A.E. Wasserman's 1886 Ties That Bind Blog Tour & Giveaway


1886 Ties That Bind: A Story of Politics, Graft, and Greed by A.E. Wasserman

Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Archway Publishing
Hardcover, Paperback, & eBook; 370 Pages

Series: Langford Series, Book #2
Genre: Fiction/Historical



It is 1886 as Englishman Lord Langsford travels by train to San Francisco. Newly widowed, Langsford is desperate to escape his grief, demons, and life in England. As Langsford completes the last leg of his transcontinental journey, his life unexpectedly changes once again when he crosses paths with Miss Sally Baxter, a beautiful rancher who packs a pistol in her purse.

Sally has made it her mission to find the men who robbed a train and killed her brother. Unfortunately, no one—not even the owners of the Southern Pacific Railroad—seem to care. Unable to resist her pleas, Langsford offers to help Sally and soon becomes entangled in a web of politics, corruption, and greed. As murder, threats, and attacks ensue that endanger both Sally and Langsford, influential men in both California and Washington, D.C. jockey for positions of power. Langsford, who finds himself oddly attracted to Sally, now must sort through criminals and politicians alike to discover the truth behind her brother’s death and prevent his own murder.

“Not only is this a fast-paced historical mystery, 1886 Ties That Bind offers commentary on the political and social issues that are still relevant today.” – Helga Schier, PhD, author and founder of With Pen and Paper

"Wasserman’s writing is atmospherically rich. Very strongly recommended." – Historical Novel Society, London, critical review of 1884 No Boundaries

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble


About the Author

The daughter of a newspaperman, A.E. Wasserman grew up in a household filled with books and stories. At age 14, she wrote her first novella and never stopped writing.

She is the author of a new mystery/thrillers series, the first of which takes place in London: 1884 No Boundaries, A Story of Espionage and International Intrigue. The second in the Langsford Series, 1886 Ties That Bind, A Story of Politics, Graft and Greed, has just been released.

Her work, critically acclaimed as “richly atmospheric,” is being noticed by readers and critics alike, and has garnered international attention, not only in the U.S., but Europe and the U.K. as well. She recently received top honors from Writer’s Digest for her work.

After graduating from The Ohio State University, she lived in London, then San Francisco. Currently she resides in Southern California with her family and her muse, a Border Collie named Topper.

For more information, please Visit the author’s web site at www.aewasserman.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, February 27
Feature at Passages to the Past

Saturday, March 3
Excerpt at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen

Sunday, March 4
Interview at T's Stuff

Wednesday, March 7
Excerpt at Let Them Read Books

Friday, March 9
Feature at What Is That Book About

Monday, March 12
Interview at Donna's Book Blog

Thursday, March 15
Review at Locks, Hooks, and Books

Tuesday, March 20
Review at Teaser Addicts Book Blog

Thursday, March 22
Review at Impressions in Ink

Friday, March 23
Excerpt at A Literary Vacation

Friday, April 6
Interview at  Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away two eBooks of 1886 Ties That Bind by A.E. Wasserman! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on April 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

1886


Elena Mikalsen's Wrapped in the Stars Blog Tour {with Giveaway}

Wrapped in the Stars by Elena Mikalsen

Publication Date: February 19, 2018
The Wild Rose Press
Paperback & eBook; 384 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


Struggling with guilt over her sister’s death and the stress of her medical residency, Maya Radelis runs away to Scotland. She gets lost in an alley, where a robin mysteriously appears, leading her to an antique shop where she buys a century-old moonstone engagement ring. After having a dream about the ring’s former owner, Maya quickly realizes that there is a mystery associated with the ring, and it was not an accident that she was led to buy it.

The novel follows Maya from Edinburgh to Paris to Bern, and, finally, to New York as she discovers why she was meant to find the ring and learn about Rebecca, a young Jewish woman practicing medicine in Bern as the Great War unfolded and the Russian Revolution was planned in Switzerland. Maya especially wants to learn about the love story between Rebecca and Mark, a young surgeon from Ukraine, who Rebecca fought to keep safe during this turbulent time in Europe.

While in Paris, Maya meets David Fischer, a fellow American, who helps Maya learn Rebecca’s story. The attraction between David and Maya grows, and they discover that their meeting was not by chance. As Maya returns to New York from her travels, Rebecca’s courage and strength help her face her own troubles.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Praise for Wrapped in the Stars

"Written with passion and expertise, Elena Mikalsen’s WRAPPED IN THE STARS is an intelligent and beautifully crafted story that proves the power of love while illuminating the historical struggles of women in medicine. I love books that teach me something while also being thoroughly entertaining, and Mikalsen’s debut does just that." -Kelli Estes, author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk

"Mikalsen effortlessly weaves past and present in this engaging tale. WRAPPED IN THE STARS spans countries and centuries, testing the boundaries between love, loyalty, fate, and following your heart. A delightful debut!" -Jessica Topper, author of Louder Than Love

"Mikalsen's debut draws you in and takes you on a richly detailed journey, from Edinburgh to Bern, to Paris and New York. A tale of aspirations and familial pressures, of serendipity and the choices we make, WRAPPED IN THE STARS thoughtfully explores how we can take control of our lives." -Amanda Stauffer, author of Match Made in Manhattan

"In WRAPPED IN THE STARS, with a touch of magical realism and a sprinkle of quantum physics, Elena Mikalsen blends the present with the Belle Epoque past, deftly weaving two points of view into two timeless romances into a can’t-be-put-down novel." - Suanne Schafer, author of A Different Kind of Fire

About the Author

Elena Mikalsen was born in Ukraine and came to New York City as a refugee with her family at age 17. She is somewhat obsessive about travel, but, when at home in San Antonio, can be found browsing through bookstores or antique shops with her family and two adopted pups. When not writing stories, she is a Pediatric Psychologist, working at a Children's Hospital, helping children cope with chronic medical illness. She actively blogs and gives interviews on issues related to child and adolescent mental health. WRAPPED IN THE STARS is her first work of fiction. She has two other works in progress.

For more information please visit Elena Mikalsen's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 19
Review at Donna McCabe

Tuesday, February 20
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Wednesday, February 21
Excerpt at Short Book and Scribes

Friday, February 23
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, February 27
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective

Thursday, March 1
Feature at A Bookaholic Swede

Monday, March 5
Review at Donna's Book Blog

Wednesday, March 7
Feature at Teaser Addicts Book Blog

Thursday, March 8
Feature at Passages to the Past

Friday, March 9
Review at Cup of Sensibility

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a signed copy of Wrapped in the Stars and a Book Scents Candle! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Wrapped in the Stars


Rebecca Rosenberg's The Secret Life of Mrs. London Online Book Release Party!

 

Join Rebecca Rosenberg & HF Virtual Book Tours TONIGHT from 8:00-11:00pm EST to celebrate the release of The Secret Life of Mrs. London!

Click HERE to RSVP, and save this link – it’s where the party will be happening! We’ll have a live chat with Rebecca and talk about the release & give away some prizes! Hope to see you all there!


The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

Publication Date: January 30, 2018
Lake Union Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 348 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


San Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape.

As Charmian grapples with her urge to explore the forbidden, Jack’s increasingly reckless behavior threatens her dedication. Now torn between two of history’s most mysterious and charismatic figures, she must find the courage to forge her own path, even as she fears the loss of everything she holds dear.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


Praise for The Secret Life of Mrs. London

“The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a heart-wrenching portrait of a marriage between two people who utterly depend on one another, but ultimately aren’t enough for each other. With skillful precision of language, Rosenberg weaves a narrative that defines the complexities of love, passion, and art. This is a perceptive, deeply moving novel by a great new talent about a couple who has gone unnoticed in historical fiction until now. Anyone who has ever loved another person will want to read this book.” —Victoria Kelly, author of Mrs. Houdini: A Novel

“One of Houdini’s best kept secrets was his affair with Charmian London in 1918. Now Rebecca Rosenberg tells the story using an elegant blend of fact and fiction, creating a Houdini book like no other. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a true peek behind the curtain and a page-turner.” —John Cox, Wild about Harry

About the Author

A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel.

Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children's Home.

For more information, please visit Rebecca's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.


Heather Webb's The Phantom's Apprentice Blog Tour & Giveaway

Today on the blog I am super excited to be hosting Heather Webb's Blog Tour for The Phantom's Apprentice! You can read all about the new release below and enter to win a copy! We have two copies up for grabs!


The Phantom's Apprentice by Heather Webb

Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Sonnet Press
Paperback & eBook; 350 Pages
ISBN13: 9780999628508

Genre: Historical Fiction


In this re-imagining of Phantom of the Opera, meet a Christine Daaé you’ve never seen before…

Christine Daaé sings with her violinist Papa in salons all over Paris, but she longs to practice her favorite pastime—illusions. When her beloved Papa dies during a conjurer’s show, she abandons her magic and surrenders to grief and guilt. Life as a female illusionist seems too dangerous, and she must honor her father’s memory.

Concerned for her welfare, family friend Professor Delacroix secures an audition for her at the Nouvel Opéra—the most illustrious stage in Europe. Yet Christine soon discovers the darker side of Paris opera. Rumors of murder float through the halls, and she is quickly trapped between a scheming diva and a mysterious phantom. The Angel of Music.

But is the Angel truly a spirit, or a man obsessed, stalking Christine for mysterious reasons tangled in her past?

As Christine’s fears mount, she returns to her magical arts with the encouragement of her childhood friend, Raoul. Newfound hope and romance abounds…until one fateful night at the masquerade ball. Those she cares for—Delacroix, the Angel, and even Raoul—aren’t as they seem. Now she must decide whom she trusts and which is her rightful path: singer or illusionist.

To succeed, she will risk her life in the grandest illusion of all.

“Heather Webb combines music and magic seamlessly in The Phantom’s Apprentice, weaving glittering new threads into the fabric of a classic story. Romantic, suspenseful and inventive, this novel sweeps you along to its breathless conclusion.”—Greer Macallister, USA Today bestselling author of The Magician’s Lie and Girl in Disguise

“Heather Webb’s The Phantom’s Apprentice delivers a performance worthy of the Paris Opera. Unlike so many other renditions of the Phantom’s tale, Webb breathes life into Christine, so often portrayed as the helpless victim. Christine’s evolution from ‘damsel in distress’ to self-reliant woman is masterfully done, hooking the reader from the first page. Webb’s work is immersive, well-crafted, and beautifully paced. A must-read for fans of this bewitching legend!”—Aimie Runyan, author of Daughters of the Night Sky

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | Kobo


About the Author

HEATHER WEBB is the author of historical novels Becoming Josephine and Rodin's Lover, and the anthology Fall of Poppies, which have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Elle, France Magazine, and more, as well as received national starred reviews. RODIN’S LOVER was a Goodreads Top Pick in 2015. Up and coming, Last Christmas in Paris, an epistolary love story set during WWI will release October 3, 2017, and The Phantom's Apprentice, a re-imagining of the Gothic classic Phantom of the Opera from Christine Daae's point of view releases February 6, 2018. To date, her novels have sold in ten countries. Heather is also a professional freelance editor, foodie, and travel fiend.

For more information, please visit Heather's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 5
Review at The Maiden's Court

Tuesday, February 6
Review at The Lit Bitch
Feature at A Bookaholic Swede

Wednesday, February 7
Review at Just One More Chapter
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective

Thursday, February 8
Review at A Bookish Affair

Friday, February 9
Review at Trisha Jenn Reads

Saturday, February 10
Review at Bookish

Monday, February 12
Review at Creating Herstory

Tuesday, February 13
Review at Linda's Book Obsession

Wednesday, February 14
Review at Clarissa Reads it All

Thursday, February 15
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Friday, February 16
Review at Baer Books

Monday, February 19
Review at Cup of Sensibility
Review at Let Them Read Books
Review at Bookworms Anonymous

Tuesday, February 20
Feature at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, February 21
Review at Writing the Renaissance

Monday, February 26
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we are giving away two paperback copies of The Phantom's Apprentice! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 26th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

The Phantom's Apprentice

Interview with Elizabeth St. John + Giveaway of By Love Divided

Happy Monday, dear readers! Today I am thrilled to be kicking off Elizabeth St. John's Blog Tour for By Love Divided today! I have an interview with the author and a chance for you to win a copy of By Love Divided!


Hello Elizabeth and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about By Love Divided!

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and the Lydiard Chronicles?

Thanks Amy, and it’s lovely to be here. My writing is inspired by own family stories, and I am very fortunate that we have a rich, well-documented history. Growing up in England where the weather promotes reading and the countryside is full of castles and ancient churches, I spent much of my childhood buried in books, family papers and walking around ruins. My parents loved history and passed that gene on to me. Our favorite days were spent “St.John-hunting” where we would follow some thread in a family tree and end up in a forgotten churchyard or country house, face-to-face with an ancestor. As I started to think about turning the stories into a novel, it was a natural that I would name the books after Lydiard House, our ancestral home and my “magic place”.

The Lydiard Chronicles is based on the life of your ancestors, when did you get the idea to write a series on them?

Lydiard Park, the St.John ancestral home in Wiltshire is full of portraits and memorials of my family, and Lydiard House and adjacent Church of St. Mary's is a writer’s dream. Elizabethan monuments, Jacobean portraits and medieval wall paintings all provide a rich tapestry of images, calling across the ages for their stories to be told. I am currently on a research trip in England, and I was just visiting Cirencester Park, home of the Earls of Bathurst, who were relatives. As we walked through the beautiful rooms, pausing to look at portraits of the characters in my novels, I could feel them around me. It’s a connection that’s hard to explain, but a very tangible one. So, telling their stories is a natural progression.

Can you please tell us more about the Memoirs written by your grandmother that inspired the series?

I’m very fortunate since my family kept personal documents, and an extensive family tree, handed down by generations. Those records inspired me to want to write only relying on primary sources, and so I then visited museums and libraries where records might be stored. The Lydiard Chronicles draws on Lucy Hutchinson’s Memoirs, which are archived at Nottingham Castle. Lucy wrote these memoirs to vindicate the life of her husband, Parliamentarian Colonel John Hutchinson, who was a regicide during the English Civil War. She wanted to explain to her children the circumstances under which he decided to sign the death warrant of King Charles. The Memoirs are an extraordinary firsthand account by a brilliantly intellectual woman on the Civil War. When I first encountered them 20 years ago, they were hidden in a battered file cabinet in the castle offices, and by asking and poking around I was thrilled to see them first hand.

What other research did you undertake when writing the Lydiard Chronicles?

Once on the serious research trail, I discovered an extraordinarily rich and well-documented family history to draw on for my novels. When I came to write The Lady of the Tower, I felt I knew the characters intimately, because of my deep acquaintance with them, and that so many of their portraits are preserved at their country home of Lydiard House. I was also granted unique access to The Tower of London, and was able spend time in my heroine Lucy St.John’s home. That was an extraordinary experience. And, of course, there are so many records now available online from the National Archives, county offices and foundations. Digging through warrants, contracts, deeds, and wills can turn up some exciting finds. So although pretty much all my records are accessible to the general public, it can take a lot of detective work to find them.

Did you come across anything in your research that surprised or fascinated you?

I think the joy of research is in the surprises, and there were many occasions where I would be left breathless or jumping for joy when a particular trail yielded results. So often, it’s the connections that delight – as an author, you spend time “linking the probable” – who was in a certain place, or who knew who. Those interactions and coincidences are often what drive plot. When I was writing The Lady of the Tower, I had to fictionalize a strategic relationship based on coincidence and a “writer’s hunch” that they interacted. When I was about three quarters through the writing, I discovered evidence that proved that not only did the characters know each other, they had a deep relationship. Needless to say, that was one of those leap up from the desk and run around the room moments!

What would you like readers to take away from reading the Lydiard Chronicles & By Love Divided?

The consistent comment I hear from my readers is that “these people came alive” and I think that’s when you know you’ve succeeded as a writer. Although written about people 400 years ago, these were still people like us, who loved and laughed, cried and suffered. History is not a dry subject relegated to a text book, it is a living, breathing part of our every day. To have readers take away a sense of that, and to regard history from a deeper perspective would be wonderful.

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

Ultimately, writing is a discipline, and unless you’re prepared to put the work in, you’re not going to get the results you want. Showing up every day, and forcing yourself to write, even if you think it’s rubbish, was the greatest challenge, especially when I had a full time job, and a family to raise. Setting aside a specific time every day that didn’t impact the other parts of my life was my solution – when I first started, I would get up very early in the morning and give myself two hours uninterrupted time to write. Some days would be more productive than others, but soon it became a work habit, and one that I still keep today.

What was the first historical novel you read?

Probably a Jean Plaidy – my mother’s favorite. I grew up in a small village in England, and I pretty much ran through the historical fiction section by the time I was ten. I have to say Katherine by Anya Seton made the most impression on me.

Lastly, what are you working on next?

I’m currently in research mode for the next in the series, continuing By Love Divided’s story. I’ll be introducing some fascinating new St.John women, including Anne St.John, mother of John Wilmot the 2nd Earl of Rochester. Her husband accompanied Charles II on his flight after the Battle of Worcester. She was an extraordinarily clever woman, who managed to maintain and keep her family fortune through the Civil War. How she does so, while manipulating both her Parliamentarian and Royalist families is a compelling story.

And one I certainly look forward to reading! Thank you so much, Liz, for stopping by and sharing with us! The Lydiard series is wonderful, I do hope you will all check it out! Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a copy of By Love Divided at the end of this post.


By Love Divided by Elizabeth St. John

Publication Date: October 12, 2017
Falcon Historical
eBook & Paperback; 381 Pages

Series: The Lydiard Chronicles, Book Two
Genre: Historical Fiction


Royalist Sir Allen Apsley thinks his choice is clear, but when his mother embraces the Puritan cause, and his beloved sister Luce falls in love with John Hutchinson, a Roundhead soldier, his loyalties are tested. Is it family first? Is it country first? As England falls into bloody civil war, Allen must fight for king and country, while Luce embraces Parliament’s radical views and confronts the very core of the family’s beliefs. And when their influential Villiers cousins raise the stakes, Allen and Luce face a devastating challenge. Will war unite or divide them? In the dawn of rebellion, love is the final battleground.

Based on surviving memoirs, court papers and letters of Elizabeth St.John’s family, By Love Divided continues the story of Lucy St.John, The Lady of the Tower. This powerfully emotional novel tells of England’s great divide, and the heart-wrenching choices one family faces.

"I am completely blown away by Elizabeth St. John’s follow up novel, By Love Divided. The depth of her characterization, the elegance of her prose (and dialogue) and the masterful way in which she presents the realities of the English Civil War such that we’re bleeding for both sides is nothing short of brilliant. If you want a compelling, exquisitely written story to immerse you in the past, By Love Divided is a must read! I consider it one of my favourite historical reads and it's earned a place on my keeper shelf! 5 plus stars!" -Cryssa Bazos, Author of The Traitor's Knot

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author

Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and Castle Fonmon to the Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it's hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth's family still occupy them - in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that's a different story...

By Love Divided, Elizabeth's sequel to The Lady of the Tower, follows the fortunes of the St.John family during the English Civil War, and is out now.

For more information, please visit Elizabeth St. John's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 19
Interview at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, February 21
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Thursday, February 22
Review at Clarissa Reads It All

Friday, February 23
Feature at A Holland Reads

Monday, February 26
Feature at A Bookaholic Swede

Thursday, March 1
Feature at Bibliophile Reviews
Guest Post at Clarissa Reads It All

Friday, March 2
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Thursday, March 8
Review at Donna's Book Blog

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of By Love Divided to one lucky winner! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US & UK residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

By Love Divided #2


Review of Next Year in Havana + Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Hello, dear readers! Today on the blog I am so happy to finally share my thoughts on Chanel Cleeton's Next Year in Havana! I am also sharing Chanel's giveaway for a Kindle Fire, so don't forget to enter the giveaway.


Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Penguin/Berkley

Women’s Fiction/Historical Fiction


After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo 


Learn more about Next Year in Havana including downloading the book club guide and more at: http://www.chanelcleeton.com/next-year-in-havana/

Add Beatriz Perez’s story WHEN WE LEFT CUBA on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38193131-when-we-left-cuba


My Review

While reading Next Year in Havana one bookish quote came to my mind: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." Well, dear readers, Next Year in Havana falls into the latter. I absolutely ate this book up! I typically get nauseated when I read in the car, but we were taking a trip to Florida and I just couldn't wait to read it. Once I started the first page, I could not stop. I devoured the entire thing before we even reached our destination!

Next Year in Havana is an absolute gem of a novel! Family secrets, danger, romance, food, music, and Cuban history all combine to make for an unforgettable read. I will never forget Elisa and Marisol and I had a particularly deep connection with Beatriz, who I am thrilled to hear will have her own book next year!

I cannot recommend this novel enough. It is absolute perfection! Bravo to Chanel Cleeton...she did her family proud!

Rating: 5 (million) stars 😜

Praise for Next Year in Havana

"Chanel Cleeton's Next Year In Havana is a flat-out stunner of a book, at once a dual-timeline mystery, a passionate romance, and paean to the tragedy and beauty of war-torn Cuba. The story of sugar heiress Elisa, watching Cuba fall into revolution as Castro rises, is intertwined with the modern-day tale of Elisa's granddaughter Marisol as she returns to Cuba after Castro's death. Both women fall for fire-brand revolutionaries, but Cuba itself emerges as their true love-interest, threatening to break both women's hearts as Elisa and Marisol each grapple in their own way with what it is to be Cuban, what it is to be an exile, and how to love and live in a homeland riven by revolution. Simply wonderful!" - Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

"Cleeton has penned an atmospheric, politically insightful, and highly hopeful homage to a lost world. Devour NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA and you, too, will smell the perfumed groves, taste the ropa vieja, and feel the sun on your face. Just a wonderful and educational book!" - Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of America's First Daughter

"A vivid, transporting novel. Next Year in Havana is about journeys-- into exile, into history, and into questions of home and identity. It's an engrossing read." - David Ebershoff, author of The Danish Girl and The 19th Wife

"An evocative, passionate story of family loyalty and forbidden love that moves seamlessly between the past and present of Cuba’s turbulent history— how one young woman’s sacrifice becomes the key to her granddaughter’s future—how culture and spirit survive against all odds. Next Year in Havana kept me enthralled and savoring every word." - Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Beach

"In Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton's prose is as beautiful as Cuba itself, and the story she weaves--of exile and loss, memory and myth, forbidden love and enduring friendship--is at once sweeping and beautifully intimate. This is a moving, heartfelt, and gorgeously realized story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page." - Jennifer Robson, USA Today bestselling author of Somewhere in France


About the Author


Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Author Links:

Website: www.chanelcleeton.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1545366192398558/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/chanelcleeton

Newsletter: www.chanelcleeton.com/mailing-list/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chanelcleeton/

Giveaway

Enter to win a Kindle Fire!!

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Happy Release Day to Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton (with giveaway!)

Today is the release day for Chanel Cleeton's NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA and I am very excited to be taking part in her Release Day festivities! You can read all about the book below and enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card.


I had the pleasure of reading Next Year in Havana a few months ago and was blown away by the story. Cleeton wrote a masterpiece of her ancestors in Cuba and it was mesmerizing! I read it in one car trip and loved every minute.

It's now out in the world so get thee to a bookstore! You can thank me later 😊


Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Penguin/Berkley

Women’s Fiction/Historical Fiction


After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo 


Learn more about Next Year in Havana including downloading the book club guide and more at: http://www.chanelcleeton.com/next-year-in-havana/

Add Beatriz Perez’s story WHEN WE LEFT CUBA on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38193131-when-we-left-cuba


Praise for Next Year in Havana

"Chanel Cleeton's Next Year In Havana is a flat-out stunner of a book, at once a dual-timeline mystery, a passionate romance, and paean to the tragedy and beauty of war-torn Cuba. The story of sugar heiress Elisa, watching Cuba fall into revolution as Castro rises, is intertwined with the modern-day tale of Elisa's granddaughter Marisol as she returns to Cuba after Castro's death. Both women fall for fire-brand revolutionaries, but Cuba itself emerges as their true love-interest, threatening to break both women's hearts as Elisa and Marisol each grapple in their own way with what it is to be Cuban, what it is to be an exile, and how to love and live in a homeland riven by revolution. Simply wonderful!" - Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

"Cleeton has penned an atmospheric, politically insightful, and highly hopeful homage to a lost world. Devour NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA and you, too, will smell the perfumed groves, taste the ropa vieja, and feel the sun on your face. Just a wonderful and educational book!" - Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of America's First Daughter

"A vivid, transporting novel. Next Year in Havana is about journeys-- into exile, into history, and into questions of home and identity. It's an engrossing read." - David Ebershoff, author of The Danish Girl and The 19th Wife

"An evocative, passionate story of family loyalty and forbidden love that moves seamlessly between the past and present of Cuba’s turbulent history— how one young woman’s sacrifice becomes the key to her granddaughter’s future—how culture and spirit survive against all odds. Next Year in Havana kept me enthralled and savoring every word." - Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Beach

"In Next Year in Havana, Chanel Cleeton's prose is as beautiful as Cuba itself, and the story she weaves--of exile and loss, memory and myth, forbidden love and enduring friendship--is at once sweeping and beautifully intimate. This is a moving, heartfelt, and gorgeously realized story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page." - Jennifer Robson, USA Today bestselling author of Somewhere in France


About the Author


Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Author Links:

Website: www.chanelcleeton.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1545366192398558/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/chanelcleeton

Newsletter: www.chanelcleeton.com/mailing-list/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chanelcleeton/

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Interview with Ana Brazil & Giveaway of Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper

Happy Monday, everyone! Today I have an interview with Ana Brazil, author of Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper, to kick off her blog tour!

I highly recommend Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper, it's a wonderful book with three strong leading women. I loved, loved, loved it! Don't forget to enter our giveaway at the end of this post for a chance to win a copy!


Hello, Ana and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper!

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper.

Thanks, Amy! I’m glad to be here! I live and write in California, but have a deep connection to New Orleans and the south. And I have a masters’ degree in American History from Florida State University. Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper is my first novel and the beginning of my Gilded Age New Orleans series, which features Fanny and her friends.

What inspired you to write Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper?

I’ve always enjoyed reading historical fiction and was always surprised that there were so few southern heroines. Other than Gone with the Wind, where were the stories about brave, clever, and adventurous southern women? Since I had researched and written my masters’ thesis about socially active late 19th century women in New Orleans, I was sure that these women existed. And my very vivid imagination was sure that these women could solve any murder mystery that New Orleans could throw at them.

What was the hardest scene to write?

In one sense—and I’d say this is true for every storyteller—the first chapter is always the hardest scene to write. My first chapter had to perfectly introduce Fanny and get the story rolling.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I really like the scene where Fanny, Sylvia, and Olive are talking on the rooftop of Wisdom Hall. Everything has been so hard and disagreeable between them, and finally, they relax a bit and reveal themselves to each other.

What would you like readers to take away from reading Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper?

If you really think you’re supposed to be doing something, do it.

Fanny really believes that she’s supposed to be using her smarts to solve her student’s murder. Sylvia believes that she’s supposed to offer education to immigrants. Olive knows that she’s a doctor. When you listen to your heart (especially when it comes to that “what’s my life about” question), you can reach incredible success and satisfaction.

Why did you choose to set the novel in Gilded Age New Orleans?

I wanted to incorporate the “Jack the Ripper in the United States” mythology, and since he committed his London crimes in 1888, I set my story in 1889. And I couldn’t not write about New Orleans! Gilded Age New Orleans is such a rich, complex, and dangerous locale.

What type of research did you undertake when writing Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper?

I’ve read 1889 New Orleans newspapers until my eyes wore out; I’ve toured New Orleans’ Gilded Age buildings and neighborhoods; and I tried to read a lot of biographies of brave and enthusiastic women of the late 19th century.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Almost always; definitely since grade school. Once I read Little Women, I had to be Jo March!

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

Although I’m really good at envisioning “the worst that can happen” (which is great for plotting), I really like “everyone to get along”. Which means that I have to work hard at creating conflict, both between characters and internally within each character. I love to read historical romances, but I’m always yelling at the heroine and hero…“Why don’t you just talk to each other! That’ll fix everything!”

Who are your writing inspirations?

Gail Carriger inspires me because she’s so imaginative and wild!

What was the first historical novel you read?

It must have been Little Women. But I also remember reading Caddie Woodlawn.

What is the last historical novel you read?

I just finished Amy Stewart’s Girl Waits with Gun. Loved it! And I also want to mention Kate Warn: Pinkerton Detective by Marissa Moss and April Chu. It’s historical fiction for children and is so beautifully written and illustrated.

If there was a soundtrack for your novel, what songs might we find on it?

I really enjoyed listening to Ken Burns’ The Civil War when I wrote Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper. So my soundtrack would have lots of brass bands, slow waltzes, and soft guitar music. Then I’d add some spirited Irish waltzes! And a version of “If Ever I Cease to Love”, which was written in 1871 and used as the royal anthem for Rex, King of Carnival.

What are three things people may not know about you?

I’ve always had a cat and a dog and can’t imagine living without at least one of each.

I performed in many, many children’s theater productions when I was in elementary school.

I love to bake! Need some brownies, bread, or cheesecake? Call me!

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

I like mysteries because I like to solve problems. I like the resolution of a mystery and seeing that justice returns to the world, and that most characters are just a little smarter and a little more self-aware from their journey.

What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?

Definitely late 19th and early 20th centuries America. And then the same period in England. But I’ve always wanted to slow down for a while and concentrate on reading just Revolutionary and Colonial American historical fiction. I’m totally in love with Colonial Williamsburg and would love to live there for a summer and just read, read, read Colonial American historical fiction.
What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Well, the dog always needs to be walked and the cat always needs to get scritched! And I play the bluegrass mandolin. After a long day of writing, it’s so wonderful to tune up the mando and make some music.

Lastly, what are you working on next?

My friends and I call it “Fanny 2”, but the working title is Fanny Newcomb and the French Quarter Laudanum Lover. It’s “what happens next” to Fanny, Sylvia, Olive, Lawrence, Daniel, and Clarence.

Ha...Fanny #2...love it! I cannot wait for this release. I absolutely loved reading Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper and look forward to more of Fanny, Olive, and Sylvia! And I may have to hit you up for some brownies, Ana :)


Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper by Ana Brazil

Publication Date: November 1, 2017
Sand Hill Review Press
Formats: Paperback & eBook

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Mystery


Gilded Age New Orleans is overrun with prostitutes, pornographers, and a malicious Jack the Ripper copycat. As threatening letters to newspaper editors proclaim, no woman is safe from his blade.

Desperate to know who murdered her favorite student, ambitious typewriting teacher Fanny Newcomb launches into a hunt for the self-proclaimed Irish Channel Ripper.

Fanny quickly enlists her well-connected employers—Principal Sylvia Giddings and her sister Dr. Olive—to help, and the women forge through saloons, cemeteries, slums, and houses of prostitution in their pursuit.

Fanny’s good intentions quickly infuriate her longtime beau Lawrence Decatur, while her reckless persistence confounds the talented police detective Daniel Crenshaw. Reluctantly, Lawrence and Daniel also lend their investigative talents to Fanny’s investigation.

As the murderer sets a date for his next heinous crime, can Fanny Newcomb and her crew stop the Irish Channel Ripper before he kills again?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

A native of California, Ana Brazil lived in the south for many years. She earned her MA in American history from Florida State University and traveled her way through Mississippi as an architectural historian. Ana loves fried mullet, Greek Revival colonnades, and Miss Welty’s garden. She has a weakness for almost all things New Orleans. (Although she’s not sure just how it happened…but she favors bluegrass over jazz.)

The Fanny Newcomb stories celebrate the tenacity, intelligence, and wisdom of the dozens of courageous and outrageous southern women that Ana is proud to call friends.

Although Ana, her husband, and their dog Traveller live in the beautiful Oakland foothills, she is forever drawn to the lush mystique of New Orleans, where Fanny Newcomb and her friends are ever prepared to seek a certain justice.

For more information, please visit Ana Brazil's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 5
Interview at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, February 6
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Thursday, February 8
Feature at So Many Books, So Little Time

Friday, February 9
Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Book Blog
Excerpt at To Read, Or Not to Read

Monday, February 12
Review at Fervently Curious

Friday, February 16
Review at Back Porchervations

Saturday, February 17
Review at Cup of Sensibility

Monday, February 19
Review at Peppermint Ph.D.
Interview at Fervently Curious

Wednesday, February 21
Feature at The Reading Queen

Monday, February 26
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, February 28
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog

Friday, March 2
Feature at A Bookaholic Swede

Monday, March 5
Review at Adventures Thru Wonderland

Wednesday, March 7
Review at Donna's Book Blog

Friday, March 9
Feature at What Cathy Read Next

Monday, March 12
Review at Buried Under Books

Thursday, March 15
Review & Excerpt at Clarissa Reads it All

Friday, March 16
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Monday, March 19
Review at Cheryl's Book Nook

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of Fanny Newcomb and the Irish Channel Ripper! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Fanny Newcomb #2


Guest Post by Beverly Magid & Giveaway of Where Do I Go

Happy Friday, dear readers! Today on the blog I welcome author Beverly Magid! This is the last day of Beverly's Blog Tour for Where Do I Go and I am hosting a wonderful post from her. And don't forget to enter our giveaway!


Women seem to be at the forefront of current events. The #MeToo movement is just one aspect, but very vocal and evident. Women want to be heard, they refuse to be dismissed or discounted. They’re marching, voting, organizing, reporting, running for office. The word “feminist” became the word –of-the-year. Why not? Women have been trying to speak out ever since Eve first discovered the apple in the Garden of Eden.

Museums are acknowledging women artists that they might have overlooked before, female authors are winning national and international book awards, women are winning elections as governors, senators, representatives, almost as President, including minority women candidates.

I grew up in an era that after a time of war when women’s help was essential, the world then expected women to go back to the kitchen, raise the children and be the perfect little housefrau again, cooking, baking and loving their Westinghouse refrigerator (courtesy of Betty Furness tv commercials). But did all women really just want that, having no choice in the matter. We still don’t pay female workers equally to men, but opportunities now continue to open up.

My books were born in that frame of mind. My female protagonists are restless, sometimes unfulfilled, yearning for something they can’t always describe, willing to take risks, but always aware of the times they live in. They don’t always understand why they can’t conform, but they know they can’t, they’re ultra-sensitive to their own hurts but also to the pain of others. I confess that some of their qualities and their flaws probably resemble some of my own, but I do believe that the stories of the ordinary woman in an extraordinary circumstance are the stories that are closest to my heart.

I’ll bet that many of you out there have your own stories which are bursting to be told. None of us may win Pulitzer prizes, but our stories are important and I hope that you will take the chance and try your hand at writing. Even if it’s just to put it on paper for yourself, it’s worth the time and energy to do it. First the toe in the water, then jump right in. The deeper you go, the more fun it is. See you in the deep end of the pool.

What a great idea! Thanks for this wonderful post, Beverly! It was very inspirational!


Where Do I Go by Beverly Magid

Publication Date: October 9, 2017
BeWrite Press
Paperback & eBook; 138 Pages

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Jewish


READ THE FIRST CHAPTER.

It's 1908 and Leah and her boys have immigrated to New York's Lower East Side to live with her brothers after surviving a pogrom in their Russian village. She is determined to find a home in America but the conditions are harsher than she expected. The garment sweat shops are brutal to work in and it's essential that her son Benny works after school to help with expenses. Unbeknownst to her he runs errands for the local bookie/gangster. Life isn't what Leah hoped for, but she's a fighter and not willing to accept the awful conditions at Wollowitz's Factory. She's on a journey to find her own voice, to find a place for herself and her sons, to find a little beauty and romance in her life.

Available in Paperback and eBook on Amazon

About the Author

Beverly Magid, before writing her novel, was a journalist and an entertainment and celebrity PR executive, who interviewed many luminaries, including John Lennon, Jim Croce and the Monty Python gang, and as a publicist represented clients in music, tv and film, ranging from Whoopi Goldberg, John Denver and Dolly Parton to Tom Skerritt, Martin Landau, Kathy Ireland and Jacqueline Bisset.

Beverly is a longtime west coast resident who still considers herself a New Yorker. Among the social issues she’s passionate about is literacy and she worked with KorehLA to mentor elementary children in reading. Also she has been an advocate for Jewish World Watch, an organization dedicated to working against genocide and to aid the victims of war atrocities. On a lighter side, she is also a volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo, monitoring animal behavior for their Research Department.

She is a news and political junkie who supports environmental, animal and human rights issues. She believes most passionately that “We must remain vigilant to the those who would erode the rights of people around the world and work to defeat them.”

For more information, please visit Beverly Magid's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, January 15
Review at Donna's Book Blog
Feature at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, January 16
Guest Post at My Reading Corner

Wednesday, January 17
Excerpt at WS Momma Readers Nook

Monday, January 22
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books
Feature at View From the Birdhouse
Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Tuesday, January 23
Feature at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, January 25
Feature at Just One More Chapter

Friday, January 26
Review at Life of a Female Bibliophile
Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Blog

Sunday, January 28
Feature at Books of a Shy Girl

Monday, January 29
Review at Back Porchervations

Tuesday, January 30
Review & Interview at Elizabeth Jane Corbett

Wednesday, January 31
Review at Cup of Sensibility
Feature at A Holland Reads

Thursday, February 1
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Friday, February 2
Guest Post at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Book Blast we will be giving away a signed copy of WHERE DO I GO! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 2nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Where Do I Go Blog Tour


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