Welcome to my stop for THE GIRL FROM THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

@JennyLecoat @gwendalyn_books @HarperCollins @GraydonHou

THE GIRL FROM THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 

Author: Jenny Lecoat

ISBN: 9781525806414

Publication Date: February 2, 2021

Publisher: Graydon House Books

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.

Buy Links: 

Harlequin 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble 

Books-A-Million

Powell’s

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.

Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @JennyLecoat

Instagram: NA

Facebook: @JennyLecoat

Goodreads

Jersey, Channel Islands

Summer 1940

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.

Especially toward Jews.

She pressed on, pushing her body weight forward, willing herself home. She needed to reach Hemingway and give him a hug.

Excerpted from The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat, Copyright © 2020 by Jenny Lecoat Published by Graydon House Books

Hello Readers,

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: 30th September 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, and humoralong 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…    

Buy Links:

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes and Noble • Books-a-Million

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 a lonely child. 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 Berg is 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.  

Author’s Social Media Links:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Goodreads

You can also pick up a copy at your favourite independent bookstore

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?

Will Hamlet’s glory be Horatio’s downfall?

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Praise

“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.

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Sunday, January 3
Excerpt at Bookworlder
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Monday, January 4
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Wednesday, January 6
Feature at Reading is My Remedy

Friday, January 8
Review at @the.b00kreader
Interview at The Whispering Bookworm

Monday, January 11
Review at Rajiv’s Reviews

Thursday, January 14
Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews

Monday, January 18
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Wednesday, January 20
Feature at What Is That Book About

Thursday, January 21
Excerpt at Journey in Bookland

Friday, January 22
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Monday, January 25
Review at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, January 27
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, January 29
Feature at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Monday, February 1
Review at YA, It’s Lit

Wednesday, February 3
Review at A Book Geek

Friday, February 5
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Saturday, February 6
Review at Bibliostatic

Monday, February 8
Review at Books and Zebras

Wednesday, February 10
Review at Impressions In Ink

Friday, February 12
Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads

Monday, February 15
Excerpt at Novels Alive
Review at Coffee and Ink
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary

Enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Man of Honor
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Falling Pomegranate Seeds:

All Manner of Things, Book #2

By Wendy J. Dunn

Publication Date: January 15th 2021.

Genre: Historical Fiction.

Publisher: Poesy Quill Publishing

Print Length: 449 Pages

Winter, 1539

María de Salinas is dying.

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. 

Promotional Trailer:

Buy Links:

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

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

Hello Bookies,

Today I have wonderful book to share with you.

The Canterbury Murders by EM Powell

Read my my thoughts on this historical fiction book and enter to win the giveaway at the end of this post

#TheCanterburyMurders #EMPowell #HFVBTBlogTours

@empowellauthor @hfvbt  

The Canterbury Murders
by E.M. Powell

Publication Date: November 12, 2020
Crosshaven Press

Series: Stanton & Barling, #3
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

A fire-ravaged cathedral. An ungodly murder.

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.

Available on Amazon

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.

Find out more by visiting www.empowell.com. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Monday, January 11
Guest Post at Novels Alive
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, January 12
Review at Reader_ceygo

Wednesday, January 13
Feature at Words and Peace
Guest Post at The Writing Desk

Thursday, January 14
Review at YA, It’s Lit

Friday, January 15
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Saturday, January 16
Review & Excerpt at Older & Smarter

Sunday, January 17
Interview at Reader_ceygo
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Monday, January 18
Feature at I’m Into Books

Tuesday, January 19
Review at A Book Geek

★Make sure you Enter The Giveaway At The End Of The Post★

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.

Prize: Fly Free by Allison Rose – One (1) of three (3) paperbacks – US Only
Starts: January 10th, 2021 at 12:00am EST
Ends: January 17th, 2021 at 11:59pm EST
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Hello and welcome to my stop on A CROWN OF ECHOES By Brindi Quinn

@tbrbeyondtours @brindifulon

#BrindiQuinn #TBRBeyondTours #ACrownofEchoes

Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Publishing date: June 11, 2020

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“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. 

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

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

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.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Advance Praise for A Deadly Fortune

“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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Monday, January 11
Review at Coffee and Ink
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Tuesday, January 12
Excerpt at Probably at the Library

Wednesday, January 13
Review at McCombs on Main
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Thursday, January 14
Feature at The Lit Bitch

Friday, January 15
Review at A Darn Good Read

Monday, January 18
Review at Novels Alive

Tuesday, January 19
Review at Rajiv’s Reviews

Wednesday, January 20
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Thursday, January 21
Feature at What Is That Book About

Friday, January 22
Review & Excerpt at Books & Benches

Monday, January 25
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Tuesday, January 26
Review at Bitch Bookshelf

Wednesday, January 27
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, January 28
Excerpt at Always With a Book

Friday, January 29
Review at Amy’s Booket List
Interview at Madwoman in the Attic

Monday, February 1
Review at Book Bustle

Tuesday, February 2
Review at Tangents and Tissues

Wednesday, February 3
Feature at Reading is My Remedy
Review & Excerpt at The Book Review Crew

Friday, February 5
Review at Passages to the Past

Enter to win a copy of A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy & a $50 Gift Card to Amazon or your favorite Indie store. Winner’s choice.

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on February 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Loxby Manor
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𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚 𝙂. 𝙎𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙝. 47𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 @𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙝

THE CONJURER
LUANNE G. SMITH

Series: The Vine Witch #3
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Publisher: 47North
Pages: 242
Publication date: January 12th 2021

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

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 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚 𝙂. 𝙎𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙝. 47𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 @𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙝

𝚂𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌, 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚓𝚒𝚗𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚌 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚌 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍.

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.

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by the very talented author C.M. Waggoner

@acerocbooks @c.m.waggoner @Berkley

The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry 

by C.M. Waggoner (12th)

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.

Buy it: Bookshop | B&N | Amazon | IndieBound

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

TIS ALL HALLOWS EVE

I am over the moon with my newest bookmail

Thank you so much to the phenomenal author

Thanks received some absolutely stunning book mail yesterday

Were you captivated by Constance Sayers’s enchanting debut, A WITCH IN TIME, earlier this year?

THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS, is a magical tale of family secrets, sacrifice, and lost love spanning from Jazz Age Paris to modern-day America.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬

𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬

 The Ladies Of The Secret Circus which will be out on March 23, 2021.

You can pre-order it here.

• AMAZON

• BARNES & NOBLE

• INDIEBOUND

• APPLE BOOKS

.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus

by Constance Sayers

From the author of A Witch in Time comes a magical story spanning from Jazz Age Paris to present-day America of family secrets, sacrifice, and lost love set against the backdrop of a mysterious circus.

.

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family’s strange and magical circus, it’s the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother’s journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations.

Constance Sayers’ is the author of A Witch in Time and The Ladies of the Secret Circus which will be published on March 23, 2021, from Redhook (Hachette Book Group).

A finalist for Alternating Current’s 2016 Luminaire Award for Best Prose, her short stories have appeared in Souvenir and Amazing Graces: Yet Another Collection of Fiction by Washington Area Women as well as The Sky is a Free Country. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.

She received her master of arts in English from George Mason University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She attended The Bread Loaf Writers Conference where she studied with Charles Baxter and Lauren Groff. A media executive, she’s twice been named one of the “Top 100 Media People in America” by Folio and included in their list of “Top Women in Media.”

She lives outside of Washington DC. Like her character in Ladies of the Secret Circus, she was the host of a radio show from midnight to six.

FOLLOW CONSTANCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Today is my stop on

Warriors of Wing and Flame Book Tour

A fantasy rich in magic, sisterly bonds and romance.

Oh did I tell you that there is a gryphon ride!,….

Yep there is !

@SaraBLarson @jeanbooknerd @torteen

Wing and Flame
by Sara B. Larson
Published by Tor Teen
Releasing on October 27, 2020
YA FICTION—Fantasy
Hardcover : 384 pagesISBN-10 : 1250208432ISBN-13 : 978-1250208439
Publisher : Tor Teen (October 27, 2020)

Acclaimed author Sara B. Larson continues her enchanting YA fantasy duology with a timeless fairytale feel in an original voice.The doorway between the magical Visempirum and the human world has been reopened. Paladin are once more living in the citadel where Zuhra and Inara grew up completely isolated by the magical hedge that trapped them there. Amidst the brewing conflict between the Paladin and humans looms the threat of Barloc, who has stolen Inara’s immense power and continues to elude the Paladin who are desperately searching for him.In this sequel to Sisters of Shadow and Light, Inara and Zuhra must navigate the treacherous paths of self-discovery, their love for each other, and for the boys who have captured their hearts. Together, they search for the strength within themselves to bridge the divide between the two worlds they inhabit, even as war threatens to destroy everything—and everyone—they love.You can purchase        

Praise for Sisters of Shadow and Light

/>“Packed with fascinating relationships, pulse-pounding romance, and breathtaking adventure, this story held me captive to every page.” ―Kathryn Purdie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Burning Glass

“I was completely swept away with this fierce magical story of broken family, and sisters trying to survive a mysterious past. Romance, betrayal, gryphons, forbidden doorways, and devoted sisters had me flipping the pages to unravel the secrets of this dark world where no one is who they seem to be. Larson has created a spellbinding world that has all the elements I love―magic, mystery, romance, and sisterhood! I can’t wait for more!” ―Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of The Kiss of Deception

“What a stunning gem of a story. Fans of gorgeous, emotional, action-packed fantasy are going to want to snap this up. I loved it so much, I read it in one sitting!” ―C.J. Redwine, New York Times bestselling author of the Ravenspire series

“Larson’s bold and imaginative tale of sisterhood, magic, and monsters is a deft exploration of loneliness, family, and friendship inside a citadel hedged by lies and blood.” ―A.G. Howard, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of The Splintered Series

“Sisters of Shadow and Light is a rare beauty that will grip your heart and steal your breath away. I adored this book!” ―Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Traitor’s Game

“Fantasy readers will become absorbed in the world-building and strong relationship between the sisters.” ―School Library Connection

“Fans of the author’s earlier work, as well as that of Kristin Cashore and Rachel Hartman, will enjoy this story. Purchase for those who love fantasy novels and Larson’s other books.” ―School Library 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.

The sisters Zuhra and Inara are back… this duology from Sara B Larson picks up where the first book left off.

.The sisters are grieving and traumatized over the consequences of the events that has happened. Now That Barloc has escaped and now its both Zuhra and Inara to stop him. They will need the help from family and friends, if they are going not allow death and d death destruction of their beloved home Vamala,and that of Visimperum.

Told in multiple POV’s, like the first book, this one the jakla who has stolen others’ (including Inara’s) Paladin powers. There is more action and mire heated romance. Some unforeseen twists and intense drama, towards the end will have readers glued to the pages. Interesting world building, along with more extensive character development will make wanting another book added to this tale.

Oh did I tell you that there is a gryphon ride!,….Yep there is !

All in all a great conclusion to a captivating ya fantasy adventure.

 

Photo Content from Sara B. Larson

Sara B. Larson is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy DEFY trilogy (DEFY, IGNITE, and ENDURE) and the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN duology (DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT). She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband, their four children, and their Maltese, Loki. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting for her sugar addiction. 

 5 Winners will receive a Copy of WARRIORS OF WING AND FLAME by Sara B. Larson

 

 

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Today is The Cover Reveal for

Rhapsody
By Mitchell James Kaplan

Rhapsody
By Mitchell James Kaplan

Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Gallery Books
Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook; 352 pages

Genre: Biographical/Literary/Historical

One evening in 1924, Katharine “Kay” Swift—the restless but loyal society wife of wealthy banker James Warburg and a serious pianist who longs for recognition—attends a concert. The piece: Rhapsody in Blue. The composer: a brilliant, elusive young musical genius named George Gershwin.

Kay is transfixed, helpless to resist the magnetic pull of George’s talent, charm, and swagger. Their ten-year love affair, complicated by her conflicted loyalty to her husband and the twists and turns of her own musical career, ends only with George’s death from a brain tumor at the age of thirty-eight.

Set in Jazz Age New York City, this stunning work of fiction, for fans of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, explores the timeless bond between two brilliant, strong-willed artists. George Gershwin left behind not just a body of work unmatched in popular musical history, but a woman who loved him with all her heart, knowing all the while that he belonged not to her, but to the world.

Available for Pre-Order

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

Praise

“Mitchell James Kaplan pens a lilting, jazzy ballad as catchy as a Gershwin tune, bringing to vibrant life the complicated relationship between classically trained composer Kay Swift and free-wheeling star George Gershwin. Their musical bond is as powerful as their passion, and jazz-soaked gin-drenched Broadway is their playground through the tumultuous years of the Great War and Prohibition. Rhapsody will have you humming, toe-tapping, and singing along with every turn of the page.” –Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of THE ALICE NETWORK and THE HUNTRESS

“We all know Gershwin, but how many know he was ‘the man behind the woman,” the conflicted, extraordinary Katherine ‘Kay’ Swift? Mitchell James Kaplan illuminates her in Rhapsody, bringing his impressive knowledge of history, composition, and the heart’s whims to bear on this shining rendition of Swift and Gershwin’s star-crossed love.” –Therese Anne Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of Z and A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

“In Rhapsody, Mitchell James Kaplan brings to lyrical life the romance between Kay Swift and George Gershwin. A gifted musician in her own right, Kay was no mere accompanist to Gershwin’s genius; she was a true partner, unfortunately little remembered today. Kaplan’s vivid prose and empathetic characterization shines a spotlight on this remarkable woman who contributed so much to American music.” –Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue and Mistress of the Ritz

“Mitchell James Kaplan’s Rhapsody shines a blazing light on the celebrated George Gershwin, uncovering the man behind the legend through the story of the woman he loved, Kay Swift, a brilliant musician caught in the swiftly moving mores of New York’s Jazz Age. Rich with history and packed with intricate detail, Rhapsody soars.” –Randy Susan Meyers, bestselling author of THE WIDOW OF WALL STREET and WAISTED

“Mitchell James Kaplan has captured a whole world in his luminous journey through the jazz age in fast-paced New York City with this love story of composer Kay Swift and the brilliant but elusive George Gershwin. Kay first heard him playing his Rhapsody in Blue, but she was married to a wealthy man and Gershwin could be faithful only to his own genius. Through Broadway theaters and concerts, he was rising so fast that neither the Great Depression, nor the darkening rise of Hitler across the sea, nor the impossible difficulties of writing the first black folk-opera Porgy and Bess could stop him. Through their love affair, Gershwin and Kay gave fire to each other’s music until nothing could derail his meteoric success but time.” –Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award-winning author of CLAUDE AND CAMILLE and THE PHYSICIAN OF LONDON

About the Author

Mitchell James Kaplan graduated with honors from Yale University, where he won the Paine Memorial Prize for Best Long-Form Senior Essay submitted to the English Department. His first mentor was the author William Styron.

After college, Kaplan lived in Paris, France, where he worked as a translator, then in Southern California, where he worked as a screenwriter and in film production.

He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his family and two cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal Schedule

Monday, October 26
Novels Alive

Tuesday, October 27
Gwendalyn’s Books

Wednesday, October 28
The Lit Bitch

Thursday, October 29
Locks, Hooks and Books

Friday, October 30
Donna’s Book Blog

Sunday, November 1
Passages to the Past

Monday, November 2
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Tuesday, November 3
Pursuing Stacie

Wednesday, November 4
History from a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, November 5
Crystal’s Library

Friday, November 6
Jessica Belmont

Sunday, November 8
Older & Smarter

Monday, November 9
Books, Cooks, Looks

Tuesday, November 10
Reading is My Remedy

Wednesday, November 11
Coffee and Ink

Thursday, November 12
CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, November 13
A Darn Good Read
Tangents and Tissues

Today I’m excited to take part in the The Crown of Bones Book Blitz presented by Storytellers On Tour (@sot_tours)! Rosalyn Briar’s Dark Fantasy novel and enter the giveaway to win yourself a copy!

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The Crown of Bones by Rosalyn Briar

Published: May 5, 2020

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Age Group: New Adult

Pages: 250

Fairy tales are not what they seem.

Gisela knows about sacrifice all too well.

She abandoned her education, friends, and fairy tales to support her family and care for her sister.

But when she jilts a wealthy suitor, Gisela is chosen for another type of sacrifice.

As an Offering to the Goddess Bergot, Gisela and seven others are sent on a deadly quest for a mythical crown. To return home, Gisela must overcome obstacles which darkly resemble the fairy tales she once believed.

Weaving through a tapestry of friendship, romance, violence, and magic—Gisela becomes the target of an ancient evil force, while an ominous detail from the past haunts her at every turn.

To what lengths will Gisela go to save the ones she loves?

Sometimes sacrifices must be made.

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

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.

The Crown of Bones by Rosalyn Briar is an ominous spinning fantasy.

Alrighty, my friends! I have one for you if you love to soak up the words you read and delve into its wickedly delightful, gripping and immersive tale. One that totally sucked me right into this hauntingly darkish pages.

This book had me hooked from start to finish – I literally couldn’t put it down. The plotline will keep you flipping those pages long after you bedtime. I found myself in a constant state of curiosity as I was absorbed deep within these pages.

Gisela Sauer may be the loviest fiery, freckle faced, redhead in Berot valley, she is also snarky, and audacious. She works at Lord Albert manor house and has second job selling dairy staples in the towns square. She has long ago given up on believing in fairytales. She is responsible, and works hard taking care of her family and sister Thora. So far Gisela has been successful in warding off Lord Albert, the nephew of the High Priest. He has continuously offered for her hand in marriage, and has stood her grown and refused.

When in a rash moment things take a turn for the worst. In a series of events that have dire unforeseen consequences. Gisela’s former love interest, Brahm, does the unthinkable and chivalrous intervenes in a situation between the vile Lord Albert and Gisela. Alberts takes things into his own villainous hand, and in a moment of spiteful vengeance he does the unthinkable.

The next day, Gisela receives her ominous Black Letter. This letter identifies her as one of eight chosen to be an Offering to the goddess Bergot. This grim customary offering has been in place yearly since its inception of May Day. Some of villagers even consider it an honor to be chosen.

Along with others offerings to the Goddess, Gisela is cast out into an ashen forest sent on a deadly quest to recover a mystical crown.

Rosalyn Briar, delivers an intriguing, unique and enthralling story here that was so irresistibly written. The unforeseen twists and turns, along with the creative world building kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the right amount of tantalizing romance and villains.

Let me say the ending will have screaming for more. I hope there is another book please tell me there is!

This is how fairytales should be written. Darkish creep and foreboding, along with a sinister holiday custom.

Extremely impressive! I absolutely loved!!

Have a wonderful day!! Also, my kitty is named Briar Rose 🥀 

Enter this link to win

Author Information

Rosalyn Briar is the dark fantasy author of The Crown of Bones. She is a former teacher and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family. Follow her on Twitter @rosalynbriar   for daily writing questions about characters and world building.

Website: https://www.rosalynbriar.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosalynbriar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosalynbriar

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20039961.Rosalyn_Briar

Storytellers On TourThe Crown of Bones Book Blitz

– I –

THE BLESSED DAY

THIS DAY CALLS FOR A SACRIFICE, yet I have nothing to give. Other villagers leave flowers, coins, and food on an Altar for the goddess Bergot. She’s the mountain goddess who protects our valley from the horrors of the outside world and blesses our fertile lands, or some shit like that.

The mountain wind is strong, swirling flower petals and the stench of rotten food in the direction of my booth. With the Norstadt Square of Bergot Valley bustling more than usual, I must crane my neck and rise on tiptoe to spot my sister.

There. Thora twirls in my old blue skirt, dancing with little girls around the Maypole. She towers above them, but her playful spirit is the same. The children wrap pastel ribbons around the tall, white pole to the music of a lute and pipe. I keep an eye on Thora from the open market but remain vigilant enough to ward off any egg-thieves.

I don’t recall ever dancing around the Maypole myself. Even before Wilhelm’s death, I was here selling eggs and dairy at the morning market. After he was gone, I had to quit school to work at Schulze Manor during the day. I’m happy enough to watch Thora enjoying the festivities. 

Another gust of wind pelts my face with a barrage of the perfumed petals, and I curse the ridiculous Hexennacht rituals. Ibusy myself rearranging baskets and milk bottles when a man clears his throat behind me.

“Blessed Day, Freckles.”

My heart skips at the sound of his voice. I pretend to be busy, waiting for my lungs to steady and cheeks to cool, before I turn to the man standing at my counter. Brahm Wolf. The sun glows on his light brown skin, and today he wears his twisted locks of hair gathered in a low ponytail.

“Two coins per dozen, one coin—”

“No good morning or Blessed Day?” Brahm clicks his tongue against his teeth. “What about a trade?” He flashes a bright smile and lifts a large fish wrapped in paper.

“Where’d you get that?”

“What if I told you I caught it myself?”

I wave him away. “You stole from Schulze Lake? Trying to pawn it off on me?”

“Gisela, I didn’t steal it!” He chuckles. “My friend, Hans, took me fishing this morning. His wife’s family owns Cauldron Lake on the other side of the valley near Sudstadt.”

Holding his strong chin high, Brahm drops the fish onto my counter with a thud and pats it. His rolled shirt sleeve is damp with a tiny spatter of blood, and he smells like fish.

“You’re a fisherman now? Is that why you aren’t performing in the square?” I bend to fiddle with cheesecloths and recount milk bottles. “Today’s lutist is awful.”

“Does that mean you like me?” He stands a little taller, drumming his thumbs on the wooden slab. “You noticed my absence?”

“Noticed? You play the lute in the square every…” I trail off to watch Thora. 

An elderly lady gives handmade floral crowns to the young dancers. I hope she includes my sister. At fifteen, she looks much too old for one. The woman places one on Thora’s head, and my sister spins on the cobblestone with her arms spread wide. My body relaxes as a rare smile stretches my lips.

Brahm steps beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, but I wriggle from the embrace.

“Apologies, Freckles. I just wanted to share the moment. Thora’s sweet like a strawberry.” With his hands up in surrender, Brahm shuffles backward from my booth and swings around the post, laughing. “You, on the other hand, are more like bitter wine. How’s sweet Thora?”

“Good. Happy.”

“You should be, too. For tomorrow’s the May Day Jubilee.”

I roll my eyes and return to counting inventory. The only good thing about tomorrow marking the thousandth May Day celebration is the fact that the square will be crowded with villagers.

Only a few more customers, then I’ll be able to take Thora home and get some cleaning done at Schulze Manor. A mother and child walk up to buy eggs and milk, but Brahm still lingers with his fish. I ignore his presence and take the woman’s coins, placing them in the leather purse belted around my waist.

The woman steps toward the Altar, which is a block of marble with a mountain carved into its face. She allows her toddler to sacrifice an egg. I rub my temples at the sight. How many more of my customers will waste my goods on a fairy tale goddess? As if she will help anyone tomorrow.

Lord Albert Schulze enters my peripheral vision. He slithers around the square, greeting the villagers with his feigned smiles and laughs. When Albert leans to whisper in Thora’s ear, I grit my teeth. Through the pastel ribbons drifting in the breeze, he raises his dark eyes to me. I snap my gaze to my only option: Brahm.

“So, what will you do with that fish?”

“I caught it for you, Gisela.” Brahm lifts his chin and raises an eyebrow. “You look absolutely lovely today. Is that a new green skirt? It matches your eyes.”

I huff at his compliment. There’s nothing special about my off-white blouse, canvas apron, and especially my green skirt. It’s the color of nearly ripe asparagus and the only fabric I could afford.

“What do you want for the fish?” I ask, placing my hand on my hip. “And how will I get it home?”

“I’ll carry it for you.”

“No. I’ll find room in my wagon. Now, what do you want for it? Milk, cheese, eggs? You could take the remainder of my eggs, and it wouldn’t be of equal value.”

“For this.” He plucks a single egg from my basket.

“I know what you’re doing. I don’t take charity.” I gather cheese and goat’s milk. “Here, take these too.”

“Nope.” Brahm pockets the egg and winks. “It’ll be ourcontribution to the Altar.”

“You know I don’t believe in that nonsense,” I say as my eyes flit to the right. The food on the Altar will continue to spoil and assault my nose until the priestesses remove it. What a waste. 

Although deep-down, I wish I could afford to give something.

Brahm leans low and touches my hand, so softly, it tickles. “It doesn’t matter what you believe, eight people our age will receive Black Letters tomorrow. It’s alright to be nervous. By the way,” he pauses to brush my hair with his fingers, “petals in your hair is a wonderful look on you.”

I bend to shake the flower petals from my waist-length curls. Redheads are rare, and everyone loves an excuse to touch my hair no matter how hard I try to remain in the shadows. I flip the length behind my shoulders and place my hands on my hips.

“Go on!” I shoo him away. “Take your egg to the Altar then.”

“Wait, I almost forgot.” He digs in his other pocket and presents an amethyst crystal. “I found this yesterday and thought of you.”

It gleams in the sunlight and is the perfect shade of pale purple. I dearly wish to take it from his palm but resist. “I don’t collect that stuff anymore.”

“Oh…alright.” He pockets the crystal and shrugs. “See you tonight for the Hexennacht bonfires?”

My cheeks burn, and I narrow my eyes but offer no response. Brahm gets the hint and strolls

Hello Bookish Fiends,…today is my stop on the GRAVE REFLECTION: GHOST PUNCH BOOK 1 BY A. LAWRENCE @sharp_deer, brought to you by @sot_tours

#ghostpunch #newadult #newadultreads #storytellersontour #readindie #newrelease #bookboost

Schedule Link: https://www.storytellersontour.online/2020/09/24/tour-schedule-grave-reflection-by-a-lawrence/

The Giveaway

A. Lawrence is giving away five ebook copies of Grave Reflection – Enter to win yourself one of them today!
International. Ends November 1, 2020!

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

Grave Reflection is the newest Paranormal release from author A. Lawrence.

This thrilling ghost hunting tale is set in the quaint midwestern town of Teton Falls. This was a fast moving creative paranormal adventure, that will grab you from the first page. The authors voice is fluid along with enjoyable dialogue and smooth comic banter between characters that keeps you engaged.

Ghostly suspenseful with a great diverse cast of characters that are relatable to. The storyline grabs from the very beginning and propels all the way through.

A page turner with an strong underlining thought provoking themes of friendship and acceptance. I was intrigued and curious to see how everything would come together.

A perfect read for this time of the year and one I highly recommend.

Lawrence’s new adult paranormal Grave Reflection, is the first installment in the Ghost Punch series. I am excited to for the next literary output from this talented author.

Lawrence has been writing for as long as they can remember. They dabble in a mix of fantasy and supernatural. When they aren’t writing they are harassing their cat, playing a video game with friends, or dabbling in art.

They come from Idaho, where they have spent time being shaped by long roads and abandoned cabins.

WEBSITE: https://alawrenceauthor.wixsite.com/authorpage