July 1, 2019 – Gwendalyn’s Books

Hello Bookish Friends And Welcome To My Stop On The Much Anticipated Book Tour

The Earl in Black Armor Tour

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Blog Tour and Book Review

The Earl in Black Armor
by Nancy Blanton

Publication Date: March 17, 2019
Ellys-Daughtrey Books
eBook, Paperback, Hardcover

Genre: Historical Fiction

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Ireland, 1635.

When the clan leader sends Faolán Burke to Dublin to spy on Thomas Wentworth, the ruthless Lord Deputy of Ireland, the future of his centuries-old clan rests upon his shoulders. Wentworth is plotting to acquire clan lands of Connacht for an English Protestant plantation. To stop him, Faolán must discover misdeeds that could force King Charles to recall Wentworth to England.

Leaving his young daughter Elvy in the care of his best friend Aengus, Faolán works as a porter in Dublin Castle, and aligns with the alluring Denisa, Wentworth’s personal assistant. She, too, spies on Wentworth, but for very personal reasons.

While Faolán knows he should hate Wentworth, he admires his prosecution of pirates and corrupt nobles who prey on Irish merchants. Supremely arrogant and cruel to his enemies, Wentworth shows loyalty, warmth and compassion for family, friends and a few select others.

A common mission takes Faolán and Denisa from Dublin to London and Hampton Court; to York and Scotland; and to the highest levels of court intrigue and power. But secrets, fears, war and betrayal threaten their love—and even their lives. And as Wentworth’s power grows, so grow the deadly plans of his most treacherous and driven enemies.

“If you are looking for an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then look no further! Get ready for court intrigue, roguish behavior, and of course, that little bit of romance… Well, then you have a book that is hard to put down.” — Rebecca Hill, Net Galley Reviewer

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The Earl in Black Armour

by Nancy Blanton

Ellis-Daughtrey Books

The Earl in Black Armor is a bridge book written of the interval of events between Blanton’s first two historical novels Sharavogue, and The Prince of Glencurragh

“The messengers reported the evil omen as an angry sunset the sky search Crimson as a fresh blood has been poured into a bright silver basin”

This was a magnificent book, a rich and vibrant retelling of a man known to us through history and legend. One that invokes such powerful emotional response. Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Stafford, whose tenure as Lord Deputy of Ireland comes to life in this superbly crafted historical novel, which really evokes time, place and people. The Authors ability to create a intriguing multi-layered and fascinating portrait of intricately plotted, historically accurate medieval Novel.

Incredibly clever weaving of actual historical figures and atmospheric content.

Blanton’s main protagonist in this story, Faolán Burke is a recently widowed struggling single Father. He is sent to spy on King Charles’s Irish representative.

Thomas Wentworth. Wentworth was engaging for in breaking up the power of the Irish Catholic upper classes.

As the storyline unfolds under the authors detailed rich descriptive voice of Faolán Burke, who is sent by Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, to discover any unethical deeds that could force the hand of the English King and have Wentworth recalled back to England.

Faolán meets Wentworth personal assistant, The captivating Denisa Dumalin, who has her secrets and agenda.

Struggling with his loyalties to his Irish clan and his new found admiration to Wentworth, his love for his very young daughter. And the pull of his heart string for Denisa Dumalin. Burke must travel through out Ireland and England in the services of Wentworth. During this time he comes to see the multifaceted Wentworth, who prosecutes pirates and see the corruption of the treacherous nobles.

Once again the Author’s brilliant dialogue and historical research made the well developed characters come to life in, The Earl in Black Armor

I definitely would recommend this descriptive period historical fiction that has court intrigue, war and just enough romance that keeps you immersed all the way through to the satisfy end.

About the Author

Nancy Blanton writes award-winning novels based in 17th century Irish history. Her latest, The Earl in Black Armor, tells a relentless story of loyalty, honor and betrayal in the Stuart era prior to the great Irish Rebellion of 1641. The Prince of Glencurragh, her second novel, occurs in 1634 during the English Plantation of Ireland. Her first novel, Sharavogue, is set in Ireland and the West Indies during the time of Oliver Cromwell. In non-fiction, Brand Yourself Royally in 8 Simple Steps is also a medalist, providing a valuable personal branding guide for authors, artists, and business consultants. Her blog, My Lady’s Closet, focuses on writing, books, historical fiction, research and travel. Ms. Blanton is a member of the Historical Novel Society and is proud to be an occasional guest author on the award-winning UK blog, Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots. She has worked as a journalist, magazine editor, corporate communications leader and brand manager. Her books celebrate her love of history and her Irish and English heritage. She lives in Florida.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, July 1
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Tuesday, July 2
Excerpt at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen

Friday, July 5
Review at Jathan & Heather

Saturday, July 6
Review at Passages to the Past

Monday, July 8
Guest Post at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Tuesday, July 9
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Wednesday, July 10
Review at The Writing Desk

Thursday, July 11
Feature at Let Them Read Books

Friday, July 12
Feature at Coffee and Ink
Interview at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, July 16
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Wednesday, July 17
Feature at What Is That Book About

Friday, July 19
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, one winner will receive a signed hardcover copy of The Earl in Black Armor! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US & UK only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Earl in Black Armor
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Today Is My Stop On The A Bad Breed

BookTour And Giveaway

#Giveaway

A Bad Breed
Kat Ross
(Gaslamp Gothic, #3)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: May 31st 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Retelling

Pricolici.

A creature out of folklore. And nightmare.

January 1889. When a Romanian village suffers a series of brutal attacks, occult investigator Anne Lawrence is dispatched to the forests of the Old Country to hunt the killer – only to vanish without a trace.

The trail leads her mentor Vivienne Cumberland deep into the Carpathians to a remote monastery. As a blizzard rages outside, trapping them all with the pricolici, Vivienne risks sharing the fate of the woman she came to find. But is the culprit truly a werewolf … or something even more dangerous?

A man bent on revenge. And a love that was never meant to be.

Imprisoned in a decaying castle, Anne finds herself ensnared in a web of dark enchantment, at the mercy of a mysterious captor with a beast inside – and a memory as old as the ancient legends.

As the weeks pass, Anne learns his real identity, and slowly uncovers a complex and deeply passionate man. But is she willing to pay the price for falling under his spell?

Note: This darkly magical reimagining of Beauty and the Beast is the third book in the Gaslamp Gothic series, but can be read as a standalone with no need to start with Book #1, The Daemoniac.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

$20 Amazon gift card
Signed copies of the first 2 books in the Gaslamp Gothic series

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

A Bad Breed is Kat Ross’s is the third book in Gaslamp Gothic series.

After having read and enjoyed the previous other books in this series, I knew I wanted to fall back into Ms Ross’s Victorian Gothic world building.

The Author has masterly created a a compelling Retelling of the age old storyline of Beauty and the Beast. She masterly sets character conflicts of Enemies to Lovers, with an unsettling, intense, suspenseful, twisty, plot. Ross has tasteful written a fast, edgy and face blushing, erotic read.

Occult investigator, An Anne Lawrence is dispatched to the forests of a Romanian village. The village in the suffers a series of brutal attacks in January 1889. Anne’s investigation takes her deep into the Carpathians, where she mysteriously disappeared.

Vivienne Cumberland, Anne’s mentor must travel with her bonded Nathaniel, to find out what has happened to Anne. All is not what it seems in this complex paranormal, suspenseful reimagined fairy tale.

The author delivers a fast moving tale of shape-shifters, necromancers, daevas, and enchantments, for a non stop read.

I am definitely looking forward to her next book, The Necromancer’s Bride!

*Trigger warning of sexual content *

Author Bio:

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She’s the author of the Fourth Element and Fourth Talisman fantasy series, the Gaslamp Gothic paranormal mysteries, and the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day. She loves myths, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Check out Kat’s Pinterest page for the people, places and things that inspire her books.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)