Review: Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau


Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau

Publication Date: January 16, 2020
Endeavor Quill
eBook & Paperback; 386 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.

But the invitation to Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer at the Moonrise Bookstore where she works voluntarily, than keeping up appearances with Brooklyn socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.

But soon it transpires that the hedonism of Coney Island affords Peggy more of the freedom she has been longing for. For one, she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of.

Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything…even murder.s

It is up to Peggy to overcome the oppression of her family and clear the name of her vulnerable lover, before she or her beloved sister become the next victims of Dreamland.

Extravagant, intoxicating and thumping with suspense, bestselling Nancy Bilyeau’s magnificent Dreamland is a story of corruption, class and dangerous obsession.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Praise for Dreamland

'Achingly believable' - Publishers Weekly

"This fast-paced, engrossing novel from Bilyeau (“Joanna Stafford” mysteries) gives readers an up-close and personal view of New York’s Gilded Age, from the flash and glamour of the decadently wealthy to the hardscrabble conditions of newly arrived immigrants." - Library Journal

'Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Dreamland is a rollicking ride.' - Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls

'A marvelous book!' - Ellen Marie Wiseman, bestselling author of What she Left Behind and The Life she was Given

'Bilyeau’s thrilling novel plunges deep into Dreamland’s maze of pleasure and menace' - Marlowe Benn, bestselling author of Relative Fortunes

'Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books' – Alison Weir

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Well, 2019 has come full circle! I kicked off the year by reading Nancy Bilyeau's novel, The Blue, and now I'm closing the year out with her newest novel, Dreamland! I could not think of a better book to be my last read of the year - it was fabulously entertaining!

Peggy is an heiress of the Batternberg family, a wealthy and powerful family along the likes of the Rockefellers. Despite the fact that she is the granddaughter of one of the richest men in America, she prefers her job as a shop girl at a local bookstore in NYC. She feels more at home with writers and artists then her family.

One day her uncle shows up and tells her she must join the family for the summer at the Oriental Hotel near Coney Island. Her sister is engaged to a wealthy man and the marriage is important as their father squandered their money away and they need the money that their marriage will bring. While out one evening at Dreamland at Coney Island Peggy meets an artist, Stefan, and she soon falls for him. He opens her eyes to the world outside her little bubble.

When two women are found murdered on the beach, Peggy becomes interested in the cases. When Stefan is implicated in the murders she must clear his name.

Dreamland checked every box for me. There was romance, mystery, and tough topics like immigrant rights and prejudice, the difference in social classes, bullying and gaslighting (lookin' at you, Henry), but what shines through is the author's love for the city of New York. I went there once on my honeymoon and loved it and Nancy makes me want to go back so badly!

A huge thanks to Endeavour Media for the chance to read this incredible book. I inhaled it in one sitting and cannot wait for more from Nancy Bilyeau!

About the Author

"Dreamland" is Nancy Bilyeau's fifth novel of historical suspense. She is the author of the best-selling historical thriller “The Blue” and the Tudor mystery series “The Crown,” “The Chalice,” and “The Tapestry,” on sale in nine countries.

Nancy is a magazine editor who has lived in the United States and Canada. She studied History and English Literature at the University of Michigan. After moving to New York City, she worked on the staffs of “InStyle,” “Good Housekeeping,” and “Rolling Stone.” She is currently the deputy editor of the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at the Research Foundation of CUNY and a regular contributing writer to “Town & Country" and "Mystery Scene Magazine."

Nancy’s mind is always in past centuries but she currently lives with her husband and two children in Forest Hills in the borough of Queens. "Dreamland" is her first novel set in her adopted hometown of New York City.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BookBub


2020 Release: The First Emma by Camille Di Maio

Oh wow, check out this upcoming release from Camille Di Maio! It sounds amazing. May can't come fast enough!


The First Emma by Camille Di Maio

Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction

Inspired by true events

1914 - Young bride Emma Koehler dreams of a happy marriage and a simple life with her husband, but her hopes are quickly dashed by Otto’s obsession with his business. Though they become one of the wealthiest couples in the country – a fortune made on beer, mining, and hospitality - Emma is lonely in their stone mansion, unable to have children and unable to keep his attentions at home. When a tragic accident changes everything, Otto presents a new betrayal – and Emma must choose between loyalty and independence in a world that demands convention.

1943 – Mabel Hartley flees Baltimore after the war leaves her broken and alone. She answers the advertisement of a dying woman in San Antonio, with an urgent plea to come write her memoirs. In Emma Koehler, Mabel discovers astounding resilience - a pioneer who weathered personal devastation and navigated her large brewery through the storm of Prohibition. Soon Mabel realizes that Texas holds more for her than this new friendship. Romance blooms even as she’s given up on love, and an unexpected phone call gives her hope that not all goodbyes are final.

The First Emma is a moving story of love, hope, and murder that captures one woman’s journey to make her mark on history and another’s desire to preserve it.

2019 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: End of Year Results


Wow, I cannot believe it's already the end of the year! I swear, I blinked and it was already December!

So, how many historicals did you read in 2020?
Did you reach your original challenge goal level?
What was your favorite historical of the year?
What what the most surprising historical read of the year for you?
What historical are you looking forward to most in 2020?

The 2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is open! Sign up today!

If you post an End of the Year recap for the challenge, please link it here!



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Review & Giveaway: The Spirit of Fire by Susanne Dunlap


The Spirit of Fire by Susanne Dunlap

Publication Date: December 6, 2019

Series: Orphans of Tolosa, Book two
Genre: Historical Fiction


Listen to the Wind has been rated 10 out of 10 and was a quarterfinalist in the BookLife Prize, and won a Gold badge from the International Review of Books.

The eagerly anticipated sequel to Listen to the Wind, “A complex, absorbing, and dramatic start to a planned series.” -Kirkus Reviews

Azemar—now a knight and Baron of Montpezat—has rescued his childhood friend, Azalais, from the Castel de Belascon, where she was forced to disguise as a noblewoman and become the wife of the baron. But the captivating trobairitz Jordane de la Moux d’Aniort and her damozel Johana have escaped with them, putting them all in grave peril. Will Jordane’s conflicting goal of reuniting with the rebel Raimon de Berenger thwart Azemar and Azalais’s quest to solve the mystery of their origins, which they believe lies within the heretic fortress of Montsegur? When a cryptic note leads them to the Templar stronghold at Mas Deu, Azemar undergoes brutal trials, and discovers that his ultimate purpose could lead him to betray the very people he wants to protect. And their altered route leads Azalais into the path of her old enemy, the Dominican monk, Fraire Martin. Full of surprising twists and turns, dangerous adventures, and true love, The Spirit of Fire continues the Orphans of Tolosa Trilogy.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After reading and loving Listen to the Wind last year I was super anxious to get my hands on the second book in the series, The Spirit of Fire, and I am happy to report that I loved just as much!

To begin, the author graciously provides a history of the region during that time and a recap of what happened so that was super helpful to get acclimated back into the book.

The Spirit of Fire takes up the story immediately after the end of book one and in the years leading up to the conflict between the French and the Cathars at Montsegur. Jordane and Johana are hiding in a cave after escaping with Azemar and Azalais from the Castel de Balascon. Jordane is separated from her rebel lover, Raimon, and is desperate to see if he is still alive.

Azemar, now a Baron, and Azalais, still in disguise, set out on a mission to find a mysterious book and stone that were stolen from him.

Dunlap is a fabulous writer and her passion for the era only brings the story more to life. There's danger, adventure, romance, and religious conflict all combine for one exciting read! I cannot wait to see what happens in Book 3!

Praise for Listen to the Wind

Listen to the Wind has been rated 10 out of 10 in the BookLife Prize and won a Gold badge from the International Review of Books.

“Dunlap breathes life into the distant 13th-century setting... Poetry and music are as essential to the plot as warfare, with engaging glimpses of trobairitz (female troubadours). . . . A complex, absorbing, and dramatic start to a planned series.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Listen to the Wind is in its own league. Completely imaginative, mature and playful all at once, this book doesn’t compete with any other novel for its spot on the bookshelf, as it will outshine many and sit comfortably among the classics." - The BookLife Prize

“Susanne Dunlap... is both a superb storyteller and a rich historian of the period. Its customs and language, castles, troubadours, mountains, thick forests, villages, monasteries, and vineyards come vividly to life as Azemar and Azalaïs find themselves drawn into a path that will shape history.” - Stephanie Cowell, author of Claude and Camille: a novel of Monet

“In its mix of page-turning thriller with well researched historical novel, it draws comparison to the finely crafted work of Kate Mosse and Ariana Franklin.” - Nancy Bilyeau, author of
The Blue and the Joanna Stafford trilogy

“Susanne Dunlap’s sweeping saga captivates readers’ imaginations from the first page, plunging them back into the Languedoc region of France in the 13th Century. Her impeccable research allows her three spirited protagonists to live, love, fight and breathe life into the dangerous period of rebellion and inquisition, when the Cathars struggled to hold on to their culture and old faith against the power of the Pope. A compelling read for lovers of adventure and romance.” -Anne Easter Smith, author of
A Rose for the Crown, Daughter of York, Royal Mistress

“The fortitude and ingenuity of her characters helps them adapt to all manner of circumstances, and the result is an engaging tale of escape, secrets, and mental toughness. For those looking for a smartly written captivating read, I highly recommend this first book in the Orphans of Tolosa trilogy.” - Amy Hawes, Book Club Babble

“This is an intriguing and complex story with lots of secrets and lies interwoven within the characters personal stories, it is charming, exciting and mesmerising.” - Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

“I love how vibrant the world is made, how danger really struck fear into my heart, how the pain felt real…everything is beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed this.” - Clarissa Reads It All

About the Author

Susanne Dunlap is the author of six works of historical fiction. Two are for adults (Emilie's Voice and Liszt's Kiss, both published by Touchstone books of Simon & Schuster). Four are for young adults (The Musician's Daughter, Anastasia's Secret, In the Shadow of the Lamp, and The Academie, published by Bloomsbury). A graduate of Smith College with a PhD in Music History from Yale University, Susanne grew up in Buffalo, New York and has lived in London, Brooklyn and Northampton, MA. She now lives in Northampton with her long-time partner, Charles, has two grown daughters, three granddaughters, a grandson, a stepson and a stepdaughter, four step-grandsons and one step-granddaughter—that's a total of four children and nine grandchildren!

In her spare time she cycles in the beautiful Pioneer Valley.

For more information, please visit The Orphans of Tolosa website. You can follow author Susanne Dunlap on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, and BookBub.

Blog Tour Schedule

Friday, December 6
Review at Nursebookie
Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads

Monday, December 9
Feature at The Lit Bitch
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Review at Mama's Reading Corner

Tuesday, December 10
Feature at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, December 11
Interview at The Writing Desk

Thursday, December 12
Review at Books and Zebras
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Friday, December 13
Feature at Just One More Chapter

Sunday, December 15
Review at my.boys.mom

Monday, December 16
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Wednesday, December 18
Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, December 19
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, December 20
Review at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a set of Listen to the Wind & The Spirit of Fire by Susanne Dunlap! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Listen to the Wind


The Ghost of Madison Avenue by Nancy Bilyeau


The Ghost of Madison Avenue by Nancy Bilyeau

Publication Date: December 13, 2019
eBook, 108 pages

Genre: Historical Mystery


Christmas Ghost Story in Old New York

In this compelling and poignant story, bestselling author Nancy Bilyeau takes readers to New York City’s Morgan Library in December 1912, when two very different people haunted by lost love come together in an unexpected way.

Helen O’Neill, part of a tight-knit Irish-American family in the Bronx, is only too happy to report to work at the spectacular private library built on Madison Avenue by millionaire financier J. P. Morgan. The head librarian, the brilliant and beautiful Belle da Costa Greene, had hired Helen away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after she witnessed Helen’s unusual talent with handling artifacts.

Helen soon discovers the Morgan Library is a place like no other, with its secret staircases, magical manuscripts, and mysterious murals. But that’s nothing compared to a person who Helen alone can see: a young woman standing on Madison Avenue, looking as if she were keeping watch. In learning the woman’s true link to the Morgan, Helen must face the pain of her own past. And as she struggles to discover the truth behind these appearances, she finds herself with a second chance at happiness for herself on Christmas Eve—if she has the courage.

From the author of The Blue, the Joanna Stafford trilogy, and the soon-to-be published Dreamland, set in 1911 Coney Island, comes The Ghost of Madison Avenue, a novella both thrilling and moving.

Available on Amazon

Praise for Nancy Bilyeau

‘Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books' – Alison Weir

On Dreamland

'Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Dreamland is a rollicking ride.' - Fiona Davis, author of The Chelsea Girls

'A marvelous book!' - Ellen Marie Wiseman, author of What she Left Behind

On The Blue

'Definitely a winner!' - Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network

On the Joanna Stafford Trilogy

‘All the ingredients of the best historical fiction … will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans.’ - Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau is a historical novelist and magazine editor based in New York. She wrote the Joanna Stafford trilogy, a trio of thrillers set in Henry VIII’s England, for Simon & Schuster. Her fourth novel is The Blue, an 18th-century thriller revolving around the art and porcelain world. Her next novel is Dreamland, set in Coney Island of 1911, to be published by Endeavour Quill on January 16, 2020. A former staff editor at Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and InStyle, Nancy is currently the deputy editor at the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College and contributes to Town & Country, CrimeReads, and Mystery Scene magazine.

To learn more, go to www.nancybilyeau.com. You can follow Nancy on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Release Day Blast Hosts

Bookish Rantings
Books In Their Natural Habitat
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Comet Readings
Curling up by the Fire
Donna's Book Blog
Gwendalyn's Books
Historical Fiction with Spirit
I'm All About Books
Jackie & Angela's Book Reviews
Let Them Read Books
Liberty's Literary Loves
Lost_in_a_book_reviewer
Nursebookie
Orange County Readers
Passages to the Past
Reading is My Remedy
Rose is Reading
Tar Heel Reader
The Lit Bitch
The Nerdy Bookworm
To Read, Or Not to Read
What Is That Book About
Words and Peace
YA, It's Lit

Review & Giveaway: The Lords of the Wind by C.J. Adrien


The Lords of the Wind by C.J. Adrien

Publication Date: July 3, 2019
Runestone Books
eBook & Paperback; 339 Pages

Series: The Saga of Hasting the Avenger, Book One
Genre: Historical Fiction


“For indeed the Frankish nation, which was crushed by the avenger Hasting, was full of filthy uncleanness. Treasonous and oath-breaking, they were deservedly condemned; unbelievers and faithless, they were justly punished.”

Orphaned as a child by a blood-feud, and sold as a slave to an exiled chieftain in Ireland, the boy Hasting had little hope of surviving to adulthood. The gods had other plans. A ship arrived at his master's longphort carrying a man who would alter the course of his destiny, and take him under his wing to teach him the ways of the Vikings. His is a story of a boy who was a slave, who became a warlord, and who helped topple an empire.

A supposed son of Ragnar Lodbrok, and referred to in the Gesta Normanorum as the Scourge of the Somme and Loire, his life exemplified the qualities of the ideal Viking. Join author and historian C.J. Adrien on an adventure that explores the coming of age of the Viking Hasting, his first love, his first great trials, and his first betrayal.

Available on Amazon

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

My new motto for 2020 is...more Vikings!

Author C.J. Adrien will take you on an epic adventure with his new historical, The Lords of the Wind. It's the first book in a planned series featuring the Viking, Hasting, known as the Scourge of the Somme and Loire.

When we first meet Hasting he is very young and after his Chieftain father is slain and his mother and siblings sold into slavery his life is forever changed. We then follow him from his early years in Ireland with Hagar, to his time as a ship's boy with Eilif on sea, then as a political hostage to a Celtic King, and finally as he sets out to find his first love that was kidnapped by Northmen during a raid. It was fascinating to watch Hasting's growth as a man and Viking, learning from each captor or leader along the way.

The battle scenes and the scenes on the sea were my favorite! I can totally see it playing out on a big screen! It was really cool to read about how the Vikings fought and defended themselves.

One thing that was really to cool to see is when Hakon showed up in the book. He features in Author Eric Schumacher's series so I will be picking that up too! I would also love to see two of the characters feature in their own book -- Arnulf and Bertrand, the beekeeper detectives, were awesome!

C.J. Adrien's knowledge and passion shine through in The Lords of the Wind. Little is know about Hasting's life but C.J. filled in the gaps to create a fascinating insight into the man. As the book ended he is heading out on the open sea to exact revenge, and I love me a good revenge story and I want to see what else happens to Hasting, so I absolutely cannot wait for that!

About the Author

C.J. Adrien is a French-American author of Viking historical fiction with a passion for Viking history. His Kindred of the Sea series was inspired by research conducted in preparation for a doctoral program in early medieval history as well as his admiration for historical fiction writers such as Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett.

C.J. Adrien’s novels and expertise have earned him invitations to speak at several international events, including the International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds.

For more information, please visit C.J. Adrien's website and blog. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 18
Review at Al-Alhambra Book Reviews

Tuesday, November 19
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Wednesday, November 20
Review at @ya.its.lit

Thursday, November 21
Fetaure at The Book Junkie Reads

Monday, November 25
Interview at The Writing Desk

Tuesday, November 26
Review at Coffee and Ink

Wednesday, November 27
Feature at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, November 29
Feature at Let Them Read Books

Monday, December 2
Review at Hoover Book Reviews

Tuesday, December 3
Feature at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, December 5
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Friday, December 6
Review at RokinRev

Monday, December 9
Review at Books and Zebras

Thursday, December 12
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

Friday, December 13
Review at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of The Lords of the Wind! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The Lords of the Wind


2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge - Sign Ups Open!



Hello everyone & welcome to the Sign Up Page for the 2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge!

I am thrilled to be hosting this challenge again at Passages to the Past! Sign Ups are open and ready for all that would like to join the challenge.

Here are the Reading Challenge details:

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:
  • Everyone can participate! If you don't have a blog you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish.
  • Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please use the direct URL that will guide us directly to your review)
  • Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)
During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, add your link in Mr. Linky below or just leave a link to your blog if you are not yet ready to post about it yet. If you don't have a blog you can just leave a comment for this post saying that you are joining, and link to your Facebook, Goodreads or other social media page where you will be sharing your reviews.

Join our Facebook Group for the Challenge HERE!

Grab the button!

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2020.

I look forward to having you join me in reading and enjoying the best in historical fiction over the 12 months.

Don't forget to grab the Reading Challenge Button to post on your blog. If you'd like a specific size, just let me know and I will send it over to you via email. Please share about the Reading Challenge to your fellow friends and readers using the hashtag below!

#2020HistFicReadingChallenge

If you have any questions or comments please leave a comment on this post or email Amy at passagestothepast@gmail.com.

What is your reading goal for 2020? What Reading Challenge level are you aiming for?


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2020 Release: Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan


Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan

Publication Date: May 5, 2020
William Morrow

Genre: Historical Fiction

From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.

Graduating from Harvard at the height of World War II, brilliant mathematician Charlie Fish is assigned to the Manhattan Project. Working with some of the age’s greatest scientific minds, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Leo Szilard, Charlie is assigned the task of designing and building the detonator of the atomic bomb.

As he performs that work Charlie suffers a crisis of conscience, which his wife, Brenda—unaware of the true nature of Charlie’s top-secret task—mistakes as self-doubt. She urges him to set aside his qualms and continue. Once the bombs strike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the feelings of culpability devastate him and Brenda.

At the war’s end, Charlie receives a scholarship to pursue a PhD in physics at Stanford—an opportunity he and Brenda hope will allow them a fresh start. But the past proves inescapable. All any of his new colleagues can talk about is the bomb, and what greater atomic weapons might be on the horizon. Haunted by guilt, Charlie and Brenda leave Stanford and decide to dedicate the rest of their lives to making amends for the evil he helped to birth into the world.

Based on the life of the actual mathematician Charles B. Fisk, Universe of Two combines riveting historical drama with a poignant love story. Stephen Kiernan has conjured a remarkable account of two people struggling to heal their consciences and find peace in a world forever changed.

Interview & Giveaway: The Girl I Left Behind by Andie Newton

Dear readers, do I have a treat for you today! Author Andie Newton is here to talk about her new historical, The Girl I Left Behind! We also have a chance for you to win a copy so be sure to enter our giveaway at the end of this post.



Hello Andie and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about The Girl I Left Behind!

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?

I live in Washington State with my husband and two boys. I started writing in 2009. By the time I’d landed my first publishing contract (with Aria Fiction in the UK) I’d written four novels. I write fast-paced female-driven WWII fiction. (I have a Bachelor degree in History, so I have a hard time getting my head out of the past.) I’ve also written a few middle-grade ghost stories set near where I live—currently up for grabs, publishers!

What inspired you to write The Girl I Left Behind?

Many years ago, I caught a History Channel program about life inside Nazi Germany. Now, I’ve seen a hundred shows about this subject, but this show in particular talked about the youth resistance, which I knew little about. I searched for a novel on the subject and couldn’t find one. As corny as it sounds, I set out to write the novel I wanted to read. It is important to note that my first pages and drafts were really bad (bordering awful.) I just kept at it. I’d get some advice or learn a new technique and apply that to my writing. Writing The Girl I Left Behind was a process that spanned years, for sure, with lots of deleted chapters and characters.

What research did you undertake when writing The Girl I Left Behind?

I read a lot. I read diaries, interviews and news articles about resistance members. I also contacted businesses in Germany and asked questions about their past. Yep. I did that too! One of the most interesting stories that came from these emails involved the Korn und Berg bookstore in Nuremberg. They wrote me a long email relaying a story about when Hitler came into their bookstore and demanded they change the shape of their windows because they weren’t modern enough. Oh, you better believe I wrote that into this book!

What was your favorite scene to write?

My favorite scene to write was the tea scene with Ella’s aunt and her Nazi friends. There’s so much going on here than just a group of gossiping women. I’d read that Hermann Göring’s family was elevated in status after his career in the Reich took off, so I wrote that into the scene with one of the ladies. Also, well… I don’t want to give anything away, but when Ella offers to serve her aunt’s guests…ooh, I love it!

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The most difficult scene to write was also one of the most satisfying. The ending. I love the ending of this novel. Love. However, there are many different ways I could have chosen to end it, and I imagined them all. War is messy. War is unresolved in the hearts and minds of those who lived through it. War is unpredictable. So, in this respect the ending was hard to write, but also very easy and satisfying. Even now, and I’ve read my book thousands of times, the ending takes my breath away. I’ve read in reviews that readers are having the same reaction and love the ending, so I know I’ve done my job as a writer and as a historian.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I also have a Master in Teaching. One day while substituting 5th grade, I noticed a student lost in a book, like totally absorbed in the pages, and I felt joy for the writer at having this reader captivated by the story. It was during this moment I realized my heart was with my characters, and all those books on my hard drive.

What does your daily writing routine look like?

I am the worst with routines. Anyone who has a rigid routine and sticks to it is my hero.

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

Having patience. And no, I haven’t been able to overcome it. The publishing business moves at a glacier pace. Then out of the blue it goes very fast. It took years for me to write, find an agent (I’ve had more than one), go on sub, write some more, go on sub, write some more. Waiting is the name of the game; even when your book sells there’s still a lot of waiting before it is actually out to the world.

Who are your writing inspirations?

Any writer who can plot out a novel and write it in 10 weeks or less. These same people will usually post photos of their very organized writing wall, complete with Post-Its. If you are one of these writers, hats off to you!

What is the last historical novel you read?

Christmas Once Again by Jina Bacarr, which was so fun to read; it’s a time-slip novel set in the 1940’s that reads like a classic holiday movie. Loved it.

What are three things people may not know about you?

I am a trail runner. I’ve ran two 50 mile races and one 30 mile. My favorite movie is Braveheart. My favorite band is The Joy Formidable (and all 80’s pop, old school alternative like Nirvana, Radiohead, The Breeders, Throwing Muses and Belly, which dates me for sure!) But I also listen to a lot of classical, especially when writing. I have a very interesting playlist.

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

Definitely WWII. Like to read it, love to write it. But sometimes I need to take a break, especially if I’ve been writing a lot. This is when I reach for the funny stuff.

I just got done reading Fiona Leitch’s hilarious new self-published novel Dead in Venice—about a crime writer novelist with writer’s block who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I literally started laughing in the first few pages, which is a hard thing for a writer to accomplish.

I also like loveable romcoms like Nina Kaye’s debut The Gin Lover’s Guide to Dating, and books that throw me into a setting, like Sandy Barker’s One Summer in Santorini. (Any book that has me looking up airfare to Santorini, or anywhere for that matter, has my heart!)

Lastly, what are you working on next?

My next novel comes out this summer! THE GIRL FROM VICHY is about a politically divided family living in the Free Zone (run by the puppet Vichy government headed by Philippe Petain), and one woman’s brave attempt to spy on her collaborator boyfriend in the Vichy police. There’s not many novels set in Vichy, and it’s such an intriguing part of the war and an interesting component to France’s occupation. My third book, to be released in 2021 by Aria, is still a work in progress, but I can tell you it’s a very fast paced WWII female-driven spy novel involving American women, and I absolutely love it.

Oh wow, I cannot wait for that! I loved The Girl I Left Behind so much! Thank you for being here with us today!


The Girl I Left Behind by Andie Newton

Publication Date: October 3, 2019
Aria Fiction
eBook & Paperback; 368 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


What would you risk to save our best-friend?

As a young girl, Ella never considered that those around her weren’t as they appeared. But when her childhood best-friend shows Ella that you can’t always believe what you see, Ella finds herself thrown into the world of the German Resistance.

On a dark night in 1941, Claudia is taken by the Gestapo, likely never to be seen again, unless Ella can save her. With the help of the man she loves, Ella must undertake her most dangerous mission yet and infiltrate the Nazi Party.

Selling secrets isn’t an easy job. In order to find Claudia, Ella must risk not only her life, but the lives of those she cares about.

Will Ella be able to leave behind the girl of her youth and step into the shoes of another?

Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The German Midwife and Kate Furnivall.

Available on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo

Praise for The Girl I Left Behind

‘A gripping historical page-turner about an audacious eighteen-year-old girl in Nazi Germany, who finds herself at the heart of the Reich. It’s a thrilling tale of female friendship, young love, and extraordinary courage, laced with chilling reminders of the fate Ella will face if her treachery is discovered. A powerful debut!’ Gill Paul, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Wife.

‘A captivating story with a twist of romance threaded throughout,’ Glynis Peters, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Orphan.

‘A compelling tale of friendship, courage and espionage in a frightening and uncertain world,’ Charlotte Betts, author of The Dressmaker’s Secret.

‘The Girl I Left Behind made me cry and left me wanting more, which to me are signs of a truly wonderful book, one that will stay with me long after I’ve finished reading,’ Lana Kortchik, author of The Story of Us.


About the Author

Andie is an American writer living in Washington State with her husband and two boys. She writes female-driven WWII historical fiction. Her debut novel, THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND, was published by Aria Fiction in October 2019. THE GIRL FROM VICHY, her second novel with Aria Fiction, will be released in July 2020 with a third untitled novel due to release in 2021. She has a Bachelor’s degree in History from Washington State University and a Master in Teaching. She would love to say she spends her free time gardening and cooking, but she’s killed everything she’s ever planted and set off more fire alarms than she cares to admit. Andie does, however, love spending time with her family, trail running, traveling the world, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.

Andie would love to be a guest at your next book club! You can find discussion questions for her novels on her website www.andienewton.com. You can also find Andie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 2
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Thursday, December 5
Review at Passages to the Past

Sunday, December 8
Review at Robin Loves Reading

Monday, December 9
Review at Bookish Bellee

Tuesday, December 10
Feature at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, December 11
Interview at Passages to the Past

Thursday, December 12
Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Sunday, December 15
Feature at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Monday, December 16
Review at Lost_in_a_book_reviewer

Wednesday, December 18
Review at The Lit Bitch

Friday, December 20
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Saturday, December 21
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback back copy of The Girl I Left Behind! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 21st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

The Girl I Left Behind



Review & Giveaway: Written in their Stars by Elizabeth St. John


Written in their Stars by Elizabeth St. John

Publication Date: November 19, 2019
Falcon Historical
eBook & Paperback; 384 Pages

Series: The Lydiard Chronicles, Book 3
Genre: Historical Fiction


London, 1649. Horrified eyewitnesses to King Charles’s bloody execution, Royalists Nan Wilmot and Frances Apsley plot to return the king’s exiled son to England’s throne, while their radical cousin Luce, the wife of king-killer John Hutchinson, rejoices in the new republic’s triumph. Nan exploits her high-ranking position as Countess of Rochester to manipulate England’s great divide, flouting Cromwell and establishing a Royalist spy network; while Frances and her husband Allen join the destitute prince in Paris’s Louvre Palace to support his restoration. As the women work from the shadows to topple Cromwell’s regime, their husbands fight openly for the throne on England’s bloody battlefields.

But will the return of the king be a victory, or destroy them all? Separated by loyalty and bound by love, Luce, Nan and Frances hold the fate of England—and their family—in their hands.

A true story based on surviving memoirs of Elizabeth St.John's family, Written in their Stars is the third novel in the Lydiard Chronicles series.

Available on Amazon | Other eRetailers


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"The King must die."

Written in their Stars is the 3rd in Elizabeth St. John's Lydiard Chronicles series, which is based on her family's history during the English Civil War. I haven't read the first two books in the series but that didn't dampen my enjoyment of it at all. In fact, I will be picking them up soon so that I can start it all at the beginning.

The book is told from the perspectives of three women - Nan, Luce, and Frances. It starts off with John signing the death warrant for the execution of King Charles I, and Luce finally getting revenge for her family. Luce's brother Allen and his wife Frances don't agree with what they did and the family, like the country, is split apart. We follow the family and see the effects of the King's death as Cromwell takes over.

With impeccable research and exquisite writing, Written in their Stars is an exemplary piece of historical fiction. I don't know anything at all about my ancestors so I am envious that Elizabeth has so much information on her family and we're lucky that she chose to share it with us. It was captivating and I look forward to going back and reading the first two books. Ms. St. John has done her family proud!

About the Author

Elizabeth St.John spends her time between California, England, and the past. An award-winning author, historian and genealogist, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, 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...

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

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 9
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, December 10
Review at Jackie & Angela's Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 11
Review at Books and Zebras

Friday, December 13
Review at @ya.its.lit

Saturday, December 14
Review at Liberty's Literary Loves

Monday, December 16
Review at Red Headed Book Lady

Tuesday, December 17
Review at Impressions In Ink

Wednesday, December 18
Review at @bookishbellee

Saturday, December 21
Review at Tales from the Book Dragon

Monday, December 23
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Friday, December 27
Review at Historical Romance Lover

Sunday, December 29
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Friday, January 3
Review at Hoover Book Reviews

Monday, January 6
Review at Reading the Past

Tuesday, January 7
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, January 8
Review at Donna's Book Blog
Review at I'm All About Books

Thursday, January 9
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, January 10
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at A Darn Good Read

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two signed copies of Written in their Stars! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on January 10th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Written in Their Stars


Review & Giveaway: Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor


Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor

Publication Date: June 25, 2019
The Cameo Press Ltd
eBook & Paperback; 496 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Time Travel


Outlander meets Birdsong is this haunting debut timeslip novel, where a strange twist of fate connects a British soldier fighting in the First World War and a young woman living in modern-day England a century later.

*Shortlisted for the Eharmony/Orion Write Your Own Love Story Prize 2018/19

In 1916 1st Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall military hospital in Sussex, England. A gifted artist, he’s been wounded fighting in the Great War. Shell shocked and suffering from hysterical blindness he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems increasingly hopeless.

A century later in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother – her only family. Heartbroken, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol on the South Downs cliffs – only to fall accidentally part-way down. Doctors fear she may have attempted suicide, and Louisa finds herself involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall – now a psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly and chaotic place.

Then one day, while secretly exploring the old Victorian hospital’s ruined, abandoned wing, Louisa hears a voice calling for help, and stumbles across a dark, old-fashioned hospital room. Inside, lying on the floor, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was hurt at the Battle of the Somme, a WW1 battle a century ago. And that his name is Lieutenant Robert Lovett…

Two people, two battles: one against the invading Germans on the battlefields of 1916 France, the other against a substandard, uncaring mental health facility in modern-day England. Two journeys begun a century apart, but somehow destined to coincide - and become one desperate struggle to be together.

Part WW1 historical fiction, part timeslip love story - and at the same time a meditation on the themes of war, mental illness, identity and art - Beyond The Moon sweeps the reader on an unforgettable journey through time. An intelligent read, perfect for book clubs.

For fans of Diana Gabaldon, Amy Harmon, Beatriz Williams, Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Paullina Simons.

"A poignant and stirring love story... Taylor’s accomplished, genre-bending book succeeds as a WW1 historical novel and a beguiling, time travel romance... The sharply written narrative deftly moves back and forth between the past and present." — Kirkus Reviews

"A time travel romance, yet so much more than that. It is also an unflinching portrait of the horrors of war, and a look at the torturous extremes a human soul can endure. It is a sonnet to the transformative power of love, even as it is also a criticism of the futility and pointless destructiveness of war." — Shaylin Gandhi, author of By The Light of Embers

Amazon | IndieBound


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am suffering from a huge book hangover this morning! I had the pleasure of reading two absolutely exceptional historicals this weekend and I know I won't be able to get them out of my head any time soon.

Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor is hands down one of the best books I've read this year. I was curious to pick it up after seeing all of the great reviews and the synopsis sounded intriguing. What I wasn't prepared for was how hard this book would hit me emotionally. There are some pretty heavy themes in the book so it's not a light read.

The book opens with Lieutenant Robert Lovett at Coldbrook Hospital in 1916. He's severely wounded from the war and has hysterical blindness. His past life as an artist a distant memory for him, he spends his days trying to recover and aching to go back to his men.

In 2017, Louisa has just lost her grandmother, the only family she has left, and is drinking her pain away on a cliffside when she accidentally falls. She wakes up at Coldbrook Hospital, now a Mental Institution, and they think she tried to kill herself so they admit her against her wishes. As someone that suffers from depression that is my worst nightmare. I cannot imagine being locked away and not in control of my own life.

One night as she is exploring the Hospital she hears someone calling out. It's Robert, from 1916, and he tells her how he was wounded. I don't want to go into much more as you will want to find it all out for yourself.

Beyond the Moon is truly a remarkable book. I was blown away by Catherine's writing..it's excellent and I can't wait for more from her! Highly, highly recommended.

About the Author


Catherine Taylor was born and grew up on the island of Guernsey in the British Channel Islands. She is a former journalist, most recently for Dow Jones News and The Wall Street Journal in London. Beyond The Moon is her first novel. She lives in Ealing, London with her husband and two children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 9
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, December 10
Review at @bookishbellee
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Feature at I'm All About Books
Feature at Books In Their Natural Habitat
Review & Guest Post at Jackie & Angela's Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 11
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Instagram Feature at Just a Girl and Her Books

Thursday, December 12
Review at @thisbibliolife
Interview at Jathan & Heather

Friday, December 13
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Saturday, December 14
Review at Books and Zebras
Feature at What Is That Book About

Sunday, December 15
Review at Rose is Reading
Review at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Monday, December 16
Review at @ya.its.lit
Interview at Liberty's Literary Loves

Tuesday, December 17
Excerpt at Let Them Read Books
Review & Guest Post at Tales from the Book Dragon

Wednesday, December 18
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads

Thursday, December 19
Review at Pencils & Pages
Review at Impressions In Ink

Friday, December 20
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at Red Headed Book Lady
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Beyond the Moon


2019 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: December Reviews


Welcome to the December link page for the 2019 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I apologize for getting it up late, this month is running away from me! I still can't believe it's the end of the year.

I will be posting the sign up page for the 2020 Hist Fic Reading Challenge later today!

Reading Challenge Instructions...

  • Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review). A direct link to your Goodreads review is also acceptable
  • Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
  • Don't forget to look at some of the other links that are present. You never know when you will discover new blogs or books!

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