Review & Giveaway: The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan


The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Thomas Nelson
Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook

Genre: Historical Fiction


From author Rachel McMillan comes a richly researched historical romance that takes place in post-World War II London and features a strong female lead.

Determined to save their marriage and the city they love, two people divided by World War II’s secrets rebuild their lives, their love, and their world.

London, Fall 1945. Architectural historian Diana Somerville’s experience as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park and her knowledge of London’s churches intersect in MI6’s pursuit of a Russian agent named Eternity. Diana wants nothing more than to begin again with her husband Brent after their separation during the war, but her signing of the Official Secrets Act keeps him at a distance.

Brent Somerville, professor of theology at King’s College, hopes aiding his wife with her church consultations will help him better understand why she disappeared when he needed her most. But he must find a way to reconcile his traumatic experiences as a stretcher bearer on the European front with her obvious lies about her wartime activities and whereabouts.

Featuring a timeless love story bolstered by flashbacks and the excavation of a priceless Roman artifact, The London Restoration is a richly atmospheric look at post-war London as two people changed by war rebuild amidst the city’s reconstruction.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've been wanting to read a Rachel McMillan book for a while so I was super excited to pick up The London Restoration! That cover has been slaying me for months! Isn't it gorgeous!?

Another reviewer said that The London Restoration is McMillan's "love letter to London and it's churches", and I can't think of a better way to describe it than that!

Set in 1945 the book starts with Diana Somerville being in Vienna after the war. Destruction has ravaged the once beautiful city. Diana is there doing work as a code-breaker and decoding ciphers for MI6 with fellow agent Simon Barre. The war is over but they are on the hunt for a Soviet agent named "Eternity" who is rumored to have a file that could start a new war.

Diana returns to London and to her husband Brent, who she hasn't seen since they married right before the start of the war. All of that time apart has made for an awkward reunion. She keeps her war-time job a secret from him and he doesn't share what he went through during the war. They do have a shared love of Architecture, particularly of churches. I looooved the parts where they spoke about the architecture - it was fascinating!

Now that Diana is back in London she is tasked with monitoring the churches in the city to try and find the Soviet agent "Eternity" who may be meeting with someone at one of the locations. Tired of lying to her husband she decides to bring him into the mission.

The book goes back in time to when Diana and Brent meet and what they both experienced during the war. The scenes at Bletchley Park with Simon and Sophie Villers were my favorite!
Rachel also includes some fabulous historical notes at the beginning of the novel that I greatly enjoyed.

The London Restoration is a stellar historical fiction novel that I practically inhaled! I loved Diana and Brent and hated when I got to the end! I cannot wait for her next release, The Mozart Code! Highly recommended.

About the Author



Rachel McMillan is the author of The Herringford and Watts mysteries, The Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries and The Three Quarter Time series of contemporary Viennese romances. Her next work of historical fiction, The London Restoration, releases in Summer 2020 and takes readers deep into the heart of London's most beautiful churches. Dream, Plan, Go (May, 2020) is her first work of non-fiction. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always planning her next adventure.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, August 18
Review at Nursebookie
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, August 19
Review at Austenprose
Review at Amy's Booket List

Thursday, August 20
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary

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Interview at Heidi Reads
Review at Foals, Fiction, and Filligree

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Review at Donna's Book Blog

Monday, August 24
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Interview at The Green Mockingbird

Tuesday, August 25
Review at The Green Mockingbird

Wednesday, August 26
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Interview on Jorie Loves A Story

Thursday, August 27
Review at The Lit Bitch

Friday, August 28
Review at Read Review Rejoice

Saturday, August 29
Review at Books and Backroads
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, August 31
Review at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 5 copies of The London Restoration! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The London Restoration


Review & Giveaway: Into the Unbounded Night by Mitchell James Kaplan


Into the Unbounded Night by Mitchell James Kaplan

Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Regal House Publishing
Paperback & eBook; 231 Pages

Genre: Literary/Historical


When her village in Albion is sacked by the Roman general Vespasian, young Aislin is left without home and family. Determined to exact revenge, she travels to Rome, a sprawling city of wealth, decadence, and power. A “barbarian” in a “civilized” world, Aislin struggles to comprehend Roman ways. From a precarious hand-to-mouth existence on the streets, she becomes the mistress of a wealthy senator, but their child Faolan is born with a disability that renders him unworthy of life in the eyes of his father and other Romans.

Imprisoned for her efforts to topple the Roman regime, Aislin learns of an alternate philosophy from her cellmate, the Judean known today as the Apostle St. Paul. As the capital burns in the Great Fire of 64 AD, he bequeaths to her a mission that will take her to Jerusalem. There, Yohanan, son of Zakkai, has been striving to preserve the tradition of Hillel against the Zealots who advocate for a war of independence. Responding to the Judeans’ revolt, the Romans—again under the leadership of Vespasian—besiege Jerusalem, destroying the Second Temple and with it, the brand of Judean monotheism it represents. Yohanan takes on the mission of preserving what can be preserved, and of re-inventing what must be reinvented.

Throughout Into the Unbounded Night, Aislin’s, Faolan’s, Vespasian’s, and Yohanan’s lives intertwine in unexpected ways that shed light on colonization and its discontents, the relative values of dominant and tyrannized cultures, and the holiness of life itself—even the weakest of lives.

Regal House Publishing | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound


Praise for Into the Unbounded Night

“In Into the Unbounded Night, Mitchell Kaplan offers a rich rendering of war and humanity in first century Rome — of tradition and loss, and the transformative power of healing and collective memory to find one’s way home.” – Nichole Bernier, Boston Globe Bestselling author of The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D

“Mitchell James Kaplan is the gloriously talented writer of this dramatic, intense story of conflicting emperors, slaves, priests and exiles in a first century world whose roots and traditions are increasingly torn apart by the brutal rule of Rome. Men and women search for belief and reason, out of which will emerge a new Judaism after the destruction of Jerusalem’s Temple as well as the early beginnings of Christianity. A writer of enormous scope, compassion and poetry, Kaplan has written several of the most compelling characters you will meet in the pages of a book. Into the Unbounded Night sweeps over you like a succession of huge waves. It is truly a major novel.” – Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award recipient, author of Claude And Camille: A Novel Of Monet

“Kaplan’s prose is so rich and agile I felt I was breathing the air of these ancient places, and his evocation of character is no less palpable. Fully embodied and driven by ambition, grief, the clear-eyed desire for truth, and fierce maternal love, these characters plunge, march, and stumble toward their fascinating and entangled destinies.” – Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling novelist of I’ll Be Your Blue Sky and award-winning poet

“I’m a big fan of historical fiction when it’s as good as Mitchell Kaplan’s Into the Unbounded Night. Vividly imagined, Into the Unbounded Night pulls the reader along with beautiful prose, strong characters and a wonderfully realized story.” – Heidi W. Durrow, New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize

“A beautiful, informative book. It was gripping throughout, the research never overwhelms the story, but is always part of it. [The] writing is lyrical and evocative of time and place. All the characters are real and interesting. Loved it!” – Martin Fletcher, National Jewish Book Award winner, author of Promised Land

“From the mystical lore of Albion to the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem, Kaplan’s meticulous research and evocative writing meld seamlessly to create a vivid, textured, and richly imagined story.” —Beth Hoffman, New York Times and International bestselling author of Saving Ceecee Honeycutt and Looking for Me

“Set in Rome and Judea after the crucifixion of Jesus, Mitchell James Kaplan’s finely crafted and intense second novel delves into the minds and hearts of truly captivating characters. An excellent read.” – Eva Stachniak, winner of the Canadian First Novel Award, author of The Chosen Maiden

“Sensually provocative, verbally sharp and critically witted, Mitchell James Kaplan’s Into the Unbounded Night brings to life the tumultuous birth of Judeo-Christian monotheism in this intimately woven narrative brimming with righteous and riotous characters striving for survival and transcendence across the ravished landscapes of Judea, the Roman Empire, and Britannia.”
– Jessica Maria Tuccelli, an Okra Pick winner of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance for her debut novel, Glow

“Kaplan weaves an intricate literary tapestry to create a poetic exploration of early Judeo-Christian and Roman history. He builds a diverse yet connected cast of characters whose encounters inspire timeless self-examination and advance the course of history. An engrossing work not easily forgotten.” – Therese Walsh, critically acclaimed author of The Last Will Of Moira Leahy and The Moon Sisters, founder of the literary blog, Writer Unboxed

Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Into the Unbounded Night is set around 64 A.D. and tells the story of Aislin and her life after her village is destroyed by the Roman General, Vespasian. She is taken hostage and held by Vespasian, where he treats her horribly. She escapes one day and runs into Septimus. What follows is Aislin's journey to Rome and then Jerusalem, and all of the adventure, danger, and people she meets along the way, including the apostle St. Paul.

"Remember, Aislin, love grows not in the pure soil of forgiveness but from the mud of revenge."

The book focuses mostly on Aislin, Yohanan, Septimus, and Vespasian. Each POV was equally compelling, though I found Vespasian's scenes the most engrossing. I guess I like villains :)

I especially was fascinated with Muirgheal, Aislin's Aunt who was considered the most favored warrior in the land. She needs a book of her own!

Despite the fact that I'm not a very religious person I found Into the Unbounded Night to be an eye-opening read. Kaplan's writing is top-notch and there was a bit of magical realism that I loved.

Highly recommended!

About the Author


Mitchell James Kaplan graduated with honors from Yale University, where he won the Paine Memorial Prize for Best Long-Form Senior Essay submitted to the English Department. His first mentor was the author William Styron.

After college, Kaplan lived in Paris, France, where he worked as a translator, then in Southern California, where he worked as a screenwriter and in film production.
He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his family and two cats.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 31
Review at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, September 2
Review at Books and Zebras

Friday, September 4
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

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Review at 100 Pages a Day

Monday, September 7
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Tuesday, September 8
Interview at Novels Alive
Feature at I'm Into Books

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Review at YA, It's Lit

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Review at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Friday, September 11
Feature at Pursuing Stacie

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Interview at Let Them Read Books

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Feature at CelticLady's Reviews

Thursday, September 17
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Friday, September 18
Guest Post at Book Bustle

Monday, September 21
Interview at Books & Benches

Tuesday, September 22
Feature at Coffee and Ink

Wednesday, September 23
Guest Post at The Intrepid Reader

Thursday, September 24
Review at Bookworlder

Friday, September 25
Review at A Book Geek

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 2 copies of Into the Unbounded Night! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on September 25th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Unbounded Night


Book Blast & Giveaway: The Quality of Mercy by Malia Zaidi


The Quality of Mercy by Malia Zaidi

Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Book Baby
Paperback & eBook; 416 pages

Series: The Lady Evelyn Mysteries, Book 5
Genre: Historical Mystery


After years spent away, Lady Evelyn is at long last back in her home city of London and she has returned with a rather controversial plan. The Carlisle Detective Agency is born, and it does not take long for the bodies… ahem, cases, to start piling up. With her friend and assistant Hugh, Evelyn embarks on the quest to solve the crimes. Yet the London she encounters is not the London of her coddled youth, and she is forced to learn that there is more to discover than the identity of a murderer. It isn't only her city which reveals it is not what she always believed it to be, but the people she encounters as well. Secrets are revealed that have her thinking twice about everything she thought she knew about the society in which she grew up.

Evelyn's love for her hard-won independence confronts her with yet another mystery, whether she is ready or willing to give up any of it for marriage. And then there is the arrival of rather a familiar face in London, one Daniel is none to pleased to see. Evelyn must find not one but two murderers, as well as make a decision that could determine her future. From the mansions of Mayfair to the dark alleys of Whitechapel, can Evelyn catch the killers before another life is taken?

Available on Amazon

About the Author


Malia Zaidi is the author of The Lady Evelyn Mysteries. She studied at the University of Pittsburgh and at the University of Oxford. Having grown up in Germany, she currently lives in Washington DC, though through her love of reading, she resides vicariously (if temporarily) in countries around the world.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Blast Schedule

Thursday, August 20
Reading is My Remedy
Books In Their Natural Habitat

Friday, August 21
Donna's Book Blog

Saturday, August 22
Robin Loves Reading

Sunday, August 23
Jorie Loves A Story

Monday, August 24
Gwendalyn's Books

Tuesday, August 25
What Is That Book About

Wednesday, August 26
Bookworlder

Thursday, August 27
100 Pages a Day

Friday, August 28
Books, Cooks, Looks

Saturday, August 29
A Darn Good Read

Sunday, August 30
Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a set of The Lady Evelyn Mysteries series! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Quality of Mercy


Interview & Giveaway: Gilded Dreams by Donna Russo Morin

Happy Friday, dear readers! Today on the blog I am super excited to be hosting Author Donna Russo Morin! She is currently on Blog Tour for Gilded Dreams and she's here with us today to talk more about the new release! I hope you enjoy it! We have a great giveaway as well, so be sure to enter!



Hello Donna and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to talk about Gilded Dreams!

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

Thank you for having me. It's always a pleasure to be back with you and your readers!

I'm a mix of an artistic, intellectual, spirited, curious, girly-girl, tom-boy, rocker. I'm the granddaughter of Italian immigrants and very proud of it. I believe in living life to its fullest despite all the traumas that I've had to overcome. As I've just turned 62, that's a whole lot of living but I still have so much more I want to experience. Writing is not only my profession but my passion. Ironically, when I was assailed by a debilitating illness, I finally found the space in my life to write my first book and it was off to the races. Writing feeds my mind and my soul.


Gilded Dreams is the second book in your Newport Gilded Age series. What inspired you to write the series?

I love the story of how these books came to be.

GILDED SUMMERS is a book I wanted to write/publish for years. As a born and raised Rhode Islander, having played in Newport for most of my adult life, having worked there for over five years, it is a magical place so dear to my heart, in large part because of the depth of its historical significance to our country, dating back to the Revolution with visitors the likes of such Iconic Forefathers as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. For a historical fiction author, that's some hefty fertile ground.

I actually pitched GS to a former editor the year before Downton Abbey came out. Her response was, 'Oh, no one is interested in that time period.' So I turned back to Renaissance Italy, signing a three book deal. Then boom...Downton Abbey comes out and the popularity of the time period soars.

As soon as my trilogy was written and on its way to publication, I turned back to Newport and GILDED SUMMERS was born!

I never had any intention of writing a sequel. But so many readers (as well as my publisher after GILDED SUMMERS hit the International Bestseller's ranking on Amazon) were crying out for it, I began to consider it. I had to find an historical event that not only spoke to me but made sense for Pearl and Ginevra, our heroines. When I discovered that August 18, 2020 was the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, that which granted American women the right to vote, my muse found the magic.

What research did you undertake when writing Gilded Dreams?

I thought, as a feminist who grew up watching the women's rights movement of the 1960s, that I knew a lot about the suffrage movement. I did not. Nor did I know the role Rhode Island women played in the movement. That's where I centered my research...learning all I could about the country-wide, seventy-two year suffrage journey and honing in on the part Rhode Island women played in it, which was so much greater than I ever expected. Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, one of the historical leading ladies of Newport, almost individually funded the major suffrage party of the United States as well as those in New York and Newport. And yet, historically, she is simply dismissed as a 'socialite'. After learning so much about her contributions to the movement, I longed to give her her day in the sun.

Alva Vanderbilt Belmont
What would you like readers to take away from reading Gilded Dreams?

There are other books and movies about the suffrage movement, but most of them are about the United Kingdom suffragettes. They were more aggressive and violent than their American counter-parts. Yet my research uncovered just how hard the American suffragettes fought, how much they endured (imprisonment, torture leading to death, and so much more). It baffles me that what these women went through is not part of the American History curriculum in schools, especially high schools. Young women about to embark on their journey as adult women, need to know on whose shoulders they stand. They--and all American women--need to know the truth of the fight that gave them the right to vote so that they'll not squander theirs.

What was your favorite scene to write?

Oh my goodness, there are a few...one when Pearl and Ginevra bicker like the sisters they've become, when they take part in a feminist play and prim and proper Pearl gets into a 'fisticuffs' scuffle, when Ginevra lets her Italian temper get the best of her, when Ginevra comforts Pearl at her most difficult time, and a scene in which these women participate in a march for the vote as other women were doing across the country...it was such a triumphant moment.

Knowing these characters as well as I did coming into it, I was really able to render them and their activities to the fullest. Bringing them from the fifteen-year-olds that they began as in GS to empowered adult women in GD was truly a privilege.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

I don't want to give anything away but loss is a part of life and so it must be for our characters if we are to write them authentically. Whenever we, as authors, must write loss, it forces us to tap into our own. It's never easy, but it's essential.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

In the words of one of my favorite singers...baby, I was born that way. I started writing in grade school and had a wonderful teacher in sixth grade who fostered and supported my creativity. But life, as it does, got in the way and it took me until much later in years and becoming sidelined with Lyme disease before I wrote my first book, landed an agent, and then a publisher. It's the second main purpose of my life (the first has been and always will be the raising of my two sons, now men, an opera singer and a chef).

What does your daily writing routine look like?

As dictated by our publishers, authors must be very active on social media, so I wake my brain up with that activity. Once all sparks are fired, I dig in and I don't let myself out of my desk chair until I've met my daily quota...typically two to three thousand words. Some days, that can happen in just a few hours, and I let myself go out and play. Other days (ugh) it can take till well into the night. But having published ten books in eleven years while raising those two sons I mentioned on my own, it's a routine that works for me. Writing is a solitary endeavor and while we may have publishers and deadlines, the crux of the matter is that we must have the self-discipline to stay in that chair and get the job done.

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

You mean other than an abusive marriage and seven and a half years in divorce court (eye roll)? It's an interesting question and I'm going to dare to answer it with an honesty that many people may not know about. My greatest challenge has been not having enough money to publicize and promote my books to the extent that is necessary. I was once told by a very bestselling author that the only difference between my success and theirs is my lack of finances to promote my work. I had no spouse to support me and my work. Publishing companies just don't do as much marketing as they used to. As a single mom, and a struggling one, putting money into publicity rather than feeding my children was not an option. Period.

I've done my best to seek out as many effective, low-cost promotional venues as possible, including as many free ones as I could find. I rely on the kindness of my readers to spread the word about my books. And I take every opportunity to get out there and meet as many readers as I can (BC, of course).

Who are your writing inspirations?

In terms of authors, I'd have to say Diana Gabaldon (oh what a fangirl moment it was when I met her for the first time in 2013), Stephen King whose works taught me so much about good, simple storytelling, and J.K. Rowling, another woman who rose above difficult circumstances to find enormous success. May I follow in her path.

Others include James Michener, John Jakes, Rosalind Laker, and Leon Uris.

As for my muse's inspiration, it is all the women throughout time who have had to--and still do--fight against the restrictions imposed upon us merely by our gender. That so many obstacles still exist for women, tells me we still have work to do and I, many more books to write.

What was the first historical novel you read?

Gone with the Wind, though I had no idea at the time (I was twelve) that I was reading historical fiction. I do know that after reading it that first time, I sought out more books like it, still without knowing 'genres' existed and that, in doing so, I was being pulled towards the genre in which I would write.

What is the last historical novel you read?

Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul (which released this month). As a Jackie Kennedy Onassis devotee who almost dated her son, JFK Jr., and as a mother of an opera singer, it was not only a read tapping into so many of my interests, it was revelatory, which came as a wonderful surprise.

What are three things people may not know about you?

Only three (lol). I adore playing video games, my favorite being The Legend of Zelda series (my first tattoo actually came from a symbol in the game).

I'm a fanatical football fan...a New England Patriots devotee, even when they had losing seasons for decades. Tom Brady may not be with the team anymore but he'll always be in my second book.

And for the third, many people may not know that I'm also a painter. Truth is that I didn't know it myself until a little less than two years ago. I was to have my first exhibit this past June, but...well, we all know how life has changed. I know I will exhibit someday.

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

It astounds me as to how much about human existence, in general, can be learned from studying history. And as a histfic author, I get the privilege of telling tales of humanity throughout history and making it personal for the reader to identify with. My books range from the 15th century to the 20th century and there's still a whole lot of stories in me longing to get on the page, there are still so many lessons to be learned.

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

While it's lost its popularity somewhat, I still love tales from the Renaissance, of which I've written many times, especially the Italian Renaissance. It was such a powerful vortex in time, a time of great advances not only in art, music, and architecture but in humanity itself.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Anything at, in, or on the ocean. Luckily I live just two miles from it (and why my self-discipline is so important). One of the most cherished moments of my life was last summer when, with my two sons and daughter-in-law, we took my mother kayaking. At then 85, she had never been on one ever. Her shining eyes and delighted smiles will warm me forever.


Lastly, what are you working on next?

I'm working on what I consider to be, by far, the greatest writing challenge of my career. This work is taking my research to a level I had never imagined I'd go. It's centered around the life of one of the most well-known artists of all times but I'm not only telling it in a way in which it has never been presented before, but I am also writing to new theories about the truths of this artist's life and death that have never been explored in fiction. It's risky...and I love it!

Well, that sounds exciting! I can't wait to hear more! Thanks for stopping by today, Donna!


Gilded Dreams by Donna Russo Morin

Publication Date: June 16, 2020
Magnum Opus
Paperback & eBook; 495 pages

Series: Newport's Gilded Age, Book 2
Genre: Historical Fiction


From the bestselling author of GILDED SUMMERS comes a powerful novel of the last eight years of the American Women’s fight for suffrage.

The battle for the vote is on fire in America. The powerful and rich women of Newport, Rhode Island, are not only some of the most involved suffragettes, their wealth - especially that of the indomitable Alva Vanderbilt Belmont - nearly single-handedly funded the major suffrage parties. Yet they have been left out of history, tossed aside as mere socialites. In GILDED DREAMS, they reclaim their rightful place in history.

Pearl and Ginevra (GILDED SUMMERS) are two of its most ardent warriors. College graduates, professional women, wives, and mothers, these progressive women have fought their way through some of life’s harshest challenges, yet they survived, yet they thrive. Now they set their sights on the vote, the epitome of all they have struggled for, the embodiment of their dreams.

From the sinking of the Titanic, through World War 1, Pearl and Ginevra are once more put to the test as they fight against politics, outdated beliefs, and the most cutting opponent of all... other women. Yet they will not rest until their voices are heard, until they - and all the women of America - are allowed to cast their vote. But to gain it, they must overcome yet more obstacles, some that put their very lives in danger.

An emotional and empowering journey, GILDED DREAMS is a historical, action-packed love letter to the women who fought so hard for all women who stand on the shoulders of their triumph.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author


Donna Russo Morin is an award-winning historical fiction author. Donna has dabbled as a model and actor, working on Showtime's Brotherhood and Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Branching out with her storytelling skills, Donna is now a screenwriter. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Donna lives on the south shore of Rhode Island close to the ocean she loves so very much. She is the proud mother of two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works in progress.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 10
Review at Books, Cooks, and Looks

Wednesday, August 12
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Friday, August 14
Review at Books, Writings, and More

Saturday, August 15
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, August 17
Review at Amy's Booket List

Wednesday, August 19
Review at Book Bustle

Friday, August 21
Guest Post at The Intrepid Reader

Monday, August 24
Review at Books and Zebras

Tuesday, August 25
Feature at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, August 26
Review at The Love of Books

Friday, August 28
Interview at Passages to the Past

Monday, August 31
Review at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, September 2
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Friday, September 4
Review at A Darn Good Read

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of the book + a painting of a scene from the book painted by the author! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway is open to US residents only and on September 4th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Gilded Dreams





Alina: A Song For the Telling by Malve von Hassell


Alina: A Song For the Telling by Malve von Hassell

August 27, 2020
BHC Press
Hardcover, Paperback, & eBook

Genre: Young Adult/Historical/Medieval


"You should be grateful, my girl. You have no dowry, and I am doing everything I can to get you settled. You are hardly any man's dream." Alina's brother, Milos, pulled his face into a perfect copy of Aunt Marci's sour expression, primly pursing his mouth. He had got her querulous tone just right.

I pinched my lips together, trying not to laugh. But it was true; Aunt Marci had already introduced me to several suitors. So far I had managed to decline their suits politely.

Maybe Alina's aunt was right. How could she possibly hope to become a musician, a trobairitz, as impoverished as she was and without the status of a good marriage?

But fourteen-year-old Alina refuses to accept the oppressing life her strict aunt wants to impose upon her. When the perfect opportunity comes along for her to escape, she and her brother embark on a journey through the Byzantine Empire all the way to Jerusalem.

Alina soon finds herself embroiled in the political intrigue of noble courts as she fights to realize her dream of becoming a female troubadour.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alina by Malve Von Hassell is a remarkable work of Medieval Historical Fiction that can be read and enjoyed by young adult readers and adults alike!

Set in France in the 12th century the book begins at the funeral of Alina's father. Her mother and sister passed previously from the sweating sickness and her father of a broken heart. It's now just her and her brother, Milos when their Uncle and Aunt come to take over the family manor. They aren't the most pleasant people to Alina and Milos, so the two decide to leave and try to make their own way in life. They join a group of Knights and pilgrims and travel to Jerusalem.

Alina plays the lute and dreams of becoming a trobairitz, a female troubadour, so she plays and entertains the group along the way. The two siblings meet many interesting characters and have many adventures on the way to their destination. They eventually reach Jerusalem and the court of King Almaric.

Alina is a wonderful story that kept my attention throughout. There's adventure, drama, danger, and even a little murder mystery. Highly recommended!

Alina is out TODAY!

About the Author

Malve von Hassell is a writer, researcher, and translator. Born in Italy, she spent part of her childhood in Belgium and Germany before moving to the United States. She lives in Southampton, New York, close to the ocean and a bay beach where she meets flying sea robins and turtles on her morning walks with her rescue dog Loki. She enjoys reading, playing chess with her son, gardening, anything to do with horses, and dreams of someday touring Mongolia on horseback. Her works include the children's picture book, Letters from the Tooth Fairy, written in response to her son's letters to the tooth fairy; The Falconer's Apprentice, her first historical fiction novel for young readers; The Amber Crane, a historical fiction novel set in Germany in the 17th century, and Alina: A Song for the Telling, a coming-of-age story of a young woman from Provence in the 12th century who dreams of being a musician.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, August 27
Review at Passages to the Past

Friday, August 28
Interview at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Saturday, August 29
Feature at Books, Cooks, Looks

Monday, August 31
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Wednesday, September 2
Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, September 3
Feature at SplendeurCaisse

Friday, September 4
Review at YA, it's Lit

Monday, September 7
Review at Books and Zebras

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of Alina by Malve von Hassell! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on September 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Alina

Review & Giveaway: The River Jewel: A Letter Series Novella by Kathleen Shoop


The River Jewel: A Letter Series Novella by Kathleen Shoop

Publication Date: December 3, 2019
eBook & Paperback; 172 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


For everyone who hopes to find the perfect match…

1875 Des Moines, Iowa

The novella, The River Jewel, takes readers of the bestselling Letter Series novels back in time, before there was a last letter, before the Arthurs lost everything, before they knew a girl named Pearl.

Meet Tilly Rabel, a proud oyster-woman, and Landon Lockwood, the troubled son of one of the wealthiest men in America. The two could not be less suited for love. But when an old legend draws Landon to a hidden river cove, Tilly and he find each other, are lured by growing attraction, and repelled by competing desires to control Tilly’s waters. The hidden pool is replete with valuable mussel beds and the source of everything that makes Tilly who she is. Landon sees the illustrious treasure as the path to proving to his parents he is worth their love and worthy of the Lockwood name. Can Tilly trust Landon with her heart, with her beloved mussel beds? Can Landon trust that he has truly changed and doesn’t need his parents approval to live the life he wants?

Heartbreak, triumph, and a very special baby weave a tale sure to please readers who’ve read the entire Letter Series and those who are just starting the journey.

Available on Amazon


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't you love it when you start a new book and after reading the very first sentence you just know the book is going to be amazing? That is what happened with me with The River Jewel by Kathleen Shoop! I cannot express to you adequately how beautifully written this book is. I particularly loved this passage...

"Well maybe you've only experienced bliss, and for you, this story might not feel right. But for the rest who wend their way through good and bad, lost and found and lost again, this story will feel familiar...but new. Because this story got lost in all the rest of the perfectly, pristine happy ending tales. But now here it is...lean in tight and listen to the whispered story of the secret jewel-filled river cove."

Ahhh....so lovely! Writing like that slays me!

Taking place in 1875 The River Jewel tells the tale of Tilly Rabel and Landon Lockwood.

Tilly is a young woman who lives alone on the land of her family, which includes a beautiful mussel cove where Tilly finds the treasures to make her art. Her parents - a fisherman and a mussel-woman - passed away tragically years ago. This passage made my tear up...

"She got up and closed the closet door, hoping to seal the essence of her parents inside, for just a little longer, knowing that at some point she'd open it and there'd be no trace of them remaining."

Landon Lockwood is the younger son of a wealthy and ambitious businessman who is desperately trying to win the love and respect of his parents. When he finds Tilly's mussel cover and discovers the treasures it contains he wants it for his own, as a way to impress his father and earn his place in the family. Tilly is adamant that she will never sell her land. And when they start becoming attracted to each other, Tilly isn't sure if Landon really wants her or her land. What lengths will he go to to try to earn the love of his parents? You shall have to read it for yourself and find out :)

Clocking in at 164 pages it's a story that can be easily read in one sitting, and trust me, you won't want to put it down! I absolutely loved Shoop's writing - it was simply beautiful and prose-like.

Oh, and Tilly! Whew, that girl had some spunk in her! She didn't take any BS from anyone, especially Landon, and I loved her for it!

The River Jewel is a wonderful novella that I highly recommend! It's the prequel to Shoop's Letter Series so if you love it then you have four more books to look forward to!

About the Author

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, August 26
Review at Passages to the Past
Feature at I'm All About Books

Friday, August 28
Review & Excerpt at Bookworlder

Monday, August 31
Review at Books, Writings, and More

Wednesday, September 2
Review at Book Bustle

Monday, September 7
Review at Jorie Loves A Story

Friday, September 11
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Saturday, September 12
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Monday, September 14
Review at YA, It's Lit

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a prize pack including a copy of the book, a bracelet, a journal, and a $50 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on September 14th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The River Jewel


Review & Giveaway: The Memory House: A Love Story in Two Acts by Jenetta James


The Memory House: A Love Story in Two Acts by Jenetta James

Publication Date: August 10, 2020
Quills and Quartos Publishing
Paperback & eBook; 276 pages

Genre: Historical Romance


A house in one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods is home to secrets, mysteries, and two love stories spanning two centuries.

In 1859, independent-minded Kitty Cathcart dreams of escaping Veronica Gardens but her father’s determination to marry her off to a rich man of his choosing forces her to seek happiness and find her own voice by other means. And then the handsome but poor Alex Faraday walks through the front doors.

In 2019, Oxford-educated Josie Minton never dreamt of living in a house as grand as Veronica Gardens, but the nanny’s quarters are a perfect fit for a young woman in need of a job. Wealthy financier James Cavendish and his twin girls quickly find her indispensable to their happiness, but Josie is still searching for her future.

Then the great house reveals the first of its secrets, and the tragedy and romance of one era are brought into sharp relief with another.

Available on Amazon


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think 2020 is the year of finding new authors to love and now I can add Jenetta James to that list!

I practically inhaled The Memory House over the past few days...I did not want it to end!

I'm a sucker for dual timelines as most of my readers are aware, and this one was really well done. I often tend to prefer one timeline over the other but with The Memory House, they were both equally compelling.

The story kicks off with a wonderfully eerie scene that immediately grabbed me. The way Jenetta was able to create that tension in just a few pages was genius. There was no way I was putting it down after that!

The novel centers around the lives of two women born 150 years apart. Kitty is young, wealthy, and unmarried much to the dismay of her controlling father. Her father's attempts at marrying her off is met with hostility and she dreams of breaking free. Josie's story takes place in 2018. She is looking for work as a nanny since the family she currently works for is moving away when she finds the advert to be a nanny to twin girls. She takes the job and moves into the home with the girls and their father.

I don't think I could love this novel more. It's the perfect mix of mystery and romance and drama and I loved every word! I cannot wait for more from Jenetta and I will definitely be picking up her previous books. She is a fabulous writer! Highly recommended!

About the Author

Jenetta James is a lawyer, writer, mother and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practises full time as a barrister. Over the years she has lived in France, Hungary and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing and playing with Lego.

She is the author of "Suddenly Mrs Darcy", "The Elizabeth Papers" and "Lover's Knot" as well as a contributor to The Quill Ink series of anthologies, "The Darcy Monologues", "Dangerous to know", "Rational Creatures" and "Elizabeth: Obstinate Headstrong Girl".

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 10
Review at Books and Backroads

Tuesday, August 11
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Friday, August 14
Feature at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Saturday, August 15
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Monday, August 17
Guest Post at Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen

Wednesday, August 19
Review at Passages to the Past

Thursday, August 20
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Monday, August 24
Review at A Darn Good Read

Wednesday, August 26
Feature at Reading is My Remedy

Friday, August 28
Excerpt at Probably at the Library
Review at Books, Writings, and More

Sunday, August 30
Review at Nursebookie

Monday, August 31
Review at Tangents and Tissues

Giveaway

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

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Memory House


Review & Giveaway: The Girl from Vichy by Andie Newton


The Girl from Vichy by Andie Newton

Publication Date: August 13, 2020
Aria Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction


1942, occupied France.

As the war in Europe rages on, Ad̬le Ambeh dreams of a France that is free from the clutches of the new regime. The date of her marriage to a ruthless man is drawing closer, and she only has one choice Рshe must run.

With the help of her mother, Adèle flees to Lyon, seeking refuge at the Sisters of Notre Dame de la Compassion. From the outside this is a simple nunnery, but the sisters are secretly aiding the French Resistance, hiding and supplying the fighters with weapons.

While it is not quite the escape Adèle imagined, she is drawn to the nuns and quickly finds herself part of the resistance. But her new role means she must return to Vichy, and those she left behind, no matter the cost.

Each day is filled with a different danger and as she begins to fall for another man, Adèle's entire world could come crashing down around her.

Adèle must fight for her family, her own destiny, as well as her country.

Amazon USAmazon UK | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | Kobo


Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last year I fell in love with Andie Newton's debut novel, The Girl I Left Behind, and now she's back with her sophomore novel, The Girl from Vichy, which proved to be just as amazing!

The story follows Adèle Ambeh, a young woman that lives with her family in Vichy, France. At this time in history, France signs a treaty with the Third Reich, and their country is split in half - one part is occupied by the German and the other is under the rule of Phillippe Petain, who is secretly collaborating with the Germans unbeknownst to the locals. Adèle is against the deal with the Germans and is desperate to get away from her upcoming marriage to an officer in the French police, which her father arranged. With the help of her mother, Adèle travels to a convent so that she may ask for refuge. Along the way, she meets another woman on the train - and oh boy, what a meeting that was! The woman, Marguerite, turns out to be heading to the convent as well. After their tense first meeting, the women aren't exactly fans of each other but once Adèle finds out that Marguerite is part of the French Resistance she is brought into the fold and trained to be part of the Resistance. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but I will say that you will be sitting at the edge of your seat for some scenes! It's so good!

Between The Girl I Left Behind and The Girl from Vichy, Andie Newton has proven to be an exciting new voice in Historical Fiction and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

About the Author

Andie is an American writer living in Washington State with her husband and two boys. She is the author of The Girl I Left Behind (Aria 2019) and The Girl from Vichy (Aria 2020). 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, 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

Thursday, August 13
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Friday, August 14
Review at Passages to the Past

Saturday, August 15
Feature at Lost in a Book Reviewer

Sunday, August 16
Review at Carole's Ramblings

Tuesday, August 18
Review at The Lit Bitch
Excerpt at Gwendalyn's Books

Wednesday, August 19
Feature at I'm All About Books

Thursday, August 20
Review at Girl Who Reads
Feature at What Is That Book About

Saturday, August 22
Feature at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, August 24
Review at Bookworlder

Tuesday, August 25
Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Friday, August 28
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a signed copy of The Girl from Vichy! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 28th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

The Girl from Vichy

2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: August Reviews


Welcome to the August link page for the 2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I hope everyone is staying home safe and reading some yummy books!

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 some of the other links that are present. You never know when you will discover new blogs or books!

There's still time to sign up for the 2020 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge! Sign Up Here.


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