About the Book: 
Casanova’s Secret Wife 
by Barbara Lynn-Davis
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Kensington Books
eBook & Paperback; 304 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Historical/Biographical


Set in eighteenth-century Venice and based on an actual account by Giacomo Casanova—here is a lush tale of desire and risk.
Caterina Capreta was an innocent girl of fourteen when she caught the attention of the world’s most infamous chronicler of seduction: Giacomo Casanova. Intoxicated by a fierce love, she wed Casanova in secret. But his shocking betrayal inspired her to commit an act that would mark her forever …
Now twenty years later on the island of Murano, the woman in possession of Caterina’s most devastating secret has appeared with a request she cannot refuse: to take in a noble-born girl whose scandalous love affair resembles her own. But the girl’s presence stirs up unwelcome memories of Caterina’s turbulent past. Tested like never before, she reveals the story of the man she will never forget.
Bringing to life a fascinating chapter in the history of Venice, Casanova’s Secret Wife is a tour de force that charts one woman’s journey through love and loss to redemption.

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Praise for Casanova’s Secret Wife
“Lynn-Davis admirably incorporates historical detail into this page-turning drama of mystery, love, and loss….Yet the standout is her depiction of Casanova – Lynn-Davis clearly enjoys crafting a real-life character who stands apart from the legend, making him the book’s most enduring character.” – Publishers Weekly

“Lynn-Davis debuts with a fascinating story based on the notorious lover Giacomo Casanova’s writings. With Venice as the romantic backdrop and young love as its focus, this stunning tale of passion, betrayal and redemption is a richly woven tapestry of Casanova’s early life. By bringing little known history to life, Lynn-Davis delivers an unforgettable love story, centering not only on Casanova, but two women who share the beauty of love and the pain of loss; one will find salvation and the other true happiness.”- RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Full of passion and rich historical detail . . . an enthralling read, impossible to put down.” –Phyllis T. Smith, bestselling author
“This is Venice beneath the mask: A dark and fascinating love story hiding in the shadows of the golden city.” –Marina Fiorato, bestselling author of The Glassblower of Murano

“Seductive and unforgettable” –Harmony Verna, author of Daughter of Australia

“Breathtaking, beautiful . . . will mesmerize readers.” –Rosanna Chiofalo, author of Stella Mia

​Review: 
Caterina Capreta became entangled with the infamous Giacoma Casanova at the age of fourteen and has harbored a secret of her love affair and wedding to him for her adult life.  When Caterina is called back to the Murano convent where she was a boarded for four years, the memories of Caterina and Casanova's love affair return to her full force.  The Abbess, Marina, is an old acquaintance of Caterina's from her time there.  Marina asks Caterina for a favor that she cannot refuse; to take in a young pregnant border until the child is delivered.  Leda, has found herself in a compromising position from what she believed was true love.  As Caterina recognizes herself in Leda, she shares her story of her turbulent time with Casanova.  The two women find their similarities, gain friendship and realize the many definitions of love. 


I was immediately pulled into Caterina's story along with the inviting setting of Venice.  As an adult, Caterina secrets feel compelled to come pouring out.  From the time Caterina meets with Marina, I knew there was something deeper there. The mystery of what happened between Caterina and Casanova and how it created a tumultuous divide intrigued me.  Through Caterina's letters and stories that she tells Leda, we get to see Casanova in a different way, how he was with one woman whom he truly loved.  I was also pleased to see that this is based on some facts that have been discovered.  At first, I was a little put off by the fact that Caterina was 14, but apparently this is how old she actually was.  I was happily surprised that this was not really a love story, but more of a story of acceptance and coming to terms with the past.  With Leda, Caterina is finally able to review that part of her life with someone who understands and put in behind her.  Overall, a historical retelling of one of Casanova's many loves and it's consequences from the women's point of view.

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

About the Author
Barbara Lynn-Davis graduated from Brown University with a degree in art history. She then worked at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice and later spent a year there while completing her Ph.D. in Renaissance art at Princeton University.

She currently teaches art history and writing at Wellesley College, and lives outside Boston with her family.
​
For more information please visit Barbara Lynn-Davis’ website. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads.

About the Book: 
“Internal dialogue to match Nick Hornby at his best, and external dialogue that’s reminiscent of early Don DeLillo. Rarely have I seen so much wit mingle so comfortably with such an honest portrayal of rural America’s anarchic spirit.”  -- Gregory Hill, Author of East of Denver, The Lonesome Trials of Johnny Riles and a Colorado Book Award recipient
 
Paperback
$15.00
ISBN: 978-0-692-63863-7
 
Fiction, Neo-Western
M12 / Last Chance Press
March 24, 2017
Pages: 270

 
What can an award-winning Nashville singer-songwriter learn about himself by agreeing to a best-of tour in a beat up old van? If it means getting out from under the thumb of a label that considers him washed up, he’s willing to find out.  At least until an ex-lover wants to come along for the ride.

Carl Mahogany’s not your average protagonist. In the practiced drawl of the aging country singer, and echoing Edward Abbey’s Henry Lightcap, Boddicker takes us across the country in an Americana-steeped journey through Mahogany’s roots. Encounters with old friends and lovers, including the Eisenhower Interstate System, a firecracker tenured professor, former bandmates, and a down-to-earth small town mechanic, shake the dust out of Mahogany’s creases to revision his life.
 
If a lifetime of travel, songwriting and performing equates to learning to work with the monsters inside us, The Essential Carl Mahogany is that journey. Grab a six pack, settle into the cushions, and come along for the ride.
 
 
Praise for The Essential Carl Mahogany
 
“With internal dialogue to match Nick Hornby at his best (see High Fidelity), and external dialogue that’s reminiscent of early Don DeLillo (See Great Jones Street, possibly the only musician-novel that I dare to compare to this one), author Zach Boddicker has crafted an elegant, oddball, and unapologetically funny tale of ex-Nashville, ex-famous, and ex-boyfriend Carl Mahogany and his existential mission to recover his soul in a tumbleweed junction on the Great Plains of Eastern Colorado. Rarely have I seen so much wit mingle so comfortably with such an honest portrayal of rural America's anarchic spirit."
-- Gregory Hill - author East of Denver, The Lonesome Trials of Johnny Riles, Colorado Book Award recipient
 
 
"The story of a successful country songwriter trying his best to live a hassle-free existence, of which he is only marginally successful. Full of great dialogue, humorous observations and dry wit, The Essential Carl Mahogany is a strong debut."
— Chris Auman,  Reglar Wiglar Magazine
 
 
Review:
Nashville Country star and award-winner Carl Mahogany is entering middle age, and his label is beginning to believe he's entering the end of his music career as well.  They are letting him know this by releasing an Essentials album and sending him on a tour.  Carl agrees to the tour on his own terms and will be driving his beat-up van, Percy along the way.  However, things quickly turn more interesting as Carl hooks up with Rhonda, the local mechanic right before the tour and then receives an interesting message from an ex-girlfriend who wants to join him on tour.  Things go from interesting to upside-down as Carl is forced to take a hard look at his life while trying to complete his tour.


From the very beginning, Carl felt like someone I would like to get to know.  Down to earth, approachable and realistic in every aspect of his life, Carl seems the antithesis of an award-winning musician.  I loved that he kept a side gig as an exterminator and held on to his old tour van, Carl shows a sentimentality, vulnerability and unique sense of humor that easily carried me through the pages.  It seemed that no matter what Carl did, that life quickly got in the way; he meets a nice woman and his boss is her crazy ex-boyfriend, releasing a CD and he receives a prank CD back, and a multi-layered request from an ex turns into more than he could imagine. The supporting cast of characters made Carl's life all the more interesting.  I loved Rhonda, the independent, takes no crap car mechanic and Sheila who was always hiding a separate agenda.  Most of all, I truly cared about Carl's story and how he ended up.  Overall, a unique story of a musician figuring out life like the rest of us.

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

About the Baby: 
Zach Boddicker grew up living the country life north of Laporte, Colorado.  Ever more interested in rock bands and art than hunting, sports and other traditional red-blooded American activities, it was when he finally got his hands on a guitar that his journey into a life of music was catapulted into action.


In his formative years, Boddicker listened to and learned from everything he could get his hands on, but found direction one Monday night at a poignant performance at The Continental Club in Austin, Tex. by country guitar legend Junior Brown. This steered the author and musician toward honky-tonk, country and western swing.


Boddicker holds a B.A. in English and a MFA in Fiction from Colorado State University, which have proven useful for his endeavors into publishing. In 2014, his short story “Equipment” was published in “A Decade of Country Hits: Art on the Rural Frontier” (Jap Sam Books / M12 Studio). His first book “The Essential Carl Mahogany” (2017), which has been deemed evocative of Nick Hornby, Hunter S. Thompson and Don DeLillo, is the first novel to be published by M12 Studio / Last Chance Press.

In addition to his work as an author, Boddicker has been a staple of the Roots Music scene along the Front Range for 20 years as a member of 4H Royalty, Cowboy Dave Band, Drag the River, and many others. He currently resides in Denver with his wife and two daughters.
 
 
 
 Stay current on all of the author’s updates and appearances at CarlMahogany.com
 
 
Website:
Zach.Boddicker  Author Zach Boddicker


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34411880-the-essential-carl-mahogany

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Carl-Mahogany-Zach-Boddicker/dp/0692638636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498596603&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Essential+Carl+Mahogany

​

 An Interview with Zach: 
What inspired The Essential Carl Mahogany?
The answer to this may be lost to history. I do remember having gotten to the point where I refused to watch any more musician/artist biopics and documentaries. So many of them follow the rise-fall-redemption paradigm, focused on industry pressure and substance abuse.  There are so many other ways to depict the complex trials of a successful, working artist. Having written several short stories in college, and unaware of any novel written about a professional songwriter, I decided it was time to go for it.


Where did the moniker and personality of Carl Mahogany come from?
The name “Carl Mahogany” came from a quip made at a backyard 4th of July horseshoe tournament I attended in 2005, and it just stuck. When I started the book, I wanted an artist-protagonist who could feasibly reach the top of their game with no college degree, trust fund or traces of nepotism; someone who could still move about the general population without being noticed. If I were to run into a real version of a songwriter like Carl, I’m not sure I would recognize them - even with being familiar with their work.


The Essential Carl Mahogany  is the first novel published by M12 / Last Chance Press. How did you two connect - and what made them decide to publish your book?
Richard Saxton (Creative Director of M12) happened to be at a 4H Royalty show at the Lion's Lair several years ago. I didn't meet or speak with him that particular night, but we eventually connected, and with their company focus on rural art and artists,  I insisted that we collaborate. I contributed a short story to their first publication A Decade of Country Hits: Art on the Rural Frontier. After Carl won an unpublished novel contest a few years ago and made the finals in another, Saxton said “why don't we put out your book?”
 
Do you see yourself in any of your characters in the book?                 
Definitely - there’s some aspect of all of the main characters, except Lloyd. Bill, Carl and Rhonda are all pretty good improvisors when it comes to handling the disruptions and chaos of life. Their sense of humor enables this more than anything. Carl takes several more beatings than anyone else in this story, but he keeps grinding forward with his new project. Bill and Rhonda have gone through their own messes previously and have earned their ability to see the humor and absurdity of all of the knuckleballs that have come their way. I suppose this is why I identify with these characters the most. It’s an ongoing aspiration, at least.
 
Are any of those six a favorite of yours?
It depends on my mood. I’d probably choose Rhonda as my go-to character. She’s naturally non-judgemental, an improvisor, focused, highly-skilled and unapologetically passionate about what she does.
 
You’re a musician, as well as a writer. How long have you been a musician and what type of music do you play?
I've been playing guitar since I was 10, and then picked up pedal steel at 19. I started playing bars at 18 with a “modern country” cover band, which led to me starting a “classic country” band with Ben O'Connor (Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams, Matt Skinner Band). No one was doing that up in Fort Collins at the time, so people started coming to check it out.


One of these individuals was Karl Alvarez of Descendents / ALL fame. He brought me on board with Drag the River, which to that point was just an acoustic duo. We got the full-band version of DTR going, and I spent about five years recording and touring with them.
 
My main project since 2008 or so is a four-piece band called 4H Royalty. It’s been more of a long-term art project than a working band. People have described our sound as a combination of the Replacements, Billie Joe Shaver, Thin Lizzy, Meat Puppets and late-seventies Springsteen. 
           
So, given your history in music, were any parts of your story inspired by real-life events?
From the start, I anticipated receiving accusations that this story is just a thinly-veiled autobiography, so I over-compensated by making sure nearly everything that happens in this book is made from scratch (to the best of my ability). None of the major plot points have happened to me, or to anyone I know personally, but several minor plot points, characters, details, and locations are based on, or influenced by, real-life experiences, hearsay, and unreliable memories. Several!


What do you think will surprise readers most about your book?                                
The depiction of small-town/rural humans as creative, dynamic individuals with complex lives and diverse opinions.


What fascinates you about writing?                                
I like the act of smashing conflicting or disparate ideas/philosophies/conventions together and seeing what happens.
 
What about music?
Same as above, though a three or four-minute song isn't the ideal vehicle for a complex story. It's more of a flash-fiction exercise, with some elements of poetry involved.


What authors do you like to read? Any that have been a particularly strong influence on your own writing?                                  
Kent Haruf, Kurt Vonnegut and Larry McMurtry have been consistent favorites over the years. I’m currently working my way through the Goodreads Literary Westerns list, and researching the lesser-known pulp western writers of old.


Do you have any plans for more books in 2017 and beyond?     
I have a handful of somewhat-developed ideas for future novels and short stories. One seems to be wanting more attention than the others, so I’m in the outline stage with that. It will involve a younger protagonist and his escape from a quasi-religious commune, and his adventures thereafter. I’m anticipating there’ll be truck drivers, journalists, motorcycle club folks and all sorts of local color scattered about.

About the Book: 
Lilli de Jong by Janet Benton
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Nan A. Talese
Hardcover & eBook; 352 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Historical/Literary


READ AN EXCERPT.

A young woman finds the most powerful love of her life when she gives birth at an institution for unwed mothers in 1883 Philadelphia. She is told she must give up her daughter to avoid lifelong poverty and shame. But she chooses to keep her.
Pregnant, left behind by her lover, and banished from her Quaker home and teaching position, Lilli de Jong enters a home for wronged women to deliver her child. She is stunned at how much her infant needs her and at how quickly their bond overtakes her heart. Mothers in her position face disabling prejudice, which is why most give up their newborns. But Lilli can’t accept such an outcome. Instead, she braves moral condemnation and financial ruin in a quest to keep herself and her baby alive.
Confiding their story to her diary as it unfolds, Lilli takes readers from an impoverished charity to a wealthy family’s home to the streets of a burgeoning American city. Drawing on rich history, Lilli de Jong is both an intimate portrait of loves lost and found and a testament to the work of mothers. “So little is permissible for a woman,” writes Lilli, “yet on her back every human climbs to adulthood.”

Buy the Book: 
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Review:
Lilli De Jong is a young woman who grew up in the Quaker faith in Germantown, Pennsylvania.  She enjoys her post as a schoolteacher and is engaged in her 1883 community.  However, when her mother passes, Lilli's life takes a turn.  Lilli's father turns cold and Lilli seeks solace in the arms of Johan, her father's apprentice.  One night of passion leaves Lilli pregnant after Johan has moved to Pittsburgh for work in the steel mills. With no news from Johan, Lilli finds herself at a charity of unwed mothers.  However, when the time comes to give up her daughter, she can't, throwing Lilli down a path of hardship all for the sake of her daughter.

Intimate details of Lilli's hardships are shown through her private journal entries, pulling me into the unknown world of wet nurses and limited women's rights at the time.  Reading Lilli's journey was an intensely emotional experience for me, as I imagine it would be for anyone who has had a child. I was most impressed by the writing of the reality of having a baby and the overwhelmingness of it all.  I could not imagine having to go through what Lilli did.  I was happy that the writing included the true feelings of new motherhood- the ups, the downs, the fatigue, not knowing if you can carry on, all while falling hopelessly in love with the person you have created.  Lilli's voice is unique in that she is an intelligent, outspoken and passionate woman who has fallen into an unfortunate circumstance for her time period.  However, even with these attributes, she is barely able to pull through as an unmarried mother in 19th century America.  I am aware that being an unmarried mother definitely had its challenges in early American history, although I was surprised at some of the challenges Lilli faced and how they paralleled mothers in today's society.   Overall, a passionate and engaging book about the bond between mother and child and the will to conserve that bond in 19th Century America. 

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

About the Author
Janet Benton’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Glimmer Train, and many other publications. She has co-written and edited historical documentaries for television. She holds a B.A. in religious studies from Oberlin College and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and for decades she has taught writing and helped individuals and organizations craft their stories. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Lilli de Jong is her first novel.
Visit Janet Benton’s website for more information and updates. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

About the Book: 
Young Adult/Paranormal Romance/Mystery
Date Published: Feb 18, 2014
Publisher: Ingramspark

2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner for YA Mystery
 
2015 RONE Award Finalist for YA Paranormal

2015 New Apple Top Medalist for Young Adult Ebook

Chosen as one of 400 for the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for 2014!!!
 
Rising Tide will sink its fangs into you, keeping you awake into the wee hours of the night
Could Maura's life get any worse? ...turns out it most certainly can.
Isolated and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura's never been able to make friends. She seems to drive her classmates away—except for the odd times they pay enough attention to torture her—but she doesn’t understand why. Maura considers herself to be a freak of nature, with her unusually pale skin and an aversion to the sun that renders her violently nauseous. Her belief is only worsened by the fact that almost everyone around her keeps their distance.
Even her own father deserted her before she was born, leaving Maura alone with her emotionally distant mother, Caelyn. Even though Maura is desperate for answers about her unknown parent, Caelyn remains heartbroken and her daughter can’t bring herself to reopen her mother’s wounds. Or is there a more sinister reason Caelyn refuses to utter a word about her long-lost love?
When a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates, Ron, rushes to her rescue. Darkly handsome & mysteriously accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay away, but Maura is reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced she’s moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
If life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience bizarre, physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, compelling Maura to fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood cravings, failing health and the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as well as the discovery of a tangled web of her own mother's lies—become obstacles in Maura's desperate quest for the unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover.

Review: 
Maura DeLuca is coming to the end of her Junior year of high school. Most of her high school career has been uneventful, with no real friends, Maura spends most of her time with her single and very overprotective mother, Caelyn. That is until, Caelyn informs Maura that they will be moving to Vancouver, Canada at the end of the school year. Once news of Maura's departure spreads, many of the popular kids want to invite Maura out suddenly. When Maura's encounter with the popular crowd turns sour, Maura discovers an anger inside her. Along with it she notices strange changes, something is happening to her teeth, her hair won't stop growing, her aversion to the sun seems worse and she has a craving for raw, bloody, meat. The one good thing that came out of her Junior year is a new boyfriend, Ron. Ron is perfect in every way. He is understanding of Maura's changes, and Caelyn even approves, too bad Maura is moving away in a few weeks. Maybe she'll use the time to figure out what is wrong with her.

This was an interesting YA paranormal read. It does fall into many of the same patterns as some other YA paranormal, but is still engaging. The first part really grabbed me, Maura seemed like a kindred spirit that I could easily relate to. The writing easily conveyed Maura's emotional struggle as she dealt with school bullies, her mother's rules and the changes going on within her. The romance with Ron is really sweet and easy, I hope something more develops there. It also seems that Ron may know more about Maura then she does herself, maybe he is hiding a secret, too. The one thing that bothered me throughout the book is that once Maura caught on that something was different about herself, her mother did not do a great job reassuring her or just plain telling her what it was. It is painfully obvious to the reader what is different about Maura, it is also obvious that her mother knows what is happening, but she almost waits until it is too late to reveal it to Maura. Also,the pacing in the second half of the book, after Maura moves to Vancouver, is a little slow. The second part alternates between Maura trying to figure out what is wrong with her and missing Ron. The ending is slightly abrupt as it is revealed to Maura what she truly is; however I still look forward to the next installment to see what Maura does with this knowledge. 

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

About the Author: 
Claudette Melanson writes dark fantasy in Kitchener, Ontario with four bun babies: Tegan, Pepper, Butters & Beckett. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, BS in English Education and an MA in Literature. Harboring a deep admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the desire to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an author, since there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.

In her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and reading vampire stories...along with other genres of great fiction, as well as riding every roller coaster she encounters in both her hometown and away at signings. An advocate for good health and ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are bulletproof coffee, cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and almond, coconut or cashew flours.

Future dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the completion of dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue fanatic and loving bunmom, she also hopes to help rescues all over the world save many innocent lives. 
 
Contact Information
Website: http://bit.ly/1DVaL7x
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cmelansonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bella623
Blog: http://www.claudettemelanson.com/blog1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/claudemelanson/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7881896.Claudette_Melanson
 
Purchase Links
*FREE*
Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1h0bktb
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1XK3guq
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2oJg8ah
iBooks: http://apple.co/1PWXYwg
 ​

About the Book: 
​THE SERVICE OF THE DEAD
BY CANDACE ROBB
Paperback Publication Date: May 9, 2017
Pegasus Books
Paperback; 256 Pages
Series: Kate Clifford Mysteries, Book One
Genre: Historical/Mystery/Thriller


Expertly recreating the social and political upheavals of late medieval Europe, Candace Robb introduces a new series starring Kate Clifford, a woman forged on the warring northern marches of fourteenth century England.
Political unrest permeates York at the cusp of the fifteenth century, as warring factions take sides on who should be the rightful king–Richard II or his estranged, powerful cousin in exile, Henry Bolingbroke. Independent minded twenty-year-old Kate Clifford is struggling to dig out from beneath the debt left by her late husband. Determined to find a way to be secure in her own wealth and establish her independence in a male dominated society, Kate turns one of her properties near the minster into a guest house and sets up a business. In a dance of power, she also quietly rents the discreet bedchambers to the wealthy, powerful merchants of York for nights with their mistresses.
But the brutal murder of a mysterious guest and the disappearance of his companion for the evening threatens all that Kate has built. Before others in town hear word of a looming scandal, she must call upon all of her hard-won survival skills to save herself from ruin.

Buy the Book: 
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Praise for The Service of the Dead
“Robb’s deft hand creates a realistic political and commercial climate as King Richard II’s reign draws to a close in 1399. Comparable to Sara Poole’s Poisoner mysteries and Ariana Franklin’s Adelia Aguilar series, with its strong political setting and multiple plot strands.” (Booklist)

“A historical novel that deftly captures politics and interactions between different social interests in late medieval England…against the backdrop of social pressures and military actions, Kate’s character and world shine and draw readers into her choices and challenges.” (California Bookwatch)

“Kate Clifford is a wonderful creation, hard-nosed in some respects, compassionate and caring on the other. I look forward to the next installment of this delightful series!” (Historical Novels Review)

“The novel resonates with its compelling portrayal of an England on the brink of crisis.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The Service of the Dead is a tasty brew of political intrigue, larceny, and murder set within the walls of medieval York. Candace Robb’s latest historical mystery is steeped in the atmosphere of the late fourteenth century, and in Kate Clifford she’s given us a no-nonsense heroine and sleuth who is not only smart, but fierce when those she cares about are threatened. You’re going to love her.” (Patricia Bracewell, author of the Emma of Normandy Trilogy)

“The Service of the Dead by Candace Robb is a strikingly well-crafted novel that is a compelling page-turner from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for community library historical fiction collections.” (Midwest Book Review)

Review:
Kate Clifford is a young widow living in 14th century York.  In order to ease the debts that her husband left for her, Kate sets up shop and rents out one of her chambers for those who would like a discreet meeting place for themselves and their mistresses.  However, one of these clandestine meetings turns sour when Kate's housekeeper finds a murdered guest.   Kate must keep herself together and solve the mystery of the murder herself in order to avoid scandal and keep her business going.  

I absolutely loved Kate's character, feisty and smart from the very beginning.  She is given a series of difficult circumstances and perseveres using her  wits, charms and strength of character.  I was amazed at all the ways her deceased husband could make her life difficult even in his death, two children from another woman that Kate now takes care of, a stipulation in his will that if Kate remarries, all of the properties and business ventures will go to his brother, and the mounting debt.  The mystery in the story had a slow burn for me as the death toll climbed.  It was interesting to see how Kate fared when all evidence led to the fact that someone is targeting her.  Most of all, I enjoyed the foray into the political unease of the time period.  The writing gave me a good sense of life in 1399 and the upheaval that eventually gave rise to the War of the Roses.

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

About the Book: 
A TWISTED VENGEANCE
BY CANDACE ROBB
Publication Date: May 9, 2017
Pegasus Books
Hardcover; 400 Pages
Series: Kate Clifford Mysteries, Book Two
Genre: Historical/Mystery/Thriller

As the fourteenth century comes to a close, York seethes on the brink of civil war―and young widow Kate Clifford, struggling to keep her businesses afloat, realizes that her mother is harboring a dangerous secret…
1399. York is preparing for civil war, teeming with knights and their armed retainers summoned for the city’s defense. Henry of Lancaster is rumored to have landed on the northeast coast of England, not so far from York, intent on reclaiming his inheritance―an inheritance which his cousin, King Richard, has declared forfeit.
With the city unsettled and rife with rumors, Eleanor Clifford’s abrupt return to York upon the mysterious death of her husband in Strasbourg is met with suspicion in the city. Her daughter Kate is determined to keep her distance, but it will not be easy―Eleanor has settled next door with the intention of establishing a house of beguines, or poor sisters. When one of the beguines is set upon in the night by an intruder, Kate knows that for the sake of her own reputation and the safety of her young wards she must investigate.
From the first, Eleanor is clearly frightened yet maintains a stubborn silence. The brutal murder of one of Eleanor’s servants leads Kate to suspect that her mother’s troubles have followed her from Strasbourg. Is she secretly involved in the political upheaval? When one of her wards is frightened by a too-curious stranger, Kate is desperate to draw her mother out of her silence before tragedy strikes her own household.

Praise for A Twisted Vengeance
“Lovers of Shakespeare’s Richard II will find Robb’s intricate sequel to 2016’s The Service of the Dead a particular treat, as it charts the course of Richard’s downfall and his cousin Henry of Bolingbroke’s rise through the fears and uncertainties of the residents of the city of York in July 1399. These anxieties are worsened by a series of strange deaths connected to the extended family of Kate Clifford, a fierce young widow struggling to cope with not only her own household of jostling servants and the recently arrived illegitimate children of her late husband but also the return of her quarrelsome mother, Eleanor, from Strasbourg with religious women in tow. The character of Clifford is compelling and finely drawn, and for those readers who are patient enough to manage an unusually large number of secondary characters, the answers to a series of mysteries, starting with the reason for an intruder’s attack on a beguine (or poor sister) in the middle of the night, are highly satisfying.” – Publisher’s Weekley, STARRED REVIEW

Buy the Book: 
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Reviews:

Book One Snow White and The Seven Dwarves
In this funny retelling Snow White isn't your average princess, the evil step-mother has a chip on her shoulder and the magic mirror isn't taking any crap.  This quick retelling had me laughing with parallels to the current world, with a queen overly obsessed with beauty and receiving sarcastic and incorrect information from an overly sarcastic magic mirror and the dwarves being the smartest people around, the fairy tale world doesn't seem too far removed from our current state.  However, the fairy tale world does have a bit of magic that seems to be able to set everything right. 

Cinderella
Cinderella happens to be allergic to everything, dust, pollen, cats, tree nuts, soy, you name it; so she keeps her small space in the attic ridiculously clean. Luckily, Cinderella has a very supportive family.  In a mish-mash of fairy tales, Cinderella's step-sisters find her a fairy Godmother to get her to a ball with a prince.  Through several humorous stumbles, it is Cinderella who needs help to remember her prince.  I loved how the story could be turned upside down, but still have the same outcome, well- prettymuch.  Another fun and quick fairytale retelling. 

Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood has an absolutely evil grandmother who likes to scare her with wolf stories.  Little Red is smart and popular and basking in celebrity, that is until the press found out about her evil grandmother.  Red flees to the woods where she runs into the wolf, and some magic mushrooms and some trouble.  I loved that this story incorporated a lot of modern jargon, but also examines what effect point of view can have on the outcome of the story.  This one was my favorite since Little Red gets to incorporate a little bit of evil on the inside. 

Each of these stories, in true fairy tale fashion, ends with a lesson.  With a shorter length and engaging flow, these books are  great to read on the go. 

These book were received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Book: 

YA ParanormalDate Published: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Artiqua Press
 
Oh, no! Johanna Charette and Jackson Roth have allowed a sneaky shapeshifter to slip right through their fingers. The good news is that he’s now trapped between the layers of time and space with their Terrorian nemesis, Nero 51. The bad news is the Terrorian wants to control all the Libraries of Illumination, while the shapeshifter wants to control everything else. Who knows how long the Illumini system will remain safe? It’s taking a toll on Johanna and Jackson, who are smack in the center of everything as they struggle to protect the libraries’ legacy. Can you spell s-t-r-e-s-s? The pressure is driving a stake between the teens, and their mercurial romance could be over before it has truly begun.

Author Bio
C. A. Pack is the author of the YA supernatural series Library of Illumination/Chronicles of Illumination, as well as the historical fiction, Code Name: Evangeline, and the fantasy, Evangeline’s Ghost.  She is an award-winning former journalist and television news anchor, working in the New York metropolitan area. The author is a member of International ThrillerWriters, and Sisters in Crime, and has formerly served as president of the Press Club of Long Island. She lives in Westbury, NY, with her husband, a picky parrot, and dozens of imaginary characters who constantly demand page space.
Contact Information
Website:          www.libraryofillumination.com
Facebook:        www.facebook.com/libraryofillumination/
Twitter:           twitter.com/IlluminationCAP
Blog:               www.carolpack.com/blog/
Pinterest:         www.pinterest.com/carolpack/library-of-illumination/
Goodreads:     www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
 
 
Purchase Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Third-Chronicles-Illumination-Library-Illumination-Book-ebook/dp/B01N4APCZJ/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Barnes and Noble:    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/third-chronicles-of-illumination-c-a-pack/1125289768?ean=2940153895802
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/third-chronicles-of-illumination
iBooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/third-chronicles-illumination/id1183112312?mt=11
book/third-chronicles-illumination/id1183112312?mt=11

Review:

The Third Chronicles of Illumination picks up right after book two.  Johanna and Jackson have almost caught the shapeshifter who wishes to take over the world along with Nero 51, another Library Curator who simply wishes to control all of the Libraries of Illumination.  Johanna and Jackson's Library is right in the middle of the whole debacle and the two are under immense stress trying to save several worlds and their relationship is put to the test.

This was another great adventure in the Library of Illumination!  I have always loved the idea of a library where the books come to life, and that aspect is still delivered.  I love that Johanna and Jackson get to talk to Stephen Hawking about time travel.  Now that the two curators are embroiled in a plot with the Libraries on other worlds, we get to explore the beings and ways of life on those planets even deeper.  I really like to women of Romantica and the children of Juvenailia.  Even with all of the different worlds, each one is well thought out and complete; it is obvious that a lot of imagination and planning went into the creation of each.  The situation between Jackson and Johanna left me on edge as much as the potential destruction of the worlds, but I will have to wait to see how that plays out. Overall, an exciting and magical adventure!

Review: 

Cool Science Experiments for Kids! is filled with exactly that, creative and fun science experiments that will seem like play.  Perfect summertime boredom busters or rainy day excitement.  The book is split into four sections focusing on experiments with motion and energy, chemistry and reactions, math fun and crafts and games.  

Each experiment is clearly outlined with the materials you need, the difficulty level, time it will takes and step-by-step directions with pictures.  The experiments are gauged for children ages 6-10 but younger children could definitely do these with a little more adult help and older children would enjoy some of the engineering challenges and chemical reactions.  

As a science educator, I have done many of the activities presented; although there are easier ways to go about things and I have found some new ideas.  In my summer camps I am trying the bursting bag chemical reaction, marble race challenge and Lego merry-go-round, which looks a lot like a fidget spinner and will be sure to please.  For those who may not be science educators or science minded there are 'science fun factors' for some of the experiments; however, I do wish they would be expanded upon a little bit more to fully explain the science behind each experiment. Overall, great science ideas for growing minds!

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

Cool Science Experiments for Kids! is filled with exactly that, creative and fun science experiments that will seem like play.  Perfect summertime boredom busters or rainy day excitement.  The book is split into four sections focusing on experiments with motion and energy, chemistry and reactions, math fun and crafts and games.  

Each experiment is clearly outlined with the materials you need, the difficulty level, time it will takes and step-by-step directions with pictures.  The experiments are gauged for children ages 6-10 but younger children could definitely do these with a little more adult help and older children would enjoy some of the engineering challenges and chemical reactions.  

As a science educator, I have done many of the activities presented; although there are easier ways to go about things and I have found some new ideas.  In my summer camps I am trying the bursting bag chemical reaction, marble race challenge and Lego merry-go-round, which looks a lot like a fidget spinner and will be sure to please.  For those who may not be science educators or science minded there are 'science fun factors' for some of the experiments; however, I do wish they would be expanded upon a little bit more to fully explain the science behind each experiment. Overall, great science ideas for growing minds!

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

PULLEY
Make a simple pulley using a wheel and axle from household goods
 

 
MATERIALS
 
1 yarn ball
1 empty ribbon spool
1 plastic cup
Tape
Scissors
Pencils or wood for the axle
 
DIFFICULTY: 2 dots
 
TIME: 30 mins
 
SCIENCE FUN FACTS: Learn about a simple machine like a pulley. How it can make things easier to move from one place to another. Understand how wheel and axle can be used to make lifting easy and effective.

 
INSTRUCTIONS:
 
STEP 1:  Make the pulley basket: Take the plastic cup and make 3 holes like a triangle.

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STEP 2:  Feed some yarn through the holes and tie, giving the cup a short handle.

​STEP 3:  Construct the pulley: Tie the yarn to the basket. The length of the yarn can be 10 feet or more, depending on how long you want the rope to be.

​STEP 4:  Run the yarn over the spool.

​STEP 5:  Insert the pencil through the spool hole and tape both the ends to the staircase railing bars. This should be done in such a way that the basket dangles from the stairs and can be easily pulled up or down. Your pulley is ready! Have fun lifting things all the way to the top of the stairs!

​The pulley with the basket is ready! Have fun pulling and moving things from one place to the other.

 

About News of the World
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (June 20, 2017)

In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.
In the wake of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through northern Texas, giving live readings from newspapers to paying audiences hungry for news of the world. An elderly widower who has lived through three wars and fought in two of them, the captain enjoys his rootless, solitary existence.
In Wichita Falls, he is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a young orphan to her relatives in San Antonio. Four years earlier, a band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna’s parents and sister; sparing the little girl, they raised her as one of their own. Recently rescued by the U.S. army, the ten-year-old has once again been torn away from the only home she knows.
Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forming a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land.
Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself.


Purchase Links
​HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review: 
Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd has survived some of the bloodiest battles in America's short history.  Now, in 1870 the widowed Captain spends his time travelling and reading news from around the world to paying audiences.  In Wichita Falls, he is called into service once again; but this time he isn't carrying news.  Four years earlier, the Kiowa Indians slaughtered a family and took a six-year-old girl captive.  She has been raised in the Kiowa culture, forgotten most of the English language and now has been re-captured to be returned to her aunt and uncle in Castroville, Texas.  Captain Kidd takes on the wild, young Johanna for the 400 mile journey.  Knowing nothing of the civilized world, Johanna is confused and upset, and keeping her safe and secure proves to be a challenge during the dangerous journey.  However, as they progress the Captain and Johanna form a strong bond.

I loved the premise of this book, an older and wiser Captain Kidd taking in a young captive. Johanna's story, which is based on many true accounts of captive children who are returned to their original lives, captivated me.  Johanna's journey in her mind was far more dangerous than their journey on the road.  Johanna went through many emotional and psychological changes.  We get a few insights into what is going on in her head, but not many.  I feel like Johanna's inner dialogue would have been the most interesting; however the writing was done in third person, so we only get a few snippets.  One quote that did stick out to me was: "It was not worth being alive when one was alone among aliens."  The Captain's gentle, compassionate and patient nature with Johanna was wonderful to read about, without him, I'm sure she would not have survived.  News of the World also gave me a great sense of what life was like in post-civil war Texas as the unlikely duo traveled from North to South throughout the state.  This was a wonderful overview of the dangers, the people and the landscape of Texas at the time.  

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

About Paulette Jiles
​
Paulette Jiles is a novelist, poet, and memoirist. She is the author of Cousins, a memoir, and the novels Enemy Women, Stormy Weather, The Color of Lightning, Lighthouse Island, and News of the World. She lives on a ranch near San Antonio, TX.

Find out more about Paulette at her website.
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