About the Book: 
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Crown (May 5, 2015)

When Sarah Brown, daughter of abolitionist John Brown, realizes that her artistic talents may be able to help save the lives of slaves fleeing north, she becomes one ofthe Underground Railroad’s leading mapmakers, taking her cues from the slave code quilts and hiding her maps within her paintings. She boldly embraces this calling after being told the shocking news that she can’t bear children, but as the country steers toward bloody civil war, Sarah faces difficult sacrifices that could put all she loves in peril.

Eden, a modern woman desperate to conceive a child with her husband, moves to an old house in the suburbs and discovers a porcelain head hidden in the root cellar--the remains of an Underground Railroad doll with an extraordinary past of secret messages, danger and deliverance.

Ingeniously plotted to a riveting end, Sarah and Eden’s woven lives connect the past to the present, forcing each of them to define courage, family, love, and legacy in a new way.



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Review: 
Sarah Brown, daughter of abolitionist and Underground Rail Road conductor, John Brown is invested in her father’s cause to help escaping slaves.  She wants to assist in any way that she can, especially since she was left barren after her fight with dysentery; Sarah offers up her artistic skills to paint landscapes that act as maps to freedom.  After her father is wounded and sentenced to death for his raid on Harper’s Ferry, the Brown women travel to the Hill household in West Virginia to see their father for one last time.  While at the Hill’s Sarah learns more of the Underground Railroad from their son, Freddy Hill, as well as making a lifetime Friendship.  In the present, Eden and her husband Jack look for a new start in an old home in West Virginia.  Eden and Jack have been trying to conceive for years with no luck, leaving Eden feeling emotionally drained.  A new home, a new dog and new relationships with the people in the small town might be just what Eden needs.  When she finds a broken doll’s head in her basement, Eden and the girl next door, Cleo begin a mission to find out it’s mystery that will link them to the past.

I love dual-time stories and historical fiction, so I feel that this story was made for me.  Both Sarah and Eden’s stories were interesting and I felt an equal investment in each.  I was happy to learn more about Sarah Brown and her father, John Brown and Sarah’s important role in the Underground Railroad.  Sarah is an inspiring character; she was educated, talented and determined to help with the abolitionist cause.  Her paintings may not be as remembered as her father’s raid, but they impacted many people.  Sarah’s link with Eden in the future was well done, I was glad that they were not related in some roundabout way; but were two women unable to have children and feeling the constraints of the emotional and societal effects of that fact.  In their stories they each eventually come to terms with that fact and find happiness in their own ways. 

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

 

About the Author: 
SARAH McCOY is the  New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of The Baker's Daughter, a 2012 Goodreads Choice Award Best Historical Fiction nominee; the novella "The Branch of Hazel" in Grand Central; The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico; and The Mapmaker's Children (Crown, May 5, 2015).

Her work has been featured in Real Simple, The Millions, Your Health Monthly, Huffington Post and other publications. She has taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. She calls Virginia home but presently lives with her husband, an Army physician, and their dog, Gilly, in El Paso, Texas. Sarah enjoys connecting with her readers on Twitter at @SarahMMcCoy, on her Facebook Fan Page or via her website, www.sarahmccoy.com.

About the Book: 
Supervision by Alison Stine 
Published by: HarperVoyager
Publication date: April 9th 2015
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Something is wrong with Esmé.

Kicked out of school in New York, she’s sent to live with her grandmother in a small Appalachian town. But something is wrong with the grandmother Ez hasn’t seen for years; she leaves at midnight, carrying a big black bag. Something is wrong with her grandmother’s house, a decrepit mansion full of stray cats, stairs that lead to nowhere, beds that unmake themselves. Something is wrong in the town where a kid disappears every year, where a whistle sounds at night but no train arrives.

And something is wrong with the cute and friendly neighbor Ez’s age with black curls and ice-blue eyes: He’s dead.


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Review:
Esme gets kicked out of her New York school when her grades begin to slip.  Her parents died in an accident years ago and now it is just her and her older sister. Overwhelmed by Esme's antics after she is found in a subway tunnel, her sister ships Esme off to her grandmother's.  Her grandmother lives in a strange old mansion in a rural town and works nights as a nurse.  When Esme arrives at her grandmother's house she realizes something is wrong with her, no one can see her except Tom and Clara, two neighboring kids that may not be quite so alive.  As Esme is vaulted into the spirit world, she learns her role and tries to help the living as well as the dead. 

I really liked the idea behind this story, it was a different kind of ghost story aimed at the YA crowd.  The beginning was a little clunky and confusing for me, and I still have some questions, but once Esme met Tom and Clara, things start moving.  Esme was an interesting character;  I felt like I had a hard time getting to know her, though.  Esme did seem to find her way once she was invisible and she figured out how she could help the ghosts that she met.  I did enjoy that Esme was diverse, a Chinese-American teen; I also liked all of the ghost characters.  Tom, Clara, Martha, Mr. Black, the Builder and the Stationmaster were colorful and added a sense of danger.  The relationship between Esme and Tom was very sweet at first, but then did seem a little strange as events progressed.  The mystery of the Stationmaster and what he wanted created suspense and tied everything together at the end.  

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

About the Author: 
ALISON STINE’s first novel SUPERVISION will be released by Harper Voyager UK in 2015.

Also the author of three books of poetry: WAIT (University of Wisconsin Press, 2011), OHIO VIOLENCE (University of North Texas Press, 2009), and LOT OF MY SISTER (Kent State University Press, 2001), she has worked as an actor, an artist’s model, a high school teacher, and a professor. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Ohio University, and is an avid urban explorer.

Author links:
http://www.alisonstine.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/683318.Alison_Stine
https://www.facebook.com/alisonstineauthor?ref=hl&ref_
https://twitter.com/AlisonStine

About the Book: 
Grief changes people.

Brittany used to be a normal teen. She ate like one, slept like one, and had typical teenage mood swings. But after she found her best friend dead, everything changed.

Grief might explain her loss of appetite and her lack of sleep. It might even explain why she sees her dead friend everywhere she goes. But it certainly won't explain why everyone she touches develops bruises or why she's attracted to the smell of blood.

And, she's pretty sure grief doesn't make you want to rip apart your boyfriend just to get closer to his beating heart.

But what happens when it's the choices we make, not the creature inside, that proves the monster is in us all?


Review: 
 

After finding the body of her best friend, Brittany begins to feel different.  Taken over by more than grief, teenaged Brittany has now started to see her dead friend, she has no appetite for food and her insides feel different.  Something has invaded Brittany, shut down her organs and has given her an appetite for blood.  Brittany must learn to live with the parasite, her new appetite and the changes that come with it.  As Brittany reveals the true nature of what resides in her, Brittany must choose if she wants to be the hero or the monster.

I thought this was a really interesting take on vampires.  I was intrigued by the way that the parasite, which Brittany calls E.V., explained its purpose and its history, fitting in with well-known vampire lore.  Brittany is a complex character who meets the challenge of being invaded by E.V. head on; she asks questions, test boundaries and tries to find a way that they can live together.  Most of all, Brittany gets to know E.V. personally.  Much of the book is Brittany’s internal struggle with E.V. and her need for blood; this was interesting but did drag on for a bit. The suspense picked up when Brittany’s friend, Coby begins to realize that something is wrong with her and begins to seek help with someone who seems to know exactly what Brittany is going through.  The end really picked up as the intentions of the parasite were revealed and through me for a huge loop when Brittany and E.V. decided to solve it on their own.  The writing in the book is very fast paced and chapters are very short, almost to the point of being choppy; however, it did make me want to keep reading.  Overall, a different YA, paranormal, vampire read for someone looking for something a little different.

 

About the Author: 
Aviva Bel’Harold writes young adult fiction: Horror, Science Fiction, ­Urban Fantasy, etc. — as long as the ­characters are young, full of life, and out for adventure.

When she’s writing, you’ll find her curled up on a sofa with a pen and a pad of paper, ­surrounded by her adorable puppies.

Born in Winnipeg and raised in Vancouver, Aviva Bel’Harold ­currently resides in Calgary with her husband, four children, and six dachshunds.

Author  Website 

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Twitter: @AvivaTheAuthor

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Review: 
In Victorian England, seventeen year old Delia Spencer attends a séance with her friends.  At the séance, something strange happens and her soul is split in two.  Delia is now connected to her future spirit in present day New York City where she is Elle Thomas.  Delia and Elle can now see and feel into each other’s lives.  However, when one falls into the other’s life, fainting, dizzy spells and seizure like moments occur.  This creates issues for Delia’s callous parents who are trying to marry her off to the wealthiest bachelor before her little problem comes to light.  Delia’s father will see her married to Andrew Jenkins, an unfortunate and hateful match for Delia, but a wonderful business partner for her father, even when Delia finds an equal match with love and kindness in Matthew.  Meanwhile, Delia’s is increasingly seeing into Elle’s life where Elle has more freedoms and is struggling with the decision to stay with her boyfriend, Luke, who is leaving for college soon.

I loved the plot of this story where two people are connected by their soul through time.  Each of the young women were in such contrasting circumstances, it was interesting to the effects of the other in their own time periods.  Delia, with insight into Elle’s life, is able to see that freedom of choice and intellect for girls is possible, and becomes more outspoken and takes a stand in her life.  Elle, with insight into Delia’s constrained life, is able to appreciate the freedom she has and a man who truly loves her.  The ending threw me for a loop, but did tie everything up.  One thing that bothered me a little were the transitions from Delia to Elle, they just seemed sloppy and sometimes it took me a minute to realize who had control.  Also, at first it wasn’t evident to me if Delia and Elle could both see into each other’s lives, or if Delia could just see into Elle’s since the story really did focus on Delia.  Overall, a different kind of young adult paranormal read.

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

About the Book: 
Publication Date: April 1, 2015
Lake Union Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback
ISBN-10: 1477821384Genre: Historical Fiction

Long before she ran away with Paris to Troy, Helen of Sparta was haunted by nightmares of a burning city under siege. These dreams foretold impending war—a war that only Helen has the power to avert. To do so, she must defy her family and betray her betrothed by fleeing the palace in the dead of night. In need of protection, she finds shelter and comfort in the arms of Theseus, son of Poseidon. With Theseus at her side, she believes she can escape her destiny. But at every turn, new dangers—violence, betrayal, extortion, threat of war—thwart Helen’s plans and bar her path. Still, she refuses to bend to the will of the gods.

A new take on an ancient myth, Helen of Sparta is the story of one woman determined to decide her own fate.

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Review: 


Helen of Sparta carries a heavy weight on her shoulders.  She is princess to Sparta, but also the daughter of Zeus.  Helen is resented by her mother for how she was conceived; she is also bound to inherit the throne.  Helen’s gifts from Zeus not only granted her beauty, but dreams that foresee the future.  In a recurring nightmare, she envisions Sparta in flames and the death of her family when she is married to a childhood friend.  Determined to escape her fate, Helen makes plans to escape to Athens with King Theseus, son of Poseidon.  Finally feeling some freedom, the gods continue to punish Helen for her actions; however, Helen still continues to forge her own path.

Helen of Sparta offers a fresh take on Greek mythology and the Trojan War from Helen’s point of view.  I loved the mix of historical fiction and mythology.  I was captivated by Helen’s fiery spirit and determination right from the beginning and found myself immersed in her story.  She does not play a damsel, but is the driver of her own destiny.  Helen’s world is brought to light with the magic of the gods and the brutality of the history.  Focusing on Helen’s life when she was younger, I got to know her character very well as she grew, as well as Theseus.  Theseus  is created in a heroic and sympathetic light.  Overall, Helen's story is packed with great characters, a rollercoaster of emotions and an intense plot.  With a rather abrupt ending, I am hoping to read more in the next book.

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

About the Author: 
Amalia Carosella graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelors degree in Classical Studies and English. An avid reader and former bookseller, she writes about old heroes and older gods. She lives with her husband in upstate New York and dreams of the day she will own goats (and maybe even a horse, too). For more information, visit her blog at www.amaliacarosella.com. She also writes fantasy and paranormal romance as Amalia Dillin.

You can also connect with Amalia on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter here and here.

About the Book: 
On Sale: April 14, 2015
Pages: 188
Published by : Alibi

Sure to delight readers of Jacqueline Winspear and Ellis Peters, Medium Deadfeatures Queen Victoria herself—and she’s rumored to have slain a local psychic in Newton-upon-Sea. Now the task of clearing her name and catching the real killer falls to Dr. Alexandra Gladstone.

Under Victoria’s reign, women are barred from calling themselves physicians, but that hasn’t stopped Alexandra Gladstone. As the first female doctor in Newton-upon-Sea, she spends her days tending sick villagers in the practice she inherited from her father, with her loyal and sometimes overprotective dog, Zack, by her side.

After the corpse of village spiritualist Alvina Elwold is discovered aboveground at a church boneyard, wild rumors circulate through the charming seaside village, including one implicating a certain regal guest lodging nearby. Tales of the dead Alvina hobnobbing with spirits and hexing her enemies are even more outlandish—but as a woman of science and reason, Alexandra has no doubt that a murderer made of flesh and blood is on the loose.

Finding out the truth means sorting through a deluge of ghostly visitors, royal sightings, and shifty suspects. At least her attentive and handsome friend Nicholas Forsyth, Lord Dunsford, has come to her aid. Alexandra will need all the help she can get, because she’s stumbled upon dangerous secrets—while provoking a deadly adversary who wants to keep them buried.



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Review: 
Queen Victoria has secretly found her way to the small Village of Newton-upon-Sea in hopes of hosting a séance with local psychic Alvina Elwold in order to contact the deceased Prince Albert.  Queen Victoria is an undisclosed guest of Lady Forsyth at Montmarsh Castle where the covert séance is planned to take place; only Alvina is found murdered at the graveyard before she can perform and a local man swears that he saw the Queen flee the scene.  When local doctor, Alexandra Gladstone is called to aid an ailing Lady Forsyth by her son, Lord Dunsford, it is clear to Alexandra that there is more contributing to Lady Forsyth’s condition than her illness.

A murder mystery in Victorian England, featuring Queen Victoria herself-I couldn’t resist.  As I began reading, I realized that this was the fourth book in the series; however I did not feel lost at all.  I immediately felt connected to Alexandra, a doctor practicing medicine in a time when women are banned from being physicians.  She is confident, intelligent and has a soft spot for the people of her village.  The rest of the characters, Lord Dunsford, Lady Forsyth, Nancy, and even the Queen formed an interesting, humorous and eclectic cast.  The mystery of the dead medium was not that difficult to figure out or involved; however, Medium Dead provided a quick, shorter, light mystery with entertaining characters.

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

 

About the Author: 
Award-winning novelist Paula Paul was born on her grandparents’ cotton farm near Shallowater, Texas, and graduated from a country high school near Maple, Texas. She earned a BA in journalism and has worked as a reporter for newspapers in both Texas and New Mexico. She’s been the recipient of state and national awards for her work as a journalist as well as a novelist. Her previous novels featuring Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, including Symptoms of Death, have appeared on bookstore and online bestseller lists. She is also the author of the Mystery by Design series, which she wrote as Paula Carter. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

To learn more about Paula, visit her WEBSITE.

About the Book: 


Publication Date: March 24, 2015
Mulholland Books
Hardcover; 342p
ISBN: 9780316323932
Genre: Historical Mystery

David Morrell’s MURDER AS A FINE ART was a publishing event. Acclaimed by critics, it made readers feel that they were actually on thefogbound streets of Victorian London. Now the harrowing journey continues in INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD.

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his Confessions of an Opium-Eater,confronts London’s harrowing streets to thwart the assassination ofQueen Victoria.
The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. TheEmpire teeters.

Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.

This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself. As De Quincey and Emily race to protect the queen, they uncover long-buried secrets and the heartbreaking past of a man whose lust for revenge has destroyed his soul.

Brilliantly merging historical fact with fiction, Inspector of the Dead is based on actual attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria.

Praise for Inspector of the Dead“Riveting! I literally thought I was in 1855 London. With this mesmerizing series, David Morrell doesn’t just delve into the world of Victorian England—he delves into the heart of evil, pitting one man’s opium-skewed brilliance against a society where appearances are everything, andthe most vicious killers lurk closer than anyone thinks.” —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Crash & Burn and The Perfect Husband

What the Victorian Experts Say:

“Even better than Murder as a Fine Art. A truly atmospheric and dynamic thriller. I was fascinated by how Morrell seamlessly blended elements from Thomas De Quincey’s life and work. The solution is a complete surprise.” —Grevel Lindop, The Opium-Eater: A Life of Thomas De Quincey

“The scope is remarkable. Florence Nightingale, the Crimean War, regicide, the railways, opium, the violence and despair of the London rookeries, medical and scientific innovations, arsenic in the food and clothing—all this makes the Victorian world vivid. The way Morrell depicts Thomas De Quincey places him in front of us, living and breathing. But his daughter Emily is in many ways the real star of the book.” —Robert Morrison, The English Opium-Eater: A Biography of Thomas De Quincey

“I absolutely raced through it and couldn’t bear to put it down. I particularly liked how the very horrible crimes are contrasted with thedeveloping, fascinating relationship between Thomas De Quincey and his daughter, Emily, who come across as extremely real. It was altogether a pleasure.” —Judith Flanders, The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Reveled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime

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Review: 
In Victorian England, during the intensity of the Crimean War, a man is killing off upper class members of British Society one by one.  Set on revenge to right a wrong from long ago, the killer is performing these deeds in outlandish and garish ways.  At each murder scene he leaves the name of a man who attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria in the past.  With the fairly new world of detective work and many innovations in evidence and seeing a crime scene, two members of the Scotland Yard, detectives Ryan and Becker will investigate along with infamous Thomas De Quincy, the opium-eater, and his daring daughter, Emily. 

An incredibly engaging and fast-paced historical thriller.  Right from the start there is an incredibly gruesome and very imaginative murder that takes place within a church, only no one saw the murder or the killer.  Then, with a string of similar killings, the Detectives and De Quincy’s go into action.  It was very interesting to me to read about the beginnings of detective work as well as Thomas’ thoughts on what took place.  As a true historical figure and one who was addicted to opium, he often had the clearest thoughts, and definitely the most intriguing.  Along with Thomas, I loved his daughter, Emily who quickly won me over with her bloomer skirts and her vials to test dresses for arsenic.  With much historical accuracy, I felt vaulted into Victorian England.  I was glad that the story went so many places, from aristocratic homes, to underground societies to the Palace with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  My only complaint would be that there were many points of view to keep track of in this novel; however, the story from the killer’s point of view was one of my favorites. 

A great story if you are a fan of intense, intricate, historical murder mysteries.

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

 

About the Author: 


David Morrell is an Edgar, Nero, Anthony, and Macavity nominee as well as a recipient of the prestigious career-achievement Thriller Master away from the International Thriller Writers. His numerous New York Times bestsellers include the classic espionage novel. The Brotherhoodof the Rose, the basis for the only television mini-series to be broadcast after a Super Bowl. A former literature professor at the University ofIowa, Morrell has a PhD from Pennsylvania State University. His latest novel is INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD, a sequel to his highly acclaimed Victorian mystery/thriller, Murder as a Fine Art, which Publishers Weekly called ”one of the top ten mystery/thrillers of 2013.”

For more information visit David Morrell’s website. You can also connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Book: 
On Sale: April 07, 2015
Pages: 240
Published by : Alibi

In a blockbuster debut thriller brimming with majestic wildlife, village politics, and international intrigue, a chilling quadruple homicide raises the stakes in the battle to save Africa’s elephants.

Still grieving over the tragic death of her fiancé, American wildlife biologist Catherine Sohon leaves South Africa and drives to a remote outpost in northeast Namibia, where she plans to face off against the shadowy forces of corruption and relentless human greed in the fight against elephant poaching. Undercover as a census pilot tracking the local elephant population, she’ll really be collecting evidence on the ruthless ivory traffickers.

But before she even reaches her destination, Catherine stumbles onto a scene of horrifying carnage: three people shot dead in their car, and a fourth nearby—with his brain removed. The slaughter appears to be the handiwork of a Zambian smuggler known as “the witchdoctor,” a figure reviled by activists and poachers alike. Forced to play nice with local officials, Catherine finds herself drawn to the prickly but charismatic Jon Baggs, head of the Ministry of Conservation, whose blustery exterior belies his deep investment in the poaching wars.

Torn between her developing feelings and her unofficial investigation, she takes to the air, only to be grounded by a vicious turf war between competing factions of a black-market operation that reaches far beyond the borders of Africa. With the mortality rate—both human and animal—skyrocketing, Catherine races to intercept a valuable shipment. Now she’s flying blind, and a cunning killer is on the move.



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Review: 
Escaping from a tragedy, wildlife biologist Catherine Sohon takes a position as an elephant census pilot in a remote Namibian outpost.  However, Catherine really wants to be looking for evidence of the illegal ivory trade.  Before even reaching her destination she stumbles upon a murder in which the murderers appear to be smugglers and might have been murdered by a witch doctor. When Catherine finally reaches her destination, she does not get the warmest welcome by Jon Baggs, the head of the Ministry of Conservation, but delves deep into the investigation of ivory trade and poachers, nonetheless.  Catherine soon finds herself in over her head chasing a dangerous murderer.

Thrilling and powerful, I was swept into the wilds of Africa with Catherine.  Catherine was fearless in her undertaking in the wilds of Africa, although scarred from the recent death of her fiancé.  I loved that she was brave enough to go out independently, skillfully shoot a gun and fly a plane and do her best to relate to the variety of character she meets.  Most of all I enjoyed the honest view of Namibia and the descriptions of the vast wildlife and animal behaviors.  I appreciated that the author definitely knew what she was talking about in terms of animal biology without being overbearingly scientific.  The thriller aspect of the story was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat.   I can’t wait to see what is up for Catherine next!

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

 

About the Author:
A world-renowned expert on elephants, Caitlin O’Connell holds a Ph.D. in ecology and is a faculty member at the Stanford University School of Medicine as well as director of life sciences for HNu Photonics. She is the author five nonfiction books about elephants, including the internationally acclaimed The Elephant’s Secret Sense, An Elephant’s Life, A Baby Elephant in the Wild, and Elephant Don, and co-author of the award-winning The Elephant Scientist. She is the co-founder and CEO of Utopia Scientific, a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and science education, and the co-founder of Triple Helix Productions, a global media forum with a mandate to develop more accurate and entertaining science content for the media. When not in the field with elephants, O’Connell divides her time between San Diego, California, and Maui, Hawaii, with her husband, Tim Rodwell, and their dog, Frodo.