This month’s theme is that of a tortured hero/ heroine, and The Russian Concubine by new-to-me author, Kate Furnivall fits right into that category.

Set against the backdrop of a war-torn China in the grips of a burgeoning revolution, this sweeping novel with a pair of star-crossed lovers carrying forth the momentum of the melodrama that unfolds in the International Settlement of Junchow in 1928.

In this den of iniquities, where danger lurks not just in the form of opium, prostitution and death, where suspicions of liaison with the Communists could land one in a situation worse than hell itself, 16-year-old daughter, Lydia Ivanova, who, with mother Valentine, live in poverty as exiled White Russian refugees, surviving on whatever largess her pianist mum can coax from gentlemen admirers and the profits Lydia turns from pawning stolen goods.

Her shining fiery hair making her a distinct target for pimps and slavers, Lydia must often depend on her wits to escape being caught but, when she attracted the unwelcome attentions of a criminal gang, the Black Snakes, Chang An Lo, an English-speaking Communist and kung fu master came to her rescue, forging a bond that would grow stronger than mere friendship.

Yes, yours truly has finally succumbed and become Twitter-pated.  It’s the best solution under the circumstances and breathless pace of life.  So …. follow me if you would care.

It’s been my longest hiatus so far, but with my recent bout of ill health over, hectic real life settling down a bit, not to mention work travel slowing dow, I reckon it’s time to catch up on review posts and updates with fellow reader bloggers.

The last two months were spent finishing up Seth Godin’s Purple Cow, new-to-me authors Kate Furnivall’s The Russian Concubine, Eva Ibbotson’s A Countess Below Stairs and James Patterson’s Sundays at Tiffany’s as well as the long awaited 4th instalment of Noami Novik’s Temeraire series Empire of Ivory, and Madeline Hunter’s The Sins of Lord Easterbrook.

Also caught up on some movies onboard flights on business trips: He’s Not That Into You, Sex and the Big City, Confessions of a Shopaholic and on video – Rachel Getting Married, Inkheart and Night at the Museum, which I won’t review.

Will attempt to share photos from my travels, but first let’s get the backlog of book reviews up. More later …