Blog Tour: Island of Gold by Amy Maroney

Posted on September 14, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, historical romance, review

Title: Island of Gold (Sea and Stone Chronicles)

Author: Amy Maroney

Blurb:

1454

A noble French falconer. A spirited merchant’s daughter. And a fateful decision that changes their destiny forever.

When Cédric is recruited by the Knights Hospitaller to the Greek island of Rhodes, his wife Sophie jumps at the chance to improve their fortunes. After a harrowing journey to Rhodes, Cédric plunges into the world of the knights—while Sophie is tempted by the endless riches that flow into the bustling harbor. But their dazzling new home has a dark side.

Slaves toil endlessly to fortify the city walls, and rumors of a coming attack by the Ottoman Turks swirl in the streets. Desperate to gain favor with the knights and secure his position, Cédric navigates a treacherous world of shadowy alliances. Meanwhile, Sophie secretly engineers a bold plan to keep their children safe. As the trust between them frays, enemies close in—and when disaster strikes the island, the dangers of their new world become terrifyingly real.

With this richly-told story of adventure, treachery, and the redeeming power of love, Amy Maroney brings a mesmerizing and forgotten world to vivid life.

Buy Links:

This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited

Universal Link: mybook.to/IslandOfGold

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Gold-Amy-Maroney-ebook/dp/B098DHYCPK

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098DHYCPK

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Island-Gold-Amy-Maroney-ebook/dp/B098DHYCPK/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Island-Gold-Amy-Maroney-ebook/dp/B098DHYCPK/

About the Author:

Amy Maroney lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, and spent many years as a writer and editor of nonfiction before turning her hand to historical fiction. When she’s not diving down research rabbit holes, she enjoys hiking, dancing, traveling, and reading. Amy is the author of the Miramonde Series, a trilogy about a Renaissance-era female artist and the modern-day scholar on her trail. To receive a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join Amy’s readers’ group at http://www.amymaroney.com. (Just copy and paste into your browser.)

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.amymaroney.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/wilaroney

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymaroneyauthor

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymaroneywrites/

Pinterest: pinterest.com/amyloveshistory/

Book Bub: www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-maroney

Amazon Author Page: author.to/AmyMaroneyAmazonPage

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/15831603.Amy_Maroney

Blog Tour: Down Salem Way by Meredith Allard

Posted on August 17, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: Down Salem Way (The Loving Husband Series)

Author: Meredith Allard

Blurb: How would you deal with the madness of the Salem witch hunts?

In 1690, James Wentworth arrives in Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his father, John, hoping to continue the success of John’s mercantile business. While in Salem, James falls in love with Elizabeth Jones, a farmer’s daughter. Though they are virtually strangers when they marry, the love between James and Elizabeth grows quickly into a passion that will transcend time.

But something evil lurks down Salem way. Soon many in Salem, town and village, are accused of practicing witchcraft and sending their shapes to harm others. Despite the madness surrounding them, James and Elizabeth are determined to continue the peaceful, loving life they have created together. Will their love for one another carry them through the most difficult challenge of all?

Buy Links:

Universal links:

Down Salem Way: https://books2read.com/u/4XQdqL

Her Dear and Loving Husband: https://books2read.com/u/49NXzk

Her Loving Husband’s Curse: https://books2read.com/u/baZ576

Her Loving Husband’s Return: https://books2read.com/u/31l5vD

Review:

A heart rending start to a promising series, Down Salem Way is told from the perspective of James Wentworth, a man living in Salem during the time of the witch trials, and his wife, Elizabeth. I really enjoyed this historical novel along with the paranormal twist, and it makes me want to read the rest of the series to find out what happens next.

Meredith Allard About the Author:

Meredith Allard is the author of the bestselling paranormal historical Loving Husband Trilogy. Her sweet Victorian romance, When It Rained at Hembry Castle, was named a best historical novel by IndieReader. Her nonfiction book, Painting the Past: A Guide for Writing Historical Fiction, was named a #1 New Release in Authorship and Creativity Self-Help by Amazon. When she isn’t writing she’s teaching writing, and she has taught writing to students ages five to 75. She loves books, cats, and coffee, though not always in that order. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Meredith online at http://www.meredithallard.com.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.meredithallard.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeredithallard

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-allard-0a8a5821/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/meredithallard

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meredith-allard

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Meredith-Allard/e/B000APN2C8

Blog Tour: ‘Tho I Be Mute by Heather Miller

Posted on July 22, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction

Title: ‘Tho I Be Mute

Author: Heather Miller

Blurb:

Home. Heritage. Legacy. Legend.

In 1818, Cherokee John Ridge seeks a young man’s education at the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, Connecticut. While there, he is overcome with sickness yet finds solace and love with Sarah, the steward’s quiet daughter. Despite a two-year separation, family disapproval, defamatory editorials, and angry mobs, the couple marries in 1824.

Sarah reconciles her new family’s spirituality and her foundational Christianity. Although, Sarah’s nature defies her new family’s indifference to slavery. She befriends Honey, half-Cherokee and half-African, who becomes Sarah’s voice during John’s extended absences.

Once arriving on Cherokee land, John argues to hold the land of the Cherokees and that of his Creek neighbors from encroaching Georgian settlers. His success hinges upon his ability to temper his Cherokee pride with his knowledge of American law. Justice is not guaranteed.

Rich with allusions to Cherokee legends, ‘Tho I Be Mute speaks aloud; some voices are heard, some are ignored, some do not speak at all, compelling readers to listen to the story of a couple who heard the pleas of the Cherokee.

Review:

Although this novel had a bit of a slow start for me after the prologue, I was captivated by John and Sarah’s love story, as well as very interested in John’s work to try to make an agreement with the US government to allow his people to keep their land. I feel there were some parts that were rushed, but the writing is very beautiful and engaging, and the symbolism is lovely. Definitely worth the read for fans of American historical fiction.

Buy Links:

Universal Amazon Link: https://books2read.com/u/mV6p5r

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tho-Be-Mute-Heather-Miller-ebook/dp/B08ZB276Y2

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Tho-Be-Mute-Heather-Miller-ebook/dp/B08ZB276Y2

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Tho-Be-Mute-Heather-Miller-ebook/dp/B08ZB276Y2

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tho-Be-Mute-Heather-Miller-ebook/dp/B08ZB276Y2

About the Author:

As an English educator, Heather Miller has spent twenty-three years teaching her students the author’s craft. Now, she is writing it herself, hearing voices from the past.

Miller’s foundation began in the theatre, through performance storytelling. She can tap dance, stage-slap someone, and sing every note from Les Misérables. Her favorite role is that of a fireman’s wife and mom to three: a trumpet player, a future civil engineer, and a future RN. There is only one English major in her house.

While researching, writing, and teaching, she is also working towards her M FA in Creative Writing. Heather’s corndog-shaped dachshund, Sadie, deserves an honorary degree.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://heathermillerauthor.com/home/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HMHFR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HMillerAuthor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-miller-896627208/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hmillerauthor/

Pinterest: https://pin.it/26kOsvl

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/tho-i-be-mute-by-heather-miller

Blog Tour: The Madness of Mrs. Whittaker by A.B. Michaels

Posted on June 14, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: The Madness of Mrs. Whittaker (The Golden City, Book Six)

Author: A.B. Michaels

Blurb:

While exploring the remote possibility of contacting her dead husband through a spirit medium, a young widow is pronounced insane and committed to an asylum against her will. As she struggles to escape the nightmare she’s been thrust into, she is stripped of everything she holds dear, including her identity and her reason to live. The fight to reclaim what is rightfully hers will test every aspect of her being, up to and including her sanity. Is she up to the task, or has her grip on reality already slipped away?

Book Six of The Golden City series, The Madness of Mrs. Whittaker explores two major forces of early twentieth century America: the religious movement called Spiritualism and treatment of the mentally ill. Like all of A.B. Michaels’ novels, it is a stand-alone read.

Series Buy Links (In order):

The Art of Love: https://books2read.com/u/4ERKKe

The Depth of Beauty: https://books2read.com/u/bpzaal

The Promise: https://books2read.com/u/bwoaaP

The Price of Compassion: https://books2read.com/u/4XQrr7

Josephine’s Daughter: https://books2read.com/u/4NwxxY

The Madness of Mrs Whittaker: https://books2read.com/u/4AOeeK

Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=e9wxEAAAQBAJ

Apple:

http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1571131123

Review:

An absolutely captivating early 20th century historical fiction novel set in California, The Madness of Mrs. Whittaker had me hooked from the first page. I felt every emotion of Mae’s struggles, and Mrs. Michaels is certainly a talented author, tying the story into the historical context of the time. I’m a great fan of novels taking place in early San Francisco, as I’m from the Bay Area myself! I admired the strong, female characters, and struggled with great anger at the inequalities facing women at the time. This is certainly well-worth the read for any historical fiction fan and I will be checking out the rest of the series! This is a standalone novel.

About the Author:

A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing fiction, which is the hardest thing she’s ever done besides raise two boys. She lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in Boise, Idaho, where she is often distracted by playing darts and bocce and trying to hit a golf ball more than fifty yards. Reading, quilt-making and travel figure into the mix as well, leading her to hope that sometime soon, someone invents a 25+ hour day.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.abmichaels.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ABMichaelsBooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A.B.MichaelsWriter/

Pinterest: pinterest.com/abmichaelsbooks

Book Bub: bookbub.com/profile/a-b-michaels

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/A.-B.-Michaels/e/B00KFLJ2QW

Goodreads: goodreads.com/abmichaels

Book Blast: The Romanov Legacy by Marilyn Baron

Posted on June 13, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Book Blast, Goddess Fish Promotions, historical fiction

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marilyn Baron will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Two women, centuries apart, and the secrets that bind them

Melody, a young single mother, discovers she’s descended from the last Tsar, Nicholas II. She becomes the best hope of a secret global society, Guardians of the Romanov Legacy, dedicated to restoring a Romanov to the throne of a New Russia. A diary and an heirloom necklace inherited from her murdered grandmother hold the key to her identity and to the location of the Tsar’s lost shipment of gold.

She must accept the sacrifices her birth demands and trust the machinations of the estranged father of her child. To refuse means turning her back on her heritage, her daughter’s legacy, and the long line of her family’s women who were keepers of the secret. Will her longing for true love have world-changing consequences?

Read an Excerpt

Melody Segal discovered the dazzling antique diamond-and-emerald-encrusted necklace nestled in a weathered, powder-blue velvet jewelry box not long after her grandmother’s murder. The treasure flashed bolts of light within the confines of Nana’s eerie bank vault. Wafts of scents, sounds, and sights drifted into Melody’s consciousness, conjuring enchanting visions of winter white, the icy feel of snowflakes, the jingle jangle of sleigh bells, the woodsy smell of Siberian pines.

Why had she never seen this gleaming heirloom before? Or known about it? The attorney handling Nana’s estate had presented her with the key to the safe deposit box where the jewels had been stored for who knows how long. Not long enough to lose their luster. The box yielded not only the necklace but an unfamiliar diary. She flipped through the book, written in Russian, and pulled out a translated copy in Nana’s hand. But Nana didn’t know Russian. In fact, she hated all things Russian. She once joked that the closest she ever got to Russia was St. Petersburg when she went to visit her best friend Bessie at her beach condo in Florida.

What other secrets had her grandmother been hiding?

About the Author:

Marilyn decided to become a writer when she read Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her first short story was The Gold Lace Dress. She wrote her first book, East West Island, in grade school. It featured all of the children in her third-grade class and her teacher read it to the students in installments during class every day. She wrote and directed her first play at age 13, starring her brother and sisters and some of the neighborhood kids. The show raised money for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Marilyn is a public relations consultant in Atlanta, a PAN member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) and winner of the GRW 2009 Chapter Service Award. She is also a member of Atlanta Writers Club. Marilyn was past chair of the Roswell Reads steering committee and serves on the Atlanta Authors committee. She writes in a variety of genres from humorous women’s fiction, historical romantic thrillers, romantic suspense and paranormal/fantasy. She loves to travel and often sets books in places she’s visited.

She was born in Miami, Florida, and graduated from The University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (Public Relations) and a Minor in English (Creative Writing). Go Gators! She lives in Roswell, Georgia, with her husband, and she spends a lot of time hovering over her two wonderful daughters.

Website: http://www.marilynbaron.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marilyn-Baron-286807714666748/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-baron
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Baron/e/B008PJFQPC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092TXL3QT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Blog Tour: The Cotillion Brigade by Glen Craney

Posted on June 3, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction

Title: The Cotillion Brigade

(A Novel of the Civil War and the Most Famous Female Militia in American History)

Author: Glen Craney

Blurb:

Georgia burns.

Sherman’s Yankees are closing in.

Will the women of LaGrange run or fight?

Based on the true story of the celebrated Nancy Hart Rifles, The Cotillion Brigade is an epic novel of the Civil War’s ravages on family and love, the resilient bonds of sisterhood in devastation, and the miracle of reconciliation between bitter enemies.

“Gone With The Wind meets A League Of Their Own.”

— John Jeter, The Plunder Room

Sixteen-year-old Nannie Colquitt Hill makes her debut in the antebellum society of the Chattahoochee River plantations. A thousand miles north, a Wisconsin farm boy, Hugh LaGrange, joins an Abolitionist crusade to ban slavery in Bleeding Kansas.

Five years later, secession and war against the homefront hurl them toward a confrontation unrivaled in American history.

Review:

A brilliant historical novel encapsulating a little-known part of American Civil War history. I was very engaged from the start, and really enjoyed learning about these brave women. I know women sacrificed much during the war, on both fronts. Well worth the read for anyone interested in this time period.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XJ4Z3DM

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XJ4Z3DM

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08XJ4Z3DM

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08XJ4Z3DM

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-cotillion-brigade

IBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1555830477

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cotillion-brigade-glen-craney/1138906614

About the Author:

A graduate of Indiana University School of Law and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Glen Craney practiced trial law before joining the Washington, D.C. press corps to write about national politics and the Iran-contra trial for Congressional Quarterly magazine. In 1996, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences awarded him the Nicholl Fellowship prize for best new screenwriting. His debut historical novel, The Fire and the Light, was named Best New Fiction by the National Indie Excellence Awards. He is a three-time Finalist/Honorable Mention winner of Foreword Magazine’s Book-of-the-Year and a Chaucer Award winner for Historical Fiction. His books have taken readers to Occitania during the Albigensian Crusade, the Scotland of Robert Bruce, Portugal during the Age of Discovery, the trenches of France during World War I, the battlefields of the Civil War, and the American Hoovervilles of the Great Depression. He lives in Malibu, California.

Connect with Glen:

Website: www.glencraney.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlenCraneyAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/glencraney

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gcraney5618/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1516207.Glen_Craney

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Glen-Craney/e/B002C1VQZ8

Blog Tour: The Shadow of Versailles by Cathie Dunn

Posted on May 20, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: The Shadows of Versailles

(An Affair of the Poisons Book One)

Author: Cathie Dunn

Blurb:

Dazzled by Versailles. Broken by tragedy. Consumed by revenge.

When Fleur de La Fontaine attends the court of King Louis XIV for the first time, she is soon besotted with handsome courtier, Philippe de Mortain. She dreams of married life away from her uncaring mother, but Philippe keeps a secret from her.

Nine months later, after the boy she has given birth to in a convent is whisked away, she flees to Paris where she mends gowns in the brothel of Madame Claudette, a woman who helps ‘fallen’ girls back on their feet.

Jacques de Montagnac investigates a spate of abducted children when his path crosses Fleur’s. He searches for her son, but the trail leads to a dead end – and a dreadful realisation.

Her boy’s suspected fate too much to bear, Fleur decides to avenge him. She visits the famous midwife, La Voisin, but it’s not the woman’s skills in childbirth that Fleur seeks.

La Voisin dabbles in poisons.

Will Fleur see her plan through? Or can she save herself from a tragic fate?

Delve into The Shadows of Versailles and enter the sinister world of potions, poisoners and black masses during the Affairs of the Poisons, a real event that stunned the court of the Sun King!

Buy Links:

Is your book on Kindle Unlimited? – Yes.

Universal Link (if you have it): Amazon: https://mybook.to/ShadowsVersailles

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08LHC27F7/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LHC27F7/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08LHC27F7/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08LHC27F7/

Review:

Certainly one of the most intriguing periods in history, The Shadow of Versailles takes the reader directly into Louis XIV’s dazzling and dangerous court. Jacques de Montagnac is faced with uncovering a mysterious string of poisonings and disappearing infants, but will someone he holds dear be at the center of it all?

Personally, I thought Jacques should have featured more heavily in the blurb, because he is the main character of this series. Fleur is a sympathetic character, driven by revenge and subject to the burdens of women at the time. I felt deeply for her plight and immense sadness at her fate. I would be very keen to continue reading about Jacques and his further investigations of the poisonings at Versailles and I look forward to the next book in the series. This will appeal to historical mystery lovers with a penchant for reading novels set at the time of the Sun King.

About the Author:

Cathie Dunn writes historical fiction, mystery, and romance.

Cathie has been writing for over twenty years. She studied Creative Writing, with a focus on novel writing, which she now teaches in the south of France. She loves researching for her novels, delving into history books, and visiting castles and historic sites.

Her stories have garnered awards and praise from reviewers and readers for their authentic description of the past.

Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

After nearly two decades in Scotland, she now lives in the historic city of Carcassonne in the south of France with her husband, two cats and a rescue dog.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.cathiedunn.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cathiedunn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathieDunnAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathiedunnwrites/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.fr/cathiedunnwrites/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathie-dunn

Amazon Author Page: https://author.to/CathieDunn

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5066224.Cathie_Dunn

Blog Tour: Under the Light of the Italian Moon by Jennifer Anton

Posted on May 11, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: Under the Light of the Italian Moon

Author: Jennifer Anton

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

A promise keeps them apart until WW2 threatens to destroy their love forever
Fonzaso, Italy, between two wars

Nina Argenta doesn’t want the traditional life of a rural Italian woman. The daughter of a strong-willed midwife, she is determined to define her own destiny. But when her brother emigrates to America, she promises her mother to never leave.

When childhood friend Pietro Pante briefly returns to their mountain town, passion between them ignites while Mussolini forces political tensions to rise. Just as their romance deepens, Pietro must leave again for work in the coal mines of America. Nina is torn between joining him and her commitment to Italy and her mother.

As Mussolini’s fascists throw the country into chaos and Hitler’s Nazis terrorise their town, each day becomes a struggle to survive greater atrocities. A future with Pietro seems impossible when they lose contact and Nina’s dreams of a life together are threatened by Nazi occupation and an enemy she must face alone…

A gripping historical fiction novel, based on a true story and heartbreaking real events.

Spanning over two decades, Under the Light of the Italian Moon is an epic, emotional and triumphant tale of one woman’s incredible resilience during the rise of fascism and Italy’s collapse into WWII.

Review:

(I had reviewed this novel previously for Readers’ Favorite. While I am unable to post my review on Goodreads or Amazon, due to their reviewer guidelines, I’m happy to present it here.)

Under the Light of the Italian Moon by Jennifer Anton is a beautiful historical fiction novel about the life of Nina Argenta. Growing up in a small village in Italy, Nina’s mother is the local midwife, a strong woman who has delivered many babies and overcome many hardships. As Nina grows, Adalaisa, her mother, asks her to stay in the village after her brother goes off to American. Young, at the time, Nina agrees, but then she falls in love with Pietro Pante. He decides America is the future for him, so he leaves, but then ends up returning to marry Nina. Nina, however, knows she must remain for her mother. This, at times heart breaking and hopeful novel spans the course of two world wars as Nina and Pietro struggle with their lives apart, and through many tragedies.

Under the Light of the Italian Moon by Jennifer Anton kept me captivated from the first page. Like a slow burning candle, the story of Nina and Pietro is told with skillful prose and historical accuracy to the time. I really loved how Miss Anton presents a realistic narrative, as well as showing how different generations deal with the hardships of war and maintaining relationships from a great distance. My favorite character was Nina and Pietro’s daughter, Laisa. I found her courage and steadfastness a good contrast to Nina’s sometimes instability with all the tragedy befalling her. I would definitely recommend this novel to someone who appreciates a carefully woven story, without rushing to a quick ending.

Buy Links:

Amazon: getbook.at/JAnton

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3n1nDqC

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/under-the-light-of-the-italian-moon/jennifer-anton//9789493231009

Bookshop.org (U.S. only): https://bit.ly/3ofS39T

I am Books Boston: https://bit.ly/2Z0mWUO

About the Author:

Jennifer Anton is an American/Italian dual citizen born in Joliet, Illinois and now lives between London and Lake Como, Italy. A proud advocate for women’s rights and equality, she hopes to rescue women’s stories from history, starting with her Italian family.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.boldwomanwriting.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/boldwomanwrites

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jenniferantonauthorpage

Instagram: www.instagram.com/boldwomanwriting

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/janton1468/_created/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-anton

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Anton/e/B08RL6HBDN%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2XsHt3F

Youtube: https://bit.ly/3i9XvZA

Blog Tour: Dawn Empress by Faith L. Justice

Posted on May 5, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome (The Theodosian Women, Book Two)

Author: Faith L. Justice

Audiobook narrated by Kathleen Li

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

As Rome reels under barbarian assaults, a young girl must step up.

After the Emperor’s unexpected death, ambitious men eye the Eastern Roman throne occupied by seven-year-old Theodosius II. His older sister Pulcheria faces a stark choice: she must find allies and take control of the Eastern court or doom the imperial children to a life of obscurity—or worse. Beloved by the people and respected by the Church, Pulcheria forges her own path to power. Can her piety and steely will protect her brother from military assassins, heretic bishops, scheming eunuchs and—most insidious of all—a beautiful, intelligent bride? Or will she lose all in the trying?

Dawn Empress tells the little-known and remarkable story of Pulcheria Augusta, 5th century Empress of Eastern Rome. Her accomplishments rival those of Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great as she sets the stage for the dawn of the Byzantine Empire. Don’t miss this “gripping tale” (Kirkus Reviews); a “deftly written and impressively entertaining historical novel” (Midwest Book Reviews). Historical Novel Reviews calls Dawn Empress an “outstanding novel…highly recommended” and awarded it the coveted Editor’s Choice.

Review:

Focusing on a little-known woman in Roman history, Dawn Empress takes us into the life of Pulcheria Augusta, who was co-ruler of Eastern Rome, along with her brother, Theodosius. Initially, I was struck by Pulcheria’s dedication to her faith, as it felt a bit overwhelming, especially when it led to the persecution of others, but I recognize that, at the time, that wasn’t radical in the slightest. There were parts I felt a bit dry and sometimes repetitive, especially when it came to religion, but the conflicts between Pulcheria, her brother, and her brother’s wife made for some interesting reading, as well as learning how the power was balanced between the eastern and western parts of the Roman empire at the time. Understandably, the novel does jump a bit, having to cover over fifty years of history, but it’s clear the author certainly knows her Roman history and has dedicated a great deal of time to be as accurate as possible within the scope of the historical fiction genre. That is something I fully appreciate.

Buy Links:

Print/eBook

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0917053265

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0917053265

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0917053265

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B089J6R3YZ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dawn-empress-faith-l-justice/1136976264

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/dawn-empress/faith-l-justice/9780917053146

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dawn-empress-a-novel-of-imperial-rome

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/dawn-empress-a-novel-of-imperial-rome/id1511991657

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1020223

Books A Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dawn-Empress/Faith-L-Justice/9780917053146

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/460186605/Dawn-Empress-A-Novel-of-Imperial-Rome

Audiobook:

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Dawn-Empress-A-Novel-of-Imperial-Rome-Audiobook/B08WLZ4M28

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/id1549846649

Nook Audiobook: https://www.nookaudiobooks.com/audiobook/1028557/dawn-empress

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Faith_L_Justice_Dawn_Empress?id=AQAAAEBc9QS1SM

Kobo Audio: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/audiobook/dawn-empress

BingeBooks: https://bingebooks.com/book/dawn-empress

Chirp: https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/dawn-empress-by-faith-l-justice

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/491435814/Dawn-Empress-A-Novel-of-Imperial-Rome

About the Author:

Faith L. Justice writes award-winning historical novels, short stories, and articles in Brooklyn, New York where she lives with her family and the requisite gaggle of cats. Her work has appeared in Salon.com, Writer’s Digest, The Copperfield Review, and many more publications. She is Chair of the New York City chapter of the Historical Novel Society, and Associate Editor for Space and Time Magazine. She co-founded a writer’s workshop many more years ago than she likes to admit. For fun, she digs in the dirt—her garden and various archaeological sites.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://faithljustice.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/faithljustice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithljusticeauthor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faith-l-justice-53974719/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fljusticeauthor/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B003FWNP9S

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3268206.Faith_L_Justice

Blog Tour: Songbird by Karen Heenan

Posted on April 20, 2021 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, historical romance

Title: Songbird (The Tudor Court, Book I)

Author: Karen Heenan

Blurb:

She has the voice of an angel…

But one false note could send her back to her old life of poverty.

After her father sells her to Henry VIII, ten-year-old Bess builds a new life as a royal minstrel, and earns the nickname “the king’s songbird.”

She comes of age in the dangerous Tudor court, where the stakes are always high, and where politics, heartbreak, and disease threaten everyone from the king to the lowliest musician.

Her world has only one constant: Tom, her first and dearest friend. But when Bess intrigues with Anne Boleyn and strains against the restrictions of life at court, will she discover that the biggest risk of all is listening to her own stubborn heart?

Buy Links:

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Barnes and Noble • Kobo

Audio Buy Links:

Narrated by Jennifer Summerfield

Audible • Authors Direct • Nook • Hoopla • Apple Books • Kobo • Scribd • Google Play • Amazon

Review:

A beautifully captivating novel of the endurance of love, Songbird encapsulates the life of Bess, a minstrel in the court of Henry VIII. Every word lived and breathed the time, and it was truly an amazing read. I immensely enjoyed watching Bess grow from child to adult, facing and fighting her emotions. I especially liked the focus on Bess solely, whereas some other historical romances of the time tend to encapsulate two points of view. It was lovely to get such an in depth story about the life of one person. Definitely recommend this novel for lovers of historical romance in Tudor times.

About the Author:

Karen Heenan was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She fell in love with books and stories before she could read, and has wanted to write for nearly as long. After far too many years in a cubicle, she set herself free to follow her dreams—which include gardening, sewing, traveling and, of course, lots of writing.

She lives in Lansdowne, PA, not far from Philadelphia, with two cats and a very patient husband, and is always hard at work on her next book.

Connect with Karen:

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest • Book Bub • Amazon • Goodreads

Songbird Tour Schedule

Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Crime, Historical Romance, and More!

Category Archives: historical fiction

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Blog Tour: Under the Light of the Italian Moon by Jennifer Anton

Blog Tour: Dawn Empress by Faith L. Justice

Blog Tour: Songbird by Karen Heenan