Review: News of the World by Paulette Jiles

It is 1870 and Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through northern Texas, giving live readings to paying audiences hungry for news of the world. An elderly widower who has lived through three wars and fought in two of them, the captain enjoys his rootless, solitary existence.

In Wichita Falls, he is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a young orphan to her relatives in San Antonio. Four years earlier, a band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna’s parents and sister; sparing the little girl, they raised her as one of their own. Recently rescued by the U.S. army, the ten-year-old has once again been torn away from the only home she knows. 

Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forging a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land.

Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself.

Exquisitely rendered and morally complex, News of the World is a brilliant work of historical fiction that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.

 Hardcover: 224 pages

 Publisher: William Morrow (October 4, 2016)

 Longlisted for the National Book Award–Fiction

  

****

Captain Jefferson Kidd travels through Texas reading newspapers to people, it actually makes sense with literacy relatively low how else does News of the World get around.  I thought this to be a very interesting concept and an original idea for a book. It's not really something I have thought of before but it's these little tidbits of history that I find intriguing and makes for the best stories. 

 The journey that Captain Kidd and Johanna begin is more than just about the miles traveled. What begins as two strangers put together, with very little in common, including language changes as the miles fade away. I don't want to say too much about the story itself for fear of ruining someones enjoyment of the book. Suffice to say this was written from the heart in a setting both realistic and true to the times.  News of the World is full of adventure, a little bit of humor and takes the reader on a journey, (and not just the physical kind).  The authors writing was descriptive and for a relatively short novel it has a lot going for it.   

 With a real lack in historical fiction for middle grade and young adult News of the World is a nice addition to the genre. I will definitely keep my eye out for the future books of Pauline Jile.  Thank you to TLC Book Tours for opportunity to be part of this tour.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Paulette Jiles is a novelist, poet, and memoirist. She is the author of Cousins, a memoir, and the novels Enemy Women, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightning, Lighthouse Island, and News of the World.

She lives on a ranch near San Antonio, TX.

Find out more about Paulette at her website.

Book Blast/Giveaway: They Were Like Family to Me by Helen Maryles Shankman

Critically praised, beloved by readers, In the Land of Armadillos has an evocative new cover and title, They Were Like Family to Me. 

1942. With the Nazi Party at the height of its power, the occupying army empties Poland's towns and cities of their Jewish citizens. As neighbor turns on neighbor and survival often demands unthinkable choices, Poland has become a moral quagmire—a place of shifting truths and blinding ambiguities.

 Blending folklore and fact, Helen Maryles Shankman shows us the people of Wlodawa, a remote Polish town. We meet a cold-blooded SS officer dedicated to rescuing the Jewish creator of his son's favorite picture book; a Messiah who appears in a little boy's bedroom to announce that he is quitting; a young Jewish girl who is hidden by the town's most outspoken anti-Semite—and his talking dog. And walking among these tales are two unforgettable figures: silver-tongued Willy Reinhart, commandant of the forced labor camp who has grand schemes to protect "his" Jews, and Soroka, the Jewish saddlemaker, struggling to survive.

Channeling the mythic magic of classic storytellers like Sholem Aleichem and Isaac Bashevis Singer and the psychological acuity of modern-day masters like Nicole Krauss and Nathan Englander, They Were Like Family to Me is a testament to the persistence of humanity in the most inhuman conditions.

Now in Paperback!

 Available October 4.

Amazon | Books a Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Helen

Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

“One of the most original and consistently captivating short story collections to have appeared in recent years…(They Were Like Family to Me) is a singularly inventive collection of chilling stark realism enhanced by the hallucinatory ingredient of top-drawer magical realism, interrogating the value of art, storytelling, and dreams in a time of peril and presenting hard truths with wisdom, magic, and grace.” —Jewish Book Council

“Moving and unsettling…Like Joyce's Dubliners, this book circles the same streets and encounters the same people as it depicts the horrors of Germany's invasion of Poland through the microcosm of one village…Shankman's prose is inventive and taut… A deeply humane demonstration of wringing art from catastrophe.” —Kirkus Reviews

“...by turns forthright and tender, oblique and intimate, brutal and ethereal…Though each story stands beautifully on its own, it is the completed tapestry of interwoven details that finally reveals the entire picture and provides the full emotional depth of the collected stories…The author’s greatest accomplishment is in leaving the horror to speak for itself, and instead giving voice to the enchantment.” —Historical Novel Society

They Were Like Family to Me

Review: The Returned by Jason Mott

Jacob was time out of sync, time more perfect than it had been. He was life the way it was supposed to be all those years ago.

That's what all the Returned were. Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time ...

Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.

 All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he's their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.

 With spare, elegant prose and searing emotional depth, award-winning poet Jason Mott explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility. A spellbinding and stunning debut, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in
contemporary fiction.

 Kindle Edition, 345 pages 

Published March 25th 2014

 by Harlequin MIRA 

(first published January 1st 2013)

** 1/2

I found the premise of this book very intriguing and that is what pulled me to it. When eight-year-old Jacob lands on the doorstep of his aged parents home 50 plus years after he drowned it causes quite the uproar. As the story unfolds we find out it isn't just him but quite a number of people from various ages, backgrounds and vastly different times of death and means, have returned.

Well I found the opening part very intriguing and had me wondering what was going on and looking forward to reading more. How could this happen? Why is it happening? And how is the world going to react to this? It was during the middle part of the book that the story lagged and I found myself losing interest. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and maybe that is why my interest waned. Towards the end it did pick up with a dramatic conclusion.

But still I was expecting more from this book, maybe a little about the afterlife and why they returned, what did China have to do with all this.  Too many questions and not enough answers. There was so much potential for more here, when a murdered family returns I would have loved to see the murderer caught, when Nazi's return and learn how they are hated...yea so much potential.

Remember this is just my opinion, there are plenty of 5 star ratings out there and it just goes to show what doesn't tickle one person's fancy does another.

Thanks to Harlequin MIRA for an ebook copy (via netgalley), in exchange for an honest review.

Excerpt: Dido's Crown by Julie K. Rose

 Set in Tunisia and France in 1935, Dido's Crown is a taut literary-historical adventure influenced by Indiana Jones, The Thin Man, and John le Carré.

 Mary Wilson MacPherson has always been adept at putting the past behind her: her father's death, her sister's disappearance, and her complicated relationship with childhood friends Tom and Will. But that all changes when, traveling to North Africa on business for her husband, Mary meets a handsome French-Tunisian trader who holds a mysterious package her husband has purchased — a package which has drawn the interest not only of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, but the Nazis as well.

 When Tom and Will arrive in Tunisia, Mary suddenly finds herself on a race across the mesmerizing and ever-changing landscapes of the country, to the shores of southern France, and all across the wide blue Mediterranean. Despite her best efforts at distancing herself from her husband's world, Mary has become embroiled in a mystery that could threaten not only Tunisian and British security in the dangerous political landscape of 1935, but Mary's beliefs about her past and the security of her own future.

Publication Date: September 29, 2016

 Paperback; 340 Pages

 ISBN13: 9781365316333

 Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary

      

Happy to share an excerpt from Dido's Crown today, enjoy.

As he stood back to survey his handiwork, someone rattled the door below. Will walked over and twitched the curtain, peering down into the alley. "It's Saidini," he whispered without turning. "And he looks spectacular."

"How the hell does he know we're here?" Tom dug into the pocket of his now-ruined coat, searching in vain for his gun. "Bugger," he muttered.

Will whispered, "Stay where you are. Keep your mouth shut."

Tom blinked. A sharp knock and Will's imperious look kept him silent.

Will opened the door, allowing a dark-haired man to step in. Alain Saidini was indeed spectacular, in a crisp cream linen suit and sea-blue shirt open at the collar, his hair newly oiled and his cufflinks sparkling. He was in fact cinema-star handsome, with smooth olive skin, dark eyes, and a broad, charming smile. The only thing marring the elegance of his face was the crookedness of his nose, the result of what must have been quite a fistfight, but this served to throw the near-perfection of his other features into sharp relief.

 "What happened?" Alain asked, looking between them with a mixture of concern and exasperation. His accent was a melodic blend of French and Arabic, with a hint of the East Riding around the edges. When they'd first met him, he explained that he had learned English from a Yorkshireman in the trenches during the war; Tom, despite himself, found it charming.

"My friend here got a bit carried away at a party," Will said with a shrug. "You understand."

Alain chuckled. "Must have been quite a party. I'm sorry I missed it."

"How did you find us?" Will asked.

Alain ignored him and turned to Tom, whose makeshift bandage was already growing red again. He pulled back the bandage Will had just applied. "You'll live, keep pressure on it," he said. "And what about you?" He nodded at Will, who, unaccountably, blushed.

"I'm fine."

Alain raised his eyebrows.

"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

Alain leaned against the door, his arms folded. "It took some doing to pay off the gendarmes. You owe me three thousand francs, by the way."

"How did you know?" Will asked.

"I heard two dashing Englishmen ran into some trouble outside the attaché's party. I naturally assumed it was you."

Tom mustered the strength to roll his eyes. Will turned away and fidgeted with the curtains. "How did you find us?" Will asked.

Alain smiled, pushing away from the door and adjusting his cufflinks. "I know everything that happens here. By the way, the Germans left via the new port; I couldn't tell you where they're heading, but I know they're not far off the coast."

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

A member of the Historical Novel Society and former reviewer for the Historical Novels Review, Julie lives in the Bay Area with her husband and rescue cats, and loves reading, following the San Francisco Giants, and enjoying the amazing natural beauty of Northern California. Her forthcoming historical adventure novel, Dido's Crown, will be released in September 2016. Oleanna, short-listed for finalists in the 2011 Faulkner-Wisdom literary competition, is her second novel. The Pilgrim Glass, a finalist in the 2005 Faulkner-Wisdom competition and semi-finalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, was published in 2010.

 For more information, please visit Julie K. Rose's website.

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

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BookBlast/Giveaway: After Paris by Renny deGroot

 From Shortlisted Author of the 2015 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, Renny deGroot comes a new Historical Fiction.

 Liesbeth Zwart forges her identity with courage and aptitude while nursing in France during WW1. As Liesbeth Bos, she feels that identity melting away; the skills she needed as a nurse in Paris are of little use to her as a wife and mother in post-war Netherlands. As she grapples to adjust to her new reality, she is confronted with a shocking discovery that sends her fleeing with her young daughter to start a new life in Canada.

The New World forces Liesbeth to reassess her own life and beliefs, but will it be enough to save her fractured family?

Publication Date: July 8, 2016

 Paperback & eBook; 364 Pages 

 Genre: Historical Fiction

      

Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Renny deGroot is a first generation Canadian of Dutch parents.

She is a published poet, song lyricist and novelist. Her debut novel, Family Business, was shortlisted in the Literary Fiction category, for the 2015 Emerging Writer Prize. She studied English Literature at Trent University. Her strong Dutch roots continue to influence her while the love of her Canadian homeland with its beauty and freedom, flavors all that she does. 

Renny lives in rural Ontario, Canada with her Great Pyrenees and Chocolate Lab.

For more information, please visit Renny deGroot's website.

You can also find her on Facebook.

 

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Giveaway

To enter the After Paris Blog Tour Giveaway please enter via the Gleam form below.

- 3 winners will receive a copy of Family Business by Renny deGroot (2015 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize Shortlist)

- 3 winners will receive a copy of the CD Macushla by renown Irish Tenor, Jimmy Carton (features songs from the era in which After Paris takes place)

Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open internationally.
– 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.

  After Paris

Review/Giveaway: Echoes of Family by Barbara Claypole White

 Sometimes the only way through darkness is to return to where it began. 

Marianne Stokes fled England at seventeen, spiraling into the manic depression that would become her shadow. She left behind secrets, memories, and tragedy: one teen dead, and her first love, Gabriel, badly injured. Three decades later she’s finally found peace in the North Carolina recording studio she runs with her husband, Darius, and her almost-daughter, Jade…until another fatality propels her back across the ocean to confront the long-buried past.

In her picturesque childhood village, the first person she meets is the last person she wants to see again: Gabriel. Now the village vicar, he takes her in without question, and ripples of what if reverberate through both their hearts. As Marianne’s mind unravels, Jade and Darius track her down. Tempers clash when everyone tries to help, but only by finding the courage to face her illness can Marianne heal herself and her offbeat family.

Paperback: 412 pages 

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (September 27, 2016)

*****
I am not sure if this review can accurately describe my feeling about this book.  While it has been many months since I agreed to be part of this blog tour and to be honest I didn't refresh my memory by reading the synopsis so basically I cracked open Echoes of Family blind.  All I can say is WOW, I just found another 'best of 2016'.

I love the first line in the synopsis above 'sometimes the only way through darkness is to return to where it began', which is exactly what Marianne had to do.  There are so many layers to this story, as Marianne returns to England it affects those not just from her past but present as well.  This intricate story played out so smoothly, I got to know the characters quite well, getting inside their minds as each dealt with the situation.  It was truly an authentic portrayal of bipolar and its effect not just for the individual but their loved ones as well.

It's not a book that I read when I could grab 5 minutes here and there but rather one to sit and savor,  I finished in a matter of days.  The author wrote with such compassion and sensitivity (plus a touch of humor) and just watching the story unfold with its twists and turns made it a pleasure to read.  It's one of those books that will stay with me for a long time.

"...you're never truly lost if someone cares enough to come find you.
  Lost is waiting to be found."

Thank you to TLC tours and Lake Union Publishing (via netgalley) for an arc (in exchange for honest review)

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

“Claypole White’s gift is her ability to put us into the troubled minds of her characters in a way that helps us not only understand them but fall in love with them as well. We discover that while their minds may be different from ours, their hearts are the same.” —Diane Chamberlain, USA Todaybestselling author of Pretending to Dance

 “Echoes of Family is a masterfully written novel that is both difficult to put down, and difficult to forget after the final page. In this powerful novel, Claypole White weaves that narrative that draws the reader into a personal relationship with the characters and has you rooting for them, in spite of their many flaws. This book kept my attention until all secrets were revealed in its dramatic conclusion. I look forward to many more from Claypole White.” —Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Things We Keep

 “Barbara Claypole White has done it again—created a quirky cast of characters and then taken us along as they go on a journey through madness and out the other side. Music, England, love, loss, and nature all collide in this beautiful exploration of how the echoes of our past can sometimes drown out the present. Matthew Quick fans will feel right at home.” —Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Spin and Hidden

    Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble 

A Brit living in North Carolina, Barbara Claypole White writes hopeful family drama with a healthy dose of mental illness. Her debut novel, The Unfinished Garden, won the 2013 Golden Quill Contest for Best First Book, and The In-Between Hour was chosen by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance as a Winter 2014 Okra Pick. Her third novel, The Perfect Son, was a semifinalist in the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction. 

Connect with Barbara 

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

Echoes of Family

Review/Giveaway: Avelynn: The Edge of Faith by Marissa Campbell

 It's the year 871. 

Charges of treason, murder, and witchcraft follow Avelynn into exile as she flees England with Alrik.

 Arriving in Wales, they find refuge among Alrik's friends in the Welsh nobility. Cast out by his half-brothers, Alrik seeks to regain his honor and earn favor with the gods. When war threatens, Alrik embraces gold and the opportunity for his crew to become mercenaries, aiding the Southern Welsh kings in their fight against Rhodri the Great.

 Desperate to return home, Avelynn seeks to find a way to prove her innocence, but she is pitted against Alrik as their desires for the future clash. With battle looming, Avelynn's faith in their relationship is further tested through a bitter struggle with Marared, a jealous lover from Alrik's past. Marared's threats turn deadly, and Avelynn runs afoul of magic and sorcery, causing her to question her beliefs and role as priestess.

 When Avelynn and Alrik are betrayed, Avelynn is captured and Alrik is charged with regicide. The two become separated, a chasm of greed, deceit, and ambition driving them apart. In an act of harrowing faith, Avelynn will stop at nothing to find her way back to Alrik and break them both free from Wales's bloodthirsty grasp.

 AVELYNN: THE EDGE OF FAITH is a stand-alone novel and #2 in the Avelynn series.

Publication Date: September 26, 2016 

eBook; 302 Pages 

ASIN: B01KUC6N9Y

Genre: Historical Romance/Medieval Series: Avelynn (Book Two)

   

****

This is one of those books that I have been anticipating all year. I really enjoyed book one in the series Avelynn (click here for review) and while The Edge of Faith works as a standalone I highly recommend going back and reading the first one just because it was that good. 

 The Edge of Faith continued right where Avelynn left off, it felt like I was together again with old friends and playing catch up, that's how much the author made me care about Alrik and Avelynn and their plight. Christianity is relatively new to the island and while not everyone has grasped it, there are still those around that practice the supernatural arts. This was central to the story and gave it that authentic feel to the time period. 

 Marissa Campbell is a talented author, she knows how to draw the reader in, she creates empathy and an emotional bond, which drew me right in, I had a hard time putting this book down.  The suspense, uncertainty and mystery kept me guessing at the outcome.  Her descriptive writing made it easy to visualize so much. There is romance here, suffice to say the author knows how to make the pages sizzle.

While the conclusion was fitting it also left an opening for book three (fingers crossed).  Thank you to Amy at HFVBT for the invite to be part of this tour (for which I received the ebook, for an honest review).

Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Noble (Nook) | Kobo

Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day. Her debut historical fiction AVELYNN, was published through St. Martin’s Press, September 2015. Look for the second book in the AVELYNN series, releasing Fall 2016.

She is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7.

When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!

For more information visit http://marissacampbell.com.

You can also follow Marissa Campbell on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Giveaway

To win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Avelynn: The Edge of Faith eBook, please enter via the Gleam form below. 1 gift card and 5 eBooks are up for grabs!

  Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on October 21st.
--You must be 18 or older to enter.
 – Giveaway is open Internationally.
 – 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.

  Avelynn: The Edge of Faith

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Review: Danielle Walker's Against All Grain Celebrations A Year of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Paleo Recipes for Every Occasion by Danielle Walker

From the two-time New York Times best-selling author of Against All Grain and Meals Made Simple, comes 125 recipes for grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free comfort food dishes for holidays and special occasions.

 When people adopt a new diet for health or personal reasons, they worry most about the parties, holidays, and events with strong food traditions, fearing their fond memories will be lost along with the newly eliminated food groups. After suffering for years with a debilitating autoimmune disease and missing many of these special occasions herself, Danielle Walker has revived the joy that cooking for holidays can bring in Danielle Walker's Against All Grain Celebrations, a collection of recipes and menus for twelve special occasions throughout the year.

Featuring a variety of birthday cakes, finger foods to serve at a baby or bridal shower, and re-creations of backyard barbecue standards like peach cobbler and corn bread, Danielle includes all of the classics. There's a full Thanksgiving spread--complete with turkey and stuffing, creamy green bean casserole, and pies--and menus for Christmas dinner; a New Year's Eve cocktail party and Easter brunch are covered, along with suggestions for beverages and cocktails and the all-important desserts. Recipes can be mixed and matched among the various occasions, and many of the dishes are simple enough for everyday cooking. Stunning full-color photographs of every dish make browsing the pages as delightful as cooking the recipes, and beautiful party images provide approachable and creative entertaining ideas. Making recipes using unfamiliar ingredients can cause anxiety, and while trying a new menu on a regular weeknight leaves some room for error, the meal simply cannot fail when you have a table full of guests celebrating a special occasion.

Danielle has transformed her most cherished family traditions into trustworthy recipes you can feel confident serving, whether you're hosting a special guest with food allergies, or cooking for a crowd of regular grain-eaters.

Hardcover 336 pages 

Expected publication: September 27th 2016 

by Ten Speed Press

****

While I have a number of Danielle Walker's cookbooks they are all in the physical form.  I wasn't sure with the nature of cookbooks whether they lend themselves well to the ebook format.  Hence my curiosity when I requested this from netgalley, I was also anxious to get my hands on this one, Danielle Walker is a favorite of mine.

Rather than use my kindle, I downloaded on my iPad and it worked very nicely.  I could jump back and forth between pages with ease, never losing my spots and the photos throughout were displayed nicely.

Like I stated above the author is not new to me, I have a couple of her other cookbooks and I was anxious to get my hands on this one.  I was not disappointed here.  Following the author on Facebook I knew of her passion in the kitchen and this paleo lifestyle.  Reading of the work that goes into her recipes makes me appreciate her recipes all the more.

This cookbook begins with chapters on the different ingredients that she uses.  She explains the benefits, what works better with different foods and even includes links where they can be purchased.
As for the the recipes themselves, I was happy with the layout and variety of dishes.  I didn't try them all out, but the ones I did where really good.  Even those in the family not following this way of eating enjoyed them.   Some of my favorites include - roasted beet and bacon salad, poached cod (with butternut squash and carrot puree - perfect for this time of year) and meyer lemon curd cakes.

Definitely a cookbook I highly recommend to those following a healthy diet.  Thank you to Ten Speed Press and netgalley for an advanced copy.

Waiting on Wednesday: To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Colin

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, 304 pages
 Expected publication: November 29th 2016 
by Flatiron Books 

  Set against the construction of the Eiffel Tower, this novel charts the relationship between a young widow and an engineer who, despite constraints of class and wealth, fall in love. 

In February 1887, Caitriona Wallace and Émile Nouguier meet in a hot air balloon, floating high above Paris--a moment of pure possibility. But back on firm ground, their vastly different social strata become clear. Cait is a widow who because of her precarious financial situation is forced to chaperone two wealthy Scottish charges. Émile is expected to take on the bourgeois stability of his family's business and choose a suitable wife. As the Eiffel Tower rises, a marvel of steel and air and light, the subject of extreme controversy and a symbol of the future, Cait and Émile must decide what their love is worth.

Seamlessly weaving historical detail and vivid invention, Beatrice Colin evokes the revolutionary time in which Cait and Émile live--one of corsets and secret trysts, duels and Bohemian independence, strict tradition and Impressionist experimentation. To Capture What We Cannot Keep, stylish, provocative, and shimmering, raises probing questions about a woman's place in that world, the overarching reach of class distinctions, and the sacrifices love requires of us all.

What are you waiting for?

Review: Healing Maddie Brees by Rebecca Brewster Stevenson

A debut novel from a promising new voice in fiction, Healing Maddie Brees is the story of a marriage and the memories that pit themselves against it, of the uncanny power of the body in both disease and desire, and of whether true healing ever really happens.

 Maddie Brees has been given bad news: She is seriously ill. But she also has an old friend, an ex-boyfriend who might be able to heal her. She was witness to Vincent Elander’s so-called miracles in the past. But that was a long time ago, a memory that she would rather stay buried.

Now she is happily married to Frank and mother of their three young boys. The religion of her past is behind her, along with any confidence she once had in it. With the onset of her cancer, the memories of Vincent won’t leave Maddie alone, and before long they are affecting everything else: her marriage, her husband, the things they thought they agreed on, the beliefs they thought they shared. Soon Frank, who was to be Maddie’s rock throughout her treatment, is finding fault-lines of his own. In this exquisitely written narrative, Stevenson explores the questions of honesty and commitment, of disease and isolation, and of the many shapes healing takes.

Paperback, 310 pages 

Expected publication: September 13th 2016 

by Light Messages

*** (I liked it)

When Maddie is diagnosed with breast cancer and begins treatment she reflects back to her life and a past she would just as soon not revisit.  Recalling her experiences with organized religion and her friendship with Vincent and Justice took up much of this story.  Frank also goes back in time as he struggles while trying to support his wife through this difficult time.

This was very much a 'tell' book, with both Maddie and Frank recalling their life.  Usually I am not a big fan, I like the 'show' part of any story, where you can connect and really get to know the characters.  With Healing Maddie Brees it did really work, I was able feel the emotion this story invoked. While I found the writing style mesmerizing and at first hard to down I did find it to be a little repetitive a number of times and drag a little here and there.

When I first starting this book I thought it was Christian fiction, but as it progressed and I finished it is a fiction book with strong religious elements.

Saving Maddie Brees is a solid debut for Rebecca Brewster Stevenson, my thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy for review purposes.

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.

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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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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

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]
Global giveaway open internationally: 5 winners will receive a print copy of this book.

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CLICK ON THE BANNER TO READ REVIEWS, INTERVIEW, AND EXCERPTS

Review: The Secrets of Flight by Maggie Leffler

This captivating, breakout novel—told in alternating viewpoints—brings readers from the skies of World War II to the present day, where a woman is prepared to tell her secrets at last.

Estranged from her family since just after World War II, Mary Browning has spent her entire adult life hiding from her past. Now eighty-seven years old and a widow, she is still haunted by secrets and fading memories of the family she left behind. Her one outlet is the writing group she’s presided over for a decade, though she’s never written a word herself. When a new member walks in—a fifteen-year-old girl who reminds her so much of her beloved sister Sarah—Mary is certain fate delivered Elyse Strickler to her for a reason.

Mary hires the serious-eyed teenager to type her story about a daring female pilot who, during World War II, left home for the sky and gambled everything for her dreams—including her own identity.

As they begin to unravel the web of Mary’s past, Mary and Elyse form an unlikely friendship. Together they discover it’s never too late for second chances and that sometimes forgiveness is all it takes for life to take flight in the most unexpected ways.

Paperback, 344 pages

Published May 3rd 2016 by William Morrow Paperbacks

ARC via Edelweiss

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It isn't a secret the dual time books are a favorite of mine. Usually there is always one story line that I am drawn to more than the other, however with The Secrets of Flight both stories kept me entertained.  I love the cover for this book, with a husband with his private pilots license, I am attracted to these little planes. Add to that, this is also a book of writers and it's at a writers group meeting that Mary and Elyse meet. A book about books and  writers - how can that not be a great start.

 Mary is almost 90 years old when she decides her story needs to told as well as to come to terms with her past. There are secrets that she needs to come clean with and her decision to tell 15 year old Elyse was an interesting twist. Two totally different characters with different personalities and background making this relationship interesting to watch as it developed into something special.

 I really enjoyed the authors writing style it wasn't hard to get lost in this story. When thinking of World War II I give little thought to the impact on those living in countries where the fighting is not taking place.  With The Secrets of Flight the reader feels the struggles of Mary and her family during this time. The story line was unique as Mary learned to fly planes while keeping it a secret from most of her family. When the war dawns this creates more obstacles for Mary and she is forced to make some decisions that will impact the rest of her life and that of her family.

Young Elyse isn't without here own conflicts and how these two meshed together, overcoming pain and heartache brought forth not just an entertaining story but one that touches the heart strings.

Thank you to Edelweiss for an advanced copy of this book.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle

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:

Paperback, 384 pages 

Expected publication: December 27th 2016 

by Mira

Even the perfect marriage has its dark side…

 Iris and Will's marriage is as close to perfect as it can be: a large house in a nice Atlanta neighborhood, rewarding careers and the excitement of trying for their first baby. But on the morning Will leaves for a business trip to Orlando, Iris's happy world comes to an abrupt halt. Another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board, and according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers on this plane.

 Grief-stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. But as time passes and there is still no sign of Will, she reluctantly accepts that he is gone. Still, Iris needs answers. Why did Will lie about where he was going? What is in Seattle? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to find out what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she receives will shock her to her very core.

What are you waiting for?