Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour and Giveaway of,

Salt The Snow, by Carrie Callaghan, which is being hosted by HFBT!

#SalttheSnow #CarrieCallaghan #HFVBTBlogTours

Salt the Snow
by Carrie Callaghan

Publication Date: February 4, 2020
Amberjack Publishing
eBook & Hardcover; 304 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

American journalist Milly Bennett has covered murders in San Francisco, fires in Hawaii, and a civil war in China, but 1930s Moscow presents her greatest challenge yet. When her young Russian husband is suddenly arrested by the secret police, Milly tries to get him released. But his arrest reveals both painful secrets about her marriage and hard truths about the Soviet state she has been working to serve. Disillusioned and pulled toward the front lines of a captivating new conflict, Milly must find a way to do the right thing for her husband, her conscience, and her heart. Salt the Snow is a vivid and impeccably researched tale of a woman ahead of her time, searching for her true calling in life and love.

Praise

The vivid prose of Salt the Snow sets the reader in the middle of socioeconomic upheavals and political unrest with the best possible tour guide, wisecracking American journalist Milly Bennett. Callaghan excels at bringing little-known real-life women out of the darkness of historical obscurity and into the light of recognition. From the first scene, the reader is plunged into a world of suspense and intrigue, led by an unforgettable protagonist. Milly is not so much a character as a fully realized, complex human being: her brilliance and self-sufficiency are admirable, and her loneliness and feelings of unworthiness are heartbreaking. A fascinating novel! Clarissa Harwood, author of Impossible Saints and Bear No Malice

A vivid, well-researched story of a complex and ahead-of-her-time woman, an American journalist, who finds herself—head and heart—while living and working in an equally complex Russia.” —Jenni L. Walsh, author of Becoming Bonnie

“Salt the Snow is a vivid journey through the kaleidoscope of 1930s Europe with an irrepressible and all too human guide in Milly Bennett. Don’t miss this book and its unforgettable heroine! Linnea Hartsuyker, author of The Half-Drowned King and The Golden Wolf

“Honest, vivid, and bold in the face of historical truths, Salt the Snow is a captivating story of a woman whose vulnerability and hopeful idealism resonate even today. Jennifer Klepper, bestselling author of Unbroken Threads

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | 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

Written with precision and depth Carrie Callaghan newest novel, Salt The Snow is a well developed portrait that takes off from the suspenseful first pages as American journalist Milly Bennett working and living in Moscow Russia.

Her heroic war journalism career has taken Her all over the world, as she has covered murders in San Francisco, fires in Hawaii, and a civil war in China, but in 1930s Moscow offers the most unprecedented challenge so far.

Through the authors narration, you are easily immersed within this engaging storyline. Milly will question her marriage when certain truth are brought to life, when her young Russian husband is suddenly arrested by the secret police. This incredible book, Callaghan captures historical suspense of Bennetts personal life, that defines her journalistic work. Milly will become disillusioned with the political upheaval of the Soviet state along with her marriage.

The authors captivating prose brings the exceptional bohemian lifestyle, of the riveting Mrs. Milly Bennett deftly within the pages, of Salt The Snow. Bennett’s idealism of Socioeconomics puts her front and center of political unrest, as the birth of Socialism explodes in Russia, and through out the world.

Callaghan superb writing brings the vivacious, headstrong and charismatic personality of Milly Bennett to life. I loved everything about this well fleshed out three-dimensional character. This brilliantly executed novel weaves perfectly back and forth, in easy to follow multiple time periods.

When an age when female journalists was extremely rare, Bennett’s feminist adventures unfolds, along with her hard-drinking, in your face journalism. This unforgettable woman and her controversial journalism was critical to social war movement happening through out the world.

She doesn’t take a backseat to men reporters, wanting to be front and center as war and political struggles begin to rise. She flings off the bands placed on woman during the 20’s and 30’s to conquer journalisms head on. Struggling to make a name for herself within an occupation in an era that was mostly dominated by men. Milly’s strength and fortitude is depicted in this intriguing nonstop read.

Callaghan, historical fiction is ultimately a story of that of courage and human kindness and sorrow. I was completely immersed within these meticulously researched pages, as the authors descriptive ability to bring a compelling and intriguing complex character to life.

While her journalism is not so much as her focal point as her emotional struggle in Russia, you are able to fully comprehend her depth as a character. When most women would have given up, Milly is persistent to right the wrong to have her husband released. Things come crashing to an end In a twist of gut wrenching series of events.

Milly’s independent nature and her journalist calling is notable when she finds herself taking more Correspondent work, with the AP and the Foreign Press Bureau. Risking everything for her writing, she places herself at the center of the escalating tension ripping Spain apart in their civil war.

Once again Carrie Callaghan, delivers a compelling, intriguing, and well-written read here with absolutely fantastic characters that totally captivated and fascinated me. An unforgettable heroin, this stunning book stayed with me, long after I closed it.

A riveting historical fiction, based on the life of one of the first female war correspondents, Milly Bennett

About the Author

Carrie Callaghan is a writer living in Maryland with her spouse, two young children, and two ridiculous cats. Her short fiction has appeared in Weave Magazine, The MacGuffin, Silk Road, Floodwall, and elsewhere. Carrie is also an editor and contributor with the Washington Independent Review of Books. She has a Masters of Arts in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For more information, please visit Carrie Callaghan’s website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, January 13
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Review at Tales from the Book Dragon

Tuesday, January 14
Review at Let Them Read Books
Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Wednesday, January 15
Review at Broken Teepee

Thursday, January 16
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Friday, January 17
Review at Books and Zebras

Saturday, January 18
Review at @gatticus_finch
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, January 20
Review at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, January 21
Interview at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, January 22
Review at My Reading Chronicles

Thursday, January 23
Review at @rebecca.is.reading

Friday, January 24
Review at Wild Sage Book Blog

Monday, January 27
Review at @ya.its.lit
Review at Jorie Loves A Story

Wednesday, January 29
Review at Jackie & Angela’s Book Reviews

Thursday, January 30
Review at Passages to the Past

Friday, January 31
Interview at Passages to the Past

Monday, February 3
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Tuesday, February 4
Review at Lost_in_a_book_reviewer

Wednesday, February 5
Review at Impressions In Ink

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two signed copies of Salt the Snow by Carrie Callaghan! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on February 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is to the US only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Salt the Snow
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Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, The Runaway Heir
by, Janice Broyles, which is being hosted by HFBT!

The Runaway Heir
by Janice Broyles

Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Late November Literary
eBook & Paperback; 333 Pages

Series: The Secret Heir, Book #2
Genre: Biblical Fiction

 

 

In Ancient Palestine, Michal, a young Israeli princess, marries the man she loves, but it comes with a high price. She must spy on him and report back to her father, the notorious King Saul. Michal hopes her father will forget his animosity toward the giant-killing David, and that she and David can finally live a life of peace together. Unfortunately, her father comes to collect on Michal’s promise, and she is forced to choose between betraying her father or her husband. Her decision launches her life on a path she never expected. Michal and David are ripped apart for eight years. One is forced into a loveless second marriage, the other is forced to run for his life. If they can survive the vengeful King Saul, they may have a chance at restoring their love. But a lot can change in eight years, and Michal and David are not the same as they once were.

“Janice Broyles has done an exceptional job of bringing the Biblical persons of David and Michal to life through multiple layers of character and humanity. Alternating between each character’s point of view, the reader is given a glimpse into their personal conflicts, fears, and victories which lifts them out of the pages of Scripture into the hearts and minds of the reader…” -Nan Jones, author of The Perils of a Pastor’s Wife

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | 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

The Runaway Heir is the second book in the David series, An exceptional fictionalized retelling of a historical story about the ancient kingdom of Israel.

The rise of an enigmatic shepherd boy who rose from humble beginnings of sheep herder to the mighty warrior, and later the anointed..King David.

This second book delves into the brutal years where David’s life’s is constantly in peril. The paranoid, and extremely jealous, King Saul is determined to see David fail, and ultimately die. David had no choice but to leave his beloved, Michal behind. He has vowed that he would come back, but after so many years have passed, and after everything that has happened will he be able to keep his promise and return to her.

There’s something riveting about reading of ancient Israel, and it’s surrounding areas The lives of Michal and David come to life through the pages of books. This second book in its series is everything I hoped it would be. Richly detailed with captivating well developed characters, along with stunning atmospheric elements. A passionate fictional account that is adventurous as it highly original. Through the author keen precision narration the characters leap of the page.

A perfectly written book that will hold your complete attention from beginning to end. I loved every page of this book, and I recommend reading it to all my friends and family.

*Historical Notes *

David in the Hebrew scriptures, 1 Samuel 16, introduces readers to a young man who will capture not only the heart of the nation of Israel, but also the heart of God.

The Old Testament Prophet Samuel (c. 1200–1050 BCE)

Saul was chosen king both by the judge Samuel and by public acclamation. Saul was similar to the charismatic judges who preceded him in the role of governing; his chief contribution, however, was to defend Israel against its many enemies, especially the Philistines.

The king of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah. King Saul reign, is traditionally placed in the late 11th century BCE, this marked a transition from a tribal society to statehood

About the Author

Janice Broyles is an award-winning author. She resides in Winston Salem, North Carolina, where she teaches at a local college. She spends the majority of her free time researching history and retelling fantastical stories. Luckily her husband and two sons understand her passion for history and making stories come alive. When not researching or writing, Janice Broyles enjoys spending time with her family and hanging out with her close circle of friends. The Runaway Heir is the second book to her David saga. The Secret Heir, released in 2018, is the first novel of the series. The Anointed Heir, the third book in the series, is set to be released by the end of 2020. Janice enjoys spending time with her husband of 23 years and their two sons and one dog.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, January 7
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Wednesday, January 8
Review at Books and Zebras
Review at Jackie and Angela’s Book Reviews

Friday, January 10
Review at Historical Graffiti

Sunday, January 12
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, January 13
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at Older & Smarter

Tuesday, January 14
Guest Post at Jorie Loves a Story

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a signed copy of The Runaway Heir! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on January 14th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The Runaway Heir
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Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau

#bookreview #gwendalyn’sbooks #thrdreamland @tudorscribe @endeavourquill #dreamland #blogtour

Hello Bookish Friends, and welcome to my stop on the Dreamland blog tour! A big thank you to Endeavour Quill for the invitation and for the gifted book!

Dreamland

Endeavour Quill

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: Endeavour Media (January 16, 2020)

• Publishing Date:January 16, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Praise for Dreamland

‘Achingly believable’ – Publishers Weekly

“This fast-paced, engrossing novel from Bilyeau (“Joanna Stafford” mysteries) gives readers an up-close and personal view of New York’s Gilded Age, from the flash and glamour of the decadently wealthy to the hardscrabble conditions of newly arrived immigrants.” – Library Journal

‘Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Dreamland is a rollicking ride.’ – Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls

‘A marvelous book!’ – Ellen Marie Wiseman, bestselling author of What she Left Behind and The Life she was Given

‘Bilyeau’s thrilling novel plunges deep into Dreamland’s maze of pleasure and menace’ – Marlowe Benn, bestselling author of Relative Fortunes

‘Nancy Bilyeau’s passion for history infuses her books’ – Alison Weir

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#Review

Have you been to America’s Playground? Coney Island?

I’ve always wanted to visit.

Dreamland has Coney Island as a backdrop, and it’s 1911.

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

Dreamland is a suspenseful historical fiction of obsession and desire.

This fascinating portrait of the end of the Gilded Age was a fabulous start to 2020. Set in New York 1911, the Battenberg family are one of the richest in America, with the Vanderbilts and Rockerfellas,

Peggy Battenberg is a young heiress who struggles against the bonds of societal restrictions placed on women of her class. Peggy, against her families wishes takes a job at the Moonrise Bookstore, and lives with her ex teacher. When her family intervenes, and she is told that she is required to take a summer vacation at the Oriental Hotel, a once-grand oceanfront resort on Coney Island. For the sake of her sister Lydia, who is engaged to the rich Henry Taul, Peggy succumbs to her family’s wishes.

Nancy Bilyeau’s writing catapults you into this vibrant outstanding thriller set in end of Gilded Age. Dreamland is a splendid, intoxicating book, with plenty of multi layered suspense.

Nancy Bilyeau delivers an extremely entertaining storyline, with captivating underlying tension. This gripping, perfectly paced and well-written read here that I absolutely loved how seamlessly and cleverly written this story was, and thought the author did a fabulous job with the delivery. I was totally invested all the way through to the satisfying end.

Dreamland and the rest of Coney Island is an intoxicating, hedonistic and full of life. Peggy gets to experience life from a completely different perspective than she has ever before. Mixing with artists, dancers, the inhabitants of Lilliput, along with food vendors. There is also a sinister side to this plot line, that adds an intriguing twist to the book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Scandal and intrigue along with family drama makes for an extraordinary thought-provoking novel. A fabulous mystery/thriller that I was immediately drawn into and devoured quickly.

About Nancy Bilyeau

Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, DuJour, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She is currently the deputy editor of the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at City University of New York and a regular contributor to Town & Country, Purist, and The Vintage News. 

A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel and an Oprah pick, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013. The third in the trilogy, THE TAPESTRY, was published by Touchstone in 2015. The books have also been published by Orion in the UK and seven other countries.

On December 3, 2018, THE BLUE, her fourth novel, will be published in the United States and the United Kingdom. A novel of suspense set in the rivalrous art and porcelain worlds of 18th century Europe, it features a young female artist turned spy. 

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

For this novel, Nancy drew on her own Huguenot background. In 1661, Nancy’s ancestor, Pierre Billiou, emigrated from France to what was then New Amsterdam when he and his family sailed on the St. Jean de Baptiste to escape persecution for their Protestant beliefs. Pierre built the first stone house on Staten Island and is considered the borough’s founder. His little white house is on the national register of historic homes and is still standing to this day.

Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, Josephine Singer Soldier Dancer Spy,
by, Eilidh McGinness, which is being hosted by FFBC !

There is a wonderful Giveaway, So don’t forget to enter at the end of my post!

Josephine: Singer Soldier Dancer Spy
by Eilidh McGinness

Publication Date: December 1, 2019
eBook & Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

Josephine Baker is born into poverty in racially segregated America. Desperate to escape she flees to France where she embraces the hedonistic lifestyle on offer for those who dare, in the Paris of the Roaring Twenties.

Hitler’s rise to power in Germany forces her to face her true self. Determined to protect the Liberty Equality and Fraternity she has found in France, she becomes an ‘honorable correspondent’ for the French Secret Service. So, beginning a journey which will take her from the Red Cross Shelters in Paris to the cruel deserts of North Africa. She will find love and enduring friendship but she must also face dangers which will threaten not only her life but all she holds dear…..Can she find the courage to fight for what she believes in….no matter what the cost?

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

A passionate historical fiction based on the riveting life of famous life of Josephine Baker. Born into a poverty stricken era of segregated America. The beginning of the twentieth century, where the oppression of African Americans escalated across the United States.

Eilidh Macginness, emotionally charged novel that captures the determination of an electrifying woman, who’s rise from poverty to beat the odds and become one of the celebrated charismatic entertainers in Europe. Rising to become one highest-paid performers of her time, Josephine a multitalented, vibrant woman whom did not stifle under prejudices , instead she took charge of her own destiny. Baker flourished as a dancer in several Vaudeville shows, and when the chance opportunity presented its self this head strong woman left everything she knew behind, she traveled to France. Excepting a position in troupe doing a show called, Revue Negre, for the first time Josephine will understand what it is like in a world with no segregation.

Taking Paris by storm, Josephine bask in the limelight as one the most celebrated entertainers in Europe. She blissfully submerges herself into the vibrant hedonistic lifestyle that was available in Paris of the Roaring Twenties. As France, and al of Europe re plunged into another world war, Josephine is determined to protect the Liberty of Equality in her beloved adopted country of France.

She uses her notoriety and fame and becomes an ‘honorable correspondent’ for the French Intelligence Service. A riveting journey, which will take her from the Red Cross Shelters in Paris to the cruel deserts of North Africa. Along the way she will find love and enduring friendship she must also face dangers which will threaten not only her life but all she holds dear…

Eilidh McGinness weaves historical factual details with exquisite fiction together to create a rich portrait of the life of Josephine Baker.

JSDS, is a fascinating, fast-passed novel that I completely devoured. The author The intricately plots a character driven edge of your seat drama. What really stood out for me and what I really loved about this story was McGinness perfect execution of a storyline. The authors seamless narration of the bravery that Josephine exhibited. From her life in the states to ultimately finding the courge under the turbulent circumstances of WWll.

This is my first book from this amazing author, I can’t tell you how much I really enjoyed reading her well crafted book.I am definitely looking forward to reading more from talented author.

Josephine was awarded the Croix de Guerre with palme, and Legion d’Honneur by France and is the only American born woman to have been honoured by the French government with a twenty-one gun salute at her funeral.

I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad.

About the AuthorEilidh was born and brought up in the Highlands of Scotland. She studied law at Aberdeen University. She practiced as a lawyer for twelve years, latterly specializing in criminal defense. Eilidh then moved to South West France with her then husband and four children. She established an independent estate agency business which she ran for twelve years before concentrating on writing- a long held dream. Eilidh has always been fascinated by history and ordinary people who achieve extraordinary things.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 30
Review at Books and Zebras

Thursday, January 2
Review at Liberty’s Literary Loves

Friday, January 3
Feature at Comet Readings

Monday, January 6
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Tuesday, January 7
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Wednesday, January 8
Review at Reader then Blogger

Thursday, January 9
Feature at Just One More Chapter

Saturday, January 11
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, January 13
Feature at I’m All About Books

Tuesday, January 14
Feature at BookNook 2020

Wednesday, January 15
Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, January 16
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, January 17
Feature at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, January 18
Feature at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Sunday, January 19
Review at YA, It’s Lit

Monday, January 20
Review at Nursebookie

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of Josephine: Singer Soldier Dancer Spy! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on January 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Josephine
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Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, Scavenge The Scars
by Tara Sim, which is being hosted by FFBC !

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.

Thank you to Disney Hyperion and The Fantastic Flying Book Club for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

“…I’m beginning to learn the only way to move forward is by confronting the mistakes of your past”

Every man carries his sins a different way.”

Because children are the victims of their parents’ crimes.”

“This, though – it wasn’t survival. Not really. It was merely kindness, and friendship, and Amaya had no idea what to do with either.”

Tara Sim’s, Scavenge the Stars is the first installment in the authors epic fantasy duology. A stunning Ya Fantasy Retelling, Packed with high stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped, diverse, retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo

The world building is seamlessly blended with historical European influenced hierarchy along with a subtropical world. Where in the city state of Moray, children shoulder their parent’s debts, just like they did in Europe between the 1300’s to the 1870’s

Tara Sim delivers an atmospheric, adventurous, engaging, and well written read here that is told from different POV,s. Amaya Chandra, nicknamed Silverfish, has been paying off her fathers debt for the last seven years, aboard the debtors ship, the Brackish.

Amaya has survived the grueling unethical treatment and harsh conditions on ship that is commanded by a vile captain, Capt. Zharo.

As her time upon the Brackish is drawing to an end, an event occurs that Amaya doesn’t think twice about. When she ignores the captain’s orders and rescues a mysterious man, who goes by the name Boon, from near fatal drowning, Silverfish is told that her sentence aboard the ship will be extended. The man Boon, offers her a very unique opportunity. One that Amaya, can turn down, more wealth than she can begin to imagine, in exchange for her help exacting revenge upon Kamon Mercado, a merchant in the city of Moray.

A rich diverse charter driven plot line makes this a stunning book. Amaya’s ruthlessness, desire for revenge, along with her desperation in needing to understand what happened to her family seven years ago makes her character completely relatable. Silverfish, aka, Amaya, undergoes a transformation makeover, along with some training under Boon’s tutelage and emerges into a perfect lady that is both cunning and manipulative.

The second protagonist is Cayo, a little spoiled and has a tad bit of a gambling problem, but when he discovers his family legacy is all a treacherous lie. He takes things into his own hands, and does what it takes to save himself and his sister.

Amaya is both unapologetically and determined to right all of the wrongs that had been done to her. Motivated ultimately by her revenge, she wants to burn the entire system down. Cayo and Amaya story becomes intertwined in creative inspired take on a much loved classic.

The strength of this novel handsdown is the author’s fabulous characterizations. Tara Sim writing definitely shines when it comes to how interesting and fleshed out her characters are. Sexual diversity; Cayo is bisexual, and another character is asexual. A great representation of racial diversity in Ya fantasy.

#ScavengetheStars

#DisneyHyperion

#YoungAdult2020

GIVEAWAY

Prize: Win finished copy of SCAVENGE THE STARS by Tara Sim (US Only)

Starts: 1st January 2020

Ends: 15th January 2020

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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January 1st

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Welcome

January 2nd

Kait Plus Books – Interview

L.M. Durand – Review

Books.Bags.Burgers – Review + Favourite Quotes

Library of a Book Witch – Review

Write, Read, Repeat – Review

January 3rd

NovelKnight – Guest Post

Wishful Endings – Review

Gwendalyn’s Books – Review + Favourite Quotes

Fanna Wants The World To Read – Review

Feed Your Fiction Addiction – Review

January 4th

The Reading Corner for All – Review + Favourite Quotes

Here’s to Happy Endings – Review

Book Lover’s Book Reviews – Review

mabookyard – Review + Favourite Quotes

Lauren’s Boookshelf – Review

January 5th

A Book Addict’s Bookshelves – Guest Post

Book briefs – Review

Story-eyed Reviews – Review

Alys in Bookland – Review

biblioxytocin – Review + Playlist + Favourite Quotes

January 6th

Bookathon – Review

Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Review + Dream Cast

Confessions of a YA Reader – Review

Lost in Storyland – Review

Becky’s Book Blog – Review

January 7th

Utopia State of Mind – Interview

Amy’s Booket List – Review

Flipping Through the Pages – Review

Foals, Fiction & Filigree – Review + Favourite Quotes

PopTheButterfly Reads – Review

Book Review

Name: Athena’s Choice

Author: Adam Boostrom

Genre: YA Sci-fi/ Dystopian Fiction

Pages:274

Publisher: Indie 2019

Athena Vosh lives just like any other teenager from the year 2099. She watches reality shows with her friends, eats well, and occasionally wonders to herself: what would life be like if men were still alive?

It has been almost 50 years since an experimental virus accidentally killed all the men on earth. However, a controversial project is currently underway to bring men back. There’s just one catch. The project has been sabotaged.

So begins the award-winning novel, Athena’s Choice. When the police of 2099 are tasked with finding the saboteur, they receive a mysterious command to investigate the otherwise innocuous Athena Vosh. After it becomes clear that the young girl might know more than she lets on, Athena is brought in to participate in the official investigation. Simultaneously, the girl begins to experience a series of cryptic dreams featuring a ruined library and an old book containing the saboteur’s true identity. As the police close in on their prize, Athena finds herself on a journey of her own. Her clue-filled dreams and incorruptible spirit bring her face-to-face with a pair of forgotten truths about happiness and gender. The world waits to see if men will return as Athena fights a separate battle, culminating in the choice that will define her and others’ lives forever.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own. All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

“Every act of learning is an act of destruction”

An intriguing storyline that unfolds meticulously with every captivating page you turn. Athena’s Choice by Adam Boostrom, is a YA Sci-fi/ Dystopian Fiction, is a futuristic world. Politically charged with cultural divisional conflict,

A gripping, captivating, thought-provoking, spot on dystopian fiction, that I was immediately drawn into and devoured quickly. The story was so captivating and entertaining and absolutely un-put-down-able!!!! 

The book pitches the year 2099 as a near utopia futuristic world, aside from a rising suicide rate. which could imply that most women are saints but for the evil to which men drive them. However the author has the Third Core say that

“Some women will be more dangerous than the average Man.”

If you are an adept reader you will see that is not a male bashing book at all. This book touches on something on a larger scale.

The question really is what probability of danger should be enough to eradicate a whole group of people. It is so easy to believe that if there is a system that said a group of people are dangerous, get rid of them to create safety for others..

This book will leave you with many questions that really makes you think

As a reader what would you define as “evil”?

What kind of measurements would you use to determine these results?

★•.‿¸.•*´´*•.¸ Happy New Year ¸.•*´´*•.¸‿.•★

#Qotd :: Have You Made Some Bookish Resolutions?

A:: I Am Going To Be More Organized On My Blog And IG

A Stroke of Malice

(Lady Darby Mystery #8)

by Anna Lee Huber

@annaleehuber

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: April 7th 2020 by Berkley

Lady Kiera Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage are looking forward to relaxing with new friends at an exciting yearly soiree, but they soon learn that murder never takes a holiday in the latest riveting installment in this national bestselling series.

Scotland 1832. After enjoying a delightful holiday with her family, Lady Kiera Darby is looking forward to finishing her new friend, the Duchess of Bowmont’s portrait, as well as attending the duchess’ annual Twelfth Night party. Though she normally avoids such fashionable events, Kiera trusts the attention will not be focused on her, but rather her notorious hostess and her family. But upon their arrival at the opulent Scottish estate, Kiera and her husband and fellow investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, swiftly deduce that all is not merry in the duke’s household. The family appears to be under a great strain, and someone seems determined to cause mayhem among the guests with a series of forged notes.

However, matters swiftly turn from irksome to downright deadly when the merrymakers stumble upon a decomposing body in the castle’s crypt. This corpse is certainly no laughing matter, especially when it is identified as the duchess’ son-in-law, the Earl of Helmsdale, who had purportedly traveled to Paris more than a month earlier. It is evident the man met with foul play, and Kiera and Gage step in to investigate, at the duchess’ insistence. Kiera and Gage must swiftly reexamine the facts, for a ruthless murderer walks among them and may well be a member of the duchess’ own family. Kiera soon discovers just how deep the killer is willing to dig to keep their secrets from ever seeing the light of day.

#AStrokeofMalice LadyDarby @berkleypub #mystery #histfic #twelfthnight #partylikeits1832 #romance  #KieraGage

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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

A Stroke of Malice is the latest in the long running Lady Darby series and as such, I would recommend reading the previous books in the series to get the most enjoyment out of this one; the mystery works as a stand alone, but many of the characters have appeared in previous books, along with their backstory.

Following the events of the previous book, Kiera, Lady Darby, and her husband Sebastian Gage have agreed to attend a house party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Bowmont for 12th Night. Kiera has been busy working on a painting of the Duchess and will continue to work on it while visiting their remote castle in Scotland.

Along with Kiera and Gage, Kiera’s sister Alana, brother-in-law, and brother are also in attendance. The duke and duchess are both to have scandalous reputations.

It’s even common knowledge that the duchess’s younger children are not the duke’s even though he has acknowledged them as such.

During a ball to celebrate the season, Lord Edward takes some of the guests, including Kiera and Gage, on a ghost tour of the castle. While visiting catacombs under the castle where a friar is said to haunt, the group is stunned to come across a recently deceased man. Unable to confirm the deceased’s identity, due to the deterioration of the body, but suspecting it could be someone closely related to the family, Kiera and Gage agree to on the investigation.

The investigation is far from easy when it quickly becomes obvious that the duchess and her family have many secrets that they seeming willing to do anything to keep, but does that include murder?Kiera is six months pregnant, headstrong and determined to not only confirm the identity of the victim but to also figure out who did it.

This captivating novel is lively with its twists and turns, that makes this engaging mystery one will keep you be guessing all the way through to the final reveal.I enjoy character development of both Gage and Kiera as their relationship continued to evolve into a solid marriage.

There are some interesting plot developments, and intriguing sub characters that I’m excited to see playout in the authors future books. This delightful series is one that keeps getting better with the addition of new installments

Have a wonderful day!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more You comment, the better their chances of winning!

Giveaway link below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power . . .

Victory is sweet—but England’s triumph was Georgie’s rout. Now that she’s widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom. . . . Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she’s prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual . . .

St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all . . .

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

Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon is the fourth installment book in the Widow’s Club series. A lovely historical romance series, that can be read as a stand alone, or enjoyed in order within the series..

Our heroine, Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick, A sassy redhead with stunning green eyes, has recently become a widow. After losing her beloved husband, Issac she has evidently agreed to the marriage her father has arranged for her in order to get back into his good graces after he he disowned her for running off to marry for love.

Georgina and her maid are kidnapped by villains, who are working with her diabolical betrothed as they journey to her fathers estate. In a series of events they escape and seeking help, she runs into her brother’s good friend Robin Kerr, Marquess of St. Just. This lively book takes off from here with twist escapes that made for a non stop read. A lively tale, that is a captivating romantic comedy adventure, that shows the reader just how vulnerable a woman was in this particular time in history. The romance and character development spot on, along with engaging dialogue keeps the reader invested all the way through.

Jenna Jaxon’s Much Ado About a Widow, is full of kidnappings, hooligans, escapes, is a perfect regency romance. I am hoping that the author continues this creative book series, as there is still an unmarried widow.

Read an Excerpt

A key grated in the lock. Lulu growled and stalked toward it, the fur on her back rising straight up.

“Not yet, Lulu.” Georgie gathered the leash. “Don’t bite him quite yet.”

Her dog stopped advancing on the door; however, the growling did not abate. Better be safe. She gathered Lulu into her arms. “I’ll give you the signal.”

The cabin door swung open, revealing Lord St. Just, an impossibly broad grin on his face. “Wait until I tell you what my men and I just did.”

“You don’t have to tell me, my lord. I already know.” Georgie glared at him and held Lulu tighter. The little animal was shaking, and Georgie was sure if she loosened her grip Lulu would launch herself at the unwary marquess. Serve him right too.

“You do?” He frowned and cocked his head, which made him look like a puzzled puppy. Lulu looked just like that whenever she was unhappy. But what did he have to be unhappy about? He was the one who had kidnapped her.

“You have set sail, my lord, with me and my maid aboard against our wills. Many sensible people call that kidnapping.” She’d always known this man was a pirate. In fact, she’d told her brother so. She handed Lulu to Clara before the dog could leap out of her arms and tear at his lordship’s throat. If anyone was going to attack the marquess, it would be Georgie herself. Plant him a facer and see how he liked being set upon.

“Oh.” The impossible man was all smiles again. “Yes, we had to put out or miss the evening tide.” His grin had returned, showing many straight, white teeth. “But we did manage to steal your trunks, Lady Georgina. If you will consider yourself abducted again, at least rejoice in the fact that you will have clean linen throughout the ordeal.”

About the Author:

Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.

Links:

Blog: http://www.jennajaxon.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenna.jaxon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/passionistimeless

Book Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Much-about-Widow-Widows-Club-ebook/dp/B07Q6VM63Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0

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Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, Written In The Stars, by Elizabeth St John, which is being hosted by HFBT!

#WrittenintheirStars #ElizabethStJohn #HFVBTBlogTours

Written in their Stars
by Elizabeth St. John

Publication Date: November 19, 2019
Falcon Historical
eBook & Paperback; 384 Pages

Series: The Lydiard Chronicles, Book 3
Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

London, 1649. Horrified eyewitnesses to King Charles bloody execution, Royalists Nan Wilmot and Frances Apsley plot to return the kings exiled son to Englands throne, while their radical cousin Luce, the wife of king-killer John Hutchinson, rejoices in the new republics triumph. Nan exploits her high-ranking position as Countess of Rochester to manipulate Englands great divide, flouting Cromwell and establishing a Royalist spy network; while Frances and her husband Allen join the destitute prince in Paris Louvre Palace to support his restoration. As the women work from the shadows to topple Cromwells regime, their husbands fight openly for the throne on Englands bloody battlefields.

But will the return of the king be a victory, or destroy them all? Separated by loyalty and bound by love, Luce, Nan and Frances hold the fate of England and their family in their hands.

A true story based on surviving memoirs of Elizabeth St.John’s family, Written in their Stars is the third novel in the Lydiard Chronicles series.

Available on Amazon | Other eRetailers

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

A spymistress, a rebel and a courtier.

A mesmerizing epic brilliant historical fiction, set during the turbulent world of 17th century England. As the English Civil War rages on, and loyalties divide families over Commonwealth or Crown.

Written in their Stars, is the third and final instalment in Elizabeth St. John, Lydiard Trilogy. A riveting true story of three cousins, Luce Hutchinson, Frances Apsley, and Nan Wilmont.

This rich literary masterpiece opens with execution and the aftermath that follows the death of Charles I.

Navigating through the political strife that threatens to tear their family apart. The three Women, Lucy Hutchinson, wife of Regicide Colonel John Hutchinson; Frances Apsley, wife of Lucy’s brother Sir Allen Apsley; and Nan Wilmot, Countess of Rochester, Lucy and Allen’s cousin, were best friends and fierce opponents. Lucy supported the execution of the king and the establishment of the commonwealth, while Frances and Nan were fervent Royalists and worked to bring King Charles II home from exile in Paris.

Working in the backdrop, spying in the shadows to bring down the Cromwell’s regime. Nan Wilmot, and Frances Apsley, work together in plotting the return the king’s exiled son to England’s throne. Which ultimately is aimed at the restoration of the English Monarchy.

Written in their Stars by Elizabeth St. John, is a richly textured, mesmerizing, novel. The strength of this novel handsdown is the author’s fabulous characterizations. Elizabeth St. John, definitely shines when it comes to how interesting and fleshed out her well developed characters are. 

An immensely captivating story that is full of history and the most compelling and illustrious characters. The harrowing storyline is a fascinating one and it is written is such a way that will bring the history to life, I can see why this talented author is loved by so many, her way at weaving fact and fiction with her wonderful words is a masterpiece of writing.

The third book in The Lydiard Chronicles series, Written in their Stars, is a true story based on surviving memoirs, letters and court documents from Elizabeth St.John’s family history.

About the Author

Elizabeth St.John spends her time between California, England, and the past. An award-winning author, historian and genealogist, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, to the Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it’s hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth’s family still occupy them – in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that’s a different story…

For more information, please visit Elizabeth St. John’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 9
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, December 10
Review at Jackie & Angela’s Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 11
Review at Books and Zebras

Friday, December 13
Review at @ya.its.lit

Saturday, December 14
Review at Liberty’s Literary Loves

Monday, December 16
Review at Red Headed Book Lady

Tuesday, December 17
Review at Impressions In Ink

Wednesday, December 18
Review at @bookishbellee

Saturday, December 21
Review at Tales from the Book Dragon

Monday, December 23
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Friday, December 27
Review at Historical Romance Lover

Sunday, December 29
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Friday, January 3
Review at Hoover Book Reviews

Monday, January 6
Review at Reading the Past

Tuesday, January 7
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, January 8
Review at Donna’s Book Blog
Review at I’m All About Books

Thursday, January 9
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, January 10
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at A Darn Good Read

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two signed copies of Written in their Stars! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on January 10th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is open to US residents only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Written in Their Stars
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Written By Nancy Bilyeau

It may well be the most beloved Christmas story ever written. Charles Dickens’ novella, originally titled Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, was published on December 19, 1843, and sold 6,000 copies by Christmas Day. It has never gone out of print and is the basis for countless adaptations, giving way to debates over who is the best Ebeneezer Scrooge: Alastair Sim or Reginald Owen, George C. Scott or Patrick Stewart.

Autographed manuscript of the title page of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ signed by Dicken. Purchased byJohn Pierpont Morgan before 1900. Image courtesy of Morgan Library & Museum Media Department.While the story itself is both touching and mythic, taking a closer look at Dickens’ decision to write the book and the personal history that he poured into it is illuminating.
Dickens, to put it bluntly, wrote A Christmas Carolbecause he needed the money. He’d found literary fame due to the success of  The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist, but his new book,  Martin Chuzzlewit, was not as successful.
Dickens had a wife and four children to support; his wife, Catherine, was pregnant with their fifth. He came up with the idea to rent the family’s London home and live on the Continent for a year. A Christmas Carol was written to fund this move. A story of spirits who appear at Christmastime was not invented by Dickens. For centuries, during the longest and darkest nights of the year, it was thought that the barrier between this world and the afterlife was at its thinnest. This was the time for ghosts to show themselves to the living.

The original cover of A Christmas Carol. Dickens insisted that it be bound in crimson morocco, a  durable goatskin leather. The binding is elegantly decorated in gilt with the name “Thomas Mitton Esqre.” Dickens presented the bound manuscript to Mitton, his close friend and creditor, possibly as a Christmas gift. From the J.P. Morgan collection, courtesy of the Morgan Media Department 
Dickens penned the book in six weeks. He wrote in a concentrated burst from 9 am to 2 pm every day. Writing would be followed by long brainstorming walks.

He scribbled many notes in the margins as he went, making swift corrections. According to curators of a Dickens exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum, owner of the original manuscript, “Deleted text is struck out with a cursive and continuous looping movement of the pen and replaced with more active verbs—to achieve greater vividness or immediacy of effect—and fewer words for concision. This heavily revised sixty-six-page draft—the only manuscript of the story—was sent to the printer in order for the book to be published on 19 December, just in time for the Christmas market.”

Page 2 of the original manuscript of A Christmas Carol,
showing Dickens’ corrections. 
From the collection of the Morgan Library & Museum, 
image courtesy of the Media Department 
Literary historians believe that because he needed to write so fast, Dickens wrote about a topic close to his heart. He fueled the story with his own feelings about the terrible conditions for the poor in England. The 1834 New Poor Law went far toward criminalizing poverty. Dickens was furious about the grim fate of the working class, and he used this novella to write about it.
As for the book’s characters, debates go on about which real-life “misers” Dickens based the elderly Ebeneezer Scrooge on or his partner Jacob Marley. When it comes to the younger Scrooge, though, Dickens’ own youth can be seen in glimpses. His years of loneliness and resentment come through.
In the story, the boy Ebeneezer Scrooge has been sent away to a boarding school (one with dirty rooms and cracked windows) by a father who seems to want nothing to do with him.

 Dickens had a complicated relationship with his father, John Dickens. When he was 12, Charles Dickens was removed from school and forced to work at a blacking factory for 10 hours a day, six days a week. The reason: his father, John Dickens, had been sentenced to Marshalsea Prison because he was unable to pay a debt of 40 pounds; his wife and younger children joined him there, while Charles lived alone in lodgings. 
This means that when still a child, Charles Dickens was under intense pressure to make money and relieve this debt. It was the family’s only way out of prison. These memories never left Dickens: “My whole nature was so penetrated with grief and humiliation,” he told a friend.

Charles Dickens, 
photo courtesy of the Morgan Library & Museum, media department.The character of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s weak, hapless, but warm-hearted clerk, bears some resemblance to Dickens’ father. A crucial character in A Christmas Carol is Scrooge’s older sister Fan, who is the only person to love him unconditionally but dies as a young woman after giving birth to her son, Fred.

“Always a delicate creature, whom a breath might have withered,” said the Ghost. “But she had a large heart.”
“So she had,” cried Scrooge.

Fan, it seems clear, was based on Dickens’ older sister Frances, known in the family as Fanny, who was close to her brother when they were children. 
She was “clever and accomplished,” according to Dickens biographer Claire Tomalin. A talented musician,  in 1823 she became a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London.  She was expected to become the star of the family, not Charles. Biographers believe that he was envious of Fanny.

According to the Charles Dickens Museum, “Fanny’s schooling was, however, often marred by her father’s inability to pay her fees. A letter survives from John Dickens, dated 25 May 1826, in which he suggests a payment plan, offering to pay ‘£10 quarterly from the 24th June next and the same to continue until the account is finally closed.’ “

 Christmas Carol, London: Chapman & Hall, 1843
Illustration by John Leech depicting Marley’s Ghost. 
Photo courtesy of Morgan Library & Museum, media departmentFanny did have a career as a professional singer, with a “pure” singing style. In 1837, she married a fellow musician and they settled in Manchester. The couple had two sons. “Once Fanny Dickens married and had children, her career declined,” wrote Tomalin.
Fanny became ill with tuberculosis. One of her children, Harry, was a bright child who suffered from a physical handicap. When Fanny died, Harry passed away shortly afterward at the age of 8. Some speculate that the child was the inspiration for Tiny Tim.
Such family tragedies would seem to provide strong inspiration for Dickens in his character creations of Fan and Tiny Tim. What is chilling is that Fanny and Harry died years after Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol.  
By the time his sister fell ill, Dickens was in a much better financial position. He hired the best doctors for Fanny, but nothing could save her. She died at the age of 38 on September 2, 1848. Dickens arranged for her burial in Highgate Cemetery. Harry was buried there too, as were Charles Dickens’ parents and other members of his family.

Charles Dickens, the great writer, did not join them. He is buried elsewhere.

Highgate cemetery, where many members of Dickens’ family were 
buried, including his sister Fanny and his nephew Harry

Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, The Girl I left Behind by Andie Newton , which is being hosted by HFBT!

The Girl I Left Behind by Andie Newton

What would you risk to save our best-friend?

As a young girl, Ella never considered that those around her weren’t t as they appeared. But when her childhood best-friend shows Ella that you can’t t always believe what you see, Ella finds herself thrown into the world of the German Resistance.

On a dark night in 1941, Claudia is taken by the Gestapo, likely never to be seen again, unless Ella can save her. With the help of the man she loves, Ella must undertake her most dangerous mission yet and infiltrate the Nazi Party.

Selling secrets isn’t an easy job. In order to find Claudia, Ella must risk not only her life, but the lives of those she cares about.

Will Ella be able to leave behind the girl of her youth and step into the shoes of another?

Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The German Midwife and Kate Furnivall.

Available on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo

Praise for The Girl I Left Behind

A gripping historical page-turner about an audacious eighteen-year-old girl in Nazi Germany, who finds herself at the heart of the Reich. Its a thrilling tale of female friendship, young love, and extraordinary courage, laced with chilling reminders of the fate Ella will face if her treachery is discovered. A powerful debut!’ Gill Paul, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Wife.

A captivating story with a twist of romance threaded throughout, Glynis Peters, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Orphan.

A compelling tale of friendship, courage and espionage in a frightening and uncertain world, Charlotte Betts, author of The Dressmakers Secret.

The Girl I Left Behind made me cry and left me wanting more, which to me are signs of a truly wonderful book, one that will stay with me long after Ive finished reading, Lana Kortchik, author of The Story of Us.

Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, The Girl I Left Behind. Complimentary copy of the book provided by publisher, Atria Books in partnership with HFVBT, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

An riveting exciting World War II, Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep within the underground of the German Resistance.

Germany between 1933 and 1945 was transformed into a totalitarian state. where nearly all aspects of life were controlled by the government. Not all Germans were compliant, Living in a country that was under complete dictatorship.

1941, Nuremberg Germany, Ella Strauss is a young seventeen year old, living with her aunt, Bridge. Following the death of her parents to a tragic car accident.

During this poignant time in Germanys history, It is a strict requirement for all young girls and boys to join in Germany’s Youth League, until the age of eighteen.

Ella and her very dear friend Claudia belong The League of German Girls. Conformance is expected of them but, when compliance gradually gives way to staunch criticism.

Ella take daring risk by joining a unique group that makes up German Resistance, helping those who are fleeing persecution. Appearing to be a conforming National Socialist.

In a series of events, Claudia is arrested by the Gestapo and Ella finds herself faced with no option but to flee the city or face arrest herself. Ella’s determination to do all she can to to find Claudia. She immerses herself into the world of the notorious Third Reich.

A wonderfully richly detailed book that explores friendships, extreme bravery, and ultimately the lengths a person will stand up anyway possible to fight for their beliefs, and do what is right.

The author has created a compelling historical fiction, that is both riveting and captivating. Extremely well written book, that holds your attention all the the way through. Meticulous a well researched, With well research and interesting characters makes us a perfect World War ll engaging drama.

An riveting exciting World War II, Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep within the underground of the German Resistance.

★•.¸.•**•.¸.•**.Historical Facts.**•.¸.•**•.¸.•★

Germany between 1933 and 1945 was transformed into a totalitarian state. where nearly all aspects of life were controlled by the government. Not all Germans were compliant, Living in a country that was under complete dictatorship.

Who can not forget Sophia Magdalena Scholl a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active within the White Rose , Non-Violent Resistance group in Nazi Germany.

Approximately 77,000 or more, German citizens were killed for one or another form of resistance by Special Courts, and People’s Courts, and the civil justice system.

Individual Germans or small groups of people acting as the “unorganized resistance” defied the Nazi regime in various ways, most notably, those who helped Jews survive the Nazi Holocaust, by hiding them, obtaining papers for them or in other ways aiding them. More than 300 Germans have been recognised for this. It also included, particularly in the later years of the regime, informal networks of young Germans who evaded serving in the Hitlers-Youth, and defied the cultural policies of the Nazis in various ways.

The government—or rather, the party—controlled everything: the news media, arms, police, the armed forces, the judiciary system, communications, travel, all levels of education from kindergarten to universities, all cultural and religious institutions. Political indoctrination started at a very early age, and continued by means of the Hitler Youth with the ultimate goal of complete mind control. Children were exhorted in school to denounce even their own parents for derogatory remarks about Hitler or Nazi ideology.

— George J. Wittenstein, M.D., “Memories of the White Rose”, 1979

About the Author

Andie is an American writer living in Washington State with her husband and two boys. She writes female-driven WWII historical fiction. Her debut novel, THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND, was published by Aria Fiction in October 2019. THE GIRL FROM VICHY, her second novel with Aria Fiction, will be released in July 2020 with a third untitled novel due to release in 2021. She has a Bachelors degree in History from Washington State University and a Master in Teaching. She would love to say she spends her free time gardening and cooking, but she’s s killed everything she’s ever planted and set off more fire alarms than she cares to admit. Andie does, however, love spending time with her family, trail running, traveling the world, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.

Andie would love to be a guest at your next book club! You can find discussion questions for her novels on her website www.andienewton.com. You can also find Andie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 2
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Thursday, December 5
Review at Passages to the Past

Sunday, December 8
Review at Robin Loves Reading

Monday, December 9
Review at Bookish Bellee

Wednesday, December 11
Interview at Passages to the Past

Thursday, December 12
Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Monday, December 16
Review at Lost_in_a_book_reviewer

Wednesday, December 18
Review at The Lit Bitch

Friday, December 20
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback back copy of The Girl I Left Behind! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

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Today I’m really excited to be taking part in the Book Tour of, The Viking’s Captive
by Ingrid Hahn, which is being hosted by HFBT!

The Viking’s Captive by Ingrid Hahn

Thorvald Longsword can’t believe all he has to do is kidnap the daughter of his jarls enemy to get his land back. Easy. But when he finally snatches the princess up and tosses her over his shoulder, the beautiful spitfire makes him question his determination to get his land back at any cost.

Alodie gladly agrees to impersonate the princess so the bloodthirsty Northmen will take her instead. While Alodie might be ready to die for her people, she wasn’t prepared for how her pulse races for the maddeningly noble captor whom she just as soon hate.

But what happens when Thorvald finds out she’s not who she says she is…

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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 Viking’s Captive by Ingrid Hahn is the story of Alodie and Thorvald.

When Alodie agrees to protect her Mistress, by taking the persona of the Princess, when the “Demon” Vikings arrive on their shore. Brave and Fiesty, Alodie will have to keep her wits about her, taking things into to her own hands, she is willing to sacrifice her life for her people.

Thorvald Longsword is a somewhat honorable Norsemen, who is indebted to the Jarl. The Jarl holds a weighty secret over Thorvald, and the only way he can retrieve his lands back he must win his favor from the Jarl. Thorvald is tasked with invading and kidnapping a princess of a small kingdom.

I really enjoyed how the romance unfolded, along with secrets they are unwilling to share. Facing difficulties, Alodie is not prepared for how she is to falling for the not so typical Norseman.

A riveting fast paced drama with secrets and tragedy, and a swoon worthy Viking. Ingrid Hahn, provides an entertaining read to readers with heart pounding romance.

About the Author

Ingrid Hahn is a failed administrative assistant with a B.A. in Art History. Her love of reading has turned her mortgage payment into a book storage fee, which makes her the friend who you never want to ask you for help moving. Though originally from Seattle, she now lives in the metropolitan DC area with her ship-nerd husband, small son, and four opinionated cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves knitting, theater, nature walks, travel, history, and is a hopelessly devoted fan of Jane Austen.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, December 18
Review at Historical Romance Lover

Thursday, December 19
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Excerpt at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Friday, December 20
Excerpt at I’m All About Books
Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews

Saturday, December 21
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Sunday, December 22
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Monday, December 23
Feature at YA, It’s Lit

Tuesday, December 24
Review at Liberty’s Literary Loves

Thursday, December 26
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Friday, December 27
Feature at A Book Geek
Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads

Monday, December 30
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The Viking’s Captive
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Series: Estranged (Book 2)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (October 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006265389X
ISBN-13: 978-0062653895


Praise for ESTRANGED Series

“A splendid tale of faery magic and adventurous siblings, all told in gorgeously rendered watercolor panels: this is exactly my kind of thing.” —Ben Hatke, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Zita the Spacegirl trilogy

“It’s got dragons. It’s got drama. It’s got depth. And it’s got me impatiently awaiting Ethan M. Aldridge’s next eye-popping adventure.” —Tim Federle, award-winning author of Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate!

“A compelling story about finding identity in a world where magic dangers lurk just around the corner. I loved Estranged!” —Molly Ostertag, author-illustrator of The Witch Boy

“As richly imagined in the full-color illustrations, the worldbuilding is both accessible and as familiar as those genre stalwarts… this should easily resonate with preteen and teen fans of both Holly Black and Neil Gaiman.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Worthy of inclusion in any fantasy collection.” —School Library Journal

“[F]un, daring, and dark…with themes and art that fall into the realm of Neil Gaiman, Michael Ende, and Jim Henson. Coupled with the beautifully toned watercolor art, the interdependence of and tension between the two protagonists makes this book stand out.” —Publishers Weekly

“The deliciously captivating start to this adventure series will leave readers hungry for more.” —Booklist

Enter a world of faerie magic and epic adventure in this spellbinding sequel to Estranged—a rich fantasy graphic novel perfect for fans of Amulet.

After years of pretending to be human, the changeling Edmund Carter has assumed his rightful role as Cinder, king of the World Below. But not everyone at the royal palace is happy about his return.

Meanwhile, Ed is adjusting to human life in the World Above. His birth family treats him with a kindness he never knew growing up in the Fay court, but Ed misses the sense of purpose he had as a knight.

When a mysterious new threat emerges in the World Below, Cinder must call on Ed and their older sister, Alexis, for help. But nothing can prepare them for the family secret that awaits at the end of their perilous quest.

With over two hundred pages of gorgeous watercolor paintings, The Changeling King invites readers on an epic journey through a magical world—one they will not soon forget.

Thank you to Wunderkind PR and HarperCollins for providing a finished copy for 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

Estranged The Changeling King by Ethan M. Aldridge is the next installment to Edmund and Cinder’s life changed when they went back to their own worlds.

A perfect sequel to the first graphic novel in the series, The Changeling King is a beautifully rich fantasy world, that the very talented Ethan Aldridge has created.

Ethan M. Aldridge, gorgeous artwork and vibrant characters, the tale comes to life with creative impressive imagery.

The story picks up right away where the first left off, plunging the reader head first into fast action and suspense. King Cinder is still trying to adjust to his royal obligations as king of the Fae in the World Below. All the while keeping up is obligations, he starts to take note that the magic is getting weaker and Cinder must find a way to keep magic from disappearing all together.

Ed is trying to navigate the World Above. He’s the epitome of the perfect son and brother. However, his parents and sister Alexis are worried about him since he’s struggling to find his purpose in the human world. In a series of events, a royal letter from Cinder requesting the help of Alexis and Ed.

I found The Changeling King to be so much more emotionally charged than Estranged The internal struggle is more defined, with both boys trying to find answers that they both are desperately seek. Ed battles with his purpose and why the Fae Queen chose him. Cinder struggles with being abandoned and is frightened of losing the one family he’s ever known to Ed. I had several heart string tugging moments in this sequel.

The character development and world building is incredible, and gives the reader even greater insight. The the side characters three dimensional, and should be noted

Estranged,The Changeling King. A captivating coming of age book. Within a graphic novel , that focus on self discovery along with the importance of friends and family.

Stellar artwork along great diversity with LGBTQ representation. I definitely recommend it to young adult readers from grade 6+ and up .

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The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Vol. III by Collins Hemingway

The Stunning Finale to Jane Austen’s Saga

In the moving conclusion to “The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen,” Jane and her husband struggle with the serious illness of their son, confront a bitter relationship with the aristocratic family who were once their friends and face the horrific prospect of war when the British Army falters on the continent. The momentous events of the Napoleonic wars and the agonizing trials of their personal lives take Jane and Ashton to a decision that will decide their fateand her future once and for all.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Praise for The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Series

Hemingway again displays his notable ability to recreate time and place, moving on from the heady days of Jane Austen’s early love to a marriage beset by difficulties and a country at war. Hemingway … vividly and authentically portrays the times. … his is a lively, compelling read, sobering but moving finale to Hemingway’s successful trilogy. BlueInk Review

Immensely satisfying … Marriage is lively, compelling, and fun. … [Her] relationship with her husband Ashton still sparkles. Marriage is a lovely ode to their connection. … Hemingway has combined Austen’s humanity with her fiction and created a Jane that lives and breathes on the page. Audiences will want her to be real… It offers a wonderful, imagined alternate life for the well-loved author. Claire Foster, Foreword Review

Enjoyable … an imaginative, well-researched series. Kirkus Reviews

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

“Life is risk my love. To end risk is to end life.”

The Stunning Finale to Jane Austen’s Saga

In the moving conclusion The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen, VOL. III, Hemingway continues his riveting storyline of Austen’s activities from 1807 to 1809

The novel picks up four months after Jane has successfully delivered a baby boy named, George. Hemingway’s Jane is a realistic woman dealing with the challenges of motherhood and running a household. When a series of personal tragedies threatened the heart and marriage of Mrs. Austen. Jane and her husband struggle with the extent of their sons illness. This turmoil will put a wedge between the married couple. This was also a time in England where there was political unrest and the Napoleonic war is at their door step.

A dramatic last installment to popular series by Collins Hemingway with stunning atmospheric details that transports the reader to nineteenth century England. This is by far was my favorite of the three books in Hemingway’s in imagined alternate life of Mrs Jane Austen. Wonderfully depicted in regency period details with three dimensional characters, along with the authors strong narration carries you all the way through to the end.

When things dramatically change for Jane and her husband, Hemingway’s immersive characters become more fleshed out developed. The writing is fluid, and eloquent, with engaging dialogue, and notable sub-characters. An intriguing plot involving a series of challenges and misfortunes makes for an emotionally charged page turner of a book.

“In marriage, every decision required the consent of just one partner, and that partner would never be her. Not because the husband was smarter or better informed but because he was not the wife.”

About the Author

Collins’ passion for literature, history, and science enable him to create complete, sharply drawn fictional characters fully engaged in their complex and often dangerous worlds. His fiction is shaped by the language of the heart and an abiding respect for courage in the face of adversity.

As a nonfiction book author, Collins has investigated topics as diverse as corporate culture and ethics; the Internet and mobile technology; the ins and outs of the retail trade; and the cognitive potential of the brain. Best known for the #1 best-selling book on business and technology, Business @ the Speed of Thought, which he co-authored with Bill Gates, he tackles challenging topics with clarity and insight, writing for the intelligent but nontechnical reader.

Born and raised in Arkansas, Collins has lived most of his adult life in the American Northwest, with a career that has spanned writing, high tech, and aviation. He has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, Phi Beta Kappa; a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Oregon; and numerous technical certifications in computer technology.

For more information please visit Collins Hemingways website and blog. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 16
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Tuesday, December 17
Review at Jackie and Angela’s Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 18
Review at Books and Zebras
Guest Post at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Thursday, December 19
Excerpt at Jathan & Heather
Guest Post at Library of Clean Reads

Saturday, December 21
Review & Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Friday, December 27
Review at Pencils & Pages

Saturday, December 28
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, January 1
Review at Older & Smarter

Thursday, January 2
Review at The Book Junkie Reads

Friday, January 3
Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews

Monday, January 6
Review at @ya.its.lit

Thursday, January 9
Excerpt at I’m All About Books

Friday, January 10
Excerpt at The Lit Bitch
Review at Peaceful Pastime

Monday, January 13
Review at Jackie & Angela’s Book Reviews

Tuesday, January 14
Review at Impressions In Ink

Thursday, January 16
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Friday, January 17
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Review & Excerpt at To Read, Or Not to Read

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on January 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
Only one entry per household.
All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen Vol III
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Hello Bookish Friends,

Today is the day, I have a wonderful surprise that I am over

the moon to share with you

The Ghost of Madison Avenue by Nancy Bilyeau!

Hosted by HFBT

#TheGhostofMadisonAvenue #NancyBilyeau #HFVBTBlogTours #HistoricalMystery #NewYork #NewRelease #BookBirthday 

The Ghost of Madison Avenue
by Nancy Bilyeau

Publication Date: December 13, 2019
eBook, 108 pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

 

Christmas Ghost Story in Old New York

In this compelling and poignant story, bestselling author Nancy Bilyeau takes readers to New York City Morgan Library in December 1912, when two very different people haunted by lost love come together in an unexpected way.

Helen O’Neill, part of a tight-knit Irish-American family in the Bronx, is only too happy to report to work at the spectacular private library built on Madison Avenue by millionaire financier J. P. Morgan. The head librarian, the brilliant and beautiful Belle da Costa Greene, had hired Helen away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after she witnessed Helen unusual talent with handling artifacts.

Helen soon discovers the Morgan Library is a place like no other, with its secret staircases, magical manuscripts, and mysterious murals. But that nothing compared to a person who Helen alone can see: a young woman standing on Madison Avenue, looking as if she were keeping watch. In learning the woman true link to the Morgan, Helen must face the pain of her own past. And as she struggles to discover the truth behind these appearances, she finds herself with a second chance at happiness for herself on Christmas Eve if she has the courage.

From the author of The Blue, the Joanna Stafford trilogy, and the soon-to-be published Dreamland, set in 1911 Coney Island, comes The Ghost of Madison Avenue, a novella both thrilling and moving.

Available on Amazon

Praise for Nancy Bilyeau

Nancy Bilyeau’s passion for history infuses her books’ Alison Weir

On Dreamland

‘Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Dreamland is a rollicking ride.’ – Fiona Davis, author of The Chelsea Girls

‘A marvelous book!’ – Ellen Marie Wiseman, author of What she Left Behind

On The Blue

‘Definitely a winner!’ – Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network

On the Joanna Stafford Trilogy

All the ingredients of the best historical fiction will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans of – Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau is a historical novelist and magazine editor based in New York. She wrote the Joanna Stafford trilogy, a trio of thrillers set in Henry VIII’s England, for Simon & Schuster. Her fourth novel is The Blue, an 18th-century thriller revolving around the art and porcelain world. Her next novel is Dreamland, set in Coney Island of 1911, to be published by Endeavour Quill on January 16, 2020. A former staff editor at Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and InStyle, Nancy is currently the deputy editor at the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College and contributes to Town & Country, CrimeReads, and Mystery Scene magazine.

To learn more, go to www.nancybilyeau.com. You can follow Nancy on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Release Day Blast Hosts

Bookish Rantings
Books In Their Natural Habitat
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Comet Readings
Curling up by the Fire
Donna’s Book Blog
Gwendalyn’s Books
Historical Fiction with Spirit
I’m All About Books
Jackie & Angela’s Book Reviews
Let Them Read Books
Liberty’s Literary Loves
Lost_in_a_book_reviewer
Nursebookie
Orange County Readers
Passages to the Past
Reading is My Remedy
Rose is Reading
Tar Heel Reader
The Lit Bitch
The Nerdy Bookworm
To Read, Or Not to Read
What Is That Book About
Words and Peace
YA, It’s Lit