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A Special Literary Friday: A Catch of Consequence and my *drum roll, please* 1,000th POST! Plus a Giveaway

Friday, October 18, 2013



Today I'm celebrating my 1,000th Post with you!  More about that later, but first I want to talk to you about the book I read this week:  A Catch of Consequence by Diana Norman.  Norman wrote the very popular Mistress of the Art of Death series under the pseudonym Ariana Franklin.  I absolutely love that series, and Adelia and Rowley are one of my favorite couples in literature.  The fourth book ended on a nail-biting cliffhanger, and I'm sad that I'll never know what becomes of Adelia and Rowley.

A Catch of Consequence is a historical fiction novel divided into three books: {Colonial} Boston, {Imperial} London, and {Machine-Age} Newcastle.  The protagonist, Makepeace Burke, is a colonial pub owner living and working on Boston Harbor, and The Roaring Meg is a popular meeting place for Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty.  One early morning, Makepeace is checking her lobster pots in the harbor when she rescues an English Gentlemen from drowning.  Sir Philip Dapifer had been beaten and thrown into the harbor by the Sons of Liberty, and he isn't fighting for his life when 'Peace finds him. 'Peace hides him in the Roaring Meg while he heals, and she continually worries that she'll be discovered helping the enemy which in turn will ruin her business.  Unfortunately, Sir Philip is discovered, and 'Peace's brother Aaron pays the price by being tarred and feathered.  When the pub is attacked with missiles and catches fire, Sir Philip takes Makepeace and her entire household (including her injured brother, a former slave and her son, and an Indian) to London.

Makepeace and Sir Philip marry on the ship, and she is completely out of her element as the wife of an English lord.  However, she is a very quick study and learns what's expected of her and plays her part well.  But she has so many strikes against her: she's from the colonies, a Puritan, tall, and she has red hair.  Plus the first Lady Dapifer is calling Philip and Makepeace bigamists which isn't helping her standing in society at all.  Both of the first books, Boston and London, are fantastic.  The third one?  Not so much...  I found it to be completely unbelievable, and Makepeace's motivations for her actions seem so out of character for her.

Spoiler Alert:

Diana Norman wrote about women who are ahead of their time and highly successful.  There's nothing wrong with that, but it's hard for me to like or even sympathize with a mother who abandons her child for selfish reasons.  I see a pattern where the protagonist falls in love, is blissfully happy, becomes pregnant, is ecstatic about the pregnancy, has the baby, something tragic happens, and then she has an epiphany that she doesn't need a man and is happier "working."  Then she abandons her child.  I don't recommend this book as highly as I recommend The Mistress of the Art of Death, but if you enjoy historical fiction about Colonial America then you'll probably like this book.


I'm so happy that this is my 1,000th post, and I think it's appropriate that it's a Literary Friday post.  I've put together some fun stuff for a giveaway, and I'm hoping that it represents my blog.  I also hope that you'll like the prizes, too!

Included in the giveaway are: 
Neat little To Do list (I'm a list maker)
Two journals: One lined and one unlined
A recipe book that holds recipe cards
Recipe card set
Colored pencils
Two favorite books:  A special edition of Little Women and Garden Spells



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a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  It's been a very busy week, and today we're celebrating my oldest daughter's 21st birthday.  Happy Birthday, Shanley Belle!  I'll have time to visit your blogs this weekend, and I can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!



Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

30 comments

  1. Firstly Congratulations to Shanley on her 21st, secondly to you on your 1,000th post, thirdly what a great give away and finally so pleased to back for Literary Friday. :)
    Have a lovely weekend.

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  2. Happy Birthday Shanley Belle! I like all of your posts on books....and music. And I love seeing the art you paint and your beautiful mackenzie childs collection! I guess I love all of your posts! Hugs!

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  3. Congrats on 1000 posts. That looks like a lovely give away ... I sure would love to win. I have a copy of Little Women that I had when I was a young girl ... always a favourite book to read.

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  4. Oh man, this sounded right up my alley until you said the 3rd one was no good. I hate it when authors rush or mess up their series, it happens so often.

    Congrats on your 1,000 post! That is amazing. And of course with your daughter a happy birthday.

    That is a fabulous giveaway. If I win it we should meet up and chat, even if I don't we should.

    Oh, my favorite posts are your Happy List posts, they are so inspiring and always make me smile. I know I don't take part often but I always look.

    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs
    Caroline

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  5. Honestly, the 'abandoning her child' thing didn't phase me- 'Peace was never much of a mother to begin with. I don't think she was meant to be maternal, and her kid had a happier life without her (not that I advocating abandoning your child to someone else's care, but I figured for her time, she had adopted a 'male' perspective with that Puritan work ethic and her devotion to the pub before marrying, etc, so having kids wasn't even a hope of hers). But I see what you're saying about the trend that a woman cannot be both a mother AND a business-owner, that only one thing can occupy our attention and energy. That's a false trope.

    And happy bday to Shanley Belle!

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    Replies
    1. LOL yep, what you said, Beth! You articulated it much better than I. I've always felt that we as women have the upper hand with multi-tasking, and we absolutely can have it all if we so choose.

      (I wrote this post at 1AM....it's probably one of the worst reviews ever....but that's because I made SB gluten-free chocolate cupcakes with pumpkin/cream cheese icing!)

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  6. 1000 posts - WOW!
    What a great giveaway. I will definitely be entering.

    Have you heard of the Morland Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod- Eagles? My sister works much of her time in London and shares her books with me so I read a lot of British writers. There are I believe 30 books in the series and I am up to date with the series. They begin in York, England in the 1400s and are are up WW1 now. It was interesting to notice Harrod-Eagles become a better writer. It was fun to read about the birth of a character, fall in love with her/him and follow them through 3 or 4 books to their death.

    http://www.cynthiaharrodeagles.com/cynthia_harrod_eagles/

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  7. Happy Birthday! Now I not only want to win the fabulous prizes, but I want cake, served on a Mackenzie Childs plate!!!!!

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  8. Ooops, I didn't mean to break the rules! One of my favorite works of fiction was Water for Elephants...I also loved Broken for You! My favorite posts over here (oh rats, and I forgot to congratulate you on #1,000...apparently I got so excited about a giveaway I just lost my mind a little...plus I thought about cake!) anyway...my favorite posts over here are when you show us your holiday decor (cheating a little there, but too bad) ;)

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  9. Wow!! Congratulations Ricki!! I'm only at 309 and it took me a year to post that many. As far as books go I can honestly say that I only read romance novels.
    But I do love a great giveaway!!

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  10. Wow, big milestone for your daughter (and for you....lol) -- congratulations to her! Congrats to you for 1000 posts! That is a lot! This is such a cute give-away and so sweet of you! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  11. Congrats on 1000 posts! That's quite a milestone. I have just passed 750.. hope I can make it to 1000 too. I have just discovered your blog, via Lavender Dreamer. I love books so always looking for more to put on my Must Read list. A fav. fiction - I'd have to say Pillars of the Earth. A great book (I love historical fiction). Fav post? Since I'm new here, I haven't read back too far yet (but I will!) Always love new recipes so your recent Autumn Decor post with the recipe for Parmesan Chicken is my fav right now. Think I'll try it for dinner tomorrow night! Thanks for the chance in your giveaway!

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  12. Congrats RJ on your blog milestone! Looking forward to 1000 more! My favorite is the story of Mankind, a children's book. My fav of your posts is all of the happy lists!

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  13. what an adorable giveaway!
    I love Garden Spells..
    Congratulation's on your 1000th post and your daughter's birthday!

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  14. Wow 1,000 posts good for you! I have missed your literary Friday's! You know how I love to read!
    These gifts are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Happy Birthday to your baby girl!!

    Pamela xo

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  15. I wish I had your talent to find so many great books! Woot Woot, your 1000 post. What an accomplishment. Little Women is one of my favorites of all time! Happy you are blogging and look forward to the next 1000 or as Buzz Lightyear would say Infinity and Beyond! Okay, I cut it back some. ;P

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  16. Drum roll for you! Love your blog! I'm commenting "on the fly" but will pop in again to answer your questions. Love that adorable recipe book.

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  17. Oh my gosh 1000 posts. Truly something to be proud of! Your giveaway is so special...I'm entering and would really love to win. Thank you so much!

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  18. Congrats on 1000 posts; Quite an achievement to celebrate!

    I remember my first "real" book, The Secret Garden, still one of my sentimental faves. I just passed it down to my granddaughter to read and she loves it, too.

    I love the recipes on your blog... you had me at Parmesan Chicken!

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  19. Hi Ricki! Congratulations for the 1000 posts!!! I'm less than half way to your achievement. Please don't stop blogging because you are one of my blogging inspirations. I admire you, your family and your book reviews.

    I'm entering your giveaway. I would love to win everything!!! Thank you for this opportunity and looking forward for your next 1000 posts :) Have a great weekend!

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  20. What a wonderful giveaway!! I love your Happy Lists ~ I like to try and stay in gratitude.

    I adore "Little Women" ~ one of my favorite books and movies...the old one. :)

    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    xo
    Pat

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  21. Am I the only one that hasn't read "Little Women"? I must change that! Thanks for all the hard work you do blogging, and congratulations on 1,000 posts! I always look forward to your Happy Lists. You have a way with words and they make me smile. Thanks for the generous giveaway!

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  22. RJ,
    Congratulations! Wow, 1,000 posts. Impressive and always entertaining.
    xo,
    Karen

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  23. Congratulations!!

    My favorite posts are the ones where you are showing off a table setting!

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  24. What a beautiful blog! I am a brand new follower so my current favorite post is for the Broomsticks on the Bayou - those cupcakes - Yum! My favorite book, I loved Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it was one of the first "classic" works I read that wasn't for school and I really enjoyed it (Also love anything by Jules Verne), before that it would have to be the Secret Garden which I just reread as an adult and was just as charmed by it!

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  25. Wow RJ! Congrats on the 1000th post!

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  26. Hi Ricki! I'm joining the linky :) Hoping I will win your giveaway :)

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  27. How wonderful to have written 1000 posts - congrats. You have put together some awesome treats.

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  28. How can you make me choose my favorite posts from you? I love EVERY single Happy List Post the best, and love all the others too!

    My favorite work of fiction is probably The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

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Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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