Books
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Guest Post and Book Blast: In the Land of Armadillos by Helen Maryles Shankman
In the Land of Armadillos: Stories by Helen Maryles Shankman Publication Date: February 2, 2016 Scribner/Simon & Schuster eBook & Hardcover; 304 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction/WWII/Short Stories/Literary A Spring 2016 Discover Great New Writers selection at Barnes & Noble. A radiant debut collection of linked stories from a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, set in a German-occupied town in Poland, where tales of myth and folklore meet the real-life monsters of the Nazi invasion. 1942. With the Nazi Party at the height of its power, the occupying army empties Poland’s towns and cities of their Jewish populations. As neighbor turns on neighbor and survival often demands unthinkable choices, Poland…
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Review: In Another Life by Julie Christine Johnson
Historian Lia Carrer has finally returned to southern France, determined to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. But instead of finding solace in the region’s quiet hills and medieval ruins, she falls in love with Raoul, a man whose very existence challenges everything she knows about life–and about her husband’s death. As Raoul reveals the story of his past to Lia, she becomes entangled in the echoes of an ancient murder, resulting in a haunting and suspenseful journey that reminds Lia that the dead may not be as far from us as we think. Steeped in the rich history and romantic landscape of rural France, In Another…
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Book Blast: The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner
The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner Publication Date: February 9, 2016 Ballantine Books Hardcover, Ebook, Audiobook 400 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction Infamy is no accident. It is a poison in our blood. It is the price of being a Borgia. Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy. Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty’s ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival? With the ascension of…
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Review: The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag
I have been a fan of Menna van Praag’s writing for some time now! I’ve read all of her books and they always get me in the mood for spring reading. Van Praag’s novels are always full of whimsical magic, romance, and interesting women characters. One of my favorites is The House at the End of Hope Street…..I love how she incorporates unique women lead characters and let’s the reader discover them in an interesting world/story of her creation. Her latest novel, The Witches of Cambridge, is similar to her other novels…..a charming, magical read full of interesting characters, women, and romance!
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Review: The Case of the Fickle Mermaid (A Brothers Grimm Mystery #3) by P.J. Brackston
This is a very quirky mystery series. I read the second book in the series last year and while it was quirky it was also pretty enjoyable. PJ Brackston is short for Paula Brackston who most famously writes what I call ‘the witch books‘. I’m a huge fan of her witch books and her writing style, so when this series came across my nightstand for review I agreed even though I started with the second book. I enjoyed the whole ‘Gretel as a sleuth’ idea and when I read the book I found lots of things to love about the series. I love the whole fairy tale and murder mystery…
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Book Blast: BANISHED (Forbidden #2) by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Banished (Forbidden #2) by Kimberley Griffiths Little Publication Date: February 2, 2016 HarperCollins Hardcover & Ebook; 416 Pages Series: Forbidden, Book #2 Genre: YA/Historical/Romance She thought she�d lost everything . . . After spending months traveling the harsh, unforgiving Mesopotamian desert, Jayden reunites with a broken, injured Kadesh. Although everyone was convinced the violent and unpredictable Horeb, Jayden�s betrothed, killed the handsome prince, Jayden knew in her heart that her love was alive and safe. But their reunion is short-lived, as they learn Horeb is on their trail and determined to take back the girl he has claimed. Soon, the two star-crossed lovers are on the run toward…
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Review: Messenger of Truth (Maisie Dobbs #4) by Jacqueline Winspear
So after reading the third Maisie book, I was kind of on a ‘Great War’ mysteries kick so I decided to continue on with the next book in the series, Messenger of Truth. I was impressed with how the third book developed and the next book sounded equally as intriguing that I just couldn’t help myself. This time Maisie is called to assist on what appears to be an accident. Up and coming controversial artist Nicholas Bassington-Hope is set to open an exhibit that has been receiving a lot of hype. The night before the big event, he takes a fall from the scaffolding, breaking his neck. It appears to…
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Review: The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo
Oh how I love a great historical romance novel……add in some classical music and you have a wonderfully delightful read! Adriana d’Amato adores music, except there is one big problem….her father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But do you think that’s going to stop her? Of course not! She begins sneaking out of her family’s palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair. Adriana’s father is set on her marrying a wealthy man….and though this suitor has things to love, Adriana’s heart belongs to…
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Review: Pardonable Lies (Maisie Dobbs #3) by Jacqueline Winspear
I have had a love hate relationship with the Maisie Dobbs books over the years. I read the first one and just wasn’t overly impressed but I pressed on and read the second and again felt like I wasn’t connecting with the series in the way that I had hoped. But I keep pushing myself to read them because not only do I love the covers but I love the time period! I love books set either during the Great War or in the years immediately following in England. This should be a series that I fell in love with based on the setting but I struggled to really connect…
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Review: Where It Hurts (Gus Murphy #1) by Reed Farrel Coleman
What struck me as interesting about this novel was that it was set on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ section of Long Island. Most people think of the Hampton’s when they think of Long Island and of course all the wealth and privileged that that neighborhood entails. This book is set on the other side of Long Island. This immediately struck me as a gritty novel that promised almost ‘film noir’ like characters…..maybe ones that were hard boiled and morally questionable so I was drawn to this book for it promised something ‘different’. When we first meet Gus Murphy, though he is a retired cop, he is living in…