About the Book: 
Avelynn
by Marissa CampbellPublication Date: September 8, 2015
St. Martin’s Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback, Hardcover
Pages: 320
ISBN13: 978-1250063939

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance



One extraordinary Saxon noblewoman and one fearless Viking warrior find passion and danger in this dazzling and sensuous debut.Marissa Campbell’s debut novel is a winning combination of romance, history, and adventure sure to appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon.

It is 869. For eighteen years, Avelynn, the beautiful and secretly pagan daughter of the Eadlorman of Somerset has lived in an environment of love and acceptance. She hasn’t yet found a man to make her heart race, but her father has not pressured her to get married. Until now. With whispers of war threatening their land, her father forces Avelynn into a betrothal with Demas, a man who only covets her wealth and status. The dreaded marriage looming, she turns to her faith, searching for answers in an ancient ritual along the coast, only to find Alrik the Blood-Axe and sixty Viking berserkers have landed.

Alrik is unlike any man she has ever known, strong and intriguing. Likewise, he instantly falls for her beauty and courage. The two stumble into a passionate love affair, but it’s more than just a greedy suitor who will try to keep them apart.

As the Saxons and Vikings go to war, Avelynn and Alrik find themselves caught in the throes of fate. Can they be true to their people as well as to each other?


Buy The Book: 
AMAZON US | AMAZON CAN | AMAZON UK | BARNES & NOBLE | CHAPTERS

Review:  
Avelynn is the headstrong daughter of the Eadlorman of Somerset in 869.  Her father has raised her to read, write and be able to rule in his place.  Before she died, her mother taught Avelynn of the ancient pagan ways.  Now, at eighteen, Avelynn’s world falls apart when her father forces her betrothal to Demas, a man who wants Avelynn for no reason but her land and expects her to stay silent and obedient.  When Avelynn seeks answers in a pagan ritual, she is found by Viking warriors.  As soon as Avelynn and Alrik lay eyes on one another, a passionate love affair is born.  When the Vikings and Saxons go to war Avelynn and Alrik must find a way to stay true to their people and themselves. 

I am always interested in the female characters in medieval fiction, and Avelynn was amazing.  She was not only intelligent, but strong willed and brave.  The trials she is put through would deter most women, but Avelynn proves herself a warrior time and time again.  The romance in the story was incredibly steamy, and may not be for anyone not comfortable with more than a light romance.  Alric and Avelynn had a serious case of love at first sight, but Alric is by far the better choice over Demas.  Most of all, Avelynn is steeped in passion and for fighting for what is right.  Avelynn’s character definitely develops throughout the story, but she is not without her faults and mistakes. There are many surprises, twists and turns.  The pagan rituals and rights add a bit of mysticism and supernatural that adds another element to the story.  Overall, a steamy, historical adventure and romance set in Medieval England.

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

About the Author: 
Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day.

Look for her debut historical fiction Avelynn coming September 8th, 2015, from St. Martin’s Press. Currently, hard at work on the second book in the Avelynn series, she is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7.

When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!

For more information visit http://marissacampbell.com. You can also follow Marissa Campbell on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

About the Book: 

• Paperback: 339 pages
• Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (September 22, 2015)

The shadows of Venice have long inspired writers—from Henry James and Thomas Mann to Daphne DuMaurier and Ian McEwan. Now, its Megan Chance’s turn, as the acclaimed novelist takes readers through the alleys and canals of this ageless and mysterious city in her compelling new book,The Visitant: A Venetian Ghost Story (Lake Union Publishing; September 22, 2015). Part haunted tale, part love story, part mystery, this riveting historical novel explores the truth behind a terrifying reality, as a young American woman, immersed in a strange foreign culture, encounters a world beyond her wildest imaginings. Buried secrets of a tragic past converge, threatening to destroy not just her hopes of redemption, but her very life.

Set in 1884, The Visitant paints an unforgettable portrait of a decaying city and the secrets that lurk in its dark, crumbling corners. Elena Spira has arrived there to take up the duties of nurse to a young epileptic man who has descended to the depths both physically and psychologically. Samuel Farber wants none of Elena’s help as he wallows in a laudanum-triggered haze of hallucinations. Samuel speaks of visits from a spirit, seemingly wild claims that Elena first rejects as drug-fueled. But, the truth is far more sinister. When Samuel’s best friend and host, Nero Basilio, arrives, Elena finds herself drawn to this charming man as he shows her the hidden delights of Venice. But there are dark forces at play—forces that Elena cannot begin to comprehend. Casa Basilio possesses a tragic history, and a ghost whose presence may be driving Samuel to madness.

The Visitant finds Megan Chance working at the peak of her storytelling powers.


Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review: 
Elena Spira is sent to a decaying palazzo in Venice to take care of an ailing but rich epilepsy patient, Samuel Faber.  This banishment is Elena’s punishment and possible redemption after Elena makes a mistake with a patient at her father’s asylum.  If she is able to rehabilitate Samuel in time for his wedding, Elena’s favor will be restored and her father will receive his own asylum from Samuel’s father.  When Elena arrives, she is not exactly welcomed by the staff, Madame Basilio or her patient.  Elena tries her best with Samuel, but it seems as if another force has a hold on him besides epilepsy.  As Elena learns more about the fate of the house from Nero Basilio, she begins to believe that a ghost might be responsible for Samuel’s torment.

I absolutely love Megan Chance’s blend of historical fiction, the supernatural and mystery.  From the very beginning when Elena sets foot into the gloomy Ca’ Basilio the scene is set to be ominous and treacherous, but in the otherwise beautiful city of Venice.  The multiple mysteries layered together dragged me in farther, what is Elena running from?  Is there really a spirit in Ca’Basilio? What are Samuel and Nero and Madame Basilio hiding from?  Each of the characters are masterfully drawn, each with their own tragedy that just made me like them even more.  The supernatural aspect was artfully woven in, with hints here and there and a huge surprise as to what the spirit wanted out of all of the madness that it had created.  When it was all over with, I felt that it was too soon to leave these characters and I really wanted to know more of their journey, but that is truly my only complaint.

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

 

About the Author: 
Megan Chance is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author of historical fiction, including Inamorata, Bone River, and City of Ash. Her novels have been chosen for the Borders Original Voices and Book Sense programs. A former television news photographer and graduate of Western Washington University, Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.

Connect with MeganWebsite | Facebook | Twitter

About the Book: 
Print Length: 282 pages

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (May 26, 2015)

New York-based photographer Cat Jordan is ready to begin a new life with her successful, button-down boyfriend. But when she learns that she’s inherited the estate of a complete stranger—a woman named Isabelle do Florian—her life is turned upside down.

Cat arrives in Paris to find that she is now the owner of a perfectly preserved Belle Époque apartment in the ninth arrondissement, and that the Frenchwoman’s family knew nothing about this secret estate. Amid these strand developments, Cat is left with burning questions: What was Isabelle de Florian? And why did she leave the inheritance to Cat instead of her own family?

As Cat travels France in search of answers, she feels her grasp on her New York life starting to slip. With long-buried secrets coming to light and an attraction to Isabelle de Florian’s grandson growing too intense to ignore, Cat will have to decide what to let go of, and what to claim as her own.


Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review: 
Cat Jordan, a free-spirited photographer from New York finds out that she has a mysterious inheritance from a friend of her grandmother waiting for her in Paris.  She quickly packs up her life and jets to Paris, but the inheritance isn’t quite cut and dry as it should be; the inheritance is an apartment that hasn’t been opened in at least 40 years and the handsome grandson, Loic , of the actual owner shows up last minute to claim it.  As Cat and Loic explore the apartment, it becomes apparent that there are many important pieces left there and that Loic’s grandmother, Isabelle de Florian was someone of importance.  Cat and Loic have to figure out just who Isabelle was, who is going to keep the inheritance and what they are going to do about each other, especially when Cat’s very straight laced boyfriend shows up to propose to her.

This was a really fun blend of historical fiction and modern romance.  I loved Cat’s character and I could feel her vibrancy and kind heart leaping off of the page.  The apartment and the mystery of Isabelle caught my attention right away.  I wanted to dig in and explore everything along with Cat and Loic.  I was very intrigued by Isabelle de Florian; I wanted to know all about her life and her relationship with Cat’s grandmother.   While reading and trying to decipher Isabelle’s life through letters and artifacts, I felt like something magical was happening, the vivid descriptions of the apartment and Paris itself added to this feeling.  I even liked how Cat and Loic’s relationship developed with Paris as the perfect backdrop. 

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

 

About the Author: 
Ella Carey is a writer and a Francophile who can almost claim Paris as her second home.

She has learned French since she was five and has degrees in music, majoring in classical piano, and in arts, majoring in modern European history and nineteenth-century literature.

Writing has always been Ella’s real passion, but she has worked in various other guises. As an emerging author, Ella has had her work published in The Review of Australian Fiction.

She has traveled to France more than a dozen times and drew on her many experiences there when writing Paris Time Capsule. Ella knew straight away that the fascinating true story of the abandoned apartment was a perfect fit for her, with its blend of history; impossible, decaying romance; and mystery–not to mention Paris.

Ella released Paris Time Capsule as an indie book in 2014, and it rose to number 10 on Amazon in the US. This revised and extended edition is now released with Lake Union Publishing. A feature film screenplay version of the book is in development.

In her spare time, Ella walks her dogs along the beach, speaks her particular sort of Franglais whenever she can, reads, loves to visit art museums and collects every beautiful book on Paris that she can possibly find.

She is hard at work on her second novel, which is also set in Paris. Ella lives with her two children and two noble Italian greyhounds, which are constantly mistaken for whippets.

Connect with Ella Website | Facebook | Twitter

About the Book: 
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Formats: Ebook, Hardcover
Pages:

Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery


From the New York Times best-selling author of The Drunken Botanist comes an enthralling debut novel based on the forgotten true story of one of the nation’s first female deputy sheriffs.

Constance Kopp doesn’t quite fit the mold. She towers over most men, has no interest in marriage or domestic affairs, and has been isolated from the world since a family secret sent her and her sisters into hiding fifteen years ago. One day a belligerent and powerful silk factory owner runs down their buggy, and a dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets, and threats as he unleashes his gang on their family farm. When the sheriff enlists her help in convicting the men, Constance is forced to confront her past and defend her family — and she does it in a way that few women of 1914 would have dared.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | POWELL’S

Review: 

The three Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette live a quiet, reserved life on a farm in New Jersey in 1914.  Most of their life they have been guarded and warned away from the outside world by their deceased mother.  Now, they must deal with the outside world in a big way when one Henry Kaufman crashed his vehicle into the Kopp sister’s buggy.  Intent on receiving payment for the damages, Constance demands that Henry pay her back, but Henry is a silk factory owner and with his team of brutes, he feels that he is entitled to intimidate through the Kopp’s through bricks, threats and guns.  When Constance enlists the local police force, Henry does not expect a woman to be able to stand up for her family like Constance Kopp.

This story began a little slow for me, but ended up being a wonderful historical story about a strong woman that is seemingly out of place for her time.  Constance’s character really did grab me from the start, she is strong both mentally and physically, determined and a fierce caregiver to her sisters.  As her backstory unfurled, she only became more intriguing and her relationship with Norma and Fleurette became concrete.  Each of the sister’s personalities were very distinct and they each had very complex relationships.   The conflict that emerged between the Kopp’s and Kaufmann seemed very cut and dry at first, but as time went on more layers of depth emerged in a masterful way.  I was also very pleased to know that the story is based on real history and that these real people have been brought to life once again. 

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

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Stewart is the author of seven books. Her latest, Girl Waits With Gun, is a novel based on a true story. She has also written six nonfiction books on the perils and pleasures of the natural world, including four New York Times bestsellers: The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Bugs, Wicked Plants, and Flower Confidential. She lives in Eureka, California, with her husband Scott Brown, who is a rare book dealer. They own a bookstore called Eureka Books. The store is housed in a classic nineteenth-century Victorian building that Amy very much hopes is haunted.

Stewart has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and many other newspapers and magazines, and has appeared frequently on National Public Radio, CBS Sunday Morning, and–just once–on TLC’s Cake Boss. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, the American Horticulture Society’s Book Award, and an International Association of Culinary Professionals Food Writing Award.

For more information visit Amy Stewart’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

The Inheritance tells the story of a family disintegrating from conflicting loyalties in Calabria, Italy. Set during the period 1897 to 1913, the region was subject to earthquakes and tsunamis; the land harsh and poverty the norm. Superstition clashed with religion and a class system ruled the people. Calabria is the perfect backdrop for the tragedy that unfolds in The Inheritance.


Caterina is an atypical woman, and The Inheritance chronicles her life from birth to young womanhood. Born with an inheritance of loss into a society that has predetermined what she can and cannot do, she vows to live a life of her choosing. Caterina refuses to allow the limits of her gender, the constraints of her class and the demands imposed by those in power to stand in her way. Caterina remains steadfast in her commitment to become the woman she imagines. Her decisions ignite conflicts and fuel a chain of events that result in dire consequences for all whose path she crosses.



Buy the book:    Amazon     Barnes & Noble    Chapters/Indigo





Review: 
Inspired by her family's history, author Marianne Perry has created a story based on true events that ties together two very different families in Calabria, Italy.  The Marino family oversees the estate, with Santo at the head who received a large sum of money for marrying wife Anna.  Together, they have three sons all destined to help their father with the family business that their father has now tied with the mob.  Youngest son, Lorenzo was saved from the family business the longest, growing up side by side with Caterina, a daughter of a servant on the estate.  




This was a sweeping tale of family dynamics and good versus evil. It was very interesting to see the different roles of each family member in early 1900's Italy.  Each of the boys were trained for a specific role in the business and Anna was expected to run the household, look nice and give up her boys when it was time.  I definitely got a good sense of the region at the time.  Caterina and Lorenzo's growing relationship was the main focus of the story.  I of course got the best feel for Caterina's character, loyal, strong, intelligent with a lot of spirit.  I felt that some of the other characters weren't as developed, and there were many of them.  At times the plot did feel like it dragged a little, but I did always enjoy when it came back to Caterina. 

Family dynamics, genealogical research to solve ancestral mysteries and international travel are Marianne Perry’s priorities. A second-generation Canadian-Italian, she is the author of The Inheritance, a historical fiction set in Calabria, Italy from 1897 to 1913 inspired by her grandmother’s early life in Calabria. With a thirty-year career in education and communications, Marianne holds a Master of Education Degree from The University of Western Ontario (Canada).


A past member of the Board of Trustees, the Canadian National Arts Centre Corporation, she has also published non-fiction genealogical articles throughout North America. As a girl, Marianne fell in love with The National Geographic Magazine and dreamt of exploring the world. With her recent visit to Antarctica, she achieved her goal of stepping foot on every continent. The mother of two grown children, Marianne and her husband live on the shores of the St. Mary’s River, which drains Lake Superior on the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She continues to research family history and write non-fiction genealogical articles. In addition, she is working on her second novel and planning further adventures.


Marianne blogs about genealogy, travel, family and writing on her website. Visit her at http://www.marianneperry.ca. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.


Connect with the author:    Website   ~   Twitter   ~    Facebook

About the Book:  
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial (September 8, 2015)

New York Times bestselling author Karen Abbott tells the spellbinding true story of four women who risked everything during the Civil War.

Seventeen-year-old Belle Boyd, an avowed rebel with a dangerous temper, shot a Union soldier in her home and became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her considerable charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds disguised herself as a man to enlist as a Union private named Frank Thompson, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the war and infiltrating enemy lines. The beautiful widow Rose O'Neal Greenhow engaged in affairs with powerful Northern politicians and used her young daughter to send information to Southern generals. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper Southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring—even placing a former slave inside the Confederate White House—right under the noses of increasingly suspicious rebel detectives.

With a cast of real-life characters, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, General Stonewall Jackson, Detective Allan Pinkerton, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and Emperor Napoléon III, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy shines a dramatic new light on these daring—and, until now, unsung—heroines.

Book clubs will be happy to know there's a reader's guide.

Also, learn more about the characters in the book at Experience the Past.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Review: 


After reading many fictional books on women who played a part in the Civil War, I became very interested in the actual women that these accounts were based on.  I had absolutely loved the story of Elizabeth Van Lew and her fierce determination to help Union prisoners in her Southern town and I was entranced by the many stories of women dressing up as men and joining the ranks to prove themselves as valuable a soldier as anyone else.  In Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, I was happy to learn of four courageous women: Elizabeth Van Lew, Emma Thompson, Rose O’Neal and Belle Boyd.  Each of these women, whether fighting for the Union or the Confederacy, played important roles in the outcome of the Civil War. 




The book, although non-fiction, is written in such a way that it did not feel like non-fiction.  The stories of each woman are woven together through time, which gave the book a great flow instead of separating each woman’s story.  It was really interesting to see how one woman’s actions had an effect on one another.   Also, their involvement with important figures of the time is highlighted throughout the book.  I actually liked reading many of the real articles, transcripts and memoirs from the time; it really brought life to these women’s stories.   I was impressed with Elizabeth Van Lew’s story and her steadfastness to help Union prisoners that turned into much more.  Emma Thompson's story shone with immense heart and hers was the story I was probably the most taken in by, she saw the worst carnage that some of the battles had to offer and still continued on.  Rose and Belle's stories also caught my attention as I had never focused on any women from the Confederacy.  Overall, an entertaining and dramatic account of the unsung heroines of the Civil War.




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

About the Author: 
Karen Abbott is the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City, American Rose, and, most recently, Liar Temptress Soldier Spy, which was named one of the best books of 2014 by Library Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, Amazon, and Flavorwire, and which was optioned by Sony for a miniseries. A native of Philadelphia, she now lives in New York City, where she's at work on her next book.

Find out more about Karen at her website.

About the Book: 
Paranormal / Suspense
Date Published: March 31, 2015

The Wraith of Carter’s Mill chronicles five generations of women from the turn of the century to present day. It depicts in startling detail the result of an old curse and the wraith that haunts the family. Sensitives, The Guardians and The Forgotten tell the tale while the fourth shocking segment, Carter’s Mill provides the back-story. It reveals the shameful truth behind a century of sorrow and the curse of revenge that plagues the Carter women.

Zeb, the Carter family patriarch, is a hard, callous man. He runs his thriving 
sawmill, farm and family with an iron fist. When he commits an incredible act of cruelty, he ignorantly brings a terrible curse down upon all his kin. Martha Thompsons’ prophecy proves true as the family falls into ruin, and the women pay the price.Almost a century after Zeb’s death, a Carter daughter is born with notable yet uncanny gifts. It will be up to Shyanne to unearth a long buried family secret and set an old wrong back to rights. Will she find a way to lift the curse and banish the accursed wraith that haunts her? If she fails, she risks losing her own little girl to the dark entity forever.

A small North Carolina community, where everyone knows everyone sets the perfect stage for this suspenseful drama. Rich in history and southern culture, The Wraith of Carter’s Mill harkens back to a time when life was simpler, and superstition was part of everyday living.

Review: 
The women of the Carter family have been cursed for generations, they are able to see spirits, otherworldly beings and sometimes even talk to the dead.  The curse seems to intensify through every generation.  Beginning with Susie who sees a scary vision on the road near her house when she is a child.  Susie then falls into a silence and depression, tormented not only by her vision, but by her sister, Julia.  Later, Julia's daughter Libby sees the exact same vision but manages to put it out of her mind until her mother dies and her daughter Shyanne begins to see things, like her deceased aunt Susie.  As Shyanne grows, Libby and Shyanne begin to nurture and appreciate the gift.  It will be up to Shyanne to figure out the mystery of the curse and free her family.

This story pulled me in from the very beginning.  The mystery and the many layered elements of the paranormal kept me interested and increased the suspense, a wraith, a curse, ghosts, hauntings seances and speaking to dead people are just some elements.  I also really liked how the different stories were layered through the generations so I got to know each set of women and have successive stories build through that, with each generation adding their own voice and part to the mystery.  I also loved the character interviews at the end of each story, I thought this was a really unique way to get different points of view into the situation.  Shyanne was the character that we got to know the best and that ties everyone together, she goes on a real journey through the story. Overall, a captivating paranormal story with strong female characters.

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

About the Author: 
C. Evenfall grew up on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. In many ways, her community was 
isolated from the outside world, and time simply stood still. The old ways of “doing things” 
surrounded her, and she was both fascinated by the rich history and influenced by it.
As with any such place, the area was rich with ghost lore and old tales of “people done wrong.” C. 
Evenfall, a child seen and not heard, hovered as close as she dared, listening to the old stories when 
the adults got together talking about old times. She also spent many nights with the sheet pulled 
over her head in childish fright.

   A paranormal encounter when she was just six years old, experienced by two other people at the 
same time, convinced her that ghosts really did exist.  C. Evenfall has been seeking answers ever 
since. Her fascination with the unexplainable, coupled with her love of history and southern culture and the role women play in both, have inspired her to write The Wraith of Carter’s Mill, a series of novellas. Each inspired by tales from her childhood and the family members who passed them down.

   Life has taken her many places, but today, C. Evenfall resides with her husband in the same fishing village where she grew up. Together they enjoy hiking, camping, gardening and the outdoors in general. She forgives his skeptics’ dismissal of things that go bump in the night and loves him dearly in spite of it. They complement one another perfectly.

Contact Information

Author’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CEvenfall

Author’s Blog: http://cevenfall.wordpress.com/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/C.-Evenfall/e/B00MSV6YT0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8508982.C_Evenfall

BAA Author’s Page: http://booksauthorsandartists.com/authors/c-evenfall/

Twitter: C. Evenfall@CEvenfall2

Purchase Links

Amazon:

WCMx Paperback:     http://www.amazon.com/dp/1503205096

WCMx E-Book:    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VIU9YKS

About the Book: 
A Song for Bellafortuna is an inspirational Italian Historical Fiction novel concerning a young man's desire to free his Sicilian village from the domination of one family's long reign.


For years, the beautiful, yet secluded, hilltop village of Bellafortuna, Sicily, was a great producer of wine and olive oil. The entire village prospered. However, after the arrival of the Vasaio family, production dwindles and the villagers soon find themselves in crushing debt to the Vasaios. Only one family in the village remains outside the control of the Vasaios, but the reason haunts Antonio Sanguinetti every day of his life. Antonio is determined to erase this legacy by offering financial and emotional support to his fellow villagers. He introduces them to the choral song from Verdi's opera, Nabucco, which becomes the rallying cry for the villagers and offers them hope for a better life.


When Antonio's only son, Giuseppe, discovers his family's past, he becomes determined to take on the Vasaios and remove them from power. Led by the young Giuseppe, a plan is hatched that could result in either complete freedom for the villagers, or if it fails, forever solidifying the Vasaios' control. Find out what happens in A Song for Bellafortuna, a sweeping epic historical fiction tale of love, drama, sacrifice, and redemption, set among the beautiful landscape of Sicily.


Where to buy the Book:    Amazon



Review: 

The beautiful Sicilian town of Bellafortuna, Italy sits high on the countryside next to the Tyrrhenian Sea, perfect for the production of wine and olive oil.  The town was idyllic, until the Vasios moved in.  The Vasios loaned money to most of the villagers including the wine and oil producers that had crushing terms, high interest and the ability to come collecting at any time.  With this system, many of the families are in debt to the Vasios and feel their oppression.  One family of wine producers, the Sanguinettis, have remained untouched by the Vasios.  Antonia Sanguinetti and his son Giuseppe feel compelled to help pull the town out from under the Vasios control.  With a little help from opera, the Sanguinettis may have a plan that will band the villagers of Bellafortuna together to take back control of their lives.

First of all, I absolutely loved the setting and beautiful descriptions of this quaint Italian village with wonderful views, wineries and even the ruins of a previous village.  The characters and their relationships also shone, Giuseppe captured me with his extreme heart and capacity to care.  I loved his friendship with Biaggio as well.  I also loved that opera was a theme throughout and proved to be the force to band the town together, what a unique unifying factor!  Overall this was a heartwarming, motivational story of rising up and fighting for what is right with well developed characters and a picturesque setting.


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

About the Author: 
Award winning and bestselling author, Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco, lives in New Orleans. His first novel, Tempesta's Dream - A Story of Love, Friendship and Opera, became an Amazon bestselling novel and was awarded the 2014 Pinnacle Achievement Award in Historical Fiction. Amazon also has named his book as a Top Rated Novel in Italian Historical Fiction.


His most recent novel, A Song for Bellafortuna, was shortlisted in the William Faulkner - William Wisdom Competition. He is an estate planning attorney in New Orleans, where he lives with his wife and two children.


Connect with the author:    Website     Twitter    Facebook

About the Book: 
Title: Nightlife: Night Terrors

Author:  Matthew Quinn Martin

Genre: Horror

Release Date: July 7, 2015

“Doesn’t get any darker than this; you can actually feel the blood spatter…” –Hugo & Nebula winner James Patrick Kelly

Enter the world of Nightlife, where the streets crawl with unimaginable demons, and a monster can lurk behind every friendly face...

Matthew Quinn Martin first terrified horror fans with Nightlife, the captivating story of two unlikely monster hunters determined to save the city of New Harbor from the Night Angels—bloodthirsty creatures that feed on the forgotten. Jack Jackson and Beth Becker are among the few who can see these creatures for what they really are, but as they hunt the creatures, a mysterious organization known only as The Division is hunting them.

In the novella Hazardous Material, we get a glimpse of The Division’s origins and aims, when a young man stumbles onto a long-abandoned video arcade—which three decades ago was the site of the largest mass shooting in New York history—and unwittingly uncovers a relic of unimaginable power and mind-altering terror.

And in the never-before-released As the Worm Turns, Jack and Beth are back, along with their faithful dog, Blood. For months they’ve been keeping just one step ahead of The Division, whose enigmatic leader has been pursuing them with the single-minded obsession to capture them by any means necessary. But as Jack and Beth continue their quest to rid the world of the creatures once and for all they find themselves facing off against something even more terrifying than the Night Angels––something that could hold the key to humanity’s salvation…or its doom.

Three amazing horror stories in one chilling bundle...the only thing you won't fear is the price!


Review of Book 1: 
Something is haunting the streets of New Harbor, but on Halloween not many seem to takes notice.  That is except a homeless man who notices all of his companions disappearing and Beth Becker, a nightclub bartender who becomes alarmed when her best friend and roommate disappear.   Beth follows the clues to the homeless man’s graffiti of “Beware the Night Angel” and his ramblings about vampires.  Then Beth finds Jack, a man who hunts and kills these creatures.  Beth proves herself to Jack after successfully killing a creature that looked like her boyfriend.  Together, they will try to fight the creatures that have killed their friends. 

This was a fun urban fantasy surrounding the vampire mythology.  Most of all though, I liked Beth and Jack’s characters.  Beth is strong willed, independent and determined. Beth’s  pairing with Jack, mysterious, a loner, and very serious about his work not only made for a great team, but some funny moments as well. The vampires in this story are ruthless, focused very much on eating, using your dreams to lure you in. I liked the subtle changes to all the known vampire lore that were included and all of the action scenes kept it exciting.  A few small issues that I had were the many points of view that emerged before settling on just Beth and Jack and some pacing issues with parts that just did not seem necessary.

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

 


About the Author: 
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, it wasn’t until Matthew moved to Manhattan that he realized he was a writer. These days, he lives on a small island off the North Atlantic coast of the United States where it gets quiet in the winter…perhaps too quiet. . . 

Links

http://www.matthewquinnmartin.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewqmartin

Buy the book:

Buy the Book on S&S Publishing: 
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Nightlife-Night-Terrors/Matthew-Quinn-Martin/9781476746906

Buy the Book on B&N: 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nightlife-matthew-quinn-martin/1120790644?ean=9781476746906&itm=1&usri=9781476746906&r=1

Buy the Book on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPM7TFY?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00DPM7TFY&linkCode=xm2&tag=simonsayscom

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About The Captive Condition

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon (July 7, 2015)

From a thrilling new voice in fiction comes a chilling and deliciously dark novel about an idyllic Midwestern college town that turns out to be a panorama of depravity and a nexus of horror.

For years Normandy Falls has been haunted by its strange history and the aggrieved spirits said to roam its graveyards. Despite warnings, Edmund Campion is determined to pursue an advanced degree there. But Edmund soon learns he isn’t immune to the impersonal trappings of fate: his girlfriend, Morgan Fey, smashes his heart; his adviser, Professor Martin Kingsley, crushes him with frivolous assignments; and his dead-end job begins to take a toll on his physical and mental health. One night he stumbles upon the body of Emily Ryan, an unapologetic townie, drowned in her family pool. Was it suicide or murder? In the days that follow, Emily’s husband, Charlie, crippled by self-loathing and frozen with fear, attempts to flee his disastrous life and sends their twin daughters to stay with the Kingsleys. Possessed by an unnamed, preternatural power, the twins know that the professor seduced their mother and may have had a hand in her fate. With their piercing stares, the girls fill Martin with a remorse that he desperately tries to hide from his wife. Elsewhere, a low-level criminal named the Gonk takes over a remote cottage, complete with a burial ground and moonshine still, and devises plans for both. Xavier D’Avignon, the eccentric chef of a failing French restaurant, supplies customers with a hallucinogenic cocktail. And Colette Collins, an elderly local artist of the surreal, attends a retrospective of her work that is destined to set the whole town on fire.

Kevin P. Keating’s masterly novel delves into the deepest recesses of the human capacity for evil.


Review: 
The small town of Normandy Falls doesn’t have much going for it, locked in the Midwestern Rust Belt, Normandy Falls college and a fancy restaurant running as a front for a the chef who sells drugs are its main attractions.  Edmund Campion decides to go to Normandy Falls College after his strict Jesuit schooling, even after a strict warning about the town from his teacher.  Edmund quickly falls into the trap of Normandy Falls and his dreams are chewed up and spit out.  He fails at his relationship with artist Morgan Fey, his is failing his assignments given to him by Professor Kingsley, he takes a dead end job at the College Maintenance facilities with a group called the Ticks and then he finds Professor Kingsley’s mistress drowned in a pool, an apparent suicide.  Edmund soon finds out that Normandy Falls holds a great capacity for evil. 

 

The first thing that I have to say about this book is that the prose is incredibly verbose with an immense vocabulary.  This does wonders for setting the scene and definitely adds to the ominous tone, however, I was grateful that I read this on my Kindle so I could easily look up words.  That being said, I didn’t dislike the challenge, but this is obviously not an easy read.  This is a book you will want to sit with and be able to sink into.  Once I was able to get into the story I was sucked in and thrown for a loop at the same time.  The slow build of the story helped the feeling that something was wrong with this town, but without pinpointing just what it was.  The point of view switches between several characters, which is fine once you are immersed into the story.  Each of these characters isn’t particularly likeable, but each is a victim of Normandy Falls’ condition.  Finding the truth behind Normandy Falls drew me in, much like Edmunds character.

 




Purchase Links
IndieBound | Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Kevin P. Keating
After working as a boilermaker in the steel mills in Ohio, KEVIN P. KEATING became a professor of English and began teaching at Baldwin Wallace University, Cleveland State University, and Lorain County Community College. His essays and stories have appeared in more than fifty literary journals, and his first novel, The Natural Order of Things, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes’ Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction. His second novel, The Captive Condition, will be released by Pantheon Books in July of 2015. He lives in Cleveland.

Connect with Kevin on Twitter.

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