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Book Spotlight: The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau – Paperback release & Giveaway! (US/Canada)

September 6, 2012 by Darlene

The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau was one of my favorite books this year.  It is exactly why I love and read historical fiction and it just released in paperback on September 4!  It was an absolutely fantastic read and you can read my review if you’d like where I gushed over all the things I loved about it.  Best of all there is a sequel in the works and I can’t wait but today we are celebrating the paper back release of The Crown with a description of the book, a bit about the author, and best of all a chance to win one of two copies of the book for yourself!

 

 

About The Crown (from Nancy’s website)

An aristocratic young nun must find a legendary crown in order to save her father—and preserve the Catholic faith from Cromwell’s ruthless terror. The year is 1537. . .

Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin’s side. Arrested for interfering with the king’s justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

The ruthless Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, takes terrifying steps to force Joanna to agree to spy for him: to save her father’s life she must find an ancient relic—a crown so powerful, it may hold the ability to end the Reformation. Accompanied by two monks, Joanna returns home to Dartford Priory and searches in secret for this long-lost piece of history worn by the Saxon King Athelstan in 937 during the historic battle that first united Britain.

But Dartford Priory has become a dangerous place, and when more than one dead body is uncovered, Joanna departs with a sensitive young monk, Brother Edmund, to search elsewhere for the legendary crown. From royal castles with tapestry-filled rooms to Stonehenge to Malmesbury Abbey, the final resting place of King Athelstan, Joanna and Brother Edmund must hurry to find the crown if they want to keep Joanna’s father alive. At Malmesbury, secrets of the crown are revealed that bring to light the fates of the Black Prince, Richard the Lionhearted, and Katherine of Aragon’s first husband, Arthur. The crown’s intensity and strength are beyond the earthly realm and it must not fall into the wrong hands.

With Cromwell’s troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must now decide who she can trust with the secret of the crown so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England’s past.

Reading Guide
Buy at: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, B&N, Simon & Schuster, and IndieBound

 

About Nancy Bilyeau (from Nancy’s website)

Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. Most recently, she served as deputy editor at InStyle magazine. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her screenplay “Loving Marys” reached the finalist stage with Page International Screenwriting Awards and Scriptapalooza. A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. The Crown is her first novel.

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

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

Nancy’s website
Find Nancy on Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)

I have 2 copies of The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau to share with my readers. To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do just let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winners on Saturday, September 22/12.  Good luck!

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Filed Under: Book Spotlights

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hattie (Topazshell) says

    September 6, 2012 at 6:29 am

    I love to read Historical fiction. I also love to read plots which center around a lost, meaningful item: old journals or prayer books, jewels or crowns. I also love a mix of spying. Would love to read CROWN. Thanks for entering me.

    I tweeted the giveaway @topazshell.

    I follow you through GFC.

    I commented.

  2. anne says

    September 6, 2012 at 7:19 am

    What a wonderful novel. It sounds intriguing and special. thanks. I am an e-mail subscriber.

  3. ellie says

    September 6, 2012 at 8:00 am

    Captivating and fascinating book. Love to read this historical. I subscribe via e-mail.

  4. Kristin T. says

    September 6, 2012 at 9:31 am

    I love historical fiction, especially anything set during the Tudor period. This sounds like an interesting tale during that time period.

    I am a follower through GFC – Kristin T.

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway!!!
    ~Kristin @ Always With a Book

  5. Margie says

    September 6, 2012 at 10:30 am

    This sounds like a fascinating book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    -email subscriber
    -Facebook fan
    -Networked Blogs follower

  6. Rachel W. says

    September 6, 2012 at 10:58 am

    I’m a follower– thanks for the giveaway!

    Rachelhwallen@gmail.com

  7. Andrew Beck says

    September 6, 2012 at 11:36 am

    My friend and I both enjoy historical romances! Would love to win this! I subscribe to your blog via email!

  8. Emma @ Words And Peace says

    September 6, 2012 at 11:45 am

    Thanks for your review and the giveaway. I have tried to win this one several times, so hopefully this time it will work, lol! I follow you, and my tweet is here: https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/243766570625683457

  9. Terry Martini says

    September 6, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    What a wonderful book! The story had me mesmorized from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down. I hope there will be more adventures about Joanna Stafford in the future. I got my copy to read from the library. I would love to win a copy of my own so I could reread this enjoyable book whenever I wanted. I am a follower by email.

  10. Carl says

    September 6, 2012 at 2:51 pm

    Thanks for offering this giveaway. I won a hardcover copy of The Crown a couple of months ago on another blog but it never came *sniff*. Now here’s my chance! Thanks!

    I follow this blog by email: carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx

    I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/243813004209164289

  11. Beth Hoffman says

    September 6, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    This book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Hope you’re doing great, Dar. Hugs to you and little Sammy!

    I’m a follower

  12. Lisa Garrett says

    September 6, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    I love historical fiction. I have this one on my wishlist.

  13. Lisa Garrett says

    September 6, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    I follow vi gfc and email.

  14. Lisa Garrett says

    September 6, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lag32583/status/243847647436369920

  15. Staci@LifeintheThumb says

    September 6, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    I love great historical fiction too!!

  16. Lara says

    September 7, 2012 at 12:06 am

    What a great sounding novel (and awesome review!).

    Email/GFC follower.

    lafra86 at gmail dot com

  17. Margaret says

    September 7, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    So totally want to win this book!!

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  18. Margaret says

    September 7, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    Blog follower

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  19. Margaret says

    September 7, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    tweeted

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  20. Jane Squires says

    September 7, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    Do you know I have an Aunt and cousins who name is Bilyeu. Not a name I am used to hearing. Please enter me.

  21. Patricia N says

    September 9, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    Historical fiction is one of my favorites, and this sounds like an interesting read. Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  22. Patricia N says

    September 9, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I follow your blog via GFC as Patricia N
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  23. Patricia N says

    September 9, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/244872833539395584
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  24. Beverly S. says

    September 12, 2012 at 7:08 am

    I majored in history in college so this book has my name all over it. Wink. 🙂 If I win it, I’ll take it outside on my front porch and enjoy the book plus the great fall weather. 🙂

    I follow your blog via GFC.

    I also tweeted:
    https://twitter.com/DesignerBev/status/245870805798502402

    Thanks for for your book giveaway.
    csizemore@centurytel.net

  25. Anita Yancey says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:19 am

    This book sounds really interesting. I love that it’s historical fiction. I would enjoy reading it. Thanks for having the giveaway.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  26. Anita Yancey says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:19 am

    Follow on GFC as Anita Yancey.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  27. Anita Yancey says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:22 am

    Tweeted giveaway.
    Twitter Name:@Anita Yancey

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  28. Diane Castiglione says

    September 14, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    I love historical fiction and the best are ones that have a mystry to them. Searching for something lost to help other or save the word. The review is just great and I would love to read this.

  29. Daniel M says

    September 16, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    like reading about that era

  30. CherylS22 says

    September 18, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    I’d love to read this book ~ please enter me in the drawing.
    Thanks!

  31. CherylS22 says

    September 18, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    GFC follower (CherylS22)

  32. Maureen says

    September 19, 2012 at 10:36 am

    I have seen some great reviews of this book and would love to read it.

  33. Maureen says

    September 19, 2012 at 10:36 am

    I follow on GFC

  34. Maureen says

    September 19, 2012 at 10:36 am

    tweet: https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/248460334908719104

  35. Courtney says

    September 21, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    I am so excited for this one!! Thanks for the giveaway!

    sidhekist at gmail dot com

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