Book Blast: Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter

When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?

TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she's been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air...

When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them -- to Lucia's father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?

 Publication Date: May 27, 2014 

Arthur A. Levine Books

 Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Genre: YA Historical

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Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of the young adult novel, CLEOPATRA'S MOON (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2011), based on the life of Cleopatra's only daughter. She is also the author of two award-winning biographies for kids on Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta.

Author Links

Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads

Monday, May 12
Bibliophilia, Please
bookworm2bookworm's Blog

Tuesday, May 13
Broken Teepee
Passages to the Past
In the Hammock Blog

Wednesday, May 14
CelticLady's Reviews
The Most Happy Reader
I'd So Rather Be Reading
History From a Woman's Perspective

Thursday, May 15
Kinx's Book Nook
A Bibliotaph's Reviews
Historical Fiction Obsession

Friday, May 16
Booktalk & More
The Mad Reviewer
Book Lovers Paradise

Saturday, May 17
SOS Aloha
Reading the Ages
Kelsey's Book Corner

Sunday, May 18
Giant Squid Books
WTF Are You Reading?

Monday, May 19
Caroline Wilson Writes
So Many Books, So Little Time

Tuesday, May 20
West Metro Mommy
The True Book Addict
The Musings of ALMYBNENR

Wednesday, May 21
Book Nerd
Tower of Babel
Hardcover Feedback

Thursday, May 22
Paperback Princess
Bittersweet Enchantment

Friday, May 23
History Undressed
Historical Fiction Connection

Saturday, May 24
Literary Chanteuse
Just One More Chapter

Sunday, May 25
A Dream within a Dream
The Little Reader Library

Monday, May 26
Pages of Comfort
Griperang's Bookmarks
Raizza's Book Blogging Adventure

Tuesday, May 27 
Princess of Eboli
Ageless Pages Reviews
The Musings of a Book Junkie

Giveaway

To win a copy of Curses & Smoke or a $25 Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on May 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on May 28th and notified via email. Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guestpost & Giveaway: Mackenzie's Cross by Sarah Barthel

Thank you Sarah Barthel for stopping by today to talk about your new book, Mackenzie's Cross.

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then inspiration must be a close second.  When I sat down to write my first novel, Mackenzie’s Cross, I had little idea what the story was or where the plot was going to go.  I had recently finished a fantasy series by Robin Hobb in which the main character was a bastard child of the king-in-waiting.  I loved how independent he felt he had to be because of his birth situation.  He was a fighter and self reliant because of his origins  But the entire time I read his story, I continued to wonder—how would his character be different if he was a girl. 

Now, just to be clear, Mackenzie Cross, has absolutely no fantasy elements in it.  Yet I remained inspired by the thought of a bastard daughter brought up in the middle ages.  In many cases they were dismissed, given to whore houses or even killed.  But many were also put into service for various reasons. For Mackenzie, she was taken into Duke Kensington’s home and loved by the head cook, Adilla.  She finds love and a family for herself.  Yet, because she lacks knowledge of her bloodlines, I believe she has developed more spunk and determination.  

So, many years ago, I sat at my computer and began typing this novel.  I had envisioned it as a coming of age piece for Mackenzie.  A story in which she learns who she is and develops a strength within herself.  As they say, however, the best laid plans often go astray. And sure enough, as I’m typing through the pages something happens that surprised me.  On the 22^nd page of my first draft, Duke Kensington died.  What a shock!  My fingers literally jumped off the keys and I burst our laughing.  “Well,” I said out loud to myself.  “That sure changes things.”  

So, if you are interested in spunky heroines, medieval settings, murder mysteries or simply a fun read, I do hope you check out Mackenzie’s Cross!

Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Topaz Publishing
Formats: Ebook, Paperback 

When Duke Kensington dies, how can a young kitchen maid stand up for what she believes and save her best friend?

Mackenzie’s life has always been one of duty. However, in a land where even the Brotherhood of the Knights are becoming power hungry mongers, how can a young kitchen maid maintain her morals when tempted with all she’s never had?

In the end, the truth is even more complicated than Mackenzie had ever imagined.

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Sarah Barthel was raised on a steady diet of old Hollywood musicals and classic literature. It instilled in her a love for looking into the past to discover new passions.
Nurturing her love of language, she learned French, Latin and Japanese. This led her to study in Paris and host a Japanese exchange student. She followed her passion to American University in Washington DC, where she studied British literature and history.

Since then she has thrown herself into writing. She loves to find unique, and unexplored ideas in familiar settings. A member of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, she currently lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, daughter and two crazy dogs.

You can connect with Sarah on Facebook.

Giveaway

To win one of two copies of Mackenzie’s Cross please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open internationally.
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on June 4th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on June 5th and notified via email.
Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, May 12
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Tuesday, May 13
Excerpt at Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, May 14
Review at SOS Aloha
Friday, May 16
Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, May 21
Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Thursday, May 22
Excerpt at Let Them Read Books
Monday, May 26
Review at Book Nerd
Friday, May 30
Guest Post at Susan Heim on Writing
Wednesday, June 4
Review at Staircase Wit
 

Guestpost: Kathy Fischer-Brown

Yesterday I posted a review and giveaway for Lord Esterleigh's Daughter by Kathy Fischer-Brown.  Today I am thrilled to have Kathy join us for a guest post. 

Thank you so much for popping by and talking about your research.

Researching the Historical Novel Then and Now

When I started writing seriously back in the dark age before computers, researching the historical period in which I had chosen to set my books was no easy task. The local library didn’t always have a particular resource on its reference shelves, and if the book was long out of print, it was unavailable at any cost (no Alibris back then). Inter-library loan was the only way to go and even that didn’t always pan out for one reason or another. Travel was not always possible, especially on a limited budget. Writing letters to experts was a practical resource, as were phone calls, but in the days before the breakup of Ma Bell, calls from Indiana to New York were expensive. 

Today, those same resources and more are just a few key strokes away. Many of the books I used to wait weeks for through inter-library loan have been scanned and uploaded to the web on a variety of sites devoted to history and genealogy. In addition, there are hosts of fabulous materials I would never have dreamed of back then. Old maps and documents, in addition to diaries and other first-hand accounts, are all available online.

When I pulled “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy out of mothballs and dusted it off for an overhaul prior to its publication with Books We Love, I found myself tapping in to these resources. With all of the material I was able to find, I scrapped entire portions of the story in favor of rewrites based on information that was not available to me back then.

As a native New Yorker, I was especially fascinated to learn of the changes that made Manhattan what it is today, especially since a portion of the third book in the trilogy is set there. From street names to the layout of the streets themselves, the old town of the mid-eighteenth century can no longer be found. Photographs from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries of long-gone buildings and first-hand descriptions in old books give the 21^st century time traveler a glimpse into this world. Paintings and maps also provide hints of what the city looked like back then. 

Street names were especially interesting. During and after the American Revolution, many thoroughfares, such as King, King George, and Queen Streets, were renamed, remapped, and/or rerouted. Today you’ll find in their stead Pine, William, and Pearl Streets. In The Partisan’s Wife, the place where Peter and Anne’s house stood was called Wynne (or Winne) Street between Bayard’s Lane and St. Nicholas Street. These street names are no more. Wynne is now part of Mott Street in the heart of Chinatown, an area that was basically unsettled in the mid-18^th century, as was pretty much everything north of Wall Street. It’s hard to picture Greenwich Village as the farmland and rolling hills it was when Anne makes a trek on foot from Wynne Street to what is now Harlem. 

Many streets and avenues in today’s lower New York evolved from long driveways belonging to huge mansions with gardens, orchards, and expansive lawns. For example, the long drive that belonged to the Bayard homestead in the late 1700s was for a time called Bayard’s Lane. It’s now a section of Broome Street on the Lower East Side.

To write historical fiction is to live for a while in that period of time and become comfortable not only with the clothes, attitudes, and customs, but with the physical place as well. It’s my desire to take the reader back in time with me and hope they enjoy the journey.

~*~

Blurb

Faced with an impossible choice, Anne Marlowe is torn between her husband’s love and the hope of her receiving father’s forgiveness. As American forces follow up on their tide-turning victories over the British at Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights, Peter is drawn deeper into the shady network of espionage that could cost them both their lives.

Is his commitment to “the Cause” stronger than his hard-won love for Anne? Will her sacrifice tear them apart again...this time forever? Or will they find the peace and happiness they both seek in a new beginning?

The Partisan’s Wife follows Anne and Peter through the war torn landscape of Revolutionary War America, from the Battle of Saratoga to British-occupied New York and Philadelphia, and beyond.

~*~

Excerpt from The Partisan’s Wife

Whether the shadowy figure had been put off by their subterfuge, Peter could not be certain. From the corner of his eye, he thought he saw him, lurking among the burned out buildings and piles of rubble along Whitehall Street. If not for his large, shiny brass shoe buckles, he might have been any one of the vagrants inhabiting the ‘canvas town’ that encompassed most of the West Ward since the fire. Peter made his way from the slip and up Whitehall toward his carriage. The man did not follow.

Having given orders to Mr. Schoonhoeven to meet him in two hours in front of Moore and Kekr’s shop, Peter continued on foot toward the bowling green. Along the way, melting snow collected in muddy puddles. Packs of wild dogs gathered to drink, only to scatter at the approach of rare coach-and-four or a lumbering wagon hastening to and from the ferry slip. Children danced and splashed to the admonitions of their mothers. Harried passers-by dodged snowballs hurled from behind piles of rubble by churlish lads who vanished into the ruins at the first sight of scarlet coats marching smartly from the garrison at Fort George.

To the drone of pipes and the beat of tabors, the king’s men assembled for maneuvers on the soggy grass of the green. A large crowd had gathered around the iron fence skirting the square—some cheering, some with awe-struck children on their shoulders—while street vendors hawked their wares and fleet-fingered urchins darted among the assembly in search of a promising pocket.

Peter forced a path through the throng. Neither the sounds of the crowd nor the crisp volleys of musket shot would divert his thoughts or stay his progress. He smiled, partly with a sense of accomplishment that the transfer had gone smoothly and that the man in the buckled shoes appeared nowhere to be seen. He also smiled with the anticipation of redressing a wrong. Anne would be happily surprised!

~*~

Links

Amazon US kindle: http://amzn.com/B00BC9WAWE

Amazon US paperback: http://amzn.com/148256095X

Amazon UK kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BC9WAWE

Amazon UK paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/148256095X

Amazon Australia Kindle: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00BC9WAWE

Video Trailer: http://youtu.be/at5BJcKNO_o

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/KFischerBrown

Website: http://www.kfischer-brown.com

Review & Giveaway: Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter by Kathy Fischer-Brown

Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter: Book 1, The Serpent’s Tooth trilogy

As a child, Anne Fairfield dreams of the father she never knew, the hero who died fighting the French and their Indian allies in a land across the sea. Her mother’s stories, and fantasies of her own devising, sustain and nurture her through a poor and lonely existence. Until one winter night, a strange man comes to call, and the life she has known comes crashing down like shattered glass.
Forced to confront sordid truths, secrets and lies, the headstrong young woman begins to learn that, like generations of women ruled by their hearts, she is destined to follow in their footsteps.

Set against the backdrop of 18th century England, Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter is the first book in “The Serpent’s Tooth” trilogy, which follows Anne from the rural countryside, to London society and into the center of the American Revolution.

Publication Date: June 13, 2012
Books We Love Ltd.
Formats: eBook, Paperback

****

I really surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this book.  The synopsis does not go into great detail with 'this, that and the other thing' that happens in this book, which I gotta say I like. Nothing worse then a scene by scene breakdown and leaving nothing to the imagination.  The beginning of The Serpent's Tooth trilogy this book is full of mystery, suspense, romance, deception and family drama.

Everything 16 year old Anne knew as a child is dashed away one cold winter night. I thought the book was well written, it had me up reading and guessing how this could possible end.  This isn't a typical romance novel, which I am grateful for, instead there is a real and believable story that developed.  Meeting Anne when she was younger there were times that I found her unlikeable and other times I felt pity for her. Though the plot has a fast pace I did find the ending a bit rushed and ended with a major cliffhanger.

Courting the Devil is the 2nd book in this series with The Partisan's Wife the final, all of which are now available.

 Praise for The Serpent’s Tooth

4 Stars “Jane Austen showed us the gentle side of 19th century England; Kathy Fischer-Brown sets her work a century earlier and shows us how envy, revenge, and greed can work to effect long-term changes on one young woman…. The author does a wonderful job of showing all these complications clearly, with apt description, and I could easily see this series as a movie-maybe one day I will. So, if you are a fan of dark gothic themes, enjoy seeing the underbelly of British society and what goes on behind the scenes, as it were, I highly recommend you buy this trilogy.” — Long and Short Reviews

4 ½ Stars “…This is a dark novel that deals with the resentment and anger of a girl who has been misled and cannot seem to get past her grief …. While not a typical romance, this is a fascinating, complex story that I completely enjoyed. It is well written and entertained me with mystery, suspense, scandal, sinister characters and first love.” — Romantic Historical Lovers

Must Read “… the first book in ‘The Serpent’s Tooth Trilogy’ [is] a very well written plot filled with romance, suspense and danger. The author’s characters were developed well and believable…. Recommended for all suspenseful historical romance fans.” — My Cozy Corner Reviews

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 About the Author

As a child Kathy wanted to be a writer when she grew up. She also wanted to act on the stage. After receiving an MFA in Acting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts and playing the part of starving young artist in New York, she taught theater classes at a small college in the Mid-West before returning home to the East Coast, where over the years, she and her husband raised two kids and an assortment of dogs. During stints in advertising, children’s media publishing, and education reform in the former Soviet Unions, she wrote whenever she could.

Her love of early American history has its roots in family vacations up and down the East Coast visiting old forts and battlefields and places such as Williamsburg, Mystic Sea Port, and Sturbridge Village. During this time, she daydreamed in high school history classes, imagining the everyday people behind all the dates and conflicts and how they lived.

Claiming her best ideas are born of dreams, Kathy has written a number of stories over the years. Her first published novel, Winter Fire, a 1998 Golden Heart finalist in historical romance, was reissued in 2010 by Books We Love, Ltd., which also released Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter, Courting the Devil, and The Partisan’s Wife.

When not writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, photography, playing “ball” with the dogs, and rooting on her favorite sports teams.

For more information visit Kathy Fischer-Brown’s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway
To win a $20 Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open internationally.
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on June 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on July 1st and notified via email.
Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, May 5
Review at Caroline Wilson Writes (Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter)
Tuesday, May 13
Guest Post at The Bookworm
Friday, May 16
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective (Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter)
Monday, May 19
Review at Just One More Chapter (Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter)
Tuesday, May 20
Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, May 27
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise (with Louise Turner and Juliet Waldron)
Monday, June 9
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection
Thursday, June 12
Review at Book Nerd (Winter Fire)
Monday, June 17
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession (Lord Esterleigh’s Daughter)
Wednesday, June 18
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time (Winter Fire)
Wednesday, June 25
Review at Closed the Cover (Winter Fire)
Monday, June 30
Review at Book Nerd (Courting the Devil)
 

Review & Giveaway: Most Truly by Reina M. Williams (book tour)

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Reina M. Williams is touring with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for Miss Darcy Decides - book two in her Pride and Prejudice Novella series.

I was happy to receive the audio version of book one in the series,  Most Truly and am pleased to review it here.  Be sure to scroll down further for an opportunity to win an audio version for yourself.

 

Most Truly is a light, sweet Pride and Prejudice Novella, book one in the Love at Pemberley series.

Colonel James Fitzwilliam is home. The war has left him weary, battle-scarred—and a free man of fortune ready to find a wife. He travels to Pemberley, his second home. There he meets Kitty Bennet. Her unexpected charms soon have him questioning his familial duty and his expectations. A fight looms on the horizon when his aunt—Lady Catherine de Bourgh—and his parents arrive with their own plans for his future.

Kitty Bennet has found happiness. At Pemberley, she has improved herself and formed true friendships with her sister Lizzy and Georgiana Darcy. Kitty is captivated by the gentlemanly Colonel Fitzwilliam. But she will not be silly over a redcoat again, and she will not risk her happiness—or his family’s displeasure—for his attentions. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana have their say, and Kitty learns a new lesson—love will find you at Pemberley.

Published November 30th 2013

***

My review:

It was only a couple years ago that I finally read Pride and Prejudice, and I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it.  Of course with any book that I enjoy there is always that little bit of disappointment in finishing it because you've bonded with the characters and just want to know what happens.

Most Truly continues with that story, coming in at 88 pages in length (less than 3 hours for the audio).  This novella isn't long but its concise and to the point.  There isn't a lot of extra 'fluff' here, Col. Fitzwilliam is home from war and looking for a wife.  Because of the size of this little book there wasn't a lot of detail or descriptive scenes. This is a nice little romance with Kitty at center stage.


The reader of any audio has a big impact on my enjoyment, there are some I steer clear of and others I just love.  Kate Sample is the reader of this book, it's my first experience with her and she did a satisfying job.  Her voice added to the story with the right accent for the location and time period.

It was an enjoyable listen and will appeal to those that like historical romance and also Jane Austen fans.

Reina M. Williams loves period dramas, sweet reads, fairy tales, cooking and baking. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her two boys, who hope to someday take a research trip to England with their mom.

For more information please visit Reina M. Williams’s website.

You can also connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, May 12
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, May 13
Review at Gobs and Gobs of Books
Wednesday, May 14
Excerpt at Bibliophilia, Please
Thursday, May 15
Review at Our Wolves Den
Friday, May 16
Audio Review of Most Truly at Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, May 20
Review at I’d Rather Be Reading
Saturday, May 24
Review at Buried Under Books
Friday, May 30
Review at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
Tuesday, June 3
Review at She is Too Fond of Books
Thursday, June 5
Audio Review of Most Truly at To Read, or Not to Read
Saturday, June 7
Review at The Calico Critic
Monday, June 9
Audio Review of Most Truly at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, June 11
Review at Tower of Babel
Friday, June 13
Review at Literary Chanteuse
Review at Diary of an Eccentric
Excerpt at Historical Fiction Connection