About the Book:

Title: Paradox Forged in Blood
Author: Mary Frances Fisher
Publisher: Cambron Press
Pages: 300
Genre: Historical Fiction
A murder on Millionaire’s Row.
A killer's chilling words, "Shh. I know where you live.”
A woman tormented by her guilt-ridden past.

A historical murder mystery, Paradox Forged in Blood is set in Cleveland, Ohio, during the late 1930s. Four decades after the murder of socialite Louis Sheridan, the cold case is resurrected with receipt of new evidence that transports detectives back to Nazi Germany. The only living witness, Ellen O’Malley, must confront a haunting secret and her complicit actions. 
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Review: 

Several families are brought together through a meaningless tragedy in Pre-World War II Ohio.   In 1939, a young Ellen O’Malley works as nanny for the Sheridan family who lives on Millionaire’s Row.  Ellen already carries around the guilt of witnessing the kidnapping of her younger brother when she was a child and not being able to help; now on one fateful night, she witnesses a burglary gone wrong at the Sheridan household where her employer, Louis Sheridan is murdered.  Ellen only sees the back of the murderer’s head, but she has a clue as to who he is.  Before she is able to tell anyone, the murderer threatens to kill her family if she tells.  Now, Ellen has another burden to carry around.  Meanwhile, other employees in the Sheridan household also have had a brush-in with the suspected murderer, however, everyone is too afraid to say anything and the murder goes unsolved for decades until they are sure that the danger has passed.
 
This is a twisty historical murder-mystery that is based on the author’s actual family members.   The murder mystery itself is quite suspenseful, several people may know what happened, but all are too afraid to speak.  Meanwhile, the police are chasing several suspects that match the murderer’s description that seem to have disappeared.  With WWII on the horizon, tensions are heightened and other concerns are put into the forefront.  I did get a great sense of Ellen’s character and I felt terrible that the knowledge of the murder weighed on her for all those years.  I do wish that the storyline stuck with just the murder mystery and Ellen’s story.  I felt sidetracked at points with the disappearance of her baby brother and the resolution and Sadie’s story- the Sheridan’s cook, and the recovery of her long lost twin sister.  Somehow, all of these events were pulled together, but I felt it could have been streamlined more.  Overall, a surprising murder-mystery that highlights tensions and values of America during World War II.
 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 


Book Excerpt:

The Cleveland NorthShore Post
________________________________________________________________________
Saturday             June 7, 1986                      60¢       

Cold Case Unit Reopens 1939 Murder of Cleveland Socialite with Receipt of Missing Evidence

        Cleveland, Ohio.—Forty-seven years ago on December 23, 1939, socialites Louis and Marianne Sheridan attended a party leaving three people at home: Alice Webber, the housekeeper; Bridget, the Sheridan’s seven-month-old daughter; and Ellen O’Malley, the nanny.
        A neighbor [on Millionaire’s Row] heard a loud scream about 9 p.m. and called the police. Cleveland detectives Frank Szabo and Kevin Collins found the Sheridans’ front door open and two bodies lying in a heap just inside the foyer. Although Marianne was alive, her husband had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.   …
        Two days ago, Cleveland police received a package wrapped in the 1939 newspaper account of the murder. The anonymous submission contained a small handgun covered with a dried substance (believed to be blood), a black mask, and a sheet of paper with the cryptic hand-written message Forgive Me . . .
        

About the Book:

Publication Date: July 25, 2016
Lawson Gartner Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 400 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction


*Winner: U.S. Women’s History category – 2015 Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction
Forty-eight years before women were granted the right to vote, one woman dared to run for President of the United States, yet her name has been virtually written out of the history books.
Rising from the shame of an abusive childhood, Victoria Woodhull, the daughter of a con-man and a religious zealot, vows to follow her destiny, one the spirits say will lead her out of poverty to “become ruler of her people.”
But the road to glory is far from easy. A nightmarish marriage teaches Victoria that women are stronger and deserve far more credit than society gives. Eschewing the conventions of her day, she strikes out on her own to improve herself and the lot of American women.
Over the next several years, she sets into motion plans that shatter the old boys club of Wall Street and defile even the sanctity of the halls of Congress. But it’s not just her ambition that threatens men of wealth and privilege; when she announces her candidacy for President in the 1872 election, they realize she may well usurp the power they’ve so long fought to protect.
Those who support her laud “Notorious Victoria” as a gifted spiritualist medium and healer, a talented financial mind, a fresh voice in the suffrage movement, and the radical idealist needed to move the nation forward. But those who dislike her see a dangerous force who is too willing to speak out when women are expected to be quiet. Ultimately, “Mrs. Satan’s” radical views on women’s rights, equality of the sexes, free love and the role of politics in private affairs collide with her tumultuous personal life to endanger all she has built and change how she is viewed by future generations.
This is the story of one woman who was ahead of her time – a woman who would make waves even in the 21st century – but who dared to speak out and challenge the conventions of post-Civil War America, setting a precedent that is still followed by female politicians today.

Review: 
Victoria Woodhull was a woman far ahead of her time.  From the time of her birth, she was named for greatness; and though she would never be queen, Victoria will reach for the Presidency before women even have the right to vote.  Raised by quite a controversial family, her father a swindler and her mother a staunch Spiritualist, Victoria and her sister Tennessee are set up as mediums and healers as children.  However, Victoria’s spirit guide shows her going far in life and her experience with all types of people helps her through.  Victoria is helped out of her messy childhood first by Dr. Canning Woodhull, who turns out to be no better than her father,  but then Victoria meets Colonel James Blood, a civil war hero who helps her with her cause.  Victoria and Tennessee are swept up into the Women’s Suffrage Movement, and then become the first women of Wall Street with the help of Commodore Vanderbilt, start their own newspaper and eventually Victoria runs in the 1872 election.
 
Since I have learned of Victoria Woodhull, I have become slightly obsessed with her life.  In Madame Presidentess there is a very good mix of Victoria’s supernatural predilections along with events that truly happened in her life.  The Spiritualist side of Victoria’s life fascinates me, especially since it seemed to help her achieve everything that she dreamed for herself.  I loved reading about her and Tennie’s time spent with Vanderbilt and how he came to know the sisters.  I also enjoyed Victoria’s meeting with other historical figures that I know of such as Walt Whitman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and President Grant.   Through Victoria’s eyes, some of these figures are seen in a very different light than what history has shown.  Another aspect of Madame Presidentess that I enjoyed was the focus on the political dealings that Victoria had to go through in order to run.  It was interesting to see everything that Victoria had to do in order to run.  Once again, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to learn more about Victoria as an important historical figure. I wish she would have appeared in my history textbooks as well, but she has fallen to the wayside as a victim of censorship and impropriety, which is exactly what she fought so hard against.
 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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About the Author
Nicole Evelina is an award-winning historical fiction and romantic comedy writer. Her most recent novel, Been Searching for You, a romantic comedy, won the 2015 Romance Writers of America (RWA) Great Expectations and Golden Rose contests.
She also writes historical fiction. Her debut novel, Daughter of Destiny, the first book of an Arthurian legend trilogy that tells Guinevere’s life story from her point of view, was named Book of the Year by Chanticleer Reviews, took the Grand Prize in the 2015 Chatelaine Awards for Women’s Fiction/Romance, won a Gold Medal in the fantasy category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and was short-listed for the Chaucer Award for Historical Fiction. The sequel, Camelot’s Queen is out now.
Nicole is one of only six authors who completed a week-long writing intensive taught by #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness. Nicole has traveled to England twice to research the Guinevere’s Tale trilogy, where she consulted with internationally acclaimed author and historian Geoffrey Ashe, as well as Arthurian/Glastonbury expert Jaime George, the man who helped Marion Zimmer Bradley research The Mists of Avalon.
Nicole is a member of and book reviewer for The Historical Novel Society, and Sirens (a group supporting female fantasy authors), as well as a member of the Historical Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, the St. Louis Writer’s Guild, Women Writing the West, Broad Universe (promoting women in fantasy, science fiction and horror), Alliance of Independent Authors and the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Her website/blog is http://nicoleevelina.com and she can be found on Twitter as well as on Pinterest, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram andTumblr.

About the Book: 
​
Haven (Chronicles of Warshard #1) is the 2nd place winner of World's Best Story!

Princess Haven was never meant to be Queen.

Her immortality has saved her time and time again, but when the last of her royal family dies at her feet, she is next in line to rule a nation on the brink of war. With no formal training on how to be Queen, Haven must rise to the occasion with the help of her best friends, and personal guard, or risk losing everyone she has ever loved.

With war to the West, and no escape to the East, the evil tyrant Kadia sets her sights on the six kingdoms. Haven's neighbors are quick to fall under the swords of Kadia's shadow soldiers, leaving a sea of bodies and a clear path to Haven's only home. Haven must make a choice; take her people and flee to the foreign Republic across the sea or lead a last stand against a powerful dictator.

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Review: 
Queen Haven of Rythern never thought that she would have to fulfill her duties as Queen.  However, when both of her parents and two older brothers die gruesomely from the incoming war, Haven must step up.  Born with the gift of being able to heal from any injury, she is dubbed The Immortal Queen.  With war on her doorstep, Haven must quickly step into her new role.  The insane Queen Kadia has been quickly taking over each of the six Kingdoms of Warshard.  Using her black magic, Kadia seems impossible to defeat and Haven is hesitant about sending her kingdom into war.  Haven’s gift, with the help of another, might be exactly what is needed to defeat Queen Kadia.
​
Haven jumped right into the action with an assassination attempt and warfare.  It was nice that Haven’s abilities were brought right out into the open and no one was afraid of her.  Haven’s abilities reminded me of a kinder, gentler Deadpool.  Haven also continuously put herself in harm’s way to the benefit of her kingdom.  Queen Kadia was a very interesting character and I do wish that I could have seen more into her motivations and history, there were some glimmers of what might be driving her, but nothing concrete.  The second half of the book moved very quickly as the suspense picked up with Haven’s meeting of Kadia and a larger battle. I do wish that there was more description of the Kingdoms and especially the tunnel path to Seaburn, there was a lot of hype over this mysterious tunnel, but I felt that when they passed through, a lot was glossed over.  I had a good general understanding of each Kingdom, but I just wanted a little more.  Hopefully, more will be explained in the next installment, which I will be interested in reading.
 
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author: 
Katherine Bogle's debut young adult novel, Haven, came second in the World's Best Story contest 2015. She currently resides in Saint John, New Brunswick with her partner in crime, and plethora of cats.

​Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

About the Book: 
The Last Relicuin by Hargus MontgomeryPublication Date: September 22, 2013
Kerious Pye Series LLC
eBook & Paperback; 526 Pages
Genre: Historical/Mystery


In the 22nd century, part of the world returns to history. Safe inside the guarded borders of live-in museums, museum dwellers live authentic lifestyles from prehistory to the twentieth century. Separate from all modern influences, some dwellers forget that a modern world exists outside the borders.
When the son of a prominent anti-museum Senator marries a museum dweller, the young couple becomes the target of a worldwide struggle between the past and the future.
Crossing borders into the 12th, 18th and 20th centuries, The Last Relicuin unravels a mystery that pursues one family through three different periods of history.

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Review: 
In the 22nd century the world is very different.  Fearing diseases spread by human contact and believing that the outside air is too contaminated to sustain them, the metro population lives far above the ground level surrounded by glass and mostly in a virtual reality.  In order to preserve history, the Federal Museum Administration runs authentic living history museums that encompass many periods throughout history.  The museum dwellers must give up mainstream life, go through intense training and fully immerse themselves into the time period that they wish to live.  Many do not make it through.  Metro Senator Steven Kane opposes all museums and wants them shut down believing that they steal children, harbor diseases and are a hub for the drug trade.  However, Senator Kane’s son, Alexander has a fascination with the past and when he chooses to enter a 1950’s farmstead museum, Alex sets off a chain of events with lasting impact.
 
I have always loved visiting living history museums and may have wanted to live there from time to time, so I absolutely could not resist a book that took place within them.  However, this book is a whole lot more.   There is a struggle as past and future collide, political espionage, family conflict, secrets and mystery and suspense.   I was taken in by Alex’s character and his fascination with people who lived outside the glass.  Alex struggled with being different, especially under his father’s watchful gaze.  When he finally entered the museum school, everything clicked for him.  This reminded me of people telling me that I seem better suited for a different time.  I loved the authenticity of each of the time periods that were showcased.  Alex’s chosen period, with his wife Kat and son Tom was perfect.  I could imagine the long, winding driveway, the wooden farmhouse with the barking dogs and the fruit orchard perfectly.  Even the speech patterns were on.  As the characters travelled to museums in 12th century France and the 17th century Pacific island, I became immersed in each period with them.  Overall,  The Last Relicuin provided a whole lot more than I could ever ask for.  It is wholly unique, not fitting neatly into any genre, fast paced and with wonderfully built worlds and characters.  Masterful writing combined with a wholly unique plot has easily made The Last Relicuin one of my favorite books of the year. 

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

About the Author

Hargus Montgomery is the author of The Last Relicuin, and The Seventeenth Pocket, part of the Kerious Pye series. For more information, please visit Hargus Montgomery’s website at http://www.hargusmontgomery.com.

About the Book:
​The Lady of the Tower
by Elizabeth St. John
Publication Date: January 30, 2016
CreateSpace
eBook & Paperback
246 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Orphaned Lucy St.John, described as “the most beautiful of all,” defies English society by carving her own path through the decadent Stuart court. In 1609, the early days of the rule of James I are a time of glittering pageantry and cutthroat ambition, when the most dangerous thing one can do is fall in love . . . or make an enemy of Frances Howard, the reigning court beauty. Lucy catches the eye of the Earl of Suffolk, but her envious sister Barbara is determined to ruin her happiness. Exiling herself from the court, Lucy has to find her own path through life, becoming mistress of the Tower of London. Riding the coattails of the king’s favorite, the Duke of Buckingham, the fortunes of the St.Johns rise to dizzying heights. But with great wealth comes betrayal, leaving Lucy to fight for her survival—and her honor—in a world of deceit and debauchery. Elizabeth St.John tells this dramatic story of love, betrayal, family bonds and loyalty through the eyes of her ancestor Lucy and her family’s surviving diaries, letters and court papers.


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Review: 

Lucy St.John is an orphan in English at the pivotal time of the rise of James I.  Throughout her youth, she has been raised by her Aunt Joan and with her sister Barbara.  Joan and Barbara seem to have found a common alliance against Lucy and only care about their own rise within English Society.  As the women grow, Barbara finds a way to friendship with the influential and corrupt Frances Howard and Lucy find a courtly romance with Frances' brother, Theo.  However, Barbara ensures that Lucy will not find happiness there and poisons their relationship.  Lucy moves on with her life, travels and takes in knowledge of medicinal plants and when all seems lost, she meets Sir Allen Apsley.  They marry and Allen takes a position at the Tower of London, leaving Lucy as Mistress of the Tower. 


As someone who loves reading about Tudor England, I was excited to read about the time period directly after but that took place within one of the most iconic settings of the Tudor reign, the Tower of London.  Lucy was a character that I automatically connected with, she was incredibly strong in spirit, refusing to be beat down by her aunt and sister; I also loved that she found solace and purpose within plants and medicine.  Barbara was one of the most entertaining characters, with her scheming and backstabbing, she reminded me of the ultimate Mean Girl.  In addition, the settings were all tremendously described.  From the court of James I, with it's corruption and festivities to the bustling Naval yards to the rooms and grounds of the Tower itself, I felt immersed in the time.  As a bonus, the book is authored by Elizabeth St. John, a descendant of the St. John family, and has taken extra care to write stories of her family. 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​About the Author
Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and sites from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and the British Library to Castle Fonmon and The Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it’s hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth’s family still occupy them – in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that’s a different story…
Elizabeth is currently writing a sequel to The Lady of the Tower, following the fortunes of the St.John family during the English Civil War. The working title is “By Love Divided”, and it is due to publish in early 2017.
For more information, please visit Elizabeth St. John’s website. You can connect with Elizabeth on Facebook and Goodreads.

About the Book: 
From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

Review: 

Emiline is just trying to figure out her life after a childhood of tragedy.  She is now a writer, still unpublished and and adjunct writing professor at UC San Diego.  Her boyfriend, Trevor was an up and coming football star until his shoulder injury and now floats along in life.  One day, Emiline's roommate Cara introduces her to a new bestseller called All the Roads Between by a mysterious new author.  From the first sentence Emiline is blindsided, somebody has written about all of the nitty gritty ups and downs from her childhood.  Only one person could have written something so specific about her life, Emiline's best friend, first love and the person who she has spent the last twelve years trying to get over, Jason.  Will reading his book about her experiences help her get over her past or just bring back the memories that she has been repressing?


A story of love, loss, getting over it, and beginnings and endings.  As soon as Emiline realized that a book had been written about her by her childhood friend, I went through the rollercoaster of emotions with her; anger, sadness, disappointment, love, relief, forgiveness and realization.  Much like the book infers, I had no idea how anything would end. I really did like that there was a story within a story to tell of Emi and Jason's childhood adventures, instead of just flashbacks.  This book made me feel so much, so quickly and I devoured each page just as quickly.  This is a deep love story, but so much more.  For anyone who has ever had to get over something from their past, Emi's emotional journey will seem all too real and familiar.  Overall, a unique, powerful story that will have you gasping for air the entire way through.


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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Renée Carlino is the author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, and Before We Were Strangers. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.






FIND RENEE ONLINE:
Website: http://reneecarlino.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorReneeCarlino
Twitter: https://twitter.com/renayz
Instagram: @reneecarlino1
 
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