2014 ARC's

Jane Austen’s First Love by Syrie James – Holiday Blog Tour & Giveaway (Int’l)

December 10, 2014 by Darlene

Tour Dates: November 17 – December 14, 2014
Genre: Austenesque/Historical Fiction/Romance/Young Adult
Publisher: Berkley (Penguin Group USA)
Trade paperback ISBN: 978-0425271353
eBook ISBN: 978-0698139268

Jane Austen’s First Love by Syrie James is a delightfully charming re-imagining of a time in Jane Austen’s life and of what might have been. Syrie James wrote this novel in such a way as to appear to be a memoir written by Jane Austen herself and it is truly a captivating tale.

The novel centers on one unforgettable summer in Jane Austen’s life when she was fifteen years old and how she remembers it. Like any young girl Jane longs to fall in love but she’s quite sheltered at home and despairs of ever meeting anyone. When the opportunity comes to travel to Kent to celebrate her brother’s engagement she is thrilled.

It is there that Jane meets Edward Taylor and finds herself swooning over him. Not only is he handsome but he acknowledges her intelligence and they have wonderful conversations. Jane is in love but … there is another girl who seems to be in love with Edward as well. Yet Edward has shown Jane that he is interested in her. Could it be? Could Edward be as in love with Jane as she is in him?

Despite her love interest Jane finds herself needing more to do and can’t help but stick her nose in other people’s business and take up matchmaking. She feels the need to rearrange the relationships that are forming and feels quite certain she knows who belongs with who. To further her hopes in making these matches she puts on a play. What transpires changes her thoughts on love – the love not only between the other couples but she and Edward as well. Are they truly a good match or is Jane just swept away on the wings of first love?

Highly recommended for Austen fans or those new to Austen. The extensive research that Syrie James put into this novel shines through on every page and she highlights her inspiration and the fact that this novel is based on true events and real characters in her superb author’s note. Jane Austen’s First Love is truly an enjoyable novel and I absolutely adored it!

Other Jane Austen’s First Love Holiday Blog Tour stops to visit!
Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, IndieBound

GIVEAWAY DETAILS – OPEN INTERNATIONALLY

Grand Giveaway Contest

Win One of Five Fabulous Jane Austen-inspired Prize Packages

To celebrate the holidays and the release of Jane Austen’s First Love, Syrie is giving away five prize packages filled with an amazing selection of Jane Austen-inspired gifts and books!

To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment on any of the blog stops on the Jane Austen’s First Love Holiday Blog Tour.

Increase your chances of winning by visiting multiple stops along the tour! Syrie’s unique guest posts will be featured on a variety of subjects, along with fun interviews, spotlights, excerpts, and reviews of the novel. Contest closes at 11:59pm PT, December 21, 2014. Five lucky winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments on the tour, and announced on Syrie’s website on December 22, 2014. The giveaway contest is open to everyone, including international residents. Good luck to all!

Remember leave a comment on any of the Jane Austen’s First Love Holiday Blog Tour stops including mine to be entered!

Source: Digital review copy received from the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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The Wanderer’s Children by L.G. O’Connor & Giveaway (US/Canada)

December 8, 2014 by Darlene

The Wanderer’s Children by L.G. O’Connor is the second book in The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles and it is a fantastic sequel to her debut novel Trinity Stones which I loved as well. These books swept me into a world so different from my own and I am completely captivated by both the world building and the characters living within the pages. As a note t here may be some spoilers ahead as it’s difficult to review the second book without talking about the first a bit so if you intend to read the books be forewarned as you go forward.

In Trinity Stones we meet Cara Collins who thought she was just a normal woman until she finds out she is actually a Soul Seeker and the first of the Holy Twelve. She also meets Simon who was her Trinity Guardian but is now her fiance. They are to be married soon and Cara is in the midst of planning a wedding and if only that were her only concern but it isn’t. There is a battle looming between good and evil and Cara and Simon along with the others will be right in the middle of it. To top things off Cara seems to be going through growth spurts after having been injected with Nephilim DNA and she’s starting to panic about fitting into any wedding dress at all. And then there is the problem she seems to be having with being attracted to men who are not her fiance even though she loves no one but him. Jut what is going on? Cara is knee deep in stress!

While Trinity Stones laid the base for the story and introduced us to the characters The Wanderer’s Children really takes us into their lives. I loved that about this book. I really got to know the characters this time around; to dig deeper into their lives – to care about them even more. Michael is the Trinity’s Messenger and I liked him from the beginning but in this novel we delve into his past where he confronts his issues in order to move on with his life with Sienna and the Angelorum. Simon is his usual impressive self that any sane woman would kill to be with since he’s not only gorgeous but he cooks too. Then there’s Cara who is another one I liked from the beginning. She’s a great character who is funny, loves passionately, and most importantly one who would die to protect those closest to her.

As things begin to heat up and the twelve begin to gather they learn new truths about themselves and know that soon they will face the biggest battle of their lives. The battle between good and evil. Who will win?

Recommended for those who enjoy a fast paced and exciting story with a lot of steamy romantic scenes to spice things up! I highly recommend the whole series!

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GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US & CANADIAN RESIDENTS

1 copy of The Wanderer’s Children up for grabs!

*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter

Draw Date December 23/14

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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The Light in the Labyrinth by Wendy Dunn & Giveway (eBook-Open Int’l)

December 3, 2014 by Darlene

I pretty much love to read anything with Anne Boleyn in it but I was initially attracted to Wendy Dunn’s newest novel The Light in the Labyrinth because it is a Young Adult novel told from the perspective of Anne’s niece Katherine Carey. It’s always interesting to read about Anne Boleyn’s fall through a different set of eyes and this telling from a young girl who has not yet been jaded by the Court and it’s people had me captivated from the beginning.

Katherine, daughter of Anne Boleyn’s sister Mary, is fourteen years old and ready to learn the ways of court. She’s extremely excited to see her Aunt Nan (Anne Boleyn) who is the Queen of England although she’s terrified to meet the imposing King Henry. Now she has a place among Anne’s women and in that she learns that the exalted life she thought her Aunt had is in fact in much turmoil. As time passes Katherine is left to watch and care for her Aunt as she loses her precious place with the King along with her life. Once a young girl, Katherine is now a woman.

This is a fantastic story for any age. I thought it very well written and beautifully told through the innocence of Katherine. Katherine’s naivete does not last long at Court of course and it’s made so much worse by her being with her Aunt during her last days. Katherine is such a great avenue for telling this story. Seen through her eyes I felt her disappointments and grief and I’ll tell you I don’t often tear up reading historical fiction but I sure did with this one.

Young or old fans of historical fiction this is definitely one to add to your reading list. Highly recommended!

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Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

GIVEAWAY – eBook copy open Internationally

*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter

Draw Date December 20/14

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. Giveaway copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received.

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City of Ladies by Sarah Kennedy

November 17, 2014 by Darlene

City of Ladies by Sarah Kennedy is the second novel in The Cross and The Crown series and it doesn’t disappoint and what a fantastic cover! Once again Sarah has outdone herself with a beautifully written novel that transports us back to Tudor England and and a story not to be forgotten!

City of Ladies finds Catherine, a former nun, married now to William with a son Robert and a newly born daughter Veronica. The convent where she grew up and the land it occupied once belonged to Catherine’s family but is now under the ownership of her husband. While Catherine is happily mistress of her own household, her friends and former nuns, were not so lucky. Henry VIII not only destroyed the only sanctuary they had when he took down their convent he also made sure they had nowhere else to go. Of course Catherine could not allow this to happen so she brought them into her own home. Her dream is to build her own City of Ladies and have the nuns serve the community and belong once again but as long as the people believe them to be witches she will never succeed. When the worst happens and the women of the house begin to disappear and turn up dead everyone is left wondering if they are safe… including Catherine.

William, wanting Catherine safe, puts her into the service of the young and Protestant Elizabeth Tudor. At first Catherine believes she will only be serving Elizabeth but soon enough she learns that she will also serve the Catholic Mary Tudor who has been shamed for her beliefs as the war over religious beliefs still goes on. As the murders continue to plague Overton House and others become ill Catherine struggles to find out who is behind the murders before it’s too late.

City of Ladies was a wonderful novel that I had such a hard time putting down. I adored Catherine in the first book The Altarpiece and I sitll do. She is such a strong, caring, and intelligent woman. Unfortunately it just that intelligence that has people thinking her a witch. In the time of Henry VIII a woman who was talented as a healer and intelligent could easily be thought to have evil dwelling within them and hanged and Catherine had to be very careful not to step on the wrong toes, namely Henry VIII. I am already anxiously looking forward to the third book in the series – The King’s Sisters, which is due out in 2015.

Well done Sarah – I loved it! For fans of historical fiction I highly recommend the whole series consisting so far of The Altarpiece and now City of Ladies!

Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N

Source: Digital review copy received from the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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Proof of Angels by Mary Curran Hackett

November 12, 2014 by Darlene

Proof of Angels by Mary Curran Hackett is a moving story about the angels in our lives and second chances. Our main character Sean Magee is a firefighter who becomes trapped in a burning building. Just as he is sure he’ll be taking his last breath he is led to a window by what he is later sure is an angel and he just jumps. Despite severe burns and injuries he survives.

The whole experience causes Sean to take a closer look at himself and how he has been living his life. He’s just been existing in his life not really living and now that he’s been given another chance at life he wants to change that. To do that though he has to look to his past and deal with all the issues that caused him to withdraw from his life in the first place. Issues like the family he’s run from as well as make amends to the one woman he’s always loved and never forgotten.

Sean is one of those characters that is easy to connect with because he’s looking for the same thing a lot of us are … the meaning of our lives and what we ultimately want from it. Despite his issues he’s a pretty wise guy. One of my favorite quotes from the book came from Sean…

‘… sometimes miracles happen. Great stuff happens out of the garbage of everyday life. Like seeing a dog surf or being in the right place at the right time so that you can actually save a life. Or admitting, just admitting once that life is more than just work, it’s about the people in it.’ (from eBook copy)

Words well said. Too often we don’t see all the little things in our lives that are really good. Many times we don’t take the chances we should whether it be in forgiveness or love. This novel really brings that to light. Second chances are meant to be taken and life is meant to be lived fully. Above all keep yourself open to the angels that touch your life!

Recommended for fiction lovers! I really enjoyed this one!

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Source: Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received and all opinions are that of the blog owner.

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Raindrops on Roses by Millenia Black & Giveaway (US/Canada)

November 11, 2014 by Darlene

Raindrops on Roses by Millenia Black, releasing on November 18, is the first book in her Favorite Things Novella Trilogy and it’s an exciting start! There’s a love triangle, romance, betrayal, and a woman bent on revenge. This book comes in at about 140 pages which makes it just perfect for snuggling up by the fire or in your cozy chair and enjoying for a few hours.

Priscilla Bauer lives a good life due to a very hefty inheritance but that doesn’t help take away the pain from the loss of her grandmother who was a Hollywood icon. She desperately misses her and this leaves her vulnerable. Into this walks Michael Frost, a brand designer, who has worked for Priscilla’s grandmother. Priscilla is taken with Michael’s good looks but even more so by his kindness and concern with how she’s doing. Micheal is completely besotted by Priscilla and knows that he has to have her. Of course it isn’t long before sparks fly between the two. The problem is Michael is already in a relationship and Amber has no intention of ever letting some other woman get her claws into her man. Someone has to pay for ruining Amber’s life – the only question is who?

The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m looking forward to reading the next one to see what is going to happen. I really like Priscilla and hope she’ll come through this all unscathed but somenhow I doubt it. So far I think Michael is a jerk but we’ll see and Amber – well Amber is nuts. All in all a great combination for a really good story!

Recommended for lovers of dramatic love triangles! I really enjoyed it!

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