Book Title: She Sees Ghosts―The Story of a Woman Who Rescues Lost Souls
Series (if applicable): Part of the Adirondack Spirit Series
Author: David Fitz-Gerald
Publication Date: October 25, 2020
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Page Length: 270 pages
Genre Historical/Supernatural
A blazing fire killed her family and devoured her home. A vengeful demon haunted her. Ghosts of the Revolutionary War needed help that only she could provide. A young woman languished, desperate to survive, and teetered on the edge of sanity.
Mehitablegrew up in a freshly tamed town, carved from the primeval forest. Family, friends, and working at the mercantile filled her days and warmed her heart. ForMehitable, life was simple and safe, until tragedy struck. When her family perished in their burning home, she retreated into a world of her own making.
As a young girl, she had seen glimmers, glimpses, and flickers of the spirit world. She closed her eyes. She turned her back. She ignored the apparitions that she never spoke of, desperately hoping they would leave her in peace. She was mistaken.
Grief-stricken,Mehitablewithdrew from the human world. Ghosts were everywhere. They became bolder. She could no longer turn her back on the spirit world. Her friends feared for her survival. Nobody understood her. She would have to find her own way.
Fans of TV’sGhost WhispererandLong Island Mediumwill especially loveShe Sees Ghosts. This historical novel features memorable characters and delivers bone-tingling, spine chilling goosebumps. It stands on its own and it is the next installment in the Adirondack Spirit Series by the award-winning author ofWanders Far―An Unlikely Hero’s Journey. David Fitz-Gerald delivers a historical novel with a bittersweet ending that you won’t see coming.
Would she save the spirits’ souls, or would they save her? Only time would tell.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.
The second book in the Fitz-Gerald’s Adirondack Spirit Series A wonderful story that weaves paranormal elements, and historical fiction.
Mehitable Munsch, a young girl growing up in a small village in the 1800s. Gifted since early childhood, just like her grandmother. She has an unique and unsettling gift , she is a seer of spirits.
When a terrible tragedy happens on her sixteen birthday, that takes her whole family away from her. A devastating fire that leaves her an orphan, she refuses help from a neighboring family. She seeks her own solitude, preferring to stay on her own.
This strong independent girl life sees its share trials and tribulations as she progresses to adulthood. As she grows older so does her incredible talent of seeing restless ghosts.
This is mesmerizing tale of the personal growth of a young woman who comes into her own. Steadfast in faith she has find her way through trials to, find herself and also love. Breathtaking atmospheric imagery along with compelling character development makes for an enjoyable reading experience.
Set during the Revolutionary War time frame, the harsh realities are wonderfully depicted. I especially enjoyed the books imagery along with authors ability to describe the historical details.
This is the second book that I have read from this very talented author. I am looking forward to reading more book from him.
David Fitz-Gerald
David Fitz-Geraldwrites fiction that is grounded in history and soars with the spirits. Dave enjoys getting lost in the settings he imagines and spending time with the characters he creates. Writing historical fiction is like making paintings of the past. He loves to weave fact and fiction together, stirring in action, adventure, romance, and a heavy dose of the supernatural with the hope of transporting the reader to another time and place. He is an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked all of the highest peaks in New York State, so it should not be surprising when Dave attempts to glorify hikers as swashbuckling superheroes in his writing.She Sees Ghosts―A Story of a Woman Who Rescues Lost Soulsis the next instalment in the Adirondack Spirit Series.
Welcome to my stop on Beauty Among Ruins
by J’nell Ciesielski
@JnellCiesielski @ThomasNelson @hfvbt
Beauty Among Ruins
by J’nell Ciesielski
Publication Date: January 12, 2021
Thomas Nelson
Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Scottish
In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected.
American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.
Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light.
Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love?
‘A Scottish lord and an American socialite discover love during WWI in this gorgeous historical romance from Ciesielski (The Socialite)…The undercurrent of mystery and Ciesielski’s unflinching approach to the harsh realities of wartime only enhance the love story. Readers are sure to be impressed.’ –Publishers Weekly
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
A heart felt gorgeous historical romance!
This was an exquisite literary delightful tale. Lily Durham, is a headstrong American socialite. Her parents seeking to curb her reckless behavior, so they send her to England to stay with her cousin Elizabeth.
Things take a different turn when a declaration of war is announced, and The Great War erupts. Lilys parents wisely have her extend her stay on with her cousin. The two woman do some nurse training and find themselves in Scotland at a large Estate turned convalescence home for injured soldiers. Lilly really comes into her own and excepts the challenge presented before her. She has a vivacious personality that can not be contained.
Doing all he can for the war effort, laird, Alec MacGregor has opened up his home, Kinclavoch Castle, to help those in need physical and mental care. All the while while dealing with his own inner turmoil. Within the going’s on at the estate, Alec and Lilly’s paths cross.
I have to say this was a romance that I absolutely adored. A broody heart stopping Scotsman, and a feisty American.
There is also some mystery regarding sabotage, kidnapping to keep the reader on their toes. Will the two be able to put aside their differences, and work together to stop the the threatening menace?
When Lily’s family finally demands her to return to her home stateside, or risk her financial stability. Lilly will face a tough decision, will she be able to choose what is right for her own heart?
The author creates a compelling historical storyline that captures the the human struggles of heart. The characters are brought to life was superb characterization. The rich atmospheric imagery was delightful, and I fell in love with the beautiful surroundings.
Excited for this Authors next release
With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.
Praise for WAITING FOR THE NIGHT SONG“Julie Carrick Dalton’s deftly constructed, urgent yet slow-burning debut novel reads like a warning from the frontlines of our rapidly deteriorating natural world.” —Omar El Akkad, American War“Both a timely and timeless literary mystery, Waiting for the Night Song is as seductive as it is smart, blending the allure of Julie Dalton’s beloved rural New Hampshire setting with the dark undercurrents of a community’s racial divisions and betrayals. This is a story of love, of home, of friendship and family, of a childhood’s innocence and an adult’s comeuppance, all of which are in the line of fire in this beauty of a page turner.” —Michelle Hoover, award-winning author of Bottomland and The Quickening“Human nature clashes with Mother Nature in this riveting and heartbreaking coming of age story— gorgeously written, and wonderfully told. With its combination of powerful themes and intensely immersive setting, fans of Delia Owens will swoon to find their new favorite author. A phenomenal debut!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, award-winning author of The First to Lie“Dalton writes masterfully of human relationship and the fraught relationship humanity has with ecology…put it on your lists NOW.” —Michael Zapata, author of The Lost Book of Adana Moreau“I marvel when I come across a book that is at once timely and timeless…It’s a novel that burns–figuratively and literally–with sharp prose and uncommon wisdom. Do yourself a favor and have a look for yourself.” —Peter Geye, award-winning author of Wintering“Waiting for the Night Song is a beautiful book that is also a hell of a read. Complex characters, unforgettable setting, taut storyline, big ideas.” —Ashley Shelby, author of South Pole Station“Smart and searingly passionate, Dalton’s absorbing mystery debut explores many timely issues including global warming, female friendships, childhood secrets, and the lengths we take to protect them — Waiting For The Night Song is an illuminating snapshot of nature, betrayal and sacrifices set in the evocative New Hampshire wilderness.” —Kim Michele Richardson, award-winning author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek“A killer, gorgeous debut that tackles love, racism and even climate change. Waiting for the Night Song will break your heart, leave you breathless and wanting more.” —Rachel Barenbaum, bestselling author of A Bend in the Stars“Dalton weaves the vagaries of friendship, the wonder of the natural world, and the power of truth to create a powerful and unforgettable story.” —Erica Ferencik, bestselling author of The River at Night and Into the Jungle“Dalton’s debut is a story of friendship, family, and the consequences of acting out of fear, especially when those actions are performed to protect those we love. The storytelling is made even more vivid by the way the novel practically breathes the woods of New Hampshire.” —Booklist
“Stirring…a taut novel that builds suspense to the very end.” —Publishers Weekly
A startling and timely debut, Julie Carrick Dalton’s Waiting for the Night Song is a moving, brilliant novel about friendships forged in childhood magic and ruptured by the high price of secrets that leave you forever changed.
Cadie Kessler has spent decades trying to cover up one truth. One moment. But deep down, didn’t she always know her secret would surface?
An urgent message from her long-estranged best friend Daniela Garcia brings Cadie, now a forestry researcher, back to her childhood home. There, Cadie and Daniela are forced to face a dark secret that ended both their idyllic childhood bond and the magical summer that takes up more space in Cadie’s memory then all her other years combined.
Now grown up, bound by long-held oaths, and faced with truths she does not wish to see, Cadie must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to protect the people and the forest she loves, as drought, foreclosures, and wildfire spark tensions between displaced migrant farm workers and locals.
Waiting for the Night Song is a love song to the natural beauty around us, a call to fight for what we believe in, and a reminder that the truth will always rise.
You can purchaseWaiting for the Night at the following Retailers:
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
Waiting for the Night Song is about a deep childhood friendship that’s shattered by a dark secret. The story follows two young girls, Cadie and Daniela, through a summer full of adventure and minor misdeeds until a traumatic event drives them apart.
“Truth hides in fissures and hollows, in broken places and empty parts. It can be buried, crushed, or burnt, but the truth will always rise
Waiting for the Night Song is about a deep childhood friendship that is shattered by a dark secret. Cadie and Daniela witnessed a traumatic event over twenty ago.
Cadie Kessler is a entomologist researching the pine beetle from the Rockies to her New Hampshire hometown where the beetles are laying waist to the trees. Leaving them dead and perfect for forest fires.
When she hears from estranged childhood friend, Daniela Garcia. It seems the past has come back, to haunt both Cadie and Daniela when a body is discovered from twenty seven years earlier.
A thrilling coming-of-age book intertwined with a murder mystery. Waiting for the Night Song shifts between the present and “The Summertime ” when the friendship was shattered, and the events happened that the two girls have tried so hard to forget.
A thrilling book that draws you in with its suspense, racial issues, and climate change.
It also is about friendship and family ties.
Photo Credit: Sharona Jacobs
Julie Carrick Dalton grew up in Maryland and on a military base in Germany. As an adult, she bounced around from Seattle to Dallas to Virginia, before finding her true home in Boston, where she has lived for more than twenty years. Her writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Electric Literature, and other publications. She contributes to The Chicago Review of Books, DeadDarlings, and The Writer Unboxed. A Tin House alum and graduate of GrubStreet’s Novel Incubator, Julie holds a Master’s in Literature and Creative Writing from Harvard Extension School. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of writing fiction in the age of climate crisis. Mom to four kids and two dogs, Julie is a passionate skier, hiker, and kayaker. She also owns and operates an organic farm. Please excuse her dirty fingernails.
An extraordinary story of human triumph against impossible odds
The year is 1940, and the world is torn apart by war. In June of that year, Hitler’s army captures the Channel Islands–the only part of Great Britain to be occupied by German forces. Abandoned by Mr. Churchill, forgotten by the Allies, and cut off from all help, the Islands’ situation is increasingly desperate.
Hedy Bercu is a young Jewish girl who fled Vienna for the island of Jersey two years earlier during the Anschluss, only to find herself trapped by the Nazis once more–this time with no escape. Her only hope is to make herself invaluable to the Germans by working as a translator, hiding in plain sight wIth the help of her friends and community–and a sympathetic German officer. But as the war intensifies, rations dwindle, neighbors turn on neighbors, and Hedy’s life is in greater danger every day. It will take a definitive, daring act to save her from certain deportation to the concentration camps.
A sweeping tale of bravery and love under impossible circumstances, Hedy’s remarkable story reminds us that it’s often up to ordinary people to be quiet heroes in the face of injustice.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
THE GIRL FROM THE CHANNEL ISLANDS is a riveting unforgettable tale of bravery, friendship, and love. Based on a true story of a young Jewish girl named Hedwig Bercu (Hedy) during World War II.
Jenny Lecoat debut novel has propulsive storyline, offering both drama and historical authenticity to appeal to anyone interested in WWll historical fiction.
Set in the English Channel Islands, 1940. Hedy is a Jew who recently escaped Austrian Anschluss to the island of Jersey.
Leaving behind the horrors of Vienna Austria Hedy Berkus arrives to the shores of Jersey, located in England’s British Isles. Fleeing for her life because of her Jewish Heritage. Hoping she is safe far away from the long arm of.Nazi regime.
Everything comes crashing down when in June 1940. The inhabitants of the Channel Island of Jersey can only watch as the German army invades.
The invading force takes complete control of their island without any opposition to stop them. They have been abandoned by the British, and forced to fend for themselves. The locals of Jersey are resilient people endure a lengthy occupation that will last to the very end of the war.
Hedy Bercu nightmare has become her reality, again she finds her nationality under persecution. This is immersive novel that show the local of Jersey island as strong willed and courageous people. Hedy is a wonderfully developed character, and the author seamlessly writing flows perfectly as the storyline develops. She is brave and driven by inner strength as she tries to hide her identity an takes a job at the German headquarters as a translator. When her paths cross with the German officer Kurt, nothing prepares both of them. The romance is done in a way that doesn’t overshadowed the true theme of the novel, but you will your heart captivated by it.
The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat’s is compelling book
It will significant interest those readers who enjoy World War II based historical fiction
Jenny Lecoat was born in Jersey, Channel Islands, where her parents were raised under German Occupation and were involved in resistance activity. Lecoat moved to England at 18, where, after earning a drama degree, she spent a decade on the alternative comedy circuit as a feminist stand-up. She also wrote for newspapers and women’s magazines (Cosmopolitan, Observer), worked as a TV and radio presenter, before focusing on screenwriting from sitcom to sketch shows. A love of history and factual stories and a return to her island roots brought about her feature film Another Mother’s Son (2017). She is married to television writer Gary Lawson and now lives in East Sussex. The Girl from the Channel Islands is her first novel.
THE SUN’S HEAT HAD BEGUN TO MELLOW, AND the gulls were cruising for their final catch of the day when the siren sounded. Its wail climbed and fell, calling out over the jumbled slate roofs and church spires of the town, and across the patchwork of potato fields beyond. In St. Aubin’s bay, where the waves lapped and fizzed on the sand, its warning finally reached Hedy’s ears as she lay dozing by the sea wall, and woke her with a jolt.
Rising in slow motion, she scanned the sky. Now she could also hear a faint, tinny whine in the east. She tried to steady her breathing. Perhaps it was another false alarm? These warnings had become a daily event these past two weeks, each time the reconnaissance planes merely circling, then disappearing back out to sea with cameras crammed full of blurry images of main roads and harbor walls. But this time something was different. The engine sound contained a note of brutish intent, and now several tiny black dots were emerging in the distant blue. The whine became a hum, and the hum a strident drone. Then she knew. This was no reconnaissance mission. This was the start.
For days now, the islanders had watched the black smoke rise and mushroom on the French coast, felt the vibration of the distant blasts pulse through their bellies and rattle their bones. Women had spent hours counting and recounting the tinned foods in their larders, while the men squashed into banks to withdraw the family savings. Children had yelled their complaints as gas masks were forced over their heads. By then, all hope had vanished. There was no one here to deter the aggressors, nothing between them and their shimmering prize but flat blue water and an empty sky. And now the planes were on their way. Hedy could see them clearly now, still some distance away, but from the outline she guessed they were Stukas. Dive-bombers.
She spun around, looking for shelter. The nearest beachside café was almost a mile away. Stopping only to grab her wicker bag, she sprinted for the stone steps leading to the walkway above,and took them in three bounds. At the top she scoured the promenade; a hundred meters toward First Tower was a small seafront shelter. It contained nothing but a single wooden bench on each of its four exposed sides, but it would have to do. Hedy hurtled toward it, grazing her shin as she mistimed the leap onto the low plinth, and threw herself
against the bench. A moment later she was joined by a panic-stricken young mother, probably not much older than herself, gripping a small white-faced boy by the wrist. By now the planes were over St. Helier harbor, one arcing across the bay toward them, the noise of the engine so thunderous that it drowned out the boy’s screams as the woman pushed him to the ground. The violent rat-a-tat of machine-gun fire stung Hedy’s ears as several bullets found the sea wall and zinged off in random directions. A second later, a distant explosion shook the shelter so hard Hedy thought the roof might collapse. “Was that a bomb?” The woman’s face was ashen beneath her tan.
“Yes. Near the harbor, I think.”
The woman gave her a brief, confused look. It was the ac- cent, Hedy knew—even in a moment like this it still set her apart, marked her out as an alien. But the woman’s attention quickly turned back to her child.
“Oh my God,” she muttered, “what have we done? My husband said we should have evacuated when we had the chance.” Her eyes fixed on the sky. “Do you think we should have gone?”
Hedy said nothing, but followed her companion’s gaze upward. She thought about her employers, the Mitchells, staggering onto that filthy, inadequate cargo boat with their screaming child, and nothing but a change of underwear and a few provisions stuffed into a brown packing case. At this moment, with the aroma of burning aviation fuel in her nostrils, she would have given anything to be with them. Her knuckles turned yellow on the slatted bench. Corkscrews of charcoal smoke drifted across the bay, and she could hear the little boy beside her sobbing. Hedy swallowed hard and focused on the questions bouncing around her brain like a pin- ball. How long now before the Germans landed? Would they round people up, stand them in front of walls to be shot? If they came for her, then…? There was no point finishing that thought. Anton, the only person on this island she could call a friend, would be powerless to help her. The shelter vibrated again, and she felt its fragility.
Hedy remained crouched silently, listening to the planes loop and dive and the crack of explosions a mile away, until at last the sound of the engines began to fade into the distance. An aging gentleman with disheveled white hair stumbled toward them, and stopped to peer into the shelter.
“The planes have gone,” he called. “Try to get home as quickly as you can. It can’t be long before they get here.” Hedy’s eyes fixed on his jacket, which was covered in dust and uneven patches of blood. “Don’t worry, it’s not mine,” the man assured her. “Old fellow walking near the harbor took a bullet in the leg—we had to get him to the hospital.” “Are there many hurt? Or…?” Hedy glanced toward the
little boy, not wanting to finish the question.
“Some, yes.” The man’s voice faltered a little, and Hedy felt a surge of anguish. She pressed her fist to her lips and swallowed again before he continued: “They bombed a line of potato trucks waiting to unload at the harbor. I mean, for God’s sake, what’s the point of that?” He shook his head and gestured toward his destination. “Hurry now.”
The man hastened away. Hedy hauled her shaking body to its feet, wished the woman good luck and set off along the promenade toward the town, wondering how on earth she would get back to the Mitchells’—assuming the house was still there. She tried to hurry, but her skinny legs felt weak. She imagined Hemingway cowering beneath the sofa in the empty living room, his gray feline fur stiff with terror. Already she was half regretting disobeying Mr. Mitchell’s instruction to have him put down. The animal’s trusting eyes had melted her heart at the door of the vet’s surgery. Now she wasn’t even sure if she’d be able to feed herself, never mind a cat.
By the time she reached the outskirts of St. Helier town she could hear the bells of the ambulances and the random shouts of desperate men trying to work as a team. Smoke rose in missing, some wandering aimlessly, and one old couple on a bench, sobbing. Hedy walked on, forcing herself to put one foot in front of the other, deliberately edging her mind to- ward reality. The seas around the island were probably already full of U-boats. Soon she would once again be surrounded by those gray-green uniforms and hear the barking of orders. She pictured the bang on the door, Wehrmacht hands grabbing at her elbow, the house abandoned with dirty dishes still on the table. Anything was possible now. She recalled only too well the way the Germans had behaved in Vienna.
Today I am partnering with The Coffee Pot Book Club and the author
Janet Lee Berg in promoting her fabulous book: Restitution
Please enjoy the featured Excerpt
Book Title:Restitution
Series: Sequel to “Rembrandt’s Shadow”
Author:Janet Lee Berg
Publication Date: 30thSeptember 2020
Publisher:Koehler
Page Length: 262 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
“Restitution” is the riveting, multigenerational story of Sylvie Rosenberg, a Holocaust survivor traumatized by the memory of her art dealer father forced to trade paintings with the Nazis in an attempt to save their large extended family. Sylvie’s adult life in 1970s New York is plagued by survivors’ guilt and bitterness. But when her self-destructive ways threaten to upend the life of her Vietnam-vet son, Sylvie finally needs to face her demons. She returns to Holland to confront her past and fight the Dutch judicial system for the return of the masterpieces, but the battle proves far more difficult than Sylvie imagined…
Weaving in tragic true events from her own family history, Berg offers a sensitive story of history, romance, andhumoralong with detail from the extensive research of Lynn H. Nicholas, the world’s leading expert on art pilfered during WWII.Over 80 years later, the real family still awaits justice and the return of artwork that continues to hang on museum walls, without noting their tragic history…
Michael blamed his mother for many things, including letting his father walk out on them.My father’s a stranger to me. I lost him the same day I lost my first tooth. Michael could still see his six-year old self in the mirror staring hard at the hole where the tooth had been, the toothbrush bristles against his sore gums. He remembered his tears running into his mouth, the salty taste mixed with blood. But he could hardly remember the back of his father’s head when he had slammed the front door and walked out without looking back. Maybe by the time a new tooth replaced the empty spot his father would be back. But he didn’t come back, not even long after Michael’s adult tooth emerged.
Mom forgot to put a quarter under my pillow that night. What did I know, a dumb little Jewish kid? I never enjoyed the splendor of the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus . . . no way was I ever going to believe in the tooth fairy. Or in my father. I kept that pain to myself. I guess we all collect our own little secrets.
Michael wasn’t just an only child. He was alonelychild. He didn’t have much of a family and he wondered why, trying to put the puzzle together: his famous grandfather, the world-renowned art dealer; his grandmother, the socialite who had the servants dress the four children in their best clothes. Michael envisioned them running through the three-story house in Holland all those years ago.
Michael heard a few obscure anecdotes about the once aristocratic family he’d never met; her siblings were still living in Europe. He could see the angst on his mother’s face as she told him, particularly when she mentioned Gretta’s name.
One thing his mother made perfectly clear was that people were not to be trusted, even family. “The ones you especially have to be leery about,” she had said, “are the ones that profess their love for you.”
He knew in the later years exactly who she was referring to. His mother wanted to be the only one in Michael’s life because she would never abandon him—not like his father had done.Never!And she had done everything in her power to keep her only Jewish son apart from that gentile girl named Angela.
After a night out drinking with the guys, Michael had become irrational. With a hangover, he had enlisted in the Army the next morning. He immediately knew he had made a grave mistake. Soon after, he and Angela separated. The girl was right all along—Michael wasn’t strong enough to stand up to his mother. Ironically, when Michael had lost his will to live, Sylvie reached out to his Christian girlfriend and told her where to find him. “Tell him the truth, Angela. Only you can. Tell him the secret his mother kept from him his entire life.”
Michael finally confronted her.
“How could you not tell me that I have a brother, Mom? You could have told me ten, fifteen years ago. He could have been part of our family after Dad walked out.”
“I’m sorry, Michael,” she had repeated over and over through the tears. “I know it was a terrible secret to keep from you. Believe me, I lived with the guilt.” She turned away. “I can’t talk about this right now. Please, don’t make me . . . I never could tell you because I wasn’t sure you’d forgive me. I wasn’t sure I had forgiven my own sin,” she whimpered.
“Stop! I don’t believe in sins. Being human means you’re allowed to make mistakes. And mistakes can be forgiven.”
Sylvie had covered her mouth in shame. “I was so young, Michael.”
“I would have understood,” he said.
Michael imagined his mother as a young girl who missed her father and who had only known about showy dresses and expensive jewelry back in her homeland. She had witnessed the suffering of others during the war and feared the same horror could befall her own family. Still, it was difficult for him to ignore her shallow lifestyle.
During college, Michael rebelled against Sylvie’s materialism. He practiced meditation, read Indian philosophy, and smoked a lot of weed. It wasn’t until the day he met Angela, when he shed his sandals on the beach and ran into the ocean waves to rescue the gentile girl, that he saved himself from going under.
Janet Lee Berg
Janet Lee Bergis a native New Yorker with a residence in Charleston, SC. She is also author of several other works of fiction and children’s books and has had her work featured in the local, regional, and national press. A journalist in the Hamptons, Janet Lee Berg has interviewed numerous celebrities and pursued an MFA in Creative Writing, under the direction of published professors including Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes.
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for A Man of Honor by J.A. Nelson!@JANelsonAuthor @hfvbt
#AManofHonor #JANelson #HFVBTBlogTours
A Man of Honor, or Horatio’s Confessions
by J.A. Nelson
Publication Date: December 9, 2019
Quill Point Press
Paperback, eBook & AudioBook; 414 pages
Genre: Historical/Thriller/Mystery
Winner of two silver medals
Best First Book, Fiction
Best Cover, Fiction
Awarded by the IBPA (2020)
2020 Notable Indie, Top 100 – Best Indie Book Awards, Shelf Unbound
Finalist, Literary Fiction
14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (2020)
A Man of Honor tells the fictional tale of how one mans oath gave birth to the legend of Hamlet.
How far would you go to keep a deathbed promise?
Surrounded by the bodies of slain monarchs, a dying prince extracts a promise from his friend, Horatio: “Tell my story.”
Rival kings of warring nations strive to lay claim to the throne, now vacant, but what will happen to the people who live there, at Helsingr’s Krogen Castle? How will Horatio preserve his honor and the prince’s legacy while surviving this murderous kingdom and the men who would rule it?
Despite the odds and threats against him, Horatio persists, weaving the story of his dear friend into the fabric of one of their oldest and most revered medieval texts.
But when a nefarious Spaniard thwarts his plans, Horatio must once again risk everything to fulfill his oath.
With the help of some unexpected allies in the form of Margrete, a courageous lady-in-waiting, and Lanier, a disgraced French nobleman, Horatio undertakes this perilous quest that will lead him on a journey none of them could have ever predicted, to a place none of them ever thought they would see.
And after their hard-fought journey will it all be for naught?
“Like a train, A MAN OF HONOR’s narrative builds speed and takes off into an often gripping adventure of love,war, and discovery. Author J.A. Nelson’s novel follows in the tradition of historical fiction. Nelson creates a beautiful but terrifying sixteenth century where numerous factions struggle for power and influence. The main characters are loyal but fallible, and the reader identifies with their struggle to keep moving forward–to finish what they’ve started…. Nelson has developed a timeless story…. A MAN OF HONOR may be set in a distant time and place, but Horatio’s search for the truth about his late friend, Hamlet, is an internal journey of discovery to which many readers will relate.” – IndieReader Reviews
“With its literary flourishes and exciting scenes, A Man of Honor addresses ethical questions in fascinating ways….Setting and moods…capture the flavor of Nordic sagas…. A literary novel featuring taut action and strong characters who address questions about the nature of integrity.” – Clarion Reviews
“The story of Hamlet survives, truthfully told…. Horatio is the perfect character to carry on Hamlet’s story…. An intriguing twist…. Among the pages of an adventure is a story of one man’s commitment to his sense of honor and duty, as well as the importance and worth of legends.” – The US Review
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
Are you lover of Shakespeare?
I have often wondered what happened after the curtain fell on one of Shakespeare plays.
This is a riveting historical continuation of the Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet. Set during the late Middle Ages of the sixteen century of Scandinavia. A lonely commoner, Horatio cradles his dying friends head and commits to an Oath. This oath will commit him to an epic task to tell the tale of of his friend, Hamlet.
This Christian oath might very well be Horatio’s undoing. A treacherous undertaking to keep a moral promise, made to his beloved friend. Horatio will suffer with his internal conflict that binds him to his daunting task. His moral and Christian compass weights him down. Fearing he will be unable to follow through with his promise, he struggles to keep his soul from spiritual damnation. A war is looming on the horizon as both Fortinbras II of Denmark and Cristiern of Norway seek to proceed the thrown of Denmark that has been left vacant.
The author has done a suburb job in creating a continuation of the ramifications of the death of Hamlet. It’s a fast moving novel that kept me up late. The characters are well executed and developed. The growth of of our main POV is done exceedingly well. There are so many nuisance for Horatio to over come, including his station in life. This undertaking will see him through multiple trials and tribulations. Battlefields and a villainous Reynaldo. Horatio will become embroiled in the power grab for the throne of Denmark. He will find himself out of his elements, along with another character that I really enjoyed reading about a noble woman named Margrete. There is notable nod to the notorious text, Gesta Danorum, which includes the story of Amleth, (Hamelt). An ancient text that may have been where Shakespeare drew part of his information from when he wrote his famous play. The period and the details are wonderfully brought to life through the authors exceptional writing.
The propulsive storyline, offering both complex drama and historical authenticity to appeal to anyone interested in rich historical fiction.
J. A. Nelson’s passion for exploring connections between history, literature, and evidence in written texts has shaped her life—from a BA (Occidental College) and MA (The George Washington University) in cultural studies to a two-decade career at the National Archives of the United States, working with historical documentary treasures and helping people access unique stories in those records. Ms. Nelson is a native of Culver City, CA, a Los Angeles suburb. She lives with her husband in Northern Virginia. A Man of Honor, or Horatio’s Confessions is her debut novel.
Too ill to travel, she writes a letter to her daughter Katherine, the young duchess of Suffolk. A letter telling of her life: a life intertwined with her friend and cousin Catalina of Aragon, the youngest child of Isabel of Castile. It is a letter to help her daughter understand the choices she has made in her life, beginning from the time she keeps her vow to Catalina to share her life of exile in England.
Friendship, betrayal, hatred, forgiveness – All Manner of Things tells a story of how love wins out in the end.
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Praise for All Manner of Things.
“A timeless story of friendship and love, which will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned, All Manner of Things is Wendy J. Dunn’s best novel yet…”
Lauren Chater, author of The Lace Weavers and Gulliver’s Wife.
“To read this book is like tasting a succulent pomegranate that swells and ripens and reveals the luscious fruit…”
Glenice Whitting, author Pickle to a Pie and What Time is it There?
“A sensitive and inspiring portrait of faith and friendship, framed around the devotion inspired by a remarkable queen. Wendy J. Dunn has written another gem of a novel for Tudor enthusiasts!”
Gareth Russell, author of Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII (US title) (2017), The Darksome Bounds of a Failing World: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era (2019).
“This is a story ripe with passion and rich in historical detail. All Manner of Things draws the reader deep into the heart of Henry’s Tudor court, with its machinations, betrayals and very human stories of love and loss…”
Rachel Nightingale, author of The Tales of Tarya.
“A finely wrought tale that resurrects the indomitable spirit of Katherine of Aragon, breathing new life into her oft-told story… Yet another spellbinding novel from Wendy J Dunn!”
Adrienne Dillard, author of Cor Rotto and The Raven’s Widow.
“I’m so fussy about historical fiction, but Wendy J Dunn never fails to please. Dunn breathes life into Catalina and Maria in this celebration of true friendship. Their story seemed to reach through the ages to truly touch me. Beautiful, just beautiful”
Claire Ridgway, author of The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown.
“…this book made me fascinate over times long ago, times when ancient buildings were brand new, faded portraits were still sharp and striking and faith and loyalty were absolute; times when women had so little autonomy it was never an option for them to venture out on their own and just ditch this damn place.”
Angela Wauchop, Backstory Literary Journal.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
Falling Pomegranate Seeds:
All Manner of Things, Book #2
By Wendy J. Dunn
This exquisitely written novel begins with a letter penned by María de Salinas to her daughter. María de Salinas is approaching the end of her life and wants to convey her journey that has included her time served with her close childhood friend, Catalina of Aragon.
Dona María de Salinas was a the Spanish born lady in waiting to the Queen of England Katherine Argon. This intimate tale takes place from the time the princess leaves her home 1501, until her death in 1536.
Catalina of Aragon (Katherine) is sent to wed the prince of England, next in line to the English throne, Author Tudor. Who is also Henry Tudor’s older brother.The narration is seen through the eyes of the ever present lady in waiting, Maria.As the the princess and her ladies leave everything they have ever known. From the light and warm of the sun of their beloved Castile. They travel from it’s beautiful scenery and leave behind their loved ones. When the princess’s entourage reach the persistently grey and cold shores of England doubts began to set in.
They find themselves unprepared for its foreign food and drastic climate difference. Even the way people dress and courtly manner is completely different. Adaptability and survival becomes all consuming, as the English coldness eases into their bones.
Nothing is what it it seems, as Marie and her longtime friend and confidant Catalina come to find out. They try settle in and try to survive in the treacherous politics of courtly life of England.
Maria’s own story is beautifully conveyed, both captivating and intriguing. I fell in love with strength of all the women depicted in this lovely compelling book.The meticulous attention to detail is impeccable, the author Wendy J. Dunn seamless narration has captured the turbulent years of the great lady Catherine Argon Tudor.
The rich, atmospheric imagery, exceeded my expectations. Placing the reader within story as Maria tells it. The life and times of courtly life for the Maria and the princess, who eventually becomes the Queen, is nothing short of phenomenal.
Maria’s own life takes its own turn away from her beloved queen and she will find some of life’s happiness. She will also face her own battles and make hard decisions, that will leave her with regrets and sadness.
The characters are three dimensional, and come to life under Dunn wonderful depiction. The pacing is solid as author weaves together the lives of these fascinating people. A riveting historical Tudor fiction, that will stay with long after you close the book. So much drama and intrigue for those that find themselves within the court of the tyrant King, Henry VIII.
If you enjoy absorbing historical fiction, than this a must read for you. A wonderful and perfect addition to my ever growing library
Easter, 1177. Canterbury Cathedral, home to the tomb of martyr Saint Thomas Becket, bears the wounds of a terrible fire. Benedict, prior of the great church, leads its rebuilding. But horror interrupts the work. One of the stonemasons is found viciously murdered, the dead man’s face disfigured by a shocking wound.
When King’s clerk Aelred Barling and his assistant, Hugo Stanton, arrive on pilgrimage to the tomb, the prior orders them to investigate the unholy crime.
But the killer soon claims another victim–and another. As turmoil embroils the congregation, the pair of sleuths face urgent pressure to find a connection between the killings.
With panic on the rise, can Barling and Stanton catch the culprit before evil prevails again—and stop it before it comes for them?
THE CANTERBURY MURDERS is the third book in E.M. Powell’s Stanton and Barling medieval murder mystery series. Combining intricate plots, shocking twists and a winning–if unlikely–pair of investigators, this series is perfect for fans of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael or C. J. Sansom’s Shardlake.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
The Canterbury Murders, is the third installment in the Stanton and Barling series.
Long time friends Thomas Beckett and King Henry II, soon clashed over clerical privilege. Henry stated that the church was subject to the law of the land, but Becket insisted that the Church was above the law.
Four of Henry’s knights slayed Becket upon The High alter in the church of Canterbury. Set only seven years after Becketts Murder in the year 1177.The Christ Church of Canterbury has become a famous holy place for pilgrims.
In the year 1174, a devastating fire destroys the roof and the famous choir of Canterbury Cathedral where the mortal remains of Saint Thomas Beckett reside.
Prior Benedict is overseeing the massive restoration and rebuilding of one the. Most holiest of sites in the 12 century of England.
Hugo Stanton and Aelred Barling, the King’s clerk set out on a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket.
Soon after their arrival Benedict the Prior and The Archbishop Richard summons both Barling and his young assistant Stanton. They discloses that a stonemason has been found murdered. The Mason’s face was mutilated. A cut deep into his forehead, the holy Cross of Christ. There is urgency because count Philip of Flanders is on his way to visit the Martyrs tomb. Not wanting to out done King Henry is making his way and will arrive in four days. Barlings own personal reason for visiting the the tomb will have to wait. Now that they must find the killer.
As the two move through the investigation process, each men have their own unique way have gathering information. Things take a dark turn, and soon the body count becomes quite high.
This medieval thriller takes on a different turn with Barling, being so wrapped up in his own personal unrequited guilt. Leaving the investigation to Stanton this time. All the while Stanton is feeling at a loss as to why his friend, Barling has become so distant and reserved. Barling is struggling emotionally, dealing with his own internal turmoil.
This was a highly addictive read. It took off exceptionally fast. You are catapulted into the twelfth century. The atmospheric imagery, along with details of the people’s lives and their religious beliefs are brought to life. This meticulously researched historical was phenomenal. The plot line keeps you flipping through the pages and the rich details made me feel like I was front and center.
The characters were splendid and well developed, and the sub characters should be noted also The murder mystery takes center stage as the storyline unfolds and there are some intriguing twists. The two main POV’s will come to heads, as the intensity of finding the perpetrator mounts along with the death toll. It’s a riveting historical murder mystery for sure, and I felt invested into the lives of the characters within the pages.
This was a great exceptional written historical mystery set to the famous Christ Church of Canterbury during the the 12th century!
E.M. Powell’s historical thriller and medieval mystery Fifth Knight and Stanton & Barling novels have been #1 Amazon and Bild bestsellers.
The third Stanton & Barling mystery, THE CANTERBURY MURDERS, will be released in November 2020.
Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State), she lives in northwest England with her husband, daughter and a Facebook-friendly dog.
E.M. Powell is represented by Josh Getzler at HG Literary.
Today is my stop on the Storytellers, Fly Free Book Tour, Allison Rose’s YA Fantasy novel,Fly Free, book one in herLight of Faerieseries.
★Make sure you Enter The Giveaway At The End Of The Post★
FLY FREE
BY ALLISON ROSE
SERIES:Light of Faerie (#1)
PUBLISHED:September 20, 2020
GENRE:Fantasy
AGE GROUP:Young Adult
PAGES:252 (Print Length)
In the land of Faerie, lies are easily disguised as truths.
They were raised like sisters, the heir to the Court of the Day and her guardian.
And as rebellion darkens the land of the Day—and the faeries of Court fall under a dark magic that disconnects them from the land, dooming them to a slow, agonizing death—they will question all they know to be true.
Sevelle, the Light of the Day, is destined to rule one day. She possesses a rare form of magic, the ability to heal the powerful connection between faeries and the magic in the land, the connection that gives them life—if only she could figure out how to use this magic, or even find it within herself.
Jae lives in the shadows, watching over Sevelle as her guardian and listening to the whispers of Court brought to her by the winds. She longs for a life outside of Court, but knows her duty to Sevelle is more important than her own desires.
But when an unexpected proposition comes from none other than Lex, son of the rebel leader, Sevelle and Jae realize their lives will never be the same—and that evil may be within their own court more so than in the rebels that oppose them.
Walking paths far different than they imagined separates the sisters, but then a secret is revealed that may break them apart forever.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
Fly Free by Allison Rose, is the first installment in the Light of Faerie Series.
A delightful book with courtly drama and faeries. The even paced adventure will keep interested with plenty of intrigue and adventure.
Sevelle and Jae, share a bonding friendship, one is the heir to the Day Court, the other is tasked with protecting “The Light of Day.
The story takes off as more fairies are falling victim to a vicious blight, a sickness that cause the fairies to die a slow death. That along with the imposing threat of the rebel factions, that have been stirring up chaos in the territories.
Sevelle, a fairy who struggles to embrace and control her rare form of magical powers. Not being able to fell them because they lay dormant. She is the only one to show the power of the sun in a very long time. She is meant to be a salvation to her people, only she can’t feel her magic. She is Called “Light of the day”,
Sevelle’s mother, The Glorious Shayna leader of the day court, is losing her patience with her daughter. Jae a confidant and guardian, to Sevelle, has a hidden guarded secret. One that could threaten loyalties. In a series of events an attack causes Sevelle’s mother to want to use brute force to stop the rebellion.
When Lex, the rebel’s leader son makes a proposition that takes Jae and Sevelle on a quest to uncover secrets that may have dire consequences.
Alternatively between two POV’s, that of Sevelle and Jae, the reader is given front row seats, in this fantasy romance aventure. Engaging with a steady pace, this magical book has some strong themes. The characters were interesting and I even enjoyed the Villain in the story. Some delightful twists along with the world building and magical system, will have you flipping those pages until the end.
If you like stories with fairies and romance, make sure to be up you copy of this creative adventure.
Driven by a lifelong passion for words and reading fantasy novels, award-winning author Allison Rose writes YA fantasy stories featuring faeries, magic, and strong heroines. She has a BA in psychology and is fascinated by how other people think, but her love for reading and writing is greater. When Allison isn’t writing, she is editing and proofreading the works of others. Allison lives with her husband, collie mix, bunny, and chinchilla in the place of wild weather also known as Buffalo, New York.
“I’ve wondered what you taste like for so damn long. You taste better than I ever could have imagined… my queen.” He shouldn’t be calling me that. Beau was his queen. And I had a problem. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way.
Queen Merrin might be the least queenly queen in all the realms. After all, queens don’t typically sneak out at night to drink with their guards. When her best friend and neighboring queen, Beau, goes missing, Merrin won’t leave rescue to the knights. She sets out from the civilized world and into the wilds to retrieve her lost friend, but with ancient hexes, stolen power, and a mountain of giants’ bones, Merrin stumbles into something much greater than a simple rescue mission. Get ready for a swoony whirlwind of dark magic and forbidden romance, as Merrin finds strength in the whispers of the forest and comfort in the arms of a guard with tantalizing abilities.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
A Crown of Echoes by Brindi Quinn, is a delightful fantasy adventure tale.
This is the first installment in a brand new fantasy series by the author Brindi Quinn.
Queen Merrin, is the perfect heroine for me, with her unruly lioness hair, and her compassionate nature. When a friend who is a neighboring Queen goes missing there is only one thing to do. Merrin must find out what has happened to her sister friend Beau.
Merrin takes things into her own hands and assembles a band of allies to seek and find out what has become of her dearest Queenly friend. Joining forces in this entourage are her knights Rafe a young man who harbors a secret. Albie who has much like a father figure to Merrin. Then there is Windley, the missing Queen’s own
Spirite knight.
Merrin struggles to comprehend why she has assumed Beau’s powers. Theses strange and deadly magic that enables her to speak to the forest. Along with her growing attraction to Windley, who possesses unimaginable powers.
This was a wonderful magical experience that has a lovely budding romance. One thing the storyline focuses on is the power of friendship. The dialogue and banter between the characters was enjoyable and made for a memorable read. The world building and magic system was creative and I am excited to see expanded in the next installment.
A swoon worthy, magical adventure, that I couldn’t put down.
I can see why this author has a steadfast following her writing is absorbing, making this book a compulsive read.
COMING FEBRUARY 2021**
COMING FEBRUARY 2021** Under the orphic light of the ballroom, Windley’s frosting had never looked better. As he walked by, he dallied at my back, drawing a hand along the small of it, leaning forward darkly to whisper: “Tonight, I feast.” With the echoes off searching for another royal to corrupt, Merrin and Windley turn their efforts elsewhere: after Ascian’s stolen ring and in the direction of a certain honey-voiced doppelganger with deeper ties to Merrin than any of them know. As ancient truths are uncovered and fresh alliances formed, it’s up to Merrin to master the sparkly new power budding in her chest before destruction can have its way, but that may be easier said than done with multiple magical targets on her back. Sweet reunions and steamy moments aren’t all that await in the lair of a spider, where Merrin’s faith will be tested and her heart pulled in more ways than one.
“Not just another vampire romance.” – Amazon Reviewer
Brindi Quinn is a fantasy/paranormal author from Minnesota specializing in world building and romance. She is an advocate of quirky love and firmly believes that banter makes the heart grow fonder.
Since 2011, Quinn has written over a dozen young adult novels beginning with her debut epic fantasy series,Heart of Farellah. Her works often blur the lines between paranormal romance, science fiction and fantasy, and her series have been hailed as addictive, unique reads within the YA genre by reviewers across platforms. Her bestselling series,The Pursuit of Zillow Stone, made it to #12 in the science fiction romance category on Amazon.
Quinn has a bachelor’s in general communication studies and is contracted through Never & Ever Publishing. She considers herself an avid fangirl, indulging heavily in video game lore and good SF TV.
Be sure to catch her latest epic fantasy series,A Crown of Echoes.
Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of,
A Deadly Fortune: A Novel,by Stacie Murphy, which is being hosted by HFBT!
A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
Pegasus Crime
Genre: Historical Mystery
A historical mystery in the vein of The Alienist, in which a young woman in Gilded Age New York must use a special talent to unravel a deadly conspiracy.
Amelia Matthew has done the all-but-impossible, especially for an orphan in Gilded Age New York City. Along with her foster brother Jonas, she has parleyed her modest psychic talent into a safe and comfortable life. But safety and comfort vanish when a head injury leaves Amelia with a dramatically-expanded gift. After she publicly channels an angry spirit, she finds herself imprisoned in the notorious insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. As Jonas searches for a way to free her, Amelia struggles to control her disturbing new abilities and survive a place where cruelty and despair threaten her sanity.
Andrew Cavanaugh is familiar with despair. In the wake of a devastating loss, he abandons a promising medical career—and his place in Philadelphia society—to devote himself to the study and treatment of mental disease. Miss Amelia Matthew is just another patient—until she channels a spirit in front of him and proves her gift is real.
When a distraught mother comes to Andrew searching for her missing daughter—a daughter she believes is being hidden at the asylum—he turns to Amelia. Together, they uncover evidence of a deadly conspiracy, and then it’s no longer just Amelia’s sanity and freedom at stake. Amelia must master her gift and use it to catch a killer—or risk becoming the next victim.
“The 1893 world of the infamous lunatic asylum on Blackwell’s Island comes alive in frightening and horrific detail as a string of murders for profit is discovered when a young woman with a gift for contacting the dead becomes an accidental patient. She must fight for her life as well as her freedom in this engrossing mystery that reveals that all was not golden in Gilded Age New York.” —Rosemary Simpson, author of Death Brings a Shadow: A Gilded Age Mystery
“This engrossing mystery, rich in period detail, probes the dark side of Gilded Age New York and the even darker side of life at the insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. Plucky Amelia Matthew rises to the considerable challenges that surround her, uncovering increasingly dangerous secrets that point to the presence of a murderer in the asylum. Amelia has a special gift that both helps and complicates her search for the truth, making her a unique heroine. A Deadly Fortune builds to a satisfying conclusion that will whet the reader’s appetite for more of Amelia’s adventures!” —Clarissa Harwood, author of Impossible Saints and Bear No Malice
“Stacie Murphy proves herself to be a masterful storyteller with A Deadly Fortune—an elegantly written, fast-paced mystery that blends the dark side of the Gilded Age, great characters, and a paranormal twist. Impossible to put down.” —Julie McElwain, author of the Kendra Donovan Mystery Series
“Murphy serves up a dark side of the Gilded Age with intrigue, historical detail, and captivating characters. This is a mystery to savor!” —Dianne Freeman, award winning author of the Countess of Harleigh mysteries.
❀ღ✿•*`Gwendalyn’s Books ¨`*•✿ღ❀
A historical mystery in the vein of The Alienist, in which a young woman in Gilded Age New York must use a special talent to unravel a deadly conspiracy.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
An exceptional written, dark historical fiction.
In post gothic era 1893, Amelia Matthew makes her living by fortune telling for a gentlemen’s club in Gilded Age New York City. Amelia. Along with her self adopted brother Jonas, they survie by using their wits. Amelia has a talent laying dormant, a gift of foreshadowing that is awakened to its fullest by a dangerous head injury.
Unable to control her newly acquired skill she suffers the consequences when a incident happens to her involving a angry spirit in a public place. She is alone without Jonas there to help her, or speak up for her. Unable to make a coherent response, she is sent to a place that houses the mentally disabled. The notorious Blackwell’s Island insane asylum, a place that one your sent there, it’s highly unlikely that you will ever escape.
When Amelia comes to her senses, she realizes that she has been mistakenly placed on an island faraway from downtown New York. A place that houses societies incurables, those suffering from mental conditions brought on by inherited factors or caused by effects of trauma. Some were in the stages of neurosyphilis, alcoholism, and then their are the women who are sent to the hospital for no other reason than to make them disappear.
Amelia encounters a newly hired doctor, Dr. Andrew Cavanaugh, who has left his family and his life behind. Compassionate Andrew, is unnerved by the callous treatment that he sees at the asylum. When Amelia has a frightening episode that involves Dr Cavanaugh, the doctor might well question his own sanity.
A thrilling ride with fast moving storyline that intensifies as the tale progresses.
In a series of events that has the return of Amelia friend, Jonas, together along with the good doctor, things really take off.
All three will have to work together carefully to uncover clues as they seek out answers to uncover a massive conspiracy, before the killer makes Amelia the next victim. This book will keep you engaged as you follow along with the narration as it holds your attention. I was on the edge, as I read late into night. This is one exceptional written book that I throughly enjoyed.
Stacie Murphy grew up near Nashville, TN. She began writing A Deadly Fortune in 2017 as a way to force herself to stay off Twitter in the evenings. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and the worst cat in the world.
Sidra didn’t murder her husband. Yet even a jinni can’t wish away a wrongful imprisonment. Determined to prove her innocence, she returns to her adopted home—a French village renowned for its perfume witches—with her friends Elena and Yvette by her side. Here is where Sidra’s true destiny awaits, but danger also lurks in the village’s narrow lanes.
On her trail is Jamra, another jinni, who’s after more than revenge for the murder of his brother. He also seeks vengeance for the indignities inflicted on jinn by mortals over the centuries. When he learns of an ancient relic capable of unleashing chaos on the world, and that the weapon is in the hands of his murderous sister-in-law, he vows to destroy Sidra to get it.
Relying on a sisterhood of magic, a mysteriously faithful dog, and a second-rate sorcerer, Sidra defends herself using the village’s greatest asset: its perfume. It’s as beguiling a lure as it is a formidable shield. But is it enough for Sidra to protect herself and those she loves from powers yet to be released?
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
The last installment of The Vine Witch series. This is a spectacular trilogy, one that all three books captured my heart.
I highly recommend reading the first two books, but you still can enjoy this as a standalone.
The author has created an engaging and courageous heroines, and her highly accomplished writing ensures that the reader is swept along in this magical tale.
Luanne G. Smith is truly a gifted storyteller, and her seamless narration flows perfectly. This is a fasted moving plot that kept me up late past my bedtime.
The characters are well developed, and I love all the magic. The plot line is on point with this book. There are several suspenseful twists, along with some action packed scenes that I really enjoyed. The foundation of the book is friendship and the bonds of women. A riveting tale that will have sad that this the last installment.
I am anxious waiting for more literally work from this delightful author.
Dellaria Wells, petty con artist, occasional thief, and partly educated fire witch, is behind on her rent in the city of Leiscourt—again. Then she sees the “wanted” sign, seeking Female Persons, of Martial or Magical ability, to guard a Lady of some Importance, prior to the celebration of her Marriage. Delly fast-talks her way into the job and joins a team of highly peculiar women tasked with protecting their wealthy charge from unknown assassins.
Delly quickly sets her sights on one of her companions, the confident and well-bred Winn Cynallum. The job looks like nothing but romance and easy money until things take a deadly (and undead) turn. With the help of a bird-loving necromancer, a shapeshifting schoolgirl, and an ill-tempered reanimated mouse named Buttons, Delly and Winn are determined to get the best of an adversary who wields a twisted magic and has friends in the highest of places.
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers
The first is a riveting story about a feisty petty thief turned badass bodyguard trying to keep a young lady safe from assassins,
Let’s go back to the very inventive world of C.M. Waggoner, we were first introduced to the imagery alternative Victoriana in stunning book Unnatural Magic. In that book we meet our snarky heroine Dellaria Wells.
Dellaria Wells is charismatic guttersnipe with a charming personality. She definitely spunky and runs petty cons in order to keep a roof over her head and look after her even more no-good mother who’s drug addiction.
An uncommonly talented fire witch, who his in dire need of funds, joining a team of mismatched bodyguards. Their job seems quite easy, protecting a wealthy lady in the following weeks leading up to her marriage. But alas all is not what it seems and in this bawdy steampunk fantasy adventure. Full of magic, and a delightful queer romance made for a spectacular read. The characters are well developed and I have to say I highly enjoyed reading this from start to finish.
The original dialogue was in really creative, the authors writing style was absorbing and I sped through the pages. An fresh and imaginative historical fantasy, full of atmospheric details.
I really liked the heroine in this romp of a storyline, she is partial to excessive drinking, and free spirited. The romance was well depicted and it will melt your heart.
When Delly joins a misfit team of female bodyguards protecting a wealthy woman in the weeks before her marriage, she thinks it will be easy money—until horrifying necromantic mechanical spiders are sent to attack her boss’s carriage. The culprit who unleashed them slips through the team’s fingers, leading Delly and the other bodyguards on a hunt to bring her to justice (and, more importantly to Delly, to collect the reward money their boss is offering). In between a grisly murder, several extortions and explosions, and encounters with an extremely unsettling zombie mouse, Waggoner finds plenty of room for wry humor and a refreshingly wholesome relationship between Delly and fellow bodyguard Winn Cynallum. With this winning ensemble adventure, Waggoner again proves her skill at crafting immersive, historically flavored fantasy
Beauty Among Ruins
With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the Romance Through the Ages Award and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle.
The Canterbury Murders
Dellaria Wells, petty con artist, occasional thief, and partly educated fire witch, is behind on her rent in the city of Leiscourt—again. Then she sees the “wanted” sign, seeking Female Persons, of Martial or Magical ability, to guard a Lady of some Importance, prior to the celebration of her Marriage. Delly fast-talks her way into the job and joins a team of highly peculiar women tasked with protecting their wealthy charge from unknown assassins.
Gwendalyn’s Books 
