Wednesday, May 28, 2014

BOOK REVIEW: A Triple Knot by Emma Campion

Blurb:

The critically acclaimed author of The King's Mistress brings another fascinating woman from history to life in an enthralling story of political intrigue, personal tragedy, and illicit love.
Joan of Kent, renowned beauty and cousin to King Edward III, is destined for a politically strategic marriage. As the king begins a long dynastic struggle to claim the crown of France, plunging England into the Hundred Years’ War, he negotiates her betrothal to a potential ally and heir of a powerful lordship.

But Joan, haunted by nightmares of her father’s execution at the hands of her treacherous royal kin, fears the king’s selection and is not resigned to her fate. She secretly pledges herself to one of the king’s own knights, one who has become a trusted friend and protector. Now she must defend her vow as the king—furious at Joan’s defiance—prepares to marry her off to another man.

In A Triple Knot, Emma Campion brings Joan, the “Fair Maid of Kent” to glorious life, deftly weaving details of King Edward III’s extravagant court into a rich and emotionally resonant tale of intrigue, love, and betrayal.


About the Author:



Emma Campion did her graduate work in medieval literature and history, and has continued to study the period while working first as an editor of scientific publications and now for some years as a freelance writer. She was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, grew up in Cincinnati, and has lived most of her adult life in Seattle, which she and her husband love for its combination of natural beauty and culture. Emma enjoys walking, hiking, and gardening, and practices yoga and vipassana meditation. She travels frequently to Great Britain.
Emma's current passion is exploring fuller and more plausible interpretations of the lives of women in the 14th century than are generally presented.


My Review:



“A Triple Knot” by Emma Campion is a fascinating historical fiction novel. Joan of Kent and Eleanor of Aquitaine are two of my favorite women in history to read about, so I jumped on reading a novel about Joan. Her life was seriously like a soap opera. She was loved by three different men, betrothed to one but married to another, then that marriage was annulled and she was remarried to the first one, and all of this while being love by Edward of Woodstock, who was to be the future King of England. Her life story is so crazy that it’s almost hard to believe! I really like that the novel began when Joan was young, because it gives the reader the whole picture of her life and her background, and it shows the hardships she went through after the loss of her father. “A Triple Knot” was well-written and smooth flowing. Once I started reading it, I had trouble putting it down! Joan’s life is perfect for a novel. It was full of intrigue, love, lust, and lies. She was a strong woman of her time, and she definitely made her mark in history.

I would recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction, especially those who are fascinated with England’s Kings and Queens. You really get a good look into the lives of royalty in this novel, and overall it’s a great read.


I give this novel a FIVE out of FIVE stars.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

BLOG TOUR: Genesee by Juliet Waldron

Tour Hashtag: #JulietWaldronBlogTour 


Genesee

Publication Date: November 7, 2010
Books We Love, Ltd.
Formats: eBook, Paperback

The 2003 Eppie Award Winner in Historicals

Red and White–at war in the world, and in her blood.
Born to a runaway Dutch teen and an Iroquois brave, raised in her white uncle’s frontier home, Genesee visits her mother’s family in colonial Albany. Here she meets a young Englishman and falls in love. He’s as much of an outcast as his “half-breed” girl, for Alexander was born “on the wrong side of the blanket”, and his only fortune is a good mind. Forbidden to marry, Genesee is sent home again, but when the Revolution sets the New York frontier ablaze, she is carried into captivity. In a Cayuga longhouse, she dreams of him, but will Alexander still want her–and will he brave torture and death to bring her home again?

Praise for Genesee

“GENESEE is an extraordinary book about love, hardship and prejudice. It’s well written and full of wonderful characters… This story isn’t sugarcoated, which is really refreshing.” – Renee Burnette

“This is a great read… Very vivid scenes and richly woven. This author is great!” – Karol A. Clifton, Amazon reader

“Romance that puts history up front! This is a real slice of history, with a heroine and her hero in 3-D.” – LJ Walker

My Review

“Genesee” by Juliet Waldron turned out to be a great historical fiction read. You can’t help but like Genesee from the beginning of the novel. She comes across as sweet, innocent, and somewhat naïve, and you are rooting for someone to come along and protect her. Alexander is that perfect person for Genesee, and as a reader you are rooting for them as a couple, even though they go through so much just to be together. Alexander is your typical strong, silent type, which makes him the perfect romantic hero, and perfect for Genesee. The writing style in this novel is excellent, and the descriptions were great. The action is described so clearly that you feel like you’re right there with them when the action is going down. The book started out a little slowly, but after it started picking up it was hard to put down. I was on the edge of my seat, almost skipping sections of this book in order to find out what was going to happen next. I love books like that, books that keep you up at night because you can’t put them down!

Although the book was a little slow at the beginning, it did pick up and more than make up for that, so I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction fans.

I give this novel a FOUR out of FIVE stars. 

About the Author

“Not all who wander are lost.” Juliet Waldron earned a B. A. in English, but has worked at jobs ranging from artist’s model to brokerage. Thirty years ago, after the boys left home, she dropped out of 9-5 and began to write, hoping to create a genuine time travel experience for herself–and for her readers. She loves her grand-girls and her kitties, likes to take long hikes, and reads historical/archeological non-fiction as well as reviewing for the Historical Novel Society. For summer adventure, she rides behind her husband of 50 years on his “bucket list” (black, and ridiculously fast) Hyabusa motorcycle.

You can find more information at www.julietwaldron.com or connect with Juliet on Facebook.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, May 5
Interview at Layered Pages
Thursday, May 8
Review at Just One More Chapter (Mozart’s Wife)
Friday, May 9
Review at Closed the Cover (Genesee)
Monday, May 12
Spotlight at Tower of Babel
Monday, May 19
Interview at Closed the Cover
Wednesday, May 21
Interview at The Maiden’s Court
Monday, May 26
Review at Book Lovers Paradise (Mozart’s Wife)
Tuesday, May 27
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession (Genesee)
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise (w/Kathy Fischer-Brown and Louise Turner)
Monday, June 2
Review at A Chick Who Reads (Nightingale)
Tuesday, June 3
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession (Roan Rose)
Wednesday, June 4
Review at The True Book Addict (Mozart’s Wife)
Thursday, June 5
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views (Mozart’s Wife)
Monday, June 9
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time (Roan Rose)
Tuesday, June 10
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views (Nightingale)
Thursday, June 12
Guest Post at Closed the Cover
Monday, June 16
Review at Just One More Chapter (Roan Rose)
Tuesday, June 17
Review at A Chick Who Reads (Mozart’s Wife)
Monday, June 23
Review at Peeking Between the Pages (Mozart’s Wife)
Tuesday, June 24
Review at A Bookish Affair (Mozart’s Wife)
Wednesday, June 25
Review at Layered Pages (Nightingale)
Thursday, June 26
Review at A Chick Who Reads (Roan Rose)
Friday, June 27
Review at Broken Teepee (Mozart’s Wife)
Saturday, June 28
Review at WTF Are You Reading? (Mozart’s Wife)
Monday, June 30
Review at WTF Are You Reading? (Nightingale)

Buy the Book


Giveaway

To win a $20 Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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.

Link to Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MzUyMmRmMzEyNWJhM2M1M2I1ZjgwZmVmZGZmMTBiOjExNA==/


Thursday, May 22, 2014

BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY: Love at Pemberley Series by Reina M. Williams

Please join Reina M. Williams on her Love at Pemberley Series Book Blast from May 12-June 13.

About Most Truly

01_Most Truly

Publication Date: December 15, 2013 
Amazon Digital Services, Inc. eBook; 88 pages 

 Heat level: Sweet 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.

About Miss Darcy Decides

Miss Darcy Decides

Publication Date: January 21, 2014 
Amazon Digital Services, Inc. eBook; 77 pages

 Heat level: Sweet Miss Darcy Decides is a light, sweet Pride and Prejudice novella, book two in the Love at Pemberley series. While visiting a young woman—who was not so fortunate as Miss Georgiana Darcy in escaping the persuasions of a rogue—Georgiana meets Sir Camden Sutton, whose reputation causes Georgiana to wonder as to his motives. Her wondering soon turns to a different feeling when Sir Camden comes to stay at Pemberley, showing himself to be a very different man than was rumored. While Sir Camden struggles with his past and his commitment to his future, as well as the ill intentions of haughty Caroline Bingley, Miss Darcy must decide whether to listen to others, or the words written on her heart.

About Miss Bennet Blooms

03_Miss Bennet Blooms

Publication Date: 4/25/14 
Amazon Digital Services, Inc. eBook; 70 pages

 Heat level: Sweet Miss Mary Bennet is the last unmarried Bennet sister. She believes she will live out her days as a maiden aunt, seeking quiet in the libraries and parlors of her father's and brother-in-laws' homes. On a visit to Pemberley, the estate of Fitzwilliam Darcy, her sister Lizzy's husband, Mary begins to feel more is possible than her planned life of solitude. Among new friends and with new confidence, Mary opens to new feelings when she meets Mr. Nathaniel Bingley. Nathaniel Bingley, at the insistence of his cousin Charles Bingley, finds himself at Pemberley. After Nathaniel's years in the West Indies studying its intense flora, he is ready to seclude himself to compile his work into a book. But Nathaniel could not say no to Charles, who was one of Nathaniel's few kind relatives after the deaths of his beloved parents. Soon, Nathaniel also finds it difficult to say no to his own feelings about the lovely Miss Mary Bennet. Can Mary and Nathaniel look beyond their plans and accept the grace of love at Pemberley?

Buy the Novellas

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo Books

About the Author

Reina M. WilliamsReina 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.


Book Blast Schedule

May 12: Kincavel Korner
May 13: Hardcover Feedback
May 15: Peeking Between the Pages
May 16: A Bookish Girl & The Lit Bitch
May 20: CelticLady's Reviews
May 21: Historical Tapestry & To Read, Or Not to Read
May 22: Book Nerd, & Historical Fiction Obsession
May 24: Passages to the Past
May 26: Mari Reads
May 27: Long Ago Love
May 28: Kinx's Book Nook
May 30: Flashlight Commentary
June 1: Literary Chanteuse
June 2: History From a Woman's Perspective
June 4: She is Too Fond of Books
June 5: So Many Books, So Little Time
June 7: A Bookish Affair & Griperang's Bookmarks
June 8: The True Book Addict
June 9: West Metro Mommy
June 11: Book Lovers Paradise, Historical Fiction Connection, and The Tower of Babel
June 13: Carole's Ramblings & The Mad Reviewer

Giveaway

To win one of the following prizes please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open internationally.
  • 2 eBook Sets of Love at Pemberley Trilogy
  • 2 Audio Books of Most Truly
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on June 13th.
You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on June 14th and notified via email.
Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 photo 270a12a1-b6fd-472f-8c07-0fda78264261.png


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

GUEST POST: by Fire & Sword's Louise Turner

James IV – Scotland’s Forgotten Renaissance King

Scanning the lists of Scottish historical fiction titles, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there are only two Scots monarchs ever worth writing about: Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots.  Today I’ll be giving Robert I and Mary a well earned rest by talking about a king of Scots whose achievements remain sadly under-appreciated, even by the Scots themselves, remembered only for the one monumental mistake which ended his life at the tragically young age of 40. 

James IV (b. 1473, d. 1513) is a king who is invariably overshadowed by his tyrannical (and latterly, somewhat corpulent...) counterpart south of the border – Henry VIII.  Which is a shame, because James was a remarkable man in many respects. 

He came to the throne in 1488 aged 15, following a coup which left his father, King James III, dead.  This was the culmination of a rebellion which supposedly came about through a plot engineered by the young man’s advisers, though I suspect that in reality James had much more to do with the planning than he ever cared to admit. He was, after all, an extraordinarily clever man and it could be argued that he did have genuine reason to fear for his future, if not indeed his life.

Following this shaky start, James had difficulty securing his grip upon the Scots.  The discontent was only to be expected – you don’t just bump off a legitimately-reigning monarch without incurring some degree of resentment within the wider population.  But James’s response was unusually flexible. He rapidly discovered that he couldn’t secure his position through force alone.  Instead, he appears to have made a sterling effort to win friends and build alliances which brought him support across the whole of mainland Scotland, even bridging the traditional divide between the Scots-speaking lowlanders and the gaelic-speaking north-west.

Inevitably, there were winners and losers.  James’s first effort to unite the Scots into a single military force brought disaster upon the gaelic-speaking Lords of the Isles in 1493 when James ended their independence once and for all, forcing the last Lord of the Isles to end his days under ‘house arrest’ as a pensioner at Paisley Abbey. It was only later that James aimed his sights at England, assisting Perkin Warbeck, pretender to the English throne, in 1495, and following this insult with injury in the form of a foray south of the border in 1497.

This wasn’t mindless harrying.  Far from it.  James wanted the return of Berwick, captured by the English in 1482 and still a festering sore in the Scots’ side.  While James didn’t quite achieve the restoration of Berwick, he did manage to secure a Treaty of Perpetual Peace with England and to cement diplomatic relations further through marriage to Henry VII’s daughter Margaret Tudor, a marriage which eventually resulted in the Union of the Crowns following James VI’s accession to the English throne in the early 1600s.

In many respects, James represents an ideal example of medieval kingship. He was bold, assertive, and articulate, visibly proficient on the battlefield.  He founded a flourishing arms industry in Scotland, and commissioned the building of the finest warship in Europe – the 1000 ton Michael – a vessel launched in 1512 which surpassed even the Mary Rose.

If James as warrior king was impressive enough, then his court was even more remarkable for its artistic and intellectual endeavours. James himself was fluent in a number of languages. He was a patron of Renaissance architecture, creating buildings which could hold their own alongside those being built in France and Italy at the time.  He encouraged music and the arts, and took a keen interest in medicine and dentistry. He also sponsored poets and alchemists. Amongst the latter was an over-ambitious monk named Damian, who in 1507 leapt from the ramparts at Stirling Castle with a pair of wings strapped to his back, plummeting to earth where he landed in the midden, shaken but unharmed.  Inspired by his audacity, James made him Abbot of Tongland in Dumfries & Galloway.

James was also a notorious womaniser.  With a succession of mistresses lodged in various parts of the country, he’d go on pilgrimages to religious sites at opposite ends of the country (such as Whithorn or Tain), conveniently visiting his ‘bidie-in’s’ along the way, and distributing largesse to his subjects. In 1504, he passed through Renfrewshire where he lodged at Ellestoun with John, 1st Lord Sempill, where it is recorded in the accounts that he gave ‘drinksilver’ to the masons who were building the Collegiate Church of Castle Semple, as well as giving a gratuity to John Sempill’s harper, a man named John Haislet.

But despite all these achievements, it’s for his demise at Flodden that James is remembered. And with the benefit of hindsight comes condemnation.  It was hubris which toppled him, they say.  If only he’d turned back and marched home before Surrey confronted him at Branxton.  If only he hadn’t come down off that hill.  If only he hadn’t taken on Henry VIII in the first place.  If only he’d relied on the tried-and-tested Scots schiltron, instead of investing in all those fancy Swiss pikes...  If only he’d spotted the watercourse lurking at the foot of Branxton Hill...

I personally believe that a confrontation with Henry VIII was inevitable.  Sooner or later, the showdown would have happened, and - whatever the time, whatever the place - the outcome would probably have been exactly the same.   Is it fair to blame James for sabre-rattling?  I don’t think so.  Henry had been provoking James for years by withholding Margaret’s Tudor’s dowry, and James...  Well, by invading England and harrying the north-east, he was merely using exactly the same tactics which had worked so well in 1497 against Henry VII.

But Henry VIII, as we all know, was a very different beast.  And so James died the way he lived, as a courageous medieval king who wasn’t afraid to hurl himself into the fray, leading the assault as an example to those around him.

James wasn’t the only casualty of Flodden. Nine earls died that day, along with 21 Lords of Parliament and at least 79 knights and barons. The church lost its leading figures; the Archbishop of Saint Andrews was a casualty, dying alongside two bishops and two abbots.   Virtually the entire ruling class of Scotland was wiped out, and this is a measure of James’s success as a king. When he first came to the throne, he inherited a fractured, divided kingdom, but when he died it was with Scotland’s governing class standing united alongside him. 


And that, I think, was a truly remarkable achievement.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

BLOG TOUR: Fire & Sword by Louise Turner


Tour Hashtag: #FireandSwordBlogTour 

Publication Date: September 19, 2013
Hadley Rille Books
Formats: eBook, Paperback



On the 11th June in 1488, two armies meet in battle at Sauchieburn, near Stirling. One fights for King James the Third of Scotland, the other is loyal to his eldest son, Prince James, Duke of Rothesay.
Soon, James the Third is dead, murdered as he flees the field. His army is routed. Among the dead is Sir Thomas Sempill of Ellestoun, Sheriff of Renfrew, whose son and heir, John, escapes with his life.
Once John’s career as knight and courtier seemed assured. But with the death of his king, his situation is fragile. He’s the only surviving son of the Sempill line and he’s unmarried. If he hopes to survive, John must try and win favour with the new king.
And deal with the ruthless and powerful Lord Montgomerie…


Praise for Fire & Sword


“Louise Turner skillfully brings to life the conflict-ridden world of 15th century Scotland. Based on the true story of John Sempill, the narrative takes us from near ruin to an uneasy but satisfying final triumph. Thomas is a wonderfully flawed character, not your typical knight-in-shining-armor, but a young man plagued by uncertainty, prone to dark moods, and keenly aware of the ax hanging over his head. Hugh Montgomery, at once John’s nemesis and eventual ally, is simply delightful in his charisma and ruthlessness. The principle women of the story, Mary, Margaret, and Helen, bring fresh and varied perspectives to the events at hand, each one admirable in her own way. Honestly, I found nothing to complain about in this novel. It is expertly written, kept me turning the pages and reading late into the night. A fantastic debut, recommended for all fans of historical fiction, medieval times, and romance. I look forward to seeing what Turner has to offer next.” – Karin Rita Gastrich, Amazon Reviewer

My Review

“Fire & Sword” by Louise Turner started out a little slow, but turned out to be a fantastic read! I immediately liked John’ character, he’s part of the nobility, but he still has compassion and empathy for those below him. He’s a very likable character, someone who you are rooting for as you read. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the battle scenes. The author did a great job bringing the reader right into the action along with the characters. You were able to picture everything that was going on clearly in your mind.

The story started out a little slow, up until Lady Margaret’s character was introduced. I absolutely hated her for the majority of the novel. She is John’s betrothed, and she is definitely introduced as a character to hate at first. I became more interested in the novel after the love interest was brought into the novel. I love a good historical fiction novel, but I prefer it to have some type of love interest going on! This book satisfies that desire by adding a bit of a love story right along with all the action and drama. When I was about 35% into this novel, I could no longer put it down.

I would definitely recommend this novel to any lover of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy reading about Scotland’s history. The author does a great job of taking you there, and you definitely walk away from the novel feeling as though you learned something without realizing it, because you enjoyed it the entire time.

I give this novel a FIVE out of FIVE stars!

Buy the Book

Amazon UK (Ebook)
Amazon UK (Paperback)
Amazon US (Ebook)
Amazon US (Paperback)

About The Author


Born in Glasgow, Louise Turner spent her early years in the west of Scotland where she attended the University of Glasgow. After graduating with an MA in Archaeology, she went on to complete a PhD on the Bronze Age metalwork hoards of Essex and Kent. She has since enjoyed a varied career in archaeology and cultural resource management. Writing has always been a major aspect of her life and in 1988, she won the Glasgow Herald/Albacon New Writing in SF competition with her short story Busman’s Holiday. Louise lives with her husband in west Renfrewshire.






Author Links

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, May 5
Review at The Mad Reviewer
Tuesday, May 6
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Monday, May 12
Interview at The Mad Reviewer
Tuesday, May 20
Wednesday, May 21
Monday, May 26
Tuesday, May 27
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise (with Kathy Fischer-Brown and Juliet Waldron)
Monday, June 2
Thursday, June 5
Interview at Caroline Wilson Writes
Tuesday, June 10
Review at Princess of Eboli
Thursday, June 12
Review at bookramblings
Monday, June 16
Monday, June 23
Review at Book Nerd
Monday, June 30

Giveaway

To win a $20 Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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.




Saturday, May 17, 2014

GIVEAWAY: TWO book giveaway!

It's been forever since I've done a giveaway 'just because'...I currently have 397 followers, so I'm going to go ahead and do a TWO book giveaway to thank my wonderful readers, and to hopefully get a few more to push me over the 400 followers mark! 
The books I'm giving away are from my personal collection. One is "Sins of the House of Borgia" by Sarah Bower and the other is "The Perfect Royal Mistress" by Diane Haeger. Both are amazing historical fiction novels by great authors! 

"Sins of the House of Borgia"


A Notorious Duke

An Infamous Duchess

An Innocent Girl


Violante isn't supposed to be here, in one of the grandest courts of Renaissance Italy. She isn't
supposed to be a lady-in-waiting to the beautiful Lucrezia Borgia. But the same secretive  politics that pushed Lucrezia's father to the Vatican have landed Violante deep in a lavish landscape of passion and ambition.


Violante discovers a Lucrezia unknown to those who see only a scheming harlot, and all the whispers about her brother, Cesare Borgia, never revealed the soul of the man who dances close with Violante.


But those who enter the House of Borgia are never quite the same when they leave-if they leave at all. Violante's place in history will test her heart and leave her the guardian of dangerous secrets she must carry to the grave.


What Readers Are Saying


"Glittering, gorgeous, compelling, and stunning."


"A richly satisfying historical novel. It deserves prizes."


"The Perfect Royal Mistress"

Born into poverty and raised in a brothel, Nell Gwynne sells oranges in the pit at London’s King’s Theater, newly reopened after the plague and the Great
Fire devastated the city. Soon, her quick sense of humor and natural charm
get her noticed by those who have the means to make her life easier. But the street-smart Nell knows a woman doesn’t get ahead by selling her body. Through talent, charm, intelligence, and sheer determination—as well as a keen understanding of how the world operates—Nell works her way out of the pit and onto the stage to become the leading comedic actress of the day. Her skills and beauty quickly win the attention of all of London—eventually even catching the eye of King Charles II. Their attraction is as real as it is unlikely, and the scrappy orange girl with the pretty face and the quick wit soon finds herself plunged into the
confusing and dangerous world of the court, where she learns there are few she can trust—and many whom she cannot turn her back on.
From the gritty streets of seventeenth-century London, to the backstage glamour of its theaters, to the glittering court of Charles II, The Perfect Royal Mistress is a love story for the ages, the rags-to-riches tale of a truly remarkable heroine.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 15, 2014

BOOK BLAST: Curses and Smoke A Novel of Pompeii by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Curses and Smoke

Publication Date: May 27, 2014 
Arthur A. Levine Books 
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Genre: YA Historical

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?


Buy the Book

About the Author

Vicky Alvear Shecter


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

Blog 



Book Blast Schedule

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