Book Tours

Book Review The Lost Daughter

Synopsis from goodreads

About The Lost Daughter

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (August 27, 2019)

If you loved I Am Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon you won’t want to miss this novel about her sister, Grand Duchess Maria. What really happened to this lost Romanov daughter? A new novel perfect for anyone curious about Anastasia, Maria, and the other lost Romanov daughters, by the author of The Secret Wife.

The Lost Daughter

A family tragedy. A fight for love. A long-buried secret.

1918 With the country they once ruled turned against them, the future of Russia’s imperial family hangs in the balance. When middle daughter Maria Romanova captivates two of the guards, it will lead to a fateful choice between right and wrong. Fifty-five years later . . . Val rushes to her father’s bedside when she hears of his troubling end-of-life confession: ‘I didn’t want to kill her.’ As she unravels the secrets behind her mother’s disappearance when she was twelve years old, she finds herself caught up in one of the world’s greatest mysteries.

#thelostdaughter @gwendalyns_books_ @williammorrowbooks, @gill.paul1.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This was his moment; his place in the history books beckoned.

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

The Lost Daughter, begins in Ekaterinburg in 1918, just at the time the Romanov family are imprisoned at what was to be their final destination, in the Impatiev House. The fate of the Romanovs is recorded in history however Gill Paul presents a creative thought provoking alternative version.

In the 1970’s, Val is living in Australia. She is called to her father’s nursing home after the staff report that in his state of dementia he keeps repeating a phrase ..” I didn’t want to kill her” Val has no idea what he means.

Ms Paul link between Val and events of the past are slowly revealed but not at all in the way that you will expect. So, she begins a search for the truth about his words and her past. The clues she discovers are baffling a jewel-encrusted box that won’t open and a camera with its film intact. What she finds out pulls Val into one of the world’s greatest mysteries what truly happened to the Grand Duchess Maria?

Atmospheric, riveting and intensely entertaining historical fiction

About Gill Paul

Photo from authors website

Gill Paul is an author of historical fiction, specialising in relatively recent history. She has written two novels about the last Russian royal family: The Secret Wife, published in 2016, which tells the story of cavalry officer Dmitri Malama and Grand Duchess Tatiana, the second daughter of Russia’s last tsar; and The Lost Daughter, published in October 2018, that tells of the attachment Grand Duchess Maria formed with a guard in the house in Ekaterinburg where the family was held from April to July 1918.

Gill’s other novels include Another Woman’s Husband, about links you may not have been aware of between Wallis Simpson, later Duchess of Windsor, and Diana, Princess of Wales; Women and Children First, about a young steward who works on the TitanicThe Affair, set in Rome in 1961–62 as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton fall in love while making Cleopatra; and No Place for a Lady, about two Victorian sisters who travel out to the Crimean War of 1854–56 and face challenges beyond anything they could have imagined.

Book Tours

Blog Tour : Song of the Abyss by Makiia Lucier.

Thank you to Makiia Lucier and HMH! I am so happy to have been a part of the readers and reviewers for this book

#partner @makiialucier @hmhteen . #SongoftheAbysstour #SongoftheAbyss #TowerofWinds #IsleofBloodandStone #MakiiaLucier #HMHTeen

Song of the Abyss (Tower of Winds #2)

by Makiia Lucier

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 27th 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Synopsis:
Ancient grievances, long-held grudges, and dangerous magic combine in this sweeping standalone fantasy perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Rachel Hartman.
They came in the night as she dreamt, in her berth, on a ship sailing home to del Mar. After, they would be all Reyna thought about: two carracks painted scorpion black. No emblem on either forecastle, no pennants flying above the mainmasts to hint at a kingdom of origin.
Never a good sign.
As the granddaughter of a famed navigator, seventeen-year-old Reyna has always lived life on her own terms, despite those who say a girl could never be an explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar. She is determined to prove them wrong, and as she returns home after a year-long expedition, she knows her dream is within reach. No longer an apprentice, instead: Reyna, Master Explorer.
But when menacing raiders attack her ship, those dreams are pushed aside. Reyna’s escape is both desperate and dangerous, and when next she sees her ship, a mystery rises from the deep. The sailors–her captain, her countrymen–have vanished. To find them, Reyna must use every resource at her disposal . . . including placing her trust in a handsome prince from a rival kingdom.
Together they uncover a disturbing truth. The attack was no isolated incident. Troubling signs point to a shadowy kingdom in the north, and for once, the rulers of the Sea of Magdalen agree: something must be done. But can Reyna be brave enough to find a way?

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘁, 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿. 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸. 𝗡𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲, 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻. —Maliia Lucier .

SONG OF THE ABYSS may be the second book in the series, but it’s a stand-alone story most readers can enjoy without having read book one, ISLE OF BLOOD AND STONE (though there are maybe a few details only returning readers will be able to appreciate). Readers who enjoyed book one will find the same lively cast of characters plus a few new faces, though Reyna’s narrative definitely takes the spotlight–her desire to become a master of the Tower of Winds, her journey to save her friends, as well as her romance with Prince Levi of Lunes take center stage. It features the same accessible prose and the same deft descriptions of lovely landscapes that made IOBAS so enjoyable. In my humble opinion, Reyna’s story was even *more* engaging than Lord Elias and Mercedes’s (which I liked) . . . though I have hopes (and SUSPICIONS!) about book three.

Fantasy Cultures + Swashbuckling Adventure + Mystery + Dash of Romance = A Winning Combination on which Lucier now has a signature stamp, in good company with Susan Dennard (Witchlands) and V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic).

If you loved IOBAS, chances are good that you’ll love this one, too. And if you *haven’t* read IOBAS, don’t let that stop you from picking this one up (unless you plan to read book one and want to avoid the spoilers . . . there are one or two big ones). Any reader should be able to jump right in without confusion–for the most part, this book based on an entirely new adventure and events or existing relationships that require explanation are given it. Anyone who loves seafaring adventure tales of exploration, and discovery should definitely give it a try.

Incredible world building , adventure , romance , Great lyrical writing. Strong main female character . Excellent execution of plot. I really loved the pace of this book., its not rushed. Makiia Lucier , Song of the Abyss is the second book in her Tower Of Winds duolgy . It’s written as a YA book. But you would never know. It’s a great fantastic Fantasy. It can be read as a stand alone or along with,” Isle of Blood and Stone .“ Anyone who loves fantasy is really going to enjoy this series.

I think Makiia Lucier is now one of my favorite authors.

replica of the Santa Maria!

If you loved IOBAS, chances are good that you’ll love this one, too. And if you *haven’t* read IOBAS, don’t let that stop you from picking this one up (unless you plan to read book one and want to avoid the spoilers . . . there are one or two big ones). Any reader should be able to jump right in without confusion–for the most part, this book based on an entirely new adventure and events or existing relationships that require explanation are given it. Anyone who loves seafaring adventure tales of exploration, and discovery should definitely give it a try.

Available August 27th 2019 from HMH Books for Young Readers

About the Author

Makiia is the author of historical fiction and historical fantasy for young adults. She grew up on the Pacific Island of Guam (not too far from the equator), and has degrees in journalism and library science from the University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Her debut novel, A Death-Struck Year, was called a “powerful and disturbing reading experience” by Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist for Germany’s top book prize for children, the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. Her second novel, Isle of Blood and Stone, was inspired by her love of Indiana Jones movies and old, old maps.
She lives with her family in North Carolina.
Book Tours

Book Tour Crown of Pearl

Crown of Coral and Pearl

by Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: August 27th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg
Synopsis:
For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…
Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.
Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.
In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie

Crown of Coral and Pearl

by Mara Rutherford

CrownOfCoralAndPearl #NetGalley

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Published: August 27, 2019

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

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.

Crown of Coral and Pearl starts in a floating village called Varenia and it’s one of the most incredible and unique settings I’ve ever read about. I really enjoyed the authors world building of the floating houses and the ocean that surrounding the people. You feel connected to the trial and destitution of the people and their struggles.

The character building makes the setting even more creative .Twin sisters Zadie and Nor, meaning pearl and coral, reflect the environment not only in their names, but also how unique and individual the twins character development is.

The Authors writing allows you to feel the love and sacrifice the sisters have for each other. The sister relationship throughout the story was spectacular. What really stood out for me was the positive sibling and familial connections in this novel

The Crown of Coral and Pearl, Mara Rutherford has created a fantasy a world filled with intrigue and adventure, with an a standout POV.

I am looking forward to reading the book from this author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world, from Russia to Peru, along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband and two sons. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London and would rather study the folklore of her next post than the language (which she has found is a lot more fun but not nearly as useful). She is a former Pitch Wars mentee and three-time mentor. Her debut YA fantasy, CORAL AND PEARL, will release from Harlequin Teen in Fall 2019.
Book Tours

Book Tour The Chocolate Makers Wife

Photo from authors website

The Chocolate Maker’s Wife

  • Paperback: 608 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
  • Australian bestselling novelist Karen Brooks rewrites women back into history with this breathtaking novel set in 17th century London—a lush, fascinating story of the beautiful woman who is drawn into a world of riches, power, intrigue…and chocolate.

    Damnation has never been so sweet…

    Rosamund Tomkins, the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, spends most of her young life in drudgery at a country inn. To her, the Restoration under Charles II, is but a distant threat as she works under the watchful eye of her brutal, abusive stepfather . . . until the day she is nearly run over by the coach of Sir Everard Blithman.

    Sir Everard, a canny merchant, offers Rosamund an “opportunity like no other,” allowing her to escape into a very different life, becoming the linchpin that will drive the success of his fledgling business: a luxurious London chocolate house where wealthy and well-connected men come to see and be seen, to gossip and plot, while indulging in the sweet and heady drink.

    Rosamund adapts and thrives in her new surroundings, quickly becoming the most talked-about woman in society, desired and respected in equal measure.

    But Sir Everard’s plans for Rosamund and the chocolate house involve family secrets that span the Atlantic Ocean, and which have already brought death and dishonor to the Blithman name. Rosamund knows nothing of the mortal peril that comes with her new title, nor of the forces spinning a web of conspiracy buried in the past, until she meets a man whose return tightens their grip upon her, threatening to destroy everything she loves and damn her to a dire fate.

    As she fights for her life and those she loves through the ravages of the Plague and London’s Great Fire, Rosamund’s breathtaking tale is one marked by cruelty and revenge; passion and redemption—and the sinfully sweet temptation of chocolate.

    You can purchase link :

    The Chocolate Maker’s Wife at Harper Collins

    Karen Brooks has encapsulated all of those things in The Chocolate Maker’s Wife. She writes with an intimacy that draws you right into the novel itself, and with such atmosphere! This is a novel firmly anchored by its history, with an eclectic mix of fictional and non-fictional characters. The year 1666 features heavily, and for good reason. It was the year that opened with the Great Plague of London, which was followed closely by the Great Fire of London, all occurring against the backdrop of the second Anglo-Dutch civil war. In the Winter of 1665, Halley’s Comet appeared brightly in the sky, and it was viewed as some as a harbinger of doom, particularly given that the following year contained the foreboding triple six ‘1666′, which seemed to herald the Apocalypse. Given the whole plague, fire and war events that unfolded, you’d probably have been forgiven for jumping on the bandwagon of hysteria that was travelling around back then. It’s really such a remarkable period of history though. The Great Fire was a catastrophe of Biblical proportions that came on the heels of significant loss from plague.

    This novel is nothing short of delicious. It’s infused with chocolate, the descriptions so vivid you can taste them. With all of that history that I mentioned above, the excellent characterisation, the chocolate making, some pertinent social issues under the microscope, as well as a family mystery and some pretty dark skeletons rattling around in the manor closets, I am truly in awe at the scope and cohesion of this novel. It’s remarkable, rather political in a very clever way, a brilliant historical fiction that has jumped right to the top of my favourite books ever list. Needless to say, I recommend it highly!

    Photo by Stephen Brooks

    About Karen Brooks

    Karen Brooks is the author of twelve books, an academic of more than twenty years’ experience, a newspaper columnist and social commentator, and has appeared regularly on national TV and radio. Before turning to academia, she was an army officer for five years, and prior to that dabbled in acting.

    She lives in Hobart, Tasmania, in a beautiful stone house with its own marvellous history. When she’s not writing, she’s helping her husband Stephen in his brewery, Captain Bligh’s Ale and Cider, or cooking for family and friends, travelling, cuddling and walking her dogs, stroking her cats, or curled up with a great book and dreaming of more stories.

    Book Review, Book Tours, fantasy

    Book Review Child Of Tempus

    Happy Sunday Bookish Friends

    Today I Am Featuring A Book By A Debut Author

    Winnifred Tataw

    #ya fantasy #book Review

    The Gods’ Scion: Child of Tempus

    by: Winnifred Tataw

    •Print Length: 182 pages

    •Publisher: Winnifred Tataw (January 18, 2019)

    •Publication Date: January 18, 2019

    •Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

    Rodrick is a prince of the ruling country of Diar. He has a face kissed by the Gods themselves, with deep blue eyes and long ruby-red hair. Speaking of Gods, he also happens to be the Acolyte of Time. Gifts and curses with this power give him control over aspects of time. And being a dragon-human hybrid has its amazing perks too.

    But since childhood, Rodrick has had a target on his back, and his insanely power-hungry father, Demon King Ryton, comes across as his closest but worst enemy. Throw in the workings of an alcoholic mother, a bipolar sister, a recovering addict brother, and an adopted little sister with magical powers, and you have the royal family of Diar.

    Things couldn’t get any worse, until he meets the beautiful Princess Arcelia—but Arcelia isn’t the main problem. Her and Rodrick are on now on the run from Rodrick’s father, Ryton. And with the looming risk of world destruction ahead of them, Rodrick is worried about more than college exams.

    This book was received as an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

    Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

    An inventive fantasy by a debut author, Winnifred Tataw

    The Gods’ Scion: Child of Tempus.

    Right from the beginning you are swept up into the books enjoyable plot and likable characters that will have you cheering them on. Tataw has Created an urban/contemporary fantasy that takes on a faced passed storyline.

    Rodrick a ruling prince of the country of Diar, Being a Acolyte of his time, And dragon-human. But not everything is perfect, with turbulent family dynamics and a Demon King as your Father. Impending world destruction and magical realism with a dash of romance makes this an intriguing and engaging storyline. Great dialogue and magical elements makes for well written book.

    If you enjoy Ya Contemporary Fantasy than this is the perfect book for you.

    I look forward to reading more books from this creative Author.

    Purchase link:

    Amazon.com: The Gods’ Scion: Child of Tempus eBook: Winnifred Tataw: Kindle Store

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Winnifred or Winnie, as most know her by, is an artist, writer, and author of her debut novel: The Gods’ Scion: Child of Tempus. As a military child, Winnie has traveled extensively around the US East Coast and Germany, learning about the history, lore and culture of each region. Winnie has spent the last two years writing and expanding the world of  The Gods’ Scion trilogy series. Winnie has had a lifelong love of literature and art.  As a new writer she wants to create beautiful fantasy world and with compelling and intriguing characters. Winnie resides in South Carolina and is an undergraduate at the College of Charleston. She loves to spread positivity and joy to those around her, and look at the world through a glittery pink lens.

    Have a wonderful Day

    Book Tours

    Book Tour All The Bad Apples

    #penguinteen #allthebadapples

    Title: All the Bad Apples

    Author: Moïra Fowley-Doyle

    Genre: YA, Magical Realism

    Publisher:  Penguin UK / Kathy Dawson Books  US

    Publication date: August 1 / August 27 2019

    Hardcover: 352 pages

    @penguinteen

    Huge thanks to Penguin for sending me an early copy of this book!
    Trigger warnings for homophobia, abortion, suicide, rape, abuse, forced pregnancy.

    ‘It’s on every woman in this country. Kept in shame and silence for generations. Kicked out, locked up, taken away. Their children sold in illegal adoptions; their babies buried in unmarked graves. Forced pregnancies and back-street abortions, eleven a day on the boat to England only to come home to rejection and stigma. Insults and prayers and keeping up appearances – and how do you break a curse like that?’

    “Some loves ignite like forest fires, burn down entire towns before anybody’s noticed. . . Some loves smolder like a turf fire, are slow to start but will then burn bright and steady through entire winters.”

    “A good cup of tea is a witch’s brew,” the old women said together with wicked grins. “Heals all ills.”

    The stunning new novel about silenced female voices, family secrets and dangerous truths from the author of The Accident Season.

    ‘Exquisite . . . This is a book to hold tightly to your chest’ Irish Times

    ‘Lyrical . . . Compelling’ Guardian

    ‘Beautiful, visceral . . . A primal scream’ Louise O’Neill

    ‘Uncompromising, raw, devastating’ Publishers Weekly

    ‘I am in absolute awe of it’ Melinda Salisbury

    Moïra Fowley-Doyle is half-French, half-Irish and made of equal parts feminism, whimsy and Doc Martens. She lives in Dublin where she writes magic realism, reads tarot cards and raises witch babies.

    Moïra’s first novel, The Accident Season, was shortlisted for the 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize & the North East Teen Book Awards, nominated for the Carnegie Medal & won the inaugural School Library Association of Ireland Great Reads Award. It received two starred reviews & sold in ten territories. Her second novel, Spellbook of the Lost and Found, was published in summer 2017, received a starred review from School Library Journal and was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards.


    Book Blogging, book giveaway, Book Review, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery, GiGi’s Bookish Toughts 📖📚, Gwendalyn_Books_

    Book Tour The Great Jewel Robbery

    The Great Jewel Robbery:A Front Page Mystery Book 1
    Elizabeth McKenna
    Category: Adult Fiction, 204 pages
    Genre: Cozy mystery
    Publisher: Elizabeth McKenna
    Release date: May 28, 2019
    Tour dates: August 19-30, 2019
    Content Rating: PG-13

    There is no profanity. There is drinking, desire, and a kiss.

    Synopsis

    Mystery with a splash of romance…Chicago Tribune reporters Emma and Grace have been best friends since college despite coming from different worlds. When Grace is assigned to cover an annual charity ball and auction being held at a lakeside mansion and her boyfriend bails on her, she brings Emma as her plus one. The night is going smoothly until Emma finds the host’s brother unconscious in the study. Though at first it is thought he was tipsy and stumbled, it soon becomes clear more is afoot, as the wall safe is empty and a three-million-dollar diamond necklace is missing. With visions of becoming ace investigative journalists, Emma and Grace set out to solve the mystery, much to the chagrin of the handsome local detective.

    To read more reviews, please visit Elizabeth McKenna’s page on iRead Book Tours.

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

    The Great Jewel Robbery by Elizabeth McKenna is the first book in this delightful cozy mystery series.

    Chicago Tribune reporters Emma and Grace have been best friends since college despite coming from different worlds. Grace has been assigned to cover an annual charity ball and auction being held at a Lakeside Mansion on shores of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. When her boyfriend has a change of plans she brings Emma along.

    I was immediately sucked into the narrative and devoured every single page of this highly entertaining and deceptive book. Once I started reading it I was hooked and so absorbed in the storyline that I lost all sense of time. The author ability to keep my attention in this intriguing cozy mystery. I was definitely lost in this book and nothing was going to distract me until I finished reading it.

    An entertaining and quick read with the right amount of romance, a robbery, murder..a weekend party at a mansion. What more could you ask for?

    This is a fun, breezy mystery that totally enchanted me. The storyline is engaging tension filled who-did -it.

    A great light hearted mystery, that keeps you guessing all the way through.

    Faced paced exceptional dialogue with well developed characters.

    I definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

    Do you read cozy mysteries, The light hearted who don it’s?

    Cozy Sweet Cream Pancakes Recipe

    • All-Purpose Flour

    • Baking Powder

    • Baking Soda

    • Salt

    • Sugar

    • Eggs

    • Vanilla Extract

    • Heavy Cream

    • Milk, to thin the batter if desired

    Toppings for Pancakes

    These pancakes may take a few extra minutes to cook, but boy is it worth it! I feel like pancakes are kind of like the blank canvas of breakfast food!

    You can add different toppings to create totally different experiences.

    Gwendalyn G Anderson

    Meet the Author: 

    Elizabeth McKenna’s love of books reaches back to her childhood, where her tastes ranged from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to Stephen King’s horror stories. She had never read a romance novel until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene). She combined her love of history, romance, and a happy ending to write the historical romance novels Cera’s Place and Venice in the Moonlight. Her contemporary romance novel, First Crush Last Love, is loosely based on her life (she eventually married her first crush)

    The Great Jewel Robbery is her debut cozy mystery, and she hopes readers will like it as much as they have enjoyed her romances. Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and a sassy Labrador. When she isn’t writing, working, or being a mom, she’s sleeping.

    Connect with the author: Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

    Enter the Giveaway!
    Ends Sept 6, 2019

    a Rafflecopter giveaway
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    Book Tours

    Book Review THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE

    Hello Everyone,

    TodayI Am Sharing My Review Of The Winemaker’s Wife

    #thewinemakerswife #Reviewathon

    THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE

    The Winemaker’s Wife

    Hardcover: 400 pages

    Publisher: Gallery Books (August 13, 2019)

    Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of storied champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger mounts, Michel turns his back on his marriage to begin hiding munitions for the Résistance. Inès fears they’ll be exposed, but for Céline, half-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s chef de cave, the risk is even greater—rumors abound of Jews being shipped east to an unspeakable fate.

    When Céline recklessly follows her heart in one desperate bid for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, they risk the lives of those they love—and the champagne house that ties them together.

    New York, 2019: Liv Kent has just lost everything when her eccentric French grandmother shows up unannounced, insisting on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive—and a tragic, decades-old story to share. When past and present finally collide, Liv finds herself on a road to salvation that leads right to the caves of the Maison Chauveau.

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    Instant #1 bestseller from The Globe and Mail (Toronto) and The Toronto Star

    “Love and betrayal, forgiveness and redemption combine in a heady tale of the ever-present past…fantastic!” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

    The author of the “engrossing” (People) international bestseller The Room on Rue Amélie returns with a moving story set amid the champagne vineyards of northern France during the darkest days of World War II, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale.

    Review

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

    “Mark Twain, the great American writer was spot on when he claimed: “too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right”.

    The Winemaker’s Wife

    Champagne, 1940, at the cusp of the Second World War, Inès is the young wife of Michel, owner of the Maison Chauveau, a picturesque champagne house nestled among rolling vineyards near Reims, France. It should be an idyllic life, but Inès–who’s often treated like a child by her husband, his chef de cave, Theo, and Theo’s wife, Céline– is increasingly unhappy.

    She’s determined to make a change, but then the German’s arrive.

    Kristin Harmel narration is told through dual timelines from Liv’s life in the present and then between Inès and Céline during the war in the late 1930s-1940s. The contemporary chapters propel the story along, but past is a turbulent secretive echo of historical fiction.

    Devastated, and heartbroken Olivia, has just recently been divorced is relived to have an excuse to go to France with Edith, her wealthy 97 year old grandmother.

    While there Olivia grandmother Edith, slowly tells her incredible story of her and her friends the life she led during the German occupation of the village where she lived with her husband.

    This is a dramatic and intricate storyline infused with World War II elements of tragedy, betrayal, and brutality, tempered with love, devotion and heroism. The author masterly allows the reader to unravel the threads of this literary tapestry.

    Brilliant progression as the storyline gives you an incredible look at the French resistance during the German occupation amid the champagne vineyards of northern France. The author has created a compelling character driven, emotional resonate novel.

    What really stood out for me and what I really loved about this story was the compelling and emotional layered duel timelines and how they connected the story and the family. We see the historical side to the story and then a modern side to it. Each are strong, interesting stories with their conflicts and heartache that shaped the people.

    A deeply thoughtful historical fiction novel, based on details of real-life Resistance activities that occurred in France during World War II.

    RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 13, 2019

    Thanks to @kristinharmel and @gallerybooks

    #thewinemakerswife
    <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/15bedca74b7805d734126173edeff1c073831b10&quot; class="size-full" width="80" height="80" alt="50 Book Reviews" title="50 Book Reviews

    80%

    What should we eat

    while drinking champagne!

    One of our favorite indulgences is lying on the couch with a good book and a bag of our favorite potato chips. Can’t get better than that, right? WRONG! Kristin Harmel, the author of THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE, has just made that experience better by telling us that we shouldn’t be drinking water or soda with those chips—we should be drinking champagne!

    THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE, a historical novel set in the Champagne region of WW2 France, so she’s done a lot of research on champagne and is here to tell us that you don’t have to save that bubbly for a special occasion—it’s a great wine to sip with many foods, plenty of them not fancy at all. 

    So pour yourself a cold glass of your favorite champagne, open that bag of chips, and discover the other surprising foods you could be eating alongside your bubbly! Watch Kristin share her suggestions in the video above, or keep reading for a transcript of her picks:

    #1: Potato chips

    The sharpness of champagne, its acidity, cuts perfectly through the salt. 

    Which means that it also goes pretty perfectly with…

    #2: French fries

    #3: Spicy foods

    The bubbles can balance out heat, so if you’re diving into something spicy, like a great spicy pad thai, pop open a bottle.

    #4: Raw fish

    Raw fish, especially sushi, is also an excellent pairing.

    As is…

    #5: Salty, buttery popcorn

    Not only do the bubbles work perfectly with the butter, but the yeasty notes in champagne from Champagne, France, complement the toastiness of the popcorn.

    #5: Fried chicken

    Remember that acidity we mentioned? It also cuts perfectly through the grease in fried foods. So the next time you bring home a bucket of fried chicken, believe it or not, pop a bottle of champagne.

    If you enjoyed her recommendations, be sure to check

    out Kristin Harmel’s novel set in Champagne, France: THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE.

    Excerpt

    The Winemaker’s Wife  one  
    MAY 1940
    INÈS  
    The road snaked over the lush vineyards of Champagne as Inès Chauveau sped southwest out of Reims, clouds of dust ballooning in the wake of her glossy black Citroën, wind whipping ferociously through her chestnut hair. It was May, and already the vines were awakening, their buds like tiny fists reaching for the sun. In weeks they would flower, and by September, their grapes—pale green Chardonnay, inky Pinot Meunier, blueberry-hued Pinot Noir—would be plump and bursting for the harvest.But would Inès still be here? Would any of them? A shiver ran through her as she braked to hug a curve, the engine growling in protest as she turned down the road that led home. Michel would tell her she was driving too quickly, too recklessly. But then, he was cautious about everything.In June, it would be a year since they’d married, and she couldn’t remember a day during that time that he hadn’t gently chided her about something. I’m simply looking out for you, Inès, he always said. That’s what a husband is supposed to do. Lately, nearly all his warnings had been about the Germans, who’d been lurking just on the other side of the impenetrable Maginot Line, the fortified border that protected France from the chaos besetting the rest of Europe. Those of us who were here for the Great War know to take them seriously, he said at least once a day, as if he hadn’t been just four years old when the final battle was waged.Of course Inès, younger than Michel by six years, hadn’t yet been born when the Germans finally withdrew from the Marne in 1918, after nearly obliterating the central city of Reims. But her father had told enough tales about the war—usually while drunk on brandy and pounding his fist against the table—that she knew to be wary.You can never trust the Huns! She could hear her father’s deep, gravelly voice in her ear now, though he’d been dead for years. They might play the role of France’s friend, but only fools would believe such a thing.Well, Inès was no fool. And this time, for once, she would bring the news that changed everything. She felt a small surge of triumph, but as she raced into Ville-Dommange, the silent, somber, seven-hundred-year-old Saint-Lié chapel that loomed over the small town seemed to taunt her for her pettiness. This wasn’t about who was wrong and who was right. This was about war. Death. The blood of young men already soaking the ground in the forests to the northeast. All the things her husband had predicted.She drove through the gates, braked hard in front of the grand two-story stone château, and leapt out, racing for the door that led down to the vast network of underground cellars. “Michel!” she called as she descended two stone steps at a time, the cool, damp air like a bucket of water to the face. “Michel!”Her voice echoed through the tangled maze of passageways, carved out of the earth three quarters of a century earlier by her husband’s eccentric great-grandfather. Thousands of champagne bottles rested on their sides there, a small fortune of bubbles waiting for their next act.“Inès?” Michel’s concerned voice wafted from somewhere deep within the cellars, and then she could hear footsteps coming closer until he rounded the corner ahead of her, followed by Theo Laurent, the Maison Chauveau’s chef de cave, the head winemaker. “My dear, what is it?” Michel asked as he rushed to her, putting his hands on her shoulders and studying her face. “Are you quite all right, Inès?”“No.” She hadn’t realized until then how breathless she was from the news and the drive and the rapid descent into the chill of the cellars. “No, Michel, I’m not all right at all.”“What’s happened?” Michel asked while Theo regarded her silently, his expression as impassive as always.“It has begun,” Inès managed to say. “The invasion, Michel. The Germans are coming!”A heavy silence hung in the damp air. How long would it be before the quiet of the cellars was punctured by the thud of goose-stepping boots overhead? Before everything they’d built was threatened, perhaps destroyed?“Well then,” Michel said at last. “I suppose it is time we finish hiding the champagne.”

    Mark Twain, the great American writer was spot on when he claimed: “too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right”.

    Ever since it was “discovered” in France in the 17th century, just about everyone has fallen under the spell of the effervescent wine. It can only be made in Champagne, north east France to have the status of Champagne the drink. There are more than 100 Champagne houses and 19000 grape growers, of these only around 2000 make and sell Champagne. There are an astonishing 50,000 different Champagne labels, so, if you thought Champagne was Champagne – think again. Tastes and prices vary widely. Part of the fun of being a Champagne drinker is working out which one you like best.

    Raise a glass to Ruinart

    Ruinart (pronounced Reenart) was founded in 1729, and it was the first established Champagne house and is therefore the oldest in France. In fact the company started on 1 September 1729. We know this because Nicolas Ruinart, the 32 year old founder, wrote in his ledger book that day that he was starting a business devoted to “wine with bubbles”. The ledger book takes pride of place in the entrance to the house.

    History of Ruinart

    Nicolas Ruinart’s uncle was a monk, Dom Thierry Ruinart, born in Champagne but sent to an Abbey in Paris. Whilst there he learned of a new “wine with bubbles” that the young nobles enjoyed. At that stage it wasn’t known as Champagne. It’s entirely possible that Dom Ruinart knew Dom Perignon the “inventor” of Champagne. They lived at the same time, shared the same interests and in fact both are buried in nearby Hautvilliers.

    Dom Thierry told his brother about the new-fangled sparkling wine whose son, Nicolas, picked up the idea and ran with it, 20 years after his uncle died in 1709. The Ruinarts were textile merchants at that time and Nicolas owned some vineyards. He started out making Champagne for clients as gifts. But, the sparkling wine was a runaway success. Just 6 years after producing the first bottle, he gave up the textile business and concentrated on the Champagne.

    About The Author

    Kristin Harme

    Kristin Harmel is the international bestselling author of THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE, THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING, THE LIFE INTENDED, WHEN WE MEET AGAIN, and several other novels. Her latest, THE WINEMAKER’S WIFE, is coming in August 2019 from Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster. A former reporter for PEOPLE magazine, Kristin has also freelanced for many other publications, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Glamour, Woman’s Day, Travel + Leisure, and more.
    Kristin grew up in Peabody, Mass.; Worthington, Ohio; and St. Petersburg, Fla., and she graduated with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida. After spending time living in Paris, she now lives in Orlando, Fla., with her husband and young son.

    Book Tours

    Blog Tour A House Of Rage & Sorrow

    #ATourOfRageAndSorrow @CaffeineTours, @SkyPonyPress, @SanguMandanna

    A House of Rage and Sorrow

    Author: Sangu Mandanna

    Book Two in the Celestial Series 

    Published: 3rd September 2019

    Publisher: Sky Pony Press

    Cover Designer: Kate Gartner |

    Source: Publisher/Caffeine Book Tours via Edelweiss

    Sangu Mandanna’s Website

    One kingdom. One crown. One family.

    “Maybe it’s time the great House of Rey came to an end. After all, what are we now? Just a house of rage and sorrow.”

    Esmae once wanted nothing more than to help her golden brother win the crown of Kali but that dream died with her best friend. Alexi broke her heart, and she vowed to destroy him for it. And with her sentient warship Titania beside her, how can she possibly fail?

    As gods, beasts, and kingdoms choose sides, Alexi seeks out a weapon more devastating than even Titania. Past lives threaten the present. Old enemies claim their due. And Esmae cannot outrun the ghosts and the questions that haunt her. What really happened to her father? What was the third boon her mother asked of Amba? For in the shadows, lurking in wait, are secrets that will swallow her whole.

    The House of Rey is at war. And the entire galaxy will bleed before the end.

    Amazon | Goodreads

    Thank you to Caffeine Blog Tours for allowing me to take part in this blog tour, and to Edelweiss and Sky Pony Press for this free e-ARC of the novel.

    A House of Rage and Sorrow, picks up a few months after A Spark of White Fire finish. This is an action packed book, that blends Mahabharata Hindu mythology, along with an Epic Science-Fiction to creative an enjoyable powerful Space Opera.

    A vivid, gripping brilliant sequel with a turbulent continuous moving plot-line, that readers will not be able to put down.

    A House of Rage and Sorrow, starts off quickly from within its first chapters and then just goes full steam. In this second installment, the author continues to masterly create some of the most amazing world building and the characters come to life much more here than in the previous introductory book in this trilogy.

    The book is an complexity of political intrigue, and nail biting roller coaster of a ride.

    The Authors vibrant characters, and interesting plots inspired by existing Hindu folklore. Sangu Mandanna has masterly recreated the interwoven Mahabharata mythology, while adding her own twist. I was captivated from page one. I found this story to be engrossing, well thought out.

    Perfectly paced and captivating with rich imaginable world building. The storyline is engaging and compelling, The novel is so intriguing, and well-written, with absolutely fantastic characters that totally captivated and fascinated me. I really enjoyed the multi-POV’s, I’m fairly sure rarely any reader gets the chance to see a sentient of a warship’s Point of view.

    The strength of this novel handsdown is the author’s fabulous characterizations,

    I was captivated and totally invested in the characters struggles in this emotional, sometimes heartbreaking riveting tale. A perfectly created explosive, cliffhanger of ending ending.

    International Giveaway 

    Make sure to enter the Giveaway!

    The prize is for the privilege of naming one of the Book 3 characters. It will have one winner, and the giveaway is taking place on Caffeine Book Tours twitter! It is of course open internationally.

    Named one of the best 25 space opera books by BookRiot!

    The first book in a scifi retelling of the Mahabrahata. When Esmae wins a contest of skill, she sets off events that trigger an inevitable and unwinnable war that pits her against the family she would give anything to return to.

    In a universe of capricious gods, dark moons, and kingdoms built on the backs of spaceships, a cursed queen sends her infant daughter away, a jealous uncle steals the throne of Kali from his nephew, and an exiled prince vows to take his crown back. 

    Raised alone and far away from her home on Kali, Esmae longs to return to her family. When the King of Wychstar offers to gift the unbeatable, sentient warship Titania to a warrior that can win his competition, she sees her way home: she’ll enter the competition, reveal her true identity to the world, and help her famous brother win back the crown of Kali. 

    It’s a great plan. Until it falls apart. 

    Inspired by the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian stories, A Spark of White Fire is a lush, sweeping space opera about family, curses, and the endless battle between jealousy and love.

    The Author

    Sangu Mandanna was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Seventeen years and many, many manuscripts later, she signed her first book deal. Sangu now lives in Norwich, a city in the east of England, with her husband and kids.

    Author Links:

    Author website  Goodreads  Twitter 

    #beautifulbookcovers, #CoverReveal, Book Tours

    Book Tour Cover Reveal

    Hello Everyone,

    Today I Am Partnered with HFBT And

    The Author Nancy Bilyeau,

    To Bringing You This Gorgeous Cover Reveal

    #DreamlandCoverReveal @NancyBilyeauAuthor @EndeavourMedia1 @Tudorscribe @Endeavour_Media @EndeavourQuill

    Dreamland
    by Nancy Bilyeau

    Publication Date: January 16, 2020
    Endeavor Quill

    Genre: Historical Fiction

    @NancyBilyeauAuthor @EndeavourMedia1

    @Tudorscribe @Endeavour_Media @EndeavourQuill

    The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.

    But the invitation to Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer at the Moonrise Bookstore where she works voluntarily, than keeping up appearances with Brooklyn socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.

    But soon it transpires that the hedonism of Coney Island affords Peggy more of the freedom she has been longing for. For one, she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of.

    Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything…even murder.s

    It is up to Peggy to overcome the oppression of her family and clear the name of her vulnerable lover, before she or her beloved sister become the next victims of Dreamland.

    Extravagant, intoxicating and thumping with suspense, bestselling Nancy Bilyeau’s magnificent Dreamland is a story of corruption, class and dangerous obsession.

    About the Author

    “Dreamland” is Nancy Bilyeau’s fifth novel of historical suspense. She is the author of the best-selling historical thriller “The Blue” and the Tudor mystery series “The Crown,” “The Chalice,” and “The Tapestry,” on sale in nine countries.

    Nancy is a magazine editor who has lived in the United States and Canada. She studied History and English Literature at the University of Michigan. After moving to New York City, she worked on the staffs of “InStyle,” “Good Housekeeping,” and “Rolling Stone.” She is currently the deputy editor of the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at the Research Foundation of CUNY and a regular contributing writer to “Town & Country” and “Mystery Scene Magazine.”

    Nancy’s mind is always in past centuries but she currently lives with her husband and two children in Forest Hills in the borough of Queens. “Dreamland” is her first novel set in her adopted hometown of New York City.

    Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub

    Cover Reveal Schedule

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    Friday, August 23
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    Saturday, August 24
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    Sunday, August 25
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    Monday, August 26
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    Maiden of the Pages

    Featured Book Reviewer

    Book Tours

    Book Tour and Review

    Hi book-lovers!

    And welcome to my stop

    on the blog tour

    for The Devil’s Apprentice

    @K_B_Andersen @RRBookTours1 #TheDevilsApprentice #TheGreatDevilWar

    TheDevils

    I’m very excited to share this book with you all today! The Devil’s Apprentice in the first book in the incredibly imaginative, and wonderfully entertaining, YA Fantasy series, The Great Devil War.

    There will be exclusive content and a giveaway so be sure to read on!

    The-Devil’s-Apprentice_l

    The Devil’s Apprentice (The Great Devil War #1)

    Genre: YA Fantasy

    Philip is a good boy, a really good boy, who accidentally gets sent to Hell to become the Devil’s heir. The Devil, Lucifer, is dying and desperately in need of a successor, but there’s been a mistake and Philip is the wrong boy. Philip is terrible at being bad, but Lucifer has no other choice than to begin the difficult task of training him in the ways of evil. Philip gets both friends and enemies in this odd, gloomy underworld—but who can he trust, when he discovers an evil-minded plot against the dark throne?

    Even though the story (mostly) takes place in Hell and deals with themes like evil, death and free will, it is also a humoristic tale about good and evil seen from a different perspective. A tale that hopefully will make the reader – young or old, boy or girl – laugh and think. – Kenneth B. Andersen

    Add to Goodreads

    Excerpt

    “You’re fairly young, aren’t you?” A forked tongue moistened his scaly fingers, and he flipped through more pages. “How old are you?”

    “I’m thirteen.”

    “Thirteen?” the beast mumbled, clearly impressed. “It’s not very often they come to us so young. You must’ve done something really horrific.”

    “What do you mean?” Philip shook his head. “What is this place?”

    “This place?” The monster raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? Oh well, evilness and stupidity often go hand in hand.” His crooked smile revealed pointed teeth, and his gruff voice lowered to a hiss. “This, my boy, is the outer court of Hell. That—” he directed a hooked nail at the black gate, “is Hell.”

    “Hell?” Philip whispered, and he saw it all again in his mind. The cat that had spoken to him. The shove to his back that had sent him hurtling into the street. Sam’s triumphant howling. The sound of squealing brakes. The car and the elderly man behind the wheel. And the darkness that had followed.

    A dream, he’d said as he stood at the top of the long stairwell, knowing deep inside that it was a lie. This was no dream.

    The car hit me, he thought. It hit me, and I’m dead. I died, and now I’m in… in…

    “Hell?” he repeated, totally confused. How could he be in Hell? Only evil people went to Hell. Right? “I’m in Hell?”

    “You need to say that three times before it sinks in?” the demon said, skimming through his book. “But it could be worse. Plenty others have to say it many more times before it sinks in. Ah, here it is! Let me see.” From the breast pocket of his robe he drew out a pair of silver-framed spectacles and put them on. The demon scanned the page quickly, using his finger as a guide.

    “Just like I said,” he shouted angrily, pounding the book with his balled fist. “No one was supposed to enter tonight! Not for a few hours anyway, when an entire troop of politicians were to arrive!” The creature shook his head resignedly. “Well, since you’ve already spoiled my night off, I might as well send you straight to your punishment. What is your name, kid?”

    Philip didn’t reply, but stared at the demon, dumbstruck.

    “Wake up! We don’t have all night. Eternity waits. Your name?”

    Philip cleared his throat timidly. “Philip.”

    “Philip, Philip, Philip,” the demon mumbled, riffling back and forth a few pages. He wrinkled his brow. “That’s odd. Last name?”

    Philip told him his full name, and once again the demon searched in his book. The wrinkles in his brow deepened, and his yellow nails scratched at his scalp. Then he shook his head and clapped the book shut with a sigh. “That name isn’t in the registry. Some dumb fool has made a mistake, kid. You’re not supposed to be here.”

    “I’m not?” Philip said and felt a warm relief spreading through him. Then his eyes fell on the inky, thick darkness that enveloped the walls of Hell, and his sense of relief vanished. “Then where should I be?”

    Available on Amazon!

    The Great Devil War Books 1 – 3

    Outlook-sxiohn0q

    For your chance to win a digital copy of The Devil’s Apprentice, click the link below!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    “Let that be your first lesson, Philip. Down here, humor is always dark.”

    The Devil’s Apprentice, Is the First in a series of The Great Devil War Books

    A fun an intriguing adventure fantasy that is full of dark humor, and fantasy world building.

    A mistake and a twist of fate, sets in motion the storyline.

    Cleverly written in third POV of Philip Engle, a thirteen-year-old boy who lives with his mother and who lost his father when he was very young.

    The book is a page-turner, there are heroes and villain and it’s absolutely hilarious. Rich fantasy world building that is both imaginative and engaging.

    Descriptive details, along with snarky humor keep you captivated.

    The author combines Christian theology, mystery with coming-of-age twisted plot.  It made good use of biblical mythology and tries to give a convincing argument as to why evil is necessary. Anderson, creatively draws you into feeling empathy for Lucifer and the fate of his hellish kingdom. 

    The writing PG since this is a middle grade book but its concept and dark humor might elevate it to an older audiences.

    Most of the book takes pace in fictional Hell and deals with themes like evil, death and free will. A bookish tale about good and evil seen from a different perspective.

    Thank you so much for reading book lovers!

    I love discussing wonderful books with all of you so please comment below and let me know your thoughts. Do you see yourself reading this book? Do you love the genre?

    Have a Wonderful Day

    About the Author

    kba_5_thumb

    I WAS BORN IN DENMARK ON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT IN NOVEMBER 1976 …

    … and I began writing when I was a teenager. My first book was a really awful horror novel titled Nidhug’s Slaves. It didn’t get published. Luckily.

    During the next 7 years, I wrote nearly 20 novels–all of which were rejected–while working as a school teacher. The rest of the time I spent writing.

    In 2000 I published my debut fantasy book, The Battle of Caïssa, and that’s when things really took off. Since then I’ve published more than thirty-five books for children and young adults in genres ranging from fantasy to horror and science fiction.

    My books have been translated into more than 15 languages and my series about the superhero Antboy has been adapted for film, which is available on Netflix. An animated tv series is currently in development.

    A musical of The Devil’s Apprentice opened in the fall 2018 and the movie rights for the series have also been optioned.

    I live in Copenhagen with my wife, two boys, a dog named Milo and spiders in the basement.

    About THE GREAT DEVIL WAR: The Great Devil War was published in Denmark from 2005-2016, beginning with The Devil’s Apprentice.

    Even though the story (mostly) takes place in Hell and deals with themes like evil, death and free will, it is also a humoristic tale about good and evil seen from a different perspective. A tale that hopefully will make the reader – young or old, boy or girl – laugh and think.

    Welcome to the other side!

    Kenneth B. Andersen | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

    TheDevils

    Blog Tour Schedule

    August 19th

    Reads & Reels (Review) http://readsandreels.com

    The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Interview) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

    Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/

    Gwendalyn’s Books (Review) https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/

    August 20th

    YA/NA Book Divas (Excerpt) http://www.yabookdivas.com/

    Ity Reads Books (Review) http://www.ityreadsbooks.home.blog

    Reviews and Promos by Nyx (Review) https://nyxblogs.wordpress.com/

    Quirky Cats Fat Stacks (Review) https://quirkycatsfatstacks.com/

    August 21st

    B is for Book Review (Excerpt) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

    The Faerie Review (Review) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

    An Ocean A Glimmer (Review) http://anoceanglimmer.wordpress.com

    August 22nd

    Jaunts & Haunts (Review) https://jonathanpongratz.com/

    Shalini’s Books and Reviews (Review) https://bookreviewsbyshalini.com/

    The Bookworm Drinketh (Review) http://thebookwormdrinketh.wordpress.com/

    I Love Books and Stuff (Excerpt) https://ilovebooksandstuffblog.wordpress.com

    August 23rd

    Breakeven Books (Excerpt) https://breakevenbooks.com

    Entertainingly Nerdy (Review) https://www.entertaininglynerdy.com

    Cats Luv Coffee (Review) https://catsluvcoffeez.blogspot.com/

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    Book Review The Doll Factory

    Hi everyone!

    So today I’m reviewing Elizabeth Macneal’s debut, The Doll Factory

    the doll factory small

    Title: The Doll Factory

    Author: Elizabeth Macneal

    Published: April 30th 2019 Uk

    Publisher: Pan Macmillan

    Pages: 336

    Genres:  Fiction, Historical, Gothic Victorian, Thriller

    RRP: $29.99

    Rating: 4 stars

    USA RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 13, 2019

    The Doll Factory is the debut novel from Elizabeth Macneal. The recipient of the 2018 New Caledonia Novel Award, The Doll Factory is a potent historical tale, exposing a world filled with artistry, passion, compulsion and control. A book that thrusts the reader into days gone by, The Doll Factory is a highly authentic and fresh tale from an emerging author.

    The Doll Factory has been a subject to a 14-way bidding war and has been snapped up for television already. I can never resist a shiny new debut, and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s an evocative, gothic Victorian thriller which starts slow before building a crescendo to fever pitch.

    It won the Caledonia Novel Award 2018 and film and TV rights have sold to Buccaneer Media. It is a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller, a Radio 2 Book Club pick, and Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

    You can purchase The Doll Factory (Picador) here. Us August 13

    TheDoll Factory was published on 30th April 2019 Uk

    by Pan Macmillan. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.

    Excerpt

    He sees a child dart forward and snatch a red handkerchief from a lady’s purse.  He peers closer, recognizing that scruff of pale hair.  The familiarity is a balm, a reminder that he is not alone in this roiling mass of industry.  Silas smiles, and calls out, ‘Albie!’
    But the boy does not hear him.  And then Silas understands: he has been caught.  A woman’s hand is on his wrist, the handkerchief a limp flag in his fist, and Silas slips on a piece of turf in his haste to hurry over, readying himself to play Albie’s rescuer, to beg her not to notify the authorities – but then he sees that Albie is laughing.
    Silas looks at the woman more closely.  She is as tall as a man and has her red hair tidied into a long plait.  She is – Flick?  Grown up, womanly.  But it cannot be.  This woman has a slight stoop on her left side.
    It is as if a bell has been rung in an old house.  Silas has felt the tremor of the wire as it runs deeper into the building, through walls and floors.  He stands transfixed, watching as the vibrations set a series of smaller bells ringing.
    He could not say what it means.

    – Elizabeth Macneal, The Doll Factory

    Opening sentence: 

    “When the streets are at their darkest and quietest, a girl settles at a small desk in the cellar of a dollmaker’s shop.”

    In the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, we see a marriage of visual art and literature. Their early works are filled with scenes from the literary world, taken from authors such as Shakespeare, Tennyson, and Keats. These works demonstrate the interconnection of artistic expression and the written word in a way that goes far deeper than merely illustrating

    Iris is our leading lady. Alongside her twin sister, Rose, they toil away at Mrs Salter’s Doll Emporium creating objects of beauty. But Iris is unsettled. She wants to paint, she wants the freedom to create her own masterpieces, not just what someone demands of her. I did feel for Iris, she is trapped in an uninspiring situation and when she is offered opportunity for something better, she grabs it. I became her cheerleader as I read this book, she is strong, talented and full of ambition.

    This new life leads her to become involved in with the pre-Raphaelite’s and we meet the key artistic figures of this movement. Elizabeth Macneal has seamlessly and brilliantly inserted real-life people into a work of fiction. I didn’t know a great deal about the pre-Raphaelite’s before reading this, but after I finished it, I whiled away some time Googling and looking at the stunning works of art and have fallen head over heels for them. I love it when a book prompts me to do a little research!

    The story is told from multi-view perspectives, Iris’ as well as from, Albie the street urchin’s and from Silas, an obsessive collector of weird and wonderful things.

    Iris and Silas have a brief encounter, after being introduced by Albie, to which they have very different reactions to! As you read this, you do become very aware of a creeping sense of danger and tension. Especially the further along you get in Silas’s narrative. The tension slowly builds and builds and it leads you to a chilling, dramatic conclusion.

    If you historical fiction, or are just in the mood for some creepy Victorian fiction, thenThe Doll Factory might be for you. Macneal has captured London perfectly; evoking all the seedy bars and fancy houses and everywhere in between. Her characters are beautifully rendered; they are endlessly fascinating to watch and I was disappointed when the book ended.

    It is hard to imagine this is a debut as it is really impressive; great characters, evocative writing and a truly gripping story.

    What more can you want out of a book?

    Overall a really excellent debut. Highly Recommended.

    You can purchase The Doll Factory (Picador) here.

    That’s it for today. Thanks so much for stopping by and happy reading!

    o

     Born in Scotland, Elizabeth Macneal is a potter based in Limehouse, East London, working from a small studio at the bottom of her garden.  She read English Literature at Oxford University, before working in the City for several years. In 2017, she completed the Creative Writing MA at UEA where she was awarded the Malcolm Bradbury scholarship. The Doll Factory, Elizabeth’s first book, won the Caledonia Novel Award 2018.  

    To learn more about the author of The Doll Factory, Elizabeth Macneal visit here.

    Book Tours

    Book To movie

    Hello Bookish Friends,

    Do you enjoy the classics?

    How about Movie adaptations of Classical Books?

    Here is a sneak peek of upcoming Movie, coming out this Winter .

    Classical Books To Movies

    Little Women (December 25, 2019)

    Based on: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
    Directed by: Greta Gerwig

    Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep

    Based on Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, the trailer introduces the four March sisters — Meg (Emma Watson of “Harry Potter” fame), Jo (Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”), Beth (Eliza Scanlen, “Sharp Objects”), and Amy (Florence Pugh, “Midsommar”) — living in a cramped house Alcott loosely based on her own home in Concord, Mass.

    In this new adaptation directed by Greta Gerwig (Ladybird) Saoirse Ronan plays Jo, Emma Watson as Meg, Florence Pugh as Amy and Eliza Scanlen as Beth. The rest of the cast is too good not to share including Timothée Chalamet as Laurie, Meryl Streep as Aunt March and James Norton as John Brooke. To add to the excitement, the score is being written by the genius Alexander Desplat. The film is set to be released this Christmas! –

    This is now one of several adaptations of the book onto the screen so it will be interesting to see how it compares.

    Little Women” will land in theaters on Dec. 25, 2019.

    Click the Link: to watch the New Trailer
    Little Woman 2019 Trailer

    QOTD:: Have Read Little Woman?

    When asked Why She Remained A Spinster? Mrs Alcott Reply Was….

    Because I have fallen in love with so many pretty girls and never once the least bit with any man.”

    Louisa May Alcott’s grave in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Massachusetts.

    Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women, set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868. This novel is loosely based on her childhood experiences with her three sisters.

    Alcott’s father established an experimental school and joined the Transcendental Club with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

    Alcott’s early education included lessons from the naturalist Henry David Thoreau. She received the majority of her schooling from her father. She received some instruction also from writers and educators such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Margaret Fuller, who were all family friends. She later described these early years in a newspaper sketch entitled “Transcendental Wild Oats”.

    Alcott became an advocate for women’s suffrage and was the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Massachusetts, in a school board election.

    “Some books are so

    familiar that reading them is

    like being home again”

    —Louisa May Alcott

    Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women, set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868. This novel is loosely based on her childhood experiences with her three sisters.

    Alcott was the daughter of noted transcendentalist and educator Amos Bronson Alcott and Abigail May Alcott. She shared a birthday with her father on November 29, 1832. In a letter to his brother-in-law, Samuel Joseph May, a noted abolitionist, her father wrote: “It is with great pleasure that I announce to you the birth of my second daughter…born about half-past 12 this morning, on my [33rd] birthday.” Though of New England heritage, she was born in Germantown, which is currently part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the second of four daughters: Anna Bronson Alcott was the eldest; Elizabeth Sewall Alcott and Abigail May Alcott were the two youngest. The family moved to Boston in 1834,[1] After the family moved to Massachusetts, Alcott’s father established an experimental school and joined the Transcendental Club with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

    In 1840, after several setbacks with the school, the Alcott family moved to a cottage on 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land, situated along the Sudbury River in Concord, Massachusetts. The Alcott family moved to the Utopian Fruitlands community for a brief interval in 1843-1844 and then, after its collapse, to rented rooms and finally to a house in Concord purchased with her mother’s inheritance and financial help from Emerson. They moved into the home they named “Hillside” on April 1, 1845.

    Alcott’s early education included lessons from the naturalist Henry David Thoreau. She received the majority of her schooling from her father. She received some instruction also from writers and educators such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Margaret Fuller, who were all family friends. She later described these early years in a newspaper sketch entitled “Transcendental Wild Oats”. The sketch was reprinted in the volume Silver Pitchers (1876), which relates the family’s experiment in “plain living and high thinking” at Fruitlands.

    As an adult, Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist. In 1847, the family housed a fugitive slave for one week. In 1848, Alcott read and admired the “Declaration of Sentiments” published by the Seneca Falls Convention on women’s rights.

    Poverty made it necessary for Alcott to go to work at an early age as an occasional teacher, seamstress, governess, domestic helper, and writer. Her first book was Flower Fables (1849), a selection of tales originally written for Ellen Emerson, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson. In 1860, Alcott began writing for the Atlantic Monthly. When the American Civil War broke out, she served as a nurse in the Union Hospital at Georgetown, D.C., for six weeks in 1862-1863. Her letters home – revised and published in the Commonwealth and collected as Hospital Sketches (1863, republished with additions in 1869) – garnered her first critical recognition for her observations and humor. Her novel Moods (1864), based on her own experience, was also promising.

    She also wrote passionate, fiery novels and sensational stories under the nom de plume A. M. Barnard. Among these are A Long Fatal Love Chase and Pauline’s Passion and Punishment. Her protagonists for these tales are willful and relentless in their pursuit of their own aims, which often include revenge on those who have humiliated or thwarted them. Written in a style which was wildly popular at the time, these works achieved immediate commercial success.

    Alcott produced wholesome stories for children also, and after their positive reception, she did not generally return to creating works for adults. Adult-oriented exceptions include the anonymous novelette A Modern Mephistopheles (1875), which attracted suspicion that it was written by Julian Hawthorne; and the semi-autobiographical tale Work (1873).

    Literary success and later life

    Alcott’s literary success arrived with the publication by the Roberts Brothers of the first part of Little Women: or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, (1868) a semi-autobiographical account of her childhood with her sisters in Concord, Massachusetts. Part two, or Part Second, also known as Good Wives, (1869) followed the March sisters into adulthood and their respective marriages. Little Men (1871) detailed Jo’s life at the Plumfield School that she founded with her husband Professor Bhaer at the conclusion of Part Two of Little Women. Jo’s Boys (1886) completed the “March Family Saga.”

    In “Little Women,” Alcott based her heroine “Jo” on herself. But whereas Jo marries at the end of the story, Alcott remained single throughout her life. She explained her “spinsterhood” in an interview with Louise Chandler Moulton, “… because I have fallen in love with so many pretty girls and never once the least bit with any man.” However, Alcott’s romance while in Europe with Ladislas Wisniewski, “Laddie,” was detailed in her journals but then deleted by Alcott herself before her death. Alcott identified Laddie as the model for Laurie in Little Women, and there is strong evidence this was the significant emotional relationship of her life.

    In 1879 her younger sister, May, died. Alcott took in May’s daughter, Louisa May Nieriker (“Lulu”), who was two years old. The baby had been named after her aunt, but was nicknamed Lulu, whereas Louisa May’s nicknames were “Weed” and “Louy.”

    In her later life, Alcott became an advocate for women’s suffrage and was the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Massachusetts, in a school board election.

    Alcott, along with Elizabeth Stoddard, Rebecca Harding Davis, Anne Moncure Crane, and others, were part of a group of female authors during the Gilded Age who addressed women’s issues in a modern and candid manner. Their works were, as one newspaper columnist of the period commented, “among the decided ‘signs of the times’” (“Review 2 – No Title” from The Radical, May 1868, see References below).

    Alcott, who continued to write until her death, suffered chronic health problems in her later years. She and her earliest biographers[citation needed] attributed her illness and death to mercury poisoning: during her American Civil War service, Alcott contracted typhoid fever and was treated with a compound containing mercury. Recent analysis of Alcott’s illness suggests that mercury poisoning was not the culprit. Alcott’s chronic health problems may be associated with an autoimmune disease, not acute mercury exposure. Moreover, a late portrait of Alcott shows on her cheeks rashes characteristic of lupus.[5][6] Alcott died of a stroke in Boston, on March 6, 1888, at age 55, two days after visiting her father’s deathbed. Her last words were “Is it not meningitis?”

    The story of her life and career was told initially in Ednah D. Cheney’s Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters and Journals (Boston, 1889) and then in Madeleine B. Stern’s seminal biography Louisa May Alcott (University of Oklahoma Press, 1950). In 2008, John Matteson won the Pulitzer Prize in Biography for his first book, Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father. Harriet Reisen’s biography, “Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women,” was published in 2009, and includes the most extensive primary source material (much discovered since Stern’s biography), including Madelon Bedell’s unpublished notes of interviews with Lulu before Lulu’s death.The children’s biography Invincible Louisa written by Cornelia Meigs received the Newbery Award in 1934 for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

    Selected works

    * The Inheritance (1849, unpublished until 1997)

    * Flower Fables (1849)

    * Hospital Sketches (1863)

    * The Rose Family: A Fairy Tale (1864)

    * Moods (1865, revised 1882)

    * Morning-Glories and Other Stories (1867)

    * The Mysterious Key and What It Opened (1867)

    * Little Women or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy (1868)

    * Three Proverb Stories (includes “Kitty’s Class Day”, “Aunt Kipp” and “Psyche’s Art”) (1868)

    * A Strange Island, (1868)

    * Part Second of Little Women, also known as “Good Wives” (1869)

    * Perilous Play, (1869)

    * An Old Fashioned Girl (1870)

    * Will’s Wonder Book (1870)

    * Aunt Jo’s Scrap-Bag (1872–1882)

    * Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys (1871)

    * “Transcendental Wild Oats” (1873)

    * Work: A Story of Experience (1873)

    * Eight Cousins or The Aunt-Hill (1875)

    * Beginning Again, Being a Continuation of Work (1875)

    * Silver Pitchers, and Independence: A Centennial Love Story,” (1876)

    * Rose in Bloom: A Sequel to Eight Cousins (1876)

    * Under the Lilacs (1878)

    * Jack and Jill: A Village Story (1880)

    * The Candy Country (1885)

    * Jo’s Boys and How They Turned Out: A Sequel to “Little Men” (1886)

    * Lulu’s Library (1886–1889)

    * A Garland for Girls (1888)

    * Comic Tragedies (1893 [posthumously])

    As A. M. Barnard

    * Behind a Mask, or a Woman’s Power (1866)

    * The Abbot’s Ghost, or Maurice Treherne’s Temptation (1867)

    * A Long Fatal Love Chase (1866 – first published 1995)

    First published anonymously

    * A Modern Mephistopheles (1877)

     

    Have a wonderful Day

    Book Tours

    Blog Tour The Quest For The Crown Of Thorns

    Hello there fellow book lovers!

    Today, I am excited to be participating in the blog tour

    The Quest for The Crown Of ThornsThe Quest for the Crown of Thorns
    by Cynthia Ripley Miller

    Publication Date: June 12, 2017
    Knox Robinson Publishing
    eBook & Paperback; 308 Pages

    Series: The Long – Hair Saga, Book 2
    Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

     #QuestfortheCrownofThorns #CynthiaRipleyMiller #HFVBTBlogTours 

     

    AD 454. Three years after the Roman victory over Attila the Hun at Catalaunum, Arria Felix and Garic the Frank are married and enjoying life on Garic’s farm in northern Gaul (France). Their happy life is interrupted, when a cryptic message arrives from Rome, calling Arria home to her father, the esteemed Senator Felix. At Arria’s insistence, but against Garic’s better judgment, they leave at once.

    Upon their arrival at Villa Solis, they are confronted with a brutal murder and the dangerous mission that awaits them. The fate of a profound and sacred object–Christ’s Crown of Thorns–rests in their hands. They must carry the holy relic to the safety of Constantinople, away from a corrupt emperor and old enemies determined to steal it for their own gain.

    But an even greater force arises to derail their quest–a secret cult willing to commit any atrocity to capture the Crown of Thorns. And all the while, the gruesome murder and the conspiracy behind it haunt Arria’s thoughts.

    Arria and Garic’s marital bonds are tested but forged as they partner together to fulfill one of history’s most challenging missions, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns.

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    Praise

    “In this thriller, set in fifth-century Rome, rivals race to possess Christ’s crown of thorns. Ripley Miller (On the Edge of Sunrise 2015) astutely brings to life a Rome teetering precariously on the brink of collapse … The plot advances energetically, and the combination of political and romantic drama—spiritual as well—is rousing. The reader should be glad to have read this volume and eager for a third. Intelligent and artfully crafted historical fiction … Recommended.” -Kirkus Reviews

    “From cover to cover a gripping read – in all senses of the word! Grips your interest and imagination, your held breath and your pounding heart! A thumping good novel!” -Helen Hollick USA Today bestselling author of the Sea Witch Voyages

    “Forbidden love, a turbulent time period, and world-changing events combine to produce a real page-turner.” -India Edghill, author of Queenmaker, Wisdom’s Daughter, and Delilah.

    “A passionate and intriguing take on the often overlooked clash of three brutal and powerful empires: the Romans, Franks, and Huns. A Compelling read!” -Stephanie Thornton, author of The Secret History and The Tiger Queens

    “Readers will be absorbed by a setting of barbarian Gaul and the constancy of Arria’s and Garic’s destined love amid the strife of a dying Roman Empire.” -Albert Noyer, author of The Getorius and Arcadia Mysteries

    “The Quest for the Crown of Thorns, is an elegant masterpiece of historical fiction. This book totally ensnared me in its clasps, and it did not release me until I had read it all. The attention to detail was exquisite The characterisation was sublime, and the romance was breathtakingly beautiful. I adored the world that Miller has created, as well as the characters in it. This is a sit-down and finish book and is one I would Highly Recommend.” -Mary Anne Yarde author of the Du Lac Chronicles

    Don’t forget to enter the giveaway
    and follow the blog tour

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

    The Quest For The Crown Of Thorns, is the second installment in Cynthia Ripley Miller, The Long Hair Saga

    The Quest For The Crown Of Thorns, takes you on a suspense intriguing quest. Southern Europe AD 454 after the demise, Attila-the-Hun, Rome is teetering precariously on the brink of collapse. In a questionable turn of events, the Roman General Flavius Aetius dies. a precious relic is placed in the trusted hands of a senators daughter.

    A dramatic and riveting storyline with a decaying Roman Empire, threatened by barbarians. The author masterly weaves historically events and a captivating quest to give readers and thrill ride of an adventure. Miller’s well researched and descriptive imagery is set with the backdrop of fifth century Roman. The book is brilliantly executed with superb narration, along with great character development. A plot fueled with intrigue and complex relationships. A thrilling, satisfying faced paced book with right amount of sensuality, that will keep you turning the pages as fast as can.

    Once again Cynthia Miller delivers a compelling, intriguing, and well-written read here with absolutely fantastic characters that totally captivated and fascinated me. A masterpiece of historical fiction, rich in atmospheric descriptive details.

    The novel is gripping and speedy paced, with vivid characters and enjoyable supportive cast, along with unwavering tension.

    This is a fantastic read that left me with high anticipation for the next installment in this series.

    About the Author

    Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages and books. She has lived, worked, and travelled in Europe, Africa, North America and the Caribbean. As a girl, she often wondered what it would be like to journey through time (she still does), yet knew, it could only be through the imagination and words of writers and their stories. Today, she writes to bring the past to life.

    She holds two degrees and has taught history and teaches English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, at Orchard Press Mysteries.com and The Scriptor. A Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist for her novel, On the Edge of Sunrise, she has reviewed for UNRV Roman History, and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus

    Cynthia has four children and lives with her husband, twin cats, Romulus and Remus, and Jessie, a German Shepherd, in a suburb of Chicago.

    On the Edge of Sunrise is the first in the Long-Hair Saga; a series set in late ancient Rome and France and published by Knox Robinson Publishing. The second book in the series, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns, was released in June 2017.

    For more information please visit Cynthia Ripley Miller’s website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

    Blog Tour Schedule

    Wednesday, August 14
    Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

    Thursday, August 15
    Interview at Unabridged Chick
    Feature at Just One More Chapter

    Friday, August 16
    Review at Hoover Book Reviews

    Saturday, August 17
    Feature at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

    Monday, August 19
    Interview at Passages to the Past
    Feature at Historical Fiction with Spirit

    Tuesday, August 20
    Review at Coffee and Ink
    Review at Unabridged Chick

    Giveaway

    During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 1 paperback and 2 eBook copies of The Quest for the Crown of Thorns! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

    Giveaway Rules

    – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on August 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
    – Paperback giveaway is open to the US only. Ebooks are available for international entries.
    – Only one entry per household.
    – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be 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.

    Crown of Thorns – Tour #3
    https://js.gleam.io/e.js

    Book Tours

    Book Tour and Author Interview

    Hello and welcome to Gwendalyn’s Books,

    Happy Tuesday to you! I hope your week will be is overflowing with great reads.

    I am delighted to welcome a wonderful author to the blog today, CANDACE ROBB

    #AConspiracyofWolves #CandaceRobb #HFVBTBlogTours

    A Conspiracy of Wolves
    by Candace Robb

    Publication Date: August 1, 2019
    Severn House/Crème de la Crime
    Hardcover & eBook; 256 Pages

    Series: Owen Archer, Book 11
    Genre: Historical Mystery

     

    Synopsis

    When a prominent citizen is murdered, former Captain of the Guard Owen Archer is persuaded out of retirement to investigate in this gripping medieval mystery.

    1374. When a member of one of York’s most prominent families is found dead in the woods, his throat torn out, rumours spread like wildfire that wolves are running loose throughout the city. Persuaded to investigate by the victim’s father, Owen Archer is convinced that a human killer is responsible. But before he can gather sufficient evidence to prove his case, a second body is discovered, stabbed to death. Is there a connection? What secrets are contained within the victim’s household? And what does apprentice healer Alisoun know that she’s not telling?

    Teaming up with Geoffrey Chaucer, who is in York on a secret mission on behalf of Prince Edward, Owen’s enquiries will draw him headlong into a deadly conspiracy.

    Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

    GWENDALYN’S BOOKS INTERVIEW – CANDACE ROBB

     

    1. If you could choose a book character to be for a day, who would it be and why?

    One? That would be Magda Digby, the Riverwoman. She is so wise and comfortable in her own skin. How I created her I don’t know, but she’s become my guide. When life challenges me I find myself asking “What would Magda do?” I’d love to spend time in her stillness, living on her tidal island, in her house redolent with dried herbs and roots, the aroma of her tinctures and poultices. I’d love to walk the forest with her, seeing through her eyes, learning all she knows. She’s my first choice.

    But if I could have a second choice, I’d be Lucie Wilton for a day—or a night, because…Owen Archer’s in her bed, you know?  

     

    2. Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite? Why?

     

    I love how I shaped the first chapter of A Conspiracy of Wolves. I begin with Alisoun Ffulford, Magda Digby’s apprentice, feeling her way as a healer working solo while the Riverwoman is away. Alisoun’s so connected to the earth and such a complex young woman—I feel I finally caught that in the early scenes. And then I shift to Owen being bored to tears by Geoffrey Chaucer’s prattle as the latter composes poetry aloud while they ride back to York. That moment is hilariously vivid for me. Then the sharp contrast when Brother Michaelo and Bartolf Swann ride up, clearly in crisis. A bit of everything, even some Magda Digby.

     

    3. Do you believe a book cover plays an important role in the selling process?

     I certainly think an eye-catching cover attracts readers in brick and mortar bookshops and libraries, particularly when piled face up on a table with many other books. That aspect might not be as important online, except in a publisher’s ads in which it might stand out. What is on the cover is just as important as the overall design—far too many historical novels written by women are marketed with covers that appeal to women, not men. That the majority of male readers shy away from anything that looks in anyway romantic is a fact the publishing industry can’t seem to learn. I was so happy to see Severn House’s cover for A Conspiracy of Wolves. I love it. The color, the design, the feel of it—I couldn’t be happier.

     

    4. Which of your books took you the most time to write?

    A Triple Knot, a novel about Joan of Kent, written under the pseudonym Emma Campion, took four years.  I had an absentee editor, pulled away from her fiction titles to work on celebrity books, so her response rate was glacial. She learned when I was several months away from delivering the manuscript that marketing demanded it be MUCH shorter than originally agreed. So the tempo of the book was all wrong, and, once we’d agreed that I would focus on Joan of Kent’s early marriage(s) and end the book shortly after she wed Prince Edward, I felt I needed to start over. An excellent editor, but spread far too thin.

     

    5. Were you a young writer, a late bloomer, or something in between? What advice would you give to others who took up writing at a similar life phase?

     If you’re asking about when I began to write, my answer is early—the first poem my Dad saved and dated was written when I was 7. But I wasn’t published until my early 40s, so in that sense I’m a late bloomer—to my mind that was late. Advice? If spinning tales is as necessary to you as breathing, just keep doing it. And if you hope to reach an audience, submit your work!

     

    6. Which of your books took you the most time to write?

    Same question as #4

     

    7. Is writing book series more challenging?

     I presume you mean is it more challenging than writing standalone novels? Not for me. Once the characters are well established they become collaborators, their skills and predilections providing ideas or ways into the story. Each series has its own rhythm, and the overall tone is fairly well set, although some stories are heavier than others. All of these decisions are made afresh for a standalone.

     

    8. Do you enjoy theatre? Would you ever like one of your stories to be turned into a play?

     

    I love theater, and, yes, I would love to experience one of my stories as theater. A play brings together a variety of talents and visions—the playwright’s script, the director’s take on the script, the actors’ interpretations of their roles, set design, costuming, lighting, any ambient music… What a thrill to see what they would bring to one of my books. It would be entirely different in their hands. I’d enjoy their insights.

     

    9. Were your parents reading enthusiasts who gave you a push to be a reader as a kid?

     

    My mother was a reader. Some of my happiest memories are our weekly trips to the library. We alternated between two in the neighborhood, for variety. When I’d exhausted the juvenile section she convinced the librarians to issue an adult card so I could read the classics. Mom put Jane Eyre into my hands, and Wuthering Heights. When I visited in her last years we’d sit side by side in the reading chairs in her living room, lost in our separate books, but interrupting each other now and then to share choice passages.

     

    10. Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or you can just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?

     

    I need solitude in which to pace and think, and I prefer being in my office with all my reference works and music in the background—early music or Bach’s cello concertos.

     

    11. What other projects are in the works?

     

    My current focus is the Owen Archer series. I’m writing the 12th novel and playing with future plot concepts. Now and then I fiddle with ideas that have nothing to do with my deadline, just for a change of pace and the experience of writing something entirely different. Keeps me fresh! I don’t worry about whether it will ever amount to something I’ll complete, which in itself is liberating.

    About the Author

    I’m Candace Robb, a writer/historian engaged in creating fiction about the late middle ages with a large cast of characters with whom I enjoy spending my days. Two series, the Owen Archer mysteries and the Kate Clifford mysteries, are set in late medieval York. The Margaret Kerr trilogy is set in early 14th century Scotland, at the beginning of the Wars of Independence. Two standalone novels (published under pseudonym Emma Campion) expand on the lives of two women in the court of King Edward III who have fascinated me ever since I first encountered them in history and fiction.

    I am a dreamer. Writing, gardening, walking, dancing, reading, being with friends—there’s always a dreaming element.

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    Blog Tour Schedule

    Thursday, August 1
    Review at Book Frolic
    Excerpt at Books In Their Natural Habitat

    Friday, August 2
    Review at A Book Geek

    Saturday, August 3
    Feature at The Writing Desk

    Monday, August 5
    Feature at Book Addict Rambles

    Tuesday, August 6
    Excerpt at Broken Teepee
    Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

    Wednesday, August 7
    Interview at Bookish Rantings

    Thursday, August 8
    Guest Post at Reading the Past
    Review at Hoover Book Reviews

    Friday, August 9
    Feature at I’m All About Books
    Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

    Saturday, August 10
    Feature at Clarissa Reads it All

    Sunday, August 11
    Excerpt at A Darn Good Read

    Monday, August 12
    Excerpt at Just One More Chapter
    Review & Interview at Gwendalyn’s Books

    Tuesday, August 13
    Review at Passages to the Past

    Wednesday, August 14
    Guest Post at Words and Peace
    Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

    Thursday, August 15
    Review at Coffee and Ink
    Review at Book Reviews from Canada

    Giveaway

    During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a Hardcover copy of A Conspiracy of Wolves by Candace Robb! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

    Giveaway Rules

    – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on August 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
    – Giveaway is open to the US only.
    – Only one entry per household.
    – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be 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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