http://ca-reviews.blogspot.com/2007/09/perfidia-elspeth-mckendrick.html
In the days leading up the declaration of open war, Aunt
Augusta asks Sophie to help her leave the country. Augusta
wants Sophie to come with her, but Sophie refuses. An incredibly
clumsy attempt at blackmail puts Sophie in the hands of an
intimidating SS officer, Karl von Richten. Karl agrees to
help smuggle Augusta out of Germany, but demands payment.
Sophie must move into his home, live with him, and pose as
his mistress. Such arrangements carry no stigma after Hitler’s
edict, but Sophie is wary. Only when Karl promises that she
will be a mistress in appearance only does she agree. Karl
tells Sophie in no uncertain terms to stay out of his business,
but Sophie becomes curious. Her curiosity could get them both
killed.
I admit that, at the outset, I wanted to shake Sophie for
her incredibly naïve and myopic view of the Nazi regime.
Then I realized that, as a member of the aristocracy, and
as someone who enjoyed the good favor of high-ranking officials,
Sophie would be mostly sheltered from the horrible realities.
It’s amazing that the author manages to take this rather
selfish woman and turn her into a heroine with a spine and
a brain; in short, a character who is likeable. But that’s
what happens here. Sometime around the midpoint of the story,
I realized that I was rooting for Sophie.
The story takes place between September and November of 1939,
the very early days of what would become World War II. Set
in Berlin, the reader gets a rare inside glimpse of the enemy
camp during this time. Even characters who are dedicated to
the Nazi ideals do not come off as caricatures. They’re
real people, caught up in events that are too overwhelming
to comprehend. It’s obvious that quite a lot of research
went into this novel, and each chapter begins with a date
and the historical highlights. It’s fascinating to juxtapose
what we know now to the actions and beliefs of the characters
who are “living” through the events. The romance
is lovely, but it’s really the historical context that
makes this one a real standout.
Rating: 8
September 2007
ISBN# 978-0-505-52739-4
******
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Perfidia.html
Rating: 5 cups
Sophia de Havilland is a young woman who fled her native
England when she walked in on her betrothed having sex with
another man. She lives with her aunt in Berlin, Germany. Hitler
rules Germany with an iron hand and Sophia is one of his favored
Aryan misses. However all is not as it seems, and when Sophia
is introduced to a handsome half American SS officer, it is
not long before she begins to see the light in more ways than
one with his help. Her emotions regarding him are mixed, but
the attraction is definitely there.
Karl Von Richten is playing a dangerous game. Embroiled deeply
in SS politics and one of Hitler’s right hand men, he
also helps “undesirables” escape Germany to a better
life. He truly cares for Sophie almost from the beginning
and tries in subtle ways to show her that Hitler and his plans
for Germany are bad. In the process he falls for her hard,
but feels he cannot truly have her, at least not in any permanent
sense.
When Sophie’s aunt wants to escape Germany and return
to England, Sophie goes to Karl for help. Karl arranges for
Sophie’s aunt to get away, but in return he asks Sophie
to pose as his mistress. Worried that he will want more from
her than she is willing to give, at first she is unsure. However,
when he assures her she will not be expected to be intimate
with him, and that it will help to protect her from the SS
figuring out the truth about her aunt, she goes along with
it. Karl slowly but surely educates Sophie on what the Third
Reich is really doing and it is only a short time before Sophie
is helping him. But Karl has a greedy half-brother who wants
his home, his lands and his title and who will stop at nothing
to get them, even if it means turning his own brother in.
Will Sophie and Karl be able to defeat this evil man?
Perfidia is an action packed book that gives a very detailed
look at the Third Reich, and all the atrocities and corruption
that the regime engendered. The reader is easily able to follow
Sophie’s progress from supporter of Hitler to rebel and
spy as the clues are laid out one by one. The author does
a splendid job of showing that not all German officers agreed
with Hitler. Karl is mesmerizing as the SS officer who wants
his country back and who will do anything to see that goal
accomplished. Historically accurate down to the last detail,
this book gives a bird’s eye view into a world that unless
you were actually there would be hard to understand, and yet
Ms. Pippin pulls it off beautifully. I highly recommend this
book both for its romance and history.
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
******
Elspeth McKendrick previously wrote two historical romances
under the name Morag McKendrick Pippin. Perfidia sees this
author continuing to use the early 20th century setting for
her historical romantic suspenses and this book is easily
her best and most gripping to date. Really, if you like reading
historical romances set in a different era from the overdone
18th and 19th century England or Scotland, this one is for
you. It is set in Germany in 1939. That's right, folks, our
hero and heroine are in Germany right at the start of World
War 2. As you may suspect, Perfidia is not going to be an
easy read.
Blonde and beautiful, Sophie de Havilland fits the image
of the Aryan ideal woman that the Führer idolizes, hence
our British expatriate enjoys access to the inner circles
of the upper crust society despite not being a local. Sophie
at first admires the Nazis because under the rule of Adolf
Hitler, Germany has risen from the ashes of poverty. However,
when war breaks out in Poland and slowly spreads across Europe
like a cancer, Sophie will have her idealistic nature torn
apart mercilessly. Will she ever get out of Germany? Well,
fortunately for her, early on a Sturmbannführer, Baron
Karl von Richten, has asked her to pretend to be his mistress
and move in with him so that he does not have to join the
eugenics program implemented by the Führer. Karl is actually
with a bunch of military officers plotting against Hitler,
so he ends up being an unlikely ally of Sophie.
The romance is not the strongest in this story, but I don't
think I can expect two people to stare into each other's eyes
all day like besotted cows when there is a war taking place
around them. Instead, I feel that Ms McKendrick has done a
pretty good job describing as best as she can any romance
that develops under such circumstances. What I must commend
Ms McKendrick for is how she doesn't force the romance to
move in an unrealistic pace given the situation the characters
are in. Which is to say, there are no contrived situations
to force the main characters to lose their clothes and jump
into bed here. This is a thriller with romance.
And indeed, what a thrilling book this is. I've always found
that the author has a knack for dragging me into her story
and capturing my attention completely, and here she has really
hit her stride as I really cannot put down this book at all
while I am reading it. The author doesn't sugarcoat the rising
nightmare that is the Third Reich. Sophie has no idea what
she is getting into, for example, when she joins some friends
(who also happen to be high-ranking military officers) for
a "fun" trip to the nearby concentration camps.
Let's just say that she learns the hard way that they really
are not "re-educating" the Jews, Gypsies, and other
"undesirable" people like she thought those camps
are for. Even more brutal will be a shocking scene which forces
Sophie to... well, I'm not going to reveal what that scene
is (anyone who have read this book will know at once which
scene I am talking about, though), but this chilling scene
stays with me for days after I've finished this story.
Yet at the same time Ms McKendrick also does a great job
letting me see how Sophie was initially convinced that the
Third Reich wasn't so bad as there are many promises made
by the Führer (such as free education for all) that make
perfect sense. It is only when the war progresses and the
regime becomes more tyrannical and inhuman that Sophie realizes
what a mistake it has been not to flee with her aunt back
to England early in this story.
Sophie, by the way, is amazing. She's very good at adapting
to a situation. She may be out of her depths most of the time,
but watch her bluff, lie, and deceive in order to extricate
herself or her friends out of a sticky situation. This is
not a damsel in distress in action - Sophie is a tough and
smart cookie. She's a little naïve at times, but that's
because she doesn't believe that human beings are capable
of some of the things she encounters here. She can learn from
her mistakes, though, and that is of course good.
Perfidia is an excellently paced story that has me at the
edge of my seat most of the time as Ms McKendrick slowly builds
up the sense of mounting claustrophobia and terror as Sophie
feels the world around her slowly closing in. The romance
provides a nice respite from the unrelenting fear and suspense
permeating the story, but it never overwhelms the story. I
think it is more accurate to say that Perfidia is more of
Sophie's story than it is a romance between Sophie and Karl.
This book only falters in its late quarter when the author
stumbles a little as she builds up the drama in the story.
The characters begin to do things that seem rather stupid.
For example, Karl and Sophie for some reason remain in Germany
when they are really in trouble with the authorities, an act
that only serves to put our two main characters through some
gruesome scenes with the Gestapo. I also don't understand
why Sophie refuses to return to England after all she has
been through at the hands of the Gestapo - I'd think she will
have a sense of perspective because any lingering hang-up
over a cheating boyfriend should pale when compared to what
she has been through in Germany. Also, I am not very happy
with how the author puts Karl and Sophie in all kinds of trouble
only to have help come from unexpected sources. Once or twice
this happens, I'm fine with that, but when this pattern continues
several times throughout the story, I can't help thinking
that the author is wandering too close into deus ex machina
territory.
Nonetheless, my obligatory list of nitpicks aside, I'm all
for Perfidia. It has my two thumbs up - oh, and here are two
pinkies as well thrown in for good measure. It's different,
which is good, but it is also one very entertaining story,
which is better. Ms McKendrick draws me into the story so
well, putting me through what seems like a grinder when it
comes to making me feel all taut and worried at the edge of
my seat when it comes to rooting for Sophie. What can I say,
really, at the end of the day? Yes, the cover is boring and
won't get much attention from casual browsers in a bookstore.
Perhaps a burning swastika will be more eye-catching, eh?
But hey, this book is one good read. If you like a romantic
suspense novel with a difference, this one is yours.
Rating: 94
******
Grade: B+
Sensuality: Warm
I have long thought 1900 an arbitrary cut-off for determining
what is and what is not a historical romance since the early
years of the 20th century are filled with many events and
settings perfect for drama and romance. In Perfidia, Elspeth
McKendrick (who also writes as Morag McKendrick Pippin) takes
the unlikely setting of Nazi Germany and presents readers
with a thrilling tale of adventure and passionate romance.
Following devastating revalations concerning her fiance,
Sophie de Havilland fled England to live with her aunt in
Berlin. Living a life sheltered from the more brutal realities
of the government, Sophie initially admires what Hitler's
regime has done to improve the German economy. However, as
conditions change following the invasion of Poland, Sophie
begins to see more of the government's dark side and starts
to question the version of events that her friends within
the SS and Gestapo have given her.
Sophie's position becomes more precarious when her aunt chooses
to flee Germany as it becomes clear that war is imminent.
Sophie reluctantly allows herself to be taken in by half-American
SS officer Karl von Richten. While von Richten offers a measure
of safety, Sophie finds herself questioning his motives. Sophie
feels attracted to von Richten, but he also seems rather mysterious
and she finds herself troubled by the fact that his allegiances
seem unclear.
Given his position in the SS, Karl von Richten leads a dangerous
existence. In his own mind, he is quite clear on his goals
and has no place in his schemes for a woman. However, he feels
compelled to protect the naive Sophie and eventually, his
instinct to protect begins to develop into true affection.
However, his fears over what he perceives to be Sophie's views
cause him to wonder whether she is the sort of person he can
truly love - or even trust with the truth about himself.
McKendrick's story is remarkable for a number of reasons.
First of all, she manages to evoke her setting without going
overboard into the realm of history lectures or overdone slang.
The author's writing style has tightened up significantly
since the publication of her first novel, and she seems to
have come into her own and has developed a compelling voice
with this book.
In addition, this romance shines because of the growth of
its characters. The story takes place over two months and
in that time, much happens as Germany commences war with its
neighbors. The main characters' development tracks these historical
events believably. Just as things change rapidly in Germany,
Sophie's eyes are opened in ways that cause her to change
deeply and admirably as a person. As readers, we see these
changes through Karl's eyes and see how his views about Sophie
change in response. The result is a love story that is not
only packed with action, but also believably complex in its
emotions.
With Perfidia, readers are transported to the dangerous world
of Nazi Germany and treated to a touching romance. The background
is as tragic as one would expect and for some it will be difficult
to read. However, the story has its hopeful moments and I
am glad to have discovered this hidden treasure of a book
******
|
|
"Blood Moon over Bengal is a powerful
and fabulous story of forbidden love that is even hotter
than the sultry air of 1930s India. This compelling,
beautifully written tale plays out against a backdrop
of scandal, prejudice and murder. I couldn't put it
down." -Review by Meg Chittenden, award winning
author of SNAP SHOT.
**
Morag McKendrick Pippin is on my “automatic
buy” list, I am eager to read all her future works.
-Reviewer Donna Zapf
***
|
BLOOD
MOON OVER BRITAIN is one of those special books that masterfully
combine all the elements of a romance, yet is intricately
crafted with mystery and suspense. Cicely Winterborne works
at a top secret government agency during World War II. She
meets Inspector Alistair Fielding when he is investigating
her cousin's apparent suicide.
The
two are thrown together when Fielding realizes that Cicely may be in danger. In
trying to help her get a code that the Germans wanted to her father, Alistair
becomes seriously ill. To make matters worst, they are also on the run not only
from the enemy, but the police who believe that they are murderers. The adventure
is laced with humor and beguiling characters.
Alistair and Cicely's attraction
for each other grows as they race towards their destination, their main goal to
save England at all cost. Eventually the two split up and Cicely must go it on
her own. Will Alistair be able to save the woman he loves before it's too late?
Can they accept each other and make a life together knowing what they know? You'll
have to read this engaging book to find out.
Morag McKendrick Pippin has
penned a wonderful tale with BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN and I look forward to reading
more of her work.
By Romance
Junkies Reviewer: Jessica
*** From
Romance News http://www.romancenews.org/
Blood Moon Over Britain
Morag
McKendrick Pippin
Leisure Books
ISBN 0843955821
Review
by Maria Alvarez So
much of what we have opportunities to review is historical, generally Regency
or Victorian, and terribly familiar. Blood Moon Over Britain was a refreshing
change. Readers who are sick and tired of the same, recycled romance should look
for this book. It is not in wide release, but your local bookseller will happily
order it, and it is available online at all booksellers.
Many
publishers would not call this novel a historical, since it is after 1900. What
is unfortunate about this is that many readers looking for a rich historical period
are missing out. Set in 1942, the story follows. Most of us are familiar only
with the US' trials during World War II, but the real drama was taking place in
Europe, and London was a place of tension, espionage, and heroism in the face
of adversity.
Morag
McKendrick Pippin's novel features Alistair Fielding, a Scotland Yard detective.
He encounters Cicely Winterbourne during an investigation into the death of her
cousin, who has apparently committed suicide. If Alistair is a man of depths,
Cicely is a woman of absolute bottomless mystery.
Fielding
isn't buying the suicide theory, nor is he buying the pack of lies the charming
Cicely seems to be telling. Though she is supposed to be a simple file clerk at
Bletchley Park, intrigue involving code breaking and German secrets indicate a
bit more going on. Is she being manipulated by something greater than she knows?
Can she be trusted?
And
can he? Cicely is just as conflicted. Her secrets are not only her own, but those
of her nation, and the outcome of the war may depend on her silence and deception.
Yet Alistair Fielding is a man she longs to trust, longs to confide in, longs
for as a woman.
Blood
Moon Over Britain never slows down, nor does it disappoint. The mystery keeps
the pace moving steadily while the attraction between two well crafted main characters
cranks up the heat. Very well researched, the novel works beautifully within its
period.
This
was an absolutely fantastic change from the same old romance. The time period
is rich, fraught with natural tension, and is terribly underused. If Casablanca
is one of your favorite movies, if you are tired of balls and the machinations
of the ton, if you are looking for something new, exciting, and full of meticulous
research, this is the book for you. Morag McKendrick Pippin is a fresh new voice
from whom you will want to hear more!
*** Morag
McKendrick Pippin has done it again with her latest novel BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN;
she has written a riveting suspenseful tale with a fated romance that simply enthralled
this reader.
Review:
It is 1942 London and Cicely Winterbourne works filing war secrets at Bletchley
Park. Her cousin also worked there as a code breaker but now he is dead, an apparent
suicide, and Cicely finds herself answering questions put to her by Alistair Fielding
of Interpol. Could his death be other than suicide? Alistair and Cicely both are
quickly coming to that conclusion.
Despite
Cicely’s automatic response to not trust anyone, she finds that she must
in order to find out what happened to her cousin and what his death means to the
security of England. Alistair feels there is something very suspicious about Cicely
but he eventually learns to trust her and puts his own life in danger to help
her. As the two work together they find themselves drawn to each other. But both
agree they are living for today because tomorrow may never come.
I
loved it! The suspense, the history, the characters, the dialog with authentic
vocabulary, the romance; all made BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN a simply absorbing read.
Ms. Pippin easily transported me to war torn England with black out curtains,
bombings, espionage and jitterbugging through her ingenious writing skills. Give
yourself this engrossing book and buy one for all your closest friends and family.
They will thank you again after they have read BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN. Morag
McKendrick Pippin is on my “automatic buy” list, I am eager to read
all her future works.
Reviewer
Donna Zapf
*** Blood Moon
Over Britain
Rating: Five Cups In
war-weary England in the winter of 1942, Inspector Alistair Fielding of Scotland
Yard has been called to
investigate an alleged suicide. The victim is in the
bathtub in a room awash with blood from his slit wrists. Fielding soon meets the
victim's cousin, Cecily Winterborne, who discovered the body. In spite of the
circumstances, he is drawn to her. She claims to have no knowledge about her cousin's
death except that the maimed veteran had been despondent. Cecily
finds Fielding attractive but she dares not let anyone close. She knows her cousin
has been killed for
what he knew. Their work in British intelligence puts her
in danger also. Until she learns what really
happened, she must involve no
one else. As the net of danger tightens, Cecily must trust
someone. Fielding seems to be the only help at hand.
During their shared flight,
love blossoms. Yet as Alistair learns more about her, his admiration seems
to
turn to loathing. Duplicity has become her stock in trade while he respects nothing
more than honesty and
honor. With the outcome of the war at stake, how can
she worry about one man's opinion; yet with her heart
at stake, how can she
not? Vividly drawn, completely believable characters, a taut
thriller-type plot, and an authentic and
exquisitely detailed setting make
Blood Moon Over Britain a truly exceptional book. Romance and suspense
are
deftly interwoven into a seamless tale that clutches the reader's mind and heart
to the final
scene. Utterly absorbed by this book from page one, I will definitely
get Ms. Pippin's previous book and
look for her future releases. - Reviewer
Alegria ***** BLOOD MOON OVER
BENGAL Reviewed by Romance Readers at Heart
http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2004/oct04/BMOB_MMP.html Author:
Morag McKendrick Pippin ISBN: 0843954523 10/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: LEISURE
Time
Period: 1932 - Calcutta, State of Bengal - India
I have
read some great books lately. Excellent, really. However, after reading BLOOD
MOON OVER BENGAL, by Morag McKendrick Pippin, I am hard pressed to recall the
titles of those books. As a matter of fact, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL is the best
book I have read all year. No doubt it is in my top five best books I have ever
read. I love my favorite stories (not all romantic novels) for
many different reasons. Some for the writing or the descriptions. Or the characters,
the storyline, and so on. Very few of those books embody all of those qualities.
Some come close, but this book truly is everything. If you
want to be transported back in time to 1932 India and experience the language
(slang, even!), the smells, the sights, the sounds, the very essence of the English
presence there, open a page. I am astounded by the descriptive nature of this
book. No detail is left out, from the finger wave hairstyle to the brand names
of cigarettes. You hate the sultry heat and giant bugs, along with the torrential
monsoons just around the corner from summer. The characters, every last one of
them, are cool, refined, and so well done, I swear I was sitting at the blackjack
table with them last night. And the drinks! Even the names of popular cocktails
being served across the water in America make an appearance. The
love story between the half-caste son of the maharaja, Nigel, Major Covington-Singh,
and the ultra-modern Elizabeth Mainwarring, defies a category due to its complexity.
It's sexy and spicy, yet sad and poignant because of the small mindedness of the
tight British community they inhabit. They are involved, yet cannot be out in
the open with their feelings for fear of Nigel's career being put at risk as well
as Elizabeth's tenuous relationship with her newly found father. And
did I mention murder? Lots of intrigue and unsolved murders for the reader to
guess at and get caught up in. Though one murder in particular in my eyes is welcome
(since the woman is such a shrew! though marvelously entertaining), most appear,
at first glance, to escape any pattern save the victims are all women. Very exciting
storyline here, I assure you. Well, if I gush anymore over
this I will be unable to read my next book without doing a comparison. Naturally,
I realize that isn't fair, since I don't think I will find anything remotely close
to this. It's perfect! Shannon
*****
Author: Morag McKendrick Pippin
Title - Blood Moon Over Bengal 5
STARS! Set in Calcutta, State of Bengal, 1932. Elizabeth
Mainwarring was en route to New Zealand, where she has a sheep station and land
full of oil. However, before she finally settles down in New Zealand, Elizabeth
stops in Calcutta to visit her estranged father, Colonel Andrew Mainwarring, in
hopes of mending the breach. The area is already in disarray due to several recent
murders. Major Nigel Covington-Singh is the youngest of
the Maharaja of Kashmir's three sons. Even though he is a prince and an officer,
the British officers and wives consider him beneath them in station. Nigel is
a "wog", half English and half Indian. That does not mean that those
snobbish wives do not try to seduce Nigel though. The man is very handsome. Nigel
is part of the team investigating the "Bengal Killer". The killer has
killed many Indian women already. Recently the killer began targeting the British
women, but only those who have been with men outside their own race. Elizabeth
and Nigel cannot help the attraction they feel for each other. Elizabeth is too
modern to care what others will think of her for dating Nigel, but feels as though
she is not worthy of an Indian Prince. Interestingly enough, Nigel feels that
she is his superior. The biggest problem they face, though, is the killer. And
the killer now has Elizabeth penned as his next target. *****
This mystery-thriller has the taste of a Regency romance with the dangerous flavor
of India's jungles mixed in. The only thing missing was the glorious ball rooms
of London. But the majestic ball rooms of Bengal are just as breathtaking! The
author set a murder mystery AND thriller plot during a volatile time in Bengal
history. At this time, Bengal was still going for Home Rule (self government).
The author added in several secondary characters that I could not help but care
for. Fiona, Elizabeth's friend and companion, is but one example. I never found
myself growing bored either. The mystery is ongoing, the thrills are non-stop,
and there are lots of scandalous opportunities presenting themselves for my entertainment.
Very well done! ***** HUNTRESS REVIEWS (Reviewed
by Detra Fitch) Posted:
http://www.huntressreviews.com/histrom.htm ***** I'm
thrilled BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL received a 5 cup review from Coffee Time Romance!
BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL
MORAG MCKENDRICK PIPPIN
0-8439-5452-3
October, 2004
Leisure Books
Www.dorchesterbooks.com
Paperback
Historical romance
$5.99
Rate 5 cups Blood
Moon Over Bengal is an enchanting historical romance set in twentieth-century
India. Elizabeth Mainwarring and Major Nigel Covington-Singh
cross paths quite unexpectedly, when her plane
crash-lands almost literally
at his feet. Elizabeth is British and seeks a relationship with her father, a
military man who has been stationed in India for some time. What she gets,
in addition to getting to know
her father again, is a dangerous attraction
to one of the men serving under his command. Not only is
Nigel an officer in His Majesty’s service, but, he is also a prince in his
native land, Nigel also
royalty, in his native land. He possesses both parts
of his heritage and is not a suitable match for the upper
class British lady. Blood
Moon Over Bengal does not read like a first book. The plotting is excellent and
the blend of romance
and suspense rivals more veteran authors. I really liked
the fact that this author wrote about India in the
1930s. It was a historical
time I was not familiar with and I loved the way the author brought it to life.
The
characters come to three-dimensional under Ms. Pippin’s pen. Not
only did I like this book, I will be first in
line to buy my own copy when
it releases to read and reread to my heart’s content. Avalon
Sydney
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About
New Books ***** BLOOD
MOON OVER BENGAL wins The Gold Blether Award.
The Blether Gold Award. A truly
exceptional read, the finest example of a genre, a book with which the reviewer
can find no fault, and which will usually have universal appeal.
Read
review in full ~
http://www.blether.com/blether.php?id=9008
****
"Ms.
Pippin writes a steamy, well plotted suspense with just the right amount of romance.
Ms. Pippin plots more intricately than Machiavelli while
exploring her characters and their emotions with amazing depth and talent. Blood
Moon Over Bengal is a must read for suspense lovers. Ms. Pippin's fresh, intricate
plot is one that will keep the reader captivated from page one to the end. Don't
plan on getting much sleep after picking up Blood Moon Over Bengal. It isn't a
book you'll want to put down. Blood Moon Over Bengal is
sensual suspense at its best. The romance in Blood Moon
Over Bengal is refreshingly different and yet as emotionally satisfying as any
story in the genre. This suspenseful love story will touch your heart, keep you
on the edge of your seat with tension and leave you waiting with bated breath
for the next story by Ms. Pippin." --Lucy Monroe THE
REAL DEAL September ~ Kensington Brava
Merry Christmas, Baby: SILVER BELLA
October ~ Kensington Brava
THE ITALIAN'S SUITABLE WIFE October ~ Harlequin
Presents
THE BILLIONAIRE'S PREGNANT MISTRESS Dec ~ Harlequin Presents
**** 5
Stars Morag McKendrick Pippin’s
debut novel, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL, is brilliantly written and an absolutely
engrossing read. I was instantly transported to the blistering hot days and sultry
muggy nights of 1930’s India and its last days of British rule. Elizabeth
Mainwarring literally dropped from the sky at the feet of Major Nigel Covington-Singh
when her airplane crash landed on the parade field. Their first meeting was a
precursor of things to come as mutual attraction and wariness collided. Elizabeth,
a nonconformist, millionaire heiress with few inhibitions, has returned to her
home in India to re-establish a relationship with her father. Nigel is not only
an officer in her father’s regiment but is also a prince, the son of a maharaja
and English woman. His mixed race, Anglo-Indian, has British society and especially
Elizabeth’s father, perceiving Nigel as unsuitable for Elizabeth. The opinions
of others do not stop the two lovers but the murderer, on the loose in Bengal,
may stop them both… permanently. A dizzying array of
parties and "get togethers" make up Elizabeth’s days in India.
She spends much of that time trying to figure out her true feelings for Nigel.
Will she be able to withstand the social pressures surrounding their liaison not
to mention the tenuous bond with her father? All her worries may be moot as the
murderer closes in on Elizabeth. It is Nigel’s job to find the assassin but
will he be able to solve the mystery surrounding the killer’s identity in
time? BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL by Morag McKendrick Pippin is
a compelling novel of suspense and intrigue which will ensnare and thrill the
reader from the first page. Morag’s characters, the strong free-spirited
Elizabeth and mouth-wateringly handsome Nigel, are extremely appealing as well
as are the secondary characters. I admire the background research and description
used in making this novel such a realistic and irresistible read. I predict that
Morag McKendrick Pippin has written a best seller with BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL.
--Donna Zapf, CataRomance Reviews www.CataRomance.com
***** "Set in the exotic world of India,
BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL by Morag McKendrick Pippin is a richly woven tale about
two total strangers who find love and intrigue in 1930s Calcutta. Danger and lust
are forever in the background, shadowing the characters and their every move.
. . ......
. . . . . An engaging love story full of mystery and erotic
overtones, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL is Morag McKendrick Pippin's first novel, and
I, for one, will definitely be awaiting her next book!" Courtney
Bowden
Romance Reviews Today **** More
than a romance, this great read incorporates many other genres that could qualify
it as a murder mystery or mainstream. It opens the door into a past we have experienced
only in movies. Highly recommended as a read you won't want
to put down. Its many twists and turns will lead you into the dark and forboding
world as seen through the eyes of a killer. This book is one you will keep for
a future reread.
Mary Emmons, ReaderTo Reader.com
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