Woman of Ill Fame Blog Tour and Review

Woman of Ill Fame by Erika Mailman
eBook Publication date: November 11, 2013 ( ASIN: B00GM1VHV2)
Source: eBook provided by author via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Synopsis:
Looking for a better life, Nora Simms sails from the East Coast to gold rush San Francisco with a plan for success: to strike it rich by trading on her good looks. But when a string of murders claims several of her fellow “women of ill fame,” Nora grows uneasy with how closely linked all of the victims are to her. Even her rise to the top of her profession and a move to the fashionable part of town don’t shelter her from the danger, and she must distinguish friend from foe in a race to discover the identity of the killer.



My Take:

I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading Woman of Ill Fame. I'm not usually that crazy about reading books about prostitutes, but the premise on this one sounded promising. I started reading it to get an idea of what was in store for me, and I ended up reading for hours. I found Nora to be just so funny and straightforward about her chosen profession. She had her reasons for her choice and she lived with it.

This book is much more than just a tale of the prostitute with a heart of gold. The mystery of who is brutally killing the prostitutes in San Francisco is interesting and creepy and I really enjoyed reading about how Nora gets involved and how she goes about gathering her information to try to find the killer. I found it a little funny how Nora puts certain events together and despite all her efforts, the volunteer police force just doesn't figure anything out.

I enjoyed the development of friendship between Nora and her landlady, Mehitabel Ashe (what a name!). Mehitabel is an upright woman who manages her home as a boarding house and takes in sewing and such to make ends meet. Nora is certain that she would not approve of her choice in profession.  Mehitabel absolutely does not approve, but she turns out to be much more understanding than Nora thought she would be. Mehitabel ends up being a real friend and a good person. She is a great example of some of  the character development in the book. She has her own story to tell and she doesn't give up on Nora.

Nora does want out of the life she is living, but she has a certain idea of what type of man would sweep in and take her away from the life. Her preconceived ideas are a disadvantage and almost bring her to harm. Fortunately for her, a man not from her dreams decides to be a real friend. Abe is different, a bit slow, and the brunt of much teasing from the other men in town. He becomes a favorite of Nora's and his character development and story arc are highlights of the book. There seems to be a theme about assuming things about people and being proven wrong throughout the book.

In the end though, it is the character of Nora that carries the whole book. She is just so funny and smart. I really enjoyed her and her constant striving to better her life. Despite her goals and her attempts to pull herself out of the life no matter the cost, she always does what her heart tells her - despite what her brain is telling her. Nora is just a great character. I would love to read more about what happens to her. I highly recommend this book. It is a great read.

About the Author

Erika Mailman is the author of The Witch’s Trinity, a Bram Stoker finalist and a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book, and Woman of Ill Fame, a Pushcart Press Editor’s Book Award nominee. While writing The Witch’s Trinity, she learned she was the descendant of a woman accused twice of witchcraft in the decades predating Salem.
For more information please visit Erika Mailman’s website and blog.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, December 9
Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, December 10
Guest Post & Giveaway at HF Connection
Wednesday, December 11
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, December 12
Interview & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, December 13
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Monday, December 16
Review at A Book Geek
Review at Unabridged Chick
Tuesday, December 17
Review at Book of Secrets
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, December 18
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Thursday, December 19
Review at A Bookish Libraria

Friday, December 20
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Anvil of God Blog Tour and Review

Anvil of God by J. Boyce Gleason
Publication date: July 26, 2013 by iUniverse
Source: Publisher/author via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Synopsis:
It is 741. After subduing the pagan religions in the east, halting the march of Islam in the west, and conquering the continent for the Merovingian kings, mayor of the palace Charles the Hammer has one final ambition-the throne. Only one thing stands in his way-he is dying.
Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince to secure his southern border, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles’s death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles’s daughter flees his court for an enemy’s love.

Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family’s relentless quest for power and destiny.


My Take:

I found Anvil of God by J. Boyce Gleason to be much more interesting and exciting than I had initially expected. Charles Martel, the mayor of the palace, is only in the book briefly because he is dying. He tries to arrange things so that his sons won't fight each other and hopes that war won't break out. Of course, his fears come to pass due to all the likely reasons. The two older sons, Carloman and Pippin don't think their half-brother, Gripho, should get part of their inheritance and feel that they each will be put at a disadvantage.

Carloman is also heavily involved with and influenced by the Church and he has a large army made up of his Knights in Christ. Pippin, while a great fighter, is not as highly regarded by his brother, his father and the other influential people. These two brothers argue and compete against one another for their father's regard and then for his land and power.

Sunni is Charles' second wife and she is a very likable character due to her intelligence, independence and her personality. She was raised a pagan and still practices the rites in secret. Despite her token acceptance of Christianity, most people around her are suspicious of her and of her son, Gripho.

Charles had one daughter, Hiltrude, called Trudi in the book. Trudi doesn't act like a typical lady of her station. She wanted to wear armor and learn to fight like a man and Charles allowed her to do so. This was not met with much approval, but Charles doesn't seem to have cared much for what other people thought. Trudi was another of my favorite characters because she is strong, independent and smart. She has a tough time because, of course her father has chosen a husband for her and she isn't happy about the chosen candidate at all. She decides to follow her own path and has a long, difficult and exciting journey/adventure/trial to get through.

Anvil of God is full of intrigue, betrayal, battles, corruption, as well as love and loyalty. I don't know very much about this time period or the people involved, but I enjoyed reading Gleason's novel detailing some extremely exciting and violent events.  I appreciated that the author explained what was known about the period and what he changed or made up to tell his story.

I think that anyone interested in military history, the early Church, medieval history and historical fiction in general would enjoy this book.  As with basically any book about this time period, there is a lot of violence of all kinds, so you have been warned.  I found the set up for the series about the Carolingians to be very intriguing and I do look forward to reading more about this violent and dynamic time period and family.

About the Author

After a 25-year career in crisis management and public affairs, J. Boyce Gleason began writing historical fiction and is publishing his first novel ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles. With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the past to his historical fiction. He is married, has three sons and lives in Virginia.
For more information please visit www.jboycegleason.com.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, October 28
Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, October 29
Review & Giveaway at Luxury Reading
Monday, November 4
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Tuesday, November 5
Review at Reading the Ages
Wednesday, November 6
Guest Post at HF Connection
Thursday, November 7
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court
Friday, November 8
Review at Library of Alexandra
Monday, November 11
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Tuesday, November 12
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Wednesday, November 13
Review at From LA to L.A.
Review at The Most Happy Reader
Thursday, November 14
Review at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Monday, November 18
Review & Giveaway at The Bookworm
Tuesday, November 19
Review at A Book Geek
Wednesday, November 20
Review at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, November 21
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Friday, November 22
Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Monday, November 25
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Interview & Giveaway at The Most Happy Reader
Wednesday, November 27
Review at The Calico Critic
Thursday, November 28
Review & Giveaway at WTF Are You Reading?

Friday, November 29
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/anvilofgodtour/

Colossus: The Four Emperors Blog Tour

Colossus:The Four Emperors by David Blixt

Publication date: April 7, 2013 by Sordelet Ink

Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review

Synopsis:

Rome under Nero is a dangerous place. His cruel artistic whims border on madness, and any man who dares rise too high has his wings clipped, with fatal results.
For one family, Nero means either promotion or destruction. While his uncle Vespasian goes off to put down a rebellion in Judea, Titus Flavius Sabinus struggles to walk the perilous line between success and notoriety as he climbs Rome’s ladder. When Nero is impaled on his own artistry, the whole world is thrown into chaos and Sabinus must navigate shifting allegiances and murderous alliances as his family tries to survive the year of the Four Emperors.

The second novel in the Colossus series.

My Take:

Colossus:The Four Emperors by David Blixt sounded like it would be right up my alley. I love Roman history, which I think I have stated before.  The book follows Titus Flavius Sabinus and his family as they navigate the dangerous world of Rome under Nero. This is actually the second book in the series, but I thought it stood on its own quite well. I had no problem following the story or characters' lives. I will be reading the first book though and hope to read the entire series.   

I was impressed by the historical details in the novel. This is one of those novels where the details are embedded well in the story and not displayed obviously. I love it when I am pleasantly surprised at accurate details that aren't shouting, "Look, I did research!" but just part of the story. Several times while reading, I would stop and think how well the information had been relayed without too much obvious and boring explanation.

 I  I enjoyed the main story line that followed Titis Flavius Sabinus, an honorable but still ambitious man trying to live the life expected of a Roman citizen. This isn't an easy thing to do in the midst of the volatility and madness of Rome towards the end of Nero's reign as emperor. He tries to set an example and hold himself to a certain standard. His loyalty to Rome and his family are steadfast.

There are several story lines and characters to follow and I found some of the characters to be quite compelling. I particularly enjoyed reading about Antonia Caenis, a freed slave and mistress to Vespasian. She is a great example of how certain women were able to wield power and influence . . . behind the scenes, of course.

As with most books taking place in Ancient Rome, there is a lot of violence and women are treated as property. While this is unpleasant, it is factual. Nero's reign is a particularly violent period and the novel reflects this. Apparently, he took the Saturnalia very seriously. Naturally.

I was intrigued by the story line involving Peter's family. I haven't encountered a story like this before and I look forward to reading more about them.

I also look forward to reading more books by David Blixt. I enjoyed his writing very much. If you are interested in historical fiction, Ancient Rome, military or political history, then you might enjoy Colossus: The Four Emperors.

About the Author

Author and playwright David Blixt’s work is consistently described as “intricate,” “taut,” and “breathtaking.” A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS’D series, including THE MASTER OF VERONA, VOICE OF THE FALCONER, and FORTUNE’S FOOL) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY’S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history. As the Historical Novel Society said, “Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It’s well worth it.” Living in Chicago with his wife and two children, David describes himself as “actor, author, father, husband. In reverse order.”

For more about David and his novels, visit www.davidblixt.com.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, October 7
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Tuesday, October 8
Review at Reading the Ages
Interview at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, October 9
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Thursday, October 10
Review at Historical Tapestry & The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Friday, October 11
Review & Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Guest Post at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Monday, October 14
Review at Just One More Chapter
Tuesday, October 15
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Wednesday, October 16
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review & Giveaway at Closed the Cover
Thursday, October 17
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Friday, October 18
Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Monday, October 21
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Tuesday, October 22
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Wednesday, October 23
Review at Dee’s Reads
Guest Post & Giveaway at HF Connection
Thursday, October 24
Review at She Reads Novels

Friday, October 25
Review at A Book Geek
Review & Giveaway at The Most Happy Reader

Queen's Gambit Blog Tour and Review

Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle
Publication Date: August 6, 2013 by Simon & Schuster 
Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours  for an honest review
Synopsis:

Widowed for the second time at age thirty-one Katherine Parr falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. However, obliged to return to court, she attracts the attentions of the ailing, egotistical, and dangerously powerful Henry VIII, who dispatches his love rival, Seymour, to the Continent. No one is in a position to refuse a royal proposal so, haunted by the fates of his previous wives—two executions, two annulments, one death in childbirth—Katherine must wed Henry and become his sixth queen.

Katherine has to employ all her instincts to navigate the treachery of the court, drawing a tight circle of women around her, including her stepdaughter, Meg, traumatized by events from their past that are shrouded in secrecy, and their loyal servant Dot, who knows and sees more than she understands. With the Catholic faction on the rise once more, reformers being burned for heresy, and those close to the king vying for position, Katherine’s survival seems unlikely. Yet as she treads the razor’s edge of court intrigue, she never quite gives up on love.



My Take:
Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle is a wonderful historical fiction novel about Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII's wives. I am embarrassed to admit that I really didn't know much about Katherine except that she was the last of his wives and played nursemaid to the then, old, ailing king with his rapid and often violent mood swings.

Queen's Gambit is told through Katherine's and her maid, Dot Fownton's point of view. I really enjoyed the switching of the narrator's voice throughout the book. It was refreshing to get the side of things that isn't often shown in novels. Dot is a hardworking and loyal woman who becomes more of a friend to Katherine rather than just being her maid. Through Dot's narrative the reader is shown the rougher, work-a-day world of the period as well as all the back-breaking effort it took to keep the royal households running so smoothly. Dot goes to great lengths to help Katherine and despite the hardships she encounters, she continues to be strong and faithful.

I was very interested to see how Katherine was portrayed in Queen's Gambit and I was not disappointed. Even though she was older than his other wives, the book portrayed Katherine as still being beautiful, but much more sensible than the previous wives and very intelligent - not just intellectually but also socially - she fully understood how things worked and who were the players behind the scenes and the implications for every action and word.

I really appreciated the fact that the author made clear just what a woman's position was at court and within families. Katherine had little say in who she married and she knew her duty as a woman of certain standing. It also demonstrated the very real peril she was in at times due to Henry's mood swings and the various players trying to influence him against her specifically and against religious reformers in general.  I thought Elizabeth Fremantle did a wonderful job of showing the reader just what a turbulent time it was and how all of this affected the entire court, and also Henry's children and Katherine.

Despite the dangers, Katherine believed in religious reform and the controversies, the strain of Mary and Elizabeth's religious differences, and the king's renewed  religious conservatism are examined and play an important part in the story. Fortunately, Katherine is too smart to fall into any obvious entrapment and is able to manage the king and his lackeys.

Even though through her wits and strength, Katherine survives King Henry VIII, she does not live the happily-ever-after life that she deserved. She married Thomas Seymour, the one love of her life, a bit too hastily and caused a scandal.  Seymour soon proved that he was not quite the man she had hoped he was; and then she died soon after giving birth to her only child. Such a tragic story.

Even though most of us know that basics of the story, Queen's Gambit was a great study in the details of Katherine Parr and life at King Henry VIII's court in the later years. I was thoroughly entertained, educated and completely intrigued by the picture of life during the final years of Henry's reign. I really loved this book. This is definitely a book I will recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and especially Tudor history and strong, intelligent women.

About the Author

Elizabeth Fremantle holds a first class degree in English and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck College London. She has contributed as a fashion editor to various publications including Vogue, Elle and The Sunday Times. QUEEN’S GAMBIT is her debut novel and is the first in a Tudor trilogy. The second novel, SISTERS OF TREASON, will be released in 2014. She lives in London.
For more about Elizabeth and her future projects, please visit her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, August 12
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, August 13
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, August 14
Review at The Library of Alexandra
Review & Giveaway at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Thursday, August 15
Review at From Left to Write
Friday, August 16
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Monday, August 19
Review & Interview at A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, August 20
Review & Giveaway at Book-alicious Mama
Wednesday, August 21
Review at The Happy Booker
Thursday, August 22
Review & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Friday, August 23
Review & Giveaway at vvb32 Reads
Interview at The Happy Booker
Monday, August 26
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, August 27
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Wednesday, August 28
Review at Medieval Bookworm
Thursday, August 29
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Friday, August 30
Review & Giveaway at The Tudor Book Blog
Monday, September 2
Feature & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Interview at Layered Pages
Tuesday, September 3
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Review & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, September 4
Review at Booktalk & More
Interview at The Tudor Book Blog
Thursday, September 5
Review at A Book Geek
Friday, September 6
Review at History Undressed
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review & Giveaway at Drey’s Library
Review & Giveaway at Always with a Book
Monday, September 9
Review at She Is Too Fond of Books
Tuesday, September 10
Review at A Bookish Libraria
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, September 11
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Thursday, September 12
Review at Closed the Cover
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Review at Carole’s Ramblings and Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

Friday, September 13
Review & Giveaway at Books in the Burbs
Review & Giveaway at A Dream Within a Dream

The Tudor Conspiracy Blog Tour and Review

The Tudor Conspiracy by C.W. Gortner
Publication date:: July 16, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Synopsis:

Hunted by a shadowy foe in Bloody Mary’s court, Brendan Prescott plunges into London’s treacherous underworld to unravel a dark conspiracy that could make Elizabeth queen—or send her to her death in C.W. Gortner’s The Tudor Conspiracy.

England, 1553: Harsh winter encroaches upon the realm. Mary Tudor has become queen to popular acclaim and her enemies are imprisoned in the Tower. But when she’s betrothed to Philip, Catholic prince of Spain, putting her Protestant subjects in peril, rumors of a plot to depose her swirl around the one person whom many consider to be England’s heir and only hope—the queen’s half-sister, Princess Elizabeth.

Haunted by his past, Brendan Prescott lives far from the intrigues of court. But his time of refuge comes to an end when his foe and mentor, the spymaster Cecil, brings him disquieting news that sends him on a dangerous mission. Elizabeth is held captive at court, the target of the Spanish ambassador, who seeks her demise. Obliged to return to the palace where he almost lost his life, Brendan finds himself working as a double-agent for Queen Mary herself, who orders Brendan to secure proof that will be his cherished Elizabeth’s undoing.

Plunged into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a mysterious opponent who hides a terrifying secret, Brendan races against time to retrieve a cache of the princess’s private letters, even as he begins to realize that in this dark world of betrayal and deceit, where power is supreme and sister can turn against sister, nothing—and no one—is what it seems.


My Take:
The Tudor Conspiracy is only the second of Gortner's book that I have read, but I have to say, I like his style. The first of his books I read was not the first book in this series, but I didn't feel that was a hindrance. I think things are set up pretty well and reading the previous book isn't necessary for enjoyment.

I was excited to read The Tudor Conspiracy because I enjoy reading about the Tudors and I especially appreciate the fact that Elizabeth I had such a large network of spies during her reign. This book gives a fascinating, if fictional, look at how spies could have been a factor even before she took the throne.

I found Gortner's take on the suspicion, uncertainty, fear and scheming at court to be quite good and probably pretty accurate. It is clear that there is no love lost between Queen Mary and her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth. The many and various players in the court intrigues are fascinating to read about and try to unravel. Even though I know the history involved, there are enough minor and fictional characters that add to the story and keep things interesting and the reader uncertain as to exactly who is on what side and who will betray and who will remain loyal.  It was all great fun.

I am actually hoping that Gortner will add another book to the Spymaster series that will have Brendan working for Queen Elizabeth I and include the theater, Shakespeare and Marlowe, naturally - as well as all the political stuff, the various plots, etc. I've pretty much decided to just add all his books to my to be read list, since I have enjoyed both that I have read so far.

I can quite easily recommend The Tudor Conspiracy to anyone who likes historical fiction in general, enjoys Tudor history, English history or just enjoys a good tale.

About the Author

C.W. Gortner is the author of The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, The Queen’s Vow and The Tudor Secret. He holds an MFA in Writing, with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies. Raised in Spain and half Spanish by birth, he currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Tuesday, July 16
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Review & Giveaway at The Tudor Book Blog
Wednesday, July 17
Review at The Maiden’s Court
Review at Diary of a Book Addict
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Thursday, July 18
Review at Amused by Books
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Friday, July 19
Review at The Broke and the Bookish
Review & Giveaway at Enchanted by Josephine
Interview at The Tudor Book Blog
Monday, July 22
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at Jenny Loves to Read
Review at A Muse in the Fog Book Reviews
Tuesday, July 23
Review at Bippity Boppity Book
Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, July 24
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Review at A Writer’s Life: Working with the Muse
Thursday, July 25
Guest Post at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Feature & Giveaway at Ramblings From This Chick
Friday, July 26
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Interview at A Writer’s Life: Working with the Muse
Monday, July 29
Review at Books in the Burbs
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Review at Writing the Renaissance
Tuesday, July 30
Guest Post at Flashlight Commentary
Wednesday, July 31
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Thursday, August 1
Review at JulzReads
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Guest Post at A Chick Who Reads
Friday, August 2
Review at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Interview at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Monday, August 5
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, August 6
Review at From L.A. to LA
Review & Giveaway at Luxury Reading
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Wednesday, August 7
Review at Review From Here
Thursday, August 8
Review at My Renaissance Movement
Friday, August 9
Review at Always with a Book
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Monday, August 12
Review at A Book Geek
Review at Bloggin’ ’bout Books
Review at Historical Tapestry & Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Tuesday, August 13
Review at The Bookworm
Guest Post at A Book Geek
Wednesday, August 14
Review at My Reading Room
Guest Post at Book Nerds
Thursday, August 15
Review at Book Journey
Interview at My Reading Room
Friday, August 16
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Monday, August 19
Review at The True Book Addict
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time
Tuesday, August 20
Review at Lost in Books
Guest Post at The True Book Addict
Wednesday, August 21
Review at Broken Teepee
Thursday, August 22
Review at The Eclectic Reader
Guest Post at Broken Teepee
Monday, August 26
Review at Layered Pages
Review at A Bookish Libraria

Tuesday, August 27
Review at Book Addict Katie
Interview at Layered Pages

The Queen's Vow Blog Tour and Review

The Queen's Vow by C.W. Gortner
Publication Date: July 2, 2013 by Ballantine Books
Source: review copy provided by publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review

Synopsis:
No one believed I was destined for greatness.
So begins Isabella’s story, in this evocative, vividly imagined novel about one of history’s most famous and controversial queens—the warrior who united a fractured country, the champion of the faith whose reign gave rise to the Inquisition, and the visionary who sent Columbus to discover a New World. Acclaimed author C. W. Gortner envisages the turbulent early years of a woman whose mythic rise to power would go on to transform a monarchy, a nation, and the world.
Young Isabella is barely a teenager when she and her brother are taken from their mother’s home to live under the watchful eye of their half-brother, King Enrique, and his sultry, conniving queen. There, Isabella is thrust into danger when she becomes an unwitting pawn in a plot to dethrone Enrique. Suspected of treason and held captive, she treads a perilous path, torn between loyalties, until at age seventeen she suddenly finds herself heiress of Castile, the largest kingdom in Spain. Plunged into a deadly conflict to secure her crown, she is determined to wed the one man she loves yet who is forbidden to her—Fernando, prince of Aragon.
As they unite their two realms under “one crown, one country, one faith,” Isabella and Fernando face an impoverished Spain beset by enemies. With the future of her throne at stake, Isabella resists the zealous demands of the inquisitor Torquemada even as she is seduced by the dreams of an enigmatic navigator named Columbus. But when the Moors of the southern domain of Granada declare war, a violent, treacherous battle against an ancient adversary erupts, one that will test all of Isabella’s resolve, her courage, and her tenacious belief in her destiny.

From the glorious palaces of Segovia to the battlefields of Granada and the intrigue-laden gardens of Seville, The Queen’s Vow sweeps us into the tumultuous forging of a nation and the complex, fascinating heart of the woman who overcame all odds to become Isabella of Castile.

My Take:
I'm not sure how, but somehow I had never read any of C.W. Gortner's books before reading The Queen's Vow. I will be addressing that situation soon. The Queen's Vow was a great introduction to his work. I always think it is a difficult thing to try to write historical fiction about such a well know historical person such as Isabella of Castile because most people are at least somewhat familiar with her. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well C.W. Gortner handled the controversies of her reign as queen while at the same time making her very human and sympathetic.

By beginning the book right as her father is dying and her half-brother Enrique is about to become the next king, Gortner is able to establish the precarious nature of life for Isabella, her mother and brother Alfonso as they are swept away to a place of safety by Archbishop Carrillo. The reader gets to see how dangerous life could be for family members that are a bit too high in the line of succession.

I thought the author did a nice job of explaining the political situation as well as describing the rumors and gossip regarding Enrique's court and the fear that Isabella's mother had to live with regarding the safety of her children. The descriptions of Enrique and his life of decadence and his personal weakness goes far in helping to explain some of Isabella's opinions, beliefs and actions later.

This is an incredibly complicated and turbulent time and I was thoroughly involved in the story throughout the book - even though I knew the history, the way the story is woven together made it seem new. I thought the author did an admirable job with the complexity of portraying Isabella as a child, a young woman trying to find her way and then as a wife, mother and queen. By allowing the reader to follow Isabella through difficulties big and small on her path to become queen, we are able to see her as the human being she was, not just as a monarch.

I thought Gortner handled the contradictions of her personality, the contradictions between her beliefs and her actions, and the controversies of her actions as queen extremely well. There are many things about Isabella's reign that truly bother me, but this novel allowed me to see things in a slightly different way. I still have issues and questions, but I really liked that a historical fiction novel made me stop and reconsider some ideas.

Isabella was an intriguing and complicated person who had some strong ideas and some admirable goals - and she also made some decisions that are quite notorious. The period of time covered was turbulent and so exciting and dangerous and makes for a great tale.

The Queen's Vow provides a fascinating look at the life of Isabella of Castile and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction, books about royalty and intrigue, anyone interested in Spain, and actually pretty much everyone. I was so glad I had the chance to read this book and I can't wait to read other books by C.W. Gortner.

About the Author

C.W. Gortner is the author of The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, The Tudor Secret and The Queen’s Vow. He holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. In his extensive travels to research his books, he has experienced life in a Spanish castle and danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall. Half-Spanish by birth, he lives in Northern California.

You can find more information on C.W. Gortner’s website and blog. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Tuesday, July 2
Review at The Book Barista
Wednesday, July 3
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Thursday, July 4
Review at Sweet Tidbits
Interview at Unabridged Chick
Friday, July 5
Review at Twisting the Lens
Review at Geri, the History Lady
Monday, July 8
Review at nomadreader
Tuesday, July 9
Review at Babies, Books, and Beyond
Guest Post at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Wednesday, July 10
Review at From L.A. to LA
Thursday, July 11
Review at Peppermint, Ph.D.
Monday, July 15
Review at The Bluestocking Society
Review at Paperback Princess
Tuesday, July 16
Review at Book Nerds
Review at WTF Are you Reading?
Wednesday, July 17
Review at Book Addict Katie
Review at Always with a Book
Thursday, July 18
Review at Alternate Readality
Interview at WTF Are you Reading?
Friday, July 19
Review at A Book Geek
Monday, July 22
Review at Jo Jo Loves to Read
Tuesday, July 23
Review at Lost in Books
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Wednesday, July 24
Review at Legacy of a Writer
Thursday, July 25
Review at Booktalk & More
Guest Post at Lost in Books
Friday, July 26
Review at The Relentless Reader
Monday, July 29
Review at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Tuesday, July 30
Review at Long Ago Love
Review & Interview at The Life & Times of a Book Addict
Wednesday, July 31
Review at My Reading Room
Thursday, August 1
Review at vvb32 Reads
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Interview at My Reading Room
Friday, August 2
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Amused by Books
Monday, August 5
Review at Reader Girls
Review at Review From Here

Tuesday, August 6
Review at Layered Pages
Guest Post at Review From Here

The Queen's Rivals Blog Tour and Review

The Queen's Rivals by Brandy Purdy
Publication Date: June 25, 2013 by Kensington Books
Source: Review copy provided by publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Synopsis:
Their ambitions were ordinary, but they were born too close to the throne…
As cousins of history’s most tempestuous queens, Ladies Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey were born in an age when all of London lived beneath the Tower’s menacing shadow. Tyrannized by Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen, the sisters feared love was unthinkable —and the scaffold all but unavoidable…
Raised to fear her royal blood and what it might lead men to do in her name, Mary Grey dreads what will become of herself and her elder sisters under the reigns of Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I. On their honor, they have no designs on the crown, yet are condemned to solitude, forbidden to wed. Though Mary, accustomed to dwelling in the shadows, the subject of whispers, may never catch the eye of a gentleman, her beautiful and brilliant sisters long for freedoms that would surely cost their lives. And so, wizened for her years, Mary can only hope for divine providence amid a bleak present and a future at the whim of the throne — unless destiny gains the upper hand.
A gripping and bittersweet tale of broken families and broken hearts, courage and conviction, The Queen’s Rivals recounts an astonishing chapter in the hard-won battle for the Tudor throne.

Please note this book will be published in the UK on September 12, 2013 as THE FALLEN QUEEN by Emily Purdy.


My Take:

I have to admit that before reading The Queen's Rivals, I didn't know much more about Jane Grey than what I learned from the movie Lady Jane (1986). I know, this is bad. But I am happy to say that I feel that I learned so much from reading The Queen's Rivals and checking Google and historical sites as I read. I was quite impressed with the detail and accuracy of the book.

I found the choice of narrator as Lady Mary, the smallest, and probably least well known of the Grey sisters to be a unique and very effective one. While Jane considered herself to be the brilliant one, I would actually argue that Mary was the most intelligent because she had such common sense and a much more accurate view of the world they lived in. Despite her astute observations and practical outlook on her situation as a female and a dwarf with a certain standing, she was quite sentimental and very understanding of others' situations and misfortune, especially her sisters'.

These three girls are used as pawns in the plans of other powerful aristocrats, including their own parents, in various attempts to increase their own wealth and power. Mary seems to be the most aware of what is going on despite her inability to actually change anything. I thought The Queen's Rivals provided an interesting perspective into this precarious time in history. The Grey sisters were just a bit too close in succession to the throne for Edward VI, Mary, or Elizabeth to be comfortable and reading about their situation, how they coped - or didn't - and the various maneuverings of their families and other aristocrats was very interesting.

The descriptions of the clothing and hairstyles is quite detailed and anyone interested in these kinds of details will really enjoy this book. I enjoyed reading about the details of the stitching and the symbols, flower meanings, personal history included in the elaborate stitching on the clothing.

One aspect of the book that I found particularly enjoyable and interesting, was the way the fact that the Greys and the monarchs, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth are all family. I thought the family relationships were well described and made all the troubles between them seem very realistic. At times it seemed like some of the occasions  were very dangerous family reunions - instead of someone getting mad and going off in a huff and not speaking to the family member for years, someone could be imprisoned or put to death over some small slight - real or perceived.

I enjoyed The Queen's Rivals and found it to be very detailed and the characters well developed. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Tudor history, the Grey sisters, historical fashions, historical fiction in general.

About the Author

Brandy Purdy (Emily Purdy in the UK) is the author of the historical novels THE CONFESSION OF PIERS GAVESTON, THE BOLEYN WIFE (THE TUDOR WIFE), THE TUDOR THRONE (MARY & ELIZABETH), THE QUEEN’S PLEASURE (A COURT AFFAIR), and THE QUEEN’S RIVALS (THE FALLEN QUEEN). An ardent book lover since early childhood, she first became interested in history at the age of nine or ten years old when she read a book of ghost stories which contained a chapter about Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London. Visit her website at www.brandypurdy.com, you can also follow her, and her cat Tabby, via her blog at http://brandypurdy.blogspot.com where she posts updates about her work and weekly book reviews.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, June 17
Review & Giveaway at Luxury Reading
Tuesday, June 18
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Thursday, June 20
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Monday, June 24
Review & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Thursday, June 27
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Libraria
Monday, July 1
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, July 3
Review & Giveaway at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Friday, July 5
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Monday, July 8
Review at A Book Geek
Tuesday, July 9
Review & Giveaway at One Book at a Time
Wednesday, July 10
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Friday, July 12
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Monday, July 15
Review & Giveaway at A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, July 17
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Thursday, July 18
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Friday, July 19
Review at Psychotic State Book Reviews
Monday, July 22
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review & Giveaway at Bippity Boppity Book
Wednesday, July 24
Review & Giveaway at My Reading Room
Monday, July 29
Review & Giveaway at The Broke and the Bookish
Wednesday, July 31
Review & Giveaway at Always with a Book
Monday, August 5
Review & Giveaway at Tanzanite’s Castle Full of Books

Wednesday, August 7
Review & Giveaway at Cheryl’s Book Nook

Spartacus: Rebellion Blog Tour and Review

Spartacus: Rebellion by Ben Kane
Publication date: May 14, 2013 by St. Martin's Press
Source: Book provided by publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
Synopsis:
Spartacus has already done the impossible—not only has he escaped from slavery, he and his seconds have created a mighty slave army that has challenged Rome and defeated the armies of three praetors, two consuls, and one proconsul. On the plain of the River Po, in modern Northern Italy, Spartacus has defeated Gaius Cassius Longinus, proconsul and general of an army of two legions. Now the road home lies before them—to Thrace for Spartacus, and to Gaul for his seconds-in-command, Castus and Gannicus.
But storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. One of Spartacus’s most powerful generals has defected, taking his men with him. Back in Rome, the immensely rich Marcus Licinius Crassus is gathering an unheard-of Army. The Senate has given Crassus an army made up of ten legions and the authority to do whatever it takes to end the slave rebellion once and for all.

Meanwhile, Spartacus wants to lead his men over the Alps and home, but his two seconds have a different plan. They want to march on Rome itself and bring the Republic to its knees. Rebellion has become war. War to the death.


My Take:
I agreed to participate in the blog tour for Spartacus: Rebellion because we spend quite a bit of time on ancient history  - particularly Greek and Roman history - in our homeschool studies and I have developed a special fondness for reading fiction about ancient Rome. Many of the books I read are a bit more academic and a bit slower paced. Spartacus: Rebellion is definitely not slow paced. I think most people at all familiar
with Roman history are aware of Spartacus and are pretty fascinated with him. I mean, a slave that managed to successfully begin and maintain a large-scale slave rebellion against Rome? You can't get much wilder than that.

I have not read the first book, Spartacus: The Gladiator - it wasn't necessary, I knew what happened historically and I didn't feel lost while reading. However, after reading the second book, I will be going back to read the first because I really enjoyed the story that Ben Kane has created around what little is actually known about Spartacus. This is where the book really shines, for me. He manages to bring these people - some of whom are basically just names in history - into this incredibly vivid portrayal of what their lives and the events could have been like. Because so little is actually known, there is ample room for imagination and Kane really delivers. But even the things that he imagines fit into the historical records and make sense. I was actually pretty impressed with the attention to historical detail. I am not really that into military fiction, but in this case I made an exception and I'm glad that I did.

I enjoyed the book all the way through, but I have to say that the last quarter or so of the book was extremely difficult to put down and really, quite gut-wrenching. War is hell, we know this, and I think Roman wars are pretty awful. But, I was pretty much devastated by the descriptions of the final battles. So vivid. So brutal. I knew what was coming, so I thought I was prepared. I was wrong. Despite the sadness and brutality,  I thought the ending was really well done. Anyone interested in Roman history or military history should love Spartacus: Rebellion.

About the Author

Ben Kane was born in Kenya and raised there and in Ireland. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin, and worked in Ireland and the UK for several years. After that he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for seeing the world and learning more about ancient history. Seven continents and more than 65 countries later, he decided to settle down, for a while at least.
While working in Northumberland in 2001/2, his love of ancient history was fuelled by visits to Hadrian’s Wall. He naïvely decided to write bestselling Roman novels, a plan which came to fruition after several years of working full time at two jobs – being a vet and writing. Retrospectively, this was an unsurprising development, because since his childhood, Ben has been fascinated by Rome, and particularly, its armies. He now lives in North Somerset with his wife and family, where he has sensibly given up veterinary medicine to write full time.
To find out more about Ben and his books visit www.benkane.net.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Wednesday, May 15
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Boys
Thursday, May 16
Interview at The Maiden’s Court
Friday, May 17
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Monday, May 20
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, May 21
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Wednesday, May 22
Interview & Giveaway at Starting Fresh
Thursday, May 23
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Friday, May 24
Guest Post & Giveaway at CelticLady’s Reviews
Monday, May 27
Review at Bippity Boppity Book
Tuesday, May 28
Review at Okbo Lover
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, May 29
Review at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, May 30
Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Friday, May 31
Review & Guest Post at Drey’s Library
Guest Post at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Monday, June 3
Review at Book Drunkard
Review at The Eclectic Reader
Tuesday, June 4
Review & Giveaway at Luxury Reading
Wednesday, June 5
Review at A Book Geek
Thursday, June 6
Review at Freshscraped Vellum
Review & Giveaway at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Friday, June 7
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review & Giveaway at To Read or Not to Read
Interview at Freshscraped Vellum