Books
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Review: A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent #1) by Marie Brennan
Lady Isabella Trent is the world’s leading dragon naturalist, but obtaining that distinction was no easy feat. Her journey to leading dragon scientist begins at a young age which is where this novel begins in the land of Scirland. What began as a hobby soon grew into a full blown passion. She began collecting Sparklings at a young age and ever since she saw her father’s book, A Natural History of Dragons, in his study her desire to know more about dragons has only grown. Though not everyone is enthusiastic about her hobby. Her parents discouraged her in hopes that she will find a suitable husband. Isabella enters in to what she calls her ‘grey…
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Review: The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden
We all know there is a ton of historical fiction out there that takes place in Elizabethan England….typically in the court. The market is simply flooded…so how do you create a new and different take on a saturated topic? Well you take your Elizabethan heroine out of the court! Emme Fifield is a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth. Her life is pretty much wrapped up in the treacherous court and all she has is a good reputation and name. Well all that changes when she is ruined by a lord who will stop it nothing but to have her. Her reputation and future prospects are a disaster.
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Book Blast: The Lost Duchess by Jenny Barden
Please join author Jenny Barden as she tours the blogopsphere for The Lost Duchess from May 26-June 20. Paperback Publication Date: June 5, 2014 Ebury Press Paperback; 448p An epic Elizabethan adventure with a thriller pace and a high tension love story that moves from the palaces of England to the savage wilderness of the New World. Emme Fifield has fallen about as far as a gentlewoman can. Once a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, her only hope of surviving the scandal that threatens to engulf her is to escape England for a fresh start in the new America where nobody has ever heard of the Duchess of Somerset. Emme joins…
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Review: Silver Bay by JoJo Moyes
Liza McCullen lives in the small community of Silver Bay with it’s pristine beaches and secluded lifestyle, she feels completely at ease and safe in her life. Liza and her family run a small hotel there that features small exhibitions to see dolphins, whales, and all the beautiful sea creatures of the Australian coast. Running the whale watching tour is something extremely important to Liza, but not as important to her as raising her daughter Hannah. All of the women in Liza’s family have secrets…but none so big as Liza. Though she is the strong one in her little family, deep down she is as fragile as the delicate marine…
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Review: Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire by James Lowder
After recently re-reading A Game of Thrones, I couldn’t help but crave more of the epic story! I’ve read all the books at least once and after this recent re-read I’ve been scouring the discussion forums for more theories and insight into A Song of Ice and Fire. So needless to say, reading this book was a no brainer. I’ve read a lot of reviews about this anthology, and most people say that you can find better material online in the discussion groups for free. While there is a plethora of material online, a lot of it isn’t structured or supported by research which was what I was looking for….something…
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Take Two Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R. R. Martin
I’ve been nerd-ing out these last few weeks. I saw a co-worker with a copy of A Game of Thrones and she asked me a few questions about the prologue. It’s been two years since I read the first novel so I gave her a recap from memory. Well I went home and thought I wonder if I gave her the right answers…I’ll re-read just the prologue. Well the next thing I know I’m 100 pages in! I love this series. It’s so rich, textured, and character driven. I can’t say enough good things. You don’t have to be a fantasy reader to enjoy this series. It’s one of the best…
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Interview: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker
With the upcoming US release of this #1 international bestselling thriller, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair A global phenomenon, with over 2 million copies sold in Europe, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR is a fast-paced, tightly plotted, cinematic literary thriller about the disappearance of a fifteen-year-old New Hampshire girl and, thirty years later, a young American writer’s determination to clear his mentor’s name. Please enjoy this conversation with Joel Dicker about his upcoming novel!
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Review: The Lincoln Myth (Cotton Malone #9) by Steve Berry
All is not as it seems. A simple phrase that could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Abraham Lincoln must make a choice, keep the secret or not. He could save thousands or have the country torn apart…..Lincoln alone holds the power. Retired agent, Cotton Malone is asked by his former boss to do a favor. It sounds relatively cut and dry, but as soon as he agrees he realizes this is a bit more involved than he originally expected. Unbeknownst to him, his girlfriend is also being recruited for this ‘favor’. This only complicates matters further as she is in deep cover.
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Review: Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare’s Dark Lady by Sally O’Reilly
The story of Aemilia Bassono and William Shakespeare is wrought with passion, love, poetry, and a little magic. While the story is about both William and Aemilia, the main protagonist of the novel is Aemilia herself. She is an illegitimate child raised in the court of Queen Elizabeth. She was taken in by the Countess of Kent who made sure she was educated and prepared to eventually become part of the Queen’s household. While at court she becomes the mistress to Henry Carey but when he tires of he she is married off to Alfonso Lanyer–a lowly court musician. But not before she meets William and begins an affair with…
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Announcement: Winner: Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton
And the winner of the giveaway for Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton is….. Denise D (liked on Facebook) The winner will be notified via email. Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to the publisher and HFVBT for making this giveaway possible!