2011 UK Release: England's Queen's: The Biography by Elizabeth Norton

by Elizabeth Norton

UK Release Date: June 1, 2011
US Release Date: not known at this time, will keep you updated

SYNOPSIS

Her story not his, the English monarchy through the private and public lives of the queens of England. Nearly eighty women have sat on the throne of England, either as queen regnant or queen consort and the voices of all of them survive through their own writings and those of their contemporaries. The primary role of the queen over the ages was to provide an heir. Catherine of Aragon found this to her cost, divorced by Henry VIII for failing to produce a healthy son. Anne Boleyn was executed shortly afterwards for the same reason. The birth of an heir was also a route to power for a queen and Eleanor of Aquitaine became the most powerful woman in Europe during the reigns of her sons. Emma of Normandy was so desperate to be queen mother that she manipulated her three sons in an attempt to ensure that one would be king. One was murdered when he attempted to reach his mother but her remaining two sons became kings in turn with their mother as a leading advisor. Strong relationships could also develop between the queens and their husbands. Richard II and Anne of Bohemia made an arranged marriage but quickly fell deeply in love and, on Anne's death at Sheen Palace, Richard's grief was so intense that he ordered the palace to be destroyed. Edward VIII even abandoned his throne when forced to choose between the crown and his lover, Wallis Simpson. Not all marriages were happy and queens such as Isabella of France and Catherine Howard took lovers to escape their marriages. The unhappy Sophia Dorothea of Celle was imprisoned for over thirty years by her husband George I when her affair was discovered. Her lover, Count von Konigsmarck was murdered. Most queens made arranged marriages and were used by their families to build alliances. Some queens were able to break away from this control. Queen Victoria spent her childhood secluded with her overprotective mother, even sharing the same bedroom until the day when she was proclaimed queen and finally freed herself from her mother's control. For the first time, the voice of each individual queen can be heard together, charting the course of English queenship through nearly two thousand years of history. Each queen played her own part in shaping what the role of queen would become and it developed through the lives and actions of each of the women in turn.


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2011 Re-Issue: Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

Thanks to the re-issuing of Ciji Ware's novels by Sourcebooks I have become a huge fan of the author and am super excited to see that the next to be re-issued is Midnight on Julia Street!  It sounds a little different than what I normally read but she hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I am definitely checking it out!

by Ciji Ware

Release Date:  August 1, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Ciji Ware's acclaimed time slip novel weaves together romance and history with the sultry and timeless flavor of two eras of New Orleans. 

TV reporter Corlis McCullough's investigation of a century-old mystery involving spectacular 19th-century buildings under the threat of the wrecker's ball brings her back into the orbit of her old college nemesis King Duvallon. But now they're mature and companionable, and King shows Corlis a fascinating, hidden side of New Orleans society. Then she begins to be pulled back into the past where corruption, violence, and greed mirror the events of the current day.


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2011 Release: The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak

by Eva Stachniak

Release Date:  December 27, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Behind every great ruler lies a betrayal. Eva Stachniak's novel sweeps readers into the passionate, intimate, and treacherous world of Catherine the Great, revealing Russia's greatest monarch from her earliest days in court, where the most valuable currency was the secrets of nobility and the most dangerous weapon to wield was ambition.

Two young women, caught in the landscape of shifting allegiances, navigate the treacherous waters of palace intrigue. Barbara, the narrator, is a servant who will become one of Russia's most cunning royal spies. Sophie is a naive German duchess who will become Catherine the Great. For readers of superb historical fiction, Eva Stachniak captures in glorious detail the opulence of royalty and the perilous loyalties of the Russian court.


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ARC Giveaway: The Daughter of Siena by Marina Fiorato

Thanks to Three Rivers Press Passages to the Past has an extra copy advanced reading copy of The Daughter of Siena by Marina Fiorato to give away to one lucky reader!!

SYNOPSIS

Amid the intrigue and danger of 18th-century Italy, a young woman becomes embroiled in romance and treachery with a rider in the Palio, the breathtaking horse race set in Siena....
 
It’s 1729, and the Palio, a white-knuckle horse race, is soon to be held in the heart of the peerless Tuscan city of Siena. But the beauty and pageantry masks the deadly rivalry that exists among the city’s districts. Each ward, represented by an animal symbol, puts forth a rider to claim the winner’s banner, but the contest turns citizens into tribes and men into beasts—and beautiful, headstrong, young Pia Tolomei is in love with a rider of an opposing ward, an outsider who threatens the shaky balance of intrigue and influence that rules the land.
 
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

- To enter, please leave a comment below and don't forget to include your email address.
- Giveaway is open to US entries 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.
- Giveaway ends on May 6th.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!


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Review: Rivals in the Tudor Court by D.L. Bogdan

by D.L. Bogdan

Publication Date:  April 26, 2011
Kensington Publishing
384p


SYNOPSIS

The death toll in Henry VIII's England can be counted in the thousands. No one was more aware of this than Thomas Howard, third duke of Norfolk. Relying on his indomitable force of will, cleverness, and sheer good fortune, Thomas Howard manages to be one of the king's only intimates to survive an unforgettable reign of terror. This impeccably researched companion piece to "Secrets of the Tudor Court" chronicles the ambitious duke's life, loves, and remarkable capacity to endure. Before he was the king's uncle, before he was his nieces' ultimate betrayer, Thomas Howard was a hostage at the court of Henry VII while his father was imprisoned in the dreaded Tower of London. There he would marry the queen's sister, his forever princess Anne Plantagenet. While he founded a dynasty, his career as soldier and sailor brought him acclaim and the trust of the Tudors. But when unspeakable tragedy robs him of family and fortune, Thomas must begin again. Abandoning notions of love, Thomas seeks out an advantageous match with the fiery Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of the duke of Buckingham. Clever, willful, and uncompromising in principle, the young duchess falls victim to a love she cannot deny. When Thomas takes on a mistress, the vulnerable Bess Holland, Duchess Elizabeth prepares to fight for all she holds dear. Only then does she learn she faces a force darker than anything she could ever have imagined, an obsessive love that neither she nor Bess can rival. 

REVIEW

In Rivals in the Tudor Court, author D.L. Bogdan explores the life of Thomas Howard, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk, whom readers will remember as the cruel father of Mary Howard in Bogdan’s first novel, Secrets of the Tudor Court

Thomas Howard
The man who would become a prominent member at the Tudor courts, serving two Tudor kings (Henry VII & VIII) and a Tudor queen (Mary I) started off life in a cold and loveless home, with a violent grandfather who never lost an opportunity to drill into Thomas the importance of being a Howard – something he would never lose sight of throughout his life. Ambitious and ruthless and eager to bring honor back to the Howard name, Thomas’ star rises high in the court of Henry VIII, becoming a close confidante of the monarch and ultimately, royal matchmaker. By leading his two beautiful young nieces, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, into the arms of the king, Thomas is rewarded with royal favor, titles and money. And as soon as Henry finds cause to get rid of his wives, Thomas is the one who leads them to the scaffold.  For his part in the two failed marriages Thomas will also find himself being threatened to share his niece's fate.

Rivals in the Tudor Court also focuses on Thomas’ love life. In his first marriage to Anne Plantagenet, Thomas found true love but suffered great loss, causing him to become cold and angry, never allowing himself to get close to anyone. His second marriage to the formidable Elizabeth Stafford was tumultuous to say the least and is covered extensively in the novel, as is Thomas’ relationship with his mistress Bess Holland. The two women couldn’t be more opposite, excepting their love for Thomas and their strong survival instinct.

Bogdan has once again written a riveting novel that this reader found hard pressed to put down! Like Bogdan’s first novel, Secrets of the Tudor Court, I thought Rivals in the Tudor Court was engrossing and entertaining. One of the things that I love about Bogdan’s writing is her ability to provoke emotions from the reader. With wonderfully fleshed out and three-dimensional characters, Rivals will draw you in and keep you captivated! Highly recommended!

Favorite Quote: “It seems sons are destined to lead lives of glory; to them we hand our fortunes and our names and our titles. But the daughters, they are a mother’s salvation. To them we hand our hearts.”

Soundtrack: Breakdown by Seether | Love the Way You Lie by Eminem & Rihanna

For more information please visit D.L. Bogdan's WEBSITE and BLOG.

FTC:  I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.


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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 was originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, but is now a traveling meme and for the month of April Mailbox Monday will be hosted by yours truly!!!  For the month of May your new host for MM will be Mari @ Mari Reads!

This is my last time hosting Mailbox Monday and I'd like to thank Marcia for this opportunity.  It has been so much fun meeting new bloggers and I thank all of you for dropping by and hope you will continue to do so!

To add your MM link please use Mister Linky at the end of this post. 

This past week was another slow one for me, but quality trumped quantity as I received a book I have been lusting after for a long time now!  I am a huge fan of author Karleen Koen and was so excited to snag a copy of her latest release, Before Versailles.  I also was able to secure an interview with Ms. Koen and am beyond stoked for that!  Thank you Rachel from Crown Publishing!

Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV
by Karleen Koen

Release Date:  June 28, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Louis XIV is one of the best-known monarchs ever to grace the French throne. But what was he like as a young man—the man before Versailles?

After the death of his prime minister, Cardinal Mazarin, twenty-two-year-old Louis steps into governing France. He’s still a young man, but one who, as king, willfully takes everything he can get—including his brother’s wife. As the love affair between Louis and Princess Henriette burns, it sets the kingdom on the road toward unmistakable scandal and conflict with the Vatican. Every woman wants him. He must face what he is willing to sacrifice for love.

But there are other problems lurking outside the chateau of Fontainebleau: a boy in an iron mask has been seen in the woods, and the king’s finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, has proven to be more powerful than Louis ever thought—a man who could make a great ally or become a dangerous foe . . .

Meticulously researched and vividly brought to life by the gorgeous prose of Karleen Koen, Before Versailles dares to explore the forces that shaped an iconic king and determined the fate of an empire.

So, that's my mailbox...now tell us about the goodies that came in yours! Click on Mister Linky to leave your link and check out what others received!



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Announcing some giveaway winners...

Time once again to announce a few lucky giveaway winners!  Please join me in congratulating the following:

The two winners of To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Christy English are...





The winner of Elizabeth I by Margaret George is...


Roberta @ con.tain.it


The winner of Finding Emilie by Laurel Corona is...


Emails have been sent to the winners!  Congrats again and Happy Reading!

Thanks to everyone who entered and helped spread the word!  Also, a big thanks to Christy English and Laurel Corona for providing the giveaway copies!


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2011 Release: Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

by Stephanie Dray

Release Date:  October 4, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Cleopatra’s daughter is the emperor’s most unlikely apprentice and the one woman who can destroy his empire…
Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus Caesar in exchange for a throne. Now the young Queen of Mauretania faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land.

Forced to marry a man of the emperor’s choosing, Selene will not allow her new husband to rule in her name. As a religious icon, she wins the love of her new subjects, begins building a new capital city and brings forth bountiful harvests for Rome.

But it’s the magic of Isis flowing through her veins that makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra’s daughter beguiles her way to the very pinnacle of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother’s throne be more than she’s willing to pay?



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2 Copy Giveaway: Rivals in the Tudor Court by D.L. Bogdan

Hello dear readers!  I've got another great giveaway to announce...

I have two copies of D.L. Bogdan's latest novel, Rivals in the Tudor Court, up for grabs, courtesy of the generous author herself!

I'm excited to host this giveaway as I recently read Rivals and can highly recommend it!  I had to stay up late last night to finish it because I just couldn't put it down!

ABOUT THE BOOK

SYNOPSIS

The death toll in Henry VIII's England can be counted in the thousands. No one was more aware of this than Thomas Howard, third duke of Norfolk. Relying on his indomitable force of will, cleverness, and sheer good fortune, Thomas Howard manages to be one of the king's only intimates to survive an unforgettable reign of terror. This impeccably researched companion piece to "Secrets of the Tudor Court" chronicles the ambitious duke's life, loves, and remarkable capacity to endure. Before he was the king's uncle, before he was his nieces' ultimate betrayer, Thomas Howard was a hostage at the court of Henry VII while his father was imprisoned in the dreaded Tower of London. There he would marry the queen's sister, his forever princess Anne Plantagenet. While he founded a dynasty, his career as soldier and sailor brought him acclaim and the trust of the Tudors. But when unspeakable tragedy robs him of family and fortune, Thomas must begin again. Abandoning notions of love, Thomas seeks out an advantageous match with the fiery Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of the duke of Buckingham. Clever, willful, and uncompromising in principle, the young duchess falls victim to a love she cannot deny. When Thomas takes on a mistress, the vulnerable Bess Holland, Duchess Elizabeth prepares to fight for all she holds dear. Only then does she learn she faces a force darker than anything she could ever have imagined, an obsessive love that neither she nor Bess can rival.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

- To enter, please leave a comment below and include your email address.
- Giveaway is open to US/CAN entries 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.
- Giveaway ends on May 2nd.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!


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2011 Release: Secrets of the Tudor Court: At the King's Pleasure by Kate Emerson

by Kate Emerson

Release Date:  September 20, 2011

SYNOPSIS

Following the success of Pleasure Palace, Between Two Queens, and By Royal Decree, Emerson again plucks a real figure from history, this time Lady Anne Stafford. History remembers Lady Anne Stafford as the woman who cheated on her husband with both King Henry VIII and his boon companion, Sir William Compton. Lady Anne was in love two men at the same time . . . but the king wasn't one of them. Anne Stafford's complex and often heart-wrenching relationship with the men in her life is at the core of Secrets of the Tudor Court: At the King's Pleasure.


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the 5 winners of Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet by Stephanie Cowell are...

More exciting giveaway winners to announce!  I sure do love posting these and making a reader's day!

The five lucky winners of the fabulous Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet by Stephanie Cowell are...

Angela Renee

rubynreba




CONGRATULATIONS to all winners!  Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and helped spread the word and another thanks to the generous people at Crown Publishing for providing the giveaway copies.

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the winner of the To Be Queen coffee mug is....

Hi all! Time to announce the lucky winner of the To Be Queen coffee mug from the Live Author Chat Night with Christy English!


And the winner is...

Heather from The Maiden's Court!!!!

Congratulations Heather!  Thanks to all who participated in a most successful Chat Night and to author Christy English for providing an awesome giveaway!

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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 was originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, but is now a traveling meme and for the month of April Mailbox Monday will be hosted by yours truly!!!  I cannot tell you how geeked out I am to be hosting my favorite meme and am really looking forward to meeting all of you who are new to Passages to the Past!

To add your MM link please use Mister Linky at the end of this post. 


I only received one book this past week, but it's a good one that I've been drooling over for a long time and was sent to me from my buddy Michele at A Reader's Respite...thanks Michele! 

She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth
by Helen Castor

SYNOPSIS

When Edward VI died in 1553, the extraordinary fact was that there was no one left to claim the title of king of England. For the first time, England would have a reigning queen—but the question was which one: Katherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth; or one of their cousins, Lady Jane Grey or Mary, Queen of Scots. 

But female rule in England also had a past. Four hundred years before Edward's death, Matilda, daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror, came tantalizingly close to securing the crown for herself. And between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries three more exceptional women—Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, and Margaret of Anjou—discovered how much was possible if pre-sumptions of male rule were not confronted so explicitly—and just how quickly they might be vilified as "she-wolves" for their pains. 

The stories of these women, told here in all their vivid detail, expose the paradox that female heirs to the Tudor throne had no choice but to negotiate. Man was the head of woman, and the king was the head of all. How, then, could royal power lie in female hands? 

So, that's my mailbox...now tell us about the goodies that came in yours! Click on Mister Linky to leave your link and check out what others received!



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