Category: Historical Fiction

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of Historical Fiction genre.

  • A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox

    A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox

    A Girl Like You

    A Girl Like You (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox

    Release: November, 2017
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Michelle Cox
    Source: iRead Book Tours
    Find it at: Amazon, AudibleChirpiBooks, KoboGoogle Store

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    Henrietta Von Harmon works as a 26 girl at a corner bar on Chicago’s northwest side. It’s 1935, but things still aren’t looking up since the big crash and her father’s subsequent suicide, leaving Henrietta to care for her antagonistic mother and younger siblings. Henrietta is eventually persuaded to take a job as a taxi dancer at a local dance hall—and just when she’s beginning to enjoy herself, the floor matron turns up dead. When aloof Inspector Clive Howard appears on the scene, Henrietta agrees to go undercover for him—and is plunged into Chicago’s grittier underworld.

    Meanwhile, she’s still busy playing mother hen to her younger siblings, as well as to pesky neighborhood boy Stanley, who believes himself in love with her and keeps popping up in the most unlikely places, determined to keep Henrietta safe—even from the Inspector, if need be. Despite his efforts, however, and his penchant for messing up the Inspector’s investigation, the lovely Henrietta and the impenetrable Inspector find themselves drawn to each other in most unsuitable ways.

    About the Author:

    Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    A Girl Like You Review:

    Agatha Christie mystery meets Moulin Rouge! This book was fun, gripping, intriguing and romantic. I just loved it!

    When I started reading this story, I expected it to be a relatively modest mystery, as it takes place in the 30s. Boy was I wrong! It has false identities, LGBT themes, exploitation, all surrounding a murder mystery and investigation of missing girls. However, the author writes all this in such a tasteful manner that keeps you hooked to the story-line. There are many scenes that stuck to me, like how Henrietta tries to find the mystery behind the Green Door, and who Neptune is. I was surprised when the author reveals the person behind it. Hence, the author maintained the plot very well.

    Coming to the characters, I loved them all. Henrietta is wonderful in the lead as the curious girl who doesn’t really know what she is getting into. Moreover, I loved her budding romance with Inspector Howard. Both of them make a fine pair, and I am very interested to see how their story-line progresses in the following books. Similarly, I also loved Polly and Stanley. Poor Stanley, I hope his luck changes in the continuing books. Also, Agnes and Jenks really creeped me out. In fact, Marlowe as a setting was lively yet somewhat disturbing.

    However, the only minor criticism I have towards the story is that I felt it was too wordy at times. The story is very nice, but the author tries to over explain the scenes, when it sentences could have been shorter. Apart from that, I thought this was one of the most entertaining historical novels I read.

    Overall, this was a wonderful start to the series and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

    Tour Schedule:

    A Girl Like You

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A Girl Like You (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox  Blog Tour hosted by  iRead Book Tours

    Tour Schedule:

    Week 1

    Bookish Paradise – Aug 31 – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
    Hall Ways Blog – Aug 31 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
    Rockin’ Book Reviews – Aug 31 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / guest post / giveaway
    Lamon Reviews – Sep 1 –audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
    Rebecca Graf on Medium – Sep 1 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You

    Bookriot – Sep 2 – audiobook review for A Child Lost / author interview / giveaway
    Rajiv’s Reviews – Sep 2 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
    Library of Clean Reads – Sep 2 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
    Locks, Hooks and Books – Sep 3 –audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
    Amy’s Booket List – Sep 3 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You
    Rebecca Graf on Medium – Sep 4 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth
    Rajiv’s Reviews – Sep 4 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway

    Week 2

    Rockin’ Book Reviews – Sep 7 –audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
    Books for Books –Sep 7 –audiobook review of A Girl Like You
    Rajiv’s Reviews – Sep 7 -audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
    Sefina Hawke’s Books – Sep 8 –  series spotlight
    Rebecca Graf on Medium – Sep 8 – audiobook review of A Promise Given
    Jazzy Book Reviews –Sep 9 – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway

    Rajiv’s Reviews – Sep 9 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
    Library of Clean Reads – Sep 9 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
    Amy’s Booket List – Sep 10 audiobook review of A Ring of Truth
    Rosepoint Publishing – Sep 10 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You
    Books for Books – Sep 11 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth
    Rebecca Graf on Medium – Sep 11- audiobook review of A Veil Removed

    Week 3

    Hall Ways Blog – Sep 14 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
     Rockin’ Book Reviews – Sep 14 –audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
    Rajiv’s Reviews – Sep 14 -audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway
    Olio By Marilyn – Sep 15 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
    Rebecca Graf on Medium – Sep 15 – audiobook review of A Child Lost

    Rockin’ Book Reviews – Sep 16 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
    Library of Clean Reads – Sep 16 -audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
    Locks, Hooks and Books – Sep 17 –audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
    Amy’s Booket List – Sep 17 audiobook review of A Promise Given
    Books for Books – Sep 18 – audiobook review of A Promise Given
    From the TBR Pile – Sep 18 -audiobook review of A Girl Like You

    Week 4

    Books for Books – Sep 21 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed
    Hall Ways Blog – Sep 21 – audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
     Rockin’ Book Reviews – Sep 22 -audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway
    Olio By Marilyn – Sep 22 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
    Book Corner News and Reviews – Sep 23 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway

    Library of Clean Reads – Sep 23 -audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
     Locks, Hooks and Books – Sep 24 –audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
    Amy’s Booket List – Sep 24 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed
    Books for Books – Sep 25 – audiobook review of A Child Lost
    From the TBR Pile – Sep 25 – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth

    Week 5

    Hall Ways Blog – Sep 28 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
    From the TBR Pile – Sep 28 – audiobook review of A Promise Given
    Locks, Hooks and Books – Sep 29 – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
     Olio By Marilyn – Sep 30 –audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
    Library of Clean Reads – Sep 30 – audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway

    From the TBR Pile – Sep 30 – audiobook review of A Veil Remove
     Olio By Marilyn – Oct 1 –audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
    History from a Woman’s Perspective  – Oct 1 – audiobook review of A Girl Like You
     Amy’s Booket List – Oct 1 -audiobook review of A Child Lost
    Locks, Hooks and Books – Oct 2 – audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway
    From the TBR Pile – Oct 2 – audiobook review of A Child Lost

  • The Mersey Girls: A gritty family saga  by Sheila Riley

    The Mersey Girls: A gritty family saga by Sheila Riley

    The Mersey Girls

    The Mersey Girls: A gritty family saga by Sheila Riley

    Release: August 18, 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Boldwood Books
    Source: Rachel’s Random Resources
    Find it at: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

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    Liverpool 1950

    Evie Kilgaren takes over the running of the back office at Skinner and Son’s haulage yard. At that time, she has no idea she is walking into a hive of blackmail, secrets and lies.
    Her fellow co-worker and childhood nemesis, Susie Blackthorn, gets angry after demotion. She is hell-bent on securing the affections of local heartthrob Danny Harris.
    Grace Harris, a singer on the prestigious D’Angelo transatlantic ocean liners, is returning home for engagement prior to marriage. But Grace is harbouring her own shocking secrets and something valuable her fiancé very desperately wants back.

    Talking about the lives and loves of people working in the Mersey Docklands, love and luck are rarely in line.

    About the Author:

    Sheila Riley was born in Southport, Merseyside,  As a child she liked nothing more than sitting quietly, so as not to be noticed, listening to adults converse.

    She also had a vivid imagination, and what she didn’t understand of the fascinating adult world she invented for her own amusement. And so began a lifetime’s love of storytelling…

    The Mersey Girls is set in 1950s Liverpool and is up for pre-order here on Amazon and will be published in August 2020

    Besides,Sheila Riley wrote four #1 bestselling novels under the pseudonym Annie Groves and is now writing the Reckoner’s Row series under her own name. She has set it around the River Mersey and its docklands near to where she spent her early years.  She still lives in Liverpool

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub

    The Mersey Girls Review:

    I really enjoyed this book because it gave the reader a variety of romance elements to enjoy.

    Although I have not read the previous book, I had no trouble adjusting to the characters and the plot. Personally, I adored all the characters, whether it be Grace, Evie, Danny, Bruce, Lucy, Meggie or Henry. However, I thought Susie was the best character of them all! Yes, she is the villain but she lights up the story with her immaturity. Watching Evie and Susie argue felt like watching Nelly and Laura in LHOTP. I loved the way they bickered with each other.

    The author writes romance very well, and her range is seen in the characters. On one hand, we have the tragic whirlwind romance between Grace and Bruce. On the other hand, we have the cute and fluffy budding romance between Evie and Danny. Personally, I loved both stories and wanted to know how they would turn out. The author also manages to add in multiple story-lines on top of this, like Grace’s news that could change her life, and Meggie’s secrets that would impact Danny. The author balances all the elements in a beautiful manner, and makes you invested in the plot.

    My only minor criticism is that the story was a bit lengthy at times. Few of the passages felt repetitive, especially when Grace ponders on what happened to Bruce. Also, I really liked Clifford as a negative role, and wish he has been more prominent in the story.

    Apart from that, this was an endearing tale about family, trust, and opening your heart.

    Book Tour Schedule

    The Mersey Girls

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Mersey Girls: A gritty family saga by Sheila Riley Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

  • Blooms of War by Suzanne Tierney

    Blooms of War by Suzanne Tierney

    Blooms of War

    Blooms of War by Suzanne Tierney

    Release: August 20, 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher:  Suzanne Tierney Books 
    Source: Rachel’s Random Resources
    Find it at: Amazon, Amazon UK

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    In war, she fell in love.
    Vera Betts shouldn’t be falling in love with the enigmatic doctor she suspects of espionage. Reeling from her family’s betrayal, faking her nursing credentials, she  invented a new name, and run away to the frontlines of the French battlefield. Four years into the Great War and she knows who she is and what she’s meant for—to save the living and sit vigil by the dying. When the cagey-yet-earnest Dr. Nicholas Wallace arrives, so do mysterious explosions destroying hospitals. Even as Nick raises her suspicions, he lowers her defenses. He wants the war to end. Are his acts of sabotage a politically compulsion or a desperate attempt at peace?

    In peace, she fell apart.
    A year later, Vera is back with her oppressive family, living under her real name, and Nick is on trial for murder. Trapped in grief and guilt, she cannot speak about the past and does not believe in the future. With Nick refusing to defend himself, she ventures to London to understand why he is so willing to embrace the hangman’s noose. Who is he trying to protect? What secrets does he plan to carry to his grave? And why does Nick insist upon hiding her true identity? To save the man she loves, Vera must tear open the past and confront the tragic price for peace.

    About the Author:

    Writer of lush, historical happily-ever-after tales, Suzanne Tierney believes in true love. But she takes delicious pleasure in making her characters fight, flutter, and find their way to each other. Her books have won numerous awards and she has twice been a Golden Heart Finalist® with the Romance Writers of America.
    Suzanne grew up in Oregon, adulted in the San Francisco Bay Area, and somehow ended up in Florida, where she is very much a cold-water fish learning to navigate humid, salty seas. She loves chatting with readers.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    Blooms of War Review:

    This is a compelling historical fiction with a whodunit mystery, intriguing characters and a charming romance set in WWI.

    One of the highlights of the story is the dynamic characters. I loved Nick as the main character because he was mysterious and intriguing. Similarly, Vera is also a strong and complex character who goes through a lot in the story. I really liked Vera and Nick’s gradual romance. It gave the story a warm feeling amidst the turmoil backdrop of WWI. Matty and Gwendolyn were also very interesting.

    Moreover, the author does a wonderful job in narrating this historical tale. In addition to the characters, I felt like I learned quite a lot from the story. It is clear that the author did extensive research on the medical field to treat soldiers. For instance, I did not know that Picric acid was used for so many purposes. Also, the story balances the plot, intrigue, mystery, romance and the historical references in a seamless manner. The author also wrote the story in such a way that you feel like the book itself was released in that era.

    However, the only reason I gave this 4 stars was because the story was initially bumpy. As the story toggles between the past and the present in alternate chapters, it took me a good five chapters before I got engrossed with the plot. Moreover, the author doesn’t shy away from the gore and gruesome nature in some scenes. While I admire the author for making the scenes very realistic, I found some scenes very graphic and difficult to digest.

    Apart from that, this was a beautiful, compelling historical novel and grew on me.

    Giveaway:

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Book Tour Schedule

    Blooms of War

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Blooms of War by Suzanne Tierney Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

     

     

  • Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black

    Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black

    Chasing Starlight

    Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black

    Release: August 11th 2020
    Format: Paperback
    Publisher: Tor Teen
    Source: JeanbookNerd
    Find it at: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

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    Movies, mansions, and murder in the Golden Age of Hollywood! Teri Bailey Black’s Chasing Starlight is a historical mystery from the award-winning author of the Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel.

    1938. The Golden Age of Hollywood. Palm trees and movie stars. Film studios pumping out musicals, westerns, and gangster films at a furious pace. Everyone wants to be a star―except society girl and aspiring astronomer Kate Hildebrand, who’d rather study them in the night sky. She’s already famous after a childhood tragedy turned her into a newspaper headline. What she craves is stability.

    But when Kate has to move to Hollywood to live with her washed-up silent film star grandfather, she walks into a murder scene and finds herself on the front page again. She suspects one of the young men boarding in her grandfather’s run-down mansion is the killer―maybe even her grandfather. She searches for clues.

    Now, Kate must discover the killer while working on the set of a musical―and falling in love. Will her stars align so she can catch the murderer and live the dream in Old Hollywood? Or will she find that she’s just chasing starlight? 

    About the Author:

    Teri Bailey Black is happiest when she’s creating things, whether it’s with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. Her debut novel, Girl at the Grave, won the Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel, and the Whitney Award for Best Debut and Best Young Adult Novel. Her second novel, Chasing Starlight, will be published June 2020. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California.

    Website | TwitterInstagram | Goodreads

    Chasing Starlight Review:

    This was a delightful murder mystery set in the 1930s that reminded me of the various Agatha Christie novels I loved.

    Click to view on Instagram

    Kate is wonderful in the lead. I thought she was a very interesting character because of what she went through when she was 13, and how it affects her in the present. In fact, all the boarders (and even Bonnie) are unique and interesting with distinguished personalities. Moreover, I loved Ollie and his relationship with Kate. Even though he is the prime suspect, I felt they both shared a wonderful bond. I also liked Kate’s romance with Hugo. Both of them were adorable together. To be honest, I did not even like Hugo when he was initially introduced. However, I grew to like him a lot after his interactions with Kate. The author progresses the characters so well that you see Kate accepting the unpredictability of life. 

    At the same time, the author paints the background in a beautiful manner where you feel like you are in the 1930s. I loved all the references she makes to Cary Grant, Arthur Conan Doyle and Charlie Chaplin. After reading this book, I binged watched the classic dance of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and fell in love with them. I also like how she managed to blend the character development and the murder mystery very seamlessly. 

    My only criticism about the story is that is starts off a bit slow. The first 25-30% focuses on setting up the characters and the plot. Personally, the story picked up only after the murder. Also, I really like Reuben and Bonnie but didn’t see much of them in the story.

    But overall, I enjoyed reading this story a lot. Now back to Fred and Ginger. 

    Giveaway

    Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter
    –  5 Winners will receive a Copy of CHASING STARLIGHT by Teri Bailey Black.
    – 1 Winner will receive a Copy of CHASING STARLIGHT and Shirt.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Book Tour Schedule

    Chasing Starlight

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Chasing Starlight by Teri Bailey Black Blog Tour hosted by JeanbookNerd. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

     
    WEEK ONE – REVIEW & INTERVIEWS
    10th AUGUST MONDAY – JeanBookNerd  – INTERVIEW
    11th AUGUST –  TUESDAY –  A Court of Coffee and Books  – REVIEW
    11th AUGUST –  TUESDAY –  MetalPhantasmReads REVIEW
    12th AUGUST –  WEDNESDAY –  BookHounds YA  – REVIEW
    12th AUGUST –  WEDNESDAY –  Movies, Shows, & Books  – EXCERPT
    13th AUGUST –  THURSDAY –  Gwendalyn’s Books  – REVIEW
    13th AUGUST –  THURSDAY –  PopTheButterfly Reads  – REVIEW
    14th AUGUST –   FRIDAY –  Twirling Book Princess  – EXCERPT
    14th AUGUST –   FRIDAY – J Long Books  – REVIEW
    WEEK TWO – REVIEWS
    17th AUGUST –  MONDAY –  Ya It’s Lit  – REVIEW
    18th AUGUST – TUESDAY  – Rajiv’s Reviews  – REVIEW
    18th AUGUST – TUESDAY  – Book Briefs  – REVIEW
    19th AUGUST –  WEDNESDAY –  Two Points of Interest  – REVIEW
    19th AUGUST –  WEDNESDAY  – Here’s to Happy Endings  – REVIEW
    20th AUGUST – THURSDAY –  Nay’s Pink Bookshelf  – REVIEW
    20th AUGUST – THURSDAY –  Port Jericho  – REVIEW
    21st AUGUST –  FRIDAY –  A Dream Within A Dream  – REVIEW
    21st AUGUST –  FRIDAY –  Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon  – REVIEW

  • The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

    The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

    The Mountains Sing

    The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

    Release: March 17th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: OneWorld Publications
    Source: Random Things Tours
    Find it at: Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N,Kobo, GooglePlay , IndieBound

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    The Mountains Sing is an epic account of Viet Nam’s painful 20th century history. It is both vast in scope and intimate in its telling . . . Moving and riveting. —VIET THANH NGUYEN, author of The Sympathizer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

    The Mountains Sing has the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko  and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan. It tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Tran family, set against the backdrop of the Viet Nam War. Born in 1920, Tran Dieu Lan had to forcefully flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform due rise of Communist government  in the North. Later in Hà Noi, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age. Meanwhile her parents and uncles head off down the Ho Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict. This Conflict  will tear not just her beloved country but her family apart.

    The Mountains Sing  is Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Viet Nam. It brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves. Moreover, it shows us the true power of kindness and hope. This is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyen Phan Que Mai’s first novel in English.

    About the Author:

    Born into the Việt Nam War in 1973, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai grew up witnessing the war’s devastation and its aftermath. She worked as a street seller and rice farmer before winning a scholarship to attend university in Australia. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is the author of eight books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction published in Vietnamese, and translated and published in more than 10 countries, including Norton’s Inheriting the War anthology. She is a recepient of many awards, including the Poetry of the Year 2010 Award from the Hà Nội Writers Association, as well as many grants and fellowships. Quế Mai has a PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. She currently divides her time between Indonesia and Việt Nam.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    The Mountains Sing Review:

    I don’t think I have read a story which was so gut-wrenching, raw, and so beautiful.

    Click to view on Instagram

    Firstly, I loved how the author split the story into two parallels, one focusing on the Grandmother Trấn Diệu Lan, and the other on the granddaughter Hủỏng. While the two stories take place in different eras, it was interesting to see the similarities and challenges both characters face. I also liked how the characters interloped between the two stories, connecting them to each other.

    This book was heart-wrenching to read at times, mainly due to the brutal hardship the characters endure. They go through some of the worst things that a person can go through, and it was so difficult to read without getting emotional. Moreover, the author mentions about how the invasion of the Japanese, Americans and the French disrupted Vietnam as a country.

    Also, the author tells the story in a beautiful manner, nearly covering around 80 years of the family saga. Her style of writing is very simple and easy to follow. However, while I liked the various Vietnamese phrases incorporated, I wish the author provided a glossary to understand the dialogues. Also, I felt like, at times, the characters were too modern for their time. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but sometimes the Grandmother felt modernized with her views of society and people for that era, and it felt disconnected with the timeline.

    However, I really loved everything about this story from its family saga and how they survive and persevere, to the historical details put in. Moreover, the author has a beautiful poetic style of writing and I really love the way she visualized the tale. Overall, this is a wonderful novel worth reading.

    Book Tour Schedule

    The Mountains Sing

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours

     

  • The Gossips’ Choice by Sara Read

    The Gossips’ Choice by Sara Read

    The Gossips’ Choice

    The Gossips’ Choice by Sara Read

    Release: May 6th 2020
    Format: Paperback
    Publisher: Wild Pressed Books
    Source: Love Books Tours
    Find it at: Amazon , Kindle, B&NiBooks, Book Depository

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    Respected midwife Lucie Smith is the wife of Jasper, the town apothecary. They’ve lived happily together at the shop with the sign of the three doves for almost three decades. But 1665 is proving a troublesome year. Moreover, Lucie gets a call for birth at the local Manor, and Jasper is uneasy at her involvement with their former opponents in the English Civil War. Their only surviving son Simon flees plague-ridden London for his country hometown, only to argue with his father. A secret withheld by her loyal maid shocks her. However, she knows when Jasper finds out this, he will be furious. How could she have missed the signs?

    As the year draws to a close, a case of serious negligence in her care of one of her mothers falls on her. This could see her not only lose her licence but face excommunication.

    About the Author:

    Dr Sara Read is a lecturer in English at Loughborough University. Her research is in the cultural representations of women, bodies and health in the early modern era.

    She has published widely in this area with her first book Menstruation and the Female Body in Early Modern England . Also, Palgrave Macmillan published the same in 2013.

    She is a member of the organising committee of the Women’s Studies Group, 1558-1837. She recently co-edited a special collection produced to celebrate the group’s 30th anniversary.

    Sara regularly writes for history magazines such as Discover Your Ancestors and History Today. In 2017 she published an article ‘My Ancestor was a Midwife’ tracing the history of the midwifery profession for Who Do You Think You Are? magazine in 2017. She has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s Freethinking programme and you can often hear her on BBC Radio Leicester and BBC Radio WM.

    TwitterGoodreads

    The Gossips’ Choice Review:

    The Gossips’ Choice is a wonderful story that surprised me. I am not even a fan of medical themed stories, but I was glued to the story-line and Lucie’s work.

    Click to view on Instagram

    Firstly, I loved the level of details the author put into the story. I have never read a historical fiction novel where I felt I learnt so much. The author has done thorough research and beautifully incorporated her findings into the story. To be honest, I feel like a lot of these herbal treatments would be more effective than what the hospital prescribes today.

    Moreover, Lucie is wonderful as the main character. I was completed engrossed in the first half of the story. I loved reading of the various ailments she uses to treat her patients. The author mentions a variety of cases, from miscarriage, having twins, false labor and much more. It is so interesting to see the different procedures that were practiced during that time.

    However, I felt like the focus shifted halfway into the book. In the first half, I loved the medical aspect of Lucie’s treatments with her patients. Yet, in the second half, the story became a family drama between Lucie, Simon and Jasper. Even though I enjoyed the second half of the book, I wish the author had blended both these elements in an organic way. At times, I also felt like the author was trying to cover a lot of issues, like abortion, suicide and being gay. While this was interesting, I didn’t feel it was necessary.

    Overall, this is a wonderful book of the insights of a midwife’s life in the 1600s. I really enjoyed reading it, and hope the author writes more stories in this genre.

    Book Tour Schedule

    The Gossips’ Choice

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Gossips’ Choice by Sara Read Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours.

  • The Stray Cats of Homs by Eva Nour

    The Stray Cats of Homs by Eva Nour

    The Stray Cats of Homs

    The Stray Cats of Homs by Eva Nour

    Release: May 28th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Doubleday
    Source: Random Things Tours
    Find it at: Amazon, Kindle, Book Depository

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    This is the story of a young man struggling to keep his home alive despite devastation. Tender, wild and unbearably raw, it is a novel which will stay with you for ever.

    ‘A cat has seven souls in Arabic. In English cats have nine lives. You probably have both nine lives and seven souls, because otherwise I don’t know how you’ve made it this far.’

    Sami’s childhood is much like any other innocent child. It is a blend of family and school, of friends and relations and pets . The pets  are stray cats and dogs, and the turtle he keeps on the roof.

    But growing up in Syria, with his country at war ,means that nothing is normal.  Sami’s hopes for a better future are ripped away. He is conscripted into the military and forced to train as a map maker.

    Someone can shield Sami from the worst horrors of the war. But it will still be impossible to avoid his own nightmare…

    About the Author:

    Eva Nour is a journalist writing under a pseudonym. Her inspiration to write The Stray Cats of Homs, her debut novel, came after  meeting and falling in love with the real ‘Sami’.

    Goodreads

    The Stray Cats of Homs Review:

    This book was raw and gripping, and so difficult to read without breaking down. The Stray Cats of Homs is a book that everyone should read.

    The author wrote the characters in an impeccable manner. Sami is wonderful as the main character, and your heart immediately goes out to him from the first page. The story starts off in a very innocent manner where Sami leads a somewhat normal childhood, growing up in Homs, Syria. However, once Bashar al –Assad comes to power, you slowly see Sami’s life take a drastic turn. He is pushed to the military (with a stint in prison) to a life that he did not want. I wanted to get in the pages and hug Sami and take him away from the misery and challenges we faces at war. What is really beautiful is how he still hangs on to hope even while all this is happening. Even the supporting characters like Sarah, Yasmin, and even Grandpa Faris are endearing.

    The author did a beautiful job in narrating the story where she talks about the harsh results of dictatorship, and the power of love. The story is based off real events which makes the experience unforgettable. Moreover, I still cannot believe that this is the author’s debut novel and really hope she continues to write more novels in the future with the same emotions. This book really makes you appreciate life and count your blessings. After reading it, I pray that refugees and asylum seekers in this situation have the strength to move on and lead a better life.

    Overall, “The Stray Cats of Homs” is not just a book; it’s an unforgettable experience.

    Blog Schedule

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Stray Cats of Homs by Eva Nour Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

  • The Sterling Directive by Tim Standish

    The Sterling Directive by Tim Standish

    The Sterling Directive

    The Sterling Directive by Tim Standish

    Release: August 20, 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Unbound Digital
    Source: Random Things Tours
    Find it at: Kindle , B&N

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    Captain Charles Maddox returns secretly to London from an exile in disgrace.The authorities arrest him and imprison him. . They threaten him with the death penalty.  A shadowy government agency called the Map Room  rescues him . They  give him a choice either return to prison or become an agent. He is  codenamed Sterling. He will  help them uncover a government conspiracy connected to the Ripper murders.

    A coolly calculating Milady and her associate Collier lead the freshly appointed Agent Sterling. He also get the help of fellow agent Church and mechanical computer expert Patience. Now he must rapidly learn his new trade if he is to survive the murky and violent fringes of Victorian life. Also, he needs to uncover a secret that threatens the Empire itself.

    Set in 1896 in an alternative Victorian timeline where mechanical computers are a part of everyday life, The Sterling Directive blends fact and fiction to create a gripping thriller for fans of espionage and historical adventure alike.

    About the Author:

    Tim Standish grew up in England, Scotland and Egypt. Following a degree in Psychology, his career has included teaching English in Spain, working as a
    researcher on an early computer games project. He has also worked  with groups and individuals on business planning, teamworking and personal development. Tim has travelled extensively throughout his life and when not working or writing,
    he enjoys long walks under big skies and is never one to pass up a jaunt across a field in search of an obscure historic site. He has recently discovered the more-exciting-than-you-would-think world of overly-complicated boardgames.

    Twitter

    The Sterling Directive Review:

    A science-fiction, steam-punk, espionage thriller set in the late 1800s on Jack the Ripper? Yes please! This book was weird, wild, and wonderful and I liked it a lot.

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    To be honest, I am not an avid reader of any of these genres. However, the author tells the story in such a gripping manner that I was immediately hooked. The story is a bit bumpy at first as you try to figure out what is happening. But the story was amazing once Charles figures out his situation. There are so many twists and turns, and the story is so unique that you cannot even guess how it will turn out. The author also wrote the action scenes very well, like the scene in the train when they go for billiards.

    Charles is great as the lead. I was totally picturing a James Bond like character set in the 1800s for him. Church and Patience also add very well as supporting characters. In fact, I really liked Patience and found her sarcastic wit hilarious. Another particular character that stood out was Richardson. Even though he only appears for a few scenes, he was very memorable.

    However, I thought the story moved very fast in the last few chapters. While I like a good high speed climax, I felt like I was in a roller-coaster on this one. It would have been nice if the pacing was a bit relaxed towards the end.

    Apart from that, this was very entertaining. I hope this is the start of a series, as I would love to see these characters again. Overall, you have to read “The Sterling Directive” as it is complete out of the box and feels like a brand new experience.

    Book Tour:

    The Sterling Directive

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Sterling Directive by Tim Standish Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

  • Universe of Two: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan

    Universe of Two: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan

    Universe of Two

    Universe of Two: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan

    Release:August 4th 2020
    Format: Hardback
    Publisher: William Morrow
    Source: Jean Book Nerd
    Find it at: Amazon, AudibleB&NiBooks

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    After Graduating from Harvard during World War II, mathematician Charlie Fish is assigned to the Manhattan Project with scientists including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Leo Szilard. The project involves the task of designing and building the detonator of the atomic bomb.

    As he performs that work Charlie suffers a crisis of conscience, which his wife, Brenda. She is unaware of the true nature of Charlie’s top-secret task—mistakes as self-doubt. She urges him to set aside his qualms and continue. But , once the bombs strike Hiroshima and Nagasaki,the feelings of Culpability devastate them.At the war’s end, Charlie receives a scholarship to pursue a PhD in physics at Stanford . He and Brenda hope this will allow them a fresh start. But, the past proves inescapable. All any of his new colleagues can talk about is the bomb, and what greater atomic weapons might be on the horizon. Haunted by guilt, Charlie and Brenda leave Stanford and decide to dedicate the rest of their lives to making amends for the evil he helped to birth into the world.

    Based on the life of the actual mathematician Charles B. Fisk, Universe of Two combines riveting historical drama with a poignant love story. Stephen Kiernan has conjured a remarkable account of two people struggling to heal their consciences and find peace in a world forever changed.

    About the Author:

    As a journalist and novelist, Stephen P. Kiernan has published nearly four million words. His newspaper work garnered more than forty awards — including the George Polk Award and the Scripps Howard Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment.

    Stephen’s newest novel, UNIVERSE OF TWO, will be out May 5, 2020. He is also author of the novels THE CURIOSITY (now in television series development), THE BAKER’S SECRET (a regional Indie bestseller), and THE HUMMINGBIRD. He has also written two nonfiction books, LAST RIGHTS and AUTHENTIC PATRIOTISM. His work has been translated into many languages.

    Stephen was born in Newtonville, NY the sixth of seven children. A graduate of Middlebury College, he received a Master of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He has chaired the board of the Young Writers Project, served on the Vermont Legislative Committee on Pain and Palliative Care, and served on the advisory board of the New Hampshire Palliative Care Initiative. He has spoken and consulted around the country about hospice, palliative care and advance directives.

    A performer on the guitar since he was ten years old, Stephen has recorded 3 CDs of solo instrumentals, and composed music for dance, the stage and documentary films.

    He lives in Vermont with his two amazing sons.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin

    Universe of Two Review

    This is one of the best books I read this year!

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    Where do I even begin? Do I talk about the beautiful love story between Brenda and Charlie? Or the nuances of guilt Charlie faces when he realizes the consequences of his work? How about the various physics references that indulged my geeky side? There are so many reasons why I loved this book in so many levels.

    I love this author and HAVE to read his previous books. The way he details the story-line makes you feel like you are right next to the characters. Moreover, I loved how he beautifully switches the tone between the two perspectives. Brenda is sassy and fun, and her story-line feels like you are reading a beautiful romance novel. Whereas, Charlie is an introverted genius, and if you read only his story-line, it would sound just like a war thriller. I just loved the contrast between the two, and how they blended beautifully towards the end. Moreover, the author also connects the character events to the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a gripping manner.

    I will not talk about Brenda and Charlie because it is obvious that I love them both. From their romantic first date at the movies, to the way they get married, watching these two was just mesmerizing. However, I have to mention my love for Lizzie and Brenda’s mother. These two appear at times in the story, but they just light up the pages. Lizzie is hilarious and made me laugh out loud with her push-ups. Similarly, I hated Mather and Beasley with a passion. I can go on, but I will stop now.

    Overall, this book is the epitome of a historical romance. I loved this story, and awaiting the movie adaptation once it comes out.

    Book Tour Schedule

    Universe of Two

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Universe of Two: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan Blog Tour hosted by JeanBookNerd.

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  • Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko

    Orphan Eleven

    Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko

    Release: May 26th 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, AudibleB&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

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    Four orphans have escaped from the Home for Friendless Children. One is Lucy, who used to talk and sing. No one knows why she doesn’t speak anymore; silence is her protection.

    The orphans find work and new friends at a traveling circus. Lucy loves caring for the elephants, but she must be able to speak to them, and to warn others of danger. If Lucy doesn’t find her voice, she’ll be left behind when the circus goes on the rails. Meanwhile, people are searching for Lucy, and her puzzling past is about to catch up with her.

    About the Author:

    With more than 2 and a half million books sold, Choldenko’s best known Tales from Alcatraz series, has been called “A cornerstone series in contemporary children’s literature.” Al Capone Does My Shirts—the first book in the series—was a Newbery Honor Book and the recipient of twenty other awards. All four books in the series were Junior Library Guild selections and garnered many starred reviews.
    Gennifer’s newest novel: Orphan Eleven will be out May 26. Publisher’s Weekly has said this about Orphan Eleven: “This uplifting tale of hope, survival and belonging has all the ingredients to become a beloved middle grade book.” Gennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her loyal husband and naughty dog.

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    Orphan Eleven Review:

    This is honestly one of those books that made me go through so many emotions and had me at the edge of my seat. I just loved everything about Orphan Eleven.

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    The main highlight of the story is Lucy! What a wonderful character. My heart just went out to her from page one. She is charming main character, whose wings have been clipped. Yet she is always hopeful to lead a better life and find her sister Dilly. The journey that Lucy goes through in this book will just make you root for her all the way. Moreover, the author wrote all the characters in such a charismatic manner. You love to hate the villains, and you start to like even girls like Doris. Jabo is hilarious, and Diavolo is mysterious. There was something in each character that made them all stand out.

    Also, it is clear that the author did extensive research on the subject matter. Her style of writing is simply wonderful. In the first half, she beautifully describes the colorful life of the travelling circus. However, on the second half, she paints a dark image of the horrid experiments and life of children in the orphanage. Even though the story shifts contrast, that doesn’t make it any less gripping! Also, in the end, the author provides snippets of similar practices that were done back in the day, which I found fascinating.

    Anyway, “Orphan Eleven” was a book that touched my heart. I hope we have a sequel for the other characters as well please? I would love to read what happens to Doris and Nico and Eugene. Overall, this is one of the best middle grade books I read this year.

    Giveaway:

    3 winners will receive a finished copy of ORPHAN ELEVEN, US Only.

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    Orphan Eleven

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ORPHAN ELEVEN by Gennifer Choldenko Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

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