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Monday, August 31, 2015

Sacrifice: Book One of y Ddraig (The Dragons of Brython) by Gwendolyn Beynon

528 A.D. Cymru (Wales)

Melangell is a ‘Lifebringer’, a dragon-maiden learning to protect one of the land’s most ancient mysteries, y Ddraig. She expects to pass her years as have a score of teachers before her—sequestered, safeguarding an egg that barely moves from year to year, never using the deadly and secret skills she has been taught. But the King’s relentless pursuit of this most holy relic throws her into the middle of war and though she is not yet adept Melangell must enter captivity with the egg to defend the sleeping dragonling within.

Her abductor is Cai ap Cynyr—fierce warrior, loyal brother and sword-arm to the high Chieftain, Artwr. He has been scouring the land for the relics Artwr demands to ensure triumph against the Angles invading from the east. Cai uses the Lifebringer’s mystique to master his armsmen, but when he spirits Melangell and the dragon egg further into seclusion, she grows intrigued by her captor. But she is a Lifebringer—sworn only to y Ddraig—and Cai must deliver the dragonling to Artwr to at last drag himself out of his legendary brother’s deep shadow.

And all the while, the egg readies itself to emerge…

*Sacrifice is the first in a series of three books based around y Ddraig (the Dragon) set in sixth-century Arthurian Wales, featuring characters based on Welsh myth, literature and/or history.

June 5, 2015 | Dark Pages Publishing
GENRE: Historical/Fantasy/Romance
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paperback provided as part of tour
****

I am a big fan of historical fiction and tend to shy away from fantasy novels. However I do make exceptions every once in a while such is the case with Sacrifice.  Taking place in the fifth century during the Arthurian era I was keen to read this book.  Having an interest in Arthur but never really pursuing that desire, I jumped at the chance to be part of this tour. Sacrifice is the book in a planned trilogy and I was impressed with this book.

Melangell is a likeable character, given what she endures, especially as she is introduced to the reader, it isn't hard to feel compassion and connect with her.  The desire to know more about her, the way of  life for a Lifebringer and see where destiny takes her kept me reading and genuinely interested.  Though sometimes a little slow in places this was a unique storyline.  There are a few scenes of violence making this a novel for a mature audience, however they do reflect the time period and situation.  It is evident the author knows her genre and has a passion for it.

All in all this is a story of sacrifice, adventure, love and standing up for what you believe in.  Thank you for HFVBT for inviting me to be part of this tour, I might have missed this one.  I am not sure when the next book in series will be released, but suffice to say I look forward to reading it.


AMAZON PB | KINDLE | NOOK | CREATESPACE | ITUNES


 

Australian author, Gwendolyn Beynon, comes from a long line of storytellers of Welsh and Cornish stock. She grew up reading romance and fantasy novels but the y Ddraig series is her first foray into historical fantasy.
The idea for the y Ddraig series came while on a pilgrimage to Wales (the land of her fathers) where she was visiting holy wells and ancient yew trees. She grew captivated with the way that the ancient stories of Welsh literature, myth and history still co-existed comfortably in contemporary Cymru, and by the atmosphere of mystery that still exists around much of Wales’ natural spaces.
An Arts graduate from Curtin University (with double-majors in Film and Theatre), Gwen has worked in communications all her life. She sold her first book in 2008 and has been writing for a living with her hounds at her feet and Celtic music as a backdrop ever since.
For more information visit www.yDdraig.com.au. Follow Gwendolyn on Facebook and Goodreads.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 24
Review at Book Nerd
Spotlight & Excerpt at Unshelfish
Tuesday, August 25
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Wednesday, August 26
Spotlight at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, August 27
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Friday, August 28
Spotlight & Giveaway at Susan Heim on Writing
Saturday, August 29
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Sunday, August 30
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Monday, August 31
Review at Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, September 1
Review at A Bibiliotaph’s Reviews
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Wednesday, September 2
Review at Broken Teepee
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Thursday, September 3
Interview at Passages to the Past
Friday, September 4
Review at I’m Shelf-ish

Monday, August 24, 2015

Review: Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

From the author of the breathtaking bestsellers Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber, the extraordinary saga continues.

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

Published October 26th 1994 by Dell
Mass Market Paperback, 1,059 pages 
personal library
*****

I am relatively late to the Outlander party. With 8 books out, plus the Lord John Grey ones and some novella's out there too I have somehow manged thus far to make it spoiler free.  I don't read reviews and limit as much social media as I can, the only I will allow myself to check out is anything to do with the series on TV - I am past that part now.

Voyager is book 3 and comes in at a whopping 1059 pages (the mass paperback version I have anyways).  This is my favorite of the series so far and there is much that I could say about 'this and that' happening but I won't for fear of spoiling the ride for anyone else late to the party.

What I will say though is that I polished this off in just over a week, I couldn't stop reading even in parts with little action I needed to find out what was going on.  It's funny now that I have visual imagines of the cast it adds much to the story.  There are new characters here as well as old ones, new conflicts as well as older ones still.  Lots of surprises, adventures and an ending that will be a great start to the next book.

In June I had the privilege of meeting Diana Gabaldon at the HNS2015 conference.  She was so nice, took time out to talk with me when I asked about the beginnings of this series.  I can't imagine the amount of attention that she gets wherever she goes, throughout the conference she was always smiling and gracious to everyone (even when she sat for 2 hours talking to fans and signing books).



 

Friday, August 21, 2015

Review: The Lady and the Minstrel by Joyce DiPastena

A forbidden love and a past they can’t leave behind . . .

In King John’s England, Robert Marcel chafes against the law that holds him bound as a villein on his lord’s manor. He tries to make a daring escape and is nearly caught by his cruel master, but a young girl helps him slip away.

Years pass and Robert takes up trade as a minstrel. Invited to play at a banquet for the notorious Earl of Saxton, he is stunned to come face to face with the girl he’s never forgotten—now Lady Marguerite of Winbourne, betrothed to the earl. Her status as a noblewoman puts her completely out of Robert’s reach, but he knows they are meant to be together. He vows to make her his wife no matter what the cost.
Lady Marguerite has often thought of the young man she helped escape. Her tender feelings for him quickly turn into much more when they are brought back into each others lives. She longs to be free to marry Robert, the man she loves, but that will require her to sacrifice all she holds dear.


They are tested at every turn by those bent on driving them apart and destroying what they have found together. Can their love truly conquer all?

Publication Date: January 29, 2015
Publisher: Sable Tyger Books
Formats: Ebook, Paperback
Pages: 601
ISBN: 9780986239618

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

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****

 I was a little hesitant to sign up for this tour because of the sheer size of this book.  Don't get me wrong I love books of this size, when done right the time flies by but when it's an author you haven't read before - well that could be risky in terms of slugging through something dry and boring.  Suffice to said this book did not disappoint, it grabbed me right from the beginning and the time just flew by.

Marguerite is a very likeable character only 17 years old not but was just 10 when she assisted in the escape of Robert from a cruel master.  When they meet again she is betrothed to someone else and he is just a lowly minstrel.  You can feel the passion burning for each other, but it's the 1300's and ones feelings do not play a part in who you marry.  The author has definitely shown her love of this time period with not just descriptive scenery but the life style and the ways of court as well - it wasn't hard to visualize what was taking place.  I was not overly familiar with the entertainment at court and this was a nice glimpse at the roles minstrels, jesters and acrobats played.

There are a fair number of characters here, some fictional and some real.  The author provided a list (of who's who) at the being of the book which came in handy.  There are author notes at the end and I always find that a great way to end any HF novel.

An emotional story filled with forbidden love, mystery, betrayal, intrigue and so much more.  If you are a fan of HF give The Lady and the Minstrel a try, you won't be disappointed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  EXCERPT

“Why are you here? What do you want?” She wished to chill him again with her dignity, but the questions instead came out barely more than a whisper.
“To see you. To talk with you. To—” His voice snagged as the truth swept the impassive mask from his face. “Oh, heaven forgive me, to kiss you!”
His hand reached out again, then hesitated, hovering just below her chin. Instead of rebuffing him, she felt herself sway towards him ever so slightly. His fingertips, calloused from his lute’s strings, brushed against her cheekbone. Then her cheek cradled gently in his palm and the midnight eyes, no longer veiled, gazed into hers with a longing that took away her breath.
“I have thought of nothing but you since you gazed at me in the village today.” His voice shook slightly as the words spilled out in a rush. “Then when you smiled at me in the hall, I knew I was lost. I cannot hope to court you. I am only a poor minstrel, and you are betrothed to the Earl of Saxton. But one kiss—just one!—I would cherish to the end of my days. Just one, if you will grant it—and then I will be gone.”
Gone? Let him go now, when she had only just found him? Heaven could not be so cruel as to ask her to send him away so soon! If it took a kiss to bind him—
He must have taken her silence as assent, for he pulled her against his chest. He held her firmly, yet so gently that the embrace brought no pain to her back. Marguerite had never been in a man’s arms before. Her heart raced so hard a pleasurable little buzz of dizziness hummed through her mind and body. He did not look like a man who often hesitated to take what he wanted and yet when he bent his head towards hers, he checked himself just short of her lips. It was that instant of uncertainty in him, briefer than a heartbeat, that nudged her leap of faith in his honor and lifted her willing mouth and drifted shut her eyes.
And then she felt his mouth on hers, gentle, warm, strong, yet somehow cautious, as if weighing something in her, as if waiting … for what? Outrage on her part? Resistance? Oh, heavens! If Marguerite had felt dizzy before, her senses now swam in earnest, and she wound her arms around his neck and let her body melt against him and kissed him back as if all her future hung on this one moment.

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES | KOBO | SMASHWORDS

 

PRAISE

“DiPastena portrays . . . the world Robert and Marguerite inhabit, with a great deal of confidence and skill; this is a deeply-researched book that wears its learning very lightly, and it bears comparison well with other great novels of the Middle Ages. I loved the book and highly recommend it.” ~ Historical Novel Society

“A grand novel of epic proportions . . . Both Marguerite and Robert are rich characters with much depth and background. . . . The storyline is unique . . . The solution to Marguerite’s problem is inspiring!” ~ InD’Tale Magazine

Joyce DiPastena dreamed of green medieval forests while growing up in the dusty copper mining town of Kearny, Arizona. She filled her medieval hunger by reading the books of Thomas B. Costain (where she fell in love with King Henry II of England), and later by attending the University of Arizona where she graduated with a degree in history, specializing in the Middle Ages. The university was also where she completed her first full-length novel…set, of course, in medieval England. Later, her fascination with Henry II led her to expand her research horizons to the far reaches of his “Angevin Empire” in France, which became the setting of her first published novel, Loyalty’s Web (a 2007 Whitney Award Finalist). Joyce is a multi-published, multi-award winning author who specializes in sweet medieval romances and romantic historicals heavily spiced with mystery and adventure. She lives with her two cats, Clio and Glinka Rimsky-Korsokov, in Mesa, Arizona.

For more information visit Joyce DiPastena’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 10
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, August 11
Spotlight & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Wednesday, August 12
Review at Book Nerd
Thursday, August 13
Spotlight at I Heart Reading
Friday, August 14
Character Interview at Boom Baby Reviews
Saturday, August 15
Review at A Fold in the Spine
Monday, August 17
Interview at A Silver Twig
Tuesday, August 18
Spotlight & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, August 19
Spotlight at Please Pass the Books
Thursday, August 20
Interview at Books and Benches
Friday, August 21
Review at Just One More Chapter
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois by Sophie Perinot

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill  at  Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.   

 This week I am waiting for:
 
 
Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: December 1st 2015 by Thomas Dunne Books 
(this lucky reader is thrilled that a review copy arrived in my mailbox this week)
 
 
Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot’s intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family.

Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul.

Médicis Daughter is historical fiction at its finest, weaving a unique coming-of-age story and a forbidden love with one of the most dramatic and violent events in French history.
 
What are you waiting for?

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Review/Giveaway: No Poverty between the sheets: A Memoir by Pauline Kiely

 This book documents the strong ties that bind generations together. When the author poses the question to her Irish Granny, "If you were so poor why did you have ten children?" Says she, "To be certain, there was no poverty between the sheets!" This sassy saga of a large family that is half Irish and half French Canadian captures hilarious voices and comical antics of a vibrant family that is cloaked in love. A horse theme and song lyrics are neatly knitted throughout the layers of generations. 

229 pages Published August 27th 2013
 by Stone's Throw Publication Services  
print copy provided as part of tour
*** (I liked it)


No Poverty Between the Sheets is a memoir of life in Ontario, a half French Canadian and half Irish family spanning 4 generations and traveling between Ireland and Canada.  Living in Ontario myself it's always fun and interesting to read these types of books.  Places I can visualize and others I can say 'hey I've been there'.

With 10 kids there are lots of stories to tell.  The author has displayed her enjoyment in retelling these tales, the pictures dispersed throughout were a nice touch and added much to this book.  Very nice to read about a large close family, the fun and laughter even during hard times

There were spelling and grammatical issues that I found distracting, but all in all an entertaining read.




Pauline Kiely has been an avid student of Creative Writing her entire life. This author has consistently taken various courses and workshops offered at University of Toronto and Trent Universities. A year long memoir course with Susan Reynolds brought out this witty honest voice that shoots straight from the hip aiming for the heart.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

 











Aug 10 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
Aug 11 - Life as Leels - review
Aug 12 - I'd Rather Be at the Beach - review / giveaway
Aug 13 - 100 Pages a Day - review / giveaway
Aug 14 - Book and Ink - review / author interview / giveaway
Aug 17 - Girl with Camera - review / giveaway
Aug 18Just One More Chapter - review / giveaway
Aug 19The World As I See It - review / giveaway
Aug 20One Frugal Girl - review / giveaway  
Aug 21Deal Sharing Aunt - review / giveaway
Aug 24Svetlana's Reads and Views - review
Aug 253 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 26Cheryl's Book Nook - book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 27prettypandareads - review 
Aug 28Laura Fabiani - Top 500 Amazon.ca Reviewer - review

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Monday, August 17, 2015

Audio Review: A Song for Bellafortuna by Vincent B. “Chip” LoCoco (Blog Tour)

SHORT LIST FINALIST IN THE WILLIAM FAULKNER-WILLIAM WISDOM WRITING COMPETITION. 

A Song for Bellafortuna is an inspirational Italian Historical Fiction novel concerning a young man’s desire to free his Sicilian village from the domination of one family’s long reign. For years, the beautiful, yet secluded, hilltop village of Bellafortuna, Sicily, was a great producer of wine and olive oil. The entire village prospered. However, after the arrival of the Vasaio family, production dwindles and the villagers soon find themselves in crushing debt to the Vasaios. Only one family in the village remains outside the control of the Vasaios, but the reason haunts Antonio Sanguinetti every day of his life. Antonio is determined to erase this legacy by offering financial and emotional support to his fellow villagers. He introduces them to the choral song from Verdi’s opera, Nabucco, which becomes the rallying cry for the villagers and offers them hope for a better life.

When Antonio’s only son, Giuseppe, discovers his family’s past, he becomes determined to take on the Vasaios and remove them from power. Led by the young Giuseppe, a plan is hatched that could result in either complete freedom for the villagers, or if it fails, forever solidifying the Vasaios’ control.

Find out what happens in A Song for Bellafortuna, a sweeping epic historical fiction tale of love, drama, sacrifice, and redemption, set among the beautiful landscape of Sicily. Already listed by Amazon as a Top New Release in Historical Fiction and Italian Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: May 14, 2015
Publisher: Cefalutana Press
Formats: Ebook, Paperback, AudioBook
Pages: 284

Genre: Historical Fiction

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 *** 1/2

For any audio read it is the reader that can make or break a book.  The reader of A Song for Bellafortuna was Bob Neufeld and this was my first experience listening to him.  He did a great job, being a mostly male dominated cast it only stands to reason that a male should narraten he had the old Italian accent that just breathed life into this book.

The story itself I enjoyed, Giuseppe is a likeable character and it wasn't hard to feel his passion for Bellafortuna and his desire to correct a wrong commited so many years ago.  He was sensitive to the plight of others and willing to stand up for what he believed in. 

The authors writing style had me visualizing the country side and way of life, thinking this would be a great place to visit. 

Even with audio books I still love the authors notes and missed that here.  It would have been nice to hear about the motivations for writing this book and what was fact and what wasn't.  

All in all a nice audio read coming in at 8 1/2 hours it isn't long, in fact I would have liked for it to continue a little longer just to find out what happened to some of the characters.

 

PRAISE

“Vincent B. LoCoco writes a heartwarming piece of historical fiction . . . He captured the essence of the Sicilian culture, especially regarding the value of ancestry and music . . . A Song For Bellafortuna is a beautiful tale of antiquity.” – Readers Favorite 5 Star Review

“The book was a joy to read. It is a wonderful story, told in a magical way.” -Cavaliere Ufficiale Aldo Mancusi, President of the Enrico Caruso Museum of America in New York

“An inspiring story of an Italian village threatened by commerce and saved by opera.” -John Biguenet, author of The Torturer’s Apprentice and Oyster

Paperback Available at Amazon | Audio Book Available at Audible.com

Award winning and bestselling author, Vincent B. “Chip” LoCoco, lives in New Orleans. His first novel, Tempesta’s Dream – A Story of Love, Friendship and Opera, became an Amazon bestselling novel and was awarded the 2014 Pinnacle Achievement Award in Historical Fiction. Amazon also has named his book as a Top Rated Novel in Italian Historical Fiction.

Visit him at www.vincentlococo.com, or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 17
Review at Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, August 18
Spotlight & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Spotlight & Giveaway at Raven Haired Girl
Wednesday, August 19
Review at Book Nerd
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight & Giveaway at View From the Birdhouse
Thursday, August 20
Spotlight & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, August 21
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Monday, August 24
Review at Diana’s Book Reviews
Tuesday, August 25
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Thursday, August 27
Interview at Books and Benches
Friday, August 28
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book
Monday, August 31
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Friday, August 14, 2015

Cover Reveal/Giveaway: America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie


Tasty Book Tours is Pleased to Present...


AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER
Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
Releasing March 1st, 2016
William Morrow
Historical Fiction 


In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding father and shaped an American legacy.

From her earliest days, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she becomes his helpmate in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes American minister to France. And it is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first tumultuous days of revolution, that she learns of her father’s liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave girl her own age.

Patsy too has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé, William Short, a staunch abolitionist intent on a career in Europe. Heartbroken at having to decide between being William’s wife or a devoted daughter, she returns to Virginia with her father and marries a man of his choosing, raising eleven children of her own.

Yet as family secrets come to light during her father’s presidency, Patsy must again decide how much she will sacrifice to protect his reputation, in the process defining not just Jefferson’s political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

Pre-Order Now
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo


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LAURA CROGHAN KAMOIE is a historian specializing in colonial and revolutionary America, Virginia history, and the history of slavery. She holds a M.A. and Ph.D. in American history from The College of William and Mary and has published two historical monographs, including Irons in the Fire: The Business History of the Tayloe Family and the Virginia Gentry, 1700-1865 (University Press of Virginia, 2007). Laura is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy. In her fourteen years of college teaching, she has taught numerous graduate and undergraduate courses on colonial America, revolutionary America, African-American Slavery, as well as seminars on Thomas Jefferson.

As LAURA KAYE, she is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen titles in contemporary and paranormal romance. Her books have won numerous industry awards, including the EPIC eBook Award, the Golden Leaf award, the PRISM award, and the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit. She is a frequent panelist at national writing conferences and a frequent instructor of craft and social media workshops. Laura lives just outside the nation’s capital with her husband and two young daughters.

Find Laura Here




STEPHANIE DRAY is a bestselling and award-nominated author of historical women’s fiction. Her series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into six different languages, was nominated for a RITA Award and won the Golden Leaf. As STEPHANIE DRAVEN, she is a national bestselling author of paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and American-set historical women’s fiction. She is a frequent panelist and presenter at national writing conventions and lives near the nation’s capital. Before she became a novelist, she was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the stories of women in history to inspire the young women of today.

Find Stephanie Here


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva by Eliza Redgold


We know her name. We know of her naked ride. We don’t know her true story.

We all know the legend of Lady Godiva, who famously rode naked through the streets of Coventry, covered only by her long, flowing hair. So the story goes, she begged her husband Lord Leofric of Mercia to lift a high tax on her people, who would starve if forced to pay. Lord Leofric demanded a forfeit: that Godiva ride naked on horseback through the town. There are various endings to Godiva’s ride, that all the people of Coventry closed their doors and refused to look upon their liege lady (except for ‘peeping Tom’) and that her husband, in remorse, lifted the tax.

Naked is an original version of Godiva’s tale with a twist that may be closer to the truth: by the end of his life Leofric had fallen deeply in love with Lady Godiva. A tale of legendary courage and extraordinary passion, Naked brings an epic story new voice.

Publication Date: July 14, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Formats: Ebook, Paperback
Pages: 320
Genre: Historical Fiction
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PRAISE

“Redgold’s variation on this enticing legend is often lyrical and offers a satisfying blend of history, lore, and romance.” (Booklist)

“Breathes new life into the story of the woman who would stop at nothing to protect her land and people.” (Romantic Times)

“NAKED delivers far more than the famous ride of Lady Godiva. It’s a beautifully woven story of love, loyalty, and the determination of a young woman trying to protect her people and their way of life, no matter the price. Godiva is a wonderfully strong woman in an age of dangerous men, and in NAKED, she certainly meets her match!” (Amalia Carosella, author of HELEN OF SPARTA)

“A wonderful, romantic retelling of the Lady Godiva legend. There is the colorful Anglo-Saxon backdrop, warriors, battles, peacemaking, desire, revenge and love – everything a fan of medieval romance could desire – plus a strong-willed heroin. Written with a lyrical lilt to her prose, Redgold adds realism to the myth and love to the lusty tale, allowing readers a glimpse into what might have been.” (RT Book Reviews)

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | ITUNES | INDIEBOUND | KOBO

 

ELIZA REDGOLD is based upon the old, Gaelic meaning of her name, Dr Elizabeth Reid Boyd. English folklore has it that if you help a fairy, you will be rewarded with red gold. She has presented academic papers on women and romance and is a contributor to the forthcoming Encyclopedia of Romance Fiction. As a non-fiction author she is co-author of Body Talk: a Power Guide for Girls and Stay-at-Home Mothers: Dialogues and Debates. She was born in Irvine, Scotland on Marymass Day and currently lives in Australia.

For more information visit Eliza Redgold’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Google+.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, August 10
Tuesday, August 11
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, August 12
Guest Post at The Maiden’s Court
Spotlight at A Book Geek
Thursday, August 13
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter
Friday, August 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Saturday, August 15
Guest Post at Mina’s Bookshelf
Monday, August 17
Review at A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, August 18
Review at Book Nerd
Guest Post at A Literary Vacation
Wednesday, August 19
Review at Unshelfish
Thursday, August 20
Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Friday, August 21
Monday, August 24
Review at I’m Shelf-ish
Guest Post at Bibliotica
Tuesday, August 25
Review & Interview at History Undressed
Guest Post at Curling Up By the Fire
Wednesday, August 26
Review at Bookish
Spotlight at The True Book Addict
Thursday, August 27
Review & Guest Post at Romantic Historical Reviews
Guest Post at The Lit Bitch
Friday, August 28
Review at A Book Drunkard

GIVEAWAY

To enter to win a copy of Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva or a $50 Amazon Gift Card, please enter via the GLEAM form below. Three winners will be chosen.
Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on August 28th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– 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 suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva Blog Tour

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill  at  Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.   

 This week I am waiting for:

Hardcover, 256 pages
Expected publication: October 27th 2015 by Random House Delacorte


Set in gilded age New York, These Shallow Graves follows the story of Josephine Montfort, an American aristocrat. Jo lives a life of old-money ease. Not much is expected of her other than to look good and marry well. But when her father dies due to an accidental gunshot, the gilding on Jo’s world starts to tarnish. With the help of a handsome and brash reporter, and a young medical student who moonlights in the city morgue, Jo uncovers the truth behind her father’s death and learns that if you’re going to bury the past, you’d better bury it deep. 

 
What are you waiting for?

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Guestpost with Kimberly Belle (The Ones We Trust)


I'm very excited to have Kimberly Belle (author of The Ones We Trust) here today.  I pondered the topic for todays post and this is what I presented and the nice respond I got back.  

"Mystery - Hot or Cold - how do you keep it at the right level?" 
How to keep the story line unique with enough hints without giving away the ending too soon.  Do you plot the whole book out before you begin and what happens when the story takes a different direction then originally planned?

Hi, Margaret, and thank you so much for having me!

My latest novel, The Ones We Trust, is a story about Abigail Wolff, a former DC journalist who in an attempt to rehabilitate her career, finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan. The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier's brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.

When I sat down to write this one, I had little in my head beyond what happened to the slain soldier (a man we never meet on the page, so the backstory) and a love-hate relationship between my two main characters, Abigail and Gabe. Those three things were my little story seeds.

But three seeds do not a story make. I needed a lot more before I could begin writing. I started by giving Abigail a father with something to hide, and Abigail a fierce belief in the public’s right to know the truth. This is a major conflict in this story, as the deeper Abigail digs, the less she believes her father was acting with the best intentions. I also created a painful event in her past, and threw in a couple of characters that would act as reminders of it in her present; she was constantly being confronted with her past mistakes. And I put her and Gabe together in a way that, considering their emotional baggage, meant sparks would fly—and not necessarily in a good way. These three things stirred up plenty of conflict as my characters worked their way through the novel.

For me, the biggest challenge of writing any story is taking the armature of the suspense plot—in this case, Abigail and Gabe’s search for the truth—and developing characters that feel real, and not simply reacting to the plot points I create for them. Characters have to learn and grow for a story to really resonate, and though I have their stories in my head when I sit down to write, they always end up surprising me along the way.

Yes, The Ones We Trust is a suspense story, but with some romance and family drama thrown in for good measure. Ultimately, it’s a tale about how love can provide strength and hope for the future. That’s what I hope sticks with readers most, that even after great loss, there’s a way to carry on and cope.


click on the book cover to take you to my review