Ring of Secrets
by Roseanna M White
review by Rachel Wilder
As always, I’m not your usual book
reviewer. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Roseanna for several
years now and am a huge fan of her Biblical fiction (shameless plug,
buy Jewel of Persia! Her take on Esther will change how you view the
Persian Empire). I have a bit of a reputation as a fashion snob, so
when she asked me to read Ring of Secrets to make sure she had all
her fashion details right, of course I jumped at it.
Of course she got it all right and I
didn’t see anything wrong with it. So I was able to completely lose
myself in the story of Winter and Bennet. Funny thing too, my
critique partner is named Winter...
Anywho. I went into this book having no
idea the Culpers were real. The tale Roseanna spins is so completely
believable and so unique. Bennet stole my heart with his geekiness
and ineptitude with the fairer sex. Yes, Bennet Lane is a geek. A
chemistry geek to be specific. As a geek myself I have a real soft
spot for geeky heroes.
Winter is a very unusual heroine too.
She’s a spy, one of the smartest women you’ll ever meet in a
book, and she puts on the persona of a complete airhead. And does it
beautifully. I found myself giggling constantly at the inventive ways
Roseanna found to portray this.
Being a book about spying, there’s a
strong suspense thread. One I did not figure out in its entirety
until a couple pages before the reveal. As it should be! I hate it
when I figure everything out before the book is even half over.
Ring of Secrets is a thrilling romp
through Revolutionary War New York with amazing characters who live
and breathe, enough suspense to keep you madly turning pages, and a
faith that is real and vivid. It is not to be missed.
~*~
Ever wonder how groups like the Culper Ring get their aliases? Come create your spy name based on George Washington's method with the Culpers!
~*~
Giveaway!
For a chance to win a signed copy of Ring of Secrets, please leave a comment below! Entrants will also be entered into Roseanna's Box of Secrets Giveaway--for more details and more ways to enter, visit http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/a-box-of-secrets-giveaway.html
Oh yes! This book is on my dying-to-read list! The Culper Ring has always fascinated me!
ReplyDeleteAren't they fun?? I loved learning more about them!
DeleteThanks so much, Rachel, for the guest review of Roseanna's brand new release! Very exciting!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know who the Culpers were until I read these posts. The book sounds really good.
ReplyDeletedebsbunch5[at]jesusanswers[dot]com
I am most eager to read this book. It sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeletejrlight620(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a fun and daring book to read with lots of suspence!
ReplyDeletesusanlulu@yahoo.com
I have enjoyed all of Roseanna's books and esp want to read this for the suspense and history!!
ReplyDeleteThissimplemom at gmail dot com
So awesome! It sounds like a great book! Please enter me in the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteEmily, I just did the drawing, and you're the winner of RING OF SECRETS! Trying to contact you now...
DeleteI love the whole premise of this series....so intriguing! I love hearing how strong the suspense is. Roseanna- your Biblical fiction books have been superb and I can't wait to read this series!
ReplyDeleteThanks! In some ways this one's very different, but I really fell in love with these characters and themes too. =)
DeleteGreat review. Would love to win a copy of this book, sounds exciting. Love Biblical fiction.
ReplyDeleteTina Rice
tfrice@comcast.net
OHHH, this looks like a good one for my daughter, thank you for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeletewfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Suspense and intrigue--I love it. Would love to win too! Thanks for hosting. Blessings! Darlene
ReplyDeletespangldlady[at]gmail[dot]com
This sounds like a book to read with lots of suspence, i love theses kind of books. i would love to be the winner, thanks for a chance
ReplyDeleteShirley jcisforme@aol.com
I can promise you all you won't be disappointed with this book! Those of you who know Roseanna from her Biblical fiction will find the same style, voice, and rich characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to read this! It looks fabulous. Excellent review, Rachel!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, everyone! And thanks again to Rachel for her wonderful review. =)
ReplyDeleteI've already had this book recommended to me, so happy to read a great review!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to win Roseanna's book, "Ring of Secrets". Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMaxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Great review! I'm reading this book now :) Of course, I'm a die hard Roseanna White fan, ever since I read A Stray Drop of Blood.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful to have found this blog tonight, via an advert for Ms. Tyndall's Forsaken Dreams via FictionAddictionFix! :) I am going to be bookmarking this blog so that I can drop by regularly! You had me at "hallo" with a few simple revelations of the story: the heroine is a chemist {science geek} and she's a spy! I happen to adore Abby in NCIS, as she's smart, full-on creative geek, and happens to help solve crimes! I am all for supporting strong characters of women who do something with their lives for the good! Not to mention the fact, I *love!* historicals, and the Revoltionary War era is a big draw!
ReplyDeleteI have not yet read this author, so I am happy that you are having this bookaway! "Ring of Secrets" sounds like a winner!
inkand-bookaways(at)usa.net
//Florida
Welcome to the CQ, Jorie! It's definitely a great blog. =) And I love Abby!!! One of my favorites from NCIS for sure. Though Tony's probably the other, LOL.
DeleteThe hero is actually the main chemist in Ring of Secrets, but Winter knows a lot about it too, though she hides that for a while. In book 2, the hero's sister, Philly, is also a lover of chemistry. =)
Hallo again, Ms. White!!
ReplyDelete*waves!* Thanks for the cheerful welcome! I set up an RSS feed for the CQ a moment ago! :) That way, I'll never miss a new post! :) Really, your a Tony fan!? Laughs. I was on the fence about him until I saw his softer sensitive side, because I've run into a lot of men who act like him but without the heart to back it up! I was forever rolling my eyes on his character, until they ran the sequence that involved 'the Frog's' daughter, and of course, when he had the Plague! Plus too, after we 'met' his father {a la RJ: Robert Wagner!} it was a full picture of why Tony is the way he is, and of course, why he's always going to Gibbs for fatherly advice! That's why I love the show -- the undercurrent of family, in a non-traditional way! :) Ironically, I'm quite close in age to Tony's age, but I find that a lot of blokes near to my age are quite cocky without his level of depth! :/ I appreciate that they made his character one that is not easily understood, because it makes him a bit more humble than at first glance.
I must say,... I lean more towards Gibbs + Ducky as far as my favourite bloke on the series! I am literally torn between those two, the same way I am between the Captain & Doctor in *Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World* {motion picture, the entire book series is on my To Read List!}
You've perked my interest to the hilt -- if I do not win, I'll see if my library can acquire the title, or as I'm able too, I'll swing by Powells/or/the Book Depository and see who has the better offer! :) I love series that only give you out 'so much' infomation and in the next installments you gain more! Wicked sweet!
Yeah, until the undercover thing, Tony was funny, but we so rarely saw what made him special--I was SO GLAD when they layered on the depth! Of course, it goes without saying that Gibbs is awesome, and I love Ducky's stories. =) Really, they have totally nailed characterization on NCIS. It's one of my must-watch shows for sure.
DeleteAnd you just gotta love a good series, don't you? This one is generational, so each story wraps up between the hero and heroine and the main plot, but then certain elements will carry through to the next one. Book 2 is the kids of characters in book 1, and book 3 is in turn the grandkids of those from book 2. I'm having so much fun weaving threads throughout a whole century!
Good luck in the drawing, and thanks so much for visiting!!