Thursday, March 31, 2016

Logan Kade by Tijan Release Blitz

logan kade release blitz.jpgLogan Kade is FINALLY here!  #sexmachine #fallencrest #logankade


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Blurb

You think you know me?
Manwhore. Partier. Fighter.
You know what? You’re right. I’m all those things. F*ck with what’s mine and I’ll f*ck you ten times harder. Suspensions. Arrests. You think I care?

So yeah, I may fit the bad boy image, but there’s so much more you don’t know.

I'm loyal to a damned fault. I'll never leave your side. The real Logan Kade isn’t a manwhore. When I love, I love hard and completely.

Taylor saw that side of me. Inside of me. She saw my darkness and pain, and the second she did, she owned me.

You may think you know me…
…but she’s the only one who sees me.


LOGAN KADE TEASER.jpgEXCERPT ONE
Someone new had arrived at the party, and turning around, I assumed it was Logan Kade. I could only see the back of him. He was talking to a group of guys right outside the back door, and someone motioned in our direction.
Jason groaned.
Logan lifted his head, looking right at us.
From the back, he was the finest specimen I’d seen in a long time. Tall. Lean. Broad shoulders. Trim waist. His shirt clung to his form, outlining his lithe build. He was obviously an athlete. Guys couldn’t get that look unless they played sports on an almost-daily basis and for hours at a time. Others might try to mold and sculpt their bodies to look as good as this one, but their efforts never played out.
Even the back of his neck was delicious. His shirt hugged the muscles of his shoulder and the ridges where his neck and shoulders became one. His hair had a crew cut. When he finally glanced over his shoulder again, looking in the direction the other guy had pointed, his eyes found mine. They held firm.
I swallowed, feeling like I’d just gotten the wind knocked out of me. He was breathtaking.
Dark chocolate eyes. Long eyelashes I would’ve killed for when I was younger—hell, I still would. He had an angular face with high cheekbones, and the front of him matched his back. His biceps bulged, and his shirtsleeves tightened around them for a second before they relaxed. The outline of washboard abs was visible through his shirt. His jeans sealed the image, making my mouth water, and I finally pulled my eyes away.
I had to. I hadn’t reacted to a guy like this in a long time.

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EXCERPT TWO

“Get Logan,” someone yelled.
Another girl asked, “Where is Logan?”
I heard other people saying the same thing, but I focused on the girl.
She raised her chin, and a warning flashed in her eyes. “Touch me. I dare you.”
There were three of them, all tall and, not to be stereotypical, but they looked like preppy douchebags. Each was good looking, with bodies built like they rowed every morning for hours. They looked like money. It practically dripped from their clothes. Their jawlines were rigid enough to form glaciers.
Their eyes were icy, too, as they stared back at the girl. They weren’t backing down.
I broke from the crowd, planning to go stand next to her. But before I could move, the crowd broke in half. An actual opening formed, and Logan Kade strode forward.
My foot jerked back into its spot, stepping back as he brushed past me.
Kade stopped beside her, and the three guys turned their attention to him. They didn’t move or say anything, but the air shifted. It’d been dark and ominous before, and I still felt a battle brewing.
“Kade starts fights, and he finishes them.”
A low tingle went through me, warming me. I remembered what Jason said and the nerves/anger/excitement took on a whole other feeling. My mouth was almost watering. I wanted to see what would happen. I wanted to see this Logan Kade in action, and for some reason, I was thirsting to see this fight.
“Kade,” one of them grated out his name.
Kade glanced at the girl, and then settled back on the spokesman. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a party. We were invited.”
“And that’s why you’re facing off with Sam?” He moved forward a step.
“We weren’t facing off...”
Samantha folded her arms over her chest. “Yeah, right. You were just walking past me? That’s why you wouldn’t let me get past you to the car. We just ‘happened’ to block each other and you didn’t hear me when I told you to move.”
A little laugh slipped from me.
Kade threw me a sideways look.
I should’ve clamped a hand over my mouth. I should’ve let them know I wasn’t involved, because really, I wasn’t. I didn’t know this girl. It wasn’t my place to say anything or join in, but I didn’t. A dark part of me had opened up, seeing that this girl might need help. I wanted something to happen. I was almost egging it on in my head and as Kade watched me, his eyes lingering, the dark part grew into something else. My body grew warm and my pulse started to pick up. It was like he knew what was going on in me, and I swallowed over a lump, because that wasn’t right. He couldn’t know. He didn’t even know me...
But I felt like he did. I felt like he knew exactly what was going on in me, and a flash of anger flared up in me. I turned away. He could see inside of me, and that was too much. I didn’t want that so I slipped back into the crowd. As I pulled further away, enough so I wasn’t on the front line, my insides were still charged up.



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Author Information
tijan bio.jpeg

I didn't begin writing until after undergraduate college. There'd been storylines and characters in my head all my life, but it came to a boiling point one day and I HAD to get them out of me. So the computer was booted up and I FINALLY felt it click. Writing is what I needed to do. After that, I had to teach myself how to write. I can't blame my teachers for not teaching me all those years in school. It was my fault. I was one of the students that was wishing I was anywhere but at school! So after that day, it took me lots of work until I was able to put together something that resembled a novel. I'm hoping I got it right since someone must be reading this profile! And I hope you keep enjoying my future stories.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads



THANK YOU!
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Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Tapestry (Joanna Stafford #3) by Nancy Bilyeau

02_The TapestryThe Tapestry (Joanna Stafford #3)
by Nancy Bilyeau

Paperback Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster
Paperback; 416 Pages

Series: Joanna Stafford
Genre: Historical Mystery

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"Fans of the Tudor era, you're in for a treat" --InStyle magazine

Henry VIII's Palace of Whitehall is the last place on earth Joanna Stafford wants to be. But a summons from the king cannot be refused.

After her priory was destroyed, Joanna, a young Dominican novice, vowed to live a quiet life, weaving tapestries and shunning dangerous conspiracies. That all changes when the king takes an interest in her tapestry talent.

With a ruthless monarch tiring of his fourth wife and amoral noblemen driven by hidden agendas, Joanna becomes entangled in court politics. Her close friend, Catherine Howard, is rumored to be the king's mistress, and Joanna is determined to protect her from becoming the king's next wife--and victim. All the while, Joanna tries to understand her feelings for the two men in her life: the constable who tried to save her and the friar she can't forget.

Ina world of royal banquets, jousts, sea voyages and Tower Hill executions, Joanna must finally choose her future: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier.

The Tapestry is the final book in a trilogy that began in 2012 with The Crown, an Oprah magazine pick. Don't miss the adventures of one of the most unforgettable heroines in historical fiction.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound


Praise

“In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values.” (Deborah Harkness)

“Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books and transports us back to the dangerous world of Tudor England. Vivid characters and gripping plots are at the heart of this wonderful trilogy, and this third book will not fail to thrill readers. Warmly recommended!” (Alison Weir, author of The Marriage Game: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth I)

"A rip-roaring Tudor adventure from Nancy Bilyeau! Novice nun turned tapestry weaver Joanna Stafford returns to the court of Henry VIII. She's that great rarity of historical fiction: a fiercely independent woman who is still firmly of her time. A mystery as richly woven as any of Joanna's tapestries." (Kate Quinn, author of Lady of the Eternal City)

"The Tapestry takes its history seriously, but that doesn't stop it from being a supremely deft, clever and pacy entertainment. This is Nancy Bilyeau's most thrilling - and enlightening - novel in the Joanna Stafford series yet." (Andrew Pyper, International Thriller Writers Award winner of The Demonologist and The Damned)

"A master of atmosphere, Nancy Bilyeau imbues her novel with the sense of dread and oppression lurking behind the royal glamour; in her descriptions and characterizations . . . Bilyeau breathes life into history." (Laura Andersen, author of The Boleyn King)

"In The Tapestry, Nancy Bilyeau brilliantly captures both the white-hot religious passions and the brutal politics of Tudor England. It is a rare book that does both so well." (Sam Thomas, author of The Midwife’s Tale)

“In spite of murderous plots, volatile kings, and a divided heart, Joanna Stafford manages to stay true to her noble character. Fans of Ken Follett will devour Nancy Bilyeau’s novel of political treachery and courageous love, set amid the endlessly fascinating Tudor landscape.” (Erika Robuck, author of Hemingway’s Girl)

“These aren't your mother's nuns! Nancy Bilyeau has done it again, giving us a compelling and wonderfully realized portrait of Tudor life in all its complexity and wonder. A nun, a tapestry, a page-turning tale of suspense: this is historical mystery at its finest.” (Bruce Holsinger, author of A Burnable Book and The Invention of Fire)

About the Author02_Nancy Bilyeau

Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently the executive editor of DuJour magazine. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her screenplay “Zenobia” placed with the American Zoetrope competition, and “Loving Marys” reached the finalist stage of Scriptapalooza. A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013, and THE TAPESTRY in 2015.

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Stay in touch with her on Twitter at @tudorscribe. For more information or to sign up for Nancy’s Newsletter please visit her official website.

Book Blast Schedule

Tuesday, March 22
Just One More Chapter
Historical Fiction Addicts
Svetlana's Reads and Views

Wednesday, March 23
Passages to the Past
With Her Nose Stuck In A Book

Thursday, March 24
Impressions In Ink
The Life & Times of a Book Addict

Friday, March 25
The Reading Queen
Queen of All She Reads

Saturday, March 26
A Holland Reads

Sunday, March 27
Layered Pages

Monday, March 28
A Book Drunkard
Historical Readings & Reviews

Tuesday, March 29
Book Nerd
Carpe Librum

Wednesday, March 30
The Lit Bitch
Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Thursday, March 31
A Book Geek
What Is That Book About

Friday, April 1
CelticLady's Reviews
A Dream within a Dream

Saturday, April 2
So Many Books, So Little Time

Sunday, April 3
Susan Heim on Writing

Monday, April 4
100 Pages a Day
A Literary Vacation

Tuesday, April 5
The Tudor Enthusiast
Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Giveaway

Two paperbacks of The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau are up for grabs! To enter, please use the GLEAM form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on April 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US addresses only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

The Tapestry Book Blast


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Death of an Alchemist: A Bianca Goddard Mystery (Bianca Goddard Mysteries, Book 2) by Mary Lawrence

02_Death of an AlchemistDeath of an Alchemist: A Bianca Goddard Mystery (Bianca Goddard Mysteries, Book 2)
by Mary Lawrence

Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Kensington Books
Hardcover & eBook; 304 Pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

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In the mid sixteenth century, Henry VIII sits on the throne, and Bianca Goddard tends to the sick and suffering in London’s slums, where disease can take a life as quickly as murder…

For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. But the next day his body is found and the journal is gone.

Bianca, the daughter of an alchemist, is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. When her husband John falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum’s journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist’s murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum’s death is only the first in a series of murders—and Bianca’s quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself…

My Review
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Four Stars
When I read the plot for " Death of an Alchemist" by Mary Lawrence I was intrigued by the plot.  Although I had not read the previous book in the series "The Alchemist Daughter" I wanted to read about this magical elixir.  I had also never read Lawrence before so I was interested to experience her storytelling. There were many different aspects of this story that I really enjoyed.

First, I loved the authors writing.  Lawrence really drew me into to the story.  Also,  I loved her descriptions of  16th Century London.  I found her descriptions to be real and they helped envelop me in the story!  Second, I really loved that the story took place in the  non-priviledged parts of London.  It was interensting to witness the life of the working class since I have read so many books about the ton.  Third, I loved the balance of history and mystery! I did not for one second suspect the murder. Finally, I really enjoed Bianca. I found her to be complex and a well-developed character.  

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

Praise for The Alchemist’s Daughter (Bianca Goddard Mysteries, Book 1)

“A realistic evocation of 16th century London’s underside. The various strands of the plot are so skillfully plaited together.” —Fiona Buckley

“Mystery and Tudor fans alike will raise a glass to this new series.” —Karen Harper

About the Author03_Mary Lawrence

Mary Lawrence studied biology and chemistry, graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Cytotechnology. Along with writing and farming, Lawrence works as a cytologist near Boston. She lives in Maine. The Alchemist’s Daughter is the first book in the Bianca Goddard Mystery series.

For more information please visit Mary's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 21
Review at Broken Teepee

Tuesday, March 22
Review at With Her Nose Stuck In A Book
Guest Post at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Wednesday, March 23
Review at A Book Geek

Thursday, March 24
Interview at Books and Benches

Friday, March 25
Review at Book Nerd
Interview at The Book Connection

Monday, March 28
Review at Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Tuesday, March 29
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective

Wednesday, March 30
Review at A Holland Reads

Thursday, March 31
Interview at Author Dianne Ascroft's Blog

Friday, April 1
Guest Post at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

To enter the Death of an Alchemist giveaway, please use the GLEAM form below. Four winners will receive a signed copy and the Grand Prize Winner will receive a signed copy plus a $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on April 1st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US addresses only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Death of an Alchemist Blog Tour


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Monday, March 21, 2016

A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear

A Dangerous PlaceAbout A Dangerous Place

Maisie Dobbs returns in a powerful story of political intrigue and personal tragedy: a brutal murder in the British garrison town of Gibraltar leads the investigator into a web of lies, deceit, and danger.
Spring 1937. In the four years since she left England, Maisie Dobbs has experienced love, contentment, stability—and the deepest tragedy a woman can endure. Now, all she wants is the peace she believes she might find by returning to India. But her sojourn in the hills of Darjeeling is cut short when her stepmother summons her home to England: her aging father, Frankie Dobbs, is not getting any younger.
On a ship bound for England, Maisie realizes she isn’t ready to return. Against the wishes of the captain who warns her, “You will be alone in a most dangerous place,” she disembarks in Gibraltar. Though she is on her own, Maisie is far from alone: the British garrison town is teeming with refugees fleeing a brutal civil war across the border in Spain.
And the danger is very real. Days after Maisie’s arrival, a photographer and member of Gibraltar’s Sephardic Jewish community, Sebastian Babayoff, is murdered, and Maisie becomes entangled in the case, drawing the attention of the British Secret Service. Under the suspicious eye of a British agent, Maisie is pulled deeper into political intrigue on “the Rock”—arguably Britain’s most important strategic territory—and renews an uneasy acquaintance in the process. At a crossroads between her past and her future, Maisie must choose a direction, knowing that England is, for her, an equally dangerous place, but in quite a different way.

My review
Copy from TLC Book tours for an honest review
Winspear is an author I have been meaning to read for a long time.  This is my first book by author and I really enjoyed it. Winspear has a way of drawing in the reader. There were some twists and turns that I did not expect. Maisel was a great heroine. She had many layers to her and her life has not been easy. In an effort to start fresh and a new she tries to break from her past but she keeps getting pulled back in.
This was a great book, with a great heroine and fantastic plot. I plan to read more by this author.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Oliver & Jack: In Axminster Workhouse (Fagin's Boy, Book Three) By Christina E. Pilz

02_Oliver & Jack In Axminster WorkhouseOliver & Jack: In Axminster Workhouse (Fagin's Boy, Book Three)
By Christina E. Pilz

Publication Date: September 27, 2015
Blue Rain Press
eBook & Paperback; 406 Pages

Genre: Historical/Gay Romance

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In Victorian England, 1846, an ex-apprentice and his street-thief companion are confined inside a workhouse to await trial for a crime they did not commit.

After the seaside interlude in Lyme Regis, Oliver and Jack are arrested and sent to Axminster Workhouse to await trial for the theft of books that they only meant to borrow.

They are put in the less-than-tender care of Workmaster Chalenheim, who controls the quotas they must fill, the amount of food they are allowed to eat, and the punishments they must endure upon breaking the rules, however arbitrary.

Oliver struggles with the shame of being in a place he thought he'd left behind him long ago, and also with the contrast between the life he once enjoyed and the hunger and degradation inside the workhouse walls. Meanwhile, Jack is confronted by a predator who tests the limits of Jack's endurance and the strength of his love for Oliver.

Together they must find a way to escape the workhouse before they succumb to the harsh conditions or are separated by the hangman's noose, whichever comes first.

My Review
Four Stars
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Although I am only now picking up the book which is the third in the series, I was ablet to ascertain what happened in the previous parts of the story.  Oliver and Jack are a gay couple who really have all the odds stack against them.  First, I have to say that the author made Jack and Oliver real to me.  I felt like I knew them.  The author really provided great insight into what life if like for Jack and Oliver because they have to hide who they are from society.  There are very tense moments when the burdens they carrry become very visible.  Aside from their shared bond, Pilz shows us an insight into what life was like during this time period. I personally love Victorian time period so I found it fascinating.  Overall, very satisfying read with many heartfealt moments. 

AMAZON (KINDLE) | AMAZON (PAPERBACK) | BARNES & NOBLE

About the Author03_Christina E. Pilz

Christina was born in Waco, Texas in 1962. After living on a variety of air force bases, in 1972 her Dad retired and the family moved to Boulder, Colorado. There amidst the clear, dry air of the high plains, as the moss started to grow beneath her feet, her love for historical fiction began with a classroom reading of Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

She attended a variety of community colleges (Tacoma Community College) and state universities (UNC-Greeley, CU-Boulder, CU-Denver), and finally found her career in technical writing, which, between layoffs, she has been doing for 18 years. During that time, her love for historical fiction and old-fashioned objects, ideas, and eras has never waned.

In addition to writing, her interests include road trips around the U.S. and frequent flights to England, where she eats fish and chips, drinks hard cider, and listens to the voices in the pub around her. She also loves coffee shops, mountain sunsets, prairie storms, and the smell of lavender. She is a staunch supporter of the Oxford comma.

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | PINTEREST

Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, February 25
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Friday, February 26
Guest Post at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, March 1
Review at Raven Haired Girl

Wednesday, March 2
Review at Book Nerd

Thursday, March 3
Interview at Dianne Ascroft Blog

Friday, March 4
Review at Svetlana's Reads or Views

Monday, March 7
Guest Post at She is Too Fond of Books

Tuesday, March 8
Review at In a Minute
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, March 9
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Friday, March 11
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Monday, March 14
Review & Giveaway at History Undressed

Wednesday, March 16
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Addicts

Friday, March 18
Interview at Layered Pages

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Friday, March 11, 2016

The Sword of the Maiden by Kathleen C. Perrin

Kathleen C. Perrin

on Tour

March 7-26

with

The Sword of the Maiden

The Sword of the Maiden

(historical fiction)

Release date: December 3, 2015
Self published at Langon House

515 pages

ISBN: 978-0692576922


Website | Goodreads


SYNOPSIS

After being abruptly separated from Nicolas le Breton during the battle to save Mont Saint Michel in 1424, Katelyn Michaels finds herself back in her normal twenty-first century life as an American teenager. Depressed and anxious to be reunited with Nicolas, she is comforted when a series of events and impressions lead her to believe she is being prepared for another mission as a Watchman. When her beloved mentor, Jean le Vieux, comes to her in a dream and gives her the injunction to “Learn of the Maiden and take her the sword,” Katelyn understands that her mission involves assisting one of the most iconic figures in all of French History. Katelyn is once again whisked back to the turmoil of medieval France during the Hundred Years’ War and to Nicolas. However, before the two can consider the future of their relationship, they must first complete their mission to take the sword to the Maiden. Little do they know that their old nemesis, Abdon, is already on their trail and will do everything in his unhallowed power to stop them.
My Review:
Copy received from France Book Tours for an honest review
Four Stars
When I read "The Keys of the Watchmen" I was anticipating the sequel to the story. The previous book ended on a bit of a cliff hanger and many questions still remained to be answered.  Katelyn is now back home but she is restless to be back in fifteen century France with Nicholas. Katelyn is only happy when she is called back to France  to continue her work as a Watchman. As can be expected, Katelyn deals with a plethora of emotions as her current situation and the circumstances of her responsibility weigh heavily on her shoulders. Even though Katelyn is relatively still young, there is a huge growth from the previous book.  Although there is a lot of adventure ultimately this is a story with a message. I also enjoyed that we got to hear Katelyn's voice personally, it added to the connection with her as a protagonist.  I also found it fitting that Katelyn's story was tied to Joan of Arcs since there are so many similarities between the stories.  The setting of Mont Mont St Michel is such a great idea. When I learned about it in the last book I instantly googled it and find it to be a perfect for the setting. As Katelyn and Michael need to get the sword into the right persons hands, their plans are often derailed by the antagonist - Abdon.  Overall, great story full of adventure and tensions, since the author never lets us know where the story will lead to next.  This was a great sequel and I really enjoyed it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Sword of the Maiden Kathleen C Perrin

Kathleen C. Perrin
holds bachelor’s degrees in French and Humanities
from Brigham Young University
and is a certified French translator.
Besides being the author of The Watchmen Saga,
she has published several non-fiction articles, academic papers,
and a religious history about Tahiti.
Kathleen has lived in Utah, New York City, France, and French Polynesia.
She and her French husband have spent years
investigating the mysteries and beauties of his native country
—where they have a cottage—and have taken tourist groups to France.
The Perrins have three children and currently reside in Utah.
***

Visit her website. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter

Sign up to receive her Newsletter.

Buy the book on Amazon

***

You can enter the global giveaway here
or on any other book blogs participating in this tour.
Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook,
they are listed in the entry form below
.

Enter here

Visit each blogger on the tour:
tweeting about the giveaway everyday
of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time!
[just follow the directions on the entry-form]

Global giveaway open internationally:
5 participants will each win a copy of this book, print or digital
and 3 participants will each win a $10 Amazon gift card


***

CLICK ON THE BANNER
TO READ REVIEWS, EXCERPT AND GUEST-POST

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Thursday, March 10, 2016

Seeing America by Nancy Crocker

02_Seeing America
Seeing America
by Nancy Crocker


Publication Date: July 15, 2014
Medallion Press
Paperback & eBook; 327 Pages

Genre: Historical/Literary Fiction

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Missouri, 1910. John Hartmann is graduating from high school under the critical eye of his father and has no idea what options lie beyond the family farm and his small town.

When Paul Bricken, nineteen and blind, buys a brand-new Ford Model T and suggests John drive him to Yellowstone National Park, John jumps at the chance.

He’s less enthusiastic about inviting Henry Brotherton, who’s loud, crude, and a bigot—but Henry’s available both as a second driver and a tough guy who might be helpful in a tight spot.

As the three young men set off on their tumultuous journey, America is preparing for the fight of the century between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries—and is headed for its biggest racial upheaval since the Civil War.

With Yellowstone drawing ever closer and tensions rising, Paul, John, and Henry will soon learn there is a great deal they didn’t know about the fledgling American Midwest—or about each other.

My Review
Four Stars
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
This was such a sweet and endearing story. It reminded me of "Stand and Deliver".  Three boys set out to conquer the world.  Three very different boys and thrown together with the thirst for adventure. Set in the mist of American Midwest, racial tensions are at a tipping point.  I loved the first person narrative, because if done right, I think it really pulls in the reader. 

Each boy: John, Paul and Henry added to the story and there were some sweet and heartbreaking comments.  This was a fun and fulfilling adventure. I might have missed out the opportunity to partake in this adventure but I hope other readers don't.  "Seeing American" was a great insight into a turbulent America viewed by three young men searching for their identities. 


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Praise

". . . a heartwarming, gut-wrenching story about finding out the meaning of the word 'home,' realizing that 'different' doesn't always mean 'insignificant,' and finding oneself by getting lost." —Lisa Senftleben, Library Thing

“With echoes of Twain and Steinbeck, Seeing America is a story for every restless soul who ever wondered what lay over the horizon and conjured the courage to set out in search of it.” —Robert Klose, author Long Live Grover Cleveland

"It’s this kind of steadiness of narrative voice, married to visual detail and deftly crafted characterization, that makes this book sing." —Rosemary Herbert, Star Tribune

"Crocker’s writing is powerful, witty, and at times quite funny." —Jessica Stock Books

About the Author03_Nancy Crocker

Nancy Crocker is a Missouri native who started her career as a singer, having performed alongside Loretta Lynn at age thirteen. Her written work has appeared in the American Heritage Anthology, and she is the author of the picture book Betty Lou Blue, published by Dial. Her first novel, Billie Standish Was Here, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2007 and was a Booklist Top 10 Novel for Youth, a Kirkus Editor's Pick for Best Books for Young Adults, a 2009 TAYSHA Reading List selection, and a New York Library’s Book for the Teen Age selection. She now lives in Minneapolis with her husband and son.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 22
Spotlight at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, February 24
Character Interview at Boom Baby Reviews
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Friday, February 26
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Monday, February 29
Spotlight at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, March 1
Interview at I Heart Reading

Thursday, March 3
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Friday, March 4
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter

Monday, March 7
Spotlight & Giveaway at Let them Read Books

Wednesday, March 9
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Friday, March 11
Review at Book Nerd

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Fall of Poppies Stories of Love and the Great War Contributions by: Hazel Gaynor, Beatriz Williams, Jennifer Robson, Jessica Brockmole, Kate Kerrigan, Evangeline Holland, Lauren Willig, Marci Jefferson, edited by Heather Webb Releasing March 1st, 2016 William Morrow


Enter to Win a 
Print Copy of FALL OF POPPIES



Fall of Poppies
Stories of Love and the Great War
Contributions by: 
Hazel Gaynor, Beatriz Williams, Jennifer Robson, 
Jessica Brockmole, Kate Kerrigan, Evangeline Holland, 
Lauren Willig, Marci Jefferson, edited by Heather Webb
Releasing March 1st, 2016 
William Morrow


Top
voices in historical fiction deliver an intensely moving collection of short
stories about loss, longing, and hope in the aftermath of World War I—featuring
bestselling authors such as Hazel Gaynor, Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams,
and Lauren Willig and edited by Heather Webb.

A squadron commander searches for
meaning in the tattered photo of a girl he’s never met…

A Belgian rebel hides from the
world, only to find herself nursing the enemy…

A young airman marries a stranger to
save her honor—and prays to survive long enough to love her…The peace treaty
signed on November 11, 1918, may herald the end of the Great War but for its
survivors, the smoke is only beginning to clear. Picking up the pieces of
shattered lives will take courage, resilience, and trust.

Within crumbled city walls and
scarred souls, war’s echoes linger. But when the fighting ceases, renewal
begins…and hope takes root in a fall of poppies.


















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Jessica Brockmole is the author of the internationally bestselling Letters
from Skye
, an epistolary love story spanning an ocean and two wars. Named
one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2013, Letters
From Skye
 has been published in seventeen countries.





Hazel Gaynor is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of The Girl Who Came Home and A Memory of
Violets
. She writes regularly for the national press, magazines and
websites in Ireland and the UK.


 Evangeline Holland is the founder and editor of
Edwardian Promenade, the number one blog for lovers of World War I, the Gilded
Age, and Belle Époque France with nearly forty thousand unique viewers a month.
In addition, she blogs at Modern Belles of History. Her fiction includes An
Ideal Duchess
 and its sequel, crafted in the tradition of Edith
Warton.


Marci Jefferson is the author of Girl on the Golden Coin: A Novel of
Frances Stuart
, which Publisher’s Weekly called
“intoxicating.” Her second novel, The Enchantress of Paris, will
release in Spring 2015 from Thomas Dunne Books.


Kate Kerrigan is the New York Times bestselling author of The
Ellis Island trilogy. In addition she has written for the Irish Tatler,
a Dublin-based newspaper, as well as The Irish Mail and a RTE
radio show, Sunday Miscellany.


Jennifer Robson is the USA Today and international bestselling
author of Somewhere in France and After the War is Over. She holds
a doctorate in Modern History from the University of Oxford, where she was a
Commonwealth Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow. Jennifer lives in Toronto with
her husband and young children.


Heather Webb is an author, freelance editor, and blogger at award-winning
writing sites WriterUnboxed.com and RomanceUniversity.org. Heather is a member of
the Historical Novel Society and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and
she may also be found teaching craft-based courses at a local college


Beatriz Williams is the New York TimesUSA Today, and
international bestselling author of The Secret Life of Violet
Grant 
and A Hundred Summers. A graduate of Stanford
University with an MBA from Columbia, Beatriz spent several years in New York
and London hiding her early attempts at fiction, first on company laptops as a
corporate and communications strategy consultant, and then as an at-home
producer of small persons. She now lives with her husband and four children
near the Connecticut shore, where she divides her time between writing and
laundry. William Morrow will publish her forthcoming hardcover, A
Certain Age
, in the summer of 2016. 


Lauren Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of
eleven works of historical fiction. Her books have been translated into over a
dozen languages, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards, and
chosen for the American Library Association’s annual list of the best genre
fiction. She lives in New York City, where she now writes full time.

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray

When I first of “America’s First Daughter” by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie I was instantly interested. I could not wait to read about Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, Patsy Jefferson. I had heard about her in passing in the history books but there were no outstanding attributes that I could place on her. When I finally had a copy in my hands I was worried that the length would be too much. Luckily for me that was not a factor.

“America’s First Daughter” is told in the first person by Dray and Kamoie. When the story begins we witness life as the daughter of the president of the United States through the eyes of Patsy. I personally love the first person voice because –if done correctly-it becomes like listening to an old friend reminiscing about their life. Patsy was a very interesting and complex person. She had a lot on her plate. Although she was Jefferson’s daughter she also participated in many of the duties that would fall to the first lady. The story begins with the end of Jefferson’s life and Patsy is remembering his life. The characters include Molly Madison, Abigail Adams and Sally Jefferson- to name a few. Patsy explains how her father’s relationships affected her. Patsy takes us from Revolutionary America, to France and paints a very vivid and fascinating life in Monticello and Washington.

Finally, this is not really a romance novel but there are many love affairs that makes this a must read. The authors provided not only very salacious details about the numerous love affairs that took place but also the emotions behind those affairs. I can only hope that a book like this would be turned into a movie because it is rich with detail and drama. American politics has never been boring.

ARC Review: The Rogue by Katharine Ashe

The Rogue is the first book in the “Devil’s Duke” series. Katherine Ashe is an automatic read for me. I’ve read some of her previous work and really enjoyed it. I think she is a fun and great author. I also think that her storylines are original and unique. I was beyond excited to read this book about the mysterious and lethal -Saint.

Lady Constance Read can be described as an alpha woman. She is ahead of her time and doesn’t bend to anyone’s rule. Her father asks a favor of Saint- André Sterling- he wants him to teach his daughter how to defend herself. Unbeknownst to him Constance and Saint share a history.

I really liked Saint and found him to be an exciting hero. He has a strong military background and teaches others how to defend themselves with a sword. For Constance he is an answer to her prayers because she is part of the Flacons Club which is a sort of spy agency. She is determined to figure out who is taking the lives of some of the young women and she has an idea who it might be.

Just like previous Ashe novels there is action, adventure and a twist that adds to the mystery of the storyline. I have to confess that I wanted to love the book more than I actually did. One of the down falls for me was too much was going on and I didn’t really get a feeling or understanding of the characters together as a couple.

Overall, this was a very exciting story. I had some issues with it such as Constance. I didn’t really understand her. She was hard for me to “get.” I also thought that so much happened the first 30 % of the book that the rest of the book felt very long and dragged out for me. It is obvious that the author has done her research because she includes a lot of information in the story. Finally, I didn’t love Constance and Saint as a couple. These are just my opinions and even though I wasn’t crazy about this book I will continue to read more Ashe and especially am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Review: Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath

Lorraine Heath is such a great writer and when I realized that I had not read this book yet, I jumped at the chance to read it. In classic Heath style I was captivated with the story and, although lengthy, finished it in two days. This is the second book in the “Scoundrels of St. James” series, I read the first one, In Bed with the Devil (Scoundrels of St. James, #1) and really enjoyed it. For anyone not familiar with the series, Jack, Lucian, Graves, Frannie, and Swindler were all street kids. It was Lucian’s grandfather that took them in the hopes of providing a better life for them. But they all have very different destinies and even though they share a past, they don’t share the same origins.

This is Jack Dodger’s story. I love Jack Dodger! He really carried this story for me and so did the mystery surrounding his beginnings. Jack has a gambling establishment that he created with the help of a mysterious benefactor. Jack was part of the street kids lead by Finnegan, he was the one that taught Jack how to survive and how to make sure that he never got caught while stealing. Jack is very rough around the edges and not part of the aristocracy. When he is named the guardian of the Duke of Lovingdon’s son. Jack is shocked because he never had a relationship with the duke and can’t understand why he would name him guardian. Even more shocked is Lovingdon’s widow- Olivia.

Olivia is angry and shocked when her husband’s will is read and even more when Jack Dodger is named the guardian. He has a terrible reputation and after a few conversations with him she is determined to take her son to the country and get away from Jack. Jack isn’t having it though; he is determined to figure out why the Duke names him of all people a guardian. Despite her constant objections and down-right arguments with Olivia, Jack is determined to be a good guardian to Jack. Not only did his mother sell him off when he was very young but he never knew his father. Jack informs Olivia that if she wants to get rid of him, all she has to do is remarry. Olivia is shocked at the suggestion, not only is she in mourning but she is also the epitome of social grace and respectability, she refuses to have her reputation stained.

Olivia and Jack were complete opposites. Their backgrounds could not have been more different. Although I liked Olivia I absolutely loved Jack. He was very emotionally disconnected but he was incredibly loyal to all those that he loved. His connection with Finnegan and his relationship with Henry-Olivia’s son were incredibly sweet. He was such a great hero! Definitely one of my favorites that I have read so far! Also, Heath has a talent for sneaking in very dark issues and making them a part of the story. Jack has some very dark secrets in his life and many of them still haunt him. I absolutely loved this story and plan to re-read it in the future.

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

  THE PARIS WIDOW  Author: Kimberly Belle Publication Date: June 11, 2024 ISBN: 9780778307976 Format: Trade Paperback Publisher: Harlequin ...