2014 eBooks

My Lady Viper by E. Knight & Giveaway (International)

May 19, 2014 by Darlene

My Lady Viper is E. Knight’s latest novel and it is fantastic! I’ve read a couple of the author’s historical/erotic romances earlier this year but this is her first historical novel and it is impressive. My Lady Viper takes place during the Tudor era and instead of being about the same old characters (which I still love) it brings to the forefront a lesser talked about character and that is Anne Seymour. This novel is enthralling from beginning to end and brings alive a Tudor court full of intrigue, politics, parties, plenty of drama, and even a little romance.

Anne Seymour is sister-in-law and lady in waiting to Jane Seymour who was one of Henry VIII’s wives. Anne is determined that Jane nor her husband Edward’s family or herself for that matter will fall to the same fate as Anne Boleyn and she will go to any lengths to make it so. Anne also knows how important it is that Jane give the Henry a son or they will all fall right along with Queen Jane. Anne makes alliances at every turn and is most definitely a woman to be reckoned with. In turn this earns her the reputation of being devious, manipulative, and a viper of a woman. Yet taking into account the times I think a woman had to do anything in her power to keep herself and her family safe and especially in King Henry’s court. One wrong word, look, or move could cause a family who is at the height of power to fall to the very bottom of the pit. Nobody was ever safe and Anne knew this.

I really enjoyed this book and loved learning about Anne Seymour who I knew nothing about before. Also enjoyable was reading more about Jane Seymour. So many novels focus on the other wives but there doesn’t seem to be many about Jane. She seemed to me to be too sweet to survive for long in a court full of treachery. I liked Anne though and yes she was a viper but her goal was always to protect her family and their position at court or even more so to elevate it and even while manipulating everything around her she felt bad for being the cause of ruin for some. I found her to be a very interesting woman and one whose life I became fully embroiled in while reading this book.

For lovers of Tudor fiction My Lady Viper is fresh, exciting, and oh so captivating! This is one I highly recommend!

Other tour stops with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Author Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, and iTunes

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (International)

I have one copy of My Lady Viper by E. Knight to share with my readers. The winner can choose either a print copy or eBook. To enter…

Leave a comment entering the giveaway for 1 entry.
Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.

Open Internationally
Draw Date June 3/14

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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All That is Solid Melts into Air by Darragh McKeon

May 14, 2014 by Darlene

All That is Solid Melts into Air by Darragh McKeon takes us back in time to the lives of people living through the Chernobyl disaster and tells of the effects that it had on their lives. This is a deep novel, one that you sit back with and take in slowly and despite the darkness of the story being told the writing is beautiful and haunting.

We have two boys who are very different and yet both of their lives are affected deeply by the disaster. One boy is a piano prodigy who is bullied for being different. His aunt Maria tries to hide her dissident past while working in a factory making car parts. Another boy living ten miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant wakes up to a crimson sky and blood flowing from the ears of cows in the field. He and his family are forced to evacuate and this leads them on a very uncertain and terrifying journey. Then we have Grigory who is actually Maria’s ex-husband and a surgeon. He is devoted to his work and is sent out to provide any assistance he can with the clean up after the Chernobyl disaster. Despite the real dangers that the government is trying to hide from the people Grigory knows what the effects of the radiation are and he struggles to get those dangers through to the people living in the direct area of the disaster. Throughout the story Grigory and Maria look back on their past lives, both alone and together. Grigory has many regrets with regards to Maria and still cares for her. It is through each of these characters that this story comes alive and it is so vividly portrayed that many times I could feel their fear and anxiety and the absolute darkness of what they were enduring.

Ultimately this was a good read for me especially from a historical point of view. Having watched a program a while back on the Chernobyl disaster I had known a bit about it but what this novel did was bring the actual people into focus and all that they experienced because of the disaster. My only complaint is that I never formed any connection to the characters in this story. Of course their lives were interesting especially considering what they were going through but for some reason I never felt an emotional connection to them – only to what they were enduring. Who knows, maybe that is exactly the point – that we are supposed to take away the horror of the Chernobyl disaster and what it did to the people who had to live through it.

I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy literary fiction with historical elements as well.

Other tour stops with TLC Book Tours
Authors Website
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, and B&N

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino & Giveaway (US/Canada)

May 12, 2014 by Darlene

Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino is a murder mystery and a great way to spend a few hours curled up in your favorite chair with. I felt like I was watching one of my favorite shows Law & Order but in book form.

Research scientist Dr. Lauren Crawford has discovered a breakthrough treatment for cancer enabling patients to live longer and sometimes even becoming cancer free. On the evening before she is to attend a press conference announcing this treatment to the world she ends up dead. Was it just a random killing or something much more sinister?

Detectives Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown are on the job and it becomes clear early on that there are many suspects in this case. There was Dr. Crawford’s on and off again boyfriend who didn’t seem to have much going for him but he adamantly denies any involvement. There is also Maggie, an employee who had been employed by Dr. Crawford and also fired – unjustly according to Maggie. No surprise that she denies any involvement as well. Amaris and T.J. find both of them suspicious and even more so when it seems the two have decided to move in together. Then there is the big question – who stands to lose the most if this treatment is successful? The drug companies of course. Cancer drugs are a multi-billion dollar business and if there is a cure for cancer quite obviously they are going to suffer big time. As Amaris and T.J. sift through the clues and begin uncovering more layers Amaris begins to receive threats. Soon enough it becomes a race to solve this mystery before Amaris herself ends up a victim!

Sometimes I find with books like this that I don’t form any connection with the characters but that wasn’t so with this one and it’s because the author took the time to give a back story on both Amaris and T.J. and as a reader that likes that connection I appreciated it. They became not just detectives, but human beings. To uncover why they became police officers and what drives their passion for the job added to the story for me. I thought the two had a great chemistry both on the job and off and I’m hoping that there will be more books to come featuring Amaris and T.J.

If you enjoy a good murder mystery be sure to give Hypocrisy a try! I enjoyed it a great deal and the pages flew by quickly in my desire to get myself to the end to find out what really happened and why. For my readers who are uncomfortable with bad language there is some in the book so be aware of that. Other than that I recommend this one as a fast, easy, and enjoyable read!

Other tour stops with iRead Book Tours
Daniel’s Links: Website, Facebook, and Twitter
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)

I have one copy of Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino to share with my readers. To enter…

Leave a comment for 1 entry to the giveaway.
Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.

Open to US and Canadian residents.
Draw Date May 27/14.

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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The Gondola Maker by Laura Morelli & Giveaway (International)

May 7, 2014 by Darlene

The Gondola Maker by Laura Morelli is a wonderful trip back in time to Renaissance Venice.

Luca Vianello is the heir to his father’s very successful gondola-making business. When a family tragedy occurs Luca’s temper flares at his father and the incident results in Luca not only being on his own for the first time in his life but also fleeing the only home he’s ever known.

Luca is lucky in that he finds a job doing errands for an artist. While there he discovers that the artist has an antique gondola that had actually been built by Luca’s own grandfather and he gains permission to restore it. The process of restoring this gondola is like a balm to Luca’s soul and gives him a new perspective on his life. Even though he was set to inherit his father’s business Luca was never allowed to touch a lot of the materials for building the gondolas because he was left-handed. Back in those days you were considered to be marked by the devil if you used your left hand for writing or anything else. So building this gondola all on his own showed him that he could indeed do it and do it well.

Luca is a great character and narrator of this story. He is young but smart and really only wants to discover what his true destiny in life is. When he sees a painting of a beautiful woman that the artist is working on he is entranced and feels quite sure she is supposed to be a part of that destiny. Yet this woman, Guiliana, is of a completely different class than he so it just can’t be but still Luca strives to meet her. His dream is of one day taking her on a ride in the gondola that he has rebuilt with all the passion and love he carries in his heart.

Renaissance Venice comes alive at the author’s hand and the vivid descriptions of the craftsmanship that goes into the building of gondolas is nothing short of fascinating. The Gondola Maker is a novel of love, loss, and fulfilling one’s destiny. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction!

Other tour stops with iRead Book Tours
Laura’s Links: Website, Facebook, and Twitter
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, and Book Depository

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (Open Internationally)

I have one paperback copy of The Gondola Maker by Laura Morelli up for giveaway. To enter…

Leave a comment entering the giveaway for 1 entry.
Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.

Open Internationally
Draw Date May 22/14

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton & Giveaway (US/Canada)

May 2, 2014 by Darlene

Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton chronicles the life of Hatshepsut who has led a privileged life wanting for nothing but when her older sister who she loved dearly is killed Hatshepsut’s world changes forever. Suddenly it is now up to her to be married to her brother as is the custom and become Great Royal Wife when he becomes Pharaoh. Her one goal is to produce a male heir and while Hatshepsut doesn’t argue that point she also knows she wants much more than that. She wants to stand beside her husband Thut and rule Egypt. Yet it is man’s world and as Hatshepsut says herself she is trapped in a woman’s body. If only she were a man she would be able to do anything she desired. Still Hatshepsut isn’t one to be deterred easily and she begins to offer opinions and suggestions whenever she can as Thut proves himself to not be much of a leader. Marriage to her brother proves difficult as Hatshepsut doesn’t love him like a woman should love a man and it doesn’t come as any surprise when she loses herself in the affections of a man, Senenmut, who does have her heart.

In the meantime Hatshepsut seems unable to become pregnant and produce a male heir but another of Thut’s wives, Aset, does bear a boy child. Desperate to become pregnant with an heir Hatshepsut turns to an old witch woman who supplies her with herbs to quicken her womb. It is what she tells Hatshepsut though that is most troubling. She tells her that she while she will succeed and Egypt will prosper all those that are close to her and that she loves will suffer. Hatshepsut becomes incensed with this woman and sends her away but her words to Hatshepsut never fall far from her memory especially as things begin to happen in her life that lead her to believe the prophecy may indeed be true. Thus begins a journey for Hatshepsut that takes her from the heights of power to the lowest of lows. It is a journey sure to captivate any historical fiction fan!

Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton is a look back to the life of a forgotten woman in history, Hatshepsut, who was Egypt’s first female Pharaoh. Despite holding this esteemed position sometime after her rule as Pharaoh somebody went to great lengths to erase her fully from any historical record. Thankfully she wasn’t fully removed from all history because Hatshepsut is a fascinating and strong woman. She was one of those women who belonged in the modern world not 1400’s BC. I really admired her strength, determination, and intelligence and especially the fact that she wasn’t scared to show that she was smart and capable of ruling Egypt on her own. I had heard of Hatshepsut before but not to the depths of this novel so I have to say that I greatly appreciated learning quite a bit from this novel not to mention the fascinating and vivid detail of life in Egypt at this time in history.

I was completely swept away to another world with Daughter of the Gods and can’t wait to read Stephanie’s previous novel too. Recommended for historical fiction fans!

Other tour stops with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Stephanie’s links: website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, and IndieBound

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)

I have one paperback copy of Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton to share with my readers. To enter…

Leave a comment for 1 entry to the giveaway.
Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.

Open to US/Canada
Draw Date May 17/14

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

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Spun by Catherine McKenzie & Rafflecopter Giveaway

April 29, 2014 by Darlene

I have been a fan of Catherine McKenzie from her very first novel and I always wait anxiously for her next one. Needless to say I was very excited to find out she had a novella coming out called Spun which is releasing today! Spun revisits Amber Sheppard from one of my favorite novels of Catherine’s called Spin with an update on her life since leaving rehab. It highlights Catherine’s great talent for portraying characters who are real and experience real life issues. While Spun is short it is definitely not lacking on being an emotional and touching tale of a girl lost who is just trying to find herself in the midst of all the craziness of the world.

Amber is a celebrity who has certainly had her share of issues with drugs and alcohol and since leaving rehab life hasn’t been the best for her. She’s been sober for two years now but it seems that nobody wants to recognize her for that. Instead they continue to insinuate that she is still using and that her life is still an utter shambles. The thing is Amber wants better for herself but has no idea how to get there. Her old boyfriend, movie star Connor Parks, isn’t making things any easier for her either. He keeps contacting her and wanting to get back with her but she’s done with that life now. Yet when he calls one night Amber makes the decision to go and see him this time. It turns out to be both the worst and best decision of her life. She is heartbroken and things go from bad to worse when the press become even more harassing than usual. Things need to change for Amber, but how?

Spun deals with a lot of serious issues like drug addiction, alcoholism, recovery and it’s really quite raw and real in the telling. I liked Amber in Spin and liked her even more in Spun. She’s tough and yet soft deep down. She wants better for herself and in this story she has to wade through all the people and things that are holding her back to break through to the life she knows must be out there for her. While you don’t have to read Spin to read this one as it does stand on it’s own I still think it’s a good idea as you get a feel for who Amber was before and how she got there. I loved it! Highly recommended!

Catherine’s Links: website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, and B&N

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Source: Digital review copy provided by the author. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

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