Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

Having a library card is the best thing in the world. After seeing this book on a few Instagram pages, I was lured in by the cover and title.

I wasn’t really sure I wanted to buy it though so I put a hold on it at my local library. After waiting three weeks for it to be returned, I was finally able to pick it up!

This is one of those times that I am so thankful for library cards.

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world (summary from Goodreads).
Continue reading “Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco”

Special Feature and Giveaway: There is Always a Tomorrow by Anna Belfrage

There is Always a Tomorrow
by Anna Belfrage

Publication Date: November 5, 2017
Timelight Press
eBook & Paperback; ISBN: 9781788039666

Series: Graham Saga, Book #9
Genre: Historical Fiction/Time-Slip

 

 

There is Always a Tomorrow is the ninth book in Anna Belfrage’s time slip series featuring time traveller Alexandra Lind and her seventeenth century husband, Matthew Graham.

It is 1692 and the Colony of Maryland is still adapting to the consequences of Coode’s Rebellion some years previously. Religious tolerance in the colony is now a thing of the past, but safe in their home, Alex and Matthew Graham have no reason to suspect they will become embroiled in the ongoing religious conflicts—until one of their sons betrays their friend Carlos Muñoz to the authorities.

Matthew Graham does not leave his friends to rot—not even if they’re papist priests—so soon enough most of the Graham family is involved in a rescue attempt, desperate to save Carlos from a sentence that may well kill him.

Meanwhile, in London little Rachel is going through hell. In a matter of months she loses everything, even her surname, as apparently her father is not Master Cooke but one Jacob Graham. Not that her paternity matters when her entire life implodes.

Will Alex and Matthew be able to help their unknown grandchild? More importantly, will Rachel want their help?

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Continue reading “Special Feature and Giveaway: There is Always a Tomorrow by Anna Belfrage”

Review: Anne of Green Gables (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by L.M. Montogomery

Earlier this year I reviewed the audio edition of this book and had mixed feelings. I loved Anne with an E as a little girl but as an adult I felt rather like a Marilla.

However when the new Penguin Classic edition came up for review, I was all in, especially because I wanted to see if I found reading Anne as an adult was better than listening to her. This cover was everything. It captured childhood nostalgia and sentiment and stood out from other edition. Something about the cover screamed ‘raspberry cordial’ to me. I loved the bright colors and graphics.

L. M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan mistakenly sent to a pair of siblings who intended to adopt a boy to help work on their farm in Prince Edward Island.

Continue reading “Review: Anne of Green Gables (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by L.M. Montogomery”

Review: Adagio Tea Book Blends

There is nothing like drinking a cup of warm tea while curling up with your favorite book in front of the fire. Especially in the winter time.

Adagio Teas is a unique line of teas that does a number of literary inspired tea blends and pairings. Now I am far from a tea connoisseur but I know that I like chai, black, and orange teas so surely I would be able to find something that I liked on their website.

I was blown away with how many different fan blends they have for book lovers! There are literally over 100,000 blends! This is mostly a site where readers and fans can create their own blends which I love because it allows the fan to create something special an unique.

You can make your own blend with ease as well as find adorable art (or create/upload your own) to go with whatever book you are reading! It’s truly a wonderfully unique way to get involved with your book and share your love with other readers and tea lovers.

So I decided to try a few blends. I selected 10 based on my tea tastes and book tastes and here is the list:

Jon Snow 

Lady Mary 

Pumpkin Potion 

Perfect Pumpkin Pie Chai 

Pumpkin Chai Latte 

Ours is the Fury 

Orange Spice Rooibos 

Mr Darcy 

Dark Prophecies Draft 

Targaryen Spirits 

Now you can find out more about each tea blend and what they contain as far as flavors and teas by clicking on each link above.

I spent about a month showcasing, reviewing, and pairing my tea samples on my Instagram page which was a super fun way to interact with my readers and followers. I got to meet lots of new people and book lovers in a way that I hadn’t thought of before. So be sure to head over to my Instagram page and follow along.

Anyway, the teas arrived super fast and in small little sample tins. The samples were inexpensive and made about 5 cups depending on how strong you like your tea. Fast shipping as well so I didn’t have to wait weeks for it to arrive. The teas smelled super fresh and the samples were in tins so nothing leaked out in the box.

The first one I busted into was the Jon Snow blend. I was really impressed with the balance of the blend. The person who created this one had a vision and it was spot on. It had a little hint of ginger for edge and a kick, but the other ingredients balanced it out making it smooth and memorable.

I won’t go into detail about every single tea I tried because that would take pages. But I feel confident that I leaned a lot about teas in this experiment. There are literally hundreds of blends you can try or create your own. The website is easy to navigate and the teas have a gourmet feel for a fraction of the price. And seriously who can resist a tin with your favorite book character or title on it?

This is such a fun company and I highly encourage anyone who loves tea and books to try them out. Or send a few samples to your relative for holiday gifts! I know I am wording a bunch as stocking stuffers for all my bookish friends and family members!

 

Special Feature: Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables #1) by L.M. Montgomery

By now I am sure many of you are in full holiday mode. I know I am! The amount of Amazon Prime packages arriving at my house is actually quite embarrassing.

How many of you have a young girl you are trying to buy for? Or maybe a wife who loves reading? You can’t go wrong with the classic Anne of Green Gables!

Like many adult women today, I grew up loving Anne with an E Shirley. She was so sassy and funny that you can’t help but love her. As a young girl my first ‘crush’ was the dashing Gilbert Blythe.

Earlier this year, I ‘listened’ to the audiobook Anne of Green Gables and found myself feeling rather sad because I felt like I maybe I had outgrown Anne. But then again, it could have been the narrator. The narrator was rather over the top.  Continue reading “Special Feature: Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables #1) by L.M. Montgomery”