Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this first book of a captivating new duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black.
A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.
Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.
Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
AUTHOR
Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels, including the Novels of Elfhame, THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN, the Spiderwick Chronicles, and her adult debut, BOOK OF NIGHT. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.
When all of Venice is unmasked, one man’s identity remains a mystery . . .
1807 When a baby is discovered floating in a basket along the quiet canals of Venice, a guild of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of their trades. Although the boy, Sebastien Trovato, has wrestled with questions of his origins, it isn’t until a woman washes ashore on his lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story, Sebastien must make a choice that could alter not just his own future, but also that of the beloved floating city.
1904 Daniel Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to redeem a past laden with regrets, he is sent on an assignment from California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he discovers a city of colliding hope and decay, much like his own life, and a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien Trovato.
REVIEW
From the desk of Gwendalyn
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.
All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes Is Truly Amazing Historical Fiction
Amanda Dykes powerful elegant prose will have you completely captivated. Told in dual periods, we follow 1904 San Francisco, Daniel Goodman, who longs for redemption. Sebastien Trovato, abandoned as a baby and taken in by artisans in early 1800s Venice, seeks to know the mystery of his origins.
The story of these men unfolds beautifully through the author rich imagery and vivid characterization. Even though they are centuries apart they are centered around the magical city of Venice, and tethered to a book called the Book of Waters.
Spellbinding and poetic, Amanda Dykes use of metaphors, and her ability to bring the lushness of the enchanting Venice to life, will leave you breathless. Longing and Beautiful, the characters and their struggles will draw you in, and the little romance and a mystery add so much to the book. A novel that will stay with you a very long time after you finish reading it. Longing and Beautiful, the characters and their struggles will draw you in. All the Lost Places is moving thought provoking tale that I truly can’t even write a review to even give this books justice. This is one stunning piece of historical fiction, I have to say it’s the best HF out of all the books I have read in 2022. If there is one book that I would recommend for historical fiction readers, it would be this book
• “This lyrical dual-narrative historical from Dykes (Set the Stars Alight) dives into the histories of Venice, Italy, and Venice Beach, California.”— Publisher’s Weekly
• “Introspective, surprising, and achingly beautiful.”— Booklist starred review
• “Dykes’s pen is fused with magic and poetry. Every word’s a gentle wave building into the splendor that is All the Lost Places, where struggles for identity and a place to belong find hope between the pages of a timeless story.”— J’Nell Ciesielski, bestselling author of The Socialite
• “Luscious writing, authentic characters, and an ending that satisfies to the core of the spirit, this novel is another winner from Amanda Dykes.”— Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning author of Freedom’s Ring and Hope Beyond the Waves
AUTHOR
Amanda Dykes’s debut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight, a 2021 Christy Award finalist.
• Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (October 11, 2022)
• Length: (336) pages
• Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook
• ISBN: 978-1639101191
• Tour Dates: November 14 – December 19, 2022
BOOK DESCRIPTION
In the tradition of C. S. Harris and Anne Perry, a fatal disaster on the Thames and a roiling political conflict set the stage for Karen Odden’s second Inspector Corravan historical mystery.
September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat the Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600 passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish Home Rule.
For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion and berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever.
Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way. But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns his help.
As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself.
ADVANCE PRAISE
• “[An] exceptional sequel . . . Fans of Lyndsay Faye’s Gods of Gotham trilogy will be enthralled.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
• “Victorian skulduggery with a heaping side of Irish troubles.” —Kirkus Reviews
• “Charismatic police superintendent Michael Corravan is back in a gripping sequel about the mysterious sinking of the Princess Alice. Odden deftly weaves together English and Irish history, along with her detective’s own story, in a way that will keep readers flipping pages long into the night.” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and the Maggie Hope series.
REVIEW
Under a Veiled Moon: An Inspector Corravan Mystery by Karen Odden is an exceptional historical crime fiction!
The second installment in the Inspector Corravan Mystery, Under a Veiled Moon is an exceptional historical crime fiction! Set to the backdrop of when the Princess Alice, a pleasure steamer, who in the September made her daily trip along the Thames and collided with a huge iron hulled collier. A devastating disaster, hundreds dead, some say that the Irish Republican Brotherhood might be behind catastrophe.
Michael Corravan is acting superintendent of the Wapping River Police. With his Irish background and connections, others feel he might not be able to stay completely unbiased. Irish born, and taken in and cared for by the Doyle family from White Chapel. Corravan must navigate through the upheaval political intrigue, and corruption.
Under a Veiled Moon by Karen Odden, sets the bar that few will be able to follow. This is one book that will keep you up way into late hours of night. Once I started reading I found myself unable to set the book aside.
The back alleyways and gritty docks of Victorian England, comes alive through incredible details and rich rewarding prose. This page turner of a read will not only captivate you with its dynamic main character, you will also be fully immersed within its rich details. Michael Corravan, is a no-nonsense realistic character, that is incredibly easy to fall for. Odden shines through,with Corravan methodical police investigating techniques. The twist and turns, make for a rewarding reading experience.
Karen Odden is one of my all time favorite historical crime writers, and Under a Veiled Moon is a phenomenal historical fiction.
Karen Odden earned her Ph.D. in English from New York University and subsequently taught literature at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has contributed essays to numerous books and journals, written introductions for Victorian novels in the Barnes & Noble classics series and edited for the journal Victorian Literature and Culture (Cambridge UP). Her previous novels, also set in 1870s London, have won awards for historical fiction and mystery. A member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime and the recipient of a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Karen lives in Arizona with her family and her rescue beagle Rosy.
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (December 6, 2022)
• Length: (448) pages
• Format: hardcover, trade paperback, & eBook
• ISBN: 978-0764234262
• Tour Dates: November 28 – December 12, 2022
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own . . .
When their father’s death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her genteel sisters fear they will be forced to sell the house and separate to earn livelihoods as governesses or companions. Determined to stay together, Sarah convinces them to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet and provide for their ailing mother. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect to receive, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is soon torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family.
Viola Summers wears a veil to cover her scar. When forced to choose between helping in her family’s new guest house and earning money to hire a maid to do her share, she chooses the latter. She reluctantly agrees to read to some of Sidmouth’s many invalids, preferring the company of a few elders with failing eyesight to the fashionable guests staying in their home. But when her first client turns out to be a wounded officer in his thirties, Viola soon wishes she had chosen differently. Her new situation exposes her scars–both visible and those hidden deep within–and her cloistered heart will never be the same.
Join the Summers sisters on the Devonshire coast, where they discover the power of friendship, loyalty, love, and new beginnings.
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 Sisters of Sea View By Julie Klassen
Series: On Devonshire Shores (Book 1)
A Delightfully Charming Historical Fiction.
Author Julie Klassen, first installment in her new warm hearted series titled, On Devonshire Shores. Following their father’s untimely death, the Summer sisters along with their ailing mother, find themselves in dire circumstances. The Summer families reduced funds, threatened’s to separate them, the oldest sister Sarah takes things into her own hands. She convinces her other genteel sisters to open their home, the Sea View as a guest house, in the seaside town of Sidmouth. The area is known as a tourist destination off the coast of Devonshire.
The wonderful Historical details and beautiful drawn out characters made for a rich and rewarding reading experience. The first half of the book is set up perfectly, giving the reader much needed insightful information about the area around Sea View, along with its occupants. The storyline never drags, and keeps to a steady pace, which I found lovely.
Told in distinct multiple narratives, focusing on the three older sisters Sarah, Emily, and Viola. The paid guest staying at Sea View make for an interesting assortment of characters, and add some much to the story. As the sisters rise up to the new challenges that are presented to them, you will find them appealing and relatable. I cherished the light romance, with just enough angst to satisfy my romantic heart. To me the book looks at what it means to be humble, and to rise up to overcome obstacles either physically or socially, giving us strength moving forward.
This enduring book gives so many subtle nods to Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott, that will attract readers to its clever and witty characters.
I highly recommend this book to my family and friends, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this captivating series
VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE SISTERS OF SEA VIEW BY JULIE KLASSEN
• “Jane Austen fans will delight in this nimble series launch…Klassen excels at weaving her various story lines, each emphasizing the colorful qualities of her characters and allowing them the space to shine. Readers will be eager for the next installment.” —Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF JULIE KLASSEN
• “Julie Klassen delights with a winsome love story…” —Publisher’s Weekly, on A Castaway in Cornwall
• “I couldn’t put it down! It you are a historical fiction fan you need this one on your radar! It was a spooky delight full of heart. ”—Anne Mendez, The Lit Bitch, on Shadows of Swanford Abbey
• “…a wonderfully engaging novel full of intriguing characters and storylines. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for more in the series.” —Laura Gerold, Laura’s Reviews, on The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill
Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.
A Gothic-Style Regency Romance from a Promising Young Author
Second daughter of a baron—and a little on the mischievous side—Ella Pemberton is no governess. But the pretense is a necessity if she ever wishes to get inside of Wyckhorn Manor and attain the truth. Exposing the man who killed her sister is all that matters.
Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands. Lies have been conceived, then more lies, but the price of truth would be too great. All he has left now is his son—and his hatred. Yet as the charming governess invades his home, his safe cocoon of bitterness begins to tear away.
Could Ella, despite the lingering questions of his guilt, fall in love with such a man? Or is she falling prey to him—just as her dead sister?
REVIEW
From The Desk Of Gwendalyn Anderson
Beneath His Silence By Hannah Linder gives readers alluring elements of Jane Eyre
This gothic-style regency suspense features an enemies to love trope! A wonderful mix of mystery and suspense, along with a hidden identity. A rich and rewarding faith based book that kept me flipping the pages from start to finish.
Strong willed and courageous Ella Pemberton, takes up the task left by her deceased father to find out what really happened to her sister Lucy. Who died under mysterious circumstances. She travels to the estate where her late sister and her husband lived, Wyckhorn Manor. Determined to to uncover the events that surround the mystery of her beloved sister. Ella decides to apply for the position of governess when it becomes available, under the name Ella Woodhart.
A tortured soul Lord Henry Sedgwick resides at the secluded Wyckhorn Manor
Taking care of his young son, after the devastating loss of his wife. The manor house is steeped in family secrets, and not just the death of his wife Lucy.
Readers will enjoy atmospheric imagery and the steady incline of suspense. I thought the characters were wonderful and the storyline unfolded perfectly.
• “Fast-paced danger and suspense from an exciting newcomer to Regency fiction.”— Julie Klassen, award-winning author of A Castaway in Cornwall
• “A strong story of loss and forgiveness, resentment surrendered to faith, and the mercy of God. Readers will enjoy this turbulent mystery with a smile-worthy ending.”— Kristen Heitzmann, Christy Award-winning author of Secrets and The Breath of Dawn
• “This book has everything I love…a dark and broody hero, a spunky heroine on a mission, and a deeply delicious creepy manor home. Beneath His Silence is a rather gothic tale set in Regency England, filled with plenty of intrigue, danger, and romance to make for a very satisfying read.”— Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Lost in Darkness
Hannah is a debut Regency Suspense author with Barbour Publishing.
Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award finalist, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments–piano, guitar, and ukulele–songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.
A richly imagined novel inspired by the true story of Anne Sharp, a governess who became very close with Jane Austen and her family by the #1International bestselling-author of Miss Austen.
On January 21, 1804, Anne Sharpe arrives at Godmersham Park in Kent to take up the position of governess. At thirty-one years old, she has no previous experience of either teaching or fine country houses. Her mother has died, and she has nowhere else to go.
Anne is left with no choice. For her new charge—twelve-year-old Fanny Austen—Anne’s arrival is all novelty and excitement. The governess role is a uniquely awkward one. Anne is neither one of the servants, nor one of the family, and to balance a position between the “upstairs” an “downstairs” members of the household is a diplomatic chess game. One wrong move may result in instant dismissal. Anne knows that she must never let down her guard.
When Mr. Edward Austen’s family comes to stay, Anne forms an immediate attachment to Jane. They write plays together and enjoy long discussions. However, in the process, Anne reveals herself as not merely pretty, charming, and competent; she is clever too. Even her sleepy, complacent, mistress can hardly fail to notice.
Meanwhile Jane’s brother, Henry, begins to take an unusually strong interest in the lovely young governess. And from now on, Anne’s days at Godmersham Park are numbered.
Advanced Praise:
“This is a deeply imagined and deeply moving novel. Reading it made me happy and weepy in equally copious amounts…I read it straight through without looking up.”— Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Bookclub
Hornby’s skillful mix of fact and fiction captures the complexities of the Austens and their era, and her crisp, nimble prose sparkles throughout. Best of all, Hornby genuinely channels the sentiment of 19th-century English literature. Janeites aren’t the only readers who will relish this smart, tender tale.”— Publishers Weekly, starred review
“…a well-written and delightfully observant novel…an excellent read.”— The Historical Novel Society
REVIEW
Thank you @Pegasus_Books @AustenProse #AustenProsePR for my gorgeous print copy of #GodmershamPark upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Godmersham Park: A Novel of the Austen Familyby Gill Hornby
Through Gill Hornby literary imagination we are granted a gracious storyline centered on Miss Anne Sharp. In January of 1804, in the county side of Kent, a lesser known character Miss Sharp spent two years at Godmersham park as a governess to young Fanny.
Fanny Austen, was the daughter of Edward Austen who is brother to Jane Austen. Gill Hornby writes vividly, creating a somewhat melancholy story from Fanny’s Austen’s diaries.
Numb from the loss of her mother, thirty-one year old Anne Sharpe is unable to comprehend what was her father’s motive for casting her out of her home with only enough money to survive. Anne’s predicament meant that she would either be forced to marry her family’s man of business or gain some sort employment.
Anne finds it hard to adjust to her life, her position is neither part of the servants or that of the family. Anne finds her young charge charming and delightful, they have an instant connection.
When Henry Austen and his sister Jane, arrive at Godmersham Park Anne feels the rippling effect. Hornby does a fabulous job displaying the Irony and clever wit, that is the equation for Austen styled literature.
Watercolor of Fanny Austen Knight, by Cassandra Austen
Author
Gill Hornby is the author of the novels Miss Austen, The Hive, and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for young readers. She lives in Kintbury, England, with her husband and their four children.
Today I’m happy to bring to you by stop on the blog tour for the Witch Hunt by Sasha Peyton Smith from Turn the Page Tours.
The Witch Hunt is the highly anticipated sequel to the Witch Haven. It releases October 11th from Simon Teen!
Want to win one of five finished copies of the book? Check out the giveaway here!
Read below for a summary of the book, and my review!
SYNOPSIS:
The lush and pulse-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Witch Haven follows Frances and her fellow witches to the streets of Paris where family secrets, lost loves, and dangerous magic await.
Months after the devastating battle between the Sons of St. Druon and the witches of Haxahaven, Frances has built a quiet, safe life for herself, teaching young witches and tending the garden within the walls of Haxahaven Academy. But one thing nags; her magic has begun to act strangely. When an opportunity to visit Paris arises, Frances jumps at the chance to go, longing for adventure and seeking answers about her own power.
Once she and her classmates Maxine and Lena reach the vibrant streets of France, Frances learns that the spell she used to speak to her dead brother has had terrible consequences—the veil between the living and the dead has been torn by her recklessness, and a group of magicians are using the rift for their own gain at a horrifying cost.
To right this wrong, and save lives and her own magical powers, Frances must hunt down answers in the parlors of Parisian secret societies, the halls of the Louvre, and the tunnels of the catacombs. Her only choice is to team up with the person she swore she’d never trust again, risking further betrayal and her own life in the process.
Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best-selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt. She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. Originally from the mountains of Utah, she now lives in Washington D.C. with her partner and collection of porcelain hands. You can find Sasha online at sashapsmith.com.
**Thank you to Turn the Page Tours and Simon Teen for gifted copies of both the Witch Haven and the Witch Hunt received for this tour
REVIEW
“The Witch Hunt” is the highly anticipated sequel from the author Sasha Peyton Smith.
After the events of the first book and the brutal battle between the witches of Haxahaven and the Sons of St. Druon. This witchy read picks up a little over a year after the events of the first book the, Witch Haven. We follow Frances as she is heading to Paris for chance to unravel the reasons her magic is not what should be. Traveling with Lena and Maxine she harbors a secret, and once in Paris she realizes that the veil between the living and the dead has been open. Now she must do the unthinkable and join forces with you know who…. Finn
**Thank you to Turn the Page Tours and Simon Teen for gifted copies of both the Witch Haven and the Witch Hunt received for this tour
Welcome to my stop on The Belle of Belgrave Square
By Mimi Matthews
The Belle of Belgrave Square By Mimi Matthews
Series: Belles of London (Book 2)
• Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction
• Publisher: Berkley Romance (October 11, 2022)
• Length: (432) pages
• Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook
• ISBN: 978-0593337158
• Tour Dates: October 3 – 23, 2022
BOOK DESCRIPTION
A BookBub Best Romance of 2022
A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.
Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.
For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.
In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…
ADVANCE PRAISE
• “A grand cross-class romance, a twisty mystery, and emotional internal struggles combine to excellent effect…fans and new readers alike will root for this well-earned love story.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
• “[C]ombines deception, risk, and a resourceful heroine to create an intoxicating, suspenseful romance. Highly recommended.”— Library Journal (starred review)
• “If you’re a fan of Beauty and the Beast, this regency romance will rapidly become a new favorite of yours. Wallflower meets an infamous war hero in this fascinating and intriguing love story.”— BuzzFeed
• “Mimi Matthews never disappoints, with richly drawn characters and couples whose individual shortcomings become strengths, when paired together. In this Beauty and the Beast retelling, we get to root for two underdogs who get to rewrite their own stories.”— Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here
• “The Belle of Belgrave Square is such tremendous, good fun: a heroine with a big horse, an even bigger novel-reading habit, and a hidden anxiety; a hero with a crumbling estate, a trio of wary children, and a literary secret—what’s not to love? Mimi Matthews paints Victorian England with vivid humor, and her Belles of London is set to go on for at least a few more much-anticipated installments. Julian Fellowes fans will rejoice!”— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
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.
This Book Is Pure Perfection !
The Belle of Belgrave Square By Mimi Matthews, is second installment in the Belles of London. A wonderful emotional proper romance, that is by far my all time favorite book by this very talented author.
Captain Jasper Blunt is a scared war hero, his time spent in the Crimean War has earned him a reputation as a ruthless cold hearted man. Along with his well none personal drama. In need of a wealthy heiress, he is in town as a guest, staying at the home of Viscount Ridgeway. If all goes well this season he will acquire a wife that comes with a substantial dowery that will help with renovating his dilapidated Goldfinch estate in Yorkshire.
Julia Wychwood, would much rather be far away from glittering ballrooms a social soirées. Comfortable amongst her books and upon her beloved horse Cossack.
She has a very small circle of friends that are a form of protection from the madding crowds that make up extensive rounds of the ton’s parties. Her social anxieties drive her to escape away from the attentions of wound be suitors. She is the most happiest deep within her precious books. Longing for a quite life of her very own, she suffers at the callused hands of her parents, who live their lives in a perpetual state of ill health. Keeping Julia at hand in London, to make sure she does her duty to them by caring for them. Sacrificing their own daughters own happiness to benefit theirs.
Drawn to each other more than just an extensive dowery, Jasper’s and Julia’s slow burn budding romance is what fairytales are made of, heartfelt and swoon worthy. A marriage of convenience that gives readers everything that they would want and more. There is a little mystery with hidden identities and a locked room in a tower.Jasper’s family antics are a delight to read.
Mimi Matthews, dual narration pulls readers into a delightful and absolutely gorgeous book. A novel of ordinary people struggling through life, who find each other and the bonds of love, family and friendship can be forged with an adoring newfound family.
Rich in details and prose, Matthews excels with her newest book. The Belle of Belgrave Square, exceeded all my expectations. It’s a gorgeous love story, with the right amount of romance and mystery to keep you perfectly entertained from start to finish.
There are so rewarding nods to Hades and Persephone, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and the tale of Bluebeard’s wife.
Along with more nods to -The Law and the Lady, -Lady Audley’s Secret and -The Blue Castle
Quotes
“That wasn’t a rescue. That was not a minor service”. Jasper’s eyes held hers, his voice dark with promise. “When I rescue, Miss Wynchwood you’ll know it.”
Miss Wynchwood was a wallflower. A self-proclaimed oddity with two failed season behind her.
VICTORIAN READING ROOM
Join Mimi at her Victorian Reading Room Facebook Group for exclusive access as she shares her love of writing, historical romance, Victorian fashion, brooding heroes, independent heroines, and of course, her beloved pets!
READ AN EXCLSUIVE INTERVIEW WITH MIMI MATTHEWS
Discover intriguing insights into The Belle of Belgrave Square and Mimi’s writing life in this exclusive interview at austenprose.com.
GIVEAWAY
Mimi has generously offered a fabulous giveaway that book tour participants can add to their post and on social media. Here are the details:
Giveaway period: October 3 – October 30
Terms & Conditions:
Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. All information will remain confidential and will not be sold or otherwise used, except to notify the winner and to facilitate postage of the book to the winner. Void where prohibited.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) receives a paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square, signed and annotated by the author with personal comments, underlining of her favorite lines, and other highlights by Mimi Matthews.
Giveaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time 10/03/22 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 10/30/22.
The winner will be announced on Mimi’s blog on 10/31/22.
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
Based on the True Story of the Free-Spirited Daughter of Queen Victoria.
Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother―the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.
Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.
Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria butfinding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.
In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost.
ADVANCE PRAISE
• “Peek into the House of Hanover and view the strength of two women: Queen Victoria and her daughter Princess Louise. This story weaves compassion and conflict into breathtaking and gripping historical detail.”— Julie Wright, author ofA Captain for Caroline Gray
• “Moore crafts an intriguing portrait of the independently minded Princess Louise and her tensions with the English royal family. Moore sets the stage with meticulous research, and she expertly combines fact with fiction, with psychological insights on Victoria’s mercurial moods and the impact of her controlling nature. It adds up to a worthy portrait of a woman divided by duty and self-determination.”— Publishers Weekly
• 5 STARS – “I always enjoy Heather Moore’s historical novels. This one did not disappoint! She is impeccable with her research and always does an excellent job of bringing people from the past to life.”— Julia Daines, bestselling author of Haven Cross, and Whitney Award Finalist
REVIEW
From The Desk Of Gwendalyn ♥︎
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.
In Shadow Of The Queen
By Heather B. Moore
@ShadowMountn @AustenProse #AustenProsePR
#InTheShadowOfAQueen
In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore is an excellent historical fiction. Moores’s newest book centers on the headstrong Princess Louise, one of Queen Victoria’s daughters.
An intimate look into the British Royal Family from the years of 1861 when Princess Louise is twelve years old, and the book comes to a close in the year 1871, when she is twenty-three. Moore shines in this meticulously researched historical fiction. The readers is placed front row and center into the day to day lives of Queen Victoria’s nine children.
Overnight the royal family lives come to a shattering halt as the Queen and her children submerge into a deep and lengthy period of morning upon the death of Prince Albert. At a young age Louise, shows so much artistic promise, but she is destined to follow the course her mother has set out for her. Being a royal princess comes with a certain amount responsibilities, your life is not your own. She struggles with the strict rules and traditions placed on her. Clever in her strategic maneuvering, Louisa forges her on way, and her journey is told through the authors seamless narration.
A lovely book, full of rich details along with journal exerts that began every chapter.
AUTHOR
AUTHOR BIO
Heather B. Moore is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications, including The Paper Daughters of Chinatown. She has lived on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as Hawaii, and attended school abroad at the Cairo American Collage in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about history and is passionate about historical research.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stalking the Jack the Ripper series comes the steamy conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.
Two curses. One prophecy. A reckoning all have feared.
And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.
Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.
When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.
Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.
Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.
She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Wicked.
The curse that haunted Lakesedge Estate has been broken, but at great cost. Violeta Graceling has sacrificed herself to end the Corruption. To escape death, Leta makes a desperate bargain with the Lord Under, one that sees her living at his side in the land of the dead.
But this world of souls and mist hides many secrets. And when Leta realizes she is still connected to Rowan by a tethering spell, she will risk everything— even her soul— to try and reach him.
Torn between power and love, life and death, Leta struggles to keep hold of her humanity as she falls further and further under the spell of the world Below… and the Lord Under.
Content Warning: Body horror ; Gore and blood (including description of wounds); Discussions of death and grief; Descriptions of drowning and deep water; Drowning-related imagery; Self-injury
REVIEW
Forestfall by Lyndall Clipstone, was one of my highly anticipated books for 2022.
A lush gothic tale that is everything bit as hauntingly magical as the first book. This high stakes, enchanting book is a direct continuation of the much loved 2021 Lakesedge. Picking up just a few days following the ending of the last book, Clipstone gives readers two points of views, that of Violeta and Rowan.
Violeta struggles with her increasing attraction to The Lord Under, as she is still in World Below. In the World above Rowan seeks to rescue Violeta from the clutches of the dark lord. The writing was captivating and the angst was on high, in this dark romance fantasy. The dual POV’s and the sub characters were enjoyable, and I especially loved the love triangle. The world is more expanded, along with complexity of the characters personalities. The atmospheric imagery was a perfect start to the spooky season. I loved this follow up book, and I am excited to read what’s next from this very talented author.
”Beyond seven forests, beyond seven lakes, there was a monster who lived deep below the earth…”
AUTHOR
Lyndall Clipstone writes about monsters and the girls who like to kiss them. A former youth librarian who grew up running wild in the Barossa Ranges of South Australia, she currently lives in Adelaide, where she tends her own indoor secret garden. She has a Bachelors in Creative Writing and a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Management.
Her debut novel, Lakesedge, has been published in three countries, was a Dymocks Books bestseller, and has been nominated for numerous awards. The sequel, Forestfall, will publish in 2022.
From the author of The Underground River comes this compelling new novel of female perseverance. Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, The Physician’s Daughter is the story of two people trying to make their way in a world that is struggling to escape its past.
It is 1865, the American Civil War has just ended, and 18-year old Vita Tenney is determined to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a country doctor like her father. But when her father tells her she must get married instead, Vita explores every means of escape – and finds one in the person of war veteran Jacob Culhane.
Damaged by what he’s seen in battle and with all his family gone, Jacob is seeking investors for a fledgling business. Then he meets Vita – and together they hatch a plan that should satisfy both their desires. Months later, Vita seemingly has everything she ever wanted. But alone in a big city and haunted by the mistakes of her past, she wonders if the life she always thought she wanted was too good to be true. When love starts to compete with ambition, what will come out on top?
“Vividly realised, and impeccably researched, with a determined female lead” –Kayte Nunn, author ofThe Botanist’s Daughter
“In the proud tradition of female characters from Jo March to Meredith Grey, Vita Tenney takes her place as a determined woman unwilling to let society or her family control her destiny. I was captivated by The Physician’s Daughter. The novel stays with you.” –Tony Phelan, executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Council of Dads
“A riveting read set during the American civil war about a pioneering young woman dead-set on becoming a doctor.” –Inga Vesper, author of The Long, Long Afternoon
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 Physician’s Daughter, is Martha Conway’s newest novel. A superb historical fiction that is set post Civil War.
In 1865 we follows Vita Tenney Culhane, who’s aspirations to be a doctor is completely disregarded because she is a woman. Boldly she confronts her farther, who is the village doctor in Lark’s Eye, Massachusetts. Dr. Arthur Tenney dismissing his daughter notions of wanting to aspire to be like him and follow in his footsteps. Instead he secures her a husband, just returned from war, Jacob Cultane. Vita and Jacob’s marriage of convenience, might just prove to be something more to both of them.
Her desire to attend medical school comes with challenges and setbacks. As a woman who seeks to attend Cleveland Medical College, in the late 19th century she is a heroine that we can all root for. The struggles for women are daunting during this time period. Those who want to throw off the bonds of strict society and overcome obstacles place before them, are brave and courageous women. Martha Conway draws the reader effortlessly into Vita’s life. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this is a book that I will treasure on my library shelf. Wonderfully detailed, with seamless narration and a thought provoking storyline. Once you begin reading you will find yourself unable to stop.
I highly recommend this book to my family and friends! a 5 ⭐️ read for me
AUTHOR
Martha Conway is the author of several novels including The Underground River, which was a New York Times Book Editor’s Choice (titled The Floating Theatre in the U.K. and Europe). Her novel Thieving Forest won the North American Book Award for Best Historical Fiction.
Martha’s short fiction has appeared in the Iowa Review, Mississippi Review, The Quarterly, Carolina Quarterly, and other publications. She has reviewed fiction for the San Francisco Chronicle and the Iowa Review, and is a recipient of a California Arts Council fellowship in Creative Writing. In addition to writing, Martha is an instructor of creative writing at Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program. She received her BA from Vassar College in History and English, and her MA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Born and raised in Ohio, she now lives in San Francisco with her family, where the fog reminds her of lake-effect cloud cover in Cleveland.
We are celebrating the official release of the highly anticipated novel by J.L. Vampa, Autumn of the Grimoire and we’re thrilled to be part of the launch! Read on for more details and a chance to win a fantastic giveaway!
Autumn of the Grimoire (Sisters Solstice Series #1)
Expected Publication Date: September 22, 2022
Genre: Gothic Fantasy/ Dark Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Phantom House Press
Some witches cast spells. Others slay kings.
A mysterious Grimoire. A marriage full of dark secrets. A History sculpted by a quartet of ancient Sister witches.
For three hundred years, Sister Autumn has incited wars, burnt villages, killed kings, and released plagues at the bidding of the Grimoire. Meanwhile, her Sister Winter, Sister Spring, and Sister Summer have brought forth only peace.
When an Order from the Grimoire sends Agatha to the Kingdom of Merveille, she already anticipates the worst. Unless she wants to face the wrath of the Goddess, Agatha must keep her head down and do as she’s commanded.
But when the Grimoire Orders her to marry a pompous prince and play the role of a peasant “accepted” by vicious aristocrats, she finds herself at the center of a war between the classes and an age-old prophecy.
Within the court, many players harbor dark secrets—including her new husband. With her newfound influence, Agatha joins forces with the city’s Blacklisted in order to blur the lines between the common man and the elite, unravel the mysteries in her marriage, and decide once and for all if she will defy the Grimoire and face the brutal consequences.
As secrets unfold, will Agatha continue to slay on behalf of the Grimoire, or forge an uncharted History with her unlikely allies?
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.
Autumn of the Grimoire by J.L. Vampa, is the perfect book to kick start your fall reads.
An addictive book that will have you captivated right from the beginning. Every Solstice and every Equinox, the Sisters of Solstice meet. The sisters represent each season, bond to do the bidding of the sacred text of the Grimoire, when it’s their season. We follow The sister of Autumn, named Agatha, who is the youngest of the four Sisters Solstice. Sister Autumn was designed to be the brutal hand of the Goddess of three, Hespa. This time Agatha {Aggie} is told to travel to Merveille and seek the Grand Magus. Once there she is tasked with marrying a Prince Grimm.
I fell in love with the characters in this book, along with the authors seamless narration. Rich in details the atmospheric imagery catapults the reader within pages of this captivating storyline. The author gives the perfect amount of fantasy romance, along with dynamic skillful character development.
If you enjoy well-written witchy fantasy, then I definitely recommend you read this one!
The gargantuan doors closed with an ominous clank and Prince Thackery stalked toward her, stopping only a stride away. “How dare you stand there and deign to say nothing?” he ground out.
Her nerves bent a knee to her fury at his unexpected outburst. Agatha let a spiteful smile adorn her lips. “And what would you have me do, then? Throw myself at your feet and argue that I am worthy to be your bride?” Surprise flashed across the prince’s face at her gall, but he swiftly shoved it away. She swung an arm out wide. “Or would you have me faint upon the chaise because of my utter fortune to be your betrothed?” She took a step closer to him. “Because I will do neither of those things.”
His lip curled. “A bit bold for a peasant, aren’t we?” Agatha cursed her cheeks for heating. Perhaps she was a fool not to play the part of a meek little mouse, but she couldn’t stop the storm of rage bubbling up inside of her. “I do not wish to marry you any more than you wish to marry me.” A muscle in the prince’s jaw flexed. “Then help me fight this madness! Deny the proposal that has been asked without my will.” Agatha snickered. “And risk the loss of my head at the hands of our darling Crown?” She crossed her arms at her chest, matching the prince’s stance. “I think not.”
J.L. Vampa’s four-book New Adult Fantasy series, SISTERS SOLSTICE, will begin on September 22, 2022. Jane Lenore (J.L.) Vampa is a published author of Dark Fantasy and Victorian Gothic fiction. J.L. also owns a macabre-style bookish shop, Wicked Whimsy Boutique. She lives in Texas with her musician husband and their two littles who are just as peculiar as they are.
Welcome to the book tour for the gorgeous, genre-blurring book, A Lesson in Love and Death by W.H. Lockwood! Read on for more details and a chance to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card!
A Lesson in Love and Death (Endymion College #1)
Expected Publication Date: September 26th, 2022
Genre: Cozy Horror Romance/ Dark Academia
Anna James dreamed of only two things in life: to read books and to not die.
The day she is offered a scholarship to study literature at the beautiful, exclusive and gothic Endymion College, is the happiest day of her life, but soon after arrival, Anna finds it is nothing like the brochure.
Instantly thrust into a dangerous conspiracy, sent to live in a haunted dormitory with a captivating rival, Anna struggles to keep control of her only chance at a better life and to maintain her already tenuous grip on reality.
Things soon go from bad to worse when a séance goes awry, and finding herself pursued by a terrifying spectre, Anna finds comfort and a kindred spirit in her professor of literature: young, devastatingly handsome and completely off-limits.
Anna must find a way to fight both her desire and a relentless supernatural force out for blood, all while completing her work on time to hold on to her precious scholarship.
Darkly humorous, crushingly awkward, deeply romantic, Endymion College: A Lesson in Love and Death is a celebration of the books we love and an action-packed, supernatural, feminist, horror story all rolled into one.
“Anna… Ah, I see your roommate has already been and got her key. One moment.”
The handsome yet bored-looking man disappeared into a dimmer and smaller room, only to return seconds later with a faded envelope. “So, we have a small problem, Anna. Your key is missing. Whoever had it last year didn’t bring it back. But it’s all right. We found this one. Except it comes with a warning.”
The man, clearly amused, leaned close in a conspiratorial manner, and raised one expectant eyebrow at Anna as she took the faded envelope from him. The words ‘Do Not Open’ were written across the front in beautiful cursive. Anna’s big eyes and delicate fingers traced over the words.
“Don’t worry, it’s not as sinister as it sounds,” he continued. “In here is, or should be, a skeleton key. It will open all the doors in your apartment. Which is fine, because there are only two, but one of those is the old hanging door.”
“Hanging door?”
“Hanging door. You’ll see when you get there. You’re on the second floor. There used to be a staircase leading up the exterior of the building to the door. That staircase has long since rotted away, and now only the door remains. A hanging door. A door to nowhere.” He smiled a dashing smile and Anna couldn’t decide if he had gone insane with boredom or if he was flirting. Or both.
“Oh, I see.”
His tone and face changed in an instant. “Do not open that door. I don’t care what happens. Don’t let the air through, don’t look at the view, don’t touch the thing. Health and safety, you know? It’s rotting in its hinges and it could fall out at any moment. I shouldn’t even be giving you this, but, well, I know how it is. You can’t always rely on your roommate.” He tapped on an old, laminated map that was stuck to the counter with brown, peeling sticky tape. “You’re in the old building, here.”
“Older than this building?”
“Oh yes. A good two hundred years older. Go back the way you came and straight across the courtyard. Your building is opposite this one. You will be in the east wing, so turn right when you go inside. You’re on the top floor at the very end of the building. You have the corner view.”
Anna was absolutely delighted. She signed for her key, thanked the man, and made to leave.
“Ms James?”
“Yes?” As Anna looked at him, she noted a strange intensity in his manner, in his stormy, blue eyes.
“That key—that’s our little secret. Really, I probably shouldn’t have given it to you. Don’t tell anyone and don’t let anyone else borrow it. Not even your roommate. And whatever you do, don’t bring it back here…”
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 Lesson in Love and Death by W.H. Lockwood, is first installment in the Endymion College series. We follow Anna James as enters Endymion college, on a scholarship. She receives a strange skeleton key to her assigned apartment and an odd peculiar hanging door.
“ A hanging door. A door to nowhere “. last year’s student never returned it. A clear warning comes with it, “ Do not open the door”. Do not tell anyone about the key and don’t let anyone borrow it. After meeting her slightly odd new roommate, Candi Lenoir , along with a teacher named Eve.
On her first night in her dormitory, Anna sees an an apparition of a boy. There is more incidents that lead up to a seance. Menacing spirt that intends to harm Anna and her new found friends.Things take a turn as Anna seeks out more help from the local clergy as the tension builds. I soared through this one, with tidbits of the occult and a dash of romance with a handsome professor.
The book is full of suspense and secrets, gothic architecture, and menacing ghost. The author does a wonderful job creating dark atmospheric imagery, with little mysteries within mysteries to keep the reader satisfied. The ending leaves some loose ends not tidied up, which adds to the anticipation for the next book in the series. A promising start to what could be an enjoyable reading experience, perfect for the upcoming spooky season.
A cozy academia paranormal fiction, with dark gothic styled world building, and romance.
Excited to read the next installment in the Endymion college series
About the Author
W.H. Lockwood writes feminist gothic and historical fiction, dark academia and cosy horror, all with a romantic twist.
Raised on a diet of Point books and Pepsi, only willing to leave her den to attend chess club at public school, W.H. Lockwood started writing at a young age and has kept this passion throughout her life.
Always a voracious reader, she obtained an undergraduate degree in literary studies from a gorgeous sandstone university, following that with a master’s degree in publishing and editing, then another master’s degree in astronomy, thus uniting her two great loves of the arts and science, leaving her utterly unqualified to cope with the real world.
These days, W.H. Lockwood works as a professional editor and can often be found aimlessly wandering through the coffee shops and bookstores of the beautiful city she calls home.
Gwendalyn’s Books 