Hello bookish people! !

Today I am teaming up with the author @linzduga & @favouritepagesclub

Colt Clemmons is an agent in a specialized division within the Bureau of Investigation—one that hunts down not just mobsters, but also monsters.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

August 10th

What Makes Patri – Main Interview

August 11th

Nay’s Pink Bookshelf – Review + Favourite Quotes

Gwendalyn’s Books – Review

The Reading Faery – Review

Kyie’s Book Nook – Review + Favourite Quotes + Reaction from the Author

August 12th

Wishful Endings – Meet The Characters

bookstacksandliterature – Review

two points of interest – Review

booktales and donuts – Review + Dream Cast

Inktalkswithmaria – Review

August 13th

WordNerds Reviews – Review

Books and Zebras – Review

Willow Writes And Reads – Review + Playlist

@fictitious.fox – Review

Isobel’s Book Corner – Review + Playlist + Favourite Quotes

August 14th

Yours A-fiction-ately – Review + Favourite Quotes

These Blank Pages – Review + Favourite Quotes + Dream Cast

Reader of the Written Word – Review

Adventurous Bookworm – Review + Favourite Quotes

Journey in Bookland – Review

August 15th

Blooming Bibliophile – Review

Bookishly Nerdy – Review + Official Playlist

Katherinelovesbooks – Review

Finding Faith, Holding onto Hope, and Living with Love – Review

books_n_sunshine – Review

August 16th

Books, Tea, Healthy Me – Review + Video Interview

Crazykidjournal – Review

TiJah Writes Erotica – Review + Favourite Quotes

Ashton Reads – Review

MaBookYard – Review + Favourite Quotes

Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (August 4, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062878441
ISBN-13: 978-0062878441

“Rarely does historical fiction get everything so right as Universe of Two: compelling characters, faithful detail, a story packed with unexpected twists, and a sure, authentic voice that never wavers. In this novel of the dawn of the atomic age and its profound consequences, Stephen Kiernan leads us along a journey of conscience as complex and infinite as the science itself.” —Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Golden Hour

“Stephen Kiernan has pulled off the nearly impossible, reminding us by wrapping a war story in a love story that although we hold the power for our own extinction, we also have the power to redeem, heal, and save. The most tender, terrifying, relevant book you’ll read this year.” —Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family

“Based loosely on the life of mathematician and organ-maker Charles B. Fisk, this fascinating novel delves into the guilt and remorse that wracked him for his part in the development of the atomic bomb. . . . The two main characters are complex and flawed, but when they come together, their world is in harmony.” —Library Journal

“Kiernan recreates the zeitgeist of America leading up to the atomic bomb on a national and personal level: the eager anticipation of wartime’s end, the grimly fascinating science, and the growing sense of guilt and dread. Simultaneously tender and hard-hitting, this riveting story offers much to reflect upon.” —Booklist

“Universe of Two skillfully educates, entertains and enlightens as great historical fiction should . . . . Masterfully researched and exquisitely told.” —The Patriot Ledger

From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.

Graduating from Harvard at the height of World War II, brilliant mathematician Charlie Fish is assigned to the Manhattan Project. Working with some of the age’s greatest scientific minds, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Leo Szilard, Charlie is assigned the task of designing and building the detonator of the atomic bomb.

As he performs that work Charlie suffers a crisis of conscience, which his wife, Brenda—unaware of the true nature of Charlie’s top-secret task—mistakes as self-doubt. She urges him to set aside his qualms and continue. Once the bombs strike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the feelings of culpability devastate him and Brenda.

At the war’s end, Charlie receives a scholarship to pursue a PhD in physics at Stanford—an opportunity he and Brenda hope will allow them a fresh start. But the past proves inescapable. All any of his new colleagues can talk about is the bomb, and what greater atomic weapons might be on the horizon. Haunted by guilt, Charlie and Brenda leave Stanford and decide to dedicate the rest of their lives to making amends for the evil he helped to birth into the world.

Based on the life of the actual mathematician Charles B. Fisk, Universe of Two combines riveting historical drama with a poignant love story. Stephen Kiernan has conjured a remarkable account of two people struggling to heal their consciences and find peace in a world forever changed.

Photo Credit: Beowulf Sheehan

As a journalist and novelist, Stephen P. Kiernan has published nearly four million words. His newspaper work garnered more than forty awards — including the George Polk Award and the Scripps Howard Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment.

Stephen’s newest novel, UNIVERSE OF TWO, will be out May 5, 2020. He is also author of the novels THE CURIOSITY (now in television series development), THE BAKER’S SECRET (a regional Indie bestseller), and THE HUMMINGBIRD. He has also written two nonfiction books, LAST RIGHTS and AUTHENTIC PATRIOTISM. His work has been translated into many languages.

Stephen was born in Newtonville, NY the sixth of seven children. A graduate of Middlebury College, he received a Master of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He has chaired the board of the Young Writers Project, served on the Vermont Legislative Committee on Pain and Palliative Care, and served on the advisory board of the New Hampshire Palliative Care Initiative. He has spoken and consulted around the country about hospice, palliative care and advance directives.

A performer on the guitar since he was ten years old, Stephen has recorded 3 CDs of solo instrumentals, and composed music for dance, the stage and documentary films.

He lives in Vermont with his two amazing sons.

 

       

WEEK ONE

AUGUST 3rd MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

AUGUST 4th TUESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW 

AUGUST 5th WEDNESDAY Rajiv’s Reviews REVIEW

AUGUST 5th WEDNESDAY TTC Books and More REVIEW & GUEST POST

AUGUST 6th THURSDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT 

AUGUST 7th FRIDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon EXCERPT 

 

WEEK TWO

AUGUST 10th MONDAY Ya It’s Lit REVIEW

AUGUST 11th TUESDAY Gwendalyn’s Books REVIEW 

AUGUST 12th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

AUGUST 12th WEDNESDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT

AUGUST 13th THURSDAY BookHounds REVIEW & INTERVIEW

AUGUST 14th FRIDAY My Fictional Oasis REVIEW 

AUGUST 14th FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

–  5 Winners will receive a Copy of UNIVERSE OF TWO by Stephen P. Kiernan.

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

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Hello Bookish Friends
Today  I am reviewing a thrilling book full of suspense and historical elements that I really enjoyed.

Sight Unseen by Sandra Ireland 5*#Review @22_ireland @BirlinnBooks @lovebooksgroup #SightUnseen #lovebookstours  @ajentjenny @polygonBooks #TheSarahSutherlandSeries

Amazon UK Waterstones  

Author: Sandra Ireland
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd (13 Aug. 2020

2019. Sarah Sutherland is struggling to cope with the demands of her day job, caring for her elderly father and keeping tabs on her backpacking daughter. She wanted to be an archaeologist, but now in her forties, she is divorced, alone, and there seems to be no respite, no glimmer of excitement on the horizon. However, she does have a special affinity with the Kilgour Witch, Alie Gowdie, who lived in Sarah’s cottage until her execution in 1648, and Sarah likes nothing better than to retreat into a world of sorcery, spells and religious fanaticism. Her stories delight tourists as she leads them along the cobbled streets of her home town, but what really lies behind the tale of Alie Gowdie, the Kilgour Witch? Can Sarah uncover the truth in order to right a centuries-old wrong? And what else might modern-day Kilgour be hiding, just out of sight?

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.

Sight Unseen by Sandra Ireland

Sight Unseen by Sandra Ireland is the first book in a new trilogy of crime thrillers.

A multifaceted book that grabs your attention straight away. Middle aged Sarah Sutherland life seems to be headed nowhere, stuck at a dead end job, the sole caretaker for her father. Sarah wanted to be an archaeologist when she was younger, but that is all in the past. She still has a passion for historical people and events, she dresses in black and is a tour guide at night. Leading tourist down cobbled stone streets of her home town of Kilgour. She delightfully weave historical facts within her stories, to engage her audience.

When Sarah is invited to read an antique leather bond book by her friend Charlotte, who is the manager of the towns Tollbooth museum. She comes across more information on mysterious of Alie Gowdie, a young woman executed in 1648 for witchcraft. A riddle that needs solving,  along with more clues, and the realization that Alie Gowdie lived in the very same house as her centuries previously. Gowdie was accused of witchcraft and relations with the Devil, branded the ‘Kilgour Witch’ by a Reverend Wilkie and was executed in 1648.

The history surrounding 1648. When Alie Gowdie married Richard Webster was   during a turbulent time in Scotland’s history. The king Charles I is about to lose his head, and little does Alie know that she too will meet a grisly end within the year.

Through Reverend Wilkie journals, Sarah is determined to uncover the facts surrounding the charges and trial of a woman who was executed during a time where witch hunts were used for more sinister motives. The accused usually did not have a voice.

Seamless narration between the two POV’s, that of Sarah and her elderly father John gives the reader more insight into complex family dynamics. Along with a romantic love interest propel the storyline along, as tale unfolds. Sarah convinced that more is being hidden in modern day Kilgour.

Sandra Ireland was awarded a Carnegie-Cameron scholarship to study for an MLitt in Writing Practice and Study at the University of Dundee, graduating with a distinction in 2014. Her work has appeared in various publications and women’s magazines. She is the author of Beneath the Skin (2016), Bone Deep (2018) and The Unmaking of Ellie Rook (2019). She lives in Carnoustie, Scotland. I really enjoyed reading this thrilling mystery with its bit of gothic style elements woven in.

Buy Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sight-Unseen-Sarah-Sutherland-Thriller/dp/184697528X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sandra+Ireland+sight+unseen&qid=1592154

Hello Everyone

Today I Have A Wonderful Cover Reveal

Rome Reframed

by Amy Bearce

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Lucas Duran has been on the trip of a lifetime—six months traveling through Europe with his parents and two younger brothers. That is, the trip of a lifetime for someone else. Lucas wants nothing more than to be home in Austin, Texas,with his friends, and it shows in his schoolwork that he’s been emailing to his teachers. He can’t wait to get out of Rome, the last stop on their trip.

When his teachers give him an ultimatum—either turn in a phenomenal last project or you’ll fail the eighth grade—Lucas is going to have to decide whether to give up or to give in to the mystery of Rome. And after a cryptic palm reader hands him a weird-looking coin to throw in the Trevi Fountain, Lucas finds himself transported to ancient Rome at each new tourist destination. As his hops back through time become more personal, it seems the magic of Rome is determined to help Lucas gain more than an A+ project, too.  Can he fix his future before his time in the past is over?

Today we are celebrating the exciting double cover reveal in the EMPIRE HIGH Series by Ivy Smoak! It includes the next two titles in the series, EMPIRE HIGH ELITE (releasing October 15) and EMPIRE HIGH BETRAYAL (releasing January 14). They are both new adult, contemporary romance titles. Join Ivy’s Group for access to bonus content from the book and visit Ivy on her facebook page for an exclusive cover reveal giveaway.

Join Ivy’s Facebook Group for Details.

Empire High Elite by Ivy Smoak

A Contemporary Romance | Coming October 15

Add it to Goodreads

Book Blurb:

Welcome to the world of the elite.

My mom fell in love with a monster. I know he’s dangerous. And I know my mom never wanted him in my life. I don’t want him in mine either. But I’m being forced to live with him.

I’m stuck in his haunting apartment in a world where I don’t belong. A world full of beautiful people with ugly souls. A world filled with secrets.

And the one person that I thought I could rely on was Matt. But he says my new family is a disease. Does that make me toxic too? Is that why Matt wants to keep me his dirty little secret?

I should have known that all the secrets would come crashing down soon. I just never expected more to break than Matthew freaking Caldwell breaking my heart.

Empire High Betrayal by Ivy Smoak

A Contemporary Romance | Coming January 14

Add it to Goodreads

————————

GRAB THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES

Read EMPIRE HIGH UNTOUCHABLES (Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

BY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR IVY SMOAK

★★★★★ “My favorite book this year!!”
★★★★★ “Gahh! My heart. I adored this book.”
★★★★★ “IT WAS AMAZING.”
★★★★★ “Oh my, plot twist! I did NOT see that one coming!”
★★★★★ “It’s literally IMPOSSIBLE to put down.”
★★★★★ “Buckle in for this emotional roller coaster!”

————————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Ivy Smoak is the international bestselling author of The Hunted series.

When she’s not writing, you can find her binge watching too many TV shows, taking long walks, playing outside, and generally refusing to act like an adult.

She lives with her husband in Delaware.

FIND IVY SMOAK:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Bookbub | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Hello Lovelies

Today is my stop on the Book Tour of,

The Rose and the Whip by Jae Hodges, which is being hosted by HFBT!

#TheRoseandtheWhip #JaeHodges #HFVBTBlogTours

@HodgesJae @hfvbt @somethingtosay.me @hfvbt

The Rose and the Whip
by Jae Hodges

Publication Date: March 25, 2020
WordCrafts Press
Hardcover, Paperback, & eBook; 252 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Lidia Wardell walked naked through the Newbury meeting house. She was prosecuted, and publicly whipped for this crime.

This event is common historical knowledge. The Rose and the Whip is set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in May 1663, but tells the entire story of systematic persecution of dissenters, by dissenters. Lidia relates the story of her life, and the series of events that culminated in her decision to take this action in protest of the Puritan community leaders’ treatment of Quakers. As she is charged, sentenced, and tied to the whipping post, then subsequently thrashed with twenty or thirty lashes, she critically examines each of these events and reflects on how they served to transform her and her perspectives on truth and faith.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | 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.

All that is documented of Lidia Wardell’s existence is her one act of defiance in May of 1663.  Lidia Wardell walked into her town meeting house naked. For this bold act of defiance,  Lidia punishment was handed down, stripped down to her waist and publicly whipped with a cat -o-nine-tail.

Jae Hodges debut book is an intimate look into the trials, and struggles of life in Puritan New England. The Rose and the Whip, is heart wrenching, imagined historical fiction based on actual facts surrounding the persecution of dissenters. We see through the eyes of our heroine Lidia Wardell, in her courageous defiant protest against the ill treatment towards her fellow Quakers.

The narration flows as Lidia is receiving the punishment that she has been sentenced and tied to the whipping post, then subsequently thrashed with twenty or thirty lashes. As the lash bares down she starts to recall the series of events of her life leading up to this very moment. I really enjoyed the clever way the book is constructed. The authors execution is impeccable, and holds your attention.

The characters are easy to relate to and jump off the page. The storyline follows as more harsh and cruel punishment is levied onto the people in Lidia life and the people that are nonconformist within the community.

Eventually they escape with money they receive from selling everything and moving away. Lidia along with her husband Eliakim, and their little family make to a safe haven in New Jersey. There their family is blessed and it grows.

This one compelling book that will hit you so hard. Rich atmospheric details along with easy to read narration.

Jae Hodges has marked her place with this historical fiction debut …The Rose and The Whip.

—-A little Historical Note—
Religious persecution by the very hands of the early Puritans is not stressed enough in our history. But is was definitely taking place in colonies. It’s easy to see how they switched it up, and condemned people who were nonconformist to their strict way thinking.

The Religious Society of Friends began as a movement in England in the mid-17th century in Lancashire. Members are informally known as Quakers, as they were said “to tremble in the way of the Lord. The Friends moment “Quakers” were quite gentile people, who choose to pray and conduct themselves differently than the Puritan beliefs. For this they we’re ostracize, punished, and condemned to death.

As many as a third of all early nineteenth century feminists and antislavery activists were Quakers.

About the Author

Everyone has a history and a story. Jae uses the most alluring stories from the chronicles of her own ancestry and others around her to create timeless tales of everyday people making history. On her quest to capture the essence of walking in their footsteps, she travels and uses her pencil and camera lens to imagine them in their own surroundings.

Jae lives on the Tennessee River in Alabama with her husband and companion pooch.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, July 27
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Wednesday, July 29
Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, July 30
Interview at Passages to the Past

Saturday, August 1
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Wednesday, August 5
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Friday, August 7
Feature at I’m All About Books

Wednesday, August 12
Review at Books and Zebras

Thursday, August 13
Review at Older & Smarter

Friday, August 14
Guest Post at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Monday, August 17
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Thursday, August 20
Review at Nurse Bookie

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of The Rose and the Whip by Jae Hodges! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on August 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.

Rose and the Whip

Happy pub day

to The First To Lie!
Thank you to @getredpr @forgereads and @hankpryan for this advanced copy!⁣

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒐 𝑳𝒊𝒆⁣

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒊 𝑹𝒚𝒂𝒏⁣

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓⁣

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞:  𝑨𝒖𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒕 4,2020

We all have our reasons for being who we are―but what if being someone else could get you what you want?

After a devastating betrayal, a young woman sets off on an obsessive path to justice, no matter what dark family secrets are revealed. What she doesn’t know―she isn’t the only one plotting revenge.

An affluent daughter of privilege. A glamorous manipulative wannabe. A determined reporter, in too deep. A grieving widow who has to choose her new reality. Who will be the first to lie? And when the stakes are life and death, do a few lies really matter?

Bestselling and award-winning author and investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers another twisty, thrilling cat and mouse novel of suspense that will have you guessing, and second-guessing, and then gasping with surprise.

Hank Phillippi Ryan is at the top of her game. THE FIRST TO LIE is a masterfully twisty tale full of all my favorite things: interesting women, family secrets, and well-plotted revenge. Start reading early, because you will tear through the pages of this breathless, keep-you-up-all-night thriller.”—Jennifer Hillier, award-winning author of JAR OF HEARTS and LITTLE SECRETS

 “The First to Lie is a twisty, winding road of deception and secrets that starts with a bang and ends with an explosion. Put this one on your list because Hank Phillippi Ryan is at the top of her game.”—Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It

 ”With flawless pacing and impeccable character development, Hank Phillippi Ryan delivers yet another powerful, relevant story of deceit, betrayal, and the extent to which someone will go to right the wrongs they have suffered. The First to Lie is a magnificent, intricately plotted thriller that will have you questioning everyone’s motives until the stunning ending.”—Samantha M. Bailey, bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

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 complex riveting tale of betrayal, deceit, revenge.

A complex steam rolling betrayal of deceit, revenge and lies. This is one wild ride of a thrilling storyline. It involves a ruthless Big Pharma company of Pharminex, that uses unethical business practices. They are being investigated because of pushing a so called “miracle drug, Monifan. Its being used to treat infertility, with astonishing results. Not all have a positive out come

The First to Lie by Hank Phillippi Ryan had me second guessing everything.

A cat and mouse game of suspense and drama. This is one of those reads that is cleverly executed, and you need to pay attention. The narration flows seamlessly between the multiple POV’s, It was easy to follow even when the storyline shifts timeframes. The well developed fleshed out characters will keep you on your toes. Some are down right sketchy. The twist keep coming, and that is what makes this book a spectacular and one you definitely won’t forget. I was completely immersed in this book and seriously enjoyed reading it all the way up to the Shocking ending.

Ellie Berensen is a reporter trying to break a story about Pharminex, a drug company that pushes off-label use Monifan.

Pharminex does not disclose information about the dire consequences that this drug can cause. leaving a wake of heartbreak and destruction in its aftermath.

What Ellie doesn’t seem to understand, is that she is not the only one trying to bring this incriminating evidence to light

Hank Phillippi Ryan is the bestselling author of eleven award winning novels of suspense. National reviews have called her a “master at crafting suspenseful mysteries” and “a superb and gifted storyteller.”

Her upcoming domestic suspense thriller THE MURDER LIST is a Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2019 from Criminal Element. AJ Finn calls it “a fireworks display of a novel–explosive, exciting and likely to leave you gasping.” BA Paris says: “A cracker of a read!”

Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME, is an *AGATHA AWARD* nominee. It was named a Best Book of 2018 from REAL SIMPLE Magazine, BookBub, PopSugar, Bustle, CrimeReads and The New York Post. Mary Kubica says: “Dazzling!” and Lisa Gardner says “Mesmerizing!” The Booklist STARRED review says “..it’s a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense.” 

Her thriller SAY NO MORE is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD, the DAPHNE award, and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! Associated Press calls it “stellar” and Publishers Weekly calls it “thrilling” “unflinching” and “gratifying.”

Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed “exceptional suspense.” It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: “Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!” 

Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, “Drop everything and binge read!” 

THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee. 

THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.

Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.

Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston’s WHDH-TV. In addition to 36 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank’s won dozens of other honors for her ground-breaking journalism. 

Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She’s been a radio reporter, a legislative aide in the United States Senate and an editorial assistant at Rolling Stone Magazine, working with Hunter S. Thompson, Richard Avedon and Richard Goodwin.

Hank is a founding teacher at Mystery Writers of America University and served as 2013 president of national Sisters in Crime. She blogs at Jungle Red Writers and Career Authors.

Learn more about Hank at www.HankPhillippiRyan.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HankPhillippiRyanAuthor/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hankpryan

Twitter: @HankPRyan

July 14th- The Caffeinated Reader https://instagram.com/the.caffeinated.reader

July 14th – Nurse Bookie https://instagram.com/nurse_bookie

July 15th -Cover 2 Cover Cafe https://instagram.com/cover2covercafe

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July 24th – Reading With Mere-https://instagram.com/readingwithmere

July 25th -The Weekend Booker https://instagram.com/theweekendbooker 

July 27th – Gwendalyn Books https://instagram.com/gwendalyn_books_

July 28th – Love My Dane Dolly https://instagram.com/love_my_dane_dolly_

July 29th – Iowa Amber Reads https://instagram.com/iowaamberreads 

Aug 1st– Momfluenster https://instagram.com/momfluenster 

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Aug. 4th – Reading With Nicole https://instagram.com/reading_with_nicole

Aug. 6th –  Always With A Book – https://instagram.com/k2reader

Aug. 10th – Megs Book Club https://instagram.com/megsbookclub

Aug 10th – Amy Lynn Lifestyle https://instagram.com/amylynnlifestyle

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Aug. 20th – Read A Latte Thrillers https://instagram.com/reads.a.latte.thrillers

Happy Book Birthday To Barbara Davis on Her Newest Release

A novel of secrets, memory, family, and forgiveness by the bestselling author of When Never Comes.

Lizzy Moon never wanted Moon Girl Farm. Eight years ago, she left the land that nine generations of gifted healers had tended, determined to distance herself from the whispers about her family’s strange legacy. But when her beloved grandmother Althea dies, Lizzy must return and face the tragedy still hanging over the farm’s withered lavender fields: the unsolved murders of two young girls, and the cruel accusations that followed Althea to her grave.

Lizzy wants nothing more than to sell the farm and return to her life in New York, until she discovers a journal Althea left for her—a Book of Remembrances meant to help Lizzy embrace her own special gifts. When she reconnects with Andrew Greyson, one of the few in town who believed in Althea’s innocence, she resolves to clear her grandmother’s name.

But to do so, she’ll have to decide if she can accept her legacy and whether to follow in the footsteps of all the Moon women who came before her.

Praise for The Last of the Moon Girls

“The Last of the Moon Girls is an enchanting tale of letting go and finding forgiveness. A five-star must read.”- Bee Lee Crosby, bestselling author of Emily Gone

“Woven through the compelling mystery and suspense that keep the pages of The Last of the Moon Girls turning is a story of a powerful family legacy and the discovery of the best kind of magic—that of embracing our own gifts and finding our place in the world. A glorious, shimmering read that resonated in my soul long after I finished reading.”- Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Everything You Are

“The Last of the Moon Girls is reminiscent of two of my all-time favorites, Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, because it’s witchy, full of plant magic, and painfully human.”- Kristen Fields, bestselling author of Lily in the Light

“The Last of the Moon Girls is a fantastic blend of mystery and magic, with the perfect dash of romance… a story of family and forgiveness and what it truly means to come home. From the first page to the last, I was riveted by the fascinating, heartbreaking story of the many generations of Moon girls – and, like all the best novels, I was sad when I turned the last page.”- Jane Healey, bestselling author of The Beantown Girls

“Davis uses a fine brush to draw complex, colorful characters, including a fiercely independent protagonist whose greatest obstacle is her own self-limiting beliefs. Stepped in equal parts magical realism and beguiling mystery, The Last of the Moon Girls is a captivating story that will leave you under its luminous spell long after you turn the last page.”- Eldonna Edwards, award winning author of This I Know and Clover Blue

A novel of secrets, memory, family, and forgiveness by the bestselling author of When Never Comes.

Goodreads

Praise for The Last of the Moon Girls

“The Last of the Moon Girls is an enchanting tale of letting go and finding forgiveness. A five-star must read.”- Bee Lee Crosby, bestselling author of Emily Gone

“Woven through the compelling mystery and suspense that keep the pages of The Last of the Moon Girls turning is a story of a powerful family legacy and the discovery of the best kind of magic—that of embracing our own gifts and finding our place in the world. A glorious, shimmering read that resonated in my soul long after I finished reading.”- Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Everything You Are

“The Last of the Moon Girls is reminiscent of two of my all-time favorites, Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, because it’s witchy, full of plant magic, and painfully human.”- Kristen Fields, bestselling author of Lily in the Light

“The Last of the Moon Girls is a fantastic blend of mystery and magic, with the perfect dash of romance… a story of family and forgiveness and what it truly means to come home. From the first page to the last, I was riveted by the fascinating, heartbreaking story of the many generations of Moon girls – and, like all the best novels, I was sad when I turned the last page.”- Jane Healey, bestselling author of The Beantown Girls

“Davis uses a fine brush to draw complex, colorful characters, including a fiercely independent protagonist whose greatest obstacle is her own self-limiting beliefs. Stepped in equal parts magical realism and beguiling mystery, The Last of the Moon Girls is a captivating story that will leave you under its luminous spell long after you turn the last page.”- Eldonna Edwards, award winning author of This I Know and Clover Blue

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.

A treasure of a book, of a delightful farm and a family’s legacy of customs, that expands generations of woman healers.

Lizzy Moon, “Elizabeth” has turned her back on everything her grandmother had lived, taught and believed in. Living far away from Salem Creek is where the family’s Moon Girl Farm is located. Lizzy left Moon Girl Farm nearly a decade ago to create a normal life in New York City. She stripped away signs of the the young girl who’d run barefoot through her grandmother’s herbal and flower fields.

When an unexpected letter along with a journal arrives, with it comes news of her of her grandmothers Althea, recent death.

“There are no goodbyes, my Lizzy, only turnings of a circle. Until then..”

Faced with returning to her ancestral farm, and with her past rising up before her. She would have to definitely go there to box up the rest of the remaining journals, that belonged to every other family Moon girls.

Arriving she finds the farm in ruin and the lush lavender fields in decline.

Along with the terrible deaths of the Gilman girls, eight years ago, their deaths still overshadowed the small town. A town that had always cast a suspicious light on any Moons, Althea was still held to blame for that horrific crime.

While going through some of the passages in her grandmothers journals some key information comes to light. Lizzy seeks out to clear her grandmothers name. There is one childhood friend and neighbor, Andrew who hasn’t forgotten about Lizzy.

He offers to help Lizzy gather clues to the mystery of events of the girls deaths.

But the the murder doesn’t want the evidence to turn away from Althea, who was blamed without evidence all the way up to her death.

Rich in subtle magic, The Last Of The Moon Girls will captivate and the mystery will keep you flipping those pages long past bedtime.The writing was excellent,the pace was perfect and the plot flowed seamlessly.

The book is about grace while Lizzy will explore her own redemption and forgiveness. She will ultimately have to take the next step and decide to accept her legacy and whether to follow in the footsteps of all the Moon women who came before her.

There is also a budding romance that adds something special for the reader. It was depicted wonderfully. The mystery is written perfectly and I enjoyed how everything came together in the end.

I absolutely loved the herb lore and the magical realism that is woven into the storyline. The book captivated me and left me feeling better for having read it.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙊𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨

𝙗𝙮 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙨

Author of The Secrets She Carried, The Wishing Tide, Summer at Hideaway Key, Love, Alice. (Penguin/Berkley) When Never Comes (Lake Union) Coming in June 2020, The Last of the Moon Girls (Lake Union)

Hello Wonderful Friends, 

Today I have A Book Review And Giveaway!

@booksbyheather @jeanbooknerd @forgereads @gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com  @torbooks #jbnstorytellerbox #jeanbooknerdtours 

:       

Photo Content from Heather Webber HEATHER

WEBBER is the national bestselling author of more than thirty novels–including Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, the Lucy Valentine novels, and the Nina Quinn Mysteries–and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She loves to spend time with her family, read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, watch cooking competition and home improvement shows, crochet, and bake. Heather lives in southwestern Ohio and is hard at work on her next book.        

–Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

–  5 Winners will receive a Copy of SOUTH OF THE

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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.

Content/Trigger Warnings: self harm/ anxiety / depression / drug use / brief mention of a underage relationship

Sasha Lauren debut book is set in the atmosphere wilds of a sleepy foggy California northern coast. Liss and Dan are besties, in their sophomore year of high school. Waiting for something magical to happen. They come across a antique magical book.

When a magical spell appears within the book, to make them witches. They think nothing of it, and cast it. From that moment their lives change, and not all it is good. They unintentionally summon something dark, and with it comes disastrous complications. Ultimately it shatters their once bond of friendship and drives a wedge between the two.

Fast forward, Liss has been trying, without any success to right the wrong. Seeking to bring back her boyfriend, Johnny Su, who went missing during the spell that both Liss and Dan cast. Liss has a breakthrough and finally makes contact with Johnny, and tries to draw Dan back into magic. Dan has moved con and has a new best friend, Alexa. Alexa is grappling with her own magical awakening.

This captivating tale is about the complications of friendship, and ultimately taking back power. The author has written memorable character driven novel with complex female friendships along with tongue-in-cheek narration. A urban fantasy that uses magical realism as a vehicle for what the storyline is really about. Creative and written in such away that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could.

Hello Witchy Friends Today I have a wonderful 

Things That Should Stay Buried Trailer Reveal with Casey L. Bond.

@authorcaseybond #ThingsThatShouldStayBuried adyambersreviews.com

Publication Date: August 28^th, 2020

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

 

 

Blurb: 
Some destinies are written in the stars. Others must be bought with blood…

The Zodia are real. Clawing their way from a long-forgotten tomb, they emerge, ravenous to claim everyone born under their star signs. Plotting to resurrect kingdoms no human knew existed, they are driven by a hunger for vengeance against the one who buried them: Aries.

Larken is a natural born sprinter, but even she can’t outrun the darkness closing in. A shelter-in-place order has been issued, causing widespread panic. Some brush the alarm off as a drill, until people begin to disappear… vanishing without a trace. Left with only one option, Larken’s brother does what he must to save her life… and calls forth Aries.

Considered a traitor by his own kind, only Aries has the power to stand against the Zodia. But he can’t do it alone. Mystically bonded to Larken, the pair must band together for the fight to come if either hope to make it out alive. Neither anticipated the passion that would ignite between them. Yet, in a world suddenly thrust into chaos, it may be the key to their survival.

The Zodia are out for blood with their attentions inexplicably focused on Larken. When long buried truths finally come to light, will their love be their salvation or their curse?

“A mesmerizing and haunting twist on a familiar tale you don’t want to miss. “ – Cameo Renae, USA Today bestselling author of the Hidden Wings Series

“Casey L. Bond reaches for the stars to bring us Things That Should Stay Buried. The Zodia are beautiful, dangerous and to die for.”- New York Times Bestselling Author Chanda Hahn

Casey Bond lives in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She likes goats and yoga, but hasn’t tried goat yoga because the family goat is so big he might break her back. Seriously, he’s the size of a pony. Her favorite books are the ones that contain magical worlds and flawed characters she would want to hang out with. Most days of the week, she writes young adult fantasy books, letting her imaginary friends spill onto the blank page.

Casey is the award-winning author of When Wishes Bleed, the Frenzy series, and fairy tale retellings such as Riches to Rags, Savage Beauty, Unlocked and Brutal Curse. Learn more about her work at http://www.authorcaseybond.com.

Author Links:

Website: www.authorcaseybond.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorcaseybond
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorcaseybond
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212486.Casey_L_Bond
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caseyb007
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PmE0pg
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/casey-l-bond
Bond-Tourage: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1032678336804562/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gcAu9v

Hello Everyone

Today I have a wonderful Book Review

The Woman Before WallisA Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal

by Bryn Turnbull

Harlequin Publishing

Publication Date: July 21, 2020

Publisher: MIRA Books

@MIRA @harlequinbooks @brynturnbullwrites #TheWomanBeforeWallis

Buy Links: 

Harlequin 

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Powell’s

“Brimming with scandal and an equal amount of heart…a sweeping yet intimate look at the lives of some of history’s most notorious figures from Vanderbilts to the Prince of Wales… A must-read.”—Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of When We Left Cuba and Next Year in Havana

“Bryn Turnbull takes a story we think we know and turns it on its head, with captivating results… A beautifully written, meticulously researched and altogether memorable debut.”—Jennifer Robson, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Gown

For fans of The Paris Wife and The Crown, this stunning novel tells the true story of the American divorcée who captured Prince Edward’s heart before he abdicated his throne for Wallis Simpson.

In the summer of 1926, when Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness after a whirlwind romance, she’s immersed in a gilded world of extraordinary wealth and privilege. For Thelma, the daughter of an American diplomat, her new life as a member of the British aristocracy is like a fairy tale—even more so when her husband introduces her to Edward, Prince of Wales.

In a twist of fate, her marriage to Duke leads her to fall headlong into a love affair with Edward. But happiness is fleeting, and their love is threatened when Thelma’s sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, becomes embroiled in a scandal with far-reaching implications. As Thelma sails to New York to support Gloria, she leaves Edward in the hands of her trusted friend Wallis, never imagining the consequences that will follow.

Bryn Turnbull takes readers from the raucous glamour of the Paris Ritz and the French Riviera to the quiet, private corners of St. James’s Palace in this sweeping story of love, loyalty and betrayal.

Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @BrynTurnbull

Instagram: @brynturnbullwrites

Facebook: @brynturnbullwrites

Goodreads

Author Bio: 

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 novel is the fictionalised story of the American divorcée who captured Prince Edward’s heart before he abdicated his throne for Wallis Simpson.

Bryn Turnbull, debut book, The Woman Before Wallis is a must read for historical fiction fans everywhere.

A whirlwind drama soaked with historical glamour, as the lives of some of the memorable decadent people known.

Thelma Morgan mesmerizing life comes to illustrious details through the pages of Bryn Turnbull superb narration. The glamorous and decadent lives of Vanderbilt woman are wonderfully depicted, in this fast-paced moving storyline. Easy to follow, this is one read that will hold your attention from start to finish. Spectacular fleshed out characters and lots drama.

Step back in time before the notorious Wallis Simpson, For anyone who may not know, Wallis married David, the heir to the British throne who abdicated, paving the way for Elizabeth to be the current monarch.

Who is Thelma you might ask? Thelma Furness, Viscountess Furness was a mistress of King Edward VIII while he was still the Prince of Wales; she preceded Wallis Simpson in his affections. She was also the maternal aunt of the author, fashion designer and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt.

Gloria Vanderbilt is the mother of Anderson Cooper.

Let me say this book was an incredible read for me, since I have read everything there is on all the Vanderbilt Woman.

The Skald’s Black Verse by Jordan Loyal Short

Series: The Dreadbound Ode (#1)

Published: Re-Release Available August 6, 2020

Genre: Epic Grimdark Fantasy

Age Group: Adult

Book Blurb

 When a soldier’s murder sparks rebellion in the tiny village of Skolja, Brohr’s past marks him as the prime suspect. Haunted by his brother’s ghost, and drawn into a web of dark pacts and tangled loyalties, Brohr must choose between the path of vengeance set before him, and a chance to forge his own fate.

From the shadows, an all but extinct race of alien demigods have begun the end game of their millennia-spanning war, and one has chosen Brohr for his closing gambit.
But Brohr’s grandfather harbors a dark secret that will change everything.

Above it all, a dread portent looms in the sky, spelling the death of Brohr’s world. With doom spiraling toward them, Brohr must lead an unlikely rebellion, unearth disturbing family secrets, and tame the raging ghost that haunts him. Can Brohr lead his people out of darkness, or will he succumb to his own terrifying bloodlust, and destroy the very people he has sworn to save?

Jordan Loyal Short is a debut author of epic fantasy. His first novel, The Skald’s Black Verse, is a dark and beautiful story about families, cultures, and beliefs at war with themselves. The protagonist, Brohr, must navigate the tangled loyalties and unforgiving biases of a planet conquered by invaders from another world. Using black magic, and the bizarre bond he shares with his stillborn brother’s spirit, Brohr unravels the truth about himself and an eon spanning war that has reached its end game. Jordan has worked in a variety of industries, as a waiter, bartender, copywriter and more. He lives in Washington state with his wife where he is currently daydreaming about the end of the world.

Author Links

Website: http://www.jordanloyalshort.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jordanloyalshor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordanloyalshort

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18602359.Jordan_Loyal_Short

Release Date: October 6, 2020
@SimonBooks

Pre Order This Book :https://buff.ly/36ToyBb

Buy the Book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, IndieBound, Books-A-Million, Hudson Booksellers, Powell’s, Simon & Schuster, Target

In an unforgettable novel that traces a centuries-old curse to its source, beloved author Alice Hoffman unveils the story of Maria Owens, accused of witchcraft in Salem, and matriarch of a line of the amazing Owens women and men featured in Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic.

*This is a spoiler free review*

This is a tale of redemption and ultimately of love.

Maria Owens is a woman whose legend has been well known to those of us who loved “Practical Magic” and “The Rules of Magic.”

Always love someone who will love you back.

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.

Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Unnamed Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.

Taken under the care Hannah Owens little Maria shows very early her gifts. Hannah teaches her all that she knows. At the age of ten Maria’s birth mother Rebecca reclaims her.

From England we follow Maria as she travels to Salem, Massachusetts. Here is where Maria in desperation and sorrow she unleashes a curse that holds fast with venom and knows no bounds. Magic Lessons is a stunning tale about love life and heartbreak.

I loved all the enjoyable enchantments and remedies that Hoffman blends within book.

Alice Hoffman’s masterful storytelling, is phenomenal in Magical Lessons.

Exquisitely written, that showcases her ability to continuous delivery exceptional tales.

I feel honored to be able to read and review this book before it’s release date.

Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Unnamed Arts”. Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson. Always love someone who will love you back.

When Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. Here she invokes the curse that will haunt her family. And it is here that she learns the rules of magic and the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Love is the only thing that matters.

Magic Lessons is a celebration of life and love and a showcase of Alice Hoffman’s masterful storytelling 

 

 

 

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 spoiler free review*

This is a tale of redemption and ultimately of love.

Maria Owens is a woman whose legend has been well known to those of us who loved “Practical Magic” and “The Rules of Magic.”

Always love someone who will love you back.

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.

Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Unnamed Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.

Taken under the care Hannah Owens little Maria shows very early her gifts. Hannah teaches her all that she knows. At the age of ten Maria’s birth mother Rebecca reclaims her.

From England we follow Maria as she travels to Salem, Massachusetts. Here is where Maria in desperation and sorrow she unleashes a curse that holds fast with venom and knows no bounds. Magic Lessons is a stunning tale about love life and heartbreak.

I loved all the enjoyable enchantments and remedies that Hoffman blends within book.

Alice Hoffman’s masterful storytelling, is phenomenal in Magical Lessons.

Exquisitely written, that showcases her ability to continuous delivery exceptional tales.

I feel honored to be able to read and review this book before it’s release date.

 

Tipsy Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce

This recipe is from Faerie Magazine Issue #40, August 2017 For a 9-inch springform pan For the Cake: 1½ cup almonds 1 cup sugar8 oz. dark chocolate, coarsely chopped 2 sticks butter 5 large eggs ¼ cup of rum  For the sauce:  2½ cups raspberries (fresh or frozen)  ½ cup sugar  2 tbsp. lemon juice  Preheat the oven to 400° F. Butter the springform pan and lightly dust with flour.  Toast almonds in a pan for 3 or 4 minutes, tossing them a couple of times to make sure they brown evenly on each side. Remove from heat and set aside.  Place chocolate and butter in the top of a double-broiler over simmering water and allow them to melt. Stir until smooth, then let cool off completely.  Coarsely grind the almonds together with the sugar. Separate yolks from egg whites, place them in a large bowl, and beat until light and fluffy. Add the sugar-almond mixture, the melted chocolate with butter, and the rum, and work with the mixer until batter is smooth.  In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then gently fold them into the rest of the batter.  Pour it into the prepared pan and bake at 400° F for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 340° F and bake for another 40 minutes. Let the cake cool off completely before removing it from the pan.  In the meantime, make the raspberry sauce. Place raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a small nonstick pan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring from time to time until sugar is dissolved. Put the mixture in a blender and puree until smooth. If desired, strain the sauce through a fine sieve to remove the seeds.  Dust the cake with powdered sugar and decorate it with fresh raspberries. Serve each slice with 1 to 2 tablespoons of raspberry sauce on the side.

An interview with Alice Hoffman, Library Jornal

 

Q. Why did you decide to return to the world of Practical Magic? Did you always plan to further explore the origin of the Owens family?

A: My readers sent me back to the world of Practical Magic. I had so many letters and messages asking for more, and after writing The Rules of Magic, which takes place in the 60s and 70s, I decided to go all the way back, to the original Owens ancestor, Maria Owens. I’m always interested in how the past influences the present, who the “ghosts in the nursery” are, who has influenced us, even if we never knew them.

.

Q. There are a few characters in the novel who are real historical figures. One of these characters is John Hathorne, who plays a pivotal role in the story, and was one of the leading judges in the Salem Witch Trials. Why did you decide for Maria to have such a significant relationship with a real person? Was Maria in any way inspired by real women during the Salem Witch trials?

A: When I wrote Practical Magic I didn’t intend to continue to write about the family, but when I did I had to pay attention to the fact that the original novel contained a family history, one I had to keep true to in Magic Lessons. In Practical Magic, Maria becomes involved with John Hathorne, who was a judge during the Salem Witch trials, a rather evil one who never apologized for his actions, and who was also the great-great grandfather of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author, who may have added the w to his name to distance himself from his family. That a judge who sent witches to their deaths would become romantically involved with a witch seemed a fascinating set-up. In many ways the situation reminded me of the themes in The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne’s classic novel.

.

Q. One of the recurring themes in all three of your novels set in the Practical Magic universe is heartbreak. In the beginning of the novel, Maria Owens, swears she will never fall in love, but fails to keep this promise to herself, despite her incredible fortitude in all other aspects of her life. Why do you think this is?

A: These novels are an exploration of the nature of love. The Owens family is cursed in love, but the curse is not so far from what anyone who loves may suffer, including loss, grief and betrayal. Heartbreak is a part of being human, and that’s what the characters in these novels learn.

.

Q. The witchcraft in Magic Lessons is so specific and feels so established. Did you do any research about the kind of magic that was practiced during this time? If so, did that inspire the magic in this novel?

A: Yes, I do a huge amount of research and have a magic library of reference books. I think the magic in my fiction was inspired by the books I read as a child, especially fairytales. I use mythic magic, ancient magic, and also green magic, the healing magic practiced by women all over the world.

.

Q. In the novel, Maria’s familiar is a crow she calls Cadin. Typically, crows are associated with death and bad luck, but Cadin is loyal and kind and Maria’s best friend. Why did you choose a crow as Maria’s familiar?

A: Although crows are considered unlucky in some cultures, they’re lucky in others, and there is a good deal of folklore (and fact) about their uncanny intelligence. They’re often thought of as a connection to prophecy and to female warriors. Apollo was the god of prophecy and associated with crows. A connection with birds is often viewed as having magical aspects, and augury is divination by observing the behavior of birds. Many of the Owens women have a connection to birds, and Cadin is Maria’s faithful familiar until the end of his life.

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Q. One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is the backstory of Abraham and Samuel Dias. The father and son are Jewish pirates who had been forced to flee Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. Did you learn about this during your research for the novel? Or did you know about this history prior to writing and it was always your intention to include it?

A: I wrote about the Inquisition in my novel, Incantation, and about the fate of Jews from Spain and Portugal forced to flee their countries for the new world in The Marriage of Opposites, and so I knew there had been Jewish pirates, as well as navigators and explorers. There were times when no country was safe for Jews, and the sea was the only home they could claim. All the same, Samuel Dias was something of a surprise to me, and I’m so glad Maria found him.

.

Q. Some of the most important relationships in this novel are the ones between daughters and mothers. Both Maria and her daughter Faith have relationships with their birth mothers and an “adopted” mother, albeit their experiences are completely different. What do you think these relationships say about the nature of motherhood?

A: I’m always interested in relationships between mothers and daughters – it’s such an intense, important relationship. I do think many of us find women in our lives who are not our biological mothers, but who become important mentors and teachers who serve in much the same role, friends who become family.

.

Q. At one-point, regarding men in power, Maria thinks, “They always want to burn a woman who defies the rules. They want to turn lies into the truth.” Do you think this is still true today? Do you think there is any relevancy of the Salem Witch Trials in 2020?

A: Unfortunately, I do believe that it is still difficult to be a woman who defies rules, who is powerful or successful. There is a reason why little girls still want to dress up as witches, and why women are still interested in the role of the witch, the only mythic female figure who has power, who doesn’t need to be rescued, who has knowledge and a connection to the earth. The witch trials were a way to gain control of an entire society by terrorizing and punishing women, and that is still happening today, in many cultures. What I love about the Owens women is that they are always there for other women—they keep the porch light turned on so that women in need know they have place to go for help during hard times.

.

Q. The primary rule of magic in the novel is, “Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned threefold.” Do you think that this rule applies to all of us? Do you think, in some way, what we put out into the world is returned to us?

A: These are the traditional rules of magic throughout time and throughout the world. I think they are important words to live by, and of course I added a third rule. Fall in love whenever you can.

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Q. In addition to the first rule, there are so many “lessons” to be learned in this novel, about magic, about love, and about life. Is there one lesson that you want readers to remember most?

A: Know that love is the only answer.

 

Magic Lessons will be published in hardcover on October 6th.

 

 

For more information on Alice Hoffman, please visit her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and at alicehoffman.com.

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew, The Rules of Magic, The Marriage of Opposites, Practical Magic, The Red Garden, the Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, and The Dovekeepers. Her most recent novel is The World That We Knew. Her new novel Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic will be published this fall. She lives near Boston

 

Full Biography

Alice Hoffman was born in New York City on March 16, 1952 and grew up on Long Island. After graduating from high school in 1969, she attended Adelphi University, from which she received a BA, and then received a Mirrellees Fellowship to the Stanford University Creative Writing Center, which she attended in 1973 and 74, receiving an MA in creative writing.  She currently lives in Boston.

Hoffman’s first novel, Property Of, was written at the age of twenty-one, while she was studying at Stanford, and published shortly thereafter by Farrar Straus and Giroux. She credits her mentor, professor and writer Albert J. Guerard, and his wife, the writer Maclin Bocock Guerard, for helping her to publish her first short story in the magazine Fiction. Editor Ted Solotaroff then contacted her to ask if she had a novel, at which point she quickly began to write what was to become Property Of, a section of which was published in Mr. Solotaroff’s magazine, American Review.

Since that remarkable beginning, Alice Hoffman has become one of our most distinguished novelists. She has published over thirty novels, three books of short fiction, and eight books for children and young adults. Her novel, Here on Earth, an Oprah Book Club choice, was a modern reworking of some of the themes of Emily Bronte’s masterpiece Wuthering Heights. Practical Magic was made into a Warner film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Her novel, At Risk, which concerns a family dealing with AIDS, can be found on the reading lists of many universities, colleges and secondary schools. Hoffman’s advance from Local Girls, a collection of inter-related fictions about love and loss on Long Island, was donated to help create the Hoffman Breast Center at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA. Hoffman has written a number of novels for young adults, including Aquamarine, Green Angel, and Green Witch. In 2007 Little Brown published the teen novel Incantation, a story about hidden Jews during the Spanish Inquisition, which Publishers Weekly chose as one of the best books of the year.

Hoffman’s work has been published in more than twenty translations and more than one hundred foreign editions. Her novels have received mention as notable books of the year by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, and People Magazine. She has also worked as a screenwriter and is the author of the original screenplay “Independence Day,” a film starring Kathleen Quinlan and Diane Wiest. Her teen novel Aquamarine was made into a film starring Emma Roberts. Her short fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe Magazine, Kenyon Review, The Los Angeles Times, Architectural Digest, Harvard Review, Ploughshares and other magazines.

Toni Morrison calls The Dovekeepers  “… a major contribution to twenty-first century literature.” The story of the survivors of Masada is considered by many to be Hoffman’s masterpiece. The New York Times bestselling novel was adapted for television in a 2015 miniseries starring Rachel Brosnahan and Cote de Pablo.

Her most recent novels have received many accolades, and are New York Times bestsellers. They include The Museum of Extraordinary Things, The Marriage of Opposites, and Faithful. Her novel, The Rules of Magic, is the prequel to her cult-classic Practical Magic. It was selected as a LibraryReads and IndieNext List Pick for October 2017 and is one of the Most Anticipated Books on iTunes. Reese Witherspoon picked it as her October 2017 Book Club read, remarking that the “story is full of magic, love, family, heartbreak and redemption.” Set in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, The Rules of Magic is a timeless story that reminds us that the only remedy for being human is to be true to yourself. Her new novel, The World That We Knew, is an exploration of humanity set in France during the Holocaust. Magic Lessons, the third book in the Practical Magic series will be published in the fall of 2020. 

Hello Fantasy Friends
Today Is My Stop On
THE STORY OF EVIL – A HERO’S DOWNFALL
Blog Tour + Review & Giveaway @Sot_tours

#storytellersontour #aherosdownfall #thestoryofevil #tonyjohnson @mightytony

During an entertaining jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Because of this disastrous event, Stephen Brightflame, a nineteen-year-old who aspires to become a knight, embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from further destruction. He joins up with a convicted felon, an arrogant warrior, and a Halfling woman, but quickly learns their pasts are just as dark and disturbing as his own.

Experience the first book in an epic fantasy trilogy that’s been called, “fascinating and captivating” featuring “well-rounded, enjoyable characters, intense action scenes, and riveting twists” (The US Review of Books and Self-Publishing 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.

In the classical fantasy style world building, the author Tony Johnson has written a solid epic fantasy. Faced paced action filled, along with magical atmospheric world building to satisfy any fantasy reader.

The Story of Evil A Hero’s Downfall ” by Tony Johnson @mightytonyj is the first book in this fantastical epic adventure trilogy.

The book catapults you right into the riveting world of Element. Our three young heroes witness a devastating orchestrated attack during a jousting tournament in Celestial. Along with catastrophic losses of man and beast, King Zoran of Celestial is also slain. Stephen Brightflame is a heroic champion jouster from the tournaments, along with his half brother the elf Ty and Kari Quinn an archer who is the daughter of a warrior.

The traitorous son of the dead king, King Zoran, Prince Silvanus steps in and does the unthinkable by handing over the over the fallen city to the Hooded Phantom and his treacherous dragon Nightstrike. The betrayal of the prince earns himself the name “ “Shadow Prince”.

The young night Stephen Brightflame takes a stance against Prince Silvanus, he is earned a death sentence. Freed with the help of his friends they bond together and set about a treacherous journey to warn all of the upcoming attacks by creatures of the dark Lord Zebulon.

A stunningly satisfying book, I cannot quite say just how impossibly good this is, from the first page I was completely immersed, I flew through the pages at lighting speed. It is an addictive, dramatic and gripping fantasy tale. Filled with fleshed out memorable characters, that I enjoyed following. Great dialogue within wonderful banter. The author descriptive narration of the emotions the main protagonist felt, was truly remarkable and incredible. The sub characters are notable and diverse array of fantastic creatures really adds to the enjoyment of this compelling read.

I am excited to read the next installment in this epic fantasy series by this wonderful author.

Enter a chance to win one of three physical copies

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Limited to the US only!

Giving will run from:

Sunday June 19th, at 12am EDT — To Sunday July 26, 11:59 EDT

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                     JULY 19TH–THE WELCOMING