SEVERED KNOT 
BY CRYSSA BAZOS
Publication Date: June 7, 2019
W.M. Jackson Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Barbados 1652. In the aftermath of the English Civil War, the vanquished are uprooted and scattered to the ends of the earth.

When marauding English soldiers descend on Mairead O’Coneill’s family farm, she is sold into slavery. After surviving a harrowing voyage, the young Irish woman is auctioned off to a Barbados sugar plantation where she is thrust into a hostile world of depravation and heartbreak. Though stripped of her freedom, Mairead refuses to surrender her dignity.

Scottish prisoner of war Iain Johnstone has descended into hell. Under a blazing sun thousands of miles from home, he endures forced indentured labour in the unforgiving cane fields. As Iain plots his escape to save his men, his loyalties are tested by his yearning for Mairead and his desire to protect her.

With their future stolen, Mairead and Iain discover passion and freedom in each other’s arms. Until one fateful night, a dramatic chain of events turns them into fugitives. Together they fight to survive; together they are determined to escape.
​AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
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Review:
1652, the English Civil War has ripped over the land and torn apart families.  Iain Johnstone and his Scottish soldiers have been captured and are being held captive by the English, barely alive.  They are eventually put on a ship in order to be sold into servitude in Barbados.  Mairead O'Conneil is supposed to be kept safe at her family farm in Ireland, but when the English descend on the farm, they kill the men and capture the woman to be sold into slavery as well.  After surviving the voyage Iain and Mairead are both bought by the Mount Vale plantation.  While enduring hard labor, humiliation, and heartbreak Mairead and Iain find comfort in one another and Iain hatches a plan to escape the island. 

Suspenseful, romantic and emotional, Severed Knot reeled me in with amazing characters and intriguing plot.  Iain is incredibly, strong, reliable and caring but packaged in a hard exterior.  Mairead is confident, compassionate and has a powerful constitution wrapped in a small frame.  Both Mairead and Iain suffer insurmountable losses and hardships through their life and on the plantation.  Their love develops slowly and carefully in the harsh landscape.  Through the writing as well as Iain and Mairead's experiences, the cruel reality of the Barbados sugar trade is brought to life as the entire island is forced to realign itself for sugar.  Hope and love continually surface as traits to help people survive.  As the conditions worsen, escape becomes the only option.  Suspense increases as plans are hatched, executed and interfered with for a satisfying ending. 

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

About the Author

Cryssa Bazos is a historical fiction writer and 17th Century enthusiast, with a particular interest in the English Civil War (ECW). She blogs about English history and storytelling at her blog, the 17th Century Enthusiast, and is an editor of the English Historical Fiction Authors blog site.

Cryssa’s debut novel, Traitor’s Knot, a romantic tale of adventure set during the English Civil War. Traitor’s Knot is the first in a series of adventures spanning from the ECW to the Restoration and is now available from Endeavour Press. The second book in the series, Severed Knot, will be released in June 2019.
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For more information visit Cryssa’s website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

ABOUT THE BOOK
THE CHEF’S SECRET 
BY CRYSTAL KING
Publication Date: February 12, 2019
Atria Books
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Genre: Historical Fiction

A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, and the nephew who sets out to discover his late uncle’s secrets—including the identity of the noblewoman Bartolomeo loved until he died.

When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.

As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.

With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | INDIEBOUND

Praise for The Chef’s Secret

“King’s characters are drawn as lovingly, as sensually as the food and the Vatican world she describes, and the plot itself — part secret-code mystery, part love story — moves like a well-paced meal.” (Boston Globe)

“A veritable feast for the senses, The Chef’s Secret is part mystery, part love story, and all sumptuous sixteenth century Italy. This tale of one of the world’s first celebrity chefs—Bartolomeo Scappi, a DaVinci of Renaissance cuisine—sent me on a quest to know more, and to my kitchen to experiment—a sign of a great historical novel. Readers will delight in a plot as juicy as Scappi’s braised beef!” (Heather Webb, international bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris)

“The Chef’s Secret is a sumptuous buffet, serving up a love story (two of them!); mystery and suspense so thick you could cut it with, well, a chef’s knife; and such a vibrant panorama of Ancient Rome you’ll feel you’ve walked its streets and inhabited its kitchens. Anyone who loves history, food, a great story—read this novel! Warning: it will make you hungry.” (Jenna Blum, New York Times and international bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Lost Family)

“Crystal King’s The Chef’s Secret is a fabulous immersion in the world of renaissance Italy, full of passion, intrigue, secrets, danger, and of course food. Come hungry!” (Melodie Winawer, author of The Scribe of Siena)

“King twists in romance, mystery, cultural richness, and some zesty research. Scappi’s secrets are unveiled at a pace that simmers with intrigue…Mixed together with decadent banquets and sweeping historical detail, King has a recipe that entices the senses… vibrant in both visual and flavorful detail.” (Historical Novel Review)

Review:
Bartolomeo Scappi, the cuoco secreto to the pope died suddenly in 1577.  In his will Barto leaves his estate and name to his nephew and apprentice, Giovanni.  When Giovanni is readying himself to take over his uncle's role, another kitchen apprentice tells him that upon his deathbed Barto gave him keys to several lock boxes and made him promise to burn the journal s inside. Giovanni can not resist the pull of his uncle's secrets and dives into Barto's life.  After deciphering the code that many entries were in, Gio begins to discover that his uncle was much more than an amazing cook and mentor.  Barto harbored many secrets as well as a love that could change everything.  As Giovanni and his friends dive deeper into Barto's affairs they uncover the danger in what Barto was hiding as well as a connection that will change their lives forever. 


With perfectly portioned parts, The Chef's Secret is a delectable mix of historical fiction, romance and mystery in Renaissance Italy.  With an intimate look into the kitchens of the Renaissance, the food comes alive off the page.  I could imagine the intricate sugar sculptures and smell the hearty broths and I was amazed at the level of food production for the clergy.  The format of the book goes back and forth between Giovanni and Bartolomeo's points of view as Giovanni reads through Barto's journals.  Through the changing points of view, the characters show their care for one another.  Giovanni respected and looked up to Bartolomeo and Barto did everything he could to provide for Gio.  While deciphering the journals, Gio also leans heavily on his friends that help him navigate the dangers that appear after Barto's death.  I did figure out one of the larger mysteries early on, however the adventure and excitement of Barto's life as well as the suspense of Gio figuring out how Barto's past affects his present.  The ending quickly ramped up in suspense, but ended on a beautiful note.  I was very pleased to learn about the real Bartolomeo and Giovanni.  While they may not have had such amazing adventures, their lives were still important to culinary history. Overall, a thrilling read that will delight your senses through Renaissance Italy.

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

About the Author
Crystal King is the author of THE CHEF’S SECRET and FEAST OF SORROW. A culinary enthusiast and social media professional, her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity and social media at Harvard Extension School, Boston University, Mass College of Art, UMass Boston and GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US. A Pushcart-nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal received her M.A. in Critical and Creative Thinking from UMass Boston, where she developed a series of exercises and writing prompts to help fiction writers in medias res. She resides in Boston.
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WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

About the Book:
​Title: TEETH IN THE MIST
Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Pub. Date: June 11, 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 352
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD


A genre-bending epic horror-fantasy, inspired by the legend of Faust, that spans generations as an ancient evil is uncovered--perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Ransom Riggs.


Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil's Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations...


Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember--so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong?


In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward--one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever.


1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it.


Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching...

About Dawn:
Dawn Kurtagich is an award winning author of creepy, spooky, and psychologically sinister YA, where girls may descend into madness, boys may see monsters in men, and grown-ups may have something to hide.
Her debut novel, THE DEAD HOUSE, was a YALSA Top 10 Pick, An Audie Award Nominee and an Earphone Award Winner. It has been optioned for TV by Lime Productions. She is also the author of THE CREEPER MAN / AND THE TREES CREPT IN, NAIDA and the forthcoming TEETH IN THE MIST, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Orion Children's Books. If you enjoy a creeping chill along your spine, mystery and little bit of terror, then you're in the right place!


By the time she was eighteen, she had been to fifteen schools across two continents. The daughter of a British globe-trotter and single mother, she grew up all over the place, but her formative years were spent in Africa—on a mission, in the bush, in the city and in the desert.


She has been lucky enough to see an elephant stampede at close range, a giraffe tongue at very close range, and she once witnessed the stealing of her (and her friends’) underwear by very large, angry baboons. (This will most definitely end up in a book . . . ) While she has quite a few tales to tell about the jumping African baboon spider, she tends to save these for Halloween!


When she was sixteen, she thought she'd be an astronomer and writer at the same time, and did a month-long internship at Cambridge's prestigious Cavendish Laboratories.


Dawn vlogs on her youtube channel and can be found hanging around Twitter and Instagram.


Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr | YouTube | Pinterest | Goodreads

Schedule:
Blog Tour: 
Week One:
6/3/2019- She Dreams in Fiction- Excerpt
6/4/2019- Literary Meanderings - Excerpt
6/5/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
6/6/2019- Book Briefs- Review
6/7/2019- 100 Pages A Day- Review


Week Two:
6/10/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
6/11/2019- Book-Keeping- Review
6/12/2019- BookHounds YA- Review
6/13/2019- Confessions of a YA Reader- Review
6/14/2019- Two points of interest- Review


Instagram Tour:
Week One:
6/3/2019- fictitious.fox- Review
6/4/2019- jypsylynn- Review
6/5/2019- Riddle’s Reviews- Review
6/6/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review
6/7/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review


Week Two:
6/10/2019- PopTheButterfly Reads- Review
6/11/2019- The Pages In-Between- Review
6/12/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review
6/13/2019- Wonder Struck- Review
6/14/2019- Pink Polka Dot Books- Review

THE IMPALER’S WIFE 
BY AUTUMN BARDOT
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Flores Publishing
eBook; 452 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Legend, history, and passion collide in this gritty, evocative, and sensual story about history’s most notorious price and the woman who paid love’s ultimate price.

The year is 1464, and young King Matthias controls Hungary, his family, and the fate of the world’s most notorious political prisoner, Prince Vlad Dracula.

Ilona Szilágy, the king’s cousin, is young and ambitious. Dracula is determined to marry into the Hunyadi family. It is love at first sight…but the king has other plans. The Impaler Prince, however, never takes no for an answer.

This begins Ilona’s journey into the treacherous world of court intrigues, family betrayals, and her husband’s dark desires. Eager to become Vlad’s trusted confidant, Ilona soon discovers that marriage to a man tortured by his past comes with a price.

Woven throughout is a peek into the life and times of one of the world’s most enigmatic and maligned rulers…the man before the legend.
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With Bardot’s decadent period detail and a cast of gritty evocative characters, The Impaler’s Wife offers a fierce yet sensuous glimpse into the violent 15th century.
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AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND BARNES AND NOBLE

Review:
Lady Ilona Szilágy  is cousin to King Matthias of Hungary in 1464.  King Matthias keeps Vlad Dracula as a political prisoner.  Ilona's sister Margit believes that she is soon to be betrothed to Vlad.  After meeting the mysterious man shrouded in stories of horror and several strange prophesies Ilona believes herself to be a better match for Vlad.  Through much political maneuvering, Vlad and Ilona are married.  Their personalities are compatible, however, there is much about Vlad that Ilona has to discover.  Vlad is also still a prisoner of Matthias and very eager to fight for his rightful rule over the kingdom of Wallachia. 


Historical, sensual, intriguing and magical, The Impaler's Wife brings the story of Vlad the Impaler to life. From the very beginning, the poetic text brimming with mystery intrigued me. With alternating points of view between Ilona and Vlad, Vlad's upbringing and childhood sacrifices lay context for the horrors he committed as an adult.  It seemed that he was truly trying to do the best he could for his people while enacting revenge on those who had wronged him.  Ilona was equally as fascinating.  I felt a strong bond to her from the start.  Her wit, intelligence and understanding of how to make to most of her role was entrancing.  The relationship between Vlad and Ilona was deep, physical and alluring.  Many spicy scenes accentuated the political intrigue.  While historically based, there was a thread of magic and mythology woven through with the book of the Solomonari and mentions of the strigoi creating possibility of the supernatural.  From beginning to end, The Impaler's Wife kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me turning pages with a perfect mix of history, romance and mystery. 

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

About the Author
Autumn Bardot writes historical fiction and erotica about sassy women and daring passions!
Her erotic fiction includes Legends of Lust, Erotic Myths from around the World, published by Cleis Press. Confessions of a Sheba Queen (erotica) will be available Jan 2020.
The Impaler’s Wife is her debut historical fiction, releasing in April 2019.

Autumn has a BA in English literature and a MaEd in curriculum and instruction. She’s been teaching literary analysis for fourteen years

When Autumn’s not writing or working, you’ll find her hanging out with her ever-growing family, spoiled husband, and pampered rescue pooch. Her favorite things include salty French fries, coffee, swimming, and a great book.
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