About Fiercombe Manor
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Harper (February 17, 2015)

A house as old as Fiercombe Manor holds many secrets within its walls. But which dark chapter of its history is haunting Alice, a young woman staying there during the course of a fateful summer?

In 1933, naive twenty-two-year-old Alice is pregnant, unmarried, and disgraced. She can no longer share her parents’ London home, so her desperate mother concocts a cover story and begs her old friend, Mrs. Jelphs, for help. The housekeeper at rural Fiercombe Manor, Mrs. Jelphs is moved by Alice’s “plight” as a new widow and agrees to watch over her in the secluded English countryside until the baby is born and given up for adoption. Because the manor house’s owners, Lord and Lady Stanton, no longer live there, Alice’s only company will be Mrs. Jelphs and her skeleton staff.

Thirty years before Alice’s arrival, Lady Elizabeth Stanton awaits the birth of her second child, fervently hoping he will be the boy her husband desires. But as her time nears, she is increasingly tormented by memories of what happened with her first baby and terrified that history will repeat itself . . . with devastating consequences.

At first, Fiercombe Manor offers Alice a welcome relief from her mother’s disapproving gaze. But she begins to sense that all is not well in the picturesque Gloucestershire valley. After a chance encounter with Tom, the young scion of the Stanton family, Alice discovers that Fiercombe’s beauty is haunted by the clan’s tragic past. She is determined to exorcise the ghosts of the idyllic, isolated house.

Nothing can prepare Alice for what she uncovers. Can she escape the tragic fate of the other women who have lived in the Fiercombe valley?



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Review: 
After a brief affair with a married man at her office, twenty-two year old and unmarried Alice finds herself pregnant.  Her mother decides to ship Alice off to rural Gloucestershire to have her confinement at Fiercombe Manor where an old friend, Edith Jelphs, works as the housekeeper.  With a made up story of a dead husband, Alice is welcomed to Fiercombe and glad to be out of the watchful eye of her mother.  As Alice becomes settled at the manor, she notices a few strange occurrences and slowly learns the tragic history of the manor and its absent owners. 

With a haunting and elegant prose, the mysteries of Fiercombe Manor slowly unfold.  I enjoyed the switching points of view between Alice in 1932 and Elizabeth and 1898 and the parallel stories added to the suspense of the mystery and provided a pretty good pace; I did feel a little bit of a drag in the middle, but it picked back up.   While both women’s characters captured me, I felt more invested in Elizabeth’s story, especially once Alice is set on discovering what happened in the past with another woman who was pregnant at the manor.  Alice’s spirit and the hint of a romance lured me into her story.  Most of all, I was interested in the overall treatment of women, the treatment of post-partum depression and their pregnancies during the two time periods,  the factors that draw Alice and Elizabeth’s stories together.  Overall, Fiercombe Manor is a highly atmospheric historical mystery with a bit of romance.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
 

About the Author: 
Kate Riordan is a British writer and journalist who worked for the Guardian and Time Out London. She is also the author of Birdcage Walk and is already at work on her third novel. Born in London, she now lives in the Gloucestershire countryside.

Find out more about Kate at her website and connect with her on Twitter.

About the Book: 
Publication Date: February 14, 2015
Scarlet Primrose Press
Formats: eBook; Paperback
Pages: 232

Series: Book Two, Fairytale Keeper Series
Genre: Young Adult/Historical/Fairytale Retelling





During March of 1248, Adelaide Schumacher-affectionately called Snow White-has lost so much: her mother, her possessions, and now her home.

Adelaide hates abandoning her home city, her family’s legacy, and her first love‒Ivo. More than anything, she hates her father growing closer to her mother’s cousin‒Galadriel. Adelaide plots to end their tryst before her fate is sealed, and she never sets foot in Cologne again.

But good and pious can only get Galadriel so far. Never again will she be destitute. Never again will she be known by the cruel moniker‒Cinderella. Never again will someone take what is rightfully hers. No matter what it takes.

The Countess’ Captive is the much anticipated follow-up to The Fairytale Keeper and is book two in The Fairytale Keeper series. The novel combines Grimm’s fairytale characters with real historical settings and events to create a tale that leaves the reader wondering where fact ends and fiction begins.


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Review: 
The Countess' Captive picks up right after The Fairytale Keeper leaves off.  Adelaide, her father and her mother's cousin, Galadriel are abandoning their home in Cologne after their home was destroyed.  Adelaide would much rather stay in Cologne with her betrothed, Ivo and become a hard working like her father.  Instead, the trio just barely escapes town on their way to Galadriel’s castle in Bitsch.  With her life turned upside down, Addy must now pretend that she is the daughter of a rich merchant and refer to Galadriel as ‘my lady.’  Meanwhile, Galadriel has successfully installed herself as her father’s mistress less than one month after the death of Addy’s mother.  With a baby on the way and a wedding she is unable to stop, Addy finds comfort in the stories that her mother once told her, she also creates a new story to tell about her new step-mother.

Thoughtful, imaginative and fast-paced, I loved learning more of Adelaide’s story and a look into Medieval life for a Countess and her household.  Even though I knew where her and Galadriel’s relationship was heading, I was still surprised at how their relationship formed.  Carved out as the wicked step-mother character, I really couldn’t decide on my feelings for Galadriel.  However, I still did love Adeline as she grew and learned to deal with her lot in life with the help of Father Hannes.  Just as in The Fairytale Keeper, several fairytales are woven together artfully, and so that it doesn’t feel like a retelling, but more of actual events that could be construed into a fairy tale as time passes.  I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Adelaide in the The Baseborn Lady.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

You will definitely want to read the first book in the series….check out my review below!

The Fairytale Keeper:
Review
Adelaide's mother has lovingly nicknamed her Snow White as she tells Adelaide the story of her birth within the small village of Cologne in the 13th century.  After a fever sweeps the town, Adelaide's mother perishes.  Adelaide's father, a humble shoemaker scrapes together enough money to bribe the town priest, Father Soren, to give a proper funeral for her mother.  When the funeral goes awry, Adelaide becomes enraged at Father Soren and begins to learn of the wrongdoings of the church, she is also set on revenge and the redemption of her mother. 

I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings and could not wait to read this series.  Adelaide's story is set firmly in historic reality but shows a glint of fantasy and magic here and there that would lend to the stories being woven into fairy tales through time.  Through the writing medieval Cologne was brought to life along with the struggles of the people at the time. Adelaide, her family and some other townspeople are all firmly set in this installment.  I immediately loved Adelaide's fiery spirit and willingness to right a wrong.  I also fell in love with Ivo, a young man apprenticing as an armorer that Adelaide is friends with and grows fond of.  Their beginning romance is done well, and is incredibly sweet so far.  Adelaide's father and her mother's cousin, Galadriel were not as likable of characters, but their places within Adelaide's story are foreshadowed.  This is only the beginning of Adelaide's story and I can not wait to see what happens with the characters as well as how more fairy tale elements are woven in with the next book, Countess Captive. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author
Andrea Cefalo is an award-winning author and blogger on Medieval Europe. The next three novels in The Fairytale Keeper series will debut in 2015 and 2016. She resides in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and their two border collies. For more information please visit Andrea Cefalo’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Read an Excerpt: 

Intro: Galadriel gives Adelaide advice so she can return to her father’s good graces, but Addie questions Galadriel’s motives. The two argue and Galadriel, realizing that Addie will never waver, threatens her.

 

“Tonight you shall join us for supper and be a cheerful, obedient daughter,” Galadriel says. “Do that, and perhaps he’ll forget about the convent.”

Her advice takes me aback. “Why are you helping me?”

She laughs. “It’s not out of any fondness for you.” Her face saddens for a moment but quickly hardens. “I know you hate me…”

“You bedded my father a week after my mother’s death. You were her cousin!”

“It was not planned, you know.” She looks away. “We had so much drink. I doubt we even knew…”

“Doubt you even knew what? What you were doing, or who you were with?” I give a short, wry laugh. “Well, I do not doubt that he hadn’t any idea of that either.”

Her slap falls hard on my cheek. She draws back, and for a heartbeat, she eyes the hand that slapped me with shock. One of my hands darts to my smarted cheek, the other curls into a fist as we stand in heated silence. Her countess mask returns as quickly as it had faltered.

“What’s done is done, Adelaide, and I cannot undo it.” Her voice is distant, almost sad. “I have tried to be kind to you. I came all the way back to Cologne to save you. I saved Gregor from you. I gave you a home when you had none, and I give you one still.” A shadow darkens her fair face. “But if you want me to be a villain like the ones from your Mama’s tales, I will gladly rise to your expectations.”

She comes close. Her voice lowers to a whisper. “You think me a fool, but you have no idea what you are up against with me. I know why you ran from the carriage. You had to warn your little peasant boy. Is there someone else besides us who knows he burned Cologne’s cathedral to the ground?”

Her words knock the air from my chest. “Ivo would never do such a thing,” I lie.

She laughs. “Oh, if Konrad ever got his hands on you again! Your face paints quite the picture, you know. Are you always so easily read or only when it has to do with the peasant boy?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, but I do.” Her voice is ice. “That night, I sat staring out the window as your Father slept off his drunken stupor. I had nothing else to do. And then I saw him. Your Ivo, he ran right below my window, panicked and covered in soot.

“So back to why I am helping you. I love your father, and he loves you. I know the pain of losing a child, and I wish to keep him from that. If you summon him this morning, it shall upset him. Seeing the welt on your head shall remind him of yesterday. Besides that, it is obvious you are well enough to join us. He will suspect you’re causing trouble again, and that may seal his decision to send you away. It would break his heart to do that, and his heart hasn’t yet mended from its last wound.

“I have offered you kindness, and you won’t take it.” The soft, feminine angles of her features sharpen. “Now I offer you a warning. Keep up with your defiance against your father, and he will send you away, but if you defy me in the walls of my home, I swear I will write a letter to Konrad, telling him you confessed to me a horrific secret about how your Ivo burned the great cathedral of Cologne.”

“You’re wrong,” I say, withholding welling tears.

“And so what if I am? I am a countess, and he is a nobody. Who would Konrad believe?” She whirls around, heading down the hall, and adds without turning: “I think I shall have the letter written and kept in a safe place with a trusted person, just in case anything should happen to me.”

 

 

About the Book: 
US Publication Date: March 24, 2015
UK Publication Date: April 24, 2015
Touchstone Publishing
Formats: eBook, Hardcover
Pages: 390

Series: Joanna Stafford, Book Three
Genre: Historical Mystery



In THE CROWN, Sister Joanna Stafford searched for a Dark Ages relic that could save her priory from Cromwell’s advancing army of destruction. In THE CHALICE, Joanna was drawn

into an international conspiracy against Henry VIII himself as she struggled to learn the truth behind a prophecy of his destruction.

Now, in THE TAPESTRY, Joanna Stafford finally chooses her own destiny.

After her Dominican priory in Dartford closed forever—collateral damage in tyrannical King Henry VIII’s quest to overthrow the Catholic Church—Joanna resolves to live a quiet and honorable life weaving tapestries, shunning dangerous quests and conspiracies. Until she is summoned to Whitehall Palace, where her tapestry weaving has drawn the King’s attention.

Joanna is uncomfortable serving the King, and fears for her life in a court bursting with hidden agendas and a casual disregard for the virtues she holds dear. Her suspicions are confirmed when an assassin attempts to kill her moments after arriving at Whitehall.

Struggling to stay ahead of her most formidable enemy yet, an unknown one, she becomes entangled in dangerous court politics. Her dear friend Catherine Howard is rumored to be the King’s mistress. Joanna is determined to protect young, beautiful, naïve Catherine from becoming the King’s next wife and, possibly, victim.

Set in a world of royal banquets and feasts, tournament jousts, ship voyages, and Tower Hill executions, this thrilling tale finds Joanna in her most dangerous situation yet, as she attempts to decide the life she wants to live: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. Joanna Stafford must finally choose.


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Review: 
The Tapestry:

Joanna Stafford is pulled from her quiet life in Dartford by a summons to Whitehall Palace.  King Henry VIII was so impressed with the tapestry that Joanna wove for Anne of Cleves that he has commissioned Joanna to weave another for him.  Joanna has no choice now but to return to the cousin and King who killed members of her family and whom she recently was involved in a plot to kill.  As soon as Joanna arrives at Whitehall, trouble finds her.  Joanna also finds out that her dear friend, Catherine Howard is being pushed toward the King as a mistress.  While working on the King’s Tapestry, Joanna now finds herself deeply embroiled in another plot with someone attempting to hurt her while she attempts to protect one friend and find the whereabouts of another, Edmund .  The time will come for Joanna to finally choose what she wants in life. 

This was my favorite of the Joanna Stafford novels.  Taking place within King Henry’s court, many historical players are introduced through Joanna’s eyes: Anne of Cleves, Hans Holbein, Thomas Culpepper, Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn.  Joanna’s relationship with each of these people colors her view of them differently than we have seen through history, especially her friendship with Catherine Howard; however much historical accuracy is still kept.  Filled with intrigue, there are plots within plots that Joanna must wade through.  With her quick wit, good senses and cleverness Joanna finds her way through the scheming while immersing me in Tudor England on an exciting adventure. 

Check out my reviews of the first two books in the series below, you will definitely want to read them first!

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.

 




The Crown
The Crown is an amazing historical fiction novel set during the time of King Henry VIII, but follows the character of Joanna Stafford a novice at Dartford Priory.  Joanna has snuck away from the priory to offer comfort to her cousin, Margaret Blumer when she is burned at the stake for treason.  While at the burning, Joanna runs into trouble as her father arrives and tries to aid Margaret.  Joanna and her father are both imprisoned in the Tower. 

While imprisoned, Bishop Gardiner learns of Joanna's placement within Dartford Priory and negotiates  her release back to the Priory if she will look for the mystical Crown of Athelstan.  Meanwhile, Gardiner will hold her father in the Tower to make sure she complies.

This is a fast-paced historical fiction mystery.  The writing takes you back to the 1500's and is a wonderful insight into the not-so-often explored realm of Priory life during the reign of King Henry the VIII when Thomas Cromwell was actively dissolving religious houses.  Joanna Stafford's character is dynamic and heartfelt, she blends in seamlessly with the many real-life characters that make appearances throughout the book.  The ending was brilliant, I really never saw it coming...

The Chalice
In The Chalice we continue to follow Joanna Stafford after her priory has been dissolved. We are given a glimpse into Joanna's childhood when her mother brings Joanna to see a Sister who has been given the gift of Sight.  The Sister tells Joanna of a prophecy that she must fulfill.  "When the raven climbs the rope, the dog must soar like the hawk...the chalice."  Afraid and thinking that the prophecy is jibberish, Joanna tries to forget about the prophecy until she is thrown back into its path by those who want to take down Henry VIII.  Joanna tries to decide whether or not she should try to bring down the King who destroyed her way of life at the priory and fulfill the prophecy, or make her own path and change the future.

Reading The Chalice directly after The Crown, everything flowed nicely.  More is learned about Joanna Stafford and her past, developing her more as a character.  There are many more layers of intrigue and espionage in The Chalice as well as many more characters that Joanna has to deal with.  Some of the choices that Joanna makes in The Chalice are not quite smart and get her in trouble, but somehow she always finds her way out.  I found it very interesting how The Chalice incorporated a lot more magic and mysticism, but still held true to many historical facts.  Joanna also finds herself in a sort of a love triangle that added another layer to the story, but one that I, personally could have done without.


Praise: 

"Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books and transports us back to the dangerous world of Tudor England. Vivid characters and gripping plots are at the heart of this wonderful trilogy, and this third book will not fail to thrill readers. Warmly recommended!" - Bestselling author Alison Weir



“Illuminated by Bilyeau’s vivid prose, minor players of Tudor England emerge from the shadows.” —Kirkus Reviews

“In THE TAPESTRY, Nancy Bilyeau brilliantly captures both the white-hot religious passions and the brutal politics of Tudor England. It is a rare book that does both so well.” —Sam Thomas, author of The Midwife’s Tale

“In spite of murderous plots, volatile kings, and a divided heart, Joanna Stafford manages to stay true to her noble character. Fans of Ken Follett will devour Nancy Bilyeau’s novel of political treachery and courageous love, set amid the endlessly fascinating Tudor landscape.” —Erika Robuck, author of Hemingway’s Girl

“These aren’t your mother’s nuns! Nancy Bilyeau has done it again, giving us a compelling and wonderfully realized portrait of Tudor life in all its complexity and wonder. A nun, a tapestry, a page-turning tale of suspense: this is historical mystery at its finest.” —Bruce Holsinger, author of A Burnable Book and The Invention of Fire

“A supremely deft, clever and pacy entertainment. This is Nancy Bilyeau’s most thrilling—and enlightening—novel in the Joanna Stafford series yet.” —Andrew Pyper, author of The Demonologist and The Damned

“A master of atmosphere, Nancy Bilyeau imbues her novel with a sense of dread and oppression lurking behind the royal glamour; in her descriptions and characterizations… Bilyeau breathes life into history.” —Laura Andersen, author of The Boleyn King

About the Author: 
Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently the executive editor of DuJour 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 “Zenobia” placed with theAmerican Zoetrope competition, and “Loving Marys” reached the finalist stage of Scriptapalooza. A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013. THE TAPESTRY will be released in March 2015.

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children. Stay in touch with her on Twitter at @tudorscribe. For more information or to sign up for Nancy’s Newsletter please visit her official website.

About the Book

Title: Masque

Author: W.R. Gingell

Genre: New Adult Fantasy (Fairytale Retelling)

                Beauty met the Beast, and there was . . . bloody murder?

                It’s the Annual Ambassadorial Ball in Glause, and Lady Isabella Farrah, the daughter of New Civet’s Ambassador, is feeling pleasantly scintillated. 

In the library is Lord Pecus, a charming gentleman whose double mask hides a beastly face, and who has decided that Isabella is the very person to break the Pecus curse. 

In the ball-room is young Lord Topher, who is rapidly falling in love with an older woman. 

And in the card-room, lying in a pool of his own blood, is the body of one of Isabella’s oldest friends: Raoul, Civet’s Head Guardsman.  The papers sewn into his sash seem to suggest espionage gone wrong, but Isabella is not so certain.

Lord Pecus, as Commander of the Watch, is of the opinion that Isabella should keep out of the investigation and out of danger.  Isabella is of the opinion that it is her murder to investigate, and that what a certain Beast-Lord doesn’t know won’t hurt him.  . . .   

Will Isabella find the murderer before Lord Pecus does, or will she end her investigation as a bloody spatter on the parlour floor?

Review:
Lady Isabella Farrah, the older and unmarried daughter of the Ambassador of New Civet happily spends her days assissting her father with his duties.  At the masquerade ball for Glause, Isabella is taken with the mysterious and magic Lord Pecus; called the Beast Lord.  Lord Pecus has been cursed have the face of a beast and always wears a magical mask in order to disguise his true face.  As the ball progresses and Isabella finds herself dancing with men too young for her, she also stumbles across he murder scene of her friend and Civet’s Head Guardsman, Raoul.  Isabella can not help but be involved in the investigation that is lead by Commander of the Watch, Lord Pecus.  However, when her father is implicated in the murders, Isabella decides to be held in custody in his place at Lord Pecus’ manor.  While she is imprisoned Isabella will not only try to solve the mystery herself, but try to unravel the Beast Lord’s curse.

 

This is an enchanting and witty re-telling of Beauty and the Beast with a great mystery woven throughout.  I automatically fell in love with Isabella’s character as well as some of her sidekicks.  She is just as capable as the men, not to mention incredibly inquisitive, intelligent and brave, even when it lands her in trouble.  As well as her inquisitive nature, she had an incredible sense of fashion and was no fool for love.  The scenes where she and Lord Pecus interacted were always entertaining and I couldn’t wait for their next encounter.  Lord Pecus’ background and curse is still a bit of a mystery to me and I wish I could have known more about him.   The mystery was exciting as well, even though I had part of it figured out rather early.  The blending of the fairy tale and new mystery worked very well. 

 

Recommended for readers of the Parasol Protectorate series, Isabella reminded me a lot of Alexia.  Isabella and Lord Pecus’ relationship also had the same feel as Alexia and Lord Maccoon.

 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

 

Author Bio

W.R Gingell is a Tasmanian author who enjoys reading, bacon, and slouching in front of the fire to write. More titles in the Two Monarchies Sequence will be upcoming, and readers are encouraged to visit wrgingell.com or follow @WRGingell for the latest news and publication dates.

Other publications by W.R. Gingell include A Time-Traveller’s Best Friend: Volume One, and Ruth and the Ghost.

Links

Kobo link: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/masque-6

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Masque-Monarchies-Sequence-W-R-Gingell-ebook/dp/B00QJ61NN2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425269705&sr=8-1&keywords=w+r+gingell

B & N link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/masque-w-r-gingell/1121106001?ean=9781503331495

Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24821881-masque

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7849833.W_R_Gingell

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wrgingell

Website: wrgingell.com

Twitter: @WRGingell

“I think I would like to see your face,” he said thoughtfully. “Would it stretch politeness too far to ask you to remove your mask?”

“After you, my lord.”

I thought he laughed at me, but again it was hard to tell. “I don’t think I understand you, my lady.”

I looked at him steadily for a moment, my chin propped up in my palm. “Forgive me if I seem rude, but I think you understand me very well.”

He sat forward again, leaning his forearms on his knees. His bulk was so considerable that this maneuver put his face only inches from mine, and I found his eyes uncomfortably piercing. “Very well, my lady. Remove your mask, and I will remove mine.”

I was burning with curiosity that was tempered by a touch of self-satisfaction that I was about to accomplish something that even Delysia had not been able to accomplish, but I untied my mask with fingers that were steady enough. 

“Well, my lord?”

“Charming,” he said softly, deliberately misunderstanding. I found myself blushing for the first time in many years. It was annoying to know that he’d intended as much. “How old are you, Lady Farrah?”

“Very nearly thirty, my lord,” I told him composedly, ignoring the rudeness of the question. “And a confirmed old maid, so you’ve no need to waste your compliments on me.”

“What brings you to the Ambassadorial Ball?”

“The proposed militia merger, my lord; and I believe you’re stalling.”

He gave me a slow, considering smile, and I wondered if the face beneath the mask was smiling also. “Is that so? Are you sure you want to see my face?”

Courtesy compelled me to say, albeit with reluctance: “Not if you’re unwilling, my lord.”

Lord Pecus sat silent for a moment as if in thought, his mask unreadable.

“Hm. I don’t believe I am,” he said at last, as if he had surprised himself. “Try not to scream, my lady.”

If he had said it with the slightest theatricality, I would have laughed and gone back to the ballroom, content not to know what his face really looked like. But he said it unemotionally, a plain warning; and I had to take myself firmly to task for the quickly accelerating beat of my heart as he removed the charms that kept his mask in place. I settled my chin a little more firmly in my palm and waited, watching the process with some interest. I had not much talent for magic, and my knowledge was almost as slight: my training had mostly to do with international policy and diplomatic processes.

At last he seemed to be done. He raised both hands to remove the mask - beautiful hands, strong and bare of rings - and it came away cleanly. For a moment I thought he had yet another mask beneath: firelight played on tawny brown hair - no, fur!- in a face that looked like the worst parts of wolf and bear mixed. I blinked once, realising in that instant that it was his face, his real face, and no mask. His mask must be magic indeed to have hidden that snout under the pretence of a plain common-or-garden human nose.

“I see,” I said into the silent warmth of the room. I dropped my hand back to the arm of the chair and let a small sigh escape. “That explains a good deal.”

About the Book

 Title: Upon A. Time

Author: February Grace

Genre:  Fantasy / Fairytale / Romance

A blacksmith’s apprentice who would be a knight. The heir to the throne, at death’s door. One woman who would save them both, if she could… Charlotte was number sixty-four in the second group of young, hopeful maidens intended to meet the Prince at a grand ball in his honor. That introduction was not to be. She returned home to her tiny village—and her visions of a future limited by it—without any warning of the drastic turn her life was about to take. Soon she would be fighting against the odds to help keep a gravely wounded stranger alive; and waging war with her own heart, as he stirred feelings in her she’d never known. When the stranger’s royal identity is revealed, Charlotte is faced with an entirely different battle: one to keep her family, village, and the injured Prince in her care all safe from a madman set on taking the throne by any means necessary. 


Review:


Once upon a time there was a Ball held for all of the eligible maidens in the land in order for the Prince to choose a bride.  Charlotte Rousseau was maiden number sixty-four in line to meet the Prince, but never got the chance after a beautiful, golden haired maiden swept in and caught the Prince's attention.  Returning home to her small town of St. Fleur, Charlotte dutifully assists her ailing mother in taking care of their home, helps her father with his work as a physician and spends time with her childhood friend, Thomas. Not long after the Ball, the death of the King and the disappearance of the Prince is announced, making Duke Frederick next in line for the throne.  That same day, Thomas and Charlotte find a seriously injured man, Charlotte and her Father fix his injuries that best that they can, but the man will be disfigured and without part of his leg.  Charlotte nurses the man back to health and as he heals, finds the connection between the missing Prince and her injured man; she now gets the opportunity that she never received at the ball.  However, as the Prince heals, Duke Frederick has been creating problems for small towns such as St. Fleur.  It is now imperative to return the missing Prince to the throne and Charlotte and Thomas risk their lives to do so.

This was a really interesting spin on Cinderella.  The writing was very fast-paced and this was a shorter book, leaving me to fill in some gaps in time throughout the story; however I did feel that the character development was very good. I had a good picture of who Charlotte, Thomas and Prince Julien really were.  I also struggled along with them as their relationships developed.  It was evident to me that the hard-working, loyal and brave Thomas was in love with Charlotte, but that she had only ever seen him as a brother figure and friend.  I was glad to see that the Prince did not just sweep Charlotte off her feet with good looks and royal standing, but it was Charlotte who really ended up saving the Prince.  I really liked that Charlotte could see through his injuries, even when his "Cinderella" couldn't.  Wrapping up in an exciting conclusion, the Prince and Charlotte received their fairy tale happily ever after as well as Thomas and the original Cinderella earn a different kind of ever afters.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author:  
February Grace is a writer, poet, and artist from Southeastern Michigan. She has created characters with clockwork hearts, told the romantic tale of modern fairy godparents, and has now put her own spin on a classic tale in UPON A TIME, her fourth novel published by Booktrope. She sings on key, plays by ear, and is more than mildly obsessed with colors, music, and meteor showers.

Links

Website: http://februarywriter.blogspot.com  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24902564-upon-a-time?from_search=true

Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Time-February-Grace/dp/1620156938/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425320017&sr=8-1&keywords=upon+a+time+february

Amazon (eBook): http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Time-February-Grace-ebook/dp/B00TD6IF86/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1425320017

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-a-time-february-grace/1121187296?ean=9781620156933

About the Book: 
Publication Date: January 14, 2015
iUniverse
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 208
Series: Book Two, The Puritan Chronicles
Genre: Historical Fiction


It is 1693 in Hereford, Connecticut, when Mary Case, the spinster daughter of a Puritan minister, finds herself hopelessly smitten by the roguish thief, Daniel Eames. Betrothed to a man she does not like or love, she is soon compelled to help Daniel escape from jail. Suddenly, she finds herself on the run, not only accused of being Daniel’s accomplice, but also of murder.

The fugitive pair soon finds solace-and a mutual attraction-among the escapee’s Algonquin friends until two men from Daniel’s dark past hunt them down. After Mary is captured and returned home to await trial, a tragedy takes the life of her younger sister, revealing a dark secret Mary’s father has kept for months. But just as Mary learns she is pregnant, she makes a horrifying discovery about Daniel that changes everything and prompts her to develop an unlikely bond with his mother, Rebecca, who soon saves Mary from a shocking fate. It is not until years later that her daughter, Kezia, finally learns the truth about her biological father and family.

Letters to Kezia shares a courageous woman’s journey through a Puritan life and beyond as she struggles with adversity and betrayal, and discovers that loyalty can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

Praise for Letters to Kezia“In the tradition of author Peni Jo Renner’s gripping debut novel, Puritan Witch: The Redemption of Rebecca Eames, Letters to Kezia recounts the tale of courageous, compassionate, and relatable Mary, whose connection to Rebecca and her family is unforeseen and profound. The reader is captivated at the very first page, as Letters to Kezia is a story of forbidden love, deep family secrets, intrigue, murder, and atonement. Another beautifully written triumph for this author, whose immense gift for story-telling transports the reader into each scene so deftly, one can almost smell the wood smoke and hear the crackling of the fire in the hearth.” – Kelly Z. Conrad, award-winning author of Shaman

“Peni Jo Renner enthralled readers with Puritan Witch, the ordeal of Rebecca Eames, who was condemned to hang from Salem’s gallows as a witch. Now the Eames saga continues as Peni uses her special brand of witchery to bring Mary Case and Daniel Eames to vivid life, and shows us just how much a young woman will risk for love. Letters to Kezia is a poignant, true-life tale from colonial New England’s heartland which will captivate you, and keep you guessing until the end.” -JoAnn Butler, author of Rebel Puritan and The Reputed Wife

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Review: 
Mary Case is the daughter of the town's Puritan minister in Hereford, Connecticut in 1693.  When prisoners are brought in, it is Mary's job to take care of their wounds and feed them.  When Daniel Eames is brought in for thievery, Mary finds herself taken with him after several visits and when Mary learns of Daniel's fate, she quickly decides to help him escape.  When the escape plan goes awry, Daniel convinces Mary to leave with him.  Not wanting to leave her ill sister, Lizzy, but also not wanting to marry the manipulative assistant preacher Noah, Mary reluctantly escapes with Daniel and begins an adventure and builds their relationship trying to evade the men looking for them.  Years later, Mary's daughter Kezia finds the letters that Mary wrote about her time with Daniel and learns the true story of her father and her parentage.

Continuing the story of her family's history, Peni Jo Renner now turns to Daniel Eames. Equipped with only one note from his and Mary's trial, a beautiful and intriguing story has been woven.  At first, I was a little unsure of Mary's actions that lead her to leave with Daniel.  She seemed very naive to be taken with this prisoner so quickly that she would trust him so fully and leave with him.  However, looking at Mary's Puritan background, upbringing and actual history, this is a little more believable.  I enjoyed reading about Mary's time on the run with Daniel and his faithful dog Riff, especially her encounters and time within the Algonquin Indian camp.  It was interesting to see her perspective of the 'savages' change as she spent time with them.  Mary's character grew for me as the duo was recaptured and returned to Hereford, at this point she was a much stronger person and able to stand up for what she wanted.  I was glad to see the reappearance of Rebecca Eames toward the end of the story and the bond that she was able to create with Mary. 

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.

About the Author: 
PENI JO RENNER is the author of the IPPY award-winning novel, Puritan Witch: the Redemption of Rebecca Eames. Originally from North Dakota, Peni now lives with her husband in Maryland where she is currently researching for the third book in the Puritan Chronicles series.

For more information please visit the Puritan Witch Website and Facebook Page. You can also follow Peni Jo Renner on Twitter.

Looking for Jane
Publication Date: December 21, 2012
Fox Hollow Press
Formats: ebook & Paperback
Pages: 238

Genre: Historical Fiction

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“The nuns use this as their measuring stick: who your people are. Well, what if you don’t have no people? Or any you know of? What then? Are you doomed?” This is the nagging question of fifteen-year-old Nell’s life. Born with a cleft palate and left a foundling on the doorstep of a convent, she yearns to know her mother, whose name, she knows, was Jane.

When the Mother Superior tries to pawn her off to a mean looking farmer and his beaten down wife, Nell opts for the only alternative she can see: she runs away. A chance encounter with a dime novel exhorting the exploits of Calamity Jane, heroine of the west, gives Nell the purpose of her life: to find Calamity Jane, who Nell is convinced is her mother.

Her quest takes her down rivers, up rivers and across the Badlands to Deadwood, South Dakota and introduces her to Soot, a big, lovable black dog, and Jeremy Chatterfield, a handsome young Englishman who isn't particular about how he makes his way, as long as he doesn't have to work for it. Together they trek across the country meeting characters as wonderful and bizarre as the adventure they seek, learning about themselves and the world along the way.

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Review: 
Nell was dropped at a convent in rural Pennsylvania when she was a baby.  With a cleft palate and no knowledge of where she came from, except that her mother's name is Jane, Nell grows up ridiculed was believed to be developmentally disabled. When the Mother Superior tries to sell Nell to a mean farmer and his wife, Nell takes the opportunity to run away.  With no real plans and no where to go, Nell procures a boat and proceeds to travel up and down rivers trying to find her way.  She soon picks up handsome Britishman, Jeremy as well as a lovable river dog, Soot .  Jeremy makes his way through life as a thief, but has grown attached to Nell and doesn't seem to mind her different looks and strange voice.  As they travel, Nell reads the story of Calamity Jane.  Once she hears that Jane is real, Nell is convinced that Calamity Jane is her mother and is given a reason for her quest as well as a destination, Deadwood South Dakota.  

Set throughout the US in the 1800's, Nell's adventures showcase American history at the time.  Nell is a lovable character, she is assumed to be disabled because of her cleft palate, but is very bright.  She has taught herself how to read and has a good sense of what people to trust.  When she finds Jeremy, they form a heartwarming and protective bond; though Nell sometimes wishes that there was more.  Very reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, Nell's adventures up and down the Mississippi introduce Nell to a variety of spectacles and people.  From tent revivals and snake oil salesmen to Quakers and an understanding Doctor who helps Nell with her palate and teeth, Nell sees the best and worst of what the world has to offer. While Nell's quest to find Calamity Jane and her belief that she is indeed her mother seems fanciful, Nell's intuition always seems to be spot on that I begun to believe it myself.  Overall, this was a fun adventure with some great characters and a different kind of happy ending.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Check Out Judith Redline Coopey's Other Books:
The Furnace (Juniata Iron Trilogy, #1)
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
Fox Hollow Press
*Formats: eBook & Paperback
Pages: 336

Series: Volume One, Juniata Iron Trilogy
Genre: Historical Fiction

READ AN EXCERPT.

Elinor Bratton, young, beautiful, and privileged is pregnant and cast aside by her lover, the wealthy and spoiled scion of a eastern Pennsylvania family. As a result she is forced by her father into an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. Adam MacPhail, a common iron worker whose only wish is to become an iron master agrees to the match as a means of realizing his dream. Ellie’s father, Stephen Bratton, well to do, well connected and determined to save his daughter’s reputation, orchestrates the union — not as Ellie would have it, but as he sees fit. So begins a marriage in a time when a woman had no voice, no rights, no say in matters directly pertaining to her. Ellie, exiled to the wilderness of western Pennsylvania with a man she would not have considered three months before, declares her intention to make Adam’s life miserable and make her father pay for his high-handed disregard for her rights. Adam, unschooled in dealing with women, chooses to focus his energy and attention on turning a down and out iron furnace into a profitable, well-ordered producer. Through the first half of the nineteenth century, the couple struggle to establish a life, disentangle an ill-conceived marriage, and make a success of a derelict furnace through the ups and downs of an unpredictable industry. Volume One of The Juniata Iron Trilogy, The Furnace chronicles Ellie and Adam’s efforts to find a balance and build an enterprise worthy of Pennsylvania’s iron industry, producing Juniata Iron, the finest in the world.

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Waterproof: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Fox Hollow Press
Formats: ebook & Paperback
Pages: 266

Genre: Historical Fiction


READ AN EXCERPT.

Fifty years after an earthen dam broke and sent a thirty foot wall of raging destruction down on the city of Johnstown, PA, Pamela McRae looks back on the tragedy with new perspective.

When the flood hit, it wiped out Pam’s fondest hopes, taking her fiancé and her brother’s lives and her mother’s sanity, and within a year her father walked away, leaving his daughter
—now the sole support of her mother—to cope with poverty and loneliness.

The arrival of Katya, a poor Hungarian girl running away from an arranged marriage, finally gives Pam the chance she needs to get back into the world; Katya can care for her mother, and Pam can go to work for the Johnstown Clarion as a society reporter.

Then Davy Hughes, Pam’s fiancé before the flood, reappears and, instead of being the answer to her prayers, further complicates her life. Someone is seeking revenge on the owners of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, the Pittsburgh millionaires who owned the failed dam, and Pam is afraid Davy has something to do with it.

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Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad
Publication Date: April 2, 2010
Formats: ebook & Paperback
Pages: 280

Genre: Historical Fiction

READ AN EXCERPT.

Ann Redfield is destined to follow her brother Jesse through life – two years behind him – all the way. Jesse is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and Ann follows him there as well.

Quakers filled with a conviction as hard as Pennsylvania limestone that slavery is an abomination to be resisted with any means available, the Redfield brother and sister lie, sneak, masquerade and defy their way past would-be enforcers of the hated Fugitive Slave Law.

Their activities inevitably lead to complicated relationships when Jesse returns from a run with a deadly fever, accompanied by a fugitive, Josiah, who is also sick and close to death. Ann nurses both back to health. But precious time is lost, and Josiah, too weak for winter travel, stays on at Redfield Farm. Ann becomes his teacher, friend and confidant. When grave disappointment disrupts her life, Ann turns to Josiah for comfort, and comfort leads to intimacy. The result, both poignant and inspiring, leads to a life long devotion to one another and their cause.

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About the Author
Judith Redline Coopey, born in Altoona, PA holds degrees from the Pennsylvania State University and Arizona State University. A passion for history inherited from her father drives her writing and a love for Pennsylvania sustains it. Her first book, Redfield Farm was the story of the Underground Railroad in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The second, Waterproof, tells how the 1889 Johnstown Flood nearly destroyed a whole city and one young woman’s life. Looking For Jane is a quest for love and family in the 1890s brought to life through the eyes of Nell, a young girl convinced that Calamity Jane is her mother. Her most recent work, The Furnace: Volume One of the Juniata Iron Trilogy, is set on an iron plantation near where she grew up and tells the story of an ill conceived marriage of convenience as it plays out over a lifetime. As a teacher, writer and student of history, Ms Coopey finds her inspiration in the rich history of her native state and in stories of the lives of those who have gone before.

For more information please visit Judith Redline Coopey’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

About the Book: 
From the critically acclaimed author of Atlas of Unknowns and Aerogrammes, a tour de force set in South India that plumbs the moral complexities of the ivory trade through the eyes of a poacher, a documentary filmmaker, and, in a feat of audacious imagination, an infamous elephant known as the Gravedigger.

“The Tusk That Did the Damage is one of the most unusual and affecting books I’ve read in a long time. Narrated by a poacher, a filmmaker, and, most brilliantly, an elephant, this is a compulsively readable, devastating novel.” —Jonathan Safran Foer
 
“The Tusk That Did the Damage is a novel of great moral intensity, with the pacing of a thriller. Everyone is implicated. Everyone is righteous. Tania James’ gift, her genius, is to turn this scenario into an occasion for grace.” —Julie Otsuka

“The Tusk that Did the Damage is spectacular, a pinwheeling multi-perspectival novel with a cast that includes my favorite character of recent memory, ‘the Gravedigger,’ an orphaned homicidal elephant.  Tania James is one of our best writers, and here she is at the height of her powers:  brilliant, hilarious, capable of the most astonishing cross-cultural interspecies ventriloquies and acrobatic leaps of empathy.  You will read this ravishing novel in an afternoon and immediately want to press it on your favorite people.” —Karen Russell


Purchase Links
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Review:

"The world is changing.  If it was not changing, it would not be the world."

A story of the Indian Elephant ivory trade told through the eyes of an elephant deemed The Gravedigger, two documentary filmmakers, Teddy and Emma and brothers Jayan, an accomplished poacher and Manu, a reluctant poacher.  The Gravedigger was pulled away from his dead mother when he was a calf and sold into a life of labor and entertainment for people.  When he breaks his bonds, The Gravedigger returns to the wild, but when he comes across people he kills and then solemnly buries them.  Teddy and Emma are young filmmakers hoping to make a break with a documentary about Ravi, a veterinarian and his ability to rehabilitate elephant calves. Jayan and Manu are sons of a drunken rice farmer. As Jayan finds his purpose in the poaching world, he brings in his wary brother into the dangerous trade.

The Tusk That Did The Damage proved to be an intense and emotional book.  As I read from each point of view, small chunks of a much larger story were pieced together to see how the lives of an Elephant, village poachers, a documentary film crew and an elephant sanctuary caretaker are pulled together.  I had no idea where this story was going, but I always expect elephant stories to be sad.  This story was tragic, but not in the ways I was expecting.  The writing was very unique and each point of view held their own, as the points of view switched from one story to the next there was a sense of urgency built up that kept me from putting the book down.  I was most captivated by The Gravediggers narrative, as an elephant who suffers tragedy at the hands of humans and then hands it back with the need to bury the dead; The Gravedigger's voice compelled me as the voice of an animal gives feelings and emotions to a human world.  Though the very beginning felt a little choppy and confusing to me with quickly changing stories and point of view, the stories were quickly pulled together for an amazing and unique read.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author:
TANIA JAMES is the author of the novel Atlas of Unknowns and the short-story collection Aerogrammes. Her fiction has appeared in Boston Review, Granta, Guernica, One Story, A Public Space, and The Kenyon Review. She lives in Washington, DC.

About the Book:
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Cool Gus Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 168Series: The William Shakespeare Detective Agency
Genre: Historical Mystery

“My name is William Shakespeare. No, not that Shakespeare; and no jests please, I've heard them all. I’m the other one, the ne’er do well cousin, the loafer, known to family and friends as the dunce, the one who could not recite Cicero or Horace, who could never be as good as his clever cuz, the one who has just come to Bishopsgate from Stratford with silly dreams in his head and a longing to make something more of himself than just a glover’s handyman.”

What he finds in London is Lady Elizabeth Talbot, who is willing to pass a few shillings to this blundering brawler if he will help her find her husband. Poor William does not realize the trail will lead to the truth behind the death of Shakespeare’s great rival, Christopher Marlowe – or to a lifelong love affair with a woman far above his station.

Each book tells the story of William’s adventures as England’s first gumshoe, set against turbulent Elizabethan politics; of his romantic pursuit of the impossible Elizabeth Talbot; while charting the career of his up and coming dramatist cousin, the bard of Stratford, but just Will to his family.

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Review: 
"Try not to make a fool out of yourself the very first day. 
You would think this is not a difficult instruction to follow; you would be wrong."

William Shakespeare, cousin to the William Shakespeare arrives in London from Stratford in hopes of finding employment in anything but glove making.  Secretly, he wishes to follow his cousin into the world of acting; but with the plague about, the theatre is far from gainful employment.  Instead, Will immediately finds trouble at a London bar where he is mistaken for his well-known cousin.  The Lady Elizabeth Talbot is searching for her ne're-do-well husband, Henry.  It was rumored that Henry had spoken to a William Shakespeare before disappearing.  Will is absconded by the Lady Elizabeth and instead of leaving with his life in tact, he decides to assist the beautiful Elizabeth Talbot find out what has happened to her husband.  Now, with some money in his pocket, Will finds himself going deep into London's underbelly to find out what has happened to the husband of a woman he is quickly falling in love with. 

This was a fun and fast historical mystery set in one of my favorite historical time periods.  One of the best parts for me was seeing London described by newcomer, Will.  He is taken with the city, but also taken advantage of at every turn and placed in some of the worst parts of London during the plague; still he decided to persevere.  Even though William Shakespeare, cousin to the playwright, might be fictional, the description of the world he was placed in seemed on point with history.  From the plague to the actual William Shakespeare's trails with the theatre at the time and the disappearance of Kit Marlowe, there is a lot of actually history packed in. Will's adventures took a humorous tone and though he didn't think himself as the smartest man, it was great to see him grown in his street smarts as he bumbled through London trying to find Henry Talbot. The mystery itself wasn't very complex and there are not a lot of clues to follow, but it was still entertaining.  I would be interested in reading more about Will's detecting skills and his relationship with Lady Talbot since she left him in a precarious position. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author
Born in London, Colin first trialed as a professional football player in England, and was eventually brought to Australia. He went to Sydney and worked in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines. He has published over twenty novels and his work has so far been translated into 23 languages.

He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz.

He currently lives in Barcelona.

For more information please visit Colin Falconer’s website. You can also find him on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

About the Book: 
Publication Date: March 17, 2015
Atria Books
Formats: Hardcover, Ebook
Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Mystery



READ AN EXCERPT.

Possession. Power. Passion. International bestselling novelist M.J. Rose creates her most provocative and magical spellbinder yet in this erotic, gothic novel set against the lavish spectacle of 1890s Belle Époque Paris.

Sandrine Salome runs away to her grandmother’s Parisian mansion to escape her dangerous husband, but what she finds is even more menacing. The house, famous for its lavish art collection and elegant salons, is mysteriously closed up. Although her grandmother insits it’s dangerous for Sandrine to visit, she defies her and meets Julien Duplessi, a mesmerizing young architect. Together they explore the hidden night world of Paris, the forbidden occult underground and Sandrine’s deepest desires.

Among the bohemians and the demi-monde, Sandrine discovers her erotic nature as a lover and painter. Then darker influences threaten – her cold and cruel husband is tracking her down and something sinister is taking hold, changing Sandrine, altering her. She’s become possessed by La Lune: A witch, a legend and a sixteenth-century courtesan, who opens up her life to a darkness that may become a gift or a curse.

This is Sandrine’s “wild night of the soul,” her odyssey in the magnificent city of Paris, of art, love and witchery.



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Review:
Sandrine Salome runs away from her home in New York and manipulative husband after a tragedy.  She returns to her Grandmother’s mansion in Paris; as a famous courtesan her Grandmother still maintains influence and wealth.  When Sandrine arrives, she finds the mansion empty.  Her Grandmother has moved away and plans to abandon her home and turn it into a museum.  Sandrine is wrought with grief for her father and fear that her husband will find her when she arrives.  However, she feels a pull towards her Grandmother’s mansion and the curse of La Lune that resides within.  Finding the architect Julien Duplessi within the mansion, Sandrine and Julien unlock the force of Sandrine’s ancestor, La Lune and all of the dark powers that accompany La Lune’s restless spirit. 

Addicting and spell-binding I felt pulled into the story as Sandrine was taken over by La Lune.  I was completely captivated by the plot and Sandrine’s story.  From the very beginning, there is a feeling that something is off.  Sandrine ran away from more than just a loveless marriage, her Grandmother’s house is mysteriously unoccupied and her presence in France and especially at the mansion seems unwanted.  The combination of the arts and the occult in Bel-Epoque Paris was evocative and mixed the paranormal with history in an exciting way.  The mystery of La Lune had me fascinated as Sandrine was taken ahold by the spirit; at first it seemed a helpful agent in Sandrine’s life enhancing her sensuality and causing her to take a leap into becoming the first woman artist accepted into the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.  However, as La Lune gained power Sandrine’s loved ones become increasingly endangered.  Overall, this was a gripping, unique and suspenseful story that blended the right amounts of history, paranormal, romance and suspense.

This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.

 

About the Author: 
M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens ofCentral Park and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed.

She is the author of more than a dozen novels, the co-president and founding board member of International Thriller Writers and the founderof the first marketing company for authors: AuthorBuzz.com. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. Visit her online at MJRose.com.

Connect with M.J. Rose on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads.

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