BLOG TOUR, REVIEW, & GIVEAWAY: Phoenix Rising by Hunter S. Jones

Publication Date: May 19, 2015 

MadeGlobal Publishing 

eBook; ASIN: B00X806742

Genre: Historical Fiction

The last hour of Anne Boleyn's life... Court intrigue, revenge and all the secrets of the last hour are revealed as one queen falls and another rises to take her place on destiny's stage. A young Anne Boleyn arrives at the court of King Henry VIII. She is to be presented at the Shrovetide pageant, le Château Vert. The young and ambitious Anne has no idea that a chance encounter before the pageant will lead to her capturing the heart of the king. What begins as a distraction becomes his obsession and leads to her destruction. Love, hate, loyalty and betrayal come together in a single dramatic moment... the execution of a queen. The history of England will be changed for ever.


My Review

I have to say, I was partial to Phoenix Rising before I even started to read it due to the fact that I have been fascinated with Anne Boleyn since I was probably 10 years old and read a book about her life.

I enjoyed reading this book, and especially how different it was from the majority of Tudor books out there. It was a little confusing to me at first, and I admit, I skipped through some of the old letters and writings that were in the book, but as I got a little further in, I began to enjoy it more. I began to see what the author was actually doing with the star chart that had 12 sections, which Madam Bliant had foretold. It became more apparent that each of the 12 sections was a different person’s point of view, who was a part of Anne’s “circle”. It was interesting to see the different points of view of basically how Anne had ended up where she was currently at—waiting for the hour of her execution, ordered by the man who had once loved her so much he changed the world in order to marry her.

Overall, great writing style, clear and precise with good descriptions and definitely a lot of creativity and originality! I wish I had been able to feel more connected to the characters, but with a novella, it’s a little harder. I give this novel a FOUR out of FIVE stars.

Praise for Phoenix Rising

"Compelling, captivating and moving." Claire Ridgway, The Anne Boleyn Files "Thought provoking, esoteric and heart wrenching." - R.J.Askew, blogger, reviewer, author and journalist

Phoenix Rising Available at

Amazon

About the Author

Deb Hunter publishes as Hunter S. Jones. Her best-selling novel, "September Ends" won awards for Best Independently Published Novel and Best Romance, based on its unique blending of poetry and prose. Her story "The Fortune Series" received best-selling status on Amazon in the Cultural Heritage and Historical Fiction categories. She has been published by H3O Eco mag, LuxeCrush, Chattanooga Times-Free Press, and is now a freelance contributor for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She has recently been accepted into the prestigious Rivendell Writers Colony. Her arts, music and culture blogs on ExpatsPost.com are filled with eclectic stories regarding music, writing, the arts and climate awareness. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her Scottish born husband. Her undergrad degree is in History with an emphasis on the English Renaissance and Reformation. For more information please visit Hunter S. Jones' website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Phoenix Rising Blog Tour

Tuesday, May 19
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Wednesday, May 20
Guest Post & Giveaway at The Anne Boleyn Files
Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book
Thursday, May 21
Review at Book Drunkard
Friday, May 22
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Saturday, May 23
Spotlight at Curling up by the Fire
Monday, May 25
Review at JulzReads
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, May 26
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Wednesday, May 27
Review at Book Nerd
Guest Post at The Readers Hollow
Thursday, May 28
Review at Bookramblings
Friday, May 29
Review at The Reading Queen
Saturday, May 30
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Spotlight at Beth's Book Nook Blog
Sunday, May 31
Review at Genre Queen
Spotlight at Unshelfish

Giving away ONE Paperback Copy Of PHOENIX RISING!

US Entrants ONLY!

Giveaway ENDS June 12th!

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BLOG TOUR, REVIEW, & GIVEAWAY: A Pledge of Better Times by Margaret Porter

Publication Date: April 14, 2015 

Gallica Press Formats: eBook, Paperback 

ISBN: 978-0-9907420-4-3 

Pages: 400 

 Genre: Historical Fiction

   

 A sweeping tale of ambition, treachery, and passion... For generations Lady Diana de Vere’s family loyally served England’s crown. But after King Charles II’s untimely death, her father firmly opposes James II’s tyranny. Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans—the late king’s bastard son by actress Nell Gwyn—also rebels against his newly crowned uncle's manipulation. Secretly pledging to wed Diana, he departs for the Continent to become a soldier. Political and religious turmoil bring about revolution and yet another coronation before Charles returns to claim his promised bride. As companion to Queen Mary II, Diana has followed her de Vere forbears into royal service. She expects Charles to abandon his military career after marriage, but he proves unwilling to join the ranks of the courtiers he despises and mistrusts. In palace corridors and within their own household the young duke and duchess confront betrayals, scandals, and tragedies that threaten to divide them. And neither the privileges of birth nor proximity to the throne can ensure their security, their advancement—or their happiness.


MY REVIEW

A Pledge of Better Times by Margaret Porter was able to take me to a time in history that I have rarely travelled before. There have been a couple books that I have read where King Charles was mentioned, mostly the books were about his mistress Nell Gywn, Barbara Palmer, and Louise de Kerouaille ( who was not well-liked by the people of England). He was always part of the books about his mistresses of course, but the main part would be about their lives, and their drama and competiveness with the other mistresses who also ruled a large part of his life. This novel gives the readers an idea of who he is and how he interacted with his multiple children by his mistresses, although it’s short, because he dies shortly into the book, but it’s enough to get an idea of possibly what he was like, and how he treated his sons. The reader also is able to see and in depth portrayal of the succession of King Charles II’s brother, King James II, and then his daughter, who ended up marrying Prince William of Orange.

The author did a great job researching this novel and putting it together in a well thought out manner. It definitely is obvious that a lot of time was put into researching and writing this book. My only issues are that I often was confused with the wealth of different names that were used in the book. Some characters were called by more than one name, and it took me a little while to even figure that out, so by the time I realized that one character was being called two different things in the book, I had lost some of the information or meaning. Also, while it was a well written book, and I do believe that fans of historical fiction, especially fans of England’s historical fiction, will enjoy this book, it is a little dry at times. I liked it well enough, but to be honest, there are other books on my list that I would rather be reading. I would give this novel a FOUR out of FIVE stars.

Praise for A Pledge of Better Times

“Meticulously researched and offering an impressive cast of real life characters brought to vibrant life, A Pledge of Better Times expertly captures the drama, passions, politics and religious turmoil of England at the turn of the 18th century. Margaret Porter crafts her story with exquisite detail, transporting the reader into a world full of intrigue, scandal, and breathtaking danger . . . a masterful writer.” - Award-winning author M. Reed McCall 

“With elegant prose and vivid detail, A Pledge of Better Times sweeps you into late Stuart England, transforming the lesser known adversities and triumphs of Lady Diana de Vere and Charles Beauclerk into a beautiful love story you won’t forget.” - Marci Jefferson, author of Enchantress of Paris and Girl on the Golden Coin 

“A portrait of Diana de Vere as rich as the portraits that grace British museums and palaces.” - Christy K Robinson, author of Mary Dyer Illuminated 

“The sparkling, dangerous, enticing post-Restoration period comes to vivid life! Porter gives us a wonderful, complicated heroine in Diana, drawing us deep into her world . . . . I couldn’t stop reading!” - Amanda Carmack, author of Murder in the Queen’s Garden: An Elizabethan Mystery

Official Book Trailer

About the Author

Margaret Porter is an award-winning, bestselling novelist whose lifelong study of British history inspires her fiction and her travels. A former stage actress, she has also worked in film, television, and radio. For more information please visit Margaret Porter's website. You can also find her on Facebook here and here, and on Twitter.

A Pledge of Better Times Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, May 4
Review at Just One More Chapter
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Spotlight & Giveaway at Mina's Bookshelf
Tuesday, May 5
Review at 100 Pages a Day - Stephanie's Book Reviews
Wednesday, May 6
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, May 7
Review at Book Drunkard
Friday, May 8
Review at Books and Benches
Sunday, May 10
Review & Guest Post at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Monday, May 11
Review at Reading the Past
Tuesday, May 12
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, May 13
Guest Post at Book Babe
Thursday, May 14
Review at Unshelfish
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review at Caroline Wilson Writes
Friday, May 15
Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation
Review & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Obsession

ONE Paperback OR Ebook Copy (YOUR Choice!) of Margaret Porter's A Pledge of Better Times!!

Rules:

-Only one entry per household

-Must be 18 or older

-US entries only

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