2011 Release: The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

The author of one of my favorite reads of 2010, Alice, I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin, is coming out with a new book titled The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb and I can't wait to read it!

Release Date:  July 26, 2011

SYNOPSIS

In her national bestseller Alice I Have Been, Melanie Benjamin imagined the life of the woman who inspired Alice in Wonderland. Now, in this jubilant new novel, Benjamin shines a dazzling spotlight on another fascinating female figure whose story has never fully been told: a woman who became a nineteenth century icon and inspiration—and whose most daunting limitation became her greatest strength.

“Never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it.” 
She was only two-foot eight-inches tall, but her legend reaches out to us more than a century later. As a child, Mercy Lavinia “Vinnie” Bump was encouraged to live a life hidden away from the public. Instead, she reached out to the immortal impresario P. T. Barnum, married the tiny superstar General Tom Thumb in the wedding of the century, and transformed into the world’s most unexpected celebrity.

Here, in Vinnie’s singular and spirited voice, is her amazing adventure—from a showboat “freak” revue where she endured jeering mobs to her fateful meeting with the two men who would change her life: P. T. Barnum and Charles Stratton, AKA Tom Thumb. Their wedding would captivate the nation, preempt coverage of the Civil War, and usher them into the White House and the company of presidents and queens. But Vinnie’s fame would also endanger the person she prized most: her similarly-sized sister, Minnie, a gentle soul unable to escape the glare of Vinnie’s spotlight.

A barnstorming novel of the Gilded Age, and of a woman’s public triumphs and personal tragedies, The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is the irresistible epic of a heroine who conquered the country with a heart as big as her dreams—and whose story will surely win over yours.


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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, but for the month of February MM is on tour and hosted by Library of Clean Reads.  Yours truly will be the MM host for April!

Hey everyone!  I hope you all had a great weekend!  I only have one new addition to report for review, but it looks like a really fun read!

Behind the Palace Doors: Five Centuries of Sex, Adventure, Vice, Treachery, and Folly from Royal Britain
by Michael Farquhar

Release Date:  March 1, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Spanning 500 years of British history, a revealing look at the secret lives of some great (and not-so-great) Britons, courtesy of one of the world’s most engaging royal historians

Beleaguered by scandal, betrayed by faithless spouses, bedeviled by ambitious children, the kings and queens of Great Britain have been many things, but they have never been dull. Some sacrificed everything for love, while others met a cruel fate at the edge of an axman’s blade. From the truth behind the supposed madness of King George to Queen Victoria’s surprisingly daring taste in sculpture, Behind the Palace Doors ventures beyond the rumors to tell the unvarnished history of Britain’s monarchs, highlighting the unique mix of tragedy, comedy, romance, heroism, and incompetence that has made the British throne a seat of such unparalleled fascination.

Featuring:

• stories covering every monarch, from randy Henry VIII to reserved Elizabeth II
• historical myths debunked and surprising “Did you know . . . ?” anecdotes
• four family trees spanning every royal house, from the Tudors to the Windsors 


Well, that's my mailbox...what goodies came your way?

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2011 Release: Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen

by Lynn Cullen

Release Date: August 4, 2011

SYNOPSIS

At the novel's outset, Princess Juana of Castile -- known to history as Juana the Mad -- isn't mad at all. Just fourteen and raised in the conservative, Catholic court of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, she can't fathom that her parents might be having affairs, or that her betrothed, Duke Philip of Burgundy, will turn out to be anything but his namesake, Philip "the Good."

She soon learns, amid parties and feasts after her marriage, that her new husband sees her as little more than a way to seize power in Spain -- after, of course, she provides him with heirs. Struggling to maintain her resolve after a series of bitter disappointments, from the shock of adjusting to life in the tumultuous Flemish court and embarrassment of her husband's affairs, to separation from her children, lead poisoning, and rumors of growing insanity that eventually rob her of her power, REIGN OF MADNESS is at once a story of love (the forbidden kind, between Juana and Diego, son of Christopher Columbus), lust, and mother-daughter struggle, as Juana comes to understand who her powerful mother really was.

Featuring familiar characters from history -- Christopher Columbus pays a visit to Queen Isabel's court bearing gold, hutias, and "cannibals," REIGN OF MADNESS brings the most tumultuous years of the Renaissance to life, when the Hapsburgs ruled Europe and Spain began its conquest of the New World. Readers will delight in the details of the Spanish and Flemish courts that Cullen so accurately portrays: ladies in waiting, court ceremony and dances, horseback riding and hand-drawn baths. All together it makes for a richly rewarding tale -- a perfect companion to The Creation of Eve, and not soon to be forgotten.


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Giveaway Winners!

Hey there everyone...it's time to announce some lucky giveaway winners!

The winner of Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran plus a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings is....


* * * * *

The winner of the $100 CSN Stores Giftcard Giveaway is:


* * * * *

The winner of The Irish Princess by Karen Harper is:

Carrie Symes

* * * * *

The winner of The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas is:

Bookflame

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  Emails have been sent and winners notified!  

Thanks to everyone who entered and helped spread the word!  A big thanks CSN, Michelle Moran and Karen Harper for providing the giveaway copies!

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Announcing the Live Author Chat Night with Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Pains!

I am tickled pink to announce that the next Live Author Chat Night will be with the charming Leslie Carroll

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Please join us on March 1st when Leslie will be here to talk about her latest release ROYAL PAINS: A Rogues' Gallery of Brats, Brutes, and Bad Seeds!!  And she has graciously offered up a fabulous prize package!  One lucky chat night participant will win an autographed copy of ROYAL PAINS and a crown embroidered tote bag with natural leather handles, an inside pocket, and room for all the books (or e-readers) anyone could possibly schlep!  How cute is that tote I ask you!?  I've already got one on order for myself :)

Close up of tote bag (wrapped presents not included!)
CHAT NIGHT DETAILS

When: Tuesday, March 1st
What Time:  7:00 - 8:00 pm EST
Where:  http://www.passagestothepast.com

All corresponding (questions and answers) will take place in the comments section of the Chat Night post (not this one).  I will start off the Chat Night with a welcome message and a question or two to get the ball rolling and then the floor is open to whomever has a question for Leslie.  

PREVIOUS CHAT NIGHTS

Sourcebooks Summer Reading Club Book Chat Night
Live Author Chat Night with Susan Holloway Scott
Live Author Chat Night with Gillian Bagwell
Live Author Chat Night with Lauren Willig

ABOUT THE BOOK

SYNOPSIS

The author of Notorious Royal Marriages presents some of history's boldest, baddest, and bawdiest royals.

The bad seeds on the family trees of the most powerful royal houses of Europe often became the most rotten of apples: über-violent autocrats Vlad the Impaler and Ivan the Terrible literally reigned in blood. Lettice Knollys strove to mimic the appearance of her cousin Elizabeth I and even stole her man. And Pauline Bonaparte scandalized her brother Napoleon by having a golden goblet fashioned in the shape of her breast.

Chock-full of shocking scenes, titillating tales, and wildly wicked nobles, Royal Pains is a rollicking compendium of the most infamous, capricious, and insatiable bluebloods of Europe.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

If you have any questions prior to the event you can shoot me an email me or ask the question here and I will get back to you.

passages to the past at gmail dot com

I think that about covers everything!  I really hope to see you all there and can't wait to see what fantastic questions you all come up with!


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Review: The Raven Queen by Jules Watson

by Jules Watson

Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Bantam Publishing
544p


SYNOPSIS

In this dazzling retelling of one of Ireland’s most stirring legends, acclaimed author Jules Watson brings to life the story of Maeve, the raven queen, who is as fierce as she is captivating.

She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will through marriage—her own desires always thwarted. But free-spirited Maeve will no longer endure the schemes of her latest husband, Conor, the cunning ruler of Ulster. And when her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of its greedy lords and Conor’s forces, Maeve knows she must at last come into her own power to save it.

With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence and stealth, she learns the strategies—and sacrifices—of ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. And to draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods, Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself—and put her at war with both her duty and her fate.

MY REVIEW

I became a fan of Jules Watson when I read her enchanting novel The Swan Maiden back in 2009 and have been anxiously awaiting the follow up release of The Raven Queen. Well, I am happy to report that the magic of Watson’s storytelling carries on and the waiting was well worth it!

The Raven Queen is a re-imagining of the legend of Queen Maeve of Irish mythology, whose story is included in the Ulster Cycle. As we meet Maeve, she is escaping from her cruel husband King Conor and arriving at her father’s stronghold only to find that he is dying. With the death of her father, Maeve is left vulnerable, with a brother who would like nothing better than to see her dead and her country threatened by Conor’s forces she knows what she must do. Through blood, sweat and tears (and a little spiritual guidance from a blind druid) Maeve earns the respect and blessing of her people to become queen. Faced with the toughest fight of her life, the raven queen finds it takes more than fighting prowess to overcome the threat to her people and in the process also finds the woman inside she had kept hidden for so long.

An entrancing story of loyalty, courage, self-discovery and love, The Raven Queen is resplendent with spirituality and a strong mystical element that feels otherworldly. Jules Watson did a fantastic job of bringing an Irish legend to life. I highly recommend!

Click HERE to enter to win a copy of The Raven Queen and read an interview with author Jules Watson.

For more information, please visit Jules Watson's WEBSITE.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.

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Author Interview with Jules Watson + Giveaway for signed copy of The Raven Queen

As part of The Raven Queen Blog Tour I am happy to bring you an interview with the delightful and charming Jules Watson plus a giveaway for a signed copy of The Raven Queen!!


What inspired you to tell the story of Queen Maeve of Celtic legend?

That she was portrayed so badly by the early scribes. Any woman labeled a promiscuous harlot and power-hungry, bloodthirsty war-mongerer has to be fascinating to write about!

You see, the early Irish tales were passed on by word of mouth for hundreds of years. The first literate people able to write them down were monks in medieval monasteries, as Christianity was established in Ireland. An example of a legendary woman so sensual and powerful would obviously be a threat to the new order, and there are theories that Maeve and other female characters like her were subject to a sort of smear campaign.

Perhaps she was as fiery and powerful as I have portrayed her, and early writers twisted that to make her into an abomination that should be scorned, not admired. As a writer, I just had to take this fascinating woman and imagine what she was really like, and what she really did that could have lead to this bad press.

The key, though, is her backstory. I have invented very good reasons why she fights so hard to rule over her own life. And, if you can show a character’s vulnerabilities, readers will hopefully still sympathize even if she makes some questionable decisions. I mean, none of us are perfect! And in the end, she recognizes the power of love, and I think we can all relate to that.

The other reason I wanted to write about her is that she is so different to my other heroines. She is not a maiden waiting to be rescued, or a priestess or seer. She is a ridiculously brave warrior, and bears the burden of queenship alone while a lot of people want her dead. What a woman!

What is it about the fearless Queen Maeve that you think modern women will relate to when reading The Raven Queen?

She feels entirely modern to me, because she is ballsy as well as vulnerable, and she will fight to create a life on her own terms. She wants freedom and self-determination so much that she risks everything to break free of the restrictions imposed on her by the male-dominated world. At the same time, she is not afraid to need both romantic and family love, and risk just as much, if not more, for it.

While modern women don’t need to take up a sword to do this, I think we all identify with that struggle to find out who we really are, discover our unique, innate powers, and forge the life we want. We don’t want to be stuck in a certain career, or relationship, or powerless position just because we are women. It’s funny how a character from two thousand years ago can be so contemporary!

Against all odds, she becomes a ruling queen, and ends up leading the greatest army in Irish myth on the battle-trail to protect her people. A woman doing this in a man’s age is so inspiring.

Deirdre (from The Swan Maiden) and Maeve, two vastly different women, had actually at least one thing in common - they both broke free from the men who had been using them as pawns. In your writings and research did you come across any more similarities between the two women?

They are only connected in myth through The Tain, the famous Irish battle epic that forms the backbone of the plot in The Raven Queen. There is a snippet of myth somewhere that one of Maeve’s husbands was at one time Conor of Ulster. He is the ageing king who imprisons Deirdre as a child in The Swan Maiden, in order to later take her as his wife. So immediately, I saw that I could bump up the connection between Maeve and Deirdre, as they were married to the same power-hungry, evil king.

I went further, though. Deirdre flees her marriage to Conor, but there is no evidence that Maeve did the same. I invented this impulse on Maeve’s part so that Maeve and Deirdre both end up abandoning Conor (at different times) and thus deeply humiliating him. His rage and fear at this assault on his power drives him to war in The Raven Queen. Though they never meet, the same need in both Deirdre and Maeve to be free, to rule their own lives, sets the whole conflict between the tribes of Ireland in motion.

Also, Deirdre’s fate at the hands of Conor makes a group of his best warriors defect from Ulster to join Maeve’s army. She could not wage war on Conor without this boost to her forces, so indirectly, Deirdre also helps Maeve on her path to battle.

They are vastly different, but obvious they were both very strong in their own ways, and determined to choose their own lives, no matter the risk.

Can you explain to us a bit about the legend surrounding Queen Maeve's tomb on Knocknarea mountain?

The legend is that the enormous cairn (pile of stones) on top of the mount of Knocknarea in Sligo, Ireland is Maeve’s final resting place. In the epic myth The Tain, Maeve and her kingdom of Connacht in the west wage war against Conor of Ulster in the north. Knocknarea overlooks the western sea. The legend says that Maeve is buried standing up in full war regalia, facing the north and her great enemy Ulster. Great story, huh? Later peoples of Connacht must have gained comfort thinking that their great queen still protected them.

In Irish, Knocknarea is Cnoc na Rí, which means the Hill of the King. This is why I chose it for the scene where Maeve realizes she must take up arms and fight to become queen of her people after her father dies. She decides to become “king” on that hill.

Of course, the archaeologist in me can’t fail to mention that the actual cairn predates Maeve’s time (the Iron Age, a hundred years BC) by a few thousand years. It is a neolithic tomb, which has never been excavated. Sometimes such tombs were re-used in the Iron Age, though, so you never know. I actually climbed the hill and stood up there when I was working out my plot, and I could definitely feel her. Long live Maeve!

Who are your writing influences?

When I started, my two biggest influences were Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon, and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I loved MOA for the Celtic flavor and the focus on pagan spirituality: priestesses and the sisterhood, and a bit of subtle magic. In Diana’s Outlander series, I loved the Scottish setting and more importantly the natural way her characters spoke and acted, the depths of emotion she managed to convey, and the wonderful and believable romance.  I loved that she went back and forth so easily between heart-thumping action and heart-tugging emotions.

In fact, both books straddled genres, with swashbuckling adventures and romance; history and fantasy. This is what I wanted to achieve with my books – adventure, romance, and a dash of spirituality thrown together. Perhaps it is the different parts of my personality coming out. I am a woman, obviously, so I want to write about women’s lives, but I think I have a sword-wielding adventurer somewhere inside as well!

Well, Jules I think you have met that achievement for sure!  I am in love with the way you can transport readers to another time and place and you are a truly remarkable storyteller!  Thank you for stopping by Passages to the Past!

For more information, please visit Jules Watson's WEBSITE.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

SYNOPSIS

In this dazzling retelling of one of Ireland’s most stirring legends, acclaimed author Jules Watson brings to life the story of Maeve, the raven queen, who is as fierce as she is captivating.

She was born to be a pawn, used to secure her father’s royal hold on his land. She was forced to advance his will through marriage—her own desires always thwarted. But free-spirited Maeve will no longer endure the schemes of her latest husband, Conor, the cunning ruler of Ulster. And when her father’s death puts her homeland at the mercy of its greedy lords and Conor’s forces, Maeve knows she must at last come into her own power to save it.

With secret skill and daring, Maeve proves herself the equal of any warrior on the battlefield. With intelligence and stealth, she learns the strategies—and sacrifices—of ruling a kingdom through treacherous alliances. And to draw on the dangerous magic of her country’s oldest gods, Maeve seeks out the wandering druid Ruan, whose unexpected passion and strange connection to the worlds of spirit imperil everything Maeve thought true about herself—and put her at war with both her duty and her fate.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

- To enter, please leave a comment below and include your email address.
- Giveaway is open to US ONLY.
- For +1 additional entry each, please help spread the word by blogging, posting on sidebar, tweeting or posting on Facebook.  You can use the SHARE buttons below and please include the info in the comment section below.
- Giveaway ends on February 28th.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

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The Raven Queen Blog Tour starts today!!

Today begins the virtual book tour for The Raven Queen by Jules Watson! To start off the event I will be bringing you an interview with Jules a little bit later today here on Passages to the Past. I hope everyone enjoys the tour stops - we've got reviews, interviews and giveaways!  Please see the entire schedule below...


Monday, February 21:  Author Interview at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, February 22:  Review at Tanzanite’s Castle Full of Books
Thursday, February 24:  Review at Passages to the Past
Friday, February 25:  Review at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Tuesday, March 1:  Review at Bookworms Dinner
Wednesday, March 2:  Review at Let Them Read Books
Thursday, March 3:  Review at A Sea of Books
Friday, March 4:  Author Interview at Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in the Fog
Saturday, March 5:  Review at Confessions and Rambling of a Muse in the Fog
Monday, March 7:  Author Interview at The True Book Addict
Tuesday, March 8:  Review at Bippity Boppity Book
Wednesday, March 9:  Review at Tempting Persephone
Thursday, March 10:  Review at Historical Tapestry and The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Friday, March 11:  Review at The True Book Addict
Monday, March 13:  Review at The Tome Traveller

The Raven Queen Blog Tour is brought to you by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

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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, but for the month of February MM is on tour and hosted by Library of Clean Reads.  Yours truly will be the MM host for April!

Bonjour readers!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Mine was nice but busy and I had some great books to keep me company.  Included in this week's Mailbox Monday are three that I received for review and one I picked up at a local used bookstore.

First up is To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine by the lovely Christy English.  Thanks Christy, I am looking forward to meeting up again with Eleanor!

Release Date: April 5, 2011

SYNOPSIS

The author of The Queen's Pawn delves into the early life of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine in her new historical novel.

After her father's sudden death, fifteen-year-old Eleanor is quickly crowned Duchess of Aquitaine and betrothed to King Louis VII. When her new husband cannot pronounce her given name, Alienor becomes Eleanor, Queen of France.

Although Louis is enamored of his bride, the newly crowned king is easily manipulated by the church and a God that Eleanor doesn't believe in. Now, if she can find the strength to fight for what she wants, Eleanor may finally find the passion she has longed for, and the means to fulfill her legacy as Queen. 

Second, is A Race to Splendor by Ciji Ware.  The newest reissue by Sourcebooks takes place in San Francisco in the early 1900s and has one of the most gorgeous covers I've ever seen!  I have loved the previous three reissues and have no doubt that Ciji Ware will bring it again!

Release Date: March 31, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Inspired by female architect Julia Morgan, this is the riveting tale of a race against time to rebuild two luxury hotels after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed 400 city blocks and left 250,000 homeless.

Morgan’s fictional protegee Amelia Bradshaw and client J.D. Thayer will sacrifice anything to see the city they love rise from the ashes; in the process, they can’t help but lose their hearts.

Third, is Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon.  This is one that I've been waiting to read for quite some time so I was very excited when it showed up this week!

Release Date:  March 1, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Two sheltered princesses, one wounded warrior; who will live happily ever after?

Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart….  

A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. Beautifully written and compulsively readable, it will make you think twice about the fairytale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page. 

And last, but certainly not least, is the final book that I needed to acquire to complete my Pink Carnation series collection...The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation #3) by Lauren Willig.
SYNOPSIS

Rebellion is brewing in Ireland, egged on by the unquenchable Black Tulip. The Pink Carnation and Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe (formerly of the League of the Purple Gentian) are on the case. But as the Irish uprising draws nearer and the Black Tulip grows bolder, Geoff finds himself struggling with a very different sort of problem. An unexpected wife.

Well, that's my mailbox....what books made it to yours?


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