History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession Author: Alison Weir Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Ballantine Books Release Date: May 16, 2017 Pages: 561 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Synopsis: In this second novel of Alison Weir’s epic Six Tudor Queens series, the acclaimed author and historian weaves exciting new research into the story of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s most infamous wife, a woman ahead of her time whose very life—and death—forever changed a nation.      Born into a noble English family, Anne is barely a teenager when she is sent from her family’s Hever Castle to serve at the royal court of the Netherlands. This strategic move on the part of her opportunistic father also becomes a chance for the girl to grow and discover herself. There, and later in France, Anne thrives, preferring to absorb the works of progressive writers rather than participate in courtly flirtations. She also begins to understand the inequalities a...

The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn Author: Eric Ives Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Release Date: 2004 Pages: 458 Source: My State Public Library  Synopsis: Anne Boleyn is the most notorious of England’s queens, but more famous for her death as an adulterer than for her life. Henry’s second wife and mother of Elizabeth I, Anne was the first English queen to be publicly executed. Yet what do we know of the achievements and legacy of her short reign?            In The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn , Eric Ives provides the most detailed and convincing portrait we have of the queen. He reveals a person of intellect with a passion for the new culture of the Renaissance, a woman who made her way in a man’s world by force of education and personality. She played a powerful and independent role in the faction-ridden court of Henry VIII and the unceasing struggle for royal favour that was Tudor politics. The conseq...

The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence: A Story of Botticelli Author: Alyssa Palombo Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Release Date: April 25, 2017 Pages: 320 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: A girl as beautiful as Simonetta Cattaneo never wants for marriage proposals in 15th Century Italy, but she jumps at the chance to marry Marco Vespucci. Marco is young, handsome and well-educated. Not to mention he is one of the powerful Medici family’s favored circle.      Even before her marriage with Marco is set, Simonetta is swept up into Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici’s glittering circle of politicians, poets, artists, and philosophers. The men of Florence—most notably the rakish Giuliano de’ Medici—become enthralled with her beauty. That she is educated and an ardent reader of poetry makes her more desirable and fashionable still. But it is her acquaintance with a young painter, Sandro Botticelli, which str...

The Seven Sisters (The Seven Sisters #1) Author: Lucinda Riley Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Atria Release Date: 2015 Pages: 463 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Maia D’Apliese and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, “Atlantis”—a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva—having been told that their beloved father, who adopted them all as babies, has died. Each of them is handed a tantalizing clue to her true heritage—a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of her story and its beginnings. Eighty years earlier in Rio’s Belle Epoque of the 1920s, Izabela Bonifacio’s father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into the aristocracy. Meanwhile, architect Heitor da Silva Costa is devising plans for an enormous statue, to be called Christ the Redeemer, and will soon travel to Paris to find the right sculptor to ...

    Today is the anniversary of the executions of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. To remember this event, I have interviewed Jenni L. Walsh, the author of Becoming Bonnie . Becoming Bonnie focuses on the early life of Bonnie Parker before her famous partner, Clyde Barrow. This is a fascinating interview about Bonnie and Clyde and the choices they made. I hope you enjoy reading this and that you will pick up a copy of Becoming Bonnie today! I loved it, and I can't wait for the sequel! Thank you, Mrs. Walsh! This is your first novel. How long did it take to write and get Becoming Bonnie published?      Yes! Becoming Bonnie is my debut! It was back in 2011 that I decided I wanted to try to write my first novel. The first two attempts didn't go so well, ha. My third novel resulted in representation with my former agent, but unfortunately that project never sold. Becoming Bonnie was my fourth novel with my second agent. I'd say it took about eight months t...

THE PEARL THIEF Author: Elizabeth Wein Pub. Date: May 2, 2017 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Pages: 336 Formats: Hardcover, eBook Find it: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , iBooks , Goodreads Synopsis: Before Verity . . . there was Julie.      When fifteen-year-old Julia Beaufort-Stuart wakes up in the hospital, she knows the lazy summer break she’d imagined won’t be exactly like she anticipated. And once she returns to her grandfather’s estate, a bit banged up but alive, she begins to realize that her injury might not have been an accident. One of her family’s employees is missing, and he disappeared on the very same day she landed in the hospital.      Desperate to figure out what happened, she befriends Euan McEwen, the Scots Traveller boy who found her when she was injured, and his standoffish sister Ellen. As Julie grows closer to this family, she experiences some of the prejudices they’ve grown used to firsthand, a stark contrast to her own upbr...

Becoming Bonnie Author: Jenni L. Walsh Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Forge Books Release Date: May 9th, 2017 Pages: 304 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: From debut historical novelist Jenni L. Walsh--and just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Oscar award-winning film, Bonnie and Clyde -- Becoming Bonnie is the untold story of how wholesome Bonnelyn Parker became half of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde duo!      The summer of 1927 might be the height of the Roaring Twenties, but Bonnelyn Parker is more likely to belt out a church hymn than sling drinks at an illicit juice joint. She’s a sharp girl with plans to overcome her family's poverty, provide for herself, and maybe someday marry her boyfriend, Roy Thornton. But when Roy springs a proposal on her, and financial woes jeopardize her ambitions, Bonnelyn finds salvation in an unlikely place: Dallas's newest speakeasy, Doc's.      Living the li...

UMBERLAND Author: Wendy Spinale Pub. Date: May 2, 2017 Publisher: Scholastic Press Pages: 288 Formats: Hardcover, eBook Find it: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , TBD , iBooks , Goodreads Synopsis: What began with a reimagining of Peter Pan and Wendy now twists into a stunning version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass !      Gwen, Pete, and the others have escaped from Everland. But the safe haven they hoped to find at Alnwick Castle doesn't exist. With the Queen of England on her deathbed, Duchess Alyssa has stepped in to lead, but things have gotten worse as the cure Doc created for the Horologia virus has mutated, accelerating the disease. The only possible solution he can think of is to go back to the virus's origin: an extinct poisonous apple.      Legend has it a tree bearing the apple might be found at the center of a deadly labyrinth hidden deep within Germany. A place that no one in their right mind enters....

Becoming Bonnie Release Day Blitz for May 9, 2017  Author: Jenni L. Walsh Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher Forge Books Pages: 304 Book Summary: From debut historical novelist Jenni L. Walsh comes the untold story of how wholesome Bonnelyn Parker became half of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde duo. ​      ​The summer of 1927 might be the height of the Roaring Twenties, but Bonnelyn Parker is more likely to belt out a church hymn than sling drinks at an illicit juice joint. She’s a sharp girl with plans to overcome her family's poverty, provide for herself, and maybe someday marry her boyfriend, Roy Thornton. But when Roy springs a proposal on her and financial woes jeopardize her ambitions, Bonnelyn finds salvation in an unlikely place: Dallas's newest speakeasy, Doc's.      Living the life of a moll at night, Bonnie remains a wholesome girl by day, engaged to Roy, attending school and working toward a steady future. When Roy discovers her se...

     I am so excited that AIR AND ASH by Alex Lidell is available now and that I get to share the news!      If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Alex Lidell, be sure to check out all the details below.      This blitz also includes a giveaway for a finished copy of AIR AND ASH & a copy of A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN by Sarah J. Maas, International, courtesy of Alex and 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:  AIR AND ASH Author:  Alex Lidell Pub. Date:  May 2, 2017 Publisher:  Danger Bearing Press Pages:  284 Formats:  Paperback, eBook Find it:  Amazon ,  B&N , Goodreads Synopsis: Master and Commander meets Tamora Pierce in a seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess’s quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms.  ...