A Lady of the Realm by Sharon Mamolo

Book 1 of the House of DeDe series

Bethany Boudreaux is tired of being a damn peasant. Her mother, a born again human who rejects her witch bloodline, has kept Beth secluded and ignorant for most of her life. Beth wants to eat, preferably twice a day. She’d like a grand home, with a fully stocked bar. She’s tired of eking out an existence while the rich freaks get all the breaks. She’ll do anything to claim what is, by law, hers. She needs help, lots of it, because paperwork can be a bitch.

When Beth learns Lord Aleksander is coming to visit her club, she grabs a stiff drink and waits. The dark elf of Losalfar is the perfect solution to her current legal problems. He’s obscenely rich, a top member of the hierarchy, about to inherit region two, including New Orleans, but most importantly to her … he’s a man. Men are so easy, regardless of race. With his help, she can attain the privileges and powers only those with a title are born with. All she needs to do to gain his assistance is agree to three measly conditions. Book description. 

A Lady of the Realm wasn't at all like I thought it would be – its a true fantasy novel but somehow I’d got the impression it was some kind of historical romance a la Georgette Heyer or mills and boon style – not my preferred reading genre but i enjoy some. I recall my mums M&B reading – I had a free one off kindle a few weeks ago – wow - not at all like i remember! It would have shocked my poor mum but much more to my taste. I’m sure the really sappy stuff she loved is still there for die-hards of that genre though...

 Anyway A Lady of the Realm was much, much better than I’d imagined and I really thoroughly enjoyed it. I've already bought the sequel and read it and am waiting for the third instalment – I’m hooked into Lady Beth’s world (hurry up and get writing Sharon- please!!). I’ll really have to stop speed reading and skimming previews about books and read them properly so I don't miss another book that I'd like as I almost did this one, it would have been a real loss.

 I knew from the first page I’d got it wrong when Bethany is in a pole dancing club and gets the hots for lord Alek who’s an elf! Hmmnnn... I thought – nope, definitely not a simple historical romance! Anyway the Realm is a world in a kind of parallel dimension quite feudal in type and with witches, elves,fairies, shape-shifters, demons and part bred humans – oh and talking animals. Much of the action is set within new Orleans and surrounding areas. Bethany discovers she is a witch and as the last DeDe witch entitled to be a Lady in that world – a real step up from the struggling to survive, starving, penniless human she is in the normal one. Her mother had renouced the Realm and lived and brought Beth up as a human, and she only found out by chance that she was also a DeDe witch. She needs to enlist the help of Lord Alek the filthy rich, deliciously sexy elf to claim her title as she will be one of his subjects and have to pay him a tithe. He has a Shadow – a kind of constant partner who aids and advises him – Lord Malachi( a fairy/elf half breed ) another very wealthy, spicy hot character who is a lawyer, and they have been together for several centuries.

After setting three conditions Lord Alec agrees he and Malachi will help Beth and they enlist the aid of Sigmund the demon to tutor her, as she needs to learn how to be accepted and run her estate in the realm, as she knows nothing about that world. They're all very, very good at the games of politics after so many centuries and guide Beth through what could be a minefield. Its not a great, gasping, breathless adventure where the heroine lurches from crisis to crisis, being rescued all the while although Beth has a few sticky moments, but mainly its about her quest to claim the title and how she lives in the sometimes funny but mainly sticky, political minefield that embraces all the actions of the characters in the realm. Not so far from out own world sometimes that ….I really enjoyed learning along with her – the characters are great, well fleshed out and easy to warm to or dislike according to how Sharon wants us to perceive them. There are main plots and little sub-plots that lead onto bigger ones further down the line and into the next book. Its always full of some kind of gentle drama and the storyline flows very well.

 Its a fun fantasy read, witty, sexy and entertaining throughout. Beth soon ends up sleeping with both Alek and Malachi, (well – if they don't mind why should she have to forgo their pleasures?) It seems they're so close they're used to sharing their women and they ensure she always has one of them with her at night to protect her – its a tough and often dangerous world in politics and there are those who would rather Beth wasn't in it. Both Lords are deliciously sexy but in different ways, Malachi being more tender and romantic while Alek is more an Alpha male assertive type. Having been together so many years they have a strong mental link and this helps them know when Beth or each other need help. Brief Warning: If the idea casual sex offends you then you might not like this book as many of the characters all seem to be swapping bedmates constantly, although it fits the way the book is written and its not graphic sex scenes but in parts very tender. I think its very well done and adds to the book but I know some readers are offended by this type of novel.

 Star rating – the story is fabulous and I love it! Well written, entertaining and gripping and I would give it five stars but for two things; firstly it needs some work on spelling and punctuation, there are numerous errant apostrophes sprinkled throughout like fairy dust , and simple spelling errors – she runs mouse not mousse through her hair for example, and the their/there is often confused. Second problem is that I've found it hard in several scenes to understand what Beths' motivation is, for example why she is so angry with Alek or Malachi sometimes – they don't seem to have done anything to me but Beth loses her temper and I just wonder why, what is the significance of the mate contract etc – little things that could do with being clearer. The book is written from Beths' point of view so much could have been explained via her thoughts on her own and other people actions. Also Alek and Malachis' unspoken conversations are fine for them of course, but when they look at each other silently for several minutes, then nod heads and smile I’m left wondering “well... what was all that about?” Sometimes it becomes clear later but not always and occasionally is quite a vital point. On the second reading as I knew what the story line was it was not such an irritation but a little more clarity on some points would have helped the story flow more. Overall I'd give it 4 stars taking half off for each of the two things that I felt detracted from the novel.

 This book and the sequel seem to be all Sharon has written so far so I hope the third installment isn't too far away – there's a brief peek at the end of book two and ends on a real cliffhanger moment. I'm really looking forward to immersing myself into the Realm and its people again. I think Sharon has a real talent for fantasy story telling, and for a first novel this was a real treat and I'm looking forward to reading any further books she produces. Its a shame I couldn't give it the full five stars but I think the points I have picked up on are valid comments and hopefully will be taken into account on succeeding novels.

Midnight Ruby

                                           4 Stars!

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Reviewed by Midnight Ruby