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Showing posts from October, 2014

Blog Tour: Enchantress (Book 2 of Rav Hisda's Daughter's Trilogy) by Maggie Anton: A Book Review

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Enchantress by Maggie Anton
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Plume
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 400
Series: Rav Hisda's Daughter
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Fantasy
Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.





     Fantastic tales of demons and the Evil Eye, magical incantations, and powerful attractions abound in Enchantress, a novel that weaves together Talmudic lore, ancient Jewish magic, and a timeless love story set in fourth-century Babylonia.

     One of the most powerful practitioners of these mysterious arts is Rav Hisda's daughter, whose innate awareness allows her to possess the skills men lack. With her husband, Rava--whose arcane knowledge of the secret Torah enables him to create a "man"out of earth and to resurrect another rabbi from death--the two brave an evil sorceress, Ashmedai the Demon King, and even the Angel of Death in their quest to safeguard their people, even while putti…
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Blog Tour: Night of a Thousand Stars by Deanna Raybourn: A Book Review

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Night of a Thousand Stars by Deanna Raybourn
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
Harlequin MIRA
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.



     New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn returns with a Jazz Age tale of grand adventure...

     On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat's wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father's quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.

     With only her feisty lady's maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels incognita—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. Danger abounds beneath the…
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Blog Tour: Consolamentum (Book #3 of The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy) by Rebecca Hazell: A Book Review

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Consolamentum (Book #3 of The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy)
Author: Rebecca Hazell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 355
Source: This book was given to me as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: In the finale of Sofia's memoir, Consolamentum, both dramatic and poignant, her dreams of home are shattered when her own family betrays her. Raising her child on her own, mourning the loss of her beloved knight, and building a trading empire, she seeks safe haven for her child and herself. Her quest takes her from Antioch to Constantinople to Venice. A surprise reunion in Venice leads her to France where she runs afoul of the newly established Holy Inquisition, possibly the greatest challenge she has yet faced. Can a woman so marked by oppression, betrayal, and danger ever find her safe haven, much less genuine happiness?

     My Review:Consolamentum is the final novel in The Tiger and The DoveTrilogy. It seems that the worst is ov…
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Guest Post by Maggie Anton: History From a Woman's Perspective

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Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Plume
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 400

Series: Rav Hisda's Daughter
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Fantasy





Fantastic tales of demons and the Evil Eye, magical incantations, and powerful attractions abound in Enchantress, a novel that weaves together Talmudic lore, ancient Jewish magic, and a timeless love story set in fourth-century Babylonia.

One of the most powerful practitioners of these mysterious arts is Rav Hisda's daughter, whose innate awareness allows her to possess the skills men lack. With her husband, Rava--whose arcane knowledge of the secret Torah enables him to create a "man out of earth and to resurrect another rabbi from death--the two brave an evil sorceress, Ashmedai the Demon King, and even the Angel of Death in their quest to safeguard their people, even while putting their romance at risk.

The author of the acclaimed Rashi's Daughters series and the award-winning Rav Hisda's Daughter: Apprentice has conju…
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Guest Post by Rebecca Hazell: The Magic Lie

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Todays, guest writer is Rebecca Hazell. She is an award winning artist, author and educator. She has written, illustrated and published four non-fiction children’s books, created best selling educational filmstrips, designed educational craft kits for children and even created award winning needlepoint canvases.

     She is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage, and she holds an honours BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz in Russian and Chinese history.

     Rebecca lived for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1988 she and her family moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in 2006 she and her husband moved to Vancouver Island. They live near their two adult children in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. She has recently published The Grip of God and Solomon's Bride.  In her guest post, she talks about her  final novel in the trilogy, Consolamentum, which has just been released. Thank you, Mrs. Hazell.


THE MAGIC LIE
     The magic lie was a term one of my s…
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Blog Tour: Guest Post by Cassandra Leuthold- The Joys of Writing Historical Fiction

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STEAMPUNK CARNIVALBy Cassandra Leuthold
Genre: Science Fiction/ Steampunk

     Katya Romanova gave up everything to work at the one-of-a-kind Steampunk Carnival – her family, her home, her reputation.  She wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. As a guide to the guests, Katya enjoys more freedom than most.  She makes time to gossip with her best friend, Magdalene.  She basks in the elaborate costumes that bring her awed attention, hoping they might also win her a husband.  And no man pays her more attention than her boss and carnival owner, William Warden.
     But in the summer of 1887, death threats against Mr. Warden break the spell.  Katya knows he might be as underhanded as he is charming, but who would actually want him dead?  
     When Katya finds unexpected evidence about the carnival’s true origins, the stakes jump even higher.  Not sure whom they can trust, Katya and Magdalene work to unravel the carnival’s mysteries.  Who really invented the innovative rides?  Is Mr. …
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Blog Tour: Yakimali's Gift by Linda Covella: A Book Review

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Please join Linda Covella on her Blog Tour with HF Virtual Book Tours for her YA historical novel, Yakimali's Gift, from October 6-10. Three $10 Amazon Gift Cards are up for grabs, please see below to enter the giveaway.



Yakimali's Gift by Linda Covella
Publication Date: July 29, 2014
Astraea Press
eBook; 206p
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.



READ AN EXCERPT.

Synopsis: It is 1775 in Mexico, New Spain, and 15-year-old Fernanda Marquina, half Pima Indian and half Spanish, can't seem to live up to her mother's expectations or fit into the limited female roles of her culture. While she tends her garden, matches wits with buyers and sellers at the weekly market, and avoids Mama's lectures and the demands of Nicolas, the handsome soldier pursuing her, Fernanda grabs any opportunity to ride the horses she loves, racing across the desert, dreaming of adventure in faraway lands…
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Blog Tour: The Novice: A Love Story by Mirella Sichirollo Patzer: A Book Review

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The Novice: A Love Story by Mirella Sichirollo Patzer
Publication Date: September 15, 2014
H&W Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback; 380p

Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance
Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.


A young woman on the verge of taking her vows to become a nun.
A desperate flight from a murderous massacre.

 One honorable man comes to her rescue.

 Another becomes her nemesis and captor.

 And a life and death search to reunite with her one true love.

     Synopsis: In 10th century Naples, Saracens run rampant, annihilating villages, murdering women and children. Death and despair is everywhere. Alone in the world, Sara is a young novice plagued with doubts about taking her final vows to become a nun. When her convent is attacked, she flees for her life straight into the arms of a group of Saracens who leave her to die alone in the woods. An honorable cavaliere named Nicolo comes to her rescue and offers t…
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