The Musings of ALMYBNENR

Review: Inglorious Royal Marriages by Leslie Carroll (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #IngloriousRoyalMarriagesBlogTour

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:24:24 -0400

Marriages today may not always be happy, but at least people learn from their own mistakes. Marriages in the past, especially royal marriages, were intended to be alliances and therefore they were usually arranged and approved by a royal’s family and councilors. It was no surprise then that many proved to be unhappy. Adultery was rampant and bad enough, but some marriages even ended in violence. In Leslie Carroll’s latest historical nonfiction book, Inglorious Royal Marriages: a Demi-Millennium of Unholy Mismatrimony, she explores these unfortunate and unhappy marriages between royals, beginning with Henry VI of England and his wife Margaret of Anjou and ending with Victoria Melita and her two subsequent husbands.

I love history and I love interesting subjects like the one Leslie Carroll chose for Inglorious Marriages. What is fascinating about about bad marriages? I am not sure, but as soon as I heard about this book, I wanted to read it.

It took me a little while to get into a comfortable pace with this book. It seemed dry to me at first, which was disappointing because Carroll dealt with such a fascinating subject. Although, I eventually got into the book, the pacing could be an issue for some readers. The chapters were broken up nicely between marital couples, but some marital couples who were also family shared chapters. When I read the one about the Medici and Orsini, I thought maybe Carroll combined the two because there was less information about them, but the chapter still seemed to go on and on. I understood that she may have combined them because they were related and their stories overlapped, but I felt both couples should have had their own chapters.

The stories I found the most interesting were the ones about Mary I of England and her husband Phillip II of Spain, even though I was already familiar with them; and the story of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, which was unfamiliar to me.

Inglorious Royal Marriages is an enjoyable narrative historical nonfiction book for history geeks like me that covers five hundred years of unfortunate, unhappy, and deadly marriages; all of which are fascinating, if sad. Beware of the pacing if that is a deal-breaker for you. I felt it could have been broken up into more manageable chunks, but overall it was nice to brush up on some historical figures I was familiar with and to separate fact from fiction with others who were unfamiliar to me.

Leslie Carroll is the author of the nonfiction titles, Royal Romances, Royal Pains, Royal Affairs, and Notorious Royal Marriages. She also writes under the pseudonyms Juliet Grey and Amanda Elyot. She lives with her husband in Washington, D.C. and New York City.

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Review: Shadow on the Highway by Deborah Swift + Giveaway (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #ShadowOnTheHighwayBlogTour

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:04:00 -0400

It is May 1651 and England is in the midst of civil war between the king and Parliament. The majority of nobles are Royalists while many of the common people support Cromwell’s Roundheads, but not everyone’s loyalties are so black and white.

A fifteen-year-old deaf girl, Abigail Chaplin, goes to work at Markyate Manor for the young Lady Katherine Fanshawe. Abi and her family used to live a comfortable life, but after a terrible accident and losing her father to the Parliamentary cause years ago, they are forced to make their living as tenants to the Fanshawes and as servants in the community.

Abi soons learns Lady Katherine is no ordinary noble when she catches her mistress in lies and secrets and men’s clothing. Soon, Abi and her brother Ralph are caught up in Lady Katherine’s problems as well as their own.

I wanted to read Shadow on the Highway because it sounded unique and exciting. Highwaymen were common, but not highwaywomen, and a lady to boot. I was looking forward to reading about Lady Katherine’s exploits, but with Abi as the narrator, I did not get to experience Lady Katherine’s adventures firsthand and they were never explained in too much detail. Because Deborah Swift based this new trilogy on Lady Katherine and her unique story, I expected to imbibe all of that adventure and mystery and motivation. I was disappointed.

Shadow on the Highway was still a good story. I did appreciate Swift’s choice of a deaf girl as narrator and in this seventeenth century time period. Previously, I had never considered what the life of a deaf person in that time would be like. It felt authentic and it was interesting to read.

Deborah Swift’s beginning to the Shadow on the Highway trilogy fell short for me because I expected it to mostly follow these highway robberies during this time of civil war, but they were kept in the background. I liked the premise of the story, it was a quick read, and the character of Abigail Chaplin was refreshing. I just wish there had been more highway action, but that may be addressed in the next two books. Shadow on the Highway will appeal to historical fiction readers who are interested in narrators who have disabilities and to those interested in England’s civil war period, but those looking for lots of highway robbery will be disappointed.

Deborah Swift is a historical fiction writer with a background in set and costume design in the theater and with the BBC. She has a MA in Creative Writing and is active in the Historical Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romantic Novelists Association. Shadow on the Highway is based on the life of Lady Katherine Fanshawe and the exploits that earned her the reputation of a wicked lady. Swift’s other novels include A Divided Inheritance, The Lady’s Slipper, and The Gilded Lily. She lives in Lancashire, England.

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To win a Paperback or eBook of Shadow on the Highway please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Five copies of each are up for grabs. Giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on September 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on September 16th and notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

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Review: A Divided Inheritance

Review: The Queen of Bedlam by Laura Purcell (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #QueenofBedlamTour

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 10:35:11 -0400

What should a woman do if her husband goes mad? Most especially, what should she do if he is the King of England?

It is 1788 and Queen Charlotte is trying to hold the court together while her husband’s, King George’s, behavior become more suspect. Rumors of his madness are spreading like wildfire around court and beginning to leak outside of England’s palaces. Charlotte does not know how to handle her beloved husband, especially when he begins to claim that he is not married to her. Their thirteen children are affected as well, especially their daughters, when news of George’s madness spreads to the courts of Europe. Who would marry a madman’s daughter?

In Queen of Bedlam, Laura Purcell alternated between the points-of-view of Queen Charlotte, her eldest daughter Charlotte (known as Royal), and a younger daughter named Sophia. It took place during King George III’s reign, the king we know as a tyrant in America and the reason why we had the Revolutionary War. It has always been easy to dismiss George III as a horrible person who wanted to make the lives of colonists miserable and leave it at that. But after reading this book, even as a fictional account, I had a lot more sympathy for him and especially for his family. As most of you know, I mainly stick to the Tudor era when reading historical fiction and I believe the Queen of Bedlam was my first foray into this particular dynasty. I found it highly interesting and Purcell’s novel has made me more interested in reading about this particular era in the future, especially to find out if some of the claims about George III were true because I was not too familiar with him.

In the novel, the reasons given for George’s madness were his loss of the American colonies and the ongoing revolution occurring in France. There may have been some history in his family; Charlotte kept mentioning bad blood on his side of the family, but if there was family history then certainly those two revolutions would have been enough of a trigger to unleash his illness. Purcell made me sympathize with George, but I really felt for Charlotte and her daughters. Charlotte had come to love George, so when he became unstable and claimed he was married to another woman and began pursuing her it broke Charlotte’s heart. And even though she was not without fault when it came to her relationships with her children, she was a strong character and had to endure a lot of stress. Royal, the eldest daughter, did not have a good relationship with her mother. She always craved more than Charlotte could or would give and between that and her father, she felt imprisoned and just wanted to marry and get away; her own vision of freedom. But what she wished for was not necessarily better. Her younger sister, Sophia, did not so much crave her mother’s affection, but she also wanted to be free and knowing that with her own illnesses and her father’s illness that it was unlikely she would find a husband, she found love closer to home but it was nothing like she expected.

Queen of Bedlam was an enthralling and intimate fictional look at the lives of King George III, Queen Charlotte, and their daughters and how affluence does not equal happiness and tragedy can happen to anyone. It was well-written and character-driven with alternating viewpoints. The story of this ruling family set after the American Revolution and against the backdrop of the French revolution was so interesting that I want to learn more about them in the near future. Queen of Bedlam will appeal to any historical fiction reader, but especially to those who enjoy eighteenth century fiction and family dynamics.

Laura Purcell debuted Queen of Bedlam in the UK on 10 June 2014 and it will be available in the U.S. in November 2014. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and The Society for Court Studies and Historical Royal Palaces and has subsequently appeared on PBS’s “The Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace” to talk about Queen Caroline and Hampton Court. She has plans to write more books set in the Georgian era and the next is tentatively titled Mistress of the Court. All will focus on the psychological and emotional ups and downs of the royal women of the time. She lives in Colchester, England with her husband and pet guinea pigs.

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Review: The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #LostDuchessBlogTour

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:28:00 -0400

How far would you go if you were trying to hide from scandal?

Emme Fifield serves as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth but dreams of being the mistress of her own home one day. All of her hopes are dashed when a former traitor to the Crown violates her in the worst way possible. Horrified by her ordeal and too terrified to confide in anyone, Emme hides her shame for months before rumors begin circulating. Desperate to keep the rumors from reaching the Queen’s ears, Emme keeps a low profile until she meets Kit Doonan and some other adventurers who plan to sail to the New World with the Queen’s support. For Emme, sailing to Virginia means freedom from her shame and freedom to start anew.

Kit Doonan is never far from the sea or adventure. When the Queen gives her permission for a crew to sail to Virginia he knows he may never see England again, but he jumps at the chance to make a new life for himself and for his young page.

The Lost Duchess was a very interesting book to read and I think it was the first adult historical fiction novel I have enjoyed in a while. The mysterious aspect of Jenny Barden’s latest novel was what really attracted me. Yes, there was a love story but that story took place in Virginia’s lost colony of Roanoke; a colony that is still shrouded in mystery today. It amazes me that we do not know what happened to the people of this colony to this day. In The Lost Duchess, Barden imagined what could have happened to the people of Roanoke through the fictional accounts of Emme Fifield and Kit Doonan.

As you may have already guessed, the love story and the characters were secondary for me. Although some of the side characters were real historical figures, like Governor White, George Howe, and the Dares, the plot and Barden’s fictional conclusions about what happened to the colony appealed to me the most. Not only did Barden provide a voice for her historical and original characters, but she also wove key historical facts into her novel, such as George Howe’s fate and the words “CRO” and “CROATOAN” carved into the trees at the colony. Barden’s fictional account of what happened at Roanoke was so believable that I found myself wanting it to be true.

If you are more of a character person (which I can be, but I find it really depends on the book whether I am into the characters or the story more), the secrets that Emme and Kit harbored were life-changing and brought them together in the New World before they were even revealed. There were a lot of snags, like creating shelter and defending themselves from warrior tribes, but if you need a love story you will find it in this book.

Whether you want a love story, adventure, history, or a hypothesis on the end of the lost colony, The Lost Duchess is the book for you.

Jenny Barden writes for the Historical Novels Review and has also authored the historical fiction novel Mistress of the Sea. She has a husband, four children, and lots of animals.

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Excerpt: The Bone Church by Victoria Dougherty (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #BoneChurchTour

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 06:00:32 -0400

Please join Victoria Dougherty as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for her Cold War Historical Thriller, The Bone Church, from June 16 - July 31.

Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Pier’s Court Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction/Thriller/Suspense

About the Book

In the surreal and paranoid underworld of wartime Prague, fugitive lovers Felix Andel and Magdalena Ruza make some dubious alliances – with a mysterious Roman Catholic cardinal, a reckless sculptor intent on making a big political statement, and a gypsy with a risky sex life. As one by one their chances for fleeing the country collapse, the two join a plot to assassinate Hitler’s nefarious Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Josef Goebbels.

But the assassination attempt goes wildly wrong, propelling the lovers in separate directions.

Felix’s destiny is sealed at the Bone Church, a mystical pilgrimage site on the outskirts of Prague, while Magdalena is thrust even deeper into the bowels of a city that betrayed her and a homeland soon to be swallowed by the Soviets. As they emerge from the shadowy fog of World War II, and stagger into the foul haze of the Cold War, Felix and Magdalena must confront the past, and a dangerous, uncertain future.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Vatican City: March 11, 1956

The viscount with the dense, copper hair rocked back and forth in the front pew. He whispered to the man next to him.

Felix pretended not to notice the disturbance. He unlocked the tabernacle and retrieved a gold chalice, pyx, paten, and crucifix from its purple silk interior, then arranged them on the altar before the Cardinal. A sweet, breathy gust of air blew in from the only open window in the chapel, making Felix’s cassock flutter against his legs. It felt good – almost like the touch of a woman’s fingertips.

“In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen,” the Cardinal said, making the sign of the cross over his head and breast.

At long last, the viscount looked up from his rocking and whispering. He folded his hands and consigned them to his lap, where Felix could still see on the man’s middle finger the shiny indentation where a bulbous emerald ring had rested until a few weeks ago. It had come time to pay off the Romanian attaché and his pet border guard in exchange for a wispy woman with an advanced case of Parkinson’s disease.

“But what wouldn’t a man do for his mother?” The viscount had said upon their last meeting. Plenty, Felix had thought. He’d once watched a man shoot his mother in the face for a single gold tooth rolled in a piece of blood-stained suede. Of course, the attaché had failed to disclose that the viscount’s mother – in addition to her Parkinson’s – was also in the late stages of dementia, soiling herself and exhibiting a total vocabulary of five words: “Paris, last Christmas” and “hideous curtains!” Still, the viscount appeared grateful for her safe recovery. He’d even remarked that she was eating better.

“Judica me deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo; et doloso erue me.”

Psalm 42. Felix recited it in tandem with the Cardinal. Judge me, O God, distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy; deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man.

Mass was brief – twenty-five minutes start to finish – and Felix was glad of it. Cardinal Carlo Merillini’s obligation to the row of elegant gentlemen bowed in the front pew was fulfilled. The Cardinal now stood in the back of the nave with Primo, his valet, while Felix collected the tithes and thanked the visitors: an Argentine cattleman, an American steel magnate, a Polish-born hotelier, the viscount, and a handful of other influential Catholics.

“Envy and death, Father,” muttered the cattleman.

“I’m sorry?”

“It’s all they know.” He was a little man, fully bald.

“Yes.”

The cattleman spoke lovingly of his Lithuanian wife. Pretty woman. Felix had met her before.

“Envy and death,” the cattleman repeated.

The cattleman’s sister-in-law and young niece had been killed by a Russian soldier at the end of the War. Raped on a bed of horse dung in their stables, then bludgeoned with a bottle of cheap brown vodka. Only his wife’s daughter from a first marriage had survived the incident, hiding behind a bushel of hay and biting a salt lick to keep quiet. The cattleman mouthed the girl’s name.

It was just the year before last when Felix had finally been able to arrange passage for the girl. Already sixteen by then, she’d been instructed to dress as a prostitute – presumably for one of the port guards – but was instead folded into the bowels of a sofa and smuggled over the Baltic Sea into Sweden.

“She still hates horses,” the man said. “And she hates her mother.” The cattleman tapped Felix’s forehead with his index finger. “Poisoned her mind.”

Felix looked the man in the eye and clasped his hand. He then took the cattleman’s envelope and handed it to Primo.

“And this is the acquaintance I wrote to you about.” The cattleman tugged at Felix’s cassock.

Felix nodded at the Polish hotelier, though they hadn’t been officially introduced. The man took Felix’s hand and squeezed, bringing it to his lips and rubbing his twice shaved cheek over the priest’s knuckles.

“A tragic story if I ever heard one,” the cattleman said.

The Pole began to sob.

Felix put his hand on the Pole’s head and assured him that he would speak to the Cardinal on his behalf. “These matters take time,” he explained.

He didn’t have the heart to tell the man how far down in the queue he was – how many dozens had come before him begging about a wife, a husband, a son or daughter, a brother, a lover. And how Felix, too, had begged and prayed until finally his turn had come.

Buy the Book
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About the Author

Victoria Dougherty writes fiction, drama, and essays that often revolve around spies, killers, curses and destinies. Her work has been published or profiled in The New York Times, USA Today, International Herald Tribune and elsewhere. Earlier in her career, while living in Prague, she co-founded Black Box Theater, translating, producing and acting in several Czech plays. She lives with her husband and children in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For more information, please visit Victoria Dougherty’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

The Bone Church Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 16
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Interview at Mina’s Bookshelf
Tuesday, June 17
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, June 18
Excerpt at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Thursday, June 19
Guest Post at I’d So Rather Be Reading
Monday, June 23
Review at Based on a True Story
Tuesday, June 24
Review at Bibliotica
Friday, June 27
Review at Back Porchervations
Monday, June 30
Review at Dianne Ascroft Blog
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Tuesday, July 1
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Wednesday, July 2
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Thursday, July 3
Review at leeanna.me
Monday, July 7
Review at Library Educated
Thursday, July 10
Excerpt & Spotlight at Books and Benches
Monday, July 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Tuesday, July 15
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Thursday, July 17
Guest Post at Savvy Verse & Wit
Friday, July 18
Review at Curling Up By the Fire
Monday, July 21
Review at Book Nerd
Tuesday, July 22
Review at The Lit Bitch
Wednesday, July 23
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews
Thursday, July 24
Review at Mari Reads
Review at bookramblings
Monday, July 28
Review at Queen of All She Reads
Review at Good Friends, Good Books, and a Sleepy Conscience
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Tuesday, July 29
Review at Historical Tapestry
Wednesday, July 30
Review at Luxury Reading
Thursday, July 31
Review at From the TBR Pile

Book Blast: Murder by Misrule by Anna Castle (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #MurderbyMisruleBlogTour #MurderbyMisruleBookBlast #HistNov #HistFic

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:13:48 -0400

HF Virtual Book Tours proudly presents Anna Castle’s Blog Tour & Book Blast for Murder by Misrule, the first book in her Francis Bacon Mystery Series. Please join her as she tours the blogosphere from June 2 - July 4.

Publication Date: June 8, 2014
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

A Kirkus Indie Books of the Month Selection for July.

Francis Bacon is charged with investigating the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray’s Inn. He recruits his unwanted protégé Thomas Clarady to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a privateer, Clarady will do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder. Bacon’s powerful uncle Lord Burghley suspects Catholic conspirators of the crime, but other motives quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend for the murdered man’s legal honors and wealthy clients. Highly-placed courtiers are implicated as the investigation reaches from Whitehall to the London streets. Bacon does the thinking; Clarady does the fencing. Everyone has something up his pinked and padded sleeve. Even the brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss and in danger until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule.

The Francis Bacon Mystery Series

This series of historical mysteries features the philosopher-statesman Francis Bacon as a sleuth and spymaster. Since Francis prefers the comfort of his own chambers, like his spiritual descendent Nero Wolfe, he sends his pupil, the handsome young Thomas Clarady, out to gather information. Tom loves the work, not least because he meets so many interesting people, like Lord Burghley, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Christopher Marlowe. Murder by Misrule is the first book in the series.

Praise for Murder by Misrule

“Though the plot keeps the pages turning, the characters, major and minor, and the well-wrought historical details will make readers want to linger in the 16th century. A laugh-out-loud mystery that will delight fans of the genre.” - Kirkus Starred Review

“Murder by Misrule is a delightful debut with characters that leap off the page, especially the brilliant if unwilling detective Francis Bacon and his street smart man Tom Clarady. Elizabeth Tudor rules, but Anna Castle triumphs.” - Karen Harper, author of Mistress Shakespeare

“Well-researched… Murder by Misrule is also enormously entertaining; a mystery shot through with a series of misadventures, misunderstandings, and mendacity worthy of a Shakespearean comedy.” - M. Louisa Locke, author of Bloody Lessons

Historical mystery readers take note: Murder by Misrule is a wonderful example of Elizabethan times brought to life. D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Buy the Book

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About the Author

Anna Castle has been a waitress, software engineer, documentary linguist, college professor, and digital archivist. Historical fiction combines her lifelong love of stories and learning. She physically resides in Austin, Texas, and mentally counts herself a queen of infinite space.

For more information please visit Anna Castle’s website and blog. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, June 2
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at Mari Reads

Tuesday, June 3
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Wednesday, June 4
Book Blast at The Musings of ALMYBNENR

Thursday, June 5
Book Blast at Our Wolves Den

Friday, June 6
Review at Book Nerd
Book Blast at The Mad Reviewer
Book Blast at A Dream Within a Dream

Saturday, June 7
Book Blast at Kelsey’s Book Corner

Sunday, June 8
Review at Carole’s Ramblings

Monday, June 9
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Tuesday, June 10
Book Blast at West Metro Mommy

Wednesday, June 11
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Book Blast at Literary Chanteuse

Thursday, June 12
Review at Curling Up By the Fire

Friday, June 13
Book Blast at Cheryl’s Book Nook

Monday, June 16
Book Blast at Closed the Cover
Book Blast at To Read or Not to Read

Tuesday, June 17
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day
Book Blast at A Book Geek

Wednesday, June 18
Book Blast at CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, June 19
Review at Bibliotica
Book Blast at Historical Fiction Obsession

Friday, June 20
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews
Interview at All Things Girl

Saturday, June 21
Book Blast at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Monday, June 23
Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story
Book Blast at So Many Books, So Little Time

Tuesday, June 24
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Wednesday, June 25
Book Blast at Susan Heim on Writing

Thursday, June 26
Review at A Bookish Girl
Review at Layered Pages
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook

Friday, June 27
Book Blast at Caroline Wilson Writes

Monday, June 30
Book Blast at Historical Tapestry

Tuesday, July 1
Interview at Starting Fresh

Wednesday, July 2
Review at Kincavel Korner

Thursday, July 3
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Guest Post & Giveaway at Bibliophilia, Please

Friday, July 4
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Review: The Collector of Dying Breaths by M.J. Rose (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #DyingBreathsTour

Tue, 27 May 2014 00:01:00 -0400

In early sixteenth century Italy, orphan and perfuming apprentice René Bianco is devastated when his mentor, the monk Serapino, passes away. In addition to his grief, there is also suspicion surrounding the monk’s death; suspicion that attracts the interest of young Catherine de Medici and prompts her to invite René to accompany her to France to be her perfumer. Thereafter, he is known as René le Florentin and creates beautiful perfumes for Catherine…as well as more nefarious concoctions. But René has a project of his own. His life’s work has been to find a formula to reanimate dying breaths and if he succeeds he may be able to bring back his mentor Serapino and someone even more dear to him.

Almost five centuries later, Jac L’Etoile experiences her own grief which eventually leads her to become entangled in a search for René le Florentin’s formula. During Jac’s search, she reunites with an old flame and encounters an obsessed heiress and way more than she bargains for.

Set in Italy and France across time, The Collector of Dying Breaths by M.J. Rose mainly attracted me with its promise of the sixteenth century and Catherine de Medici. I did enjoy both but having read the description of the novel months ago, I had forgotten that it also took place during the present day. The dueling storylines and eras kept me interested as well as the overall premise. Rose alternated between the sixteenth century and present day and as the story progressed, I could almost see how the two times and the two main characters were tightly woven together. René, who began the search for the formula to reanimate dying breaths, and Jac, who sought to solve the whole mystery. I found both characters to be intriguing and their stories connected across time. The story became more and more interesting, but it was ultimately anticlimactic for me.

This was my first foray into an M.J. Rose book and while I was expecting history, mystery, and suspense, the romance took me by surprise because it was more on the graphic side. That does not really bother me, but I felt like it was gratuitous at times. Also, I enjoyed the majority of the book, but I felt sort of cheated by the end. It was like all of this build up to a big discovery that ultimately culminated in dissatisfaction.

The Collector of Dying Breaths was a very interesting and intriguing story crossing centuries and full of exciting reincarnation theory, but it could disappoint some at the end. It will appeal to those interested in historical fiction mixed with mystery, suspense, and romance as well as those, like me, who are particularly interested in the sixteenth century and get excited when they see names such as Catherine de Medici. If you like Andrew Davidson’s The Gargoyle, Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian, or Patrick Suskind’s Perfume, you may also like The Collector of Dying Breaths.

Rating rounded up from 2.5 because I do not have half-ratings.

M.J. Rose has published fourteen novels and The Collector of Dying Breaths is the sixth in her Reincarnationist series. Rose and her work has been featured in O Magazine, The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, USA Today, and The Today Show. She lives in Connecticut with her musician and composer husband, Doug Scofield, and their dog Winka.

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Review: My Lady Viper by E. Knight (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #MyLadyViperBlogTour #EKnight #TudorHistFic

Fri, 23 May 2014 06:00:07 -0400

The Tudor Court is full of all that glitters and many wish to gain admittance. But lurking just under the surface of all that glamour and merriment is fear: fear of the ax falling and fear of King Henry VIII’s volatile mood-swings. Having been at Court off and on since she was a girl, Lady Anne Seymour is well aware of its intricacies and its dark underbelly. And as wife to Edward Seymour and sister-by-marriage to the new queen, Jane Seymour, Anne has the great burden of keeping abreast of all the Court gossip and advising both of them. With each carefully orchestrated plan, however, Anne feels as though she loses a little bit more of herself and more and more courtiers refer to her with vile names. But how can a woman avoid entirely losing herself and becoming jaded and still survive?

My Lady Viper was set during Henry VIII’s reign in sixteenth century England. The novel began with Anne Boleyn’s execution, setting the scene for the era of Queen Jane and offering the reader an initial glimpse of the real Anne Seymour. The novel followed the path of time through two more queens and the death of Henry VIII. In the midst of it all was the day’s power couple, Edward and Anne Seymour, pulling the puppet strings and bending the Court to their will behind the scenes.

I have read novels before in which Lady Anne Stanhope Seymour played a secondary character and in all of them she was portrayed as a cold and calculating woman. In My Lady Viper, author E. Knight thrust Anne Seymour’s life into the spotlight and conjectured on what she may have been like as a real woman. She could have truly been coldhearted all the time as many authors have portrayed her, but she very well could have been outwardly cold and inwardly vulnerable and struggling with her nature.

I must say that I very much enjoyed E. Knight’s portrayal of Anne Seymour. In My Lady Viper she was formidable, calculating, ruthless, intelligent, warm, vulnerable, and passionate. Of course, her passion often got her into trouble and I never fully understood it. She had a great passion for her husband and felt that they were a great match, but then another man messed that up for her. Although when I thought of it in terms of other relationships I have read about, particularly in teen fiction, I realized it was a love triangle. You may think I would have come to that conclusion faster, but love triangles do not usually happen in historical fiction in this time period because love was almost never a factor in marriage. I suppose I cannot fault Anne Seymour’s character in this novel for that, especially since the triangle was part of what made her a three dimensional character.

While not a nonstop page-turner for me, E. Knight’s My Lady Viper was enjoyable in that it focused on a historical character who was much maligned and usually secondary and brought her to the forefront and breathed new life into her story. I liked how it made me think more about Anne Stanhope Seymour and opened up new possibilities to me as to her nature. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction set in the sixteenth century or in England. With its medium pace and its overall tone of fear and passion, it may be a hit for fans of Brandy Purdy’s The Boleyn Bride and The Queen’s Pleasure or Gillian Bagwell’s Venus in Winter.

E. Knight also writes under the name Eliza Knight. She is the creator of the History Undressed blog. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and in addition to publishing historical fiction, she has published historical and erotic romance.

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Book Blast: Curses & Smoke by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) #CursesandSmokeBookBlast #HistFicYA #Pompeii

Tue, 20 May 2014 06:00:24 -0400

Publication Date: May 27, 2014 Arthur A. Levine Books Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Genre: YA Historical

When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?

TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master’s injured gladiators. But his warrior’s heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

LUCIA is the daughter of Tag’s owner, doomed by her father’s greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she’s been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air…

When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them – to Lucia’s father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?

Buy the Book

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About the Author

Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of the young adult novel, CLEOPATRA’S MOON (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2011), based on the life of Cleopatra’s only daughter. She is also the author of two award-winning biographies for kids on Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta.

Author Links

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Book Blast Schedule

Monday, May 12 Bibliophilia, Please bookworm2bookworm’s Blog Tuesday, May 13 Broken Teepee Passages to the Past In the Hammock Blog Wednesday, May 14 CelticLady’s Reviews The Most Happy Reader I’d So Rather Be Reading History From a Woman’s Perspective Thursday, May 15 Kinx’s Book Nook A Bibliotaph’s Reviews Historical Fiction Obsession Friday, May 16 Booktalk & More The Mad Reviewer Book Lovers Paradise Saturday, May 17 SOS Aloha Reading the Ages Kelsey’s Book Corner Sunday, May 18 Giant Squid Books WTF Are You Reading? Monday, May 19 Caroline Wilson Writes So Many Books, So Little Time Tuesday, May 20 West Metro Mommy The True Book Addict The Musings of ALMYBNENR Wednesday, May 21 Book Nerd Tower of Babel Hardcover Feedback Thursday, May 22 Paperback Princess Bittersweet Enchantment Friday, May 23 History Undressed Historical Fiction Connection Saturday, May 24 Literary Chanteuse Just One More Chapter Sunday, May 25 A Dream within a Dream The Little Reader Library Monday, May 26 Pages of Comfort Griperang’s Bookmarks Raizza’s Book Blogging Adventure Tuesday, May 27 Princess of Eboli Ageless Pages Reviews The Musings of a Book Junkie

Giveaway

To win a copy of Curses & Smoke or a $25 Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on May 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on May 28th and notified via email. Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: Puritan Witch by Peni Jo Renner #PuritanWitchTour #PeniJoRenner (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours)

Tue, 29 Apr 2014 10:36:21 -0400

Welcome! Please stay tuned for more information on Peni Jo Renner’s Puritan Witch and follow the tour for more blasts, reviews, and interviews.

About the Book

Publication Date: September 17, 2013
iUniverse
Formats: Ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

On a cold night in 1692, two young girls are caught up in the divining games of a slave woman-and then begin to act very strangely when the game goes wrong. Suddenly, Salem Village is turned upside down as everyone fears that witches may be involved. Six months later, as news of the girls’ strange behavior becomes known, fear and suspicion overwhelm a nearby farming community, pitting neighbors against neighbors and turning friends into enemies. When Rebecca Eames makes one careless utterance during a verbal attack on her family, she is falsely accused of witchcraft. After her fate is decided by three magistrates, Rebecca must endure a prison sentence during which she and her fellow captives have no choice but to valiantly struggle to find humanity and camaraderie among dire conditions. In this novel based on a true story, a woman wrongly imprisoned during the seventeenth-century witchcraft trials comes full circle where she must determine if she can somehow resume her life, despite all she has endured.

Praise for Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames

“Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames is a story of the fear, suspicion, and accusations as they permeate the surrounding communities. The narration was exquisite, really painting a picture in my head and bringing to life the language of the Puritans much better than it usually is done. I loved that it was based on a true story and that the story really expands on a piece of the darkest of American history. Such a cool read!” – Katelyn Hensel, Readers’ Favorite

“Elegantly written, meticulously researched, and historically accurate, the author’s work rings true. … Renner’s vast talent as a writer is enhanced by the fact that she’s telling the story of her own family, completely captivating from beginning to end.” – Kelly Z. Conrad, award-winning author of Shaman

“In the colonial-era tale Puritan Witch, the plight of Rebecca Eames and her family plays out against the backdrop of one of the most intriguing periods in American history.” – Julie Castillo, writer and editor

About the Author

Peni Renner is the author of “Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames”, an award-winning historical novel based on the true-life account of Peni’s 9th great grandmother. The book is Renner’s first published work, and follows Eames’ life and struggles in 1692 Massachussetts during the Salem Witchcraft Trials.

Writing historical fiction has always been a lifelong dream of mine. I was discouraged for many years after receiving multiple rejection slips, and turned to other creative outlets like crocheting, quilting and cross-stitch for many years. Then I met a 3rd cousin of mine online who is also into geneology and history. She told me we shared a common ancestor who was involved in the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692, and her story had never been told. My love of writing was rekindled and I began to research this ancestor, Rebecca Blake Eames. In August of 2012 I had the privilege of visiting her grave in Boxford, Massachusetts.

After months and months of research, writing, rewriting and revising, Puritan Witch came into being, featuring a lovely sketch done by my sister-in-law, Jane Sisk.

I have several other story ideas I am working on at the moment, all pertaining to interesting ancestors my 3rd cousin has introduced me to.

For more information please visit the Puritan Witch Facebook Page. You can also follow Peni Jo Renner on Twitter.

Buy the Book

Amazon US
Barnes & Noble
iUniverse

Virtual Tour & Book Blast Schedule

Monday, April 28
Book Blast at Broken Teepee
Book Blast at Our Wolves Den

Tuesday, April 29
Book Blast at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Book Blast at The Lit Bitch
Book Blast at A Book Geek
Book Blast at Literary Chanteuse

Wednesday, April 30
Review & Giveaway at Closed the Cover

Thursday, May 1
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Book Blast at Caroline Wilson Writes

Saturday, May 3
Book Blast at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Sunday, May 4
Book Blast at I’d Rather Be Reading

Monday, May 5
Book Blast at Kincavel Korner

Tuesday, May 6
Review at Just One More Chapter

Wednesday, May 7
Review at Books in the Burbs
Book Blast at Kelsey’s Book Corner

Thursday, May 8
Book Blast at Curling Up with a Good Book

Friday, May 9
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Book Blast at Carpe Diem

Monday, May 12
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at West Metro Mommy

Tuesday, May 13
Book Blast at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, May 14
Book Blast at Historical Tapestry

Thursday, May 15
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews
Review at Impressions in Ink

Friday, May 16
Book Blast at Historical Fiction Connection

Monday, May 19
Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Tuesday, May 20
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Book Blast at The Maiden’s Court

Wednesday, May 21
Book Blast at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, May 22
Guest Post at Bibliophilic Book Blog

Friday, May 23
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Book Blast at The Mad Reviewer
Book Blast at Reviews by Molly

Saturday, May 24
Book Blast at Book Nerd

Monday, May 26
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Tuesday, May 27
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Guest Post at Layered Pages

Wednesday, May 28
Book Blast at CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, May 30
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Monday, June 2
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Book Blast at To Read or Not to Read

Review: Queen Elizabeth's Daughter by Anne Clinard Barnhill #QueenElizabethsDaughterTour (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours)

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:02:01 -0400

What happens when a young woman defies the queen of England?

Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth’s young cousin who was orphaned at the age of three. From that time forward, she has been the queen’s ward and much more than her cousin: Elizabeth is the closest to a mother Mary has ever had. And the relationship is mutual. Elizabeth thinks of Mary as a daughter. Naturally, this gives Mary a lot of power when it comes to Her Majesty, but they also have had their share of heated arguments. The disagreements have increased now that Mary is of an age to marry. Elizabeth has in mind some foreign prince or someone from her own court, but Mary would rather spend the rest of her life with someone she loves.

Anne Clinard Barnhill wrote Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter from Mary Shelton’s perspective, interspersed with snippets from Elizabeth’s own mind. It began when Mary was a young girl and first interested in a boy about her own age named Tom Wotton. She believed she might marry him some day but Elizabeth quickly dispelled that wishful thinking and sent Tom away from court. Mary was upset for awhile but eventually understood why Elizabeth did what she did. But years later when she met John Skydemore and began to fall in love with him, Mary’s dreams for a happy marriage came rushing back and she was determined to follow her heart at all costs, even at the expense of Her Majesty’s happiness and love for her.

Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter was set during the time when rebellions in queen Mary of Scotland’s name were cropping up all around England and when Catholic unrest was at a peak. Unfortunately for Mary Shelton, Sir John was a Catholic and although he was loyal to the queen he was not the match she hoped for for her young cousin. Because of this, I did not expect how anticlimatic the book seemed. It built up and up and then I was kind of let down, even though I was satisfied with the ultimate outcome.

I was originally attracted to this book because it was set in Tudor England which is one of my favorite historical periods to read about. In fact, that is usually what draws me to much of the historical fiction (and nonfiction) that I read. Although I enjoyed the time period as I read, I was somewhat disappointed with the characterization and plot. Consider Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter for a leisurely, stress-free historical fiction read.

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a light pace and minimal conflict.

Rating rounded up from 2.5 because I do not have half-ratings.

Anne Clinard Barnhill has a MFA in Creative Writing from UNC Wilmington and has published articles, poetry, and short stories before an earlier book called At Home in the Land of Oz.

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Review: The Boleyn Bride by Brandy Purdy #BoleynBrideTour (Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours)

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:58:55 -0500

Everyone has heard the name Anne Boleyn and perhaps knows something of her short, tumultuous life, but what of the seldom heard-of woman who brought Henry VIII’s future queen into the world?

Brandy Purdy’s latest historical fiction novel followed Elizabeth Boleyn (née Howard), the duke of Norfolk’s daughter, from the age of sixteen to right before her death. As many historical fiction authors do, Purdy tweaked history so that readers would not become confused and to further the plot of her story and she mentioned this in an author’s note in the beginning of the book. Personally, I have not read much on Elizabeth Boleyn, but even if I had, there are always various dates and opinions on what happened long ago and unfortunately, save for our technological age, we cannot always say without a doubt that such and such happened. Historical fiction is meant to be enjoyed and to provide readers with a good story and that is what Brandy Purdy did.

There were only two things that bothered me in The Boleyn Bride. Elizabeth used the refrain, “Thomas Bullen - I mean Boleyn!”, quite repetitively throughout the book and after awhile it annoyed me. She was referring to one of the older spellings of the name Boleyn because of the slight difference in pronunciation that reminded her of how her despised husband rammed into everything like a bull - aggressively and without passion or regard for others - and she meant everything. The other thing that bothered me was Elizabeth’s description that Anne was born with a nascent sixth finger and some sort of mark on the front of her neck, but that she was adept at covering these things with her sleeves and necklaces. I am of a mind that these things that were said about her by her enemies at the time to ruin her reputation because unless these things were really not noticeable, I cannot see how arrogant and pick King Henry could abide her.

BUT, those were very minor things and I enjoyed the book from Elizabeth’s viewpoint and I am interested in learning more about her if I can. Purdy presented her as a selfish woman who cared for her own pleasures before those of her husband and children and thus did not have good relationships with any of them. She despised her lowborn husband and just did not possess motherly affection. I found it sad but interesting. She was also very vain and used her beauty as far as she could but it began to fade all too quickly. Elizabeth was discreet in her personal matters, such as affairs, and the one she had with doll maker Remi Jouet surprised me because she was so vain and claimed she was not very loving. He seemed to be the one person she loved. Elizabeth was also a very hypocritical character. She barely paid attention to her children until they grew up and became interesting and even then she could not give them any sort of affection, even when she wanted to, because she knew it would come across as false. But when Anne and George fell, she was so upset even though she knew it had to be coming. Be prepared to be upset with Elizabeth Boleyn at times because she was a huge lesson in contradictions.

There was more description than dialogue in The Boleyn Bride so the pacing was about medium. Elizabeth was an intricate character and though she was alternately hot and cold, I found her interesting and really enjoyed her voice. I feel like Purdy did a great job finding Elizabeth’s personality. The story was very focused on her inner workings and how she observed what was happening around her and how she reacted (or sometimes did not react). And of course, I love the Tudor era with the people, setting, and fashion so if those appeal to you, do not miss The Boleyn Bride!

Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a lot of description and a medium pace.

Brandy Purdy (Emily Purdy in the UK) is the author of the historical novels The Confessions of Piers Gaveston, The Boleyn Wife (The Tudor Wife), The Tudor Throne (Mary & Elizabeth), The Queen’s Pleasure (A Court Affair), and The Queen’s Rivals (The Fallen Queen). An ardent book lover since early childhood, she first became interested in history at the age of nine or ten years old when she read a book of ghost stories which contained a chapter about Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London.

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Review: The Harlot's Tale by Samuel Thomas #HarlotsTaleTour (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours)

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:59:00 -0500

It has been a year since midwife Lady Bridget Hodsgon took in her new maidservant Martha and not only solved a murder with her but developed a kinship with her. Now in the summer of 1645, the people of York are wilting underneath an extraordinarily hot sun. With the losses of cattle and plants and the addition of a fanatical preacher and his family, emotions are running as high as the temperature and York’s prostitutes are turning up dead. Bridget, Martha, and Bridget’s nephew, Will, band together again to solve the brutal murders. Hezekiah Ward preaches against the prostitutes with the support of his family and his own inner circle of the godly and he makes short work of convincing some of York’s citizens that the end of prostitution in the town will mean the end of the heat wave. Bridget and her companions suspect the Wards, but as more women turn up dead, they wonder if the murderer is no stranger to them.

I greatly enjoyed Sam Thomas’ The Midwife’s Tale last year and he once again drew me into his intricately woven follow-up, The Harlot’s Tale. What originally attracted me to The Midwife’s Tale was the time period, location, and premise and those three factors along with my enjoyment of the first book brought me back for round two.

The three main characters, Lady Bridget, her maid Martha, and her nephew Will were ahead of their time, but despite this being a fiction novel, there were people who were ahead of their time all through history. Although Bridget assisted all kinds of women with their childbirths in both books and had friends and acquaintances in both low and high places, she was always still a believer in her station in life despite making allowances here and there so it was interesting to read her reactions to those below her station who challenged her throughout The Harlot’s Tale.

Martha was as interesting as ever. She was still quite the spitfire and fit the least in her role. She had been Bridget’s maidservant, but she also served as deputy midwife to Bridget. That, together with their amateur sleuthing, had given them a unique relationship in which Martha seemed both subservient and equal. That dichotomy fascinated me in both of Sam Thomas’ books.

Poor Will. Bridget’s nephew had trouble with his father in the first book and in The Harlot’s Tale, he had to deal with his father and his brother Joseph, the uninjured son who could follow in their father’s footsteps. What crock! I definitely favored Will over Joseph and so did Bridget. Will was a lot more open-minded than his father and brother and treated Bridget and Martha with more respect than most other men who thought they knew everything and women knew nothing. Still, Will had to struggle with the lack of approval from his father, who just could not see his worth.

Again, like in The Midwife’s Tale, The Harlot’s Tale had a mystery and a sub-mystery, although they were thought to be one for most of the novel. I found it interesting that Thomas chose to have this mystery centered around the murders of prostitutes because the way in which some of them were murdered was so horrific that it seemed to me prescient of Jack the Ripper’s London murders over two centuries later.

If you read these two books, it is interesting to compare them as you go to how murders are solved today. There was so much that would be handled differently today than it was in the seventeenth century, but it still was ingenious some of the ways Bridget and Martha would put together their clues and trust their inferences from those to lead them closer to a solution.

The Harlot’s Tale is an engaging book about two strong women and one strong man who trust each other to see things through to the end and bring about justice for those murdered no matter what their station was in life. It is not only a mystery but also a fictional social account of the time period and the differences in law and justice for the haves and the have-nots.

Recommended for readers sixteen and older who enjoy historical fiction murder mysteries or for fans of historical fiction wanting to branch out into mysteries. The Harlot’s Tale and the preceding book, The Midwife’s Tale will lead readers through twists and turns and keep them guessing until the end…and then wrap everything up so they will not have to agonize over cliffhangers until the next installment.

Sam Thomas is an assistant professor of history at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Newberry Library, and the British Academy. He has published articles on topics ranging from early modern Britain to colonial Africa. Thomas lives in Alabama with his wife and two children.

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Related post:

Review: The Midwife’s Tale

Review: Neverwas by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, Larkin Reed (Neverwas Blog Tour & Giveaway)

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:17:07 -0500

When Sarah first moved to Amber House, she soon learned that her family’s ancestral home held life of its own. With the help of Jackson, her friend and a boy who lives on the grounds, she attempted to uncover the mysteries of Amber House as she raced against time to save her little brother Sam. But something Sarah did set off a chain of events that changed the past and she does not realize it until the house begins revealing itself to her again.

Neverwas was just as a amazing as the first book in the trilogy, Amber House. Last year when I read the first book, I mentioned that I was drawn to it before because it was set in Maryland and in the next county over from where I live. Books set around here always excite me! I also talked about how Amber House creeped me out at times, but Neverwas did not creep me out as much. For one thing, the Good Mother spider was not around as much, though there was a scene towards the end with the poisonous spiders that gave me goosebumps.

Let me back up a bit. I was really confused when I began reading Neverwas. I read Amber House last year and I remembered everything working out for the better, so I was stunned when Sarah’s world seemed more like the 1950s than the present day. Even more stunned when I read that she lived in the American Confederation of States. Yup. Whatever Sarah inadvertently did when readers last saw her changed the course of history. The American Revolution failed. Slavery lasted a lot longer. Separate but equal was still in place. The majority of European Jews were eliminated. And the Nazis were still around. Nazis. Pretty crazy, but very imaginative of what our would could be like today if things had happened differently centuries ago.

As the story unfolded, Sarah remembered things that she had done before, but had no recollection of, if that makes any sense. Believe me, there will be a few passages you will have to read a couple of times because messing with time can boggle your mind.

For any of you wondering, Amber House is still very much a real character in Neverwas. The actual house is my favorite character from both books. This story that the authors dreamed up is just fascinating!

I just love what Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, and Larkin Reed have done with the story and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the conclusion, Otherwhen.

Recommended for readers fourteen and older who enjoy paranormal mysteries with a twist.

In NEVERWAS, Sarah must piece together the mystery of her forgotten past with the help of clues left behind by her great-grandmother, Fiona Warren. For readers interested in the chance to win a signed first-edition hardback of NEVERWAS – with an exclusive hint for what’s in store for Sarah in the final book, OTHERWHEN, hidden inside – visit each blog on the tour for the month of December, collect the various lines from the poem, arrange them in the proper order, and submit the final sonnet by New Year’s Day for a chance to win the special copy of NEVERWAS!

Previous blogs on the tour (where other puzzle pieces are):

Whispering Pretty Stories
Marie Loves Books
Bibliophilic Monologues
Books Take You Places
Annette’s Book Spot
Zach’s YA Reviews
The Quiet Concert

Please check out Books and Cupcakes tomorrow for the next puzzle piece!

KELLY MOORE is a New York Times best-selling author, former litigator, and single mother of three. Her latest project, the young adult fiction series THE AMBER HOUSE TRILOGY, co-written with her two daughters and based loosely upon her own family history, examines fourteen generations of Maryland women and their ties to the past, present, and future. The first book in the series was nominated for the 2014 Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award for its realistic portrayal of characters with autism; Moore is outspoken about her inclusion in the autism spectrum, and is dedicated to autism awareness.

TUCKER REED is an award-winning fiction and nonfiction writer. She has been recognized on the national level for her short stories, essays and poetry. She is also a notable political blogger and has appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC and HuffPost Live, as well as featured in articles published by TIME magazine, Marie Claire magazine, Ms. magazine, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian, among numerous others.

LARKIN REED is a professional photographer, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in filmmaking. In 2013, Reed established her own multimedia production company, and has subsequently produced and directed several short films.

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Related post:

Review: Amber House

Review: A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift #DividedInheritanceTour (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours)

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 10:26:33 -0500

It is London 1609 and Elspet Leviston has just received the shock of her life: she has a long lost cousin names Zachary Deane and her father, Nathaniel, intends to groom him for his booming lace business; the business into which Elspet has given all her work and devotion. She immediately dislikes and distrusts Zachary and her father pushes her aside as he treats Zachary like the son he never had. But Zachary has no interest in the lace business. He is a sword fighter and his only wish is to hone his skills with the greatest master he can find while living comfortably off his Uncle Leviston’s wealth. Nathaniel sends Zachary on a Grand Tour of Europe but while he is gone, Nathaniel falls ill and dies. Heartbroken and angry at her father’s death and his will which divides her inheritance, giving Zachary Deane a share, Elspet travels to Spain to contend with her so-called cousin. But Spain is in a state of unrest and while there, both Elspet and Zachary push themselves to their limits and learn to appreciate life even more.

When Elspet’s life was disrupted by Zachary’s arrival, I felt so badly for her. Unusual as it was for a woman, she helped her father with the lace business, going over numbers and choosing different types of lace. She was a big part of the company. And she was content. Nothing can be worse than being content and having it taken away. Zachary was rude to her in the beginning and self-satisfied that he was favored by Nathaniel Leviston even though it bored him hearing all the minutia about the lace business. He only had to pretend interest to satisfy his uncle as he wheedled his way into the Leviston family in hopes of receiving a cushy life with no work involved.

Plus, Zachary Deane had a ton of secrets and as they were revealed, I felt even worse for Elspet. He stole her father from her, then her father died, then he had a hand in the lace business, which he did not want to keep at all. Everything was falling apart around her.

For me, the first two-thirds of the book dragged. As a reader, I needed the background provided by Deborah Swift on her characters, but I felt like it could have been done in fewer pages. Once Elspet was in Spain looking for Zachary, the action picked up a lot. But I also wonder if this was a writing device, to show the contrast between England and Spain at the time: rainy, cold, dreary, slow England and hot, sunny, exciting, fast Spain. In Spain, Elspet tried to find Zachary and reason with him but in the process she learned more about herself and became a bit more relaxed as she adjusted to the pace of Spain. That last third of the book was super exciting.

Recommended for readers of historical fiction who enjoy a lot of introduction and description of the characters, their lives, and the scene.This book is for you if you like a slow pace, lots of detail, and 17th century England and Spain.

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Review: Illuminations: a Novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt #IlluminationsTour (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours)

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:13:53 -0500

Hildegard von Bingen narrates her own life story in Illuminations, from the age of five to her final years. She began to have holy visions at the tender age of five but quickly learned to hide them when she learned of her mother’s disapproval and fear. She recounts her time in the anchorage of Disibodenberg with the countess of Sponheim’s daughter, Jutta, and the difficult years she spent there. Her visions kept coming, though, and gave her the strength to continue and become a leader for the younger anchorites who joined her and Jutta.

Mary Sharratt began this fictional account of Hildegard von Bingen’s life at the age of five when she still lived under her mother’s care and that of her nurse, Walburga. She told her nurse of her visions, but when her mother found out, she worried that the visions came from the devil rather than a holy source. Three years later, Hildegard’s mother sent her to the monastery at Disibodenberg to become a handmaiden to Jutta of Sponheim, who wished to become an anchorite for the rest of her life. Hildegard was forced against her will to accompany the young woman and resented her mother for her new hardships. Historical accounts vary on when Hildegard actually entered the anchorage; some say at eight years old while others say at twelve, but Sharratt no doubt chose the age of eight to increase the drama and the shock value to us modern readers.

I probably should read up on my medieval history, especially since I concentrated on it in college. I remember learning about Hildegard and her contempories, but of course, there was a lot of history to cover and no time to go in depth on each historical figure. But Hildegard was truly a remarkable woman and Marry Sharratt’s novel reminded me of that. She had holy visions and kept them secret for a long time, but eventually revealed them and started writing about her visions. She became so famous, even the pope knew of her.

What really stuck with me about Illuminations was Hildegard’s time in the anchorage and how real Sharratt made that feel to me. I could feel the bleakness of the tiny, cramped space that walled in Hildegard, as well as her despair and strength. I felt that Sharratt wrote this book with a definite feminist view in mind. Medieval women certainly were not meant to be heard or to write important works, but Hildegard defied these conventions within her faith. I found it very interesting that she hardly seemed like a holy woman as well. She was a reluctant oblate and instead of always feeling charity and goodwill (or pretending it), she felt anger and hate and despair, even love, and she did not seem like a person who would be a nun. I got the sense that because she was forced into that life and was so old by medieval standards when she was free, that she stuck with what she knew even though it was not what she had chosen; it had been chosen for her by her earthly and divine mothers.

Mary Sharratt’s Illuminations was a truly inspiring novel about Hildegard and I want to re-educate myself about this remarkable woman who stayed true to herself and made history while doing it.

Recommended for fans of medieval history and reading about notable women through fiction. If you enjoy authors Janet Tanner and Nicola Thorne, you may wish to try Mary Sharratt.

Mary Sharratt has authored four historical novels, including Daughters of the Witching Hill, The Vanishing Point, and Summit Avenue. She is an American author who spent twelve years in Germany, which partly inspired her to write Illuminations, and she now lives with her Belgian husband in Lancashire, England.

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November Reviews: 2013 Books of Eyre Challenge

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:25:31 -0500

Link Your November Reviews!

Please link your November reviews on this post. Each month, there will be a new post where your reviews can be linked for that particular month. You do not need a blog to participate! Posting wherever you post your reviews is fine. I will list the link for each month on the sidebar under the challenge button.

Don’t forget to read the below linking instructions!

When you add the link(s) of your review(s), please leave the book title and your name/blog (i.e. Jane Eyre (Amber) - if you do not have a blog - or Jane Eyre (The Musings of ALMYBNENR) - if you do have a blog). Do not add your blog link but rather the link that will take us directly to your review.

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November Reviews: 2013 Tudor Reading Challenge

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:23:42 -0500

Link Your November Reviews!

When you add the link(s) of your review(s), please leave the book title and your name/blog (i.e. The Tudor Secret (Amber) - if you do not have a blog - or The Other Tudors (The Musings of ALMYBNENR) - if you do have a blog). Do not add your blog link but rather the link that will take us directly to your review.

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Review: Confessions of Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey #ConfessionsOfMATour (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours)

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 06:00:23 -0400

Juliet Grey returns with her final novel in her trilogy following Marie Antoinette’s life, Confessions of Marie Antoinette. Anyone who knows even the basics of the French Revolution and of Marie Antoinette will not be surprised that the ending is not a happy one. The novel begins in 1789 as the Revolution is underway and the royal family, especially Antoinette, is slandered by the people and Versailles is terrorized. Stress has thinned Antoinette while it has only made Louis more rotund and her poor children are forced to grow up very quickly, especially her daughter. The royal family attempts escape many times but they never quite make it and they remain imprisoned at the will of the French revolutionaries.

Confessions of Marie Antoinette was definitely more intense than the first two books. No surprise, since it took place in the midst of the French Revolution, which I always thought of as a good thing (except for the guillotine), until I was reading this book. The Revolution and its proponents horrified me and even though I knew that people will believe anything they want to, I was stunned that the French people believed all of these libels about Antoinette and her family when time after time, most who met the queen and king of France saw that they were compassionate and cared about family. Yes, Antoinette was still haughty but it was more out of necessity to keep a brave face in front of her adversaries and she did truly believe in the divine right of kings and that the country would descend into chaos without a monarchy. But I did not think that was enough, along with her Austrian roots, to condemn her and slowly chip away at her family and her resolve.

Again, Juliet Grey thoroughly researched for this novel, and it showed. She even included a bibliography at the end for further reading and to show what resources she studied, although it is not required for fiction. Like with Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow, it took me awhile to read this book because of outside issues and I feel I would have enjoyed it a lot more if everything was taken care of, so forgive me and read these books for yourselves. They really are good!

Recommended for readers of historical fiction sixteen years and older. Read if you enjoy French history, Philippa Gregory, Karen Harper, and books in general about female rulers.

Juliet Grey spends her time researching European royal history and is a fan of Marie Antoinette. She lives with her husband and they divide their time between New York City and Vermont.

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Review: Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:46:53 -0400

Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow is the first sequel in Juliet Grey’s trilogy fictionally chronicling Marie Antoinette’s life and giving readers a much different view of the tragic queen of France than they are accustomed to.

Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow covers a huge chunk of Antoinette’s life, from her ascension to the throne at eighteen with her husband, Louis XVI to her thirties when she is a much changed woman from the frivolous girl she had been.

I read the first book, Becoming Marie Antoinette, awhile ago and I remember really enjoying it. I enjoyed this one as well, but I believe I would have enjoyed it more and would have been more immersed in it if it had not been for how long it took me to read it (because I am trying to read a bunch of things at once) and because I am so behind in my blogging duties. If I could ever catch up, it would be a miracle!

This novel was wonderfully researched by Juliet Grey and despite its ultimate fictional state, it felt real and it will compel you to question everything you have ever heard or read about Marie Antoinette.

Recommended for readers sixteen and up who enjoy historical fiction, especially books set during the Age of Enlightenment.

Juliet Grey spends her time researching European royal history and is a fan of Marie Antoinette. She lives with her husband and they divide their time between New York City and Vermont.

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Related posts:

Review: Becoming Marie Antoinette