The True Book Addict

Goodreads Catch-Up Read-a-Thon

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

STICKY POST FOR READ-A-THON UPDATES--PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWER CONTENT. THANKS!

Yes, I know...another read-a-thon. But, as I was getting ready to have another self-imposed read-a-thon anyway, this couldn't come at a better time. Stephanie at Once Upon a Chapter is hosting this one. Here are the details from her blog:

*Will run from 2/24 (12:01 AM) to 3/1 (11:59 PM).

*If you are a blogger, please do a post announcing your participation. If you want to do all of your updating from one post, that is completely fine by me. (You can also grab the smaller button below.)

*I will be having mini-challenges throughout the week. Two for US residents and one for my international friends!

*I can’t stress this enough: HAVE FUN with the read-a-thon!

To sign up, visit her BLOG

What will I be reading...hmmm?

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (yes, I'm still trying to catch up for the read-a-long)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Oleanna by Julia K. Rose
Macbeth by Shakespeare
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (finish on Tuesday for TuesBookTalk)

I'm going to use this post for all my updates and I will make it a sticky post.

*******

So clearly the update template didn't work since I haven't been updating because I've been sick with the flu. Yuck! I'm still sick...not as bad as I was, but still not 100%. I did a little bit of reading though.

I read:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker....87 pages, finished
The Secret History by Donna Tartt....23 pages
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose....53 pages
Oleanna by Julia K. Rose...currently reading, on page 23

I'm still reading and will continue through the end of the read-a-thon tomorrow night!

Zurker: YOU can own shares in this social network!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:41:00 +0000

Can you imagine if you could have got in with Facebook on the ground floor? Who knows what might have happened, right? Well, I have your chance to get in with Zurker, the first social network that gives you ownership shares. They are invite only right now so here's you invite....join me for free! Supposedly, the features are going to be improved over Facebook. Personally, I think Facebook is fine, but I'm always willing to check out something new. How about you?

What are vShares and how does it work? vShares entitle the owner to own equity in Zurker, and shares in the future Zurker corporation. One vShare is equivalent to ownership of 1/1,000,000 of Zurker. When 1,000,000 vShares have been allocated, Zurker will be restructured as a public corporation and vShares will become real shares!

Cat Thursday...An Extra Special Edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Arya is named for two of my favorite characters in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, Arya Stark and Jon Snow. She is about four months old. A little back story on her...my grandmother got her around Christmas. Now my grandmother is in her 80s and she always seems to forget that she has severe asthma and when a kitten reaches a certain age, their dander really kicks in, thus negatively affecting said person with severe asthma. Of course, I knew that she would not be keeping her very long so I told my dad that I would take her when Grandma was ready. It turns out, she was ready last week. So lucky us...we picked her up Sunday. She has adjusted quite nicely and she's learning her name. And Alice is starting to be more tolerant of her and they have even played a few times (see pics below) so I'm hoping they'll be fast friends soon. We couldn't be more happy to have another fur baby in our midst!

Getting sleepy

And she's out

Alice is warming up to her

Peaking at Alice

Book Tour: Guest Post--M.J. Rose, author of The Book of Lost Fragrances

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:56:00 +0000

M.J. Rose: I've been fascinated with lost fragrances since long before I started writing The Book of Lost Fragrances... since I found a bottle of perfume on my great grandmother's dresser that had belonged to her mother in Russia. Here is one of those lost fragrances that stirs the senses and the imagination... (reasearched and described with the help of the perfume writer Dimitrios Dimitriadis)

GUERLAIN - FLEUR DE FEU Glorious carnation rests at the heart of this extraordinarily rare perfume created in 1948 by French perfumers Guerlain. Fleur de Feu (or 'Fire Flower') was Guerlain's first fragrance released after WWII, and is a warm, radiant floral with crisp aldehydes in the opening. It boasts a sensual bouquet of carnation, jasmine, ylang ylang and iris, over a lip-smacking Guerlinade vanilla/tonka base. Now sadly a thing of the past, Fleur de Feu is a bright, shining star in the firmament of yesteryear.

M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of eleven novels and two non-fiction books on marketing. Her next novel THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES (Atria/S&S) will be published in March 2012. Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared in many magazines and reviews including Oprah Magazine. She has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com. The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Renincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and runs the blog- Buzz, Balls & Hype. She is also the co-founder of Peroozal.com and BookTrib.com.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

For more information on M.J. Rose and her novels, please visit her WEBSITE. You can also find her on Facebook.

A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years.

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume?

The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra's Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet's battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac's quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.

Take a look at the TOUR SCHEDULE to visit more stops on the tour

Twitter Hashtag: #LostFragrancesVirtualBookTour

Watch for my review on Friday....

TuesBookTalk March Selection: House of Leaves

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:02:00 +0000

TuesBookTalk Read Alongs on Twitter (@tuesbooktalk #tuesbooktalk) and on Goodreads chose fantasy (epic, steampunk, dystopian, fairy tales retold, etc.) for March's genre. Our discussion starts Tuesday, March 6 on Twitter at 10:30pm ET/9:30pm CT. You do not have to join us on Twitter. Feel free to share your thoughts in the Goodreads group if you can't make the chat on Twitter. Get the full reading schedule HERE. This month we are reading:

Mailbox Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

A quick Mailbox Monday post this week, as I have the flu and I barely have enough energy to do anything. Damn it. =O(

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Metroreader. (want to read a book description? Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon)

FOR REVIEW:
The Queen's Pleasure by Brandy Purdy....tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

BOOKMOOCH:
Witch Child by Celia Rees

BARNES AND NOBLE (GIFT CARD):
Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

Review Copy Cleanup

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Okay, I'm probably going to regret this, but if you saw my review book pile (which you will soon), you would understand why I'm going to attempt this. I had to put a halt on accepting review copies until I get these caught up (with the exception of some tours on which I'm a regular participant). For me to pull this off is going to take a lot of organization on my part and I'm going to have to set deadlines throughout the month. This event is being hosted by the lovely ladies at Nyx Book Reviews and Book, Biscuits and Tea. Here are the details as outlined by them:

✦ This challenge runs from 1 to 31 March, 2012
✦ Sign-ups are open until 15 March 2012. After that the linky list will be closed and participation in the challenges and giveaways won't be possible for anyone who hasn't previously signed up.
✦ To sign up, just fill in the Mister Linky form below. Link to your sign up post directly, please!The Linky is the same for both our blogs, so you only have to sign up once.
✦ When you post your sign up post on your blog, either include the challenge button with your post or link it back to this article so that people know where to sign up. Thank you!
✦ Every book you received for review counts towards the challenge, both ebooks and hard copies, including all genres and lengths.
✦ You don't need to follow the two hosts in order to be able to sign up for the event (although it's appreciated), but you do have to follow us in order to be able to enter our giveaways. In order to be entered in the giveaway, simply complete the given challenge and add the link to your post in the linky list.
✦ Challenges will be posted every week on Fridays and will last throughout the week until Thursday the next week. Every challenge ends with a giveaway. To enter in the challenges and giveaways, simply add the link to your challenge post in the Linky list in the main challenge post. It will be posted on both blogs.
✦ At the end of the event we will host our Massive Giveaway. This contains tons of prizes donated by awesome authors. All you'll need to do in order to enter this giveaway is to fill in a Rafflecopter form - as simple as that. :)
✦ Most of our giveaways will be open INTERNATIONALLY but you'll find all the relevant info about each giveaway when we post the challenges.
✦ Feel free to use the #RCCleanup hashtag on Twitter for your RCC related tweets or join in the Twitter party at http://tweetchat.com/room/RCCleanup and meet lots of lovely bloggers :)

Challenge schedule:

✦ March 2 - Show Off Your Pile
✦ March 9 - Cuddle Up With a Book
✦ March 16 - Don't Be Such a Tease!
✦ March 23 - Mysterious Meet-up
✦ March 30 - Love Will Find a Way

Book Nooks (9)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:32:00 +0000

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

I'm hosting through April 2012.

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Okay, I totally freaking love this! I think this is my favorite nook of all time. Look at the dark wood and the ornately carved ladder leading up to a cozy loft. If I was reading in the nook and I felt sleepy, I would just climb up the ladder and take a nice nap in the loft. And there's also a window! Really, what more could a reader want? Just lovely.

Photo credit: beaconhillstudios.us via Steph on Pinterest

Source: Sweep Tight

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post

Cat Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:22:00 +0000

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

A very special Cat Thursday this week. Here is Alice Anne on the eve of her birthday. Yes, her birthday is tomorrow, February 24. She'll be five years old.

In case you're wondering why I'm suddenly calling her Alice Anne. Well, she has a middle name now! My husband's brother has been staying with us and he started calling her Alice Anne and since my middle name is Anne, I thought, why not!

"Am I really a year older tomorrow?"

"I'm not quite sure how I feel about that!"

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:36:00 +0000

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by The Sunday Salon.

Hope everyone had a great week last week! I don't have much to report, except that my family and I got to stay at the Opryland Hotel over the weekend for a Dreamworks Family Fun Night, courtesy of Klout perks. You can read all about it HERE. It was great fun and didn't cost us a penny. =O)

NEWS
Have you checked out my new history blog yet? It's brand new so there's not much posted over there yet, but my introductory post is about William Wallace. And the blog design is nice too. ;O) Stop by and check it out if you get a chance. The blog is called A Brave Heart.

EVENTS

Just a quick reminder: Marie and I are hosting a read-a-long of Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor over at our blog, Historical Fiction Connection. It runs from March 18 through April 14. Head over to the blog and read this POST for all the details. If you haven't signed up yet, we would love for you to join us!

What I'm reading:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (for TuesBookTalk)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (still trying to catch up for the read-a-long)
Macbeth by Shakespeare

Finished:
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau (REVIEW)
The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites (REVIEW)

Starting soon:
Oleanna by Julie K. Rose
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose (book tour/review on 2/29)

FOR REVIEW:
The Forest Laird: A Tale of William Wallace by Jack Whyte (from publisher, Tor/Forge)

FROM BETTER WORLD BOOKS:
Twilight of Avalon: A Novel of Tristan and Isolde by Anne Elliott
Dark Moon of Avalon: A Novel of Tristan and Isolde (Book 2) by Anne Elliott

FROM AMAZON (WITH GIFT CERTIFICATES):
The Turquoise by Anya Seton
The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight Loss Plan by Seth Roberts, Ph.D.
The Everything Guide to Writing a Novel by Joyce and Jim Lavene

FROM BARNES AND NOBLE (WITH GIFT CARD):
Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz
Treasury of Art Nouveau Design and Ornament (Dover Books)
Twelve Degas Dancers Bookmarks (Dover Books)
Keep Calm and Carry On bookmark

Book Tour: Book Review and {Give@way}--The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:21:00 +0000

My thoughts:
It was a perilous time during the reign of Henry the VIII of England. Women who caught his eye and who were 'lucky' enough to be made his wife would not feel so lucky for long. At least, in the case of a few of them. Loyal servants who served his will in one instance could next find themselves out of favor and facing execution for some failing, many times through no fault of their own. And none felt the danger more than the faithful who served at the monasteries, at the priories and abbeys throughout England at the time. These institutions were being suppressed and the nuns and monks turned out (with or without pensions, depending on the situation) to either find houses in foreign countries or to find new ways of life. For many, a life outside of an religious order was unthinkable, but they were given no choice as Henry appointed himself the head of the Church and ushered in a new era of religious reform.

It is among this strife that this excellent novel is set. Meticulously researched, The Crown is at once a historical novel that the reader will learn a lot from. I am always pleasantly surprised when I learn something new from a historical novel and in this case, I learned of King Athelstan, a king that I had never heard of. Just when you think you know pretty much everything about a particular country's history, something like this comes along to prove you wrong. It happened to me here in a big way. I can't wait to go off on my own and read more about him and the legends surrounding him. One of these legends is about his crown which is what the book is about. There is a desperate search for this crown and so we are also given an exciting and interesting mystery along with the excellent historical prose. I'm not kidding when I say exciting. I was literally on the edge of my seat during many parts of the book.

Add to what I've said above the seamless incorporation of historical figures, such as Mary Tudor, Katherine of Aragon, Anne and George Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, as well as compelling and heroic characters, and this book easily takes a place on my list of great works of historical fiction. Joanna is a heroine I have a strong liking and admiration for and I look forward to the continuation of the series in the second book, The Chalice.

About the book:
An aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father—and preserve the Catholic faith from Cromwell’s ruthless terror. The year is 1537...

Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

The ruthless Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, takes terrifying steps to force Joanna to agree to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may hold the ability to end the Reformation. Accompanied by two monks, Joanna returns home to Dartford Priory and searches in secret for this long-lost piece of history worn by the Saxon King Athelstan in 937 during the historic battle that first united Britain.

But Dartford Priory has become a dangerous place, and when more than one dead body is uncovered, Joanna departs with a sensitive young monk, Brother Edmund, to search elsewhere for the legendary crown. From royal castles with tapestry-filled rooms to Stonehenge to Malmesbury Abbey, the final resting place of King Athelstan, Joanna and Brother Edmund must hurry to find the crown if they want to keep Joanna’s father alive. At Malmesbury, secrets of the crown are revealed that bring to light the fates of the Black Prince, Richard the Lionhearted, and Katherine of Aragon’s first husband, Arthur. The crown’s intensity and strength are beyond the earthly realm and it must not fall into the wrong hands.

With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must now decide who she can trust with the secret of the crown so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past.

Tour schedule

Nancy Bilyeau's Website

Nancy Bilyeau on Twitter: @TudorScribe

Tour Event Twitter Hashtag: #TheCrownVirtualBookTour

Check out Nancy's excellent guest post HERE
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Open to U.S. entrants only (per publisher). To win a copy of The Crown, leave a comment telling me who is your favorite Tudor historical figure. Winner will be chosen randomly via random.org. Giveaway ends on Monday, March 5, 2012 at 11:59pm CST. Good luck!

Bleak House Read-a-Long and Self-Imposed Read-a-Thon results

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:44:00 +0000

So, my self-imposed read-a-thon did not go as well as I'd hoped. I did manage to read The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites--294 pages--(REVIEW) and I made some progress in The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau. Did not read any of Gone with the Wind, The Secret History, or Macbeth. =O( We are going to stay at the Opryland Hotel today/tonight and I'm not taking my computer (you're shocked, I know) so I'm hoping I can get some reading done tonight after we go back to the room.

Bleak House Read-a-Long

March, April, May...hosted by Wallace at Unputdownables. I have been wanting to read this one for a while now. Really looking forward to it!

Details:

You do not have to be a book blogger to join.
We will be reading the book in March, April, & May (13 weeks), with the first discussion happening on Friday, March 2nd / the book is 817 pages (paperback, Barnes and Noble Classics edition) so that’s roughly 9 pages a day.
Don’t be intimidated. We will be going at a slow pace and discussing the book throughout our reading. The discussions are quite fun, and make the reading process very enjoyable!

Read more at Unputdownables....

Reading and Posting Schedule:

Beginning Friday, Febraury 24th and ending Friday, May 25th.

READING SCHEDULE:

Week #/ dates :: Place in which to STOP

Week One/ February 24- March 1 :: Chapter 6
Week Two/ March 2-8 :: Chapter 10
Week Three/ March 9-15 ::Chapter 15
Week Four/ March 16-22 :: Chapter 20
Week Five/ March 23- 29 :: Chapter 24
Week Six/ March 30- April 5 :: Chapter 30
Week Seven/ April 6-12 :: Chapter 34
Week Eight/ April 13-19 :: Chapter 39
Week Nine/ April 20-26 :: Chapter 45
Week Ten/ April 27- May 3 :: Chapter 51
Week Eleven/ May 4- 10 :: Chapter 56
Week Twelve/ May 11-17 :: Chapter 61
Week Thirteen/ May 18-24 :: The End

POSTING SCHEDULE:

Post #/ date post should be up on blog:

Start up Post/ Today!
Week One/ March 2nd
Week Two/ March 9th
Week Three/ March 16th
Week Four/ March 23rd
Week Five/ March 30th
Week Six/ April 6th
Week Seven/ April 13th
Week Eight/ April 20th
Week Nine/ April 27th
Week Ten/ May 4th
Week Eleven/ May 11th
Week Twelve/ May 18th
Week Thirteen/ May 25th (Final Review)

** Please don’t forget to come to this blog each Friday and share your thoughts in the comments section of the weekly Read-a-Long discussion (see below for more information).**

Further details on the process

Will you be joining us?

Book Nooks (8)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

I'm hosting through April 2012.

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: Can you see the cozy window seat behind the ladder? I absolutely love this one. What a clever idea! I'm thinking this is either a loft type area or a small sitting area leading to the upper rooms of the house. So awesome! And the red walls and wood of the bookshelves give it a cozy library feel.

Photo credit: unknown
Source: http://downlo.tumblr.com/post/2718950528/fantastic-reading-nook
Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post

Book Tour: Book Review--The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:24:00 +0000

My thoughts:
I must get one thing off my chest at the outset. Once again, I find myself very frustrated by how women were treated in the past. In our present times, when a woman's husband dies, she has rights. In most cases, she is the executor of her husband's estate and is usually the beneficiary of the life insurance and/or will. Of course, there are cases where a will may be in probate or a man may not leave anything to his wife (mostly in some cases of wealthy marriages), but for the most part, a woman has the right to her husband's possessions and/or money upon his death without having to worry about a family member (or other person) bullying in on her territory. Not so in ages past and nowhere is this fact more apparent than in The Rebel Wife. Augusta's husband, Eli, has died and she was under the impression that they were a well-off, well-settled family. Not according to her cousin, Judge. But she is getting conflicting stories from him and Eli's trusted and loyal servant as to the truth about the money. And Judge's treatment of Augusta, his literally taking over everything and treating her like she has no rights, is beyond infuriating. Mr. Polites does an excellent job of portraying exactly the situation that would have occurred back then and, although infuriating, it is the reality of the way things were.

I must say that it's interesting that I would be reviewing this book for Tribute Books at the same time that I'm also reading Gone with the Wind. The contrasts between Polites's portrayal of reconstruction in the south and Mitchell's are profound. Now don't get me wrong. I still love Gone with the Wind, but one must appreciate Polite's non-stereotypical depiction of the times. While Mitchell made the freed slaves seem comical in many ways, Polites has shown a more surly side to these people, who had so much hope in their future as free men, only to discover that things were not going to be any better for them. Perhaps even worse. This surliness is believable and certainly understandable. And though we appreciate the plucky and resourceful Scarlett O'Hara, the reality is that she would not have been able to accomplish what she did in those times. And the dastardly Rhett Butler with the heart of gold. There aren't any of his sort in this book. The war has broken these men and made them angry, greedy, and dangerous. And so, we read Gone with the Wind for the entertaining story of Scarlett's exploits, but The Rebel Wife is to be read and enjoyed for it's historical accuracy.

On a final note, I must say that this book is beautifully written and it's quite obvious that it was meticulously researched. For a history buff like me, this is the best kind of historical fiction. A book that allows a reader to experience the realities of the past and really feel it on a physical and emotional level.

About the book:
Set in Reconstruction Alabama, Augusta “Gus” Branson's is a young widow whose quest for freedom turns into a race for her life when her husband Eli dies of a swift and horrifying fever and a large package of money – her only inheritance and means of survival – goes missing. Gus begins to wake to the realities that surround her: the social stigma her marriage has stained her with, what her husband did to earn his fortune, the shifting and very dangerous political and social landscape that is being destroyed by violence between the Klan and the Freeman's Bureau, and the deadly fever that is spreading like wildfire. Nothing is as she believed, everyone she trusts is hiding something from her.

About the author:
Taylor M. Polites is a novelist living in Providence, Rhode Island with his small Chihuahua, Clovis. Polites’ first novel, The Rebel Wife, is due out in February 2012 from Simon & Schuster. He graduated in June 2010 with his MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. He has lived in Provincetown, Massachusetts, New York City, St. Louis and the Deep South. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in History and French and spent a year studying in Caen, France. He has covered arts and news for a variety of local newspapers and magazines, including the Cape Codder, InNewsWeekly, Bird’s Eye View (the in-flight magazine of CapeAir), artscope Magazine and Provincetown Arts Magazine.

Taylor M. Polites' website

Taylor M. Polites' blog

Taylor M. Polites' Facebook
Taylor M. Polites' Twitter

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook

The Rebel Wife blog tour site

Hardcover
Price: $25.00
ISBN: 9781451629514
Pages: 304
Release: February 7, 2012

Amazon buy link
Barnes&Noble.com buy link

Powells buy link

eBook
Price: $11.99

Kindle buy link

Nook buy link

iBookstore buy link

The Real Sugar!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:19:00 +0000

I must thank my fellow book blogging friend, Wallace at Unputdownables, for writing about this awesome lady over at her other writing gig, Book Riot. In her recent post, Dear Sugar, Can't Wait to Meet You, I learned about this person, aptly named Sugar, who has been offering incredibly honest and helpful advice to individuals about a myriad of issues over at The Rumpus. I read just two of her posts the other day and I was hooked. The big thing with Sugar was that she was anonymous, but on Tuesday, she finally revealed her true identity. HERE is the post detailing everything to do with her 'coming out.' Oh, forgot to mention...her real name is Cheryl Strayed!

Here is one of her most awesome posts, in my opinion:

DEAR SUGAR, The Rumpus Advice Column #48: Write Like a Motherfucker

Believe me when I say, you're bound to find a post she has written that will speak to you on a very personal level.

Blog Tour: Guest Post--Author Nancy Bilyeau

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Please join me in welcoming Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown, to the blog today.

The Stages of Tudor Mania

People keep asking me why I chose to write a novel set in 16th century England. It’s not perhaps the most obvious source of inspiration. I am an American, growing up in the Midwest and now living in New York City. I’ve worked for magazines like InStyle and Rolling Stone and Ladies’ Home Journal. I adore films and Italian food and ocean beaches. So why am I fixated on a family that ruled England from 1485 to 1603?

I thought it was time to explain, and hoped that the True Book Addict and her followers would enjoy—and perhaps even relate?—to my love of the Tudors.

A timeline shared:

Launch pad: In the beginning, there were Keith Michell and Glenda Jackson. I watched “The Six Wives of Henry VIII” and “Elizabeth R” on television with my parents in Livonia, Michigan. I was fascinated by the vivid drama of these personalities—the mercurial king, the jostling of the six wives, the courage of Elizabeth.

I began checking out books from the library on the 16th century. I remember a librarian didn’t want me to have a book about the divorce of Catherine of Aragon because it had the word “divorce” in the title and I was too young.

For a while the stories of this period were everywhere: I saw “Anne of a Thousand Days” and “Mary Queen of Scots” as a double feature in the local cinema. Another classic that I saw on television was “A Man for All Seasons.” But I longed for more of Vanessa Redgrave’s giggling Anne Boleyn—I was just too young for Sir Thomas More’s wisdom, I’m afraid.

The middle years: Through high school, college and my 20s and 30s, my interest did not wane. I read nonfiction about the 16th century, such as J.J. Scarisbrick’s Henry VIII, Retha Warnicke’s The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn, and Antonia Fraser’s Mary Queen of Scots. I read deeply in historical fiction too, not just stories of the Tudors by authors like Jean Plaidy but Mary Stewart’s Merlin trilogy and Anya Seton’s Katherine. My favorite of all was Norah Lofts, and I marveled at her ability to write about women ranging from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Hortense de Beauharnais. I read everything I could find by Daphne du Maurier, novels and short stories too. I loved her historical fiction such as Jamaica Inn but I also reveled in her use of suspense. Rebecca left a deep—probably lifelong—impression.

The crescendo: When I joined a fiction workshop in 2006, I announced that I wished to set my mystery novel in the 16th century. I wanted to unite my two passions: Tudor history and mystery thrillers. Thanks to the success of Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl, fiction set in Tudor England was on the rise again. I was happy about it but a little disoriented too. For a number of years I’d felt a little off to the side with my thriving library of biographies. Now people were excited about seeing "Elizabeth", with Cate Blanchett and a new series about Henry VIII starring Ray Winstone. I liked both productions but twitched through the historical inaccuracies. And then came "The Tudors" on Showtime, and everybody was talking about Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry. As I wrote my novel over the five years, I felt ambivalent about the exploding trend of Tudor fandom. I laughed when I saw on facebook a group called “I Was Interested in the Tudors Before They Were Cool.” I joined immediately.

Undying Love, It Seems: Last year, after selling “The Crown” to Touchstone Books, I took a break from my magazine jobs to write my second book, a sequel called “The Chalice.” I was accepted to work in a writer’s room in the New York Public Library—the others who’d gained admission were all scholars. Was I worthy to slave away next to the Ph.D.s on something that was really a hobby interest gone wild? It took a few months to realize that yes—I belong here. I have dedicated myself to the study of the 16th century, not just the royals but, since my protagonist is a Dominican novice, the monastic life of the period. I use my journalistic training to exercise judgment on the accuracy of sources. I search through contemporary sources as well as secondary. I want to get it right.

Last summer I traveled to London to meet my British editor at Orion Books and co-agent at Abner Stein (“The Crown” is being published in not just North America and the U.K. but five other foreign countries.) I couldn’t sleep more than a half-hour on the red-eye flight on Virgin Atlantic—too much turbulence and too small a seat, perhaps. I checked into my hotel at noon, but instead of taking a nap I ran out onto the Strand, exhilarated to be breathing London air. I walked for hours and then, in the late afternoon, I jumped on a tour boat to see the Thames. I was in the last group of the day for the Tower of London, a place that I thrilled to write about in “The Crown.”

I’ve wondered occasionally if I will get sick of the 16th century--and then what? I have plans for a whole series of books. But after walking on the Tower green and through the White Tower, making time for royal jewels and instruments of torture, I left and finally sat down to rest at a table outside the Tower wall. The sun was low on the horizon as I ate fish and chips at one of the small shops facing the centuries-old castle keep. I thought of what once went on inside those walls and on those smooth Thames water. And I was completely happy.

Tour Schedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.blogspot.com/2011/12/nancy-bilyeau-on-tour-for-crown-january.html

Nancy Bilyeau's Website: http://www.nancybilyeau.com
Nancy Bilyeau on Twitter: @TudorScribe
Tour Event Twitter Hashtag: #TheCrownVirtualBookTour

Watch for my review and a giveaway coming this Monday, February 20.

Cat Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:48:00 +0000

Self-Imposed Read-a-Thon

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:20:00 +0000

I've decided to embark on a self-imposed read-a-thon starting tonight and going through Friday night. I have several books to catch up on and I have a busy weekend ahead of me. Speaking of that, have you heard? I received a Klout perk of a Shrek family fun night at the Opryland hotel for this weekend. And guess what? It's absolutely free. Free activities, free meals, free ride on the Delta Riverboat, and we get to stay overnight at the hotel. I live in Nashville, but sadly have never been to the Opryland hotel so we're really excited. So, if you haven't checked out Klout yet, you might want to. I still can't believe I lucked out with this and I wouldn't have won it if I wasn't on Klout!

Back to the personal read-a-thon. I will be reading the following:

The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites (book tour/review due on Friday)
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau (finishing up for review due on Monday)
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (still plugging away...trying to catch up)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Just for Fun Reading Challenge)
Shakespeare's Macbeth

There shall be some late night reading tonight and tomorrow night. That is, if I can stay awake! We will see how much I can accomplish. I still have to clean house tomorrow and I have a couple of errands to run, but I still have a lot of time to read (if I can refrain from wasting time, which I'm incredibly good at!).

Would anyone care to join me?

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by The Sunday Salon.

Last week I didn't do a weekly news/Mailbox Monday post. Had to take a week off. You know how it is sometimes.

NEWS

You all know me (most of you anyway). I don't really do anything in a small way. Nowhere is it more evident than in the number of blogs I host. LOL! My most recent venture? I have launched a history blog over on Wordpress. I am very passionate about history and so I just decided to take the plunge and start a blog totally dedicated to the subject of history. The new blog is called A Brave Heart. I hope you'll stop by and check out my first post about William Wallace, who is the inspiration behind the name of the blog. The post: The Inspiration...William Wallace.

EVENTS

Marie and I are hosting a read-a-long of Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor over at our blog, Historical Fiction Connection. It runs from March 18 through April 14. Head over to the blog and read this POST for all the details. Would love for you to join us!

The Read 2 Review Reading Group book for February is Oleanna by Julie K. Rose. Why not come be a part of the group with us. You can check out all the details HERE.

What I'm reading:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (for TuesBookTalk)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (still trying to catch up for the read-a-long)
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau (review coming February 20)

Finished:
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (on audio)

Starting:
The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites (book tour review on Friday)
Oleanna by Julie K. Rose (at the end of the week)

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Metroreader. (want to read a book description? Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon)

FOR REVIEW:
Book tours with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours:
The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot
The Sumerton Women by D.L. Bogdan

BOOKMOOCH:
The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

BOMC2:
Starting an Etsy Business for DUMMIES

LITERARY GUILD SELECT (intro package):
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
Elizabeth I by Margaret George
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie
LIFE Commemorative: Remembering Liz 1932 - 2011
Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook
The Louvre: All the Paintings by Erich Lessing and Vincent Pomarede

LIBRARY SALE:
Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland
Shannon by Frank Delaney
Foxmask by Juliet Marillier
Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
Ann Vickers by Sinclair Lewis
Dragonwyck by Anya Seton
Renfield: Slave of Dracula by Barbara Hambly

Win a Kindle Fire or $200 Amazon Gift Card from Win with eBooks

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:12:00 +0000

How? Easy peasy. Head on over to winwithebooks.com or the Facebook fanpage and follow the directions on the Rafflecopter. Check back daily for 50 extra chances to win.

*No purchase necessary*

Good luck!

Book Nooks (7)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:43:00 +0000

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Hosting through April 2012: The True Book Addict (@truebookaddict)

Show us something pretty!

Commentary: I love this! The simplicity is wonderful. If it was in my house though, it would have to be a no kid zone! Kids and white DO NOT mix. *L*

Cottage-inspired reading nook by Rate My Space user LaylaPalmer

Source: Design Happens at HGTV

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post

Cat Thursday: Authors and their Cats (8)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:33:00 +0000

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

The second Cat Thursday of each month is Authors and their Cats Thursday. Each time I will feature an author and their cat(s). Today I have for you....

You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm. ~Colette, in New York World-Telegram and Sun, 1961

Colette and her kitty muse....

Colette as her own kitty muse....

Discover the perfume inspired by The Book of Lost Fragrances

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:14:00 +0000

M.J. Rose is asking if you've ever smelled a story?

“He struggled to separate out the notes he recognized from the ones he didn’t, searching for the ingredients that gave the blend its promise of hope, of long nights and voluptuous dreams, of invitation and embrace. Of an everlasting covenant ripe with possibility. Of lost souls reunited.” —The Book of Lost Fragrances

Discover the perfume inspired by The Book of Lost Fragrances

Pre-order The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose and we'll send you a free sample of Âmes Soeurs, the Scent of Soulmates. This exclusive fragrance, inspired by the novel, was created by Joya Studios and is not yet for sale. Joya’s Âmes Sœurs hints of Frankincense, Myrrh, Orange Blossom and Jasmine. It’s smoky uncommon finish suggests the past and the future, and lost souls reunited.

Just use one of the links at http://mjrose.com/fragrances/scent.asp and follow the directions there.

Offer ends March 1, but pre-order now since we have a limited number of supplies! US and Canada only.

*********

The Book of Lost Fragrances has received terrific advance praise:

Selected by Indie Booksellers for the March 2012 Indie Next List.

Selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the Top Ten Mystery/Thrillers Spring 2012

"From 18th-century Egypt and France to present-day Paris, New York, and China, Rose's deliciously sensual novel of paranormal suspense smoothly melds a perfume-scented quest to protect an ancient artifact with an ages-spanning romance. A complex plot that races to a satisfying finish." — Publishers Weekly, Starred and Boxed Review

" A sensuous thriller combined with a heartbreaking love story.” — Karen Briggs at Great Northern Books & Hobbies in Oscoda, MI

"A spellbinding love story and historical novel of mystery, reincarnation, ancient Egypt. Being immersed in Rose's fictional world is one of those times when you don't want to come back to the real world." —Susan Wasson of Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM

"Smoothly blends historical events, compelling characters, and international intrigue into an absorbing and thrilling ride through the centuries." —Library Journal

Wicked Winter Read-a-thon

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

***This is a sticky post for read-a-thon updates. Scroll down for newer content***

LOOK FOR WRAP-UP BELOW--ENDING TOTALS

Starting line:
Here I am...doing another read-a-thon. Yes, I am obsessed! I'm planning on reading all day today. Not sure how much I'll get in on Saturday, as I have plans with my mom (going to see The Woman in Black...woot!), but I will also be reading all day on Sunday as well. Of course, when I say reading all day, I mean in between dealing with the kids and my constant (bad) habit of wasting time. LOL! I've also decided to take the lead from one of my newly discovered blog friends, Jillian at A Room of One's Own, who participated in my read-a-thon last week. She elected to not participate in any mini-challenges, but instead focused on the reading and that is exactly what I will be doing for this read-a-thon. However, I will be checking in on Twitter at the Wicked Winter hashtag, #WWReadathon. If you would like to join in on this read-a-thon, you can still sign up through midnight EST on Saturday. Visit HERE for more info and for sign-up.

So, what will I be reading?

The Secret History by Donna Tartt--today, I will focus on finishing this book. I'm only 23 pages in.
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell--still working on catching up for read-a-long
The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau--book tour review on Monday
Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg--one of the writing books I'm hoping to get read.
If I manage to complete the above, by some divine miracle, there may be others.

Updates:

Friday 2/3
One word....FAIL
Book: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Start Page: 27
End Page: 29
Books Completed: 0
Challenges: N/A

Saturday 2/4

Didn't get any reading done

Sunday 2/5

Book: The Crown
Start Page: 1
End Page: 125
Books Completed: 0
Challenges: N/A

Ending Totals:

Books Read: 0
Pages Read: 128
Challenges: N/A

So, did pretty shabbily. =O( I've actually felt quite under the weather late Saturday and all day Sunday so I was feeling pretty weak and run down and kept falling asleep every time I would get to reading. Oh, well...better luck next time. Thanks, ladies, for hosting again.

Thanks to Melissa from Must Read Faster for this update template.

Book Review: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:51:00 +0000

My thoughts:
I truly thought I would love this book. I didn't. *she says as she runs from classicists aiming to kick her ass* I really wanted to like it too. I had seen a couple of film versions and I love the story, but I just could not get into Hawthorne's writing in this book. I found myself skimming large sections of rambling text. One thing I will say is that Hawthorne did succeed in making Roger Chillingworth (aka Hester's long lost husband) a thoroughly disgusting character. I remember watching the most recent version of the film with Demi Moore (ugh) as Hester and Robert Duvall as Prynne/Chillingworth. Duvall portrayed the character very well. Every time he was on the screen, my skin crawled. Now I can see that his portrayal was quite close to the spirit of Hawthorne's character. As my skin crawled watching him in the movie, so it did as I read of him in the book. Of course, I can't fault the book on its themes. It is a commentary on the rights of women during Puritan times and the strength of a woman to endure the constraints put upon her by those times. As seems the case over and over is that the woman is set to endure the great trials and succeeds, but the man is weak and cannot endure. Perhaps a treatise on the true strength of women is one of the underlying messages here. So although I say I did not like this book, I can still recognize its importance in our canon of classic literature. I have yet to read The House of the Seven Gables, The Marble Fawn, and others of his works, but I will not allow my feelings about The Scarlet Letter dissuade me from reading them, as I've especially heard that The Marble Faun is excellent. We shall see...

About the book:
Set in the harsh Puritan community of seventeenth-century Boston, this tale of an adulterous entanglement that results in an illegitimate birth reveals Nathaniel Hawthorne's concerns with the tension between the public and the private selves. Publicly disgraced and ostracized, Hester Prynne draws on her inner strength and certainty of spirit to emerge as the first true heroine of American fiction. Arthur Dimmesdale, trapped by the rules of society, stands as a classic study of a self divided.

Reading Challenges