Saturday, April 30, 2016

The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley Hay

02_The Railwayman's Wife

The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley Hay

Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Atria Books
Hardcover, eBook, & AudioBook; 288 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Literary

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Amidst the strange, silent aftermath of World War II, a widow, a poet, and a doctor search for lasting peace and fresh beginnings in this internationally acclaimed, award-winning novel.

When Anikka Lachlan’s husband, Mac, is killed in a railway accident, she is offered—and accepts—a job at the Railway Institute’s library and searches there for some solace in her unexpectedly new life. But in Thirroul, in 1948, she’s not the only person trying to chase dreams through books. There’s Roy McKinnon, who found poetry in the mess of war, but who has now lost his words and his hope. There’s Frank Draper, trapped by the guilt of those his medical treatment and care failed on their first day of freedom. All three struggle to find their own peace, and their own new story.

But along with the firming of this triangle of friendship and a sense of lives inching towards renewal come other extremities—and misunderstandings. In the end, love and freedom can have unexpected ways of expressing themselves.

The Railwayman’s Wife explores the power of beginnings and endings, and how hard it can sometimes be to tell them apart. Most of all, it celebrates love in all its forms, and the beauty of discovering that loving someone can be as extraordinary as being loved yourself.

Praise

“Hay immerses the reader in Mac and Ani’s relationship, splicing flashbacks to happier times into the central narrative. Hay’s poetic gifts are evident in her descriptions of the wild coastal landscape and Roy’s measured verse. This poignant, elegant novel delves into the depth of tragedy, the shaky ground of recovery, and the bittersweet memories of lost love. Fans of Jodi Daynard and Susanna Kearsley will adore this.” -Booklist

“Hay has lovingly crafted a poignant, character-driven novel filled with heartache and hope, which is transferred to the reader through lyrical prose, poetic dialogue and stunning imagery.” -RT Book Reviews

“Hay is both cerebral and emotional in portraying life's catastrophes and the way people cope. As if her message is too raw to lay out in blazing color, she camouflages it in poetry and half-seen images—and it works. The message is clear, and the shocks are softened but no less there. Multilayered, graceful, couched in poetry, supremely honest, gentle yet jarring, Hay's thought-provoking novel pulls you along slowly, like a deep river that is deceptively calm but full of hidden rapids. Much to ponder.” -Kirkus

“Exquisitely written and deeply felt…a true book of wonders.” –Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Secret Chord

“An absorbing and uplifting read.” –M.L. Stedman, author of The Light Between Oceans

“This is a book in which grief and love are so entwined they make a new and wonderful kind of sense.” –Fiona McFarlane, author of The Night Guest

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

03_Ashley HayAbout the Author

Ashley Hay is the internationally acclaimed author of four nonfiction books, including The Secret: The Strange Marriage of Annabella Milbanke and Lord Byron, and the novels The Body in the Clouds and The Railwayman’s Wife, which was honored with the Colin Roderick Award by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, the most prestigious literary prize in Australia, among numerous other accolades. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.

For more information please visit Ashley Hay's website.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, April 18
Review at #redhead.with.book

Tuesday, April 19
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Wednesday, April 20
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, April 21
Interview & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Monday, April 25
Review & Giveaway at Poof Books

Tuesday, April 26
Interview & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, April 28
Review at A Silver Twig

Monday, May 2
Review & Giveaway at The Maiden's Court

Tuesday, May 3
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Queen of All She Reads

Thursday, May 5
Review & Giveaway at Bibliotica

Friday, May 6
Review at Back Porchervations

Tuesday, May 10
Review at CelticLady's Reviews

Monday, May 23
Giveaway at Passages to the Past

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Friday, April 29, 2016

Daring Masquerade by Margaret Tanner

02_Daring Masquerade

Daring Masquerade by Margaret Tanner

Publication Date: May 7, 2012
Books We Love Ltd.
Paperback & eBook; 404 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance

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In Margaret Tanner's Daring Masquerade, published by Books We Love, by the time Ross Calvert discovers Harry Martin is in fact Harriet Martin she has fallen in love with him. Realizing she has failed in her final effort to protect her shell-shocked brother, she puts a desperate proposition to Ross. Marry her and she will give him an heir.

Ross accepts. However, he is tormented by the betrayal of his former fiancĂ©e Virginia. On his honeymoon he meets her again and is still infatuated. With the army recalling him to the trenches of France, he faces a terrible dilemma. Taste Virginia’s passion before he marches off to war, or keep his marriage vows to Harry.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

03_Margaret TannerMargaret Tanner is an award winning multi-published Australian author. She loves delving into the pages of history as she carries out research for her historical romance novels, and prides herself on being historically correct. No book is too old or tattered for her to trawl through, no museum too dusty. Many of her novels have been inspired by true events, with one being written around the hardships and triumphs of her pioneering ancestors in frontier Australia. She once spent a couple of hours in an old goal cell so she could feel the chilling cold and fear

Her favorite historical period is the 1st World War, and she has visited the battlefields of Gallipoli, France and Belgium, a truly poignant experience.

Margaret is married and has three grown up sons, and two gorgeous little granddaughters.

For more information please visit Margaret Tanner's website. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads.

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, April 25
Passages to the Past

Wednesday, April 27
The Never-Ending Book
Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Thursday, April 28
The Book Junkie Reads

Saturday, April 30
Book Nerd

Tuesday, May 3
CelticLady's Reviews

Giveaway

To win an eBook of Daring Masquerade by Margaret Tanner please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below.

Rules

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

Daring Masquerade


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Thursday, April 28, 2016

The House of Baric by Jillian Bald

02A_Shield's Down

The House of Baric Part One: Shields Down

Publication Date: December 5, 2015
Hillwalker Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 440 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction\Romance

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Marriage matches for the Venetian nobility were not preordained by God in heaven. They were skillfully negotiated by fathers looking to enhance their own prestige and wealth. A young lady could overlook petty shortcomings in her future husband, if he were rich, held a title, and was easy on the eyes. The young Baron Mauro Baric was such desirable yet flawed match.

Mauro was the last of the House of Baric, and he required a wife to provide him with sons. Resi Kokkinos was not interested in marrying an aristocrat any more than Mauro wanted a common, Ottoman Greek girl as his bride. Betrothed as children to repay Resi’s father’s debt to the Barics, they had no choice in their paired future.

Resi made the best of her sequestered adolescence in Thessaloniki while she waited to be summoned to the Venetian colony of Croatia to marry. Since her fate had already been decided, Resi’s mother allowed her to be tutored with her brothers. She did not need to learn the skills her friends focused on to entice a desirable husband, so she used her freedom to read every book she could find.

Mauro’s bachelor years of soldiering gave way to burdensome responsibilities as a baron and a new husband. Personal and political conflicts added more challenges to the couple’s awkward first year of marriage. Dear friends and unexpected visitors would bring their own troubles to the House of Baric. Through it all, Mauro could no longer deny that his complicated and unpredictable wife might be his perfect match after all.

Set in the summer of 1649, you are a fly-on-the-wall into their intriguing and adventurous world. Love, war, hating, and mating were perhaps not so different back in the seventeenth century. These memorable characters only wanted to steer their own destinies in search of happiness, and you will find yourself rooting for them to succeed in their quest.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo | Smashwords

02B_A Brother's Defense

The House of Baric Part Two: A Brother’s Defense

Publication Date: March 16, 2016
Hillwalker Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 526 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction\Romance

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Book two of this fast-paced tale of aristocratic life in the 17th century Venetian Empire begins where book one left off: the mercenaries arrive to visit Resi and her new husband, Baron Mauro Baric.

Part One: Shields Down introduced you to the colorful characters of the House of Baric, their loyal bonds of friendship, willing romances, arranged marriages, political conflicts, and suspicious deaths. Mauro’s family secrets and buried pain can no longer be ignored. In Part Two: A Brother’s Defense, he must face his demons. But first, his new brother-in-law stirs up trouble, while the elegant Venetian guests fill their idle time at the Baric castle with new romantic pursuits.

Set in the summer of 1649, this gripping rendition of the saga of love, revenge, and redemption do not disappoint. Questions will be answered, and more will come to light, as this engaging trilogy speeds along. Swords will be drawn. The House of Baric must be protected. But from whom?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo | Smashwords

About the Author

03_Jillian BaldMost of the novels in Jillian Bald’s library take place in the far past or the far future, so it came naturally for Jillian to set her first novel in the year 1649. She has always enjoyed discovering new things, and historical fiction is an entertaining path to learning. After working in business management and living in France and Germany for several years, Jillian moved with her husband across the country while taking time off to raise her boys. Writing is a new occupation to Jillian, but she has always had a story churning in her imagination. “The House of Baric Part One: Shields Down” is Jillian Bald’s first published work.

Connect with author Jillian Bald on Facebook and Goodreads.

Giveaway

To enter to win a signed copy of The House of Baric Part One: Shields Down please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below.

Rules

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

The House of Baric Book Blast


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Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Promised to the Crown (Daughters of New France, Book One) by Aimie K. Runyan/ Interview and Review

02_Promised to the Crown

Promised to the Crown (Daughters of New France, Book One) by Aimie K. Runyan

Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Kensington
Paperback & eBook; 352 Pages

Series: Daughters of New France
Genre: Historical Fiction

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Bound for a new continent, and a new beginning.

In her illuminating debut novel, Aimie K. Runyan masterfully blends fact and fiction to explore the founding of New France through the experiences of three young women who, in 1667, answer Louis XIV’s call and journey to the Canadian colony.

They are known as the filles du roi, or “King’s Daughters”—young women who leave prosperous France for an uncertain future across the Atlantic. Their duty is to marry and bring forth a new generation of loyal citizens. Each prospective bride has her reason for leaving—poverty, family rejection, a broken engagement. Despite their different backgrounds, Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth all believe that marriage to a stranger is their best, perhaps only, chance of happiness.

Once in Quebec, Elisabeth quickly accepts baker Gilbert Beaumont, who wants a business partner as well as a wife. Nicole, a farmer’s daughter from Rouen, marries a charming officer who promises comfort and security. Scarred by her traumatic past, Rose decides to take holy vows rather than marry. Yet no matter how carefully she chooses, each will be tested by hardship and heartbreaking loss—and sustained by the strength found in their uncommon friendship, and the precarious freedom offered by their new home.

An engaging, engrossing debut.”—Greer Macallister, USA Today bestselling author of The Magician’s Lie

An absorbing adventure with heart.”—Jennifer Laam, author of The Secret Daughter of the Tsar

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

About the Author

03_Aimie K. RunyanAimie K. Runyan, member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Women's Fiction Writers Association, has been an avid student of French and Francophone Studies for more than fifteen years. While working on her Master's thesis on the brave women who helped found French Canada, she was fortunate enough to win a generous grant from the Quebec government to study onsite for three months which enabled the detailed research necessary for her work. Aimie lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.

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

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, April 26
Review at Historical Fiction Addicts

Wednesday, April 27
Review at Let Them Read Books

Thursday, April 28
Interview at Book Nerd
Interview at Books and Benches

Friday, April 29
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Saturday, April 30
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Monday, May 2
Review at A Book Drunkard

Tuesday, May 3
Review at Seize the Words: Books in Review

Wednesday, May 4
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Interview at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, May 5
Review at Reading Is My SuperPower

Friday, May 6
Review at Puddletown Reviews

Monday, May 9
Review at Cynthia Robertson, writer

Tuesday, May 10
Review at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, May 11
Review at Creating Herstory

Thursday, May 12
Interview at Creating Herstory
Interview at Author Dianne Ascroft's Blog

Monday, May 16
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog

Tuesday, May 17
Spotlight at Passages to the Past

Thursday, May 19
Interview at The Book Connection

Monday, May 23
Review at CelticLady's Reviews

Tuesday, May 24
Review at A Holland Reads

Wednesday, May 25
Review at Curling up by the Fire

Thursday, May 26
Review at Just One More Chapter

Friday, May 27
Review at Bookramblings

Monday, May 30
Review at Broken Teepee

Tuesday, May 31
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Giveaway

Two copies of Promised to the Crown by Aimie K. Runyan are up for grabs! To enter, please use the GLEAM form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on May 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Promised to the Crown
Interview
Aimie, welcome to my humble little blog.  It’s a pleasure to have you here!

It’s my pleasure, Diana! I’ve been a fan for a long time!
1)      How does it feel to hear the words “author” and “published” as descriptions about you?
·       Amazing! It all felt surreal for a very long time. I started using the term “author” when I landed my agent, the amazing Melissa Jeglinski, and it felt okay… but “published” didn’t become a reality for me until I held my first ARC in my hand. It was an ink and paper dream come true. I cried. Not dignified, calm movie tears. I ugly cried in my kitchen over the box (sorry to anyone who got a soggy copy!) I have to say it feels very comfortable, and the writing world won’t be getting rid of me for a long while yet!

2)      Can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with this idea?
·       I was in grad school, taking a class in Canadian Civilization and another course in Creative Writing, among other things. Taking a writing class has the wonderful effect of putting you into story hunting mode, and when the Canadian Civ professor mentioned the brave women who went to help found the French Canadian colony now known as Quebec, I knew I had a story. I wrote a short story, shelved it, and then ten years later, decided the rest of the story needed to be told!

3)      You present three different lead characters, and you give us insight into each one’s life.  It seems like quite a challenge, how were you able to stay “in character” for Elizabeth, Rose and Nicole?
·       It wasn’t always easy, but I tried to do myself some favors. I made them very different women with different backgrounds, interests and desires. They were so distinct from each other in my mind it helped keep them distinct on the page. That’s not to say it didn’t take a lot of work to make it come together. Elisabeth really was the character that came about in revision, while Rose was fairly strong early on.

4)      Without giving too much away, Elizabeth, Rose and Nicole need a new start.  Ultimately, I thought that this was a book about triumphant, what was your intention in creating these three very different women?
·       What I didn’t want to do was dive into the archives, find letters and journals, and tell one woman’s story. I wanted to show the experience of being a ‘King’s Daughter’ with a wider lens. The women were usually poor, but not always. They were usually orphaned, or at least fatherless. Two-thirds of them came from Paris, but the women from the countryside who had experience running farms were the most coveted brides. Ultimately, I wanted to show a cross-section of the women who decided to make the journey and the various options that awaited them in the colony.

5)      Through the circumstances they encounter, Elizabeth, Rose and Nicole, are bonded us a family.  Did you find that those sent by the crown had a difficult time adjusting to life in Canada?
·       I can only imagine it was dreadful for the women from Paris, young and unfamiliar with farm life, to adjust to the isolation of life on a homestead. It was a hard life under the best of circumstances. If a woman chose her husband poorly, it could mean her very life was at risk. Surviving a Canadian winter in a cabin with no neighbors for miles was not an endeavor a woman would want to undertake without a hard working and industrious husband!

6)      There is a theme of duty in your story. Duty to the crown and even their own religion, how did you find that this was both stifling and liberating for not only your characters but also other filles du roi?
·       Funny you mention that, since my next book is entitled Duty to the Crown (more on that later). I think it was absolutely a challenge for these women. In the 21st century, we have the luxury of considering our own needs first (if not always, at least often). In the 17th century, family, Church, and Crown came before everything. The decision to marry or bear children wasn’t a question of ensuring personal happiness (unless a person were exceedingly lucky—and even then, love matches were mocked). At the same time, I expect a lot of women jumped at the chance to go to Canada because there were a lot more freedoms. Women had a huge selection of suitors and could choose without their family’s interference. The nuns certainly advised the ladies on their choice, but it was their choice in the end. Social ranks, while still preserved, became fuzzier than in France, and a woman could ascend ranks with more ease than in her mother country.

7)      Manon was such a great addition to the three women the book centers around, did you have her character planned from the beginning?
·       No! She was a happy surprise! She began as a vessel to convey some information (I won’t tell you what—spoiler!) and to introduce the Native American population who lived very near the Quebec colony. I loved her from the get-go and Nicole did too, so we both adopted her J
)       What do your readers have to look forward to after “ Promised to the Crown”? 
·       The second book in the Daughters of New France series is called Duty to the Crown and will be coming out from Kensington Publishing on October 25th of this year. It takes place about five years after the conclusion of Promised to the Crown it follows the lives of my dear, dear Manon and two other friends you will meet in Promised—Claudine Deschamps and Gabrielle Giroux as they grow into young womanhood and continue on Rose, Elisabeth, and Nicole’s path in establishing the fledgling colony.

My Review:
Five Stars
Copy received from author and publisher for an honest review

"Promised to the Crown" by Aimie K. Runyan was a refreshing historical read.  Runyan takes us to Quebec during the 17the Century. First, I loved learning about this time period that I knew so little about! Second, I had no idea that french women, mostly women who were either orphans or in nunneries were called on by the king of France to settle into the new colony in Quebec.  Runyan takes us on this intense journey from France to Quebec with Rose, Nicole and Elizabeth.  Through the eyes of these three women, we experience their personal struggles and catch a glimpse of what life was like during these very extreme times!  Runyan is able to master three very distinct voices.  I never felt like the characters were the same and each one had her own very personal story. I can't help but say that Roses story was so heartbreaking for me.  I don't want to give too much away, but she had many obstacles to overcome.  Despite all the hardship that these three women encounter prior to traveling to Canada  and even after, the story felt like a story about survival and hope.  I hope that this is a time period that gets more attention because there were so many issues touched about: loyalty to the crown, a woman's place in french society and then in the colonies, the obstacles of establishing life in a new frontier.  Finally, and definitely not least,   I want to credit Runyan for introducing Manon. She gives us insight into the indigenous of this area and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her! Next book is out in October 2016, "Duty to the Crown."


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The Sorceress and the Skull by Donald Michael Platt

02_TSATS

The Sorceress and the Skull by Donald Michael Platt

Publishing Date: February 5, 2016
Penmore Press
eBook & Paperback; 254 Pages

Genre: Historical/Horror/Occult

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Nostradamus, Occult, Suspense, Metaphysical, Visionary

A Gothic Horror Novella from Award Winning Author Donald Michael Platt

San Francisco 1946: A Confrontation of Sorcerers and Seers. For the first time in almost 400 years, Michele born in 1932, a direct descendant of Nostradamus, will have all his gifts of precognition and even greater powers, but they will not be fully manifested until after she enters puberty. More than one secret society has been obsessed with finding and controlling Michele, to learn from her where Nostradamus’ unpublished prophecies have been sequestered. Hidden since birth, protected by aliases, an aunt, and a gargoyle, Michele at age 13 has become a fugitive, fleeing across Europe and Canada before finally arriving in San Francisco. Around Michele deadly forces are closing in, but a new ally, Le Crâne, the Skull, has also appeared, coming to the aid of the young seer. Who will hold claim to Michele’s powers and at what price to her? And who will succeed in acquiring the hidden secrets of Nostradamus?
My Review:
Three Stars
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
"The Sorceress and the Skull" by Donald Michael Platt was a different read than I am use to.  I try to stay away from "dark" text but I thought that although the novella is on the edgy side of dark fantasy it was also very intriguing.  Michele who is a descent of Nostradamus.  Michele's life is in danger because of her family connections and because of her own special powers. Michele has the protection of her family but that does not stop the dark forces from trying to find her, especially as she grows into adulthood.  The story consists of Michele's family trying to protect her and the dark forces trying to catch her.  Overall this was a fun story to read and it was a great testament to Platt as a creative and engaging author. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

03_Donald Michael Platt AuthorDonald Michael Platt is an award wining author of five published novels: "Rocamora,"an International Book Awards Finalist, and its sequel "House of Rocamora" set in 17th century Spain and Amsterdam during their Golden Ages. "Close to the Sun," a WWII novel about USAAF and Luftwaffe fighter aces has garnered three Indie Book Award Finalist Awards. The Historical Novel Society named his novel "Bodo the Apostate" an Editor's Choice title, calling it "a masterfully-controlled narrative" of the Carolingian Empire. "A Gathering of Vultures," a contemporary horror novel set in FlorianĂłpolis, Brazil, was also selected as an Indie Book Award Finalist in Horror.

Donald and his wife Ellen currently reside in Winter Haven Florida along with his cat, Bodo, a loquacious tyrant.

For more information visit Donald Michael Platt's website. You can also connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, April 25
Review at Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Wednesday, April 27
Review at Book Nerd

Thursday, April 28
Review at The Old Shelter

Friday, April 29
Spotlight at Passages to the Past

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Monday, April 25, 2016

Our Love Grows Written and Illustrated by Anna Pignataro


Our Love Grows
Written and Illustrated by Anna Pignataro
April 5, 2016; Hardcover, ISBN 9781492634188

Book information
Title: Our Love Grows
Author: Anna Pignataro
Release date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Praise for Our Love Grows

“[Pignataro] creates delicately ethereal landscapes for the pandas to traverse—forests dense with pine and bamboo, snowy hillscapes—while showcasing a playful tenderness in their explorations and interactions… Pitch perfect in its spirit of cozy reassurance.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review!

“A sweet story for parents to share with their young children. The theme is straightforward and told in rhyme. The book conveys a similar message to Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You, and the engaging artwork greatly enhances and complements the story. The pen and paint illustrations have a soft tone and will give readers a warm feeling.” —School Library Journal

About the Book
Like the sky, and the trees and the child she holds...A Mother’s Love Grows.

In the deep green forest, Pip asked,
“Mama, when will I be big?”

Pip is an adorable, roly-poly little panda who sees the world changing and growing.  But Pip is feeling a bit left behind. Luckily Mama is there to show playful and curious Pip that, like the trees in the forest and the stars in the sky, he’s growing and changing too. And no matter how much Pip grows, the one thing that will never change is how much Mama loves him!


Buy the Book
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1LYx4Uw
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1RpMUrn
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1Svj3ge

About the Author
Anna Pignataro is the creator of the bestselling books Mama, How Long Will You Love Me? andMama, Will You Hold My Hand? Her works have been translated into eleven different languages, and she has won numerous awards including the Crichton Award for Illustration. She lives in Australia with her family.

Connect with Anna Pignataro


Death Sits Down to Dinner (Lady Montfort Mystery #2) by Tessa Arlen

02_Death Sits Down to DinnerDeath Sits Down to Dinner (Lady Montfort Mystery #2)
by Tessa Arlen

Publication Date: March 29, 2016
Minotaur Books
Hardcover & Ebook; 320 Pages

Genre: Historical Mystery

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Filled with deceptions both real and imagined, Death Sits Down to Dinner is a delightful Edwardian mystery set in London.

Lady Montfort is thrilled to receive an invitation to a dinner party hosted by her close friend Hermione Kingsley, the patroness of England’s largest charity. Hermione has pulled together a select gathering to celebrate Winston Churchill’s 39th birthday. Some of the oldest families in the country have gathered to toast the dangerously ambitious and utterly charming First Lord of the Admiralty. But when the dinner ends, one of the gentlemen remains seated at the table, head down among the walnut shells littering the cloth and a knife between his ribs.

Summoned from Iyntwood, Mrs. Jackson helps her mistress trace the steps of suspects both upstairs and downstairs as Hermione’s household prepares to host a highly anticipated charity event. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson unravel the web of secrecy surrounding the bright whirlwind of London society, investigating the rich, well-connected and seeming do-gooders in a race against time to stop the murderer from striking again.
My Review:
Four Stars
Copy Received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
"Death Sits Down to Dinner" by Tessa Arlen was such a fun read! The mystery aspect was fantastic. It was entertaining but not scary.  I personally liked the witty commentary that the author made along the story that seemed to be directed as an inside joke with the reader. Since I'm just coming off the Downtown Abbey ride, this was such a great complement to my reading material.  Including Winton Churchill as a dinner guest was a fun and creative addition to an already enjoyable story.  The writing is very good and I was immediately Finally, I loved the Edwardean time period and the characters all added to the story.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | KOBO


Advance Praise

“Despite Clementine’s luxurious lifestyle, she’s got a head on her shoulders . . .and is as cagey as she is charming. A neatly crafted whodunit dripping with diamonds, titles and scandal . . .” -Kirkus Reviews

“The close, mutually respectful partnership between Clementine and Edith will remind Dorothy Sayers’s fans of the relationship between Lord Peter Wimsey and Bunter, his manservant. Arlen does a good job of depicting a period when class distinctions have become blurred by new money and more-relaxed manners. The plot, which includes a slew of red herrings, builds to a startling denouement.” -Publisher’s Weekly

“VERDICT Real-life Edwardian personalities abound in this period historical, and the upstairs/downstairs focus delivers a clash of temperaments. This title is bound to appeal to fans of historicals set in this period and of such authors as Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver.” -Library Journal

About the Author02_Tessa Arlen

TESSA ARLEN, the daughter of a British diplomat, had lived in or visited her parents in Singapore, Cairo, Berlin, the Persian Gulf, Beijing, Delhi and Warsaw by the time she was sixteen. She came to the U.S. in 1980 and worked as an H.R. recruiter for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, where she interviewed her future husband for a job. DEATH OF A DISHONORABLE GENTLEMAN is Tessa’s first novel. She lives in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

For more information please visit Tessa Arlen's website. Read Tessa Arlen's blog at Redoubtable Edwardians. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Subscribe to Tessa Arlen's Newsletter.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 28
Review at Laura's Interests
Interview at Books and Benches

Tuesday, March 29
Review at A Book Geek
Interview at Historical Fiction Addicts

Wednesday, March 30
Interview at AustenProse

Thursday, March 31
Review at Buried Under Books
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Friday, April 1
Review at Reading Is My SuperPower

Monday, April 4
Review at Reading the Past
Spotlight at Seize the Words: Books in Review

Tuesday, April 5
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Wednesday, April 6
Review at Luxury Reading

Thursday, April 7
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Friday, April 8
Review at A Holland Reads

Monday, April 11
Review at The Absurd Book Nerd

Tuesday, April 12
Interview at The Absurd Book Nerd

Wednesday, April 13
Review at Room With Books

Thursday, April 14
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Friday, April 15
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, April 18
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog

Tuesday, April 19
Review at CelticLady's Reviews

Wednesday, April 20
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective

Thursday, April 21
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Friday, April 22
Spotlight at Let Them Read Books

Monday, April 25
Review & Giveaway at Brooke Blogs

Tuesday, April 26
Review at Book Nerd

Wednesday, April 27
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Friday, April 29
Review at To Read, Or Not to Read

04_Death Sits Down to Dinner_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

One Dangerous Desire Accidental Heirs #3 By: Christy Carlyle



One Dangerous Desire
Accidental Heirs #3
By: Christy Carlyle
Releasing April 19, 2016
Avon Impulse

Blurb

In a bet between two old flames…
Rex Leighton dominates the boardroom in the day and prowls the ballroom at night. Searching for the perfect bride to usher him into the aristocracy, he abandoned the idea of love a long time ago--the last time he saw the delicious May Sedgwick. But when he’s roped into a bet, where the prize is the means to fund his greatest ambition and the stakes are a marriage he’s already planning for, Rex is willing to go all in. There’s just one problem-he’s competing against the only woman he’s ever loved and he’s sure she’ll ruin all his plans.

Only love can take it all

Miss May Sedgwick could be the belle of the season…if she cared. May is more interested in the art studio than the marriage market and her craving to pursue her passion far outweighs her desire for a titled English husband. Winning this bet will finally allow her to pursue her true artistic desires. Rex Leighton losing is just a side benefit, as are his breathtaking kisses that she just can’t seem to resist.


Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2016/03/one-dangerous-desire-accidental-heirs-3.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25742267-one-dangerous-desire

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/151121-accidental-heirs

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y889ZN8
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-dangerous-desire-christy-carlyle/1122599630
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Christy_Carlyle
_One_Dangerous_Desire?id=qzOpCQAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unti-carlyle-3/id998604006?mt=11
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/one-dangerous-desire


Author Info

Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there’s nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
Website: http://www.christycarlyle.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historicalromanceauthorchristycarlyle
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/writerchristy
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7793628.Christy_Carlyle



Rafflecopter Giveaway (a Digital Download Set of Books 1 & 2 in the Accidental Heirs Series (ONE SCANDALOUS KISS and ONE TEMPTING PROPOSAL))
a Rafflecopter giveaway

OR,
Link to Rafflecopter Page, http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c8999/?

Teasers
#1
He blinked, a quick fan of sable lashes, and then those unique eyes of his saw her. Not as a stranger to whom he was being introduced, but as the woman he’d held and kissed. The woman to whom he’d broken every promise he’d ever made.

#2
“Against your will, then? This rogue desire to see me finally beat out your better judgment?” Sarcasm had never been May’s strong suit. She hadn’t mastered the right tone.
“I fight it every day,” he said in such a raspy whisper that she leaned in to catch it. “The desire to see you.”
#3
She gasped. Not a sound of shock but a frisson of awareness. He lifted his head to look into her eyes. Smoky blue sapphire glinted back at him in the moonlight.
One taste. One kiss, and he’d walk away and let her have the life she deserved.

HTML COPY/PASTE

Enter to Win a Digital Download Set of Accidental Heirs Books 1 & 2
ONE SCANDALOUS KISS and ONE TEMPTING PROPOSAL



ONE DANGEROUS DESIRE
Accidental Heirs #3
Christy Carlyle
Releasing April 19th, 2016
Avon Impulse


In a bet
between two old flames…

Rex Leighton dominates the boardroom
in the day and prowls the ballroom at night. Searching for the perfect bride to
usher him into the aristocracy, he abandoned the idea of love a long time
ago--the last time he saw the delicious May Sedgwick. But when he’s roped into
a bet, where the prize is the means to fund his greatest ambition and the
stakes are a marriage he’s already planning for, Rex is willing to go all in.
There’s just one problem-he’s competing against the only woman he’s ever loved
and he’s sure she’ll ruin all his plans.

Only love can take it all

Miss May Sedgwick could be the belle
of the season…if she cared. May is more interested in the art studio than the
marriage market and her craving to pursue her passion far outweighs her desire
for a titled English husband. Winning this bet will finally allow her to pursue
her true artistic desires. Rex Leighton losing is just a side benefit, as are
his breathtaking kisses that she just can’t seem to resist.

 BUY NOW




a Rafflecopter giveaway





Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of
every British costume drama she can get her hands on, Christy Carlyle writes
sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who
struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former
teacher with a degree in history, she finds there’s nothing better than being
able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.






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