Broken Teepee

Pike in Papillote with Violet Balsamic Reduction Sauce on Israeli Couscous - Recipe #ad

2013-05-21T10:57:00.000-06:00

I received a sample of Violet Balsamic Vinegar from Devo Olive Oil Company.

I am lucky enough to have a friend that when I barter she offers up the delicious lake fish that her husband catches in the beautiful alpine lakes here in Montana. I've gotten bass and pike and both are yummy which coming from me is saying something since I am not a big fan of fish. This recipe uses pike but could easily work with any mild, white fish. It showcases a surprising vinegar - Violet Balsamic Vinegar. I know! I'd never heard of it either and it was a revelation. Not overly floral but very, very distinctive. I knew from the first taste that it would be perfect with citrus and delightful on fish. So here is my humble effort:

Pike in Papillote with Violet Balsamic Reduction Sauce on Israeli Couscous

It was not at all complicated and it was very delicious.
The full directions are in the widget - everyone liking the widget? - but I'll give a brief description with step by step photos here:

Place the orange slices on the greased parchment.

Add the seasoned fish, dried tarragon and additional orange slices.

Fold most of the way, add the wine and orange juice, fold over completely and pop in the 350° oven.
While the fish is cooking make the sauce. I also made some simple, roasted green beans - what else! - to finish out the meal.

OPEN CAREFULLY!!!!!! Steam is HOT!!!!!
This is actually a wonderful way to cook fish as it stays nice an moist.

The fish goes over the seasoned Israeli couscous and the sauce on the fish.
Mmmmmmm.

The violet flavor is not at all overwhelming; it's somewhat hard for me to describe. It - don't laugh - tastes a bit purple. It did not taste like perfume and just the slightest like a violet smells. OK, OK. I know. That is really bad for a description but it is REALLY good. It was truly delicious on this fish and I can see it being just as yummy on vanilla ice cream. The violet paired exceptionally well with the orange juice.

I never said I was an expert. I just know what I like.....

You can shop at Devo Olive Oil Co.
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You can read the Devo Olive Oil Blog

Disclosure: I was sent free samples from Devo Olive Oil Co. for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Seduction by M.J. Rose - Blog Tour and Guest Post #SeductionVirtualTour

2013-05-21T01:00:00.000-06:00

I am very happy to give you a peak into the novel Seduction with an excerpt from M.J. Rose:

“Imagination is intelligence with an erection.”
― Victor Hugo

Excerpt from SEDUCTION - From Chapter 14

I imagined you were dreaming your own dream, oblivious that I was even there. And that increased my desire for you. Often the wanting is more satisfying that the fulfillment. I have come to prefer anticipation to satiation. Longing can make one feel alive in more profound way. You see everything through champagne bubbles. Your senses are alert. You imagine how your lover’s lips will feel, how her skin will taste. What it will be like to unbutton her chemise, slip it off her shoulders, press your mouth to her skin, cup her breasts in your palms and feel her excitement harden her nipples. You picture her leaning into you. Showing you just enough of her want ignites yours.

Be sure to read my review and the entire Seduction Tour Schedule

About the Book:

Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Atria Books
Hardcover; 384p
ISBN-10: 1451621507

From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost journal of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.

In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo’s beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, Hugo began participating in hundreds of séances to reestablish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with the likes of Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the Devil himself. Hugo’s transcriptions of these conversations have all been published. Or so it was believed.

Recovering from her own losses, mythologist Jac L’Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey—where Hugo conducted the séances—hoping to uncover a secret about the island’s Celtic roots. But the man who’s invited her there, a troubled soul named Theo Gaspard, has hopes she’ll help him discover something quite different—Hugo’s lost conversations with someone called the Shadow of the Sepulcher.

About the Author:

M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of eleven novels and two non-fiction books on marketing. 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.

You can read my review of Seduction

You can read my review of The Book of Lost Fragrances

You can purchase Seduction on Amazon.com
You can purchase The Book of Lost Fragrances on Amazon.com

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Seduction from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Seduction by M.J. Rose - Blog Tour and Book Review #SeductionVirtualTour

2013-05-20T01:00:00.000-06:00

I received a free copy of Seduction from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review.

About the Book:

Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Atria Books
Hardcover; 384p
ISBN-10: 1451621507

From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost journal of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.

About the Author:

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.

My Opinion:

Seduction brings back the complicated character Jac d'Etoile from The Book of Lost Fragrances. Jac is from a long line of perfumers and has a very refined sense of smell but what she really sniffs out are myths which she profile in her series of books and shows as a mythologist. She is invited to the Isle of Jersey in Britain by an old friend who has found a diary of Victor Hugo's and he thinks that it might lead to secrets that could go all the way back to the Druids.

This book weaves the past, the very past and the present together in a delightful way. It marries real people with fictional seamlessly. Ms. Rose is incredibly adept at creating different moods for different times; it's part of her magic as a writer. Reading one of her books is more experience than act. I find that because of the spell she weaves it takes me a bit to return to reality when I stop reading.

Jac is a very complex woman - obviously experiencing events from the past but refusing to accept what is right in front of her. She stays rooted in the present as she solves the mysteries of the past.

Rating:
4.5

You can see the Seduction Tour Schedule

You can read my review of The Book of Lost Fragrances

You can purchase Seduction on Amazon.com
You can purchase The Book of Lost Fragrances on Amazon.com

Be sure to come back tomorrow when I will have a very special guest post from M.J. Rose!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Seduction from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Pastors' Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen - Blog Tour and Book Review

2013-05-19T12:57:00.000-06:00

I received a free copy of Pastors' Wives from Litfuse Publicity Group for my honest review.

About the Book:

What's it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors' Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen's debut novel Pastors' Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith-in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf's "First Lady," a force of nature who'll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace's son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves. Inspired by Cullen's reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors' Wives is a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors' wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.

About the Author:

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen was a longtime staff writer for TIME magazine. She now develops television pilots for production companies. Born in Japan, Cullen lives in New Jersey with family. This is her first novel.

Learn more about Lisa at her website.

My Opinion:

Pastors' Wives tells the stories of three women married to men of God; Ruthie, Candace and Ginger. The tales are told in alternating chapters starting with Ruthie. She was reared Catholic but married Protestant. Her husband was not a pastor but rather a Wall Street money manager when they married but he was suddenly "called" and boom! that was that - Ruthie was now a pastor's wife even though she has doubts about her own belief in God.

Candace is married to Pastor Aaron and together they are Greenleaf, a megachurch. Despite having a council of elders, Candace is the force behind the multimillion dollar church. She will do whatever is necessary to support her husband and see his vision succeed. They are in need of a new associate pastor with a financial background and guess who gets the job?

Ginger is married to Candace and Aaron's son who has started his own church under the auspices of Greenleaf - Newleaf - but he is always gone on missions to save the world. She is not the ideal candidate to be a pastor's wife but does that mean she can't be a good woman?

The womens' stories are told in alternating chapters and the book really reads like excerpts from their diaries at times. There is a semblance of a plot(s) involving a disgruntled church elder and Ginger's past but nothing that really compels the reader to keep turning the pages. It's a shame because there is so much possibility here as these are three very well developed characters and there was much to be mined with the bits and pieces the author dropped in but didn't fully develop. It's like the plot points snuck in, said hello and left without leaving an impression and the reader was back to a diary entry. This reader was left feeling unfulfilled.

Rating:
3

You can read additional reviews of Pastors' Wives

You can purchase Pastors' Wives on Amazon.com

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is celebrating the release of her debut novel, Pastors' Wives, with an iPad Mini Giveaway and connecting with readers on Facebook on May 23rd!

One winner will receive:

an iPad Mini
A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Pastors' Wives" Author Chat Party on May 23rd. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Lisa will also be giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Pastors' Wives and join Lisa on the evening of May 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Pastors' Wives from Litfuse Publicist Group for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Photo Challenge, Week 20: Looking Up

2013-05-17T20:26:00.001-06:00

This week sure flew by quickly! It's time for another post in the weekly photo challenge and this week's prompt from Sally at The Studio Sublime was Looking Up.

We tend to always be looking forward to the future.

We set our sites on the world in front of us and sometimes rely on "tunnel vision" to get to our goals. Don't get me wrong, looking forward is a great way to achieve your goals, but sometimes looking at your world one way can lead to creative gridlock and if we just change our perspective a tiny bit a whole new avenue of ideas may open up!

This week let's change our perspective and look up!

There is a whole world above us that we sometimes miss seeing because we simply forget to look up.

My skies lately look a lot like this:

So there is not much to see up...

I spend a lot of time looking up actually as I adore looking at the mountains that surround me. I feel comforted by them but when I read this prompt I felt that I should post a photo from a time I was forced to look up.

We had a HUGE gust of wind and it blew the skylight right off of the yurt. I was sitting at the computer and felt this WHOOOOOSH. I looked UP.

Uhm, we have a problem!
I called the hubby and he came home and set about at least covering the hole. It has a 6' diameter.

He had help.
Anything we do around here gets help.

I should mention that he is up about 18'.
Harry the Farm cat is fearless and he LOVES to climb ladders.

It's never dull around here.
I truly hope I never have to look UP for this again.
Although that is the view I have when I look up and out the skylight when it is ON the yurt.
It is also especially beautiful when the full moon passes overhead when it is in line with the skylight.

Be sure to check out all of the other UPlifting photos at The Studio Sublime!

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Strawberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream - Recipe

2013-05-17T14:43:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough this year to have a lot of strawberries to play with - I usually only get enough to make a batch of jam or two and some to eat and that's that. But this year I was able to make my very first strawberry pie.

It won't be my last.....

This was a new crust recipe for me and it made the best crust I've had on a pie in a long, long time so I'd say it's a keeper!

It was so very easy to make and really, really delicious! I've included the ingredients and directions for making the goat's milk ice cream within the widget. You can substitute cow's milk - just be sure the milk is full fat.

Take 6 ounces of the ugliest strawberries and puree them in the food processor (1 1/2 cups). Whisk together the cornstarch and salt in a saucepan and add the berry puree. Bring to a full boil stirring constantly to avoid burning.

Cook for two minutes and remove from heat. Stir in the lemon juice. Cool to room temperature.

Cut the remaining berries into bite sized chunks.

Stir in the thickened puree and gently mix.

Scoop into the cooled pie shell and arrange nicely.

This was so good it did not last long around here.

I served it with a scoop of the vanilla goat's milk ice cream and some chopped chocolate chips on top.
Mmmmmmm.

I love strawberry pie!

A Prince to be Feared by Mary Lancaster - Blog Tour and eBook Giveaway #PrinceToBeFearedTour

2013-05-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

I am very pleased to offer an ecopy of A Prince to be Feared by Mary Lancaster for giveaway today as part of her Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour.

About the Book:

Publication Month: April 2013
eBook; 343p
ISBN: 978-0-9573016-8-9

Europe’s most fearsome prisoner, Vlad Dracula, gifted military commander and one time Prince of Wallachia, the notorious Lord Impaler himself, is about to be released after twelve long years, in order to hold back the tide of Ottoman aggression. The price of his new alliance with his Hungarian captors is the king’s cousin Ilona.

Ilona does not wish to be married. In particular, she doesn’t wish to marry Vlad. Gentle, faded and impossibly vague, Ilona is hardly fit for court life, let alone for dealing with so difficult a husband.

But Ilona’s wishes have nothing to do with Vlad’s reputation and everything to do with a lifelong love affair that finally broke her. Ilona’s family blame Vlad; Vlad vows to discover the truth and sets out by unconventional means to bring back the woman who once enchanted him. Among court intrigues, international manoeuvrings and political deceptions, Vlad reveals himself more victim than villain. But he’s still more than capable of reclaiming his lost rights to both Wallachia and Ilona; and Ilona, when it counts, has enough strength for them both.

About the Author:

Mary Lancaster’s first love was historical fiction. Since then she has grown to love coffee, chocolate, red wine and black and white films – simulateneously where possible. She hates housework.

As a direct consequence of the first love, she studied history at St. Andrews University, after which she worked variously as editorial assistant, researcher and librarian. Although she has always written stories for her own entertainment, she began to make serious efforts toward publication in order to distract herself from a job she disliked. She now writes full time at her seaside home in Scotland, which she shares with her husband and three children.

Mary is the author of three historical novels: An Endless Exile – the story of Hereward, 11th century outlaw hero, A World to Win – a Scottish governess finds love in revolutionary Hungary and A Prince to be Feared: the love story of Vlad Dracula.

You can find more information on Mary Lancaster and her novels at her website. You can also connect with her on Facebook.

You can see the A Prince to be Feared Tour Schedule

You can purchase A Prince to be Feared for Kindle on Amazon.com

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader (open INT) will win an ecopy of A Prince to be Feared. How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

Chocolate Banana Cookies - Recipe

2013-05-16T11:32:00.000-06:00

It's time for another Food Blogger's Challenge recipe! This week the challenge food was CHOCOLATE! What fun, right? I wasn't sure what I wanted to try and then I had two ripe bananas staring at me and knew I would use them since the two flavors pair so well together. I decided I wanted a cookie so I experimented.

I'm trying out this widget since I was asked to have a plug in for printing. If it causes any issues or problems, please let me know.

To make the cookies:

Preheat the oven to 350°
Prepare your cookie sheets - grease them or have parchment or silpat mats.

Cream together the sugars and butter.

Add in the egg, bananas and vanilla.

It looks a little icky at this point but don't worry....

Mix in the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt just until blended.

Stir in the nuts and chocolate chips. It's a gloopy dough.

Drop onto the prepared cookie sheets - I use a small scoop but you can also use two spoons.

Flatten out the dough balls as they will not settle while cooking.

Bake for 12 minutes and cool on a rack. Yes they do look a bit like mini cow pies but hey - it was the first time I tried this and didn't know what I was going to get. It's all part of recipe making.

So now, dust them with powdered sugar and it's a whole new cookie!

I really liked them. They are not too sweet and the banana flavor comes through quite strongly.

They are a very soft, cake like cookie and the nuts add a touch of crunch and help to bring an additional flavor dimension. The chips add another layer of chocolate.

Not bad for an off the cuff experiment!

Be sure to check out all of the other great chocolate recipes from the other food bloggers in the challenge!

The Roots of Betrayal by James Forrester - Blog Tour and Book Review

2013-05-16T01:00:00.000-06:00

I was sent a free book from Sourcebooks for my honest review.

About the Book:

Your Choice. Your Faith. Your Fate.

1564: Catholic herald William Harley, known as Clarenceux, guards a highly dangerous document. It's a manuscript he'd rather not have—destruction and death have followed in its wake. But things get much worse when the document is stolen, and he plunges into a nightmare of suspicion, deception, and conspiracy. As England teeters on the brink of a bloody conflict, Clarenceux knows the fate of the country and countless lives hang in the balance. The roots of betrayal are deep and shocking, and the herald's journey toward the truth entails not just the discovery of clues and signs, but also of himself.

In this brilliant new Elizabethan conspiracy from the internationally acclaimed author of Sacred Treason, faith and fear stir up a powerful story of loyalty, lies, and secrets.

About the Author:

James Forrester is the pen name of acclaimed British historian Ian Mortimer, author of nonfiction works including The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England (a Sunday Times bestseller) and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. As Forrester, he is the author of Sacred Treason (Sourcebooks, October 2012), the first novel in the Clarenceaux trilogy. The last installment, The Final Sacrament, will be published in the US in September 2013.

Website:www.jamesforrester.co.uk Twitter: @IanJamesFM

My Opinion:

The Roots of Betrayal is the second book of a trilogy surrounding a secret document that could bring down Queen Elizabeth I. William Harley, also known as Clarenceux is the current keeper of the document but someone he thought he could trust has stolen it and in this volume he travels long and far to get it back all the while learning about just whom he can count on.

You do not have to have read the first book, Sacred Treason to enjoy this book. Any backstory is explained in the narrative in a smooth manner that doesn't interfere with the current story line. The first part of the book - excepting the very first chapter - is a bit slow but it picks up about a third of the way in. Once Clarenceux starts his search it's a wild ride. Especially for our poor hero - he does take quite a few poundings and he has extraordinary luck but that luck is, I suppose all part of the excitement.

Historical figures play prominently in this book; specifically Cecil and Walsingham and they do seem at odds at times which is a twist on how they normally appear in novels. It's a unique dynamic in a different take on a historical fiction book - adding in that thriller/suspense aspect that is generally not seen in the genre. It most certainly adds a page turning aspect to a familiar period in history and makes for a good read.

Rating:
4

You can read my review of Sacred Treason
You can read an excerpt of The Roots of Betrayal

You can purchase The Roots of Betrayal on Amazon.com
You can purchase Sacred Treason on Amazon.com

You can follow The Roots of Betrayal tour:

May 1 - Passages to the Past

May 2 - Devourer of Books

May 6 - Confessions of an Avid Reader

May 8 - Radiant Light

May 9 - Historical Boys

May 10 - Bags Books and Bon Jovi

May 12 – The Girdle of Melian

May 13 - Psychotic State Book Reviews

May 14 - The Book Reading Gals

May 15 - Reading Reality

May 16 - Broken Teepee

May 17 - Booksie's Blog

May 20 - Found Not Lost

May 21 - Turning the Pages

May 23 - Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

Disclosure: I was sent a free copy of The Roots of Betryal by Sourcebooks for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

The Chronicle of the Mound Builders by Elle Marie - Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway #MoundBuildersTour

2013-05-15T01:00:00.000-06:00

I was given a free ecopy of The Chronicle of the Mound Builders from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review.

About the Book:

Publication Date: October 29, 2012
CreateSpace
Paperback; 416p
ISBN-10: 1479206652

Archaeologist Dr. Angela Hunter discovers an ancient codex at a Mississippian Indian dig site in the St. Louis area. Knowing the Mississippians, or Mound Builders, had no written language, she is determined to solve the mystery of the 700-year-old, perfectly preserved codex.

In the early 1300’s, an Aztec family is torn apart. A judge rebelling against the Aztec tradition of human sacrifice is cursed and escapes his enemies with his 12-year-old son. They travel from the Gulf of Mexico up the Mississippi River to settle in the thriving community of Migaduha, modern-day Cahokia Mounds, Illinois.

Angela recognizes the symbols as Aztec pictograms and begins to translate the story. However, other forces also want the codex and will do anything to get it. Can she learn the secrets of the chronicle before the tragic events of the past are repeated today?

About the Author:

Coming from a large family of readers, Elle Marie grew up with a love of reading. Her passion for reading led to a desire to write. After first publishing a nonfiction book, Living the Thin Life, she turned to fiction.

A visit to Cahokia Mounds sparked a fascination with the mysterious Mound Builders, about whom so little is known. What was their culture like? How did ordinary people live in the 14th century? What caused the civilization to vanish, seemingly overnight? She put her imagination to work and came up with a story line that put it all together. Extensive research enabled her to create a believable, engrossing world.

By day, she works in the information technology field at a large financial services firm. She is a graduate of the Missouri University of Science & Technology and lives in the St. Louis area with her husband. Chronicle of the Mound Builders is her first novel.

My Opinion:

This book is really three stories in one; the circle around each other all coming together at the end. Angela Hunter is an archeologist working on a dig at one of the sites of the Mound Builders - early settlers on the Mississippi. They are known for the huge mounds they left behind; many were destroyed to make way for development and many just disappeared but some have been preserved. (As an aside they are fascinating to see and the various parks/centers where they are located explain their purpose as best can be explained. The hubby and I toured a couple of them while traveling around in the fifthwheel.) While digging on a separate site an intact pottery jar is found with a strange "birdman" on the side. When it is opened an ancient codex is found.

The second story is the tale of an Aztec or "Mexica" magistrate living in Zempoala (near modern day Veracruz). He and his son are run out of town by a jealous priest and they travel to the People of the Sun - what we know as the Mound Builders today. There travels and travails were, at least for me, the heart of the book.

The third plot involves a secret society determined to protect the knowledge that the codex holds and a man determined to harness the power he feels is told within it. Both are connected to Angela Hunter; one is of her past and one will be her future.

I loved the premise of this book especially since I had seen the mounds in person. Learning a bit more about the society that built them albeit fictionalized fascinated me. I must admit that the ancient story was much more interesting to me than the tale in the present. Any dialog taking place in current times seemed stilted, formal and sometimes forced. It didn't flow like a conversation should and at times I felt like I was reading a textbook rather than a novel - and that was in the midst of a conversation!

The mystical aspects were exciting and fit in well with the story being told. The book is part fantasy and as long as you go with the flow these pieces are exciting to read. Overall I did enjoy the book but was much happier in the past than the present.

Rating:
3.5

You can see The Chronicle of the Mound Builders Tour Schedule

You can purchase The Chronicle of the Mound Builders on the following links:

Website: http://www.chronicleofthemoundbuilders.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Mound-Builders-Elle-Marie/dp/1479206652

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chronicle-of-the-mound-builders-elle-marie/1113712738?ean=9781479206650

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009Z6MXPK

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chronicle-of-the-mound-builders-elle-marie/1113712738?ean=2940015914061

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chronicle-mound-builders/id631871824?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader (US/Can) will win a copy of The Chronicle of the Mound Builders! How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of The Chronicle of the Mound Builders from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Rice Salad with Tangerine Balsamic Vinaigrette #ad

2013-05-14T14:39:00.000-06:00

I received a sample of Tangerine Balsamic Vinegar from Devo Olive Oil Co. for my honest review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

I am a big fan of rice salads. I am sure I have mentioned this before; they are excellent vehicles for dealing with leftovers. I ALWAYS make extra rice when I'm cooking rice so I have it for a rice salad or for fried rice. I was sent a sample of Devo Olive Oil's new Tangerine Balsamic Vinegar and I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. I must say that the tangerine flavor came through quite well in this vinegar. I'm going to have to get more of this because it can go with so many things.

Rice Salad with Tangerine Balsamic Vinaigrette

6 oz cooked tuna (or chicken or pork) cut into chunks
Sweetened omelette* cut into chunks
2 cups cooked rice - mine was Jasmine
1 avocado cut into chunks
1 cup strawberries cut into chunks
1 orange supremed and cut into pieces, juice reserved
leftover vegetables if you have them - I had about a cup of broccoli

*Sweetened omelette is made by whisking two eggs with 2 tsp sugar and 1 tsp soy sauce and a healthy pinch of salt. Heat a pan over med-high heat, when hot add 1 tsp butter. Pour in egg mixture and prepare like traditional omelette. When cooked flip onto a cutting board to cool. Cut into bite sized pieces.

For the vinaigrette:

2 TBS tangerine balsamic vinegar
1 TBS canola oil
salt and pepper to taste

Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature and gather them together.

Add them all to a bowl, rice on the bottom.

Add in the reserved fresh orange juice and gently mix. Let this sit while you make the vinaigrette; just mix the ingredients together until they emulsify and adjust the seasoning to taste.

Pour the vinaigrette over the rice mixture and toss gently.

The tangerine flavor in the balsamic vinegar really brought this salad together. I honestly don't think it would have been as good without that extra citrussy backdrop.

All of the flavors in the salad came together in a delicious way; hubby went back for THIRDS! I even had seconds which is very rare. The fruit, the avocado, the tuna and the egg were just perfect together and the vinegar was the perfect hit of acid to go with all the richness.

Rice salads are perfect vehicles for experimenting with different flavors. And as I said, excellent for leftovers - you can take last night's meal and make it brand new!

You can shop at Devo Olive Oil Co.
You can find Devo Olive Oil Co. on Facebook
You can find Devo Olive Oil Co. on Twitter
You can find Devo Olive Oil Co. on YouTube
You can read the Devo Olive Oil Blog

Disclosure: I was sent free samples from Devo Olive Oil Co. for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra - Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway

2013-05-14T01:00:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Hogarth (May 7, 2013)

In the final days of December 2004, in a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa hides in the woods when her father is abducted by Russian forces. Fearing for her life, she flees with their neighbor Akhmed–a failed physician–to the bombed-out hospital, where Sonja, the one remaining doctor, treats a steady stream of wounded rebels and refugees and mourns her missing sister. Over the course of five dramatic days, Akhmed and Sonja reach back into their pasts to unravel the intricate mystery of coincidence, betrayal, and forgiveness that unexpectedly binds them and decides their fate.

With The English Patient’s dramatic sweep and The Tiger’s Wife’s expert sense of place, Marra gives us a searing debut about the transcendent power of love in wartime, and how it can cause us to become greater than we ever thought possible.

About the Author:

Stegner Fellow, Iowa MFA, and winner of The Atlantic’s Student Writing Contest, ANTHONY MARRA has won the Pushcart Prize, the Narrative Prize, and a scholarship to Bread Loaf. He is also the recipient of the 2012 Whiting Writers’ Award. He has studied, resided, and traveled throughout Eastern Europe. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena is his first novel.

My Opinion:

Let me first write that this was an excellent book. Then let me write that it was one of the hardest books I've read in a while. Not for the writing style but rather for the subject matter. The writing style had me reading this book in one day. Some of the scenes were very difficult to read and while the book is fiction some of the aspects are based in reality and I'll forever be appalled at what one man can do to another.

I can't possibly recount the well derived plot any better than the synopsis provide above. Just know that the main story takes place over 5 short days with backstory encompassing 8 years and in reality a conflict of thousands of years.

Mr. Marra's narrative draws you in from the very first page with a horror of war and keeps you turning the pages to follow the connections between the citizens of a small village, a London trained doctor and little Havaa, the focal point around whom all the points turn. For it is saving the life of this child that sets the whole plot in motion and only as the story unfolds do we understand just how connected we all can be.

The story is told in the present, the past with sprinklings of the future that make it a fascinating experience for the reader. You don't know from section to section what you might learn to help bring the story to its conclusion and all the pieces are necessary for complete understanding. This is a book that requires attention but your attention is well rewarded. I am keeping it for a second read as I expect I shall appreciate it even more on the second pass.

Rating:
5

You can see the A Constellation of Vital Phenomena Tour Schedule

You can purchase A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on Amazon.com

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader (US/Can) will win a copy of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena! How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free copy of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena from TLC Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Margaret Fuller: A New American Life by Megan Marshall - Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway

2013-05-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 12, 2013)

From an early age, Margaret Fuller dazzled New England’s intelligent elite. Her famous Conversations changed women’s sense of how they could think and live; her editorship of the Dial shaped American Romanticism. Now, Megan Marshall, whose acclaimed The Peabody Sisters “discovered” three fascinating women, has done it again: no biography of Fuller has made her ideas so alive or her life so moving.

Marshall tells the story of how Fuller, tired of Boston, accepted Horace Greeley’s offer to be the New York Tribune’s front-page columnist. The move unleashed a crusading concern for the urban poor and the plight of prostitutes, and a hunger for passionate experience. In Italy as a foreign correspondent, Fuller took a secret lover; wrote dispatches on the brutal 1849 Siege of Rome; and gave birth to a son.

When all three died in a shipwreck off Fire Island shortly after Fuller’s 40th birthday, the sense and passion of her life’s work were eclipsed by tragedy and scandal. Marshall’s inspired account brings an American heroine back to indelible life.

About the Author:

MEGAN MARSHALL is the author of The Peabody Sisters, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Atlantic, New York Times Book Review, and Slate. A recipient of Guggenheim and NEH fellowships, Marshall teaches in the MFA program at Emerson College.

My Opinion:

I went into this book with the barest knowledge of Margaret Fuller. I'm now a bit more educated as to this remarkable woman born into the wrong time. But perhaps she was needed then to help enlighten those who would take the spark of an idea that women were more than mothers, more than housewives and bring it forward to a time where such an idea could burst into a flame.

In reading of her early life, where her father "homeschooled" her and expected learning from a six year old that was nothing short of extraordinary I felt sorrow for the girl who never felt the love of a father, only his scorn when she did not live up to almost impossible expectations. She had something wrong with her spine - scoliosis maybe? - that led to one shoulder being markedly higher than the other and she had migraines. I understand how debilitating they can be. But she pushed through. When he father died leaving the family with no income or savings it was up to her to provide and she did. In a time when women were not wage earners.

Margaret Fuller was also a woman of experiment; she belonged to the Trancendentalists where she had an ongoing give and take with Ralph Waldo Emerson. She ultimately worked for Horace Greeley and ended up in Italy where she may or may not have married the father of her one and only child. As she was coming home to the United States they were all killed in the shipwreck off of Fire Island, NY.

Ms. Marshall makes extensive use of Ms. Fuller's writings to make her biography come together. How better to bring a person to life than through her own words? My issues were with the Margaret Fuller "might have, would have" suppositions that I suppose are the only way to suggest assumptions but they were too many for me. That being written, this was a well researched, fascinating look at a woman who was scorned in her time for behaviors that wouldn't rate barely a smirk today. It's a shame that Ms. Fuller didn't know how much she truly was worth.

I am so glad that I chose to read this book. It was well organized, very well written and it has left me marveling over a woman wanting what was right for people, trying to find love and seeking the respect of family. Isn't that what we all want?

Rating:
4.5

You can see the Margaret Fuller: A New American Life Tour Schedule

You can purchase Margaret Fuller: A New American Life on Amazon.com

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader (US/Can) will win a copy of Margaret Fuller: A New American Life. How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Margaret Fuller: A New American Life from TLC Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Asparagus with Brie and Prosciutto with Lemon Honey Vinaigrette - Recipe

2013-05-12T13:09:00.000-06:00

As I mentioned when I posted my recipe for the Asparagus with Orange Hollandaise Sauce I did have a fair of asparagus. We had a party to go to on Saturday and as I was walking around the Costco I was struck with inspiration.

Hey, I'll take inspiration wherever I get it!
And heaven knows that one can find just about anything at the Costco.

I knew I wanted something easy yet tasty and I came up with:

Asparagus with Brie and Prosciutto with Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

You will need:

10 oz asparagus
13 oz package prosciutto
4 oz brie

For the vinaigrette:

1 TBS fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp honey
fresh ground pepper
salt

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Have a large bowl filled with ice and water nearby.

Wash, trim and peel the asparagus.

Drop the prepared asparagus into the boiling water for about 10 seconds.

Remove from the boiling water and drop immediately into the ice water to stop the cooking process.

When the asparagus are cold remove them to towels to dry. After I laid them out I then rolled them up until I was ready to use them. Before I used each spear I was sure to completely dry it off.

Take out the brie and prosciutto and get it ready.

I cut the brie in half and then cut 1/4" slices off of one half. I then cut the slices in half, then thirds. Cut each piece of prosciutto in half.

Place a half of prosciutto on your work surface. Place the dried asparagus spear down, add the strip of brie, fold the prosciutto over and then...

...roll it up!

Repeat until all the spears have the cheese and meat on them. Arrange on a serving plate.

Make the vinaigrette: mix the lemon, honey and olive oil. Add two or three turns of the pepper mill and salt to taste. Whisk well to emulsify. (I sent this with the hubby in a separate container. I wasn't feeling well so I didn't go to the party.) When ready to serve, do so at room temperature and pour the vinaigrette over the asparagus tips.

Hubby said everyone loved these. I know he only brought two back home and he gobbled them down pretty quickly! They were easy to make and from all comments very tasty.

You can see the rest of the asparagus recipes on the linky on my Asparagus with Orange Hollandaise post. Please be sure to go and check them out.

Last Minute Mother's Day Ideas Thanks to The Home Depot #DigIn #ad

2013-05-11T11:32:00.001-06:00

You may think that it's too late for any last minute gifts for Mother's Day tomorrow but you would be WRONG. With help from The Home Depot you can give Mom a fantastic day. With these "coupons" for your labor and some judicious shopping at The Home Depot you will have Mom smiling in no time!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Photo Challenge, Week 19: Hope

2013-05-10T20:36:00.000-06:00

This week's prompt for the photo challenge was HOPE. Sally at The Studio Sublime told us to put "self doubt on the shelf and just get shootin'." I must admit that I didn't have to think too hard or look too far for my photo. It's a time of great hope around these parts. It's gardening season! Each little pot of soil is full of hope.

Hope that the seeds planted within will grow.
Hope that what grows will thrive.

Hope that what thrives will flower.
Hope that what flowers will bear fruit.

We have been growing most of the vegetables we eat for three years now. We are just about at the point were we are a year ahead so that if we have a year where our hope is turned to dust we will still have enough to get by without having to resort to store bought.

This year I have more for which to hope. My husband has created an herb garden space for me. He put it just outside the kitchen door so I can go out and cut what I need. He is planting enough so I can freeze them for use all year long. Two kinds of basil, thyme, oregano (although that is in a separate location), rosemary, chives, sage and I can't remember what else will be there for me to use....hopefully! We had to fence it in of course because hope is not enough to keep the goats from eating the plants!

We are also putting in a berry garden but that won't bear fruit for two years. Talk about hope....

Be sure to go and check out what everyone else is hoping for at The Studio Sublime.

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Chick-fil-et is #FreshMade - Win 2 Coupons for Their New Salads!

2013-05-10T16:04:00.000-06:00

Don't you just love a crisp, fresh salad for lunch?

I know I do!
Now Chick-fil-et has #FreshMade salads and wraps on their menu!
Want to know more?
Of course you do!

Check out this widget for lots of fun and info and then enter the giveaway for two coupons for Chick-fil-et's new #FreshMade salads!

How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter! Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.

Asparagus with Orange Hollandaise Sauce with Scallops and Red Millet

2013-05-10T12:58:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned last week I am very excited to be joining with a group of food bloggers to be creating new recipes for a specific food chosen every week. This week's choice is asparagus. Now I must admit that I don't care for it but the hubby loves it. It's not something we grow as of yet; he's planting it for the first time this year but it's not a vegetable that you harvest the first year. We won't have it for two more years! Gardening is a true investment.

The bag I bought at the Costco had a lot of asparagus so I took some out for this dinner, I will be using some for an appetizer (Asparagus with Brie and Prosciutto with Lemon Honey Vinaigrette) for a party we are going to on Saturday - I'll show that recipe after I make it - and the rest I froze for the hubby to enjoy later. So without further ado, Asparagus with Orange Hollandaise. I wanted a twist on the norm.

For the Asparagus and Orange Hollandaise:

2 egg yolks
1/4 cup butter cut up into 6 -8 pieces
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 cup orange juice (I used fresh squeezed)
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
salt to taste
8 - 10 spears asparagus per person
1/2 tsp chipolte olive oil or olive oil and a bit chipolte powder
salt to taste

For the Scallops and Red Millet

10 scallops, thawed
flour for dusting
1 TBS canola oil
salt
1 cup red millet
1 TBS white balsamic vinegar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
salt
cayenne powder

Preheat oven to 350°

Trim asparagus and peel the bottoms.

Place in a baking dish and add either the chipolte olive oil or the olive oil and chipolte powder and a generous pinch of salt. Mix so that the spears have the oil all over them. Roast for about 20 minutes. (Mine were in a bit too long because someone's husband said they would be in for dinner at a certain time but was not. *sigh* They will not shrink as much if they come out of the oven when they are supposed to.)

Put a 4 quart pot of salted water on to boil. When it boils add the cup of red millet. Boil for 12 minutes. Drain in a colander. Add it back into the pot and stir in the white balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. Taste and add salt to taste. Set aside.

Make the hollandaise. Have all of the ingredients ready to go as this comes together quickly.

In the top of a double boiler over simmering water add the egg yolks, orange juice and orange zest. Whisk together well.

Add the butter a piece at a time, whisking until it melts in. When the sauce thickens, it is ready. Watch carefully that the egg yolks cook slowly and don't scramble. Remove the sauce from the pan, add the lemon juice and salt to taste. Set aside.

Make sure your scallops are dry.

Dust them with a bit of seasoned flour - I just add a bit of salt to mine. You can add pepper if you want.

Heat a heavy bottomed fry pan over med-high heat. Add 1 TBS canola oil to the pan. Add the scallops and cook on the first side for 1 minute and 15 seconds.

Turn them over - they should release very easily - and cook for the same amount of time on the other side. Give them a light dusting of salt when they come out of the pan. You do not want to over cook your scallops or they will be like rubber.

To plate I just added the asparagus, put the scallops in a line next to it and then the millet. I put some of the orange hollandaise over the asparagus and the scallops.

I then added a bit of cayenne pepper on top of the hollandaise. This is personal taste - if you want it hotter, add more cayenne!

The hubby said the asparagus was really good with the undertones of chipolte, the richness of the hollandaise and the orange sweetness all coming together for a delightful bite of food. I can tell you that the orange hollandaise with the cayenne on the scallops was a little bit of heaven on a fork.

Obviously this is not something I would serve every night but it was certainly delicious! The vinegary millet was the perfect accompaniment to the rich sauce. This would make an excellent Mother's Day dinner!

Be sure to check out all of the other asparagus recipes from the other food bloggers. More will be added as the weekend continues so keep checking back.

The Fifth Knight by E.M. Powell - Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway #FifthKnightVirtualTour

2013-05-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Thomas & Mercer Publishing
Paperback; 390p
ISBN-10: 1611099331

To escape a lifetime of poverty, mercenary Sir Benedict Palmer agrees to one final, lucrative job: help King Henry II’s knights seize the traitor Archbishop Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. But what begins as a clandestine arrest ends in cold-blooded murder. And when Fitzurse, the knights’ ringleader, kidnaps Theodosia, a beautiful young nun who witnessed the crime, Palmer can sit silently by no longer. For not only is Theodosia’s virtue at stake, so too is the secret she unknowingly carries—a secret he knows Fitzurse will torture out of her. Now Palmer and Theodosia are on the run, strangers from different worlds forced to rely only on each other as they race to uncover the hidden motive behind Becket’s grisly murder—and the shocking truth that could destroy a kingdom.

About the Author:

E. M. Powell was born and raised in Ireland, a descendant of Irish revolutionary Michael Collins. At University College, Cork, she discovered a love of Anglo-Saxon and medieval English during her study of literature and geography. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Manchester Irish Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and International Thriller Writers. A reviewer for the Historical Novel Society, she lives today in Manchester, England, with her husband and daughter.

For more information, please visit E.M. Powell’s website and blog. You can also connect with her onFacebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

My Opinion:

This books starts off with the murder of Thomas Becket and it doesn't let up until the very end. Utilizing one of the most polarizing murders in history Ms. Powell invents a conspiracy behind the killing beyond Henry II's desire to be rid of "that meddlesome priest." Mixing the real killer knights with fictional characters running for their lives after a secret is uncovered and you have a book that keeps you turning the pages until the very last one.

Young nun Theodosia, planning to be an anchoress at Canterbury Cathedral is witness to the killing and one subject of a search by the five knights taking part. Sir Benedict Palmer is that fifth knight - as we know history only reports four killers. The fictional Palmer finds that he is on a mission far beyond what he signed on for; he is a mercenary but he has a sense of ethics. When he learns that their leader, Fitzurse is going to torture Theodosia for information about her mother Palmer steals her away. They are followed by the evil knights as they race to save both Theodosia and her mother and find out why they are in danger.

I really enjoyed this book and read it just about in one sitting. The last few chapters had to be held 'til the next morning because I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer. It's a fast paced historical suspense novel if you will. I had a love/hate thing going with both Theodosia and Benedict as both were annoying at any given time but I figure when a character in a book has me wanting to slap them as well as embrace them they are well developed! The twists and turns are many and there is a bit of a Keystone Cops feeling at times but it was a fun book to read. The "secret" was pretty predictable but the bad guy was a surprise.

Rating:
5

You can see The Fifth Knight Tour Schedule

You can purchase The Fifth Knight on Amazon.com

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a copy of The Fifth Knight - the giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY! How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter! Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent a free copy of The Fifth Knight for my honest review by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I received no compensation for this post.

An Unholy Communion by Donna Fletcher Crow - Blog Tour and Book Review

2013-05-09T22:00:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Following the ancient tradition, ordinands from the College of the Transfiguration gather at first light on Ascension morning to sing their praises from the top of the college's tallest tower. Not one to miss any liturgy, Felicity finds herself swept up in worship as she listens to the timeless words.

But her delight quickly turns to horror when a black-robed body hurtles over the precipice and lands at her feet. Her investigative instincts immediately kick in when she sees a double-headed snake emblem clutched in the lifeless hand. Was this suicide? Or murder?

This time, though, Felicity will leave the investigating to someone else. She and her fiancé, Antony, are off to lead a youth pilgrimage through Wales. Yet even in this remote, mystical land, lurking figures follow Felicity and Antony, and Felicity finds herself haunted by the writhing snakes. Then an ancient holy well reveals another body . . .

Ingeniously plotted by a master of contemporary suspense, An Unholy Communion weaves Great Britain's holy places and history with an intricate mystery that will keep readers guessing to the very end.

About the Author:

Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 36 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. She and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 10 grandchildren. Donna is remembered by Idahoans with long memories as a former Queen of the Snake River Stampede, Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up for Miss Rodeo America. She is an enthusiastic gardener.

Visit her website at http://donnafletchercrow.com

My Opinion:

An Unholy Communion is the third in the Monastery Murders series and my second. I have not yet read the first book. In my review of the previous book in the series I felt this left me at a disadvantage. I am glad I had A Darkly Hidden Truth under my reading belt.

Antony and Felicity are leading a group pilgrimage through Wales but can't escape clues for a suicide - or was it murder? - that happened just before they left. It seems that trouble will find her whether she wants it or not. As the two, now engaged, tour guides take their charges through the tour the reader learns much about the history of monasteries and ancient practices. Perhaps more than is necessary to keep the mystery moving forward. It did drag things down a bit.

The two main characters are well developed and I do like them. I love the historical aspects written about in the story but as interesting as they were at times they were more instruction rather than anything that moved the plot forward. They almost dragged it down. The mystery was interesting but not compelling. I am not sure that I would read another in the series.

Rating:
3

You can read additional reviews of An Unholy Communion

You can purchase An Unholy Communion on Amazon.com

Donna Fletcher Crow is celebrating the release of An Unholy Communion with a Kindle Fire Giveaway.

One winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire
Books 1-3 in The Monastery Murders series by Donna Fletcher Crow

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 12th. Winner will be announced on 5/14/13 {HERE}.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of An Unholy Communion from Litfuse Publicity Group for my honest opinion. I received no compensation for this post.

Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith - Book Review

2013-05-09T12:36:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Jane Lambert, the quick-witted and alluring daughter of a silk merchant, is twenty-two and still unmarried. When Jane’s father finally finds her a match, she’s married off to the dull, older silk merchant William Shore. Marriage doesn’t stop Jane from flirtation, however, and when the king’s chamberlain, Will Hastings, comes to her husband’s shop, Will knows King Edward will find her irresistible.

Edward IV has everything: power, majestic bearing, superior military leadership, a sensual nature, and charisma. And with Jane as his mistress, he also finds true happiness. But when his hedonistic tendencies get in the way of being the strong leader England needs, his life, as well as those of Jane and Will Hastings, hangs in the balance. Jane must rely on her talents to survive as the new monarch, Richard III, bent on reforming his brother’s licentious court, ascends the throne.

This dramatic tale has been an inspiration to poets and playwrights for five hundred years, and, as told through the unique perspective of a woman plucked from obscurity and thrust into a life of notoriety, Royal Mistress is sure to enthrall today’s historical fiction lovers as well.

About the Author:

A native of England, Anne Easter Smith has lived in the United States for more than forty years. She was the features editor at a newspaper in New York State and now lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with her husband, Scott. You can visit her website at AnneEasterSmith.com.

My Opinion:

This is my second novel by Anne Easter Smith, the first being Queen by Right. In this tale Ms. Easter Smith tells the story of Jane Shore, Edward IV's last mistress. Jane was the daughter of a mercer (basically a fabric seller) who was apparently beautiful, smart and born into the wrong time. Smart women were not fully appreciated in a time that saw them as not much more than brood mares. Her father married her off to another mercer but they were not well matched and she soon caught the eye of the King's chamberlain, Will Hastings. This led to her being seen by the King and well - what choice did she really have?

The period of time covered during the life of Jane Shore is well trodden history for those of us that read a lot of historical fiction so it is somewhat refreshing to view the well known events through the eyes of a character of which I knew very little. To pass through the death of Edward IV, the protectorate and then reign of Richard III through a commoner's eyes was interesting. Richard was, at least as drawn in this novel, a bit of a stick in the mud and he perceived Jane as the ruin of his brother. As if, as I wrote above, she had any choice when a King comes calling.

This was a well written, fascinating look at a woman caught between powerful men at a very tumultuous time in history. She remained true to herself and to the people from where she came in spite of being cared for by the King. Ms. Easter Smith knows how to draw her reader into her characters' worlds so you almost feel as if you are right there with them. I can't wait for her next book!

Rating:
4.5

You can read my review of Queen by Right

You can purchase Royal Mistress on Amazon.com
You can purchase Queen by Right on Amazon.com

Disclosure: I was sent a free copy of Royal Mistress by the publisher for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

I'll Be Traveling In Style with Silver Charm Clothing

2013-05-09T09:14:00.001-06:00

I am heading back East to visit my family this summer - my nephew and goddaughter are graduating high school and my niece is graduating from middle school. I am so very proud of all of my "kids" and I haven't seen them in 4 years. FOUR YEARS! That is a long time and I really can't wait to go back. It's a challenge for either one of us to go anywhere with all of the animals and we can't go anywhere together for more than the space of time the goats spend out. Life on the farm indeed.

I haven't had many new clothes since I became a goat farmer; I don't exactly need to be fashionable while milking a goat! I did, however, want to look nice going home. I also want to be comfortable and you know I am a big fan of color. I found all three in a delightful company - Silver Charm Clothing. They work with what they call the highest quality "feel good" fabrics and design to compliment the female form. I am in total agreement with those statements.

I received the Scoop Neck Everyday Tee and it feels like a little slice of heaven. The fabric (50% Supima cotton/50% Modal) is as soft as silk. It's lightweight. When I put it on it was like wearing silk it felt so good.

It fit close to my body yet still hid my 53 year old lumps and bumps. I LOVE that it is has a nice length to it and I don't have to worry about what might happen if I stretch to reach something on a shelf in a store. No one wants to see my belly - trust me on that.

The colors make this a shirt that will go with many items in my wardrobe so it will be very useful for me on my trip. Obviously it looks good with jeans. It will compliment my khaki capris beautifully as well as my khaki pants. It will go with my jeans skirt. I wore it yesterday with a hot pink button down shirt on top as a kind of jacket until it warmed up and that looked great. It's going to be a really versatile piece in my wardrobe.

Silver Charm Clothing has many pieces I have my eye on. I especially like this corset top - go ahead, check it out. I'll wait. Did you note that all of Silver Charm's pieces are designed, created and dyed in the USA? And you get FREE SHIPPING in the continental US? Pretty spiffy! So take a spin around the site - I think you'll find some great pieces and original design. I'm thrilled with my shirt and I'll have photos next month from my trip back home.

You can shop at Silver Charm Clothing
You can find Silver Charm Clothing on Facebook
You can find Silver Charm Clothing on Twitter
You can find Silver Charm Clothing on Pinterest

Disclosure: I received a product from Silver Charm Clothing for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I by Sandra Byrd - Blog Tour, Book Review and Giveaway #RosesHaveThornsVirtualTour

2013-05-08T01:00:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Publication Date: April 9, 2013
Simon & Schuster
336p

From the acclaimed author of To Die For comes a stirring novel told that sheds new light on Elizabeth I and her court.Like Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, Sandra Byrd has attracted countless fans for evoking the complexity, grandeur, and brutality of the Tudor period. In her latest tour de force, she poses the question: What happens when serving a queen may cost you your marriage–or your life?

In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiance has fallen in love with her sister and her dowry money has been gambled away, but ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power.

Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth’s circle. But in a court that is surrounded by Catholic enemies who plot the queen’s downfall, Helena is forced to choose between her unyielding monarch and the husband she’s not sure she can trust–a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.

Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a brilliant exploration of treason, both to the realm and to the heart.

About the Author:

Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. Her second book, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, illuminates the mysteries in the life of Henry’s last wife.

For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children.

Connect with Sandra Byrd: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

My Opinion:

This is my third book by Sandra Byrd and I most certainly hope it is not my last. The three have been part of her Ladies in Waiting series and have presented a somewhat unique point of view on a queen we have come to know - for better or worse - through history's telling. Roses Have Thorns brings us to the glorious court of Elizabeth I and to one of her closest ladies, Elin (Helena) von Snakenborg. Lady von Snakenborg arrives in England on a mission from Sweden to try and woo Elizabeth to marry the King of Sweden. While there she meets the Marquess of Northampton and he convinces her to stay even when her party goes homes. He proposes marriage which would make her the second highest ranking woman in England; only the Queen would outrank her. But the path to her marriage is not smooth and she is not well accepted by the ladies of the court. Elizabeth likes her, though and that is all that counts in this world. She is invited into the Queen's inner circle and when she finally does marry Northampton she becomes one of Elizabeth's closest ladies.

At first when I read the synopsis I thought this had to be a fictional character but it was not; Elin von Snakenborg existed and was indeed the Marchioness of Northampton and one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. It's truly fascinating how Ms. Byrd takes the bits and pieces of these lives left to history and creates such amazing, rich, three dimensional characters from the few lines left on scattered pieces of paper. In all of the reading I have done about Elizabeth I I had never encountered this particular woman and viewing a most familiar Queen through her eyes made Elizabeth seem fresh and new.

I enjoyed the plot and Elin/Helena was a delight. I'm hoping there will be more ladies in waiting in the future to give a different look at other queens because it is an interesting way to visit familiar courts.
Rating:
4

You can see the Roses Have Thorns Tour Schedule

You can read my review of To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn
You can read my review of The Secret Keepeer: A Novel of Kateryn Parr

You can purchase Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I on Amazon.com
You can purchase To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn on Amazon.com
You can purchase The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr on Amazon.com

The Giveaway:

One lucky US reader will win a copy of Roses Have Thorns as well as the lovely Elizabeth I necklace shown below:

How do you win? It's easy! Just hop on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Roses Have Thorns from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

Blood Between Queens by Barbara Kyle - Blog Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway #BloodBetweenQueensTour

2013-05-07T01:00:00.000-06:00

Today I welcome Barbara Kyle, author of the Thornleigh saga. Her latest - Blood Between Queens is currently touring with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and I am honored to have a guest post today. Please enjoy the post and then enter to win a copy of Blood Between Queens!

"The Acorn and the Pine Cone"

by Barbara Kyle

I welcome every letter and email I get from readers, but there's one that I particularly cherish. Here’s the story.

Some years ago I was in England researching The Queen’s Lady, the first book in my “Thornleigh” saga, and spent a day exploring Hever Castle in Kent. This was the home of the Boleyn family, and Henry VIII came here to court Anne. That tempestuous affair, as we know, changed the course of England’s history, and is pivotal to my book’s plot.

As I strolled the grounds in a happy haze of imagination, I picked up an acorn. I squirreled it away in my pocket and brought it home to Canada, and it sat on my desk beside my computer, a potent reminder of its birthplace as I wrote The Queen’s Lady.

The acorn was still on my desk when I wrote my next book, The King's Daughter. It had become a touchstone that spirited me back to the Tudor world. I was very fond of it.

Then my husband and I moved, and in the shuffle the little acorn got lost.

A few months later, as I was preparing for the publication of The Queen’s Captive, I got a cheery email from a reader telling me he was on his way to England for an “Anne Boleyn Tour,” during which he’d be staying at Hever Castle. There would be dinners in the Great Hall where Henry and Anne ate, plus lectures, plays, and demonstrations – “A once in a lifetime experience,” he said. I replied to wish him a happy trip and told him about my acorn. His name is Colonel Elmer K. Follis and he lives in Tennessee.

Some time later a small package arrived in my mailbox. It was from Colonel Follis. Inside was a note: “I looked for an acorn to replace the one you lost but couldn’t find one. I did get you this.” Nestled under the note was a pine cone. He had scoured the Hever grounds for it. “It’s from the area where Henry courted Anne, according to the castle staff,” wrote the Colonel.

I was so touched. The pine cone has had pride of place on my desk beside my computer as I've written three more Tudor books. Thank you, Colonel Follis, for what you gave me. A once in a lifetime experience.

Blood Between Queens by Barbara Kyle - Blog Tour and Book Review #BloodBetweenQueensTour

2013-05-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

About the Book:

Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Kensington Publishing
Paperback; 448p
ISBN: 0758273223

Following her perilous fall from a throne she’d scarcely owned to begin with, Mary, Queen of Scots, has fled to England, hoping her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, will grant her asylum. But now Mary has her sights on the English crown, and Elizabeth enlists her most trusted subjects to protect it.

Justine Thornleigh is delighting in the thrill of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to her family’s estate when the festivities are cut short by Mary’s arrival. To Justine’s surprise, the Thornleighs appoint her to serve as a spy in Mary’s court. But bearing the guise of a lady-in-waiting is not Justine’s only secret. The weight of her task is doubled by fears of revealing to her fiancé that she is in truth the daughter of his family’s greatest rival. Duty-bound, Justine must sacrifice love as she navigates a deadly labyrinth of betrayal that could lead to the end of Elizabeth’s fledgling reign…

About the Author:

Barbara Kyle is the author of the acclaimed Tudor-era “Thornleigh” novels Blood Between Queens, The Queen’s Gamble, The Queen’s Captive, The King’s Daughter and The Queen’s Lady which follow a rising middle-class family through three tumultuous Tudor reigns. She also writes contemporary thrillers. Over 400,000 copies of her books have been sold in seven countries. In July 2013 Barbara will be a speaker at Ontario's world-renowned Stratford Festival with her talk "Elizabeth and Mary, Rival Queens: A Study of Leadership Lost and Won" about the cousin-queens Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots featured in Blood Between Queens.

Barbara has taught writers at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and is known for her dynamic workshops for many writers organizations and conferences. Before becoming an author Barbara enjoyed a twenty-year acting career in television, film, and stage productions in Canada and the US.

For more information, please visit Barbara Kyle's WEBSITE.
You can also find her Facebook and Twitter.

My Opinion:

This is the fifth of the "Thornleigh" novels from Ms. Kyle and my second. I read The Queen's Gamble when it came out (you can read my review) and enjoyed it. This series of books takes historical figures, adds in the fictional Thornleigh family - and others - and seamlessly weaves a story that very well could have happened. A big bonus - you do not have to have read any of the preceding books to understand what is going on! They build upon each other but are not dependent upon each other for full enjoyment of the story.

This installment has three interlocking plots; Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scotts make up the main storyline. As the novel opens Mary has just escaped over the border and is looking for help from her cousin. One of the Thornleighs, young Justine is placed in Mary's household as a spy. But Justine is of traitorous stock; her father was killed years ago fighting against Elizabeth but the Thornleighs took her in and reared her as their own. She has fallen in love with a man whose own father was killed by one of her relatives and he doesn't know her true identity and proving her loyalty can show him where her heart is. The third storyline involves Adam Thornleigh, as he battles back from a horrible shipboard defeat by the Spanish. He loves Elizabeth as his queen and as a woman.

Ms. Kyle manages to make her fictional characters move in and out of history as if they belonged. I was pulled into the story from the very first page. I must admit that I liked the subplot with Justine more than with Adam - I found her to be a more likable character. Adam just rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. He did redeem himself a bit towards the end but I'm not giving any plot points away. The different families and stories are kept separate but I never felt as if the book were disjointed. The Thornleigh family is big and different members get a focus in each book in the series and then play minor roles in the other books. I suppose that is why they can stand alone so well. The plot was very well developed and kept me turning the pages until the end. It left me wanting more....which is exactly what you want from a book series like this!

Rating:
4

You can see the Blood Between Queens Tour Schedule

You can purchase Blood Between Queens on Amazon.com

Be sure to come back tomorrow when I will have a Guest Post from the author of Blood Between Queens, Ms. Barbara Kyle and a giveaway!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Blood Between Queens from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest review. I received no compensation for this post.