Month: July 2019

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Blog Tour Dragonslayer & Giveaway

Gwendalyn’s Books

Welcome to my stop on

The Dragonslayer Book Tour and Giveaway TOUR SCHEDULE:
http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2019/05/dragonslayer-by-duncan-m-hamilton.html

Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (July 2, 2019)
Publication Date: July 2, 2019
Sold by: Macmillan
Language: English
ASIN: B07CRFSDLS


Author of one of BuzzFeed ‘s Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013

Do you have what it takes to be a Dragonslayer?

In this epic, adventure fantasy series, an unlikely hero, Guillot dal Villevauvais, must overcome his disgraced past as a failed member of the King’s guard and hunt down a ferocious beast thought long extinct. A dangerous quest, led by the swordsmanship of Gill, the magical powers of Solène, a barmaid nearly burned to the stake, and the goodness of Prince Bishop. From the critically acclaim fantasy author Duncan M. Hamilton, this fast-moving series is a must-read for fans of epic, sword-and-sorcery adventures.

–Successfully mixes swords, sorcery, and skullduggery with complex characters. Dumas fans will especially appreciate the faux-French setting. This is pure adventure fun with plenty for epic fantasy readers to enjoy.–

In his magnificent, heroic, adventure fantasy, Dragonslayer, Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy: a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons.

Once a member of the King’s personal guard, Guillot dal Villevauvais spends most days drinking and mourning his wife and child. He’s astonished—and wary—when the Prince Bishop orders him to find and destroy a dragon. He and the Prince Bishop have never exactly been friends and Gill left the capital in disgrace five years ago. So why him? And, more importantly, how is there a dragon to fight when the beasts were hunted to extinction centuries ago by the ancient Chevaliers of the Silver Circle?

On the way to the capitol city, Gill rescues Solène, a young barmaid, who is about to be burned as a witch. He believes her innocent…but she soon proves that she has plenty of raw, untrained power, a problem in this land, where magic is forbidden. Yet the Prince Bishop believes magic will be the key to both destroying the dragon and replacingthe young, untried King he pretends to serve with a more pliable figurehead.
Between Gill’s rusty swordsmanship and Solene’s unstable magic, what could go wrong?

You can purchase Dragonslayer at the following Retailers:
        
*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

– 6 Winners will receive a Copy of DRAGONSLAYER by Duncan M. Hamilton.

ENDS: JULY 25, 2019

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-The Author Successfully mixes swords, sorcery, and skullduggery with complex characters. Dumas fans will especially appreciate the faux-French setting. This is pure adventure fun with plenty for epic fantasy readers to enjoy.–

Mirabaya, a country similar to medieval France, is ruled by a young, untried king who should be easily led by Amaury, the head of the church. Amaury knows power is often best wielded frombehind the throne, out of sight, out of range of an assassin…. Threatening his plans is news of a dragon, a creature thought destroyed centuries ago. How best to deal with this nuisance?

Dragonslayer

Duncan M. Hamilton

Tor Teen

The Dragonslayer Trilogy:

1. Dragonslayer

2. Knight of the Silver Circle

3. Servant of the Crown

This book was received as an ARC from The Author,

Duncan M. Hamilton and the Publisher Tor Teen, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Once a member of the King’s personal guard, Guillot dal Villevauvais

is now a middle age over weight, and living his life down a bottle. Gill needs to resurrect himself if he is actually going to accomplish the daunting task set before him ….and become the eponymous Dragonslayer once more , …Our hero

Selene character slowly builds but she just wants to have a simple life. A character in this book that I was connected to, I was really intrigued by the undefined nature of her raw magic I just wished there was more of her in the storyline. Maybe I am just being biased.

Together they join forces to take down a vengeful dragon, Alpheratz

The storyline develops as millennium of old secrets are brought to the surface.

This Old school Fantasy World-building but it felt somewhat light. Personally I think the book is actually more character driven. The Authors creative and engaging dialogue and writing style, sucked me into this heroic, adventure fantasy, world.

Together they join forces as a millennium of old secrets are brought to the surface, What really stood out for me was how the author descriptive voice of the Dragons POV. Hamilton draws on our sympathies for the dragons and gives them emotions.

This is the First installment in Hamilton’s Trilogy, And I am already looking forward to reading more. The author gives little subtle hints of empire he is building.

I think there is going to be more back story brought to life in the following books in this series.

Photo Credit: Jason Clarke


Duncan M. Hamilton is the Amazon best selling writer of fantasy novels and short stories, including The Wolf of the North and the Society of the Sword trilogy. He has Master’s Degrees in History and Law, and practised as a barrister before writing full time. Duncan is particularly interested in the Medieval and Renaissance periods, from which he draws inspiration for his stories.


He lives in Ireland, near the sea, and when not writing he enjoys sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, cycling, and skiing.His debut novel, ‘The Tattered Banner (Society of the Sword Volume 1)’ was featured on Buzzfeed’s 12 Greatest Fantasy Books Of The Year, 2013.Duncan is a member of The Society of Authors, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). He is represented by DongWon Song of Howard Morhaim Literary.
      WEEK ONEJULY 1st MONDAY BookHounds EXCERPT JULY 2nd TUESDAY Insane About Books REVIEWJULY 3rd WEDNESDAY J.R.’s Book Reviews REVIEW
JULY 3rd WEDNESDAY Stephanie’s Life of Determination REVIEWJULY 4th THURSDAY Lauren’s Bookshelf REVIEWJULY 4th THURSDAY TTC Books and More EXCERPTJULY 5th FRIDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
JULY 5th FRIDAY Book Briefs REVIEW
WEEK TWOJULY 8th MONDAY Nay’s Pink Bookshelf REVIEWJULY 9th TUESDAY Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace REVIEW JULY 9th TUESDAY Rose’s Book Corner EXCERPTJULY 10th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEWJULY 10th WEDNESDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT
JULY 11th THURSDAY Gwendalyn’s Books REVIEWJULY 12th FRIDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEWJULY 12th FRIDAY Port Jericho REVIEW
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Book Review Spin The Dawn

Gwendalyn’s Books

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome to my Book Review of Spin The Dawn

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Series: The Blood of Stars
Published July 9th 2019 by Knopf
Genre: young adult, fantasy, asian representation,

rating: ★★★★1/2

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ 。★ 。☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

“Sendo used to tell me fairy tales. How he’d love mine if he were still alive: the tale of a girl who’d sewn the sun, the moon, and the stars into three dresses.”

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. 

Sendo used to tell me fairy tales. How he’d love mine if he were still alive: the tale of a girl who’d sewn the sun, the moon, and the stars into three dresses.”

His gaze bored into mine, deep and penetrating. Melting my resistance. “I know one thing, Maia Tamarin–being with you makes me happier than I have ever been.”

This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own 

This story follows Maia Tamarin, a girl with aspirations to be a tailor, but because she was born female all she can hope for is to make a good match in marriage. However, when her father, a renowned tailor in his own right is summoned by the royal court, Maia decides to pose as a boy to save her father from becoming even more ill on the journey. Aware that the penalty of death is imposed for her actions, she’s determined to overcome the hardships to become the best tailor. Except she’s one of twelve tailors eyeing the coveted position. Despite her skills, she becomes caught up in the schemes of saboteur tailors and is saved by the royal court magician Edan, who has seen through her disguise; his motives unclear. Her final challenge is the most difficult: crafting three dresses for the king’s bride-to-be using the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. Her journey will set her on a path that she never imagined, 

Maia Tamarin, has aspirations to be a tailor, in world where women are subservient. Born the only girl in a family of three older brothers, with a Father as Tailor. She sacrifices everything to protect her family. In a turn of events she seizes the opportunity for a one in life time chance to become a Court Tailor. Maia decides to pose as a boy and Travel to court In disguise as her brother .while there she must avoid court intrigue and schemes of saboteur tailors .She must face her final challenge crafting three dresses for the king’s bride-to-be using the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. 

Her journey will set her on a path that she never imagined.. 

The Author has creatively weaved One Thousand and One Nights into a Chinese-themed adventure story, with just enough sweet romance to make it a perfect read!
This is one of those books that you just have to read to know what feeling I’m getting at. It sucks you in and keeps you hungry for more until you reach the mind-blowing ending. It’s a unique and unforgettable magical storyline. Masterfully created spellbinding world. I devoured this one as fast as I could and was completely drawn into the lives of these characters.  I turned those pages as fast as I could and then slowly took in this beautifully written page turner. 
What I especially liked is Elizabeth Lim imaginative writing style. I feel in love with the overall premise of the novel, and the quick pace it kept me engaged. 

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

I am having a give away on my IG Account

Clink On The pic below, to take you there

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel — for kicks, at first, then things became serious — and she hasn’t looked back since.

Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Book Tours

Book Tour & Reveal Of RiVen

Gwendalyn’s Books

Hello Bookish Friends and welcome to the

RiVen Book Reveal And Trailer

Series: My Myth Trilogy (Book 1)
Publisher: CreateSpace (March 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1544054173
ISBN-13: 978-1544054179


Winner: 2016 Publishers Weekly’s BookLife Prize in Fiction, Young Adult

Winner: 2016 Moonbeam Gold Medal, Young Adult Fiction
Winner: 2017 Royal Dragonfly First Place, Young Adult Fiction
Winner: 2017 Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award
Nominated for the 2018 Indie Next ListWhich reality would you choose? Seventeen year-old Emily’s dad is in prison for securities fraud and her mom’s strung-out on pain meds, leaving Emily to parent herself and her younger brothers and sister. She’s got things mostly under control until a couple weeks before Dad’s release, when voices start whispering in her head, and Gabe, the hot lifeguard at the pool, notices the strange brands engraved on her arm…the ones she’s trying desperately to hide. Emily doesn’t know how the symbols got there or what they mean. They appeared overnight and now they’re infected and bleeding. She’s pretty sure she’s losing her mind. Stress, insomnia, and her wounded egos drive Emily to self-medicate, which has to be why the nightmares from her childhood have resurfaced, why they’re commandeering her conscious even when she’s awake. It has to be why the fairytale creatures she created as a little girl insist they need her help. 




Triggered by the return of her childhood abuser and unable to cope with reality, Emily slips completely inside her elaborate fantasy world. She’s powerful in the First Realm, maybe even more powerful than her attacker. It would be so easy to stay there, to lose herself in enchantment…to lose herself in love. But something sinister lurks in the forest shadows. Emily soon discovers her demons have followed her inside her fairytale. They’re hunting her. With the help of the Fae, she frantically searches for the weapons she needs to defeat her greatest fears and escape back to reality before the man who tortured her can prey on her younger brothers and sister, too. Time is running out…*Non-explicit Trigger Warning: This book deals with issues of child molestation and abuse.


Behind-the-scenes picture from the making of the trailer for Secret Keeper (sequel to Riven).

Photo Content from Film 14.

Behind-the-scenes picture from the making of the trailer for Secret Keeper (sequel to Riven).
Photo Content from Film 14.
ABOUT SECRET KEEPER
Secret Keeper is the second part of the My Myth trilogy, and this astonishingly insightful and moving YA fantasy novel takes us even deeper into the painful reality of Emily’s existence. If you thought that the first novel in this young adult trilogy was moving, fascinating, unique and powerful… just wait and see what lies between the pages of this remarkable sequel to the first psychological thriller.

You can purchase Riven (My Myth Trilogy #1) at the following Retailers: Film 14 is an LA-based film studio.They produce cinematic book trailers, author’s videos, short films, and more.
Cinematic Book Trailers leave that lasting impression on the viewer, and remain with the book for as long as it’s in print. They’re stand-alone works of art, and at the same time they compliment the book perfectly. We create these cinematic trailers to give a poignant vignette of the book, which leaves the viewer curious. The tone, the pacing, the details, all generate tangible interest in the book and its author.FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBEPhoto Content from Jane Alvey Harris

Jane Alvey Harris has a Humanities degree from Brigham Young University with emphases in Art History, Italian Language, and Studio Art. She’s CRAZY about the visual and performing arts! Jane enjoys playing classical piano, painting & sketching, singing & acting, and especially writing poetry & prose.But her real passion is PEOPLE. She loves to watch and study what makes us tick as human beings. Jane is definitely a dreamer. Her favorite thing to do is weave together sublime settings and stories for characters to live and learn in…herself included.She currently lives in an enchanted fairy-princess castle in Dallas, Texas, with her three often-adorable children and their three seldom-adorable cats.
—Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

– 2 Winners will receive a Signed Copy of RIVEN by Jane Alvey Harris.

– 1 Winner will receive an Exclusive Basic Book Teaser from Film 14 (Valued at $500.00)

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Book Tour and Giveaway.

Gwendalyn’s Books

Welcomed To The

Someday We Will Fly Book Tour

@RachelDeWoskin

Grade Level: 7 – 9
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (January 22, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670014966
ISBN-13: 978-0670014965

Praise for SOMEDAY WE WILL FLY★ “DeWoskin explores a rarely depicted topic. . .A beautifully nuanced exploration of culture and people.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review★ “An unusual portrait of what war does to families in general and children in particular . . . affirms the human need for art and beauty in hard times.” ―Booklist, starred review

“A provocative exploration of what resilience means when you’re pushed to the edge.” ―BCCB

“With pathos and a fine eye for historical detail, DeWoskin (Blind) relates the story of Shanghai’s Jewish refugees during WWII, when Shanghai was under Japanese occupation. DeWoskin captures the crushing destruction of war and occupation, the unfathomable resilience communities can muster through cross-cultural friendships and acts of kindness, and the power of the performing arts to foster hope in times of struggle and desperation.” —Publishers Weekly

“A provocative exploration of what resilience means when you’re pushed to the edge.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

DeWoskin vividly captures this fraught time of dislocation and turmoil, and deftly connects the anguish of Jewish refugees and the agony of the Japanese occupation, elevating this beautiful novel into a clarion call for peace. —The National Book Review

“Rachel DeWoskin’s storytelling features an extraordinary combination of curiosity and kindness, on top of a belief that everyone can have an impact on the world they find themselves in. Someday We Will Fly is powerful, adventurous story of a teenager who confronts the brutal history with courage, love, and imagination. I could not put it down.” —Aleksandar Hemon, author of Nowhere Man and The Lazarus Project 


“An engrossing and beautifully-rendered plunge into less-known Holocaust history, featuring the plight of Jewish World War II refugees in Japanese-occupied Shanghai.” —Julie Berry, Printz Honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa“Though I have written extensively about the Holocaust in novels, a picture book, poems, I had never before heard of the 23,000 Jews who fled to Shanghai for the duration of the war. Starvation, rough treatment by occupying Japanese troops, the teenagers turning to all kinds of difficult work (including gentlemen’s clubs as dancers and prostitution) to make money for their devastated families. Rampant disease, and early deaths were their daily lot. In Someday We Will Fly Rachel DeWoskin has taken the horrors and turned them into a YA novel that is terrifically moving and full of a kind of poetry in motion that is both terrifying and uplifting in equal measure.” —Jane Yolen, author of Mapping the Bones, The Stone Angel, Devil’s Arithmetic, Briar RoseFleeing Poland 1941, Lillia and her circus preforming family become split: her mother is left behind while the family travels to the last city that will take Jewish refugees: Shanghai. This unique view into a forgotten part of history is told with candid, yet lovely prose. While some aspects of the story are embellished, the book holds true to history. A great companion to Salt to the Sea. —Readers Books “Someday We Will Fly is an intense and immersive novel.” —TeenReadsOTHER HONORS
● Junior Library Guild selection
● Kirkus “Historical Fiction Gems” selection (January 2019)
● Bookish January 2019 Book Club PickWarsaw, Poland. The year is 1940 and Lillia is 15 when her mother, Alenka, disappears and her father flees with Lillia and her younger sister, Naomi, to Shanghai, one of the few places that will accept Jews without visas. There they struggle to make a life; they have no money, there is little work, no decent place to live, a culture that doesn’t understand them. And always the worry about Alenka. How will she find them? Is she still alive? Meanwhile Lillia is growing up, trying to care for Naomi, whose development is frighteningly slow, in part from malnourishment. Lillia finds an outlet for her artistic talent by making puppets, remembering the happy days in Warsaw when they were circus performers. She attends school sporadically, makes friends with Wei, a Chinese boy, and finds work as a performer at a “gentlemen’s club” without her father’s knowledge.But meanwhile the conflict grows more intense as the Americans declare war and the Japanese force the Americans in Shanghai into camps. More bombing, more death. Can they survive, caught in the crossfire?You can purchase Someday We Will Fly at the following Retailers: Photo Content from Rachel DeWoskin

Rachel DeWoskin has spent much of her life in China, including childhood summers with her parents and brothers, excavating ancient Chinese musical and medical instruments for her dad’s research. Rachel lived in Bejing for most of her twenties, where she became the unlikely star of a Chinese soap opera called Foreign Babes in Bejing. She spent the last six summers in Shanghai, where she researched and wrote Someday We Will Fly.
Rachel lives in Chicago with her husband, playwright Zayd Dohrn, and their two daughters. She is on the fiction faculty of the University of Chicago and is an affiliated faculty member in Jewish studies and East Asian Studies.
—Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

3 Winners will receive a Copy of SOMEDAY WE WILL FLY By Rachel DeWoskin.

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– 3 Winners will receive a Copy of SOMEDAY WE WILL FLY By Rachel DeWoskin.

        

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Book Tours

Book Tour and Reviewing

Gwendalyn’s Books

Soteria The Crisis Forge

by Roberto Arcoleo

@chandrapress

@RobertoArcoleo

Trigger Warnings: Adult Content

Sex, alcohol and Drug Use

Thank So Much Chandra Press for Sending Me This Book

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

With Time Running Out And The Fate Of Both Plants, Can Mark And Jason Unravel The Truth Before It’s To Late? …….

Release Date July 5th

https://www.chandrapress.com/

Set in Manhattan in the 1960’s, Soteria is a captivating and thrilling story of twin brothers facing corruption and incredible odds as they attempt to save Earth from annihilation.

SENT TO EARTH TO SAVE IT, MARK AND JASON MUST UNRAVEL THE TRUTH OF THEIR MISSION BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

While on a routine transportation run, an ore hauler from the planet Eldern discovers that humans on Earth have developed nuclear capabilities. What’s more, they learn an asteroid is on a trajectory that will destroy all known life on the planet forty years in the future. The Council of Eldern decides to intervene. A plan is drawn up and twin emissaries are sent to Earth to save it.

Mark and Jason grow up and settle into Manhattan in the 1960’s. With protests, vibrant art, and a thriving music scene, the city is pulsating with energy and the future looks bright. More powers are revealed to the twins but few details about their mission are provided. As the time grows closer for them to fulfill their duty, they sense that things are not as they seem.

With the fate of both planets in the balance and time running out, can Mark and Jason unravel the truth before it is too late? 

Soteria: The Crisis Forge by Roberto Arcoleo, Is a drama filled Syfy, with a character driven plot. Arcoleo, adds an alien infiltration trope and historical fictional of the turbulent times of Manhattan in the 1960’s.

In this well developed atmospheric book, the council on planet Eldern, devise a mission to save our Earth from a comet that is blazing its way across galaxies on a collision course. They send two subjects to evolve into believable influencers to Earth.

The two main protagonist Jason and Mark who are twin emissaries, with developing powers that can influence others. The twins face their own character struggles and experience along side the chaotic and changing times of Manhattan New York during the 60s. Creative plot twist when things are not at all what they seem, The twins must accomplish their task along with new discoveries and save their own world.

What stood out for me was the authors ability to create the Art, Music and energy of the 60’s time period along with science fiction elements made for a real engaging Syfy read.

ROBERTO ARCOLEO

Roberto Arcoleo was born in New York City, Queens to be exact, into a working-class Italian-American family. Roberto’s father was a hardworking, grumpy, and reserved restaurateur, his mother a warmhearted, talkative hairdresser. 

Roberto was a bit of both. He grew up in Astoria in a two-bedroom ground-floor apartment with one younger brother, his parents, and an invalid grandmother. His early years were tumultuous and confused. Roberto never felt that he fit into the molds that were laid before him. His early extended family home life was chaotic, and his teenage years were worse. After the Catholic grammar school, he continued on to a Catholic high school. He hated them both. 

As a teenager, Roberto felt more and more apart from his surroundings. He withdrew into his own world. To onlookers he seemed full of bravado, but he was timid and reserved at heart, always feeling out of place. He started lashing out at the world with violence as mark of distinction. He found a home within street gangs and hard drugs at fourteen. Roberto started living on the streets at fifteen, but was soon taken in by a schoolteacher uncle who lived on Long Island. His uncle held him captive from his own devices until he graduated high school.  Later, in college, he studied psychology hoping to find answers. Still troubled, he didn’t find the answers he needed in the text. He gave up his clinical ambitions for more underground alternatives. The same uncle gave him his first camera, and he discovered photography.

Under a name other than Arcoleo, he obtained recognition as an artist. He received his MFA from Brooklyn college and later saw his art reviewed in the New York Times. Roberto’s work has been acquired by major collections. Among them Brooklyn Museum, the Chrysler Museum, the Museum of Fine arts in Houston and the Museum de l’Eysee, Lausanne Switzerland. He was the first artist working in photography to be given a one-person exhibition at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art; he was awarded a stay at the American Academy in Rome; and his work is presently in the National Gallery of Art.

He always had an urge to write and his late mother was always asking for his first novel. He told her he had to wait until he was called from a special place.

 

Adult Fiction, Book Tours, GiGi’s Bookish Toughts 📖📚, writers life

Blog Tour and Book Review

Gwendalyn’s Books

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

The Earl in Black Armor Tour

@hfvbt

@gwendayn_books_

#gwendalyn_books_

#TheEarlinBlackArmor #NancyBlanton #HFVBTPartner 

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

#TheEarlinBlackArmor #NancyBlanton #HFVBTPartner 

 

 

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

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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.

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Blog Tour A Bad Breed

Gwendalyn’s Books

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

GIVEAWAY!
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