Genre: Historical

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Apr 11

{Release Day Review+Giveaway} Duels and Deception by @CindyAnstey @Swoonreads

Cindy Anstey has done it again! Love, Lies and Spies was one of my favorite books of 2016. And now Duels and Deception is one of my favorite reads of 2017! I just love Cindy’s books. Duels and Deception is a companion novel, set in the same time period as Love Lies and Spies. So while you do not need to read Love Lies and Spies to understand Duels and Deception, both of these books are seriously so good that you need to read both. Trust me on that one! Duels and Deception is a young adult historical romance by Cindy Anstey. Young Adult historical is a genre that I don’t read too much of…not because I don’t enjoy it. When it is is well done, I love it. But I am super picky when it comes to the writing and world building in my historical books. And Cindy Anstey has the historical writing IT FACTOR in spades. I felt like I was reading a young adult Oscar Wilde. Cindy is… Read more »

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Aug 16

{Review} The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard @aghowardwrites

The Architect of Song is the first installment in author A.G. Howard’s Haunted Hearts Legacy series, a four book gothic saga, which according to the summary follows the “generations of one family as – haunted by both literal and figurative ghosts – they search for self-acceptance, love, and happiness.” It has been so long since I have read a ghost story, and even longer since I have read a historical ghost story. I adored The Architect of Song. It is such an atmospheric read. It is on the slow side, but when you are in the mood for a very well written, meandering, but romantic book, The Architect of Song is a great one for you to check out. Because of the slow, descriptive pacing throughout, coupled with the fact that The Architect of Song is 425 pages, it took me some time to read. Actually, it took me a few days, which is very odd for me. But I rather enjoyed the denseness of this story. It allowed me… Read more »

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Jun 27

{Interview+Giveaway} The Woman in the Photo by @AuthorMaryHogan

What’s the story behind THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTO? How did the book come to be? I first had the idea for this book 24 years ago! I’m not kidding. In 1992, my husband, actor Robert Hogan, was in an off-Broadway play called On the Bum, also starring Cynthia Nixon and Campbell Scott. The play was set in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, several years after the epic flood. The characters talked about a “lake in the sky” which piqued my curiosity. A few days later, I went to the library to read about such strange geography. That’s when I read the real story of the Johnstown disaster. Wow. I was blown away. What a great story! I held my breath for 24 years worrying that someone would write my book before I got a chance to. There are other books out there about the flood, but nothing like mine. How did you conduct your research for the book? Are any of the characters in the book inspired by real-life people? While on… Read more »

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Apr 27

{Review+Giveaway} Love, Lies and Spies by @CindyAnstey @Swoonreads

Swoon Reads has done it again! Love, Lies and Spies is one of my favorite books of 2016. It is a young adult historical romance by Cindy Anstey, and I refuse to believe this is actually Cindy’s debut novel. Young Adult historical is a genre that I don’t read too much of…not because I don’t enjoy it. When it is is well done, I love it. But I am super picky when it comes to the writing and world building in my historical books. And Cindy Anstey has the historical writing IT FACTOR in spades. I felt like I was reading a young adult Oscar Wilde. Love Lies and Spies to me is the modern day Importance of Being Earnest…you know, with spies. If you haven’t read it already, you need to read this book. It is hands, down, one of the best young adult historical romances I have ever read. I loved the Regency wit and charm. Flirting in their flowery way just seems so much more fun to… Read more »

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Feb 29

${Mini Review Monday} #Passenger by @alexbracken & Da Vinci’s Tiger by @L_M_Elliott$

{Mini Review Monday} #Passenger by @alexbracken & Da Vinci’s Tiger by @L_M_Elliott

Passenger is such a cool book. It is a young adult time travel fantasy, and it is the first book in the Passenger series by Alexandra Bracken. What I liked most about passenger, was that it was such an interesting book. And I know interesting is a way too overused word in reviews, but it really fits here. I am often times wary of over-hyped books, but Passenger totally lived up to the hype in my opinion. Passenger is a time traveling adventure that will have you flipping pages so fast. I could not put this book down. I loved the writing and the story. I loved how Alexandra takes you so many different places and to so many different times. It was such a fun story, and really beautifully done. If you are looking for a new adventure, pick up Passenger. But beware of the cliffhanger ending. Da Vinci’s Tiger is a beautiful story, full of rich historical details that left me breathless for more. Da Vinci’s Tiger takes… Read more »

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Feb 25

{Review+Giveaway} The Black Lotus by Claire Warner @clairewarner5

The Black Lotus is the first book in the Night Flower series by Claire Warner. The night flower series is what I would classify as new adult historical romance. (with a paranormal twist, as the summary puts it.) The story takes place in the eighteen century, and this is one humdinger of a book, coming in at well over 500 pages. I enjoyed The Black Lotus. It has been quite some time since I have read a book that was simply too long for me to finish in a day. In fact, this book took me three nights to completely read, which is pretty long for me. I also love the cover for The Black Lotus, I think it simply beautiful. I loved the way the story started out. We are in the middle of the story, and we see the main character waking up. We don’t know much about what is going on other than the fact there is some kind of curse referenced. Then the story flashes back… Read more »

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Dec 15

{Guest Post+Giveaway} The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palombo @AlyssinWnderlnd

Today I have Alyssa Palombo here to talk about her first passion in life- music. I really enjoyed this guest post and I hope you do too. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below to win a copy of Alyssa’s book- The Violinist of Venice. 🙂 The music of my life By Alyssa Palombo Given that I wrote a book called The Violinist of Venice, and that that book is largely about music and its effect on a life, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that music is and has been a big part of my own life. I heard lots of great music growing up thanks to my parents: Led Zeppelin and The Who and Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn and Sarah McLachlan – the list goes on. Another really formative musical experience for me was going to see the movie Nightmare Before Christmas when I was four years old. To this day it’s still my favorite movie and soundtrack/score of… Read more »

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May 14

{ARC Review} The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson @melanieauthor @ThomasNelson

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest was an easy sell for me. It was something a little different than I normally read because it is a period read, the cover is gorgeous, and I was told it was a blend between Swan Lake and Robin Hood. Umm, heck yes! Please sign me up. I really enjoyed The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest for all of those reasons and more. I thought the writing was absolutely beautiful. It felt lyrical. I don’t say that about books often because most of the time because that isn’t something that normally jumps out at me. Writing can be good, great, bad or even powerful, but Melanie Dickerson’s writing spoke to me in a different way than most books do. It felt like it had movement and life within it’s words. It really was beautiful. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is a unique mixture of young adult and adult. I think it will appeal to readers of all ages. It took me a little bit of time… Read more »

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Oct 13

{Guest Post+Giveaway} Whisper of The Dead by Alyxandra Harvey @AlyxandraH

Top 5 Historical Fantasy Novels by Alyxandra Harvey I love both historical fiction and historical fantasy, which is why I used 1816 London as the setting for the Lovegrove Legacy. Strolls through Hyde Park, Napoleon being short and cranky across the Channel, dancing until dawn, and garden follies built to look like ancient ruins—what’s not to love? Add magic and mystery and spells that go awry, and I am a happy woman indeed. But historical fantasy is a strange little genre… it lurks around corners and hides behind the shrubbery. So here are a few of my favourite novels to get you started if you haven’t ventured into this particular magical neighbourhood. And if you have, perhaps this is a list of old favourites…I’d love to hear your additions! In no particular order: Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer I think this is the historical fantasy I ever read and I was hooked. Written in letter format, it’s a blend of mystery… Read more »

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Sep 08

{Guest Post+Giveaway} Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

Today I am super excited to have the author of Of Monsters and Madness, Jessica Verday here to tell us how she creates a spooky atmosphere! and then enter to win a signed copy of the book! Creating a Spooky Atmosphere – OF MONSTERS AND MADNESS If you’re anything like me, the words “spooky atmosphere” conjures up images of cemeteries and creepy roads. Or abandoned houses and forgotten places. But sometimes taking a character out of her element is a great place to start when designing a spooky atmosphere. At the beginning of OF MONSTERS AND MADNESS, Annabel finds herself sitting alone at night on a filthy pier waiting for her father to arrive to pick her up. The sights and smells and people still walking the docks at such a late hour surround her immediately, and I make sure that she’s as uncomfortable as possible. Most of us can relate to that feeling of being all alone in a strange place. That place you can’t wait to never go… Read more »