah: I find the hardest and the most challenging parts for me are the opening paragraph and the closing paragraph. The first must encourage the reader to continue his or her journey into the novel, to want to get to know the characters and their story; and the last must leave the reader with a feeling of contentment and maybe a tinge of melancholy because the voyage has come to an end and it is as if he or she is saying farewell to a friend.
For me, the easiest parts are the descriptive parts. My style is mainly descriptive because that is what my French education gave me and that is what I most like to read. I try to convey to the reader every detail my imagination is conjuring up, so I pay keen attention to the setting. I carefully describe sights and sounds and smells and tastes and textures. All the senses are involved, so that the reader can form a clear picture of the environment in which the plot takes place and grasp a better understanding of the characters and their reactions. I am careful to use the right word and I am always looking for the nuance that will best describe what I am trying to say. This could be due to the rigorous language training of my French education. The nuns at my school, and later my teachers at university, were very strict about style.
Since childhood I’ve loved writers who really paint a scene in your mind, and I knew when I started writing romance that I wanted to transport my readers to the time and place in which I situate the story.
As for the most rewarding part of writing – that is when I receive a good review, and when my readers write to me say how much they enjoyed my book and how much they are looking forward to reading my next one.
Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Hannah: Passionate, descriptive romance.
Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Hannah: I read: I love reading romantic novels – the thicker the book, the better.
I cook: I use the various produce of our vegetable garden. Jams, chutneys, stuffed vine leaves (dolmadis), stuffed savoury and sweet filo pastry cushions that I serve as nibbles when I entertain, stewed fruit for winter crumbles… the list could go on for ever.
I entertain: I find nothing more satisfying that having friends over; and as I often travel, it’s great to catch up with all the news.
I travel: To research my books. I find it exciting and exhilarating to discover new places, new people, new traditions and new cuisines.
I collect antiques: Chinese porcelain, Japanese sculptures and French and Italian glass, so you will often find me rummaging in flea markets and dark second-hand shops in the hope of discovering a treasure.
I go for long walks: I love the countryside in England and the seafront in France especially. There are many places to which I go for inspiration or when I have writer’s block.
Jen: Who has influenced you as a writer?
Hannah: Countries more than people have been my main source of inspiration. For me every country I visit is a new and exciting setting for the plot of a novel. I draw on the richness of its people, its history and all it has to offer in the way of cuisine, language, and customs to create fabulous places where my characters can meet and fall in love. So I can say that my books are born of my travels; of poking around in back streets and cafes; of meeting locals and exploring landscapes – and, of course, of reading extensively on cultures.
Jen: What’s next for you?
Hannah: Next summer will see the release of Aphrodite’s Tears, an intriguing and exciting romance inspired by Greek mythology set on the Greek Islands.
I have also written a dark story of love and revenge set in Luxor, Egypt, the land of my birth, a world of deeply ingrained customs and traditions, interesting though often cruel.
After that, my readers can look forward to a love story that tackles contemporary women’s problems and is set on the French Riviera and by beautiful Lake Como.
Now I am working on a dark romance set in the beautiful setting of Ireland, the land of fairytales and legends.
Legacy: Andalucian Nights, Book 3
Publishers Weekly. 264.5 (Jan. 30, 2017): p187.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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Legacy: Andalucian Nights, Book 3
Hannah Fielding. London Wall (Midpoint, dist.), $26.99 (484p) ISBN 978-0-9932917-7-7
Fielding's sprawling Andalucian Nights trilogy concludes with a dense and disappointing standalone romantic saga. Budding investigative journalist Luna Ward leaps at the chance to write an expose on an alternative treatment health care center and its founder, Dr. Rodrigo Rueda "Ruy" de Calderon. She abandons her desk overlooking N.Y.C.'s Hudson River and heads for the cobblestone streets of Cadiz, Spain. But a series of chance encounters with a mysterious stranger threatens to derail the undercover assignment before it even begins, as the sexy fellow--who awakens an overwhelming sensuality Luna never knew she had--turns out to be Ruy himself. As the two take tentative steps toward romance, the secrets they're both keeping lie in wait to destroy the love they've found. Fans of Fielding's previous Andalucian Nights novels (Indiscretion, Masquerade) will recognize past heroes and heroines; unfortunately, she also repeats story lines and characterizations. But new readers will have no trouble following the action, such as it is. (Mar.)
Legacy by Hannah Fielding
Sunday, August 06, 2017
Title: Legacy
Author: Hannah Fielding
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Published: August 4, 2016
Genre: Contemporary
I give the book 5 stars. Ms. Fielding did a beautiful job of writing. She did a wonderful job of pulling the reader into the book. While reading you feel like you are in Spain experiencing the same thing as Luna and Ruy. One book I highly recommend others to read.
Reviewed by Samantha H.
A troubled young journalist goes undercover in Spain, and finds her loyalties tested when love and desire unearth secrets she hadn’t bargained for. When Luna Ward, a beautiful ice-blonde graduate, is commissioned by a leading New York science journal to investigate the head of a Spanish alternative health clinic, she jumps at the chance. But her life becomes far more complicated once she meets the man she has been tasked to expose. Luna finds Rodrigo de Rueda Calderon to be a brilliant, outspoken oncology specialist with irresistible, dark gypsy looks and a devilish sense of humour. The pair are irrevocably drawn to each other, but how can she give herself up to a passion that threatens to topple all reason? And how could he ever learn to trust the person who has kept her identity from him, even though he has a terrible secret of his own? The lovers unearth dark and brooding dramas in their family histories, binding them together in a web of intrigue that threatens to bring their lives toppling down.
Available on Amazon
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LEGACY BY HANNAH FIELDING ARC REVIEW
January 31, 2017
book-reviewI don’t know where to start; this novel was packed.
Mrs. Fielding describes the sites in an incredibly breathtaking way. It made me feel as though I was seeing the splendor of Spain through my very own eyes; that made feel nostalgic for a place I’ve never been. And that sentiment was so overwhelming and odd to me. It felt like each paragraph describing the cities and their landmarks was literally like canvas being painted on with words. This was a first, I was utterly captivated by the way of writing. The connections and historical events and the ties were so carefully and delicately woven it was astonishing.
I admired Luna’s resilience and self-reliance, but what I loved more was how she progressively overlooked that part of her by virtue of her fervor and passion for the man she loves, the one who’s willing to cherish and hold her. Among many aspects, I found this as the most exhilarating sense of Luna’s character transformation, which -let me just say- was absolutely grand.
What I also loved about Luna was the way she prevailed over her prejudice towards Ruy.
Ruy, the guy with a tortured past and this unexpectedly vulnerable part of him. Nothing hits me harder than a supposedly-arrogant man with a dark past and a fragile heart. Oh, the feels.
swooning
Did I mention he’s un médico?!
And finally, I’d like to introduce my favorite character; Señora Sanchez. She’s such a huge part of the novel. And I literally lost it when everything clicked together at last. I feel so frustrated for the fact that I can’t write or talk any further because I honestly don’t want to spoil such an extraordinary story. P.S. I’m not usually a hopeless romantic, but reading this novel got me soaring into a whole new level of exquisiteness and ardor. P.P.S I need to learn Spanish ASAP.
Rating: 5 popcicles
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Review - Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding
Reviewed by Jenni Cahill
Burning EmbersCoral was born in Kenya. When she was nine years old her parents divorced and she went to live in England with her mother. Aged 26, Coral returns to Kenya after her father’s death to claim her inheritance, Mpingo, the family plantation. During the journey, Coral meets a man on the boat and is instantly attracted to him. They barely speak and she doesn’t even know his name, but Coral cannot stop thinking about him.
When she arrives at Mpingo, her former nanny, Aluna, tells Coral about the man who befriended her father before betraying him by having an affair with her stepmother. When Coral once again runs into the stranger she met onboard, she learns he is Rafe de Montfort, the man Aluna warned her about. Despite knowing Rafe’s history, Coral can’t help falling for him and as the pair get to know each other, they switch from passionate embraces to sniping battles in a struggle to decipher their feelings.
Set in 1970s Kenya, Burning Embers is full of mystery and passion. While Rafe is clearly attracted to Coral, he keeps pushing her away, which confuses Coral as he is a known womaniser. Something has happened in Rafe’s past, something that makes him want to keep naïve, innocent Coral at arm’s length. However there are moments when Rafe gives in to his attraction and the scenes get pretty steamy!
It took me quite a while to get into the story as I couldn’t warm to the characters. In the beginning Coral comes across as quite a strong-minded, stubborn young woman, refusing to listen to advice about the dangers of the area caused by the power shifts. She thinks she knows better even though she hasn’t lived in Kenya since she was a child. Her old nanny, Aluna, infuriatingly speaks in riddles, supposedly warning Coral while making very little sense. She makes a big deal about a set of keys Coral receives at her father’s request, claiming evil things will be found if she goes looking in the rooms the keys belong to. Nothing much is found – certainly nothing evil – and the keys are never mentioned again.
The book and pace does seem to pick up when Rafe reappears and Coral gets to know him. Their relationship is very turbulent, switching from love to hate and back again, so it is questionable how it will end for them, especially when Coral starts to look into Rafe’s past.
Burning Embers is a passionate love story, but the pace was a bit too slow for me.
6/10
Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding
JANUARY 23, 2013 JenBY JEN IN RETRO ROMANCE, REVIEWS, ROMANCE.
Review of: Burning Embers
Author: Hannah Fielding
Reviewed by: JEN WU
Rating:
4
On January 23, 2013
Last modified:
Summary:
A wobbly beginning belies a unique and enjoyable romance set against a compelling Kenyan landscape.
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Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding
A wobbly beginning belies a unique and enjoyable romance set against a compelling Kenyan landscape.
The premise of Burning Embers immediately hooked me in, simply because it seemed contradictory and potentially problematic. I know—that’s a terrible reason for wanting to read a book, but it’s the morbid curiosity I have. A contemporary historical? Set in 1970s Kenya? With a book cover using the most clichéd imagery to signify ‘Africa’? From a publisher that acquires Twilight fan fiction? So much could go wrong, as much as it could go right (not that I intentionally look for stories to rant about, mind you!).
It just so happens one of my favourite romance tropes is the 1970s/80s exotic encounter, complete with foreign locale, young, innocent Anglo heroine, and dark, smouldering hero (usually Mediterranean/Hispanic/French/North African), accompanied by a secondary line-up of quirky and/or villainous ‘natives’.
Yes, the casual sexism and racism and other -isms in these stories are bothersome. Yet for all their unsavoury colonial attitudes, I find these stories irresistible in their naiveté and datedness. Go figure.
So how would a book by a contemporary author recalling old-fashioned times hold up with a reader with modern-day sensibilities? Surprisingly well, in fact. And better yet, this story did not smell at all Twilight-esque, even though the cover literally looks it…
I actually took a very long time to finish this book. Much of that time was spent getting through the first few chapters alone, but after I managed that hurdle, I breezed through the novel effortlessly, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The first page starts innocuously enough, but sifting through the following pages reveals a dollop of bloated exposition and, more irritatingly, a passive voice. My first impression of what would have been a breathless first encounter between Coral and Rafe was weighed down by a lot of adjectives and long sentences. I think a bit of fine-tuning of prose would have created a more engaging beginning.
At that point, I didn’t have much hope of completing the novel, but once the protagonists reach Kenya, I found myself immersed in the location and its people, and finally the romance. I know next to nothing about Kenya’s physical, cultural and political landscape in the 1970s—what little I know is superficial—so I don’t feel adequately knowledgeable to examine the authenticity of Fielding’s perspective. That said, what is striking is how I felt a genuine sense of place. Fielding knows what she’s talking about, through the nuances of local customs to the harsh and enchanting terrain of the country. I’m glad to say there is not much evidence pointing to overt romanticisation or exotification of the actual place, and its culture and people (Rafe himself derides such notions to Coral), but as to the protagonists’ propensity to romanticise their own points of view? That is the bulk of the story.
It’s not all dreamy talk of the land—Kenya remains a backdrop to the blossoming of a sweet and perhaps overly complicated relationship. Indeed Rafe and Coral’s road to romance is often as superfluous and as changeable as a soap opera. (That’s not to disparage soap operas, but this is certainly something to keep in mind!)
A photographer based in England, Coral is returning to her birthplace in Kenya after discovering her father has died there and has left her an inheritance. She meets Rafe by accident at sea and is immediately struck by the mysterious stranger’s appeal, but doesn’t imagine they will meet again. To her disbelief, she soon finds out that Rafe was actually a good friend of her father’s, and is apparently having an affair with her stepmother, and is also apparently after her inheritance. Of course, there is much more to Rafe than meets the eye.
Coral has more beauty, brawn and brains than your average 1970 heroine, but I still wanted to knock some sense into her. We see much time spent on Coral’s introspection and churlish jealousy and insecurity. She is constantly torn between her attraction to Rafe, his supposed womanising and conspiracy, as well as her loyalty to her father. These fears are further exacerbated by her childhood nanny’s admonitions and her stepmother’s calculated jibes.
Rafe was a hunter; he liked women, and they drifted to him like butterflies to a lavender bush. He revelled in the courting, the teasing, and the mutual seduction. He was wrong for her, and that must be the end of it.
Thankfully, Rafe is mostly atypical of his seventies hero counterparts, keeping the douchebag level relatively low. He sweetly courts Coral, but he too is at a crossroads between the burden of his Dark Secret and his intense attraction to Coral. Still, that doesn’t stop him from forcibly coaxing Coral into his embrace now and again. Just when I think he can’t commit a worse case of douchebaggery, he curbs himself, becoming tender and affectionate again. His motivations for not pursuing a relationship with Coral turn out to be pretty contrived, but both his and Coral’s loneliness are palpable. I wished he and Coral would just get their act together sooner.
Rafe was silent for such a long time that Coral sneaked a glance at him. His face was set, a small vein pulsing at his right temple just visible. Apparently sensing her scrutiny, his eyes crinkled into a smile, which she found rather sad. “Hey, rosebud,” he said in his usual amused tone. “Don’t look so alarmed. I’m not a mad dog, even if I do growl from time to time.” They laughed, and she assumed she had imagined the sadness.
Rafe’s and Coral’s misunderstandings, passions and prolonged angst are drawn out in sweltering, hyperbolic fashion. Just the way I like it.
“Why are you always so quick to condemn me? What do you know about me, Coral?”
“Then tell me about yourself. I only know what you have shown me. I want to know everything. I think I’m falling in love with you.”
No melodrama is fulfilling without a colourful cast of supporting characters. What would it be without a jealous lover or two, a spiteful stepmother, a superstitious and sage housemaid, shrewd and bored ex-patriate friends and an arrogant ex-fiance, topped off with near brushes with death (by snakebite, by malaria, and by a car crash)?
As tiresome as the high drama can be, there is a languidness and occasional poetry to the prose and pace that I thought was unique and refreshing. I felt like I was reading a hybrid of old school Mills & Boon stories and glamorous Golden Age Hollywood/European films, but with more punch and a generous word count. It might evoke the feeling of an old-fashioned romance, but make no mistake: Burning Embers sure does simmer with tension, mixed in with restrained love scenes. Nothing outrageous, but just enough to appease a contemporary reader.
Yay or nay?
Aside from the wobbly beginning, Burning Embers paints an evocative and compelling picture of Kenya and the story’s almost star-crossed lovers. Although the obstacles Rafe and Coral cross to reach their happy ending are contrived—seriously, the convenient near brushes with death are almost farcical—it’s interesting to see how seamlessly the landscape reflects their kaleidoscopic moods. I’m glad I persevered because this turned out to be a unique and enjoyable story.
Who might enjoy it: Fans of slow, old school romance, à la 1960s/1970s Harlequin Mills & Boon, who also enjoy a contemporary edge
Who might not enjoy it: Readers who like more substantial nuance and action
A reading copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Review 'The Echoes of Love' by Hannah Fielding
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18816562-the-echoes-of-love
Set against the breathtaking beauty of Italy, The Echoes of Love is a passionate, heart-breaking romance to ignite the senses and rekindle your belief in the power of love. Seduction, passion and secrets...
Venetia Aston-Montagu has escaped to Venice to work in her godmother's architectural practice, putting a lost love behind her. For the past ten years she has built a fortress around her heart, only to find the walls tumbling down one night of the carnival when she is rescued from masked assailants by an enigmatic stranger, Paolo Barone.
Drawn to the powerfully seductive Paolo, despite warnings of his Don Juan reputation and rumours that he keeps a mistress, Venetia can't help being caught up in the smouldering passion that ignites between them.
When she finds herself assigned to a project at his magnificent home deep in the Tuscan countryside, Venetia not only faces a beautiful young rival but also a sinister count and dark forces in the shadows, determined to come between them.
Can Venetia trust that love will triumph, even over her own demons? Or will Paolo's carefully guarded, devastating secret tear them apart forever?
My Review:
A while ago, Hannah Fielding approached me with the question if I wanted to read and review her book ‘The Echoes of Love’. Since I’m a big romance lover I was super excited about this book after reading the book description. And when I received the book and saw the beautiful cover I wanted to start reading this book immediately. So when the time came to start reading this book I was so curious and excited.
‘The Echoes of Love’ is the story of Venetia Aston-Montagu, an twenty eight year old English woman living in the romantic city of Venice. Although this sounds like a fairy tale, Venetia wasn’t looking for love. She loves Venice and the beautiful history of the city, but since her first love broke her heart almost ten years ago, Venetia wasn’t a fan of men and romance. But one night, she meets Paolo Barone a handsome thirty eight year old with a reputation of being a Don Juan. Everything about Paolo makes Venetia want to run and hide. But Paolo doesn’t give up fast and soon Venetia find herself being under his spell. But there are a lot of secrets between them and since life hasn’t been easy on both of them they most conquer a lot to be with each other.
‘The Echoes of Love’ is unlike any other book I read. Hannah Fielding’s writing is like reading poetry. Her writing is very detailed and almost feels like your reading a book written in the Jane Austen era, although it takes place in the present. The way Hannah Fielding writes makes you able to almost ‘feel’ Venice, and the beautiful canals and bridges. I loved the way Hannah described Venice and Italy throughout this book. It definitely made me want to visit Italy and the beautiful towns.
Not only does Hannah describe the beautiful city but she also, very thoroughly, describes the Italian food. And boy did she make me hungry for Italian food.
The story of Venetia and Paolo was very beautiful. I loved reading about them and the way Paolo tried to woo Venetia. At times I found Venetia a little irritating because she just kept resisting and denying her own feelings. Of course I understood why she acted that way, I just wanted to tell her to stop being so difficult at times! (LOL)
This book was a beautiful love story. There is also a little mystery in this book and there are a lot of secrets. The one thing I found a little disappointing about this book was that I figured out early on what was going on. It made the revelation at the end of the book not as exciting as it was supposed to be.
But still, this book was an beautiful and very interesting read and I would definitely recommend it. Hannah Fielding’s writing is explicit and I can’t wait to read more from her. And a nice bonus, this book makes you learn a little Italian! ;)
My Rating:
About the Author:
Hannah Fielding is a novelist, a dreamer, a traveller, a mother, a wife and an incurable romantic. The seeds for her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah would invent and relate one of her own. Years later – following a degree in French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property development – Hannah decided after so many years of yearning to write that the time was now. Today, she lives the dream: she writes full time, splitting her time between her homes in Kent, England, and the South of France, where she dreams up romances overlooking breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.
Her first novel, Burning Embers, is a vivid, evocative love story set against the backdrop of tempestuous and wild Kenya of the 1970s, reviewed by one newspaper as ‘romance like Hollywood used to make’. Her new novel, The Echoes of Love, is a story of passion, betrayal and intrigue set in the romantic and mysterious city of Venice and the beautiful landscape of Tuscany.
THE ECHOES OF LOVE BY HANNAH FIELDING BOOK REVIEW
February 25, 2017
book-review4.5 out of 5 stars
This was so damn good! I don’t know where to start; I guess I should get used to the way Mrs Fielding’s books render me speechless.
Venice
I’m going to say this with 100% certainty: I have never read any book that appreciates and values a scenery, city or a painting as much as this one -and Legacy. The simplest fixation was acknowledged, in a breathtakingly raw and stunning way. And I was lucky to have watched the movie Under The Tuscan Sky a couple of days ago. So that on top of the very detailed description of the city made me feel as though I was part of the story. The description of the Miraggio and La Serina and the Tuscan countryside was just too good, too tempting.
I need to talk about the romance because I’m getting the vibe that Fielding’s novels are all going to make me swoon. The best factor is the chemistry between the characters; something that a lot of books lack.
I don’t want to go into the specifics or else I’m going to spoil the whole book. Here comes the spoilery section:
spoilers Why was the rating short of half a star, you’d ask?
Well, I sort of already knew that Paolo was Judd and I felt like that was something that should’ve been kept as a surprise for the end! First off, Venetia bumps into this gorgeous blue-eyed man.. Okay. There’s this devastatingly beautiful static energy between the couple that literally brought me to my knees… Alright. Then a touch leads to a kiss that leads to WHATEVER and then every single time, Judd pops into Venetia’s head which I thought was coincidental at first But then that was starting to turn into a pattern. Venetia feeling the familiarity of her lover’s touch and all that. Of course, at first I convinced myself otherwise: If Paolo really was Judd, how could she not remember how her first love looked like? Even after 10 years, shouldn’t his eyes remain the same? His voice? It was all very confusing, until Venetia went back to see that Chineseman that told her ‘all becoming is circular’. Then I put two and two together and was almost 90% sure that Paolo is, in fact, Judd. I’m not usually this psycho-investigator kinda person, I was actually losing my mind when I realized all my predictions were, indeed, true. Still, I didn’t know the whole story about Paolo’s mission and all that, which completely blew me away.
Finally, I loved the fact that both Venetia and Paolo felt as though each of them wasn’t worthy of the other, how both had a guilty conscience over a situation neither of them could control. And I adored Venetia’s strong and responsible exchange with her father at the end, and how she (sort of) forgave him. Again, this was such a spectacular read.
4
SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: Indiscretion by Hannah Fielding
May
16
Indescretion HB FRONT COVER
A young woman’s journey of discovery takes her to a world of forbidden passion, savage beauty – and revenge.
Spring, 1950. Alexandra de Falla, a half-English, half-Spanish young writer abandons her privileged but suffocating life in London andtravels to Spain to be reunited with her long-estranged family.
Instead of providing the sense of belonging she yearns for, the de Fallas are riven by seething emotions, and in the grip of the wild customs and traditions of Andalucía, all of which are alien to Alexandra.
Among the strange characters and sultry heat of this country, she meets the man who awakens emotions she hardly knew existed. But their path is strewn with obstacles: dangerous rivals, unpredictable events, and inevitable indiscretions. What does Alexandra’s destiny hold for her in this flamboyant land of drama and all-consuming passions, where blood is ritually poured on to the sands of sun-drenched bullfighting arenas, mysterious gypsies are embroiled in magic and revenge, and beautiful dark-eyed dancers hide their secrets behind elegant lacy fans?
Indiscretion is a story of love and identity, and the clash of ideals in the pursuit of happiness. But can love survive in a world where scandal and danger are never far away?
Purchase Links: Amazon US * ~ * ~ * Amazon UK * ~ * ~ * B&N * ~ * ~ * Audible
EXCERPT
As the evening began, and the sweeping strings of ballroom music filled the hacienda, El Pavón seemed transformed into a magical palace.
In the garden, an array of colourful lanterns hung from arbours, dangled between fruit trees, encircling the fountains and pools, twinkling with light. While in the great ballroom, overlooking the east-facing gardens, Doña María Dolores’ guests, attired in all sorts of disguises, drank, joked and glided happily on the polished oak dancefloor.
Alexandra paused on the threshold of the vast room, a trifle overwhelmed by the grand spectacle. All the guests wore masks of velvet, satin or lace, giving them a mysterious air.
Her eyes were scouring the dancefloor, eagerly scrutinizing the whirling couples from behind her velvet mask. What, or more precisely who, was she looking for, exactly? After all, she knew nothing of the mysterious Conde, except that he had a deep and seductive voice. Recalling it made her pulse run faster and her knees slightly weak. Could the peculiar episode at Mascaradas have been merely a foolish jest designed to mystify her? Surely Old Jaime would not have taken part in a practical joke? She started with indignation at the idea she might be the victim of some prank. Yet, the more she thought about it, the more that seemed improbable. It would be an expensive joke to play, after all. No, the sheer cost of her beautiful costume had to be proof of the generosity and admiration of her romantic stranger.
As the evening progressed and there was still no sign of the mysterious Conde, Alexandra was forced to admit that she must have been the victim of a practical joke. It was gone eleven o’clock, surely he would have shown up by now if he was going to? Putting aside her disappointment, she told herself it had all been merely a captivating puzzle, one that had fired her romantic imagination and aroused her yearning for adventure, nothing more. At least she had some ideas for her new hero, she reminded herself, and decided to enter fully into the festive spirit, now that she had given up on her elusive stranger.
She didn’t notice the oriental prince, wearing a costume similar in style and colour to her own, observing her quizzically from a far-off corner of the room.
A pierrot in a black-and-white silk suit with a collar of pleated tulle and a bonnet decorated with black pompons asked Alexandra for a dance. He drew her close to him. ‘Soon it will be midnight,’ he whispered into her ear, ‘and the lights will go out—’
‘Excuse me señor, I’ve come to collect my wife,’ interrupted a deep, warm voice. Alexandra smothered a gasp. Her heart gave such a jolt she thought it might leap out of her mouth.
The first notes of a Strauss waltz began. Before she could recover, the stranger swung Alexandra into his arms, holding her so tightly to him she was unable to lift her head to see his face. The blood pounded in her veins. She was conscious of his strong, sinuous length against her and the turmoil of her own body as his warmth soaked into her, adding to the heat welling up inside her like a furnace. Her temple brushed against his jaw; his skin was smooth. He smelled of soap, mint and tobacco, indefinably masculine. As they twirled around the dancefloor,
Alexandra was carried away by an overpowering tide that left her light-headed, almost breathless. It was as though she were under a spell, a bewitching charm of the mind and senses that had no place in the dictionary of her experience.
Eventually, the giddy whirlwind ended and they found themselves on the terrace. In contrast to the brightly lit ballroom they had left, it was bathed in an almost unreal, diaphanous light from the moon and the glowing lanterns in the trees. They waltzed in silence for a few more minutes, taking in the melancholy softness of the night.
‘I owe you an apology for stepping in just now but I could see no other way of tearing you away from the arms of your too-forward partner,’ he said, in those same ardent, deep tones that had so haunted Alexandra over the past few days.
She caught her breath, unable to reply immediately and all the while hoping he wasn’t aware of the urgent beating of her heart. He still held on to her firmly and she could only look up at him with a smile. The moon disappeared behind a cloud, shadowing his features.
As a shaft of moonlight fell briefly on his face, Alexandra’s heart missed a beat. In spite of the half-shadow and the narrow mask shielding his tanned features, she recognized the stranger she had seen on the seafront and then in the Church of Santa María: the man on the prayer stool who had so deeply disturbed her. So it was the same man after all. One man who now made something inside her thrill deliciously at his nearness.
Somewhere far off, a clock struck midnight. An owl hooted, as if in response. The air was fragrant with the sweet smell of jasmine and orange blossom. Masks fell and shouts of joy burst from all sides under a shower of confetti.
The oriental prince leaned his head forward towards his sultana.
‘Will you allow me, señorita?’ he whispered, his lean fingers with infinite gentleness removing her velvet mask. His gaze delved deeply into her large, glowing green irises, reading the emotion in her upturned face as her body yielded helplessly to his touch. A rush of blood coursed wildly through Alexandra’s veins as his hand once more slipped about her waist, pausing before pulling her against him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Portrait of Hannah Fielding and photos of where she writes.
Portrait of Hannah Fielding and photos of where she writes.
In July 2014 Hannah’s Novel The Echoes of Love was awarded first place in the Romance category at the 18th Independent Publisher Book Awards held in New York. The award organisers credited the Hannah with the ability to “take chances and break new ground” in the Romance genre.
Hannah Fielding was born and grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. Her family home was a large rambling house overlooking the Mediterranean where she lived with her parents and her grandmother, Esther Fanous, who had been a revolutionary feminist and writer in Egypt during the early 1900s.
Fluent in French, English and Arabic, Hannah’s left school at 18 and travelled extensively all over the world. Hannah met her husband in England and they lived in Cairo for 10 years before returning to England in 1989. They settled in Kent, bringing up two children in a Georgian rectory, surrounded by dogs, horses and the English countryside. During this time, Hannah established a very successful business as an interior designer renovating rundown cottages. She is now the author of three acclaimed novels, and her latest, Indiscretion, is out now.
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Review – Indiscretion by Hannah Fielding
Reviewed by Debs Carr
Indiscretion by Hannah FieldingSet in 1950, Alexandra de Falla, a half-English, half-Spanish, romantic novelist escapes her dull though privileged life in London with her aunt to bask in the sunshine of her father’s family home in Andalucia. He has been a distant father, but she decides it’s time to discover more about her estranged Spanish family. Setting her latest novel in Spain, Alexandra resolves to make the most of her stay by researching its people, history and traditions. However, she soon learns there’s much more to this place and to her family members than she could have ever expected and discovers a passion she’d never experienced before when she falls in love with Salvador, an arrogant Count who’s as handsome as he’s troubled.
Alexandra learns the hard way that the differences between her father’s homeland and her mother’s British one are more than just the blistering sunshine and vibrancy of the place. She witnesses cruelty, beauty and intrigue, where rivals physically oppose each other and where some people will stoop to depths she could never have envisaged. Despite her love for Salvador, he resists his obvious attraction for her and Alexandra has to decide if this brooding, difficult man is worth fighting for, or if she should leave this troubled place and return to the safety and familiarity of her home and life in England.
The vivid descriptions of this beautiful area in Spain enthralled me, especially as it’s a place I’ve visited several times. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Alexandra’s disappointment in her father’s reactions, her shock at the depths of the resentment towards her from members of her family and the shrewd cunning of the women willing her to return to England. I liked that although this was set in 1950 and Alexandra was bound by the constraints of that time that she was also a strong, independently-minded woman, even though it was that strength of character that led her into difficult experiences she then had to find a way to resolve.
A tense, compelling story that kept me enthralled to the very last page.
9/10
MASQUERADE BY HANNAH FIELDING BOOK REVIEW
April 18, 2017
book-review
good objects
Another incredibly romantic and swoon-worthy Andalucian Nights novel. I literally couldn’t put it down, but at the same time, I was dreading finishing the book. It was so good. And the thing is, I read the 3rd book in the series first, so I’m reading the series backwards now, and I literally know almost every single character presented in the story. Every now and then I’d go like: Oh isn’t Lorenzo Luna’s uncle and isn’t that person someone’s daughter. It was so much fun, I’ve memorized their family tree by heart.
But what never fails to captivate me is the portrayal of Spain’s brilliance (And maybe also that of the Spanish men… Who am I kidding? Definitely!). That intensifying energy/tension that’s always expressed between the couple in every single Hannah Fielding book has become my favorite feature ever in her novels. It’s a trademark of hers, I’m sure. I’ve never read anything quite as similar.
When Leandro and Andres were introduced, I was like 100% sure they were the same person, despite Luz’s assumptions that they might be related. But the fact that Leandro’s eyes were green while Andres’ were black literally made me stay up at night thinking how the hell that might actually work. And I’d go like: Did contacts exist in the 70s? I had no idea.
But then when everything began to unravel, what with the gypsies and Leandro’s mother’s and his uncle’s vengeance and all that… Things started to click into place, kind of.
When he came clean to Luz at the end, my heart literally shattered into pieces.
This book was a pure piece of heaven. Makes me want to visit Spain and fall head over heels in love.
Perfect. Just perfect5
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Review – Masquerade by Hannah Fielding
MasqueradeReviewed by Verity Wilde
In summer 1976, Luz returns to Spain from England after her first commission as an author goes awry. Back in Cadiz, she soon becomes entangled with a mysterious gypsy who rescues her from the beach and also with her new employer, a successful businessman who has commissioned her to write a biography. The two men have totally different personalities, but look uncannily alike. Luz is soon entangled in a complicated web of secrets, feuds and intrigue as she tries to work out what or who she really wants.
This is the second book in Hannah Fielding’s Andalucian Nights trilogy, although you need to have read the first book - I hadn’t and I had no trouble following what was going on, although I did find out the outcome of the first book in the course of the book. It feels like a sweeping epic – with revelations from the past all over the place and grand romantic gestures.
I though Luz was an interesting character – if a little spoilt, but I think that’s probably a realistic consequence of having a lot of money and not a lot of worries! I wasn’t surprised by the way the plot unravelled and there were a few quirks of Hannah Fielding’s writing style that slightly jarred on me, but I was still mostly swept along – even if I found some of the love scenes a little overblown.
I can’t quite put my finger on why, but Masquerade reminded me of early Barbara Taylor Bradford novels – but set in Spain and in the 1970s. It’s a bit less melodramatic than that comparison might make you think – and there isn’t any of the star-crossed lovers through the generations that you get in the Woman of Substance trilogy, but I think if that sort of book is your thing, you should definitely try this.
6/10