Month: July 2022

Hello Gorgeous Readers

Welcome to my stop on the book tour for

Violet Made of Thorn book tour

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Violet Made of Thorn

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Publishing date: July 26th, 2022

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound

Synopsis:

A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.

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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 This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers.

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“That you are worthy of so much more, little star.

That you should never again kneel for the scraps of kings. “

Violet Made of Thorns is a debut book by Gina Chen. It features memorable unapologetic anti-heroine that is both refreshing and intriguing.

Orphaned and living on the streets in the Moon district, gifted with ability to see bits and pieces of the future through threads. When a chance opportunity presents its self, she takes it, rising herself up from bottom and becoming King Emilius seer. Used by the Kings own ambition, she finds herself in a constant struggle with the Kings son Cyrus. A curse looms over Cyrus’s life and the kingdom’s future hangs in the balance.

Gina Chen delivers quite an a phenomenal atmospheric, fantastic fantasy tale. Full politically motivated characters, along with a solid storyline that propels this story. Seamless narration by one of my favorite characters of all times in a YA fantasy. The romance is not instant, because both Violet and Cyrus having been sparing back and forth since they both were younger. Their backstory adds so much to the present day tale. The magic and details were engaging and fun to read about.

Truly a captivating fairytale styled fantasy, that made for an delightful reading experience.

The journey to love never runs smooth, and yours, your father would not approve.

They will catch you by surprise, hidden in disguise,

but leave your grasp by midnight strikes.

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AUTHOR

Gina Chen tells stories about fantastic worlds featuring heroines, antiheroines, and the kind of cleverness that brings trouble in its wake. A self-taught artist with a degree in computer science, she generates creative nonsense in all forms of media and always has a project stewing. Violet Made of Thorns is her debut fantasy novel. For more info, visit actualgina.com and follow @actualgina on Twitter and Instagram.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Tumblr

Schedule

July 25th
The Caffeinated Rareder – Review
A Realm of Books – Review
One More Chapter – Review
Rae’s Reading Lounge – Review & Favorite Quotes

July 26th
The Book Dutchesses – Promotional Post
Metaphors and Miscellanea – Review & Favorite Quotes
B for Bookslut – Review
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review
A Court of Coffee and Books – Review & Favorite Quotes

July 27th
Abigail’s Lost in a Book – Review
Stuck in the Stacks – Review
Pages & Plots – Review
Clouded Galaxy Reads – Review & Favorite Quotes

July 28th
The Clever Reader – Review
We Write at Dawn – Review & Favorite Quotes
Confessions of a YA Reader – Review
& She Reads – Review
Modest Hiccup – 15 Reactions While Reading Violet Made of Thorns

July 29th
Stuck in Fiction – Promotional Post
Brinns Books – Review
Kait Plus Books – Journal Spread
Books Over Everything – Review

July 30th
Binded by Letters – Review
dinipandareads – Review & Favorite Quotes
Koo’s Reviews – Top 5 Reasons to Read Violet Made of Thorns
YA Sci-Fi & Fantasy Addicts – Review & Favorite Quotes
Sadie’s Spotlight – Promotional Post

July 31st
Nine Bookish Lives – Promotional Post
Gwendalyn’s Books – Review
thisbellereadstoo – Review & Mood Board
Betwixt The Sheets – Mood Board

Hello Gracious Readers

Welcome to my stop for

Love Every Lasting by Michelle Helen Fritz and E.A. Shanniak

@MichelleFritzP1 @hfvbt

Love Every Lasting by Michelle Helen Fritz and E.A. Shanniak

Publication Date: July 14, 2022

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency
Series: Bramley Hall Regency Romance, Book 3

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SYNOPSIS

Miss Grace Buchanan has given up any hope of marrying. She’s been too occupied raising her younger siblings while her drunkard father spends all of their funds. When a horrid sickness envelops the cottage, she meets the new Parson of Bramley, whom she’s never forgotten. All she desires is an everlasting love, but with her family dynamics, it makes any sort of relationship a touch complex.

When tragedy is set to strike, Matthew Morten is called home suddenly. It’s time for him to take his place as the parson of Bramley. With his meddling mother and a sickness that is sweeping through the town, Matthew has to lean on his faith to get him through. But when he sets eyes upon one industrious woman, he can’t seem to keep her, nor her hazel eyes, far from his thoughts.

Will these two wounded souls find a Love Ever Lasting, or will responsibilities and family drama keep them forever apart?

Love Ever Lasting is a clean Regency Romance and the third book in a three-story series that will entertain and delight you with its swoon-worthy heroes and the compelling leading ladies that capture their hearts. Each book can be read as a standalone, but are best read in release order.

Available on Amazon

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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.

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From the desk of Gwendalyn G. Anderson

Love Every Lasting by Michelle Helen Fritz and E.A.

Publication Date: July 14, 2022

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency
Series: Bramley Hall Regency Romance, Book 3

Mathew Morten, finds himself traveling from Sussex, to Bramley, hastened to his father bedside before illness takes him. Once there he promises his beloved father he would stay in Bramley and take over the parsonage. Shortly after assuming his duties, a sicknesses draws Mathew, and his much need services into action.

Grace Buchanan mother passed away when she was just thirteen, leaving her to care for her four younger siblings. Now nineteen, she has given up on any kind of life of her own. She knows full well that no suitor would agree to a marriage with her, along with four other Buchanan children who would Accompany her.

Her siblings day to day care is still her responsibility, along with keeping her surly drunken father happy. Her father’s temperament has her walking on eggshells, and she knows that she she needs to keep her father away from his own children, for their benefit. When an unforeseen tragedy happens, Grace’s life and her siblings change.

Mathew is a sincere gentleman, who is caring and honorable, happily helping this less fortunate. So when the opportunity to help Grace, his generous nature brings both Grace and her young siblings closer to Morten family.

Will family drama keep this lovely couple budding romance from flourishing?

This was such a warm and delightful book. Full of found family dynamics and caring for loved ones. It was pure joy to read about Grace and Mathew’s story, along with the other sub characters . The writing is smooth, and you find your are full invested in the lives of the people within this book. Beautifully written, the character are fleshed out and three dimensional. This is a lovely proper romance, one that will stay with you long after you close the book. I highly recommend this book to my family and friends!

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About the Authors

Michelle Helen Fritz was born and raised in Maryland and Arizona with lots of traveling throughout the States. She began her literary career as a personal assistant to Indie authors and loves to see the process of an idea turn into a finished book. Michelle loves to write about dashing heroes, and the compelling women that tempt them, with a dash of intrigue, an abundant amount of romance, and scenes that hopefully make her readers swoon. She is the mother of four children whom she homeschools and currently resides in Maryland with her own jaunty hero who makes all of her dreams come true.

 

Author Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram

 

E.A. (Ericka Ashlee) Shanniak is the author of the successful fantasy romance series – A Castre World Novel. She is hobbit-sized, barely reaching over five feet tall on a good day. When she wears her Georgia Romeo’s not only does she gain an inch, she is then able to reach the kitchen cabinets. Ericka loves to write at her desk that her daughter’s cat destroyed. Fortunately for everyone, she can see over it.

 

Ericka resides in the small town of Coldwater, Kansas with her husband, two kids, two dogs and two grumpy cats. The cats were her kids’ idea.

Author Facebook Page | Instagram

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Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, July 14
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks
Excerpt at Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Romance

Saturday, July 16
Feature at Passages to the Past

Monday, July 18
Review at Bookworlder

Tuesday, July 19
Review at Ms. Darcy Reads

Friday, July 22
Excerpt at Heidi Reads

Monday, July 25
Feature at Lisa Everyday Reads
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Tuesday, July 26
Review at Pages and Paws

Wednesday, July 27
Review at Cover Lover Book Review

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Giveaway

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on July 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter

👇

Love Ever Lasting

Hello My Bookish Friends

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for

The Oath & The Valley by A.M. Linden!

#TheOath #TheValley #AMLinden #HFVBTBlogTours

The Valley by A.M. Linden
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
She Writes Press
Paperback & eBook; 464 pages
Series: The Druid Chronicles, #2
Genre: Historical Fiction/Medieval



Llwddawanden is a hidden sanctuary where remnants of a once-powerful pagan cult carry on their ancient ritual practices, supported by a small but faithful following of servants, craftsmen, and laborers.
Cut off from the outside world by both geography and conviction, the Druids of Llwddawanden continue to venerate the Great Mother Goddess and to view themselves as the first-born and favorite of Her mortal children. While the belief that the most important of all divine beings gave birth to their ancestors and that Her spirit inhabits the body of their highest priestess is a tenuous conclusion in view of their reduced lot in life, the Druids of Llwddawanden believe it and are, for the most part, committed to carrying on the traditions handed down to them by their forbears.
Herrwn, the shrine’s chief priest and master bard, has the responsibility of overseeing the education of Caelym, the orphaned son of the cult’s previous chief priestess, as well as keeping the peace within the upper ranks of their order—two tasks that grow more difficult as the rivalry over which of the three highest priests will claim Caelym as his disciple grows, and as mounting conflicts between the current chief priestess and her only living daughter threaten to rend the fabric of a society that has endured for more than a millennium.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

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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.

The Valley by A.M. Linden is second installment in The Druid Chronicles series. A.M. Linden newest book takes us back before The Oath. The Valley is more of a prequel story. As the spread of Christianity advances, people start to change faiths, turning away from old traditions of the pagan gods and goddesses. A sect of Druids living in a secluded valley of Llwddawanden, still follow Great Mother Goddess. We follow Herrwn, the shrine’s chief priest and master bard, as the continuous division amongst Druids grows steadily.

Once again I was completely drawn into the engaging writing, of the very talented author, A.M. Linden. A beautiful created historical world with pagan rites and rituals. Readers will be absorbed deep within these characters fleshed out lives. The political drama within the religious sect, keeps you turning the pages. Loyalties will be questioned, and Herrwn will become a peacekeeper, as choices arise that could change everything.

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The Oath by A.M. Linden
Publication Date: June 15, 2021
She Writes Press
Paperback & eBook; 336 pages
Series: The Druid Chronicles, #1
Genre: Historical Fiction



In the wake of a betrayal that threatens an end to their way of life, the last members of a secluded pagan cult send the youngest of their remaining priests in search of Annwr, their chief priestess’s sister, who was abducted by a Saxon war band fifteen years ago. With only a rudimentary grasp of English and the ambiguous guidance of an oracle’s prophecy, Caelym manages to find Annwr living in a hut on the grounds of a Christian convent.
Annwr has spent her years of captivity caring for the timid Aleswina, an orphaned Saxon princess who was consigned to the cloistered convent by her cousin, King Gilberth, after he assumed her father’s throne. Just as Caelym and Annwr are about leave together, Aleswina learns that Gilberth, a tyrant known for his cruelty and vicious temper, means to take her out of the convent and marry her. Terrified, she flees with the two Druids–beginning a heart-pounding adventure that unfolds in ways none of them could have anticipated.

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Praise
“Linden’s well-researched tale eloquently brings to life a lesser-known period of transition in Britain…The author has created a strong foundation for her series with well-developed characters whom readers can embrace…[a] layered, gripping historical fiction…”
–Kirkus Reviews
“A fantastic well-crafted, well-written historical novel, about early medieval Anglo-Saxon Britain and with great characters! 5 stars”
–Readers’ Favorite
“Linden uses a fairy tale-like style almost as though this story has been passed down orally over the centuries. Though the kingdoms are fictional, Linden’s tale draws on meticulous historical research, especially in her dramatization of the Christian persecution of the druids.”
–Booklist
“The story rolls along at a lively pace, rich with details of the times and a wide cast of characters….Those interested in goddess-worshipping religions will be drawn to the novel. Any reader curious about 8th-century Britain will enjoy Linden’s innovative focus on the little-known Druids as well as early medieval Christians. Her plotting, shifting points of view of the three engaging protagonists, and evocative writing style make The Oath a pleasure to read. Highly recommended!”
–Historical Novels Review
“The Oath urges readers along on a richly textured quest among the Saxons and Celts of 8th-century Britain. Young and rather humorously naïve Druid priest-healer Caelym swears to ‘rescue’ a damsel in distress who turns out to be neither a young damsel nor in distress. With a feminist slant, this engaging tale brings the conflict between Druids and early Christians to vivid life through sympathetic and well-rounded characters. I particularly enjoyed the ironic voice of the aging midwife Annwr. Brava!”
–Sara Stamey, author of The Ariadne Connection
“Thrilling historical fiction with heart and soul.”
–Tim Pears, author of The West Country trilogy
“The Oath will appeal to a wide-ranging readership, reflecting Linden’s rich imagination and gift for weaving tales within tales evoking the romance of medieval Britain. Vibrant, determined, and relatable characters with disparate ethnic and religious identities discover their own strengths, and each other’s, as the intricate and engaging plot unfolds.”
–Anne Marie Tietjen, PhD, clinical psychologist and instructor at Western Washington University
“Linden’s knowledge and passion for history is soaked into every word of The Oath, combined with an obvious skill at storytelling. Linden succeeds at every level, but the world building is truly spectacular. Historical fantasy is hard to do well, but Linden makes it look easy. What could be dry details are presented so effectively that the world is elevated to almost being a character of its own. And in a cast of characters as well drawn as these, that’s saying something. I can’t wait to see what else this skilled author comes up with!”–Bishop O’Connell, author of the American Faerie Tale series

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Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

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Advance Praise
“A. M. Linden brings her imagined druid community to life with a skillful combination of research and informed guesswork. The Valley provides an intriguing glimpse into an 8th century Britain that might have been.”
–Juliet Marillier, author of the Sevenwaters and Warrior Bards series
“With the attention to detail, explanation of ancient rituals, and the mythology within the clan’s legends, this novel builds a community, exploring a people about which little is actually known. It’s an extraordinary portrayal, breathing life into a long-dead civilization….Highly recommended!”
–Chanticleer Book Reviews

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About the Author
Ann Margaret Linden was born in Seattle, Washington, but grew up on the East Coast before returning to the Pacific Northwest as a young adult. She has undergraduate degrees in anthropology and in nursing and a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner. After working in a variety of acute care and community health settings, she took a position in a program for children with special health care needs where her responsibilities included writing clinical reports, parent educational materials, provider newsletters, grant submissions and other program related materials. The Oath is the first installment of The Druid Chronicles, a five-volume series that began as a somewhat whimsical decision to write something for fun and ended up becoming a lengthy journey that involved Linden taking adult education creative writing courses, researching early British history, and traveling to England, Scotland, and Wales. Retired from nursing, she lives with her husband, dogs, and cat in Bellingham, WA.

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Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, June 28
Review at Jessica Belmont
Excerpt at Jathan & Heather
Wednesday, June 29
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Thursday, June 30
Excerpt at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals
Friday, July 1
Review at The Page Ladies
Monday, July 4
Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Oath)
Tuesday, July 5
Interview at Books and Benches
Wednesday, July 6
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Friday, July 8
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Monday, July 11
Review at Bookworlder
Review at Novels Alive
Tuesday, July 12
Review at Potpourri of Opinions
Wednesday, July 13
Guest Post at Jorie Loves a Story
Thursday, July 14
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Friday, July 15
Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective
Monday, July 18
Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Valley)
Wednesday, July 20
Review at The Book Junkie Reads
Friday, July 22
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

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Giveaway
Two readers will win copies of The Oath & The Valley by A.M. Linden!
The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on July 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
The Oath

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61329157-the-