HFVBT Spotlight & Giveaway: Stillwater by Nicole Helget

Today I have the honor of hosting a spotlight & giveaway as part of Nicole Helget's virtual tour for her novel Stillwater.

Stillwater 
Pub: February 4, 2014 | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | Hardcover; 336p 

Clement and Angel are fraternal twins separated at birth; they grow up in the same small, frontier logging town of Stillwater, Minnesota. Clement was left at the orphanage. Angel was adopted by the town’s richest couple, but is marked and threatened by her mother’s mental illness. They rarely meet, but Clement knows if he is truly in need, Angel will come to save him.

Stillwater, near the Mississippi River and Canada, becomes an important stop on the Underground Railroad. As Clement and Angel grow up and the country marches to war, their lives are changed by many battles for freedom and by losses in the struggle for independence, large and small.

Stillwater reveals the hardscrabble lives of pioneers, nuns, squaws, fur trappers, loggers, runaway slaves and freedmen, outlaws and people of conscience, all seeking a better, freer, more prosperous future. It is a novel about mothers, about siblings, about the ways in which we must take care of one another and let go of one another. And it’s brought to us in Nicole Helget’s winning, gorgeous prose.

Buy the Book

Alibris
Amazon (Hardcover)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Book Depository
Google Play
iTunes

About the Author

Nicole HelgetBorn in 1976, NICOLE LEA HELGET grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota, a childhood and place she drew on in the writing of her memoir, The Summer of Ordinary Ways. She received her BA and an MFA in creative writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Based on the novel’s first chapter, NPR’s Scott Simon awarded The Turtle Catcher the Tamarack Prize from Minnesota Monthly.

Nicole Helget shares her thoughts on writing and her influences, as well as beautiful photos of her family (including six children!) at her blog. You can also follow her on Twitter.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, February 24
Guest Post & Giveaway at La Vanity Victorienne

Tuesday, February 25
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, February 26
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, February 27
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Friday, February 28
Review at Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Monday, March 3
Review at Lost in Books
Review & Giveaway at Staircase Wit

Tuesday, March 4
Review at Confessions of a Book Hoarder

Wednesday, March 5
Review & Giveaway at Books in the Burbs
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden's Court

Thursday, March 6
Spotlight & Interview at MK McClintock

Friday, March 7
Review at A Rose in the City
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Giveaway

I have one hardcover copy of Stillwater up for grabs. Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on March 6th. To enter, please complete the form below.
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HFVBT Blog Tour Spotlight & Giveaway: The Debt of Tamar by Nicole Dweck

I don't often give my thoughts on books I read for the tours that I coordinate with HF Virtual Book Tours because my opinion might be suspect given the fact that I am marketing the book, however it would be remiss for me, as your self-appointed historical fiction temptress, to not mention my love for this novel. The Debt of Tamar was the first book I read in 2014 and I could not have chosen a better book to kick off the year. It's simply phenomenal. It's one of those reads that will never leave you, no matter how long ago you closed the cover. I cannot thank MJ Rose enough for bringing this title and the author to my attention. I am so excited to see where Nicole Dweck goes next!

The Debt of Tamar 
Pub: February 4, 2013| Devon House Press Paperback; 332p

During the second half of the 16th century, a wealthy widow by the name of Doña Antonia Nissim is arrested and charged with being a secret Jew. The punishment? Death by burning. Enter Suleiman the Magnificent, an Ottoman "Schindler," and the most celebrated sultan in all of Turkish history. With the help of the Sultan, the widow and her children manage their escape to Istanbul. Life is seemingly idyllic for the family in their new home, that is, until the Sultan's son meets and falls in love with Tamar, Doña Antonia's beautiful and free-spirited granddaughter. A quiet love affair ensues until one day, the girl vanishes.

Over four centuries later, thirty-two year old Selim Osman, a playboy prince with a thriving real estate empire, is suddenly diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. Abandoning the mother of his unborn child, he vanishes from Istanbul without an explanation. In a Manhattan hospital, he meets Hannah, a talented artist and the daughter of a French Holocaust survivor. As their story intertwines with that of their ancestors, readers are taken back to Nazi-occupied Paris, and to a sea-side village in the Holy Land where a world of secrets is illuminated.

Theirs is a love that has been dormant for centuries, spanning continents, generations, oceans, and religions. Bound by a debt that has lingered through time, they must right the wrongs of the past if they're ever to break the shackles of their future.

The Debt of Tamar

Buy the Book

Amazon (eBook)
Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
iTunes


About the Author

Nicole DweckNicole Dweck is a writer whose work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country.

As a descendant of Sephardic (Spanish) refugees who escaped the Inquisition and settled on Ottoman territory, Dweck has always been interested in Sephardic history and the plight of refugees during the Spanish Inquisition. The Debt of Tamar, her debut novel, was a two-time finalist in the UK's Cinnamon Press Novel Award Competition. It has also received an honorable award mention in the category of Mainstream/Literary Fiction from Writers Digest and was the highest rated book for two weeks running on the Harper Collin's "Authonomy" website. It has claimed a #1 Bestseller spot in the Amazon Kindle Middle East Fiction category, a #1 Bestseller spot in Amazon Kindle Jewish Fiction category, and has been included as one of the "Hot 100" Kindle bestsellers in the category of Historical Fiction.

Dweck holds a BA in Journalism and a Masters Degree in Global Studies with a focus on Middle East Affairs (NYU) . Her non-fiction articles have appeared in several magazines and newspapers including The New York Observer and Haute Living Magazine.

She lives in New York City with her husband and son.

For more information visit Nicole's website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, February 24
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, February 25
Interview & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, February 26
Review at Unabridged Chick

Thursday, February 27
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick

Friday, February 28
Review at History Undressed

Monday, March 3
Review at The Written World
Review at The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Review & Giveaway at Historical Tapestry

Tuesday, March 4
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, March 5
Review at Just One More Chapter
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Thursday, March 6
Review at Stephanie Thornton Website

Friday, March 7
Review at The Maiden's Court

Tuesday, March 11
Review at One Book at a Time
Review & Giveaway at The Eclectic Reader

Wednesday, March 12
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Thursday, March 13
Review at Kelsey's Book Corner

Friday, March 14
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Monday, March 17
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Tuesday, March 18
Review at Chick With Books

Wednesday, March 19
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Thursday, March 20
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Friday, March 21
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Monday, March 24
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Tuesday, March 25
Review at The Novel Life
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, March 26
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Thursday, March 27
Review at Kincavel Korner

Friday, March 28
Review at The True Book Addict
Review & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Interview at Kincavel Korner

Giveaway

Passages to the Past has one paperback copy up for grabs! Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on March 4th. To enter, please complete the form below. a Rafflecopter giveaway  photo 6798b780-a0b7-4c30-b5a1-27e918108a70.png

Guest Post by C.J. Sansom + Giveaway of Dominion

Today I have the unique honor to welcome author C.J. Sansom to the blog today! C.J. is currently on tour for his novel Dominion and he is stopping on Passages to the Past today with a guest post and giveaway!

"Churchill – Failure and Triump"
by C.J. Sansom

It has been fascinating to feature Winston Churchill in my latest novel, Dominion.

His career has interested me all my life. It was very long; he was a major figure in British politics from 1908 until his final retirement in 1955. It was also a career that was full of contradictions and defeats; for although he was ambitious Churchill always followed his own beliefs, wherever they led.

In 1970 the historian Robert Rhodes James wrote a book, Churchill: A Study in Failure which made the point, rightly, that had Churchill died in early 1940 he would be remembered only as an eccentric failure.

Winston Churchill had risen to prominence as a radical Liberal at the start of the century, and achieved some lasting reforms, but during the First World War he was identified with the military disaster of the Gallipoli campaign against Turkey (though others shared the responsibility) and afterwards, when he rejoined the Conservative Party (where he started his career), he was known as a fanatical anti-socialist who identified the British Labour Party, quite wrongly, with the Bolsheviks, He was, by his own admission, a failure as Finance Minister in the 1920s where he cleaved to the rigid conservatism of the British Treasury, and in the 1930s became an outcast within his own party for his obdurate refusal to consider allowing India any progress towards self-government.

So why is his memory so revered? Why do I, an avowed left-winger, have a bust of him among the ornaments in my lounge? The answer is simple: 1940.

Churchill was wrong about many things, but he got one thing absolutely right – the terrible danger that Hitler and the Nazis presented to Britain, Europe and the world. Part of his concern was from a self-interested British point of view – the danger that Germany would dominate Europe; but he also genuinely, passionately loathed the fanatically nationalist, anti-Semitic, totalitarian Nazi state.

It was clear not just from Hitler's actions, but from a reading of his book Mein Kampf, that his aim was always conquest and racial domination in Europe. But British people did not want to believe this in the 1930s. After the horrors of the First World War they desperately wanted peace, and many chose to believe Hitler's assurances that his aims were limited. It was understandable, but wrong. Even when he invaded Poland and Britain and France declared war, Neville Chamberlain's war government was half-hearted.

In 1940 military failures led to Chamberlain's resignation and Churchill, the man who had been right about Hitler, became Prime Minister and joined his old foes in the Labour Party in a new coalition. Peace was an offer from the Germans, and many wanted to take it, but it would have left Germany dominant in Europe, an alternative world which I have sketched in Dominion.

But Churchill said no, and meant it. He inspired his Coalition with the will to fight on against the odds. He told his Cabinet that "he would die choking in his own blood rather than surrender." An extraordinary orator, his speeches during the year 1940 – 41, when Britain stood alone, broadcast to the nation via the radio, have to be among the most stirring and inspiring ever made. "We shall fight on the beaches…" " We shall never surrender. …" "This was their finest hour…" " If we fail then all Europe... will sink into a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more prolonged, by the light of a perverted science." These speeches, with their spirit of dogged resistance to tyranny, can be heard on YouTube and still send a shiver down the spine.

Without Churchill, I do not think Britain would have held out when defeat stared us in the face in 1940. There was every reason to take the easy option. The Nazi tyranny would have been enabled to spread much further, and lasted much longer.

That is why I have a bust of Churchill in my lounge.

About Dominion

DominionPublication Date: January 28, 2014
Mulholland Books
Hardcover; 640p
ISBN-10: 0316254916

C.J. SANSOM REWRITES HISTORY IN A THRILLING NOVEL THAT DARES TO IMAGINE BRITAIN UNDER THE THUMB OF NAZI GERMANY.

1952. Twelve years have passed since Churchill lost to the appeasers and Britain surrendered to Nazi Germany. The global economy strains against the weight of the long German war against Russia still raging in the east. The British people find themselves under increasingly authoritarian rule--the press, radio, and television tightly controlled, the British Jews facing ever greater constraints.

But Churchill's Resistance soldiers on. As defiance grows, whispers circulate of a secret that could forever alter the balance of the global struggle. The keeper of that secret? Scientist Frank Muncaster, who languishes in a Birmingham mental hospital.

Civil Servant David Fitzgerald, a spy for the Resistance and University friend of Frank's, is given the mission to rescue Frank and get him out of the country. Hard on his heels is Gestapo agent Gunther Hoth, a brilliant, implacable hunter of men, who soon has Frank and David's innocent wife, Sarah, directly in his sights.

C.J. Sansom's literary thriller Winter in Madrid earned Sansom comparisons to Graham Greene, Sebastian Faulks, and Ernest Hemingway. Now, in his first alternative history epic, Sansom doesn't just recreate the past--he reinvents it. In a spellbinding tale of suspense, oppression and poignant love, DOMINION dares to explore how, in moments of crisis, history can turn on the decisions of a few brave men and women--the secrets they choose to keep and the bonds they share.

Watch the Book Trailer



Purchase the Book

Alibris
Amazon (Hardcover)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Bookish.com

About the Author

CJ SansomC.J. Sansom is the bestselling author of the critically-acclaimed Matthew Sharlake series, as well as the runaway international bestseller Winter in Madrid. He lives in Sussex, England.

You can find more information on C.J. Sansom and his novels at www.cjsansom.com or on Facebook.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, February 17
Spotlight & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, February 18
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, February 19
Guest Post & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, February 20
Spotlight & Giveaway at Book Nerd

Friday, February 21
Review & Giveaway at Staircase Wit

Monday, February 24
Review at She Reads Novels

Tuesday, February 25
Review at Sir Read-a-Lot

Wednesday, February 26
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Friday, February 28
Review & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter

Monday, March 3
Interview at Historical Boys

Tuesday, March 4
Review & Giveaway at Julz Reads

Wednesday, March 5
Review & Giveaway at Bibliophilia, Please

Thursday, March 6
Review & Giveaway at Carole's Ramblings

Friday, March 7
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review & Giveaway at Must Read Faster

Monday, March 10
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Tuesday, March 11
Review at Okbo Lover
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, March 12
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Friday, March 14
Review at Diary of an Eccentric
Review & Giveaway at Historical Tapestry

Giveaway

Passages to the Past has one hardcover of Dominion up for grabs. To enter please complete the form below. Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents and ends on March 1st.

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On My Wishlist: Inamorata by Megan Chance


Pub: July 8, 2014 | Lake Union Publishing | Paperback

American artist Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister, Sophie, have arrived in enchanting nineteenth-century Venice with a single-minded goal. The twins, who have fled scandal in New York, are determined to break into Venice’s expatriate set and find a wealthy patron to support Joseph’s work.

But the enigmatic Hannigans are not the only ones with a secret agenda. Joseph’s talent soon attracts the attention of the magnificent Odilé Leon, a celebrated courtesan and muse who has inspired many artists to greatness. But her inspiration comes with a devastatingly steep price.

As Joseph falls under the courtesan’s spell, Sophie joins forces with Nicholas Dane, the one man who knows Odilé’s dark secret, and her sworn enemy. When the seductive muse offers Joseph the path to eternal fame, the twins must decide who to believe—and just how much they are willing to sacrifice for fame.

The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau is out in Paperback in the UK!

The Chalice UKThe Chalice
by Nancy Bilyeau

Paperback Publication Date: February 13, 2014
Orion Publishing
Paperback; 432p
ISBN-13: 978-1409135807

Series: Joanna Stafford, Book Two
Genre: Historical Mystery

A curse to kill a king, a fight to save a nation. Follow young Joanna Stafford right into the dark heart of King Henry VIII's court in this stunning Tudor thriller.

England, 1538. The nation is reeling after the ruthless dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII.

Cast out of Dartford Priory, Joanna Stafford - feisty, courageous, but scarred by her recent encounter with rebellion at court - is trying to live a quiet life with her five-year-old charge, Arthur. But family connections draw her dangerously close to a treasonous plot and, repelled by violence and the whispered conspiracies around her, Joanna seeks a life with a man who loves her. But, no matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape the spreading darkness of her destiny. She must make a choice between those she cares for most, and taking her part in a mysterious prophecy foretold by three compelling seers.

Joanna embarks upon a testing journey, and, as she deciphers the meaning at the core of the prophecy, she learns that the fate of a king and the freedom of a nation rest in her hands.

Praise for The Chalice

"Expect treason, treachery, martyrs and more." — Choice magazine

"A time in which no one at all can be trusted and everyday life is laced with horror. Bilyeau paints this picture very, very well." — Reviewing the Evidence

"Bilyeau creates the atmosphere of 1530s London superbly." — Catholic Herald

"Bilyeau continues from her first novel the subtle, complex development of Joanna Stafford's character and combines that with a fast-paced, unexpected plot to hold the reader's interest on every page. — Historical Novel Society

"Joanna Stafford is a young novice caught up in power struggles familiar to readers of Hilary Mantel and C.J. Sansom, but with elements of magic that echo the historical thrillers of Kate Mosse." — S.J. PARRIS, author of HERESY, PROPHECY, AND SACRILEGE

"Second in this compelling and highly readable Tudor thriller series following the 16th century adventures of (now cast out) nun Joanna Stafford. Treason, conspiracies and a dangerous prophecy draw Joanna back from the quiet life she had made for herself after being cast out of Dartford Priory - but she isn’t prepared for the gravity of the situation she finds herself in or the responsibility she now holds. Nancy Bilyeau has followed up her impressive debut with an accomplished historical thriller perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom, Philippa Gregory and S. J. Parris." — Lovereading UK

“Sharply observed, cleverly paced and sympathetically written, this book more than fulfils the promise of THE CROWN, itself named as last year's most impressive debut novel by the CWA Ellis Peters judges. If Joanna Stafford is to return to see out the final years of Henry's tempestuous reign and the accession of his Catholic daughter Mary, I am sure I will not be alone in waiting eagerly for her.” — crimereview.co.uk

“A stunning debut. One of the best historical novels I have ever read — ALISON WEIR

THE CHALICE offers a fresh, dynamic look into Tudor England's most powerful, volatile personalities: Henry VIII, the Duke of Norfolk, Stephen Gardiner and Bloody Mary Tudor. Heroine and former nun Joanna Stafford is beautiful, bold and in lethal danger. Bilyeau writes compellingly of people and places that demand your attention and don't let you go even after the last exciting page” — KAREN HARPER, bestselling author of MISTRESS OF MOURNING

“Rarely have the terrors of Henry VIII's reformation been so exciting. Court intrigue, bloody executions, and haunting emotional entanglements create a heady brew of mystery and adventure that sweeps us from the devastation of the ransacked cloisters to the dangerous spy centers of London and the Low Countries, as ex-novice Joanna Stafford fights to save her way of life and fulfill an ancient prophecy, before everything she loves is destroyed.” — C.W. GORTNER, author of THE QUEEN'S VOW

“Bilyeau paints a moving portrait of Catholicism during the Reformation and of reclusive, spiritual people adjusting to the world outside the cloister. This intriguing and suspenseful historical novel pairs well with C. J. Sansom's Dissolution (2003) and has the insightful feminine perspective of Brenda Rickman Vantrease's The Heretic's Wife (2010).” — BOOKLIST

“As in The Crown, Bilyeau's writing style means that the story reads almost flawlessly. The narrative really makes the reader throw themselves into the story, and makes it so the book is really difficult to put down. I was really very impressed with Bilyeau's writing (As I was in The Crown), and honestly can't recommend this book highly enough.” — LOYALTY BINDS ME

“THE CHALICE is a compelling and pacey time machine to the 16th Century. And when you're returned to the present, you'll have enjoyed an adventure and gained a new perspective on a past you'd wrongly thought to be a done deal.” — Andrew Pyper, author of THE DEMONOLOGIST

“The Chalice is a gripping, tightly-plotted mystery, with a beguiling heroine at its heart, that vividly conjures up the complex dangers of Reformation England. Bilyeau's deftness of touch and complete control over her complex material make for a truly exciting and compelling read.”— ELIZABETH FREMANTLE author of QUEEN'S GAMBIT

“THE CHALICE is brimming with sinister portents, twisted allegiances, religious superstition and political intrigue. It's a darkly fascinating Tudor brew that leaves you thirsting for more.” — PATRICIA BRACEWELL, author of SHADOW ON THE CROWN

Watch the Book Trailer


Buy the Book

Amazon UK
Book Depository
Orion Publishing
Waterstones

About the Author

Nancy BilyeauNancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently the executive editor of DuJour magazine. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her screenplay "Zenobia" placed with the American Zoetrope competition, and "Loving Marys" reached the finalist stage of Scriptapalooza. A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013.

Some earlier milestones: In 1661, Nancy's ancestor, Pierre Billiou, emigrated from France to what was then New Amsterdam when he and his family sailed on the St. Jean de Baptiste to escape persecution for their Protestant beliefs. Pierre built the first stone house on Staten Island and is considered the borough's founder. His little white house is on the national register of historic homes and is still standing to this day.

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Author Links

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads
Sign up for Nancy Bilyeau's Newsletter.

Nancy Bilyeau Gives an Inside Peek Behind THE CHALICE


Book Blast Schedule

Monday, February 17
Mari Reads
Book Drunkard
Closed the Cover
Historical Tapestry
Royalty Free Fiction
Passages to the Past
Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, February 18
Princess of Eboli
Words and Peace
Big Book, Little Book
Curling Up By the Fire
Peeking Between the Pages
Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Historical Fiction Obsession

Wednesday, February 19
Broken Teepee
Kincavel Korner
A Bookish Affair
CelticLady's Reviews
The True Book Addict
Teresa's Reading Corner

Thursday, February 20
Drey's Library
Booktalk & More
Must Read Faster
Reading the Ages
The Maiden's Court
Historical Fiction Connection
Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews

Friday, February 21
HF Book Muse-News
On the Tudor Trail
Flashlight Commentary
Ageless Pages Reviews
Muse in the Fog Book Reviews
Confessions of an Avid Reader

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New Release: The Swan Gondola by Timothy Schaffert


 Pub: February 6, 2014 | Riverhead | Hardcover; 464p

A lush and thrilling romantic fable about two lovers set against the scandalous burlesques, midnight séances, and aerial ballets of the 1898 Omaha World’s Fair.

On the eve of the 1898 Omaha World’s Fair, Ferret Skerritt, ventriloquist by trade, con man by birth, isn’t quite sure how it will change him or his city. Omaha still has the marks of a filthy Wild West town, even as it attempts to achieve the grandeur and respectability of nearby Chicago. But when he crosses paths with the beautiful and enigmatic Cecily, his whole purpose shifts and the fair becomes the backdrop to their love affair.

One of a traveling troupe of actors that has descended on the city, Cecily works in the Midway’s Chamber of Horrors, where she loses her head hourly on a guillotine playing Marie Antoinette. And after closing, she rushes off, clinging protectively to a mysterious carpetbag, never giving Ferret a second glance. But a moonlit ride on the swan gondola, a boat on the lagoon of the New White City, changes everything, and the fair’s magic begins to take its effect.

From the critically acclaimed author of The Coffins of Little Hope, The Swan Gondola is a transporting read, reminiscent of Water for Elephants or The Night Circus.

About the Author

Author of five novels: The Swan Gondola, The Coffins of Little Hope, Devils in the Sugar Shop, The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God, and The Phantom Limbs of the Rollow Sisters. Director of the (downtown) omaha lit fest. Contributing editor, Fairy Tale Review. Assistant Professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln creative writing program.

"The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God" is part of the Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers program, and was the 2007 Omaha Reads one-book-one-city selection. "Devils in the Sugar Shop" was a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and a Book Sense pick.

New Release: I Shall Be Near To You by Erin Lindsay McCabe


Pub Date: January 28, 2014 | Crown Publishing | Hardcover; 320p

An extraordinary novel about a strong-willed woman who disguises herself as a man in order to fight beside her husband, inspired by the letters of a remarkable female soldier who fought in the Civil War.

Rosetta doesn't want her new husband Jeremiah to enlist, but he joins up, hoping to make enough money that they'll be able to afford their own farm someday. Though she's always worked by her father’s side as the son he never had, now that Rosetta is a wife she's told her place is inside with the other women. But Rosetta decides her true place is with Jeremiah, no matter what that means, and to be with him she cuts off her hair, hems an old pair of his pants, and signs up as a Union soldier.

With the army desperate for recruits, Rosetta has no trouble volunteering, although she faces an incredubous husband. She drills with the men, proves she can be as good a soldier as anyone, and deals with the tension as her husband comes to grips with having a fighting wife. Rosetta's strong will clashes with Jeremiah's while their marraige is tested by broken conventions, constant danger, and war, and she fears discovery of her secret even as they fight for their future, and for their lives. Inspired by more than 250 documented accounts of the women who fought in the Civil War while disguised as men, I Shall Be Near To You is the intimate story, in Rosetta’s powerful and gorgeous voice, of the drama of marriage, one woman’s amazing exploits, and the tender love story that can unfold when two partners face life’s challenges side by side.

On My Wishlist: The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton


Pub: August 26, 2014 | Ecco | Hardcover; 416p

Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam-a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion-a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.

"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed…"

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office-leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist-an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways...

Johannes' gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand-and fear-the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.

Blog Tour Giveaway: The Boleyn Bride by Brandy Purdy

It's my pleasure today to kick off the Brandy Purdy Virtual Tour festivities for the release of her novel The Boleyn Bride!


 Pub: February 25, 2014 | Kensington Publishing | Paperback; 272p

From carefree young woman to disillusioned bride, the dazzling lady who would become mother and grandmother to two of history’s most infamous queens, has a fascinating story all her own…

At sixteen, Elizabeth Howard envisions a glorious life for herself as lady-in-waiting to the future queen, Catherine of Aragon. But when she is forced to marry Thomas Boleyn, a wealthy commoner, Elizabeth is left to stagnate in the countryside while her detested husband pursues his ambitions. There, she raises golden girl Mary, moody George, and ugly duckling Anne–while staving off boredom with a string of admirers. Until Henry VIII takes the throne…

When Thomas finally brings his highborn wife to London, Elizabeth indulges in lavish diversions and dalliances–and catches the lusty king’s eye. But those who enjoy Henry’s fickle favor must also guard against his wrath. For while her husband’s machinations bring Elizabeth and her children to the pinnacle of power, the distance to the scaffold is but a short one–and the Boleyn family’s fortune may be turning.

Praise for the novels of Brandy Purdy

“Recommended for readers who can’t get enough of the Tudors and have devoured all of Philippa Gregory’s books.” –Library Journal on The Boleyn Wife

“Purdy wonderfully reimagines the behind-the-scenes lives of the two sisters.” –Historical Novel Reviews on The Tudor Throne

Buy the Book

Amazon (eBook)
Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Bookish.com
Books-a-Million
Google Play
IndieBound
iTunes
Kobo
Target

 About the Author

Brandy Purdy (Emily Purdy in the UK) is the author of the historical novels THE CONFESSION OF PIERS GAVESTON, THE BOLEYN WIFE (THE TUDOR WIFE), THE TUDOR THRONE (MARY & ELIZABETH), THE QUEEN’S PLEASURE (A COURT AFFAIR), and THE QUEEN’S RIVALS (THE FALLEN QUEEN). An ardent book lover since early childhood, she first became interested in history at the age of nine or ten years old when she read a book of ghost stories which contained a chapter about Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London. Visit her website at www.brandypurdy.com, you can also follow her, and her cat Tabby, via her blog at http://brandypurdy.blogspot.com where she posts updates about her work and weekly book reviews.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Friday, February 14
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Monday, February 17
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Review & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, February 18
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, February 19
Spotlight & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, February 20
Review & Giveaway at Always with a Book

Friday, February 21
Review & Giveaway at WTF Are You Reading?

Monday, February 24
Review & Giveaway at The Most Happy Reader

Tuesday, February 25
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, February 26
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Review & Giveaway at Found Between the Covers

Thursday, February 27
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Friday, February 28
Review at Book-alicious Mama
Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Monday, March 3
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Tuesday, March 4
Review & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, March 5
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Thursday, March 6
Review & Giveaway at Griperang’s Bookmarks

Friday, March 7
Review at The Musings of ALMYBNENR

Giveaway 

 
I have two copies up for grabs! To enter to win a copy of The Boleyn Bride please complete the form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on February 24th.
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Win a copy of Anvil of God by J. Boyce Gleason

What better way to end J. Boyce Gleason's virtual tour for 'Anvil of God' than to give one lucky reader a chance to win the book that bloggers have been raving about!


Publication Date: July 26, 2013 | iUniverse | Paperback; 440p

It is 741. After subduing the pagan religions in the east, halting the march of Islam in the west, and conquering the continent for the Merovingian kings, mayor of the palace Charles the Hammer has one final ambition-the throne. Only one thing stands in his way-he is dying.

Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince to secure his southern border, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles’s death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles’s daughter flees his court for an enemy’s love.

Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family’s relentless quest for power and destiny.

Read an excerpt here.

Blogger Praise for Anvil of God

“I thoroughly enjoyed Anvil of God. It’s like a Carolingian soap opera with lots of drama, political maneuvering, betrayals, and familial strife. It’s a lot like Game of Thrones without the fantasy. This is a rich story, full of complex characters and tricky relationships set against the backdrop of constant warfare for territory and religious reform in the eighth century.” – Let Them Read Books

“Anvil of God is a gripping novel of history, family, faith, and war. History fans and lovers of adventure will find hours of enjoyment with this excellent debut, and will be eagerly awaiting the second installment of the Carolingian Chronicles.” – Luxury Reading (5 Stars)

“I am really looking forward to more in this series by Gleason. He packs a lot of detail and history into his novels, but yet it is a smooth read and doesn’t read like a textbook. You’ll be educated, but also entertained and enjoy the reading journey immensely. The writing is well-crafted, well-edited, and overall, well-done! If you like Game of Thrones, you’ll certainly enjoy this as a next series to grab ahold of for those long winter nights!” – Hook of a Book

“J. Boyce Gleason’s first book of The Carolingian Chronicles ‘Anvil of God’ brings the birth of the Carolingian dynasty to epic life. Graphic, bloody, and sinfully entertaining, ‘Anvil of God’ will be a treat for any lover of historical fiction.” – Bibliophilic Book Blog

Buy the Book

AbeBooks
Alibris
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Better World Books
Book Depository
Google Play
IndieBound
Indigo
Kobo
 

About the Author 

After a 25-year career in crisis management and public affairs, J. Boyce Gleason began writing
historical fiction and is publishing his first novel ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles. With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the past to his historical fiction. He is married, has three sons and lives in Virginia.

For more information please visit www.jboycegleason.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway

To win a copy of Anvil of God please complete the entry form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on February 24th.

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Giveaway: Between the Cracks: One Woman’s Journey from Sicily to America by Carmela Cattuti

Today kicks off Carmela Cattuti's virtual tour for Between the Cracks: One Woman's Journey from Sicily to America and I am pleased to be hosting her today with a giveaway.

Between the Cracks 

Pub: August 20, 2013 | Three Towers Press/HenschelHAUS Publishing, Inc. | Paperback; 324p

Join Angela Lanza as she experiences the tumultuous world of early 20th century Sicily and New York. Orphaned by the earthquake and powerful eruption of Mr. Etna in 1908, Angela is raised in the strict confines of an Italian convent. Through various twists of fate, she is married to a young Italian man whom she barely knows, then together with her spouse, immigrates to the U.S. This novel is an invitation to accompany the young Angela as she confronts the ephemeral nature of life on this planet and navigates the wide cultural gaps between pre-World War II Italy and the booming prosperity of dynamic young America. Join Angela Lanza as she traverses the tumultuous landscape of Sicily and New York.

Buy the Book

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

About the Author

Carmela CattutiCarmela Cattuti started her writing career as a journalist for the Somerville News in Boston, MA. After she finished her graduate work in English Literature from Boston College she began to write creatively and taught a journal writing course at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education As fate would have it, she felt compelled to write her great aunt's story. “Between the Cracks” has gone through several incarnations and will now become a trilogy. This is the first installment. To connect with Carmela email her cattutic@gmail.com or leave a comment at betweenthecracksnovel.blogspot.com.

For more information please visit Carmela's website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Visit the Between the Cracks Facebook page.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, February 10
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, February 11
Review at Kinx's Book Nook
Spotlight & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, February 12
Review at History & Women
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Thursday, February 13
Guest Post at Broken Teepee

Friday, February 14
Review at Just One More Chapter

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Giveaway

To enter to win a copy of Between the Cracks please complete the form below. Giveaway is open internationally and ends on February 20th. a Rafflecopter giveaway

2014 Release: The May Bride by Suzannah Dunn


Pub: October 15, 2014 | Pegasus | Hardcover; 352p

I didn't stand a chance: looking back over thirteen years, that's what I see. In the very first instant, I was won over, and of course I was: I was fifteen and had been nowhere and done nothing, whereas Katherine was twenty-one and yellow-silk-clad and just married to the golden boy...

Jane Seymour is a shy, dutiful fifteen-year-old when her eldest brother, Edward, brings his bride home to Wolf Hall.  Katherine Filliol is the perfect match for Edward, as well as being a breath of fresh air for the Seymour family, and Jane is captivated by the older girl. Over the course of a long, hot country summer, the two become close friends and allies, while Edward is busy building alliances at court and advancing his career.

However, only two years later, the family is torn apart by a dreadful allegation made by Edward against his wife. The repercussions for all the Seymours are incalculable, not least for Katherine herself. When Jane is sent away, to serve Katharine of Aragon, she is forced to witness another wife being put aside, with terrible consequences. Changed forever by what happened to Katherine Filliol, Jane comes to understand that in a world where power is held entirely by men, there is a way in which she can still hold true to herself.

About the Author

Launched in 1990 with her debut novel, Darker Days Than Usual, Suzannah Dunn wrote a further 5 critically acclaimed contemporary novels, and a short story collection, published by Flamingo, before writing her first historical novel, The Queen of Subtleties, which was published in 2004. She has since written a further three bestselling historical novels, The Sixth Wife, The Queen's Sorrow and The Confession of Katherine Howard (a Richard & Judy pick in 2011). The May Bride is her new book.

www.suzannahdunn.net

Girl on the Golden Coin: A Novel of Frances Stuart by Marci Jefferson: Review & Giveaway


February 11, 2014 | Thomas Dunne Books | Hardcover; 336p
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

In her first work of historical fiction, debut novelist, Marci Jefferson, tackles Frances Stuart, whose influence over England’s Charles II and rejection of three of the seventeenth century’s most illustrious kings became the talk of a nation. Jefferson instills a fierce spirit and spine in the beautiful Frances Stuart, proving she was much more than a royal mistress. What Philippa Gregory did for the Tudors, Jefferson will do for the Stuarts, with the elegant and addictive, Girl on the Golden Coin.

In 1660, the Restoration of Stuart Monarchy in England returns Frances Stuart and her family to favor. Frances discards threadbare gowns and goes to gilded Fontainebleau Palace, where she soon catches the Sun King’s eye. But Frances is no ordinary court beauty—she has Stuart secrets to keep and her family to protect. King Louis XIV turns vengeful when she rejects his offer to become his Official Mistress. He sends her to England with orders to seduce King Charles II and help him form an alliance with England. The Queen Mother likewise orders Frances to become her son's mistress, in the interest of luring him away from the Protestant mistress he currently keeps.

Armed in pearls and silk, Frances maneuvers the political turbulence of Whitehall Palace, but still can’t afford to stir a scandal, determined to keep her family from shame. Her tactic to inspire King Charles to greatness captivates him and the two embark on a tenuous relationship. Frances survives the Great Fire, the Great Plague, and the debauchery of the Restoration Court, yet loses her heart to the very king she must control. A startling discovery will leave her with no other choice but to break his heart, while the fate of England hangs in the balance.

My Review

No dear readers, do not try to adjust your screen – yes, you are really are seeing a review from me! It’s been longer than I care to admit since I’ve written my last review. But with having two babies in two years and my own growing business I’ve been a tad busy so I do hope you’ll forgive me!

What better way to end a reviewing drought than with Marci Jefferson’s spectacular debut, Girl on the Golden Coin! Set during two of the most intriguing courts in Europe’s history, that of Louis XIV of France, the “Sun King’ and Charles II of England, the “Merry Monarch”, readers are treated to a veritable tour-de-force of court machinations, where loyalties are tested (and often found wanting), and a girl’s innocence is barter for other’s political aspirations.

Frances is a strong protagonist to root for, I really felt for the awful position she was in. Tasked to seduce King Charles, convince him to leave his current mistress, Lady Castlemaine, and turn him to Catholicism. She must do so or her mother’s secret will be revealed and her family disgraced. But what she didn’t count on was falling in love with Charles, even as her conscience rails against it.

Atmospheric and historically delicious, Girl on the Golden Coin will appeal to veteran readers of historical fiction, as well as the casual reader. I am eager to see what is on the horizon next for Marci Jefferson, she is definitely an author to watch!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher in return for my honest review.

Praise for Girl on the Golden Coin

“Jefferson’s intoxicating first novel superbly draws readers into the mischief and maneuverings, loyalties and treacheries, and lust and hostility of powerful 17th century kings and scheming court sycophants…this is an exciting, solid debut.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Jefferson fictionalizes the life of a little-known—yet exceedingly familiar—historical figure in her authentically detailed debut. This small leap from the Tudors is a must-read for Alison Weir–Philippa Gregory fans.” —Booklist

“A novel as rich and golden as the coin she graced. Frances Stuart’s face was truly her fortune and left its mark on history, a rare achievement.” —Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I: A Novel

Buy the Book

Amazon US (eBook)
Amazon US (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
IndieBound
MacMillan

About the Author

Marci Jefferson grew up in an Air Force family and so lived numerous places, including North
Carolina, Georgia, and the Philippines. Her passion for history sparked while living in Yorktown, Virginia, where locals still share Revolutionary War tales. She lives in Indiana with her husband and children. This is her first novel.

Author Links

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Pinterest

Follow Marci's Tour

1/29 – giveaway, Devourer of Books
1/31 – interview/giveaway, Literary, etc
2/1 – review, A Bookish Libraria
2/3 – review, The Bookish Owl
2/4 – review/giveaway, Writing the Renaissance
2/5 – interview, Writing the Renaissance
2/6 – interview, Between the Sheets/Heather Webb
2/7 – interview, Spann of Time
2/8 – review/giveaway, Passages to the Past
2/9 – review, Royal Reviews
2/10 – Picture This, SheReads
2/10 – review/giveaway, The Lit Bitch
2/11 – review, Reading the Past
2/11 – interview/on-sale announcement, Enchanted by Josephine
2/11 – Three Favorite Things, USA TODAY’S Happy Ever After
2/12 – review/giveaway, Enchanted by Josephine
2/12 – review, Muse/Erika Robuck
2/13 – review, Unabridged Chick
2/13 – interview/giveaway/excerpt, Harlequin Junkie
2/14 – interview, Unabridged Chick
2/15 – review, Historical Fiction Obsession
2/16 – review, Lesa’s Book Critiques
2/17 – review/interview, A Bookish Affair
2/18 – review, Let Them Read Books
2/19 – interview, Let Them Read Books
2/20 – review/giveaway, The Maiden’s Court
2/21 – review/giveaway, No More Grumpy Bookseller

Giveaway 

To enter to win one copy of Girl on the Golden Coin please complete the form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on February 18th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Good luck!

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Under the Jewelled Sky by Alison McQueen: Guest Post & Giveaway

Please welcome Alison McQueen to Passages to the Past! Alison's novel Under the Jewelled Sky was just released on January 21 by Sourcebooks and I'm happy to be hosting a guest post and giveaway today as part of the release festivities!

My love affair with India by Alison McQueen

Thank you for inviting me along to Passages of the Past to talk about my strange affair with India.

I didn’t visit India until I was in my late thirties. My mother (who was born in Assam in 1928) had gone occasionally with her Indian friends, but she had never suggested taking any of us with her. I heard hear declare once that none of her children had any interest in visiting India. She couldn’t have been more wrong. I told her that I had been waiting a very long time for her to introduce me to the other half of my heritage. A small argument ensued and we got on a plane.

It was as though I had finally found the part of me that had always been missing. We went every year for the next decade, travelling around India together while my mother told me everything. I shall always cherish the memory of the two of us sitting out in the wilds of the jungle late at night listening to the song of the nighttime, holding hands.

Part of Under The Jeweled Sky is set in a maharaja’s palace in 1947. Although the fictional palace and its location are anonymous, I did have an inside track into life in an Indian palace. In her twenties, my mother was hired as the private nurse to the Maharaja of Indore’s mother-in-law. She arrived from Bombay and was shown to her quarters, an enormous suite in a grand building set across the grounds from the main palace.

A car was sent for her every morning, but she said that she preferred to walk. So off she would go, strolling through the grounds while the car followed along a few yards behind, driving at snail’s pace in case she should change her mind. Her breakfast would be served to her on a solid silver service, with a footman standing by should she want for anything.

From what she has told me, I am not sure that she handled it particularly well. She said that she didn’t want any fuss, which was quite the wrong way to go about things in a palace. There was also an incident when she was caught preparing her own boiled egg, which didn’t go down at all well. The cook was quite overcome with grief, and my mother never ventured to lift a finger again. 


A breathtaking story of forbidden love and devastating consequences...

The moment Sophie steps onto India's burning soil, she realizes her return was inevitable. But this is not the India she fell in love with ten years before in a maharaja's palace. This is not the India that ripped her heart out as Partition tore the country in two. That India, a place of tigers, scorpions, and shimmering beauty, is long gone.

Drawing on her own family's heritage, acclaimed novelist Alison McQueen beautifully portrays the heart of a woman who must confront her past in order to fight for her future. Under the Jeweled Sky deftly explores the loss of innocence, the urgent connection in our stars, and how we'll go to find our hearts.

Praise for Under the Jeweled Sky

"Beautiful and brave and bittersweet—a moving story of how love in all its forms binds us together and endures, in spite of everything."—Susanna Kearsley, New York Times bestselling author of The Firebird and The Winter Sea

"Bursting with the evocative glow of long-forgotten India...lures you into a beautiful story of scandal, hope, and the kind of love that marks us forever."—Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House

"McQueen has a fine sense of place and character... A richly imagined story of love, politics and fate."—Kirkus

Buy the Book

Amazon (eBook)
Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound

About the Author

Born in the sixties to an Indian mother and an English jazz musician father, Alison McQueen grew up in London and worked in advertising for twenty years before retiring to write full time. In 2006 she was selected from an impressive longlist to join The Writers' Circle - a group of 8 top writers chosen to be groomed by the UK film industry as the new generation of British screenwriters. An award-winning blogger, she is also the author of a series of popular novels (published by Macmillan) under a pseudonym. Alison lives in a quiet English village with her husband and two daughters. Her novel, The Secret Children, was selected by The Independent for their alternative 2012 Booker list.

Author Links

Website & Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Instagram
Pinterest

Other Books by Alison McQueen

The Secret Children Giveaway Thanks to Sourcebooks I have one copy up for grabs! To enter, please complete the form below. Giveaway is open to US only and ends on February 16th. Good luck!

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