Dark Aemilia Blog Tour and Review

Dark Aemilia by Sally O'Reilly
Publication Date: May 27, 2014 Picador/Macmillan
Formats: eBook, Hardcover
Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Book Tours for an honest review

 

READ AN EXCERPT.

A TALE OF SORCERY AND PASSION IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY LONDON—WHERE WITCHES HAUNT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND HIS DARK LADY, THE PLAYWRIGHT'S MUSE AND ONE TRUE LOVE.

The daughter of a Venetian musician, Aemilia Bassano came of age in Queen Elizabeth’s royal court. The Queen’s favorite, she develops a love of poetry and learning, maturing into a young woman known not only for her beauty but also her sharp mind and quick tongue. Aemilia becomes the mistress of Lord Hunsdon, but her position is precarious. Then she crosses paths with an impetuous playwright named William Shakespeare and begins an impassioned but ill-fated affair. A decade later, the Queen is dead, and Aemilia Bassano is now Aemilia Lanyer, fallen from favor and married to a fool. Like the rest of London, she fears the plague. And when her young son Henry takes ill, Aemilia resolves to do anything to save him, even if it means seeking help from her estranged lover, Will—or worse, making a pact with the Devil himself. In rich, vivid detail, Sally O’Reilly breathes life into England’s first female poet, a mysterious woman nearly forgotten by history. Full of passion and devilish schemes, Dark Aemilia is a tale worthy of the Bard.

  Selected by O, The Oprah Magazine as one of 17 Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down!

My Take:

Dark Aemilia is just an amazing book! I absolutely love the cover art. So beautiful. The writing is just as beautiful. The reader is first introduced to Aemilia in the prologue - so intriguing and foreshadows some of the events to come. I thought it set the tone for the book quite well.

When the story begins, Aemilia is one of the women  of Queen Elizabeth's court. She is the mistress of Lord Hundson and well educated. She is to attend a play that Will Shakespeare has written - The Taming of the Shrew. Aemilia takes exception to the way Shakespeare has written Katherine and tells him so in a series of letters between herself and the playwright. Their correspondence leads to a passionate affair. Things quickly get away from her. This seems to be a recurring theme with her -- her passions get the best of her. Aemilia becomes pregnant and in the book it is assumed to be Will's child. Because of her situation as a mistress, she is married off to Alfonso, a recorder player in the Queen's court. Poor Aemilia, always having her life controlled by men - as are all women's lives. But Aemilia doesn't take this very well. She is rebellious, intelligent and curious. She feels righteous indignation at her situation and this leads to some extreme choices.

Dark Aemilia portrays Aemilia as the inspiration for the poems to the Dark Lady by Shakespeare; there is no evidence that this is the case, but she is one of the candidates for the muse as well as one of the first women to have her poetry published professionally. These make her a good option for the role as Dark Lady. I loved that Aemilia is just as smart as the men and a determined writer who longs to improve herself and her writing.

The story is full of the sights, sounds and smells of London of the period, including the fear of witches, sorcery, demons, plague, childbirth, and death in all its forms. Aemilia and her servant Joan, have some dark dealings and the episodes are wonderfully written so that it hard to tell if it all really happened as Aemilia tells it or if the events are part of fever dreams and delirium caused by the plague and emotional exhaustion. The book is beautifully dark and filled with the anxiety of haunted and uncertain souls living in such precarious and volatile times.

I enjoyed Dark Aemilia so much. I can enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who is interested in Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, King James, witchcraft, women's history. While feminism didn't exist at the time, Aemilia has been called a proto-feminist and I think this book does a good job of representing these ideas within the time.

Praise for Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady

"A gripping novel that gives feisty feminist voice to the unknown woman who inspired Shakespeare’s sonnets… O’Reilly brings her star-crossed lovers together and drives them apart through plot twists that are, for once, credible outgrowths of the characters’ personalities and beliefs, finally giving them a tender, heartbreaking parting. First-rate historical fiction: marvelously atmospheric and emotionally engaging."—Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"[Dark Aemilia] mesmerizes with its descriptions of the Bard’s London…O’Reilly casts her story with witches, doomed royals, evil courtiers, and star-crossed lovers, as if it were a Jacobean play. But her finest accomplishment is not the tribute she pays to these historical figures, but the bold imagination she displays in bringing them together."—Publishers Weekly

"With elegant style, masterly wordplay, and an eye for historical detail, O’Reilly beautifully relates a passionate and tragic love story, worthy of two such well-known figures. With Shakespeare’s 450th birthday approaching this April, fans of historical fiction writers such as Philippa Gregory, Anne Easter Smith, and Tracy Chevalier won’t want to miss this one." —Library Journal

"O’Reilly’s American debut is an imaginative take on the life of poet Aemilia Layner, a contemporary of William Shakespeare…. This is a lively, vividly rendered novel about the dramatic life of an extraordinary woman."—Booklist

"Seductive, sharp-witted lady-in-waiting Aemilia Bassano, who later becomes known as England’s first published female poet, falls into a love affair with the Bard himself, loses favor with the court, and resorts to black magic and sorcery to save her child in this textured work of historical fiction."—O, The Oprah Magazine

"I just finished this, and I’m jumping at this opportunity to recommend it to book lovers far and wide… Dark Aemilia is a must-read for all lovers of Shakespeare and old England, and while it is written from the perspective of a woman, I am confident men will enjoy it, too. I am usually careful with my books, but this one quickly became a victim of dog ears and pencil-marks, because O’Reilly touches on so many crucial historical moments and writes with such intelligent elegance." —Anne Fortier, BookPage

"We all know Shakespeare wrote love sonnets. Now, O’Reilly’s new novel brings us the Bard’s sonnet-writing lover and sonnet-inspiring muse."—The New York Post

"Draped in the lure of magic and fantasy that weaved its way through many of Shakespeare’s plays, Dark Aemilia lives and breathes the late 16th century ….O’Reilly’s debut novel is a sweeping success, a tale full of action and intrigue and as deep as any ocean. Live vicariously through the eyes of one of the first proto-feminists to have lived. See as the author steps into her head and creates a world that is more realistic than the one outside your window. Let this book redefine the way you see love."—Bookreporter

Buy the Book

Amazon Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

About the Author

Sally O'Reilly has received numerous citations for her fiction, which has been shortlisted for the Ian St James Short Story Prize and the Cosmopolitan Short Story Award. A former Cosmopolitan New Journalist of the Year, her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, the Evening Standard, and the New Scientist. She teaches creative writing at the Open University and the University of Portsmouth in England. Dark Aemilia is her U.S. debut.
For information and news please visit Sally O'Reilly's website and the Dark Aemilia Facebook Page.

Dark Aemilia Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 18
Review at The Bookworm
Tuesday, August 19
Review & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Spotlight & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Wednesday, August 20
Guest Post at Bibliophilia, Please
Thursday, August 21
Spotlight at Princess of Eboli
Monday, August 25
Review at The Mad Reviewer
Review & Giveaway at Curling Up By the Fire
Tuesday, August 26
Review & Giveaway at Poof Books
Thursday, August 28
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Sunday, August 31
Review at Carole's Ramblings
Monday, September 1
Review at Book Drunkard
Giveaway at Carole's Ramblings
Tuesday, September 2
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, September 3
Review & Giveaway at Bibliophilia, Please
Friday, September 5
Review at Awesome Book Assessment
Tuesday, September 9
Review at Just One More Chapter
Wednesday, September 10
Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Thursday, September 11
Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Tuesday, September 16
Review & Giveaway at Bookish
Wednesday, September 17
Review & Giveaway at Casual Readers
Friday, September 19
Review & Giveaway at Book Nerd
Monday, September 22
Review at A Book Geek
Tuesday, September 23
Review & Giveaway at Beth's Book Reviews
Wednesday, September 24
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, September 26
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Sunday, September 28
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Monday, September 29
Review at 100 Pages a Day - Stephanie's Book Reviews
Review & Giveaway at Book Dilettante

Bergdorf Blondes Blog Tour and Review

Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
Publication date: August 19, 2014 by Harper Paperbacks
Source: Publisher via TLC Book Tours for an honest review
Description:
The tenth anniversary edition of New York Times bestselling author Plum Sykes’s timeless satire
Bergdorf Blondes are a thing, you know, a New York craze. Absolutely everyone wants to be one, but it’s actually très difficult. You wouldn’t believe the dedication it takes to be a gorgeous, flaxen-haired, dermatologically perfect New York girl with a life that’s fabulous beyond belief. Honestly, it all requires a level of commitment comparable to, say, learning Hebrew or quitting cigarettes.

Our heroine, “Moi,” described as a “champagne bubble of a girl about town,” gets into misadventures with fellow socialite and best friend Julie Bergdorf, a department store heiress. When Moi notices that getting engaged brings about a glow unattainable by facials, she and Julie scheme and shop to attract the perfect PH (Prospective Husband). Sykes’s debut is a pitch-perfect examination of the glittering lives of the young, rich, and fabulous living in New York.

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

My take:

I was hoping that Bergdorf Blondes would be a good "guilty pleasure" read for me - much like Gossip Girl is a total Netflix "guilty pleasure." In some ways it was what I had hoped - it is very light, funny in places and "Moi", the narrator, is likable, even though she seems a bit too naive (or silly) for my taste.

At times it was hard to decide if the book was truly trying to be a satire or not. But I did get a chuckle out of the description of how hard "Moi's" job of being a  socialite and some-time career-woman  was ----sometimes she actually has to write an article for the magazine she kind of works for. It is a tough life - what with all the sample sales, free clothes from work,  flights on private jets and a book club that is fancier than some wedding receptions.

Poor "Moi" and her search for the perfect Potential Husband. I am afraid that this is where the book kind of lost me - after a while one would think she would get a clue. Her reasons for wanting a fiance and her choice in men is very questionable. Of course, Charlie is the one bright light among all wealthy and/or famous losers, but I figured out who he was and how it would all work out pretty early on.

Despite its flaws, Bergdorf Blondes did amuse me and it was a nice diversion for a Saturday. If light fare and a few chuckles are what you are in the mood for, then by all means give it a try. The picture painted of the lives of these socialites may be a bit over the top, but then again, maybe not. At any rate, it can be fun to read about the way these social elites live and play.

About Plum Skyes

Plum Sykes was born in London and educated at Oxford. The author of the novels Bergdorf Blondes and The Debutante Divorcée and the Kindle Single memoir Oxford Girl, she is a contributing editor at American Vogue, where she writes about fashion, society, and Hollywood. She has also written for Vanity Fair. She lives in the English countryside with her husband and two daughters.

Plum’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, August 19th: A Bookish Way of Life – Bergdorf Blondes
Thursday, August 21st: booknerd – Bergdorf Blondes
Friday, August 22nd: Drey’s Library – The Debutante Divorcee
Monday, August 25th: Carpe Libros – The Debutante Divorcee
Tuesday, August 26th: Books in the Burbs – Bergdorf Blondes
Wednesday, August 27th: Book by Book – Bergdorf Blondes
Thursday, August 28th: Reading in Black & White – Bergdorf Blondes
Thursday, August 28th: From the TBR Pile – Bergdorf Blondes
Monday, September 1st: A Bookish Way of Life – The Debutante Divorcee
Tuesday, September 2nd: Drey’s Library – Bergdorf Blondes
Wednesday, September 3rd: Reading in Black & White – The Debutante Divorcee
Thursday, September 4th: booknerd – The Debutante Divorcee
Monday, September 8th: Mom in Love With Fiction – Bergdorf Blondes
Tuesday, September 9th: Staircase Wit – Bergdorf Blondes
Wednesday, September 10th: Reads for Pleasure – Bergdorf Blondes
Thursday, September 11th: BookNAround – Bergdorf Blondes
Tuesday, September 16th: Cruising Susan Reviews – Bergdorf Blondes
Wednesday, September 17th: A Book Geek – Bergdorf Blondes
Thursday, September 18th: Books à la Mode – Bergdorf Blondes
Thursday, September 18th: Book by Book – The Debutante Divorcee
Thursday, September 18th: Books in the Burbs – The Debutante Divorcee

TBD: Cruising Susan Reviews – The Debutante Divorcee

Guest Post by Alina García-Lapuerta, author of La Belle Creole

La Belle Creole by Alina Garcia-Lapuerta
Publication date: September 2014 by Chicago Review Press
Description:
Known for her beauty and angelic voice, Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, la Belle Créole, was a Cuban-born star of nineteenth-century Parisian society. She befriended aristocrats and artists alike, including Balzac, Baron de Rothschild, Rossini, and the opera diva La Malibran. A daughter of the creole aristocracy, Mercedes led a tumultuous life, leaving her native Havana as a teenager to join her mother in the heart of Madrid's elite society. As Napoleon swept Spain into the Peninsular War, Mercedes' family remained at the center of the storm, and her marriage to French general Christophe-Antoine Merlin tied her fortunes to France. Arriving in Paris in the aftermath of the French defeat, she re-created her life, ultimately hosting the city's premier musical salon. Acknowledged as one of the greatest amateur sopranos of her day, she nurtured artistic careers and daringly paved the way for well-born singers to publicly perform in lavish philanthropic concerts. Beyond her musical renown, Mercedes achieved fame as a writer. Her memoirs and travel writings introduced European audiences to nineteenth-century Cuban society and contributed to the debate over slavery. Scholars still quote her descriptions of Havana life and recognize her as Cuba's earliest female author. Mercedes epitomized an unusually modern life, straddling cultures and celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. Her memoirs, travel writings, and very personal correspondence serve as the basis for this first-ever English-language account of the passionate and adventuresome Belle Créole.

Book Trailer:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Guest Post:

Those who have seen the new book trailer for La Belle Créole have probably noticed the song performed throughout the video. A pianist plays at a grand piano while a soprano sings an emotional, Spanish-like song in a beautiful room in an early nineteenth-century house. The general idea is a recreation of a performance at Mercedes’ salon, but a few keen observers have asked me if this was Mercedes’ own composition. The answer is yes, it is Mercedes’ own work – one she most probably also sang. It has also been almost completely unknown for many years – possibly since her death in 1852.

The story of how we came to record it and hopefully launch it back into the world is one which owes much to many generous and talented people. It was also due to a bit of coincidence and luck.

Sometime last year, when I was still writing the manuscript and even pulling together sources, I found that two of Mercedes’ concert programs had miraculously survived and existed in the Museum of Music History. The programs were the ones she had printed for her private concerts – on her grand salonnights. I had never seen one – but in London I discovered that some long ago English guests had kept not one, but two, tucked away in their engagement diary cum scrapbook. The guardian of this gem was a former professor at the Royal College of Music and he agreed to let me review it there. Meeting him was pure serendipity – I learned so much about the Parisian musical scene from him. He was a living repository of information.

In the course of our conversation, I mentioned that in an old biography of Mercedes, there were some pages of music, seemingly her own composition. The biography contained no further information and I had never found any other reference to the little composition. The professor offered to play it for me so that I would know what it sounded like.

A week or so later, he came to my home and played it for me and my friend Nadine. Using her iPhone, Nadine recorded the event. It was a lovely piece – clearly inspired by traditional Spanish melodies – similar to those Mercedes had sung with her sister Pepita in Madrid. Even in Paris, Mercedes had often performed these Spanish songs – sometimes with castanets – to entertain her friends. A detailed description exists of one memorable evening, with Mercedes singing and dancing to an improvised Spanish song played by Chopin. Our professor pointed out it was a challenging piece for voice and added that Mercedes must certainly have been a talented singer.

While looking at the pages of music, I wondered out loud where or when it had first appeared. I must have looked at these pages countless times throughout the years – yet at that moment, the professor suddenly found the answer. The name was right there on the first page, almost blacked out for some reason, but still visible – yet I had never noticed it! It had appeared in the Correo de Ultramar, a Spanish language journal published in Paris. Something clicked in my brain. I had seen that name before – somewhere. But where? In letters from Cuba? Paris?

Googling soon found the name of the founder and publisher, and THAT name Mercedes had definitely mentioned in her correspondence. In fact, there was even a letter alluding to sending Air Espagnol to him. The year was 1843, in the middle of writing and publishing her famous La Havane and Viaje a la Habana. Where and when were solved. But I have never been able to answer how and why.

The probable date of that composition possibly makes Mercedes Cuba’s first published female composer.

The song stayed with me, but the manuscript had to be finished. Then edited. Still, I kept thinking that it would be wonderful to “resurrect” the song, hear it sung by a soprano, as Mercedes would have sung it, in a beautiful salon. I really envisioned it as the centerpiece to a book trailer… but this seemed a complicated goal. I would need a pianist, soprano, video and sound crew, venue and a video editor. Enter Nadine, once again full of inspiration and contacts. In a whirlwind of activity she recruited concert pianist Olga Jegunova who in turn found soprano Kirstin Sharpin. A crew was already recording Olga for a concert courtesy of the BBC and could also record our piece. The owners of the lovely home and hosts for the charitable concert graciously allowed it to serve as our backdrop, and a wonderful editor was found – recommended by the BBC gang. All was in place and the result was magical!
So here is the full performance of Merecdes’ work. Over 170 years since its composition, Mercedes’ bittersweet Air Espagnol, is lost no longer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Corresponding link to the music (which for some reason won't embed correctly):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxLz4pt3tWI./

Author Biography

Born in Havana, Alina García-Lapuerta holds degrees in international economics from GeorgetownUniversity's School of Foreign Service and international relations from TuftsUniversity's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and worked for a number of years in banking. Now based in London with her Spanish American husband and their two children, she spends considerable time in South Florida. She is a member of Biographers International Organization and the Biographers' Club.

Unexpected Gifts Blog Tour and Review

Unexpected Gifts by S.R. Mallery
Publication Date: April 16, 2013
Mockingbird Lane Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher/author via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review

Can we learn from our ancestral past? Do our relatives’ behaviors help mold our own? In "Unexpected Gifts," that is precisely what happens to Sonia, a confused college student, heading for addictions and forever choosing the wrong man. Searching for answers, she begins to read her family’s diaries and journals from America’s past: the Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Timothy Leary era; Tupperware parties, McCarthyism, and Black Power; the Great Depression, dance marathons, and Eleanor Roosevelt; the immigrant experience and the Suffragists. Back and forth the book journeys, linking yesteryear with modern life until finally, by understanding her ancestors' hardships and faults, she gains enough clarity to make some right choices.


My Take:
Unexpected Gifts sounded like it had potential, so I agreed to read it for review. I honestly didn't know how well the premise would work out, but it did intrigue me. I have to state right off that I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I am into family history and have researched my own genealogy and if someone had given me treasures like Sonia's mother showed her, I would have been in heaven.

Sonia is obviously troubled and at the start of the book, is incapable of seeing her choices for how bad they actually were. As a psych major, you would think she would have a better grip on her own issues, but for much of the book she is in denial.  However, one particularly bad night for her parents starts her on a path to discover her family's history - starting with her own parents.

I really loved how Sonia is able to see her parents lives differently once she gets the chance to read their letters and/or diaries. I found myself so caught up in their lives that when the book switches back to Sonia, I was a little upset because I wanted to read more. Actually, with each generation, I was equally captivated by their stories - the good, the bad, the triumphs, the struggles, and especially the history.

 Fortunately, Sonia is able to find out the real problems and issues her ancestors dealt with and could see some of their traits in herself. Reading about the mistakes her ancestors made and the consequences of them seems to work as a wake-up call for Sonia and she is able to break some of the cycles of bad decisions.

I enjoyed Unexpected Gifts so much - for a variety of reasons. I loved the look at each historical period and the depictions of the families within each period. Sonia was so obviously in need of some type of intervention, and the look through her family history seems to have been just the thing. I will be suggesting this book to all my friends and can recommend it to anyone interested in U.S. history in particular, genealogy or historical fiction.

Watch the Book Trailer

Praise for Unexpected Gifts

“S.R. Mallery has caught the defining moments in the lives of one working class, upward striving family, as each one of them benefits from and contributes to the growth and setbacks of America itself…A rich and involving book, the author has written a gem. –Dorothy Salisbury Davis, A Gentle Murderer, Lullaby of Murder, The Pale Betrayer, etc.

“S.R. Mallery, with her strong sense of history and deft narrative skills, shows us one American family’s fascinating journey through flashpoints of American history, as a modern day young woman discovers the spirited narratives of her forbears, and is inspired to take charge of her own life…. an impressive, wonderfully thought out and well-told first novel.” –Carla Davidson, former Senior Editor at American Heritage Magazine

Buy the Book

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

About the Author

S.R. Mallery has worn various hats in her life.

First, a classical/pop singer/composer, she moved on to the professional world of production art and calligraphy. Next came a long career as an award winning quilt artist/teacher and an ESL/Reading instructor. Her short stories have been published in descant 2008, Snowy Egret, Transcendent Visions, The Storyteller, and Down In the Dirt.

"Unexpected Gifts", her debut novel, is currently available on Amazon. "Sewing Can Be Dangerous and Other Small Threads", her collection of short stories, Jan. 2014, both books by Mockingbird Lane Press.

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

Unexpected Gifts Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, September 1
Review at Bookish
Review at Unshefish

Wednesday, September 3
Review at Reading Room Book Reviews
Guest Post at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, September 4
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

Friday, September 5
Spotlight at What Is That Book About

Monday, September 8
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, September 9
Review at Beth's Book Reviews
Review at CelticLady's Reviews

Thursday, September 11
Review at Book Nerd

Friday, September 12
Review at A Book Geek
Spotlight at From the TBR Pile
Spotlight & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Edwin: High King of Britain Blog Tour and Review

Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Lion Fiction
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: The Northumbrian Thrones (Book 1)
Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review

Debut historical fiction series vividly recreating the rise of the Christian kings of Northumbria, England.

In 604 AD, Edwin, the deposed king of Northumbria, seeks refuge at the court of King Raedwald of East Anglia. But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As Edwin walks by the shore, alone and at bay, he is confronted by a mysterious figure--the missionary Paulinus-- who prophesies that he will become High King of Britain. It is a turning point.

Through battles and astute political alliances Edwin rises to power, in the process marrying the Kentish princess Aethelburh. As part of the marriage contract the princess is allowed to retain her Christian faith. But, in these times, to be a king is not a recipe for a long life.

This turbulent and tormented period in British history sees the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who have forced their way on to British shores over previous centuries, arriving first to pillage, then to farm and trade--and to come to terms with the faith of the Celtic tribes they have driven out.

The dramatic story of Northumbria's Christian kings helped give birth to England as a nation, English as a language, and the adoption of Christianity as the faith of the English.




My Take:

From the start, Edwin faces threats to his life, exile, and betrayal. In the first chapter Edwin has hit a low point and is awaiting an assassin, when he meets a mysterious stranger that gives him hope for the future. This is the point that I was completely hooked.

The historical period covered in Edwin: High King of Britain isn't written about very much, or at least, I haven't encountered it much in my reading so far. I have to wonder why, since I was captivated with the period as described by Albert in Edwin. Albert does a wonderful job of bringing the political and religious tensions to life and making sure the reader is able to keep up with all the unfamiliar names and places.

Besides all the wonderful political tension between the kings and nobles, I particularly enjoyed the depiction of the unsettled, violent, precarious time when two different religions are clashing and one is gradually being phased out. I found the pagan priest, Coifi, to be fascinating and annoying and humorous. And really, I felt kind of sorry for him. There are several other important characters that were also very well developed.

I appreciated that Edwin is presented as a complex character - as any king should be. I found the depiction of his personal conflicts with other kings and nobles and ultimately his conflict about which religion is right for him to be key to understanding and sympathizing with him. I was eager to find out more about the mysterious figure from the first chapter and that episode was worth the wait.

I look forward to reading more of The Northumbrian Thrones series and can happily recommend Edwin: High King of Britain to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Praise for Edwin: High King of Britain

“In the first installment of the Northumbrian Thrones, a new historical fiction series, Albert launches readers into the tumultuous world of 7th century Northumbria. Edwin, the deposed king of the region, forges political alliances, is betrayed, and fights critical battles that form the arc of his rise and fall as High King of Britain. As he ages, he fears for the future of his kingdom, and war has simply become a necessary evil. His shifting worldview leads to conversion to the Christian faith—a slow process given special attention by Albert. But it is not a clear path, and sometimes Edwin and his subordinates doubt the validity and the power of the Christian God, as opposed to the pagan deities they have left behind. Albert’s focus on the religious element does not detract from the political and dramatic aspects of the history he is portraying. Rather, it lends an extra dimension of psychological turmoil, because characters must deal with the problem of not only individual identity but also the beginnings of a national identity related to religion. Albert’s offering is a highly entertaining and refreshing work of historical fiction thanks to his emphasis on the precarious intersection of religion and identity.” –Publishers Weekly

“A splendid novel that leaves the reader wanting more.” –Bernard Cornwell, New York Times bestselling author

“A fast-paced and gripping tale of the great Northumbrian King Edwin, reclaiming one of our great national figures from the shadows of history.” –Justin Hill, author of Shieldwall

Buy the Book

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
IndieBound

About the Author

Edoardo Albert is a writer of Sri Lankan and Italian extraction based in London. The best response to his writing was when he reduced a friend to helpless, hysterical, rolling-on-the-floor-holding-his-stomach laughter. Unfortunately, the writing in question was a lonely hearts ad. He hopes to produce similar results in readers, without inadvertently acquiring another wife.

For more information, please visit Edoardo Albert's website. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Edwin: High King of Britain Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 25
Review at Princess of Eboli
Review at 2 Book Lovers Reviews

Tuesday, August 26
Review at Just One More Chapter
Review & Giveaway at Unshelfish

Wednesday, August 27
Review at Dab of Darkness

Thursday, August 28
Interview & Giveaway at Dab of Darkness

Monday, September 1
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Review at Queen of All She Reads

Tuesday, September 2
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, September 3
Review at The Writing Desk
Review at The Mad Reviewer

Friday, September 5
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Monday, September 8
Review at A Book Geek
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Tuesday, September 9
Review at Book Nerd

Wednesday, September 10
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day - Stephanie's Book Reviews
Interview & Giveaway at Thoughts in Progress

Friday, September 12
Review at A Bibliotaph's Reviews

Monday, September 15
Review & Giveaway at Words and Peace

Tuesday, September 16
Review at Layered Pages

Thursday, September 18
Review & Giveaway at Beth's Book Reviews

Friday, September 19
Review at Book Drunkard

Shadow on the Highway Book Blast and Giveaway

Please join Deborah Swift as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for Shadow on the Highway (The Highway Trilogy, Book One), from August 25-September 15, and enter to win your own copy!


Publication Date: July 15, 2014
Endeavor Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback; 200P

Series: The Highway Trilogy
Genre: Historical Fiction/YA (14+)



May 1651. England has been in the midst of a civil war for nearly ten years. The country has been torn in two, and the King is getting ready to make his last stand against Cromwell?s New Model Army.

Abigail Chaplin, a young mute girl, has lost her father to the parliamentarian cause. But with her family now in reduced circumstances, she is forced to work as a servant at a royalist household - the estate of Lady Katherine Fanshawe.

Abi is soon caught up in a web of sinister secrets which surround the Fanshawe estate. The most curious of which is the disappearance of Lady Katherine late at night.

Why are her husband?s clothes worn and muddy even though he hasn?t been home for weeks? How is she stealing out of the house late at night when her room is being guarded? And what is her involvement with the robberies being committed by the mysterious Shadow on the Highway?

?Shadow On The Highway? is based on the life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, the highwaywoman, sometimes known as ?The Wicked Lady?. It is the first book in ?The Highway Trilogy?.

Praise for Deborah Swift

"There is no greater compliment than 'Give me more!'" - Author Susanna Gregory

"realistic dialogue, an author?s obvious love for history, and characters that leap off the pages" - Romance Reviews Today

"genuinely engrossing? with characters you can get interested in" - The Mum Website

Buy the Book

Amazon US
Amazon UK

About the Author

Deborah Swift used to work in the theatre and at the BBC as a set and costume designer, before studying for an MA in Creative Writing in 2007. She lives in a beautiful area of Lancashire near the Lake District National Park. She is the author of The Lady?s Slipper and is a member of the Historical Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romantic Novelists Association.

For more information, please visit Deborah?s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Shadow on the Highway Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 25
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, August 26
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Book Blast at Princess of Eboli

Wednesday, August 27
Guest Post at Reading the Past
Book Blast at Broken Teepee

Thursday, August 28
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Book Blast at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, August 29
Book Blast at Passages to the Past
Book Blast at What Is That Book About

Monday, September 1
Review at The Maiden's Court
Book Blast at Reading Lark

Tuesday, September 2
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, September 3
Review at A Bookish Affair

Friday, September 5
Book Blast at Curling Up By the Fire

Saturday, September 6
Book Blast at A Book Geek

Monday, September 8
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Tuesday, September 9
Review at Brooke Blogs
Book Blast at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, September 10
Review at Unabridged Chick
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, September 11
Review & Guest Post at Just One More Chapter
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Book Blast at Luxury Reading

Friday, September 12
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Monday, September 15
Review at Historical Tapestry
Book Blast at A Bibliophile's Reverie

Giveaway

To win a Paperback or eBook of Shadow on the Highway please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Five copies of each are up for grabs. Giveaway is open internationally.

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on September 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on September 16th and notified via email.
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maxwell Street Blues Blog Tour and Review

Maxwell Street Blues by Marc Krulewitch
Publication date: August 5, 2014 by Alibi
Source: digital edition from Publisher via TLC Book Tours for an honest review
Description:

Readers of Robert Crais’s Elvis Cole mysteries will love Jules Landau, a college man turned private eye on the Windy City’s mean streets—a virtual school of hard knocks where graduation means just staying alive.

Chicago runs in Jules Landau’s veins. So does the blood of crooks. Now Jules is going legit as a private eye, stalking bail jumpers and cheating spouses—until he gets his first big case. Unfortunately, the client is his ex-con father, and the job is finding the killer of a man whom Jules loved like family. Why did someone put two bullets in the head of gentle bookkeeper Charles Snook? Jules is determined to find out, even if the search takes him to perilous places he never wanted to go.

Snooky, as he was affectionately known, had a knack for turning dirty dollars clean, with clients ranging from humble shop owners to sharp-dressed mobsters. As Jules retraces Snooky’s last days, he crosses paths with a way-too-eager detective, a gorgeous and perplexing tattoo artist, a silver-haired university administrator with a kinky side, and a crusading journalist. Exposing one dirty secret after another, the PI is on a dangerous learning curve. And, at the top of that curve, a killer readies to strike again.



My Take:
Maxwell Street Blues definitely falls into the "fun read" category. The main character, Jules Landau, is a sarcastic, smart-mouthed, loyal, and stubborn private investigator who happens to descend from some rather notorious businessmen -  or "gangsters", according to some in his hometown of Chicago.

Jules takes some serious knocks over the course of the book - it seemed like every chapter included him getting beat up yet again. Poor guy.  He just doesn't give up. Jules wasn't about to let Snooky's murderer get away, so all the warnings were for naught. Along the way, he runs into some interesting people, including a beautiful tattoo artist who isn't quite what she seems, a crooked college president, shady businessmen, crooked cops, just to name a few.

I really enjoyed following Jules as he gathered the evidence needed to figure out why Snooky was killed and who did it. I have to admit that I was totally wrong about the killer -- but I was sort of right about a couple of characters. I really like it when I don't guess who the murderer is right away.

I loved that it takes place in Chicago with all the landmarks and history -- including many of the exact things in the book -- corruption, gangsters, etc.  This is one of those books that I am happy to recommend and will be suggesting to friends. The story is fast-paced and drew me in from the very first page.  It is definitely worth the read.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Marc Krulewitch

Marc Krulewitch’s Jules Landau mysteries take place in Chicago, where he was born and where his family has lived for generations. He now resides in Colorado.

Marc Krulewitch’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, July 28th: Reading Reality
Tuesday, July 29th: Mystery Playground
Wednesday, July 30th: Dwell in Possibility
Monday, August 4th: Omnimystery News - author guest post
Thursday, August 7th:  Rhodes Review
Thursday, August 14th: Book Dilettante
Tuesday, August 19th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, August 19th:  Words by Webb
Monday, August 25th:  Just One More Chapter
Monday, August 25th:  By the Book Reviews
Tuesday, August 26th: Fiction Zeal
Thursday, August 28th: Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Wednesday, September 3rd:  Kritter’s Ramblings
Friday, September 5th: A Book Geek

The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar Blog Tour and Review

The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar by Kim Rendfeld
Publication date: August 28, 2014 by Fireship Press
Source: Digital galley from Publisher for an honest review
Description:

Can love triumph over war?

772 AD: Charlemagne’s battles in Saxony have left Leova with nothing but her two children, Deorlaf and Sunwynn. Her beloved husband died in combat. Her faith lies shattered in the ashes of Irminsul, the Pillar of Heaven. The relatives obligated to defend her and her family sell them into slavery instead.

In Francia, Leova is resolved to protect her son and daughter, even if it means sacrificing her own honor. Her determination only grows stronger as Sunwynn blossoms into a beautiful young woman attracting the lust of a cruel master, and Deorlaf becomes a headstrong man willing to brave starvation and demons to free his family. Yet Leova’s most difficult dilemma comes in the form of a Frankish friend, Hugh. He saves Deorlaf from a fanatical Saxon and is Sunwynn’s champion — but he is the warrior who slew Leova’s husband.

Set against a backdrop of historic events, including the destruction of the Irminsul, The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar explores faith, friendship, and justice. This companion to Kim Rendfeld’s acclaimed The Cross and the Dragon tells the story of an ordinary family in extraordinary circumstances.

My Take:

The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar takes place during a really interesting period in time - that transition period when a country is being conquered and religions are switching. Stories like this fascinate me - I am not sure why, but I am always interested in novels that take place during huge transitions. 

Another interesting thing about The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar is that the entire novel focuses on regular people - not knights or kings or wealthy women. They all make appearances in the novel, but the focus is on Leova and her children. They are normal every day people - farmers, really. Leova's husband is killed in battle defending their village and homes. This is tragedy enough, but then in a horrible twist, Leova's sister-in-law betrays them and sells them as slaves. At this point I was so upset, that I had to put the book down for awhile. Such horrible people! Fortunately, Leova, Sunwynn and Deorlaf are wonderful people and manage to survive and keep together for a time.

Leova and her children face so many difficulties. It really doesn't seem fair. Leova will do anything for her children. She makes some tough decisions, but she is always doing her best for her children. Both Sunwynn and Deorlaf try to help too, but Leova is older and wiser and tries to make sure they keep cool heads about them. Deorlaf, is of course, the wild card - now the man of the family and wanting to prove himself. I enjoyed reading about Deorlaf's adventures and was relieved to see evidence of his growing maturity. He does well for himself and is able to finally help his mother and sister. 

This was an enjoyable read, but the family was pitted against so many foes, it could be a bit depressing at times. It does give a really descriptive depiction of the plight of the slaves from war and the strangeness of adjusting to a new country, new language, and new religion. I found it refreshing that the book focused on regular people and upsetting that what happened to Leova and her children probably wasn't that uncommon. 

The Ashes of Heaven's Pillar is a book I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a good historical novel - especially one that deals with transitions in power and religion. This book offers a unique and detailed look at a people who were witnessing the end of their way of life and a family that remains faithful to each other to the end.


About the Author:

Kim Rendfeld has a lifelong fascination with fairy tales and legends, which set her on her quest to write The Cross and the Dragon.

She grew up in New Jersey and attended Indiana University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English, with a minor in French. If it weren't for feminism, she would be one of those junior high English teachers scaring the bejesus out of her students, correcting grammar to the point of obnoxiousness. Instead, her career has been in journalism, public relations, and now fiction.

Kim was a journalist for almost twenty years at Indiana newspapers, including the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, The Muncie Star, and The News and Sun in Dunkirk, and she won several awards from the Hoosier State Press Association. Her career changed in 2007, when she joined the marketing and communications team at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She gets paid to agonize over commas and hyphens, along with suggesting ways to improve writing, and thoroughly enjoys it. She is proud to have been part of projects that have received national recognition.

Kim lives in Indiana with her husband, Randy, and their spoiled cats. They have a daughter and three granddaughters.

Advance Praise for The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar

“Carolingian Europe comes alive in Kim Rendfeld’s sweeping story of family and hope, set against the Saxon Wars. Her transportive and triumphant novel immerses us in an eighth century world that feels both mystical and starkly real.”  - Jessica Brockmole, author of Letters from Skye

“A captivating historical filled with rich detail, compelling characters, and a well-paced plot that keeps the pages turning to its very satisfying end. A true delight for fans of historical fiction. I couldn’t put it down.” — Susan Spann, author of the Shinobi Mysteries

“The Ashes of Heaven’s Pillar is refreshingly set in a less familiar medieval period – soon after Charlemagne has conquered a portion of today’s Germany and its people. The characters are refreshing also, common folk instead of the lords and ladies who are the usual inhabitants of historical novels, and how they adjust to their new condition is fascinating. Altogether, this book was absorbing from start to finish.” – Roberta Gellis, author of The Roselynde Chronicles

The Tapestry Cover Reveal

Publication Date: March 24, 2015 Touchstone Publishing Formats: eBook, Hardcover Pages: 390

Genre: Historical Mystery Series: Joanna Stafford, Book Three

In THE CROWN, Sister Joanna Stafford searched for a Dark Ages relic that could save her priory from Cromwell’s advancing army of destruction. In THE CHALICE, Joanna was drawn into an international conspiracy against Henry VIII himself as she struggled to learn the truth behind a prophecy of his destruction. Now, in THE TAPESTRY, Joanna Stafford finally chooses her own destiny. After her Dominican priory in Dartford closed forever—collateral damage in tyrannical King Henry VIII’s quest to overthrow the Catholic Church—Joanna resolves to live a quiet and honorable life weaving tapestries, shunning dangerous quests and conspiracies. Until she is summoned to Whitehall Palace, where her tapestry weaving has drawn the King’s attention. Joanna is uncomfortable serving the King, and fears for her life in a court bursting with hidden agendas and a casual disregard for the virtues she holds dear. Her suspicions are confirmed when an assassin attempts to kill her moments after arriving at Whitehall. Struggling to stay ahead of her most formidable enemy yet, an unknown one, she becomes entangled in dangerous court politics. Her dear friend Catherine Howard is rumored to be the King’s mistress. Joanna is determined to protect young, beautiful, naïve Catherine from becoming the King’s next wife and, possibly, victim. Set in a world of royal banquets and feasts, tournament jousts, ship voyages, and Tower Hill executions, this thrilling tale finds Joanna in her most dangerous situation yet, as she attempts to decide the life she wants to live: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. Joanna Stafford must finally choose.

Pre-Order the Book

Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound

About the Author

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. THE TAPESTRY will be released in March 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 please visit Nancy Bilyeau's website.