Mundie Moms

Saturday, August 18, 2012

YALLFEST Keynote Tickets On Sale Now!


Oh how I wish I was living on that other coast sometimes, but those of you East Coast MMs, heads up! Cassie and Holly are the Keynote Speakers for YALLFEST this year. Here are the details:

  • The YALLFest Keynote will be held at the Charleston Music Hall at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2012.
  • Keynote tickets are only $5. Your ticket will also guarantee your spot in Holly and Cassandra’s book signing line. First come, first serve!
  • This is one of only two ticketed events at YALLFEST. The main festival panels are free and open to the public.
  • Purchase at Blue Bicycle Books (843.722.2666) or online right here.
Okay, who's going?

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

Publisher: Penguin USA
Release Date: June 14, 2012
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars -- It's a good read.

Synopsis:  Seventeen-year-old Althea is the sole support of her entire family, and she must marry well. But there are few wealthy suitors--or suitors of any kind--in their small Yorkshire town of Lesser Hoo. Then, the young and attractive (and very rich) Lord Boring arrives, and Althea sets her plans in motion. There's only one problem; his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in the way. And, as it turns out, Fredericks has his own set of plans . . . This witty take on the classic Regency--Patrice Kindl's first novel in a decade--is like literary champagne!

Oh Althea, I loved your character. I read my fair share of regency romances and I was excited to see a YA one with the promise of a funny take on some of my favorite plots. Patrice Kindl writes Althea with a spunk I adore in my Regency heroines. She’s desperately trying to keep up appearances in society while patching and mending their rapidly crumbling estate. As many girls of that time period, Althea knows that her well known beauty is her only ticket into a marriage which would provide money for her widowed mother and little brother. Plus, that marriage of monetary convenience would save the house.

It’s a sweet Cinderella plot with two step-sisters who are too cheap to spend their own inheritance to help Althea and her mother, and a neighbor, Lord Boring, who may just be the answer to all of Althea’s problems. He’s rich, handsome and oops, one of her step-sisters is also interested. Who will Lord Boring choose? Hmm, you’ll have to read it to find out.

I will say that the plot follows very traditional lines and introduces Lord Boring’s business manager, Mr. Fredericks. Mr. F is rather a preoccupied sort and when he and Althea are together misunderstandings occur and their banter snaps pleasantly. I enjoyed the two of them the most.

If you’re in the mood for a Regency romance with a heroine who is strong minded and determined and a plot that may be a little predictable, a little silly but one that still hits a few genuinely funny notes, you will enjoy Keeping the Castle.

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