Historical Novel Review

Running with the Enemy by Lloyd Lofthouse

2013-05-21T13:24:00.001-06:00

Running with the Enemy is a suspense thriller set during the Vietnam War. A rogue CIA agent needs someone to blame for his crimes.

Recon Marine Ethan Card is the perfect patsy. As a teen, Ethan ran with a Chicago street gang, and he has a criminal record. He also has a secret lover, Tuyen. But Tuyen, who is half French, is a beautiful Viet Cong resistance fighter. Since she was a young child, Tuyen has lived under the brutal control of her older, sexually abusive half-brother, Giap, a ruthless and powerful Viet Cong leader, who has forced her to kill Americans in battle or die if she refuses.

When Ethan discovers he is going to be court-marshaled for weapons he did not sell to the Viet Cong and Tuyen will be arrested and end up in an infamous South Vietnamese prison, where she will be tortured and raped, he hijacks a U.S. Army helicopter and flees with Tuyen across Southeast Asia while struggling to prove his innocence.

The rogue CIA agent and Giap--working together with the support of an unwitting American general--will stop at nothing to catch the two, and the hunt is on. The star-crossed lovers flee across Laos to Cambodia's Angkor Wat; to Bangkok, Thailand, and then to Burma's Golden Triangle where Ethan and Tuyen face a ruthless drug lord and his gang.

In the rainforests of Burma, Ethan discovers that a massive assault has been planned to hit his Marine unit's remote base in South Vietnam with the goal of killing the man he admires most, Colonel Edward Price, who is the only one that believes Ethan is innocent. Ethan must risk everything to save Price and his fellow Marines. Will he succeed?

From start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. The story gripped me, and for good reason! Books that have fascinating, unusual characters always capture my interest – and this novel’s villain is the villain above all villains! He is an abhorrent CIA agent gone rogue – a ruthless killer who sharpens his teeth to bite and torment and torture his victims. I could not help but hate this man, and this only added to my enjoyment of this book. Of course, the protagonist is equally as captivating – a recon marine named Ethan Card who is as tough as they come. He is strong, a born leader, and will go to the ends of the earth to save his buddies, even if he puts his own life in danger. Wrongfully framed, with the military eager to capture and charge him, he is on the run, desperate to prove his innocence, intent on saving those who support him from danger. And then there are a whole cast of secondary characters, both good and bad, who add color and interest to the tale, creating additional conflict and tension.

The prose is written in a gritty, quippy way, enhanced by vivid, compelling descriptions that seem all too real at times. This is no surprise because the author himself is a Vietnam veteran. It is obvious that much of what he wrote comes from his own personal experiences, and this makes the story stand out as an exceptional military suspense/thriller.

The fight/combat scenes are stunning, very realistic. The novel’s pace is quick, with tension building as the story progresses. There is some graphic violence, of course, true to the setting, era, and culture, educating the reader as to some of the horrors. Betrayal, revenge, murder, and desperation make this a must read! It is a well written, well edited novel that will keep you interested from start to finish. Very highly recommended.

The City of Refuge by Diana Wilder

2013-05-20T07:54:00.000-06:00

Review by Victoria Dixon

It was once the glory of Akhenaten's reign, called "The Horizon of the Aten'. Now the once magnificent city Amarna lies wrecked, abandoned and accursed, dreaming in the darkness on the edge of the Nile.

Police Commander Khonsu has never believed in curses, but he can't deny his own foreboding when he learns that the city's stone quarries will be reopened at Pharaoh's command by a delegation from the great temple of Ptah at Memphis, headed by Lord Nebamun, its second-ranking priest, a man without a past who is not afraid of ghosts, curses or the dead.

As commander of the provincial police force assigned to guard the expedition, Khonsu accompanies the enigmatic Nebamun to the ruined city, where he finds himself entangled in a drifting web of betrayal, murder and revenge that has its deepest roots in the shadows of the city's heresy-tainted past.

The City of Refuge is a story of hidden treasure, revenge and murder and one man's discovery that the paths of righteousness may lie through peril, but they will always bring you home.

The City of Refuge is, I believe, the first of Diana Wilder's Egyptian murder mysteries in "The Memphis Cycle". Pay attention as there are two characters from City of Refuge who reappear in some way for Pharaoh’s Son, which I reviewed here.

Just as in Pharaoh’s Son, The City of Refuge shows Wilder’s interest in belief and how it can be enacted in our lives. In this story, she used the tale of Horus and Set, the murderer and avenger of Ancient Egypt. I thought the myth well used throughout the book and the end scenes where the cosmic battle is echoed between hero and villain were vivid and gripping.

However, what I found most enjoyable about the book was the fraternity between the two main characters. I loved both of those men dearly. They were real to me and I would love to see them in other stories, which I can only hope Ms. Wilder writes soon.

Pemberley to Waterloo by Anna Elliott

2013-05-18T03:00:00.000-06:00

Book Blurb

Can their love withstand the trials of war?

Georgiana Darcy and Edward Fitzwilliam want only to be together. But when the former Emperor Napoleon escapes from his exile on the Isle of Elba, Britain is plunged into renewed war with France ... and Edward is once more called away to fight.

To be with the man she loves, Georgiana makes the perilous journey to Brussels, in time to witness the historic downfall of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. But when Edward is gravely injured in the battle, she will need more courage than she ever knew she had to fight for their future together.

Pemberley to Waterloo is the sequel to Georgiana Darcy's Diary and is Book 2 of the Pride and Prejudice Chronicles.

Review

In the first part of this three book series, Georgiana Darcy endures misunderstandings and the honourable restraint of her beau, finally achieving her goal of becoming betrothed to Edward Fitzwilliam.

Written in diary form, the reader is shown the thoughts that are behind the sweet, unspoilt and loving but shy and retiring girl we all know of in Pride and Prejudice. She also weaves stories for Kitty Bennett - who is almost as much trouble as Lydia, and Caroline Bingley, whose jealousy of everyone happiness makes her bitter and vengeful - until she finds true love herself.

Georgiana has been in love with Edward Fitzwilliam since she was six years old. Not a young girl's unrealistic infatuation for her guardian, this, but a mature, enduring devotion that will last through all privations - including his near-fatal injury at Waterloo when she goes to Brussells to nurse him.

Ms Elliott's research of the Napoleonic war is wonderful, something Miss Austen never did for her readers, and I became fascinated enough to look up details about the Duchess of Richmond's Ball on the eve of the final battle. Georgiana and Kitty are caught up in the aftermath of Waterloo, and care for wounded and dying soldiers. The reality must have been dreadful, but the author deals with it perfectly, with just enough raw emotion but without sentimentality or being overly explicit.

The emotion of all her characters, from Georgiana herself who commits her feelings to her diary, to Kitty Bennet's regret and Harriett Forster's grief, is beautifully handled. I particularly loved the scene where Elizabeth gives birth to Darcy's son while he is delayed by a snowstorm - their final reunion being worthy of any BBC drama moment.

I'm now a devoted fan of Ms Elliott's novels, an author deserves much success with her writing.

Anita Davison is a Historical Fiction Author whose latest release, ‘Royalist Rebel’ a biographical novel set in 17th Century England, is being released by Claymore Press in early 2013 under the name Anita Seymour

=============================================

BLOG: http://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/anita.davison?

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/AnitaDavison

=============================================

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins

2013-05-17T15:44:00.003-06:00

Review by

Mirella Sichirollo Patzer

In Susanna Calkins's atmospheric debut novel, a chambermaid must uncover a murderer in seventeenth-century plague-ridden London

For Lucy Campion, a seventeenth-century English chambermaid serving in the household of the local magistrate, life is an endless repetition of polishing pewter, emptying chamber pots, and dealing with other household chores until a fellow servant is ruthlessly killed, and someone she loves is wrongly arrested for the crime. In a time where the accused are presumed guilty until proven innocent, lawyers aren't permitted to defend their clients, and--if the plague doesn't kill them first--public executions draw a large crowd of spectators, Lucy knows she may never see this person alive again. Unless, that is, she can identify the true murderer.

Determined to do just that, Lucy finds herself venturing out of her expected station and into raucous printers' shops, secretive gypsy camps, the foul streets of London, and even the bowels of Newgate prison on a trail that might lead her straight into the arms of the killer.

In her debut novel, Susanna Calkins seamlessly blends historical detail, romance, and mystery into a moving and highly entertaining tale.

Review:

A Murder at Rosamund’s Gate is a historical mystery set in 17^th century London. Lucy Campion is a chambermaid who works for the Hargraves family. When one of her fellow maidservants turns up murdered like two other women before, and her brother is falsely accused, Lucy quietly begins to unravel the facts.

I don’t read a lot of mystery novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The Restoration period of England gave the book an interesting backdrop, as did the details of the deadly plague, which struck the country’s population during that same period, followed by the great London fire of 1666. There were plenty of unpredictable twists, capricious and compelling characters, and a tense but satisfying ending! So, there was plenty of historical details and horrors to keep me reading to the end. This whodunit kept me guessing to the very end as to which one of the characters was the notorious serial killer. Flowing prose, good pacing, and a humdinger of a good plot makes this cozy mystery one to add to your shelves.

Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr by N. Gemini Sasson

2013-05-14T14:54:00.000-06:00

The story of Owain Glyndwr, the last Welsh Prince of Wales

In the year 1399, Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndwr is living out a peaceful gentleman's life in the Dee Valley of Wales with his wife Margaret and their eleven children. But when Henry of Bolingbroke usurps the throne of England from his cousin Richard II, that tranquility is forever shattered. What starts as a feud with a neighboring English lord over a strip of land evolves into something greater--a fight for the very independence of Wales.

After a harrowing encounter on the misty slopes of Cadair Idris, the English knight Harry Hotspur offers Owain a pact he cannot resist.

Peace, however, comes with a heavy price. As tragedies mount and temptations loom, Owain questions whether he can fulfill the prophecies and lead his people to freedom without destroying those around him.

For centuries, the bards have sung of King Arthur's return, but is this reluctant warrior prince the answer to those prophecies?

A long time fan of author N. Gemini Sasson, I was eager to read this, her latest novel. I expected to be dazzled with great story telling, and I truly was.

Known as the last true Welsh prince of Wales, Owain Glyndwr, dedicated his entire life in trying to secure Wale’s freedom from English rule. A man of honor, greatly respected, and with the heart of a lion, Owain lives a happy life surrounded by his wife and children. As turmoil with the English increases, Owain soon finds himself torn away from his beloved family, leading a rebellion, and ultimately being adorned with a crown proclaiming him prince.

The author does an outstanding job of showing us not only Owain’s finest qualities, but also his many faults, and it is this that made Owain seem real to me, for no one in this world is perfect. It is a testament to N. Gemini’s talents as a writer that Owain truly comes alive while reading this book. What I was also more than impressed with was the fact that historical fact and complicated politics are skillfully presented in simple, easy to understand prose. The author leaves no stone unturned and does not shy away from writing detailed love scenes, battles, executions, and daily hardships faced by people in turbulent eras. Highly researched and meticulously written, Uneasy Lies the Crown is a brilliant novel about a poignant hero and the sacrifices he made to fight for his country. If you’ve never read one of N. Gemini Sasson’s novels, then definitely make this your first one. And if you’ve read her other books, know that this one is just as satisfying and brilliant as her others.

The Wedding Shroud by Elisabeth Storrs

2013-05-05T08:34:00.000-06:00

Review by

Mirella Sichirollo Patzer

Synopsis

In 406 BC, to seal a tenuous truce, the young Roman Caecilia is wedded to Val Mastarna, an Etruscan nobleman from the city of Veii. The fledgling Republic lies only twelve miles across the Tiber from its neighbor, but the cities are from opposing worlds so different are their customs and beliefs. Leaving behind a righteous Rome, Caecilia is determined to remain true to Roman virtues while living among the sinful Etruscans. Instead, she finds herself tempted by a hedonistic culture which offers pleasure and independence to women as well as an ancient religion that gives her a chance to delay her destiny. Yet Mastarna and his people also hold dark secrets and, as war looms, Caecilia discovers that Fate is not so easy to control and that she must finally choose where her allegiance lies.

Exploring themes of sexuality, destiny versus self-determination and tolerance versus prejudice, The Wedding Shroud is historical fiction at its best which vividly brings Ancient Rome and Etruria to life while accenting the lives of women in ancient history.

The Wedding Shroud was judged runner-up in the 2012 international Sharp Writ Book Awards in general fiction.

Review

Author Elisabeth Storrs explores the ancient world of the Etruscans in her lush novel The Wedding Shroud. Set in 407 B.C. a wealthy young Roman woman named Caecilia is married to an Etruscan magnate to seal a peace treaty between their two civilizations. Her husband is the powerful and wealthy Vel Mastarna. When she travels to his home in Veii where she is introduced to a culture vastly different and far more feral and decadent than the rigid, rule-oriented Rome she is forced to leave behind. Slowly, as time passes, Caecilia learns to love her new husband and life in Veii. She succumbs to temptation administered by her husband’s brother and soon finds herself trapped by religion and opiates.

There is much to laud about this book. First, there is a rich story-line full of twists and turns, personal growth, and intriguing details. Secondly, the characters are fascinating, beautifully compelling, and very believable. Like the skin of an onion, the depth of each character is slowly, tantalizingly revealed as the tale progresses. And then there are the glorious details of ancient Etruscan and Roman everyday life that not only educates, but entertains From war to religion to fashion to food and drink, it is all laid out in fabulous detail – a testament to the vast research completed by the author. This ancient time comes alive with its brutality and excesses. Lovely, easy to read prose makes this a truly engrossing read.

Rubies of the Viper by Martha Marks

2013-05-03T07:44:00.000-06:00

SYNOPSIS

When her brother is murdered in first-century Rome, Theodosia Varro inherits the family estate, going from poverty and isolation to great wealth and a prestigious position in society. Unfortunately, she lives in a time and a place that deny women of her class the very things she most desires: personal freedom and self-determination. Only by identifying her brother's killer can she feel safe, yet her efforts take her in quite the opposite direction. After her own actions and the scheming of others lead to catastrophe, Theodosia struggles to survive and recover what matters most in her life.

Rubies of the Viper is a gripping mystery set in first century Rome during the reigns of the Emperors Claudius and Nero. If you’re looking for a real page turner – the kind of book that stays in your thoughts the entire day until you can open it up and read again, then this is the book for you. It’s got compelling characters who are unpredictable and fascinating; beautiful descriptions to make ancient Rome come alive; plenty of conflict with unpredictable twists and turns; and an incredible storyline.

Theodosia Varro leaves the slums of Rome to claim the vast fortune and a fabulous villa she has inherited from her unscrupulous, villainous brother who was murdered by persons unknown. Young and unmarried, Theodosia soon finds herself the love interest of several men, all eager to get a hold of her vast inheritance. She is warned to beware of slaves, friends, and patrician nobles – all who may have had something to do with her brother’s murder. And if her brother is murdered, then she may also become prey for the same reasons. Vulnerable, Theodosia must weave through a murky world filled with scrupulous and unscrupulous persons whose motives are all suspect. The novel’s title stems from a beautiful set of goblets in Theodosia’s villa that are embossed with a snake with ruby eyes. These goblets hold a great secret.

Rubies of the Viper is a wonderfully complex, opulent story! The plot us lush, the characters intriguing, and the mystery gripping. Get this book! Get it now! It’s more than worth it.

God Save The King by Laura Purcell

2013-05-01T03:00:00.000-06:00

Book Blurb

London, 1788. The calm order of Queen Charlotte's court is shattered by screams. Her beloved husband, England's King, has gone mad. Left alone with thirteen children and a country at war, Charlotte must fight to hold her husband's throne in a time of revolutionary fever. But it is not just the guillotine that Charlotte fears: it is the King himself. Her six daughters are desperate to escape their palace asylum. Their only chance lies in a good marriage, but no Prince wants the daughter of a madman. They are forced to take love wherever they can find it - with devastating consequences. The moving true story of George III's madness and the women whose lives it destroyed.

Review

Ms Purcell self published this, her debut novel, but I just know we are going to hear a lot more from her. She has an especial affinity for the wife and daughters of George III as he descends into the illness that robs him of his ability to rule the country and appoint his feckless son as Regent.

Queen Charlotte, Princesses Charlotte [known as Royal] Augusta, Elizabeth, Mary, Sophia and Amelia were sheltered, smothered and neglected by turn as they all had to come to terms with the king’s, and thus their own, situation.

The story, told mainly through the Queen, Royal and Sophia, and is of how Queen Charlotte’s devotion to her husband turns slowly to frustration and resentment as he grows mentally and physically worse, which impacts on her girls too though the boys seem to be singularly unaffected, though the stigma of inherited madness haunts them all in one way or another.

Royal looks as if she will be able to break free, but she experiences her own unhappiness within the marriage that was supposed to redeem her. Sophia, who has her own health problems, is determined to find love, but her misguided choice ends up hurting her more than she could have foreseen.

The author doesn’t neglect the political arena with her impeccable research, and includes all the external problems which make Queen Charlotte’s situation even worse. This was a time when England needed a strong king, but George III ends up being cruelly lampooned by the populace and loses the regard of the country he truly loved more than his father or grandfather ever did.

A beautifully written, emotional story, that I have to admit I could only read in short bursts as the heartbreak reached out to me from the pages. Queen Charlotte's death scene is particularly tragic as she recalls everything in her life which she loved but was destined to lose.

Ms Purcell has other novels about the Hanoverians planned, and I am looking forward to her interpretation. I hope they aren’t quite as tragic as this story of a family broken by sickness and being trapped in their situations, but I knowing a little about how the family treated each other - I somehow doubt it.

Anita Davison is a Historical Fiction Author whose latest release, ‘Royalist Rebel’ a biographical novel set in 17th Century England, is being released by Claymore Press in early 2013 under the name Anita Seymour

=============================================
BLOG: http://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/anita.davison?
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/AnitaDavison
=============================================

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

2013-04-30T10:50:00.000-06:00

Review

Mirella Sichirollo Patzer

Book Description

Whoever dares to seek the firebird may find the journey—and its ending— unexpected.

Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes sees images, glimpses of those who have owned it before. It’s never been a gift she wants, and she keeps it a secret from most people, including her practical boss Sebastian, one of London’s premier dealers in Russian art.

But when a woman offers Sebastian a small wooden carving for sale, claiming it belonged to Russia’s Empress Catherine, it’s a problem. There’s no proof. Sebastian believes that the plain carving—known as “The Firebird”—is worthless. But Nicola has held it, and she knows the woman is telling the truth and is in desperate need of the money the sale of the heirloom could bring.

Compelled to help, Nicola turns to a man she once left and still loves: Rob McMorran, whose own psychic gifts are far greater than hers. With Rob to help her “see” the past, she follows a young girl named Anna from Scotland to Belgium and on into Russia. There, in St. Petersburg—the once-glittering capital of Peter the Great’s Russia—Nicola and Rob unearth a tale of love and sacrifice, of courage and redemption . . . an old story that seems personal and small, perhaps, against the greater backdrops of the Jacobite and Russian courts, but one that will forever change their lives.

The Firebird is a novel about Nicola Marter, a young woman with the extraordinary psychic ability to see the history of objects she touches. She works in a museum/art gallery. One day, a woman brings in a small wooden carving of a bird she believes once belonged to Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. Although her boss does not believe in the items providence, Nicola holds it in her hand and knows the woman is right. She then becomes determined to help authenticate the item and help the woman.

Nicola knows her powers aren’t as strong as that of an old friend, Rob McMorran, a former friend with whom she shared strong feelings with. She convinces him to help her and together they embark on a mysterious, but fascinating journey of discovery. They see into the past, to follow a young woman named Anna who traveled from Scotland to Belgium and finally to Russia.

The contemporary love between Nicola and Rob switches back and forth with the intriguing story of young Anna. It is a very compelling read, made even more so with the psychic abilities of the modern day lovers. Slowly, secrets become unraveled, and the novel ends in a most satisfying way. Brilliant storytelling and eloquent prose grace the pages of this unique novel. I loved this book and cannot say enough to recommend it.

Interrupted Dreams by Jen Bielack

2013-04-30T03:03:00.000-06:00

Book Blurb

An entirely new look at the Titanic tragedy of 1912. A journey through the days before, during and after Titanic’s maiden voyage, it is a heartfelt window into the lives of those suddenly faced with their own mortality. The story has haunted us for one hundred years, a tragedy from the last century of the previous millennium. This new historical novel transports you back to a bygone era and catapults you into the middle of the lives of a dozen people who lived or died because of a ship called Titanic. Françoise is a spunky young French woman who meets the mysterious Malik in a Paris park. Together, they decide to find jobs on a Southampton steamer, but both are keeping damaging secrets from each other. The fatal accident interrupts their lives and perpetuates an impasse. Each moment from impact until the last lifeboat is launched is recounted, through the thoughts, words, and actions of crew and passengers. You will experience the gamut of emotions they felt, from exhilaration to despair, and learn the lesson they learned: the path to survival is strewn with heartbreaking loss. Only renewed faith, joined by undaunted compassion, can lead you back to your dreams.

Review

The book opens with Malik and Khalinda, who are on their way to their home village but never actually get there as Khalinda dies - the circumstances of her death are a bit foggy, but then twelve years later, in 1912, Malik is with Francoise, a talented cook. Running parallel to their story is a gentle account of Jack Astor and his pregnant teenage bride, Madeleine, on their way home from Europe, and Captain John Smith, who is interviewed by a particularly obnoxious journalist as he about to take command of the Titanic.

At this stage I wasn't sure if this was an historical fiction novel, or a documentary with a fictional slant, and no one story seems to dominate, except maybe that of Malik and Francoise. I gathered the author was trying to illustrate that this tragedy wasn’t simply the story of a doomed ship, but over two thousand stories; of many lives impacted in different ways on that night in April 1912, some of whom are given a spotlight of their own.

The background has been meticulously researched through documented accounts of the events and lives involved, which were fascinating, especially the Epilogue which recounted what happened to the survivors after they were rescued - an aspect often ignored with the re-telling in other accounts of the loss of the pride of the White Star Line.

However I found that one thread jumped to the next with confusing frequency; often after only a few pages and with no transition, so I didn’t get to know the characters well enough before I was thrust into a new scenario, or the continuation of a previous one.

French phrases, and in places whole sentences, were repeated in English in brackets, which I found distracting - and pointless. There is a lot of passive voice, head-hopping and telling as opposed to showing, and in places the author put a secondary PoV into brackets - she’s very fond of brackets - which was not only odd, but made the narrative choppy and difficult to follow. I felt the novel could have benefited from a professional edit as these problems would have been weeded out.

The reviews of this novel on Amazon are consistently good, and did not mention the difficulties I experienced, so maybe I missed something and allowed the confusing format to overwhelm the deeper meaning. For those readers interested in delving further into the characters involved in the tragedy of The Titanic disaster, this is worth a read.

=============================================
BLOG: http://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/anita.davison?
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/AnitaDavison
=============================================

The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau - A Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour

2013-04-25T01:59:00.000-06:00

Review

Mirella Patzer

In the midst of England’s Reformation, a young novice will risk everything to defy the most powerful men of her era.

In 1538, England’s bloody power struggle between crown and cross threatens to tear the country apart. Novice Joanna Stafford has tasted the wrath of the royal court, discovered what lies within the king’s torture rooms, and escaped death at the hands of those desperate to possess the power of an ancient relic.

Even with all she has experienced, the quiet life is not for Joanna. Despite the possibilities of arrest and imprisonment, she becomes caught up in a shadowy international plot targeting Henry VIII himself. As the power plays turn vicious, Joanna realizes her role is more critical than she’d ever imagined. She must choose between those she loves most and assuming her part in a prophecy foretold by three seers. Repelled by violence, Joanna seizes a future with a man who loves her. But no matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape the spreading darkness of her destiny.

To learn the final, sinister piece of the prophecy, she flees across Europe with a corrupt spy sent by Spain. As she completes the puzzle in the dungeon of a twelfth-century Belgian fortress, Joanna realizes the life of Henry VIII as well as the future of Christendom are in her hands—hands that must someday hold the chalice that lies at the center of these deadly prophecies…

Link to Tour Schedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/thechalicevirtualtour/

Twitter Hashtag: #TheChaliceVirtualTour

Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Touchstone Publishing
Hardcover; 512pISBN-10: 1476708657

In the next novel from Nancy Bilyeau after her acclaimed debut The Crown, novice Joanna Stafford plunges into an even more dangerous conspiracy as she comes up against some of the most powerful men of her era.

In 1538, England is in the midst of bloody power struggles between crown and cross that threaten to tear the country apart. Joanna Stafford has seen what lies inside the king’s torture rooms and risks imprisonment again, when she is caught up in a shadowy international plot targeting the King. As the power plays turn vicious, Joanna understands she may have to assume her role in a prophecy foretold by three different seers, each more omniscient than the last.

Joanna realizes the life of Henry VIII as well as the future of Christendom are in her hands—hands that must someday hold the chalice that lays at the center of these deadly prophecies…

Praise for The Chalice

"Rarely have the terrors of Henry VIII's reformation been so exciting. Court intrigue, bloody executions, and haunting emotional entanglements create a heady brew of mystery and adventure that sweeps us from the devastation of the ransacked cloisters to the dangerous spy centers of London and the Low Countries, as ex-novice Joanna Stafford fights to save her way of life and fulfill an ancient prophecy, before everything she loves is destroyed." - C.W. Gortner, author of The Queen's Vow

The Chalice offers a fresh, dynamic look into Tudor England's most powerful, volatile personalities: Henry VIII, the Duke of Norfolk, Stephen Gardiner and Bloody Mary Tudor. Heroine and former nun Joanna Stafford is beautiful, bold and in lethal danger. Bilyeau writes compellingly of people and places that demand your attention and don't let you go even after the last exciting page. - Karen Harper, author of Mistress of Mourning

"An exciting and satisfying novel of historical suspense that cements Nancy Bilyeau as one of the genre's rising stars. The indominable Joanna Stafford is back with a cast of powerful and fascinating characters and a memorable story that is gripping while you are reading and haunting after you are done. Bravo! The Chalice is a fabulous read." - M.J. Rose, author of The Reincarnationist

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown, is a writer and magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. Her latest position is features editor of Du Jour magazine. A native of the Midwest, she graduated from the University of Michigan. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

For more information, please visit Nancy Bilyeau's website. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

My Review:

The Chalice is the sequel to The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau and continues the story of Joanna Stafford, a young woman with noble blood who enjoys her life in a priory. Now that nuns and monks have been cast from religious houses, Joanna finds herself struggling to build a new life. Her family guide her back to the dazzling world of the English aristocracy. Thus she is drawn into a dangerous world of prophecy, necromancy, and dark secrets. To be caught means certain death.

Regardless of whether you read The Crown or not, The Chalice stands on its own. The story has true life characters from the Tudor court of King Henry VIII that mix with fictional ones, which makes for a fascinating blend. The author’s prose is lovely and seamlessly read. She has a strong grasp of historical fact that she weaves effortlessly into an intricate plot. If you like historical suspense stories with plenty of danger, and enduring heroine, and a touch of the occult, then this novel is sure to please.

Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota

2013-04-19T08:41:00.003-06:00

Review by Mirella Patzer

What if your name was your destiny? And what if that name foretold a tragic end?

It is 1898 in the Azores, nine forgotten islands of magic, mystery and mythology. Since birth, Azorean Eva Maré has been fated to take on the name and tragic life of Arethusa, a Greek nymph who is turned to water after the river god Alpheus falls in love with her.

But when she accepts her new name she learns at once that the river god she is to give herself to is none other than Diogo, the son of a rich ship owner, and his obsession for Eva is frightening.

When Eva is rescued by Tristan, an Azorean orphan, she finds herself drawn to him despite the overwhelming obstacles between them. But Tristan has a destiny of his own, one that leads him toward another girl, another life, and another tragic end.

Will Eva reach Tristan before he loses his life to a cruel twist of fate? Will Tristan save Eva from a fate worse than death at the hand of Diogo? Destined to be with Diogo yet hoping against hope that she will win Tristan's love, Eva must somehow choose between them, or fate will choose for her.

Artemis Rising was a 10-year labor of love inspired by a magical stay on Terceira Island in the Portuguese Azores Islands. My unfailing love for these islands and the Azorean people was the catalyst that brought this complex story of fate and belief to life.

An E-book Category Finalist in the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, this YA Historical Fantasy novel is for readers who loved Chelsea Fine's Archers of Avalon series, Megg Jensen's Anathema, and Addison Moore's Celestra series.

Aretemis Rising is a magical young adult novel about destiny and love. Set in the Azores in the late 19^th century, young Eva Mare’s mother performs a pagan ritual to look into her daughter’s future. During her trance, she sees a man named Diogo and convinces Eva he is to be her destiny. But Eva encounters a young man of her own named Tristan who also faces a complex destiny. It is Tristan she falls in love with and it is Diogo who she disdains for his evilness.

And thus begins a masterfully woven plot filled with conflict and danger and intrigue. Cheri Lasota has written a spell-binding historical fantasy about young, passionate love, skillfully tying it in with historical myths such as Tristan and Isolde and Arethusa and Alpheus. Although the novel is written for young adults, the story has a great deal of depth and is more than adequate for adults. It is a coming of age novel about self-discovery, about one’s true faith, and of triumph. A compelling read and highly recommended.

Sinners and the Sea by Rebecca Kanner

2013-04-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

Review

Mirella Patzer

The young heroine in Sinners and the Sea is destined for greatness. Known only as “wife” in the Bible and cursed with a birthmark that many think is the brand of a demon, this unnamed woman—fated to become the mother of all generations after the great flood—lives anew through Rebecca Kanner. The author gives this virtuous woman the perfect voice to make one of the Old Testament’s stories come alive like never before.

Desperate to keep her safe, the woman’s father gives her to the righteous Noah, who weds her and takes her to the town of Sorum, a haven for outcasts. Alone in her new life, Noah’s wife gives him three sons. But living in this wicked and perverse town with an aloof husband who speaks more to God than to her takes its toll. Noah’s wife struggles to know her own identity and value. She tries to make friends with the violent and dissolute people of Sorum while raising a brood that, despite its pious upbringing, develops some sinful tendencies of its own. While Noah carries out the Lord’s commands, she tries to hide her mark and her shame as she weathers the scorn and taunts of the townspeople.

But these trials are nothing compared to what awaits her after God tells her husband that a flood is coming—and that Noah and his family must build an ark so that they alone can repopulate the world. As the floodwaters draw near, she grows in courage and honor, and when the water finally recedes, she emerges whole, displaying once and for all the indomitable strength of women. Drawing on the biblical narrative and Jewish mythology, Sinners and the Sea is a beautifully written account of the antediluvian world told in cinematic detail.

Rebecca Kanner’s new debut novel, Sinners and the Sea, is a dark tale about the world as Noah and his family prepares to sail away on the arc. The author uses her vivid imagination to create and enhance this tragic story. Told through the eyes of Noah’s wife, a nameless, birth-marked young woman, she gives us a glimpse of a world rife with sin, crime, treachery, and lust. The protagonist spends the entire book wishing for a name, waiting for Noah to choose one for her.

Like the bible, God has spoken to Noah and directed him to build an arc and to collect breeding animals to sail away with and start a new life when the floods come to drown the sinful world and its sinners. But even amongst his own family, there is evil afoot – Japheth being a violent son and Ham being the good son. The third son is very young in the story. The novel follows the trials and tribulations faced in the building of the arc with villagers stealing the building materials while Noah’s wife must keep everyone from discovering her birthmark for fear they will kill her.

The author delves into the primitive brutality of the era and their desperation to cling to life when the floods begin to arrive. It places Noah and his family in constant peril when they cannot help. I enjoyed reading about castaways floating on debris or small boats during the deluge who will soon be drowned.

As in the bible, Noah is described as being hundreds of years old, but his role in the book is not a likable one. He is a harsh, demanding character, demonstrating little emotion. I found this added conflict and made the story more interesting.

Not your normal run-of-the mill novel, this book is well written, and takes a very unconventional approach to a well-known story. The story is compelling because it has an edge to it that leaves the reader disconcerted and therefore interested in reading onwards. The best word to describe it is haunting. A fascinating look into an feral civilization of turmoil and hardship.

Perdita by Hilary Scharper - Book Tour and Author Interview

2013-04-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I'm thrilled to participate in the blog tour for Hilary Scharper's new novel, Perdita. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Read on for my review on the book and a special interview with Hilary Scharper.

Review by Mirella Patzer

Synopsis:

After a love affair that ends in tragedy, Garth Hellyer throws himself into his work for the Longevity Project, interviewing the oldest living people on the planet. But nothing has prepared him for Marged Brice, who claims to be a stunningly youthful 134. Marged says she wants to die, but can’t, held back by the presence of someone she calls Perdita.

Garth, despite his skepticism, is intrigued by Marged’s story, and agrees to read “her” journals of life in the late 1890s. Soon he’s enthralled by Marged’s story of love, loss, and myth in the tempestuous wilderness of the Bruce Peninsula. He enlists the help of his childhood friend Clare to help him make sense of the mystery.

As Garth and Clare unravel the truth of Marged and Perdita, they discover together just what love can mean when it never dies.

Review:

PERDITA by Hilary Scharper is a character-driven novel with an intriguing storyline – the secret history of a woman who claims to be 134 years old. When Garth Hellyer, a writer with a tormented past, seeks to interview Marged Brice for a longevity project he is working on, he is stunned by her claim to such an advanced age. Unable to believe her, even though she produces her birth certificate, Marged provides him with her private diaries. The secrets inside will reveal her truth. It is through her diaries that Garth learns of Perdita.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was its unusual setting. 19th century Tobermory, Ontario is far off the beaten past. Relatively unknown by the world, the location lends the book a strong gothic feel. The story unfolds through Garth’s narrative as well as Marged’s diaries. Powerful stories emerge from each of their stories, linking them together into the future. The characters are richly complex and unpredictable. Themes about aging, wisdom, respect, and an appreciation for nature are prevalent throughout. The story culminates in a stunning ending.

If you are a reader who enjoys deep, thought-provoking novels that dig beneath the surface of everyday life, this novel is sure to please.

Interview with Hilary Scharper:

Welcome to the Historical Novel Review Blog, Hilary. I'm excited about learning more about you and your recent success with Perdita.

1. Can you tell us a little about your novel?

An elderly woman is dropped off by limousine at a remote nursing home in northern Ontario. Marged Brice claims she is 134 and cannot die owing to the presence of someone named “Perdita.” Garth Hellyer, a WWII historian who is battle-scarred from a previous love relationship, is asked to investigate. To help explain the mystery, Marged shares “her” journals with him, dating from the late 1890s. The diaries take Garth to the wilds of Georgian Bay and the world of the Cape Prius lighthouse. In the meantime, Clare—the winsome and still-single sister of Garth’s boyhood best friend—arrives unexpectedly at the cottage next door to help him pursue the mystery of who Marged Brice really is.

2. What inspired you to write a novel about a woman in this period of history?

The world of the lighthouse and lighthouse keepers has often been described as a “man’s world,” but of course many keepers brought their families along to live with them during their eight months of duty. I’ve always been very intrigued by how women fit into this world—not simply as “silent partners” but as vibrant persons who were active in shaping the landscapes in which they found themselves.

I recently wrote about aspects of lighthouse life in The National Post:

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/04/03/hilary-scharper-to-the-lighthouse/

3. What hardships did women face in this particular century and what lessons can today's woman learn from it?

From the historical documents I’ve read about 19^th century lighthouses on the Great Lakes, isolation and physical hardship—particularly running out of food and surviving some extremely fierce storms—were probably the most severe challenges. Many women also participated in the day-to-day work of the lighthouse, so that in addition to their domestic chores, they would clean and polish the lens, monitor the clockwork, and generally assist in making sure that the light, as well as the foghorn, were functioning properly. Women also frequently assisted in rescue efforts and many risked their lives trying to aid shipwreck survivors. So the accounts of bravery and physical endurance as well as the agility of “lighthouse women” were particularly inspiring to me, but women’s stories remain—for the most part—marginal to the cultural history of light-keeping.

4. What inspired you about your heroine? Why did you choose her?

I’m not sure if I chose Marged Brice or she chose me. (!) I spent much of my childhood wandering along the shores of Georgian Bay during the summer months, and Marged Brice’s deep love of the area is “kindred” to my own. In making Marged 134 years old, I wanted to explore the notion of a lighthouse itself as an entity that uniquely connects the past with the present.

5. Can you tell us briefly about your other novels and any new novels in the works?

My first work of fiction is a collection of short stories titled Dream Dresses. The collection explores how the “fabric” of women's aspirations becomes so entangled with attire that the dress and the dream sometime become one and the same.

My second novel, The Eidos Project, which I’m in the process of refining, involves a young woman who experiences a mental crisis following the sudden death of her famous literary father. There’s a mysterious and unusual linden tree involved, and in this novel I explore an “urban eco-gothic.”

I am also currently working on second and third volumes of a Perdita trilogy, both of which continue with the story of Marge Brice’s life.

Thank you, Hilary for stopping by!

For more information on Perdita visit the Perdita Book Page at Simon and Schuster Canada.

If you happen to live in the Toronto area, you can attend the official Perdita Book Launch.

The Dagger of Isis by Lester Picker

2013-04-10T13:48:00.000-06:00

Dangers lurk for the first woman Pharaoh. The Dagger of Isis traces the life of Meryt-Neith, the first female ruler of a united Egypt. From her marriage to King Wadjet to her eventual coronation after his death, this tale of intrigue and betrayal follows her ascension, the wars she fought, and the loves that gave meaning to her life. This saga takes us on a journey throughout ancient Egypt and into nearby lands, as Meryt-Neith struggles to bring honor to her family's dynasty.

The Dagger of Isis is the second book in Lester Picker’s First Dynasty series about the early pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The novel is set in the 30^th century B.C. and it is about Maryt-Neith, the daughter of Djer, and the wife of Djet. She rose to the lofty height of pharaoh upon her husband’s death.

Tales about women who rise to power in male dominated worlds is always of fascination, for it is clear that in order to do so, they must possess extraordinary strength and qualities. Of course, there will always be enemies who do not want to be ruled by a woman, those with their own ambitions, and this makes for plenty of good conflict.

Lester Picker has penned a novel that depicts the brutality and mysticism of this old world with all its decadence and romance, dangers and drama. It is evident the author has spent a great deal of time immersing himself in research to demonstrate the smallest details of what everyday life in this ancient civilization was like.

Nice, readable prose, and a compelling story make this a very enjoyable book. Evil, betrayal, intrigue, and a good romance kept me tuned into the story. This book can stand alone, but I urge you to read The First Pharaoh so you have the complete tale. It is historical fiction at its finest.

The First Pharaoh by Lester Picker

2013-04-08T12:34:00.002-06:00

Throughout antiquity Egypt was a land of hundreds of tiny villages, with constantly warring tribes, loosely divided between Upper and Lower Egypt. Then, in the space of a few extraordinary decades, the impossible happened. An incredible man, King Narmer (also known as Menes), united Upper and Lower Egypt. The First Pharaoh is the story of Narmer and his epic journey, seen through his eyes and those of his Chief Scribe, the shaman Anhotek. We experience the culture Narmer lived in and shaped, the battles he fought to unite his people, the woman he loved and nearly lost, the enemies even in his own court who plotted against him, and his many successes and painful failures. Above all, we see how Narmer?s loving relationship with Anhotek defined his personal vision for his country and its people. Written on a huge tapestry, The First Pharaoh allows us to share Narmer's far-reaching visions for Egypt's future that were so compelling and that ultimately proved so enduring. The First Pharaoh tells the inspiring story of the mythic journey of the visionary hero, through obstacles and triumphs, wars and peace, love and hate, to launch the greatest civilization ever to appear on earth.

The First Pharaoh is a novel about a man named Menes who became Narmer, King of Egypt. Narmer had no easy time growing up under the disapprovingly harsh scrutiny of his father, King Scorpion. Through the gentle guidance and love of Anhotek, his father’s chief scribe and shaman, Narmer prepared to ascend the throne when he reached manhood. Narmer dreamt of his future – a powerful vision that foretold he would unite lower and upper Kem into one kingdom. And it is this dream that guided him in everything he did or said.

Author Lester Picker weaves a tale full of wonder, intrigue, treachery, and betrayal – a limitless power-struggle by a lesser known king of Ancient Egypt. This indie-published novel is a pleasant surprise. I scored it high points for its level of authenticity and amount of research that went into the story to make it not only believable, but one that truly comes alive. It is well written and edited. Easy prose, lush descriptions, and well developed characters truly make the story compelling.

The First Pharaoh is followed by a sequel entitled the Dagger of Isis, which I will review shortly. I highly recommend both books, especially for readers who love tales of Ancient Egypt.

Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliott

2013-04-05T03:00:00.000-06:00

Book Blurb

Mr. Darcy's younger sister searches for her own happily-ever-after...

The year is 1814, and it's springtime at Pemberley. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have married. But now a new romance is in the air, along with high fashion, elegant manners, scandal, deception, and the wonderful hope of a true and lasting love.

Shy Georgiana Darcy has been content to remain unmarried, living with her brother and his new bride. But Elizabeth and Darcy's fairy-tale love reminds Georgiana daily that she has found no true love of her own. And perhaps never will, for she is convinced the one man she secretly cares for will never love her in return. Georgiana's domineering aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, has determined that Georgiana shall marry, and has a list of eligible bachelors in mind. But which of the suitors are sincere, and which are merely interested in Georgiana's fortune? Georgiana must learn to trust her heart--and rely on her courage, for she also faces the return of the man who could ruin her reputation and spoil a happy ending, just when it finally lies within her grasp.

Review

I don’t much care for fan fiction, having always felt that Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ needs no improvement and fictional stories using her characters never quite worked. However, I found myself drawn into Georgiana Darcy’s Diary, perhaps because she is a little known-character in the original and this book brings out the wit that lies beneath the shy girl who is Fitzwilliam Darcy’s sister.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Georgiana’s aunt, having failed miserably to affiance her downtrodden daughter, Anne to Fitzwilliam, turns her attentions to foisting an equally vacuous, but suitably wealthy and connected husband for Georgiana.

Backed by her spirited sister-in-law, Elizabeth, Georgiana is having none of it, though she would dearly love to find a man who wants her for herself and not her ‘thirty thousand pounds’. But the only man she really wants is Cousin Edward Fitzwilliam.

In Georgiana’s words, the reader is shown how she feels about her late parents, her childhood, and her family, including her sympathies for the colourless Anne de Bourgh, and Caroline Bingley, when neither of these ladies truly deserves it. Georgiana's shyness hides a quick and intelligent wit, and she wants good things for everyone and hates disappointing people. In fact she’s quite perfect, but I didn’t dislike her for it and wanted her to have everything she wished for. Her love for the war-wounded hero Edward was touching, as was his almost-there declarations of love for his ward which he sees are inappropriate but also undeniable.

A very satisfying love story and I shall definitely be buying Volume 2, and maybe even Volume 3 which tells the story of Kitty Bennett.

Anita Davison is a Historical Fiction Author whose latest release, ‘Royalist Rebel’ a biographical novel set in 17th Century England, is being released by Claymore Press in early 2013 under the name Anita Seymour

=============================================

BLOG: http://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/anita.davison?

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/AnitaDavison

=============================================

Keowee Valley by Katherine Scott Crawford

2013-04-02T16:20:00.001-06:00

Review by Ginger Simpson

The year is 1768 and twenty-five-year-old Quincy McFadden has visions. When she receives one revealing that her cousin is alive and held captive by Shawnee Indians, Quinn gives up her uneventful life with her grandfather and sets off with a vision far beyond saving her relative. Deep in the rough and rugged South Caroline Blue Ridge mountains, Quincy meets and bestows her trust and heart to a half-blood tracker, Jack Wolf. Together with his Indian brother, the two men achieve milestones a woman never could, and with visions of the upheaval between the King of England and those who wish to overthrow him, Quinn's life as head of her own little township becomes even more tense and exciting as she must learn to trust the man she loves...a man who could harbor hatred for the life she hopes to continue to build in a land that holds such beauty.

As a debut novel, I was quite enthralled with this story. Although for me, it did bog down a bit at the beginning, the lull didn't dim my desire to know the outcome of the storyline. I was particularly drawn in by the descriptive abilities and beautiful scenes portrayed by Ms. Crawford. If this is her first offering, I can only imagine how wonderful her novels yet to come will be.

I highly recommend this book based on so many facets, including the historical accuracy and the fact that I was captured by each and everyone of her characters. If I had to pick what the author excels in, I would say descriptive phrasing that puts the reader immediately in the scene. She's wonderful at showing and not telling.

This review was meant to appear only on Historical Novel Reviews site, but due to eye issues which kept me from posting timely reviews, I am no longer a member of that group. I humbly offer my apologies to the author, and present her with my "I Dug It" Award, which I only present to authors whose books I truly have or will enjoy during this year.

This book is available on Amazon in both paperback and print.

Easter Weekend Special - 3 free Kindle Books

2013-03-29T03:00:00.000-06:00

Easter Weekend Special - 3 novels free on Amazon!

Orphan of the Olive Tree

Free

March 30 and 31

Free Download

A blood oath, a dreadful curse, and the evil eye. A dark family secret that will shatter lives and the woman who risks everything to keep it buried!

From two neighboring villas in the heart of the Tuscan countryside to the elegance of Siena; from a world steeped in ancient superstitions to a culture where family honour is paramount comes, this multi-layered novel of the lives, loves, secrets and strivings of two women and their families in the 13th century.

A blood oath to wed their first born children binds the Benevento and Ventura families. When Prudenza Benevento learns her nemesis, Felicia Ventura, is pregnant, she is jealous and secretly casts the curse of the evil eye upon her.

Felicia gives birth to twin boys. Jealous, Prudenza visciously resurrects an ancient superstition that unidentical twins can only come from different fathers. The scandal tears apart Felicia’s marriage and makes her an outcast in the small Italian village where they live.

Fate intervenes, and when Prudenza gives birth to twin daughters, she is desperate to save herself from the same scandal that ruined Felicia. She orders the midwife to take one daughter away. With only a gold ring and a brocade blanket as clues to the infant’s past, the midwife leaves the child and the items in an olive tree in front of a small convent. The nuns lovingly name the child Olivia and raise her.

Years later, in a shocking encounter, Olivia meets a young man named Luca. When an act of God nearly kills her, it is Luca who comes to her rescue. Soon, their love for each cannot be denied. When she finds herself with child, Luca offers to care for her and the child, but cannot wed her because he is already betrothed. Despite her misgivings, her love for Luca proves strong and Olivia places her faith in him and follows him to his new villa and a new life. Luca makes numerous unsuccessful attempts to avoid his forthcoming marriage and marry Olivia instead, but the blood oath and Church laws make it impossible.

As the date of Luca’s wedding draws near, and the secrets of Olivia’s secret past begin to surface, long buried secrets are exposed in a twist of fate no family member can anticipate.

An absorbing novel about wicked intentions, medieval superstitions, a curse uttered in envy, undisclosed secrets, unstoppable destinies, and two generations of women and the extraordinary event that will vindicate or destroy them.

The Contessa's Vendetta

Free

March 29, 30, and 31

Free Download

When faced with the ultimate betrayal, a murderous vendetta is one woman's only solution!

A deadly plague is raging, killing thousands in 17th century Vicenza Italy. Carlotta Mancini struggles to protect her family and servants, but despite her precautions, she is the one who falls prey to the deadly illness. Her body is tossed into a coffin and swiftly buried in the underground, dank confines of her family’s vault. But Carlotta is not dead; she is merely unconscious because of the illness. She returns home to her beloved husband, her best friend, and her darling daughter. But before she reveals herself to her loved ones, she learns of an endless series of lies, deceits, and betrayal. As she unravels the labyrinth of shocking treachery, her wrath breathes life to an overwhelming need for vengeance. Slowly, meticulously, she launches her diabolocial vendetta. The Contessa's Vendetta is a historical fiction thriller ripe with suspense from first page to last. A tale of betrayal and revenge that will hold you spellbound until the shocking ending! The Contessa's Vendetta is a retelling of the classic novel, Vendetta by Marie Corelli. Inspired by this epic classic novel; a new and captivating tale in a new setting, a new century, and with new plot twists while remaining faithful to key story elements.

The Pendant

Free for the last time ever!
March 29, 30, and 31

Free Download

A lost ancient treasure. A 100 year family feud.
And a woman with a passion richer than the bloodstone pendant she wears around her neck!

In medieval Italy, as spirited and stalwart as any man, the brazen Contessa Morena is betrothed to the impoverished, black-hearted Count Ernesto, a man desperate to escape his mounting gambling debts by marrying her and laying claim to the ancient treasure secreted somewhere in the underbelly of her castle. Morena meets her match when Amoro, the handsome and brash heir to the Duchy of Genoa, who swears an oath upon his father's grave to claim her as his bride and end the feud between their families. Soon, Amoro's virile charm awakens the passion in her steadfast heart. But a treacherous plot ensnares them; Ernesto abducts Morena and renders Amoro helpless. Embroiled in a life-and-death chase, Morena learns that not even the devious madness of her captor can destroy her love for Amoro as their hearts unite and their destinies become one.

This Italian historical romance novel has it all - an ancient mystery, a bloodstone pendant with a secret, murder, vengeance, and a love story to take your breath away!

An historical gothic romance of murder, desperation, and true love!

Camelot and Vine by Petrea Burchard

2013-03-28T02:45:00.002-06:00

Blurb

Hawking cheap products on TV commercials suits Casey Clemens, because it's easy and it pays well. Telling lies is second nature to Casey, whether to strangers on national television or to her mother on the phone. Casey's got a decent condo, a cleaning lady, and a rich boyfriend (never mind that he's married). If Casey feels dissatisfied, all she has to do is fantasize about her hero, King Arthur.

It feels like an acting career, sort of, until the day before Casey's 40th birthday, when she loses everything she never cared about, falls through a gap in time, and accidentally saves the real King Arthur's life. The king has enemies, war encroaches, and an actress with an honesty problem has no place in a war camp. Not if she wants to make it back to the 21st century alive. Not that she could go back if she wanted to. Not that she wants to.

Review

I read a contemporary short story by Ms Burchard recently and admired the sharp, witty prose, so I was expecting something similar from Camelot and Vine, but with an historical twist. The opening delivered as expected with a sharply written cameo of a woman who has been let down by life and her family, but manages to retain a positive spin and makes jokes to keep her spirits up.

Then the heroine, Casey, finds herself inexplicably in King Arthur’s England, somewhere near Salisbury Plain fifteen hundred years in the past. No Disneyish fantasyland this where maidens wander round stone castles in wimples and the men kiss their hands at every opportunity, but a primitive, harsh world where men have to fight for what they have and then fight again to keep it. Where the middle-aged King Arthur isn’t the blond, youthful guy of the TV series, but a middle-aged, rough and ready character with an eye for treachery who warns Casey in no uncertain terms that she is a wizard sent to ‘save’ him from his enemies, and if she ceases to be of use to him - she’s dead!

Casey has to struggle with being a chained prisoner with no flushing loo, mirror or proper washing facilities, becoming a privileged visitor suffering the envy of those around her, together with all the disadvantages of being a woman in a tribal society where outsiders are treated with hostility.

The historical background, where the characters and stories of Arthur’s knights are distorted but still recognisable, is truly excellent and I enjoyed unravelling the legends from a credible historical society - had it ever existed. There are some hilarious parts too, for instance, when Casey explains she got her ‘gossamer chain mail’ at The Gap, which she hurriedly changes to ‘gap in time’ and whenever a character asks her ‘did that come from the gap too’, I couldn’t help a chuckle.

This is a beautifully written story that flows perfectly, and I found it hard to believe it is a debut novel. The fantasy aspect is tempered by Ms Burchard’s emotive writing as Casey spends her solitary hours coming to terms with her dysfunctional family and her own unsatisfactory life, and learns not to judge others by modern day standards. The author also uses her experiences as a former actress in the narrative which gives a unique and fascinating perspective to the way she describes things.

Thoroughly recommended - and I also have a guest post from Petrea on The Disorganised Author Blog for Easter too.

=============================================
BLOG: http://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/anita.davison?
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/AnitaDavison
=============================================

A House Near Luccoli by DM Denton

2013-03-26T11:26:00.002-06:00

Over three years since the charismatic composer, violinist, and singer Alessandro Stradella sought refuge in the palaces and twisted alleys of Genoa, royally welcomed despite the alleged scandals and even crimes that forced him to flee from Rome, Venice, and Turin, his professional and personal life have begun to unravel again. He is offered, by the very man he is rumored to have wronged, a respectable if slightly shabby apartment and yet another chance to redeem his character and career. He moves in to the curiosity and consternation of his caretakers, also tenants, three women whose reputations are of concern only to themselves. Donatella, still unmarried in her mid-thirties, is plainly irrelevant. Yet, like the city she lives in, there are hidden longings in her, propriety the rule, not cure, for what ails her. She cares more for her bedridden grandmother and cats than overbearing aunt, keeping house and tending to a small terraced garden, painting flowers and waxing poetic in her journal. At first, she is in awe of and certain she will have little to do with Stradella. Slowly, his ego, playfulness, need of a copyist and camouflage involve her in an inspired and insidious world, exciting and heartbreaking as she is enlarged by his magnanimity and reduced by his missteps, forging a friendship that challenges how far she will go.

A House Near Luccoli is a character-driven novel about the flamboyant Baroque composer, Alessandro Stradella.

Recognized as a genius, he is wildly eccentric and irresistibly charming. His bold, gregarious personality, eccentric manner, and ungodly manners both endear and repel. The disreputable Stradella flees to Genoa after a scandalous affair and a botched attempt at embezzling money from the Catholic Church, he arrives in Genoa. He moves into to an apartment in the same house where the unmarried, youthful spinster Donatella. She is thrilled when he hires her as his copyist. Donatella soon succumbs to this enigmatic man his fascinating life and work. The more she is drawn into his life, the more she must struggle to maintain her own identity.

Author DM Denton writes with verve and great style. In Alessandro and Donatella she has recreated the romance between them with vivid believability. The 17^th century is a period of extremes – lavish wealth and devastating poverty, lofty heights and dire circumstances. As the story unfolds and more of each character is revealed, I got a strong sense of the times, its foods, clothing, music, and art. Alessandro is a lovable rogue, a bad boy who never seems to learn from his mistakes. Ultimately, it all catches up to him in a tragic ending.

I always enjoy novels of unique historical settings with lesser known heros and heroines of the times. This is one such novel. Very well put together and researched. Highly recommended.

Okatibbee Creek by Lori Crane

2013-03-18T14:44:00.002-06:00

Review by Cori Van Housen

In the bloodiest years of our nation’s history, a young mother was left alone to endure the ravages of the Civil War and a typhoid epidemic that threatened the lives of everyone left behind. Okatibbee Creek is based on the true story of Mary Ann Rodgers, who survived the collapse of the Confederate dollar, food shortages, and the deaths of countless family members to war and disease. As she searched for a way to feed her children and her orphaned nieces and nephews, Sherman’s Union army marched through Mississippi on their way to destroy Meridian, and Mary Ann found the distant war literally on her doorstep. Help arrived just in the nick of time in the form of an unexpected champion, and Mary Ann emerged on the other side a heroic woman with an amazing story. Okatibbee Creek is a novel of historical fiction that brings the Deep South vividly to life and will have you cheering and crying through a real-life story of loss, love and survival.

During the course of a genealogical search into her roots, Lori Crane visited the grave of her third great grandmother, Mary Ann Rodgers. After becoming acquainted with, and fascinated by, this forebear, Crane gathered data and assembled the facts of her life. Then she put flesh on the bones, breathed imagination into it, and wove it into a novel, the result of which is Okatibbee Creek. Told almost exclusively through Mary Ann Rodgers, the story opens in Mary’s sixth year. It follows her through years of growing up, courtship, and motherhood, largely against the backdrop of a south torn by conflict and privation during the Civil War.

In the pre-war days, one can’t help but be astonished by the amount of babies born, the size of the families, and the complex interrelation of families. Children grow, marry, and reproduce at an astounding rate. Households are established, businesses formed, and small fortunes built, until war breaks out and men rush to the defense of the south. Casualties mount as the conflict begins in earnest. Disease claimed more in the ranks than battle, and those who remained at home were not immune to its ravages. Anyone acquainted with history knows the losses were appalling, and Crane puts it in unique perspective. Through the eyes of Mary, we get a glimpse of how it was for one woman, her family, extended family, and her community.

Okatibbee Creek is about perseverance in the face of hardship and heartbreaking loss. There is limited historical detail, for the weight of the text inclines towards revealing Mary’s heart. Crane writes of Mary’s grief over several lost dear ones: “I can’t remember one moment to the next. I don’t know how, but each moment just comes and goes and I am still alive.” The account reads much like a diary, a page-turner of a diary. Crane’s language is simple, yet profound. One Christmas Eve, as families light candles for the dearly departed at a church service, Mary makes the poignant observation, “The room is brighter than a wheat field on a sunny day.” It is such juxtaposing of the tragic with the hopeful that makes this novel shine.

Lori Crane is sensitive and respectful of the subjects at hand. She does not dwell on the more difficult aspects of slavery, which to some may seem a convenience, but it must be said that this is clearly not the aim of the book. The slave stories, besides, are based on original accounts of the era. She also refrains from delving into the more intimate details of Mary’s personal life, an omission one might expect from a proper southern lady of the time. Her theme, as stated through Mary, is that we must honor the memories of our loved ones, and give witnesses to each other’s lives. And in Okatibbee creek, this is exactly what Lori Crane has done--given faithful witness to these long-since passed on family members. One likes to think Mary Ann Rodgers herself would be proud.

Destiny at Oak Valley by Jeffree Wyn Itrich

2013-03-18T11:20:00.003-06:00

In Destiny at Oak Valley, Rachel Kingston begins a casual exploration of a New Mexican ghost town with her adopted sister. Little does she know the trip will take her on a time-traveling adventure to the town's past and a powerful connection to a man who is unlike any she has ever known.

Rachel, a licensed balloon operator, uses her skills to navigate the skies above New Mexico to Oak Valley, a Victorian-era settlement that existed for less than 20 years, until the gold rush ended. Without a railway connection, the town's residents abandoned it. While exploring the streets with their boarded-up structures, Rachel exhibits an otherworldly perception of the past, centered on a property denoted by a plaque, "La Querencia" and she finds an oval cameo on a gold chain. Beneath years of dirt and grime, the features of a man and woman are visible. There is also an inscription, "To R, My Querencia, Love M." Rachel keeps the old jewelry, though mystified by uncanny feelings about it.

On the next day's balloon ride, Rachel is alone when a dense fog bank. When she is finally able to land her balloon, she meets Dr. William Bradshaw who is shocked by her sudden appearance, and strangely mystified by her clothing. After several misunderstandings, both reach a startling conclusion: Rachel has traveled to Oak Valley of the past through an experiment Dr. Bradshaw triggered. The cameo that she had found is also missing.

Trapped in time, Rachel has a few adjustments ahead. Learning the walk, talk and dress of a 19th century woman is sometimes difficult. It does not help that Bradshaw's granddaughter Emily clearly disbelieves the story of Rachel as the doctor's assistant, one who has no clothes of her own except for items the little cannot identify. Matt, Dr. Bradshaw’s handsome son, also challenges Rachel's notions about men and allows her to open up new possibilities for her future. The largest obstacle facing Rachel remains how to return to her own time.

Destiny at Oak Valley was an easy read. The ending is not as predictable as it seemed at the outset. The descriptions are vivid and reflect the characteristic features of the New Mexican landscape. While Rachel is definitely a woman of her time, she is capable of tempering a tough stance when practical needs demand a change. The relationship she and Matt share progresses despite their differences. It is a good love story, but also a journey of self-discovery.

Taming Her Forbidden Earl by Catherine Hemmerling

2013-03-16T03:00:00.000-06:00

BOOK BLURB

Everyone knows William Bredon, the earl of Pembroke, has a reputation as a captivating rogue, determined to never marry until his duty to produce an heir requires it. So when he invites Lady Hannah Rochester to dance, Hannah vows to keep her distance. But the undeniably gorgeous William, with his dark humor and seductive gaze, draws her in nonetheless.

Of course, Lady Hannah is not completely what she seems, either. A member of the dowager Lady Lancaster’s Garden Society, she secretly spends her days solving mysteries and uncovering intrigues, and when she brings William into the fold, a sinister plot develops that brings the two closer together. William’s protective nature ensures he remains by Hannah’s side, but he will not surrender his anti-marriage stance.

Can intrigue, passion, and maybe even a little bit of scandal reform the most notorious of rakes?

REVIEW BY ANITA

Lady Lancaster's Garden Society gathers ostensibly to exchange gardening tips, but is more an informal detective agency where the ladies help those in trouble by gleaning information discreetly from the drawing rooms of high society.

I liked the premise of this story, even if the first few pages contain a lot of names to get to grips with as the author’s characters cavort around a ballroom. The narrative also jumps into omniscient point of view which can be confusing if you are used the current trend of writing in a specific ‘head’, but I got used to it.

Lord Shrewsbury is determined to marry Hannah, whose title and dowry are just as attractive as her person and he doesn’t care how he goes about it, or that Hannah herself is repulsed by him. When his attempt at compromising her doesn’t work, Shrewsbury reveals he has some information which will ruin her brother, David -information he will keep to himself if Hannah becomes his bride. When she discovers William Bredon, Earl of Pembroke’s brother is also involved and under threat, the two join forces.

This story isn’t wildly dramatic, but the villain is suitably odious, the hero charmingly reticent but strong and capable, and the leading lady feisty and characterful. Some of the antics and conversations are well crafted and quite funny, and the ending is delightfully satisfactory - as an historical romance, this novel ticks all the boxes.

On a less complimentary note, the tone is too modern, and although the word ‘ton’ is sprinkled liberally throughout the narrative I kept having to remind myself it was set in early 19th Century. The villain’s name is Caleb - not one I have ever encountered in Regency England before, especially among the aristocracy - but what do I know, and terms like ‘body language’, ‘taking the man out’, and ‘powers of observation’ were used, which I felt belonged in a different time.

Then there is the moment Hannah takes proper notice of William, describing him as ‘downright mouth-wateringly gorgeous.’ Really? In the early 1800’s? And his opinion of her is that, ‘She is just so damn cute.’ - not what you would expect to come out of the mouth of a 19th Century English lord.

This is a sweet romance but there is a sex scene, where Hannah tells the reader she has never seen a nude man before, but then she gasps in panic and declares ‘it won’t work’- How? She hasn’t seen a nude man before so what is her basis of comparison? And William isn’t that much of a gentleman either, bedding Hannah before they are even engaged let alone married. - The cad!

Villain Caleb turns up at the end to spoil things and Hannah manages to escape his clutches by blowing a two-fingered whistle so loudly he lets go of her - most unladylike - and the author running out of plot devices there I think - but I was glad Hannah wasn’t stabbed by Caleb whose ‘intense ice blue eyes and butter-blond hair’ was sinister to say the least.

If you like sweet romances with delightful characterisation and dialogue, you will enjoy this book. But if you are a stickler for historical accuracy you may find some parts annoying.

Anita Davison is a Historical Fiction Author whose latest release, ‘Royalist Rebel’ a biographical novel set in 17th Century England released by Claymore Press under the name Anita Seymour

Vlad: The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys

2013-03-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

For centuries, the ruler Vlad Dracula has been mired in horrific legends and vampiric folklore inspired by Bram Stoker's wildest imaginings. Author C. C. Humphreys strips away some of the superstitions and reveals aspects of the real man who fought against the Ottoman Turks in Vlad: The Last Confession. In the years after his death, those who knew him best gather to offer their unique perspectives on Vlad's troubled life. The reader meets Vlad's best friend and Ion Tremblac, his lover Ilona Ferenc and a man who once served as Vlad's confessor. Viewed through their eyes, Vlad's turbulent past comes to life, beginning with captivity among his lifelong enemies, the Turks.

Ion and Vlad endure a fragile existence among the Turks during their formative years, along with Vlad's younger brother Radu. Although Vlad remains beholden to the Turks for his education and his very life, he never loses sight of the differences between himself and his captors. He takes what he can from them, including the lessons offered by the charming Hamza, who shares Vlad's love of falconry. When a chance meeting with the concubine Ilona, Vlad's countrywoman, gives him the chance to thwart the vain Prince Mehmet, Vlad soon regrets his actions. There are harsh teachings about the cost of betraying the Turks awaiting Vlad in Tokat, where he learns a fundamental principle that influences future dealings with his enemies. Vlad emerges from the ordeal only to find himself bereft of a father and brothers, even his beloved Radu. Destiny takes him home where he attempts to forge a principality strong enough to survive the Turkish onslaught. There are enemies intent on destroying him and Vlad's brutal methods embolden them against him. Even the beguiling Ilona does not offer the comfort Vlad seeks. Friendships, love affairs and alliances are only a temporary respite from the true cause that calls to him: the destruction of the Turks.

Humphreys portrays a ruler who is principled but brutal, wise in the ways of the Turks but bold and rash in his determined fights against them. Vlad is a man of many contradictions, as ruthless as his enemies' imaginings. He is hero and tyrant, savior and destroyer, a devoted but sadistic lover. He inspires sympathy for his cruel suffering among the Turks, his losses among family and friends. Yet, it is impossible to ignore the consequences of his savagery and the impact upon those who love and know him best. In the end, Humphreys leaves it up to the reader to form an opinion of Vlad. Whatever anyone may think of him, he's a vivid character who leaves a lasting impression.