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Showing posts from 2017

Stolen by Jessica Titone: A Book Review

Stolen Author: Jessica Titone Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Jessica Titone Release Date: November 24, 2017 Pages: 232 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the twilight days of World War II, seventeen year old Ella's heart is broken when her partner, Jesse, mysteriously vanishes from their London ballet school. A search for him proves futile, leaving Ella to take matters into her own hands. Lured by a strange melody, she ventures through an old attic door and emerges in an idyllic, magical land. There she meets Wren, who instills in her the ways of the forest and fear of the mountain queen. The quest to rescue her lost love forces Ella down a path that questions her loyalty, tests her fortitude, and examines her heart's deepest desires.       My Review: Ella is a student at a ballet academy that dreams of becoming a ballerina. She falls for her partner, Jesse. Just before their romance begins,

Blog Tour: The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen: A Novel by a Gentleman Volume I by Collins Hemingway: A Book Review

The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen: A Novel by a Gentleman Volume I by Collins Hemingway Publication Date: June 20, 2015 AuthorHouse Hardcover, Paperback, & eBook Genre: Historical Fiction Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Everyone should marry once for love – Even Jane Austen      Jane Austen, single and seemingly comfortable in the role of clergyman’s daughter and aspiring writer in the early 1800s, tells friends and family to hold out for true affection in any prospective relationship. Everybody, she says, has a right to marry once in their lives for love.      But when, after a series of disappointing relationships, the prospect of true love arrives for her, will she have the courage to act? The Marriage of Miss Jane AUsten re-imagines the life of England’s archetypal female by exploring what might have happened if she had ever married. It shows how a mean

Isabella Unashamed: An Alternative History by Helen R. Davis and Carolina Casas: A Book Review

Isabella Unashamed: An Alternative History Author: Helen R. Davis and Carolina Casas Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction Publisher: Editorial Calíope Release Date: September 7, 2017 Pages: 144 Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Isabella of Castile is known as Europe’s first great queen. Renowned for her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon and birthing of modern day Spain, Isabella is also known as the queen who launched the Inquisition, completed the Reconquista and expelled the Jews from her nation. Not long after her triumph in 1492, her dynasty came apart and unraveled, and it was whispered by many that the Trastamara line was cursed.      But, What if Isabella had been wiser and not expelled the Jews, some of the very people who ironically helped put her on the throne of Castile? What if Isabella had had more foresight and had her successor be Catalina, who, although the youngest, was the mos

The Korr Stigmata by Tim Dugan

The Korr Stigmata Author: Tim Dugan Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Tim Dugan Release Date: 2016 Pages: 355 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In September 1940 the German blitz began pounding England in preparation for invasion, and it looked for all the world as if mighty Britain would be the next European state to fall to Nazi Germany. Graduate student Grace Arundel, who recently ended a long engagement, finds herself suddenly alone in the middle of the war and her world is in complete turmoil. The crisis throws her together with historian John Perceval and a new relationship blossoms, and it is at that time that the incredible begins. Arthur, the once and future king, appears to Grace and tells her she is “important” to the unfolding conflict.       Shaped around actual WWII events, including the SS search for the Holy Grail, the story becomes a desperate race for the lost Grail, the mysterious but pow

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress #1) by Julie C. Dao

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress #1) Author: Julie C. Dao Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Philomel Books Release Date: October 10, 2017 Pages: 377 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: The Wrath and the Dawn meets Snow White and the Huntsman in this dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress.       Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her.      Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and  exploit the callous magi

Relese Blitz: Ever The Brave by Erin Summerill

     I am so excited that EVER THE BRAVE by Erin Summerill is available now and that I get to share the news!      If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Erin Summerill, be sure to check out all the details below.      This blitz also includes a giveaway for a 3 finished copies of the book courtesy of Erin, HMH, Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. About The Book: Title:  EVER THE BRAVE (Clash of Kingdoms #2) Author:  Erin Summerill Pub. Date:  December 5, 2017 Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers Pages:  464 Formats:  Hardcover, eBook Find it:  Amazon ,  B&N ,  iBooks ,  TBD ,  Goodreads Ever the Divided. Ever the Feared. Ever the Brave.      After saving King Aodren with her newfound Channeler powers, Britta only wants to live a peaceful life in her childhood home. Unfortunately, saving the King has created a tether between them she cannot sever

Interview with Ron Vitale

     Anyone who has written a book knows that it can be a lot of pressure. Now, imagine the pressure of writing a sequel to a bona fide classic, Moby Dick ! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Ron Vitale, who has done just that with the book Ahab's Daughter . I greatly enjoyed it, and I am anticipating the sequel. I want to thank Mr. Vitale for his time, and I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit more about what it took to write Ahab's Daughter . What inspired you to write a sequel to Moby Dick ? My kids and I were playing in a swimming pool back in 2015, and as a joke, I started chasing them in the pool pretending that I was a werewhale. My daughter made a funny whale-sound and the idea stuck in my head. I originally toyed with the idea of having my "Werewhale" book be similar to Sharknado. But then I thought about it and wanted it to be more serious and aligned with books such as Pride and Prejudice and  Zombies . The idea evolved over time and decid

Blog Tour: Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper by Ana Brazil: A Book Review

Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper by Ana Brazil Publication Date: November 1, 2017 Sand Hill Review Press Formats: Paperback & eBook Genre: Fiction/Historical/Mystery Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Gilded Age New Orleans is overrun with prostitutes, pornographers, and a malicious Jack the Ripper copycat. As threatening letters to newspaper editors proclaim, no woman is safe from his blade.      Desperate to know who murdered her favorite student, ambitious typewriting teacher Fanny Newcomb launches into a hunt for the self-proclaimed Irish Channel Ripper.      Fanny quickly enlists her well-connected employers—Principal Sylvia Giddings and her sister Dr. Olive—to help, and the women forge through saloons, cemeteries, slums, and houses of prostitution in their pursuit.      Fanny’s good intentions quickly infuriate her longtime beau Lawrence Decat