Giveaway: Impatient with Desire by Gabrielle Burton

Thanks to the generosity of author Gabrielle Burton, I have 1 hardcover copy of her novel, Impatient with Desire, up for grabs!  Thank you Gabrielle!


Giveaway 411:

Open to US and International entries
Only one entry per person
Ends on April 14th

SYNOPSIS:  In the spring of 1846, Tamsen Donner, her husband, George, their five daughters, and eighty other pioneers headed to California on the California-Oregon Trail in eager anticipation of new lives out West. Everything that could go wrong did, and an American legend was born.

The Donner Party. We think we know their story--pioneers trapped in the mountains performing an unspeakable act to survive--but we know only that one harrowing part of it. Impatient with Desire brings us answers to the unanswerable question: What really happened in the four months the Donners were trapped in the mountains? And it brings to stunning life a woman--and a love story--behind the myth.

Tamsen Eustis Donner, born in 1801, taught school, wrote poetry, painted, botanized, and was fluent in French. At twenty-three, she sailed alone from Massachusetts to North Carolina when respectable women didn't travel alone. Years after losing her first husband, Tully, she married again for love, this time to George Donner, a prosperous farmer, and in 1846, they set out for California with their five youngest children. Unlike many women who embarked reluctantly on the Oregon Trail, Tamsen was eager to go. Later, trapped in the mountains by early snows, she had plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of her decision and the cost of her wanderlust.

Historians have long known that Tamsen kept a journal, though it was never found. In Impatient with Desire, Burton draws on years of historical research to vividly imagine this lost journal--and paints a picture of a remarkable heroine in an extraordinary situation. Tamsen's unforgettable journey takes us from the cornfields of Illinois to the dusty Oregon Trail to the freezing Sierra Nevada Mountains, where she was forced to confront an impossible choice.

Impatient with Desire is a passionate, heart-wrenching story of courage, hope, and love in hardship, all told at a breathless pace. Intimate in tone and epic in scope, Impatient with Desire is absolutely hypnotic.

GOOD LUCK!

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Review: The Founding by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles


by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles


Eleanor Courteney is none too pleased when she hears that she is to be married to a local sheep farmer’s son. Given that Eleanor is an orphan with no dowry to speak of this match is actually better than a girl in her situation could’ve hoped for, but the young and feisty future matriarch of the Morland dynasty doesn’t see it that way. She is still secretly pining away for Edward, Duke of York with whom she fancies herself in love.

 Robert Morland and Eleanor are as different as night and day. Meek and somewhat spineless, at least where his father is concerned, Robert can only stare in awe at his future wife so full of confidence and spunk. While Robert is immediately smitten with Eleanor, she is not impressed with this seeming wimp of a husband and horrified at her new surroundings of the Morland home. Ever pragmatic, Eleanor soon resigns herself to her new life and sets out to make this new home her own, despite the obstacles set in her way by her father in law, Edward, who has less manners than the sheep he raises.

Through the years and as they work together to build their dynasty, expand their family business and produce an abundance of children, Robert and Eleanor’s relationship deepens into one of mutual love and respect.

As for the historical setting, The Founding takes place during the time of the War of the Roses and the reign of Richard III into the usurpation of the crown by Henry Tudor. Eleanor’s previous connection with royalty and her status as a wealthy cloth merchant provides us with a glimpse into the politics of the day, via the key people themselves. Richard Platagenet, Duke of York and his wife Cecily, as well as, Richard III and Queen Anne make appearances and even life as a Yorkist soldier is experienced as we watch the Morland sons and grandsons fight for the cause.

Now, I know other reviewers have stated that they disliked Eleanor immensely and while I can most definitely see their reasons, I found myself liking her a lot. I don’t know if it’s maybe because she is so different from myself?! I have a tendency to be ruled by emotions and I’ve always admired people that are more in control of theirs. Yes, she does come off as a snob in the beginning of the novel, but she was raised by a noble family all her life and knows nothing else, so of course she’s going to be rankled by the thought of marrying someone that’s not in their circle.

Overall, I found The Founding to be an entertaining and engrossing read that contains two intriguing elements…family drama and history. My only issue was the sheer volume of kids and grandkids and great-grandkids can get confusing and overwhelming at times, but you eventually figure it out for me it didn’t take anything away from the story. I highly recommend The Founding and can’t wait to begin the 2nd book in the Morland Dynasty series, The Dark Rose.


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Mailbox Monday


Another Monday, Another Mailbox!! This is a feature where we all share with each other the yummy books that showed up at our doors! WARNING: Mailbox Mondays can lead to extreme envy and GINORMOUS wishlists!!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

Happy Monday everyone!  My mailbox last week was pretty good as I received two books I've been eager to read.

First up, I received Gabrielle Burton's Impatient with Desire by the author.  Thank you Gabrielle!  I love the cover and it's even better in person.


SYNOPSIS: In the spring of 1846, Tamsen Donner, her husband, George, their five daughters, and eighty other pioneers headed to California on the California-Oregon Trail in eager anticipation of new lives out West. Everything that could go wrong did, and an American legend was born.

The Donner Party. We think we know their story--pioneers trapped in the mountains performing an unspeakable act to survive--but we know only that one harrowing part of it. Impatient with Desire brings us answers to the unanswerable question: What really happened in the four months the Donners were trapped in the mountains? And it brings to stunning life a woman--and a love story--behind the myth.

Tamsen Eustis Donner, born in 1801, taught school, wrote poetry, painted, botanized, and was fluent in French. At twenty-three, she sailed alone from Massachusetts to North Carolina when respectable women didn't travel alone. Years after losing her first husband, Tully, she married again for love, this time to George Donner, a prosperous farmer, and in 1846, they set out for California with their five youngest children. Unlike many women who embarked reluctantly on the Oregon Trail, Tamsen was eager to go. Later, trapped in the mountains by early snows, she had plenty of time to contemplate the wisdom of her decision and the cost of her wanderlust.

Historians have long known that Tamsen kept a journal, though it was never found. In Impatient with Desire, Burton draws on years of historical research to vividly imagine this lost journal--and paints a picture of a remarkable heroine in an extraordinary situation. Tamsen's unforgettable journey takes us from the cornfields of Illinois to the dusty Oregon Trail to the freezing Sierra Nevada Mountains, where she was forced to confront an impossible choice. 

Impatient with Desire is a passionate, heart-wrenching story of courage, hope, and love in hardship, all told at a breathless pace. Intimate in tone and epic in scope, Impatient with Desire is absolutely hypnotic.

***************************
And from Allie at Hist-Fic Chick I got Prima Donna by Megan Chance.


SYNOPSIS:  Opera singer Sabine Conrad is the toast of nineteenth-century New York high society. A celebrated soprano with the voice of an angel, she is showered with adulation by her audiences and courted by wealthy patrons. But behind the scenes, her every move is controlled by a Svengali-like manager, Gideon Price. When her attempt to escape him goes tragically awry, she flees, leaving behind a grisly murder.

Three years later, as Marguerite Olson, she has put aside the prima donna she once was to run a low-class theater in Seattle. Hidden among prostitutes, drunks, and miners, a desperate and determined Marguerite carefully guards the secrets of her old life—until her past returns to offer a terrifying proposition.

Prima Donna captures both the glittering decadence of New York and the rough raunchy waterfront of Seattle, as Marguerite, caught between two worlds, must find the strength to confront the truth of her past and choose which voice defines her in this dark and harrowing novel.


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my first Suddenly Sunday!


Suddenly Sunday is a fairly new meme created by Svea from Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog and I've decided to start participating!  Svea has a fabulous blog, so make sure to check it out!


Hey there dear readers!  I hope this Sunday finds everyone well.  Me, I'm baking a cake, watching the hubby play Wii Hockey and doing the 80th load of laundry.  I swear, I have NO idea how 3 people can accumulate so much dirty clothes!  

I finally saw Shutter Island this weekend and I must say that it was very good.  At first I just thought it weird but then it all comes together and ends up making sense.  I just love Leondardo DiCaprio...he always brings it! 

As for reading, I've actually been doing a LOT of it lately due to over-booking myself in March and April.  I finished Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn, which I thought was fantastic!  I'll be starting off the book tour for Mistress of Rome with an interview with author Kate Quinn on April 7th, and on the 8th will be my review. 


I'm currently reading The Highest Stakes by Emery Lee.  I have to say that I was a little worried about this one because horses aren't usually my thing, but I'm trying to expand my reading horizons and I'm enjoying it.  It does tend to get a little mired down with the horse details, but the dialogue is fun and the story flows well. 


The March event of The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick for the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table has come to a close and I hope you all enjoyed it!  I know we all had a blast...EC is a lot of fun to work with!  Congrats to Svea on winning the giveaway of both William Marshall books.  Click HERE to view the schedule of events with links to them all.


Our April event will be on the new novel by Stephanie Cowell, Claude and Camille: A Novel of Monet and starting here on April 6th.  I LOVED this novel and can't wait to share all of the goodies we have lined up for you all!  Stay tuned for your chance to not only win a copy of Claude and Camille but also Stephanie's previous novel, Marrying Mozart!


Passages to the Past has some other really groovy events coming up in the next few weeks...a Q & A with Christy English, author of The Queen's Pawn (due out April 6th) with a giveaway, guest post with author Mary Sharratt with giveaway for her new novel, Daughters of the Witching Hill (another fabulous novel!) and a guest post with Stephanie Cowell for the April Round Table event on Claude and Camille.


I hope you all have a great week!


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Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction/History releases for April 2010



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now reading...Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn


Release Date:  April 6, 2010

SYNOPSIS:  First century Rome: a world of depravity, blood, and secrets. The enigmatic Emperor Domitian watches over all, fearing murder from every side . . . except from the woman who fascinates him most.

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea; musical, wary, and passionate. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea and her mistress will become rivals for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome’s newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life – quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the life of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome’s aristocrats. Unwittingly, she attracts another admirer in the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But Domitian’s games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a streetwise child, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and ruthless Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: a slave girl who has come to be called the Mistress of Rome . . .

Based on the life and death of one of Rome’s most depraved Emperors. 

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2010 NF Release: House of Treason: The Rise & Fall of a Tudor Dynasty

House of Treason came out in hardcover last year and is now being released in paperback on September 1, 2010.  I think I'll be picking this up as the paperback price is much nicer on my pocketbook ;-)

What do you think?


by Robert Hutchinson

Release Date: September 1, 2010

SYNOPSIS: King-makers - Conspirators - Criminals - Nobles - Seducers The Howard family - the Dukes of Norfolk - were the wealthiest and most powerful aristocrats in Tudor England, regarding themselves as the true power behind the throne. They were certainly extraordinarily influential, with two Howard women marrying Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn and the fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard. But in the treacherous world of the Tudor court no faction could afford to rest on its laurels. The Howards consolidated their power with an awesome web of schemes and conspiracies but even they could not always hold their enemies at bay. This was a family whose history is marked by treason, beheadings and incarceration - a dynasty whose pride and ambition secured only their downfall.


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2010 Release: All The Queen's Players by Jane Feathers

Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots?  I am all over this one!! 

Will you be reading or are you all Tudor'd out?!


by Jane Feather

Release Date:  April 13, 2010
At Queen Elizabeth’s palace, intrigue abounds. And when a naive girl with a gift for keen observation enters the court, she can hardly imagine the role she will play in bringing England—indeed, the whole of Europe—to the brink of war. Nor can she foresee her own journey to the brink of ecstasy and beyond. . . .

When she becomes a junior lady of Queen Elizabeth’s bedchamber, Rosamund is instructed by her cousin, the brilliant and devious secretary of state Sir Francis Walsingham, to record everything she observes. Her promised reward: a chance at a good marriage. But through her brother Thomas, Rosamund finds herself drawn to the forbidden, rough-and-tumble world of theatre, and to Thomas’s friend, the dramatic, impetuous playwright Christopher Marlowe. And then Rosamund meets Will Creighton—a persuasive courtier, poet, and would-be playwright who is the embodiment of an unsuitable match.

The unsanctioned relationship between Rosamund and Will draws the wrath of Elizabeth, who prides herself on being the Virgin Queen. Rosamund is sent in disgrace to a remote castle that holds Elizabeth’s cousin Mary Stuart, the imprisoned Queen of Scots. Here, Walsingham expects Rosamund to uncover proof of a plot against Elizabeth. But surely, nothing good can come of putting an artless girl in such close proximity to so many seductive players and deceptive games. Unless, of course, Rosamund can discover an affinity for passion and intrigue herself. . . .

Pre-order at PTTP's Amazon US Store


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Wordless Wednesday / Today in Herstory


On this day in 1603, Queen Elizabeth I of England dies at Richmond Place after 44 years on the throne.


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NEW GIVEAWAY: Win a used copy of Legacy by Susan Kay

Hello dear readers!  I have a new giveaway to announce and I am super excited about it because it's a book about my favorite queen, Elizabeth I.  I had heard about this book since my fascination with HF began and was lucky enough to find 2 copies at a local library sale a few months back and would love to share a copy with one of you!  I have heard that this is THE book to read on the Virgin Queen and it's counted among many blogger's favorite all time reads.  FYI - Sourcebooks will be re-issuing this book in July.

The giveaway is for a used paperback copy, good condition. 


SYNOPSIS:  The much-praised Legacy offers an exquisite psychological portrait of the Queen who defined an era, beloved and touted by readers for its stunning storytelling and intriguing take on the monarch's life. From the spectacular era that bears her name comes the mesmerizing story of Elizabeth I: her tragic childhood; her ruthless confrontations with Mary, Queen of Scots; and her brilliant reign as Europe's most celebrated queen. And into this beautiful tapestry Susan Kay weaves the vibrant and compelling image of Elizabeth the woman. Proud, passionate, captivating in her intensity, she inspired men to love her from the depths of their souls—and to curse the pain of that devotion. Teasing out an intriguing answer to the central mystery of the Virgin Queen—satisfying to readers new to Elizabeth's life as well as die-hard fans of the Tudors— here is a premier exploration of the woman who changed the course of history, and three men whose destinies belonged to her alone.

Please read the following rules, as some have changed:
  • Giveaway is open to followers of PTTP ONLY. 
  • To enter, leave a comment with your email address.
  • Giveaway is open to US and International entries. 
  • Giveaway ends on April 9th.
  • Only 1 entry per person.

 GOOD LUCK!

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Review: The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick


by Elizabeth Chadwick


Regular readers of this blog are sure to know about my literary love for Elizabeth Chadwick novels. So, it was with great delight that I settled in to read about the next chapter in William Marshall’s life, in The Scarlet Lion. 

The Scarlet Lion covers the latter half of William’s life, where he is once again thrust into a role he would rather not play, but where his sense of honor and duty compel him to act. When King Richard I dies William is one of the first to pledge his loyalty to the new king, John. But John doesn’t have any liking for William and makes sure he knows it. William has to walk a very thin line with John and his infamous Angevin temper.

Meanwhile at home, Isabelle is continually in the birthing chamber as their brood expands to 10. Yet, she is aching to go back to her homeland of Ireland and to reclaim her de Clare family inheritance. This issue will serve as a point on contention and even rift in their otherwise tight marriage.

And those aren’t the only lands that the Marshalls are fighting for. As William has lands in both Normandy and England, he is in between a rock and a hard place when King Philip of France asks William to pay homage to him for his land in France, which would mean that William would have to fight for the French if there were ever a war between the two countries. Needless to say, King John doesn’t much like this and if there was ever a king you should not piss off, it would be King John. We’ve all heard of the Angevin temper, but John takes it to a whole other level – he is just plain evil and there were many times I wanted to jump through the pages and just throttle him. I was kinda hoping EC would throw in a scene where Isabelle would lay him out flat with one punch!

While not as action packed as The Greatest Knight, unless you count all the action on the marriage bed and then the birthing chamber, it is none the less engrossing and entertaining. William and Isabelle are great fun to read about and I am so glad that I had the chance to know about their lives.

Brilliantly weaving a strong plot line, historical accuracy, depth of character and dialogue filled with intelligence and wit, is why Elizabeth Chadwick novels is one of the very best of historical fiction authors.

FCC:  I acquired this book with my hard-earned money, so there!


Have you entered the GIVEAWAY for both copies of The Greatest Knight AND The Scarlet Lion?  Click HERE to enter.  Everyone is welcome and it ends on March 27th.



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The Scarlet Lion event for the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table


Please excuse my tardiness with this post but I've been laid out all weekend with a nasty cold and under a self-induced NyQuil coma.   And now back to the show...

The March event for the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table is here!!!  Yippee!!! 

And it's with Elizabeth Chadwick!!!  Double yippee!!!

This is going to be one GREAT event!  We've got reviews, we've got creative posts written by the ladies of the Round Table, we've got guest posts written by the fantabulous Elizabeth Chadwick, an interview with EC and a really groovy giveaway!  What more could you ask for?


Schedule of Events:


March 22 – Book Review by Allie @ Hist-Fic Chick, Creative Post by Heather @ The Maiden’s Court, Book Review by Marie @ The Burton Review

March 23 – Author Interview @ Hist-Fic Chick, Book Review by Amy @ Passages to the Past

March 24 – Author Guest Post @ The Burton Review, Book Review by Susie @ All Things Royal

March 25 – Book Review by Lizzy @ Historically Obsessed, Creative Post by Marie @ The Burton Review

March 26 – Book Review by Heather @ The Maiden’s Court, Creative Post by Susie @ All Things Royal

March 27 – Book Review by Lucy @ Enchanted by Josephine, Creative Post by Arleigh @ Historical-Fiction.com

GIVEAWAY:


Click HERE to enter to win BOTH of Elizabeth Chadwick’s William Marshall novels up for grabs to one lucky winner! This giveaway is open to everyone and all you need to do is leave your name & email on this post! Ends March 27th, to be announced March 28th.

I hope you all enjoy the event!!

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Mailbox Monday



Another Monday, Another Mailbox!! This is a feature where we all share with each other the yummy books that showed up at our doors! WARNING: Mailbox Mondays can lead to extreme envy and GINORMOUS wishlists!!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

I was feeling kinda bummed towards the end of last week when I realized that I hadn't received any yummy packages...but luckily a little gem made it's way to me this weekend, all the way from the UK, to brighten up my day! 

The lovely Helen Hollick sent me a copy of her novel, Sea Witch, along with a signed bookplate and a postcard from the movie 1066, which is in development.  Too cool for school, right?!  Thanks bunches Helen!

Two of my favorite authors have given Sea Witch rave reviews...Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Penman.  Sharon states: "In the Sexiest Pirate contest, Jesamiah Acorne gives Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow a run for his money."  Ooohhh sookie, sookie now...sounds like a good read to me!


SYNOPSIS:  The time: the golden age of piracy – 1716 The Place: the Pirate Round – from South Africa to the Islands of the Caribbean. Escaping the bullying of his elder brother, from the age of fifteen Jesamiah Acorne has been a pirate, with only two loves - his ship and his freedom. But his life is to change when he and his crew unsuccessfully attack a merchant ship off the coast of South Africa. He is to meet Tiola Oldstagh, an insignificant girl or so he thinks - until she rescues him from a vicious attack, and almost certain death, by pirate hunters. And then he discovers what she really is; a healer and a midwife - and a white witch. Her name, an anagram of "all that is good." Jesamiah and Tiola become lovers, despite her guardian, Jenna Pendeen’s disapproval, but Stefan van Overstratten a Cape Town Dutchman, also wants Tiola as his wife, and Jesamiah’s half brother Phillipe Mereno, is determined to seek revenge for a stolen ship and the insult of being cuckolded. When the call of the sea and an opportunity to commandeer a beautiful ship – Sea Witch - is put in Jesamiah’s path, he must make a choice between his life as a pirate or his love for Tiola; he wants both - but Mereno and Von Overstratten want him dead. In trouble, imprisoned in the darkness and stench that is the lowest part of his brother’s ship, can Tiola with her Craft, and the aid of Roux, Jesamiah’s quartermaster and the rest of his loyal crew, save her pirate? And can she keep Jesamiah safe from another who wants him for herself? From the elemental being that is Tethys, Goddess of the Sea? A charismatic pirate rogue and a white witch - what better combination for a story of romance and high-sea fantasy adventure?

What goodies showed up at your door?

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