Review & Giveaway: The Enemies of Versailles by Sally Christie

In the final installment of Sally Christie’s “tantalizing” (New York Daily News) Mistresses of Versailles trilogy,

Jeanne Becu, a woman of astounding beauty but humble birth, works her way from the grimy back streets of Paris to the palace of Versailles, where the aging King Louis XV has become a jaded and bitter old philanderer. Jeanne bursts into his life and, as the Comtesse du Barry, quickly becomes his official mistress.

“That beastly bourgeois Pompadour was one thing; a common prostitute is quite another kettle of fish.”

After decades of suffering the King’s endless stream of Royal Favorites, the princesses of the Court have reached a breaking point. Horrified that he would bring the lowborn Comtesse du Barry into the hallowed halls of Versailles, Louis XV’s daughters, led by the indomitable Madame Adelaide, vow eternal enmity and enlist the young dauphiness Marie Antoinette in their fight against the new mistress. But as tensions rise and the French Revolution draws closer, a prostitute in the palace soon becomes the least of the nobility’s concerns.

Told in Christie’s witty and engaging style, the final book in The Mistresses of Versailles trilogy will delight and entrance fans as it once again brings to life the sumptuous and cruel world of eighteenth century Versailles, and France as it approaches irrevocable change.

March 21, 2017 at 

Atria Books/Simon & Schuster 

416 pages 
****

Here we are at the end of another favorite trilogy. And what an ending it is. Because each book deals with different mistresses of the king they can be read as standalone but I highly recommend starting at the beginning with The Sisters of Versailles, which I think is my favorite in the series. The Rivals of Versailles is Book #2, click on titles to take you to my review.

Jeanne Becu is a young child only seven years old when we first meet her. She will spend the next 10 years in a convent, but it is while working in dress shops that her life takes an about face after Comte du Berry walks in. She will become the last Mistress of Louis the XV, life isn't boring, how can it be in the French court?

Plus being hated by the King's own daughters doesn't help. Alternating chapters with Princess Adelaide, never married and obsessed with hating Jeanne she managed to convince others to do so also.  Born into privilege with every advantage she wastes it. Knowing the king always had mistresses, but this one is of such low birth, her religious upbringing and judgmental attitude take over her life. There is so much in life she is missing out on that I actually felt sorry for her.

I love the authors writing style, her words took me to France, I could feel the hostility between these two women as they both just wanted to make the king enjoy his final years of life. I love reading about strong women in history, especially ones I am unfamiliar with, in location and time periods I rarely venture into and this series did not disappoint.

Reading this series has perked my interest in French history, the scandal, liaisons rival those of the English.  Definitely a series I highly recommend.

                                  Website | Goodreads

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

  Sally Christie is the author of The Sisters of Versailles and The Rivals of Versailles. She was born in England and grew up around the world, attending eight schools in three different languages. She spent most of her career working in international development and currently lives in Toronto.

Learn more her Versailles trilogy on her website Become a fan to hear about her next novels!

Visit her Facebook Page Check her Pinterest page

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 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

 

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Review/Giveaway: Time and Regret by M.K. Tod

When Grace Hansen finds a box belonging to her beloved grandfather, she has no idea it holds the key to his past—and to long-buried family secrets. In the box are his World War I diaries and a cryptic note addressed to her. Determined to solve her grandfather’s puzzle, Grace follows his diary entries across towns and battle sites in northern France, where she becomes increasingly drawn to a charming French man—and suddenly aware that someone is following her…

Through her grandfather’s vivid writing and Grace’s own travels, a picture emerges of a man very unlike the one who raised her: one who watched countless friends and loved ones die horrifically in battle; one who lived a life of regret. But her grandfather wasn’t the only one harboring secrets, and the more Grace learns about her family, the less she thinks she can trust them.

Paperback, 353 pages 

Published August 16th 2016

 by Lake Union Publishing

on Amazon Author’s page | Goodreads

I have previously read Lies Told in Silence also written by M.K. Tod and looked forward to reading this new one.  Though I finished this book a month ago it has still stayed with me, there is more to Time and Regret than the actual story.

The cover reflects the story nicely (and is gorgeous) while the title perfectly matches the story.  With the modern day story taking place in 1991, where there is no need for internet and cell phones to distract.
 
The author did a great job with Martin's diaries. Beginning when he first enlisted you can see and feel his emotional struggles as the war, with all it's brutality, gets worse and unbearable. It wasn't hard to feel his emotional state as he loses his best friends and other young men. His feeling of helplessness and the guilt of being the one in charge and knowing those you stand with in battle might very well never go home.

"There's no point in friendship in this mess. You make friends and they die. It's that simple. God knows why I'm still alive." 

Meeting Grace when a recently divorced mother of 2 and watching her journey of self discovery was a great experience.  Traveling as she retraces her grandfathers footsteps through France, visualizing the scenery and culinary experiences showed the authors vast knowledge of the times and locale.

I enjoyed the story, the mystery and Grace's adventure.  Though I anticipated the ending it was a great read.  There was so much about this book that really enjoyed as a reader and also on a personal level. There was more here than the story. It's personal, to go outside your comfort zone, take a risk, grab life and live it on your own terms. It's a reminder about regret and doing the things that you love out of your own desire.

Definitely a book that I highly recommend.  Thank you to Emma at France Book Tours for the invite to be part of this tour and to M.K. Tod for a print copy of Time and Regret.

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

Time and Regret is M.K. Tod’s third novel. She began writing in 2005 while living as an expat in Hong Kong. What started as an interest in her grandparents’ lives turned into a full-time occupation writing historical fiction. Her novel Unravelled was awarded Indie Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society.

In addition to writing historical novels, she blogs about reading and writing historical fiction at http://www.awriterofhistory.com, reviews books for the Historical Novel Society and the Washington Independent Review of Books, and has conducted three highly respected reader surveys. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and is the mother of two adult children.

Please visit her website and her blog A Writer of History Subscribe to her mailing list or contact her at mktod@bell.net

Follow her on Facebook and Twitter on Goodreads and Pinterest Buy the book (print, ebook audiobook): Amazon

***

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***

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Review/Giveaway: The Secret Language of Stones by M.J. Rose

AS WORLD WAR I RAGES AND THE ROMANOV DYNASTY REACHES ITS SUDDEN, BRUTAL END, A YOUNG JEWELRY MAKER DISCOVERS LOVE, PASSION, AND HER OWN HEALING POWERS IN THIS RICH AND ROMANTIC NOVEL BY NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR M.J. ROSE.

Nestled deep within Paris’s historic Palais Royal, safe inside La Fantasie Russie’s once-bustling workshop, young, ambitious Opaline Duplessi spends her days making trench watches for soldiers at the front and mourning jewelry for the mothers, wives, and lovers of those who have fallen.

Opaline has a rare gift, a form of lithomancy that allows her to translate the energy emanating from stones. Certain gemstones enable her to receive messages from beyond. In her mind, she is no mystic, but merely a messenger giving voice to soldiers who died before they were able to properly express themselves to loved ones. Until one day, one of these fallen soldiers communicates a message—directly to her.

So begins a dangerous journey that will take Opaline into the darkest corners of wartime Paris and across the English Channel, where the exiled Romanov dowager empress is waiting to discover the fate of her family.

Full of romance, seduction, and a love so powerful it reaches beyond the grave,

The Secret Language of Stones is yet another “entrancing read that will long be savored” (Library Journal, starred review).

“Spellbinding.” —Alyson Richman, author of The Lost Wife

(historical fiction)

 Release date: July 19, 2016 

by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster 

 320 pages 

Author’s page | Goodreads  

*****

 
The Secret Language of Stones is Book 2 in the Daughters of La Lune Series with The Witch of Painted Sorrows being the first one.  Though you can read this one first I do recommend starting at the beginning just because it is not only a really good book but these books are connected, making this one easier to understand.

MJ Rose has fast become one of my favorite authors, she has a wonderful way with words.  With a distinct writing style, that sounds poetic at times, I have no problem getting lost in her stories, The Secret Language of Stones was no exception.  While the previous book had more of the supernatural aspect this one had a strong historical element to it, taking me from the trenches of WWI to the Romanov fall and across the English Channel.

Not that it lacks the mystical elements that are the author's trademark because that is still there. I found the plot very unique and interesting.  It's through the talisman that Opaline creates, offering comfort to those grieving, that she falls in love with a ghost.

"You think you can avoid pain by not needing anyone. That if you never love anyone who you can lose, then you'll never feel lose.  But it's not true.  We're made to love.  Even if you think you can stop yourself from feeling, stop yourself from living, your emotions will find a way.  They'll trick you when you least expect it."

They had already, I thought.  My reluctance to form an attachment to a living man had resulted in my forming an attachment to a dead one.

The Secret Language of Stones is a compelling story of  love and lose during wartime.  I was taken to the streets of Paris and could feel the effects this war was having on it's citizens.  It's a story of hope and forgiveness, of healing and carrying on, it's magical in this love story but also heartbreaking during wartime.

I loved the ended, with closure and not huge cliffhangers.  But my interest is peaked to see what happens next. Definitely a series and author I highly recommend.

Thank you to Emma at France Book Tours for the invite to be part of this tour and the publisher (via Netgalley) for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

M.J. Rose grew up in New York City exploring the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum and the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park —and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed. She is the author of more than a dozen novels, the co-president and founding board member of International Thriller Writers, and the founder of the first marketing company for authors, AuthorBuzz.com. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut.

 Please visit her website, her blog: Museum of Mysteries Subscribe to her mailing list and get information about new releases, free book downloads, contests, excerpts and more. Or send an email to TheFictionofMJRose-subscribe at yahoogroups dot com To send M.J. a message and/or request a signed bookplate, send an email to mjroseauthor at gmail dot com

 Follow her on Facebook and Twitter 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books A Million

You can enter the global giveaway here or on any other book blogs participating in this tour. Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook, they are listed in the entry form below.

Enter here

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Spotlight/Giveaway: Paris RunAway by Paulita Kincer

When divorced mom Sadie Ford realizes her 17-year-old daughter Scarlett has run away to Paris all she can imagine are terrorist bombings and sex slaves.

After learning her daughter chased a French exchange student home, Sadie hops on the next plane in pursuit. She joins forces with the boy’s father, Auguste, and the two attempt to find the missing teens before they can stumble into more trouble. The chase takes Sadie and Auguste to the seedier side of Marseille, where their own connection is ignited. Since the divorce, Sadie has devoted herself to raising kids and putting her dreams on hold, but when her daughter needs her most, Sadie finds that concrete barrier to life beginning to crack. In her journey, she learns the difference between watching the hours pass and living.

(women’s fiction) 

Release date: June 30, 2016 at Lulu.com

ISBN: 978-1-365-18923-4 220 pages 

Author’s page Goodreads   

Paulita Kincer has an M.A. in journalism from American University. She has traveled to France 11 times, and still finds more to lure her back. She currently teaches college English and lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her three children, two cats and one husband.

Visit her website www.paulitakincer.com and her blog at http://www.paulita-ponderings.blogspot.com or follow her on Twitter @paulitakincer
Like her Facebook page at Paulita Kincer Writer.
Email paulita@paulitakincer.com

Buy the book (print, ebook audiobook): Amazon

You can enter the global giveaway here or on any other book blogs participating in this tour. Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook, they are listed in the entry form below.

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Review & Giveaway: In Another Life by Julie Christine Johnson

 

Historian Lia Carrer has finally returned to southern France, determined to rebuild her life after the death of her husband.

But instead of finding solace in the region’s quiet hills and medieval ruins, she falls in love with Raoul, a man whose very existence challenges everything she knows about life–and about her husband’s death. As Raoul reveals the story of his past to Lia, she becomes entangled in the echoes of an ancient murder, resulting in a haunting and suspenseful journey that reminds Lia that the dead may not be as far from us as we think.

Steeped in the rich history and romantic landscape of the Languedoc region, In Another Life is a story of love that conquers time and the lost loves that haunt us all.

(Historical Fiction/Contemporary Women’s Fiction/ Fantasy/Romance) 

Release date: February 2, 2016

Sourcebooks 368 pages 

Website | Goodreads

***

I love the premise of this book, reincarnation. It's a subject that fascinates me and sadly I haven't really stumbled on many books involving it.  Dual time period books are a favorite of mine and this just adds that little extra twist.  The cover also drew me in with the synopsis clinching my desire to read In Another Life.

This book is about grief, new beginnings, reincarnation, love, religious persecutions and history - all the makings of a good story. The author conveyed the feel of France nicely here.  Her descriptions made it easy to not just visualize but feel the life style and countryside.  Based on real events back in 1208 she showed her knowledge and amount of research that went into this book.

I love learning history while reading and this book provided insight into the Cathars as well as the Knights Templar, both subjects that are unfamiliar to me.

Lia was an interesting character, still grieving the loss of her husband she returns to Languedoc for a change of pace and fresh start.  I struggled at times to connect with her, some of her behavior was erratic, though then again she is still grieving and that can make one do things not just out of character but impulsively as well. 

The storyline itself was interesting, however at times it moved at a slow pace. This is the author's debut and I think it was a nice one.

Thanks to France Book Tours for inviting me to be part of this tour, and netgalley for provided an arc.

 Julie Christine Johnson is the author of the novels In Another Life (February 2016, Sourcebooks Landmark) and The Crows of Beara (September 2017, Ashland Creek Press).

Her short stories and essays have appeared in several journals, including Emerge Literary Journal, Mud Season Review; Cirque: A Literary Journal of the North Pacific Rim; Cobalt, the anthologies Stories for Sendai; Up, Do: Flash Fiction by Women Writers; and Three Minus One: Stories of Love and Loss and featured on the flash fiction podcast, No Extra Words.

She holds undergraduate degrees in French and Psychology and a Master’s in International Affairs. A runner, hiker, and wine geek, Julie makes her home on the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington state with her husband. In Another Life is her first novel.

Visit Julie’s website and blog Follow Julie Christine Johnson on Twitter | on Facebook

Sign up to receive her Newsletter.

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Spotlight & Giveaway: Mayhem in Margaux by Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noel Balen

It’s summer in Bordeaux. There’s a heat wave, the vineyards are suffering, vintners are on edge, and wine expert Benjamin Cooker’s daughter is visiting. A tragic car accident draws the Winemaker Detective and his assistant Virgile into a case where the stakes are very personal, and they uncover the dirty secrets hiding behind some of Bordeaux’s finest grand cru classé wines from Margaux. [provided by the publisher]

(cozy mystery)

 Release date: May 14, 2015
at Le French Book

153  pages

ISBN: 978-1939474384

Website | Goodreads

***

***

An episode in a long successful French mysteries series
that is a hit television series now in its fourth season
and attracting an audience of over 4 million.
The series is a huge success in France, Belgium and Switzerland.

***

Jean-Pierre Alaux
and Noël Balen,
wine lover and music lover respectively,
came up with the idea
for the Winemaker Detective series
while sharing a meal,
with a bottle of Château Gaudou 1996,
a red wine from Cahors
with smooth tannins and a balanced nose.

 

 

 ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR

Translator Sally Pane studied French at State University of New York Oswego and the Sorbonne before receiving her Masters Degree in French Literature from the University of Colorado. She has translated several titles in this series.

***

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 Global giveaway open internationally:
2 US residents will win a print copy of this book
3 residents of any country will receive a digital copy


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Review & Giveaway - The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour: A Novel of Waterloo by David Ebsworth

June 1815. Bonaparte has returned from Elba and marches with his army to defeat the Prussian and English enemies of France. Within his ranks is Marianne Tambour, a battle-weary canteen mistress for a battalion of the Imperial Guard’s Foot Grenadiers. Just one of the many cantinières who provide the lads with their brandy and home comforts, both in camp and also in the thick of the fight. Marianne is determined that, after this one last campaign, she will make a new life for herself and her young daughter, since neither of them has ever known anything but the rigours of warfare. But she has not reckoned on the complications that will arise from a chance encounter with another of the army’s women, Liberté Dumont – Dragoon trooper and sometimes spy for the Machiavellian French Minister of Police, Fouché. And Marianne wonders what she really wants, this hawk-faced trooper with her visions, dreams and fancies. Yet, for now, Liberté Dumont is the least of Marianne’s worries. Her position as canteen mistress has not been easily won and she has made enemies in the process. Lethal enemies. And creating a new life, breaking with the army, needs money. Lots of money. So when Hawk-face Dumont accidentally provides an opening for Marianne to rid herself of a dangerous rival and also extends the possibility of fortunes to be made, it looks like an opportunity too good to be refused. The battles that both women must survive, however, at Ligny and Quatre Bras, create their own problems. The closer they come to the English Goddams, the more Marianne is haunted by the memory of the way her adopted mother was butchered at their hands just a few years earlier, in Spain. Thoughts of revenge torment her, distract her from her goals. But her daughter’s capture by the Prussians, and Liberté Dumont’s help in the quest to find the girl creates new and very different bonds, between mother and daughter, and between the two women themselves. The climax will take place on the blood-soaked fields of Waterloo, where Marianne Tambour and Liberté Dumont must each confront their deadliest foes, their worst nightmares, find answers to the secrets of their respective pasts, and try to simply survive the slaughter. Yet the fortunes of war are not easily won, and the fates may, after all, only allow one of these women to see the next day’s dawn. David Ebsworth’s story, The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour: A Novel of Waterloo, is based upon the real-life exploits of two women who fought, in their own right, within Bonaparte’s army. (provided by the author) ***

(historical fiction – Napoleonic)

 Release date: January 1, 2015

SilverWood Books 360 pages ISBN: 978-1781323212

Author’s website | Goodreads

 ****

It didn't take me long to realize that the author has a real passion for this period in history.  Inspired by real historical figures he has created Marianne Trebour and Liberte Dumont.  I won't go into detail about what this book is about, the synopis above does a very good job of that.

The Battle of Waterloo is a part of history I know very little about and this book brought it to life peaking my interest to learn more.  Women on the battlefield is something that is new to me and it worked here, especially when given details in advance on who these characters are based on.  Watching history unfold through a woman's eye gave it a more intimate feeling.  With rich details and vivid descriptions about the battlefields and camp life, as the troops moved about, I had no problem visualizing the scenes, the emotions, drama and struggles that went on. 

The author notes are always a favorite part of the book, it completes the story for me.  It provides details about liberties taken, how the book was put together and reasoning behind what was included.  The maps at the end of this book was a nice addition along with the details of the journey the author took, following the path these ladies took was interesting and a welcomed addition.

I really enjoyed reading this book and know that it will appeal to those interested in major events in history especially those taking place in France.

WATCH THE TRAILER

David Ebsworth is the pen name of writer, Dave McCall, a former negotiator and Regional Secretary for Britain’s Transport & General Workers’ Union. He was born in Liverpool (UK) but has lived for the past thirty years in Wrexham, North Wales, with his wife, Ann. Since their retirement in 2008, the couple have spent about six months of each year in southern Spain. Dave began to write seriously in the following year, 2009, and The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour is his fourth novel. Visit his website. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter Subscribe to his newsletter (see on the right side of the site) Buy the book: SilverWood Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Abebooks | Waterstones

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Heather Webb on Tour: Rodin’s Lover GIVEAWAY!

A mesmerizing tale of art and passion in Belle Époque France
As a woman, aspiring sculptor Camille Claudel has plenty of critics, especially her ultra-traditional mother. But when Auguste Rodin makes Camille his apprentice—and his muse—their passion inspires groundbreaking works. Yet, Camille’s success is overshadowed by her lover’s rising star, and her obsessions cross the line into madness.

Rodin’s Lover brings to life the volatile love affair between one of the era’s greatest artists and a woman entwined in a tragic dilemma she cannot escape.  [provided by the author]
 
Attention reviewers:  The author said, “A little sex, but tasteful”

[historical fiction/ women’s fiction]

Release date: January 27, 2015
at Plume/Penguin

320 pages

ISBN: 978-0142181751

Author’s website | Goodreads

*****

I am not going to beat around the bush with this review, let me just say that I loved it!  This is Heather Webb's 2nd novel and she is on a roll.

The story of Camille Claudel is a new one to me,  she is strong, knows what she wants and goes after it.  She doesn't conform to the standards of society and of course, this isn't without repercussions.  

A hearty laugh rumbled in his throat.  How she liked to make him laugh.  He didn't seem put off by her provincial speech and brash nature - a good thing, as she had no intention of changing herself for anyone.  She knew who she was.

Rejected by her family Camille encounters the roughness of Paris in this well crafted novel.  It is very evident that the author knows this time period quite well.  Not just the environment and lifestyle but all to do with the art of scrupling.  Camille's character was well developed and there was depth that brought her to life.

Auguste Rodin was also portrayed in a manner that brought his character to life.  With feeling and emotion I found myself caring for these two and the direction their lives took them, with all the struggle, headache and loneliness.

He moved the umbrella to the side and let the cold rain wash over his face.  He must seize his passions while he had the time, and allow emotion to flood his soul, feel the rain on his face.  Taste the sweet fruit of elusive love.  Such precious, short time there was.

I was a big art fan before this book, I have never heard of Rodin nor Camille and while reading this book I found it very hard not to google until I was finished.  Suffice to say that Paris is now on my bucket list as well as the different museums that house the works of these two artists.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Dazzling!….. In Rodin’s Lover, author Heather Webb brings to life, with vivid detail, the story of brilliant and tormented sculptress Camille Claudel and the epic love affair with the legendary sculptor who worshiped her. Deeply moving and meticulously researched, this book will capture your heart, then hold it tightly long after the final page.”   –Anne Girard, author of Madame Picasso
“A rich, sensuous novel…[was] written with great empathy for the very human Rodin and his lover, this novel of the visceral world of the 19th century Paris ateliers, of clay-stained dresses and fingernails,  lithe models who vow to remain and then go, family love which stays through all difficulties and talent which endures, comes vividly to life.” --Stephanie Cowell, author of Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet

 ***

Heather Webb is the author of historical novels BECOMING JOSEPHINE
and RODIN’S LOVER published by Plume/Penguin,
a freelance editor, and blogger.
You may also find her contributing to award-winning writing sites
including WriterUnboxed and RomanceUniversity.org.
When not writing,
Heather flexes her foodie skills
and looks for excuses to head to the other side of the world.

Visit her website and her blog. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter
Subscribe to her newsletter.

Buy the book: Plume/Penguin |  Amazon  |  B&N  |  IndieBound

***

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, January 19
Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at Eclectictales

Tuesday, January 20
Review + Giveaway at Unshelfish

Wednesday, January 21
Review + Interview at Jorie Loves A Story
Review + Giveaway at Indiereadergirl0329

Thursday, January 22
Review + Giveaway at Musings of a Writer and Unabashed Francophile

Friday, January 23
Review + Giveaway at Writing the Renaissance

Saturday, January 24
Review + Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Sunday, January 25
Review + Giveaway at The Sabbatical Chef

Monday, January 26
Review + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Wednesday, January 28
Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace

*

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Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook,
they are listed in the entry form below.

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tweeting about the giveaway everyday
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[just follow the directions on the entry-form]

US/Canada only giveaway: your choice of print/kindle of this book

Spotlight/Giveaway: Sudetenland by George T. Chronis

Sudetenland© is the premiere novel by author George T. Chronis. The book delivers suspenseful and sweeping historical fiction set against Central European intrigue during the late 1930s leading up to 1938’s Munich Conference. Having swallowed up Austria, Adolph Hitler now covets Czechoslovakian territory. Only France has the power to stand beside the government in Prague against Germany… but will she? The characters are the smart and sometimes wise-cracking men and women of this era – the foreign correspondents, intelligence officers, diplomats and career military – who are on the front lines of that decade’s most dangerous political crisis. If Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš ignores the advice of French premier Édouard Daladier and refuses to give up Bohemian territory willingly, then Hitler orders that it be taken by force. The novel takes readers behind the scenes into the deliberations and high drama taking place within major European capitals such as Prague, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and London as the continent hurtles toward the crucible of a shooting war. [provided by the author]

by

George T. Chronis

[Historical fiction]

Release date: September 30, 2014
self-published

Hardbound Equivalent = 600 pages

ISBN: 978-1483538204

Author’s website

After years as a journalist and magazine editor, George T. Chronis decided to return to his lifelong passion, storytelling. A lover of both 1930s cinema and world history, Chronis is now devoted to bringing life to the mid-20th Century fictional narratives that have been in his thoughts for years. Sudetenland© is his first novel. Taking place during turbulent times in Central Europe during the 1930s, the book took eight years to research and write. The author is already hard at work on his second novel.
Chronis is married with two daughters, and lives with his wife in a Southern California mountain community.
Visit his website. Follow his Tumblr page. Connect with the author.
Buy the book

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 2
Spotlight + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Wednesday, December 3
Spotlight + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Saturday, December 6
Review + Giveaway at Book Nerd

Sunday, December 7
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in A Book

Wednesday, December 10
Review + Giveaway at Unshelfish

Thursday, December 11
Spotlight + Excerpt + Giveaway at Impressions in Ink

*

You can enter the giveaway here
or on the book blogs participating in this tour.
Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter,
they are listed in the entry form below

Entry-Form

International giveaway: One $25 online gift card (choice of the winner).

Giveaway/Spotlight: The Beautiful American by Jeanne Mackin

The Beautiful American

As recovery from World War II begins, expat American Nora Tours travels from her home in southern France to London in search of her missing daughter. There, she unexpectedly meets up with an old acquaintance, famous model-turned-photographer Lee Miller. Neither has emerged from the war unscathed. Nora is racked with the fear that her efforts to survive under the Vichy regime may have cost her daughter’s life. Lee suffers from what she witnessed as a war correspondent photographing the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps.

Nora and Lee knew each other in the heady days of late 1920’s Paris: when Nora was giddy with love for her childhood sweetheart, Lee became the celebrated mistress of the artist Man Ray, and Lee’s magnetic beauty drew them all into the glamorous lives of famous artists and their wealthy patrons. But Lee fails to realize that her friendship with Nora is even older, that it goes back to their days as children in Poughkeepsie, New York, when a devastating trauma marked Lee forever.

A novel of freedom and frailty, desire and daring, The Beautiful American portrays the extraordinary relationship between two passionate, unconventional women.  [provided by the author]
For reviewers’ attention: brief, very mild sex and violence

***

[historical fiction]

by

Jeanne Mackin

 Release date: June 3, 2014
at New American Library/Penguin

352 pages

ISBN: 978-0-451-46582-5

Website | Goodreads

***

  
Praise for The Beautiful American

“Readers will rank [it] right up there with The Paris Wife…. A brilliant, beautifully written literary masterpiece…”–New York Times bestselling author Sandra Dallas

“Will transport you to expat Paris… and from there take you on a journey through the complexities of a friendship…breathes new life into such luminaries as Man Ray, Picasso, and, of course, the titular character, Lee Miller, while at the same time offering up a wonderfully human and sympathetic protagonist in Nora Tours.”–Suzanne Rindell, author of The Other Typist

“Achingly beautiful and utterly mesmerizing… Sure to appeal to fans of Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife and Erika Robuck’s Call Me Zelda, or indeed to anyone with a taste for impeccably researched and beautifully written historical fiction.”– Jennifer Robson, author of Somewhere in France

“Beautiful…A fascinating account of a little-known woman who was determined to play by her own rules.”–Historical Novel Society

***

Jeanne Mackin is the author of several historical novels set in France,
and has earned awards for her journalism
as well as a creative writing fellowship
from the American Antiquarian Society.
She lives in upstate New York with her husband,
cats and herd of deer,
and is still trying to master the French subjunctive.

Visit her website.

Follow Jeanne Mackin on Twitter  | Facebook

Buy the book | on

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books a Million

Google Play

iBookstore

Indiebound

Powells

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, December 1
Spotlight + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter
Review + Guest-Post + Giveaway at Vvb32 Reads

Tuesday, December 2
Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at Indiereadergirl0329

Wednesday, December 3
Review + Giveaway at Unshelfish

Thursday, December 4
Review + Giveaway at Macarons & Paperbacks
Review + Giveaway at I Am, Indeed

Friday, December 5
Review + Giveaway at With Her Nose Stuck In A Book

Saturday, December 6
Spotlight + Excerpt + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Monday, December 8
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Tuesday, December 9
Review +  Giveaway at Chocolate & Croissants
Review at Diary of an Eccentric

Wednesday, December 10
Review + Giveaway at Bookish Wanderlove

*

You can enter the giveaway here
or on the book blogs participating in this tour.
Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter,
they are listed in the entry form below.

Entry-Form

Review & Giveaway: Taking the Cross by Charles Gibson (Book Tour)

 Taking the Cross is a historical novel by Charles Gibson about the little-known crusade launched by the Roman Catholic Church against fellow Christians in France, a time of great religious turmoil and conflict.

In the Middle Ages not all crusades were fought in the Holy Land. A two-pronged threat to the Catholic Church was growing within Christendom itself and Pope Innocent III called for the crusade against heresy to eliminate both the Albigenses and Valdenses, two movements that did not adhere to Church orthodoxy.

Andreas, a knight who longs to go on crusade to the Holy Land, finds himself fighting against one in his French homeland. While Andreas wages war for the lives and religious freedom of his people, a battle rages within his soul.

Eva, a young woman of a new religious order, the Beguines, discovers a secret message within a letter about the death of her father in the Holy Land. As she learns more of her father, she is forced to confront the profound and perilous spiritual inheritance he has bequeathed to her. A legacy for which she must fight.

Hearing of the feats of Andreas, Eva senses her inheritance may lead her to him.
Filled with battles of the flesh and the spirit, Taking the Cross reveals a passionate aspect of Medieval times where some fought ardently for the freedom of others. [provided by the author]

Attention reviewers: some medieval warfare violence

Release date: October 1, 2014
at Köehler Books

269 pages

ISBN: 1940192277

Author’s website | Goodread

****

This was an educational and entertaining story, which is one of the things that I love about reading historical fiction.  I always thought the crusades took place in the Holy Land not the south of France. 

  I really like the authors writing style, the story flowed smoothly with enough descriptions that I was able to visualize the setting and feel of the time period.  His knowledge and love of this period in history is evident. Introduced to Andreas in the first chapter then Eva in the next this story weaves back and forth until they connect.  I was able to get to know the characters, there was depth here and realized that this wasn't just a story about physical battles but also those internal ones.

This is Charles Gibson's debut and also the start of a series, definitely an author I will be reading more of.  Be sure to check out his website,

Charles Gibson first started reading about history and geography when he was seven.
He wrote his first short story at the age of nine.
He continues to read and write whenever he can.
Charles has spent many years researching the Middle Ages and the Crusades,
and has traveled to the Languedoc region in France.
He has combined the passions of history and geography and prose to finish his first novel, Taking the Cross.
It takes place during the summer of 1209 in France.
Charles Gibson has previously written for the inspirational book series God Allows U-Turns
as well as for a Minnesota newspaper.
He also works as a project manager for a medical device company.
He also loves travel writing,
and would like to start his own magazine some day about travel as a journey through life.
The dominant theme of his writing is freedom.
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free;
therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

He lives in Minnesota with his lovely wife and energetic sons.
He can be reached at cg [at] charlesgibson [dot] net

Visit his website. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter , Google +

Send him your questions and comments.

Buy this title now from these booksellers or a store near you:
VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE Monday, October 13 Review + Guest- Post + Giveaway at Books Are Cool Tuesday, October 14 Review + Giveaway at Unshelfish Friday, October 17 Review + Giveaway at Deal Sharing Aunt Saturday, October 18 Review + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter Sunday, October 19 Review + Giveaway at An Accidental Blog Monday, October 20 Review + Interview at Jorie Loves A Story Tuesday, October 21 Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace Wednesday, October 22 Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at Book Nerd * You can enter the giveaway here or on the book blogs participating in this tour. Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter, they are listed in the entry form below. Visit each blogger on the tour: tweeting about the giveaway everyday of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time! [just follow the directions on the entry-form] Entry-Form It’s open internationally We will have 2 winners print copy for resident of any country!

Review & Giveaway: The Sharp Hook of Love by Sherry Jones

“To forbid the fruit only sweetens its flavor”

Among the young women of 12th century Paris, Heloise d’Argenteuil stands apart. Extraordinarily educated and quick-witted, she is being groomed by her uncle to become an abbess in the service of God.

But with one encounter, her destiny changes forever. Pierre Abelard, headmaster at the Nôtre Dame Cloister School, is acclaimed as one of the greatest philosophers in France. His controversial reputation only adds to his allure, yet despite the legions of women swooning over his poetry and dashing looks, he is captivated by the brilliant Heloise alone. As their relationship blossoms from a meeting of the minds to a forbidden love affair, both Heloise and Abelard must choose between love, duty, and ambition.

Sherry Jones weaves the lovers’ own words into an evocative account of desire and sacrifice. As intimate as it is erotic, as devastating as it is beautiful, The Sharp Hook of Love is a poignant, tender tribute to one of history’s greatest romances, and to love’s power to transform and endure.

[historical/biographical/literary fiction]

Release date: October 7, 2014
at Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books

384 pages

ISBN: 978-1451684797

Author’s website | Goodreads
*****

Thank you to France Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to review this book, I have never read anything by Sherry Jones before and looked forward to this book. 

As much as I love reading about royalty, I love to discover lesser known historical figures.  This book fits that bill perfectly.  There are so many things that I really enjoyed with this book. Each chapter begins with a poetic verse from Heloise to Abelard or Abelard to Heloise, how they have survived all these years is amazing.

"To his brightest star, whose rays I have recently enjoyed: may she shine with such unfailing splendor that no cloud can obscure her."  - Abelard to Heloise

There is so much substance to this book, showing the authors knowledge and depth of research that went into this story.  Not just her knowledge of the characters but of the time period as well, the lifestyle and culture was show in a way that had me visualizing so much.  Written with feeling and sensitivity Sherry Jones had me consumed, wanting to reading just a little more till I was finished. 

"For nothing is under less control than the heart - having no power to command it, we are forced to obey." - Heloise to Abelard

Buy the book:  S&S  |  Amazon  |  B&N  |  BAM  | IndieBound  | Kindle   | iBookstore  | Nook

 SHERRY JONES is also the author of Four Sisters, All Queens;
The Sword of Medina; and her controversial, internationally bestselling debut, The Jewel of Medina.

She lives in Spokane, Washington.

Visit her website. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter , Google +, Pinterest, and Linked In

Subscribe to her newsletter.  Send her an email: sherry@authorsherryjones.com

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, October 7
Review at Booksie’s Blog

Wednesday, October 8
Review + Giveaway at The Avid Reader
Spotlight + Giveaway at Caroline Wilson Writes

Thursday, October 9
Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at Unshelfish

Friday, October 10
Review + Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Saturday, October 11
Review + Guest-Post + Giveaway at Queen of All She Reads

Sunday, October 12
Review + Giveaway at An Accidental Blog

Wednesday, October 15
Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at Readerly Musings

Thursday, October 16
Review + Giveaway at Vvb32 Reads

Friday, October 17
Review + Giveaway at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Saturday, October 18
Review + Giveaway at The Book Binder’s Daughter

Monday, October 20
Review + Interview + Giveaway at Caffeinatedlife.net

Tuesday, October 21
Review + Giveaway at Indiereadergirl0329

Thursday, October 23
Review + Giveaway at Book Nerd

Friday, October 24
Review + Giveaway at Impressions In Ink

Sunday, October 26
Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Giveaway is open internationally
We will have 10 winners:
print or digital copy for US/Canada,
digital copy for overseas

Entry-Form